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Ravished
All her life, flame-haired Alexandra Sheffield has been expected to marry the wealthy Lord Christopher Hatton --- a man whose title and inheritance make Alex the envy of all London. But desperate for a life filled with adventure and passion, she is in no hurry to marry the spoiled aristocrat. Instead, she is consumed with longing for another man --- Lord Hatton's devastatingly dangerous twin brother, Nicholas.
All his life, Nick Hatton has had his pick of beautiful women, but he's also had enough sense never to hazard his heart. That is, until his irresponsible brother gambles away his inheritance and plans to refill his pockets by marrying spirited young Alex. Driven by a fierce need to protect her, Nick will risk anything to prevent his brother's scheming seduction. But when the girl he sets out to save becomes the glorious woman he longs to ravish, he must force himself to resist her wild beauty and reckless flirtation --- before his desires erupt in a single, scorching moment that can never be undone.
All his life, Nick Hatton has had his pick of beautiful women, but he's also had enough sense never to hazard his heart. That is, until his irresponsible brother gambles away his inheritance and plans to refill his pockets by marrying spirited young Alex. Driven by a fierce need to protect her, Nick will risk anything to prevent his brother's scheming seduction. But when the girl he sets out to save becomes the glorious woman he longs to ravish, he must force himself to resist her wild beauty and reckless flirtation --- before his desires erupt in a single, scorching moment that can never be undone.
409 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
15 people are currently reading
523 people want to read
About the author
Virginia Henley
66 books636 followersVirginia Syddall was born on December 5, 1935 in England, where her father, Thomas Syddall, taught her to love history. She obtained a degree in History in the University. In 1956, Virginia married Arthur Henley. They moved to America, and now they live most of the year in St. Petersburg, Florida, and they spend the hot summers in Ontario, Canada, where they have their two adult children and three grandsons.
Virginia Henley is a New York Times bestselling writer of historical novels. Her work has been translated into fourteen languages. She is the recipient of more than a dozen writing awards, including a Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award, a Waldenbooks' Bestselling Award, and a Maggie Award for Excellence from the Georgia Romance Writers.
Virginia Henley is a New York Times bestselling writer of historical novels. Her work has been translated into fourteen languages. She is the recipient of more than a dozen writing awards, including a Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award, a Waldenbooks' Bestselling Award, and a Maggie Award for Excellence from the Georgia Romance Writers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
February 4, 2025
Don't read it for a romance; it takes forever. I was waiting for them to have sex like the whole book. They do it by page 495...
The ending is kinda funny. I really wanted Nick and Alex to be together. Alex and Kit had no chemistry. I found it interesting how Virginia Henley kept on referencing the zodiac before it became really popular (as in pop culture). I think she had a thing for Leos. Nick was a Leo, but his twin Kit was a Cancer. The servants thought it was unnatural for two twins to be born on different zodiac signs. Henley kinda bashed the Cancer and exalted the Leo. She kept on writing the "lion's pride". Also, it was mentioned that Alex was a Sagittarius, which makes a really good match with Leo because they are both fire signs but not a good match with Cancer.
The ending is kinda funny. I really wanted Nick and Alex to be together. Alex and Kit had no chemistry. I found it interesting how Virginia Henley kept on referencing the zodiac before it became really popular (as in pop culture). I think she had a thing for Leos. Nick was a Leo, but his twin Kit was a Cancer. The servants thought it was unnatural for two twins to be born on different zodiac signs. Henley kinda bashed the Cancer and exalted the Leo. She kept on writing the "lion's pride". Also, it was mentioned that Alex was a Sagittarius, which makes a really good match with Leo because they are both fire signs but not a good match with Cancer.
August 4, 2021
Probably a 3.5 liked the beginning of this story and the end. Because this was where the romance was in the story.
Liked Alex and Nick. Dottie added humour. Kit was a weak person. Who’s life fell apart without his twin brother Nick to help him .
Liked Alex and Nick. Dottie added humour. Kit was a weak person. Who’s life fell apart without his twin brother Nick to help him .
July 16, 2008
I tried to read this book. Really tried, but I just can't finish it. It's so utterly ridiculous.
It's set in the early 1800's (1813-1814) and the heroine, Alex, is 17 years old...yet she runs around doing whatever she pleases with no consequences. She wonders London on her own, not getting into trouble, goes off with men all by herself and there's no fallout. She swears like a modern day woman. She dresses up like a man and sneaks in places. She sneaks looks at naked me, tries to seduce the hero by hiding her identity. I've skimmed later scenes and know that she somehow manages to get a job entertaining (dancing, not whoring) at a brothel. And who knows what else she does. It's just too much too believe.
And the twin thing and the fact that no one, not even the heroine, can tell Nick and Christopher apart is driving me nuts. Plus the storyline is boring me to tears. But it's how historically unrealistic the book is that's killing it. Even the dialogue often seems too modern. I skimmed a few parts later in the book and the ending, but I just can't read any more. So this one is going to be stuck in "did-not-finish" purgatory. Maybe I'll try to read another chapter or two now and then, but I've got much more interesting books waiting on my TBR shelf.
It's set in the early 1800's (1813-1814) and the heroine, Alex, is 17 years old...yet she runs around doing whatever she pleases with no consequences. She wonders London on her own, not getting into trouble, goes off with men all by herself and there's no fallout. She swears like a modern day woman. She dresses up like a man and sneaks in places. She sneaks looks at naked me, tries to seduce the hero by hiding her identity. I've skimmed later scenes and know that she somehow manages to get a job entertaining (dancing, not whoring) at a brothel. And who knows what else she does. It's just too much too believe.
And the twin thing and the fact that no one, not even the heroine, can tell Nick and Christopher apart is driving me nuts. Plus the storyline is boring me to tears. But it's how historically unrealistic the book is that's killing it. Even the dialogue often seems too modern. I skimmed a few parts later in the book and the ending, but I just can't read any more. So this one is going to be stuck in "did-not-finish" purgatory. Maybe I'll try to read another chapter or two now and then, but I've got much more interesting books waiting on my TBR shelf.
May 18, 2011
It is not often that I read historical romance books but this is one that I have read at least four times. Ms. Henley's characters are so fleshed out that you feel as if you know them. The good / cowardly twin dynamic is intriguing. The love scenes are breathtaking and you will end up indignant at Kit by the end.
April 20, 2022
Actions speak louder than words.
I enjoyed the beginning of the book a lot of action happened! The heroine dresses up as a man a lot to explore more sketchy and secretive places. Also Dottie was hilarious
The rest of the book was boring and the hero kept having sex at a brothel (right after he had kissed the heroine) and didn't try to gain attention from the heroine.
The heroine can't tell the twins apart ever. Even when they are talking to her.
!!When he returned from the war he literally visited a brothel over 200 pages into the book. !!
He kept pretending to be his twin brother and didn't seem that bothered that the heroine was "married to the other twin".
Also they have a terrible mother that left them and the heroine tells her brother that they "have to forgive their mother because she's dying" ... nope nope nope some people do things that are unforgivable and don't deserve forgiveness like a lifetime of abandoning your children.
Didn't see any chemistry - if anything I bet the hero still goes to brothels xD
I enjoyed the beginning of the book a lot of action happened! The heroine dresses up as a man a lot to explore more sketchy and secretive places. Also Dottie was hilarious
The rest of the book was boring and the hero kept having sex at a brothel (right after he had kissed the heroine) and didn't try to gain attention from the heroine.
The heroine can't tell the twins apart ever. Even when they are talking to her.
!!When he returned from the war he literally visited a brothel over 200 pages into the book. !!
He kept pretending to be his twin brother and didn't seem that bothered that the heroine was "married to the other twin".
Also they have a terrible mother that left them and the heroine tells her brother that they "have to forgive their mother because she's dying" ... nope nope nope some people do things that are unforgivable and don't deserve forgiveness like a lifetime of abandoning your children.
Didn't see any chemistry - if anything I bet the hero still goes to brothels xD
November 9, 2017
I thought at first it might irritate me as I could feel my blood boiling over the way Kit treated his twin Nick & the injustices Nick suffered but surprisingly I found I quite enjoyed it.
One criticism I must make is about Nick, I felt he seemed so much older than his 21 years, if his age hadn't been mentioned, then by his actions & manners, I would have put him around 30.
But that didn't make any difference to my enjoyment of the story... a romantic romp all the way with a feisty young heroine who flouts the conventions of the day & a hero who is desperate to prevent her marriage to his twin...good stuff if you're in the right mood for this type of romantic escapism.
One criticism I must make is about Nick, I felt he seemed so much older than his 21 years, if his age hadn't been mentioned, then by his actions & manners, I would have put him around 30.
But that didn't make any difference to my enjoyment of the story... a romantic romp all the way with a feisty young heroine who flouts the conventions of the day & a hero who is desperate to prevent her marriage to his twin...good stuff if you're in the right mood for this type of romantic escapism.
January 24, 2021
what even happened here
so convulted, which I lowkey loved until nothing actually made sense and storylines never got an ending
so convulted, which I lowkey loved until nothing actually made sense and storylines never got an ending
July 25, 2023
(3.25/5) Disappointingly, there was really only romance at the beginning and end. There was some romantic pining during the novel, but it wasn’t much. When the lovers of the novel get together, it feels rushed. The plot is complex, and was fun to try to explain to my boyfriend, but was hard to follow and enjoy while reading. The twin shenanigans that ensue are confusing, but fun, even if they are predictable. Some of the characters (Dottie) were annoying. Also, there was no “ravishing” happening during this story!
August 18, 2025
Vastly entertaining, but why the devil can't she tell them apart?
May 26, 2013
Alexandra Sheffield has known identical twin brothers Christopher and Nicholas Hatton all her life. Indeed, her grandmother and their father have had an understanding that she and Kit (the heir) will one day marry. Alex likes them both, but it’s Nick who makes her pulse race.
Kit, as it happens, lives by one single rule:
Not that this is his fault—he’s never had to face the consequences of his actions, since Nick is the one who always takes the blame. So when he “accidentally” kills their nasty drunk of a father, as usual, Nick claims he did it, and is therefore shunned by society. When the will is read and it turns out Kit got everything, not a sou to Nick or the servants, Kit’s such a d*ck that he doesn’t see a problem with it. And another thing he’s OK with is that now that his dad’s dead, all that pressure to get on with marrying Alex is gone. He’ll marry her—eventually—but he wants to make good and sure he comes up with a dose of the pox first, to give her as a wedding present. Yup. He’s a winner.
Nick, meanwhile, does what any self-respecting guy who is madly in love with his brother’s almost fiancé would do—
Ends up in the Peninsular War, where he is (no great surprise) a hero.
Given the geographical issues, the only sizzle between the H/h for a good many pages happen in dream sequences. Henley does love her dream sequences—they feature in nearly all of her books. Me, I skip over those after awhile.
Anyhoo, I’m going to spoil the ending by telling you that Nick and Alex end up as criminals. Not that a little thing like the law ought to wreck an otherwise decent story. 3 stars.
Kit, as it happens, lives by one single rule:
Not that this is his fault—he’s never had to face the consequences of his actions, since Nick is the one who always takes the blame. So when he “accidentally” kills their nasty drunk of a father, as usual, Nick claims he did it, and is therefore shunned by society. When the will is read and it turns out Kit got everything, not a sou to Nick or the servants, Kit’s such a d*ck that he doesn’t see a problem with it. And another thing he’s OK with is that now that his dad’s dead, all that pressure to get on with marrying Alex is gone. He’ll marry her—eventually—but he wants to make good and sure he comes up with a dose of the pox first, to give her as a wedding present. Yup. He’s a winner.
Nick, meanwhile, does what any self-respecting guy who is madly in love with his brother’s almost fiancé would do—
Ends up in the Peninsular War, where he is (no great surprise) a hero.
Given the geographical issues, the only sizzle between the H/h for a good many pages happen in dream sequences. Henley does love her dream sequences—they feature in nearly all of her books. Me, I skip over those after awhile.
Anyhoo, I’m going to spoil the ending by telling you that Nick and Alex end up as criminals. Not that a little thing like the law ought to wreck an otherwise decent story. 3 stars.
June 28, 2011
Ravished is a story of deception and switched identities. The prologue starts with the death in childbirth, of the mother of Kit and Nicholas. This leads to their father lavishing affection on the eldest born twin, Kit, whilst holding the younger responsible for his beloved wife's death.
However Nick is the stronger of the two, and grows up shouldering the blame for his elder brother's mischief, in the knowledge that Kit is too weak to cope.
As adults, enter the heroine - who was betrothed as a child to Kit, but is secretly in love with Nick. Suffice to say she is hiding a secret (supposedly a wealthy heiress, she is actually penniless) and who caboodle of confusion and hi jinks ensue as Nick shoulders the blame for accidently killing his father (Kit did it!) and goes off to fight Napoleon.
'Ravished' was a most enjoyable read. The strength of the writer lies in the vivid characters she creates. I could have cheerfully kneed Kit somewhere soft and painful, for all his idiocy and carelessness, whilst Nick's moral strength was painful at times.
There was a wonderful story line toward the end, where I really couldnt imagine how things would end HEA (but dont worry they did!)
My only minor criticism is that the plot hinges on the twins being identical, and nobody being sure which was which. I argue that after Nick had been away fighting Napoleon he would have been weather worn (not to mention sleep deprived and care worn) and it seems very unlikely he would have remained identical to his soft living elder brother. That said, I can forgive the author as this was a cracking good read.
However Nick is the stronger of the two, and grows up shouldering the blame for his elder brother's mischief, in the knowledge that Kit is too weak to cope.
As adults, enter the heroine - who was betrothed as a child to Kit, but is secretly in love with Nick. Suffice to say she is hiding a secret (supposedly a wealthy heiress, she is actually penniless) and who caboodle of confusion and hi jinks ensue as Nick shoulders the blame for accidently killing his father (Kit did it!) and goes off to fight Napoleon.
'Ravished' was a most enjoyable read. The strength of the writer lies in the vivid characters she creates. I could have cheerfully kneed Kit somewhere soft and painful, for all his idiocy and carelessness, whilst Nick's moral strength was painful at times.
There was a wonderful story line toward the end, where I really couldnt imagine how things would end HEA (but dont worry they did!)
My only minor criticism is that the plot hinges on the twins being identical, and nobody being sure which was which. I argue that after Nick had been away fighting Napoleon he would have been weather worn (not to mention sleep deprived and care worn) and it seems very unlikely he would have remained identical to his soft living elder brother. That said, I can forgive the author as this was a cracking good read.
August 30, 2013
da www.sognipensieriparole.com
Pur essendo un romance d’annata, questo “Ravished” si legge sempre con piacere.
Sarà perché io amo particolarmente gli intrecci con complotti e scambi di persona, ma qui gli ingredienti sono comunque ben dosati: da un lato, due gemelli identici, capelli scuri, mascella volitiva e carattere impetuoso, Kit e Nick, il Danno e il Rischio, uno destinato a divenire Lord Hatton e l’altro (il figlio nato per secondo e maledetto) costretto a doversi arrangiare da solo; dall’altro lato, e tra loro, Alex, l’amica d’infanzia, graziosa ma ribelle, aspirante scrittrice ed allergica al ruolo di sposa decisa a tavolino.
Intorno a loro, sullo sfondo delle guerre napoleoniche che infiammano il resto dell’Europa (ma che a Londra sembrano comunque lontane)una girandola di lord squattrinati in cerca di ragazze munite di dote e di ereditiere in cerca di un titolo.
Al di là della storia d’amore vera e propria (che è abbastanza convenzionale, ma gradevole e con le giuste scene passionali), la parte più interessante secondo me è quella dedicata ad una sorta di giornalismo d’inchiesta che Alex compie per documentarsi per i propri lavori di scrittrice, e che la porta a indagare su alcuni temi di denuncia sociale per quell’epoca, come la triste condizione dei bambini spazzacamini e l’ipocrisia dei club privati dedicati a vizi vari, in una Londra divisa tra nobiltà corrotta e quartieri squallidi e degradati.
Pur essendo un romance d’annata, questo “Ravished” si legge sempre con piacere.
Sarà perché io amo particolarmente gli intrecci con complotti e scambi di persona, ma qui gli ingredienti sono comunque ben dosati: da un lato, due gemelli identici, capelli scuri, mascella volitiva e carattere impetuoso, Kit e Nick, il Danno e il Rischio, uno destinato a divenire Lord Hatton e l’altro (il figlio nato per secondo e maledetto) costretto a doversi arrangiare da solo; dall’altro lato, e tra loro, Alex, l’amica d’infanzia, graziosa ma ribelle, aspirante scrittrice ed allergica al ruolo di sposa decisa a tavolino.
Intorno a loro, sullo sfondo delle guerre napoleoniche che infiammano il resto dell’Europa (ma che a Londra sembrano comunque lontane)una girandola di lord squattrinati in cerca di ragazze munite di dote e di ereditiere in cerca di un titolo.
Al di là della storia d’amore vera e propria (che è abbastanza convenzionale, ma gradevole e con le giuste scene passionali), la parte più interessante secondo me è quella dedicata ad una sorta di giornalismo d’inchiesta che Alex compie per documentarsi per i propri lavori di scrittrice, e che la porta a indagare su alcuni temi di denuncia sociale per quell’epoca, come la triste condizione dei bambini spazzacamini e l’ipocrisia dei club privati dedicati a vizi vari, in una Londra divisa tra nobiltà corrotta e quartieri squallidi e degradati.
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May 13, 2008Ravished
Virgina Henley
Historical Romance
397 pages
copy right: 2002
isbn: 0-451-20737-8
All her life, Alexandra Sheffield has longed for passion and adventure—anything but marriage to the wealthy Lord Christopher Hatton. Instead, her body is weak with desire for another man—Lord Hatton's devastatingly dangerous twin brother, Nicholas.
All his life, Nick Hatton has had his pick of beautiful women, but he's never risked his heart—until his brother plans to refill his pockets by marrying the spirited young Alex. Driven by a fierce need to protect her, Nick will risk anything to prevent his brother's scheming seduction. But when the girl he sets out to save becomes the glorious woman he longs to ravish, he must will himself to resist her wild beauty and reckless flirtation—before his desires erupt in a single, scorching moment that can never be undone.
Virgina Henley
Historical Romance
397 pages
copy right: 2002
isbn: 0-451-20737-8
All her life, Alexandra Sheffield has longed for passion and adventure—anything but marriage to the wealthy Lord Christopher Hatton. Instead, her body is weak with desire for another man—Lord Hatton's devastatingly dangerous twin brother, Nicholas.
All his life, Nick Hatton has had his pick of beautiful women, but he's never risked his heart—until his brother plans to refill his pockets by marrying the spirited young Alex. Driven by a fierce need to protect her, Nick will risk anything to prevent his brother's scheming seduction. But when the girl he sets out to save becomes the glorious woman he longs to ravish, he must will himself to resist her wild beauty and reckless flirtation—before his desires erupt in a single, scorching moment that can never be undone.
April 20, 2013
The book is written in a typical Virginia Henley style: lots of details, developed background, very young heroine, irresponsible relatives and it lasts at least one year.
However, two, yet important, circumstances made me rate this book so poorly. The book has 400 pages, but the first 200 pages are more or less the introduction, only then the story becomes more fast-paced. So if you lack patience, this book is not for you.
The second drawback is the characterization of the ton norms in Regency era. If there weren't any historical data I would never say this is a regency novel. It's completely unbelievable. I had to remind myself over and over again the story isn't happening in 17th century.
However, two, yet important, circumstances made me rate this book so poorly. The book has 400 pages, but the first 200 pages are more or less the introduction, only then the story becomes more fast-paced. So if you lack patience, this book is not for you.
The second drawback is the characterization of the ton norms in Regency era. If there weren't any historical data I would never say this is a regency novel. It's completely unbelievable. I had to remind myself over and over again the story isn't happening in 17th century.
September 24, 2019
"A little sin in the soul makes a woman irresistible."
The characters were all horrid. Kit was whiny, self indulgent, and spineless and I wanted to slap him the entire book. He got way too good of an ending than he deserved. So much crazy drama. Kit impregnating Olivia, then blaming Nick. Rupert then marrying Olivia. Everybody lying about one thing or another was just foul. Nick absolutely deserved what he took though as he was the much better man for the role of Lord Hatton. I enjoyed the characters of the Duchess of Devonshire's children. I loved the movie the Duchess and reading this bit years later was a delight. This romance novel was definitely a little more forward with the shenanigans of the ton as usually they are more dry and less scandalous.
The characters were all horrid. Kit was whiny, self indulgent, and spineless and I wanted to slap him the entire book. He got way too good of an ending than he deserved. So much crazy drama. Kit impregnating Olivia, then blaming Nick. Rupert then marrying Olivia. Everybody lying about one thing or another was just foul. Nick absolutely deserved what he took though as he was the much better man for the role of Lord Hatton. I enjoyed the characters of the Duchess of Devonshire's children. I loved the movie the Duchess and reading this bit years later was a delight. This romance novel was definitely a little more forward with the shenanigans of the ton as usually they are more dry and less scandalous.
March 1, 2011
Una mezza delusione, ma non tutto è da buttare. I protagonisti sono entrambe ben disegnati e, tutto sommato, riusciti: lui sexy quanto basta, lei simpatica, e poi come coppia fanno sicuramente scintille. E' la struttura che lascia a desiderare. Passaggi importanti troppo affrettati e poco approfonditi per larghi tratti, e poi viene utilizzato il solito, inflazionatissimo, espediente dei continui scambi di persona tra gemelli, che rende tutto un po' scontato e già visto, ed addirittura diventa l'elemento principale nell'epilogo. Un romance che mi ha lasciata abbastanza indifferente, forse perchè a questo punto ne ho letti più di uno e comincio ad essere un po' più esigente.
September 12, 2014
Este es el único libro para adultos que he intentado leer de una autora clásica como es Virginia. No me gustó nada como escribía y no pude encontrarle sentido a la historia, así que no dudé en abandonar la novela. Aquí volvemos a encontrarnos con una sinopsis engañosa. ¿De donde se sacan que esta es una novela romantica? No existe tal historia de amor. A no ser que el amor se cueza lentamente a base de distancia y prostitutas. No hay escenas de los 'protagonistas' juntos y nunca existió tal amor del que habla la sinopsis. Él se pasa toda la novela en el burdel y ella siendo una damisela aburrida.
February 8, 2017
I love Henley - I think she does a good job with this although it's not my preferred point in history for her style and the abundance of dream sequences was too much.
May 3, 2011
I had some serious issues with the writing style. There are some words in particular which should NEVER be used in a ROMANCE novel, and the author used a couple of them freely. I often judge romances by how often I have to close the book and roll my eyes for a second before I continue reading, and that happened so many times in with this one, I can't count. So, overall, it was OK.
September 11, 2014
A confusing plot featuring twin brothers who each pretend to be the other when it suits them. I found it hard to believe that the heroine and her brother, who were neighbors and close friends of the twins, failed to recognize them correctly on multiple occasions. Virginia Henley missed the mark with this novel.
March 11, 2015
The most confusing book I've ever read. This was a hot mess
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July 3, 2009
I enjoyed this book. Nick was such a good character. But KIT was a pain in the ass. I could not believe all the crap that he put his brother through and in my opinion did not get the ending he deserved. But in the end Nick and Alex got together no matter what. Overall a good read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 2, 2009
Enjoyed this quite a bit. A small cut above the others I have been reading recently.
January 12, 2010
This was more than ravishing...her writing from 2000 + started really steaming up.
June 9, 2010
This book had me on the edge of my seat.....very good!
March 2, 2012
I loved this novel by Virginia Henly. From beginning to end . I was adventurous and fun
March 4, 2012
Twin Lords - promised one vs. bad one
December 30, 2012
One of my favorite Henley novels. Love 'twin' stories. The herione was naughty and willing to try anything once. I've got to reread this again. Very sexy. Loved some of the heroines disguies.
May 29, 2013
Alex and Nick are sexy couple and I adored this book. You love the story, you love the brother, and it's happily ever after!!!
August 22, 2014
idk but this story kinda dragged on after a while ... but I did enjoy it
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews