Considered one of the giants of the romance genre, Chase is one of the originals, along with Johanna Lindsey and Julie Garwood.
Chase grew up in New England, where she majored in English Literature. She knew that she wanted to be a writer from the first time she picked up a pen.
She credits her successful romantic plotlines to her long and happy marriage to her husband.
One of the most successful books written by Chase is Lord Of Scoundrels, which was first published in 1995.
It follows our heroine, Jessica Trent, who is determined to free her brother from the clutches of the powerful Sebastian Ballister, who is a Marquess.
She begins her journey with an intense fury for the cad, but this passion eventually turns to pleasure, as she’s found in a publicly compromising position with the rake.
On Sebastian’s end, he’s equally infuriated and impassioned by this bluestocking woman and vows to do everything in his power to put her in her proper place. Even if this does mean the marriage bed.
If you adored Lord Of Scoundrels, then we can guarantee that you’ll love Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas, and The Viscount Who Loved Me, by Julia Quinn. Both novels display the enemies-to-lovers trope, as well as containing plenty of steamy love scenes to get you hot under the collar.
Themes In Lord Of Scoundrels
Those who are avid romance readers will know that there are several different types of heroes found in these kinds of books.
Chase is credited with developing these archetypes, and Sebastian, who appears in Lord Of Scoundrels is what we would deem a ‘rake’.
A rake is a roguish gentleman, often from the upper classes, who is known for behaving immorally, and seducing hapless maidens.
They’re often wealthy, and use this as a means for fuelling bad habits such as gambling and drinking.
It is often up to the heroine of our tale to tame these characters, and they do so through their love. Our heroes are then fondly known as ‘reformed rakes’.
Sebastian is the personification of the reformed rake, and we find a depth and breadth to his character as the novel progresses.
It is because of a difficult and painful childhood that he appears to behave in a devil-may-care manner, and Jessica manages to break through these walls.
Another theme that is prevalent in the novel is the loss of virginity. At the time, women weren’t allowed to share their bed with whomever they chose.
Instead, they were resigned to waiting until marriage to find pleasure.
Jessica loses her virginity in this novel, and the description is very much like others in the genre, between an innocent maiden, and an experienced rogue.
She finds her sensual awakening, and the love scenes between her and Sebastian are truly romantic and thrilling.
Another common trope that we find within this book is ‘enemies to lovers’.
This trope is incredibly popular within the romance genre and features a hero and heroine who come together despite their differences.
We see Jessica at the beginning of the novel as she vies to free her brother from Sebastian’s clutches, viewing him initially as a lecherous rogue.
Sebastian is equally vexed by Jessica and vies to do everything in his power to make her his.
Books Like Lord Of Scoundrels
Now that we’ve taken a closer look at the plot of Chase’s novel, as well as some of the main themes which are covered, we can move on to discuss some other novels that may prove interesting for readers.
To find some other books to devour, simply keep reading below.
Now, we couldn’t start our list without mentioning one of the greatest romance novels of all time, which is, of course, Devil In Winter by Lisa Kleypas.
This is known as one of Kleypas’ greatest works of fiction and brings together two seemingly opposite characters in a flurry of adventure and romance.
This tale follows Evie, our heroine, who decides to visit the home of Sebastian St. Vincent, the most notorious rogue in London. Evie is a shy, stuttering young woman, but is determined to make a bargain with this devil.
To escape the clutches of her evil family, she proposes that she and St. Vincent run away together to Gretna Green in order to be married.
In exchange, she will provide him with access to her immense fortune. After some deliberation, both decide to run away that very evening, and a wild adventure begins.
Like in Chase’s novel, we also witness an unlikely pairing as they begin to fall in love.
Evie starts on the journey completely opposed to St. Vincent, as he attempts to kidnap her friend in the previous novel. But, over time, they break down each other’s walls.
The love scene in the novel is also to die for. We witness Evie as she loses her virginity to one of the most eligible bachelors in London.
Pros
Steamy – This is one of the most passionate books written by Kleypas, and is guaranteed to get fans hot under the collar after several love scenes.
Unlikely Pair – Fans will enjoy seeing this oddball pair come together in the most unusual way.
Exciting – The plot is incredibly exciting, and is guaranteed to keep readers on the edge of their seats. We undergo several different obstacles along the way, including attempted murder.
Cons
Page Turner – This one isn’t a con at all, but some readers might feel disappointed by the speed at which they finish this novel.
Now, if you’re a great admirer of the enemies-to-lovers trope, then this book has got you covered.
This one follows the journey of the second Bridgerton sibling, Anthony, as he sets out to find a match for himself against his own will.
Anthony doesn’t want to get married but feels that it is necessary to secure the stability of his family. He’s very much a rogue who doesn’t want to be tied down to anyone.
He seeks to find a woman who is meek and passive for such a job and will allow him to continue his lurid endeavors outside of the marriage.
He comes across the ever-impressive Edwina, who is practically perfect in every way, but it’s her older sister Kate that he’s got his eyes set on.
If you love the building of romantic tension, then we can guarantee you’ll love this one. It’s full of witty dialogue that is reminiscent of Chase and will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Pros
Fun Trope – This one displays the enemies-to-lovers trope that we all know and adore
Tense – This novel is full of familiar intrigue.
Comforting – This one is a great comfort read for when you feel like you need something easy to pick up.
Cons
Headstrong Heroine – If you’re more of a fan of gawky, awkward heroines, then this might not be the one for you, as Kate is incredibly outspoken and brash.
Themes: regency era, romance, strong female leads, desire, family ties
Final Thoughts
To sum up, if you adored Lord Of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase, then we can guarantee you’ll love Devil In Winter by Lisa Kleypas, and The Viscount Who Loved Me, by Julia Quinn.
Both feature heroines who undergo the journey of enemies to lovers and have steamy love scenes to get you hot under the collar.
Both Kleypas and Quinn demonstrate the insatiable rogue character with perfect conviction, and we ourselves end up falling in love with these heroes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Best Book By Loretta Chase?
Lord of Scoundrels, which is our titular book, is highly regarded as Loretta Chase’s very best work. It ranks as 4.09 on Goodreads, known for making romance readers swoon.
What Is The First Book Published By Loretta Chase?
Loretta Chase made her initial debut in 1992 when she published the first in her Scoundrels series, The Lion’s Daughter.
The book follows two unlikely characters, who find themselves at the mercy of the elements, traveling through a foreign land that they must navigate.
Is Lisa Kleypas Still Writing?
There has been no indication that Lisa Kleypas intends to quit writing. Her last book from the Ravenels series was published in 2021.
Kathryn Taylor was born and raised in the Midwest and has been a book lover and writer since childhood. As a queer teenager, she found solace in writing, and has written professionally ever since graduating from college. She loves a variety of fiction book genres, including romance books, thrillers, YA, sci-fi, and adventure. She's also a fan of the Oxford comma.
Kathryn has received numerous awards for her writing and now writes exclusively for RT Book Reviews. She is a passionate activist in the LGBTQ+ community, speaking at conferences and leading queer writing workshops. When not reading and writing, Kathryn enjoys visiting local libraries and bookstores across the country, exploring new cities, and spending time with her family.
