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The Tales of the Jewelled Men #6
The Mandarin of Mayfair
TWO OPPOSING HEARTS FIND DESIRE WHEN THEY LEAST EXPECT IT!
As a devious plot swirls to overthrow the monarchy, Gwendolyn Rossiter, whose brother leads the fight to defend the Crown, finds her lively wit and outspoken nature largely ignored by the haut ton. With one exception: August Falcon, a devilishly handsome resistance conspirator. Yet the passion Gwendolyn inspires in him is more rage at her audacity than tenderness. And if she is even mildly fond of him, she conceals it admirably.
But as riots in London escalate, and the League of Jewelled Men brings its fiendish machinations to the fore, Gwendolyn will suddenly find unexpected love in the arms of a man who swore he was immune to her charms. . . .
As a devious plot swirls to overthrow the monarchy, Gwendolyn Rossiter, whose brother leads the fight to defend the Crown, finds her lively wit and outspoken nature largely ignored by the haut ton. With one exception: August Falcon, a devilishly handsome resistance conspirator. Yet the passion Gwendolyn inspires in him is more rage at her audacity than tenderness. And if she is even mildly fond of him, she conceals it admirably.
But as riots in London escalate, and the League of Jewelled Men brings its fiendish machinations to the fore, Gwendolyn will suddenly find unexpected love in the arms of a man who swore he was immune to her charms. . . .
340 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
10 people are currently reading
231 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Veryan
75 books99 followersPatricia Valeria Bannister was born in London. After World War II, she married Allan Louis Berg and moved to the United States; she lived on the West Coast and was the author of many historical novels from 1978 until 2002, using the pen names Patricia Veryan and Gwyneth Moore.
At the time of her death, she was living in Bellevue, Washington, USA.
At the time of her death, she was living in Bellevue, Washington, USA.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
April 3, 2017
What. A. Ride.
September 9, 2016
August Nicolai Kung Falcon, while both a handsome and wealthy young man, was despised by the ton because of his ancestry. The shape of his eyes gave him away. And, more often than not, you would find him at the center of a heated discussion or involved in a brawl. He was a loner among the crowded people of London and, at the center of this crux, he held onto a secret.
The love he shared was limited to his sweet sister Katrina and his father. When Katrina developed a friendship with Gideon Rossiter’s sister Gwen, he found this woman capable of calling his bluff. Gwen was nothing like the women August had ever known; she was a petite wisp with a limp. She scolded him when he was too arrogant, debated with him when he was bored and was the only person to speak of the forbidden; his forebear. On more than one occasion he intended to send her packing. He knew Katrina valued Gwen’s presence in their home but he insisted, to himself, that she would be better off with her father or brothers.
Except August couldn’t make himself dismiss her.
THE MANDARIN OF MAYFAIR began with a prologue. Read it. The Jewelled Men are determined to put a period to Gideon Rossiter and his friends and take over the government. Like the other stories in the series, there was enough adventure to classify this as a strong historical fiction. The romantic element was important but came in second place.
Shadowing suspicious characters seemed to be the connecting thread in this story. First, with August and second, with Gwen. I enjoyed ‘The Smallest Rossister’. Like the other heroines in this series, she wasn’t too flighty and, for the most part, had common sense. I even liked doom-and gloom August with his raised eyebrow, powdered hair and a patch (I would call it a dot) on his face: a facial adornment that served a purpose.
PATCHES were to be placed in the following manner:
1. The passionate, or smart patch was arranged at the corner of the eye.
2. The majestic, was placed in almost the middle of the forehead.
3. The happy, on the edge of the dimple formed by a smile.
4. The gallant, in the center of the cheek.
5. The kissable, at the corner of the mouth.
6. The energetic, near the nose.
7. The flirty, upon the lips.
8. The prissy or careful, under the lower lip, towards the chin.
9. To hide in plain sight, upon a pimple or pox mark.
I would have loved to give the story four stars like the other two books I read but Still, if you are going to finish the series, you need to read THE MANDARIN OF MAYFAIR to find closure with Rossiter’s Preservers and the nefarious Jewelled Men.
The love he shared was limited to his sweet sister Katrina and his father. When Katrina developed a friendship with Gideon Rossiter’s sister Gwen, he found this woman capable of calling his bluff. Gwen was nothing like the women August had ever known; she was a petite wisp with a limp. She scolded him when he was too arrogant, debated with him when he was bored and was the only person to speak of the forbidden; his forebear. On more than one occasion he intended to send her packing. He knew Katrina valued Gwen’s presence in their home but he insisted, to himself, that she would be better off with her father or brothers.
Except August couldn’t make himself dismiss her.
THE MANDARIN OF MAYFAIR began with a prologue. Read it. The Jewelled Men are determined to put a period to Gideon Rossiter and his friends and take over the government. Like the other stories in the series, there was enough adventure to classify this as a strong historical fiction. The romantic element was important but came in second place.
Shadowing suspicious characters seemed to be the connecting thread in this story. First, with August and second, with Gwen. I enjoyed ‘The Smallest Rossister’. Like the other heroines in this series, she wasn’t too flighty and, for the most part, had common sense. I even liked doom-and gloom August with his raised eyebrow, powdered hair and a patch (I would call it a dot) on his face: a facial adornment that served a purpose.
PATCHES were to be placed in the following manner:
1. The passionate, or smart patch was arranged at the corner of the eye.
2. The majestic, was placed in almost the middle of the forehead.
3. The happy, on the edge of the dimple formed by a smile.
4. The gallant, in the center of the cheek.
5. The kissable, at the corner of the mouth.
6. The energetic, near the nose.
7. The flirty, upon the lips.
8. The prissy or careful, under the lower lip, towards the chin.
9. To hide in plain sight, upon a pimple or pox mark.
I would have loved to give the story four stars like the other two books I read but Still, if you are going to finish the series, you need to read THE MANDARIN OF MAYFAIR to find closure with Rossiter’s Preservers and the nefarious Jewelled Men.
April 30, 2018
I know I am not alone in my appreciation of Falcon as a character, especially in his interactions with Morris and with Gwen. This book holds its promise as the end of the series and as the story we were all waiting for. But it is not among the books by Veryan that I reread on a regular basis. There is a section in the second part that I find very hard to bear. So when I reread it this time, I found myself reading really slowly, going back to read certain scenes and phrases again, and totally wallowing in the feels. Through the hard part I was so heartbroken I could hardly communicate with my family and went to sleep feeling saaaaad. But you know, it is a special sadness, and quite enjoyable in this weird way.
So now the series is over, I am melancholically happy. Luckily the big Veryan reread is far from over. And I have some of my favorites to look forward to.
So now the series is over, I am melancholically happy. Luckily the big Veryan reread is far from over. And I have some of my favorites to look forward to.
January 12, 2018
A splendid end of the series. There was a moment when I thought: "No, no. I don't want that to happen." But finally, Patricia Veryan ended up the book and the series in her own witty, smart and enjoyable way.
This novel was a marvelous development of the story of Gwen and Falcon, and also the story about the Jewelled Men.
Fights, hidden places, mystery, passion, love, hate, redemption, honor, horror, laugh, sadness - really, you have it all.
Although it was first of all (like the whole series) a book to entertain it was far from being blank. Through these stories, one can see more about (often cruel) rules of society and more about human nature than one could expect from such kind of genre. It is what distinguishes a simple (although often also enjoyable) historical romance from the true gems (like those written by e.g. Georgette Heyer, Joan Smith, Patricia Veryan).
These men and women warmed my heart for the last fortnight. It was a wonderful beginning of the year. I will never forget Falcon, Morris, and the whole Rossiter's team...
Warning: You should read previous books to really appreciated this one.
This novel was a marvelous development of the story of Gwen and Falcon, and also the story about the Jewelled Men.
Fights, hidden places, mystery, passion, love, hate, redemption, honor, horror, laugh, sadness - really, you have it all.
Although it was first of all (like the whole series) a book to entertain it was far from being blank. Through these stories, one can see more about (often cruel) rules of society and more about human nature than one could expect from such kind of genre. It is what distinguishes a simple (although often also enjoyable) historical romance from the true gems (like those written by e.g. Georgette Heyer, Joan Smith, Patricia Veryan).
These men and women warmed my heart for the last fortnight. It was a wonderful beginning of the year. I will never forget Falcon, Morris, and the whole Rossiter's team...
Warning: You should read previous books to really appreciated this one.
October 2, 2018
***This review does contain spoilers, but I have hidden the ones that might be genuine surprises to a first time reader***The Tales of the Jeweled Man series comes to a rousing, fitting, and satisfying conclusion with the Mandarin of Mayfair. Patricia puts our hero through the usual unbearable torture and suffering and considerable violence before he has finally suffered enough to expiate past wrongs. In this case however, part of the dues he has to pay, at least in the guilty amends he makes to Jamie, is humorous and justified. Veryan ties everything together by reaching back to threads in her first books.
This is should be a five star book, but I must take away half a star, because of the unwarranted and controlling (disguised as protective) behavior of August Falcon towards his sister Katrina. His opposition to the sweet relationship between she and Jamie Morris throughout the series is just absurd. Oh, he tells a sad story of his grandmother’s tragic marriage, but it’s not enough. His Grandmother’s tragedy has nothing to do with Katrina and Jamie. He refuses to listen to Gwen’s common sense, and it generated feelings of exasperation and even hostility towards him on my part.”The Smallest Rossiter” says it best: “ Four lives ruined: four chances for happiness shattered, only for the sake of your selfish and foolish would-be nobility!” But he stubbornly insists on guaranteeing the ruination of four lives in order to prevent the possibility of the ruination four lives. Totally nonsensical.
On the other hand, I do honor Patricia for introducing the difficult theme of racism in this series. I like how even in the final scene of triumph in front of King and the elite of England, she shows that the Falcons and their spouses will always have to deal with it. It doesn’t just fade into the background. It remains an issue. His fear of the Ton’s racism and it’s effect on their future happiness also prevents him from proposing to Gwen. Of course even if the satisfactory resolution of their romance is a foregone conclusion, I was delighted that Veryan did surprise me with a few happy and unforeseen twists and happenings. One thing for sure: In order to fully appreciate Patricia's books, they simply must be read in order!
In conclusion, in the immortal words of Jamie Morris, “Tis’ a lazy dog that leans it’s head against the wall to bark.” Never forget that!
Final rating: ****4 3/4 stars****
This is should be a five star book, but I must take away half a star, because of the unwarranted and controlling (disguised as protective) behavior of August Falcon towards his sister Katrina. His opposition to the sweet relationship between she and Jamie Morris throughout the series is just absurd. Oh, he tells a sad story of his grandmother’s tragic marriage, but it’s not enough. His Grandmother’s tragedy has nothing to do with Katrina and Jamie. He refuses to listen to Gwen’s common sense, and it generated feelings of exasperation and even hostility towards him on my part.”The Smallest Rossiter” says it best: “ Four lives ruined: four chances for happiness shattered, only for the sake of your selfish and foolish would-be nobility!” But he stubbornly insists on guaranteeing the ruination of four lives in order to prevent the possibility of the ruination four lives. Totally nonsensical.
On the other hand, I do honor Patricia for introducing the difficult theme of racism in this series. I like how even in the final scene of triumph in front of King and the elite of England, she shows that the Falcons and their spouses will always have to deal with it. It doesn’t just fade into the background. It remains an issue. His fear of the Ton’s racism and it’s effect on their future happiness also prevents him from proposing to Gwen. Of course even if the satisfactory resolution of their romance is a foregone conclusion, I was delighted that Veryan did surprise me with a few happy and unforeseen twists and happenings. One thing for sure: In order to fully appreciate Patricia's books, they simply must be read in order!
In conclusion, in the immortal words of Jamie Morris, “Tis’ a lazy dog that leans it’s head against the wall to bark.” Never forget that!
Final rating: ****4 3/4 stars****
January 2, 2009
Despite the rather cheesy covers, these books, by Patricia Veryan are some of my all time favorite books. I've read all her series, and they are all fabulous reads (some better than others, of course). I've just picked three of my favorite books from the various series.
They are adventure, regency or georgian romance books. But not the ridiculous "bodice-ripping" trashy, romance novels.
One of the main things I love about her books, is that all of them are connected in one way or another, but each book can stand alone as well.
I recommend starting with either the "Sanguinet Saga" or the "Tales of the Jeweled Men" series.
The Sanguinet Saga should be read in the following order:
Some Brief Folly
Feather Castles
The Lord and the Gypsy
Love's Duet
Nanette
The Noblest Frailty
Married Past Redemption
Sanguinet's Crown
Logic of the Heart
Lanterns
Give All to Love
The Tales of the Jewelled Men should be read in the following order:
Time's Fool
Had We Never Loved
Ask Me No Questions
A Shadow's Bliss
Never Doubt I Love
The Mandarin of Mayfair
They are adventure, regency or georgian romance books. But not the ridiculous "bodice-ripping" trashy, romance novels.
One of the main things I love about her books, is that all of them are connected in one way or another, but each book can stand alone as well.
I recommend starting with either the "Sanguinet Saga" or the "Tales of the Jeweled Men" series.
The Sanguinet Saga should be read in the following order:
Some Brief Folly
Feather Castles
The Lord and the Gypsy
Love's Duet
Nanette
The Noblest Frailty
Married Past Redemption
Sanguinet's Crown
Logic of the Heart
Lanterns
Give All to Love
The Tales of the Jewelled Men should be read in the following order:
Time's Fool
Had We Never Loved
Ask Me No Questions
A Shadow's Bliss
Never Doubt I Love
The Mandarin of Mayfair
September 4, 2011
I discovered Patricia Veryan over 20 years ago, and fell madly in love with her characters. Many of her characters, particularly the men, are recurring and each have their own story/novel. Their bond of friendship is like nothing I've ever read, simply beautiful novels. Her characters are endearing, clever, witty, flawed, courageous. The dialogue and banter flows and you find yourself alternately chuckling, smiling or sighing. The Mandarin of Mayfair is the last of the Jewelled Men series and one of my all time favourites. I gobbled up the first 5, on pins and needles between novels and when I finally received Book 6 I took a day off work and couldn't put it down. Nobody writes like Patricia Veryan and it's sad that her novels, particularly the early ones, are so difficult to find. They need to be re-released to a new audience and also put in audio format. I normally am not a fan of the romance genre, but Veryan is a mix of romance, historical, mystery and some of the most wonderful characters in fiction.
December 21, 2016
4 1/2 stars.
April 20, 2017
This is the last and for me the best of the "Jewelled Men" series.
Second A Shadow's Bliss 5 stars
Third Never Doubt I Love 5 stars
Fourth Ask Me No Questions and Time's Fool 4 stars
The book Had We Never Loved 2 stars (This book might have stopped me, if it wasn't for some great reviews from friends)
I am going to miss several characters from the books.
Second A Shadow's Bliss 5 stars
Third Never Doubt I Love 5 stars
Fourth Ask Me No Questions and Time's Fool 4 stars
The book Had We Never Loved 2 stars (This book might have stopped me, if it wasn't for some great reviews from friends)
I am going to miss several characters from the books.
July 20, 2017
A very good end to this series!
May 15, 2013
I love the heroine in this story. Frail in body, but not in spirit, she can give as good as she gets, without being one of those 'I can do anything you can' women that are so annoying. Very likeable. The hero is equally fascinating but in a much different way. A man with a chip on his shoulder and his true nature somewhat hidden behind a mask of gruffness and indifference. He is an intriguing character and the two make a great couple. The only part of this book that I did not like was the very end. I feel as if the author changed the hero's character too much. It didn't ring true. He didn't seem like the same character and that was somewhat disappointing. She made him crawl and I don't think she should have, or needed to. Other than that, the book was excellent. There are many shocking moments and surprises that keep the reader on his toes.
April 19, 2012
No words do this justice! But I'll talk anyway. Out of all Patricia Veryan's books, this is my favourite. August Falcon was a beloved, cynic throughout the other books and I was just itching to read his story. And I tell you, Veryan did not disappoint. She wrote this one to perfection...
June 11, 2008
Loved the ending of this series of six. Full of action, heroics, and true love. A very satisfactory conclusion to a great series of intermingled stories.
March 11, 2016
"Tally ho!"
Best laugh I've had while reading for a long time. Well done!
Best laugh I've had while reading for a long time. Well done!
July 24, 2018
4.5 stars. The conclusion to an enjoyable series. We finally get to see Falcon and Gwen's story! I only wish we got to hear more of their happy ever after! As it was the last book, a lot was dedicated to the Jewelled men narrative (and rightly so) but I would have liked to see a bit more on their relationship.
On another note, I was dumbstruck when we discovered who the squire was 😵😩 did not see that coming at all!
There's a part of me that feels that the people didn't deserve to be saved! They definitely didn't deserve all that Falcon and the others went through to save them. That after all that life risking, Falcon is still looked down upon really irks me! I know this was another time and views were different but it doesn't mean I have to like it.
All in all, I enjoyed the series and will definitely miss it now that I've finished. I'll especially miss Jamie and Falcon's relationship.
On another note, I was dumbstruck when we discovered who the squire was 😵😩 did not see that coming at all!
There's a part of me that feels that the people didn't deserve to be saved! They definitely didn't deserve all that Falcon and the others went through to save them. That after all that life risking, Falcon is still looked down upon really irks me! I know this was another time and views were different but it doesn't mean I have to like it.
All in all, I enjoyed the series and will definitely miss it now that I've finished. I'll especially miss Jamie and Falcon's relationship.
July 1, 2012
This was the final book in the series and has so much going on - all of it exciting and neatly plotted. Gwendolyn is one of my favorite heroines and she is just as spunky, brave and yes fallible as she has been in the other books. I like August a lot, too, and his bravery in this one - not just facing his greatest fear in the basement but facing up to having made a terrible mistake by dueling Jamie.
The duel with Jamie is a huge highlight of the book. It's something we have been waiting for since the 1st book of the series and the added issue August is dealing with that he hides from everyone else made it a surprise
The duel with Jamie is a huge highlight of the book. It's something we have been waiting for since the 1st book of the series and the added issue August is dealing with that he hides from everyone else made it a surprise
August 26, 2009
I started out really liking this book. I instantly connected with the characters and enjoyed the suspense of the plot. However, as the book progressed, I found myself growing impatient with the hero and his obsession with selfish things. He worked up to a few really stupid decisions and I found myself more agrivated with him than anything else. I hope Seth Theodoric doesn't agrivate people the way this character did.
Overall, it was a great book. Definitely an interesting read, I would recommend it to anyone who likes Historical Fiction.
Overall, it was a great book. Definitely an interesting read, I would recommend it to anyone who likes Historical Fiction.
February 20, 2008
I love almost all Patricia Veryan's books. This is the end of a series. Read the books of the Jewelled Men series first in which the characters of this book show up now and then. This book is the anticipated story of Gwen and August...the mistmatched lovers.
October 26, 2008
I was already half in love with this hero after reading the first five books in this series. And I do believe it lived up to my expectations. It had moments of fluffy romance and moments of hilarity and moments of suspense. overall, quite an enjoyable read and one of my favorites. :o)
October 26, 2017
If you haven't read previous books, there's a lot of random characters thrown in so it gets confusing - but there's not really a need to remember them all to follow the book. A little knowledge of the Jacobite revolt at that point in history will help.
May 12, 2008
If Georgian romance novels with no sex written by an old lady are your thing, this is the book for you! Kidding aside, I love these books and I think Patricia Veryan kicks ass.
Read
August 2, 2011Sometimes a little 16th century intrigue is in order.
August 20, 2022
Stap me, but that was demmed good! Falcon has a Chinese grandmother. Even though he is handsome, wealthy and incredible with a sword, the ton invite him but always ensure that they see him as a half-breed (shades of mudblood!) That, I’m sure is no exaggeration of the ingrained racism that existed. His mother suffered horribly by the shunning she received when she married a peer. So Falcon might be a bit touchy, and of course dueling was all the rage. Wild times with a lot of unrest and a German Prince as King of England, and a lot of plotting and espionage.
Falcon believes that neither he nor his beautiful sister Katrina can marry without misery. But then Katrina’s best friend Gwendolyn comes along and picks at him. At first he’s annoyed, then he’s annoyed and enchanted by the Smallest Rossiter. She’s also the sister of Gideon, the leader of a group fighting to thwart the Jeweled Men gang of aristocrats plotting to overthrow the government.
Well plotted (pun intended) and exciting visit to dangerous times. All that sword fighting and no antibiotics! Crime everywhere! The Jeweled Men are very smart, very wealthy and very determined. This fight has been going on for three years while the government thinks Rossiter and his friends are bonkers. Thank goodness for our indomitable hero and heroine (and friends)!
Falcon believes that neither he nor his beautiful sister Katrina can marry without misery. But then Katrina’s best friend Gwendolyn comes along and picks at him. At first he’s annoyed, then he’s annoyed and enchanted by the Smallest Rossiter. She’s also the sister of Gideon, the leader of a group fighting to thwart the Jeweled Men gang of aristocrats plotting to overthrow the government.
Well plotted (pun intended) and exciting visit to dangerous times. All that sword fighting and no antibiotics! Crime everywhere! The Jeweled Men are very smart, very wealthy and very determined. This fight has been going on for three years while the government thinks Rossiter and his friends are bonkers. Thank goodness for our indomitable hero and heroine (and friends)!
December 18, 2024
Simalar feel to The Dedicated Villan. After reading book one of this series (Time's Fool) I immidiatly wanted to skip ahead to this story knowing I would love the chemistry of August and Gwendolyn.
Spoiler Alert🚨
BUT...I didn't give this 5 stars because for more than 30 pages August's seven "friends", his sister, the woman he loves, and his doctor all lie to him making him riddled with gilt and suffering to make amends for an accident that happened when he had been drugger by "the league" and what is there excuse? In there own words, "Thought you needed a lesson...and you deserved ever minute!"
Grrrrr!!! That almost ruined the entire book for me...but if I forget that part it was over all a good ending to a good series...or two.
Spoiler Alert🚨
BUT...I didn't give this 5 stars because for more than 30 pages August's seven "friends", his sister, the woman he loves, and his doctor all lie to him making him riddled with gilt and suffering to make amends for an accident that happened when he had been drugger by "the league" and what is there excuse? In there own words, "Thought you needed a lesson...and you deserved ever minute!"
Grrrrr!!! That almost ruined the entire book for me...but if I forget that part it was over all a good ending to a good series...or two.
February 11, 2018
Fantastic finish to the series!
January 31, 2022
My very favorite of the whole series. I love August.
March 28, 2021
Georgian England The Jeweled Men are trying to overthrow the king. While the Rossiter's Preservers fight to say themselves, their families and their king. In this book the key character is August Falcon a biracial gentlemen working with the Preservers. He is very hung up on the fact that he is biracial and gets into many a sword fight.
Of course he falls in love with Gwendolyn Rossiter (who is handicapped) She loves him in return.
After lots of drama including poisoning, imprisonment and near death the story has of course a happy ending.
Romance novel PG for some violence.
Totally mindless fun.
(book in a series)
Of course he falls in love with Gwendolyn Rossiter (who is handicapped) She loves him in return.
After lots of drama including poisoning, imprisonment and near death the story has of course a happy ending.
Romance novel PG for some violence.
Totally mindless fun.
(book in a series)
February 14, 2025
More than slightly over the top with coincidences, sword fight, difficult relationships, and too many characters to possibly keep track. A cast of characters would have been greatly appreciated. I’d liked it better the second time through and I have given it four stars.
May 22, 2008
Patricia Veryan is also a great romance writer. This is my favorite of hers.
June 12, 2016
Favorite of Jeweled Men series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews