A Hellion in Her Bed (Hellions of Halstead Hall)
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Jeffries Sabrina
The Dangerous Lord (Lord Trilogy, Book 3)
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DescriptionTo prevent a dear friend from wedding Ian Lennard, the notorious Viscount St. Clair, Felicity Taylor reveals his shady past in her anonymous London gossip column. But the dauntless miss never imagined St. Clair's rage---for the dangerous rake is now short a bride and desperately needs an heir. Threatened with exposure and ruin, Felicity has no choice but to marry the hot-blooded lord herself. Ian needs a wife merely to secure his fortune, but in Felicity he has met his match in both wit and passion. And no danger is greater than the possibility that he might actually be falling in love with his fiery new bride!To prevent a dear friend from wedding Ian Lennard, the notorious Viscount St. Clair, Felicity Taylor reveals his shady past in her anonymous London gossip column.But the dauntless miss never imagined St. Clair's rage---for the dangerous rake is now short a bride and desperately needs an heir. Threatened with exposure and ruin, Felicity has no choice but to marry the hot-blooded lord herself. Ian needs a wife merely to secure his fortune, but in Felicity he has met his match in both wit and passion. And no danger is greater than the possibility that he might actually be falling in love with his fiery new bride!Customer ReviewsGreat StoryAnother great book in this series - I loved the characters. The story was different and fun! The writing was excellent. Thank you! Least Interesting in ALL the series.... I really loved the other books in the lord series, but this book turned out to be disappointing. I thought it would just as great. Both characters are lovable, and the book stars out wonderful, but as soon as she accepts his proposal the book fell apart and I lost interest. Since it started out so great that was very upsetting. I also thought that the big bad secret that the hero was tormenting himself over more shocking, but it wasnt. The hero was just torturing himself over himself over a mistake. I think maybe the author started to get bored herself. Least interesting of the series I gave this review 3 stars instead of 2 because there was enough there to finish the book. The summaries all cover the plot points so I will say is that I did not like this heroine at all. There wasn't anything about her that felt interesting or sympathetic. Also the gossip column story in fantasy and secrecy is okay, but to have her be outed and it's okay with everyone was ridiculous. Reading Gideon and Sarah's story was great and Jordan and Emily's was very good, I think maybe she ran out of steam writing this one. Great Book!!! Great Read!!! This book is great. The story line is great. The back and forth between the two main characters is what makes the book. This is the first book I have read of Sabrina Jefferies and it will not be the last. Ian and Felicity's back and forth banter with each other makes this book one of my favorites. If you like a little fight between main characters then this is the book for you. The little fights are just to get under each others skin and makes them want each other more. If you buy this book you will not be disappointed. Too contrived. After reading The Forbidden Lord (my first by Sabrina Jeffries), which I enjoyed, I thought Ian's story would be worth purchasing. I shouldn't have bothered. At best this was a very mediocre book, the plot extremely contrived, the heroine not likeable or believable and not even an affectionate buildup or attachment between the two lead characters before they were "clenching" each other very early on in the book. Why in the world would Felicity refuse to marry Ian after he'd "ruined" her? At the very least, one would think she would have agreed to marry the Viscount in order to stave off starvation and ruin for the brothers she claims to love, in spite of the fact she didn't think Ian loved her. And how obtuse does a woman have to be not to discern that Ian's feelings for her went beyond "desire"? Usually, I can allow a little leway when it comes to playing fast and loose with plot development, but this was not worthy of Sabrina Jeffries nor was it fair to her readers who expect a superior product. I blame this mostly on the publishers and editors who pressure these authors to crank out books faster than they should. I know it's hard to wait for a favorite author to finish her next book, but the wait makes it all the more worth savoring if the end result is a good, solid story. Take heed, publishers, some of us are not satisfied with "good enough."
