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The Scandalous St. Claires #3
Taming the Last St. Claire
Gideon St Claire's life revolves around work just the way he likes it. He's the master of his emotions, and the women he dates never get glimpses into his home life beyond the stairs leading to his bedroom Feisty and fun–loving, with the annoying knack of knowing just how to wind Gideon up, Joey McKinley is the sort of woman he avoids. How does he handle such enthusiasm? But when an old enemy of Joey's starts looking for revenge, Gideon's forced to keep watch over her day and night...
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 1, 2011
24 people are currently reading
239 people want to read
About the author
Carole Mortimer
1,297 books908 followersI have written almost 250 romance novels in contemporary and Regency.
I am a USA Today Bestselling Author and recipient of the 2015 RWA Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2014 I received a Pioneer of Romance Award from Romantic Times in the US and in 2012 I was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II for my 'outstanding service to literature'.
I am very happily married to Peter with six sons, and live on the Isle of Man
I am a USA Today Bestselling Author and recipient of the 2015 RWA Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2014 I received a Pioneer of Romance Award from Romantic Times in the US and in 2012 I was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II for my 'outstanding service to literature'.
I am very happily married to Peter with six sons, and live on the Isle of Man
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
December 28, 2018
This is Nenia's fault.
It's a good thing I outgrew these when I was younger and know without a shadow of a doubt that this is not how relationships work and no matter how much I suspend my disbelief I just can't wrap my head around this book.
It's a good thing I outgrew these when I was younger and know without a shadow of a doubt that this is not how relationships work and no matter how much I suspend my disbelief I just can't wrap my head around this book.
August 8, 2011
Cream puff. I like cream puff but I cannot survive on it for long.
Same with this book. It’s quirky, fluffy, peppy. The right ingredients are there. Sexual chemistry – check. Snappy dialogue – check. Feisty petite heroine – check. Lone-wolf of a hero – check.
But it’s still cream puff. There’s no getting-to-know-you, no depth to the cutesy caricature, no indelible impression left by the plot.
And next time, before the hero declares undying love for the heroine with whom he had just established relations, I want him to know the answers to some basic questions -- starting with 1) what are her favorite books, 2) her political affiliation, 3) does she believe in God, 4) what kind of music she listens to, 5) does she like Chinese food, 6) number of kids she like, 7) favorite movies, 8) her stand on capital punishment, 9) university she attended, 10) is she left-handed? and 11)boxers or briefs thongs or briefs?
Vice-versa with the heroine.
Because even if the H/h could survive days on cream puffs alone, they might wish their days were numbered.
Same with this book. It’s quirky, fluffy, peppy. The right ingredients are there. Sexual chemistry – check. Snappy dialogue – check. Feisty petite heroine – check. Lone-wolf of a hero – check.
But it’s still cream puff. There’s no getting-to-know-you, no depth to the cutesy caricature, no indelible impression left by the plot.
And next time, before the hero declares undying love for the heroine with whom he had just established relations, I want him to know the answers to some basic questions -- starting with 1) what are her favorite books, 2) her political affiliation, 3) does she believe in God, 4) what kind of music she listens to, 5) does she like Chinese food, 6) number of kids she like, 7) favorite movies, 8) her stand on capital punishment, 9) university she attended, 10) is she left-handed? and 11)
Vice-versa with the heroine.
Because even if the H/h could survive days on cream puffs alone, they might wish their days were numbered.
January 11, 2012
Debating about how many stars I should give this book. Due to life's intrusions, I could have been done with this book earlier than expected, but I finally finished reading it.
I liked the chemistry between Gideon and Joey. I wanted Gideon to be out of his emotional shell, and I'm glad to see that Joey has done it. Given that this is the last of the St. Claire brothers, I'm glad that all of them had found happiness as well as a certain family member.
All's well that ends well.
I liked the chemistry between Gideon and Joey. I wanted Gideon to be out of his emotional shell, and I'm glad to see that Joey has done it. Given that this is the last of the St. Claire brothers, I'm glad that all of them had found happiness as well as a certain family member.
All's well that ends well.
November 16, 2024
I have a weakness for these old mills and boons books with terrible male leads and female leads who are strong and independent but immediately swoon helplessly in the male leads presence. 😄 They're quick, easy reads. Like junk food, but for my brain. I've already forgotten most everything that happened here even though I've literally just put the book away, but such is my experience with most mills and boons books. Lol. The plot is just two of them antagonizing each other while some guy slashes their car tires in the background or something.
October 9, 2018
Now this one I really liked. It was a short, cute, drama free and super fast read. Give it a try if you feel like reading a quick, funny romance.
October 25, 2020
Everything seems to be “over the top” in these story: dialogues, emotions, reactions.... too much, too rushed out! Did not enjoy it 😔
July 2, 2025
Gideon St. Claire's life is emotionally repressed so has a hard time working with Joey McKinley who is fun loving. To make it difficult her twin is married to his twin.
August 20, 2011
Very touching to see the final St. Claire bachelor taken down by none other than his new sister-in-law. Gideon has more than met his match in the very fiesty Joey McKinley. Having her around, constantly shacking up his well ordered world, and well controlled emotions, sets Gideon on to the path of his downfall.
September 5, 2014
This was OK, but I prefer her historical romances - I don't think the characters work quite as well in a contemporary setting.
June 19, 2024
When I see a TBR prompt like “Bananapants,” my mind jumps to either old-school historicals and gothics or Harlequin Presents. I was a bit pinched for time at work this past month, so a quick category read seemed like just the escapist ticket. Taming the Last St. Claire is a book that I found highly entertaining specifically because I was reading it for craziness.
This book doesn’t reach the completely bananas plotting(see thread here: https://x.com/LynnAAR/status/99076490...) of another Harlequin Presents favorite, The Wilder Shores of Love, but it does have its moments. If you like uptight heroes being brought down to earth, you might enjoy this one. Gideon St. Claire is definitely the stuffed shirt of the family and he’s certainly pretty rigid when it comes to the family business.
Even though Gideon is a lawyer, his brother decides that it’s necessary to bring in an outside attorney to work for a month while said brother enjoys his honeymoon. So, enter Joey McKinley. Joey is 27, so only a few years out of law school, but instead of being an anxious associate trying to stay on top of student loans, she’s somehow a power player already. I’ve practiced law long enough in real life to know better, but I just went with it.
This is a partial review. You can find the complete text here: https://allaboutromance.com/book-revi...
This book doesn’t reach the completely bananas plotting(see thread here: https://x.com/LynnAAR/status/99076490...) of another Harlequin Presents favorite, The Wilder Shores of Love, but it does have its moments. If you like uptight heroes being brought down to earth, you might enjoy this one. Gideon St. Claire is definitely the stuffed shirt of the family and he’s certainly pretty rigid when it comes to the family business.
Even though Gideon is a lawyer, his brother decides that it’s necessary to bring in an outside attorney to work for a month while said brother enjoys his honeymoon. So, enter Joey McKinley. Joey is 27, so only a few years out of law school, but instead of being an anxious associate trying to stay on top of student loans, she’s somehow a power player already. I’ve practiced law long enough in real life to know better, but I just went with it.
This is a partial review. You can find the complete text here: https://allaboutromance.com/book-revi...
March 10, 2020
The plot was a little too obvious as we already saw it coming from the first book in the series. With no major plot twists, there was no incentive for the reader to read the whole book. The other two books in the series already gave us a hint about matching these two as a couple. They are both lawyers, both twins and had a little ego clash with the H solving before h does on who Richard Newman was committing adultery with when his wife was stalking the h's twin. The same guy again comes back in the plot so no new plot twists. The issue of H's mom being short changed by his dad who had been in love and divorcing comes back a full circle all over again.
June 14, 2017
Joey and Gideon. Where do I start? This book had great potential. It has this romantic suspense approach and then that gets totally sidetracked. The banter between them is witty but excessive. The chemistry is palpable but rushed. Joey and Gideon are in laws with their siblings married to each other. When she's called by Lucan his brother to help out he's not happy. They're complete opposites. Sparks fly and very soon they're in love.
The cover itself is wrong. Gideon is supposed to be blonde! Pick another of Ms. Mortimer's fantastic books.
The cover itself is wrong. Gideon is supposed to be blonde! Pick another of Ms. Mortimer's fantastic books.
January 30, 2021
Here we go (again): We have our tsundere / grumpy male protagonist featuring a feisty and frightfully competent yet virginal female protagonist. Of course we have our miscommunication, secret or twist at the end and some groveling by the man (and sometimes woman, I do like my groveling in a romance novel). This one is flavoured with a lawyer couple and extra overprotectiveness. Bonus for a red-haired female protagonist. I probably liked this one the best out of the trilogy - but not so much as to rate it an extra star compared to the others.
August 12, 2017
1.5 rounds up to two stars. Not the book for me. Possibly less exclamatory than the first in this linked series, but only just.
Here are what I feel are some representative excerpts
Here are what I feel are some representative excerpts
March 31, 2019
So very dull.
February 17, 2025
Aburrido
August 17, 2012
Llevaba semanas tratando de conseguir esta novela y despues de leerla me he quedado entre si me gusto o es solo para pasar el rato.
Es el tercer libro de la serie Aristócratas y tenemos a Gideon que es un hombre muy frio y que se siente atraído por Joey que esta medio loca.Bueno es un personaje muy simpático por momentos.De hecho la novela tiene sus ratos buenos pero como a la mitad ya no se sabia que iba a pasar todo resulto muy forzado.
Digo tuvieron intentos de dejarse llevar por la pasión y tener relaciones,pero a la hora de la verdad la escena quedo tan floja.Pero flojisima.Creo que ya Carole se había quedado sin la linea que seguir para continuar con los personajes y se fue por el lado mas fácil.El típico.Buena para pasar el rato pero es fácil de olvidar.Sin dudas no es la mejor de la serie.Algo como he dicho antes muy raro en Carole Mortimer que es una autora excelente.
Es el tercer libro de la serie Aristócratas y tenemos a Gideon que es un hombre muy frio y que se siente atraído por Joey que esta medio loca.Bueno es un personaje muy simpático por momentos.De hecho la novela tiene sus ratos buenos pero como a la mitad ya no se sabia que iba a pasar todo resulto muy forzado.
Digo tuvieron intentos de dejarse llevar por la pasión y tener relaciones,pero a la hora de la verdad la escena quedo tan floja.Pero flojisima.Creo que ya Carole se había quedado sin la linea que seguir para continuar con los personajes y se fue por el lado mas fácil.El típico.Buena para pasar el rato pero es fácil de olvidar.Sin dudas no es la mejor de la serie.Algo como he dicho antes muy raro en Carole Mortimer que es una autora excelente.
August 29, 2013
There were definitely some things I missed in this read, like how they fell in love with each other in a more consistent manner, I mean, they got married and fell in love with only weeks of being thrown together and they even disliked each other in the beggining. So I wasn´t convinced that their love was a all-time-being.
Also the "danger" in which they were put through was never really discussed and got resolved pretty quickly when convenient and left me wanting for more.
But surely the delicious read this book represents makes us able to overlook a lot of things. I particularly found Gideon the most interesting St. Clair and Joey as well. You just fall in love with these characters and cannot wait to see how they`ll put their fear aside and open themselves up to each other.
Also the "danger" in which they were put through was never really discussed and got resolved pretty quickly when convenient and left me wanting for more.
But surely the delicious read this book represents makes us able to overlook a lot of things. I particularly found Gideon the most interesting St. Clair and Joey as well. You just fall in love with these characters and cannot wait to see how they`ll put their fear aside and open themselves up to each other.
April 6, 2013
I don't have much to say about this book. I read it because I had read the other two in the series. I was expecting more sparks between the characters, but it was definitely more sedate than I thought it would have been.
That's not to say it wasn't enjoyable. The action threat was pretty quickly resolved with next to no confrontation. I appreciated it was more focused on the couple than the action, but a little confrontation would have been nice.
I'm not so sure about his way of telling her that he was in love with her at the end. It seemed a little too abrupt. But I enjoyed their vulnerabilities and the fact they got together.
That's not to say it wasn't enjoyable. The action threat was pretty quickly resolved with next to no confrontation. I appreciated it was more focused on the couple than the action, but a little confrontation would have been nice.
I'm not so sure about his way of telling her that he was in love with her at the end. It seemed a little too abrupt. But I enjoyed their vulnerabilities and the fact they got together.
June 9, 2021
Gideon St. Claire's life revolves around work—just the way he likes it. He's master of his emotions, and the women he dates never get glimpses of his home life beyond the stairs leading to his bedroom….
Feisty and fun loving, with the annoying knack of knowing just how to wind Gideon up, Joey McKinley is the sort of woman he avoids. How does he handle such enthusiasm? But when an old enemy of Joey's starts looking for revenge, Gideon is forced to keep watch over her—day and night.
Feisty and fun loving, with the annoying knack of knowing just how to wind Gideon up, Joey McKinley is the sort of woman he avoids. How does he handle such enthusiasm? But when an old enemy of Joey's starts looking for revenge, Gideon is forced to keep watch over her—day and night.
August 23, 2012
I must have liked this trilogy more than I thought as I zoomed through the 3 books in record time. I liked the repartee and the strong female figures. A bit too much sexual description but you can skip it.
July 19, 2014
This book lives from sexual tension. While reading you're always hoping for the two main characters to finally do "it".Really easy to read through in one take. It's a sexual book without the actual graphic description of sex..
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December 24, 2014Miniseries: The Scandalous St. Claires
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December 24, 2014Miniseries: The Scandalous St. Claires
May 19, 2013
Gideon St. Clare !!!! mmmmmm... My Beautiful Lord !!
December 19, 2013
yeah!!!! definetly my favourite st. claire !!!!
January 22, 2014
Neticede ikizler ikizlere aşık oldu ya, yazar çok mu düşünmüş diye bir an ben de düşündüm aslında.
August 29, 2015
Hmm... opposites definitely do attract!
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June 27, 2018Gideon St Claire's life revolves around work just the way he likes it. He's the master of his emotions, and the women he dates never get glimpses into his home life beyond the stairs leading to his bedroom Feisty and fun–loving, with the annoying knack of knowing just how to wind Gideon up, Joey McKinley is the sort of woman he avoids. How does he handle such enthusiasm? But when an old enemy of Joey's starts looking for revenge, Gideon's forced to keep watch over her day and night...
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews