A Dangerous Man (Zebra Historical Romance) [Paperback]

Janmarie Anello (Author)

Book Description

Series: Zebra Historical Romance | Publication Date: May 1, 2008

Spirited and sensual, heiress Leah Jamison knew she would marry one day, but she had thought it would be for love, not because of her father's trickery. Yet her anger soon melts into arousal when she experiences the expert caresses and bold kiss of the man who will become her husband. Richard Wexton is a duke, accustomed to command. Instead of resisting him, all she can do is ask for more...Richard Wexton, the Duke of St. Austin, is a man of honour and he is furious at the idea of being blackmailed into marriage! Alas, he has no choice but to consent to the outrageous scheme. Then he sees Leah for the first time: his bride-to-be is a beauty beyond compare. He cannot ignore his feelings of ardent desire - and passionate love...

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Zebra (May 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1420100017
• ISBN-13: 978-1420100013
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,766,550 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Diverting Read, May 20, 2008

By 

C. Klaassen (New Jersey, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: A Dangerous Man (Zebra Historical Romance) (Paperback)

Leah Jamison is the daughter of a cold, manipulative wealthy merchant. A man who has already tossed aside one daughter who failed to please him. Leah's father connives to blackmail Richard Wexton, the Duke of St. Austin, into marrying Leah to save a beloved member of his family from ruinous scandal. Leah's affections and hopes are already turned in another direction and she has no desire to be forced into a marriage. Her first meeting with the Duke, in which she is informed of her imminent marriage, is frighteningly intense. She is immediately physically drawn to the Duke, but is also put off by his cold, remote manner. The Duke in turn is captivated by Leah's beauty and seemingly innocent regard. They are quickly married and Leah is thrust into the Duke's elevated world. Leah struggles to fit in and to understand the Duke's convoluted family. His sister-in-law, the beautiful but venal Dowager Duchess, his beloved niece and his never do well brother. The Duke struggles to fight his growing regard for Leah and to keep from her the secret which led to their hasty marriage.

The book is well written, the characters well drawn and the story line interesting. Some of the secondary characters could have been fleshed out a bit better and perhaps only one or two of the secondary stories should have been included so they could be more fully explored. That said, the book was quite interesting and well worth reading. I look forward to reading Ms. Anello's next effort.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars "A BIT TOO CORNY, February 6, 2009

By 

pen pen (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Dangerous Man (Zebra Historical Romance) (Paperback)

This book sets off with a good start...but somewhere in between I started losing interest for a little while. I think the heroine (Leah) did not know him long enough to fall in love. They met each other and within two days she starts saying I love you? The book was pretty good but some parts were just not believable. The sex scenes were not detailed enough and short. During the sex scenes the author never describes the hero's release you only read about the heroine's satisfaction....what was that about? However, there was a good twist to the story. It has a pretty good ending. Oh yeah...there was nothing dangerous about the hero (Richard).
Actually, I thought him to be a little wimpy because he allowed his ex to get away with so much mischief.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A pleasant historical romance., March 14, 2009

By 

Zou Zou (cape cod,ma) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: A Dangerous Man (Zebra Historical Romance) (Paperback)

This is a fast moving, enjoyable but flawed romance.
The author uses the dependable plot of a nobleman blackmailed into a marriage with a nefarious tradesman's innocent daughter. Wealthy Cotton Mill Owner, Thaddeus Jamison, has discovered a truly shocking Wexton family secret. If Richard, the Duke of St. Austin, refuses to marry Jamison's daughter, Leah, then Thaddeus will "reveal all" and precipitate a terrible scandal.
Richard unwillingly proposes, Leah unwillingly accepts. Can this marriage of inconvenience bring happiness to it's coerced participants?
This situation offers ample opportunity for misunderstandings, class prejudices, and uncomfortable social interactions. The characters will need to forgive, forget and foster new loyalties. Unfortunately, the author doesn't develop these themes.
Instead she introduces an alarming array of subplots which result in a confused narrative of thinly resolved occurances and tragedies.
Richard and Leah have more personal baggage than a post-chaise boot.
The Duke's brother, Gregory, is self-destructive with addiction issues. His sister-in-law, Rachel, is a delusional, lustful harpy. His best friend, Pierce, is a womanizing wastrel who intends to marry an heiress for her dowry.
Leah has her own problems. Her sister, Catherine, was seduced and abandoned and then turned out of the house by Thaddeus Jamison. Catherine and her child have been missing for years. Leah loves her friend, Alexander, but he is deemed unsuitable by her father. Her unloving father is a cruel, manipulative social climber, who uses his daughter to advance his social position.
Add a scheming ex-mistress, suicide and murder attempts, a betrayal, a cuckolding, two paternity questions and charity work in the dangerous slums of St. Giles. The author has stuffed this novel to the brim with conflict and contention, but hasn't added any character depth.
This is an enjoyable romance but it would have been greatly improved by more attention to the development of the characters of Richard and Leah and a sharp pruning of the unnecessary and numerous plot threads.
Cautiously Recommended.