Review: The Price of Desire by Jo Goodman

Posted October 20, 2008 by Casee in Reviews | 6 Comments

The Price of Desire

Olivia Cole is devastated to learn that her ne’er-do-well brother has promised her to the operator of a London gaming hall as payment of his debts. Olivia accepts her fate-even if it means that her reputation will suffer from living among rogues and gamblers. But when she meets the sexy and mysterious Griffin Wright-Jones, Viscount Breckenridge, Olivia has more than just her good name to worry about-for he rouses in her wanton thoughts she’s never dared entertain-until now.

Griffin wears the scars of his life on his striking face. Although he wants Olivia like no other woman before, he doesn’t force her to share his bed-a difficult task considering how beautiful she is. But with each passing night, Griffin and Olivia’s resolve weakens until finally they take their greatest gamble on one night of reckless pleasure.

It’s no secret around here that I’m a Jo Goodman fangirl. I lurve her. If His Kiss Is Wicked was the first JG book I read. I vaguely remember Griffin from IHKIW. Even if I didn’t remember him, he would be an intriguing hero. Griffin is different than the average viscount b/c he actually works. He owns and operates a gaming hell which is virtually unheard of in the ton. The operating that is. When one of his patrons finds himself owing more to Griffin than he can pay, he offers his sister as collateral until he can get the money.

When Olivia Cole learns that she is her brother’s marker, she tries to tell herself that he will eventually return to her. Olivia doesn’t like to herself, though, and knows that it’s not going to be as simple as that. Being at Viscount Breckenridge’s mercy is the last thing Olivia wants, yet she has no where else to go.

In the weeks that follow, Griffin and Olivia are drawn to each other. Both having pasts that have shaped them into the people they are today, they can see something of themselves in the other. Griffin has had to save his family from financial ruin by running the gaming hell. Olivia has secrets that she never wants to reveal, secrets that she knows will repulse Griffin.

Trust is hard for both Olivia and Griffin. Olivia isn’t your average historical heroine. Though she is the daughter of a peer, her life has been far from easy. Olivia believes that she doesn’t deserve to be happy after the things she’s done. She doesn’t easily accept her feelings for Griffin, let alone his feelings for her.

As I’ve come to expect in Jo’s books, the dialogue and wit is amazing. The banter between Griffin and Olivia and even Alastair and Olivia is wonderfully done.

I read this book about two weeks ago and have the hardest time writing the review. There is such depth to the book, it’s really hard to capture what was really great about the book. It was a combination of things that made me love it, even the things that made me sad. And honestly, it’s not b/c I’m a JG fangirl that I give this book a

4.5 out of 5.

This book is available from Zebra Books. You can buy it here or here in e-format.


Tagged: , , , , ,

6 responses to “Review: The Price of Desire by Jo Goodman

  1. I have this book also and will probably read in a few days. One question, and this maybe a spoiler, is there a topic of incest in the plot? Because the majority of Goodman books I have read is where the heroine is the victim of abuse by her father, brother, step brother, etc…

  2. Ana

    Great review Casee, I only read one of her books before, If HIs Kiss is Wicked and I loved it. I got Price of Desire (katiebabs, I finally got it in the post!) and can’t wait to read it.

  3. I haven’t been able to find any Jo Goodman books in the library, so I may have to order at B&N. What is a good “starter” Jo Goodman?

  4. C2

    Love Jo G!

    Not to jump in but I think a good starter book is the first book of the Compass Club quartet. If only I could remember the name of it.

  5. Lori

    I knew there was a book I forgot to buy!!! This was it! I’ve seen so many fabulous reviews for it – and it sounds right up my alley.

Leave a Reply to Katiebabs Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.