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Mallorens & Friends #4
Le Prisonnier de Lady Overton
Brand Malloren effectuait une tournée d’inspection des domaines de son frère quand, drogué à son insu, il est jeté, inconscient, dans un fossé. Heureusement, il est sauvé par une inconnue qui le recueille dans un manoir du Yorkshire. Affaibli et désorienté, il peine à comprendre pourquoi sa bienfaitrice cache son visage sous un masque. Néanmoins, il lui témoigne sa reconnaissance éternelle. Elle peut lui demander n’importe quoi en retour ! assure-t-il. Le prenant au mot, elle le prie d’honorer sa couche. Et quand celle qu’il appelle lady Mystère disparaît, Brand se sent prêt à déplacer des montagnes pour la retrouver…
465 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1999
89 people are currently reading
811 people want to read
About the author
Jo Beverley
141 books1,129 followersMary Josephine Dunn was born 22 September 1947 in Lancashire, England, UK. At the age of eleven she went to an all-girls boarding school, Layton Hill Convent, Blackpool. At sixteen, she wrote her first romance, with a medieval setting, completed in installments in an exercise book. From 1966 to 1970, she obtained a degree in English history from Keele University in Staffordshire, where she met her future husband, Ken Beverley. After graduation, they married on June 24, 1971. She quickly attained a position as a youth employment officer until 1976, working first in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, and then in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire.
In 1976, her scientist husband was invited to do post-doctoral research at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. When her professional qualifications proved not to be usable in the Canadian labour market, she raised their two sons and started to write her first romances.
Moved to Ottawa, in 1985 she became a founding member of the Ottawa Romance Writers’ Association, that her “nurturing community” for the next twelve years. The same year, she completed a regency romance, but it was promptly rejected by a number of publishers, and she settled more earnestly to learning the craft. In 1988, it sold to Walker, and was published as "Lord Wraybourne's Betrothed". She regularly appears on bestseller lists including the USA Today overall bestseller list, the New York Times, and and the Publishers Weekly list. She has been the recipient of numerous awards including the Golden Leaf, the Award of Excellence, the National Readers Choice, and a two Career Achievement awards from Romantic Times. She is also a five time winner of the RITA, the top award of the Romance Writers Of America, and a member of their Hall of Fame and Honor Roll.
Jo Beverley passed away on May 23, 2016 after a long battle with cancer.
In 1976, her scientist husband was invited to do post-doctoral research at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. When her professional qualifications proved not to be usable in the Canadian labour market, she raised their two sons and started to write her first romances.
Moved to Ottawa, in 1985 she became a founding member of the Ottawa Romance Writers’ Association, that her “nurturing community” for the next twelve years. The same year, she completed a regency romance, but it was promptly rejected by a number of publishers, and she settled more earnestly to learning the craft. In 1988, it sold to Walker, and was published as "Lord Wraybourne's Betrothed". She regularly appears on bestseller lists including the USA Today overall bestseller list, the New York Times, and and the Publishers Weekly list. She has been the recipient of numerous awards including the Golden Leaf, the Award of Excellence, the National Readers Choice, and a two Career Achievement awards from Romantic Times. She is also a five time winner of the RITA, the top award of the Romance Writers Of America, and a member of their Hall of Fame and Honor Roll.
Jo Beverley passed away on May 23, 2016 after a long battle with cancer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
January 27, 2011
I don't like reading about adultery in my romances, nor do I like opening up a book only to find it's smack dab in the middle of a series. This book fits both scenarios but, much to my surprise, I couldn't tear myself away from it.
Rosa is married to Digby, a sickly, older man, who has been unable to impregnate her. When Digby dies their home will pass into the hands of a nephew who belongs to a fanatical religious cult. In order to prevent this Digby encourages Rosa to find herself a handsome young man to get her with child.
Sheltered Rosa loves Digby but he's always been more of a protector than a lover. When she was seventeen she was gravely injured and her face was scarred. Digby saved her life by proposing marriage. Because of her scars she has been living life as a hermit and, although she is frightened by Digby's request, it reawakens her adventurous nature and she agrees to his plan.
So Rosa dons a mask and heads to a masquerade ball to find an "easy" man (as if that would be difficult!). But the men she meets repulse her and she decides to head back to the safety of her home. This is where she finds the hero who is laying unconscious in the middle of the street. She brings him to a friends home and nurses him throughout the night. When he awakens he has no memory but is so grateful to the still masked Rosa that he offers her payment. She's very attracted to him and impulsively decides to ask him to make love to her and he agrees. Well, duh. During their time together something unexpected happens -- they fall in love.
What follows is a very sensuous love story written with wry humor about two wonderful characters caught in an impossible situation. I ached for them and was not turned off at all by the adultery plot because of the way it was presented and because all of the characters involved were warm, loving and kind people. I couldn't tear myself away from this love story until the last quarter when the couple faced a necessary separation and an intrigue subplot took over center stage. I'm very glad I read this story and I can honestly say that it stands alone very nicely even if you haven't read the previous "Malloren" books.
Rosa is married to Digby, a sickly, older man, who has been unable to impregnate her. When Digby dies their home will pass into the hands of a nephew who belongs to a fanatical religious cult. In order to prevent this Digby encourages Rosa to find herself a handsome young man to get her with child.
Sheltered Rosa loves Digby but he's always been more of a protector than a lover. When she was seventeen she was gravely injured and her face was scarred. Digby saved her life by proposing marriage. Because of her scars she has been living life as a hermit and, although she is frightened by Digby's request, it reawakens her adventurous nature and she agrees to his plan.
So Rosa dons a mask and heads to a masquerade ball to find an "easy" man (as if that would be difficult!). But the men she meets repulse her and she decides to head back to the safety of her home. This is where she finds the hero who is laying unconscious in the middle of the street. She brings him to a friends home and nurses him throughout the night. When he awakens he has no memory but is so grateful to the still masked Rosa that he offers her payment. She's very attracted to him and impulsively decides to ask him to make love to her and he agrees. Well, duh. During their time together something unexpected happens -- they fall in love.
What follows is a very sensuous love story written with wry humor about two wonderful characters caught in an impossible situation. I ached for them and was not turned off at all by the adultery plot because of the way it was presented and because all of the characters involved were warm, loving and kind people. I couldn't tear myself away from this love story until the last quarter when the couple faced a necessary separation and an intrigue subplot took over center stage. I'm very glad I read this story and I can honestly say that it stands alone very nicely even if you haven't read the previous "Malloren" books.
June 3, 2016
I was beginning to worry that this series might be destined for mediocrity, since the last two books had fallen off my otherwise outstanding Jo Beverley experience. Wow did this one knock that idea out of my head. And not just because the plot kicks in with a vengeance right from the start and never lets go (though not in an actiony way so much as an emotional and engaging one). Beverley does a fantastic job of letting us know the stakes by both the details and the emotions wrapped up in them. Feeling the weight of needing a child to stand between the estate and the new heir could have been nebulous and weak, but knowing the absolutism of the heir and the vivid details of Rosa's personal experience with others of his sect was powerful and made it so you could see why the conspiracy to essentially defraud that process might be so important to all involved in it. And what a conflict for a couple who should have been the very definition of a temporary liaison!
And that's a powerful conflict to set at two people who connect so completely. Fast love is often hard for me to swallow, so it was something of a surprise to find myself nodding along to a deep and abiding commitment after not much more than a day. Yes, the emotional landscape is intense but really, Beverley just does an outstanding job of showing how deeply two people can connect in such a short time. This is actually enhanced by the normally reserved nature of both protagonists. Still waters run deep, and all that, but seriously, you could see how well these two were made for each other (and not is some cheap because-the-author-said-so way, either). Brand hasn't been much present in the other books so far, but we see why that is here and that makes his portrayal that much stronger in this book.
And in addition to all that I can't help thinking that Beverley slipped in an early introduction of the girl who may land Bey in the next book while she was at it. I mean, how many women have managed to out-maneuver Bey not once, but twice? I liked Diana and Beverley does a fantastic job illustrating her character without detracting even a little bit from the much less outgoing Rosa. Add a bit of a twist on the creepy cult leader that kept the main antagonists from raw pastiche and she earns a serious kudo for outstanding work.
So yeah, an outstanding novel and a lovely story and original without seeming at all far-fetched (which is amazing given how far-fetched it actually was on reflection). This was a rocking five stars from start to finish and makes me hope, oh please, that Bey's book (next up) will not suck.
A note about Steamy: Typical for the series. There are a couple explicit sex scenes. They're pretty detailed and not short and exactly perfect for the couple and their caring, emotional connection.
And that's a powerful conflict to set at two people who connect so completely. Fast love is often hard for me to swallow, so it was something of a surprise to find myself nodding along to a deep and abiding commitment after not much more than a day. Yes, the emotional landscape is intense but really, Beverley just does an outstanding job of showing how deeply two people can connect in such a short time. This is actually enhanced by the normally reserved nature of both protagonists. Still waters run deep, and all that, but seriously, you could see how well these two were made for each other (and not is some cheap because-the-author-said-so way, either). Brand hasn't been much present in the other books so far, but we see why that is here and that makes his portrayal that much stronger in this book.
And in addition to all that I can't help thinking that Beverley slipped in an early introduction of the girl who may land Bey in the next book while she was at it. I mean, how many women have managed to out-maneuver Bey not once, but twice? I liked Diana and Beverley does a fantastic job illustrating her character without detracting even a little bit from the much less outgoing Rosa. Add a bit of a twist on the creepy cult leader that kept the main antagonists from raw pastiche and she earns a serious kudo for outstanding work.
So yeah, an outstanding novel and a lovely story and original without seeming at all far-fetched (which is amazing given how far-fetched it actually was on reflection). This was a rocking five stars from start to finish and makes me hope, oh please, that Bey's book (next up) will not suck.
A note about Steamy: Typical for the series. There are a couple explicit sex scenes. They're pretty detailed and not short and exactly perfect for the couple and their caring, emotional connection.
March 21, 2016
I last read this in 2009. That was the second time, the first was, oh, probably in 1999 or 2000. That first read of this was also my very first Jo Bev book too, so it's the one that started my collection. I'm kind of fond of this story, so let's see if it still holds up. I'm sure it will. I was supposed to read this last August over in WaMRL, but I suppose it must be better late than never. Finally, it's onward with my reading of this series!
Done. I flew through this re-read in a day and a half, really enjoyed it. It was so easy to slip back into that Georgian world, to get right back into the Malloren family. Of course, Rothgar remains the one who draws my attention whenever he steps into a scene, and I forget about any other characters, but I did like Brand and Rosa's story. This one was very sweet compared to the previous three. Not sweet as in, lacking sensuality, because it had plenty of that in my eyes. Just sweet, as in, like, cute. The characters were both very likable. They were both kind, and thoughtful, good nice, loyal people who you want to see happy. There was just the tiniest (to me) bit of angst, where they don't know how they can be together, but of course, this being romance, we all know everything's going to turn out good in the end. I liked how Rosa was not a picture perfect heroine, with her scars and her lack of confidence due to them. I especially loved how the fact of her being already married was presented. She wasn't some virgin heroine whose older husband for whatever reasons hadn't touched her. That right there, had me rejoicing. Too often I find stories with the 'virgin widow' sort of trope, and I can't stand it. Just my personal taste, some of my good friends here on GR love that, so that's just me. I did really love that she had a good, mostly full relationship with her husband. I liked the friendship and closeness she had with him, and I appreciated that he had tried to do his husbandly duties. Digby, the husband, was a likable character himself, and I liked that he had been fully in on the plan that Rosa was trying to fulfill, and that he'd given her his permission and blessing to do what she had to do to preserve the estate. I was actually sad when his inevitable time came, though of course it was necessary for Rosa and Brand to get their HEA. So, onto their relationship. I liked how she was super-nervous about what she was doing, that she was unsure, and didn't really know how to go about it all. She was innocent in many ways, despite her life experiences, but I liked how her relationship with Diana proved that she wasn't just some fluffy bit of sugar. She had a mischievous and fun side, and I liked how it came out with Brand's influence. He taught her how to be light-hearted again. Brand was good in that way, he was no demanding, cold alpha type guy (like Rothgar! Squee! xD), but he was not exactly a mushball either. He had strength, and wasn't the sort to tangle with, but he was generous, and kind too. I liked how he and Rosa's relationship developed, the nervousness, the uncertainty, turning into some very sensual scenes once they made their bargain, and then that in turn becoming an unexpected friendship that became love. I liked how they had shared interests in the care of the land, in being settled caretakers. The interest in draft horse breeding was just a little extra bonus, as those are my favorite type of horses too, so I could totally relate to Rosa's passion for them. This story had many sweet, touching moments, but I enjoyed the steamy scenes they shared there in the Dower House too. I liked the little side mystery dealing with the Cotterites, and their plots, and the way that all worked out. I also should mention I really enjoyed the character of Rosa's cousin, Diana as well. She's interesting, and I'm totally looking forward to seeing her and Rothgar come together in the next book. Le sigh... Rothgar... here I come!
My Brand and Rosa:
Done. I flew through this re-read in a day and a half, really enjoyed it. It was so easy to slip back into that Georgian world, to get right back into the Malloren family. Of course, Rothgar remains the one who draws my attention whenever he steps into a scene, and I forget about any other characters, but I did like Brand and Rosa's story. This one was very sweet compared to the previous three. Not sweet as in, lacking sensuality, because it had plenty of that in my eyes. Just sweet, as in, like, cute. The characters were both very likable. They were both kind, and thoughtful, good nice, loyal people who you want to see happy. There was just the tiniest (to me) bit of angst, where they don't know how they can be together, but of course, this being romance, we all know everything's going to turn out good in the end. I liked how Rosa was not a picture perfect heroine, with her scars and her lack of confidence due to them. I especially loved how the fact of her being already married was presented. She wasn't some virgin heroine whose older husband for whatever reasons hadn't touched her. That right there, had me rejoicing. Too often I find stories with the 'virgin widow' sort of trope, and I can't stand it. Just my personal taste, some of my good friends here on GR love that, so that's just me. I did really love that she had a good, mostly full relationship with her husband. I liked the friendship and closeness she had with him, and I appreciated that he had tried to do his husbandly duties. Digby, the husband, was a likable character himself, and I liked that he had been fully in on the plan that Rosa was trying to fulfill, and that he'd given her his permission and blessing to do what she had to do to preserve the estate. I was actually sad when his inevitable time came, though of course it was necessary for Rosa and Brand to get their HEA. So, onto their relationship. I liked how she was super-nervous about what she was doing, that she was unsure, and didn't really know how to go about it all. She was innocent in many ways, despite her life experiences, but I liked how her relationship with Diana proved that she wasn't just some fluffy bit of sugar. She had a mischievous and fun side, and I liked how it came out with Brand's influence. He taught her how to be light-hearted again. Brand was good in that way, he was no demanding, cold alpha type guy (like Rothgar! Squee! xD), but he was not exactly a mushball either. He had strength, and wasn't the sort to tangle with, but he was generous, and kind too. I liked how he and Rosa's relationship developed, the nervousness, the uncertainty, turning into some very sensual scenes once they made their bargain, and then that in turn becoming an unexpected friendship that became love. I liked how they had shared interests in the care of the land, in being settled caretakers. The interest in draft horse breeding was just a little extra bonus, as those are my favorite type of horses too, so I could totally relate to Rosa's passion for them. This story had many sweet, touching moments, but I enjoyed the steamy scenes they shared there in the Dower House too. I liked the little side mystery dealing with the Cotterites, and their plots, and the way that all worked out. I also should mention I really enjoyed the character of Rosa's cousin, Diana as well. She's interesting, and I'm totally looking forward to seeing her and Rothgar come together in the next book. Le sigh... Rothgar... here I come!
My Brand and Rosa:
April 21, 2019
Jo Beverly es de esas autoras que leí, después de Johanna Lindsey, Woodiwiss o Jude Deveraux y con una familia que te atrapa desde que los conoces. Los libros de los hermanos, tengo que reconocer, no los he leído en orden, principalmente, porque su publicación no fue en orden y por un reto literario descubrí que tenía el libro y no lo había leído.
Las intrigas de la protagonista para conseguir que sus tierras no caigan en manos de una secta son deliciosas y las consecuencias de sus actos, cuando hay un Malloren por medio, no las puede ni imaginar. De hecho el lema de la familia es " Con un Malloren, todo es posible".
Las intrigas de la protagonista para conseguir que sus tierras no caigan en manos de una secta son deliciosas y las consecuencias de sus actos, cuando hay un Malloren por medio, no las puede ni imaginar. De hecho el lema de la familia es " Con un Malloren, todo es posible".
August 10, 2009
An unconventional romance, but quite refreshing. Usually, when heroines are previously (or currently, in this case) married, the husbands are portrayed as unlovable and whatnot, but here Rosa's husband is a nice man, though obviously not the love of her life. Brand is a pleasant hero, though not very remarkable. He does little and leaves dirty work mostly to Rothgar. Obviously we're being primed for the next book of the series, Rothgar's story.
I don't generally accept adultery, but it was hardly portrayed as such and for that, I cannot really fault it in this book. The only fault lies in character development. Its a little plot-driven, which I don't really complain about but Brand was merely a figment, while Rosa had a fullscale personality. The weird plot that they had to settle for them to get married was also kinda dumb. I guess they were trying to be honorable, but it was unnecessary.
Its not a typical romance. It is unusual and the H/h don't really end up together until the very end. Still, it is a satisfying read and can be read as a standalone. Brand doesn't really play a part in the earlier books and no one but Rothgar plays a part in this.
I don't generally accept adultery, but it was hardly portrayed as such and for that, I cannot really fault it in this book. The only fault lies in character development. Its a little plot-driven, which I don't really complain about but Brand was merely a figment, while Rosa had a fullscale personality. The weird plot that they had to settle for them to get married was also kinda dumb. I guess they were trying to be honorable, but it was unnecessary.
Its not a typical romance. It is unusual and the H/h don't really end up together until the very end. Still, it is a satisfying read and can be read as a standalone. Brand doesn't really play a part in the earlier books and no one but Rothgar plays a part in this.
April 2, 2014
3.5 stars
This was a rather random selection for a prompt in the Days of the Week section of the AAR Back to School Challenge, which was -
read a book that has in its title the word "Monday", "Moon", "dark", "shade", or “night”.
I didn’t really have anything in mind, so it was a case of looking through my Kindle books and the paperback pile to find a book which fitted the bill, and this is the one I settled on. The main plotline in this reminded me a little of Grace Burrowes’ Darius: Lord of Pleasures and Cecilia Grant’s A Lady Awakened, in that the heroine needs to conceive a child in order to prevent her home and lands being inherited by someone who would not do well by the estate’s dependants. Because her husband is impotent (or dead or dying!), she has to call upon the services of another man to do the deed and complications ensue. Call me odd, but I rather like that particular type of story, so I’d found my challenge book!
I’m aware that the book is the fourth in a series, but I didn’t feel as though I needed to have read the previous books for this to make sense.
Rosamunde Overton has exactly the problem I describe above. Her husband Digby, who is much older than she is, is ailing and should he die without an heir, all his property and fortune will pass to his cousin Edward. Edward plans to turn everything over to the religious sect of which he is a member, called The New Commonwealth, which, as the name suggests, preaches the kind of Puritanism last seen under Cromwell. Should this event take place, not only will Rosa be turned out of her home, but all the tenants will be evicted unless they agree to join the group, and both Rosa and her husband are determined not to let that happen. But Digby is unable to perform his husbandly duties and together, they come up with a scheme whereby Rosa will attend a masquerade party (which were notorious for enabling illicit liaisons as participants are masked), find herself a likely young stud, get the deed done and hope for the best.
However, when push comes to shove (!) she finds herself repulsed by the idea and by the men she has encountered, and heads home, berating herself for her stupidity and cowardice. On the journey, she stops her coach when she sees something lying to the side of the road. The something turns out to be a someone, a man who has clearly suffered some sort of injury, so she has him carried aboard and continues her journey.
The man is young, handsome – and unconscious - and while travelling, Rosa starts to think that perhaps she has found a way to carry out her plan after all. She takes her mystery man to the dower house on the nearby Arradale estate, which belongs to her cousin, Diana.
When the man comes to, he doesn’t remember what happened to him or who he is. He has no external injuries, and he wasn’t drunk – and Rosa comes to the conclusion that he was drugged and left out in the middle of nowhere to die, although she has no idea as to why.
His memory begins to return in snatches, and he eventually remembers that he is Brand Malloren, brother of the Marquess of Rothgar, one of the most powerful and feared men in the country. When his strength returns, Rosa wastes no time in – very awkwardly – asking him to sleep with her. He agrees readily (perhaps a little too readily, given he has no idea where he is or who his mysterious nurse is), thinking that perhaps his lady is a widow, or unhappily married, and that the least he can do by way of thanking her for saving his life is to show her a good time. *g*
Rosa is determined to keep her identity a secret, as nobody can know that any child she bears is not her husband’s, and remains masked at all times – not just to prevent identification, but also to hide the scars running down one side of her face which are the result of a childhood accident.
Rosa and Brand spend only a few days together, but form a very intense connection and fall deeply in love. On their last night together, Brand asks Rosa to leave with him, and it almost kills her to have to refuse. She has already realised that Brand is a very determined man, and that she will have to resort to underhand measures in order to ensure that he is unable to find her once they have parted. With the help of her cousin, Rosa effects Brand’s departure and prepares to return home, hoping that she has conceived and knowing that she will never be the same again.
