Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Publication
Recorded Books (2003), Edition: Unabridged Audiobook, 11 CDs, 12 hrs 30 min
Description
Fiction. Romance. Historical Fiction. HTML:". . . what distinguishes Beverley's writing is the depth of compassion and human understanding." ~Kim E Power The Duchess of Belcraven committed a folly, and bore her husband another man's child. But Lucien was a third son, so all was patched over. Then the two older boys drowned, leaving disaster. Now, over twenty years later, the duke learns he has a legitimate daughter�??Beth Armitage, a child of his blood�??and he compels Lucien and Beth to marry. Lucien, now the arrogant ducal heir, is devastated to learn he is not his father's child and that the only way to his fortune is through his unwilling bride: an independent schoolteacher raised in the principles of the Rights of Women. Can there be any common ground? From The Publisher: Author Jo Beverley is known for her consumate attention to historical detail that wisks the reader back in time to a near first-hand experience. Fans of Regency romance and historical British fiction set in the 19th century, as well as readers of Jess Michaels, Mary Balogh, Christi Caldwell, Stephanie Laurens, Madeline Hunter and Mary Jo Putney will want to read every book by Jo Beverley. Romance Writers of America RITA Award, Winner Best Regency Romance, Romantic Times "...vivid and mesmerizing characters . Top notch Regency reading pleasure." ~Romantic Times "...reading about these two intelligent, strong people was such a treat." ~All About Romanc… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member jjmcgaffey
Now this one I like. Beth's situation was - weird, but believable. And her reactions the same, as were Lucien's. Neat meeting the other Rogues - I do want to read the rest of the series. Some of the threads started here were completed in Rogue's Return, and some weren't - and some were finished
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here that started in the first book. I'll keep an eye out for them. Lord Deverill showed his colors very clearly in a half-page scene, and made all the rest reasonable action against him - actually, when he showed up again he seemed to be overacting. But that didn't stop them from dealing with him. Good story - this one had me crying early on, and laughing out loud near the end, at the meeting with the duke. Lordy! Enjoyed this very much and will definitely be looking for more. Show Less
LibraryThing member Sugarbeat
We start the second book in the “Company of Rogues” series with Beth Armitage - a woman who is content with her life as a school teacher - finding out that the life as she knows it will change. It seems that 20 years ago the current wife of the Duke of Belcraven had an affair with an old flame
This sets the scene for the development of the rocky relationship of “Lord Arden - a full blooded aristocratic male who is finding out for the first time that he is illegitimate and Beth Armitage - an early feminist with republican inclinations”! (as it is phrased on the book summary) As you can well imagine, this book in the series explores the area of women’s rights with Beth being a fiery follower of Mary Woolstencroft. An Unwilling Bride was the winner of: the RWA RITA award for Best Regency, the Golden Leaf Award for Best Historical and Romantic Times Best Regency Romance.
I found this book in the series to be very enjoyable! I didn’t really like Lucien, Lord Arden. At one point he actually backhands Beth. He is a pretty unlikeable character for most of the book. Even in future books, he comes off as stiff and unlikeable. I like to think about him having the label of “No Fun Zone”! I felt a great deal of empathy for Beth. It seems that women in Regency England REALLY need woman’s rights! Although I am aware that this is a fictional book, it make me thankful for the rights that I have!
That being said, experience tells me that a Jo Beverley novel is not a nice and easy read. I may not like Lucien or how he orders Beth around, but I can appreciate how Jo Beverley takes some very unlikeable characters and weaves an incredibly wonderful story around them. The Company of Rogues aspect adds a nice background to Lucien’s earlier years, provides a support system for him and also helps us understand him a bit better. Definitely a rewarding read!
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while her husband was away. The result was a son - a third son - Lord Arden. When his two other sons die tragically, the Duke finds himself in the position of having another man’s son as his heir. To add to the mix, it seems that the Duke, himself, also has an illegitimate child - a daughter - Beth Armitage - who he now will force to marry his remaining son, so that the “Belcraven blood line” will continue.This sets the scene for the development of the rocky relationship of “Lord Arden - a full blooded aristocratic male who is finding out for the first time that he is illegitimate and Beth Armitage - an early feminist with republican inclinations”! (as it is phrased on the book summary) As you can well imagine, this book in the series explores the area of women’s rights with Beth being a fiery follower of Mary Woolstencroft. An Unwilling Bride was the winner of: the RWA RITA award for Best Regency, the Golden Leaf Award for Best Historical and Romantic Times Best Regency Romance.
I found this book in the series to be very enjoyable! I didn’t really like Lucien, Lord Arden. At one point he actually backhands Beth. He is a pretty unlikeable character for most of the book. Even in future books, he comes off as stiff and unlikeable. I like to think about him having the label of “No Fun Zone”! I felt a great deal of empathy for Beth. It seems that women in Regency England REALLY need woman’s rights! Although I am aware that this is a fictional book, it make me thankful for the rights that I have!
That being said, experience tells me that a Jo Beverley novel is not a nice and easy read. I may not like Lucien or how he orders Beth around, but I can appreciate how Jo Beverley takes some very unlikeable characters and weaves an incredibly wonderful story around them. The Company of Rogues aspect adds a nice background to Lucien’s earlier years, provides a support system for him and also helps us understand him a bit better. Definitely a rewarding read!
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LibraryThing member MlleEhreen
I think this is one of Jo Beverley's best books - maybe her best. It's a very daring book, for the genre, but not because Lucien is an alpha male with a potential for violence - that description would cover most romance heroes pretty well; certainly it's nothing unique.
No, the reason why An
This is essentially what the book is about. Everybody - every mother, girlfriend, and companion - offers to protect Beth and punish Lucien for his transgressions. There is no 'tolerance' for violence and the sheer number of words devoted to the topic of Lucien's potential & actual violence should show that this is not a question of a 'wife beater' - although I think that it should be obvious that the alpha male hero and wife beating jerk are not totally apples and oranges.
I think Beverley ends up arguing that the difference between the hero and the jerk isn't that one has the potential for violence and the other doesn't; rather, it's a matter of self-discipline, nobility of spirit, understanding of right and wrong. Lucien isn't perfect, but he understands those things, and that's why he's ultimately a hero.
I don't think Beverley really dealt sufficiently with Beth and Lucien's feelings; this is probably the consequence of dealing so thoroughly with their beliefs. There's almost no steam, but the way that Beverley describes Beth and Lucien when they dance, or engage in a battle of the wits, is amazingly done and incredibly erotic.
And, of course, the book is a lot of fun - plenty of other Rogues make apperances, it's excellently structured (I think Beverley sets up the quotation from the Rape of the Lock as the premise of the novel and its inclusion is really cleverly done), very smart, and Beth is a wonderful heroine - really smart and sweet.
No, the reason why An
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Unwilling Bride is daring is because instead of just picking up the old cliche (alpha male, potential for violence) Beverley decides to put it on trial: what happens when the dreamy alpha male crosses the thin line that most romance authors so delicately avoid? What happens when the heroine is someone like Beth, who has strong feelings about her own independence and rights? Beth is very well contextualized, but she gives the readers the opportunity to ask the one big question that almost every book in this genre ought to pose us: how can you reconcile the desire to be free and respected with the desire for an alpha male? This is essentially what the book is about. Everybody - every mother, girlfriend, and companion - offers to protect Beth and punish Lucien for his transgressions. There is no 'tolerance' for violence and the sheer number of words devoted to the topic of Lucien's potential & actual violence should show that this is not a question of a 'wife beater' - although I think that it should be obvious that the alpha male hero and wife beating jerk are not totally apples and oranges.
I think Beverley ends up arguing that the difference between the hero and the jerk isn't that one has the potential for violence and the other doesn't; rather, it's a matter of self-discipline, nobility of spirit, understanding of right and wrong. Lucien isn't perfect, but he understands those things, and that's why he's ultimately a hero.
I don't think Beverley really dealt sufficiently with Beth and Lucien's feelings; this is probably the consequence of dealing so thoroughly with their beliefs. There's almost no steam, but the way that Beverley describes Beth and Lucien when they dance, or engage in a battle of the wits, is amazingly done and incredibly erotic.
And, of course, the book is a lot of fun - plenty of other Rogues make apperances, it's excellently structured (I think Beverley sets up the quotation from the Rape of the Lock as the premise of the novel and its inclusion is really cleverly done), very smart, and Beth is a wonderful heroine - really smart and sweet.
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LibraryThing member phyllis2779
An excellent sequel to the Rogues series. An unusual heroine and a fresh plot add a different slant to the traditional Regency. I kept this for a long time and then purchased the Kindle edition so definitely a favorite.
Awards
RITA Award (Finalist — 1993)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1992-02
ISBN
1436179904 / 9781436179904
Local notes
Lucien DiVou & Elizabeth "Beth" Amatage are married against their wills. Lucien is heir to the Duke of Belcraven, though he is the bastard son of the Duchess. Beth is the bastard daughter of the Duke. The Duke wants the Dukedom to continue its bloodlines and this is the only way he can make it work. His real heirs (2 older sons) were drowned as young children, while the Duchess was pregnant with Lucien. Beth is a bluestocking, a teacher at a girls school, and "on the shelf" at 24. Lucien is 25, with golden curls, and able to have woman he wants (except Beth). Before they wed, Beth tells Lucien that she is not a virgin, hoping to scare him away. Instead, he marries her but treats her disrespectfully beforehand.