Breathless

House of Rohan Series, Book 3

By: Anne Stuart

Narrated by: Susan Ericksen

Ruined beyond repair and shunned by London society, lovely Miranda Rohan rebelliously embraces the freedom that comes from having nothing left to lose. However, this dangerous course throws her under the power of the darkly enigmatic Lucien de Malheur - known to many as the Scorpion. Seeking to destroy the Rohans, Lucien traps Miranda in a marriage she thinks is based on friendship but instead is rooted in vengeance. Yet even when she realizes the truth, their enmity fuels a shocking passion---and perhaps even more. Such a man might drive anyone to murder.

Pay another visit to the House of Rohan.©2010 Anne Kristine Stuart Ohlrogge (P)2011 Tantor

Torn

This is not along similar story lines to the first two. I always liked that Anne Stuart gave readers a taste of passion before the HEA.

This book takes too long, and the strained relations of the couple are frustrating. Im torn. I know I was hoping for something more like the others.

I just realized that plain Jane is the daughter of the Vicar and Charlotte's Cousin from the last book. How random that they would have a fat daughter! Maybe I misunderstood.

Anyway, this is just not for me. I hate giving this 3 stars. I'd feel better if I could give it 3.5.

Glad I didn’t trust the reviews

I really enjoyed the series and based on the reviews I almost passed this one by. To me it was more about seduction not rape (that being said, I know we all have different experiences) and I especially Ioved the dialogue/ banter between the hero and heroine. For me this one, while a little dark, was still really good.

I'm breathless myself!

This is the second book that I have read by Anne Stuart this past week, and I did the same thing as I did with the first...started on it a little bit one night, and then had to read it straight through the next day.

I thought that the actual story and subplot alone were truly unique and entrapped me. The characters were great, so well defined that they immediately jumped to life.

The vocabulary is fantastic, along with some outstanding dialogue. Now throw in the factor that it is HOT!

Fabulous Series

From the narration to a story line that continually twists and turns where I least expect it too, this series is a keeper and will keep you entertained for hours!

Loved this book

This is the first book that I have read by this author and I absolutely loved it. I cant wait to read the rest of the books and would highly recommend this book to anyone.

Not quite as good as the first two?

I don't know... Maybe it was my mood, but I really think I just did not care as much about being seduced by this male protagonist. Anne Stuart has been incredibly artful about developing previous characters, and took me right along with the heroine. This time, it just seemed a little too dark -- without the compensatory elation! Still a great narrator. I'll also allow that, sometimes, when I listen to a book again, I like it better. That may be the case with this one -- as I LOVED the first two!

Peerless

If you haven't read this book yet, I'm jealous. You are in for such an excellent time. Anne Stuart has a gift for placing her heros dangerously close to the evil edge and this one totters thrillingly near the brink. The heroine's 'courage' is delightfully fresh and remarkably believable and the chemistry between the two is scrumptious.
Enjoy!

Love this series!! 💜💜

Ok so yes, as many of the other reviewers have stated, there were a few unsavory moments. But, this is the theme of her stories. Unsavory characters being unwittingly caught in love, and therefore being saved from their “unsavoriness.” It’s FICTION, and its fun. They aren’t traditional in any way, and that is something I enjoy. I was able to set aside the fictional situations so that I could enjoy the book. I LOVE this series and have already bought the next 2. Full credits even.
Susan Ericksen,mhowver, is the shining star that enables us to enjoy the story so much. Good gracious do I just LOVE her voice and narration! She could read a menu and make it sound savory. I’ve said in previous reviews, she reminds me of a female Cary Grant. Just a smooth, silky, soothing voice. Love her!

she was the only woman that could handle him...

She was too tool for his revenge. But he fell under her spell.

These two characters were well suited for each other. No other person would be better suited. She was smart, fearless, and willing to play a game to win the man she loved. He imagined himself evil, despicable, and he was, but he really couldn't be around her. Their banter was good, storyline never got boring, a good all-around fun read.

The second side romance of her friend was enjoyable though I could have gone with a bit more emphasis on that.

Unbalanced...the book ...and the hero

I gotta start by saying that I love romances where the hero does something villainous or as*holish and then gets the retribution from the heroine at the end. This book is 90% there, the hero is truly terribly villainous and does horrendous things to the heroine, which makes for a very delicious romance novel drama, and Anne Stuart is soo good at that.... but then at the end it's like Anne Stuart got tired and decided to let a fraternity dude finish the book (right after the orgy scene when the heroine went to sleep, I think so did Anne Stuart). The ending is rushed and botched and makes the whole book so disappointing. I mean the hero does criminal and disgusting things to the heroine and what's his retribution: he gets a bump on the head and grudgingly admits he loves her! Is that it????? He paid a man to KIDNAP AND RAPE her and all he has to do is say I love you and all is forgiven???!!WTF? His penance definitely doesn't fit his crimes (most of them actual legal crimes btw) and that makes the book lopsided and frustrating. After the emotional and so dramatically written orgy scene, she admits how deeply she feels hurt and betrayed by him and then 2 minutes later forgives him and gives him a blow job, I nearly fell of my chair in anger...
Of course if you think about what happens in this book in term of real life, Lucien belongs in an institution for the criminally insane, he's 1. a serious danger to others 2. has committed terrible crimes (didn't anyone notice that little tidbit how as a boy he killed a man for stomping on his pet scorpion...insane much?) and 3. he could really benefit from some intense mental therapy for dealing with terrible trauma that happened to him as a boy.

Overall I would say to Anne Stuart: "please rewrite the ending and give our heroine some real retribution and emotional penance to the hero to make the book well balanced and this will be a great dramatic emotional romance novel! And what else can we ask for?!"

Also, if you are seriously sensitive to rape scenes, this book is not for you...there's a lot of that here.... I mean Anne S. tries really hard to present the sexual experience of h and h as seduction ...but in real life that would be rape... I mean after being forced into abduction and consistently threatening her that she WILL have sex with him, which she herself admits on numerous occassion she doesnt like or want, he says "open the buttons of your clothes or I will do it for you" ... I would say yeah, she was coerced!!