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A Lady's Pleasure: A Spicy Victorian Romance
“THAT'S ONE HELL OF A SECRET LIFE YOU LIVE, MISS ABIGAIL."Abigail suddenly felt renewed. The shame that had tainted her entire adult life dissipated.She opened her eyes and stared at his naked chest that continued to heave up and down for air. “Let’s walk on the beach.”“In a storm?”“I love storms. I want to walk naked on the beach. I want to feel the rain kiss my breasts. I want to see what color your pego turns when it’s immersed in the ocean.”A Lady's Pleasure was first published in Captivated, the #1 Amazon Bestselling Anthology. Renowned Author and Editor Susie Bright featured A Lady's Pleasure in HOW TO WRITE A DIRTY READING, WRITING, AND PUBLISHING EROTICA.PRAISE FOR A LADY'S PLEASURE“Intimate, emotional and fulfilling...” ~The Romance Reader“Schone can write erotic scenes that involve character's souls as well as their genitals.” ~All About Romance“Schone is one of the groundbreaking writers of erotic romance, and her writing, while stunningly explicit, is exceptional and has a graceful quality that sets it apart from the rest.” ~Library JournalA LADY'S PLEASURE EXCERPT“I fantasize about what it is like to kiss. Not the small peck that I give and receive from my family and friends. But a real kiss ... like they do in my books. With their ... tongues.” Before she could lose her courage, Abigal blurted, “Do men and women really kiss that way, Colonel Coally?”“Sometimes. What else do you fantasize about, Miss Abigail?”Abigail transferred the journal to her left hand and scooted sideways across the mattress so that her back rested against the iron headboard. The sole of her right foot brushed against wool—and a muscular leg.Heat shot up her calf.She curled her foot underneath her skirt. “I ... fantasize about what a man looks like. I mean ... I have little nephews and I ... have changed their nappies. They are ... not really very impressive. Yet in the books they describe a man as being ... much larger. There. Are men as large in real life as they are in books?”It could have been the intake of his breath that she heard. Or perhaps it was hers. Because suddenly she realized exactly what it was that she had grabbed in the darkness, all silky sinew with pulsing veins.And yes, it had been very large indeed.“Some men are large, some men are small.” The voice in the dark deepened. “Just as some women have large breasts, and some have small. Is it important to you?”“Yes,” she said softly, wondering what or even if he had thought about her breasts during that fleeting touch, wondering how large were his measurements, wondering if all men were his size. Then she laughed self-consciously, embarrassed yet strangely exhilarated at discussing a man’s anatomy. “I mean—I suppose it would not matter as long as a man can give a woman satisfaction. Is it possible, Colonel Coally? Can a man give a woman satisfaction?”“Do you doubt it, Miss Abigail?”“Oh, yes, Colonel Coally. Every time I look at one of my pomaded, bewhiskered brothers-in-law I doubt it. I try to imagine them kissing with their tongue or—or touching a woman’s breast or—or kissing a woman between her legs, and, quite frankly, I cannot. I cannot imagine them doing any of the things I read about.
144 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 1999
78 people are currently reading
446 people want to read
About the author
Robin Schone
48 books493 followersUSA Today and Amazon Bestselling Author Robin Schone writes British Victorian novels about love, the legal & social penalties of Women’s sexuality and the occasional dinosaur. She is translated in 15 languages. The Lady's Tutor is a Cosmopolitan "Must Read" erotic novel. RUSQ (Reference and User Services of the American Library Association) chose Scandalous Lovers to “represent the wide range of historical fiction in romance.” Claims RUSQ: "Robin Schone writes sensual, explicit stories...about characters who are frequently older and less beautiful than most romance protagonists. Her history is impeccable; the storytelling is straightforward but emotionally driven."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
November 3, 2022
reading again for the 10x because I'm such a sucker for Robins writing :)
I am not a novella fan, at all. However, if they are going to work, I feel like the erotica genre is perfect for a novella. I say that because I think novellas are always so surface, you are not really allowed to get rooted in the story because there is simply not enough time and erotica gets mind-numbing after a while, too much banging and not enough substance. Combine the two and you have got something thrilling...at least as far as Robin Schone's work goes. She can do no wrong IMO. This story, although a little thin, did a great job of bringing two damaged souls together- (which Robin is known for) in short work.
No one can write a tortured character like Robin. She always heals them through mutual understanding and passion, which is what is so special to me. Passion always being the key component. I have never read an author than can take dirty secrets, private thoughts and taboo desires and mold them into timeless love stories. Her characters are insecure, self-doubting, damaged…always one step away from being obsolete and then wonderfully she brings them back into the sunshine and strengthens them.
Who can do all of this in 120 pages?! Robin! That's who! I simply love this woman and wish wherever she is that she will put pen to paper again and write more.
I am not a novella fan, at all. However, if they are going to work, I feel like the erotica genre is perfect for a novella. I say that because I think novellas are always so surface, you are not really allowed to get rooted in the story because there is simply not enough time and erotica gets mind-numbing after a while, too much banging and not enough substance. Combine the two and you have got something thrilling...at least as far as Robin Schone's work goes. She can do no wrong IMO. This story, although a little thin, did a great job of bringing two damaged souls together- (which Robin is known for) in short work.
No one can write a tortured character like Robin. She always heals them through mutual understanding and passion, which is what is so special to me. Passion always being the key component. I have never read an author than can take dirty secrets, private thoughts and taboo desires and mold them into timeless love stories. Her characters are insecure, self-doubting, damaged…always one step away from being obsolete and then wonderfully she brings them back into the sunshine and strengthens them.
Who can do all of this in 120 pages?! Robin! That's who! I simply love this woman and wish wherever she is that she will put pen to paper again and write more.
November 23, 2012
REVIEWED FOR ROMANTIC HISTORICAL LOVERS
RHL Classifications
Late Victorian Era
Historical Romance
Heat level 3 (Erotic)
Review rating 5 stars/top pick
While I am not a big fan of "erotica" per se, I do enjoy erotic romance, especially in a historical setting. I do, however, hold these stories to the same standard I set for anything else I read - the story must be well written, well researched, and emotionally compelling. Robin Schone strikes this perfect balance where many other erotic romances fail. I found this story emotionally riveting from the very start. The opening scene:
Rage.
It filled the storm, pounding and striking the night sky. it filled the stranger, fueling and stoking a burning lust.
For a woman.
A woman who knew more of life than surviving one day at a time.
A woman with kindness and passion.
A woman who would share with him her soul as well as her body.
A woman who, perhaps, could give him back his own soul.
Similar to The Lady's Tutor, the first Schone title I ever read, the author addresses the sexual repression of women in the Victorian era, and heroines who secretly balk the society that imprisons them in order to know intimacy and sexual passion.
In A Lady's Pleasure, the heroine, Lady Abigail Wynfred, is a virgin spinster who secretly reads erotica to compensate for her lackluster life. She is also fast approaching her thirtieth birthday and has given up on any hope of finding the passionate love she still craves. Resigned to accept a loveless society marriage rather than none at all, she takes a vacation to an isolated seaside cottage to mourn her dreams before burying them altogether.
Colonel Robert Coally has spent twenty two of his thirty five years killing. Although long battle hardened, he now fears for his own mortality after being wounded. While convalescing at a remote seaside cottage, he realizes he has never truly known a woman's passion, something he desperately wishes to experience before he dies. Fate, in the form of a violent storm, sends him seeking refuge at Abigail's cottage, where in one night, these two unhappy souls find the balm they most need in one another. The sexual encounters are explicit and erotic but also romantic and essential to the characters' respective journeys.
Highly recommended for those seeking a beautifully written, emotionally satisfying, and super steamy read.
This title is currently available in e-book for $2.99
RHL Classifications
Late Victorian Era
Historical Romance
Heat level 3 (Erotic)
Review rating 5 stars/top pick
While I am not a big fan of "erotica" per se, I do enjoy erotic romance, especially in a historical setting. I do, however, hold these stories to the same standard I set for anything else I read - the story must be well written, well researched, and emotionally compelling. Robin Schone strikes this perfect balance where many other erotic romances fail. I found this story emotionally riveting from the very start. The opening scene:
Rage.
It filled the storm, pounding and striking the night sky. it filled the stranger, fueling and stoking a burning lust.
For a woman.
A woman who knew more of life than surviving one day at a time.
A woman with kindness and passion.
A woman who would share with him her soul as well as her body.
A woman who, perhaps, could give him back his own soul.
Similar to The Lady's Tutor, the first Schone title I ever read, the author addresses the sexual repression of women in the Victorian era, and heroines who secretly balk the society that imprisons them in order to know intimacy and sexual passion.
In A Lady's Pleasure, the heroine, Lady Abigail Wynfred, is a virgin spinster who secretly reads erotica to compensate for her lackluster life. She is also fast approaching her thirtieth birthday and has given up on any hope of finding the passionate love she still craves. Resigned to accept a loveless society marriage rather than none at all, she takes a vacation to an isolated seaside cottage to mourn her dreams before burying them altogether.
Colonel Robert Coally has spent twenty two of his thirty five years killing. Although long battle hardened, he now fears for his own mortality after being wounded. While convalescing at a remote seaside cottage, he realizes he has never truly known a woman's passion, something he desperately wishes to experience before he dies. Fate, in the form of a violent storm, sends him seeking refuge at Abigail's cottage, where in one night, these two unhappy souls find the balm they most need in one another. The sexual encounters are explicit and erotic but also romantic and essential to the characters' respective journeys.
Highly recommended for those seeking a beautifully written, emotionally satisfying, and super steamy read.
This title is currently available in e-book for $2.99
June 14, 2022
There's just something clinical about her sex scenes. The tone of the book was flat to me as well. So, I didn't quite enjoy it. Still, her books are highly regarded when it comes to historical erotica. Maybe she's just not my kind of author.
