Seven Nights in a Rogue's Bed (Sons of Sin, #1) by Anna Campbell

Aug 29, 2012 Jill rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance-european

When Sidonie Forsythe's sister, Roberta cannot pay the gaming debts owing to Jonas Merrick, Sidonie comes up with a plan. She offers herself in payment. Jonas Merrick is a bastard, and rich. There is no love lost between him and his cousin William, Sidonie's brother-in-law. But Jonas proposes a new bargain. If Sidonie spends another six nights at the Castle with him, Jonas will write off her sister's debts.

The opening scene as the heroine arrives at the forbidding Castle Craven on the South Devo...more
When Sidonie Forsythe's sister, Roberta cannot pay the gaming debts owing to Jonas Merrick, Sidonie comes up with a plan. She offers herself in payment. Jonas Merrick is a bastard, and rich. There is no love lost between him and his cousin William, Sidonie's brother-in-law. But Jonas proposes a new bargain. If Sidonie spends another six nights at the Castle with him, Jonas will write off her sister's debts.

The opening scene as the heroine arrives at the forbidding Castle Craven on the South Devon Coast is fantastic, evocative. After that wonderful, initial scene the gothic atmosphere loses some of its momentum, swallowed up in the romance and love scenes for the longest time. However, it was the second half of the book that the story really came alive for me and I enjoyed immensely. There was way more happening with the focus no longer on just Jonas and Sidonie.

I had thought Jonas was going to be a dark, sinister lord-of-the-gothic-manor type. He's a bit of a loner in an out-of-the-way mansion. He is reputedly ruthless and has a scarred, unattractive face. But I thought he was a nice guy and not particularly scary or mean. He was sensitive, kind and understanding.

Though I enjoyed this novel, there were a few things that didn’t quite make sense to me. (view spoiler) However, the story and romance was enough for me to overlook these few quibbles.

The writing as you'd expect from Anna Campbell is polished and smooth. In the first half the romance was lovely with two likable leads. And the sexy times were steamy and delicious. We meet two more bastards - Cam Rothermere and Richard Harmsworth - whom I'm guessing will be the heroes in following books.

Overall, Seven Nights in a Rogue's Bed is a very good story and a great beginning to a new series.

Steam: 3.5

ARC courtesy of Grand Central Publishing (Forever) via NetGalley

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Oct 02, 2012 Laura the Highland Hussy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Review posted at Demon Lover's Books & More

This is a tortured hero story at its best. He is scarred, both inside and out, and Sidonie proves to both of him that he’s not quite the beast he thinks he is. This was a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, and I found it to be just wonderful.

Sidonie arrives at Castle Craven in her sister’s place, to honor a bargain made with a man with no honor. From all her sister has told her, she will be facing the devil himself. From all her sister’s husband has...more Review posted at Demon Lover's Books & More

This is a tortured hero story at its best. He is scarred, both inside and out, and Sidonie proves to both of him that he’s not quite the beast he thinks he is. This was a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, and I found it to be just wonderful.

Sidonie arrives at Castle Craven in her sister’s place, to honor a bargain made with a man with no honor. From all her sister has told her, she will be facing the devil himself. From all her sister’s husband has ranted and raved, he looks like the devil as well.

Jonas was born to privilege, and he was titled, until someone dragged his mother’s name through the gutters and proved that his Spanish mother was never wed to his father. His bastard status lost the entailment, going to his cousin, who lorded it over him at every chance he got. But Jonas got to keep the money, only the title went to his cousin. Jonas made it his mission in life to become richer than anyone. But his scarred face didn’t cover a heart of gold. Quite the opposite, in fact.

Sidonie’s sister gambles well above her means, and she owes Jonas a huge amount of money. In exchange for not telling her abusive husband (his cousin), she agrees to 7 nights in his bed-The ultimate revenge in Jonas’ book. Sidonie and Roberta realize her husband will literally kill her if he finds out, so Sidonie goes in Roberta’s place. Her virginity to excuse Roberta’s gambling debts.

The gothic feel and crumbling castle mirror the hero’s black heart and yet...is he really such a beast? Oh he plays it well, but he isn’t the devil he was painted. Don't get me wrong Jonas is no saint, but he and Sidonie strike a new bargain. He plans to seduce her in those 7 days, and if he fails she leaves, virtue intact.

The romance was lovely, and the writing was beautiful. But Sidonie is hiding something. Something big. Jonas asks her to stay with him, to marry him, but she says she needs time. Everything changes once she returns home and Jonas is arrested for murder. Sidonie has proof to free him, but it means the fragile trust he had in her will be broken.

The last quarter of the book is heartbreaking. I was so frustrated with the characters, but they needed to work it out in their own time. And I loved how Beauty took her future with both hands and wouldn’t let go, no matter how beastly her Beast was.

***ARC courtesy of Netgalley and Forever Romance
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Jul 24, 2012 Azzurra rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, romance-historical, romance-regency, netgalley

Sidonie has no faith in men.
With her father's example and the experience of living with the violent and erratic Viscount Hillbrook, husband of a sister who years of abuse had made unrecognizable, Sidonie decide that marriage -or better, faith in the other sex- is not something that she can voluntarily accept. She has no intention of giving a power so great in the hand of a man, whoever he may be.
But circumstances often lead us against our wishes and our life choices. The same happens to Sidonie...more

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Sep 24, 2012 Mandi Schreiner rated it 2 of 5 stars

This is a joint review with my review partner May.

May: When Mandi told me she heard of a book coming out that just screamed “This is a May kind of book” I was intrigued and picked it up as soon as I could. Seven Nights in a Rogue’s Bed plays on the Beauty and the Beast trope, but is at the same time its own unique and memorable story.

Merrick wants revenge upon his cousin more than anything else. Luckily, revenge is easy for him to find not only by being incredibly wealthy and successful (while h...more

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Jul 31, 2012 Adria (Romance Reviews) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Originally posted on Breath of Life Reviews

Can I just say "Wow?" I LOVED this book, I mean truly loved it. Let me start off by saying that I love a hero that is at a disadvantage, whether it be a personality or physical disadvantage like Jonas, I love it. Too many times in a romance novel it's the female that is at the disadvantage and needs rescuing from the hero. Not so in Seven Nights in a Rogue's Bed, it's Jonas Merrick who needs to be rescued. His emotional damage is severe, and on top of t...more Originally posted on Breath of Life Reviews

Can I just say "Wow?" I LOVED this book, I mean truly loved it. Let me start off by saying that I love a hero that is at a disadvantage, whether it be a personality or physical disadvantage like Jonas, I love it. Too many times in a romance novel it's the female that is at the disadvantage and needs rescuing from the hero. Not so in Seven Nights in a Rogue's Bed, it's Jonas Merrick who needs to be rescued. His emotional damage is severe, and on top of that, he was scarred physically on purpose by someone close to him. Almost from the beginning the obstacles seemed to much for the heroine, Sidone (what a great name by the way). I didn't know if she could ever come close to over coming them and getting her happy ending, but she's one smart and determined character.

Jonas Merrick broke my heart. He may WANT to come off as a careless and cold man but he isn't. A big part of him wants to be accepted and loved for himself and not for what he can do for them. His trust is something that is hard to earn, fragile to keep and almost impossible to regain once lost. What a wonderful hero he made! The ultimate tortured soul in my opinion.

The emotional connection between Jonas and Sidone takes such a long time to form and when it does it is so fragile, so delicate that it's almost impossible to believe they will make it and that's what makes Seven Nights in a Rogue's Bed so good. It's the angst, the uncertainty and the longing between Jonas and Sidone that kept me turning the pages until the wee hours of the morning.

One thing that is certain though, throughout the book there are some really steamy "almost sexy time but not quite yet" moments that left me flushed and fanning myself, and I'm not even going to mention the sexytime scenes for fear of combustion. So reader beware!

Seven Nights in a Rogue's Bed is the first book in a new series by Anna Campbell and though it hasn't even been released yet, I'm terribly eager for the next book in the series and judging by the teaser, it promises to be a really good read just like this one!(less)

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Oct 28, 2012 Kat ~ Forever Book Lover ♥ rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, historical, netgalley

You can find this review and more at Forever Book Lover.

This was, what I think, a beautiful rendition of Beauty and the Beast. From the first page, I knew this was going to be a great read!. The synopsis and cover art drew me in, but it was the writing that kept my attention throughout the entire book. No lag time, no dull moments, this was a sensuous, romantic page turner.

The heroine, Sidonie, has the character traits that I love: spunky, intelligent and against all odds will still come out ahe...more

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Dec 03, 2012 Julie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle, scarred-hero

Defies all logic is exactly the way I'd describe this book as well! I could barely finish this annoying romance between two distinctly unlikeable people. Sidonie, the heroine who's name I had the worst time pronouncing inside my head, was holier than thou at first. But oh how she crumbles completely in the arms of the dastardly hero, Jonas Merrick, whose scars and tortured past make him hard and cruel. Then they have a few blissful days of non stop sex - yet she will not marry him when he asks h...more

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Mar 23, 2013 Elis Madison rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: adventure-and-danger, character-development, era-regency, hero-needs-colonoscopy-2-find-head, heroine-is-not-superwoman, love-to-hate-the-hero, mean-people, martyr-complex, marriage-of-convenience, shallow-end-of-gene-pool, use-your-words, we-don-t-need-no-stinkin-logic

Yet another Beauty and the Beast storyline—but it's Campbell, so I don't care. She does damaged, broody heroes like nobody I’ve read, and even though they basically spend most of the book stomping all over the heroines, I love them.

Anyway, Mr. Damaged and Broody in this book is Jonas Merrick.

The man has some really nasty scars on his face, and a deep-down conviction that he truly is the monster in his mirror. He was raised as heir to a viscountcy, but then his uncle had Jonas’ parents’ marriag...more

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Feb 04, 2013 Callixta rated it 5 of 5 stars

http://www.blue-moon.fr/spip.php?arti...

Avis de Callixta

Anna Campbell est une auteure passionnante, qui n’écrit pas énormément mais choisit toujours de placer des héros dans des situations dramatiques et intensément passionnées.Elle inaugure ici une nouvelle série autour de personnages qui partagent tous un problème, celui de leur légitimité.

Lire un roman d’Anna Campbell est la quasi certitude de plonger dans des huis clos fiévreux et intenses. Ce roman ne fait pas exception. Sidonie Forsythe a...more http://www.blue-moon.fr/spip.php?arti...

Avis de Callixta

Anna Campbell est une auteure passionnante, qui n’écrit pas énormément mais choisit toujours de placer des héros dans des situations dramatiques et intensément passionnées.Elle inaugure ici une nouvelle série autour de personnages qui partagent tous un problème, celui de leur légitimité.

Lire un roman d’Anna Campbell est la quasi certitude de plonger dans des huis clos fiévreux et intenses. Ce roman ne fait pas exception. Sidonie Forsythe a décidé de prendre la place de sa sœur et de se présenter chez celui à qui elle doit beaucoup d’argent, Jonas Merrick. Cet homme richissime a acculé la sœur de Sidonie à la ruine à cause de son goût pour le jeu. Celle-ci veut aider sa sœur, mal mariée, victime d’un homme abusif. La réputation de Jonas est épouvantable. Il est passe pour un solitaire, jouisseur et défiguré par d’horribles cicatrices. Sidonie est prête au sacrifice.

L’essentiel du roman va bien entendu se dérouler dans un sombre manoir au fin fond de l’Angleterre quasi coupé du monde comme très souvent, c’est le cas pour les héros d’Anna Campbell. Mais contrairement à ce qu’elle fait souvent, il ne sera pas question ici, d’une relation à la limite de la force entre une femme retenue contre son gré et un homme bien décidé à la faire céder. Jonas n’est pas tout à fait celui que l’on croît et a ses propres raisons pour agir ainsi. Il est touché, ému par Sidonie. La jeune femme, malgré sa naïveté et sa jeunesse sait aussi lui tenir tête c’est donc un couple équilibré qui se fait face et va apprendre à se découvrir.

Une fois de plus, nous sommes dans une variation de La Belle et la Bête. Jonas est sévèrement défiguré et a effrayé plus d’une femme par le passé. Il n’a pas l’habitude de les voir lui tenir tête ni même le fixer sans effroi. Ce thème court tout au long du roman Anna Campbell exploite remarquablement cet aspect du livre. Tout d’abord au second plan, il revient régulièrement car Jonas se pense indigne d’un intérêt sincère et ses cicatrices sont le résultat d’un passé douloureux. Les miroirs qui ornent tous les murs de sa chambre et même le plafond illustrent sont malaise et montrent une intéressante façon de composer avec cette disgrâce.

Sidonie est un personnage passionnant aussi, aimante et généreuse qui va passer très vite au-delà des apparences. La relation qui se développe alors est d’une grande sensualité, mais également très romantique car tous deux tombent irrévocablement amoureux malgré tous les obstacles.

Anna Campbell reste fidèle à sa réputation. Le roman est marqué par le drame et les difficultés. Il a clairement un aspect plutôt sombre mais il y a aussi une vraie lueur d’espoir car Sidonie demeure très positive et l’amour qui naît est superbe, délicat, comme un fleur qui s’épanouit dans un désert. Une fois de plus cette auteure australienne réussit une histoire compliquée et sombre et nous entraine dans une relation très passionnée et sensuelle.

Il y aura une suite avec deux amis de Jonas eux aussi confrontés à l’indignité de l’illégitimité qui a profondément marqué leur vie. Espérons qu’Anna Campbell conservera ce ton brillant et sophistiqué qui sert si bien ses histoires.(less)

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Jan 27, 2013 Heather rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: beauty-and-the-beast, gothic-romance, regency-romance

I'm struggling to rate this novel. I'm a sucker for a "Beauty and the Beast" themed romance, but the beast in this story was a little too tortured for my liking. I'll get to that in a moment.

This is the second book by Anna Campbell that I've read (the first being Claiming the Courtesan), and I really enjoy her writing. The narrative flowed, and I never felt pulled out of the story.

There was a very gothic feel, with most of the book taking place at dark and foreboding Castle Craven, Jonas Merrick...more I'm struggling to rate this novel. I'm a sucker for a "Beauty and the Beast" themed romance, but the beast in this story was a little too tortured for my liking. I'll get to that in a moment.

This is the second book by Anna Campbell that I've read (the first being Claiming the Courtesan), and I really enjoy her writing. The narrative flowed, and I never felt pulled out of the story.

There was a very gothic feel, with most of the book taking place at dark and foreboding Castle Craven, Jonas Merrick's hideaway on Devon's stormy coast. I could picture the unrelenting rains lashing at the windows and the strong winds crashing waves on the shore and blowing against the castle walls. The contrast of the violence outside to the quiet, barren, candle-lit inside gave the story a certain coziness that I enjoyed.

Now to the characters: I liked Sidonie. Compared to many heroines I've read, she was sensible, compassionate, loyal to her family and quite mature for her age in certain respects. She took her time to make decisions, and didn't allow herself to be rushed. At a certain point in the story, she developed feelings for Jonas and wanted to be with him. She had certain secrets she hadn't revealed to him, though, because doing so might bring harm to her loved ones. She struggled with how to handle the situation, not wanting to hurt either side. I think she made the right decision, ultimately, but this is where I soured on the story....

I had loved Jonas, but in the last third of the book, he certainly proved to be beastly. Sidonie managed to crack through his hard shell in the first two-thirds of the book. The beast was tamed, and he was a new man. When he found out Sidonie's secret, which she revealed to him once she was able to, he turned on her and reverted back to his former self, shutting himself away behind his tightly controlled, unfeeling exterior. I thought he was even worse than he was at the beginning. He was emotionally and verbally cruel, rejecting and mocking her. Even his inner monologues were cold and unfeeling, except for when he was pitying himself or wishing he was dead, and it shattered my heart for Sidonie's sake. I literally had a physical reaction to this part of the book. It was horrible! He was 32 years old, and still feeling sorry for himself, refusing to see Sidonie's predicament, and punishing her for it. Grow up, Merrick! Unfortunately, Sidonie, being the compassionate creature she is, rallied and rammed at his defenses for the second time until he was sobbing like a baby and begging her to stay. I was hoping that she would just tell him to go shrivel up and die, and then flounce out of room and go make a happy life for herself. He didn't deserve her.

Now that I have that out of my system, I have to say I give this novel 4 stars. I think it does the author credit that I got so upset about a fictional character. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series.(less)

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Nov 16, 2012 My Book Addiction and More MBA rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance, regency-england, sons-of-sin-1

SEVEN NIGHTS IN A ROGUE'S BED by Anna Campbell is an exciting Regency historical romance. Book 1 in the "Sons of Sin" series. I love this author's stories and this was no exception. "Sons of Sin" has proven to be the beginning of an exciting and intriguing series. This is the story of a passionate rogue's and the women who capture their hearts. Follow Sidonie Forsythe,who has agreed to spend a week in ruthless loner,Jonas Merrick's bed instead of her sister. Who owes Jonas money for a gambling d...more

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Nov 06, 2012 Caitlin O'Sullivan rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical_fiction, romance

Largely solid historical romance, with one relatively minor problem that made me crazy throughout the first two-thirds of the book: The premise is that the virginal and spinstery heroine is headed off to a remote castle to satisfy the sexual urges of the hero to wipe out the ruinous debts that the heroine's sister has accumulated from gambling; she discovers he's actually been badly wronged by her relatives, and maybe she doesn't really want to be a spinster, and eventually they join forces to r...more

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Oct 24, 2012 Kathleen J rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: historic-romance

Titillating but in a disquieting way.

Back in the mid-twentienth century, girls were reared to believe that having sexual feelings made you a terrible person and, God forbid, you should let a man "do things" to you. That made you a slut and thenceforth no "nice" guy would ever want to marry you. In that era, it was not unusual for "girls" (which then included all unmarried females under age 50) to have rape fantasies or fantasies about being coerced to have sex. Now, these were not fantasies abo...more

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Oct 23, 2012 Jean rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance, england, romance

This is your typical Beauty and the Beast story. In fact, it follows very closely to the original story even though it is adapted to this story. Even with its faithful adherence to the well known storyline, it doesn't take away from the suspense of figuring out how the story will unfold or at what point does the story deviate from the B & B story.

Jonas at times lays his "evil" on a little too thick and his guilty conscious about how he made his money to the extent that it is portrayed seems...more

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Oct 21, 2012 Shan rated it 4 of 5 stars

I have been sitting here trying to figure out what to say about this book. I liked it a lot for the most part. I say for the most part,because all of the back and forth with the Sidonie. She was attracted to this man and she went their to expressly have sex with him anyway, so why act one minute like you want him and the next like your morals are too high to sleep with him.

Now Jonas on the other hand. I loved him he stayed true to himself throughout the entire book. He was a man used to being a...more

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Sep 27, 2012 Rosie rated it 3 of 5 stars

There’s a wonderful Gothic atmosphere that pervades a great deal of Anna Campbell’s latest historical romance. The crumbling castle and evil threat that has forced Sidonie to the remote castle sets the scene for believing the worst of Jonas.
How could he be so evil as to exchange a week of debauchery with his cousin’s wife for keeping her gambling debts secret from her husband? How could he be so depraved as to accept the sacrifice of the sister’s virginity as an alternative? Really, if Jonas wa...more

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Sep 08, 2012 Shauni rated it 4 of 5 stars

Does any of this interest you? Tortured hero? Gothic Castle? Stormy nights spent trying to escape on the cliffs? Plotting Despot? Rogue? Rake? If so, Seven Nights in a Rogue's Bed is a must. Anna Campbell writes a Gothic romance in true Bronte fashion.

Jonas Merrick is scared, physically and emotionally. His fathers marriage was decreed non existent when he was a child and he, who was supposed to be the next Viscount was suddenly a Bastard. In a society that practices the sins of the fathers, he...more

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Sep 02, 2012 Marybeth (Manhattan Reader) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebook, arc, favorites

This was honestly a nice break from the Highlander romances that I have been reading like there is no tomorrow. I forgot how much I loved stories about English society and all that jazz.

To be honest, when I first requested this book I honestly thought there would be nothing but smut. Lots and lots of smut. I mean, that's a reasonable assumption: a girl will be spending seven nights with a man and will be sleeping with him. She was practically handing over her virginity to him. What I wasn't expe...more This was honestly a nice break from the Highlander romances that I have been reading like there is no tomorrow. I forgot how much I loved stories about English society and all that jazz.

To be honest, when I first requested this book I honestly thought there would be nothing but smut. Lots and lots of smut. I mean, that's a reasonable assumption: a girl will be spending seven nights with a man and will be sleeping with him. She was practically handing over her virginity to him. What I wasn't expecting was a tongue lashing Sidonie or a man like Jonas who would not go to Sidnoie's bed unless invited in. That kind of shocked me a little. But I was really glad. Obviously they wouldn't make a very good love pair if Jonas just started ripping her clothes.

I like how well Campbell played the background of Jonas into present day or just how much connection the two had. Even though these stories are pretty predictable, I still found myself chewing my nails when shit hit the fan. I mean, obviously it couldn't be all fluffy tales but I still did not see coming the enormity of how dramatic they could be.

And when I say dramatic, I really mean dramatic. I get, probably being the bastard son of some Viscount is not easy, especially when the title goes to a cruel cousin (who is also responsible for a very ugly scar) but talk about letting someone's emotions ride the wave. I was backing up the couple a hundred percent, but I was still annoyed. Sidonie, I get it, she was trying to be the bigger person, but I wish she had some pride as well. Or maybe it's just me stuck in my old ways.

Either way, the ending still made me happy. I liked the two supporting characters of Richard and Cam, who will evidently have their own books, which I hope means that this won't be the last of Jonas. Yes, he's overly emotional, but he's still a good man.

I found myself really liking this story. I liked Sidonie for her devotion to her family, but I didn't like how that devotion basically controlled her life. I also didn't like the way it seemed to be either/or situation going on between Jonas and Roberta, Sidonie's sister, and the reason Sidonie was in the state she originally was. All I can say is that if Roberta truly cared about Sidonie, she would not have caused all the pain she did.

Overall, it was a great story. Campbell made clear right away who the good guys were and who the bad guys were. She gave reader's a clear feeling of where each character came from and gave a lot of promise for what would happen later on. I mean, this series is called 'Son's of Sin' and sinfully these men are.

And I think that the more sinful, the better the story.

This is my first book by Campbell and I am so glad I wasn't disappointed. I am looking forward to the next book. (less)

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Aug 25, 2012 Lexi rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was received as an ARC from NetGalley.

I have been reading a lot of historical Romances lately and this one by Anna Campbell was hard to put down.

Sidonie Forsythe arrives at Castle Craven desperate to help her sister, Roberta, repay a gambling debt she has accrued through an unfortunate game of cards. To settle her debt to Jonas Merrick, Roberta is to ‘give herself’ to this man who also happens to be her brother in law, the illegitimate brother of her husband William. William and Jonas...more This book was received as an ARC from NetGalley.

I have been reading a lot of historical Romances lately and this one by Anna Campbell was hard to put down.

Sidonie Forsythe arrives at Castle Craven desperate to help her sister, Roberta, repay a gambling debt she has accrued through an unfortunate game of cards. To settle her debt to Jonas Merrick, Roberta is to ‘give herself’ to this man who also happens to be her brother in law, the illegitimate brother of her husband William. William and Jonas however, despise one another.

Sidonie knows that William often takes his temper out on his wife, so to save her sister, Sidonie decides to sacrifice herself and her virginity to the man her sister has described as the cruel, scarred, Jonas Merrick.

Jonas is surprised when Sidonie shows up in her sister’s place and does his best to intimidate her into submission, but Sidonie holds her own and refuses to be dismissed. She is going to see this thing through to the end and repeatedly offers herself to Jonas, despite her terror. She isn’t intimidated by him, or his scars which she hardly notices after their initial meeting. She’s more frightened of the feelings he awakens in her.

Jonas does the unexpected and refuses to bed the fair Sidonie as she lay naked in his bed. Instead he asks her to spend 7 days with her and allow him to convince her to willingly sleep with him. If she resists him, she is free to leave, her sister’s debt repaid and her virtue intact. And if she cannot resist him, then they will share a wonderful night together and if she becomes pregnant she must let him know. He makes her promise this so that his child will not have to grow up with the stigma of being a bastard as he has faced his entire life.
Sidonie agrees to the terms and even though she hardly knows Jonas, she is confident he will not force himself upon her, rather he will use his hands and his kisses to seduce her body and mind. Her overconfidence is tested to the limits over the next days at Castle Craven and what she and Jonas find together is more terrifying and exciting than either imagined.

Anna Campbell writes a wonderful story of sacrifice and redemption. Her characters come to life from the moment of their first interaction. The banter between Jonas and Sidonie will put a smile on your face as they try to protect themselves from what they are beginning to feel for one another. Sidonie is a strong woman who is not easily intimidated and Jonas, for all his bluster, is intrigued by her to no end. Where bedding Roberta would have been about disgracing his idiot brother, seducing Sidonie is about saving himself from his demons.

Trust, lies, and love become tightly intertwined in Seven Nights in a Rogue’s Bed by Anna Campbell. Give it a read and fall in love with Jonas and Sidonie as I did.

Thanks for Reading My Mind
http://readingmymindreviews.blogspot.... (less)

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Aug 16, 2012 Nas Dean rated it 5 of 5 stars

SEVEN NIGHTS IN A ROGUE’S BED by author Anna Campbell is a September 2012 historical romance release.

Sidonie Forsythe reluctantly came to the notorious rogue’s den to submit her virtue for seven nights in exchange for her sister’s gambling debt. Expecting an amoral monster she faces a hot, sexy man who attracts her. Now she is desperate to lose her virtue to him!

Jonas Merrick is well aware of his reputation and his scarred face. He is hardened against the pity people feel for him, yet he is mov...more

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Jul 28, 2012 Sara Horney rated it 3 of 5 stars

Desperate to save her sister's life, Sidonie Forsythe has agreed to submit herself to a terrible fate: Beyond the foreboding walls of Castle Craven, a notorious, hideously scarred scoundrel will take her virtue over the course of seven sinful nights. Yet instead of a monster, she encounters a man like no other. And during this week, she comes to care for Jonas Merrick in ways that defy all logic-even as a dark secret she carries threatens them both.

. . . SPARK A LIFETIME OF PASSIONATE SURRENDER?...more Desperate to save her sister's life, Sidonie Forsythe has agreed to submit herself to a terrible fate: Beyond the foreboding walls of Castle Craven, a notorious, hideously scarred scoundrel will take her virtue over the course of seven sinful nights. Yet instead of a monster, she encounters a man like no other. And during this week, she comes to care for Jonas Merrick in ways that defy all logic-even as a dark secret she carries threatens them both.

. . . SPARK A LIFETIME OF PASSIONATE SURRENDER?

Ruthless loner Jonas knows exactly who he is. Should he forget, even for a moment, the curse he bears, a mere glance in the mirror serves as an agonizing reminder. So when the lovely Sidonie turns up on his doorstep, her seduction is an even more delicious prospect than he originally planned. But the hardened outcast is soon moved by her innocent beauty, sharp wit, and surprising courage. Now as dangerous enemies gather at the gate to destroy them, can their new, fragile love survive?

I really enjoyed the first 3 quarters of Seven Nights in a Rogue's Bed. Anna Campbell writes fantastic characters. Sidonie is witty, caring, and smart, while Jonas Merrick is brooding, dark and complicated. It was a pleasure to watch these two well written characters get together.

What ruined the book for me was the "big misunderstanding". You know, the misunderstanding or event that throws a monkey wrench into the newly developed love two characters feel for each other? Well, without posting spoilers Sidonie has information that could save her sister's life and free her from a horrible situation. That same information could right a past wrong that has dogged the steps of Jonas' life. All through the book, Ms. Campbell discusses the complete lack of power women had at this point in history. This information is Sidonie and, in turn, her sister's power. Merrick, on the other hand, has everything material that he needs and is an astute businessman, with enough connections that, although this information would change somethings and right some very old wrongs, is not something he needs. However when he finds out Sidonie has kept it from him he does a complete 180 from her caring lover to a cruel and ruthless jerk. He is horrible and abusive to Sidonie further dis-empowering her. Yet, she follows him and they're eventually reconciled and live happily ever after.

I could not get past how horrible Jonas was to Sidonie. It was awful and as a result I totally did not buy their happy ending.
3 Stars for the first 3quarters of Seven Night's in a Rogue's Bed and the beautiful cover art. 0 Stars for the last quarter of the book and specifically for Jonas Merrick.

Review Copy provided by NetGalley(less)

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Jul 13, 2012 Farrah rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review also appears on my blog at http://www.thegoldenruleof666.blogspo...

Seven Nights in a Rogue's Bed was a delightful romance full of secrets and hints of gothic creepiness. In other words, I loved it :)

So, this book has hints of beauty and the beast. A beautiful girl taking someone else's place in the castle of a beastly man. And of course, the girl sees past the face to fall in love. That by itself guaranteed a good story. But the author didn't stop there. She added layers of secrets a...more This review also appears on my blog at http://www.thegoldenruleof666.blogspo...

Seven Nights in a Rogue's Bed was a delightful romance full of secrets and hints of gothic creepiness. In other words, I loved it :)

So, this book has hints of beauty and the beast. A beautiful girl taking someone else's place in the castle of a beastly man. And of course, the girl sees past the face to fall in love. That by itself guaranteed a good story. But the author didn't stop there. She added layers of secrets and possible insanity (not one of the main couple), as well as several more little things that made this so much more than a rendition of beauty and the beast.

Sidonie (that's a cool name) was wonderful. She was strong throughout the story, even when Jonas was acting the part of the beast. But she also knew when to give in. She didn't fight against her love, she accepted it. She's been looking after her sister ever since the disaster of a marriage that got her sister bonded to an abusive husband until death do them part. So, she has been the strong one for a while. I can't really say anything bad about her. When I say that, you know that this character must be something special.

Jonas was complicated. He's had a hell of a time in his life. The amount he's been through is truly astounding. He has scars both inside and out. But even though he tries to play the part of a beast, he's not. He's still a sweet man, who is more inclined to kindness rather than cruelty. It doesn't take long for you to find out. As much as he tries to deny it, he is actually a nice guy. I do have one complaint about him, and this is a complaint big enough to knock off a point. Towards the end, he finds out that Sidonie did something. (No, I won't tell you what). I thought he had ample reason to be angry. But he didn't just get angry, he became furious and blew the whole thing WAY out of proportion, acting as if Sidonie has committed an unthinkable crime. I understood why he got angry, but I don't think he had any right to freak out the way he did. What Sidonie did was understandable and I felt like if he loved her, he should have understood her reasons. It made me really annoyed with him. This is repaired by the end, but literally at the last chapter. Even though I liked Jonas' character, that issue posed a huge problem for me.

The story is fast paced. There are no slow moments. The plot picks up immediately on the first page and keeps going right to the end. The ending was sweet. A nice happily ever after.

Seven Nights in a Rogue's Bed was a lovely book, full of gothic romance and secrets. Other than that one problem, I loved it.

4/5

Thanks to Netgalley for a copy(less)

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Nov 04, 2012 Virginia Campbell rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance

Author Anna Campbell begins her "Sons of Sin" series with "Seven Nights in Rogue's Bed", and quite a beginning it is! The rogue in question is Jonas Merrick, a seemingly rich and reckless illegitimate son of the late Viscount Hillbrook. Jonas, scarred in bullying incident from his youth, hardened his heart along with his muscles and fought his way into power, becoming a broker for the idle rich. As his own fortune grew, so did his desire to ruin the man who had viciously slashed his face with a...more Author Anna Campbell begins her "Sons of Sin" series with "Seven Nights in Rogue's Bed", and quite a beginning it is! The rogue in question is Jonas Merrick, a seemingly rich and reckless illegitimate son of the late Viscount Hillbrook. Jonas, scarred in bullying incident from his youth, hardened his heart along with his muscles and fought his way into power, becoming a broker for the idle rich. As his own fortune grew, so did his desire to ruin the man who had viciously slashed his face with a blade, leaving him forever acutely aware of his facial disfigurement. His greatest goal in life is to bring down William Merrick, Lord Hillbrook, his own cousin who inherited Jonas' father's wealth and estates as his legal heir. Seeking to ruin Hillbrook, Jonas engages in card play with Hillbrook's wife, Roberta. Of course, she is no match at cards for the determined Jonas, and his price for payment of her debt to him is for her to spend a week in his home and in his bed. However, his plan is thwarted when the woman who comes to pay the debt is not Roberta, but her sister Sidonie Forsythe. His ire at being duped is soon overcome by his fascination for the lovely and innocent Sidonie. She is not turned away by his scarred face, and she speaks her mind to him. The more time he spends with her, the more his heart begins to stir along with his desire. Sidonie discovers that Jonas is more man than beast, and she finds herself enthralled by this compelling and passionate misfit. Both Jonas and Sidonie have deep secrets, and the danger of treachery threatens to destroy their newly found relationship. Sidonie must return to her own life and see to the welfare of her sister and nephews, but will Jonas be able to let her go? Can these two hearts which now beat as one find a way to defeat their enemies and triumph in love? Anna Campbell is a master of sensual, suspenseful historical romance, and reading one of her books will never be enough. I look forward to the next two books in the "Sons of Sin" series. Highly recommended!

Review Copy Gratis Grand Central Publishing(less)

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Aug 11, 2012 Jess rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, historical-romance, net-galley

I wasn't sure what I was going to be getting with this book and I'm happy to report that I really enjoyed this book. I've never read anything by this author but I most definitely will be reading the next book in the Sons of Sin series.

This book starts off with a really intriguing scene, the main character Sidonie Forsythe showing up at the creepily decrepit home of Jonas Merrick who she's heard is a monster. Sidonie is there to protect her sister Roberta from the monster of Craven Castle and the...more I wasn't sure what I was going to be getting with this book and I'm happy to report that I really enjoyed this book. I've never read anything by this author but I most definitely will be reading the next book in the Sons of Sin series.

This book starts off with a really intriguing scene, the main character Sidonie Forsythe showing up at the creepily decrepit home of Jonas Merrick who she's heard is a monster. Sidonie is there to protect her sister Roberta from the monster of Craven Castle and the only way to do so is for her to offer herself in her sister's place. Jonas just wants to get even with his brother and to do that he has called in all of Roberta's gambling debts. Either she pays him all the money she owes (which would allow her husband to find out what she's been doing) or she can spend one week with him in his home doing the nasty. It seems a little ridiculous that Roberta would then send her virgin sister to handle her mess, but that she does. Sidonie and Jonas enter into a deal, she will stay with him and he can attempt to seduce her but if she says no then he needs to walk away. He has seven days to persuade her. While all this is going on, Sidonie is also holding on to a secret that could remake Jonas' life and also make him hate her for good.

I loved Jonas' character! He was a mix of everything I like in a historical romance hero. He was a rake, a tortured hero, a sensitive lover.. I mean come on. What more could I ask for to read about? At first I was a little leery of the story line, it is a little far out of the realm of reality. But because of the way Campbell told the story and because I adored Jonas so much I couldn't help but enjoy what was going on.

Sidonie was also an interesting mix of innocence and sexuality. She had no idea what she was doing but as she became closer to Jonas the sexual compatibility just exploded.

I do wish some of the other characters had a different ending. I think one got off to easy and the other just never really learned from their mistake. I'm curious to see where the author takes the story in the next novel.(less)

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May 01, 2013 Aldy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: regencia, historica, favorito, reread-d, trato-a-cambio-de-algo, odio-a-amor, embarazada, quotes

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Es un libro hermoso, tiene mil vueltas pero jamás te aburre, un libro lleno de real amor que se va construyendo de a poco, él siempre está allí para ella, un verdadero caballero, jamás la presiona y vive cuidándola.
Él es una gran persona y se siente mal por la apariencia de su rostro, realmente hasta el epílogo (y el fin de la historia bah, jamás cambia) no puede entender como la prota puede estar interesada en él, dan ganas de abrazarlo <3.

Infierno. No deseaba que recorriera su horrible cara...more

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Feb 27, 2013 Mel rated it 1 of 5 stars

Horrid Book. Seriously. It's beneath you to even pick up this novel. I have to state that I cannot ever see myself reading another book from Anna Campbell. This book was dreadful. I don't know which was worse, the long-winded way in which this author chooses to have her character's speak is aggrivating. The character's don't seem to have much depth except for the main male character who is scarred, angry, and bitter. Sidinoie (or whatever her stupid name is) falls in love in 1 week, but doesn't...more

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Oct 31, 2012 Jonetta rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Sidonie Forsythe agrees to replace her sister in repaying a gambling debt owed to Jonas Merrick and it's an unusual obligation. Jonas despises her sister's husband who is his cousin and requiring his wife to spend a week with him in his bed is the ultimate revenge. However, when Sidonie shows up on his doorstep instead, the game changes.

Jonas is the ultimate tortured hero having had his face disfigured and scarred in his youth and labeled a bastard after his parents' marriage was determined to...more Sidonie Forsythe agrees to replace her sister in repaying a gambling debt owed to Jonas Merrick and it's an unusual obligation. Jonas despises her sister's husband who is his cousin and requiring his wife to spend a week with him in his bed is the ultimate revenge. However, when Sidonie shows up on his doorstep instead, the game changes.

Jonas is the ultimate tortured hero having had his face disfigured and scarred in his youth and labeled a bastard after his parents' marriage was determined to not be legal. Sidonie is his perfect foil as she is neither intimidated or repulsed by him. Their banter is incredibly clever and when they eventually come together it's just about combustible. Be prepared for some pretty steamy and erotic love scenes as these two are highly sensual people. They bring the best and worst out of each other.

The writing is pretty extraordinary with sophisticated dialogue, almost an archaic voice reminiscent of the era. The use of alternating, multiple points of view in third person narrative provides immediate insight into the characters' reactions to each other, which really worked well for me. Sidonie and Jonas are intelligently developed and their emotional reactions to each other were always consistent with their characterization. The additional conflicts presented by Sidonie's sister, Roberta, and her husband, William who is also Jonas' cousin, served the story really well, providing intrigue but never detracting from the main crux of the story. When their relationship becomes challenged, I felt their anguish and suffering as if it were happening to me, being completely absorbed in their saga.

I loved this well-written and touching story, even though I thought Sidonie's initial resistance was a bit protracted and felt tedious after a while. However, the payoff was huge once the story progressed. It's also a variant of the classic Beauty and the Beast tale with a sensual twist. I'm anxious to read more by this author and am definitely signing on for the next book in this series.

(I received an ARC from NetGalley)(less)

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Oct 29, 2012 Caz rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 4-5-stars, arc, kindle, romance-other

There were a few things that didn't quite work for me in this book, but on the whole it was an engaging and often sexy read.
I think the problem with “Beauty and the Beast" stories like this one is that the Beast has to be sufficiently beastly whilst being attractive to both the heroine and the reader - and that is a difficult balance to find. Unfortunately, I don't think the author got it quite right in this case. If Merrick had been as cruel and unfeeling as she would have us believe, he would,...more There were a few things that didn't quite work for me in this book, but on the whole it was an engaging and often sexy read.
I think the problem with “Beauty and the Beast" stories like this one is that the Beast has to be sufficiently beastly whilst being attractive to both the heroine and the reader - and that is a difficult balance to find. Unfortunately, I don't think the author got it quite right in this case. If Merrick had been as cruel and unfeeling as she would have us believe, he would, surely have taken his ‘payment‘ without compunction. Instead, he is immediately compassionate and ultimately intrigued enough by Sidonie to allow her to remain untouched and to strike a bargain with her.

That said however, it seems to me that what we have in our Beast is someone who is so convinced of his lack of goodness and finer feeling that he is determined to live up to his public image for profligacy and ruthlessness. His scars are not just physical, which is not at all surprising given what we later learn of his childhood and he's a good man beneath all the self-loathing and the cynicism.

I enjoyed the way the relationship between Merrick and Sidonie developed. There was plenty of verbal sparring and lots of sexual tension; and I felt that it was very important that when the pair finally ‘did the deed' , Merrick had released Sidonie from her obligation so she could make her own choice.

I have to say that I wasn't really over keen on all the blindfold sex, and confess to being somewhat incredulous at Sidonie's fast transformation from blushing virgin to a woman who felt reasonably confident tying her lover to the bed posts!
But then I suppose this is a romance novel...

The final third of the book felt a little rushed and occasionally a little muddled; Sidonie suddenly made a miraculous recovery after spending three months hiding away, a shadow of her former self and follows Merrick all the way to Devon whereas before she'd barely had the energy to walk to the end of the street!

But of course, it all works out and our Beauty and her Beast get their hard-won HEA.

Despite my quibbles, I enjoyed the book. It's well written and the romance was well developed. Merrick was an extremely virile, attractive hero, despite his facial disfigurement and while I'm less enthusiastic about the character of Sidonie, on the whole I thought they were well matched.

This is the first in the Sons of Sin series, and I'll definitely be looking for the other titles on the strength of this one.

With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy.(less)

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Oct 09, 2012 Funmbi rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance-erotica, favorites

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I am BEYOND pleased to have received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. When I first read the summary, I was instantly hooked...and Sever Nights in a Rogue's Bed does not disappoint. This book has all the things I love in a historical romance: intrigue, drama, twists/turns, complicated characters and relationships, and AMAZINGLY FANTASTIC SEXY TIMES. ATTRACTION. HEAT. LONGING. PASSION. It's perfection, and I love every moment. This story deserves all 5 stars!

We meet Sidonie, w...more

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Jul 28, 2012 Lady Jaye rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012, stars-5, 2012-favorites, awesome-heroes, awesome-heroines, loved-it, part-of-a-series, netgalley, first-in-series, favorites, people-gentry, romance-historical, tender-or-heartfelt

When I saw that Anna Campbell had a new historical romance out I absolutely knew I had to request it. I was not wrong, not in the least. The book is written very much in the Tradition of Claiming the Courtesan and Untouched. In fact, as soon as I figured that out, I could pretty much tell where the story was going and just about how it was going to unfold. I was also right about all that. Even so, what kept me tethered to the story were the same things that kept me very invested in those two oth...more When I saw that Anna Campbell had a new historical romance out I absolutely knew I had to request it. I was not wrong, not in the least. The book is written very much in the Tradition of Claiming the Courtesan and Untouched. In fact, as soon as I figured that out, I could pretty much tell where the story was going and just about how it was going to unfold. I was also right about all that. Even so, what kept me tethered to the story were the same things that kept me very invested in those two other stories: the writing. Ms. Campbell does some beautiful writing. How can the following passage not draw a smile:

"You're just playing with me."
"Most definitely, tesoro. But your dilemma is your own fault. You're so irresistible."
"Command your willpower, Mr. Merrick. Defeat this weakness."
"I try, dear lady, I try."
"I'll bite you," she said savagely
"I'll bite you too before I am done."

From beautiful descriptions to heartbreaking tenderness, Ms. Campbell does it very well, and this book has it in spades. I loved the dialogue, when I was not smiling at some funny exchange - or the occasionally cheesy Romancelandia line - I was all caught up in the descriptions, or catching my throat at the haunting tenderness of it all - and mind you, I knew exactly what was going to happen. But I am not complaining about her formula, bot just because it works for me, but also because each set of characters to creates to play out the drama are wonderful.

I loved Sidonie and Jonas. Loved them. I loved that as much as possible, Sidonie tried to remain true to herself - and she never once tried to lie to herself. She wouldn't give herself to him when she did not want to or feel like she could afford to; but the moment she decided she wanted him, that was it. No prevaricating, no waiting for him to make another move, etc.

Another thing I loved about her was her perceptiveness. She could see through Jonas to the quick. Smart and beautiful and true. I started a bit when she referred to Jonas as a wanton in her private thoughts, and then decided I loved it very much! I never hear guys described as wanton in HRs, although the girls are always the virgins and they are the ones with oodles and oodles of debauching experience.

I also enjoyed Jonas' character very much. The vulnerability about him, and the fact that like Sidonie, he did not try to lie to himself. I'd wax more poetic, but my hands are getting tired of typing. :/

Finally, I also very much liked how true love did not make everything run smooth. Even after the admission of love, there were Sidonie's hopes and dreams and plans to consider, and Jonas' hang-ups to stand obstacle. I loved that they did not just vanish, and that the couple had to attempt to work through them.

I wasn't sure what rating to go with after I was done, but in the end, I settled on five, I had a roaring good time reading it, and will definitely revisit it. What more can you want? This makes me 3 for 3 with Ms. Campbell!

*ARC provided through NetGalley, honest review, no money, etc - alla that jazz.* (less)

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Seven Nights in a Rogue's Bed (Sons of Sin #1)

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