Wed Him Before You Bed Him (The School for Heiresses)
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DescriptionWith the stunning sixth novel in her New York Times bestselling series, Sabrina Jeffries delivers a dazzling finale imbued with surprising revelations for headmistress Charlotte Harris and the young ladies of The School for Heiresses.At eighteen, Charlotte Page made a life-altering mistake. She wronged a man in an impulsive act that she came to deeply regret, though it led her to her present life as Mrs. Charlotte Harris, owner of Mrs. Harris's School for Young Ladies. Unbeknownst to her, that man is now her anonymous benefactor, the mysterious "Cousin Michael." His masquerade began as preparation for a devastating revenge, but became a labor of love. Now Charlotte desperately needs his help. Can he save her from disaster as his real self without revealing the ugly secret behind his charade? Or will the mistakes of both their pasts tear them apart forever? Customer ReviewsPretty Good- to wrap up the series.It took me some time to transition to Mrs. Harris being the heroine. I've read all the books in the series and mostly thought of her as a nondescript matronly widow. Both main characters were not my 'cup of tea'. I found it difficult to accept their rash reactions to events and what I perceived to be a huge number of wasted years. The lack of communication and misunderstandings were very frustrating. Especially since I thought their existed enough conflicts with Mrs. Harris' abusive father and Lord Kirkwood's resentment towards his own father. I'm also not a fan of the 'power play' sex scenes. Having said all that, the writer does a good job pulling you into the story. So it is an entertaining read with enough adventure, sex and finally completing the love story and series. A Satisfying Conclusion I tend to dislike those romance novels where the hero and heroine have a past that is only alluded to or mentioned in a passing paragraph or two, so it was gratifying that Jeffries took several chapters to explore the past relationship and actually let us see the characters falling in love both in the past and in the present of the novel. Having read most of the books in the School for Heiresses series, I didn't think that this was the best of them, but I did rather enjoy it. You learn who "Cousin Michael" is right from the beginning, and it's dealt with quite well--readers of the other Heiresses books will recognize him and, if they're like me, be glad to finally get his story. Sweet, full circle series end Jeffries wrapped up her School for Heiresses Series with a story that was funny, sweet, hot, and even suspenseful. It was nice to see Charlotte finally free to let down her hair and enjoy a (steamy) lovelife, even in the middle of possibly losing her school. It was also satisfying to finally know Cousin Michael's identity and his reasons for the deception and secrecy. I loved reading about how Charlotte became Mrs. Harris and how she came to run her school. Learning about how as a girl she unwittingly fell in love with David was classicly romantic. Adding the mystery of Lady Kirkwood's suicide was a great way to make this plot even juicier. Definitely a great read to escape with. Wed Him Before You Bed Him-A Joyfully Recommended Title!! Eighteen years ago, Charlotte Page made a rash decision that erupted into an enormous scandal and wrecked the life of a young man. In the aftermath, the heiress eloped with soldier Jimmy Harris. Before his death, Charlotte's husband ran through her fortune, leaving the young widow penniless and teaching at a school instead of fulfilling her dream to run her own. Then a golden opportunity fell into Charlotte's lap when the mysterious "Cousin Michael" came to her aid. Claiming to be a relative of her late husband's Cousin Michael helped Charlotte build Mrs. Harris's School for Young Ladies, his only condition being she never try to learn his true identity. What Charlotte doesn't know is that Cousin Michael is the man she wronged and that his aid began as part of an elaborate plot for revenge. Yet his act of vengeance soon became a labor of love for her mysterious benefactor. Now Charlotte's school is in trouble and she needs Cousin Michael's help. But to aid her, the man behind the letters needs to help her as his real self, without revealing his secret identity. As old love renews itself, Cousin Michael knows that his chances of hiding his secrets are slim. The question is, can love survive when its foundation is steeped in mistakes and deceit? Sabrina Jeffries blends passion, deception, intrigue, and, best of all, a love that has never died in this phenomenal conclusion to her School for Heiresses series. Wed Him Before You Bed Him is everything I ever could have wanted for Charlotte and "Cousin Michael." I loved seeing the intelligent, unflappable Mrs. Harris both as a bright young woman and the heroine I've adored throughout the series. As for Cousin Michael...ah, dear readers, you didn't think I'd reveal his identity, did you? I won't give away the mystery, but I will say that he definitely lived up to the anticipation built around his character. I fell for him as quickly as Charlotte did, and both of them were absolutely perfect for one another. It's near impossible for me to pick a favorite couple, or book for that matter, of Ms. Jeffries's, but Wed Him Before You Bed Him and its two endearing protagonists are definitely in both categories. Though Wed Him Before You Bed Him is the final book in the School for Heiresses series, the book can be read on its own. However, some of my excitement stemmed from the reading the culmination of the Charlotte/Cousin Michael mystery, so for that reason I recommend beginning this series from the beginning with Never Seduce a Scoundrel. Still, taking Wed Him Before You Bed Him on its own, it's a fantastic book that is sexy, heartwarming, and impossible to put down. A stunning conclusion to an engaging series, Wed Him Before You Bed Him is not to be missed! Shayna Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed Wed him before you bed him I will not lie. It took me a long time to NOT be let down by the revelation of who 'Cousin Michael' is. Then I saw the announcement of her new book due out next year and I called forgiveness. My main question was, why didn't we see more lead up? I went back through the novels (and third time), but other then some vague references to her discomfort around the guy who turns out to be Cousin Michael, I didn't see the chemistry. At least not until it was pushed under my nose. I can't tell if that's playing it really close to the vest or the possibility that he-who-is-Cousin-Michael was no the original intended. I really would have guessed an altogether different man. As expected nearly everyone from the other novels (and novellas) makes an appearance in some shape or form. It was entertaining to revisit with some and catch up on what was happening with them. The girls seemed less like former pupils (or teachers) and more like Charlotte's extended family. They worry about her, rally for her, try to do what they can...the affection is genuine. What was finally decided to be done with 'Cousin Michael', once the charade was over with at least, seemed fitting. The man who is Cousin Michael almost grew on me, but some of his previously bad ideas, as well as the whole handling of Charlotte finding out about who he really was, made me wary overall.
The Pirate Lord (Lord Trilogy, Book 1)
 List Price: Price: $6.99 DescriptionA Splendid Opportunity A shipload of women--theirs for the taking! Pirate captain Gideon Horn couldn't be more delighted. His men are tired of wandering the high seas and want to settle down with wives on the uncharted island paradise they've discovered. And the women are bound to be grateful to be rescued from the life of drudgery awaiting them in New South Wales . . . Lord, he's so clever! A Splendid Passion Married? To pirates? Sara Willis couldn't be more appalled. First she demands proper courting--at least a month. The darkly handsome pirate lord gives them two weeks. Then Sara insists the men vacate their huts for the women--Gideon demands her kisses in return. As the demands heat up, so do their passions--and soon Sara can't remember just why she's fighting the devilishly seductive captain so hard. . . Customer ReviewsDid not finishThis was one of the very few books that I couldn't bring myself to finish. The heroine just grated on my nerves too much. Excellent romantic escape Sabrina Jeffries never delivers a bad story and this is no exception. The first in the "Lord" series and a must read if you like to escape in a historical romance. Unpretentious, romantic happily-ever-after. This story doesn't pretend to be anything other than typical Sabrina Jeffries fare. Man and woman meet under trying circumstances, followed by a battle of wills and growing passion culminating in falling in love. The usual twist of 'love-interrupted' culminates in a nice, neat, touching tie-up of all loose ends. This is a nice book to read if you just want a romance that doesn't involve the typical rakish alpha male and idiotic heroine. Just two individuals who overcome obstacles to find each other and show their true characters without unbelievable leaps of logic or credibility. Several interesting characters are left underdeveloped which is disappointing and I don't know if the other books in the series address this or not. Very little action is involved despite the pirate theme. Recommended if you don't want your emotions taxed by books with deeper themes. 4 stars for being good at what it is not for being a riveting, must read. Disappointing I expected this to be a swashbuckling tale on the high seas with tons of action and plenty of romance. I was sorely disappointed. While Sabrina Jeffries is known as as bestselling author, this was obviously not one of her best. I didn't like Gideon Horn's (our hero) take-over attitude nor did I care for his bitter attitude. He wasn't really a likable character. And while Sara Willis (our heroine) had a great personality--strong, independent, vulnerable--I wasn't buying into her attraction to Gideon. A reformer who falls in love with a pirate? It's a great concept, but the actual plot was a bit lacking. I think Jeffries could have written this with a little more...flair, I think, is the word I'm looking for. so-so The Pirate Lord and his merry band of fellow pirates have grown weary of their thieving ways and seek to retire from the business of pirating. They want to set up a utopian community on the island they've dubbed Atlantis, and to this purpose they need women to marry and populate this paradise. Such an improbable premise leads to the capture of a ship carrying convict women to New South Wales. Miss Sara Willis, a woman with a passion for reform, has stowed away on the convict ship in an effort to help improve the conditions of the other women - she plans to take notes of the women's treatment and then report back to her Women's Committee. So much for the plot. All this set up was rather boring for me, but once Sara is kidnapped by Gideon Horn, the Pirate Lord, and she's carted off to Atlantis with the rest of the convict women, things start to get a little more interesting. There's chemistry between the two, even if Gideon isn't really much of a pirate - he's more of your run of the mill regency hero only he has the dubious distinction of sporting a gold hoop earring and going without his shirt more often than not. Sara is allowed to screech, scold, and make demands to her heart's content, while he comes off as being merely befuddled by all the henpecking. Sara has appointed herself protector of the convict women and does her darnest to see that they aren't forced into marriage with the pirates - even though these pirates are a remarkably well behaved bunch. But still, Sara and Gideon are cute together. They're just very cookie cutter characters, and nothing in their story really snagged my interest. A very average book.
The Truth About Lord Stoneville (Hellions of Halstead Hall)
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DescriptionÏ»¿ They're the scandalous Sharpes, five hell-raising siblings tainted by a shocking family legacy. Now each faces a daunting ultimatum: marry by year's end -- or kiss their inheritance good-bye. In the two decades since a tragic "accident" took the lives of his parents, Oliver Sharpe, the Marquess of Stoneville, has survived the scandal surrounding that fateful night by living as an unrepentant rakehell. And with his grandmother vowing to disinherit him if he doesn't settle down and wed, he plans to fulfill the bargain in true Sharpe style -- by bringing home a fake fiancée from a brothel! But his scheme is derailed when he rescues an American beauty in a dire predicament instead. Maria Butterfield came to London to track down her groom-to-be, who's gone missing, but her engagement won't stop Oliver from getting what he wants: her, in his bed. His rebellious masquerade may call his grandmother's bluff , but it's soon made all too real -- by a love that tempts him to be a hellion no more. Customer ReviewsStandard---but it bordered on high school...I guess the characters and the plot were just too stereotypical for me. What we have here is a goody two shoes girl (in this case an American--though she may as well have been English for all I noticed) and a self professed rake with a "dark past" pretending they're engaged and trapping themselves. Included is a sad excuse for a mystery in the heroine's missing fiance, only it isn't actually a mystery. This is a tired plotline, but I've always liked it, and while some authors manage to pull it off, this one added absolutely nothing new to it. Plus, I found many parts of this book (esp. the ending and the subsequent wrapping up of the "mystery") to be almost painful. Like, Candace Clamp or Stephanie Laurens painful. The author seemed to feel the need to drag it on and on, explaining the characters motives and actions via too much melodramatic dialogue. The only other book I've read by this author is "Wed Him Before You Bed Him" and I thought it was better than this (in fact that book had given me the impression that the author was a better writer than this). I would suggest "Secrets of a Duchess" by Kaitlin O' Riley, or Tessa Dare's "Goddess of the Hunt," or Carolin Linden's "What a Gentleman Wants," or if you haven't read it yet, "Something Wonderful," by Judith Mcnaught, instead--these books are just as melodramatic but at least they were entertaining... Wonderful leads I'm not your typical historical romance reader. I don't read many at all, and when I do, they tend not to be English historicals. I've also never read a book by this author before. I purchased this one based on an excellent review by someone I trust, and promptly fell in love with it. Since others have summarized the story, I won't. What sold me on this first and foremost were the characters. I can't think of anyone in the story I didn't like. Maria is strong and no-nonsense, while Oliver is charming with just the right amount of personal turmoil. The humor both approach life with made me laugh out loud more than once (as did Freddy, who I absolutely adored). Minerva and Celia have stronger characterizations than Jarret and Gabe, but I think that was likely deliberate to keep the focus on Oliver. However, all siblings were entertaining, and I particularly loved how they ganged up to push Oliver and Maria together. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series. I'm not sure what the expectations were for Jeffries' fans or readers who saw Oliver in other books, but for this person coming in cold, this was a fantastic read. WHO KNEW THAT A TORTURED RAKE WOULD BE SO MUCH FUN TO REFORM??? The first book in the Hellions of Halstead Hall goes off with a bang! Hetty Plumtree's Grandson, Oliver Sharpe, Marques of Stoneville is the head of the family and Hetty has had enough of his philandering, drinking, womanizing and outlandish behavior. Along with his other siblings - their behavior has tongues wagging at every corner and she has had quite enough. So her ultimatum to all of them comes a big surprise to all: if ALL the sibliings haven't married within a year, she will cut off all their funds and they will be destitute. Oliver decides that he has the perfect course of action to foil his grandmother's plans. He will hire someone inadequate to pose as his fiancé and when his grandmother realizes that she is unsuitable - she will call off the whole scheme. He has no desire to be forced into marriage as he saw how horrific and tragic the union between his mother and father resulted in - and he wants no part of it. He meets Ana, a brazen American woman who is with her young male cousin at a brothel. She is there by pure coincidence because she is looking for clues on her missing fiancé. Oliver brings both Americans to his home and presents Ana, dressed in a prostitute's gown to his grandmother and other siblings hoping that they will be appalled at his choice of fiancé. Little does he know that his grandmother is up to his antics and all his siblings immediately fall in love with Ana's charm and outspoken naiveté. With everyone working against him, how can Olive remain sane - when they are all keeping him from spending a minute with Ana so he can kiss her and......!!!! This is a lovely story - you will see why Oliver is so tortured - and the secret he holds that has consumed him since he was seventeen and no one but his grandmother knows of his anguish. He is a true tormented soul - and who amongst us doesn't like them so that they can be re-deemed!! True, it's a plot that has been used in most of Romance novels but when its well done - it very effective and Jeffreys does a marvelous job here. This is a charming start to a new series by Jeffreys. Please don't be dissuaded by some less than enthusiastic reviewers that don't know what they are talking about and are being way too critical - pay them no mind. This is an awesome romance - which I am sure you will love after you have finished reading it! The characters are all charming and I am looking forward in reading their individual stories! Enjoy!!! The Truth About Lord Stoneville by Sabrina Jeffries The Truth About Lord Stoneville by Sabrina Jeffries Publisher - Pocket Books - Simon and Schuster, Inc Genre - Regency Romance Pages - 392 Synopsis: "In the two decades since a tragic "accident" took the lives of his parent, Oliver Sharpe, the Marquess of Stoneville, has survived the scandal surrounding that fateful night by living as an unrepentant rakehell. And with his grandmother vowing to disinherit him if he doesn't settle down and wed, he plans to fulfill the bargain in true Sharpe style - by brining home a face fiancée from a brothel! But his scheme is derailed when he rescues an American beauty in a dire predicament instead. Maria Butterfield came to London to track down her groom-to-be, who's gone missing, but her engagement won't stop Oliver from getting what he wants: her, in his bed. His rebellious masquerade may call his grandmother's bluff, but it's soon made all too real - by a love that tempts him to be a hellion no more." ~ from the cover Review: The first in a series of five, this novel was charming on several fronts. The dialogue Sabrina Jeffries writes between the three brothers and two sisters rings true. The grandmother, although somewhat of a curmudgeon, is tangible as well as likable. Much like the `Pretty Woman' theme, the two main characters end up rescuing each other through their trials and faith in one another. Oliver is released from his guilt and self-punishment. Maria is liberated from a future of poverty and life with a conniving man she doesn't love. Most delightful in this series are the ancillary characters. Maria's cousin Freddie is written with such hilarity that I hoped for him to be included with each scene. Seemingly dense, and with the last name of Dunse (oh so prophetic), his character surprises with a simple transparency that blurts out rather astute remarks about emotion and behavior without realizing his own perspicacious observations. And always at an inopportune moment. Obsessed with food and not so skilled with a sword, his attempts to step in as the hero leave the reader chortling. Wrapped around sibling unity and rivalry Ms. Jeffries paints this frequently written theme with greater vibrancy. The Truth About Lord Stoneville has threads of humor and spicy romance that add an energetic effervescence. This reader looks forward to the next four in the series Hellions of Halstead Hall. Love this book! I absolutely love this book. Mrs. Jeffries outdid herself once again. I applaud her. I was so captured by the characters, the wistfulness and determination of the heroine. I fell in love with Lord Stoneville. Loved the story line and the little laughs I found in between. Certainly a great read. A must for any historical romance lover.
The Forbidden Lord (Lord Trilogy, Book 2)
 List Price: Price: $7.99 DescriptionJordan Willis, the Earl of Blackmore, has played with the heart of many a society belle -- yet one stolen kiss impulsively planted on the soft, irresistible lips of the preacher's daughter proves his undoing. The prim and proper Emily Fairchild's innocent response sends desire surging through the notorious rake, and he can't forget her. Now, meeting Lady Emma Campbell, an outrageously flirtatious debutante, leaves the earl more shaken than ever -- for the brazen beauty is an uncanny double of the sweet Emily!Emily cannot reveal the reason for her scandalous masquerade -- not even to the earl whose heated embrace awakens a sizzling passion. Her very life depends on convincing society that she is Lady Campbell, yet no disguise can hide her dangerous attraction to the earl. But does "Cinderella' dare risk losing her handsome "prince" by revealing that she is just a country girl?Customer ReviewsEnjoyable until you reach the inconsistenciesSPOILER WARNING Emily, a vicar's daughter, pretends to be a lady in society (Lady Emma) to help find a man who is trying to run away with her friend, Lady Sophia. She does all this so that Sophia's father will not reveal that she killed her mother (even though she really didn't, but she doesn't know that yet). Emily/Emma attracts the attention of the Earl of Blackmore during this charade and because he has met her before as just regular Emily, is puzzled as to why Emma resembles/reminds him of Emily so much. He is attracted to both Emily and Emma so he tries to figure if they are one and the same. Afraid of being found out and having her secret revealed, Emily tries to shoo Blackmore away but he persists in the mystery and his attraction to her. As Emily, she is a vicar's daughter..righteous and all that good stuff. As Emma, she is a wanton, rebellious Scottish lady. She thinks that by being the opposite of Emily, she can convince Blackmore that she isn't Emily. At a point in the story, things get really heated between Blackmore and "Emma", so much that Emma stops it and calls their their actions "shameful". Blackmore is then convinced that it is Emily and she runs. Up to this point, I could somewhat understand why things happened they way they did. However, later Emily decides to visit Blackmore's house to shush him up by sleeping with him. I just couldn't understand this change in her after what happened with her and Blackmore earlier. It seemed so unlike the real her that the author described. Emily was everything that was virtuous and righteous..and she was willing to do anything to hold onto that since she was raised with strict morales and can quote scripture! And if she was willing to give away her virtue to shut him up, she could've just done it earlier as "Emma" and not have him discover "Emily". To have her result to this path makes it seem like the author just wanted to force her two characters to get together for a sex scene. At this point, the motivation for the story seems to be a bit weak and things began unraveling for me. If she was willing to give up her virtue (which means a lot considering that she's a vicar's daughter) simply because she wanted to stop Blackmore from "buzzing" around her and revealing her identity, then she wasn't as upright as the author made her out to be. She could've endured him or thought of something else. After all, the author did make her out to be an intelligent woman also... In the end, you find out that she didn't kill her mother, but that her mother killed herself due to the pain from her illness and that just made the whole story and its points come crumbling down for me since it was already pretty weak. Everything ties up neatly and everyone, except for the villain, has their happy ending. I really wanted to like this book and I did at some parts. I liked the sexual tension between the two and I think that's mostly what kept me reading the entire book, but the story was just so very weak.. Much like the author was trying to think of what situations she could make up to throw the two lovers together without really thinking of the integrity of the overall story. How break a granite heart.................in two easy steps....... step1. charm him on your first "chance/accidental" encounter step2. Tease him mercilously while masquerading as someone else.... I loved this as I did the first. As with all Sabrina's stories-the "taste" we received in Pirate Lord-of Jordan Willis-was enough to entice us to turn the first page of his story........... Jordan was quite the "rake" hero we all dream of.,...and then some...***Of Course he has a vulnerable and caring side........the best ones always do! I couldn't put it down and it's now a keeper in my library...to be read again , over and over......and that's my sign of a good romance,,,,,, A fun, sexy romantic romp The story of Emily Fairchild and Jordan Willis, Earl of Blackmore is a wonderful romance. Every moment they spend together, from their first kiss in the carriage, to Jordan's declaration of love at the end, was magical, full of sizzling hot chemistry and powerful feeling. Emily Fairchild might seem like your typical prim and proper heroine, but she soon proves she can pull off the seemingly impossible - the collapse of that whore/madonna complex that seems to plague so many romances. The Forbidden Lord would seem to set up and enforce this unfortunate twist on sexuality, for the premise involves Emily being forced into a masquerade by the evil Lord Nesfield, her best friend's father. He blackmails her into helping him discover the man who tried to elope with his daughter. Emily, the rector's daughter, who is as pure and innocent as can be, who balks at telling the smallest lie, must become "Lady Emma," a vivacious, bold, flirtatious woman who has all of London at her feet. But the distinctions between Emily and Lady Emma soon dissolve as Emily comes to enjoy the freedom of her new role. She is everything that Lady Emma is, and still Emily at the same time. And, best of all, I don't hate Emily - she manages to be virtuous without being sanctimonious. She's strong, intelligent, kind, and goes after what she wants. This last pertains to Jordon. She learns just how fun it is being (in her own words) "naughty," no matter how hard she tries to be "good." As for Jordon, he's a powerful personality who is instantly captivated by Emily - their first meeting is such a memorable one. Jordon is so obsessed with Emily he doesn't even realize how hard he's fallen for her at first. He passes this off as simply a need to expose her deception - he'd met her when she was just a rector's daughter before the blackmailing disaster and the creation of her alter ego. So part of the fun of The Forbidden Lord is Emily running circles around Jordon as Lady Emma while he hopelessly tries to reconcile the two seemingly incommensurate women -the innocent virgin and the brazen seductress. Sorry if I speak in romantic clichés here, but the best part of the book is how well Jeffries plays with these stereotypes in order to offer the reader something fresh, exciting, and heartfelt. When Jordon finally gets her to admit who she is, Emily still won't give him her reasons for the charade, but he's certain she's doing it against her will. He's driven crazy by how badly he wants to help and protect Emily, but, because of her deep dark secret, she can't let him. My only tiny complaint (besides the admittedly far fetched premise of the story - the whole notion of Emily as a spy for Nesfield, who by the way is ridiculously overdone in his evilness) is that the story can get bogged down a bit when it comes to Emily's repeated resistance to Jordan's efforts to get her secret from her - it provides for a lot of the tension between them, but does tend to run on near the end, at which times Emily strays dangerously into martyrdom territory. But really this didn't bother me and couldn't get in the way of a great, entertaining romance. And did I mention this book is *hot*? Not in the same league as The Pirate Lord...... I really enjoyed The Pirate Lord and was looking forward to reading this book about Sara's infamous brother. Sadly I was disappointed as The Forbidden Lord just did not live up to it's prequel. Jordan is Sara's brother and I did appreciate how this book literally "picks up right where the Pirate Lord ended". This is really where my appreciation ends. I liked Emily really well and was in to this story until the blackmail scandal/ultra ego Lady Emma was born. I did not like the "is she or isn't she Emily" phase that Jordan painfully goes through. The passion is very real and sensual, but that's all there really was. I believed Jordan "wanted" both Emma and Emily, but I didn't believe that he loved either of them...now I'M sounding schizophrenic! Not really excited about The Dangerous Lord...Ian's story. I don't know, maybe if I get bored I'll try it....not overly compelled. The Forbidden Lord A must read. Will do it again. Jeffries shines again J DirectoryForeign exchange news and charts. Find all FOREX data online.
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