Hardly A Husband (Berkley Sensation)

Rating:
Summary: Another good book
Review: I enjoy stories where the main characters fell in love in their youth. Even though it was one sided, it's touching when you see the other grow up and accept them for all their flaws because that is who they are. The only complaint I have is that I read all three of Ms. Lee's series in three days and saw a little too much repitition through them. In fact, all three men seem to have the same exact fantasy come true when they wed. I won't tell you what it is and the author did it in a tasteful way (I'm not into overblown sensuality), but the scene seemed to have been taken from her first book and cut and pasted into the other two. So if you've read the other two, take a break and read another book before you pick this one up.

Rating:
Summary: fine Regency romance
Review: In 1793 the three preadolescent aristocratic heirs sign in blood the charter of the Free Fellow League, which includes amongst its rules not to marry unless there is no choice until they reach thirty. Instead Griffin Abernathy, Colin McElreath, and Jarrod Sheperdston plan to become England's greatest heroes. By 1813, three males in their mid twenties join the league while recently two of the founding fathers (BARELY A BRIDE Griffin Abernathy and MERELY THE GROOM Colin McElreath) have married.

In 1813 Helford Green, England, the new Rector displaces Sarah Eckersley and her aunt without warning. Rather than beg, Sarah heads to London to ask her childhood friend Jarrod to train her into becoming a courtesan so she can earn a living. Jarrod refuses as he knows how innocent the daughter of a village vicar is, but is willing to help her avoid an undesirable marriage. However, he never expected to fall in love with Sarah, who has always unrequitedly loved Jarrod.

Regency romance fans will enjoy the third Free Fellow League Regency romance starring two wonderful protagonists. Jarrod has been the ring leader of the bachelor club while Sarah is a sweet sensual young woman who has always left him gasping for air. The behavior of the new rector and his family appears outrageous, yet they add a social caste feel to the era. Fans will enjoy Rebecca Hagan Lee's latest fun tale even as the male members of the League in some ways seem interchangeable.

Harriet Klausner


Rating:
Summary: not bad, but a bit of a bland read
Review: It's seems as if one of the more popular (and overly used) plot device in use right now is one where the aristocratic hero and his friends are spies for the Crown. Sometimes, especially when I read 2 or 3 of these Regency-era romances back to back, it seems as if the entire male population of the ton are spies. And even though I know that it's all fiction and that the books are all by different authors, I have silly moments where I imagine every gentleman at Almacks dodging behind pillars or into alleyways looking for spies while the ladies fan themselves languidly in drawing rooms wondering where all the men are! Rebecca Hagan Lee's latest Free Fellow installment, however, doesn't really conform to this norm -- the hero, Jarrod, the Marquess of Shepherdston is an agent for the Crown; however the book barely touches on this aspect of the marquess' life. And in this particular case, it might have been better if it had, because for me, "Hardly a Husband" was a bit of a bland read.

It seems as if everyone has plans for Miss Sarah Eckersley's future, now that her father, the late vicar of Helford Green, has passed on -- the nasty new vicar has offered a position as a governess of his equally obnoxious children, while her cousin has decided that she would make him an ideal wife. Sarah, however, has plans of her own. Long ago, she had decided that she would marry her childhood playmate, Jarrod, the fifth Marquess of Shepherdston. Except that Jarrod (the product of uncaring and headless parents) has vowed never to marry. So how does a sheltered young lady go about trying to convince the man of her dreams to marry her? By asking him to tutor her in the arts of seduction, of course. Surely such an audacious plan will make Jarrod sit up and take notice of her! But just how much of her pride Sarah would have to sacrifice, and just how much courage she would have to have was something she had not properly considered. For the gentleman concerned is rather stubborn (even if he is rather taken by her charms). Never fear, though, Sarah is rather stubborn too...

The trouble I had with "Hardly a Husband" was that I got rather tired of Sarah running after Jarrod all the time; I also never really bought the whole notion that she would actually consider becoming a courtesan, and so rather wondered that Jarrod seemed to take her threat seriously. And then there was the whole subplot dealing with Jarrod's TORTURED PAST and why he would never ever fall in love or marry ever -- this in spite of the fact that two of his closest friends had recently married and were rapturously happy to boot! So that, in spite of my weariness at the much overused spy/intrigue motifs, I really began to wish that there had been some suspense in this book just to keep things humming. However, "Hardly a Husband" is a rather well written book, and the author does touch on some of the points I've brought up. I just wish that she had gone into it a bit more. Sarah and Jarrod are rather nice individuals but I didn't really buy them as a couple mainly because it took Jarrod forever to realize that he could and was in love with Sarah. In fact I found the very small secondary romance involving Sarah's aunt and Jarrod's uncle had more warmth and was far more romantic. So that all in all I'd vote "Hardly a Husband" as a nice but somewhat bland read.

Rating:
Summary: This third story is a nice addition to the series...
Review: Sarah awakens on day to find she is thrown out of the only home she has ever known. A local Lord wants to wed her and figures if he tosses her out of the parish home she will have to move in with him. But, Sarah convinces her "guardian", the local magistrate to give her 30 days to find herself a husband--or one will be found for her.

She has no intention of marrying the despicable Lord Dunbridge. She in fact sets out to either catch the man she has always loved or to become a courtesan. She sets out to London with her Aunt and approaches Earl Jarrod Shepherdston, her secret love to tutor her in seduction.

Even though Sarah insists she only wants to be his lover and not his wife, Jarrod, who has forever sworn off marriage, still can't quite agree to her tempting yet troubling offer. But Jarrod doesn't want anyone else teaching her either. The story follows their growing relationship through duels, and Jarrod's realization maybe he is cut out for marriage. But, will he figure this out in time?

This is a nice addition to the series and also sets up the start of the 4th book nicely.

Rating:
Summary: Charming Installment in Series!
Review: Setting - Belfordshire and London, England, 1813 --- Jarrod, sixth marquess of Shepherdston, is shocked when a young female arrives at his home at three o'clock in the morning, soaking wet from the rain, and wearing a white nightdress under her long black cloak. The female in question, turned out to be his childhood friend, Sarah Eckersley, who came to him with a shocking proposal! Deep in her heart, she's loved him since the age of five and her heart has never wavered in that resolve and thought that this frontal attack just might win him over. Though she knew his views on marriage, she agreed with him that he was `hardly husband material' which, even though he might have said so himself - she surprised him by agreeing! - So, in lieu of his refusal to consider marriage, would he kindly teach her the art of seduction so she could go on to become a courtesan. Naturally, she was hoping that this request would shock him into declaring his love for her, but he surprised her instead, not by admitting his attraction, but offering in return to help her find a suitable husband. Though, after their first kissing lesson, Jarrod, still stubbornly refusing marriage for himself, wasn't so sure he wanted to see her married to anyone else either!

Following the previous volumes in her charming `Free Fellows League' series of BARELY A BRIDE and MERELY A GROOM this latest entry from the author was once again, pure enjoyment. With creative and witty dialogs, revisiting the other `free fellows' who are now happily married, coupled with a secondary and very poignant `second chance at love' story for Sarah's aunt, Hagan Lee has fashioned a perfectly wonderful and entertaining read. The protagonists were ideally suited and once Jarrod's godfather and friends helped him to deal with and better understand his nightmarish childhood memories, his courting of Sarah will bring tears to your eyes with a sensuality that is both tasteful and hot! For those who have read the first two books, some may think that the repetition of how the league came into existence may be overkill, but I feel that it firmly establishes this author's way of creating a connected series, yet allows the book to stand totally on its own merit extremely well. She also brings in many hints as to the next book, ahem... where is Daniel, the missing Duke of Sussex? Bottom Line: You won't be disappointed with this very charming installment of the Free Fellows League. Hagan Lee will capture both your imagination and embrace your heart with her latest regency era romance and keep you coming back for more! ---- Marilyn Rondeau, Official Reviewer for www.historicromancewriters.com ---



Rating:
Summary: MissSue
Review: So you you really think the new rector is going to kick the supposed betrothed of his new living's patron out on the curb????
I rather think ingratiating brown-nosing would have been the order of the day. Was rector going to say "Just kidding!" when dispaced waif returnde to the parish as the lady of the manor? And if ex-lover of philandering uncle was so kindly disposed to his widow, then why attempt to lure the niece into prostitution in the first place. She claimed to have known the connection between her past protector and the girl when she saves the day by preventing the evil viscount fron dueling with the hero. This book makes no sense.

Rating:
Summary: Sweet reading.
Review: Some Christians can be decidedly un Christian, as Sarah, the only daughter of a deceased minister learns when the new pastor's family arrives, kicking her and her widowed aunt to the curb without so much as a by your leave. Her only choices seem to be becoming a governess to the pastor's disagreeable progeny or marrying the last person on earth she wants to marry. However, a resourceful young lady is she, so she decides to go to London, but not to her supposed fiance'. Calling on the man she has had a crush on since she was five, Jarrod Shepherdson, she asks him to teach her to be a courtesan, never intending to be one, but using it as a ploy to gain his attention. It works, but slowly. In the meantime, while "Jays" figures out that his vow to never marry is based on false presumptions, her "intended" shows up, intent on marrying her, despite her protests.

**** This third Free Fellows Leauge book again is a good story of friendship, even more so than love. Light humor offsets a serious topic, creating a balanced harmony. ****

Rating:
Summary: I'm enjoying this series very much
Review: This book was very nice indeed. I LOVE Jarred. What a sweet boy he was, but he was turned into a scarred man...rescued by love. Sigh. The preview had me on pins and needles waiting for the book to be released, and I wasn't disappointed.

Sarah is headstrong, wearing her heart on her sleeve. Only when she realizes that she loves in vain, that he'll never be able to love her back, to marry, does he realize his love/need for her.

Delicious romance on so many levels. I can't wait for Daniel and Miranda, who are excellent secondary characters here. 4 and 1/2 stars, and I'm tempted to give it 5.