A Season of Ruin by Anna Bradley
Series: Sutherland Scandals, #2
Paranormal Romance
August 2, 2016
Berkley

Reviewed by Sheena

Lily Somerset’s plan for the London season is simple: courtship, marriage to a respectable gentleman, then the comfortable existence of a proper Lady. That is, until one tiny misstep leaves Lily on the edge of social ruin, forcing her to depend on a wicked rogue to save her reputation.

Robyn Sutherland doesn’t save reputations—he sullies them. He’d rather be drawn and quartered than find himself spending the season as Lily’s escort. But he has no choice but to stay until her tattered standing is mended.
What begins as a ruse to deceive London soon flames into an uncontrollable passion. Robyn calls to the wild spirit that lurks beneath Lily’s prim exterior, and Lily awakens the hero’s heart within Robyn. But can these unlikely lovers trust themselves enough to let desire overrule reason?

If you wanted me to slap your face, Robyn, I would have been delighted to oblige, even without the kiss.

The epitome tale of opposites attracting.  A wild man without a care, living his life from bed sheet to bed sheet, leaving many a starry-eyed girl in his wake.  Lily is a young maiden content to follow the plan of every other society girl, gaining the attention and favor of an eligible and respectable titled man and engaging to marry.  Unfortunately, best laid plans are good and ruined when fate tumbles Robyn (quite literally) into Lily’s bed.

He’d better stop at once, as kissing and fondling an innocent had transformed more than one merry bachelor into a far less merry husband.

She pushed against his chest again, harder this time.

            Bloody, bloody, bloody hell!

His innocent temptress was determined to escape him.  She writhed, and flailed and tried to twist off his lap.

Robyn tightened his arms around her.  He had to know who she was.

A stolen moment of mistaken identity is the catalyst to Lily’s reputation hurling to the precipice of  destruction…whats a rake to do?

Fall in love of course!

But the journey to HEA for this haphazard couple is no easy road.  The deck is stacked against them. One reason after the other why they wouldn’t nd shouldn’t work. Lily is straitlaced and demure to Robyn’s exuberant, devil-may-care approach to life.  He’s also had a minor flirtation with her sister and perhaps the most damning water under the bridge, more like high tide, Lily herself is the product of a scandalous love match. Her own mother having run off with a commoner. Robyn’s accidental tryst in what Lily mistook as the Ladies restroom, though wickedly pleasurable, set them in one another’s path, the merry bachelor now responsible for the salvaging of the innocent maiden’s season.  Right away I knew I was in for a battle of the sexes- and neither disappointed!

Though a rake through and through, the man’s got a thread of honor.  He can’t just get his jollies, steal his kisses, rub upon her bottom, and leave Lily to the wolves of the ton to rip her apart and  leave her marriage prospects in tattered shreds.  Obviously, the only course of action is to embark on a farce.  Weave the illusion that he is courting young Lily and spend even more time with her to legitimize their affections.  Very heroic.  Very noble. Very much bullshit. Robyn is adorable in his protesting and reasoning for why he is driven to help Lily.  He’s found his pleasure in actresses, mistresses, and other experienced, sultry women, none of which held a candle to the flame that Lily’s gentle, unsure touch ignited within him.

A Season of Ruin is exciting and fast paced for what I’ve come to expect from more traditional historical romances novels.  From start to finish the simple uncomplicated plot unfolds and I was happy to be along for the ride.  I really enjoy trans-formative stories where the H/h grow into the people they didn’t even know they could dare aspire to be.  Lily was on the fast track to a dull and predictable life as a married Lady, a season away from taking her place as the typical cog in the formidable wheel of the ton.  Robyn was going nowhere fast, and quite satisfied with his conquests and bachelor status.  Their connection and forced time together was a recipe for success. They changed one another in a concrete way and this kind of character development is a treat to experience.

Robyn is the star of the story. Kind of a jerk, but without any asshole overtones.  Author Anna Bradley wrote him extremely well, as I liked him even when he said and did the craziest things.  Loved him when he stood up for Lily, even when there was noting to gain socially.  His interactions with Lily were funny and he very quickly won me over.  Lily grew on me.  She was initially introduced as a rather mean-girlish brat typical of the season, making fun of others and very judgmental.  Once I got into her head and got to know her, I thought she a sweet girl, on the cusp of greatness, should she only think to reach for it.  I rooted for her at long last and it is always a good time when I root for both the lady and the rake!

There are no boring overly descriptive passages to blur your eyes or bore you silly.  This novel reads like a tennis match, the alternative POV is always a favorite, must be something about having a birds eye sight into the uncertainty, excitement and anguish of both Robyn and Lily that thrills!  Along with the simple, fun troupe of “fake it till we make it,”  there is a lighthearted sensuality to the novel.  Sexy scenes, sure, but the heat factor is mitigated with how gosh darn sweet and fun the vibe of the story maintains.  I found this rather interesting.  This is a romance novel in truth, but the soft and funny definitely heavily outweighed any real sensual tension that can be a pleasure onto itself in this genre.

If you are looking to have your carnal little socks knocked off, this may not do it for you, however, sweet and funny does a good romantic story make and I recommend this to anyone in the market for such.  It was a fresh change of pace as I’ve been on a complete smut bender where the cock and balls and weeping slit word count is astronomical.  There is something to be said for a nice, purely romantic read.  I do believe I’ve found a home with this Sutherland series, it appears each of these novels will stand alone, with cameos of course from past heroes and heroines.  I have plans to go back and read book 1, A Wicked Way to Win an Earl, as it promises to be another light and fun jaunt in historical romance.

Grade: B-

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