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Regency #4
Лучшая жена на свете
Всякий титулованный джентльмен обязан произвести на свет законного наследника. И цель Колина Оливера, виконта Саттона, — как можно скорее взять в жены скромную, благовоспитанную молодую девицу, которая родит ему сына. А как же любовь? Это нисколько не волновало виконта, пока он не встретил Александру Ларчмонт. Она божественно красива и обладает острым, неженским умом. Разум, гордость, осмотрительность — все подсказывает Колину держаться от Александры подальше. Но страсть, сжигающая его, упорно отказывается повиноваться здравому смыслу…
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
5 people are currently reading
273 people want to read
About the author
Jacquie D'Alessandro
121 books419 followersJacquie D'Alessandro grew up on Long Island and fell in love with romance at an early age. She dreamed of being swept away by a dashing rogue riding a spirited stallion. When Joe, her hero finally showed up, he was dressed in jeans and driving a Volkswagen, but she recognized him anyway. They married after they both graduated from Hofstra University, and are now living their happily-ever-after in Atlanta, Georgia, along with their very bright and active son, Christopher, alias "Junior", who is a dashing rogue in the making.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
March 30, 2010
Sequel to Not Quite A Gentleman.
Incredible and Wonderful, or as Alex and Colin would say, INCREDERFUL
Madame Alexandra Larchmont, is a former thief but now she is a renowned fortune teller to the ton. Colin, Viscount Sutton former spy, is having haunting premonitions of his death so he travels to London to pick a bride and do his duty by having an heir. Alexandra and Colin met 4 years earlier when she tried to pick his pocket, when he caught her she said "It's you," and then ran away before he could even learn her name. Alexandra is sure that Colin is the green eyed man the tarot cards predicted in her future, while Colin has always wondered what happened to the urchin who tried to steal his watch. Now while attending a party destiny brings them together again, Alex sees Colin and fearing he will remember her she hides in the study to avoid him, where she unwittingly overhear's plans being made to commit murder. When it appears Colin doesn't recall past events, Alex gives him private readings but when she finds herself in danger Colin is the only one she trusts. But Colin is wondering whether she has really changed her ways or if she is using her talent of reading cards to gain entry into the homes of the ton. Then as these two spend more time together, their love begins to bloom.
I have to say I wasn't sure of this one, not a big fan of the spy or the fortune teller theme. Started out a bit slow for first few pages but then it really got good, totally surpised. The witty banter between the H/H is typical JD, just great. I loved Colin, and the secondry characters are brilliant even BC the boot crunching dog. The relationship between the brothers Nathan and Colin was a nice touch to the story. Great witty read .
Incredible and Wonderful, or as Alex and Colin would say, INCREDERFUL
Madame Alexandra Larchmont, is a former thief but now she is a renowned fortune teller to the ton. Colin, Viscount Sutton former spy, is having haunting premonitions of his death so he travels to London to pick a bride and do his duty by having an heir. Alexandra and Colin met 4 years earlier when she tried to pick his pocket, when he caught her she said "It's you," and then ran away before he could even learn her name. Alexandra is sure that Colin is the green eyed man the tarot cards predicted in her future, while Colin has always wondered what happened to the urchin who tried to steal his watch. Now while attending a party destiny brings them together again, Alex sees Colin and fearing he will remember her she hides in the study to avoid him, where she unwittingly overhear's plans being made to commit murder. When it appears Colin doesn't recall past events, Alex gives him private readings but when she finds herself in danger Colin is the only one she trusts. But Colin is wondering whether she has really changed her ways or if she is using her talent of reading cards to gain entry into the homes of the ton. Then as these two spend more time together, their love begins to bloom.
I have to say I wasn't sure of this one, not a big fan of the spy or the fortune teller theme. Started out a bit slow for first few pages but then it really got good, totally surpised. The witty banter between the H/H is typical JD, just great. I loved Colin, and the secondry characters are brilliant even BC the boot crunching dog. The relationship between the brothers Nathan and Colin was a nice touch to the story. Great witty read .
April 20, 2018
Zzzz. Typical 21st-century Avon product that sucks everything zippy, perilous, or otherwise unique from the story & fills the resulting void with a boatload of cliched banter, boring sex, & redonk instalove that was shoved down the readers' throats at every opportunity. Joined-at-the-hip leads, overbearing cuddlebug hero, I-will-never-marry! proto-feminist/do-gooder heroine, tepid wallpaper devices like vague fortune telling, cutesy kids, & estranged brothers (aka series bait), titled H lusting for commoner h, the MCs constant battling of naughty thoughts simply because of scent, eye color, or neckline... there was simply NOTHING different about it. I was more interested in the boot-gnawing mastiff than anything else. (No exaggeration.)
Avon Books: we flush decent storylines down the toilet at every opportunity!(tm)
Avon Books: we flush decent storylines down the toilet at every opportunity!(tm)
July 16, 2016
D'Allessandro is a new author for me but definitely one I will be reading again. I thoroughly enjoyed this romp between a street-smart fortune teller and a marriage-wary viscount. Clever dialogue between hero and heroine and sexual tension that is not resolved too early in the book -- definitely a winner, in my opinion.
January 2, 2018
leído en Agosto 2012
Estuvo bueno
Estuvo bueno
September 26, 2021
My least favorite D'Alessandro novel - it had far too many problems for me to enjoy it
Obviously I'm going against the grain here, but I did not like this novel. Despite a few flaws (Alex and Colin's thoughts were often repetitive, Colin's weird word-combining, the overtly sensual way that Alex ate the sweets in front of him - but not doing it on purpose, of course (sarcasm), etc.), I found the first 200+ pages decently enjoyable and was looking forward to seeing what would happen and how they would end up together. Once they decided to have an affair, all the annoyances coalesced and the book soured for me (not based on the affair decision) - I actually started to skim portions of the book, which is very rare for me. The characters were really wonderful at the beginning and so I was all the more disappointed that though I felt they could have resulted in a great love story, I didn't find one in Never a Lady.
PROS:
I appreciated that Alex was not considered beautiful in the conventional sense, but Colin found her so, and that Colin wasn't absolutely perfect, having a slight limp. Also, the relationship between Nathan and Colin was enjoyable and I liked the banter back and forth. The love scenes are well-written (for D'Alessandro fans, you'll be surprised to find them much more R-rated (or higher) than D'Alessandro normally has in her books).
CONS:
I found Alex and Colin's attraction for each other excessive and slightly ridiculous, especially in the beginning of the book. The fact that they have longed for each other for four years after seeing each other once - give me a break! And then, after they reconnect, it's surprising that they are not constantly having sex or buildings aren't on fire around them, considering the extensive insight we have into their thoughts of how sexually obsessed they are with each other (finger touches bring on sexual images lasting for paragraphs and of course their eyes, which seemed prone to evoking constant illicit thoughts). Because there didn't seem to be any intellectual or emotional basis for their connection, it kind of spoiled their physical one for me - D'Alessandro writes the sexual tension well, but between Alex and Colin I found it hard to believe or really appreciate.
NOTE:
I have not read D'Alessandro's Not Quite A Gentleman, which precedes this book, so though you can read this book as a stand-alone, I was a little lost on the back story of what happened between Colin and Nathan four years ago.
BOTTOM LINE:
D'Alessandro has much better works, in this humble reviewer's opinion, so read The Bride Thief or Red Roses Mean Love instead.
Obviously I'm going against the grain here, but I did not like this novel. Despite a few flaws (Alex and Colin's thoughts were often repetitive, Colin's weird word-combining, the overtly sensual way that Alex ate the sweets in front of him - but not doing it on purpose, of course (sarcasm), etc.), I found the first 200+ pages decently enjoyable and was looking forward to seeing what would happen and how they would end up together. Once they decided to have an affair, all the annoyances coalesced and the book soured for me (not based on the affair decision) - I actually started to skim portions of the book, which is very rare for me. The characters were really wonderful at the beginning and so I was all the more disappointed that though I felt they could have resulted in a great love story, I didn't find one in Never a Lady.
PROS:
I appreciated that Alex was not considered beautiful in the conventional sense, but Colin found her so, and that Colin wasn't absolutely perfect, having a slight limp. Also, the relationship between Nathan and Colin was enjoyable and I liked the banter back and forth. The love scenes are well-written (for D'Alessandro fans, you'll be surprised to find them much more R-rated (or higher) than D'Alessandro normally has in her books).
