One Night With You

I can't believe it took me seven years to circle back around to this book. There is so much great angst! I adore "unrequited" love storylines. While not quite significant enough to land on the abused heroine shelf, I appreciate threads in the plot - her cruel family, and the way her inlaws treated her set her up to be one of my favorite kinds of heroine. And while she is not plain, I appreciated her insecurity in the shadow of her beautiful sister. My only complaint is that the resolution was too abrupt. The angst is deliciously teased out but when it's time for him to grovel, it takes literally two pages, with no grovel at all for all the pain she’s suffered, just “duh, I love you” and then the epilogue. But seriously, sooooo show more much good angst, from the first page, to the (second to) last! show less

I can't believe it took me seven years to circle back around to this book. There is so much great angst! I adore "unrequited" love storylines. While not quite significant enough to land on the abused heroine shelf, I appreciate threads in the plot - her cruel family, and the way her inlaws treated her set her up to be one of my favorite kinds of heroine. And while she is not plain, I appreciated her insecurity in the shadow of her beautiful sister. My only complaint is that the resolution was too abrupt. The angst is deliciously teased out but when it's time for him to grovel, it takes two pages, and then the epilogue. But seriously, sooooo much good angst, from the first page, to the last!

I was so taken in by this story that I read it in one day and forgot to watch my favorite HBO show Game of Thrones! This is a sweet historical romance that has you pulling for the main characters all the way. In true romance fashion, there is the push and pull of attraction, some sort of obstacle that gets in their way, someone doesn't want to admit feelings, but in the end, it turns out pretty awesome.

What I liked about this book was pretty much everything as a historical romance fan. The characters are all their own individual people, well rounded, and add to the story. The friends are true supporters, the villain is a nasty one that you will love to see get his comeuppance, the love interests are based on more than just attraction, show more and the piece that brings the two together is a welcome and realistic possibility that I've wondered why hasn't happened more in a historical romance. The pacing was flawless, the love scenes well done, not crass, and I felt the emotions of Jane and Seth as they battled their way to each other. I invested in these characters and truly wanted to know how things would end.

Previous to this book, I was only familiar with Sophie Jordan's YA book, Firelight. I am glad that someone brought my attention to her historical romance books as well. show less

**Courtesy of CK2S Kwips & Kritiques**

Widowed more than a year ago by a husband she never wanted, Lady Jane Guthrie now finds herself in the despicable position of having every facet of her life controlled by her lecherous brother-in-law and his wife. Using her as everything from errand-girl to governess for their children is bad enough, but the lewd looks her late husband’s brother gives her makes it clear he wants even more.

Determined to assert her independence and enjoy herself on one rare occasion, Jane sneaks off one evening to attend a most decadent masked ball thrown by one of the town’s most notorious Courtesans. She never expected to find her childhood best friend there, the man she never stopped loving – Seth show more Rutledge.

She is even less prepared for his surprisingly amorous reaction to her now. It must be the mask, of course. If he knew who she really was, he would never touch her, not in a million years. Would he?

As a fan of historical romance, I found Sophie Jordan’s ONE NIGHT WITH YOU very enjoyable. This delightful romance was wonderfully three-dimensional, fraught with sexual heat, intrigue, and tortured lovers. Ms. Jordan weaves a story that the reader can picture almost as if they were standing on the sidelines watching it all in real time.

From the moment we meet the main characters, I felt as if I knew them. Indeed, I wanted to know them – an element most important for both the story’s hero and heroine. While extremely likable, both bear pain from their past that causes each to doubt whether or not the other can truly love them, even as they crave that very emotion from each other. A shared history makes it even more difficult for this pair to come together without the benefit of anonymity they enjoy in the beginning of the story.

But when circumstances demand the mask come off and Jane finally reveal herself to the man she adores as the mysterious woman who has so enthralled him, the story really heats up! The fireworks really let loose as Seth and Jane are forced to deal with each other and face their feelings and their past.

What disappointed me about ONE NIGHT WITH YOU was that I felt there were still too many loose ends when the last page was turned. While we learn about the underhanded deeds perpetrated on Jane by the book’s villains, they never really get their come-uppance, leaving the reader without some closure there. In addition, we are left wondering what will happen to Jane’s stepson, who as a minor is still in the clutches of his evil uncle. Perhaps these are items intended for a future sequel, but there was no sense that there would be a sequel when the story finished.

Regardless of those disappointments, ONE NIGHT WITH YOU is still a marvelously entertaining read. I am very glad to have met both Seth and Jane and have the chance to enjoy their romance with them.

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One Night with You had a pretty good premise. We have Jane, our heroine, who's a widow living under the thumb of her awful in-laws but manages to have a steamy encounter with the hero at a ball. This hero, Seth, happens to be the one man she's loved since her childhood even though he was infatuated with and soon discarded by her younger sister. Complications arise from that encounter that compel the two to marry, even though the hero refuses to fall under the power of another woman such as the heroine.

A good premise can go a long way; without it, I might have abandoned this book early on. Although the story isn't bad, I found the execution of the great setup disappointing. I kept waiting for the story to kick in, but readers are forced show more to suffer too long in witnessing page after page of Jane's unbearable living situation. Even when we finally get to move on, the story continues to feel as if it is just treading water, so to speak; and the likely reason for this feeling can be blamed on how the novel keeps strumming the same one note. There's no emotional growth arc, no deeper character development beyond Janes loves Seth, Seth refuses to love Jane; rinse and repeat. And then suddenly Seth decides that he can't lie to himself and declares that he loves Jane--such an artificial, unconvincing change given that we never saw any growth in the characters. show less

I found this concept interesting in a historical novel, the heroine being treated as a servant by her family, Interesting as it is a serious issue which gives depth to this love story. I felt sorry for Lady Jane Guthrie, and kept wishing she could find a way out rather enter into another marriage. But enter Seth an old friend whom she has loved her whole life, but of coourse he doesn't know this. The story held my interest until the end. and I would like to read another one by this author.

Light. Fun. Entertaining. Fluffy Regency with some improbable plot lines.