A Lady Never Surrenders by Sabrina Jeffries

Lady Celia Sharpe and Jackson Pinter's book




A Lady Never Surrenders

by Sabrina Jeffries

Book Blurb:

With two months left to find a husband to fulfill her grandmother’s ultimatum, Lady Celia Sharpe sets her sights on three eligible bachelors. Becoming betrothed to one of these wealthy, high-ranking men will surely prove her capable of getting married, so hopefully the wedding itself won’t be necessary for Celia and her siblings to receive their inheritance. Step two of her audacious plan is hiring the dangerously compelling Bow Street Runner Jackson Pinter to investigate the three men she’s chosen. But with Lady Celia bedeviling Jackson’s days and nights, the last thing he wants is to help her find a husband. And when she recalls shadowed memories that lead his investigation into her parents’ mysterious deaths in a new direction—putting her in danger—Jackson realizes the only man he wants Celia to marry is himself!

Excellent conclusion to a wonderful series. 

http://www.jonpaulstudios.com/index.htm

Out of the Sharpe siblings, Celia seemed to be the one placed off in the background in the other Hellion books. She was there but not much of an appearance in the other stories. So going into A Lady Never Surrenders, I really didn't have any confirmed perceptions about Celia. 

Mr. Pinter however has been in every single book quite a bit since he was the fore front investigator into the deaths of Sharpe's parents.  Celia labelled him "Proper Pinter" and that would ring true. He did come across as very proper and straight. I pictured him stuffy with a tight cravat wrapped around his neck. He was a "by the book" type of man. Celia and Jackson seemed to love to hate each other ever since book 1, The Truth about Lord Stoneville. That contempt made for some great reading and conflict resolution. Reading and feeling the ice melt around Celia and Jackson's hearts was awesome. Also the major steamy kisses were meltworthy too. 

I loved the murder/suicide puzzle that flowed through from book 1, The Truth about Lord Stoneville straight through to this final book, A Lady Never Surrenders.  The mystery was an excellent way to keep readers up to date with all the siblings and their spouses. There were twists and turns and just when I thought I figured it out, Mr. Pinter would take us on another route. I am not a mystery reader so I don't read well into the mystery formulas and their plot lines but I did enjoy this Hellion series. I would gauge it to be a light mystery but regardless, it kept my interest throughout. 

I adored their grandmother all the way along but I got a wee bit annoyed with her in A Lady Never Surrenders. Even though my annoyance was there, I still understood why she was making the decisions she did. It is only because I was privy to Celia and Jackson's point of view that made me mad at her. As always her heart was in the right spot. 

It was a treat to read each story from back to back and that is truly my favourite way to read a series. I had been wanting to read The Hellions series for a while so when this last book A Lady Never Surrenders was recently just released, I knew that this was a perfect time to jump aboard. 

PS - This series did annoy me that the paperback book is only 7.99 from Amazon but the Kindle versions were 10.25. I almost didn't start the series due to this pricing. Small font size in paperbacks drives me crazy. I need my Kindle versions. Not the author's fault by no means so this comment is not reflected in my perfect 5 star rating. Just a fact that makes me crazy!

Teasers: hunting competition for a kiss OR a new rifle, bastard's father revealed, cozy poacher's cottage, kidnapping

To Wed A Wild Lord by Sabrina Jeffries

Lord Gabe Sharpe and Virgina Waverly's book






To Wed a Wild Lord (Hellions book 4)


By Sabrina Jeffries


Book Blurb:
Drowning in guilt over his best friend's death seven years ago, Lord Gabriel Sharpe, the Angel of Death, knows his only hope at redemption is a race against a shocking opponent. 

Shrouded in darkness for the past seven years, the infamous racer Lord Gabriel Sharpe is known to accept every challenge to race thrown at him. When his next challenge comes in the form of his late best friend's sister, Virginia Waverly, Gabe is shocked. Yet she presents just the opportunity Gabe needs--marriage to fulfill his grandmother's ultimatum and ensure his inheritance. What he didn't count on was needing her love.

Gabe is indeed the wild one out of his brothers. A phaeton carriage racer, Gabe has been known as the Angel of Death for seven years after racing Virginia's brother, Roger. Roger died in that reckless race and Virginia along with her grandfather had always blamed Gabe for his death. It was a great story to read about the forgiveness unfold and begin to heal. Both healing inregards to Virginia against Gabe but also with Gabe himself. He had such a burden all these years. Great title and well suited, To Wed a Wild Lord.

Even though Gabe felt incredibly guilty for losing his best friend that fateful day all those years ago, it certainly did not curb his wild activity with the racing. It took me a long time in To Wed a Wild Lord to understand why he would continue to be a daredevil and continue to race so carelessly. Even after it was fully explained, I just didn't buy it. Sabrina Jeffries did a great job explaining Gabe's reasons through Virginia's voice, but I still just didn't buy it. 

Virginia and Gabe had great chemistry on the pages. They are totally a great match and it was lovely reading how Gabe tried to win her hand. I liked Gabe and he would have won me over a long time before it took Virginia but with the heavy blame she still placed on Gabe. It made for a great obstacle and book conflict. Well Virginia's grandfather was a pretty heavy obstacle as well. 

Of the Hellion series so far, I found Gabe's romance the most swoon-worthy of the brothers. There is a hay loft scene that was simply romantic as it was lusty. The added touch that Gabe walked around dressed completely in black, firmly cementing his Angel of Death persona, just made him that much sexier to me. No wonder the women were crazy for him. But the best thing was that I didn't necessarily get the impression that Gabe was the rake his brothers were. He'd rather hang out with his horses. 

The mystery continues along the series and it got even more interesting in To Wed a Wild Lord. More and more secrets are uncovered and I haven't a clue at this point who could have killed the Sharpe sibling's parents. I have some light speculation but really, I'm grasping. I love that Celia's book is last and the Bow Street Runner, Mr. Pinter seems to be the potential match in A Lady Never Surrenders so I am happy to start the book next. I am sure I will feel some sort of withdrawal once the series is done as I've come to really like the Sharpe family and their spouses. 

Teasers: mystery man on horseback, hayloft heaven, lavender, grandma just may get some ;)

How to Woo a Reluctant Lady by Sabrina Jeffries

Giles Masters and Lady Minerva Sharpe's book




How to Woo a Reluctant Lady (Hellions book 3)

by Sabrina Jeffries

Book Blurb:When a charming rogue proposes she marry him to meet her grandmother's ultimatum, the Sharpe clan's strong-willed sister makes a tempting counter-offer that preserves her inheritance and ignites his imagination. 
Lady Minerva Sharpe has the perfect plan to thwart her grandmother's demands: become engaged to a rogue!

Surely Gran would rather release her inheritance than see her wed a scoundrel. And who better to play the part of Minerva's would-be husband than wild barrister Giles Masters, the very inspiration for the handsome spy in the popular Gothic novels she writes? The memory of his passionate kiss on her nineteenth birthday has lingered in Minerva's imagination, though she has no intention of really falling for such a rakehell, much less marrying him.

Little does she know, he really is a covert government operative. When they team up to investigate the mystery behind her parents' deaths, their fake betrothal leads to red-hot desire. Then Minerva discovers Giles's secret double life, and he must use all the cunning tricks of his trade to find his way back into her heart.

http://www.jonpaulstudios.com/index.htm

How to Woo a Reluctant Lady is the third book in the Hellions of Halstead Hall series. Each one of these Hellions has been a great read so far but I think that How to Woo a Reluctant Lady just may be my favourite up till now. I was fond of the idea that Minerva had fallen in love with Giles when she was only 9 years old. I love a story that has a rich backstory that began years before. Even though Giles was 10 years older than Minerva, the kindness he'd shown her the day of her parent's funeral was just what made me fall in love with him too. 

Since the title of the book is called How to Woo a Reluctant Lady, you may wonder what is so reluctant with Minerva not to fall for Giles' marriage proposal many years later. Well fast forward from Minerva's parent's funeral to ten years into the future, Minerva gets her dream answered by bribing a kiss from the rake Giles. It is after this precious moment that Minerva falls out of love with him as he  made some flippant cruel comments that broke her heart. How to Woo a Reluctant Lady was about poor Giles making up for those careless words. 

Minerva is running out of time regarding her grandmother's ultimatum to marry within the year or be cut off. As she attempts to battle wits with her grandmother, the famous Gothic novel writer decides to be bold and takes out an advertisement  in the newspaper to interview suitors for a potential husband. It is this ad that springs Giles forward with a plan to make Minerva his wife. Giles always wanted Minerva ever since that moment years earlier but had to hold off due to his emotional place in life. He just wasn't ready or stable to settle then.  As Giles shows up for his interview, he eventually woo'd her into accepting the proposal under the guise of fooling her grandmother. I loved out Minerva thought she was thwarting her but really Giles and her grandmother were thwarting Minerva!

It was entertaining t read the various ways Giles was striving for her to fall in love with him. Giles became super attractive to me as he demonstrated how smart he was in court as a barrister and how he worked to figure out more clues regarding her parent's deaths. I do love a smart man and Giles had it in spades. 

Another reason I loved the story is because Giles and Minerva get married in the middle of the book. I truly love a marriage near the beginning or middle and not having to wait for a wedding to close out the novel. All in all, a wonderful read and can't wait to start the next book, To Wed a Wild Lord. Sabrina Jeffries did a great set up for a potential spouse for Minerva's brother Gabe so I am eager to read how that will all play out. Could be turbulent and I have a feeling it will be emotional. 

Teasers: Behind the dressing screen, the real Lord Rockton, parent's mystery thickens, office desk experience

A Hellion in Her Bed by Sabrina Jeffries

Lord Jarret Sharpe and Annabel Lake's book






A Hellion in Her Bed (Hellions of Halstead Hall #2)


By Sabrina Jeffries


Book Blurb:
Furious at his grandmother’s ultimatum to marry or lose his inheritance, Lord Jarret Sharpe wagers his luck—and his heart—at the card table against a most unlikely opponent.Mired in scandal after his parents’ mysterious deaths, notorious gambler Lord Jarret Sharpe agrees to tamely run the family brewery for a year if his Machiavellian grandmother rescinds her ultimatum that he marry. But the gambler in him can’t resist when beguiling Annabel Lake proposes a wager. If she wins their card game, he must help save her family’s foundering brewery. But if he wins, she must spend a night in his bed. The outcome sets off a chain of events that threatens to destroy all his plans . . . and unveils the secret Annabel has held for so long. When Jarret discovers the darker reason behind her wager, he forces her into another one—and this time he intends to win not just her body, but her heart.

I didn't find this book 2, A Hellion in Her Bed as good as the first book, The Truth About Lord Stoneville.  At the same time, I was a really great book. 

Jarret's grandmother becomes ill and releases him from the ultimatum she placed on Jarret regarding the demand to get married....only if he will run Plumtree Brewery. This decision gave Jarret the purpose he needed to move passed his wastrel life. Although he reluctantly took over charge at the brewery at first, it quickly became obvious that he really did knack the true business sense to operate the company. When Annabel takes a gamble on her future and approaches Jarret to help, their chemistry was instant.  Their charm may have been compatible but both were quite devious. Annabel with her salacious wagers and Jarret thinking with his lower brain. 

It is obvious that Sabrina Jeffries did a lot of research for this book. I really appreciate when I read about a certain time period (1825) I can trust what I read. The Plumtree and Lake Brewerys were fictional but she combined in a great historical account regarding India Pale Ale and the shipping export business. I love it when I leave a book with some account of true facts on the period. It just gave the entire story such validity. 

Annabel sure lied her way through A Hellion in Her Bed. It was becoming a dangerous slope for her to follow and she needed many others to back her up with all the lies. I realize that she did what she did to save her family and company but I still felt bad for Jarret that she was being so deceptive. Now Jarret was no angel either by accepting her wagers and also holding back on his own personal history so really the two were quite a match. I did adore how well the pair were suited for each other and they were both so clever and knowledgeable about their business. It is always a pleasure to read about women of industry in that time period. It was so rare.

I wished we had more interaction with the other siblings in A Hellion in Her Bed. I think that is what I missed about this story compared to The Truth About Lord Stoneville.  The family dynamic in this story was more on Annabel's side. I am hoping that when I start How to Woo a Reluctant Lady next (and I am starting right now) that there is more of the Sharpe family. I missed his grandmother too. She is a scene stealer for me. 

I liked the idea that Sabrina Jeffries created a mystery to link the books together more closely. Instead of each book being about a couple match up, there is more to the story to keep the reader coming back. I think with each book more clues get revealed. I would like to see how it all links together. So for that reason, I would not recommend Hellions of Halstead Hall as a stand alone books but rather to be enjoyed from first book to last. 

Teasers: Irish whist, late night office rendezvous, cundums, more clues to the mystery

The Truth About Lord Stoneville by Sabrina Jeffries

Oliver Sharpe and Maria Butterfield's book




The Truth About Lord Stoneville


by Sabrina Jeffries


Book Blurb:
HELLIONS OF HALSTEAD HALL 
They're the scandalous Sharpes, five hell-raising siblings tainted by a shocking family legacy. Now each faces a daunting ultimatum: marry by year's end -- or kiss their inheritance good-bye. 

In the two decades since a tragic "accident" took the lives of his parents, Oliver Sharpe, the Marquess of Stoneville, has survived the scandal surrounding that fateful night by living as an unrepentant rakehell. And with his grandmother vowing to disinherit him if he doesn't settle down and wed, he plans to fulfill the bargain in true Sharpe style -- by bringing home a fake fiancée from a brothel! But his scheme is derailed when he rescues an American beauty in a dire predicament instead. Maria Butterfield came to London to track down her groom-to-be, who's gone missing, but her engagement won't stop Oliver from getting what he wants: her, in his bed. His rebellious masquerade may call his grandmother's bluff , but it's soon made all too real -- by a love that tempts him to be a hellion no more.

I really enjoyed The Truth About Lord Stoneville. This was my first read from Sabrina Jeffries and first time being introduced to Oliver (Lord Stoneville). Loved them both!

Oliver Sharpe, the Marquess of Stoneville was sure in for a surprise when the tables get turned on him. His grandmother's ploy to get her grandchildren married off seemed to be exactly what Oliver needed for healing. Whether or not he knew he needed the cure. 

Oliver had a tragic moment early in his life that scarred him for years to come. It was heartbreaking really. His mother was furious and in her anger she said some things that if she lived, she would have deeply regretted. The thing is, I understood his mom. Being a mother myself, I know that there are times where I am so angry I say something that I don't necessarily mean. I later regret and apologize profusely. I am so saddened for his mother and for Oliver that those harmful words were the last thing she ever said to him before she died. It leaves a pain in my heart and huge lump in my throat.  This very incident is the core basis for how Oliver's life was shaped and how he grew into the rake he was. The burden on his shoulders was immense. 

Maria was like the healing salve being gingerly applied to heart.  The minute Oliver met Maria, as she threatened to stab him in the neck with a sword, he knew she was different. She was outspoken and said her mind instead of the English prudish way he was used to. Being American she didn't salivate over gossip and paid little credence to the ton's talk and rumours. I liked her right away. Even though she was strong willed women, I loved that she was still so completely soft that Oliver's kisses could still melt her. 

I like that this Hellion Series has a back story mystery attached. As I head into book 2 A Hellion in Her Bed, I am eager to see the little bit of a cliffhanger continues. I'd hate to stop on just book 1 The Truth About Lord Stoneville because I am eager to read these siblings through to the end. They all have such different and awesome personalities that I can't wait to read their matches. 

Teasers: hungry cousin Freddy, conniving grandmother (whom I adored), brothel encounter, fixed Valentine's Day ball 

Teaser Tuesday - The Truth About Lord Stoneville

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

The Truth About Lord Stoneville

By Sabrina Jeffries

"I love you," she repeated as she kissed his cheek. "I love you." She kissed his other cheek, now damp, though she wasn't sure whether from her tears or his. " I love you so much." She brushed his lips with hers. 

pg 344