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Langley Family Trilogy #3
Take Me
Jared, Viscount Ravenswood, has no choice but to honor the deathbed wish of his ailing servant. All she asks is that Jared introduce her soon-to-be orphaned daughter to the notorious and reclusive Calantha, Duchess of Clairborne. No ordinary request, for this is no ordinary child. She is, in fact, the key to the Duchess' most private secrets and to Jared's own past—one that has branded him Lord Beast among the ton.
But when the Viscount meets the Duchess, he finds not the pitiless dowager he expected, but a lovely and wary angel—survivor of a brutal marriage left now with only her roses and the breathtaking mystery that is her life. For Jared, to solve that puzzle is to fall in love, to make Cali believe in the impossible, and to follow the promise that comes with the most intimate whisper of all.
But when the Viscount meets the Duchess, he finds not the pitiless dowager he expected, but a lovely and wary angel—survivor of a brutal marriage left now with only her roses and the breathtaking mystery that is her life. For Jared, to solve that puzzle is to fall in love, to make Cali believe in the impossible, and to follow the promise that comes with the most intimate whisper of all.
321 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
26 people are currently reading
232 people want to read
About the author
Lucy Monroe
607 books1,567 followersI write spicy romance books that end in an HEA. Contemporary romance, historical romance, paranormal romance…I write it all. The two things my books all have in common is lots of emotion and spice. Last year, I fell in love with a new subgenre: mafia romance. Since I write what I love to read, I started a new standalone series, Syndicate Rules where you’ll meet over the top alpha heroes in the Italian and Greek mafias as well as the Irish mob. There are arranged marriages, forced marriages, enemies to lovers, stalkers, forced proximity and lots of mafia intrigue. Morally gray is my new favorite color.
Follow me on BookBub for alerts on my next release: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lucy-...
I’ve been published a while and most of my 90+ books have hit the Nielson Bookscan bestseller list, a few ended up on the USA Today bestseller list and some even hit national bestseller lists in the UK and Australia. My books have been translated into numerous languages and are for sale in dozens of countries around the world. I’ve won awards and been published with most of the big houses in New York, but my greatest achievement is touching readers’ hearts. When I hear from a reader who got caught up in one of my books, I know I’m doing what I’m meant to do.
I love writing emotionally deep stories with snappy dialogue and solid plots. I’m more grateful than I’ll ever be able to express that so many readers have taken my stories into their hearts and put my books on their reread and keeper shelves.
Follow me on BookBub for alerts on my next release: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lucy-...
I’ve been published a while and most of my 90+ books have hit the Nielson Bookscan bestseller list, a few ended up on the USA Today bestseller list and some even hit national bestseller lists in the UK and Australia. My books have been translated into numerous languages and are for sale in dozens of countries around the world. I’ve won awards and been published with most of the big houses in New York, but my greatest achievement is touching readers’ hearts. When I hear from a reader who got caught up in one of my books, I know I’m doing what I’m meant to do.
I love writing emotionally deep stories with snappy dialogue and solid plots. I’m more grateful than I’ll ever be able to express that so many readers have taken my stories into their hearts and put my books on their reread and keeper shelves.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
January 30, 2019
Finished it in one sitting. Need I say more?
Hero was scarred honorable man and heroine was known as ‘the angel’ in ‘ton’. So it reminded me of classic beauty and beast theme. I loved the twists and turns the story took. Heroine was a kind hearted woman with compassion and spunk. I loved how she came out of the numb shell and reinvented herself after years of abuse from her now late husband. Loved the secondary characters too.
Epilogue was lovely.
Recommended to all who loves a good historical fiction.
Hero was scarred honorable man and heroine was known as ‘the angel’ in ‘ton’. So it reminded me of classic beauty and beast theme. I loved the twists and turns the story took. Heroine was a kind hearted woman with compassion and spunk. I loved how she came out of the numb shell and reinvented herself after years of abuse from her now late husband. Loved the secondary characters too.
Epilogue was lovely.
Recommended to all who loves a good historical fiction.
April 1, 2011
This is a lovely romance, if you don't mind some very cheesy villains and a completely rushed ending.
Over and over you see this in romance novels. Authors spend years learning how to craft a sexy hero and a likeable heroine, but they don't care in the least if the villain has real feelings, a real motive, or even if the final showdown has any believability.
I loved Calantha so much. She was a heroine who had been hurt in a first marriage, which is very common. But this time it was different. Cali was hurt not because of what was done to her -- but because she failed to prevent another woman from being hurt. I really liked the way her feelings of shame and guilt were hidden beneath the icy perfection of her great beauty.
