What do you think?
Rate this book
Mallorens & Friends #2
Tempting Fortune
Tempting Fortune brings together an impoverished noblewoman and a notorious gamester. Bestselling author Jo Beverley's scandalous new novel of Georgian England is a seductive story of sin and redemption...
In a night shimmering with destiny, Portia St. Claire discovers that her brother's debts have made him a prisoner of dangerous men. The price of his life is her virtue--about to be auctioned off in London's most notorious brothel.
Enter a dazzling midnight world of seductive lies and tender betrayals, where lords and ladies engage in forbidden liaisons. And where mysterious, handsome Bryght Malloren opens Portia's heart to a sensuality that tempts her to madness...
In a night shimmering with destiny, Portia St. Claire discovers that her brother's debts have made him a prisoner of dangerous men. The price of his life is her virtue--about to be auctioned off in London's most notorious brothel.
Enter a dazzling midnight world of seductive lies and tender betrayals, where lords and ladies engage in forbidden liaisons. And where mysterious, handsome Bryght Malloren opens Portia's heart to a sensuality that tempts her to madness...
430 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 1995
381 people are currently reading
956 people want to read
About the author
Jo Beverley
140 books1,129 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 175 reviews
April 4, 2019
2,5 estrellas. El primero de esta serie ya se me hizo un pelin largo, pero es que esta segunda entrega se me ha hecho eterna. Y eso que la historia empieza muy bien y me estaba gustando cómo se desarrolla la relación entre los protagonistas y se trata la adicción al juego, peroooooooo a mitad del libro la narración se estanca y la protagonista, Portia, se dedica a sacar de quicio al lector con sus tonterías y decisiones incomprensibles. Y, así, nos pasamos más de 100 páginas en las que la trama no avanza nada de nada y esa maravilla de hombre que es Bryght demuestra tener más paciencia y amor desinteresado que un santo. Este HEA no es el final feliz que se merece este Malloren, ya lo he dicho.
Solo de pensar que me quedan dos libros más antes de llegar al protagonizado por Rothgar, que es el que verdaderamente quiero leer, me entra sudor frío. Espero que los próximos sean mejores. #RitaJo # RetoRita3
Solo de pensar que me quedan dos libros más antes de llegar al protagonizado por Rothgar, que es el que verdaderamente quiero leer, me entra sudor frío. Espero que los próximos sean mejores. #RitaJo # RetoRita3
September 27, 2015
First of all, there's a reason Jo Beverly can prop open all the doors in her house with the various award trophies she's accumulated over the years. She brings a period of history to life with such seeming ease, I am always plunged into whatever milieu she creates and finish her books every time, even when I start wanting to punch the hero or, in this case, box the heroine's ears. Or choke her. (The period for this series is Georgian, so stomachers, hoops, hair powder and wigs. Still, guys in puffy shirts, lace and red heels can be sexy.)
This starts out with a bang and goes great guns for about half the book. I was enthralled by the developing connection between Bryght Malloren and Portia St. Clair. He's the inveterate rake who gambles intelligently to serve his purposes as a second son with a knack for taking risks that pan out (like one of the early canals in England). She is a spitfire of a woman, 25 but looks younger due to sylph-like size. He's enamored of her after she confronts him with a pistol while housebreaking to obtain a scandalous letter penned by a woman who rejected him and married money but is a slattern of epic proportion. (He dodged a bullet not marrying the slut but still holds a teeny grudge.) She has been beggared by her half-brother's compulsive gambling and, with her brother, is trying to track down an old family friend, now earl, who can help them out of their jam. She detests gambling and speculating in investments, because her father killed himself over the latter, and her half-brother ruined the family's finances doing the former.
Stage is set for opposites attracting. They meet again in London, skirmish and withdraw, feeling an indescribable attraction to the other. She hisses at him to stay away from her, (a dull theme that doesn't change till the last 10 pages. Blech.)
There are spoilers below but it was such an annoying story, I'm happy to spare you the pain.
In London, her nitwit semi-sibling is lured to gambling hells, hoping to win back lost money. Bryght takes pity on him, intentionally loses and lets him return to sister with 200 guineas in hand. She squirrels some of it away, but he gambles on his 'winning streak' with the rest. Naturally he loses more to an ungentle type who threatens to have a henchman carve him up in front of his sister. So she agrees to auction off her virginity to make good her useless brother's debt to the shark. Bryght is at the brothel fleecing a slave-trader from the West Indies and realizes she's up for auction. He not only manages to win the bidding and rescue her from ruin, but he offers her the winnings if she'll cooperate in her own rescue.
Why would he have to bribe her? Because so far, she's an incomprehensibly contrary stupid bitch. I love a feisty heroine but not this stupid, blindly combative one. She gets dumber and bitchier as the book goes on.
What started out my favorite Malloren book ultimately disgusted me, thanks to the heroine's knee-jerk pugnaciousness, incomprehensible choices and inconsistencies in attitude. I PITIED the hero his infatuation with her about 2/3 through. (His enemies see foisting her on him in marriage as revenge and I agreed with them, it would be capital punishment.)
Poor schmuck kept saving her from ruin even after she:
1) tells him repeatedly she only wants him out of her sight/life;
2) treats Bryght like shit for being a gambler, though he's saved her bacon and her hymen. YET she turns around and mollycoddles her meathead demi-brother throughout the entire book, excusing his vice with 'oh, he's just bored and looking for entertainment';
3) has sex willingly with Bryght but insists she doesn't love him (cruel slut much?) and doesn't want to marry him (stupid and contrary much?);
4) after one too many public compromises of her virtue, she grudgingly marries Bryght (he's still willing to have her!) but on her wedding night runs off with another man--her childhood friend and bitter enemy of her new husband's family--and kisses him in the carriage on their way to 'rescue' her useless, mollycoddled, meathead of a fractional brother. Blech, blech and urp!
God help me, the list goes on and on.
I felt so sorry for Bryght and hated Portia so much by the end, when she finally does right by him it was far too little, much too late. Stupid Jezebel-style heroines don't work for me, obviously.
My conclusion: He deserved a HEA, not a life sentence chained to her.
Barely a 2 on the JB scale. Make it 1.5.
This starts out with a bang and goes great guns for about half the book. I was enthralled by the developing connection between Bryght Malloren and Portia St. Clair. He's the inveterate rake who gambles intelligently to serve his purposes as a second son with a knack for taking risks that pan out (like one of the early canals in England). She is a spitfire of a woman, 25 but looks younger due to sylph-like size. He's enamored of her after she confronts him with a pistol while housebreaking to obtain a scandalous letter penned by a woman who rejected him and married money but is a slattern of epic proportion. (He dodged a bullet not marrying the slut but still holds a teeny grudge.) She has been beggared by her half-brother's compulsive gambling and, with her brother, is trying to track down an old family friend, now earl, who can help them out of their jam. She detests gambling and speculating in investments, because her father killed himself over the latter, and her half-brother ruined the family's finances doing the former.
Stage is set for opposites attracting. They meet again in London, skirmish and withdraw, feeling an indescribable attraction to the other. She hisses at him to stay away from her, (a dull theme that doesn't change till the last 10 pages. Blech.)
There are spoilers below but it was such an annoying story, I'm happy to spare you the pain.
In London, her nitwit semi-sibling is lured to gambling hells, hoping to win back lost money. Bryght takes pity on him, intentionally loses and lets him return to sister with 200 guineas in hand. She squirrels some of it away, but he gambles on his 'winning streak' with the rest. Naturally he loses more to an ungentle type who threatens to have a henchman carve him up in front of his sister. So she agrees to auction off her virginity to make good her useless brother's debt to the shark. Bryght is at the brothel fleecing a slave-trader from the West Indies and realizes she's up for auction. He not only manages to win the bidding and rescue her from ruin, but he offers her the winnings if she'll cooperate in her own rescue.
Why would he have to bribe her? Because so far, she's an incomprehensibly contrary stupid bitch. I love a feisty heroine but not this stupid, blindly combative one. She gets dumber and bitchier as the book goes on.
What started out my favorite Malloren book ultimately disgusted me, thanks to the heroine's knee-jerk pugnaciousness, incomprehensible choices and inconsistencies in attitude. I PITIED the hero his infatuation with her about 2/3 through. (His enemies see foisting her on him in marriage as revenge and I agreed with them, it would be capital punishment.)
Poor schmuck kept saving her from ruin even after she:
1) tells him repeatedly she only wants him out of her sight/life;
2) treats Bryght like shit for being a gambler, though he's saved her bacon and her hymen. YET she turns around and mollycoddles her meathead demi-brother throughout the entire book, excusing his vice with 'oh, he's just bored and looking for entertainment';
3) has sex willingly with Bryght but insists she doesn't love him (cruel slut much?) and doesn't want to marry him (stupid and contrary much?);
4) after one too many public compromises of her virtue, she grudgingly marries Bryght (he's still willing to have her!) but on her wedding night runs off with another man--her childhood friend and bitter enemy of her new husband's family--and kisses him in the carriage on their way to 'rescue' her useless, mollycoddled, meathead of a fractional brother. Blech, blech and urp!
God help me, the list goes on and on.
I felt so sorry for Bryght and hated Portia so much by the end, when she finally does right by him it was far too little, much too late. Stupid Jezebel-style heroines don't work for me, obviously.
My conclusion: He deserved a HEA, not a life sentence chained to her.
Barely a 2 on the JB scale. Make it 1.5.
March 21, 2018
So the lowest rating of a Jo Beverley novel so far. I haven't read a ton of her books, yet, but this was a disappointment. It wasn't major until the ending, but the distrust and lack of communication was a problem from start to finish and kept this at three-stars that later collapsed.
And I had an additional issue with each main character. I kind of hated Portia's helplessness with regards to her brother. It's a common-enough tale of the gaming-madness that can bring ruin to families, but this seemed to roll along rather conveniently synchronized to the needs of story. My problem with Bryght runs parallel, actually. He's as much of a gambler, really, but he's saved by a magical "luck" that makes it okay both at the tables and in his "investments". Oh, Beverley is careful to show that his head is engaged and that he has developed skill and has a realistic evaluation of the risk, but I couldn't help feeling that his successes seemed to break rather conveniently synchronized to the needs of story, as well.
So yeah, I had issues. I had hopes of it getting better once they finally sat down and talked things over, but that never happened. They decided to spend their alone times with sex instead of communication and that just didn't work for me. And now I've talked myself out of my initial impulse of keeping it at three stars. Three stars might have sufficed before . But after that? Yeah, I don't think so. Particularly as Beverley took the interesting route of solving the communication problem by them having sex. Again.
A note about Steamy: There are three explicit sex scenes (sort of, but I'm calling it) so this is solidly in the middle of my steam tolerance. The final one actually made me angry, though, and contributed to the rating drop as explained above.
And I had an additional issue with each main character. I kind of hated Portia's helplessness with regards to her brother. It's a common-enough tale of the gaming-madness that can bring ruin to families, but this seemed to roll along rather conveniently synchronized to the needs of story. My problem with Bryght runs parallel, actually. He's as much of a gambler, really, but he's saved by a magical "luck" that makes it okay both at the tables and in his "investments". Oh, Beverley is careful to show that his head is engaged and that he has developed skill and has a realistic evaluation of the risk, but I couldn't help feeling that his successes seemed to break rather conveniently synchronized to the needs of story, as well.
So yeah, I had issues. I had hopes of it getting better once they finally sat down and talked things over, but that never happened. They decided to spend their alone times with sex instead of communication and that just didn't work for me. And now I've talked myself out of my initial impulse of keeping it at three stars. Three stars might have sufficed before . But after that? Yeah, I don't think so. Particularly as Beverley took the interesting route of solving the communication problem by them having sex. Again.
A note about Steamy: There are three explicit sex scenes (sort of, but I'm calling it) so this is solidly in the middle of my steam tolerance. The final one actually made me angry, though, and contributed to the rating drop as explained above.
April 10, 2019
2,5 Estrellas
#RetoRita3 #RitaJo
Le pongo tan poca nota, por la protagonista.
A medida que iba leyendo cada vez me iba cayendo peor, uff me ha sacado de quicio.
En algunos de los líos que habido en la historia, es que se ha metido ella solita y encima la liaba más todavía y encima culpaba a los demás de ello.
Y Bryght no sé como no le ha mandado a tomar viento más de una vez, menuda paciencia ha tenido durante toda la historia.
Aún así, Bryght si me ha gustado bastante, no ha sido tan bipolar como Portia jajaja y como no, su hermano Rothgar es de lo mejorcito del libro.
Por lo demás en si, es una buena historia, es entretenida y no esta mal.
#RetoRita3 #RitaJo
Le pongo tan poca nota, por la protagonista.
A medida que iba leyendo cada vez me iba cayendo peor, uff me ha sacado de quicio.
En algunos de los líos que habido en la historia, es que se ha metido ella solita y encima la liaba más todavía y encima culpaba a los demás de ello.
Y Bryght no sé como no le ha mandado a tomar viento más de una vez, menuda paciencia ha tenido durante toda la historia.
Aún así, Bryght si me ha gustado bastante, no ha sido tan bipolar como Portia jajaja y como no, su hermano Rothgar es de lo mejorcito del libro.
Por lo demás en si, es una buena historia, es entretenida y no esta mal.
March 29, 2019
Worst, most ungrateful, irrational, judgmental heroine ever! Could I dislike her more?
1.5 stars
1.5 stars
December 5, 2021
I'm a bit lukewarm about this one. It felt a little dated, (1995, and it showed) but I don't mind that if the characters are appealing. I'd read a few reviews that warned that the heroine, Portia, was fairly unlikeable, and guess what? I agree. She was OK at first, but as I read on, I got more impatient with her. She felt pretty immature for a 25-year-old, even though she had no doubt led a sheltered life. And her trust issues grew tedious. I wanted to say to her, Stop listening to the stories about Bryght, and trust your instincts about him! He's not the wastrel gambler people are saying he is! But noooooo. And she was too impulsive. Bryght did like that about her, but overall her shenanigans grew old for me.
Bryght himself did behave badly at one point, when he Thankfully these kinds of scenes aren't seen so much in more recent HRs.
I did not enjoy the scene of
I did find the nickname Portia gave to Bryght's, ahem, equipment, quite amusing. This made me laugh whenever it was referred to.
The book was a little uneven overall. There were some enjoyable moments e.g. the scenes between brothers Bryght and Rothgar felt quite genuine. But the plot got a little too twisty and bogged down, and started to drag towards the end. I also found it a bit confusing when characters were referred to by two different names e.g their name and/or their title. Historically correct, no doubt, but a little tricky for readers to remember who was who at times.
I read this book for the December 2021 Romance Across the Ages challenge: Georgian Theme. I may read some others in the series at some point? Maybe.
Bryght himself did behave badly at one point, when he Thankfully these kinds of scenes aren't seen so much in more recent HRs.
I did not enjoy the scene of
I did find the nickname Portia gave to Bryght's, ahem, equipment, quite amusing. This made me laugh whenever it was referred to.
The book was a little uneven overall. There were some enjoyable moments e.g. the scenes between brothers Bryght and Rothgar felt quite genuine. But the plot got a little too twisty and bogged down, and started to drag towards the end. I also found it a bit confusing when characters were referred to by two different names e.g their name and/or their title. Historically correct, no doubt, but a little tricky for readers to remember who was who at times.
I read this book for the December 2021 Romance Across the Ages challenge: Georgian Theme. I may read some others in the series at some point? Maybe.
December 12, 2025
What in the bodice ripper was this book?
The plot moved so abruptly from one ridiculous scene to another that it felt low-key gothic at times (minus the violence and the ghosts)
The heroine is a moron and I swear the author was forced to change her age from 15 to 25 at the last second just to appease her editor but it was too late to change the rest. She acts like impetuous teen most of the time and like stubborn mule the rest.
The hero, on the other hand, I was quite enamored of him. He's so laid back and never once fights his attraction to the heroine. It takes him no more than a paragraph of mental monologue to decide to marry the heroine, and not only to save her from her own tstl actions, but because he wants to spend the rest of his life with her.
(I seriously don't like the heroine)
The 3 ★ are for him and for my favorite era, ✨Georgian era✨
・
・
・
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
🕮⋆˚࿔✎𓂃 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐬
━━━━━━━━━━━━━��━━━━━━━━━
The plot moved so abruptly from one ridiculous scene to another that it felt low-key gothic at times (minus the violence and the ghosts)
The heroine is a moron and I swear the author was forced to change her age from 15 to 25 at the last second just to appease her editor but it was too late to change the rest. She acts like impetuous teen most of the time and like stubborn mule the rest.
The hero, on the other hand, I was quite enamored of him. He's so laid back and never once fights his attraction to the heroine. It takes him no more than a paragraph of mental monologue to decide to marry the heroine, and not only to save her from her own tstl actions, but because he wants to spend the rest of his life with her.
I want your companionship. I want your spirit. I want your children."
It was dangerously sweet. "Why?" she demanded again.
"Where did you get the notion that love is logical? Why do you love me?"
He took it for granted. The only possible response was, "I don't."
She saw it shock him, and perhaps hurt as well. "Ah. I'm sorry, then, that I haven't worked harder to avoid this."
(I seriously don't like the heroine)
The 3 ★ are for him and for my favorite era, ✨Georgian era✨
・
・
・
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
🕮⋆˚࿔✎𓂃 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐬
━━━━━━━━━━━━━��━━━━━━━━━
September 22, 2012
Seldom have I read a book so rife with despicable characters.
