Im Paradies der Sünde

by Janet Mullany

Louisa Connelly, a recently widowed Jane Austen scholar, needs some relief from her stifling world. When a friend calls to offer her a temporary escape from her Montana ranch, she is whisked into a dizzying world of sumptuous food, flowing wine…and endless temptation.She's an honored guest at Paradise Hall, an English resort boasting the full experience of an authentic Georgian country-house weekend. Liveried servants tend to every need of houseguests clad in meticulous period snug breeches, low-cut silken gowns and negligible undergarments.

It's Mac Salazar, a journalist immersing himself fully, deeply, lustily in the naughty pleasures of upstairs-downstairs dalliances, who piques Louisa's curiosity—and libido—most. He's a dilettante straight out of a uninhibited, unapologetic and nearly insatiable. But Lou's not romantic about this much, at Paradise Hall is a gorgeous fantasy, nothing more. A lover like Mac is pure fiction. And the real world beckons….

Genres: Erotica, Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Ebooks, Erotic Romance

Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Janet Mullany was raised in England by half of an amateur string quartet and now lives near Washington, DC. Persecuted from an early age for reading too long in the bathroom, she still loves books and is an avid and eclectic reader. She has worked as an archaeologist, classical music radio announcer, arts publicist, and for a small press.

Reviews

[Lili · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of my greatest book peeves is books that attempt so much that they can’t deliver on anything. Hidden Paradise is squarely in that category.

The female protagonist is a brooding young widow who needs to make peace with the fact that her husband died only a year (or few) into their marriage. And she’s also an Austen scholar who is burned out on writing her dissertation. The younger male protagonist is trying to save his family after one of the parents abandons them, but at the same time wants to strike out to be his own man. Then there is Paradise Hall, an old mansion where Jane Austen was rumored to have stayed. This gets restored to be a Regency escape for the well-heeled, which comes with its own unique Upstairs/Downstairs dynamic. And, for some reason, the Regency fantasy turns guests and staff alike into bed-hopping nymphomanics. To top it all off, the Austen scholar makes an unexpected Austen discovery that calls into question everything she thought about the staid author.

The only way to get that much character development, plot, setting, and erotica into 245 pages is to half-ass all of it. Even changing the point of view every few pages wasn’t all that successful of a storytelling device. The book was told entirely in third person and changed point of view so often that I never truly felt like I was inside any one character’s head. That made it hard for me to feel for any of them. And the erotica was tepid at best.

What I really wanted this book to be was a version of Carrie’s Story or The Marketplace with rich Regency costuming, manners, and escapades. I felt like the book wanted to be that as well, but was too encumbered by the Austen devices and the damaged characters to actually realize its destiny.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was fantastic. I loved the emotional journey that Lou finds herself on. She is trying to deal with grief, denial, anger, betrayal, guilt, lust, and love all at the same time. Lou is trying to maintain a connection to her recently deceased husband while also trying to establish new romantic connections. She finds herself back in time while visiting the newly renovated Paradise Hall, a project of good friends of hers. While there, Lou realizes that she is not going to find the connection to her husband she was looking for, but she may be able to love again.

Lou struggles with the guilt of letting her husband go, and the fear of connecting with someone new and risking loss again. When Lou discovers that her extreme happiness with her husband may not have been all that she thought it was, she is thrown into even more emotional turmoil. Her new friends, and potential love interests, Mac and Rob, are there to help her sort through some of her emotions, and her desires. But can either of them be strong enough to help Lou regain emotional stability?

[Julie Read Our Lips! Book Review Blog · Rating 2 out of 5]

Louisa – who is called LouLou or Lou throughout the book – is an Austen scholar and recent widow as her husband died in an accident. Seeing her depressed, her friends (Chris and Peter) think to reanimate her back to the living by inviting her to get out of her Montana ranch and partake in what she enjoys the most – a Jane Austen themed getaway in England.

Chris and Peter are renovating a Georgian home (rumored to be where Jane Austen once stayed), and urge her to join them make a first run of the place, utilizing her historical know how-to make sure things are accurate to the time period. They explain there will be several guests there as well, dressing the part and living life (games, food, dress) as if they were really in Jane Austen’s era.

Because the Georgian estate was where she married her husband, Lou agrees to go, hoping her dead husband’s ghost will haunt her. But there is no room for ghosts at Hidden Paradise, only naughty guests who partake in any conceivable sex act with any available partner.

Among the guests, Lou meets Mac Darcy Salazar, a journalist who is hired by the owners of the estate to get the word out on their about-to-open resort as well as Rob, the Head Footman (servant) hired at Hidden Paradise.

At first, Mac’s let’s-just-have-sex-with-no-strings-attached attracts Lou, since she walks in on Mac and another guest having sex and she knows exactly what she’s getting into. But when things start to get serious between them and Lou fears she’s not honoring her husband’s memory, she suddenly takes a step back – especially when she catches Mac in the action (again) without her.

Wanting to keep her adventures at Hidden Paradise untethered, she turns to Rob, the gorgeous and very young Footman everyone at the resort wants to get their hands on. Lou takes his virginity, and teaches him the many pleasures of sex.

Niggling at the back of her mind though, is her fantasy of having a ménage with two men. In her fantasies, she’d love to have Mac and Rob at the same time, but since things ended with Mac, Lou thinks her fantasy will never come true.

Meanwhile, Mac has been reeling from the loss of his time with Lou as he started having feelings for her as well. Seeing her with Rob, a much younger and handsome man, he wishes he hadn’t screwed (literally) things up with Lou. If only there was something he could do to make Lou be his again . . .
_________________________
What I liked about Hidden Paradise:

1. Discovery. Lou and Mac make a discovery on the grounds of the Georgian estate, and it was exciting to see them handling things. Made me wonder what would I do if I found a treasure?

But that wasn’t the only Discovery made at the estate. Lou finds out something about her late husband that made me go OMFG! My heart just broke for her.

2. Cover. It’s amazing and definitely a Cover Lust for me! As soon as I saw the cover, I just knew I had to read this book. Smile

_________________________
What I disliked about Hidden Paradise:

1. Names. It was very hard to get into a sex scene with Lou, Mac, and Rob. For some reason, the names make me think of plumbers or mechanics – and there’s nothing wrong with plumbers or mechanics, but there’s supposed to be a girl in there somewhere. I’m probably nitpicking, but I would have preferred if the author had kept Louisa as her name instead of Lou.

