Just For Her [Paperback]

Katherine O'Neal (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2008

The secrets they keep are priceless.
Under cover of darkness, they will steal something more precious...

Beneath the sparkling façade of wealth and elegance, Jules Habsburg is living a nightmare--blackmailed into marriage by the unscrupulous robber baron Dominic DeRohan, the same man who gunned down her lover. Until the night she awakens to find a stranger in her bedroom--the notorious cat burglar known to Cote d'Azur as the Panther. Her blood pounding, she recognizes in him the one man strong enough to free her from the sadistic shackles of her husband...

But the Panther is not one to be manipulated, even by a woman whose provocative beauty is matched only by her determination. Now, in the hedonistic playground of artists, actors, and aristocrats, Jules is losing her closely guarded heart to a man without identity. As forbidden passion deepens to love, is there even more danger for her in an alliance with a seductive man whose secrets could destroy them both?

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Brava (July 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0758210620
• ISBN-13: 978-0758210623
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,225,830 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Secrets and disguises, July 18, 2008

By 

Helen Hancox "Auntie Helen" (Essex, England) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Just For Her (Paperback)

'Just for Her' was a very pleasant surprise, a book with an interesting and novel plot, some mystery and a great setting. Juliana Habsburg is the last of the line of the Habsburg dynasty but her life has become a nightmare - she's married to the unscrupulous Dominic DeRohan, a man she can't stand. Fortunately she's been living apart from him for many years on the Riviera in the house that belonged to her ancestors. When she hears that Dominic is planning to come to the house she realises she will have to get rid of him for good - but how? It occurs to her that the cat burglar known as The Panther might be able to do away with him for her, so she decides to lure the Panther to her house with some of her famous jewels. When the Panther arrives, however, she finds he's not so easily commanded - or resisted. As Juliana starts an affair with the Panther, a man whose identity she doesn't know, and as the arrival of her husband causes her heartache and fear, she doesn't know how she can maintain her historical position as a Habsburg daughter and yet find happiness with the Panther, a man who says he has a secret that means they cannot have a future together.

The middle portion of the book seems mainly about Juliana trying to identify who the Panther really is but also trying to trick her husband into annulling their marriage whilst retaining ownership of the house and her jewels. She spends time with her friends, several historical characters such as F Scott Fitzgerald, Picasso and others, all the time falling in love with her nighttime visitor, the Panther. The book builds to a climax as Juliana and the Panther work together to ruin DeRohan whilst Juliana still tries to find out who he is. The final unveiling wasn't a complete surprise to me but was still excellently written and the story showed how both Juliana and the Panther had grown and their characters had changed during the course of the story.

This was always an enjoyable read and the setting, amongst the rich in the Riviera in the 1920s, added a great deal of interest. Juliana, although sometimes rather self-absorbed, was a good female lead and the mysterious nature of the Panther was appealing. This is a good read and I look forward to more from this author.

Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © Helen Hancox 2008

5.0 out of 5 stars Surprised...., February 22, 2009

By 

romance fantasy book - See all my reviews

This review is from: Just For Her (Paperback)

This is a great book, very enjoyable.
I don't want to spoil the plot so I won't mention any detail.
This story is romantic and a lot of surprising twists. Strongly recommended

5.0 out of 5 stars engaging historical thriller, July 2, 2008

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Just For Her (Paperback)

In 1926 everyone believes Jules Habsburg lives a perfect life of luxury with her fairy tale Prince Charming of a husband Dominic DeRohan. Everyone that is except Jules who knows her spouse is an abusive robber baron; she lives a nightmare.

After Dominic shoots her lover, Jules runs away; taking refuge amidst artists, authors, and bohemians in the French Riviera's Cote d'Azur. The notorious cat burglar Panther enters her home through a window, but she catches him. She believes he is one man who can eliminate Dominic before he finds her. However, he demands remittance staring with her heart and ending with her soul. As she falls in love, Jules is unaware that the Panther is the one person who knows something about her that if revealed will destroy her.

This engaging historical thriller grips readers from the onset as a desperate Jules wonders if she jumped from the frying pan into the fire when she chose the Panther to battle her husband. The story line is fast-paced and filled with a few nice twists especially an excellent plausible last one that will shock the audience. Fans will appreciate this character driven tale as readers will need to know who is left standing with whom.

Harriet Klausner