Lorraine Heath has wrapped up the main trilogy of the Hellions of Havisham with The Viscount and the Vixen. Here’s what we like and don’t like about it.
In the post-Thanksgiving rush, which included a mighty amount of shopping for yours truly, it seemed fitting to settle in with a romance novel this week. Fortunately, Lorraine Heath and Avon Books released The Viscount and the Vixen just this past Tuesday.
Our hero this time is Killian St. John, Viscount Locksley, who marries Portia Gadstone in order to make sure she doesn’t marry his father, the aged Marquess of Marsden. Of course, Locke would prefer not to fall in love with his new bride, but this is a romance novel, and so he will have feelings. Portia’s got some secrets of her own, though.
Overall, I found this book the strongest of the three Hellions of Havisham novels, after not even being able to get through The Earl Takes All. Although the physical romance dominates, it makes sense within the plot as a whole, but the dramatic conflict’s resolution leaves one a bit wanting. We’ll give it a solid 3/5 stars.
The Good
Locke needs an heir. Portia is his wife. (They get married within the first quarter of the book, so it’s not a spoiler.) As a result, there are a lot of love scenes, more than you usually get in a book of this size. This could easily become a negative, and it might for a different reader, but it works due to the inner monologues and, ahem, relative inventiveness.
Additionally, speaking of Portia herself, she stands out in the cast. That’s not out of the realm of the blue for a novel that has exactly two protagonists. It’s become the norm for romance novel heroines to have some quirk, but Portia’s peppermint candy habit isn’t obtrusive, and her past actually has a dramatic secret. Her narration actually manages to hide the mystery of her past relatively well. In fact, one may not be able to put all of it together before it’s actually revealed within the narration.
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The cast doesn’t have many characters, but most of them get a moment to shine or stand out. Locke’s father, the Marquess of Marsden, is the best supporting character. You’ll also get a brief chance to meet the protagonists of the two previous novels, though you don’t need to know more than what this book tells you about them.
The Not-So-Good
I mentioned previously that there are a lot of physical love scenes. Now, it’s difficult to avoid them in this genre these days, but you can usually expect two to three. That’s not so in this book. If that’s not your cup of tea, you may find yourself skimming over them quickly to get back to the plot. However, there’s actual character development going on in the narration during those scenes, so don’t skim too much.
Like most romance novels, this book has a great conflict that puts things in doubt for a short chunk near the end, because Portia has a very interesting past, particularly for a romance novel heroine. Unfortunately, Locke’s grand gesture to patch things up seems a bit odd, considering all that she’s told him previously. It’s not enough to throw a reader out of the story completely, however.
The Recommendation
You don’t have to have read the previous two Hellions of Havisham novels to understand and enjoy The Viscount and the Vixen. It’s a solid standalone love story. For those who find the bedroom scenes one of the best parts of a romance novel, you’ll find plenty to enjoy here. Pick it up for a leisurely weekend read.
You can find The Viscount and the Vixen at your bookseller of choice now.