How to Woo a Reluctant Lady (Hellions of Halstead Hall, #3)

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How to Woo a Reluctant Lady (Hellions of Halstead Hall #3)

by Sabrina Jeffries (Goodreads Author)

4.06 of 5 stars 4.06 · rating details · 2,923 ratings · 207 reviews

The third novel inSabrina Jeffries's “Hellions of Hallstead Hall” series, featuring the independent and talentedLady Minerva Sharpe.

When a charming rogue proposes she marry him to meet her grandmother's ultimatum, the Sharpe clan's strong-willed sister makes a tempting counter-offer that preserves her inheritance and ignites his imagination.

Lady Minerva Sharpe has the per...more

Paperback, 345 pages

Published January 18th 2011 by Pocket Star

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Oct 28, 2011 Rebecca (everyday reader) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance

I won this book from one of the giveaways right her on goodreads. Minerva and Giles make a good match. He learns to trust in people as he's never allowed before, and she gets the love and heart of the man who loves her for her. Giles has been a friend of her brothers for years, and has been in all the previous books. Minerva is a smart, independent woman who believes in herself, but has been affected by her parents deaths and Giles dismissal of her in the past. We still don't have a closed case...more

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Apr 14, 2012 Jerelyn rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance

I like it when you’re excited for a book to come out and you’re not in the least bit disappointed after you read it, in fact it is better than you imagined. This is how it is with Sabrina Jeffries new release How to Woo a Reluctant Lady #3 in the Hellions series.

Minerva's story: She is the Gothic novelist who doesn't need to marry; she can take care of herself. But if she doesn't marry her Grandmother will cut not just her off but Minerva siblings as well and they do need the money.

Giles Maste...more

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Oct 15, 2011 Ing rated it 5 of 5 stars

My Synopsis:

At the age of nine Minerva Sharpe fell in love with Giles Masters the scoundrel friend of her older brothers. At nineteen Minerva fell out of love (or so she convinces herself) with Giles after he rudely rebuked her attempts at getting him to notice her as more than just the baby sister of her brothers. They shared one kiss that night that neither have been able to forget.

Minerva now a writes gothic novels under her own name that has a villain who resembles Giles a great deal. Her g...more My Synopsis:

At the age of nine Minerva Sharpe fell in love with Giles Masters the scoundrel friend of her older brothers. At nineteen Minerva fell out of love (or so she convinces herself) with Giles after he rudely rebuked her attempts at getting him to notice her as more than just the baby sister of her brothers. They shared one kiss that night that neither have been able to forget.

Minerva now a writes gothic novels under her own name that has a villain who resembles Giles a great deal. Her grandmother has given her and her siblings an ultimatum to marry or else she'll cut them off from their dowries. Minerva does not want to marry. She's seen the ugly side of marriage from the men in the world and from the scandal of her parent's death. At the age of nine Minerva lost her parents. Her mother was rumored to have shot her father and then killed herself after his many affairs. So she cannot stand the idea of being trapped in a marriage. To thwart her grandmother she advertises for a husband in the Lady's Magazine. She hopes this stint will scandalize and get her grandmother to relent from her goal of all her grandchildren having to marry in order for them to not get cut off.

Giles has lived a double life since the age of 19 pretending to be a scoundrel and a gambler in order to gain information from his peers to help the English government. He has never been able to forget the night he and Miranda shared a kiss so long a long and they way he had to treat her in order for to stop questioning him about his activities that night. Activities that could get him disbarred as barrister and bring scandal to his family. When he realizes that Miranda's villain resembles him a great deal and she was writing of that night in her stories he realizes that he needs to put a stop to her writing before others connect him to her story and the incident long ago. Giles figures he could marry her and keep her from writing more so he heads to interview as a potential husband.

Fun, intrigue, and love ensues from here!

My Thoughts:

I have been looking forward to the story of Miranda and Giles since the start of this series. Miranda was so unconventional, opinionated, and an author to boot. Giles..well as you can see he was the worst sort of scoundrel and that is what the readers were lead to believe but I always figured there was more to him. Boy was I not disappointed in their story. From the beginning until the end Sabrina had me hooked to this book. I finished it one night and that is saying a lot.

For fans of this series we get more clues in to the mysterious death of the parents of the Sharpe sibling. I honestly have no clue what could have happen that night so I can't wait to see where Sabrina leads us on this mystery. Minerva and Giles...wow the sexual awareness between these two literally crackles between the pages. Their banter and games of cat and mouse was verbal foreplay at it's best. I love that they've known each other so long and that initially Minerva secretly loved Giles since the age of nine. I love those unrequited love story-lines. Giles and Minerva were perfect for one another and every moment spent with them was a pleasure. I loved discovering the details that made both characters tick they way they do.

It was great catching up with the characters from the previous two novels to see what's been going on in their lives. We also I'm pretty sure meet Gabe's heroine in this novel. If I'm correct and the incident in this book with Gabe and the heroine in question is correct than I can't wait for Gabe's book. There might be some tears here and I'm not sure how Sabrina will get them to work but I'm sure she will. Also Pinter and Celia wow do those two rub each other the wrong way. I'm just rubbing my hands together eagerly awaiting that story too.

I am not looking forward to the end of this series. Which will not be soon since we still have two more books but this unconventional and lovable family are now keeper books on my shelf. (less)

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Dec 31, 2012 Julie rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was a sensational book, one of the best Sabrina Jeffries romances I've read. Minerva Sharpe fell in and out of love with Giles Masters, a rakish old friend of her brothers while at a masquerade nine years ago. After breaking her heart, she writes him into her novels, portraying him as a roguish but thrilling French spy. Little does she know how close to the truth she comes - nor how little she really knows about him! I love, loved this book! A forced marriage scenario, the continuing myster...more

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Feb 11, 2013 Morgan Wyatt rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance

How to Woo a Reluctant Lady by Sabrina Jeffries is the third book in Hellions of Halstead Hall series published by Pocket Star books. Lady Minerva Sharpe, the oldest sister, is the reluctant lady. There was a time she was more than willing to fall in love, but that time has passed. She is now content to write gothic romances. Her grandmother insists she must marry for anyone in the family to receive their inheritance.

Minerva used to be in love with her brother’s friend Giles Masters. That was un...more

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Mar 25, 2012 Laura Navarre rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: lovers of light Regency romance

Shelves: historical-romance, regency-romance

In my maiden foray into Sabrina Jeffries’ Hellions of Halstead Hall series, Lady Minerva Sharpe is the latest sibling to feel the pressure of her autocratic grandmother’s ultimatum: she and her willful siblings must marry quickly, or all of them risk disinheritance. The precocious Lady Minerva is a somewhat scandalous creature, author to a series of popular gothic novels who writes boldly under her own blue-blooded name.

Giles Masters is a well-respected barrister on the brink of promotion to Ki...more

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Jan 28, 2012 Felicia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-read, kindlepurchase2011

Bought from Amazon

What I Loved: Minerva has to be one of the best leading ladies I have read. She is smart, cunning, and hard headed. She is also the perfect mate for Giles. Giles is a really great leading guy! He is smart, conflicted, hiding something, and totally in love with Minerva but refuses to admit it. All the traits that make you swoon when reading their love story. They are both so hard-headed and stubborn that you just know their path is going to be bumpy but fun. It doesn't help that...more

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Feb 24, 2011 kilty rated it 3 of 5 stars

how to woo a reluctant reader..

3.5 - 4 stars (undecided whether to choose 3 or 4 above)

I generally like/hate SJ's books..they are fun, fast or rather racy reads that I enjoy reading upto a point..somewhat like caramel hard candy..nice to savor initially, but the last bit is rather st(icky) to chew and swallow.

The hero in this book leads a double life, somewhat Scarlet Pimpernelish (about 5%.. I love that book too much to make a bigger allusion) and the heroine who has been infatuated with him s...more how to woo a reluctant reader..

3.5 - 4 stars (undecided whether to choose 3 or 4 above)

I generally like/hate SJ's books..they are fun, fast or rather racy reads that I enjoy reading upto a point..somewhat like caramel hard candy..nice to savor initially, but the last bit is rather st(icky) to chew and swallow.

The hero in this book leads a double life, somewhat Scarlet Pimpernelish (about 5%.. I love that book too much to make a bigger allusion) and the heroine who has been infatuated with him since she was nine years old (no.. not weird considering that he comforts her at a time when she feels lost, scared and vulnerable) ..anyway she almost but not quite discovers that the hero has secrets to hide and uses that knowledge against him creatively, in a way punishing him for not having the good taste to have fallen madly in love with her:) Creatively..how? by making him the lead character in her gothic novels which she writes using her real name (which naturally increases the "gasp!" value).. oh! but the best part is, by lead character, I mean, the hero is actually the villain in her books and she mixes real life incidents with fiction just enough to annoy him into acknowledging her existence and also add some spice to his own!

Minerva is very much the trademark SJ heroine - minxish and manipulative; Giles, the troubled and secretive hero, is attracted to her for who she is rather than wanting her to be an ideal dictated by society and he even tries to get a glimpse into her real self by reading her novels which appears in a ladies journal.. aw! I liked the fact that they share a past and Minerva's brother who is also Giles' best friend senses something behind all the pseudo antagonism enough to warn him off.. titillating! *grin*

Well! all that was the good part.. then the story continued in SJ's familiar path of distasteful lies, manipulation, distrust ..using sex as a weapon, love as a synonym for one-upmanship and competition.. and then finally the H&h live happily ever after leaving a reader 'like me' to vacuum and vent just so I don't have to listen to my own diatribe in the noise..but you guys aren't so lucky, if you're reading this;) In this book, Giles is distrustful and holds back the truth from Minerva but he is made to realize how that can be hurtful and he genuinely regrets it later.. Minerva, at the same time has him investigated even after she marries him and again he is made to realize that it is for his own good..hmm!..Actually she has issues because her father had many extramarital affairs but I am still not sure whether having him investigated was the justified solution. This is nothing in comparison to SJ's book with the monkey from India, where both the hero and heroine were so horrible that I created an imaginary secondary romance in my mind for the monkey just to get through the book!

yup! this was a fun read initially and an ok to frustrating read, depending on the perspective, towards the end.

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Feb 03, 2011 Carrie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011

I adore this series. The Sharpes are one of my favorite fictional families. I was happy that we were finally getting to one of the sisters and Minerva’s story is perfect. Minerva is headstrong and unique. She is an authoress of Gothic novels and doesn’t want to get married. She equates getting married with having to give up her passions. I loved how she was trying to get around her grandmother’s decree that she must marry. Giles is a fantastic hero. He has a secret life and tries to keep it all...more

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Jan 24, 2011 April rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance-regency-england

HOW TO WOO A RELUCTANT LADY by Sabrina Jeffries is a delightful historical romance set in 1825 London. It is well written with depth,details,turns and twists. It is the third in "The Hellions of Halstead Hall Series, book one " The Truth About Lord Stoneville", book two " A hellion in Her Bed" but can be read as a stand alone. It has romance, secrets,sensuality,passion,love, witty dialogue,friends,and of course how to woo a Lady. The hero,Giles, is handsome,a spy, friend of Jarett,Minerva's brot...more

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Jan 22, 2011 Lady Rogue rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Minerva Sharpe had been in love with Giles Masters since the death of her parents when she was nine years old. Then on her nineteenth birthday, she snuck into a costume party where she hoped to find and entice Giles. For a brief moment, her dreams came true with the kiss of all kisses. That was until Giles shattered the illusion with his harsh words. It was then, she fell out of love with Giles and built a wall around her heart. Years later, Minerva had little to do with the male gender and was...more Minerva Sharpe had been in love with Giles Masters since the death of her parents when she was nine years old. Then on her nineteenth birthday, she snuck into a costume party where she hoped to find and entice Giles. For a brief moment, her dreams came true with the kiss of all kisses. That was until Giles shattered the illusion with his harsh words. It was then, she fell out of love with Giles and built a wall around her heart. Years later, Minerva had little to do with the male gender and was a successful writer of Gothic novels.

Contrary to Giles Masters's reputation as a drinking and gambling womanizer, he was a successful barrister. He was also an informant for England, and used his falsely ill reputation as a means to gain information that served his country. But, when he was being considered for a position on the King's Counsel, he felt it was time to clean up his act, retire from spying, restore honor to his reputation and take a wife. Fate must have been watching for that moment, as his employer showed Giles the recent installment in Minerva's novel along with an advertisement for a husband. While, his employer was more concerned about the resemblance between Minerva's villain and Giles and the potential repercussions both physically and professionally it would mean for him, Giles was more concerned about not being the one she married. She had always been his ideal for a wife and he was determined to be the one to fill the role of her husband.

As a friend of Minerva's brothers, Giles had known about the infamous ultimatum Hetty, their grandmother laid on the Sharpe siblings. They were to marry within a time limit or loose their inheritance. But, Giles was in for a rude awakening, if he thought it was going to be easy. When he approached Minerva and offered for her hand, she all but laughed in his face. She had no intention of marrying anyone, especially him. Who could blame her? She liked her independence and didn't want to give up her writing. Then she had an epiphany. She knew her grandmother didn't like Giles. In the hopes that Hetty would retract her ultimatum, she agreed to marry the one person Hetty didn't care for...Giles. But, Hetty was a wise old woman and saw through Minerva's facade. She had a private chat with Giles and began to have second thoughts about his character. She decided to give him a chance, much to her grand children's chagrin. From that moment on, Minerva was determine to keep her independence and Giles was determined to win her heart. But when there is no trust...there is no peace in a relationship. As their passion grew, so did their trust issues. Giles life was filled with secrets and Minerva had a need to write everything down in her novels. It was problematic. Each had to face their past and learn to trust in order to move forward.

I thought the supporting characters were entertaining as well. I love the unity of the Sharpe family, their quirky personalities, and their overall zest for life. I also appreciate how Sabrina Jeffries manages to stay true to the historical settings while embedding situations that were not only credible in the written time era, but in the reader's current one. It made the story much more engaging.

Overall, I love this book. Sabrina Jeffries's work should be considered a staple among historical romance novels and should be on every avid reader's bookshelf. How To Woo A Reluctant Lady is the third installment in the Hellions of Halstead Hall series. It's a fun and lighthearted read with each page filled with passion, wit, and depth.

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Jan 20, 2011 Jules rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: blog-tour, reviewed, sent-4-review

As usual I am late coming into a fantastic series. While this is the third book of the trilogy, I had no trouble reading it as a stand alone story. (This being said, I can't wait to get my paws on the first two.)

I have always loved reading historical romance. Even as a young girl, these were my favorite types of escapes. What sets this book apart from so many I've read is the fantastic interplay between Minerva and Giles. They are written with such intensity and intelligence that I just know tha...more

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Jan 19, 2011 Sandy M rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical

I’ve begun reading a couple of historicals lately that, uh, well, bored me. They didn’t engage me immediately, make me care for the characters right off the bat, make me want to continue reading about their lives. So, needless to say, this book instantly blew fresh life into me with the emotion Ms. Jeffries shares with us concerning Minerva on the very first page. My heart wept for her young broken heart. And then I smiled at the way that brokenness healed. A perfect beginning to a wonderfully w...more I’ve begun reading a couple of historicals lately that, uh, well, bored me. They didn’t engage me immediately, make me care for the characters right off the bat, make me want to continue reading about their lives. So, needless to say, this book instantly blew fresh life into me with the emotion Ms. Jeffries shares with us concerning Minerva on the very first page. My heart wept for her young broken heart. And then I smiled at the way that brokenness healed. A perfect beginning to a wonderfully written story.

Though all of the Sharpe children are hellions and do their own thing despite what society thinks of them, I believe Minerva is going to be my favorite - and that’s saying something due to the little bit of insight we get here into Gabe and how emotional his story can potentially turn out to be. Minerva has loved Giles Masters for years until he intentionally breaks her heart. He knows his secretive life is not conducive to a successful relationship, so he sacrifices all of what might be between him and Minerva. But enough time has now passed that he’s ready to leave that life behind and concentrate on his barrister career, the potential of becoming one of the King’s Counsel, and perhaps even settling down. That brings the beautiful Minerva to mind, especially after his employer shows Giles Minerva’s latest book in which the villian eerily resembles Giles. Also included in her latest work is an advertisement for a husband!

Heading straight to Minerva with a two-fold goal in mind - keep all the other prospective husbands away from her and then end up being married to her himself - Giles instead ends up on the wrong side of the woman and her schemes. Playing along with her - and her grandmother, who has given all her grandchildren an ultimatum concerning marrying or being cut off - Giles is serious in his courting of Minerva and will marry her despite any and all objections. Minerva only wants to be left alone to continue her writing. Having had her heart broken once, she’s not ready for that to happen again, so she happily goes through the motions of pretending to be engaged to Giles. But the man creeps under her skin once again. The more she finds out about him and his legitimate occupation, she fears her heart won’t stand against another break, because that’s exactly what Giles will do to her.

This couple is so charming and engaging together. They each have mysteries in their lives and each comes unraveled as circumstances either work for them or against them. I really enjoy the fact they do work and stay together, even when the chips are down or there is conflict between them. They talk to one another to work those issues through. And the emotion throughout the book is wonderful. You feel their individual fears, hurts, and happiness as well as when they’re together. Minerva is able to keep her independence because Giles doesn’t want her to change, and it’s Giles who changes when he realizes what he has to do to keep his wife.

Thank goodness for Sabrina Jeffries and Giles and Minerva! I’m actually looking forward again to the next historical book I pick up.(less)

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Dec 19, 2010 Bookaholics rated it 5 of 5 stars

How to Woo a Reluctant Lady by Sabrina Jeffries
Historical Romance – Jan. 18th, 2011
5 stars

Sabrina Jeffries has outdone herself! How to Woo a Reluctant Lady is a charming, funny and highly entertaining Regency romance that is not to be missed. In this 3rd installment, the author continues her Hellions of Halstead Hall series with the romance between the gothic author Lady Minerva Sharpe and the gambling rogue barrister Giles Master.

The Hellions of Halstead Hall have tried the patience of their de...more
How to Woo a Reluctant Lady by Sabrina Jeffries
Historical Romance – Jan. 18th, 2011
5 stars

Sabrina Jeffries has outdone herself! How to Woo a Reluctant Lady is a charming, funny and highly entertaining Regency romance that is not to be missed. In this 3rd installment, the author continues her Hellions of Halstead Hall series with the romance between the gothic author Lady Minerva Sharpe and the gambling rogue barrister Giles Master.

The Hellions of Halstead Hall have tried the patience of their devious grandmother and she has threatened them disinheritance if all of them do not marry. So far 2 of them have been 'hitched.' But their grandmother despairs of her young granddaughter, the stubborn writer, Lady Minerva Sharpe. Minerva does not want any man to cut short her freedom and independence, for she knows he will stop her from her beloved writing. So she pulls an outrageous ploy to try to out-maneuver her manipulative grandmother but instead gets a surprise when the man who broke her young heart proposes to her! But Minerva is wiser and wants nothing to do the arrogant and reckless gambler Giles Masters. (The man she has based on her dark and dastardly villain in her gothic novels.)

It has always bothered Giles that Minerva has used him as the basis for her infamous villain in her stories. But she is the only woman that he has ever thought he could marry. When he discovers that Minerva is interviewing for prospective husbands to shock her grandmother, he runs over to be interviewed and is stunned when she laughs at his proposal. That is until Minerva realizes that her grandmother disapproves of Giles. And she realizes that pretending to be his fiancée is a perfect opportunity to force her grandmother to recant her ruling for Minerva to marry!

But Giles is as attractive as ever, and he knows it is about time he should marry. This 'pretend engagement' is not pretend to him. He intends to use his time with Minerva to convince her to take a chance on him because thinking of Minerva with someone else disturbs him more than he wants to admit. The trouble? Giles is a spy for the government. His role as a rogue has acted as a cover and helped him retrieve delicate information. However, he can't tell her about his double life. But a dangerous man with a mission is bound to be trouble for Minerva’s poor heart!

This is an amazingly entertaining read. I loved the interplay between Minerva and Giles. Both are very intelligent, and it was fun reading them try to out do each other. Minerva doesn’t let Giles get away with anything. I thought it is hilarious that she uses him in her stories and how miffed he is even though everyone else thought the villain is based on Minerva's brother, Oliver. Giles wants Minerva to see another side of him as he takes her to see him in court and slowly reveals more of the tragic past that shaped the man he became when his father died. (There are also segments about Minerva as an author that I thought were insightful.) As Minerva realizes how good Giles is at his work, she asks him to investigate the mysterious deaths of her parents that caused a huge scandal. There are definitely some intriguing surprises that I can't wait for the next book to reveal.

This book is my favorite in the Hellions of Halstead Hall series. I was sad that it had to end. The adventures and mishaps between Giles and Minerva are perfectly funny, charming, and definitely worth the wait.

Delightfully charming and filled with intrigue and mystery, this is a guaranteed winner. Do not miss this book. I simply loved it.

Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
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Jul 13, 2012 HÜLYA YILMAZ rated it 4 of 5 stars

Sır Gibi Sakladım - Sabrina Jeffries

Orjinal Adı How to Woo a Reluctant Lady (Hellions of Halstead Hall 3) Serinin üçüncü kitabı idi..

Daha önce büyük ağabey Oliver ikinci kitapta Jarret 3.macera ise Lady Minevra Sharpe ve Giles Masters'ın macerası idi..

Serinin 3.macerası Sır Gibi Sakladım 5/4,01 Goodreads puanı serinin diğer okuduğum kitaplarına göre daha başarılı buldum..

Lady Minevra Sharpe ailenin sıra dışı genç kızı Büyük annelerinin evlilik emri onuda kapsamaktadır biri evlenmezse mirası kaza...more

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Apr 12, 2012 Shan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own

Anyone who knows me well, knows that I am a huge Sabrina Jeffries fan. She always does such a fantastic job on her books that I am always waiting with bated breath for the next. This book is no exception.

I have love all of the Hellions since the very beginning and am so glad that this particular one(Lady Minerva Sharpe) ended up with Giles Masters. These two are a match made in Heaven, but isn't it always that way with Sabrina books. She knows exactly which characters have the most chemistry and...more

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Jan 28, 2012 Michelle Kelly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-read, historical

I think my favourite Hellion so far.
http://anotherlookbookreviews.blogspo...

How to Woo a Reluctant Lady is the third book in the Hellions of Halstead Hall series. Each one of these Hellions has been a great read so far but I think that How to Woo a Reluctant Lady just may be my favourite up till now. I was fond of the idea that Minerva had fallen in love with Giles when she was only 9 years old. I love a story that has a rich backstory that began years before. Even though Giles was 10 years old...more I think my favourite Hellion so far.
http://anotherlookbookreviews.blogspo...

How to Woo a Reluctant Lady is the third book in the Hellions of Halstead Hall series. Each one of these Hellions has been a great read so far but I think that How to Woo a Reluctant Lady just may be my favourite up till now. I was fond of the idea that Minerva had fallen in love with Giles when she was only 9 years old. I love a story that has a rich backstory that began years before. Even though Giles was 10 years older than Minerva, the kindness he'd shown her the day of her parent's funeral was just what made me fall in love with him too.

Since the title of the book is called How to Woo a Reluctant Lady, you may wonder what is so reluctant with Minerva not to fall for Giles' marriage proposal many years later. Well fast forward from Minerva's parent's funeral to ten years into the future, Minerva gets her dream answered by bribing a kiss from the rake Giles. It is after this precious moment that Minerva falls out of love with him as he made some flippant cruel comments that broke her heart. How to Woo a Reluctant Lady was about poor Giles making up for those careless words.

Minerva is running out of time regarding her grandmother's ultimatum to marry within the year or be cut off. As she attempts to battle wits with her grandmother, the famous Gothic novel writer decides to be bold and takes out an advertisement in the newspaper to interview suitors for a potential husband. It is this ad that springs Giles forward with a plan to make Minerva his wife. Giles always wanted Minerva ever since that moment years earlier but had to hold off due to his emotional place in life. He just wasn't ready or stable to settle then. As Giles shows up for his interview, he eventually woo'd her into accepting the proposal under the guise of fooling her grandmother. I loved out Minerva thought she was thwarting her but really Giles and her grandmother were thwarting Minerva!

It was entertaining t read the various ways Giles was striving for her to fall in love with him. Giles became super attractive to me as he demonstrated how smart he was in court as a barrister and how he worked to figure out more clues regarding her parent's deaths. I do love a smart man and Giles had it in spades.

Another reason I loved the story is because Giles and Minerva get married in the middle of the book. I truly love a marriage near the beginning or middle and not having to wait for a wedding to close out the novel. All in all, a wonderful read and can't wait to start the next book, To Wed a Wild Lord. Sabrina Jeffries did a great set up for a potential spouse for Minerva's brother Gabe so I am eager to read how that will all play out. Could be turbulent and I have a feeling it will be emotional.

Teasers: Behind the dressing screen, the real Lord Rockton, parent's mystery thickens, office desk experience
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Nov 11, 2012 Limau Nipis rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: on-nook, 2012-reads, historical-romance

3.5 stars! Lacking the 4 stars treatment because I feel some parts are missing its steam.

I like Minerva, because she was a novelist, and focusing on Gothic genre as well. It is really rare for me to find a historical romance book with the lady character that has a different and unique profession than other heroines. Which is why I enjoyed Minerva as the main character, and why I rate this book higher at 3.5 stars.

As for Giles, he is not bad at all.

But here is my wish, I wish that the author buil...more

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Jan 10, 2012 Gina rated it 3 of 5 stars

Minerva and Giles have been in love with each other for years, although neither wants to be or will admit it. Add to that a fake engagement, a murder/family mystery, some over-protective brothers, a younger sister, a hasty marriage, some spying, gothic novel writing, a meddling grandmother, and a straight laced detective and you have a very fun, light read. I enjoyed the relationship progression between Minerva and Giles, and their banter had me at times laughing and sighing. This book is part o...more

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Jan 30, 2011 Melissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is the third book in the Hellions series. I did not read the other two and it was not necessary to enjoy this book. This historical romance takes place in England where the matriarch of the estate has offered an ultimatum. The Sharpe siblings all must marry in order to inherit their family's fortune. Minerva is loathe to accept such an ultimatum, but does not want to see her brothers and their families have a hard time without adequate funds. So, Minerva decides to pretend to be engaged to...more

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Sep 03, 2012 Alisa Jenkins rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance-historical

Minerva Sharpe has been in love with her brother's friend, Giles Master, practically all her life yet he doesn't notice her. One night she tries to get his attention, instead he breaks her heart. As she grows up she begins to write Gothic novels casting him as the villain. He on the other hand, did notice her and hasn't forgotten the kiss they shared. But he didn't have time for a wife as he worked to raise his career as a barrister and worked undercover for the Home Office. But one of the super...more

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Nov 22, 2012 Nicole Laverdure rated it 5 of 5 stars

How to Woo a reluctant Lady, book #3 of The Hellions of Halstead Hall series.

I love Ms. Jeffries's characters Minerva Sharpe and Giles Masters

It’s the story of a grandmother who wishes that her grandchildren would settle down and marry so she can enjoy great-grandchildren’s. It’s also the mystery surrounding the deaths of both parents of Minerva .

Minerva must marry by year's end or be disinherited.

Minerva is a beautiful woman and a gothic author; Giles Masters is an attractive gambling rogue. B...more

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Jul 01, 2011 Siobhan Muir rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jan 22, 2011 Lady Darcie rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: romance lovers

Recommended to Lady Darcie by: The Hellions of Hallstead Hall #2

Shelves: historical-romance, favorites

Minerva Sharpe has come up with a brillent plan. She will pretend to be ingaged to Rake and when her grandmother finds out she will let Minerva out of the deal (the very one that her brothers swore to never fall into, The one that says every sibling need to marry in order to get their inheritance)
Minerva set up her plan an interveiw for a husband, expecting alot of males Minerva awaits only to find the one male she never thought would see her as a women and the one man who broker her heart 19 ye...more

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Jan 22, 2012 Patty rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, family, fiction, great-britain, hellions-of-halstead-hall, regency, romance, friendship, historical-romance, women-writers

This has to be the first time in my life I have read three books in a series in the correct order. There are some advantages to this. I can actually follow all the story lines - I get the chronological story as well as the romance. Jeffries does a good job of telling the Halstead story - this was good entertainment.

As always, Jefferies gave me what I am looking for in a romance - happily ever after and characters that grow and change.

I have mentioned in past reviews that romance is my go-to ge...more

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Dec 16, 2011 nurmawati djuhawan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: hr, romance, buku-eng

5 bintang....

kali ini ceritanya ttg lady minerva sharpe yang independen....
dia menolak di suruh nikah oleh nenek nya...kalo gak nikah katanya dia gak bakal dapat warisan....

tapi lady minerva cuek aja....dia punya penghasilan sebagai penulis novel gotic yang sukses.....
dia pemberani dan pintar....bahkan dia menulis nmovel dengan namanya sendiri, gak mau pake nama samaran..dan cuek aja orang2 mau bilang apa...

lady minerva juga bukannya anti co banget...
waktu umur 9 tahun dia jatuh cinta sama temen...more

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Mar 02, 2011 June rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: sabrina-jeffries, hellions-of-halstead-hall

Minerva Sharpe and Giles Masters, the third hellion book was not disappointing. It took me a couple of chapters to realize that Giles Masters was the brother of David Masters, Viscount Kirkwood from the last of the School for Heiresses. He was truly rogue in that book.

Minerva has loved Giles since she was 9 yrs old and he was 18. He was kind to her when her parents died. Then 10 yrs later she runs into him at a masquerade ball that she is not suppose to be at and neither is he. It is a secret th...more

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Feb 15, 2011 Donna (Jaevenstar) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-challenge, adult

It has been a long time since I read an adult romance novel! This was a great first step back into this genre. This book is full of mystery and adventure! I enjoyed the banter between the main character Minerva and Giles her “fake” fiance. At times it made me feel like I was reading a book written based on the characters from the TV series The Tudors with bit of a Jane Austen feel to it. (Only Jane Austen didn’t include steamy sex scenes in her books!)

Minerva is an author (something not necessar...more

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Sep 05, 2012 Amanda rated it 4 of 5 stars

This series is so much fun!

Lady Minerva is not interested in marriage, unfortunately, her grandmother is forcing her (along with the rest of her siblings) to marry on pain of disinheritance.

She is completely caught off guard when Giles Masters, a long time friend of the family, proposes marriage.

Giles has been attracted to Minerva for awhile (and she has been head over heels for him too), but he, until now, he had no place in his life for a woman. Being a spy had left him little time for a pe...more

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Jan 25, 2011 Once Upon rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

After a tragedy a girl's infatuation for her brother's rogue friend turns to love, only to change after he makes a comment, due to his own history with tragedy and how he has avoided commitment that breaks her heart.

She turns out to be a writer that uses her writing to vent and get back at him, using her book characters to express her inner feelings. After he reads her book he finds that the story is to close to his actual double life and decides to propose to her, but now she is the one that do...more

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About Sabrina Jeffries

If having a colorful life turns you into a novelist, then I had no choice but to become a writer. My whole life changed when my parents moved us to Thailand when I was seven. Before I was eighteen, I'd eaten chicken heads and jellyfish, been chased by a baby elephant, seen countless cobras and pythons, had the entire series of rabies shots (yes, the ones in the stomach with those lo-o-o-ng needles...more

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Books by Sabrina Jeffries

The Truth About Lord Stoneville (Hellions of Halstead Hall, #1)

One Night With a Prince (Royal Brotherhood, #3)

Never Seduce a Scoundrel (School for Heiresses, Book 1)

In the Prince's Bed (Royal Brotherhood, #1)

A Hellion in Her Bed (Hellions of Halstead Hall, #2)

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“I swear, Oliver, when did you become such a stick-in-the-mud?”
“I’ve always been a stick-in-the-mud.” Her brother cast her a thin smile. “I just hid it beneath all the debauchery.”
She sniffed. “I wish you’d hide it again. It’s quite annoying.” — 14 people liked it

“I always say that love is like the meat in a pie,” Freddy put in. “The crust is what people see—the practical things that hold a couple together. But love is the important part—without it you’ve got a meatless pie, and what’s the point of that?”
“Why, Freddy,” Minerva said, “that was almost profound.” — 11 people liked it

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How to Woo a Reluctant Lady (Hellions of Halstead Hall #3)

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