5+ stars – Historical/Regency RomanceWOW! I loved, loved, loved this!I was deeply saddened over the ending of Lisa Kleypas’s Hathaways series, but luckily Gaelen Foley’s wonderful Knight Miscellany have been the perfect antidote to my state of mourning. I’ve loved every book in this captivating series so far: sentimental favorite and heartrending fairytale of Robert “Hawk” Knight, Duke of Hawkscliffe and beauty Bel in The Duke, enigmatic and seductive spy Lucien and innocent Alice in the intense, thrilling, sensual Lord of Fire, and the achingly passionate romance between proud, aloof, paragon war hero Damien, who’s haunted by violent memories and suffering from PTSD, and young, brave, free spirited Miranda in Lord of Ice. And this fourth installment, Lady of Desire, is another enchanting, lusciously beautiful love story that nearly surpasses with The Duke for my favorite of the series so far. Although honestly, they’re all amazing, big 5-star reads, for me! Lady Jacinda Knight, the youngest and only female of the six Knight siblings, is tired of having her life controlled and plotted by her well-meaning, yet domineering older brothers and society’s rules and expectations. The ton anticipates that she’ll eventually succumb to the same nefarious, lusty ways and scandalous reputation as her late, infamous mother, the “Hawkscliffe Harlot”, but spirited Jacinda is proud of her mother’s feminist legacy and yearns for the freedom she indulged in, vowing never to let any many control her again. While running away from an arranged marriage, a series of mishaps finds her alone in an alley, smack in the middle of the most violent area of the rookery, at the mercy of a dangerous, yet beguiling gang leader, the notorious thief and scoundrel, Billy Blade. For Billy Blade, king of a band of thieves who’s hiding from a secret, painful past and trying in his own rebel’s way to bring justice to people living in the rookeries, pretty, angelic, feisty spitfire Jacinda represents everything he’s lost and longed for in his cold, lonely, vicious world: innocence, beauty, and hope.Billy may very well be a depraved criminal, but Jacinda can’t help feeling attracted to his rebellious, devilishly charming nature or resist his sinfully sexy appeal and wickedly hot tattoos. Good heavens, maybe her brothers had cause to worry after all and the ton reason to speculate and gossip because piratish-rogue Billy sure rouses Jacinda’s inner wanton! And her strong will and naïve, burgeoning sensuality steals his battered thief’s heart.When the reality of their vastly opposing social stations in life tears them apart, will rebel Billy Blade face his past and claim his rightful title, Earl of Rackford, from his abusive father to fight for love and a future with the beautiful girl who’s enchanted his mind, warmed and claimed his heart, and awakened his soul? Billy Blade is one of the sexiest, most charming, and lovable romantic heroes...ever! I absolutely adored him! Seriously, there just aren’t enough words to convey how delicious and amazing he is, but he’s definitely made my list of all-time favorite, swoon-inducing, and husband-worthy heroes. I loved his flirtatious, sweet, gentle, caring, loyal, chivalrous, giving, tender, yet slightly wicked ways, and his past suffering and wounded, boyish vulnerability made me want to throw my arms around him, squeeze tight in fierce protectiveness, and just never let go. And of course, his sexy tattoos and generosity and skills as a lover sure don’t hurt his appeal, either! Although I got frustrated at times with Jacinda’s hesitancy and taking Billy/Lord Rackford for granted, once she finally came to her senses, she gave herself completely, and I admired her caring devotion and lioness-like protectiveness of him. Lady of Desire is a delightful, engaging, affecting romance with a charismatic scoundrel, rebel, thief hero who’s utterly, irrevocably stolen my heart, but alas, I’ve conceded to let Lady Jacinda be with my Billy-boy, as long as she continues to take good care of him! Big 5 stars!Here are a couple of my favorite passages:She likes me. The shock of it sent a jolt of wild joy through him that stole his breath and robbed him momentarily of his common sense. He, Blade, who stared down cutthroat thugs in the meanest streets of the city, who laughed at death and snapped his fingers in the hangman’s face, found himself nervous and jumpy in the presence of a pretty girl. How utterly stupid. He felt like an ass. He didn’t care“Papa wants you to marry some decrepit old wigsby?” She gave him a charmingly rueful smile, all tousled golden curls like some angel who had rolled off a cloud in her sleep, he thought, and had fallen to earth with a thud. “Something like that,” she said in vague amusement. “I see. Well, surely we can find a solution.” He snapped his fingers and gave her a grin. “Shall I ruin you? That should solve your problem. The old wigsby won’t want you if you’re used goods, and I assure you, I’d be happy to oblige.”Here’s my order of favorites in the series, so far:Books:1. The Duke & 2. Lady of Desire (tie)3. Lord of Ice4. Lord of FireHeroes:1. William Albright, Earl of Rackford; aka “Billy Blade”2. Robert “Hawk” Knight, Duke of Hawkscliffe3. Lucien Knight & Damien Knight (tie)Heroines:1. Belinda “Bel” Hamilton2. Lady Jacinda Knight3. Miranda FitzHubert4. Alice Montague
Lady Jacinda Knight is a brilliant heroine. She pushes the boundaries of what is considered to be acceptable, and has a mind of her own unlike a few heroines/women written in this era. I am sure that if she had been born a good hundred years later she would have been part of the womens Suffragette movement of the early 1900's ;) Her eldest brother The Duke of Hawscliffe, who was responsible for her, was reaching the end of his limits and wanted her married off to a strong man who was capable of controlling her. The chosen man was his friend who was a widower with a young son. Just as the final arrangements/agreements and a date was to be set Jacinda ran away from home as she was determined that she was only going to marry a man if they loved each other and the man her brother has chosen was not the right man for her. From the outset it would seem that Billy Blade is a low born ruffian who stopped Jacinda from escaping away to France. Once he realised who she was, he returned her to her brothers but not before he had kissed her! After getting caught by the police during a robbery he was persuaded to escape hanging by contacting his father and asking for help. His father was the Marquis of Truro which meant that Billy was of course a titled nobleman. For a price, his father helped him but it meant that Billy had to tow the line and get ready to take his title, marry and continue the family line. Billy knew who he wanted as his bride and set out to woo Jacinda so that he could marry the only woman he has ever loved. I loved Billy and would have happily swapped places with Jacinda at a click of the finger, he is a very sexy alpha male who deep down has emotional issues and believes that no one could possibly love him.I have only recently discovered HR and Gaelen Foley and now I am hooked! Ms Foley’s writing is smooth, her stories easy to read, they flow really well and have interesting and gripping content , she definitely knows how to tell a fabulous story! Some of her books have more steam than others but as they all have lots of fabulous sexual tension that can be easily forgiven. Ms Foley has become an auto-buy for me and I am looking forward to obtaining more of her back catalogue and her future publications.
Do You like book Lady Of Desire (2003)?
I was absolutely hooked on this book for the first three chapters...then, sadly, this book bored me and never really lived up to it's potential. The reasons for this lay with Jacinda Knight and the romance between her and Billy Blade. Billy Blade as a hero showed amazing promise. Entirely a tortured hero, which I usually love, he turned from street savvy gang leader to "gentleman", and I must say I liked the former way more. I liked him far more in the beginning of the book than I did in the majority of the book where he spent his time trying to win the headstrong Jacinda. Jacinda was a horrible heroine. I just didn't like her at all. She was either pretending not to know Billy, babying him like a child, or trying to get another man to notice her in front of him! All of these extremes left a bad taste in my mouth. I didn't understand the love connection here, and though I am a huge Gaelen Foley fan, I just don't think this was a good love story at all. I don't know what kind of woman would've been fit for Billy Blade, but it certainly wasn't Jacinda Knight. I also detested Billy Blade's father and I wish that Foley wouldn't have felt the need to neatly tie up everything in the final chapter. The man was despicable and I had no interest in the idea of somehow coming to understand and have empathy on him. It also seemed unlikely that Billy Blade would've been able to come to the peace that he did so quickly after years of such brutal neglect and abuse. I did have interest in Blade's friend Nate. What happened to him, is he OK...I wish there could've been a reunion. So far the Knight Miscellany books have gone in order not only in how I read them, but how I liked them. I loved the Duke the best, Lord of Fire second, Lord of Ice not even close to as much, and now Lady of Desire hardly at all. I'm wondering if I should stop now or continue with the series hoping it improves. Only a talented author could keep me hooked even after back-to back disappoiontments. I think that I'll probably give her another chance, and probably another and another and....another!
—Crista
Book Four in Gaelen Foley's Knight Miscellany takes us away from the boys and tells us the story of the ever rebellious Lady Jacinda. Poor girl has all those brothers keeping an eye out for her.. But I seriously believe she is strong enough to handle them.Lady Jacinda Knight, runs from her overbearing brothers who are determined to marry her off to their longtime friend and neighbor. She adores this man only not as husband material. She doesn't want to be married off for her own good, she doesn't want to be forced to face convention because everyone is sure she will end up just like her mother. She wants to live her own life. She actually admires some of the things her mother did with her life. She sees past the scandal and remembers the woman. So to her running away makes perfect sense. Too bad running away means getting lost in the stews of London and running into the leader of one of the most notorious gangs around.. or maybe not.Billy Blade is everything a bad boy should be. He is handsome and loyal and oh yeah sinfully wicked. Having some experience with running away from a disturbing past, he understands Jacinda's need to flee but the fact that she is the sister of one of the men he actually admires, means he must take her home. Letting her go was the hardest thing he had ever done.. that is until he is caught in a robbery and must fall upon the good graces of the one man he swore he would never see again,Ms Foley did a spectacular job telling this story.. Billy and Jacinda are a perfect match. He understands her need to be just a little bit wild and she offers him a chance to be part of the world he was born into. These two seemingly different people lean that life really is about what you choose to make of it. At first you think this is a story about a young woman who is tired of being watched, constantly watched. Never approved of.. knowing that the entire world is just waiting for her to fall. At times it is frustrating because her brothers are rakes and everyone smiles and nods.. A Duke, A War Hero, A Spy and A Misfit.. let alone the mysterious brother who dropped out of society.. It's ok when they flounder but Jacinda? She has to be perfect beyond perfect and even her brothers seem to fall into this. Watching the Knight brothers learn that their sister isn't just a silly flit but a woman to be reckoned with was a joy. Then as the story progresses we learn about Billy's past and boy is it a doozy.. In just one moment, Billy goes from Bad Boy Billy to a sympathetic hero. One you want to stand up for. I for one had dreams of smacking someone around.. Not quite sure which of his parents I detested more. Well it is and believe me it probably isn't the one you think it is. If you are reading this series keep going.. If you haven't started yet, get going and if you are finished with it.. take it out and read it again! It's just that good.ShauniFor more reviews by Shauni check out Tea and Book andBodice Rippers, Femme Fatales and Fantasy
—Shauni
London 1816. Feisty eighteen year old Lady Jacinda Knight is one her way to Paris. She’s running from her five over-protective brothers who plan to marry her off to their respectable but boring friend because she can’t stay away from trouble. Before she reaches her destination, she is accosted by a young urchin who steals her purse. Acting on impulse, she chases him into a dangerous part of town where she witnesses a gang brawl, a death and is taken captive by gang leader Billy Blade. Hmm, looks to me like Jacinda’s brothers may have had a point. . . Anyway, Billy Blade then takes Jacinda to his home. He’s overwhelmed by her angelic beauty and wants to keep her safe. One thing leads to another and soon their lips are connected and before you know it Jacinda’s nearly lost her virginal status. Billy, fearing the wraith of Jacinda’s brother, stops in the nick of time and returns her safely to her brothers. Jacinda is furious. This is the beginning of their passionate on again off again relationship.Billy Blade is much more a complex character than a first glance would assume. His father, a Marquis, was a cruel, sadistic man whose abuse lead Billy to leave his heritage behind and lead a difficult life on the streets. Out of necessity Billy has become an accomplished thief and lives life on his terms. His renegade lifestyle catches up with him when he is captured and faces death by hanging. Billy, left with no options, must face his worst fears and confront his father and the horrific past he left behind if wants to survive.Billy’s story (which takes up a large bulk of the book) is riveting and emotion filled. I’ve read a few complaints here and there about the fact that Billy’s history takes up too much space and I have to respectfully disagree. Billy’s story is the only thing that kept me turning the pages. The romance with Jacinda just didn’t thrill me. But let me back up a bit and explain why. Jacinda is my least favorite type of heroine. She’s young, impulsive, impossibly gorgeous, pampered and spoiled. She’s someone who has a lot of growing up left to do and, unfortunately, she doesn’t do all that much of it during the course of the book. Though their love story is very passionate there wasn’t much else holding it together. Jacinda simply was not a good match for Billy’s well rounded, thoroughly developed character and he deserved better.I recommend this story for those looking for a historical romance with a deeper than usual hero or for those who don’t mind a young heroine who is a bit pea-brained at times.
—Bark's Book Nonsense
