The Wicked Games of a Gentleman by Jillian Hunter

Enjoyable addition to the Boscastle series

4 stars

Lord Drake Boscastle is the catch of the ton with his smouldering good looks, extreme wealth and devilish charm. But the one thing he lacks is true happiness. To try and remove himself from his melancholy, he arranges for a liaison with England's most celebrated courtesan. Cooling his heels until it is time to meet for his night of pleasure, he bumps into Eloise Goodwin, a spirited, proper governess who captivates him with her voluptuous curves and sparkling wit.

Drake can't get Eloise from his mind and happily sweeps her off her feet into a world she has only dreamed of. But before true happiness there are other matters that must be addressed such as an errant charge, a blackmailer, duels and one extremely angry courtesan. Through all the confusion people begin to wonder whether the handsome scoundrel, Lord Drake, has finally been tamed.

This is a very enjoyable novel and an excellent addition to the Boscastle family series. This is the fourth novel in the series and despite characters from earlier books popping up throughout, it does read as a stand alone story.

Both Drake and Eloise are well-written characters and you really get to know them and understand them. Happily, the pair also have some nice chemistry which makes for some pleasant sex scenes. There are also a supporting cast of secondary characters including Devon, Drake's younger brother, who had some very amusing banter with the hero throughout the book. His story follows on from this one in The Sinful Nights of a Nobleman.

The plot of this book was engaging enough to keep you turning the pages and there were lots of different things going on so you never got bored. By turns amusing and exciting, romantic and sweet - this is definitely a book I would recommend if you're a fan of Jillian Hunter or if you're simply looking for a fun Regency with dashing heroes and virtuous yet feisty heroines. 4 stars.