Customer Reviews

Secrets of the Night

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I don't like reading about adultery in my romances, nor do I like opening up a book only to find it's smack dab in the middle of a series. This book fits both scenarios but, much to my surprise, I couldn't tear myself away from it.

Rosa is married to Digby, a sickly, older man, who has been unable to impregnate her. When Digby dies their home will pass into the hands of a nephew who belongs to a fanatical religious cult. In order to prevent this Digby encourages Rosa to find herself a handsome young man to get her with child.

Sheltered Rosa loves Digby but he's always been more of a protector than a lover. When she was seventeen she was gravely injured and her face was scarred. Digby saved her life by proposing marriage. Because of her scars she has been living life as a hermit and, although she is frightened by Digby's request, it reawakens her adventurous nature and she agrees to his plan.

So Rosa dons a mask and heads to a masquerade ball to find an "easy" man. But the men she meets repulse her and she decides to head back to the safety of her home. This is where she finds the hero who is laying unconscious in the middle of the street. She brings him to a friends' home and nurses him throughout the night. When he awakens he has no memory but is so grateful to the still masked Rosa that he offers her payment. She's very attracted to him and impulsively decides to ask him to make love to her and he agrees. During their time together something unexpected happens -- they fall in love.

What follows is a very sensuous love story written with wry humor about two wonderful characters caught in an impossible situation. I ached for them and was not turned off at all by the adultery plot because of the way it was presented and because all of the characters involved were warm, loving and kind people. I couldn't tear myself away from this love story until the last quarter when the couple faced a necessary separation and an intrigue subplot took over center stage. I'm very glad I read this story and I can honestly say that it stands alone very nicely if you haven't read the previous "Malloren" books.

This book is the fourth in a series of five books set in Goergian England telling the romantic trials and tribulations of the siblings in a powerful family.

The hero and heroine in this story are not as temperamental as those in other stories, but this is in line with the personality of the main male character, being more phlematic than his other flamboyant siblings, and is not a draw back to the story. I did have a problem with the ease with which the heroine got the hero into bed (he just recovering from a serious poisoning!) but it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book. I have read many other romances by other authors with VERY implausible plot devices. Jo Beverly has written in many styles depending on the era she is writing about. She ALWAYS tells an interesting, compelling story, literately written with no glaring grammatical errors or obvious anacronisms to wrench the reader from the fantasy. She doesn't write a "standard" historical romance (trite, cliched), but makes her characters believable people reacting realistically (usually) to their circumstances.

This book also gives the reader a glimpse of the plot line which will occur in the fifth book with the most powerful and flamboyant of the siblings, Beowulf Malloren, Marquess of Rothgar.

I have followed her writing since her first in the "Rogues" regency series and have been actively trying to find all her other books since then. She is almost impossible to find in used book stores, which tells you the popularity she enjoys with readers.

Happy reading!

As a longtime fan of Jo Beverley I look forward to her rule-bending risk-taking romance novels. Adultery is often a tough sell to fans of the genre, but in Beverley's deft hands, the adultery is not only understandable, but both hero and heroine are made to suffer for an arrangement that becomes a love match. The wonderful hero, Brand Malloren, is very different than his siblings. If this is your first Malloren novel, don't worry, you do not need to have read the others to enjoy this one. But I'm betting you'll want to know more, especially about the intriguing Marquess of Rothgar, Brand's oldest brother. One of Jo Beverley's strengths is her heroines who are reliably feisty and capable. Rosamunde is no different. Scarred from an accident during adolescence and married to a much older man, you can't help but forgive her for falling in love with Brand, the man she needs to father her child for the sake of others. Jo puts a lot of obstacles in Brand and Rosa's path, which makes their ending all the sweeter.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and finished it in one day! "Rosie" is a mature and honest character, and a pleasant alternative to the immature and spoiled brats that so often prattle and tantrum their way throughout historical romances. The love scenes are hot and realistic! This is my first Jo Beverley read, and I'm here looking for more!

This is the first Jo Beverley book I have read, and it's also more than half-way through a series. It's a credit to Beverley as a writer, though, that I didn't realise it was towards the end of the Malloren series until I read her author's notes at the end.

Rosamunde Overton is married to a man much older than she is, and who is not expected to live long; they have no children, and the heir is a member of a Puritanical sect whom no-one wants to inherit the land. So hints aplenty have been dropped: Rosa should get herself pregnant by whatever means possible, so that the baby can be passed off as her husband's. By pure chance, Lord Brand Malloren has been drugged and dumped in the middle of a bog; Rosa finds him, rescues him and, as payment, demands his sexual services. And what begins as pure sex turns into something more.

But Brand has no idea who his temporary mistress is, and Rosa is determined that they will never meet again. But she reckons without Malloren determination, and the resourcefulness of Brand's elder brother, Bey.

This is certainly an enjoyable book, though I wouldn't call it memorable; it has none of the haunting qualities of a Mary Jo Putney, or of Balogh at her best. I also felt that some descriptive passages were rushed: I had to read some of the action sequences several times to understand what had happened. Beverley also skips over elements of the story very quickly, losing the sense of suspense and failing to take advantage of opportunities for angst or romantic scenes. And I still don't know, for example, just how Brand managed to be at Wenscote in time to save Rosa from attack, since the last time we saw Brand he was headed somewhere else entirely. His presence was neither explained at the time nor in retrospect.

Having said that, I do intend to read the other Malloren books, and in particular - since I guessed from this book who Bey, Lord Rothgar's, own particular Nemesis would be - Bey's own story.

A bit of a change of pace from your usual English historical romance, with adultery not set up from childhood, and the betrayal not as sharp. The plot was well paced, and the characters were well written. I must say however that Malloren was a bit.. well a LOT too trusting in this situation. I found his brother's reaction much more believable and in fact much more of an interesting character. All in all, however, I enjoyed the book.

Book 4 of the Malloren Series by Jo Beverley is the steamiest yet!
Rosamunde Overton, married to an old gentleman unable to have children, must have an heir to rescue her state from the greedy hands of his zealot nephew. In order to do so she decides to request payment from Lord Brand Malloren who she rescues drugged on the road.

He complies willingly and the pages set fire! This book is sultry and seductive and has a distinctly earthly feel to it than other Jo Beverley's novels in this series. I enjoyed this book more than all the others, due to liking the character of Brand Malloren best, who is a good-natured and kind man, but doesn't hold back on loving his lady.

Rosamunde is scarred from an early childhood accident. To not show this scar and to also not reveal her identity she wears a mask throughout the seduction and Brand never knows who she is...until much later.

The story is very rich and Jo Beverley hits her high in her infamous Malloren Series with Book 4. This is the one book in the Malloren series still out of print. It should be reissued soon. Until then your local library or a used bookstore should have it. Warning though, Jo Beverley's books are collectibles so buying it used you could pay a steep price.

This romance deviates from traditional romance novel formulas. The heroine is more flawed than the hero. Rosamunde bears a scar on her face which she perceives as a hideous blemish. She married a much older man and lives apart from society in their country estate. Her husband's health is failing and there is no heir apparent. To save their estate, Rosamunde seduces a man she has rescued from the side of the road. Rosamunde knows her task is difficult, but is caught by surprise when she feels more than lust.

Brand Malloren succumbs to Rosamunde's seduction despite her refusal to unmask herself. He quickly develops strong feelings for his masked lover but is unable to convince her to run away with him.

There are several plot complications which keep the couple apart, but in the end it is all worked out.

The novel is entertaining, but not as quick-paced or lively as previous Malloren tales. If you are devoted to the series, it is a definite must read. If you are new to Jo Beverly's works, I suggest reading "Tempting Fortune" or "Something Wicked." I enjoyed them a little more.

It is rare that I do not enjoy a Jo Beverley book, but his is one of her best. I've read the Malloren series totally out of order as I came across the books (someday I'll go back and read them in order), but they've all stood alone as well as fitting into the series.

Rosamunde is so sweet, and her reasons for adultery are noble, though she suffers remorse because she enjoyed it and fell in love. Brand is just darling--a kind, gentle, warmhearted man. Rosa and Diana's friendship is terrific, as is the relationship between Brand and Bey (Rothgar). Even more delicious is the early chemistry between Diana and Bey. Go to Jo Beverley's website and read the scenes she pulled from this book because Bey and Diana were taking over.

The resolution is not perfect for the characters; the problems were maintained as very real problems, but the ever resouceful Mallorens manage to make the best of it. Heartwarming, heartbreaking, a gem of a romance, told with power, passion, insight, and incredible skill. 4.9 stars

And this new book didn't let me down. I read a lot of romance and am often annoyed at how the primary characters wring their hands and waffle. Although I am nothing like Rose or Brand, I could sympathize with them. They seemed like sensible people caught in an unreasonable situation. I was never tempted to throw the book against the wall because I could see an obvious solution to their problems to which they were oblivious. Further, I could see why the protagonists fell in love with each other (rarer in books than you would think).