Seven Nights in a Rogue's Bed (Sons of Sin, #1) in Fans of Eloisa James & Julia Quinn

Oct 26, 2012 Caz rated it really liked it

Shelves: 4-stars, kindle, contemporary-romance, arc

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. ...more

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Oct 10, 2012 Diane Peterson rated it really liked it

Shelves: kindle-books, historical-romance

Another well-written book from Anna Campbell. She stuck to her tried and true formula -- angsty H and h put together apart from the world where they eventually have a lot of sexual activity. Fortunately, I like this formula and I like her characters. Not a great book, but a good one.

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Sep 17, 2012 Kat ~ Forever Book Lover ♥ rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arc, netgalley, historical

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

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

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

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Aug 02, 2012 Phoenix77 rated it it was ok

Shelves: historical-romance

It is very hard being one of the few voices of dissension when it comes to reviewing romance a romance book. After I finished reading Anna Campbell’s latest book Seven Nights in a Rogue’s Bed I took a quick look on Goodreads to see what the majority of readers were feeling. Most of the fortunate readers who already had a copy were raving about the story, giving it four or more stars and claiming that the book was one of the best they had read. Unfortunately for me I now knew that I was going to It is very hard being one of the few voices of dissension when it comes to reviewing romance a romance book. After I finished reading Anna Campbell’s latest book Seven Nights in a Rogue’s Bed I took a quick look on Goodreads to see what the majority of readers were feeling. Most of the fortunate readers who already had a copy were raving about the story, giving it four or more stars and claiming that the book was one of the best they had read. Unfortunately for me I now knew that I was going to be one of the minority when it came to reviews of this book, because almost from the start I had a difficult time enjoying the story and by the end of my read-through of Seven Nights in a Rogue’s Bed, I was certain this wasn’t going to be a keeper.

There are several themes that are at play within the storyline, starting with a pseudo Beauty and the Beast set up, with the heroine Sidonie Forsythe making the ultimate sacrifice of her virtue to the very beastly man Jonas Merrick. Sidonie of course is beautiful in face, and for a time she seems to be beautiful in character as well; however early in the story the author hints that Sidonie is hiding something from Jonas that could affect him greatly if it were known. Having Sidonie play the hero false from almost Chapter One bothered me greatly, possibly more than it should have. All through the building of their relationship, from the very tense early days of Sidone’s captivity at Castle Craven into the passionate and fulfilling last days she stays with him as a guest, I kept waiting for that “other” shoe to drop. The fact that she leaves without disclosing her information was a complete disservice to a man she claimed to love.

Not that Jonas is a much better character, as his actions that instigate Sidonie’s confinement to his home are also deplorable. Ms. Campbell tries to defend many of Jonas’s past actions under the guise of his seeking revenge against his wicked cousin who treated him awfully during their childhood or by his lashing out against society as a whole who had shunned his family when his parent’s marriage was judged false and Jonas was termed a bastard. I wanted to empathize with Jonas, and in many instances my heart did go out to him as I watched him fall in love with the ninny of a woman who invaded his home, but then he too would do something infuriating and all my goodwill was gone. The worst offense was when Sidonie finally disclosed her secrets, and rather than allowing that she had made a mistake and being even slightly charitable to her reasons, Jonas becomes verbally abusive and rejects her so completely that I questioned how they would come together in a believable way to the happy ever after.

For as much as the book was not a favorite for me, I must concede that Ms. Campbell tells one hell of a story. She managed to push every emotional button that I possess, from compassion, joy, anger, frustration, and many others during the course of the book. Within the pages there was a love that unfolded between these two characters, one that burned hot during many of the intimate scenes. There was a slight edge to their coupling that made these encounters different than the standard sex scenes. By the end of the story, I felt like I had been put through the wringer in watching Jonas and Sidonie find themselves and get past the betrayals they had each experienced in their lives. The very last scene between Jonas and Sidonie before the epilogue was a beautiful moment of revelation for how deep the love they shared ran in both of them.

Since I am in the minority on this book, I would encourage anyone who was interested in reading Seven Nights in a Rogue’s Bed to follow through on that interest and pick up a copy either at the store or library and give it a chance. Perhaps you’ll side with the majority; perhaps you’ll see things as I do. Either way, you will have experienced an intense story that will have affected you in some way, and isn’t that what we want when we read? ...more

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Oct 12, 2012 Melissa rated it it was ok

Shelves: 2012-reads

Review to come!

Well, after a month of stalling, it looks like I am not going to be able to force myself to write a long review for this book. In short, I hated the premise for this book. These women in books such as these who make ridiculous bargains with "rogues" to stay with them for a period of time in exchange for something ... well, I just hate these story lines. So, why did I pick this book up? Good question. I do always like the story of a tortured bad boy hero who is redeemed after findi ...more

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Jul 07, 2014 Sylvain rated it really liked it · review of another edition

WILL A WEEK OF SEDUCTION . . .

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

. . . SP

...more

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Jul 14, 2012 Sharyn rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-romance

If I had to rate this book by the first 336 pages, I'd give it 5 stars. But, the last 50 pages really detract from the story when suddenly the hero, Jonas, decides he can't trust Sidonie anymore and REFUSES TO CHANGE HIS MIND. So, for me, I'm going to pretend the story actually ends right after the Newgate scene when (in my mind) Sidonie asks for forgiveness, Jonas tells her he has already forgiven her as she had good reasons for her deception, and then... The epilogue ends the story. ...more

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