Table of Contents
Praise for the Novels of Jo Beverley
The Secret Wedding
Beverley proves again that she can be counted on to come up with clever and creative ways of mixing passion and intrigue to create a beguiling love story.
Booklist
A fabulous, intelligent tale starring two lead characters masquerading as others in order to conceal their true identity while falling in love with their spouse. [In this] comedy of manners, misconceptions, and mistakes, Jo Beverley provides an amusing historical with a touch of suspense and a hint of scandal as you like it.
Genre Go Round Reviews
A Ladys Secret
Extraordinary storyteller Beverley mixes witty repartee, danger, and simmering sensuality with her strong and engaging characters, including a fetching Papillon, in this delightful, delicious gem of a book.
Romantic Times (top pick)
With wit and humor, Jo Beverley provides a wonderful eighteenth-century romance starring two amiable lead characters whose first encounter is one of the best in recent memory. The tale is filled with nonstop action.
The Best Reviews
Lady Beware
Jo Beverley carries off a remarkable achievement in Lady Beware, the latest and possibly last in her Company of Rogues novels.... It is the unusual combination of familial comfort and risqu pleasure that makes this book a winner.... No doubt about it, Lady Beware is yet another jewel in Beverleys heavily decorated crown.
The Romance Reader
[E]nchanting... a delightful blend of wit (with banter between Thea and Darien), intrigue (as evil lurks throughout), and emotional victories (as love prevails in the end).... Watching Thea and Darien spar is entertaining, and watching them succumb to the simmering love and passion is satisfying.
The State (Columbia, SC)
To Rescue a Rogue
Beverley brings the Regency period to life in this highly romantic story [with] vividly portrayed characters. [Readers] will be engrossed by this emotionally packed story of great love, tremendous courage, and the return of those attractive and dangerous men known as the Rogues. Her Company of Rogues series is well crafted, delicious, and wickedly captivating.
Joan Hammond
With her usual beautifully nuanced characters and lyrical writing, RITA Award winner Beverley brings her popular Company of Rogues Regency historical series to a triumphant conclusion... [a] quietly powerful romance.
Booklist
The Rogues Return
Beverley beautifully blends complex characters, an exquisitely sensual love story, and a refreshingly different Regency setting into one sublime romance.
Booklist
Jo Beverley has written an excellent character study. One of the best books Ive read this season.
Affaire de Coeur
A Most Unsuitable Man
Beverley turns a rejected other woman into a fiery, outspoken, sympathetic heroine; pairs her with a dashing but penniless, scandal-ridden hero; and lets the funand the dangerbegin. Once again readers are treated to a delightful, intricately plotted, and sexy romp set in the slightly bawdy Georgian world of Beverleys beloved Malloren Chronicles.
Library Journal
Beverley brings back some of the characters from Winter Fire as she takes her readers into the dangerous, intriguing, and opulent world of Georgian England. Her strong characters and finely honed dialogue, combined with a captivating love story, are a pleasure to read.
Romantic Times
I found myself enjoying every minute of the relationship in this story of love, hope, and increments of witty humor. As usual, a Malloren novel is a keeper.
Rendezvous
More Praise for the Other Novels of New York Times Bestselling Author Jo Beverley
A well-crafted story and an ultimately very satisfying romance.
The Romance Reader
Jo [Beverley] has truly brought to life a fascinating, glittering, and sometimes dangerous world.
Mary Jo Putney
Another triumph.
Affaire de Coeur
Wickedly delicious. Jo Beverley weaves a spell of sensual delight with her usual grace and flair.
Teresa Medeiros
Delightful... thrilling... with a generous touch of magic... an enchanting read.
Booklist
A stunning medieval romance of loss and redemption... Sizzling.
Publishers Weekly (starred review)
A fast-paced adventure with strong, vividly portrayed characters... wickedly, wonderfully sensual and gloriously romantic.
Mary Balogh
Deliciously sinful.... Beverley evokes with devastating precision the decadent splendor of the English country estate in all its hellish debauchery... a crafty tale of sensuality and suspense.
BookPage
ALSO BY JO BEVERLEY
Available from New American Library
REGENCY
THE ROGUES WORLD
Lady Beware
To Rescue a Rogue
The Rogues Return
Skylark
St. Raven
Hazard
The Demons Mistress in In Praise of Younger Men
The Devils Heiress
The Dragons Bride
Three Heroes (Omnibus Edition)
OTHER
Forbidden Magic
Lovers and Ladies (Omnibus Edition)
Lord Wraybournes Betrothed
The Stanforth Secrets
THE MALLOREN WORLD
The Secret Wedding
A Ladys Secret
A Most Unsuitable Man
Winter Fire
Devilish
Secrets of the Night
Something Wicked
My Lady Notorious
MEDIEVAL ROMANCES
Lord of Midnight
Dark Champion
Lord of My Heart
ANTHOLOGIES
The Raven and the Rose in
Chalice of Roses
The Dragon and the Virgin Princess in
Dragon Lovers
The Trouble with Heroes in
Irresistible Forces
Chapter 1
Dover, 1760
Laughter can take many forms, from the pure delight of a happy child to the gibber of madness. The laughter that slithered out into the dark and misty Dover night was the sound of cruel men with a victim in their clutches.
It caused the man in the street to pause.
To his left, water slapped against the wharf and wind rattled the riggings of ships. Farther out, rough water jangled a buoy bell. To his right, lanterns outside buildings were gleaming globes in the sea mist, giving only enough light for passersby to avoid the larger detritus of any portsnarls of rope, soggy bales, and broken casks leaking stinking contents.
He shook his head and moved on, but then the laughter came again, this time punctuated by one sharp word. He couldnt tell what word, but the voice sounded female.
It could be a ships lad being teased, or a whore, well used to this rough area. No concern of his.
But then he heard a few more words. Higher pitched, but almost authoritative. Not a lad. Almost certainly not a whore. But what decent woman would be down here late on a chilly October night?
Damn it all to Hades. Hed been at sea for two cold days and nights and anticipated a fine meal and warm bed at the Compass and then home tomorrow.
He waited and heard no more.
There, whatever the commotion, it was over. But then raised jeers made him curse again and turn toward the noise. One of the misty globes probably marked the entrance to the place, but he couldnt see more than that.
