Sexy As Hell

I am a long time fan of Susan Johnson's historical romances. I am thrilled with Georgeous as Sin and Sexy as Hell. Her historical romances are a guilty pleasure for me, unlike the contemporary romances. Sure the heroes are rogues, but I can tolerate it from the Victorian era, whereas today, no. I was surprised at the age of Oz in Sexy as Hell. Wow. That explained a lot about his actions, imho. I plan a re-read of her early historical romances very soon!

I would have given Sexy As Hell 4 1/2 stars if Susan would have written an epilogue. The story did end good, but it would have been better had Susan added an epilogue. First off I must say that Sexy As Hell reads like most of Susan's other historical's. Either you love them or you hate them. Her hero's always drink a lot and her Rake's are truely Rake's that have slept with many woman, married or not. The hero in this book Oz is no different. He drinks to excess because of the loss of loved one's in the pass and uses sex also to forget. He is very young, handsome, and has a lot of money. He drinks to much, and love's sex which he is very good at. Of course like any of Susan's hero's he has the body of a god and a rather nice package that he can use all night long, lol! The heroine Isolde is a wealthy Countess in her own right but she has a Male relative who wants to marry her to get control of her money because he has gambling losses he needs to pay off. Oz marries her to save her from his evil clutches. It is a marriage of convenience and they plan to divorce as soon as they get the cousin totally out of her life. Isolde figures out quickly that he is a rake and understands that this is just a business arrangement. She can't help but want him as all the other woman do and of course this bothers her. She does not however gush all over him. She figures she will take what she can while she can because Oz is just too good to pass up. Just like many of Susan's historical's, they part at one point and he does carry on with several other woman at this point. So if you don't like the hero bedding another woman, this book is not for you. He does realize at the end of the book that she is his everything. I really wished Susan would have had that epilogue though. I'm looking forwards to Susan's next historical romance, Sweet As The Devil.

In 1892, after winning at cards, Baron "Oz" Lennox rushes out to the Blackwood Hotel to meet Nell in a tryst before her spouse returns from Paris. He enters the agreed upon room, but instead of a red-head he is greeted by a blonde who ignores him and turns to her barrister Mr. Malmsey to insure he will serve as a witness. Thus Oz's luck with the ladies has changed as he asks Isolde Perceval what she wants from him. She calmly explains she wants her reputation ruined so she is not forced into an unwanted marriage. Oz offers a different plan as he too would like to continue his wastrel ways without threats from the marriageable biddies. They agree to marry with plans to divorce soon. However, they prove quite compatible in and out of the boudoir. When Isolde becomes pregnant, Oz leaves for London, but the rake finds no enjoyment without Isolde, who misses him too. She follows him, but his many enemies see her as the heel's Achilles' heal. Filled with action especially of the erotic kind, Sexy as Hell is an intriguing Victorian romance. The lead couple indulging selfish behavior makes them refreshing as they are atypical of the usual honorable noble. Fans of Susan Johnson will enjoy their hedonistic escapades although the story line is emaciated outside the boudoir. Harriet Klausner