The Rebel (The Moorehouse Legacy, #1)

Aug 27, 2011 UniquelyMoi *Dhestiny* BlithelyBookish rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Anyone who loves a light, feel good romance.

Recommended to UniquelyMoi *Dhestiny* BlithelyBookish by: Adrienne!!!!!! Thank you!

Shelves: 2010-reads, 5-stars, author-under-different-name, author-jessica-bird, genre-contemporary-romance, keepers, reviewed-by-me, favorites

Beauty and the Black Sheep is my first Jessica Bird read, even though I’ve been a huge fan of J.R. Ward for years, and I have to say that I loved this book almost as much as I love her Black Dagger Brotherhood series. Almost. I just can’t find anything or anyone to top those tormented Brothers and their battle to save the race.

But I digress…

In Beauty and the Black Sheep we are given a very sweet, feel good romance and characters who are so real and so honest in their actions and reactions that w...more

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Jul 11, 2011 Buggy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: harlequin, contemp-rom, shelf-09, he-can-cook-too

Opening line:"The only warning Frankie Moorehouse had that twenty gallons of water were going to fall on her and her desk was a single drop."

I don't generally read a lot of Harlequin but I am a huge fan of JR Ward and her Black Dagger Brotherhood which is how I discovered her alter ego Jessica Bird. I enjoyed this, her debut novel and could definitely hear Ward's voice in the writing, particularly when it comes to her sexy yet somewhat tortured male characters. And although this is a predictable...more Opening line:"The only warning Frankie Moorehouse had that twenty gallons of water were going to fall on her and her desk was a single drop."

I don't generally read a lot of Harlequin but I am a huge fan of JR Ward and her Black Dagger Brotherhood which is how I discovered her alter ego Jessica Bird. I enjoyed this, her debut novel and could definitely hear Ward's voice in the writing, particularly when it comes to her sexy yet somewhat tortured male characters. And although this is a predictable, feel good romance Bird kept my interest throughout the engaging love story with interesting secondary characters and multiple POV's. In fact she's left me curious enough that I'm going to have to read the rest of the Moorehouse Legacy series to find out what happens to them all.

Ten years ago Frankie's parents died in a boating accident leaving her to raise her younger brother and sister and care for Grand-Em who suffers from dementia (I loved Grand-Em) To help pay the bills Frankie's turned the family's 6th generation mansion into a Bed & breakfast/restaurant. Unfortunately without the money for upkeep the walls are literally crumbling down on top of them. Tonight the chef's quit and Frankie's reached the end of her endurance, she's exhausted and if business doesn't pick up soon she's going to have to sell.

As fate would have it chef extraordinaire Nate Walker's beloved car Lucille has just broken down leaving him stranded on the side of the road. In his search for a phone so he can continue on to New York, Nate unknowingly enters the chaos of Frankie's kitchen. And before she can say "no soup for you" he's saved the night, putting her naïve staff to work and whipping up a fancy chicken dish for the starving guests.

The attraction between our pair is instantaneous (this is Harlequin after all) but Frankie's not going to be taken in by Nate's green and gold flecked eyes or his athletes body easily she's been burned once too many. That's a good thing too because in Nate's opinion Frankie really needs to dial down the attitude, though he can't help wondering what lies beneath the glasses and baggy clothes or how she'd look if she would just smile. Maybe he'll postpone buying that restaurant in New York, just for the summer of course, help Frankie get back on her feet before he leaves. I mean what's the worst that could happen? It's not like he's going to fall in love or anything. It's not like he'll mow her lawn wearing nothing but a pair of cut-offs, sweat trickling down his muscled chest. Cheers!
(less)

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May 23, 2011 Buggy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemp-rom

*Update May 21/11* This is confirmed as a re-release of Beauty And The Black Sheep (The Moorehouse Legacy, #1)from the Moorehouse Legacy series.

I'm watching this.. Not much info on it yet but I'm sure its a re-release of one of Ward's earlier Harlequin Jessica Bird books.
They're all really good, You can see the BDB taking shape in her (strictly) romance heroes.

~MY REVIEW~
Ten years ago Frankie's parents died in a boating accident leaving her to raise her younger brother and sister and care for G...more *Update May 21/11* This is confirmed as a re-release of Beauty And The Black Sheep (The Moorehouse Legacy, #1)from the Moorehouse Legacy series.

I'm watching this.. Not much info on it yet but I'm sure its a re-release of one of Ward's earlier Harlequin Jessica Bird books.
They're all really good, You can see the BDB taking shape in her (strictly) romance heroes.

~MY REVIEW~
Ten years ago Frankie's parents died in a boating accident leaving her to raise her younger brother and sister and care for Grand-Em who suffers from dementia (I loved Grand-Em) To help pay the bills Frankie's turned the family's 6th generation mansion into a Bed & breakfast/restaurant. Unfortunately without the money for upkeep the walls are literally crumbling down on top of them. Tonight the chef's quit and Frankie's reached the end of her endurance, she's exhausted and if business doesn't pick up soon she's going to have to sell.

As fate would have it chef extraordinaire Nate Walker's beloved car Lucille has just broken down leaving him stranded on the side of the road. In his search for a phone so he can continue on to New York, Nate unknowingly enters the chaos of Frankie's kitchen. And before she can say "no soup for you" he's saved the night, putting her naïve staff to work and whipping up a fancy chicken dish for the starving guests.

The attraction between our pair is instantaneous (this is Harlequin after all) but Frankie's not going to be taken in by Nate's green and gold flecked eyes or his athletes body easily she's been burned once too many. That's a good thing too because in Nate's opinion Frankie really needs to dial down the attitude although he can't help wondering what lies beneath the glasses and baggy clothes or how she'd look if she would just smile. Maybe he'll postpone buying that restaurant in New York, just for the summer of course, help Frankie get back on her feet before he leaves. I mean what's the worst that could happen? It's not like he's going to fall in love or anything. It's not like he'll mow her lawn wearing nothing but a pair of cut-offs, sweat trickling down his muscled chest.

I don't read a lot of Harlequin but I am a huge fan of JR Ward and her Black Dagger Brotherhood which is how I discovered Jessica Bird. I enjoyed this, her debut novel and could definitely `hear' Ward's voice in the writing particularly when it comes to her sexy yet somewhat tortured male characters. And although this is a predictable, feel good romance Bird kept my interest throughout the engaging love story with interesting secondary characters and multiple POV's. In fact she's left me curious enough that I'm going to have to read the rest of the Moorehouse Legacy series to find out what happens to them all. Cheers (less)

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Aug 07, 2011 Buggy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: shelf-09, contemp-rom, harlequin, he-can-cook-too

Opening Line: The only warning Frankie Moorehouse had that twnty gallons of water were going to fall on her and her desk was a single drop."

Ten years ago Frankie's parents died in a boating accident leaving her to raise her younger brother and sister and care for Grand-Em who suffers from dementia (I loved Grand-Em) To help pay the bills Frankie's turned the family's 6th generation mansion into a Bed & breakfast/restaurant. Unfortunately without the money for upkeep the walls are literally c...more Opening Line: The only warning Frankie Moorehouse had that twnty gallons of water were going to fall on her and her desk was a single drop."

Ten years ago Frankie's parents died in a boating accident leaving her to raise her younger brother and sister and care for Grand-Em who suffers from dementia (I loved Grand-Em) To help pay the bills Frankie's turned the family's 6th generation mansion into a Bed & breakfast/restaurant. Unfortunately without the money for upkeep the walls are literally crumbling down on top of them. Tonight the chef's quit and Frankie's reached the end of her endurance, she's exhausted and if business doesn't pick up soon she's going to have to sell.

As fate would have it chef extraordinaire Nate Walker's beloved car Lucille has just broken down leaving him stranded on the side of the road. In his search for a phone so he can continue on to New York, Nate unknowingly enters the chaos of Frankie's kitchen. And before she can say "no soup for you" he's saved the night, putting her naïve staff to work and whipping up a fancy chicken dish for the starving guests.

The attraction between our pair is instantaneous (this is Harlequin after all) but Frankie's not going to be taken in by Nate's green and gold flecked eyes or his athletes body easily she's been burned once too many. That's a good thing too because in Nate's opinion Frankie really needs to dial down the attitude although he can't help wondering what lies beneath the glasses and baggy clothes or how she'd look if she would just smile. Maybe he'll postpone buying that restaurant in New York, just for the summer of course, help Frankie get back on her feet before he leaves. I mean what's the worst that could happen? It's not like he's going to fall in love or anything. It's not like he'll mow her lawn wearing nothing but a pair of cut-offs, sweat trickling down his muscled chest.

I don't read a lot of Harlequin but I am a huge fan of JR Ward and her Black Dagger Brotherhood which is how I discovered Jessica Bird. I enjoyed this, her debut novel and could definitely `hear' Ward's voice in the writing particularly when it comes to her sexy yet somewhat tortured male characters. And although this is a predictable, feel good romance Bird kept my interest throughout the engaging love story with interesting secondary characters and multiple POV's. In fact she's left me curious enough that I'm going to have to read the rest of the Moorehouse Legacy series to find out what happens to them all. Cheers!

Here's the correct reading order for the series
(The Moorehouse Legacy)
1-Beauty And The Black Sheep
2-His comfort and Joy
3-From The First
4-A Man In A Million

(The O'Banyon Brothers)Bird/Ward has never completed series
1-The Billionaire Next Door (less)

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Aug 25, 2011 Leah rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: author-jr-ward, need-to-get-2011, 3-stars, come-here-baby-so-i-can-lick-you, flip-flops, horrible-heroine-alert, happy-slapsgiving, secondary-love-plots-make-me-swoon, half-star-ratings, bad-boy-take-me-away

3.5 stars

This book was very good plot wise. I loved the idea and execution of it. Nate, a drifter chef looking for a place of his own to buy, stumbles upon White Caps Bed and Breakfast when his car breaks down. There he meets Frankie Moorehouse, the struggling owner of White Caps. They fall into a relationship and eventually into love. And Nate gives up his chance for a restaurant to stay at White Caps with Frankie and help her repair the B&B she loves. A perfectly interesting plot. And I lo...more

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Jul 26, 2011 Julie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2011

The Rebel by JR Ward was originally titled Beauty and the Black Sheep and was published in 2005 under JR’s ‘other’ name, Jessica Bird. I think the original title suits the book a little better, but the cover of this re-release is definitely more appealing. It’s what caught my eye when I was in the store and after reading the blurb, I bought it. I know, shocking! I didn’t run to Goodreads to check reviews before buying it, nor did I try to annoy my friends to see if any of them read it before. I...more The Rebel by JR Ward was originally titled Beauty and the Black Sheep and was published in 2005 under JR’s ‘other’ name, Jessica Bird. I think the original title suits the book a little better, but the cover of this re-release is definitely more appealing. It’s what caught my eye when I was in the store and after reading the blurb, I bought it. I know, shocking! I didn’t run to Goodreads to check reviews before buying it, nor did I try to annoy my friends to see if any of them read it before. I figure JR Ward has a great romance writing voice…so how bad can it be.

Turns out it was actually quite cute. A really quick and light read without violence or insane villains, and sometimes it’s nice to read a book like that. The biggest obstacle that Frankie and Nate face is that Nate is leaving at the end of the summer to pursue his dream of becoming a hot-shot restaurant owner/chef in New York City while Frankie is to stay put where she is, running the B&B and taking care of her sister and grand-mother who suffers from dementia.

Frankie is a stubborn lady who is trying desperately to keep her B&B afloat. The place is falling apart and business is down. And just when you think things can’t get worst, they do. She was very real in how she handled her situation and I appreciated that.

Nate grew up in a wealthy family but dreams of being on his own. He just happens to walk into the B&B at the right time and has what it takes to at least salvage a little bit of the business. I liked that he didn’t just walk in and fix everything though. I think if he did, I would have gagged a little. The chemistry between Nate and Frankie was strong and they fit well together.

I found the ending to be a little rushed but the little twist near the end did surprise me. And one more thing about the ending – it’s all fluff. I may have experienced a sugar rush all the while thinking: ‘Really. The car?’ But getting to that point was fun and since the ending is rather quick, you only have to endure the über sweetness for a couple of pages. And who knows? Maybe you’ll love the sweet hit.

There are three books in this series and they will all be re-released. The Player is coming to stores in January 2012 and The Sinner is coming out after that. I’m not sure if I will pick them up because I’m undecided about Joy. She is Frankie’s 27 year old sister who is responsible for caring for her grand-mother and who has had a crazy crush on Gray for years and he is suddenly seeing the teenager for the lady she has become. Yeah…not sure about that one. The third book will be about Alex, the brother in this family, and his story of being in love with his boating partner’s wife. Oh, the boating partner is now deceased. Yeah…not sure about that one. Then again, reading the back of this book, it sounded kind of hokey. But sometimes that’s what you want out of a contemporary romance read.

Is this a new concept for a romance story? Absolutely no. But it was told well and the characters were quite likable. I especially liked Nate. Definitely deserves a ‘yum’ after his name. Overall, an easy read that left me feeling good.

3.5 stars(less)

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Apr 12, 2013 Miraphora rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance-contemporaneo

Sottotono, porca miseria. E' una ristampa di un vecchio titolo, okey. E' un romance puro edito dalla Harlequin, okey. Però manca qualcosa. Manca lo stile tipico della Ward, quello che si sente quando l'autrice ha carta bianca e si può scatenare appieno. Qua, aimé, le barriere imposte dal genere (e dall'editore) sono fin troppo presenti, perché bloccano tantissimo il linguaggio, lo sviluppo dei personaggi e l'ironia tipica della Ward. Certo, in un certo senso si capisce chi è l'autrice, però non...more Sottotono, porca miseria. E' una ristampa di un vecchio titolo, okey. E' un romance puro edito dalla Harlequin, okey. Però manca qualcosa. Manca lo stile tipico della Ward, quello che si sente quando l'autrice ha carta bianca e si può scatenare appieno. Qua, aimé, le barriere imposte dal genere (e dall'editore) sono fin troppo presenti, perché bloccano tantissimo il linguaggio, lo sviluppo dei personaggi e l'ironia tipica della Ward. Certo, in un certo senso si capisce chi è l'autrice, però non sono riuscita a far passare questo libro con un voto alto. Perché? Perché tra i due protagonisti non scatta la scintilla spaziale che la Ward sa creare. Frankie (che razza di diminutivo è?!) è la proprietaria di un B&B di famiglia che naviga in pessime acque: cadono i soffitti, il cibo fa schifo (chiama Gordon Ramsey, honey), mancano i clienti e i soldi sono pochi. Insomma, sta per andare in fallimento totale. Il problema è che la casa è di famiglia, piena di ricordi, e Frankie non vuole assolutamente separarsene. Proprio quando la poveretta è alla canna del gas suona alla porta lo sconosciuto Nate. Nate, ladies, è uno chef. Uno di quello che apre il frigo e ti combina una cena che levateeee e che fa svenire dalla goduria i pochi clienti. In più, ovviamente, è un gran manzo, con tanto di jeans, scarponi e giacca di pelle. Ah, dimenticavo, guida una Saab vecchia e sgarrupata. Libidine estrema. Aimé c'è poco spazio per costruire un Nate con i fiocchi, come la Ward a briglia sciolta saprebbe fare. Il risultato è un eroe che parte bene, ma si ammoscia strada facendo anche a causa di Frankie, che avrei preso a calci nel sedere quasi sempre. Eh si, perché la Ward è caduta nell'errore di creare un'eroina noiosamente 'facciotuttoio', una di quelle che si prende in carico famiglia, lavoro, sorelle, nonne rimbambite e che nel frattempo vuole far quadrare i conti di un'attività fallimentare, sparandoci in mezzo anche qualche lavoretto di casa. Frankie fa tutto lei e non vuole aiuti esterni, non si smolla neanche a morire e - piuttosto di divertirsi, di lasciarsi andare e ricaricarsi - preferisce essere acida e litigare con tutti. Insomma...una cretina.
Ovviamente lui si intrippa con lei proprio per questo suo essere cazz...ehm sfuggente. Un'altra cosa triste è che la loro storia segue gli alti e bassi del B&B: fanno soldi, fanno sesso, non ci sono clienti, vanno in bianco.
Si poteva fare di meglio. La Ward sa fare moooolto di meglio. Quindi si, vabbé, è un romance carino, veloce e leggero, però non si può leggere quel nome in copertina senza farsi un sacco di aspettative e rimanerci un pò male quando, alla fine, ti rendi conto che speravi in qualcosa di meglio.(less)

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Feb 21, 2012 Kathy Davie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romance

First in the Moorehouse Legacy romance series centered in an aging bed and breakfast in the Adirondacks. Also known as Rebel.

My Take
Not particularly deep but definitely a sweet introspection on loss and determination. Frankie Moorehouse has been slaving over the slow deterioration of her family home as she struggles to make a going concern of it as a bed and breakfast while Nate Walker is set on building a career and his reputation as a chef. Without his family’s money.

Bird/Ward’s characters pul...more

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Feb 17, 2012 Kay rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: print

4 Stars! ~ Frankie Moorehouse was brilliant with numbers and the financial statement for their family mansion turned B&B told a story that she dreaded. Frankie had put her life on hold when she was 22 to raise her sister Joy and take care of Grand-Em, when her parents died on the lake. Ten years have gone by, and Frankie has come to realize that she may have failed terribly; if business didn’t pickup soon she’d be forced to sell the family home. Nate Walker’s beloved Lucille made a bang and...more 4 Stars! ~ Frankie Moorehouse was brilliant with numbers and the financial statement for their family mansion turned B&B told a story that she dreaded. Frankie had put her life on hold when she was 22 to raise her sister Joy and take care of Grand-Em, when her parents died on the lake. Ten years have gone by, and Frankie has come to realize that she may have failed terribly; if business didn’t pickup soon she’d be forced to sell the family home. Nate Walker’s beloved Lucille made a bang and died on the side of the road, leaving him no choice but to hoof it to the nearest town. He hadn’t expected the chaos he’d walked into when he banged on the back door of the B&B, but here was a kitchen desperately in need of his culinary talents. Nate’s a master chef, and Frankie’s cook has just quit and her guests were in the dining room complaining of hunger. Nate’s footloose and fancy free for the summer and the answer to Frankie’s prayers. But Nate’s used to running his own kitchen and Frankie’s not used to trusting anyone; and there's that little problem with their instant attraction. Frankie knows that Nate can only commit for the summer; come Labour Day he’s back to NYC and hopefully a restaurant of his own to run.

This is a wonderful feel good romance. Both Nate and Frankie have a lot of scars and some unhealed wounds. Fighting their attraction doesn’t get them far, for as Nate claimed from the beginning it was inevitable. But once they begin to share their secrets and dreams, they change their relationship into more than the casual fling both agreed to. I really liked how Frankie realizes that she really hadn’t put her life on hold, that the B&B and taking care of Grand-Em with her sister Joy was really where she belonged. And when Frankie’s world is collapsing around her, Nate discovers he really wants to be the one to take care of her for a change. Wonderful read and a teasing set up for the books that follow, Joy’s story and then Alex’s.(less)

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Sep 19, 2011 Patricia rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, _adult, review-on-old-blog

J.R. Ward is one of the authors I'll always check out books of. I've been fairly certain that I'd one day buy one of her Jessica Bird-novels, but when Amazon told me that there was an ebook called "The Rebel" I was curious enough to buy it right away.

-Note: I'm intentionally comparing her books here.-

Unlike her Black Dagger or Fallen Angels series, The Rebel is a contemporary romance novel, set in our world, without any vampires, angels etc. but one interesting-enough hero and a heroine that ha...more J.R. Ward is one of the authors I'll always check out books of. I've been fairly certain that I'd one day buy one of her Jessica Bird-novels, but when Amazon told me that there was an ebook called "The Rebel" I was curious enough to buy it right away.

-Note: I'm intentionally comparing her books here.-

Unlike her Black Dagger or Fallen Angels series, The Rebel is a contemporary romance novel, set in our world, without any vampires, angels etc. but one interesting-enough hero and a heroine that had more screentime than the heroines in Ward's other books.

I think everyone who read her novels knows what I'm talking about. Although the books are written in at least two different POVs, the hero's and the heroine's, very often the hero gets more time or feels more real. The focus is more on him than on the heroine. - In The Rebel both of them got the same amount of 'attention' or regard.. or whatever.

It's almost impossible to give a book written by Ward a bad rating and this one wasn't bad either, but it couldn't convince me. Ward's writing style is easy to read, in fact it's unlikely you'll not finish a novel written by her in a few hours, but the relationship wasn't very interesting and the story was slow.

Nate (I love that name..) and Frankie (I hate that name..) meet when the cook in her B&B quits and his car, Lucy, dies. He's near her B&B when she's close to a mental breakdown and asks her for a job until he and his partner, Spike, buy their own restaurant. - He's a cook, she's a manager and both of them aren't looking for a relationship. Of course, they feel attraction and slowly start to feel even more, but her heritage is slowly going down, taking her with it and he's still looking forward to being his own boss, doing what he loves in New York City, miles away from her. So, they know they'll have to face their breakup one day or one of them has to "give in".

Where Ward's paranormal romance novels - at least in the beginning - stood out and were a good mixture of the beloved things in the genre, this novel imho won't hold up against the many other contemporary romance novels out there.

That is not to say that it was a bad read. It wasn't. And there will probably be enogh readers who'll enjoy it, too. The thing I'm trying to say is that if you expect another Lover Awakened you won't find it here.(less)

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Jul 29, 2011 Alexis-Morgan Roark rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Alexis-Morgan by: alexisroark@sbcglobal.net

Shelves: part-of-a-series, audible-sale, audible, audiobook

Ok. So, I am currently listening to this book because I NEED the next installment in the Covet series-WHICH I JUST NOTICED IS LISTED WHEN I WENT LOOKING FOR THE LINK...BY FOR NOW!!

Finished this light (especially for the woman who is now J.R. Ward) breezy read. There were several things I appreciated about this book

* Real people, real emotions
* The cruel reality that is Dementia: not JUST for forgetting but those too, brief bittersweet moments of lucidity.
* The mostly ignored feelings of the f...more

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Apr 09, 2011 Tracy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-romance

Made Me Smile and Warmed My Heart
When her parents died ten years ago, life as Frankie Moorehouse knew it ended. At twenty-one, she was thrust into the role of parent for her teen-aged sister Joy, caretaker for her grandmother, who suffers from dementia, and manager of her once wealthy family's home, now a Bed & Breakfast in the Adirondack Mountains in Upstate New York. That's a huge responsibility for someone so young, but given her older brother Alex had taken off to the sea years ago, she...more Made Me Smile and Warmed My Heart
When her parents died ten years ago, life as Frankie Moorehouse knew it ended. At twenty-one, she was thrust into the role of parent for her teen-aged sister Joy, caretaker for her grandmother, who suffers from dementia, and manager of her once wealthy family's home, now a Bed & Breakfast in the Adirondack Mountains in Upstate New York. That's a huge responsibility for someone so young, but given her older brother Alex had taken off to the sea years ago, she was the only one who could keep it all together. And so she did. Barely.

Now thirty-one, Frankie is hanging on by her fingernails as the old family home deteriorates and the bad economy chips away at the tourists who are their livelihood. She's behind on the mortgage and things keep breaking and flooding and growing mold. It's a bleak, scary time, and the sixteen hour days, seven days a week that she's putting in still haven't lead to any headway. So when her cook dashes off to Vegas with no warning, Frankie is stuck taking on yet another responsibility for her floundering business. Too bad she's not exactly a world class chef.

Once heir to a massive family fortune, now disowned black sheep of the family, Nathaniel Walker is a renowned chef with Cordon Bleu training. On his way up from the city on a leisurely trip to Canada, he's taking the summer to find the perfect location for his and his friend and partner Spike's new restaurant. He was driving through the Adirondacks when his car Lucille gives up the ghost, and a tumble into some poison ivy, along with a sprained ankle, left him with limited options for the night. He makes it to the Moorehouse back door just as Frankie is in a panic over the scorched chicken and scorched temper of hungry guests. Fortunately for her, there's only one other thing Nate does better than cook...and he'd like to try that out on Frankie, too.

Nate may have saved her bacon, but his presence burns Frankie's buns. She's a control freak of the first order and he's impossible to control. Thing is, if she's going to save her family home, it's obvious she needs him. Doesn't mean she has to like it...or be at all civil to him. If she can just remember that his employment is definitely short term, they may be able to make something for the B&B if they work together. Problem is, the looks he gives her definitely raises her temperature, and his advances, while confusing, are the stuff of which dreams are made. Before she can even figure out if she can survive employing him, an even scarier question arises. Can she survive loving him?

Kicking off the Moorehouse Legacy series, Jessica Bird (aka J.R. Ward), starts with feisty, core-of-steel Frankie and big bad chef extraordinaire Nate. I loved these two. Though, admittedly, Frankie was such a thankless shrew at first it took me some time to warm up to her. I ended up admiring her strength and her tenacity in the face of monstrous responsibility and sacrifice. And Nate just tickled me. Bird has a gift for characterizations, that's for sure. I also adored the backdrop of this series. Reminded me of my grade school years in Glens Falls, and my childhood memories of the mountains up there.

I had a couple of issues with the book, which started with a bit too convenient an introduction between Frankie and Nate. I'm all for kismet, but still, that seemed pretty contrived. Fortunately, the pace of the plot and the presence of the characters was strong enough coerce me into forgiving that too-convenient beginning. Frankie was a bit unsympathetic for much of the beginning of the book, and her wild hair over Nate's presence in "her" kitchen felt a bit overdone, but again, that smoothed out as the book went along. I do wish more development had been given to Nate and the impact of his break with his family. That could have added another dimension to his character.

Likable (in Frankie's case, eventually) lead characters, charming and interesting secondary characters and a solid, if slightly unsurprising romance were pluses for Beauty And The Black Sheep (The Moorehouse Legacy, #1), but I would definitely have appreciated a bit more depth to Nate's background and some added complexity to both of their personalities. The plot was classic contemporary romance fare, but it was well written and nicely paced, with a smooth narrative and realistic dialogue, all framed by picture postcard scenery. I enjoyed it and look forward to continuing the Moorehouse Legacy series.

~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another. (less)

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Jun 22, 2011 Emily rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: bad-boys, boss-employee-romance, series, states-new-york, own-kindle

Chef Nate Walker just wants to find a place to find some work for the summer before starting up his own restaurant when his car breaks down and lands him at White Caps B&B. Frankie Moorehouse is putting out another fire, well kind of creating one while burning the dinner she is supposed to serve to guests, thanks to her cook quitting without notice. Nate is more than willing to step in to help as her new chef and possibly more if Frankie will allow it, but Frankie is making it difficult as s...more

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Mar 03, 2013 Esther David rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romances, reviewed-books, favorites

I found the book to be an okay read. I might also add that I had a lot of expectations about the book and it definitely didn't reach the standards of Black Dagger Brotherhood or Fallen Angels book. But Ward writes in the beginning that she is dedicating the book to her romantic read influences of Harlequin. Then again Ward has been able to differentiate her book from an ordinary romance novels by adding more life to her characters and giving insecurities to both the hero as well as the heroine,...more

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Jul 14, 2011 *•-:¦:-•:*Ehlizabeth*•-:¦:-•:* rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

3.5 Stars
I had higher hopes for this one after reading An Irresistable Bachelor but was a little disappointed. Frankie annoyed me to be honest and the end was so rushed. Still, I will get the others when/if they are re released - I think Joy's story would be a good one.

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Jul 18, 2011 Jackie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The rebel was a quick read. Good as all ward books are but not her best. The romance was not as steamy as I've come to expect from a warden book. I'm think it must have been one of her first romance novels.

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Jul 25, 2011 Lenore rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: the-warden, summer-or-holiday-love, hot-hero, kitchen-lovin, favourite-authors, 2011, reviewed-by-yours-truly, fluffy-mcflufferson

This was a light yet very sweet read and, like every story I've read so far by J.R. Ward, I couldn't put it down. Another thing about this author (one of my favourites, by the way) is that her male characters are so vivid and compelling it's difficult to believe they're not real.
The same happened with Nate, the hero in this book. I loved the guy. And he reminded me of Butch O'Neil what with his capped front tooth and his dark physical appearance. Frankie, the heroine, was ok, I liked her alrigh...more

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Jul 08, 2011 Amber Hughes rated it 4 of 5 stars

*3.5 stars*
Enjoyable read (got better in the 2nd half of the book), but the ending felt a little "quick" to me.

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Jun 03, 2010 Shawna rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Fans of sweet, PG/PG-13 contemporary romance

Recommended to Shawna by: I'm a fan of the "WARDen"

Shelves: contemporary-romance, harlequin-blaze-silhouette-romance, jr-ward-jessica-bird, brothers-sisters-cousins-family, culinary-lovin-food-and-sex-chef, heroine-odd-spinster-wallflower, small-town-lovin, enemies-to-lovers-opposites-attract, hero-mix-of-alpha-beta, heroine-i-wanna-bitch-slap-annoying, i-read-no-longer-own-sold-swapped, badasses-hunks-in-leather, hero-im-gaga-over, 2010-reads, series-moorehouse-legacy-obanyon, pbs-trades, 4-stars

4 stars – Contemporary Romance

I'm a big fan of J.R. Ward's BDB series, and I also love contemporary romance. So when I found out the "WARDen" had written contemporary romance as Jessica Bird, I of course just had to check them out. This is the first book in her Moorehouse Legacy Silhouette series, and it's a pretty good read.

Frances "Frankie" Moorehouse is struggling to keep her family's rundown, historical B&B in the Adirondacks in upstate New York running, and although cocky chef Nate Walk...more

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Jun 21, 2011 Nikoletta rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It was interesting to read something else from J.R. than the BDB or the Fallen Angels series.

Nate, the male character of the book is completely pre-brother character. He is an easy-going guy, balanced - of course carrying some personal issues, but compared to that completely balanced. Although built like a "brother" :))
I believe in this book the woman lead has more issues with herself.

It was very entertaining. Perfect enough to take my mind off everyday issues and take it on vacation.
It is mor...more

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Aug 10, 2011 Cocktails and Books rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-romance

If you're a JR Ward fan, here's a warning for you. While this story happens in New York, near Albany, the similarity between this story and the Brotherhood / Fallen Angels series ends there.

This is a re-worked Jessica Bird novel, which was originally title Beauty and the Black Sheep. It's a cute story. Frankie Moorehouse is having a hard time keeping her families B & B, White Caps, open. To make matters worse, she's behind on the mortgage, the summer seasons coming and her chef has just abru...more

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Oct 09, 2009 Dina rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-romance, harlequin-silhouette, to-blog

If you're feeling a little down and in need of a sweet and "feel good" romance, look no further... Pick this book up and I assure you that you'll close it with a smile on your face. Nate, the hero, is a-dor-a-ble and I could eat him with a spoon... *sighs*

Frances "Frankie" Moorehouse is her family's last stand. She's been taking care of her younger sister Joy and her grandmother Grand-Em (who suffers from dementia and requires a lot of TLC), worrying about his absent brother Alex, and managing t...more If you're feeling a little down and in need of a sweet and "feel good" romance, look no further... Pick this book up and I assure you that you'll close it with a smile on your face. Nate, the hero, is a-dor-a-ble and I could eat him with a spoon... *sighs*

Frances "Frankie" Moorehouse is her family's last stand. She's been taking care of her younger sister Joy and her grandmother Grand-Em (who suffers from dementia and requires a lot of TLC), worrying about his absent brother Alex, and managing the family's decaying B&B since her parents died around 10 years ago, and now she's on the verge of a nervous and financial breakdown. The ceiling of her office has just collapsed under the pressure of 20 gallons of water, thanks to her house's ancient plumbing, and her cook has quit without notice, leaving her stranded with some very impatient and hungry guests. Could things get any worse? Yes and no...

Nate Walker has left his job as the chef of a 4-star restaurant in New York City and is on his way to meet his friend Spike in Montreal, where they hope to find a suitable place to open their own restaurant, when his car Lucille dies - with a bang, not with a whimper - and leaves him to walk on foot to the nearest town. Fate plays its hand, and Nate ends up knocking on Frankie's B&B door. It doesn't take long until he realizes she's in serious need of a cook and, hey, he's a chef! So he puts his chef's knives to good use and saves the day, or better, the night.

Nate is a gift from God: besides being too yummy for words, he's a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and a classically trained chef who's worked in Paris. And he's willing to stay and work as Frankie's new cook for the next 2 months, putting a temporary stop in his search for the perfect place to open his and Spike's own restaurant. It isn't a bad deal, since the summer season isn't exactly the best for opening their new business and he'll have something to do while he waits. Not to mention that he's very attracted to Frankie and he wouldn't mind getting up close and personal with her...

Nate and Frankie's relationship doesn't flow smoothly, of course. Both of them have troubled pasts and a lot of issues to work through. Neither is seeking a long-term relationship - after all, he's going to leave after Labor Day - and Frankie already has enough problems on her plate, but you can't always put a lid on your emotions, can you?

This was a very enjoyable read, and I really loved Nate. He was sexy, caring and protective, without being overbearing. If he had one "flaw" was, he was too patient. I mean, I lost count of the times Frankie jumped to the wrong conclusion about him and he just forgave her. He wasn't a pushover, but I got the feeling that their relationship was uneven as he definitely gave more than he received. To be fair, Frankie wasn't "bad" and she grew on me in the end, but I admit that I came close to yelling at her once for her continuing distrust. If it wasn't for her, this would have been a 5-star reading for me.

As the 1st book in the Moorehouse Legacy series, Beauty And The Black Sheep not only told the story of the eldest Moorehouse sister, Frankie, but also gave enough tidbits about her siblings, Joy and Alex, to make me interested in reading their stories. Nice going, Ms. Bird!
(less)

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Aug 04, 2012 Mafi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebook, eng

Após ter lido "Diz-me quem és" da autora Jessica Bird, fiquei com vontade de ler mais livros da Ward, nesta vertente contemporânea e romântica e decidi pegar em "The Rebel", pois a história pareceu-me interessante e adequada aos meus gostos em romances.

Gostei tanto ou mais deste livro, em comparação com "Diz-me quem és", "The Rebel" conta-nos a história de Nate Walker, que vêm de uma família abastada e era certo um casamento com uma mulher que só queria um marido rico. Apercebendo-se do enorme...more Após ter lido "Diz-me quem és" da autora Jessica Bird, fiquei com vontade de ler mais livros da Ward, nesta vertente contemporânea e romântica e decidi pegar em "The Rebel", pois a história pareceu-me interessante e adequada aos meus gostos em romances.

Gostei tanto ou mais deste livro, em comparação com "Diz-me quem és", "The Rebel" conta-nos a história de Nate Walker, que vêm de uma família abastada e era certo um casamento com uma mulher que só queria um marido rico. Apercebendo-se do enorme erro que iria cometer, Nate foge deste casamento forçado, decidido a perseguir o seu maior sonho: abrir um restaurante. Por ironia do destino, irá encontrar Frankie Moorehouse, dona de um Bed and Breakfast e que precisa desesperadamente de um...cozinheiro! Já estão a ver o que vai acontecer, não é? Apesar de não precisar, Nate aceita trabalhar para Frankie até ao fim do verão e é claro que a relação deles não vai ser apenas profissional.

Aiiii gostei muito deste livro! Adorei o Nate! Como a própria autora diz no livro, Nate é um rebelde por virar as costas à família e a um futuro feito, não precisando de trabalhar, para lutar pelo seu sonho de ser cozinheiro. E esta rebeldia faz parte da essência de todos os Nates e é por isso que eles são tão irresistíveis. :) Gostei muito do romance entre os dois protagonistas. Frankie é uma mulher trintona, que só pensa em trabalho e com uma família para cuidar e uma empresa para gerir, vê-se completamente sem defesas perante o encantador Nate. A relação entre eles vai ser muito divertida, pois Frankie resiste mas sabe que está completamente perdida por este homem. Claro que logo no início, sabemos que o livro tem um final feliz, mas isso não impede de apreciar-mos esta leitura. Confesso que achei o fim um pouco apressado e acabou muito repentinamente, mas também não se pode exigir muito deste tipo de livros.

Para quem não sabe, a personagem Nate vai entrar no livro "An irresistible Bachelor" ainda sem título em português mas que é a continuação do "Diz-me quem és" e que espero que a Quinta Essência publique. Portanto "The Rebel" é como se fosse o 3º livro de uma série não sequencial.E é também neste livro que é introduzido a personagem do Grayson que é o protagonista do livro "Amor Feiticeiro" publicado pela Harlequin, e que irá desenvolver o romance entre ele e a Joy, irmã de Frankie. Mal posso esperar por ler.

Jessica Bird é mesmo uma boa aposta quem aprecia estes romances :) Leiam! Eu vou ler certamente mais livros desta autora :)(less)

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Jul 31, 2012 Amy Jacobs rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own

The Rebel is the fist book in The Moorehouse Legacy series by author Jessica Bird -- also known as J.R. Ward. Instead of paranormal romance, the author ventures into contemporary romance with The Rebel.

While the books summary held promise, I felt that the book was just okay. It was predictable and at times a little boring. I felt there were some parts of the book that could have moved a little faster while some parts should have slowed down. The ending especially was very rushed. Everything get...more

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Jan 17, 2012 Forgotten Realms Queen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-romance, romance

So here we see the brother of Jack Walker from An Irresistible Bachelor, Nathaniel, rightful heir to the Walker fortune and this generation's black sheep, breaking away from his family to pursue his dream of owning his own restaurant.

On his way to a prospective location, cue car accident that has him laid up at a struggling B&B for a few days, owned by a woman who has lived there all her life and will fight tooth and nail for every screw and nail in the place. So of course he has to stay and...more

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Nov 09, 2011 Kathy Davie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: homey, romance

First in the Moorehouse Legacy romance series centered in an aging bed and breakfast in the Adirondacks. Also known as Beauty and the Black Sheep.

My Take
Not particularly deep but definitely a sweet introspection on loss and determination. Frankie Moorehouse has been slaving over the slow deterioration of her family home as she struggles to make a going concern of it as a bed and breakfast while Nate Walker is set on building a career and his reputation as a chef. Without his family's money.

Bir...more

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Nov 15, 2011 Trisha rated it 4 of 5 stars

It was page 35 that Frankie had me talking to the book asking "are you crazy" and it didn't get better for a few more pages. Frankie's chief quits at the beginning of the book and when Nate volunteers to stay and be her chief she jumps for joy cause she could burn water. Sorry I lied to you she tells him she doesn't need him but she does cause the other part of that sentence was the truth. Frankie can't cook she save her life or the bed & breakfast she owns. I was totally annoyed because at...more

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Sep 22, 2011 Peep (Pop! Pop!) added it · review of another edition

Shelves: never-finished, adult-cravings, read-in-2011

I'm not going to star rate this because I didn't finish it. I just want to go on record saying that this was bad. No Rebel to be found. Me thinks I'll just stick with what she does best, the Brotherhood (and even then that's hit or miss).

She's a good writer, it's just the story that I wasn't feeling. It was really all too coincidental. I liked Frankie and Nate enough, it was just a little too contrived how everything went down. You need a cook and a handsome AND single, cook lands on your doors...more

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Aug 12, 2011 Jenn rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Nothing really stood out for me with this story. It was a well written book about...coincidences.

The heroine's (Frankie) bed & breakfast cook just happens to quit and the hero's car just happens to break down and he just happens to be looking for work and she just happens to have no idea how to cook and he just happens to stumble into her b & b after she's ruined a meal for some hoity-toity pain in the ass customer. Oh and did I mention her b & b just happens to be on the edge of fin...more

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Aug 07, 2011 Michelle (MsRomanticReads) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, contemporary

Frances "Frankie" Moorehouse is struggling to keep her B&B above water. Her chef took off, her office ceiling caved in, she's up to her eyes in debt, and guests are lacking due to the bad economy. She runs the place with an iron will and fist. On top of all that, she takes care of her grandmother who has Alzheimers and her sister Joy. Her brother Alex is a professional sailor and off on some big adventure. It seems that the fate of her family (estate) rests solely on her shoulders.

While on...more Frances "Frankie" Moorehouse is struggling to keep her B&B above water. Her chef took off, her office ceiling caved in, she's up to her eyes in debt, and guests are lacking due to the bad economy. She runs the place with an iron will and fist. On top of all that, she takes care of her grandmother who has Alzheimers and her sister Joy. Her brother Alex is a professional sailor and off on some big adventure. It seems that the fate of her family (estate) rests solely on her shoulders.

While on his way to check out a prospective site for his restaurant, Nate Walker's car breaks down. Guess where he ends up? When he shows up at the back door, he's welcomed by the sight of the lovely owner fretting over burnt dinner and the prospect of getting chewed out once again by her picky guests. Nate steps in and saves the day by taking charge and salvaging what's left of the burnt chicken. While Frankie is grateful for the save, she's irritated that someone had to bail her out in the first place. Seeing as Nate needs to save money for his restaurant, and the B&B is in dire need of a chef, he talks Frankie into hiring him for the summer. When he starts to show a personal interest in her, her walls immediately go up. He doesn't let that stop him though, even if his ego is in for a good bruising.

I didn't warm up to Frankie at all. I simply didn't like her. Not in the beginning, definitely not in the middle, and at the end, I simply didn't care what she did or said. Her parents death in a boating accident on the lake when she was a little girl still haunts her. The breakup with her fiance a decade ago has left her jaded towards all men of the upper class. Social standings seem too wide an obstacle to overcome. When Nate shows up, she has no idea who he is except that he's a master chef, he doesn't have nice things to say about his family save for his brother Jack, and every heated look he throws her way has her wanting to hightail it out of the room or start an argument with him in an effort to dissuade his interest.

I loved Nate throughout this story. Despite his pedigree, he's a humble man who knows what he wants and goes after it with everything he has. He's captivated by Frankie's tough as nails attitude and smart mouth. While he tries to woo her, he endures his ego taking a major beat down when she pushes him away time and time again.

The story as a whole left me a little underwhelmed, especially after the more exciting story of his brother Jack and Callie in An Irresistible Bachelor. While this story was sweet, I got really frustrated with Frankie's attitude. Quick to jump the gun and make assumptions about Nate almost all the way up until the very end demonstrated a lack of growth on her part. She didn't seem to learn anything from past mistakes. And seriously, who hasn't had a failed relationship before? She takes that one event cloud her judgment to the extreme. As for Nate, his own tragedy was more believable, but he dealt with it when he confided in Frankie. I thought the ending was a little rushed. Though I expected that particular outcome, I won't deny I was hoping for Frankie to be the one to make a sacrifice. I also would have liked a little more background on Nate and what he went through.

I see two more books, one telling Alex's story, and other tells Spike's (WTH?!). We barely even meet Spike in this book except for snippets of phone conversations he has with Nate. I'd rather read about Joy and Gray.(less)

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title link	preview: The Rebel
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The Rebel (The Moorehouse Legacy #1)

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