Improper Relations by Juliana Ross

Improper Relations by Juliana Ross
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Historical Romance
Published April 2012 by Carina Press


Wasn't expecting this book to be told from the 1858's but in a way it works well.


When Hannah's caught watching her late husband's cousin debauch the maid in the library, she's mortified--but also intrigued. An unpaid companion to his aunt, she's used to being ignored.

The black sheep of the family, Leo has nothing but his good looks and noble birth to recommend him. Hannah ought to be appalled at what she's witnessed, but there's something about Leo that draws her to him.

When Leo claims he can prove that women can feel desire as passionately as men, Hannah is incredulous. Her own experiences have been uninspiring. Yet she can't bring herself to refuse his audacious proposal when he offers to tutor her in the art of lovemaking. As the tantalizing, wicked lessons continue, she begins to fear she's losing not just her inhibitions, but her heart as well. The poorest of relations, she has nothing to offer Leo but herself. Will it be enough when their erotic education ends?

22,000 words

When Hannah Bell lost her husband, she had no other family and no money to go anywhere. Begging for a job as a companion to her husband's Aunt, she was able to get by with room and board.

While her Aunt napped during the day, Hannah liked to spend some time in the Library. It was quiet and peaceful and she enjoyed the solitude. That is until one afternoon when Cousin Leo came in. She expected him to leave quickly, but then she heard the giggling of another maid enter the room. She locked the door, and before Hannah had time to announce she was there, The maid was undressing Cousin Leo.

Hannah was shocked but knew she would be mortified if she made herself known. besides, she was curious.
And the things that the maid did, surprised Hannah as well. Not only was she pleasing Cousin Leo, but it looked as if the maid was enjoying herself as well.

After they finished, Hannah had expected Cousin Leo to retreat just as quickly as the maid had, but he sat in the chair, then he called out to her.
Hannah was mortified she'd been caught spying, but Cousin Leo made it known that he knew she was in there from the start. When she told him she was curious, he asked her What she was curious about.

Hannah had not ever known the pleasures that came with lovemaking. Her husband had only come to her bed a few times a week, had his way with her, and left.
Her mother had warned her before her marriage that it was party of the job as a wife to please her husband. And that's what she did.

But with Cousin Leo, it seemed like more..

Leo had talked to her, and wanted to help her learn that there was more to it than just laying there and letting him finish.

I enjoyed reading this book. it covered a lot of basics, but Leo talked to her in ways that made it so she wasn't embarrassed or felt ashamed to be doing these things :)