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The Derrings #3
One Night With You
Anything can happen after dark . . .
Tired of being treated like a servant by her own family, Lady Jane Guthrie finally has a chance to escape . . . at least for one night. Attired in a daring gown, she arrives at a scandalous courtesans' masquerade ball looking forward to her few hours of freedom. But when she sees Seth Rutledge, her skin begins to tingle with anticipation. Many years ago, Seth broke her heart by falling for her beautiful, title-hungry sister. But now here he is, right in front of her, offering her his lips . . .
Embittered by war, Seth returns home to inherit the title that would have once won him the woman of his dreams. Though duty demands he wed, he's convinced passion no longer has a place in his life . . . until a masked siren sets his heart aflame. Desperate to find her again, he has no idea it's his childhood friend Jane--and that after one night together their lives will never be the same.
Tired of being treated like a servant by her own family, Lady Jane Guthrie finally has a chance to escape . . . at least for one night. Attired in a daring gown, she arrives at a scandalous courtesans' masquerade ball looking forward to her few hours of freedom. But when she sees Seth Rutledge, her skin begins to tingle with anticipation. Many years ago, Seth broke her heart by falling for her beautiful, title-hungry sister. But now here he is, right in front of her, offering her his lips . . .
Embittered by war, Seth returns home to inherit the title that would have once won him the woman of his dreams. Though duty demands he wed, he's convinced passion no longer has a place in his life . . . until a masked siren sets his heart aflame. Desperate to find her again, he has no idea it's his childhood friend Jane--and that after one night together their lives will never be the same.
353 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 26, 2007
149 people are currently reading
2048 people want to read
About the author
Sophie Jordan
83 books8,988 followersPseudonym:
Sharie Kohler
Sophie Jordan took her adolescent daydreaming one step further and penned her first historical romance in the back of her high school Spanish class. This passion led her to pursue a degree in English and History.
A brief stint in law school taught her that case law was not nearly as interesting as literature - teaching English seemed the natural recourse. After several years teaching high school students to love Antigone, Sophie resigned with the birth of her first child and decided it was time to pursue the long-held dream of writing.
In less than three years, her first book, Once Upon A Wedding Night, a 2006 Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Nominee for Best First Historical, hit book shelves. Her second novel, Too Wicked To Tame, released in March 2007 with a bang, landing on the USA Today Bestseller's List.
Sharie Kohler
Sophie Jordan took her adolescent daydreaming one step further and penned her first historical romance in the back of her high school Spanish class. This passion led her to pursue a degree in English and History.
A brief stint in law school taught her that case law was not nearly as interesting as literature - teaching English seemed the natural recourse. After several years teaching high school students to love Antigone, Sophie resigned with the birth of her first child and decided it was time to pursue the long-held dream of writing.
In less than three years, her first book, Once Upon A Wedding Night, a 2006 Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Nominee for Best First Historical, hit book shelves. Her second novel, Too Wicked To Tame, released in March 2007 with a bang, landing on the USA Today Bestseller's List.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 205 reviews
February 16, 2020
Lady Jane Guthrie sneaks out to spend one night free of her in-laws. Except she runs into Seth Rutledge, the boy who got away. One super hot wall kiss later, you'd THINK we're in for a Cinderella retelling but you'd be WRONG because WHO DOES THAT. So Jane gets her garters on and goes in for Round Two with the scarred stud and ends up SUPER PREGNANT OH NO. And then they get married. Which goes about as well as you might expect with 40% of the book to go. :\
1. WHY WITH ALL THE YELLING. The latter half of the book is literally Jane and Seth having the same dumb argument about how Jane is hoping for more and Seth refuses to give her more because MAN PAIN and also Page Count. And EVERY ARGUMENT ends with Jane going "I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER" and I really didn't believe her.
So she finally up and leaves him because SHE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER and he ends up following her and ~~~~~confessing his love out of GODDAMNED NOWHERE END BOOK. I literally could not believe that was how this drumfire chose to end because it was so abrupt and nonsensical. WOOOOORST.
2. Part of my frustration was because the early chapters were actually super engaging and interesting. I wanted to see Jane rescued from her shitty situation and her affections confuse and arouse Seth to distraction. And I got snippets of that! That then got derailed by BABY DRAMA.
3. UGH BABY DRAMA.
4. Seth had like a list as long as hisMIGHTY SCHWANG arm to confess to Jane and HE DID NOT. Like the fact that he was super into Jane as Jane and also as the masked Sex Avenger Aurora. And how he emphatically DID NOT love Jane's sister (OH YEAH THAT'S A THING) as a youth, and how he liked having sex with Jane and and and.
5. Jane's in-laws were so fucking gross I needed an entire chapter of them getting the shit kicked out of them by Seth but I DID NOT.
6. There were a lot of things I thought I was going to get out of this book and I DID NOT. Like Jane telling off her shitty sister. Like Jane bonding with Julianne. Like Jane growing AT ALL AS A PERSON. Like any relationship development AT ALL that didn't have to do with Seth's RAGING ERECTIONS. He can think of nothing else except Jane's bazookas. CONSTANTLY. EVEN WHEN HE DOESN'T KNOW IT'S JANE. GOD GROW UP.
1. WHY WITH ALL THE YELLING. The latter half of the book is literally Jane and Seth having the same dumb argument about how Jane is hoping for more and Seth refuses to give her more because MAN PAIN and also Page Count. And EVERY ARGUMENT ends with Jane going "I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER" and I really didn't believe her.
So she finally up and leaves him because SHE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER and he ends up following her and ~~~~~confessing his love out of GODDAMNED NOWHERE END BOOK. I literally could not believe that was how this drumfire chose to end because it was so abrupt and nonsensical. WOOOOORST.
2. Part of my frustration was because the early chapters were actually super engaging and interesting. I wanted to see Jane rescued from her shitty situation and her affections confuse and arouse Seth to distraction. And I got snippets of that! That then got derailed by BABY DRAMA.
3. UGH BABY DRAMA.
4. Seth had like a list as long as his
5. Jane's in-laws were so fucking gross I needed an entire chapter of them getting the shit kicked out of them by Seth but I DID NOT.
6. There were a lot of things I thought I was going to get out of this book and I DID NOT. Like Jane telling off her shitty sister. Like Jane bonding with Julianne. Like Jane growing AT ALL AS A PERSON. Like any relationship development AT ALL that didn't have to do with Seth's RAGING ERECTIONS. He can think of nothing else except Jane's bazookas. CONSTANTLY. EVEN WHEN HE DOESN'T KNOW IT'S JANE. GOD GROW UP.
May 31, 2021
I love SJ but I could not sit back and enjoy this one.
It's a Hugely-Disappointed 2* because I expect more from her.
It's a Hugely-Disappointed 2* because I expect more from her.
January 17, 2015
The characters were horrible!
The heroine had no self-respect.
The hero was a spineless coward whose attention span when it came to women was very limited. Infatuated by others while he was with the heroine, once was Madeline and the other was Aurora (yes Aurora was Jane and Jane was Aurora, but the matter of fact is, he did not know that).
