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Not Always a Saint

(The Lost Lords #7)

Mary Jo Putney

3.75 · Rating details · 2,380 ratings · 294 reviews

After the death of his sweetheart when he was at university, Daniel Herbert buried his grief in medical studies and his passion for healing. Viewed as a saint by those who know him, in his own mind, he never quite manages to live up to his own high standards.

Most men would be thrilled to learn they've inherited a title and estate from a distant relative, but Daniel is app ...more

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Paperback, 352 pages

Published August 25th 2015 by Zebra (first published April 28th 2015)

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Rating details

· 2,380 ratings · 294 reviews

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Jul 13, 2015 Juliana Philippa rated it did not like it

Shelves: romance, hr-heroine-beautiful-attractive, series, hr-series, hr-angst-ridden-drove-me-crazy, hr-hero-nobility, did-not-finish, hr-do-not-recommend, hr-hero-silent-quiet-type, hr-heroine-family-estranged

DNF
The hero was promising. The heroine was promising. But together they just did not work for me.

The "instant lust" almost never works for me and that was DEFINITELY the case here. As I wrote in one of my status updates: "Lightning keeps shattering when he looks at her. Enough with the thunderstorm!!" The constant taking-breath-away and electrocution really got on my nerves.

I also felt like Putney threw in way too many twist and turns. Jessie was an overdone onion - layer after layer after layer ...more

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Aug 02, 2015 Janet Robel rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Beautiful love story for readers who like their romance on the tamer side. Charming characters make this book come alive. As part of The Lost Lords series, it is not necessary to read the others but far more enjoyable if you do. It's nice to have a heroine who is not an innocent miss and can hold her own. Perfect book to savor with no big mysteries here. Be sure to add this author to your summer reading list. ...more

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Feb 20, 2016 Kate rated it it was ok

Shelves: 2016, regency-romance, romance

Sigh. This book was very, very boring. And sort of generic. And...did Mary Jo Putney suddenly find Jesus? Not that that's a problem, but the last couple of her books have started to feel almost inspirational and it's just not for me. This book was just...cheesy. It's almost impossible for me to comprehend that this is the same writer who gave me The Rake. I didn't hate this like I did the last book in this series, but it was just so utterly forgettable with utterly forgettable characters and...s ...more

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Jul 20, 2014 Lark of The Bookwyrm's Hoard rated it really liked it

Shelves: own, romance, historical-romance, arc, kindle

Mary Jo Putney has a gift for making even the most unlikely or incredible situations believable through the very real emotions her characters feel. In Not Always a Saint, Jessie’s past holds far more than her fair share of troubles, but I easily connected with her and even more with Dr. Daniel Herbert, now Lord Romayne – who may not always be a saint but is always a good, kind, and honorable man.

The book pulled me in from the very first scene, in which a battered, bleeding, half-strangled woman ...more

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Jul 11, 2015 Jen Davis rated it really liked it

This is my first book by Mary Jo Putney, and I guess I am overdue when you consider the fact that I am a historical romance fan and she has written something close to a hundred books in the genre. Obviously, she is doing something right. I didn’t love this one, though I liked it ok. It didn’t move me, but I didn’t have to force myself to finish or anything like that.

This is the 7th book in The Lost Lords series, though it holds up fine as a standalone. The hero is Daniel, a doctor and surgeon co This is my first book by Mary Jo Putney, and I guess I am overdue when you consider the fact that I am a historical romance fan and she has written something close to a hundred books in the genre. Obviously, she is doing something right. I didn’t love this one, though I liked it ok. It didn’t move me, but I didn’t have to force myself to finish or anything like that.

This is the 7th book in The Lost Lords series, though it holds up fine as a standalone. The hero is Daniel, a doctor and surgeon committed to helping those in need. He never dreamed he would become a peer, but a fever outbreak at a family reunion essentially wiped out everyone between him and the title of Lord Romayne. He wants to keep practicing medicine, but he’ll need a wife to help manage his new estates, which is where Jessie comes in.

Jessie wants to get married, but for very different reasons. She is newly widowed by her second husband and her daughter has inherited something that the next heir in line wants desperately. She worries that he will try to take her child away from her unless she finds a husband with more money and connections who can keep them safe. Daniel is the last man she expects to become a suitor. In fact, she actually tries to avoid him, afraid he will remember tending her after her first husband beat her nearly to death. But necessity throws them together and they try to make a real go of it.

I liked the characters well enough. Daniel is a good man, though kind of beta. I can see why Jessie likens him to a saint. He’s actually almost too good to be true at times. Jessie, meanwhile, isn’t nearly the horrible woman she considers herself. She has been through horrible times and survived. And she puts her child first, which I can respect. It’s just that the romance felt lukewarm. I am skeptical of Daniel’s need for Jessie after simply seeing her from across the room. I am even more skeptical of them marrying within days of meeting. And I am even more skeptical (and then some) of them falling in love in just a week or two after that.

I felt like I spent half the book being set up for the romance and then rushed through everything after that. There was one surprise at the end, but otherwise, the story played out exactly as you would expect after reading the first couple of chapters. And I felt like we really missed an opportunity to explore Daniel’s sexual awakening.

Again, not a bad story. It’s written well and delivers on what’s promised in the blurb. But for me, it could have been so much more.

Rating: B-

*ARC provided by publisher ...more

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Nov 25, 2017 Ash marked it as dnf

DNF at 15%
The writing felt so stilted and off, which is so odd for a Putney novel, if I hadn't read and loved so many of her other books I would have assumed this is a debut author who has yet to find her voice.

Can anyone give me a reason to give this book another shot? Does it get better after a plodding beginning? ...more

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Jun 09, 2015 Rose Blue rated it really liked it

Since Daniel Herbert lost his young love, Rose, before they could ever marry, he has dedicated his life to being a doctor and helping people. He's a serious man (also a vicar) and isn't the least bit frivolous. When he unexpectedly inherits a barony, instead of being overjoyed, he's unhappy with the burden, as it will take away from his life's calling. He decides that he needs to find a wife, one who can help run his estate, leaving him time to focus on being a doctor and establishing clinics wh Since Daniel Herbert lost his young love, Rose, before they could ever marry, he has dedicated his life to being a doctor and helping people. He's a serious man (also a vicar) and isn't the least bit frivolous. When he unexpectedly inherits a barony, instead of being overjoyed, he's unhappy with the burden, as it will take away from his life's calling. He decides that he needs to find a wife, one who can help run his estate, leaving him time to focus on being a doctor and establishing clinics where needed. When Daniel sees Jessie Kelham, he feels an attraction that he's not felt since Rose was alive.

Jezebel (Jessie) Kelham is recently widowed, and is not looking to marry again, but she has no choice, because her late husband's nephew is threatening to take guardianship of her daughter. Jessie knows he has no love for the girl, but is enraged because she was named heir when he was expecting that he would be named. He wants control of her fortune, and possibly even worse.

Daniel wastes no time in meeting, and then proposing to Jessie. She refuses him at first, then changes her mind as her daughter's situation becomes more threatening. Jessie calls Daniel a saint, and tells him that he's far too good a man for the likes of her, but they marry anyway. Their marriage begins with the two of them being little more than strangers, but with a passionate attraction for each other. It would seem that they may be at the start of a happy ever after, but the action is just beginning.

Jessie has a very colorful past, to say the least. To her credit, she did tell Daniel part of it before they married, but she left out some very important details. Those details come back to haunt the newlyweds with a vengeance. Jessie is a beautiful woman, but she was also a victim of men's cruelty, and more than once. It's surprising to me that she was able to trust at all. She's also remains a very sexual being, despite the abuse she has suffered. She is a good mother, determined to protect her daughter, yet I don't feel that I got to know her all that well. There were lots of pieces to her puzzle, yet I was left with the feeling of missing one or two. Daniel is truly a good man, and I really liked him. He is intelligent, strong, capable and honest. It surprised me that he fell so hard and fast for someone so unlike him, but I guess that is the old "opposites attract" rule. I do have to admit that Jessie brought some fun to his life, along with a scorching passion. NOT ALWAYS A SAINT is a quick, enjoyable read, with some page turning twists and turns. If you're following the Lost Lords series, this is definitely a must read for you.

3.5 Stars
As Reviewed for Roses Are Blue http://wp.me/p3QRh4-df
...more

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Jul 20, 2015 Kathie (katmom) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: netgalley-request, contest-entries, 2015-netgalley-reading-challenge

Happy Release Day!!!

This is the 7th book in the Lost Lords Series. I've only read the 6th...and loved it. I enjoyed this one even more.

I liked Daniel a lot. He's a vicar, he's a surgeon, he's a healer...and now he's a lord. This last isn't something he's ever wanted. It seems like it will take a lot of time from his vocation of doctor. He begins to see some hope in the title when his brother-in-law (Lord Kirkland from the last book) mentions all the good his newly acquired wealth can do. But...h Happy Release Day!!!

This is the 7th book in the Lost Lords Series. I've only read the 6th...and loved it. I enjoyed this one even more.

