Book Review: Merely a Marriage by Jo Beverley

Merely a Marriage by Jo Beverley

Publisher & Release: Berkley Original, May 30, 2017

Time and setting:  1817, England

Genre: Historical Romance/Regency

Book Length: 384 pages

Heat Level: 2 Flames

Rating: 4 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

As England mourns the death of Princess Charlotte, Lady Ariana Boxstall has another succession in mind. Her brother, Norris, is a strapping young man, but he’s also happily unmarried and childless. Norris agrees to take a wife on one condition: that Ariana take a husband first. Although she realizes she risks a lifetime in a loveless marriage, for the sake of her family, Ariana accepts his challenge. 

When the Earl of Kynaston met Ariana eight years ago, he broke her heart. Since then, his own heart has been broken, and he’s sworn off love...until he sees Ariana all grown-up and his resolve is threatened.  

Could Ariana’s bargain with Norris actually lead her to happiness? With real love on the line, she must win over the one man who refuses to be had.

Buy Link:

https://smile.amazon.com/Merely-Marriage-Berkley-Sensation-Beverley-ebook/dp/B01LWU53NN

Add to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32689328-merely-a-marriage

Vikki’s Musings

Jo Beverley was one of my all-time favorite historical romance authors. I wept when I heard she had passed last May. I have read many of her books, and I also have quite a few in audio. I never tire of the wonderful Georgian world she created in her Malloran series, along with the Regency world in her Company of Rogues series.

Merely a Marriage paints the picture of her Regency world. While this book may not have had her final touches on it, I still enjoyed it. All the sexual tension she was a master at, is in this book. The pacing is wonderful, the characters vivid and the plot is well-thought out with a great many twists and turns.

Arianna is a troubled heroine with very poor self-esteem. As a young girl, she received her fair share of unkind, and at times, brutal comments for something she had no control over. While I did struggle with her thought processes, I still liked her character and was glad she got her happy ending.

Kynaston is also a troubled character. I would have liked to spend more time in his POV to better understand his anguish, but I could still feel his pain. I sensed his struggle because he is attracted to Arianna from the beginning. I will say, I would have liked his secret brought to Arianna’s attention sooner since so many people knew his story. That would have added more to the story.

If you love Jo Beverley’s writing, then you will still want to read her last book, even though it is not her finest. She will be greatly missed by all who enjoyed her books. Happy reading!

Retro Book & Audio Review: Lady Beware by Jo Beverley

Lady Beware by Jo Beverley

(Company of Rogues, Book 14)

Publisher & Release Date: Signet, June 5, 2007  

Time and setting: 1817, London, England

Genre: Historical Regency Romance

Length: 432 pages

Heat Level: 1 Scorching Hot Flame

Rating: 4.5 Gold Crowns

Book Description:

For generations, the Cave family has been marked by scandal, madness, and violence. But after earning a reputation for bravery in the army, Horatio Cave, the new Viscount Darien, has come home to charm London society and restore the family name. He means to start with the lovely Lady Thea Debenham. 

The magnetism between them is immediate, but can Thea trust the dark, sexy "Vile Viscount"? And will Thea's brother Dare-the most dashing member of the Company of Rogues-believe that Horatio does not deserve the cursed Cave reputation?

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://smile.amazon.com/Lady-Beware-Novel-Company-Rogues-ebook/dp/B000TO0TGC/

Audible: http://www.audible.com/pd/Fiction/Lady-Beware-Audiobook/B002V8KUAO

Add to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8603689-lady-beware

Vikki’s Musings

I am having such a delightful time re-visiting the rogues! I found Jo Beverley’s Company of Rogues series many years ago and fell in love. Ms. Beverley immediately became one of my all-time favorite authors, and I devoured her back list. This time around, I am listening to the audio versions, and I am enjoying these books as much as I did reading them.

Lady Beware tells the love story of Lady Thea Debenham, daughter of a duke and sister to Dare from the previous book. At first, I had a difficult time warming up to Thea’s character. She is a bit sanctimonious and extremely naïve early on in the story, but as the story unfolds, I fell in love. Her kind-hearted ways and her staunch support of her family and friends won me over.

While I met Viscount Darien’s character under less than flattering conditions—he blackmails Thea into a six-week engagement in exchange for clearing Dare’s war record—I fell in love with him anyway, since Ms. Beverley gave me the reason behind his behavior. Also Darien is a tortured soul, my favorite kind of hero. His willingness to retract his conditions, although he fulfilled his end of the bargain immediately, even though Thea is quite horrible to him in the beginning, showed me what an honorable man he is. He puts up with a multitude of sins from Thea and remains a gentleman throughout it all.

As with all of Ms. Beverley’s books, the pace is fast and the story unique. Her sparkling dialogue truly brought the characters to life and helped to create great sexual tension. It was so rewarding to see the rogues band together to right a childhood hurt that has followed Darien all his adult life. Always love learning more about the rogues and their families. Most of them are in this one or at least mentioned.

The narrator for Lady Beware is Simon Prebble and he gives another stellar performance. He has narrated several of the Company of Rogues books, and I have enjoyed his performance a great deal. Not only does he read with deep emotion without going overboard, he does an excellent job with the female voices.

The wonderful thing about this series is that even if you read them out of order, they still work. Although, reading them in order is a pleasure and fills in a few of the blanks. If you haven’t read Ms. Beverley’s books, once you read Lady Beware, you will definitely want to read her backlist. I have yet to read one by her books that I did not like. Happy reading! 

Tempting Fortune by Jo Beverley

(The Malloren World, Book 2)

Publisher & Release Date: ePublishing Works!, July 12, 2013

Time and setting: 1761, England

Genre: Historical Georgian Romance

Heat Level: 1 Scorching Hot Flame

Rating: 4.25 Gold Crowns

Book Description:

Lord Arcenbryght Malloren is done with love. If he marries it will be for money to invest in his favorite scheme—canal building.

Then he meets the impoverished Portia St. Claire, and is soon entangled in her and her family's ruinous affairs.

It doesn't take Bryght long to decide that Portia is the woman for him. But can he persuade Portia to trust a rich, devastatingly handsome nobleman who appears to be a reckless gamester?

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://smile.amazon.com/Tempting-Fortune-Malloren-Mallorens-Friends-ebook/dp/B00DXL9YF0/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1442408808&sr=1-1&keywords=tempting+fortune

Audible: http://www.audible.com/pd/Romance/Tempting-Fortune-Audiobook/B00KSIMCT6

Add to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22113211-tempting-fortune

Vikki’s Musings

I have read Jo Beverley’s books for years and have yet to read one I didn’t like. Tempting Fortune is the second book in the Malloran World series, and while it is not my favorite book of hers, it was still a delightful read from start to finish.

Portia St. Claire wants to save her younger brother from his reckless ways. By doing so, it leads her into one haphazard escapade after another as she comes embroiled in Oliver’s problems. When she enters the Malloren realm, her life changes forever.

When Lord Arcenbryght Malloren bumps into Portia while housebreaking, she sends him into a tailspin. The last thing he expects it to be attracted to a pocket sized amazon who leads him on a merry chase as he attempts to keep her save from the unsavory gentlemen after her brother.

Has Bryght finally met his match in Portia and has she captured his heart? Can she find a way to love a man whose pursuit of risky investments sends terror to her heart? Can love indeed conquer all?  

Tempting Fortune is a rollercoaster ride, with Portia going from one precarious situation to another. I loved the fast pace and the creativity in which Ms. Beverley draws me into her stories and holds me there to the very end. Her books always go in a unique direction, and Tempting Fortune certainly does that.

At times, I loved Portia’s character, but at other times, I became annoyed with her. She is blind-sighted when it comes to her brother and it leads her into incredibly dangerous endeavors. She is fearless and brave, but her loyalty to her rapscallion brother keeps her from seeing the truth much of the time. Thank goodness Bryght is there to save her over and over again, yet she is so afraid to trust him. Even at the end of the book, she is still mistrusting.

I loved Bryght from the first page to the last, and his willingness to not give up on Portia, only endeared him to me even more. Most men would have left her to her own devices. Although, Portia drives him to distraction, his love for her remains constant.

If you enjoy a story that covers a gambit of emotions and keeps you glued to the book, then you will love Tempting Fortune. If you haven’t entered the Malloren world, I suggest you do if you enjoy a series with engaging characters and creative story lines. Happy reading!  

An Arranged Marriage by Jo Beverley

Publisher & Release Date: Sourcebooks Casablanca, July 12, 2013

Time and setting: 1814, London, England

Genre: Historical Regency Romance

Length: 352 pages

Heat Level: 1 Scorching Hot Flame

Rating: 5 Gold Crowns

Book Description:

Ruined through her vile brother's schemes, Eleanor Chivenham is offered rescue by marriage to a rake with an infamous French mistress. Eleanor accepts, determined to treat the arranged marriage with cool dignity. 

Then she meets Nicholas Delaney. Not only does he stir her senses, but the trouble and pain beneath his smooth exterior reaches her heart. 

Nicholas is indeed troubled. While serving his country by seducing secrets out of a French spy, he is persuaded to marry Eleanor to protect his family's honor. But such chivalry runs counter to his carefully wrought rogue image, and extends the life-threatening plots shadowing him to Eleanor. 

To assist, Nicholas reassembles the Company of Rogues, a schoolboy group he started years before. But not even they can dampen Eleanor's fighting wit that is quickly unmasking their enemy and testing Nicholas' formidable will. 

AWARDS: 
Best Regency Novel, Romantic Times 
Bookrak Bestseller 
RITA, finalist 

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://smile.amazon.com/Arranged-Marriage-Company-Rogues-Book-ebook/dp/B00DXL9X38/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1439152030&sr=1-1&keywords=an+arranged+marriage+by+jo+beverley

Audible: http://www.audible.com/pd/Romance/An-Arranged-Marriage-Audiobook/B002VA9FG2

Add to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18246604-an-arranged-marriage

Vikki’s Musings

I have been a huge fan of Jo Beverley’s for many years. Recently as you are aware, I have gotten into audio books. While I read An Arranged Marriage quite a few years ago, I decided I want to revisit the Company of Rogues series and what better way to start than with the first one. I vaguely remembered the characters, but none of the details of the plot. I’m so glad I listened to this astonishing book!

Ms. Beverley has taken quite a few liberties that as a newbie writer, I’ve been told are big no-nos. Firstly, the heroine is raped in the opening scene, but Ms. Beverley handles this so well that she immediately captured my attention and held it throughout the book. It is a horrendous scene and the rapist is doing it under extreme duress. He is actually the hero’s brother, a man in fear of his very life if the truth ever came out that he preferred men. As you can see, very compelling and riveting!

Secondly, the hero commits adultery, another issue that is frowned upon. Again, Ms. Beverley makes it such an essential part of the story that she has my heart aching for Nicholas and what he has to endure at the hands of the very evil French courtesan, who is suspected of trying to put Bonaparte back in power. Not only does he have to commit adultery, he falls desperately in love with Eleanor, the woman he felt obligated to marry to get his brother out of his troubles. Again, a horrid circumstance that moved me to tears on several occasions.

This is not a story for the faint of heart. It’s messy and emotionally- charged throughout the entire book. Poor Eleanor’s situation is truly heart-wrenching from the first page until the very end. At times, I even wondered if this couple would have a happy ending, but a lass it is romance and dear Eleanor and Nicholas do have their “happily ever after”, one that is well deserved. They had to walk through fire to get it!

If you enjoy a story that will tear at your heart and have you sitting on the edge of your seat, then I highly recommend this fantastic book. Just remember you have been warned it is not a heart and flowers kind of tale. Of course, Ms. Beverley’s novel rarely are. Happy reading!