Poor Michael Wainwright, he did it to himself, because of his fast and loose ways he had dug himself into a pool of sinful lust that he is now reaping the repercussion and he didn’t like it, nope he didn't like it one bit, so a redefinition of himself was needed it was time they knew who he truly was. I feel for this guy, the things he withstood to show how much he can change society’s perception of him. He didn't stand a chance with the masses and even his friends having a good laugh and gambling against him. It hurt him, but his interest peaked when a chance meeting at a masked soiree gave him hope again and a rebirth of that thing he thought was so elusive to him, love. But all promises came to an abrupt end when the faces under the masked were revealed, and Miss Granville came face to face with the lord of pleasure. Now he was fighting the greatest and most meaningful battle in all his sinful years, for unmasked no one wants to be with him except the widows and a few others willing to meet him under dark. He wanted more and soon came to that shameful conclusion. Nicely done, get your own Lord of pleasure.the greatest and most meaningful battle in all his sinful years, for unmasked no one wants to be with him except the widows and a few others willing to meet him under dark. He wanted more and soon came to that shameful conclusion. Nicely done, get your own Lord of pleasure.

The Lord of Pleasure, Lord Michael Wainwright is known as a rake and a despoiler of young ladies. Miss Camellia Grenville is on the verge of spinsterhood. She prefers to blend into the woodwork only ever opens her mouth when forced to by her family to sing. She finds herself betrothed to a man she has no desire to marry. Camellia takes her sister’s place at a masquerade and finds herself embroiled with the most interesting and intriguing man. Number 1 rule is no one knows who anyone else is and Camellia feels free to be herself with Lord X. Michael find himself more and more wanting to meet this mysterious woman. He has to be so careful or he will end up in the caricatures again and the butt of all jokes. I loved this story during the week Camellia would never even give Lord Wainwright the time of day, but upon occasion has giving him quite the set down with a brutal tongue lashings, but behind the masks it’s a different story.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers' copy of this book from Net Galley and the publisher.

While I find most of this book to follow a kind of standard for its type, I loved the end and the turning on its ear of all expectations- their society's and the reader's both.

Erica Ridley is a pleasant surprise. "Lord of Pleasure" is the first book by this author that I read. This historical romance is well-paced and engaging. It's very easy to relate to the main characters. They show their true selves when they have their masks on (literally). They didn't like each other, or even themselves, when they performed the part society expected them to. Yet, when they didn't have the burden of public expectations on them, they easily fell in love.
I also liked the heroine's sisters. Very amusing.
Sometimes, when reading this genre, I get bored around the middle of the plot: that was not the case with this book. It was very entertaining to read it.

I received an ARC edition from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

This book is like a Victorian-era Cinderella multi-faceted package all bundled up. It was super sweet, and interesting, and it all blew me away with how fluffy and enjoyable it was. Wainwright and Cecilia make this story all the more enjoyable, I have to say this story was one of the best I've read so far!

I liked this book was a really fun read and i did not want to put it down.I really liked Camellia and Michael they were great characters and enjoyed getting to know them will be checking out more from this author in the future.

Another enjoyable read by Erica Ridley, with witty banter not just between the protagonists but perhaps more so between the leads and their supportive cast. The interaction between the sisters was teasing yet supportive and loving and I especially enjoyed the way the sisters managed their shallow social climbing but well-meaning mother. The masquerade-based plot - well, I never get this concept of a mask disguising the identity of a person, because there is so much more to what makes a person recognisable than just the middle part of their face, but I'm willing to suspend disbelief and go along for the ride, if it's otherwise well-written and the characters are solid and multi-dimensional, and this book and the author certainly delivers. My only real pickle is with the hero, who strived towards recognition of being more than a rake with a pretty face and whose infamous reputation was supposedly based on exaggerated gossip more than fact. And although he did have deeper aspirations than tupping his way through town, he was in fact a rake (who might be masked but his inconspicuous bottom gave his identity away) and his past behaviour was at times thoughtless and inconsiderate, so he was himself to blame for the way society perceived him.

This is a free copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

When all you do is walk into a room to have all eyes on you is more of a curse than a blessing for Lord Wainwright. His etherial visage and wealthy Earldom have ladies simpering whenever he is near. For a decade, he'd taken lovers and played the role of a rake. Now he sees his life in a very different light. He wants to be respected and have his opinions matter for the sake of the House of Lords. As is, he is idle fodder for the scandal sheets.

A voice of an angel and the heart to match, Miss Camellia Grenville is stuck in the role of wallflower older sister. Her two younger sisters are vibrant and vocal, causing Camellia to be the sensible one. So sensible, her parents agree to marry her off to a man twice her age. With only one month until the marriage contracts are to be signed, Camellia decides to be daring and take her sister's invitation to a masquerade.

Behind a black mask, Wainwright saves the beautiful woman in blue, Camellia. This meeting sparks a relationship neither expected, but needed desperately. The two have four chances to meet anonymously at the weekly masquerades before the contracts will be signed. Camellia finds an instant connection and agrees to meetings with the stranger.

Ridley gives us another romantic adventure with this second novel in the Rogues to Riches series. While in the first novel, riches amounted to money and love, here it means fulfilled dreams and romance. I adored Camellia's brimming fire that broke through with the threat of a loveless marriage hanging over her head. Ridley gives us another strong willed heroine who discovers who she really is when it is almost too late to discover it. Wainwright was more complex than I ascertained in the beginning. He seemed like another man who loved women, money, and drinking. Then Ridley slowly peeled away the layers to find a man who wants to be himself, yet can only do so while wearing a physical mask.

Another 5 Star read from Erica Ridley! Can't wait to read the story of Camellia's younger sister, Dahlia, and the dashing Bow Street runner, Simon Spaulding, in Lord of Night.

Lord of Pleasure ; Rogues to Riches #2 , well I could review this with one word, and probably should Phenominal being that word , but I suppose you would like to know why that word fits.

Pleasure to read
Handsome Lord
Extrodinary handsome
Never ending source of gossip
Ordinary spinster
Mousy Daughter
Intelligent women
Nice couple
Akward situation
Lovers to marriage?
So, I tried but seriously Lord Wainwright is to handsome for words and the focal point of the ton gossip wether it is true or not, but being tired of other bets his friends that he is going to change his life to avoid the gossip columns , forty days without being a caricature or in the gossip columns.

Lady Camellia Grenville has only ever been the good dutiful daughter, considered the mousy intelligent spinster by the ton and content with that until informed y her mother at the age of six and twenty she will be married of to a Mr Bost, whom she has never met nor did he stay to meet her in two months time and shipped off to North Umbria with him; take. For. All she loves in London including her two younger sisters. Her life takes a change when her sister gives her a hard won invitation to one of the Dukes infamous masquerade balls. Lady X meets Lord X and they fit together well, both able to talk intimately and be themselves ; hidden behind their masks. Camellia becomes hooked and becomes a weekly attendee just to see Lord X. Lord X, Michael Wainright has never felt this way for a women before , he can not imagine not having more time with Lady X.
But what happens when both want more how to broach the subject when the rules of the masquerade require complete anonymity.
So worth the read to get to the resolution!
Arc copy provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Michael Rutland, known as the Lord of Pleasure, was a 29 year old earl whose antics were regularly reported in the daily newspapers. His friend, Lord Hawkridge, bet against Michael, stating that he could not improve or reform his reputation. Michael claimed that he was capable of "40 days of publicly respectable behavior."

Miss Camellia Grenville was known as "the good daughter." When her mother informed her that she must marry a man pre-selected for her, she panicked and engaged in salacious behavior, while wearing a mask, of course.

Michael rescued Camellia from a masked party but the two met more times. While their true identities were hidden, the two fell in love. When Michael learned of her true identity, he proposed marriage. After her refusal, he enacted a romantic campaign to win Camillia's heart and hand. After some angst, the pair found their HEA.

Although I enjoyed most of the story, Camellia's behavior just did not ring true to me. She risked everything, with no promise of marriage from her masked man. If one did not over-think the improbability of a young female of good breeding attending such parties, then one could enjoy the story. For the sole source of escapism, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it. Her fans would probably be please with her latest work.

*I got this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

I really enjoy reading Erica's books and this one was different. This is an unusual love story, a story where Lady X and Lord X fall in love with enough other or at least share an unusual bond of sexual attraction - but in real life they cannot stand each other, he's her sister's enemy. And she is about to get married in for weeks time to a stranger from the north.

I loved the mascarades but it could have been naughtier. I really enjoyed it, don't get me wrong, it's a really good book but there was too much inner monologue, too much description - too little dialogue and 'action'. Even their love scene wasn't as I thought it would be.

Nevertheless it's a enjoyable and great book to read!

Well, I have to admit, the title of the book made me think of a little more hot and steamy, but all together it was a very lovely read. We meet Lord Wainwright, the little rascal, who is the favourite target of the gossiping and cartoonists, since he really enjoys the company of the ladies of the ton. However, since his friends keep giving him a hard time, he vows he can make his image turn around into a respectable Lord. So a bet is made. How could he foresee that he would meet a lovely lady X at a masquerade ball? But who is she?

Miss Camelia Grenville is quite the opposite of Lord Wainwright. A bit of a grey mouse, who doesn't go out much. As eldest of four sisters, she is practically an old spinster. So when her parents announce that she is to be wed to some unknown earl, she quietly obeys her parents orders. However, her sisters urge her to live a little, before she will be betrothed in a month time. So they convince her to take her sister's place at a masquerade ball. As Lady X she can have some fun, without people recognizing her. And there she meets Mister X, a kind, gentle and funny man, who captivates her fragile heart.

They promise to meet at the next masquerade. In the days between the balls, the paths of Miss Camelia and Lord Wainwright cross again. But without the masks, they do not recognize each other. Even worse: since Lord Wainwright is indirectly responsible for closing down the funds of the school of her sister, Camelia really despises him. Lord Wainwright is shocked, that there is a female who is not swooning over him. How intriguing. But not as intriguing as his Lady X.

As the story unfolds, some funny and hilarious situations occur. And when Lady X and Mister X finally realize each others identities, miss Camelia still has another secret to reveal. Entertaining, funny and an easy read. Four out of five stars for Erica Ridley.

Lord of Pleasure ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️written by Erica Ridley
(Rogues to Riches #2)

Michael Rutland, Earl of Wainwright, is faced with his notorious reputation. The gossip paper has a caricature of him daily his good looks and suave manners have both single and married women dropping at his feet. All his actions are out of proportion to his actual deeds. He just cannot overcome this demonizing by the papers.

His best friends cast a wager with him to stay out of the daily papers for forty days. He takes them up on this bet as a way to reassess his life.

Camelia Grenville is the eldest of the three Grenville girls. At 26 she is all but on the shelf. She has always but the good girl the mouse never refusing her sisters and family and to her demise her own
desires have never been fulfilled. Camelia possesses a beautiful operatic voice and holds a longing to be on stage.

Camelia is presented with a ticket and opportunity to attend a scandalous masquerade event. She snatches this moment to finally rebel and see the other sides of life. It is at this masquerade she meets unbeknownst to her the rake Lord Wainwright both being in disguise.

The two immediately share moments together revealing their inner selves to each other. Both have never shared their secret emotions before with anyone. They continue to meet weekly for this masquerade event and the attraction deepens beyond what either expected.

The encounters are just magical and Cinderella like. Ms Ridley works her storytelling abilities in this simply touching romance. Will they be able to overcome their personal fears to make the leap of love. You must read this book to see.
I received this book from Netgalley for an honest review.

A sweet regency romance. The family is eccentric and the plight of women in this time is represented well.

Entertaining and fun historical read. Camellia has always been the good girl in her family until she learns the plans her parents have for her, so she decides to enjoy life a bit and goes to a scandalous masquerade ball where she meet the Lord of Pleasure. Will Michael and Camellia find their way back to each other after an incredible night? The story is fast paced with plenty of drama and a great cast of characters. I loved it!

LORD OF PLEASURE by Erica Ridley is another pleasurable Historical Romance from this author. #2 in her exciting “Rogues to Riches” series, but can be read as a stand alone. See, “Lord of Chance”.

Miss Camellia Grenville, the “good girl”, and Michael, Lord Wainwright, the infamous and rakish “bad boy”, have chemistry that simply sparks off the pages of this irresistible story. A whirlwind relationship to be sure.

The characters are well-rounded, well-developed, and very engaging. The plot flows smoothly and continuously, with a little bit of naughtiness, a scandalous masquerade party and of course, a rake who needs redeeming. I was pulled into “Lord of Pleasure” from the first page and continued throughout this amazing story. Cinderella has nothing on Camellia. I absolutely loved Camellia and Michael. While, I can’t say their story is one of purity, I can say it was engaging and beautifully written. The reader will find the “Lord of Pleasure”, to be entertaining, engaging, interesting and scandalously intriguing. You gotta love an amazing and fantastic Historical Romance. I can’t say enough about Ms. Ridley, her writing is masterfully and brilliantly written, to hold readers entrapped and enticed in the pages of a good romance. A must read!! Another well done story by the amazing Erica Ridley!

I can’t wait to read the next “Rogues to Riches” story, “Lord of Night”, coming June 23, 2017.

Rating: 5

Heat rating: Mild

Reviewed by: AprilR

Michael Rutland, Earl of Wainwright is universally known as the Lord of Pleasure, real and imaginary caricatures of his conquests fill the daily scandal sheets fuelled by his wayward past and his shocking good looks. No matter what he does (or doesn't) do, he is portrayed as a debaucher of women, a cuckolder and a philanderer. In desperation he enters into a bet with some of the fellow members of his club, that he can last for 40 days without scandal.

Miss Camellia Grenville is the oldest of four siblings. Whilst her brother and two sisters act in various scandalous ways, Camellia is the most obedient, dutiful and, frankly, dull sibling. And what does it get her? Left on the shelf aged 26 and informed of an engagement to a total stranger, several decades her senior who intends to take her to live in Northumberland. Encouraged by her sisters to at least experience a little life before being banished to the North of England, Camellia attends the Duke of Lambley's masquerade in place of her younger sister Bryony. If you read the first book in this series, [book:Lord of Chance|31279946], you will know that anything goes at these masquerades.

Of course Camellia and Michael meet at the masquerade. Strangely, they each feel that the masks allow them to be more truly themselves that they can be out in society. And so it begins, a weekly anonymous rendezvous in which the two share their fears, hopes and desires. Yet, an unfortunate series of coincidences means that the Earl of Wainwright is loathed by the three Grenville sisters, so that's not going to end well!

This sort of reminds me of the film Forty Days and Forty Nights starring Josh Hartnett, mixed in with a Cinderella-type theme.

Overall, this was light and frothy and utterly delicious like an expensive chocolate. I loved it!

Michael, Earl of Wainwright aka the Lord of Pleasure is tired of being the subject of gossip and caricature etchings. He has made a bet with his friends that he can clean up his image and stay out of the scandal sheets for 40 days.

Camellia Grenville is the perfect daughter, quiet, unassuming, peacemaker and wallflower. But Camellia has dreams that do not include marrying the perfectly respectable, staid and well to do Mr. Bost - the man her parents have decided would be perfect for her.

When her sister is unable to attend the scandalous masquerade held by the infamous Duke of Lambley - Camellia rashly decides to take her place and so begins an adventure that will change her life. Camellia is accosted as she enters the ball and is saved by a masked man - Michael aka Lord X, they spend the evening together and thanks to anonymity of the masks - they share their secret desires and dreams - up to a point. When Camellia aka Lady X has to leave, Michael begs her to return for the next masquerade and she agrees.

Back in her real life, Camellia keeps running into Michael - a man she detests and takes every opportunity she can to tell him what she thinks of him. Michael is taken aback by this mousy woman, one of the few women he has ever met that doesn't fall at his feet. In his attempts to evade scandal, he has had the misfortune of running into Camellia and he is beginning to understand that while his reputation is grossly exaggerated - it is not entirely undeserved. He wants to be a better man and his meetings with Lady X have made him want to be a better man for her.

Michael is not perfect - he often speaks without thinking about the ramification his words might have, but once he realizes his error - he really makes an effort to set things right. I really liked him and thought that he sincerely wanted to change and I believe he succeeded. I personally found Camellia a bit too judgmental, she was fiercely loyal to her family and had their best interests at heart - but I felt like she was incredibly rude and even mean to Michael, especially when he had not really done anything wrong.

When their identities are finally revealed - Camellia decides that Michael's tarnished reputation will ruin her sisters chances for good marriages and walks away from him. A HEA will not be simple for these two, but when they finally get it - it is really lovely.

While I liked the book, I agree with other reviewers - the whole mask thing was a bit over the top - that they kept running into each other, yet don't realize it, was unbelievable. The book was well written and flowed well, but I didn't really care for Camellia's sisters and I never really forgave Camellia for her treatment of Michael. But the ending was great and made me love Michael all that much more!

Camellia, a dutiful first daughter of a respectable family, must wed a gentleman old enough to be her father. "She never rocked the boat," but this was beyond tolerable! Against her better judgement, she agrees to attend a disreputable masquerade party, in place of her sister. There she meets the gentleman of her dreams, both in costume. Her mind tells her to enjoy his company while she can; her heart tells her something else entirely...
A "pleasure," reading this captivating historical romance! Enjoyed the interactions between Camellia & Michael, her sisters and his friends. Funny, dramatic and full of twists! Looking forward to the next book in the series.
Provided an ARC for an honest review.

Erica Ridley always writes a fun satisfying romance.