I liked Jared a lot too. He was a big, tough bear of a man with a scarred face, but underneath he's gentle and caring. The way he teaches Cali to trust and depend on him is really touching.
I won't talk about the villain, because of spoilers. But I have to say the whole situation of someone being out to "get" Cali and her cute little daughter was totally phony. And the resolution just came out of nowhere. And the whole "detective story" part of this romance just didn't work for me.
I gave this five stars for the romance -- just be aware the mystery is like two stars. If that.
Over and over you see this in romance novels. Authors spend years learning how to craft a sexy hero and a likeable heroine, but they don't care in the least if the villain has real feelings, a real motive, or even if the final showdown has any believability.
I loved Calantha so much. She was a heroine who had been hurt in a first marriage, which is very common. But this time it was different. Cali was hurt not because of what was done to her -- but because she failed to prevent another woman from being hurt. I really liked the way her feelings of shame and guilt were hidden beneath the icy perfection of her great beauty.
I liked Jared a lot too. He was a big, tough bear of a man with a scarred face, but underneath he's gentle and caring. The way he teaches Cali to trust and depend on him is really touching.
I won't talk about the villain, because of spoilers. But I have to say the whole situation of someone being out to "get" Cali and her cute little daughter was totally phony. And the resolution just came out of nowhere. And the whole "detective story" part of this romance just didn't work for me.
I gave this five stars for the romance -- just be aware the mystery is like two stars. If that.
February 2, 2025
This is one of those stories where I wish you could leave negative stars. The way the hero and his family treated the poor FMC was so disgusting it made me hate the first two books after really enjoying them because all these characters were truly pieces of shit. The way they treated her after she was clearly framed was unforgivable and they literally did NOTHING worthy of getting her forgiveness, yet she gave it with no thought. It was even more frustrating that the FMC had no back bone and no self respect! I HATED this story and I am so unbelievably disappointed with the last installment that had so much hope. I cannot express how much I hated this book. Worst story I’ve read in a long time.
May 27, 2025
This is an oldie but a goodie. One of the classic mass market romances that got me hooked on the genre as a teen and young adult.
Calantha and Jared are sweet and scarred. Their love story is very sweet.
Calantha and Jared are sweet and scarred. Their love story is very sweet.
July 28, 2011
Of the three books, this is my favorite. I was actually curious about Jared, Thea’s twin and Irisa’s half brother. He is called “Lord Beast” by the ton due to the scars he bears from saving Irisa from a wolf attack when they were teenagers. He has his own estates and stays away from London society and cares not one whit about what they think of him. After he learns what his father did to his and Thea’s mother, he wants nothing more to do with his sire. So we pick up in Take Me after his father and stepmother have left London for an extended time to hopefully downplay the gossip that is sure to abound when the family scandal is let out.
Calantha is a widowed duchess, experiencing freedom for the past four yours after the death of her abusive husband. She’s closed herself off to all feeling, knowing she’ll never marry again. But when Jared seeks her out, shows interest in her, her heart begins to thaw, and especially more so when she finds out that he’s the one who took in her friend and former servant Mary when the girl disappeared from her home years before. But then she realizes that Jared sought her out only because Mary had asked him to bring her daughter, Hannah, to Calantha, to The Angel, as the ton calls her. Their attraction to one another keeps growing despite the circumstances and she finds herself wanting what she’s never had before, and they eventually marry so that they both can take care of Hannah.
But when Hannah is nearly kidnapped, all evidence points to Calantha and Jared and his family, all of whom she has come to love, look on her with suspicion, except for Irisa, who never doubts her innocence. This breaks Calantha’s heart because she trusts Jared completely and he can’t seem to have the same faith in her. As the entire family hunts down the villain, Calantha once again has to harden her heart with that regal duchess air she does well because she knows it will break her if she allows Jared to burrow any further into her life.
This book was so much more moving than the other two. I actually became misty-eyed several times at scenes dealing with Hannah and Calantha and Jared and then Jared’s realization of how he hurt Calantha with his doubts. And the scenes when Calantha see and touch Jared’s scars for the first time are wonderfully emotional.
See my complete review at http://www.goodbadandunread.com
Calantha is a widowed duchess, experiencing freedom for the past four yours after the death of her abusive husband. She’s closed herself off to all feeling, knowing she’ll never marry again. But when Jared seeks her out, shows interest in her, her heart begins to thaw, and especially more so when she finds out that he’s the one who took in her friend and former servant Mary when the girl disappeared from her home years before. But then she realizes that Jared sought her out only because Mary had asked him to bring her daughter, Hannah, to Calantha, to The Angel, as the ton calls her. Their attraction to one another keeps growing despite the circumstances and she finds herself wanting what she’s never had before, and they eventually marry so that they both can take care of Hannah.
But when Hannah is nearly kidnapped, all evidence points to Calantha and Jared and his family, all of whom she has come to love, look on her with suspicion, except for Irisa, who never doubts her innocence. This breaks Calantha’s heart because she trusts Jared completely and he can’t seem to have the same faith in her. As the entire family hunts down the villain, Calantha once again has to harden her heart with that regal duchess air she does well because she knows it will break her if she allows Jared to burrow any further into her life.
This book was so much more moving than the other two. I actually became misty-eyed several times at scenes dealing with Hannah and Calantha and Jared and then Jared’s realization of how he hurt Calantha with his doubts. And the scenes when Calantha see and touch Jared’s scars for the first time are wonderfully emotional.
See my complete review at http://www.goodbadandunread.com
June 4, 2015
Ik heb de Nederlandstalige versie gelezen ; Candlelight Historische roman 692 - Vertrouw mij .
Het is een belle en het beest verhaal wat ik meestal heel erg leuk vindt maar op de een of andere manier "pakte" dit verhaal mij niet zo . Misschien omdat er wel erg veel tekst was met onzekerheid over gevoelens waardoor vooral het middenstuk erg langzaam las .
Het is een belle en het beest verhaal wat ik meestal heel erg leuk vindt maar op de een of andere manier "pakte" dit verhaal mij niet zo . Misschien omdat er wel erg veel tekst was met onzekerheid over gevoelens waardoor vooral het middenstuk erg langzaam las .
December 6, 2023
Nope. Just ... nope. I was enjoying this book and I loved Cali's fury at Jared and his family when she saw that they doubted her innocence in the attempts to kill Hannah. When she jumped into bed with him anyway, I was done. DNF
December 24, 2024
I wanted to like Regency romance Take Me by Lucy Monroe, I really did. The book seems to have good intentions. The heroine, Calantha, is a widow who was battered in her first marriage. When she is introduced Monroe provides some insight into what it took for her to survive, how the marriage damaged her psyche, and how she moves forward in the shadow of her past.
Unfortunately the book does not do this topic justice. Calantha's character arc consists of her learning to not mind when her love interest, Jared, treats her badly, scares her, believes that she might be a child murderer, refuses to impart important information to her because that would require them putting off having sex, and is generally a jerk -- but not as much of a jerk as her first, more physically abusive husband, so it's okay.
Calantha's virginity coming into her marriage with Jared also struck a wrong note. I understand that it is practically a requirement that Regency romance heroines are virgins, but it made little sense against her back story. We are told that her first husband refused to have sex with her as a method of destroying her self-esteem. From a character-development point of view, it is certainly an easier journey for a woman to learn to enjoy sex if she was not previously sexually assaulted -- but I still could not suspend my disbelief here.
Finally, there is a kidnapping very early in this book. If you are a regular reader of reviews on my blog, A Middle-Aged Divorcee Writes Smut (18+) https://m-adws.blogspot.com/2021/12/r..., you know that kidnappings in Regency romances always, always make me roll my eyes. But since this one came so early, I thought perhaps it was just a way to tick off this plot point and move on. Alas, no, the last third of the book is devoted to a different kidnapping.
This is one to skip.
Unfortunately the book does not do this topic justice. Calantha's character arc consists of her learning to not mind when her love interest, Jared, treats her badly, scares her, believes that she might be a child murderer, refuses to impart important information to her because that would require them putting off having sex, and is generally a jerk -- but not as much of a jerk as her first, more physically abusive husband, so it's okay.
Calantha's virginity coming into her marriage with Jared also struck a wrong note. I understand that it is practically a requirement that Regency romance heroines are virgins, but it made little sense against her back story. We are told that her first husband refused to have sex with her as a method of destroying her self-esteem. From a character-development point of view, it is certainly an easier journey for a woman to learn to enjoy sex if she was not previously sexually assaulted -- but I still could not suspend my disbelief here.
Finally, there is a kidnapping very early in this book. If you are a regular reader of reviews on my blog, A Middle-Aged Divorcee Writes Smut (18+) https://m-adws.blogspot.com/2021/12/r..., you know that kidnappings in Regency romances always, always make me roll my eyes. But since this one came so early, I thought perhaps it was just a way to tick off this plot point and move on. Alas, no, the last third of the book is devoted to a different kidnapping.
