Skylark

Company of Rogues #10

by Jo Beverley

She'd risk everything to save her son. He'd risk everything for a second chance...Not a day has gone by without Stephen Ball thinking of the alluring girl who stole his heart and then married another. Now that Lady Laura Skylark needs his help, he plans to protect her son-and then seize the fiery passion that still burns between them. As Laura and Stephen embark on a daring quest, they will find themselves on a dangerous journey into their most secret and sensual desires...

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Regency, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Regency Romance

390 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 4, 2004

About the author

Mary Josephine Dunn was born 22 September 1947 in Lancashire, England, UK. At the age of eleven she went to an all-girls boarding school, Layton Hill Convent, Blackpool. At sixteen, she wrote her first romance, with a medieval setting, completed in installments in an exercise book. From 1966 to 1970, she obtained a degree in English history from Keele University in Staffordshire, where she met her future husband, Ken Beverley. After graduation, they married on June 24, 1971. She quickly attained a position as a youth employment officer until 1976, working first in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, and then in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire.

In 1976, her scientist husband was invited to do post-doctoral research at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. When her professional qualifications proved not to be usable in the Canadian labour market, she raised their two sons and started to write her first romances.

Moved to Ottawa, in 1985 she became a founding member of the Ottawa Romance Writers’ Association, that her “nurturing community” for the next twelve years. The same year, she completed a regency romance, but it was promptly rejected by a number of publishers, and she settled more earnestly to learning the craft. In 1988, it sold to Walker, and was published as "Lord Wraybourne's Betrothed". She regularly appears on bestseller lists including the USA Today overall bestseller list, the New York Times, and and the Publishers Weekly list. She has been the recipient of numerous awards including the Golden Leaf, the Award of Excellence, the National Readers Choice, and a two Career Achievement awards from Romantic Times. She is also a five time winner of the RITA, the top award of the Romance Writers Of America, and a member of their Hall of Fame and Honor Roll.

Jo Beverley passed away on May 23, 2016 after a long battle with cancer.

Reviews

[Alba Turunen · Rating 4 out of 5]

3’5 Estrellas, pero se queda con las 4 porque al final me ha satisfecho y me ha parecido muy buena la explicación que da la autora al final en una nota.

Me apena mucho haber tardado tanto en leer el libro, pero circunstancias tan horribles como la falta de tiempo me han hecho imposible dedicarle lo que merecía. A pesar de todo agradezco que la última mitad me haya durado un suspiro porque es lo que más merece la pena en ésta historia.

En “La Alondra” tenemos el onceavo libro de los Pícaros, el que corresponde al serio y correcto parlamentario Stephen Ball, y a quien fue su amor de juventud, Laura. Laura y Stephen se criaron siendo vecinos y lo compartieron todo, cuando crecieron, el afecto de Stephen hacia ella fue creciendo y a nadie habría extrañado que se casaran, pero Stephen llegó tarde y Laura ya se había comprometido con Hal, el heredero de un condado.

Han pasado seis años y ahora Laura es viuda y tiene un niño de tres años; aunque lleva una buena vida, no se siente segura en casa de sus suegros, y por supuesto teme por la vida de su hijo, un niño tan pequeño y vizconde, del cual no sería fácil deshacerse para que otro heredara. Será una carta de sus padres quizás, la que haga que Laura gane tiempo para ella y el pequeño Harry, si puede alejarlos de los Gardeyne.

Laura también sospecha que la decisión de su suegro de que ella y el pequeño Harry pasen una temporada fuera de casa, no puede ser fortuita. El anciano acaba de recibir una carta que lo ha alarmado, y puede poner en peligro todo lo que este ha forjado. De modo que Laura hará todo lo posible por descubrir qué es lo que está pasando y en qué atañe a la vida de su hijo. La llegada de Stephen Ball de visita a su casa, hará que Laura decida partir hacia casa de sus padres inmediatamente.

Una vez Laura ha descubierto parte de lo que está pasando, hará partícipe a Stephen de sus inquietudes y sospechas sobre lo que está ocurriendo realmente, y por qué deben hacer algo para mantener a salvo a Harry. Stephen, como caballero que es, no vacilará en ningún momento en ayudar a Laura. Stephen tiene sus propios motivos para haber visitado a los Gardeyne, nunca olvidó a Laura, ni siquiera su humillante rechazo seis años antes; ha pasado casi un año de su viudez, y Stephen quiere saber si ésta vez puede conquistarla de nuevo, así que no le parecerá nada mal la aventura que Laura le propone.

Así es como Laura y Stephen se embarcarán en un viaje hacia la costa de Devon, cerca del castillo Crag Wyvern, donde ocurrió el libro “La novia del dragón”, y veremos de nuevo a David Kerslake o a Nicholas Delaney, entre otros Pícaros.

Como historia no puedo negar que ha estado muy, muy entretenida, sobre todo la segunda mitad, donde según pasabas los capítulos, aún no tienes ni pajolera idea de por dónde van los tiros, o qué se ha ingeniado Jo Beverley sobre los personajes que hay que espiar en el mismo. Por esto aplaudo el trabajo de la autora, y ha hecho que el libro sume puntos.

En cuanto al romance, me ha parecido algo pausadito y soso, no me ha emocionado demasiado, aunque no puedo negar que Stephen es un amor, pero me ha faltado algo de conflicto. El personaje de Laura sí puedo decir que me ha causado un poquito de rechazo, no es que me haya caído mal, es una mujer de su tiempo, criada por y para algo, y sabe cuál es el tipo de vida que se espera de ella, aún es joven, indisciplinada y descocada y Stephen la quiere por eso, pero también es una mujer vanidosa, que sabe de sus encantos propios y cómo usarlos, pero bueno, por encima de todo es madre, y son sus pensamientos sobre la seguridad de su hijo lo que más ha hecho empatizar con ella y su situación.

Al final el libro me ha convencido lo suficiente, ha tenido un misterio muy bien creado, ha estado entretenido, y ha sido muy divertido. Estoy segura de que si has leído otros libros de Jo Beverley o esta misma serie, éste libro no te dejará indiferente; no es de lo mejor que escribió Jo Beverley, pero sí de los que más he disfrutado de los Pícaros. Creo que el año próximo finiquitaré lo que queda de ésta serie que se ha publicado en España.

[Jacob Proffitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again, work stress has me writing this nearly a week after finishing it. Which means many of the details have faded. Fortunately, this is one in a long series and it's one you'll have a richer appreciation for if you've read the others. Which will give you enough to know what to expect. Stephen Ball has been present in a lot of the previous books as the MP they can count on to know the legalities and work the political/legal side of the situations the Rogues find themselves in. I've been hoping he'd get his own book and this didn't disappoint.

And I liked Laura as a match for him. She's bright and determined and a good foil for his inquisitive mind. Beverley illustrates their compatibility even as she displays the necessary differences that add spice to their relationship. I particularly like that she'll act as a lightening influence and pull him into society more, even as she can keep up with his serious pursuits. It's a good match, is what I'm trying to say.

It wasn't without frustrations in the plot, however. As with other supposedly smart Beverley protagonists, it seemed like they took forever to investigate what seemed to me to be obvious possibilities and pursue leads and question assumptions that seemed likely to provide forward momentum. That's what smart people do. It doesn't help, of course, that I saw the main reveal coming from the moment we met the relevant characters. Indeed, I kept looking for confirming evidence one way or another and the biggest tell that I was right was the lack of observations or details that would have been conclusive one way or another. Which felt like the author deliberately hiding things even though she was careful not to actually cheat.

Which makes this a solid four stars for the excellent protagonists and relationship in the romance.

A note about Steamy: This was average for the author and genre, but I don't remember an exact count. I was worried at one point that one of them would use sex as a manipulation to force the other's hand (because I could see the temptation), but that turned out extremely well and ended up illustrating the strength of the relationship rather than undermining it.

[Laurie (barksbooks) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book as an unabridged audio. Names and details may be a little wonky because I forgot to take notes and am relying on my crappy memory.

Laura is a widow with a three year old son. She's afraid to let her son out of her sight and secretly fears for his life as he stands to inherit Caldfort Estate. Her greedy brother-in-law's wife has just birthed a son so she has justification for her worries..

Into the picture comes Stephen. He is a long lost childhood friend who had once proposed to Laura. When Laura spies a letter stating that there may be another heir to the estate, she pairs up with Stephen to locate him in order to save her child from danger. This is where the book began to slow down and lose me. Laura, so very worried about her little child, decides to leave him with relatives because he whines that doesn't want to travel with her. Laura acquiesces after agonizing for a long minute and drops him off with the relatives. Huh? This makes no sense to me. Did I mention there is danger in their midst? Possibly the life ending kind? Did I mention the kid is three years old? Why on earth would you leave him because he got a little whiny? Promise him some candy and take that brat with you. She doesn't. Instead she tells one person the predicament and takes off. Now she's free to travel kid-less with Stephen who, now that's he's all grown up, successful, important and sexy, is irresistibly attractive to her. Convenient, much?

If you haven't noticed I found Laura difficult to like. One moment she seems intelligent and the next her head is in the clouds and she's sighing about how sexy she finds Stephen but fears she'll quickly tire of his quiet stability. Oh sigh and heaving bosoms what a horrible dilemma! How devastating it must be to find yourself falling for a man who will actually stick around and behave himself. Her honesty makes the love story a bit difficult to believe. Some thoughts really should be kept to oneself.

I also found the storytelling and pacing tedious. Laura and Stephen have spent the last million pages snooping through correspondence and listening through doors. That's pretty much it. OK I'll admit I might have dozed off here and there and I could have missed something exciting but I really don't think so. This was one of those books that felt like it would never end.

Towards the end there is a surprise relationship that is revealed and I can't say more without spoiling the one interesting thing about the book. I really wish the author had taken the time to write a novel about this pair instead of wishy-washy Laura. Final thoughts? This was boring, standard stuff and not one of Beverley's best.

[Dangermousie · Rating 1 out of 5]

What an utter waste of time and print. This book has little plot, and an utterly shallow and unlikeable heroine, who still fares better than the hero, who doesn't even have enough personality to dislike.

The only good thing about it was the glimpse into Nicholas and Eleanor's (An Arranged Marriage) lives. This is too dull to even be an entertaining trainwreck and I finished only due to being a completist.

Why, Beverley, why?

[Mary Vilarino · Rating 1 out of 5]

In one word - excruciating! Reading this book was like watching paint dry. Painful. Not even the characters could save this book let alone the plot. Relief was finally granted this reader when I finished it.

[Karen Darling · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was dull and a bit confusing.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story. The hero and heroine knew each other in childhood, but she married someone else. He wanted her even then but botched his proposal and they've been avoiding each other since. Now she's a widow with a small son, who is heir to a title, and worried about what could be just accidents except that there are so many of them. And the hero, her old friend, shows up at the house. He's now an attorney and a reformist member of Parliament, so she trusts him enough to tell him her worries. And things spin from there. It's a good read and I liked it a whole lot.

[May Mostly Romance · Rating 2 out of 5]

แล้วโจก็กลับมาเขียนเรื่องของสมาชิกใน TCR ที่เป็นสมาชิกดั้งเดิมเสียที คราวนี้เป็นทีของไมลล์ซึ่งเป็นนักการเมืองหนุ่มอนาคตไกลมาก ในอดีตไมลล์รู้ตัวว่ารักลอร่าเพื่อนของน้องสาวช้าเกินไป เมื่อเขารู้ซึ้งถึงความรู้สึกของตัวเอง เธอก็แต่งงานไปแล้วกับขุนนางสูงศักดิ์แทน ดังนั้นหลังจากสามีของเธอตาย ไมลล์รอจนครบเวลาไว้ทุกข์หนึ่งปี และออกเดินทางเพื่อมาพบเธอ และขอเธอแต่งงานในที่สุด แต่เมื่อได้เผชิญหน้า สิ่งแรกที่ลอร่าเรียกร้องจากเขาก็คือความช่วยเหลือ นั่นเพราะลูกชายของเธอที่ทุกคนคิดว่าคือทายาทในการสืบต่อสมบัติทั้งหมดของ สามีผู้จากไปของเธอ อาจจะไม่ใช่ทายาทที่แท้จริง และมีใครบางคนอาจจะพยายามฆาตกรรมลูกชายของเธอ

เรื่องนี้นางเอกไม่ค่อยน่ารักเท่าไหร แต่พระเอกขอบอกว่า to die for ก็เลยทำให้คะแนนขึ้นมาอีกนิดที่ 63

[Kaitlyn Dunnett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice to see previously introduced characters again, but this one was rather slow-paced.

[Bev Walkling]

Not my usual time period of history but I quite enjoyed the interaction between the main characters.

[hima · Rating 1 out of 5]

next time i think about buying a random lot of books off of ebay someone slap me

[Elis Madison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Laura Gardeyne, a/k/a Lady Skylark, is a widow, required to live at her husband's family estate with her controlling father-in-law and woolheaded mother-in-law, so that her son, the all-important heir, can grow up on the family estate, learning the lands and the responsibilities of his station. After a series of odd comments and strange mishaps, Laura begins to believe that her brother-in-law, who lives nearby and serves as the vicar, is trying to kill her boy



Then she stumbles on new information that changes everything.



Stephen Ball, MP, once wanted to marry Laura, but she laughed at his proposal.

He turns up on the doorstep just a few weeks before Laura's mourning period is over, to talk politics with her father-in-law.



He senses something isn't right, and finds himself called upon to play hero.

This is definitely not one of JoBev's strongest books. The characters were interesting and there's enough story to keep you turning pages, but there are a lot of loose ends left untied. It was never truly proven, for example, whether Laura was right about her brother-in-law. There's plenty of circumstantial evidence, but no smoking gun. Also, I can't say I felt much chemistry between the characters. It was an awfully "thinky" relationship.

And if you read the book and figured out what Labellelle is an anagram FOR, I'm beggin' ya to share. Seriously. We're told it is one, and maybe it's obvious and I'm stupid, but I never did figure it out.



Long story short--2.5 stars.

[Sombra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Otro libro de esta autora que me ha encantado. Y a diferencia de los demás, no tiene una historia oscura ni "dura" para ninguno de los protagonistas. La trama de misterio que les envuelve te tiene todo el libro en vilo, y, aunque al final se resuelve de una forma que no te esperas, todo queda bien atado y no te queda insatisfecha. Sobre Stephen y Laura, solo decir que me ha gustado mucho como ha llevado su relación. Amigos desde pequeños y obligados a separarse por el casamiento de ella con un Dandi, vuelven a retomar esa amistad por la preocupación de Laura por su hijo y es ahí cuando vuelven a conocerse y se enamoran de las personas que son ahora y que cuando eran jóvenes no habrían podido disfrutar. De los mejores sin duda, aunque el final haya sido un poco precipitado.

[Margaret Hardie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just don't think I will read any more of Jo Beverly's books. I like them, they hold my interest, but then it is like putting a dog doo in a chocolate cake. There is always something! Ugh! Unfortunately with this book the whole mystery ending was the 'doo' . . . a disappointment after I had read the entire book! Since I have read two of her books, I should not have been surprised. That is just the way author rolls. My fault.

[Tanya 313 · Rating 2 out of 5]

So boring. 2 stars because I did like Laura. Stephen was very milquetoast. This book could have been a hundred pages shorter and all the better for it. The romance definitely took a back seat to the mystery which normally I don’t mind, but the way the mystery played out was so dry, so you didn’t get a good romance or a good mystery. Disappointed.

[Myfanwy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Like An Arranged Marriage, Miss Beverley starts with an interesting premise and characters but bogs down the whole thing with a deeply convoluted plot that makes no sense and takes attention away from the developing romance.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too heavy on the mystery plot, too light on the romance

[Ana · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm sorry but I found it boring.

[Bia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Esta novela está muy bien contada y llena de datos nuevos de la sociedad inglesa en aquella época. Otra vez, se me hizo demasiado larga, sobre todo por la gran concentración de pensamientos de los protas. Pero en el fondo me alegre de conocerlos. Sthephan me encantó. No sé qué tienen esos tipos cerrados, serios y callados que llaman tanto mi atención jaja. Él es muy inteligente, y eso se nota desde los primeros libros, lo que nunca pensé es que fueran tan comedido e inseguro (claro que con el desplante que le hizo Laura, jaja pues, ¿normal no? Jaja) De todas formas lo ame. Él la espero por 6 años, y no dudó en correr a su rescate, a pesar de que ella había cambiado mucho.
Laura me pareció un poco ¿neurótica? Sobre todo con respecto a la seguridad de su hijo. Pero bueno, al final tenía razón jaja. Ella es un espíritu libre contenido por las etiquetas y las reglas que impone la sociedad. Muchas veces coincidí con ella, sobre todo cuando se reía de sí misma, al imaginar que alguien oía sus pensamientos “impuros” jaja. Ella solo quería ser libre y que no la pusieran en una casilla. Ella quería ir a fiestas y cocteles, pero eso no la hacía frívola, quería jugar al ajedrez y hablar de política, sin que la consideraran una radical, quería tener aventuras y estar en calma, sin que eso la convirtiera en una loca.
Esta novela va de eso, de las etiquetas que a veces nosotros mismos nos ponemos, o que nos pone la sociedad, y de la felicidad que se encuentra al salir del molde, y perseguir a nuestro corazón.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Copyright 2004. My book is from this date. This was in my rotation back then, but I found my memory was fuzzy on the details.
This is 10th in the series, but can be read as a standalone. Characters & situations from other books make appearances (including Nick).

I really liked the heroine & Stephen is one of the Rogues, so he's been popping up in the other stories.

The story was very interesting. Laura has been widowed almost a year & she's living with her 3 year old son on her father in law's estate. Her son is the heir to it, but she suspects her brother in law (who is a vicar!) is trying to kill her son for the title & the riches it holds. This actually was a storyline in a previous JB book, "The Christmas Angel".

Stephen is a childhood friend who asked her to marry him AFTER she already agreed to marry the other guy. He decides he better move quick before she comes out of mourning & someone else snaps her up.
While he's visiting a mysterious letter arrives for her father in law insinuating the real heir is still alive. Laura gets help from Stephen to solve the mystery.

I was really enjoying this up until mid book. Then it started dragging. The action picked back up, so 4 stars. Sex didn't happen until Chapter 41 of a 45 chapter book.
I would say this is still one of the better stories in the series.

[LadyAileen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ho letto molti libri di quest'autrice e devo dire che non sono mai rimasta così delusa come con questo.
L'inizio sembrava catturare immediatamente l'attenzione ma con il procedere della storia, ho cominciato ad annoiarmi e a desiderare che finisse presto, poi c'è stata una ripresa nella parte finale.
Lo stile narrativo è scorrevole ma c'è pochissima azione questo perché gran parte del romanzo ruota attorno ai due protagonisti barricati in una locanda per scoprire se il vero erede dei Caldfort sia vivo o meno.
La storia d'amore sembra basarsi soprattutto sull'attrazione ma in realtà Stephen ha sempre desiderato sposare Laura ma non essendoci riuscito in passato, ora vuole ritentare. E sinceramente, non sono riuscita a comprendere pienamente per quale motivo la protagonista abbia deciso di sposare Lord Caldfort. Mi è sembrata una spiegazione nebulosa.
Per quel che riguarda il livello di sensualità è alto ma niente di volgare o noioso ma nemmeno quello mi ha coinvolto particolarmente.
Eppure le vicende sono ambientate in Inghilterra nel mio periodo preferito ma nemmeno quello è riuscito a placare il mio scontento.

[Dianne Lowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is story of Rogue Stephen Ball and Laura Whitcome Gardyne(widow and childhood friend. Stephen wants to court Laura, but finds her upset over fears for her young son Harry, the heir to the Viscountcy. Stephen agrees to help Laura solve the mystery of a letter her father-in-law received. Stephen arranges to bring in the Rouges,especially Nicholas Delaney and his wife Elenor. Stephen and Laura set off the a sea coast town to track down and identify the writer of the letter. During this adventure, they realize they are falling in love.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like Jo Beverley gives many winks in her books to the fact that they barely fit in the romance genre. They are all romantic, certainly, but the historical details are so well crafted into the stories, and the plots so individual and unique with rich multidimensional characters, that she very nearly catapults herself out of that category. Skylark is more of a mystery thriller, and I loved how cerebral the main characters were. Their hang ups were well thought out and not tiresome. The witty banter was fabulous and I will probably read this again at some point.

[Karen Lawsing · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel was outside of the bell shaped curve for regency romance. Jo Beverly tackled some sensitive issues of child abuse, same sex relationships, slavery and a feminist take on sex. Laura’s growth and acceptance of herself with virtue and vice were interesting. I found, however, that despite her new found confidence, she still indulged in mind-reading. As did her her male protagonist. I grew weary of daisy plucking loves me, loves me not. I do enjoy the enlightened attitude of the Company of Rogues.

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can totally see where people would have problems with parts of this book. I enjoyed this and after it, I wanted to go watch Tom Jones (featuring Alfred Finney). However, there are a couple of things that bothered me, and the pace was set rather slow. However the writing is so good that I didn't notice it. Not one of Jo Beverley's I'd start with but I had fun.

[Dewey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Tedious! Can hardly claim to have 'read' this book since I skimmed the last half. We know how romance fiction ends, so the mystery or dilemma needs to be interesting. This one started out good but spent endless chapters of drawn out intrigue and suspense. Hard to call this one a 'romance' since there was only one love scene and it wasn't up to the usual expectations.

[Sarah Z · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great intrigue, decent couple, seemed a bit rushed at the end compared to the rest of the book.

[May Grider · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book might be just for completists (or completionists??). If you feel that you must read every book Jo Beverley wrote, go for it. Don’t *start* reading Jo Beverley here, though.

[Mary Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good read with a great plot. I couldn’t put it down!

[Birgit Hogan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story of second chances