Invitation to Ruin by Bronwen Evans

Take one interfering brother, one dreaming young woman, and one hot-to-trot rake. What does a lady do when compromised by the renowned Lord of Wicked? Why, she accepts the Invitation to Ruin, of course!

One Good Lady is About to Go Bad...
The only thing Miss Melissa Goodly has ever wanted out of a marriage is love. But any hope of that dissolves one wild night, when she loses herself in the arms of the most irresistible-and unobtainable-man in all of England. For when they are discovered in a position as compromising as it is pleasurable, she has no choice but to accept his proposal.
Avowed bachelor Anthony Craven, Earl of Wickham, never meant to seduce an innocent like Melissa. Yet now that the damage is done, it does seem like she'd make a very convenient wife. After all, she is so naive he won't have to worry about ever being tempted. Or so he thinks, until the vows are spoken and they are left alone-and his new bride reveals a streak just as brazen and unrestrained as his own...

Anthony Craven is known as the Lord of Wicked. The earl of Wickham is pursued by everyone. While he has a notorious reputation, matchmaking-mommas and debutant's still will put up with him because of his title and extreme wealth. Widows and married women alike want him for his renowned skill in the bedroom. Lords of the House want his favor and ‘friendship’ for his influence and policy changing attitude. And former slave traders just want to stop him. Few, however, really know him. Raised by his cruel and hateful father, Anthony has secrets and a past that haunts him to this day. His father got in the slave trade to save his fortune and family estates. He raised his older son under harsh, extreme conditions without any quarter given. Anything Anthony favored, much less showed the slightest feeling for, was quickly dealt with, including forcing Anthony to kill his own pet (even worse things as he got older). This has lead Anthony to believe he could be as evil as his father was, and thus he will never marry or have children of his own. He is counting on his younger brother, Richard, to carry on the family name.

Melissa Goodly had never really been wanted. Her much older parents had their heir in her brother and didn’t have a use for her until they became infirmed. Her brother, Charles, Baron Norrington, elder by eight years, had no interest in her until his debts were so large he needed her to marry money, and lots of it, to save him. That was way she was now having her first Season at such a late age, when most girls were married and with child by the time they were “one-and-twenty.” Even her cousin, Lady Cassandra, who was sponsoring her this Season, didn’t like that other’s compared their looks, saying Melissa was a younger version of Lady Cassie and might grow into her beauty.

Richard tricks his brother Anthony into compromising Melissa, making sure her brother sees what has happened so Anthony is good and caught. Everyone knows Charles is in debt and that Melissa will have to marry to save them both. Richard believes a good woman will save his brother from the demons of his past and is hoping Melissa can do so (having seen her ‘mooning’ over him earlier in the Season). When Melissa realizes that Anthony thought he was visiting her cousin, she does not want to marry him. She always wanted to marry for love. The last thing she wants is to be an obligation or afterthought. Anthony is stunned by her refusal and starts to think this just might work in his favor. If he can have a “white marriage” his family will leave him alone and he won’t have to worry about children. And who better then the less attractive cousin of the woman he has been pursuing for his mistress?

Anthony doesn’t count on his attraction for Melissa, nor for how wonderful Melissa is. Knowing Anthony’s reputation, Melissa finds the “Courtesan’s” book her cousin has and studies up to be skilled enough to keep her husband happy. On her wedding day, Melissa learns the hard way Anthony plans to continuing with his former lifestyle to the exclusion of his duty to her. So she decides to pull out all the stops, at least in hopes for a child if she can’t win her husband.

Then Anthony learns his old enemy has switched from slaves to trading in white women slaving! As he helps the Foreign Office investigate, work comes around that Anthony’s home is being watched. Now worried for Melissa as well, he takes her to his country estate, and then leaves for more investigation. But not before they have a huge fight over his ‘hands off’ approach to her and she learns the truth of her marriage. Left in the country, how will she ever get close enough to win his heart? And what if their first and only true night together does produce a child? What will he do to her or with the child?

And this time away helps Anthony realize his feelings for his wife! Just as he is ready to return home, he receives the message that she has been taken! He knows who has her, but where in all of the many ports could she be? And what if they have already sailed?

Invitation to Ruin took a little to get into. I love historical romances, from sweet all the way to naughty. I like them with lots of history or set with a fantasy background. So I was a little worried with this one giving me trouble getting into it. THEN I was hooked! Somewhat frustrated because of the classic “he can’t love” and “will he ever love me” angst can get on my nerves. But then again, I also like the ones that are good enough to pull at the heartstrings (which this did some), so who am I to complain about the same old angst? Hummm?

Invitation to Ruin is a classical historical romance, with a bit of naughtiness to it. The history is good, but not heavy at all. I know, I like the historical more than some, but I can’t help it, I like the feeling of escape while still understanding all of the setting. Anthony is a dark hero, or at least thinks he is, but nicely redeemed in the end. And Miss Goodly comes through for us all. Reading the Courtesan’s book to learn how to please one’s husband is great! I love that she isn’t sure some of the book is possible, lol. The bad guy is pure evil, and I didn’t like the cousin or brother from the beginning (not that we are suppose to). I loved Anthony’s brother and best friend (Rufus) and would love to read their stories. Especially since Richard set Anthony up, it would only be fair for him to be caught in the wedding trap somehow.

Invitation to Ruin may take a little to get into the grove, but once it hooks you, you don’t want to put it down until the end! This is why we love romance, and historical as well. We all want our guys to be just as dashing, maybe not as brooding, but still love to read about them.