Customer Reviews

To Pleasure a Prince

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The second installment in The Royal Brotherhood series, "To Pleasure the Prince" proved to be a very absorbing and engaging read. The series revolves around the lives of three half-brothers, all illegitimate children of England's Prince of Wales, George. The brothers are, Alexander Black, the Earl of Iversley; Marcus North, the sixth Viscount Draker; and Gavin Byrne, a powerful man in his own right even if he's not an aristocrat -- and they are united in their desire to help each other, and in their deep dislike for their natural father, the Prince of Wales. The first book, "In the Prince's Bed" was Alexander's story; this one focuses of the Viscount Draker, known to one and all as the Dragon Viscount.

Having decided at a very young age that he has no time for the shallow company of his peers, Viscount Draker has spent much of his time at his ancestral estate, Castlemaine, taking care of his younger sister, Louisa, and of his estates. All this changes, however, when Louisa comes of age and is ready to make her debut into society. Fortunately, Draker can count on the support of his married half-brother Alexander to sponsor Louisa's debut and to keep and eye on her. For Draker's greatest fear is that his royal father will try and reestablish his relationship with Louisa in order to get to him (Draker, that is). And his fears are realised when he discovers that Louisa is being courted by the Duke of Foxmoor, an intimate of the Prince's. Determined to drag Louisa back to Castlemaine (and to shoot Foxmoor if he must), Draker is startled beyond anything when Foxmoor's beautiful sister, Lady Regina Tremaine, turns up at his doorstep, determined to plead her brother's and Louisa's case. Intrigued and beguiled by Lady Regina's beauty and courage, Draker agrees to allow Foxmoor to court Louisa if he can court Lady Regina. Picking up the gauntlet that Draker has thrown down, Lady Regina agrees. A young woman who has been "out" in society foe quite a few years now, Lady Regina is quite used to handling men, and is sure that she handle the blunt, ill humoured and angry Dragon Viscount, who is rumoured to be an uncultured lout. But in Draker's case, Lady Regina is beginning to fear that she has bitten off more than she can chew. However, as the two begin to spend more time with each other, each begins to discover facets in the other's character that indicates that they are more suitably matched that either had ever thought possible. But Draker suffers from an instinctual distrust of beautiful women, and Lady Regina hides a shameful secret that she can never share with anyone. With these two seemingly insurmountable obstacles it looks as if this courtship will go no where in spite of the powerful attraction each has for the other. And then there is the awful suspicion that Lady Regina is beginning to have, that Draker may have been correct about the motive behind Foxmoor's courtship of Louisa. With her loyalties severely tested, and with her dark secret to hide, Lady Regina isn't sure about what she should to do or to whom she should turn for help...

I enjoyed "To Pleasure the Prince" from beginning to end. It's one of those novels that snares your interest from the very first page -- a hero with a tortured past, a heroine with a secret, and the passionate and sensual romance that develops between them -- if you're looking for a Regency-era romance novel that is character driven and that has everything necessary for a good, engrossing read, you can't go very wrong with "To Pleasure the Prince." The pacing was even and well sustained; and the manner in which the author allowed the story to be told was well done as well. I liked the manner in which Sabrina Jeffries developed the romance between Draker and Regina -- she gave us a romance about two people who were not only passionately drawn to each other, but who also needed each other emotionally as well. Darker's and Regina's romance was not one of smooth sailings; it was full of ups and downs and mistakes that each makes before the cathartic ending when a happily-ever after ending is achieved. And it was emotionally fulfilling as a result. A well written novel (in spite of the many, many modern phrases), "To Pleasure the Prince" was a satisfying read from start to finish, and I'm eagerly looking forward to the next installment in the Royal Brotherhood.

Altogether this was a fun read. Both main characters are likable. The wise and socially adept Lady Regina confronts the Dragon Viscount, Marcus, over his overprotective handling of younger sister Louisa. There is an immediate attraction, of course, this IS a romance novel followed by stolen kisses and stolen, well, other things. With the help of the supporting characters, you will enjoy following Marcus and Regina to settle their differences. Although, I have a minor complaint that such a psychologically minded paragon would see right through the gruff Marcus and fall for him, bad behavior entirely ignored. Minor problem, forget I complained.

The major problem is the metaphor. Ack! Not again! Every five pages the characters made some reference to Regina being called La Belle Dame Sans Merci and Marcus being called the Dragon Viscount. It ruined the love scenes when Regina every time makes some dragon comment. Oh, my big, strong dragon. I have tamed the dragon. Will you lock me in your dungeon, dragon? Burn me with your fiery breath? Then, Marcus, oh, lady, you really are without mercy to make me service you again. You siren. Over and over again. Just drop the metaphor. Please. Ms. Jeffries, have you no mercy?

I probably can't say it any better than the other reviewers that have given this book 5 stars, but I had to at least second them. If you like the beauty-and-the-beast plotline, this is one of the best I have ever read. Marcus is terrifically gruff and stubborn and prideful, and Regina is equally well-written as a determined, spunky and compassionate woman who trusts her instincts when she sees beneath his armor to the caring man he truly is. Witty dialogue, intriguing secondary characters and scorching love scenes all mesh perfectly to make this one of Jefferies' most compelling novels. A definite keeper!

I did not expect to actually like this book. I've tried a few of Sabrina Jeffries books, and never got into them. This is the second part of her Royal Brotherhood series, the first one being "In the Princes Bed". I own both of these, but read this one first, because the hero of this book is more dark and brooding, more to my tastes. Surprisingly, I read it in one setting. I'd never realized what a great storyteller that Sabrina Jeffries is, because I never actually put much effort into finishing her books.

This is the story of Marcus North, Viscount Draker, who is the bastard son of the Prince of Wales. He despises polite society because society shuns him for his birth and outspoken ways. This is not a man that rides on the coat tails of convention, but a man that marches to his own reclusive tune, despite all the horrible rumors that his mother spread about him years earlier. All he wants is to stay at his estate and to also keep his sister, Louisa, safe from the debauchery of Prinny's court.

In comes the beautiful Lady Regina Tremaine, who is determined to make Lord Draker understand that her brother, Simon, is truly interested in his sister and not just trying to acheive the status of Prime Minister by using her for Prinny's own scandalous reasons. Lord Draker agrees to let her brother court his sister as long as she will let him court her...but he doesn't really expect Regina to lower her popular status in society by showing up at balls with him on her arm. However, she does agree. Regina is drawn to his towering frame and finds herself very eager for his company.

There are a few of those awful misunderstandings that historical romances always have in abundance, but the witty repartee' between the hero and heroine make you forget that there are secrets being kept on both sides. The love scenes are hot,hot,hot!

There is one hilarious part in the book where Lord Draker walks into the ballroom with Regina and all eyes turned to him, a hush falling over the crowd. Lord Draker glowers at them all and growls, "I've come to devour the virgins...anyone care to tell me where they sit?" Oh, my, I actually laughed out loud, causing my husband who was watching his boxing on t.v. to look at me like I was insane. That made me laugh harder. I'm still giggling over some of the things that Lord Draker does in this book. Sabrina Jeffries makes a man who would be imposing and mean, become imposing and hilarious. I recommend this book to everyone who enjoys a great regency, really nothing to complain of here.

Marcus was a perfect hero and Regina is just the match for him. I found the characters to be multi-dimensional and the author weaves a mystery into the story without slowing it down or interrupting the romantic flow. I loved that were too lost souls who found each other. They healed each others wounds. Marcus is handsome, sexy, intelligent, but embittered by life. I am always a sucker for stories with "heartless" heroes who find their souls through the love of a good woman. The dialogue that ensues between Marus and Regina is just fast paced and very enjoyable. The plot and characters seemed fresh, the pace was quick, and it was a totally engrossing read. This was an awfully good and original read! It was written with an amazing level of intensity and feeling that my heart was pumping furiously with palatable passion. This was just the kind of romance novel I love. Wonderful characters. Characters that seems real because they are not perfect-something most novels like this lack. I absolutely loved this book. The author has a great gift in her ability to develop characters. I must have laughed a hundred times and I absolutely couldn't put the book down until I was finished.

Once again Sabrina Jeffries delivers a sensuous, humorous, adventurous plot to her many fans with this second installment of her Royal Brotherhood series. Ms. Jeffries' knowledge of the period paints such vivid pictures that her readers feel they're a part of the action, and the underlying sexual tension will leave you squirming in your chair. Marcus, yet another of her luscious leading men, seethes with animal attraction, and I can't wait to meet the third prince in this series. Also recommend Ms. Jeffries "After the Abduction" "Dance of Seduction" and "Married to the Viscount."

This book has as much romantic tension as an old Hollywood movie (ie Philadelphia Story)...where people talked and fought with a quick wit and sound resolve. This book is a great character driven love affair. Thanks for the great afternoon Ms. Jefferies.

The thing I love most about Sabrina Jeffries is that her stories are DIFFERENT. So many heroines are perfect, and so many heroes are charming, but her characters in this book were anything but! (And that's NOT a bad thing.) Lady Regina is a woman with a serious secret flaw, and Marcus is about the LEAST charming hero I've ever read, but I fell in love with him by the end of the book, just like Regina! This was a wonderful, tightly woven, satisfying read, and I can't wait to get to the next book!

Wonderful!! Sexy, clever, and entertaining. Loved it!!! This is book 2 in the Royal Brotherhood series. I recommend skipping book 1 and go straight to book 2 & 3. (Book 1 is OK, but its not on par with book 2 & 3, and these books can be read in any order.) If you love this book, be sure to pick up "Any Duke Will Do". It takes place 7 years later, and you will see many of these characters again.

I read the book in one day and having done that I instantly regretted that I let it sit on my book shelf for few weeks before getting to it. I really can't improve much on wonderful reviews written here.

It has been a while since I just wanted to sit and read a book all day. But Ms. Jeffries has done exactly that. The book is full of fast and witty dialogs, some very romantic scenes and even some suspence. I found myself enjoying reading every single line in the book (lately I have been skipping paragraphs) and not wanting to miss a single detail. Ms. Jeffries kept my attention going all the way. I would recommend this book to the most discriminating book lover.