The Bargain [Paperback]

Jane Ashford (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2, 1997

It's more than ridiculous, it's damned embarrassing and inconvenient...for a scientist with his reputation to be called in to get rid of a ghost. But when the Prince Regent summons Lord Alan Gresham to London to solve the mystery of a haunting, he has no choice. At least the task shouldn't take much time. He will uncover the perpetrators of the hoax and then return with speed to his experiments. Or so Gresham thinks, until he finds his calm, logical investigation disrupted by a maddeningly forthright beauty.

Ariel Harding has her own reasons for wanting to catch the ghost. Yet when she slips into Carlton House uninvited, she never dreams she'll end up locked in a closet with an arrogant, opinionated, yet undeniably attractive scientist...or that she'll wind up making a perilous bargain with the very same man. They agree to exchange information--and nothing more. But neither plans on the most confounding of scientific occurrences: the breathless chemistry of desire.

Editorial Reviews

Review

charmingly written, by a deft hand --Romantic Times

Reading an Ashford novel borders on the euphoric as it tosses delight upon delight!  ... A creative and inventive vehicle with a refreshing look at London's Carlton House set. --Romance Communications

...a scintillating Regency adventure filled with supernatural happenings and dark and dangerous action. ...the storyline is immensely enjoyable --Affaire de Coeur

From the Publisher

"Jane Ashford is an exceptional talent."
--Rendezvous

Praise for Jane Ashford's The Marriage Wager:

"Exceptional characters and beautifully crafted historical details ensure a delightful read for Judith McNaught and Mary Balogh fans."
--Publishers Weekly

"Sparkles with wonderful dialogue, witty scenes and just the right touch of humor, adventure and repartee."
--Romantic Times

"An emotionally poignant historical romance that will thrill readers of the genre, particularly fans of Julie Garwood."
--Affaire de Coeur

"A riveting, emotional romance that will garner a place of prominence on anyone's keeper shelf."
--Rendezvous

"All the makings of a great Regency romance."
--The Atlanta Journal

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Fanfare (September 2, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553575783
• ISBN-13: 978-0553575781
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,209,446 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jane Ashford has written Regency and contemporary romances. Her books have been published in Sweden, Italy, England, Denmark, France, Russia, Latvia and Spain, as well as the U.S. She is a two-time nominee for a Career Achievement Award by Romantic Times Magazine. See her website at www.janeashford.com and an interview about her writing at http://www.likesbooks.com/ashford.html.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars humorous, romantic, great read, September 10, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Bargain (Paperback)

I've read this book twice and it is a definate keeper. Ashoford has a way with humor, with her observations of the "ton" and men's attitudes towards women's abilities. I thought the sexual tension between the main characters was great...and the story was different from the usual

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars There's something about this...that delights!, February 7, 2001

By 

M. Allegra (Philadelphia, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Bargain (Paperback)

I admit it. Although I ordinarily review scifi, I also read alot of mystery and romance, particularly romantic mysteries. Jane Ashford is not Jane Austen but this regency romance is a charmer that I have reread a number of times! I loved all the characters, particularly the hero's brothers, who are desperately in need of romantic assistance. The youthful urges and emotions of the principals underminine their best resolves to keep their relationship on a professional level and they are only fooling themselves. The heroine's backstory and the real basis for the mystery are tragic but this provides a weight to the novel that is needed: "The Bargain" might float away without it. All in all, one of my favorite romances...Ashford's other novels don't compare although "Charmed and Dangerous" comes close.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Hero annoyed me at first, May 6, 2000

By 

Anne M. Marble "Anne" (MD, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Bargain (Paperback)

This should've been a great Regency historical. The hero, Lord Alan, is a scientist instead of a Regency dandy. The heroine, Ariel, is trying to find out if her mother's ghost is really haunting the Regent's parties.

However, Lord Alan is so caught up in the sciences that he can't appreciate simple things in life, such as the theater. Everything has to be logical. I have a degree in biology, and I've *never* met a scientist like that.

Even worse, Lord Alan treats Ariel quite arrogantly at first. He assumes that because she's a woman, she must be interested only in trivial things. Not a *logical* attitude for someone whose mother was a pioneer in the education of women!

Over the time, the chip slides off his shoulder. But the first half of this novel was spoiled by his attitude. Only Ariel and the mystery kept me reading. Jane Ashford must be a good writer to keep me reading, even when the hero thinks all women are vapid -- so maybe I'll read one of her future movels.

Anne M. Marble Reviewer, All About Romance