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Mallorens & Friends #10
The Secret Duke
When Bella Barstowe is kidnapped and taken to a Dover tavern, she believes her life and virtue will be forfeit—until she’s rescued by the notorious Captain Rose, a man who seems as dangerous to her as her original captors. Convinced her only option is to flee, she steals his horse and disappears into the night.
Bella never expects to see Captain Rose again, but years later she learns the wicked truth behind her abduction. Determined to get revenge, she seeks out the only ruthless man she knows—the man who rescued her all those years ago.
What she doesn’t know is that Captain Rose is just a disguise for the formidable Duke of Ithorne, who is intrigued to hear from the mysterious woman from his past. Their lives are soon entangled by danger and a growing passion that should never be.
Bella never expects to see Captain Rose again, but years later she learns the wicked truth behind her abduction. Determined to get revenge, she seeks out the only ruthless man she knows—the man who rescued her all those years ago.
What she doesn’t know is that Captain Rose is just a disguise for the formidable Duke of Ithorne, who is intrigued to hear from the mysterious woman from his past. Their lives are soon entangled by danger and a growing passion that should never be.
426 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 31, 2010
101 people are currently reading
877 people want to read
About the author
Jo Beverley
141 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.
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April 22, 2019
#RitaJo #RetoRita3 #RetoRita2019
2🌟🌟 para El misterioso duque de Jo Beverley
Ha sido el primer libro que he leido de la autora y no sé si ha sido el mejor para conocerla... Lo escogí entre los que había disponibles para mi Kindle y después (error) miré con más atención qué ponía sobre él en Goodreads y resulta que es el 10° libro de la serie Mallorens & friends y a la vez el 3° de Georgian Secrets... casi nada... 🤦♀️
Al final ha resultado ser un libro dónde pasan muchas cosas, quizá demasiadas: un secuestro, un rescate, una herencia inesperada, un grupo de mujeres supuestamente revolucionarias, un rey medio loco, un hermano juez muy sinverguenza, un baile de máscaras, una pareja protagonista con múltiples identidades y disfraces, una venganza, un barco, algún pirata, muchos encuentros, reencuentros, una gata /coneja que "habla" más que alguno de los personajes, bla bla bla...). Al final la historia de amor, el romance entre Bella y Thorn, aunque reconozco que me ha parecido bonito, acaba tan difuminado, que acaba siendo una parte secundaria más del libro.
Definitivamente no ha sido una buena elección para empezar a conocer a la autora...
2🌟🌟 para El misterioso duque de Jo Beverley
Ha sido el primer libro que he leido de la autora y no sé si ha sido el mejor para conocerla... Lo escogí entre los que había disponibles para mi Kindle y después (error) miré con más atención qué ponía sobre él en Goodreads y resulta que es el 10° libro de la serie Mallorens & friends y a la vez el 3° de Georgian Secrets... casi nada... 🤦♀️
Al final ha resultado ser un libro dónde pasan muchas cosas, quizá demasiadas: un secuestro, un rescate, una herencia inesperada, un grupo de mujeres supuestamente revolucionarias, un rey medio loco, un hermano juez muy sinverguenza, un baile de máscaras, una pareja protagonista con múltiples identidades y disfraces, una venganza, un barco, algún pirata, muchos encuentros, reencuentros, una gata /coneja que "habla" más que alguno de los personajes, bla bla bla...). Al final la historia de amor, el romance entre Bella y Thorn, aunque reconozco que me ha parecido bonito, acaba tan difuminado, que acaba siendo una parte secundaria más del libro.
Definitivamente no ha sido una buena elección para empezar a conocer a la autora...
September 12, 2017
12/9 - What a strange collection of side plots this story has! From Thorn's adoptive Manx cat and her kittens to Bella's quest for women's rights with many (many) secret identities thrown in to make things even more complicated. The relationship between Bella and Thorn felt like a total afterthought to me. I think Beverley was way more interested in her labyrinthine plotting than developing the chemistry between her main characters, luckily the ludicrously far-fetched plot kept me reading all day today anyway.
Now, talking about the Manx cat and the way it's portrayed in the story compared to what was known when the story is set (1764), I don't understand how Beverley came to write that side plot the way she did. After a quick Google search I came up with the website http://manxbc.org/history.html as well as the Wikipedia page, both of which talk about the Manx only becoming known away from the Isle of Man in the 1820s and at that time they were not known as a 'Manx' cat. On the island, in the local language, they were called a 'Stubbin' and in English a 'Rumpy' (both obviously referring to their taillessness). It took me about five minutes to type in 'Manx cat history', scan the top results, pick the above websites as the most edifying, and read the relevant paragraphs - it wasn't hard or time consuming, so why wasn't the research done more thoroughly for this book. This was published in 2010, it's not like it was the pre-Internet days, so Beverley has no excuse for shoddy researching.
All the secret identities - four for Thorn (Duke of Ithorne, goatherd, secretary, and Captain Rose) and four for Bella (Bella Barstowe, Kelana the nymph, Bellona Flint, and Mistress Rose) - made the story way too convoluted and near farcical. I think the whole story would have had more of an impact and told a better story if there had been just one secondary plotline - Bella's quest for women's rights and social reform. It was very apparent that this book was near the end of a long running series, previous couples were popping up everywhere with half-told backstories that mostly just confused me - especially the rift between Thorn and Rothgar.
This was completely devoid of humour or banter between the couple and I barely felt a flicker of passion from the two of them (two features I really look for in a romance), but I would definitely read more in the series as it definitely held my interest for 24 hours. Originally, I requested my library buy a copy of this (I don't actually remember doing that, but the library's website has a record of all the requests I've made and this was on the list), I'm not sure exactly what enticed me into ordering a copy, but I'm glad I did as it made for an enjoyable day of reading.
Now, talking about the Manx cat and the way it's portrayed in the story compared to what was known when the story is set (1764), I don't understand how Beverley came to write that side plot the way she did. After a quick Google search I came up with the website http://manxbc.org/history.html as well as the Wikipedia page, both of which talk about the Manx only becoming known away from the Isle of Man in the 1820s and at that time they were not known as a 'Manx' cat. On the island, in the local language, they were called a 'Stubbin' and in English a 'Rumpy' (both obviously referring to their taillessness). It took me about five minutes to type in 'Manx cat history', scan the top results, pick the above websites as the most edifying, and read the relevant paragraphs - it wasn't hard or time consuming, so why wasn't the research done more thoroughly for this book. This was published in 2010, it's not like it was the pre-Internet days, so Beverley has no excuse for shoddy researching.
