The Viscount\'s Addiction

Is a desire of the flesh strong enough to lure the Viscount away from his addiction to opiates?

Ryder Braddock, Viscount Blackwood, had been falsely imprisoned for 5 long years. He had spent his time in an opiate daze, hoping that his demise would be quick and relatively painless. He was a shell of a man when they released him; he sought release from his hopelessness only in his addiction because nothing, not even female flesh gave him any pleasure. The opiates had numbed him to life.

His life gained a purpose that day that he chanced upon his cousin Lewis, pawning a watch for gambling money. The watch had been Ryder’s own father’s and therefore now rightfully belonged to Ryder. Later, when Ryder stumbled into the hall of his estate manor, Tesslyn Hall, he was shocked at how the place had fallen to ruin in the hands of his uncle and cousin. The biggest shock of all was when he discovered that he had been married by proxy to his uncle’s stepdaughter, Jesse.

Despite his doped state and fury of their betrayal, Ryder cannot deny that this young woman has aroused him. He is determined to get to know Jesse intimately before he has them all thrown in gaol. Ryder did not believe that Jesse had also been tricked into the false marriage. She honestly did not know that Lord Blackwood had signed the marriage documents whilst in a stupor. This naive young woman is overwhelmed by the physique of her handsome husband. Even though he is sickly and pale, Ryder is much more of a man than any that she has ever seen. Ryder frightens Jesse and makes her swoon, and yet she is mesmerized.

Unplug the phone and turn up the air-conditioning; you will not want any disturbances while reading this steamy historical! The story is heart-wrenching and the erotic scenes will take your breath away. Scottie Barrett creates characters that are certain to linger in your memory because their emotions are painstakingly laid bare. Readers will find it easy to empathise with both main characters because the struggles in their past are so clearly depicted. Both characters believe that the heaven that they find in each others arms can not last, so each tender moment is drawn out to an intense level. Their matings are highly descriptive; readers who are familiar with Scottie Barrett’s hard core romance novels are certain to want to add this one to their collection. Although I hated to see it finish, I have thoroughly enjoyed The Viscount’s Addiction. If you enjoy sizzling hot romances, Scottie Barrett should be on the top of your list of favourite authors.

Reviewed by: Naomi