Ripe for Pleasure (The League of Second Sons #1) by Isobel Carr

• Title: Ripe for Pleasure (The League of Second Sons #1) by Isobel Carr
  
• Classification: Adult Fiction
• Genre: Historical Fiction
  
• Format: Paperback, 336 pages
• Publisher: Forever (April 26, 2011)
• ISBN-10: 0446572756
• ISBN-13: 978-0446572750
• Notes: I read this ARC(Advanced Reader Copy) of this book The book comes out on April 26th. Also, language was used which some may find inappropriate, but I felt the words weren't overly used and fit the characters.     

It all started with a hunt for treasure. Sometimes, however, the treasure one's after is different from the one they find...

Leonides Vaughn always thought his grandfather's stories of hidden treasure and tragedy were just that - stories. That is until his grandfather died and he and his cousin found a cache of letters which seemed to  support the stories. Now they know where to look. The only thing standing in their way of finding it is Viola Whedon, the current owner of the property where the hidden treasure resides. He intends to distract her while he searches.

Viola wasn't born to live the life of a courtesan. She once had dreams of a different life. When her husband died, however, those dreams died with him. Sometimes life force you into situations you never would have imagined.
 
When Leonides proposes a relationship that would be to their mutual pleasure, well, she decides to go against her usual policy and try it out. Insisting  they'd be lovers and not man and mistress, he entices her by saying a lover puts his partner's pleasures first. Neither expected the strong emotions or feelings that the arrangement would invoke.

I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars. I absolutely enjoyed it. It almost seemed like a historical take on Pretty Women, a movie I absolutely loved. There is romance, murder, betrayal, forgiveness, acceptance and the mystery as to whether the treasure actually exists or not. The relationship between the two main characters is fun and steamy. The only thing I would have liked to have learned more about in this book is the secret society of second sons. It is the glue that is supposed to bind this series together. We only got a tiny sliver of what it is. Hopefully the second book of the series will go more in depth. So if you're in the mood to leave the reality of life for awhile, you just might want to pick this book up and loose yourself within it's pages. I found it a delightful read.