Oliver Sharpe, Marques of Stoneville, has been playing the role of rakehell for nearly twenty years. Seeing him and his siblings spiral downward, their grandmother, Hester, threatens to disinherit them all if they don't straighten out their lives and settle marry within the next year. Outraged, Oliver devises a plan to hire a woman from a brothel to pose as his fiance and prove to Hester that she cannot force his hand. So, when he meets Maria Butterfield, an American woman who is searching for her fiance in the most unlikely of places, he knows she's perfect for his ruse. But before long, he finds himself willing to risk anything to make her his - even his heart, and the dark secret he hides inside it.
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About the Author
Sabrina Jeffries has written two dozen novels under the names Deborah Martin, Deborah Nicholas, and Sabrina Jeffries. She lives with her husband and son in North Carolina.
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Nineteen years ago, Oliver Sharpe, the future Marquess of Stoneville's life changed when his parents died in mysterious circumstances. To survive the resulting scandal, Oliver resigned to live his life as an unrepentant rakehell. That was until his grandmother threatened to cut him off unless he settled down and wed.
In an effort to thwart his Gran's plans, Oliver aims to bring home a fake fiancé fresh from a brothel. His plans go awry when he instead finds Maria Butterworth, a spirited young American who has come to England to search for her own errant fiancé. She's far from the perfect fiancé but Oliver soon begins to realise she might be perfect for him.
This is the first in Jeffries new Hellions of Halstead Hall series focussing on five hell-raising brothers and sisters with a terrible scandal hanging over their heads. This first book focuses on the eldest brother and heir, Oliver Sharpe, the Marquess of Stoneville who has appeared as a bit character in a few of Jeffries' previous novels.
I really enjoyed this story and the interactions between Oliver and Maria. Oliver is my favourite type of hero - tortured, brooding and in desperate need of the love of a good woman. I also really liked Maria who was spirited and naïve without ever becoming a stereotype. Their interactions were typical of Jeffries - full of wit and spirit. I could have done with a bit more emotion in the story but I'm willing to admit that I might have set my expectations too high as I really enjoy Sabrina Jeffries' books and was very much looking forward to this one.
The story was interesting, engaging and never did the underlying plot of the tragedy (a plotline I'm sure will run through the whole series) overshadow the romance.... Read more ›
In an effort to thwart his Gran's plans, Oliver aims to bring home a fake fiancé fresh from a brothel. His plans go awry when he instead finds Maria Butterworth, a spirited young American who has come to England to search for her own errant fiancé. She's far from the perfect fiancé but Oliver soon begins to realise she might be perfect for him.
This is the first in Jeffries new Hellions of Halstead Hall series focussing on five hell-raising brothers and sisters with a terrible scandal hanging over their heads. This first book focuses on the eldest brother and heir, Oliver Sharpe, the Marquess of Stoneville who has appeared as a bit character in a few of Jeffries' previous novels.
I really enjoyed this story and the interactions between Oliver and Maria. Oliver is my favourite type of hero - tortured, brooding and in desperate need of the love of a good woman. I also really liked Maria who was spirited and naïve without ever becoming a stereotype. Their interactions were typical of Jeffries - full of wit and spirit. I could have done with a bit more emotion in the story but I'm willing to admit that I might have set my expectations too high as I really enjoy Sabrina Jeffries' books and was very much looking forward to this one.
The story was interesting, engaging and never did the underlying plot of the tragedy (a plotline I'm sure will run through the whole series) overshadow the romance.... Read more ›
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Dark Ice
Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I just love how the author described Halstead Hall! Other reviewers have cited the plot already so I won't do so anymore.
I have to say since Stoneville was a recurring character in the "School for Heiresses" series I thought it was a good idea to write a "spin off" in a new series. And in this one Oliver Sharpe's(Stoneville)character is developed. I was never sure in the heiresses books if this guy was good or bad and I'm glad this book refers to that as well and answers the all important question: "why?". It's a mark of a good author when the characters stay true to who they are through the entire book and the reader understands why they say or do certain things and how the relationship benefits them to become better people.
I thought Maria was a good character and definitely had a personality that was strong enough to handle a man like Oliver. The development of the story is believable and the love scenes are awesome -- in fact, I think this is one of the few romances where the love scenes actually reflect the stage in the relationship. There is definitely a difference when the couple have fully committed themselves to each other. Of course, heroes from the heiresses series Lord Kirkwood and Foxmoor also make an appearance and Norcourt is also referenced (well I guess they are all Stoneville's friends after all)There are some new characters too who I am sure we will all get to know a little bit better through the series.
This is a good book, and the interactions between Oliver and Maria were so sweet they made me ache sometimes! I think if a romance is to be considered good then the reader should be able to also "fall in love" with the hero and, man, how I wish I was Maria! Looking forward to reading the next book in the series!... Read more ›
I have to say since Stoneville was a recurring character in the "School for Heiresses" series I thought it was a good idea to write a "spin off" in a new series. And in this one Oliver Sharpe's(Stoneville)character is developed. I was never sure in the heiresses books if this guy was good or bad and I'm glad this book refers to that as well and answers the all important question: "why?". It's a mark of a good author when the characters stay true to who they are through the entire book and the reader understands why they say or do certain things and how the relationship benefits them to become better people.
I thought Maria was a good character and definitely had a personality that was strong enough to handle a man like Oliver. The development of the story is believable and the love scenes are awesome -- in fact, I think this is one of the few romances where the love scenes actually reflect the stage in the relationship. There is definitely a difference when the couple have fully committed themselves to each other. Of course, heroes from the heiresses series Lord Kirkwood and Foxmoor also make an appearance and Norcourt is also referenced (well I guess they are all Stoneville's friends after all)There are some new characters too who I am sure we will all get to know a little bit better through the series.
This is a good book, and the interactions between Oliver and Maria were so sweet they made me ache sometimes! I think if a romance is to be considered good then the reader should be able to also "fall in love" with the hero and, man, how I wish I was Maria! Looking forward to reading the next book in the series!... Read more ›
By Karis
Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I love Sabrina Jeffries. For some she is the typical historical romance writer but I could (and have) spend hours reading her work. Loved all the hellions books, couldn't get enough of them and felt a bit bereft when I got to the end of the series. Would recommend to anyone who likes these sort of books, 5* novels.
By L. Boughey
Format:Mass Market Paperback
This is the first book in the Hellions series where we meet the notorious rakehell Oliver Sharpe, otherwise known as Lord Stoneville. Facing the prospect of being disinherited should he and his siblings not marry before years end, Oliver decides to thwart his grandmother's plans. And who better to play his pretend fiancée than the hard-headed heiress Maria Butterfield. But what starts as a clever deception soon becomes something more.
All the while, Maria's original plans to find her American fiancée start to seem less pressing as she succumbs to Oliver's heady kisses. And Oliver soon discovers that Maria may be unlike anyone else - someone who can see past the torment he suffers over his parent's death and the blame he feels. Love might just be the medicine Oliver needed all along.
For exisiting SJ fans, this is a great read if you're looking for your next book. I would also recommend Sabrina's next book in this series, `A Hellion in Her Bed'.
All the while, Maria's original plans to find her American fiancée start to seem less pressing as she succumbs to Oliver's heady kisses. And Oliver soon discovers that Maria may be unlike anyone else - someone who can see past the torment he suffers over his parent's death and the blame he feels. Love might just be the medicine Oliver needed all along.
For exisiting SJ fans, this is a great read if you're looking for your next book. I would also recommend Sabrina's next book in this series, `A Hellion in Her Bed'.
By Marshall Lord
TOP 100 REVIEWER
Format:Mass Market Paperback
This entertaining if less than rigorously accurate georgian romantic farce is the first in a series of five romances featuring the five brothers and sisters of the Sharpe family of Halstead Hall. The hero of this one is Lord Oliver Sharpe, Marquis of Stoneville, who has been a very ambiguous character in some of this author's other series such as the "School for Heiresses" books.
I would strongly recommend that if you are going to read this series you do so in sequence, which is:
1) "The Truth About Lord Stoneville" (Oliver's story)
2) "A Hellion in Her Bed (Hellions of Halstead Hall)" (Jarret)
3) "How to Woo A Reluctant Lady (The Hellions of Halstead Hall)" (Minerva)
4) "To Wed a Wild Lord (The Hellions of Halstead Hall)" (Gabe)
5) "A Lady Never Surrenders (The Hellions of Halstead Hall)."
The scene for this series, was set twenty years before the main action of the story, on the day in 1806 when the disastrous marriage, and the lives, of Oliver's parents came to a tragic end. The prologue of each of the first four books of the series is also set on that day, showing how it affected the central character of the story.
Lord Gabriel's father, the Marquis of Stoneville, had married Prudence Plumtree, daughter of a wealthy brewer, for her money.... Read more ›
I would strongly recommend that if you are going to read this series you do so in sequence, which is:
1) "The Truth About Lord Stoneville" (Oliver's story)
2) "A Hellion in Her Bed (Hellions of Halstead Hall)" (Jarret)
3) "How to Woo A Reluctant Lady (The Hellions of Halstead Hall)" (Minerva)
4) "To Wed a Wild Lord (The Hellions of Halstead Hall)" (Gabe)
5) "A Lady Never Surrenders (The Hellions of Halstead Hall)."
The scene for this series, was set twenty years before the main action of the story, on the day in 1806 when the disastrous marriage, and the lives, of Oliver's parents came to a tragic end. The prologue of each of the first four books of the series is also set on that day, showing how it affected the central character of the story.
Lord Gabriel's father, the Marquis of Stoneville, had married Prudence Plumtree, daughter of a wealthy brewer, for her money.... Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
Got half way through and gave up
I just couldn't bring myself to care about these characters at all. There are many fantastic romance books out there. I just don't think this is one of them.
Published 14 months ago by :-)
3.0 out of 5 stars
Alright.
The only thing 'historical' about this book is the year written on the first page in the Prologue! Honestly! What was the author thinking? Read more
Published 16 months ago by StarPlayer
1.0 out of 5 stars
Quite atrocious...
Because I am a huge fan of Regency Romance novels, I decided to give this author a try and I am upset I have spent any money on this book! Read more
Published 23 months ago by mrara
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