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Left penniless and in dire straits, Kelsey Langton realizes that only by allowing herself to be sold at auction can she rescue her sister's future. So the proud, desperate lady enters the infamous House of Eros, resigned to becoming some well-heeled gentleman's plaything -- and Lord Derek Malory is the highest bidder for Kelsey's charms.

A handsome and irredeemable scoundrel, Derek soon draws the sensuous, unsuspecting maiden into a world of unparalleled pleasures and dangerous rivalries. But Kelsey knows she must always guard the secret of her highborn past -- even as her grace, spirit, and beauty entice her new "master" to renounce his scandalous ways and take a gamble on true love.

413 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

709 people are currently reading
5021 people want to read

About the author

Johanna Lindsey

151 books7,270 followers
Johanna Helen Howard was born on March 10, 1952 in Germany, where her father, Edwin Dennis Howard, a soldier in the U.S. Army was stationed. The family moved about a great deal when she was young. Her father always dreamed of retiring to Hawaii, and after he passed away in 1964 Johanna and her mother settled there to honor him.

In 1970, when she was still in school, she married Ralph Lindsey, becoming a young housewife. The marriage had three children; Alfred, Joseph and Garret, who already have made her a grandmother. After her husband's death, Johanna moved to Maine, New England, to stay near her family.

Johanna Lindsey wrote her first book, Captive Bride in 1977 "on a whim", and the book was a success. By 2006, with over 58 Million copies of her books have been sold worldwide, with translations appearing in 12 languages, Johanna Lindsey is one of the world's most popular authors of historical romance.

Johanna's books span the various eras of history, including books set in the Middle Ages, the American "Old West" and the popular Regency England-Scotland. She has even written a few sci-fi romances. By far the most popular among her books are the stories about the Malory-Anderson Family, a Regency England saga.

Johanna Lindsey died on Oct. 27, 2019 in Nashua, N.H. She was 67.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 591 reviews
Profile Image for NiCoLeTa E. {Addicted To Books}.
1,555 reviews82 followers
June 27, 2016
***4,5 lovely stars***

For once again the Mallorys were an excellent companion for me...
I love those reckless members of this family, i'm liking their adventures and i can't get enough of them...

The fifth story wasn't an exception for me... even though that this certain Mallory was a little bit different from the rest of his crazy relatives, but he had his moments too!!!
So this was Derek Mallory's story whose fate bound with poor Kelsey Langton's....


Kelsey Langton was very unlucky. Before some months, she lost everything she knew and had in her life and with her sister, they are living under the protection of their dear aunt and his husband...

But one night, she is discovering from her uncle that they are about to go on bankrupt, so he is persuading her to do something unlike her in order to save her family and her sister's future....
She knows that what she had to do will ruined her reputation and that her life will be destroyed forever, but she has no other choice...

So, she is going to be sold in an auction as a mistress for a gentleman of the high society!!!

Derek Mallory is following the steps of his uncles, but he is more discreet with his actions...

He is loving to have fun and to enjoy women's company very much, but because of his father and because of all of the scandals that were following Mallorys from time to time, he is trying to be very careful...
Not only that, but his whole existence was a scandal since he was an illegitimate child...
One night, fate is bringing him in the infamous House of Eros and even though that he was refusing to have a mistress, he is founding himself buying in a high price a wonderful girl!!!


From that moment, everything is changing for Derek and Kelsey...
They are bound together, but for how long???

Kelsey is trying all the time to hide the truth about her highborn past and Derek is having more problems beyond Kelsey...
And in the middle of all that, something is shifting inside of them...

There is a chance for those two to become something more???

"She liked Derek, liked being with him, liked making love to him, liked everything about him. And unless he did something drastic to alter that, she was afraid those feelings were going to get much stronger.
That was a horrible thought. She didn't want to love Derek. She didn't want to agonize over the day he would tell her he had no further use for her. And that day would eventually come. When it did, she wanted to sigh in relief, not cry her heart out."


I liked very much both Derek and Kelsey...

They were having a lovely chemistry between them and their personalities were so wonderful...

Kelsey was a lovely woman and very dynamic... She sacrificed so much for her family and she was feeling ashamed for her actions...

But she was lucky after all, because she had the chance to be bought from a wonderful man, so her fate wasn't so bad after all...

"This Malory stirred things up inher that she didn't understand. With Jeremy, she had suspected things would be quite simple. With this man, she didn't think anything would be simple. So certainly she would have prefered Jeremy, for the relationship she entered with him wouldn't have been all that complicated."

Derek was trying to be a gentleman to the society and even though that he had swore that he will never have a mistress, he couldn't let Kelsey to get on the wrong hands...

He was very gentle and kind and thoughtful and he was drown so much toward Kelsey...

"She could leave at any time, just like anormal mistress. That he'd paid a lot of money for her nolonger mattered.
And that put him into a bit of a panic. When he'd realized that he was panicked, he'd tried to figure out why. And the answer had come to him readily enough. He'd gone and fallen in love with his mistress.
It was a bloody stupid thing to do. Even he knew that. But he'd done it anyway. "


For once again, i loved so much the presence of the rest of the Mallory's...
They are such a lovely and crazy bunch!!!

I can't wait for the next books in the series!!!

"I was hoping you might know some way to deal with the man."
"Oh, Yes," James said with a dark, ominous smile. "I can think of a few ways."
"Short of killing him, that is," Derek felt it prudent to add.
James said nothing for nearly ten seconds, then, "If you insist.”
Profile Image for Michelle.
394 reviews20 followers
August 20, 2009
Say You Love Me is my favorite Malory novel so far! I loved Derek and Kelsey and could not put this book down!

Kelsey Langston, a highborn lady, auctions herself off at a brothel in order to save her family from their supposed debt. Derek Malory, unlike his two uncles and younger cousin, has no reason to take a mistress but when he sees his enemy bidding to win Kelsey his first reaction is to out bid him in order to save Kelsey from any harm. Now the most proper of all Malory boys, and heir to the family inheritance finds himself with a mistress and may be caught in one of the biggest scandals the Malory family has ever endured! Kelsey talks, walks and acts like a lady of the ton but she assures Derek that she is a woman of lower class. In order to protect her family she will never tell the truth of her upbringing no matter what kind of emotions stir between them. Derek finds himself captivated by Kelsey and takes her along with him everywhere, risking the chance of getting caught gallivanting with his mistress. He knows that he can’t be seen with a mistress but he can’t help the feelings he feels for Kelsey. When the lunatic who was outbid by Derek threatened Kelsey’s life, Derek realizes how much he loves her and proposes marriage. Kelsey turns him down because of the scandal it would cause Derek. Derek doesn’t care about the scandal, after all he is an illegitimate heir and he just found out his real mother, and his fathers lover, is the maid who has been like a mother to him all his years growing up. When the truth is found out of Kelsey’s true upbringing the Malory family is in shock. Aunt Elizabeth shows up angry knowing that her niece has been compromised all because her husband convinced Kelsey to go through with the scheme. Little did Kelsey’s uncle know that Aunt Elizabeth had enough money of her own and the family was never in debt. After everything is out in the open Kelsey still will not marry Derek because of the scandal involved but then Reggie comes up with the greatest story yet in order to save both the Langston and Malory family from scandal and gives Derek and Kelsey a chance to finally be together, properly.


December 15, 2025
Cute heroine, kind hero

The further into the series I go, the more normal the stories have become~ No crazy last minute drama.

↬ Do I miss it? A little. I'm used to JL being just a little bit unhinged.
↬ Did it need it?



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🕮⋆˚࿔✎𓂃 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
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Profile Image for NMmomof4.
1,790 reviews5,040 followers
February 18, 2021
3 Stars

Overall Opinion: I messed up and I should’ve known better. Not that long ago I tried another book in this series and couldn’t get past the beginning because there was too much about the previous characters and books that I couldn’t relate to. I should’ve known that I would run into that here too. I should have started with book number one. While I did get the mc’s romance and their story from the start, I definitely felt like I was missing something because there was a lot about the other characters in the series. I like the family and I found their banter humorous, but it felt frustrating at times because it completely took away from the mc’s story for me. I also was disappointed that there was no steam. I know a lot of the time hr books are on the low side of steam, but this felt just non-existent and I decided I didn’t like that. To finish it all off, the ending was too abrupt and didn’t provide nearly enough closure for me. Overall, just an alright read for me.

Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Kelsey and Derek’s story. Kelsey is put in a bad position where she has to protect her young sister and aunt from ruin and ends up auctioning herself off to the highest bidder as a mistress. Derek isn’t ready to settle down and his one experience with a mistress left him with a bad taste, but when he sees a man that he knows harms females about to win the bid for this innocent woman — he steps in and beats him. There are some sweet scenes, some twisted lies to navigate, and a few funny parts with family...and they get a HFN ending.

Point Of View (POV): This alternated between focusing on Kelsey and Derek in 3rd person narrative.

Overall Pace of Story: Alright. It felt slow in some parts but I never skimmed.

Instalove: No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings

H (Hero) rating: 4 stars. Derek. I liked him. I appreciated how he cared for the h and defended it to his family.

h (heroine) rating: 4 stars. Kelsey. I liked her. I appreciated her strength and how she did what was needed to get by.

Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed

Push/Pull: Yes

Heat level: Low. They have minimal tension, chemistry, and non-descriptive fade to black type scenes.

Descriptive sex: No

OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: No

Sex scene with OW or OM: No

Cheating: No

Separation: No

Possible Triggers: Yes

Closure: This ends with little closure and what I would call a HFN ending . I would’ve loved a farther glimpse into their future or some kind of epilogue!

Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers
Profile Image for Jan.
1,105 reviews250 followers
July 25, 2018
1.5 stars. I didn't really enjoy this book. I persisted and finished it for two reasons - one was that I'd bought a beautiful hard copy at an op shop. Such a pretty book I just had to read it! The other reason was that this was my July bodice-ripper read for the GR Historical Romance Book Club's Romance Across the Ages challenge. I really wanted to finish this month's challenge book and I did!

Why didn't I like it? Well, I just didn't enjoy the writer's style. It felt very dated to me. (It was written in 1996). The trope wasn't a fav of mine either - impoverished down-on-her-luck lady saves her family by offering her virginal self at an auction. She is purchased by a young, handsome and rich lord and luckily enough, they fall in love. (LOL).

This book is #5 in a series and I haven't read the others. It wasn't really a standalone, because there were lots of characters from other books, and quite a bit (too much!) page space spent on catching readers up on what they were all up to and how many babies they were having etc etc . :/ I had little interest in that. The plot did start to move along eventually. There was a very dramatic section that went all Criminal Minds, and I found this section pretty unpleasant actually. I did a bit of skimming here.

But overall, I think it's the writing style that just wasn't for me. I know Lindsey is very popular, and her Malory family are perennial favourites. But I think it's just not my cup of tea. Never mind.
Profile Image for Stacey.
1,446 reviews1,127 followers
September 1, 2020
This story made me feel very...passionate 🤬

I'm one of those really painful historical romance readers who says she wants a historically accurate story, but then when she has it, resents the accuracy. The males in historical romances can be a bunch of misogynistic, hypocritical, and self-serving DOUCHEWAFFLES!

I swear my walk was practically a run this morning while listening to Say You Love Me. My emotions were high, I was clenching my jaw and there was a distinct eye-twitch happening. I did not get a lot of *Good Mornings* or head tilts, and I think it may have something to do with the scowl on my face.

In some ways, it's why I love historical romances so much. I love seeing the heroes break with tradition and treat their heroines as important, special, and someone to be respected. Johanna Lindsey managed to take my anger and transform it into love. She introduces us to douchewaffles and turns them into men who change their ways for love. I think, in this case, my anger is founded in my dislike for mistresses. It's another of my double-standards as a reader, unfortunately. I hate what they stand for but I also hate how they can be treated.

Anyways, I ended up enjoying this story and finished with a big smile on my face. Yes, I was very, very angry at a lot of the men in this story, but the heroine made up for it in a lot of ways. Kelsey is a strong, determined, and sweet young lady who is trying to protect her family from destitution. What she does to protect them is something I'm not sure I would have the strength to do. While Derek did annoy me a wee bit, it's obvious that he is actually an honourable and caring man who does what he thinks is right. I loved that Derek worked out without any prompting from Kelsey that he loved her and would protect her with his life. Their journey to love and happy ever afters was a bumpy one, but in the end, the rough ride was worth it.

The narrator does an OK job but his characterisation of Derek was not my favourite. It was easy to tell the characters apart and his female 'voice' wasn't bad, so I can't complain too much.

Another winner in the Malory-Anderson Families and I will definitely be back for more in the future.

Profile Image for Antonella.
4,131 reviews625 followers
August 4, 2020
my first read by Johanna Lindsey..I have been missing out and that needs to change...
as this is the fifth book in a series I was a bit confused with all characters mentioned but overall really cute historical...

3,5 stars

Profile Image for Lover of Romance.
3,720 reviews1,125 followers
July 30, 2022
This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance Summary
Kelsey Langton has always looked out for her sister. When they lost their parents to a tragic and dramatic death, they were taken in by their aunt and uncle. But when her uncle loses his funds, he convinces Kelsey that she can save them and help provide more security for her sister. So she agrees to sell herself as a Lord's mistress to save her family. When she is put on the block, she end up being Derek Malory's mistress. Derek Malory is not a man to be spontaneous or to buy a mistress especially for the large amount, but when a cruel fellow Lord bids on Kelsey, he knows the pain she will suffer at his hands and he can save her this time. But Kelsey is not what he expected. She is kind, beautiful, intelligent and passionate and innocent. But when Derek realizes he wants to marry Kelsey, because he loves her, it might be impossible with the scandal surrounding their relationship and the secret that Kelsey is keeping from him...
The Hero
Derek Malory is the only son of Jason Malory, with all the responsibilities and duties that come with the Title and being the only son of the eldest of the Malory siblings. Derek believed that his mother died, and his step mother Frances was never a true mother to him. Derek is charming but is also responsible when he needs to be. Derek is such a wonderful hero to read. I love the way he is with Kelsey. He definitely has the type of personality that is a bit different from others in his family. He has a good balance though. He isn't a rake like his uncles are, but also not as strict in responsibilities as his father and uncle Edward.  I love seeing a mix of good characteristics from the family that Derek portrays in his personality.
The Heroine
Kelsey Langton is a truly wonderful heroine that we have. I love her character and personality. She is the oldest of the two sisters, but she is the more responsibile one although she tends to have a bit of a temper at times and I did love seeing that side of her come out. She is very innocent though. And it was interesteing to see how she deals with her situation and how well she handles everything she faces. She is strong and courageous and kind. She is such a likable character and I love how protective she is of her sister and then Derek too.
Plot and Story Line
Say You Love Me was such a wonderful book and is one of my favorite books in this series. It was such a joy and fun experience to re read this one. Although I won't admit how much I have read this book, since its been on my bookshelf for many years and I still love it after allt his time. But then this whole series is like that for me. But there is something unique and different about this couple that I just love. Rarely do you fall in love with a couple that meets in such a unique way as these two meet. It might not be for everyone but I LOVE this and the unique meeting and we get a bit of a danger side to the plot, its a small amount and doesn't take away from the romance. Our villain of the story is Lord David Ashford, who enjoys whipping women to have sex with them. Yeah he is pretty horrible and has his sights set on Kelsey.
“I find it intolerable that this lord is out there going about his
depravities unhindered. I was hoping you might know some way to deal with the man."
"Oh, Yes," James said with a dark, ominous smile. "I can think of a few ways."
"Short of killing him, that is," Derek felt it prudent to add.
James said nothing for nearly ten seconds, then, "If you insist.”
But Derek is the one man that he fears. I did love seeing the way the Malory family deals with the "scandal" and the way each member of the family tend to clash when they disagree on a issue and can I say how amusing this family is. Now to get to the romance between Derek and Kelsey. I just love their story so very much. At first, its slow, getting to know each other and not what you expect especially with the set of the story and Kelsey being purchased as Derek's mistress. And a misunderstanding occurs in the beginning, but I really like seeing how you get to the heart of their characters in the beginning of the story. We see how wonderful of a connection they have together.
"She liked Derek, liked being with him, liked making love to him, liked everything about him. And unless he did something drastic to alter that, she was afraid those feelings were going to get much stronger.
That was a horrible thought. She didn't want to love Derek. She didn't want to agonize over the day he would tell her he had no further use for her. And that day would eventually come. When it did, she wanted to sigh in relief, not cry her heart out."

They can flirt, they can laugh, share powerful chemistry and just click pretty quickly. I love they their relationship isn't all "sex" in fact, its pretty light on that front compared to other romances I have read. I like seeing the growth and intimacy these two have emotionally despite the fact Kelsey is keeping a big secret like the fact she is a daughter of a titled Lord. That she is part of the same crowd as Derek but can't tell him the truth or risk the scandal touching her sister who she will protect no matter what. And its one of my favorite things about Kelsey. It would be easier to just tell everyone the truth, but then she risks hurting her family and is very protective of them. She is always thinking of others and is so selfless in so many ways and I truly love that about her. And when she falls in love with Derek, her selflessness only increases but not in a negative way. And it was fun to see how they find a way past the scandal with some creative ideas from the Malory family.
The Cover
I love this cover, with the gate looking into the manor, and makes me want to jump into the cover and explore the grounds.
Overall View
Say You Love Me, is a endearing and charming romance with a kind hero, a emotionally strong heroine and a romance that is superb!!! A MUST READ JEWEL OF A ROMANCE!

Click To Buy On Amazon

[foogallery id="19026"]

 



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Profile Image for Marilena ⚓.
796 reviews71 followers
March 28, 2017
Αγαπώ αυτή την σειρά απ΄το πρώτο της βιβλίο!!
Σ αυτο το βιβλίο μας παρουσιάζει την ιστορία του Ντέρεκ που τόσο ανυπομονούσα να διαβάσω!
Ήταν απολαυστικό και αυτό,η αλήθεια όμως είναι οτι ήταν λίγο λιγότερο απ΄τα προηγούμενα.
Ένιωθα σαν κάτι να έλειπε,ισως οι τελευταίες σελίδες να μη με ''έπεισαν'' και γι αυτό η πλοκή μου φάνηκε λίγο υπερβολική.
Ωστόσο μου άρεσε που και σε όλα τα βιβλία της η Lindsey αναφέρει τους χαρακτήρες απο τα προηγούμενα,κυρίως τους Τζέιμς και Άντονι που ειναι οι αγαπημένοι μου.
Ανυπομονώ να ξεκινήσω το επόμενο βιβλίο της σειράς!
Profile Image for Севдалина.
856 reviews54 followers
October 21, 2024
Дерек Малъри и Келси Лангтън

Келси Лангтън е изправена пред ужасен избор. След смъртта на родителите й, тя и сестра й отивадат да живеят при леля си и чичо си. Една нощ, Келси открива чичо си, който е отчаян, защото е изгубил работата си и е затънал в фългове. Сега пиян той смята, че единствения изход е да се самоубие или... младата Келси да се съгласи да стане любовница на някой лорд, който да ги спаси от крахът. Ужасена и макар да знае, че ще провали всички шансове един ден да се омъжи, тя е решена да помогне, затова се съгласява и се озовава в публич��н дом, където огромна група мъже наддава за честта да я направи своя любовница.

Дерек Малъри, незаконен син на Джейсън Малъри, главата на фамилията Малъри, и негов наследник, винаги се е старал да не предизвиква скандали. Все пак смаото му раждане и решението на баща му да го обяви за свой наследник е достатъчен скандал. Но когато вижда, че едно младо момиче е на път да бъде продадено на зъл садистичен член на обществото, той не може да го позволи, затова купува Келси, с намерението да я направи своя любовница.

Момичето обаче се държи като истинска дама, и макар Дерек да вярва в думите й, че е дъщер на гувернантка, всички около него са убедени, че Келси е лейди.

Много забавна и сладка книга. В допълнение, към историята на Келси и Дерек беше много интересно случващото се между Джейсън и Моли, както и чаровното присъствие на всички други двойки от предходните книги. <3 Обожавам ги тези Малъри. <3
Profile Image for  Danielle The Book Huntress .
2,756 reviews6,624 followers
August 20, 2009
I just didn't care for this one at all. I thought that Kelsey was a real doormat heroine (and I rarely say that). I don't see why Derek thought the only way he could save her was by making her his mistress. I don't like mistress storylines that much anyway, but I especially hate the "I'll save you by taking you as a mistress" storyline with a fiery, burning passion. It's a cop-out. As many female cousins and aunts as Derek has, he could have asked one of them to take Kelsey in and see her settled respectfully. He just wanted to have the cake and eat it, if you ask me. And the funny thing is that Derek is one of the more straight-laced, less roguish Malorys.

I didn't really even think there was much chemistry between Derek and Kelsey and I hated the subplot with Derek's father and his secret mistress who is his housekeeper (and something a lot more important to the plot). For the longest time, dear old dad was in a bad marriage and sleeping with the housekeeper. Yuck.

What can I say? This is one of the few Lindsey novels I just plain didn't like. I don't even own this one.
Profile Image for Rachel (BAVR).
150 reviews1,121 followers
May 10, 2012
I hate it when I miss the memo that the book I'm about to read is apart of a series. And no, not just any series, but a series based on a cutesy family with a bazillion members that I know absolutely nothing about. Say You Love Me could have been half its length if the author cut out shoving all of her past happily-ever-afters in the reader's face. Uncle So-and-So married this lady, and Cousin So-and-So married this titled gentlemen, and these brothers-in-law like to pick on each other because they used to be enemies in a book you didn't read. Isn't this adorable? No, it's not adorable. Just really boring for me. This reminds me of how diseased Julia Quinn's Bridgertons became with Super-Cute-Family-itis, only I started this one right in the middle of the shenanigans instead of slowly watching the story devolve into absurdity as I did with the Bridgertons.

You're probably reading my complaint and thinking, "Rachel, just read them in order." Well, it's too freaking late, for starters. But also, shouldn't any stand-alone book in a series be capable of getting at least 90-95% of the story line from new material? That was my problem with the constant invasion of the Malory clan, the hero's family, in this book. Peripheral characters that already had their own books crowd and muddle the works, distracting me from the people the story is actually about. At so many points, these previously established, sickeningly happy characters robbed the agency from the protagonists. Who needs a hero to save the day when his big bad uncles, who are totally tough and used to be rakes, can do it for him? Why make a heroine face her self-esteem issues when the hero's clever cousin can snap her fingers and make all the scandal go away?

In short, the Malory family is one big, annoying deus ex machina. It really held the story back for me.

SUMMARY:
Say You Love Me is supposed to be about Lord Derek Malory, a future marquis who's supposed to be quite a ladies' man but never really displays that trait. He comes across Kelsey Langton, a real lady dressed up as a prospective mistress, at some high-priced (probably illegal) auction where wealthy men can buy a virgin mistress in a contract that brings to mind slavery. When a man that Derek knows is cruel and violent starts bidding on Kelsey, Derek does the honorable thing and ... buys her for himself! But of course! That's the only way they can have teh smexy times. Obviously Derek and Kelsey are meant to be, and it's one long journey of them being perfectly pleasant with each other (no joke) while the Malory family makes wise-cracks and summarizes their own history until the ultimate happy ending.

Lindsey's writing isn't bad. I loved the interactions between Derek and Kelsey because they do make a cute couple. The plot just ended up getting all wrapped up in Derek's freaking family, and I didn't care about those people. At times, Kelsey disappears for generous portions of the book so the reader can visit with past characters. It zapped all of the suspense and fun out of the story.

Since Lindsey's writing managed to keep me interested, I'll try another of her books, but you can be sure that I'll check and double-check that the book isn't apart of a series. Fiddlesticks, this one almost put me into sugar shock.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Janja.
863 reviews14 followers
June 7, 2017
Charming reading but in this family, which always put their mind and voice into everything and where speaking one over another is normal ,I had to admit that I was exhausted. Too many others of the family and the lack of relationship between Kelsey and Derek.
Profile Image for Viri.
1,314 reviews458 followers
October 11, 2017
Serie OBLIGATORIA para las amantes del romance histórico.

Historias imperdibles y personajes memorables. ❤️
Profile Image for Raine.
2,463 reviews52 followers
July 4, 2017
It's been forever since I read this book and I still really like it. I love reading about the Malorys and this story is about Derek, who is the eldest Malory's (Jason's) illegitimate son, but his father had declared him his heir and he was brought up in a loving family that consisted of his uncles, aunts and cousins and his father and his father's housekeeper whom he's especially close to.

I really liked reading about Kelsey and even though she's got good breeding in her background the scandal surrounding her parents' deaths has cast her at the bottom of the ladder in polite society and especially since her and her sister had to live with her aunt (her mother's sister) who came from good breeding, but married for love and beneath herself. Unfortunately her uncle had gambled away all their money and the only way to prevent them from going to debtor's prison is to sell Kelsey to the highest bidder. Derek managed to snag her away from an evil man and ends up taking on Kelsey as his latest mistress and sets her up in a townhouse. Of course, they have adventures before their HEA. Good story and I liked hearing about all of the other previous Malorys.
Profile Image for KatieV.
710 reviews499 followers
June 9, 2014
I know many love the Malory novels, but so far I've been underwhelmed. If I'm going to read a Regency, give me Lisa Kleypas. This one was an enjoyable / stress-free read for a rainy day, but not memorable. In all fairness, I think it was a case of taste. I was expecting/hoping for something a little more edgy and bodice ripper-y. The premise has a lot of potential for it. The virgin heroine is sold to the highest bidder in an auction. However, the relationship between the two is very sweet and lacks tension. Aside from a misunderstanding in the beginning (where she is left with no food and has to work as a seamstress for a few weeks) there is no conflict between the two. There is not even the big question of whether or not he will risk scandal to marry her. He's all for it and she's the one who refuses on the grounds that she doesn't want him caught up in a scandal for marrying his mistress.
Profile Image for Maureen.
1,019 reviews
October 31, 2023
Purchased at used book sale 2023. So far I have purchased 10 Johanna Lindsey books.

Review I liked:
It's been forever since I read this book and I still really like it. I love reading about the Malorys and this story is about Derek, who is the eldest Malory's (Jason's) illegitimate son, but his father had declared him his heir and he was brought up in a loving family that consisted of his uncles, aunts and cousins and his father and his father's housekeeper whom he's especially close to.

I really liked reading about Kelsey and even though she's got good breeding in her background the scandal surrounding her parents' deaths has cast her at the bottom of the ladder in polite society and especially since her and her sister had to live with her aunt (her mother's sister) who came from good breeding, but married for love and beneath herself. Unfortunately her uncle had gambled away all their money and the only way to prevent them from going to debtor's prison is to sell Kelsey to the highest bidder. Derek managed to snag her away from an evil man and ends up taking on Kelsey as his latest mistress and sets her up in a townhouse. Of course, they have adventures before their HEA. Good story and I liked hearing about all of the other previous Malorys.
Profile Image for Inna.
1,678 reviews372 followers
May 17, 2024
Reread May 2024: I can’t believe that I actually enjoyed this book a second time around. After reading book 3 in this series, and hating it, I was really curious to see if this book stood up to my prior rating. And it does,
for the most part. The hero of this book was much less of a horrible person than his uncle in book 3. Thankfully. He definitely had his faults, but he wasn’t marriage averse or even trying to run from his feelings. He knew he wanted the heroine pretty quickly, and he didn’t back down from those feelings. Also, his past exploits weren’t rubbed in my face constantly, which I always appreciate.

However, the heroine annoyed me several times… she really played the martyr for the entire story. She sold herself to save her family, at the behest of her irresponsible uncle, instead of first really considering ANY other options. Her constant need to martyr herself just kept going through the whole book, and really did irritate me at times.

Also, this trope doesn’t hold the same appeal for me that it did a few years back… which I’m kinda relieved about. LOL.

Safety is good
Heroine is a virgin
Hero is a manwhore but isn’t interested in anyone after meeting the heroine and OW details aren’t abundant.
No scenes with OM/OW
No cheating
No OW drama
OM drama from a guy who is obsessed with owning the heroine, he’s a real creep and also the villain of the story.

There are many triggering things in this book, but they are also pretty big spoilers, so message me if you need those details.



Original 2020 review: This book was really good! I would have rated it higher if it had been a bit more of a standalone... but as it is, there’s way too much info about other characters. I loved the premise, can’t resist the human auction trope... which probably means I need to have my head checked.

Looks like I’ll be going back and reading other books in this series!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Celia {Hiatus until August}.
750 reviews140 followers
January 28, 2021
A história de Derek, filho de Jason (o marquês) e de Kelsey.
E Johanna did it again 😉
Fabuloso.
Divertido, Tony e James imparáveis como sempre.
A facilidade, a familiaridade das personagens...
Profile Image for Sabrina Jeffries.
Author 87 books4,796 followers
March 9, 2010
Okay, I'm cheating here, and I don't like them all equally, but I do love the Mallory's. They're all funny. I especially liked Love Only Once (the first book), Gentle Rogue (my favorite), and The Magic of You (where the heroine chases the hero shamelessly).
Profile Image for Elia.
245 reviews37 followers
January 22, 2019
Me ha gustado. Aunque se centra en el romance de Kelsey y Derek, también está la historia de Jason. Es una novela entretenida, bonita y que te saca más de una sonrisa. Los personajes, como no, me han encantado. Kelsey demuestra tener mucha fortaleza, valentía y carácter mezclado con dulzura, mientras que Derek es todo un caballero que no lucha contra sus sentimientos, hace lo que es correcto y siempre con esa picardía.
Un libro que está a la altura del de James y Anthony.
Profile Image for Apple.
57 reviews5 followers
October 7, 2014
I am curious what motivates women to like books like this. The so called hero was a man that uses woman purely for sex. All the men in his family had mistresses. Is that romantic? Is that what you want in real life to find a man that only wants to see a woman in the bedroom? Because that was what Derek Malory did - he never spent any of his time outside of the bedroom with his mistresses. He uses them for sex only and then goes about his day.
SPOILER

"Thank you for gifting me with your virginity" ugh, the hero likes virgins and brags about it to his friend that she was a virgin (emphasis on the word "was" a virgin).

And I agree with another post, if he was an honorable man, he would not have made Kelsey his mistress after he bought her. He would have tried to help her out and have her become a governess or something else. No, he figured he would just pull her onto his lap in the carriage and have sex with her, after all he owned her.

And if you think she was special, that he fell in love with her...consider this: An educated debutant could not be a mistress (that was a no no even for Derek) That is why he never spent time in public with his mistresses - they were uneducated and unmannered. Kelsey was able to carry on a conversation with him. That's what he liked. If he would have properly courted a debutant, he would have found other women interesting, too.

And how about the ending. He was glad she had to sell herself at a whorehouse. He actually said that. He said he was sorry about the "anxiety" she went through. Wow, what about the humiliation, the embarrassment, the fact she was giving up any prospects of marriage, and sold out her virginity to someone she didn't know or love. The selfish guy acted like it was not a big deal to auction herself off at a whorehouse.

I only read this book as research and was shocked at the whole story. I prefer romance that sweeps me off my feet not makes light of slavery.
Profile Image for ♥ℳelody.
786 reviews846 followers
March 8, 2017
I would have given this a higher rating if the author delved deeper into the story or at least the main characters. I don't know it was very in-between for me personally. I liked the story but I felt it was missing something. I was interested in the characters but felt they weren't completely fleshed out which was a bummer cause it could have made for a better story and better characters. All the elements were there I just think the author's writing style didn't do it justice. The dialogue itself left me wanting way more.

I'm not sure her style of writing is my cup of tea. I found myself really irritated with the author's tendency to gloss over important parts of conversations. I was so very tempted to shout out like a crazy person 'give me more!' a few times. lol Instead of actual dialogue I kept getting short summaries of what happened which was frustrating. It's not my style. I wanted more. I mean especially to have a climactic moment summarized in one sentence like it was a funny little anecdote just fizzled for me. Plus it made the pacing really weird and come off awkward at times. I wanted to actually see the hero propose to the heroine and not have it summarized in one line like it was no big deal. It just came off flat and very anticlimactic. This is the first book I've read of Lindsey's and I wasn't blown away but I keep getting recommendations to read her books. Her books get such high ratings it makes me want to give her another shot but I'm hesitant. Her writing style left a lot to be desired for me personally.
Can't even give this a 3 star cause there was a lot missing to this book. Character and plot-wise. Just blah.
Profile Image for Natalia815.
1,642 reviews64 followers
March 3, 2020
James y Antony son mis ojitos, pero cuidado con el sobrino, ha dejado el listón muy alto.

Derek es genial. La premisa del libro me sorprendió bastante y el desarrollo de la historia también. El trío Percy, Jeremy y Derek son unos picaros adorables. Me gustaría leer sus historias.

¿Lo mejor del libro? Cuando se reúnen los Malory para resolver algún problema. Ellos no se andan con tonterías y van de cara. Ellas, como Reggie, son más sibilinas y mediante rumores consiguen los que quieren. Esos capítulos me dan la vida.

Seguiré con la saga.
Profile Image for Getalocalife.
66 reviews19 followers
January 6, 2021
Λίγο παραπάνω κλισέ,λίγο παραπάνω μελό.Φυσικά το συγκρίνω με άλλα του είδους του και όχι με άλλης κατηγορίας Βιβλία.Βρήκα τη κεντρική ηρωίδα κάπως υποταγμένη στη μοίρα της και παθητική και δεν μπορώ να πω πως βρήκα το στόρι σπιρτόζικο ή κεφάτο αλλά κάπως παρατραβηγμένο σε σημεία.
Profile Image for Ренета Кирова.
1,322 reviews57 followers
October 2, 2024
Поредната книга за семейство Малори. Оказва се, че са ми много хаотични и в тях авторката запълва със случки от минали книги, повтаря се, събира постоянно цялото семейство, изброява имената им и в главата ми започва да става каша. Това запълва голяма част от поредната романтична история за семейството.
В този роман четем за Дерек, незаконния син на Джейсън (ха, сега и вие да питате кой кой е :), както и аз постоянно си напрягам мозъка да ги запомня). Той купува на търг Келси, която е принудена да се продаде като любовница за пари. Никой не разбира, че е истинска лейди, но хубавото е, че Дерек се влюбва в нея. Имаме обичайната въртележка как тя не иска да се омъжи за него, за да няма нов скандал в семейство Малори. Частта с отвличането ѝ беше най-интересна. Накрая Дерек разбира някои истини за себе си и произхода си.
Нещо не мога да се разбера напълно с книгите от поредицата. Авторката ги запълва с преобладаваща информация за живота на цялото семейство, които са описани в другите книги. Колкото и да се стараеш, няма как да запомниш всички имена, истории и любовни взаимоотношения. Трябва пищов да си правиш :). Това отнема от главната сюжетна линия и удоволствието от четенето.
(Май съм се повторила, също както и авторката постоянно го повтаряше да не би случайно да забравим нещо, което не можем и не можем да запомним😂).
Profile Image for Maria.
309 reviews20 followers
July 9, 2016
Έφτασε επιτέλους ο καιρός, που ένα ακόμα βιβλίο της αγαπημένης Johanna Lindsey βρίσκεται στα χέρια και τις βιβλιοθήκες μας. Πρόκειται για το πέμπτο βιβλίο της λογοτεχνικής σειράς ‘Malory-Anderson Family’ με τίτλο «Πες πως μ’ αγαπάς», το οποίο κυκλοφορεί από τις εκδόσεις Elxis. Αυτή τη φορά, ερχόμαστε αντιμέτωποι με την ιστορία του νεαρού Ντέρεκ Μάλορι, αλλά και τα κρυμμένα μυστικά της οικογένειας του.

Η Κέλσι Λάνγκτον βρίσκεται σε δύσκολη θέση καθώς, παρά την αριστοκρατική της καταγωγή, είναι απένταρη και χρεωμένη. Στην προσπάθεια της να βοηθήσει τη θεία της, η οποία την έχει πάρει υπό την προστασία της, αλλά και τη μικρότερη αδερφή της, η Κέλσι παίρνει την απόφαση να θέσει τον εαυτό της προς πώληση σε μία ανοιχτή δημοπρασία, με σκοπό κάποιος ευγενής να την αγοράσει ως ερωμένη του. Τότε έρχεται αντιμέτωπη με τον λόρδο Ντέρεκ Μάλορι, ο οποίος την αποκτά, παρακινούμενος από τον ανταγωνισμό αλλά και την έλξη που αισθάνεται όταν την αντικρίζει. Η σχέση τους γίνεται όλο και πιο δυνατή, ωστόσο η πραγματική ταυτότητα της Κέλσι, αλλά και το γεγονός πως ο Ντέρεκ είναι διάδοχος του πατέρα του, είναι αρκετά για να καταστήσουν το κοινό τους μέλλον αδύνατο.

Ομολογώ πως η Johanna Lindsey σπάνια με έχει απογοητεύσει και ακόμα μου προκαλεί έκπληξη η τολμηρή της πένα, καθώς το συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο γράφτηκε το 1999. Η σειρά ‘Malory-Anderson Family’ έκανε διάσημη τη Lindsey και λατρεύτηκε με πάθος από τους αναγνώστες του είδους. Ανάμεσα στους φανατικούς της εν λόγω σειράς είμαι κι εγώ, ωστόσο έχω τις προτιμήσεις μου. Το τέταρτο βιβλίο της σειράς «Η Μαγεία της Αγάπης» παραμένει μέχρι και σήμερα το αγαπημένο μου. Η ιστορία του Ντέρεκ και της Κέλσι δεν κατάφερε να εγείρει σοβαρές αξιώσεις μέσα στην καρδιά μου. Ωστόσο, εκτιμώ ιδιαίτερα την ανεπαίσθητη διαφοροποίηση του μέχρι τώρα συγγραφικού μοτίβου της συγγραφέως.

Ο Ντέρεκ δεν είναι μόνο μικρότερος σε σχέση με τους προηγούμενες ήρωες των βιβλίων της σειράς αλλά και άπειρος, με άλλες προσλαμβάνουσες και αφετηρία. Όταν συναντά την Κέλσι, διαπιστώνουμε πως ως εραστής συνδυάζει τον ρομαντισμό και την ιδεαλιστική αντιμετώπιση του έρωτα, κάτι που τον διαφοροποιεί από τους θρυλικούς συγγενείς του. Όμως η ανεξάρτητη φύση της Κέλσι και η άρνηση της να τον εμπιστευτεί -καθώς έχει μάθει πως οφείλει να στηρίζεται μ��νο στις δικές της δυνάμεις- βγάζουν στην επιφάνεια τον σκοτεινό, ‘Μάλορι’ εαυτό του. Η πένα της Johanna Lindsey παραμένει στα ίδια καλά επίπεδα με τα προηγούμενα βιβλία της, με τους έξυπνους διαλόγους και τη σύγχρονη γλώσσα να κλέβουν τις εντυπώσεις. Οι ερωτικές σκηνές που γράφει η Lindsey είναι πάντα από τις καλύτερες που συναντάμε στην αισθηματική λογοτεχνία εποχής και όπως προείπα, ιδιαιτέρως σύγχρονες για την εποχή στην οποία γράφτηκαν τα βιβλία.

Δεν μπορώ να μην παρατηρήσω πως, κατά την προσωπική μου άποψη, ο Ντέρεκ και η Κέλσι στερούνται της χημείας που διακρίνουμε στα ζευγάρια των προηγούμενων βιβλίων -με τον Άντονι και τη Ρόσλιν αδιαμφισβήτητα να κλέβουν τις εντυπώσεις. Είναι αρκετά άνευροι στις μεταξύ τους σκηνές, μοιάζουν χαμένοι στον δικό τους κόσμο και οι πραγματικότητες τους φαίνεται να συναντιούνται λίγες σελίδες πριν τον επίλογο. Το βιβλίο, στον πυρήνα του, είναι ένα λογοτεχνικό spin off για του λάτρεις της σειράς, κάτι που φαίνεται από την πληθώρα σκηνών με τους ήρωες των προηγούμενων ιστοριών. Η εξέλιξη της πλοκής είναι ενδιαφέρουσα, αν και κάπως πιο αργή σε ό,τι αφορά τη σχέση του πρωταγωνιστικού ζευγαριού. Το ενδιαφέρον υπόβαθρο της ιστορίας και τα κρυμμένα μυστικά της οικογένεια Μάλορι προσφέρουν στους αναγνώστες μια στιγμιαία αγωνία για τις εξελίξεις που θα ακολουθήσουν. Μπορεί ως βιβλίο να μην κατάφερε να με κερδίσει ιδιαίτερα, όμως θεωρώ πως παίζει καθοριστικό ρόλο στην εξέλιξη της λογοτεχνικής σειράς.

Ταυτόχρονα η συγγραφέας, πολύ έξυπνα, συνεχίζει να μας προσφέρει πληροφορίες από τις ζωές των ηρώων που αγαπήσαμε στα προηγούμενα βιβλία, κάτι που πρωτοχρησιμοποίησε στο τρίτο βιβλίο της σειράς και εξέλιξε στο τέταρτο. Απλώς στο «Πες πως μ’ αγαπάς» οι πρωταγωνιστές της δεν είναι αρκετά δυνατοί, ώστε να καταφέρουν να κερδίσουν τις εντυπώσεις.

Δηλώνω ιδιαιτέρως χαρούμενη, καθώς οι εκδόσεις Elxis κυκλοφόρησαν και τα επόμενα τρία βιβλία της σειράς ‘Malory-Anderson Family’, κάτι που δείχνει πως θα μεταφραστούν στη γλώσσα μας όλες οι περιπέτειες των αγαπημένων μας οικογενειών. Ας βουτήξουμε λοιπόν στην ιστορία του Ντρου Άντερσον, που τόσο μας εντυπωσίασε, διαβάζοντας το βιβλίο «Σκλάβοι του Έρωτα».

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