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Product Description
Book Description
New in the Jaded Gentlemen series
When Ashe Blackwell's grandfather challenges him to reform for a single social Season in London-or forfeit his inheritance-the rake agrees to the wager. But Ashe is assigned an unconventional chaperone: Miss Caroline Townsend, a young, independent, well-educated, American woman with beautiful eyes-and no patience for rogues.
When Ashe Blackwell's grandfather challenges him to reform for a single social Season in London-or forfeit his inheritance-the rake agrees to the wager. But Ashe is assigned an unconventional chaperone: Miss Caroline Townsend, a young, independent, well-educated, American woman with beautiful eyes-and no patience for rogues.
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Most helpful customer reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Overall a good book, a few great moments, but doesn't truly shine.,
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This review is from: Seduction Wears Sapphires (Mass Market Paperback)
At first sight, Ashe Blackwell and Caroline Townsend have nothing in common. He is a scandal prone libertine, with a taste to catalog every kind of vice possible. She on the other hand is an American set on advancing the education of women. Caroline is serious as Ashe is vain. So Ashe's grandfather, despairing of ever inspiring his grandson to rise up to his station and inheritance, devises an arrangement where Caroline will chaperone the rakish Ashe to prevent him from seeking the wrong kind of company, and to force him to attend the right kind of society. Ashe is not happy with this, but decides to submit thinking he will shake off Miss Townsend at the first opportunity. But Caroline is no ordinary shy young woman, and she shows Ashe a thing or two about confrontation, a thing or two that end up arousing Ashe's interest in the proper miss.This is set in the Jaded series of the same author. First off, this isn't the most original of premises. A less experienced woman is forced into co-habitation with a world weary cynical rake, and they end up falling for one another. So you'd expect the author to throw something really good our way to keep the reader interested. And a few of the conversations work on this level. Caroline has a few good zingers that keep the beginning of the book from being read completely by rote. Unfortunately, though this is a well written story it feels a bit "by the numbers". Had I not read about a dozen novels with the exact same plot, it would probably rate higher. As it is, the characters, especially the hero, though sympathetic and well motivated, are run of the mill. Caroline is a little more original, but Ashe is one of those gentlemen who have a thousand liaisons because of their hidden secret pain. Nothing that comes as the denouement really rises above the run of the mill plot. At one point, I enjoyed that the author avoids a really cliché'd type of misunderstanding, but it actually works against the emotional development of the characters. I expected more in the way of emotional conflict other than "he said this would not last". Even though there was a wind up at the beginning about the Jaded's troubles that might eventually spill into their social lives there is no intrigue to speak of, and just about everything that happens in the book is linked to the "wager". Because there wasn't much going in that respect, I think there should be special care in the building and maintaining of the emotional relationship between the characters, but for me it was not poignant enough. It probably didn't help that the "villain" who stands to inherit in Ashe's place doesn't really jump out of the page either. He is villainous, and he plots for the downfall of our heroes, but he just doesn't pose much threat, and I do blame the author for this. Some of it was interesting, because it is Caroline, more than Ashe, who unravels the situations. Without spoiling too much of the denouement, I didn't appreciate that it kind of just happened without the need for the characters to explain much, other than the final declaration of the hero to the heroine. It doesn't help either that though the stakes were clear enough, (he needs to win his inheritance so his villainous cousin won't inherit, she needs the pay-off from getting him to go through a season without scandal to sustain her future and her dream of opening a serious school for women,) it was hard to take them seriously when both hero and heroine forget their goals at the first hint of attraction. Still the characters are engaging enough, the plot is not the best it could have been but adequate, there is a lot of sweaty scenes for those who love them, so mileage may vary on this, but having read the next book in the series "Ecstasy Wears Emeralds" I expected something along those lines, with bigger stakes because either characters are willing to sacrifice for them and bigger conflict, and a bit more original plot.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
4.1 out of 5 stars (10 customer reviews) 8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fun, witty, charming,
By Sheila Clover "Book Trailer Lady" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Seduction Wears Sapphires (Mass Market Paperback)
In the second book of The Jaded Gentlemen Series, author Renee Bernard takes readers into the life and heart of Ashe Blackwell. His life, his soul was left scarred by his captivity in the dungeons of India. His attempts to deaden the memories have lead to a life of every conceivable vice.His grandfather, the family patriarch, has no idea of his past trauma. He is only aware of the hedonistic life his grandson leads. All he wants is for his grandson to become a mature gentleman and accept responsibility. He offers Ashe a wager, actually an ultimatum, to be a gentleman for one London season or see his inheritance disappear. Ashe has enough of his own wealth that the inheritance isn't enough to make him accept the wager. When his grandfather informs him who will gain that inheritance if he doesn't accept, Ashe takes on the wager without a second thought. After smugly accepting, he then learns he must will be chaperoned. Already outraged by this, he is then introduced to his chaperone, a seemingly quiet, rather plain American woman, Caroline Townsend. Not as quiet or plain as she first appears, Caroline is smart, worldly savvy, and has a few painful secrets in her own past. Undaunted by her obnoxious first encounter with Ashe, she is determined to uphold her contract with his grandfather. Being subjected to English aristocracy, the protocol of a London season and nuisances of English society, Caroline finds she must tread very carefully. She also has no choice but to succeed, as failure would end any hope for her future. The verbal bantering between the characters is indeed a highlight of this book. Caroline is a delight, particularly when being escorted into the inner sanctum of English society. Ashe is her equal and the two begin their attraction for each other while verbally "sword fighting". Using an American character, freshly imported from the colonies sets a perfect stage for conversations and arguments not usually found in Victorian era romances. The characters are fun, witty, and give no quarter. Seduction Wears Sapphires offers the reader a great story, rich historical detail, and a charming love story. 3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hooked!,
By Annegelic - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Seduction Wears Sapphires (Mass Market Paperback)
I HATED this book....... because it made me tear up at the end. It truly did. I absolutely loved it. This is the 2nd book I've read of Renee Bernard. First one being 'A Lady's Pleasure' which I can't even remember what it was about so I wasn't really expecting much initially. But totally glad I gave 'Seduction Wears Sapphires' a go. A bit hard to believe the same author wrote both these books. I felt so much empathy for Caroline and was wholly emotionally invested in Caroline and Ashe's relationship. I love couples best when they're trading barbs at the start, completely hating each other. Then you just see their relationship grow less into hate and more into love. The slow build was sensually written. Sizzling tension throughout the book. Can't wait to read the next one in the Jaded Gentleman series.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Bernard gives us a sweet & sassy love story between a spoiled Englishman and his unassuming yet captivating American chaperone.,
By I. Cespedes "Isalys {Book Soulmates}" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Seduction Wears Sapphires (Mass Market Paperback)
Ashe Blackwell has changed. Once focused and well-mannered, he has now become your typical rake and his grandfather has had enough of it. What his grandfather doesn't understand is that Ashe's lifestyle is his way of forgetting the painful memories of his capture in India some years before. His grandfather makes him a wager. If Ashe can prove himself to be responsible by remaining free of scandal for the remainder of the season, then he will not be removed from the will thus retaining his inheritance. That's not all though. His grandfather has ensured that the reins on his grandson will be held tight by a chaperon - enter Miss Caroline Townsend.Miss Caroline Townsend, from Boston, has booked passage to London at the request of her grandfather's dearest friend. She is to temporarily chaperon a spoiled English nobleman under the pretense that she is being introduced to English society. If she is successful, she stands to gain a very nice paycheck, which she intends to use to open her own school where young ladies can be educated. Unbeknownst to anyone but herself, she is in dire straits and this income will help her fulfill her dream as well as help her to survive on her own. Ashe does not take well to this assignment and he is hell-bent on sending the drab and mousy little American packing back to the Colonies. What he is unprepared for is the ease at which this mousy little American can woo people. She's smart, incredibly charismatic, and stubborn to a fault. Their little game eventually becomes all too real though. Soon, Caroline realizes that she cannot compete with the beautiful and wealthy women of the English ton and Ashe realizes that until Caroline, he's never really known love or passion. I really enjoyed getting to know these characters and Caroline in particular was a breath of fresh air. Too often, we read historical novels that, from the English point of view, criticize Americans. It was so refreshing to read about an American girl who, in spite of her lack of wealth and her drab appearance, wins the hearts of even the staunchest Englishmen. The plot involving the wager and the subsequent conflict between Ashe and Caroline is a bit simplistic. However, Bernard does a great job expressing the chemistry and passion between them. There are also a few scenes that are especially fun to read. Without giving away too much, I'd like to mention that I was happy with the ending to their story. She didn't simply run into his arms because he said those three magical words. Although he knew as well as she did that she loved him too, he had to prove that she was more than enough for him. In a twisted sort of way, that endeared him to me because he demonstrated that they were both worth it...and that was sweet! This was my first Bernard novel, but I certainly don't think it will be my last! |
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