A Lady Never Surrenders

Hellions of Halstead Hall #5

by Sabrina Jeffries

The fifth book in the Hellions of Halstead Hall series by New York Times bestseller Sabrina Jeffries. Sabrina's sensationally sexy and delightfully witty historicals will be loved by fans of Sarah MacLean, Eloisa James and Julia Quinn.
Lady Celia Sharpe has always been wary of marriage ... but now her future depends on it.
With two months left to find a husband and fulfill her grandmother's ultimatum, Celia sets her sights on three eligible bachelors. Becoming betrothed to one of these wealthy, high-ranking men will surely prove her capable of getting married, so hopefully the wedding itself won't be necessary for Celia to receive her inheritance. Step two of her audacious plan is hiring the dark and dangerously compelling Bow Street Runner, Jackson Pinter, to investigate the three men she's chosen.
With Lady Celia bedevilling Jackson's days and nights, the last thing he wants is to help her find a husband. And when she recalls shadowed memories that lead his investigation into her parents' mysterious deaths in a new direction, putting her in danger, Jackson realizes the only man he wants Celia to marry is himself!
For more spellbindingly romantic and witty historical romance, don't miss the rest of Sabrina's Hellions Of Halstead Hall books. And don't miss her other marvellous series including: The Sinful Suitors, The School for Heiresses and The Royal Brotherhood.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Regency, Historical Fiction, Regency Romance, Mystery

420 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 24, 2012

About the author

Sabrina Jeffries is the NYT bestselling author of over 50 novels and works of short fiction (some written under the pseudonyms Deborah Martin and Deborah Nicholas). Whatever time not spent writing in a coffee-fueled haze of dreams and madness is spent traveling with her husband and adult autistic son or indulging in one of her passions—jigsaw puzzles, chocolate, and music. With over 11 million books published in print and electronically in 25 different languages, the North Carolina author never regrets tossing aside a budding career in academics for the sheer joy of writing fun fiction, and hopes that one day a book of hers will end up saving the world.

She always dreams big.

Reviews

[Merve •Kitaptelvesi• · Rating 5 out of 5]

BİTTİ! Aslında tam bitmedi ama bizim kardeşlerin hikayeleri bitti!😍 Ayyyyy çok güzeldi çok çok güzeldi serinin ilk iki kitabı ne kadar ağırsa son kitaplar o kadar şahaneydi! 🥺Of bir de o sonu yok mu!? Aksiyon, heyecan ve gizem aman aman aman🥺Bu serinin favori sıralamasını yapıyorum hazır mısınız?!💃🏻-sanki çok da umurumuzda demeyin lütfen 😂
1. Sır gibi sakladım
2. Son çarem (Ya tekrar söylüyorum nasıl bir çeviri bu? Kimin son çaresi?😃)
3. Vahşi bir lordun kollarında
4. Bozulan yeminler
5. Yatağımdaki serseri

Gelelim beyeeeefendilerin sıralamasına!
1. Giles (Kalbimi kazandınız hadi yine iyisin!)
2. Pierre (O son kahramanlığın olmasa Gabe derdim.)
3. Gabe (Garibim ya.🥺)
4. Jarret (Sen de var ya aman aman az değilsin.)
5. Oliver (Hele sen hiç az değilsin cık cık cık!)

Kızlar mı? Sizi asla sıralayamam!😌 HEPSİNE BAYILDIM. Serinin 1 numarası sizsiniz kızlar! Efsaneydiniz çünkü. Hem de herbiriniz!♥️

Durun durun, daha bitmedi! Canım yazarım ne yapmış!?🥺 Kalkmış Pierce içinde KOCA BİR KİTAP YAZMIŞ! Çok merak ediyordum hatta keşke onu da anlatsalar demiştim. Dilek hakkımı buna mı kullandım yani?😂 Keşke Pierce’ın kendisini dileseydim. 🤭 Diledim mi yoksa?🤫

[NiCoLeTa E. {Addicted To Books} · Rating 4 out of 5]

***4,5 "Proper Pinter" stars***

I love this series!!!
Review will follow... (Soon, i hope!!!)

[Angela Hates Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a self made bastard hero 😍❤️

Celia and Jackson are so angsty and Jackson pines so much I can’t stand it (but in the best way.) I didn’t really understand the animosity between these two in earlier books and that’s okay, because they didn’t understand it either. It’s revealed in this book to be a lot of pent up sexual tension and frustration on Jackson’s part that leads him to being stuffy and arrogant and “Proud Pointer.” So obvs, when Celia’s three suitors come around Jackson has to fight back feelings and jealousy erupts in a lot of kisses and even more stuffiness and fighting feelings. Oh Jackson. You poor emotionally stunted, insecure, bastard, Bow Street Runner of my heart. 😍

The heart of this story is obviously Celia trying to thwart her Gran’s ultimatum and get out of being forced to marry or lose her inheritance. And Good Lord, was Gran on another level of irritation this book. I was ready for her to choke on a scone and die for how she messed things up in this book, but Jackson and Celia both get their moments to tell that woman to STFU and it was absolutely ✨glorious✨ when it happened. Might be worth the whole series for that moment.

I loved Celia falling for the lower class man and I loved watching tight laced Jackson crack and lose control with Celia. So many sweet and tender moments and omg when he calls her SWEETING! I juuuust 🥹 I’m obsessed with him calling her that by mistake as if he just couldn’t hold it back anymore!

As far as the 🔍MYSTERY🔍 goes, I’m so thankful to put that piece of 19 year old childhood misery to rest for the Sharpe children and despite the tragic events, that everyone finally knows the truth. But really me. I’m happiest that I finally know what happened and I don’t have to read any more flipping books to piece together this freaking story! Five books is a long time to solve this cold case. Good job, Pinter.

Here’s the thing that I love/drives me absolutely crazy about Sabrina Jeffries. The first and the last book in the last two series I’ve read from her have been the best. Starts strong, ends strong, slog fest/so bored/take it or leave it middle. I decided in book three to finish out these hellions and then I’d be done with Jeffries for the foreseeable future. But DANG IT, I loved Celia and Jackson and now I’m wondering about Lyons and Devonmont and GAH!!!

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Lady Never Surrenders
4 Stars

Lady Celia Sharpe has two months to find a husband or her inheritance, and that of her siblings, is forfeit. In order to ensure that the three candidates are not after her fortune, she hires Bow Street Runner Jackson Pinter to investigate her suitors. Jackson, however, is appalled at the idea, but when Celia's memories of the day her parents were murdered place her in danger, he realizes he will do anything to protect her - even marry her himself.

Celia and Jackson's opposites attract romance has been developing since the first book, and readers are finally rewarded for their patience. Their snarky bickering is a delight, and it is fun following along as they come to terms with their growing attraction. That said, Jackson does have a tendency to run hot and cold, and his moments of pompous condescension made me want to slap him.

The mystery surrounding the murders of Lord and Lady Stoneville is finally resolved, and there are some compelling twists and turns. The eventual explanation is satisfying overall, and all remaining threads are tied up neatly.

So ends The Hellions of Halstead Hall, but the hints at stories to come for a couple of secondary characters in the spin-off series, The Duke's Men, are intriguing, and I look forward to continuing my read through of Jeffries backlist.

[♡Karlyn P♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute ending to the Hellion series! I liked Celia and Pinter quite a bit more than I expected, and I always love a commoner for a hero. Pinter is a bow street runner, and Celia is far above him in station. He desired her from afar since he first saw her nearly a year ago, but when she enlists his service to investigate possible suitors, he can't hold back his desires.

This final book in the series also closes the mystery of who killed the Sharpe parents. It wasn't all that riveting as mysteries go, but it made for some interesting plot twists in the series. Sabrina Jeffries books are a go-to read for anyone looking for a light historical romance with a good dose of steam, passion and humor.

[Nisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, yesterday, I spent my entire day enjoying this book. As the conclusion of the Hellions of Halstead Hall series, I had high expectations. Unfortunately, character-wise, I didn't really care too much about Celia or Pinter, especially with new rakes in the mix - the Duke of Lyons (who appears to be decent sort) and Virginia's cousin (still can't remember his name for the life of me).

Anyway, before jumping into other stories, I'll summarize Celia and Jackson Pinter. For the entire series, we all KNEW these two were destined for each other. Especially considering they were always fighting and Celia needed a man badly and clearly no gentleman was that interested. But until now, Celia was uninterested in marrying (in fear of getting hurt) - that is after Gabe's marriage, Celia is desperate to get married. She has 3 choices and makes Pinter find out which one is worth pursuing. Of course, this would be a difficult task for a man already in love/lust with Celia, and so they finally begin their adventure to realizing their true feelings toward each other. Along the way, they solve the entire mystery around cold case murder everyone's been piecing together from book one.

I never really cared for Celia until this book. And in some ways, it shamed me that I ignored her as easily. She's a sweet girl and reminds me of myself - without the super competitive streak. Pinter is a hardworking bow street runner and should rock the Richter scale, but he doesn't. Which is odd, because he has all the characteristics: proper, smart, brave, and sensual. I don't know, normally he would be my dreamboat.

Mainly, I got distracted with the other suitor in the book. Like the Duke of Lyons. He's seems like a sweet guy and clearly, he's getting his own book. Devenport (I'm guessing here - Virginia's cousin), the rake extraordinaire, makes me drool. I can't wait until he gets his comeuppance. His book happens to be the next book in the series - not sure if its going to have it's own title.

So, I can still recommend this as a good read, because it was highly entertaining and there's some seriously sexy characters scattered around.

[Somia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lady Celia is the last unwed sibling, needing a husband to fulfil her grandmother's ultimatum, she asks Jackson Pinter, the Bow Street Runner who's been helping her family, and who she has a love-hate relationship with, to investigate the three gentleman she views as potential husbands. Jackson for his part is drawn to Celia even as he feels she is far above his reach. As Jackson also continues to investigate Celia's parents death danger comes to the door putting at risk Celia and Jackson's chance at happiness.

An ok re-read (first read years ago), it just didn't have me sighing in delight or sinking into my sofa.

At times the language used was much more 21st century than it should have been.

The secondary plot surrounding the mystery of Jackson's father was just so meh.

99p on amazon 21st Jan 2021.

[daemyra, the realm's delight · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. The beginning was fun but it got predictable (all up in each other's feelings w/o too much story action). The twist at the end piqued my interest. I read this because Sabrina Jeffries does the hate-to-possessive-lovemaking pipeline really well, and I love heroes who are also Bow Street Runners.

[Viri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pues me gustó bastante la verdad, siento que los personajes estuvieron muy bien planeado desde el principio y fueron coherentes con los libros anteriores. Él era un hombre con un pasado incierto y ella una mujer de armas tomar (nunca mejor dicho)

Su relación se da de manera rápida, lo acepto pero era algo que ya se venía cociendo desde libros anteriores. La atracción, pasión y amor me parecieron increíblemente bien planteados conforme a las situaciones y personalidades de ambos protagonistas.

Creo que Celia necesitaba un hombre que pudiera competir con ella tanto mental como físicamente y Jackson estuvo a la altura.

El único fallo es el asesinato de los padres. A estas alturas esperaba un final muy bien pensado y al contrario, fue algo sumamente apresurado que se resuelve en un dos por tres.

En fin, fue un libro disfrutable con personajes entrañables haciendo sus apariciones cuando más los necesitaban.

3.5

[Luana ☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

And the series is done. I am glad I finished this series. It was very entertaining seeing all of them falling in love. And it was nice to see that sometimes we need to push Fate for things to happen. That we need to be open for it.

This book did not bring me joy like the 2nd and 4th in the series, but it was a good end. It just didn't leave me super happy, you know? But I will definitely migrate to the books of their friends.

[kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lady Celia Sharpe needs to get married so she asks Bow Street runner Jackson Pinter to investigate her suitors while he is also investigating her parents' murder. They fight about it, a lot, before kissing each other like proper heathens. Eventually: love. And a resolution to the murder-thing.

1. No one in this thing makes any sense.

2. Sex in an abandoned poacher's cottage: FILTHY.

3. Murder resolution: RIDICULOUS.

4. Resolution of the "Grandchildren must marry" dictate: SLOPPY.

5. Revelation about Jackson's paternity: TRITE.

6. That said, this was fiiiiine. I liked Jackson and Celia for the most part, even if they both changed their stripes to suit the need of the text. They weren't complete dunderheads. Even if they did get into shouting matches in front of Celia's family nonstop. Even if they did refuse to TALK LIKE GODDAMNED ADULTS. Even if they did JUMP TO INANE CONCLUSIONS LIKE A BUNCH OF FOOLS.

I mean, I still read the thing so what kind of fool does that make me?

[Tuba Özkat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sevdiğim bir yazarın, sevdiğim bir serisinin son kitabı da bitti ve son sayfayı çevirirken yüzümde gülümseme olsa da içim buruktu itiraf edeyim :)

Serimizin ana konusu belli. Sharpe ailesinde 19 yıl kadar önce bir skandal olmuş, anne ve babaları avcı kulübesinde ölü bulunmuş, katilin kim olduğu bilinmiyor. Her kitapta 5 Sharpe kardeşinin bu konuyla ilgili kendi deneyimini anlatmasını ve aşkı bulmasını okuyoruz.