I admit to thinking at first that what Brand and Rosa were suffering from was a serious case of insta-love; but as I continued to read, Ms Beverley won me over with the way she developed their relationship in ways that didn’t relate to sex. They discovered common interests and shared a sense of humour, and the depth of feeling running between them became so intense that it was easy to believe that there was more to their liaison than lust and the need to conceive.
The first part of the novel worked really well, but as soon as Brand and Rosa were separated, the pacing flagged and I actually put the book down and read something else before getting back to it. Even though Rosa and Diana are forced to greater heights of subterfuge when Rothgar turns up searching for his brother, and there were some great (and sometimes funny) twists and turns as Diana pulls the wool over the eyes of the all-powerful Marquess, I found it hard to regain my earlier enthusiasm for the story.
Fortunately, however, once the ladies have evaded exposure and Brand returns to the picture, the pace picks up again, and there is the addition of a mystery side-plot. Rothgar has actually been asked by the king to look into the New Commonwealth and can see a bigger picture emerging from the things he has learned from his brother and other sources.
Brand continues to search for Rosa, although he is still unaware of her identity. It’s true that he is helped along by a series of co-incidences, but I didn’t think they were so heavy-handed as to be implausible or interrupt the flow of the story. The ending felt a little contrived, as Brand came up with a plan which would enable Rosa to keep her child with her while not giving away the fact that they had conceived it out of wedlock – but it worked.
The characterisation was generally strong, although I did feel that Brand was the least well-rounded of the two protagonists. He’s a lovely, sexy and romantic beta hero, and I thought that his relationship with Rothgar was very well written, but I didn’t feel I really got to know him in his own right. Rosa, on the other hand, was very well developed. Because of the scarring to her face, she opted, at seventeen, to marry a man much older than she was, partly because she wanted to live away from society, and partly because she believed she would never get any other offers. Digby is a kind, attentive husband, who is clearly more of a father figure to her than a husband, but she is happy with him, and it’s clear throughout the novel that she cares for him deeply. Even though she sleeps with another man and discovers a passion she’s never before experienced, Rosa is doing it at Digby’s suggestion and because they both want to prevent the estate from passing into the hands of people who will not take care of it and the people who live there.
In spite of the pacing issues I mentioned above, I did enjoy the book. It was well-written, the relationship between the hero and heroine was quite compelling and I even found myself caught up with the mystery plot concerning the New Commonwealth – unusual for me, because I often find such sub-plots a bit lacking. But overall, Secrets of the Night is an enjoyable romance featuring two sympathetic and honourable protagonists whose struggles to do the right thing and the heartbreak they suffer as a result make their HEA feel all the more justly deserved.
This was a rather random selection for a prompt in the Days of the Week section of the AAR Back to School Challenge, which was -
read a book that has in its title the word "Monday", "Moon", "dark", "shade", or “night”.
I didn’t really have anything in mind, so it was a case of looking through my Kindle books and the paperback pile to find a book which fitted the bill, and this is the one I settled on. The main plotline in this reminded me a little of Grace Burrowes’ Darius: Lord of Pleasures and Cecilia Grant’s A Lady Awakened, in that the heroine needs to conceive a child in order to prevent her home and lands being inherited by someone who would not do well by the estate’s dependants. Because her husband is impotent (or dead or dying!), she has to call upon the services of another man to do the deed and complications ensue. Call me odd, but I rather like that particular type of story, so I’d found my challenge book!
I’m aware that the book is the fourth in a series, but I didn’t feel as though I needed to have read the previous books for this to make sense.
Rosamunde Overton has exactly the problem I describe above. Her husband Digby, who is much older than she is, is ailing and should he die without an heir, all his property and fortune will pass to his cousin Edward. Edward plans to turn everything over to the religious sect of which he is a member, called The New Commonwealth, which, as the name suggests, preaches the kind of Puritanism last seen under Cromwell. Should this event take place, not only will Rosa be turned out of her home, but all the tenants will be evicted unless they agree to join the group, and both Rosa and her husband are determined not to let that happen. But Digby is unable to perform his husbandly duties and together, they come up with a scheme whereby Rosa will attend a masquerade party (which were notorious for enabling illicit liaisons as participants are masked), find herself a likely young stud, get the deed done and hope for the best.
However, when push comes to shove (!) she finds herself repulsed by the idea and by the men she has encountered, and heads home, berating herself for her stupidity and cowardice. On the journey, she stops her coach when she sees something lying to the side of the road. The something turns out to be a someone, a man who has clearly suffered some sort of injury, so she has him carried aboard and continues her journey.
The man is young, handsome – and unconscious - and while travelling, Rosa starts to think that perhaps she has found a way to carry out her plan after all. She takes her mystery man to the dower house on the nearby Arradale estate, which belongs to her cousin, Diana.
When the man comes to, he doesn’t remember what happened to him or who he is. He has no external injuries, and he wasn’t drunk – and Rosa comes to the conclusion that he was drugged and left out in the middle of nowhere to die, although she has no idea as to why.
His memory begins to return in snatches, and he eventually remembers that he is Brand Malloren, brother of the Marquess of Rothgar, one of the most powerful and feared men in the country. When his strength returns, Rosa wastes no time in – very awkwardly – asking him to sleep with her. He agrees readily (perhaps a little too readily, given he has no idea where he is or who his mysterious nurse is), thinking that perhaps his lady is a widow, or unhappily married, and that the least he can do by way of thanking her for saving his life is to show her a good time. *g*
Rosa is determined to keep her identity a secret, as nobody can know that any child she bears is not her husband’s, and remains masked at all times – not just to prevent identification, but also to hide the scars running down one side of her face which are the result of a childhood accident.
Rosa and Brand spend only a few days together, but form a very intense connection and fall deeply in love. On their last night together, Brand asks Rosa to leave with him, and it almost kills her to have to refuse. She has already realised that Brand is a very determined man, and that she will have to resort to underhand measures in order to ensure that he is unable to find her once they have parted. With the help of her cousin, Rosa effects Brand’s departure and prepares to return home, hoping that she has conceived and knowing that she will never be the same again.
I admit to thinking at first that what Brand and Rosa were suffering from was a serious case of insta-love; but as I continued to read, Ms Beverley won me over with the way she developed their relationship in ways that didn’t relate to sex. They discovered common interests and shared a sense of humour, and the depth of feeling running between them became so intense that it was easy to believe that there was more to their liaison than lust and the need to conceive.
The first part of the novel worked really well, but as soon as Brand and Rosa were separated, the pacing flagged and I actually put the book down and read something else before getting back to it. Even though Rosa and Diana are forced to greater heights of subterfuge when Rothgar turns up searching for his brother, and there were some great (and sometimes funny) twists and turns as Diana pulls the wool over the eyes of the all-powerful Marquess, I found it hard to regain my earlier enthusiasm for the story.
Fortunately, however, once the ladies have evaded exposure and Brand returns to the picture, the pace picks up again, and there is the addition of a mystery side-plot. Rothgar has actually been asked by the king to look into the New Commonwealth and can see a bigger picture emerging from the things he has learned from his brother and other sources.
