Julia Justiss

Very good book. Ben is one of four friends who came together while at school. Each of them had issues that made them outcasts with their peers, so they banded together. Ben's difficulty was that he was born the illegitimate son of a viscount. He suffered from jeers and taunts throughout his childhood and longer, and also watched as his mother was treated even worse. Fortunately, he was acknowledged by his father and received the benefits of a good education. The treatment he received has show more made him extremely cautious about his own behavior, and he has matured into a thoughtful and honorable man. When he overhears a plot to ruin a young lady's reputation, he takes action to warn her of the danger.

Alyssa is an independent and stubborn young woman. Thanks to the bullying behavior of her father and brother, she has no intention of marrying and putting herself under the control of yet another man. She is a talented artist and intends to set up her own household with inherited funds, if she can just convince her father. Ben's sudden appearance and the tale he tells startles her, and she is hesitant to believe him. But the truth is soon obvious, and Alyssa decides to take action of her own. She's a bit naïve about the prospect of succeeding, but determined to have her way.

I really enjoyed the development of their relationship. From the moment they met, the attraction between them was strong. Though he could have simply warned her and left, Ben feels compelled to stay nearby and watch over her. Their morning meetings so that he could reassure himself of her safety quickly turned into a burgeoning friendship. He is amazed by her talent, and truly impressed by her wit and intelligence, while Alyssa is drawn to his kindness and honesty in his conversations with her. When her plans for revenge against those who plotted her ruin go wrong, Ben comes to her rescue and gets caught in a compromising position with her. Alyssa is horrified that his chivalry forces him to propose, and she is adamant in her refusal, not wanting to ruin his life. She has no confidence in her ability to be the kind of wife he needs.

Her stubbornness backfires on her, and her father's actions are especially cruel and inhumane. When Ben discovers what is happening, his reaction is immediate. I loved seeing him take charge. His attraction to Alyssa and his appreciation of her mind and talents convince him that a marriage between them can work. Alyssa is the one who needs to be convinced, and it isn't easy. The attraction she feels for him scares her, and she fears that giving in to it will lead her to lose her sense of who she is and what she wants to do. I loved that Ben promises her that there will be no intimacy until she wants it, even though resisting his attraction to her is a monumental task.

His patience and care for Alyssa is evident as he accompanies her on her travels. I loved seeing him earn her trust as he strives to keep his word. His efforts prove to be worth it when Alyssa is finally ready to give in to the steadily growing desire he inspires. However, neither is quite ready to give voice to their feelings, as their fears run deep. It takes a threat to Ben's career for them to realize what they have together. I loved her big moment at the end, when it is her turn to come to Ben's rescue.

There were some marvelous scenes showing Ben's determination to do whatever he could to ensure Alyssa's happiness. My favorite is the one in the lawyer's office, as Ben states his desire that Alyssa have full and sole control over her inheritance. The lawyer's reaction is priceless.

The underlying theme of how women were treated during this time was very well done. The nasty bet placed by Denbry only emphasized how helpless most women were against people like him. Alyssa's father and brother were another example of what they had to endure, with no true way to escape. There was also a theme of reputation, how important it was, and how fragile it could be. Denbry's method of revenge was truly devious and difficult to counter. Ben also had to deal with his own feelings about his past, especially after a surprise revelation by his mother. I loved his scenes with his father, and the changes in Ben that it showed.

I loved seeing the other Hellions and their wives. Their respect and support of Ben was great. I especially liked the way that Ben was able to enlist the ladies' help to make Alyssa more comfortable in a situation she dreaded. It was moving to see the way that they all banded together to deal with the threat against Ben. show less

Good book about the perils and hypocrisy that face those who find love outside their approved social class. Lady Laura didn't grow up as nobility, but when her father unexpectedly became a marquess, she learned to navigate the ton. Laura has no interest in marriage at this time. She prefers to care for her ailing father and spend time indulging her love of mathematics and numbers. A husband would only get in the way of those pastimes.

When Laura meets the shy banker's heiress, Susanna show more Rochdale, she offers to teach her how to deal with the less pleasant members she's sure to encounter. Susanna is a sweet young lady and feels overwhelmed by the idea of facing Society. She and Laura quickly become friends, and Laura's lessons give Susanna the confidence she needs. I loved Laura's down-to-earth and practical advice. The only fly in the ointment is Susanna's brother, Miles.

Miles has a very poor opinion of the aristocracy thanks to a failed romantic relationship several years earlier and the attitudes of those he encounters at his bank. He is suspicious of Laura's intentions and attends many of Susanna's lessons, determined to stop them if he sees anything he doesn't like. It doesn't take long to realize that Laura is a sweet and honorable woman.

I enjoyed watching the relationship between Laura and Miles develop. The sparks are evident between them from the moment they meet, though both try to resist them. Miles is a commoner who is (gasp!) in trade, and Laura is a Society lady. While an aristocratic man may marry a well-dowered commoner woman without repercussions, the same doesn't go for the reverse. A woman who marries "down" will be shunned by Society. But over the course of Susanna's lessons, Laura and Miles become friends, discovering that they have much in common. I loved Laura's excitement at finding someone who understands her love of numbers and her relief at her ability to be herself with him. Miles is captivated by Laura's intelligence and beauty.

I ached for both as they realized that their feelings would have no happy resolution. Then Laura's father suffers from a financial disaster, and Laura's future looks bleak. I loved how Miles's protective instincts were aroused. The ball scene drove home the hypocrisy of the ton, and I loved the effect it had on Miles. His actions showed how deeply he cared for Laura but still denied his feelings to protect her reputation. I loved the ending and seeing Laura take her happiness into her own hands. The scene at the bank was fantastic, and the epilogue was great.

#netgalley show less

Forbidden Nights with the Viscount by Julia Justiss is a 2016 Harlequin Historical publication. I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The topic of this book comes at a timely fashion, since many of us have politics in our minds at the moment. In this case, the author explores the notorious opposition between the Tories and the Whigs.

The intelligent and beautiful Lady Margaret supports her father’s Tory party and her hosting duties have not gone unnoticed. She show more enjoys her role, which keeps her busy and her mind off the tragic loss of her husband. She has no intention of remarrying, but feels restless. The chance meeting with a political rival, Giles Hadley, awakens Margaret’s senses, which have lain dormant for far too long.

Giles is a Viscount, who will eventually inherit his father’s title, but, doesn’t believe marriage is for him due to the immense scandal surrounding his parent’s marriage, which was very sad. However, when the Lady Margaret suggests they enter into a liaison, Giles finds himself rethinking his position on that subject.

However, Giles’ half-brother is more suited to Lady Margaret due to their like-minded political stance, and he is aggressively pursuing her. Can Giles win the lady’s heart despite their differences? Can he convince her their torrid affair has deeper possibilities?

This story starts off on a slightly humorous and charming note, with the sudden and unexpected introduction Giles and Margaret have to one another, and the instant sparks that fly between them. I loved Margaret’s attitude and her refusal to obey certain protocol when it came to entering into a dalliance with Giles. She knew what she wanted and she pursued it, while most ladies in this time period would never have even entertained such a thought. Although, Margaret is a delightful and gregarious character, in the beginning she has an aura of sadness surrounding her. However, Giles will soon have her feeling the strength to heal and will give her a reason to want to move forward at long last.

Giles’ story was very sad, indeed, and I was happy to see him finally receive the validation he deserves. It was so fun watching him react to Margaret and seeing him fall completely under her spell. He never knew what hit him.

Often times I find that in the beginning of a book, I struggle with one or sometimes both the protagonist, but in this case, I loved them both immediately and only grew to like them more as the story progressed. However, this story has a bit of a bite to it, with a romantic suspense element tossed into the mix. I found myself holding my breath as things got a little intense a time or two.

I don’t know if it was just me, but I think this story is just a little saucier that some I’ve read from this author, but I thought it worked in this case because we aren’t dealing with an innocent virgin, but with two consenting adults who agree to a ‘no strings attached’ arrangement. However, the tension does build a little at a time, tantalizing and teasing the reader.

Overall, this an easy read, moving at a steady pace, with a few heart pounding moments, and a healing and heartwarming family side story, and of course the unlikely romance between two people with opposing views who wind up falling in love, giving us a sweet and spicy romance that will leave you smiling at the end. show less

I have long been a fan of Julia Justiss' work. In my opinion, The Courtesan and The Untamed Heiress are two of the best historical romances ever written. They are both definitely on my "desert island keeper" shelf. When an author writes some of the best historical romances in the business, it is difficult to imagine how she might top herself. With the Ransleigh Rogues series, Ms. Justiss has done just that.

The Rake to Ruin Her and The Rake to Redeem Her are both gems - Julia Justiss at her show more best and better. The Rake to Rescue Her, however, is one of those once in a lifetime romances.

Alastair Ransleigh suffered the ultimate humiliation and betrayal at the hands of Diana, now the Duchess of Gaveston. Eight years ago his poet's heart was broken and replaced by that of a reckless soldier and a battle-hardened rake. When he encounters his former love he seeks revenge with a humiliating offer of his own and is stunned when she accepts.

Eight years ago, Diana – now the Dowager Duchess of Gaveston – sold herself in marriage to secure the lives of the two men she loved most – her father and Alastair Ransleigh. To survive her husband's cruelty she has stripped away pieces of her very soul, until even the most precious piece of all is sacrificed to make her impervious to any source of pain and therefore any source of love or joy. Even the acceptance of Alastair's insulting offer fails to move her. She sees herself as broken and begins to believe she will never be whole again.

That is all I am going to tell you about the story. The story speaks for itself and I want people to experience it for themselves. I will tell you what The Rake to Rescue Her left with me.

In Alastair we find a man ready to wreak a thoughtless, cruel vengeance on the woman who nearly destroyed him. He sees himself as the man jaded enough to do it. But when he sees what Diana has become, the man he once was slowly returns and all he wants to do is restore to her those things which made her the glorious creature he once loved.
There are portions of this book it hurt to read – so very real and painful and so very beautiful. The characters step onto the page and immediately draw you into what you know is a complicated and searing love story.

A woman who has stripped herself of every joy and every love is lost unless those joys and loves were left in the safe-keeping of a man determined to give those things back to her. And if that man does so with no expectations in return and sets that glorious creature free to make her own decisions about life and love out of the darkness – he is the one thing every woman dreams of - a hero.

Thank you, Ms. Justiss, for a truly magnificent love story. show less