Customer Reviews

To Pleasure a Lady (Courtship Wars, Book 1)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Arabella and her sisters have worked hard to make a life for themselves since their parents' arranged marriage ended in a scandal that left the girls ostracized from society. They run and teach at their finishing school for young ladies. None of them have any desire to enter into a marriage like their parents had and are perfectly content to remain spinsters; unfortunately their new guardian has other plans for them. He intends to fulfill his obligation and find them each a suitable husband - he just hadn't counted on Arabella turning out to be such a worthy opponent - or such an enchanting one.

Marcus Pierce, the new Earl of Danvers, is well aware that finding the Loring sisters' spouses isn't going to be an easy task. He hasn't even met them yet and already he's butting heads with the eldest, Arabella. She insists that he release them from his guardianship and allow them to take care of themselves - like they've done for years. He has no intention of honoring her request, after all they are his responsibility and he does not shirk his duties.

Marcus isn't sure where he'll find suitable spouses for Arabella, Roslyn and Lillian. It would be very helpful if his friends and fellow escapees from the Marriage Mart, Andrew and Drew would be agreeable to consider marriage. He's having no luck convincing them to change their minds and certainly isn't about to get leg shackled himself. However, an unexpected appearance in his home by none other than the obstinate Arabella has him reconsidering his position. No woman has ever excited him the way Arabella does but she's determined not to marry and no amount of reasoning on Marcus's part is going to convince her otherwise.

Marcus is determined to persuade her to his way of thinking and so he issues a challenge. For two weeks he'll court Arabella and try to get her to accept his proposal. If he doesn't succeed then he'll release the sisters from his guardianship. Marcus isn't above using every technique in his sensual arsenal to show Arabella exactly what she'll be missing if she insists on remaining a spinster and he's very skilled in ways TO PLEASURE A LADY.

I just spent the whole day immersed in this story and don't regret a single second of the time I spent reading. TO PLEASURE A LADY beautifully showcases Nicole Jordan's talent as a writer. Readers will find themselves craving Marcus's seductive techniques, laughing at Arabella's attempts at evasion, and even gasping at the unladylike audacity of one of the students Arabella teaches. This book has so many enchanting characteristics that I simply didn't want to put it down and leave my `newfound friends.' TO PLEASURE A LADY is a book sure to be treasured by Regency romance lovers and a wonderful first book to what promises to be a delightful series.

Be sure to pick up copies of the next two books in the COURTSHIP WARS trilogy - TO BED A BEAUTY and TO SEDUCE A BRIDE which will consecutively available in March and April 2008.

Chrissy Dionne (courtesy of Romance Junkies)

Nicole Jordan's latest was very interesting, i couldn't put it down. From the story opens up you get sucked in and you instantly fall in love with characters. Arabella is fiercly independent and vows to never get married but Marcus is pesistent and eventually wears her down. I also loved the other two sisters and I can't wait until their stories are published (I would love to see Drew, Marcus' friend, taken down a notch and sincerely hope that Roslyn does it).
I'll admit that this novel isn't quite as passionate as other books by Nicole Jordan which is why i gave it 4 stars instead of 5

What could have been a steamy tension-filled guardian/ward romance fell far from its mark with Jordan's latest offering.

The main protags were one dimensional with no substance. The 'courtship' read like a itinerary in its day-by-day description. The characters didn't do anything. The tension was meant to be hot, however, it was extremely tepid. Love scenes, which Jordan is known for, were ho hum.

I kept reading and hoping with every page the book would improve; it did not. Nicole Jordan has written some stellar novels. This was not one of them.

Nicole Jordan is fantastic! I love the Courtship Wars. You will not be disappointed. Nicole Jordan know what we like! I look forward To Bed a Beauty.

It's been a long wait between Jordan novels, but it was well worth it!

TO PLEASURE A LADY introduces us to the Loring sisters, and Arabella Loring is soon taken with Marcus, Lord Danvers, but against her better judgement... for she knows that no man can be faithful, and that marriage is a sham. All the Loring sisters know this, from bitter experience.

Jordan starts her trilogy off with a different feeling from some of her past novels.. it's lighter, slightly less intense at first. But very soon the intensity grows, steadily. Yes, very soon it's a fire which is going to burn quite hot, and does it ever, complete with Jordan's wonderfully steamy love scenes... she does not disappoint!

Jordan's great talent in creating rich characters whose love is intensely
felt, and believed, is here in spades. I was taken with these two people immediately, and longed to know how their story would unfold. It is such a great read! I want to know more about what becomes of them, and realized that I will, since (surely) we'll get to hear a bit more about them in the next trilogy segment, TO BED A BEAUTY, which is due very soon!

I always feel SATISFIED after reading a Nicole Jordan romance -- always!

Arabella Loring and her two younger sisters are determined never to marry. She and her sisters grew up constantly reminded of their parents' infidelities and the scandal that ensued when their father died following a duel and their mother abandoned them to go to France with her paramour. When Arabella learns that her new guardian, Marcus Pierce, Earl of Danvers, intends to give the three sisters generous dowries so that they can be married off and out of his hands, she is determined that he will fail.

Marcus Pierce does not want to be responsible for the guardianship that he inherited with his title. In order to get rid fo the responsibility as quickly as possible, Marcus vows that he will have them married off immediately. But when his oldest ward comes to visit him, Marcus finds himself startled by her beauty, her wit, her fiery temper, and the fact that she ignites a fire in him that he's never felt before. Before he knows what he's doing, Marcus offers Arabella a startling proposition--if she will let him court her with the intention of marriage for two weeks and she is unable to resist his charms, he will grant the Loring sisters their independence. Arabella is convinced that she won't be susceptible to Marcus's seduction, but he's equally determined to win her heart.

To Pleasure a Lady is the first in Nicole Jordan's Courtship Wars series (the next two books are To Bed a Beauty (Courtship Wars, Book 2) and To Seduce a Bride (Courtship Wars, Book 3)). It's also the first book I've read by Nicole Jordan. I have to say that this book ebbed and flowed for me. It started off a little slow and I wasn't all that invested. Then with the middle half, you couldn't have pried this book out of my hands. And again with the ending, it was slow goings. So I can't say that the book was fantastic, though it had its moments, and I can't say that it was awful, though it was tedious at times. Instead, I'm just going to say that it was interesting enough story. I always enjoy plots with guardians and their wards (a great book with this plot is Lord of Ice: A Novel). And I did love Marcus. He was my favorite kind of hero: possessive without being overly jealous, protective without being overbearing, and seductive and gorgeous to boot. Arabella was a bit lackluster for me. I was much more intrigued by her sisters and her scandalous relationship with a Cyprian named Fanny. I'm going to read the next two books in the series, and hopefully they'll hit a higher note for me than this story did, but as a whole I enjoyed To Pleasure a Lady.

Favorite scene with Arabella-
Telling everyone off at the theater. That was a classic scene!

Favorite scene with Marcus-
His talk with Arabella's sisters.

Together-
Their fight after the theater fiasco.

What did you like about Arabella-
Her strength. Her tough cookie persona. Her love for her sisters and her Academy. Being the only one who hasn't turned her back on her courtesan friend. Willing to speak up for her mother. Her forgiveness toward her mother.

What didn't you like about Arabella-
Unwilling to marry. Not believing and trusting Marcus.

What did you like about Marcus-
His love for Arabella, although I questioned why sometimes. Although he was a powerful dude, he showed vulnerability, esp. when Arabella refused to marry him. Willing to help Arabella's students learn all the things they needed to learn. What he did for Arabella and her sisters-esp. returning their mother.

What didn't you like about Marcus-
The only time I didn't like Marcus was when he suggested that Arabella turn her back on her courtesan friend, and even give up her Academy.

Casting Marcus, I'd cast Julian McMahon.
Casting Arabella, I'd cast Gwyneth Paltrow.

I just finished this book like 15 seconds ago and thought it was one of the best historical romance novels I've read. This book starts out fast and hot and the sexual tension throughout is strong. I like both leads in this book. Arabella is not your typical crying female. She's not too tough but refuses to let her guard down around Marcus. His character I really liked. He was a bit arrogant, but not over the top.
If the rest of her books are like this one I will be a fan! I have just bought the second in this series and can't wait to read it since I was intrigued by the glimpse of the upcoming couple from this book.

This was an excellent book. I look forward to the next 2 in the series. I also like the idea that the 3 books are coming out one month after the other so we don't have to wait!!

1st of the The Courtship Wars series - Marcus and Arbella's story. Marcus has inherited a new title and also guardianship of three young women. Arbella is the oldest of three sister - who has held together the family after their father died and mother ran off with her lover. Marcus makes a wager with Arbella - after two weeks if she does not want to marry him then he will set her and sister free of his guardainship. They are both very strong willed and when are not trying out play the game there is some great passion.

Check out the whole series; To Pleasure a Lady (Courtship Wars, Book 1) , To Bed a Beauty (Courtship Wars, Book 2) , To Seduce a Bride (Courtship Wars, Book 3) .