Friday, October 5, 2007

Everything Forbidden-Jess Michaels

Everything Forbidden
Jess Michaels
Avon, Nov 2007, $13.95
ISBN: 9780061283949

In 1814 Miranda Albright searches for her mom’s runaway dog Oslo. Instead she sees her family’s neighbor the Earl of Rothchild Ethan Hamen without a shirt and licking a female “down there”. She becomes tingly.

Three years later, Miranda’s dad died leaving her, her three younger sisters and her mom in massive debt. Miranda struggles to pay the bills, but only her sister Penelope understands the problem. Their spoiled mom and sister Beatrice think Miranda is a miser who does not want to have a good time. Their other sister Winfred is too young to understand their plight. Miranda feels guilty that she rejected wealthy suitors during her recent season; but Penelope points out, she had no idea how broke the family was..

Penelope is their only hope if she finds a wealthy match. However, for her to have a season they will need money. Miranda offers a deal to her “sex tutor” Ethan She explains they are destitute, her father’s family rejects them and her mother’s family has no money. Her father’s friends have called in their debts, but are willing to forgo them if she gives herself over to them. Ethan is willing to finance her sisters’ seasons; for every month that Miranda has sex with him, he will fund a sibling. She is to come to him once a week. They seal the deal with a kiss, but end up making love. As they fall in love, both will be hurt by their illicit affair, but not as much Penelope.

This is a refreshing erotic Regency romance starring a courageous heroine sacrificing herself by doing what she feels she must for her sisters especially her best friend sibling Penelope. Whereas Ethan is an interesting rake, Miranda’s mom and Beatrice are spoiled and unlikable. Still sub-genre fans will enjoy this heated historical.

Harriet Klausner

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