All the secret identities - four for Thorn (Duke of Ithorne, goatherd, secretary, and Captain Rose) and four for Bella (Bella Barstowe, Kelana the nymph, Bellona Flint, and Mistress Rose) - made the story way too convoluted and near farcical. I think the whole story would have had more of an impact and told a better story if there had been just one secondary plotline - Bella's quest for women's rights and social reform. It was very apparent that this book was near the end of a long running series, previous couples were popping up everywhere with half-told backstories that mostly just confused me - especially the rift between Thorn and Rothgar.
This was completely devoid of humour or banter between the couple and I barely felt a flicker of passion from the two of them (two features I really look for in a romance), but I would definitely read more in the series as it definitely held my interest for 24 hours. Originally, I requested my library buy a copy of this (I don't actually remember doing that, but the library's website has a record of all the requests I've made and this was on the list), I'm not sure exactly what enticed me into ordering a copy, but I'm glad I did as it made for an enjoyable day of reading.
August 26, 2020
4 Estrellitas. No sabía muy bien qué nota ponerle, el punto flaco de éste libro ha sido el romance Jo Beverley sabía contar historias, pero sus puntos débiles siempre fueron el romance y éste podría haber sido un mejor libro de haber tenido mejor historia de amor.
"El misterioso duque" es el décimo libro de la serie Malloren, pero el último de una pequeña trilogía incluida en la serie sobre tres amigos, Robin, Christian y Thorn. Éste es el libro de Thorn, el solitario duque de Ithorne, que se verá envuelto en una serie de aventuras, a cual más disparatada, por parte de su protagonista femenina, Bella Barstowe.
A pesar de ser Thorn un duque, tiene algo que ocultar, y es una doble vida e identidad que ha mantenido junto con su medio hermano bastardo, Caleb. Éste es capitán de barco, pirata y contrabandista y cuando Thorn se aburre de la tediosa vida que la nobleza obliga, adquiere la identidad de su hermano, el capitán Rose. Así es como Thorn conocerá a Bella.
Al inicio del libro, Bella Barstowe es secuestrada y ha sido llevada a Dover para embarcarse rumbo a Francia y pedir un rescate a su familia, pero el capitán Rose interfiere en el plan, y salva a Bella, para luego robarle ésta su caballo a Thorn y huir a su hogar.
Han pasado cuatro años desde el incidente y la vida de Bella ha cambiado mucho. Era la hija de un terrateniente del lugar, pero su familia es estricta y severa y nunca recibieron una nota de rescate, por ello Bella es castigada y recluida en la finca familiar, sin posibilidad de redimirse y viviendo de la caridad de los suyos.
Pero su vida cambiará cuando un abogado la visite y le hace saber que ha sido beneficiaria de una pequeña herencia por parte de su bisabuela y Bella parte con su abogado rumbo a Londres y con un propósito claro: renegar de los hombres, después del trato que le dieron en su vida, y unirse a las filas de Lady Fowler, una dama feminista, algo adelantada a su época.
Una vez en Londres, Bella no está del todo satisfecha con lo que predica lady Fowler. Pero además, se encuentra con uno de sus antaño secuestradores y éste le desvela quién estuvo realmente tras su secuestro. Así que Bella decide pedir ayuda a la persona que la rescató años atrás, el capitán Rose, y bajo una falsa identidad, volverá a Dover dispuesta a disculparse y rogar su ayuda de nuevo.
Thorn no ha olvidado a la joven a la que salvó años antes. Así que, cuando se hermano le hace saber que Bella le está buscando, Thorn parte a su encuentro y descubre a la hermosa mujer en que se ha convertido, y el propósito de su búsqueda: Bella desea venganza contra la persona que estuvo tras su secuestro, y Thorn la ayudará bajo la identidad del capitán Rose.
Es uno de los libros más largos y densos que he leído de Jo Beverley, pero una novela muy entretenida y con muchas aventuras. Pese a que es largo, no he sentido aburrimiento en ningún momento, pues siempre está pasando algo. Desde la aventura de los protagonistas, que tardan bastante en encontrarse de nuevo y hasta que comienza su romance, y más historia al final, cuando parecía que Jo Beverley no podía seguir con la misma; pero se guardaba bajo la manga otra historia de las mujeres revolucionarias de lady Fowler, que estará muy presente en ésta trilogía dentro de los Malloren.
Como digo, el romance es lo que me ha fallado. Sí, ambos protagonistas me han gustado, pero fueron algo sosos, a su historia le faltó más pasión o conflicto. Aunque si el libro ha estado bien es por la historia de trasfondo y los personajes secundarios, como Robin y Christian y el mismo marqués de Rothgar, siempre presente en ésta serie.
De momento haré un parón de los libros de Jo Beverley y quizás siga en un futuro no muy lejano con su serie de los Pícaros.
"El misterioso duque" es el décimo libro de la serie Malloren, pero el último de una pequeña trilogía incluida en la serie sobre tres amigos, Robin, Christian y Thorn. Éste es el libro de Thorn, el solitario duque de Ithorne, que se verá envuelto en una serie de aventuras, a cual más disparatada, por parte de su protagonista femenina, Bella Barstowe.
A pesar de ser Thorn un duque, tiene algo que ocultar, y es una doble vida e identidad que ha mantenido junto con su medio hermano bastardo, Caleb. Éste es capitán de barco, pirata y contrabandista y cuando Thorn se aburre de la tediosa vida que la nobleza obliga, adquiere la identidad de su hermano, el capitán Rose. Así es como Thorn conocerá a Bella.
Al inicio del libro, Bella Barstowe es secuestrada y ha sido llevada a Dover para embarcarse rumbo a Francia y pedir un rescate a su familia, pero el capitán Rose interfiere en el plan, y salva a Bella, para luego robarle ésta su caballo a Thorn y huir a su hogar.
Han pasado cuatro años desde el incidente y la vida de Bella ha cambiado mucho. Era la hija de un terrateniente del lugar, pero su familia es estricta y severa y nunca recibieron una nota de rescate, por ello Bella es castigada y recluida en la finca familiar, sin posibilidad de redimirse y viviendo de la caridad de los suyos.
Pero su vida cambiará cuando un abogado la visite y le hace saber que ha sido beneficiaria de una pequeña herencia por parte de su bisabuela y Bella parte con su abogado rumbo a Londres y con un propósito claro: renegar de los hombres, después del trato que le dieron en su vida, y unirse a las filas de Lady Fowler, una dama feminista, algo adelantada a su época.
Una vez en Londres, Bella no está del todo satisfecha con lo que predica lady Fowler. Pero además, se encuentra con uno de sus antaño secuestradores y éste le desvela quién estuvo realmente tras su secuestro. Así que Bella decide pedir ayuda a la persona que la rescató años atrás, el capitán Rose, y bajo una falsa identidad, volverá a Dover dispuesta a disculparse y rogar su ayuda de nuevo.
Thorn no ha olvidado a la joven a la que salvó años antes. Así que, cuando se hermano le hace saber que Bella le está buscando, Thorn parte a su encuentro y descubre a la hermosa mujer en que se ha convertido, y el propósito de su búsqueda: Bella desea venganza contra la persona que estuvo tras su secuestro, y Thorn la ayudará bajo la identidad del capitán Rose.
Es uno de los libros más largos y densos que he leído de Jo Beverley, pero una novela muy entretenida y con muchas aventuras. Pese a que es largo, no he sentido aburrimiento en ningún momento, pues siempre está pasando algo. Desde la aventura de los protagonistas, que tardan bastante en encontrarse de nuevo y hasta que comienza su romance, y más historia al final, cuando parecía que Jo Beverley no podía seguir con la misma; pero se guardaba bajo la manga otra historia de las mujeres revolucionarias de lady Fowler, que estará muy presente en ésta trilogía dentro de los Malloren.
Como digo, el romance es lo que me ha fallado. Sí, ambos protagonistas me han gustado, pero fueron algo sosos, a su historia le faltó más pasión o conflicto. Aunque si el libro ha estado bien es por la historia de trasfondo y los personajes secundarios, como Robin y Christian y el mismo marqués de Rothgar, siempre presente en ésta serie.
De momento haré un parón de los libros de Jo Beverley y quizás siga en un futuro no muy lejano con su serie de los Pícaros.
June 18, 2016
I really loved this book. Indeed, I enjoyed it so much by the end that I almost forgot how much I struggled at the beginning. After the prologue (that wasn't really a prologue as it lasted several chapters) this book has a longish lull that had me a little frustrated. This is exacerbated by the cover blurb because it mentions things that don't happen until a quarter in or so. There's a long string of unassociated events that are essentially background for once the real story starts with Thorn and Bella on separate tracks. So I got impatient and that's all down to the heroes not having any real motivation beyond simply living.
But then Bella learns the truth of her abduction and the book turns to pure gold. I loved everything from that point on from their interactions, to their growing respect, and even the secrets that kept them hesitant and apart. The beauty of this "secrets" story is that they both are keeping secrets, but they both know it (if not what the others' secrets are) and they both decide that their time together is as real as they need. Yeah, .
And the story was awesome, too. I particularly liked that Bella consciously makes the distinction between vengeance, justice, and protecting the innocent and acknowledges that her motivations partake of all of them (while her actions are motivated most by the latter). And I loved that Thorn was part of that conscious acknowledgement of motivation as well. So the story interwove the characters in lovely ways that highlights how very lovely these two people are.
Oh, and I totally fell for Thorn. He's been kind of the solid backbone of the "rakes" from the start. He's the central contact point and the steady heart that encourages and supports while still giving all the latitude they all need to pursue their lives to the fullest. Frankly, he's not much of a rake at all, by this point, and all his rakishness is mostly a front born of inertia and reputation. So he's a strong, caring, competent person willing to put himself out for his friends and to think deeply about important events and act for the best he knows how. And Bella was the perfect girl for him with her combination of need and inner strength that will challenge and support him as well. Indeed, it's the strength of this relationship that, once it got rolling, caused me to (almost) utterly forget my frustration in the beginning.
So if you divide the book in fourths, you'd have a lowish four-star beginning with five stars for the rest. Math being my thing, I'm rounding that to five stars for the whole. I want to note the lull so others who encounter it can have the hope of an outstanding story to push them through to the awesome that is this book.
A note about Steamy: Pretty low steam, actually. There's a single explicit everything-but-sex scene around the middle but then Beverley fades to dark in the actual culmination at the end. This is odd for Beverley but fit this story perfectly. By the end, they're already as intimate as two people can be and the actual physical consummation is mere dressing. I'd have been happy to have the details, but the emotional payload had already been delivered, so was perfectly content as is.
But then Bella learns the truth of her abduction and the book turns to pure gold. I loved everything from that point on from their interactions, to their growing respect, and even the secrets that kept them hesitant and apart. The beauty of this "secrets" story is that they both are keeping secrets, but they both know it (if not what the others' secrets are) and they both decide that their time together is as real as they need. Yeah, .
And the story was awesome, too. I particularly liked that Bella consciously makes the distinction between vengeance, justice, and protecting the innocent and acknowledges that her motivations partake of all of them (while her actions are motivated most by the latter). And I loved that Thorn was part of that conscious acknowledgement of motivation as well. So the story interwove the characters in lovely ways that highlights how very lovely these two people are.
Oh, and I totally fell for Thorn. He's been kind of the solid backbone of the "rakes" from the start. He's the central contact point and the steady heart that encourages and supports while still giving all the latitude they all need to pursue their lives to the fullest. Frankly, he's not much of a rake at all, by this point, and all his rakishness is mostly a front born of inertia and reputation. So he's a strong, caring, competent person willing to put himself out for his friends and to think deeply about important events and act for the best he knows how. And Bella was the perfect girl for him with her combination of need and inner strength that will challenge and support him as well. Indeed, it's the strength of this relationship that, once it got rolling, caused me to (almost) utterly forget my frustration in the beginning.
So if you divide the book in fourths, you'd have a lowish four-star beginning with five stars for the rest. Math being my thing, I'm rounding that to five stars for the whole. I want to note the lull so others who encounter it can have the hope of an outstanding story to push them through to the awesome that is this book.
A note about Steamy: Pretty low steam, actually. There's a single explicit everything-but-sex scene around the middle but then Beverley fades to dark in the actual culmination at the end. This is odd for Beverley but fit this story perfectly. By the end, they're already as intimate as two people can be and the actual physical consummation is mere dressing. I'd have been happy to have the details, but the emotional payload had already been delivered, so was perfectly content as is.
August 27, 2023
3.5 stars ⭐️
Interesting story, with plenty of characters. Main character had secret identity.
Interesting story, with plenty of characters. Main character had secret identity.
February 5, 2025
I chose this book to escape the reality of the craziness surrounding the US at the moment. This is the last book (#10) in the Malloren series. Thank you Jo Beverley for the much needed reminder that history is filled with malevolent actors bent on harming innocent people. The characters in this story achieve justice in a far fetched manner, but justice is served nonetheless. And love? It can provide the grace needed to survive adversity.
I’m a biased reviewer. I have always enjoyed Ms Beverley’s stories—especially about the Mallorens. Rothgar is one of my favorite characters. Ever. I sorely miss her voice in this world.
I’m a biased reviewer. I have always enjoyed Ms Beverley’s stories—especially about the Mallorens. Rothgar is one of my favorite characters. Ever. I sorely miss her voice in this world.
November 21, 2010
I’ve been less and less satisfied with Beverley with each successive book; I had some hopes at first that this one might be a streak-breaker, but I’m now at the halfway mark with no inclination to finish it. The meandering plot feels to me like the author wrote several scenes using her favorite devices -- masks/disguises/masquerade balls--and then wrote the rest of the book around them, squeezing the scenes in any way she could. Consequently there are multiple plotlines, but not one that compels me to keep reading to find out how it ends.
May 6, 2020
It's been a while since I read anything by Jo Beverley and I had forgotten how good she can be.
This is a well written romance with interesting characters and although in some respects it could be described as light hearted it would not fall into the category of badly written sex filled fluff that seems to be fairly standard fare at the moment.
This is a tale of multiple identies - it is set in Georgian times ( Malloren connection) - and we have an overall Masquerader theme.
Thorn Duke of Ilthorne has an illegitimate half brother, whom he has set up as Master of the Black Swan, Captain Rose. Thorn and his brother Caleb look remarkably alike and on occasions when Thorn is looking for an escape from his responsibilities, he disguises himself as Captain Rose.
As Captain Rose he rescues Bella Barstowe from a nasty end in a Dover waterfront pub after she had been kidnapped. She gives the name Persephone and then runs away with his horse.
Bella is persecuted thereafter by her family and only escapes after 4 years of effective imprisonment and impoverishment due to a legacy from a great aunt.
She makes her way to London and takes up the identity of Bellona Flint, with a black wig, ill fitting dresses and wart on the end of her nose. Ms Flint involves herself with Lady Fowler's group of women seeking social reform and women's rights.
She is sent in further disguise to an evening function at Ilthorne's home to seek out scandal. She goes as the nymph Kelano and meets a goat herd with whom there is instant attraction. They kiss but she then flees into the night, none the wiser as to his identity.
They have a further assignation but she fears to take the matter further as the goat herd's identity remains uncertain and he appears focused on seduction.
She then accidentally meets one of her abductors who advises that the whole thing was done at her brother's behest and that he never gave their father the ransom demand. Bella decides to try and revenge herself on her brother and thinks that Captain Rose may be able to help her and so she goes to Dover to seek him - yes - this part is fairly contrived.
She initially meets Caleb but he then sends for Thorn who agrees to help ( he recognises her as Kelona) and they go off to her home area to try and expose her brother as a foul hypocrite. The scenes between Thorn and Bella are gentle and mature and the relationship between the two grows in a sensitive and believable manner. Romance blossoms but the two behave responsibly. When Augustus gets him comeuppance , both realise that they need to return to their normal lives and Thorn is uncertain as to whether Bella would accept him as a Duke and also finds it hard to see how he can explain his two identities.
Back in London Bella finds herself drawn back into Lady Fowler's circle, which is problematic as it has been overtaken by a group of Irish rebels who manage to publish a treasonous paper. The two escape but the other women including warty 'miss Flint' are arrested. The Duke of Ilthorne is sent to investigate and recognises Bella.
He helps all the women but during this, Bella finally realises that he is Ilthorne and not Captain Rose and thinks that he is too far above her station.
She goes to stay with relatives of Rothgar and is rehabilitated into society. Come Christmas as Malloren, she realises that all that really matters is love and she sends for Thorn. True love conquers all!
Sigh!
Obviously the story was fairly contrived but it was well written and engaging. I liked both the hero and heroine and all the cases of concealed identity just made me smile.
Truly enjoyable.
This is a well written romance with interesting characters and although in some respects it could be described as light hearted it would not fall into the category of badly written sex filled fluff that seems to be fairly standard fare at the moment.
This is a tale of multiple identies - it is set in Georgian times ( Malloren connection) - and we have an overall Masquerader theme.
Thorn Duke of Ilthorne has an illegitimate half brother, whom he has set up as Master of the Black Swan, Captain Rose. Thorn and his brother Caleb look remarkably alike and on occasions when Thorn is looking for an escape from his responsibilities, he disguises himself as Captain Rose.
As Captain Rose he rescues Bella Barstowe from a nasty end in a Dover waterfront pub after she had been kidnapped. She gives the name Persephone and then runs away with his horse.
Bella is persecuted thereafter by her family and only escapes after 4 years of effective imprisonment and impoverishment due to a legacy from a great aunt.
She makes her way to London and takes up the identity of Bellona Flint, with a black wig, ill fitting dresses and wart on the end of her nose. Ms Flint involves herself with Lady Fowler's group of women seeking social reform and women's rights.
She is sent in further disguise to an evening function at Ilthorne's home to seek out scandal. She goes as the nymph Kelano and meets a goat herd with whom there is instant attraction. They kiss but she then flees into the night, none the wiser as to his identity.
They have a further assignation but she fears to take the matter further as the goat herd's identity remains uncertain and he appears focused on seduction.
She then accidentally meets one of her abductors who advises that the whole thing was done at her brother's behest and that he never gave their father the ransom demand. Bella decides to try and revenge herself on her brother and thinks that Captain Rose may be able to help her and so she goes to Dover to seek him - yes - this part is fairly contrived.
She initially meets Caleb but he then sends for Thorn who agrees to help ( he recognises her as Kelona) and they go off to her home area to try and expose her brother as a foul hypocrite. The scenes between Thorn and Bella are gentle and mature and the relationship between the two grows in a sensitive and believable manner. Romance blossoms but the two behave responsibly. When Augustus gets him comeuppance , both realise that they need to return to their normal lives and Thorn is uncertain as to whether Bella would accept him as a Duke and also finds it hard to see how he can explain his two identities.
Back in London Bella finds herself drawn back into Lady Fowler's circle, which is problematic as it has been overtaken by a group of Irish rebels who manage to publish a treasonous paper. The two escape but the other women including warty 'miss Flint' are arrested. The Duke of Ilthorne is sent to investigate and recognises Bella.
He helps all the women but during this, Bella finally realises that he is Ilthorne and not Captain Rose and thinks that he is too far above her station.
She goes to stay with relatives of Rothgar and is rehabilitated into society. Come Christmas as Malloren, she realises that all that really matters is love and she sends for Thorn. True love conquers all!
Sigh!
Obviously the story was fairly contrived but it was well written and engaging. I liked both the hero and heroine and all the cases of concealed identity just made me smile.
Truly enjoyable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 14, 2012
I guess JoBev had so much fun with the labyrinthine plot (complete with multiple aliases) of The Secret Wedding that she decided to do it again.
It’s the night George II died. Captain Rose, a ship’s captain and sometime smuggler, rescues a damsel in distress from a mob of rapey drunks. Then he rescues her again from the abductors she’d escaped earlier that night (only to find herself facing the mob of rapey drunks). By way of reward, the captain steals a kiss. He's hoping for a little better...
Instead, while he’s playing Sir Galahad, the girl swipes his horse. Our hero might like to track her down, but she's only given him an alias. JoBev apparently has a thing for classical mythology, because this is the second heroine to give her name as Persephone.
Pomegranate, my dear?
Fast forward four years. Persephone, a/k/a Bella Barstowe, has been a prisoner in her family home ever since. Seems instead of a ransom note, her family got a missive telling them she was headed for Gretna Green. So despite her claim that she was forcibly abducted, everybody believes that she tried to elope and got dumped. Her hyper-religious a-hole of a father first tried to force her to marry a hyper-religious a-hole buddy of his. When she refused he locked her in the attic. Well, not quite that bad, but she doesn’t get out much. He even stopped letting her buy clothes, so to keep herself modestly covered, she learned to sew…
Then her father slithered off to wherever it is hyper-religious a-holes go when they give up the oxygen habit…
And it's even worse, since her brother Augustus blames her for everything that goes wrong, including the broken hand he got when he ran off to London. If he eats beans and gets the farts, it's her fault. Bella's livin’ la vida mierda with Augustus and their bitter unmarried sister until a fairy godfather arrives and bestows wads of money on Bella.
When Augustus sees the will....
…but he can't stop her from leaving with the attorney.
Along with her letters to Bella, Granny used to enclose newsletters from one Lady Fowler, screeds about the excesses of the aristocracy. Granny thought they were good for a laugh, but because of the unfair way she’s been treated by the men in her life, Bella buys it all so she decides to go to Soho to assist Lady Fowler’s good work. To get upwind of her scandal, she disguises herself as Bellona Flint, complete with sallow stage make up, unibrow and wart.
Bella/Bellona becomes a spy for Lady Fowler, and is sent to a masquerade at the Duke of Ithorne’s palace. She’s dressed as the nymph Kelano (if you’re keeping count, this is the fourth name she’s gone by). There she encounters a lowly goatherd, and they swap a few jokes at the expense of the arrogant nobs in this joint. After a thorough tonsil boxing, she runs off, sadly lacking any real dirt to give Lady Fowler (except on herself—slutty stranger-kisser).
Persephone/Bella/Bellona/Kelano Barstowe/Flint and maybe Smith stumbles into some information about who engineered her abduction and ruin so many years ago. She gets a Jones for revenge, and she’s just sure the guy whose horse she stole years ago will be keen to help her out. So off she goes to Dover to find Caleb Rose, and she finds him—the real Caleb Rose. He looks like the guy who rescued her but doesn't seem to remember her. Captain Rose the sea captain is actually the bastard lookalike brother of (guess who) the Duke of Ithorne (Does Apple make those?). Thorne (Ithorne) likes to slum it sometimes so he pretends to be Caleb now and then. Anyway, the real Caleb meets this really confusing girl who talks about stealing his horse and his gallant rescue and how she wants to hire him. Once Caleb figures out that she’s not hiring him for anything fun, he tells her he's gotta skip town for a bit, but she should wait around and he’ll see about her request in a couple days. He dashes off a note to Thorne, who is curious enough to don his seafaring swagger and come have a look.
You probably also guessed that Thorne/fake Caleb was the goatherd, too. It takes him a few seconds to recognize Bella as Kelona, the nymph who swapped spit with him at the masquerade. He's beenfantasizingthinking about her ever since, so he agrees to avenge her.
I'm not gonna tell you what happens, but I will tell you what didn't, which still might spoil it for you, if that makes sense.
By the time all the masks were removed, the reactions were pretty anticlimactic. And from there it's almost like there was a 2nd unrelated plot arc involving madness, manipulation, politics and treason. Rothgar is involved in a way that seems a bit contrived (thus the Malloren connection).
While the story gets off to a rollicking start that might have equaled its predecessor in hilarity and good fun, it sort of fizzles and turns into something else—something that might also have been good if thoroughly fleshed out. I'm guessing JoBev got under some deadline pressure with this book and didn't have time to really give it her best. Compared to her best, this probably deserves a C+/B-. Three and a half stars.
It’s the night George II died. Captain Rose, a ship’s captain and sometime smuggler, rescues a damsel in distress from a mob of rapey drunks. Then he rescues her again from the abductors she’d escaped earlier that night (only to find herself facing the mob of rapey drunks). By way of reward, the captain steals a kiss. He's hoping for a little better...
Instead, while he’s playing Sir Galahad, the girl swipes his horse. Our hero might like to track her down, but she's only given him an alias. JoBev apparently has a thing for classical mythology, because this is the second heroine to give her name as Persephone.
Pomegranate, my dear?
Fast forward four years. Persephone, a/k/a Bella Barstowe, has been a prisoner in her family home ever since. Seems instead of a ransom note, her family got a missive telling them she was headed for Gretna Green. So despite her claim that she was forcibly abducted, everybody believes that she tried to elope and got dumped. Her hyper-religious a-hole of a father first tried to force her to marry a hyper-religious a-hole buddy of his. When she refused he locked her in the attic. Well, not quite that bad, but she doesn’t get out much. He even stopped letting her buy clothes, so to keep herself modestly covered, she learned to sew…
Then her father slithered off to wherever it is hyper-religious a-holes go when they give up the oxygen habit…
And it's even worse, since her brother Augustus blames her for everything that goes wrong, including the broken hand he got when he ran off to London. If he eats beans and gets the farts, it's her fault. Bella's livin’ la vida mierda with Augustus and their bitter unmarried sister until a fairy godfather arrives and bestows wads of money on Bella.
When Augustus sees the will....
…but he can't stop her from leaving with the attorney.
Along with her letters to Bella, Granny used to enclose newsletters from one Lady Fowler, screeds about the excesses of the aristocracy. Granny thought they were good for a laugh, but because of the unfair way she’s been treated by the men in her life, Bella buys it all so she decides to go to Soho to assist Lady Fowler’s good work. To get upwind of her scandal, she disguises herself as Bellona Flint, complete with sallow stage make up, unibrow and wart.
Bella/Bellona becomes a spy for Lady Fowler, and is sent to a masquerade at the Duke of Ithorne’s palace. She’s dressed as the nymph Kelano (if you’re keeping count, this is the fourth name she’s gone by). There she encounters a lowly goatherd, and they swap a few jokes at the expense of the arrogant nobs in this joint. After a thorough tonsil boxing, she runs off, sadly lacking any real dirt to give Lady Fowler (except on herself—slutty stranger-kisser).
Persephone/Bella/Bellona/Kelano Barstowe/Flint and maybe Smith stumbles into some information about who engineered her abduction and ruin so many years ago. She gets a Jones for revenge, and she’s just sure the guy whose horse she stole years ago will be keen to help her out. So off she goes to Dover to find Caleb Rose, and she finds him—the real Caleb Rose. He looks like the guy who rescued her but doesn't seem to remember her. Captain Rose the sea captain is actually the bastard lookalike brother of (guess who) the Duke of Ithorne (Does Apple make those?). Thorne (Ithorne) likes to slum it sometimes so he pretends to be Caleb now and then. Anyway, the real Caleb meets this really confusing girl who talks about stealing his horse and his gallant rescue and how she wants to hire him. Once Caleb figures out that she’s not hiring him for anything fun, he tells her he's gotta skip town for a bit, but she should wait around and he’ll see about her request in a couple days. He dashes off a note to Thorne, who is curious enough to don his seafaring swagger and come have a look.
You probably also guessed that Thorne/fake Caleb was the goatherd, too. It takes him a few seconds to recognize Bella as Kelona, the nymph who swapped spit with him at the masquerade. He's been
I'm not gonna tell you what happens, but I will tell you what didn't, which still might spoil it for you, if that makes sense.
By the time all the masks were removed, the reactions were pretty anticlimactic. And from there it's almost like there was a 2nd unrelated plot arc involving madness, manipulation, politics and treason. Rothgar is involved in a way that seems a bit contrived (thus the Malloren connection).
While the story gets off to a rollicking start that might have equaled its predecessor in hilarity and good fun, it sort of fizzles and turns into something else—something that might also have been good if thoroughly fleshed out. I'm guessing JoBev got under some deadline pressure with this book and didn't have time to really give it her best. Compared to her best, this probably deserves a C+/B-. Three and a half stars.
August 26, 2015
Una novela curiosa y la más compleja que he leído de Jo Beverly, lo que siempre viene bien, me gustan las historias un poco enredadas, con malentendidos y hechos curiosos que piden a gritos una explicación que es dada de forma clara y en el momento preciso. Un duque de corazón noble y abierto al amor cae rendido por una mujer de pasado oscuro y deseosa de reformar el mundo. Creo que esto último es lo que más he disfrutado de la historia, cómo Jo hila fino para llevar con pericia el romance y el difícil contexto histórico en que se desarrolla sin que ninguna parte reste brillo a la otra, sino que se complementan. Puntos extra por el cuidado trabajo de investigación acerca de la injusta vida a la que fueron condenadas tantas mujeres en aquella época por carecer de medios para reclamar su independencia; esto último me recordó mucho a ese ensayo de Virginia, Una habitación propia. Recomendado, sin duda; espero dar pronto con otro libro de la autora, no me duran nada...
June 17, 2010
Slow. How a book about a kidnapping, revenge, love and a Duke can be boring I have no idea. But it is.
April 9, 2010
Amazon preorder
Just a wonderful book. I enjoy everything of Beverley's but this one in particular seemed to pull together some elements from previous stories without having the characters take over.
In particular, while we see Rothgar in passing and he is definitely involved, he isn't the one who makes everything happen. I also liked the way in which the heroine's story evolves from the beginning and the way in which she is actively a part of what happens.
Some Beverley heroines have really shockingly awful families and Bella is one of them. On the other hand she is not particularly overwhelmed or angry when she learns that she didn't know all of the hero's secrets.
I also appreciated the reasonable prudence they both showed in their physical relationship.
Just a wonderful book. I enjoy everything of Beverley's but this one in particular seemed to pull together some elements from previous stories without having the characters take over.
In particular, while we see Rothgar in passing and he is definitely involved, he isn't the one who makes everything happen. I also liked the way in which the heroine's story evolves from the beginning and the way in which she is actively a part of what happens.
Some Beverley heroines have really shockingly awful families and Bella is one of them. On the other hand she is not particularly overwhelmed or angry when she learns that she didn't know all of the hero's secrets.
I also appreciated the reasonable prudence they both showed in their physical relationship.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2011
Of the three books in this trilogy this was by far the best. I guess Ms. Beverley saved the best for last. A Lady's Secret and The Secret Wedding tended to be more on the frivolous (read silly) side. The story of Ithorne and Bella took on more of a serious tone without any deep angst. As always with this genre, there is a happy ending and all of the objections/problems/rescues take place in the last 30 pages of the book. After reading this as a trilogy I find that these three books are nos.7, 8, and 9 of the Malloren Saga. I read the first Malloren book a while back, but was more interested in the Regency Period. Now one of the characters of interest in this trilogy has peaked my curiosity. I am going to find all the Malloren books in my stash and dig in!
February 9, 2011
Clearly this book has a great story line. My only problem with it was that I consider it a "slow" read. It was really hard to keep reading. I liked the purpose, the people, and even the plot. I just kept feeling really bored, and wanted to stop reading it. When you put the story in prospective it could have been really good. I think I blame the publisher not the writer. The story about a girl who is oppressed that eventually has something good to her in which her rotten family wants to take it away. She meets her handsome hero who lies about who he really is. It actually sounds really great til you open the book and fall asleep because it just takes so long and its pretty drawn out to death.
November 19, 2010
It was a little hard to get into the story at first, but once I got past the "set up" chapters, I enjoyed reading this one. I thought the story had some clever twists. Of course, it was not very believable, but that was part of its charm. I also liked that this wasn't really a "bodice ripper" - the moments between Bella and Thorn were more subtle.
May 28, 2012
I really liked it. The story is far-fetched (with the Duke and his pirate half-brother trading places) put it was fun. Both the hero and heroine enjoy disguises so they both get chances to play dress up. I like Jo Beverley's romances.
June 1, 2010
Mediocre. Bella is a featherhead and Thorn is surprisingly uninteresting for a part-time pirate and spy. The plot was cluttered with too many secret identities, both his and hers.
March 5, 2019
First, I’m a Jo Beverley fan. However, I’m not sure I would have become one if I had started with her later books. The early entries in the Company of Rogues series were the best, the early Malloren series a close second, with all the others being a bit hit or miss.
This is a later work, and at times I despaired a bit. Especially when the Hessian cats took up so many pages, including dialogue. However, the interesting political considerations in the plot really elevate the work, and I have to conclude that this is a full-out Jo Beverley effort.
So glad to read a new-to-me book by one of my favorite (despite everything) authors.
Been thinking about what makes the early Company of Rogues series stand out for me, and it’s really the attraction of Nicholas Delaney, and a few other select men of that crew. Ms. Beverley writes about ND and his attractions quite compellingly. As a character, he really jumps off the page and makes you want him, and it’s not so much what he says, I think. It’s really all in how she lovingly describes his looks, his stance, and the physicality of him. (I would say, “how she describes his body” but that gives the impression that she describes his naked body, which is not really the case. More a matter of hands, eyelashes, grace of movement, etc.) Ms. Beverley is able to create a hero who exerts a sensual pull on the reader that is similar to the pull that he is supposed to be exerting on the heroine, making the reader completely believe in the heroine’s attraction to him.
I don’t find this focus on describing the attractiveness of her heroes in all of her work and I think that’s why her other books suffer in comparison to the early C of R books. In the case of The Secret Duke, we know that Thorne and his half -brother look alike, he is tall and dark, but there is not much focus on his magnetic appeal or attractiveness.
This is a later work, and at times I despaired a bit. Especially when the Hessian cats took up so many pages, including dialogue. However, the interesting political considerations in the plot really elevate the work, and I have to conclude that this is a full-out Jo Beverley effort.
So glad to read a new-to-me book by one of my favorite (despite everything) authors.
Been thinking about what makes the early Company of Rogues series stand out for me, and it’s really the attraction of Nicholas Delaney, and a few other select men of that crew. Ms. Beverley writes about ND and his attractions quite compellingly. As a character, he really jumps off the page and makes you want him, and it’s not so much what he says, I think. It’s really all in how she lovingly describes his looks, his stance, and the physicality of him. (I would say, “how she describes his body” but that gives the impression that she describes his naked body, which is not really the case. More a matter of hands, eyelashes, grace of movement, etc.) Ms. Beverley is able to create a hero who exerts a sensual pull on the reader that is similar to the pull that he is supposed to be exerting on the heroine, making the reader completely believe in the heroine’s attraction to him.
I don’t find this focus on describing the attractiveness of her heroes in all of her work and I think that’s why her other books suffer in comparison to the early C of R books. In the case of The Secret Duke, we know that Thorne and his half -brother look alike, he is tall and dark, but there is not much focus on his magnetic appeal or attractiveness.
May 8, 2019
#RetoRita3 #RitaJo
Incredible que un libro con tremenda premisa resultara tan aburrido. Tengo entendido que el nombre de la autora resuena con palabras mayores cada vez que se habla de la literatura romántica, pero para ser la primera historia que leo de ella, no me terminó de convencer.
La sinopsis y los increíbles primeros capítulos me atraparon de sobremanera: piratas, un secuestro, un rescate, un escape de película; identidades falsas y un baile de máscaras. A medida que la historia se desenvuelve, estás tramas se hacen a un lado para concentrarse en otra historia que volvió al libro algo aburrido y tedioso. Los personajes fueron perdiendo personalidad durante el transcurso de la novela, hasta convertirse en dos caricaturas que se contradecían constantemente con la forma en la que se presentaron.
No me malinterpreten, me gustan las novelas enredadas. Pero esta vez se sintió como si la autora hubiera tirado unos cuantos conceptos sueltos (típicos en las novelas románticas) y los haya mezclado todos juntos sin un hilo conductor. Hasta el romance se sintió forzado (culpo de esto a la falta de desarrollo de los protagonistas), y los capítulos finales se sintieron muy apresurados debido al afán de cerrar las tramas que fueron quedando abiertas, de la manera que fuera.
Puede ser que me haya jugado en contra no haber leído ninguno de los libros anteriores de la serie, por la cantidad de personajes que aparecen, sin embargo, estos me parecieron un poco más sólidos que los protagonistas de esta entrega. En fin, una muy buena idea principal que no supo ser aprovechada en absoluto.
Incredible que un libro con tremenda premisa resultara tan aburrido. Tengo entendido que el nombre de la autora resuena con palabras mayores cada vez que se habla de la literatura romántica, pero para ser la primera historia que leo de ella, no me terminó de convencer.
La sinopsis y los increíbles primeros capítulos me atraparon de sobremanera: piratas, un secuestro, un rescate, un escape de película; identidades falsas y un baile de máscaras. A medida que la historia se desenvuelve, estás tramas se hacen a un lado para concentrarse en otra historia que volvió al libro algo aburrido y tedioso. Los personajes fueron perdiendo personalidad durante el transcurso de la novela, hasta convertirse en dos caricaturas que se contradecían constantemente con la forma en la que se presentaron.
No me malinterpreten, me gustan las novelas enredadas. Pero esta vez se sintió como si la autora hubiera tirado unos cuantos conceptos sueltos (típicos en las novelas románticas) y los haya mezclado todos juntos sin un hilo conductor. Hasta el romance se sintió forzado (culpo de esto a la falta de desarrollo de los protagonistas), y los capítulos finales se sintieron muy apresurados debido al afán de cerrar las tramas que fueron quedando abiertas, de la manera que fuera.
Puede ser que me haya jugado en contra no haber leído ninguno de los libros anteriores de la serie, por la cantidad de personajes que aparecen, sin embargo, estos me parecieron un poco más sólidos que los protagonistas de esta entrega. En fin, una muy buena idea principal que no supo ser aprovechada en absoluto.
December 3, 2023
Provo grande affetto per questa serie, però credo che al decimo volume (questo) ci si poteva anche fermare.
Pur riconoscendo molta fantasia nel tessere intrecci, le storie sono divenute abbastanza ripetitive già da alcuni volumi. Vero che ci sono i vari amici/parenti di Rothgar da sistemare, ma farci ogni volta un libro così corposo, e con talmente tanti eventi, era ,un rischio.
Immagino che alle lettrici originarie (questa è una ristampa) la saga continuasse a piacere, per cui la Beverley abbia continuato.
Comunque qui la scena è tutta del duca di Ithorne (cugino di Rothgar), mentre il nostro amato marchese appare solo in forma di mittente di lettere ed è veramente ininfluente. Sigh.
Presa di per sé, l'eroina (Bella, e già il nome la carica di gravose aspettative) risulta determinata e angariata come donna e sorella, vittima dei parenti maschi della sua famiglia. Il duca, al contrario, non sa decidersi tra il presentarsi come eroe coraggioso o l'ennesimo nobile libidinoso alla ricerca di avventure amorose.
Ne consegue una trama oltremodo complessa: rapimento di fanciulla e sua liberazione; scambio di identità tra duca e capitano di nave; eredità inaspettata e nuova vita a Londra; ballo in maschera; accuse e processi; svelamenti e amore. Nel contesto si inserisce pure un gruppo di moraliste dei costumi dell'epoca, per cui ammetto che è stata una lettura difficoltosa.
3 stelline per l'affetto.
Pur riconoscendo molta fantasia nel tessere intrecci, le storie sono divenute abbastanza ripetitive già da alcuni volumi. Vero che ci sono i vari amici/parenti di Rothgar da sistemare, ma farci ogni volta un libro così corposo, e con talmente tanti eventi, era ,un rischio.
Immagino che alle lettrici originarie (questa è una ristampa) la saga continuasse a piacere, per cui la Beverley abbia continuato.
Comunque qui la scena è tutta del duca di Ithorne (cugino di Rothgar), mentre il nostro amato marchese appare solo in forma di mittente di lettere ed è veramente ininfluente. Sigh.
Presa di per sé, l'eroina (Bella, e già il nome la carica di gravose aspettative) risulta determinata e angariata come donna e sorella, vittima dei parenti maschi della sua famiglia. Il duca, al contrario, non sa decidersi tra il presentarsi come eroe coraggioso o l'ennesimo nobile libidinoso alla ricerca di avventure amorose.
Ne consegue una trama oltremodo complessa: rapimento di fanciulla e sua liberazione; scambio di identità tra duca e capitano di nave; eredità inaspettata e nuova vita a Londra; ballo in maschera; accuse e processi; svelamenti e amore. Nel contesto si inserisce pure un gruppo di moraliste dei costumi dell'epoca, per cui ammetto che è stata una lettura difficoltosa.
3 stelline per l'affetto.
August 6, 2025
Far too much plot. Too confusing, too convoluted, far too much Lady Fowler (the last thing I want in my HR is page after page of a woman dying of syphilis, right down to how the smell permeated the house, I’m scarred for life!) If she had stuck to the story of Bella’s undeserved disgrace and subsequent revenge it would’ve been plenty of story. However, I loved Thorn/Captain Rose. Could have done without the cat rabbit. I still don’t understand his beef with Rothgar though. I suggest you read it rather than listen to it so you can skip everything that happens in Lady Fowler’s house. It adds nothing to the main story, I promise. Personally, I’m sick to death of homely self righteous females decrying other people’s faults. Reminds me of The View. The more things change the more they stay the same!
February 27, 2019
They met at a sleazy dockside tavern when he went in to the rescue upon hearing her scream as she was being importuned by two drunken sailors when she went in to hide from her abductors. She gave her name as Persephone and he said his was Captain Rose. She stole his horse and was never heard of again until after a period of 4 years. She went home to the life of a drudge as punishment for her ruined reputation when she went out for a tryst and got kidnapped instead. Then she had an inheritance (much to the chagrin of her righteous brother and sister) and went to London to hide in plain sight as Bellona Flint a foremost Fowler follower whose widowed founder was slowly turning mad because of the pox that she got from her husband. As fate and the author would have it... they met again and a thrilling adventure begins.
May 24, 2019
Copyright 2010. Although this is the 10th in the series, it can be read as a stand alone. Some characters from the other books make appearances. This is the Duke of Ithorne's story.
Rescued by the Duke while he's incognito as Captain Rose, Bella's life becomes a misery. For 4 years she lives in penance for being kidnapped as a teenager. Now 21, she finds she's a heiress & leaves her family for some freedom. Of course she finds Captain Rose again & trouble follows.
I really liked Thorne & Bella as a couple. Thorne helps Bella get revenge on the foul brother who made her life a misery & they fall in love. The manx cat, Tabby is back & with kittens!
Rescued by the Duke while he's incognito as Captain Rose, Bella's life becomes a misery. For 4 years she lives in penance for being kidnapped as a teenager. Now 21, she finds she's a heiress & leaves her family for some freedom. Of course she finds Captain Rose again & trouble follows.
I really liked Thorne & Bella as a couple. Thorne helps Bella get revenge on the foul brother who made her life a misery & they fall in love. The manx cat, Tabby is back & with kittens!
November 15, 2023
I would’ve given this two and a half stars. But since half stars aren’t a thing here then two stars it is.
Spoilers may be ahead.
I loved the hero. I didn’t even mind the heroine, the fact that she sought revenge for what her douche brother did to her made her rise in my esteem.
But everything else was in shambles. There were so many tropes and disguises that spread any momentum or anticipation built up during the book too thin for it to be interesting in any meaningful way. By the end one was bored already. There was no real angst or anticipation. It flat lined for me to be honest.
And I’m disappointed because it had potential.
Spoilers may be ahead.
I loved the hero. I didn’t even mind the heroine, the fact that she sought revenge for what her douche brother did to her made her rise in my esteem.
But everything else was in shambles. There were so many tropes and disguises that spread any momentum or anticipation built up during the book too thin for it to be interesting in any meaningful way. By the end one was bored already. There was no real angst or anticipation. It flat lined for me to be honest.
And I’m disappointed because it had potential.
July 29, 2018
Have been terribly busy and thus picked this up for easy reading and kind of served the purpose. It was bit slow to get into with myriad plot lines and identities but was an enjoyable fare once the main purpose of the story came into focus, until then one is left wondering as to what is going on. The secondary characters in the story were more interesting to read maybe coz the author has given less intensity to the romance of the story in the first half.But when I was managing a reading time of only 1 page per day, this book more than made me happy.
June 8, 2023
The romance is light but sweet. I liked how these two fell in love, but SO MUCH of the story was about Bella’s revenge, and a culmination of Lady Fowler’s activities from previous books in the series. In this way, Jo Beverly’s brilliance shines because the way past stories intertwined was perfect. Except, there was too much of it! More Thorne and Bella would have been good. Also, Thorne’e doubts about Bella’s suitability to be his duchess did not ring true to me.
November 7, 2021
passable
second read, reduced a star. too complex with so many characters, and invaded by the thread of the stink of the dying from pox Mrs Dowler which was so unpleasant. there were too many moving plots, the duke, capt rose, the drummonds, the brother. the book was way way to long, with a finale far too short. Although i must admit there were some beautiful lines, writing that was absolutely soaring, but not enough to offset the constant angst. Too many disguises, too many threads that never made it through the needle. have to check if have read any Malloren titles but will say this was a task to finish, like washing clothes by hand.
second read, reduced a star. too complex with so many characters, and invaded by the thread of the stink of the dying from pox Mrs Dowler which was so unpleasant. there were too many moving plots, the duke, capt rose, the drummonds, the brother. the book was way way to long, with a finale far too short. Although i must admit there were some beautiful lines, writing that was absolutely soaring, but not enough to offset the constant angst. Too many disguises, too many threads that never made it through the needle. have to check if have read any Malloren titles but will say this was a task to finish, like washing clothes by hand.
March 21, 2022
An absorbing romantic story. The number of little side plots, rather than complicate make for interesting padding.
The search for cat rabbits or rabbit cats. Bella's revenge on her brother Augustus.
Look alikes Captain Rose and Ithorne. The letter of Lady Fowler and her betrayal by the two sisters in her circle.
All add to an enjoyable read.
The search for cat rabbits or rabbit cats. Bella's revenge on her brother Augustus.
Look alikes Captain Rose and Ithorne. The letter of Lady Fowler and her betrayal by the two sisters in her circle.
All add to an enjoyable read.
November 5, 2023
Con las ganas y la intriga que sentía yo por esta historia, se terminó desinflando como un globo de malísima calidad en la mitad de la fiesta.
No he visto romance ni amor por ningún sitio, más bien parecía que los dos querían casarse y tener familia que casarse enamorados el uno del otro. Esta historia prometía, pero se quedó ahí no más.
No he visto romance ni amor por ningún sitio, más bien parecía que los dos querían casarse y tener familia que casarse enamorados el uno del otro. Esta historia prometía, pero se quedó ahí no más.
June 5, 2023
It was a nice story, well written. It was romantic. The girl was written so she didn't seem.... Silly, she was strong but not overly so. He was written well as well. There wasn't much, only two parts, that are not ok for children's eyes, but 98% of the book is just story and fun.
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