Customer Reviews

Worth Any Price (Bow Street, Book 3)

5 star:		(53)
4 star:		(26)
3 star:		(14)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I have been waiting months to find out the fate of the intriguing Nick Gentry, who, if you read Lady Sophia's Lover, was last "offered" a legitimate position as a Bow Street runner by his nemesis/now brother-in-law Sir Ross Cannon. At last the wait is over, and, as usual, Lisa Kleypas delivers!! We find out some very interesting things about Nick in the beginning of the story-things which help us to see Nick in another light and begin to empathize with him more. While you are awed by the street savvy devil-may-care Nick Gentry, you will also come to love the man who was robbed of his birthright and must struggle with and travel a path that leads him back to a life he was meant to have.

Nick's fate is decided when he is sent to search for Miss Charlotte Howard ("Lottie"), the runaway bride of Lord Radnor. He finds her on the estate of Lord Westcliff, where she has become as inconspicuous as possible. From the first moment he sees her, Nick knows he must have her. Instead of returning her to Lord Radnor, Nick finds himself offering her the one thing he never expected-marriage. Although Nick doesn't know it at the time, Charlotte becomes his saving grace. But, can Nick reconcile his haunted past with his future?

You will like Charlotte as a heroine. She is strong-willed and optimistic, despite the fact that she has a tainted secret she'd like to forget. She is drawn to Nick from the beginning and sees past his hardness. But, can she forgive him for betraying her trust? Can she come to love a man she has promised to marry, but finds she doesn't really know at all?

As always, the story between the characters is mature and sensually rich. Unlike other authors, the heros and heroines in an LK novel grow and develop before our eyes. There isn't the harsh separation or cruel deceptions between the characters. Instead the characters are able to explore their feelings and come to a natural progression of love. Not to mention, Ms. Kleypas is always able to reinvent the love scene, giving us more and keeping us guessing with each new novel.

This is the last of the Bow Street Runners series, and I really hate to see this hunky, dashing group of men go away. However, Ms. Kleypas still has a few minor characters to possibly develop into future novellas or stories. Dr. Linley or Lord Westcliff definitely would make good protagonists in a story. I especially like that Dr. Linley. Although he doesn't play a major role in this story, I am still wondering what makes the good doctor tick.

You will fully enjoy all facets of Worth Any Price. The story is brilliantly written, the characters are mature and memorable, and the passion is beyond compare. To me, this story is worth any price...

This book was so worth the price to buy it and absorb this story right into your soul - Lisa Kleypas does that for me - and this, as in all her novels, left me in awe! It is the sequel to 'Lady Sophia's Lover'as our very sexy and accomplished lover/hero is Sophia's brother Nick Gentry. In that prequel, Nick was the scourge of the bow-street runners, and at the end of that story, Nick had been blackmailed by his sister Sophia's husband Sir Ross Cannon to work for and become a bow street runner himself. Please note here that just for the record, even if you have not read the prequel - this book stands quite well on it's own. As would happen with the runners, they would sometimes take on private investigations and so Nick was on the trail of a run away bride who had been missing for two years. Naturally, being the best at what he does, he finds the beautiful Charlotte Howard but being so totally attracted to her and sensing her terror at being sent back she is given three choices, one of which is marrying Nick! Being a bright girl, and also feeling the attraction she marries this very complex, and handsome man!

This book is HOT - STEAMY - and absolutely, deliciously SENSUAL and should come with a warning to not start it at night as you will not be able to put it down. The very complexity of who Nick is and what make him tick is amazing and you will get this from the very first pages. The plot is relatively simple and not a great mystery - but it is still quite an amazing read! I highly recommend this book to buy and be placed on your keeper shelf with - if you are a Lisa Kleypas fan - all of the rest of her books!

This book is a trademark of Kleypas's writing. It is steamy, passsionate and has a hero that would make any woman tingle. He is also a character unlike any other. There is so much more to write about him but giving that away would ruin the book. Simply, he is not what he seems.
This is the sequel to Lady Sophia's Lover and if you read that book, you know what is in store.
This story is about Nick Gentry, brother of the heroine from Lady Sophia's Lover and former thief turned straight man, working for the Bow Runners.
Nick's latest job is to find Charlotte Howard, who is hiding from her fiance and family. She has been missing for two years because the though of marrying a man her parents' forced her to turns her stomach.
When Nick finds hers, he realizes she is the one for him and won't let her go. He must have her to redeem his soul, which he lost years ago. But first both must learn to trust each other and be willing to give and receive.
Nick is the main focus of this story and from the first page you will be amazed by him. There are so many secrets about him and he is a Kleypas trademark hero. He is brooding, alpha but with a touch of vulnerability. And Charlotte is his equal half that shows him what it is to love.
And the love scenes are STEAMY, HOT and too good for words.
This book shows what a true talent Kleypas is.
Also recommended along the same lines is Suddenly You and Lady Sophia's Lover. If steamy and passionate stories are your thing, pick up all three of these books.

Katiebabs

LADY SOPHIA'S LOVER

Very simply, Lisa Kleypas is the Joe Dimaggio of Historical Romance. Her stories have a smoothness, grace and power that is absolutely unmatched, and she carves out each tale with cool perfection and ease. Effortlessly summoning up all the luxury and allure of Victorian manners, clothing and cuisine, she combines the glamorous settings with deeply engrossing characters and raw, almost modern sexual pyrotechnics.

Nick Gentry was the villain in the previous novel, LADY SOPHIA'S LOVER. As a bold master thief forced into a catching criminals as an elite Bow Street Runner, Nick is a conflicted character to begin with. Added to that, his childhood was marred by violence and sexual abuse, and he is deeply distrustful of emotions and authority.

Nick's boss, Ross Cannon, is a stern father figure who makes Nick into a better man. Like most romance authors, Kleypas has a tendency to idealize male authority figures, and Ross is no exception. He is the perfect surrogate father to Nick, very demanding yet also quietly understanding. It helps that he's married to Nick's sister Sophia, of course. But Ross' decision to send Nick to rescue the kidnapped Charlotte Howard represents a real second chance for the bad boy gone good.

Charlotte Howard is running from a cold, controlling man, and at first Nick seems like an equally overpowering figure. But, after a while, Charlotte senses how tormented and confused Nick is -- underneath the devastating sexual allure. The two of the come together in a sexual explosion so hot it literally scorches the pages! The problem is, each step towards love drags Nick towards a final surrender to Ross and respectability. Will he find a way to marry Charlotte and keep his own roguish identity intact?

I loved this book. More than most romance authors, Lisa Kleypas understands that men have deep emotional relationships outside of the bedroom. Ross and Nick are, in their own way, as much the center of this story as Nick and Charlotte. By making peace with Ross, Nick is finally coming to terms with his own abandonment and abuse. Charlotte's love is the one thing that allows Nick to accept his place in the world and be the man he was always meant to be. A very powerful story, smoothly told.

We first met Nick Gentry in Lady Sophia's Lover. He was a shady, mysterious, magnetic character--in other words, he showed so much promise as a hero that I COULDN'T WAIT for Kleypas to write his story.

In Worth Any Price, Nick Gentry is now working on the good guys' side as a Bow Street Runner, but his past is still shrouded in mystery. Nick is asked to track down Charlotte Howard, a nobleman's runaway fiancee. Nick finds her working at a large estate, and decides to observe her more closely under the guise of an aristocratic guest. He soon finds that he cannot turn Lottie over to her repulsive fiance, and coerces her to marry him instead. The crux of the story comes after the marriage, when virtual strangers must learn to trust and love each other, and Nick's secrets must finally be revealed if he is ever to move on with his life and be happy.

I have no complaints about Lottie. She was smart, strong and spunky--not at all that whining, throw-herself-headlong-into-trouble damsel in distress I hate so much. She was strong enough to defy her family in an era when it was unheard of, and real enough to go back and try to reconcile with them once she'd married Nick.

Unfortunately, Worth Any Price is much more Nick's story than Lottie's, as every issue in the book seems to depend in some way on this one specific incident that occurred in his past. Perhaps it's just me, but I thought Kleypas was setting Nick up to be a tortured hero type in the genre of Gabriel, from Gabriel's Woman (if you've read that book or its synopsis, then you know what I mean). He has gone years without being able to let anyone touch him, he isn't close to anyone emotionally and will not let himself fall in love with anyone...Really, the clues were all there.

In addition, although he is in reality a nobleman, no one knows this but his sister and brother-in-law (again, see Lady Sophia's Lover), and he has no intention of claiming the role--again, because of that incident in his past.

Given all this, when Nick's "Big Secret" was finally revealed, my reaction was: "That's it???? This is the big traumatic event that has scarred him for life and prevented him from loving anyone?" I was so annoyed that I almost threw the book across the room. Believe me, when you find out the Big Reason, it makes Nick seem as melodramatic as one of those latin soap operas. Needless to say, he also loses all credibility as an Alpha hero.

With this flimsy excuse for pathos, the author would've done better to focus on Lottie's story; parents basically selling their daughters to vile noblemen in order to attain a higher standard of living would have been a much better central issue.

I have been with Lisa Kleypas since Midnight Angel, and will continue to glom all her new books. This book is disappointing only because I had built up such expectations about Nick, and because, frankly, I expect more from Kleypas than from the average romance author. Especially after works like Lady Sophia's Lover, Suddenly You and Where Dreams Begin.

Kleypas has become a reliable author in my book because she repeatedly delivers one great story after another. She provides romance readers with unusual storylines and unique characters. Nick Gentry is legendary as a thief taker in London. At his brother-in-law's (Ross Cannon from Lady Sophie's Lover) insistence, Nick has taken his skills and put them to use at the Bow Street Runners. He has been pleased working with the runners for a number of years and is still in demand working contractual private investigations on the side. When Worth Any Price opens, Nick has been hired by Lord Radnor to locate his run-away fiancée, Charlotte (Lottie) Howard. Soon Nick has located her and visits an earl's country estate in search of her. He believes she is working at the estate as a lady's companion. When Lottie meets Nick, she is instantly attracted to him and Nick is drawn to her as well. But, before he has the opportunity to complete his investigation and reveal the true purpose of his visit, the earl exposes Nick and his objectives to Lottie.

Nick's character is a well-written hero for romance. He has a strong personality - yes domineering with a swagger. Although his roots are aristocratic he has no desire to live that life. He has enjoyed his years as a highly skilled detective and has made his own fortune. There are many mysteries concerning Nick's previous business dealings and as a youth growing up. He is not ashamed or even necessarily secretive about his former questionable occupations during his adult life. But his youth is shrouded in secrets that he refuses to talk about or acknowledge and are deeply entrenched in the story line.

Charlotte is a very likable heroine. She has gentle strength that allows us to see her as an undemanding and mature woman. She also has some real scars from her teen years. There is good reason for her to hide from Nick's contract employer, Lord Radnor. As she explains the truth behind her hiding, Nick realizes that he cannot report her whereabouts and must protect her. The attraction they had initially felt for one another has heightened significantly. Once Lottie has explained to the earl and Nick her reasons for hiding, she offers herself to Nick, as his mistress, if he will protect her from the dreaded Lord Radnor who is basically considered her enemy. Nick, however, does not accept her offer as his mistress. He insists on marriage between them instead.

So begins the usual denial of strong feelings - especially on the part of the hero. He finds it very difficult to accept that he may be very besotted with Lottie. But it is a most entertaining story even if some of the plot lines are typical romance stuff. Kleypas does it with such an edge that it captivates you and makes Worth Any Price a difficult book to put down. Nick's character is unusual in that Charlotte is only the second woman he has been with physically. However, don't let that little fact fool you. These sensual scenes steam and steam and certainly deserve that 9 sensual rating from Amazon. Since I always include a sensual rating in my reviews, I will further emphasize these sexy scenes rate a solid 4 ½ out of 5 (see More About Me for rating guidelines).
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This is a fun tale and yet very serious at times. I adore stories in which the couple gets married early in the book. I like seeing the couple work out their marriage and this particular marriage is very fun to watch, without a doubt. This is one book I wanted to consume as fast as possible. But, as I read it, I knew I should be slowly savoring it instead. This is the third of a series. Someone to Watch Over Me is number one, Lady Sophia's lover is number two and Worth Any Price is number three. It is a highly recommended "read again" and on the keeper shelf for good.

Worth Any Price by Lisa Kleypas is the sequel to her sensual and lovely historical romance "Lady Sophia's Lover" but it easily stands alone and is just as lovely as and even more sensual than its prequel.

Charlotte (Lottie) Howard has successfully escaped an arranged marriage to a wretched man who had grand plans of controlling every aspect of her life. She's been in hiding for two years, pleasantly spending her time as a lady's companion. Though she misses her siblings, and even her grasping parents, her life in hiding is preferable to marrying evil Lord Radnor.

Nick Gentry, a Bow Street Runner, has been hired by Radnor to locate Lottie. To infiltrate society he assumes the identity of bored aristocrat "Lord Sydney" and quickly locates her. But something unexpected happens -- loner Nick is fascinated by Lottie and is reluctant to hand her over to the smarmy Radnor. Her uncommon willfulness and wild need to remain free to live a life of her own choosing draws him to her and he proposes marriage. She reluctantly agrees but the man she's just agreed to marry isn't all that he appears to be.

Nick and Lottie get along fabulously well, considering their basically strangers when married, and their life together is nearly idyllic. The only thing keeping it from being perfect is Nick's carefree attitude toward his own life and his inability to let go of (and share with Lottie) his horrific past. His brother-in-law (Ross Cannon from "Lady Sophia's Lover") does everything in his power to save Nick from himself, even forcing him to claim his title and rightful place in society as the real "Lord Sydney" but his efforts only enrage Nick. Will the love of his family and Lottie be enough to save Nick and free him from the demons that threaten to consume him?

Well, yeah, of course. This wouldn't be a romance if the hero jumped off the deep end now would it? But the getting there is what makes the book emotionally satisfying and so much better than most of the romances I've read recently. From their first meeting Lottie and Nick's relationship is filled with secret longing and barely restrained passion and once they become intimate their romance becomes an almost all-consuming thing. It's wonderful to read about two people who "fit" together so well and whose obstacle isn't silly or petty. Also helping things along is the fact that both characters are interesting people. Nick's past gives him an unpredictable edge while Lottie's past gives her the ability to understand, accept and support her tortured husband. She knows, only all too well, the fear and loathing that comes with living a life one detests. When these two come together it's magic, if you'll excuse the lame cliché. If you're in the mood for a sensitive romance (with only a smidgen of suspense thrown in) this one's a good bet.

~ Laurie Shallah

This bodice-ripper of a romance opens with the tortured Bow-Street runner Nick Gentry seeking sexual expertise from an experienced courtesan. One might quickly jump into the conclusion that Lisa Kleypas has decided to forfeit her sensuality for eager blatant prurience and infidelity. However as we read on, the opening scene becomes tragic as Nick succumbs to lust to purge his guilt and nightmares of his afflictions during his imprisonment.

Worth Any Price is immediately a haunting romance that triumphs with passion and poignancy - and a superb follow-up to its equally measured predecessor Lady Sophia's Lover. As readers reassociate with Nick Gentry - the villain in the predecessor, they learn that he is actually Viscount John Sydney who is thrown to the underbelly of London at a young age and survives a jail-term through a switch of identity. He becomes the hardened crime-lord who is later captured by magistrate (and ironically brother-in-law) Sir Ross Cannon . To escape punishment by death, he is to serve his sentence as a Bow -Street Runner supervised by Sir Grant Morgan.

The dangerous job soon subconsciously becomes an outlet to gamble with his life through risks for life is now beyond hope and aim. The pivotal moment comes when he finds Charlotte Howard in Hampshire for the deranged Lord Radnor. His protective instincts are aroused by the stunning beauty whose life has been ruined like a Pgymalion fable. To save her from Radnor's harrasses, he decides to marry her but both are convinced that love can never enter the equation.

The steamy interludes of exotic passion emerges surprisingly tender and erotic with an undercurrent of intimacy and empathy for our tormented couple. Ms. Kleypas meshes hot-blooded romance with careful research on the period and peerage as well as deft characterization that easily makes Worth Any Price her most accomplished so far. The best moment of the read - the climactic declaration of love - is especially priceless.

Nick Gentry is without a doubt one of my favorite Kleypas heroes (the other is the hero from "Suddenly You") and I will definitely not forget his character. I loved the action and mystery in this bow street book too - and I love the tension between the lovers and especially the drama between Nick and Ross still hating eachother. I love it! More props to Lord Westcliff (can't wait to read about him in "Autumn"). favorite scenes include: the May day festival, the shower, Nick telling off Lord Radnor at the ball, and Nick confronting her family - awesome! so satisfying!

Kleypas writes well, and I enjoyed this even though (as mentioned by others) the plot's a little unbelievable. It was a nice change to read a book that seemed mainly on the guy than the girl though.
I'd agree that Nick's big secret didn't seem particularly serious considering his hangups, and that Charlotte's was worth looking deeper into. And yeah, I would have been more impressed if the story had been about Radnor/Howards/Charlotte.

It would be a pity if this is the last of the Bow Street Runner books. I liked the 1st 2, and always wondered what would happened to Nick Gentry. Now I'm wondering what happened to Charlotte's sisters, especially Ellie.