Customer Reviews

Shameless (Banning Sisters Trilogy)

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Shameless by Karen Robards
Historical Romance - April 13th, 2010
5 Stars

Shameless is the third novel in Karen Robards's Banning Sisters trilogy. This trilogy tells the stories of each of the Banning sisters: Gabriella, Claire and Elizabeth. The first book begins with Scandalous, then Irresistible and now concludes with the final story, Shameless.

Shameless is the story of the youngest and most headstrong sister Lady Elizabeth Banning. Despite her many seasons among the ton Lady Elizabeth is considered a heartbreaker and flirt due to the fact that she has become engaged three times and has scandalously broken off all three engagements. She is afraid of becoming a man's property. During a house party, Lady Elizabeth is attempting to end her most recent engagement when she encounters Neil Severin. He is a wicked rogue and a secret government assassin. Despite Neil's black reputation his ability to focus on the job has made him extremely successful. However, his legendary focus is disrupted when he encounters Lady Elizabeth in a difficult situation. He is immediately drawn to her and when he discovers that his most current target is someone Lady Elizabeth holds dear, it only complicates matters for him. What begins as an accidental meeting for these two strangers becomes an adventure for two people who draw out the best in each other.

Karen Robards does a fantastic job creating two main characters that you can enjoy as individuals. She takes the time to explore the different and complex natures to their personalities. The author did a particularly great job with Neil Severin character, I felt he was a bit darker than most historical heroic characters but she made him into a person who you can find redeemable and worthy of finding happiness. I truly loved how the author created characters that were interesting on their own but become even more compelling as the two character spent more time together. Karen Robards also did a fantastic job with the minor characters in the book. I found myself very interested in their lives and what might happen to them in the future.

As someone who loves historical novels as my favorite type of book to read I must say that Karen Robards does an absolutely wonderful job of creating an original and creative story with compelling and complex characters. I wanted to learn more about them and was extremely pleased when the book ended happily for them both.

I highly recommend Karen Robards latest Banning sister trilogy novel. I only suggest you triple your enjoyment and by reading the books in order to enjoy them most!

Reviewed by Mary from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club

I haven't read a book I liked this much in years. I read the first two books when they were released and had almost given up on the author finishing the series. It has excitement and just enough romance to keep me hooked. I loved the main characters, especially Neil, the main male character. He isn't the typical hero and he has officially become my favorite for the foreseeable future :)

If Karen Robards reads this, please keep writing historical romances. I'm not into this obsession with the vampire/supernatural books and when I find an author who can write historicals as well as you can, I hate to think there are no more to follow because it's not the trend at the moment. Thanks for the great read!

Although the Napoleonic Wars are over with the little dictator dead, in 1817 the British War Office still seeks out French sympathizers. Near the top of their wanted dead list is dangerous half British-half French assassin Neil "Angel of Death" Severin.

When Neil and Lady Elizabeth Banning meet, each is instantly attracted to one another after he rescues her from her latest rejected suitor. However, Beth is unaware that her hero is playing a deadly game with her brother-in-law planning to use her as a pawn in a deadly cat and mouse contest. However, his scheme is devastated when he falls in love and when sex slavers kidnap his beloved Beth to sell at auction in Trelawney Castle. In spite of knowing the risk he takes, Neil attempts a rescue that if he succeeds puts him in jeopardy with the Home Office.

The third Banning Sisters Regency romance (see Scandalous and Irresistible) is a great fast-paced adventure tale from the moment Neil crashes the ball and never slows down. The lead couple is a terrific pairing as she rejects suitors though that hurts her reputation and he has a death warrant issued for his head. With a wonderful twist, Karen Robards provides a fabulous historical tale.

Harriet Klausner

Elizabeth Banning is breaking up with yet another fiance. Neil Severin, an assasin, is hiding in the library and overhears while her fiance attempts to force himself on her. So begins this Robard's tale of love and intrigue.
This was a hard one for me to rate because some of it was 5 star material. After much thought,I decided to break it down into what I liked and what I didn't.

What I liked:

I liked that Neil maintained his character of a cold blooded assasin. He was ok with having killed many people and made no apologies. I liked the adventure which at times took me away completely into another world. I liked that Neil didn't automatically step in to save Beth from being raped by her fiance -- she had to save herself. I understood Beth completely and why she did what she did. Beth is spunky, strong willed lady who was a good match for Neil.

What I didn't like:

This book needed more dialogue. During the down times in the book, I was told alot rather than discovering the story gradually. I was then told the same thing over and over again when I had gotten it 2 pages ago! I would then find myself skipping passages.

Neil's character is an assasin and I know there is a coldness to his character, but I didn't understand him as well as I would have liked. More pages on what he was thinking (and especially feeling) would have helped. Instead of being told so much about him, I would have like to have discovered it with dialogue and more of his thoughts about the heroine.

The love scenes where rushed and hurried and they could have been used to show the passion between the two main characters. In old Robard's historical novels love scenes where hot and heavy. These ones were just tepid. Neil couldn't just have passion for the heroine, but kept asking for permission the whole way. Does a cold blooded assasin do that? It interrupted the love scenes. We got that Beth agreed by what she was thinking and she didn't fight. We didn't need all the verbal asking that Neil did. Beth's character is drawn as too strong willed to be used.

From rabid Robard's fans, I may get killed by the above review but remeber it is just one person's humble opinion. There was much to like, but i gave it three stars cause it just missed the mark for me.

I really did enjoy this book from start to finish...I loved Elizabeth and Neil and really enjoyed how their relationship formed. Their adventure was fun to read. One wish I had was to see them get help or at least mention what they did about that castle....I mean they didn't mention that place again or that they at least sent someone to help the girls left behind....but other than that, I was a great read!

Karen Robards is an auto-buy author for me. I am thrilled that the Banning Sisters Trilogy is being offered in audio format. My preference is unabridged on CDs. The pace of Shameless was fast and exciting, never predictable. I also enjoy Karen Robards' romantic suspense novels. Keep writing Karen!

The gossips of the ton all agree on one thing: Lady Elizabeth Banning is a shameless flirt. She has jilted two fiancés and when she gives the third his congé, things go very badly. Luckily for Beth, a mysterious housebreaker helps her out of a precarious situation. What she doesn't know is that Neil Severin is no housebreaker...

Government-sanctioned assassin Neil has broken into the Duke of Richmond's home for one purpose: to kill Richmond, the only man who knows Neil's true identity and the one that has authorized Neil's assassination. When he runs into Beth, Neil comes up with an even better plan, and schemes to kidnap Beth and use her to lure the duke, her brother-in-law, to his demise. Only things go terribly awry when Beth is abducted by an angry former fiancé first. Now Neil must rescue Beth, outwit those after him, and prevent himself from falling into the one trap that could kill him...or save him: love.

Good things come to those who wait, and that's certainly true for readers, like myself, who have been waiting a long time to see the spirited Beth Banning get her own story. Karen Robards ends her Banning Sisters trilogy on a high note with Shameless. Beth is the same headstrong, irrepressible character she was in her sisters' books, Scandalous and Irresistible. I adore her for her strength of character, loyalty, and fortitude. She goes through some fairly harrowing ordeals (which I won't spoil) and uses her brain to get out of them. As for the man who captures Beth's heart...well, it takes a special kind of hero to match such a strong heroine. Happily, Neil is more than up to the task. I love that he's a take-charge kind of hero, but also listens to Beth. The two are perfect for one another and I delighted in watching them fall in love.

Though it's the final book in the Banning Sisters trilogy, Shameless can be read on its own. There are a few references to events in Scandalous and Irresistible, but no major spoilers. For me, it was wonderful to revisit all my favorite characters from the first two books. Overall, I found Shameless to be an enchanting story and an exciting conclusion to a fantastic trilogy.

Shayna
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

A great regency romance novel by Karen Robards and expertly performed and read by Rosalyn Landor in Audio form. The voices are distinguishable and the characters are believable. The novel has a lot of action and romance. The sexual scenes are described in good taste.I agree that Karen Robards should write more books in this genre.

This was a nearly perfect romance novel, IMHO. I wouldn't re-iterate the plot summary as it has been mentioned in the previous reviews very well. It is rare for me to finish a book and wish there were a 100 more pages, but that is how much I loved this book. Neil,the hero, is a complex character. But the author did such a great job making a real assasin into such a lovable, attractive character. Elizabeth's behavior was immature often, but having seen her grow up in the last 2 books I felt almost indulgent towards her behavior and I personally, didn't feel that annoyed with her. The presence of the characters from the prevoius 2 books in the trilogy was also a treat for me. I am so glad I "discovered" Karen Robards only recently as it would've been a really hard wait waiting for this book to come out as there was a huge interval between second & third books. I'd recommend reading the first 2 books in the trilogy before reading this one. I got this one used from Amazon as I didn't want to pay new hard cover price, but after reading this, I know I wouldn't have minded buying it new. I highly recommend this book for historical romance fans who also love some adventure as part of the story.

Lady Elizabeth's reputation was on it's last thread. She was already considered a heart breaker from scandalously breaking off two previous engagements. But, she couldn't shake the idea of becoming one man's property. Now, she was about to make it worst. The night her engagement to Lord Rosen was to be announced. She told him they were not suited and was calling the wedding off. Unfortunately for her, Lord Rosen wasn't going to let it happen. No, he had plans for their marriage and in his mind intended to force the marriage by ruining her. Soon, the altercation turn physical and Elizabeth realized he was trying to rape her, so she hit him over the head with the fire poker. I really liked Elizabeth's character. she was strong, independent, but still vulnerable. I loved that she was quick witted and didn't scare easy and when she was scared, she handled it admirably.

Fortunately, Neil Severin, wicked rogue an government sanctioned assassin, with an agenda of his own, was hiding in the library and had witness the incident. He helped her hide her unconscious and former fiance's body. It was either that or explain why he was sneaking her brother-in-law Duke of Richmond's house in the first place. His intentions were to kill Richmond, as he was the only man alive who knew Niel's true identity. But, after meeting Elizabeth, he changed his plans and decided to kidnap her and lure Richmond to him. Unfortunately, Lord Rosen beats him to it. Now, Neil's new plan was to rescue Elizabeth. At first, I didn't like Neil. I mean seriously, what man stands by and watches a woman nearly get raped? Sure, he says he wouldn't have let it happen...but personally, I don't think it should have gotten as far as it did. But, as the story continued, he grew on me...and by the time I closed the book, I forgave him.

Elizabeth and Neil were separately interesting in their own right. Each had secrets and ambitions. But when they were together...woohoo, the chemistry was hot. I thought it was fun to watch as Elizabeth managed to get herself in some very unfortunate situations and the frustration she caused Neil. I especially loved when he went to rescue her from the sex-slavers. She refused to go with him unless he rescued all the women. It was one predicament after another...and along the way they fall in love.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. I thought the plot was original, complex, and compelling. I really appreciated the author adding the darker and more violent elements into the story. In truth, I think it added a credibility that many historical romances don't have. Love isn't always walks in the park and ballroom dances. It's messy, complicated, and not always pleasant. I also thought the author did a great job with the character development.Each character had depth and substance that not only made them interesting but engaging. I enjoyed watching as Elizabeth over came her fears of commitment and Niel finding something or should I say someone, that was more exciting and adventurous than working for the government. Shameless was an adventurous and fast paced read that left me hungry for more. This was the third novel in the Banning Sisters trilogy and the first book I have read from this author. Fortunately for me, this was a great stand alone novel...although, I hope to read the other two books soon.