I am not normally into historical. I follow Annabel and her videos are so witty I wanted to give it a try. This book was awesome. I absolutely loved it and will be reading more.

I enjoy a good historical romance and Rival Desires definitely is one. I was especially a fan of Ophelia and her break with convention. And Ophelia and Westcott being forced into marriage and then having to work things out was interesting.

This book was not what I expected. The first chapter started out strong and hot. I thought the plot might involve menage-a-trois, since this seemed to be the set up in the first chapter. However, it wasn't. The story centered around mistaken identity, a quickie marriage and erotic spanking. However, I did not find the spanking erotic, I found it quite disturbing. He was doing it to humiliate and control his naive new bride. He never explained what he was doing or why. She told him to stop through out the book and he continued to do it. The bride might have liked him by the end but I didn't.
I received a free ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.

Rival Desires by Annabel Joseph is hot and steamy! Your Kindle may catch on fire. Lady Ophelia has a lovely voice and sings on the London stage. She isn't attempting to be scandalous, this is what her passion is. When a fire breaks out at the theater she is left alone and scared, until she meets Wescott.

Wescott is a rake, an honorable one though, and after a bit of debauchery tries to flee from the fire. He spies Ophelia and is determined to save her. He is very happy about the lovely present that has dropped in his lap and sets out to seduce her.

After these two are found to be alone together, Wescott insists they marry. Ophelia is really unhappy about marrying Wescott. This marriage will hold her back from the stage and what she really wants to do.

Cue the after-marriage seduction. Marrying an unhappy woman is tough and Wescott wants Ophelia to be happy with him. He turns out to be a bit stern (yummy) but also loving. I really enjoyed the passion, chemistry and the road to happiness for Wescott and Ophelia.

I finished this book yesterday and have struggled ever since with what to write about it.

Let me first say that I think Annabel Joseph is a talented writer with a lot of potential. She is capable of some lovely prose and the peripheral characters in this novel practically jumped off the page.

That said, this book was incredibly problematic for me, for many reasons, beginning with the dubious consent or, I might argue, complete lack thereof. I won't give any spoilers, fear not, but a book in a series entitled "Properly Spanked Legacy" naturally markets itself as a book that will include themes of BDSM in some capacity. I read a lot of these books and was excited for this one.

Unfortunately, the author has confused BDSM and the consensual acts included therein with abuse. That is the simple reality of this novel. The hero abuses the heroine repeatedly. What makes it abuse is the fact that there is zero consent or permission (or anything that resembles willing participation) in any of these spanking encounters until nearly the very end. In addition to the physical abuse, the hero gaslights the heroine repeatedly throughout the first half of this novel.

To be brutally honest, I did not want to finish this book, but I persevered because I was curious to see how the author would "right the ship," so to speak. After all, this is a romance novel and must have a happy ending to be considered such. In the end, the catalyzing action that brings about redemption is the heroine taking full blame for the heroes behavior and apologizing. It made my stomach turn.

It's a shame. The author clearly has a lot of talent and the characters were likeable enough on their own (even if I did have MAJOR issues with the hero's behavior and excuses for it). The novels to follow in this seriesfocus on the hero's best friends (two of whom were far more likeable than the hero himself) and I sincerely hope that the author treats the heroines in those stories better than this one. BDSM is not abuse and abuse does not get to masquerade as BDSM. If the author can unscramble that, and write informed consent (as countless authors manage to do EVEN WITH historical fiction), I think the series could turn out well. But if it's more of the same as seen in this one? The author can do better and her readers deserve better.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair review. I was not compensated in any way.

A fun romantic read, based in historical times of meeting social niceties.

With lusty behaviour and physical disciplines of the erotic variety.

With a happy ever after ending to this story.

Ophelia seemed a bit whiny to me and full of herself and her dreams unwilling to settle in and be a “proper” wife. Various things happened and eventually, they did end up “okay” together. That said, I really had trouble seeing the two of them as a couple or caring for one another. I felt that the characters were two dimensional if that. In my opinion, the story was contrived and the sudden change from bickering to admitting to being in love was unrealistic.

It has been a while since I read an Annabel Joseph book and am so glad I read this one. I loved Wescott (and ooohhh, look at his picture on the cover). I thought he was honorable and patient. The thing that struck me was his loyalty and love for his family. I like that in books and happy to see it in this one. His friends were definitely some I would like to read about in the future (Townsend is next). I really enjoyed reading about their “romance” and that is where his patience came in. Unfortunately, Ophelia was a bit difficult to like. I thought she was way too whiny, clueless, selfish and immature (hence the 4). Wescott and his family really made the story for me.

Lady Ophelia’s voice is so lovely, so incomparable, she’s permitted to break convention and appear on the London stage.
The Marquess of Wescott is prone to bucking convention too—not always in a good way.
Wescott and Ophelia’s fates collide on a dry autumn night, when a fast-moving fire strands them together on the outskirts of London. As the sun rises, they learn convention can only be stretched so far.
Because of the appearance of impropriety they are forced to wed. They start their married life as virtual strangers.
This is my first time reading this author's work and maybe the last. The story is OK but the trope is not to my liking. I don't usually read this type of historical romance. Although it's not all together unpalatable it's still not my cup of tea.
I gave this read 3.75 (rounded up to 4) of 5.0 stars.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Rival Desires is the next generation of kinky royals

I'm happy to see the offspring of the Properly Spanked getting their own series. I found this too be equally as good as the previous series. This first book focuses on Lord Westcott and Lady Ophelia. Out of chaos, these two are brought together. They have a brief but very intense encounter and unfortunately for Westcott he now must wed Lady Ophelia. Despite their initial chemistry these two are a little frosty with each other. I wasn't sure if they had what it took to make it work but, with a little fatherly intervention, they just manage succeed


I was given a copy of this book for a honest review.

This is the first book in the Properly Spanked Legacy series. I loved the Properly Spanked series, so I was looking forward to reading about the offspring of the main characters.

Sadly I didn't enjoy this book as much as the previous ones. The book started out really good with the introduction of the new characters and the intensity of the flight because of the fire.

Mine problem was with the main heroine Lady Ophelia. I totally get why she was so upset, but she was whining about it for about ⅔ of the book. I wanted her to put it behind her and just move on. She annoyed me and was a bit too clueless about life.

I did enjoy the last part of the book when things moved on and we got to see more of Ophelia and Wescott.

I enjoyed this intense historical romance

Both Jack (Lord Wescott) and Ophelia are very immature as the story starts; Ophelia is so sheltered as to be woefully ill-informed about adult activities, while Jack is an unrepentant playboy with no compassion for women as anything other than bed partners. I struggled through the first part of the story as these two young people find themselves in a marriage neither one of them wants nor knows what to do with. I kept hoping that as the story progressed, each would mature enough to change their course, and thankfully, I was not disappointed.

There are some issues of consent in this story, enough to make it fit the subgenre but not quite going beyond the point where the marriage can be salvaged. There's plenty of spanking/bdsm mentions, but if you're hoping for a nuanced romance between mature adults, this isn't it. Both of these characters start out as being of adult age, but their behavior suggests a maturity level that is consistent with modern-day high school students. The magic of the story is in watching these two mature and grow into the spouses the other deserves.

The HEA is sweet and satisfying, filled with hope that the two will continue to grow and mature together. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

I voluntarily read this ARC in exchange for an honest review - all thoughts and opinions are mine

I have read Annabel Joseph's work before so was thrilled to be able to read this

This did not disappoint. Ms Joseph's work is historical erotica at its best - it is explicit so if you like your romances/erotica, this would be for you - if you like your romances a bit tamer I would say this is probably not for you

I love her books, so thoroughly enjoyed this

I am loving this series of stories. Ophelia and Wescott definitely don’t have a smooth path to love. It’s so fun reading about the second generation of characters as they find love & enjoy a spanking or two. I kinda hooked on these kinky historical reads right now.

Excellent read. The storyline is well written, entertaining and holds your interest. Ophelia is rescued from a raging fire in London by Wescott, with neither of them providing there real name or title. Because they can not get back to their homes, they spend the night in an inn and here he takes her virginity. The next day Wescott learns he spent the night with a lady and, to save her honor, is required to propose to her. Marriage is hard for both of them but Ophelia can’t let go of the fact she did not want to marry. There is a HEA but not before she has been spanked for her mean spirited behavior. I loved the story and would highly recommend it.

Rival Desires by Annabel Joseph
Properly Spanked Legacy #1

Hmm...mixed feelings on this one. I knew going into the story there would be spanking and the book did begin with a delicious romp of sorts at Pearl’s with some spanking in that first scene...and a few other things, too. The main character saved a woman he assumed to be an “actress” thus fair game and took her away from the fire to an Inn and there...or the next morning when identities became clear...both of their lives changed significantly when a quick betrothal was arranged. The marriage was entered into with the right attitude by Westcott but his young wife had dreams of something else...and...she made that known throughout most of the book. She seemed a bit whiny to me and full of herself and her dreams unwilling to settle in and be a “proper” wife. Various things happened and eventually they did end up “okay” together. That said, I really had trouble seeing the two of them as a couple or caring for one another. With Westcott’s proclivity to disciplining others and, in my opinion, lack of insight into how to deal with Ophelia except through discipline...I thought him a bit of a cad...or in need of discipline himself. That said...this book had a LOT of potential and I can see it working if the two main characters had been different people with Westcott more aware and mature and gentle and Ophelia less of a ninny.

Did I enjoy this book? Hmm…
Would I read more in this series? Perhaps not

Thank you to NetGalley and Social Butterfly PR for the ARC – This is my honest opinion

2-3 Stars

Rival Desires is the first book of Annabel Joseph's Properly Spanked Legacy series. Apparently it's a sequel of her previous series, and deals with the prior couples' offspring. If you haven't read that series, no problem, as this book stands alone perfectly. It's a historical romance, but an erotic one.

Our story begins with the Marquess of Wescott and two of his best friends in a brothel that caters to a particular taste. Yep, all in the room together with the, ah, ladies. Definitely not shy! When a horrible fire breaks out in that section of London, they all flee for their lives, going separate ways. Wescott passes a terrified young woman all alone outside the theatre, and he takes her up on his horse to save her. She gives him a false name; though an opera singer, she is a lady and wants to hide her identity. He too gives a false name. He thinks she is an actress, the kind that usually has a protector. They ride out of town and stop at an inn, exhausted. Wescott procures separate rooms, but he is awakened by her screams from a nightmare. He crawls into bed to comfort her...and things progress. Back home, he discovers he has compromised the daughter of an earl, and they are forced to marry.

Now you can tell from the title that there is spanking involved. No problem, except it's usually spanking without the erotic romance. However, the sexy times are nicely done. It's the characters I had an issue with. I didn't like either of the leads! I understand Ophelia was a gently bred lady, but no woman at age 18, even a sheltered one, would not know they were about to have sex! Or would be confused while having said sex. She also spent half the book sobbing. Wescott wasn't much better. Spanking time was basically just punishment. He seemed rather immature to me, and I was shocked to find out he was 27. It wasn't very believable when all of a sudden they were in love. All is not lost, however. I really did enjoy Wescott's parents and siblings, his friends were interesting, and some of the sex was nicely steamy. I will definitely try this author's work again.

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Lady Ophelia’s voice is so lovely, so incomparable, she’s permitted to break convention and appear on the London stage. The young ingenue has more admirers than she realizes.When I started reading I couldn't put it down.Annabel Joseph is magnifysent and amazing writer.I cannot wait to read more of there books.Keep up the great work.You should definitely read this book.Can't wait for the next book.

Another great erotic spanking book from Annabel Joseph.
This is a sequel to the original Properly Spanked series. You do not have to have read the first series to enjoy this one, but if you haven't read the first series I highly recommend them
In Rival Desires, Wescott and Ophelia are both elite members of London society. One night a deadly fire surges through town and Ophelia is left stranded by the theater. Wescott, fleeing on horseback, sees and rescues her from the fire. Unable to return home, they stay the night in an inn, where things get a little too heated. Upon returning to London, Ophelia's father forces them to marry to avoid scandal. Can these to very different people, with dreams and desires of their own, find a way to love one another and live happily ever after? It is definitely not going to be an easy path to happiness.
I loved reading this story and enjoyed reading about characters from the original series.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.