(Jaded Gentlemen, Book 2) by Ashe Blackwell has enjoyed the life of an unrepentant rakehell ever since his return from India. But when his beloved grandfather challenges him to reform for a single social Season in London–or forfeit his inheritance–Ashe agrees to the ultimate wager.
Fearless when it comes to a dare, Ashe fails to anticipate the ace up his grandfather’s sleeve. He will be assigned an unconventional chaperone–Miss Caroline Townsend, a young, independent, well-educated American woman with beautiful eyes and no patience for rogues.
The sparks fly from their first meeting as the pair squares off in a duel of wills. When passion and desire are added to the mix, they both battle to keep control as a dangerous seduction begins to unravel their lives and threatens their futures.
Let’s hear it for the those American coloniel ladies from Boston who knew the social score, were aware of their limited options when left penniless by a weird-thinking relative, and who were not afraid to take a chance that could backfire in any number of mind, heart, soul, and body-destroying ways. After all, the entire idea of a democratic republic ruled by the people and their representatives in something called a Congress, was in and of itself a great risk. In truth, all Americans, from the very first, were some of the most outspoken and unrepentent risk takers ever on this planet. Thus is it not a surprise when Miss Townsend accepts the proposition made to her by Ashe’s grandfather: chaperone/keep an eye on my grandson, make regular reports, stand up to his efforts to derail you as his watch-dog, and in return I will give you 20,000 English pounds. Living on the reluctant charity of her aunt, there was no hesitancy on Caroline’s part. With the money she could open a ladies educational institution. If she failed she would not be in anymore dire straits.
And so we meet Miss Caroline Townsend, clothed in the somber and dull gowns deemed appropriate by Boston’s seamstresses, woefully out of date, and sparking the tag “Miss Quaker” almost from the beginning. Yet her evident lack of fear of the haut ton and her enthusiasm for her project cause the hostesses of London to clamor for her presence at their events, and keep Ashe on his toes. He has bedded more women than he can even remember since his return from an Indian prison dungeon, hiding a secret that keeps him always reaching for some sort of forgetfulness, while becoming more and more aware of Caroline’s unique view of life and the world and herself. He is completely enthralled when Caroline sleep-walks into his chamber night after night in her see-through nightgown, all her reluctance to be on a personal level with him missing. If his mind cannot accept her presence in his life, his body certainly is willing to welcome her.
As one of the Jaded, –Englishmen who were taken prisoner by the revolutionary forces in India–Ashe is reluctant if not downright insistent that his experiences in India not be known by his grandfather. Yet Caroline continually surprises him with her honor, integrity, willingness to accept and be accepted. This novel is quite “up front” in dealing with the prejudice harbored by the ton toward the United States and its citizens while being fascinated with them at the same time. There is also a firm conviction that all Americans will automatically fall short of fashion and social standards of all kinds. That Caroline succeeds where so many others have failed leads to some very funny scenes and some energetic clashes with both friends and foes.
Renee Bernard has proven that it is not necessarily easy to write a second, highly prized, second novel in a series. Lots and lots of authors try it but not nearly so many are truly good at it. The novel could easily stand alone and is a worthy literary work without its connection to the other books in the series. The story is not necessarily simple–in fact the basis for the primary romantic relationship in the story is somewhat unusual. The characters are each unique and strong, carrying their place in the story with ease. The plot is well developed and there are some surprises throughout, a quality that I am beginning to truly prize as absolutely necessary in a very good novel. All in all, this is a fine book, well crafted, well-researched, and an entertaining romantic novel. Bernard has included some sexual encounters that are very well placed in the story so as to give spice and not to overwhelm the original tale.
I highly recommend this novel as a wonderful sequel to the first novel in this series, Revenge Wears Rubies. Historical romance fans will be delighted, I have no doubt.
I give this novel a 4.75 out of 5 rating.
The series:
You can read more from Judith at Dr. J’s Book Place.
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