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Compass Club #4
Beyond a Wicked Kiss
When the new Duke of Westphal and Ria Ashby, the headmistress of a ladies academy, team up to find a missing student, their investigation leads them into a secret society where passion and power distract them from their mission. Original.
441 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 1, 2004
About the author
Jo Goodman
66 books483 followersTo find characters to illustrate my first family saga, I cut out models from the Sears catalogue. I was in fourth grade, but it was a start. In seventh grade I wrote a melodrama about two orphan sisters, one of whom was pregnant. There was also a story about a runaway girl with the unlikely name of Strawberry and one about mistaken identities and an evil blind date. My supportive, but vaguely concerned parents, sighed with relief when I announced I was going to write children's books. They bought me an electric typewriter and crossed their fingers, but somehow PASSION'S BRIDE came out. No one was really surprised.
I graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a major in biology and a minor in chemistry and some notion that I would do marine research. Years of competitive swimming didn't help me anticipate seasickness. A career change seemed in order. I began working with adolescents and families, first as a childcare worker and later, after graduating from West Virginia University with a master's degree in counseling, as a therapist. I am currently the executive director of a child caring/mental health agency and find my work and my writing often compliment each other. One grounds me in reality and the other offers a break from it.
I graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a major in biology and a minor in chemistry and some notion that I would do marine research. Years of competitive swimming didn't help me anticipate seasickness. A career change seemed in order. I began working with adolescents and families, first as a childcare worker and later, after graduating from West Virginia University with a master's degree in counseling, as a therapist. I am currently the executive director of a child caring/mental health agency and find my work and my writing often compliment each other. One grounds me in reality and the other offers a break from it.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
dnf-too-early-to-mark-it-read
December 19, 2025The inn at Gillhollow was not without certain creature comforts, one of whom crawled into West's bed in the middle of the night and wrapped herself around him. He allowed her to pleasure him with her mouth and hands, then reciprocated in kind, but would not mount her. This refusal nettled his companion, for she made no secret that she wanted a stiff, hard one in her pocket. Still, West was of no mind to explain that it was not his habit to risk populating this shire, or any other, with his bastards. In the end she flounced from the room, and he did not begrudge her lifting the coin lying at his bedside. Her technique was smooth, but she was no adept like himself.
This was so unbelievably off putting I actually shuddered. With words like 'creature' and 'crawl' I was thinking bed bugs and I had to re-listen to the paragraph to understand.
I don't even know what this is supposed to do. All her other heroes in this series had either been celibate a long time or were from the moment they met their heroines.
He 'reciprocated in kind'? If you'll excuse me while I wash my eyes and mouth (power of suggestion) with bleach. Just because you say it all 'proper', doesn't take away from the fact he just gave oral to a random prostitute.
ew.
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🕮⋆˚࿔✎𓂃 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬
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January 1, 2024
Loved the entire Compass Club series and West's book was an extremely strong finish. The only thing I would have liked to have seen was more of the guys together there at the end. A scene where the guys are together with their ladies having a good time together. Maybe Goodman will do a Christmas ebook with them all, that would be fun. Awesome read and series!
November 11, 2009
This last romance of the Compass Club series was definitely enhanced by reading the other 3 stories in quick sequence (actually while listening to them while painting projects) I know some of the reviews have been scathing about the plot revolving around the Ria's school being a front for the Bishop's sexual abuse of young women. Yes, it was pretty graphic but the story between West and Ria was actually in my estimation the most romantic of the series. West, like all the men of the club is terrific. The scenes of the men together are great fun to read. Ria was the most endearing of the heroines. She had an approach to her relationship with West that was refreshingly "non angsty" compared to some of the baggage the other heroines in the series had. I agree with one of the other reviews that a group epilogue would have been wonderful but one can still imagine the new families of the club would have a close knit and fun filled future. I am a new fan of Jo Goodman.
March 4, 2017
uhh, this one read a little too much like a horror film rather than a regency romance for my tastes...
December 17, 2023
**Most of my reviews contain detailed Content Notes (including CW/TW) sections, which may include spoilers. I have tried to mark them appropriately, but please use caution.**
Audio (Jenny Sterlin)
4.25/5
Summary: Just before his estranged father’s funeral (and suddenly finding out he is actually legitimate and now a duke), West is asked to help find a missing teenager by Ria, a woman with whom he has a childhood connexion. Ria is the headmistress of a girls school and as the two investigate, they become embroiled in a variety of plots.
Stats: HR - Regency, M/F, open door, part of a series, should be read with the other stories but not necessarily in order.
Notes: I really like Jo Goodman’s writing, but wow, this got dark towards the end and the plot sort of came off the rails (it got back on, and it was controlled through out, but a bit much for me, I suppose). You can sort of see it coming, but it was really rough there for a while. I loved the bright, witty FMC who really challenged the MMC - but more in a playful way than a ball of anger/NLOGs way, and the banter/back and forth between the characters (especially the MCs). The plot leaps and jumps a bit strangely, but it’s part of the construction of the book as it relates to the rest of the series. The sex scenes were really great, the playfulness and intensity very well done. Overall very enjoyable. The narration was good, but definitely a traditional performance and needed speeding up hugely.
OTT and Spoilery Content Notes:
Audio (Jenny Sterlin)
4.25/5
Summary: Just before his estranged father’s funeral (and suddenly finding out he is actually legitimate and now a duke), West is asked to help find a missing teenager by Ria, a woman with whom he has a childhood connexion. Ria is the headmistress of a girls school and as the two investigate, they become embroiled in a variety of plots.
Stats: HR - Regency, M/F, open door, part of a series, should be read with the other stories but not necessarily in order.
Notes: I really like Jo Goodman’s writing, but wow, this got dark towards the end and the plot sort of came off the rails (it got back on, and it was controlled through out, but a bit much for me, I suppose). You can sort of see it coming, but it was really rough there for a while. I loved the bright, witty FMC who really challenged the MMC - but more in a playful way than a ball of anger/NLOGs way, and the banter/back and forth between the characters (especially the MCs). The plot leaps and jumps a bit strangely, but it’s part of the construction of the book as it relates to the rest of the series. The sex scenes were really great, the playfulness and intensity very well done. Overall very enjoyable. The narration was good, but definitely a traditional performance and needed speeding up hugely.
OTT and Spoilery Content Notes:
December 1, 2017
Beyond a Wicked Kiss, Jo Goodman - The last of the Compass Club series and in my opinion, the best of the four, though all of them have been really good. As with the first three, there is a bit of a pattern here in that a woman in distress needs the assistance of one of the Club members. Unlike the other three books though, Ria is not really a victim but more a relentless woman on a mission to uncover the truth about the disappearance of young girls at her boarding school. In this case it's West to her assistance, the "bastard" son of a Duke, and a spy to boot. West is charismatic and slightly cranky, which I found endearing here. He's well-matched by a charming and witty heroine in Ria. The first couple of hundred pages make for fun reading with plenty of repartee and zingers between the two of them, neither of whom is desirous of love or commitment, at first. And yet, it's a very romantic book. West's love for Ria is palpable and demonstrated clearly in his actions, if not exactly words initially. Ria is very appealing and one of my favorite female characters in a long time. The story does have a grim mystery at the heart of it and may not appeal to everyone. If one can overcome their distaste for some salacious subject matter concerning the disappearance of young girls, the romance is wonderful and the resolution of the mystery is ultimately satisfactory.
February 4, 2010
An excellent ending to the Compass Club series!
February 22, 2016
This one didn't hold up for me. I found the romance tepid and the villains over the top.
January 31, 2019
Děj je poněkud odfláknutý a rozklížený.
Autorka neumí dostat hrdiny tam, kde je potřebuje mít. Některé scény mi přišly nelogické. A konec tomu dal na frak.
Do bordelu zločinců přijde jejich nepřítel a z nějakého důvodu na pokyn zločince ošmatlává hrdinku. Pak v proudu tříštícího se skla se objeví další hrdinové a zločinci se dají na útěk. No, na útěk. Nasadí si na hlavu zvířecí hlavy a jdou do vedlejší místnosti na orgie. A kupodivu je tam hrdinové přistihnou. To je fakt zápletka.
Nechápu, proč hrdinka v noci neustále chodí k hrdinovi do pokoje. A náhodou tam najde necudnou knihu, kterou hrdina ukradl v knihovně jistého pána. Hrdina jí leccos vysvětlí, hrdinka na něho hupsne a hned to uvede do praxe. Pokud už chce rádoby emancipovaná hrdinka vyzkoušet všelijaké praktiky, asi by si k tomu neměla vybrat člověka, na kterém závisí její místo ředitelky dívčí akademie. A který jí vyplácí apanáž.
Ve vztahových scénách je autorka poněkud nudná a opakující se.
s. 240
Dost pochybuju, že by se markýz de Sade červenal nad knížkou s hanbatými obrázky, byť na nich má žena ruce svázané zlatým řetízkem.
Zatímco knihy podobné knihám markýze de Sade charakterizuje autorka jako se stejným sklonem k matoucím sexuálním požitkům (s. 229). Takže je otázkou, jestli opravdu něco četla.
s. 352
Zamilovanost je něco, co jsem cítila jako mladé děvče. Tehdy jsem se vykrádala do vévodovy galerie a dívala se na tvůj portrét a představovala si, že ty se z něj díváš na mě.
Tady jsem se ztratila. Kdy měl hrdina čas nechat se portrétovat? Že by si vévoda pověsil do galerie obraz nenáviděného bastarda, jehož legitimitu uznal až na smrtelné posteli?
s. 11 poznámka redakce - dříve (v 2. polovině 19. století) používána na panské kalhoty.
To je sice hezké, ale co s tím v roce 1818?
s. 87
„Co jste říkal?“
„Říkal,“ odpověděl Blackwood suše.
Jistě by to šlo i lépe.
s. 12 prohlédlala
s. 26 dotud [odtud]
s. 50 rozmačknout
s. 151 ktré
s. 195 lesky [leskly]
s. 220 neslyšitelný, Dál
s. 256 můžů
s. 295 přestala zcela hrát význam ?
s. 299 odkud [dokud]
s. 311 nemoh
s. 316 Ano, Pamatuji
s. 350 Neodkázal [Nedokázal]
s. 456 zádech, V
čárka - s. 136
shlédnout/zhlédnout - s. 360
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 9, 2018
SPOILER AND PROFANITY ALERT!!!
What a huge disappointment! This last book in The Compass Club is nasty. The depravity of the Bishops in this book is beyond ridiculous and I was disgusted. The author named her heroine Ria which was appalling for a Regency era heroine. I kept thinking diarrhea. diarrhea. diarrhea. I know that Maria at that time was pronounced Mariah, Goodman is American and I doubt she knew that, but Ria.....SHEESH. Bad enough name, but the character is insipid and almost an idiot. She was always doubting West's conclusions which drove me crazy. One of the things I did like about this book was how West never tried to argue with her to bring her to his side. West is a very cool dude.
The entire plot is useless. A very young woman ward of a Duke headmistress of a school, no way! The school a recruiting center for a society of perverts, absurd! It broke my heart to hear West talk about how his Mother always forgave Westphal the Duke of Bigamy no matter what he did was beyond hideous and the outcome of the duchy and the relationship with Tenley was a very bad portrayal of the situation. Badly done Jo, badly done.
West was so interesting in the first three books and Goodman just fucked up his story royally. The decision to have the books going on simultaneously was also fucked up, especially in this last book. The ending enraged me, basically letting off the villains was again very fucked up. There is no good way to end a quartet like this, but the author decided in each book to have some sexy time epilogues which was maddening for this reader. Beyond a Wicked Kiss has to be one of the most offensive books I have ever read.
What a huge disappointment! This last book in The Compass Club is nasty. The depravity of the Bishops in this book is beyond ridiculous and I was disgusted. The author named her heroine Ria which was appalling for a Regency era heroine. I kept thinking diarrhea. diarrhea. diarrhea. I know that Maria at that time was pronounced Mariah, Goodman is American and I doubt she knew that, but Ria.....SHEESH. Bad enough name, but the character is insipid and almost an idiot. She was always doubting West's conclusions which drove me crazy. One of the things I did like about this book was how West never tried to argue with her to bring her to his side. West is a very cool dude.
The entire plot is useless. A very young woman ward of a Duke headmistress of a school, no way! The school a recruiting center for a society of perverts, absurd! It broke my heart to hear West talk about how his Mother always forgave Westphal the Duke of Bigamy no matter what he did was beyond hideous and the outcome of the duchy and the relationship with Tenley was a very bad portrayal of the situation. Badly done Jo, badly done.
West was so interesting in the first three books and Goodman just fucked up his story royally. The decision to have the books going on simultaneously was also fucked up, especially in this last book. The ending enraged me, basically letting off the villains was again very fucked up. There is no good way to end a quartet like this, but the author decided in each book to have some sexy time epilogues which was maddening for this reader. Beyond a Wicked Kiss has to be one of the most offensive books I have ever read.
August 6, 2024
Jo Goodman does it again in creating a masterpiece of romance, intriguing and quality written characters. As the fourth and last book in this series it neatly overlaps all the others in a perfect connection and gives the clear picture of all the stories together. Goodman does well in maintaining the individual characters strengths and disadvantages. The Compass Club is four directions of good men, who love their women and will fight for what is right.
This particular story has dark overtones. As a warning the intrigue in this book heavily involves Child Sexual Assault and Sex trafficking. As always, Goodman does not shy away or sugar coat the horrendous evils of some men- but she does give the trauma and in turn the victims the respect and depth needed. I felt that the whole of it was not used as some darker appetite feeding but as an awareness of true evil. Sometime people would prefer to believe that nothing so terrible could happen and therefore it should never be written about in stories such as this for entertainment purposes. But as a CSA victim myself I have always found Goodman’s approach to horrible traumas more a healing than a triggering.
The relationship between West and Ria is quite beautiful. They deeply understand each other and the easy way they communicate, fight, love and heal is so healthy and realistic. Their relationship is one of my favourites.
Overall I really enjoyed this read. It made me hurt and laugh and most importantly it also filled up my chest.
This particular story has dark overtones. As a warning the intrigue in this book heavily involves Child Sexual Assault and Sex trafficking. As always, Goodman does not shy away or sugar coat the horrendous evils of some men- but she does give the trauma and in turn the victims the respect and depth needed. I felt that the whole of it was not used as some darker appetite feeding but as an awareness of true evil. Sometime people would prefer to believe that nothing so terrible could happen and therefore it should never be written about in stories such as this for entertainment purposes. But as a CSA victim myself I have always found Goodman’s approach to horrible traumas more a healing than a triggering.
The relationship between West and Ria is quite beautiful. They deeply understand each other and the easy way they communicate, fight, love and heal is so healthy and realistic. Their relationship is one of my favourites.
Overall I really enjoyed this read. It made me hurt and laugh and most importantly it also filled up my chest.
May 4, 2019
Copyright 2004. This is the 4rth in the Compass Club series. You can read this series in any order (I actually read this book first), but the enjoyment of these books is heightened by reading them in order. In each book there are scenes from the H/h POV that are shared in the other books from the other H/h POVs.
This is West's story. His prologue doesn't begin at Hambrick Hall as the other 3 books do. His starts at the Duke of Westphal's estate. It's there he meets Ria for the first time. Their story is very enjoyable & there's lots of intrigue.
The mark of a good romance author is their imagination. It's always better if she/he can keep you guessing & doesn't do the obvious. JG has a brilliant imagination which she uses in this story. The completely bizarre ending is just believable enough to say WOW!
This is West's story. His prologue doesn't begin at Hambrick Hall as the other 3 books do. His starts at the Duke of Westphal's estate. It's there he meets Ria for the first time. Their story is very enjoyable & there's lots of intrigue.
The mark of a good romance author is their imagination. It's always better if she/he can keep you guessing & doesn't do the obvious. JG has a brilliant imagination which she uses in this story. The completely bizarre ending is just believable enough to say WOW!
December 21, 2020
The Duke of Westphal, fourth member of the Compass Club, discovers that he has a ward, Miss Maria ("Ria") Ashby, who is the headmistress of a school for young ladies. When a student goes missing, Ria travels to London to meet West (for the first time since they were children) and ask for his help. Together they discover a horrible plot going on at the school, involving the Compass Club's nemesis, the Society of Bishops.
I felt that this was the strongest in the series in terms of pacing and romance, but the story gets a bit disturbing at the end once they discover what the Bishops are up to with the young girls. Also, there are some questions raised at the very beginning which I felt were never answered in the course of the story. :(
I felt that this was the strongest in the series in terms of pacing and romance, but the story gets a bit disturbing at the end once they discover what the Bishops are up to with the young girls. Also, there are some questions raised at the very beginning which I felt were never answered in the course of the story. :(
May 4, 2024
Though I think I preferred the other books in the series, I really enjoyed this. I love west, and I liked his banter with ria. I wish there would have been more resolution shown between west and his family, and it kind of drove me crazy how ria sort of defended west’s dad. The story was engaging, though discovering the actions of the villains on this book made me feel a little physically ill. I’m a little sad this the last book in the series, because I want to see more of them and the epilogue was just basically a final chapter wrapping up the story instead of seeing them settled and happy.
January 11, 2023
I read this series in order without a pause. I always enjoy serials and this one is especially clever as all the stories are going on simultaneously. The plots intermingle and yet each story is strong and charming on it's own. I would have enjoyed just a little more at the end, perhaps an epilogue of all the friends a year later.
Each story includes a Hero to love and a strong Heroine to complete him!
Each story includes a Hero to love and a strong Heroine to complete him!
September 29, 2017
The last book in this series is very dark and the sex much too graphic and disturbing. There was a lot of filler trying to get H/H together. I thought West and Ria were destined to be together, but how they got there was slow and boring. Loved the series, but just disappointed in how Ms. Goodman chose to end it.
January 31, 2019
Much like the 2nd book the 4th book got really dark. It was a little more haunting/realistic compared to the dark parts of 2. It kind of made you feel icky. The pace on this was good and kept you involved in the plot.
December 29, 2020
The book was quite enjoyable, but I must admit that the last scenes were quite dark and disturbing. I had wanted to read West's story because I really wanted to understand how he had gone from Bastard to Duke. There were clues in the previous books that could lead you to deduce many of the peculiars of what was going on, but I didn't recognize them until looking back in hindsight.
March 13, 2021
4.5 stars, almost 5. I just loved this one and I'm not entirely sure why. Definitely the banter between the hero and heroine. I also love an old school danger plot. Just a delight. Bought the other three in the series as soon as I finished!
December 30, 2021
This is my second read of this last tale of the Compass Club series and it was as good as the first. "One day your uppance will come." Well, it did, in 18th century fashion, which wasn't as satisfying as the retribution that Jack Reacher might have dealt, but was more appropriate.
September 23, 2023
Supurb!
Jo Goodman knows what hurt is and what love is. Decency defines her heroes and heroines. The deceit and perfidy of her villains is chilling and the warmth and love of friendship and family delightful.
Jo Goodman knows what hurt is and what love is. Decency defines her heroes and heroines. The deceit and perfidy of her villains is chilling and the warmth and love of friendship and family delightful.
July 16, 2017
Good writing and story, but way too much horror for me in a romance.