This is one to skip.
August 2, 2019
I rather enjoyed this book, more so than the first 2 in the series. It was page-turning from beginning to end. Both main characters, Jared and Cali, have had to overcome their own battles from the past which make them work so well together. They are both stubborn, but willing to sacrifice everything to work towards a common goal. This book definitely has my heart.
May 27, 2017
I loved reading about the siblings and their prospective loves that accepted them despite their families past and helped them understand love and that everyone deserves to be accepted and loved despite their families secrets and past.
March 14, 2021
The end of The Langley family trilogy.
An emotional read following the elder brother Jared and Calantha
An emotional read following the elder brother Jared and Calantha
November 25, 2022
I love it
April 16, 2018
Love it
This is the amazing final book of the Langley family series that tells the story of 3 siblings. Take me is about Jared, Viscount Ravenswood and head of the Langley family.
Jared use his 6 foot of "oversized " muscles frame, scar in his face to keep the world at bay. But the Angel could always see beyond the facade.
After a disastrous marriage, Calantha decided never to remarry and despite been known as the Angel, due to her amazing beauty, she makes the effort to remain cold to all around her, in the background observing life but not participating.
I won't say more but I promise you won't regret given this book a chance. The scene of Lucas teaching Calantha to kiss in the garden is so erotic ( in a romantic wait). Highly recommend it
This is the amazing final book of the Langley family series that tells the story of 3 siblings. Take me is about Jared, Viscount Ravenswood and head of the Langley family.
Jared use his 6 foot of "oversized " muscles frame, scar in his face to keep the world at bay. But the Angel could always see beyond the facade.
After a disastrous marriage, Calantha decided never to remarry and despite been known as the Angel, due to her amazing beauty, she makes the effort to remain cold to all around her, in the background observing life but not participating.
I won't say more but I promise you won't regret given this book a chance. The scene of Lucas teaching Calantha to kiss in the garden is so erotic ( in a romantic wait). Highly recommend it
November 15, 2008
Lucy Monroe is a master storyteller and this book, Take ME (and what a title) is no exception. It's full of tension, drama and heart! It's so obvious to the reader that this author feels deeply about her characters. Each time I pick up one of her books, I'm amazed how she personally touches my heart and those of her fans. Thanks Lucy for an incredible historical series Tempt Me, Touch Me and Take Me. Bravo!
Romantic Times rates Take Me 4 1/2 stars. Romance Junkies has given it a great review along with reviews posted on Barnes and Noble.
Romantic Times rates Take Me 4 1/2 stars. Romance Junkies has given it a great review along with reviews posted on Barnes and Noble.
September 13, 2011
This book reminded me somewhat of the fairy tale Beauty and the Beast. She is of course a little too perfect in everyone elses eyes but hers. He is scarred from a wolf attack and is called Lord Beast not only for his looks but also for his behavior. To me is seemed a little too easy for them to fall for each other and it happened way too quick. I really liked the mystery involved in the story. I can usually figure out who done it but with this one I really wasn't sure until it was revealed. Overall I enjoyed this book and will look to see what else this author has written.
September 3, 2014
Take Me" is a beautiful story of two tortured people who find trust, love and forgiveness in the midst of hate and envy! Calantha and Jared suffer because one is considered an incomparable beauty and the other a beast because of his scarred face. The Angel and The Beast find their love for each while mistreatment, miscommunication and misunderstanding abound! With the support of family and old retainers these two hearts mend and unite to complete the Langley trilogy. A truly enjoyable series with breathtaking book covers!
September 13, 2016
Nice quick read. The young Duchess of Clairborne, Calantha, has been widowed by the Duke's untimely death, much to her relief. The Duke was an abuser and she had suffered during the marriage. She meets Jared, Viscount Ravenswood, stirring unexpected feelings in them both. A small child ties them together in unexpected ways.
August 15, 2014
I thought that this was the best of the Langley trilogy. It was a touchingly emotional story about scarred people finding help with each other. It was also fun to see the characters from the previous books interacting. I don't like the "evil relative" plot, but I liked the book overall
June 18, 2012
I was curious about Jared and he didn't disappoint and I felt more of Calantha's emotions that I did the other heroines in this series. Overall, this was my favorite of the three books in this series.
May 16, 2008
No me gustó que confiara tan poco en ella. Pudo haber sido mejor.
May 11, 2008
Good Book
February 4, 2010
last book in the Langley Family series. Great series!!
January 3, 2015
A fun addition to your shelf of Bodice Rippers Involving a Raven-Something.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews