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Scoundrels #1
The Lion's Daughter
Esme Brentmore doesn't care that revenge isn't a suitable job for a woman. She's determined to avenge the murder of her beloved father, an enigmatic English aristocrat who lived in self-imposed exile. Honor demands that Esme let nothing and nobody stand in her way. That includes the handsome wastrel who's become entangled in her life, whose charm does not make up for his lazy and irresponsible character.
Having gambled away his entire family fortune, Varian St. George, Lord Edenmont, now lives by his wits and winning ways. A man who has always taken the path of least resistance — preferably in soft beds with willing women — he does not want to become embroiled in a mad quest with a hot-tempered and heavily armed redhead.
But forced to travel together through an exotic land, the mismatched pair soon discovers that friction can produce some very dangerous sparks ...
Having gambled away his entire family fortune, Varian St. George, Lord Edenmont, now lives by his wits and winning ways. A man who has always taken the path of least resistance — preferably in soft beds with willing women — he does not want to become embroiled in a mad quest with a hot-tempered and heavily armed redhead.
But forced to travel together through an exotic land, the mismatched pair soon discovers that friction can produce some very dangerous sparks ...
368 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 1992
381 people are currently reading
10726 people want to read
About the author
Loretta Chase
52 books3,663 followersLoretta Lynda Chekani was born in 1949, of Albanian ancestry. For her, the trouble started when she learned to write in first grade. Before then, she had been making up her own stories but now she knew how to write them down to share. In her teenage years, she continue to write letters, keep a journal, write poetry and even attempt the Great American Novel (still unfinished). She attended New England public schools, before she went off to college and earned an English degree from Clark University.
After graduation, she worked a variety of jobs at Clark including a part-time teaching post. She was also moonlighting as a video scriptwriter. It was there that she met a video producer who inspired her to write novels and marry him. Under her married name, Loretta Chase, has been publishing historical romance novels since 1987. Her books have won many awards, including the Romance Writers of America RITA.
After graduation, she worked a variety of jobs at Clark including a part-time teaching post. She was also moonlighting as a video scriptwriter. It was there that she met a video producer who inspired her to write novels and marry him. Under her married name, Loretta Chase, has been publishing historical romance novels since 1987. Her books have won many awards, including the Romance Writers of America RITA.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 327 reviews
November 18, 2009
What a total wiener the hero is in this book and the heroine is complete shrew. Major let down with this story which starts off Loretta Chase’s Scoundrels series that include such top notch novels like Lord of Scoundrels and The Last Hellion.
This story is about a wastrel (and really that’s the only thing that characterizes him --politely), Varian St George Lord Edenmont, who flits around various European countries seducing scads of women who let him mooch off them because he doesn’t have a penny to his name even though he’s a Lord. He’s apparently quite the looker and has lots of charm. I thought he was a loser. He’s gambled everything away and has debtors up the wazoo after him back in London. He ends up having to chaperone the child of a “friend”, who has recently passed away, all the way to Venice because the kid’s dad asks him to. He’s paid quite handsomely for it so of course he agrees. The kid, Percival, is way too old for his age (he’s 12) and convinces Varian to head to Albania instead and so the story begins. In Albania they come across, by sheer coincidence, Percival’s cousin Esme Brentmor who’s a self-proclaimed warrior. What she is is a nutcase. Percival gets kidnapped and Esme says she’ll lead the hunt to find him. Varian isn’t too keen because he’s a wuss –the absolute worst kind of so-called scoundrel hero. Who wants to read about a guy who jumps at everything and is only fit for the parlor (?)
The h/h are not likeable characters at all. The hero is a moron and the heroine flies off the handle like some psycho harpy for the stupidest of reasons. She’s Miss-Independent-I-Follow-My-Own-Path and that’s fine only all of a sudden Varian starts dictating to her what to do and she kowtows to him which made no sense because here’s a woman leading a group of rough and tough men on this expedition and she suddenly gets all maidenly and listens to Mr Boss Man. Left field if I’ve ever seen it.
There's a ring around the rosy of sub-stories from love stories to arms smuggling to local leaders and their power trips as well as a myriad of additional characters that pepper the novel adding confusion and endless filler. The book is way too long and needed a good editing. There’s a lot of Albanian (the author is of Albanian descent) in the story but the author often provides a translation. I still found that annoying because it reminded me of authors who use way too many Welsh or Gaelic sentences which detract from the story I think.
As for the main love story, I wasn’t feeling it. Varian is just too much of a wimpy hero trying to be an alpha –he’s not a beta either he’s just a pretty boy knob. He’s always saying what a bad person he is and putting himself down. He reminded me of Julia Quinn’s hero in The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever. His self-deprecation was not endearing and it took away from him being hero material. Esme is 18 but she’s described as looking like a child who’s just entered puberty, say around 12-13 -- Ew -- That’s not sexy and it seems so unlikely. She’s always ragging about something and then in a heartbeat she goes on about how ugly and unfeminine she is and how no one would ever want her. It didn’t go with her character. Oh yeah, and then she says she loves him (!!) which leads the reader to say why and wonder if they missed a few pages of info. The other stories also segue in a weird way as if the author has understood but forgot to tell the reader. Towards the end I just skimmed the pages and even the sex scenes had me flipping quickly just to finish.
What a dud this read was. Good thing I didn’t start with this book as an intro to Loretta Chase. God knows she can do 10 000 times better.
This story is about a wastrel (and really that’s the only thing that characterizes him --politely), Varian St George Lord Edenmont, who flits around various European countries seducing scads of women who let him mooch off them because he doesn’t have a penny to his name even though he’s a Lord. He’s apparently quite the looker and has lots of charm. I thought he was a loser. He’s gambled everything away and has debtors up the wazoo after him back in London. He ends up having to chaperone the child of a “friend”, who has recently passed away, all the way to Venice because the kid’s dad asks him to. He’s paid quite handsomely for it so of course he agrees. The kid, Percival, is way too old for his age (he’s 12) and convinces Varian to head to Albania instead and so the story begins. In Albania they come across, by sheer coincidence, Percival’s cousin Esme Brentmor who’s a self-proclaimed warrior. What she is is a nutcase. Percival gets kidnapped and Esme says she’ll lead the hunt to find him. Varian isn’t too keen because he’s a wuss –the absolute worst kind of so-called scoundrel hero. Who wants to read about a guy who jumps at everything and is only fit for the parlor (?)
The h/h are not likeable characters at all. The hero is a moron and the heroine flies off the handle like some psycho harpy for the stupidest of reasons. She’s Miss-Independent-I-Follow-My-Own-Path and that’s fine only all of a sudden Varian starts dictating to her what to do and she kowtows to him which made no sense because here’s a woman leading a group of rough and tough men on this expedition and she suddenly gets all maidenly and listens to Mr Boss Man. Left field if I’ve ever seen it.
There's a ring around the rosy of sub-stories from love stories to arms smuggling to local leaders and their power trips as well as a myriad of additional characters that pepper the novel adding confusion and endless filler. The book is way too long and needed a good editing. There’s a lot of Albanian (the author is of Albanian descent) in the story but the author often provides a translation. I still found that annoying because it reminded me of authors who use way too many Welsh or Gaelic sentences which detract from the story I think.
As for the main love story, I wasn’t feeling it. Varian is just too much of a wimpy hero trying to be an alpha –he’s not a beta either he’s just a pretty boy knob. He’s always saying what a bad person he is and putting himself down. He reminded me of Julia Quinn’s hero in The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever. His self-deprecation was not endearing and it took away from him being hero material. Esme is 18 but she’s described as looking like a child who’s just entered puberty, say around 12-13 -- Ew -- That’s not sexy and it seems so unlikely. She’s always ragging about something and then in a heartbeat she goes on about how ugly and unfeminine she is and how no one would ever want her. It didn’t go with her character. Oh yeah, and then she says she loves him (!!) which leads the reader to say why and wonder if they missed a few pages of info. The other stories also segue in a weird way as if the author has understood but forgot to tell the reader. Towards the end I just skimmed the pages and even the sex scenes had me flipping quickly just to finish.
What a dud this read was. Good thing I didn’t start with this book as an intro to Loretta Chase. God knows she can do 10 000 times better.
did-not-finish
February 14, 2024DNF 10% No rating
The writing style isn’t working for me. All exposition seems to be done through dialogue. Even both main characters’ descriptions were told to us via conversation. In the case of the FMC, her best friend describes her physical features TO HER. ‘You’re very pretty, you have healthy, shiny hair shot with red, and my mother says your green eyes sparkle’ 🙄 🤮
Let’s not get me started on romance heroines written in the 80s & 90s with green eyes and red hair, it was an epidemic at the time.
I’m out on another one, that’s four DNF in a row.
The writing style isn’t working for me. All exposition seems to be done through dialogue. Even both main characters’ descriptions were told to us via conversation. In the case of the FMC, her best friend describes her physical features TO HER. ‘You’re very pretty, you have healthy, shiny hair shot with red, and my mother says your green eyes sparkle’ 🙄 🤮
Let’s not get me started on romance heroines written in the 80s & 90s with green eyes and red hair, it was an epidemic at the time.
I’m out on another one, that’s four DNF in a row.
September 22, 2015
4 STARS
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”I love you,” he said. “Just believe it.”
This was my first book by Loretta Chase, and it won’t be my last. I loved the story. It seemed a bit long, but my interest actually increased as time went by. It was a little slow at times and a bit confusing. But it all played out brilliantly in the end.
![]()
The story was set initially in Albania and along the Ionian coast of the Mediterranean, and Corfu, and then advanced to England for the conclusion of the book.
![]()
The hero, Varian St. George, also known as Lord Edenmont or even more formally as Varian Edward Harcourt St. George, Baron Edenmont of Buckinghamshire, England, was a hopeless libertine. A rake. He gambled away his fortune and was making his way across Italy, surviving solely on his devastating good looks and unfailing charm.
Varian is very ornamental. He is darkly beautiful in that brooding way so fatal to feminine sensibilities… and sense.
So while in Venice, he seizes an opportunity to advance his cash flow by taking on a glorified “babysitting” job, escorting Sir Gerald Brentmor’s twelve year-old son back to England.
But the job turned out to be just a bit more than he could handle. Percival Brentmor, said twelve year-old boy, was quite the industrious young man. And after eavesdropping on a conversation of his father’s, Percival was convinced that his father was involved in a nefarious arms smuggling ring, that was going to endanger his much loved Uncle Jason, who was well known as the Red Lion in the neighboring country of Albania.
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Sound complicated, well it was. A bit.
![]()
Percival… who I absolutely ADORED, managed to convince Lord Edenmont to sail to Armenia first before heading back to England, in order to retrieve a crucial piece of evidence against his father. Which, no doubt, offered a hefty reward purse.
![]()
But of course the plans they had made were completely derailed the moment their ship reached port. Instead they were greeted by a band of rebels in hot pursuit of none other than Uncle Jason’s daughter …his cousin, Esme, as she was attempting to flee the country.
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Esme Brentmor who of course was our heroine, was the main reason I didn’t give this book a 5th star. Esme was a hot-headed, self-righteous, red-headed spitfire, who had no trouble passing herself off as a boy, and running her mouth like one too. Being Jason’s only child, and having lost her mother at an early age, she was raised in many ways like a boy and had trouble fitting into society’s ideals of feminine behavior for the age.
“Men don’t know what’s pretty and what isn’t. Make a man happy to look at you, and he believes you’re Aphrodite.”
There were times I liked her, there were times I was supremely annoyed by her, and times where I just thought she was a spoiled bitch. She had a wicked tendency to work things out in her head, and she always seemed to get it wrong. Always screwed things up for herself. Her pride was her tragic flaw. But in the end, I embraced her aggressive nature, and let Varian have her.
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“Very well, I yield.” He opened his arms. “Come. You may cover my adorable face with kisses.”
Varian, however, I loved. He was a bit of a dandy, fastidious about his appearance, and loathsome of anything resembling hard work or danger, but he owned it, and his self-deprecating nature made him even that much for charming for it. Esme thought so too. He was utterly irresistible. And his patience with Esme’s bizarre behavior put him even higher on that pedestal!
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Drawing her back onto the pillows with him, he threaded his fingers through her hair. “Most important, on this journey we discovered each other,” he went on. “I want to go on discovering, Esme - children, family, home - all of life, all of love - with you.”
![]()
Anyway, loved the book. A bit long, but worth it in the end. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
”Because you accept me as I am, don’t you? You haven’t tried to reform me, only to hold onto me. I don’t want to reform or tame you, either, only to keep you safe with me, always.”
![]()
”I love you,” he said. “Just believe it.”
This was my first book by Loretta Chase, and it won’t be my last. I loved the story. It seemed a bit long, but my interest actually increased as time went by. It was a little slow at times and a bit confusing. But it all played out brilliantly in the end.
The story was set initially in Albania and along the Ionian coast of the Mediterranean, and Corfu, and then advanced to England for the conclusion of the book.
The hero, Varian St. George, also known as Lord Edenmont or even more formally as Varian Edward Harcourt St. George, Baron Edenmont of Buckinghamshire, England, was a hopeless libertine. A rake. He gambled away his fortune and was making his way across Italy, surviving solely on his devastating good looks and unfailing charm.
Varian is very ornamental. He is darkly beautiful in that brooding way so fatal to feminine sensibilities… and sense.
So while in Venice, he seizes an opportunity to advance his cash flow by taking on a glorified “babysitting” job, escorting Sir Gerald Brentmor’s twelve year-old son back to England.
But the job turned out to be just a bit more than he could handle. Percival Brentmor, said twelve year-old boy, was quite the industrious young man. And after eavesdropping on a conversation of his father’s, Percival was convinced that his father was involved in a nefarious arms smuggling ring, that was going to endanger his much loved Uncle Jason, who was well known as the Red Lion in the neighboring country of Albania.
Sound complicated, well it was. A bit.
Percival… who I absolutely ADORED, managed to convince Lord Edenmont to sail to Armenia first before heading back to England, in order to retrieve a crucial piece of evidence against his father. Which, no doubt, offered a hefty reward purse.
But of course the plans they had made were completely derailed the moment their ship reached port. Instead they were greeted by a band of rebels in hot pursuit of none other than Uncle Jason’s daughter …his cousin, Esme, as she was attempting to flee the country.
Esme Brentmor who of course was our heroine, was the main reason I didn’t give this book a 5th star. Esme was a hot-headed, self-righteous, red-headed spitfire, who had no trouble passing herself off as a boy, and running her mouth like one too. Being Jason’s only child, and having lost her mother at an early age, she was raised in many ways like a boy and had trouble fitting into society’s ideals of feminine behavior for the age.
“Men don’t know what’s pretty and what isn’t. Make a man happy to look at you, and he believes you’re Aphrodite.”
There were times I liked her, there were times I was supremely annoyed by her, and times where I just thought she was a spoiled bitch. She had a wicked tendency to work things out in her head, and she always seemed to get it wrong. Always screwed things up for herself. Her pride was her tragic flaw. But in the end, I embraced her aggressive nature, and let Varian have her.
“Very well, I yield.” He opened his arms. “Come. You may cover my adorable face with kisses.”
Varian, however, I loved. He was a bit of a dandy, fastidious about his appearance, and loathsome of anything resembling hard work or danger, but he owned it, and his self-deprecating nature made him even that much for charming for it. Esme thought so too. He was utterly irresistible. And his patience with Esme’s bizarre behavior put him even higher on that pedestal!
Drawing her back onto the pillows with him, he threaded his fingers through her hair. “Most important, on this journey we discovered each other,” he went on. “I want to go on discovering, Esme - children, family, home - all of life, all of love - with you.”
Anyway, loved the book. A bit long, but worth it in the end. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
”Because you accept me as I am, don’t you? You haven’t tried to reform me, only to hold onto me. I don’t want to reform or tame you, either, only to keep you safe with me, always.”
own-need-to-read
January 18, 2022Kindle Freebie as of 10/28/15
http://amzn.to/1HcfofZ
Gorgeous, stubborn Esme Brentmor, daughter of a disgraced lord, is used to a wild, dangerous life among the tribes of Albania, to whom her father is the legendary, controversial Red Lion whose death she's courageously vowed to avenge –even if it leads to her own. Instead, her quest finds her rescued by the most unlikely (and very reluctant) hero!
Lazy and spoiled, Lord Varian St. George has gambled away his heritage and lives on his considerable looks, charm and wits. All he wants is the good life, and instead, he finds himself in rough country, with a tempestuous whirlwind of a female who's as savage as he's civilized. How did this termagant become his responsibility? And how can he escape?! Yet as he and Esme plunge headlong into even more peril, he may surprise even his own jaded self and become the man that Esme (foolishly) believes he is!
http://amzn.to/1HcfofZ
Gorgeous, stubborn Esme Brentmor, daughter of a disgraced lord, is used to a wild, dangerous life among the tribes of Albania, to whom her father is the legendary, controversial Red Lion whose death she's courageously vowed to avenge –even if it leads to her own. Instead, her quest finds her rescued by the most unlikely (and very reluctant) hero!
Lazy and spoiled, Lord Varian St. George has gambled away his heritage and lives on his considerable looks, charm and wits. All he wants is the good life, and instead, he finds himself in rough country, with a tempestuous whirlwind of a female who's as savage as he's civilized. How did this termagant become his responsibility? And how can he escape?! Yet as he and Esme plunge headlong into even more peril, he may surprise even his own jaded self and become the man that Esme (foolishly) believes he is!
January 1, 2026
Read: 1/1/26
Setting: 1818 Italy, Albania, England
Trope: second chances, revenge, class differences
3.5 stars
I so wanted to love this book, but I just couldn't. The story was very well written with interesting characters and a unique storyline. The problem was me! I just don't like road trips! I enjoyed the 2nd half of the book more, because it takes place in England.
Setting: 1818 Italy, Albania, England
Trope: second chances, revenge, class differences
3.5 stars
I so wanted to love this book, but I just couldn't. The story was very well written with interesting characters and a unique storyline. The problem was me! I just don't like road trips! I enjoyed the 2nd half of the book more, because it takes place in England.
June 8, 2019
It’s time, at 41% and one month, to admit absolute defeat. I couldn’t get engaged, partially due to the side plots and the way they were weaved (tangled?) in. Partially because of the extent to which I just did not care about the MCs. I see how the writing is appealing, when the book is working...unfortunately it wasn’t consistent enough for me.
November 19, 2023
Loretta....Loretta Chase. I cannot believe that one of my favorite historical romance authors is capable of writing THIS. What's the opposite of twirling your hair and kicking your feet? Is it an audible groan? Because that's what I did multiple times while reading The Lion's Daughter. Getting through this book that was WAY TOO LONG was a struggle in every way. In order for this review not to be TOO rant-y. I'll try to organize my thoughts.
What I liked about this book: Loretta's writing is always good. There were laugh out loud moments and she always writes amazing banter. But between the length of the book-IT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN MORE THAN 300 PAGES-and the convoluted side plots...not even her magical writing skills could save it. My favorite part was the last 10 percent because I knew the book was finally ending, I'm kidding (sort of) The big save at the end could've been romantic had I not been both too irritated and exhausted to care.
The only character that I liked in this book was Percival. He was smarter and more mature than the adults who were supposed to be looking after him. I wanted to reach inside the book and rescue him from those idiots. Percival is 12 by the way...the most levelheaded person in this book is a 12-year-old (Also the way his paternity is revealed/resolved is so random that I actually had to stop reading and giggle for a few minutes. Idk I think this book broke my brain)
What I didn't like about this book: The hero and the heroine.
Let's start with the "hero" and friends we are using this term loosely: Varian is lazy, he complains all the time, he's terrible with money and he's a gigantic Manwhore. Now, I actually don't mind a hero who's a Manwhore (truly some of my favorite historical heroes are men who have difficulty keeping it in their pants) but Varian is actually ridiculous. This man doesn't think he can be near the heroine,Esme, because it's been too long since he's touched a woman. How long has it been you ask? Months?!? Years?!? Nope. IT'S BEEN WEEKS. He hasn't touched a woman in WEEKS and this man has to take nightly dips in a freezing lake. And another thing! Esme looks super young, so Varian isn't sure if she's an adult, but do you think that stops him from lusting after her? ABSOLUTELY NOT. He'll refer to her as a "child" one minute and the next, he's making out with her while she's half naked. Once he finds out that she's 18, he's relieved.... BECAUSE HE WAS AFRAID THAT SHE WAS YOUNGER BUT THAT FEAR DIDN'T STOP HIM FROM MAKING OUT WITH HER. What adds another level of "ick" is that when his brothers first meet her, they're like "That can't be his wife, she looks like a child." then they see her up close and realize she's a young adult. What's funny is that he has the audacity to keep reminding Esme that he's "not noble" like yeah buddy, we know!
The heroine also sucks: Esme is not like other girls. She's headstrong and independent and we know this because she has temper tantrums :) The number of tantrums that she has is ridiculous. But all the men around her think it's charming? Another one of her favorite hobbies is jumping, nay LEAPING to the wrong conclusions. So, for most of this 430 PAGE BOOK we have Esme jumping to conclusions, having tantrums, screaming at people, running away and putting other people in danger which got old...really quickly. I was thrilled when her dad and grandma told her off at the end.
Please note that I didn’t even complain about this book having an epilogue. I demand that all of my romances have epilogues. This book was the exception. I just wanted it to end 😭
So basically, I didn't like the hero and heroine individually OR as a couple. One reason is that they don't communicate! Varian thinks that Esme is too innocent and he's not good enough for her while Esme thinks she's not ladylike or pretty enough for him. So, their love language is making unilateral decisions without having a discussion. It's infuriating. Another reason I didn't care about this couple is that you can't expect me to root for a romance when Varian is described as a fully grown Adonis and Esme is mistaken for a pre-teen! It's gross.
Another issue I had with this book were the sub plots: There were too many! This book had everything: fake deaths, arms smuggling via chess pieces, rivalry between brothers, casual poisoning, paternity doubts etc. I think LC had a lot of things she wanted to write about, and she decided to put it all in this book. I already know Ismal is the hero in the next book. I'll probably read it next year lol
The other Loretta Chase romances that I've read have all been instant five stars so I'm sad this one was a miss. She's still one of the GOATS though. I will continue to recommend her books to new romance readers...just not THIS one.
*whispers* If you want to read a better book about a heroine who's referred to as a warrior but is not an idiot, may I recommend The Lion's Lady by Julie Garwood.
What I liked about this book: Loretta's writing is always good. There were laugh out loud moments and she always writes amazing banter. But between the length of the book-IT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN MORE THAN 300 PAGES-and the convoluted side plots...not even her magical writing skills could save it. My favorite part was the last 10 percent because I knew the book was finally ending, I'm kidding (sort of) The big save at the end could've been romantic had I not been both too irritated and exhausted to care.
The only character that I liked in this book was Percival. He was smarter and more mature than the adults who were supposed to be looking after him. I wanted to reach inside the book and rescue him from those idiots. Percival is 12 by the way...the most levelheaded person in this book is a 12-year-old (Also the way his paternity is revealed/resolved is so random that I actually had to stop reading and giggle for a few minutes. Idk I think this book broke my brain)
What I didn't like about this book: The hero and the heroine.
Let's start with the "hero" and friends we are using this term loosely: Varian is lazy, he complains all the time, he's terrible with money and he's a gigantic Manwhore. Now, I actually don't mind a hero who's a Manwhore (truly some of my favorite historical heroes are men who have difficulty keeping it in their pants) but Varian is actually ridiculous. This man doesn't think he can be near the heroine,Esme, because it's been too long since he's touched a woman. How long has it been you ask? Months?!? Years?!? Nope. IT'S BEEN WEEKS. He hasn't touched a woman in WEEKS and this man has to take nightly dips in a freezing lake. And another thing! Esme looks super young, so Varian isn't sure if she's an adult, but do you think that stops him from lusting after her? ABSOLUTELY NOT. He'll refer to her as a "child" one minute and the next, he's making out with her while she's half naked. Once he finds out that she's 18, he's relieved.... BECAUSE HE WAS AFRAID THAT SHE WAS YOUNGER BUT THAT FEAR DIDN'T STOP HIM FROM MAKING OUT WITH HER. What adds another level of "ick" is that when his brothers first meet her, they're like "That can't be his wife, she looks like a child." then they see her up close and realize she's a young adult. What's funny is that he has the audacity to keep reminding Esme that he's "not noble" like yeah buddy, we know!
The heroine also sucks: Esme is not like other girls. She's headstrong and independent and we know this because she has temper tantrums :) The number of tantrums that she has is ridiculous. But all the men around her think it's charming? Another one of her favorite hobbies is jumping, nay LEAPING to the wrong conclusions. So, for most of this 430 PAGE BOOK we have Esme jumping to conclusions, having tantrums, screaming at people, running away and putting other people in danger which got old...really quickly. I was thrilled when her dad and grandma told her off at the end.
