Victor [Paperback]

Victor Rayborne is one of three brothers who loves sex and enjoys being a lover to a vast majority of women. He, along with his eldest brother Sinjin and his younger brother Rory are called the Rakehells of Rochester because of their reputations. But now that Sinjin has found the love of his life, he is very much committed to his future wife. Victor is re-evaluating his own favorite past time since he has met the aunt of Sinjin's fiancée, the widow Lilith Winthrop, Lady Nordland. His attraction to Lilith is instantaneous and now he can only think of her and ways to get her into his bedroom. But Lilith is unlike any woman he has ever tried to seduce. She gives him the cold shoulder and acts uninterested, when she wants nothing more than to lie in his arms and enjoy those pleasures she missed out on her marriage.

Lilith cannot understand why Victor is so interested in her. She is not the type of woman to have an affair, especially with a much younger man like Victor. But everywhere she turns, he is there giving her heated looks that makes her ache deep down inside. But the fact that Victor's prowess in and out of the bedroom is legendary and shocking, is something that worries Lilith. She was made a fool once, and refuses to be one again.

Victory will do whatever he can to have Lilith. All too soon she falls for his charms. Not only does Victor what an exclusive relationship with her, but Lilith's close friends don't frown upon her or think what she is doing is wrong. As Victor and Lilith begin to fall in love with one another, a woman from Victor's recent past decides she wants Victor as her own and will do everything she can; even spreading vicious lies to get what she wants.

Heroes who have slept with every woman they come in contact with are a big turn off for me. But I can't help but enjoy the way Julia Templeton has written the Rayborne men. Victor may be a total rake, or as some would say Duke of Slut, but the moment he has Lilith in his sights, he is smitten and very much committed to her. This is the perfect case where that one woman comes along and redeems the hero. And Victor is very likable. His is so understanding and respectful to Lilith and why she keeps him at a distance.

Lilith and Victor are very passionate together and they click right away. The road to their happily ever after is bumpy and one I enjoyed reading. Julia also sets up Rory's story in such a way I can't wait to read because his heroine is somewhat damaged. Also along these lines, there is a very interesting secondary story regarding Lilith's niece Marilyn, who was first introduced in Sinjin. Marilyn is attracted to the very slutty and forthright Lady Anna who is more shocking in the bedroom than the Rayborne brothers will ever be. We are given just a small taste of how much Lady Anna wants to lay claim to the innocent and sexually confused Marilyn. I would love nothing more than to see a full length romance between these two women, rather then only secondary snippets.

Victor is a spicy, erotic romance that doesn't cross too many uncomfortable lines. There is a scene at a house of iniquity that may raise some eyebrows, as well as one with Lady Anna who has fun with two men. But, if you have read erotic historical romance in the past, you won't be shocked at all with Victor.

This is one sexy and engaging romance, especially if you enjoy reading about an older woman being romanced by a younger man.

Katiebabs

Sinjin

Widow Lilith Winthrop chaperones her nieces around the London galas. Having suffered from an unfaithful husband who humiliated her all the time, Lilith has no interest in men. That is until she meets the virile younger Victor Rayborne, whose boudoir reputation is stratospheric; just ask his mother.

He persuades her to enter into a tryst with him. As their lovemaking is hot, they begin to fall in love. However when his former mistress makes a bid to get him back, Lilith's doubts after a lifetime with a cheat drives her from her beloved. Even after he professes he loves her, she hesitates so he burns the sheets with his beloved to show he desires her and only her and to eradicate her last doubt as only a Rakehell of Rochester could.

The latest Rakehells of Rochester Regency romance is an engaging historical starring a fascinating lead couple whose older woman premise brings some freshness to the plot. An entertaining tale, Victor's victory fails to match Sinjinn's sexy saga partly because fans already know mom caught her three offspring in a brothel. Still though lacking that mother originality, Julia Templeton provides a heated Regency as the younger man uses every seductive ruse he knows in order to live up to his name and win the heart (he has won the body) of the woman he loves.

Harriet Klausner

I am surprised to say that I was disappointed with Victor's book. In the past I have enjoyed Julia Templeton's books , Sinjin the first in this series was a good read and I could not wait for Victor's book. I can't explain it or maybe it is just me but the Victor in the first book is not the Victor in the second book. When Victor was first introduced he came across as a warm light hearted and sympathetic person. I bought into the idea he was interested in Lillith, but not so much in the second book. IMO the younger man older woman plot was enough for a writer of JT talent to turn an ok read into a great read. The book went downhill when she added the old wager scenario. How many times has that plot device been used, its old and it was not done very well. Add to the mix the over used ex-mistress issues that was used as a filler to pad a somewhat lack luster plot. The book jumped from scene to scene with weeks going by with a few sentences of explanation. Although the sex scenes were hot I found myself skipping over them; the grovel scene was another disappointment. Victor and Lillith were reduced to cookie cutter characters , nothing about their love was special or unique to them or the reader. I enjoyed the secondary story involving Marilyn more, I hope she gets a book. This was not a bad book it just did not appeal to me. I will be waiting for the next book in this series.

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