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Wherlocke #5
If He's Tempted
Lady Olympia Wherlocke has the gift of foresight. When Lady Agatha Mallam asks Olympia to locate her brother so he can rescue her from an arranged marriage, she knows exactly where to find Lord Brant Mallam, Earl of Fieldgate. What happens next is something she never envisioned…
Since his betrothed died, Lord Brant Mallam has drowned his sorrow with wine and women. His dissolute ways have only emboldened his calculating mother. But with the help of the enchanting Olympia, he concocts a daring plan to end his mother’s devious designs for his sister. While each step in their bold scheme works to perfection, the sins of the past could unravel a growing desire that neither Olympia or Brant can control…
Since his betrothed died, Lord Brant Mallam has drowned his sorrow with wine and women. His dissolute ways have only emboldened his calculating mother. But with the help of the enchanting Olympia, he concocts a daring plan to end his mother’s devious designs for his sister. While each step in their bold scheme works to perfection, the sins of the past could unravel a growing desire that neither Olympia or Brant can control…
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
128 people are currently reading
1508 people want to read
About the author
Hannah Howell
183 books2,631 followersHannah Dustin Howell is a best-selling American author of over 40 historical romance novels. Many of her novels are set in medieval Scotland. She also writes under the names Sarah Dustin, Sandra Dustin, and Anna Jennet (see below).
She has also used the following pseudonyms:
Anna Jennet, Sarah Dustin and Sandra Dustin
She has also used the following pseudonyms:
Anna Jennet, Sarah Dustin and Sandra Dustin
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews
May 24, 2021
This is a book that I have been meaning to read for years. I have had this on my backlist for NetGalley and just haven't gotten around to review it. But when I saw this one on sale for 1.99 at Amazon, I decided it was time to finally grab it up. I found that this book was quite enjoyable overall and even though I wasn't completely swept away (as regency historicals have become difficult for me to get into) I was still curious about this story and the characters I was endeared to.
If He's Tempted is a story of a rogue but deep in his heart is a good man just in a dark place. Lord Brant Mallum lost his fiancee to the evil machinations of his mother and has lost himself in drink and sleeping with women for a straight two years until he is woken up to his senses by the bright and beautiful Olympia Wherlocke. Olympia learns that Brant's sixteen-year-old sister is being sold into marriage to an old lecher who is very depraved in his sexual choices. And with Olympia and Brant working together, hope to break his mother's evil ties, save his sister and be independent and free once again. But they underestimated her true reach and evil and what she is capable of doing. But there is also something deeper building in the relationship between Brant and Olympia. But first Brant will need to let go of the grief of his first love to embrace life with Olympia.
If He's Tempted was actually such a lovely read, and a story one could easily relax with. And while I had my struggles with the pacing (which probably has something to do more with me than the actual writing style or story) I truly enjoyed immersing myself in this world of mystery, intrigue, and a sense of danger. My heart is saddened at what we see happening in this story, especially in regards to the selling of children. But seeing what Brant and Olympia are willing to do to make things right, their hearts of compassion and giving was truly beautiful to see. Their relationship definitely builds into something that builds into its intimacy at a slow but steady pace. I really appreciated seeing how this author built up that pacing and the easy smooth flow of it.
Overall I found If He's Tempted to be a wonderful fit into the regency world of romance, and if you are looking for one that digs deeper on some issues, come and grab this one up and I am sure you won't regret it.
If He's Tempted is a story of a rogue but deep in his heart is a good man just in a dark place. Lord Brant Mallum lost his fiancee to the evil machinations of his mother and has lost himself in drink and sleeping with women for a straight two years until he is woken up to his senses by the bright and beautiful Olympia Wherlocke. Olympia learns that Brant's sixteen-year-old sister is being sold into marriage to an old lecher who is very depraved in his sexual choices. And with Olympia and Brant working together, hope to break his mother's evil ties, save his sister and be independent and free once again. But they underestimated her true reach and evil and what she is capable of doing. But there is also something deeper building in the relationship between Brant and Olympia. But first Brant will need to let go of the grief of his first love to embrace life with Olympia.
If He's Tempted was actually such a lovely read, and a story one could easily relax with. And while I had my struggles with the pacing (which probably has something to do more with me than the actual writing style or story) I truly enjoyed immersing myself in this world of mystery, intrigue, and a sense of danger. My heart is saddened at what we see happening in this story, especially in regards to the selling of children. But seeing what Brant and Olympia are willing to do to make things right, their hearts of compassion and giving was truly beautiful to see. Their relationship definitely builds into something that builds into its intimacy at a slow but steady pace. I really appreciated seeing how this author built up that pacing and the easy smooth flow of it.
Overall I found If He's Tempted to be a wonderful fit into the regency world of romance, and if you are looking for one that digs deeper on some issues, come and grab this one up and I am sure you won't regret it.
October 11, 2017
3.5 stars
This book (as the whole series, as far as I can remember) touches on sensitive topics that some people may not like or feel bad about reading, keep that in mind if you are going to read this series of books.
Among these topics are abuse, pedophilia, child trafficking among other things and no these things are not made / caused by the main characters.
This book (as the whole series, as far as I can remember) touches on sensitive topics that some people may not like or feel bad about reading, keep that in mind if you are going to read this series of books.
Among these topics are abuse, pedophilia, child trafficking among other things and no these things are not made / caused by the main characters.
February 25, 2013
Lady Olympia Wherlocke is asked by Lady Agatha Mallam to help her find her brother and rescue her from a marriage arranged by her mother. Lady Olympia agrees that the match that Agatha’s mother is preparing is preposterous and downright evil so she promises her that she will help.
The Earl of Fieldgate, Lord Brant Mallam was been swimming in his cups since the woman he loved was sold into slavery by his mother. He has no idea the depravity and cunning Lady Mallam has implored against her own children. Slapped into reality by Olympia, Brant must face the malevolence his mother has brought, not just on his siblings but his father’s bastard born children as well.
Lady Mallam might just have met her match when she starts to attack the Wherlocke family. They have special gifts, gifts that might just swing the chances in their favor.
Hannah Howell truly out did herself with the Evil (with a capital E) villain in this story. Lady Mallam is beyond crupt, beyond power hunger a character you can truly hate.
The romance between Olympia and Brant is explosive and I adore both characters. Especially enjoying their recovery from their pasts and taking on such a deplorable enemy...even when that enemy is family.
Unfamiliar with the Wherlocke series, I was very happily surprised with the paranormal twist. Although this is my first read in this series, it was able to stand alone...although I will definitely want to back read what I’ve missed.
If He’s Tempted was a dazzling paranormal, historical fiction read with just the perfect amount of smoldering romance to keep you plastered to the pages.
This ARC copy of If He's Tempted was given to me by Kensignton Publishing - Zebra in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication on April 2, 2013.
The Earl of Fieldgate, Lord Brant Mallam was been swimming in his cups since the woman he loved was sold into slavery by his mother. He has no idea the depravity and cunning Lady Mallam has implored against her own children. Slapped into reality by Olympia, Brant must face the malevolence his mother has brought, not just on his siblings but his father’s bastard born children as well.
Lady Mallam might just have met her match when she starts to attack the Wherlocke family. They have special gifts, gifts that might just swing the chances in their favor.
Hannah Howell truly out did herself with the Evil (with a capital E) villain in this story. Lady Mallam is beyond crupt, beyond power hunger a character you can truly hate.
The romance between Olympia and Brant is explosive and I adore both characters. Especially enjoying their recovery from their pasts and taking on such a deplorable enemy...even when that enemy is family.
Unfamiliar with the Wherlocke series, I was very happily surprised with the paranormal twist. Although this is my first read in this series, it was able to stand alone...although I will definitely want to back read what I’ve missed.
If He’s Tempted was a dazzling paranormal, historical fiction read with just the perfect amount of smoldering romance to keep you plastered to the pages.
This ARC copy of If He's Tempted was given to me by Kensignton Publishing - Zebra in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication on April 2, 2013.
April 20, 2013
I have to admit, this book just didn't do it for me, and I had to force myself to finish. I think perhaps this is a book that can't be read as a stand alone because the references to the other family members didn't really add a lot to the story for me. Therefore anyone reading this review should be aware that I did read this as a stand alone, so take my comments in that context.
The reason I didn't enjoy this book was the superficiality of the writing. Brant, the hero was a dissipated drunk. Then he wasn't. He was tortured by guilt, then he thought it out, and then he didn't feel guilt anymore. The heroine, Olympia has some sort of paranormal skill, kind of a " I see things" thing. This ability did not really play into the storyline much; except the titalating vision she had of the hero in a very compromising situation with two women...geesh this meant he had to really clean his house or Olympia was going to be seeing a lot of X-rated visions.
The wicked wicked villain, was just wicked. The fact that she was really horrifying, and it had been going on for years. Brant, the wicked villan's son didn't even know, because he was a dissipated drunk. Then he was guilt stricken, but didn't immediately do anything because he didn't want to hurt his younger siblings in the eyes of society. ARGH. Nope, this is a deal breaker for me, and I won't be pursuing other books in this series.
The reason I didn't enjoy this book was the superficiality of the writing. Brant, the hero was a dissipated drunk. Then he wasn't. He was tortured by guilt, then he thought it out, and then he didn't feel guilt anymore. The heroine, Olympia has some sort of paranormal skill, kind of a " I see things" thing. This ability did not really play into the storyline much; except the titalating vision she had of the hero in a very compromising situation with two women...geesh this meant he had to really clean his house or Olympia was going to be seeing a lot of X-rated visions.
The wicked wicked villain, was just wicked. The fact that she was really horrifying, and it had been going on for years. Brant, the wicked villan's son didn't even know, because he was a dissipated drunk. Then he was guilt stricken, but didn't immediately do anything because he didn't want to hurt his younger siblings in the eyes of society. ARGH. Nope, this is a deal breaker for me, and I won't be pursuing other books in this series.
February 26, 2020
Ik heb de Nederlands talige uitgave gelezen : Als het vuur ontbrandt - Candlelight Historische roman 1095 .
Verhaallijn overgenomen van achterkant boek : De helderziende Lady Olympia Wherlocke honoreert het verzoek van Agatha Mallam om te helpen bij de zoektocht naar haar broer . Alleen hij kan immers Agatha behoeden voor een gedwongen huwelijk . Als ze Brant Mallam , graaf van Fieldgate , inderdaad weet te traceren , schrikt Olympia van de aanblik die hij biedt , een man die zijn onvrede heeft omgezet in drankzucht .
De confrontatie met de mooie Olympia brengt echter het beste in Brant naar boven . Hij beseft dat hij zijn verantwoordelijkheden niet langer mag ontlopen en gaat de strijd aan met zijn manipulative moeder .
De wederzijdse aantrekkingskracht tussen hen geeft hem daarbij extra energie . Maar een verbintenis lijkt ver weg , omdat Brant niet wil dat zij lijdt onder zijn hopeloze reputatie . Toch weten hij en Olympia dat het vuur elk moment kan ontbranden .
Eindelijk krijgt het kreng uit deel 1 van deze serie haar naar mijn mening vééél te late en te milde straf . Haar zoon Brant is eigenlijk maar een slappeling .. wat een geluk dat hij de sterke en kordate Olympia voor zich weet te winnen , ach ja .. typisch gevalletje van wat is een man zonder een kloeke vrouw om hem bij te staan hè : )
Verhaallijn overgenomen van achterkant boek : De helderziende Lady Olympia Wherlocke honoreert het verzoek van Agatha Mallam om te helpen bij de zoektocht naar haar broer . Alleen hij kan immers Agatha behoeden voor een gedwongen huwelijk . Als ze Brant Mallam , graaf van Fieldgate , inderdaad weet te traceren , schrikt Olympia van de aanblik die hij biedt , een man die zijn onvrede heeft omgezet in drankzucht .
De confrontatie met de mooie Olympia brengt echter het beste in Brant naar boven . Hij beseft dat hij zijn verantwoordelijkheden niet langer mag ontlopen en gaat de strijd aan met zijn manipulative moeder .
De wederzijdse aantrekkingskracht tussen hen geeft hem daarbij extra energie . Maar een verbintenis lijkt ver weg , omdat Brant niet wil dat zij lijdt onder zijn hopeloze reputatie . Toch weten hij en Olympia dat het vuur elk moment kan ontbranden .
Eindelijk krijgt het kreng uit deel 1 van deze serie haar naar mijn mening vééél te late en te milde straf . Haar zoon Brant is eigenlijk maar een slappeling .. wat een geluk dat hij de sterke en kordate Olympia voor zich weet te winnen , ach ja .. typisch gevalletje van wat is een man zonder een kloeke vrouw om hem bij te staan hè : )
November 4, 2014
I swear, the villains and danger in these books just become more ludicrous with each new book. As I said in my review of #4, it's a shame that Howell's writing can't do her ideas justice because the premise of these books is great. Their execution, however, is lacking. Every story has the same formula and rarely deviates from that path, the dialogue isn't realistic and often far too flowery, and the repetition drags the pace down to a snail's pace.
Also, I'm really tired of lame book covers. Generic picture of a hot guy? Fine. But since the hero of this tale has grey eyes, I'm trying to figure out just who the hell that's supposed to be on the cover.
Also, I'm really tired of lame book covers. Generic picture of a hot guy? Fine. But since the hero of this tale has grey eyes, I'm trying to figure out just who the hell that's supposed to be on the cover.
April 7, 2013
4.5 stars
Didn't have enough paranormal stuff for me. I was a little bit disappointed with that. But I loved the H/h. The Wherlocke family is awesome. Hannah Howell has created a really cool historical paranormal family with this series.
B+
Didn't have enough paranormal stuff for me. I was a little bit disappointed with that. But I loved the H/h. The Wherlocke family is awesome. Hannah Howell has created a really cool historical paranormal family with this series.
B+
July 11, 2015
Hannah Howell does it again. After the death of his fiance, Brant Mallam has divorced himself from his mother's machinations which directly resulted in Faith's death. Unfortunately, this allowed his mother to take full control over the household and enter in disgraceful practices like kidnapping and selling children in to sexual slavery. When Brant finds this out from Olympia Wherlocke, he is furious and determined to see his mother get what she deserves. Olympia got involved when Brant's sister asked for help in keeping her mother from marrying her off to a truly despicable man dying of the pox. Yup his mother is truly an evil person.
Regardless of the nature of the subplot, this is a really good book. It showcases Olympia who we've gotten to know and love in the previous books as well as Stefan, Artemis and Olympia's street gang. A truly enjoyable rump through London.
Regardless of the nature of the subplot, this is a really good book. It showcases Olympia who we've gotten to know and love in the previous books as well as Stefan, Artemis and Olympia's street gang. A truly enjoyable rump through London.
April 5, 2013
Before reading the book description, I assumed this was a vampire book. The male model on the cover is so pale! But after reading the description, I learned, in fact, that this is not a vampire novel. There is a small paranormal element in the book, but no vampires.
All the Wherlock's have some sort of gift, and the heroine, Lady Olympia Wherlocke, has the gift of foresight. Olympia is a woman with purpose. She loves helping her family and others. She is asked by Lady Agatha Mallam to help find her brother, Lord Brant Mallam. Brant and Agatha's mother is pretty awful. I guess I would call her straight up evil. She would sell her 16 year old daughter to a diseased, lecherous old man. Agatha is desperate to find her brother to put a stop to this marriage.
Brant has given up on his mother. After what she did to him in the past, he has decided to stay out of her life as much as possible. But he doesn't predict just how awful his mother is, and ends up giving his legal responsibilities of his sister to their mother. Instead of him making sure she finds a proper husband, he has given his mother those rights. He's not a bad man, just someone who refuses to look too closely at his own mother. He spends his time running his estate, carousing, and staying far away from his mother. But this changes as soon as he finds out from Olympia what his mother has planned. As he works with Olympia to keep his sister safe, they become lovers.
This is the fifth book in the Wherlocke series. I haven't read the previous ones, and I wasn't too lost. I liked the fact that Brandt knew the Wherelock family had gifts, so Olympia's gift was no big deal in their relationship. I do wish her gift had been used more, though. But overall I liked the characters very much. They were very fleshed out. I liked Brandt's growth in this book, and Olympia's steadiness. The mother was maybe a little over the top evil, but I don't think cartoonish.
I think it was a great first Howell book for me. I plan to read more.
ARC provided through NetGalley.
All the Wherlock's have some sort of gift, and the heroine, Lady Olympia Wherlocke, has the gift of foresight. Olympia is a woman with purpose. She loves helping her family and others. She is asked by Lady Agatha Mallam to help find her brother, Lord Brant Mallam. Brant and Agatha's mother is pretty awful. I guess I would call her straight up evil. She would sell her 16 year old daughter to a diseased, lecherous old man. Agatha is desperate to find her brother to put a stop to this marriage.
Brant has given up on his mother. After what she did to him in the past, he has decided to stay out of her life as much as possible. But he doesn't predict just how awful his mother is, and ends up giving his legal responsibilities of his sister to their mother. Instead of him making sure she finds a proper husband, he has given his mother those rights. He's not a bad man, just someone who refuses to look too closely at his own mother. He spends his time running his estate, carousing, and staying far away from his mother. But this changes as soon as he finds out from Olympia what his mother has planned. As he works with Olympia to keep his sister safe, they become lovers.
This is the fifth book in the Wherlocke series. I haven't read the previous ones, and I wasn't too lost. I liked the fact that Brandt knew the Wherelock family had gifts, so Olympia's gift was no big deal in their relationship. I do wish her gift had been used more, though. But overall I liked the characters very much. They were very fleshed out. I liked Brandt's growth in this book, and Olympia's steadiness. The mother was maybe a little over the top evil, but I don't think cartoonish.
I think it was a great first Howell book for me. I plan to read more.
ARC provided through NetGalley.
April 25, 2013
NOTE: I received a copy of this book on NetGalley for the purpose of review.
WHAT I LIKED:
Let me start by saying that I adore Hannah Howell's Highlander novels. They were some of the first historical romances I ever read and I fell in love with her writing style. I knew she'd branched out into other sub genres of historical romance, but had never given them a try. Then this book popped up in NetGalley and I knew I had to check it out.
This is the latest in the Wherlocke-Vaughn series, I believe book five. The book started off surprising me with the supernatural angle. It's subtle but I loved it. The interactions between Olympia and Brant were so much fun and the style was what I had come to expect from Hannah's other books. All too often authors start to feel too formulaic once they've put out a significant number of novels, but I can count on Hannah Howell to keep me entertained.
I spent a good deal of the book wanting to throttle Brant's mother and thumb Brant himself for letting things get so bad. That being said, it was a fun ride and when I'd finished this book I immediately bought all four of the previous Wherlocke-Vaughn novels to read.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
I knew going into this book that it wasn't the first, but my rule of thumb is if I'm able to understand 80% of the plot when diving into a mid-series book, the author has done their job. This sort of fit into that category. It's my fault for not starting with the earlier books so I was fully caught up on the characters. I was a bit confused at times but overall still enjoyed the books thoroughly.
My only other complaint was to my wallet. Once I'd finished this book, I HAD to buy the others :D
OVERALL VERDICT: 5/5 Blue Duckies!
Hannah Howell is one of my go-to authors for a fantastic historical romance. I highly recommend starting at the beginning of this series before reading this book, however. If you're looking for well written historical romance with wonderful characters and a bit of a paranormal twist, don't miss out on these books!
WHAT I LIKED:
Let me start by saying that I adore Hannah Howell's Highlander novels. They were some of the first historical romances I ever read and I fell in love with her writing style. I knew she'd branched out into other sub genres of historical romance, but had never given them a try. Then this book popped up in NetGalley and I knew I had to check it out.
This is the latest in the Wherlocke-Vaughn series, I believe book five. The book started off surprising me with the supernatural angle. It's subtle but I loved it. The interactions between Olympia and Brant were so much fun and the style was what I had come to expect from Hannah's other books. All too often authors start to feel too formulaic once they've put out a significant number of novels, but I can count on Hannah Howell to keep me entertained.
I spent a good deal of the book wanting to throttle Brant's mother and thumb Brant himself for letting things get so bad. That being said, it was a fun ride and when I'd finished this book I immediately bought all four of the previous Wherlocke-Vaughn novels to read.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
I knew going into this book that it wasn't the first, but my rule of thumb is if I'm able to understand 80% of the plot when diving into a mid-series book, the author has done their job. This sort of fit into that category. It's my fault for not starting with the earlier books so I was fully caught up on the characters. I was a bit confused at times but overall still enjoyed the books thoroughly.
My only other complaint was to my wallet. Once I'd finished this book, I HAD to buy the others :D
OVERALL VERDICT: 5/5 Blue Duckies!
Hannah Howell is one of my go-to authors for a fantastic historical romance. I highly recommend starting at the beginning of this series before reading this book, however. If you're looking for well written historical romance with wonderful characters and a bit of a paranormal twist, don't miss out on these books!
November 4, 2015
Loved this book. Def the best one in the series so far. Still kinda dragged with the over the top villain and seriously... why does the heroine always get shot in the shoulder???
But overall it was a fun easy read, or I should say listen as I listened to the audiotape. Loved the ending, where he 'cleans up his act' shall we say. So many times I have hated reading about the hero's infidelity or man-whore past, and then the heroine is just fine sleeping with him in the same bed she catches him with the other woman in -GROSS!!!!(...not that it happens like that in this book). Brandt seals the deal as one of my favourite heroes and you really feel his love for Olympia.
But overall it was a fun easy read, or I should say listen as I listened to the audiotape. Loved the ending, where he 'cleans up his act' shall we say. So many times I have hated reading about the hero's infidelity or man-whore past, and then the heroine is just fine sleeping with him in the same bed she catches him with the other woman in -GROSS!!!!(...not that it happens like that in this book). Brandt seals the deal as one of my favourite heroes and you really feel his love for Olympia.
April 10, 2021
Re-reading. Olympia's book! I love the Wherlockes.
March 28, 2021
Rating: MA: mature-reader [->17]: erotic sex, depravity, insanity, debauchery, trigger warnings for violence toward children, sex trade or flesh markets, kidnappings, scandal, blackmail, murder, descriptions of violent deaths, treachery: Angst level: medium-high: Book 5/7 in the psychic Wherlocke, paranormal series: Source: purchased: I had previously read this in paperback form and have systematically gathered the ebooks for my personal library. I am enjoying rereading them so I can write reviews. I am fascinated by this family. There are so many members within the two branches of this family tree. Their ‘gifts’ are so unique and varied, it is never dull when they enter the scene. Each book features a Vaughn or a Wherlocke [sometimes both] and manages to have other family members visit and give aid or assistance when needed. They seem to know or sense when there is trouble and especially when someone in the family is hurt. I found that fascinating. This review contains ***SPOILERS***
In book 2, Lord Brant Mallam lost his first love with the death of Faith. It is not necessary to have read that story as this book works well as a standalone in supplying sufficient information for the reader regarding what happened to her. Having said that, I highly recommend reading the previous books as family members are introduced in various ways throughout the series. Lady Olympia Wherlocke was mentioned in previous books. Although her backstory was a sad one, this book will feature her finding true love and a happy-ever-after. Brant’s younger sister couldn’t get a message to her brother [the reader will learn why], so she attempted to contact one of his friends. They were out of town; however, she encountered Lady Olympia instead and told her of her troubles with her mother.
This was a hold-your-breath-cringeworthy story. Lord Brant, recovering from his drunken self-destructive state, had to face a few hard facts about his parents. First: his sister was being sold in marriage to a degenerate pig by their mother, Lady Mallam. She was the b-witch featured in book 2. Second: prior to his death, his father was a rutting swine and Lady Mallam had been selling off those servants who were her husband’s indiscretions and lining her pockets with the revenue. Next: Brant learned his mother had been systematically undermining his power and authority for years. Poor Brant was just recovering from his guilt-riddled destructive streak over Faith’s death only to discover there were very few doors now opened to him in London society thanks to the lies and scandalous gossip his mother was spreading.
This was an amazing story of a man trying to right the many wrongs by a vicious, manipulative, and vengeful woman. The depths of her cunning were unimaginable. Her actions will shock and horrify the reader. So much went on while Brant found solace in a bottle and womanizing. Things had to change and boy did they ever.
Wherlocke Series: each book can standalone and usually contains references to and visits from characters in previous books. I love this family.
Book 1: If He’s Wicked [Cloe Wherlocke and Lord Julian Kenwood]
Book 2: If He’s Sinful [Penelope Wherlocke and Lord Ashton Radmoor]
Book 3: If He’s Wild [Lady Alethea Vaughn-Channing and Lord Hartley Greville]
Book 4: If He’s Dangerous [Sir Argus Wherlocke and Lady Lorelei Sundun]
Book 5: If He’s Tempted [Lady Olympia Wherlocke and Lord Brant Mallam]
Book 6: If He’s Daring
Book 7: If He’s Noble
In book 2, Lord Brant Mallam lost his first love with the death of Faith. It is not necessary to have read that story as this book works well as a standalone in supplying sufficient information for the reader regarding what happened to her. Having said that, I highly recommend reading the previous books as family members are introduced in various ways throughout the series. Lady Olympia Wherlocke was mentioned in previous books. Although her backstory was a sad one, this book will feature her finding true love and a happy-ever-after. Brant’s younger sister couldn’t get a message to her brother [the reader will learn why], so she attempted to contact one of his friends. They were out of town; however, she encountered Lady Olympia instead and told her of her troubles with her mother.
This was a hold-your-breath-cringeworthy story. Lord Brant, recovering from his drunken self-destructive state, had to face a few hard facts about his parents. First: his sister was being sold in marriage to a degenerate pig by their mother, Lady Mallam. She was the b-witch featured in book 2. Second: prior to his death, his father was a rutting swine and Lady Mallam had been selling off those servants who were her husband’s indiscretions and lining her pockets with the revenue. Next: Brant learned his mother had been systematically undermining his power and authority for years. Poor Brant was just recovering from his guilt-riddled destructive streak over Faith’s death only to discover there were very few doors now opened to him in London society thanks to the lies and scandalous gossip his mother was spreading.
This was an amazing story of a man trying to right the many wrongs by a vicious, manipulative, and vengeful woman. The depths of her cunning were unimaginable. Her actions will shock and horrify the reader. So much went on while Brant found solace in a bottle and womanizing. Things had to change and boy did they ever.
Wherlocke Series: each book can standalone and usually contains references to and visits from characters in previous books. I love this family.
Book 1: If He’s Wicked [Cloe Wherlocke and Lord Julian Kenwood]
Book 2: If He’s Sinful [Penelope Wherlocke and Lord Ashton Radmoor]
Book 3: If He’s Wild [Lady Alethea Vaughn-Channing and Lord Hartley Greville]
Book 4: If He’s Dangerous [Sir Argus Wherlocke and Lady Lorelei Sundun]
Book 5: If He’s Tempted [Lady Olympia Wherlocke and Lord Brant Mallam]
Book 6: If He’s Daring
Book 7: If He’s Noble
November 27, 2021
Eu amei.. Sério eu adoro essa série, claro que estou lendo do fim para o começo, mas estou amando.. Hannah é uma ótima escritora, não tem como não gostar... 🥰🥰
Nesse quinto livro tenho a tia mais fofa e maravilhosa, que se preocupa com todos..
Lady Olympia Wherlocke e Lord Brant Mallam, Earl of Fieldgate
Olympia fez uma promessa e vai cumprir, e quando ela coloca algo na cabeça, nada faz ela mudar de ideia... E foi isso que a levou para Brant, o desejo de ajudar alguém. Mas isso levou ela direto para algo mais, e esse algo mais é o amor, uma coisa que ela não conhecia somente via com seus parentes, e agora era a vez dela... Brant sofre com os atos da mãe, e agora, ele é trazido para ver a realidade de tudo, e isso é feito com a ajuda dessa brilhante família... Wherlock-Vaughn... Eu adoreiii cada segundo da leitura desse livro...
Happy reading, and until the next reading..
April 15, 2013
If He's Tempted is Book five in Hannah Howell's Wherlocke Series and it brings as much fun and intrigue into the world of the Haute Ton as the rest of the books. Murder, Mayhem, Calculating Greedy Mothers (evil, calculating, greedy Mothers), Lost Children, arranged marriages.... yeah it's got some stuff going on.. Oh and toss in the family "talent" and things just get crazy fast.
Lady Olympia Wherlocke, had the ability to "see" what had happened by touch. Chairs, walls, clothing.. anything she touched. All things considered in her family this was a mild talent. It's not like she saw dead people (that was her niece) or was able to move things with her mind (that's her son) but she was also very empathetic. When 16 year old Lady Agatha Mallam comes searching for someone to help her avoid a horrendous marriage, Olympia was the only one on hand to help. She made a promise and once given, in her world it was kept. Knowing that she could not do this alone she goes in search of Agatha's brother. Another of the ever so lovely Dowager Lady Mallam's evil machinations.
After finding out that his mother had sold, literally sold the woman he loved into prostitutionLord Brant Mallam, Earl of Fieldgate was devastated. He could not fathom ever facing her again so he removed himself from her presence. Riddled by the guilt of not knowing what had happened and not being able to save her he has slipped into a bit of self medication (alcohol) and womanizing. What he doesn't know is that his mother paying his staff to spy on him, forging his name on documents, blackmailing people to give her control of the family and oh yeah.. blackening his name beyond redemption in society.. When Olympia comes to him about his sister he is appalled and finally ready to act. Unfortunately he must face all the evils his mother has perpetrated.. before he can win this battle.
Olympia has issues of her own, raped as a child by a cousin, she was married and widowed overnight.. then found out she was pregnant and now at 26, thirteen years later she has finally met a man who makes her want more than just friendship. Working with Brant Mallam to put an end to his mother has become more than just the right thing to do. The two of them are wounded souls that have been through hell and just kept on going. They are the victors and they refuse to allow anyone to destroy what is theirs.
I am really enjoying the Wherlocke Series.. probably because it is just a tad different than your average historical romance. Then again it is the same.. these people although they are gifted have the same issues to deal with as any others. They have just learned to ban together. To accept that they might just be alone forever, as it has been the trend in the past for the Non Wherlocke spouse to bail once they really realize what they are dealing with. Children have been abandoned for centuries but finally they are beginning to find hope.
This particular book brings back a few of the Wherlockes from previous books and introduces a few more (hopefully for books to come) but in a way it is not about being a Wherlocke that makes Olympia special, it is her ability to accept and love. To stand by her word and to just do the right thing.
Rarely have I seen a villain as horrid as the one in this book but she is perfect.. a woman missing her soul.. a true sociopath, beyond redemption. How should she be dealt with? What should be done? How can the family be spared her evilness? All intriguing questions and all handled with a brilliant finesse.
The Wherlocke series can be read out of order as each book works pretty well as a stand alone BUT if you choose to do so, there will be references to previous books that will leave you a bit befuddled. An exceptional book.. Enjoy
Shauni
Lady Olympia Wherlocke, had the ability to "see" what had happened by touch. Chairs, walls, clothing.. anything she touched. All things considered in her family this was a mild talent. It's not like she saw dead people (that was her niece) or was able to move things with her mind (that's her son) but she was also very empathetic. When 16 year old Lady Agatha Mallam comes searching for someone to help her avoid a horrendous marriage, Olympia was the only one on hand to help. She made a promise and once given, in her world it was kept. Knowing that she could not do this alone she goes in search of Agatha's brother. Another of the ever so lovely Dowager Lady Mallam's evil machinations.
After finding out that his mother had sold, literally sold the woman he loved into prostitutionLord Brant Mallam, Earl of Fieldgate was devastated. He could not fathom ever facing her again so he removed himself from her presence. Riddled by the guilt of not knowing what had happened and not being able to save her he has slipped into a bit of self medication (alcohol) and womanizing. What he doesn't know is that his mother paying his staff to spy on him, forging his name on documents, blackmailing people to give her control of the family and oh yeah.. blackening his name beyond redemption in society.. When Olympia comes to him about his sister he is appalled and finally ready to act. Unfortunately he must face all the evils his mother has perpetrated.. before he can win this battle.
Olympia has issues of her own, raped as a child by a cousin, she was married and widowed overnight.. then found out she was pregnant and now at 26, thirteen years later she has finally met a man who makes her want more than just friendship. Working with Brant Mallam to put an end to his mother has become more than just the right thing to do. The two of them are wounded souls that have been through hell and just kept on going. They are the victors and they refuse to allow anyone to destroy what is theirs.
I am really enjoying the Wherlocke Series.. probably because it is just a tad different than your average historical romance. Then again it is the same.. these people although they are gifted have the same issues to deal with as any others. They have just learned to ban together. To accept that they might just be alone forever, as it has been the trend in the past for the Non Wherlocke spouse to bail once they really realize what they are dealing with. Children have been abandoned for centuries but finally they are beginning to find hope.
This particular book brings back a few of the Wherlockes from previous books and introduces a few more (hopefully for books to come) but in a way it is not about being a Wherlocke that makes Olympia special, it is her ability to accept and love. To stand by her word and to just do the right thing.
Rarely have I seen a villain as horrid as the one in this book but she is perfect.. a woman missing her soul.. a true sociopath, beyond redemption. How should she be dealt with? What should be done? How can the family be spared her evilness? All intriguing questions and all handled with a brilliant finesse.
The Wherlocke series can be read out of order as each book works pretty well as a stand alone BUT if you choose to do so, there will be references to previous books that will leave you a bit befuddled. An exceptional book.. Enjoy
Shauni
April 17, 2013
4.5 Stars
In my opinion, If He’s Tempted is a nice change from the normal historical. With a touch of the paranormal, a dastardly evil villain and steamy sexual undercurrents, I enjoyed myself from start to finish.
The Wherlocke / Vaughn family have been outcasts for many generations. They sit on the edge of society; actively participating, but weary of the ton. Lady Olympia became a widow at a very young age and doesn't allow the ton dictate her comings and goings and when someone weaker asks for help, she is the first to help. Though she knew helping the young Lady Agatha could cause her problems, she didn't know the extent of the evil involved. She also didn't expect to have feelings blossom for Lady Agatha’s brother, Lord Brant Mallam. She has never felt the urges she experiences when she is around him. With no experience to fall back on, she is excited and apprehensive to follow through. But first they need to save his sister.
Lord Brant is a man filled with so much guilt; he is basically drowning in it. He recently discovered that his betrothed didn't leave him for another man, but was sold to a brothel and killed. He doesn't know how he can rise above it all. Now he is slowly discovering that her death is a long string of crimes showering down upon his head. Nothing is his fault, but his guilt is getting deeper and deeper. His only light is Lady Olympia. She is bound and determined to fix all the wrongs and he will be by her side to help her, even if it kills him. It is the least that he can do since he has allowed these crimes to go on for so long.
The evil deeds keep piling up and time is of the essence. How to you bring down a prominent person in society, without ruining the innocent members of the family? With the help of Lady Olympia’s family they are making progress, but in the final fight all might be lost. We can only hope these two lost souls are strong enough to persevere.
For me, historicals can sometimes be ordinary. They are still fun to read, but they tend to be the same thing; headstrong heroines and rakish heroes, who find true love while circumventing the brutality of the ton. If He’s Tempted is all that and much more. You got a villain that is utterly shocking in their evilness, a ragtag family that is filled with every no-no known to society and two extremely determined people trying to find the truth.
If He’s Tempted is a big improvement from the last installment in the series, If He’s Dangerous. I expected more from Argus Wherlocke’s book and Ms. Howell didn't deliver for me. She more than made up for it with Olympia’s story. I've been enjoying her presence for several books, and it was wonderful that she got a strong plot and a great man too. It was also nice to get Olympia’s backstory. Wow, and what a shocker. I didn't expect it at all.
I am very pleased with If He’s Tempted. I have renewed faith in the Wherlocke series and will be waiting patiently for the next installment. This is a very big wonderfully exceptional family with many stories to tell. They are a breath of fresh air in the stuffy world of the ton.
In my opinion, If He’s Tempted is a nice change from the normal historical. With a touch of the paranormal, a dastardly evil villain and steamy sexual undercurrents, I enjoyed myself from start to finish.
The Wherlocke / Vaughn family have been outcasts for many generations. They sit on the edge of society; actively participating, but weary of the ton. Lady Olympia became a widow at a very young age and doesn't allow the ton dictate her comings and goings and when someone weaker asks for help, she is the first to help. Though she knew helping the young Lady Agatha could cause her problems, she didn't know the extent of the evil involved. She also didn't expect to have feelings blossom for Lady Agatha’s brother, Lord Brant Mallam. She has never felt the urges she experiences when she is around him. With no experience to fall back on, she is excited and apprehensive to follow through. But first they need to save his sister.
Lord Brant is a man filled with so much guilt; he is basically drowning in it. He recently discovered that his betrothed didn't leave him for another man, but was sold to a brothel and killed. He doesn't know how he can rise above it all. Now he is slowly discovering that her death is a long string of crimes showering down upon his head. Nothing is his fault, but his guilt is getting deeper and deeper. His only light is Lady Olympia. She is bound and determined to fix all the wrongs and he will be by her side to help her, even if it kills him. It is the least that he can do since he has allowed these crimes to go on for so long.
The evil deeds keep piling up and time is of the essence. How to you bring down a prominent person in society, without ruining the innocent members of the family? With the help of Lady Olympia’s family they are making progress, but in the final fight all might be lost. We can only hope these two lost souls are strong enough to persevere.
For me, historicals can sometimes be ordinary. They are still fun to read, but they tend to be the same thing; headstrong heroines and rakish heroes, who find true love while circumventing the brutality of the ton. If He’s Tempted is all that and much more. You got a villain that is utterly shocking in their evilness, a ragtag family that is filled with every no-no known to society and two extremely determined people trying to find the truth.
If He’s Tempted is a big improvement from the last installment in the series, If He’s Dangerous. I expected more from Argus Wherlocke’s book and Ms. Howell didn't deliver for me. She more than made up for it with Olympia’s story. I've been enjoying her presence for several books, and it was wonderful that she got a strong plot and a great man too. It was also nice to get Olympia’s backstory. Wow, and what a shocker. I didn't expect it at all.
I am very pleased with If He’s Tempted. I have renewed faith in the Wherlocke series and will be waiting patiently for the next installment. This is a very big wonderfully exceptional family with many stories to tell. They are a breath of fresh air in the stuffy world of the ton.
June 24, 2013
This was an improvement on If He's Sinful, which I could not stand. It is obvious that Ms. Howell's writing technique has improved, although her style (telling, instead of showing; repetitiveness; and recycled plot devices) has not altered much.
I did finish this one, because I wanted to find out how it would end (the plan that Olympia and Brant came up with seemed totally unrealistic, and I wanted to see if they would carry it out or change it). But it really wasn't that great.
Olympia Wherlock, Baroness of (?) has the ability to discern an object's provenance: in other words, if she touches an item, she can 'read' who else might have touched it, and in what context. This was much lauded but barely used in the book. Brant, who made an appearance in If He's Sinful, is rousted out of a drunken stupor amazingly quickly and put on the path to dubious recovery [[Cold turkey, unless a Wherlocke offers him a brandy, in which case he is allowed to drink (?!!!!!!?!?!?!!!!)]] to help her save his sister from being sold by his mother to a diseased, degenerate, devolved old lord as a virgin sacrifice.
The theme of "selling children" was extremely recurrent. From what I remember of If He's Sinful it was also a major theme in that story. This must be a favorite plotline of the author as it is repeated ad nauseum. Brant's mother, a female version of the mustache-twirling uebervillain, is a black-and-white character with no ambiguity whatsoever and therefore comes across as very two-dimensional. Neither of the two main characters were very interesting, although neither was as dumb or repellant as the two idiots from If He's Sinful. Brant, in particular, I lost respect for when he couldn't seem to handle dealing with his mother whatsoever: not as an adult, not as a man (where are your cojones, sir?) and not as a human being with brain cells (yes, "send her to the country," THAT'LL show her). An overly cutesy plot with a pair of felines rounds out the novel.
Call me cruel but I don't read romance to read about children (by and large). IMHO, interactions with children in romance, done well, can be entertaining and lighten up the story but the presence of children in a romance novel usually removes me from the story and bursts that "ideal romance world" bubble. The soccer team's worth of children who troop in and out of this story felt like a plot device meant to earn instant sympathy for the main characters. I was just tired of keeping all their names straight.
The "hot" parts of the book were fairly pedestrian, and I mostly skipped through them. And that was sign enough for me that this is where I stop with this author's books.
Thanks, but no thanks.
ed. to add: BTW, this is an AWFUL cover. It looks like a vampire book!
I did finish this one, because I wanted to find out how it would end (the plan that Olympia and Brant came up with seemed totally unrealistic, and I wanted to see if they would carry it out or change it). But it really wasn't that great.
Olympia Wherlock, Baroness of (?) has the ability to discern an object's provenance: in other words, if she touches an item, she can 'read' who else might have touched it, and in what context. This was much lauded but barely used in the book. Brant, who made an appearance in If He's Sinful, is rousted out of a drunken stupor amazingly quickly and put on the path to dubious recovery [[Cold turkey, unless a Wherlocke offers him a brandy, in which case he is allowed to drink (?!!!!!!?!?!?!!!!)]] to help her save his sister from being sold by his mother to a diseased, degenerate, devolved old lord as a virgin sacrifice.
The theme of "selling children" was extremely recurrent. From what I remember of If He's Sinful it was also a major theme in that story. This must be a favorite plotline of the author as it is repeated ad nauseum. Brant's mother, a female version of the mustache-twirling uebervillain, is a black-and-white character with no ambiguity whatsoever and therefore comes across as very two-dimensional. Neither of the two main characters were very interesting, although neither was as dumb or repellant as the two idiots from If He's Sinful. Brant, in particular, I lost respect for when he couldn't seem to handle dealing with his mother whatsoever: not as an adult, not as a man (where are your cojones, sir?) and not as a human being with brain cells (yes, "send her to the country," THAT'LL show her). An overly cutesy plot with a pair of felines rounds out the novel.
Call me cruel but I don't read romance to read about children (by and large). IMHO, interactions with children in romance, done well, can be entertaining and lighten up the story but the presence of children in a romance novel usually removes me from the story and bursts that "ideal romance world" bubble. The soccer team's worth of children who troop in and out of this story felt like a plot device meant to earn instant sympathy for the main characters. I was just tired of keeping all their names straight.
The "hot" parts of the book were fairly pedestrian, and I mostly skipped through them. And that was sign enough for me that this is where I stop with this author's books.
Thanks, but no thanks.
ed. to add: BTW, this is an AWFUL cover. It looks like a vampire book!
May 12, 2022
Another very evil woman who happens to be the mother of the hero is the driving force in this story. Brandt was introduced in "If He's Sinful". The cover of this book grabbed my attention and before I knew it I had bought all five in the series. I have loved each and every one. I must say that I was slightly, only slightly, disappointed in how Brandt didn't come to life as much as I thought he would based on his history. Not a complete disappointment though and maybe my expectations were unrealistic. (Matthew in Sinful by Charlotte Featherstone is hard to match).
Olympia is a great heroine. I loved her. She never wallowed in self-flagellation which can get tedious. There was a lot less of the family and their gifts in this story. Most of them were out-of-town. I thought even Olympia's gift was under utilized.
There were a lot of children involved in the story and they were a balance to the evil. Plus the kitten, Lure, and her adoptive mother, Dinner, gave levity.
Would really like more stories about this family, especially Modred who was missing in this one, in the future.
April 2017: I have changed my mind about this story. I found Brant to be a disappointment as a hero. I liked him fine as a person but he was made ineffective by the author. He kept giving his mother opportunities to do her evil by letting her know what he planned to do. It came across, to me, as an attempt by the author to manipulate the story and was disappointing. I still liked it but rolled my eyes too many times.
November 2018: Okay, this time I think I understand Brant better. He is the heir and therefore raised under a magnifying glass. This attention to detail in a child often causes perfectionism which means nothing but perfect is considered success. So I can understand that his failings, no matter whether in his power or not, cause him stress and because he is honorable he does not blame others. He blames himself.
May 2022: This time I'm going to try to critique. Really liked the hero and heroine. Didn't feel their connection. Skipped the love scenes and the panting self talk wanting the story to continue. The story line was more interesting than the romance. Would have liked more of the Wherlocke/Vaughn paranormal gifts included. Loved the kids. Seems like children are the thread that binds the books in this series. Good thing because hormones rule over romance. I bought this book for the cover and that introduced me to the series. It's a good series, I'm just more picky now.
Olympia is a great heroine. I loved her. She never wallowed in self-flagellation which can get tedious. There was a lot less of the family and their gifts in this story. Most of them were out-of-town. I thought even Olympia's gift was under utilized.
There were a lot of children involved in the story and they were a balance to the evil. Plus the kitten, Lure, and her adoptive mother, Dinner, gave levity.
Would really like more stories about this family, especially Modred who was missing in this one, in the future.
April 2017: I have changed my mind about this story. I found Brant to be a disappointment as a hero. I liked him fine as a person but he was made ineffective by the author. He kept giving his mother opportunities to do her evil by letting her know what he planned to do. It came across, to me, as an attempt by the author to manipulate the story and was disappointing. I still liked it but rolled my eyes too many times.
November 2018: Okay, this time I think I understand Brant better. He is the heir and therefore raised under a magnifying glass. This attention to detail in a child often causes perfectionism which means nothing but perfect is considered success. So I can understand that his failings, no matter whether in his power or not, cause him stress and because he is honorable he does not blame others. He blames himself.
May 2022: This time I'm going to try to critique. Really liked the hero and heroine. Didn't feel their connection. Skipped the love scenes and the panting self talk wanting the story to continue. The story line was more interesting than the romance. Would have liked more of the Wherlocke/Vaughn paranormal gifts included. Loved the kids. Seems like children are the thread that binds the books in this series. Good thing because hormones rule over romance. I bought this book for the cover and that introduced me to the series. It's a good series, I'm just more picky now.
April 1, 2013
If He’s Tempted – Hannah Howell
This is part of a series, but I must tell you I have not read but a couple of them and I had no problems treating this like a stand-alone book. Ms Howell does an excellent job of giving you enough back-story so that you never get lost.
I do so love the Wherlocke’s and I really wish I had been keeping up with them a little more. I didn’t realize just how much I was missing until I picked this book up. I had totally forgotten just how funny an author like this could be. You seldom see historical writers portraying a woman of this era with as much backbone and grit as you see Ms Howell do. It is like a breath of fresh air. It is a pleasure to see the man being very manly, but allowing that the woman has a mind of her own and that it may very well be a perfectly wonderful mind. Moreover, no other historical author does villains and villainesses as Ms Howell does.
Briefly, we have Agatha Mallam coming to get help from Olympia Wherlocke. It seems that Agatha’s evil mother is trying to marry her off to a man three times her age, to a man that is not exactly good husband material or even very healthy anymore, if you get my drift. It seems Miss Mallam cannot get a message to her brother so Miss Wherlocke takes matters into her own hands.
Now the Wherlocke's are something altogether special and they all have some amount of special powers and Olympia’s is foresight – with a little bit of hindsight thrown in for good measure (be sure to pay attention when Olympia is leaning against Brant's wall in his home…it’s a hoot!). Together they realize what they must do to stop Brant's mother’s evilness.
As usual, Ms Howell draws wonderfully fleshed out characters, gives us a little bit of mystery, throws in enough frustrating moments to keep us at the edges of our chairs and has just enough hot and sexy scenes to have us looking longingly for a cool shower.
This was a quick but very pleasant read. This book is one that I think I will even be pulling out to read again. Most certainly, I will be going over Ms Howells back-list to see what I have missed.
October 20, 2015
This 5th book in the Wherlocke series features one of the other most present characters in the series. I’ll admit, for some reason I wasn’t really looking forward to her story. I don’t know, for all her bawdy conversations, she just felt so spinster aunt-like that I didn’t even foresee her story until I came to it. And it wasn’t even a logical reason, for me, because I like spinster heroines. But I started looking forward to this one once I realized the hero was Brant, who had been so cruelly betrayed in If He’s Sinful.
And then we are in Olympia’s head and she has quite the sense of humor regarding her overt spinster like status, particularly as she is a widow. And I realized how ridiculous my reticence truly was. Which brings me to my trigger warning for this book. Nothing is really described,but there are children in jeopardy and also discussion of past events. Olympia is admirable and also very funny and charming. All I can say is she seems very much like someone I would be pleased to be friends with. And Brant was simply sweet and yummy, and in no way deserved the bum deal he got. I liked them both, and even better I liked them for each other.
There was no real mystery in this, just the unraveling of the villainy of Brant’s mother, but there was plenty of action and intrigue involved in it. And always, family ties are key and were lovely to watch.
There is just one thing that bothers me, and it does so only because of the glom, but I am realizing every single one of these ends with a pregnant woman waiting for the hero’s return. Since none of them relied on the trope of married because of child, I didn’t really note it at first. It didn’t make me like it any less, but I have decided to take a break before the next ones.
https://burnsthroughherbookshelf.word...
And then we are in Olympia’s head and she has quite the sense of humor regarding her overt spinster like status, particularly as she is a widow. And I realized how ridiculous my reticence truly was. Which brings me to my trigger warning for this book. Nothing is really described,but there are children in jeopardy and also discussion of past events. Olympia is admirable and also very funny and charming. All I can say is she seems very much like someone I would be pleased to be friends with. And Brant was simply sweet and yummy, and in no way deserved the bum deal he got. I liked them both, and even better I liked them for each other.
There was no real mystery in this, just the unraveling of the villainy of Brant’s mother, but there was plenty of action and intrigue involved in it. And always, family ties are key and were lovely to watch.
There is just one thing that bothers me, and it does so only because of the glom, but I am realizing every single one of these ends with a pregnant woman waiting for the hero’s return. Since none of them relied on the trope of married because of child, I didn’t really note it at first. It didn’t make me like it any less, but I have decided to take a break before the next ones.
https://burnsthroughherbookshelf.word...
April 6, 2013
This is the only book I have read from this series and I have to say, I didn't feel it hurt that I had not read the rest. This book was provided to me by NetGalley.
The book starts off with Agatha Mallam, a 16 yr old, coming to Olympia Wherelocke to try and get help reaching her brother. Her Mother has made an arrangement to marry her off to a man of questionable moral character and old enough to be her Grandfather. Agatha has tried to reach Brant, her brother, but he isn't returning her letters. Ms. Wherelocke decides she must help this poor young girl and goes to the country estate of Brant herself to find out what's going on. Turns out that Brant's staff has turned against him and is spying for his Mother. Brant has turned into an alcoholic and is quite unaware of the damage his mother is doing to him and his reputation. Brant and Olympia end up figuring out that Brant's Mother is up to a lot more than just spying, making Agatha wed this older man, and ruining Brant's rep. She is an evil woman and together they are determined to expose her for the person she is.
I really enjoyed this although again, I had not read the previous books. It definitely stood on it's own. I love Olympia and think she is an amazing woman. Very well developed characters all the way around. The book is entertaining and has a little of everything, mystery, romance, etc. I would highly recommend this to anyone that likes historical fiction and romance.
The book starts off with Agatha Mallam, a 16 yr old, coming to Olympia Wherelocke to try and get help reaching her brother. Her Mother has made an arrangement to marry her off to a man of questionable moral character and old enough to be her Grandfather. Agatha has tried to reach Brant, her brother, but he isn't returning her letters. Ms. Wherelocke decides she must help this poor young girl and goes to the country estate of Brant herself to find out what's going on. Turns out that Brant's staff has turned against him and is spying for his Mother. Brant has turned into an alcoholic and is quite unaware of the damage his mother is doing to him and his reputation. Brant and Olympia end up figuring out that Brant's Mother is up to a lot more than just spying, making Agatha wed this older man, and ruining Brant's rep. She is an evil woman and together they are determined to expose her for the person she is.
I really enjoyed this although again, I had not read the previous books. It definitely stood on it's own. I love Olympia and think she is an amazing woman. Very well developed characters all the way around. The book is entertaining and has a little of everything, mystery, romance, etc. I would highly recommend this to anyone that likes historical fiction and romance.
May 16, 2013
It was book 5, but it went well just jumping right in. I soon had the hang on things. And as it was HPNR the books all have different couples.
This book is about Lady Olympia. She was so kind, all big heart. Smart and just the kind pf person that would be a perfect friend. She also knew what she wanted and never gave up. She does have some secrets that we later learn.
The hero is a rake with a truly bad rep, but then he also have the mother from hell who does everything to destroy his rep even more. Oh she was beyond evil. But Brant is not as bad as he seems and together they make quite the team as they try to save his sister and more. Sparks fly.
Danger and passion is what makes this book. Because it gets dangerous, and they get close. But there is also more, her warm heart and her big family. Yes we meet a lot of them, some that has had their story told and some whose story is yet untold. What a family they are, and it made me curious.
It was a good historical paranormal romance, and I liked the dangerous aspects, it gave the story something more.
This book is about Lady Olympia. She was so kind, all big heart. Smart and just the kind pf person that would be a perfect friend. She also knew what she wanted and never gave up. She does have some secrets that we later learn.
The hero is a rake with a truly bad rep, but then he also have the mother from hell who does everything to destroy his rep even more. Oh she was beyond evil. But Brant is not as bad as he seems and together they make quite the team as they try to save his sister and more. Sparks fly.
Danger and passion is what makes this book. Because it gets dangerous, and they get close. But there is also more, her warm heart and her big family. Yes we meet a lot of them, some that has had their story told and some whose story is yet untold. What a family they are, and it made me curious.
It was a good historical paranormal romance, and I liked the dangerous aspects, it gave the story something more.
May 15, 2013
Okay, I DO NOT understand how ppl are giving this book good ratings. I mean the ONLY good thing about this book was the COVER!
The first 12 chapters I felt like I was reading a mini-series of the tv show Maury (set in the 1800s), with all the illegitimate kids looking like each other and not really knowing if they were really family or not... I do know that having by-blows were normal back then but gee wiz...and secondly, out of all the books I've read I have NEVER seen an Earl so cowardly and out of touch with reality. I mean the dude was freaking terrified of his mother it seemed. He's a damn EARL! From the start he should have stormed into HIS house and confronted his mother and I'm sure the pure shock of his newly in charge behavior would have scared the wits out of her. This book dragged on too much with the mother rampage...How can this woman not be stopped from SELLING CHILDREN....I mean, she's just a countess for goodness sakes. I didn't buy anything this book selling.
The first 12 chapters I felt like I was reading a mini-series of the tv show Maury (set in the 1800s), with all the illegitimate kids looking like each other and not really knowing if they were really family or not... I do know that having by-blows were normal back then but gee wiz...and secondly, out of all the books I've read I have NEVER seen an Earl so cowardly and out of touch with reality. I mean the dude was freaking terrified of his mother it seemed. He's a damn EARL! From the start he should have stormed into HIS house and confronted his mother and I'm sure the pure shock of his newly in charge behavior would have scared the wits out of her. This book dragged on too much with the mother rampage...How can this woman not be stopped from SELLING CHILDREN....I mean, she's just a countess for goodness sakes. I didn't buy anything this book selling.
May 22, 2013
It took me three tries to finish the book. I'd see it and think, I'd like that book then give up after reading for a while. It just didn't hold my attention.
I like stories with magic and extra-normal characters and events, but the ones in this book were mot really a part of the story.
The hero, Mallam, I don't know, just didn't work for me. I might of liked the heroine Olympia Wherlocke, but she seemed more of a set piece than a real person. The names are kind of yucky, too, which didn't endear them to me.
Very dramatic, horrifying things happened and then were resolved--hohum--with little difficulty.
So while I gave this a 3, as I write the review, I find, I'd probably have to see it as a 2.5.
I like stories with magic and extra-normal characters and events, but the ones in this book were mot really a part of the story.
The hero, Mallam, I don't know, just didn't work for me. I might of liked the heroine Olympia Wherlocke, but she seemed more of a set piece than a real person. The names are kind of yucky, too, which didn't endear them to me.
Very dramatic, horrifying things happened and then were resolved--hohum--with little difficulty.
So while I gave this a 3, as I write the review, I find, I'd probably have to see it as a 2.5.
March 2, 2016
It was a very good book. I enjoy reading a lot of Hannah Howell books. I did not give it the five stars because I was left hanging about Brants half-brothers. We weren't told what happen to them. It's like an unfinished part to the book. Well let's see if we find out in the following books. It still a wonderful book.
April 12, 2013
I just had to get the rest in the series.
September 3, 2023
Loved this book!
August 18, 2013
akhirnyaaaaaaaaaaaaa cerita ttg olympia nongol juga, senengnya hatiku...
mari bercerita......
Lady olympia Wherlocke, terpaksa harus ikut campur masalah orang lain saat suatu ketika Lady Agatha Mallam datang mencari Ashton untuk meminta bantuan Ashton mencari kakak Lady Agatha, Brant Mallam, Earl of Fieldgate yang tidak bisa dihubungi sama sekali.
Lady Agatha perlu menemukan sang kakak agar sang kakak bisa membantunya melepaskan diri dari ikatan pernikahan yang diatur sang ibu untuknya dengan Lord Minden, pria yang terkenal notorious, rogue, lecherous yang rumour-nya sih ke 3 istrinya tidak mati akibat kecelakaan or sakit seperti yang diakuinya selama ini.
lady agatha sudah bbrp kl berusaha menghubungi sang kakak tapi tidak ada balasan, sekarang lady agatha putus asa harus bagaimana.
tidak tega dengan dilema & penderitaan gadis muda belia yang bahkan baru genap 16 tahun membuat olympia menyanggupi dia sendiri yang akan berusaha menemukan brant mallam karena ashton saat ini di desa menemani penelope yang akan segera melahirkan & dalam kondisi yang lemah.
& karena bbrp pesan olympia yang dikirim tidak juga mendapat tanggapan dari Earl Fieldgate membuat olympia nekat langsung menemui sang earl dengan ditemani oleh 2 pelayan kepercayaannya.
begitu sampai di fieldgate manor, olympia sudah disambut oleh ketidakramahan dari butler lord mallam yang sangat melarang olympia masuk kerumah & bertemu sang earl.
seketika olympia tau kenapa selama ini lady agatha maupun dirinya tidak mendapat balasan apa2 dari sang earl. ternyata inilah biang keladinya.
si butler ini ternyata tidak menyampaikan 1 pun surat mereka kepada lor mallam.
olympia jadi jengkel sendiri & memukul si butler hingga pingsan, & tanpa buang2 waktu olympia mencari sendiri sang earl yang ditemukannya dalam keadaan hangover di library.
olympia memaksa sang earl untuk minum teh & makan sesuatu untuk menghilangkan hangover-nya.
olympia tidak akan pergi selama belum menyampaikan maksud kedatangannya pada sang earl.
walopun memegang barang2 di library itu membuatnya meringis dengan gambaran2 mesum yang terjadi di ruangan tersebut, tapi itu tidak menyurutkan niat olympia malah dengan senang hati olympia mengatakan apa yang ada dalam pikirannya kepada sang earl. tinggal earl fieldgate yang meringis malu.....
Brant Mallam, Earl of Fieldgate, kaget ketika melihat olympia, bibi dari penelope - istri ashton sahabat baiknya - tiba2 muncul di kediamannya pd saat brant masih 1/2 mabuk, tapi lady cantik jelita 1 ini tidak bisa ditahan.
tapi tampaknya sang lady punya alasan yang mendesak, alasan yang membuat brant kaget & mengamuk.
brant ngamuk berat bgt tau butler-nya ternyata kaki tangan ibunya, lady mallam, yang sengaja ditaruh di fieldgate manor untuk memata2i brant.
kontan saja brant memecat sang butler & juga mengingatkan dengan keras untuk membawa semua kaki tangan sang ibu dari fieldgate manor.
tampaknya hari ini brant benar2 sibuk memecat orang.
kali ini brant harus memecat salah 1 pelayannya yang biasa membantu memasak.
si pelayan menampar seorang anak laki2 berumur +_ 8 tahun(kl ga salah) karena mencuci tangannya dengan sabunnya, kemudian si pelayan malah melawan olympia, yg jelas2 seorang bangsawan.
olympia geleng2, ini manor benar2 kacau. ga pelayannya ga majikannya.
yah olympia tau apa yang sudah dialami lord mallam.
bagaimana sang ibu menghianatinya dengan menjual wanita yang dicintainya ke brothel & berbohong pada lord mallam dengan mengatakan bahwa kekasihnya lari dengan seorang soldier.
baru2 ini berkat penelope akhirnya brant tau nasib sesungguhnya sang kekasihnya.
namun itu malah menambah duka & rasa bersalah yang selama ini dialami lord mallam. membuatnya tenggelam dalam mabuk2an & wanita.
kondisi brant yang seperti itulah yang akhirnya dimanfaatkan lady mallam untuk mencoret & membuat anaknya sendiri terlihat tidak kompeten.
lady mallam memastikan brant tidak sadar dengan keadaan sekitarnya hingga memudahkannya melakukan apapun yang diinginkan termasuk mengambil alih tugas brant sebg kepala keluarga mallam.
brant selama ini membiarkan ibunya berulah tapi ternyata itu salah.
brant mengira selama ini ibunya hanya sedikit egois, dingin & kaku tapi yang tidak diketahui brant, sang ibu ternyata tidak memiliki secuilpun rasa keibuaan terhadap anak2nya & juga sang ibu tega menjual anak2 tak berdosa demi mengisi kantongnya.
brant harus melakukan sesuatu untuk mengambil alih kembali posisinya sbg earl of fieldgate & menghentikan sang ibu.
olympia bersedia membantu & menawarkan rumah argus yang baru direnovasi untuk sementara ditempati brant & thomas, anak laki2 yang ternyata adalah 1 dari sekian anak haram sang ayah.
olympia mengenalkan brant pada andras vaughn, sepupu olympia yang seorang solicitor, untuk membantu brant mendapatkan kembali posisinya.
juga dibantu oleh obadiah dobson, seorang bow runner.
obadiah membantu mereka mencari 2 saudara tiri brant yang lain. anak haram ayahnya yang lain, termasuk thomas's aunty yang masih belia, yang menghilang entah kemana.
lagi2 brant mendapat pukulan baru, ibu-nya dengan darah dingin menculik anak2 muda & dijadikan bahan dagangan.
bahkan sang ibu tega menyekap anak laki2 kecil berusia 5 or 3 taon ya?? (aq lupa) yang ternyata adalah anak sah gerald humhprey understone, marquiss of understone hill.
lady mallam punya rencana tersendiri untuk little henry.
penyelamatan anak2 yang diculik semua dibawa ke rumah olympia. olympia benar2 tidak bisa meninggalkan para anak2 tersebut disana.
olympia tidak perduli walo rumahnya penuh.
olympia berusaha mengembalikan mereka ke rumah mereka masing2.
untuk little henry, olympia menghubungi sang marquiss & mengembalikan henry ke sang marquiss karena olympia melihat sendiri begitu sayangnya sang marquiss pada putera kecilnya & henry sendiri sangat menyayangi ayahnya.
penyerangan ke rumah yang berisi anak2 yg sedianya mau dijual lady mallam adalah langkah awal memotong sedikit demi sedikit kekuasaan lady mallam.
brant tadinya ingin melucuti kekuasaan sang ibu sedikit demi sedikit hingga tidak menimbulkan gosip karena bagaimanapun juga brant masih punya adik2 yang harus dipikirkannya.
tapi bgt sang ibu yang menyewa orang untuk menyerang olympia, membuat olympia terluka, membuat brant marah besar & terang2an menantang sang ibu.
ngomong2 olympia ternyata sudah punya anak lho. anak yang beranjak dewasa.
ternyata waktu berumur 13 tahun, olympia di-rape oleh sepupunya sendiri.
sekarang si anak sudah berusia 12 tahun & tinggal di pedesaan. namanya illar & spt keluarga wherlocke lainnya apalagi dengan ke 2 ortu yg memiliki darah wherlocke jelas illar memiliki kekuatan.
salah 1 kekuatannya adalah bisa menggerakan benda dengan pikirannya.
kekuatan itulah yang akhirnya menolongnya melawan para penyusup yang berusaha menculiknya dirumahnya sendiri.
penyusup yang mrp anak buah lady mallam.
lagi2 sang lady membuat kesalahan dengan mengutik2 anak keluarga wherlocke.
keluarga wherlocke-vaughn selalu tau jika salah 1 dari mereka terluka & terancam bahaya. jika itu terjadi mereka selalu berkumpul.
kali ini artemis & stefan-lah yang datang karna disuruh oleh penelope untuk membantu olympia.
orion jg datang. bahkan kereta-nya bolak balik dicuri untuk dibawa ke rumah mallam.
kusir orion sampe ngelus2 dada nih orang2 hanya taunya "secepatnya" aja nih.......
kasian juga nih dengan brant...
secara ibu kandungnya sendiri yang menghancurkan namanya di ton.
ibu kandungnya sendiri yang tega menjual anak gadisnya juga menjual anak2 orang demi mengisi kantong uangnya.
ibu kandungnya sendiri yang menikamnya dari belakang.
benar2 asli nih orang memperlakukan anak2nya seperti anak2 tirinya.
egois & berdarah dingin banget.
menakutkan..........
mari bercerita......
Lady olympia Wherlocke, terpaksa harus ikut campur masalah orang lain saat suatu ketika Lady Agatha Mallam datang mencari Ashton untuk meminta bantuan Ashton mencari kakak Lady Agatha, Brant Mallam, Earl of Fieldgate yang tidak bisa dihubungi sama sekali.
Lady Agatha perlu menemukan sang kakak agar sang kakak bisa membantunya melepaskan diri dari ikatan pernikahan yang diatur sang ibu untuknya dengan Lord Minden, pria yang terkenal notorious, rogue, lecherous yang rumour-nya sih ke 3 istrinya tidak mati akibat kecelakaan or sakit seperti yang diakuinya selama ini.
lady agatha sudah bbrp kl berusaha menghubungi sang kakak tapi tidak ada balasan, sekarang lady agatha putus asa harus bagaimana.
tidak tega dengan dilema & penderitaan gadis muda belia yang bahkan baru genap 16 tahun membuat olympia menyanggupi dia sendiri yang akan berusaha menemukan brant mallam karena ashton saat ini di desa menemani penelope yang akan segera melahirkan & dalam kondisi yang lemah.
& karena bbrp pesan olympia yang dikirim tidak juga mendapat tanggapan dari Earl Fieldgate membuat olympia nekat langsung menemui sang earl dengan ditemani oleh 2 pelayan kepercayaannya.
begitu sampai di fieldgate manor, olympia sudah disambut oleh ketidakramahan dari butler lord mallam yang sangat melarang olympia masuk kerumah & bertemu sang earl.
seketika olympia tau kenapa selama ini lady agatha maupun dirinya tidak mendapat balasan apa2 dari sang earl. ternyata inilah biang keladinya.
si butler ini ternyata tidak menyampaikan 1 pun surat mereka kepada lor mallam.
olympia jadi jengkel sendiri & memukul si butler hingga pingsan, & tanpa buang2 waktu olympia mencari sendiri sang earl yang ditemukannya dalam keadaan hangover di library.
olympia memaksa sang earl untuk minum teh & makan sesuatu untuk menghilangkan hangover-nya.
olympia tidak akan pergi selama belum menyampaikan maksud kedatangannya pada sang earl.
walopun memegang barang2 di library itu membuatnya meringis dengan gambaran2 mesum yang terjadi di ruangan tersebut, tapi itu tidak menyurutkan niat olympia malah dengan senang hati olympia mengatakan apa yang ada dalam pikirannya kepada sang earl. tinggal earl fieldgate yang meringis malu.....
Brant Mallam, Earl of Fieldgate, kaget ketika melihat olympia, bibi dari penelope - istri ashton sahabat baiknya - tiba2 muncul di kediamannya pd saat brant masih 1/2 mabuk, tapi lady cantik jelita 1 ini tidak bisa ditahan.
tapi tampaknya sang lady punya alasan yang mendesak, alasan yang membuat brant kaget & mengamuk.
brant ngamuk berat bgt tau butler-nya ternyata kaki tangan ibunya, lady mallam, yang sengaja ditaruh di fieldgate manor untuk memata2i brant.
kontan saja brant memecat sang butler & juga mengingatkan dengan keras untuk membawa semua kaki tangan sang ibu dari fieldgate manor.
tampaknya hari ini brant benar2 sibuk memecat orang.
kali ini brant harus memecat salah 1 pelayannya yang biasa membantu memasak.
si pelayan menampar seorang anak laki2 berumur +_ 8 tahun(kl ga salah) karena mencuci tangannya dengan sabunnya, kemudian si pelayan malah melawan olympia, yg jelas2 seorang bangsawan.
olympia geleng2, ini manor benar2 kacau. ga pelayannya ga majikannya.
yah olympia tau apa yang sudah dialami lord mallam.
bagaimana sang ibu menghianatinya dengan menjual wanita yang dicintainya ke brothel & berbohong pada lord mallam dengan mengatakan bahwa kekasihnya lari dengan seorang soldier.
baru2 ini berkat penelope akhirnya brant tau nasib sesungguhnya sang kekasihnya.
namun itu malah menambah duka & rasa bersalah yang selama ini dialami lord mallam. membuatnya tenggelam dalam mabuk2an & wanita.
kondisi brant yang seperti itulah yang akhirnya dimanfaatkan lady mallam untuk mencoret & membuat anaknya sendiri terlihat tidak kompeten.
lady mallam memastikan brant tidak sadar dengan keadaan sekitarnya hingga memudahkannya melakukan apapun yang diinginkan termasuk mengambil alih tugas brant sebg kepala keluarga mallam.
brant selama ini membiarkan ibunya berulah tapi ternyata itu salah.
brant mengira selama ini ibunya hanya sedikit egois, dingin & kaku tapi yang tidak diketahui brant, sang ibu ternyata tidak memiliki secuilpun rasa keibuaan terhadap anak2nya & juga sang ibu tega menjual anak2 tak berdosa demi mengisi kantongnya.
brant harus melakukan sesuatu untuk mengambil alih kembali posisinya sbg earl of fieldgate & menghentikan sang ibu.
olympia bersedia membantu & menawarkan rumah argus yang baru direnovasi untuk sementara ditempati brant & thomas, anak laki2 yang ternyata adalah 1 dari sekian anak haram sang ayah.
olympia mengenalkan brant pada andras vaughn, sepupu olympia yang seorang solicitor, untuk membantu brant mendapatkan kembali posisinya.
juga dibantu oleh obadiah dobson, seorang bow runner.
obadiah membantu mereka mencari 2 saudara tiri brant yang lain. anak haram ayahnya yang lain, termasuk thomas's aunty yang masih belia, yang menghilang entah kemana.
lagi2 brant mendapat pukulan baru, ibu-nya dengan darah dingin menculik anak2 muda & dijadikan bahan dagangan.
bahkan sang ibu tega menyekap anak laki2 kecil berusia 5 or 3 taon ya?? (aq lupa) yang ternyata adalah anak sah gerald humhprey understone, marquiss of understone hill.
lady mallam punya rencana tersendiri untuk little henry.
penyelamatan anak2 yang diculik semua dibawa ke rumah olympia. olympia benar2 tidak bisa meninggalkan para anak2 tersebut disana.
olympia tidak perduli walo rumahnya penuh.
olympia berusaha mengembalikan mereka ke rumah mereka masing2.
untuk little henry, olympia menghubungi sang marquiss & mengembalikan henry ke sang marquiss karena olympia melihat sendiri begitu sayangnya sang marquiss pada putera kecilnya & henry sendiri sangat menyayangi ayahnya.
penyerangan ke rumah yang berisi anak2 yg sedianya mau dijual lady mallam adalah langkah awal memotong sedikit demi sedikit kekuasaan lady mallam.
brant tadinya ingin melucuti kekuasaan sang ibu sedikit demi sedikit hingga tidak menimbulkan gosip karena bagaimanapun juga brant masih punya adik2 yang harus dipikirkannya.
tapi bgt sang ibu yang menyewa orang untuk menyerang olympia, membuat olympia terluka, membuat brant marah besar & terang2an menantang sang ibu.
ngomong2 olympia ternyata sudah punya anak lho. anak yang beranjak dewasa.
ternyata waktu berumur 13 tahun, olympia di-rape oleh sepupunya sendiri.
sekarang si anak sudah berusia 12 tahun & tinggal di pedesaan. namanya illar & spt keluarga wherlocke lainnya apalagi dengan ke 2 ortu yg memiliki darah wherlocke jelas illar memiliki kekuatan.
salah 1 kekuatannya adalah bisa menggerakan benda dengan pikirannya.
kekuatan itulah yang akhirnya menolongnya melawan para penyusup yang berusaha menculiknya dirumahnya sendiri.
penyusup yang mrp anak buah lady mallam.
lagi2 sang lady membuat kesalahan dengan mengutik2 anak keluarga wherlocke.
keluarga wherlocke-vaughn selalu tau jika salah 1 dari mereka terluka & terancam bahaya. jika itu terjadi mereka selalu berkumpul.
kali ini artemis & stefan-lah yang datang karna disuruh oleh penelope untuk membantu olympia.
orion jg datang. bahkan kereta-nya bolak balik dicuri untuk dibawa ke rumah mallam.
kusir orion sampe ngelus2 dada nih orang2 hanya taunya "secepatnya" aja nih.......
kasian juga nih dengan brant...
secara ibu kandungnya sendiri yang menghancurkan namanya di ton.
ibu kandungnya sendiri yang tega menjual anak gadisnya juga menjual anak2 orang demi mengisi kantong uangnya.
ibu kandungnya sendiri yang menikamnya dari belakang.
benar2 asli nih orang memperlakukan anak2nya seperti anak2 tirinya.
egois & berdarah dingin banget.
menakutkan..........
August 12, 2020
Lost in grief
Brant was in denial he and his sister about the depth and layers of evilness in their mother! When a person shows you who they are!!! Freaking believe them!!! This woman for lack of a better expression did acts of depravity and violence that was unfathomable! They kept seeing over evidence of deep mental illness and even some Wherelockes said she had no conscience!! Olympia out herself in harm's way again for the man who had sunk his country home into alcohol and any woman he could stick his prick in!! Frankly he didn't go without for very long!! Brant did aid and continue to assist the numerous siblings he was too drunk to realize they worked for him! How could one man his father beget so many children?? There is danger and intrigue of course, Brant has to grow up own his mistakes and let go of the past!! Olympia has some heartache of her own to let go of! So in the end they get a HEA! No 5 stars because the obvious writing on the wall did NOT work even deaths and abused children everywhere!!!
Brant was in denial he and his sister about the depth and layers of evilness in their mother! When a person shows you who they are!!! Freaking believe them!!! This woman for lack of a better expression did acts of depravity and violence that was unfathomable! They kept seeing over evidence of deep mental illness and even some Wherelockes said she had no conscience!! Olympia out herself in harm's way again for the man who had sunk his country home into alcohol and any woman he could stick his prick in!! Frankly he didn't go without for very long!! Brant did aid and continue to assist the numerous siblings he was too drunk to realize they worked for him! How could one man his father beget so many children?? There is danger and intrigue of course, Brant has to grow up own his mistakes and let go of the past!! Olympia has some heartache of her own to let go of! So in the end they get a HEA! No 5 stars because the obvious writing on the wall did NOT work even deaths and abused children everywhere!!!
November 1, 2020
Once again an entertaining read but not as much psychic happenings as the first two books.
Going back to read book three next.
Nice to see Brand find peace after the horrors of book one and Olympia deserved a HEA.
Reading these out of order as I wanted to read Brand’s book next but boy, isn’t this extremely similar to book two, storyline wise. Right up to the heroine being shot.
Enjoyable but I couldn’t get my head around allowing the mother such largesse. Her atrocities kept accumulating.
It would have been easier to get rid of her and make it look like an accident.
I do find it very interesting that these heroines have no sense of self preservation. They have sex, fairly soon too, with men who are known to have recently and frequently spent way to much time with whores.
Safe sex was not available then and sexually transmitted diseases were rife. Stupid behaviour.
Going back to read book three next.
Nice to see Brand find peace after the horrors of book one and Olympia deserved a HEA.
Reading these out of order as I wanted to read Brand’s book next but boy, isn’t this extremely similar to book two, storyline wise. Right up to the heroine being shot.
Enjoyable but I couldn’t get my head around allowing the mother such largesse. Her atrocities kept accumulating.
It would have been easier to get rid of her and make it look like an accident.
I do find it very interesting that these heroines have no sense of self preservation. They have sex, fairly soon too, with men who are known to have recently and frequently spent way to much time with whores.
Safe sex was not available then and sexually transmitted diseases were rife. Stupid behaviour.
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