Engaged in Sin: A Rouge Regency Romance [Kindle Edition]

Anne Beddington is a fallen woman on the run. Having recently bashed her evil matron over the head with a fire iron, she and the three young girls she was intent on rescuing, seek refuge away from the brothel. Anne takes her fellow courtesan's advice and seeks out a protector. She sets her sights on Devon Audley, the Duke of March. Recently returned from war, March suffered an injury that left him blind and battered both physically and emotionally. Anne whittles her way into his favor through sexual prowess, and before long these two end up becoming closer and closer, attaching in a manner befitting a duke and his mistress.

First thing's first, I was excited for this book because IT'S SHARON PAGE, ya'll! (I said that in my Paula Dean voice BTW). When I think Sharon Page I think "lush raunch." Engaged in Sin is classified a a historical romance, though it toes the line into erotica at times, a common "risk" anytime a courtesan theme is used. I was expecting a bit more push toward story over sex. Did that happen. Ehr...not sure. What story there was had me rolling my eyes.

And that totally broke my heart.

I really wanted to like this book. Really. I did. As the book progressed I couldn't help but think what a horrible whore Anne made - she was just so...ignorant. I mean, yes - there would be a degree of ignorance when you're kidnapped off the street and forced to work as a prostitute. But really...the limits she goes to convince Devon she's pleasing him when in fact she's incredibly detached and awkward was just...blurg. I didn't buy it her ignorant take on it. As for our hero, Devon. *sigh* Let me just get this out - it irritates the snot out of me when heroes nickname their heroines ridiculous names right off the bat. The culprit here? Angel. He calls her angel NONSTOP. From the moment he meets her - stark naked, drunk, and in the fit of a violent nightmare recalling the war. I mean, REALLY? UUUGGGHHH! I wanted to tear my hair out. Page does this in her other books as well, but it seemed to fit those characters more for the tone of the novel, and thus it didn't bother me...as much. *eyelid twitches*

I was hoping for a well written, raunchy historical. What I got was a raunch fest (I approve) with ridiculously bizarre leading characters and a manufactured plot. I was really, well, bummed. I may or may not have pouted when I finished.

I'd recommend checking out Page's previous historical works, like Sin (a particular favorite of mine) or Black Silk.

I've enjoyed other books by this author, but I finished this one feeling unconvinced of any happy-ever-after ending for this couple. Why?

Well, she may have started out as a gently-bred young lady, but after FIVE YEARS of captivity in a brothel, Anne can no longer be considered "angelic" in any way, shape, or form. She has been kidnapped, beaten, raped, and forced to service men, including men of the TON, and there is no way she would ever be accepted into society, where she would be recognized by former johns and not allowed anywhere near their wives or daughters.

That said, I suppose it isn't fair to also blame the duke for hesitating to consider marrying her so long after realizing his feelings for her. Well, yes, his mother made him promise to marry for love, and he promised himself he wouldn't betray his wife, so he really had to decide to marry her or say goodbye to her, and he could not for the LONGEST time. But Anne could see the writing on the wall, and she made the right decision to leave him.

In my opinion, the author wrote herself into a corner on this one, and the way she chose to resolve this issue was just not convincing to me. There is just no way this heroine would ever have been accepted by his family or her great-grandmother, let alone the ton. The way she was treated when recognized in the park by a former client. . . are we really supposed to believe that somehow the duke's reputation will protect her in his absence? Or that people would not notice the fact that the marriage and the birth of the child occurred at the same time?

I WISH something like this could have happened, but there is no way that such a marriage could have done anything but drag down the duke and his entire family. It's not fair, and I hate it, but five years as a prostitute will disqualify any woman from a HEA ending with a duke. Frankly, my impression is that few prostitutes lived past their 20's in those days, what with primitive contraceptive methods and sexually-transmitted diseases, not to mention the harsh treatment.

Maybe Anne could have been only a LITTLE bit ruined (in secret)? Or the duke could have been a commoner who decided to run off to America with her for a new start? Or just decided to avoid society and immerse himself in good works (although this would be hard since he had a mother and sisters to consider)?

As you can see, I really want to believe in this story, but it's just not happening. There is just too much water under the bridge for Anne to be redeemed. And as a duchess? Never!

This actually held my interest although it was kind of shallow and silly. The heroine got on my nerves. I mean how many times are you going to try to escape and put other people lives in danger? She was frankly, an idiot and not very believable. I loved the hero in this though. The loves scenes I thought were way too frequent and quick and shallow. For some reason though it did keep me reading. It wasn't terrible. I have read a lot worse. I did like "The Club" better though.