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Lord Jack à Tout Prix (2013)

by Sally MacKenzie(Favorite Author)

3.65 of 5 Votes: 1

ISBN

2811210156 (ISBN13: 9782811210151)

languge

English

genre

Romance

publisher

Milady

series

Duchess of Love

review 1: Y'all, this is the old people fornicating series. Not surprising, considering that, despite being about the Duchess of Love's boys, the series title is the Duchess of Love herself. While there's less fornicating in book 2, it's hinted at enough to make me think mom and dad are getting it on more than their children.Which is... well, we all have parents. I won't say more than that.Surprising Lord Jack begins almost exactly where Bedding Lord Ned (again, where there's less bedding of Lord Ned than bedding of his parents) leaves off, though of course from Jack's (and Frances's) POV.Jack, while not cookie cutter historical romance hero material, isn't outside the realm of what you'd expect a hero to be. He hides his activities (saving women and children from poverty, death, an... mored other unsavory happenings) under a carefully cultivated rakish reputation. Jack worked. He was kind and sweet, and his devotion to Frances was completely in line with his character.Frances, on the other hand, deals with a lot of upheaval and change -- to the point that I had to wonder if she was romance heroine material. Everything she learns about how she grew up throws her into turmoil, making her question who she is and her values. Can you fall in lasting love when you're still figuring out who you are? It's not impossible, of course, but I had my doubts at the end of the book. I don't like being left to entertain doubts at the end of a book.Not mentioned in the synopsis is the murders of women of ill-repute that Jack is determined to solve. It's a rather important plot thread that was surprisingly easy to figure out. But as a long-time mystery reader who also studies how to construct stories, well, it was easy to piece things together.
review 2: Jack Valentine may only be the third son of a Duke, but he has an established reputation that shines brighter than any of the rest of the family, except maybe for his famous mother, The Duchess of Love. In fact, he has went to great lengths to make sure his is a name that is frequently whispered throughout the sitting rooms and ballrooms of the ton as well as seen in print in all of the most read gossip columns. "Lord Jack" is a rake of the first-order. His exploits always quality entertainment for the masses of high society. His efforts at keeping his reputation less than stellar has been for good cause. It serves well to hide his true activities. Activities that none is his social world would possibly understand. Their lives being so far distant from the woes of the common man or woman. His work has been his obsession since the death of his sister-in-law and nephew. Deaths he had no control over and could lend no assistance to prevent. His endeavors have even been secret from his family. Although they would no doubt understand, it is for the protection of their reputation that he must keep it even from them. So, how could Lord Jack refuse to come to the aid of another young person in need when asked to chaperone the young boy whom he was forced to share a bed due to lack of sleeping quarters at the local inn. Although his conscience would not allow for any other response, Lord Jack suspected he had taken on more than just a simple act of delivering an innocent young country boy to a relative in London. Especially, when it the boy, "Francis," became the young woman, "Frances." A thoroughly frustrating, stubborn, naive, and mysterious young woman who refused follow the most simple of guidelines set out for her safety. Had she been proper in any way, she would not have set out on this ridiculous trip of hers dressed as a young boy and found herself sharing a bed with him and thoroughly ruining both their reputations, or at least any he might have left. While she adamantly states to not give a damn about her own reputation, his honor cannot allow her the ruination and downfall. She may not agree, but the only alternative is to garner a quick marriage. Unless . . . . There is a small hope that his mother The Duchess of Love with her unending connections, impeachable reputation, and strong influence can figure a way out for both of them without the bindings of marriage. To make matters worse, there is a serial murderer at large and his victims have been none other than women of the brothels and questionable young misses of the ton itself. A young miss like Frances who has a questionable reputation now herself could be the next victim of this monster, and that is something Lord Jack will not allow to happen. Surprising Lord Jack is one of the books in Sally MacKenzie's Duchess of Love series. An averagely entertaining tale with some mild romance interspersed with danger and adventure. The danger and adventure the most entertaining part of this book by far. However, for a romance novel, I believe romance should be the main element. It fell short in this category. Most of the romance happened in the last fifteen or so pages leaving most of the story rather dry. While the hero, Lord Jack, had many attributes to admire, he played too much the gentlemen in many ways. The heroine was a fairly one-sided character as well with an innocence that was too pronounced to make her of any real interest. The combination of both made for a very bland romance with no lustful passion or heat between the two until the last few pages when they finally admit to and consummate their feelings of love. Still it was a HEA, and I loved the shabby pooch, "Shakespeare." In fact, I think he practically stole the stage from the two main characters. I give a 3-star rating, just for the sake of "Shakespeare." :-D less

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