Confessions of an Improper Bride (A Donovan Novel) [Mass Market Paperback]

Jennifer Haymore (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2011 | Series: A Donovan Novel (Book 1)

TWICE TEMPTED

Serena Donovan left London six years ago, her heart broken and her reputation ruined by devilishly handsome Jonathan Dane. Now, with her family's future in peril, she reluctantly agrees to return to England and assume her late twin's identity. The price? Marry a man she doesn't love and spend the rest of her days living a lie.

Jonathan Dane, Earl of Stratford, has become an incorrigible rake, drinking, gambling-and trying to forget Serena Donovan. Yet the moment he's introduced to the prim and proper "Meg", he recognizes the sensual young woman who captured his heart. Haunted by his past mistakes, he refuses to lose Serena again. But convincing her to trust him is no easy task. Claiming his lost love means exposing the truth and destroying the life Serena has sacrificed everything to rebuild. With the future of all the Donovans at stake, and their undying passion capable of triggering yet another scandal, how much will Jonathan and Serena risk for a chance at true love?

Editorial Reviews

Review

"With beautifully rendered characters, lush sensuality, and a riveting story line, this well-told tale puts a refreshing spin on both the hidden identity and classic reunion plots and gets Haymore's new series off to a delightful start." (Library Journal )

"4.5 Stars, Top Pick!
Haymore carefully crafts an original "second chance at love" romance that showcases her creativity and understanding of what readers want. Her three-dimensional characters and their depth of emotion strengthen an already powerful plot. Those new to Haymore's work will be enchanted." (RT Book Reviews on Confessions of an Improper Bride )

"Sweep-you-off-your-feet historical romance! Jennifer Haymore sparkles!" (New York Times bestselling author Liz Carlyle on A TOUCH OF SCANDAL )

"Jennifer Haymore's books are sophisticated, deeply sensual, and emotionally complex. With a dead sexy hero, a sweetly practical heroine, and a love story that draws together two people from vastly different backgrounds, A Touch of Scandal is positively captivating!" (Elizabeth Hoyt, New York Times bestselling author on A TOUCH OF SCANDAL )

"A unique, heart-tugging story with sympathetic, larger-than-life characters, intriguing plot twists, and sensual love scenes make A Hint of Wicked an impressive romance debut! I was rooting for both Tristan and Garret to win the lovely Sophie's hand for a second time. For jaded romance readers, Jennifer Haymore is an author to watch!" (New York Times best-selling author Nicole Jordan )

"Jennifer Haymore is an up-and-coming new writer who displays a skilful touch in her erotic tale of a woman torn between two lovers." (Shirlee Busbee, New York Times bestselling author on A HINT OF WICKED )

"Complex, stirring, and written with a skillful hand, A Hint of Wicked is an evocative love story that will make a special place for itself in your heart." (Romance Reviews Today on A HINT OF WICKED )

"A Hint of Wicked is an exhilarating regency romance!" (Harriet Klausner Romance Reviews Today on A HINT OF WICKED )

"Ms. Haymore's talent for storytelling shines throughout this book." (Eye on Romance )

"41/2 Stars! Haymore uses the Christmas season as an enhancing backdrop for a mystery/romance that is both original and fulfilling. Her fresh voice & ability to build sensual tension into lively love stories...makes this tale shine." (RT Book Reviews )

"Ms. Haymore has penned a fabulous story of seduction, romance, intrigue and betrayal and above all that - love. You don't want to miss it! I'm now a big fan of this new author and she is going on my automatic to buy list! I love her writing style and the complex plots that she has weaved so beautifully together....The characters are amazing and the story will tug at your heart strings. So if you love a great read, do go and get this series, you will be glad that you did!" (sapphireromance.blogspot.com )

"Each time Ms. Haymore writes a book in this series I think there is no way to top the one I just finished. I started this latest one and realize she has done just that and has proven to me how fresh this series can remain. The characters of Becky and Jack are so full of life and longing just trying to make the right connection between family, relationship and future happiness while figuring out who to trust with all their secrets. This is a wonderful story and while I recommend reading the 1^st two it is not imperative as Jennifer Haymore is a magician at connecting the plot from one book to the next-- but trust me you will have to buy the first two, they are that good." (The Reading Reviewer (www.marygramlich.com) )

About the Author

As a child, Jennifer Haymore traveled the South Pacific with her family on their homebuilt sailboat. The months spent on the sometimes quiet, sometimes raging seas sparked her love of adventure and grand romance. Since then, she's earned degrees in computer science and education and held various jobs ranging from bookselling to teaching inner-city children to acting, but she's never stopped writing.

You can find Jennifer in Southern California trying to talk her husband into yet another trip to England, helping her three children with homework while brainstorming a new five-minute dinner menu, or crouched in a corner of the local bookstore writing her next novel.



You can learn more at:

JenniferHaymore.com

Twitter @jenniferhaymore

Facebook.com/jenniferhaymore

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Forever; 1 edition (August 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446573140
• ISBN-13: 978-0446573146
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1 x 7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #58,782 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read, August 2, 2011

By 

Larena Hubble "Larena H." (Maricopa, AZ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Confessions of an Improper Bride (A Donovan Novel) (Mass Market Paperback)

London, England 1828

Serena Donovan made a mistake six years ago that ruined her reputation and left her heartbroken. She gave her heart to Jonathan Dane and paid a very steep price. Now because of that mistake she has had to take on the identity of her dead twin sister. This is the only way she will be able to return to London and save her family from the peril they are facing. But to do what she needs to do she will have to marry a man she doesn't love. And the rest of her life is going to be one continual lie. Serena is going to have to find a way to live with that lie because if she doesn't her family will pay the price.

Jonathan Dane, Earl of Stratford made the biggest mistake of his life six years ago and turned to drinking, gambling and becoming an incorrigible rake all in the aim of forgetting Serena Donovan. Now he meets Meg the very prim and proper sister of his beloved Serena only to see that Meg is the one woman he has never forgotten, Serena. Now he has the chance to win Serena again and this time he has no intention of losing her. But for him to claim Serena he will have to destroy the lies Serena has so carefully built and all the sacrifices she has made. The first thing Jonathan will have to do though is convince Serena that she can trust him this time around that he will never let her down again. That isn't going to be as easy as he would like but he knows that the only way either of them will have a chance at happiness is for him to prove himself to Serena.

This story is one that will pull on the reader's heartstrings and have them turning the pages just to see if Serena and Jonathan are going to have their happy ending. This one has some very strong secondary characters that really help move the story along and draws the reader into the story and won't let go until the very last page. It also shows the power of love and how sometimes it helps to overcome the things that have gone wrong and even when you think there is no way for things to work out that with a little luck and love things do work out in the end. This is the start of a series that will have the reader eagerly awaiting the next book in the series. This one is worth picking up and reading.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You say I can trust you, but can I believe you?, August 3, 2011

By 

Mary J. Gramlich "The Reading Reviewer" (St. Louis, MO) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Confessions of an Improper Bride (A Donovan Novel) (Mass Market Paperback)

Serena Donovan lost her reputation and her twin sister Meg the last time she encountered London and Jonathan Dane. Jonathan said he loved her but when pushed to acknowledge their relationship after being caught chose to cut her instead. Now Serena posing as her late sister must come back to face the devil himself and make right what went completely wrong last time.

Her mother created a scenario where Serena had died not Meg and pushed Serena to be Meg and go through with a marriage to a titled man. Though Serena is appalled to think she will now be in London pretending to be her sister, assuming the role of a future bride she will do so to preserve her family's good name and ensure her younger sisters have a chance to snare husbands. Serena will make this work or she will die trying.

However, when faced with Jonathan Serena has a hard time keeping up the façade, especially when Jonathan tells her he knows she is Serena not Meg. He admits he was the cruelest of men for what he did to her before but now he is the Sixth Earl of Stratford and he can right the wrongs, bring Serena back into his life, and give her a title as his wife. But can he make up for the lies he has told, clean up the life he has let go to waste, and take Serena away from his best friend the man she is to marry? What a tangled web Jonathan has web all by himself and now he is stuck in it and has no idea how to get out of it.

London is the same headache it was before for Serena but this time she is also trying to keep her sister Phoebe out of trouble, stay away from Jonathan, and pretend to be in love with Will and success is not very achievable. The draw to Jonathan is outweighing her duty to Will and her sister is one hot mess of hormones that no adult knows how to handle.

During this decoy realizes that in some ways, she is the naïve girl that left London in a scandal but a woman who wants to make an adult decision about marriage based on love. She has doubts about Jonathan but the passion that drew them together before is stronger than ever and the lust is as equally out of control. Jonathan promises love and respectability but can Serena believe him and risk everything on his word again?

This new series is fresh, exciting, and quite devious with reputations at stake, subterfuge in place and passion running rampant. I love Jennifer Haymore's books as they always keep you guessing about what is going to happen next and how this will all turn out. You think you know and then she throws you a curve ball you did not see coming.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Touching and exciting, this is an engrossing read with high suspense and passion!, July 28, 2011

By 

Bookaholics Reviewer (Bay Area, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Confessions of an Improper Bride (A Donovan Novel) (Mass Market Paperback)

Confessions of an Improper Bride by Jennifer Haymore
Historical Romance - July 26th, 2011
4 ½ stars

Six years ago, Serena Donovan lost both her reputation and her beloved twin sister, Meg. With their family near financial ruin, Serena is pressured to return to London as Meg. For Meg has a rich fiancée.

Meg was the universally adored twin who was quiet and much loved. By posing as Meg and marrying Meg's intended fiancé, she can chaperon her sister Phoebe as Phoebe looks for a husband, a wealthy one that can preferably support the family. Her plan is going well until Serena comes face to face with the man who ruined her - Jonathan Dane, the new Earl of Stratford. Jonathan mourned the death of Serena, the woman whom he loved and betrayed. When he meets `Meg,' he is convinced that she is Serena, and he will do anything to get her back.

This book was a thrilling and absorbing read. Even though it seemed rushed at the beginning, especially the part when Meg dies, the pace eventually smoothed out after Serena returned to London with Phoebe. I really enjoyed reading the interactions between Serena and Jonathan. The question of will he or won't he find out the truth kept me on the edge of my seat. Serena is mature and yet passionate; she has to learnt how to temper her reckless side the difficult way. Because of her past, you do sympathize with her. Jonathan is also another fascinating character. The very fact that he betrayed Serena made him a flawed and refreshing hero. He truly regrets his actions and made me feel for him.

Touching and exciting, this is an engrossing read. I personally enjoyed this novel more than the author's previous book.

Reviewed by Pauline from the Bookaholics Romance Club