A Lady Of His Own (Large Print) (Paperback) [Large Print] [Paperback]

Stephanie Laurens (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2005

Impatient to find his bride-to-be yet appalled by the damsels of the town, Charles St. Austell leaps at the chance to help his ex-commander Dalziel by investigating rumors of spies operating via smuggling gangs near Charles s Cornwall home. The first strange thing Charles discovers is Lady Penelope Selborne, neighbor and ex-lover, marching through his house after midnight. Charles uncovers a web of Selborne family secrets and a spy network others are also searching for-and trapped in the middle is Penny, the one lady he has never ceased wanting for his own.But twist follows twist and nothing is what it seemed Charles has his hands full unravelling the truth about the spying, unmasking an assassin intent on killing all Selbornes, including Penny, while simultaneously convincing that independent lady that she and only she will do for him and he for her.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Regency romance juggernaut Laurens shows signs of fatigue in the third book of her Bastion Club septet (after The Lady Chosen and A Gentleman's Honor). Lord Charles St. Austell, earl of Lostwithiel, is one of the seven noble members of the Bastion Club ("a last bastion against the matchmakers of the ton") who served as spies during the Napoleonic wars and who still do a bit of investigating for the Crown when they're not braving eager ladies on the marriage mart. At his country estate, Charles encounters old friend (and old flame) Lady Penelope Selborne, who's up to her neck in intrigue. Penny's late brother may have been involved in schemes to smuggle secrets to France during the war—schemes that seem to be continuing with new sources even after his death. The novel features all the steamy sensuality for which Laurens is known, but the sex scenes lack the spark typical of her best work; Penny and Charles spend far too much time staring longingly at each other, dutifully denying their own urges. The unwieldy spy plot, meanwhile, progresses with agonizing slowness as the two interrogate every suspicious newcomer in town. Dedicated fans will probably stick with Laurens through the remaining four Bastion Club titles, but she's going to have to pick up the pace if she's to keep others intrigued.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

About the Author

New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Laurens began writing as an escape from the dry world of professional science. Her hobby quickly became a career, and her series about the masterful Cynster cousins has captivated readers, making her one of the romance world's most beloved and popular authors. She has also introduced the equally unforgettable members of the Bastion Club. She currently lives in a suburb of Melbourne, Australia, with her husband and two daughters.

Product Details

• Paperback: 494 pages
• Publisher: The Large Print Book Company (February 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1596880295
• ISBN-13: 978-1596880290
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,094,410 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I'll Take Charles...A Man of My Own, September 30, 2004

By 

Nadine A. Jackson "Madame Jazze" (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Lady of His Own (Bastion Club) (Mass Market Paperback)

Although I've already read close to 200 romance novels this year (historical, medieval, erotic, contemporary, paranormal, etc.), this is the first book I've ever had the guts to write my personal opinion on...

Girlfriend (SL) is all that AND the bag of chips! I didn't think she could match the sensuality of "Devil's Bride", but she dun did it again with her seductive exchange of Charles' and Penny's pent up sexual desires for each other, which spans 13 years of abstinence for Penny and maturing into manhood for Charles. Although neither will openly admit loving the other, their individual exploration of each other's passions, expresses their love not just physically, but blissfully includes their hearts and souls. Something the two were too inexperienced to understand 13 years earlier when Penny surrendered her heart and virginity to Charles. Now a grown woman, spinster at 29, and him a bachelor, Earl in need of a wife at 33, Penny offers Charles another personal "invitation"; one in which she never extended to any other man since her first and only time with him. By continuously intensifying each kiss and embrace, they are awakened to each other's sensual growth and ripened maturity that only the nurturing of time and experience could hone; they welcome their differences as man and woman vs the experimenting adolescents of their past relationship. Their new relationship gradually develops, which now transcends the physical plane and drives deeper into their hearts. Penny and Charles are satisfyingly surprised by one another when they recognize their coupling isn't quite the same as they remembered that afternoon they tumbled in the barn when they were youths of 16 and 20 years old.

Charles slowly builds his plan of seducing Penny into surrendering her heart to him and becoming his wife. She relinquishes her stubborn attitude of `I am in control and call all the shots of my life' and little by little allows him to be the man in her life; friend, lover and protector. Her fervent moments of passion burst out as he guides her to "heaven" again and again by candle light and moon light; saturate his personal pleasure along slide ensuring hers. SL articulates very well their maturity, as well as the soul satisfying giving and taking of pleasure betwixt the found again lovers. SL had me in Penny's spell when Charles whispered a moan, succumbing to Penny's ravenous hungry eyes and seeking hands, "Whatever you wish, however you wish. I'm yours. Take me." Ohmigod...

The `who done it' murder mystery plot of the story will keep your mind contriving trying to out wit the author between the love scenes. Charles and Penny constantly share their ideas and are basically honest with each in their joint efforts to clear her family name and find a brutal murderer and spy. Therefore, leaving little room for blatant deceptions (lies), allows them to `go hand and glove' in impromptu situations they face during their investigations.

This is definitely a "deep read" - more than the surface of words in a book...mysteries of the heart's desires and yearning for the other half of its soul mate to "complete" the longing to be loved as no other can possibly do. -Nadine "Madame Jazze"

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Worth it, October 5, 2004

By 

kkt - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Lady of His Own (Bastion Club) (Mass Market Paperback)

Like the characters in the novel, I think Stephanie Laurens' style has matured some in this book. Penny and Charles seemed realistic to me, as did their responses to each other and how they eventually decide to let themselves love each other. Since they know each other well, they have a deeper relationship than one that seems to be just passonate but almost casual sex. Reminded me of the long term friendship in A Secret Love, which is probably my favorite SL book.

All that said, the spy sub-plot is over done, doesn't make sense and drags on way too long. I felt the book ended up being 50-100 pages longer than the story warranted due to the silly spy story. This applies to the other Bastion Club books, too, which don't have the compelling but simple story of her earlier work.

If you love SL books, it is worth buying this one. Not her best, but the passion is there and the characters realistic and believable.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Passion and Intrigue! Don't miss it!, October 6, 2004

By 

S. D. Grady "Sasha @ writing.com" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Lady of His Own (Bastion Club) (Mass Market Paperback)

The 3rd in the Bastion Club series and the best. This time we are in Cornwall with Charles and Penny. They are a pair of stubborn and high-strung lovers, never getting enough of eachother. The intrigue comes from a mystery surrounding jeweled pill boxes and state secrets being passed to the French during the Napoleanic Wars.

If you love lots of hot, steamy love scenes mixed with international espionage during the Regency, you will have a blast reading the latest of Stephanie Laurens. If you have a "modesty meter" don't read it.