Ruthless: House of Rohan Series, Book 1

I LOVED this book. The characters were well-developed and the dialogue was witty and often humorous. The plot was even a little bit off the usual "romance novel" path, which made it quite interesting. But what I most loved is that is showed that the the characters of a story don't have to be perfect to be thoroughly likable! Not every hero is always honorable and not every heroine is a delicate, waif-like creature in constant need of rescuing. These characters were both "flawed" in quite different ways, and those flaws made the story believable and very entertaining. The story also managed to be pretty "hot" without a lot of graphic sex scenes. Can't wait for the next installment of this series!

I decided to try this book on a whim. I haven't been very impressed with the author's work in the past, but this was SPECTACULAR!! I felt it was very well written and the story was very entertaining! Definitely worth the credit/money!

These are the kinds of romance that I enjoy most - less than perfect hero and heroine and a mystery to make it interesting. The story kept me listening to the end, although I had already read the book. The reader did a good job, especially with the voice of Francis. I hope the other two books in this trilogy are released soon on audio. In the meantime, I'm rereading the other two books in the trilogy until the audios become available.

I really enjoyed this book but I can see where it's not for everyone. The main character is a very unlikeable person and this is not your typical romance novel. There is some dark content and it's hard to imagine a HEA ending. However, Anne Stuart does an excellent job of pulling it off. This book has some very interesting twists and turns and some very delicious side characters. Overall I really enjoyed this one and will continue on to the next book. My only complaint is with the ending. There should have been an epilogue or another chapter since it just ends so abruptly.

I had this in my wish list for a while, and finally started it last night. I didn't expect too much from it, but I was wrong!!!
Excellent writing, very sympathetic and interesting characters, engaging plot, and a very bad, but "oh-so-good" mail lead.

The description of the book makes it seem smutty. While it is sexy, it's surprisingly tasteful and the sex scenes aren't gratuitous.

DEFINITELY worth a buy or credit.

I wasn't sure if I hated or loved the mysterious Viscount Rohan. NOW I'm sure, I LOVE HIM ! Of course I never doubted Elinor. I was so engrossed in this story I was late for work. I can't wait to listen to book 2.

Despite the headline, I did enjoy this book. At least, sort of. It was a pretty good story, it kept me interested for the most part.

The problem was that the male main character never really acted toward the female main character in a way that was romantic or loving. In general, in romance novels there's a gradual change in the male's behavior that shows he's softening toward the woman and that their relationship is going somewhere loving. That never happened here. He was hot and cold, and mostly cold through the entire book.

There's no question he wanted to sleep with her, but even up to the last 20 minutes he was still being very abrupt and cold to her and I found it very frustrating. I'm not sure that I'll read any more of this series if they're all written this way.

Anne Stuart is an amazing author (whose boots I am unfit to polish), and I literally could not stop listening to this book last night. It was just too, too good to spend time with that delicious hero.
I'm amazed at how erotic the novel was with so little actual sex involved. I'm also amazed that I loved the book and didn't love the story. It began well enough but I found the end was rushed, unconvincing, and unworthy of the amazing characters she brought together.
I'm still looking forward to book two. (But I now know better than to read it on a school night.)

I guess I expected a little bit more...more drama, more angst and even (dare I say?) a bit more sex. The characters were fine for the times...a similar difficulty I have in other books about this era...with female characters so desperate to marry a man who can support them, that they are willing to sacrifice their entire lives to gain protection.

But the overall problem I had was with everything turning out okay right away. When something bad is happening, the author immediately makes it alright without giving the reader a chance to experience any drama.

I thought the idea of the Heavenly Host parties was very original and the character of Rohan was appropriately sexy. I also enjoyed the character of Elinor---feisty and strong, but still a product of her times with all the annoying decorum and politeness.

Well written for the most part except for the constantly changing point-of-views which made for some very confusing moments.

Still, it held my interest and I might get the next books in the series later.

This one is terrific! It's not a "bit of fluff", but there are still moments of humor, and the reader is lured cleverly into developing feelings right along with the heroine. A difficult task, considering the initial actions of the "Hero"! I loved this one and Book 2 as well.