Customer Reviews

Daring

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Maggie Saunders, was called an angel of mercy for her acts of kindness - and as you get to know her is this novel - you will come to love her just like the great and mighty Lord Advocate! She was the daughter of a French Duke - lost most of her family from the maniacal madness caused in France during the Napoleonic wars. She came to live with an aged aunt in Scotland and after the aunt died - with no place else to go - she, her devoted and aged butler Claude, and poodle Daphne, were adopted into the clan of one of the most feared and revered crime families in Aberdeen Scotland. They might have been pickpockets, forgers, thieves, etc but they all loved the `little lassie' Maggie and being under the protection of the `Chief' there would be no one in that underworld who would do her harm!

Connor Buchanan, Lord Advocate of Scotland, was called many things, both good and bad - and he would be the first to admit to encouraging the bad so that the criminals would be afraid to come up against him. Connor came upon Maggie at a reception in his home and mistook her for one of his guests. Completely mesmerized by the aristocratic beauty he was well on his way to seduction when he was interrupted by his ex-mistress and good friend who had caught a young thief, Maggie's accomplice, in trying to steal back a confession one of her friends had signed over to the Lord Advocate. While Connor went to see to the thief, Maggie would try to make her escape. While attempting her escape she got lost - very bad sense of direction - and she stumbled onto the kidnapping of Connor's youngest sister. Naturally, Maggie would do all she could to help and she attempted to thwart the kidnappers by smashing a bottle of stolen champagne against the driver of the kidnapping coach - she lost her balance - fell on her head - and the laughs just keep on coming in this divine little romantic comedy as Connor - falls deeper and deeper under the spell of the housebreaking, bumbling and delightful Maggie Saunders!

This was charming from beginning to end. The finely drawn lead characters of both Connor and Maggie will worm their way into your heart as Connor attempts a seduction on the innocent and naïve Maggie. The secondary characters who are woven in and out of the storyline are so very endearing from Claude the 84-year-old aged butler and self-appointed guardian of Maggie, to Connors eccentric ex-mistress and his zany Highlander neighbors and staff. This book was total fun and the very sensual attempts at seduction made the final capitulation so very titillating. I really enjoyed this humorous romantic mystery as Ms. Hunter deftly weaves humor into these charming romances

If you love humour and loads of entertainment, then you must really try Jillian Hunter. She is truly a great writer. I didnt expect myself to throughly enjoy this book, but I did. You will love Maggie and of course Lord Advocate of Scotland, Connor. He is so funny!!! I love a hero who doesnt only get mad when things dont go right for him but attempts to find the humourous side of things..and believe me, things do get very sticky. I wont say anymore, just read the book, you wont be disappointed!!!

I love the humor Ms. Hunter always puts into her stories. I love her heros too. She is a superb writer. She really knows how to steam it up. The chemistry between these main characters is right on. My only complaint is that the main female character appeared a little too simple minded. In my opinion a man as intellegent as this story's hero, would most likely need someone a little more mentally stimulating. Other wise loved, loved, loved it.

I have read a few books by Jillian Hunter this past year, "The Seduction of An English Scoundrel" (excellent) and "Abandon" (pretty good). I think I enjoyed this third book "Daring" the most so far. This was such a basic novel of good versus bad, right from wrong, how the mighty fall like the rest of us, love always wins in the end and the crazy journey taken by all to figure out these things. How can you ask for more in a love story?

I really enjoyed the main character Maggie. Oh but, she was a handful even in such a tiny package. She might be living the life of a street urchin/charming thief now but, had the past as the daughter of a duke. She was witty, spunky, funny, intelligent and oh so innocent that you couldn't help but, smile at her. I even enjoyed her butler Claude and her poodle Daphne. She couldn't travel without them - necessary attachments for her.

Our main hero, Connor was great in his strength, aggressiveness and sound body and mind. He was not your typical high ranking society fluff - no - our hero was Lord Advocate of Scotland- he knew the laws of the land and how to break them and how to repair them. People mistakenly thought he was mean and only for the well to do or powerful but, really, he had a big heart and helped all those in need.

From the moment these two meet, sparks fly and interest is high. Interest continues even when Connor learns more of who she is and his housekeeper, sister and old lover fawn over Maggie after she got hurt helping his sister during an abduction. Everyone treats Maggie like a queen in court and Connor's descriptions of the chaos she brings his home and life is priceless. He can't get a cup of coffee from his staff to save his life yet, Maggie can get a full turkey with all the fixings in the snap of a finger. Maggie's gentle charm is hard to resist as Connor soon finds out. This story just goes on and on and you simply don't want it to end. You will warm to these characters immediately as Connor clearly loves his sisters and protects those in need - just as a good hero should. Maggie in turn fights for those in need and stops at nothing to uncover those doing bad.

Their tale grows leaps and bounds once Connor takes Maggie and her brood to his Scottish estate to keep an eye on her as she is a witness to his sister's abduction. Fearing she could be next, Connor is designated her protector. Unfortunately, the deeper he falls under her spells and charms...the less he protects her. Not by choice but, simply because he is loosing his heart, mind and soul so...his wits aren't nearly as sharp as usual.

This book will have you laughing time and again in scenes such as, when Maggie steals a bottle of champagne and later it falls to the ground and sounds like a gun shot - everyone ducks and poor Connor gets a good dose of liquor all over his face. Maggie promptly cleans him up gentle as can be but, it's not his best moment. You'll laugh more when Maggie thinks she is hurt and bleeding but, really it's just some éclairs melting in her pockets that she stole earlier. You will laugh again when Connor won't let the carriage stop so, Daphne can use a bush for a potty spot - so...she anoints his legal papers instead. More laughs will occur when Connor shoots a scarecrow - thinking it's an intruder - all to protect Maggie. These things will make you shake your head time and again and you'll smile till the last page is turned. This is how a good love story should be. A man can become even greater with the love of the right woman. A woman like Maggie.

The side characters to this book are great as well - Connor's previous mistress and crazy yet lovable friend Ardath, Claude, Maggie's old French butler, Daphne the golden poodle and Connor's gaggle of sisters and nutty Scottish neighbors.

If you have not read this author before, time to start. If you have read her before, I'm positive you'll enjoy this simple and sweet tale of a lord and a lass destined to be together and that they have a heck of a good time getting there! This is what good reading is all about. Sigh...I'm sad their tale is over. This was soooo good! Five stars and then some!

I am glad that I read this book. It was sweet, suspenseful and funny. I laughed aloud many times. I also liked Fairy Tale but thought that this was better.

I found the story to be charming and delightfully humorous. I must confess to falling for Connor for falling for Maggie. Any other man would have strangled her for sure!

THIS BOOK IS ONE OF THE FUNNIEST MOST ENDEARING BOOKS I HAVE READ AND I READ ROMANCE BOOKS ALOT!! IF YOU LIKE ROMANTIC COMEDIES THIS ONE IS FOR YOU. IF YOU PREFER MORE SERIOUS BOOKS WITH LOTS OF SEX,THIS IS NOT FOR YOU. I LAUGHED THROUGH THE WHOLE BOOK. ALOT OF TIMES WITH UNCONTROLABLE GIGGLES. THE CHARACTERS ARE WONDERFULLY REFRESHING AND VERY COMICAL. FROM THE VERY ELDERLY BUTLER TO THE POODLE NAMED DAPHNE YOU WILL FALL IN LOVE WITH THIS BOOK!! I WILL DEFINETLY BE READING MORE OF JILLIANS BOOKS. SHE HAS A WONDERFULL SENSE OF HUMOR AND HAS WRITTEN A WONDERFULL STORY WITH CHARACTERS YOU CANT HELP BUT FIND ENDEARING. IF YOU LIKE THIS BOOK I WOULD ALSO RECCOMEND "CHARMING THE PRINCE" BY TERESA MEDEIROS.

It pains me to rate this book one star, however the heroine Maggie Saunders totally ruined the book (in my experience).

We have the hero, Connor Buchanan, the Lord Advocate for Scotland, one of the most powerful men in the land paired up with Maggie Saunders, a french emigre, daughter of duke, who gives lessons in deportment while living among criminals. Maggie and Connor meet when she broke into his home, however Maggie tries to help Connor's sister while she is being abducted, which turn Maggie into a angelic light with everyone- except Connor.
In setting off to rescue his sister, and throughout the book, Maggie continues to have the upper hand in the relationship with Jillian Hunter portraying Maggie and funny and cuteat the expense of Connor.
Maybe it's my age, or my taste in reading is changing, but I do not like my heroines to be so cutesy throughout the book.

The pacing and scenes for this book were hilarious however the author has Maggie being too pert, too sassy, too funny, too much of the time. An example that pops in my mind was when they were packing up to go the Highlands, and she wanted to carry all of her hats. I mean really.

It really bothered me to see a powerful man being humiliated time and time again by Maggie. In my opinion she never really respected him, and kept treating him less than he deserved. I understand that this was the authors way of creating a foil to his serious nature, however I think it fell flat.

I'm sorry to be one of the dissenting few, but I did not enjoy this book. Now there are novels where I can heartily say 'don't waste your money on this drivel!'

Jillian Hunter is a spectacular writer, and I would recommend reading this book if just to form your own opinion. I have already formed mine.
Happy reading!

Since there is no zero I have to give this one A star :( This book was not Daring at all. First of all, the Lord Advocate was not too smart. For someone who was supposed to be a great lawyer he was pretty dumb when it came to the book and Maggy. Which brings me to my next point: Maggie the lost daughther of a Duke; who lives with pack of thiefs and homeless people in the worse part of town. How can she still act and look like royalty? She is been living in the streets for years!!!! And, to make it worse her butler still lives with her... Come on, give me a break!!! I kept reading this book knowing it was going to get better; boy was I wrong! I could keep going on and on about this book but then I will have to point out the countless of things that were wrong with it. PLEASE do not buy this book or you will be disapointed!

Note: If I could give this 0 stars, I would

I picked up this book on the strength of the high recommendations listed here - I guess I should have looked at the fact that there were only (5) reviews. This book was trite, un-even, and just plain ridiculous. It started out with a decent enough premise but did nothing to really build the relationship between the hero and heroine.

Maggie came off as a young, naive, totally unrealistic, "I'm trying to be cute & pert" but, I'm not. It's almost as if the character "Ally McBeal" were thrust into a book. The plot veered off in directions that didn't get tied up and the Hero, Connor, seemed to be spouting lines because that's what he was supposed to say rather than what he felt.

Also, there wasn't too much of anything that was daring in this book. Just Ugghhh! I feel sad that I dared to buy this. Just run the other way - get something by Gaelen Foley (The Duke) or Lisa Kleypas (Dreaming of You) instead