Priceless: A Passionate Historical Romance of Desire and Conspiracy in Regency London

by Christina Dodd

She was one of the celebrated Sirens of Ireland, a captivating creature of fiery spirit. Bronwyn Edana stunned titled society with her courageous exploits and daring adventures. Yet in nobeleman Adam Keane, she met her match. From the moment they first clashed, the headstrong Bronwyn was swept away by a breathless desire.

Betrothed to Adam, a man branded by his haunting past, Bronwyn soon found herself at the center of a shocking conspiracy that could rock the British realm. From the dangerous streets of London to sweeping Boudasea Manor, she followed her most passionate dreams—and risked everything for the only man she would ever love.

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

406 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 1, 1992

About the author

Upcoming:
— 6/30/26 TEACH THE TORCHES TO BURN: Daughter of Montague Historical Fiction #3 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

New and Now!
—MUCH ADO ABOUT MISTLETOE: Daughter of Montague Christmas novella https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
— THUS WITH A KISS I DIE Daughter of Montague Historical Fiction #2
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
— A DAUGHTER OF FAIR VERONA Historical Fiction Trade Paperback Once upon a time a young couple met and fell in love. You probably know that story, and how it ended (hint: badly). Only here’s the thing: That’s not how it ended at all…
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
— WELCOME TO GOTHIC: A Gothic novella in ebook (at last!) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
— WHAT DREAMS MAY COME Daughter of Montague novella 1.5 "I’m the daughter of Romeo and Juliet. Yes, that Romeo and Juliet. No, they didn’t die in the tomb…" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
— GIRL ANONYMOUS “Crackling sexual chemistry and a few love scenes guaranteed to scorch readers’ fingers as they turn the pages." — ⭐️ Booklist
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

Readers become writers, and Christina has always been a reader. Ultimately she discovered she liked to read romance best because the relationship between a man and a woman is always humorous. A woman wants world peace, a clean house, and a deep and meaningful relationship based on mutual understanding and love. A man wants a Craftsman router, undisputed control of the TV remote, and a red Corvette which will make his bald spot disappear.
When Christina’s first daughter was born, she told her husband she was going to write a book. It was a good time to start a new career, because how much trouble could one little infant be?
Ha! It took ten years, two children and three completed manuscripts before she was published. Now her suspense, paranormal, historical, and mystery novels have been translated into 30 languages and sold more than 15 million copies in print. Praised for her “brilliantly etched characters, polished writing, and unexpected flashes of sharp humor that are pure Dodd” (Booklist), her award-winning books have landed on numerous Best of the Year lists and, much to her mother's delight, Dodd was once a clue in the Los Angeles Times crossword puzzle. She lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest, where her 700 lavender plants share the yard with her husband’s various “Big Projects,” including a treehouse, zipline, and their very own Stonehenge.
Enter Christina’s worlds and join her mailing list for humor, book news and entertainment (yes, she’s the proud author with the infamous three-armed cover) at christinadodd.com. For more information on A DAUGHTER OF FAIR VERONA, visit daughterofmontague.com. Her legions of fans know that when they pick up a Christina Dodd book, they'll find the story, "Wildly entertaining, wickedly witty!"
Christina is married to a man with all his hair and no Corvette, but many Craftsman tools.

(Source: http://www.christinadodd.com )

Reviews

[Melinda · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was quite difficult to get through. For one, there isn't anything much more boring, in my opinion, than the stock market. There is an abundance of stock talk in this novel. For another, the hero, Lord Rawson, is a very unfriendly, cruel, unlikable man who never shows an ounce of kindness to Bronwyn. Somehow this leads to her falling in love with him. Hmm....
The writing was poor and sometimes I experienced a bit of confusion about what was happening. In one awkward scene, they tear up each other's clothing after an argument. You'd think it would lead to lovemaking but, no, it leads to an impromptu knife-throwing lesson for Bronwyn. Weird. And wouldn't you know, that tiny lesson proves useful later on in the book.
To close, Lord Rawson never shows any redeeming qualities and I found it difficult to believe any woman could fall in love with that sort of man. This was a very unpleasant read.

[Missy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing read.

There is just something irresistable about Adam and Bronwyn maybe it is their desire to be together against their wills.

He has been hurt in the past and desires a easy pretty bride that won't challenge him. For her, her brain and independance are the most important things and she has no desire to be a boring easy bride.....she wants to be an equal partner and someone that trusts in her.

As they try to come to terms with each other's expections and their love, they are working against society, family pressure, and someone out to bring down England. Will they realize what their love means before it is too late?

The author is such a master of bringing to life such wonderful characters that find love not so easy and whatever time period she chooses is so vivid and real. Beautifully well written, detailed, humorous, dangerous, and charmimg.....a joy to read!

[Preet · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's amazing how things change with time. I've read so many books that the ones that didn't stand out tend to fade. I re-read this book today after who knows how long and saw that my 3 star rating no longer applied. This book is definitely worth 5 stars or more.

This is a romance novel that I think is one that would do well if it was published for the first time today. The fact that it's written by Christina Dodd is just another plus point for it.

The setting and history behind this book are not unique, but using the stock market and speculation as a cornerstone is. The characters are unique and so are the villains. It's a multi-layered story with intrigue, passion, comedy, and emotion. Simply fantastic and priceless.

[Sharyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The reviews of this book were all over the map-from 0 to 5 stars! This book, written in 1992 holds up well. I liked the historical descriptions of the stock market and the scandals of the South Sea Company. The financial machinations of the time had a great political affect in England at the time, and the explanations were well done. In addition, the heroine was very intelligent and understood all that was going on. Robert Walpole was a character and some of the action was trying to thwart his assasination. Plus good dialogue between the main characters. I like a historicals where I learn history and have a good romance!

[Kassi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was one of those that I read in two days! Partly because work was slow.. haha, but also because I couldn't put it down! It's one of those similar to say, Pride and Prejudice in historical timing, but so much more exciting! I love a leading lady that can think for herself and is just a little bit different than everyone else! With a bit of a stock market conspiracy happening throughout and interesting tid-bits about trading stocks during this time period, it made for a stimulating read! One can't forget the romance part too!

[Korie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book could have been really great if there was more "something" from the hero. It also felt a bit choppy at times, so much so that I went back and checked the page numbers to see if I had missed a page.
"something" = devotion, caring, society be damned ... I don't know, but something was missing.

[Mollie *scoutrmom* · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderfully crafted tale of romance, up to the last few pages I still didn't know how he was going to marry the right one.

[Raffaella · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one has a favorite CD theme, that is the heroine’s going from ugly duckling to awesome swan.
She’s the ugly duckling of a family where the women are exceptionally beautiful, they are tall, well built, with dark hair and fair skin while she’s slim, petite and has blonde hair.
Of course the fashion of the period, we’re talking 18 century here, doesn’t do anything for her, she’s crushed under huge wigs and too padded dresses.
The hero, thinking his betrothed is one of the beautiful sisters, is appalled to discover she’s not at all like her sisters.
He’s frankly rude and dismissive of her the first times they meet, but he soon finds out there’s something more under that wigs and clothes. He’s attracted to her and finds her beautiful. There are kisses and petting involved.
Then the heroine listens to a conversation and thinks he’s only trying to subdue her so she runs away and leaves him.
There are so many things I didn’t like.
- the heroine is a smart and learned woman. She basically goes to a friend of hers, that has something similar to a brothel. And she hides in plain sight.
Because the woman turns her into a beauty, taking off her wigs and changing her clothes. Nobody recognized her. Meh.
- the hero tries to find her but get engaged immediately with her younger sister.
- he seduces the heroine while engaged to his sister and the two have an affair for weeks while he refuses to break his engagement, because he doesn’t want yo dishonor her sister. Of course screwing the heroine while engaged to her sister is not dishonorable at all. FO.
-he never breaks his engagement even if he is in love with the heroine, he will ask one of his friends to help him stop the wedding, but he’s not able to talk to his fiancée, who by the way is reluctant and wants to be a nun, and he’s ready to marry ow.
- I don’t think he never love the heroine. He would have broken his engagement if he were. He never did it.
- there’s too much talking about stocking exchange and business I wasn’t interested in. Half the book was about it. Who cares? It’s a romance.
- there’s a villain, the usual sadist who for some reasons hates both the hero and the heroine, and this one gives die hard another meaning. He’s like wack a mole game: the more you hit him the more he stands up. No way.
- eventually the hero was the one to blame because he was never sweet and caring to the heroine, he never shows his love until the very end, and then it was too little too late.
So, not completely a failure but not good either.

