Reviewer: Janet Davies
Title: The Stranger I Married
Author: Sylvia Day
Publisher: Kensington Brava
E-book ISBN: 0-7582-1474-X
Release Date: December 2006
Genre/Sub-genre: Historical Romance
Year/Setting: London early 1800’s
Overall Rating: 3.5
Sexual Content Rating: Sexual (Warning-erotic)
Language (Profanity) Rating: Extreme
Violent Content Rating: None
Sylvia's Website: www.sylviaday.com
Renowned Rake Gerard Faulkner, The Marquess of Grayson, is aware that he has to find a bride to silence his mother’s harping and to stop having eligible debutants paraded in his path like prizes to acquire. Gerard wants a marriage of convenience. He wants a woman who understands his nature as he does hers. The perfect woman for him is the notorious widow Lady Isabel Pelham or ‘Pel’ as she is known to all.
Isabel is aware of what Grayson wants. She understands he want the respectability marriage brings without the daily consequences of routine. She has lovers of her own. She is not looking for life long commitment. The threat of such intimacy scares her. The superficial pretense of a marriage with Gerard suits Isabel’s needs.
Despite the success of their marriage of convenience, tragedy and guilt forces Gerard from Isabel. She understands his feelings. He does not grieve for her but another. So when he returns back to their London home, Isabel is shocked at the changes on Gerard, and shocked at the deep, lustful attraction she has to him. Gerard is similarly overcome with hunger for Isabel and sets out to seduce his wife. But can constant sexual craving ever be enough? They declare to hold no illusions but are they lying to themselves?
What I liked about the character of Isabel is that in an age where women were mere chattels and told what to do, Isabel does not conform to the rules. She is strong and capable and understands how to play society games. Actually all the women in this book are very liberated and I liked that. Gerard is the consummate bad boy looking for more. You know he will find it with Isabel but like Isabel I would want something more from the reformed rake that lands on your door step after years of absence. You can sense that Isabel wants more but it afraid of the consequences of anything deep and meaningful.
The Stranger I Married is pure eroticism. The pursuit and attaining of sex is the focus of this book. Whilst the competitive game Isabel and Gerard play with each other is initially interesting I soon started to think what else is there between the two characters besides sex? Sure, eventually both Isabel and Gerard do look at each other and realize that it’s not just sex but love they are making but it takes a while. The sex and language is graphic, so if you enjoy a more hearts and flowers romance this is not for you.
If you enjoy erotic novels where both characters are an equal match in all things, then you will enjoy The Stranger I Married.
Janet
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