Ruthless

I liked it but Susan Ericksen didn't work so well for me as narrator. For a start, I think I identify too strongly with her in the In Death books (- the audiobook version of typecasting!) but also, the English accent wasn't super great for me - real English people don't say "garther" when they mean "gather" or "faht" for "fat" for example. It sounds picky when I write it but it happened often enough that it grated. I loved the book for the audio wasn't a rolicking success. Book = A- and C for narration.Merged review:Why I read it: I was fortunate enough to pick this one up at NetGalley. I've heard many great things about this author (I'd heard she's good at the dark and angsty and I love the dark and angsty!) and I wanted to give her a try. Plus the blurb sounded just up my alley. I'm glad I picked it up and I'll be looking to read more from this wonderful author.What it's about: (this is the blurb from the author's website) Few outsiders will ever witness the dark misdeeds of the Heavenly Host. And among this secret society, where exiled Georgian aristocrats gather to indulge their carnal desires, fewer still can match the insatiable appetite of their chief provocateur, the mysterious Viscount Rohan.Pursuit of physical pleasure is both his preferred pastime and his most pressing urge, until he encounters the fascination of a woman who won’t be swayed. And while his dark seduction appalls the pure and impoverished Elinor Harriman, she finds herself intrigued…and secretly drawn to the man behind the desire. (Doesn't it sound just delicious?)What worked for me: I've been lucky lately. I haven't read a dud book in a while (yay me!) and this one did not disappoint. Overall, I would describe it as "delicious" and the hero, Viscount Rohan (even though he has the IMO unromantic first name of Francis) is the most delicious part of all. He's wicked and bad and sinful and gorgeous and decadent and lovely. For all that Rohan strutted around thinking himself the Prince of Darkness, his battered soul contained a bruised nobility that would appall him. Rohan much preferred to fancy himself heartless. But, more about him later. I do love a Georgian book (is it still called "Georgian" when the book is set in Paris for the most part?) - I love the powder and patches, the jewels and the high heeled shoes encrusted with diamonds, I love the rich velvets and brocades - and that's just on the men. There is something so masculine about an alpha male wearing such clothes - they should look girly shouldn't they? But they don't. If their characters are painted right, they pull it off and its gorgeous. Some of my favourite books are set in this period and it was nice to have a book set in Paris for a change too.Elinor piques Rohan's interest from the beginning. She's different to the women he normally comes across (ie she's not a whore - "Any woman in this house is a whore, my child. So, for that matter, are the men.") and his not-so-latent sense of honour is inspired. (I say not-so-latent because it was always evident to me that he was an honest, honourable man - he just wasn't "good".) Anyhoo, Elinor's mother is dying of syphillis and is about to gamble away the last of the family's money at a gathering of the Heavenly Host (a kind of Hellfire club) and Elinor follows her to get her home (hopefully before she loses everything). Rohan is the leader of the Heavenly Host and sets the rules (for example, no children - "A foolish inconsistency" but "not up for discussion" - see what I mean about honourable?) and presides in glorious malaise over the goings on. When Elinor first meets Rohan he has a half naked woman (breasts exposed because he's just been given them some, er, oral attention) reclining on his lap. This initial picture fits him perfectly. He's a gorgeous, languid, bored, jaded, artistocrat and he doesn't care what anyone thinks of him. I loved reading his thoughts and words. They showed him in all his flawed glory and they were my very favourite parts of the book. This is not a book where the hero meets the heroine and his wicked sexual urges are immediately tamed by the power of her magic hoo-ha - he keeps Elinor around (he's interested in far more than her body and is not in a hurry to get to that) and bangs other women like usual - he just thinks about her when he's doing it. It's different and it's him. He's a very bad man. **sigh** "The brandy is for me..." he said in his most amiable voice. The one he used before he destroyed someone.I did like Elinor quite a bit. I liked her strength of character, her determination and her optimism. I enjoyed her love for her younger sister Lydia and I liked her self-awareness (even though she didn't think she was attractive) and I shared her loathing or rats, but for me, Rohan stole the show. There is, perhaps unsurprisingly, a sad secret in Elinor's past (I felt awful for her - her mother was a real bitch) and when Rohan finds out about it his reaction is both expected but untypical of him. And ferocious. (Rwoarr!) It reveals to us (what we really already knew) just how much he cares for Elinor and how lines he would not cross before for anyone, are not an issue when it comes to her, her honour and her safety. Most excellent hero material.There was quite a bit of humour in the book too which was a nice foil to the dark and angsty. There's a part where Elinor's thoughts are rambling a bit that tickled me. He seemed to roam the halls like a bat, waiting to pounce. She had no idea whether bats actually pounced or not. And Rohan wasn't at all like a bat which were horribly ratlike and not to her preference at all. Rohan was like some kind of cat. ... ... And she was a mouse. A mouse who snarled. And had teeth. ...What didn't (work for me): The trouble with having Rohan be such a deliciously decadent almost-but-not-quite-bad-guy hero is that as much as I enjoyed it, for there to be an HEA he obviously has to mend his wicked ways. I thought the ending a bit trite and therefore a little disappointing. His transformation from wicked man to faithful husband was a bit too quick and not entirely believable. I mean, I wanted to believe it but I would have liked a little something (I can't even describe what - which is not helpful I know), but something extra to help me truly swallow his metamorphosis. Although, I did like this: "Like it or not I seem to have grown a heart. I have absolutely no use for the damned thing but there it sits, demanding Elinor. I can't live without her."Maybe my problem was that he was so well drawn as this wicked sexy unrepentant man that him being "tamed" into being a faithful monogamous husband in some way diminished him? Hmm. I don't know for sure, other than that I found the ending a little less satisfying than the rest of the book, which was otherwise excellent.What else:This book is the first in a trilogy and is released on July 1. I've read book 2 already and I can't wait to get my hands on book 3. In fact, the covers are so pretty that I've a feeling that I'll be buying them even though I got the first 2 free as bound galleys from NetGalley. I feel a little guilty for not sharing some of my money with this author who gave me so much entertainment. I know I will go back to this book again at some point to soak up some more of a beautiful wicked man who has become a favourite already. Grade: A- (the minus is because the ending was a bit less delicious than the rest of the book. But, it was a really great book. And Rohan was made of awesome.)Also, apologies for my overuse of the word "delicious" in this review. But really, that's the word I keep coming back to when I think of this book. Sorry.

The best book I have listen to in a long time. Narrator was absolutely fabulous.

I picked this book at my library based on the synopsis on the back. Many others like this book more than I did so I will give the author another chance. It was to dark for me and I couldn't stay interested in the story.

This was an interesting story by a talented author. The relationship between Elinor and Rohan is complex and the story takes some interesting twists. I was kept amused and although the amusement of Rohan is sexual in nature the book contains limited sexual encounters.

BREATHLESS by Anne Stuart is a historical romance set in Regency England. It is the third in "The House of Rohan" series,but can be read as a stand alone. Book one " Ruthless",Book Two "Reckless". It is well written with depth,details,fast paced,page turner and a keeper.BE WARNED: THIS STORY IS ON THE DARK SIDE! It has romance, sensuality, betrayal, deception,love, revenge,a dark hero,a ruined heroine,date rape,young love, a jewel thief,adventure, risk taking,redemption,banter, violence,painful,traumatic childhood,crudity,dysfunctional family,and secrets.This is a dark,violent,cruel story of vengeance and love being found between a dark,brooding,villain and a brave,reckless,ruined woman.The characters are a challenge. The secondary characters,a jewel thief and friend of Lucien's and Jane,the sweet,innocent friend of Miranda is heartwarming and sweet.Lucien,is dark,brooding,scarred, vindictive,from a dysfunctional family,seeking revenge for his stepsister's suicide,after the Rohan's oldest son for said suicide, and so goes after Rohan's sister,Miranda and finds love,understanding and a high spirited women who can tame his troubled soul. Miranda, beautiful in a plain sort of way,is witty,intelligent,reckless,brave, saucy,high spirited,ruined from being abducted,deflowered,but can she tame the scarred,soulless,dark Lucien. Who she learns is only out for vengeance. Be warned this is a story of a man with a dark,soul who can be saved by a sweet,loving women. Although, it takes us to a dark side of the soul,it also takes us the redemptive side of that same soul. This story does same to be a little darker than the other books in this series, I would still recommend it, especially if you enjoy love coming from the ashes of evil.This book was received from Net Galley for the purpose of review and details can be found at Harlequin,an imprint of MIRA and My Book Addiction and More.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I probably should have hated Rohan for being the jerk that he was, but I never did. I found him somewhat funny at times, sometimes I felt sorry for him. What Elinor was put through, by everyone, was very sad. The storyline was intense, and well written. I had a hard time putting the book down to do anything, it was so engrossing.

I know this is not the first time this has been said, not by me and not by others, but Anne Stuart writes some of the darkest, most twisted heroes and I love that about her writing. She takes a hero, takes him almost to the edge of us readers hating him and then manages to pull him back from the brink to the point where we just love their twistedness. And Francis, Viscount Rohan is no exception. He's the leader of the Heavenly Host, a group of depraved, bored aristocrats living in France to whom nothing is forbidden. He first meets Elinor, our heroine, when she breaks into one of his wild parties determined to find her mother who is dying of the pox. Francis is bored, bored of his 'friends' with the exception of one, bored of his decadent lifestyle, just bored of everything. So when he meets Elinor, a rather plain, prickly young woman who so obviously has fallen on very bad times, he is intrigued and can't quite seem to get her out of his head. Much to his dismay he finds himself thinking of her, even to the point of becoming her benefactor, much to her dismay. You see Elinor is horrified by him and even more so, afraid he will set his depraved sights on her younger sister Lydia. But her family is in such reduced circumstances, that she is forced to accept his contributions.Francis is confused. At first he's determined not to have anything to do with her, then he figures he'll marry her off. Then he figures he'll marry her off, but have her for himself later. It would be so easy to dislike this vain, hedonistic man, but as I said, Ms. Stuart can find a way to make us route for such a hero and I found myself smiling at his self-delusion since we know what's really happening is he's falling in love with her, though he would be appalled to think such a thing himself. He's wonderfully and deliciously wicked.Now Eleanor Harriman I found a bit problematic for me. At times she was more than a match for Francis. In fact most of the time she was. But I also found her too self-sacrificing and I would get annoyed with her. She gives up EVERYTHING for the sake of her sister's welfare, even to the point of forgoing milk in her tea so her sister could have it. I'm not to fond of martyr heroines and/or heroes and she crosses that line a few times to much and too many for me. Lydia, her sister, is a lot more savvy than Eleanor gives her credit for and I found it too much at times. And I really didn't understand her loyalty to her mother. Her mother pulled some real nasty sh#t on Eleanor, yet at one point in the story, she was ready to die herself to save her mother. I didn't get that.There's also a lovely secondary romance between Lydia and Francis's only real friend, Robert. It's a touching romance between two people who fall in love, but feel their love cannot flourish due to circumstances.Overall I enjoyed this one quite a bit. I adored Francis, but thought Eleanor could have been a little less selfless. But I'm glad her next one comes out so soon. I'll be getting it for sure!

The genre of historical romance abounds with rakes and ne’er-do-wells, all waiting to be redeemed by their one, true love. These devices are so plentiful because they often work, allowing an author plenty of spice and anachronistic deviation from “polite society” while bringing the story to a happily-ever-after. Though Anne Stuart doesn’t deviate from these tropes, she does one better; she removes the soft filter lens that smoothes over the warts and bumps of a rake falling in love. RUTHLESS stands out from the crowd not for an unusual premise, but for an unusually well crafted rendition thereof.

At least three of the five stars I awarded RUTHLESS are due to the terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad Viscount Rohan. Oh, how I adored him. He professes to be shallow and hedonistic, and he does a credible job of upholding these claims. At his first meeting with our heroine, Elinor, he helps her reclaim her syphilitic mother, not to be good, but to keep the pox from putting a damper on his orgy. I loved the parts of the story that are from his point of view, everything from his version of “how not to be bored at a bacchanal” to him inventing “mood music.” My favorite has to be his thoughts on wearing high heels, a priceless moment. Stuart does a masterful job of creating a devilish hero that I fell in love with for his dark-side as much as for his heroics.

Stuart weaves in many fabulous, gritty details, making Ruthless a modern homage to the titillating, lurid novels our own historical heroines enjoy. No one gets pecked to death by pigeons, but there is madness, murder, debauchery, and menace. Rather than a marathon of graphic sex (which can be satisfying in a different way), RUTHLESS capitalizes on the tension of pursuit to build a dark, tantalizing passion. This grand, gothic novel is one of the best of an entertaining breed, and I think Charlotte Bronte herself would applaud its submission to the genre.

Re-read #1 - RUTHLESS didn't hold up as well the second time around. I suppose once all the secrets are out it's harder to enjoy all the over the top skulking and drama.

OK story. little long.

Enjoyed her return to historicals here and looking forward to the next two. There's also a free novella prequel in various venues.

Anne Stuart's main male characters often worry me. In general in romance fiction the supposed previous misdeeds of a book's hero tend to be partially misunderstandings.


Anne Stuart doesn't cheat that way, but still manages to convince me of reform and shades of gray. On the other hand, their treatment of the heroine is almost always genuinely the right thing when many writers have "heroes" who utterly cross my lines and have readers who defend them.(Dodd and Feehan I'm talking to you)

Part of what I like about Stuart is the humor, and part is about the emotional honesty she manages to draw from what could run into melodrama, but doesn't.

Most definitely not your average sweetness-and-light historical romance populated with witty, charming maidens and foppish rakes. This book is dark, disturbing and totally captivating.

Set in the mid-18th century demimonde of British exiles in Paris, the story oscillates between two extremes: on the one hand, an impoverished family of two daughters, their syphilitic mother, and two loyal servants; on the other, an obscenely rich and morally debauched aristocrat who hosts anything-goes orgies in his palatial town and country homes.

These two worlds collide when the elder of the two daughters pursues her half-crazed mother to one of the 'Heavenly Host' orgies in the hope of preventing her from gambling away the last or their possessions. Amidst scenes of gambling, drunkenness and sexual frenzy, Elinor courageously confronts the loathsome rake Rohan as he sits on his throne, absent-mindedly unleashing the spectacular breasts of the accommodating beauty draped across his lap.

Instead of kicking Elinor out or throwing her to the sexually ravenous participants in the orgy, Rohan experiences an unaccustomed twinge of interest, enough to jerk him out of his customary jaded ennui.

This meeting kicks the story into high gear and murders, arson, kidnapping and seduction follow. The reader also begins to catch glimpses of some of the horrors that both Rohan and Elinor experienced in the past, and which shaped their lives and characters.

I'd love to give this book a five-star rating, but the breath-taking pace of the story can't hide major plot holes. The ending, whilst technically 'happy', leaves too many loose ends. I was hoping for one or two more chapters, or even a short epilogue.

Sometimes I need a good, cheesy romance to brighten my day - especially cold, cloudy winter days - and this one certainly lived up to the challenge. Anne Stuart has paired up two very stubborn people in this romance and they face the typical struggles in realizing their affection for each other. Fun, light reading.

4.5
I loved this story.
I don't know if there is something seriously wrong with me to love Rohan, but I do. The thing is, the author doesn't try to justify his life of debauchery and blasphemy with his past. Sure, we are told about the reason he is exiled from England, but the fact is never used to justify him in any way. It is told just to set another layer to an already complex character. What he kept doing for Elinor after meeting her, not realizing he is falling in love, is a justification enough for me. That and something he did after Elinor told him everything about her. Even with all the things his unofficial blasphemous society, the Heavenly Host is said to have done, I consider Rohan one of the greatest male characters I've read so far. Flaws and all.

Now, I can't think of Elinor Harriman without admiration and sadness. She sacrifices everything for the people around her. She gives all that she has, not even thinking of taking something for herself. One time she got her hands on a warm piece of clothing and the first thing that was on her mind was how her sister would be warm. She does this with all her heart without any self-pity, the fact that makes it even more heartbreaking.
The things she had endured made me furious, but Elinor still managed to be a strong and brave young woman prepared for anything. Well, maybe not Rohan, but anything else. There is absolutely nothing pathetic about Elinor Harriman, even if I am choking back tears when I think about her.
I loved how her sister isn't depicted as some kind of user. Lydia suffers in silence. She sees and acknowledges her sister's sacrifices. She even acts as if she doesn't know anything about their life in Paris only to spare Elinor.

I hated their mother though. I thought her punishment isn't enough. I am not satisfied, but I am bloodthirsty. There is that.

I prefer reading XIX century stories though. I admit I read the parts which described his heeled shoes and men's wigs too fast. Fortunately, Rohan is at least not following that fashion.

Ruthless is a story that I have been meaning to read for YEARS and I don't know why it took me so long to read this book since its definitely a setting that I love reading. And honestly, I can't get enough of seeing this author's incredible talent of penning a anti-hero that you become enamored with yourself.Ruthless takes place in France, about twenty years before the French Revolution. Our heroine is responsible for her family. Elinor Harriman. When her father divorced their mother and didn't want his two daughters from the marriage, their mother became a mistress to a rich man who brought them to France. But then when their mother lost his "favor" through a series of bad luck, they find themselves in some of the worst parts of Paris. They are barely surviving with a mother who is slowly going mad and losing all of their coin that is for food. When Elinor discovers that her mother has disappeared and gone off to an infamous gathering "Heavenly Hosts" where there are gambling, drinking and lots of sexual orgies, she knows that she has no choice. Elinor might not be a virgin, but she is innocent and the last thing she wants to go is to go looking for their mother, but they can't risk her gambling away all their savings. But then she runs into the prince of sin....Viscount Rohan.Rohan suffered incredibly when he was younger, losing all of his family and he isn't as heartless as he appears. But he is hard around the edges and is sexually driven in many of his appetites and then a stranger appears at his infamous party demanding he helps her find her mother, a mother than Rohan hates himself. But he finds himself intrigued by Elinor, he has become bored with his life, but her fiery spirit challenges him so he goes again his own reservations and dictates and helps her find her mother. And even though he doesn't want to admit that he has a growing attraction for Elinor, he just can't seem to stay away from her.But there is a villain unseen, unsuspecting that puts Elinor in danger, but will Rohan be able to figure it out in time to save the only woman who has ever made his feel in years....What a story and I am so GLAD that I decided to pick this up from Audible's Romance Package....I swear the more I listen to this selection the more I am convinced that this package is perfect for me. I have found so many treasures and Ruthless is at the top of this list of loves. This is a story that at first, I wondered, this is going to be a tough sell especially when some aspects are full on against my own Christian beliefs but honestly for some reason it didn't effect me like I expected it to....didn't bother me much to be honest. Probably because its not a primary focus or anything and the way that Anne Stuart writes this book is phenomenal....like seriously if you are a fan of Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas, I highly recommend this to you, because Ruthless may be a bit edgier but it delivers a hero that is so unlikeable and unreachable and you see him become human capable of feeling and being honorable and good at times. When you hear about what he suffered when he was younger though, your heart just breaks for him and you begin to understand why he is so dark at times.The heroine is simply lovely at times, I truly enjoyed her character immensely. She is a leader and courageous but a bit prideful. She doesn't view herself as important at all. Her sister, however, she will protect at all costs. Elinor sees that her sister is beautiful while Elinor knows that she is plain and she doesn't understand Rohan's fixation on her. At first, she believes its just to get to her sister, but she realizes that he only views her sister as if she was his own sister. I love how she stands on her own principles and even though she is quite stubborn and prideful, I liked that she has some flaws. She is hardworking and has sacrificed quite a bit for her family. She has her own horrors in her past and she finds herself drawn to Rohan because she can understand him in ways no one else can.The romance is simply pure delight and one of the best I have read in quite some time especially in a historical setting. I found it to be so refreshing and on board with what I was in the mood for. I do love a good bad boy...and Rohan fits this so well. He is definitely a bad boy for sure, rich and makes no apologies. He finds Elinor exciting, she loathes him especially in the beginning and instead of being offended....he is delighted by her treatment of him and it was so hilarious!! I loved their chemistry, it just sizzles off the pages without being too detailed either. I like that this author created such a vibrant connection between the two.I have to say that I definitely will be reading more of this author...but boy her selection is vast with over 100 novels...where to start....hmm, I think I will finish this series first. Because....oh my!! :)I don't think I could share my love enough for this story...its tough, sensual, gritty and sweet. It can make you laugh, tense at the edge of your seat and bring a sweet tear to your eye with the poignant emotion that is displayed....MAJESTICALLY WRITTEN!!

here were quiet a few things I enjoyed about this book and a few things that I did not enjoy. I will jump right in. I loved the whole seedy underground thing that Rohan has going on through the book. I love how is completely devoted to pursuing what he wants when he wants it. I love that he is a strong character and lays his cards out on the table.

I did not like the complete and utter hard headedness of Elinor. She is a strong women and completely devoted to her family. I can get behind that but when her sister, and Rohan, and practically everyone else tells her that he does not want her sister she doesn't believe it. Come on the girl can't be that beautiful. I then hate how even after all that she allows that very topic to manipulate her. If she had opened her ears it wouldn't have happened. GAH. That made me angry and annoyed through out the whole book.

As far as plot goes the book is a bit slow and while there is a fair amount of sexual tension it lags here and there and the reader is left bereft and cold. I overall enjoyed this book...I will try the next in the series and hope I like it more.