"To save her family she'll sell her only asset...herself"

For Sensual Romance by A. Black

Kendra Smythe's father has placed their estate in financial straits. Bill collectors are threatening to send her family to debtor's prison and Kendra is the only person who can remedy the situation. Kendra's has been engaged to the Earl of Blackpool since she was a child. The Earl has been out of the country for many years without any form of correspondence to Kendra. He has ignored her requests for emergency funds for years, and now she is a desperate women in need of quick cash.

The infamous rake, Devlin Thornton, known for his love affairs with virtuous and non-virtuous women is Kendra's target. Kendra plans to offer her virginity to him in exchange for the funds she needs.

In order to educate Kendra about sexual matters, her best friend Sarah secretly lets Kendra watch her and her husband make love. After the lesson, Sarah is confident that she knows everything there is to know about the marriage bed, and prepares to proposition Devlin. What she gets are lessons in sex, false impersonation, and love.

This is an enjoyable short story. It is well-written and well-plotted, and the sex sizzles. Readers will not be disappointed, especially historical romance fans. I look forward to reading more of Ms. Kelley's work.

Sensuality: voyeurism, oral sex

Reviewed by Sensual Romance
Courtesy Sensual Romance
Posted February 9, 2006

Summary

After an exhaustive search for her betrothed, Kendra Smythe realizes no one is going to pull her family from financial ruin but her. Taking her best friend's advice, she decides to barter her virtue with the most notorious rake in London. It's not as if her despicable betrothed deserves anything from her after years of neglect. Everyone knows that Derrick Thornton loves to relieve a woman of her virtue and is willing to pay for the opportunity.

All Devlin Thornton, the Earl of Blackpool has to do is impersonate his twin brother while Derrick is on a mission for the Home Office. It should be easy enough, show up at a few of the ton's best balls and act just like his arrogant, philandering brother. Until a long-legged blonde walks into his brother's study and offers Devlin a chance to take her virtue.

Using a fictitious name, Kendra offers Devlin a chance with her for five thousand pounds. Instead he offers her a week of pleasure and her virginity intact. As their Week of Pleasure ends, Kendra receives a letter from her missing betrothed. But after a week with Devlin, how can she return to her betrothed?