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My Lord Jack
Once a pampered courtesan in France, Claudia Valemont has lost her mother, her protector, and her lifestyle to the French Revolution. To avoid the guillotine herself, Claudia flees to Scotland to search for her only remaining relative: a father who knows nothing of her existence.
What Claudia finds is hardship and heartbreak. Now penniless, she is forced to steal to survive. Her crime nearly puts her in the hangman's noose, until the hangman himself comes to her rescue. Pleading on her behalf, he gets her sentence commuted to three months' labor in the village commons under his watchful eye. Though indebted to her mysterious savior, Claudia feels more than gratitude at his side—and as a harsh Scottish winter descends, her Lord Jack just might heal her wounded heart.
What Claudia finds is hardship and heartbreak. Now penniless, she is forced to steal to survive. Her crime nearly puts her in the hangman's noose, until the hangman himself comes to her rescue. Pleading on her behalf, he gets her sentence commuted to three months' labor in the village commons under his watchful eye. Though indebted to her mysterious savior, Claudia feels more than gratitude at his side—and as a harsh Scottish winter descends, her Lord Jack just might heal her wounded heart.
303 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 30, 2002
3 people are currently reading
144 people want to read
About the author
Hope C. Tarr
51 books212 followersAward-winning author of the American Songbook series: IRISH EYES and STARDUST (Joffe Books).
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Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/y2s7cfkj
Barnes & Noble: https://tinyurl.com/3hfkehad
Bookshop.org: https://tinyurl.com/3xhmfvzm
Walmart: http://tinyurl.com/dwbf554r
Target: http://tinyurl.com/374se9aw
Books-a-Million: http://tinyurl.com/bdenart2
Thunder Road Books: https://shop.thunderroadbooks.com/boo...
Book Culture: https://www.bookculture.com/book/9781...
River Road Books: https://www.riverroadbooks.net/book/9...
The Comfort Zone: https://comfortzone-og.com/
And more!
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
June 27, 2020
Re read 2020
I raised a star. I liked it quite a bit. It was different.
My only additions to the below 1st read review is that the heroine may not seem likable to some, but she does change. Stay with it.
The epilogue is better than I remember.
The French words thrown in were annoying at times and not necessary IMO
It does get stagnant about 65-69% but the conflict and drama pick up considerably there after.
The antagonist Callum, is a bit too evil but is also the driving force for conflict.
The loving scenes are done well, and the romance becomes more tender toward the end about 75%
See original review below for safety concerns
_____________________________
Original 1st read review 2016
The summary stating that the hero is an executioner (a hangman) intrigued me, leaving me to think this was either to be a dark story or have a very dark and macabre hero. To my dismay, I felt the hero quite the opposite,. Although his occupation is unsavory to most, he comes off as a sort of "bringer of justice." This does give a good solid justification for his choice of career, especially with his past, but it also made what could have been an extremely different and interesting story, just meh.
I did like it, regardless, even though it was not what I had expected, and I was surprised at how un-creepy his character was. In fact he was a sweet, kind moral man who loved animals.
It was enjoyable, with low angst but the "meat" of the story.. the forte of the authors writing, didn't come until 85%--this I won't spoil---but it was at this point where I felt had the writing been like this soup to nuts, it would have been perfect.
Ok so the writing. As a whole it was ok. I prefer to be shown not told. Here most was told, which IMHO makes everything a little flat. The pace was pretty steady, and there was some decent conflict. The characters were pretty well developed but not quite 3 dimensional.
Logic was lacking in many instances, but not so much that I couldn't stretch my imagination a bit to make some sense of it. For example.. The laws seemed to only be in play at certain times (when against the H & h) yet completely ignored for the bad guys ot just simply explained away as "it's your word against mine."
I felt the antagonists were borderline cartoonish, not quite but darn close,
The ending was too easily wrapped up and a bit blah. One example is when
Epilogue
We get little except a few words of endearment from the hero at the end and a seemed lame as well.
The heroine.
I had a difficult time relating to her. I suppose part of it was due to the fact she is French and the author pounded it into our heads by using a lot of french phrases throughout.. although at times it did disappear for awhile, only to come back. She was likable enough.
The hero
An executioner by trade, he decided upon this path because Now as an adult and a hangman, he is good at his job, an expert at making death swift and painless for the prisoners. He is actually requested by the doomed due to his reputation and skill. He is also He has a high moral attitude, he's a loner, no one will have him etc.. but I honestly didn't see any real reason. Oddly I find this refreshing. so I have to admit, I was confused yet glad to see the author not harp on it. He was sweet, and I totally loved him.
Speech/dialogue
If you're one who hates reading books where the characters speech is written as if they talk with an accent, you will not like this. The hero is Scottish and his dialogue is written with loads of Doona, dinna, willna, etc... and there's a bit of Gaelic phrases thrown around. I personally love it and feel it adds to the feel of the story. As mentioned above, there is also a lot of French phrases used for the h.
Romance
It was okay. I didn't really "feel it" and I think it was because when the hero gave in to the heroine it was kind of abrupt. It could have been written better, more smooth.. not terrible but not that tingly sweet, heart fluttering way that I prefer. There were a few nice loving scenes, but there could have been a few more.. and a little more spicier IMHO.
Did I enjoy it? Yes. Would I recommend it? Yeah if you're in the mood for something low angst. Sure. Would I read more by this author? Maybe, but I won't jump to buy all her books.
Safety
I raised a star. I liked it quite a bit. It was different.
My only additions to the below 1st read review is that the heroine may not seem likable to some, but she does change. Stay with it.
The epilogue is better than I remember.
The French words thrown in were annoying at times and not necessary IMO
It does get stagnant about 65-69% but the conflict and drama pick up considerably there after.
The antagonist Callum, is a bit too evil but is also the driving force for conflict.
The loving scenes are done well, and the romance becomes more tender toward the end about 75%
See original review below for safety concerns
_____________________________
Original 1st read review 2016
The summary stating that the hero is an executioner (a hangman) intrigued me, leaving me to think this was either to be a dark story or have a very dark and macabre hero. To my dismay, I felt the hero quite the opposite,. Although his occupation is unsavory to most, he comes off as a sort of "bringer of justice." This does give a good solid justification for his choice of career, especially with his past, but it also made what could have been an extremely different and interesting story, just meh.
I did like it, regardless, even though it was not what I had expected, and I was surprised at how un-creepy his character was. In fact he was a sweet, kind moral man who loved animals.
It was enjoyable, with low angst but the "meat" of the story.. the forte of the authors writing, didn't come until 85%--this I won't spoil---but it was at this point where I felt had the writing been like this soup to nuts, it would have been perfect.
Ok so the writing. As a whole it was ok. I prefer to be shown not told. Here most was told, which IMHO makes everything a little flat. The pace was pretty steady, and there was some decent conflict. The characters were pretty well developed but not quite 3 dimensional.
Logic was lacking in many instances, but not so much that I couldn't stretch my imagination a bit to make some sense of it. For example.. The laws seemed to only be in play at certain times (when against the H & h) yet completely ignored for the bad guys ot just simply explained away as "it's your word against mine."
I felt the antagonists were borderline cartoonish, not quite but darn close,
The ending was too easily wrapped up and a bit blah. One example is when
Epilogue
We get little except a few words of endearment from the hero at the end and a seemed lame as well.
The heroine.
I had a difficult time relating to her. I suppose part of it was due to the fact she is French and the author pounded it into our heads by using a lot of french phrases throughout.. although at times it did disappear for awhile, only to come back. She was likable enough.
The hero
An executioner by trade, he decided upon this path because Now as an adult and a hangman, he is good at his job, an expert at making death swift and painless for the prisoners. He is actually requested by the doomed due to his reputation and skill. He is also He has a high moral attitude, he's a loner, no one will have him etc.. but I honestly didn't see any real reason. Oddly I find this refreshing. so I have to admit, I was confused yet glad to see the author not harp on it. He was sweet, and I totally loved him.
Speech/dialogue
If you're one who hates reading books where the characters speech is written as if they talk with an accent, you will not like this. The hero is Scottish and his dialogue is written with loads of Doona, dinna, willna, etc... and there's a bit of Gaelic phrases thrown around. I personally love it and feel it adds to the feel of the story. As mentioned above, there is also a lot of French phrases used for the h.
Romance
It was okay. I didn't really "feel it" and I think it was because when the hero gave in to the heroine it was kind of abrupt. It could have been written better, more smooth.. not terrible but not that tingly sweet, heart fluttering way that I prefer. There were a few nice loving scenes, but there could have been a few more.. and a little more spicier IMHO.
Did I enjoy it? Yes. Would I recommend it? Yeah if you're in the mood for something low angst. Sure. Would I read more by this author? Maybe, but I won't jump to buy all her books.
Safety
October 15, 2010
Reviewed for THC Reviews
"4.5 stars" My Lord Jack was an enjoyable read that had some unique elements and was packed with almost non-stop action especially during the second half of the book. It pairs a hunky Scottish hero with a French heroine both of whom are of illegitimate birth and for a long while, neither feels worthy of the other. Even though both were essentially low-born, Claudia was raised in an environment where she was as pampered as any noble due to her mother's status as a courtesan. Initially she and Jack have a clash of wills and some humorous moments when Claudia is remanded into Jack's custody after stealing a horse and must learn to do menial chores and work as a barmaid. For the first half of the story Jack and Claudia's relationship evolves rather slowly. There is a burning desire between them right from the start, but Jack is too honorable a man to act on it. Claudia would have been happy to, but she is keeping a lot of secrets about herself and her past from Jack which tended to stunt their emotional intimacy during the first half of the book. After Claudia attempts to escape, there is an explosive moment between her and Jack where she eventually confesses all in a beautiful scene that led to some deep passion. During a large part of the book, but particularly in the second half, the author has a penchant for torturing her hero and heroine, mostly through the actions of others. Jack's brother, Callum, has harbored a deep-seated jealously of Jack since they were children and blames him for their mother's murder. Callum's hatred evolves into madness as the true circumstances of their mother's death are revealed, and Claudia's father isn't a very nice man either. The couple end up embroiled in some edge-of-you-seat, nail-biting suspense that left me with teary eyes and frayed nerves because of all that they had to endure to find their HEA. After all that, I don't think two characters could have deserved it more. It might have been nice to have a few more romantic scenes or perhaps a wedding scene at the end, but overall I wasn't too bothered by this. I think that their actions demonstrated their love by showing just how far they were willing to go and how much personal risk they faced to protect one another.
Jack was positively a to-die-for hero. When I first read the cover blurb for this book and realized that he was a hangman, not only did I find that to be a highly unusual profession for a romance hero but I wasn't sure if I would like him being an executioner. Even though it made me a tad bit uncomfortable in much the same way that it did Claudia, I still fully respected Jack. His reasons for his career choice become quite clear as he begins to remember things that had previously been rendered to his subconscious by traumatic amnesia. Also, Jack had a reputation for being extremely precise and conscientious about his work, studying the science and mathematics of hanging to ensure a quick, clean parting for the condemned, so much so that some prisoners actually requested him by name. Outside of his occupation, Jack mostly leans toward being a tender beta hero. He is an animal lover who cares for a menagerie of “wee beasties”. He loves all creatures, counting them as his friends, and as a result is a vegetarian. He is an educated man and a lover of books, and he is also quite intelligent. Even when given only limited clues, Jack uses reason and logic to figure things out rather than jumping to conclusions that could have led to clichéd misunderstandings. He is a skilled herbal healer and an incredibly talented artisan who creates beautiful sculpted wood mantelpieces. Jack wasn't afraid to cry when the situation warranted it, he was protective of all women, and best of all (to me anyway), he was a virgin who had taken his own personal vow of celibacy. All this certainly didn't mean that Jack was a pushover though. In spite of Claudia having a rather stubborn personality, he never let her get the upper hand. He also had a couple of alpha moments brought on by his intense love for Claudia and fear for her safety. Overall, Jack was a near-perfect hero for me who I thought was a great match for Claudia.
It took me a little longer to warm up to Claudia. At first, she acts a bit spoiled because of having led a pampered life as a courtesan in France before the events of the revolution forced her to flee to England in search of her biological father, her only remaining relative. She barely escaped France with her life and once the reader begins to learn of the things that happened to her there both before and after the revolution started, she becomes a much more sympathetic character. Claudia is also smart enough to realize her good fortune when Jack rescues her from being the next person he would have had to hang, and although initially completely inept at common labor, she does slowly grow and show some backbone about her new lot in life. In fact, as time goes on she gradually becomes more confident and spunky, facing all the hardships that life throws her way with poise and dignity. She relishes every moment with Jack, even though she doesn't feel deserving of a kind and gentle man like him. Jack may have rescued Claudia on more than one occasion, but her love for him gave her a courage she didn't know she possessed to enable her to return the favor. In the end, I really liked Claudia and thought that she was a worthy mate for Jack.
There was a large cast of supporting characters with lots of villagers in the little hamlet where Jack lived. I really liked Jack's best friend, Milread. She was obviously a bit sweet on him herself, but any feelings she might have had for Jack didn't stop her from being a good friend to Claudia too and always doing what was best for the both of them. Her little brother Luicas, Jack's apprentice, was rather gullible but at the same time was a neat kid with a good heart. As I mentioned before, Jack's half-brother, Callum, is really the main villain, and he's quite the piece of work, but there are other ne'er-do-wells who join in tormenting our hero and heroine. Even Claudia's father, Lord Aberdaire, was an icy man with an Arctic chill emanating from his pores. He seemed to care for nothing or no one, except perhaps his equally evil butler, and his single-minded pursuit in life seemed to be begetting an heir at any cost. All in all, it was an interesting cast of both friends and foes.
My Lord Jack is part of Jove's multi-author Highland Fling series, but that designation is a bit misleading, since the story takes place in the Lowlands and not the Highlands. As such, the men don't even wear kilts, but there is extensive use of the Scottish dialect as well as French words and phrases which I thought the author used to good effect. I've noticed a number of mediocre ratings for this book online, and although I can see how there might be several little things that could be bothersome, I personally thoroughly enjoyed it. Readers who don't mind a lot of action and adventure along with their romance will probably find it to be a pleasant read, as would those who like intense peril and don't mind their hero and heroine traveling to hell and back before getting their happy ending. It may not have been an absolutely perfect read for me, but My Lord Jack entertained me with likable characters and a tense, fast-paced plot kept me eagerly coming back when I had to put it down. Things happen surprisingly quickly with lots of events packed within it's 300 pages. This might be a bit overwhelming to some readers, but everything except one minor plot point about a courier who was ordered killed by Lord Aberdaire, was wrapped up to my satisfaction. I also would have liked to see a bit more contemplation on Jack's part when it came to relinquishing his long-held vow of celibacy, but the lack of it was hardly a deal-breaker. This was my first book by Hope Tarr, and I look forward to reading more from her in the future. Even though she perhaps could have reigned in the broad scope of the plot and built a bit more intimacy and romance between Jack and Claudia, I found her general writing style to be quite solid. This was only her second novel, and as such, I was impressed with her ability to engage both my emotions and attention so well with one of her early efforts. I borrowed My Lord Jack from the library, but I liked it so much, I plan to get a copy for my keeper shelf soon.
"4.5 stars" My Lord Jack was an enjoyable read that had some unique elements and was packed with almost non-stop action especially during the second half of the book. It pairs a hunky Scottish hero with a French heroine both of whom are of illegitimate birth and for a long while, neither feels worthy of the other. Even though both were essentially low-born, Claudia was raised in an environment where she was as pampered as any noble due to her mother's status as a courtesan. Initially she and Jack have a clash of wills and some humorous moments when Claudia is remanded into Jack's custody after stealing a horse and must learn to do menial chores and work as a barmaid. For the first half of the story Jack and Claudia's relationship evolves rather slowly. There is a burning desire between them right from the start, but Jack is too honorable a man to act on it. Claudia would have been happy to, but she is keeping a lot of secrets about herself and her past from Jack which tended to stunt their emotional intimacy during the first half of the book. After Claudia attempts to escape, there is an explosive moment between her and Jack where she eventually confesses all in a beautiful scene that led to some deep passion. During a large part of the book, but particularly in the second half, the author has a penchant for torturing her hero and heroine, mostly through the actions of others. Jack's brother, Callum, has harbored a deep-seated jealously of Jack since they were children and blames him for their mother's murder. Callum's hatred evolves into madness as the true circumstances of their mother's death are revealed, and Claudia's father isn't a very nice man either. The couple end up embroiled in some edge-of-you-seat, nail-biting suspense that left me with teary eyes and frayed nerves because of all that they had to endure to find their HEA. After all that, I don't think two characters could have deserved it more. It might have been nice to have a few more romantic scenes or perhaps a wedding scene at the end, but overall I wasn't too bothered by this. I think that their actions demonstrated their love by showing just how far they were willing to go and how much personal risk they faced to protect one another.
Jack was positively a to-die-for hero. When I first read the cover blurb for this book and realized that he was a hangman, not only did I find that to be a highly unusual profession for a romance hero but I wasn't sure if I would like him being an executioner. Even though it made me a tad bit uncomfortable in much the same way that it did Claudia, I still fully respected Jack. His reasons for his career choice become quite clear as he begins to remember things that had previously been rendered to his subconscious by traumatic amnesia. Also, Jack had a reputation for being extremely precise and conscientious about his work, studying the science and mathematics of hanging to ensure a quick, clean parting for the condemned, so much so that some prisoners actually requested him by name. Outside of his occupation, Jack mostly leans toward being a tender beta hero. He is an animal lover who cares for a menagerie of “wee beasties”. He loves all creatures, counting them as his friends, and as a result is a vegetarian. He is an educated man and a lover of books, and he is also quite intelligent. Even when given only limited clues, Jack uses reason and logic to figure things out rather than jumping to conclusions that could have led to clichéd misunderstandings. He is a skilled herbal healer and an incredibly talented artisan who creates beautiful sculpted wood mantelpieces. Jack wasn't afraid to cry when the situation warranted it, he was protective of all women, and best of all (to me anyway), he was a virgin who had taken his own personal vow of celibacy. All this certainly didn't mean that Jack was a pushover though. In spite of Claudia having a rather stubborn personality, he never let her get the upper hand. He also had a couple of alpha moments brought on by his intense love for Claudia and fear for her safety. Overall, Jack was a near-perfect hero for me who I thought was a great match for Claudia.
It took me a little longer to warm up to Claudia. At first, she acts a bit spoiled because of having led a pampered life as a courtesan in France before the events of the revolution forced her to flee to England in search of her biological father, her only remaining relative. She barely escaped France with her life and once the reader begins to learn of the things that happened to her there both before and after the revolution started, she becomes a much more sympathetic character. Claudia is also smart enough to realize her good fortune when Jack rescues her from being the next person he would have had to hang, and although initially completely inept at common labor, she does slowly grow and show some backbone about her new lot in life. In fact, as time goes on she gradually becomes more confident and spunky, facing all the hardships that life throws her way with poise and dignity. She relishes every moment with Jack, even though she doesn't feel deserving of a kind and gentle man like him. Jack may have rescued Claudia on more than one occasion, but her love for him gave her a courage she didn't know she possessed to enable her to return the favor. In the end, I really liked Claudia and thought that she was a worthy mate for Jack.
There was a large cast of supporting characters with lots of villagers in the little hamlet where Jack lived. I really liked Jack's best friend, Milread. She was obviously a bit sweet on him herself, but any feelings she might have had for Jack didn't stop her from being a good friend to Claudia too and always doing what was best for the both of them. Her little brother Luicas, Jack's apprentice, was rather gullible but at the same time was a neat kid with a good heart. As I mentioned before, Jack's half-brother, Callum, is really the main villain, and he's quite the piece of work, but there are other ne'er-do-wells who join in tormenting our hero and heroine. Even Claudia's father, Lord Aberdaire, was an icy man with an Arctic chill emanating from his pores. He seemed to care for nothing or no one, except perhaps his equally evil butler, and his single-minded pursuit in life seemed to be begetting an heir at any cost. All in all, it was an interesting cast of both friends and foes.
My Lord Jack is part of Jove's multi-author Highland Fling series, but that designation is a bit misleading, since the story takes place in the Lowlands and not the Highlands. As such, the men don't even wear kilts, but there is extensive use of the Scottish dialect as well as French words and phrases which I thought the author used to good effect. I've noticed a number of mediocre ratings for this book online, and although I can see how there might be several little things that could be bothersome, I personally thoroughly enjoyed it. Readers who don't mind a lot of action and adventure along with their romance will probably find it to be a pleasant read, as would those who like intense peril and don't mind their hero and heroine traveling to hell and back before getting their happy ending. It may not have been an absolutely perfect read for me, but My Lord Jack entertained me with likable characters and a tense, fast-paced plot kept me eagerly coming back when I had to put it down. Things happen surprisingly quickly with lots of events packed within it's 300 pages. This might be a bit overwhelming to some readers, but everything except one minor plot point about a courier who was ordered killed by Lord Aberdaire, was wrapped up to my satisfaction. I also would have liked to see a bit more contemplation on Jack's part when it came to relinquishing his long-held vow of celibacy, but the lack of it was hardly a deal-breaker. This was my first book by Hope Tarr, and I look forward to reading more from her in the future. Even though she perhaps could have reigned in the broad scope of the plot and built a bit more intimacy and romance between Jack and Claudia, I found her general writing style to be quite solid. This was only her second novel, and as such, I was impressed with her ability to engage both my emotions and attention so well with one of her early efforts. I borrowed My Lord Jack from the library, but I liked it so much, I plan to get a copy for my keeper shelf soon.
January 24, 2011
The simple book cover of Hope Tarr’s ‘My Lord Jack,’ perfectly conveys a story centered around a man with so much heart it’s matchless. The unusual pairing of Jack Campbell and Claudia Valemont is central to this powerful novel packed with storyline, redemption, heartfelt emotion, and unrelenting action steeped in Scottish customs.
The village of Selkirk Scotland is beset upon by French beauty, refugee and accused thief Claudia Valemont. Intent on finding her father in England after fleeing France and life as a courtesan, Valemont is marooned in a village and desperate to reach her destination. The decision to steal a horse to continue her journey proves a nearly fatal one as she is caught, tried and sentenced to death until her execution is stayed by none other than, the state hangman: Jack Campbell.
“Hold, I will speak for her.”
That sentence alone captured my imagination, and heart as surely as Jack will readers of this unique tale.
Now remanded into his custody for six months, Claudia must learn how to function in servitude and reconcile her past with the kindness of strangers and the love from and for Jack that grows with each day and new undertaking.
And adventures fuel the plot turns that are pleasantly unyielding. From Jack’s hateful half-brother Callum intent on destroying him, to Claudia’s desire to remain with Jack yet find her birth father in order to be free. At every village and country, it seems that time has run out for one or the other through missteps, or machinations keeping readers turning the pages seeking the ending they want mostly for Jack but certainly for Claudia. Unrelenting twists and turns build casual suspense bringing the reader to their knees weeping, loving and cheering with and for this improbable couple.
Warning: Spoiler Alert!
What Tarr brilliantly accomplishes is a unique and very definitely, welcome romantic twist that reveals itself as the sexual tension has built to a tsunami with the very virile Campbell divulging his life-long secret: he’s a virgin. But, thanks to excellent inner dialogue and human responses, the reader would never guess. And thanks to her adept storytelling, you don’t until Jack reveals it. This makes him all the more endearing and no less skilled as instinct and insatiable curiosity take over and provide some very passionate love making and discovery. ‘My Lord Jack’ has provided a role-model for writers of romance with this virginal male character because there is none of the awkwardness so often associated with the title, and all of the human emotion and reactions typical of a man and woman deeply attracted to one another on more than the physical level.
The juxtaposition of a man skilled in killing to his vows of chastity with a woman who has been a courtesan in order to survive is riveting. It’s made even more touching by the fact that Claudia has never been in love while Jack has always felt deeply toward his friends, homeland and animals but more poignantly, in his humane treatment of the condemned. The moody Scottish moors serve as a perfect backdrop to this moving novel reflecting its characters: Jack in his rugged beauty and Claudia in her delicate yet resolute determination.
Though this book is a journey for both, we come to truly know, respect and love Jack as he maneuvers the powerful sexual urges and attraction for his charge while sharing his tender side without appearing a besotted idiot. As Claudia’s edges are softened by Jack’s attention and patience, she wars with a need to confront her father, forgive herself and stay with Jack. Enriching this tale and assisting them, are lively secondary characters; Milread, Callum, Luicas and Duncan.
Tarr very skillfully weaves Scottish & English dialect with Claudia’s French in both conversation and internal dialogue delivering an authenticity, providing deeper character insight and a sense of place in a story spanning three countries and a love that feels no boundaries.
This perfectly balanced novel furnishes readers with everything they want and more and, “Och, I ken ye will love it!” I highly recommend ‘My Lord Jack’ and really look forward to her next novel!
The village of Selkirk Scotland is beset upon by French beauty, refugee and accused thief Claudia Valemont. Intent on finding her father in England after fleeing France and life as a courtesan, Valemont is marooned in a village and desperate to reach her destination. The decision to steal a horse to continue her journey proves a nearly fatal one as she is caught, tried and sentenced to death until her execution is stayed by none other than, the state hangman: Jack Campbell.
“Hold, I will speak for her.”
That sentence alone captured my imagination, and heart as surely as Jack will readers of this unique tale.
Now remanded into his custody for six months, Claudia must learn how to function in servitude and reconcile her past with the kindness of strangers and the love from and for Jack that grows with each day and new undertaking.
And adventures fuel the plot turns that are pleasantly unyielding. From Jack’s hateful half-brother Callum intent on destroying him, to Claudia’s desire to remain with Jack yet find her birth father in order to be free. At every village and country, it seems that time has run out for one or the other through missteps, or machinations keeping readers turning the pages seeking the ending they want mostly for Jack but certainly for Claudia. Unrelenting twists and turns build casual suspense bringing the reader to their knees weeping, loving and cheering with and for this improbable couple.
Warning: Spoiler Alert!
What Tarr brilliantly accomplishes is a unique and very definitely, welcome romantic twist that reveals itself as the sexual tension has built to a tsunami with the very virile Campbell divulging his life-long secret: he’s a virgin. But, thanks to excellent inner dialogue and human responses, the reader would never guess. And thanks to her adept storytelling, you don’t until Jack reveals it. This makes him all the more endearing and no less skilled as instinct and insatiable curiosity take over and provide some very passionate love making and discovery. ‘My Lord Jack’ has provided a role-model for writers of romance with this virginal male character because there is none of the awkwardness so often associated with the title, and all of the human emotion and reactions typical of a man and woman deeply attracted to one another on more than the physical level.
The juxtaposition of a man skilled in killing to his vows of chastity with a woman who has been a courtesan in order to survive is riveting. It’s made even more touching by the fact that Claudia has never been in love while Jack has always felt deeply toward his friends, homeland and animals but more poignantly, in his humane treatment of the condemned. The moody Scottish moors serve as a perfect backdrop to this moving novel reflecting its characters: Jack in his rugged beauty and Claudia in her delicate yet resolute determination.
Though this book is a journey for both, we come to truly know, respect and love Jack as he maneuvers the powerful sexual urges and attraction for his charge while sharing his tender side without appearing a besotted idiot. As Claudia’s edges are softened by Jack’s attention and patience, she wars with a need to confront her father, forgive herself and stay with Jack. Enriching this tale and assisting them, are lively secondary characters; Milread, Callum, Luicas and Duncan.
Tarr very skillfully weaves Scottish & English dialect with Claudia’s French in both conversation and internal dialogue delivering an authenticity, providing deeper character insight and a sense of place in a story spanning three countries and a love that feels no boundaries.
This perfectly balanced novel furnishes readers with everything they want and more and, “Och, I ken ye will love it!” I highly recommend ‘My Lord Jack’ and really look forward to her next novel!
September 20, 2010
Free download from NetGalley. I commend the author on giving her hero, Jack Campbell, an unconventional occupation, that of a hangman, and making it work. The story begins with a tragic incident from Jack's childhood that shapes the rest of his life and when he meets our heroine, Claudia, he is a somber man, living a lonely life under self-imposed celibacy. Then hot-blooded and sexy thief Claudia comes along and awakens his passions, though Claudia has some serious secrets and she may soon find herself on the wrong side of Jack's profession. I liked this story but I was jarred by the occurrence of way too many similarities to Diana Gabaldon's Outlander. Not plotwise, of course, but in other ways the influence was obvious, from the characters' names (Jack & Claudia/Jamie & Claire) to lines that read straight out of scenes from Outlander. I had a hard time getting past that and overall found the story to be a little too sweet and tame.
December 2, 2010
I found the first half of this story to be a bit slow. I was immediately intrigued because in the beginning I learned why Jack wanted to be a hangman. I then thought the story was going to stay on course. It moved rather slow for a while. The 2nd half of the story flowed better. Overall, the author pulled everything together nicely towards the end.
August 19, 2010
MY LORD JACK by Hope Tarr is a wonderful historical romance set in 1798 Scotland. It is well written using Scottish dialog of the era that adds authenticity to the story and if full of banter between the hero and heroine. The plot is easy to follow as well as the characters who will capture your heart and have you setting on the edge of your seat. It has wit, romance, danger, adventure, betrayal, trust, sensuality, falling in love and finding the truth. The hero, Jack, is handsome, strong, lonely, loves animals, is kind, considerate, illegitimate,compassionate and the hangman. The heroine, Claudia, is beautiful, half French, escaping the revolution of France, trying to find her noble father, is illegitimate, a courtesan, strong willed,and prosecuted as a horse thief. For this thievery, she is to hang until Jack, steps forward on her behalf. She is placed into his custody for six months, Jack, immediately feels a connection to her, but tries to deny it. Claudia is also finding him easy to fall in love with. Jack's half brother demises him,and is out to destroy Jack and Claudia. What follows is a test of true love with hardship and sacrifice. The father, Claudia, as so hoped would love her turns out to be a worst enemy, than Jack's half brother. This is a story of love, sacrifice, deceit, betrayal, friendship and with a happy ever after ending. I would highly recommend this story especially if you enjoy Scottish romance and adventure. This book was received for review from Net Galley and details can be found at Carina Press and My Book Addiction and More.
October 17, 2014
This book was PERFECT. It's the very first Highland romance I've read and a brilliant first pick. It has everything--action, drama, angst, romance, steamy sex, and enough twists and turns in the plot to keep my mind on reading even when I should have been focusing on other things. The detail and language are beautiful, and the secondary characters stole my heart as much as the primary (Milread, especially, adds some excellent comic relief).
It didn't take very long to get used to reading Jack's Scottish accent, and I enjoyed the dynamic between his world and Claudia's more delicate, French upbringing. I also loved how Jack was, in my opinion, more of an atypical hero. He is strong, tall, sexy, and every bit the Alpha male, but we also get to see his sensitive side. He loves animals, is unafraid to shed a tear, and he loves his late mama. And how can you not love the fact he's also a hangman?? If that doesn't grab your attention, nothing will. Claudia, too, while in many ways a typical damsel in distress, is enough of a spitfire to wholeheartedly earn my respect.
The author also doesn't shy away from the nitty gritty reality of life in Scotland and France during the late 1700s, which I really appreciated. Every sense was not only satisfied but immersed.
I'll definitely be lending this book to my mother and reading this author again.
It didn't take very long to get used to reading Jack's Scottish accent, and I enjoyed the dynamic between his world and Claudia's more delicate, French upbringing. I also loved how Jack was, in my opinion, more of an atypical hero. He is strong, tall, sexy, and every bit the Alpha male, but we also get to see his sensitive side. He loves animals, is unafraid to shed a tear, and he loves his late mama. And how can you not love the fact he's also a hangman?? If that doesn't grab your attention, nothing will. Claudia, too, while in many ways a typical damsel in distress, is enough of a spitfire to wholeheartedly earn my respect.
The author also doesn't shy away from the nitty gritty reality of life in Scotland and France during the late 1700s, which I really appreciated. Every sense was not only satisfied but immersed.
I'll definitely be lending this book to my mother and reading this author again.
October 10, 2010
Clare’s Review
Claudia and Jack both have more in common that they at first thing, despite Claudia being a French lady and Jack a Scottish hangman. Both outcasts and both born out of wedlock with foreign father's, they find themselves thrown together when Claudia is indentured to Jack for 6 months in lieu of her hanging for stealing a horse.
The rich descriptions and wonderful Scottish language add depth and character to the story. Claudia and Jack are so real, they leap off the page at you. Their accents come across clearly and wonderfully, leaving you in no doubt as to their nationalities or where the story is taking place. With its twists and turns and heart stopping moments as events suddenly go a way I hadn't expected, this well written story grabbed my attention from the start.
Ms Tarr has done a wonderful job of creating three dimensional characters in Claudia and Jack that live on once the last page is turned. With its action, drama, love and romance, My Lord Jack has everything you could want from a novel on a long dark evening. Its the first of Ms Tarr's books I have read and won't be the last.
5 Tea Cups!
Claudia and Jack both have more in common that they at first thing, despite Claudia being a French lady and Jack a Scottish hangman. Both outcasts and both born out of wedlock with foreign father's, they find themselves thrown together when Claudia is indentured to Jack for 6 months in lieu of her hanging for stealing a horse.
The rich descriptions and wonderful Scottish language add depth and character to the story. Claudia and Jack are so real, they leap off the page at you. Their accents come across clearly and wonderfully, leaving you in no doubt as to their nationalities or where the story is taking place. With its twists and turns and heart stopping moments as events suddenly go a way I hadn't expected, this well written story grabbed my attention from the start.
Ms Tarr has done a wonderful job of creating three dimensional characters in Claudia and Jack that live on once the last page is turned. With its action, drama, love and romance, My Lord Jack has everything you could want from a novel on a long dark evening. Its the first of Ms Tarr's books I have read and won't be the last.
5 Tea Cups!
March 25, 2012
Caution: Spoiler-ish :)
Do NOT judge a book by its cover, especially if you're reading one of the original releases of this awesome book. The original cover is very dated and will tend to get lost in your TBR pile, so please give it a chance anyway. The hero, Jack, is one of the sweetest heroes I've read in a very long time - he's a hangman (!) and a VIRGIN. He loves animals, keeps chickens for their eggs and companionship and would never think of butchering them for food, and counts his pets among his only friends - or so he thinks. But you'll see that he's actually much loved by most of the people in his village. He's big, reliable, steadfast, lovable and utterly delicious.
The villain is a dark and twisted character who is completely beyond redemption, and he makes a nice contrast to the sweet hero. He's believable without being overdone.
The end is rather surprising -- and I won't get too spoiler-ish here -- because it has several twists that I didn't expect, which made for an especially pleasing read. Of course it has a HEA, never fear. :)
Definitely recommended.
Do NOT judge a book by its cover, especially if you're reading one of the original releases of this awesome book. The original cover is very dated and will tend to get lost in your TBR pile, so please give it a chance anyway. The hero, Jack, is one of the sweetest heroes I've read in a very long time - he's a hangman (!) and a VIRGIN. He loves animals, keeps chickens for their eggs and companionship and would never think of butchering them for food, and counts his pets among his only friends - or so he thinks. But you'll see that he's actually much loved by most of the people in his village. He's big, reliable, steadfast, lovable and utterly delicious.
The villain is a dark and twisted character who is completely beyond redemption, and he makes a nice contrast to the sweet hero. He's believable without being overdone.
The end is rather surprising -- and I won't get too spoiler-ish here -- because it has several twists that I didn't expect, which made for an especially pleasing read. Of course it has a HEA, never fear. :)
Definitely recommended.
October 20, 2010
A historical that isn't really set in an aristocratic setting. Rather, this story begins and continues in the countryside of Scotland near Selkirk, with the provincial hangman as the central character and a Frenchwoman, illegitimate daughter of a local Scottish earl who is running from the French revolution is his prisoner. A beautiful love story with lots of layers of friendship, but there is also splintered family, bad blood between brothers, community sharing and loyalty--lots to like here. Claudia is a French courtesan, the daughter of a courtesan, who finds a new sense of self as well as a new life and a future she little expected. She discovers strengths within that she never knew she had, all because her "jailer," Jack Campbell, is a man of honor but who has a delightful sense of balance that comes through loud and clear in this novel. A very good read.
June 25, 2010
Better then any of those drugstore romances I've read by far. I almost instantly connected with the characters and the hardships. This steamy book kept me on the edge my seat rooting for both Jack and Claudia. I thought they were not only adorable in their denial but it built it up to a crescendo which I personally, thoroughly enjoyed and the ending of the book was quite well thought out and I enjoyed it immensely. Overall, I completely adored this book.
January 3, 2013
I loved this book! Finished it last night, and will definitely read it again! The characters were wonderful and the story itself held my interest, even threw in a twist near the end that I hadn't figured out. It's historical fiction, taken in 18th Century Scotland, so there's a lot of Scots accent, but I thought it was very well done...don't have a bad thing to say about this book, would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes Historical Fiction, especially set in Scotland!
October 17, 2010
I read the new "Carina Press" e-book version of MY LORD JACK. Hope Tarr's characters are unforgettable and complex and her plot twists will keep you turning the pages and cheering on the hero and heroine.
August 11, 2015
First Hope Tarr book and I liked her writing style. It was rich and picturesque. I liked how uppity, spoiled Claudia became a better person and how executioner Jack developed a soul. Villains abounded.
January 5, 2013
2.5 started strong but had me skimming around halfway thru. So many pointless and questionable plot twists.
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