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Swanlea Spinsters #2
A Notorious Love
Helena Laverick is at her wits end! The only man who can help find her eloping young sister is that scoundrel Daniel Brennan—the man who played with her emotions last year and then left. And he used to be a smuggler! Although Mrs. Nunley's Guide to Etiquette for Young Ladies would never approve, Helena forced to go after the runaway in Daniel's company. But something about being with him feels oddly freeing—and a delicious tingle warns Helena that more than her reputation may be in danger . . .
Daniel finds most of the prim and proper lovely's rules ridiculous—but when she insists on masquerading as his wife for the sake of appearances, he immediately envisions the delights of sharing a bedchamber. The unexpected smouldering beneath her straitlaced exterior ignites his desire, and die vulnerability hidden beneath her cool control makes him want her even more. Yet Helena's a lady, and he's the son of a highwayman. How can he ever ask her to share his world?
Daniel finds most of the prim and proper lovely's rules ridiculous—but when she insists on masquerading as his wife for the sake of appearances, he immediately envisions the delights of sharing a bedchamber. The unexpected smouldering beneath her straitlaced exterior ignites his desire, and die vulnerability hidden beneath her cool control makes him want her even more. Yet Helena's a lady, and he's the son of a highwayman. How can he ever ask her to share his world?
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 4, 2001
177 people are currently reading
1685 people want to read
About the author
Sabrina Jeffries
88 books4,799 followersSabrina Jeffries is the NYT bestselling author of over 50 novels and works of short fiction (some written under the pseudonyms Deborah Martin and Deborah Nicholas). Whatever time not spent writing in a coffee-fueled haze of dreams and madness is spent traveling with her husband and adult autistic son or indulging in one of her passions—jigsaw puzzles, chocolate, and music. With over 11 million books published in print and electronically in 25 different languages, the North Carolina author never regrets tossing aside a budding career in academics for the sheer joy of writing fun fiction, and hopes that one day a book of hers will end up saving the world.
She always dreams big.
She always dreams big.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 167 reviews
June 21, 2018
This one sort of fizzled out a bit in the end for me. Not sure why.
Watching the footy, so not much time to review!
I didn't really like Juliet so I am even sure if I will continue the series.
Watching the footy, so not much time to review!
I didn't really like Juliet so I am even sure if I will continue the series.
September 26, 2021
I was NOT expecting much from this book because I wasn't a fan of the first in the series, but I just adored it. Road trip romance? Yes please! Forced proximity? I love it! Hero and heroine both flawed, yet perfect for each other? Woohoo!
Helena is the oldest of the 3 Laverick sisters (The first book of the series is about the middle sister). She has a limp from a damaged leg, which you find out why in the author's notes at the end of the story. She has loved once in the past and was badly hurt emotionally. Her self esteem suffers and she doesn't believe anyone can find her with her leg worthy or attractive.
The hero Daniel has made much of himself despite his infamous father's reputation. Financial independence has been gained and in a respectful way. He has always been open about his past, but finds himself wanting a better history to present to Helena.
Helena's youngest sister is eloping, to a fortune hunting scoundrel no less. She enlists in Daniel's help to recover her and her reputation before damage is done. They gallivant around the country trying to find her while other factors come into play.
The first book isn't necessary to read this one. Griff and Rosalind are in this story briefly, but nothing that would need the background. However, Daniel and Helena are both in the first story, as well as some interactions between them that have started their relationship...or animosity haha.
While not truly an enemies to lovers story, they do start out rather argumentative. However Helena softens soon into the story, which I liked as it left more for relationship growth. I loved how Daniel showed her how wonderful she was and gave her confidence. I loved the sex, and enjoyed Helena getting to explore her naughty side. She was the girl that carried around her proper etiquette book so to see her come into her own relationship as an equal partner was great to see.
This book just fell a little short of 5 stars for me. It just wasn't quite as good to me as her other 5 star books I have read, but still a great story that I highly recommend. I didn't even mind the perspective jumping to Juliet and even another side character, and that usually bothers me. I'm really excited for Juliet's story, I'm going to get that one from the library next.
(This story takes place in October 1815)
Content warnings for possible consent issues
Locations of kisses/sex
Helena is the oldest of the 3 Laverick sisters (The first book of the series is about the middle sister). She has a limp from a damaged leg, which you find out why in the author's notes at the end of the story. She has loved once in the past and was badly hurt emotionally. Her self esteem suffers and she doesn't believe anyone can find her with her leg worthy or attractive.
The hero Daniel has made much of himself despite his infamous father's reputation. Financial independence has been gained and in a respectful way. He has always been open about his past, but finds himself wanting a better history to present to Helena.
Helena's youngest sister is eloping, to a fortune hunting scoundrel no less. She enlists in Daniel's help to recover her and her reputation before damage is done. They gallivant around the country trying to find her while other factors come into play.
The first book isn't necessary to read this one. Griff and Rosalind are in this story briefly, but nothing that would need the background. However, Daniel and Helena are both in the first story, as well as some interactions between them that have started their relationship...or animosity haha.
While not truly an enemies to lovers story, they do start out rather argumentative. However Helena softens soon into the story, which I liked as it left more for relationship growth. I loved how Daniel showed her how wonderful she was and gave her confidence. I loved the sex, and enjoyed Helena getting to explore her naughty side. She was the girl that carried around her proper etiquette book so to see her come into her own relationship as an equal partner was great to see.
This book just fell a little short of 5 stars for me. It just wasn't quite as good to me as her other 5 star books I have read, but still a great story that I highly recommend. I didn't even mind the perspective jumping to Juliet and even another side character, and that usually bothers me. I'm really excited for Juliet's story, I'm going to get that one from the library next.
(This story takes place in October 1815)
Content warnings for possible consent issues
Locations of kisses/sex
October 22, 2022
2.5. I'm not a fan of road trips in HR, but it was okay.
September 9, 2016
I enjoyed both the hero and heroine in this one. I liked their banter for the most part, although there were times a deliberate misunderstanding was introduced to further the drama. The book wasn't very exciting. It felt so long and took me several days to read. I wanted to read this only in order to understand the third book of the series, as the plot points are introduced here. Otherwise I'd probably have DNFed it.
He accepted her with all her flaws—her tart tongue, her distrustful nature, her lameness. He did not ask her to hide her leg or her physical weakness—he simply found a way to accommodate them.
*squee*
He accepted her with all her flaws—her tart tongue, her distrustful nature, her lameness. He did not ask her to hide her leg or her physical weakness—he simply found a way to accommodate them.
*squee*
January 3, 2022
This was… okay. I thought it was going to a fun road trip, enemies to lovers historical romance, where the heroine gets the hero to help her find her runaway sister, and it was at first, but I just never grew to love the main characters. I cared more about the sister’s plot than the romance!
July 7, 2014
The book starts when the heroine, who has a limp, goes to the hero's house (an ex-smuggler) to ask his help in locating her sister who seems to have eloped with a fortune hunter and possible smuggler. The hero reluctantly agrees that she accompany him in his search, while he's trying to pick up the trail of her sister. But the only way she can accompany him without ruining her reputation, is if she pretends to be his wife. And so the search begins, and of course they have to share rooms in taverns and deal with smugglers, some of which are friendly and some not. Their proximity makes their attraction to each other hard to ignore, but she's a gentle-bred lady, while he's a low-born ex-smuggler who only recently became respectable, so they are both reluctant to act on it.
The book was not bad and kept a nice enough pace and balance between action and romance. However, the hero and mainly the heroine were not my cuppa: she was overly naive and innocent (she even didn't know how men and women mated) but also intelligent, courageous and spunky -to the point of stupidity I might add- while he was over-indulgent for my taste. Fans of these qualities will no doubt like this one.
A note though, that this is the second in a series, and the hero of the first one is closely related to the smugglers. I didn't have a problem following the story without having read it, but even the reason behind the sister's 'elopement' is related to events that took place in the first book. They are explained here, but briefly.
The book was not bad and kept a nice enough pace and balance between action and romance. However, the hero and mainly the heroine were not my cuppa: she was overly naive and innocent (she even didn't know how men and women mated) but also intelligent, courageous and spunky -to the point of stupidity I might add- while he was over-indulgent for my taste. Fans of these qualities will no doubt like this one.
A note though, that this is the second in a series, and the hero of the first one is closely related to the smugglers. I didn't have a problem following the story without having read it, but even the reason behind the sister's 'elopement' is related to events that took place in the first book. They are explained here, but briefly.
August 26, 2011
Pego, St Peter and John Thomas will be the overwhelming thing that I take away from this book.
May 5, 2012
4+ Really enjoyed this book.
What an assortment of names he has for his unquenchable thing...And I quote...
"within seconds, the unquenchable thing inside his breeches stiffened mad with the pleasure of touching her.
Bloody hell, he swore under his breath as his St Peter behaved less than saintly. The damned thing kept rearing up inside his breeches thanks to her and her sweet lips.
...his John Thomas...
What an assortment of names he has for his unquenchable thing...And I quote...
"within seconds, the unquenchable thing inside his breeches stiffened mad with the pleasure of touching her.
Bloody hell, he swore under his breath as his St Peter behaved less than saintly. The damned thing kept rearing up inside his breeches thanks to her and her sweet lips.
...his John Thomas...
December 22, 2024
3.5 stars. A Notorious Love is the second book in the Swanlea Spinsters series. We follow characters we’ve already seen set up in the first book. While I didn’t enjoy that book, I had heard better things about the rest of the series so I did continue on. I did enjoy this one more than that book at least.
This is a historical romance with enemies to lovers, a roadtrip, fake relationship, and disability rep (heroine uses a mobility aid/a cane for her leg). Helena is the oldest daughter of the Earl of Swanlea and met Daniel in the first book in the series when he was helping the hero of that book by swapping identities. While she’s not a fan of Daniel, she finds herself desperate enough to show up on his doorstep asking for help in this book. Her youngest sister Juliet has run away to elope with a man who Helena is determined is just a fortune hunter. Daniel is the son of a highwayman who Helena is hoping can help her find Juliet before it’s too late. So they set off on their roadtrip traveling together to find her missing sister and have to fake be a married couple while they travel to inns!
This books was better than the first book, I liked the storyline and characters more! We also get Juliet’s POV in this book as she realizes she’s not on her way to elope but is actually getting kidnapped! Daniel was the son of a highwayman who was brought up in a workhouse and eventually part of a smuggler’s gang. It was intriguing to see how this story played out! Helena has been let down in the past by people she thought loved her but were turned off with her use of a cane. I liked seeing her find someone who loved her for all the right reasons. I also liked how she’s an artist and paints, it really came in handy when the villains were involved! This one did start off stronger than it ended though for me and does have some dated conversations. I do love a road trip historical romance so that part was fun and I do see story beats/influences that maybe this book had on more recent historical romance releases.
This is a historical romance with enemies to lovers, a roadtrip, fake relationship, and disability rep (heroine uses a mobility aid/a cane for her leg). Helena is the oldest daughter of the Earl of Swanlea and met Daniel in the first book in the series when he was helping the hero of that book by swapping identities. While she’s not a fan of Daniel, she finds herself desperate enough to show up on his doorstep asking for help in this book. Her youngest sister Juliet has run away to elope with a man who Helena is determined is just a fortune hunter. Daniel is the son of a highwayman who Helena is hoping can help her find Juliet before it’s too late. So they set off on their roadtrip traveling together to find her missing sister and have to fake be a married couple while they travel to inns!
This books was better than the first book, I liked the storyline and characters more! We also get Juliet’s POV in this book as she realizes she’s not on her way to elope but is actually getting kidnapped! Daniel was the son of a highwayman who was brought up in a workhouse and eventually part of a smuggler’s gang. It was intriguing to see how this story played out! Helena has been let down in the past by people she thought loved her but were turned off with her use of a cane. I liked seeing her find someone who loved her for all the right reasons. I also liked how she’s an artist and paints, it really came in handy when the villains were involved! This one did start off stronger than it ended though for me and does have some dated conversations. I do love a road trip historical romance so that part was fun and I do see story beats/influences that maybe this book had on more recent historical romance releases.
December 7, 2021
#HRReadathon
June 24, 2019
This is the second book in the series. I have found anew author to love. Good dialogue, steamy, and happily ever afters make this book and author a joy to read. I’m off to the 3rd in the series. Yay!🥰
May 14, 2022
Not bad, even though I don't like my heroines to have any imperfections. I would rather the heroes be imperfect.
November 18, 2019
3.5
No me encanto tanto como el primero pero puedo decir que termino gustandome la historia.
Al inicio es molesto la actitud de rectitud y juzgadora de Helena hacia Daniel. Me daban ganas de darle un golpe cuando se pone en plan eres y eres. Pero una vez ella empieza a cambiar su forma de verlo la lectura se vuelve disfrutable.
Daniel es un personaje que me gusto completito😍😍. Que divertido y desvergonzado era pero también protector y de buen corazón con Helena.
Punto a favor es que la historia fue ágil con ritmo y mucho movimiento y acción. Haciendo que no puediera dejar de leer.
Estoy deseando leer los siguientes libros.
No me encanto tanto como el primero pero puedo decir que termino gustandome la historia.
Al inicio es molesto la actitud de rectitud y juzgadora de Helena hacia Daniel. Me daban ganas de darle un golpe cuando se pone en plan eres y eres. Pero una vez ella empieza a cambiar su forma de verlo la lectura se vuelve disfrutable.
Daniel es un personaje que me gusto completito😍😍. Que divertido y desvergonzado era pero también protector y de buen corazón con Helena.
Punto a favor es que la historia fue ágil con ritmo y mucho movimiento y acción. Haciendo que no puediera dejar de leer.
Estoy deseando leer los siguientes libros.
July 12, 2013
I made it halfway through the book, became bored and stopped. The problem? A couple of things:
The main issue is a problem I see a lot in romances these days: the characters come together far too soon and all tension is lost.
Problem #2: The tension here wasn't great from the start. It read as though he hadn't been attracted to her and, very suddenly, he was because the author TOLD me he was, but she did not show it.
Problem #3: Then they are having sex, even though Helena is a virgin. Do I think that's possible back then? Sure. As written? Not really. She gave it up far too easily. There was no real struggle about her feelings for him or his for her. The obstacle for her to get over was that he was the son of a highwayman and both his parents had hung for their crimes.
Now that was a great concept. Lots of struggle and tension there with class and emotions, but she didn't use it. There was little internal struggle in Daniel over his parents' past, and what there was, again, was told to the reader, not shown. So much chance here for internal torment on the part of Daniel and Helena's response to it - lost opportunity.
Problem #4: Helena getting upset with him for not telling her he'd worked for Crouch - this came off confusing. Even though he'd been Crouch's second hand, he'd still been a kid when he did it. That didn't seem to matter to Helena. I didn't understand why that changed things to her and why she got upset over it. Also, this made her seem very small that, as she knew him so well by that point, she still turned on him when she found out about it. This was when I'd finally had enough, to be honest.
Problem #5: Given the timeframe, I can't buy off on Helena going off with Daniel - alone - for the reasons given. It was far too convenient. She wants to go, so she goes? And no escort? Yeah, I know: they posted as a married couple. Sorry, that doesn't wash. That would have been the height of irresponsibility in those days. And, ex-highwayman or not, Daniel would not have gone for it if he'd cared about her at all. IT would have been too easy to be found out. Obviously someone is caring for her father while she's gone, so someone knows she's left. And they would have been seen on the way. I could not accept this as an option. That's not to say things could not have been worked so that they would be alone through no course of their own itention - that would have been believeable, but this was not.
So what was positive?
This author did something that many romance authors do not do. Daniel was a well developed character. I loved that he had a criminal past he'd risen above - and that rise, as written, made sense. He was a flawed character with a past he'd rather not remember. That was woven in well several times. Again, I would have liked to see more of his struggle, rather than just be told of it, but her creating of his character was well planned and executed.
I liked Helena far less so, because of the reasons stated above, but she had been crippled from a sickness, so she was also flawed. And he liked her regardless of the flaw. I liked that.
I also liked that the sister had been taken in by this man who had seemed like such a great match. I had conflicting feelings about the story jumping from Helena's story to Juliet's - I didn't really care about Juliet's to be honest and it seemed a bit jarring - but it was interesting and gave a lot of scope for development between the sisters.
For these positives, I wish I could have stayed engaged, but once the tension is lost and a story just becomes about how to keep them apart for the next 150 pages, I move on. I wish the author had kept Daniel and Helena's build up going until the end of the book. I don't need to read the sex (I hope publishers don't pressure authors to add those things in), but I do need the steady build of tension.
The main issue is a problem I see a lot in romances these days: the characters come together far too soon and all tension is lost.
Problem #2: The tension here wasn't great from the start. It read as though he hadn't been attracted to her and, very suddenly, he was because the author TOLD me he was, but she did not show it.
Problem #3: Then they are having sex, even though Helena is a virgin. Do I think that's possible back then? Sure. As written? Not really. She gave it up far too easily. There was no real struggle about her feelings for him or his for her. The obstacle for her to get over was that he was the son of a highwayman and both his parents had hung for their crimes.
Now that was a great concept. Lots of struggle and tension there with class and emotions, but she didn't use it. There was little internal struggle in Daniel over his parents' past, and what there was, again, was told to the reader, not shown. So much chance here for internal torment on the part of Daniel and Helena's response to it - lost opportunity.
Problem #4: Helena getting upset with him for not telling her he'd worked for Crouch - this came off confusing. Even though he'd been Crouch's second hand, he'd still been a kid when he did it. That didn't seem to matter to Helena. I didn't understand why that changed things to her and why she got upset over it. Also, this made her seem very small that, as she knew him so well by that point, she still turned on him when she found out about it. This was when I'd finally had enough, to be honest.
Problem #5: Given the timeframe, I can't buy off on Helena going off with Daniel - alone - for the reasons given. It was far too convenient. She wants to go, so she goes? And no escort? Yeah, I know: they posted as a married couple. Sorry, that doesn't wash. That would have been the height of irresponsibility in those days. And, ex-highwayman or not, Daniel would not have gone for it if he'd cared about her at all. IT would have been too easy to be found out. Obviously someone is caring for her father while she's gone, so someone knows she's left. And they would have been seen on the way. I could not accept this as an option. That's not to say things could not have been worked so that they would be alone through no course of their own itention - that would have been believeable, but this was not.
So what was positive?
This author did something that many romance authors do not do. Daniel was a well developed character. I loved that he had a criminal past he'd risen above - and that rise, as written, made sense. He was a flawed character with a past he'd rather not remember. That was woven in well several times. Again, I would have liked to see more of his struggle, rather than just be told of it, but her creating of his character was well planned and executed.
I liked Helena far less so, because of the reasons stated above, but she had been crippled from a sickness, so she was also flawed. And he liked her regardless of the flaw. I liked that.
I also liked that the sister had been taken in by this man who had seemed like such a great match. I had conflicting feelings about the story jumping from Helena's story to Juliet's - I didn't really care about Juliet's to be honest and it seemed a bit jarring - but it was interesting and gave a lot of scope for development between the sisters.
For these positives, I wish I could have stayed engaged, but once the tension is lost and a story just becomes about how to keep them apart for the next 150 pages, I move on. I wish the author had kept Daniel and Helena's build up going until the end of the book. I don't need to read the sex (I hope publishers don't pressure authors to add those things in), but I do need the steady build of tension.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 10, 2018
Like with Rosalind and Juliet, Helena is a delightful Swanlea Spinster, a fully fleshed-out heroine whose motivations and fears are wonderfully unpacked, bringing depth beyond lame sister, the shrew. Helena has been jilted in the past and this has led her to become disillusioned with men taking an interest in her. In A Notorious Love, Helena learns how to tell a good guy from one that needs to be put in his place. Relatable, no?
Picking up right after the events of A Dangerous Love, Sabrina Jeffries brings Helena and Daniel Brennan back together again. Helena is in pursuit to recover her runaway sister Juliet after she's eloped with Captain Morgan who may or may not be a smuggler. Finding herself in London, she goes to Daniel for help. Daniel believes at first there is nothing more suspicious about Captain Morgan's character, other than that he may be a fortune hunter. However, enough red flags spring up that Daniel and Helena make the trek out of London to recover Juliet.
Helena and Daniel struggle to see each other, free from each other's insecurities and doubts, although Helena has more to overcome in learning how to trust. This lovely tension between Helena and Daniel can be summed up like so:
A Notorious Love is a captivating read.
Picking up right after the events of A Dangerous Love, Sabrina Jeffries brings Helena and Daniel Brennan back together again. Helena is in pursuit to recover her runaway sister Juliet after she's eloped with Captain Morgan who may or may not be a smuggler. Finding herself in London, she goes to Daniel for help. Daniel believes at first there is nothing more suspicious about Captain Morgan's character, other than that he may be a fortune hunter. However, enough red flags spring up that Daniel and Helena make the trek out of London to recover Juliet.
Helena and Daniel struggle to see each other, free from each other's insecurities and doubts, although Helena has more to overcome in learning how to trust. This lovely tension between Helena and Daniel can be summed up like so:
A Notorious Love is a captivating read.
August 2, 2016
I really loved this book in the series, and I specially adored Danny and Helena more than the previous couple.
Danny was just so sweet to her and he understood her more than anybody else, and how he showed her love without any restraints without mentioning her legs or anything just made me melt all over XD
And the trust issue with Helena kinda pissed me off at the beginning but after being halfway through the book nearing the end I like her stubbornness and complete trust in Danny
Overall I really loved the book, It was the one I wanted to read most in this series and honestly I wasn't disappointed the funny moments like the time when they were in the gig and Danny was reading and teasing her with the young lady's book of etiquette plus the drag part it was so hilarious. And it had it sensitive moments when he made her realized that her leg wasn't much of a liability as she first thought and how he wants her despite it and how she wants him despite his past.
Danny was just so sweet to her and he understood her more than anybody else, and how he showed her love without any restraints without mentioning her legs or anything just made me melt all over XD
And the trust issue with Helena kinda pissed me off at the beginning but after being halfway through the book nearing the end I like her stubbornness and complete trust in Danny
Overall I really loved the book, It was the one I wanted to read most in this series and honestly I wasn't disappointed the funny moments like the time when they were in the gig and Danny was reading and teasing her with the young lady's book of etiquette plus the drag part it was so hilarious. And it had it sensitive moments when he made her realized that her leg wasn't much of a liability as she first thought and how he wants her despite it and how she wants him despite his past.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 6, 2015
I liked the book. It flows very nicely and is a very sweet story. I however have reservations about characterization in this book.
1. A heroine with polio: I had trouble picturing her in my head.
2. A hero who speaks of love too prematurely: maybe it was not premature for other people, but the timing in the book was a little too early for me. Maybe "early" is not exactly the right word. I think for someone who is used to mocking and ridicule, prejudice and judgement, like our hero, it takes a little more than lust to know love. Or rather, a little mental tug-of-war is required for someone like this to know what love is.
The above comments being said, I still find this book very enjoyable. It isn't the heart-wretching kind of story that usually tug at my heart, but it is a sweet love story with 2 special lead characters.
1. A heroine with polio: I had trouble picturing her in my head.
2. A hero who speaks of love too prematurely: maybe it was not premature for other people, but the timing in the book was a little too early for me. Maybe "early" is not exactly the right word. I think for someone who is used to mocking and ridicule, prejudice and judgement, like our hero, it takes a little more than lust to know love. Or rather, a little mental tug-of-war is required for someone like this to know what love is.
The above comments being said, I still find this book very enjoyable. It isn't the heart-wretching kind of story that usually tug at my heart, but it is a sweet love story with 2 special lead characters.
February 26, 2016
3.5 Stars..!!
This is the first Sbrina Jeffries series. I've read a The Hellions, and The duke's men series. They are awesome..!
So, I'm a little bit surprised that this is a SJ book. You can clearly tell that these are her earlier work.
The story is what made me give 3.5 stars. The writing is not up to SJ standard. I was really disappointed.
But I did love Danny and Helena. They made me complete the book.
And my main complaint is why does she find it necessary to use such stupid synonyms for a man's cock. There I said it 'Cock'. Why does she she so many stupid other names dude..?? I mean, What's up with that..?
Other than that the story was nice and it was a pleasant read.
This is the first Sbrina Jeffries series. I've read a The Hellions, and The duke's men series. They are awesome..!
So, I'm a little bit surprised that this is a SJ book. You can clearly tell that these are her earlier work.
The story is what made me give 3.5 stars. The writing is not up to SJ standard. I was really disappointed.
But I did love Danny and Helena. They made me complete the book.
And my main complaint is why does she find it necessary to use such stupid synonyms for a man's cock. There I said it 'Cock'. Why does she she so many stupid other names dude..?? I mean, What's up with that..?
Other than that the story was nice and it was a pleasant read.
March 11, 2020
Relido em 03/2020.
March 22, 2025
A Notorious Love by Sabrina Jefferies
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Cover (stepback): 5/5
Story: 3.5/5
Steam: 🔥 🔥 🔥
Ending: HEA
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Series or Stand Alone: Book two of the Swanlee Spinsters series. Set up and relationship building between h/H in book one. Books 1-3 should be read in series order.
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England, Regency (1815)
Rougish Finanical Advisor
Ice Queen Lady
Road Trip
Class Difference
Fake Married
Only One Bed
They Team Up
Heroine Uses Cane
Danger & Peril
Self-Made Man
Physical Disability Rep
Former Smuggler Hero
Heroine Swore Off Men
Close Family Bonds
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... this series isn't working out very well for me.
-Annoying innocent heroine. Really showcases the age (24 years) of the book. I don't care about an innocent heroine who was never educated about carnal acts. What I don't like is when she has been written in a manner that just comes off as her being super dense.
-Both MCs like to jump to conclusions and not ask for clarification. Instead, they make assumptions that end up with them having unintentionally hurt feelings. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Be adults and talk.
- There is a little bit of POV from h/H featured in book three.
As for steam- if I have to hear the word PEGO one more time, I am going to lose it. It had to have been used at least 15 times along with "John Thomas."
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Read as a physical copy. Honest review left voluntarily.
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Content Warning (spoilers likely):
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Smuggling activist
Abd*ction
Unwanted physical advances
Physical vi*lence
Heavy drinking
Use of the word cripple to describe someone with a physical disability
Hero's parent were sentenced to de*th by h*nging
Pr*stitution
Various criminal activities
G*n vi*lence
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Cover (stepback): 5/5
Story: 3.5/5
Steam: 🔥 🔥 🔥
Ending: HEA
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Series or Stand Alone: Book two of the Swanlee Spinsters series. Set up and relationship building between h/H in book one. Books 1-3 should be read in series order.
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England, Regency (1815)
Rougish Finanical Advisor
Ice Queen Lady
Road Trip
Class Difference
Fake Married
Only One Bed
They Team Up
Heroine Uses Cane
Danger & Peril
Self-Made Man
Physical Disability Rep
Former Smuggler Hero
Heroine Swore Off Men
Close Family Bonds
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... this series isn't working out very well for me.
-Annoying innocent heroine. Really showcases the age (24 years) of the book. I don't care about an innocent heroine who was never educated about carnal acts. What I don't like is when she has been written in a manner that just comes off as her being super dense.
-Both MCs like to jump to conclusions and not ask for clarification. Instead, they make assumptions that end up with them having unintentionally hurt feelings. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Be adults and talk.
- There is a little bit of POV from h/H featured in book three.
As for steam- if I have to hear the word PEGO one more time, I am going to lose it. It had to have been used at least 15 times along with "John Thomas."
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Read as a physical copy. Honest review left voluntarily.
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Content Warning (spoilers likely):
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Smuggling activist
Abd*ction
Unwanted physical advances
Physical vi*lence
Heavy drinking
Use of the word cripple to describe someone with a physical disability
Hero's parent were sentenced to de*th by h*nging
Pr*stitution
Various criminal activities
G*n vi*lence
March 22, 2017
The second book of the Swanlea Spinsters series. Helena is impaired in one of her legs due to a disease that sounds like polio (and Ms. Jeffries confirms that in an author's note). Several years previously, she had been courted by a Lord Farnsworth and she thought she was in love with him, but he married someone else. She has decided that no man will marry her because of her leg, and in order to protect her heart, she rebuffs any gentleman who approaches her.
Then came the Griff Knighton/Daniel Brennan masquerade. Helena had enjoyed trading barbs with Daniel, thinking that he was courting Juliet. She eventually grew to like him and trust him, although she refused to admit it. As for Daniel, he was wanting her badly. *nudge nudge wink wink*
So when a mysterious Will Morgan elopes with Juliet, Helena goes to London to persuade Daniel to find them, and she insists on going with him.
Well, we romance readers know what happens on road trips, right??? This adventure includes lots of ale, thunderstorms and smugglers - especially smugglers. Lots of smugglers.
I do enjoy road trip romances and this one was fun. The one weak point, IMO, is that we don't get a lot of Helena's POV. In the end, I don't feel like I know her very well, IYKWIM.
3.75 stars, rounded up to 4.
Then came the Griff Knighton/Daniel Brennan masquerade. Helena had enjoyed trading barbs with Daniel, thinking that he was courting Juliet. She eventually grew to like him and trust him, although she refused to admit it. As for Daniel, he was wanting her badly. *nudge nudge wink wink*
So when a mysterious Will Morgan elopes with Juliet, Helena goes to London to persuade Daniel to find them, and she insists on going with him.
Well, we romance readers know what happens on road trips, right??? This adventure includes lots of ale, thunderstorms and smugglers - especially smugglers. Lots of smugglers.
I do enjoy road trip romances and this one was fun. The one weak point, IMO, is that we don't get a lot of Helena's POV. In the end, I don't feel like I know her very well, IYKWIM.
3.75 stars, rounded up to 4.
February 22, 2021
5/5
Właśnie takie historię lubię najbardziej! Sabrina Jeffries jest zawsze strzałem w 10, podobnie jak Kleypas. Jestem oczarowana opowieścią o losach chłodnej Heleny i intrygującego Daniela. Dla czytelników lubiących ciekawe, lekkie romanse, będzie to idealna pozycja. Szybko się czyta, serce bije mocniej i znika się na chwilę z szarej rzeczywistości.
PS. Jak mnie to irytuje, że niemal wszystkie książki wydawane w Polsce maja tylko jedną szansę na sukces i kilka lat po premierze już nikt o nich nie pamięta...
Właśnie takie historię lubię najbardziej! Sabrina Jeffries jest zawsze strzałem w 10, podobnie jak Kleypas. Jestem oczarowana opowieścią o losach chłodnej Heleny i intrygującego Daniela. Dla czytelników lubiących ciekawe, lekkie romanse, będzie to idealna pozycja. Szybko się czyta, serce bije mocniej i znika się na chwilę z szarej rzeczywistości.
PS. Jak mnie to irytuje, że niemal wszystkie książki wydawane w Polsce maja tylko jedną szansę na sukces i kilka lat po premierze już nikt o nich nie pamięta...
March 26, 2025
4.0. 🖌🔗💰
"He swore he’d adore her, And to her ever constant prove; He’d wed her, he’d bed her, And none on earth but her he’d love."
“Una’s Lock,” anonymous nineteenth-century Irish ballad
🖌 Helena se na početku činila previše uštogljena, ali je ispala drag lik, sa svojim nesigurnostima, ali i hrabrošću.
💰 Danny je bio šarmantan i radišan. Ja nr znam kako je ikada ikoga privlačio čovik koji ne radi.
🔗 Njih dvoje su bili jako komični i skladni. Lipo su se prilagodili jedno drugome. Pozadinski likovi su isto bili zanimljivi.
"He swore he’d adore her, And to her ever constant prove; He’d wed her, he’d bed her, And none on earth but her he’d love."
“Una’s Lock,” anonymous nineteenth-century Irish ballad
🖌 Helena se na početku činila previše uštogljena, ali je ispala drag lik, sa svojim nesigurnostima, ali i hrabrošću.
💰 Danny je bio šarmantan i radišan. Ja nr znam kako je ikada ikoga privlačio čovik koji ne radi.
🔗 Njih dvoje su bili jako komični i skladni. Lipo su se prilagodili jedno drugome. Pozadinski likovi su isto bili zanimljivi.
January 23, 2021
3 Stars -
HOOPLA audio.
A Notorious Love was the only book I read in the series until now. I needed to re-read it so I knew what happened before moving on to book 3. My rating remains 3 Stars. This was Daniel and Helena's story (The middle sister) with the side story of the kidnapping of Juliet. Like the 1st book it was an okay story....again, I'm glad SB has improved over the years.
HOOPLA audio.
A Notorious Love was the only book I read in the series until now. I needed to re-read it so I knew what happened before moving on to book 3. My rating remains 3 Stars. This was Daniel and Helena's story (The middle sister) with the side story of the kidnapping of Juliet. Like the 1st book it was an okay story....again, I'm glad SB has improved over the years.
April 25, 2019
I liked this one even better than the first book. The characters just clicked.
January 12, 2026
Absolutely loved it. I found his member names too funny not to laugh out loud. Probably one of those books that makes you remember why you love historical romance.
This is a keeper.
This is a keeper.
January 8, 2018
So far my favorite of the trilogy. I loved Daniel!
March 17, 2014
Enjoyed this book, maybe not quite as much as the first in the series, but it still had its moments. Helena and Daniel appeared to be an ill-matched pair, but they were equally stubborn, equally quick with retorts, and equally unsure about each other notwithstanding their mutual attraction. The plot had more adventure than in the previous book and was a good lead-in to the third book in the series.
I liked Daniel and Helena, the plot held my interest, and because of the smooth writing, the story just flowed. But, for some reason, this book wasn't as good as the first. It may be nothing more than the fact that having previously read the third book in the series I was more interested in Juliet's situation than in Helena's. Although these books can be read as standalones, I'd highly recommend reading them in order. Nevertheless, this was an entertaining story and I'm looking forward to more books by this author.
Rating: 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars.
I liked Daniel and Helena, the plot held my interest, and because of the smooth writing, the story just flowed. But, for some reason, this book wasn't as good as the first. It may be nothing more than the fact that having previously read the third book in the series I was more interested in Juliet's situation than in Helena's. Although these books can be read as standalones, I'd highly recommend reading them in order. Nevertheless, this was an entertaining story and I'm looking forward to more books by this author.
Rating: 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars.
May 16, 2017
Summary: When her youngest sister Juliet runs off to elope with the mysterious Captain Will Morgan, a possible fortune hunter who may be involved with smugglers, Lady Helena Laverick has no idea what to do! Griff and Roselind A Dangerous Love are honeymooning on the Continent, so her letter won’t reach them for weeks, and since Helena requires the aid of a cane to get around due to a childhood illness, she is in no position to go after her love-blinded sister alone. Wanting to be discreet to salvage Juliet’s reputation as much as possible, Helena’s only option is to enlist the aid of Daniel Brennan, Griff’s former man of affairs and the illegitimate son of a notorious highwayman. She still mistrusts the rogue from when he and Griff switched places and fooled her family, so when Daniel answers the door clad only in his drawers with a naked woman behind him calling “Danny-Boy” back to bed, Helena begins to wonder just what kind of trouble Juliet has gotten her into.
Daniel Brennan has worked hard to build himself up from his criminal roots. He has left Griff’s employ to focus on his successful financial advisement company that caters to the upper crust. Even though he knows he will never be truly accepted into their world, Daniel is satisfied with his life and feels no shame over his past. When Lady Helena, the prim and proper beauty that captivated him over a year ago, shows up at his door asking for his help, he realizes that there are parts of his past he doesn’t want her finding out about, lest she think even less of him. However, when his inquiries about Morgan reveal the man may indeed be involved with smugglers and that Juliet may be in danger, he’s forced to confront his past and return to world of smugglers that he was only too happy to leave behind.
When Daniel tells Helena to stay in London while he goes after Morgan and Juliet, Helena gives him an ultimatum: bring her along or she’ll go after them by herself. Trying to dissuade her, Daniel says the only way he’ll agree to her coming along is if they masquerade as a married couple, but he wasn’t counting on all the tempting situations that would put them in, nor did he realize that under her prudish front is a curious minx that wants him as much as he wants her!
The disastrous road trip leads Daniel straight into the clutches of his old smuggler gang forcing him to reveal his full past to Helena. The two lovers have to overcome their own insecurities and learn to trust each other in order to find their HEA!
My thoughts: Oh wow. I was not all that impressed by A Dangerous Love, so I was surprised at just how much I LOVED A Notorious Love. I was so intrigued by Daniel and Helena’s hinted-at romance in the first book, and their story did not disappoint! I was hooked literally from the first page. (So I don’t keep saying “I loved this, I loved that…”) I really enjoyed the fact that he never saw her limp/cane as a deterrent to her beauty and constantly called her out on it when she tried to make it one or used it as an excuse. Also loved (sorry, can’t help it) that they had such a hard time keeping their hands off each other – and that it was believable! It’s hard to write a story where time and haste are of the essence (especially when we’ve already been told that the couple they’re chasing is not stopping through the night) and fit in love scenes (steamy ones at that!) and not have the reader question why they are stopping to have sex when they’ve made such a big deal about trying to catch up. But in every case, I never stopped to question it because it made sense in the scenarios presented. I get that some reviews didn’t feel that Helena being so sexually curious or willing to sleep with Danny was believable, but in her mind she’s already given up on getting married and resigned herself to being a spinster because of her leg, so it made sense to me that she would at least want to know what she was missing out on, so that didn’t bother me at all. What I didn’t like as much were the jumps in the story to Juliet’s POV. While I’m intrigued to learn more about Morgan, there is just something about Juliet that annoys me. She bugged me in the first book too, and in truth I have no idea why (which makes me nervous since the next book is about her!). I definitely wanted to figure out the mystery behind why Morgan tricked her and why he was working with the smugglers, but I wanted their scenes over quickly so the story could get back to Daniel and Helena.
Minor Annoyance: On the cover of the book I had, the hero is shown with dark hair. This would have worked fine for Griff or even Morgan, but Daniel is blond! It obviously didn’t take away anything from the story for me, but it was definitely a “huh” moment.
Overall: A Notorious love does a great job of balancing the story’s action and romance without skimping on either. Daniel’s character is incredibly well-developed. He has overcome a hard past with criminal beginnings, losing all his family in the process, and yet he’s still funny and charming, not to mention considerate of Helena without being a pushover, and heroes like that just make me swoon. A fantastic continuation of the Swanlea Spinsters series.
Daniel Brennan has worked hard to build himself up from his criminal roots. He has left Griff’s employ to focus on his successful financial advisement company that caters to the upper crust. Even though he knows he will never be truly accepted into their world, Daniel is satisfied with his life and feels no shame over his past. When Lady Helena, the prim and proper beauty that captivated him over a year ago, shows up at his door asking for his help, he realizes that there are parts of his past he doesn’t want her finding out about, lest she think even less of him. However, when his inquiries about Morgan reveal the man may indeed be involved with smugglers and that Juliet may be in danger, he’s forced to confront his past and return to world of smugglers that he was only too happy to leave behind.
When Daniel tells Helena to stay in London while he goes after Morgan and Juliet, Helena gives him an ultimatum: bring her along or she’ll go after them by herself. Trying to dissuade her, Daniel says the only way he’ll agree to her coming along is if they masquerade as a married couple, but he wasn’t counting on all the tempting situations that would put them in, nor did he realize that under her prudish front is a curious minx that wants him as much as he wants her!
The disastrous road trip leads Daniel straight into the clutches of his old smuggler gang forcing him to reveal his full past to Helena. The two lovers have to overcome their own insecurities and learn to trust each other in order to find their HEA!
My thoughts: Oh wow. I was not all that impressed by A Dangerous Love, so I was surprised at just how much I LOVED A Notorious Love. I was so intrigued by Daniel and Helena’s hinted-at romance in the first book, and their story did not disappoint! I was hooked literally from the first page. (So I don’t keep saying “I loved this, I loved that…”) I really enjoyed the fact that he never saw her limp/cane as a deterrent to her beauty and constantly called her out on it when she tried to make it one or used it as an excuse. Also loved (sorry, can’t help it) that they had such a hard time keeping their hands off each other – and that it was believable! It’s hard to write a story where time and haste are of the essence (especially when we’ve already been told that the couple they’re chasing is not stopping through the night) and fit in love scenes (steamy ones at that!) and not have the reader question why they are stopping to have sex when they’ve made such a big deal about trying to catch up. But in every case, I never stopped to question it because it made sense in the scenarios presented. I get that some reviews didn’t feel that Helena being so sexually curious or willing to sleep with Danny was believable, but in her mind she’s already given up on getting married and resigned herself to being a spinster because of her leg, so it made sense to me that she would at least want to know what she was missing out on, so that didn’t bother me at all. What I didn’t like as much were the jumps in the story to Juliet’s POV. While I’m intrigued to learn more about Morgan, there is just something about Juliet that annoys me. She bugged me in the first book too, and in truth I have no idea why (which makes me nervous since the next book is about her!). I definitely wanted to figure out the mystery behind why Morgan tricked her and why he was working with the smugglers, but I wanted their scenes over quickly so the story could get back to Daniel and Helena.
Minor Annoyance: On the cover of the book I had, the hero is shown with dark hair. This would have worked fine for Griff or even Morgan, but Daniel is blond! It obviously didn’t take away anything from the story for me, but it was definitely a “huh” moment.
Overall: A Notorious love does a great job of balancing the story’s action and romance without skimping on either. Daniel’s character is incredibly well-developed. He has overcome a hard past with criminal beginnings, losing all his family in the process, and yet he’s still funny and charming, not to mention considerate of Helena without being a pushover, and heroes like that just make me swoon. A fantastic continuation of the Swanlea Spinsters series.
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