Something Reckless (Avon Red) [Paperback]

Finding herself in the unenviable position of being the moral mouthpiece for the Ladies of the ton, Penelope is privately lauded by the women she stands for, and publicly spurned by almost everyone. The `gentlemen' of high society are the worst, with their extracurricular activities having been greatly impacted by her cause. They resolve to put a stop to her interference, one way or the other.

Jeremy Vaughn is elected to take care of the problem, using the best weapon at his disposal - seduction. Once the Duke of Kilgrath beds the wench, he will have what he needs to blackmail her into a quiet retreat from her cause, leaving he and his friends to their carnal games without impediment.

But best-laid plans often go awry, and Jeremy's plan backfires as he grows closer to the winsome Penelope. Once he befriends her, he finds it impossible not to like her, and soon finds himself in the position of confidante.

When his scheme to seduce her finally lands him in her boudoir, albeit anonymously, Jeremy cannot get enough of her. Has the seducer become the seduced? Will Jeremy be able to go through with his plan and betray Penelope?

Jess Michaels follows up her wonderful historical romance EVERYTHING FORBIDDEN with SOMETHING RECKLESS, with the previous heroine's sister Penelope in the role of heroine.

When we last saw Penelope in EVERYTHING FORBIDDEN, she was set to make a bad, yet respectable, marriage. Resigned to the idea that she must sacrifice love and passion for stability and the ability to assist her financially strapped mother and younger sisters, she weds and uncaring older man who sees her as a trophy, not a woman.

As SOMETHING RECKLESS begins, Penelope is now a widow of a year or so, and lives independently, having inherited her late husband's fortune. At a time when she might have found suitors at her door once again, she is instead avoided by the men of the ton since she began speaking publicly against their lascivious activities, which she deems immoral.

But a cause is a lonely bedmate, and so Penelope is ripe for the seduction intended to be her downfall. Although no virgin, having been married once, she has never experienced passion or sensual pleasures, and is completely unprepared - much to the readers' delight - for the overwhelming feelings that Jeremy Vaughn inspires with mere looks, the slightest of touches. Couple that with erotic missives sent daily by a mysterious admirer, and you can guess it isn't very long before Penelope succumbs to temptation. With a man like Jeremy in pursuit, who can really blame her? LOL

Jeremy could very accurately be called `idle rich.' Raised in his position as the first son of a wealthy Duke, whose title and funds he later inherited, everything has come easy for Jeremy. While he spends his days in pursuit of various pleasures, he has found his life somewhat unfulfilling lately. Is it boredom, or is something missing? Of course, as he spends more and more time with Penelope, he learns the truth of his malaise, just as he realizes how utterly shiftless and unproductive his life has been until now.

Watching as both Jeremy and Penelope cause positive changes in each other is just inspiring. While they seem to be polar opposites at the beginning, deep underneath, they learn they share similar dreams and sentiments of the sort that make a good foundation for long-lasting love.

I cannot recommend SOMETHING RECKLESS highly enough. Whether or not you read the previous book, you will no doubt find this story a deeply touching sensual romance.

Series Order:
Everything Forbidden (Avon Red)
Something Reckless (Avon Red)

Widow Penelope Norman must be stopped - that is the topic of conversation Jeremy, the Duke of Kilgrath, and his friends are having over drinks and cigars at their club. It seems that Lady Norman has interfered once too often in the lives of the `Nevers' and they want her stopped. Jeremy is lucky enough to draw the shortest matchstick, so it is up to him to silence Penelope. His plan? Seduce her with letters and illicit meetings in order to make her see exactly what she is missing by her crusade. How? By pretending to agree with her campaign to make the men of society faithful to their wives. Does it work? More than he ever thought possible.

Penelope Norman never wanted the job which she has been given. Her outspokenness has gotten her into trouble once too often and before she realizes it, she is given the title leading actress in a battle between the token wives of London's society. All it took was one innocent observation and the ball began rolling so fast that before she was able to breathe, Penelope was being held responsible for the newfound determination of forgotten wives and their hatred of the men who cuckold them. When the Duke of Kilgrath comes to her praising her work and offering to help her in her supposed campaign, Penelope is at once disbelieving as well as smitten. Why would someone as immoral as Jeremy Vaughn want to help her? She discovers exactly how he wants to help when he takes her to places women of society are never allowed. Admittedly, she is spellbound by the lack of dictates and the utter sensuality of these places. So much so that when the letters begin arriving from an unknown but highly eloquent admirer, Penelope can't help but follow her heart.

I was lucky enough to meet Penelope in Jess Michael's prior release, Everything Forbidden. I must admit that Penelope was not one of my favorite characters and I was somewhat dismayed to find out that SOMETHING RECKLESS was Penelope's story. I was genuinely afraid that I would not be able to like her as a heroine. Eight hours later I can say without a shadow of a doubt that Penelope Norman was completely and miserably misunderstood. Having finished SOMETHING RECKLESS, I see exactly where she was coming from and why she did the things that she did. In fact, I honestly adored her in this novel and loved how she handled herself. She never expected to have sensuality in her life after the death of her older husband. She was willing to be seduced and willing to be reckless, something that few society women were able to do. Then there was Jeremy Vaughn. He was a man after my own heart simply because of the way he dealt with Penelope. He wanted to hate her for her supposed influence on the women of the ton. He wanted to make her pay for the marriage troubles being experienced by the men in his club. He really and truly desired her and that is what stood out first and foremost. It was like he was on the edge of a cliff and just needed one slight push to fall in order to admit his love for Penelope. I am so glad he fell.

SOMETHING RECKLESS is simply stunning. I savored every word and action in this phenomenal romance. Jess Michaels has woven a historical tale full of emotions and complex characterizations. I highly recommend it!

In 1819 the "Upper Ten Thousand" male aristocracy members are irate that the Widow Penelope Norman has challenged them for their sensual excesses; she was sick of her late spouse's philandering and assumers other women detest their husbands' unfaithfulness. The Upper Ten Thousand choose a duke wastrel Jeremy Vaughn to end Penelope's campaign.

Although he prefers to stay out of the mess, the challenge to his pride is too great from friends he has known seemingly forever; so Jeremy agrees to end the reign of terror. He figures the easiest means to achieve success is seduce and blackmail Penelope into silence. In daylight Jeremy becomes a friend of Penelope; at night he sneaks into her bedroom wearing a mask. He accomplishes his mission, but feels like he lost the war as he has fallen in love with passionate prude.

The changing relationship between Jeremy and Penelope make for an entertaining Regency romance in which EVERYTHING FORBIDDEN becomes SOMETHING RECKLESS but worth pursuing. The lead couple makes this a fine read as he starts as a cad and she as a crusading prude; over time respect and ultimately love flourishes. However, she loathes the overindulgences of the Upper Ten Thousand at the cost of women and children while he is a card carrying member. Fans will enjoy this fine tale of just who seduced whom.

Harriet Klausner