Una mujer en sus brazos (Coleccionable Regencia)

Wellingfords #4

by Julia Justiss, Julia Justiss

Destitute governess Joanna Merrill faints on Sir Edward Greaves's threshold. Chivalry demands Ned offer temporary shelter, her large, troubled eyes and slender frame in his arms wakes something ungentlemanly inside this guarded man. Ned purposely shunned conniving beauties of London society. How much does he risk with intriguing Joanna under his roof?

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

266 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Julia Justiss grew up breathing the scent of sea air near the colonial town of Annapolis, Maryland, a fact responsible for two of her life-long passions: sailors and history! By age twelve she was a junior tour guide for Historic Annapolis, conducting visitors on walking tours through the city that was a hotbed of revolutionary fervor. (Annapolis hosted its own tea party, dispensing with the cargo aboard the "Peggy Stewart," and was briefly capital of the United States.) She also took tourists through Annapolis's other big attraction, the United States Naval Academy. After so many years of observing future naval officers at P-rade and chapel, it seemed almost inevitable that she eventually married one.

But long before embarking on romantic adventures of her own, she read about them, transporting herself to such favorite venues as ancient Egypt, World War II submarine patrols, the Old South and, of course, Regency England. Soon she was keeping notebooks for jotting down story ideas. From plotting adventures for her first favorite heroine Nancy Drew she went on to write poetry in high school and college, then worked as a business journalist doing speeches, sales promotion material and newsletter articles. After her marriage to a naval lieutenant took her overseas, she wrote the newsletter for the American Embassy in Tunis, Tunisia and traveled extensively throughout Europe. Before leaving Tunis, she fulfilled her first goal: completing a Regency novel.

Children intervened, and not until her husband left the Navy to return to his Texas homeland did she sit down to pen a second novel. The reply to her fan mail letter to a Regency author led her to Romance Writers of America. From the very first meeting, she knew she'd found a home among fellow writers--doubtless the largest group of people outside a mental institution who talk back to the voices in their heads.

Her second goal was achieved the day before her birthday in May, 1998 when Margaret Marbury of Harlequin Historicals offered to buy that second book, the Golden-Heart-Award winning novel that became THE WEDDING GAMBLE. Since then, she has gone on to write fourteen novels, three novellas and an on-line serial, along the way winning or finalling for historical awards from The Golden Quill, the National Reader’s Choice, Romantic Times, and All About Romance’s Favorite Book of the Year.

Julia now inhabits an English Georgian-style house she and her husband built in the East Texas countryside where, if she closes her eyes and ignores the summer thermometer, she can almost imagine she inhabits the landscape of "Pride and Prejudice." In between travelling to visit her three children (a naval officer son stationed in Washington, DC, a textiles and design major daughter who cheers for University of Texas at Austin, and a mechanical engineering major son also at UT Austin) keeping up with her science teacher husband and juggling a part-time day job as a high school French teacher, she pursues her first and dearest love--crafting stories.

To relax, she enjoys watching movies, reading (historical fiction, mystery, suspense) and puttering about in the garden trying to kill off more weeds than flowers.

Reviews

[veloci.reader · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don’t like sexist lying asshole heroes.

[Gemma · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've read and enjoyed books by this author before, including The Courtesan and Rogue's Lady, so when I found this book at my local thrift store, I eagerly snapped it up. But I was left very disappointed in this book.

My big complaint was the hero. The guy had sex on the brain! Whenever the heroine was around, I swear he never thought with the head on his shoulders. All he can think of is getting her into bed. Even when he first sees her, soaked through and looking pretty much like something the cat dragged in, he gets aroused by her. Okay, I can accept that. Then, the next morning while she's recounting her story, he barely pays attention and instead ogles her bosom. Nice. It reminded me of one of those sleezy guys who never bothers to look a woman in the face when she's talking to him. Not sexy. While I certainly want the hero to be sexually attracted to the heroine, I also want him to view her as something more than just a sex object.

Then, he decides that she's probably telling the truth about being an impoverised gentlewoman, and not a doxy, except that she has "plump bite-me lips and lush, fondle-me breasts", which make him think otherwise. Excuse me? Any woman with a nice figure is automatically a woman of low virtue?! He then goes on to think that he feels sorry for the man who tried to rape the heroine--since she's so tempting it must have been difficult for the man to resist. I beg your pardon?!!! If a woman is beautiful, then a man can't help it if his lusts lead him to try to rape her? It was too much for me. Wallbanger.

I'm just glad I didn't read this one first, or I might have missed out on some of this author's other fine books.

[Mary Craven · Rating 5 out of 5]

First book I have read by this author. Liked it so much, I went looking for more and found it was book 4 in a book series. Now working on 1,2,and 3. Such a nice style. Not too dull, not to explicit. Well crafted characters and settings.

[Desi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Leído en oct 2010

Argumento:

Él se convirtió de repente en el galante protector de una institutriz.
Cuando una desvalida institutriz se desmayó a los pies de sir Edward Greaves, su caballerosidad le exigió ofrecerle cobijo temporalmente. Sin embargo, el deseo que Ned sintió cuando la tuvo entre sus brazos no fue en absoluto caballeroso…
Con sus ojos grandes y atribulados y aquella esbelta figura, Joanna Merrill despertó algo profundo y oculto dentro de aquel hombre. Para ser alguien que había rehuido a las conspiradoras bellezas de la sociedad londinense, ¿cuánto estaba arriesgando Ned al acoger a aquella misteriosa mujer bajo su techo?

[WhatShouldIRead]

I just plain did not like the hero in this story. There didn't seem to be much depth to him and what I did read, he rubbed me the wrong way. All throughout he wanted to keep his relationship with the heroine on a friendly basis but every thought he had, he was thinking of getting her in bed. I got about halfway through when I finally decided I just couldn't take any more of his eyeing her plump lips and shapely bosom and wondering what she would feel like beneath him.

[Mnms · Rating 4 out of 5]

With intricate language, good characters and an intriguing story-line. This story turns a classic setup upside-down, into a new and compelling flavour. A very good read.

[SidneyKay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Missing Sparkle Alert!!!

Welcome to the third book in the series and two of the nicest bland people in the world. From Waif to Gentleman’s Wife presents us with two people who are the same. Yes, the hero and heroine think the same, act the same, want the same and are both really nice people. And, they lack spark.

Joanna Merrill is a widow who is down on her luck, out in the rain, drudging to her brother’s house. She has just been fired from her governess job because she was caught in a compromising position by her employer’s wife. Now the person she was caught with happened to be Joanna’s employer and he was forcing himself on her. Of course, his wife believes Joanna was seducing her husband. So it’s out the door, in the rain, with no money. As she’s slogging through the rain and mud she is unaware that her brother is no longer at the estate he was supposed to be stewarding. He was either fired or kidnapped – a mystery for the next book. Instead, in his place is Sir Edward Greaves.

Now, Edward is disguised as just plain old Ned Greaves. You see he was attacked on his way to the estate by a bunch of people who don’t like aristocrats. So, he is keeping his true identity a secret. He is trying to find his attackers. This means that he must keep a secret from Joanna, which is a bad thing because she has trusts issues. But don’t feel too bad, because he’s sad he has to keep a secret from Joanna and he worries about it allllll the way through the book. He constantly thinks about what will happen when she finds out. In fact, there is a lot of thinking in this book.

Joanna thinks about Ned, Ned thinks about Joanna, Joanna thinks lustful thoughts about Ned, and then she feels guilty because of those thoughts. Ned thinks lustful thoughts about Joanna, and then he feels bad because he’s got a secret. He shouldn’t be thinking lustfully about Joanna. Of course, there is something nefarious going on in the village and Ned also thinks about that.

The problem with all the thinking going on between Joanna and Ned was, even with allllll that thinking, thinking, thinking, there wasn't any spark between the two of them. I started drifting away in this story. Yes, I finished the story but I was disappointed. This is one time when the main characters needed to be a little different. They were both really nice people, but there wasn’t anything about them that was interesting. And, all that thinking gave me a headache.

[Bea Tea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rather nice, easy read with likeable characters. The plot ticked along nicely, good pacing, good writing in the most part. I did find it to be a little *overwrought* at times, as though these two adults experience every emotion with a devastating intensity of teenagers. And boy-oh-boy are these two lusty. Sex mad I would say, with every moment, every look, every minute of the day given over to throbbing loins, puckered nipples and the overactive imaginings of two relentlessly sex starved minds that won't rest for a single chuffing second. I love a bit of sex in my historical romance, but with these two I wanted to throw a bucket of cold water over them. We get it, your RANDY. Calm down.

[Lidia Cantrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sir Edward, Ned, is the perfect hero. Joanna was a good heroine but I think she should have forgiven Ned as soon as she found out about his deception. It was silly to let that be her reason to leave such a perfect man. I enjoy Julia Justiss style of writing. It is not as good as Grace Burrowes or Mary Balogh but I do find her books charming

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joanna has had one disaster after another. She is a widow who was forced to become a governess in order to support herself. Unfortunately, because she is a beautiful woman, the gentleman of the house has been pursuing her. The lady of the house, who is well aware of his behavior, is not willing to confront him. Joanna is thrown out of the house and left with very little money and no references.

She has an idea. If she can go to her brother who is the property manager for a large estate she can rebuild her life. The journey is a difficult one and she is forced to walk the last 5 miles in the rain at night. When she finally arrives, she finds her brother is no longer there.

She is treated kindly by the new manager, Ned Greaves. He offers her the opportunity to become a teacher at a school he wants to open for children of the tenants.

In reality, Ned is Sir Edward Greaves. He has purchased the property and he intends to repair the damage done by the former property manager, Joanna's brother. There is not only damage to the property itself, but the tenants and others in the area have been treated badly.

Ned believes a group of people are stirring up trouble in the area. In England there was a group known as Luddites. They believed that all progress was bad and machinery was taking over jobs which were done by human beings. They also believed that the nobility had no respect for the people who did the actual work in the country. So, rather than letting everyone know he is of the nobility and the new owner of the property, he has identified himself as a manager and a common man.

Ned's belief is that he needs to learn the true situation in the area. He wants to do his best to make the area profitable again as well as a good place for tenants to live and prosper. On his way to the property, his carriage was attacked and he did not feel he would learn of the true situation in the area if he were the new “Lord of the Manor.”

Ned is an honorable man who feels guilty for not letting Joanna know his true identify. He is also constantly thinking of pursuing a physical relationship with Joanna. In fact, at times the lust in the relationship seems to ooze off the page.

Joanna is immediately attracted to Ned. She enjoys his company. She finds him to be a very interesting and attractive man. Her lust for Ned is hard to hide.

The two of them are absolutely perfect for one another.

The secondary characters add a great deal to the story. The difficult times faced by soldiers who were returning from the Napoleonic Wars is evident. There were no programs in place for helping soldiers returning to normal life. Wounded men had an even more difficult time than healthy men who returned. The men in charge of the government had little interest in helping anyone if it would cost money.

The historic atmosphere is well developed and the plot moves forward at a good pace.

I did find it a little difficult to handle Joanna's instant change from a woman who feels her future is hopeless to a woman who had sexual fantasies about the property manager.

One of the characters introduced in the story becomes the hero in Ms Justiss' most recent book.

I received this book from the author in the hope of a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Fangirl Musings · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pages survived: 74

I'm not sure why, but I'm going through an apparent reading-slump.

And, even more odd, for this particular novel, I couldn't say for certain why it was that this particular book wasn't doing it for me. But, regardless, I knew something was missing and it just plain wasn't working.

Normally, I'm not a fan of reading book reviews before having read the book itself first. One, I hate spoilers, and two, I notice quite often that my tastes are very specific and don't always parallel others'. However, for the case of Justiss' From Waif to Gentleman's Wife, reading AAR's book review on this book helped immensely!

First of all, the review illustrated for me why I was not enjoying this particular story. Quite frankly, the characters were sickeningly sweet. They were just too two goody-two-shoed for me. Writers creating the right balance of personality for protagonists is not an easy job. If they're too much of a butt hole, the reader (or at least, I) loses respect for them. If they're too Mrs.-And-Mr.-Perfect, they become gag-worthy.

So, no doubt, it's not an easy job. But, it's an important job. And, sadly, one that, with this book, Justiss failed at, miserably. Ned, the hero, made dry toast look spicy while his heroine, Joanna, was the embodiment of Perfectly Perfect Perfection. And, while this might've changed over the duration of the story, I couldn't keep stomaching it in the short term enough to wait for such to eliminate itself in the long.

There were further issues that I no doubt would've had with this book, had I continued to read it. Plot points that would've no doubt driven me batty, but since I learned about such after reading a review on the novel, I can't note those as being reasons for my DNF decision. Still, I'm glad that I decided to let a review choose whether or not I finished this book. My instinct said it wasn't working, and it was right.

[Anne Neville · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mrs. Joanna Merrill is a proud woman: when her husband dies, she is unwilling to throw herself into the care of her older brother. Instead, she works as a governess. When her lecherous employer forces her to flee with pennies in her pocket, she travels across the country to her brother’s house. When she arrives–famished, dirty, and frozen through–at the estate he manages, she learns he’s been dismissed from his post. In his place she finds the new manager, Ned Greaves, and promptly faints at his feet. As for Mr. Greaves, he has bigger problems than a mysterious woman at his doorstep. He is, in fact, Sir Edward Greaves, new owner of the impoverished and ruined estate, operating in disguise to uncover the criminal elements who are inciting locals to violence.

http://www.numbersonthespines.com/201...

[Akemi Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it. This story involved an exploration of class differences in a nuanced way that I really appreciated. I felt the differences between the landed and titled gentry vs. gentlemen/women vs. servants and the working classes was really highlighted in an accessible way to a modern reader. I also liked the descriptions of the countryside and land and architecture and interior design styles. While the plot seemed quite predictable, I thought the settings and characters were interesting. I also enjoyed the political details that added some depth to the story. I would seek out other books by this author in the future.

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wasn't sold on this novel. The plot was good, the characters okay, but it was the dialogue, I mean holy smoke, it was so cheesy I was surprised the words weren't printed directly onto cheese slices.

`Ooh Ned! Watch as I misread all the baddies and over use the exclamation point in speech!` said stupidly and frustratingly naive Joanna.

If the lead couple had been a bit more kickass and less swoony then this may have been a three. Alas.

[Gemma G. Gegargas · Rating 1 out of 5]

Aunque en un principio el libro me cautivó fue viniéndose abajo hasta resultarme tedioso. Hay partes de relleno demasiado extensa y las mas interesantes demasiado cortas.

Lo que más me gustó, quizás sea el protagonista masculino, sir Edward.

Lo que menos me gustó, me aburrió en muchas partes y fui leyendo por encima.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Your basic Regency romance novel, except it was set in the country, not London. I liked that it covered some history that I was less familiar with. Decent plot, not too convoluterd, The bad guy gets caught and the good guy gets the girl.

[Harlequin Historical]

regency

[Lynn Calvin]

Amazon preorder

[Jasey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really had a diffitult time finishing this book and found myself actually skipping pargraphs!

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just loved this book but I really liked the previous ones a little better. I just cannot wait to start the next one.

[Danniell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book by Julia Justiss. It was sweet and light. I liked "Ned" but must say my favorite character was Davie. If your looking for an enjoyable and sweet read then this is a book for you.

[Peggy Clayton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that I just really enjoyed. It is a historical read and I would recommend others to read. This is a home run for Julia!

[Mia]

I have little sympathy for the irrational (the heroine) and no patience with the meek (the hero).

Meh.