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Compass Club #2
Everything I Ever Wanted
The toast of Drury Lane, actress India Parr has claimed the attention of London's most impressive gentlemen -- including the Prince Regent himself -- with her talent and poise. Though her heart hasn't been won, she is intrigued by the devilishly handsome Earl of Southerton -- yet equally determined to keep him from the dark, deadly secret that shadows her private life.
448 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
68 people are currently reading
298 people want to read
About the author
Jo Goodman
64 books482 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 42 reviews
March 4, 2017
Somewhat odd, but quite enjoyable.
October 21, 2010
I loved this book - 5 stars - in print, but the unabridged audio version with narrator Jenny Sterlin is DREADFUL and I DNFed less than 2 hours in after learning from others that heroine India Parr's voice continues to sound as though she might expire from consumption or ennui before the book is over. The first book in the series is read by the very good, very-proper-British-speaking Virginia Leishman, and it's a joy, but stay away from the overly-bored, annoyingly-snide voice of Sterlin because she could ruin the series for you if you hadn't already read it.
February 10, 2026
Still on a Jo Goodman kick and there is much to enjoy about these books, but her weaknesses in writing become a little bit more clear. I found the last 20% of this book incredibly convoluted when the whodunnit and the reasons why — — are revealed. While I think one of Jo Goodman's strengths is her ability to build a really airtight relationship between her leads, it is a VERY long and sometimes detailed (and perhaps tedious?) process.
By the end of the book, there's no doubt I believe in the characters' love for each other, but mayhaps trim by 25-50 pages??? :D
Secondly, I do think this is a result of me having read a lot of JG in the last few weeks, but her hero and heroine archetypes are becoming very clear, and I've yet to read a book of hers where her formula deviates. Now, I happen to REALLY enjoy her archetypes, so I don't mind it so much (same way I do with Julie Anne Long's), but if you're someone who's not into a more serious, mature, at-times somber character, her books could potentially be a slog.
By the end of the book, there's no doubt I believe in the characters' love for each other, but mayhaps trim by 25-50 pages??? :D
Secondly, I do think this is a result of me having read a lot of JG in the last few weeks, but her hero and heroine archetypes are becoming very clear, and I've yet to read a book of hers where her formula deviates. Now, I happen to REALLY enjoy her archetypes, so I don't mind it so much (same way I do with Julie Anne Long's), but if you're someone who's not into a more serious, mature, at-times somber character, her books could potentially be a slog.
April 25, 2024
I loved India and South. I loved how South is able to get India to open up to him, and how he makes her feel safe. I love stories when the main characters spend time in a secluded little cottage away from the rest of the world, and this book delivers.
India is not really the typical strong, spitfire heroine you find in these types of books, and I really like her for that. I don’t think she’s weak, but coming from a lower class background and the treatment she’s received from members of the upper class has made her more reserved. Also, actually working for a living can make someone too exhausted to fight, especially when you know it won’t get you anywhere. I think her strength come from her ability to survive and remain kind and compassionate person. Plus she has domesticate skills that provide her with an independence that the classic “independant” regency romance heroine is missing a lot of times. The great part about the romance between India and South is how he makes her feel comfortable enough that she is able to reconnect with her sense of self and she progressivally gets sassier and more vulnerable.
I don’t know if this book would be everybody’s cup of tea, but I really enjoyed it.
India is not really the typical strong, spitfire heroine you find in these types of books, and I really like her for that. I don’t think she’s weak, but coming from a lower class background and the treatment she’s received from members of the upper class has made her more reserved. Also, actually working for a living can make someone too exhausted to fight, especially when you know it won’t get you anywhere. I think her strength come from her ability to survive and remain kind and compassionate person. Plus she has domesticate skills that provide her with an independence that the classic “independant” regency romance heroine is missing a lot of times. The great part about the romance between India and South is how he makes her feel comfortable enough that she is able to reconnect with her sense of self and she progressivally gets sassier and more vulnerable.
I don’t know if this book would be everybody’s cup of tea, but I really enjoyed it.
October 10, 2021
Took place in 1818. This Compass Club bk #2,
had the hero known as "South."
This featured Matthew (a viscount) & India (an
acclaimed actress). India was too guarded and
the antagonist too sick, perverted and evil.
Perhaps the author wanted to show the extreme
contrast between the light (Matthew) & the dark
(baddie)? The mystery aspect became tiresome.
The story felt too long. Ultimately the romance
came in second, an undesirable position for a
romance. Ms Goodman has written better books.
had the hero known as "South."
This featured Matthew (a viscount) & India (an
acclaimed actress). India was too guarded and
the antagonist too sick, perverted and evil.
Perhaps the author wanted to show the extreme
contrast between the light (Matthew) & the dark
(baddie)? The mystery aspect became tiresome.
The story felt too long. Ultimately the romance
came in second, an undesirable position for a
romance. Ms Goodman has written better books.
January 30, 2014
O___O Such a... dark book, it was. And it left me speechless.
(warning: nsfw picture below... kinda).
I did like South and India, a bit, but this book was too dark for me to like it.
(warning: nsfw picture below... kinda).
I did like South and India, a bit, but this book was too dark for me to like it.
June 29, 2010
Everything I Ever Wanted is the second book in Jo Goodman's Compass Club quartet. It features The Earl of Southerton, Matthew Forester as he investigates the actress India Parr and her ties to several men who have recently been murdered. South must determine if she had anything to do with these murders. The more he gets to know India, the more he realizes mystery surrounds her and that she is in great danger. India refuses his help and therefore South takes matters into his own hands by kidnapping her.
I love the way Jo Goodman tells a story. Everything I Ever Wanted has that Jo Goodman signature style where she never gives you the big picture. She trickles in little bits and pieces slowly, which eventually come cleverly together. In this story, the reader is trying to figure out India Parr's mysterious past. Who is her protector and what hold does he have over her? It really is ingenious how Goodman delivers the facts. She is completely in control over the reader's experience and she is a master in the driver's seat.
The characterization is amazing. Yet this could be to the detriment for this story because I didn't like India Parr. She seemed too weak willed for my tastes. It was as if she enjoyed playing the victim to an extent. I tend to like my heroines strong and Goodman usually writes them that way. So maybe I was expecting too much. Even aside from not really liking India, Everything I Ever Wanted was still a captivating story and one I can recommend, especially if you like a book that twists and turns and keeps you coming back for more.
I love the way Jo Goodman tells a story. Everything I Ever Wanted has that Jo Goodman signature style where she never gives you the big picture. She trickles in little bits and pieces slowly, which eventually come cleverly together. In this story, the reader is trying to figure out India Parr's mysterious past. Who is her protector and what hold does he have over her? It really is ingenious how Goodman delivers the facts. She is completely in control over the reader's experience and she is a master in the driver's seat.
The characterization is amazing. Yet this could be to the detriment for this story because I didn't like India Parr. She seemed too weak willed for my tastes. It was as if she enjoyed playing the victim to an extent. I tend to like my heroines strong and Goodman usually writes them that way. So maybe I was expecting too much. Even aside from not really liking India, Everything I Ever Wanted was still a captivating story and one I can recommend, especially if you like a book that twists and turns and keeps you coming back for more.
May 12, 2009
Jo Goodman has written a fine tuned novel but gets bogged down by the angst of the heroine and the dark storyline. There are so many secrets and hidden agendas going on, that the reader truly doesn't understand everything till the last chapter. Goodman writes elegantly but the story is so dark that there doesn't look to be a happy ending for our two main characters. Even then, their relationship is still questionable.
India, the heroine, is an actress on the London stage and the latest toast of society. South is part of an elite group of friends who have known each other since childhood. Each is named North, South, East and West. Murders are happening to titled men and South is approached to find the killer, who maybe India or something to do with her.
Of course both are attracted to each other but because India is so tormented by her past and by someone truly insane, she can not act upon her growing feelings for South. He maybe the killer's next target.
The love scenes seem stilted and the chemistry is kind of bland between India and South. All is mainly due to India's part.
Madness, obsession and murder all play a part in this story. People are not whom they seem and the reason for the murders don't become clear till the very end. If you enjoy complex characters and many forboding moments, check out Jo Goodman's latest. It is the second of four novels about the four friends.
India, the heroine, is an actress on the London stage and the latest toast of society. South is part of an elite group of friends who have known each other since childhood. Each is named North, South, East and West. Murders are happening to titled men and South is approached to find the killer, who maybe India or something to do with her.
Of course both are attracted to each other but because India is so tormented by her past and by someone truly insane, she can not act upon her growing feelings for South. He maybe the killer's next target.
The love scenes seem stilted and the chemistry is kind of bland between India and South. All is mainly due to India's part.
Madness, obsession and murder all play a part in this story. People are not whom they seem and the reason for the murders don't become clear till the very end. If you enjoy complex characters and many forboding moments, check out Jo Goodman's latest. It is the second of four novels about the four friends.
August 13, 2016
Everything I Ever Wanted, Jo Goodman - This is the second in the Compass Club series, and features a standby Goodman theme of the abused heroine in need of rescue. India Parr, the heroine/actress, is menaced by a truly creepy figure, and she does know she's in danger. She feels strongly however that she can manage her situation and so she refuses help from the hero of the novel, who is, unbeknownst to her, an agent of the state set up spying on her to flush out a killer. The murders of India's "suitors" are gripping and intense. The romance too is intense and steamy. This story has one of my pet peeves in romance writing, which is the kidnapping and coercion of the heroine by the hero, but it is handled very well and India earns respect for her resourcefulness. South becomes in the course of the novel a tender and loving partner to India and it was such a pleasure to observe them falling in love. Goodman is a dense and often dark writer but given the brevity of so many romances today, I find that I enjoy sinking into her heavy, long books. Like the first one in the Compass Club series I found the mystery and romance well balanced.
March 5, 2015
well... this was a fun chase! Okay, maybe not so much fun as interesting and a streak of perversion that had me sitting back and saying "ew! kick his a$$!" All I can say is, "Please, ma'am! Can I have more?"
May 9, 2013
I liked this one quite a bit better than the previous book. (And I liked the villain's secret identity - I certainly never saw it coming!)
March 28, 2019
Copyright 2003. This is the 2nd in the series & it's South's story. You can read it stand alone.
This series is based on 4 school friends who have names with compass points in them. South is really the Earl of Southerton. I was mistaken in my previous review that they were all second sons who gain the title. South's father was a second son who gained the title with the death of his brother.
So, I really loved South as a hero. He's great! India was a good heroine as well & I LOVE her name.
The drama revolves around India & I won't get into it because of spoilers. She's also an agent for the Colonel, as South finds out. There's a couple of murders & an attempt on Prinny's life that draw attention to India. She's had a hard life since she was about 11 & what makes her troubles interesting is JG's fine imagination.
I think North's story was still the best so far. This is good, but not quite a 5 star for me.
This series is based on 4 school friends who have names with compass points in them. South is really the Earl of Southerton. I was mistaken in my previous review that they were all second sons who gain the title. South's father was a second son who gained the title with the death of his brother.
So, I really loved South as a hero. He's great! India was a good heroine as well & I LOVE her name.
The drama revolves around India & I won't get into it because of spoilers. She's also an agent for the Colonel, as South finds out. There's a couple of murders & an attempt on Prinny's life that draw attention to India. She's had a hard life since she was about 11 & what makes her troubles interesting is JG's fine imagination.
I think North's story was still the best so far. This is good, but not quite a 5 star for me.
October 24, 2021
I did not like how the plot unraveled. I as the reader was left in the dark as to how the the main characters felt, what they thought or why they did what they did. These motivating reasons were given incidental, for example when a character explained himself/herself in a dialogue, but much later.
Every character was shrouded in mystery, I could not relate to any of them, not even the ones I knew from previous books. The storytelling was very poor.
Some of these missing parts of the plot were part of the previous books but weren’t explained as such, only touched in passing. It was very frustrating and confusing and a reason I could not enjoy the story. Can you imagine: all the confusing bits were explained in the Epilogue! For me it was way too late.
I will not read the last book, because I don’t think the author‘s writing style worth the trouble.
Every character was shrouded in mystery, I could not relate to any of them, not even the ones I knew from previous books. The storytelling was very poor.
Some of these missing parts of the plot were part of the previous books but weren’t explained as such, only touched in passing. It was very frustrating and confusing and a reason I could not enjoy the story. Can you imagine: all the confusing bits were explained in the Epilogue! For me it was way too late.
I will not read the last book, because I don’t think the author‘s writing style worth the trouble.
December 8, 2020
Lord Southerton is asked to check in with his colonel’s agent, actress India Parr, after her contact is murdered. South is attracted the brilliant actress, whose off-stage persona is much more guarded and reserved than her stage persona. He suspects that she is being threatened by someone and spirits her away to a small property that West owns.
I always love the intelligent/cerebral quality of Jo Goodman's romances. However, while I liked the principles of this story, as well as the overarching Compass Club concept, I felt the story was slow to get moving, and the end felt pretty far-fetched.
I always love the intelligent/cerebral quality of Jo Goodman's romances. However, while I liked the principles of this story, as well as the overarching Compass Club concept, I felt the story was slow to get moving, and the end felt pretty far-fetched.
September 20, 2017
This is a very long read. By the time I read the last page I had lost all sense of the H/H. The supporting characters seemed to dominate the story. The story is complicated with a lot of twists and turns. If you think you have the whole story as you read, you find out in the end you never did. I found myself skip reading the background parts that I had read in the first book. Some of the story could have been deleted to make it a more enjoyable read. Recommend
October 30, 2017
India Parr is one of London's foremost actresses. Matthew Forrester, Viscount Southerton, also known as South, is trying to find the murderer of one his spy colleagues. When their paths cross, South discovers that there is much more to India than anyone can imagine.
As with the first one in the series, there are some very intense and unexpected twists & turns that had me still reading at 2am!
As with the first one in the series, there are some very intense and unexpected twists & turns that had me still reading at 2am!
September 3, 2019
Good romance about an actress and the mysteries that surround her. Is she a murderer? A traitor? Or just caught up in something she can't wriggle out of? The hero is the heir to a title who currently assists in solving crimes that get tangled in crown affairs. And he's assigned to figure out just how involved the actress is. The plot takes an unexpected twist or two. Plenty of angsty angst to chew on. I liked it a lot.
January 9, 2019
It started slow, and then got real weird real quick. This book was a lot darker than some of the other Jo Goodman pieces. The plot was generally unique so it's got that going for it. The most exciting parts all happened withina few minutes. If you're reading this, hang in there! Maybe skip a chapter or two to keep things interesting.
March 24, 2021
Closer to 4.5 or 5, but I'm very stingy with my 5s! I'm kind of obsessed with this series. They're so full of deep dark secrets and intrigue. The relationship between the two main characters is really beautiful and supportive and lovely. The bond between the four friends of the series is also great. I'm a sucker for good male friendships.
June 9, 2019
Complex
It took me a while to read this installment of this series. It does have a few triggers for me. I'm glad I pushed through though. This one definitely needed a happy ending. I loved the hero and all of his friends. I'm off to read the next book.
It took me a while to read this installment of this series. It does have a few triggers for me. I'm glad I pushed through though. This one definitely needed a happy ending. I loved the hero and all of his friends. I'm off to read the next book.
December 1, 2023
MY GOD! My patience has run out!! These two MCs did nothing but talk in circles and riddles! I stopped caring about the mystery at 60% mark because LORD HELP ME!
Me literally the entire time...
Me literally the entire time...
September 15, 2017
Characters Plot Descriptions
All so well developed and connected. Weaving the stories together without making one book depend on the previous is an amazing talent.
All so well developed and connected. Weaving the stories together without making one book depend on the previous is an amazing talent.
April 12, 2018
South/Mathew & India/Diana's Love story is what dreams are made of, Love it!
November 9, 2018
This book was creepy. I liked many things about the relationship between India and South, but I think the suspense part of the plot was just too bizarre.
October 14, 2024
Excellent story
January 10, 2025
Una historia interesante, bastante drama y acción.
June 8, 2013
There are a lot of things I don't like. Gravy, Breaking Bad, the current Pemberly Digital mini-series, Sanditon. And there are a number if things I also don't like in books.
Like insta-romance, stupid heroines, and pathetically simple plots that revolve around the conundrum of getting a regency heroine into the regency roguish here's bed,
I get that the regency era was a bit more free than its Victorian successor, but the novels in Goodman's Compass Club series are just too much. Granted it is romance in the vein of Harlequin's own smut, so I really shouldn't complain. It just bothers me how formulaic they all turned out to be. Did you know that by 200 pages for each of these novels, the characters had done the deed? No matter the plot, there was a raunchy sex scene to compliment it at the halfway mark. Often with the heroine performing sexual acts that charged the heroes with sexual excitement unlike anything they had felt before! Or at least hotter than ever. The required love portion of the relationship seemed to quickly follow after that.
And we wonder why so many people, especially women, mistakenly equate sex with love...
I really don't think I can read these types of novels anymore. The formula, the easy plot, I'm seeing it now in a way I didn't several years ago. I feel like I can almost pull the narrative out if that makes any sense at all. It's not that these aren't interesting novels or particularly bad ones, I've read worse, but they've become stories and characters that I don't get anything out from. As someone who likes to analyze everything, but especially narrative in whatever form I can, these novels teach me nothing except that romance writers and romance producers and publishers do stick to a formula that seems to repeat itself over and over.
And I just can't read that anymore. Am I a snob for saying that?
This book in the series wasn't the worst of the bunch, All I Ever Needed nearly killed me, but it did come close. India's self-inflicted stupidity was certainly one of the worse things I had to endure. I was practically screaming at her throughout the novel, even in spite of the fact she was under some obvious Stockholm syndrome fun times. Her hot and cold act, along with her temper tantrums and emo phases, not that South, the hero, wasn't prey to those as well, had me facepalming; as did the fact that she was cast as the character with the terrible, dark secret that prevented her from loving anyone ever or risk the consequences! Gasp.
And people wonder why I can't stand New Adult.
The only part I really sort of enjoyed about this book was the ending. Because the villain monologue was kind of fun. Mostly because I like getting answers.
But honestly this was kind of a lot of stupid. As well as clearly advocating the awesome women rights we have today. I think.
God, I'm glad I finished this series. 2/5
Like insta-romance, stupid heroines, and pathetically simple plots that revolve around the conundrum of getting a regency heroine into the regency roguish here's bed,
I get that the regency era was a bit more free than its Victorian successor, but the novels in Goodman's Compass Club series are just too much. Granted it is romance in the vein of Harlequin's own smut, so I really shouldn't complain. It just bothers me how formulaic they all turned out to be. Did you know that by 200 pages for each of these novels, the characters had done the deed? No matter the plot, there was a raunchy sex scene to compliment it at the halfway mark. Often with the heroine performing sexual acts that charged the heroes with sexual excitement unlike anything they had felt before! Or at least hotter than ever. The required love portion of the relationship seemed to quickly follow after that.
And we wonder why so many people, especially women, mistakenly equate sex with love...
I really don't think I can read these types of novels anymore. The formula, the easy plot, I'm seeing it now in a way I didn't several years ago. I feel like I can almost pull the narrative out if that makes any sense at all. It's not that these aren't interesting novels or particularly bad ones, I've read worse, but they've become stories and characters that I don't get anything out from. As someone who likes to analyze everything, but especially narrative in whatever form I can, these novels teach me nothing except that romance writers and romance producers and publishers do stick to a formula that seems to repeat itself over and over.
And I just can't read that anymore. Am I a snob for saying that?
This book in the series wasn't the worst of the bunch, All I Ever Needed nearly killed me, but it did come close. India's self-inflicted stupidity was certainly one of the worse things I had to endure. I was practically screaming at her throughout the novel, even in spite of the fact she was under some obvious Stockholm syndrome fun times. Her hot and cold act, along with her temper tantrums and emo phases, not that South, the hero, wasn't prey to those as well, had me facepalming; as did the fact that she was cast as the character with the terrible, dark secret that prevented her from loving anyone ever or risk the consequences! Gasp.
And people wonder why I can't stand New Adult.
The only part I really sort of enjoyed about this book was the ending. Because the villain monologue was kind of fun. Mostly because I like getting answers.
But honestly this was kind of a lot of stupid. As well as clearly advocating the awesome women rights we have today. I think.
God, I'm glad I finished this series. 2/5
April 11, 2023
„Ein Viscount auf Irrwegen“ von Jo Goodman ist der zweite Band ihrer abenteuerlichen Club der Lords Reihe.
Der Viscount of Southerton, von seinen Freunden nur South genannt, bekommt einen neuen brisanten Auftrag. Die gefeierte Schauspielerin India Parr steht im Verdacht, für das Verschwinden und den Tod einiger Männer verantwortlich zu sein. South soll herausfinden, ob India tatsächlich eine gefährliche Mörderin ist oder ob vielleicht sie selbst in tödlicher Gefahr schwebt. Schnell fühlt sich South zu India hingezogen, aber die selbstbewusste junge Frau weigert sich, seine Hilfe anzunehmen. Misstrauisch beobachtet South ihre zahlreichen Verehrer, denn nur er allein möchte ihr Herz gewinnen. Doch dies wird keine einfache Mission für South.
Jo Goodman erzählt diesmal die Geschichte des zweiten Mitglieds des berüchtigten Compass Clubs. Ihr Schreibstil liest sich leicht und flüssig und wieder konstruiert sie eine spannende Story, deren Hintergründe aber ein wenig undurchsichtig sind.
South ist ein charmanter Adliger, der trotz seiner Herkunft im Verborgenen als Spion arbeitet. Nicht einmal seine Freunde kennen seine geheimen Aufträge, wobei auch sein Auftraggeber seltsam vage bleibt. Das war etwas, was mich ehrlicherweise gestört hat, denn dadurch ist sein Charakter nicht komplett greifbar.
India ist ebenfalls mysteriös, aber irgendwie hatte ich zu ihr einen besseren Zugang. India ist unerschrocken und mutig, aber sie unterliegt auch Zwängen, über die sie nicht sprechen kann.
Die Twist sind durchaus überraschend und packend gestaltet. Trotzdem konnte mich die Handlung nicht durchgängig mitreißen. Die Grundidee ist aber interessant und ich bleibe weiterhin neugierig, wie die Handlungsfäden am Ende der Reihe aufgelöst werden.
Mein Fazit:
Eine unterhaltsame Regency Romance, die von mir gern eine Leseempfehlung bekommt!
Der Viscount of Southerton, von seinen Freunden nur South genannt, bekommt einen neuen brisanten Auftrag. Die gefeierte Schauspielerin India Parr steht im Verdacht, für das Verschwinden und den Tod einiger Männer verantwortlich zu sein. South soll herausfinden, ob India tatsächlich eine gefährliche Mörderin ist oder ob vielleicht sie selbst in tödlicher Gefahr schwebt. Schnell fühlt sich South zu India hingezogen, aber die selbstbewusste junge Frau weigert sich, seine Hilfe anzunehmen. Misstrauisch beobachtet South ihre zahlreichen Verehrer, denn nur er allein möchte ihr Herz gewinnen. Doch dies wird keine einfache Mission für South.
Jo Goodman erzählt diesmal die Geschichte des zweiten Mitglieds des berüchtigten Compass Clubs. Ihr Schreibstil liest sich leicht und flüssig und wieder konstruiert sie eine spannende Story, deren Hintergründe aber ein wenig undurchsichtig sind.
South ist ein charmanter Adliger, der trotz seiner Herkunft im Verborgenen als Spion arbeitet. Nicht einmal seine Freunde kennen seine geheimen Aufträge, wobei auch sein Auftraggeber seltsam vage bleibt. Das war etwas, was mich ehrlicherweise gestört hat, denn dadurch ist sein Charakter nicht komplett greifbar.
India ist ebenfalls mysteriös, aber irgendwie hatte ich zu ihr einen besseren Zugang. India ist unerschrocken und mutig, aber sie unterliegt auch Zwängen, über die sie nicht sprechen kann.
Die Twist sind durchaus überraschend und packend gestaltet. Trotzdem konnte mich die Handlung nicht durchgängig mitreißen. Die Grundidee ist aber interessant und ich bleibe weiterhin neugierig, wie die Handlungsfäden am Ende der Reihe aufgelöst werden.
Mein Fazit:
Eine unterhaltsame Regency Romance, die von mir gern eine Leseempfehlung bekommt!
August 16, 2023
Zu Beginn lässt sich sagen: Ich fand dieses Buch viel besser, als den ersten Band der Reihe. Die Charaktere (vor allem der männliche Protagonist South) waren mir sympathischer und auch ihr Handeln konnte ich besser nachvollziehen.
Ich fand es toll, dem Compass Club wieder zu begegnen, diesmal aus einer ganz anderen Sichtweise. Auch die Tatsache, dass die Geschichten zum Teil parallel spielen fand ich klasse. Irgendwie kommt mir das vor wie ein 3D-Modell. Man kennt eine Seite und bekommt all die Geschehnisse mit, dann kommt aber ein neues Buch und plötzlich kann man das Modell drehen und sieht, viel viel da im Hintergrund noch passiert. Das ist echt spannend.
Die Handlung war krass. Die Autorin schafft es irgendwie, dass man zwar Infos bekommt, aber sogar am Ende, als ich dachte, mittlerweile hab ich alles kapiert, kam noch ein fetter Plottwists.
Allerdings kann ich oft nicht nachvollziehen, woher die Protagonisten ihre Infos haben. Nicht mal im Sinne von externen Informationsquellen, viel mehr im Sinne von Andeutungen, die die andere Person anscheinend gemacht hat, die ich niemals als solche wahrgenommen hätte - vielleicht liegt das aber auch daran, dass ich immer relativ spät abends gelesen habe.
Ich fand es toll, dem Compass Club wieder zu begegnen, diesmal aus einer ganz anderen Sichtweise. Auch die Tatsache, dass die Geschichten zum Teil parallel spielen fand ich klasse. Irgendwie kommt mir das vor wie ein 3D-Modell. Man kennt eine Seite und bekommt all die Geschehnisse mit, dann kommt aber ein neues Buch und plötzlich kann man das Modell drehen und sieht, viel viel da im Hintergrund noch passiert. Das ist echt spannend.
Die Handlung war krass. Die Autorin schafft es irgendwie, dass man zwar Infos bekommt, aber sogar am Ende, als ich dachte, mittlerweile hab ich alles kapiert, kam noch ein fetter Plottwists.
Allerdings kann ich oft nicht nachvollziehen, woher die Protagonisten ihre Infos haben. Nicht mal im Sinne von externen Informationsquellen, viel mehr im Sinne von Andeutungen, die die andere Person anscheinend gemacht hat, die ich niemals als solche wahrgenommen hätte - vielleicht liegt das aber auch daran, dass ich immer relativ spät abends gelesen habe.
November 3, 2011
This is book 2 in the series but I read them out of order and this was the last one I got to and actually the one i enjoyed most.
The Earl of Southerton aka South is on a mission to investigate and potentially protect India Parr the current toast of Drury Lane.
I am not normally keen on romances with class difference or actresses etc but I really liked this.
As per usual with Jo Goodman, the heroine is suffering under an initially undisclosed menace.
South finds that she is not remotely what he expected and is very much a lady rather than a loose woman. He also comes to suspect that she is at risk as a number of men who were known to have admired her, had been murdered.
He kidnaps her for her own safety and in many ways she regards it as a respite from her situation and the couple fall in love.
The details, identity and nature of the villain become clear and the extent of same is eventually revealed in a fairly gothic manner.
Of course the hero rescues the girl and they marry and live hea.
Dark and sinister at times but a really good read.
The Earl of Southerton aka South is on a mission to investigate and potentially protect India Parr the current toast of Drury Lane.
I am not normally keen on romances with class difference or actresses etc but I really liked this.
As per usual with Jo Goodman, the heroine is suffering under an initially undisclosed menace.
South finds that she is not remotely what he expected and is very much a lady rather than a loose woman. He also comes to suspect that she is at risk as a number of men who were known to have admired her, had been murdered.
He kidnaps her for her own safety and in many ways she regards it as a respite from her situation and the couple fall in love.
The details, identity and nature of the villain become clear and the extent of same is eventually revealed in a fairly gothic manner.
Of course the hero rescues the girl and they marry and live hea.
Dark and sinister at times but a really good read.
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