August 4, 2017
3.5 Stars.
January 28, 2018
Wonderful
Excellent closure for the compass club. The dialogue was both witty and often captured both the humor and subtlety of their relationship.
Excellent closure for the compass club. The dialogue was both witty and often captured both the humor and subtlety of their relationship.
January 5, 2018
Woahhhh what a dark book this one is! I feel like reading a horror book with a bit of too hardheaded heroine.... who had gone with the villains and almost got herself rape.
P.s. This book has deal about sex slave of young women. And it is a good written that I flipped every time I read about the villains and their cruelty to those young girls.
P.s. This book has deal about sex slave of young women. And it is a good written that I flipped every time I read about the villains and their cruelty to those young girls.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 25, 2026
Good story, but trigger warning, there is lots of talk about sexual abuse and some depictions as well.
May 29, 2023
„Mein Weg zum Duke“ von Jo Goodman ist der vierte und abschließende Band ihrer Club der Lords Reihe.
Der Duke of Westphal, genannt West, trägt seinen ungeliebten und unerwarteten Titel erst seit wenigen Tagen, als eine Überraschung vor seiner Tür auftaucht. Sein verstorbener Vater hat ihm offensichtlich auch ein attraktives Mündel hinterlassen, für das nun West verantwortlich ist. Miss Maria Ashby steht jedoch bereits mitten im Leben und leitet als Direktorin eine Schule für junge Damen. Genau deshalb benötigt Maria Wests Hilfe, denn vor kurzen verschwand eine ihrer Schützlinge spurlos. Gemeinsam ermitteln Maria und West zum Verbleib des Mädchens und stechen dabei in ein Wespennest, welches sie nicht erwartet hätten. Zudem können sie der gegenseitigen Anziehung nicht lange widerstehen, auch wenn beide es lange leugnen.
Es fehlte nur noch ein Mitglied des Compass Clubs, welches nicht die passende Frau gefunden hatte und so darf West im Abschlussband seine Herzensdame erobern. Mit dem vierten Teil schließt sich auch der Kreis zwischen Gegenwart und Vergangenheit und viele offene Fragen werden beantwortet. Ich persönlich fand die eingebauten Themen von allen vier Teilen am heftigsten und offensichtlich wollte Jo Goodman im Finale die Spannungsschraube anziehen.
West ist nicht erfreut über seinen plötzlichen Status, denn mit seinem Vater verbindet er so gut wie keine guten Erinnerungen, sondern eher das absolute Gegenteil. In all das Gefühlschaos platzt dann auch noch Maria, deren Verhältnis zum alten Lord ein völlig anderes war.
Maria ist eine Mischung aus grenzenloser Naivität und selbstbewusstem Pragmatismus. Als Lehrerin und Direktorin ist sie loyal, aufopferungsvoll und professionell. Ihre übrigen Entscheidungen sind aber oft impulsiv und nicht immer durchdacht. Ich mag auf jeden Fall ihre amüsanten Schlagabtausche mit West, in denen beide zur Hochform auflaufen.
Die Story ist spannend aufgebaut und enthält, wie gesagt, teils heftige Szenen. Ob der Compass Club am Ende für alle Mitglieder ein Happy End verbuchen kann, sollte man selbst im Buch lesen.
Mein Fazit:
Ein gelungener Abschluss, der von mir gern eine Leseempfehlung erhält!
Der Duke of Westphal, genannt West, trägt seinen ungeliebten und unerwarteten Titel erst seit wenigen Tagen, als eine Überraschung vor seiner Tür auftaucht. Sein verstorbener Vater hat ihm offensichtlich auch ein attraktives Mündel hinterlassen, für das nun West verantwortlich ist. Miss Maria Ashby steht jedoch bereits mitten im Leben und leitet als Direktorin eine Schule für junge Damen. Genau deshalb benötigt Maria Wests Hilfe, denn vor kurzen verschwand eine ihrer Schützlinge spurlos. Gemeinsam ermitteln Maria und West zum Verbleib des Mädchens und stechen dabei in ein Wespennest, welches sie nicht erwartet hätten. Zudem können sie der gegenseitigen Anziehung nicht lange widerstehen, auch wenn beide es lange leugnen.
Es fehlte nur noch ein Mitglied des Compass Clubs, welches nicht die passende Frau gefunden hatte und so darf West im Abschlussband seine Herzensdame erobern. Mit dem vierten Teil schließt sich auch der Kreis zwischen Gegenwart und Vergangenheit und viele offene Fragen werden beantwortet. Ich persönlich fand die eingebauten Themen von allen vier Teilen am heftigsten und offensichtlich wollte Jo Goodman im Finale die Spannungsschraube anziehen.
West ist nicht erfreut über seinen plötzlichen Status, denn mit seinem Vater verbindet er so gut wie keine guten Erinnerungen, sondern eher das absolute Gegenteil. In all das Gefühlschaos platzt dann auch noch Maria, deren Verhältnis zum alten Lord ein völlig anderes war.
Maria ist eine Mischung aus grenzenloser Naivität und selbstbewusstem Pragmatismus. Als Lehrerin und Direktorin ist sie loyal, aufopferungsvoll und professionell. Ihre übrigen Entscheidungen sind aber oft impulsiv und nicht immer durchdacht. Ich mag auf jeden Fall ihre amüsanten Schlagabtausche mit West, in denen beide zur Hochform auflaufen.
Die Story ist spannend aufgebaut und enthält, wie gesagt, teils heftige Szenen. Ob der Compass Club am Ende für alle Mitglieder ein Happy End verbuchen kann, sollte man selbst im Buch lesen.
Mein Fazit:
Ein gelungener Abschluss, der von mir gern eine Leseempfehlung erhält!
September 14, 2011
4 th book in series dealing with Evan Marchman, now Duke of Westphal.
When he unexpectedly inherits following his father's death bed confession of being married to his mother, West finds himself appointed guardian Of Ria Ashley, headmistress of Ms Weaver's Academy.
Ria turns up unexpectedly in London requesting his help as one of her students has gone missing.
Initial investigation leads West to be suspicious about what is going on at the school as all the Governors are members of the sinister Society of Bishops.
As West and Ria are thrust into one another's company, attraction blossoms and one thing leads to another...
Ria's initial reluctance to marry was not really properly explained and I did find her willingness to hop into bed with West fairly hypocritical given her role as head mistress ( pet hate).
It becomes clear that the Bishops have been taking girls out of the school and using them as sex slaves for a number of years.
By the time our protagonists sort themselves out and agree to marry after all, things are coming to a head and Ria falls into the clutches of the Bishops. Thereafter there are some bleak descriptions of what the other girls and Ria face at the hands of these men and some readers may be upset by same.
Of course everything works out in the end but the author makes it clear that the protagonists are marked by what they have gone through but happily due to their love there are no permanent scars.
Gothic overtones and pretty sinister but interesting and enjoyable.
Good chemistry between West and Ria.
When he unexpectedly inherits following his father's death bed confession of being married to his mother, West finds himself appointed guardian Of Ria Ashley, headmistress of Ms Weaver's Academy.
Ria turns up unexpectedly in London requesting his help as one of her students has gone missing.
Initial investigation leads West to be suspicious about what is going on at the school as all the Governors are members of the sinister Society of Bishops.
As West and Ria are thrust into one another's company, attraction blossoms and one thing leads to another...
Ria's initial reluctance to marry was not really properly explained and I did find her willingness to hop into bed with West fairly hypocritical given her role as head mistress ( pet hate).
It becomes clear that the Bishops have been taking girls out of the school and using them as sex slaves for a number of years.
By the time our protagonists sort themselves out and agree to marry after all, things are coming to a head and Ria falls into the clutches of the Bishops. Thereafter there are some bleak descriptions of what the other girls and Ria face at the hands of these men and some readers may be upset by same.
Of course everything works out in the end but the author makes it clear that the protagonists are marked by what they have gone through but happily due to their love there are no permanent scars.
Gothic overtones and pretty sinister but interesting and enjoyable.
Good chemistry between West and Ria.
June 14, 2013
The only reason this got 3 stars in relation to the entirety of the series, but especially the last two disappointments I mean novels, is because it was somewhat interesting at first...until it fell into the usual drudgery of burden-filled heroes and heroines and secrets and ohh lala.
I don't think I can do romance plots anymore; especially those that mostly revolve around the romance while adding just enough of the plot to keep the characters struggling with their feelings and angsty angst. I need something bigger, character development that doesn't need to have the other sex be their saviour , or a plot that only further brings the characters together or puts the hero in a good light.
In short, I'm tired of plots and formulas that I can point out and string out with barely a few pages read, and thus lose their efficiency. A while ago I got tired of a certain author and her formulaic plots; after finishing this series, I realized I'm tired of romance and its paperback quality.
I don't care about sexually promiscuous heroines. I don't care about historical inaccuracies. I don't care about secret filled angst. Or heroes I'm supposed to admire and wish my boyfriend was like.
I'm happy enough with my reality. Time to read some better books.
2.5-3/5
I don't think I can do romance plots anymore; especially those that mostly revolve around the romance while adding just enough of the plot to keep the characters struggling with their feelings and angsty angst. I need something bigger, character development that doesn't need to have the other sex be their saviour , or a plot that only further brings the characters together or puts the hero in a good light.
In short, I'm tired of plots and formulas that I can point out and string out with barely a few pages read, and thus lose their efficiency. A while ago I got tired of a certain author and her formulaic plots; after finishing this series, I realized I'm tired of romance and its paperback quality.
I don't care about sexually promiscuous heroines. I don't care about historical inaccuracies. I don't care about secret filled angst. Or heroes I'm supposed to admire and wish my boyfriend was like.
I'm happy enough with my reality. Time to read some better books.
2.5-3/5
February 9, 2012
I'm having trouble deciding how to rate this book because the tone was so uneven. It didn't know if it wanted to be a tender love story or a salacious bodice ripper.
West is a bastard, his mother a commoner. On his father's death bed the Duke confessed that he had been married to his Mother and West was legitimate issue.
West meets Ria, a childhood friend that he hadn't seen in years. Ria is headmistress of a school for young ladies. There were (true) rumors that he used to be a spy in the Army and she enlists him for help - one of her student's has gone missing and she suspects foul play.
The mystery starts out quite boring the first third of the book, with Ria and West spend a lot of time apart. When they are together the book is WONDERFUL. The romance and dialogue is witty and full of chemistry. The romance is tender and engaging when West and Ria share the screen.
But then back to the mystery. They uncover a lurid underground sex slave secret society that is pretty detailed in it's degradation (though most of it is "off camera") and it was pretty disturbing to me. So it's hard to say if I recommend this book or not.
The loved the last book I read by Jo Goodman, A Season to be Sinful, and I give that one a solid recommendation. This was my second book by the author and I'm going to give her a few more chances.
West is a bastard, his mother a commoner. On his father's death bed the Duke confessed that he had been married to his Mother and West was legitimate issue.
West meets Ria, a childhood friend that he hadn't seen in years. Ria is headmistress of a school for young ladies. There were (true) rumors that he used to be a spy in the Army and she enlists him for help - one of her student's has gone missing and she suspects foul play.
The mystery starts out quite boring the first third of the book, with Ria and West spend a lot of time apart. When they are together the book is WONDERFUL. The romance and dialogue is witty and full of chemistry. The romance is tender and engaging when West and Ria share the screen.
But then back to the mystery. They uncover a lurid underground sex slave secret society that is pretty detailed in it's degradation (though most of it is "off camera") and it was pretty disturbing to me. So it's hard to say if I recommend this book or not.
The loved the last book I read by Jo Goodman, A Season to be Sinful, and I give that one a solid recommendation. This was my second book by the author and I'm going to give her a few more chances.
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