This book is a page-turner--in fact at 3 am last night I forced myself to put it down (had to get up for work at 7), and then lay there for another hour with my mind so busy chewing on the story that I couldn't sleep. (I recommend you save this one for a weekend. Or a vacation if it takes you a few days to finish a book.)
The basics:
Portia St. Claire's father lost everything speculating in the market, then shot himself. Now her brother Oliver has actually lost the family estate at the gaming table. They've gone to the Earl of Ware (yeah, the sumbitch father from My Lady Notorious)
…seeking his help to redeem their home. Evil Earl ordered them to await his pleasure in a house he'd rented there (the same house he imprisoned his daughter in, forcing her to dress in scanty clothes and planning to sell her to a brothel). Portia's there alone when she hears glass breaking.
The housebreaker she confronts with a pistol is Bryght Malloren. If you read the first book in the series you know Bryght was dispatched to this place to retrieve a dirty letter written by a woman he nearly married (she jilted him for a richer, titled fellow) to her lover. Anyhoo, natch, it's lust at first sight.
Fast forward to London. Portia and Oliver have learned of the former earl's death and that her old friendFart Fort is now the earl. This seems like good news; Portia is pretty sure Fort will bail them out for old times' sake. But Fort isn't in London yet. They have to wait, and waiting near gaming hells turns out to be a bad idea. Next thing you know, big scary guys are threatening to whack off various body parts of Oliver's unless he pays up what he owes. Or Portia can "work it off."
Next thing you know Portia is in a brothel, masked, wigged and dressed in something not meant to cover anything important, and the madam is auctioning off her virginity to the highest bidder. Bryght recognizes her and realizes what has happened--apparently it's not uncommon. Never bothered him before apparently. Lovely fellow.
But anyway, now that he knows the virgin who is basically going to be raped for gaming debts, he's all chivalry. He bids, he wins, and there's a really disgusting farcical seduction scene played out for voyeurs. Now Bryght reckons he needs to marry her. Oh goody.
Fortunately, Portia has the good sense to dislike Bryght for a number of reasons, not the least of which is his gaming--she doesn't trust gamers, especially when she knows he let her brother win a few hands (which encouraged him to play deep and that's what ended with her in the brothel). So she resists.
Long story short, Oliver runs off on some gallavant that makes no sense at all, and she's abandoned. Fart palms her off on her cousin Nerissa (yeah, that's the slut who wrote the pervy letter). And Nerissa, seeing that Bryght is taken with Portia, decides to use her for a little payback. Nerissa's creepy man candy happened to be in the whorehouse and somehow recognizes Portia, so Nerissa has dirt on Portia and can basically force her to do whatever she pleases. And it pleases her to make Portia marry Bryght. She reckons Portia, who isn't reckoned a beauty, has no dowry, and doesn't love him, will be a millstone around his neck.
Fort, who hates Mallorens (with good reason but he's still a scumbag) has the same idea. When Portia resists the marriage, this "friend" of hers basically joins in to help force her to marry, even when she begs him not to do so and tells him that she will be unhappy. He's quite willing to sacrifice his friend if he can screw a Malloren.
And Bryght is in on the act too. Knowing she's reluctant, he makes a bet with her--the prize is a kiss, which he claims in a way that publicly compromises her. Now she REALLY has to marry him. He has second thoughts about it, but never bothers to think about how he's ruined her reputation and even if he doesn't go thru with forcing her to marry, he's pretty much assured nobody else will have her.
By the time the wedding rolls around, Bryght has done something else that's going to tick Portia off. She sort of knows, and she's afraid and angry. He doesn't help—for all his bitching that she doesn't trust him, he doesn't act in a trustworthy way. He decides that she doesn't need to know until he's had a chance to screw her senseless and "make her love him."
By this point, the only person in the story that I don't hate is Portia, and I'm pretty damned frustrated with her. At least half the fixes she was in, I could think of ways she could avoid the train wreck. She did eventually think of some of them but always way late in the game and her follow thru was incredibly ineffectual. I swear if anyone even thought about trying to do some of the stuff to me that these people do, I would not only get out of it but make sure they wished their parents had been neutered at birth.
But
Even so I have to recommend this book because it is so gripping. I love a book that grabs me and wrings me out, and this one did it. But I wish I could rewrite the 2nd half. Might have to tell a similar tale or use similar situations just so I can make these bastids pay.
This book is a page-turner--in fact at 3 am last night I forced myself to put it down (had to get up for work at 7), and then lay there for another hour with my mind so busy chewing on the story that I couldn't sleep. (I recommend you save this one for a weekend. Or a vacation if it takes you a few days to finish a book.)
The basics:
Portia St. Claire's father lost everything speculating in the market, then shot himself. Now her brother Oliver has actually lost the family estate at the gaming table. They've gone to the Earl of Ware (yeah, the sumbitch father from My Lady Notorious)
…seeking his help to redeem their home. Evil Earl ordered them to await his pleasure in a house he'd rented there (the same house he imprisoned his daughter in, forcing her to dress in scanty clothes and planning to sell her to a brothel). Portia's there alone when she hears glass breaking.
The housebreaker she confronts with a pistol is Bryght Malloren. If you read the first book in the series you know Bryght was dispatched to this place to retrieve a dirty letter written by a woman he nearly married (she jilted him for a richer, titled fellow) to her lover. Anyhoo, natch, it's lust at first sight.
Fast forward to London. Portia and Oliver have learned of the former earl's death and that her old friend
Next thing you know Portia is in a brothel, masked, wigged and dressed in something not meant to cover anything important, and the madam is auctioning off her virginity to the highest bidder. Bryght recognizes her and realizes what has happened--apparently it's not uncommon. Never bothered him before apparently. Lovely fellow.
But anyway, now that he knows the virgin who is basically going to be raped for gaming debts, he's all chivalry. He bids, he wins, and there's a really disgusting farcical seduction scene played out for voyeurs. Now Bryght reckons he needs to marry her. Oh goody.
Fortunately, Portia has the good sense to dislike Bryght for a number of reasons, not the least of which is his gaming--she doesn't trust gamers, especially when she knows he let her brother win a few hands (which encouraged him to play deep and that's what ended with her in the brothel). So she resists.
Long story short, Oliver runs off on some gallavant that makes no sense at all, and she's abandoned. Fart palms her off on her cousin Nerissa (yeah, that's the slut who wrote the pervy letter). And Nerissa, seeing that Bryght is taken with Portia, decides to use her for a little payback. Nerissa's creepy man candy happened to be in the whorehouse and somehow recognizes Portia, so Nerissa has dirt on Portia and can basically force her to do whatever she pleases. And it pleases her to make Portia marry Bryght. She reckons Portia, who isn't reckoned a beauty, has no dowry, and doesn't love him, will be a millstone around his neck.
Fort, who hates Mallorens (with good reason but he's still a scumbag) has the same idea. When Portia resists the marriage, this "friend" of hers basically joins in to help force her to marry, even when she begs him not to do so and tells him that she will be unhappy. He's quite willing to sacrifice his friend if he can screw a Malloren.
And Bryght is in on the act too. Knowing she's reluctant, he makes a bet with her--the prize is a kiss, which he claims in a way that publicly compromises her. Now she REALLY has to marry him. He has second thoughts about it, but never bothers to think about how he's ruined her reputation and even if he doesn't go thru with forcing her to marry, he's pretty much assured nobody else will have her.
By the time the wedding rolls around, Bryght has done something else that's going to tick Portia off. She sort of knows, and she's afraid and angry. He doesn't help—for all his bitching that she doesn't trust him, he doesn't act in a trustworthy way. He decides that she doesn't need to know until he's had a chance to screw her senseless and "make her love him."
By this point, the only person in the story that I don't hate is Portia, and I'm pretty damned frustrated with her. At least half the fixes she was in, I could think of ways she could avoid the train wreck. She did eventually think of some of them but always way late in the game and her follow thru was incredibly ineffectual. I swear if anyone even thought about trying to do some of the stuff to me that these people do, I would not only get out of it but make sure they wished their parents had been neutered at birth.
But
Even so I have to recommend this book because it is so gripping. I love a book that grabs me and wrings me out, and this one did it. But I wish I could rewrite the 2nd half. Might have to tell a similar tale or use similar situations just so I can make these bastids pay.
![Profile Image for Namera [The Literary Invertebrate].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1647896333i%2F31792110._UX200_CR0%2C96%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
August 1, 2015
This was a fun and romantic story that is completely unpredictable and wildly original. Beverley takes readers back in time on one heck of a journey through London as her characters tug at your heart. The suspense in this one is of a much more personal nature than one would generally expect. Virtue & honour are what must be saved, while at the same time chemistry rules the day.
I love Bryght. He’s so much fun. His rakishness combines with his good heart in an intriguing combo. Pitted against Portia, a much more uptight version of himself, and you can expect comedy, passion, romance, and genuine caring between these two characters who stole my heart. And let’s not forget the supporting cast that Beverley populates her novel with. Each was developed in a manner that furthered the novel while also allowing you to get to know them personally.
Beverly has created another unforgettable novel here. This isn’t necessarily a fast paced novel, but it is enchanting from cover to cover.
I love Bryght. He’s so much fun. His rakishness combines with his good heart in an intriguing combo. Pitted against Portia, a much more uptight version of himself, and you can expect comedy, passion, romance, and genuine caring between these two characters who stole my heart. And let’s not forget the supporting cast that Beverley populates her novel with. Each was developed in a manner that furthered the novel while also allowing you to get to know them personally.
Beverly has created another unforgettable novel here. This isn’t necessarily a fast paced novel, but it is enchanting from cover to cover.
April 22, 2013
wow. really could not stand the heroine.
September 7, 2025
An outlandish tale, and the final 20% is a hot mess. The characters’ actions don’t really conform to the social mores of the time, and the heroine is TSTL for my tastes.
July 11, 2019
Proseguo nella lettura della saga, anche se ho trovato questo secondo episodio (dedicato peraltro al secondogenito della famiglia, Bryght) lievemente inferiore al precedente.
In realtà il romanzo ha un avvio molto promettente, con una bella scena di equivoci e battutine (con lady temeraria che scopre un ladro e lo tiene sotto tiro con una pistola) e anche lo spunto narrativo è interessante: Portia è intraprendente e intelligente, ma deve contrastare un fratello con il vizio del gioco che ha sperperato, come già fece il padre, le ultime risorse familiari. Purtroppo è una donna del suo tempo e non riesce a bloccarlo, se non nascondendo i solidi, ma è davvero inerme perchè è lui il capofamiglia con diritto di cedere/ipotecare le proprietà. Così deve assistere alla lenta rovina, odiando tutti quelli che giocano o irretiscono suo fratello.
Tra cui - guarda casa - c'è Bryght (che pure gioca per aiutare un amico in un progetto e tenta di salvare il fratello di Portia, dopo averla presa in simpatia).
Poi, come al solito, la Beverley ci inserisce divagazioni sopra le righe, con scene confuse e ripetute, la protagonista che respinge, si lascia sedurre, poi ci ripensa, poi viene compromessa ma non vuole cedere subito...
Mamma mia. Il tira-molla finale mi ha abbastanza annoiato.
In effetti la seconda parte si salva soltanto perchè compare il fratellone dei Malloren, con la sua spigliatezza e la determinazione di rimettere al suo posto le cose (pure le quasi-cognate pasticcione). Elf mi piace sempre di più, così pure Fort. Ma Rothgart che spunta con i suoi sorrisi melliflui m'intriga...
In realtà il romanzo ha un avvio molto promettente, con una bella scena di equivoci e battutine (con lady temeraria che scopre un ladro e lo tiene sotto tiro con una pistola) e anche lo spunto narrativo è interessante: Portia è intraprendente e intelligente, ma deve contrastare un fratello con il vizio del gioco che ha sperperato, come già fece il padre, le ultime risorse familiari. Purtroppo è una donna del suo tempo e non riesce a bloccarlo, se non nascondendo i solidi, ma è davvero inerme perchè è lui il capofamiglia con diritto di cedere/ipotecare le proprietà. Così deve assistere alla lenta rovina, odiando tutti quelli che giocano o irretiscono suo fratello.
Tra cui - guarda casa - c'è Bryght (che pure gioca per aiutare un amico in un progetto e tenta di salvare il fratello di Portia, dopo averla presa in simpatia).
Poi, come al solito, la Beverley ci inserisce divagazioni sopra le righe, con scene confuse e ripetute, la protagonista che respinge, si lascia sedurre, poi ci ripensa, poi viene compromessa ma non vuole cedere subito...
Mamma mia. Il tira-molla finale mi ha abbastanza annoiato.
In effetti la seconda parte si salva soltanto perchè compare il fratellone dei Malloren, con la sua spigliatezza e la determinazione di rimettere al suo posto le cose (pure le quasi-cognate pasticcione). Elf mi piace sempre di più, così pure Fort. Ma Rothgart che spunta con i suoi sorrisi melliflui m'intriga...
August 18, 2011
Oh gack, I didn't think Beverly could stoop lower than having the heroine raped in the first chapter as the basis of lurve but now I realize she's working out some weird kinks by writing these mysogynistic "romances." Blah blah heroine with worthless brother who loses all the family's money and their estate ends up selling herself in a brothel to a man who tries to retain her honor despite the necessity of publicly bedding her. I swear she must write these horrible kinky scenes and then build books around them. This time SPOILERS!!! the heroine needent have done any of the things she did because really the man her brother lost his patrimony to would've just given it back, also their friend would've loaned them the money to redeem it, also this is just historically unlikely. I feel unclean having read this book. And to think I found Deanna Raybourn annoyingly mysogynistic.
June 17, 2009
Portia St. Clare is desperately trying to rescue her family from the straits they find themselves in after her half-brother loses their estate gambling. Renowned gamester Bryght Malloren takes an interest in the feisty young lady.
This started out okay, with Portia being a strong heroine and Bryght being incessantly charming. While Bryght remains so, Portia takes a sharp dive into nutsville, spouting all sorts of nonsense about not trusting him and running away on their wedding night because she thinks he killed her brother. Bryght does absolutely nothing to warrant any sort of distrust (in fact, he does entirely too much to win her trust!) so she just comes off as irrational and annoying.
This started out okay, with Portia being a strong heroine and Bryght being incessantly charming. While Bryght remains so, Portia takes a sharp dive into nutsville, spouting all sorts of nonsense about not trusting him and running away on their wedding night because she thinks he killed her brother. Bryght does absolutely nothing to warrant any sort of distrust (in fact, he does entirely too much to win her trust!) so she just comes off as irrational and annoying.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 18, 2024
Review from 2014
B for narration / B- for content.
Tempting Fortune is the second book in Ms Beverley’s series about the Malloren siblings, all of whom have outlandish names! Our hero here is Lord Arcenbryght Malloren – known as Bryght – who spends much of his time running the family’s many business interests, while also maintaining interests of his own. He has tied up most of his personal wealth in an ambitious canal-building scheme which he believes will bring in hefty profits (as a matter of historical record, it did!) although right now it’s eating up cash like there’s no tomorrow, so he supplements his income by gambling. Fortunately for him, he is skilful and blessed with good luck – and he plans to marry a very rich widow as a back-up plan.
One of the plot threads left over from My Lady Notorious is picked up at the beginning of this book, with Bryght travelling to Kent in order to retrieve a letter written by his former mistress. The letter is located in the Earl of Walgrave’s country house, but the Wares and the Mallorens being enemies, Bryght can’t just turn up, ring the doorbell and ask for it, so he has to break in. He is confronted at pistol-point by the diminutive Portia St. Clair who promptly threatens to shoot him. She’s no match for him, however, and he overwhelms her, finds the letter and departs, but not without – in the best traditions of the hero-turned-housebreaker – a kiss.
Walgrave is an old friend of the St. Clair family, and Portia and her half-brother, Sir Oliver, have approached him for financial assistance. Oliver has a taste for the gambling tables and has managed to lose everything but his shirt, and they hope that Walgrave will fund a mortgage on their estate.
The siblings travel to London to make their request, and while there, they again encounter Bryght Malloren, whose attentions to Portia are marked. But she wants nothing to do with a man who is known to be a high-stakes gambler. Her father ran their estate into the ground because of his addiction to the tables, and now Oliver has incurred further disaster in the same way, so her disdain of Bryght is understandable. Yet she can’t help but be attracted to his handsome face and charming manner. When they hear that the old earl has died and that his son, Fortitude Ware (Fort) is the new earl, they have reason to feel optimistic, as Fort is sure to help them. With that weight off her mind, Portia has more leisure to worry about Oliver, who is still intent on re-building their fortune at the tables. But Oliver doesn’t have the means, the skill or the luck to play and win, and very quickly loses more money than he can pay. Portia is confronted with a terrible choice: allow Oliver to be beaten up by his creditors and then be thrown into debtor’s prison, or obtain the necessary money by auctioning off her virtue. For her, it’s a no-brainer.
Fortunately for Portia, Bryght is present at the scene of the auction that night. She’s heavily disguised, but he recognises her anyway, and comes up with a way to get her out without having to deflower her in front of a room full of people.