Hero sleeps with heroine as Aurora and then makes her out to be a tramp when he finds out Aurora and Jane are one and the same. Really, what a sad excuse for a human being. Like he didn't sleep with Aurora. If he has such a holier-than-thou attitude, then why did he sleep with Aurora in the first place.
The hero thinks to himself that he will take mistresses while he is married to Jane. And when Jane says she will do the same, he gets all like possessive. Was that meant to be attractive?
Will have to think twice before I pick up another Sophie Jordan book.
The heroine had no self-respect.
The hero was a spineless coward whose attention span when it came to women was very limited. Infatuated by others while he was with the heroine, once was Madeline and the other was Aurora (yes Aurora was Jane and Jane was Aurora, but the matter of fact is, he did not know that).
Hero sleeps with heroine as Aurora and then makes her out to be a tramp when he finds out Aurora and Jane are one and the same. Really, what a sad excuse for a human being. Like he didn't sleep with Aurora. If he has such a holier-than-thou attitude, then why did he sleep with Aurora in the first place.
The hero thinks to himself that he will take mistresses while he is married to Jane. And when Jane says she will do the same, he gets all like possessive. Was that meant to be attractive?
Will have to think twice before I pick up another Sophie Jordan book.
August 10, 2009
I love stories in which the main characters knew each other as children and fall in love as adults. That's what drew me to read this sweet story, which I found fast-paced and full of twists and turns. Starting off, Seth Rutledge can't understand why he is so attracted to two completely different women at the same time; Aurora, a glamorous beauty he met at a scandalous soiree, and plain and proper Jane, whom he'd known since childhood. Jane Guthrie has loved Seth for as long as she can remember and will do anything for just one night with him, even assume a secret identity.
The double identity story at the beginning of the book is so fun and I love Jane's outrageous friends who help her carry off her charade. The charade comes across as very believable, especially the way that Seth finally realizes the truth. There are many other obstacles to Seth and Jane's love, including the fact that Seth was once in love with Jane's sister! Madeline was a money-hungry vixen, who broke Seth's heart as a young man. This closed him off to love again, while Jane endured the pain of watching the man she loved fall in love with her sister. When Madeline returns to stir things up, I would have loved to see Jordan take things even further and have Madeline provide even more conflict. Another thing holding Seth back is that his sister, Julianne, is blind because of an accident Seth feels responsible for. Julianne is a delightful character and her mini-romance in the book is very sweet without distracting from the main plot.
This is a great read, I flew through the first 200 pages in one sitting. The heroine is sweet and strong at the same time, and the hero is kind and honorable, if a little stuffy and arrogant at times. I would recommend this story to any historical romance fan in the mood for a fun, light read that will keep you turning the pages!
Reviewed for: http://inthehammockblog.blogspot.com/
The double identity story at the beginning of the book is so fun and I love Jane's outrageous friends who help her carry off her charade. The charade comes across as very believable, especially the way that Seth finally realizes the truth. There are many other obstacles to Seth and Jane's love, including the fact that Seth was once in love with Jane's sister! Madeline was a money-hungry vixen, who broke Seth's heart as a young man. This closed him off to love again, while Jane endured the pain of watching the man she loved fall in love with her sister. When Madeline returns to stir things up, I would have loved to see Jordan take things even further and have Madeline provide even more conflict. Another thing holding Seth back is that his sister, Julianne, is blind because of an accident Seth feels responsible for. Julianne is a delightful character and her mini-romance in the book is very sweet without distracting from the main plot.
This is a great read, I flew through the first 200 pages in one sitting. The heroine is sweet and strong at the same time, and the hero is kind and honorable, if a little stuffy and arrogant at times. I would recommend this story to any historical romance fan in the mood for a fun, light read that will keep you turning the pages!
Reviewed for: http://inthehammockblog.blogspot.com/
December 26, 2009
A Regency-ish romance so cliched, it just begs for a "Romance Convention Checklist" ala "Gossamer Obsessions" :
One philandering dead husband
One widow yearning for childhood love
One lecherous brother-in-law
One faithful old retainer
Three obnoxious children
One guilt-ridden brother/icy-hearted spurned lover
Two secret trips to masquerade balls
One puzzled attraction to two people, who are actually the same person
An interminable number of ridiculously delayed marriage consummations
One blind sister who proclaims, "the only one blind here is you."
One child/pregnancy-studded epilogue
Still, despite the cliches and less than stellar writing, this is enjoyable enough if you're looking for an undemanding, quick read.
One philandering dead husband
One widow yearning for childhood love
One lecherous brother-in-law
One faithful old retainer
Three obnoxious children
One guilt-ridden brother/icy-hearted spurned lover
Two secret trips to masquerade balls
One puzzled attraction to two people, who are actually the same person
An interminable number of ridiculously delayed marriage consummations
One blind sister who proclaims, "the only one blind here is you."
One child/pregnancy-studded epilogue
Still, despite the cliches and less than stellar writing, this is enjoyable enough if you're looking for an undemanding, quick read.
December 30, 2011
This one was a really disappointing book. In the beggining (actually it was until almost at the end) the book was quite good. I even enjoyed it. But the end part made me mad. And if not because of the ending, I would give this book 4.5 stars. Really...
These are what made me gave such low stars :
How could Seth suddenly said that he loved Jane??? That was no explanation, or even something that "poke" his head so he suddenly realised it. It was just Seth arrived at the cottage and said he loved Jane. And Jane instantly accepted it?!
To make it worst, there was also no story about Julliane and Gregory anymore. It was just in the Epilogue, they were already together again. Where was the story of acception from Seth??? Oh, it just made me crazy... it was like the author erased all the final part!
These are what made me gave such low stars :
How could Seth suddenly said that he loved Jane??? That was no explanation, or even something that "poke" his head so he suddenly realised it. It was just Seth arrived at the cottage and said he loved Jane. And Jane instantly accepted it?!
To make it worst, there was also no story about Julliane and Gregory anymore. It was just in the Epilogue, they were already together again. Where was the story of acception from Seth??? Oh, it just made me crazy... it was like the author erased all the final part!
April 6, 2019
Kes-me-di!
Bünyem yalansız dolansız, dümensiz velhasılı entrikasız historical’a alışık değil! Kabul etmiyor böyle sade ilişkileri.
Bir de serinin orta kitabı olmasına rağmen karakterler aşırı yabancıydı. Seri içerisinde bir önceki kitaplardan merak ettiğim kişileri okumayı tercih ederdim ben.
Bu sebeple bizımle değilsın, dedim kitaba.
Bünyem yalansız dolansız, dümensiz velhasılı entrikasız historical’a alışık değil! Kabul etmiyor böyle sade ilişkileri.
Bir de serinin orta kitabı olmasına rağmen karakterler aşırı yabancıydı. Seri içerisinde bir önceki kitaplardan merak ettiğim kişileri okumayı tercih ederdim ben.
Bu sebeple bizımle değilsın, dedim kitaba.
February 11, 2025
I haven’t forgiven Seth. It’s a good thing he is fictional and his fictional wife is a better person than I am.
Jane has loved Seth her whole life. But Seth has been in love with Jane’s sister Madeline. Madeline is a real piece of work. And she messes with Seth’s feelings, marries someone else and then Seth is super bitter.
Fast forward a number of years and Jane is widowed and Seth is back from the military to take up the title after his brother dies. Seth and Jane meet again but under interesting circumstances.
I enjoyed the book but I needed more grovel.
Jane has loved Seth her whole life. But Seth has been in love with Jane’s sister Madeline. Madeline is a real piece of work. And she messes with Seth’s feelings, marries someone else and then Seth is super bitter.
Fast forward a number of years and Jane is widowed and Seth is back from the military to take up the title after his brother dies. Seth and Jane meet again but under interesting circumstances.
I enjoyed the book but I needed more grovel.
February 6, 2014
Lady Jane's life has changed, ever since her husband died a year previously and she became a widow. Now she is living with her in laws, practically a servant to every whim and need. When a opportunity arises to leave for one evening, and attend a ball...she jumps at the chance. So dressed in a beautiful gown with jewelry to match, she goes to enjoy one night for herself. She then comes across a man, whom she has loved most of her life, who broke her heart, and now doesn't even recognize who she is. Seth has been damaged by war and battles, and has come home with scars both on the outside and on the inner core of himself. He knows he will need to marry so he can have a heir, but when he comes across a seductress at a masked ball one evening, he will do all to find her. After sharing a passionate night together, Jane goes back to her unoriginal life, but when Seth keeps crossing her path, not knowing she is the mysterious "Aurora" with who he has shared sensual nights with, she knows it can never last. But when something unexpected happens, and they are forced together, and when the truth comes out, there will be some walls this couple will have to climb, in order to find the happiness they are both aching for in each other....
One Night With You is a single title by Sophie Jordan. I have fallen in love with this author, and each time I read her I am amazed on her storytelling capabilities and how they completely draw me in. This story is a fairy tale based romance. It definitely has a Cinderella theme quite strongly in the story. Jane is Cinderella, and Seth is the prince. Jane is living a life that a servant normally lives, without being paid only with her husbands relations being "gracious" enough to provide a roof over her head. There is one man she loves and craves even after all of these years, Seth Rutledge. Seth once loved her sister, but she broke his heart, and he has never been the same. But when Jane enters his life, his world comes crumbling when he finds himself in love with two women, not knowing they are the same person. One Night With You is the perfect title for this story. We see how these two keep coming together for one night, not knowing if they would see each other after the night was over. The only major conflict really is this huge secret that Jane is keeping from Seth, not revealing who she truly is. There is also a sub plot romance with Seth's sister. It was fun seeing these two come together and I couldn't have pictured Seth learning the truth any better. Quite the creative genius is Sophie Jordan.
There is quite a bit to enjoy in One Night With You. Jordan has created a beautifully crafted romance of a couple that need each other more than neither see. A fairy tale romance that is guaranteed to steal your heart, and keep you enraptured all the way through. Get ready for a romance that will make you cry and bring out various emotional responses from the reader! TOTALLY STUNNING!!!
One Night With You is a single title by Sophie Jordan. I have fallen in love with this author, and each time I read her I am amazed on her storytelling capabilities and how they completely draw me in. This story is a fairy tale based romance. It definitely has a Cinderella theme quite strongly in the story. Jane is Cinderella, and Seth is the prince. Jane is living a life that a servant normally lives, without being paid only with her husbands relations being "gracious" enough to provide a roof over her head. There is one man she loves and craves even after all of these years, Seth Rutledge. Seth once loved her sister, but she broke his heart, and he has never been the same. But when Jane enters his life, his world comes crumbling when he finds himself in love with two women, not knowing they are the same person. One Night With You is the perfect title for this story. We see how these two keep coming together for one night, not knowing if they would see each other after the night was over. The only major conflict really is this huge secret that Jane is keeping from Seth, not revealing who she truly is. There is also a sub plot romance with Seth's sister. It was fun seeing these two come together and I couldn't have pictured Seth learning the truth any better. Quite the creative genius is Sophie Jordan.
There is quite a bit to enjoy in One Night With You. Jordan has created a beautifully crafted romance of a couple that need each other more than neither see. A fairy tale romance that is guaranteed to steal your heart, and keep you enraptured all the way through. Get ready for a romance that will make you cry and bring out various emotional responses from the reader! TOTALLY STUNNING!!!
August 30, 2020
Wow and amazing is my thought for this book. I loved it. The book flowed from page to page. I was enthralled. I was excited to see what happened on the next page, especially between Seth and Desmond.
And Desmond wife, I wanted to slap her myself. This I no doubt new as I was reading this book... Seth truly cared for and loved his sister. How sweet. Read the book, you make like it too.
And Desmond wife, I wanted to slap her myself. This I no doubt new as I was reading this book... Seth truly cared for and loved his sister. How sweet. Read the book, you make like it too.
Read
March 7, 20183.5
entrikadan uzak, düşman diye sayılabilecek kişilerin pasif halleri..
Seth'in kafasına vurma istekleriniz. :)
Jane'in daha önce yapması gereken başkaldırının çok geç gelmesine kızmanız:)
Ama yazarın son söz kısmında içinizi eritecek bir nokta koyması hikayeye..
Alın alın okuyun :)
entrikadan uzak, düşman diye sayılabilecek kişilerin pasif halleri..
Seth'in kafasına vurma istekleriniz. :)
Jane'in daha önce yapması gereken başkaldırının çok geç gelmesine kızmanız:)
Ama yazarın son söz kısmında içinizi eritecek bir nokta koyması hikayeye..
Alın alın okuyun :)
August 23, 2012
Holy Moly... I haven't liked a book like I liked this one in a while. And the fact that it's a stand alone and not another m*therfuck*ng series is just an added bonus.
I knew I'd probably like it because I have a thing for stories 'in which one of the characters has been pinning for the other for years and then wham! she/he gets her/his chance' but I did not expect to fall in love with this book.
Jane, Lady Guthrie has been in love with Seth Ruthledge since she was 16 years old. However, Seth (a second son) fell for Jane's sister, Madeline.
He was desperately in love with Madeline, but his heart was broken when Madeline decided to marry an elderly Duke over the second son of an Earl.
Eight years go by and Jane is now a widow. She lives under the watchful eyes of her brother and sister in law and is treated like a servant in a house where she used to be the lady of the house.
Her marriage was not a happy one, and she has been in mourning for over a year and a half. She feels it's time for her to re-enter society but her relations won't allow it. They are too happy having her as servant to allow her to re-join the ton.
Seth, has returned from years abroad fighting the war. He's embittered by his experiences. His heart hardened by the time away, the lost of his older brother, and the sting of Madeline's rejection that still burns his heart. He does not believe in love and has promised to never surrender control of his feelings to another woman.
However, now he's the Earl. He needs a wife and an heir and someone to take care of his blind sister, Julianne, in the event that something happens to him.
This is where things get interesting.
Jane decides to escape to a ball with the help of her friends in an act of defiance against her brother in law--who may I add is a CREEP. She ends up in Madam Fleur's ball. Madam Fleur is a famous courtesan and her balls are known for being risque (almost orgies if you ask me.)
There she encounters Seth (who does not recognize his childhood friend in her new dress and with her face masked)There's a sizzling attraction between the two that intrigues Seth and scares Jane.
Let me just summarize the attraction between these two:
Yeah... *fans self*
This book was also amazing because the characters were not this happy-go-lucky people who went about life dreaming of love. These were adults, jaded with life and love, who learn to dream again.
This book is not for wusses. However, let me tell you the angst is worth it.
I knew I'd probably like it because I have a thing for stories 'in which one of the characters has been pinning for the other for years and then wham! she/he gets her/his chance' but I did not expect to fall in love with this book.
Jane, Lady Guthrie has been in love with Seth Ruthledge since she was 16 years old. However, Seth (a second son) fell for Jane's sister, Madeline.
He was desperately in love with Madeline, but his heart was broken when Madeline decided to marry an elderly Duke over the second son of an Earl.
Eight years go by and Jane is now a widow. She lives under the watchful eyes of her brother and sister in law and is treated like a servant in a house where she used to be the lady of the house.
Her marriage was not a happy one, and she has been in mourning for over a year and a half. She feels it's time for her to re-enter society but her relations won't allow it. They are too happy having her as servant to allow her to re-join the ton.
Seth, has returned from years abroad fighting the war. He's embittered by his experiences. His heart hardened by the time away, the lost of his older brother, and the sting of Madeline's rejection that still burns his heart. He does not believe in love and has promised to never surrender control of his feelings to another woman.
However, now he's the Earl. He needs a wife and an heir and someone to take care of his blind sister, Julianne, in the event that something happens to him.
This is where things get interesting.
Jane decides to escape to a ball with the help of her friends in an act of defiance against her brother in law--who may I add is a CREEP. She ends up in Madam Fleur's ball. Madam Fleur is a famous courtesan and her balls are known for being risque (almost orgies if you ask me.)
There she encounters Seth (who does not recognize his childhood friend in her new dress and with her face masked)There's a sizzling attraction between the two that intrigues Seth and scares Jane.
Let me just summarize the attraction between these two:
Yeah... *fans self*
This book was also amazing because the characters were not this happy-go-lucky people who went about life dreaming of love. These were adults, jaded with life and love, who learn to dream again.
This book is not for wusses. However, let me tell you the angst is worth it.
January 2, 2013
One Night with You had a pretty good premise. We have Jane, our heroine, who's a widow living under the thumb of her awful in-laws but manages to have a steamy encounter with the hero at a ball. This hero, Seth, happens to be the one man she's loved since her childhood even though he was infatuated with and soon discarded by her younger sister. Complications arise from that encounter that compel the two to marry, even though the hero refuses to fall under the power of another woman such as the heroine.
A good premise can go a long way; without it, I might have abandoned this book early on. Although the story isn't bad, I found the execution of the great setup disappointing. I kept waiting for the story to kick in, but readers are forced to suffer too long in witnessing page after page of Jane's unbearable living situation. Even when we finally get to move on, the story continues to feel as if it is just treading water, so to speak; and the likely reason for this feeling can be blamed on how the novel keeps strumming the same one note. There's no emotional growth arc, no deeper character development beyond Janes loves Seth, Seth refuses to love Jane; rinse and repeat. And then suddenly Seth decides that he can't lie to himself and declares that he loves Jane--such an artificial, unconvincing change given that we never saw any growth in the characters.
A good premise can go a long way; without it, I might have abandoned this book early on. Although the story isn't bad, I found the execution of the great setup disappointing. I kept waiting for the story to kick in, but readers are forced to suffer too long in witnessing page after page of Jane's unbearable living situation. Even when we finally get to move on, the story continues to feel as if it is just treading water, so to speak; and the likely reason for this feeling can be blamed on how the novel keeps strumming the same one note. There's no emotional growth arc, no deeper character development beyond Janes loves Seth, Seth refuses to love Jane; rinse and repeat. And then suddenly Seth decides that he can't lie to himself and declares that he loves Jane--such an artificial, unconvincing change given that we never saw any growth in the characters.
April 30, 2020
İlk 200 sayfaya hatta yaklaşık 250'ye kadar 5 yıldız vermeyi düşünüyordum. Sonra gitgide bir düşüş oldu. Yazar sanki sıkılmış ve artık bitse de kurtulsam havasına girmiş.
Atlanmış detaylar, üstün körü bahsedilen şeyler, kendini tekrarlamaya başlayıp haliyle bunaltan düşünceler ve olaylar, bir çırpıda yazılmış son...
Kitabın başını ve sonunu farklı kişiler yazmış gibiydi.
Atlanmış detaylar, üstün körü bahsedilen şeyler, kendini tekrarlamaya başlayıp haliyle bunaltan düşünceler ve olaylar, bir çırpıda yazılmış son...
Kitabın başını ve sonunu farklı kişiler yazmış gibiydi.
January 19, 2019
Seninle Bir Gece
Sophie Jordan,
Günün üçüncü kitabı da bitti ve beni duygu yönünden en etkileyen kitabı oldu gerçi daha son kitabı var ama bu kitapta aşkın içinde kayboldum resmen. Özelikle Seth
Kırgınlık hüzün ve acı onun yaşamında hepsi vardı. Ve aşkın en acı tarafini görmüş olmasi ve sırf kız kardeşi için evlilik istemesi ile başlıyor hikâyemiz. Ve Jane ah onu okurken çok iyi anladım. Hisleri ve duygularını çok güzel yansıtmis yazar. Okurken keyif aldım kızdım üzüldüm ama gerecekten zevk aldım . Serinin en duygu yüklü kitabıydı sanırım❤ özelikle sonu bayıldım❤
Sophie Jordan,
Günün üçüncü kitabı da bitti ve beni duygu yönünden en etkileyen kitabı oldu gerçi daha son kitabı var ama bu kitapta aşkın içinde kayboldum resmen. Özelikle Seth
Kırgınlık hüzün ve acı onun yaşamında hepsi vardı. Ve aşkın en acı tarafini görmüş olmasi ve sırf kız kardeşi için evlilik istemesi ile başlıyor hikâyemiz. Ve Jane ah onu okurken çok iyi anladım. Hisleri ve duygularını çok güzel yansıtmis yazar. Okurken keyif aldım kızdım üzüldüm ama gerecekten zevk aldım . Serinin en duygu yüklü kitabıydı sanırım❤ özelikle sonu bayıldım❤
September 27, 2020
Sophie Jordan hasn't been one of my favourite authors. All the books I've read by her have either been not very good or just plain average. I thought I'd finally hit the jackpot with One Night With You but, although it did get very close, and it was actually the best book I've read by her, in the end, it wasn't much of a prize.
The first part of the book was so engaging, I quite literally couldn't put it down. It wasn't perfect, obviously, but it had so much potential. I enjoyed the chemistry between the characters and the way Seth was introduced. He was dark and interesting, and the past they shared intrigued me. I also felt for Jane and hated the position in which she'd been placed. I was so looking forward to the final breakthrough of her character, but I was never really satisfied on that account. And as for Seth, the more the story progressed, the less interesting he became and the more annoying.
The worst part of this book? The ending. It was so rushed and anti-climatic. I honestly couldn't believe the author was actually ending it this way, just like that, after filling us with pages and pages about the same nonsense, it suddenly just all flew out the window... the end.
As a side note, I did enjoy the secondary mini romance going on with Seth's sister and his valet. We don't get to see a lot of it, only sneak peeks, but I liked it.
The first part of the book was so engaging, I quite literally couldn't put it down. It wasn't perfect, obviously, but it had so much potential. I enjoyed the chemistry between the characters and the way Seth was introduced. He was dark and interesting, and the past they shared intrigued me. I also felt for Jane and hated the position in which she'd been placed. I was so looking forward to the final breakthrough of her character, but I was never really satisfied on that account. And as for Seth, the more the story progressed, the less interesting he became and the more annoying.
The worst part of this book? The ending. It was so rushed and anti-climatic. I honestly couldn't believe the author was actually ending it this way, just like that, after filling us with pages and pages about the same nonsense, it suddenly just all flew out the window... the end.
As a side note, I did enjoy the secondary mini romance going on with Seth's sister and his valet. We don't get to see a lot of it, only sneak peeks, but I liked it.
March 6, 2013
seviyorum ben bu yazari yaaa:)
bu kitabini da diger kitaplari gibi begendim keske daha önce okusaydim...
seth ve jane'in hikayesini begenerek okudum bazi yerlerde seth'e bu kadar kör oldugu icin cok kizdim ama sonunda dogru yolu buldu :D
sonuc itibariyle sürükleyici bir kitapti kesinlikle okumanizi tavsiye ederim :)
bu kitabini da diger kitaplari gibi begendim keske daha önce okusaydim...
seth ve jane'in hikayesini begenerek okudum bazi yerlerde seth'e bu kadar kör oldugu icin cok kizdim ama sonunda dogru yolu buldu :D
sonuc itibariyle sürükleyici bir kitapti kesinlikle okumanizi tavsiye ederim :)
February 16, 2013
Müthiş bir hikayedi..Ne diyebilirim ki Sophie Jordan mükemmel yazıyor.Belki kurgu basit gelebilir ama o duygu yoğunluğunu ve betimlemeleri o kadar güzel veriyor ki yazar gözünüzün önünde o sahneyi çok kolay canlandırabiliyorsunuz..Özellikle çeviri bence harika idi çünkü kitabı elime alıp bırakamadım..Kitabın nasıl bittiğini anlayamadım bile..
Lady Jane Guthrie hanımı olduğu evin kocası öldükten sonra çocuğu olmadığı için hizmetçisi konumuna düşmüştür..Kocası ile mutlu evliliği olmayan Jane kocasını kendi yatağında hizmetçi ile yakaladıktan sonra evliliği formaliteye dönmüşse de onun başka kadından çocuğu olması yüzünden kendini kısır olarak görmektedir.. Kocasının ilk karısından olan oğluna kalan mirası yönetmek o reşit olasıya kadar kayın biraderi Desmond tarafından yönetilmektedir Jane onun çocuklarına dadılık etmekte eltisinin ve şımarık çocuklarınız kaprislerine katlanmaktadır....Bu arada Desmond uzun zamandır Jane'nin peşindedir..Onu elde etmekten hiç vazgeçmemiştir...
Tüm bu olanlardan bunalan Jane bir gecelik özgürlük için maskeli baloya gizlice katılmaya karar verir..Orada kendi olmadan sınırsızca eğlenmeyi deneyecektir..Onu destekleyen arkadaşları ile birlikte gider ve orada 16 yaşından beri aşık olduğu erkek St.Claire Kontu Seith Rutledge ile karşılaşır.Seith ile çok iyi arkadaş olan Jane umutsuzca ona aşık olmuş aşkını kalbine gömmüştür..Çünkü Seith ablası Madeline'ya aşıktır..Ama Madeline bir kontun o zamanlar ikinci oğlu olan Seith ile evlenmek yerine yaşlı bir Dük ile evlenmeyi tercih etmiştir..Bir de kız kardeşinin kaza ile kör olması bu olaydan kendini sorumlu tutan Seith yurt dışına savaşa gider.Babasının ölüm haberini alsada hemen dönmez ..Fakat döndüğünde ağabeyinin de öldüğünü öğrenen Seith hiç istemediği unvanın kendine kaldığını öğrenir..Bundan böyle kör olan kız kardeşi Julianne ile birlikte yaşayan Seith'in amacı varis edinmek ve kardeşine başına bir şey gelirse bakması için tekrar evlenmektir..
İşte yıllar sonra Jane ile bu şartlarda karşılaşırlar ama yüzünde maske olan Jane'i tanıyamaz..Jane ise sevmekten hiç vazgeçemediği ilk aşkını karşısında gördükten sonra ondan kaçsada olaylar ikisinin yollarını kesiştirir.Seith onun kim olduğunu bilmeden Jane'e tutulur..Normal kimliği ile de yolları Seith ile kesişen Jane ondan kaçmaya çalışssada bunda pek başarılı olamaz..Ve başka bir gece tekrar dışarı kaçar sahte kimliği ile onunla umulmadık derecede yakınlaşır..Bu yakınlaşma onun sandığı gibi tek seferlik olmaktan öte olacak kendini umulmadık olaylar zincirinde bulacaktır..
İkisi de geçmiş ile birbiriyle hesaplaşırken gelgitleri duygu karmaşaları ve olaylar ile birbirlerinin kollarına daha da savrulacaktır..
Biraz kül kedisi masalı tadı vardı bu romanda.Çok keyif alarak okudum..Okuyacak olan arkadalarıma keyifli okumalar dilerim...
Lady Jane Guthrie hanımı olduğu evin kocası öldükten sonra çocuğu olmadığı için hizmetçisi konumuna düşmüştür..Kocası ile mutlu evliliği olmayan Jane kocasını kendi yatağında hizmetçi ile yakaladıktan sonra evliliği formaliteye dönmüşse de onun başka kadından çocuğu olması yüzünden kendini kısır olarak görmektedir.. Kocasının ilk karısından olan oğluna kalan mirası yönetmek o reşit olasıya kadar kayın biraderi Desmond tarafından yönetilmektedir Jane onun çocuklarına dadılık etmekte eltisinin ve şımarık çocuklarınız kaprislerine katlanmaktadır....Bu arada Desmond uzun zamandır Jane'nin peşindedir..Onu elde etmekten hiç vazgeçmemiştir...
Tüm bu olanlardan bunalan Jane bir gecelik özgürlük için maskeli baloya gizlice katılmaya karar verir..Orada kendi olmadan sınırsızca eğlenmeyi deneyecektir..Onu destekleyen arkadaşları ile birlikte gider ve orada 16 yaşından beri aşık olduğu erkek St.Claire Kontu Seith Rutledge ile karşılaşır.Seith ile çok iyi arkadaş olan Jane umutsuzca ona aşık olmuş aşkını kalbine gömmüştür..Çünkü Seith ablası Madeline'ya aşıktır..Ama Madeline bir kontun o zamanlar ikinci oğlu olan Seith ile evlenmek yerine yaşlı bir Dük ile evlenmeyi tercih etmiştir..Bir de kız kardeşinin kaza ile kör olması bu olaydan kendini sorumlu tutan Seith yurt dışına savaşa gider.Babasının ölüm haberini alsada hemen dönmez ..Fakat döndüğünde ağabeyinin de öldüğünü öğrenen Seith hiç istemediği unvanın kendine kaldığını öğrenir..Bundan böyle kör olan kız kardeşi Julianne ile birlikte yaşayan Seith'in amacı varis edinmek ve kardeşine başına bir şey gelirse bakması için tekrar evlenmektir..
