The Jordans Collection

The Jordans #1-3

by Jenna Petersen, Jess Michaels

Three books by National Bestselling Romance Author Jess Michaels writing as Jenna Petersen

Jess Michaels wrote the Jordan's books under the Jenna Petersen pen name. This set includes 3 full length sensual, seductive historical romance novels.

The Secrets of a Lady


Audrey Jordan isn't your typical Regency lady. To escape unrequited feelings for her brother's best friend Griffin Berenger, she entered a life of a spy. But her current case has brought her back to the man she once loved and lost, a man who is now a broken widower. Audrey and her brother are stalking his neighbor, a man who may be plotting to kill the Prince. Staying in Griffin's home, Audrey is reminded of all the desires and feelings he once stirred in her. As for Griffin, he finds himself obsessed with Audrey, and driven to protect her even if it threatens her case.

But as their desire for each other grows, the case Audrey and her brother are investigating heats up. And if she cannot arrest the blackguard in her sights, she may not live, let alone get to live happily ever after with the man of her dreams.


The Temptation of a Gentleman


Noah Jordan misses the life he once led as a spy so when he's asked by his former superior to head to the countryside and investigate a potential murder, he jumps at the chance. He doesn't expect to meet Marion Hawthorne, a young woman his suspected murderer is interested in taking as his wife. In an effort to help her... and to get closer to the fascinating lady, Noah asks for her help in his investigation.

But as they grow closer, their desire grows and suddenly Noah has a harder and harder time remembering any duty, any promise or any future he ever imagined without her.


The Desires of a Countess


After Ginny Blanchard's abusive husband died, she looked forward to a more independent life where she could raise her young son as she pleased. But when Simon Webber is assigned as trustee to her estate and her son's fortune, she feels she must come up with a plan to force him from her life. But she doesn't count on sensual Simon's insistence that he not only take a role in her son's life but in her own.

But Ginny has dark and terrible secrets that she must hide. Even from the man she loves. And even if it puts her own life in terrible danger.

Genres: Historical Romance

1074 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 16, 2014

About the author

Jenna Petersen now writes historical romance exclusively as Jess Michaels. Please check out her self-published and Samhain publishing books here:

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...

Jenna no longer supports her HarperCollins/Avon books due to price gouging and refusal to return author rights.

Reviews

[Elis Madison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rant Alert!

I've read other books by Jenna Peterson/Jess Michaels and liked them. The first book in this series, though, is a great illustration of why publishers pay editors to iron out the wrinkles. I actually found it hard to keep reading.

The story starts with Audrey, our heroine, deep in the throes of adolescent angst, fueled by a fair amount of Scotch. She drunkenly kisses her brother's best friend and declares her love—on his wedding night. To another woman. She's caught at it, and subsequently (thanks to the beyotch he married) ruined. Thus, her spy brother carries her off to the Continent, where he trains her to spy for England.

Fast forward five years. Our hero, Griffen, is now a not particularly grieving widower who is jaded on women and life. Audrey and Noah, her spy brother, recruit him to host them at his London home, the better for a budding courtship between Audrey and their latest target, the villain who seems to be embroiled in a plot to kill the Prince Regent.

The villain, you see, is interested in Audrey because she's respectable and well-placed in Society (evidently not so ruined after all—except in the Regency era, there is NO way a respectable woman, even accompanied by her brother, could live unchaperoned under the roof of an unrelated bachelor and preserve her reputation, but we won't go there).

The concept is pretty good, despite a few logic flaws. The execution, not so much. Five years later, Audrey, a trained spy, is still thinking and acting like a drunken adolescent. She's so obsessed over Griffen she's unbelievable as a competent spy, who should be able to compartmentalize her feelings and focus. She's forever woolgathering or openly drooling all over Griffen, or ignoring the man she's supposed to be courting while she angsts over her feelings. And Griffen, a man who has lived through some hard knocks in the past five years, doesn't seem much more capable of mastering his emotions and focusing on the important work at hand.

And then there's the writing. While the grammar and syntax is mostly sound, the book is liberally salted with misused words like "guttural" (doesn't mean what she apparently thinks it does) and "reign" (should be "rein" in this context), and anachronistic words like "yuck"--coined in the 1960's. Call me picky, but there were enough of these to really bother me.

Optimist that I am, I kept reading, first to see if the denouement of the first book would be worth reading (the ending was satisfying, despite all the stuff that bugged me), and then to see if maybe Jess Michaels/Jenna Peterson grew in her craft in the later books of this trilogy. And here, finally, is the good news. The second and third books, while still not as strong other books by this author, were cleaner and much more believable.

If I'd have quit during the first book, this would have gotten 2 stars. I'm bumping it to 3.5 because of the other two, which, separately, would've rated four stars.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Secrets of a Lady
I am drawn to stories where the hero/heroine are spies. In order to get away from her mortification about what happened at Griffin’s wedding and subsequent machinations of Griffin’s wife to bring Audrey down, Audrey begs her brother Noah (hero of the next book) to let her become a part of his world (working for the Crown). He reluctantly agrees but realizes she is a valuable asset to his work (she is no shy flower and will do whatever it takes to get her job done, sometimes to the detriment of her relationships). Five years go by (and Griffin’s wife has passed away) and Audrey and Noah need Griffin’s help in bringing down an assassin. Audrey is still in love with Griffin but he has no place in his heart for love due to his wife’s infidelity. Audrey wants a relationship based on love and Griffin has a hard time giving his heart. The relationship took time over the course of the story, it was not instantaneous although the sexual tension was high. The story pulled at my heartstrings with wanting Griffin to be healed and be able to love again. I really liked the progression of seeing Griffin realize that he had loved Audrey for a long time and was willing to risk everything for love. There is a lot of action in this story and is a great summer read. I would love to see a story featuring Hannah, she is a very interesting character (loyal and kick-butt).

The Temptation of a Gentleman
This is the second book in the Jordans’ series and is about Noah (brother to Audrey, the heroine in the first book) and Marion. In the first book Noah was a very focused spy. This book begins a year later with Noah no longer a spy and suffering from ennui. He is portrayed as a former rake but he is seriously courting a lady even though he does not love her and is doing so because that is what is expected since his father recently passed away. Noah’s former boss asks him to help in one last investigation which he quickly agrees to. The first meeting of Noah and Marion is quite funny and sets the tone for their relationship. Noah is honorable and honestly does not set out to seduce Marion however after he asks for her help in his investigation, the close proximity is a recipe for sexual tension. Marion is feisty and a very likable character. Due to her father’s bad business dealings, Marion is being forced into a marriage she does not desire so she asks Noah for his help in exchange for her helping him. There is a lot of misunderstandings which makes for frustrating reading at times. You want to say “just tell him the whole truth” or “just ask him what he meant instead of guessing” which always go wrong. The end of the book is very sweet with Noah chasing after her and their reunion is quite the stuff of good book endings.

The Desires of a Countess
Virginia (Ginny) is a recent widow with a young son and afraid of what will happen if anyone finds out what happened the night her husband died. Simon (her husband’s cousin) is trustee and wants to assure Ginny that he is not anything like her husband. Ginny and Simon’s story is very emotional. Simon truly wants to help Ginny but she keeps pushing him away because of her secret however their attraction to each other is too strong (I do not usually mention the sex in my reviews however I am making an exception - the tension and scenes were hot!). There is a lot going on in this book. In addition to Ginny’s unwillingness to give her heart to Simon she is also estranged from her family. The reunion with her family is very emotional almost to the point of getting out the tissues. Simon is truly an honorable man who falls in love with Ginny and does everything he can to make her happy. Big smile!! Also, the scenes with Simon and Jack (Ginny’s son) are so sweet. It made me feel good.

[Mia London · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, the writing was good and I enjoyed the stories. The third story fell short for me. Too many inconsistencies. If Simon is sort of the "red-headed stepchild", why would Henry make him executor of Jack's inheritance? Next, Ginny and Harriet ride together to London, but when they arrive at Ginny's townhouse, suddenly Harriet has disappeared. And lastly, as Ginny is being hauled back to Westdale she would not be expecting anyone to follow her. In fact, she didn't want anyone to follow for fear of Henry's repercussions. Perhaps the last story was rushed.

[Wintermagic · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Secrets of a Lady
I didn't care for this one much at all. I just didn't connect with the characters much.

The Temptation of a Gentleman
This one was much better than the first.

The Desires of a Countess
My favorite of the three.

[Patricia Perez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

I totally enjoyed all three Jordan books. Anything Jess Michaels writes is awesome. I can't wait for more each time I finish one. I recommend this box set the love, laughter, and actions made these some awesome stories.

[Aryn Jy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet

But typical in a historical romance novel. Nothing I haven't read before. But it was cute and cheesy book to read.