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Company of Rogues #5
Dangerous Joy
She is a beautiful, rebellious heiress. He knows he's too young to act as this termagant's guardian. But when they meet as strangers one mist-shrouded night, what begins as a charade borne of desperation becomes a passion undeniably real, and utterly forbidden . . .
Even when they dare to love, one man stands between them: a rival sworn to possess the wealth he craves and the woman he desires. His dark treachery will drive the lovers to risk everything in their battle to hold on to their precious but dangerous joy . . .
Even when they dare to love, one man stands between them: a rival sworn to possess the wealth he craves and the woman he desires. His dark treachery will drive the lovers to risk everything in their battle to hold on to their precious but dangerous joy . . .
388 pages, ebook
First published November 1, 1995
704 people are currently reading
893 people want to read
About the author
Jo Beverley
140 books1,126 followersMary Josephine Dunn was born 22 September 1947 in Lancashire, England, UK. At the age of eleven she went to an all-girls boarding school, Layton Hill Convent, Blackpool. At sixteen, she wrote her first romance, with a medieval setting, completed in installments in an exercise book. From 1966 to 1970, she obtained a degree in English history from Keele University in Staffordshire, where she met her future husband, Ken Beverley. After graduation, they married on June 24, 1971. She quickly attained a position as a youth employment officer until 1976, working first in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, and then in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire.
In 1976, her scientist husband was invited to do post-doctoral research at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. When her professional qualifications proved not to be usable in the Canadian labour market, she raised their two sons and started to write her first romances.
Moved to Ottawa, in 1985 she became a founding member of the Ottawa Romance Writers’ Association, that her “nurturing community” for the next twelve years. The same year, she completed a regency romance, but it was promptly rejected by a number of publishers, and she settled more earnestly to learning the craft. In 1988, it sold to Walker, and was published as "Lord Wraybourne's Betrothed". She regularly appears on bestseller lists including the USA Today overall bestseller list, the New York Times, and and the Publishers Weekly list. She has been the recipient of numerous awards including the Golden Leaf, the Award of Excellence, the National Readers Choice, and a two Career Achievement awards from Romantic Times. She is also a five time winner of the RITA, the top award of the Romance Writers Of America, and a member of their Hall of Fame and Honor Roll.
Jo Beverley passed away on May 23, 2016 after a long battle with cancer.
In 1976, her scientist husband was invited to do post-doctoral research at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. When her professional qualifications proved not to be usable in the Canadian labour market, she raised their two sons and started to write her first romances.
Moved to Ottawa, in 1985 she became a founding member of the Ottawa Romance Writers’ Association, that her “nurturing community” for the next twelve years. The same year, she completed a regency romance, but it was promptly rejected by a number of publishers, and she settled more earnestly to learning the craft. In 1988, it sold to Walker, and was published as "Lord Wraybourne's Betrothed". She regularly appears on bestseller lists including the USA Today overall bestseller list, the New York Times, and and the Publishers Weekly list. She has been the recipient of numerous awards including the Golden Leaf, the Award of Excellence, the National Readers Choice, and a two Career Achievement awards from Romantic Times. She is also a five time winner of the RITA, the top award of the Romance Writers Of America, and a member of their Hall of Fame and Honor Roll.
Jo Beverley passed away on May 23, 2016 after a long battle with cancer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
February 4, 2017
Menos puntuación de la que pensaba, pero se lo debo a su protagonista femenina, ha sido odiosa durante el 70% del libro.
No os voy a engañar, no es un mal libro, y creo que a cualquier fan de Jo Beverley le va a gustar y lo va a disfrutar porque tiene totalmente su firma. En éste caso tenemos una de sus historias con un contenido tan rocambolesco como acostumbra. La mitad del libro se desarrolla en Irlanda, y la otra mitad en Inglaterra. Eso la verdad que me ha gustado, casi nunca la Regencia sale de Inglaterra, pero verla en la isla esmeralda me ha gustado mucho. Además, los dos protagonistas son irlandeses.
Si hemos leído los anteriores libros, sabremos que el protagonista de ésta historia es el pelirrojo Miles, uno de los Pícaros, el irlandés criador de caballos. En ésta historia encontramos a Miles, heredero de un condado, de vuelta en Irlanda por cierto asunto. El padre de su padrastro ha fallecido, y en su testamento ha nombrado a Miles tutor de su intrépida nieta Felicity. Una joven rebelde y maleducada que dista mucho de ser una dama, a la que también le ha legado una gran herencia y dote. Por tanto, Miles se encuentra sin querer, con el cometido de velar por una joven a la que no conoce, y mantenerla lejos de los cazafortunas.
Cuando Miles y Felicity se conocen saltan chispas. Confieso que aunque se atraen mucho, no he entendido muy bien el momento en el que se enamoran, porque se pasan más de la mitad del libro discutiendo, y ella es desagradable hasta la saciedad. Sí, Felicity no me ha gustado nada y me ha aguado la mitad del libro, por suerte es un libro cortito. Y sí, tiene razones para ser como es, y ése será el gran misterio del libro, un asunto bastante escandaloso y desagradable con un vecino que pretende a Felicity por su fortuna. Pero ésas discusiones tan sin venir a cuento, la brutalidad que hay entre ellos, me ha desagradado mucho. Y por eso mismo no me he creído su historia de amor. Se supone que si estás enamorado confías en la otra persona, pero esto ha sido un te amo-te odio continuo, cuando ella quiere hacer algo y él no la deja le odia, pero en cuanto le ve se le caen las bragas, y al momento siguiente quiere huir de él. Me da mucha pena que Miles haya acabado con una petarda así.
Lo que más salvo es el final, es mucho más agradable y me ha gustado, y justo termina como esperaba. Lo que más me ha sorprendido es que los gatos tienen más protagonismo en ésta historia de lo que pensaba. En cuanto pueda leeré los siguientes libros, que creo conforman una trilogía dentro de la serie de los Pícaros.
No os voy a engañar, no es un mal libro, y creo que a cualquier fan de Jo Beverley le va a gustar y lo va a disfrutar porque tiene totalmente su firma. En éste caso tenemos una de sus historias con un contenido tan rocambolesco como acostumbra. La mitad del libro se desarrolla en Irlanda, y la otra mitad en Inglaterra. Eso la verdad que me ha gustado, casi nunca la Regencia sale de Inglaterra, pero verla en la isla esmeralda me ha gustado mucho. Además, los dos protagonistas son irlandeses.
Si hemos leído los anteriores libros, sabremos que el protagonista de ésta historia es el pelirrojo Miles, uno de los Pícaros, el irlandés criador de caballos. En ésta historia encontramos a Miles, heredero de un condado, de vuelta en Irlanda por cierto asunto. El padre de su padrastro ha fallecido, y en su testamento ha nombrado a Miles tutor de su intrépida nieta Felicity. Una joven rebelde y maleducada que dista mucho de ser una dama, a la que también le ha legado una gran herencia y dote. Por tanto, Miles se encuentra sin querer, con el cometido de velar por una joven a la que no conoce, y mantenerla lejos de los cazafortunas.
Cuando Miles y Felicity se conocen saltan chispas. Confieso que aunque se atraen mucho, no he entendido muy bien el momento en el que se enamoran, porque se pasan más de la mitad del libro discutiendo, y ella es desagradable hasta la saciedad. Sí, Felicity no me ha gustado nada y me ha aguado la mitad del libro, por suerte es un libro cortito. Y sí, tiene razones para ser como es, y ése será el gran misterio del libro, un asunto bastante escandaloso y desagradable con un vecino que pretende a Felicity por su fortuna. Pero ésas discusiones tan sin venir a cuento, la brutalidad que hay entre ellos, me ha desagradado mucho. Y por eso mismo no me he creído su historia de amor. Se supone que si estás enamorado confías en la otra persona, pero esto ha sido un te amo-te odio continuo, cuando ella quiere hacer algo y él no la deja le odia, pero en cuanto le ve se le caen las bragas, y al momento siguiente quiere huir de él. Me da mucha pena que Miles haya acabado con una petarda así.
Lo que más salvo es el final, es mucho más agradable y me ha gustado, y justo termina como esperaba. Lo que más me ha sorprendido es que los gatos tienen más protagonismo en ésta historia de lo que pensaba. En cuanto pueda leeré los siguientes libros, que creo conforman una trilogía dentro de la serie de los Pícaros.
November 9, 2012
I won't go into a lot of detail here. The story's set in Ireland (hence the pic). Basically Miles Cavanaugh is the reluctant guardian of a young heiress who lives with her dotty, cat-crazy aunt.
Just to make things interesting, the girl is determined to marry Mr. Wrong.
Mr. Wrong happens to be a fortune-hunting
Miles reckons it's his job to protect his ward, which results in elopements, abductions, cat adoptions, murders, resurrections, and other sundry strangeness.
It's a good read—there's high adventure and not a lot of naval gazing, so it gets four stars.
June 30, 2016
We saw Miles and Felicity in the previous book and you could feel the antagonism coming off of them in the few scenes they inhabited. Sure enough, this book backs up a couple of weeks so we get the setup to their situation and the relationship simmering under their interactions. So the series is still tightly tied together so I still recommend reading them in order. Only, now you have an excellent payoff to look forward to!
The thing that elevates this over the rest in the series so far comes down to character motivations. No more of the negative motivation (as Jennifer Crusie notes, negative motivation is being motivated to not do things) of women simply avoiding the slavery of marriage, this one has Felicity trying desperately to save her (unacknowledged) child from the dastardly father (biological as well as legal). Yes, that is an interesting set of circumstances that I'm not going to go into. Read the book. Since Felicity is an amazing heiress, the child's father has decided he'd like to marry her, after all, now that all impediments are gone (the wife who claimed the boy as her own having died). Also, he's not fond of the nasty debt collectors on his tail. So he threatens Felicity with not only separation from the boy but with the occasional dire mishap and possibly even death (to the boy). Given the legal situation for children (and the lack of DNA testing), this puts Felicity in a very hard spot indeed. So she spends much of the novel planning to marry the weasel. And I don't blame her one little bit.
So that sets the conflict in motion with Miles (newly appointed Felicity's guardian—she's not quite 21, yet) trying to save her from a life of hell (weasels making very poor husbands) and her struggling to elope with the weasel. Since Miles falls for her relatively fast (and I totally bought it), and acknowledges it even, he's desperate to save her. That his is a love that is more about saving her from the bad man than saving her for himself (seriously, I fell for Miles on that alone), matters not one whit to the situation because she's still desperate to save her son. So you have two completely awesome people, who I loved dearly, at odds with one another and you totally understand why and feel for both.
I had two small issues that didn't really threaten the five-stars at all. I'll mention them just for the sake of completeness. They're both minor, though. The first is that Felicity holds onto her secret a bit long (that she's trying to protect her actual son as opposed to simply a neighbor boy). I didn't blame her at all, given her circumstance, but by that time she knew Miles well enough to know he wouldn't betray her confidence. She's a desperate mother, though, so I can't fault her for that. The second is the double climax at the end. The story wraps perfectly adequately, but since there's still a couple chapters left, you just know there's more. Which kind of robs the tension as you know something more has to happen (and have a good idea what that will be). This was simply awkward and drawn-out, but it didn't really bother me at all as it meant spending a bit more time with the happy couple.
In all, this was an entirely charming, deeply Irish tale of two people falling in love but acknowledging that sometimes that isn't enough for them to be together. Working out the truly bumpy ride when both society and the law are against them was riveting.
A note about Steamy: There are three explicit sex scenes and they were awesome. This is firmly in the middle of my steam range and did I mention they were awesome? I particularly liked that Felicity and Miles had to dial it back after initial impulse/acknowledgement because the last thing they needed was a second child to split their loyalties into a true Irish tragedy. Delicious, delicious tension!
The thing that elevates this over the rest in the series so far comes down to character motivations. No more of the negative motivation (as Jennifer Crusie notes, negative motivation is being motivated to not do things) of women simply avoiding the slavery of marriage, this one has Felicity trying desperately to save her (unacknowledged) child from the dastardly father (biological as well as legal). Yes, that is an interesting set of circumstances that I'm not going to go into. Read the book. Since Felicity is an amazing heiress, the child's father has decided he'd like to marry her, after all, now that all impediments are gone (the wife who claimed the boy as her own having died). Also, he's not fond of the nasty debt collectors on his tail. So he threatens Felicity with not only separation from the boy but with the occasional dire mishap and possibly even death (to the boy). Given the legal situation for children (and the lack of DNA testing), this puts Felicity in a very hard spot indeed. So she spends much of the novel planning to marry the weasel. And I don't blame her one little bit.
So that sets the conflict in motion with Miles (newly appointed Felicity's guardian—she's not quite 21, yet) trying to save her from a life of hell (weasels making very poor husbands) and her struggling to elope with the weasel. Since Miles falls for her relatively fast (and I totally bought it), and acknowledges it even, he's desperate to save her. That his is a love that is more about saving her from the bad man than saving her for himself (seriously, I fell for Miles on that alone), matters not one whit to the situation because she's still desperate to save her son. So you have two completely awesome people, who I loved dearly, at odds with one another and you totally understand why and feel for both.
I had two small issues that didn't really threaten the five-stars at all. I'll mention them just for the sake of completeness. They're both minor, though. The first is that Felicity holds onto her secret a bit long (that she's trying to protect her actual son as opposed to simply a neighbor boy). I didn't blame her at all, given her circumstance, but by that time she knew Miles well enough to know he wouldn't betray her confidence. She's a desperate mother, though, so I can't fault her for that. The second is the double climax at the end. The story wraps perfectly adequately, but since there's still a couple chapters left, you just know there's more. Which kind of robs the tension as you know something more has to happen (and have a good idea what that will be). This was simply awkward and drawn-out, but it didn't really bother me at all as it meant spending a bit more time with the happy couple.
In all, this was an entirely charming, deeply Irish tale of two people falling in love but acknowledging that sometimes that isn't enough for them to be together. Working out the truly bumpy ride when both society and the law are against them was riveting.
A note about Steamy: There are three explicit sex scenes and they were awesome. This is firmly in the middle of my steam range and did I mention they were awesome? I particularly liked that Felicity and Miles had to dial it back after initial impulse/acknowledgement because the last thing they needed was a second child to split their loyalties into a true Irish tragedy. Delicious, delicious tension!
January 26, 2018
leído en Junio 2014
Normalito... entretenido como los de esta autora!!
ARGUMENTO:
Irlanda, 1816. Impetuosa por naturaleza, Felicity Monahan, es una joven heredera rica y hermosa, pero rebelde. Miles Cavanagh sabe que desempeñar el papel de tutor de esta mujer tan temperamental será una ardua tarea. Ambos se conocen en una fría noche cubierta por la niebla, en condiciones… digamos… no muy apropiadas. Lo que se inicia forma oscura, fruto de la desesperación, se transforma en una pasión verdadera e indudablemente prohibida. Cuando Miles y Felicity se atreven a entregarse en cuerpo y alma al amor, un hombre se interpone entre ellos: un rival obsesionado, capaz de cualquier cosa para apoderarse de la fortuna de Felicity. Su traicionero empeño obligará a la pareja de amantes a arriesgarlo todo para mantener su preciosa pero peligrosa felicidad…
Normalito... entretenido como los de esta autora!!
ARGUMENTO:
Irlanda, 1816. Impetuosa por naturaleza, Felicity Monahan, es una joven heredera rica y hermosa, pero rebelde. Miles Cavanagh sabe que desempeñar el papel de tutor de esta mujer tan temperamental será una ardua tarea. Ambos se conocen en una fría noche cubierta por la niebla, en condiciones… digamos… no muy apropiadas. Lo que se inicia forma oscura, fruto de la desesperación, se transforma en una pasión verdadera e indudablemente prohibida. Cuando Miles y Felicity se atreven a entregarse en cuerpo y alma al amor, un hombre se interpone entre ellos: un rival obsesionado, capaz de cualquier cosa para apoderarse de la fortuna de Felicity. Su traicionero empeño obligará a la pareja de amantes a arriesgarlo todo para mantener su preciosa pero peligrosa felicidad…
March 28, 2019
Before: I'm not sure if I've read this one before. I'm not a fan of the horse-mad hoyden type of hackneyed plot, so....
After: 1/5/15, 2.5 stars. This book did not work for me.
I spent the first 2/3's of the book detesting the jerk of a heroine, and not having much respect for the hero either. Her behavior was appalling, and his nothing to brag about. The last third got better, but not enough to bump up the stars. Too much melodrama, illogical behavior, and a kind of silly conflict made this one of the weakest Jo Beverley books I've read. I don't enjoy this hackneyed horse-mad hoyden wanton type of plot. And it definitely didn't play well to Beverley's strengths. (YMMV, of course.)
What really annoyed my logical brain was the incongruity between the heroine's behaviour, and her deep "horrible" secret which drives the plot! Seriously, why behave to extremes as she did, then try so hard to keep that a secret?!? (Logic=fail)
This is one book where I think the couple needed psychoanalysis and/or counseling more than a marriage.
After: 1/5/15, 2.5 stars. This book did not work for me.
I spent the first 2/3's of the book detesting the jerk of a heroine, and not having much respect for the hero either. Her behavior was appalling, and his nothing to brag about. The last third got better, but not enough to bump up the stars. Too much melodrama, illogical behavior, and a kind of silly conflict made this one of the weakest Jo Beverley books I've read. I don't enjoy this hackneyed horse-mad hoyden wanton type of plot. And it definitely didn't play well to Beverley's strengths. (YMMV, of course.)
What really annoyed my logical brain was the incongruity between the heroine's behaviour, and her deep "horrible" secret which drives the plot! Seriously, why behave to extremes as she did, then try so hard to keep that a secret?!? (Logic=fail)
This is one book where I think the couple needed psychoanalysis and/or counseling more than a marriage.
May 19, 2020
This book was ALL OVER THE PLACE and totally old school and I was about to give it up when the villain murdered the cat but THEN THE CAT CAME BACK BECAUSE MAGIC OR SOMETHING and at the end of the book CATS SWARM THE VILLAIN AND DRIVE HIM INTO A BOG SO HE DROWNS so honestly any book with cats murdering people is gonna get five stars from me, yo.
Also it's got some fantastic dialogue and a great romance even though it's chock full of problematic moments too but Jo Beverley so fine, roll with it.
The cat's name was Gardeen which obviously means 'guardian' but it also made me think of the Gardein veggie burgers and such that are on the market so every time I saw that I kind of wanted to make dinner. YMMV on that point, though. LMAO.
Also it's got some fantastic dialogue and a great romance even though it's chock full of problematic moments too but Jo Beverley so fine, roll with it.
The cat's name was Gardeen which obviously means 'guardian' but it also made me think of the Gardein veggie burgers and such that are on the market so every time I saw that I kind of wanted to make dinner. YMMV on that point, though. LMAO.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 22, 2024
Copyright 1995. This is a reread for me & my copy is from that date. #5 in the series & I'm finally rereading them in order!
So, I finished this then slept on how many stars to give it. I was fixed on 2. It was a chore to get through.
Miles is the token Irish Rogue. He was sent to school in England & was a founding Rogue member.
He's back in Ireland to get his horses together for the hunting season in England where he plans to sell them. He discovers he's the new guardian to his stepfather's niece.
Felicity has been running wild since she was a child. Her grandfather & aunt allowed her to do so. When she's 15, she's seduced by a married pedo neighbor & becomes pregnant. She has the baby in England with no one the wiser, but has to give the baby to the pedo neighbor & his older wife. They pass the baby off as their own.
First off, I loathed Felicity. Every decision she makes is reckless & thoughtless. The pedo neighbor is quite possibly a psychopath. Now that Felicity is an heiress & his wife is dead the neighbor pursues her & holds his son's safety over her head. She's ok with hurting Miles physically (he's whacked over the head & tied up at one point.
Miles isn't very good either. At one point he almost rapes Felicity, but his "guardian Cat" stops him by scratching him.
This is another bizarre thing. There's a lot of magic in Ireland & apparently magic cats. When the pedo neighbor kills the little cat she comes back to life! Really. After Miles buries her no less.
This isn't one of JB's best. I had to stop & read something else after chapter 8. It made me that irritated!
In this story Nick is not involved (for a change!). Lucien & Beth, Hal & Blanche, Stephen & Con make appearances. Francis is also running his race to win the bet with his brothers in law. Serena is mentioned briefly.
The end is truly bizarre & involves a lot of cats. LOTS of cats. There's a HEA after the villain is dispatched.
So, I finished this then slept on how many stars to give it. I was fixed on 2. It was a chore to get through.
Miles is the token Irish Rogue. He was sent to school in England & was a founding Rogue member.
He's back in Ireland to get his horses together for the hunting season in England where he plans to sell them. He discovers he's the new guardian to his stepfather's niece.
Felicity has been running wild since she was a child. Her grandfather & aunt allowed her to do so. When she's 15, she's seduced by a married pedo neighbor & becomes pregnant. She has the baby in England with no one the wiser, but has to give the baby to the pedo neighbor & his older wife. They pass the baby off as their own.
First off, I loathed Felicity. Every decision she makes is reckless & thoughtless. The pedo neighbor is quite possibly a psychopath. Now that Felicity is an heiress & his wife is dead the neighbor pursues her & holds his son's safety over her head. She's ok with hurting Miles physically (he's whacked over the head & tied up at one point.
Miles isn't very good either. At one point he almost rapes Felicity, but his "guardian Cat" stops him by scratching him.
This is another bizarre thing. There's a lot of magic in Ireland & apparently magic cats. When the pedo neighbor kills the little cat she comes back to life! Really. After Miles buries her no less.
This isn't one of JB's best. I had to stop & read something else after chapter 8. It made me that irritated!
In this story Nick is not involved (for a change!). Lucien & Beth, Hal & Blanche, Stephen & Con make appearances. Francis is also running his race to win the bet with his brothers in law. Serena is mentioned briefly.
The end is truly bizarre & involves a lot of cats. LOTS of cats. There's a HEA after the villain is dispatched.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 8, 2010
I met Jo Beverely at a booksigning many moons ago and she was such a nice lady that I went on to accumulate most of her books. Unfortunately, I soon discovered that most of her books just weren't for me but I continue to give each one in the pile a try holding out hope that I'd be able to finish one.
Now, I'm nowhere near finished with Dangerous Joy but so far I'm thoroughly enjoying it. It's much wittier than most of her books, which I found painfully slow and boring, and I'm enjoying the heroine who is strong willed without verging on annoying.
This book is set in Ireland. Miles is not thrilled when his step-father's uncles dies and leaves him the temporary guardian of a young woman named Felicity. While traveling to meet this young lady he's attacked on route, bound and nearly seduced by a fetching young lady who turns out to be . . . Felicity.
The story moves at a fast, funny pace. The characters are likable and memorable and the little details, like a cat "adopting" a reluctant Miles add to the likability factor of the whole thing.
Later: This was a great book but a smidge too long.
Now, I'm nowhere near finished with Dangerous Joy but so far I'm thoroughly enjoying it. It's much wittier than most of her books, which I found painfully slow and boring, and I'm enjoying the heroine who is strong willed without verging on annoying.
This book is set in Ireland. Miles is not thrilled when his step-father's uncles dies and leaves him the temporary guardian of a young woman named Felicity. While traveling to meet this young lady he's attacked on route, bound and nearly seduced by a fetching young lady who turns out to be . . . Felicity.
The story moves at a fast, funny pace. The characters are likable and memorable and the little details, like a cat "adopting" a reluctant Miles add to the likability factor of the whole thing.
Later: This was a great book but a smidge too long.
March 28, 2019
Persnickety Irish Heroine Hides a Secret
Set in 1816 in Ireland and England, this is the story of Irishman Miles Cavanagh, heir to the Lord of Kilgoran, who finds himself the guardian to Felicity Monahan, a twenty-year-old heiress who is intent on marrying a man she does not like so she can look after the man’s son who she loves. Refusing to let Felicity throw her life away, Miles kidnaps his ward and carries her off to England. Along the way, he realizes he wants Felicity for himself.
Much of this well-told story involves Miles bickering with his rebellious ward who hides a secret she refuses to share, constantly putting herself in danger. Her way of handling that secret may try the reader’s patience. The story of the carriage ride from the coast to their destination in England was very well done even if it was difficult to endure.
There’s much talk of horses but only a few shots of them. There are more scenes with cats…cats with engaging personalities. There are enough scenes in Ireland to give the story an Irish feel. This story is part of a series and, until they reach England, the characters in those do not play a part. But since they eventually do, this is one I’d recommend reading in order.
Set in 1816 in Ireland and England, this is the story of Irishman Miles Cavanagh, heir to the Lord of Kilgoran, who finds himself the guardian to Felicity Monahan, a twenty-year-old heiress who is intent on marrying a man she does not like so she can look after the man’s son who she loves. Refusing to let Felicity throw her life away, Miles kidnaps his ward and carries her off to England. Along the way, he realizes he wants Felicity for himself.
Much of this well-told story involves Miles bickering with his rebellious ward who hides a secret she refuses to share, constantly putting herself in danger. Her way of handling that secret may try the reader’s patience. The story of the carriage ride from the coast to their destination in England was very well done even if it was difficult to endure.
There’s much talk of horses but only a few shots of them. There are more scenes with cats…cats with engaging personalities. There are enough scenes in Ireland to give the story an Irish feel. This story is part of a series and, until they reach England, the characters in those do not play a part. But since they eventually do, this is one I’d recommend reading in order.
July 1, 2021
From the outset of this novel, I enjoyed the hero, Miles Cavanagh, his sense of duty, and, his loyalty to his family. The heroine, Felicity Monahan, is a little harder to like as she has been allowed to run wild and do as she likes for so many years, that she appears to think only of herself. Underneath her crusty nature there lies a kind and giving heart, but Miles has his work cut out for him trying to reach it and win her trust. Their initial meeting goes horribly wrong and it seems that Felicity is a magnet for trouble. As the plot evolves, secrets and lies are exposed and finally, Felicity is faced with a difficult choice if she is to protect those she loves. The last quarter of the book has some suspense as Felicity plays cat and mouse with her tormentor, but it comes to a successful conclusion, stretching the imagination to some extent. I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily post this review. This is my honest review.
April 29, 2012
Miles Cavanagh, the heir of Kilgoran and soon to be Earl has had only two things of great interest, horses and hunting. Of course, he occasionally enjoys a woman's company, but only very superficially and temporarily. He is determined to use every ounce of his short-term freedom to pursue a life of play and pleasure without the entrapments of responsibility, for he'll have more than his share of that once he is saddled with the title "Earl". But as they say, even the best laid plans can go suddenly awry. And, boy do they! For this young man has just become the guardian of a hellion of a ward, Felicity Monahan. He just can't understand what the devil her grandfather was thinking! Or what the devil he's going to do with her! I mean, really, he's not anywhere near the ripe old age of a proper guardian. But be that as it may, his conscience won't let him escape the responsibility he feels to a dead man's last request. He will see this guardianship thru, afterall, she will be of age in just a few short months. He could make it even shorter, if he were to find a sound, respectable husband for her even. There would be many of those types to choose from in London. He will just need to make sure to steer her clear of the fortune-hunting rogues and who better to recognize a rogue than a member of the esteemed "Company of Rogues." Felicity has no intention of allowing Miles control of her future for it was determined long ago by a thoughtless act of an immature girl and a callous, manipulative scoundrel. Felicity has reasons beyond what anyone can guess for fighting what is so apparently for her own good, and it is for this secret that she willingly gives up her own happiness. Poor Miles doesn't realize how determined she can be, and soon learns Felicity will literally fight tooth and nail to achieve her own ends. But how dastardly will Miles become to gain what he soon learns he can't live without?
The struggles between this hero and heroine are truly relentless and ruthless. I mean, jaw-dropping even! I found myself constantly torn between extreme admiration and infuriating disgust. I venture to say that I don't think I have met two more stubbornly dangerous characters. Characters stubborn in their relentless pursuit of what they believe in and what they love. And all these forces stir into quite a volatile mixture. . . . But, oh boy, what a bang! A definite must for those readers who need a little adrenalin rush.
The struggles between this hero and heroine are truly relentless and ruthless. I mean, jaw-dropping even! I found myself constantly torn between extreme admiration and infuriating disgust. I venture to say that I don't think I have met two more stubbornly dangerous characters. Characters stubborn in their relentless pursuit of what they believe in and what they love. And all these forces stir into quite a volatile mixture. . . . But, oh boy, what a bang! A definite must for those readers who need a little adrenalin rush.
November 4, 2015
This is book #5 in the Company of Rogues books. Okay -- aggravation here -- There were originally 12 members of The Company of Rogues -- however, two died before the series began, leaving 10. There are probably at least 15 books listed under 'Company of Rogues' series in the library and other listings. Now, that isn't a problem, but just reading the synopsis of the books, you can't tell what any of those other books have to do with the Rogues. Would be nice if they at least gave you a hint. I've finally figured out which books deal with the original 10 remaining Rogues.
Anyway -- this is a great book. Maybe I'm slow, but I was about halfway through the book before the reason for the title hit me. Hope you are faster on the uptake than I was.
This is the story of Miles Cavanaugh (heir to the Irish Earl of Kilgoran) and Felicity Monahan.
Imagine the consternation when a 25 year old man finds that he has inherited a 20 year old female ward -- who is wild and untamed with no social skills at all. Then, finds she is very beautiful and desirable as well.
This book is filled with danger -- cause the villain is a nasty fellow -- and it is also filled with Irish magic and magical cats.
The villain is trying to force Miles' new ward into marrying him in order to gain her substantial fortune. The villain threatens his own son, Kieran, with harm in order to get her to capitulate and marry him.
Miles forbids the marriage as her guardian. However, she is determined to protect Kieran at any cost and constantly tries to escape to marry the villain.
It is a good love story and well worth the read.
Anyway -- this is a great book. Maybe I'm slow, but I was about halfway through the book before the reason for the title hit me. Hope you are faster on the uptake than I was.
This is the story of Miles Cavanaugh (heir to the Irish Earl of Kilgoran) and Felicity Monahan.
Imagine the consternation when a 25 year old man finds that he has inherited a 20 year old female ward -- who is wild and untamed with no social skills at all. Then, finds she is very beautiful and desirable as well.
This book is filled with danger -- cause the villain is a nasty fellow -- and it is also filled with Irish magic and magical cats.
The villain is trying to force Miles' new ward into marrying him in order to gain her substantial fortune. The villain threatens his own son, Kieran, with harm in order to get her to capitulate and marry him.
Miles forbids the marriage as her guardian. However, she is determined to protect Kieran at any cost and constantly tries to escape to marry the villain.
It is a good love story and well worth the read.
July 17, 2010
In the past week, I've read the first 5 books in this series. I've fallen in love with the Rogues, and I really enjoyed this book. At first, I wasn't that eager to read about Miles - I am a HUGE fan of Lucien, Nicholas, and Francis, but from the other books, Miles never interested me. Then I read this book.
Miles is now one of my favorites of the Rogues. I loved his story with Felicity. I enjoyed the fact that the fell in love fairly early in the book rather than in the last few pages and that they ha to work to make that love last. I loved that Miles was so accepting of Felicity's past in a time when most men would have shunned her for it. It really endeared Miles to me.
Miles also has to take some harsh measures to protect Felicity from herself. At first, knowing htis before I even read, I was appauled. But after reading, I completely sympathize with Miles. I can see how some might call him "abusive" in some way because of his actions, but I actually didn't see it htat way. Miles is wililng to do anything to protect Felicity from a horrible fate, and while his actions weren't the gentlist, they are really his only choice and he hates that.
I loved these characters and thought the romance was unique.
Miles is now one of my favorites of the Rogues. I loved his story with Felicity. I enjoyed the fact that the fell in love fairly early in the book rather than in the last few pages and that they ha to work to make that love last. I loved that Miles was so accepting of Felicity's past in a time when most men would have shunned her for it. It really endeared Miles to me.
Miles also has to take some harsh measures to protect Felicity from herself. At first, knowing htis before I even read, I was appauled. But after reading, I completely sympathize with Miles. I can see how some might call him "abusive" in some way because of his actions, but I actually didn't see it htat way. Miles is wililng to do anything to protect Felicity from a horrible fate, and while his actions weren't the gentlist, they are really his only choice and he hates that.
I loved these characters and thought the romance was unique.
June 22, 2011
Good. I do enjoy the way that this author stretches the norms of the romance genre, particularly the historical romance sub-genre. Earlier in this series, we saw an experienced woman paired with a male virgin, and in this book, we find a respectable young lady who was seduced at the age of 15, got herself pregnant, and went "abroad" for a while. She didn't even loathe her first sexual encounter, if you can believe it. :)
That said, I did find the heroine to be a bit too hard-headed and closed-minded. She had her course set, and wouldn't even consider asking anyone else for help, since she had already considered every possible eventuality.
I recommend this to those who have read Jo Beverley. If you haven't, start with her Malloren series.
www.christineamsden.com
That said, I did find the heroine to be a bit too hard-headed and closed-minded. She had her course set, and wouldn't even consider asking anyone else for help, since she had already considered every possible eventuality.
I recommend this to those who have read Jo Beverley. If you haven't, start with her Malloren series.
www.christineamsden.com
April 12, 2022
None of the characters in this story are people I’d want to associate with. The hero is an overbearing, randy, “I’m right because I’m male” twit who thinks he’s motivated by love to drug, kidnap, bind and imprison the person he “loves”. He’s so horney I’m surprised he isn’t obliged to ride his horse side-saddle. The heroine is a spoiled, obnoxious, licentious and under-educated diva who thinks the rules don’t apply to her. The villain is so villainous he almost smokes – and not cigarettes! The author sets up a bad-spirited, ugly horse to be a Chekhov’s gun that is never deployed – bad author! The story itself is implausible.
I would have given it one star at best, but I finished reading it, and I liked the cats.
I would have given it one star at best, but I finished reading it, and I liked the cats.
April 10, 2014
I found the Company of Rogues series in the library several years ago, and have read through them all a couple of times. I think this is my least favorite. I find Felicity unlikable and annoying, despite the pressures causing her to act this way. And I don't like that Miles continues to pursue her while he is her guardian. It just feels smarmy that he can't wait a few weeks until she is of age.
December 30, 2019
I started this in 2018 and finally finished it after skimming the last 20% of the book.
September 14, 2024
Fun. Lapsed into Irish mysticism in one part but the details around horses made up for that . A good yarn.
April 22, 2021
Read & Reviewed for CBR 13 -
One of my least favorite things is when the first book of a series is on Kindle Unlimited, but then the rest of the book is not. It just feels like false advertising, because I pay for Kindle Unlimited, so it's not like I was stealing the first book, but now I have to pay more for all the other books, if I liked that first one, and it just feels unfair. (I am sure there's some really good reason for this that I do not understand, most likely it is related to how authors are compensated, and it would seem fair if I knew it. Since I don't I'm only talking about how it feels.)
But the other day, I found something I hate even more than that. When there is a fairly long series (say... 13 books), and only the first FIVE are on Kindle Unlimited. Meaning that I was five books into this series before I realized I would not be able to finish it, and WHHYYYYYYY would they do that? I am on a book buying budget, publishers: If I had known that the rest of the series needed to be bought, I would've waited until I could afford to buy 8 additional books but now, I'm just sitting here stewing about how angry I am that I can't read the next story, and trying to not let it influence the reviews of the first five books.
With that in mind, as well as a content warning that I do discuss rape briefly in one of the reviews, Jo Beverly's Company of Rogues awaits us.
The Company of Rogues had been formed in his first days at Harrow by the enterprising Nicholas Delaney. He had gathered twelve carefully selected boys together, and formed them into a protective association. During their school years they had defended each other against injustice and bullying. In the years since they had largely been a social group, coming together when occasion permitted, but it was understood that the bond still held. Any of them could call on the others at need." - Christmas Angel, Company of Rogues Book 3
Led by Nicholas Delaney, the hero of book one, the Rogues get up to all kind of nonsense as adults in these books, and their love interests, eventual spouses do no better. In fact, I am hoping that (when I get to read them) further on down the line, the alliance of Rogue-esses or some such turns out to play a larger role, because the way these women work together - particularly since so many of them started out without the kind of resources the young uppercrust earls, dukes and gentlemen had behind them, was often more interesting to me than the Rogues themselves.
An Arraigned Marriage starts off with the drugged rape of the heroine, by the also mostly not-sober brother of the hero, as part of a plot by her evil brother, in case you were wondering just how Old School Romance this series is. The answer is very. The tropes come from somewhere, and Jo Beverly in 1991 was making full use of them. Twins, sexual assault, blackmail, mistresses, spy work, double crossing: This first book has got all that and more. And to be honest, I can see why it works. It works because Nicholas Delaney - master manipulator, but of the charming kind - somehow looks at the incredible person he has wound up married to Eleanor Chivenham, and sees beyond the scared young woman not in control of her own fate, and wonders how they might fit together, permanently. It works because Eleanor sees Nicholas, in spite of all his charm and for all of his lauded control, has things that he needs from her, and ways in which they could be good for each other. (3 stars)
Are there things in this book (and the series of books) that are hopelessly out of date, like the idea that your brother raped me & told me you did it, but that was last month, so I'm just supposed to forgive him and move on? Ah, yeah. Un-problematic it is not. However, I'm in the "read with your eyes wide open" school of thought, especially when it comes to 'classics' of the romance genre: I know going in that there's gonna be some pure nonsense, and I just note it and move on, unless there's too much nonsense to move past. (I'm looking at you books that make slavery sound glorified.) So, yes. Issues do occur in the series, and they make it a little bit harder to enjoy the rest of what's happening. Your mileage may vary, but I knew it going in, so it wasn't that big of an issue for me. See also: Book two, and a slap across the heroine's face that made me put the whole thing down for a couple of days. Book three was pretty unproblematic, but book four had a The Duke & I problem that I remember hating the first time around & was no better the second (consent is essential, no matter which way it goes), and the last book in this group involves a literal drugging and kidnapping so, there were definitely some issues all around.
Book 2, which sounds like it should have a similar plot, given it's An Unwilling Bride also comes with an unwilling groom, though, so at least the H/h start off on similar feet there. Turns out the Duke of Belcraven's son & heir was not exactly his; also turns out that he just happens to have a daughter who is his, but she was born on the wrong side of the blanket. Seems like a problem that's easily solved by forcing the two of them to marry, right? Because then the bloodline would be secured and the next duke (who is a third son, and really was never meant to inherit) stays in the line of succession without any fanfare or gossip. Problem solved. Except for how two complete strangers are now forced to get married, and Lucien and Beth aren't exactly the friendliest people to begin with, so of course, problems ensue.(2.5 stars)
The third book, Christmas Angel, finds Leander (Lord Charrington) and Judith Rossiter (the Angel Bride, widow of a famous poet) trying to figure out their own happily ever after, amidst a general misunderstanding about said bride's grief, Leander's new role as stepfather to her two children & heir to an estate that seems more albatross than anything else, and suddenly mysterious attempts on someone's life. I really feel like Beverly was a "the more tropes the better" kind of author, and as I am exactly that kind of reader, I definitely can not find fault in her for that. The mild suspense & ability of both the hero & the heroine to move into acceptance of their own feelings more rapidly than the first two books, made this a better book than those, for me. (3.5 stars)
Forbidden, Serena & Francis, Lord Middlethorpe's story was my least favorite of these five, and the only one I remember reading back in day (so I probably read this in high school the first time, and was not a fan, and that's why I didn't read most of the rest of the series, despite liking some of Beverly's other books). Here, the overabundance of tropes is to the book's detriment... the heroine's evil family members are stereotypically evil, her dead husband a true cretin; Francis is a virgin hero, which I'm all for, but it gets used as poor humor or an excuse for his bad behavior towards his wife a few too many times for my liking. (2 stars)
As for the last of the five books, Dangerous Joy was mostly a delight for me. Miles is made guardian of heiress Felicity, and spends 90% of the book in hijinks related to her Big Secret, which I guessed during the first chapter. That's fine: I am rarely surprised by the Big Secrets of romance novels, but the thing I really liked about this one is that Miles is blindsided by it but the other women ferret it out the first time they hear her story. Not even halfway through telling his friends and their lady loves about Felicity's circumstances, one of the other women cracks the whole thing wide open, and Miles has to get up and leave the room, find Felicity immediately, because OF COURSE! I just liked that part so much, I would give the book a better rating just for that, but I felt like this was the best of the series yet, so it gets the full 4 stars.
So there were obviously things that worked for me and things that didn't. The best part of all the books, as it so often is for me, was the found family aspect of the Company and their loves. The support that they get from/give to each other, while at the same time also continuing to build a bigger 'family' and circle of influence within the ton, so that, by the end of book five, you've got your dukes and earls and gentlemen aplenty, but there's also a former teacher, a widow, some spinster aunts, a great many adjacent family members, government officials in more than one country, and all sorts of other interesting characters at play. The world of the London Ton in Romancelandia, once again, sounding so much more interesting and diverse (although not in skin color) than the actual Ton must have been. Early feminists turned into Duchesses, turning the rest of their set - women & men - on to the readings of Mary Wollstonecraft; an Irish woman horse breeder, rolling her eyes at the 'stay out of the stables' nonsense the English ladies must put up with; the actress/mistress of one of the Rogues that I know is going to get talked into taking on society by the end of the whole run ...those kind of things that makes my rebellious heart happy.
Hopefully my library will have the last eight books, because I want to know if he manages to convince her to thumb her nose at all of society.
One of my least favorite things is when the first book of a series is on Kindle Unlimited, but then the rest of the book is not. It just feels like false advertising, because I pay for Kindle Unlimited, so it's not like I was stealing the first book, but now I have to pay more for all the other books, if I liked that first one, and it just feels unfair. (I am sure there's some really good reason for this that I do not understand, most likely it is related to how authors are compensated, and it would seem fair if I knew it. Since I don't I'm only talking about how it feels.)
But the other day, I found something I hate even more than that. When there is a fairly long series (say... 13 books), and only the first FIVE are on Kindle Unlimited. Meaning that I was five books into this series before I realized I would not be able to finish it, and WHHYYYYYYY would they do that? I am on a book buying budget, publishers: If I had known that the rest of the series needed to be bought, I would've waited until I could afford to buy 8 additional books but now, I'm just sitting here stewing about how angry I am that I can't read the next story, and trying to not let it influence the reviews of the first five books.
With that in mind, as well as a content warning that I do discuss rape briefly in one of the reviews, Jo Beverly's Company of Rogues awaits us.
The Company of Rogues had been formed in his first days at Harrow by the enterprising Nicholas Delaney. He had gathered twelve carefully selected boys together, and formed them into a protective association. During their school years they had defended each other against injustice and bullying. In the years since they had largely been a social group, coming together when occasion permitted, but it was understood that the bond still held. Any of them could call on the others at need." - Christmas Angel, Company of Rogues Book 3
Led by Nicholas Delaney, the hero of book one, the Rogues get up to all kind of nonsense as adults in these books, and their love interests, eventual spouses do no better. In fact, I am hoping that (when I get to read them) further on down the line, the alliance of Rogue-esses or some such turns out to play a larger role, because the way these women work together - particularly since so many of them started out without the kind of resources the young uppercrust earls, dukes and gentlemen had behind them, was often more interesting to me than the Rogues themselves.
An Arraigned Marriage starts off with the drugged rape of the heroine, by the also mostly not-sober brother of the hero, as part of a plot by her evil brother, in case you were wondering just how Old School Romance this series is. The answer is very. The tropes come from somewhere, and Jo Beverly in 1991 was making full use of them. Twins, sexual assault, blackmail, mistresses, spy work, double crossing: This first book has got all that and more. And to be honest, I can see why it works. It works because Nicholas Delaney - master manipulator, but of the charming kind - somehow looks at the incredible person he has wound up married to Eleanor Chivenham, and sees beyond the scared young woman not in control of her own fate, and wonders how they might fit together, permanently. It works because Eleanor sees Nicholas, in spite of all his charm and for all of his lauded control, has things that he needs from her, and ways in which they could be good for each other. (3 stars)
Are there things in this book (and the series of books) that are hopelessly out of date, like the idea that your brother raped me & told me you did it, but that was last month, so I'm just supposed to forgive him and move on? Ah, yeah. Un-problematic it is not. However, I'm in the "read with your eyes wide open" school of thought, especially when it comes to 'classics' of the romance genre: I know going in that there's gonna be some pure nonsense, and I just note it and move on, unless there's too much nonsense to move past. (I'm looking at you books that make slavery sound glorified.) So, yes. Issues do occur in the series, and they make it a little bit harder to enjoy the rest of what's happening. Your mileage may vary, but I knew it going in, so it wasn't that big of an issue for me. See also: Book two, and a slap across the heroine's face that made me put the whole thing down for a couple of days. Book three was pretty unproblematic, but book four had a The Duke & I problem that I remember hating the first time around & was no better the second (consent is essential, no matter which way it goes), and the last book in this group involves a literal drugging and kidnapping so, there were definitely some issues all around.
Book 2, which sounds like it should have a similar plot, given it's An Unwilling Bride also comes with an unwilling groom, though, so at least the H/h start off on similar feet there. Turns out the Duke of Belcraven's son & heir was not exactly his; also turns out that he just happens to have a daughter who is his, but she was born on the wrong side of the blanket. Seems like a problem that's easily solved by forcing the two of them to marry, right? Because then the bloodline would be secured and the next duke (who is a third son, and really was never meant to inherit) stays in the line of succession without any fanfare or gossip. Problem solved. Except for how two complete strangers are now forced to get married, and Lucien and Beth aren't exactly the friendliest people to begin with, so of course, problems ensue.(2.5 stars)
The third book, Christmas Angel, finds Leander (Lord Charrington) and Judith Rossiter (the Angel Bride, widow of a famous poet) trying to figure out their own happily ever after, amidst a general misunderstanding about said bride's grief, Leander's new role as stepfather to her two children & heir to an estate that seems more albatross than anything else, and suddenly mysterious attempts on someone's life. I really feel like Beverly was a "the more tropes the better" kind of author, and as I am exactly that kind of reader, I definitely can not find fault in her for that. The mild suspense & ability of both the hero & the heroine to move into acceptance of their own feelings more rapidly than the first two books, made this a better book than those, for me. (3.5 stars)
Forbidden, Serena & Francis, Lord Middlethorpe's story was my least favorite of these five, and the only one I remember reading back in day (so I probably read this in high school the first time, and was not a fan, and that's why I didn't read most of the rest of the series, despite liking some of Beverly's other books). Here, the overabundance of tropes is to the book's detriment... the heroine's evil family members are stereotypically evil, her dead husband a true cretin; Francis is a virgin hero, which I'm all for, but it gets used as poor humor or an excuse for his bad behavior towards his wife a few too many times for my liking. (2 stars)
As for the last of the five books, Dangerous Joy was mostly a delight for me. Miles is made guardian of heiress Felicity, and spends 90% of the book in hijinks related to her Big Secret, which I guessed during the first chapter. That's fine: I am rarely surprised by the Big Secrets of romance novels, but the thing I really liked about this one is that Miles is blindsided by it but the other women ferret it out the first time they hear her story. Not even halfway through telling his friends and their lady loves about Felicity's circumstances, one of the other women cracks the whole thing wide open, and Miles has to get up and leave the room, find Felicity immediately, because OF COURSE! I just liked that part so much, I would give the book a better rating just for that, but I felt like this was the best of the series yet, so it gets the full 4 stars.
So there were obviously things that worked for me and things that didn't. The best part of all the books, as it so often is for me, was the found family aspect of the Company and their loves. The support that they get from/give to each other, while at the same time also continuing to build a bigger 'family' and circle of influence within the ton, so that, by the end of book five, you've got your dukes and earls and gentlemen aplenty, but there's also a former teacher, a widow, some spinster aunts, a great many adjacent family members, government officials in more than one country, and all sorts of other interesting characters at play. The world of the London Ton in Romancelandia, once again, sounding so much more interesting and diverse (although not in skin color) than the actual Ton must have been. Early feminists turned into Duchesses, turning the rest of their set - women & men - on to the readings of Mary Wollstonecraft; an Irish woman horse breeder, rolling her eyes at the 'stay out of the stables' nonsense the English ladies must put up with; the actress/mistress of one of the Rogues that I know is going to get talked into taking on society by the end of the whole run ...those kind of things that makes my rebellious heart happy.
Hopefully my library will have the last eight books, because I want to know if he manages to convince her to thumb her nose at all of society.
March 17, 2014
I wrote a few words about this for a St. Patrick's Day piece at Heroes and Heartbreakers.
"Another black-haired passionate Irish character is Felicity Monahan, the heroine of Jo Beverley’s Dangerous Joy. Fearless, horse-mad, and intense, charm is only one of the weapons in her arsenal. Her love, Miles Cavanagh, is another Irish prototype, deceptively ordinary and pleasant. Felicity thinks to herself,
He was a fine figure of a man … with robust, practical looks that appealed greatly to her. Clear blue eyes ready to laugh, red-gold hair with a crisp curl to it, and a square jaw that spoke of firmness.
What a pair they make, Felicity, the beautiful rebellious heiress and Miles, the fast-talking horse-trader to the aristocrats. And yet Miles is no stranger to their ranks, since he was educated at Harrow and will inherit an Irish title that holds both money and power. Their Irish nationalism is tempered with realism and they draw strength from their shared Irish past. Of all the Rogue stories, only Dangerous Joy has a touch of woo-woo or the supernatural, another characteristic of many Irish-set romances."
Perhaps 4 stars a tad high but except for the fey/cat moments (which go on a little too much for my taste), this is a another great addiction to the Rogue canon. Especially liked, when Miles told Felicity she had to bear some of the blame for her earlier decisions. Lots of Beth and Lucien and all the Rogues, like Blanche (who plays a pivotal part) make this a great romp! Suspend your disbelief time though: when do Miles and Felicity actually train any horses? Oh well, not everyone is Joan Wolf when it comes to horses and then more horses ...
"Another black-haired passionate Irish character is Felicity Monahan, the heroine of Jo Beverley’s Dangerous Joy. Fearless, horse-mad, and intense, charm is only one of the weapons in her arsenal. Her love, Miles Cavanagh, is another Irish prototype, deceptively ordinary and pleasant. Felicity thinks to herself,
He was a fine figure of a man … with robust, practical looks that appealed greatly to her. Clear blue eyes ready to laugh, red-gold hair with a crisp curl to it, and a square jaw that spoke of firmness.
What a pair they make, Felicity, the beautiful rebellious heiress and Miles, the fast-talking horse-trader to the aristocrats. And yet Miles is no stranger to their ranks, since he was educated at Harrow and will inherit an Irish title that holds both money and power. Their Irish nationalism is tempered with realism and they draw strength from their shared Irish past. Of all the Rogue stories, only Dangerous Joy has a touch of woo-woo or the supernatural, another characteristic of many Irish-set romances."
Perhaps 4 stars a tad high but except for the fey/cat moments (which go on a little too much for my taste), this is a another great addiction to the Rogue canon. Especially liked, when Miles told Felicity she had to bear some of the blame for her earlier decisions. Lots of Beth and Lucien and all the Rogues, like Blanche (who plays a pivotal part) make this a great romp! Suspend your disbelief time though: when do Miles and Felicity actually train any horses? Oh well, not everyone is Joan Wolf when it comes to horses and then more horses ...
July 20, 2021
mein Fazit:
durfte es als Rezensionsexemplar lesen, was aber mit meiner Bewertung nicht in Zusammenhang steht !
Ohje es fängt damit an das Miles gerade selbst erst 25 Jahre alt ist, als Vormund für die 20 jährige Filicity eingesetzt wurde. Sie ist als Wildfang berüchtigt, da sie nur von ihren Großvater und Ihrer Tante erzogen worden ist. Sie hatte Freiheiten die es zur damaligen Zeit nicht gegeben hat für junge Damen von Stand. Er selbst musste den schweren weg durch Schulen und Ausbildung gehen, da er später eine wichtige Aufgabe übernehmen soll. Er begibt sich aber auf die Reise zu ihr um nach dem rechten zu schauen, nur blöd das kurz vor der Ankunft überfallen und gefesselt wird. Spät in der Nacht wird er dann von einer Frau befreit, die sich später als sein Mündel herausstellt. Da Filicity aber ein schwerwiegendes Geheimnis hütet und auch im Hintergrund dadurch bedroht wird, wird es eine spannende Geschichte mit Entführungen, von Irland nach England. Aber die ganze Geschichte hat ein gutes Setting und einen guten Schreibstil der es einem einfach macht durch die Story zu lesen. Da merkt man kaum das es doch recht in die Länge gezogen wurde was für mich nicht nötig gewesen wäre.
Daher vergebe ich gute 4 Sterne
durfte es als Rezensionsexemplar lesen, was aber mit meiner Bewertung nicht in Zusammenhang steht !
Ohje es fängt damit an das Miles gerade selbst erst 25 Jahre alt ist, als Vormund für die 20 jährige Filicity eingesetzt wurde. Sie ist als Wildfang berüchtigt, da sie nur von ihren Großvater und Ihrer Tante erzogen worden ist. Sie hatte Freiheiten die es zur damaligen Zeit nicht gegeben hat für junge Damen von Stand. Er selbst musste den schweren weg durch Schulen und Ausbildung gehen, da er später eine wichtige Aufgabe übernehmen soll. Er begibt sich aber auf die Reise zu ihr um nach dem rechten zu schauen, nur blöd das kurz vor der Ankunft überfallen und gefesselt wird. Spät in der Nacht wird er dann von einer Frau befreit, die sich später als sein Mündel herausstellt. Da Filicity aber ein schwerwiegendes Geheimnis hütet und auch im Hintergrund dadurch bedroht wird, wird es eine spannende Geschichte mit Entführungen, von Irland nach England. Aber die ganze Geschichte hat ein gutes Setting und einen guten Schreibstil der es einem einfach macht durch die Story zu lesen. Da merkt man kaum das es doch recht in die Länge gezogen wurde was für mich nicht nötig gewesen wäre.
Daher vergebe ich gute 4 Sterne
November 2, 2015
Cats rule!!!!
Lovely, feisty, dangerous romance. Irish Miles, definitely a member of the rogues, becomes the temporary guardian of Felicity a heiress of the Foy family, a family reputed to be connected with the fairy folk. She is determined to marry a despicable Englishman to get control of his young son who he is abusing. There are secrets to be exposed, and Miles truly has his hands full with this very different heroine. All this is the usual high quality story from the rogues series, but this one stands out. We have a element of the supernatural slipping in as one of the Foy cats decides to follow Miles, and then continues throughout as a main character. The cat definitely wrung a few tears from me, and later was crucial in the resolution. Story, characters, writing, originality all five star. Cats get six.
Lovely, feisty, dangerous romance. Irish Miles, definitely a member of the rogues, becomes the temporary guardian of Felicity a heiress of the Foy family, a family reputed to be connected with the fairy folk. She is determined to marry a despicable Englishman to get control of his young son who he is abusing. There are secrets to be exposed, and Miles truly has his hands full with this very different heroine. All this is the usual high quality story from the rogues series, but this one stands out. We have a element of the supernatural slipping in as one of the Foy cats decides to follow Miles, and then continues throughout as a main character. The cat definitely wrung a few tears from me, and later was crucial in the resolution. Story, characters, writing, originality all five star. Cats get six.
March 11, 2014
I've already read the 5 books in this series. I didn’t start in order, but this series really works if one reads them in the right sequence. I've fallen in love with the Rogues, and I really enjoyed all the books. This one, was the one I liked the least so far. I am a HUGE fan of Lucien and Francis, so I loved to read about Miles. He is a really well done male character. It was really Felicity that I had a problem with. I wasn’t able to like this female character. And I think it is a first with Jo Beverley.
So… I give it 3 stars, because of the Rogues, Miles and Beverley’s capacity to construct such an unique romance, full of adventure, romance and above all with messages about woman historical condition and strength.
So… I give it 3 stars, because of the Rogues, Miles and Beverley’s capacity to construct such an unique romance, full of adventure, romance and above all with messages about woman historical condition and strength.
April 21, 2019
Skimmed most of this book, as it was a bit too old-school romance for me. The hero forcing himself on the heroine, even if it’s “just” a kiss and a grope? No thank you. I was glad it ended the way it did, but as I didn’t care for either Felicity or Miles, I wasn’t invested in them ending up together. I probably won’t read any of the others in the series.
June 19, 2009
I lived this story. It was funny and yet sometimes very sweet. I like the fact that the main characters know they're in love prett fast but that they have to overcome obstacles before they can truly live happy!
May 18, 2022
Not bad.
September 15, 2007
My least favorite of Jo's books, by a longshot.
September 29, 2019
MYSTICAL, IRISH, GUARDIAN, LOVE
5 STARS for the 5 the book of The CoR, Miles the one rogue from Ireland. In his mid 20's unexpectedly guardianship of his step dad's cousin Felicity, a 20 yr old wild beautiful rebellious Irish lass. To top it off, Felicity was a great heiress and Miles would be needed to watch out for fortune hunters & kidnappers; headaches he didn't want, at least at hunting time when he was to go and sell his horses. The Blurb is good. This couple go through many ordeals of distrust, sternness, tenderness, love, doubt and helpfulness. While they go thru each of these they are two hot blooded Irish and everything is magnified that it makes their emotions tense & feelings sizzle . The characters come to life and almost jump off the page, & are well developed. Irish mystical past & historical stories are woven in the storyline and of course a few things happen at different times, to these verra Irish people & in Ireland that can only be called mystical. A very exciting intriguing adventure Miles & Felicity experience, a road of mystery and mystical happenings that I could not put down. My only dislike was that I had not liked Felicity at times throughout the book because I felt like she only had confidence in 1 person, & helped that person to constantly get the holding hand; then I realized it was the thought of a lonely scared 15 yr old girl, that was controlling Felicity and then I liked her again. That is great writing Jo.
5 STARS for the 5 the book of The CoR, Miles the one rogue from Ireland. In his mid 20's unexpectedly guardianship of his step dad's cousin Felicity, a 20 yr old wild beautiful rebellious Irish lass. To top it off, Felicity was a great heiress and Miles would be needed to watch out for fortune hunters & kidnappers; headaches he didn't want, at least at hunting time when he was to go and sell his horses. The Blurb is good. This couple go through many ordeals of distrust, sternness, tenderness, love, doubt and helpfulness. While they go thru each of these they are two hot blooded Irish and everything is magnified that it makes their emotions tense & feelings sizzle . The characters come to life and almost jump off the page, & are well developed. Irish mystical past & historical stories are woven in the storyline and of course a few things happen at different times, to these verra Irish people & in Ireland that can only be called mystical. A very exciting intriguing adventure Miles & Felicity experience, a road of mystery and mystical happenings that I could not put down. My only dislike was that I had not liked Felicity at times throughout the book because I felt like she only had confidence in 1 person, & helped that person to constantly get the holding hand; then I realized it was the thought of a lonely scared 15 yr old girl, that was controlling Felicity and then I liked her again. That is great writing Jo.
June 18, 2021
After reading Forbidden Book 4 of the Company of Rogues, I was intrigued by Miles and Felicity and their brief appearances in inappropriate circumstances. Dangerous Joy presents their story and the drama that was surrounding them. Miles Cavanaugh had his hands full with his new wild, unwilling and unconventional ward. With a sad story we get to know Felicity's predicament and the options she was considering. As a member of the Rogues used to strange, violent and nefarious situations Miles took charge but even him needed help to deal with Felicity and her traumatic problem. But Felicity was not helping, and things were for worse. She was demonstrating no insight putting herself in further danger. Interesting the twists in the story, the mystery and how things were complicated and had me waiting for new revelation at the turn of the page. Complex situations with strong issues that had me thinking in the choices the protagonists have, what they choose and how the author makes it work. Each rogue is different, has his own traits and their women match them. Action, suspense, intrigue, deceit, some violence, cats, romance and passion. Voluntarily reviewed this book that I received free from eBook Discovery and I liked.
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