Nothing Denied (Avon Red) [Paperback]

Members of the ton give Beatrice Albright a wide berth. Though beautiful, the third Albright sister is an acknowledged shrew and, at the beginning of her seventh season, considered to be ready for spinsterhood.

Beatrice is aware of her reputation and knows that her attitude has landed her in a situation that is almost too much for her to bear. When her older sisters take their youngest sister rather than Beatrice under their wing in order to help Winifred catch a husband, Beatrice finds herself staring into the face of her future: no social invitations and only her mother for company. To avoid this fate, dramatic steps must be taken. Beatrice knows the only way for her to land a husband is to find someone no one else would marry. Gareth Berenger, Marquis of Highcroft, fits the bill perfectly.

Gareth is handsome and wealthy, but the rumors that he killed his first wife make him more of an outcast than Beatrice. Gareth wouldn't even attempt to move in society, but that he needs an heir and thus needs a wife. When the tempestuous Beatrice proposes to him, Gareth is intrigued. But Gareth is a man of unconventional erotic tastes and experience has taught him that his bride must suit him sexually. So he makes a deal with Beatrice: spend a fortnight with him and if they match in the bedroom they will get married. It's a shocking proposition, but for Gareth and Beatrice it's their last chance to wed. Will their erotic adventure end in happiness or heartbreak?

Follow Jess Michaels behind closed doors where nothing is denied when the prize is pleasure. The third Albright sister meets her match in a darkly seductive lord who is perfect hero material. Gareth is sexy, dominant, and tender - the perfect match for the dramatic, passionate Beatrice. I loved watching Beatrice shed the layer of shrewishness she's worn for so long. What makes Nothing Denied so enjoyable is that neither Beatrice nor Gareth take each other at face value. They work to uncover the people beneath the reputations and it's no surprise to the reader that, when all is said and done, they are both likeable, endearing characters that are perfect for one another. On top of the romance is the sexual journey Beatrice takes with Gareth. With a touch of BDSM and a healthy dose of eroticism, Nothing Denied might just be Ms. Michaels's hottest book to date.

Nothing Denied is the third Albright Sisters book, but it can be read as a stand-alone. I enjoyed Nothing Denied just as much, if not more, than Everything Forbidden and Something Reckless, both excellent books in their own right. From teasing mentions in Nothing Denied of how the youngest Albright sister, Winifred, winds up married, I definitely hope Ms. Michaels writes her story. Until then, I'll just curl up and enjoy the sinfully delicious Nothing Denied once more.

Shayna
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Beatrice is the black sheep of the Albreight clan of females. High-handed, spoiled and bitchy, has chased away for years any suitor that dared to approach her, eradicating her chances to wed. Her sisters, Miranda and Penelope who are now married, take the youngest (Winifred) under their wings to help improve her chances away from the gloomy influence of Beatrice and therefore abandoning her in the company of their bitter mother.

Garreth Berenger, the Marquis of Highcroft attempts to enter the gatherings of the ton after years of withdrawal due to the rumors that condemned him to have had murdered his wife. While the ton openly shuns him, Beatrice casts her interest on him and finds that she is attracted to Gareth. Determined to change her fate as a shrew and escape the company of her overbearing mother, Beatrice marks Gareth as the man to finally wed her. She proposes to him in order to solve their mutual problems, only to receive as an answer that Gareth will not marry her unless he beds her and finds her compatible to his sexual preferences. (Meaning if Beatrice has any prospects to enter a BDSM relationship in the role of a sub.)

At first, I was excited to read a BDSM related season romance, since there aren't many of this subgenre out there and the story seemed interesting. Plus, I was curious to see how the author mingled the BDSM element in an era of strictly conservative (more accurately, puritan) beliefs concerning flirt, marriage and intercourse. True, the "BDSM" element is not openly named as it is, but everything else described in this novel sexually, openly point at it.
Well, the only thing in this novel indicating a season romance, is the mention of the ladies' gowns and the "ton". Modern BDSM tactics such as "safe words", accessories and furniture used for BDSM practices are thrust into the novel with no explanation of how and why, making the use of the BDSM element completely unjustifiable and out of place (and time). The whole BDSM idea feels disconnected, unrehearsed and superfluous, leaving also gaps in Gareth's character that unfortunately, aren't filled.

***SPOILERS***

I don 't usually judge characters unless there are serious development problems and inconsistencies. I liked the fact that Beatrice was not the naive, sweet little girl that cannot hurt a fly, as in usual season romances, and that Gareth was portrayed as a dark mysterious persona. But when the actions are contradicting the beliefs and the characters say one thing and do another, then we're talking about development problems.
And both leading characters suffer of this. Beatrice knows what an erection is, though she has never seen a man naked. She knows of the logistics of sex, has touched herself, though cannot tell what happens to her body when Gareth kisses her. She decides to marry Gareth after all but seeing him two times and while he is rumoured to be a murderer and talks about "breaking" her, after she proposes. I guess that's a perfectly normal reaction in the world of the author.

Gareth's character is moving too fast, too soon where Beatrice is concerned. He throws her in deep -BDSM- waters and expects her to swim like a pro. He is driven to take down her barriers and penetrate her cold facade right from the start, but not because he wants to know Beatrice. It's her full submission in sex that he is after and is totally single-minded about it.

It's quite clear that with every encounter, Beatrice and Gareth's lust grows, but there is no turning point from lust to love. Even more so, the idea of love didn't even grow in these two until the villain of the story showed up to rush out their "emotions" towards each other. The fact that a bad guy was needed for them to blurt it out, only seemed forced. A kinda "let's patch it up and get it over with" feeling to end the novel already.
All in all, I can't say I'd recommend this one to readers searching for BDSM novels, or to even those searching historical romance. The subgenre is quite unique, but this novel is failing miserably to prove the why of its existence and finally has nothing new or creative to add for entertainment purposes. 2 stars for trying, though.

I love JM. This is the third book of a series about 3 sisters finding love. I rather enjoyed this series and was really shocked it ended so soon. I wonder why JM did not continue the series with the fourth sister. Beatrice (heroine) is head strong and such a bitch. Gareth (hero) is demanding dark and domineering......perfect for the Beatrice. I felt the plot was lacking a bit, and a little slow... but I still enjoyed the story. Hot, saucy love scenes back to back.