2. Format. There was a jumping back of forth of POV’s within chapters. I don’t mind a change of POV, but doing it in such a close succession made it seem like tennis match reading (going back and forth).

3. Mac. As much as I tried, I just couldn’t get down with this character. First, they called him Darcy (his middle name) – no doubt trying to tie in the Jane Austen (JA) theme together – but he was nothing close to JA’s Darcy. He was twice divorced and had a daughter with one of his ex-wives. This already raises red flags with me as it makes me wonder why is he failing in his relationships? But aside from that, he just acts like a horny teenager, fucking anything in sight. You would think a man of his age – going through two divorces and a child – would maybe (?) settle down somewhat? Maybe? *le sigh*

4. Germaphobe. My germaphobic side reared it’s ugly head while reading Hidden Paradise. I just couldn’t understand what the purpose of this resort was. Was it a costume sex club? Are those even legal?

There was so much talk of getting permits and grants to continue the renovation and how they wanted to open the house up to guests, etc. But all the while I’m thinking, “They are going to lend out the same clothes to people who want to stay there, meanwhile they are all having sex in them?” Didn’t we learn something from Monica Lewinsky and her famous stained dress? And imagine the bed sheets (if they make it to the bed). Definitely recommend taking a black light if you ever stay there, and don’t touch the furniture. Just gross. LOL

5. Ménage. The ménage (which was the only reason I kept reading) between Rob, Mac, and Lou was anti-climatic. I wish there had been ‘more’ to it, instead it didn’t read well and wasn’t very hottt. *sad julie* :(
____________________
Fellow Readers, I realize I have weird hang-ups that get in the way of me enjoying a book, so if you aren’t a germaphobe like me, don’t mind jumping POV’s, and can look past names, then you will enjoy this book.

Please disregard my review and make sure to get your copy of Hidden Paradise which releases on Tuesday, September 18, 2012.

http://readourlipsblog.blogspot.com/2...

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

ORIGINAL POST: HIDDEN PARADISE Is Good, Dirty Fun

HIDDEN PARADISE
by Janet Mullany
Harlequin HQN August 28, 2012
Paperback and E Book
Timed E-Galley loaned by publisher via NetGalley.
No remuneration was exchanged and all opinions herein, except as noted, are my own.

CALL IT SENSE AND Sensuality… or, let’s talk about the purple passion.Louisa Connelly, a recently widowed Jane Austen scholar, needs some relief from her stifling world. When a friend calls to offer her a temporary escape from her Montana ranch, she is whisked into a dizzying world of sumptuous food, flowing wine…and endless temptation.

She’s an honored guest at Paradise Hall, an English resort boasting the full experience of an authentic Georgian country-house weekend. Liveried servants tend to the every need of houseguests clad in meticulous period costume: snug breeches, low-cut silken gowns and negligible undergarments.

It’s Mac Salazar, a journalist immersing himself fully, deeply, lustily in the naughty pleasures of upstairs-downstairs dalliances, who piques Louisa’s curiosity-and libido-most. He’s a dilettante straight out of a novel: uninhibited, unapologetic and nearly insatiable. But Lou’s not romantic about this much, at least: Paradise Hall is a gorgeous fantasy, nothing more. A lover like Mac is pure fiction. And the real world beckons…. www.janetmullany.com

I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was a ghost paranormal, then realized it wasn't. But, by the time I figured out the only supernatural element was the men's endurance, I was hooked and I wasn't about to put it down. There's a lovely romance here with unapologetic sex. No, "Oh this is morally wrong," or, "I am such a slut." from the heroine. Of course there, is a little bit of the "I'm betraying my dead husband by sleeping with another man," but she gets over it fast! And, it's smart too with good historical references and informative dialogue.

Louisa is the widow who is trying to come back to life. Her gay, complex best friends. Mac, the Mr. Darcy of the story. I'm not quite sure if Rob, the footman has an analogue or if he is just a strictly modern personality. Mullany really nails the nineteen year-old's behaviors, and his interests. As soon as Mullany has Louisa call Mac "Mr. Darcy" in my head he looks and moves like Colin Firth in P and P. Louisa seems a bit of an intellectual sort, but passionate and uninhibited, with a capacity to love deeply.

The story does wander a little bit and needs some rails to get it back on track. But in the end all that wandering leads to some steamy content.

At one point early on, Louisa experiences something that feels like betrayal. Later something else puts that into perspective. It was one of those things that when it is well-written it is as shocking to the reader as it would be to the character and it can transfer with anger into real life. It was completely unexpected. It's as if your friend did something in a dream that pissed you off in the dream, but then when you wake up you are still angry about what happened in the dream. And, exciting good things are afoot as well.

I thoroughly enjoyed the characters, the story and the romance in this book. It felt like a different sort of romance novel. And, it was much better than many of the Austenesque books I have read.

I would actually love to see a project like this, with all the mod cons however, as this hotel was being kitted out. I wouldn't want to be living alla the Regency period at a resort. Playing at it would be fine. I think this is brought out a bit; for example the rooms have baths.

Good, dirty fun with lots of baths and all kinds of dalliance that would make even Lydia Bennett blush.


I HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

[Ning · Rating 3 out of 5]

Louisa Connelly is still grieving over her husband’s death, but finally decides to go to Paradise Hall, a resort where people dress up in Georgian clothes and enjoy Georgian past times. From the beginning, it’s easy to see that Louisa really misses her husband Julian and can barely force herself to leave her home. She’s probably the best developed characters out of the entire cast with her loss and her need to move beyond the loss. I really didn’t feel that much for her one way or another though, which leads me to the biggest problem I had with the book.

There’re a lot of characters in the book, not just Louisa and Mac, and it’s certainly not a romance focused on Louisa and Mac. While there is romance going on, we see into the lives of a lot of other people – Chris and Peter (owners of Paradise Hall), and Rob (a teenager who’s hired to be a liveried servant), among other guests. I feel like with this many characters, the author barely brushed the surface of their emotions and depth. She didn’t really explore any characters deeply other than sticking them with some problem and having them solve it. I didn’t connect with any characters. I was told what they felt, but I just couldn’t get into their heads and understand them and the reasons for their actions.

There’s a lot of sex scenes in the book. Part of Paradise Hall’s appeal is the uninhibited nature of its guests. However, none of the sex scenes really contributed to the story other than just being there. I enjoyed a lot of the witty banter between the characters, but since they always talked in such a lighthearted way about sex, I didn’t see any deeper emotions behind the actions. I definitely didn’t understand why Mac’s suddenly in love with Louisa.

I actually finished the book pretty quickly so I guess I enjoyed it, but it’s not something I’d think twice about after reading. I’d say give it a try if you have some time, but there’re better romance books out there.

*A copy was provided by publisher for review.

See more of my review at Reading by Kindle Fire

[A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this one! Haters of Fifty Shades of Grey and the less-straitlaced fans of Jane Austen will enjoy this novel. Enjoyable characters, an actual plot, a theme or two, and sex any which way you want it. I read it on Netgalley but definitely buying when it comes out (August 28, 2012). Full review on http://rnslnitelite.blogspot.com soon.

[Harlequin Books]

Category: Erotic Fiction

[Ezri · Rating 3 out of 5]

So.. the book blurb for Hidden Paradise implies an erotic romance in a "pretend you're a contemporary of Austen" setting. However, i don't consider this a romance novel for a few reasons:

The romance between Lou and Mac is not the focus. Instead, we just get more or less constant, explicit, but ultimately vanilla, sex scenes. I am not objecting to the sex scenes - just pointing out that by definition, a romance features a central narrative of a relationship, with a happy ever after or happy for now ending.

Just because there's a grand gesture and declaration of love at the end doesn't mean it's an HEA or HFN, and there are none of the usual trappings here to establish who the couple are and a sense of emotional growth in the relationship.

I liked the premise of the book and thought the author did a good job with the setting, and character backstory for Rob. main character Lou is dealing with loss and grief regarding her recently deceased husband. But, Mac is underdeveloped after a brief glimpse into his post-coital feelings in the first chapter. After which he's reduced to an insecure f*ckboy.

I expect many readers will be jarred by the frequent POV shifts (4 characters). Readers who are sensitive to "other woman" or "other man" drama, or either partner in the romance having on page sex with not-the-other-partner, are advised to steer well clear of this book.

This could have been a pretty good book, if we had more focus on relationship development between Lou and Mac. The frequent sex scenes were boring and repetitive, often adding nothing to the plot. An overly long FFM encounter takes place only to provide a conflict between Lou and Mac that ultimately goes nowhere.

[Anncleire · Rating 2 out of 5]

So it was true, they were the Bennett sisters before a ball.

“Hidden Paradise” è stato scelto nelle mie letture perché avevo già letto altri libri della scrittrice Janet Mullany e avevo grande fiducia in lei. Ma sono rimasta completamente delusa, il libro che avevo iniziato a leggere senza interessarmi minimamente della trama, come capita spesso mi è rimasto nettamente sullo stomaco e ho fatto fatica a finirlo.

Louisa Connelly è una esperta di Jane Austen che vive una vita piatta dopo la morte di suo marito rinchiusa in una fattoria in Montana. Ma quando due suoi amici la invitano in un resort esclusivo in Inghilterra ispirato al mondo della Austen della campagna inglese di epoca Georgiana non può resistere e si abbandona completamente all'esperienza. E quando incontra Mac Salazar un giornalista interessato a prendere il massimo dall'esperienza le cose potrebbero cambiare. Nonostante i suoi tentennamenti tra di loro scoppia un'attrazione irresistibile, ma Louisa sarà pronta a lasciarsi andare?

La Mullany scrive romance e questa non è certo la prima e le piace anche il periodo storico georgiano, di metà Ottocento, ma in qualche modo questo tentativo di unirli nel presente è abbastanza fallito. Innanzitutto ha unito più punti di vista narrando in terza persona, alcuni dei quali perfettamente inutili, aggiungendo delle storylines su personaggi secondari che distraggono il lettore dalla storia principale, che è sicuramente quella tra Louisa e Mac. Tipo il capocameriere che viene inserito lì, ha poco spazio ma è un personaggio interessante e non viene sfruttato come avrebbe potuto. Una serie di eventi improbabili che non hanno senso.
L'atmosfera che riesce a ricreare la Mullany è perfetta e ci ritroviamo con una buona cornice e un quadro di terza categoria. I vestiti, gli scandali, le mogli irrequiete, il sesso che si consuma in una notte o in un gazebo davanti a possibili osservatori, la passione ardente che non ti permette di pensare lucidamente e che ti trascina in un baratro di perdizione. L’età che contraddistingue i libri di Jane Austen, scrittrice che adoro, è quella di un mondo che si sta svegliando, con balli e dove ciò che conta per una donna è trovare uno scapolo d’oro da sposare, per un uomo andare a caccia e avere soldi da spendere in quantità. Il resto non conta. E in questo mondo dove i gioielli, il buon cibo e i divertimenti la fanno da padrone è facile dimenticarsi dei problemi. È quello che vogliono tutti, essere sereni a qualsiasi costo.
Ed ecco che viene introdotta Lou questa donna che ha perso tutto, insoddisfatta di sé stessa e della sua vita, ma incapace di scapparne realmente. Lo ripete in continuazione, per lei il passato conta più di tutto. Ma tutti nascondono dei segreti e lei si perde quando questi vengono a galla per distruggerla. Il grande amore lascia sempre l’amaro in bocca quando finisce, è un’inevitabilità, soprattutto quando lo si credeva senza macchia. E lei è incapace di lasciarlo andare e si dilania nell’autocommiserazione. Un personaggio odioso che rinnega ogni azione, ha mille ripensamenti ma nessuno davvero efficace tanto da redimerla. Una donna che non si sa come ha fatto a vivere fino a quel momento.
Mac è piatto, play boy di professione, nonostante sia super hot, non ha qualità che lo redimono, ha un solo scopo, soddisfatto quello, contenti tutti. Ci prova ma il personaggio non è davvero incisivo, anche nella diversità del suo rapporto con Lou, che in qualche modo cerca di portarlo sulla retta via, c’è un rimasuglio di indecisione e di scarsa chiarità che porta in qualche momento a reputarlo uno stupido. Certo le scene tra le lenzuola sono capaci di alleviare un po’ il senso di incompletezza, ma non bastano a riscattare una trama che si consuma tra le pagine di una storia già vista.

Il particolare da non dimenticare? Una collana con rubino che finisce in un buco nel pavimento.

A volte scrivo come un libro possa essere interessante e originale anche con elementi già visti e l’uso sproporzionato di cliché. Purtroppo non è questo caso, la Mullany mi ha deluso sprecando una storia piena di potenziale.

Ringrazio nonostante tutto Netgalley e Harlequin per avermi concesso di leggere questo libro in cambio della mia recensione.


Recensione anche sul mio blog:
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[Marleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received from Harlequin through NetGalley


Louisa (Lou) Connelly an American Jane Austen scholar who has recently been widowed after only five years of marriage, is finding it very hard to come to terms with the loss of her beloved Julian while at home on their Montana ranch. When two friends invite her over to England she jumps at the chance to change her surroundings and the opportunity to think about what she wants to do with the rest of her life.
Lou’s friends, Peter and Chris, are in the last stages of opening Paradise Hall, a resort in which people will have the opportunity to experience an authentic Georgian country-house weekend and they need her knowledge about Jane Austen and her time to make sure they are getting all the details right. However, while the weekends will be authentic as far as setting, food and clothing are concerned it is anybody’s guess if their ideas about the sexual exchanges between the visitors are also true to history.
Once in Paradise Hall Lou finds that while being there doesn’t make her feel any closer to her deceased husband, it does re-awaken her interest in men and the joys of intimacy. Her exchanges with Mac Salazar, a journalist with a lot of Mr. Darcy qualities, are belligerent and exciting and soon lead to steamy encounters. And then there is Rob, the young servant who Lou can’t quite get out of her head and who has a lot to learn from her.
Two shocking discoveries later it seems that Lou’s time in Paradise is well and truly over. The real world beckons and with it some tough decisions.

This is a book that both delighted and disappointed me. I loved the idea of the Jane Austen naughty weekends and enjoyed the descriptions of the house, its surroundings, the clothes, food and activities. In fact I would have loved more detail like that. But it seems that the author was so busy making sure that every character who got mentioned more than three times had a back-story with some drama in it that there really wasn’t the time or pages to get more period –or any other - detail in. Don’t get me wrong, I want the characters in my books to have a back-story as well as issues they have to resolve. However, I do not think the story improves just because every single character has issues. If the author had left some of the characters – Peter and Chris, Di – issue free she could have devoted more time to the three main characters in this story as well as the historical detail and I feel the story would have benefited from such an approach.
I’m also not sure how happy I was about the perspective in this story being shared between four characters with every chapter being narrated by somebody else. I found this to be a bit confusing at times and it didn’t help the smooth reading of this book.
Having said all of that, overall this book was easy to read and the story managed to carry me away to its fantastical setting on several occasions. Some of the plot lines in this book were fascinating and could have deserved a whole book of their own rather then being squeezed in here amongst many others.
I’m not very knowledgeable about Jane Austen, her books and her time so I can’t commend on how true to those origins this book is. What I do know is that despite my reservations I did enjoy this story and loved the naughty nature of the weekends. The sexual content, while in good supply, was rather straight-forward and sweet, as were the relationships between the characters.
Overall I spend a few enjoyable hours with a charming story that could have been quite a bit more.

[The Romance Evangelist · Rating 5 out of 5]

*This book was provided to the reviewer by the author in exchange for an honest review at SeductiveMusings.blogspot.com

At first glance, “Hidden Paradise” appears to be a standard literary device where disparate personalities are brought together at a semi-isolated location where they exist in a time-limited protected bubble to interact in various combinations which may result in love and other complications. (Think “Grand Hotel” or more recently, “The Love Boat.”) As the title hints, however, there is more here than what appears on the surface.

The location where all our characters are gathered is “Paradise Hall, where anything can happen,” according to the brochure produced by its proprietors. Although several secondary characters weave in and out of the story, our attention is paid most to Lou and Mac, who are both subconsciously searching for something more in their lives, not realizing that what they seek could be found in each other.

Lou doesn’t really want to be at Paradise Hall, but the scholar in her can’t resist the lure of a place where Jane herself may have once been a guest. After all, there may be something yet to be discovered on its grounds that can help Louise finally finish the dissertation she hasn’t been able to complete since the sudden death of her husband. And the change of scenery, complete with a full immersion in the Austen experience orchestrated by her two dear friends, might just help her move on from mourning and be open to a new relationship.

Mac doesn’t really want to be at Paradise Hall either, but he’s agreed to write an article on Paradise Hall for publication in advance of its grand opening. He’s dallied about with women and relationships his whole life, almost never turning down a chance at intimate female companionship. This carelessness has resulted in Mac being emotionally alone, despite the constant flow of women in and out of his life. Until he meets Lou, he’s never wanted to be better, to do more to deserve a real emotional connection with a woman.

Mac and Lou are immediately attracted to each other, in spite of (or perhaps because of) the fact that their first meeting involved her looking in from a doorway while he was enjoying rather vigorous sex with someone else. But there’s no guarantee that this attraction can become something more, let alone survive all the surface conflicts and unspoken expectations that each of them brings to Paradise Hall.

This was my first Janet Mullany book, and if “Hidden Paradise” is any indication, it will not be my last. Normally, I tend to consume books quickly, especially romance novels where I am assured of an HFN/HEA. But I loved this book so much that I wanted to savor every minute reading it. “Hidden Paradise” did such a good job of bringing these characters and this world to life for me that I wanted to stretch out the experience of reading it for the very first time. The author’s knowledge of Austen and the Regency period are an invaluable part of sharing the Paradise Hall experience without becoming a distraction and the well-drawn supporting characters only enhance the love story between Lou and Mac at its center. For once, I had no idea what would happen at the end, and I was okay with that. The journey was the gift, and the ending was perfect.

