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Darling Jack
JACK HAZARD NEEDED A WIFE
And Anna Matlin was the perfect woman for the job. Though she seemed like a timid mouse, Jack was convinced that the file clerk possessed a multitude of charms. Charms that he would soon expose as he drew her into his dangerous game of revenge.
Anna's colorless existence ended the day she became the "wife" of her hero, Jack Hazzard. But though she was learning that beneath the legendary Pinkerton detective's dashing exterior was a haunted, lonely man, still she longed for the brief assignment to become the role of a lifetime!
And Anna Matlin was the perfect woman for the job. Though she seemed like a timid mouse, Jack was convinced that the file clerk possessed a multitude of charms. Charms that he would soon expose as he drew her into his dangerous game of revenge.
Anna's colorless existence ended the day she became the "wife" of her hero, Jack Hazzard. But though she was learning that beneath the legendary Pinkerton detective's dashing exterior was a haunted, lonely man, still she longed for the brief assignment to become the role of a lifetime!
344 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
2 people are currently reading
54 people want to read
About the author
Mary McBride
61 books12 followersMary McBride received her Bachelor's Degree from Washington University with a major in Comparative Literature and a minor in psychology. After earning a Master's Degree in education at Saint Louis University, she worked for many years with handicapped adults.
She is a member of Romance Writers of America and Novelists, Inc. Among some of the highlights in her career are appearances on the USA Today and the Waldenbooks bestseller lists, as well as several nominations for Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice awards.
She lives with her husband and two teenage sons in Saint Louis, Missouri, where she reads voraciously, collects vintage Fiestaware and American pottery, and spends way too much time doing genealogy research.
She is a member of Romance Writers of America and Novelists, Inc. Among some of the highlights in her career are appearances on the USA Today and the Waldenbooks bestseller lists, as well as several nominations for Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice awards.
She lives with her husband and two teenage sons in Saint Louis, Missouri, where she reads voraciously, collects vintage Fiestaware and American pottery, and spends way too much time doing genealogy research.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 23, 2016
This was something of a surprise. It was a rather serious historical romance with a love triangle of Hero-heroine-alcohol (and a cameo by opium).
Jack and his siblings had seriously rotten childhoods and all of his self-destruction is rooted in his past. The reader doesn't know exactly what went on, but gets enough information to know there was some major trauma. Having said that, his "lost year" is glossed over a bit too much - what finally made him decide to leave the Baroness?
Anna is nicknamed "mouse" but by the end of the book, she is anything but.
Jack's addiction is handled realistically - there's no one magical moment when he leaps up sober and well, cured by the love of a good woman, in fact for most of the book, he has every intention of returning to the bottle for good. It's not quite up to par with Putney's The Rake, but it's good.
What took a star off for me was the whole landladies/Pinkerton wannabe plot line. That was silly. And the HEA was a bit quick after the previous chapter's angst and drama.
Jack and his siblings had seriously rotten childhoods and all of his self-destruction is rooted in his past. The reader doesn't know exactly what went on, but gets enough information to know there was some major trauma. Having said that, his "lost year" is glossed over a bit too much - what finally made him decide to leave the Baroness?
Anna is nicknamed "mouse" but by the end of the book, she is anything but.
Jack's addiction is handled realistically - there's no one magical moment when he leaps up sober and well, cured by the love of a good woman, in fact for most of the book, he has every intention of returning to the bottle for good. It's not quite up to par with Putney's The Rake, but it's good.
What took a star off for me was the whole landladies/Pinkerton wannabe plot line. That was silly. And the HEA was a bit quick after the previous chapter's angst and drama.
July 27, 2014
Pinkerton Agent Jack Hazard needed a woman to pose as his wife. Since no female agents were available, file clerk Anna Matlin was chosen for the job. Anna's colorless existance ended the day she became the "wife" of her hero, Jack Hazard. Though she learned that beneath the Detective's dashing exterior was a haunted, lonely man, Anna still longed for the brief assignment to become the role of a lifetime.
This book was just OK for me. I was bored with the first 100 pages and almost put it down. But, it did get more interesting when you learned Jack's plan of revenge. Jack's alcoholism is also dealt with. My rating: 3.5 Stars.
This book was just OK for me. I was bored with the first 100 pages and almost put it down. But, it did get more interesting when you learned Jack's plan of revenge. Jack's alcoholism is also dealt with. My rating: 3.5 Stars.
October 30, 2008
One of the first romance books I read that realistically portrayed an alcoholic. This hero falls of the wagon, but it's not the end of the world, because Mary loves him and is there to help him, although the hardest part is his.
June 14, 2010
The plot didn't live up to the cover description - dashing Pinkerton gets an agent wife - given the heroine's meek personality and not enough adventure. On the positive side, great description of alcoholic urges, very realistic
July 27, 2017
an excellent read!
November 5, 2024
Who would have thought that a book about Pinkerton agents would be so boring?! If Jack is somewhat memorable because of his past and his addiction, Anna is too wishy-washy to be remembered at all.
November 26, 2017
This one surprised me. Coming down from my last read which was true story and little heavy I thought I would go the light and fluffy route. Considering the cover I was expecting the wallflower and stud scenario. This story has a lot more depth. The hot hero is a hot mess still trying to get over an abusive childhood. The heroine has her work cut out for her and fortunately for the hero she's up to it. Plus a good epilogue and I'm an epilogue junky.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews