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Company of Rogues #4
Forbidden
A Desperate Seduction
Finally freed from a cruel, depraved husband, Serena Riverton wants nothing more to do with men or marriage. Fate and her brothers give her no choice, however, except to flee—into a storm, and into the arms of a stranger. Without friend or fortune, in a moment of recklessness, Serena seduces the handsome lord. But just one night together will start a sequence of events that threatens to destroy them both.
A Dangerous Passion
Francis, Lord Middlethorpe’s life is planned and orderly, including marriage to Lady Anne Peckworth, a rich and suitable lady. But now he is haunted by memories of one passionate night with Serena, the wicked siren who tempted him with pleasures he had never known. Caught between duty and desire, he must choose between his reputation and a love like no other…
Finally freed from a cruel, depraved husband, Serena Riverton wants nothing more to do with men or marriage. Fate and her brothers give her no choice, however, except to flee—into a storm, and into the arms of a stranger. Without friend or fortune, in a moment of recklessness, Serena seduces the handsome lord. But just one night together will start a sequence of events that threatens to destroy them both.
A Dangerous Passion
Francis, Lord Middlethorpe’s life is planned and orderly, including marriage to Lady Anne Peckworth, a rich and suitable lady. But now he is haunted by memories of one passionate night with Serena, the wicked siren who tempted him with pleasures he had never known. Caught between duty and desire, he must choose between his reputation and a love like no other…
448 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
902 people are currently reading
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About the author
Jo Beverley
141 books1,129 followersMary Josephine Dunn was born 22 September 1947 in Lancashire, England, UK. At the age of eleven she went to an all-girls boarding school, Layton Hill Convent, Blackpool. At sixteen, she wrote her first romance, with a medieval setting, completed in installments in an exercise book. From 1966 to 1970, she obtained a degree in English history from Keele University in Staffordshire, where she met her future husband, Ken Beverley. After graduation, they married on June 24, 1971. She quickly attained a position as a youth employment officer until 1976, working first in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, and then in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire.
In 1976, her scientist husband was invited to do post-doctoral research at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. When her professional qualifications proved not to be usable in the Canadian labour market, she raised their two sons and started to write her first romances.
Moved to Ottawa, in 1985 she became a founding member of the Ottawa Romance Writers’ Association, that her “nurturing community” for the next twelve years. The same year, she completed a regency romance, but it was promptly rejected by a number of publishers, and she settled more earnestly to learning the craft. In 1988, it sold to Walker, and was published as "Lord Wraybourne's Betrothed". She regularly appears on bestseller lists including the USA Today overall bestseller list, the New York Times, and and the Publishers Weekly list. She has been the recipient of numerous awards including the Golden Leaf, the Award of Excellence, the National Readers Choice, and a two Career Achievement awards from Romantic Times. She is also a five time winner of the RITA, the top award of the Romance Writers Of America, and a member of their Hall of Fame and Honor Roll.
Jo Beverley passed away on May 23, 2016 after a long battle with cancer.
In 1976, her scientist husband was invited to do post-doctoral research at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. When her professional qualifications proved not to be usable in the Canadian labour market, she raised their two sons and started to write her first romances.
Moved to Ottawa, in 1985 she became a founding member of the Ottawa Romance Writers’ Association, that her “nurturing community” for the next twelve years. The same year, she completed a regency romance, but it was promptly rejected by a number of publishers, and she settled more earnestly to learning the craft. In 1988, it sold to Walker, and was published as "Lord Wraybourne's Betrothed". She regularly appears on bestseller lists including the USA Today overall bestseller list, the New York Times, and and the Publishers Weekly list. She has been the recipient of numerous awards including the Golden Leaf, the Award of Excellence, the National Readers Choice, and a two Career Achievement awards from Romantic Times. She is also a five time winner of the RITA, the top award of the Romance Writers Of America, and a member of their Hall of Fame and Honor Roll.
Jo Beverley passed away on May 23, 2016 after a long battle with cancer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 193 reviews
April 8, 2013
ummm, it was better than St. Raven? Heroine is a widow of evil dude who kept her in sexual slavery, and she decides to escape her evil brothers who want to sell her to another man like that, runs into hapless hero and rapes (about it more later) him, seeking to become his mistress, she gets preggers, they marry, discover true love, barf barf the end. Part of my problem with this book arises from the fact that I recently realized I hate the set up of 'a person is forced to marry another.' There are some exceptions (both are forced to marry the other and equally do not want it, or the person forced to marry actually does want it) but they are slim. But a much much bigger part of the problem is that the heroine rapes the virgin hero!!!! I mean - WTF! He rescues her from the road she is wandering on, they are stuck sharing a room, he scrupulously doesn't touch her or shows any interest in that sort of thing, she decides she needs a 'protector,' so she assaults him when he is asleep, and by the time he wakes up, she is almost done bouncing on him, if you know what I mean. Did I mention the hero was a virgin because he was fastidious so no hookers or adultery, plus did not want to have any unwanted children (ooops, heroine fixed that! barf!) She has no idea if the man she assaulted is married or courting or whatever. Even if he is the singlest person to ever live, he did not give his consent. Hello, rapist!!! Hero even thinks she as good as raped him, but since he is a man *roll eyes* and she is hot, he is 'oh, OK.' And then he is stuck marrying her because she gets pregnant and everyone treats him as the villain and she keeps her mouth shut. And he tries to be a good husband and I am supposed to root for them? I mean - WTF!!!!! I wanted the heroine to be run over by a carriage and hero to grow a spine and pick someone sane next time. Ugh. Beverley, you are this close to being dead to me.
September 13, 2012
Serena Riverton, a new widow, is determined not to marry again. Her first husband was quite enough for one girl, thank you.
So when her greedy, heartless brothers inform her that they're offering her in wedlock (or maybe out of wedlock; since she's barren, they might get higher offers from men who want a mistress than those who need an heir) to the highest bidder, she has no choice. She runs, taking only the few coins she can steal without detection and the clothing on her back.
Francis, Lord Middlethorpe, is working up the nerve to ask his dear friend Anne to marry him when the letter arrives. The missive is from a man he's never met—a tutor of all things—telling him to ask his mother for the truth, or the stranger will tell it instead. Francis uses this as an excuse for an abrupt departure, and heads home to ask his mother what this is all about. Caught by surprise, Mum blurts that the author of the letter has been blackmailing her. And Francis, a guy who needs some drama in his life, ignores his mother's fevered protests and rushes off to confront the blackguard.
Desperate, Mum dashes off a quick letter to her lover, advising him to run like hell, and sends it by the quickest horse in the stable.
En route, Francis (you guessed it) happens upon Serena. She refuses to explain what she's doing walking on a road that's miles from nowhere after dark, but clearly she needs help. And while she's mouth-watering gorgeous, she doesn't make a great first impression. Her fortunately deceased husband liked to humiliate her and as a result, her gown (and indeed her entire wardrobe) is indecent and soaked in Eau de Bordello. But ever the gentleman, Francis talks her aboard his curricle; he'll at least see she gets to the next town safely.
That's when the amazingly well-timed storm hits. It's so bad it's picking up boulders and hurling them at people's heads. Well, OK, I exaggerate—a little. It is still really, really bad, and the pair has to seek shelter at this creepy farmhouse where everybody has Biblical names and lust in their hearts. Ever the protector, Francis claims Serena's his wife, the better to keep the uber-religious patriarch from kicking her whorey little ass back out into the hurricane.
So, of course they end up sharing a room. A tiny room. With no floor space to speak of. They've no choice but to share the bed.
Serena, meanwhile, has been thinking, which is never a good thing for a heroine in a panicky moment. What's she going to do now? Marriage? Off the table. But what does that leave? Governess? The education she received from her husband was hardly the sort doting parents would wish to have bestowed on their precious little chits. Companion? The instant she's recognized as "Randy Riverton's" widow, no decent lady would have her. She's soiled goods, just by association with her creepy pervy thankfully very dead hubby.
But there is one thing… One time, her husband brought a noted demimonde, Harriet Wilson, to an orgy party at the country house where Serena was kept isolated. Harriet sought Serena out and told her that with her looks she could easily leave her husband and make her own way as a courtesan. At the time Serena had thought she preferred the horror of her marriage to dishonor. But now? She has to eat, right? And at least mistresses have the option of walking out, Serena reasons. And they can demand money up front to keep them once their looks go south. And her auspiciously dead husband certainly gave her all the training she'd ever need for the job.
Why not? And this guy in bed beside her seems like a likely chap. So in the middle of the night, she "offers her services." Problem is, Serena was just 15 when she was sold off to the perv, and she hasn't the first clue how to actually seduce a man. So Francis basically wakes up from what seemed like one of "those" dreams to realize that he's no longer…
(I'm not kidding. He really was one.)
Francis is appalled. He had a jolly good time of it, but he still feels used. Serena, once she realizes that not ALL men like what her husband taught her, is mortified. She apologizes and assures him that there will be no consequence. Her husband's physician, years ago, pronounced that she was barren. So that's that.
Of course, it isn't. They end up "having" to marry, and since they don't know each other very well, and she has all the reason in the world to distrust men, and he has all the reason in the world to think she's a ho who might just have trapped him in marriage, the rest of the story is filled with lots of misunderstandings, fake blackmailers, actual blackmailers, alleged and actual thuggery and completely dumbassed deductions and accusations. It all winds up with a huge, climactic (in more ways than one) and very hard-won HEA.
It's a great read, though I kinda wanted Serena to throw a lot more stuff before she was done being furious at the end.
OH, and this book has one of the funniest seduction lines I've ever seen. Page60: "If you wish, you may mount me." {{oooh, baby!}}
And one of the most awkward adverbs I've ever seen. P48: "Two brawny young men... rose surlily to their feet and clumped out." This was sort of like finding a frog in the punchbowl, since Beverley is otherwise such a gifted writer.
So when her greedy, heartless brothers inform her that they're offering her in wedlock (or maybe out of wedlock; since she's barren, they might get higher offers from men who want a mistress than those who need an heir) to the highest bidder, she has no choice. She runs, taking only the few coins she can steal without detection and the clothing on her back.
Francis, Lord Middlethorpe, is working up the nerve to ask his dear friend Anne to marry him when the letter arrives. The missive is from a man he's never met—a tutor of all things—telling him to ask his mother for the truth, or the stranger will tell it instead. Francis uses this as an excuse for an abrupt departure, and heads home to ask his mother what this is all about. Caught by surprise, Mum blurts that the author of the letter has been blackmailing her. And Francis, a guy who needs some drama in his life, ignores his mother's fevered protests and rushes off to confront the blackguard.
Desperate, Mum dashes off a quick letter to her lover, advising him to run like hell, and sends it by the quickest horse in the stable.
En route, Francis (you guessed it) happens upon Serena. She refuses to explain what she's doing walking on a road that's miles from nowhere after dark, but clearly she needs help. And while she's mouth-watering gorgeous, she doesn't make a great first impression. Her fortunately deceased husband liked to humiliate her and as a result, her gown (and indeed her entire wardrobe) is indecent and soaked in Eau de Bordello. But ever the gentleman, Francis talks her aboard his curricle; he'll at least see she gets to the next town safely.
That's when the amazingly well-timed storm hits. It's so bad it's picking up boulders and hurling them at people's heads. Well, OK, I exaggerate—a little. It is still really, really bad, and the pair has to seek shelter at this creepy farmhouse where everybody has Biblical names and lust in their hearts. Ever the protector, Francis claims Serena's his wife, the better to keep the uber-religious patriarch from kicking her whorey little ass back out into the hurricane.
So, of course they end up sharing a room. A tiny room. With no floor space to speak of. They've no choice but to share the bed.
Serena, meanwhile, has been thinking, which is never a good thing for a heroine in a panicky moment. What's she going to do now? Marriage? Off the table. But what does that leave? Governess? The education she received from her husband was hardly the sort doting parents would wish to have bestowed on their precious little chits. Companion? The instant she's recognized as "Randy Riverton's" widow, no decent lady would have her. She's soiled goods, just by association with her creepy pervy thankfully very dead hubby.
But there is one thing… One time, her husband brought a noted demimonde, Harriet Wilson, to a
Why not? And this guy in bed beside her seems like a likely chap. So in the middle of the night, she "offers her services." Problem is, Serena was just 15 when she was sold off to the perv, and she hasn't the first clue how to actually seduce a man. So Francis basically wakes up from what seemed like one of "those" dreams to realize that he's no longer…
(I'm not kidding. He really was one.)Francis is appalled. He had a jolly good time of it, but he still feels used. Serena, once she realizes that not ALL men like what her husband taught her, is mortified. She apologizes and assures him that there will be no consequence. Her husband's physician, years ago, pronounced that she was barren. So that's that.
Of course, it isn't. They end up "having" to marry, and since they don't know each other very well, and she has all the reason in the world to distrust men, and he has all the reason in the world to think she's a ho who might just have trapped him in marriage, the rest of the story is filled with lots of misunderstandings, fake blackmailers, actual blackmailers, alleged and actual thuggery and completely dumbassed deductions and accusations. It all winds up with a huge, climactic (in more ways than one) and very hard-won HEA.
It's a great read, though I kinda wanted Serena to throw a lot more stuff before she was done being furious at the end.
OH, and this book has one of the funniest seduction lines I've ever seen. Page60: "If you wish, you may mount me." {{oooh, baby!}}
And one of the most awkward adverbs I've ever seen. P48: "Two brawny young men... rose surlily to their feet and clumped out." This was sort of like finding a frog in the punchbowl, since Beverley is otherwise such a gifted writer.
March 3, 2021
I don’t think Jo Beverley and I jell well.
Another hero in this seriesprostitutes sexes it up for England with an evil French femme fatale spy but only after he marries the woman his twin brother raped to hide his homosexuality. This book follows along with the same level of ick.
A lot of ethically challenged behavior going on.
Heroine:
Born a temptress, she’s a Jessica Rabbit. No man can resist her red hair and curves.
I don’t fault a Regency heroine who falls into wayward ways or has a hard time fending off the hands of Regency morons, but please put a little effort into it.
Better choices for a similar theme.
Bel, the heroine in The Duke, is forced into prostitution/mistress-hood after she has resorted to every other means of survival. She turns to it as not just a means of livelihood but also as a path to revenge against the animal that drove her to this new life. She also maintains a surprising sunny disposition.
Marks in Married By Morning disguises her gorgeous self with dyed hair and lots of face powder, and plants herself in the country to escape the evildoer after her.
Another hero in this series
A lot of ethically challenged behavior going on.
Heroine:
Born a temptress, she’s a Jessica Rabbit. No man can resist her red hair and curves.
I don’t fault a Regency heroine who falls into wayward ways or has a hard time fending off the hands of Regency morons, but please put a little effort into it.
Better choices for a similar theme.
Bel, the heroine in The Duke, is forced into prostitution/mistress-hood after she has resorted to every other means of survival. She turns to it as not just a means of livelihood but also as a path to revenge against the animal that drove her to this new life. She also maintains a surprising sunny disposition.
Marks in Married By Morning disguises her gorgeous self with dyed hair and lots of face powder, and plants herself in the country to escape the evildoer after her.
June 29, 2016
Fourth in the series and yeah, you probably need to read the rest. Having done so, you know mostly what to expect, which is sad because this one has some interesting twists on gender expectations that didn't really pan out very well.
Which isn't really true, I suppose. The twists are interesting and Serena and Francis are engaging people for the most part. I mean, having the guy be a virgin and the girl have all the leet skillz was an interesting way to go for the genre/era. Even more so in that she wasn't so much widely experienced as she was singularly trained (by a fortunately-now-dead husband who wanted a sex slave more than he did a wife). And yeah, that's as icky as you'd expect and Beverley does a fantastic job giving it the weight it deserves and the consequences to work through.
Unfortunately, everything else was stupid beyond all reason. The plot was stuffed with untimely coincidences and miscommunication and poor assumptions. Seriously, if Serena and Francis had taken a few moments to talk periodically, much of the plot would have disappeared. Beverley doesn't draw any single instance to the pain point, but pouring in so very many of the contrivances made the book fell, well, contrived. It's a shame such promise was compromised by such pedestrian hokem pokem, but that's how it felt to me.
Now, I half expected Beverley to rescue this one with a knock-out ending, but while she sort of does, she precedes the climax with a period of stupid that was wholly beneath Francis. His histrionics were unwelcome and unwarranted and I couldn't help thinking Serena needed to kick him around a bit before going all gooey. Instead, things got a bit awkward and prosy and then make-up/out. Sigh.
A note about Steamy: There are a few more explicit sex scenes than usual in this one (three or four), but they are much shorter and have a lot fewer fireworks than usual. This is largely because Serena sees sex as a skill/work, and finds little satisfaction in it. This is handled extremely well and I loved how Beverley contrasted sex with intimacy and coupled that with Francis' inexperience on top. It was wildly well-done and I'm sad it wasn't part of a much better plot/story.
Which isn't really true, I suppose. The twists are interesting and Serena and Francis are engaging people for the most part. I mean, having the guy be a virgin and the girl have all the leet skillz was an interesting way to go for the genre/era. Even more so in that she wasn't so much widely experienced as she was singularly trained (by a fortunately-now-dead husband who wanted a sex slave more than he did a wife). And yeah, that's as icky as you'd expect and Beverley does a fantastic job giving it the weight it deserves and the consequences to work through.
Unfortunately, everything else was stupid beyond all reason. The plot was stuffed with untimely coincidences and miscommunication and poor assumptions. Seriously, if Serena and Francis had taken a few moments to talk periodically, much of the plot would have disappeared. Beverley doesn't draw any single instance to the pain point, but pouring in so very many of the contrivances made the book fell, well, contrived. It's a shame such promise was compromised by such pedestrian hokem pokem, but that's how it felt to me.
Now, I half expected Beverley to rescue this one with a knock-out ending, but while she sort of does, she precedes the climax with a period of stupid that was wholly beneath Francis. His histrionics were unwelcome and unwarranted and I couldn't help thinking Serena needed to kick him around a bit before going all gooey. Instead, things got a bit awkward and prosy and then make-up/out. Sigh.
A note about Steamy: There are a few more explicit sex scenes than usual in this one (three or four), but they are much shorter and have a lot fewer fireworks than usual. This is largely because Serena sees sex as a skill/work, and finds little satisfaction in it. This is handled extremely well and I loved how Beverley contrasted sex with intimacy and coupled that with Francis' inexperience on top. It was wildly well-done and I'm sad it wasn't part of a much better plot/story.
December 26, 2014
I began the book halfheartedly and the sheer gag factor kept me going for the first few chapters. When the virgin hero is raped by the heroine in his sleep because she wants to be his mistress and she is barren, groan number one. I know when she is going to turn up pregnant. She does,right when he is going to offer for suitable maiden. Surprise, surprise. So still gagging I turn to the end. He is hit by her, he belts her back,she hits him again. Hurrah for domestic peace. So she has 2 brothers who are slime who look at her with lust because hey she isn't their sister at all,but that is in the end. Lusty thoughts are in the first chapter...Definitely an unhealthy imagination. Yeah. The hero,s widowed mum has been sporting with a young tutor so she tells her son that toy boy is blackmailing her for a cool 10 grand. Huh?
I had forgotten that this writer had written a series about a girl whose father had got a ho to deflower his daughter so that he could tell society his daughter was not chaste. This writer's sick imagination is fascinating. One star because we don't have a zero rating.
I had forgotten that this writer had written a series about a girl whose father had got a ho to deflower his daughter so that he could tell society his daughter was not chaste. This writer's sick imagination is fascinating. One star because we don't have a zero rating.
February 9, 2014
Heroine rapes hero at the beginning of the book. And everyone acts like this is ok? WTF?
May 12, 2016
Este libro me estaba gustando bastante hasta el final, pero las últimas 30 páginas me han hecho replantearme seriamente su puntuación. Mentiría si dijera que no me ha gustado, sí lo ha hecho, pero el final me ha parecido muy forzado e inverosímil, no me he creído la actitud de los personajes, ni su forma de solucionar sus problemas y sus diferencias, suena como si la escritora hubiese estado deseando terminar el libro y no sabía cómo, y le ha salido un batiburrillo de emociones que no casan con el carácter de los protagonistas.
En cierto modo, "Pasión prohibida" se parece bastante al primer libro de la serie "Una boda impuesta", pero en éste caso la protagonista, Serena Riverton, es la hermosa viuda de un noble menor que la compró a su familia con tan sólo 15 años para hacer de ella su prostituta particular. La enseñó las maneras más sórdidas del sexo para complacerle, pero sin recibir nada a cambio, sólo recibió maltrato, desprecio, humillación, y lo que se esperaba de ella, obediencia y sumisión. Una vez viuda, y libre de él, los sórdidos y asquerosos de sus hermanos, pretenden venderla de nuevo a otro hombre, igual de horrible o peor que su marido. De éste modo, Serena escapa de casa, y es así como conoce a Francis.
A Francis le conocimos en el primer libro como el mejor amigo de Nicholas Delaney. Francis es un hombre honorable, podría decirse que el perfecto caballero. Precisamente por ser el perfecto caballero, y el hijo obediente, es como acaba conociendo a Serena, y después por cómo terminarán unidos, asumiendo las circunstancias que se les han presentado. Su matrimonio empezó forzado, siempre con la sombra del difunto marido de Serena, y el deseo de Francis de poder complacer a su esposa, pero como digo, ha sido una relación a ratos hermosa, pero en otros momentos ha habido frialdad, tiranteces, y sí, muchas desavenencias y malentendidos. La verdad, lo estaba disfrutando hasta los dos últimos capítulos, donde me parece que todo se ha embrollado irremisiblemente. A pesar de ello, no me ha afectado como para que deje la serie, no. Seguiré con ella, pero en un futuro, espero que no muy lejano, para no empacharme tanto.
En cierto modo, "Pasión prohibida" se parece bastante al primer libro de la serie "Una boda impuesta", pero en éste caso la protagonista, Serena Riverton, es la hermosa viuda de un noble menor que la compró a su familia con tan sólo 15 años para hacer de ella su prostituta particular. La enseñó las maneras más sórdidas del sexo para complacerle, pero sin recibir nada a cambio, sólo recibió maltrato, desprecio, humillación, y lo que se esperaba de ella, obediencia y sumisión. Una vez viuda, y libre de él, los sórdidos y asquerosos de sus hermanos, pretenden venderla de nuevo a otro hombre, igual de horrible o peor que su marido. De éste modo, Serena escapa de casa, y es así como conoce a Francis.
A Francis le conocimos en el primer libro como el mejor amigo de Nicholas Delaney. Francis es un hombre honorable, podría decirse que el perfecto caballero. Precisamente por ser el perfecto caballero, y el hijo obediente, es como acaba conociendo a Serena, y después por cómo terminarán unidos, asumiendo las circunstancias que se les han presentado. Su matrimonio empezó forzado, siempre con la sombra del difunto marido de Serena, y el deseo de Francis de poder complacer a su esposa, pero como digo, ha sido una relación a ratos hermosa, pero en otros momentos ha habido frialdad, tiranteces, y sí, muchas desavenencias y malentendidos. La verdad, lo estaba disfrutando hasta los dos últimos capítulos, donde me parece que todo se ha embrollado irremisiblemente. A pesar de ello, no me ha afectado como para que deje la serie, no. Seguiré con ella, pero en un futuro, espero que no muy lejano, para no empacharme tanto.
September 24, 2021
re read 2021
From 4 to 2 stars, book dragged.
Spoilerish..
I loved the femme fatale, stunningly sexy h, she’s your regency bombshell, and she’s actually good in bed, even if she’s frigid. But then she tries to dress and turn herself into a granny plain Jane, because she’s ashamed of her looks/the attention it draws…. Sigh.
The H is a beta virgin, too frustratingly indecisive for me….this dullard would’ve gone on to marry the boring Ann if the h hadn’t gotten preggers because she raped the H while he was asleep.
I honestly don’t like this authors writing. Too dry and dull, but I actually liked this book 10 yrs ago I guess…I can’t understand why after trying to reread it, couldn’t even finish…
Pros; loved their chemistry before she started dressing like a granny.
From 4 to 2 stars, book dragged.
Spoilerish..
I loved the femme fatale, stunningly sexy h, she’s your regency bombshell, and she’s actually good in bed, even if she’s frigid. But then she tries to dress and turn herself into a granny plain Jane, because she’s ashamed of her looks/the attention it draws…. Sigh.
The H is a beta virgin, too frustratingly indecisive for me….this dullard would’ve gone on to marry the boring Ann if the h hadn’t gotten preggers because she raped the H while he was asleep.
I honestly don’t like this authors writing. Too dry and dull, but I actually liked this book 10 yrs ago I guess…I can’t understand why after trying to reread it, couldn’t even finish…
Pros; loved their chemistry before she started dressing like a granny.
April 12, 2008
Better than Unwilling Bride and as good in a different way as Christmas Angel. This novel of the Rogues series is actually the first one Beverley wrote years before she was first published. Francis, Lord Middlethorpe is a quirky and unusual male lead for a romance novel. I liked Francis for his honesty, his drive and his goodness. It's not true that good guy finish last. Not in this case. Serena, I dislike that name, is more of a classic romance heroine, bad brothers, rotten, wicked dead husband but Beverley succeeds in making us care about Serena or at least get a glimpse of understanding of where she comes from and what drives her behavior. One plot device is a bit clumsy (involving Francis' mother) but it introduces one secondary character that I am really looking forward to read about Lady Anne Peckworth in Hazard. We get the usual Rogue suspects moving the plot along: Nicolas, Lucien, Beth, Blanche and we get a peak at Miles and Felicity story coming up in Dangerous Joy
September 28, 2010
I don't think I can do this book justice. It's so unusual: a virgin hero, an abused widow on the run -- how cliched does that sound? The hero is a crack shot, one of the Company of Rogues, Nicholas Delaney's best friend. Serena is both complicated and simple: a young woman possessed of a sultry beauty capable of "shooting an arrow straight to a man's heart", she wants to be a wife and mother. Her tart interior monologue is wryly humourous, the advice Francis receives from Nicholas and Lucien is vintage ... there's a wild horse race ... Blanche is back. One of my favourite books.
December 18, 2010
Loved this book! A really different twist on the usual Regency period romance--featuring an experienced woman and an inexperienced man. Serena found herself in a desperate situation and her path crossed that of Francis, Lord Middlethorpe, one of the Company of Rogues who is known to readers of the series. This one kept me up to finish--I had to see how their story worked itself out, as well as an additional story line of a related relationship. Looking forward to seeing how this couple fares as the series progresses. Glad I discovered Jo Beverley!
October 9, 2022
Favourite heroine who compromises virgin H who doesn't trust her at all and hurts her badly. She's extraordinarily beautiful, but has no confidence after being abused by all the men in her life. I really liked how the other women helped her to find her place in his world. His aunt was particularly wonderful. There's a good balance of humour and violence.
February 12, 2013
Borderline keeper for me. Detested the heroine's brothers and the hero's mother, as well as the never-ending miscommunication and misunderstandings between all of the main characters. On the other hand, I couldn't put it down ...
August 24, 2015
Serena Riverton has had a horrible life. Sold by her father to Matthew Riverton, he abused her, humiliated her and treated her like a sex object. When he died, eventually she had no choice but to return to her brothers. They were gamblers and when the money ran out, they, too hoped to sell her off to the highest bidder. She ran away.
On a dark road, she meets Francis, Lord Middleton. He is searching for a person he believes is trying to blackmail his mother, when in fact, she lied to her son to keep her affair with a younger man a secret. Francis and Serena get caught in a storm. Thinking Francis was a nice man, Serena ends up seducing him. Francis, who can't stop thinking about her although he is soon going to be engaged, takes her to his aunt's home in hopes that his Aunt Arabella can help her. A few weeks later, Serena confesses to Arabella she believes that she is pregnant.
Francis weds Serena and wants to make her happy. He has learned about the horrors of her first marriage and she with child, he wants to be kind and caring. However, he is not very savvy when it comes to sex and with her horrid background, their sex life, which they both want, is rather lacking and puts a strain on their marriage. Of course, they hardly know each other and don't know how to communicate about the big things let alone smaller ones.
Among the Company of Rogues, Lucien and Beth seem to give the most support at first to the young couple. Beth and Serena knew each other from finishing school. Since they are also both pregnant, it seems to solidify their friendship. Together they form a plan to help introduce Serena to society, especially since she got pregnant out of wedlock and her past is sketchy.
Francis fears that his wife is pregnant with another man's child, Charles Ferncliff, who was "blackmailing" his mother. Serena tells Francis that her brothers are actually trying to get money from her and he says he will take care of it. But when she receives a note from her brother saying if he doesn't get money that night, he will sell nude photos of her doing horrible acts with multiple people to the press and will bring down the family name.
She sneaks off to the hotel where her brothers are and runs into Ferncliff. She insists he help her get the prints. He does so, but they are nearly caught and they must duck back into Ferncliff's room, which is where Francis and Lucien find them. Francis, feeling his fears are confirmed, confronts them. He states that she is an adultress and a worthless tart. Her, she hits him, he hits her back, and she runs out.
But suddenly his mother shows up and true facts come to light. Francis realizes what he has done and returns to his house to somehow make amends. This leads to angry make up sex and suddenly the confess their love. Everything works out in the end.
I really liked Francis's role in others stories, but I did not particularly care for him in his own book! And Serena? Bah. Too innocently stupid. She acted like the cliche "dumb blond" and she was dark haired.... They were never around each other, rarely communicated well together and always unsure of the other, so how on earth did they fall in love? The book seemed more about Francis's mothers romance than his. The ending.. too rushed. I don't believe I will want to re read this any time in the near future. Too bad, but an author can't win them all I guess....
On a dark road, she meets Francis, Lord Middleton. He is searching for a person he believes is trying to blackmail his mother, when in fact, she lied to her son to keep her affair with a younger man a secret. Francis and Serena get caught in a storm. Thinking Francis was a nice man, Serena ends up seducing him. Francis, who can't stop thinking about her although he is soon going to be engaged, takes her to his aunt's home in hopes that his Aunt Arabella can help her. A few weeks later, Serena confesses to Arabella she believes that she is pregnant.
Francis weds Serena and wants to make her happy. He has learned about the horrors of her first marriage and she with child, he wants to be kind and caring. However, he is not very savvy when it comes to sex and with her horrid background, their sex life, which they both want, is rather lacking and puts a strain on their marriage. Of course, they hardly know each other and don't know how to communicate about the big things let alone smaller ones.
Among the Company of Rogues, Lucien and Beth seem to give the most support at first to the young couple. Beth and Serena knew each other from finishing school. Since they are also both pregnant, it seems to solidify their friendship. Together they form a plan to help introduce Serena to society, especially since she got pregnant out of wedlock and her past is sketchy.
Francis fears that his wife is pregnant with another man's child, Charles Ferncliff, who was "blackmailing" his mother. Serena tells Francis that her brothers are actually trying to get money from her and he says he will take care of it. But when she receives a note from her brother saying if he doesn't get money that night, he will sell nude photos of her doing horrible acts with multiple people to the press and will bring down the family name.
She sneaks off to the hotel where her brothers are and runs into Ferncliff. She insists he help her get the prints. He does so, but they are nearly caught and they must duck back into Ferncliff's room, which is where Francis and Lucien find them. Francis, feeling his fears are confirmed, confronts them. He states that she is an adultress and a worthless tart. Her, she hits him, he hits her back, and she runs out.
But suddenly his mother shows up and true facts come to light. Francis realizes what he has done and returns to his house to somehow make amends. This leads to angry make up sex and suddenly the confess their love. Everything works out in the end.
I really liked Francis's role in others stories, but I did not particularly care for him in his own book! And Serena? Bah. Too innocently stupid. She acted like the cliche "dumb blond" and she was dark haired.... They were never around each other, rarely communicated well together and always unsure of the other, so how on earth did they fall in love? The book seemed more about Francis's mothers romance than his. The ending.. too rushed. I don't believe I will want to re read this any time in the near future. Too bad, but an author can't win them all I guess....
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 14, 2017
A marriage of convenience story (yay) with a fairly nice beta hero (yay) but the heroine has a super traumatic backstory of being married at a very young age to a sadist (no yay). The depressing backstory comes up again and again and again with all sorts of sickening detail and ugh. I found it more depressing than the final scene where it all gets sorted out could alleviate.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 16, 2018
3.5 stars
So, this book had some slightly concerning moments (and I do need to stop using So to start my reviews). But, overall, I did like it.
To start with, it was definitely different to have the heroine be far more experienced than the hero. In fact, the hero is a virgin.
I did like seeing the other Rogues, and their friendship is one of the best parts of the book.
I did find the heroine annoying at times.
Also, there was the issue with the first sex scene. As in, the matter of consent (and this time, the problem is in the heroine's actions, and not the hero's).
All in all, a well enough read, but I would have enjoyed it more if it weren't for the aforementioned issues.
So, this book had some slightly concerning moments (and I do need to stop using So to start my reviews). But, overall, I did like it.
To start with, it was definitely different to have the heroine be far more experienced than the hero. In fact, the hero is a virgin.
I did like seeing the other Rogues, and their friendship is one of the best parts of the book.
I did find the heroine annoying at times.
Also, there was the issue with the first sex scene. As in, the matter of consent (and this time, the problem is in the heroine's actions, and not the hero's).
All in all, a well enough read, but I would have enjoyed it more if it weren't for the aforementioned issues.
April 14, 2019
I just couldn’t get past the fact that she seduced him in his sleep and had sex with him against his will. All this so that he could make her his mistress. And then protesting when he suspected that the child isn’t his? When you are manipulative from the start, saw the man as a provider of $$ can you blame him? Granted there were WTF moments too from the hero who thought she was a whore (his words not mine) just because of her perfume - before the whole sleep seduction thing btw.
So this is a messed up couple that wouldn’t work in real life. Just couldn’t buy their romance 😂
So this is a messed up couple that wouldn’t work in real life. Just couldn’t buy their romance 😂
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 8, 2011
Serena -- vulnerable and voluptuous. Francis -- fearless and innocent. Jo Beverley takes all the traditional male/female roles in a romance novel and turns them upside down. She is the cynical seducer. He is the virgin with principles. The sex is unbelievably hot, the emotions raw, the ending real and believable. This is an all-time keeper of a book, as well as being one of the rare historical romances that completely rejects formula.
June 10, 2016
No me gusto. Los diálogos fueron estúpidos. La historia prometía pero término decepcionando mucho. La verdad que esperaba más ya que el libro tres de la serie me g mucho. Pero este fue patetico. Ningún personaje me gusto realmente y sinceramente termine de leerlo por in.erc.ia no por placer
July 17, 2016
A remarkable book. I followed it up with An Unwilling Bride, which is an equally stunning read. Both of them stayed with me for days.
October 2, 2023
Copyright 1994. 4rth in the series & to understand what's going on, you need to read the previous books. Characters from the other books show up & are important to the story.
So Francis is a member of The Company Of Rogues. A group of school boys founded it to band together against bullies at school. Now adults, we see them in romantic endeavors. Francis has been a good guy in the other books, but here he's not all that. He's also a virgin, which is an oddity in Romancelandia.
Serena is the daughter of a gentleman, but he was a terrible person. He sold Serena to a man old enough to be her father at the age of 15 for 30,000 pounds. Now she's a widow & free, but her oafish brothers plan to sell her again to an old lecher. She takes off, but has no money & no plan. Francis picks her up in his carriage as she's walking along a lonely country road.
I liked it for the most part. There's some angsty drama, but Serena really comes into her power by the end. This a typical 90s romance, so there may be some unsavory bits.
So Francis is a member of The Company Of Rogues. A group of school boys founded it to band together against bullies at school. Now adults, we see them in romantic endeavors. Francis has been a good guy in the other books, but here he's not all that. He's also a virgin, which is an oddity in Romancelandia.
Serena is the daughter of a gentleman, but he was a terrible person. He sold Serena to a man old enough to be her father at the age of 15 for 30,000 pounds. Now she's a widow & free, but her oafish brothers plan to sell her again to an old lecher. She takes off, but has no money & no plan. Francis picks her up in his carriage as she's walking along a lonely country road.
I liked it for the most part. There's some angsty drama, but Serena really comes into her power by the end. This a typical 90s romance, so there may be some unsavory bits.
Read
August 27, 2018I had a really, really hard time liking this hero. He didn't have many redeeming qualities and treated the heroine horribly, which made the romance difficult to buy into. Definitely not a book I would read again or recommend.
September 21, 2020
3.5 stars
July 22, 2023
Strange book...felt as though the intended message is that even good men are reactionary misogynists, but True Love makes that okay? (Though tbf you could probably say the same of a lot of romance novels.)
February 13, 2012
This romance’s heroine is a woman who survived eight years of abuse having been married at 15 to a sexual degenerate much older than herself. Recently widowed, she finds herself at the mercy of her abusive brothers. Determined not to be sold into marriage again, she runs away. However, as Serena’s natural beauty is shadowed by these experiences, she is assumed to be a whore and soon finds herself running from lecherous male attention.
Enter our hero, who we have seen in An Arranged Marriage, is a kind a sensitive man who unlike his fellow Rogues, is a virgin. He is responsible, and despite his mother’s dominating personality, not weak willed. He is just a Very Nice Guy. Francis has decided that he must marry and produce the obligatory heir(s), and is about to offer for a very nice daughter of a duke. It really couldn’t be a better match, yet he hesitates. Then through some quixotic interference from his mother, he is detoured from offering for her hand (much to the dismay of his mother) and the course is set for him to meet our heroine.
With one thing and another they are thrown into intimate circumstances, and she ends up pregnant. The author's portrayal of this pivotal event is remarkable in that the female and male roles are reversed, she is the seducer, he the "victim". It is so well written that as the reader, I was completely sympathetic to both sides. In fact, I would say full rich characterizations in a highly convincing context are a remarkable talent of this author. There is no "wallpaper" here!
Francis' aunt Arabella, an irascible, but warm hearted woman, provides our heroine with a much needed sanctuary and wise counsel which helps her to begin healing from her past abuse. The other skill of this author is the balance of humour with what would be an otherwise a very angst filled story. At one point, Frances challenges Serena's EVIL brother to a horse race to win back money they have taken from her. The horse, named Banshee apparently only runs fast so no other horse can get in front of him. The horse is almost a character in itself, and Frances only wins be tricking him to think another horse is winning, the description of the race is hilarious.
Francis and Serena are forced to marry, and the rogues come to the rescue so Serena will be accepted by the members of the ton. All the while there is a side story which due to the incredible machinations of Francis' mother, almost put an end to not only Serena and Frances' happiness, but to her own.
When Serena finally allows herself the freedom to connect with her feelings, we know she will heal from her past, and when Francis allows himself trust her, we see that they will be able to achieve their happy ever after. My only reticence, and my reason for a rating of 4.5, is I felt the ending was a little abrupt, with quite a bit of unfinished business (namely the birth of their child). I guess I will have to read the next in the series to find out!
Enter our hero, who we have seen in An Arranged Marriage, is a kind a sensitive man who unlike his fellow Rogues, is a virgin. He is responsible, and despite his mother’s dominating personality, not weak willed. He is just a Very Nice Guy. Francis has decided that he must marry and produce the obligatory heir(s), and is about to offer for a very nice daughter of a duke. It really couldn’t be a better match, yet he hesitates. Then through some quixotic interference from his mother, he is detoured from offering for her hand (much to the dismay of his mother) and the course is set for him to meet our heroine.
With one thing and another they are thrown into intimate circumstances, and she ends up pregnant. The author's portrayal of this pivotal event is remarkable in that the female and male roles are reversed, she is the seducer, he the "victim". It is so well written that as the reader, I was completely sympathetic to both sides. In fact, I would say full rich characterizations in a highly convincing context are a remarkable talent of this author. There is no "wallpaper" here!
Francis' aunt Arabella, an irascible, but warm hearted woman, provides our heroine with a much needed sanctuary and wise counsel which helps her to begin healing from her past abuse. The other skill of this author is the balance of humour with what would be an otherwise a very angst filled story. At one point, Frances challenges Serena's EVIL brother to a horse race to win back money they have taken from her. The horse, named Banshee apparently only runs fast so no other horse can get in front of him. The horse is almost a character in itself, and Frances only wins be tricking him to think another horse is winning, the description of the race is hilarious.
Francis and Serena are forced to marry, and the rogues come to the rescue so Serena will be accepted by the members of the ton. All the while there is a side story which due to the incredible machinations of Francis' mother, almost put an end to not only Serena and Frances' happiness, but to her own.
When Serena finally allows herself the freedom to connect with her feelings, we know she will heal from her past, and when Francis allows himself trust her, we see that they will be able to achieve their happy ever after. My only reticence, and my reason for a rating of 4.5, is I felt the ending was a little abrupt, with quite a bit of unfinished business (namely the birth of their child). I guess I will have to read the next in the series to find out!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2015
Book 4 of the Company of Rogues continues with it's very dark stories. I'm not saying don't read the book -- just know that it definitely isn't my favorite in the series.
Francis was featured in the first 3 books and he was portrayed as the sweetest and gentlest of all of the rogues. So, I was looking forward to reading his story to see how he was going to become the hero of some desperate damsel in distress. In this book, they kept talking about how sweet and gentle he was, but -- all I saw was a first class jackass and I didn't like him at all -- even at the end of the book when all was supposedly revealed.
The heroine was also the hero. She ended up saving herself basically. The rogues didn't have any great heroics in this book -- their contributions were mostly to sponsor the heroine at social events in order to get her accepted into society. I tended to like her -- and I thought she'd be a good match for the Francis as represented in the earlier stories -- just not in this story.
I can see where he'd get some strange ideas about what she might be up to but, as always in most of these novels, he makes incorrect assumption after incorrect assumption based on no evidence at all.
Anyway -- I'd say read the book if you want to read the whole series because what is in this book will be referenced, etc in future books of the series. If you are just looking for a stand-alone book, there are better choices out there.
Francis was featured in the first 3 books and he was portrayed as the sweetest and gentlest of all of the rogues. So, I was looking forward to reading his story to see how he was going to become the hero of some desperate damsel in distress. In this book, they kept talking about how sweet and gentle he was, but -- all I saw was a first class jackass and I didn't like him at all -- even at the end of the book when all was supposedly revealed.
The heroine was also the hero. She ended up saving herself basically. The rogues didn't have any great heroics in this book -- their contributions were mostly to sponsor the heroine at social events in order to get her accepted into society. I tended to like her -- and I thought she'd be a good match for the Francis as represented in the earlier stories -- just not in this story.
I can see where he'd get some strange ideas about what she might be up to but, as always in most of these novels, he makes incorrect assumption after incorrect assumption based on no evidence at all.
Anyway -- I'd say read the book if you want to read the whole series because what is in this book will be referenced, etc in future books of the series. If you are just looking for a stand-alone book, there are better choices out there.
July 13, 2012
A wonderfully entertaining Jo Beverly title - one of my favorites!
Serena Riverton came from a cruel and bullish father and a brawly bunch of brothers, no better.
Her father married her to an old, lecherous man for money ... and after his demise, her brothers plan more of the same. Especially after wasting every penny of her inheritance. When she learns they are actually auctioning her off for another marriage to the highest bidder ... she runs for her life.
And, sweetly, finally finds her life and her love as she flees. But - of course, she or Lord Francis Middlethorpe see that fact at first. Serena is everything Francis would never choose in a wife - and Serena, for her part, is simply desperate, looking for any kind of alternative to her brother's plans. I liked Serena's spunk in this book, how she kept her head in the midst of horrid circumstances, and how she grows and changes as the book progresses. Arabella Hurstman, Francis unmarried aunt, adds extra enjoyment as an unusually independent, strong-minded woman for Regency times. The twists and turns in this book's plot and the memorable characters make this book a great read.
Serena Riverton came from a cruel and bullish father and a brawly bunch of brothers, no better.
Her father married her to an old, lecherous man for money ... and after his demise, her brothers plan more of the same. Especially after wasting every penny of her inheritance. When she learns they are actually auctioning her off for another marriage to the highest bidder ... she runs for her life.
And, sweetly, finally finds her life and her love as she flees. But - of course, she or Lord Francis Middlethorpe see that fact at first. Serena is everything Francis would never choose in a wife - and Serena, for her part, is simply desperate, looking for any kind of alternative to her brother's plans. I liked Serena's spunk in this book, how she kept her head in the midst of horrid circumstances, and how she grows and changes as the book progresses. Arabella Hurstman, Francis unmarried aunt, adds extra enjoyment as an unusually independent, strong-minded woman for Regency times. The twists and turns in this book's plot and the memorable characters make this book a great read.
April 11, 2015
This is my third of the Company of Rogues series that I have read. I'm picking these up for $.99 on Bookbub.com. (If you haven't checked out that site, and you have an ereader, it's well worth looking into for free or inexpensive books....Okay, enough of that free advertising.) And of the 3 I have read, this was probably my favorite.
Forbidden follows the romance of Serena, the former Lady Riverton (she's widowed) and Francis, Lord Middlethorpe. Their relationship is filled with similar misunderstandings, but instant love like the other stories in this series. But there was something sweet and a bit redemptive about this story. Serena's deceased husband had been abusive, and it was interesting to watch Serena blossom as she realized that she was no longer a prisoner to her husband, but a free-thinking, intelligent woman.
There was the usual adventures of the Rogues (I find them all delightful) and the usual bedroom activities. But somehow even though they are a bit formulaic, in this series they work. I think it's because Beverley has created such likable characters and amusing circumstances that create the conflict of the books.
A fun read!
Forbidden follows the romance of Serena, the former Lady Riverton (she's widowed) and Francis, Lord Middlethorpe. Their relationship is filled with similar misunderstandings, but instant love like the other stories in this series. But there was something sweet and a bit redemptive about this story. Serena's deceased husband had been abusive, and it was interesting to watch Serena blossom as she realized that she was no longer a prisoner to her husband, but a free-thinking, intelligent woman.
There was the usual adventures of the Rogues (I find them all delightful) and the usual bedroom activities. But somehow even though they are a bit formulaic, in this series they work. I think it's because Beverley has created such likable characters and amusing circumstances that create the conflict of the books.
A fun read!
February 26, 2015
There was so much potential in the set-up for this plot -- after the first 100 pages I thought I was going to be in for a terrific read. Then it all fizzled out. The conflict is nothing more than a giant misunderstanding (although it's not a misunderstanding so much as a willful determination on the part of both hero and heroine to not communicate with the other) and the denouement is incredulous and also unsatisfying. I don't believe Serena's issues could be resolved so quickly and with so little fanfare. To be fair, The Big Misunderstanding is one of my least favorite conflicts in romance novels, but I honestly just wanted to shake both the characters until their teeth chattered.
August 9, 2017
Can't believe I am still going through these books but I guess doing it because the writer is really good. I am just desperately waiting for her to quit the rapey or stereotypey plot twists. Book 3 was so much more refreshing, so I had hope. And here again a character who had a cool background and potential, also behaved pretty well up to this point, where he turns into a judgy offensive, "world revolves around me" jerk. Just no. And if they hadn't used the word "whore" a bazillion times to describe the heroine, who is a victim of ABUSE for chistsakes, it would probably leave a better taste in my mouth.
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