CONS:
I found Alex and Colin's attraction for each other excessive and slightly ridiculous, especially in the beginning of the book. The fact that they have longed for each other for four years after seeing each other once - give me a break! And then, after they reconnect, it's surprising that they are not constantly having sex or buildings aren't on fire around them, considering the extensive insight we have into their thoughts of how sexually obsessed they are with each other (finger touches bring on sexual images lasting for paragraphs and of course their eyes, which seemed prone to evoking constant illicit thoughts). Because there didn't seem to be any intellectual or emotional basis for their connection, it kind of spoiled their physical one for me - D'Alessandro writes the sexual tension well, but between Alex and Colin I found it hard to believe or really appreciate.
NOTE:
I have not read D'Alessandro's Not Quite A Gentleman, which precedes this book, so though you can read this book as a stand-alone, I was a little lost on the back story of what happened between Colin and Nathan four years ago.
BOTTOM LINE:
D'Alessandro has much better works, in this humble reviewer's opinion, so read The Bride Thief or Red Roses Mean Love instead.
April 30, 2010
Stepped into the middle of a series again,but it wasnt hard to follow along and it was nice seeing some characters from other books she's written that I have read. I would have liked to have seen more of Alex's childhood on the streets...or at least SOMETHING of it. She never really explained how Alex became Madame Larchmont or how she got to be so well know in the ton. Minor missing pieces that would have made a better story tho, to me. And whats with the marizpan overload?? Ive had it and...YUCK...lol To each his own I guess...
January 12, 2015
Me sigue gustando esta autora, y mucho. No importa si es un autoconclusivo, si empiezo con el primer libro de una serie o por el final. Siempre termino con una satisfacción enorme.
He disfrutado con el personaje de Alexandra y su coherente personalidad. Colin me ha parecido estupendo y los secundarios muy apropiados.
Las escenas de sexo adecuadas y justas y diálogos muy bien trabajados.
Muy, pero que muy bien.
He disfrutado con el personaje de Alexandra y su coherente personalidad. Colin me ha parecido estupendo y los secundarios muy apropiados.
Las escenas de sexo adecuadas y justas y diálogos muy bien trabajados.
Muy, pero que muy bien.
May 2, 2017
Me gusto mucho, me pareció chevere que uno de los personajes principales fuera un simple mortal
March 2, 2017
De las novelas más entretenidas del género que he leído últimamente.
April 1, 2019
Es la historia de la adivinar que ir a las cartas en una fiesta y del vizconde Colín que presiente que algo malo le ocurrirá y decide buscar esposa para ordenar sus asuntos y obligaciones para con el título.
Cuando Alexandra ve al vizconde comienza a huir para que no la reconozca. Termina en una habitación donde entran unos caballeros y escucha una voz susurrante maquinando un plan para asesinar a alguien en una fecha determinada.
Dado que su pasado como ladrona podría ser descubierto, no desea enfrentarse a la policía. Decide dejar una carta advirtiendo del peligro. Escapa por la ventana De manera de no ser asertiva por el vizconde, pero se topó con él en tal situación.
Él la lleva a la casa pero miente sobre dónde vive. Con sus parte dotes de espía descubre que le mintió acerca de estar casada y que su marido fuera aniquilador de roedores, puesto que vive con una chica y un pilluelo que la visita.
Ella necesita dinero y no puede rehusarse a concederle una tirada de cartas privada.
Pronto aparece envenenado un lacayo y un Noble y él ve la palidez de su rostro ante la noticia. No entiende sus mentiras y la implicación en tales acontecimientos.
Ella siente remordimiento por ocultarle su pasado. Pero él no había podido olvidarla desde que le intentara robar su reloj y la había buscado por cielo y tierra. Se alegraba que ya no robara aunque desconfiaba que su entretenimiento con el tarot fuera una excusa para robar, pronto supo que no era así.
Es la que en venganza por haberlo interrumpido cuando estaba besándose con la tarotista hace que su hermano pague el doble de lo que él pago por el mismo servicio de tarot. Pero al estar presente se da cuenta que todo lo que ella dice es cierto, pues adivina que su hermano había perdido un bebé recientemente.
Por seguridad él la lleva a vivir con su hermano y su cuñada. Ella nota las diferencias.
Cuando ella le dice que debe volver a su casa, rompen.
Es la que el niño advierte a Álex de un hombre herido y evita que muera.
La asesina era la mujer de un traidor a la corona que quiso matar a Colín por haber matado a su marido y a quien ordenó el asesinato.
Colin le confiesa a Alexandra que él la recuerda desde que intentó robarle su reloj al recitar las primeras palabras que le dijo al conocerla. Ella se da cuenta que él lo sabía desde siempre. Le pide que sea su esposa y acepta FIN.
Cuando Alexandra ve al vizconde comienza a huir para que no la reconozca. Termina en una habitación donde entran unos caballeros y escucha una voz susurrante maquinando un plan para asesinar a alguien en una fecha determinada.
Dado que su pasado como ladrona podría ser descubierto, no desea enfrentarse a la policía. Decide dejar una carta advirtiendo del peligro. Escapa por la ventana De manera de no ser asertiva por el vizconde, pero se topó con él en tal situación.
Él la lleva a la casa pero miente sobre dónde vive. Con sus parte dotes de espía descubre que le mintió acerca de estar casada y que su marido fuera aniquilador de roedores, puesto que vive con una chica y un pilluelo que la visita.
Ella necesita dinero y no puede rehusarse a concederle una tirada de cartas privada.
Pronto aparece envenenado un lacayo y un Noble y él ve la palidez de su rostro ante la noticia. No entiende sus mentiras y la implicación en tales acontecimientos.
Ella siente remordimiento por ocultarle su pasado. Pero él no había podido olvidarla desde que le intentara robar su reloj y la había buscado por cielo y tierra. Se alegraba que ya no robara aunque desconfiaba que su entretenimiento con el tarot fuera una excusa para robar, pronto supo que no era así.
Es la que en venganza por haberlo interrumpido cuando estaba besándose con la tarotista hace que su hermano pague el doble de lo que él pago por el mismo servicio de tarot. Pero al estar presente se da cuenta que todo lo que ella dice es cierto, pues adivina que su hermano había perdido un bebé recientemente.
Por seguridad él la lleva a vivir con su hermano y su cuñada. Ella nota las diferencias.
Cuando ella le dice que debe volver a su casa, rompen.
Es la que el niño advierte a Álex de un hombre herido y evita que muera.
La asesina era la mujer de un traidor a la corona que quiso matar a Colín por haber matado a su marido y a quien ordenó el asesinato.
Colin le confiesa a Alexandra que él la recuerda desde que intentó robarle su reloj al recitar las primeras palabras que le dijo al conocerla. Ella se da cuenta que él lo sabía desde siempre. Le pide que sea su esposa y acepta FIN.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 11, 2014
"Are you laughing?"
"Me? Certainly not," she said with a haughty sniff.
"Because if you were laughing..."
The heated look in his eyes scorched her."What would you do?" The breathless question popped out before she could stop it, appalling her.
"An interesting question. One which I shall have to ponder because you make me want to do so many things."...
Never A Lady is a humorous entertaining witty book with veryyyyyy likable characters. Colin's brother, Nathan was ever charming irritating his brother at the most inopportune of times..if you know what I mean. 'Wink, Wink!' I love the connection between Alexandra & Colin, how they had met 4 years ago *SLIGHT SPOILER* when she tried to steal from him & he caught her before she barely managed to escape & needless to say neither has forgot the other even though it was a brief encounter.Although Colin is from an upper class society & Alexandra beneath him, he never once treated her as all the usual aristocratic people would of her class.
Of course the mystery made the story more interesting with Colin & Nathan being retired spies & a murder plot brewing :)
Coming to the scenes between Alexandra & Colin, I LOVEEEE it! How most of the time sweets which happen to be my FAV btw, lead up to their sensual encounters ;)
'He withdrew his hand, dragging the tip of his index finger across her lower lip, leaving a glistening film of melted chocolate behind'
Overall an 'IMPRAZED' book! You will know what I mean if you have read the book ;)
"Me? Certainly not," she said with a haughty sniff.