May 10, 2022
This is how you write an erotic historical romance story! This is how an erotic historical romance story should be! I thought I had known all the things about the carnal pleasures portrayed in literature and the scope of sexual gratification that two people can gain from each other. But this deliciously sensual and utterly magnificent novella gave me a whole new understanding of what a man and a woman can enjoy sexually together. Oh Robert, or Colonel Coally, you and your wicked fingers!
During a raging storm, Miss Abigail welcomed Colonel Coally into her secluded cottage to give him shelter. Abigail was a passionate and fiery woman when it came to sex; she secretly harbored a lot of sexual fantasies and enjoyed reading erotica. However, the society at that time and how she was brought up in a noble family didn’t very much allow a wanton woman like her, with secret sexual desires, to fully live and embrace her own sexual nature. Moreover, she was seen as a spinter by Society at that time, since she was turning 30 years old in three weeks and had not been married. Abigail’s alone time in this cottage was a way for her to live inside her sexual fantasies one last time with her erotic magazines before she headed back home in London to fulfill a woman’s duty: marrying whoever asked her for her hands in marriage, and becoming a submissive wife while repressing her sexual nature.
Then came Colonel Coally, first name Robert. He was a soldier who had spent 22 years fighting in countless battles and wars, seen a lot of deaths, and killed a lot of people as part of his job. He was not proud of what he had done in those battles, although he knew it was for the country he was serving. The brutal nature of what he did for a living almost scarred his soul permanently, causing him trauma and chaos in his mind that he just wanted to forget. Robert was looking for a woman who could help him forget all the guilt and brutality of a soldier’s life when he came upon Abigail’s cottage. So I guess fate had brought them together.
The beginning of the novella did not provide a lot of background or back story to the characters or to what was about to happen inside the cottage. However, this lack of background was more than compensated by the scorching hot sexual acts that both Abigail and Robert later consented to perform together. They both agreed, for as long as the storm lasted, to become each other’s fantasy man and woman, to act out their own sexual fantasies and thoroughly enjoy all the pleasures as well as pains that sex brought. And my oh my, those sex scenes were incredible and incomparable. They were beyond what I could ever imagine could take place between two people sexually. The intensity in which Robert and Abigail engaged in sexual activities together had the capacity to take my breath away. This is the first time that I have ever heard of Robin Schone - the author - and reading this novella made me wonder, where has she been all my reading life?
But sex was just part (but a huge part) of the story’s dynamics, since through sex and all the erotic treatments that Robert and Abigail did for each other, they also bared their souls and all the secret longings that they had kept hidden inside of them. Sex, for these two lonely people, was the initial step, the catalyst, the propeller that brought them closer together and led them to realize that the bond existing between them was more than just lust and carnality. Through sex, Robert and Abigail could bring the darkest, roughest, most animalistic part in themselves and live it, unashamed in each other’s embrace. And sex was healing for these two characters, too. From a woman who wanted to leave the future and a man who wanted to forget the past, they each found release for their own sorrows and saw how reality could be even better than fantasy.
Of course, with the historical romance genre, the story could not end without the hero realizing he needed to marry the heroine and share the rest of his life with her. And Robert did, although there were some mishaps along the way. The ending was climatic enough within the limited length of a novella, and everything was wrapped up nicely. After reading this story, I can never look at sponge and butter the same way again. And I fantasized about erotic and private time with the man of my life on a beach, naked in the sea amidst an ongoing storm, rain falling down on our faces, which I proves just how impactful this novella is. I definitely will check out more of Robin Schone’s works.
During a raging storm, Miss Abigail welcomed Colonel Coally into her secluded cottage to give him shelter. Abigail was a passionate and fiery woman when it came to sex; she secretly harbored a lot of sexual fantasies and enjoyed reading erotica. However, the society at that time and how she was brought up in a noble family didn’t very much allow a wanton woman like her, with secret sexual desires, to fully live and embrace her own sexual nature. Moreover, she was seen as a spinter by Society at that time, since she was turning 30 years old in three weeks and had not been married. Abigail’s alone time in this cottage was a way for her to live inside her sexual fantasies one last time with her erotic magazines before she headed back home in London to fulfill a woman’s duty: marrying whoever asked her for her hands in marriage, and becoming a submissive wife while repressing her sexual nature.
Then came Colonel Coally, first name Robert. He was a soldier who had spent 22 years fighting in countless battles and wars, seen a lot of deaths, and killed a lot of people as part of his job. He was not proud of what he had done in those battles, although he knew it was for the country he was serving. The brutal nature of what he did for a living almost scarred his soul permanently, causing him trauma and chaos in his mind that he just wanted to forget. Robert was looking for a woman who could help him forget all the guilt and brutality of a soldier’s life when he came upon Abigail’s cottage. So I guess fate had brought them together.
The beginning of the novella did not provide a lot of background or back story to the characters or to what was about to happen inside the cottage. However, this lack of background was more than compensated by the scorching hot sexual acts that both Abigail and Robert later consented to perform together. They both agreed, for as long as the storm lasted, to become each other’s fantasy man and woman, to act out their own sexual fantasies and thoroughly enjoy all the pleasures as well as pains that sex brought. And my oh my, those sex scenes were incredible and incomparable. They were beyond what I could ever imagine could take place between two people sexually. The intensity in which Robert and Abigail engaged in sexual activities together had the capacity to take my breath away. This is the first time that I have ever heard of Robin Schone - the author - and reading this novella made me wonder, where has she been all my reading life?
