One Forbidden Evening (Zebra Historical Romance) [Mass Market Paperback]

Jo Goodman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 25, 2006 | Series: Zebra Historical Romance

As a masked ball reaches its fever pitch, Cybelline Caldwell surrenders to the embrace of a midnight lover, a stranger who seals her fate. By morning, the wanton seductress has been replaced by a determinedly sensible woman preparing to leave London...and its memories. Yet temptation follows. For Christopher Hollins, Earl of Ferrin, the notorious rake she so brazenly challenged, vows to show her that one night was not enough. It took some clever detective work, but Ferrin uncovered the identity of his mystery lover, surprised and intrigued to come face to face with Cybelline. Soon he discovers she is a woman of mystery - and a woman in danger, stalked by a ruthless enemy. Unable to erase the searing memory of Cybelline in his arms, Ferrin knows he must discover the secrets that shadow her days...for only then can he claim all of her nights.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Bestseller Goodman begins her latest Regency with a wordy description of a romantic tryst at a masquerade ball, a fair warning of the rambling and randy story to come. At the ball, a ravishing Boudicca, looking every bit the warrior queen, captures the eye of the bored host, Christopher Hollins, earl of Ferrin. A notorious rake, Ferrin can't believe his fortune when the mysterious Boudicca seduces him before vanishing. With a little snooping, Ferrin identifies the elusive siren as Cybelline Caldwell, a grieving young widow and mother, recently relocated to the Suffolk countryside. Absorbed in restoring a neglected estate and trying to forget her impetuous actions at the ball—her first break from secluded widowhood—Cybelline is alarmed to learn that Ferrin is residing nearby under an assumed name. When he rescues Cybelline from a blizzard, Ferrin seizes the opportunity to insinuate himself into her household. While trying to win her heart, Ferrin discovers that the wary young woman hides dangerous secrets, including the truth behind her husband's suicide and a sinister threat posed by a nameless stalker. Though a bit overwritten, Goodman knows how to turn up the heat; unfortunately, readers probably won't get much satisfaction from the contrived ending. (Aug.)
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Review

"Goodman's elegant and wryly witty style ensures that her latest is a perfect treat for readers who enjoy smart, sensual loves stories a la Amanda Quick."

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 364 pages
• Publisher: Zebra Books; Regular Print/Single Titl edition (July 25, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0821777769
• ISBN-13: 978-0821777763
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #929,029 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One Electric Encounter ..., October 30, 2006

By 

M. ORIAS "puccagirl73" (San Jose, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: One Forbidden Evening (Zebra Historical Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)

Cybelline is a widowed mother whose husband commits suicide; she is burdened by guilt and loneliness. She decides to have one heated encounter in masquerade. The man she seduces is Christopher, the Earl of Ferrin. They have a spicy, sexy encounter and then she vanishes and he in turn seeks her out.

I know this is an overdone plot in most regencies, but when written right, it is just magic and Jo Goodman definitely writes this story excellently. I love the couple driven characterization of this novel as well as the intelligent and poignant emotions the author explores in both Cybelline and Christopher. If you are looking for a good romantic and steamy regency, this is the novel for you.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Three and a half, really, August 15, 2006

By 

Solipsist "Maa" (UK, London) - See all my reviews

This review is from: One Forbidden Evening (Zebra Historical Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)

If you're a fan of Jo Goodman - which I am - you are going to buy any book she writes simply because she is better than approximately 90% of the other romance novelists out there. On a good day, she's the best (I rate My Reckless Heart as my favourite ever romance).

But, surely I'm not the only one who's noticed the decline in the quality of her output? It's not just the writing - which has become inexplicably over the top, turgid and verbose (has she read her Austen? NO ONE talks like that!) - it's her characters and storylines too. Her heroes are pretty much The Perfect Man and they spend their time trying to uncover the mystery surrounding the heroine, and win her trust/ love. There are distressing signs of repetition here. Goodman: you are better than this!

The heroine is always hiding a Dark Past, often abuse and betrayal, and the hero is so bland he could be the same guy through all the books. As for The Scoudrels - well, that is a perfectly awful name, and the whole thing gives me a toothache.

I'm rating Goodman harshly, but only against what she is capable of. Having said that, OFE is not at all bad. In particular, the first half of the book is witty, sexy and entertaining (notably, though, when the heroine is absent). It's also well plotted, with a few crafty little twists catching you unawares. By the end, however, it just doesn't stand apart from her last five.

If I had to isolate the problem, it would be the regency aspect. All of my Goodman 'keepers' have been set in a later period and different locations - it's like her writing and stories become mundane within the confines of the regency genre and she has to rely on 'psycho stalker' type plots to keep things going.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Mystery somewhat weak, but love story shines, September 1, 2006

By 

statengirl (Massachusetts, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: One Forbidden Evening (Zebra Historical Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)

This story begins with a couple's erotic nighttime encounter, from which our troubled heroine Cybelline Caldwell awakens and realizes is only a dream. Her husband, after all, has been dead for over a year - by his own hand. Guilt, loneliness, despair and insecurity have since been her constant companions, and finally one night she decides to do something about the ache. She goes in disguise to a masquerade party, where she singles out her host, the handsome rakehell Lord Ferrin, and persuades him to seduce her in a deserted stairwell. She bolts immediately afterwards, despising her shameless behavior with Ferrin. Within days, she leaves London with her young daughter for a remote country manor house. She is desperate to escape the grief and the memories and the bleakness of her life...as well as the disturbing anonymous letters that have plagued her for months.

Meanwhile, Ferrin has been unable to forget his enchanting mystery woman. He is sure he never met her before, and yet she seemed to know all about him. Despite their highly unorthodox first meeting, he is quite taken with her and determined to discover who she is. She inadvertently left behind a prop spear that, as it turns out, is a genuine relic from the collection of a late Mr. Caldwell. Needless to say, Cybelline's life is about to change.

From their very first exchanges, I was drawn to this wonderful couple with their sharp intellect and hidden depths. Their union was of course inevitable, but I loved how Goodman got us there and how she maintained the interest once we arrived. Her writing and dialogue are always excellent. I liked the use of darkness and then light to symbolize Cybelline's cathartic awakening. The love scenes could use a little softening, but the couple's relationship itself was right on target - affectionate, mature, and often funny. I guessed the "big secret" early on and found it the least satisfying part of the story, and the mystery's climax was overdone. Overall, though, this was a very good read with a first-rate love story...perhaps not as strong as the prior book, but quite pleasing.