[Jody · Rating 3 out of 5]

From the moment I read this book's synopsis I knew I was in for something unexpected. As a fan of Jane Austen and the Regency era I'm accustomed to books featuring this time period to be sensual but not blatantly sexual. Hidden Paradise is in your face hot, steamy, and sexually adventurous. This book would make Jane Austen blush!

Louisa Connelly is visiting friends in England to get over the grief of her husband's death by immersing herself in the fantasy Regency world created for the paying public. At first she's surprised by the openly sexual assignations going on around her but soon finds herself drawn to journalist Mac Salazar. After a few steamy encounters she backs off over guilt for putting the past behind her. She just wanted fun but got serious declarations from him that she was unprepared for. Instead she goes for the naive Rob who's got family issues but is drawn to the older and teacher-like Lou. Her time with him is clearly for fun. After an out of the blue revelation about her dead husband she runs back home to completely purge herself of the past and it's then that she opens her heart to the possibilities Mac offers, if only she can decide what to do with Rob who's come home with her. Louisa's personality fluctuated from prim schoolteacher to naughty seductress so I never felt like I had a true understanding of her character. It seemed like men to her were merely a substitute for her dead husband. Even after the revelation and her admission to Mac of her true feelings I still didn't feel that she could love anyone. Her and Mac's relationship (as well as her and Rob's) relationship felt superficial and based only on sex. I applaud her reawakening but never felt a connection to her.

Mac came off as being a hound dog. His first introduction involved him and another female and he spent time with almost every female character or at least watching them in compromising positions. He's a journalist but we see him doing his job only once or twice. He'd much rather spend the time chasing after Lou. It seemed unrealistic for him to have such strong feelings for Lou so early on considering that they spent so little time alone together outside the bedroom. Him chasing Lou all the way across the ocean was a romantic gesture that I hope bodes well for their feature.

Rob was a character that stood out in that we saw the difficult family life that he was desperate to overcome. I applaud his loyalty to his family and the seriousness by which he treats the sexual encounters. He's actually looking for love and knows that sex doesn't always lead to something long-lasting. I wish the story had revolved around him more since he was the most likable and fully fleshed-out character of the whole story.

This was a story full of erotic encounters taking place in the setting of a sensual Regency manor. Seeing the primly dressed guests in such erotic encounters certainly grabs the reader's attention and sets a heart pounding pace. At times it felt that the sexual encounters overwhelmed the story which didn't leave much room for character development. Fans of erotica will definitely be drawn to this book and others wanting an escape into a steamy fantasy world will also want to pick this up and add Janet Mullany to their list of go-to authors for escapism.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I saw the description for this book, I was all over it. Grieving Jane Austen scholar goes to an Austen-themed resort for a much-needed break from widowhood and gets it on in a variety of ways... what's not to like?

The characters in this book and the problems they experience are real and are handled in an understated manner. The story is told in a shifting-POV third person narrative that bounces between the two main characters (Lou and Mac) and two major secondary characters (Rob and Peter). I appreciated that each section, headed by a character's name, is told entirely in that character's perspective. The sections following Peter, one of the owners of Paradise Hall, were my favorites.

You've seen the cover of this book, so you can guess that it's fairly steamy. It is. There are a lot of sexual encounters - including those of the M/F, M/M, M/F/M, and F/F/M variety, and a dose of voyeurism is thrown in for fun - but they fit within the framework of the character's stories and, for the most part, make sense. Readers who prefer straightforward (pun intended) M/F scenes should probably skip this one, but I thought Mullany handled the wide menu of encounters very well. The best erotica authors are not shocked by their subject matter; they tell it like they see it. That's what Mullany does with this story. There was no moment when I felt that the author had geared herself up for writing these scenes by pouring a stiff drink and watching a bunch of Saved by the Bell. She isn't out to shock you, she's just writing about a house party where the people dress up in Georgian attire and have a lot of sex with each other.

I know that sounds very strange (trust me, I just re-read that sentence, and it got a shocked chuckle out of me), but it's true. While I read the book, I felt that the characters' decisions make perfect sense, considering the characters, and that really makes all the difference between a story like this and a story like that.

There was one thing about the book that was, to me, less than spectacular, but it's possible that my imperfect understanding of the main character (Lou) is more at fault than any inconsistencies that may or may not exist. Lou makes a discovery that is very disturbing to her, and I thought her reaction was handled extremely well, but then Lou goes and does pretty much the same thing to someone else that was done to her, and I was left feeling a whole lot less righteously indignant on her behalf.

Aside from that slightly irritating bit, I thought this book was pretty fantastic. It is not a romance novel, so readers should not expect that kind of story. Hidden Paradise provides emotionally-charged erotica full of all-too-human encounters. Lou works out her grief at the relatively recent (and quite unexpected) passing of her husband, Chris and Peter work through aging and its indignities, Mac tries to find meaning in his life, and Rob deals with his difficult family and finally gets laid (and everyone else pretty much just has sex).

[thuy · Rating 2 out of 5]

On paper, Hidden Paradise sounds like a book that I would love. Lou, a recent widow, decides to go on a Jane Austen retreat. It’s an all inclusive vacation complete with period costumes but with the convenience of modern plumbing. The trip promises to have sumptuous balls, men in tight breeches, and the promise of a romantic interlude. Sounds great, right? Unfortunately, a good premise does not always make a good book and I found myself wondering where this one went wrong.

The book is told from multiple points of views. Normally I am not a big fan of multi POVs but I can understand them if they add something to the story. However it did not add anything in this case. There were at least 4 or 5 POVs in this book which was too many for a book this length. It actually detracted from the main characters (Lou and Mac), often having us go off on tangents with other characters that were interesting but unnecessary.

I also found it hard to believe that all of the people coming to the resort were so open to having sexual relations with perfect strangers. It was like a giant Austen orgy. Maybe I am naive but I found it weird that everyone was so willing to go at it with everyone and anyone, usually with people they had just met. Outdoors, in a sauna, threesomes, multiple partners in one day...the list goes on. The love scenes are plenty erotic and quite imaginative but I just couldn’t get into them. This probably had to do with my next issue below.

While the characters were interesting, I didn’t feel a huge attachment to any of them. I liked Lou and Mac together but their behavior was confusing. Both profess to having feelings for the other one minute but then both jump into bed with other people the next. Lou has a fling with Rob, the 19 year old head footman. I really liked Rob but was a little uncomfortable with the age difference between the two. I don’t think she took advantage of him (he’s quite willing) but I would have felt a little better with it had he been a couple of years older. There were many secondary characters as well but again, I didn’t have any strong feelings towards any of them.

I wish I could give Hidden Paradise a higher rating, but there was just something missing. I found myself indifferent to the characters and their fates, and trying to read as fast as I could to finish it. I was happy when Lou and Mac finally got their HEA, but I didn’t get that sigh worthy satisfied feeling I usually get after reading a really good romance. If you’re a die hard Jane Austen fans might want to give this a go for novelty’s sake. Everyone else should probably skip it.

*I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

[Simply Love Book Reviews · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kitty's review posted on Guilty Pleasures

2.5 Stars

This is a story about Lou, an Austen Scholar, getting over the death of her husband; Peter and Chris, her best friends; Mac, a journalist trying to break his 1st big story; and Rob, the Head Footman at Hidden Paradise. What an eclectic group of people they were with different tastes and different wants.

Hidden Paradise is a Georgian house where Jane Austen was supposed to have stayed. It is being renovated by Peter and Chris to be a tourist attraction where people can come and act as if they were in the wonderful days of Lords and Ladies. All clothed to the era with exact replicas of rooms, food, fun and games. Lou and Mac are just a few of the people who were invited to do a run-through of the resort. Sarah, Viv, Di, the “Paint Boys”, Cathy and Alan all lend their own quirky personalities to the story as well with Rob being the catalyst to finally bringing Lou and Mac together.

I was a little put off by the book. At first it sounded like a fun read and then I started having problems with keeping up with the characters. Each chapter is about a different person and is titled as such. So, the book jumps around to the different people and what they are doing and feeling. Yes, other characters are woven into each one, but, it does become a bit tedious jumping from one to another. The book had a wonderful storyline bringing together the past and the present. Janet Mullany had some wonderful ideas and I enjoyed her bickering between Lou and Mac very much.

Unfortunately, I felt like Lou kept giving me whiplash with the way she would change her mind about Mac and Rob. The “cougar” storyline with her and Rob was very well written with her taking Rob’s virginity (finally) but, the menage scene with Lou, Mac and Rob, left a lot to be desired. Then, when Mac and Lou say “I love you”, she takes off back to Montana with Rob. Unfortunately, it just didn’t make sense to me. I personally think that this would have been a wonderful book if it wasn’t broken up the way it was. I think the storyline would have flowed a little better. Also, there were several smaller stories going on throughout the book which I felt were put in to explain things that happened later in the story. At the time, I asked “why here” and “what does this have to do with the story”. Again, I felt a little confused.

But, this is just my opinion of the book, you may enjoy reading this style of writing. Yes, there are three HEA’s: Lou and Mac, Peter and Chris and Rob and Di (which came out of the blue). Oh, and Rob’s parents, who were separated at the beginning of the book, are back together and we have no explanation as to how or why — just that they are.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh. My. Goodness. Where to start?

First, the plot. It was decent but not spectacular, and had many aspects of some unbelievability. The idea of starting an Austen-based vacationland isn't a new one (at least in literature; I'd imagine there are real-life ones out there, if I'd care to torture myself and look into yet another vacation I can't afford), though I hadn't seen one before that was so clearly based on its guests really being able to--ahem--enjoy themselves while there. For the most part Lou's mindset as a young, recently widowed heroine was pretty well done, though it did bother me that in the end Lou's healing was helped out a great deal by a discovery she made about her late husband. I really wish there were more books which dealt with surviving widowed spouses who move on from first marriages that were good, solid, loving ones. It's a personal bias, I know, and of course writing the other kind has got to be a lot easier for a writer. It makes the whole moving on with one's life bit so much easier and less messy. But I digress...

Second, the extracurricular activities. There really is just about every kind you can imagine in this book, described in great detail, and literally from the very first page. If that's what you're looking for, you're in luck. If it's going to bother you, then you should probably keep on looking.

Finally, the Austen angle. It was definitely a side aspect of this novel, apart from its setting. There is one tiny little part that deals with a possible "real" Austen link, though I was fairly ambivalent about that plot thread. It definitely worked well as a convenient tie-in to Lou's life, but beyond that it didn't do a whole lot for this reader.

Overall, it was a quick read that I did enjoy though I'm not sure I'd read it again--though I probably will look into other books by the author since I did enjoy her writing style. Really, the cover says a lot about this one. If it makes you cringe, you probably shouldn't read it.

[Emmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC provided by Harlequin.
Release date: August 21st, 2012

Though I enjoyed this enough to read it in just a few sittings, I have mixed thoughts about this book. The main character is Louisa AKA Lou. She is a Jane Austen scholar, 27 years old and widowed. She finally decides to leave behind her ranch in Montana to go on vacation to visit her friends in England.

Peter and Chris purchased a historic property that was rumored to be a place that Jane Austen either lived at or visited. They have let their imagination run wild and have created an Inn where everybody dresses in period clothing, ditches all modern conveniences and gets a little randy with each other.

Mac is a journalist staying at the Inn. He earned the nicknamed Mr. Darcy and though he's there to write an article, he's in the thick of it as far as the sexual escapades go.

We also have Rob. He's 19, about to head off to Cambridge but making some extra money in the meantime as the head footmen at the Inn.

So those are the notable players in this tale. Lou has quite the voyeuristic first encounter with Mac and they soon find themselves pleasuring each other.

The story is so-so. There is a lot of sex in this book with a menage a trois or two thrown in for good measure. Though there was sex aplenty, the scenes were not super graphic nor would each encounter last very long.

The characters are all likable enough but I really didn't have any kind of attachment to any of them. I liked Rob. His encounters with Lou are great and I liked the kink factor with these two. I just felt that overall the character development was lacking a bit. It would have been great to see more character growth before such revelations are made i.e. jealousy, fighting, love.

I definitely recommend it to somebody who likes romance with a slight historical flair. Even though it has some dark/sad moments, I overall think it was a light, quick read.

