Rating: 
Summary: Looking beneath the surface
Review: Sigh -- so many readers latch on to one small incident and trash the whole thing because of it, and all without looking at the whole. As to the issue of abuse, Jo Beverley is known for dealing with difficult and sometimes uncomfortable (to be kind) issues. Abuse is one of the issues addressed in "An Unwilling Bride." Yes, the reader can be rightly concerned about the hero's temper and the one (count 'em, one) time Lucien backhands his wife. I am NOT justifying his behavior, but reading his reaction and all that follows, he seems to be even more upset about it than she is. Lucien is appalled at himself. It is also true that he is at times emotionally cruel to Beth early on, but it is the result of a very serious misunderstanding that she caused and a backlash from his own pain. As unpleasant as that is, it's real; people really do lash out at others when they themselves are in pain, particularly if the other person manges to add to the load. In addition, she is a virago early in their relationship, due in large part to her trying to get out of a marriage she doesn't want. Nevertheless, she is truly obnoxious at times and there is a portion of the book in which the reader may not like either character. Both are dealing with very difficult situations they feel powerless to change, and both have very strong, independent-minded personalities. Friction is inevitable. Moreover, responses that so berate Lucien fail to recognize that people are imperfect; they make mistakes. Odd how Lucien is condemned for one terrible mistake and the rest of his character, which is very fine indeed, is overlooked. At least Beth comes to realize that she started their problems (not "is responsible for his hitting her") and continued to exacerbate them. Like all relationships, both are responsible. Did those who dubbed this book a typical Regency (or those who could not get past the one incidence of violence) actually finish the book? The message is that neither physical nor emotional abuse is acceptable. The couple must learn to deal with each other with respect, compassion, and understanding. And there is plenty of meat for the idea of equality between the sexes, too. Beverley's book takes a realistic look at the issue of spousal abuse in the Regency period (and one must keep in mind the historical context), as well as the misunderstandings and compromises necessary in a marriage between such high-spirited people, the gap between the aristocracy and lower classes, the sorrows and concerns of war, and much more. It is a deep book which, it seems, is not appreciated by all. Jo Beverley has a gift for writing unique books. Somehow Beverley manages to deal with difficult subjects at the same time that she presents interesting twists on standard plots such that each book is new (not becoming repetitive as even other good authors are want to do) and the characters are individual and memorable. I liked Lucien a lot -- other than the anger, which is explained in everything he has to deal with at that moment (and all who know him agree that, although he has a temper, he is acting far from normal), and the time he hit her. I'm less pleased with Beth's stubborn and selfish actions that keep creating more problems for them. For example, one of her hang-ups is that he's of the aristocracy; it takes her a long time to start to get past that, in part because of her own self-righteousness and her ignorance of aristocratic duties. While she cannot be blamed for his hitting her, Beth was responsible (she herself admits it) for making a difficult situation horrid. She does, however, realize eventually that she's wrong and begins to soften and compromise. In the end, they come to appreciate each other's strengths and to become friends and lovers in the sort of marriage most intelligent people would appreciate (and violence has no part in it). It is because of those two "flaws" and the fact that I would like to have had a little more attention to Lucien's parents (especially at the end when JB could have dealt with Lucien's evolving relationship with them) and a greater emphasis on the couple's falling in love with each other (making it clearer in actions, not just the sudden declaration, considering all that happened beforehand)...because of those things, I give it 4 stars. It is not necessary to read the Company of Rogues series (and the companion books about the 3 Georges) in order; they are each delightful, intense stories, and all of the characters mentioned are given enough space to be understood even though they appeared in previous books. Having said that, however, reading them in order cannot help but add to the experience by allowing everything to fall into place in the correct order, since the plots as well as the characters overlap somewhat. Short version: If you cannot get past the issue of violence, you'll hate this book. If you can delve deeper, looking at larger issues, motivations, the intricacies of character, and all the other realities of life (especially life in a given historical period) that Beverley refuses to smooth over or ignore, you'll have a wonderful read on your hands.
Rating: 
Summary: Mixed bag.
Review: The book is well written. The dialogue is excellent, with witty exchanges. I like the character of Elizabeth. I could not understand or relate to the Duke and Duchess, or to Lucien. I was deeply bothered by the lack of honor shown by Lucien. He knows Elizabeth has been forced into accepting marriage. He knows that she fears him and does not wish to marry him. He does not defend her right to refuse to marry him because he will lose the unentailed portion of his inheritance. Lucien would remain a very rich man, just not a extremely wealthy man. Instead of worrying about Elizabeth's happiness, Lucien spends his time worrying about his family name and the potential blots that Elizabeth might give it. He does little to ensure his unwilling bride's happiness except to refrain from forcing intimacy. Lucien supposedly falls in love with Elizabeth during their honeymoon, but he spends little time with her once they return to London. In a jealous rage he strikes Elizabeth, who (in typical abuse victim fashion) lies to his family about the bruises. It is difficult for me to enjoy a book where I do not like one or more of the main characters. I did not like Lucien. In balance I gave the book two stars because Ms. Beverly is a good word smith, she crafts enjoyable sentences. The book would have been a pleasure to read if Lucien tried a little harder do the right thing and act honorably toward Beth.
Rating:
Summary: A Fine Romance
Review: The story is the tale of a duke who has an illegitimate daughter that he has never seen and a stepson that his wife conceived by another man while he was away at war. The Duke accepted his stepson and gave him his title, but can't quite forgive his wife for her indiscretion. So they have lived in a strained marriage for years. The old Duke decides that the only way to make sure his bloodline continues is by forcing his stepson to marry this unseen daughter (a teacher at a convent with very independent attitudes) if the young Duke wants to keep his inheritance. He tells his shocked and angry son the circumstances of his birth then goes to visit his daughter who is equally shocked and angry. Of course, they agree to this marriage of convenience and that's where the story of the romance begins in earnest despite their best attempts to avoid falling in love. Although a bit tedious, at times, this is a fine romance!
Rating: 
Summary: ZERO stars--Abuse and violence is NEVER okay
Review: This book began with a little bit of promise. I liked Beth, for about twenty pages. However, this book degenerates into verbal abuse (by both hero and heroine), domestic violence and by the end of the novel, total outrageousness. Let me break it down for you: What if I said to you: "Bob killed his wife. He was having a really emotional moment, and he's sure it'll never happen again." Would you say "Okay Bob, no big deal?" Heck no. Well, in this book, the "hero" or as I'll call him, JA (you can determine what that stands for) backhands his wife! And, in about two minutes, she forgives him and basically asserts that she even DESERVED it! To make matters worse, she LIES to everyone around her to hide her big black eye, and he is barely repenant and the heroine barely ponders it. To add to this ridiculous and horrifying turn of events, soon after, said "heroine" whom I'll refer to as Too Stupid to Live decides she wants to meet his mistress! To make the plot even more ridiculous, the wife and mistress become great friends. Please. Where is the self respect of this previously likeable heroine? Some reviewers have suggested that this kind of behavior is "okay" given the time period. Imagine what the slaves would have thought if you told them their beatings and slavery was "Okay, for the time period" or the Jews "Well, it WAS the Holocaust..."... Violence, abuse and degredation is NEVER okay and for us as readers to buy such a book and recommend it only sends a message that it is OKAY. Would you tell a battered wife that it's Okay that her husband beats her? That she probably egged him on? Violence, whether it happens now or two hundred years from now, is never all right. Never. I am shocked that this EVER got into publication. Shame on you, Zebra books. As for the author....I cannot imagine how she EVER thought this book was a romance. It's not. It's an exercise in pain and abuse. I love emotionally charged books. But if the hero and heroine have to be abusive to each other to create tension, then there is something wrong with your conflict in the book. If your characters aren't interesting without having them resort to name calling and violence, then you need to start over and try to rediscover what makes a good relationship and a great lovestory. Certainly not the kind of abusive relationship these two have.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointment . . .for many reasons
Review: This book easily lasted 200 pages more than it should have. My first problem with the book was the heroine, who's a little too proud of how clever and educated she is. She also has an unhealthy amount of fear of pretty much everything - consummating the marriage, meeting Society, etc. - for a woman who is supposedly full of self-control. I felt no sense of connection with either her or the hero, and the whole concept of him always being on the edge of violence was supposed to be accepted by the reader as being part of his manly character. I also felt as though NOTHING was accomplished for the first 300 pages - they argue, she's a misunderstood shrew, he's hot-tempered, etc., etc. Plus, the whole Clarissa storyline came out of left field, and didn't really fit in with the rest of the book. It almost seemed as though the author realized she needed a real conflict in her book, and plucked this one out of nowhere. I haven't read any other books from the Company of Rogues series, and after this, I don't think I will be.
