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Lords of Lancashire #1
The Lesson Plan: The Highwayman's Hellion
Wild and carefree Winifred Langston has nursed a crush on her best friend's older brother for years, but Conrad Pearce has never deigned to notice her. Little does she know that Conrad has been concealing his attraction to her beneath his stuffy, respectable exterior. But when Conrad hears of Freddie's plans for one last, wild caper before she's sent to London for her first season, he's convinced to teach her a well-deserved lesson. He intercepts her disguised as a highwayman only to find he can't resist the sensual beauty hidden beneath the maddening hellion's exterior and what began as one sort of lesson becomes quite another...
84 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 18, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
November 14, 2015
What do you get when you combine my two favorite genres in one novella? An amazing amazing amazing read! My only complaint is that it should have been longer! I loved Conrad and Freddie and one full length book wouldn't have been enough! *Hurries of to buy the rest of this series*
August 9, 2012
This was a light-hearted and very well-written erotic romance novella in which the strait-laced hero and reckless heroine reminded me a good bit of Hew and Vesta in THE VIRGIN HUNTRESS.
Although the sex in this novella was very advanced for the level of the heroine's experience, I have come to accept this as par for the course when reading "erotic" romance.
I would still like to have had more story and character development but the writing was wonderful. I will very likely read more titles by this author in the near future.
Although the sex in this novella was very advanced for the level of the heroine's experience, I have come to accept this as par for the course when reading "erotic" romance.
I would still like to have had more story and character development but the writing was wonderful. I will very likely read more titles by this author in the near future.
January 20, 2012
So there I was, innocently making some food for my troupe of kids, and I thought, “Since I suck at cooking and I’m bored watching food cook, where’s my Kindle? I have a Jackie Barbosa novella to read.”
Holy. Sh**. People.
Can I just say how much I LOVED “The Lesson Plan”?
Now, I do love my historicals, but I must admit, I don’t actually keep track of all historical errors and such, so any classification errors in this particular review are mine, not Jackie’s. As you can tell from my excitement, Jackie is awesome.
So, where was I, oh yes, telling you why you should go and get this novella.
“The Lesson Plan” is an erotic Regency romance about Winifred “Freddie” Langston, indulged tomboy daughter of a Viscount, who at the nigh on ancient age of 21 is about to face her first season in London. Now, don’t think she’s been mistreated or anything. Freddie has managed to worm her way out of going to London for years, but now that her father has passed, her oldest brother, Nash, has come to the conclusion that the girl needs to grow up and get on with her life like a lady should. Which means not walking around in boy’s clothes with her twin brother and best friend from the neighbor’s house. She shouldn’t be scheming or improper and she sure as hell shouldn’t be heading out to a brothel to find out what all the fuss is about.
Now, onto the hero, Conrad Pearce, whom—by the way, I may fantasize about for quite a long time because I LOVES me some uptight, secretly highly sexed heroes, if you know what I mean. (And I KNOW you know what I mean). Con has an unholy desire for Freddie, which he hides as far down as possible because a) you don’t think about proper ladies like that and b) there was no way her brother, who was one of his best friends, would ever let him live if he knew that Con was thinking of thinking of her that way. Nevertheless, when Con discovers and relays to Nash what Freddie’s plans are, he can’t believe that instead of locking her in her room, Nash comes up with a completely other idea for stopping Freddie from ruining herself and her family by possibly getting caught in a brothel. Nash wants Con to portray a highwayman and hold Freddie “hostage” for a few hours to teach her that it’s not a safe world out there.
Well, Freddie learns something all right…
I’d tell you more, but I’m not ruining a second of it for you. Get the book. Thank me later. AFTER your cigarette.
Holy. Sh**. People.
Can I just say how much I LOVED “The Lesson Plan”?
Now, I do love my historicals, but I must admit, I don’t actually keep track of all historical errors and such, so any classification errors in this particular review are mine, not Jackie’s. As you can tell from my excitement, Jackie is awesome.
So, where was I, oh yes, telling you why you should go and get this novella.
“The Lesson Plan” is an erotic Regency romance about Winifred “Freddie” Langston, indulged tomboy daughter of a Viscount, who at the nigh on ancient age of 21 is about to face her first season in London. Now, don’t think she’s been mistreated or anything. Freddie has managed to worm her way out of going to London for years, but now that her father has passed, her oldest brother, Nash, has come to the conclusion that the girl needs to grow up and get on with her life like a lady should. Which means not walking around in boy’s clothes with her twin brother and best friend from the neighbor’s house. She shouldn’t be scheming or improper and she sure as hell shouldn’t be heading out to a brothel to find out what all the fuss is about.
Now, onto the hero, Conrad Pearce, whom—by the way, I may fantasize about for quite a long time because I LOVES me some uptight, secretly highly sexed heroes, if you know what I mean. (And I KNOW you know what I mean). Con has an unholy desire for Freddie, which he hides as far down as possible because a) you don’t think about proper ladies like that and b) there was no way her brother, who was one of his best friends, would ever let him live if he knew that Con was thinking of thinking of her that way. Nevertheless, when Con discovers and relays to Nash what Freddie’s plans are, he can’t believe that instead of locking her in her room, Nash comes up with a completely other idea for stopping Freddie from ruining herself and her family by possibly getting caught in a brothel. Nash wants Con to portray a highwayman and hold Freddie “hostage” for a few hours to teach her that it’s not a safe world out there.
Well, Freddie learns something all right…
I’d tell you more, but I’m not ruining a second of it for you. Get the book. Thank me later. AFTER your cigarette.
July 15, 2021
The Lesson Plan: The Highwayman's Hellion was a fun romance featuring the best friend's older brother trope.
Winifred "Freddie" Langston has managed to avoid having her first season for several years but now that her brother has inherited the title, her time is up. Freddie however is determined to have one last bit of fun before she's off to London and comes up with a wicked scheme. Unbeknownst to Freddie, her brother has learned of her plans and has asked his friend Conrad Pearce to teach Freddie a lesson by posing as a highwayman to kidnap Freddie. But Freddie has had a crush on Connor for years and when the two end up alone together, the lesson becomes a different one entirely.
After Con kidnaps Freddie, the pair go to a secluded cabin to wait until the "ransom" is paid to release Freddie. Initially Con believes Freddie has no clue who he is due to his disguise but she actually figured it out almost immediately due to studying Con's features for years. While the pair are waiting, the sexual tension between them is off the charts and it doesn't take long for them to give in to their attraction. The scene between Con and Freddie at the cabin is super steamy and so well done. This novella is incredibly explicit which I was not expecting at all but absolutely loved. There's an explicit scene right before the end of the book in particular that was simply fantastic. My main issue with the romance in this was that while the steamy scenes were well done, I felt the two didn't really have a connection outside of that. Had the book been longer to allow more to develop between Con and Freddie then I would likely have enjoyed this a bit more.
Overall The Lesson Plan: The Highwayman's Hellion was an enjoyable read that I would recommend for the explicit scenes alone. I will be continuing with the series and I hope the rest of the books are as steamy as this one was.
Winifred "Freddie" Langston has managed to avoid having her first season for several years but now that her brother has inherited the title, her time is up. Freddie however is determined to have one last bit of fun before she's off to London and comes up with a wicked scheme. Unbeknownst to Freddie, her brother has learned of her plans and has asked his friend Conrad Pearce to teach Freddie a lesson by posing as a highwayman to kidnap Freddie. But Freddie has had a crush on Connor for years and when the two end up alone together, the lesson becomes a different one entirely.
After Con kidnaps Freddie, the pair go to a secluded cabin to wait until the "ransom" is paid to release Freddie. Initially Con believes Freddie has no clue who he is due to his disguise but she actually figured it out almost immediately due to studying Con's features for years. While the pair are waiting, the sexual tension between them is off the charts and it doesn't take long for them to give in to their attraction. The scene between Con and Freddie at the cabin is super steamy and so well done. This novella is incredibly explicit which I was not expecting at all but absolutely loved. There's an explicit scene right before the end of the book in particular that was simply fantastic. My main issue with the romance in this was that while the steamy scenes were well done, I felt the two didn't really have a connection outside of that. Had the book been longer to allow more to develop between Con and Freddie then I would likely have enjoyed this a bit more.
Overall The Lesson Plan: The Highwayman's Hellion was an enjoyable read that I would recommend for the explicit scenes alone. I will be continuing with the series and I hope the rest of the books are as steamy as this one was.
August 31, 2012
OMG!!!
This book was one of the best surprises I 've ever come across!
As it was an Amazon freebie, I told myself why not? and the result was....beyond words! Sizzlingly hot, wickedly funny and deliciously tasting....it was like book chocolate!!!
It is the story of a tomboy, Freddie Langston, and a man of every female's dreams! Conrad Pearce is not the all too "stiff" proper aristocrat that everyone thinks he is! He thirsts to dominate the woman in breeches and she is eager to be tasted! He sets out to teach her a lesson and he is the one to be taught in the end! And what an excellent time the reader has while the tables are turning!
For those who want it all and don't mind that they will be hungry for more Lords of Lancashire afterwards!
This book was one of the best surprises I 've ever come across!
As it was an Amazon freebie, I told myself why not? and the result was....beyond words! Sizzlingly hot, wickedly funny and deliciously tasting....it was like book chocolate!!!
It is the story of a tomboy, Freddie Langston, and a man of every female's dreams! Conrad Pearce is not the all too "stiff" proper aristocrat that everyone thinks he is! He thirsts to dominate the woman in breeches and she is eager to be tasted! He sets out to teach her a lesson and he is the one to be taught in the end! And what an excellent time the reader has while the tables are turning!
For those who want it all and don't mind that they will be hungry for more Lords of Lancashire afterwards!
August 16, 2021
Short, hot, and sweet!
The very first book by Jackie Barbosa I've ever read, and it was really fun novella. It was short, yes, but its length never made the story less entertaining or romantic. I really like how the main couple bantered, and the sex scenes between them were hot and sensual.
The Highwayman's Hellion is a pretty good introduction to the Jackie Barbosa's writing style, characters, and stories. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.
5/5 stars
The very first book by Jackie Barbosa I've ever read, and it was really fun novella. It was short, yes, but its length never made the story less entertaining or romantic. I really like how the main couple bantered, and the sex scenes between them were hot and sensual.
The Highwayman's Hellion is a pretty good introduction to the Jackie Barbosa's writing style, characters, and stories. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.
5/5 stars
September 17, 2020
I'm quite impressed at how well-rounded this story is, considering that it's a novella. Barbosa managed to inlcude just the right amount of angst for the length, and she created well-rounded characters, along with enough glimpses of the other men to prepare for their books. Overall, this is a fun and sexy little historical, and I'll definitely be reading the rest of the series.
February 26, 2012
Great cheeky and loveable heroine, hot hero, witty dialogue and some very nice steamy love scenes. I enjoyed this one. ;)
April 14, 2015
Silly plot and annoying characters make for a rather unmemorable 'romance' story.
February 10, 2019
Great
I found this a really good book. Freddie is an unconventional lady who liked to dress like a man but she still stirs the loins of her neighbour.
I found this a really good book. Freddie is an unconventional lady who liked to dress like a man but she still stirs the loins of her neighbour.
January 23, 2012
Memorable Scenes:
- the stay in the shelter during the 'kidnapping' > awesome and subtle little hint of BDSM
- Conrad's proposal and what followed > beautiful and hot!
This novella didn’t have a lot of secondary characters and I didn’t mind that at all as the focus remained on Freddie and Conrad, their chemistry and the development of their romance, which is something I like in historical and contemporary romance.
This being said, I was very happy to hear from the author that there is a story for Nash, Freddie’s older brother and there are stories coming for Walter (Freddie’s twin brother) and Thomas (Conrad’s younger brother) because these brothers intrigued me to no end, even if they weren’t in the limelight that much.
The hero and heroine of THE LESSON PLAN are as much opposites as anyone could imagine. Winifred “Freddie” Langston is an impulsive and willful wild child and Conrad Pearce is composed, sensible and reserved. Freddie and Conrad are the quintessential opposites that attract and Jackie Barbosa spun a lovely tale around them. The sex scenes are exquisitely done. The sexual tension is built up slowly and gradually to the brink of snapping and when it does, the heat flares.
I was hesitant to start reading THE LESSON PLAN as I'd just finished a sublime historical romance and wanted to avoid the inevitable comparisons if I immediately read another historical. So I read some contemporary romances to cleanse the palate and then started THE LESSON PLAN. I shouldn't have worried because if I go by this book alone Jackie Barbosa writes great historical romances and I've been missing out by not having read them sooner. Her writing has this something to it I cannot pinpoint but I know I love.
THE LESSON PLAN is an excellent historical erotic romance infused with subtle humor and delivered through crisp writing with characters that you can't but love.
Rating:
8.1 out of 10 - GREAT READ!!
- the stay in the shelter during the 'kidnapping' > awesome and subtle little hint of BDSM
- Conrad's proposal and what followed > beautiful and hot!
This novella didn’t have a lot of secondary characters and I didn’t mind that at all as the focus remained on Freddie and Conrad, their chemistry and the development of their romance, which is something I like in historical and contemporary romance.
This being said, I was very happy to hear from the author that there is a story for Nash, Freddie’s older brother and there are stories coming for Walter (Freddie’s twin brother) and Thomas (Conrad’s younger brother) because these brothers intrigued me to no end, even if they weren’t in the limelight that much.
The hero and heroine of THE LESSON PLAN are as much opposites as anyone could imagine. Winifred “Freddie” Langston is an impulsive and willful wild child and Conrad Pearce is composed, sensible and reserved. Freddie and Conrad are the quintessential opposites that attract and Jackie Barbosa spun a lovely tale around them. The sex scenes are exquisitely done. The sexual tension is built up slowly and gradually to the brink of snapping and when it does, the heat flares.
I was hesitant to start reading THE LESSON PLAN as I'd just finished a sublime historical romance and wanted to avoid the inevitable comparisons if I immediately read another historical. So I read some contemporary romances to cleanse the palate and then started THE LESSON PLAN. I shouldn't have worried because if I go by this book alone Jackie Barbosa writes great historical romances and I've been missing out by not having read them sooner. Her writing has this something to it I cannot pinpoint but I know I love.
THE LESSON PLAN is an excellent historical erotic romance infused with subtle humor and delivered through crisp writing with characters that you can't but love.
Favorite Quotes:
Quite simply, Conrad fascinated her by virtue of being everything she wasn’t—levelheaded, self-contained, urbane, reserved—and that air of perfect, impenetrable composure seemed both a careful façade and a deliberate challenge. Unsettle me, it dared her. Muss my never-out-of-place hair, put my impeccably knotted cravat askew, overset me with passion and recklessness. She found it impossible to believe he was as imperturbable, as detached as he appeared. Beneath that cool, polished exterior, she believed there lurked a kindred soul, and she ached to set him free from his prison of decorous self-restraint.
As if any male with operational vision could mistake the owner of that slender waist and gloriously rounded arse for a boy. He certainly hadn’t been able to since the summer he’d returned from Cambridge to discover that the tomboyish urchin who’d played with his younger brother was no longer a leggy, boisterous child, but a leggy, boisterous young woman with a figure that would have been right at home in Miss May’s Pleasure Parlor.
And that was how, a few seconds later, Conrad discovered that the Honorable Miss Winifred Langston intended to visit Miss May’s Pleasure Palace just two nights hence. The reason in order to learn “what all the fuss is about.”
Conrad had a mind to show her. In the interest of not being called out for pistols at dawn by Nash Langston, however, he went upstairs and showed his hand instead.
The moment of Conrad’s surrender was one Freddie was sure she would remember—and cherish—for the rest of her life. She hadn’t been sure she could manage it. Even when she was taking off her breeches, preparing to offer herself to him, she’d doubted her ability to breach his reserve and make him throw caution to the wind. Even when he’d slipped his fingers between her thighs and groaned with undisguised delight, she’d wondered if he would finally be able to unleash the truest angels of his nature.
The angels that were devils.
He was a seething mass of contradiction on the matter. He wanted her. Ached for her. To the point that he lay awake at night, stroking himself until he was spent as he replayed every wicked moment of their encounter. He doubted he would ever again find a woman whose craving for submission and surrender seemed so perfectly to mirror his own need for domination and control.
Rating:
8.1 out of 10 - GREAT READ!!
September 1, 2012
A fast, naughty little read. I liked that Freddie didn't have to become the perfect lady in the end. Also, the sex was nice.
This book was a free Kindle download I picked up 08/31/12 for the Why Buy the Cow? reading challenge.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
This book was a free Kindle download I picked up 08/31/12 for the Why Buy the Cow? reading challenge.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
July 18, 2018
New to me author and I am definitely checking out the rest of her books!
This novella leaves me wanting, in a good way! Freddie and Pearce deserve a full length novel, but
I think the author has done a great job giving us a condensed but complete story.
The sexy times are steamy, and uptight Pearce's thoughts were scorching hot! Freddie and I were totally approving of him deciding that Freddie would be a perfect wife and mistress rolled into one! Rare in a time when wives were treated "properly " and passion and basic urges reserved for mistresses and courtesans!
What I love best about the book is the humour! Both Pearce and Freddie have the funny lines, both in speech and internal monologue LOL.
SPOILERS
The proposal scene was precious! Pearce proposed properly and beautifully, grovelling nicely too. When the imp Freddie decided to make him sweat a bit more, ha! He had the perfect way to handle her!
It was sooooo good to read about their life after marriage too. I'm convinced of their HEA.
This novella leaves me wanting, in a good way! Freddie and Pearce deserve a full length novel, but
I think the author has done a great job giving us a condensed but complete story.
The sexy times are steamy, and uptight Pearce's thoughts were scorching hot! Freddie and I were totally approving of him deciding that Freddie would be a perfect wife and mistress rolled into one! Rare in a time when wives were treated "properly " and passion and basic urges reserved for mistresses and courtesans!
What I love best about the book is the humour! Both Pearce and Freddie have the funny lines, both in speech and internal monologue LOL.
SPOILERS
The proposal scene was precious! Pearce proposed properly and beautifully, grovelling nicely too. When the imp Freddie decided to make him sweat a bit more, ha! He had the perfect way to handle her!
It was sooooo good to read about their life after marriage too. I'm convinced of their HEA.
July 13, 2024
A steamy story, read as part of the Seduce me in Spring anthology. This was very steamy. The story was okay. It is one of the ‘lady insists on dressing and behaving like a boy/man’ types. I do wonder about these. I am sure there would be much more control and the lady would have to conform. I also wonder here about the twin and male friend if they would not also want to start distancing themselves as it might affect their reputations - would they really take her to a brothel? I doubt it given the likelihood of what might happen if she was discovered.
Given her antics are so widely known, no matter how she appears in London she would have been talked about and probably given a wide berth. It might have been more believable if she was usually dressed and behaving as a lady, but stole off dressed as a boy/man occasionally. So far fetched but not badly written.
Given her antics are so widely known, no matter how she appears in London she would have been talked about and probably given a wide berth. It might have been more believable if she was usually dressed and behaving as a lady, but stole off dressed as a boy/man occasionally. So far fetched but not badly written.
March 5, 2019
I like stuffy heroes. I like those spunky heroines who challenge them. Most of all I like to actually read about those instances wherein the spunky heroine has ruffled the stuffy hero.
So while I enjoyed the premise of this book. I think the downfall for me is the novella-ness of it. If this were not a novella, and I got to see more of Conrad being ruffled to all ruffledness by Freddie I think I would have given this a higher rating.
But I will say there's a nice steam level to this. so...yeah. I probably go on to others in the series and see if the author can pull me in with a full length novel.
So while I enjoyed the premise of this book. I think the downfall for me is the novella-ness of it. If this were not a novella, and I got to see more of Conrad being ruffled to all ruffledness by Freddie I think I would have given this a higher rating.
But I will say there's a nice steam level to this. so...yeah. I probably go on to others in the series and see if the author can pull me in with a full length novel.
April 4, 2018
The book ended at 76%, so I'm not convinced that I really read 108 pages. I think I read more like 82 pages of a good story, which left me with 26 pages of excerpts from other books.
I liked the story, but there were a 2 or 3 veiled references to rape that really turned me off. In case I've misunderstood the author's intent, I'm giving this story a 3, but rape references are enough to make this a 1 star book for me.
I liked the story, but there were a 2 or 3 veiled references to rape that really turned me off. In case I've misunderstood the author's intent, I'm giving this story a 3, but rape references are enough to make this a 1 star book for me.
July 21, 2022
It was short and sweet. I have a strong qffinity for unconventional people especially females so I Naturally loved Freddie. I wish women who lived during that era truly had as nuch freedom and adventure as she did. The author explores the dominance and submission very well - many women like to be dominated by men but ONLY in the bedroom. There is no place for it outside of the bedroom.
June 20, 2023
Very meh ending. Not terrible, but there’s no real tension, everything happens too quickly and is solved too easily, and very little if any of the work that’s needed to have an actually healthy working relationship gets done. It’s sort of cute, and it has the one big smut scene which is the main purpose anyway, but ultimately it wasn’t super satisfying for me.
January 7, 2019
Lovely characters a, cute and slightly unrealistic plot line - but too short for me! Was a bit disappointed with the price for
Less than 100 pages!
Less than 100 pages!
January 28, 2019
Spicy and delicious historical novella. It hinted at first like this would have a mix of BDSM but then thankfully it didn't have anything like that (okay )
It was a nice read but maybe with a little too modern language.
It was a nice read but maybe with a little too modern language.
March 17, 2021
excellent novels to have a good time
July 6, 2021
Look, it's a novella, I get it, but I love historicals with a dom/sub (-ish, lite) theme. I wanted it to be longer.
April 25, 2022
This was such a fun, fast steamy read. It's great for a little quickie and is definitely entertaini good.
Safety: no om/ow drama.
Safety: no om/ow drama.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 2, 2022
My review is live on Amazon UK for the record I LOVED it.
March 10, 2024
3.5 stars
short but good
short but good
April 14, 2024
ohh this was sooo fun
April 12, 2022
Scribd Audiobook
June 24, 2019
An Aristocratic Lady?
I so enjoyed the storyline and the characters. Reading how Freddie's brother plots a scheme with his good friend Conrad!
They believe that the fear of being stolen from a coach by a highwayman will help in their plan!
I enjoyed this book, it had action and romance. And sizzling love scenes!
I so enjoyed the storyline and the characters. Reading how Freddie's brother plots a scheme with his good friend Conrad!
They believe that the fear of being stolen from a coach by a highwayman will help in their plan!
I enjoyed this book, it had action and romance. And sizzling love scenes!
June 19, 2022
I much preferred this 1st book to the second. I liked the characters much more.
The h is a charming tomboy who runs rings around the men in her life and does pretty much whatever she wants.
The H is only a few years older and friends with her brother as well as his brother being besties with the h so he doesn't want to "poach on his preserves"
A mad plan is hatched and the h recognises the H immediately and just goes with it to get her man. She has been after his guy for years. H doesn't know what hit him and he mucks up the proposal after they do the deed.
H soon realises the error of his way and goes after his later for a lovely HEA with a cute epilogue.
The h is a charming tomboy who runs rings around the men in her life and does pretty much whatever she wants.
The H is only a few years older and friends with her brother as well as his brother being besties with the h so he doesn't want to "poach on his preserves"
A mad plan is hatched and the h recognises the H immediately and just goes with it to get her man. She has been after his guy for years. H doesn't know what hit him and he mucks up the proposal after they do the deed.
H soon realises the error of his way and goes after his later for a lovely HEA with a cute epilogue.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2022
Wildly embarrassed when I read a book with a cover like this. Thank God for e-reads. This is the first of the Lords of Lancashire series. There is a novella prequel that is 😳spicy, but this is really where it begins. Freddie has feelings for her friends brother Conrad who is also her brothers best friend. She decides to get into some mischief before her first season and Conrad steps in to try to teach her a lesson. She of course details his plans and naughtiness ensues.
Overall book ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice 🌶🌶🌶🌶
Overall book ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice 🌶🌶🌶🌶
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews