Customer Reviews

In the Prince's Bed (Royal Brotherhood, Book 1)

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The first installment in a trilogy (The Royal Brotherhood) that, in my opinion anyway is off to a good start. "The Prince in My Bed" engaged my interest primarily because I came to care, early on, for both the principal characters (Alec, the Earl of Iversley, & Katherine Merivale). Yes, the storyline is a much used one (Alec is penniless and must marry money in order to repair his estate; and while Katherine is an heiress, she's living in penury herself until she marries), and yes, Ms Jeffries doesn't exactly put a new or fresh twist on her particular version of this much used storyline, but then she does provide us with a lot of tantalising sizzle in the interactions between Alec and Katherine as she makes her case as to why these two characters should end up with each other. Nowadays, many storylines are rehashed ones, and not every authour is able to out a new or unique twist on an oft told tale. So that for me the true test as to whether or not the book is a one worth recommending sometimes boils down to the main characters: are they likable, if we care for them and if we empathise with the situations they find themselves in. Reading over the other reviews, I noticed that while everyone feels for Alec, very few have any sympathy at all for Katherine. So, I'm going to mount a defense for poor Katherine, whom I really empathised with.

Here's a young heroine, up in town for her first season, and she needs to find a husband so that she can (finally) touch her inheritance that her family so desperately needs. She thought she had everything figured out since her childhood sweetheart (a sober and trustworthy gentleman) has more or less promised to marry her -- except that he keeps putting off officially asking for her hand because of his mother's "illness." And then Alec turns up and makes a dead set at her. Now Katherine suffers from another handicap: her father was a hopeless rake who quite beggared the family. And based on her parents' tempestuous relationship, and her bedside reading material, "A Rake Rhetorick," (a primer with instructions on how to woo and seduce a young lady), Katherine has quite a healthy distrust for handsome, rakish men. Some readers have been dismayed at Katherine's lack of trust, and how she would keep on defending Sydney (her childhood sweetheart), and keeping Alec at arm's length. But as Katherine notes over and over again, the one reason she doesn't trust him completely is because she senses that he's hiding something from her: and she's right, Alec is pretending to be a rich suitor so that Katherine will not think of his as a fortune hunter. And I'm not sure about other readers, but I'd much rather have a heroine who's awake on all suits to a foolish one who loses her head the moment a tall, dark stranger starts wooing her! And anyway, Katherine's natural doubts about Alec keeps the book humming and moving forwards. It's readily evident that in spite of her natural reservations, she's quickly falling in love with Alec. And knowing exactly what it was that Alec was keeping from her, I was curious to see how the authour would resolve everything and achieve the happily ever-after ending. And I was relieved that Ms Jeffries resolved everything very well and credibly too.

I'm still not sure what all the fuss was about. Reading some of the reviews I got the impression that Katherine was a real witch. And she's anything but! And truthfully speaking my issue with "In the Prince's Bed" was the language -- it was far too modern. And I suppose I'm not too sure about the title either. But then I haven't been sure about many titles for quite a while now. So here's my take: if you're looking for a book with plenty of tempting sizzle, "In the Prince's Bed" in spite of it's much overused plot premise, is just the ticket!

Loved it, loved it, loved it. NO ONE writes the steamy scenes like Sabrina Jeffries. She is the best. I particularly enjoyed the secondary characters in this book (although, of course, the main characters were charming and lovable, as always too). Mama and Sydney were especially fun for me to read! My favorite scene? Mama finds Alec and Kit in bed together and "covers her eyes." Go Mama. I didn't want it to end, and I'm so excited to read about Lord Draker next!

Royal Brotherhood Series (RBS)

In the Prince's Bed #1
To Pleasure a Prince #2
One Night with a Prince #3

Read the RBS first because it is loosely tied to School for Heiresses Series (SHS).

Never Seduce a Scoundrel #1
Only a Duke Will Do #2 (Louisa North, Lord Marcus North's sister & Simon, Regina's stupid brother)
The School for Heiresses #3 (anthology, Story #1- Colin Hunt, Duke of Foxmoor's cousin)
Beware of a Scot's Revenge #4 (Lady Venetia Campbell mentioned in one of the RBS)

Jefferies is a high-quality writer that keeps my interest throughout the book and gives me that feeling of wanting to read the next in the series without waiting. I dig that. So far, I have not been disappointed. They are Regency style romances and I like to mix them in with the other genres. And if you're going to read Regency you should totally read Jefferies'.

It's all very relaxing and comfortable. It has romance as well as being appropriately steamy. It is escapism at its best in my opinion. These books are the sort that gives you a nice ahhhhh feeling when you're finished. I can't think of one bad thing to say.

I read the second installment of this series first, the story of Lord Draker, but I just finished In the Prince's Bed this morning. Jeffries really deliver's in the first of a great trilogy.

Alec Black has just come back from abroad to an estate that is run down and servants that need paying. His father died leaving him up to his neck in debt. The bastard son of the Prince of Wales, he decides that he needs to marry an heiress to secure the future of his estate. He turns to his two half brothers, also Prinny's by-blows, to help him catch his heiress.

He picks Katherine Merivale, an heiress that won't inherit her money until she marries, a stipulation that her grandfather wrote in his will before he died. She has always thought that she would marry her childhood friend Sydney, a poet who just won't let go of his mother's skirts and marry her so she won't be destitute. After a fight between them at a ball, Alec takes his chance and confronts her on the balcony. He uses all his rakish charms to snare her. But Katherine has been reading a book that her father had called "The Rake's Rhetorik" and she knows that he just wants her for the chase. She agrees to act like he is courting her to make Sydney jealous, hoping that it will motivate him to finally propose. But, the courtship turns all too real, and Katherine finds herself falling in love.

Even better than the second in the trilogy, In the Prince's Bed is an excellent start for the series. Alec is a great hero who falls for Katherine even though he is just courting her for her fortune. Katherine is a bit hard headed at times and slightly aggravating, and I can see why so many don't like her. But she has plenty of courage and spine, just what I want to read in a heroine. Sydney is an odd character that I'm glad Jeffries put into the novel. It gave it a sense of realism, a taboo subject that many don't put into their stories. I HATED Katherine's mother!! Such a spoiled, monster of a mother. I hope that the final installment in this series is just as good as the first and second. Run to the store to buy this one!

Setting - London 1813 --- Jeffries newest series "The Royal Brotherhood" stars Alexander Black, Earl of Iversley. With nothing to lose and much to gain, he introduces himself to two of his half-brothers, both being the reputed offspring of the profligate Prince of Wales. Both knew of the others existence but had never met. As the `acknowledged' heir of the late Earl of Iversley, Alexander surprised both of them claiming unbeknownst to all he too shared the same sire. While his two half brothers were acknowledged as Prinny's get, they were also well-to-do which unfortunately was not the case of Alexander. He'd inherited a title, a run down estate, Edenmore, and a mountain of debt. Alex proposed that they form an alliance, become a `family' so to speak in helping each other to get what they truly most desired. Consequently they agreed to help him find an heiress with funds that would enable him to restore Edenmore back to it's former glory as a self-sufficient income producing estate that would help support its many tenants and servants.

From the moment Katherine Merivale was pointed out to Alec, he decided that she was the one. Her looks alone seemed to flaunt convention and he was definitely intrigued even though, Katherine seemed desperate to bring Sydney Lovelace, her long time childhood best friend up to scratch. Unfortunately, her efforts in this regard fell on deaf ears as Sydney ignored her most valiant efforts by using a myriad of excuses in putting off his declaration. After, eavesdropping on a private conversation Katherine had with Sydney, Alec was further convinced that she would be far better off with him than the dull poetry-spewing fop she was pursing. Convincing Katherine to trust him would be paramount before she accepted him after she experienced first-hand her parents tempestuous marriage and her father's often public affairs. She was determined to choose a reliable and steady mate no matter how much she enjoyed and was attracted to Alec. Convincing Katherine that spending time with him, would spur Sydney to make a move, Alec pulled out all the stops in a campaign of seduction to make her his wife but he soon found himself to be the one that was seduced.

*** Once again Sabrina Jeffries has presented another dazzling and intriguing story. Katherine was an unusual heroine forced to live in genteel poverty knowing all the while she had a sizable inheritance. Even though Alec was rather dishonest in trying to railroad Katherine to the altar, you can't help but like him because he really cared for her. The originality of using the illegitimate offspring of Prinny as a springboard was an intriguing vehicle although I would have liked to have seen a more interplay with the two half-brothers. The sensuality-laden lovemaking was stirring, but I found the poetry reading episode between Katherine and Alex to be an episode that the reader DEFINITELY should not miss - it being both titillating and humorous at the same time. One can always depend on this author for emotional and intelligent romances and this has definitely whetted my interest for the next installment. ---Marilyn, for www.romancedesigns.com ---

This is the first book in the "Royal Brotherhood" series about three half-brothers who are the bastard sons of the Prince of Whales. This story is about Alec Black, Earl of Iversley. He was claimed as the legitimate son of the previous earl, but was despised by him for not being his true offspring. Before his death, the earl depleted the ancestral estate in order to spite his so-called son. Alec has now inherited the title and must immediately find a wealthy bride in order to save the estate and its tenants. To create the image that he is financially secure, Alec borrows a carriage, a tailor and other necessary items from his secret half-brothers. One of them, Byrne, suggests that Alec pursue Kat Merivale. Kat appears to be of modest means but, unknown to virtually anyone, will inherit a fortune from her deceased grandfather when she marries. Byrne knows this because Kat's late spendthrift father owed him a large sum, which he is due to collect upon Kat's marriage. Kat does not make her inheritance public because she detests fortune hunters.

Kat has been unofficially engaged to her good friend, the wealthy Lord Sydney, for many years, but the reserved Lord Sydney keeps putting off their marriage and refuses to so much as kiss her. In steps Alec with his charm and wit and physicality - he's certainly not afraid to kiss Kat and to try for much more - and soon she is hardly thinking of Lord Sydney. She is no gullible miss, however, and remains suspicious of Alec's aggressive pursuit. After all, he is titled and very handsome, while she is seemingly poor and of average beauty. Alec does not tell Kat of his financial motivation because he is afraid of being rejected as a fortune hunter. The deception is not easy to maintain, however. It leads to all sorts of misery and misunderstandings, as Alec struggles to win the women whom, of course, he loves far more than her fortune.

This story is a well-done and refreshingly straightforward romance, with an unconventional and thinking heroine and a dashing and sympathetic hero. The book is very quick to get through, with no annoying plot contrivances. There are a lot of humorous elements, such as the droll quotations from "A Rake's Rhetorick (Memoir)" preceding each chapter, and Kat's misguided use of it as her bible on what to avoid when courting. In fact, the amusing and anguished thoughts of Kat and Alec and Lord Sydney are what drive the story and make it so enjoyable. Alec's half-brothers are intriguing, also, and I look forward to reading the next books in the series.

Not like her other books, that take me one night to read..this one was dragging a bit, and it couldn't keep my interest for very long. Took me over a week to get through it.
Story line is ok...I will get the next book of this series..but its not a keeper, or one that I will read again.

I gave this book a C on my grading scale.

I liked this book, but at the same time didn't really find it anything all that special either. No. I take that back. I did love the hero, Aleck Black. He was the perfect blend of rogue, romantic suitor, and wounded hero. Katherine though, was a bit much to take after a while. Her constant worrying about fortune hunters and her hang-ups with her father becomes annoying in their repetition.

Kit's mother is supposed to be funny in her selfishness and butchering of the French language but only comes off a mean and manipulative.

There was a side plot with Kit's almost fiancée who is gay and in denial. As much as I loved Aleck, I wanted to know more about the almost fiancée and his struggle with his lover than I did about Katherine and Aleck.

I did enjoy the unexpected scene at Astly's though. It was more in line with what I expect from Sabrina J. and different than anything I've read before.

This is a pleasant, readable book travels some very familiar territory in the historical romance genre--impoverished Earl pursues innocent heiress for her money and winds up falling in love with her. In order to introduce some tension in the story, the hero, Alec Black, the Earl of Iversley, is drawn as a *nice* fortune hunter who rather undeservedly has the reputation of being a thoughtless rake, and the heroine, Katherine Merivale, is dead set against marrying a rake (because her father was one and he shamed and beggared the family--blah, blah, blah--you have also heard that one before, I'm sure). The heroine's money is in trust until she marries, so she is both penniless *and* a heiress (an unusual twist), so her family needs her to marry *someone* so that they can get their hands on the money.
I liked the characters of both the hero and heroine, unlike some of the other reviewers who disliked Katherine. There was a bit too much protesting by Katherine of the type that becomes irritating (i.e. "No, no, NEVER!" that becomes "Yes, yes, YES!" with a touch of the hero's lips...)
The story was fine but rather predictable and flat. The romance did not leave me breathless.
In summary, this is an reasonably well-written story with an attractive hero and heroine that fails to rise above its rather tired plotline to become something truly memorable.
I liked it but I did not love it.

I discovered Jeffries with the School for Heiresses Series; feeling a little lost reading the 2nd book of the Heiress Series to learn that the Royal Brotherhood Series ties into it. Three illegitimate sons of the Prince of Wales meet and decide to aid one another by pooling their resources - their royal father has never aided them in their lives. This story revolves around one of the brothers, Alexander Black, the new Lord Iversley. He has been left with a sprawling, penniless estate and is now in search of a wealthy heiress to marry to save it, and he, from ruin. Directed by his half-brother Gavin Bryne, he begins his pursuit of Katherine Merivale, a unique red-haired & bold beauty who has a rather large dowry courtesy of her late grandfather. The secondary characters are quite entertaining - Katherine's mama's boy childhood "sweetheart" Sydney the poet, and her meddling, pretentious mother. I found the story drags a bit during Alec's & Katherine's "courting", but gets back into the swing without boring. The chapter where Katherine drags Alec to a poetry reading was hilarious. And the chapter when Alec and Kat partake in a daring stage show was unique and entertaining! While the story did have many serious moments too, it kept it at a fair balance of steamy romance, moral dilemmas, and witty banter. A recommended read!