Rating: 
Summary: The best historical romance I've ever read
Review: This one has it all--humour, adventure, intrigue, glitz and glam, and, of course, romance. The very best (IMO) of the author's excellent Company of Rogues series--though CHRISTMAS ANGEL and FORBID DEN come close seconds--and the very best histori cal romance I've ever read. This tale of a fiesty bluestocking who is forced to marry a rather arro gant young blueblood shows how far the romance genre has evolved. I don't want to give away too much of the plot, so suffice it to say that this "shrew" doesn't get tamed! The sympathetic por trayal of the hero's ex-mistress is an added bo nus. But when will the rest of the series appear?! There hasn't been a new Company of Rogues book for three years!
Rating:
Summary: Extraordinary - a real emotional whirlpool
Review: Undeniably, Jo Beverley is a writer of great talent. In An Unwilling Bride she has created a domestic situation which, whilst not unheard of in the Regency era (cf Lord Egremont for one!) is nonetheless an exciting framework for this novel. The lead characters are strong, arrogant, stubborn and well rounded although each is deeply flawed. In a story of infidelity, diametrically opposing life-views and a whiff of violence the author excites and even tillilates the reader. Lucien de Vaux, the Marquess of Arden and Beth Armitage are so fundamenally different yet so closely linked through an accident of birth that you just know they are going to have mountains to climb before reaching a somewhat volatile truce. Beth Armitage is a fabulous heroine for, although one might think her a 20th century girl in Regency dress, she does accurately represent the philosophy of Mary Wollstonecroft and her followers. Arden is an archetypal Regency buck yet has throughout his life sustained a love of the most erudite of learning and he has a very powerful intellect which, when he meets Beth is challenged as never before. Arden's parents, the Duke and Duchess of Belcraven are unlike any parents in a Regency novel that I can recall! They, too, are flawed people but they rise above it magnificently. I truly enjoyed this book, I was drawn into the high emotion and drama. The verbal fencing was a delight! Despite some somewhat shocking scenes of domestic violence, like Liz Carlyle did with bondage in one of her novels, it fits the parameters of the book. Don't be put off - it truly adds another dimension to the characters and although perhaps today such behaviour would be unforgiveable, within the context of the time, the laws then governing marriage and the absolute rights of a husband, it rings true and does add to the story. Jo Beverley really amazes me. She is one of the very best writing in this genre today.
Rating:
Summary: Disturbing treatment of domestic violence
Review: Was anyone else bothered by the hero's use of his fists on his wife? And the dismissal of it as being "temper" and forgiveness coming quickly and easily? This really bothered me and took away from the book.
Rating:
Summary: Hitting a woman is NEVER okay!
Review: What appalled me more than Lucien's backhand was Beth's reaction to it. Instead of hitting him back (my preferred reaction) or taking him to task, she forgives him and shoulders most of the blame. The whole interaction disgusted me. I don't mind that the man had a temper. In fact, I think an angry man can be a sexy man. But he should have hit the wall or thrown a priceless vase. He shouldn't have hit a defenseless, innocent woman. Lucien is NOT a hero, a man, or anyone I could admire or root for. He is a spineless coward who uses his fists against people who are no match for him physically. And then to say he did it because he loves her so much - UGH! He's a wife beater and I wish instead of forgiving him, Beth would have kneed him in the balls. I'm not sure I can ever read another Jo Beverly. This was my first and it really turned me off.
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