Jasper my man, you’re top 10!
“To Seduce a Sinner” by Elizabeth Hoyt
Elizabeth Hoyt really needs to get a lot more press than she’s getting. I mean, with some of the books out there that range from “Hello dear author, did you forget to take your meds today?” to “Oh how I wish I’d never learned to read”, books like “To Seduce a Sinner” are truly gems in the barren wilderness.
Jasper Renshaw, Viscount Vale looks like the life of every party. Every man wants to be his friend, and every woman wants to get into his bed. True, he’s not particularly gorgeous, with slightly sleepy looking, heavy-lidded eyes (although I say, FOOLS, all of you! Those are bedroom eyes goddamit!) but he’s got that spark about him that draws people in. He always has a witty comeback for people, and he doesn’t like to be alone. But all his social polish and ease is a mask for the fact that he’s suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after a war in America.
Melisande Fleming on the other hand, is his total opposite. Or is she? Yes, she’s shy and a wallflower, but that doesn’t mean she has no opinion of her own, and she’s more than capable of matching Jasper, especially when she proposes to him after he’s been left at the alter. Jasper’s intrigued (and also a little hung-over. And also, hung, naturally) and so quickly agrees, which plunges both of them into a marriage of convenience where Jasper finds that he’s wildly attracted to his seemingly quiet wife, and Melisande is finally married to the man she’s loved from afar for six years.
Elizabeth Hoyt has a way with words that has me chuckling at one point, and sniffing delicately at another. Jasper totally has my vote for hero of the year. He’s strong and alpha, but he’s never mean. Not to say that I don’t like mean heroes provided they make up for it afterwards with the Big G, but Jasper is such a sweetheart. He’s wildly possessive over Melisande and determined to uncover all her secrets. I particularly liked the scene where Jasper goes to Melisande’s room and looks through her things, trying to find some clue as to how she really feels. Some may say, “inappropriate invasion of privacy.” Lola says, “Jasper can invade my personal space anytime he wants.” And yes, I do mean personal space. And how cute is it when Melisande creeps into Jasper’s bedroom and does the exact same thing, trying to understand her urbane yet tormented husband.
Although Jasper suffers from serious anger management issues, it’s never targeted at Melisande, whom he always refers to as his heart. (*sob* O Jasper, doncha know YOU are my heart? As a symbol of my love, I’ll take off all my clothes and prostrate myself at your feet. *furiously reaching for sweater* I’ll do it! Don’t think I won’t!) Instead, whenever it appears that Melisande is in danger, Jasper goes ballistic and is all Animal Kingdom on them. Oh Jasper. Jasper. Jasper. Jasper. Mrs Lola Renshaw. Lola *hearts* Jasper. Viscountess Lola. Such nice rings to it! Yes, Melisande underneath her quiet exterior, does manage to shock Jasper with her uncontrollable and wild ways in the bedroom. But Jasper my love, I can get all WWE with the best of them! Covered in chocolate sauce! *thumb to ear and pinkie to mouth* Call me!
But you gotta give props to Melisande. She’s no annoying heroine who makes you want to pack her in a box and DHL her to Guatemala. Jasper has this thing where he sleeps on a pallet in the corner of his dressing room, knapsack in front of him along with a candle and his back to the wall. Again, remnants of his time in the war. And when Melisande finds out, she doesn’t make it all into this drama about her. Instead, she calmly lies behind him, and cuddles him from the back.
I repeat. That. Should. Be. Me. And so what if he lies on a pallet? I could totally get one of those aerodynamic mattresses stuffed with the feathers of 200 geese (although hopefully there’s a more animal-friendly equivalent. So make that 200 imaginary geese.) and also lie down behind my beloved Jaspy Waspy. Why keep your mind on the past when you can keep your hand on me Jasper? I knew you’d see it my way. And Jasper gives Melisande a really sweet gift at the end of the book (no, not his penis, this was given in the middle of the book) which can almost rival Nick Sinclair’s ruby-pendant-pillbox bribe in that old Christmas stalwart, “Double Standards.”
So once again, a really great read from the ever reliable Elizabeth Hoyt. Again, this lady needs to get a whole lot more press. Go forth and spread the word kids!
violet said,
November 20, 2008 @ 6:04 pm
Awww…this is such a sweet book. I have to look out for this one.
I am amazed by how hillarious all your reviews are…
Ana said,
November 20, 2008 @ 9:18 pm
Yay, I like it soo much as well! and that mirror bedroom searches sequences were some of my favorite too! aww Jasper.
now, who is REALLY looking forward to the next one with Sir Alistair Munro who is scottish and scarred? Me! Me!
La Lola said,
November 21, 2008 @ 9:36 am
*doffs hat* You are too kind violet, too kind! But seriously, pick up a copy of this book, I really think you’ll like it!
And Ana, Alistair sounds like a real dish! Although I didn’t really like Helen. But I have faith in Elizabeth Hoyt, and hoping that she’ll come up with another great book!
Lady L said,
November 22, 2008 @ 5:31 am
Looooooooooooooooooved it and enjoyed the review.
There isn’t one of her books that I haven’t enjoyed.
La Lola said,
November 22, 2008 @ 10:30 am
I didn’t really like “To Tempt Temptation” all that much though Lady L, I must admit. I think my favourite by her is “The Raven Prince” followed by this one!
Julie Bo Boolie said,
November 25, 2008 @ 12:59 am
Thanks for this. I picked this and the first one up after reading your review and I read them both in one night (stayed up until 5 a.m. which was a rather bad idea and makes me rather glad that Alistair’s story is not yet published) … I’ll be checking out more of her books for sure and watching the release dates for the next two.
I have to say one of my favourite parts was the first sex scene. I’ve just recently blogged about how such scenes are never in romance novels and doesn’t EH go and prove me wrong with a truly atrocious bedding!
La Lola said,
November 25, 2008 @ 9:11 am
Hey Julie Bo Boolie, glad you liked the book! Have you tried “Raven Prince” yet? Because if you haven’t, well what are you waiting for? And the first sex scene was hilarious, only because I haven’t seen a sex scene botched like that since one of the earlier Catherine Coulters. And in “Raven Prince,” you get another one of those rarely seen things in romance novels- a non-drop dead gorgeous hero. But Edward is still way hot and uber sexy! Mmmm… Edward….
Dulce said,
November 30, 2008 @ 9:09 am
Jasper is a fantastic lover/husband, brave war hero and the original “Dog Whsiperer”; the man does it all! Melisande was also a kick ass heroine and was not whiny nor a damsel in distress. The scene at the end, when Vale gives her the gift and explains to her what it represents made my eyes watery. This was truly a beautiful story and Jasper has become one of my all time fav heroes.
La Lola said,
December 1, 2008 @ 10:45 am
It’s so true. The interactions between Jasper and Mouse were hilarious, as Jasper demonstrated to him who’s the real alpha dog. I don’t know how Alistair’s going to match up to Jasper frankly, because I thought Jasper ranks up there with Edward (from Raven Prince) as one of Elizabeth Hoyt’s best heroes ever!
Betty Boop said,
December 11, 2008 @ 4:12 am
Your review inspired me. I’m going online now to get it! And “Ravin Prince” was a fantastic read as well. Thank you!
La Lola said,
December 11, 2008 @ 8:52 am
So glad you liked it Betty Boop! I think you’ll really like “To Seduce a Sinner,” it was just a very well-written, easy to read book!