Tiger by the Tail [Paperback]

Casey Claybourne (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1999

He had a tiger's temper...She had a woman's will...Who's taming whom?

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Claybourne's newest historical romance (after Jaguar Eyes) is fresh, fast-paced fun. Independent Melisande Mooresby requires a husbandAone who can pass as a gentlemanAfor three weeks only. Once her viscount grandfather is satisfied she's well wed, she'll finally gain her inheritance to fund a house of reformAand her younger, secretly pregnant sister will be free to wed her beloved. Melisande plucks a very handsome Scot out of the town jail to play the part of groom. Reluctant until he realizes his freedom is only an easy "I do" and an annulment away, Will Taggart agrees, keeping his own motives to himself. Once at Mooresby Hall, Melisande's brother delightfully ups the stakes for Will. As Melisande turns her "brute" into a gentleman worthy of her hand, Will discovers that the fringe benefits of the marriage just may foil his own plans for the future. In all, this is a charming and entertaining love story.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Dimunitive but seemingly fearless, 22-year-old Melisande Moorseby, known as the She-Devil of Moorseby Hall, seems an unstoppable force as she peruses the inhabitants of the local jail to find an urgently needed husband. After her selection is delivered to the hall, she discovers that William Taggert is far from the biddable lout she thought she had found. A Scot who had been living in America, Will has his own reasons for going through what is supposed to be a sham marriage that will be annulled as soon as Melisande's younger sister is safely wed, a plan that is thwarted by the unexpected passions of the newlyweds. Although the regency-era setting is lightly drawn, Melisande's managerial competence and her plan for penal reform in conjunction with rehabilitation of the Taggert distillery in Scotland add an interesting dimension. Claybourne's fascinatingly complex characters and a lively, fast-moving plot, along with sensual lovemaking, should make this a hit with readers of spicy historical romance. Diana Tixier Herald

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Berkley; PF edition (May 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425163210
• ISBN-13: 978-0425163214
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,440,007 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars So So, August 10, 2000

By 

TooManyHobbies "too_many_hobbies" (New Orleans, LA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tiger by the Tail (Paperback)

OK I guess I'm in the minority here, but I just could not get into this book...

After reading the first chapter of Tiger by the Tail, I was very impressed and excited. Ms Claiborne's writing style was witty, and the interactions between Melisande and the goalkeeper Mr. Bell was delightful. The part about the "She-Devil of Mooresby Hall" was a hoot, and Mr. Bell's reaction to the She-Devil's offer of marriage was one terrific piece of writing. After reading only a few pages of the book I was well and truly "hooked", so I settled in for a long night of reading.

Unfortunately, my enthusiasm for the book began to fade as the character of William Tiger Taggart took shape. After a few chapters I started getting irritated with this Will person, and after a few more I really started to dislike him. I found him conniving and underhanded, and mercenary to an extreme. About halfway through the book William's financial predicament is explained and Ms Claybourne starts to accentuate Will's more redeeming qualities, but unfortunately I never got over my initial dislike of Will.

I also found that there were a lot of loose ends in the book and a lot of actions that were not completely explained. I can't go into too much detail without giving away the story, but I never really understood why Will left Scotland or why he came back. Another compliant I have about the book was the abrupt ending. It took 295 pages of text to develop the problems, conflicts and misunderstandings between the characters, and FOUR pages to resolve everything. Frankly I felt a little cheated. The Epilogue was also painfully brief (a little over a page) and uninformative. I would have like to know if the distillery succeeded, did Wildcat go back to America, did the prison reform experiment work, was Melisande brother able to manage the estate on his own, did Sister Maggie ever visit again, did the people of Devonshire miss the She-Devil?

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Humorous Regency romance, April 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Tiger by the Tail (Paperback)

William Taggert was on his way home from the colonies when he broke the nose of the mayor's son and landed in gaol. The next morning, Lady Melisande Moorseby, known in these parts as the "She-devil", offers William a deal. She will get him released from jail if he would play the part of her husband for three-four weeks. Seeing this as the fastest way back home, William agrees.

As the newlyweds play their various roles to trick her grandfather so her sister can marry, they begin to fall in love. William decides he wants to stay married to Melisande and will do anything to insure that happens. He begins a seduction campaign that ends with his abduction of her. Though the lady has tamed the tiger, he has not successfully completed his quest to get her to stop wanting temporary marriage.

TIGER BY THE TAIL showcases the talent of Casey Claybourne who provides readers with a humorous historical romance. The enjoyable story line never slows down for even one page. The lead protagonists are a charming duo struggling with the impact that love has on their original arrangement. Ms. Claybourne knows how to create a delightful Regency romance.

Harriet Klausner

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Engaging writing, fun heroine, but..., November 19, 2000

By 

Carol Peterson Hennekens (Colorado Springs, CO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tiger by the Tail (Paperback)

I read this book in one sitting, which speaks well for the pacing and the writer's voice. There's not much original about this marriage of convinience tale but Claybourne tells it with plenty of wit and humor. Melisande is a fun and endearing heroine. William is missing some important details - why did he run away to America and such.

I'll hold on to my copy of this book for now and be happy to lend it to a friend, but I won't fret if it doesn't come back.