Regency Romance Novel (Rogues to Riches Book 2) - Lord of Pleasure

Erica Ridley has another winner in “Lord of Pleasure” The second book in her Rogues to Riches series. She is a seasoned pro when it comes to writing regency romances. Her stories captivate her readers and this story was an awesome read. The plot was well written and fast paced. Her characters were well developed and endearing. The hero, Lord Wainwright dubbed the Lord of Pleasure by the scandal sheets is a charming, rich, infamous rake. The heroine Camellia Grenville always plays it safe following the dictates of her family and is considered a mouse. In public she despises him and his scandalous ways. In private at a masked ball where they are anonymous they come to care for each other. How these two characters overcome the perceptions of others and how they perceive each other both privately and in public makes for a truly interesting and well written story.
I was totally engrossed in Wainwright and Cam’s story as Erica’s plot had me hooked from the first chapter and kept my attention through the epilogue. There were also a number of surprises and twists that served to enhanced her storyline. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to enjoy reading a really good regency romance. You will not be disappointed.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my review. It was a pleasure to give my honest opinion about the book.

I always enjoy Erica Ridley's novels. I especially enjoyed this one because of its mystery identity theme. Unlike others of its genre, I was not in a hurry for Michael and Cam to discover the mystery. I had too much fun watching them interact as Lady X and Lord X and in real life as adversaries.

The Grenville family was excellent and I can't wait to read of their further adventures. Lady Grenville reminded me a bit of Mrs. Bennet with her managing ways. That's alright though because I truly love Mrs. Bennet.

I liked the fact that the Grenville girls were more advanced in age than most Regency debs. I do not enjoy 10 year age gaps in my couples. I may be in the minority with that opinion, but I do enjoy an older heroine.

As with the Dukes of War series, this series is also a must buy for me.

Another great book by Erica Ridley. I have enjoyed every book I have read by her. This one is no exception. Miss Camellia Grenville was always the good girl who strived to keep her two younger sisters shanegans from becoming scandals. Lord Wainwright was known as a rake and always being watched and judged, lately more falsely than not. The two didn't meet at the best of circumstances, but watching them throughout this book was a joy. Lord of Pleasure (Rogues to Riches Book 2)

I loved this book & love the series & can't wait to read the next one! What a great love story - I had previously read the book & then got the audio version. Marian Hussey's narration was wonderful & only enhanced Erica Ridley's story of Lady & Lord X. The characters were so likable & you found yourself "behind the mask"! I highly recommend this to any historical romance fan!

Yea! Another heartwarming book from one of my favorite authors! Funny and touching, the story of Lord Wainwright and his discovery of true love keeps you glued to the book and leaves you with a warm happy conclusion. Just the kind of story I love! Can't wait for the rest of this series. Great story!

I enjoyed Lord of Pleasure, though it took me some while to figure out why. I decided it’s because it is a charming story.

I really felt for Lord Wainwright when I first met him. He couldn’t seem to do anything that didn’t get his name in the scandal sheets. He didn’t even have to try. He was like the little lad who always ends up at the Headmaster’s office saying, “I didn’t mean to, sir, it just sort of happened.”

So now, he is trying to be respectable and keep his nose clean. Well, you can bet that means all sorts of traps and snares await him.

Except, they don’t.

He meets Lady X at the masquerade ball (and by the way, why is he attending a scandalous event when he is trying to keep his nose clean?). From their first meeting, I kept waiting for the whole thing to blow up in their faces. It doesn’t. Even when it does, it doesn’t. (Read the book, you’ll see what I mean.)

They meet, they fall in love, without knowing who the other is. They are at loggerheads in day to day life. Well, that is to say, she dislikes him. He is just bewildered and guilty, but unable to put things right with her because, she hasn’t told him why she is angry with him. Men are just supposed to know these things, aren’t they?

The story reminded me of Miklos Laszlo’s “Shop around the corner”, and this was its charm. We know they are in love, we’re willing them to get together for real.

The side story of trying to keep his name out of the scandal sheets was a distraction, and I kept forgetting about it, and then saying, “Oh, yes, of course,” when it was mentioned. Perhaps more could have been made of it. He could have been digging a deeper and deeper hole for himself throughout. As it stood, he is never seriously in danger of losing the wager, more’s the pity.

Still, scandal or no, Wainwright was a likeable hero and charismatic, and he brought Camellia from her shell quite nicely.

Love the Rogues to Riches series even more after reading the second book. As an ARC reader offered by Net Galley, I did not like either of the covers, but once I read the books, the cover pictures made sense and truly fit the heroes of each book. I need to reserve judgment on future covers.

Shy, quiet, timid, obedient Camillia becomes our herself when at a masquerade ball upon meeting handsome, charming, arrogant Lord Wainwright. Both wore masks to the ball and the rules did not allow you to ask the name of any attendee. From the description, I was expecting the ‘bedding’ to happen quickly, especially considering the description of Michael, Lord Wainwright. Their romance and his ‘wooing’ of Camillia could not have been sweeter. He truly came to care for her as she did him. Their ‘masked’ meetings became the highlight of their weeks. They both looked forward to the masked balls when they could be together and enjoy each others company. This was the only time each felt like they could truly be themselves.

Lord Wainwright had been a disreputable rake, but also, had a good heart. His ‘wickedness’ had ethics. No virgins and no married women. His reputation was actually a lot worse than he actually was, considering he really was not that person. Michael wanted to become a better person and for his life to count for something. He willingly accepted the challenge from his friends to not be in the scandal sheets or in another caricature for the forty days because he wanted to prove to himself and others that he could do it. Michael lost his parents when fairly young and still protected his respect and love for his mother in preserving her collection of harps.

Interestingly, Michael and Camilla kept running into each other in public and felt a connection although they did not want to. Camillia’s sister runs a home for girls and was in the middle of ‘fund-raising’ when Lord Wainwright ruined her funding by a simple sentence. Crazy thing was he did not even know he had done it. That did not stop Camillia and her sisters from ‘hating’ him for hurting the girl’s home. Michael’s observation of Camilla and her sisters helped him to see another side of the female gender.

You will love this story as I did once you start reading it. I am looking forward to the next book as it is about the ‘secret’ life of Camillia’s sister Dahlia. I am sure it will be just as good as Erica’s previous books. Erica includes some brief appearances of Fairfax from the first books, but this is a standalone book, too. Enjoy!

LORD OF PLEASURE is the second of six books planned for release in the Rogues to Riches series. Each has a Cinderella theme with a unique twist.

Remember Lambley’s hedonistic, invitation-only, masquerade’s? For one night, Camellia will shed her life as the dutiful daughter facing a planned marriage to a respectable (b-o-r-i-n-g) gentleman and live as Lady X. Unknown behind her beautiful feathered mask, she can be herself instead of the perfect miss that society insists that all ladies must be at all times. She is dressed as a princess and is rescued by her prince who spends a beautiful though brief evening with her. She even runs away at midnight and he is left not knowing who his beautiful maiden is.

Oh, yeah! It is absolutely an adult fairy-tale. Not in the sense that there was a fairy godmother. Unless you want to cast Lambley in that role, though I doubt it fits him. Instead, it was a fairy tale romance as you see the two of them falling for each other’s hearts long before each knows who the other is in society. Absolutely sigh-worthy!

The next book is about one of Camellia’s sisters and she has herself in one heck of a pickle! I’m really looking forward to reading it and the rest of the books in this series.

Note: while I was given this book as a gifted ARC, through NetGalley, my opinions are my own and are given freely.

Title: LORD OF PLEASURE
Series: Rogues to Riches #2
Category /Genre: Historical Romance
Recommended for: 18+ due to sexual content
Grammar/editing: A – near perfect
Received from: Erica Ridley, through NetGalley

Lord of Pleasure Rogues to Riches book 2
By Erica Ridley

Happily ever after is what we're all looking for and this is what you get when you read Erica Ridley's books.

Lord Michael Rutland Earl of Wainwright is The Lord of Pleasure, women fall at his feet no matter what he does. His reputation as a rake and a renowned lover has been more of a strain for him although it's nice to be sought after its getting to the point where there's more tale than truth. He places a wager with his friends that for 40 days there will be no mention of his name in the tabloids. Maybe then everyone will see the true Michael - the sensitive kind heart person that he really is. Until he meets Lady X their attraction is smoking hot and he knows not who she may be.

Miss Camellia Grenville has always been the dutiful daughter always doing the right thing never one disappoint her parents. When her mother summons her and gives her the news of her impending marriage Camellia is completely shocked. All those years of living a quiet life with out causing any troubles has gotten her nothing. So when the opportunity rises to do something out of her comfort zone and for a good cause she grabs it. What better place than a masquerade ball - until Lord X seduces her, the attraction is sinful but will she be the same after their passionate encounter? Will she be able to marry a man she doesn't love?

A great romance for all the romantics at heart this is the perfect read. Erica Ridley has a charming lighthearted read that leaves you satisfied when the hero and heroine get their HEA.

I received a complimentary copy from the author for my honest opinion.

Lord of Pleasure Rogues to Riches Book 2
by Erica Ridley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is a Beautiful and Amazing story! It's Funny, touching, sad, and Fantastic as well. What a heartwarming story that's well written and worth reading, you will not be disappointed. WOW this is Erica Ridley at her best! OMG Another Awesome Historical Regency from Erica Ridley who just happens to be one of my favorite authors! The story is about the Earl of Wainwright and Camilla Greenville. Lord Michael Rutland is the Earl of Wainwright, he is known by the ton as a rake extraordinaire but he hates the caricatures that are made of his life. Micheal has discovered true love in a place he least expected. The story featured a handsome earl who falls in love without knowing the identity of the mask lady of his affection. Their chemistry is smoking HOT and they have that special something that only true love have. Oh My this is just the kind of story I enjoy reading! I really enjoy all of Erica's characters they are great and amazing. So far this has been a enjoyable series and the Lord of Pleasure is a phenomenal read. I couldn't put my reader down until I finished this story. This story is so funny and the banter among the sisters is enjoyable and enchanting. The family is just what you think a very proper English family would be. Of course there are some surprises but you will enjoy the thrill of this book it'll leave you with such a warm happy feeling that will put joy in your heart. I highly recommend this book and I can't wait to read the other book in this series. I voluntarily reviewed this book. Because I like sharing my thoughts with my fellow readers.

Poor Michael Wainwright, he did it to himself, because of his fast and loose ways he had dug himself into a pool of sinful lust that he is now reaping the repercussion and he didn’t like it, nope he didn't like it one bit, so a redefinition of himself was needed it was time they knew who he truly was. I feel for this guy, the things he withstood to show how much he can change society’s perception of him. He didn't stand a chance with the masses and even his friends having a good laugh and gambling against him. It hurt him, but his interest peaked when a chance meeting at a masked soiree gave him hope again and a rebirth of that thing he thought was so elusive to him, love. But all promises came to an abrupt end when the faces under the masked were revealed, and Miss Granville came face to face with the lord of pleasure. Now he was fighting the greatest and most meaningful battle in all his sinful years, for unmasked no one wants to be with him except the widows and a few others willing to meet him under dark. He wanted more and soon came to that shameful conclusion. Nicely done, get your own Lord of pleasure.

Another emotionally charged read that deals with the battles we face between behaving according to what we think society expects of us and the freedom of behaving as our true selves. Erica is a gifted author who always takes you on a delightful journey with her stories..Michael and Cam did not disappoint. Can't wait for the next in line.

This is such a wonderful series! About young lovers who chose for themselves, despite social conventions.
Great to be able to see what those masquerade balls, mentioned in Lord of Chance really are like!
Loved this book and I can't wait to read part 3!
I received a copy and chose to review it.

This author never disappoints with the witty banter among the characters, it is what grabbed my interest in this author. I enjoyed the unique plot and growth of the characters to become their true selves without their masks.