This is merely the first in a series of difficult situations Portia lands in from which she is rescued by Bryght – even as she continues to protest that she wants nothing to do with him. And that aspect of the story is a stumbling block for me. For about the first two-thirds of the book, I managed to maintain some sympathy for Portia – she’s had a lot to contend with, after all – but after that I wanted to smack her because of the way she treats a man who, while not perfect, has her best interests at heart. There’s nothing in his behaviour that warrants her continual insistence that because he gambles, he’s the lowest of the low and an all-round terrible person, yet she continues to repulse him and to say really stinging things to him up until almost the end of the book. And when she finally sees the error of her ways, she doesn’t grovel enough! :P
The pace never flags and Ms Beverley’s attention to historical detail is superb. Her descriptions of Georgian London, the customs and costume are very informative and evocative. But the story does suffer from a number of flaws, not least of which is the fact that Bryght and Portia don’t actually spend all that much time together, and when they do, most of it is taken up by Portia saying hurtful things and hurling unjust accusations at Bryght’s head. As a result, the listener never really discovers exactly what it is they see in each other, and there’s not much sense of relationship development.
Regular readers will know that I find Alison Larkin’s narrations to be a bit hit-and-miss, but this is one performance I can get behind as all the different aspects of it work very well. Her narrative is well paced and expertly nuanced, and all the characters are clearly differentiated and appropriately voiced. In her review of My Lady Notorious, Kaetrin mentioned that the Malloren brothers (Bryght, Cyn and Brand) sounded a little too alike, but here, Ms Larkin differentiates well between them so there is no confusion when they appear in scenes together. She uses her naturally soft, breathy tones to good effect with Portia, making her sound suitably youthful and a bit neurotic (!) and was especially good in her interpretation of Portia’s poisonous cousin, Nerissa. Oliver is given a very rounded, plummy, and rather pompous tone which expertly conveys his immaturity and also gave me a mental picture of him twenty years down the line – self-satisfied, rotund and balding! I enjoyed Ms Larkin’s performance of Bryght, too – I’ve often had issues with her hero voices, but not here. I suspect that may be because the book is set at a time when the men were as extravagant in dress and manner as the women, and frequently adopted a very affected manner of speech, with languid drawls and fake lisps being popular. Her portrayal of Bryght definitely owed much to the laconic drawl (thankfully without the lisp!), and sounded completely right for the period.
Overall, I enjoyed Tempting Fortune and would recommend it with the caveats expressed above. The story is compelling and action-packed; and in spite of my desire to throttle the heroine, I was very quickly hooked and couldn’t put it down!
B for narration / B- for content.
Tempting Fortune is the second book in Ms Beverley’s series about the Malloren siblings, all of whom have outlandish names! Our hero here is Lord Arcenbryght Malloren – known as Bryght – who spends much of his time running the family’s many business interests, while also maintaining interests of his own. He has tied up most of his personal wealth in an ambitious canal-building scheme which he believes will bring in hefty profits (as a matter of historical record, it did!) although right now it’s eating up cash like there’s no tomorrow, so he supplements his income by gambling. Fortunately for him, he is skilful and blessed with good luck – and he plans to marry a very rich widow as a back-up plan.
One of the plot threads left over from My Lady Notorious is picked up at the beginning of this book, with Bryght travelling to Kent in order to retrieve a letter written by his former mistress. The letter is located in the Earl of Walgrave’s country house, but the Wares and the Mallorens being enemies, Bryght can’t just turn up, ring the doorbell and ask for it, so he has to break in. He is confronted at pistol-point by the diminutive Portia St. Clair who promptly threatens to shoot him. She’s no match for him, however, and he overwhelms her, finds the letter and departs, but not without – in the best traditions of the hero-turned-housebreaker – a kiss.
Walgrave is an old friend of the St. Clair family, and Portia and her half-brother, Sir Oliver, have approached him for financial assistance. Oliver has a taste for the gambling tables and has managed to lose everything but his shirt, and they hope that Walgrave will fund a mortgage on their estate.
The siblings travel to London to make their request, and while there, they again encounter Bryght Malloren, whose attentions to Portia are marked. But she wants nothing to do with a man who is known to be a high-stakes gambler. Her father ran their estate into the ground because of his addiction to the tables, and now Oliver has incurred further disaster in the same way, so her disdain of Bryght is understandable. Yet she can’t help but be attracted to his handsome face and charming manner. When they hear that the old earl has died and that his son, Fortitude Ware (Fort) is the new earl, they have reason to feel optimistic, as Fort is sure to help them. With that weight off her mind, Portia has more leisure to worry about Oliver, who is still intent on re-building their fortune at the tables. But Oliver doesn’t have the means, the skill or the luck to play and win, and very quickly loses more money than he can pay. Portia is confronted with a terrible choice: allow Oliver to be beaten up by his creditors and then be thrown into debtor’s prison, or obtain the necessary money by auctioning off her virtue. For her, it’s a no-brainer.
Fortunately for Portia, Bryght is present at the scene of the auction that night. She’s heavily disguised, but he recognises her anyway, and comes up with a way to get her out without having to deflower her in front of a room full of people.
This is merely the first in a series of difficult situations Portia lands in from which she is rescued by Bryght – even as she continues to protest that she wants nothing to do with him. And that aspect of the story is a stumbling block for me. For about the first two-thirds of the book, I managed to maintain some sympathy for Portia – she’s had a lot to contend with, after all – but after that I wanted to smack her because of the way she treats a man who, while not perfect, has her best interests at heart. There’s nothing in his behaviour that warrants her continual insistence that because he gambles, he’s the lowest of the low and an all-round terrible person, yet she continues to repulse him and to say really stinging things to him up until almost the end of the book. And when she finally sees the error of her ways, she doesn’t grovel enough! :P
The pace never flags and Ms Beverley’s attention to historical detail is superb. Her descriptions of Georgian London, the customs and costume are very informative and evocative. But the story does suffer from a number of flaws, not least of which is the fact that Bryght and Portia don’t actually spend all that much time together, and when they do, most of it is taken up by Portia saying hurtful things and hurling unjust accusations at Bryght’s head. As a result, the listener never really discovers exactly what it is they see in each other, and there’s not much sense of relationship development.
Regular readers will know that I find Alison Larkin’s narrations to be a bit hit-and-miss, but this is one performance I can get behind as all the different aspects of it work very well. Her narrative is well paced and expertly nuanced, and all the characters are clearly differentiated and appropriately voiced. In her review of My Lady Notorious, Kaetrin mentioned that the Malloren brothers (Bryght, Cyn and Brand) sounded a little too alike, but here, Ms Larkin differentiates well between them so there is no confusion when they appear in scenes together. She uses her naturally soft, breathy tones to good effect with Portia, making her sound suitably youthful and a bit neurotic (!) and was especially good in her interpretation of Portia’s poisonous cousin, Nerissa. Oliver is given a very rounded, plummy, and rather pompous tone which expertly conveys his immaturity and also gave me a mental picture of him twenty years down the line – self-satisfied, rotund and balding! I enjoyed Ms Larkin’s performance of Bryght, too – I’ve often had issues with her hero voices, but not here. I suspect that may be because the book is set at a time when the men were as extravagant in dress and manner as the women, and frequently adopted a very affected manner of speech, with languid drawls and fake lisps being popular. Her portrayal of Bryght definitely owed much to the laconic drawl (thankfully without the lisp!), and sounded completely right for the period.
Overall, I enjoyed Tempting Fortune and would recommend it with the caveats expressed above. The story is compelling and action-packed; and in spite of my desire to throttle the heroine, I was very quickly hooked and couldn’t put it down!
August 18, 2025
The FMC is a freaking idiot and completely ruined this book.
February 9, 2017
Tempting Fortune is part two of my big Malloren re-read and my first letdown of sorts. Portia and Bryght's story itself sits at a solid 3.5 for me. I would kinda like to round my final rating up to 4 stars because of the excellent use of Rothgar but there were quite a few moments where I was just very frustrated as a reader.
I have read this book already twice or so (2008 or so for the first time, most recently in 2012) but I did not remember Portia being such an annoying character at times and it certainly hampered my enjoyment of the story. Whereas Bryght delights in describing his lady as a "fierce Amazon", I could rather call her naive when feeling charitable, a stubborn mule at when feeling exasperated and a hypocrite when feeling annoyed after the millionth time of her "no means yes take me I am yours" shtick. The lady doth protest too much, methinks..
Bryght and the Malloren family are a delight. Whereas My Lady Notorious was an introduction to the clan, Tempting Fortune gives more background information on the individual member's activities and interests. We get more details on Rothgar's past! Bryght makes for a likable hero and his approach to gaming and gambling as a means to make money was fascinating, especially in contection with the Bridgewater sheme.
The story also succcessfully utilizes the theme of "people attracted to each other and one of them has to be in disguise/pretending to be someone else/cannot reveal their identity", a common occurrence in the Malloren novels (but one I totally dig). The brothel scene was very steamy, oh yessss.
Other than that, I felt often annoyed by Portia. When she finally came around to fully accept Bryght and not to lie to herself and be a hypocrite about it, it certainly felt like too little, too late (especially after ). Kudos for Bryght to successfully utilizing the naked man move though.. (ok fine, they were already married and at the Abbey at that point but still). ;)
I have read this book already twice or so (2008 or so for the first time, most recently in 2012) but I did not remember Portia being such an annoying character at times and it certainly hampered my enjoyment of the story. Whereas Bryght delights in describing his lady as a "fierce Amazon", I could rather call her naive when feeling charitable, a stubborn mule at when feeling exasperated and a hypocrite when feeling annoyed after the millionth time of her "no means yes take me I am yours" shtick. The lady doth protest too much, methinks..
Bryght and the Malloren family are a delight. Whereas My Lady Notorious was an introduction to the clan, Tempting Fortune gives more background information on the individual member's activities and interests. We get more details on Rothgar's past! Bryght makes for a likable hero and his approach to gaming and gambling as a means to make money was fascinating, especially in contection with the Bridgewater sheme.
The story also succcessfully utilizes the theme of "people attracted to each other and one of them has to be in disguise/pretending to be someone else/cannot reveal their identity", a common occurrence in the Malloren novels (but one I totally dig). The brothel scene was very steamy, oh yessss.
Other than that, I felt often annoyed by Portia. When she finally came around to fully accept Bryght and not to lie to herself and be a hypocrite about it, it certainly felt like too little, too late (especially after ). Kudos for Bryght to successfully utilizing the naked man move though.. (ok fine, they were already married and at the Abbey at that point but still). ;)
July 4, 2010
I read this book because I read the first in the series and wanted to read the third, my neuroses would not have it otherwise.
It wasn't exactly awful, and if I could I would go with 1.5 stars, because it wasn't exactly OK either. Like many others who've read this book, I had a problem with the heroine being a complete and stubborn idiot.
Now, with me, that's not usually a problem, since I myself, on occasion, have acted the stubborn idiot. The problem with this book was the fact that she never apologized properly for it, and I just wished in the end the hero hadn't loved her as much. Not a very good feeling to have with a romance novel, that.
Two stars it is then
It wasn't exactly awful, and if I could I would go with 1.5 stars, because it wasn't exactly OK either. Like many others who've read this book, I had a problem with the heroine being a complete and stubborn idiot.
Now, with me, that's not usually a problem, since I myself, on occasion, have acted the stubborn idiot. The problem with this book was the fact that she never apologized properly for it, and I just wished in the end the hero hadn't loved her as much. Not a very good feeling to have with a romance novel, that.
Two stars it is then
March 30, 2017
This is another one of those books that tells women that they can be unkind, unfair, and inconsiderate, and they will still be loved and treated nicely.
June 15, 2016
"With Mallorens all things are possible."
Isn't that the truth! Tempting Fortune is the highly entertaining second installment in the Malloren series. It displays all of Jo Beverley's trademark wit, high drama, and seductive romance. Read it, and be prepared to be swept up in the Georgian Era, and all the dramas that come with this swirling cast of characters.
The story is exciting right off the bat. Our heroine, Portia St. Claire, begins chapter one by going with pistol in hand to confront a housebreaker in the middle of the night. This is pretty bold, since Portia is a tiny gal and she is all alone in the house. But Portia is bold, reckless, and fierce, her motto being, "A fear faced is a fear defeated." Portia is thrown off guard by the fact that the intruder is a handsome gentleman, come in search of an incriminating love letter. He's none other than Bryght Malloren, second eldest son of the powerful Malloren clan. Portia and Bryght spar, verbally and physically, and are left with an encounter neither will soon forget.
Portia's efforts to gain back the money her foolish younger brother lost to gambling bring her into the world of glittering and seedy Georgian London, and her path crosses with Bryght again and again. She resolutely tries to resist his attentions, but finds her resolve wavering under his skilled seduction.
The plot of Tempting Fortune is intriguing, and kept me tearing through the pages. Bryght is a great hero, witty and seductive and funny, and also smart and industrious. He saves Portia selflessly again and again, and acts purely out of love for her and a desire to make her his wife. He's a very romantic hero. Portia, on the other hand, is a mixed bag. At first I loved her feistiness, but then her character veered into being pigheaded and unreasonable. She insists on rebuffing Bryght at every turn, no matter his good acts towards her, and his obvious feelings for her. Sometimes she opposes him just to be difficult. When the hero in a historical romance is nice enough to declare his love for you long before the last few pages (this is a rarity, trust me) you do not rebuff him. This had me looking at Portia like
Portia's attitude towards London society is at times tediously moralistic (granted the lifestyle was pretty debauched). Portia was always resourceful and no damsel, which I appreciated. I just wanted to throttle her at times.
There are lots of historical details about England in 1761 which lend themselves to the verisimilitude of the setting. In romances, I do find Georgian times to be less romantic than Regency times because they are more scandalous and less refined—blackmail and brothels and scheming, oh my!—but this setting does lend itself to being more sexy and naughty, which can be fun. Tempting Fortune certainly turns up the heat.
One of the prime reasons I enjoyed this novel so much is that I love historical romance series about a large family of aristocratic siblings. All of Bryght's siblings are a delight, and it's fun to watch them interact, and to see the family dynamic. Most importantly, there's Rothgar. He's what I remember most from the first installment, My Lady Notorious. In that book, I remember him stealing the show from the hero, his younger brother Cyn Malloren. Luckily, unlike Cyn, Bryght is allowed to shine during the climax and the ending of his own story, but Rothgar is still a formidable presence. Rothgar is Beowulf, Marquess of Rothgar, the imposing head of the mighty Mallorens. I was intrigued by Rothgar tidbits, left like a trail of breadcrumbs through Tempting Fortune, from details of his exotic mistress, Sappho, to his tragic backstory of a mad mother and feeling like an outsider in his own family even as he's responsible for them all. It is always the mysterious older brother whose book one eagerly awaits in a series such as this! I'm reading my way to book 5, Devilish, Rothgar's book! Also, bonus points because his nickname is Bey (for Beowulf), which tickled me pink in this novel when Bryght and the other sibs called him that.
a) he shares a nickname with Queen Bey
b) it makes me think of "bae," as in I'm sure he'll be my bae by the time Iread devour Devilish, so I'll be greeting old Bey like
Enough of my ranting about Rothgar! I'm just bewitched and enchanted! Read Tempting Fortune! Read My Lady Notorious first and get hooked on Jo Beverley's Malloren series. You'll be glad you did.
Isn't that the truth! Tempting Fortune is the highly entertaining second installment in the Malloren series. It displays all of Jo Beverley's trademark wit, high drama, and seductive romance. Read it, and be prepared to be swept up in the Georgian Era, and all the dramas that come with this swirling cast of characters.
The story is exciting right off the bat. Our heroine, Portia St. Claire, begins chapter one by going with pistol in hand to confront a housebreaker in the middle of the night. This is pretty bold, since Portia is a tiny gal and she is all alone in the house. But Portia is bold, reckless, and fierce, her motto being, "A fear faced is a fear defeated." Portia is thrown off guard by the fact that the intruder is a handsome gentleman, come in search of an incriminating love letter. He's none other than Bryght Malloren, second eldest son of the powerful Malloren clan. Portia and Bryght spar, verbally and physically, and are left with an encounter neither will soon forget.
Portia's efforts to gain back the money her foolish younger brother lost to gambling bring her into the world of glittering and seedy Georgian London, and her path crosses with Bryght again and again. She resolutely tries to resist his attentions, but finds her resolve wavering under his skilled seduction.
The plot of Tempting Fortune is intriguing, and kept me tearing through the pages. Bryght is a great hero, witty and seductive and funny, and also smart and industrious. He saves Portia selflessly again and again, and acts purely out of love for her and a desire to make her his wife. He's a very romantic hero. Portia, on the other hand, is a mixed bag. At first I loved her feistiness, but then her character veered into being pigheaded and unreasonable. She insists on rebuffing Bryght at every turn, no matter his good acts towards her, and his obvious feelings for her. Sometimes she opposes him just to be difficult. When the hero in a historical romance is nice enough to declare his love for you long before the last few pages (this is a rarity, trust me) you do not rebuff him. This had me looking at Portia like
Portia's attitude towards London society is at times tediously moralistic (granted the lifestyle was pretty debauched). Portia was always resourceful and no damsel, which I appreciated. I just wanted to throttle her at times.
There are lots of historical details about England in 1761 which lend themselves to the verisimilitude of the setting. In romances, I do find Georgian times to be less romantic than Regency times because they are more scandalous and less refined—blackmail and brothels and scheming, oh my!—but this setting does lend itself to being more sexy and naughty, which can be fun. Tempting Fortune certainly turns up the heat.
One of the prime reasons I enjoyed this novel so much is that I love historical romance series about a large family of aristocratic siblings. All of Bryght's siblings are a delight, and it's fun to watch them interact, and to see the family dynamic. Most importantly, there's Rothgar. He's what I remember most from the first installment, My Lady Notorious. In that book, I remember him stealing the show from the hero, his younger brother Cyn Malloren. Luckily, unlike Cyn, Bryght is allowed to shine during the climax and the ending of his own story, but Rothgar is still a formidable presence. Rothgar is Beowulf, Marquess of Rothgar, the imposing head of the mighty Mallorens. I was intrigued by Rothgar tidbits, left like a trail of breadcrumbs through Tempting Fortune, from details of his exotic mistress, Sappho, to his tragic backstory of a mad mother and feeling like an outsider in his own family even as he's responsible for them all. It is always the mysterious older brother whose book one eagerly awaits in a series such as this! I'm reading my way to book 5, Devilish, Rothgar's book! Also, bonus points because his nickname is Bey (for Beowulf), which tickled me pink in this novel when Bryght and the other sibs called him that.
a) he shares a nickname with Queen Bey
b) it makes me think of "bae," as in I'm sure he'll be my bae by the time I
Enough of my ranting about Rothgar! I'm just bewitched and enchanted! Read Tempting Fortune! Read My Lady Notorious first and get hooked on Jo Beverley's Malloren series. You'll be glad you did.
February 14, 2011
2.5
Sigh. I liked the first in this series and jumped to snag the second, because the Mallorens are all good looking devils, so what could go wrong? This book had lots of potential, and most of the right things were in it, but somewhere near the end, it lost energy. Maybe because it had such a high energy event early in the book (Hippolyta's auction/seduction... you know, the event that brings the M/F close enough together that they arepermanently intertwined, blah blah... but it was HOT), but then it got boring with the angst and lack of conflict after that. Portia turns into a total fool just to keep the story moving... Don't like that. I'm realizing that I really like this author's general writing but she has issues keeping the sizzle going; her sex scenes could be simpler to start and she tries to be too sensational with them and it loses the characters and my interest. I thought it was a mishap with the first one, but it happened again here. And really, what's the point in reading girlpr0n if the actual pr0n part is kind of weird and unsatisfying?
That said, I did read the whole thing, I did like Bryght (even if he's doomed to be married to a total moron), but the major conflict could have been either of the seductions and it had to be a thrown together ending that took WAY TOO LONG to get to. Disappointed. The next one involves a female Malloren (who's a great character) and Chastity's jerk brother, so I'm not sure I'll read that one. I may skip to whichever one is about Rothgar, 'cause it's Head Alpha Male Or Go Home at this point.
Sigh. I liked the first in this series and jumped to snag the second, because the Mallorens are all good looking devils, so what could go wrong? This book had lots of potential, and most of the right things were in it, but somewhere near the end, it lost energy. Maybe because it had such a high energy event early in the book (Hippolyta's auction/seduction... you know, the event that brings the M/F close enough together that they arepermanently intertwined, blah blah... but it was HOT), but then it got boring with the angst and lack of conflict after that. Portia turns into a total fool just to keep the story moving... Don't like that. I'm realizing that I really like this author's general writing but she has issues keeping the sizzle going; her sex scenes could be simpler to start and she tries to be too sensational with them and it loses the characters and my interest. I thought it was a mishap with the first one, but it happened again here. And really, what's the point in reading girlpr0n if the actual pr0n part is kind of weird and unsatisfying?
That said, I did read the whole thing, I did like Bryght (even if he's doomed to be married to a total moron), but the major conflict could have been either of the seductions and it had to be a thrown together ending that took WAY TOO LONG to get to. Disappointed. The next one involves a female Malloren (who's a great character) and Chastity's jerk brother, so I'm not sure I'll read that one. I may skip to whichever one is about Rothgar, 'cause it's Head Alpha Male Or Go Home at this point.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 4, 2011
I really wanted to rate this one higher, but the heroine's behaviour (and characterization) just kept pulling it down. In the end, I couldn't understand how her loyalty to her brother, who had effectively ruined her and her family's life, and her childhood acquaintance, who ruined her reputation in society, could overcome her love and loyalty for the hero, who had saved both her family's livelihood and her own reputation. Portia's impulsive and thoughtless behaviour just wore down my sympathy for her. And it made no sense in the context of what was supposed to be her character - a 25 year-old woman who ran her family's estate with competence and good planning.
My other beef with this book was the bitch-character Nerissa, whom I simply hated, even though I know there really are people like that, especially in the upper reaches of society (a couple of contemporary English duchesses come to mind).
My other beef with this book was the bitch-character Nerissa, whom I simply hated, even though I know there really are people like that, especially in the upper reaches of society (a couple of contemporary English duchesses come to mind).
July 16, 2016
2,5 stars.
Opening scene was very engaging and I thought this is going to be good, but as the story processed the heroine became more and more trying.
Alternative she was overly pious, then ready to bulk Society, but mostly making stupid decisions that placed her in the victim role.
I found her lack of trust in the hero annoying as she kept trusting and playing into the hands of people that openly did not have her best interest in mind. I wanted her to stand up for herself - take a good look at the situation and start making better decisions.
Opening scene was very engaging and I thought this is going to be good, but as the story processed the heroine became more and more trying.
Alternative she was overly pious, then ready to bulk Society, but mostly making stupid decisions that placed her in the victim role.
I found her lack of trust in the hero annoying as she kept trusting and playing into the hands of people that openly did not have her best interest in mind. I wanted her to stand up for herself - take a good look at the situation and start making better decisions.
May 6, 2022
This is the best virgin for sale in a brothel to pay off family member debts, yet Portia St. Claire's continuing distrust of her savior and protection of her wastrel brother made me dislike her.
I do enjoy all her other books immensely. I recommend any books by the original Word Wenches: Mary Jo Putney, Patricia Rice, Nicola Cornick, Joanna Bourne, Cara Elliot (Andrea Penrose, etc.), Annie Gracie, and Susan Fraser King.
I do enjoy all her other books immensely. I recommend any books by the original Word Wenches: Mary Jo Putney, Patricia Rice, Nicola Cornick, Joanna Bourne, Cara Elliot (Andrea Penrose, etc.), Annie Gracie, and Susan Fraser King.
February 13, 2010
It was ok, but I really hated Portia because of her indecision. She was an idiot sometimes and I wanted to shake and slap her several times. I have never encountered such an aggravating female character.
October 7, 2010
For the life of me, I can't figure out why the hero fell in love with the heroine! She was such a shrew. The ENTIRE book. Good God! that woman put me in a foul mood. I gave the book a 2 star because I liked the hero and certain pieces of the story, but it certainly was a struggle to finish.
May 6, 2019
Sejak bertemu dgn Bryght Malloren, hidup Portia St. Claire berbalik 180 derajat. Penuh petualangan yg tak pernah dibayangkannya apalagi diharapkannya. Demi menolong adik tirinya, Oliver yg kecanduan judi dan dgn cerobohnya mempertaruhkan estatnya, Portia terpaksa menemani Oliver utk menemui Lord Ware di London demi mendapatkan pinjaman. Karena kesulitan menemui Lord Ware yg baru, Fort, Oliver kembali tenggelam dlm judi krn mabuk kemenangan besar hasil dari mengalah besar-besaran oleh Bryght.
Bryght tidak bisa melupakan wanita Amazon-nya, Hyppolita, nama panggilannya pada Portia. Betapa terkejutnya dirinya saat tahu Portia dilelang keperawanannya di suatu rumah bordil. Bryght menolong Portia melalui taruhan dan seru banget adegan saat Bryght mengajak Portia utk berakting terangsang di hadapan para pengintip tsb. (Gw gak bisa berhenti ngakak saat baca adegan tsb. OMG Bryght!!!! Lu memang tipe hero idaman gw ... LOL).
Portia bukan tipe heroine idaman. Dia adalah seorang wanita perawan tua (usianya sudah 25 tahun), perawakannya kecil tapi tingkah lakunya super ganas (dan lagi-lagi sukses membuat saya ngakak terus). Portia terlalu blak-blakan dlm bicara dan juga terlalu keras kepala jika sudah membulatkan tekad. Portia memang ibarat kuda liar yg sulit dikekang. Bryght kesulitan membaca apa yg akan dilakukan Portia selanjutnya tetapi inilah yg bikin seru banget bacanya. Saya tidak bisa menyalahkan rasa sayang Portia pada Oliver itu kelewat batas, krn Oliver satu-satunya pria dlm keluarganya dan kelemahannya hanya berjudi (Mungkin krn Jangan Berjudi tidak ada dalam 10 Perintah Allah, mengingat Portia ini tipe kaku dan berpatokan pada Alkitab). Sepanjang hidupnya Portia sudah pusing setengah mampus oleh para penjudi di sekelilingnya, dimulai ayahnya, Oliver dan dia sangat tidak menginginkan suami yg penjudi juga. Tapi bagaimana menolak pesona Bryght yg sudah kondang sbg penjudi kelas wahid dan Dewa Cabul? Jadi saya sangat menikmati ulah Portia yg super paranoid, mati-matian menolak dinikahi Bryght padahal Bryght jelas-jelas sudah gandrung dan cinta berat pada Hyppolita nya ini. Portia bertarung melawan keinginan semua pihak yg menginginkan pernikahan tsb berlangsung (walaupun masing-masing punya motif tersendiri, ini keunikan plot novel ini. Bravo!!!), dan terutama dia harus melawan hasratnya sendiri terhadap Bryght.
Tampaknya pada abad 18 ini trend yg ada adalah para bangsawan kerap berjudi dan gengsi banget jika tidak berjudi (inilah yg menyebabkan Oliver terseret arus London in padahal jelas-jelas gak becus berjudi). Bryght jelas sangat beruntung dlm berjudi tetapi tidak dlm cinta. Bryght dikagumi banyak wanita tetapi hatinya hanya tertambat pada Portia (mungkin krn Portia terlalu independen dan tidak mudah klepek-klepek). Sosok dan karakter Bryght mengingatkan saya pada Sebastian St Vincent dari buku Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas.
Bryght tidak memiliki lidah perak seperti Sebastian, tetapi dia seorang penjudi tulen dan dia membiarkan gosip-gosip buruk menerpa dirinya asalkan bukan Portia. Bagaimana saya tidak cinta pada hero spt Bryght yg selalu memastikan kenyamanan bagi wanitanya lebih dulu, pdhl Portia membalasnya dgn ketidakpercayaan mutlak? Jatuh bangunnya Bryght utk mengejar Portia patut diacungi jempol, kesabarannya juga WOW BANGET.
Recommended bagi penyuka enemy to lover trope, banter mereka gak mudah terlupakan. Seperti kata Bryght: "Selamat malam kekasih nakalku yang manis".
Bryght tidak bisa melupakan wanita Amazon-nya, Hyppolita, nama panggilannya pada Portia. Betapa terkejutnya dirinya saat tahu Portia dilelang keperawanannya di suatu rumah bordil. Bryght menolong Portia melalui taruhan dan seru banget adegan saat Bryght mengajak Portia utk berakting terangsang di hadapan para pengintip tsb. (Gw gak bisa berhenti ngakak saat baca adegan tsb. OMG Bryght!!!! Lu memang tipe hero idaman gw ... LOL).
Portia bukan tipe heroine idaman. Dia adalah seorang wanita perawan tua (usianya sudah 25 tahun), perawakannya kecil tapi tingkah lakunya super ganas (dan lagi-lagi sukses membuat saya ngakak terus). Portia terlalu blak-blakan dlm bicara dan juga terlalu keras kepala jika sudah membulatkan tekad. Portia memang ibarat kuda liar yg sulit dikekang. Bryght kesulitan membaca apa yg akan dilakukan Portia selanjutnya tetapi inilah yg bikin seru banget bacanya. Saya tidak bisa menyalahkan rasa sayang Portia pada Oliver itu kelewat batas, krn Oliver satu-satunya pria dlm keluarganya dan kelemahannya hanya berjudi (Mungkin krn Jangan Berjudi tidak ada dalam 10 Perintah Allah, mengingat Portia ini tipe kaku dan berpatokan pada Alkitab). Sepanjang hidupnya Portia sudah pusing setengah mampus oleh para penjudi di sekelilingnya, dimulai ayahnya, Oliver dan dia sangat tidak menginginkan suami yg penjudi juga. Tapi bagaimana menolak pesona Bryght yg sudah kondang sbg penjudi kelas wahid dan Dewa Cabul? Jadi saya sangat menikmati ulah Portia yg super paranoid, mati-matian menolak dinikahi Bryght padahal Bryght jelas-jelas sudah gandrung dan cinta berat pada Hyppolita nya ini. Portia bertarung melawan keinginan semua pihak yg menginginkan pernikahan tsb berlangsung (walaupun masing-masing punya motif tersendiri, ini keunikan plot novel ini. Bravo!!!), dan terutama dia harus melawan hasratnya sendiri terhadap Bryght.
Tampaknya pada abad 18 ini trend yg ada adalah para bangsawan kerap berjudi dan gengsi banget jika tidak berjudi (inilah yg menyebabkan Oliver terseret arus London in padahal jelas-jelas gak becus berjudi). Bryght jelas sangat beruntung dlm berjudi tetapi tidak dlm cinta. Bryght dikagumi banyak wanita tetapi hatinya hanya tertambat pada Portia (mungkin krn Portia terlalu independen dan tidak mudah klepek-klepek). Sosok dan karakter Bryght mengingatkan saya pada Sebastian St Vincent dari buku Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas.
Bryght tidak memiliki lidah perak seperti Sebastian, tetapi dia seorang penjudi tulen dan dia membiarkan gosip-gosip buruk menerpa dirinya asalkan bukan Portia. Bagaimana saya tidak cinta pada hero spt Bryght yg selalu memastikan kenyamanan bagi wanitanya lebih dulu, pdhl Portia membalasnya dgn ketidakpercayaan mutlak? Jatuh bangunnya Bryght utk mengejar Portia patut diacungi jempol, kesabarannya juga WOW BANGET. Recommended bagi penyuka enemy to lover trope, banter mereka gak mudah terlupakan. Seperti kata Bryght: "Selamat malam kekasih nakalku yang manis".
May 18, 2017
Para empezar, son 3.5 estrellas, en concreto.
La historia de otro Malloren en mis manos y no sabía que esperar. A pesar de que no le he dado la calificación más alta, me muero de ganas por conocer a los demás Malloren en las siguientes historias.
Últimamente me he estado enamorando de el género romántico.
Bueno, sin más preámbulos, al principio la historia se me hizo un tanto tediosa (será por eso que me tardé tanto en terminarla). Pienso que se me hizo de esta forma porque se hablaba mucho de apuestas, deudas de juego y esas cosas no me llaman mucho la atención.
Ahora, cuando Bryght y Portia se conocen 😱 OMG! ¡Qué locura!
Me gustó la historia de estos dos y como se involucraron personajes ya conocidos para mi como Rothgar y Fort. Siento que algunas situaciones se vieron un tanto forzadas, pero pues el libro me pareció entretenido y en algunas partes divertido y emocionante.
En cuanto a los personajes debo decir que Arcenbryght es mi nuevo amor, a Fort me dan ganas de darle una patada en el trasero y a Portia, ¡oh por Dios! Portia, que mujer tan terca, testaruda y a la vez temeraria. Había muchos momentos en los que quería agarrarla de los pelos ja ja 😰
En general el libro me gustó mucho y me entretuvo, Jo Beverley, ¿dónde habías estado todo este tiempo?
La historia de otro Malloren en mis manos y no sabía que esperar. A pesar de que no le he dado la calificación más alta, me muero de ganas por conocer a los demás Malloren en las siguientes historias.
Últimamente me he estado enamorando de el género romántico.
Bueno, sin más preámbulos, al principio la historia se me hizo un tanto tediosa (será por eso que me tardé tanto en terminarla). Pienso que se me hizo de esta forma porque se hablaba mucho de apuestas, deudas de juego y esas cosas no me llaman mucho la atención.
Ahora, cuando Bryght y Portia se conocen 😱 OMG! ¡Qué locura!
Me gustó la historia de estos dos y como se involucraron personajes ya conocidos para mi como Rothgar y Fort. Siento que algunas situaciones se vieron un tanto forzadas, pero pues el libro me pareció entretenido y en algunas partes divertido y emocionante.
En cuanto a los personajes debo decir que Arcenbryght es mi nuevo amor, a Fort me dan ganas de darle una patada en el trasero y a Portia, ¡oh por Dios! Portia, que mujer tan terca, testaruda y a la vez temeraria. Había muchos momentos en los que quería agarrarla de los pelos ja ja 😰
En general el libro me gustó mucho y me entretuvo, Jo Beverley, ¿dónde habías estado todo este tiempo?
July 18, 2025
Oh dear God in heaven what did I just read? This is only my second Jo Beverley novel and if this series weren’t famous in HR Land it would be my last. Read Miranda’s review below, she nails it. I can’t go over it again, I’m so disgusted. Just let me say that by the end my idea of an HEA was for Bryght Malloren to set Portia on fire and open a beer to watch her burn while her stupid brother watches. The self righteous hypocrisy of that nasty little puritanical codependent bitch burns me to a fury. Why he kept after her is beyond belief. She forgives her gambling mad brother everything and forgives her responsible business man husband nothing. All the while he is turning his own life upside down to save her stupid neck. It is possible for Bryght to gamble responsibly without becoming addicted as Oliver obviously had, just as a person can drink without being an alcoholic. We never even get an epiphany scene, she just goes straight from “I think he murdered my brother “ to adoring wife. Aaaagh!! What I liked about it is it’s in the Georgian era with the powdered wigs, red high heels, hoop skirts, and great history. What I disliked about it is everything else.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 175 reviews