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Knight Miscellany #6
One Night of Sin
Renowned storyteller Gaelen Foley unfurls the seductive tale of the rakish Lord Alec Knight, who never looked for love–until it was right in front of him. . . .
Lord Alec Knight, the most daring and handsome rogue in all of London, is a smooth-talking aristocrat with an abundance of high-society lady admirers. With his irresistible wit, lucky hand at the gaming tables, and enticing charisma, he can have any woman he wants. But when the only girl he would have considered marrying ties the knot with someone else, Alec realizes he doesn’t want to be with just any lady–he wants to find the love of his life.
The boldly spirited, beautiful Miss Becky Ward takes his life by storm after he rescues her from peril. Alec soon learns that she is on the run from her cousin, the murderous Prince Mikhail Kurkov. Becky has uncovered a menacing secret about the prince–now nothing will stop him from hunting her down. In the midst of danger, Alec and Becky find themselves deeply drawn to each other. After the two spend an all-consuming night of sin, Becky’s knight in shining armor vows on his honor to protect her until the end. But before long, Alec is protecting her with more than honor–and it seems the once untamed rake of London just may have found what he has been searching for all along . . . true love.
Lord Alec Knight, the most daring and handsome rogue in all of London, is a smooth-talking aristocrat with an abundance of high-society lady admirers. With his irresistible wit, lucky hand at the gaming tables, and enticing charisma, he can have any woman he wants. But when the only girl he would have considered marrying ties the knot with someone else, Alec realizes he doesn’t want to be with just any lady–he wants to find the love of his life.
The boldly spirited, beautiful Miss Becky Ward takes his life by storm after he rescues her from peril. Alec soon learns that she is on the run from her cousin, the murderous Prince Mikhail Kurkov. Becky has uncovered a menacing secret about the prince–now nothing will stop him from hunting her down. In the midst of danger, Alec and Becky find themselves deeply drawn to each other. After the two spend an all-consuming night of sin, Becky’s knight in shining armor vows on his honor to protect her until the end. But before long, Alec is protecting her with more than honor–and it seems the once untamed rake of London just may have found what he has been searching for all along . . . true love.
471 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
105 people are currently reading
1494 people want to read
About the author
Gaelen Foley
44 books1,894 followersGaelen Foley is the New York Times, USA Today, and Publisher's Weekly bestselling author of twenty historical romances set in the glittering world of Regency England. Her books are available in sixteen languages and have won numerous genre awards, such as the Bookseller's Best, the NJRW Golden Leaf (three times), the CRW Award of Excellence, the National Reader's Choice Award, the Beacon, and the Holt Medallion.
A Pennsylvania native, Gaelen holds a B.A. in English literature with a minor in Philosophy from the State University of New York, College at Fredonia, a quaint lakeside village where Mark Twain once owned a home. It was here, while studying the Romantic poets, such as Wordsworth, Byron, and Keats that she first fell in love with the Regency period in which her novels are set. Gaelen lives in western Pennsylvania with her college-sweetheart husband, Eric, a schoolteacher, with whom she co-writes middle grade fantasy adventure novels under the pen-name, E.G. Foley. (See www.EGFoley.com.) She is hard at work on her next book.
A Pennsylvania native, Gaelen holds a B.A. in English literature with a minor in Philosophy from the State University of New York, College at Fredonia, a quaint lakeside village where Mark Twain once owned a home. It was here, while studying the Romantic poets, such as Wordsworth, Byron, and Keats that she first fell in love with the Regency period in which her novels are set. Gaelen lives in western Pennsylvania with her college-sweetheart husband, Eric, a schoolteacher, with whom she co-writes middle grade fantasy adventure novels under the pen-name, E.G. Foley. (See www.EGFoley.com.) She is hard at work on her next book.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 185 reviews
October 10, 2018
I like to read HR because it transports me to another time, and I prefer the books to stay within the constraints of the time while making it relatable to present day. This one was relatable in all the wrong, depressing, upsetting ways:
1. An unprotected female alone at night must be a whore/slut/asking for it.
2. This gives a group of 4 inebriated “gentlemen” the right to insinuate/assume/press their unwanted suit
3. This makes the one “gentleman” of that group to offer her shelter the hero for being kind to said whore.
4. It’s not his fault that she’s not a whore and that he only finds out once it is too late.
5. He’s a good guy because he is willing to do the right thing now that he knows she is not a whore. WHY DOESN’T SHE UNDERSTAND THIS? He MUST marry for his honor. It doesn’t matter what she thinks.
6. Russians meddling or attempting to meddle in foreign governments.
7. Gambling addiction is best cured by gambling for a good cause.
8. Such a charming hero: “Damn it, just do as I say for once!” he yelled at her so loudly that she jumped, her eyes widening in bewilderment.
9. Violence towards women is OK as long as they are repugnant to the hero.
I skimmed the last third. Foley’ writing probably deserves another star, but I am too mad to give it. What a disappointing follow up to the fifth in the series, which was one of my favorite reads this year.
Thanks Loriidae for the buddy read.
1. An unprotected female alone at night must be a whore/slut/asking for it.
2. This gives a group of 4 inebriated “gentlemen” the right to insinuate/assume/press their unwanted suit
3. This makes the one “gentleman” of that group to offer her shelter the hero for being kind to said whore.
4. It’s not his fault that she’s not a whore and that he only finds out once it is too late.
5. He’s a good guy because he is willing to do the right thing now that he knows she is not a whore. WHY DOESN’T SHE UNDERSTAND THIS? He MUST marry for his honor. It doesn’t matter what she thinks.
6. Russians meddling or attempting to meddle in foreign governments.
7. Gambling addiction is best cured by gambling for a good cause.
8. Such a charming hero: “Damn it, just do as I say for once!” he yelled at her so loudly that she jumped, her eyes widening in bewilderment.
9. Violence towards women is OK as long as they are repugnant to the hero.
I skimmed the last third. Foley’ writing probably deserves another star, but I am too mad to give it. What a disappointing follow up to the fifth in the series, which was one of my favorite reads this year.
Thanks Loriidae for the buddy read.
July 6, 2017
*review up*
Alec Knight
Another favorite from the Knight series. Gaelen Foley was seriously in her prime while writing this brilliant series. Alexander "Alec" Knight is the rakehell rascal of the Knight siblings, the 'baby brother' who knows how to charm, play, fight and win. With fallen angel looks and more charm that’s almost lethal he’s used it to get his way until his luck runs out. Literally. He did a real number a few books back that caused his family and loved ones to shun him. I couldn’t ever really label him a villain because he didn’t go out of his way to hurt anyone, he made a mistake and paid the price, in here he’s licking his wounds and trying to redeem himself. The journey was quite thorough and beautifully resolved. I was expecting the typical piteous pity party of a fallen spoiled rake but Alec surprised me and endeared me in so many ways. He’s honest, sweet and is a gentleman even when pushed to his limits. For a rake he has so much honor. The fact that he didn't go through with what Lizzie thought he did is a testament to that. Foley’s mastery of writing mutli-dimensional flawed characters really shines here. What surprised me the most was how far back Alec’s misuse and distrust of women went. To the outside world he’s the master of seduction and ‘captain’ of rakehells but behind closed doors he’s vulnerable, jaded and always expecting to be used for his body and wealth. That memory of how he lost his virginity took me aback and made me ache for him. I did not see that coming at all. The most heartbreaking thing of all is he didn’t even realize how badly he was misused & taken advantage of at such a young age. That memory and his awful selfish negligent mother pretty much set the tone and shaped Alec’s ideologies on women, sex and love. He really truly does not know the feeling of being loved unconditionally without having to give something in return. It's a complete foreign concept to him.
That’s what makes Alec's story and long journey to self-discovery so devastating and compelling. I was so happy that he found a woman who knew his potential, self-worth and saw his vulnerabilities (no matter how hard he tried to hide them) and didn’t try to misuse him or hurt him. Emotional scars are just as damaging, even more so in some cases than physical scars.
Becky Ward is everything I wanted for Alec. She’s his perfect match in every way. Oh my how these two played off each other. From the coy flirting, to sweet talk, to honest vulnerable pillow talk conversations to blistering fights. I adored this heroine so much. She’s the perfect prototype of what a strong, resilient, sweet, compassionate heroine should be like. That stunning combination of feisty and smart yet innocent and shy is what I enjoy the most. I felt so much at ease knowing Becky wouldn’t play silly games, run off or lash out without provocation. It literally takes the stress out of the reading experience when you trust the characters and the author to take you on a ride without any unnecessary BS. Becky always took into consideration what Alec was feeling and whether she was being fair to him. I found that the most genuine charming mature aspect of Becky’s character.
The ‘save my village from my evil Russian Prince cousin’ plot I wasn’t crazy about and it seemed a little forced and OTT in here but thankfully Foley eased off and focused more on the couple and their growing relationship and Alec’s personal demons, which really needed to be addressed. Smart move on the author’s part. I really feel that’s what saved this book from falling into the humdrum category of dull and cliche. This is very much a character driven story, as it should be. You are dealing with a hero that is facing a lot of personal demons from abandonment issues, distrust, using sex as a bartering tool and a serious gambling problem. I could go on and on. This may sound like any other rake you read about in HR book but GF really dived deep with this hero's identity problems, self-loathing and inferiority complex. What was so nice and worked well was having a heroine who could go head to head with a hero like this and not back down all while managing to come off so patient, caring and compassionate. This altruistic quality is rare to find so I relished it as much as I could. Becky may be naive and sheltered in many ways but she's smart and very perceptive and wouldn't let Alec walk all over her or lash out when he's trying to avoid talking about something sensitive. This could have all translated as very cloying and shallow but Foley did a beautiful job matching these together. The purity and honesty and vulnerability was the most gratifying and refreshing thing about this couple and their story. The lengths they go to for each other is sweet and the kind of love we all crave for in life.
The only thing I would have loved to see and really missed was the Knight family. I was really hoping to see the brothers and their wives at some point come in and take Becky under their wing or just show Alec some support. The small flashback at the end while nice was too short and not enough for me. I get what Foley was doing by isolating Alec from his family, he had to sort things out on his own but it would have been a nice tie back and touching to see his brothers rally around him for more than one brief scene. But all in all, wonderful installment to this series and I'm sad to have finished it. Not sure if I will read Jack's story, the blacksheep of the family who seems to have no ties to the rest of family at all. Maybe someday I will pick up his book. But for now, great 'conclusion' to a beautiful, thrilling series.
Alec Knight
Another favorite from the Knight series. Gaelen Foley was seriously in her prime while writing this brilliant series. Alexander "Alec" Knight is the rakehell rascal of the Knight siblings, the 'baby brother' who knows how to charm, play, fight and win. With fallen angel looks and more charm that’s almost lethal he’s used it to get his way until his luck runs out. Literally. He did a real number a few books back that caused his family and loved ones to shun him. I couldn’t ever really label him a villain because he didn’t go out of his way to hurt anyone, he made a mistake and paid the price, in here he’s licking his wounds and trying to redeem himself. The journey was quite thorough and beautifully resolved. I was expecting the typical piteous pity party of a fallen spoiled rake but Alec surprised me and endeared me in so many ways. He’s honest, sweet and is a gentleman even when pushed to his limits. For a rake he has so much honor. The fact that he didn't go through with what Lizzie thought he did is a testament to that. Foley’s mastery of writing mutli-dimensional flawed characters really shines here. What surprised me the most was how far back Alec’s misuse and distrust of women went. To the outside world he’s the master of seduction and ‘captain’ of rakehells but behind closed doors he’s vulnerable, jaded and always expecting to be used for his body and wealth. That memory of how he lost his virginity took me aback and made me ache for him. I did not see that coming at all. The most heartbreaking thing of all is he didn’t even realize how badly he was misused & taken advantage of at such a young age. That memory and his awful selfish negligent mother pretty much set the tone and shaped Alec’s ideologies on women, sex and love. He really truly does not know the feeling of being loved unconditionally without having to give something in return. It's a complete foreign concept to him.
Alec, staring at her, looked as dazed by her words as a man who’d been thrown from a horse. “You love me?” The question slipped softly. His big blue eyes looked so lonely and wistful that they brought fresh tears to her own.
She cupped his cheek. “More than words could say, my darling.”
That’s what makes Alec's story and long journey to self-discovery so devastating and compelling. I was so happy that he found a woman who knew his potential, self-worth and saw his vulnerabilities (no matter how hard he tried to hide them) and didn’t try to misuse him or hurt him. Emotional scars are just as damaging, even more so in some cases than physical scars.
...he couldn’t get her face out of his mind. Not that he wished to. The sweetness of her violet eyes gazing at him as he had taken her by storm.
She said she loves me.
His brain could not stop marveling on it. Lovers had said those three sweetly treacherous words to him in the past, in their effort to own him, but he had believed none of them.
He believed Becky.
No one had ever been so abundantly kind to him. So patient with him. Accepted him so completely. No one had ever believed so much in his essential worth, least of all himself.
Becky Ward is everything I wanted for Alec. She’s his perfect match in every way. Oh my how these two played off each other. From the coy flirting, to sweet talk, to honest vulnerable pillow talk conversations to blistering fights. I adored this heroine so much. She’s the perfect prototype of what a strong, resilient, sweet, compassionate heroine should be like. That stunning combination of feisty and smart yet innocent and shy is what I enjoy the most. I felt so much at ease knowing Becky wouldn’t play silly games, run off or lash out without provocation. It literally takes the stress out of the reading experience when you trust the characters and the author to take you on a ride without any unnecessary BS. Becky always took into consideration what Alec was feeling and whether she was being fair to him. I found that the most genuine charming mature aspect of Becky’s character.
"You are a jewel, Becky."
Leaning nearer, he kissed her forehead. "There's no one like you in the whole wide world. I've searched. I know."
Becky wrapped her arms around his neck and gazed, smiling, into his eyes. “Of course I still want to marry you. You’re the only man who could ever make me truly happy.”
“Me?” he whispered, staring at her with the fragile bud of true, deep trust only now beginning to unfurl in the depths of his eyes.
She trailed her fingertips down his cheek. “Yes, my darling. You.”
The ‘save my village from my evil Russian Prince cousin’ plot I wasn’t crazy about and it seemed a little forced and OTT in here but thankfully Foley eased off and focused more on the couple and their growing relationship and Alec’s personal demons, which really needed to be addressed. Smart move on the author’s part. I really feel that’s what saved this book from falling into the humdrum category of dull and cliche. This is very much a character driven story, as it should be. You are dealing with a hero that is facing a lot of personal demons from abandonment issues, distrust, using sex as a bartering tool and a serious gambling problem. I could go on and on. This may sound like any other rake you read about in HR book but GF really dived deep with this hero's identity problems, self-loathing and inferiority complex. What was so nice and worked well was having a heroine who could go head to head with a hero like this and not back down all while managing to come off so patient, caring and compassionate. This altruistic quality is rare to find so I relished it as much as I could. Becky may be naive and sheltered in many ways but she's smart and very perceptive and wouldn't let Alec walk all over her or lash out when he's trying to avoid talking about something sensitive. This could have all translated as very cloying and shallow but Foley did a beautiful job matching these together. The purity and honesty and vulnerability was the most gratifying and refreshing thing about this couple and their story. The lengths they go to for each other is sweet and the kind of love we all crave for in life.
What he felt for Becky was more like a firestorm inside him, a primal certainty that he would burn down the world if it threatened her. This “love” of which the poets sand bore little resemblance to the violent ardor that he felt for her.
The only thing I would have loved to see and really missed was the Knight family. I was really hoping to see the brothers and their wives at some point come in and take Becky under their wing or just show Alec some support. The small flashback at the end while nice was too short and not enough for me. I get what Foley was doing by isolating Alec from his family, he had to sort things out on his own but it would have been a nice tie back and touching to see his brothers rally around him for more than one brief scene. But all in all, wonderful installment to this series and I'm sad to have finished it. Not sure if I will read Jack's story, the blacksheep of the family who seems to have no ties to the rest of family at all. Maybe someday I will pick up his book. But for now, great 'conclusion' to a beautiful, thrilling series.
August 16, 2021
Demoré mucho en leer esta historia, ya que tenía mucho miedo que no me gustara por las malas opiniones por lo que venía con cero expectativas.
Gracias eso me jugó a favor porque no se me hizo un libro malo y si me gustó.
Disfruté la historia de Alec y Becky, me gustó la pareja que conformaron, su química y sus escenas Hot OMG!!
Es de los libros históricos más spicy que he leído.
Me hubiera encantado que salieran los demás hermanos sobre todo Robert que aunque no he leído el de Jack ya puedo decir que es de los hermano Knight mi favorito LO AMO MUCHO!! Y está más que comprobado porque acabo de hacer una relectura.
Gracias eso me jugó a favor porque no se me hizo un libro malo y si me gustó.
Disfruté la historia de Alec y Becky, me gustó la pareja que conformaron, su química y sus escenas Hot OMG!!
Es de los libros históricos más spicy que he leído.
Me hubiera encantado que salieran los demás hermanos sobre todo Robert que aunque no he leído el de Jack ya puedo decir que es de los hermano Knight mi favorito LO AMO MUCHO!! Y está más que comprobado porque acabo de hacer una relectura.
June 14, 2011
This was my 1st book by this author ,and have to say it will def not be my last by her.I picked this book not knowing that it was part of the Knight Bros series.I loved it!The H was a rake of the 1st order and the h was the perfect match for this man about town.From their 1st meeting on his friend's doorstoop to the very last page ,this book had me hooked right to the end.The love scenes were scorching and the banter between the two were cute.I myself liked the pet names they called each other.I will def be getting the rest of this series and the other books this author has written, highly rec if you like Regency romances with spice and adventure.
May 23, 2017
No sé lo que me esperaba de este libro, pero me ha gustado lo que he leído.
Teniendo en cuenta que desea que Alec y Lizzie acabaran juntos, habiendo leído el libro de Lizzie, que me gusto, aún con un poco de desasosiego. He de decir, que leyendo este libro, mis deseos de juntarles ha desaparecido. Y todo se lo debo a Becky. Me ha encantado esta chica, que mujer más valiente y sobre todo, con una mirada profunda y muchísima empatía, que supo mirar y ver, de verdad, las profundidades que escondía Alec.
Alec, me ha sorprendido, me han dado ganas de achucharle, de decirle que creyera en él. El dicho aquel "nada es lo que parece", le va como anillo al dedo a Alec. Y me ha gustado que no sea ni tan frívolo ni tan ñoño, ni tan tonto como aparentaba. Y creo que se lo debe todo a Becky, que no solamente ella lo ha descubierto sino que él mismo ha visto lo que era en realidad.
No me ha gustado que no hayan aparecido ninguno de los hermanos, sinceramente, se merecía Alec que sus hermanos le apoyaran, o al menos, que participaran más en esta historia.
Ha habido momentos donde he pensado, "¡Venga ya, es que no les dejáis que sean felices!". Parecía que todo se ponía en su contra. Cómo he odiado, si odiado, a la Lady "calienta p*ll*s" Campion. Es que no soporto a estas mujeres.
Ahora leeré el último, al que tengo ganas, ya que no tengo ni la más pajolera idea de lo que me voy a encontrar, ni la más mínima conjetura, ni nada de nada.
Teniendo en cuenta que desea que Alec y Lizzie acabaran juntos, habiendo leído el libro de Lizzie, que me gusto, aún con un poco de desasosiego. He de decir, que leyendo este libro, mis deseos de juntarles ha desaparecido. Y todo se lo debo a Becky. Me ha encantado esta chica, que mujer más valiente y sobre todo, con una mirada profunda y muchísima empatía, que supo mirar y ver, de verdad, las profundidades que escondía Alec.
Alec, me ha sorprendido, me han dado ganas de achucharle, de decirle que creyera en él. El dicho aquel "nada es lo que parece", le va como anillo al dedo a Alec. Y me ha gustado que no sea ni tan frívolo ni tan ñoño, ni tan tonto como aparentaba. Y creo que se lo debe todo a Becky, que no solamente ella lo ha descubierto sino que él mismo ha visto lo que era en realidad.
No me ha gustado que no hayan aparecido ninguno de los hermanos, sinceramente, se merecía Alec que sus hermanos le apoyaran, o al menos, que participaran más en esta historia.
Ha habido momentos donde he pensado, "¡Venga ya, es que no les dejáis que sean felices!". Parecía que todo se ponía en su contra. Cómo he odiado, si odiado, a la Lady "calienta p*ll*s" Campion. Es que no soporto a estas mujeres.
Ahora leeré el último, al que tengo ganas, ya que no tengo ni la más pajolera idea de lo que me voy a encontrar, ni la más mínima conjetura, ni nada de nada.
April 26, 2013
This was exactly what I expected. A pseudo-historical that implanted today's attitude's on people wearing historical attire, with the most interesting characters being the bad guys.
The heroine is running from her evil cousin who's a Russian prince (though she's not Russian). He plans to make her succumb to his authority, ravish her and then marry her off to some big smelly just because he feels like it. She runs for it and is chased to London where she meets the hero and decides she'd rather have him pop her cherry if it's going to happen anyway. Then off goes the story with the H saving the h from the evil Russian cousin.
The evil Russian cousin was the best part of the story. Loved him. The author failed in a big way to make him as bad as all that. Even his big crime wasn't that big, really. And it was kind of the heroine's fault that the crime happened anyway (). Except for having a harem of 14, Cuz was way hotter than the poor beta hero of the story.
The H was just cute....cute and sweet--the spoiled baby of the family. But he was a gigilo who sold his booty to a rich widow to pay off some debts. That made him a little more interesting for a few pages. There was a point in the book where the H needed some money to help the h. I was hoping he'd have to go sleep with the rich widow to get it. But alas, not that kind of story ;D I kept imagining him as a baby-faced little sweetie of a boy, which made it seriously hard to swallow that he was capable of all his heroic deeds (single handedly besting a small army of Russian Cossacks...um, yeah), but then this story is sold in the fiction section.
The story wasn't bad though. Just not dark and gritty, which is how I like'em. And too nicey nice. For me, nice equals boring...or just not exciting, at least. But for those with a little less warped tastes, I'm sure this would be a very pleasant, light and fluffy read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2022
Reviewed for THC Reviews
At this point, I'm not sure that Gaelen Foley is capable of writing a bad book, and if she is, I have yet to read it. In One Night of Sin, Ms. Foley has created yet another winner for me in the Knight Miscellany series. The engaging plot, complex characters, action, mystery, and suspense all came together to make a very enjoyable read that at times, was difficult to put down and always a pleasure to pick up again. As with the previous books in the series, I was generally enthralled by the lush historical details. There were a few places where these descriptions uncharacteristically slowed the story down a bit and started to loose my attention, but there were others that were quite engaging to me. In a scene where the heroine visited another lady at the beach, I found the descriptions of the ladies' bathing machine and swimming practices of the era to be fascinating. Typically historical romances only briefly mention the popular games of the period as something that the characters enjoy as a pastime, but One Night of Sin included a very detailed whist tournament which I found surprisingly fun to read. Since I've played a similar game with my family, the rules and play were pretty easy to follow, and the huge amount of money on the line made it as intense as a high-stakes poker game. I never would have imagined that reading about a card game could be so suspenseful. There were a number of action scenes that I thought were extremely well-rendered, bringing the story to life like a movie in my imagination. The suspense and intrigue were also very well-done with everything coming together at the end in an exciting, edge-of-your-seat, action-packed conclusion.
I had always liked Alec in the previous books of the series, but I don't think I could have imagined the depth that lurked beneath the surface of this dissolute rake-hell. Alec was a complex, multi-layered character, and getting to know him was very much like peeling an onion. Just when I thought I had Alec figured out, the author would remove another layer to reveal something unexpected, and there were even a few teary moments along the way, as he begins to find himself. Given his history with women, it's no wonder Alec is distrustful of them. A lot more of his experiences with the fairer sex are revealed in this book, including a complicated relationship with his mother whose sordid legacy affected him just as much as the rest of his siblings, but in a far different way. I was not at all surprised to discover that Alec has a very sensitive and wounded heart beneath his devil-may-care facade. I thought the revelation of all these things made Alec's romance with Becky all the more special, because she was the one to finally put his fears and misgivings to rest by proving to him that all women are not alike. Alec had so many wonderful qualities. Being a consummate gambler who reads faces for a living, he is very perceptive of Becky's feelings. I love how he can make Becky laugh, and his protectiveness of her from the moment he first saw her was very sweet. What I never would have imagined though was how valiant, gallant and chivalrous Alec was, willingly risking his life for Becky on more than one occasion and making a genuine marriage offer when he realized he'd taken her virginity, even though it scared him to death. In my opinion, Alec redeemed himself a hundred times over for all the bad things he had done in the past, and what I loved most of all about it, was that he never once broke character as the rakish charmer I'd already come to love.
Becky was the perfect foil for Alec, and probably the only woman on earth who could bring this rogue to heel. She was a very dichotomous character, showing the spunk and bravery of the best spitfire heroines, while also being as gentle as any sweet heroine. She didn't have a single TSTL moment that I can think of. In fact, Becky was a girl who actually listened to her hero when danger was afoot. She could certainly take care of herself though. I loved the way she stood up to her bullying brute of a cousin in the flashbacks even though it led to her needing to run for her life, and when Becky neatly laid-out two of Alec's rake friends who were making lewd overtures toward her, I couldn't help but smile. Becky was also a very smart girl who didn't wait around, hoping that someone would come save her. She intelligently took matters into own hands on more than one occasion. Becky also proved herself to be a very sensitive and intuitive heroine, recognizing the hurt behind Alec's attitude, and showing him the kindness and gentleness that he so desperately needed. Likewise, Becky managed to handle the shocking details of Alec's scandalous life with a surprising amount of grace and dignity, never once getting upset or bent out of shape over his past exploits. Instead she understood exactly what he needed and gave that to him freely. All in all, she was a courageous but tender heroine who would have been impossible for me not to love.
Alec and Becky were great as individual characters but I also loved their chemistry and the way they interacted with one another. They could move with fluidity from being stubborn and angry, to having serious conversations, to laughing and being playful with one another. I may have had to suspend disbelief a little to buy into the idea that they could share this kind of intimacy in their relationship after only knowing each other for a short time, but somehow it worked perfectly. I also love the way they were very open and giving toward each other in everything they did. Alec may have held back his emotions for a while, because they had been long buried, but he still generously gives to Becky in other ways, while Becky manages to wriggle her way into his heart when he least expects it. Normally, I don't care for couples in romances who argue, but for once, I actually enjoyed Alec and Becky's stubborn bickering. I think that is because I didn't find it to be annoying or overdone like I've seen in other books, and it flowed naturally within the context of the story and the scenes. My favorite part of Alec and Becky's interactions was simply the swoon-worthy romance. I think Alec made one of the most heart-felt, romantic marriage proposals ever and their intimate scenes together were positively delicious with lots of variety. One Night of Sin is definitely the most sensuous book in the Knight Miscellany series thus far with twice as many love scenes, but I guess Alec did have a reputation to uphold.;-)
One Night of Sin was a near-perfect read for me. There were only a couple of minor things that made me consider knocking off a fraction of a point. One is a scene where Becky tells Alec about the events that brought her to him, which alternates between the past and the present. Perhaps it would have been better if the author had presented Becky's story as one block of narrative, because the brief snippets back and forth made it a little jarring and choppy, in my opinion. The other thing is that I initially had mixed feelings about the way Alec and Becky met and how they ended up in bed together that first night. On the one hand Becky had some very valid reasons for going home with a stranger, but on the other hand it seemed a little abrupt and odd that she would indulge herself that way considering her circumstances. In any case, as the story progressed, my misgivings began to fade as I got to know the characters in more depth and understand their motivations more fully. Any notions I might have had about reducing my star rating were overridden by the fabulous characterizations, tight, engaging plot and overall romance. In my opinion, any author who can make me brush off my concerns by giving me such an entertaining read is a very talented one. One Night of Sin is book #6 in the Knight Miscellany series. It is preceded by The Duke, Lord of Fire, Lord of Ice, Lady of Desire, and Devil Takes a Bride, and is followed by His Wicked Kiss. Unlike with the past books, Robert, Lucien, and Damien were the only Knight siblings who make an appearance in One Night of Sin, and it's very brief. Apparently the last Knight brother, Jack, is fated to be a complete mystery until I read his book, but Alec's story has definitely found a spot on my keeper shelf right next to the rest of the series.
At this point, I'm not sure that Gaelen Foley is capable of writing a bad book, and if she is, I have yet to read it. In One Night of Sin, Ms. Foley has created yet another winner for me in the Knight Miscellany series. The engaging plot, complex characters, action, mystery, and suspense all came together to make a very enjoyable read that at times, was difficult to put down and always a pleasure to pick up again. As with the previous books in the series, I was generally enthralled by the lush historical details. There were a few places where these descriptions uncharacteristically slowed the story down a bit and started to loose my attention, but there were others that were quite engaging to me. In a scene where the heroine visited another lady at the beach, I found the descriptions of the ladies' bathing machine and swimming practices of the era to be fascinating. Typically historical romances only briefly mention the popular games of the period as something that the characters enjoy as a pastime, but One Night of Sin included a very detailed whist tournament which I found surprisingly fun to read. Since I've played a similar game with my family, the rules and play were pretty easy to follow, and the huge amount of money on the line made it as intense as a high-stakes poker game. I never would have imagined that reading about a card game could be so suspenseful. There were a number of action scenes that I thought were extremely well-rendered, bringing the story to life like a movie in my imagination. The suspense and intrigue were also very well-done with everything coming together at the end in an exciting, edge-of-your-seat, action-packed conclusion.
I had always liked Alec in the previous books of the series, but I don't think I could have imagined the depth that lurked beneath the surface of this dissolute rake-hell. Alec was a complex, multi-layered character, and getting to know him was very much like peeling an onion. Just when I thought I had Alec figured out, the author would remove another layer to reveal something unexpected, and there were even a few teary moments along the way, as he begins to find himself. Given his history with women, it's no wonder Alec is distrustful of them. A lot more of his experiences with the fairer sex are revealed in this book, including a complicated relationship with his mother whose sordid legacy affected him just as much as the rest of his siblings, but in a far different way. I was not at all surprised to discover that Alec has a very sensitive and wounded heart beneath his devil-may-care facade. I thought the revelation of all these things made Alec's romance with Becky all the more special, because she was the one to finally put his fears and misgivings to rest by proving to him that all women are not alike. Alec had so many wonderful qualities. Being a consummate gambler who reads faces for a living, he is very perceptive of Becky's feelings. I love how he can make Becky laugh, and his protectiveness of her from the moment he first saw her was very sweet. What I never would have imagined though was how valiant, gallant and chivalrous Alec was, willingly risking his life for Becky on more than one occasion and making a genuine marriage offer when he realized he'd taken her virginity, even though it scared him to death. In my opinion, Alec redeemed himself a hundred times over for all the bad things he had done in the past, and what I loved most of all about it, was that he never once broke character as the rakish charmer I'd already come to love.
Becky was the perfect foil for Alec, and probably the only woman on earth who could bring this rogue to heel. She was a very dichotomous character, showing the spunk and bravery of the best spitfire heroines, while also being as gentle as any sweet heroine. She didn't have a single TSTL moment that I can think of. In fact, Becky was a girl who actually listened to her hero when danger was afoot. She could certainly take care of herself though. I loved the way she stood up to her bullying brute of a cousin in the flashbacks even though it led to her needing to run for her life, and when Becky neatly laid-out two of Alec's rake friends who were making lewd overtures toward her, I couldn't help but smile. Becky was also a very smart girl who didn't wait around, hoping that someone would come save her. She intelligently took matters into own hands on more than one occasion. Becky also proved herself to be a very sensitive and intuitive heroine, recognizing the hurt behind Alec's attitude, and showing him the kindness and gentleness that he so desperately needed. Likewise, Becky managed to handle the shocking details of Alec's scandalous life with a surprising amount of grace and dignity, never once getting upset or bent out of shape over his past exploits. Instead she understood exactly what he needed and gave that to him freely. All in all, she was a courageous but tender heroine who would have been impossible for me not to love.
Alec and Becky were great as individual characters but I also loved their chemistry and the way they interacted with one another. They could move with fluidity from being stubborn and angry, to having serious conversations, to laughing and being playful with one another. I may have had to suspend disbelief a little to buy into the idea that they could share this kind of intimacy in their relationship after only knowing each other for a short time, but somehow it worked perfectly. I also love the way they were very open and giving toward each other in everything they did. Alec may have held back his emotions for a while, because they had been long buried, but he still generously gives to Becky in other ways, while Becky manages to wriggle her way into his heart when he least expects it. Normally, I don't care for couples in romances who argue, but for once, I actually enjoyed Alec and Becky's stubborn bickering. I think that is because I didn't find it to be annoying or overdone like I've seen in other books, and it flowed naturally within the context of the story and the scenes. My favorite part of Alec and Becky's interactions was simply the swoon-worthy romance. I think Alec made one of the most heart-felt, romantic marriage proposals ever and their intimate scenes together were positively delicious with lots of variety. One Night of Sin is definitely the most sensuous book in the Knight Miscellany series thus far with twice as many love scenes, but I guess Alec did have a reputation to uphold.;-)
One Night of Sin was a near-perfect read for me. There were only a couple of minor things that made me consider knocking off a fraction of a point. One is a scene where Becky tells Alec about the events that brought her to him, which alternates between the past and the present. Perhaps it would have been better if the author had presented Becky's story as one block of narrative, because the brief snippets back and forth made it a little jarring and choppy, in my opinion. The other thing is that I initially had mixed feelings about the way Alec and Becky met and how they ended up in bed together that first night. On the one hand Becky had some very valid reasons for going home with a stranger, but on the other hand it seemed a little abrupt and odd that she would indulge herself that way considering her circumstances. In any case, as the story progressed, my misgivings began to fade as I got to know the characters in more depth and understand their motivations more fully. Any notions I might have had about reducing my star rating were overridden by the fabulous characterizations, tight, engaging plot and overall romance. In my opinion, any author who can make me brush off my concerns by giving me such an entertaining read is a very talented one. One Night of Sin is book #6 in the Knight Miscellany series. It is preceded by The Duke, Lord of Fire, Lord of Ice, Lady of Desire, and Devil Takes a Bride, and is followed by His Wicked Kiss. Unlike with the past books, Robert, Lucien, and Damien were the only Knight siblings who make an appearance in One Night of Sin, and it's very brief. Apparently the last Knight brother, Jack, is fated to be a complete mystery until I read his book, but Alec's story has definitely found a spot on my keeper shelf right next to the rest of the series.
September 3, 2025
Read: 9/3/25
Setting: Late Regency England
trope: gambling
3.5 stars
"A good woman can make a great man," that pretty much sums up the plot, but I'll add a little more detail 😉
plot:
Alec is the scapegoat of the family. One night after carossing with his dissolute friends, they find a sleeping woman on their porch. His friends mistakenly assume she is a whore. She fights them off, but Alec follows. He convinces the girl to come home with him.
After spending a wonderful night together, Alec wakes suddenly when he hears Becky leave. That's when he notices the virgin blood. 😲 Strangely outraged, he follows her to the house of the Duke of Westland. Short time later, he spies her running from these men. Why would Russian Cossacks be chasing Becky? Alec steps in to save her and later becomes her champion.
Becky Ward is running for her life from her cousin, Prince Mikhail. The Russian prince just inherited her late grandfather's title and property. He arrives at her secluded home and soon starts terriozing the village. When Becky tries to stop him, he slaps her, threatens rape, and locks her up. He doesn't know about the secret passage ways. Unfortunately, while escaping, she stubbles upon a handcuffed man in a shed. She frees him but not in time to save him. Mikhail shots this tortured man in cold blood. Becky barely escapes and makes her way to London, only to get lost in the rain.
There is something that draws her to Alec. She decides that she would rather lose her virginity to this beautiful man than suffer losing it by rape. So she chooses One Night of Sin 🫢 The next morning, she arrives at the Duke's home (magistrate in her area) only to discover that Mikhail has beaten her to it with his lies. She's shocked when Alec cuts down two of Mikhail's cossacks. Can she trust this rake gambler?
Alec wants to be Becky's hero. First, he has to gamble so he can get enough money to buy back Becky's home. After they have the deed, then he'll help her bring the murderous Mikhail to justice. Of course, all the best laid plans to go to waste. There is also an ex mistress that will make trouble for the pair.
So can Alec really change into a great man, or will he fail Becky? Should he call in his amazing brothers for help? No? That would have solved all his problems, but then there wouldn't be much of a story. 😉
Conclusion:
This book offered a good mystery, action, with a pretty engaging plot. Both MC were well written and very likable. This book has all the ingredients for an entertaining hr.
All in all, I've really enjoyed this series! Though Lucien is still my favorite brother (Lord Of Fire) in the series.
Setting: Late Regency England
trope: gambling
3.5 stars
"A good woman can make a great man," that pretty much sums up the plot, but I'll add a little more detail 😉
plot:
Alec is the scapegoat of the family. One night after carossing with his dissolute friends, they find a sleeping woman on their porch. His friends mistakenly assume she is a whore. She fights them off, but Alec follows. He convinces the girl to come home with him.
After spending a wonderful night together, Alec wakes suddenly when he hears Becky leave. That's when he notices the virgin blood. 😲 Strangely outraged, he follows her to the house of the Duke of Westland. Short time later, he spies her running from these men. Why would Russian Cossacks be chasing Becky? Alec steps in to save her and later becomes her champion.
Becky Ward is running for her life from her cousin, Prince Mikhail. The Russian prince just inherited her late grandfather's title and property. He arrives at her secluded home and soon starts terriozing the village. When Becky tries to stop him, he slaps her, threatens rape, and locks her up. He doesn't know about the secret passage ways. Unfortunately, while escaping, she stubbles upon a handcuffed man in a shed. She frees him but not in time to save him. Mikhail shots this tortured man in cold blood. Becky barely escapes and makes her way to London, only to get lost in the rain.
There is something that draws her to Alec. She decides that she would rather lose her virginity to this beautiful man than suffer losing it by rape. So she chooses One Night of Sin 🫢 The next morning, she arrives at the Duke's home (magistrate in her area) only to discover that Mikhail has beaten her to it with his lies. She's shocked when Alec cuts down two of Mikhail's cossacks. Can she trust this rake gambler?
Alec wants to be Becky's hero. First, he has to gamble so he can get enough money to buy back Becky's home. After they have the deed, then he'll help her bring the murderous Mikhail to justice. Of course, all the best laid plans to go to waste. There is also an ex mistress that will make trouble for the pair.
So can Alec really change into a great man, or will he fail Becky? Should he call in his amazing brothers for help? No? That would have solved all his problems, but then there wouldn't be much of a story. 😉
Conclusion:
This book offered a good mystery, action, with a pretty engaging plot. Both MC were well written and very likable. This book has all the ingredients for an entertaining hr.
All in all, I've really enjoyed this series! Though Lucien is still my favorite brother (Lord Of Fire) in the series.
April 29, 2019
3,5 estrellas.
Pues al final ha estado bien y Alec ha dado un buen cambio. Me sorprendió.
Lee la reseña completa en: https://oceanodelibros.blogspot.com/2...
Pues al final ha estado bien y Alec ha dado un buen cambio. Me sorprendió.
Lee la reseña completa en: https://oceanodelibros.blogspot.com/2...
August 1, 2018
3.5 stars
I wasn't a fan of Alec from what we learned about him in the past few books. He is a compulsive gambler, womaniser and had no compunctions getting into an arrangement of a sexual nature with a rich widow, who made him a kept man for a year. Gradually I did start to understand him better. He was deeply damaged by his mother, who called him his favourite & preyed on by an older woman who gave him his firs sexual experience. His outlook towards women isn't that great. Heroine is on the run from her horrible cousin who wants to rape her & is lost in London. Hero comes to her rescue thinking she is a fallen woman and she sleeps with him because she doesn't want her first time to be rape. Hero is very kind and gentle to her. She leaves him the next day, something that confounds the hero. He gives chase and learns she is in danger and rescues her. He knows he has ruined her, and asks her to marry him . h says no to him & accepts his help. Alec really did a lot for the h; gambling to buy her her house back, protecting her. He quickly falls for but is ashamed of his past with the woman who made him her kept man.
I ended up enjoying this and thankfully hero didn't have any stupid moment that made me hate him.
I wasn't a fan of Alec from what we learned about him in the past few books. He is a compulsive gambler, womaniser and had no compunctions getting into an arrangement of a sexual nature with a rich widow, who made him a kept man for a year. Gradually I did start to understand him better. He was deeply damaged by his mother, who called him his favourite & preyed on by an older woman who gave him his firs sexual experience. His outlook towards women isn't that great. Heroine is on the run from her horrible cousin who wants to rape her & is lost in London. Hero comes to her rescue thinking she is a fallen woman and she sleeps with him because she doesn't want her first time to be rape. Hero is very kind and gentle to her. She leaves him the next day, something that confounds the hero. He gives chase and learns she is in danger and rescues her. He knows he has ruined her, and asks her to marry him . h says no to him & accepts his help. Alec really did a lot for the h; gambling to buy her her house back, protecting her. He quickly falls for but is ashamed of his past with the woman who made him her kept man.
I ended up enjoying this and thankfully hero didn't have any stupid moment that made me hate him.
August 16, 2017
Unfortunately, this book did not compare well with Devil Takes a Bride. It started out well enough and was nice and exciting, with the heroine being hunted through the dark London streets by Cossacks on horse-back (yes, I know, Cossacks), but it kind of went down hill from there for me.
The hero, Alec, had not impressed me over much in the previous books. He was super everything: super-good-looking, super-vain, super-selfish and super-addicted to gambling. Oh, and he was super-good in the sack. Read: shallow. So then we find out a bit about his childhood trauma (boo-hoo) and the fact that he was effectively raped at 15 by the mother of one of his school-friends- that was pretty yuk, actually. Although much was explained about why he became who- or what!- he did, the gambling aspect continued to worry me. It is a serious addiction and his "recovery" from it, when he had to gamble to win money for the heroine, was simply unbelievable. He had never done any kind of work in his life, either, and I failed to see how he could so quickly become a responsible, mature member of society. I don't care about his trust issues- grow up!
The heroine, Becky, went from feisty, chaste virgin to dependent sex bomb with alarming speed. I was peculiarly repulsed by the language used in one of the early sex scenes (and it was steamy).
I quote:
his feverish need to suck her tits...........lusty pirouettes upon her clit...........she draped one leg over his shoulder, fucking his fingers and his tongue......
This was a girl who had been a virgin a day or two ago. She had only had sex once. He had been a promiscuous gigolo. Well, damn, she learned fast! And if they were his thoughts, not her's, well THAT shows a lot of respect- not! Weirdly enough, later in the book his penis is referred to as his "phallus", although earlier it had been the-unfortunately- usual "cock". Such inconsistency was too much. It was like two different people wrote the book. I read romance, generally CR, where that is the language used, and it often fits the mood and genre. This was not the case here. I don't remember reading this sort of thing in the other books of the series, but maybe I have forgotten. It was just off.
The double standard of : it's ok to screw with a "whore" (God, I hate that word) to OMG I have to marry the virgin I just deflowered when I TOOK ADVANTAGE of her desperation (hungry, homeless and hunted) was too much for me. How is that ok? And even if it was not unusual for men to have that kind of attitude in those days, my heroes need to be cut from a different cloth than the "average" man of that time. That is why they are "heroes", isn't it?
The sub-plot of the relationship between Parthenia and Alec's friend Drax was frankly unbelievable. He was the guy that initially tried to rape Becky on the doorstep and got his teeth bashed by her for his trouble. And he is carrying a torch for another woman? And they get together in the end? Does she know what kind of arse-hole she is dealing with here? Oh, but it doesn't matter- that was just sex with a prostitute. It doesn't count. FFS.
The descriptions of the whist tournament were great (sounds like a form of Bridge, which I can play because my parents played) and GF is excellent in her descriptions of fashion, architecture, politics and history. I feel her characterisation just let her down . Perhaps she got so caught up in the former, she dropped the ball a bit on the latter.
So I cannot give the book more than 2 stars. More's the pity.
The hero, Alec, had not impressed me over much in the previous books. He was super everything: super-good-looking, super-vain, super-selfish and super-addicted to gambling. Oh, and he was super-good in the sack. Read: shallow. So then we find out a bit about his childhood trauma (boo-hoo) and the fact that he was effectively raped at 15 by the mother of one of his school-friends- that was pretty yuk, actually. Although much was explained about why he became who- or what!- he did, the gambling aspect continued to worry me. It is a serious addiction and his "recovery" from it, when he had to gamble to win money for the heroine, was simply unbelievable. He had never done any kind of work in his life, either, and I failed to see how he could so quickly become a responsible, mature member of society. I don't care about his trust issues- grow up!
The heroine, Becky, went from feisty, chaste virgin to dependent sex bomb with alarming speed. I was peculiarly repulsed by the language used in one of the early sex scenes (and it was steamy).
I quote:
his feverish need to suck her tits...........lusty pirouettes upon her clit...........she draped one leg over his shoulder, fucking his fingers and his tongue......
This was a girl who had been a virgin a day or two ago. She had only had sex once. He had been a promiscuous gigolo. Well, damn, she learned fast! And if they were his thoughts, not her's, well THAT shows a lot of respect- not! Weirdly enough, later in the book his penis is referred to as his "phallus", although earlier it had been the-unfortunately- usual "cock". Such inconsistency was too much. It was like two different people wrote the book. I read romance, generally CR, where that is the language used, and it often fits the mood and genre. This was not the case here. I don't remember reading this sort of thing in the other books of the series, but maybe I have forgotten. It was just off.
The double standard of : it's ok to screw with a "whore" (God, I hate that word) to OMG I have to marry the virgin I just deflowered when I TOOK ADVANTAGE of her desperation (hungry, homeless and hunted) was too much for me. How is that ok? And even if it was not unusual for men to have that kind of attitude in those days, my heroes need to be cut from a different cloth than the "average" man of that time. That is why they are "heroes", isn't it?
The sub-plot of the relationship between Parthenia and Alec's friend Drax was frankly unbelievable. He was the guy that initially tried to rape Becky on the doorstep and got his teeth bashed by her for his trouble. And he is carrying a torch for another woman? And they get together in the end? Does she know what kind of arse-hole she is dealing with here? Oh, but it doesn't matter- that was just sex with a prostitute. It doesn't count. FFS.
The descriptions of the whist tournament were great (sounds like a form of Bridge, which I can play because my parents played) and GF is excellent in her descriptions of fashion, architecture, politics and history. I feel her characterisation just let her down . Perhaps she got so caught up in the former, she dropped the ball a bit on the latter.
So I cannot give the book more than 2 stars. More's the pity.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 24, 2012
4.5 stars
Warning – spoilers included!
Becky (Miss Rebecca Ward) is on the run from her dangerous cousin (Prince Mikhail Kurkov), who has threatened to rape her and then marry her off to the nastiest man that he can find. During her escape she witness him murdering a man so becomes even more determine to escape, bring him to justice and win back her beloved home which he had inherited after their grandfather’s (Earl of Talbot) death. She arrives in London determined to make contact with the Duke of Westland, as lord lieutenant of Yorkshire’s West Riding, since the murder had taken place in his jurisdiction, it was the Duke’s duty to deal with Kurkov.
Exhausted, starving and filthy she meets Alec who mistakes her for a young girl who is about to embark on becoming a ‘lady of the night’. He is instantly attracted to her and takes her home in hopes that she will willingly go to his bed and maybe become his mistress. He is respectful, kind and caring towards her, letting her have a hot bath to clean and warm her up (She had got soaking wet in the storm) and orders food from the finest restaurant as she is obviously hungry. Despite him desperately wanting her, he is determined that he will not force her into his bed and wants it to be her choice. Afraid that her cousin will catch her and carry out his threat Becky goes to Alec’s bed knowing that he will be gentle with her and make her first time a pleasurably experience. Discovering a red stain in his bed the next morning Alec realises that he has deflowered a virgin and immediately demands that she tell him her story and as he learns that she is not of the lower class but of noble birth, he declares that they will be married.
Alec is determined that Kurkov will not hurt Becky so agrees to help her and shelters her whilst they try and bring him to justice. During the following weeks the pair strike up a relationship and fall in love. Alec is very close to rock bottom, and is virtually cut off from his family due to his lifestyle of women, drinking and gambling which has got out of hand. He has many things that he is ashamed off and tries to hide them from Becky in fear that she will reject him, but time and time again Becky proves that she loves him, and she knows that he loves her even if he cannot yet say it. Alec is loving and gentle towards her and it soon dawns on him that he cannot live without her so he doubles his efforts in order to bring Kurkov to justice and to win back Talbot Old Hall in Yorkshire for her.
She trailed a finger down his chest and gave him that look – the one he knew so well. “Aha” he murmured. “Yes, quite. But won’t Mrs. Whithorn have a fit of Apoplexy?”
“Who cares? I’m the lady of the house, and I want my man!”
You tell him Becky-girl!! ……Needless to say they raced up the stairs as fast as their legs could carry them :)
I am not usually one to insert quotes/lines into my reviews but I absolutely loved this one. It is taken from the end of the book whereby after much adventure Alec has succeeded in winning back her home and declared that it now belonged to them! Becky is definitely the star of this book, that last line describes her to a ‘T’. Don’t get me wrong Alec is plenty drool worthy but for a young naïve woman Becky is strong, loveable and absolutely loyal to those that she cares for. She doesn’t expect Alec to change, she loves him for who he is and that will never change.
I absolutely love Gaelen Foley, she tells a good story that flows well and is easy to read. I have read this series back to back and normally I would be getting a tad bored by now, but I am loving it! The next one up is Jack’s story. It has all been a bit mysterious about Jack, we only know that he exists and that something happened which has kept him away from his family for so long….Looking forward to find out what.
Warning – spoilers included!
Becky (Miss Rebecca Ward) is on the run from her dangerous cousin (Prince Mikhail Kurkov), who has threatened to rape her and then marry her off to the nastiest man that he can find. During her escape she witness him murdering a man so becomes even more determine to escape, bring him to justice and win back her beloved home which he had inherited after their grandfather’s (Earl of Talbot) death. She arrives in London determined to make contact with the Duke of Westland, as lord lieutenant of Yorkshire’s West Riding, since the murder had taken place in his jurisdiction, it was the Duke’s duty to deal with Kurkov.
Exhausted, starving and filthy she meets Alec who mistakes her for a young girl who is about to embark on becoming a ‘lady of the night’. He is instantly attracted to her and takes her home in hopes that she will willingly go to his bed and maybe become his mistress. He is respectful, kind and caring towards her, letting her have a hot bath to clean and warm her up (She had got soaking wet in the storm) and orders food from the finest restaurant as she is obviously hungry. Despite him desperately wanting her, he is determined that he will not force her into his bed and wants it to be her choice. Afraid that her cousin will catch her and carry out his threat Becky goes to Alec’s bed knowing that he will be gentle with her and make her first time a pleasurably experience. Discovering a red stain in his bed the next morning Alec realises that he has deflowered a virgin and immediately demands that she tell him her story and as he learns that she is not of the lower class but of noble birth, he declares that they will be married.
Alec is determined that Kurkov will not hurt Becky so agrees to help her and shelters her whilst they try and bring him to justice. During the following weeks the pair strike up a relationship and fall in love. Alec is very close to rock bottom, and is virtually cut off from his family due to his lifestyle of women, drinking and gambling which has got out of hand. He has many things that he is ashamed off and tries to hide them from Becky in fear that she will reject him, but time and time again Becky proves that she loves him, and she knows that he loves her even if he cannot yet say it. Alec is loving and gentle towards her and it soon dawns on him that he cannot live without her so he doubles his efforts in order to bring Kurkov to justice and to win back Talbot Old Hall in Yorkshire for her.
She trailed a finger down his chest and gave him that look – the one he knew so well. “Aha” he murmured. “Yes, quite. But won’t Mrs. Whithorn have a fit of Apoplexy?”
“Who cares? I’m the lady of the house, and I want my man!”
You tell him Becky-girl!! ……Needless to say they raced up the stairs as fast as their legs could carry them :)
I am not usually one to insert quotes/lines into my reviews but I absolutely loved this one. It is taken from the end of the book whereby after much adventure Alec has succeeded in winning back her home and declared that it now belonged to them! Becky is definitely the star of this book, that last line describes her to a ‘T’. Don’t get me wrong Alec is plenty drool worthy but for a young naïve woman Becky is strong, loveable and absolutely loyal to those that she cares for. She doesn’t expect Alec to change, she loves him for who he is and that will never change.
I absolutely love Gaelen Foley, she tells a good story that flows well and is easy to read. I have read this series back to back and normally I would be getting a tad bored by now, but I am loving it! The next one up is Jack’s story. It has all been a bit mysterious about Jack, we only know that he exists and that something happened which has kept him away from his family for so long….Looking forward to find out what.
March 16, 2016
No one had ever been so abundantly kind to him. So patient with him. Accepted him so completely. No one had ever believed so much in his essential worth, least of all himself.
So this book kind of proved why it was important that Alec and Lizzie weren't paired up together. Lizzie idolized Alec and could never confront his faults or really know him.
This story was about Alec saving Becky from her evil Russian cousin Becky from taking away her home and her life and freedom, and it was also Becky saving Alec from himself and his emptiness, and show him that he could be loved for himself. So they saved each other, which I thought was so lovely.
Ok honestly I thought Alec was a fun character in all the previous books but I was never really convinced that he would be a convincing/good romantic hero, but Foley proved me wrong. In this story, we tackle Alec's issues: 1) As a child he was coddled by his tempestuous mother, and when she left even though he knew it was to do good, he felt abandoned. 2) His sexual awakening/loss of virginity happened against his own will, so he has a lack of trust for his lovers, which is coupled with 3) his relationship with Lady Campion, which we know about from both Jas and Lizzie's books, that has kind of stripped away his pride and sense of worth. 4) His lack of purpose in life, because he was considered the 'spare' after Robert after his brothers went off to war which brings us to 5) his gambling problem where he becomes addicted to risk and winning.
He had stood his ground to save her from the Cossacks, and if Alec's own demons were of the internal sort, she would stay by his side and take them on as boldly as he had fought her cousin's warriors.
Becky, as an outsider, was able to see his issues in a very objective sense, which was probably the reason why she was his heroine. She was an outsider with an unconventional but loving upbringing, she herself has a fiercely independent, brave spirit, and she was tough enough emotionally to see his problems for what they were and help him work past his issues. The heart of the matter is that Alec feels unlovable and unworthy for himself, and that if anyone ever sees who he really is, they would run away, as they all always have even without that knowledge.
There's a plot which is all about how Becky is running away from her evil Russian cousin because she was a witness to his crime and she's also trying to find evidence to bring him to justice, as well as the funds to buy back the deed to her village. Alec intends to help her accomplish both because he sees himself as being responsible for her and wants to do something good for someone. The funds bit leads him back into gambling, and I liked how the gambling was a metaphor for risk/reward in love, and that Becky saw the allure but was determined to pull Alec back when he got in too deep.
I liked how because it was the summer, they were in Brighton for most of the book, which lent to this really lovely, charming seaside setting in the Knight family villa. Also, Becky spent her first years at sea, so this was full circle, and provided a great backdrop for them to fall in love.
Also, obviously, got to mention, THE SEX SCENES. True to form, Alec got the steamiest/most sex scenes out of all the Knight Miscellany books. And all kinds too, angry sex, jealous sex, kitchen sex, 69, cowgirl etc. And I also really liked how every one of his sex scenes were deeply emotionally and represented a new milestone for both Becky/Alec and their relationship. I mean that's how you use sex scenes in romance!
So this book kind of proved why it was important that Alec and Lizzie weren't paired up together. Lizzie idolized Alec and could never confront his faults or really know him.
This story was about Alec saving Becky from her evil Russian cousin Becky from taking away her home and her life and freedom, and it was also Becky saving Alec from himself and his emptiness, and show him that he could be loved for himself. So they saved each other, which I thought was so lovely.
Ok honestly I thought Alec was a fun character in all the previous books but I was never really convinced that he would be a convincing/good romantic hero, but Foley proved me wrong. In this story, we tackle Alec's issues: 1) As a child he was coddled by his tempestuous mother, and when she left even though he knew it was to do good, he felt abandoned. 2) His sexual awakening/loss of virginity happened against his own will, so he has a lack of trust for his lovers, which is coupled with 3) his relationship with Lady Campion, which we know about from both Jas and Lizzie's books, that has kind of stripped away his pride and sense of worth. 4) His lack of purpose in life, because he was considered the 'spare' after Robert after his brothers went off to war which brings us to 5) his gambling problem where he becomes addicted to risk and winning.
He had stood his ground to save her from the Cossacks, and if Alec's own demons were of the internal sort, she would stay by his side and take them on as boldly as he had fought her cousin's warriors.
Becky, as an outsider, was able to see his issues in a very objective sense, which was probably the reason why she was his heroine. She was an outsider with an unconventional but loving upbringing, she herself has a fiercely independent, brave spirit, and she was tough enough emotionally to see his problems for what they were and help him work past his issues. The heart of the matter is that Alec feels unlovable and unworthy for himself, and that if anyone ever sees who he really is, they would run away, as they all always have even without that knowledge.
There's a plot which is all about how Becky is running away from her evil Russian cousin because she was a witness to his crime and she's also trying to find evidence to bring him to justice, as well as the funds to buy back the deed to her village. Alec intends to help her accomplish both because he sees himself as being responsible for her and wants to do something good for someone. The funds bit leads him back into gambling, and I liked how the gambling was a metaphor for risk/reward in love, and that Becky saw the allure but was determined to pull Alec back when he got in too deep.
I liked how because it was the summer, they were in Brighton for most of the book, which lent to this really lovely, charming seaside setting in the Knight family villa. Also, Becky spent her first years at sea, so this was full circle, and provided a great backdrop for them to fall in love.
Also, obviously, got to mention, THE SEX SCENES. True to form, Alec got the steamiest/most sex scenes out of all the Knight Miscellany books. And all kinds too, angry sex, jealous sex, kitchen sex, 69, cowgirl etc. And I also really liked how every one of his sex scenes were deeply emotionally and represented a new milestone for both Becky/Alec and their relationship. I mean that's how you use sex scenes in romance!
April 2, 2013
One Night of Sin, A perfect name for the disreputable Knight Brother. Gaelen Foley tells a wicked story as she introduces us to an Alec Knight that not even his family knows. In Book 6 of the Knight Miscellany it would be easy to let some things slide as the family saga begins to wind down and yet, Ms Foley tells us a story about a unique individual struggling not to suffocate within his rather dysfunctional yet charming family.
I will admit, in previous stories, I did not like Alec. I thought he was a selfish twit who used his family and took advantage of his friends. An indolent self absorbed pretty boy, whose claim to fame was dressing nicely and looking pretty. An addict who thinks only of himself and honestly doesn't see why that is wrong. Honestly, what was to like? I know way too many of these people why would I ever enjoy a story about one? And yet Ms Foley crafts a wonderful story about a man who sacrifices pieces of himself in order to keep those he loves happy...
Alec Knight, youngest of the dashing Knight Miscellany, sinfully arrogant and decadently hedonist. He is at a point in his life where ennui is a way of life. The nightly drinking, wenching and gambling is slowly exacting it's toll. The only trouble is he has absolutely no idea how to change. He is the leader of his friends.. the one who defines what a London Rake about town is. Not quite acceptable but too well placed to be unacceptable. A likable chat with absolutely no substance..and that is exactly how the ton likes him.
Life has not been all that good to Becky Ward. Her mother married "beneath" her and her grandfather disowned them. Once her beloved father died she became a ward of the horrid man.. left to rot in a moldering home on the edge of nowhere in one of the lesser family estates. Even that was better than the man who assumed guardianship after her grandfather died. Her wicked cousin, a man of such vile means and evil machinations, that Becky is determined to escape him and protect the small community that has become hers. Running for her very life she finally collapses on the doorstep of a town home.. where she is mistaken for one of the "ladies" coming to play that night.. Silly manboys.. this girl is special.
Watching Alec step up to the plate and become the man he should have been was absolutely divine. Alec is so determined to protect Becky that he takes on his worst fear and conquers it.. He also learns that there are those that have his back no matter what. He learns that yes he can be a man and stand on his own but also that there is no shame in asking for help when something important is on the line.
Becky is the perfect foil for Alec, she is a woman who refuses to just life pass by.. She by nature must do all she can to fix her world. So when she is put in the position of needing to learn to lean on someone else instead of doing it herself she has to find a way to accept that.. and the man she slowly falls in love with. The man who has been hiding beneath the glamour. Becky understands Alec's dreams and sees how what others have done that helped make him the man others see and the real man.
Because Alec was my least favorite Knight, in many ways this book rises to the top of the series..
Again my friends, this series is worth the time.. check it out
Shauni
For more reviews by Shauni check out Tea and Book and
Bodice Rippers, Femme Fatales and Fantasy
I will admit, in previous stories, I did not like Alec. I thought he was a selfish twit who used his family and took advantage of his friends. An indolent self absorbed pretty boy, whose claim to fame was dressing nicely and looking pretty. An addict who thinks only of himself and honestly doesn't see why that is wrong. Honestly, what was to like? I know way too many of these people why would I ever enjoy a story about one? And yet Ms Foley crafts a wonderful story about a man who sacrifices pieces of himself in order to keep those he loves happy...
Alec Knight, youngest of the dashing Knight Miscellany, sinfully arrogant and decadently hedonist. He is at a point in his life where ennui is a way of life. The nightly drinking, wenching and gambling is slowly exacting it's toll. The only trouble is he has absolutely no idea how to change. He is the leader of his friends.. the one who defines what a London Rake about town is. Not quite acceptable but too well placed to be unacceptable. A likable chat with absolutely no substance..and that is exactly how the ton likes him.
Life has not been all that good to Becky Ward. Her mother married "beneath" her and her grandfather disowned them. Once her beloved father died she became a ward of the horrid man.. left to rot in a moldering home on the edge of nowhere in one of the lesser family estates. Even that was better than the man who assumed guardianship after her grandfather died. Her wicked cousin, a man of such vile means and evil machinations, that Becky is determined to escape him and protect the small community that has become hers. Running for her very life she finally collapses on the doorstep of a town home.. where she is mistaken for one of the "ladies" coming to play that night.. Silly manboys.. this girl is special.
Watching Alec step up to the plate and become the man he should have been was absolutely divine. Alec is so determined to protect Becky that he takes on his worst fear and conquers it.. He also learns that there are those that have his back no matter what. He learns that yes he can be a man and stand on his own but also that there is no shame in asking for help when something important is on the line.
Becky is the perfect foil for Alec, she is a woman who refuses to just life pass by.. She by nature must do all she can to fix her world. So when she is put in the position of needing to learn to lean on someone else instead of doing it herself she has to find a way to accept that.. and the man she slowly falls in love with. The man who has been hiding beneath the glamour. Becky understands Alec's dreams and sees how what others have done that helped make him the man others see and the real man.
Because Alec was my least favorite Knight, in many ways this book rises to the top of the series..
Again my friends, this series is worth the time.. check it out
Shauni
For more reviews by Shauni check out Tea and Book and
Bodice Rippers, Femme Fatales and Fantasy
May 19, 2010
I have been committed to the Knight Miscellany and have eagerly been awaiting Lord Alec's story. What a major let down. I almost quit reading it midway. The story did improve somewhat so I'm glad that I finished it, but I really can not recommend it. I would only read it if you're like me, and have a need to see a series through.
Here's what worked...There were a few scenes as Alec is coming to terms with the things he's done and the mistakes he's made that were good. I really bought into the idea that Alec wants to be different and "reform".
Here's what didn't work....I absolutely did not buy into the romance between these two. Becky wasn't the type of woman that I had imagined for Alec. The love scenes were somewhat offensive in language and detail. I'm all for intensity, but the graphic nature was unnecessary. I didn't like the plot with Becky's uncle as the villain, and the idea that Alec gambled, an addiction that nearly killed him, to win back Becky's home was distasteful to me. He also attributed his ability to gamble "healthy" to the love of a good woman...romantic, but not realistic. I didn't like the pet names they used for each other and how Alec turned into a "softy". A rake can reform without completely changing character which Alec did. Overall, I have loved and hated this man throughout this series and was hoping that his book would be my favorite....unfortunately the opposite is true..this is the one I like the least.
Only one more to go...I'm hoping that Jacks story is more like The Duke, Lord of Fire, and Devil Takes a Bride and less like Lord of Ice, Lady of Desire, and One Night of Sin. So far I've liked 3 and disliked 3, and I would like to close out this series with more on the "Liked" side than on the "Disliked" side.
Here's what worked...There were a few scenes as Alec is coming to terms with the things he's done and the mistakes he's made that were good. I really bought into the idea that Alec wants to be different and "reform".
Here's what didn't work....I absolutely did not buy into the romance between these two. Becky wasn't the type of woman that I had imagined for Alec. The love scenes were somewhat offensive in language and detail. I'm all for intensity, but the graphic nature was unnecessary. I didn't like the plot with Becky's uncle as the villain, and the idea that Alec gambled, an addiction that nearly killed him, to win back Becky's home was distasteful to me. He also attributed his ability to gamble "healthy" to the love of a good woman...romantic, but not realistic. I didn't like the pet names they used for each other and how Alec turned into a "softy". A rake can reform without completely changing character which Alec did. Overall, I have loved and hated this man throughout this series and was hoping that his book would be my favorite....unfortunately the opposite is true..this is the one I like the least.
Only one more to go...I'm hoping that Jacks story is more like The Duke, Lord of Fire, and Devil Takes a Bride and less like Lord of Ice, Lady of Desire, and One Night of Sin. So far I've liked 3 and disliked 3, and I would like to close out this series with more on the "Liked" side than on the "Disliked" side.
August 27, 2011
I love this series. Here is an author who is very good at writing about real life problems like PTSD and gambling addiction. She really got to the heart of the matter with the character Alec. He always felt inferior to his brothers, and used and unloved by his mother. He knew that his accomplishments were nothing to brag about, so he set out to be as irresponsible as he could. He felt like he had to be good at something and since his prospects were nil, he resorted to gambling, boozing and living it up with the ladies. I was actually hurting for him while his insecurities unfolded.
Becky was the perfect h for Alec. She had an iron will and she didn't care what people thought of her. She was able to set her bruised feelings aside in order to make Alec feel safe in her arms. I love a heroine who doesn't pout when faced with the hard parts of love. She knew there had to be reasons for the things Alec did, and she trusted him to reveal what they were in his own time.
I also think that this was the steamiest one yet. Alec didn't get the reputation as a notorious rake for nothing! The love scenes sizzled, but held all the tender emotion that I have come to expect from this author.
I'm so excited for the last installment starring Jack. The only Knight brother I haven't met yet. I KNOW that one will be good.
Becky was the perfect h for Alec. She had an iron will and she didn't care what people thought of her. She was able to set her bruised feelings aside in order to make Alec feel safe in her arms. I love a heroine who doesn't pout when faced with the hard parts of love. She knew there had to be reasons for the things Alec did, and she trusted him to reveal what they were in his own time.
I also think that this was the steamiest one yet. Alec didn't get the reputation as a notorious rake for nothing! The love scenes sizzled, but held all the tender emotion that I have come to expect from this author.
I'm so excited for the last installment starring Jack. The only Knight brother I haven't met yet. I KNOW that one will be good.
September 8, 2019
Alec knew he still possessed more than a human being could reasonably ask of life. Then again, when had he ever been a reasonable man?
First off, a toast to Gaelen Foley for redeeming Alec’s character in One Night of Sin. I wanted Lizzie and Alec to be together when Foley wrote them so well in Lady of Desire, but then after Alec rents himself out as a gigolo to Lady Campion, Lizzie had enough. I still had hopes that they would reconcile but when it turned out Lizzie had Devlin and Alec was halfheartedly creating a love triangle with resigned jealousy, I honestly was not sure if I would be interested to read about Alec. What the heck was going on with this guy?
Alec is the charming hero archetype in the form of a dandy. This hero must be hard to write because it sure is hard to read about one that can knock the reader off their feet. Most charming heroes end up flaccid characters, IMO. Because they are popular, social creatures, their main conflict is, more often than not, an aimlessness in life, and this can either make them out to be a dense buffoon or secretly emo. That Alec is thrust into a Russian assassination plot didn’t bode well initially with me. How Becky ends up on the step of his friend’s house and punches Alec’s friend - highly reminiscent of the meet-cute in Lady of Desire. The outlandish plot made sense, in terms of lifting Alec out of his ennui and activating white knight hero mode, but it also reminded me of the awful job that was reading Lord of Fire and Lord of Ice.
It was a little dicey but One Night of Sin is really superb, another highlight to the series, and that has to do with the characterization of Alec and Becky and the historical and cultural tidbits. This must be the first story I read that explained White’s was the gentleman’s club for Tories and Brooke’s for Tories. That Alec was welcomed at both clubs said something about his character. Where Alec lived as a bachelor and younger son, and why he became addicted, like many men, to the rush of gambling breathed life into this aspect of Regency culture, which appears to be a major vice of the time, according to the Author's Note. I have read about stories about gambling dens but it has always felt like generic descriptions of people in a social setting. Never was the thrill or the suspense of a card game tangibly felt in the atmosphere. Whenever it is the focus point, it is related to a high-stakes card game where virginity or an estate is on the table, but here, the stake is simply the pleasure of winning money, of betting big, of feeling lucky.
“When he flirted, he was furthest away.”
But most of all, what I loved about Alec is what I have found most compelling about Knight Miscellany as a series, and that is how the children interpret their relationship with their mother. Alec and Robert are quite similar in that they served as the favourite for one of their parents, and that was a blessing and a curse. For Robert, he could not love his mother because his father would see it as a betrayal. For Alec, he loved his mother but she was also as irresponsible as his father by turning him into her favourite, her confidante, her diary - her toy, but never her child. Both parents are not perfect, and that is what I like about Knight Miscellany - how different each of their children interpret their parents and childhood. Not surprisingly based on his childhood, Alec wields his power and influence through the giving of pleasure - whether that is being a man-about-town getting up to gambles, bets and mischief with his friends, or in physical dalliances with women. How he uses it is similar to the hero of Anne Mallory’s Three Nights of Sin who is very aware of and can manipulate it to his benefit.
That he falls for Becky ( “For Becky’s sake. Whoever the devil she was.” ) pretty fast and hard is hilarious. That initial scene as he chases her who is in turn being pursued by the Cossacks is outrageous and fun. I love it when romance authors can be a little silly and note the absurdity of it all (which is why I have such a soft spot for Suzanne Enoch) and Foley does this here: When Becky doesn’t believe Alec kills the Cossacks at first, or when Alec tries to shoot Mikhail with the gun with his action hero catchphrase. Not to mention the laddish love between Alec and his friends. It's nice to see that no one in Alec's good group of friends turns out to be evil. What a relief that Drax and Parthenia are not villains! A beautiful, arrogant woman who is not evil, spiteful or jealous towards the heroine?? What a relief. I'm so tired of reading about this type of secondary character in a story.
“Damn it, Becky, can’t you give an inch?”
“If I did, wouldn’t you take a mile?”
And Becky - love her! Especially when she tells Alec: “A woman has honour too.” Becky is not a sniper like Jacinda, but she stands her ground to Alec’s manipulations. She cuts through his BS and makes him listen, whether that’s about the seriousness of his gambling addiction or the fact that she can be trusted, in particular about forgiving himself for going to Lady Campion. This never struck me with horror because I am practical-minded when it comes to doing whatever is necessary to not get my legs broken by loan sharks, and I am glad Foley goes into this. Alec’s story has been weaved throughout the Knight Miscellany and there is a lot more going on beneath the surface to this chameleon-like hero.
One last note about Lizzie - WOW, they really go to town to reassure the reader multiple times throughout the story that Alec didn't like Lizzie *that* way. Alec always thought it was mildly incestuous flirting with her, he put her on a pedestal - he never let her close to him, and she always loved a vision of him in her mind or deep down he knew he would drive her crazy.
The lady doth protest too much, methinks.
In all seriousness, it really does honour and respect the complicated bond between Alec and Lizzie. Alec truly loves Lizzie, and there must be some guilt and questioning in him that he could never love Lizzie that way, especially when we find out Lizzie is not the nice doormat companion she'd like us all to believe but actually cool and feisty. Whatever it was that Alec was working through, it gave me deeper respect for the characters and for Foley that she honoured this complicated relationship. Foley didn't try to cheapen it or brush it under the rug.
Loved this and a little sad now that there is only one story left to go with the Knight Miscellany!
First off, a toast to Gaelen Foley for redeeming Alec’s character in One Night of Sin. I wanted Lizzie and Alec to be together when Foley wrote them so well in Lady of Desire, but then after Alec rents himself out as a gigolo to Lady Campion, Lizzie had enough. I still had hopes that they would reconcile but when it turned out Lizzie had Devlin and Alec was halfheartedly creating a love triangle with resigned jealousy, I honestly was not sure if I would be interested to read about Alec. What the heck was going on with this guy?
Alec is the charming hero archetype in the form of a dandy. This hero must be hard to write because it sure is hard to read about one that can knock the reader off their feet. Most charming heroes end up flaccid characters, IMO. Because they are popular, social creatures, their main conflict is, more often than not, an aimlessness in life, and this can either make them out to be a dense buffoon or secretly emo. That Alec is thrust into a Russian assassination plot didn’t bode well initially with me. How Becky ends up on the step of his friend’s house and punches Alec’s friend - highly reminiscent of the meet-cute in Lady of Desire. The outlandish plot made sense, in terms of lifting Alec out of his ennui and activating white knight hero mode, but it also reminded me of the awful job that was reading Lord of Fire and Lord of Ice.
It was a little dicey but One Night of Sin is really superb, another highlight to the series, and that has to do with the characterization of Alec and Becky and the historical and cultural tidbits. This must be the first story I read that explained White’s was the gentleman’s club for Tories and Brooke’s for Tories. That Alec was welcomed at both clubs said something about his character. Where Alec lived as a bachelor and younger son, and why he became addicted, like many men, to the rush of gambling breathed life into this aspect of Regency culture, which appears to be a major vice of the time, according to the Author's Note. I have read about stories about gambling dens but it has always felt like generic descriptions of people in a social setting. Never was the thrill or the suspense of a card game tangibly felt in the atmosphere. Whenever it is the focus point, it is related to a high-stakes card game where virginity or an estate is on the table, but here, the stake is simply the pleasure of winning money, of betting big, of feeling lucky.
“When he flirted, he was furthest away.”
But most of all, what I loved about Alec is what I have found most compelling about Knight Miscellany as a series, and that is how the children interpret their relationship with their mother. Alec and Robert are quite similar in that they served as the favourite for one of their parents, and that was a blessing and a curse. For Robert, he could not love his mother because his father would see it as a betrayal. For Alec, he loved his mother but she was also as irresponsible as his father by turning him into her favourite, her confidante, her diary - her toy, but never her child. Both parents are not perfect, and that is what I like about Knight Miscellany - how different each of their children interpret their parents and childhood. Not surprisingly based on his childhood, Alec wields his power and influence through the giving of pleasure - whether that is being a man-about-town getting up to gambles, bets and mischief with his friends, or in physical dalliances with women. How he uses it is similar to the hero of Anne Mallory’s Three Nights of Sin who is very aware of and can manipulate it to his benefit.
That he falls for Becky ( “For Becky’s sake. Whoever the devil she was.” ) pretty fast and hard is hilarious. That initial scene as he chases her who is in turn being pursued by the Cossacks is outrageous and fun. I love it when romance authors can be a little silly and note the absurdity of it all (which is why I have such a soft spot for Suzanne Enoch) and Foley does this here: When Becky doesn’t believe Alec kills the Cossacks at first, or when Alec tries to shoot Mikhail with the gun with his action hero catchphrase. Not to mention the laddish love between Alec and his friends. It's nice to see that no one in Alec's good group of friends turns out to be evil. What a relief that Drax and Parthenia are not villains! A beautiful, arrogant woman who is not evil, spiteful or jealous towards the heroine?? What a relief. I'm so tired of reading about this type of secondary character in a story.
“Damn it, Becky, can’t you give an inch?”
“If I did, wouldn’t you take a mile?”
And Becky - love her! Especially when she tells Alec: “A woman has honour too.” Becky is not a sniper like Jacinda, but she stands her ground to Alec’s manipulations. She cuts through his BS and makes him listen, whether that’s about the seriousness of his gambling addiction or the fact that she can be trusted, in particular about forgiving himself for going to Lady Campion. This never struck me with horror because I am practical-minded when it comes to doing whatever is necessary to not get my legs broken by loan sharks, and I am glad Foley goes into this. Alec’s story has been weaved throughout the Knight Miscellany and there is a lot more going on beneath the surface to this chameleon-like hero.
One last note about Lizzie - WOW, they really go to town to reassure the reader multiple times throughout the story that Alec didn't like Lizzie *that* way. Alec always thought it was mildly incestuous flirting with her, he put her on a pedestal - he never let her close to him, and she always loved a vision of him in her mind or deep down he knew he would drive her crazy.
The lady doth protest too much, methinks.
In all seriousness, it really does honour and respect the complicated bond between Alec and Lizzie. Alec truly loves Lizzie, and there must be some guilt and questioning in him that he could never love Lizzie that way, especially when we find out Lizzie is not the nice doormat companion she'd like us all to believe but actually cool and feisty. Whatever it was that Alec was working through, it gave me deeper respect for the characters and for Foley that she honoured this complicated relationship. Foley didn't try to cheapen it or brush it under the rug.
Loved this and a little sad now that there is only one story left to go with the Knight Miscellany!
August 28, 2021
This is the 6th in the Knight Miscellany series and it is possibly my favourite one since Robert first snagged Bel in book one. What surprises me is that by the end of the last instalment, I was just about sure I didn’t want to read Alec’s story because I really despised him and was firmly on team Devlin. Despite my loathing, I couldn’t bare to stop reading Foley’s amazingly addictive series about the fabulous Knight family and their growing clutch of spouses, so I felt it had to be done. Well! Am I glad I read on, because it turns out that hating a well-known character and then sharing in their inevitable redemption, when written with such romantic aplomb, is just about the most satisfying experience I’ve had since I started this series. Alec and Becky were a great pairing, but the novel wasn’t perfect, so I can’t bring myself to award it with 5. I was left with a funny feeling of happiness and contentment at the end of this one though, so 4.75 stars feels appropriate. Sigh ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
December 21, 2021
Lo leí hace mil años así que ya no recuerdo muchas cosas jajaja
Me gustó pero tampoco fue de mis favs... quizás vuelva a leer la serie el próximo año
Me gustó pero tampoco fue de mis favs... quizás vuelva a leer la serie el próximo año
September 12, 2009
Alec's story is really intriguing. There are a lot of surprises and what's amazing is how his character developed, obviously triggered by Lizzie's marriage to his peer Devlin. In here, the author reiterates his jesting facade and really takes a closer look at Alec's life and history, and why he and Lizzie are not meant to be. The spirited Becky is his obvious match, while he is cool, she is fiery. It's wonderful how their relationship developed, how they were good for each other. While Alec with his chivalrous charms protected Becky, she in turn brought a change in him without even trying (as mentioned in the book). The love scenes were more passionate with this one than in the other books, I guess it's because Alec is the Captain of all London rakehells. The author gave his skills justice. I also loved the action and suspense, one can't find any more action in the previous books, as this one had more fight scenes old-school style. I liked the edgy feel when they're in danger and how they evade the Cossacks. I was waiting for the appearance of the rest of the Knight brothers, but in here Alex grew up and he matured, he relied on his wits and luck in gambling and it all worked out well in the end. Although it's a given they'll end up together and everyone gets a happy ending, the journey going there is really worth reading.
July 18, 2011
Although this book felt very slow to me, something about it touched me. Perhaps it was Alec's vulnerability and his determination to protect Becky and prove himself to both of them. Or maybe it was Becky's desire to prove to Alec that he was lovable and that he was honorable despite his attempts to live down to his reputation. This couple saved each other and that is one of my favorite types of stories.
I have enjoyed all of the books in this series. It is quite an interesting family, all of them damaged in one way or another by the actions of their mother. I really came to dislike her in this book! (Probably more like hate, the way she manipulated Alec's emotions...) They all seem to start a little slow, but they are worth it in the end!
I have enjoyed all of the books in this series. It is quite an interesting family, all of them damaged in one way or another by the actions of their mother. I really came to dislike her in this book! (Probably more like hate, the way she manipulated Alec's emotions...) They all seem to start a little slow, but they are worth it in the end!
August 15, 2008
Despite having one of those cringeworthy titles, this was a good book. Lord Alec finds Becky on a doorstep one rainy night and takes her home with him to bed her, thinking she is a prostitute. Wanting to "ruin" herself for various reasons, Becky makes love with him.
As the story develops, Alec soon transforms from a rakish gigolo to a protective lover. In the subplot Alec must protect Becky and her estate from an evil and cruel Russian.
Becky was a likeable heroine, and I also liked the way the hero's character developed and grew. Their chemistry was great. The kitchen scene! Who knew cooking could be so much fun.
As the story develops, Alec soon transforms from a rakish gigolo to a protective lover. In the subplot Alec must protect Becky and her estate from an evil and cruel Russian.
Becky was a likeable heroine, and I also liked the way the hero's character developed and grew. Their chemistry was great. The kitchen scene! Who knew cooking could be so much fun.
March 9, 2016
I didn't really like Alec in the other books and it took me some time to like him in his own. But once he finally revealed some of the painful aspects of his childhood, then I got it and understood his past actions. I thought Becky was perfect for Alec and make him become a better man to win her love. It was actually an emotional and deep story with Alec not depending on his brothers to save him. He and Becky had to save themselves and they did a wonderful job. Even better, the first love scene was a bit flowery in description and the subsequent loves scenes were more grittier and completely sexy. Loved the hot kitchen one.
October 2, 2011
A decent historical romance and a good installation to the long-running series. Alex Knight is the Leo Hathaway of the Knight family, who, similarly, has a backstory twined throughout most of the books. I would recommend reading along with the series both for making sense of the family situation and just because they're all good books. This one had an okay start, a sagging middle that teetered on DNF territory, but a strong climax that made me glad I finished.
March 25, 2009
Hey Ladies...whoa..this was STEAMY! lol...at least for me. hahaha
Ms. Foley stayed true to Alec's character in this book and to her I must say THANK YOU!
I would have given 5 stars, but the prelude to the ending was a wee bit much.
Still a fun read. :-)
Ms. Foley stayed true to Alec's character in this book and to her I must say THANK YOU!
I would have given 5 stars, but the prelude to the ending was a wee bit much.
Still a fun read. :-)
September 23, 2020
Read Sept 17, 2020
Hot romance, an evil villain, murder and numerous action sequences. 3/5
Hot romance, an evil villain, murder and numerous action sequences. 3/5
May 31, 2017
Es diferente pero es buena, porque los protagonistas al principio se acuestan y después viene el suspenso, la acción y como se enamoran!!!
Me gusto mucho como Becky fue enamorando a Alex sin que ninguno de los dos se diera cuenta, al final termina siendo uno de los que mas me gusta
Una cosa que no me gusta de la escritora, puede ser solo a mi, y es que da mucha lora para llegar a un punto, es muy grafica y es chevere pero a veces se pasa
Me gusto mucho como Becky fue enamorando a Alex sin que ninguno de los dos se diera cuenta, al final termina siendo uno de los que mas me gusta
Una cosa que no me gusta de la escritora, puede ser solo a mi, y es que da mucha lora para llegar a un punto, es muy grafica y es chevere pero a veces se pasa
January 22, 2021
3.5 stars
I'd been putting off this book because especially in the last book Alec was just so unlikable. This book redeemed him, but this is still my least favorite in the series so far. The gambling story line just wasn't appealing to me. And my biggest critique was I wanted to see more of the family in this book or even just a more in-depth epilogue to catch up with them. Still I enjoyed the romance.
I'd been putting off this book because especially in the last book Alec was just so unlikable. This book redeemed him, but this is still my least favorite in the series so far. The gambling story line just wasn't appealing to me. And my biggest critique was I wanted to see more of the family in this book or even just a more in-depth epilogue to catch up with them. Still I enjoyed the romance.
July 2, 2018
I really love Becky. She's fierce and humble all at once. I love Alec, as well. You can see his character development throughout the book. They worked well together to combat demons too. 5 stars!
November 4, 2020
Definitivamente esta es una serie memorable. Tiene todo lo que me gusta en una novela de este género y esta historia ha sido un deleite
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