Dying without legitimate issue, the late Earl of Rochester sent his butler to find his wild, illegitimate children and "civilize" them. Reeves must seek out the first of the earl's arrogant sons, Captain Tristan Lleavanth, a one-time pirate, and teach him to be a gentleman.
Tristan gave up his free-wheeling life as a pirate to fight at Admiral Nelson's side. Wounded, Tristan will never again sail the seas he loves. Life has no more challenges. Or so he thinks, until Reeves brings a certain lady into the captain's uncultured household... Can Prudence tame the rakish captain?
Laura E. (retro-redux) from PORT NECHES, TX wrote on 6/4/2007...
3 member(s) found this review helpful.
While I found the cutesy title of the book a bit too saccharine -I decided to give it a try anyway as I've read good reviews for the authors previous books.
This first book in a series started very well with an intriguing back story about twin brothers who were born on the "wrong side of the sheet" to an earl and who find themselves orphaned at 10 when there mother dies in prison-wrongly accused of treason.
Fast forward to chapter 2-20+ years later to the story of Tristian and Penelope. The book left me ambivalent-while there were parts of "clarity" within the book-between the main characters and secondary characters-it was too often seasoned with choppy, far fetched and repetitive writing as to make the book hard to get through.
Overall the book seems hastily put out, and very poorly edited (I found several obvious grammatical errors, misspellings and even one twin being referred to as the other!)
While I loved the fact that the H/H are older, and experienced from other relationships-I didn't like the authors tendency to keep having their inner dialog go over yet again why they could not marry-when the reasoning was not even plausible to begin with.
The ending of the story is 360 degrees from what the characters were trying to accomplish throughout the book and made for an immature, silly end.
I'm trying the other twins story right now and I hope it will be better than this one.For those like me with limited book budgets- I would only recommend this book used or from the library.
3 stars.
Rate These Member Reviews
Anna W. (annie215) from CHARLESTOWN, IN wrote on 2/10/2007...
GOOD BOOK!!!!!
Robin G. from ISLIP TERRACE, NY wrote on 1/1/2007...
This is the story of Tristan Llevanth, the illegitimate son of the late Earl of Rochester. The wounded ex sea captain must be "civilize" by the Earls former butler Reeves. Reeves notes at the beginning of each chapter are by themselves worth reading the book. A light easy read.
Jean S. (JeanBean) from FRAMINGHAM, MA wrote on 9/14/2006...
Just ask Reeves!
Dying without legitmate issue, the late Earl of Rochester sent his butler extraordinaire, Reeves, to find his wild, illegitimate children and "civilize" them. Reeves must seek out the first of the earl's arrogant sons. Captain Tristan Llevanth, a one-time pirate, and teach him to be a gentleman.
A WILL OF STEEL...
Tristan Llevanth gave up his free-wheeling life as a pirate to fight at Admiral Nelson's side. Wounded, Tristan will never again sail the seas he loves. Life has no more challenges. Or so he thinks, until Reeves brings a certain outspoken lady into the captain's uncultured household...
AN IRON-CLAD SPIRIT...
Reeves believes Tristan needs a spark to relight the fires of his soul. And who better than lovely Prudence Thistlewaite, the bane of the captain's existence? Prudence wants nothing to do with her wickedly handsome, ill-tempered neighbor. Still she cannot refuse the outlandish sum Reeves offers to smooth Tristan's rough edges.
Can Prudence tame the rakish captain?
Or will Tristan gain what he most wishes, to become
THE MASTER AND COMMANDER
Nancy B. from LUBBOCK, TX wrote on 9/2/2006...
recent release.
Bonnie B. (BonnieBee) from OWINGS MILLS, MD wrote on 7/1/2006...
My first by Karen Hawkins and I couldn't put it down! I am on the prowl for other books she has written!
Vicki L. (vicki) from KEIZER, OR wrote on 6/30/2006...
The first of 2 books, the 2nd being "Her Officer and Gentleman" ... have read both and loved them!
Rachel H. (scrapbooker) from HILLSBORO, OR wrote on 6/27/2006...
ust ask Reeves!
Dying without legitimate issue, the late Earl of Rochester sent his butler extraordinaire, Reeves, to find his wild, illegitimate children and "civilize" them. Reeves must seek out the first of the earl's arrogant sons, Captain Tristan Llevanth, a one-time pirate, and teach him to be a gentleman.
A will of steel...
Tristan Llevanth gave up his free-wheeling life as a pirate to fight at Admiral Nelson's side. Wounded, Tristan will never again sail the seas he loves. Life has no more challenges. Or so he thinks, until Reeves brings a certain outspoken lady into the captain's uncultured househol...
An iron-clad spirit...
Reeves believes Tristan needs a spark to relight the fires of his soul. And who better than lovely Prudence Thistlewaite, the bane of the captain's existence? Prudence wants nothing to do with her wickedly handsome, ill-tempered neighbor. Still, she cannot refuse the outlandish sum Reeves offers to smooth Tristan's rough edges.
Can Prudence tame the rakish captain? Or will Tristan gain what he most wishes, to become...
Margie P. from MOAB, UT wrote on 5/5/2006...
enjoyable tale about a butler who must "civilize" the future Earl of Rochester.
Maria P. (BklynMom) from BROOKLYN, NY wrote on 4/24/2006...
A great butler book- Reeves has the brains and best lines, a genial puppetmaster. Lead characters well defined and beleivable. Funny plot twists, nice nautical charac ters edging the Brit "ton" tradition.