Find The Perfect Example Of The Power Of Submission In "Angel In Scarlet"

Title:  Angel In Scarlet
Series:  (Bound And Determined #4)
Author:  Lavinia Kent
Review Format:  eARC
Publisher:  Loveswept
Rating:  4 Stars

From the author of Mastering the Marquess comes another blazingly provocative Regency romance! Revenge may be a dish best served cold, but in this clash of wills, lust is a feast for the senses.

After her dreams of wedding bells are dashed by a man she thought had serious intentions, Miss Angela Ripon must be satisfied. She plans to make him burn for her, and then to reject him as he rejected her. There’s only one woman who can teach Angela that sort of seduction: Madame Rouge—or Ruby, to the men who frequent her house of pleasure. The infamous madam agrees to help, but only after warning Angela that her target has very specific tastes. To trap her prey, she must shed every last inhibition.

Matthew Harkness, Earl of Colton, doesn’t mean to hurt the young admirers who flock to him. He simply isn’t interested in women who are too timid for his dark desires. He judged Angela to be like the others—tender, sweet, and innocent. So how to explain the change that has come over her? Matthew aches to teach Angela all he knows of earthly pleasures. But even as she offers the control he craves, perhaps this angelic beauty has a lesson or two to teach him.

Angel in Scarlet is intended for mature audiences. This ebook includes a special message from the editor, as well as an excerpt from another Loveswept title.  -Goodreads

My Thoughts

Angel In Scarlet, the fourth offering in Lavinia Kent's Bound And Determined series. Is one that, upon first reading, seems a little off. A little formal. Somewhat stiff, maybe.

Until one takes the time to consider a few things.

1. This story is, for all of its lace, frills, and historical niceties. A tale of sexual awakening, power, and control. On both Angela and Mathew's parts.
Angela, coming into the knowledge that she is both a natural submissive and a sensual and powerful being...in her own right.
Matthew, discovering that he has found a woman who fits him completely. As both man and master.

2. Because most of the progress in a novice sub/experienced dom scenario is dictated by the comfort level of the sub. Both Angela and Matthew have to proceed with extreme caution. Given the reality of Angela's lack of knowledge of her desires and /or sexuality. In even the most basic sense. One could pretty much consider the entire affair a very well orchestrated case of "the blind leading the blind."

3. Matthew is written as a true dominant. As such, he is charged with setting the scenes, assuring Angela's comfort, pleasure, and safety, and maintaining a certain distance.

4. It is Regency England, after all.

Armed with the former points in mind however. One is free to fully appreciate the extreme bravery shown by our extraordinary heroine. Not only is she determined to deal with her perceived slight, at the hands of the man that she set her sights on. She goes to exceedingly creative and unorthodox lengths to do so.

Dealing with a young Miss who shows the amount of spirit and pluck that Angela does. Quickly alerts Matthew that he must bring his A-game in terms of sensual initiation. And bring it he does.
With scenes featuring edging, oral sex, rope bondage, and mutual masterbation, there is something to stoke the desirous flames of every reader.

Effectively countering all of the carnal goings on in this read, is the well played henpecked ingenue as so well played by Angela. With nary a slip or hint as to her many scintillating secrets.

The only slip into less than 5 star territory comes in Matthew's solution to his marriage dilemma.
The fact that after all of her honesty, effort, and risk. It is the threat of exposure and scandal that drives Matthew to ask for her hand.

What?

Men!!

I live in Washington, DC with my husband, kids, two cats and a changing menagerie of other small beasts.

I worked in both the arts and in the business world before giving into my love of story telling after the birth of my oldest -- although it wasn't until after the birth of my youngest when I suddenly had full-time childcare that it all came together for me.

I love discussing books -- almost any books at any time.

One of my great joys is having my children get old enough that we can all read the same things and talk. I am so happy that YA is the flourishing world that it is.

And of course I love Romance. I started back with Kathleen Woodiwiss and Johanna Lindsay and have never given them up since -- although there were a few slow spots along the way.
  

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