[Sue Gosland]

I have never read a book by Christina Dodd that I did not adore. This one was no exception.

Bronwyn Edana never saw herself as beautiful. Her sisters were beautiful. Bronwyn was not. She hid her curly, fair, almost white hair under a brown wig, she tried to hide her tan skin, and she knew she could never be the wife Adam Keane, the viscount Rawson was looking for. What she didn't know was that Adam didn't know what kind of wife he was really looking for. It was great fun watching two people so right for each other fall in love, through all sorts of miscommunications. All kinds of trouble ensues, of course, as well as attempts on both their lives, and all sorts of misadventures until the ending, which I am not going to spoil for you. I loved it.

[Layla · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've been disturbed lately, going back and rereading two of Christina Dodd's novels, to find blatant rape scenes between the "hero" and heroine. Although the scene in "A Well Favored Gentleman" is more appalling in how thoroughly it's plotted out, executed by the "hero," and celebrated -- raping her for the greater good so he can have a place in the world -- and cavalierly treated by the author, this one was no less apparent and disheartening. And what's frustrating is that the author is skilled enough that she clearly could have found another way to accomplish her ends. I remember enjoying Dodd's books as a younger woman. No longer. I will not be reading any more of her novels.

[Caro · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book. I liked the characters, the personalities, the plot and how well this was written. This was interesting, colorful, full of adventure, daring, a little suspenseful, some action thrown in and a good ending that leaves you with a smile. Great for reading anytime, although I did lose a few hours. ;) Some parts were a little slower but mostly the book kept a pretty good pace. It does draw you in. Enjoy!

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was my first book by Dodd and I wanted to like it. I really tried. But I found the conflict contrived, the attraction between Bronwyn and Adam strained and tedious and altogether I just found myself irritated by the tropes that felt overplayed and overused. I love romance novels and read them voraciously, but this one just felt like it was trying too hard to force a conflict where one didn't need to be.

[Kaitlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t care for either of the main characters in the end. It started out with promise, but the fmc just got tedious and the mmc was boring. Some romance scenes were far too close to assault for my taste and the wrap up just seemed contrived for the sake of tension that was unnecessary by that point.

I really only finished it because the beach house I’m renting is sadly lacking in beach reads and it was what was available.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Priceless

This was so much fun, full of the bad getting what they deserved and the good winning at last. Wonderful and funny

[Brittnay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good battle of wills between two intense characters. The author did a great job when it came to writing Bronwyn and Adam's characters. This book was easy to follow and very entertaining!

[J. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh dear God, would that a coworker had not left this at my desk. Freakin' fantastic plot. Gawdawful writing. It was like words...no, whole sentences were left out. The beginning was awkward and hard to follow. The characters were poorly developed in the beginning, particularly the secondary character such as Browyn's parents. They seemed to flipflop in their words and actions. argh. annoying. There was a scene in the beginning when Adam says some fairly cruel things to another person regarding Browyn and even though Dodd shows his later reflection on, it isn't handled well. The explaination was lacking.

By the end the writing was much improved, forcing me to grudgingly admit I liked the story. The plot was complex and intelligent. Maybe I just hate wigs and cosmetics and other such frippery.

[Kim]

No, I didn't forget to mark the stars. That's really my rating--a big fat zero. I hate to have to say this about a book by an author I normally love, but this book was TERRIBLE! It was almost painful to continue reading it, but I did so in the hopes that it would improve as it went on.

Well...it didn't. I just couldn't like either the hero or the heroine, so I didn't really care what happened to them. The secondary characters were just as bad, if not worse. The whole thing just seemed pointless.

If you're reading this review while contemplating buying and/or reading this book, please DON'T BOTHER!!! Pick any one of Christina Dodd's other books instead, and you won't regret it. But this one is a total waste of time.

[Tania Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow start, but it kept getting better and better.

[Jenny]

Points for historical romance for knowing that consent is a thing. But I'm taking them away for not understanding how consent works. Basically the main female character was pretending to be someone else (bit iffy) the male character specifically asks for consent and then when there about to do the deed she realises he knows who she is and says no and doesn't want to continue. But he's like "Hahah you said yes" and continues. Also the sex was fade to black after that moment so you didnt know if she enjoyed it. Like consent can be very iffy in historical romance but if you see they enjoyed you can kinda suspend your disbelief (Urgh that was gross to write, I know thats not how rape/consent works in the real world!)

[C Joy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Characters were well introduced and there was a gradual development but it bored me a lot because mostly it talked about stocks and the stock market. Quite different from other Christina Dodd novels I've read because the marriage was fixed, the heroine wasn't really full of herself and the guy wasn't a rake, but someone very serious. His character is constant all through out but there are parts where I hated him for taking advantage of the girl. It all worked out in the end (happy ending of course) but still, it bored me.

[Maura · Rating 3 out of 5]

London 1720 Bronwyn is engaged to a be married through arrangement. Adam is a nobleman who was thoughtless and unkind with his description of Bronwyn's physical attributes. She realizes Adam's low opinion of her and runs away. There is also a conspiracy subplot involving the British realm. The story was just okay.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is definitely not one of my favorite Christina Dodd books. All that Stock Market talk was a little over my head, to be honest. I think that the story should have been more about Bronwyn and her transformation and insecurities and Adams gradual acceptance and understanding. But I did read it all in one sitting, so it held my interest.

[Ssil · Rating 2 out of 5]

Amor sin medida, escrito en 1992, cuenta a su favor con un contexto realista y unos protagonistas peculiares. Es una novela que entretiene, de regencia clásica, que cuenta con varios ingredientes, pero de la que se podría haber sacado mucho más.

Reseña: http://loquequierahoy.blogspot.com.es...

[Kristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun historical romance. Browny was spirited and Adam was strong and passionate. I loved that she runs away from him and he follows her, although it pissed me off that he agreed to marry her sister! The underlying murder mystery was not so mysterious and a bit convoluted but fun and added a little spice.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book more than the previous two stand alone books. The characters were well developed and the story engaging. I enjoyed how they made each other better. It did take a long time for the bad guy to be defeated, and I was surprised by how he got away when I originally thought he was caught. I will continue to read this author.

[gina~* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Come on ladies... Wapole made me give this book 5 stars.. what a funny character he was!! Great Dodd... I really enjoyed this one more than her others. Wittier, better mystery, hotter romance than any other Dodd's I've read so far.

[Kirsten · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a *terrible* book. Too much "intellectual" plot (HA!), not enough sex and romance - just a bunch of dumb people (who think they are smart) running around doing reallllly dumb things. I can't believe I actually read the whole damn thing. ::hides in shame::

[Kimchi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was very good. I would recommend it to everyone.

[Sylvia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Regency

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy Dodd's novels. This one takes place a bit earlier in 1720 and I liked learning about that period. I love a good Rake who knows love when he finds it and that's the jist of this.