The Naked Viscount [Mass Market Paperback]

I've read all of the series (except The Naked Laird), and this was definitely one of the best ones.

This one has to be the funniest for sure. The others have had a part or two that are humorous, or a line here and there, but this one has a recurring pattern that creates mental images that make it hard not to smile.

The heroine, Jane Parker-Roth, is the sister to the hero from The Naked Gentleman, John Parker-Roth. She has moments where she seems smart and strong, but then she has others where she is more dependent and naive. For some reason when she was first introduced in Gentleman I thought she was rather blunt and said scandalous things, but in this book she really didn't. She did several scandalous things, but she really didn't speak quite as bluntly as I expected.

The hero, Edmund Smyth, Viscount Motton, was introduced in The Naked Baron, even though he was talked about a little in Gentleman. He was the viscount who held the house party with the crazy aunt with her monkey and parrot. Both he and his crazy aunt (she was a supporting character for a good portion of this book) were true to form of how they were written about before.

In this book, he is doing some undercover spy work, which it is alluded to he has some experience in this department, but we're never really told what or how much, really why he even accepted his current mission--or what it really means to the person who asked him to do it. His past experience must not have been much if he couldn't solve any of the clues himself and the heroine could... Anyway, his character is very likable as he helps to protect Jane and slowly falls for her.

Edmund Smyth, Viscount Motton is close to going mad. His bevy of aunts has come to stay with him, including his Aunt Winifred who has a pet parrot that won't behave. If that isn't bad enough, he has to break into the estate of the late Clarence Widmore and find a mysterious sketch of French spies drawn by the deceased artist. Motton has to keep a close watch at those around him, because any member of the Ton could possibly by the elusive killer who is only known as "Satan". But Motton gets more than he bargains for when he is caught in Widmore's library by the spinster, Lady Jane Parker-Roth.

Lady Jane is in London for her eighth season, and at the ripe old age of twenty-four she is comfortable with her spinster state. Jane and her mother are renting Widmore's penthouse and when she goes into the library to grab another novel to read, she is hauled up against a male chest and kissed senseless. She is giddy over this because the man in question is one she has admired from afar. Motton has no choice but to tell Jane about his mission. She is more than willing to help him. Things become even more complicated when they figure out that there are many incriminating papers hidden in various statues of Pan all over London. And those papers have been secreted away in a very specific part of the statue, which is more phallic in nature.

Motton puts his foot down and refuses Jane's help, but seeing as she is used to being ordered around from her older brother, she has years of practice in getting around any obstacle that may come her way. Motton has no choice but to keep a watchful eye on Jane and soon she is joining him on his mission with very surprising results. He begins to see Jane in a different light, where he wouldn't mind kissing her again and welcomes those thoughts of marriage with the plucky, well bred you woman. But he must find out who Satan is, why Widmore drew so many shocking and naughty pictures of the member of the ton, and keep Jane safe while trying to keep his passions in check whenever he is around her.

Sally MacKenzie has written another delightful and funny book in her Naked series with The Naked Viscount. Sally has a such knack at writing such endearing characters. Readers will surely chuckle more than once over Motton's thoughts and actions regarding Jane. The man is smitten with Jane the moment he kisses her in a darkened library and is confounded over his feelings to the point where he can't think of anything else but seducing her. The banter and dialogue back and forth between Motton and Jane is close to slapstick, although there is an issue of too much head jumping and change in the point of view between the two that occurs many times throughout the story. This may lead to some confusion for the some.

The drama is a bit on the ridiculous side, and the way Jane channels her own investigation techniques will have you in stitches. Jane has a bad habit of grabbing specific parts of the statue Pan's anatomy to find what she wants. Every time she does, it drives Motton batty because he wishes he was on the receiving end of her touch.

The Naked Viscount is a light fun historical romance with some outlandish action on the parts of the main characters. But in all, this latest by Sally is one amusing read.

Katiebabs

The Naked Viscount by Sally MacKenzie
Historical Romance - June 1, 2010
4  Stars

The Naked Viscount is the story of Miss Jane Parker-Roth. Jane is stuck in London , to `catch' herself a prized husband. But after 8 seasons without success she would much rather stay home with a good book. Searching the boring London scene for prospects is extremely dull work. But to her surprise she encounters an intruder in her family's rented townhouse. One who captures her attention and her devout interest! The intruder turns out to be the infamous Edmund Smyth, Viscount Motton. He is a close friend of her brother's. And a man she has secretly admired from afar. Jane quickly finds herself embroiled in mischief and trouble after discovering Viscount Motton's true motive for being in her townhouse. He is searching for a picture that will uncover a criminal mastermind. Soon the 2 are working together to get to the bottom of this mystery, while trying to keep the enemy from getting there first.

Sally MacKenzie does a fantastic job of creating a pleasing story with a wonderful mix of romance and mystery. I found the main characters' hunt to find the picture fun and exciting. The mystery kept me guessing until the very end. The two main characters are a joy to read and each are both appealing and compelling in their own right. But I really enjoyed them the most together! I also thought the secondary characters brought cheerfulness and humor to the story and wouldn't mind knowing more about them.

The Naked Viscount is a fantastic book. If you like a solid romance story with an intriguing story this is the perfect book for you! I found it the perfect mix of romance and intrigue. The Naked Viscount is amazing book that you won't be able to put down until the very end.

Reviewed by Mary from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 8 reviews  3.6 out of 5 stars