Title: The Countess Conspiracy
Series: Brothers Sinister, Book 3
Author: Courtney Milan
Genre: Historical Romance
Sensuality Rating: Steamy
Source: review copy provided via NetGalley
Published: December 16, 2013 (self-published)
Sebastian Malheur is the most dangerous sort of rake: an educated one. When he’s not scandalizing ladies in the bedchamber, he’s outraging proper society with his scientific theories. He’s desired, reviled, acclaimed, and despised—and he laughs through it all.
Violet Waterfield, the widowed Countess of Cambury, on the other hand, is entirely respectable, and she’d like to stay that way. But Violet has a secret that is beyond ruinous, one that ties her irrevocably to England’s most infamous scoundrel: Sebastian’s theories aren’t his. They’re hers.
So when Sebastian threatens to dissolve their years-long conspiracy, she’ll do anything to save their partnership...even if it means opening her vulnerable heart to the rake who could destroy it for good.
Reviewed By: J9
In a Nutshell: Outstanding historical romance from an author who sets the bar for intelligent romance.
The Set Up: Sebastian is seen as a rake with women and almost worse, a scientist discussing inheritance and natural selection. But Sebastian’s fun-loving façade hides a charade he’s involved in with Violet, his childhood best friend and bastion of English nobility. Sebastian is tired of their conspiracy but Violet isn’t sure she’s capable of changing their relationship, either in public or private.
Why I Read this Book: I adore this author so much that in the spirit of the TV show Futurama, her head should be preserved for humanity’s sake.
What I Liked: Violet and Sebastian are stellar characters with a unique relationship. Violet has secrets, both known to Sebastian and unknown to him, and she’s coped by keeping absolute control of her emotions and thoughts. It’s extremely rare in romance for the heroine to be emotionally stunted but Violet is at novel’s beginning and her thawing to Sebastian is romance gold. Sebastian is light to Violet’s dark and his open vulnerability and acceptance of Violet is nearly breathtaking in its intensity.
Violet and Sebastian’s relationship is at a breaking point when the novel opens so readers are privy to their relationship changing which I adored. Their private and personal lives are already intertwined but Sebastian has to alter their relationship. How he tells Violet this is emotionally powerful and Violet’s response is heartbreaking for them as well as readers. The sexual intimacy is woven into their emotional relationship brilliantly. I can’t share more details as it will give away some of Violet’s secrets but I loved how the romantic relationship was developed.
What I Also Liked: I also adored the science plot and the secondary characters. The science plot involves Sebastian and Violet’s work in genetic inheritance and how this challenged Victorian society. This was captivating as it provided the backdrop for the romance without taking it over. The secondary characters are simply stellar here too. The couples from the previous two books in the series have good appearances but I loved the exploration of Sebastian’s relationship with his brother, as well as Violet’s with her mother. I totally had no clue how Violet’s mother would play into the plot and it couldn’t have been better or more surprising.
Finally, I have to mention the gentle feminist atmosphere of this novel. Even in romance women are often the helpers or the fixers, they’re not the “broken” ones or the leaders. That is so not the case here! Sebastian supports and appreciates Violet but more importantly accepts her and all her idiosyncrasies. Violet is the genius and Sebastian provides an atmosphere for her to succeed both in private and in public. Sebastian and Violet have parity in their sexual life as well as their emotional life and they truly respect each other. This complex and nuanced relationship has gender equality and I adore that and wish this was the norm in all romance.
What I Didn’t Like: Only that I have to await this author’s next release.
IMO: I keep thinking this author can’t possibly write anything better than she already has but somehow she does here. The Countess Conspiracy is a MUST read for historical romance fans.
J9’s Rating:
J9’s reviews for other books in this series:
The Heiress Effect, Book 2
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