What A Woman Needs (Zebra Debut) [Paperback]

Caroline Linden (Author)

Book Description

Series: Zebra Debut | Publication Date: August 1, 2005

How hard can it be to marry an Heiress? Not terribly, Stuart Drake thinks, if you're good-looking, charming, and in line for a Viscount title, which, fortunately, he is. To end his penniless existence, he simply has to convince his intended bride's shrewish, wizened old guardian that he isn't a fortune hunter...which, unfortunately, he is in the extreme. Still, once he meets the old witch, how difficult could it prove to charm her? Quite, actually. Especially when the lady in question is temptation made flesh - a gorgeous widow with a reputation for knowing a rake when she sees one, having bedded many herself. She'd rather die than let Stuart win. And with his plans thwarted, Stuart has only one option: to take revenge on his tormentor through seduction. But learning what this woman needs might only leave him hungry for more...

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Stuart Drake is down to his last couple of pounds, but he is poised to marry a young heiress if he can convince her strict guardian to approve the match. Miss Susan Tratter has warned him that her guardian is a strict old crone who will be difficult to deal with, but handsome and charming Stuart isn't worried. Then he is almost seduced at a party by a dark-haired, voluptuous siren who turns out to be Charlotte, Susan's guardian. The countess has no intention of allowing a fortune hunter to snare her niece. Stuart realizes that he may lose everything, and then Susan disappears. Charlotte assumes she has run off with Stuart and forces him at gunpoint to take her with him back to London. Stuart finds his captor fascinating and terribly attractive, and Charlotte feels the same for him. Nothing about either of their situations has changed, however, and yet everything changes. Wonderfully drawn characters, amusing and empathetic, define Linden's highly enjoyable tale. Maria Hatton
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

A great debut filled with passion and the right touch of intrigue. -- Hannah Howell, NYT bestselling author

A skillful blend of scorching sensuality and the tenderness that tempers passion... Don't miss it! -- Eloisa James, NYT bestselling author

This cleverly plotted book is filled with intelligent characters, twists and turns, sexually charged repartee and danger. -- Romantic Times, August 2005

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Zebra; First Printing STATED Edition edition (August 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0821779303
• ISBN-13: 978-0821779309
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #642,180 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Caroline Linden knew from an early age she was a reader, but not a writer. Despite an addiction to Trixie Belden and Nancy Drew, she studied physics and dreamed of being an astronaut. She earned a math degree from Harvard College and then wrote software for a financial services firm, all the while reading everything in sight, but especially romance. Only after she had children, and found herself with only picture books to read, did she begin to make up a story of her own. To her immense surprise, it turned out to be an entire novel--and it was much more fun than writing computer code. Nine years, ten books, two Red Sox championships, and one dog later, she has never been happier with her decision. She lives with her family in New England.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A superior debut!!!, July 23, 2005

By 

Dallas Reader (Dallas, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What A Woman Needs (Zebra Debut) (Paperback)

If you like the large regency romances(a la Lisa Kleypas, Julia Quinn, Eloisa James, etc.), this one's for you! Even if you're a romance reader but are repulsed by the regency genre, this one's still for you! I don't care for reviews that summarize the plot but let me just say it's about a rogue who's looking to marry a fortune and an aunt who's out to protect her niece from just such a rogue. Great characterization of two mature (in their 30s!) individuals who are not what they seem. Wonderful dialogue. And not a contrived plot device to be seen. What a refreshing change in the typical paperback regency! I took a chance on an unknown author and was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the writing. Do yourself a favor and buy this book!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A New Voice To Watch In Romance, September 21, 2005

By 

D. Lane "Book lover" (austin, tx United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: What A Woman Needs (Zebra Debut) (Paperback)

From page one the characters in this charming book reached out and grabbed me. Page after page I just got sucked in deeper until I closed the book with a happy sigh. This book had everything you need to create a good romance: a dashing hero, a beautiful feisty heroine, something that always seems to interfere with the hero and heroine, and, most of all...PASSION! The love scenes are ample & steamy, and the plot is a good one. A fast paced book with an intricate plot that I cannot help but enjoy. What a Woman Needs has a strong (but not obnoxious) heroine who is in no way ordinary, a back story which is compelling but doesn't get in the way of the love story, and of course a wonderful hero. Both the hero and the heroine have secrets of their own, which are slowly brought to light by the author, like layers being peeled from a (very good) onion....

It was written with an amazing level of intensity and feeling that my heart was pumping furiously with the palatable passion and keen scents of danger in the story. The relationship between the leads is endearing. The secondary characters are enjoyable as well. 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. The interaction between the leads was great. They really enjoyed smarting off to each other because they did not like a lot about each other in the beginning. But their disagreements were often very funny. This book is sharp and fast-moving. Filled with Lovable and exciting characters. This was a very entertaining book. This book was a pleasure to read and I couldn't put it down until it was finished. Filled with Lovable characters, exciting and not too heavy mystery twists. I positively devoured this book. :-) This book is a gem.

Caroline Linden has found a perfect match for the notorious Stuart Drake with feisty Charlotte Griffolino. They are well matched in temperament, intelligence and in their unhappy childhood. It was an interesting. There is enough conflict to make the story line interesting and not so much that your left wondering why they ever got together.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sexy historical romantic suspense, August 5, 2005

By 

booksforabuck "BooksForABuck" (Long Beach, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: What A Woman Needs (Zebra Debut) (Paperback)

Stuart Drake needs an heiress. Decades from securing his title and ancestral properties, Stuart has bought a nice little estate--but now his father has cut off his income and Stuart stands to lose everything--unless he can find an heiress and marry her. Fortunately, there are plenty of heiresses around and Susan Tratter seems like an ideal candidate. Admittedly he doesn't love her, but she seems infatuated with him and she's pleasant enough, and rich. That is a better basis than most marriages. There's only the simple matter of persuading Susan's aunt.

Charlotte Griffolino, Susan's young aunt, knows fortune-seekers too well. She recognizes Stuart's game immediately and will do whatever it takes to protect her niece. What it takes starts with ruining his reputation by repeating London gossip and, when Stuart breaks into her home in an attempt to recover his engagement ring, Charlotte repeats the favor. From there, things get sexy in a hurry. But there's something else going on--someone has tracked Charlotte to England, is rifling through her things, and absconds with Susan. Now Charlotte has no one to turn to except Stuart--the man she did everything to destroy.

Author Caroline Linden starts sexy, with a bondage scene, but really hits her stride when the intrigue portion of the book kicks in. The with Charlotte and Stuart working together to solve the mystery of Susan's disappearance really work, as does Charlotte's decision to risk her reputation and have an affair with Stuart. Stuart makes a great tortured hero and Caroline is a woman with a very definite past. Fans of Amanda Quick will definitely want to get their hands on this sexy regency-era historical/adventure.