Forever a Lord (The Rumor, #3)

Jan 24, 2013 Laura the Highland Hussy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Review posted at Demon Lover's Books & More
One day on twitter I saw a book trailer that rocked my socks. I don’t say this lightly because most book trailers, even those of KMM and Sherrilyn Kenyon, are crap. There are very few that (to me) do the job. This one got the job done.

That day I posted the link here and saw that it was on netgalley.com.

Trailer

http://youtu.be/iNY1Yb9JwbQ

My first thought? “Oh it’s on!”

And after finishing and losing a lot of sleep to read? I regret nothing!

This book s...more

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Jan 03, 2013 Linda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Loved it! Wonderful chemistry between the h/h, great story.

The hero while in New York w/his family at the age of 10 was kidnapped by his father's male lover for 5 years & imprisoned in a cellar. His father refused to give into his lovers demands to free him. Nathaniel (who is Lord Atwood) learns to fend for himself growing up alone in NY & is bitter against his father's abandonment & becomes a skilled boxer. The description of boxing as it was then is quite gruesome! He grows up rou...more

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Jan 02, 2013 May Mostly Romance rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical

ผิดคาดไปเล็กน้อยกับธีมของเล่มนี้ หลังจากอ่านสองเล่มแรกแล้วเลยคิดว่า เรื่องนี้น่าจะมืด เพราะภูมิหลังของพระเอก แต่เอาเข้าจริงกลับไม่เป็นอย่างที่คิด ไม่ใช่ว่ากลายเป็นหนังสือที่ทำให้หัวเราะดังลั่น แต่ธีมกลับเบากว่าที่คิดเยอะ

พระเอกเป็นทายาทของท่านเอิร์ลที่ถูกลักพาตัวไปตั้งแต่สิบขวบ เรื่องนี้ทั้งชุดนำคนอ่านมาสู่ปริศนาการหายตัวไปของเขา แต่เนื่องจากเป็นเล่มสุดท้าย เหตุการณ์ในเรื่องดำเนินตั้งแต่เล่มแรกไล่มาจนถึงเล่มนี้ คนที่อ่านเล่มก่อนหน้าคงจะพอคุ้นเคยกับคาแร็คเตอร์หลายตัวที่โผล่มา และเหตุการณ์ที่เกี่ย...more ผิดคาดไปเล็กน้อยกับธีมของเล่มนี้ หลังจากอ่านสองเล่มแรกแล้วเลยคิดว่า เรื่องนี้น่าจะมืด เพราะภูมิหลังของพระเอก แต่เอาเข้าจริงกลับไม่เป็นอย่างที่คิด ไม่ใช่ว่ากลายเป็นหนังสือที่ทำให้หัวเราะดังลั่น แต่ธีมกลับเบากว่าที่คิดเยอะ

พระเอกเป็นทายาทของท่านเอิร์ลที่ถูกลักพาตัวไปตั้งแต่สิบขวบ เรื่องนี้ทั้งชุดนำคนอ่านมาสู่ปริศนาการหายตัวไปของเขา แต่เนื่องจากเป็นเล่มสุดท้าย เหตุการณ์ในเรื่องดำเนินตั้งแต่เล่มแรกไล่มาจนถึงเล่มนี้ คนที่อ่านเล่มก่อนหน้าคงจะพอคุ้นเคยกับคาแร็คเตอร์หลายตัวที่โผล่มา และเหตุการณ์ที่เกี่ยวข้องกัน ความเก่งของคนแต่งก็คือ ไม่ได้ทำให้คนที่เพิ่งอ่านเล่มนี้รู้สึกว่าพลาดอะไรไป

เนธานเนียลหากินด้วยการเป็นนักมวย แม้จะกลับคืนสู่สถานะทางสังคมของตัวเอง เขาก็ยังมุ่งมั่นที่จะชกมวยเพื่อเป็นแชมป์แห่งอังกฤษ โดยมีสองพี่น้องที่ต้องการส่วนแบ่งเงินรางวัลเป็นนายทุนเบื้องหลัง หนึ่งในข้อเรียกร้องก็คือ เขาต้องแต่งงานกับตัวน้องสาว ซึ่งเป็นเรื่องที่เขาตอบตกลงโดยไม่ยากนัก

เล่มนี้จึงกลายเป็นพล็อตแนวการแต่งงานเพื่อความสะดวก แต่ร้อนแรงยิ่งนัก เราชอบความสัมพันธ์ระหว่างพระนางของเรื่อง ชอบตัวตนของเนธานเนียล ชอบความ "หยาบ" ของเขา เราคิดว่าคนแต่งเขียนคาแร็คเตอร์นี้ได้ดี

ส่วนที่ผิดหวังก็น่าจะเป็นเจ้าความลับดำมืดที่บอกใบ้มาตั้งแต่เริ่มหนึ่งในชุด เพราะเอาเข้าจริงมันกลายเป็นเรื่องไม่เป็นเรื่อง (แม้ผลของมันจะร้ายแรงมากมายก็ตาม)
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Dec 25, 2012 Karen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Best of the trilogy, IMHO. Reading the other two first will make the experience of this one even more rich-- I *loved* how the author interwove bits of the previous two books (and their romances) through the simultaneous events in this one-- and it was particularly interesting to see some of those encounters from the opposite perspective.

I will quite freely say that I didn't much like Coleman, coming into this book. In the previous two books he's been kind of a lout-- sometimes with cause, but o...more

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Dec 18, 2012 Melody May rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, netgalley, romance

Also on http://sillymelody.blogspot.com

Today's selection is Forever a Lord by Delilah Marvelle. I have to say I enjoyed this story. Especially, since we have drawn to the end I believe. It's always hard to see the end.

In the previous books you have seen Edward Coleman, but not really in the forefront. Now we get to learn more about him and the past he wishes to forget. However, that is not always the case and it has a way of sneaking in when you least expect it too.

Edward Coleman, born actuall...more Also on http://sillymelody.blogspot.com

Today's selection is Forever a Lord by Delilah Marvelle. I have to say I enjoyed this story. Especially, since we have drawn to the end I believe. It's always hard to see the end.

In the previous books you have seen Edward Coleman, but not really in the forefront. Now we get to learn more about him and the past he wishes to forget. However, that is not always the case and it has a way of sneaking in when you least expect it too.

Edward Coleman, born actually Viscount Nathaniel James Atwood, was taken as a young boy. Lost to the streets of New York, he decided to change his life and forget his past as the heir of Lord Sumner. Yet, he is force to go back to London, because of a situation that arrises in New York.

Lady Imogene Norwood tries to find away to help her brother Weston get out of an unhappy marriage. However, unsure how to fix his problem. After all, divorces aren't cheap and the scandal they incur. Yet they are able to come up with a solution. Weston and Imogene come up with a solution, that could possibly give them the freedom they are looking for and possibly save a man in search of himself.

First off I have to say that it was a satisfying ending to the book. I mean if you have been following this series you would be happy to see Nathaniel happy, especially after the troubles he had growing up. I actually enjoy that he wasn't your normal lord; what I mean he grew up on the streets which made him rough around the edges. Plus, he had to learn to take of himself and others around him. In his own way, he did put others first, but you might not see it that way.

Imogene's character was a different too. You don't see too many heroine's with health problems and are strong enough to stand up to the hero. Granted she is a bit submissive in the beginning, but as the story moves along you see her develop a backbone with the help of Nathaniel.

I loved the boxing aspect of the story, which is surprising since I'm not a boxing fan. However, it was neat to see the dynamics and how it made the story come to life. Last but not least, the few surprise with the story. For one thing the father, total bastard (ok not really surprising). The surprising part was the reason for leaving Nathaniel behind in New York and forgotten. That was just heart-breaking, that man could be so heart-less to leave his only son behind.

Overall, I found the story satisfying. I enjoyed Nathaniel, though he might have been a bit harsh at times. I love Imogene and her patience. A good read that you might want to checkout. However, I might suggest you read the other books before hand they might help a bit. So, I hope you all have a wonderful day.

Copy provide by NetGalley
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Dec 12, 2012 Mary Gramlich rated it 5 of 5 stars

You can hide from yourself, but you cannot deny who you really are

A boy of the streets Lord Nathaniel James Atwood grew up to be a man that thrived in the boxing ring. Nathaniel should have been living a titled life in London not battling for a boxing title in New York. However, his father’s twisted decision altered everything for Nathaniel when the man chose to keep the family name free of scandal at any cost. Lady Imogene Norwood is looking to release herself from the life she is forced to le...more

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Dec 10, 2012 Shauni rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley

Dark and gritty seems to be the new trend in historical romances. And let me tell you now, I am totally liking it. While there will always be room for the glittering ballrooms of the ton, it is nice to see authors paying attention to the underbelly of society. Delilah Marvelle does a fabulous job introducing us to a very realistic world in Forever a Lord, Book Three of her Rumors Series.

Lord Nathaniel James Atwood was kidnapped at the age of 10 and ransom was refused by his father. Left in the...more

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Nov 29, 2012 My Book Addiction and More MBA rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: regency-england, historical-romance

FOREVER A LORD by Delilah Marvelle is another interesting Regency historical romance. Book 3 in the "Rumor"series. See,"Forever and a Day",and "Forever a Lady". While, this series can be read as a stand alones,each story is told from the hero and/or heroine's perspective. Reading all three gives you a better understanding of the other characters in the previous stories.This title moves much faster than the other two to me. It is filled with passion,desire,secrets,healing,forgiveness,boxing in th...more

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Nov 17, 2012 Jenn rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance

Historical romances are my guilty pleasure read. I love the pretty covers. I love envisioning all the pretty dresses. And yet I get tired of the same old same old stories in historical romances. I'm a little tired of Rakes who are Dukes. Gimme something/someone new.

And so I'm given Nathaniel. A boxer. A boxer? *eyebrows rise* Yes. A boxer. A boxing Duke. He's older, he's mature (damn near forty) and he beats guys up on the streets of New York to make a living.

I.

Love.

It.

For someone really young...more

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Nov 19, 2012 Jaclyn rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, historical-romance, net-galley

Forever a Lord is the third book in Marvelle’s The Rumor series, which I did not know when I read the book. While there was some mention of characters from previous books (ie. Nathaniel’s nephew and his fiancé) I did not find that this hampered my enjoyment of the book.

Forever a Lord features Lord Nathaniel James Atwood, who was kidnapped as child due to his father’s personal life. After the kidnapping in New York, Nathaniel decided not to return home and instead became a bare-knuckle fighter in...more Forever a Lord is the third book in Marvelle’s The Rumor series, which I did not know when I read the book. While there was some mention of characters from previous books (ie. Nathaniel’s nephew and his fiancé) I did not find that this hampered my enjoyment of the book.

Forever a Lord features Lord Nathaniel James Atwood, who was kidnapped as child due to his father’s personal life. After the kidnapping in New York, Nathaniel decided not to return home and instead became a bare-knuckle fighter in New York, scraping by to make ends meet, while in actuality he is a viscount. At the beginning of the novel Nathaniel’s simple existence is challenged when his late sister’s husband and nephew track him down and ask him to return to England. Nathaniel reluctantly agrees and eventually returns to London; however, he is determined to make it on his own without the help of his sister’s husband or his father who will not acknowledge him.

Lady Imogene Norwood is a young lady of nineteen (and there is a pretty significant age difference between Nathaniel and her) who has suffered continual illness and a stutter since childhood. As a child she suffered terrible abuse from a governess that was determined to cure Imogene’s stutter by appalling means. When the novel begins Imogene is trying to think of a way for her brother to gain the means necessary to divorce his wife, whom he is deeply unhappy with. After learning about the fighting championship from her brother, Imogene decides to use her inheritance to finance a fighter in order for them all to win the money and allow them to have their independence. Upon her brother’s advice, Nathaniel is selected to be their champion; however, Imogene is concerned that Nathaniel will not fulfill his end of the bargain, so she, naturally, marries Nathaniel to ensure that he upholds the terms of the contract.

While I thought it was a touch extreme for Imogene to marry Nathaniel to make sure that he did not skip out on them, it certainly made for a romantic plot. It was great to see how both characters cared for each other. Imogene put up with a lot of Nathaniel’s hang-ups, mainly coming from his time when he was kidnapped as a child, and it turned out to be worth the wait for her. I liked how the romance progressed at a realistic pace and that there was nothing crazy that was stopping them from being together. I thought Imogene and Nathaniel were a solid couple and I liked how that was presented, especially towards the end when Nathaniel had to deal with some pretty heavy circumstances with his family.

Overall, this was a solid historical romance, which a little bit more of a serious twist in terms of the characters and their situation. Therefore, I would recommend it for a historical romance reader that is looking for a more serious read rather than something light.

*A review copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley. (less)

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Dec 15, 2012 Farrah rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review also appears on my blog at http://www.thegoldenruleof666.blogspo...

Absolutely excellent historical romance! This book is SO sweet. I adored Forever a Lord.

I read the previous book in the series and I really loved it, so I was hoping that the next book would be just as good. Let me tell you, it was even better. One aspect that I really liked is that the books occurred simultaneously. As Imogene and Nathaniel were falling in love, Matthew and Bernadette's story was occurring, just in d...more This review also appears on my blog at http://www.thegoldenruleof666.blogspo...

Absolutely excellent historical romance! This book is SO sweet. I adored Forever a Lord.

I read the previous book in the series and I really loved it, so I was hoping that the next book would be just as good. Let me tell you, it was even better. One aspect that I really liked is that the books occurred simultaneously. As Imogene and Nathaniel were falling in love, Matthew and Bernadette's story was occurring, just in different places. I just thought that was interesting.

Imogene was a sweet heroine. You could call her naive, but it wasn't in a bad way. It made her very sweet and thoroughly likable. But, make no mistake, Imogene was no coward. When she had something she wanted or needed to do, she didn't hesitate to do it. I really liked how loyal she was to her brother. The whole story began because she wanted to help her brother. Once again, very likable heroine-one of my favorite historical romance heroines yet.

Nathaniel was the opposite in that he was the farthest from naive it was possible to get. He suffered a lot in his life, he had his innocent view of the world taken away when he was just a child, and he crawled out of that mess victorious. But that is what made him a perfect match for Imogene. Nathaniel was a admirable hero. He was strong and sweet and absolutely lovable. And when Mr. Tough Guy fell in love, he was so adorable. He was a fantastic hero-once again, one of my favorites in historical romances.

Imogene and Nathaniel had such a sweet relationship. It was so adorable. They were just so perfectly matched. Their relationship was so pure and loving that it just warmed my heart. There is a bit of spicy mixed in with the sweet, but it was just a pinch. Just enough to make things interesting ;)

The plot of the book was well paced and had me hooked the entire way through. There aren't really any twists and turns within the book. It's fairly straight forward. There is a secret that is revealed, however, that had me surprised. And the ending was so sweet. Not only did it show this couples happy ending, but the happy endings of the other couples in the series.

Forever a Lord was a sweet, wonderful historical romance. To any lovers of romance, you need to read this book!

Thanks to Netgalley for a copy! (less)

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Dec 25, 2012 Kelly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: review-copy, romance

This review also appears on Reading with Analysis.

The first half of this book is incredibly good. From page one, it grabbed my attention and treated me to a fast-moving, emotionally compelling story. The character development of the major characters (Nathaniel, Imogene, and her brother Weston, in particular) is strong. I loved the idea that both Nathaniel and Imogene were victims of the terrible power of secrets, that power ever stronger when the secret is not one’s own.

A good portion of this st...more This review also appears on Reading with Analysis.

The first half of this book is incredibly good. From page one, it grabbed my attention and treated me to a fast-moving, emotionally compelling story. The character development of the major characters (Nathaniel, Imogene, and her brother Weston, in particular) is strong. I loved the idea that both Nathaniel and Imogene were victims of the terrible power of secrets, that power ever stronger when the secret is not one’s own.

A good portion of this story revolves around bare-knuckled boxing. I’ll just come out and say it: I do not understand boxing. I can’t fathom why anyone would want to step into a ring and beat the crap out of someone else (or get the crap beat out of oneself) for glory and cash prizes. It seems a phenomenally stupid endeavor, to me. I really thought I’d skim through the boxing sections, but I didn’t. Marvelle brought her research to life in a fascinating way, particularly when she discussed the world through Imogene’s point of view. I still think boxing is a stupid thing to do (and an even more stupid thing to watch on PPV), but I enjoyed all of the boxing elements of this story because they so closely tie to Nathaniel’s character. Thanks to good writing, I happily read about jabs and hooks and spurts of blood spraying all over the ring. Well done, Delilah Marvelle!

The second half of the book is not quite as strong as the first–it skips ahead a bit too abruptly, and there is not quite enough conflict to move the story along — but I was still a mostly-happy reader when I reached the end. There were a few strange side-stories that might have been explained/explored in the previous two books of this series — but I wouldn’t know, because this is the first book I’ve read by this author — and seemed out-of-place and bewildering to me, reading this book as a stand-alone. Nearly everything that related to Matthew, a secondary character and friend of Nathaniel, was just strange and did not fit in with this story (I just checked Goodreads: Matthew’s story is book #2 in the series). If I had read this series from the beginning, I’m sure I would have loved the little mentions here and there of characters that I already knew and loved. But I read this book expecting a stand-alone story, and instead, my enjoyment of this book’s story was continually interrupted by all these little WTF moments. Those interruptions negatively impacted my overall experience of the book.

Aside from the somewhat jarring moments when the other stories intersected this one in abrupt ways, I had a great time reading this story, and I recommend it to anyone who (1) enjoys romance novels and (2) wants an intense, emotional story (rather than a romp). I am adding Marvelle to my ever-growing list of authors to watch.(less)

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Dec 09, 2012 Angela rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Angela by: netgalley

Shelves: ebook, fiction, hist-romance, kindle, romance, series

I am so not ready to see this series end yet, but I guess all good things must come to an end. I was so happy that Nathaniel got his HEA, I mean each man in this series deserved one, but poor Nathaniel went through so much for a secret that shouldn't have been his to keep for 30 years. Of course everything he went through only strengthened his character and made him a man worth loving with every filber of your being. And thankfully he found someone to do exactly that in Imogene. Even though Imog...more

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Jan 27, 2013 Dana Delamar rated it 5 of 5 stars

My favorite of the Rumor series! Nathaniel is a great hero--tortured, complex, and with his heart in the right place--and Imogene is a very relatable heroine. I also had fun learning more about bare knuckle boxing, which I knew nothing about. Once again, Ms. Marvelle treats us to a unique storyline and locations. I love her historicals because she manages to come up with fresh and interesting facets of history to explore.

I also liked how this story unfolded at the same time as "Forever and a Da...more

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Jan 19, 2013 Jen (Red Hot Books) rated it 4 of 5 stars

The more I read from Delilah Marvelle, the more I like her. This third installment in The Rumor series was a hit for me. Mostly because of its brawny, wounded hero, Nathaniel. A British viscount, he was kidnapped at age 10, by a man who was wronged by Nathaniel's father. Unfortunately, dear old dad would not bend to the kidnapper's demands, which left Nathaniel locked in a cellar for five years before being dispatched to the mean streets of New York.

Nathaniel created a new identity and a life fo...more The more I read from Delilah Marvelle, the more I like her. This third installment in The Rumor series was a hit for me. Mostly because of its brawny, wounded hero, Nathaniel. A British viscount, he was kidnapped at age 10, by a man who was wronged by Nathaniel's father. Unfortunately, dear old dad would not bend to the kidnapper's demands, which left Nathaniel locked in a cellar for five years before being dispatched to the mean streets of New York.

Nathaniel created a new identity and a life for himself as a bare-knuckled boxer in Five Points. But when his late sister's husband seeks him out to mend the rift with his family, it sets a chain of events in motion that brings him back across the pond.

In the meantime, Imogene dreams of setting her brother free. He's been shackled in a loveless marriage as he sinks all his money into doctors to help with her poor health. Together, they come up with a plan to invest in a boxer to win the big championship fight. Enter Nathaniel.

The first time Gene lays eyes on Nathaniel, she is drawn in. He is so masculine and powerful. And he feels the same attraction. She decides she will make marriage to her, part of the investment into his training --and from there, their relationship is born.

Nathaniel is a tough nut to crack. His time in captivity did a number on him, but so did his father's betrayal, and his life on the streets. It's hard for him to let Gene in, no matter how taken he is with her. His issues run so deep that he can't even have sex without binding his partner. (This was the only part of the book I didn't love. --I would imagine being tied up while you lose your virginity isn't the best experience.) But he tries to protect her the best way he can. He honors her. He loves her. And eventually --he grows to trust her. Which is when I really fell for him.

Gene is fragile in some ways, but she is strong in the ways that really count. And she is exactly what Nathaniel needs. I really enjoyed their love story. Well done.

Rating: B+

*ARC Provided by Harlequin via NetGalley(less)

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Feb 08, 2013 Rachel rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: england, feel-good, highly-recommend, historical-fic, lgbt, mental-illness, mystery, the-genre-that-shall-not-be-named, victoriana, 2012

Delilah Marvelle is one of my favorite romance authors, no doubt about that. The reason this isn't a 5-star review is because, though the time spent with the couple was very sweet, there were a few things I had a hard time with.
1. Nathaniel and Imogene only spent about 35%-40% of the book together, working through their relationship. I wished that they could've spent more time together, especially as they had a lot to work out as a couple. While the time spent on Nathaniel's pugilism was very i...more

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Mar 25, 2013 Martini Times rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: review-posted

This banner was made for entertainment purposes only. This is what I thought long lost Viscount Nathaniel Atwood, who grew up boxing to survive, and his sweet, young Imogene looked like.

I received this book by request from NetGalley and have not read the other books in The Rumor Series by Delilah Marvelle.

Forever a Lord begins with a boy at the tender age of ten who has been abducted from his family and held against his will by a man out with a vengeance against young Lord Nathaniel Atwood’s f...more

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Mar 29, 2013 Cerian rated it 5 of 5 stars

I'm going to warn you before I start this review, this is about to get a bit gushy. If you've read my reviews for the previous two books in the Rumour series (Forever and a Day, and Forever a Lady), then you'll know that I've been REALLY looking forward to reading Atwood's story. And it didn't disappoint!

So, we start with the delicious Nathaniel, the long-lost Lord Atwood, who returns to London to claim his life back.
In an effort to be able to free themselves from the unhappiness in their lives...more I'm going to warn you before I start this review, this is about to get a bit gushy. If you've read my reviews for the previous two books in the Rumour series (Forever and a Day, and Forever a Lady), then you'll know that I've been REALLY looking forward to reading Atwood's story. And it didn't disappoint!

So, we start with the delicious Nathaniel, the long-lost Lord Atwood, who returns to London to claim his life back.
In an effort to be able to free themselves from the unhappiness in their lives, Imogene and her brother Henry decide to invest Imogene's inheritance in a boxer who can become the Champion of England, and win a quarter of a million pounds. Edward Coleman a.k.a. Nathaniel is that Champion.

Nathianel is an amazing hero for this story, he has demons and is very troubled. He's trying to claim back the life that was stolen from him when he was kidnapped as a child. He doesn't particularly trust women, and isn't used to anyone genuinely caring about him. At heart, he is a wounded man who has never truly belonged anywhere. I do love a tortured hero. Imogene is the ideal woman, to soothe those wounds, and make him happy.

I really loved Imogene. She's so sweet, and has an innocent strength that surprised me. She has health problems stemming from abuse from her governess when she was a child, but she tries to shield these problems from her brother because she doesn't want to be more of a burden. I loved Imogene and Nathaniel's first meeting! The chemistry between them was electric!
Imogene treats Nathaniel with patience, understanding and a respect that has long been missing from his life. I love that she sees beneath his gruff demeanor, to the core of the man- 'You have a depth of compassion within you that reveals itself at the right time every time. 'Tis what I admire about you most. Your compassion.' I love this bit :)

Forever A Lord is, of course, written in that wonderful style I've come to associate with Ms. Marvelle's writing- it's gritty, explosively sensual, and intensely emotional. I love it.
The sex scenes in this book were dynamite, and really suited Nathaniel's character. He needs to feel in control all the time, which extends to the most intimate of situations. But when he realises how much he loves Imogene and how much he trusts her, he happily relinquishes that control and I thought it was a beautiful moment.

I also really enjoyed the epilogue. It was so sweet, I won't ruin what actually happens but it was a lovely way to round off the series!

This lived up all to my expectations, and more. I cried, I laughed, I rejoiced- and I was reading this at work on my break, so I looked like a mad woman, laughing out loud on my own. I've had this book sat on my shelf for almost 3 months and I'm thoroughly ashamed of myself for not reading it sooner!

I was lucky enough to win a copy of Forever A Lord from Maire Claremont, on her blog.

Originally posted at The Rookie Romance Blog (less)

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Dec 02, 2012 Bookworm1858 rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-2012, romance, netgalley

3.5/5

Source: Received an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the third book in The Rumor trilogy. I reviewed the first book Forever and a Day last year and found myself with mixed feelings. Consequently I skipped over the second book but was eager to pick up this third.

One of the most interesting parts of this book to me was the hero's involvement in boxing. And not boxing like we see now on TV but far more intense with basically no rules and no gloves to protect their h...more

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Jan 02, 2013 Pam rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is a heartrending and wonderful story that finishes a dark historical trilogy. I loved this story and was an emotional wreck while reading as it took me through a roller coaster ride of emotions.

Edward Coleman has had a rough life, filled with gambling, drinking and boxing. He has lived in eleven different parts of New York City avoiding creditors, his wife and his mother-in-law. However his mother-in-law eventually finds him to give him the grim news that his wife has died. Jane was someon...more

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Jan 04, 2013 Kimberly Rocha~ Book Obsessed Chicks rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: romances-a-la-kimberly

Yet another BRILLIANT book by Delilah Marvelle!!!!

Before Delilah Marvelle, I am going to say that I really was never interested in reading books that took place during the Regency time period. Just something about this era never caught my eye, until of course I picked up her book Forever and A Day and began my love affair with all things Delilah Marvelle. The second book, Forever a Lady, cemented my faith and Forever a Lord makes me giddy with excitement.

Forever a Lord begins with the 10 year...more Yet another BRILLIANT book by Delilah Marvelle!!!!

Before Delilah Marvelle, I am going to say that I really was never interested in reading books that took place during the Regency time period. Just something about this era never caught my eye, until of course I picked up her book Forever and A Day and began my love affair with all things Delilah Marvelle. The second book, Forever a Lady, cemented my faith and Forever a Lord makes me giddy with excitement.

Forever a Lord begins with the 10 year old, British Lord, Nathaniel Atwood's abduction in New York in 1800. Circumstances surrounding Nathaniel's kidnapping were very mysterious as Nathaniel was kept in captivity for five years, and once released from his cellar prison, he did not seek his family out in London, but remained in New York basically living on the streets. Nathaniel, now known as Coleman, always knew that his own Father was to blame for his abduction and wanted nothing to do with the Atwood family once he was freed. The thirty odd years since the crime, Coleman has become a boxer, depending on his own brute strength and street smarts to help himself and the poor community of Five Points survive.

When Coleman/Nathaniel discovers that someone is actively looking for the whereabouts or information on the young missing and presumed dead Lord Atwood, he decides to take a chance to help the people of Five Points by attempting to exchange information for funds. His plans backfire when he is told by his brother-in-law, the Duke of Wentworth, of his sister's death and unable to withhold his emotions of her loss, is outed as the missing Lord. His brother-in- law and nephew try to convince Nathaniel to return to England to reclaim his position in London society, but Nathaniel at that time is not prepared for that.

In London, the Lady Imogene Norwood struggles daily with her own independence. The nineteen year old beauty lives off the pity of her brother's cheating wife and her brother's own guilt of not being able to protect her after their parent's deaths. When her brother Henry tells her he is in need of money for a divorce from his unfaithful wife, he and Imogene come up with a plan to represent a boxer and win a championship with a quarter of a million pounds for the winnings.

Now, almost a year after his initial meeting with his brother-in-law, Nathaniel has come to London and is once again surviving by boxing. He still has not let anyone know he is in England and is devising a plan to kill his own father. Once discovered boxing by Henry Weston, Nathaniel is given a proposition by Henry and Imogene. The brother and sister would champion Nathaniel for the famous boxing match if he marries Imogene, but in name only. You see, Imogene has found out that Nathaniel has issues with skipping out on his investors and she concocts the marriage as the only way to keep Nathaniel in check. Warily, he accepts the offer, but the "in name only" marriage is quickly trounced when Nathaniel insists that he be able to bed his wife whenever he fancies, and mind you, Nathaniel's bedding is rather unconventional.

With the heir to the Atwood legacy back in London, society is all atwitter with the events surrounding Nathaniel, his boxing career, his marriage and his family. Will the secrets surrounding Nathaniel's abduction come to light and ruin the Atwood name? Will Imogene convince Nathaniel to remain in their marriage. Will Nathaniel ultimately win the boxing championship and set to rights all the hardships he has come across in his life? You will have to read Forever a Lord to find out the answers to these burning questions.

What can I say about Forever a Lord? Well, I can first say that it's become one of my favorite books. Delilah Marvelle is a brilliant writer with her talent for intertwining romance and the darkness in people's natures. Ms. Marvelle has a gift for making the reader succumb to all the main character's issues and desires. Forever a Lord is a magnificent continuation to the already amazing Rumor Series. I love that no character in her menagerie is conventional but utterly memorable. I eagerly await the next installment of the Rumor Series by Delilah Marvelle with extreme anticipation! Of course I recommend this book to all. I loved it and I know you will as well. Thank you Delilah Marvelle for making my reading experience so right!

~ KIMBERLY ~

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Dec 02, 2012 Belinda rated it 5 of 5 stars

When I finished reading Forever a Lord by Delilah Marvelle, I was overwhelmed with emotion. How was I to know these characters in the book felt like old friends to me. I was glad when Nathaniel’s story was told. If you remember, we met Nathaniel in the earlier books titled Forever and a Day and Forever a Lady. He was a bare knuckled fighter who made his living in a gang of the forty thieves of New York. He kept his secrets close and his enemies closer. When the time came for him to leave America...more

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Dec 24, 2012 Sharyn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance

Forever a Lord, the 3rd book in the Rumor series, is an emotional romance centered around two damaged individuals. Lord Nathaniel Atwood has lived most of his life in New York, where he was kidnapped at ten years old under mysterious circumstances. His father, Lord Sumner, forced the rest of his family back to London after the kidnapping and proclaimed that his son must be dead. Now, thirty years later, Nathaniel has forsaken his aristocratic roots and is keeping some very big secrets. In fact,...more Forever a Lord, the 3rd book in the Rumor series, is an emotional romance centered around two damaged individuals. Lord Nathaniel Atwood has lived most of his life in New York, where he was kidnapped at ten years old under mysterious circumstances. His father, Lord Sumner, forced the rest of his family back to London after the kidnapping and proclaimed that his son must be dead. Now, thirty years later, Nathaniel has forsaken his aristocratic roots and is keeping some very big secrets. In fact, he is known as Edward Coleman, even by his best friend, and no one truly knows his background.

Lady Imogene Norwood, only nineteen years old, has been sheltered most of her life due to illnesses she has suffered from for most of her life. She fears she is a burden to her brother Henry, to the point where Henry had to marry unhappily, just to gain an heiress to help pay for Imogene's medical expenses.

Imogene and Nathaniel meet in London, where Nathaniel is trying to scrap together a living as a pugilist, and Imogene, with a small inheritance, wants to sponsor a boxer so she doesn't ever have to marry and be a burden to anyone else due to her health conditions.

There are many plots weaving together through this story - what really happened to Nathaniel thirty years ago? Was his father the reason for the kidnapping? What are the medical conditions that Imogene suffers from? But the romance between Imogene and Nathaniel is always the main focus. Their relationship grows at a nice pace and really blossoms throughout the story. They help each other as well. Nathaniel learns to trust and give control to someone else sometimes. Imogene learns to stand up for herself and, literally, speak her mind. Through the trials this couple goes through by the end of the story, you know that their love will truly last forever.

I read the entire Rumor series in order and really think that gives the best understanding. Book 2 could probably be read out of order but certain plot points for Book 1 were revealed in this book.

***SPOILER ALERT***
I admit I was very surprised to find out the reason for the kidnapping, especially as it relates to Lord Sumner. I had thought it was going to be because he had done something very evil. Instead, I ended up feeling very sorry for Lord Sumner and very angry at the kidnapper. Lord Sumner did not have many choices available to him based on the kidnapper's threats. Yes, Sumner was a coward, and selfish, too, but I didn't see him as evil as I expected. Plus, I think Nathaniel must have developed a bit of Stockholm Syndrome for his kidnapper if he completely blamed his father for everything. (less)

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Dec 16, 2012 Nita rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance, fiction, arc, ebook, read-2012, dangerous-heroes

We finally get the story of what happened to Lord Nathaniel as a child and we get to meet the man he has become. Kidnapped as a child by a man holding a secret of Nathaniel's father, he is taken from London to New York City. Once he is released years later, he doesn't go back to his family (he has a reason), but stays in America and takes on a new identity and boxing. It isn't until his deceased sister's husband and son come looking for him that Nathaniel goes back to London to confront the life...more

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Dec 21, 2012 Kelly % Books-n-Kisses rated it 4 of 5 stars

Another great book by Delilah....

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Kelly NUMBER OF STARS: 4 1/2

REVIEW:
As the final book in Delilah Marvelle’s Rumor series Forever a Lord brings us full circle with the story of what happened to Lord Nathaniel Atwood. if you have read the Rumor series today (which I would highly recommend you read this series in order) we all know that Lord Atwood went missing when he was just a young boy. What we didn’t know was the why, how and where he has been. Until now.

Forever a Lord gi...more

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Aug 08, 2012 Delilah Marvelle added it · (Review from the author)

Rumor has it the truth is going to take your breath away...

My dearest Readers,
We all carry secrets, be they small or large, and we all carry them for very different reasons. We do it to protect ourselves and/or others. Regardless, a secret isn’t meant to be kept forever. They are meant to be shared with someone we can genuinely trust, so that the burden of the shame we feel by holding onto our secrets can be taken away from our souls. In FOREVER A LORD, welcome to the world of what happens when...more

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Mar 09, 2013 Tin Ong rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013

To read my complete review, visit: Love Saves the World

Forever a Lord was engrossing and enthralling, with characters that are multi-faceted and larger than life. With this book, Delilah Marvelle brings to a close one of the most intriguing and entertaining romance novel series that I have had the pleasure of reading.

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Dec 03, 2012 Jess the Romanceaholic rated it 4 of 5 stars

While I enjoyed the main storyline, and loved how the series was wrapped up (especially in regards to Nathaniel's childhood disappearance), I was a bit put off by how bold the heroine was, considering both the time period, her rank, and her "condition".

An enjoyable read, to be sure, but sadly not really a favorite.

3.5 Stars, full review to follow.

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Jan 01, 2013 Sara rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-netgalley, 2012-reads, december-12

I adore this author.

So much so that I teared up bit at certain moments. I really feel for Nathaniel's suffering and admire Imogene's resilience. She is may be a bit innocent, but she's not ignorant nor close minded. I love how Nathaniel recognizes how special she is and how he wants to protect her, give her a better life than the one she's had. He may be a tough exterior, but he's really very sweet.

The progression of their relationship felt so natural and there was none of those annoying misun...more

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Jan 03, 2013 Hillary Seidl rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is truly an amazing love story and one of the best books I've read! Lord Atwood is such a complex and beautiful hero. This book will leave you highly satisfied. I love the way Miss Marvelle writes! I reccomend this wonderfully done naughty romance.

Hillary Seidl

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Forever a Lord (The Rumor #3)

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