Büyükanneleri eğer bir yıl içinde evlenmezseniz sizi mirasımdan men ederim diyerek resti çekiyor. İlk kitapta en büyük ağabeyleri Oliver'ı, ikinci kitapta da diğer ağabeyi Jarret'ı, üçüncü kitapta da gotik romanlar yazan Minerva'yı ve dördüncü kitapta da at arabası yarışları yapan Gabe'i okuduk. Bu da Celia'nın kitabı, kızımız silahla atış yapmaktan hoşlanan, talibini bulması gereken ama bunu hiç istemeyen son Sharpe kardeşimiz. Büyükannesi üsteleyince kendini kanıtlamak için taliplerini düzenlenen bir ev partisine davet ediyor. Bir dük, bir kont ve bir vikont...

Ancak hiçbirinin unvanı beş para etmez... Bay Pinter'ın sevgisiyle kıyaslanamazlar :))

Erkek karakterse, ilk kitapta, anne ve babalarının cinayetini araştırması için tutulan dedektifimiz Bay Pinter. Seri boyunca kendisini görüyorduk, okuyorduk ancak 3 ve 4. kitaplarda Celia'ya değişik bakışlarını fark ettik sanırım? :)

Bu kitapla ilgili en hoşuma giden şey, daha kitabı okumadan bile Jackson Pinter'ın Celia'ya aşık olduğunu biliyor olmamızdı. Hani yeniden tanışmalar, yanlış anlamalar, bilmem neler yoktu... Adam daha baştan aşık zaten. Gördüğünde dizleri titriyor koskoca yiğidin :)) Celia ile ikisi sürekli didişiyor, bir yandan da katilin kim olduğunu bulmaya çalışıyorlar.

Bazı şeylerin tekrar tekrar dile getirilmesi azıcık sinir bozdu. Adamın kıza durmadan "ama sen zenginsin ben sana bu hayatı sunamayacağım bunu bil" demeleri... Bu kitaptaki büyükanneleri! Çok sinirimi bozdu! Gıcık kadın :))

Onun dışında... 5 kitaptır süren cinayet araştırmasına nokta da konuldu. Zaten bu kitabın başındaki kısmı okuduğunuzda, 4 kitaptır inandığımız gerçeklerin doğruluğunu sorguluyorsunuz. Sonra da şaşırtan biri çıkıyor gerçekten :) Hani tahmin ettim diyemem, şaşırdım, güzeldi :)

Hep bu kitabı merakla beklediğimi söylemiştim, beni hayal kırıklığına uğratmamasını istiyordum. Uğratmadı da. Son zamanlarda çok fazla canımın çektiği historical roman açlığımı doyurdu. (Sadece bu kitap değil, komple seri)

Bu tür romanlardan hoşlanıyorsanız tavsiye ederim.

[GigiReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I think I am done with HR, one comes along to pull me back in!

First off this is the next to last book in the series. I haven't read the others because I am a terribly chaotic book goblin and I just read what appeals the most because what if the world ends tomorrow and I'm like on book two when I really want to read book five? The problem with this mentality is that I missed a lot of the overarching plot and also the MCs started somewhere else so the build-up was not there for me.

HOWEVER.. that did not matter one iota because The Pining!!! My gawd! The pining!!! This MMC is an entire coniferous forest! Listen, if you love a self-made starchy MMC with a bad case of I'm Not Good Enough for You but I Physically Cannot Stay Away then Jackson "Proper" Pinter is the man for you!

Behold:

"She smiled at him then, the first smile she’d ever given him. It brought life to her face and a softness to her features that blazed a path through to his very soul."

And

“It’s all right, Mr. Pinter,” she said, fighting to keep the hurt out of her voice. “I know what you think of me.” His gaze locked with hers, confusing her with its sudden fierceness. “You have no idea what I think of you.”

And

“Sweet God, Celia…” He’d never called her by only her Christian name. He’d certainly never said it so… desperately. It made her hesitate with the pistol in her hand. He took her mouth once more, and her world shifted on its axis as his kiss became wilder, more consuming. This wasn’t about a challenge anymore— not when he kissed her as if her mouth held the secret to eternity."

There is an awful grandma and a You Must Marry or lose your fortune ultimatum and an overarching murder mystery that gets resolved and also a kidnapping! Ugh, it's so good, rational reviews be damned. I loved it. That is all.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
🔥🔥/5

Tropes:

Pining
Class Differences
One bed
Forced Proximity

[Missy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just some notes:
- The title appears at least thrice. 😊
- enemies to lovers
- class difference (Bow Street Runner and daughter of a Marquess), which does create a rift in their relationship
- jealous hero (while the heroine is being courted) 🤭
- passionate kisses
- 2 sex scenes before marriage (no pull out game)
- 2-3 chapters with the meddling grandma’s POV
- the series’ overarching murder mystery is finally solved. I’m not entirely sure how the parents were murdered. The characters still seemed to only speculate what happened by the end of the book.


Content warning:
- attempted sexual assault in heroine's past

[Rosamary Rosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sonunda gizemlerimizin açıklandığı teorik olarak final kitabı sayılabilecek ama final kitabı olmayan kitapla karşınızdayız.

Bu kitapta kardeşlerin en küçüğü Celia ve Bow Street detektifi Jackson ile tanışıyoruz. İki karakterinde yaşadığı özgüvensizlikler yer yer beni sıksa ve kardeşi Minerva'nın hikayesinden daha sıkıcı bulsamda okurken eğlendiğim bir kitap oldu.
Leydi Celia'nın talipleri yeni serilerin kapısını aralarken çevirisinin olmadığını, okumanın çok zor olacağını bilmek çok acı veriyor. Oysaki Dük Lyon'un hikayesini olumayı çok isterdim ama artık başka bir bahara :( ama iyi ki serinin son kitabında Pierce'ın hikayesi varda bu beni bir nebze olsun tatmin ediyor.

Gelelim cinayet kısmına. Sonunda gizemi çözdüğümüz için sevindim. Pek beklediğim gibi aksiyonlu olmadı ama fena değildi. Ben böyle daha olaylı daha dramatik bir şey beklerdim.

Serideki özgüvensizlikler beni sinir ettiği ve sonunun daha etkili olabileceğini düşündüğüm için bir puan kırdım. Onun dışında güzel bir kitaptı sonunda da sürpriz bir nikah oluyor.

[Gerbera_Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ooooh, this was so good! I knew that the last one would be the best, and I was right! Well, in my opinion, it was the best! There was suspense and danger that was absent from the other books in the series, there was more angst since both MCs were wounded in one way or another throughout their lives and struggled with many personal issues, and all the plot lines were neatly tied leaving me with the sense of deep satisfaction at finishing this series.

Let's start with Jackson Pinter. He is ever present but in the background since the beginning of the series. He was one of the constants, and I knew that his past might be the most tragic of them all. Jackson is honest to a fault, a gentleman and an excellent investigator. Despite his humble beginnings his hard work and moral integrity has brought him respect and good professional prospects. He has to be above reproach, but even the strongest can not resist the call of love. I loved how he truly saw Celia - her better qualities as well as her flaws, how true he was to her in the end despite all odds. Plus his skills as a Bow Street Runner made him look so dashing and fierce! *shivers*

Celia for all her worldly knowledge about men and their toys aka g*u*n*s is still an innocent with a huge chip on her shoulder and a lot to prove, at least in her mind. Poor dear didn't see herself as everybody else did which caused her a lot of grief and heartache. I liked that she really loved Jackson, didn't care about his position compared to hers and genuinely wanted to make him happy. I also liked her playful side when the two of them were together.

The the murder of their parents that happened 19 years ago can be considered a cold case, and it was amazing the little tidbits that people remembered after so many years. It was rather invigorating to follow the leads, see how it was done in the time period (according to this author's interpretation). I really didn't see the outcome coming. That was so clever and a bit convoluted. I loved it. This was an amazing series, and I am so glad I have stumbled upon it.

[Mei · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good conclusion of the series.
It made me feel good to read how the mistery that goes through all the books was solved!
All the siblings are married and Hetty is too! LOL
Everybody is happy! what more could we want?! *wink*

[Hristina Tserovska · Rating 5 out of 5]

Книгата ми хареса и до самия край не знаех каква е истината около смъртта на родителите. Жалко, че това е пета книга от поредица, която не е превеждана или поне аз не намерих първите книги. А малко или много историите са свързани и хич не ми се започваше отзад напред.

[S · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Delightful Stars

[moi, k.y.a. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yoğunluktan güncelleme bile yapamamışım :( Her zaman ki Sabrina'ydı... Eğlenceli ve seksi.

[Jess the Romanceaholic · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a Quickie Review. For the full review, please visit The Romanceaholic.

Expected Release Date: January 24, 2012
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Imprint: Pocket Books
Author’s Website: http://www.sabrinajeffries.com/
My Source for This Book: Gift from the publisher
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 5, Hellions of Halstead Hall (Final Book)
Series Best Read In Order: Yes
Steam Level: Steamy

This was a perfect ending to a wonderful series, and I for one am sad to see it end.

As the final book in the series, I would not recommend this one to those who have not read previous novels, for several reasons. First, I think newcomers to the series might feel that Jackson and Celia give in to each other a little bit too soon in the book. However, fans of the series will quickly recognize that their strange courtship, dancing the fine line between animosity and attraction, has been played out over the course of four previous novels, and as such, it didn’t feel rushed to me at all. Second, there’s the mystery behind Celia’s parents’ death, which finally comes to a wonderful conclusion. No spoilers, of course, but I know I for one got great satisfaction of finally finding out the truth behind their deaths, and I think newcomers wouldn’t appreciate the mystery as much.

Overall, I adored it. Jackson and Celia are absolutely perfect for each other, but both have quite a few insecurities and a bit too much pride to let things progress smoothly. I have waited for this book ever since Celia and Jackson first stepped onto the pages together, and I will tell you, it was certainly worth the wait.

A very delicious 4.5/5 Stars

[*CJ* · Rating 3 out of 5]

The fifth book in "Hellions of Halstead Hall" and surprisingly not the last, is the story of Celia and Pinter.
Celia is the youngest of Hellions and and last unwed child after her grandmother's ultimatum. Always having preferred guns and breeches to beauty and dresses, she is forced to choose between three suitors to appease her grandmother.
To help along her mission, she hires Mr Pinter/ Jackson to investigate them for being suitable husbands.
Jackson is a bow street runner and in process of becoming chief magistrate. Having been attracted to Celia, he initially tries to deny the attraction- but soon it's inevitable.
Basic chemistry between the lead couple. Two well written love scenes- but I'd have liked to read more about them.
It was difficult to like Hetty in this one but I'm glad she and Isaac get their sweet HEA.
The parents murder mystery is finally solved and the epilogue is sweet.
Safe
3/5

[Nurhayat Turna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sanırım Hellions of Halstead Hall serisinin sonuna geldik, buruk bir veda etmiş oldum Son Çarem ile bu seriye. Renkli karakterlerin birbirinden eğlenceli diyalogları, zeki karşılıkları, naif kişilikleri ile en sevdiğim seridir kendileri. Her bir karakter için farklı duygulara sahibim. Her birini farklı derecede çok seviyorum.

Serinin ana konusu hatırlamak için; Anne ve babalarının on dokuz yıl önce trajik ölümüyle beraberinde gelen skandallar ile uğraşan beş kardeşin hikayelerini temel alıyordu. Babasının izinden giden Oliver uslanmaz bir zampara, kumara olan tutkusuyla Jarret, dönemin katı kurallarına kulak asmadan kendi adıyla gotik romalar yazan Minevra, girdiği iddialar sonrasında ölüme meydan okuyarak yaptığı at yarışlarıyla Gabriel, iyi bir nişancı olan gözüne kestirdiği her hedefi vuran Celia hayatlarını kendi korkuları üzerine inşa ederek gerçeklerle yüzleşmekten kaçınarak ömürlerini heba ediyorlardı.

Ta ki büyükanneleri olaya el atana kadar. Evlenmeleri yönünde ültimatom koyarak eğer ki bir yıl içisinde evlenmezlerse mirasından men etmekle tehdit etmiş, kendilerine uygun bir eş seçmek zorunda bırakmıştı. Yaptığının yanlış olduğunu en sonunda fark ediyor aslında, ve Sharpe kardeşlerin şansına sonuç hüsran ile bitmiyor.

Leydi Celia'nın kitabı, seride sanırım en yüreğime dokunan kitap. Ağabeyleri ve ablasının aşkı bulup mutlu olmalarına onlar kadar mutludur ve kendinin aşkı bulacağı konusunda ümitsizdir. Asıl mesele ise kendine bir eş seçemeyeceğini düşünüyordur. Kendi olarak onu sevebilecek birinin olmadığına o kadar inanmıştı ki içim burkuldu. Oysa onu deli gibi sevecek adamla sürekli münakaşa halindeydi. Celia’nın hoşuna giden uğraşlar diğer leydilerden burada daha farklı. Silahla atış yapmaktan hoşlandığını söylemiş miydim?

Büyükannesinin evlilik baskısına boyun eğmesinin en büyük nedeni belki de kendini kanıtlamak istemesiydi, bu yüzden de talipleri için düzenlenen bir ev partisi yapıyorlar. Ve konuklar arasında bir dük, bir kont ve bir yabancı vikont var.

Bay Pinter'ın varlığı bu üçünden daha değerlidir, eh bunu fark etmek için de ikisinin baya bir vakit geçirmek zorunda kalmaları gerekti. Serinin ilk kitabında olaya dahil olup en az Sharpe kardeşler kadar önemli bir karakter olan Bay Pinter, ilk kitaptan bu yana da dikkatimi çeken bir adamdı. Trajik bir ölümle hayatlarını karışmasına sebep olan bu olayın üzerindeki sır perdesini kaldırmak için dedektif Bay Pinter önemli rol oynamaktadır. Bütün düğümü bu kitapta çözüldüğünü söylemem gerekiyor.

Jackson Pinter’in kalp burkan geçmişi de seride en sevdiğim kitap olma yolunda baya yol kat etmişti. Zaten ilk kitaptan beri Celia’ya karşı olan ilgisi en başında aşık olacağı hakkında tahminlerimizi güçlü çıkarıyor.

Yüksek mevki sahibi kişilere olan on yargısı ile kibirli Bay Pinter ile Terbiyeli Bay Pinter ve aşkı bulduktan sonra o baş döndüren Bay Pinter arasında hangisine sempati duyacağımı şaşırıyorum ama en çok Celia karşısında deliren o adamı seviyorum. Bu kitapta yine Gabe’nin karısı Viriginia’nın kuzeni Pierce'in yine aşka teşfiksel dokunuşları da vardı. Bir de bu kitapta hoşuma giden nokta Sharpe erkeklerinin damarlara olan güveni, Giles için 'Kardeşim bu adamla evlenemez!' tavrını güden bu üç ağabey, Jackson için tam tersi tavırda bulunuyorlardı. Hatta evlenmeleri için dünden razı bile duruyorlardı. Tabi ki küçük damadın daha güvenilir olduğunu düşündükleri için de böyle bir tavır takındıkları olası.

Ölümün ardındaki sır perdesi tamamen kalkmasında önemli rol alan Jackson, bütün parçaları birleştirip sonuca ulaşmasıyla mesleğinde daha yüksek mevkiye ulaştı. Bir de değinmek istediğim büyükannenin davranışı. Gerçi bir miktar düşüncemi söylemiş olabilirim o kadın hakkında ama sona sakladığım fikirlerim de var. Başta sevimli bulduğum Hetty beni sonunda hayal kırıklığına uğrattı. Bazen insanlar görünenden daha fazla olduğunu bu karakterde görmüş oldum. Kendi hırsı kendi dik başlı fikirleri doğrultusunda kızının mahvolmasından ders çıkarmadığını görmesini sonunda okumak zevk verdi. Yaptıkları yanlış şeylerdi. Torunlarını zorlaması, onların bir nebze de yanlışa itmesi korkunçtu. Özellikle Celia'nın tehlikeyle burun buruna geldiği yerde baya kızdım. Neyse ki Jackson benim yerime de ağzının payını verdi.

Pierce'in bir kitabı olduğunu söylemem gerek. Seriden bağımsız fakat arı karakterlerinin kısa sahnesini ve isimlerinin geçtiğini okuduğum şu an itibariyle söyleyebilirim. Onun yorumunu da bugün yarın gireceğim.

Veda etmeyi hiç istemiyorum ama her güzel şeyin sonu var. Çok güzeldiniz be!
Mutlaka okuyun ❤
http://sonsayfasiask.blogspot.com/201...

[Ana María · Rating 4 out of 5]

Último libro de la serie "Hellions of Halstead Hall" y me ha gustado mucho.
Pinter, el detective de Bow Street, es un amor. Hombre serio, de pasado oscuro, que ha logrado hacer de su vida algo, a fuerza de trabajo. No como esos nobles que porque el papi no le vino a dar el beso de las buenas noches se largan a una vida de disipación y libertinaje para "olvidar sus traumas". No hay posibilidad de eso cuando hay que trabajar para comer. Y está fascinado por Lady Celia desde que la conoció aunque jamás avanzó porque la considera muy arriba de sus posibilidades. ¡Pero qué pensamientos tiene por ella! y no todos inocentes...
Y Lady Celia, toda insegura de su femineidad, experta tiradora y experta en alejar pretendientes, debe decidir si encuentra uno que quiera casarse con ella para cumplir el ultimatum de su abuela Hetty y que los hermanos puedan heredar la fortuna familiar. Pero ella tiene otros planes...
Y así se desarrolla el romance. Amor-odio al principio, debido a la frustración, y luego serán conflictos motivados por las diferencias de clases, los cazafortunas, los trepadores sociales, los "pretendientes" que Celia consiguió (que Pinter intentará alejar), el peligro que trajo remover el pasado debido a la investigación que llevan Pinter y los hermanos Sharpe acerca de la muerte de sus padres hace 19 años. Y las maquinaciones de la abuela Hetty que se pasa embarrando la cancha.
Un romance muy lindo y apasionado, con dudas. Diálogos irónicos muy divertidos entre ellos.
Y si la novela no entra entre mis favoritas es porque me constó seguir la historia de suspenso que se desarrolla a lo largo de los cinco libros.
Por eso hago la siguiente advertencia:
hay que leer la serie en relativamente poco tiempo porque hay personajes, hechos, pistas acerca de los padres de los Sharpe en cada uno de ellos y me perdí algunas cosas porque no recuerdo el desarrollo en los libro anteriores. "La verdad sobre Lord Stoneville" lo leí hace 1500 años y no me acuerdo lo que había pasado excepto el romance. Los dos siguientes los leí el año pasado y no me acuerdo de los personajes en relación al hecho de los padres. Así que no puedo evaluar bien esa parte porque me perdí cosas.

Con respecto a la serie, creo que está bien sin ser excepcional. Tiene sus libros que me gustaron más y otro menos.
¡Este me encanto!

[Anna's Herding Cats · Rating 5 out of 5]

This. was. the. best. freaking. book! I love the Hellions of Halstead Hall series but A Lady Never Surrenders was by far my favorite. I'd been looking forward for Jackson Pinter's book and damn it was good. Fantastic dynamic between the hero and heroine, full of action and danger, twists and turns, snark, humor and a meddling family. And a romance that'll make a girl envious. Seriously, I loved every single effing page as the last of the Sharpe siblings surrenders to their grandmum's ultimatum of finding love and marrying.

Okay so the hero...'Proper Pinter', dayum the name so doesn't suit him. Jackson was freaking amazing. He's rough around the edges, inappropriately (but, fuck me, so deliciously) growly, passionate and loves Celia for exactly who she is. He's not always the smoothest but when he gets it right omg full body shivers.

And Celia--though she's been pretty darn prickly--turned out to be a delightful heroine and one of my favorites. The chickie has a lot of fire and is incredibly bold but she's hiding so many insecurities and hurts over the ultimatums from her grandmom that I just wanted to swoop her up and comfort her.

It was so much fun to see Celia and Jackson together. They pushed each other's buttons like no one else could and it was lip biting good. Part of what made Celia and Jackson so wonderful together was how they handled each others insecurities. Jackson definitely made his blunders but the way he encouraged Celia, tried to erase past pains and defended her just grabbed my heart and had me sighing. This is just a good man.

She eyed him askance. "Why? You never seem to have trouble talking to me. Or rather, lecturing me."

"It's either lecture you or stop up your mouth with kisses," he said dryly. "Talking to you isn't easy, because every time I'm near you I burn to carry you off to some secluded spot and do any number of wicked things to you."

She blinked, then gazed at him with such softness that it made his chest hurt. "Then why don't you?"

Underlying the romance--which was just swoonworthy--there was a fantastic culmination of the mystery that's been building for the entire series--the truth about the deaths of the Sharpe parents years earlier. I was amazed that Jeffries could keep me at a complete loss for the villain's identity for 5 books but she did and the twists and turns were amazing. You just never quite know how it's going to play out and I loved it.

If you enjoy historical romance Hellions of Halstead Hall is one that I really could not recommend more. It's witty and sweet, sexy and heart warming and has the perfect amount of action and mystery. You just can't go wrong with Jeffries.



Reviewed for herding cats & burning soup.

[Anna D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

Even though this isn’t the last book in the series, it sort of feels like it because Celia is the last Sharpe sibling to marry and also the mystery of their parents’ death that was weaved throughout the series is finally solved.

For me, this book ties with Jarret’s book in second place of my favorites for the series. It lacked humor but it definitely made up for it somewhat in the angst department. I was surprised with Pinter’s level of insecurity about his station/class and his illegitimacy since he’s such a successful and proud man. I both liked and hated this. I liked it because it made him vulnerable and guarded when it came to pursuing Celia, but I also hated it because I wanted him to be the confident man we know him to be in the last 4 books.

Celia is an above average heroine. I like that she’s unaware of her beauty and that she’s not a useless, simpering miss – I’m really not a fan of weak women, both in books and in real life. Therefore when Celia made the best of the situation in the dirty cottage and didn’t at all complain, my opinion of her went up by a lot. Her shooting skills are admirable too. My opinion of Hetty declined again in this book. Even though she owned up to her mistake and her actions were to protect her grandchildren, I just didn’t like her prejudice against Pinter because it was completely undeserved!

The outcome of the mystery around their parents’ death was a little too farfetched for me..and a little gross that the man who had a fling with Celia’s mother is also one of Celia’s suitor, and one Celia somewhat encouraged. Just gross. I enjoyed seeing all the Sharpes and their spouses and I like the people they have become – they are a very solid and inspiring group whose strengths are diversified. I’m a huge fan of this series and I will miss this family.

I’m happy to know that Pierce has his own book, though I also wish Ms. Jeffries wrote a book for the Duke of Lyons – because he seemed like a really good hero both in this book and in Gabriel’s book.

[Sara Reads (mostly) Romance · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 Liked it well enough. I wanted a bow street runner book, and that's what I got. I like hate-to-love books but this was tooooo much. I just got annoyed at their bickering and was really over it. Sabrina Jefferies is always a hit or miss because sometimes her romance doesn't make much sense.

[ᑭᑌᑎƳᗩ [Punya Reviews...] · Rating 4 out of 5]

My review contains spoilers and they're mostly my thoughts as I went with the book...

This book was much better than the previous one, To Wed a Wild Lord. I totally enjoyed the ride with Celia and Pinter, even though there were times I felt ‘that something missing’ from the book. Celia was smart, Pinter was intriguing but I wish I had more exploration of their relationship alongside the murder mystery of the Sharpe parents that has been going on since book #1.

Oliver Sharpe (1st appeared in The Heiresses series), Jarett, Minerva, Gabriel and Celia, these 5 siblings lost their parents in one night. There have been plenty of rumors of what happened that night as both their parents were found dead together. Some said because of the previous Lord Stoneville’s infidelities, Lady Stoneville was upset and killed him and took her own life. In Oliver’s story, we saw a glimpse of what might’ve happened because his mother discovered him with a woman supposedly his father’s current mistress. This resulted into a quarrel (his mother was very upset thinking her son following her husband’s path). A guilty Oliver quite ironically followed his rakish father’s path, only he wasn’t married and had no intentions of doing it soon. Then, in Jarett’s story, we saw flashbacks from his POV. Like this, we see a flashback of every siblings’ POV that night and what might’ve happened. Now, Oliver’s Granny Hetty is the matriarch of the family. She owns a brewery and makes plenty of money. She’s been taking care of the siblings since their parents died. She feels guilty for what happened to her only daughter because Hetty wanted her to marry into a title. Hetty’s done a few things here and there to save the family from the scandal of the possible murders and made up a story of her daughter killing her son-in-law and committing suicide herself. But no one ultimately knows anything. The siblings, now all grown up, have been called in by Hetty. Hetty wants them all to marry! Her condition: marry within a year, otherwise be disinherited! Needless to say, none of the siblings found it amusing. Minerva and Celia actually were spinsters, if one took a note of their age, 28 and 24 respectively, despite their beauty and so on. The siblings want to know what really happened to their parents, too. It’s been such a long time and been eating them up. They all have their vulnerabilities and guilt swirling around this issue. So they re-open the case and give it to a Bow Street Runner, Jackson Pinter (also appeared 1st in The Heiress series).

Oliver, now Lord Stoneville, then finds his love in an American Heiress, Maria. Whirlwind affair followed and they marry. I was rather disappointed in his story and after his dissolute life as a rake... just wasn’t convinced. Jarett was interested in the family brewery, so when Hetty fell ill for a while, he decided to take care of the brewery himself. In the process, he meets Anne, who also owned a brewery herself. She was desperate because of some troubles with her brewing business and a personal secret to hide. Anyway, the brewing business brought them close and they married later on. His story was also ok, nice but not full of many surprises. Then, it was Minerva’s story. She had been attracted to one of the worst rakes of the lot and Oliver’s good friend Giles (appeared 1st in The Heiresses series), who was a barrister and a spy for the crown. They had some love/hate relationship from early on but it never bloomed because of Giles’s manwhoring ways (you can guess why!). In her book, we learned that this attraction, unwittingly, played a part for both of them not marrying at an advanced age (Giles’s was as same aged as Oliver I think, 36/37 yrs old). But they were brought together by a twist when Minerva, who writes romance novels, is forced to put ads on newspaper for a husband hunt. Of course, Giles wasn’t happy because he’d always wanted Minerva for himself. Finally, he got a way to make her his. I rather liked this one, so far my favorite in the series. But I really wished for some more flashbacks on Minerva and Giles’s more scintillating encounters, with snappy words from Minerva. Without it, I had difficulties assessing their relationship as it was in the story. In Gabriel’s story, Gabriel and Virginia started out enemies because Virginia’s brother died in a carriage accident while racing with Gabriel. They were best friends and shared the love of racing. Virginia blamed him for this and we see mentions of this racing and Gabriel’s guilt over Robert’s death in other books as well. I didn’t really like Gabriel’s story because both Gabriel and Virginia came off as immature for the most part of the book. If you read my review, you’ll get an idea of it; a big part would be Virginia’s imbecile Poppy Issac and then his and Hetty’s ‘ewww gross’ lovestory! NO it wasn’t cute or sweet IMO.

I knew I would enjoy Celia and Pinter’s story from the 1st book when Pinter was surreptitiously ‘checking out’ Celia’s arse and Hetty saw him doing it. I chuckled to myself reading that and still remember it after 2 yrs since I read the book. As a character, Jackson didn’t have much exploration in the Heiress series since he was a minor secondary character. In the other books of this series, I didn’t think he got a chance to be explored since he was, still, a secondary character, going in and out of the stories with the Sharpe parents’ murder that he’s investigating. Because of that, his and Celia’s intimacy didn’t feel real to me. It could’ve been rectified if SJ gave these two scenes in between the books as some ongoing incentive for A Lady Never Surrenders. But even then, as a couple and characters in general, I liked them both. Celia had her own vulnerabilities about not being able to look like a woman since she’s on the skinny side, while comparing to a relatively curvaceous Minerva. Moreover, she likes to shoot, a decidedly ‘un-lady like’ game and can discuss about it for hours. Men are interested in her, only for the discussion about guns and stuffs but flirtation doesn’t come naturally to Celia and so, even though she’s attractive and all that, men turn blind eye to her. She thinks she’s not the ‘marriageable sort’, as in not attractive or good enough to find a man for herself. I personally thought it was fun that Celia could shoot point blank and outranked her brothers and their friends in every shooting match they participated. Now because of Hetty, she is giving marriage a serious thought. She secretly wants to show Hetty that she can do it. Can’t blame her because Hetty’s drivels about love, marriage and compatibility with titles were pretty confusing and I wanted to slap her quite a few times for being insensitive to Celia. The woman should’ve retired by now since her brain stopped functioning minimum 20 yrs. ago. I don’t know, in the 1st 3 books, Hetty seemed to me a strong matriarch of the family, if a bit too stubborn for my liking. But since the previous book, she has turned out to be an annoying shrew with the ‘lovebug’ biting her arse, thanks to Issac the grouchy, old moron. Ok I’ll have to give them a paragraph of their own like I did in the previous book. Can’t miss that!

Anyway, so Celia, even though she dislikes Jackson for being a prude of sorts, approaches him to investigate the 3 suitors she deems are good for her. Not that she has a long list or anything but still... Two of them we met in the previous book, Gabriel’s friend, the Duke of Lyons (though a bit starchy, me likey) and Pierce Waverly, the Earl of Devonmont (the whiny rake I disliked much), who was Virginia’s cousin. The 3rd suitor is a foreigner, an older Portuguese Viscount to be exact, Basto. That doesn’t sit well with Jackson of course. He’s already seeing Celia with a possessive eye, even though he knows he’ll never have her. So, it kinda smacked dabbed on my face. Since I didn’t see many scenes with them together in the previous books, I don’t know when he started to see her in such a possessive light. Celia, of course, is a bit clueless when it comes to Jackson, since he seems a bit too manly to her and it’s overwhelming. And then she keeps telling herself that she doesn’t like him because to her, Jackson’s words sound like admonitions or mockery of the nobility. And yet, whenever he is near, she can’t seem to stop following him with her eyes. Things are the same with Jackson. Even though he genuinely doesn’t like nobility in general due to his childhood, he still can’t help but think of Celia as his. Jackson’s lordly father seduced her mother and then left her to marry a lofty lady with money, leaving them to fend for themselves. He grew up living with his aunt and uncle, who had taken them in and treated him as their own when his mother died. His deceased uncle was very affectionate towards him and he’s the reason why Jackson is a detective and an assistant magistrate today. Jackson loves both of these people more than his life, as he did his mother.

Back to the story. So, Jackson and Celia argues over this suitor investigation thing but when Celia threatens to investigate her suitors herself, Jackson relents since to him, all of those men have this flaw or that. Yah, well, we know why, don’t we? ;) lol The 1st few chapters were focused on this. Hetty again reminds Celia of the ultimatum and she informs her that her suitors are being investigated. Hetty doesn’t like the way Jackson and Celia eye each-other when they think no one is watching. She has seen this over the last yr and plans to stop this at any cost. As I said, her drivels were very annoying. She wants Celia to find love but in two months that are left of her ultimatum as she won’t extend it or leave the whole matter be and it has to be someone titled, no matter how rakish, older or boring the man is, doesn’t matter if he’s a fortune hunter. Really Granny? You think love can be found this way? No wonder your daughter’s marriage to the womanizer Earl ended in utter disaster, since you were the instigator behind that one! So, I was mad that she’d be so insensitive to Celia about all these, which would again hurt Celia’s already shaky self-esteem. But she got her comeuppance of sort, from Minerva and then from Jackson in the end, when her stubbornness almost led to an utter disaster. It was fun that someone was giving Hetty the ‘what for’ she was sooo asking for.

Anyway, Jackson stays in the house party give for Oliver’s birthday to investigate Celia’s suitors, but also to make sure no one touches or makes advances towards his Celia. Lol Their banters continue as both of them want to deny the attraction they feel along with the misunderstandings they totally have about each-other. Yet, the more Celia got to know Jackson, the more she saw a different man; whenever he was forthcoming with his inner self, that is. When they share a kiss, Celia knew he isn’t the prude or cold fish she thought him to be and it definitely leaves her wanting more. The duke almost proposes to her on the basis of the practicality (he has some family problems which doesn’t let him to easily find women to marry, even though he’s a duke; I think we’re going to get his story if all goes well) and their family acquaintance. Celia couldn’t like this proposal even though she should be ecstatic. Viscount Basto is older than her, and even though he’s always lavishing her with compliments, Celia isn’t attracted to him. Then she knows for certain that Devonmont isn’t willing to come up to the scratches yet, since he has a long established mistress and so on. (I didn’t think so either, who cares!) It doesn’t help that she keeps thinking of Jackson and their kisses and what could be if she gives into the temptation...

Things aren’t going well for Jackson as well, he can’t abide by Celia’s 3 suitors at all. He wants to smash their faces every time they’re near her. More secret kissing and fondling follow. In between their dancing around all these, we get to learn some new progresses about the murder. Some new developments are unearthed with the Rawdon couple, who were in the middle of the last spat the Sharpes had. It was Mrs. Rawdon with whom Oliver slept with and made his mother mad because it was implied that the woman had already become his father’s mistress. Jackson wants to investigate the woman’s (the couple is apparently out of England at the moment) ex-ladies maid. But before that, he would meet Celia’s old nurse. Another thing I forgot to mention, in the beginning, as every story in this series does, a recollection from a very young Celia was narrated. She was about 5 then and heard someone’s planning an assignation while she was sleeping in her nursery. Celia always thought either it was a dream or it probably was her father and one of his lovers. What I couldn’t believe at all was, a young and then ill Celia remembered the words between the couple so well that she later decided it was her father from some Italian endearment he called her mother? But it seems she had and she informed it to Jackson, which is why he was interested in meeting with her old nanny. Celia intercepts Jackson and kinda charms him to take her to his destination. They got some startling information from her old nanny, which involves her mother. It was so totally unbelievable to Celia that it leaves her shaken. On their way back home, they are attacked and were force to take refuge in a rickety cottage. By the description of it I though the place was dirty, smelly and well... on the verge of falling down. So when they decided to take their relationship (if you can call it that) to the next level, I was going like, huh? Is that the time or place to have sex? When did their relationship progress so far? But thankfully, I wasn’t irritated because I thought Celia needed Jackson in her life as much as he did. Afterwards, they decide that they’d get married. Yet, more misunderstandings ensue as Hetty puts her foot down and tries to tell Celia that Jackson isn’t the best choice for her. She actually already threatened Jackson to leave Celia alone, otherwise she would disinherit her, ultimatum or no. It was so badly done, can’t tell you. After the misunderstanding about Jackson’s apparent coldness about their marriage, Celia retreats in her room as he leaves. Minerva understood that Hetty has done something fishy and confronts her.

Jackson goes back to his home and somehow, ends up confronting his aunt about the truth of his paternity. Some shocking revelations followed, I wasn’t expecting this but it got me there. His aunt, a nice, good woman and I admired her for this, convinces Jackson that Celia is the best thing for him. When he goes back to Hallstead Hall, Jackson finds a friend in Oliver about this match. I loved how slyly Oliver asked Jackson to find Celia’s room at night and ‘make amends’ with her. ;) He’d know since he was a master of those things in his days! Jackson takes full advantage of this, hehe. In the morning, Jackson goes away to meet Rawdon’s ex-ladies maid. The woman confirms some of his suspicions, which lead Jackson to believe that the murderer is still at large and probably closer to Celia than he thought it’d be. Have to mention, I did like how the murder mystery was solved, it had me thinking who it could be. So are we going to see a book for Basto? The poor guy needs some peace in life, I totally felt for him.

For me, Issac played a little positive role when he defended Jackson to Hetty when she was talking crap about his intentions towards Celia. I would that their scenes were minimized to that and not have me gagging the way it did in the previous book. But noooooo! Ms. Jeffries had to go and give me some yukky visuals as well! While talking about Jackson, Issac broaches the subject of their marriage... (Alright!!) Hetty isn’t sure. From Issac’s words it was implied that they were already having, um, er... an affair. (Ewww gross!) And then, when Hetty won’t give into his proposal of marriage, Issac threats her with the usage of more ‘pleasurable methods’ to make her say yes to his proposal... Oh good God, the woman can’t even walk without a cane and wasn’t she very ill, almost dying in Jarret’s book? So, I still have the same word for this ‘epic’ love story as I had in To Wed a Wild Lord:EWWWW!! The epilogue of this book was kinda ruined for me because of their marriage. I still think this ‘lovestory’ was totally, wholly, irrevocably unnecessary.

In the conclusion, Devonmont is getting his book. I wish it was a novella so that I could get through it without chocking on boredom. I know I’m being very mean but I’ve already expressed my feelings about him. The excerpt was good. Now, I only hope that the book would be better overall. I would hate to miss a SJ book, so I have Twas the Night after Christmas on my TBR.

4 stars for A Lady Never Surrenders.

[Inna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars. This book had a major problem…

The heroine, who was supposedly badass, an excellent shot, and could take care of herself…

Didn’t do anything to actually show us those things during this book.

Let’s consider these events:

1. A shooting contest, that she nearly wins, but loses. Why could she simply not be the best?

2. She carried a handgun but the hero repeatedly chastises her for it. He takes it away from her because she pulled it on him but didn’t actually shoot it. Supposedly that means that she shouldn’t carry one at all.

3. She doesn’t ever have a gun with her when it counts. She’s getting shot at? Her gun that she had in the previous scene is left behind. She gets abducted? Oops she forgot to bring it, she was too excited to remember. 🙄🙄

4. She finally gets a gun in her hand in the final scene? She shoots the wrong gun out of the villian’s hand and ends up leaving the hero to kill the baddie. 🤪🤪

So I ask you all… wtf was the point of the heroine being such a good shot? We never see her actually use her skill for anything worthwhile and she doesn’t even win the shooting contest!

What a joke.

Anyways, if the author had actually allowed the heroine to be the strong female she was supposed to be, I would have LOVED this book. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. The author made the heroine rely heavily on the hero instead, and made the heroine weak in the process.

The book was fine otherwise, and I was glad to get the answer to series question of what happened to the parents. I applaud Sabrina Jeffries for the carefully thought out plot… I liked how she connected all the previously nonsensical parts of the mystery.

Side note: I’m still disturbed by the hero’s birth story. 🤮🤮 His poor aunt.

Safety was good, heroine virgin, hero was experienced but not as much as the previous heroes of this series. Very little was said about his sexual past.

[Bsrtymz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kardeşleri konu alan hikayelere bayılıyorumm 😍 Hele ilk iki kitaptan sonra seri öyle efsane bir hal aldı kii 🥳 Sharpelar bebek gibisiniz bebek ❤️‍🔥