"Because if you were laughing..."
The heated look in his eyes scorched her."What would you do?" The breathless question popped out before she could stop it, appalling her.
"An interesting question. One which I shall have to ponder because you make me want to do so many things."...
Never A Lady is a humorous entertaining witty book with veryyyyyy likable characters. Colin's brother, Nathan was ever charming irritating his brother at the most inopportune of times..if you know what I mean. 'Wink, Wink!' I love the connection between Alexandra & Colin, how they had met 4 years ago *SLIGHT SPOILER* when she tried to steal from him & he caught her before she barely managed to escape & needless to say neither has forgot the other even though it was a brief encounter.Although Colin is from an upper class society & Alexandra beneath him, he never once treated her as all the usual aristocratic people would of her class.
Of course the mystery made the story more interesting with Colin & Nathan being retired spies & a murder plot brewing :)
Coming to the scenes between Alexandra & Colin, I LOVEEEE it! How most of the time sweets which happen to be my FAV btw, lead up to their sensual encounters ;)
'He withdrew his hand, dragging the tip of his index finger across her lower lip, leaving a glistening film of melted chocolate behind'
Overall an 'IMPRAZED' book! You will know what I mean if you have read the book ;)
April 28, 2015
Regency romance with sex. - 4rth in the series. Copyright 2006.
This is Colin's story. He's Dr. Nathan's brother & heir to the Earldom. He's in London to find a wife. He meets Alexandra, a fortune teller who's popular in polite society. Alex is poor. She's reinvented herself as someone actually higher than her station. She's always had a talent for the tarot cards & is using them to provide for her & her friend & numerous needy children. Now, a danger is threatening Colin & herself.
This story is darker than the other 3 books. There's the question of the HEA. Is it really realistic to expect someone so socially inferior to marry a peer of the realm? Probably not, but if you're just looking for a light read, this one is pretty good.
This is the first we see of Logan Jennsen as well & he's just as unlucky in love as always.
This is Colin's story. He's Dr. Nathan's brother & heir to the Earldom. He's in London to find a wife. He meets Alexandra, a fortune teller who's popular in polite society. Alex is poor. She's reinvented herself as someone actually higher than her station. She's always had a talent for the tarot cards & is using them to provide for her & her friend & numerous needy children. Now, a danger is threatening Colin & herself.
This story is darker than the other 3 books. There's the question of the HEA. Is it really realistic to expect someone so socially inferior to marry a peer of the realm? Probably not, but if you're just looking for a light read, this one is pretty good.
This is the first we see of Logan Jennsen as well & he's just as unlucky in love as always.
December 9, 2012
My official review for The Romance Reviews:
NEVER A LADY is vintage Jacquie D'Alessandro. Having read several of this author's books, I'm well-acquainted with her style, yet she never fails to delight with her stories.
Read the full review.
NEVER A LADY is vintage Jacquie D'Alessandro. Having read several of this author's books, I'm well-acquainted with her style, yet she never fails to delight with her stories.
Read the full review.
October 6, 2013
Given that the book is at the middle of a series, it's not hard to follow the flow of the story. My only issue about this book is that I feel that the ending has been somewhat rushed. There are parts that could use more elaboration. But still it is quite entertaining. I can feel with the characters. I find the humor endearing. This story has potential.
February 10, 2016
A hero I can like (he's a spy, retired), an intelligent heroine (she's no lady, she's a tarot cart reader), some sex (of course) and witty dialog (always). Perhaps little bit darker back story than earlier D'Alessandro books that I've read but not disturbing.
May 4, 2008
Great book....!
May 22, 2008
See review for "Not Quite a Gentleman".
Read
April 2, 2010Never A Lady by Jacquie D'Alessandro (2006)
October 22, 2012
I loved the first three books in the series, but this one was noticeably weaker. The characters were hard to like and it moved a little slow.
February 12, 2013
Simple quick historical romance
May 5, 2015
Me ha gustado mucho, es un clásico de Novela Romántica, y es muy divertido.
November 10, 2023
⛔️ (in notes)
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews