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Love Only Once (Malory-Anderson Family #1)

4.07 of 5 stars 4.07 · rating details · 7,032 ratings · 218 reviews

The exquisite niece of Lord Edward and Lady Charlotte Malory, Regina Ashton is outraged over her abduction by the arrogant, devilishly handsome Nicholas Eden--and is determined to make the rogue pay . . . with his heart.

A golden-haired seducer, Nicholas has been hardened by a painful secret in his past. And now that he has besmirched Reggie's good name, the hot-tempered la...more

Paperback, 344 pages

Published March 29th 2005 by Avon Books (first published 1985)

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Jan 22, 2013 Susanne rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Susanne by: Tiko Telia

Shelves: genre-regency-romance, comfort-reads, everyone-should-read, giggles

I absolutely adore the Malory family. Strangely enough I almost love them more than the plots. Lol!

I actually danced around my apartment, that's how happy this book made me!

We get to meet Regina aka Reggie who is an orphan with four overprotective uncles. She is strong, beautiful, clever and funny. Add Nicholas Eden who is the worst rake and has a secret. He is a bastard and his "mother" threatens to tell the world. Therefore, he will never marry. Regina borrows Lady Selena's carriage to go to...more

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Sep 29, 2009 Summer rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: did-not-finish, historical-romance, romance, hero-is-a-jerk

I only got a few chapters into this book and set it down. The hero is with his mistress at the beginning of the book and he's decided that he's bored of her. He decides to tell her the affair is over after a big social engagement they're attending. His mistress can tell his affections are waning and tries to bait the hero into marriage which doesn't work. Then it switches to the heroine and her family and all their relatives are listed as they get ready for a big social event. Then the heroine g...more

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Jul 24, 2009 Michelle rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: regency, romance-historical, read-own, read-in-2009

I really enjoyed the first book of the Malory series. I could not put it down! Reggie was orphaned when she was 2 years old but raised by her four uncles. Four tough Malory men who love her dearly but could never agree on anything when it came to Reggie! Uncle Anthony was my absolute favorite and I just loved the relationship that they both shared! Nicholas Eden is an arrogant, notorious rake and knows that he could get any woman he wants. He has many women trying to win his affections but he’d...more

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Feb 11, 2013 Aishwarya Hariharan added it Recommends it for: no one

Goodreads should come up with a negative star system.

This book is without doubt the worst book I've ever read. Inconsistent lead characters(Regina trying to be "the cool Victorian lady" and failing miserably, Nicholas Eden who was about as inconsistent and unromantic as they come), awful shoddy writing and a plotline that nearly caused my brain to bleed out of my ears. You might think I'm being extremely harsh because a book is a labour of love and the author probably put a lot of sweat and bloo...more
Goodreads should come up with a negative star system.

This book is without doubt the worst book I've ever read. Inconsistent lead characters(Regina trying to be "the cool Victorian lady" and failing miserably, Nicholas Eden who was about as inconsistent and unromantic as they come), awful shoddy writing and a plotline that nearly caused my brain to bleed out of my ears. You might think I'm being extremely harsh because a book is a labour of love and the author probably put a lot of sweat and blood into writing it but really, it doesn't show.

Let me give you an example: Nicholas doesn't want to get married. But Regina does for some misguided notions that only she can understand. She has four uncles who each try to be Superman and are presented as romantically as possible because clearly they're going to be heroes later on in the series. So, the four uncles try to persuade her but she doesn't listen because she wants to get married RIGHT NOW and she doesn't care who it's with. Cos, you know, these things never go wrong. So, she gets married(she's 4 months pregnant but not showing even in the least) and then Nicholas proceeds to drop her off at his estate without even so much as a 'How do you do ?'. She could have told him she was pregnant and strongarmed him into staying like she let her uncles strongarm him into marrying her but no, she doesn't want to "be that kind of girl". So, she doesn't. She lazes around, gets into battles with her cold fish of a mother in law and has a good time. Then she gets kidnapped by some pirate who hates her husband WHO COINCIDENTIALLY TURNS OUT TO BE HER UNCLE. WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT.
This isn't even the kicker. After a tearful family reunion(where bastards are totally accepted because, you know, why is it wrong in the Victorian Era), the pirate uncle hunts down husband and brings him back. Without telling him about baby. Nicholas finds out he has a son, no reaction. He just wants to get back with his wife that he abandoned for six months and then accused of having an affair. Regina deals with it in such a wooden manner, God. He disassembles a household in record time and whisks them off to an inn where he tries to engineer a situation where they'll end up sharing a bed so he can get it. That's when I stopped reading.

I fail to understand why any human being would read this book and walk away with any admiration for any character in this book. It's reprehensible with paper thin characters. And the sex scenes wouldn't have sparked even if you'd lit a match to the book.(less)

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Jul 02, 2011 Britainy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 4-floozies, 2011, historical, kindle, romance, series

3.5 Floozies

The Good:
What saved the book for me was:

- the growth of Reggie, and because she made such a quick path to mother and jilted bride her perspective was broadened.
- LOVE LOVE LOVE her uncles, the set-up for Anthony's book was just good enough I will read it. My only hope is that Tender Rebel will resurrect my faith in the potential of this series.
- The scandal of Nicky's birth, although I guessed it early on, the venom Miriam spewed was fascinating
- The supporting characters, and gra...more

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May 27, 2011 Netha rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance

ah paling semangat daku kalo udah mulai ngomongin tante JL & Mallory family

Love Only Once bercerita ttg Regina Ashton, puteri satu2nya dari mellisa mallory, lady penwich, yg meninggal saat regina masih berusia 2 tahun.
akhirnya regina dibesarkan oleh ke 4 pamannya, jason, edward, james & anthony.

dibesarkan oleh ke 4 pamannya membuat regina menjadi pribadi yg sangat kaya.
dia bisa naik pohon, memancing & melakukan hal2 yg bukan dilakukan seorang lady tp regina juga mampu menjadi seorang...more

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Aug 19, 2010 Darlyn rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really have problems when I'm writing a historical romance review. Sometime I found them very stereotype and most of the stories have the same thing. A very handsome guy and a very beautiful woman. However, every time I read one, I still love and enjoy it in any way.

Nicholas is of course as stated, a very arrogant and it started when he thought he kidnapped his mistress but he kidnapped Regina instead. Things could go worst as he kind of insulted Regina physically and Regina thinks she has to...more

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Mar 10, 2010 Kathy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, historical-romance

Regina and Nicholas... Regina is neice to 4 Malory uncles... who raised her afther her parents died when she was 2... They love her, spoil her, and she split the year staying with each of them... and she is fed up trying to find a husband who will satisfy all of her uncles.

Nicholas is handsome, wealthy, a player... his 'mother' agreed to pretend to be his mother as she could not carry a child, (his sister had a one night stand with her drunk husband).. but her anger leads her to treat him rudel...more

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Mar 06, 2010 ~Sara~ rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance, romance

As soon as I started reading this book I realized I had read it already. That's not because it wasn't memorable, it was the opposite actually. I must have read it about 12-15 years ago and I have a terrible memory but less then two pages in I recognized it and remembered liking it so I read it again. It was a fantastic story and I'm glad I rediscovered it since I'm pretty sure I haven't read the other books in the series except for the last, The Present. The next story in the series, Tender Rebe ...more

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Feb 11, 2012 Mimma Y rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: my-own-book

ceritanya baru seru waktu nicholas dipaksa buat nikahin reggie...pada awalnya sih nicholas ngak mau. tp dibawah ancaman nenek, bibi n pamannya reggie ditambah iming2 dapat tanah akhirnya nicholas mau juga walaupun dengan berbagai cara nicholas berusaha agar reggie mutusin pertungangan mereka.

nicholas sendiri berencana ngak mo nikah lantaran ada rahasia dari kelahirannya yaitu : nicholas adalah anak haram, nah si hero kita ini takut klo ntr istrinya nyesal, kecewa, marah pas tau jati diri nichol...more

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Dec 01, 2010 Booked rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-and-all, sprinkled-with-humor

WHEN LOVE IS BOTH TORMENT AND ECSTASY...

Her life changed forever the night she was abducted from a dark London street and carried to a stranger's townhouse. At first Regina Ashton was amused, then outraged at the arrogance of this bronzed, golden-curled seducer who so deftly taught her a woman's passion... and a woman's shame. Though he dragged her good name through the mud, Reggie knew she would never be able to forget Nicholas Eden.

Nicholas was intrigued by this fiery, black-haired beauty wh...more

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Feb 01, 2010 Casta rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

There was a lot about this book that I enjoyed, and I've read a whole lot of Johanna Lindsey's books. However, the further we got into the story, the less and less I liked the male romantic lead-- in theory, there were lots of reasons (insights into his thoughts and reasoning, and so on) that he could be "forgivable," or "understandable," but in all, he really was a jerk. A lot of Lindsey's books have the "main character resists spilling the beans about secret from the past, beyond all boundarie...more

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Dec 11, 2012 Jenn rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebook, pirate-romance, romance

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

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Apr 23, 2012 Lady Wesley rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I do enjoy reading family series, for example, Mary Balogh's Slightly series, and I had hoped the Malory family might be similarly engaging. And I still hope so, but this first book in the series was not as good as I wished for.

I liked the hero and heroine; he was a charming rake, and she was a beautiful spitfire. His mistaken abduction of her was a fun start to the book. I loved all of the uncles and their backstories. And although a pirate story suddenly appears about halfway into the book, it...more

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Dec 13, 2012 Jessica rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: e-book, historical-romance

ah, i love how Nicholas realized that he was destined to love only once.
the way JL brought the conflicts up makes me feel that their love is worth to fight for.

first time, i really hate the way Nicky behaved to Reggie. I was like, what the hell with this guy. if u want, take it. if u don't want, leave it. it was like he just playing around, and i don't like this kind of hero. :( and that kidnapping scene, what the hell, because of jealousy to Anthony? Get real boy! u said u already do not care t...more

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Oct 11, 2012 Joy rated it 1 of 5 stars

I was lucky enough to purchase this book in amongst a pile of others, or so I thought. Settling in for a good read it took mere seconds to realise I'd read it years ago. My reading tastes have changed over the years, no way could I go there again. A very cautious Johanna Lindsey fan I'm reminded with this nero of how closely he resembles some of Diana Palmer's alpha jerks and the crap they deal their heroines. Worse I'm out of patience with authors who drag their heroines through all manner of s...more

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Mar 24, 2013 Marie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance, johanna-lindsey

Bintang 4
Buku ke1 seri Malory-Anderson Family

Kurang begitu suka sama Nicholas yg membiarkan stigma anak haram pada dirinya dan menghancurkan hidupnya selama bertahun tahun bahkan dengan alasan itu juga menghindari pernikahan karena takut wanita yg dinikahinya tahu rahasianya dan akhirnya meninggalkan dirinya karena statusnya itu. But after all like the story and the title is so romantic "LOVE ONLY ONCE".

Regina Ashton putus asa dengan keadaan dirinya yg belum juga menikah setelah melewati 1 seaso...more Bintang 4
Buku ke1 seri Malory-Anderson Family

Kurang begitu suka sama Nicholas yg membiarkan stigma anak haram pada dirinya dan menghancurkan hidupnya selama bertahun tahun bahkan dengan alasan itu juga menghindari pernikahan karena takut wanita yg dinikahinya tahu rahasianya dan akhirnya meninggalkan dirinya karena statusnya itu. But after all like the story and the title is so romantic "LOVE ONLY ONCE".

Regina Ashton putus asa dengan keadaan dirinya yg belum juga menikah setelah melewati 1 season karena campur tangan para paman yg tidak setuju dengan pilihan calon suaminya. Walau memiliki wajah yg cantik dan eksotis serta seorang ahli waris yg kaya, tidak menjamin secepat itu dirinya memperoleh suami. Padahal Regina ini sudah bosan dengan kegiatan kegiatan sosial selama season.

Saat insiden salah culik yg dilakukan Nicholas Eden terhadap dirinya mulai dipergunjingkan, Regina melihat hal itu sebagai solusi bagi dirinya untuk mendapatkan suami. Menyakinkan pamannya Anthony untuk tidak menyakiti Nicholas yg menarik hatinya (menurut Regina, Nicholas ini merupakan gabungan dari ke4 pamannya dan merupakan pasangan yg tepat bagi dirinya), Regina meminta bantuan pamannya untuk mendukung pilihannya. Dan jadilah pertunangan yg dipaksakan pada Nicholas yg playboy yg tak ingin menikah.

Segala cara dilakukan Nicholas untuk menyakiti hari Regina agar Regina membatalkan pertunangan (yg membuat diriku kesal,si Nicholas ini tidak mau menikahi Regina tapi menginginkan Regina diatas tempat tidur sebagai simpanannya). Dan karena rayuan Nicholas, Regina rela melepas perawannya (sungguh menyebalkan sehingga aku senang saat Nicholas dikeroyok gerombolan kapten Hawke). Rencana Nicholas agar Regina membatalkan pertunangan berantakan saat dirinya terkapar dan mengalami luka luka akibat perkelahiannya dengan kapten Hawke dan harus beristirahat sampai hari penikahan tiba. Nicholas yg terjebak pernikahan, meninggalkan Regina sendiri di rumah pedesaannya bersama ibunya dan Nicholas sendiri berlayar ke Hindia.

Karena Kapten Hawke yg tidak puas dengan perkelahiannya dengan Nicholas, Regina diculik. Terkejut Regina dan kapten karena mereka adalah keponakan dan paman yg telah lama tak bertemu (kapten Hawke adalah paman James kambing hitam keluarga). Karena kejadian itu James yg diasingkan diterima kembali oleh seluruh keluarga karena tak lagi berprofesi sebagai perompak. Dan berkat bantuan James, Nicholas dapat ditemukan dan dibawa dengan paksa pulang kembali ke London kehadapan Regina dan putranya (sebenarnya Nicholas sudah niat untuk balik ke London dan membina hubungan yg harmonis dengan Regina, tapi tidak jadi karena pemaksaanyg dilakukan oleh keluarga Malory).

Awalnya Nicholas meragukan keabsahan putranya, namun tak lama. Nicholas malah sangat perhatian dan sayang pada bayinya. Nicholas juga melakukan usaha yg cukup manis saat ingin berbaikan dengan Regina. Tapi tidak berjalan mulus karena hati nuraninya merasa bersalah.

Dan saat kembali kerumah pedesaannya Nicholas harus berhadapan dengan ibu dan rasa takut yg selama ini dipendamnya. Namun untunglah hubungan Nicholas dan Regina mulai membaik berkat rencana licik sang ibu dan akhirnya Nicholas mengetahui rahasia kelahirannya yg selama ini dirahasiakan oleh ibu dan bibinya. Berkat Regina, Nicholas menerima bibinya sebagai ibu yg telah melahirkannya. Dan Nicholas harus mengakui kesalahan yg telah dilakukannya terhadap Regina serta mengakui bahwa ReGina adalah satu satunya cinta dalam hidupnya. Bahwa Nicholas Eden seperti para pria Eden yg "Hanya Mencintai Sekali" dalam hidup mereka.(less)

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May 05, 2011 Shelly rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: audiobook-version, regency-victorian-era, romance-historical

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I don't know how it happened, but I had not read a Johanna Lindsey book until now. And although I didn't love this first book I've read, I will definitely be reading more, because they are fairly quick and easy to read, and enjoyable, if not exactly my cup of tea. So when I realized I had yet to read any Lindsey books, I decided to start with what seems the most popular series, the Mallory series.

Beautiful Lady Regina Ashton was orphaned at two years old and 'adopted' into her four uncles lives,...more I don't know how it happened, but I had not read a Johanna Lindsey book until now. And although I didn't love this first book I've read, I will definitely be reading more, because they are fairly quick and easy to read, and enjoyable, if not exactly my cup of tea. So when I realized I had yet to read any Lindsey books, I decided to start with what seems the most popular series, the Mallory series.

Beautiful Lady Regina Ashton was orphaned at two years old and 'adopted' into her four uncles lives, where they all adored and doted on her. Ready to be done with the marriage mart, none of her suitors meet with all of her uncles' approval, and she is growing tired of it. Deciding to talk to her favorite uncle, Anthony Mallory, she borrows a curricle from Lady Celina Eddington instead of going to a ball, and begs to be able to leave for the country for a respite from the drama of the marriage mart. Upon leaving her uncle's townhouse, she is whisked off the sidewalk by a stranger on horseback. Viscount Nicholas Eden is tired of his mistress' antics, and means to put a stop to it. Seeing her curricle at the notorious rake Tony Mallory's townhouse, he decides to take action by locking her in his home, and going on to the ball without her. Heavily cloaked, and remaining quiet, Reggie thinks this might be interesting. When Nick sees Celina at the ball, he quickly realizes he's made a mistake and rushes home. Much to his surprise, Reggie is not angry, and they agree to keep quiet this little escapade. Unfortunately, Celina's driver saw the whole abduction and tells his mistress, who is so excited at the thought that Nick acted so dramatically for her, tells everyone. Ultimately it backfires on Celina, as now everyone is gossiping about Nick and Reggie being together, and Reggie decides to force the notorious bad boy Nick into marriage. Nick, whose afraid of society rejecting him if they find out he's a bastard, does not want to marry to avoid hurting Reggie if the truth ever came out. He agrees to marry her, only because he's sure he can make her jilt him with his bad behavior, but not before he's taken her virtue. Trying all he can to dissuade Reggie from marriage, he ignores her when he's with her, flirts shamelessly with other women in front of her, and barely sees her. Reggie is determined to marry, especially since she's now with child, a fact she withholds from Nick. Angry with her for making him go through with the marriage, Nick whisks her away to his country estate and dumps her at the door, leaving her to fend for herself with his witch of a mother, who despises Nick for his bastardy, and leaves the country immediately, determined to live separate lives. Shortly after, Reggie is abducted from her home, only to realize the pirate captain who wants to use her as bait to find Nick and kill him for a prior wrong, is her black sheep uncle James 'Hawk' Mallory. When the whole story comes out, James goes out in search of Nick, and finds him in the West Indies. Nick has already decided to go home to England and Regina when James takes him hostage to see Reggie, who now lives in his London townhouse. Having not been told about the baby, when Nick first hears of it from Regina, his first reaction is to doubt the child is his. Reggie has recovered from her broken heart, and puts her infant son, Thomas first, not caring whether Nick believes her or not. Nick, angry for not being told, decides to make like miserable for everyone pack up immediately and leave for the country, determined to have it all out with his wife and his mother. Reggie has already learned of Nick's bastardy, and it does not bother her, having two bastard cousins already. When they both learn how the other feels, everything comes together, including Nick finding out his beloved Aunt Eleanor is his real mother.

Overall, I enjoyed the whole book, the Mallory family seems hilarious and I can't wait to read more about them! This story was okay to me, however. I liked both characters well enough to want to keep reading, but it's one of my least plot ploys, the miscommunication of the hero/heroine. I can understand why Nick felt compelled to keep his secret, if word got out of his bastardy, it would be endless gossip, and many would suggest he does not deserve the title of Viscount. What I can't understand, or forgive, is Reggie not telling Nick she was with child. I know she wanted Nick to come to her on his own, but he was being a stubborn ass, and maybe the reckoning of knowing about the child would have brought him around sooner, especially since he abhorred being a bastard, he would not want to leave his own child a bastard. Of course, that would leave us without half the book, but it's not a ploy I like very much in my romances.

Another thing I don't care for much in my romances, is when it's pointed out repeatedly how much more beautiful or plain one character is than another. Fortunately, this is not the case in this book, but is pointed out in the beginning, and it stuck with me throughout. That's just a personal pet peeve of mine, nothing that detracts too heavily from this book, thank goodness.

Some have pointed out they dislike that Nick is introduced to us while he is in the company of his mistress, Lady Celina. I don't have a problem with it, they are not intimate, in fact, he's rather bored with her and deciding how he will end their affair. It's a fact of the time period that men frequently had mistresses, to assume the hero was celibate for months before meeting the heroine, as a lot of romances do, well, it's nice, but not realistic. He never went back to his mistress, and from the moment he met Regina, no other woman entered his mind, which is more important to me.

I think the Mallory family will be definitely interesting to read and I can't wait to learn more and see what other antics they will get into. For a light and easy read, I would definitely recommend for anyone who loves regency romances.
(less)

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May 25, 2011 Sara rated it 2 of 5 stars

I grew up reading Lindsey's novels, so I feel like I'm somehow maligning the Obi Wan of Romance, but this book was six hours I'll never get back.

The characters were hollow. The conflict was ridiculous and unreal. And there was absolutely no character development. On top of these flaws, the plot was so weak, I am not sure if Lindsey wrote the book while awake.

I was left utterly disappointed by a firecracker heroine who never grows and a whiny male lead whose stubborn ways start to border on lac...more

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Sep 29, 2011 Jaime rated it 4 of 5 stars

Would really give it 4 1/2 stars because there was only an area at the beginning where I thought it was going to be too typical but then it took the story in a different direction.

Another really great book by Johanna Lindsey! I enjoy her romances because they are not filled with only smut (only a few sex scenes) and they have a good story line. There is a good background built for each character. There were a couple of twists in the story that were surprises. Both Reggie and Nicholas were stubbo...more

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Jan 11, 2011 Bronwyn Rykiert rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: audiobook, historical-romance, series

This is book 1 of the series on the Malory’s. I have enjoyed every one I have read and this one is just as good as the others.

Regina Ashton, niece to Jason, Edward, James and Anthony Malory is in her 3rd season and is tired of looking for a husband. Nicholas Eden has just tired of his latest mistress – he kidnaps Regina thinking she is his mistress and is surprised to find she is not. He has ruined her and she has decided he will be her husband and with the help of her Uncles he is forced into m...more

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Feb 27, 2013 Ria rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical, pirates, romance

This book was fun and ridiculously easy to plough through. I will always have a soft spot for this because it was an amusing Christmas present from a few years back and the COVER! Laaawdy, it makes me laugh.

The story moved at a rapid pace and I really enjoyed the cast of Malorys and I must admit that I am intrigued by the prospect of subsequent books in this series. But I cannot in good conscience award more than 2 stars to a romance in which the hero was quite so awful. His motivations were so...more

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Feb 28, 2012 Heather in FL rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: a-i-own-it, audio, elements-historical, elements-romance, mix-m-f, z-from-audible

This was a fun story. I liked both characters. Reggie was funny and kind of quirky... not what I expect of women of that era. But then again, I suppose that was her draw even for the men of that era. And Nicholas made me laugh at times, how utterly adverse to marriage as he was. But at the same time, I sort of wanted to smack them both. Lots of times. First, Nicholas who was just such a jerk during their engagement. But I would smile when he'd get jealous. And then I wanted to kick him really ha...more

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Jun 05, 2009 Indah Threez Lestari rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: in-english, historical-romance

Novel yang pertama kali memperkenalkan keluarga besar Malory, di mana sebagian di antaranya akan menjadi tokoh utama di novel-novel seri Malory berikutnya.

Regina Ashton, keponakan kesayangan kakak-beradik Malory yang terkenal, diculik tepat di depan rumah paman favoritnya, Anthony Malory.

Nicolas Eden, sang pelaku penculikan, sebenarnya salah orang, karena mengira gadis itu gundiknya yang harus diberi pelajaran.

Kasus penculikan itu cuma berlangsung tiga jam, tapi meskipun tak terjadi apapun, cuku...more

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Jun 22, 2011 Kasey rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: audiobook, library, period-pieces-historical-romances, regency

I liked the unconventional Malory clan. I'm looking forward to finding out more about them. I enjoyed the outspoken beautiful and spoiled Regina. And Nicholas had lots of potential. I think we should have gotten to know him a little better, not just his secret. I did find myself literally calling the man an idiot a few times in this book. Lindsey had her character striving to keep his big secret to the point of idiocy. I didn't mind the secret so much or his worry and reason not for marrying. Bu...more

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Sep 28, 2010 Jane Stewart rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: regency-romance

Enjoyable romance novel.

Nicholas kidnaps Reggie by mistake, thinking she is someone else. As a result, her brothers force a marriage even though nothing happened. Nicholas didn't commmunicate well with Reggie about his being a bastard. He thinks she won't want to be married to him, so he leaves for the W. Indies for 6 months. Not a good story line, but I did like the way Reggie put down evil Miriam.

Sexual content not evaluated. I read this book before I began counting sex scenes and describing t...more

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Dec 27, 2009 Brenda (b) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, romance, 1-print-books, 2-2009-read

This was a wonderful Regency love story. I'd start reading and wouldn't want to put it down, so I spent two very late nights reading when I should have been sleeping. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and learning their stories.

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Feb 10, 2012 Monique J. rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: regency

When I think about families, these words always come to mind: “You can choose your friends, but not your family.” And sometime it’s this quote: “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.” Either one probably works. At least that’s the case with Johanna Lindsey’s 1985 classic, Love Only Once, the first in her series about the rambunctious Malory’s. The head of the Malory family is the overbearing and controlling Jason, the Marquis of Haverston. Jason has disowned his brother James, who is...more

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Jan 27, 2013 ☂ ℬrandi rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: french-novels, historical-regency, libertines-rakes-rouges, read-2013

❤❤❤

I was completely turned off by the first chapter where our hero's mistress (Selena) is scheming up a way to force Nicholas to propose. She decides that ending the affair, which no mistress before her has done and telling Nicholas she's found another lover, thus making him jealous, is the best course. What Selena doesn't know, but suspects is that Nicholas Eden (27, Viscount of Montieth, our hero) wouldn't be jealous since he's realized he's grown bored with Selena, as he's wont to do with his...more ❤❤❤

I was completely turned off by the first chapter where our hero's mistress (Selena) is scheming up a way to force Nicholas to propose. She decides that ending the affair, which no mistress before her has done and telling Nicholas she's found another lover, thus making him jealous, is the best course. What Selena doesn't know, but suspects is that Nicholas Eden (27, Viscount of Montieth, our hero) wouldn't be jealous since he's realized he's grown bored with Selena, as he's wont to do with his mistresses. He plans to end their affair at a ball the following evening. For me, it's never, ever fun to read about mistresses. Icky! He's a rake, I know, but I don't want to meet the mistress, let alone several of them which happens later. I only started to come around to Selena's plot when I thought it might be fun to read. Then I read the book jacket and realized Selena wasn't the heroine so I was right back to Ickyville.

The second chapter goes on to introduce us to way too many Malorys, including our heroine, Regina Ashton (19) who has the regretful nickname of Reggie (as well as the much cuter "Regan" and "puss"). The only Malorys you really need to remember at this point are the 5 oldest Malory siblings: Regina's four uncles and her mother.

Jason - 45, 3rd marquis of Haverston and head of the family since age 16. One (bastard) son, Derek.
Edward - 44, married, an Earl (I believe), 5 kids, the family Regina lives with currently in London.
Melissa - Regina's mom, deceased since Regina was 2.
James - 35, estranged from family for reasons unknown.
Anthony (Tony) - 34, London bachelor & rakehell, Regina's favorite.

If you continue to read this series, knowing those men will get you through the next few books.

So there is all this information in the first two chapters and we still aren't into the plot which in and of itself is rather interesting. Regina has looked endlessly for a husband but no one passes muster with her doting uncles, the same uncles that loving and happily raised her since she was a baby. Regina is tired of the search and begs Tony to convince the others to choose for her so she can avoid the pressure and disappointment of their rejections. When a drunk Nicholas mistakes Regina for his mistress, Selena, he decides to kidnap her. She's seen leaving the house of rake Anthony Malory so Nicholas snatches her up on horseback and locks her away in his home. Meanwhile he attends the ball where he planned to end his affair with Selena. He's not jealous of Anthony and Selena's presumed affair but he wants to teach Selena a lesson about scheming. He realizes his error when, much to his surprise and chagrin, Selena is at the ball. He hurries home to apologize and release 'Anthony's mistress' but his intentions change when he sees how beautiful and unruffled she is by he captivity. This ends up being a very fun scene with lots of smiles and the story moves into the familiar scenario of ruined reputations and what one does after that.

I must say that this was a very fun, quick, well written and happy book to read. I smiled a lot in the beginning. There are some unhappy moments, in fact, most of the book the H/h are not together but the Malory's are a fun bunch to read about so you forget that fact sometimes. While I have a lot of praise for this book I also have some complaints. As I mentioned, the H/h are barely together. That's disappointing since you read a romance for the romance and that can't happen if the couple isn't even in the same country. And this romance is more of a quick seduction, extended abandonment and cheerful forgiveness. I had a real problem with the cheerful forgiveness which relates to the main conflict of this story. Nicholas is a bastard (literally and figuratively) and he doesn't want to mar Regina with his shame so he tries to get her to jilt him after he's coerced into marrying her. I'm not sure it was enough of an obstacle to build an entire story around though, and I thought Nicholas' numerous poor decisions were more than one person could forgive with a simple explanation of misunderstandings. I've read many books with bastard men (titled and not) who never once let that fact stop them from getting and keeping what they wanted. Nicholas is appropriately rakish and as much as you don't want to be swayed by his charm, it's really hard to resist him. He has some great lines and Regina is just as charming. I actually started to hate Nicholas and for most of the book he was irredeemable. Even in the end,I was happy for the HEA but I didn't forgive him. I felt his absolution needed weeks if not months to happen, not a couple days. I felt the forgiveness came way too easily from the characters he hurt and their reactions to major misunderstandings that had caused pain was to laugh. Not me. I was sad and angry still.

There was a ton of momentum in this book which made it swift and effortless for me to read. I was never bored which is a problem I often have, and I smiled a lot. The Malory's uncles are fun. I'm not sure how fun their own stories will be without the charming Regina to dote on though. I read this book only so I could get to book #3, Gentle Rogue since some GR authors I trust rate is so highly. I'm in desperate need of a 4 or 5 star book right now. Plus, I have this bizarre need to always read a series in order and to the end, once I've started so I will be reading eagerly to get to Gentle Rogue. Lindsey is a reliable author for a nice read and even if they don't knock your socks off her books are decent books. However, if it weren't for my need to get to book 3 I would file this series away as 'TBR eventually' but not immediately.(less)

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Sep 09, 2011 BlebeTanja rated it 3 of 5 stars

Nothing special, really. I expected more from Johanna Lindsey - consider yourself on probation! Since I am madly in love with her Wyoming series, I thought Malory Family series would be similar. Not so.
Love Only Once was ... not my cup of tea, I guess. I can't exactly articulate what I didn't like about it. Not enough character development, and Nick's secret was stupid and I can't imagine why such a pathetic secret was the big deal here. Come on, J. L. Yu can do so much better!

I did love the un...more

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About Johanna Lindsey

Johanna Helen Howard was born on March 10, 1952 in Germany, where her father, Edwin Dennis Howard, a soldier in the U.S. Army was stationed. The family moved about a great deal when she was young. Her father always dreamed of retiring to Hawaii, and after he passed away in 1964 Johanna and her mother settled there to honor him.

In 1970, when she was still in school, she married Ralph Lindsey, becom...more

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