Customer Reviews

The Bargain

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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

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.

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

THE BARGAIN starts out great, it's funny, sexy and has an intriguing premise. Because he has a serious scientific mind, the hero's services have been requested to find the culprits behind a very annoying ghost. Ariel is also determined to unmask the ghost because it has been rumored it may be her recently deceased Mom's spirit and she wants to find out the truth behind her Mom's death. It's not long before these two bump into each other, get locked in a cupboard together, experience all kinds of new tingly feelings and decide that two heads are better than one and join together to complete their investigation. Even though THE BARGAIN did have it's humorous moments, and the heroine was very likable, the plot moved too slow and it was not an emotional read for me.