Gorgeous as Sin
Grade : B

Reviewing Susan Johnson has become something of a tradition for me. Can I say that I’m glad that I’m still sticking around for the party? This one is pretty darn good – on the level of say, Pure Sin, if not the classic Braddock-Blacks.

So, what the heck am I talking about? For those new to romance, Susan Johnson is the author of some of the best – the very best – books in historical romance, writing very good ones up until the mid 90s. Then the author took a regrettable (and no doubt lucrative) detour into writing formulaic European historicals and some of the worst – the very worst – books in contemporary romance. Now she’s back. Well, as “back” as she’s been in a while, anyway.

The conflict is simple: The fabulously wealthy, legendarily studly Duke of Groveland wants to buy widowed Rosalind St. Vincent’s bookshop and she’s not selling. Since her shop is standing in way of his new building development, the Duke goes all out to try to force her to comply. His methods include sicing his attorney on the independent shop owner and, not surprisingly since this is a Susan Johnson romance, seducing her into changing her mind.

Turns out Rosalind also has a secret, one that could ruin her were it ever to get out. Along with her earnings from the bookshop, she adds to her income by writing erotica. Since she has not had sex since the death of her husband, she is more than ready to bed the randy Duke, even while she continues to passionately fight his acquisition of her shop.

A few words of warning: Reader hot buttons may be crossed here. The Duke has sex with another lover after he has bedded the heroine and, further, he is ruthless with regards to getting what he wants. With regards to the latter, I’m a reader who can be sensitive to this issue and I was fine – I’m merely offering the information as a heads up.

The difference between this one and some of her recent efforts is simple: It feels adult. Both characters are appealing and likable and with a depth that’s been missing from the author’s work for the past few years. The Duke is still completely over the top in his wealth and his appeal and the heroine still forthright and sexually adventurous, but both feel more real and less cartoonish than what has been typical of the recent Susan Johnson Lites.

Published by Berkley Sensation (the company also responsible for those horrendous contemporaries) and not Brava, Gorgeous As Sin marks a publisher change for the author. It appears to be a step – or maybe even two – in the right direction.

Reviewed by Sandy Coleman
Grade : B

Sensuality: Burning

Review Date : February 25, 2009

Publication Date: 2009/03

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