Hardly a Husband (Berkley Sensation) [Paperback]

Rebecca Hagan Lee (Author)

Book Description

Series: Berkley Sensation | Publication Date: October 5, 2004

Jarrod, sixth marquess of Shepherdston, is asked by childhood friend Sarah Eckersley for help in the art of seduction. As the leader of the Free Fellows League, Jarrod is wary of a marriage trap--but love has a way of softening even the hardest fall.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Thrown out of the only home she has ever known, Sarah Eckersley has 30 days to find herself a husband--or one will be found for her. With no intention of marrying the despicable Lord Dunbridge, Sarah decides to take her destiny into her own hands by becoming a courtesan. First, she will need some lessons in the art of seduction. Naturally, Jarrod Shepherdston, the man Sarah has been in love with since she was a young girl, is the logical choice for her tutor. Even though Sarah insists she only wants to be his lover and not his wife, Jarrod, who has forever sworn off marriage, still can't quite agree to her tempting yet troubling offer. But Jarrod doesn't want anyone else teaching his Sarah about love either! The third in Lee's Free Fellows League series is another superbly sexy treat that is perfect for readers who like their love stories leavened with a lavish dash of wit and a discreet hint of intrigue. John Charles
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Berkley (October 5, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425198790
• ISBN-13: 978-0425198797
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,132,255 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Very Good Read!, March 23, 2005

By 

Kristi Ahlers (Illinois) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hardly a Husband (Berkley Sensation) (Paperback)

Ms. Hagan Lee's "Hardly A Husband" is another very good read in the "Free Fellows League." This is Jarrod's story and it will captivate the reader just as the previous stories have.

Jarrod has been bound to an oath that he made in childhood to the Free Fellows. He has been living life enjoying what it has to offer knowing that he will never marry. That is until a childhood friend or pest comes back into his life asking for "seduction" lessons. What's a gentleman to do now? Although he would love to debauch the lady, he can't since he has made a vow never to marry and Sarah is everything that he has hoped to avoid in life. Marriage, commitment...heirs...but Sarah touches him and he finds out that love is not as scary as he thought it was but will he realize this too late?

Sarah has only one more choice in order to save her aunt and herself. She has been displaced from her home and she has only three weeks to find a husband before one is found for her. She wants to take control of her destiny and goes to her childhood love Jarrod. If she can talk him into doing what she wants she will finally get her hearts desire. Jarrod. It's a gamble but she thinks she can pull it off...maybe.

This was a very good addition to this series and found Jarrod and Sarah to be very engaging characters. I love a story where the main characters already have a past. It was fun to revisit with old friends and Jarrod and Sarah's romance was sweet and tender. I highly recommend Ms. Hagan Lee and I eagerly look forward to reading her again in the future.

Official Reviewer for www.romancedesigns.com

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Charming Installment in Series!, October 7, 2004

By 

M. Rondeau (West Springfield, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hardly a Husband (Berkley Sensation) (Paperback)

Setting - Belfordshire and London, England, 1813 --- Jarrod, sixth marquess of Shepherdston, is shocked when a young female arrives at his home at three o'clock in the morning, soaking wet from the rain, and wearing a white nightdress under her long black cloak. The female in question, turned out to be his childhood friend, Sarah Eckersley, who came to him with a shocking proposal! Deep in her heart, she's loved him since the age of five and her heart has never wavered in that resolve and thought that this frontal attack just might win him over. Though she knew his views on marriage, she agreed with him that he was `hardly husband material' which, even though he might have said so himself - she surprised him by agreeing! - So, in lieu of his refusal to consider marriage, would he kindly teach her the art of seduction so she could go on to become a courtesan. Naturally, she was hoping that this request would shock him into declaring his love for her, but he surprised her instead, not by admitting his attraction, but offering in return to help her find a suitable husband. Though, after their first kissing lesson, Jarrod, still stubbornly refusing marriage for himself, wasn't so sure he wanted to see her married to anyone else either!

Following the previous volumes in her charming `Free Fellows League' series of BARELY A BRIDE and MERELY A GROOM this latest entry from the author was once again, pure enjoyment. With creative and witty dialogs, revisiting the other `free fellows' who are now happily married, coupled with a secondary and very poignant `second chance at love' story for Sarah's aunt, Hagan Lee has fashioned a perfectly wonderful and entertaining read. The protagonists were ideally suited and once Jarrod's godfather and friends helped him to deal with and better understand his nightmarish childhood memories, his courting of Sarah will bring tears to your eyes with a sensuality that is both tasteful and hot! For those who have read the first two books, some may think that the repetition of how the league came into existence may be overkill, but I feel that it firmly establishes this author's way of creating a connected series, yet allows the book to stand totally on its own merit extremely well. She also brings in many hints as to the next book, ahem... where is Daniel, the missing Duke of Sussex? Bottom Line: You won't be disappointed with this very charming installment of the Free Fellows League. Hagan Lee will capture both your imagination and embrace your heart with her latest regency era romance and keep you coming back for more! ---- Marilyn Rondeau, Official Reviewer for www.historicromancewriters.com ---

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sweet reading., November 5, 2004

By 

AK "Bro" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hardly a Husband (Berkley Sensation) (Paperback)

Some Christians can be decidedly un Christian, as Sarah, the only daughter of a deceased minister learns when the new pastor's family arrives, kicking her and her widowed aunt to the curb without so much as a by your leave. Her only choices seem to be becoming a governess to the pastor's disagreeable progeny or marrying the last person on earth she wants to marry. However, a resourceful young lady is she, so she decides to go to London, but not to her supposed fiance'. Calling on the man she has had a crush on since she was five, Jarrod Shepherdson, she asks him to teach her to be a courtesan, never intending to be one, but using it as a ploy to gain his attention. It works, but slowly. In the meantime, while "Jays" figures out that his vow to never marry is based on false presumptions, her "intended" shows up, intent on marrying her, despite her protests.

**** This third Free Fellows Leauge book again is a good story of friendship, even more so than love. Light humor offsets a serious topic, creating a balanced harmony. ****