But sex was just part (but a huge part) of the story’s dynamics, since through sex and all the erotic treatments that Robert and Abigail did for each other, they also bared their souls and all the secret longings that they had kept hidden inside of them. Sex, for these two lonely people, was the initial step, the catalyst, the propeller that brought them closer together and led them to realize that the bond existing between them was more than just lust and carnality. Through sex, Robert and Abigail could bring the darkest, roughest, most animalistic part in themselves and live it, unashamed in each other’s embrace. And sex was healing for these two characters, too. From a woman who wanted to leave the future and a man who wanted to forget the past, they each found release for their own sorrows and saw how reality could be even better than fantasy.
Of course, with the historical romance genre, the story could not end without the hero realizing he needed to marry the heroine and share the rest of his life with her. And Robert did, although there were some mishaps along the way. The ending was climatic enough within the limited length of a novella, and everything was wrapped up nicely. After reading this story, I can never look at sponge and butter the same way again. And I fantasized about erotic and private time with the man of my life on a beach, naked in the sea amidst an ongoing storm, rain falling down on our faces, which I proves just how impactful this novella is. I definitely will check out more of Robin Schone’s works.
September 7, 2015
Note to potential readers - this book involves the use of butter in a sexual context that may disturb lovers of butter. And sex.
February 28, 2014
It was a well written erotica book. Usually I prefer to read erotic scenes with romance background. Even though it would be a wonderful erotica book, if it lack of romance, I would not enjoy it very much.
So I gave it 3 stars because of my romance expectation and it hasn't have much. At least, not kind of that I like. But it's sure that author wrote a very streamlined story with lots of hot scenes.
The reader who likes to read erotica and historical stories should try this one.
So I gave it 3 stars because of my romance expectation and it hasn't have much. At least, not kind of that I like. But it's sure that author wrote a very streamlined story with lots of hot scenes.
The reader who likes to read erotica and historical stories should try this one.
July 27, 2022
The Heroine
Abigail Wynfred is an almost-thirty spinster who is passed around between her brother and sisters in her unmarried, lonely state. A few weeks before she turns thirty, she decides to take a quiet vacation by herself to the seaside to spend one last time with her erotic book collection. She has decided that she will give up her dreams of a passionate marriage, be rid of her book collection and marry whomever her siblings choose for her.
The Hero
Colonel Robert Coally is recovering from a war injury. Having been born in the poor parts of London, he choose to become a soldier at a very young age to avoid the fate of hard labor on the streets only to find a hard life as a soldier. He has killed many man and seen many horrors and desperately wants to live out his fantasies with a woman before he is certain death will find him on the battlefield soon.
The Plot
Robert happens to stumble into Abigail's seaside cottage after bring thrown from his horse in the midst of a raging storm. Having caught her reading her scandalous books, she proposes a deal where they live out their fantasies with each other as long as the storm rages outside the little cabin. What ensues is not only passion but a deep, deep love and understanding that develops between them as they not only share their bodies, they share their lives, their fears, and their dreams.
This was a quick read, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Sometimes when books focus on the bedroom passion, they miss the mark on the emotion between the characters. And while some of the scenes did read a little robotic, I DEFINITELY felt Robert and Abigail falling for each other as they spent their two days together. And I had such angst with the misunderstanding (I hate that as a trope), but I was so pleased that Robert was able to use common sense and realize what Abigail might have been thinking to make her react the way she did. I won't say too much about the circumstances, but just know, it was the best ending!
Tropes
Historical Romance, Victorian Era, Seaside, Gamma Hero, Dark Hero, Disabled/Wounded Hero, Scared Hero, Soldier/War Hero, War Hero, Aggressive Heroine, Bookworm Heroine, Independent Heroine, Spinster Heroine, Virgin Heroine, Outdoor Steam, Dirty Talk, Class Difference, Fling to Love, Forced Proximity
Abigail Wynfred is an almost-thirty spinster who is passed around between her brother and sisters in her unmarried, lonely state. A few weeks before she turns thirty, she decides to take a quiet vacation by herself to the seaside to spend one last time with her erotic book collection. She has decided that she will give up her dreams of a passionate marriage, be rid of her book collection and marry whomever her siblings choose for her.
The Hero
Colonel Robert Coally is recovering from a war injury. Having been born in the poor parts of London, he choose to become a soldier at a very young age to avoid the fate of hard labor on the streets only to find a hard life as a soldier. He has killed many man and seen many horrors and desperately wants to live out his fantasies with a woman before he is certain death will find him on the battlefield soon.
The Plot
Robert happens to stumble into Abigail's seaside cottage after bring thrown from his horse in the midst of a raging storm. Having caught her reading her scandalous books, she proposes a deal where they live out their fantasies with each other as long as the storm rages outside the little cabin. What ensues is not only passion but a deep, deep love and understanding that develops between them as they not only share their bodies, they share their lives, their fears, and their dreams.
This was a quick read, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Sometimes when books focus on the bedroom passion, they miss the mark on the emotion between the characters. And while some of the scenes did read a little robotic, I DEFINITELY felt Robert and Abigail falling for each other as they spent their two days together. And I had such angst with the misunderstanding (I hate that as a trope), but I was so pleased that Robert was able to use common sense and realize what Abigail might have been thinking to make her react the way she did. I won't say too much about the circumstances, but just know, it was the best ending!
Tropes
Historical Romance, Victorian Era, Seaside, Gamma Hero, Dark Hero, Disabled/Wounded Hero, Scared Hero, Soldier/War Hero, War Hero, Aggressive Heroine, Bookworm Heroine, Independent Heroine, Spinster Heroine, Virgin Heroine, Outdoor Steam, Dirty Talk, Class Difference, Fling to Love, Forced Proximity
November 24, 2012
A Lady’s Pleasure by Robin Schone
With her wonderful ability to create the sexiest read you will ever have, with class along with a great story, Robin Schone shines again with this novella. In addition, at 127 pages it isn’t the extremely short novella we have all come to expect from authors.
Abigail has rented a cottage by the sea for a month to say good-bye to her dreams. Robert is at the shore to recuperate before he goes back to the war and continues killing. They meet during extreme circumstances and find a mutual passion while a storm rages, and ONLY while the storm rages.
Nevertheless, the road to Hell is paved with good intentions and when Robert had to leave for a bit and would have come back, even during fair weather, circumstances keep him away.
I had hoped the Ms Schone would have started writing new books again and had hoped that this was a new one, but alas, it had been published before in an anthology. Robin Schone—please come back to us, you have a lot of loyal fans!
With her wonderful ability to create the sexiest read you will ever have, with class along with a great story, Robin Schone shines again with this novella. In addition, at 127 pages it isn’t the extremely short novella we have all come to expect from authors.
Abigail has rented a cottage by the sea for a month to say good-bye to her dreams. Robert is at the shore to recuperate before he goes back to the war and continues killing. They meet during extreme circumstances and find a mutual passion while a storm rages, and ONLY while the storm rages.
Nevertheless, the road to Hell is paved with good intentions and when Robert had to leave for a bit and would have come back, even during fair weather, circumstances keep him away.
I had hoped the Ms Schone would have started writing new books again and had hoped that this was a new one, but alas, it had been published before in an anthology. Robin Schone—please come back to us, you have a lot of loyal fans!
April 16, 2017
A Lady's Pleasure by Robin Schone is the first historical romance I've read in quite some time. And probably the first erotica historical romance.
Colonel Robert Coally was a confident alpha who was used to giving orders. He was war torn with disturbing war memories. He was recovering in the country from a wound. He was thrown from his horse and was walking when a fierce storm came upon him. He saw the light in an isolated cabin and found Abigail.
Abigail was sassy, strong and not afraid to speak her mind. She was a 29 year old spinster from London - or so the label was given her. She was alone in her cottage reading her supply of erotica when Robert burst in her cottage for shelter.
They both had desires and fantasies that they agreed the other could assist. It wasn't a deep plot but it was a quick and steamy read. Additionally, it was light, humorous and refreshing.
Colonel Robert Coally was a confident alpha who was used to giving orders. He was war torn with disturbing war memories. He was recovering in the country from a wound. He was thrown from his horse and was walking when a fierce storm came upon him. He saw the light in an isolated cabin and found Abigail.
Abigail was sassy, strong and not afraid to speak her mind. She was a 29 year old spinster from London - or so the label was given her. She was alone in her cottage reading her supply of erotica when Robert burst in her cottage for shelter.
They both had desires and fantasies that they agreed the other could assist. It wasn't a deep plot but it was a quick and steamy read. Additionally, it was light, humorous and refreshing.
August 2, 2014
As usual Robin Schone has produced a well written story though I was a little disappointed. I'm used to her dark, wicked, Victorian tales with twists and plots and this story was really just erotica. Well written erotica, not smutty or cringe worthy, but still just erotica.
It was quite a sad little novella, with a frustrated Earl's daughter and a Colonel in the Indian army who is a self made man and has climbed the ranks. The two meet one stormy night when Robert takes refuge from a fierce storm in the cottage Abigail has rented. She has been reading erotic fiction and this gorgeous man appears and well you can guess what happens next...
Eventually there is a slight misunderstanding and Abigail returns to her boring, Victorian life. The best part was the end of the story and yes I am glad to report that there is a hea.
I've given it an all over 4 stars but really it just scrapes a 3.5. I know what Ms. Schone is capable of, her work is out of the ordinary, although not for everyone, I love her trade mark darkly, 'not to be talked about' story lines and this was missing. Still a well written little tale. I just wish she would dispense with the 'gottens' and 'sidewalks' which have no place in Victorian England.
It was quite a sad little novella, with a frustrated Earl's daughter and a Colonel in the Indian army who is a self made man and has climbed the ranks. The two meet one stormy night when Robert takes refuge from a fierce storm in the cottage Abigail has rented. She has been reading erotic fiction and this gorgeous man appears and well you can guess what happens next...
Eventually there is a slight misunderstanding and Abigail returns to her boring, Victorian life. The best part was the end of the story and yes I am glad to report that there is a hea.
I've given it an all over 4 stars but really it just scrapes a 3.5. I know what Ms. Schone is capable of, her work is out of the ordinary, although not for everyone, I love her trade mark darkly, 'not to be talked about' story lines and this was missing. Still a well written little tale. I just wish she would dispense with the 'gottens' and 'sidewalks' which have no place in Victorian England.
December 27, 2015
*** 2.40 ***
I understand this was a mini novella, but from a storytelling point of view, it gave too much time to minutia and too little time to the development of chemistry between the two lovers. It ether is a quickie, or is a novel, take a pick!!! The sex was OK, but the whole thing felt disjointed and redundant at the same time... Now that I think about it, I should probably lower the rating, but I do not want to be petty... The storm was a good classical set-up and it could have been a cozy, sexy story, but it tried for more and failed miserably... I would not recommend it to folks necessarily, but if someone asks, it is a filler... Disappointing... :-(((
P. S. I love sexy, smutty, all era romances and even just plain erotica for the fun of it. This is not what I had issues with. My issue was purely about the storytelling itself - just not well written. I am not against the content at all!
I understand this was a mini novella, but from a storytelling point of view, it gave too much time to minutia and too little time to the development of chemistry between the two lovers. It ether is a quickie, or is a novel, take a pick!!! The sex was OK, but the whole thing felt disjointed and redundant at the same time... Now that I think about it, I should probably lower the rating, but I do not want to be petty... The storm was a good classical set-up and it could have been a cozy, sexy story, but it tried for more and failed miserably... I would not recommend it to folks necessarily, but if someone asks, it is a filler... Disappointing... :-(((
P. S. I love sexy, smutty, all era romances and even just plain erotica for the fun of it. This is not what I had issues with. My issue was purely about the storytelling itself - just not well written. I am not against the content at all!
April 18, 2015
Robin Schone writes erotica with an unequalled eloquence
November 18, 2022
This started out as 3 stars but the more I got into it, I was surprised at how much depth there was to this story; it's 4.5 stars.
August 8, 2018
It's amazing how much the hero knows about sponges.
April 13, 2025
Despite being the author’s early (first?) work, I found this novella to have a better prose than the other book that I’ve read by her, “The Lover”. It was more succinct and precise, almost without mysterious paragraphs full of angst and unsuccessful attempts at foreshadowing, where one would’ve no idea what the author is trying to say and why. At the same time, it’s clear that Abigail has later heavily “inspired” the character of Anne Aimes from “The Lover”, and some scenes and descriptions were re-used as well.
I liked that despite the relatively short length of the novella, the author was able to pack a bunch of backstory, some minor conflict, and a decent resolution into it.
At the same time, some aspects of the plot didn’t make sense to me. For instance, in a society obsessed with safeguarding the “virtue” of (unmarried) women, Abigail is able to rent a remote cottage and stay there alone? More importantly, she’s comfortable doing that, even though literally anyone (but specifically Mr Thomas, the caretaker) could come in and rape or murder her? And what was up with Colonel Coally’s lifelong sexual fantasy? Since he obviously didn’t have a problem with paying for sex, why couldn’t he get a prostitute do that with him? Also, who knew that _this_ was the way one identified their soulmate or whatever other epiphany he had afterwards.
However, my main issue was… no, not the butter - that’s actually quite cliche, isn’t it? My problem was the sponge. The sponge, that clearly belonged to the cottage, and this being the nineteenth century, would have been reused by each new tenant. It was either a dishwashing sponge (as I thought in the beginning) or a sponge for bathing (as it seemed at the end). Either way, voluntarily putting that thing, that was used by who-knows-how-many others for who-knows-what-purposes, inside yourself? In a location where soon it’s going to have direct access to the bloodstream? I mean, the alcohol hopefully killed most of the bacteria, but still - ewwwww… I was just glad she didn’t just rinse and put it back when she left.
Also, having condoms and claiming he didn’t bring protection was an assholish move by the colonel.
I liked that despite the relatively short length of the novella, the author was able to pack a bunch of backstory, some minor conflict, and a decent resolution into it.
At the same time, some aspects of the plot didn’t make sense to me. For instance, in a society obsessed with safeguarding the “virtue” of (unmarried) women, Abigail is able to rent a remote cottage and stay there alone? More importantly, she’s comfortable doing that, even though literally anyone (but specifically Mr Thomas, the caretaker) could come in and rape or murder her? And what was up with Colonel Coally’s lifelong sexual fantasy? Since he obviously didn’t have a problem with paying for sex, why couldn’t he get a prostitute do that with him? Also, who knew that _this_ was the way one identified their soulmate or whatever other epiphany he had afterwards.
However, my main issue was… no, not the butter - that’s actually quite cliche, isn’t it? My problem was the sponge. The sponge, that clearly belonged to the cottage, and this being the nineteenth century, would have been reused by each new tenant. It was either a dishwashing sponge (as I thought in the beginning) or a sponge for bathing (as it seemed at the end). Either way, voluntarily putting that thing, that was used by who-knows-how-many others for who-knows-what-purposes, inside yourself? In a location where soon it’s going to have direct access to the bloodstream? I mean, the alcohol hopefully killed most of the bacteria, but still - ewwwww… I was just glad she didn’t just rinse and put it back when she left.
Also, having condoms and claiming he didn’t bring protection was an assholish move by the colonel.
October 27, 2018
A Lady’s Pleasure is an erotic Victorian era novella. It’s about a chance encounter at a remote seaside cottage between a wounded soldier and a spinster in the midst of a storm. Tick, tick, tick, and tick.
Personally, I prefer more background romance development between the Hero and Heroine to underscore erotic scenes. However, this short story had all the ingredients for a captivating story between strangers, so I thought it quite believable that such a scenario could really occur. It’s a well-paced read that feels melancholy and sweet. It’s not a deep plot but it covers all the emotions before giving a nice HEA.
Lady Abigail Wynfred is a virgin spinster who secretly reads erotica to compensate for her lacklustre life. Her thirtieth birthday is fast approaching, and she takes a vacation in an isolated seaside cottage to mourn her dreams before burying them altogether.
Colonel Robert Coally has spent twenty-two of his thirty-five years killing. He is battle-weary and convalescing at the remote seaside setting before he goes back to the war.
I recommend this novella. I plan to read more from this author.
Personally, I prefer more background romance development between the Hero and Heroine to underscore erotic scenes. However, this short story had all the ingredients for a captivating story between strangers, so I thought it quite believable that such a scenario could really occur. It’s a well-paced read that feels melancholy and sweet. It’s not a deep plot but it covers all the emotions before giving a nice HEA.
Lady Abigail Wynfred is a virgin spinster who secretly reads erotica to compensate for her lacklustre life. Her thirtieth birthday is fast approaching, and she takes a vacation in an isolated seaside cottage to mourn her dreams before burying them altogether.
Colonel Robert Coally has spent twenty-two of his thirty-five years killing. He is battle-weary and convalescing at the remote seaside setting before he goes back to the war.
I recommend this novella. I plan to read more from this author.
October 25, 2023
MF, HR, novella, 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
F rents cottage on coast to say "goodbye" to her dreams. Is avid reader of erotic literature, but is spinster sister of an Earl, and has decided to give in to siblings and get married.
M rents cottage further down, his horse throws him, he has war injury (but mostly recovered), he walks in storm to her cottage because lost his horse. He spys her reading her magazine.
They agree to be together for the duration of the storm and fulfill each other's fantasies. Night, the next day, the next night.
Storm broken, he goes to find horse, it takes forever. She wakes and thinks he left for good. She leaves and returns to London. He follows. But they didn't exchange last names. He sees her engagement notice, goes and interrupts wedding. She initially rebuffs him, but then runs after him outside her brothers home.
F rents cottage on coast to say "goodbye" to her dreams. Is avid reader of erotic literature, but is spinster sister of an Earl, and has decided to give in to siblings and get married.
M rents cottage further down, his horse throws him, he has war injury (but mostly recovered), he walks in storm to her cottage because lost his horse. He spys her reading her magazine.
They agree to be together for the duration of the storm and fulfill each other's fantasies. Night, the next day, the next night.
Storm broken, he goes to find horse, it takes forever. She wakes and thinks he left for good. She leaves and returns to London. He follows. But they didn't exchange last names. He sees her engagement notice, goes and interrupts wedding. She initially rebuffs him, but then runs after him outside her brothers home.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 2, 2023
This was a reread as I devoured all of Robin Schone's writing back in the early 2000s. Her work was part of my introduction to erotic historical romance and I was HOOKED. Honestly, I'm not sure if my taste has just changed that drastically in the last 20 years or if I just wasn't in the mood for this but A Lady's Pleasure wasn't as satisfying (pun intended) as I recall it being the first time around. It could just be because this was a short story though. I seem to recall being NUTS about Gabriel's Woman by Schone so I may have to give that a reread in order to truly determine if her work still measures up!
July 14, 2021
There was so much more depth to this story than I expected. The sizzling hot sex I expected; the emotional intensity and soulmate connection were beautiful and unexpected.
A repressed Victorian spinster, an emotionally haunted army colonel... An erotic encounter between strangers at an isolated cottage by the sea, storm raging outside ... the physical connection laced with moments of longing, tenderness, healing and humor ... two deeply lonely people together find a balm for their lonely souls. Each finds the part of themselves that was missing. Recommended!
A repressed Victorian spinster, an emotionally haunted army colonel... An erotic encounter between strangers at an isolated cottage by the sea, storm raging outside ... the physical connection laced with moments of longing, tenderness, healing and humor ... two deeply lonely people together find a balm for their lonely souls. Each finds the part of themselves that was missing. Recommended!
July 20, 2022
TW: PTSD
This was a beautiful love story. I have so many thoughts about this, but I find myself having a hard time articulating them. I'm not sure I can encapsulate all the feelings I have about the book with words. This is one of the stories that will stick with me for a while, and not because of the sex.
The premise of this book is simple. Most of the story takes place in a one room cabin, and with only two characters. But that's all that was needed. Schone did an amazing job breathing life into these characters in such a short amount of time.
Bravo.
This was a beautiful love story. I have so many thoughts about this, but I find myself having a hard time articulating them. I'm not sure I can encapsulate all the feelings I have about the book with words. This is one of the stories that will stick with me for a while, and not because of the sex.
The premise of this book is simple. Most of the story takes place in a one room cabin, and with only two characters. But that's all that was needed. Schone did an amazing job breathing life into these characters in such a short amount of time.
Bravo.
July 22, 2022
This novella was a small gem.
The sexual tension e acts are wonderfully mastered within this short story.
The author let you grasp the backstory of these characters in few exchanges and has you involved in their destiny without you realising it.
The misunderstanding parting them and leading to the climax and HEA was exaggerated but it did not disturbed my enjoyment of this reading.
It reminded me of the Bridges of Madison County but with a better ending 😊
The sexual tension e acts are wonderfully mastered within this short story.
The author let you grasp the backstory of these characters in few exchanges and has you involved in their destiny without you realising it.
The misunderstanding parting them and leading to the climax and HEA was exaggerated but it did not disturbed my enjoyment of this reading.
It reminded me of the Bridges of Madison County but with a better ending 😊
December 1, 2024
Very Hot ;) !
Well, I do believe I have now learned a thing or two in my old age.
This wasn't a very long book but what there is of it is steamier than anything else I have read to date.
Lady Abigail agrees to give Robert shelter from a raging storm but only for that period of time. However, things don't always pan out the way we say they should and... well if I said anything more, I would be giving the whole story away.
Well, I do believe I have now learned a thing or two in my old age.
This wasn't a very long book but what there is of it is steamier than anything else I have read to date.
Lady Abigail agrees to give Robert shelter from a raging storm but only for that period of time. However, things don't always pan out the way we say they should and... well if I said anything more, I would be giving the whole story away.
April 11, 2019
Not a bad book. Just a quick read full of very explicitly detailed sex scenes.
I kind of got bored after the 11st act. The author tried to make it deep with the tortured hero plot, but the plot was just the sex in fact.
DNF around 60, when they went outside to swin naked and someone came looking for Abby lool, that book was a mess.
But still an enjoyable mess :P
I'll probably finish it later...
I kind of got bored after the 11st act. The author tried to make it deep with the tortured hero plot, but the plot was just the sex in fact.
DNF around 60, when they went outside to swin naked and someone came looking for Abby lool, that book was a mess.
But still an enjoyable mess :P
I'll probably finish it later...
September 5, 2021
Requires significant suspension of disbelief as it gets started, but despite that, it includes some undeniably sensual and erotic moments. I liked the author's frankness about all aspects of sex, and the moments of humour. A few historical anachronisms/Americanisms took me out of the moment, e.g. a train station attendant saying someone was heading to "London Station" (which one?)
June 13, 2018
It is the best romance novel I have read in my life. It was beautiful.
Most romance novels are all the same, but this one is completely different. It is written thoughtfully and the characters are rich. The pain in each person is keenly felt. The two come together, each healing the other.
Most romance novels are all the same, but this one is completely different. It is written thoughtfully and the characters are rich. The pain in each person is keenly felt. The two come together, each healing the other.
July 9, 2018
Abigail Lives Her Fantasies
This is one of this author’s best I’ve read. Not overly descriptive or filled with excessive inner dialogue, the heat between these two was off the charts.
This is one of this author’s best I’ve read. Not overly descriptive or filled with excessive inner dialogue, the heat between these two was off the charts.
July 5, 2019
I listened to the audiobook and this is technically a re-read as I read the book a number of years ago... the book is seriously hot ... definitely not one you listen to with out earphones when your teen is around.
December 8, 2020
3.5 stars - Erotic HR novella, quite enjoyed it, but had some reservations about their use of butter. We do get the promise of an HEA, but it felt kind of rushed/hollow. Would have liked more build up and/or aftermath to sell it.
February 10, 2023
Very steamy. Abigail and Robert - he war colonel she a spinster who likes erotica - meet in cottage during rain storm. Last sex scene ummm was not to my care… that was his main fantasy? And the butter… ummm ewww - ehhh but otherwise nice hea ending
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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June 8, 2025dnf @ 56% (for now)
just not in the mood for this. i know it’s only like 100 something pages (and i should be able to finish it) but i got soo damn bored so fast 🥱
idk might pick it up again later (or might not)
just not in the mood for this. i know it’s only like 100 something pages (and i should be able to finish it) but i got soo damn bored so fast 🥱
idk might pick it up again later (or might not)
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