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Company of Rogues #8
Juego peligroso
Lady Anne Peckwort preferiría no casarse. No quiere que los demás decidan por ella, a pesar de que conoce sus obligaciones como hija de un conde. Su carácter tímido y su cojera tampoco la ayudan a conseguir un pretendiente que la convenza. Sin embargo, harta de las presiones sociales para que contraiga matrimonio, decide tratar de conquistar a Racecombe de Vere, un aventurero que jamás podría convertirse en su marido debido a los abismos sociales que los separan. Lo que comienza como un simple juego de seducción se convertirá en un amor sin límites que no será aceptado por las rígidas costumbres de la Inglaterra de la é Race es un hombre de dudoso origen y Anne, una mujer de familia noble. Pero la pasión desatada entre ellos no se apagará fácilmente. Cansada de que su familia decida por ella, Anne se fugará con un oficial que no le conviene. Race no se dará por vencido y los perseguirá para intentar recuperar a su amada, más allá de todas las diferencias y obstáculos de clase.
448 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
133 people are currently reading
857 people want to read
About the author
Jo Beverley
140 books1,128 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 103 reviews
November 9, 2012
Anne Peckworth has been jilted. Again. Well, maybe not officially jilted, but still…
Two men have courted her, hinted that they meant to declare themselves soon, only to dash off and turn up again married to totally unsuitable women.
Anne forced herself to be a good sport about it. She was born with a "bad" foot (we're never quite clear what's wrong with it). She limps, and, to be comfortable, she has to wear special, fugly shoes.
As a result, Anne's never felt like "a catch," and Con's jilt only makes matters worse. She might be content to leave off the marriage mart and focus on researching the family history, but: A) she doesn't want to be the fifth wheel around the family estate when her brother Uffham marries, and B) her younger sister is pining to marry a young war hero who has returned home wounded and struggling. Marianne can't marry until Anne does, and Percy's care in his own family home is not ideal, so there's obviously some urgency for Anne to get her butt down the aisle.
Enter Race de Vere. He's nobody, a low-born toady attached to Uffham's coattails, and in a previous book, a secretary of sorts to one of the Rogues. He's kind, he's also a history geek, and he's hot, but he's also two kinds of trouble.
With two Rogues jilting Anne, they all feel a bit responsible to make sure she's OK. So they sent Race. I guess, in theory, he's just supposed to make sure she's OK, but in reality he sees this little backwards mouse, hiding behind her limp, and he thinks she's better than that. So he teaches her the incomprehensible game Hazard (hence the title), and plays a little "tickle the uvula" while he's at it.
They part ways, and for the next 200 pages, she transforms herself into a hussy, and he drops in and out. Not much really happens, except they obsess over the "tongue-lashing" they gave each other, and the fact that he's "beneath her" (not in the good way). Frankly, it gets tedious.
When they finally connect again, he looks at her "wrong" (or something), and the next thing you know, she's halfway to bigamy—and on her way to Gretna. Race magically connects a lot of dots and gives chase. When he catches up, he's all
And she's all
The strangely familiar highwayman who promptly abducts them, makes them strip, and locks them overnight in an attic, is all…
And I'm all
Three stars—but only because it picks up towards the end.
Two men have courted her, hinted that they meant to declare themselves soon, only to dash off and turn up again married to totally unsuitable women.
Anne forced herself to be a good sport about it. She was born with a "bad" foot (we're never quite clear what's wrong with it). She limps, and, to be comfortable, she has to wear special, fugly shoes.
As a result, Anne's never felt like "a catch," and Con's jilt only makes matters worse. She might be content to leave off the marriage mart and focus on researching the family history, but: A) she doesn't want to be the fifth wheel around the family estate when her brother Uffham marries, and B) her younger sister is pining to marry a young war hero who has returned home wounded and struggling. Marianne can't marry until Anne does, and Percy's care in his own family home is not ideal, so there's obviously some urgency for Anne to get her butt down the aisle.
Enter Race de Vere. He's nobody, a low-born toady attached to Uffham's coattails, and in a previous book, a secretary of sorts to one of the Rogues. He's kind, he's also a history geek, and he's hot, but he's also two kinds of trouble.
With two Rogues jilting Anne, they all feel a bit responsible to make sure she's OK. So they sent Race. I guess, in theory, he's just supposed to make sure she's OK, but in reality he sees this little backwards mouse, hiding behind her limp, and he thinks she's better than that. So he teaches her the incomprehensible game Hazard (hence the title), and plays a little "tickle the uvula" while he's at it.
They part ways, and for the next 200 pages, she transforms herself into a hussy, and he drops in and out. Not much really happens, except they obsess over the "tongue-lashing" they gave each other, and the fact that he's "beneath her" (not in the good way). Frankly, it gets tedious.
When they finally connect again, he looks at her "wrong" (or something), and the next thing you know, she's halfway to bigamy—and on her way to Gretna. Race magically connects a lot of dots and gives chase. When he catches up, he's all
And she's all
The strangely familiar highwayman who promptly abducts them, makes them strip, and locks them overnight in an attic, is all…
And I'm all
Three stars—but only because it picks up towards the end.
December 16, 2021
This lady has been jilted twice. Excepted to proposals in one night. Then eloped with one and ended up with her true love 🤔 3.5 stars
July 12, 2016
I let some days go by since I've finished this and now I can't remember half of what I wanted to say. I had been looking forward to Lady Anne's book because she got such a raw deal in two of the George books and handled it with grace and equanimity. I also liked Race from the George stories so was looking forward to seeing him with Anne. And yeah, you'll probably need to read the prior three stories to appreciate this book.
Unfortunately, while still a Beverley novel and not sucking, there were two things that annoyed me down to three stars (enough that I still remember them). First is that Race was both obstinate in the "I'm not worthy" and takes action to make decisions for both of them "for their own good". I could have handled one of those in moderation, but having the first permeate the story and the second nearly ruin it was rather frustrating. Second, Anne behaves completely irrationally in response to falling for Race and it felt completely manipulated.
Anyway, this was a solid three stars throughout, but never really went higher.
A note about Steamy: Uh. There were explicit sex scenes. One or two. I forget. Middle of my range, at any rate. And apparently completely forgettable.
Unfortunately, while still a Beverley novel and not sucking, there were two things that annoyed me down to three stars (enough that I still remember them). First is that Race was both obstinate in the "I'm not worthy" and takes action to make decisions for both of them "for their own good". I could have handled one of those in moderation, but having the first permeate the story and the second nearly ruin it was rather frustrating. Second, Anne behaves completely irrationally in response to falling for Race and it felt completely manipulated.
Anyway, this was a solid three stars throughout, but never really went higher.
A note about Steamy: Uh. There were explicit sex scenes. One or two. I forget. Middle of my range, at any rate. And apparently completely forgettable.
January 11, 2023
The h's physical limitations and sharp mind makes her impatient with the men who married others after wooing her. The H is very secretive, brave and very clever. But his teasing and lack of commitment annoys her. He fell in love but doesn't admit it to himself, so she thought he was playing with her. I liked their adventure but found them hard to like, so it lagged a little for me.
May 1, 2018
2’5 Estrellas. No es el mejor libro de la serie, y a pesar de las dos estrellas le doy el aprobadillo. En “Juego peligroso” nos encontramos una historia muy típica de le regencia, que quizás llevada de otra manera podría haber disfrutado más, pero el mayor inconveniente que le pongo al libro es que se me hacía a ratos algo aburridillo, y los protagonistas me han parecido algo sosos, como si les faltara chispa.
Este libro empieza poco después de las historias de los Georges. Por ser Anne uno de los nexos de la serie, admito que tenía ganas de su historia, pues la pobre Anne, la hija de un duque, que nació con un pie lisiado y siempre estuvo sobreprotegida, estuvo ennoviada con nada más y nada menos que dos Pícaros, y ambos la dejaron para casarse con otra (en sus respectivas historias). ¿No se merecía Anne su propia felicidad tras esos desprecios? Sí, y ya era hora de su propio libro.
En cuanto al protagonista, Racecombe de Vere, uno de los joviales amigos de los Pícaros, a quien conocimos en la historia de Con, le corresponde ser el caballero de Anne. Pero Race es todo lo que Anne no debería desear en un pretendiente; a parte de sus modales, educación y amistades, Race es un don nadie, no tiene dinero, título, ni posición, lo que lo hace totalmente inadecuado, pero detalle que a mí me ha encantado, pues siempre admiro a los protagonistas plebeyos.
La noche que ambos protagonistas se conocen, sucede algo, ambos se quedan maravillados el uno con el otro, pero Race es consciente de que Anne debería aspirar a alguien mejor que él, e involuntariamente le hace daño e intenta poner distancia entre ellos. Lo acaecido ayudará a Anne lo suficiente como para saber que no quiere permanecer soltera, y que necesita casarse, así es como tras pasar una temporada en Londres y otra en Brighton armará un lío espantoso que al final hará que ambos protagonistas vuelvan a encontrarse.
Como romance me ha faltado más chispa, lo dice arriba, me ha parecido más bien aburridillo y necesitaba algo más de pasión, el romance tarda en aparecer y no está demasiado presente casi hasta el final. Pero al fin y al cabo he terminado disfrutando la historia gracias a lo que presenta éste libro, que es nada más y nada menos que al Duque de Saint Raven, él sí me ha parecido un gran personaje secundario de éste libro, y estoy deseando leer el suyo, que es el siguiente.
Este libro empieza poco después de las historias de los Georges. Por ser Anne uno de los nexos de la serie, admito que tenía ganas de su historia, pues la pobre Anne, la hija de un duque, que nació con un pie lisiado y siempre estuvo sobreprotegida, estuvo ennoviada con nada más y nada menos que dos Pícaros, y ambos la dejaron para casarse con otra (en sus respectivas historias). ¿No se merecía Anne su propia felicidad tras esos desprecios? Sí, y ya era hora de su propio libro.
En cuanto al protagonista, Racecombe de Vere, uno de los joviales amigos de los Pícaros, a quien conocimos en la historia de Con, le corresponde ser el caballero de Anne. Pero Race es todo lo que Anne no debería desear en un pretendiente; a parte de sus modales, educación y amistades, Race es un don nadie, no tiene dinero, título, ni posición, lo que lo hace totalmente inadecuado, pero detalle que a mí me ha encantado, pues siempre admiro a los protagonistas plebeyos.
La noche que ambos protagonistas se conocen, sucede algo, ambos se quedan maravillados el uno con el otro, pero Race es consciente de que Anne debería aspirar a alguien mejor que él, e involuntariamente le hace daño e intenta poner distancia entre ellos. Lo acaecido ayudará a Anne lo suficiente como para saber que no quiere permanecer soltera, y que necesita casarse, así es como tras pasar una temporada en Londres y otra en Brighton armará un lío espantoso que al final hará que ambos protagonistas vuelvan a encontrarse.
Como romance me ha faltado más chispa, lo dice arriba, me ha parecido más bien aburridillo y necesitaba algo más de pasión, el romance tarda en aparecer y no está demasiado presente casi hasta el final. Pero al fin y al cabo he terminado disfrutando la historia gracias a lo que presenta éste libro, que es nada más y nada menos que al Duque de Saint Raven, él sí me ha parecido un gran personaje secundario de éste libro, y estoy deseando leer el suyo, que es el siguiente.
September 25, 2020
Una novela a la que se le notan los años.
Entretenida pero que me ha interesado muy poco todo lo que pasaba
Entiendo que la autora ha intentando hacer una protagonista independiente, moderna pero a mí este cambio tan abismal (no el de la sociedad, que entiendo que es totalmente hipócrita, sino el de ella) no me ha terminado de convencer. Demasiado drástico
Race es un amor, en serio, y me he divertido con algunas de sus frases. Mi problema es que a la pareja le ha faltado de todo, tiempo por compartir, chispa y amor. Todo
Admito que, pese a que Jo Beverley es una de las grandes señoras de la romántica histórica, no tengo muchas novelas que me hayan gustado.
Así que seguramente es cosa mía
Entretenida pero que me ha interesado muy poco todo lo que pasaba
Entiendo que la autora ha intentando hacer una protagonista independiente, moderna pero a mí este cambio tan abismal (no el de la sociedad, que entiendo que es totalmente hipócrita, sino el de ella) no me ha terminado de convencer. Demasiado drástico
Race es un amor, en serio, y me he divertido con algunas de sus frases. Mi problema es que a la pareja le ha faltado de todo, tiempo por compartir, chispa y amor. Todo
Admito que, pese a que Jo Beverley es una de las grandes señoras de la romántica histórica, no tengo muchas novelas que me hayan gustado.
Así que seguramente es cosa mía
December 15, 2009
YOU'VE NEVER MET A HEROINE LIKE LADY ANNE PECKWORTH.
The sheltered daughter of a duke, she has always been a perfect lady, even when jilted. Twice. Now, however, she's angry, and she's angry at the single most reckless, most irresponsible, most irresistible man she's ever known ....
YOU'VE NEVER MET A HERO LIKE RACE DE VERE
Far below Anne's station in life, he has invaded her orderly world like a pirate, tempting her to the edge and beyond. He leads her into impropriety, into wickedness, and then into the most dangerous step of all -- the adventure that could win or lose her everything in one hazardous night....
EHHHHH..... This is not up to the authors usual standards... I've read most of the Company of Rouges series and this is by far my least favorite...
Anne and Race seem perfectly fine too bad they have little to no interaction... I only made it to about page 300, and I doubt i'll finish it... they meet at Anne's sisters home where she is visiting, her sister is late in her pregnancy and she goes into labor, Anne being unmarried is unable to attend the birth and is stuck worrying late into the night w/ her drunken brother, brother in-law, and her brother's friend Race. They pass the time playing a game of dice and while her family members get drunker and drunker Anne and Race get closer and closer. When the baby is born and her brother in-law distracted (and her brother passed out in a near by arm chair) Anne and Race have a nice little make out session. He leaves the next day and Anne runs off to London to find herself a husband, they meet in London but because she is daughter to a duke and therefore out of his reach he pushes her away... and from there on there's practically no interaction between the two.
The rest of the story (as far as I've read) is him thinking about her and her comparing her huge amount of suitors to Race... she wants him she doesn't want him she just keeps changing her mind... she accepts two different proposals secretly wish the other man was Race breakes it off with the first "Race wanna-be" who is boring to accept the second "Race wanna-be" and they run off to elope... and Race (I assume) will chase after her and they'll get married have some babies and live happily ever after.... but 200+ pages of him wanting her and her wanting him and never acting on it, of them never speaking and rarely even being in the same town at the same time was soooo boring! I gave up and didn't finish
might have been a good book if the characters interacted with each other!
The sheltered daughter of a duke, she has always been a perfect lady, even when jilted. Twice. Now, however, she's angry, and she's angry at the single most reckless, most irresponsible, most irresistible man she's ever known ....
YOU'VE NEVER MET A HERO LIKE RACE DE VERE
Far below Anne's station in life, he has invaded her orderly world like a pirate, tempting her to the edge and beyond. He leads her into impropriety, into wickedness, and then into the most dangerous step of all -- the adventure that could win or lose her everything in one hazardous night....
EHHHHH..... This is not up to the authors usual standards... I've read most of the Company of Rouges series and this is by far my least favorite...
Anne and Race seem perfectly fine too bad they have little to no interaction... I only made it to about page 300, and I doubt i'll finish it... they meet at Anne's sisters home where she is visiting, her sister is late in her pregnancy and she goes into labor, Anne being unmarried is unable to attend the birth and is stuck worrying late into the night w/ her drunken brother, brother in-law, and her brother's friend Race. They pass the time playing a game of dice and while her family members get drunker and drunker Anne and Race get closer and closer. When the baby is born and her brother in-law distracted (and her brother passed out in a near by arm chair) Anne and Race have a nice little make out session. He leaves the next day and Anne runs off to London to find herself a husband, they meet in London but because she is daughter to a duke and therefore out of his reach he pushes her away... and from there on there's practically no interaction between the two.
The rest of the story (as far as I've read) is him thinking about her and her comparing her huge amount of suitors to Race... she wants him she doesn't want him she just keeps changing her mind... she accepts two different proposals secretly wish the other man was Race breakes it off with the first "Race wanna-be" who is boring to accept the second "Race wanna-be" and they run off to elope... and Race (I assume) will chase after her and they'll get married have some babies and live happily ever after.... but 200+ pages of him wanting her and her wanting him and never acting on it, of them never speaking and rarely even being in the same town at the same time was soooo boring! I gave up and didn't finish
might have been a good book if the characters interacted with each other!
September 3, 2011
Lots of fun, a real romp, a lovely book. The mousey and lame Lady Anne Peckworth, who was jilted by 2 of the Rogues characters in other books, finally breaks out of her shell, decides to grab her life and live it, and goes looking for a mate. The book's core is her inner transformation as she observes the people and couples around her and changes in her views of love and marriage. Race is the perfect mate for her (besides being scrumptious in general), but because he is of a much lower social standing, neither one of them thinks it would work out and for a large part of the book they try to avoid their true feelings. But love wins in the end, when Anne finally figures out what she really needs and goes after it.
Some brilliantly-written sections - the first section with the dinner, the craps game amd the birth of Anne's sister's baby, the theatre performance with Mrs Hardcastle, the big love scene - and some hilarious ones, like the fight between Race and Tris and the scene where Race has to sober up Frances' husband so he can see the new baby. The middle section where Anne and Race are determined to avoid each other drags a bit, but not too much. Just one annoying thing about Anne, who is otherwise a really delightful heroine - she slaps Race in the face several times - it just didn't feel right for the situations they were in, which she instigated, or for Anne as a character.
Some brilliantly-written sections - the first section with the dinner, the craps game amd the birth of Anne's sister's baby, the theatre performance with Mrs Hardcastle, the big love scene - and some hilarious ones, like the fight between Race and Tris and the scene where Race has to sober up Frances' husband so he can see the new baby. The middle section where Anne and Race are determined to avoid each other drags a bit, but not too much. Just one annoying thing about Anne, who is otherwise a really delightful heroine - she slaps Race in the face several times - it just didn't feel right for the situations they were in, which she instigated, or for Anne as a character.
February 20, 2009
What a wonderful heroine Beverley has created in Anne Peckworth. Here we have a proper, shy, crippled young lady who has been kilted twice (or almost) and suddenly decides to take her fate into her own hands and choose her husband.
It is true that Lady Anne has a little help from the “madman” Race de Vere. He is the first man with whom she finds herself comfortable with and who awakens her feelings. It is quite refreshing the way Beverley built Anne’s character. She is decided and, if not totally self confident, she sees how differently people look at her once she decides to enter society and have a care with her appearance and social behaviour.
She realises that she is not looked at with pity because of her club foot but that in fact several gentleman are pursuing her with the idea of marriage. Anne’s problem is that she cannot forget Race or the feelings he awoke in her. In fact everywhere she goes she looks for him and tries to engage him in conversation.
Race is painfully aware that he is of very low standing in society’s eyes and staying away from Anne is the best thing for both of them. In fact he was first sent to her by the Rogues as Nicholas Delaney felt they were somewhat responsible for her as two of them had given her false hopes but not as a prospective bridegroom.
It is quite funny and interesting to follow their verbal sparring even if it’s a bit sad to see how Race tries to avoid Anne. It is a very good thing though; that the author never lets them fall into misunderstanding territory or have Anne sulking and unhappy about what’s happening. She decides to look for another as husband when Race seemingly doesn’t want anything to do with her but she is back, decided to conquer him when the opportunity arises. Although Race is the character all the others love and stands out in a crowd, this is truly Anne’s story and she makes a wonderful main character – warm, nice, understanding and decided to finally get what she wants.
As a side note, I think that after reading about St Raven’s part in bringing them together I’m really going to have to reread his story soon.
Grade: 5/5
It is true that Lady Anne has a little help from the “madman” Race de Vere. He is the first man with whom she finds herself comfortable with and who awakens her feelings. It is quite refreshing the way Beverley built Anne’s character. She is decided and, if not totally self confident, she sees how differently people look at her once she decides to enter society and have a care with her appearance and social behaviour.
She realises that she is not looked at with pity because of her club foot but that in fact several gentleman are pursuing her with the idea of marriage. Anne’s problem is that she cannot forget Race or the feelings he awoke in her. In fact everywhere she goes she looks for him and tries to engage him in conversation.
Race is painfully aware that he is of very low standing in society’s eyes and staying away from Anne is the best thing for both of them. In fact he was first sent to her by the Rogues as Nicholas Delaney felt they were somewhat responsible for her as two of them had given her false hopes but not as a prospective bridegroom.
It is quite funny and interesting to follow their verbal sparring even if it’s a bit sad to see how Race tries to avoid Anne. It is a very good thing though; that the author never lets them fall into misunderstanding territory or have Anne sulking and unhappy about what’s happening. She decides to look for another as husband when Race seemingly doesn’t want anything to do with her but she is back, decided to conquer him when the opportunity arises. Although Race is the character all the others love and stands out in a crowd, this is truly Anne’s story and she makes a wonderful main character – warm, nice, understanding and decided to finally get what she wants.
As a side note, I think that after reading about St Raven’s part in bringing them together I’m really going to have to reread his story soon.
Grade: 5/5
July 9, 2012
The jilted girl mentioned all throughout The Dragon's Bride and a previous book I didn't read finally gets her own book, and she's good and pissed off and not going to be jilted anymore! (You go, girl! It's about time!) She's always been polite, demure, and self-conscious due to a physical disability, but now she's bound and determined to take London by storm and get married before the season ends. (Er... okay, yeah, that's pretty typical for the time period and social class, but it wouldn't be my first choice.)
And who should teach her about men and romance but the secretary from The Dragon's Bride? Yay, secretary! What a courteous teacher of seduction! He's completely unsuitable for a wealthy noblewoman though, so the heroine gets to try out kissing some other men as well (with no intimations that she's loose or amoral! a romance novel rarity!) as she sets herself to dazzling practically every man she comes into contact with, but her own foolishness and haste (with the addition of a bonus fake French highwayman) throw them back together. The French highwayman bit was just completely ridiculous and over-the-top jumping-the-shark, but I guess we had to get a resolution somehow! I'm also rather hoping he has his own book too.
I thought this was fun, and I was really glad to see the heroine finally get a husband who genuinely wanted to marry her. It was also quite nice to see a woman with a physical disability still be regarded as a desirable, sexual being.
And who should teach her about men and romance but the secretary from The Dragon's Bride? Yay, secretary! What a courteous teacher of seduction! He's completely unsuitable for a wealthy noblewoman though, so the heroine gets to try out kissing some other men as well (with no intimations that she's loose or amoral! a romance novel rarity!) as she sets herself to dazzling practically every man she comes into contact with, but her own foolishness and haste (with the addition of a bonus fake French highwayman) throw them back together. The French highwayman bit was just completely ridiculous and over-the-top jumping-the-shark, but I guess we had to get a resolution somehow! I'm also rather hoping he has his own book too.
I thought this was fun, and I was really glad to see the heroine finally get a husband who genuinely wanted to marry her. It was also quite nice to see a woman with a physical disability still be regarded as a desirable, sexual being.
April 15, 2023
This is a second reading, the first being several years ago, probably around the time it was first published. I liked it then and liked it again this time. Sufficient time passed between so there was only a vague feeling of familiarity. I remembered the trouble with de Vere's name, and that Lady Anne had been disappointed twice, but that was about it. It's a good story.
January 15, 2025
เล่มนี้มาแปลกตรงที่พระเอกไม่เพียงแค่เป็นคนธรรมดา เขายังมีฐานะเป็นคนรับใช้ อันที่จริงเขาเป็นเลขานุการให้กับคอน (พระเอกเล่ม 6.0) เรซเป็นลูกชายของขุนนางยศต่ำจากฝรั่งเศส ปฏิวัติฝรั่งเศสทำให้ครอบครัวของเขาอพยพมาอังกฤษ เขาเป็นตัวละครที่น่าสนใจมาก เรียกว่าเกือบจะขโมยซีนใน The Dragon's Bride ด้วยซ้ำ น่าเสียดายที่ในเล่มที่เขากลายเป็นพระเอก เรซจะกลายร่างเป็นคนที่โคตรน่าเบื่อได้
เลดี้แอนน์เป็นอดีตคู่หมั้นของสมาชิกใน TCR มาแล้วสองคน จากฟรานซิสใน Forbidden ที่โดนเซรีน่าใช้มารยาเข้ายั่วแย่งไป และกับคอนที่ก็โดนเขียะทิ้งอีกรอบ ทำให้เรซเกิดความรู้สึกสงสารจึงปฏิญาณว่า "ชาตินี้จะหา (ผัว) ให้เธอจนได้" เรซจึงเสนอตัวเข้ามา ปรับปรุงกริยาท่าทางให้แอนดูเหมาะสมชนะใจชาย
พล็อตมันก็น่าอ่านนะ และเมื่อคุณได้เจอกับนางเอกที่โคตรน่าเบื่อพอกัน คุณก็จะได้หนังสือที่โคตรน่าเบื่อเล่มนึง ไม่เลวร้ายนะ แค่น่าเบื่อ คะแนนที่ 53
เลดี้แอนน์เป็นอดีตคู่หมั้นของสมาชิกใน TCR มาแล้วสองคน จากฟรานซิสใน Forbidden ที่โดนเซรีน่าใช้มารยาเข้ายั่วแย่งไป และกับคอนที่ก็โดนเขียะทิ้งอีกรอบ ทำให้เรซเกิดความรู้สึกสงสารจึงปฏิญาณว่า "ชาตินี้จะหา (ผัว) ให้เธอจนได้" เรซจึงเสนอตัวเข้ามา ปรับปรุงกริยาท่าทางให้แอนดูเหมาะสมชนะใจชาย
พล็อตมันก็น่าอ่านนะ และเมื่อคุณได้เจอกับนางเอกที่โคตรน่าเบื่อพอกัน คุณก็จะได้หนังสือที่โคตรน่าเบื่อเล่มนึง ไม่เลวร้ายนะ แค่น่าเบื่อ คะแนนที่ 53
June 16, 2024
Why does she keep hitting him? And she literally tells him she wishes they had never met but then is mad when he stays away from her??
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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February 6, 2017I have a shelf of old paperback Regencies that I've picked up randomly. This was one of them, and I'm not sure that I would have found and read it if it hadn't been already physically on my shelf.
I liked the hero and heroine though the hero's staying away for the lady's own good did get a little wearying at times. Lady Anne makes some poor choices along the way, too. The characters are flawed in a way that walks the line between appealing and annoying, but generally lands on the more positive side.
The story rambled, and had one really jarring moment when it jumped into the bedroom of a couple from an earlier book in this series (more than the usual range of romance-novel head-hopping, I think). As with the characters, I think that on the whole the rambling storyline was a plus.
While I enjoyed this and will probably seek out the other books in the series, I don't think this will qualify as an all-time favorite.
I liked the hero and heroine though the hero's staying away for the lady's own good did get a little wearying at times. Lady Anne makes some poor choices along the way, too. The characters are flawed in a way that walks the line between appealing and annoying, but generally lands on the more positive side.
The story rambled, and had one really jarring moment when it jumped into the bedroom of a couple from an earlier book in this series (more than the usual range of romance-novel head-hopping, I think). As with the characters, I think that on the whole the rambling storyline was a plus.
While I enjoyed this and will probably seek out the other books in the series, I don't think this will qualify as an all-time favorite.
February 7, 2017
The first chapter (chapters? The evening Race and Anne meet) is probably the sexiest thing ever written.... and the rest of the book doesn't really hold up. Still, when you talk about a Jo Beverley book not holding up, it's in comparison to the rest of her books, which are so magical as to be nigh indescribable.
Both characters are likable enough to be forgiven for being occasionally dumb or petty; everyone is sometimes. I think the problem is that they're trying so hard to stay away from each other -- sensibly, I'd think, if their world were the real world -- that their characters don't develop as a cohesive couple very well. Like, we know that Race loves working with archives and we know that Anne loves working with archives, so we know as readers they'll be a great match, but they don't discuss it between themselves until nearly the end of the book after they've already committed to each other. It's not that it seems nonsensical -- their chemistry is quite clear -- but it seems like Jo Beverly missed some opportunities that could have taken this book to the next level.
In the author's note for one of the previous books, Beverley describes the Company of Rogue books as "marriage books", which sounds a bit odd in the phrasing, but is an apt and rather interesting description -- i.e. they marry right near the beginning of the book, so the hero and heroine can actually form a real relationship and have real conversations throughout the book, and encounter and solve real problems, rather than being forced by society to diddle around hemming and hawing and sighing over each others' shapely wrists and sneaking off into the gardens before they can speak two normal sentences to each other. She also classified the old books as "historical romances", deliberately separating them from her more standard Regency romances.
And that's what Hazard is missing. In the ensuing decade between the first Rogues book (published in 1991) and this book (2002, I think?), I wonder if the expectations for the genre became so set in stone that Beverly was forced more and more into the standard Regency niche. If I remember correctly, most of the Rogue books from here on out are courtship romances rather than marriage romances. It'll be interesting to see if the overarching story issues continue to follow that trend as well.
Both characters are likable enough to be forgiven for being occasionally dumb or petty; everyone is sometimes. I think the problem is that they're trying so hard to stay away from each other -- sensibly, I'd think, if their world were the real world -- that their characters don't develop as a cohesive couple very well. Like, we know that Race loves working with archives and we know that Anne loves working with archives, so we know as readers they'll be a great match, but they don't discuss it between themselves until nearly the end of the book after they've already committed to each other. It's not that it seems nonsensical -- their chemistry is quite clear -- but it seems like Jo Beverly missed some opportunities that could have taken this book to the next level.
In the author's note for one of the previous books, Beverley describes the Company of Rogue books as "marriage books", which sounds a bit odd in the phrasing, but is an apt and rather interesting description -- i.e. they marry right near the beginning of the book, so the hero and heroine can actually form a real relationship and have real conversations throughout the book, and encounter and solve real problems, rather than being forced by society to diddle around hemming and hawing and sighing over each others' shapely wrists and sneaking off into the gardens before they can speak two normal sentences to each other. She also classified the old books as "historical romances", deliberately separating them from her more standard Regency romances.
And that's what Hazard is missing. In the ensuing decade between the first Rogues book (published in 1991) and this book (2002, I think?), I wonder if the expectations for the genre became so set in stone that Beverly was forced more and more into the standard Regency niche. If I remember correctly, most of the Rogue books from here on out are courtship romances rather than marriage romances. It'll be interesting to see if the overarching story issues continue to follow that trend as well.
December 21, 2011
I thought this book was.... different. Race wasn't exactly an "alpha"-type, (with no real ambition or occupation, and actually wanted his father to declare him a bastard) though in some instances/situations he was.. but Ann was definitely the pursuer. It surprised me that her character changed so dramatically from the one portrayed in the beginning- the shy, obedient daughter. Some change is expected, but she certainly got out of her comfort zone quickly!! I wasn't quite sure what Race's "mission" was where she was concerned. He was obviously sent to her by the Company of Rogues, but why-- exactly? What was his purpose? And why were her sisters so gung-ho on him? Why did they think he was such a good match for her? He certainly didn't seem so to me. I didn't like all the joking all the time, either- I felt as frustrated as Anne when he wouldn't be serious. What I liked about it is that Anne was more the seducer and the provider.. while Race wasn't really the bread-winner, and they would actually get to share in their life's passion of family history/research, and work together for their living.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 5, 2018
Me gustó mucho esta novela. Desde que conocí a Race De Vere como amigo y secretario de Con, sabía que sería muy entretenido de leer. Lo que nunca imagine es que fuera a emparejarse con Anne. La pobre sufrió muchas decepciones en el campo del amor, primero con Francis y después con Con. Ella siempre asimiló su perdida con mucha dignidad (y créeme que mucha, porque que te dejen una vez, humm bien, ¿pero dos? Waooo), pero sabía que tenía a esa rebelde dentro de ella, y aquí la dejo salir. Sus métodos no fueron mis favoritos porque, ¿Cómo te vas a fugar con un hombre deseando a otro? Eso me pareció un poco estúpido, pero si me esfuerzo (mucho) hasta la entiendo. Race por otra parte es magnífico. Él enamoradísimo de ella, pero sabe que está por debajo en la escala social. Eso le duele y lo demuestra con chiste e ironías. Pero en el momento de la verdad, cuando la dama huye, no se lo piensa dos veces para correr tras de ella. La verdad es que la historia tenia material para ser inolvidable, pero me parece que no lo será.
July 9, 2011
This book was really hard to rate. Race de Vere first got my attention in The Dragon's Bride; he was one of my favorite secondary character. I felt sorry but at the same time proud of Lady Anne in Forbidden. In Dragon's Bride, I once again felt sad for her but didn't feel emotionally attached to her character. I couldn't understand why she would harbor so much negative feelings for Con who hardly courted her versus Francis.
November 3, 2015
1.5 en realidad.
La historia en sí era curiosa en algunos aspectos y no del todo desagradable. La historia de amor, un poco predecible pero tierna. Sin embargo, había comportamientos y descripciones que simplemente no cuadraban. Se expandía en cosas triviales y resumía lo esencial. Si a eso le sumamos una pésima traducción, el libro no me ha dejado muy buen sabor de boca.
La historia en sí era curiosa en algunos aspectos y no del todo desagradable. La historia de amor, un poco predecible pero tierna. Sin embargo, había comportamientos y descripciones que simplemente no cuadraban. Se expandía en cosas triviales y resumía lo esencial. Si a eso le sumamos una pésima traducción, el libro no me ha dejado muy buen sabor de boca.
June 19, 2016
I have always loved Ms. Beverley's books, but I did struggle to like the heroine. At times, she came across a flighty and made many bad decisions. Fortunately, I loved DE Vere. He is a fantastic hero. I did take into account that Anne was very young. Happy reading!
July 22, 2015
Entretenida.
July 20, 2022
I didn't know much about what this was about but historical romance is my go-to genre and I thought I would give the author a try (I did not read the previous books in the series) after finding out that this features a heroine with a disability.
Anne was born with a twisted foot and is coddled by her family. They try to get her married but after being jilted two times, she decides that she will find a husband herself. She meets Officer Racecombe de Vere at a house party her pregnant sister hosts when her brother brings him along. The two can't be more different: she prim and proper daughter of a duke and him mischievous but of a lower social class. Both love interests are quite young too at 21 and 24. But de Vere is noticeable because he served in the army.
She gets worked up by him and what he says, her opinion is that he can be frivolous but when needed, helps to calm a situation. He confuses her. Anne goes to London and with the help of her sister, gets a makeover as she wants to be noticed and marry. I thought the cane idea was cool, to not hide her limp and be proud of it.
The exploration of what it is like to be disabled was eye opening such as how she needs one shoe to be thicker than another, she loves to ride and does it well (I have read other romances where those who have a limp or twisted foot are able to ride well) and she needs to sit often at the events she attends or her foot hurts. I thought it as sweet when de Vere brings her a makeshift foot stool to rest her foot. Did anyone else swoon when he tells her he wished he could kiss her twisted foot?
One good point was that the author brought out the heroine's struggles with his class position in an interesting manner with the play she watches and sees parallels to more than she wishes. The emphasis on it was rather annoying because the way her brother and the rest treat him is condescending. I can feel the privilege even from the heroine. I wasn't that sold on them being right for one another but for this chemistry and lust they feel. Also one of their makeout scenes turns sinister quickly, It felt like sexual assault and I am not sure why the author wrote it like that.
They spend a lot of time apart but constantly think of one another. That isn’t bad unless the story drags. Then she agrees to be engaged to two men! that was not nice at all with the chemistry between de Vere and her. The blurb says "you have never met a heroine like Anne Peckworth" and yes, she is the first heroine who is so fickle, leads more than two guys on and makes a big mess of everything. By the end of this, I don't think either of them should end up with anyone. But the end made it better as HEAs do. Oh I also found out that Race has a scarred hand!
I would have enjoyed this more if the writing clicked for me and the plot was draggy argh. The game of Hazard was confusing too. But generally this is fine to be read as a standalone.
I would be interested to read about Maria and Van in their novella.
Tropes: Different social class, slow burn
Anne was born with a twisted foot and is coddled by her family. They try to get her married but after being jilted two times, she decides that she will find a husband herself. She meets Officer Racecombe de Vere at a house party her pregnant sister hosts when her brother brings him along. The two can't be more different: she prim and proper daughter of a duke and him mischievous but of a lower social class. Both love interests are quite young too at 21 and 24. But de Vere is noticeable because he served in the army.
She gets worked up by him and what he says, her opinion is that he can be frivolous but when needed, helps to calm a situation. He confuses her. Anne goes to London and with the help of her sister, gets a makeover as she wants to be noticed and marry. I thought the cane idea was cool, to not hide her limp and be proud of it.
The exploration of what it is like to be disabled was eye opening such as how she needs one shoe to be thicker than another, she loves to ride and does it well (I have read other romances where those who have a limp or twisted foot are able to ride well) and she needs to sit often at the events she attends or her foot hurts. I thought it as sweet when de Vere brings her a makeshift foot stool to rest her foot. Did anyone else swoon when he tells her he wished he could kiss her twisted foot?
One good point was that the author brought out the heroine's struggles with his class position in an interesting manner with the play she watches and sees parallels to more than she wishes. The emphasis on it was rather annoying because the way her brother and the rest treat him is condescending. I can feel the privilege even from the heroine. I wasn't that sold on them being right for one another but for this chemistry and lust they feel. Also one of their makeout scenes turns sinister quickly, It felt like sexual assault and I am not sure why the author wrote it like that.
They spend a lot of time apart but constantly think of one another. That isn’t bad unless the story drags. Then she agrees to be engaged to two men! that was not nice at all with the chemistry between de Vere and her. The blurb says "you have never met a heroine like Anne Peckworth" and yes, she is the first heroine who is so fickle, leads more than two guys on and makes a big mess of everything. By the end of this, I don't think either of them should end up with anyone. But the end made it better as HEAs do. Oh I also found out that Race has a scarred hand!
I would have enjoyed this more if the writing clicked for me and the plot was draggy argh. The game of Hazard was confusing too. But generally this is fine to be read as a standalone.
I would be interested to read about Maria and Van in their novella.
Tropes: Different social class, slow burn
June 25, 2024
Copyright 2002. The 8th in the series. Can be read as a stand alone if you don't mind characters from the previous books making appearances. This is a reread for me.
Anne is the Duke's daughter who has been jilted twice in as many months by 2 members of the Company Of Rogues. She's understandably sore about it. She has a twisted foot that makes it difficult for her to walk from a birth accident. Since she's a wealthy Duke's daughter, the men of the Ton are willing to overlook it.
Race isn't a Rogue member. He's a gentleman, but not by birth. He appeared in The Dragon's Bride as a friend of Rogue Con. He's been sent to see how Ann's doing & maybe help her find a new fiance.
I remembered liking this story a lot more during my previous reread. I found this time I didn't like Ann at all. So my enjoyment was tainted. Race is ok, but he blows hot & cold, feeling he isn't good enough for Ann.
Ann does some ridiculous things like telling 2 different suitors she'll marry them (at practically the same time). She then runs away & Race has to rescue her. Tristan St Raven is introduced as he has the next book in the series. He does some dumb things that are spoilers so I'm not telling.
This is another book that Nick doesn't make an appearance.
I liked the cover & the woman on it looks like Ann is described.
Anne is the Duke's daughter who has been jilted twice in as many months by 2 members of the Company Of Rogues. She's understandably sore about it. She has a twisted foot that makes it difficult for her to walk from a birth accident. Since she's a wealthy Duke's daughter, the men of the Ton are willing to overlook it.
Race isn't a Rogue member. He's a gentleman, but not by birth. He appeared in The Dragon's Bride as a friend of Rogue Con. He's been sent to see how Ann's doing & maybe help her find a new fiance.
I remembered liking this story a lot more during my previous reread. I found this time I didn't like Ann at all. So my enjoyment was tainted. Race is ok, but he blows hot & cold, feeling he isn't good enough for Ann.
Ann does some ridiculous things like telling 2 different suitors she'll marry them (at practically the same time). She then runs away & Race has to rescue her. Tristan St Raven is introduced as he has the next book in the series. He does some dumb things that are spoilers so I'm not telling.
This is another book that Nick doesn't make an appearance.
I liked the cover & the woman on it looks like Ann is described.
August 11, 2019
YOU'VE NEVER MET A HEROINE LIKE LADY ANNE PECKWORTH.
The sheltered daughter of a duke, she has always been a perfect lady, even when jilted. Twice. Now, however, she's angry, and she's angry at the single most reckless, most irresponsible, most irresistible man she's ever known ...
YOU'VE NEVER MET A HERO LIKE RACE DE VERE.
Far below Anne's station in life, he has invaded her orderly world like a pirate, tempting her to the edge and beyond. He leads her into impropriety, into wickedness, and then into the most dangerous step of all --- the adventure that could win or lose her everything in one hazardous night ...
October 14, 2018
This book brought me back to my roots. I was an avid romance reader early on, and Beverley was a favourite historical author of mine.
This book was good. It was purely romance though. Guy meets girl. They resist each other because of station, but in the end love wins.
Nowadays I prefer some adventure to my romances, which made this a bit of a slow read for me. I have no major complaints - it just wasn't my style anymore. I liked the characters a lot or this would have been a two star read for me.
This book was good. It was purely romance though. Guy meets girl. They resist each other because of station, but in the end love wins.
Nowadays I prefer some adventure to my romances, which made this a bit of a slow read for me. I have no major complaints - it just wasn't my style anymore. I liked the characters a lot or this would have been a two star read for me.
January 29, 2021
I really wanted to like this story. I had been curious about Anne Peckwort from the past two books and wanted to know what her story would be like.
Both the protagonists in this book were well written and I was rooting for them, but on the whole, I did find myself being a bit bored. The romance is sweet but I read this book a while back and the fact that I cant recall much except that they played Hazard, sat around history books and Race's real last name is hilarious doesn't make me like the book as others in the series. its also of those least likely to be re-read.
Both the protagonists in this book were well written and I was rooting for them, but on the whole, I did find myself being a bit bored. The romance is sweet but I read this book a while back and the fact that I cant recall much except that they played Hazard, sat around history books and Race's real last name is hilarious doesn't make me like the book as others in the series. its also of those least likely to be re-read.
June 12, 2023
This is so far probably my favourite of the series. Race de Vere isn't one of those toxic men all too many modern Regency authors tout as heroic, and darn it, Anne deserves some happiness after being pushed aside by others.
It'd be a 4-star read even -- if not shortly before the end Beverley decided to turn a decent, steadfast heroine into a thoughtless, uncaring arse. Her behaviour doesn't at all fit how she's been up til then, but it spoiled the happy ending for me. I don't know what got into Beverley's mind because it wasn't at all necessary.
Too bad.
It'd be a 4-star read even -- if not shortly before the end Beverley decided to turn a decent, steadfast heroine into a thoughtless, uncaring arse. Her behaviour doesn't at all fit how she's been up til then, but it spoiled the happy ending for me. I don't know what got into Beverley's mind because it wasn't at all necessary.
Too bad.
March 25, 2018
The story of Lady Anne Peckworth and Race de Vere. Anne and Race meet when Anne' brother brings him to their sister's house. While the sister is giving birth, Anne, Race and Uffham play Hazard, a game of dice. Race and Anne realize their feelings for each other, but know they can't marry because of society rules. After adventures, including mention of the Company of Rouges, they finally come together.
August 18, 2018
Ex-Captain Race is serious "As little as possible" p 79 while Lady Anne hides her twisted lame foot "living like a mouse in a hole", p 79, until they gamble for farthings in a dice game called "hazard", during her sister-in-law's late-night birthing labors. Author Beverley paints outside the stereotypical beautiful rich pair, endears her couple close to our hearts, her series onto my read-more list. Some names even ring bells that I've bumped into them before.
June 11, 2019
It's been years since I read this but I loved it at the time. I'm curious whether if I read it again it will have the same impact on me. I loved that both the heroine and hero are not typical of romance novels - she has a clubfoot and he's small and slight with no real profession other than mooching off his friends.
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