Helpful Score: 1
I LOVE Beloved Scoundrel, I've read it a millions times, and it's just as interesting as if it were the first time I read it. This book made me an Iris Johansen fan, and now I'm looking for some of her other works. It's not in anyway boring, I couldn't put this book down. Her characters were so believable, I loved Jordan his determination to avoid the heroine, but yet he's helpless but to fall in love with her, and I loved Marianna's determination and strength. She goes to all lengths to keep her family's greatest secret, even though she knows that it very well may destroy the bond she's built with Jordan. The thing I liked the most was, that despite succumbing to Jordan seduction, she never took her eye of what was important, keeping the Jedelar's secret, and keeping Alex, her only relative left safe. Jordan though a serious womanizer, and uses his experience to intimidate Marianna, he still lives by a certain code of honor. And I think it was believable the 3 year long wait, Johansen paints that image perfectly, and doesn't drag out the 3 years so you don't even notice it really except that the fact that Jordan can no longer deny his feelings for her because he can't hide behind the fact that she was too young and balancing between half-woman/half-child. Excellent twists and turns, some shockers I didn't seem coming. And it was interesting to get inside Jordan's head, and see who was the man behind all that cynicism.
I'm very picky when it comes to the books, I read or buy, and I have little patience for stupid or boring books, and this is NOT one! I have all my friends read this book, I would highly recommend to anyone who likes romance, and strong complex characters who have depth
I'm very picky when it comes to the books, I read or buy, and I have little patience for stupid or boring books, and this is NOT one! I have all my friends read this book, I would highly recommend to anyone who likes romance, and strong complex characters who have depth
Helpful Score: 1
An easy read, but not very captivating.
I'm a big fan of Iris Johansen's mysteries. This one was a little different being that its a historical but the mystery was definitely Johansen style. Excellent read.
I enjoyed this story a lot
I didn't really enjoy this book. Still, it's great in historical detail. A darker historical romance.
From nationally bestselling Iris Johansen comes a thrilling tale of abduction, seducation, and surrender that sweeps from the shimmering halls of Regency England to the decadent haunts of a notorious rogue.
I throughly enjoyed this book, I really appreciate the strong lead females that Iris Johansen portrays, even in this time period when it wasn't in vogue. She seems to have a knack of also creating great leading men roles as well.
This book is very difficult for me to review because I loved the beginning and the end but I hated the middle. I loved all the side characters and I thought Jordan was very consistent. I have to say though that shoving diamonds inside girls no matter how big the diamonds are is just not sexy.
The problem I have is with Marianna's seduction. I couldn't buy that she would have given up so easily after his betrayal and not gone after her brother. It was very out of character. And the reasons Johansen gave were very filmsy. He also didn't only betray her once but it was repeatedly and she seemed too quick to forgive.
But again, the end kind of comes together nicely. So I guess I would recommend this book if you had some time on your hands. But I wouldn't necessarily spend money or credit on it.
The problem I have is with Marianna's seduction. I couldn't buy that she would have given up so easily after his betrayal and not gone after her brother. It was very out of character. And the reasons Johansen gave were very filmsy. He also didn't only betray her once but it was repeatedly and she seemed too quick to forgive.
But again, the end kind of comes together nicely. So I guess I would recommend this book if you had some time on your hands. But I wouldn't necessarily spend money or credit on it.
A thirlling tale of abduction, seduction, and surrender that sweeps from the shimmering halls of Regency England to the decadent haunts of a notorious rogue...She was a hostage torn between passion and loyalty. He was the fabulous rake they called the Duke of Diamonds.
didn'tenjoy at all due plot and lasnguage
She was a hostage torn between passion and loyalty.
Marianna Sanders realized she could not trust this dark and savagely seductive stranger who had come to spirit her away across the sea. She possessed a secret that could topple an empire, a secret that Jordan Draken, the duke of Cambaron, was determined to wrest from her. In the eyes of the world the arrogant duke was her guardian, but they both knew she was to be a prisoner in his sinister plot-and a slave to his exquisite pleasure.
He was the fabulous Rake they called the Duke of Diamonds.
For years, brilliant, deadly Jordan Draken had schemed to destroy the emperor who threatened everything he valued most in the world. Now that he held this defiant woman who was the key to his final triumph, he felt a fierce sense of satisfaction...and the first stirring of desire. She was only supposed to be a pawn in his plans, but once alone with his captive, Jordan realized she was a prize he could never surrender.
Marianna Sanders realized she could not trust this dark and savagely seductive stranger who had come to spirit her away across the sea. She possessed a secret that could topple an empire, a secret that Jordan Draken, the duke of Cambaron, was determined to wrest from her. In the eyes of the world the arrogant duke was her guardian, but they both knew she was to be a prisoner in his sinister plot-and a slave to his exquisite pleasure.
He was the fabulous Rake they called the Duke of Diamonds.
For years, brilliant, deadly Jordan Draken had schemed to destroy the emperor who threatened everything he valued most in the world. Now that he held this defiant woman who was the key to his final triumph, he felt a fierce sense of satisfaction...and the first stirring of desire. She was only supposed to be a pawn in his plans, but once alone with his captive, Jordan realized she was a prize he could never surrender.
Marinna Sanders realized she could not trust this dark and savagely seductive stranger who had come to spirit her away across the sea. She possessed a secret that Jordan Draken, the duke of Cambaron,was determined to wrest from her.In the eyes of the world the arrogant duke was her guardian,but they both knew she was to be prisoner in his sinister plot-and a slave to his exquisite pleasure.
From the back cover...
She was a hostage torn between passion and loyalty...
Marianna Sanders realized she could not trust this dark and savagely seductive stranger who had come to spirit her away across the sea. She possessed a secret that could topple an empire, a secret that Jordan Draken, the duke of Cambaron, was determined to wrest from her. In the eyes of the world the arrogant duke was her guardian, but they both knew she was to be a prisoner in his sinister plot-and a slave to his exquisite pleasure.
He was the fabulous rake they called the Duke of Diamonds...
For years, brilliant, deadly Jordan Draken had schemed to destroy the emperor who threatened everything he valued most in the world. Now that he held this defiant woman who was the key to his final triumph, he felt a fierce sense of satisfaction...and the first stirring of desire. She was only supposed to be a pawn in his plans, but once alone with his captive, Jordan realized she was a prize he could never surrender.
She was a hostage torn between passion and loyalty...
Marianna Sanders realized she could not trust this dark and savagely seductive stranger who had come to spirit her away across the sea. She possessed a secret that could topple an empire, a secret that Jordan Draken, the duke of Cambaron, was determined to wrest from her. In the eyes of the world the arrogant duke was her guardian, but they both knew she was to be a prisoner in his sinister plot-and a slave to his exquisite pleasure.
He was the fabulous rake they called the Duke of Diamonds...
For years, brilliant, deadly Jordan Draken had schemed to destroy the emperor who threatened everything he valued most in the world. Now that he held this defiant woman who was the key to his final triumph, he felt a fierce sense of satisfaction...and the first stirring of desire. She was only supposed to be a pawn in his plans, but once alone with his captive, Jordan realized she was a prize he could never surrender.
