Sabrina Jeffries - How to Woo a Reluctant Lady (The Hellions of Halstead Hall)

Anyone who loves romance
must read Sabrina Jeffries!

New York Times bestselling author Lisa Kleypas

HELLIONS OF HALSTEAD HALL

Another sparkling series with winning potential
(Library Journal)
from New York Times and USA Today
bestselling author

SABRINA JEFFRIES

Praise for

THE TRUTH ABOUT
LORD STONEVILLE

Jeffries pulls out all the stops with a story combining her hallmark humor, poignancy and sensuality to perfection.

Romantic Times

The first in a captivating new Regency-set series by the always entertaining Jeffries, this tale has all of the authors signature elements: delectably witty dialogue, subtly named characters, and scorching sexual chemistry between two perfectly matched protagonists.

Booklist

Lively repartee, fast action, luscious sensuality, and an abundance of humor make the first installment of the Hellions of Halstead Hall essential for libraries.

Library Journal

This title is also available as an eBook

The Truth About Lord Stoneville has the special brand of wit and passion for which Sabrina Jeffries is recognized, where each enthralling scene will thoroughly capture your imagination.

singletitles.com

Sabrina Jeffries excels in the historical romance genre, and The Truth About Lord Stoneville is no exception.... Starts another excellent series of books which will alternatively have you laughing, crying, and running the gamut of emotions.... Enjoy Olivers transformation from unreformed rake to devoted husband, and I guarantee you will have a tear in your eye.

Romance Reviews Today

More acclaim for Sabrina Jeffries and the warm, wickedly witty (Romantic Times)
novels in her national bestselling series
The School for Heiresses

WED HIM BEFORE
YOU BED HIM

Includes all the sweet, sexy charm and lively action readers have come to expect, and true love triumphs over all obstacles.... Bravo to Jeffries.

Library Journal

An enchanting story brimming with touchingly sincere emotions and compelling scenarios.... An outstanding love story of emotional discoveries and soaring passions, with a delightful touch of humor plus suspense.

singletitles.com

DONT BARGAIN WITH
THE DEVIL

The sexual tension crackles across the pages of this witty, deliciously sensual, secret-laden story.... Teases readers with hints of the long-awaited final chapter, Wed Him Before You Bed Him.

Library Journal

LET SLEEPING ROGUES LIE

Consummate storyteller Jeffries pens another title in the School for Heiresses series that is destined to captivate readers with its sensuality and wonderfully enchanting plot.

Romantic Times (4 stars)

Scandal, gossip, greed, and old enmities spice up the pot in this fast-paced sexy romp that bubbles over with Jeffriess trademark humor and spirit.... Sparkling dialogue, stirring sexual chemistry, and an engrossing story.

Library Journal

BEWARE A SCOTS REVENGE

Irresistible.... Larger-than-life characters, sprightly dialogue, and a steamy romance will draw you into this delicious captive/captor tale.

Romantic Times (Top Pick)

Exceptionally entertaining and splendidly sexy.

Booklist

Also by Sabrina Jeffries

The Hellions of Halstead Hall Series

The Truth About Lord Stoneville

A Hellion in Her Bed

The School for Heiresses Series

Wed Him Before You Bed Him

Dont Bargain with the Devil

Snowy Night with a Stranger (with Jane Feather and Julia London)

Let Sleeping Rogues Lie

Beware a Scots Revenge

The School for Heiresses (with Julia London, Liz Carlyle and Renee Bernard)

Only a Duke Will Do

Never Seduce a Scoundrel

The Royal Brotherhood Series

One Night with a Prince

To Pleasure a Prince

In the Princes Bed

Pocket Star Books A Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc. 1230 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10020 www.SimonandSchuster.com

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Copyright 2011 by Deborah Gonzales

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this
book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information address Pocket Books Subsidiary Rights Department,
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.

First Pocket Star Books paperback edition February 2011

POCKET STAR BOOKS and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

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Cover design by Lisa Litwack; illustration by Jon Paul; handlettering by Iskra Johnson

Manufactured in the United States of America

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

ISBN 978-1-4391-6755-7
ISBN 978-1-4391-6758-8 (ebook)

To the wonderful people who help take care of
my autistic son when hes not in school, enabling me to write my books: my wonderful husband, Rene; our longsuffering caregivers Mary, Ben, and Wendell; our wise caseworker, Greta; and our always helpful agency liaison, Melissa. Thanks so much, all of you, for what you do!

Dear Readers,

I do not mean to complain, but I have reached the end of my tether with my eldest granddaughter, Minerva. She insists upon writing her gothic novels under her real name! She does it just to shock, without caring one whit that she is also shocking all her potential suitors.

Oh, I know that she says she does not wish to marry, but that is pure poppycock. I see how enviously she watches her newly married brothers when they are not looking. Although she is a trifle opinionated, she would still make some gentleman a good wife... and life would never be boring with Minerva.

But does she encourage this? No. Instead she writes about blood and villains and death. Perhaps I should find some dastardly spy to carry her off to a moldering castle. That might actually appeal to the chit, though it could give Gabe and Celia the wrong ideas about marriage.

Minervas latest scheme is to interview gentlemen as potential husbands, for which purpose she advertised in a ladies magazine! Clearly she only did that to try my hand, but she is in for a surprise. I am not budging in my resolve, no matter how many suitors find their way to our door.

I am a bit alarmed, however, that Mr. Giles Masters answered her advertisement. He seems bent on having her... and he is the only man I have ever seen her respond to with anything more than indifference. A pity that he is such a rascal, as her brothers have told me countless times.

Then again, my grandsons were thorough rascals until they married. Is it possible that Mr. Masters is cut of the same cloth? I do hope so for Minervas sake, because she certainly seems fascinated by him. I wonder if he has a moldering castle somewhere. That might just do the trick!