Just This Once [Paperback]

Jill Gregory (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 12, 1997

As she picked the stranger's pocket at a public hanging, Josie Cooper was swept into the steely arms of her intended victim, an angry gunslinger with a face so handsome it made her ache.  Josie escaped.  But Ethan Savage caught her again and gave her a choice: marriage or jail.  It was strictly business: six months in England, then she was free--and rich.  She couldn't say no.  And she couldn't tell him the truth: she was already married--to a brutal outlaw who would track her to the ends of the earth...

Ethan thought he'd left his aristocratic past behind--until his family hunted him down, forcing him to return to England and claim an inheritance and a title he didn't want.  All he needed was a bride, and Josie Cooper had to say yes. Now he had to turn the sometime dance-hall girl into a countess.  Love had nothing to do with it--until he fell head over heels for the newly minted countess who took London by storm...

Editorial Reviews

Review

Josie Cooper is an orphan without a name and without a family. She clings to the hope that the brooch pinned to her swaddling clothes will help her discover her real identity. Josie's search will take her to England, but first she has to get out of Abilene, Kansas before her outlaw husband catches up with her. She decides to pick the pocket of a dangerous looking gunslinger to get the money she needs to aid her escape. Josie's first mistake is stealing Ethan Savage's money. Her second mistake is agreeing to marry him. Ethan has been content to put his past behind him and forget his English heritage. He's made a life for himself in the wild American west and he doesn't need a family or a home. But then his father's solicitor shows up in Abilene and Ethan's past comes back to haunt him. He discovers he's the heir to Stonecliff Park and the title of Earl of Stonecliff. He has to go back to England, but he doesn't intend to go alone. He's taking a bride... a very unsuitable bride. Just This Once is a lovely tale about two people discovering themselves even as they discover love. Josie is wonderful as the scrappy heroine who doesn't believe anyone can love her. Ethan is the troubled, brooding hero who is changed by Josie's love. Jill Gregory does a nice job of bringing these two engaging characters together.Jill Gregory is a unique voice in romance! She creates engaging characters that readers care about! A thoroughly romantic tale! Jill Gregory writes from the heart! A sweet tale of love and belonging! Ms. Gregory knows how to create a plot full of exciting twists and turns!Kristina Wright -- Copyright © 1994-97 Literary Times, Inc. All rights reserved -- From Literary Times

From the Publisher

As she picked the stranger's pocket at a public hanging, Josie Cooper wasswept into the steely arms of her intended victim, an angry gunslinger with aface so handsome it made her ache. Josie escaped. But Ethan Savage caught heragain and gave her a choice: marriage or jail. It was strictly business: sixmonths in England, then she was free--and rich. She couldn't say no. And shecouldn't tell him the truth: she was already married--to a brutal outlaw whowould track her to the ends of the earth...

Ethan thought he'd left his aristocratic past behind--until his family huntedhim down, forcing him to return to England and claim an inheritance and a titlehe didn't want. All he needed was a bride, and Josie Cooper had to say yes.Now he had to turn the sometime dance-hall girl into a countess. Love hadnothing to do with it--until he fell head over heels for the newly mintedcountess who took London by storm...
Copyright © 1997 by Jill Gregory.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Dell (May 12, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440222354
• ISBN-13: 978-0440222354
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #380,853 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I'm an avid reader and book lover who has written over thirty books since my first historical romance was published in 1980. I grew up in Chicago and have a degree in English Education from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana, and now live in Michigan. In addition to historical romance and contemporary romantic suspense, I've written thrillers with my best friend, Karen Tintori. My books have been translated and published in more than 24 languages.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Just This Once, October 16, 2010

By 

Bookworm - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Just This Once (Paperback)

Just this once turned out to be a very good story with lots of action and some suspense. I liked the main charactors and thought the story line was interesting. There were some parts that I found a little far-fetched, such as the villian and his friends jumping on a ship and going from America to England to follow his wife. I may be wrong, but it seems to me that would have been a little difficult for the average person to afford, and whats really it in for him, to get revenge on his wife? I dont know just seems unbelievable to me. Overall, I enjoyed the transformation from pick-pocket to countess and although the story dragged some here and there it had a lot of good parts to enjoy.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WONDERFUL & ROMANTIC!!!!!!!, May 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Just This Once (Paperback)

I loved this book! Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. I finished it in one night. I just loved the characters. Josie and Ethan were just what eachother needed. Thank you Jill Gregory for writing such a romantic story with just the right amount of suspense.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just This Once, May 22, 2009

By 

Em (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Just This Once (Paperback)

This was truly one of the best romances I've read in a long while. Josie & Ethan were refreshing characters, and though neither were perfect, they were truly a joy to read. And very likeable. This was a page-turner and wasn't boring in the least. Josie is a very realistic heroine and Ethan is kind of a cynic. Both have had and are enduring hardships, and they find peace/comfort in each other. Lots of chemistry & sexual tension. If I could use one word to describe this book it would be: heartwrenching. Their love, their story, is so poignant that I caught myself holding back tears a few times. Well, that's it. I'm not very good at writing reviews but I can recommend this book without qualm.