Review posted at Sinfully Delicious Book Reviews

[Melody May (What I'm Reading) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Also on http://sillymelody.blogspot.com

All right, I just finished Hidden Paradise by Janet Mullany. I was lucky to get a copy by commenting on a blog about a month ago. Actually it was kinda fun. It wasn't the usually thing: leave a comment and you will be enter into a drawing for this book. No, it was write about the objects in the picture. I have to say I thought mine was pretty creative. Anyways here is what's the book is about:

Louisa Connelly (Lou) is a grieving widow, who really can't seem to get over the lost of her husband. However, her friends Peter and Chris invite her out to England to check out their project. Basically, it's like a retreat to live like they did in the Regency Era. Sounds like fun, right.

Well, its a little more than that, it's like a naughty get away. Granted everyone is dressed in period clothing, but they are having a wild time. A great place to try to get over a dead husband. Anyways, Lou meets the oh so attractive Mac Salazar, a journalist. Lou and Mac have a grand time until Mac couldn't compete with a dead husband. Where there fling comes to a halt, and Mac does something extremely stupid. Will Lou get over her dead husband or will he be ever so present? Can Mac push his way into Lou's life?

Overall it was a good book. Not something I would normally read, but hey it was fun. I mean who wouldn't want to participate in a regency house party, I think it would be a lot of fun. However, I didn't like Lou's dead husband. He's a bastard and you don't find out until the end. He would definitely go to the top of my list of bastard characters, if I had one. Which I might make. Truly rotten fellow. I felt bad for Lou when she found out what a scum bucket he was. Granted the hero has flaws, but what guy doesn't. So, if you are looking for something naughty with a little fun, you might want to check out Hidden Paradise. So, happy reading and I will talk to you all later.

[Andrea Guy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book that will appeal to lovers of two genres, erotica and period romance. This book read like New Year's Eve, and Love Actually. You see the action unfolding through the eyes of several of the characters in the book.

The main character is Lou, a widow who travels to Paradise Hall at the request of her friends Peter and Chris who run the resort. She has encounters with two men while staying there, Mac, a sexy journalist everyone calls Mr. Darcy and Rob a nineteen year old inexperience footman.

You can't talk about an erotic novel without talking about the sex, and the sex in this book is really spicy. I was really surprised there was some girl on girl with Mac at one point. Mac's reaction to this threesome was really funny. He wants to remember it when he's 90! It's a shame that threesome got him in trouble with Lou, even though their fling was over.

Janet writes a good sex scene, it winds you up as you read it and when its over you need a shower and a cigarette, or at least a glass of wine! She also develops her characters. These aren't a bunch of faceless people that come to this resort to have lots of sex. (Although that's what they do). Rob has family problems, Chris and Peter are having relationship issues, and Lou is dealing with the loss of her husband. These people felt real to me and that made this more an erotic story rather than a porn flick on paper. (which happens quite a bit in this genre).

If I had one gripe with the story though it would be with the sex, sometimes I wanted more story than sex, especially since you feel so close to the characters here.

The revelation Lou gets about her dead husband was a shocker too. I wasn't sure how I felt about that.

Being a lover of regency romance, I loved how parts of the period are front and center here, and how characters like Viv strive to make the experience as historically accurate as possible.

I definitely want to check out more of Janet's books in the future.

[Shan ~A~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the idea of this book. The setting is my favorite because who wouldn't want to know a little bit about how it was to live in those times. Especially the fashion and all the dancing. It was definitely a more refined time than what we are living in now. I liked the characters okay I just wished that this one book didn't have all their stories in one. I would have loved to learn a little bit more about Lou's relationship with her deceased husband and why she was so in love with him in the first place. Then later why did she feel such a strong connection to Max when she only knew him for such a short period of time. I would have loved to see Rob and Di's relationship build up instead of one minute he's having sex with one women and the next he's with Di. I know he had a crush on her, but it would have been nice to their romance bloom. Also, why did his mother make the decisions that she made? I would have loved to hear all about Chris and Pete's love affair and how the got to know one another and also how they became so close to Lou and her deceased husband.

All that being said it was okay. It had some very hot love scenes, which I love, but it could have had more depth and maybe this could have been a series about all of the people involved in this endeavor, because I would have loved it much more that way.

[Virginia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Name: Hidden Paradise
Author: Janet Mullany
ISBN: 9780373777198
Genre: Romance/Erotica
Publisher: Harlequin
Publication/Expected Publication: August 28, 2012

After her husband (Julian) dies, Jane Austen expert/student Lou (aka Loulou) travels to England to consult with Peter and Chris, a gay couple who are remodeling a Regency-era house. There Lou meets two men who appeal to her in different ways - Mac and Rob.

Peter and Chris want their guests to have the full Regency experience, complete with costumes and lack of most modern amenities (cell phones, modern undergarments, etc.) As Lou helps her friends get their house in order, she also finds time to participate in both traditional and untraditional activities.

Lou is attracted to Mac, but a misunderstanding leaves them at odds with each other. During this time, Lou begins associating with the "help." Although distinctly in the "downstairs" category of the "upstairs/downstairs" dynamic, Rob provides Lou with the support she needs at a trying time.

By the end of the book, Lou has had a terrible shock and both men want to ease her pain. She faces a difficult decision between Mac and Rob and discovers there's really only one choice she can make.

**Please note that I did receive a free copy of this book via Netgalley.**

[Preet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having read and enjoyed Janet Mullany's regency set historical romantic comedies, I was intrigued to see she'd written a contemporary romantic novel with erotic undertones for Harlequin. I was pleasantly surprised.

Louisa "Lou"Connelly is a Jane Austen scholar who is getting over the heart breaking loss of her husband of a few months. To help break the monotony of her grief, her two friends, Phillip and Chris, invite her to Paradise Hall in England, where re-enactments of Austen's time take place, but with a licentious twist. There are a number of candidates, but there is something about journalist Mac Darcy Salazar and head footman Rob, who make Lou want to break out of her corset and live a little.

Reading erotica written by an author I had only associated with light romantic historical comedies was interesting. I thought she did a great job with it. There was plenty of hot steamy scenes and a little bit of types of kink without it being really hard core. Not being a huge fan of erotica, this book is one of the few that entertained and had a story line. It wasn't just one random romp after another.

[Lady Raven RAVE! · Rating 2 out of 5]

Story: FAIRLY GOOD
Intimacy Level: VERY SPICY
Enjoyment: OK
Length: 3181 kindle

Although this was an erotica romance, I found it to be spicy with an ok story line. With this story or book, you will either love it, like it or hate it. I am a big Jane Austen fan and an even more bigger fan of Pride and Prejudice, however, I couldn't connect to the story. I think the author did a good job, but for me, it wasn't registering.

The characters were interesting. And with all that was going on I did feel sometimes confused. There wasn't one point of view, but multiple. I am use to multiple points of views with different characters, but for this book it threw me off a bit. Lou and Mac were steamy together. Mac is a journalist and Lou is a Jane Austen scholar who is widowed. Still freshly hurt she finds herself at an Inn where everybody dresses in period clothing, where people get naughty with each other. There is more that I could say, but it boils down to a nice story but I didn't connect with it. It also had good erotica, but I needed more than that to connect.

http://www.romancenoveljunkies.com

[waterbaby786 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll be honest I haven't finished it.Blame it on an impromptu holiday leaving quite a few Arc's expiring away in my little to readbox( ARC courtesy my new friend NETGALLEY)
This story is surprisingly quirky, hilarious at times, filled with innuendos.......and a lot of UST well I guess it was resolved many times so lets just say tension, attraction and passion.
It all revolves around our grieving widow Lou Lou who finally gathers her spirit and lands up at a friends unusual holiday getaway themed around the good old Victorian days ala Jane Austen. There she actually hopes to be haunted by her late husband only to be rudely and I mean that in a nice way, introduced to Mac who the epitome of your wil bad boy/man out for no apologies and no strings attached good time.
You get different POV which was very entertaining and gives you a briefing on the personalities we are dealing with. Mild angst, but nothing to be to caught up in.
I am definitely dying to get the rest of this book.....it's very amusing and fun to read, it's well written and doesn't dull your senses due to the overload of drama, sizzle and scorching passion and beautiful description and detail.

[Pamala · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grieving widow Lou has been asked by her friends, Peter and Chris, to come to England and lend her assistance to a restoration project they've begun. HIDDEN PARADISE is set at that English country estate, now being brought back to its former splendor, complete with period-correct costumed servants and experts. There, Lou meets Mac Salazar, who looks like every woman's fantasy of Mr. Darcy, with the libido to match those dreams.

The house has an unsubstantiated claim to a visit by Jane Austen and Peter and Chris hope Lou can help them unearth it, in order to give the house the credence and historical cachet they need to make a success of their project. Lou's begins an assignation with Mac but her heart's not quite in it just yet, even though Mac seems to fall for Lou, fast and hard. I'll admit that Lou worked my nerves just a bit with her inability to settle herself but once she found out the secret about her marriage, I could see why she might be so inconstant.

HIDDEN PARADISE, told from the point of view of all the major characters, is a sensuous and captivating read. Folks who love historicals and contemporary novels alike, will enjoy this.

[Darlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun mash-up of erotica, contemporary romance and a classic Regency house party with much goings-on upstairs, downstairs, behind the hedges, in the servants' stairs, just about anywhere that won't frighten the horses.

Lou is a recently widowed college instructor and Jane Austen expert. When friends in England invite her to spend a break at their renovated Georgian mansion, she takes them up on the offer. Chris and Peter have turned the property into a completely restored resort where guests will dress, eat, dance and entertain themselves in Regency style.

There's a lot of good detail in here for Regency romance fans, and a budding love affair between Lou and the American journalist quickly nicknamed "Mr. Darcy". There's also one of the best three-ways ever, so sweetly and humorously handled that you wish you were there.

Hidden Paradise is a fun read and should appeal to Regency fans who don't mind a little hot sex in the mix.

[Shelly Bell · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were things I loved and things I didn't, but overall, I enjoyed reading it. Full review to come.

This was one of the strangest books I’ve read this year and considering how much I read, that says a lot. The plot, while not original, was executed in highly original manner. I went back and forth between loving it and wondering what I was reading. Told in multiple points-of-view, I never got the chance to fully invest with the characters. I considered Lou and Mac to be the main characters and I liked them. But I didn’t need to learn everything from the other characters through their point-of-view. I would have preferred to learn it from scenes from Lou or Mac’s point-of-view. The sex scenes were pretty realistic for erotica.
This review will post on www.spunkybean.com on August 28, 2012.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

There is a huge problem with this book: it has no heart. The characters completely failed to move me, and the 'story', such as it is, takes a serious backseat to the sex. If the book were only marketed as erotica this might be less of a problem. However, if you're billing it as an erotica romance, I expect more.

The sex scenes themselves were short but incredibly frequent, and the sex described was varied. If that is your main concern, I think this book will leave you satisfied. if you want something with a little bit of an emotional punch and well defined, strong, and nuanced characters, I advise you to keep looking.

Mullany does have a pleasing and clear writing style and was kind enough to sign my book.

I received this book as part of Goodreads Firstreads program. I was not obligated to write a review.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow... this was a unexpected treasure, I marked it on here to read awhile back and saw it at the bookstore and snatched it up without reading the back. This story was wonderful. It takes place at a house believed to have been visited by Jane Austen, the house turned into a theme hotel of the days of Pride of Prejudice, the debauchery hidden in this time is not hidden here, there is sex with the hero, SPOILER>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
and she catches the hero with someone and she doesn't crawl away hurt (very much) she goes onto another lover and the hero comes back to her to do whatever it takes to get her back... I like this plotline and I loved the hero and his minion (so to speak)... loved this book..loved the type of book it was...the best of historical with current dilemnas...

[D · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a whole lot going on besides non-stop sex in period costumes. I think it was the insta-love between Lou and Mac that I didn't really find believable, especially since it was completely based on physical attraction and involved multiple partners and with the secrets/tragedy of Lou's marriage. I think I'd be wary of Mac falling in love right away with the two ex-wives and after walking in on him in action with other people after beginning a relationship with Lou, even if it was early and the status undetermined. I think that would warn most (smart) people off anything more than a fling. The relationship with Rob I would have found more believable, but the age difference may bother some people.