İşte yıllar sonra Jane ile bu şartlarda karşılaşırlar ama yüzünde maske olan Jane'i tanıyamaz..Jane ise sevmekten hiç vazgeçemediği ilk aşkını karşısında gördükten sonra ondan kaçsada olaylar ikisinin yollarını kesiştirir.Seith onun kim olduğunu bilmeden Jane'e tutulur..Normal kimliği ile de yolları Seith ile kesişen Jane ondan kaçmaya çalışssada bunda pek başarılı olamaz..Ve başka bir gece tekrar dışarı kaçar sahte kimliği ile onunla umulmadık derecede yakınlaşır..Bu yakınlaşma onun sandığı gibi tek seferlik olmaktan öte olacak kendini umulmadık olaylar zincirinde bulacaktır..
İkisi de geçmiş ile birbiriyle hesaplaşırken gelgitleri duygu karmaşaları ve olaylar ile birbirlerinin kollarına daha da savrulacaktır..
Biraz kül kedisi masalı tadı vardı bu romanda.Çok keyif alarak okudum..Okuyacak olan arkadalarıma keyifli okumalar dilerim...
July 31, 2012
Bu kitaba asık oldum :) Aslında okudugum HRlar benziyordu ama bir o kadar da farklıydı. Beni gercekten etkiledi. Aşkı,sadakati,tutkuyu ve en önemlisi dramı yansıtıyordu. Bir gecmisi olan aşıklar her zaman benim için bir puan önde başlıyor.
Konusuna gelirsek , Jane çocukluğundan beri Dükkün ikinci oğlu Seth'e aşıktır. Gözü ondan baskasını görmez onun hayalini kurar ve bir gün onunda kendisini seveceğini düşler.Ama Seth gidip Jane'in kız kardeşine tutulur. Ondan daha güzel olan ailesinde hep bas üstünde tutulan kız kardeşine. Ama kız kardesi bencilldir ve unvan sahibi , daha zengin bir adamla evlenmek için Seth'in kalbini kırar.
Aradan yıllar gecer Seth savaştan döndüğünde ağabeyinin öldüğünü ve ünvanın kendisine kaldığını öğrenir. Ayrıca kör kız kardesinizde bakımı ona kalmıştır. Seth kız kardesinin bakımı için bir kadınla evlenme kararı alır. Katıldığı baloda genelev sahibi madamı beklemek için özel bir odaya çekildiğinde odaya maskeli bir siren girer. Seth sireni gördüğünde onu tanıdığını düşünür ama emin olamaz. Siren onun tutkularını ateşler uzun zamandır boş olduğunu düşündüğü kalbini doldurur. Peki bu kadın kimdir? Bir rüya mı ? Bildigi tek şey o kollarının arasından kaçarken onu tekrar bulma istegidir.
Jane kocası ölünce ona yan gözle bakan kocasının kardesinin gözetiminde kalmak zorundadır. Adam ve karısı ona hizmetçi gibi davranır elindeki her şeyi alırlar. Bu durumdan bunalan Jane arkadaşlarının yardımıyla bir maskeli baloya gizlice katılır. Şans işi kayınbiraderi kadını görür ve maskeden kim olduğu çıkartamasa da kadına fena asılır. Ondan kaçmak için sığındığı odada Jane eski aşkı Seth'i görünce kendini tutamaz ve bir kez olsun onun tutkusunu hissetmek ister. Bir kez olsun Seth'in onu arzulamasını ... Ama sadece bir gecelik kaçamak daha büyük sorunları pesinde getirecektir. Çünkü Seth bu maskeli kadının kim olduğunu bilmeden kendini kaptırır.
Konusuna gelirsek , Jane çocukluğundan beri Dükkün ikinci oğlu Seth'e aşıktır. Gözü ondan baskasını görmez onun hayalini kurar ve bir gün onunda kendisini seveceğini düşler.Ama Seth gidip Jane'in kız kardeşine tutulur. Ondan daha güzel olan ailesinde hep bas üstünde tutulan kız kardeşine. Ama kız kardesi bencilldir ve unvan sahibi , daha zengin bir adamla evlenmek için Seth'in kalbini kırar.
Aradan yıllar gecer Seth savaştan döndüğünde ağabeyinin öldüğünü ve ünvanın kendisine kaldığını öğrenir. Ayrıca kör kız kardesinizde bakımı ona kalmıştır. Seth kız kardesinin bakımı için bir kadınla evlenme kararı alır. Katıldığı baloda genelev sahibi madamı beklemek için özel bir odaya çekildiğinde odaya maskeli bir siren girer. Seth sireni gördüğünde onu tanıdığını düşünür ama emin olamaz. Siren onun tutkularını ateşler uzun zamandır boş olduğunu düşündüğü kalbini doldurur. Peki bu kadın kimdir? Bir rüya mı ? Bildigi tek şey o kollarının arasından kaçarken onu tekrar bulma istegidir.
Jane kocası ölünce ona yan gözle bakan kocasının kardesinin gözetiminde kalmak zorundadır. Adam ve karısı ona hizmetçi gibi davranır elindeki her şeyi alırlar. Bu durumdan bunalan Jane arkadaşlarının yardımıyla bir maskeli baloya gizlice katılır. Şans işi kayınbiraderi kadını görür ve maskeden kim olduğu çıkartamasa da kadına fena asılır. Ondan kaçmak için sığındığı odada Jane eski aşkı Seth'i görünce kendini tutamaz ve bir kez olsun onun tutkusunu hissetmek ister. Bir kez olsun Seth'in onu arzulamasını ... Ama sadece bir gecelik kaçamak daha büyük sorunları pesinde getirecektir. Çünkü Seth bu maskeli kadının kim olduğunu bilmeden kendini kaptırır.
August 20, 2022
I cannot believe it took me seven years to circle back around to this book. There is so much great angst! I adore "unrequited" love storylines. While not quite significant enough to land on the abused heroine shelf, I appreciate threads in the plot - her cruel family, and the way her inlaws treated her set her up to be one of my favorite kinds of heroine. And while she is not plain, I appreciated her insecurity in the shadow of her beautiful sister. My only complaint is But seriously, sooooo much good angst, from the first page, to the (second to) last!
2022 reread: I still feel the resolution is FAR too abrupt - SO much more groveling was warranted!!! - but the lack of payoff did not entirely discount the deliciously angsty buildup! My personal notes feel random since his prior romance is actually quickly forgotten and while it generates a lot of angst in the beginning,
Also probably does deserve to be on the abused shelf, even if she’s not super traumatized
2022 reread: I still feel the resolution is FAR too abrupt - SO much more groveling was warranted!!! - but the lack of payoff did not entirely discount the deliciously angsty buildup! My personal notes feel random since his prior romance is actually quickly forgotten and while it generates a lot of angst in the beginning,
Also probably does deserve to be on the abused shelf, even if she’s not super traumatized
August 4, 2014
This was my first book by this author and I didn’t “dislike” it but I the storyline was a little suspect. The Hero and Heroine were both great…lovable characters, they just needed a different storyline. Here are the issues I had with the story.
1) The heroine was a widow of 26 (a Viscountess no less) so why in the world did she allow her “in-laws” to degrade her and treat her like a servant…and I mean literally she was an UNPAID servant. She was treated like and spoken to like a servant.
2) The heroine had friends (one of the friends being a DUCHESS no less) that would have opened their homes to her because they knew she was being mistreated by the “in-laws”… and yet the heroine continues to stay and live as a servant… just absurd writing and completely unbelievable.
3) Then to make matters worse in this house…the heroine gets pregnant and the “in-laws” says they will banish her to the country and make her give away her child…(the child of a Marquess no less)…like WHO THE HELL ARE YOU PEOPLE to make these kinds of decisions for a 26 year old widow that is NOT YOUR RELATIONS…they aren’t her parents, they aren’t her employer…really, their basically EX-IN LAWS. So the story was just getting more and more ridiculous and trite.
Again, good characters…terrible storyline.
1) The heroine was a widow of 26 (a Viscountess no less) so why in the world did she allow her “in-laws” to degrade her and treat her like a servant…and I mean literally she was an UNPAID servant. She was treated like and spoken to like a servant.
2) The heroine had friends (one of the friends being a DUCHESS no less) that would have opened their homes to her because they knew she was being mistreated by the “in-laws”… and yet the heroine continues to stay and live as a servant… just absurd writing and completely unbelievable.
3) Then to make matters worse in this house…the heroine gets pregnant and the “in-laws” says they will banish her to the country and make her give away her child…(the child of a Marquess no less)…like WHO THE HELL ARE YOU PEOPLE to make these kinds of decisions for a 26 year old widow that is NOT YOUR RELATIONS…they aren’t her parents, they aren’t her employer…really, their basically EX-IN LAWS. So the story was just getting more and more ridiculous and trite.
Again, good characters…terrible storyline.
November 28, 2015
A lovely second chance romance that will have you turning one page after the next.
Jane has loved Seth all her life, even though he broke her heart when he fell for her sister, only to be humiliated when Maddie rejected him. Now, widowed and living beneath the thumb of her lecherous brother in law, Jane sneaks off with her two friends to a masquerade ball and winds up in Seth's arms. Known to him only as Aurora, he vows to find her and make her his...at any cost.
I am a huge Sophie Jordan fan and I absolutely adored Seth and Jane's love story. If you enjoy Cinderella style, unrequited love stories, then you definitely want to snag this beauty.
Jane has loved Seth all her life, even though he broke her heart when he fell for her sister, only to be humiliated when Maddie rejected him. Now, widowed and living beneath the thumb of her lecherous brother in law, Jane sneaks off with her two friends to a masquerade ball and winds up in Seth's arms. Known to him only as Aurora, he vows to find her and make her his...at any cost.
I am a huge Sophie Jordan fan and I absolutely adored Seth and Jane's love story. If you enjoy Cinderella style, unrequited love stories, then you definitely want to snag this beauty.
June 9, 2009
The only negative thing that I have to say about this book is...
I hated how Seth looked down on others who treated his blind sister badly, but continued to believe his sister could not even handle outings, marriage, and children. He was a hypocrite in this behavior.
Having said that...the rest of the book was excellent! I've now read two books by Sophie Jordan, and both were very well written. I could not put this book down, and hope that others find it to be a delight as well!
I hated how Seth looked down on others who treated his blind sister badly, but continued to believe his sister could not even handle outings, marriage, and children. He was a hypocrite in this behavior.
Having said that...the rest of the book was excellent! I've now read two books by Sophie Jordan, and both were very well written. I could not put this book down, and hope that others find it to be a delight as well!
February 2, 2021
Super angsty but not super written.
April 17, 2022
This being the third book in the series, I had hoped it would be better than the last ones. But no, this one seemed like it was written first. I checked and this is actually Sophie Jordan's first series ever, which makes sense. Some of the writing is totally cliched and (at least in the ebook version I read) there are so many grammar and punctuation mistakes, as well as continuity mistakes (one niece was called into a room and the name for another niece was told to leave; Jane sat down and then in the next sentence sat again). All these errors made it harder to enjoy the story but the plot and characters were interesting enough for me to complete the book. I liked the side story with Seth's sister as well. The ending felt very rushed, like Ms Jordan reached a word count and thought "oops, guess I'd better end this now." Because of all this I'm giving this 3.5 stars instead of 4.
February 23, 2015
Once upon a time, Jane and Seth would frolic together in the fields and ride through the meadows, climb trees and skinny dip in the creek. One day it all comes to a disastrous halt, because Seth realises that Jane’s younger sister is hot, and he gets his flirt on. He breaks Jane’s heart. But Madeline decides she wants to marry a duke instead, so Seth is banished and Jane’s existence becomes hugely miserable.
Nobody loves Jane. Her parents conspire with her sister to marry her off to the worst man alive, because they hate her. Then her husband takes to sleeping with a skanky maid in Jane’s bed, which is so totally uncool to whoever’s doing the laundry, because if your husband’s sleeping with a skank in your bed, you’re probably going to insist on very regular sheet changes. You would probably develop a phobia about it. And laundry in days of old was a nasty, complicated and time consuming business, I know because my grandma told me, and she was talking about the 20th century, so it must have been even more frightful whenever this book was set.
Jane’s husband dies. This was the first piece of good fortune Jane had in years, but then she ended up under the thumb of her in laws, who also hate her. Desmond her brother in law refused to let her come out of mourning, and he kept trying to have sex with her. Plus his wife made Jane look after her horrible daughters, because the in laws were too cheap to shell out thirty quid per annum on a governess. And for some reason, Jane doesn’t slap the daughters. She totally could have – when she was a governess Anne Bronte used to sit on top of her charges, and I think Agnes Grey in ‘Agnes Grey’ ties a boy to a chair at one stage. Corporal punishment was a thing that happened, even if you were a lovely person like Anne Bronte.
Jane’s life is such completely perfect torture. The wife keeps implying that she’s a monster for wanting to come out of mourning for her 15 months dead husband, and that Jane was the cause of the family’s shame because the husband died in bed with a hussy. Jane’s apparently sticking around only because she has no money and she’s worried about Matthew, her dead husband’s son. But Matthew does not appear in this book, and I have no idea what Jane thinks she’s doing on her step-son’s behalf.
In addition to being hated by relatives and in laws, Jane is, with only one exception, hated by the servants. Desmond’s got everyone convinced that they now work for him, so the servants spy on her. And the skanky maid is still around, and she’s got her laundry spies keeping an eye on Jane’s sheets and underwear, because she’s tracking Jane’s monthly cycle in the hope that Jane will turn out to be a no good careless hussy. The lesson here is never upset a laundress, it will always come back to haunt you.
There’s also a lawyer who hates her, and Seth hates her for most of the book. Poor Jane.
Anyway, one evening Jane escapes the house and the spies and accompanies her two widow duchess friends to a very questionable masquerade evening run by a hussy. All masked up, Jane is still the target for Desmond’s slime, and she escapes into a parlour and encounters Seth, who is back in town and an Earl now.
Since Madeline cast him aside so she could marry an old duke, Seth has been having adventures fighting pirates and foreigners. He’s come home with scars that only Jane finds sexy, and he’s now the Earl, and he has to protect his blind younger sister, because his evil cousin tried to take over the family property and have his sister committed.
Seth has come to the hussy masquerade to sleep with a hussy, before he gets down to the serious business of finding a wife. He wants a wife his sister will like, and who can protect her from the evil cousin when Seth dies. I’m not exactly certain why Seth is planning to die, because he’s done with pirates and foreigners. Perhaps he will be the first multiple hussy seducing hero to end up with syphilis? Maybe as well as his scars his nose is about to fall off and he’s starting to feel the crazies?
Anyway, he doesn’t know it’s Jane in the golden gown and the black domino, but she’s so hot he’s obsessed. When he meets Jane in the park wearing her widow clothes he also thinks Jane is hot, so he gets a bit confused about how he wants them both, gets to have masked Jane, and late discovers that they’re one in the same woman. Then he’s heaps angry.
Before that, he’d already discounted Jane as a possible bride because even though his sister likes her, Jane’s out of the running because Seth wants her. And there was also that thing with her sister, and how Seth was humiliated and sent away to be killed by foreigners, which is also possibly Jane’s fault in some way. More practically, I would have thought Jane’s track record as a widow would also seriously exclude her, because she’s completely incompetent at dealing with horrible in laws, and it’s quite likely that Matthew’s inheritance is rapidly passing through Desmond’s fingers into the pockets of hussies and gamblers. And Jane’s probably only one more refusal of sex away from Desmond chaining her up somewhere.
Jane’s miserable life and all her enemies were very entertaining. I think the only romance staple she misses out on is being kidnapped and sold to a hussy house. Seth’s main characteristics are being angry and horny, which is exactly what you want from a Seth. It was all heaps fun.
Nobody loves Jane. Her parents conspire with her sister to marry her off to the worst man alive, because they hate her. Then her husband takes to sleeping with a skanky maid in Jane’s bed, which is so totally uncool to whoever’s doing the laundry, because if your husband’s sleeping with a skank in your bed, you’re probably going to insist on very regular sheet changes. You would probably develop a phobia about it. And laundry in days of old was a nasty, complicated and time consuming business, I know because my grandma told me, and she was talking about the 20th century, so it must have been even more frightful whenever this book was set.
Jane’s husband dies. This was the first piece of good fortune Jane had in years, but then she ended up under the thumb of her in laws, who also hate her. Desmond her brother in law refused to let her come out of mourning, and he kept trying to have sex with her. Plus his wife made Jane look after her horrible daughters, because the in laws were too cheap to shell out thirty quid per annum on a governess. And for some reason, Jane doesn’t slap the daughters. She totally could have – when she was a governess Anne Bronte used to sit on top of her charges, and I think Agnes Grey in ‘Agnes Grey’ ties a boy to a chair at one stage. Corporal punishment was a thing that happened, even if you were a lovely person like Anne Bronte.
Jane’s life is such completely perfect torture. The wife keeps implying that she’s a monster for wanting to come out of mourning for her 15 months dead husband, and that Jane was the cause of the family’s shame because the husband died in bed with a hussy. Jane’s apparently sticking around only because she has no money and she’s worried about Matthew, her dead husband’s son. But Matthew does not appear in this book, and I have no idea what Jane thinks she’s doing on her step-son’s behalf.
In addition to being hated by relatives and in laws, Jane is, with only one exception, hated by the servants. Desmond’s got everyone convinced that they now work for him, so the servants spy on her. And the skanky maid is still around, and she’s got her laundry spies keeping an eye on Jane’s sheets and underwear, because she’s tracking Jane’s monthly cycle in the hope that Jane will turn out to be a no good careless hussy. The lesson here is never upset a laundress, it will always come back to haunt you.
There’s also a lawyer who hates her, and Seth hates her for most of the book. Poor Jane.
Anyway, one evening Jane escapes the house and the spies and accompanies her two widow duchess friends to a very questionable masquerade evening run by a hussy. All masked up, Jane is still the target for Desmond’s slime, and she escapes into a parlour and encounters Seth, who is back in town and an Earl now.
Since Madeline cast him aside so she could marry an old duke, Seth has been having adventures fighting pirates and foreigners. He’s come home with scars that only Jane finds sexy, and he’s now the Earl, and he has to protect his blind younger sister, because his evil cousin tried to take over the family property and have his sister committed.
Seth has come to the hussy masquerade to sleep with a hussy, before he gets down to the serious business of finding a wife. He wants a wife his sister will like, and who can protect her from the evil cousin when Seth dies. I’m not exactly certain why Seth is planning to die, because he’s done with pirates and foreigners. Perhaps he will be the first multiple hussy seducing hero to end up with syphilis? Maybe as well as his scars his nose is about to fall off and he’s starting to feel the crazies?
Anyway, he doesn’t know it’s Jane in the golden gown and the black domino, but she’s so hot he’s obsessed. When he meets Jane in the park wearing her widow clothes he also thinks Jane is hot, so he gets a bit confused about how he wants them both, gets to have masked Jane, and late discovers that they’re one in the same woman. Then he’s heaps angry.
Before that, he’d already discounted Jane as a possible bride because even though his sister likes her, Jane’s out of the running because Seth wants her. And there was also that thing with her sister, and how Seth was humiliated and sent away to be killed by foreigners, which is also possibly Jane’s fault in some way. More practically, I would have thought Jane’s track record as a widow would also seriously exclude her, because she’s completely incompetent at dealing with horrible in laws, and it’s quite likely that Matthew’s inheritance is rapidly passing through Desmond’s fingers into the pockets of hussies and gamblers. And Jane’s probably only one more refusal of sex away from Desmond chaining her up somewhere.
Jane’s miserable life and all her enemies were very entertaining. I think the only romance staple she misses out on is being kidnapped and sold to a hussy house. Seth’s main characteristics are being angry and horny, which is exactly what you want from a Seth. It was all heaps fun.
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September 22, 2018I simply loved it! A tear jerker after ages for me.
Jane is so selfless in her love. Seth is oblivious to her love and afraid of it until he realises he's loved Jane, his childhood friend all along.
A beautiful story about childhood friends turned lovers.
Jane is so selfless in her love. Seth is oblivious to her love and afraid of it until he realises he's loved Jane, his childhood friend all along.
A beautiful story about childhood friends turned lovers.
August 21, 2021
I loved this book and read it in one night. A story of a wounded war vet and his best friend when he was growing up. Second chances happen.
March 22, 2024
my favorite book
March 6, 2025
I flew through this, but Sophie Jordan really cannot write an ending that works for me!!
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