A week after her husband's death, Martha discovers hihs will has decreed that, without an heir, she will lose her estate. Desperate to prevent the estate falling into the hands of her reprobate and licentious brother-in-law, Martha comes up with a daring and somewhat racy plan; buy the sexual services of her new neighbour - Theopholus Mirkwood (!) - for one month in an attempt to conceive a son and heir.So, there's a lot of sex.Being a romance there's not a lot of tension as to the end result. I just wish the Lady had awakened some 100 pages earlier. I was searching for books that had heroines pursuing the hero. I thought I would like this book because the heroine was daring. I was excited by the prospect of her propositioning the hero very early on. I thought it was a good sign. Little did I know that she acted out of character. In actuality, she was a prude, stern, and judgmental. The only time I liked the heroine was when she did not act like herself. Indeed, the book got better in the last few pages because she didn't really voice her thoughts. Unfortunately, I got to hear many of them throughout the books. I stuck it out to see if she will improve but she had this holier than thou attitude about her. I didn't really find her charming as evidently the hero had. I thought he could have done a lot better but if that was his thing, it seems like he is in for a long haul. The story revolves around Martha coming up with a plan to save the estate. She had been written off the will unless she produced an heir. Her late husband was most likely barren so she did not conceive. She propositioned Theo to impregnate her. She was going to pay him for his seed. Theo agrees and soon finds himself frustrated when he encounters her icy nature. She lays like a corpse and expected him to be grateful for every concessions she made. I thought she would get a clue after he had his mini outburst but no, she was still a bitch. I found her too condescending especially at times when she plotted to remake him as if he was broken. He constantly wanted to make him better because any fixed interest on corporeal pleasures denotes something less than what you could be. This is disturbing since she fantasizes about the rector. I also disliked her when she was lecturing this girl about higher learning. She dismissed her romance novels and proposed more lofty choices. The thing I hated about it is that you should read whatever you want to read. I don't think her recommendations of prescribed books really speak about her independence and freedom of thought. She is just mimicking earlier values without having really judged for herself. I dislike this trait of her where she thinks she is better than other people. I think a more loftier trait is being able to relate to others in a kinder way without having to say you are kind. Upon witnessing this, Theo puts the girl at ease. Whenever Martha sees Theo doing something amazing, she is instantly surprised. I dislike her because she treats Theo very poorly while expecting better treatment for herself. This is seen after his mild outburst where she felt victimized and she couldn't fathom why he wouldn't perform. Isn't it obvious, he doesn't want to do it with a woman who did not like the act. I found her so irritating and I stuck it out to see if she grew into a better person. No she did not so I give this poor story a one star. Story BriefShe propositions him, he accepts, she is a prude who dislikes sex, she wonders why he doesn't enjoy sticking his penis in her ice vagina, he tells her like it is mildly, she can't dish out blunt statements even when she gives them liberally, she feels victimized by his comment, she is worried that he will back out, she seduces him, he is back in, they meet with cottagers, he feels their plight, she fantasizes how nice it would be to be a rector's wife, they talk about dairy, she worries about the rapist successor, she feels like a martyr for her actions, he tries to make her orgasm, she refuses, she lectures the girl for reading romance novel, she acts like a stern bitch, no surprise there, he finds her charming, she disapproves of him, the successor comes home with his sons, the village threatens the rapist, she feels bad for the sons, she arranges it so the sons inherit while keeping the rapist away, they are engaged. This was a promising book for the first few pages that is soured by the heroine's characterization. I could have done better reading a less judgmental and self-righteous character.
What do You think about Pacte Sensuel (2013)?
This was wonderful, everything I wanted it to be.
—nessa
Writing not too bad, but plot unbelievable.
—anthoya
