Something Reckless

By Jess Michaels

Prim, headstrong, and beautiful Penelope is determined to expose the licentious affairs of the ton's randiest rakes. Now one of their powerful number—the unrepentant libertine Jeremy Vaughn, Duke of Kilgrath—has been selected to put an end to the prudish lady's interference. Jeremy's plan is devilishly clever: He will join Penelope's war against immorality, fighting passionately by her side, all the while showering her with anonymous erotic missives designed to titillate even the coldest, most unwilling maid. He will break down her defenses and inflame her repressed desires by escorting her (in the interests of their "noble campaign") to London's most notorious pleasure palaces. And he will visit her boudoir—masked—during the night to school her in the deliciously sinful arts she wishes to abolish. Then he will expose her hypocrisy to the world.

But the handsome rogue's scheme is doomed to go awry, even as the lovely Penelope sheds her every inhibition and freely gives in to his every whim. For in this sensuous game of hearts, it's the seducer who becomes seduced . . .

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Mar 17, 2009
• ISBN: 9780061752483

Jess Michaels

Jess Michaels always flips through every romance she buys in search of "the good stuff," so it makes perfect sense that she writes erotic romance where she gets to turn up the heat and let it boil. She also runs the popular website The Passionate Pen and writes historical romance as Jenna Petersen.

Reviews for Something Reckless

[vernefan · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Within Victorian London’s elite male ton, a group of five men that call themselves “the Nevers”, are up in arms over one obstinate yet beautiful woman named Lady Penelope Norman. The “Nevers” have vowed to never change, falter or love. Lady Norman is on a personal crusade to rebel against the sensual excess of London’s finest gentlemen. In a nutshell, men flaunting their sexual conquests and publicly exhibiting their mistresses is an outrage to Lady Norman’s view of proper social etiquette and this practice must cease.Deciding something must be done about this meddlesome woman, the gentlemen draw straws as to which one of them is going to take on the cause and either blackmail, threaten, or seduce, the luscious blond Penelope. Her outrageous campaign against coveting mistresses must be stopped, one way or another.Drawing the short straw, Jeremy Vaughn, Duke of Kilgrath, devises what he believes is a devious plan by pretending to side with Lady Norman and joins her cause. Inviting her to attend a Masquerade ball with him so that he can allow her to meet her enemy first hand, Penelope is hesitant but agrees to attend, only so that she can better understand the wicked ways of men in order to rehabilitate their licentiousness. Arriving at the exotic Cyprian Masked Ball, the Duke of Kilgrath silently chuckles as he purposely leaves her briefly unattended in search of champagne. What Penelope witnesses in the short time he is away, is enough to have her question her beliefs and feel the heat of her flushed cheeks, as she becomes voyeur to an evening of lavishly costumed partners captured in lusty and lewd acts of passion. Jeremy then starts a daily routine of escorting young Lady Norman around town to view private salons, and pleasure palaces, so that she can be educated and converted into a novice of love instead of a crusader against it. He also begins sending Penelope daily anonymous letters of erotic nature that detail his talents in the world of eros. And so the dance begins, teacher and friend, lover and rogue, both bringing Lady Norman slowly to her knees.By day he is her kind and loyal friend, advising her on why men do what they do, and showing her the many avenues that her campaign can fight against. But by night, as he creeps into her candlelit window hidden beneath a black mask, he is lover unbound, teaching her to accept her own heart and desires. Wanting her to breakdown her defenses and admit her new wanton ways are hypocritical to her cause which will therefore win the bet with his friends, something totally unexpected happens to the Duke of Kilgrath, a circumstance that will turn around this sweet and sensual game of cat and mouse romance. Great characters, good storyline, and a tender tale that is both sexy and seductive. Jess Michaels is an excellent writer whose talent to blend love and lust to the soft erotica genre will have fans begging for more! Loved this!

[shauna227 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The second book in her series, Fun and exciting!

[kindleromance · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Enjoyable, steamy read. Not a fan of the plot with lack of trust issues and masks hiding true identities. However, I enjoyed the characters enough and loved seeing Ethan and Miranda! Actually, my favorite parts of the book were when they appeared.

[francescadefreitas · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Not as entertaining as the first in the series.

[itsamekatrina · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Another great book by Jess Michaels. Love it!