Customer Reviews

Naughty by Nature (Carlisle Family, Book 3)

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In an enchanting tale, Patience Rose Farnaly, a young girl with stars in her eyes falls prey to a user, a thorough-rotter, Julian Phoenix. Lured from her dull, aristocratic family, she sees the bright lights of the magical world of the stage as exciting. Until she is betrayed. In a twist of fate, Julian is believed dead; she escapes the nightmare, assumes the name of Miss Patience Winslow and continues on with her actor's life with the troop, too disgraced to ever return to her very proper family. While performing at the home of one of the ton, she meets the powerful and commanding Fowler Knowden, Earl Ramscar. She catches "Ram's" eye, and he wants her close, and finds the perfect excuse of offering her a role of companion to his reclusive sister, Meredith. Meredith was severely scarred in a fire, and hides from the world, but she soon responds to Patience.

But Patience doesn't just charm Meredith, Ram is falling in love with her. Of course, an earl could never marry an actress, but that doesn't stop him from starting an affair with her. Just as things seem finally happy for Patience, Julian rises just like his name, a Phoenix from the ashes of the past and threatens to destroy all.

Pierce delivers yet another wonderful book in the Carlisle series, leaving you eager for Scandalous by Night (August 2008).Scandalous by Night

Wicked Under the Covers (Carlisle family series book 1)
Sinful Between the Sheets

Fans of romance, and especially Barbara Pierce fans, will fall in love with this "Naughty" tale of passion that captivates the reader from the very first pages. Patience Rose Farnaly dreamed of being an actress. As a young girl of only fifteen, she is lured away from her upstanding aristocratic family by a ruthless con man, Julian Phoenix, for the theatre's bright lights, but instead is abused. When an accident occurs, she leaves him for dead and joins another theatre group as Miss Winslow, feeling hurt and shamed to think of returning to her family.

While entertaining with her new group at one of London's finest homes, she meets the handsome and charming Fowler Knowden, Earl of Ramscar. Ram finds the audacious and beautiful Patience Rose as the one who could possibly bring his sister, Meredith, severely burned by a fire and living as a hermit; out of the house and into society. Not only does Patience have the "patience," but the style to bring Meredith out into society like a shining star. There is also mystery and intrigue, as well as the joy of a reunion for the lovely and kind Patience.

"Naughty by Nature" is truly a beautiful, touching, and yet sensual story with happy endings not just for Meredith, but true love for Patience and Ram. Not since Maddy and Christian Langland, Duke of Jerveaux in Laura Kinsdale's "Flowers from the Storm" have I been so touched by a story. Ms. Pierce has written many entertaining and well-written romances, this is definitely one of her best!

In 1808 teenager Patience Farnlay met and fell in love with an actor. She ran off with him joining his traveling troupe. However, not long afterward she learns a lesson re the fickleness of love when he abandons her and his troupe. She takes over, but being inexperienced and young finds the other performers ignore her.

When Earl Fowler "Ram" Knowden meets Patience, he knows she is the perfect companion for his reclusive sister Meredith, whose visage was scarred in a fire. She accepts the position. As she tries to be a friend to Meredith, Patience falls in love with her employer; he reciprocates. However, she distrusts men and love while he has a bad experience with a woman to overcome too.

This is a fascinating regency romance mostly because of the uniqueness of the two prime females. Readers will sympathize with Meredith whose life in her opinion and much of the Ton went up in flames and like her peers believe she would have been better off dead. Patience is an interesting protagonist as she lives up to her name when it comes to Meredith, but become impatient when it comes to Ram, who is typical of the male of the sub-genre. Fans will appreciate this fine historical.

Harriet Klausner

Set in London, the year 1810. Patience Rose Farnaly was young when her head was turned by the beautiful words of actor Julian Phoenix. Patience blindly followed Julian. She ran away from her family, believing they would elope and live happily-ever-after and entertaining the world in plays. Instead, Patience found herself disowned by her parents (Sir Russell and Lady Farnaly) and tossed aside like garbage by Julian. Having no other real choice, she changed her name to Miss Patience Winlow, learned the arts of thievery, and became part of Julian's acting troupe. Patience did not even have her virginity any longer, thanks to Julian's little drug. Even so, Julian thinks he can convince Patience to consent to a night with a certain gentleman for profit. Patience proves Julian wrong. In the struggle for her freedom, Julian is accidentally impaled on a nearby tool (think pitchfork). Not wanting anyone to know that she has become a murderess, Patience tells the troupe Julian left them and she takes over as manager. Patience learns that keeping the troupe together is not easy. Guilt keeps her going though. But when Fowler Knowden "Ram", the Earl of Ramscar, offers Patience a position as his sister's companion, she is surprised to hear herself accepting.

Ram would do anything to coax his sister, Lady Meredith, back to the polite society into which she had been born. Meredith had been the only one Ram could save from the fire years ago. There are still visible scars on her face and neck. The other visible body scars are kept covered, yet Meredith feels as if everyone can still see them. She never leaves Swancott, their country estate, and wishes that she had died long ago with her mother and sister. The last thing Meredith wants is a paid companion, especially a commoner. But Patience is a baronet's daughter! Patience never tells Ram or Meredith who she really is, but Patience uses all her skills as a lady and an actress to get her charge to London. Once there, Her Grace, the Dowager Duchess of Solitea, will help Patience and Ram ease Meredith back into Society's view.

***** Though Patience and Ram are the two main characters, I was happy to learn that the author, Barbara Pierce, was letting me watch Lady Meredith come out of her shell. Seeing Patience and Ram dance around each other remained in the spot light; however, Meredith's life often threatened to steal that spot light a few times. This was like reading two different Regency Romances in one...and I loved every single minute I spent with my nose buried in this story! This author has made a new fan in me. Life seemed to jump out of every character. It did not matter if the character was main, secondary, or minor to me. I felt anger toward the bad guys. I felt pain and sympathy for Patience and Meredith. I even cheered aloud twice as I watched Patience fight and Meredith bloom. Hopefully, someone out there will realize how serious I am when I say that this book is a rare gem. I pity anyone who misses this title. BRAVA!

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Patience threw away the life of privilege and security her wealthy family could provide to run off with an unscrupulously dangerous man. Rather than return home in disgrace or live on the streets she opts to seek honest work as an actress - until the Earl of Ramscar offers her a position as a companion to his sister.

Fowler Knowden, Earl of Ramscar, has every intention of presenting his sister to society and secure her a husband. Not a simple task considering Meredith has lived virtually in seclusion since the fire that left her scarred and their mother and sister dead. Securing a companion in a bid to make her more comfortable with the changes that are about to occur. Ramscar just hadn't counted on the effect she's having on his libido.

Since the `unfortunate' demise of Julian Phoenix, the man who lured Patience away from her family, she's worked hard to keep the small group of traveling actors together. Things are starting to come unraveled and the offer of steady employment as a companion to Meredith gives Patience an opportunity she'd not dare dream possible.

By using her skills as an actress and unexpectedly witty comments she manages to win over Ramscar's introverted sister and inadvertently Ramscar. While they battle their growing attraction, Patience helps Meredith prepare for their trip to London. It's soon obvious that their attraction is too strong to deny and they begin to embark on an illicit affair - one that while immensely satisfying and showing Patience the joys of sex with a `skilled' man also threatens Ramscar's status among his peers known as the les sauvages nobles. Patience has deep dark secrets in her past that she's fearful will destroy the happiness she's found with Ramscar, but will he really turn his back on her if the truth is revealed?

I found NAUGHTY BY NATURE to be a thoroughly enjoyable story on many different levels. Patience's innocence, Meredith's fears and Ramscar's love for them both really pulls this story together and makes you care about what happens to them. Barbara Pierce captivates her readers by combining suspense, charming characters, and unique situations with such delightful results that you won't be able to put this book down until you've read every last word. While this book is a continuation of the CARLISLE SERIES, it can be read as a stand alone - but if you're like me you'll want to know about what happened in the previous books.


NAUGHTY BY NATURE is the third installment in Barbara Pierce's CARLISLE SERIES. If you haven't already picked up copies of WICKED UNDER THE COVERS and SINFUL BETWEEN THE SHEETS then be sure to do so - and of course be on the lookout for the next book, SCANDALOUS BY NIGHT, due out in August 2008.

Chrissy Dionne (courtesy of Romance Junkies)

I have enjoyed the other books in the series, but really love this one, NAUGHTY BY NATURE, maybe best of all. Pierce delivers in her hones style a sexy, hot romance, yet she never forgets the underlying importance of romance novels - the emotions. And boy does she touch the emotions with this tale! Strongly conjured characters make this a book I could not put down.

Young Patience Farnley, at the tender age of 14, fell madly in love with an actor and ran off with his band of actors. Only, her knight in shining armor, turned out to be a blackguard, and betrayed her. Suddenly, she is left alone and in control of the acting troupe. Naturally, they are not happy about a young girl being their leader, so she runs into constant difficulties. After years of this burden, she meets Fowler Knowden, Earl Ramscar, and she is more than eager to accept the position as companion to his sister, Meredith. The sister is reclusive, scarred in a fire. He thinks the lively Patience is just the medicine to draw his sister out of her shell. Only, Patience also draw emotions Fowler didn't expect--from him. As their passions ignite, past secrets come to haunt their love and shake their new found happiness.

NAUGHTY BY NATURE bears Pierce's trademark style of secrets and passion delicately woven. The characters are engaging, and captured my heart. As I said, this has to be the best in the series to me.

HOT!!! which is Pierce's style, but she also gives you so much more. Highly recommend

Pierce scores again with her books for St. Martin's Press. I love the colorful, sexy covers, but what's even better are the stories inside. This one is so heart-warming. Patience Farnley was only fourteen years old when she believed a rake, and actor, and followed him away from her sheltered life. Soon she is betrayed by the dazzling man, and left ruined, and with a headache of handling the acting troupe he abandoned when he abandoned her.

Down the road, she meets the handsome Earl Ramcar, Fowler Knowden. Fowler has a sister who is a recluse because she is scarred from a fire. He offers Patience the chance to become a companion to his sister, hoping the enchanting Patience will help ease the pain of seclusion for his sibling. Of course, he desires Patience for himself, and soon their passion cannot be denied. As Patience find happiness in Fowler's arms, the specter of her past comes a calling to try and ruin the new life she has built for herself.

Very touching story, with characters that were instantly alive for me, that made me care.

This I thought was the best in the series. I loved Ramscar he sounded so sexy. The part in the tub was up there the love making is veery hot. I loved the names that are picked out for the men they have another meaning to them as you read in the book. I am so looking forward to the next one.

Naughty by Nature is a pleasant read. Barbara Pierce has created interesting and engaging characters and a nice story.

The one thing the book lacks, however, is a plot. It seems to be made up of subplots with no one story driving the book.

The book could be about the romance if the characters hadn't fallen into the relationship so easily and without any real hindrances. The early tension between them dissolves quickly taking the passion with it.

The story could have been about the sister's overcoming her fears had she not taken so easily to society. Though there is an interesting buildup to Meredith's reluctance to socialize and a history of seclusion, very little is made of it through the rest of the book, which is odd, since Patience is supposed to be heling Meredith overcome her fears. In fact, once the story moves to London, Patience's presence seems unneeded.


The book could have even been about theft and intrigue had the strange pilfering garnered more than a passing mention. Once the reader is made aware of the thefts, there is little more than a note of the curious fact that baubles continue to dissappear. When the plot value pops up again it seems almost jarring; a sudden unexplained twist.

Although Ms. Pierce missed several opportunities to make this a truly outstanding book, it is nice enough for a light read. It didn't engage me enough to persuade me to read the entire series, though, and I'm not likely to look for this author in the future.

Patience Farnaly was just fifteen when she was lured away from her wealthy home by the assurances of a charlatan who promised to marry and make her an actress. Lied to and ruined Patience soon realized her mistake yet survived years of abuse until a providential accident gave her some release. Trying to live an honest life with a traveling troupe of players Patience met the very charming Earl of Ramscar, who offered her a new proposition - an offer to employ her as a Lady's companion to his sister - the chance she's been waiting for, but could she handle the budding attraction to her new employer.

After a devastating fire left his sister Meredith scarred for life, and his mother and other sister dead, Ramscar vowed to keep her safe. Now that he's hired Patience as her companion his conscience is somewhat clear, but fantasies of the beautiful companion are definitely doing a number on his overactive libido. Plus if the truth came out on Patience's background, his sister's season might be over before it even begins.

*** Ah, once more we enter the halls of the domain of les sauvage nobles- those nobles who embrace freedom at all costs, yet for Ramscar, the footloose ways of the nobles are fast becoming less and less likely to keep his attention which has been re-focused on the delightful Lady's maid he hired as his sister's companion.

Ms. Pierce has once again enthralled me with her captivating storytelling abilities. Tinged with moments of titillating dialog, in all the right places, the love affair between Ramscar and Patience unfurls with equal amounts of honest passion and layer upon layer of respect and trust which had been missing in Patience's life. At the tender age of fifteen, Patience had endured the worst in believing the honeyed words and promises of a cad who used her ill. That early life of survival taught Patience much about the cruel nature of man, but it took the trust and love of a good man to regain her self-esteem.

I loved the scene where Ramscar, so caught up in Patience's beauty, worried over whether or not he had done the right thing in hiring an actress to help his sister. I believe it was pivotal moment when overhearing Patience speaking with Meredith to calm her fears that Ramscar realized he had done a good thing and the little actress would work out fine. It was at that same time that I believe Patience felt good about herself and began to realize her own self worth.

Pierce brought in a splendid cast of secondary characters, including Meredith whose scars kept her from facing the world; Ramscar's friends from previous stories; and coupled this with a dash of intrigue from Patience's past that threatened to ruin her new-found happiness. All in all, I was immersed from the first page to the last and encourage new readers to experience the thrill from this captivating new author. Highly recommended!

Marilyn Rondeau, [...]