Smitten by Books

The Notorious Scoundrel
Author: Alexandra Benedict
Publisher: Avon/HarperCollins
Pub. Date: May 11, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-0061689321
Retail: $7.99
384 pages

Like an irresistible siren, the veiled dancer with the bewitching green eyes lures dukes and earls down into London’s underworld to see her dance-and succumb to her spell. Some say she’s a princess, but only one man knows her darkest secret.

She is Amy Peel, an orphan from the city’s rookeries, and she believes the bold rogue who unmasks her to be nothing but a scoundrel-albeit a dangerously handsome one. He may have rescued her from an attempted kidnapping, but she will not give in to his sensual seduction or to the wicked desire she begins to feel . . .

He is Edmund Hawkins, swashbuckling pirate turned reluctant gentleman, and he will not let the lovely Amy slip through his grasp, especially when he learns she’s in greater peril than she could possibly know. He will do everything in his power to protect her-for this notorious scoundrel has truly, unbelievably, lost his heart

~*~*~

Alexandra Benedict tells a story of love overcoming all odds with strong characters but a somewhat weak plot. I have read all of her other books and enjoyed all but one, now I need to add a second to my list of disappointments. The plot to this book totally twisted me around and was completely unexpected and the back cover did not explain the book well. I was half-way through the book before I got a somewhat clear understanding of the plot. I felt the story was almost fragmented; the completion of certain scenes were practically non-existent. It was like things just stopped and you went on to something else with little or no wrap up. The ending was not satisfying for me and a bit of a let down.

Amy, our heroine, is an independent girl who has grown up on the streets, trying hard to make a decent living without having to resort to selling her body. She longs for a better life for herself and dreams of a time and place where she is more than she is. Little does she know, her dreams may in fact be memories…

Edmund, who we have met before in previous books, is still the quiet and reserved brother who enjoys a good brawl and brooding over a mug of ale. He wants a life independent of his older brothers’ control and the pressures of his family and his past. He seems to find purpose and direction in helping to protect Amy from some mysterious thugs who have tried to kidnap her on several occasion all while trying to avoid falling in love with the girl. Good luck with that one Eddie!

A Notorious Scoundrel is the second book of the Hawkins Brother series, the first being An Infamous Rogue, which I have also read. There is a prequel to that book called Mistress of Paradise that I recommend you read if you wish to read the lead book in this series. The characters are also connected to another one of Alexandra’s books, Too Great A Temptation, which outlines the story of the Hawkins’ sister Belle.

There was only one short love scene which was very tame compared to other books I have read by Alexandra and lacked something in terms of the intimacy between the characters.

I like Alexandra as a writer, her books tend to be original but this one let me down. I hope the next book in the series has a bit more spunk.

Rating: 6 (Satisfactory)

Heat-Level: 2 (Mild)