I liked Daniel a lot. He's a vicar, he's a surgeon, he's a healer...and now he's a lord. This last isn't something he's ever wanted. It seems like it will take a lot of time from his vocation of doctor. He begins to see some hope in the title when his brother-in-law (Lord Kirkland from the last book) mentions all the good his newly acquired wealth can do. But...he's going to need a very helpful wife to organize and run his life...and all those houses and properties. He has a short of things he's looking for in a spouse...and while he wants her to be somewhat attractive, a Diamond of the First Water is not on that list. So when he sees Jessie across a crowded room and is immediately hit with lust...well, he figures he needs to just walk away.

Jessie, for her part, has just lost her very elderly husband. They both love their four year old daughter and he left her the title of Lady. This is not good news for the nephew that thought he would get nearly everything. He makes threats and Jessie realizes she's going to need another husband to keep her daughter safe. That would be husband #3. When she and Daniel lock eyes across that room and then meet, she is in lust, too. It has been a very long time since she's felt that way, but Daniel just can't be the husband she needs. He's much too attractive...and young.

When things come to a head with that nasty nephew, the only way to find safety for Beth is a marriage between her mother and Daniel.

That's when the real fun begins. These two aren't in love, even though the lust is thick. They have to come to know each other...and I truly enjoyed their path to happiness.

Ms. Putney adds twists and turns, bad guys, and people showing up from the dead. It was quite the journey for these two...and I loved it and I highly recommend it.

Thank you, Kensington and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read this book. ...more

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Jul 25, 2015 Diane Peterson rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-romance, kindle-doc

This latest installment from Putney's well-established Lost Lords series offers another solid romance. Our hero, Daniel Herbert, is a very decent guy. He lost his fiancee when younger so he has compensated by devoting himself to medicine. The book begins when the hero and heroine have a brief encounter. They meet again later after Daniel learns that he has inherited a title and estate. Overwhelmed by new responsibilities he confronts the need to take a new direction, such as marrying and produci ...more

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Jun 14, 2018 Olga Godim rated it liked it

Shelves: historical, romance

That was an enjoyable read, set in regency England, although the timing doesn’t play an important role in the story. In fact, it’s unrecognizable. No details except the subtitles under the chapter headings suggest the era. The events of the plot could’ve happened any time during the 19th century.
Daniel, the protagonist, is a doctor. Recently, he inherited a few profitable estates and a title from his suddenly deceased cousin. He doesn’t want to abandon medicine – healing people is his vocation ...more

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Jun 11, 2017 Virginia rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-romance, read-2017

First, I fully acknowledge that the plot and all its twists and turns are ridiculous. Worthy of several seasons of soap operas.

However, at the heart of it are two good and kind people that I enjoyed and cared for and thoroughly liked reading.

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Dec 09, 2014 Adria's Musings rated it it was ok

Shelves: read-and-reviewed

Originally posted on Adria's Romance Reviews

* A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via Edelweiss for the purpose of an honest review.

I’m not sure what went wrong with this book because up until now I’ve enjoyed this series by Mary Jo Putney so Not Always a Saint was a bit of a letdown and to me seemed like it was part of a totally different series.

The plot revolves around Daniel Herbert, a doctor who still grieves for the woman he lost when he was in medical school. When Daniel inhe Originally posted on Adria's Romance Reviews

* A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via Edelweiss for the purpose of an honest review.

I’m not sure what went wrong with this book because up until now I’ve enjoyed this series by Mary Jo Putney so Not Always a Saint was a bit of a letdown and to me seemed like it was part of a totally different series.

The plot revolves around Daniel Herbert, a doctor who still grieves for the woman he lost when he was in medical school. When Daniel inherits a title and estate he is less than thrilled at what he sees as an interference with his passion for healing. He reluctantly accepts that he must now find a wife and his plan is to find someone who won’t interfere and who will oversee his properties. His plans are quickly ruined when he meets Jessie Kelham, who is known as the Black Widow. Jessie needs protection for her and her young daughter from the secret she carries and her attraction to Daniel makes him the last man she should consider for a husband, she doesn’t have much of a choice.

It sounds like a good read but the reality of it for me was that Not Always a Saint was too stiff in both plot execution and characters. I’m such a fan of the Lost Lords series and was looking forward to Daniel’s story but I really felt like this book just wasn’t up to par with what I was used to from previous books.

I don’t like perfect characters. At all. They’re boring and do nothing to push a story forward, nor do they keep my interest for long. Daniel was that character which caught me off guard because in the previous book he was anything but boring. Daniel was just too good of a character, heck, he was a goody two shoes parading as a doctor and I just needed more from him in order to see him as a flesh and blood man. I didn’t think he was going to take the “Saint” part of the title to heart! To me, Daniel pretty much remained the same guy at the end of the book as he was in the beginning.

Jessie was the more interesting of the two but I did feel like she came with an unbelievable amount of baggage for just one character and made the balance between her and Daniel feel one sided. She was more like a tornado, all chaos and turbulence. The resolution of her conflicts was done rather quickly and without a feeling of real effort from Jessie or Daniel. I did like how she brought disorder to Daniel’s quiet, boring existence and in a small way, made him a bit more believable as a character as he tried to sort out his feelings towards Jessie.

Final Verdict: Not my favorite read by Mary Jo Putney, I kept having to put this one down and pick it up again much later because it couldn’t really hold my interest for long. There are a few little gems in the book but they’re few and far between. Not Always a Saint didn’t feel like a Lost Lords novel to me and the characters lacked that spark that previous characters in the series had. ...more

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Jul 01, 2015 Jaci rated it it was amazing

The Seventh Book in The Lost Lords series is amazing!! Daniel is a Doctor and a Vicar who has just inherited a title and estates that he has no real interest in. His sister, Laurel, who is the heroine in "Not Quite A Wife" suggests he go to London for the little season to find a wife. Daniel is a honorable man who's passion is helping his fellow man not attending social functions, but he now has a responsibility to his tenants and his heritage to find a wife and take his place in the House of Lo The Seventh Book in The Lost Lords series is amazing!! Daniel is a Doctor and a Vicar who has just inherited a title and estates that he has no real interest in. His sister, Laurel, who is the heroine in "Not Quite A Wife" suggests he go to London for the little season to find a wife. Daniel is a honorable man who's passion is helping his fellow man not attending social functions, but he now has a responsibility to his tenants and his heritage to find a wife and take his place in the House of Lords. He is worried that he will not have time to be a doctor.

Jessie is a woman with a past and recently a widow with a young daughter to protect from her dead husband's nephew, who is furious with the contents of his uncles will and feels he has been cheated.
The only way to protect her daughter is to go to London and find a husband with a title and influence to protect herself and her daughter. Jessie has had a very troubled life and has many secrets that she will need to keep from her next husband.

So of course at the first event Daniel attends with his sister he sees Jessie. He has never seen such a beautiful alluring woman like her and is immediately intruigued. When they are introduced there is an instant spark that they both are aware of. Daniel cannot stop thinking about Jessie and eventhough Jessie likes Daniel and is attracted to him, he is not the kind of husband she is looking for.

Jessie tries to avoid him but it seems every where she goes, he is there. They share a passionate kiss that shocks them both. Daniel has never felt this kind of passion and wants Jessie badly. He asks Jessie to marry him and she refuses. She feels that she is not good enough for him.

I do not do spoilers in my reviews, you have to read this book!!! Mary Jo's writing is wonderfully descriptive, the plot moves at a great pace with lots of surprises and adventure. Daniel and Jessie are admirable characters that you will love. Her writing is intelligent and intricate and if you are looking for a sweet easy read this book may not be for you. Her love scenes are stunning and are always appropriate to the story. I have read all of her books and have kept them all and read them again and again. This is a splendid love story with secrets, plenty of action and a great ending. Do Not Miss This Book!!!

...more

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Aug 13, 2015 Marilyn Rondeau rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2015-e-book-challenge

Daniel Herbert had buried his grief in medical studies after the death of his childhood sweetheart whom he’d intended to marry. Basically, he’d closed off his heart and was passionate only for his medical studies which of course made him an exceptional doctor whom most who knew him viewed as a saint.

Unfortunately, when he learned that he’d inherited a title and estate from a distant relative, Daniel was less than overjoyed as the burden of wealth would interfere with his medical calling. Reluct Daniel Herbert had buried his grief in medical studies after the death of his childhood sweetheart whom he’d intended to marry. Basically, he’d closed off his heart and was passionate only for his medical studies which of course made him an exceptional doctor whom most who knew him viewed as a saint.

Unfortunately, when he learned that he’d inherited a title and estate from a distant relative, Daniel was less than overjoyed as the burden of wealth would interfere with his medical calling. Reluctantly, he accepted his sister and brother-in-law’s guidance on how to get on in society. Daniel also thought it was time to find a wife. A wife who was sensible, intelligent and could look after the estates so he could pursue his medical calling. What he didn’t expect was to be overcome with passion by a woman described as the Black Widow.

*** As usual, Ms. Putney engages you from the very first pages and with NOT ALWAYS A SAINT, she continues in kind. Her hero Daniel is an amazing young man and one can see where most all would consider him a saint. I fell in love – not only with Daniel but with Jessie aka the Black Widow and Ms. Putney’s wonderful dialogs and elegant prose. With glimpses into the lives of some of her past heroes and heroines it was like being invited to a wonderful family reunion.

Daniel was wonderful, kind, caring, loving with no mysteries. Jessie on the other hand came with secrets galore, which made the story move at a rapid pace and made this reader continue reading into the wee hours to finish. The passion and sensual scenes, all tastefully done, were beautifully rendered. When discoveries were made as investigations into Jessie’s past ghosts were unearthed and not all was joy, but Ms. Putney was able to give closure to many of the mysteries and nightmares Jessie had carried with her all her life. Some joyful - some not and with a cliff-hanger in the offing would they finally have a happy ending? You will have to read to discover!

All in all, this was a most excellent read by one of the long-standing stars of this genre! Brava Ms. Putney - you continue to entrance and entertain.

Marilyn Rondeau
...more

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Jul 02, 2015 Sonya Heaney added it

Shelves: historical-romance, regency-era

Originally posted HERE .

When I started this book I was unaware it was the seventh in a series. I think that even though it was clear there were some things I’d missed out on from previous books, and some characters I should already know, the author did a really good job of keeping this story separate from her others. So from that point of view I think it’s fine to read this one on its own.

This is a dark book in many ways. The heroine has had an endless life of abuse from three different men, ...more

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Jul 02, 2015 Elis Madison rated it it was amazing

Shelves: christian-teaching, marriage-of-convenience, part-of-series, add-a-half-star, intrigue-is-good, authors-to-follow, era-georgian, mean-people

I really appreciated the presentation of the hero as a Christian. Non-judgmental, not holier-than-thou, actually the kind of person a Christian SHOULD be. And I loved the take on prayer on page 86: "He couldn't pray for deliverance from his desires, because he didn't want to be free of them. But he could pray for the best possible outcome for himself and the woman who was fast becoming his obsession." This is not, per se, a Christian book, and the characters' faith is pretty incidental to the st ...more

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Jun 15, 2015 Debra Elsner rated it it was amazing

I don't read that many historical novels, but I still read Ms. PUtney's books. This is the next installment in The Lost Lords series. You don't read much about Doctors in the 1800's especially not ones who inherit a title and have to learn how to balance his lives. Jessie is a "black widow" who has survived 2 husbands and marries Daniel to protect her daughter from her late husband's nephew,who is trying to take over her fortune. ...more

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Jul 29, 2015 Frances rated it did not like it

Shelves: regency-romance

I believe the problem with my favorite authors is their reliance on sequels which go on and on and on. A sequel implies an ending, this author has beat this series into the ground. Unappealing characters, a tired plot, and no end in sight.

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Nov 08, 2014 BJ Rose rated it liked it

Shelves: series, historical-romance, a-regency

I love the Lost Lord series, and enjoyed this one as well - just not as much as the others. This is really 3.5* but doesn't quite rise to 4* ...more

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Sep 11, 2015 Tin rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2015

We often think that virtue and beauty as things to aspire for -- that they are means towards a certain end.

We often see in romance novels that it is the hero who is in need of redemption, and, like Dante's Beatrice, it is the heroine who guides him towards salvation.

But, what if this wasn't the case? What if we flipped everything over its head?

This seems to be Mary Jo Putney's intention when she wrote Daniel and Jessie's story.

Daniel Herbert lost his one and only love to fever when he was a you ...more

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Jan 16, 2018 Erin rated it it was amazing

Shelves: romance, favorites

Perfect. Everything you want in a Regency romance.

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Nov 21, 2018 Lassarina Aoibhell rated it it was ok

Shelves: romance, fiction, historical, regency

The last book in the series, and packed with so much melodrama. Murder! Secret pasts! Schemes to steal inheritance! Planting seeds for a future series!

I didn't find either of the main characters especially likable, and once again with the fucking rape backstory. There are other ways to cause people trauma!

Sigh. ...more

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May 02, 2019 Lark of The Bookwyrm's Hoard rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: own, romance, historical-romance, kindle, re-read

[reviewed the paperback edition ] ...more

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Aug 06, 2015 Sheila Melo rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Wicked Woman Tempts Saintly Man

“I don’t belong with a man who is almost a saint!”
“I am no saint.”

FINAL DECISION: Complex, mature characters (and a woman with a shady past) enliven the story of two people who on the surface are completely wrong for one another and yet fit together perfectly. I love stories where the characters talk and manage their relationship as adults and this one fits the bill. Twists and turns in the plot kept me guessing as to what the ultimate outcome would be.

THE STORY:
“ ...more

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Aug 07, 2015 Sharon Tyler rated it really liked it

Not Always a Saint is the seventh book in the historical romance series, The Lost Lords, by Mary Jo Putney. It is currently scheduled for release on August 25 2015. This is a book that can stand well on its own, but reading the previous books might give a better sense of some of the secondary characters. I have only read one of the previous books.

Daniel Herbert has spent most of his life focused on his medical studies and his passion for healing. Viewed as saintly by those who know him, he never Not Always a Saint is the seventh book in the historical romance series, The Lost Lords, by Mary Jo Putney. It is currently scheduled for release on August 25 2015. This is a book that can stand well on its own, but reading the previous books might give a better sense of some of the secondary characters. I have only read one of the previous books.

Daniel Herbert has spent most of his life focused on his medical studies and his passion for healing. Viewed as saintly by those who know him, he never quite manages to live up to his own high standards. Daniel is appalled because the burden of wealth that comes with an unexpected inheritance, and the likelihood that it will interfere with his medical work. Warily he accepts that he must enter society and seek a wife, preferably a sensible woman who can oversee his properties, leaving him free to continue his work. Jessie Kelham’s looks have always been a curse. Now alone with a young daughter and a perilous secret, she is in need of protection. But dangerously attractive Daniel Herbert is not the kind of husband she has in mind. If he recognizes her, the demons of her past will surely erupt.

Not Always a Saint is an solid read, with my only complaint that it got a little too complicated and dramatic for my tastes. Daniel is a good, honorable man that loves his work and honestly cares about the welfare of other people. Jessie is a woman with many secrets, and two dead husbands. Rumors abound, and a greedy nephew plots to take over her daughter's unexpected inheritance- and he will stop at nothing to get his way. When these two run across each other in the ballrooms of London, each looking to marry for their own reasons, their plans all go awry. Neither planned for each other; but attraction, plots against Jessie, and similar needs draw them together against the odds. Marriage is only the start of their journey, as secrets from the past and that greedy nephew keep creeping up to cause danger and drama. I really enjoyed the honesty and banter between such honestly good hearted characters. Jessie has pretty much face every bad thing that could happen to a woman, and managed to stay a loving and compassionate woman. Daniel has faced hard times as well, and has focused all his grief and disappointment into helping others. While problem after problem arises, they actually talk things out and face everything head on. Most often, the conflict in romance comes from conflict between the main characters, rather than outside sources, so that was a change of pace. I also liked that they were not instant bed mates, although they got to that pretty quick, since the wedding is fairly early in the book.

Not Always a Saint is an entertaining read, with plenty of action and witty banter. I think everything got a little too complicated, with several 'big reveals' but I enjoyed the character's banter and connection. All of the big drama worked, but I did not think it was absolutely necessary, a few more deep conversations between Daniel and Jessie would have covered all the ground needed for their happy ending without so many near death experiences. ...more

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Apr 04, 2016 Jane rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Ugh. I read this a few days ago and I've already forgotten most of what happened in this book. It was well written and put together nicely, but just underwhelming, I guess. Nothing like Mary Jo Putney's "The Rake" or the "Diabloical Baron" - those two were masterpieces, in my humble opinion!

Let's see.... so the hero's name is....(sorry about these ellipses...I'm trying to remember as I type)... Daniel and the heroine's name is Jessie (short for Jezebel). Daniel is a doctor who unexpectedly inher Ugh. I read this a few days ago and I've already forgotten most of what happened in this book. It was well written and put together nicely, but just underwhelming, I guess. Nothing like Mary Jo Putney's "The Rake" or the "Diabloical Baron" - those two were masterpieces, in my humble opinion!

Let's see.... so the hero's name is....(sorry about these ellipses...I'm trying to remember as I type)... Daniel and the heroine's name is Jessie (short for Jezebel). Daniel is a doctor who unexpectedly inherits a title and fortune. He's so perfect and perfectly nice that he's boring. He goes off to London in search of a plain-Jane wife who can help him manage his newly inherited estates so that he can continue practicing medicine. Upon his first entrée into the beau monde, he immediately meets and is drawn to Jessie, a beautifully mysterious widow who is also looking for a husband. The drama in her life is almost comical.

Jessie is really really beautiful and she sort of spends a good amount of time complaining about her beauty and how it caused her all these problems (made me think of Derek Zoolander bemoaning, "...there's more to life than being really, really ridiculously good-looking."). Long story short, Jessie's looking for a new husband because her dead husband was a baron or something and his title was really special and could be passed down to daughters. Dead husband's nephew always considered himself to be presumptive heir and completely lost his shit when he found out that Jesse's daughter would be inheriting the title. In retaliation for his lost title, evil nephew threatens to take custody of the girl. Jessie decides that she needs to marry an older man, someone powerful with powerful friends, ASAP to protect her daughter and stave off the evil nephew's attempts to usurp the title.

Daniel and Jessie meet at this gathering and sparks fly a little bit. Very soon thereafter, Daniel proposes to Jessie and even though she's says thanks but no thanks at first, she eventually decides to marry him. After all, he needed a wife, she needed a husband, and they were both ridiculously attracted to one another.

So they get married about halfway through the book. The thing is, I've noticed lately that when our hero and heroine get married early to mid-story, the entire story screeches to a halt and makes me want to put the book down and take a nap. This is what happened here. Daniel and Jessie get married and before the honeymoon is over, Jessie is already done with sex and Daniel is already sleeping on the floor. A couple of skeletons from Jessie's past appear (ok, granted, they were some big skeletons), but they really weren't that interesting to me. Putney throws in a couple of pages of lukewarm intrigue and bing, bang, boom over a matter of about a week, they manage to resolve 25+ years of unending drama in Jessie's life and live happily ever after.

I give this 2 stars. It wasn't a bad book, just kind of...blah. ...more

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Sep 07, 2015 Janga rated it it was amazing

This is a book I have eagerly awaited since I turned the final page of Not Quite a Wife, and I am happy to report that it exceeded my expectations. Putney has indicated in the past that she finds the alpha/beta tags unsatisfactory, preferring to describe her heroes as “warrior poets.” Nevertheless, I suspect most readers will see Daniel as a beta hero. Regardless of labels, he is a rare hero, complex and likeable with a strong sense of honor, a compassionate heart, and a clear vocation in the f This is a book I have eagerly awaited since I turned the final page of Not Quite a Wife, and I am happy to report that it exceeded my expectations. Putney has indicated in the past that she finds the alpha/beta tags unsatisfactory, preferring to describe her heroes as “warrior poets.” Nevertheless, I suspect most readers will see Daniel as a beta hero. Regardless of labels, he is a rare hero, complex and likeable with a strong sense of honor, a compassionate heart, and a clear vocation in the fullest sense of that word. He is a good and decent man, but he is a far cry from the stereotypical pallid saint. He is a fully dimensional character with fears and regrets and as much passion as piety.

Having fallen for Daniel in Laurel and Kirkland’s book, I was particularly interested to see what kind of heroine Putney would give him. Jessie is as unusual in her way as Daniel is in his. A beautiful woman whose beauty for most of her life has led to abuse and exploitation, she has little sense of her own worth. Despite having been a victim, she has developed surprising strength and is fierce in her determination to protect her daughter. Beginning with some of her earliest books, Putney has integrated social issues into her stories in interesting and realistic ways. She does so once again in this book by using Jessie’s situation to show how vulnerable women were physically, psychologically, and legally in a world that saw them as the property of males.

If you like historical romance that combines character-driven stories with intense action and historical accuracy, I highly recommend this book. I never miss an MJP book, and I loved seeing characters from earlier Lost Lords books appear in this one. I was especially pleased to see Lady Agnes again. (I’d love to know more of her history.) But I think Not Always a Saint can be read as a standalone, although reading it after at least Not Quite a Wife likely provides a richer reading experience.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the Lost Lords series and was sorry to learn that this book, the seventh Lost Lords book, marks the official end of the series. However, I am delighted that MJP’s new series, Rogues Redeemed, is a spinoff from the Lost Lords. Will Masterson, half-brother of Damian Mackenzie (hero of Nowhere Near Respectable, Lost Lords #3) will be the hero of Once a Soldier, the first book in the new series. Look for it in 2016. For readers like me who are intrigued by Gordon, Lady Agnes’s one failure and a minor but significant character in Not Always a Saint, I have it on the best authority that we will see more of him in the new series. The first book is not yet available for pre-order, but I’m already hooked on the series.

See full review at The Romance Dish:
http://www.theromancedish.com/2015/09... ...more

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Jul 08, 2015 Kimberly Rocha~ Book Obsessed Chicks rated it it was amazing

Shelves: romances-a-la-kimberly, historical, regency-romance, arc-review

After losing beloved betrothed while he was away studying, Daniel Herbert spends his life attempting to help as many people as possible through his work in the medical field, regardless of ability to pay. Not much else matters to Daniel but his work and his sister, Laurel, who finally finds her true love. When Daniel inherits a barony after the entire line is wiped out, he begrudgingly takes on the title. The one thing he knows he must do, is find himself a wife who will be able to help him mana

After losing beloved betrothed while he was away studying, Daniel Herbert spends his life attempting to help as many people as possible through his work in the medical field, regardless of ability to pay. Not much else matters to Daniel but his work and his sister, Laurel, who finally finds her true love. When Daniel inherits a barony after the entire line is wiped out, he begrudgingly takes on the title. The one thing he knows he must do, is find himself a wife who will be able to help him manage the Romayne legacy.

Jessie Kelham came from inauspicious beginnings. The actress married an older titled gentleman and with him has a good life and a daughter, until Lord Kelham dies. Waiting in the wings to scoop everything the barony has to offer is Kelham's nephew Frederick, but when the will is read and it just so happens that due to an old edict in the family line, Frederick is not the heir, but Jessie's daughter is. Now Jessie must protect her daughter from the scheming Frederick and the only way she can think of is to marry quickly. She wants someone older, like her husband was a possibly titled to have the weight of a title behind her for protection .

Off to London Jessie goes in her search for a protector and when she meets Daniel Herbert, the new Baron, she is in for quite the time of it. Neither is what the other had in mind in their search for spouses, but their attraction to one another cannot be denied. Only Jessie has a secret that if comes to light can destroy her carefully configured life. Daniel has a gut feeling that he has met Jessie before, but that's impossible, he would have remembered a lady as beautiful as she. Sometimes the plans one sets out to accomplish change drastically, such is the case with Mary Jo Putney's NOT ALWAYS A SAINT.

NOT ALWAYS A SAINT, the seventh installment of the Lost Lords series is achingly poignant tale of desperation as well as one of passion and desire. Jessie's character has undergone a transformation since her meager start, but now that she has her child, she will stop at nothing to make sure her daughter is safe. Daniel Herbert has always been a character I have loved in the series and couldn't wait for his tale. I am not disappointed in the least. Daniel's life hasn't been stellar either. Estranged from his parents in part because of their treatment of his beloved sister, he is a man of principle and honor. He has always cared for everyone but himself , but the time has come for him to wake up and see what's in front of him, in the form of Jessie. The story is well done and full of depth. I enjoyed this story immensely and hope you all will too. Yet another notch in Ms. Putney's belt for a great read!

~KIMBERLY~ ...more

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Feb 06, 2019 Chessela Helm rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This was a tender story about a man who does the right thing and a woman who needs to meet a man like that. The background of their lives plays out well and their romance with each other moves along at the pace it needs to. We know less about Daniel than the other Lords (I would have preferred putting Will's story in this series and having a spinoff with people like Daniel), but he is a good character, and he learns to pull that stick out of his butt. Not the best in the LL series, but still ver ...more

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Jul 29, 2015 Sheila rated it it was amazing

Jessie needs a husband quickly to keep the threat towards her daughter from happening. Daniel, a surgeon and newly a Baron, wants a wife so he can remain a surgeon and she can handle his estates. Will either get what they want?

I enjoyed this story. It can be read as a standalone but it is more fulfilling to read in order so you know the back story of the other characters in this story especially Laurel, his sister. I loved Dr. Daniel Herbert. He is so refreshingly honest about what he wants to d ...more

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About Mary Jo Putney

Mary Jo Putney

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She writes young adult fiction as M.J. Putney.

Mary Jo Putney was born on 1946 in Upstate New York with a reading addiction, a condition for which there is no known cure. After earning degrees in English Literature and Industrial Design at Syracuse University, she did various forms of design work in California and England before inertia took over in Baltimore, Maryland, where she has lived very com She writes young adult fiction as M.J. Putney.

Mary Jo Putney was born on 1946 in Upstate New York with a reading addiction, a condition for which there is no known cure. After earning degrees in English Literature and Industrial Design at Syracuse University, she did various forms of design work in California and England before inertia took over in Baltimore, Maryland, where she has lived very comfortably ever since.

While becoming a novelist was her ultimate fantasy, it never occurred to her that writing was an achievable goal until she acquired a computer for other purposes. When the realization hit that a computer was the ultimate writing tool, she charged merrily into her first book with an ignorance that illustrates the adage that fools rush in where angels fear to tread.

Fortune sometimes favors the foolish and her first book sold quickly, thereby changing her life forever, in most ways for the better. (“But why didn't anyone tell me that writing would change the way one reads?”) Like a lemming over a cliff, she gave up her freelance graphic design business to become a full-time writer as soon as possible.

Since 1987, Ms. Putney has published twenty-nine books and counting. Her stories are noted for psychological depth and unusual subject matter such as alcoholism, death and dying, and domestic abuse. She has made all of the national bestseller lists including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USAToday, and Publishers Weekly. Five of her books have been named among the year’s top five romances by The Library Journal. The Spiral Path and Stolen Magic were chosen as one of Top Ten romances of their years by Booklist, published by the American Library Association.

A nine-time finalist for the Romance Writers of America RITA, she has won RITAs for Dancing on the Wind and The Rake and the Reformer and is on the RWA Honor Roll for bestselling authors. She has been awarded two Romantic Times Career Achievement Awards, four NJRW Golden Leaf awards, plus the NJRW career achievement award for historical romance. Though most of her books have been historical, she has also published three contemporary romances. The Marriage Spell will be out in June 2006 in hardcover, and Stolen Magic (written as M. J. Putney) will be released in July 2006.

Ms. Putney says that not least among the blessings of a full-time writing career is that one almost never has to wear pantyhose. ...more