Book Review: Witch of Arundale Hall by Jennifer Leeland

Title: Witch of Arundale Hall
Author: Jennifer Leeland
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Erotic Romance
Sensuality Rating: Erotic
Source: review copy provided by publisher
Published: August 8, 2014 by Ellora’s Cave

A wicked curse on the men of Arundale transforms them into bloodthirsty beasts when their passions are high. Lady Sarah Ayers can wait no longer to do what only she can—end the curse. Her ancestor cast the spell, and she must undo it. But to accomplish her goal, she cannot let her body overrule her sense of duty, no matter how hard she finds it to resist the deviant sexual impulses that hold her in thrall to Perry Arundale.

Perry will do whatever it takes, with his words or his wilder side, to make Sarah his. But he doesn’t know that the bond between them could lead Sarah to lose not only her heart but her life.

Inside Scoop: This story contains scenes of voyeurism, BDSM and mixed-gender ménage.

A Romantica® paranormal erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave

Reviewed By: Laura

Why I Read This Book: I really liked the way this book was described. Lady Sarah is trying to save, not only a man she cares for, but all of his blood relations as well. Since she is the only one who can break the curse, she already has my interest. I was also intrigued by the “thrall” that Perry holds over her. What is that all about?!

What I Liked: I liked that this book had a lot of steamy scenes. Seriously, it seemed like every chapter had at least one scene and one entire chapter was an orgy! These scenes were tastefully done with enough variations between them that I didn’t get bored.

I also genuinely liked the characters. Perry and Lady Sarah are such a wonderful pairing, despite the difficulties they face throughout the story. They challenge one another while still saving the best parts of themselves for one another. Their exchanges evoked the correct emotional response in every situation.

There was also some mystery surrounding the interconnectedness of everyone in the story, but I think that just added to the fun.

What I Didn’t Like: I missed the part where this was a sequel, so my inability to completely understand the whole backstory is my own fault. While that’s not a fault of the book or the author, it is something to keep in mind; you must read the first book otherwise you’re out of the loop.

After a while the constant “I can’t love you” and “I must save you from the horribleness that is me” rhetoric could grate on anyone’s nerves. I understand being selfless in order to protect those you love, but continually mentioning it is a bit too obvious.

And finally, while I loved the amount of sexual encounters in the book, sometimes I felt a bit blindsided by them. I can understand arguments turning into passionate embraces, but was an orgy really necessary to create “magic”? It just felt a bit off at times. While the scenes were well executed, their occasional abruptness was jarring.

Overall Impression: This was a light, fluffy read that kept my attention long enough to finish it, but that’s not saying much since it was only about 120 pages. If you’re looking for more paranormal action, this isn’t really your cup of tea. If you’re looking for BDSM elements and group sex set in a time with manners, then this will suit your fancy.

Laura’s Rating:

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