Brand continues to search for Rosa, although he is still unaware of her identity. It’s true that he is helped along by a series of co-incidences, but I didn’t think they were so heavy-handed as to be implausible or interrupt the flow of the story. The ending felt a little contrived, as Brand came up with a plan which would enable Rosa to keep her child with her while not giving away the fact that they had conceived it out of wedlock – but it worked.
The characterisation was generally strong, although I did feel that Brand was the least well-rounded of the two protagonists. He’s a lovely, sexy and romantic beta hero, and I thought that his relationship with Rothgar was very well written, but I didn’t feel I really got to know him in his own right. Rosa, on the other hand, was very well developed. Because of the scarring to her face, she opted, at seventeen, to marry a man much older than she was, partly because she wanted to live away from society, and partly because she believed she would never get any other offers. Digby is a kind, attentive husband, who is clearly more of a father figure to her than a husband, but she is happy with him, and it’s clear throughout the novel that she cares for him deeply. Even though she sleeps with another man and discovers a passion she’s never before experienced, Rosa is doing it at Digby’s suggestion and because they both want to prevent the estate from passing into the hands of people who will not take care of it and the people who live there.
In spite of the pacing issues I mentioned above, I did enjoy the book. It was well-written, the relationship between the hero and heroine was quite compelling and I even found myself caught up with the mystery plot concerning the New Commonwealth – unusual for me, because I often find such sub-plots a bit lacking. But overall, Secrets of the Night is an enjoyable romance featuring two sympathetic and honourable protagonists whose struggles to do the right thing and the heartbreak they suffer as a result make their HEA feel all the more justly deserved.
October 23, 2019
Después de los dos anteriores la serie mejoro con este libro, del cual no esperaba mucho
July 18, 2009
I've heard a lot about Jo Beverly's Mallorens and embarked upon this reading with reasonably high expectations. Unfortunately my hopes for a great read were dashed. This book was boring. I gave up at page 168 and skimmed the rest.
I disliked:
the heroine was married to another man for 3/4 of the book, thus leaving her unwilling and unable to meet or even see the hero. In fact, hero did not know who she was until very late in the story (you'll have to read to find out why).
it was for an admirable cause, but adultery is a theme I don't generally enjoy.
very tame, uninspired love scenes. I know there's an overabundance of sex (to the detriment of the story) in most books these days, but given the circumstances the characters found themselves in, a little more passion would have been appropriate.
plot - driven rather than character driven. The characters were good people, but really rather dull. Their lives and stories did not excite. Maybe because I don't like reading about religious fanaticism or stories that are plot-driven to the exclusion of the H/h. Eventually since the plot did not interest me and I was left with feelings of indifference toward the characters, I had to quit. Plus, I liked the heroine, but Lord Brand is not my type of hero. I like my heroes a little more on the alpha side, but he was very definitely beta to the max. Nothing wrong with that if that's what floats your boat. I, however, preferred his more dashing and dangerous brother, Rothgar, who seemed more interesting as a character.
I liked:
inspite of what I said above, Rosamunde and Brand were good, wholesome people. Their characters were not to my taste, but I have nothing against them.
though a bit stilted sometimes with one word expressions, for the most part I enjoyed Jo Beverly's writing. It's the first book of hers I've ever read, and she managed to capture the tone of the story quite well in her play with words, very whimsical and filled with longing. I liked it.
The verdict:
While I'm intrigued by Rothgar Malloren overall I'm not sure if Jo Beverly is an author for me. I have another book of hers, Winter Fire, but I have no desire to hurry and read it. I usually prefer a bit more steam to my stories and bolder characters. Unfortunately, there were too many areas of Secrets of the Night that were not enough to my liking for me to give it more than one star. :(
I disliked:
the heroine was married to another man for 3/4 of the book, thus leaving her unwilling and unable to meet or even see the hero. In fact, hero did not know who she was until very late in the story (you'll have to read to find out why).
it was for an admirable cause, but adultery is a theme I don't generally enjoy.
very tame, uninspired love scenes. I know there's an overabundance of sex (to the detriment of the story) in most books these days, but given the circumstances the characters found themselves in, a little more passion would have been appropriate.
plot - driven rather than character driven. The characters were good people, but really rather dull. Their lives and stories did not excite. Maybe because I don't like reading about religious fanaticism or stories that are plot-driven to the exclusion of the H/h. Eventually since the plot did not interest me and I was left with feelings of indifference toward the characters, I had to quit. Plus, I liked the heroine, but Lord Brand is not my type of hero. I like my heroes a little more on the alpha side, but he was very definitely beta to the max. Nothing wrong with that if that's what floats your boat. I, however, preferred his more dashing and dangerous brother, Rothgar, who seemed more interesting as a character.
I liked:
inspite of what I said above, Rosamunde and Brand were good, wholesome people. Their characters were not to my taste, but I have nothing against them.
though a bit stilted sometimes with one word expressions, for the most part I enjoyed Jo Beverly's writing. It's the first book of hers I've ever read, and she managed to capture the tone of the story quite well in her play with words, very whimsical and filled with longing. I liked it.
The verdict:
While I'm intrigued by Rothgar Malloren overall I'm not sure if Jo Beverly is an author for me. I have another book of hers, Winter Fire, but I have no desire to hurry and read it. I usually prefer a bit more steam to my stories and bolder characters. Unfortunately, there were too many areas of Secrets of the Night that were not enough to my liking for me to give it more than one star. :(
January 13, 2014
Electrifying and very naughty Georgian era romance. The heroine abducts the hero, keeps him prisoner, forces him to have sex -- and only appears before him naked and wearing a mask!!!
Now I hope that paragraph grabbed your attention. But the fact is, this is a very deep and character driven story. Jo Beverly does an amazing job making you understand WHY the heroine does the outrageous things she does. Her concern for her land and people is real. Right down to the lazy and rather dim-witted maidservant she's saddled with in the opening chapter!
The hero is a really irresistible Malloren type. He has a great sense of humor, is very relaxed about being kidnapped and tied up -- but when he understands the danger the heroine is in, he gets very serious in a hurry!
It's the measure of a truly great author that the last few Malloren books are just as good or even better than the beginning of the series!
Now I hope that paragraph grabbed your attention. But the fact is, this is a very deep and character driven story. Jo Beverly does an amazing job making you understand WHY the heroine does the outrageous things she does. Her concern for her land and people is real. Right down to the lazy and rather dim-witted maidservant she's saddled with in the opening chapter!
The hero is a really irresistible Malloren type. He has a great sense of humor, is very relaxed about being kidnapped and tied up -- but when he understands the danger the heroine is in, he gets very serious in a hurry!
It's the measure of a truly great author that the last few Malloren books are just as good or even better than the beginning of the series!
May 20, 2025
Secrets of a Summer Night continues the Malloren series with a bang!! A gripping and unusual story that opens with Rosamunde who desperately wants a baby, and with her elderly husband’s permission she’s looking for a man to have sex with. There were none she wanted at a masquerade.., she as a scarred face so this was a perfect setting for her. On her way home across the Yorkshire moors she rescues a man whom she saw lying unconscious near the road. She saves his life … he’s also got a touch of amnesia. She eventually learns he’s Brand Malloren, brother to the Marquess of Rothgar.
Beverley’s written another unputdownable fast paced story with electric sexual tension … the passionate scenes are detailed … pages long and so emotional!! A side story about a strict religious sect adds drama, depth and mystery plus harrowing nail biting moments. Rothgar is also out to help his brother and this shows the strong family ties of the Mallorens. I loved the Yorkshire setting having been there many times. A gem!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Beverley’s written another unputdownable fast paced story with electric sexual tension … the passionate scenes are detailed … pages long and so emotional!! A side story about a strict religious sect adds drama, depth and mystery plus harrowing nail biting moments. Rothgar is also out to help his brother and this shows the strong family ties of the Mallorens. I loved the Yorkshire setting having been there many times. A gem!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 8, 2021
What an amazing series, definitely one of the best I’ve read! Filled with so many wonderful characters, each book (every one so different from the previous) leaves this reader craving more stories of the Malloren world. Loved Brand & Rosamunde’s story; what an emotional journey! ❤️📚❤️
Highly recommend this author’s work to anyone who has not read her books.
Highly recommend this author’s work to anyone who has not read her books.
September 1, 2020
4 stelline e 1/2
Dopo tre libri in cui la Beverley mi aveva abituato a personaggi sopra le righe, melodrammi e sviluppi quanto meno bizzarri, questo è senza dubbio quello che sinora mi è piaciuto di più.
Non che le bizzarrie manchino, eh: si parte subito con la nostra Rosamunde che parte alla ricerca di un nobile "stallone" con cui procacciare un erede per il marito ormai vecchio e malato e quindi anche per se stessa, per la linea di sangue, per tutta la servitù e gli affittuari che dipendono da lei.
Mai tradimento fu più ben accolto e per una buona causa: se dovesse ereditare il più prossimo parente maschio di sir Digby, arriverebbe un odioso pudibondo, membro di una setta di puritani, severi nei costumi ma attenti a incamerare terre e a ereditare.
Dunque, la nostra parte, con tanto di maschera e benedizione del marito.
Purtroppo le cose s'ingarbugliano, lungo la via soccorre un giovanotto, mollato semisvenuto in un fosso, apparentemente ubriaco, forse aggredito.
E scatta la samaritana che è dentro ogni donna.
In precedenza non ho usato il termine "stallone" tanto per riferirmi a uno stereotipo: Rosamund alleva veramente cavalli e coltiva fiori, ed è comunque una cultrice degli incroci e della necessità di perpetuare la specie (per gli umani, la discendenza e il titolo) con qualche aiutino... che potrebbe esserle proprio il tizio praticamente consegnato a domicilio.
Divertenti le due cugine, avvezze agli intrighi e al camouflage, adorabili i Malloren quando si proteggono a vicenda e tentano di realizzare a loro modo la felicità familiare.
Se Brand è un ragazzo tranquillo, ma sornione, c'è sempre Rothgar che confabula, intuisce, pianifica, anche se stavolta potrebbe aver trovato qualcuna più furba di lui.
Direi che ci sono già le messe per l'atteso capitolo dedicato proprio a Bey e alla donna che diventerà la sua marchesa.
Bella serie, la sto recuperando tutta.
Dopo tre libri in cui la Beverley mi aveva abituato a personaggi sopra le righe, melodrammi e sviluppi quanto meno bizzarri, questo è senza dubbio quello che sinora mi è piaciuto di più.
Non che le bizzarrie manchino, eh: si parte subito con la nostra Rosamunde che parte alla ricerca di un nobile "stallone" con cui procacciare un erede per il marito ormai vecchio e malato e quindi anche per se stessa, per la linea di sangue, per tutta la servitù e gli affittuari che dipendono da lei.
Mai tradimento fu più ben accolto e per una buona causa: se dovesse ereditare il più prossimo parente maschio di sir Digby, arriverebbe un odioso pudibondo, membro di una setta di puritani, severi nei costumi ma attenti a incamerare terre e a ereditare.
Dunque, la nostra parte, con tanto di maschera e benedizione del marito.
Purtroppo le cose s'ingarbugliano, lungo la via soccorre un giovanotto, mollato semisvenuto in un fosso, apparentemente ubriaco, forse aggredito.
E scatta la samaritana che è dentro ogni donna.
In precedenza non ho usato il termine "stallone" tanto per riferirmi a uno stereotipo: Rosamund alleva veramente cavalli e coltiva fiori, ed è comunque una cultrice degli incroci e della necessità di perpetuare la specie (per gli umani, la discendenza e il titolo) con qualche aiutino... che potrebbe esserle proprio il tizio praticamente consegnato a domicilio.
Divertenti le due cugine, avvezze agli intrighi e al camouflage, adorabili i Malloren quando si proteggono a vicenda e tentano di realizzare a loro modo la felicità familiare.
Se Brand è un ragazzo tranquillo, ma sornione, c'è sempre Rothgar che confabula, intuisce, pianifica, anche se stavolta potrebbe aver trovato qualcuna più furba di lui.
Direi che ci sono già le messe per l'atteso capitolo dedicato proprio a Bey e alla donna che diventerà la sua marchesa.
Bella serie, la sto recuperando tutta.
February 3, 2016
I love this series. Every time I see name, Malloren, I smile and I feel good. Ms. Beverley created an awesome family that is memorable not because of the story and what happens to them, but because of the character itself. Lord Brand Malloren is a brother who is pretty amazing. Been waiting to see who female will catch him. I didn't realize it would be literal. One of my favourites in this series.
March 25, 2020
Another great, fast, engaging, escapist re-read.
July 17, 2019
Scarred in a carriage accident, reclusive Rosamunde marries a much older man. She is comfortable in her marriage and loves her husband, but they are childless. When the sudden death of Digby’s heir moves another heir into the role, Rosie, Digby and their tenants are alarmed that the estate will be turned over to a fanatical religious cult. Rosie sets out to provide Digby an heir.
Returning from a masked ball which failed in the ‘seduce an unknown gentleman department’, Rosie spots a man near the road, unconscious in a cold pool of water. She rescues him and hides him in a friend’s dower house. Could he be the solution to her problem? If so, will she lose her heart?
Recommended. An improbable situation made believable and romantic. Part 4 in a series, but readable as a standalone…then you will want to read the series.
Readalikes:
Miranda Neville’s Wild Quartet novels; Stephanie Lauren’s Cynster series; Kat Martin’s Litchfield romances; Sabrina Jeffires – The Secret of Flirting; Madeline Hunter – A Devil of a Duke; Elizabeth Hoyt – To Seduce a Sinner.
Pace: Fast-paced
Characters: Strong women; good secondary characters
Story: Character-driven
Writing style: Engaging
Tone: Dramatic; Steamy; Upbeat; Suspenseful
Frame: North Yorkshire, England; 1762
Theme: Love in disguise
Returning from a masked ball which failed in the ‘seduce an unknown gentleman department’, Rosie spots a man near the road, unconscious in a cold pool of water. She rescues him and hides him in a friend’s dower house. Could he be the solution to her problem? If so, will she lose her heart?
Recommended. An improbable situation made believable and romantic. Part 4 in a series, but readable as a standalone…then you will want to read the series.
Readalikes:
Miranda Neville’s Wild Quartet novels; Stephanie Lauren’s Cynster series; Kat Martin’s Litchfield romances; Sabrina Jeffires – The Secret of Flirting; Madeline Hunter – A Devil of a Duke; Elizabeth Hoyt – To Seduce a Sinner.
Pace: Fast-paced
Characters: Strong women; good secondary characters
Story: Character-driven
Writing style: Engaging
Tone: Dramatic; Steamy; Upbeat; Suspenseful
Frame: North Yorkshire, England; 1762
Theme: Love in disguise
July 23, 2025
Absolutely wonderful! Especially for a 25 year old book. Oddly, this is the second book I’ve read this week about a cuckoo in the nest. But this is so well done, such a unique story, with so much detail in the back story of both characters that it stands alone. I fell in love with this couple immediately. The sex scenes are also 25 years old, pretty tame by modern standards, but fitting to the story and really beautiful. There’s also a great relationship with Rosa’s cousin Diana, and the fabulous Bey has a great part to play here. There are several scenes between Bey and Brand that had me reaching for tissues. So many moving scenes! Then we have a homicidal Puritan cult to deal with, which is why Bey is in Yorkshire. I’m pretty conservative in my religion and my politics, but those Puritans were the worst! No wonder every country they landed in shipped them off to America. They were the 18th century Taliban. Sometimes I wonder how God continues to put up with us humans, flawed as we are. Anyway, this book is a keeper. So glad I didn’t give up on this series.
February 18, 2018
Lovely story, with a lovely ending.
Rosa has scars on her cheek, and therefore she does not want to show her face. She married an old man, who likes her, and everything is nice and quiet, but then the first heir of her husband dies. And her husband, with his poor health will probably not live very long. When he dies, the land will go to an religion crazed nephew, which would be terrible for the servants and everybody living there.
Their only hope is if Rose got pregnant. Sadly her husband is in no condition to get her that way...
In comes Brand, who she saved from freezing in a ditch. Just one day and one night of sex to get her pregnant, and then never see each other again... What could ever go wrong....
Rosa has scars on her cheek, and therefore she does not want to show her face. She married an old man, who likes her, and everything is nice and quiet, but then the first heir of her husband dies. And her husband, with his poor health will probably not live very long. When he dies, the land will go to an religion crazed nephew, which would be terrible for the servants and everybody living there.
Their only hope is if Rose got pregnant. Sadly her husband is in no condition to get her that way...
In comes Brand, who she saved from freezing in a ditch. Just one day and one night of sex to get her pregnant, and then never see each other again... What could ever go wrong....
August 15, 2020
My favorite so far!
I’m working my way through the first 5 books of the Mallorens series and there have been a few bumps along the way. But I really liked Secrets of the Night. I felt like in many ways Rosa and Brand were on equal footing in a way the other couples haven’t been. I understood why Rosa needed to hide her identity, and her motivations made sense to me. I neglected things I should probably have been doing, such as sleeping, to keep returning to this story. And it perfectly sets up the next one, which I’m eager to read!
I’m working my way through the first 5 books of the Mallorens series and there have been a few bumps along the way. But I really liked Secrets of the Night. I felt like in many ways Rosa and Brand were on equal footing in a way the other couples haven’t been. I understood why Rosa needed to hide her identity, and her motivations made sense to me. I neglected things I should probably have been doing, such as sleeping, to keep returning to this story. And it perfectly sets up the next one, which I’m eager to read!
December 18, 2022
I love Jo Beverley so much. Each one of her couples is completely unique and fully human. Her stories are filled with the everyday that grounds them in reality and crazy adventures that make them hard to put down. Her books transcend genre to me. Even if I’m not sure I will like a plot, she always wins me over.
September 7, 2020
Bitter sweet story, the h married at 16, due to traumatic injury. She cares for her him, he treats her well but without a child his estate will go to evil OM. Serendipity sees the h with the H, she tells tales and leaves him. It's sounds messy, but it was a cute story with unlikely ending. I liked it because the h was trying to protect other people, had no avarice.
June 1, 2024
Plutôt 3,5/5 car ça reste parfois abracadanbresque, et la fin un peu décevante, mais ça fonctionne, et je serai finalement bien tenté de lire les autres tomes (tome 4 ici).
September 30, 2012
Rosamunde Overton is on a mission. When she was sixteen, she was badly scarred in a carriage accident, and then saved from an eternity of pitying, "who'll have her now" looks from friends and family by marrying Sir Digby, a much older, family friend. The old guy is a dear, but kind of inept in the sack and he hasn't managed to sire an heir. This has become a bit of a problem since the fellow next in line for the Sir-dom recently keeled over of a sudden fit, brought on by rich foods and too little exercise. Digby is similiarly sick now, and his new heir is
Edward Overton, Digby's nephew, who is a member of the "New Commonwealth" (which turns out to be a made-up Puritan sect). The NC is all into
And
And (just between us) a little
Digby's estate, called Wenscote, is peopled with villagers and servants who will suffer under the NC reign, since the Cotterites (as they are called) demand conversion or they will evict tenants, leaving people homeless.
So Rosa needs to get knocked up. Tacitly encouraged by her husband, and aided by her friend Diana, Countess of Arradale, she attended a masquerade hoping to find some anonymous nookie, but her courage failed her. She's on her way home in defeat when heaven sends a new opportunity in the form of an unconscious, gin-soaked bum she just happened to see in the bogs along the roadside. She takes him to the dower house on Diana's estate, where she strips him down and instantly decides that this is the guy who ought to sire her bastard.
The guy happens to be Brand Malloren. He's in the area checking out some property for the Malloren estate. He doesn't remember exactly what led to his being found unconscious in the bog, but hey, he's more than happy to repay Rosa with a "thank-you" boink. Or two. Or five.
Rosa only lets him see her in a mask, in part because in order for her plan to work, nobody—including her babydaddy—can know that the child she bears is not her husband's, and in part because she doesn't want him to be freaked out by her scars. But over the next few days, as a good time is being had by all, they do get to know each other in ways other than biblical. By the end, of course, they are tragically in love.
Rosa can't let Brand know where she lives, either—it'd be too easy for him to figure out who she is. So their final hurrah is followed by a Mickey Finn cocktail, and a dump outside a village far away. She figures he'll never forgive her—especially since it turns out that the reason he was in the state she found him in was that someone else had drugged and dumped him. Which leads to the mystery segment of our story.
Just so's you know, while Rosa thinks she looks like
She actually looks like
Talk about your distorted self-image!
So will the star-crossed lovers find their way together again? What about Rosa's husband? Why was Brand drugged (the first time) anyway? All good questions, and the way they sort themselves out is generally pretty great. I wasn't at all pleased with the unraveling of the whole babydaddy thing, though….
Edward Overton, Digby's nephew, who is a member of the "New Commonwealth" (which turns out to be a made-up Puritan sect). The NC is all into
And
And (just between us) a little
Digby's estate, called Wenscote, is peopled with villagers and servants who will suffer under the NC reign, since the Cotterites (as they are called) demand conversion or they will evict tenants, leaving people homeless.
So Rosa needs to get knocked up. Tacitly encouraged by her husband, and aided by her friend Diana, Countess of Arradale, she attended a masquerade hoping to find some anonymous nookie, but her courage failed her. She's on her way home in defeat when heaven sends a new opportunity in the form of an unconscious, gin-soaked bum she just happened to see in the bogs along the roadside. She takes him to the dower house on Diana's estate, where she strips him down and instantly decides that this is the guy who ought to sire her bastard.
The guy happens to be Brand Malloren. He's in the area checking out some property for the Malloren estate. He doesn't remember exactly what led to his being found unconscious in the bog, but hey, he's more than happy to repay Rosa with a "thank-you" boink. Or two. Or five.
Rosa only lets him see her in a mask, in part because in order for her plan to work, nobody—including her babydaddy—can know that the child she bears is not her husband's, and in part because she doesn't want him to be freaked out by her scars. But over the next few days, as a good time is being had by all, they do get to know each other in ways other than biblical. By the end, of course, they are tragically in love.
Rosa can't let Brand know where she lives, either—it'd be too easy for him to figure out who she is. So their final hurrah is followed by a Mickey Finn cocktail, and a dump outside a village far away. She figures he'll never forgive her—especially since it turns out that the reason he was in the state she found him in was that someone else had drugged and dumped him. Which leads to the mystery segment of our story.
Just so's you know, while Rosa thinks she looks like
She actually looks like
Talk about your distorted self-image!
So will the star-crossed lovers find their way together again? What about Rosa's husband? Why was Brand drugged (the first time) anyway? All good questions, and the way they sort themselves out is generally pretty great. I wasn't at all pleased with the unraveling of the whole babydaddy thing, though….
April 8, 2011
(First reading) Did not finish. Had a very hard time suspending disbelief about the situation when the heroine brings the hero to her house and hides him from everyone for several days, meaning she has to look after ALL his bodily needs because she wasn't letting him out of the room. (Yuck) Also the sex with the heroine in a mask is completely implausible, IMHO.
(Added later) I've now read all 5 of the initial Malloren series (My Lady Notorious, Tempting Fortune, Something Wicked, this one and Devilish) and 3 out of the 5 are 5-star keepers for me. So I'm going to give this one another go, especially the last sections where Rothgar comes into the story, to see if this book is more enjoyable when the reader is more familiar with the Malloren back story.
(Second reading) This time around I decided to ignore my doubts about the squishy aspects of Brand's days of captivity and just enjoyed the story as it was told. A couple of rather unlikely coincidences and the Mallorens' almost god-like arrival on the scene several times just when it seemed that all was lost very slightly marred an otherwise terrific tale. Loved it when Diana outwitted Rothgar not just once, but twice. Onward to Devilish!
(Added later) I've now read all 5 of the initial Malloren series (My Lady Notorious, Tempting Fortune, Something Wicked, this one and Devilish) and 3 out of the 5 are 5-star keepers for me. So I'm going to give this one another go, especially the last sections where Rothgar comes into the story, to see if this book is more enjoyable when the reader is more familiar with the Malloren back story.
(Second reading) This time around I decided to ignore my doubts about the squishy aspects of Brand's days of captivity and just enjoyed the story as it was told. A couple of rather unlikely coincidences and the Mallorens' almost god-like arrival on the scene several times just when it seemed that all was lost very slightly marred an otherwise terrific tale. Loved it when Diana outwitted Rothgar not just once, but twice. Onward to Devilish!
June 18, 2016
This is book 4 of the Malloren series and most definitely my favorite so far!
Lady Rosamunde Overton needs a child in order to preserve her husband's estate and keep it from falling into the hands of Sir Digby's nephew and the religious sect he belongs to. If that happens, all her work to make the farms and animals more productive will have been in vain, plus all the people on the estate will lose their home. Sadly, Sir Digby is elderly and in poor health and unable to perform his husbandly duty.
So she decides to find a surrogate father and as if fate is in her side, she comes across a handsome young man abandoned in a ditch. Though she doesn't know it yet, he is Lord Brand Malloren.
I just loved Rosa! She was a wonderful heroine - warm, generous, caring. Brand is a lovely beta hero, perhaps not quite as well drawn as Rosa, but still quite nice. He truly liked Sir Digby and I thought that was well done. Edward Overton was an appropriately evil villain who received his well-deserved comeuppance.
Thoroughly enjoyable book and at LAST, Rothgar's story is up next!
4.5 stars, rounded up to 5.
Lady Rosamunde Overton needs a child in order to preserve her husband's estate and keep it from falling into the hands of Sir Digby's nephew and the religious sect he belongs to. If that happens, all her work to make the farms and animals more productive will have been in vain, plus all the people on the estate will lose their home. Sadly, Sir Digby is elderly and in poor health and unable to perform his husbandly duty.
So she decides to find a surrogate father and as if fate is in her side, she comes across a handsome young man abandoned in a ditch. Though she doesn't know it yet, he is Lord Brand Malloren.
I just loved Rosa! She was a wonderful heroine - warm, generous, caring. Brand is a lovely beta hero, perhaps not quite as well drawn as Rosa, but still quite nice. He truly liked Sir Digby and I thought that was well done. Edward Overton was an appropriately evil villain who received his well-deserved comeuppance.
Thoroughly enjoyable book and at LAST, Rothgar's story is up next!
4.5 stars, rounded up to 5.
July 17, 2016
I was drawn and am still drawn to this novel for its premise. I love the story of secret identities, mystery, and a hero in pursuit of the heroine. However, that was the only reason I stuck with this book. It was extremely boring. I skimmed a lot of the book, trying to find out how things progressed and resolved between the hero and heroine. The dialogue and occurrences in between the critical parts seemed to drag on too long and get into too much unnecessary detail.
If you are interested in Jo Beverley, I would recommend A Lady's Secret instead.
If you are interested in Jo Beverley, I would recommend A Lady's Secret instead.
October 17, 2014
2.5 คือ ต้องบอกก่อนเลยว่าเราอ่านเล่มนี้ด้วยความคิดที่ว่ามันต้องสนุกมากๆ แต่กลายเป็นว่าเริ่มต้นเรื่องมาเหมือนจะดี แต่..อ่านๆไปเรารู้สึกว่าน่าเบื่อมากๆเลยอ่ะ พระเอกไม่เด่นเลย พี่ชายพระเอกจะเด่นกว่าอีก บทพระนางในเรื่องแบบตอนที่แยกจากกันแล้วกว่าจะได้เจอกันคือมันนานนนนเหลือเกิน(ในความรู้สึกของเราอ่ะนะ) เจอเล่มนี้เข้าไปเราแอบเพลีย ส่งผลกับการอ่านเล่มต่อไปของเรามาก
April 7, 2023
I think this is the first Malloren book I read, some time ago. I liked it so much it propelled me into reading all the others I could get at the time. I still like it. This is the one where Brand is rescued from the side of the road by a woman who bargains for a baby. Didn't remember the details but I remembered that. It's a good read.
August 4, 2015
Un 3.5 en realidad. Siempre es un placer leer a Jo, es una maestra del género y no deja de impresionarme lo mucho que se documenta para cada una de sus historias. Lo he pasado genial con este romance tan poco convencional, pero si algo me ha emocionado en especial ha sido conocer a Rothgar; espero leer pronto su historia con Diana. ¡Qué familia los Malloren!
January 6, 2008
One of my favorite romances for the sheer unconventionality of it. The heroine is plump, smart and bold and Malloren is a good match for her. Their banter and the troubles they find themselves in are quite amusing. Haven't read this in a long time but this makes me want to pick it up again.
May 30, 2008
Back to the Mallorens after I took a bit of break. This started strong but sort of ran out of steam as it went along. I still liked it but wished for more of a bang at the end.
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