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New York Times bestselling author Mary Jo Putney continues her stunning Lost Lords series with this stirring, sensual story of a rebellious nobleman drawn to a lovely widow with a shocking past.
As the sole remaining heir to the Earl of Daventry, Alexander Randall knows his duty: find a wife and sire a son of his own. The perfect bride for a man in his position would be a biddable young girl of good breeding. But the woman who haunts his imagination is Julia Bancroft—a village midwife with a dark secret that thrusts her into Randall's protection.
Within the space of a day, Julia has been abducted by her first husband's cronies, rescued, and proposed to by a man she scarcely knows. Stranger still is her urge to say yes. A union with Alexander Randall could benefit them both, but Julia doubts she can ever trust her heart again, or the fervent desire Randall ignites. Yet perhaps only a Lost Lord can show a woman like Julia everything a true marriage can be. . .
"Intoxicating, romantic and utterly ravishing..." —Eloisa James
"Entrancing characters and a superb plotline. . ." —Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Will leave readers smiling, breathless, and anxiously awaiting the next adventure. . ." —Library Journal, starred review
avid-readerST
Posted May 9, 2012
Again we see a wonderful love story unfold, from the Lost Lord's Series. The characters are strong and the story set to please. I so enjoy her writing in this period.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.this is a veery good book. once i opened it and read a little bit, i couldn't put it down.it's one of the best romance novels i've read in quite some time! very romantic and a good story. mary jo putney delivered another great story. i loved the characters very much.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Phyllis_L
Posted May 15, 2010
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It was a good historical romance novel, but not a stand-out, go-tell-all-your-friends sort of book.
Putney has been a bit uneven lately and I wasn't as excited as I had hoped to be. I enjoyed this plot, but there seemed to be too many coincidences and the bad guys were just too irredeemable to be believable.
I did like Lady Julia for making something of herself after faking her own death, but some of her fabulous-ness was a bit heavy-handed.
A good book for a quick read with action, adventure, romance, and true love winning out.
Randall has just sold his commission in the army because he's suddenly become an heir apparent to Daventry. Before heading there, he decides to revisit the village of Hartley to look up old friends - a serendipitious decision because said midwife, Mrs. Julia Bancroft, has just been kidnapped by old enemies, namely her father-in-law, Lord Daventry who thinks she murdered his son. A Sir Galahad if there ever was one, Randall contrives to free her. Julia is actually Lady Julia Raines, brutalized as a young bride of 16 by her bestial husband who died during one such bout of violence when he fell and struck his head. She fled and faked her own death becoming Mrs. Julia Bancroft. Randall was a cousin to Julia's husband (!), and was also abused by him when he was a youngster. To escape this tyranny, he managed to get sent to the Westerfield Academy where he met the other "lost lords". This is just the beginning of the saga of Never Less than a Lady. Perhaps these were good ingredients for a potentially interesting romantic stew, but the main characters and convoluted plot needed much more seasoning to make it less bland and more interesting to swallow.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Intoxicating, intriguing, provocative and thrilling are only a few words to describe, "NEVER LESS THAN A LADY", second book in "THE LOST LORDS" series by New York Times Bestselling author, Mary Jo Putney.
Prickly Major Lord Randal is the last remaining of the Daventry family. Forced to come home and take the title and do his duty-meaning get a wife and begot an heir. Biddable wife is what he believes he should attain but the beautiful and charismatic widow Julia Bancrofts haunts him day and night from their very first meeting those long months ago.
Julia Bancroft is anything but meek or docile-but she plays the part so well, at first-- and not only hiding secrets but herself from the demons that try to take her in the night. Everything goes awry when she is found and kidnapped and on her way to the one person that knows all of Julia's secrets and will make her pay dearly for them-with her very life.
Unbeknownst to Randall of the going-ons of this quaint little village he is on his way to Scotland to ask for the hand of the docile sister of his best friend wife, Mariah, Lady Ashton of "LOVING A LOST LORD" first of The Lost Lords. Upon his arrival Randal is thrust into pursuit of the carriage filled with bandits that have absconded with the one woman who stirs his blood back to life. He will save and marry, the widow at any cost. And if that means bring these miscreants down at any cost, well by God he will do it.
You would think that after rescuing the fair maiden that everything would go smoothly, but no. Secrets are revealed, titles are lost and found, trickery is a foot, and old lies that destroyed a young woman reputation and the hearing of brutality are a small part that plays in the hero winning the woman of his heart. For Julia fears touch just as much as she fears men and their lies. Can Randall climb over the insurmountable wall that Julia has built around her heart? Is Julia willing to take down her guard to see that all mean where never created equal but that there are still good men deserving of the love she has to share.
"NEVER LESS THAN A LADY" is pure magic at its best. Created by the incomparable New York Times Bestselling author, Mary Jo Putney. She has woven a magical story of heart break, disillusionment and sorrow and strung the prose with compassionate compensation to love triumphing over insurmountable evils. The characters leapt off the page with Ms. Putney's masterfully creative lush eye-popping scenes. Ever the one to thrust her hero and heroines into a thrilling ride that leaves readers at the edge of their seats with their hearts palpitating in worry that true love might not survive only to have her rip us right back into a euphoric world of happily ever after. A classic in the making with memorable characters, plush and exotic setting and a love story that will delight romance readers the world over. Bravo, Ms. Putney for another job well done!
In 1812 Spain Lord Alexander Randall leads his unit in battle when he receives the cold note from his Uncle Lord Daventry to come home immediately as his cousin died making him the heir. Randall hates Daventry, but is sick of war so he decides to return to England. He also chooses to take his time before seeing his odious uncle who raised him when his parents died, but Daventry allowed his son Branford to bully the younger lad.
Randall stops at his friend Ashton's home to thank him and his wife Mariah (see Loving a Lost Lord) for saving his life last year when he came to London wounded. Mariah suggests Randall visit her sister, but he might only to see Mrs. Julia Bancroft who he is attracted to though he hid his feelings from everyone.
Three men kidnap Julia. Randall learns of the abduction and gives chase. When the thugs stop, Randall grabs Julia from them when she goes to pee. They find shelter and she explains she was forced into marriage at sixteen to Daventry's son Branford. He abused her and when she was pregnant started to kill her. She pushed him and he died when he cracked his head. His father blames her, but is unaware that Branford's assault killed their unborn. He realizes she is no commoner midwife, but instead is his aristocratic cousin-in-law, a duke's daughter. To keep her safe, Randall offers to marry Julia with an escape clause for her sake while also knowing the additional enemies he will make.
This is an exciting character driven Regency romance starring a wonderful lead couple who marry to keep her safe, but fall in love. The support characters are strong especially the outspoken women. Although her stepson adapts to his new world with hardly a blink, which simplifies everything for the lead couple, fans will enjoy this rousing sequel.
Harriet Klausner
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Overview
New York Times bestselling author Mary Jo Putney continues her stunning Lost Lords series with this stirring, sensual story of a rebellious nobleman drawn to a lovely widow with a shocking past.
As the sole remaining heir to the Earl of Daventry, Alexander Randall knows his duty: find a wife and sire a son of his own. The perfect bride for a man in his position would be a biddable young girl of good breeding. But the woman who haunts his imagination is Julia Bancroft—a village ...