Please note that I didn’t even complain about this book having an epilogue. I demand that all of my romances have epilogues. This book was the exception. I just wanted it to end 😭
So basically, I didn't like the hero and heroine individually OR as a couple. One reason is that they don't communicate! Varian thinks that Esme is too innocent and he's not good enough for her while Esme thinks she's not ladylike or pretty enough for him. So, their love language is making unilateral decisions without having a discussion. It's infuriating. Another reason I didn't care about this couple is that you can't expect me to root for a romance when Varian is described as a fully grown Adonis and Esme is mistaken for a pre-teen! It's gross.
Another issue I had with this book were the sub plots: There were too many! This book had everything: fake deaths, arms smuggling via chess pieces, rivalry between brothers, casual poisoning, paternity doubts etc. I think LC had a lot of things she wanted to write about, and she decided to put it all in this book. I already know Ismal is the hero in the next book. I'll probably read it next year lol
The other Loretta Chase romances that I've read have all been instant five stars so I'm sad this one was a miss. She's still one of the GOATS though. I will continue to recommend her books to new romance readers...just not THIS one.
*whispers* If you want to read a better book about a heroine who's referred to as a warrior but is not an idiot, may I recommend The Lion's Lady by Julie Garwood.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 22, 2017
Kate Reading's superb narration deserves more than 5 stars; I suspect I enjoyed the story more because of her performance than I would have had I read the book rather than listened to it.
The story is a bit convoluted, there are pacing issues in the middle, and Esme isn't the easiest heroine to like. But Varien is a gorgeous hero; a beautiful wastrel who basically lives off his looks and charm by sponging off friends. He's flat broke - but isn't one of those impoverished heroes who is not responsible for it; no, he ran through his inheritance himself and has no-one but himself to blame. The moments at which he acknowledges that he is at fault are quite affecting, and Ms. Chase redeems him rather well.
The story is a bit convoluted, there are pacing issues in the middle, and Esme isn't the easiest heroine to like. But Varien is a gorgeous hero; a beautiful wastrel who basically lives off his looks and charm by sponging off friends. He's flat broke - but isn't one of those impoverished heroes who is not responsible for it; no, he ran through his inheritance himself and has no-one but himself to blame. The moments at which he acknowledges that he is at fault are quite affecting, and Ms. Chase redeems him rather well.
February 6, 2017
Lo siento, porque esta autora me gusta. Y tiene las aventuras y los giros suficientes para ser una buena novela, pero se me ha hecho eterrrrrrrna.
La pareja con tiene quícima
Él es soso y ella, aunque se comporta tal como debe, tiene demasiados contrastes y le falta chispa
Los problemas se resuelven demasiado fácilmente y, en general, creo que todos los personajes, incluso los secundarios, son de lo más fríos.
Una novela de las largas, de las de antes, con muchas aventuras, pero en la que he sido incapaz de conseguir interesarme
Una lástima, porque el tercero y el último de esta serie son muy buenos
Tengo también pendiente el segundo y miedo me da cogerlo jajaja
La pareja con tiene quícima
Él es soso y ella, aunque se comporta tal como debe, tiene demasiados contrastes y le falta chispa
Los problemas se resuelven demasiado fácilmente y, en general, creo que todos los personajes, incluso los secundarios, son de lo más fríos.
Una novela de las largas, de las de antes, con muchas aventuras, pero en la que he sido incapaz de conseguir interesarme
Una lástima, porque el tercero y el último de esta serie son muy buenos
Tengo también pendiente el segundo y miedo me da cogerlo jajaja
September 1, 2018
Spoilers but you might want to look anyway because there's some shitty stuff in here.
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A thirty-year-old man who seduces a skinny little girl he thinks is thirteen-fourteen is NOT more ok because we as the reader happen to know that she is eighteen. It was intensely ooky. It's also not better because he thinks that "her people", the Albanians, are all sodomites and pederasts who would marry her off and impregnate her at thirteen. Geez.
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A thirty-year-old man who seduces a skinny little girl he thinks is thirteen-fourteen is NOT more ok because we as the reader happen to know that she is eighteen. It was intensely ooky. It's also not better because he thinks that "her people", the Albanians, are all sodomites and pederasts who would marry her off and impregnate her at thirteen. Geez.
May 1, 2008
"3.5 stars" I didn't realize until after reading Loretta Chase's Lord of Scoundrels that it was part of a series, and when I discovered this, I decided to go back and pick up the books that I had missed. Since Lord of Scoundrels is one of my all-time favorite romance novels, I had high hopes for The Lion's Daughter. Unfortunately, it got off to a really slow start for me. Nearly the entire first half of the book is about the hero and heroine's extremely long (or at least it seemed that way) journey through Albania. This part of the story is also heavily laden with historical facts and details about the country and the political climate at that time which in my opinion, only served to bog down the pace even further. I was just about to set the book aside and read something else when the journey came to an end, and that is the point where I felt the real story began. Up until then, I had a hard time becoming invested in Varian and Esme's relationship or believing that they were truly falling in love, but after that, both characters started showing more vulnerability which improved them quite a bit.
Esme was a little difficult for me to like throughout the entire story though. Early on, she was just so stubborn and indifferent that she seemed almost emotionless. She had a major inferiority complex when it came to her looks and made several hot-headed decisions based in part on believing things about herself that simply weren't true. Even though Varian was a libertine who had frittered away his family fortune, I still found him to be more charming and likeable in the early part of the story than Esme was. When his vulnerabilities started to show it only increased his likability, but overall I still found him to be just an average hero, not really a stand-out. The political intrigue in the book could have been really interesting, but I thought that it was overdone to the point of being incredibly complex and confusing. Even though the story got off to a very slow start and could have been much better overall, the last half had enough excitement to hold my interest and make it worth my while. If I had read The Lion's Daughter first, I don't know if I would have continued the series, but already knowing that at least one other book in the series was phenomenally good, makes me interested continuing it.
Esme was a little difficult for me to like throughout the entire story though. Early on, she was just so stubborn and indifferent that she seemed almost emotionless. She had a major inferiority complex when it came to her looks and made several hot-headed decisions based in part on believing things about herself that simply weren't true. Even though Varian was a libertine who had frittered away his family fortune, I still found him to be more charming and likeable in the early part of the story than Esme was. When his vulnerabilities started to show it only increased his likability, but overall I still found him to be just an average hero, not really a stand-out. The political intrigue in the book could have been really interesting, but I thought that it was overdone to the point of being incredibly complex and confusing. Even though the story got off to a very slow start and could have been much better overall, the last half had enough excitement to hold my interest and make it worth my while. If I had read The Lion's Daughter first, I don't know if I would have continued the series, but already knowing that at least one other book in the series was phenomenally good, makes me interested continuing it.
April 27, 2019
4.5 stars. I took half a star off because I did not actually agree with the heroine's father's course of action in the book. I thought it was selfish and cruel..
Another lovely job by a favourite narrator of mine, Kate Reading.
This is a fascinating story in that we are transported to a very different kind of country (Albania under Turkish influence in the 19th century) and a very different kind of heroine. Chase captures the atmosphere of Albania, the language, the scents, the people, the vibe. I had a stream of pictures in my head from her wonderful descriptions.
Esme, our heroine, also known as Little Warrior, is just adorable. A bit wild, a bit headstrong and lacking in self-esteem (she thinks she is unattractive when compared with traditional ladies of England) but heart-achingly sweet and passionate. She is a vibrant and memorable character.
Our hero, Varian, is a real loser in the beginning and very hard to like. Irresponsible, living from day to day on the Continent, (to avoid creditors) sponging off people, abandoning his brothers, his estate and his responsibilities and basically whoring himself out. This story is a really good tale of how a useless, immature and selfish arse-hole re-makes himself. He tries so hard, is tempted at one stage to do the easy thing, which is what he has always done, but resists, starting to realise that he CAN change. It is really about the redemptive power of love, which is not to say that it is all about Esme redeeming him. He also gives Esme confidence and self-belief. His commitment is total.
The minor characters are delightful. Lady Brentmor is a vicious old harridan of a dowager, very hard on her children, but you can see her softening. She does not believe Varian can change, and makes that clear. Some of her lines are hilarious. Esme's young cousin, Percival, is a sweetie, and KR does a marvellous job of his boy's voice. The henchmen, with their gruff voices and distinct accents, seem very real. We also meet Ismael, the charismatic hero of the next book, Captives of the Night as a very young man.
Definitely worth reading these in order. They are all part of what is loosely called the Scoundrels series, with characters appearing across different books, but these two books are really a pair for me, and the other books in the series did not grab me as much. (The "heroes" in those were, frankly, irredeemable, but I am pretty hard on my heroes. Flaws, yes, but every effort must be made to become a better person. For example, not enough just to acknowledge a bastard son and take him in- there should be genuine personal regret and shame at the behaviour that led to said son. Those who have read LoS will know what I am talking about. If you still look back fondly about sharing the "rogering" of a woman that led to this conception in a later book, which Lord Dane does in The Last Hellion then you will remain persona non grata for me!)
In summary, a very enjoyable audio-book!
Another lovely job by a favourite narrator of mine, Kate Reading.
This is a fascinating story in that we are transported to a very different kind of country (Albania under Turkish influence in the 19th century) and a very different kind of heroine. Chase captures the atmosphere of Albania, the language, the scents, the people, the vibe. I had a stream of pictures in my head from her wonderful descriptions.
Esme, our heroine, also known as Little Warrior, is just adorable. A bit wild, a bit headstrong and lacking in self-esteem (she thinks she is unattractive when compared with traditional ladies of England) but heart-achingly sweet and passionate. She is a vibrant and memorable character.
Our hero, Varian, is a real loser in the beginning and very hard to like. Irresponsible, living from day to day on the Continent, (to avoid creditors) sponging off people, abandoning his brothers, his estate and his responsibilities and basically whoring himself out. This story is a really good tale of how a useless, immature and selfish arse-hole re-makes himself. He tries so hard, is tempted at one stage to do the easy thing, which is what he has always done, but resists, starting to realise that he CAN change. It is really about the redemptive power of love, which is not to say that it is all about Esme redeeming him. He also gives Esme confidence and self-belief. His commitment is total.
The minor characters are delightful. Lady Brentmor is a vicious old harridan of a dowager, very hard on her children, but you can see her softening. She does not believe Varian can change, and makes that clear. Some of her lines are hilarious. Esme's young cousin, Percival, is a sweetie, and KR does a marvellous job of his boy's voice. The henchmen, with their gruff voices and distinct accents, seem very real. We also meet Ismael, the charismatic hero of the next book, Captives of the Night as a very young man.
Definitely worth reading these in order. They are all part of what is loosely called the Scoundrels series, with characters appearing across different books, but these two books are really a pair for me, and the other books in the series did not grab me as much. (The "heroes" in those were, frankly, irredeemable, but I am pretty hard on my heroes. Flaws, yes, but every effort must be made to become a better person. For example, not enough just to acknowledge a bastard son and take him in- there should be genuine personal regret and shame at the behaviour that led to said son. Those who have read LoS will know what I am talking about. If you still look back fondly about sharing the "rogering" of a woman that led to this conception in a later book, which Lord Dane does in The Last Hellion then you will remain persona non grata for me!)
In summary, a very enjoyable audio-book!
May 13, 2016
I enjoyed this, though I got impatient with some of the plotlines. Esme is an Englishman's daughter, but brought up in Ankara. Her character was a fascinating study in the contrast between the cultures and their separate expectations—particularly for marriage. I found the smuggling/kidnapping/vengeance plotlines rather tedious, I'm afraid, and had had my fill by about three quarters through. It didn't help that it does the bad-guy PoV periodically during much of the novel. It was probably necessary for the plot to make sense, but I still found it wearing.
I really liked the protagonists. Esme and Varian were fun together and having him stretch out of his habitual indolence as he discovers what is worth working toward was fun. Chase takes no shortcuts here, no magic windfalls, so Varian is stuck with trying to provide the best for the women he loves but without the means to do so. His maturity arc was a good deal of fun. Best of all, it happened without Esme having any kind of expectations and entirely driven by his own sense of what he'd like to provide for her. I also enjoyed Esme's fire and determination. No simpering harem-bred woman, she's more likely to grab a rifle than indulge a fit of tears and seeing Varian learn to appreciate that was a fun ride.
I wish I had enjoyed the plot, though. It's well put-together and the pacing is great, but I just couldn't invest emotionally in it. Some of that is due to Esme's father, Jason. The guy fakes his own death in order to go undercover and leaves Esme alone in a society without a great deal of respect (and no rights) for women. It was irresponsible and everybody treating him like some kind of genius didn't help my opinion of him at all. As far as I can see, the entire plot was unraveled by Esme's 12 year-old cousin more than anything Jason did. Having Esme's entire motivation for most of the novel be mourning and vengeance for a father that wasn't dead was just frustrating. Being a father to daughters of that age may be a factor here...
Anyway, the romance was an awesome four star run with everything exactly how I like it. The plot dragged it down a lot, though. As much as I enjoyed the setting and the cultural basis for Varian and Esme's clashes I wish Chase had come up with something a lot less provoking in the plot. A fun read, but not one I'll be tempted to revisit.
A note about Steamy: Middle of my range. Maybe a touch on the low side with two or three explicit sex scenes in such a long novel. The plot kept them busy enough that there simply wasn't a lot of leisure to pursue amorous opportunities. Not that they didn't find the time, but it wasn't intrusive or gratuitous.
I really liked the protagonists. Esme and Varian were fun together and having him stretch out of his habitual indolence as he discovers what is worth working toward was fun. Chase takes no shortcuts here, no magic windfalls, so Varian is stuck with trying to provide the best for the women he loves but without the means to do so. His maturity arc was a good deal of fun. Best of all, it happened without Esme having any kind of expectations and entirely driven by his own sense of what he'd like to provide for her. I also enjoyed Esme's fire and determination. No simpering harem-bred woman, she's more likely to grab a rifle than indulge a fit of tears and seeing Varian learn to appreciate that was a fun ride.
I wish I had enjoyed the plot, though. It's well put-together and the pacing is great, but I just couldn't invest emotionally in it. Some of that is due to Esme's father, Jason. The guy fakes his own death in order to go undercover and leaves Esme alone in a society without a great deal of respect (and no rights) for women. It was irresponsible and everybody treating him like some kind of genius didn't help my opinion of him at all. As far as I can see, the entire plot was unraveled by Esme's 12 year-old cousin more than anything Jason did. Having Esme's entire motivation for most of the novel be mourning and vengeance for a father that wasn't dead was just frustrating. Being a father to daughters of that age may be a factor here...
Anyway, the romance was an awesome four star run with everything exactly how I like it. The plot dragged it down a lot, though. As much as I enjoyed the setting and the cultural basis for Varian and Esme's clashes I wish Chase had come up with something a lot less provoking in the plot. A fun read, but not one I'll be tempted to revisit.
A note about Steamy: Middle of my range. Maybe a touch on the low side with two or three explicit sex scenes in such a long novel. The plot kept them busy enough that there simply wasn't a lot of leisure to pursue amorous opportunities. Not that they didn't find the time, but it wasn't intrusive or gratuitous.
November 13, 2015
"She’s eighteen, Jason. She can’t remain in Albania to be shut up in a Turkish harem."
That's our heroine, Esme Brentmore, but she'd rather stay behind in Albania and exact revenge over the man she believes responsible for her father's death.
"Perhaps he’d try Naples next. Not that he had enough money to get there. Still, he had traveled through half of Italy with no funds. He possessed an ancient title, a handsome face and figure, and a devastating charm."
Our ne'er do well hero, Varian St. George, Lord Edenmont, who gambled his fortune away and the man who has the task of getting Esme out of Albania and safely back to England. Oh, but Esme doesn't go quietly...
This is a pleasant romp with lots of action and adventure and a bit of romance as well (naturally). and definitely one of the better freebie finds. Not earth shattering, but I loved the Albanian setting which we don't see very often in romances.
That's our heroine, Esme Brentmore, but she'd rather stay behind in Albania and exact revenge over the man she believes responsible for her father's death.
"Perhaps he’d try Naples next. Not that he had enough money to get there. Still, he had traveled through half of Italy with no funds. He possessed an ancient title, a handsome face and figure, and a devastating charm."
Our ne'er do well hero, Varian St. George, Lord Edenmont, who gambled his fortune away and the man who has the task of getting Esme out of Albania and safely back to England. Oh, but Esme doesn't go quietly...
This is a pleasant romp with lots of action and adventure and a bit of romance as well (naturally). and definitely one of the better freebie finds. Not earth shattering, but I loved the Albanian setting which we don't see very often in romances.
September 17, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. The funny thing is that I read it last in the series. I can see why people might not enjoy it as much since it’s plot-heavy with lots of intrigue and descriptions of exotic lands and cultures, but this is exactly what I enjoyed most about it. I liked headstrong and independent Esme and handsome, dissolute Varian grew on me as well. Their characterization and relationship development was great. The love scenes were also wonderful; Loretta Chase is one of the few HR authors whose love scenes I enjoy. Another plus is that Percival, Esme’s adolescent cousin, was an absolute delight. I’m glad I finally decided to read it after all.
May 17, 2020
"The Lion's Daughter" is the story of Esme and Varian.
A thrilling ride of unlikely romance between the part Albanian Esme Brentmore and Varian Edward Harcourt St. George, Baron Edenmont of Buckinghamshire, England. If you like harridan heroines who are as brave as they are impulsive, and wastrel heroes who eventually prove their worth- this book would be for you. We travel across the sea, meet different tribes, find enemies and friends, discover buried truths, seek revenge, fall in love, realize self worth, feel happiness and end on a super sweet note.
I have to say that I had low expectations, but the story really picked up in the second half and the angst is what sold it for me. I really like hellion heroines with taming of the shrew vibes, and also enjoy a hero being bought to his knees by a kickass heroine- both of which this book had.
Enjoyed it!
Safe
3.5/5
A thrilling ride of unlikely romance between the part Albanian Esme Brentmore and Varian Edward Harcourt St. George, Baron Edenmont of Buckinghamshire, England. If you like harridan heroines who are as brave as they are impulsive, and wastrel heroes who eventually prove their worth- this book would be for you. We travel across the sea, meet different tribes, find enemies and friends, discover buried truths, seek revenge, fall in love, realize self worth, feel happiness and end on a super sweet note.
I have to say that I had low expectations, but the story really picked up in the second half and the angst is what sold it for me. I really like hellion heroines with taming of the shrew vibes, and also enjoy a hero being bought to his knees by a kickass heroine- both of which this book had.
Enjoyed it!
Safe
3.5/5
January 6, 2019
A hectic, dense well researched tale, with the occasional sumptuous setting. Culturally rich, worth diving into but not at all a light read. Chase does, on the plus side, allow readers to encounter aspects of less widely known moments in history that they would never discover alone.
It definitely featured some fits and starts. One never knew what direction things would go trotting off into.
I’ll note it was probably also written in the days before word limits because, much as I enjoyed it, I felt like it would never, ever, get around to ending.
It definitely featured some fits and starts. One never knew what direction things would go trotting off into.
I’ll note it was probably also written in the days before word limits because, much as I enjoyed it, I felt like it would never, ever, get around to ending.
July 21, 2015
4 stars, but tbqh one of those stars may be due to Kate Reading's fabulous narration.
I did not like this as much as Lord of Scoundrels and The Last Hellion, but I did enjoy it.
I feel a lot of the credit has to go to the narrator, Kate Reading. She is one of the best narrators in the audio book business IMHO. I could probably listen to her read a cereal box. Still, I think this was a good story that was greatly enhanced by the skills of a good narrator.
One complaint I read in other reviews was that all the Albanian in the text was difficult to get through. Well, since I listened to it and Reading made it sound good (not sure on accuracy) I didn't have that complaint.
Esme and Varian were imperfect characters. I liked both of them, but can see why some readers would be turned off. They are not exactly the standard archetypes of hero and heroine.
Varian is more of a beta than an alpha hero and Esme's explosive temper can lead her to sound like a horrible nagging shrew at times. Esme has a lot of skills, courage and positive points, but she's no sweet-tempered Mary Sue. And Varian was definitely not the 'knight in shining armor' type and surprised both himself and everyone else with how he handled the uncertainty and hardship in Albania. Still, I think they make a good well-balanced pair.
Varian is very even tempered, which is a must for living with someone so volatile. Two volatile people aren't going to make it long-term, IMHO.
Esme is blunt in a way that Varian needs. He got away with floating through life on his charm and looks for too long. Someone needed to lay it out for him, which both Esme and the adventure of hard times in Albania did.
I did wonder how Varian would be redeemed. He wasn't a horrible person, don't get me wrong. Everyone knows a Varian to some degree. The guy who is good looking, charming, generally likeable and mostly harmless as long as you don't count on him or take him too seriously. He usually has a string of exes and a mound of debt to prove that, but he's great to have at a party.
I was generally happy with how Chase chose to show his growth. Yes, there was a magic windfall at the end which put the two fashionably back into the black, but this is romance and Varian certainly had to work hard up until that point and face the consequences of his irresponsibility. Also the windfall happened as a result of his own heroics which made it more acceptable to me. So, all in all, despite the 'magic pen' windfall I believe it was a satisfactory 'out', especially since this was romance and it is virtually written in stone that the HEA include material comfort.
It's important to note that Esme would have been fine living in poverty, but it was important to Varian's sense of self worth to be able to support his wife as a lady of her station. So, I think it all worked out well given the genre and the characters.
I did not like this as much as Lord of Scoundrels and The Last Hellion, but I did enjoy it.
I feel a lot of the credit has to go to the narrator, Kate Reading. She is one of the best narrators in the audio book business IMHO. I could probably listen to her read a cereal box. Still, I think this was a good story that was greatly enhanced by the skills of a good narrator.
One complaint I read in other reviews was that all the Albanian in the text was difficult to get through. Well, since I listened to it and Reading made it sound good (not sure on accuracy) I didn't have that complaint.
Esme and Varian were imperfect characters. I liked both of them, but can see why some readers would be turned off. They are not exactly the standard archetypes of hero and heroine.
Varian is more of a beta than an alpha hero and Esme's explosive temper can lead her to sound like a horrible nagging shrew at times. Esme has a lot of skills, courage and positive points, but she's no sweet-tempered Mary Sue. And Varian was definitely not the 'knight in shining armor' type and surprised both himself and everyone else with how he handled the uncertainty and hardship in Albania. Still, I think they make a good well-balanced pair.
Varian is very even tempered, which is a must for living with someone so volatile. Two volatile people aren't going to make it long-term, IMHO.
Esme is blunt in a way that Varian needs. He got away with floating through life on his charm and looks for too long. Someone needed to lay it out for him, which both Esme and the adventure of hard times in Albania did.
I did wonder how Varian would be redeemed. He wasn't a horrible person, don't get me wrong. Everyone knows a Varian to some degree. The guy who is good looking, charming, generally likeable and mostly harmless as long as you don't count on him or take him too seriously. He usually has a string of exes and a mound of debt to prove that, but he's great to have at a party.
I was generally happy with how Chase chose to show his growth. Yes, there was a magic windfall at the end which put the two fashionably back into the black, but this is romance and Varian certainly had to work hard up until that point and face the consequences of his irresponsibility. Also the windfall happened as a result of his own heroics which made it more acceptable to me. So, all in all, despite the 'magic pen' windfall I believe it was a satisfactory 'out', especially since this was romance and it is virtually written in stone that the HEA include material comfort.
It's important to note that Esme would have been fine living in poverty, but it was important to Varian's sense of self worth to be able to support his wife as a lady of her station. So, I think it all worked out well given the genre and the characters.
January 5, 2019
Solidly written book with a compelling and appealing male lead in Varian, a penniless baron. A wastrel all his life, albeit a ridiculously good looking one, his comfortable survival to date has been made possible by many willing people happy to purchase his charming, titled company. He certainly oozes effortless lazy charms to the utter frustration of the heroine, Esme, a fierce red-headed young warrior, daughter of the famed Red Lion who is an English nobleman in self-imposed exile in Albania. The secondary characters are colourful and multidimensional and Varian's slow eventual maturation and assumption of responsibility and charge is quite believable. Varian has some beaut lines, full of subtle sarcastic and self-deprecating humour and Percival, the ingenious precocious 12 year old cousin of Esme, also has some great dialogue. Esme, with her volatile temper, did at times irritate me, especially with her lack of faith in Varian especially towards the end, when he has proven himself trustworthy and man enough for her. There were also uncomfortable moments for me reading about the pubertal looking Esme, and how Varian despite thinking she was quite underage and tried to fight his growing physical attraction for her, did not fight hard enough and still gave in to his impulses. The fact that she was really 18 and not 12, did not negate the fact, that he thought she was 12 and still seduced her. Icky.
Free from Amazon
"Moreover, she doubted any female could spend so much time in the company of such godlike beauty and remain unaffected, worthless and dissolute as this particular deity might be. His face and form, unfortunately, betrayed nothing of his weak character, nor did the smoky sound of his persuasive voice. When one admired a handsome palace and longed to live there, Esme reflected, one did not think of the rats scurrying about in its bowels."
"Go to the devil!” she cried. “May a host of jackals rip out your entrails while your heart still beats. May you fall into black water and a thousand leeches feast upon you. May the mother of vermin fasten herself upon you and breed lice in your eyes and nose and—” “Ah, an Albanian love song. And you composed it just for me, romantic creature that you are. Very well. I yield.” He opened his arms. “Come. You may cover my adorable face with kisses."
"Good heavens, you do think I come cheap, don’t you? That wounds me, Esme, truly it does. You think I agreed to wed you for a mere thousand pounds? My dear girl, I should not agree to shackle myself to Aphrodite herself for anything less than twenty thousand. In gold,” he said. “And I should test every coin with my teeth.” “I heard Ali say it. I heard him tell Ismal.” “Then you heard him lying. A whore I may be, but a precious expensive one, I promise you.” Varian looked toward the window and frowned. “A thousand pounds. The very idea. I have never been so insulted in all my life.”
Free from Amazon
"Moreover, she doubted any female could spend so much time in the company of such godlike beauty and remain unaffected, worthless and dissolute as this particular deity might be. His face and form, unfortunately, betrayed nothing of his weak character, nor did the smoky sound of his persuasive voice. When one admired a handsome palace and longed to live there, Esme reflected, one did not think of the rats scurrying about in its bowels."
"Go to the devil!” she cried. “May a host of jackals rip out your entrails while your heart still beats. May you fall into black water and a thousand leeches feast upon you. May the mother of vermin fasten herself upon you and breed lice in your eyes and nose and—” “Ah, an Albanian love song. And you composed it just for me, romantic creature that you are. Very well. I yield.” He opened his arms. “Come. You may cover my adorable face with kisses."
"Good heavens, you do think I come cheap, don’t you? That wounds me, Esme, truly it does. You think I agreed to wed you for a mere thousand pounds? My dear girl, I should not agree to shackle myself to Aphrodite herself for anything less than twenty thousand. In gold,” he said. “And I should test every coin with my teeth.” “I heard Ali say it. I heard him tell Ismal.” “Then you heard him lying. A whore I may be, but a precious expensive one, I promise you.” Varian looked toward the window and frowned. “A thousand pounds. The very idea. I have never been so insulted in all my life.”
May 25, 2021
Excellent narration (Kate Reading), I liked the h/H, but I got lost in the adventure plot and Albanian/Turkish setting.
January 4, 2022
What in the actually hell did I just read? The hero was lusting after the heroine even though he thought she was a child. This book was beyond bizarre and I'm sorry I wasted my time on this.
February 20, 2016
Amo a esta autora y sus libros y me ENCANTA esta historia. Conseguí comprarlo, lo leí de nuevo y mi amor por Varian no ha disminuido ni un poco. La pareja que hacen Esme y Varian sigue siendo tan encantadora y caótica como la recordaba.
Esme: Ella es una pequeña guerrera. Con un carácter de mil demonios, por fuera puede parecer solo una niña, pero es una mujer con fuertes de deseos de venganza, pelea, lucha y sumamente protectora de los suyos y es adorable.
Varian: Un lord sin tierra, un gigoló que se gana la vida viviendo de los demás. Puede que resulte fácil de manipular, que sea un poco holgazán y demasiado despreocupado o que parezca que tiene poco seso, pero Varian me encanta, porqué no sé pero tiene encanto. Y es tan lindo cuando quiere no rendirse a su deseos. Y es tan lindo en su cariño por el niño.
Breve resumen del libro
Aunque la novela es extensa, está llena de aventuras por partes de los protagonistas, de enredos y conspiraciones, de viajes a Albania, Italia, Inglaterra. Se describen muchos detalles de su relación y va, quizás, hasta describir el qué pasó después. Y me gusta, es encantador y tiene muchos detalles que quizás otras autoras se hubieran ahorrado pero que acá encajan. Y ¿saben qué? Te dejan con ganas de saber más. Si pudiera pedir algo sería un epílogo. Lo merecen.
Esme: Ella es una pequeña guerrera. Con un carácter de mil demonios, por fuera puede parecer solo una niña, pero es una mujer con fuertes de deseos de venganza, pelea, lucha y sumamente protectora de los suyos y es adorable.
Varian: Un lord sin tierra, un gigoló que se gana la vida viviendo de los demás. Puede que resulte fácil de manipular, que sea un poco holgazán y demasiado despreocupado o que parezca que tiene poco seso, pero Varian me encanta, porqué no sé pero tiene encanto. Y es tan lindo cuando quiere no rendirse a su deseos. Y es tan lindo en su cariño por el niño.
Breve resumen del libro
Aunque la novela es extensa, está llena de aventuras por partes de los protagonistas, de enredos y conspiraciones, de viajes a Albania, Italia, Inglaterra. Se describen muchos detalles de su relación y va, quizás, hasta describir el qué pasó después. Y me gusta, es encantador y tiene muchos detalles que quizás otras autoras se hubieran ahorrado pero que acá encajan. Y ¿saben qué? Te dejan con ganas de saber más. Si pudiera pedir algo sería un epílogo. Lo merecen.
May 15, 2012
This is such a crowded, mixed up book.
Okay to start with there are at least three different instances where the heroine eavesdrops on a conversation, overhears someone saying something (that is some sort of falsehood or manipulation), believes it, then runs away feeling betrayed. No, seriously, exactly this sequence of events happens over and over and over.
Then there's this super weird and contrived early subplot where the hero thinks that the heroine is much younger than she is so he's in gales of self-loathing for being attracted to her. But nothing significant ever comes of it! After a bit he finds out her real age and it's never brought up again?? Nor did it appear to have any real effect on the progression of their courtship. There was a whole thread about how much the heroine hated being treated like a child, so I guess Chase was attempting to tie that in, but really that thread worked fine without the useless age confusion and seemed mostly unaffected by it anyway.
And THEN there are also multiple confusing plotlines about smuggling and many years old betrayals and revolutions whose not being immediately resolved hinge on the protagonists (particularly a 12 year old boy) bizarrely keeping unnecessary secrets.
The most frustrating thing about what a clusterfuck this all is plot-wise is that the very basic plot (Albanian-raised half-English girl and dissolute bankrupt rake have a tempestuous relationship and he attempts to restore his finances/etc and be responsible because he feels like he doesn't deserve her whilst she is overwhelmed by insecurities due to how "wild" and not "properly feminine" she is) is fine! And most of the actual relationship between the hero and heroine is engaging, funny, and emotional.
There's just a whole bunch of other utterly unnecessary crap (sometimes amusing, often less so) crowding the book that you have to dig through. Also, though it features a few different queer characters, it has some really side-eye worthy stuff happening there narratively.
Okay to start with there are at least three different instances where the heroine eavesdrops on a conversation, overhears someone saying something (that is some sort of falsehood or manipulation), believes it, then runs away feeling betrayed. No, seriously, exactly this sequence of events happens over and over and over.
Then there's this super weird and contrived early subplot where the hero thinks that the heroine is much younger than she is so he's in gales of self-loathing for being attracted to her. But nothing significant ever comes of it! After a bit he finds out her real age and it's never brought up again?? Nor did it appear to have any real effect on the progression of their courtship. There was a whole thread about how much the heroine hated being treated like a child, so I guess Chase was attempting to tie that in, but really that thread worked fine without the useless age confusion and seemed mostly unaffected by it anyway.
And THEN there are also multiple confusing plotlines about smuggling and many years old betrayals and revolutions whose not being immediately resolved hinge on the protagonists (particularly a 12 year old boy) bizarrely keeping unnecessary secrets.
The most frustrating thing about what a clusterfuck this all is plot-wise is that the very basic plot (Albanian-raised half-English girl and dissolute bankrupt rake have a tempestuous relationship and he attempts to restore his finances/etc and be responsible because he feels like he doesn't deserve her whilst she is overwhelmed by insecurities due to how "wild" and not "properly feminine" she is) is fine! And most of the actual relationship between the hero and heroine is engaging, funny, and emotional.
There's just a whole bunch of other utterly unnecessary crap (sometimes amusing, often less so) crowding the book that you have to dig through. Also, though it features a few different queer characters, it has some really side-eye worthy stuff happening there narratively.
March 23, 2011
Not your typical Regency romance here. Not one description of gowns, jewels, visit's to Almack's, etc. The first half of the book takes place in Albania, where British-Alabanian Esme (the Red Lion's daughter) has lived all her life. Baron Varian St. George is the poor rakish dilettante that she ends up escorting across the "savage" country. Along the way, they fall into lust, then "strong attachment" to each other. (Love comes later).
Several things makes this different from the McNaught Regency romances that I've read. Varian isn't rich - marrying him solves no one's problems, it only creates and emphasizes the ruin he's made of his adult life. He married for love, and now he has absolutely no way of supporting his young wife, who has no dowry and no means of supporting herself. He knows she wants children, and he can't even support himself. What a refreshingly stark challenge. Also, I really appreciated the lack of misunderstandings between Esme and Varian. Several times throughout the book, they would express thoughts like "I knew he was so angry because he was scared I'd nearly been killed - and I could not blame him." I mean really - these characters have a depth of empathy and intuition that I really appreciated. They didn't need to create drama from knee-jerk reactions to the most minute perceived slight to one another, they had a degree of trust, or at least a degree of strength of character that allowed them to put themselves in the other person's shoes and not jump to conclusions about nefarious motivations. They didn't need to create emotional drama - the setting itself was dramatic enough. These characters and this setting really stayed with me - I dreamed about their world the night after I'd finished this book.
Several things makes this different from the McNaught Regency romances that I've read. Varian isn't rich - marrying him solves no one's problems, it only creates and emphasizes the ruin he's made of his adult life. He married for love, and now he has absolutely no way of supporting his young wife, who has no dowry and no means of supporting herself. He knows she wants children, and he can't even support himself. What a refreshingly stark challenge. Also, I really appreciated the lack of misunderstandings between Esme and Varian. Several times throughout the book, they would express thoughts like "I knew he was so angry because he was scared I'd nearly been killed - and I could not blame him." I mean really - these characters have a depth of empathy and intuition that I really appreciated. They didn't need to create drama from knee-jerk reactions to the most minute perceived slight to one another, they had a degree of trust, or at least a degree of strength of character that allowed them to put themselves in the other person's shoes and not jump to conclusions about nefarious motivations. They didn't need to create emotional drama - the setting itself was dramatic enough. These characters and this setting really stayed with me - I dreamed about their world the night after I'd finished this book.
August 26, 2011
When I have friends (or people on the street) who don't get why I read romance, I toss a copy of something by Loretta Chase at their heads. Generally Lord of the Scoundrels. But then, every writer has at least one stinker. And this book...I WANTED to like it. I tried to like it. I begged my subconscious to suspend disbelief. But no. It's that bad. And okay, I admit, I really bought it because I wanted to see if it was as bad as everybody said and because the guy on the cover bares more than a passing resemblance to a wrestler that I was more than a little obsessed with in college. So anyway, the badness makes me sad because this book DID have potential. And the interactions between the heroine and the hero were what kept me reading. But all the other stuff...i mean...Lord Byron's BFF is a babysitter. A seventeen-year-old girl is the baddest ass in Albania, next to her father who's a little, kinda sorta dead. Just kidding. Everybody only thinks he's dead. A chess piece that holds the key to the whole game (and lets all pause and appreciate the hamfisted zanniness of THAT metaphor). A crotchety old grandma who's not so crotchety at all. It just...never ends. Cause believe me, you guys, I could keep going.
Chase's ability to write tummy twitching love scenes and verbal exchanges are definitely still here, but the rest of it was just a little, uhm, over the top. Read it if you've read other things by her and know it's not her best. But don't read it if you're expecting a spectacular spectacular. Oh Loretta. The disappointment burns.
Chase's ability to write tummy twitching love scenes and verbal exchanges are definitely still here, but the rest of it was just a little, uhm, over the top. Read it if you've read other things by her and know it's not her best. But don't read it if you're expecting a spectacular spectacular. Oh Loretta. The disappointment burns.
May 2, 2017
I rounded this up from 2.5 stars because I LOVED "Lord of Scoundrels" (which I said many times in my review of that book) and there were moments in this story that did show some of the brilliance this author is certainly capable of. Unfortunately, those moments were too few and far between. In fact, I came very close to putting the book down permanently just about daily. I don't know if it was the setting, the characters or the plot that bothered me - probably a combination of all three - but the magic just wasn't there. I think I made a poor choice of a second book by Ms. Chase, and I am certainly not giving up on her; next time I will read friends' reviews rather than buy a book just because it is on sale!
September 6, 2022
Drop 5 subplots and a chess piece and this would be way more fun. Romance is almost there—I love the idea of a penniless nobleman, but not enough is done with that and the problem of finances is too easily resolved in the end. Also: ick factor early on, when he thinks she’s much younger than she actually is. This goes on too long.
But it has some nice moments beneath the busy, not entirely compelling plot and meandering characters.
But it has some nice moments beneath the busy, not entirely compelling plot and meandering characters.
December 10, 2020
Overly long and complicated story, with a young heroine who falls in love with her very flawed hero. She's fierce, they argue a lot which I found a little tedious but the intricate story and well developed characters were great. I loved seeing the hero find himself again, great scenes with his brothers.
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November 30, 2025REREADING 2026/Finished early. Still one of the best romances ever. Loretta Chase is a wonder.
I am rereading Loretta Chase, many years after I read her, when these books debuted. I am not sure I even liked this book as a very young woman and how foolish I was. This is a brilliant romance novel. I have come to believe that Loretta Chase is one of the best Historical Romance writers, EVER. Her use of language is mesmerizing and I annotated this book. Laughing. But I learned so much read it, about writing. But mostly I was so entertained. This is the ultimate road trip, my least favorite trope in romance novels, but Chase challenged me to rethink every road trip book I have ever read.
I love these two characters. One, a worthless, penniless aristocrat who is like a parasite, making his way across Eastern Europe living off rich people. He finally meets a very young woman who is proud and full of vengeance to a point of destruction and while the two are trying to just survive this horrible road trip, they learn about each other and themselves. Masterful plot and story and use of language made this book so much fun to read, so enjoyable. I will never forget it. Lots of action. Lots of intrigue. The perfect villain. Trials and tribulations. Political intrigues. Lies and lovers. I think this book actually came out in the 1990s. But it stands the test of TIME. It's as good as any modern romance. It's so good it made my Beloved and Favorite Shelf. I have read thousands of books, and I have less than 200 that are Beloved. That is a testament to my review. HIGH RECOMMENDED for fans of Romance or if you are a person who has never read a romance and you want to read a good one. HERE IT IS. My next favorite is Lord Of Scoundrels. That review is next.
I am rereading Loretta Chase, many years after I read her, when these books debuted. I am not sure I even liked this book as a very young woman and how foolish I was. This is a brilliant romance novel. I have come to believe that Loretta Chase is one of the best Historical Romance writers, EVER. Her use of language is mesmerizing and I annotated this book. Laughing. But I learned so much read it, about writing. But mostly I was so entertained. This is the ultimate road trip, my least favorite trope in romance novels, but Chase challenged me to rethink every road trip book I have ever read.
I love these two characters. One, a worthless, penniless aristocrat who is like a parasite, making his way across Eastern Europe living off rich people. He finally meets a very young woman who is proud and full of vengeance to a point of destruction and while the two are trying to just survive this horrible road trip, they learn about each other and themselves. Masterful plot and story and use of language made this book so much fun to read, so enjoyable. I will never forget it. Lots of action. Lots of intrigue. The perfect villain. Trials and tribulations. Political intrigues. Lies and lovers. I think this book actually came out in the 1990s. But it stands the test of TIME. It's as good as any modern romance. It's so good it made my Beloved and Favorite Shelf. I have read thousands of books, and I have less than 200 that are Beloved. That is a testament to my review. HIGH RECOMMENDED for fans of Romance or if you are a person who has never read a romance and you want to read a good one. HERE IT IS. My next favorite is Lord Of Scoundrels. That review is next.
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