Rogues' Reform (Harlequin Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)

~ Stephanie Laurens (Author)

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 408 pages
• Publisher: Harlequin (July 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373834586
• ISBN-13: 978-0373834587
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #916,220 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

66 of 68 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read!! All 809 Pages Worth!!!, July 10, 2000

By	Deborah L. Kepler "Deb Kepler" (Carthage, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is actually 3 separately titled novels by Stephanie Laurens. The first "The Reasons For Marriage" (1994): Jason, Duke of Eversleigh has finally determined that it is time that he wed. His future bride should be intelligent, able to hostess large gatherings with ease, run his households with efficiency, willing to stay in the country, bear him an heir and a spare, and allow him to return to his previous lifestyle in London. Easy right? Well he found that and more in Miss Lenore Lester. She has been managing her father's and brother's financial affairs, hostessing all of their parties, and running their estate for eleven years. When Jason meets Lenore, he finds that she's the perfect woman to be his Duchess, but what he finds out is that his 'reasons for marriage' are not all they're cracked up to be, and when he falls in love with her, they matter not at all.

In "A Lady of Expectations" (1995), Jack Lester decided that it's his turn to take a wife, only he wants someone like his sister Lenore, a perfect hostess, attractive, and comfortable to live with. But, he must find one soon, before the matchmaking mammas find out the the Lester fortunes have been restored! He goes to a party given by Lady Asforby, an old family friend, and meets Sophia Winterton and sees his destiny. Sophie feels his gaze from the other side of the room and is captivated, until she finds out that he needs to marry an heiress, which she is not, and fights his attentions all the way. How will he convince her that he doesn't need an heiress, that all he needs is her?

"An Unwilling Conquest" (1996) finds Harry Lester running from the Season and from the matron's who want him for their daughters. What he finds instead is an upturned carriage with the most beautiful pair of blues eyes that need rescuing. When Mrs. Lucinda Babbacombe sees the strong hand reaching into the carriage to pull her out, she is struck by a sensation she has never felt before. Being a widow and fairly experienced, this confuses her, until she realizes that he feels the same reaction and is fighting it. How does she face this 'unwilling conquest' and make him understand that what they feel is magic and they will be together forever? Only love will show the way, together with a few interfering friends and relatives!!

I loved this book...being that I'm a very fast reader, a book of this length was a wonderful way to really 'sink' my teeth into. I love Stephanie Laurens, anything she writes is a keeper!!

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rouge's Reform, July 1, 2000

By	Eliza (Alexandria, VA) - See all my reviews

Very good - three distinct love stories set in Regency Englandfocused on the pursuit of marriage by commanding heroes facingdetermined resistance. Smart, engaging, passionate - overall, a good read.

If you like romances with strong characters (think Linda Howard, Jayne Ann Krentz, Julie Garwood), you should enjoy this. However, I would suggest a more recent effort, "Devil's Bride", if you've never read Laurens before.

For long-time fans, this novel is a re-release of three previously published titles about the Lester family (Lenore, Jack, Harry): Reasons for Marriage (1994), A Lady of Expectations (1995), and An Unwilling Conquest (1996).

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hhhhmmmmm.., August 16, 2000

By	Sarah "sssspro" (North East, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have mixed feelings about this anthology. First and foremost I must state that Ms. Laurens is an excellent writer and an extremely consistent one. I have yet to read anything of hers that was out and out bad. The three stories contained in this book were well written and enjoyable to read...(Here comes the "but")...but they were short Regency style stories and not usually what I expect from her. After reading and being kept mesmerized by her Cynaster series, (all full length books), I was a bit disappointed in the content of each of the Lester stories. Each account had some sort of MISUNDERSTANDING and I got very frustrated by this. At one point I just felt like screaming and saying, "damn it, just TALK to one another and you'll solve all your problems! ".

The Lesters were reluctant to marry and these are their stories, which are basically about how to convince them otherwise. This led to a bit of a monotonous dialogue, and plotline. We had the three plotlines that could be written about: the female who doesn't want to marry but a male suitor who needs to start a family, a male who doesn't really want to marry but has to for family reasons, and the male who doesn't want to marry at all but falls in love nonetheless. In each story the hero and heroine have a problem communicating. The plots are very thin, revolving around the marriage issue, with a little suspense thrown in for good measure. I am just used to intricate plots and wonderful sensuality in Ms. Laurens books and I found both lacking here.

I had not realized that these were all previously released stories and just rereleased in this anthology. By all means, pick this up for short reading bursts (like at the beach or a trip) because the writing is better than 95% of the books out there, just do not expect the typical (later) Ms. Lauren's fare.