Review: Rushed to the Altar by Jane Feather

Title: Rushed to the Altar (Blackwater Brides #1)
Author: Jane Feather
Source: Self-Purchased
Genre: Historical Romance - Regency
Length: Novel
Release Date: June 22, 2010
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Rating - 4
Sexual - 3

Jasper Sullivan, Earl of Blackwater, needs a prostitute. Not in the usual way, however. His
wealthy uncle's will promises to divide his huge fortune among his nephews if each rescues a fallen woman ... by marrying her! And since Jasper's estates were already mortgaged to the hilt before he inherited them, when he catches a pretty young prostitute trying to pick his pocket, he immediately makes his proposal.

Clarissa Astley is not at all what Jasper believes. The orphaned daughter of a prosperous merchant, she is searching the seedier districts of London for her young brother, abducted by their evil guardian, who wants the little boy's inheritance. But she needs powerful help, and the darkly handsome Earl of Blackwater is certainly that. So she pretends to be exactly what he assumed --- a risky charade for an innocent virgin. But when passion flares between Jasper and Clarissa, the deception becomes even more difficult to handle ...

 An Unsuitable Bride (Blackwater Brides #3): Review

Another read out of order, but that's not a problem with this series.  While all the brothers appear in each one, they can be independent stories as well.

A wealthy uncle with a mischievous streak leaves all his money to his nephews on one condition - that they reform and marry a fallen woman before he dies (which is probably very soon).  The head of the family, Jasper, the Earl of Blackwater, takes the lead and heads to the nunneries to see if any of the women there could be paid to play along.  This is where Clarissa runs into him - quite literally.

Given her dress and their location, Jasper makes many assumptions, but Clarissa isn't anything like he thinks.  She actually quite virtuous and on the run from a horrible horrible guardian.  This storyline really added quite a bit of excitement to the story that was very nice.  There is a constant threat lurking over her and she is never quite sure who she can trust.  This leads to lots of lies of preservation and makes Jasper quite angry at times.

This deception carries almost to the end of the book and it's resolution was brilliant.  Even though they don't quite trust each other, they find that they really enjoy each other's company and both wonder what if it would be so bad if their arrangement was permanent.  This was a very exciting romance, as was book three, and I loved how the action and romance were tied together so well.

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Review: An Unsuitable Bride by Jane Feather

Title: An Unsuitable Bride

Author: Jane Feather

Source: Publisher

Genre: Historical Romance

Length: Novel

Release Date : July 24, 2012 

Reviewer: Jasmyn

Long ago, young Viscount Bradley’s prudish family forbade him to marry his beloved. Now, the aging lord has plotted a subtle revenge. His three nephews can split his fortune, but only if each marries a fallen woman. Two have found brides who meet the terms . . . and all depends on the youngest, Peregrine Sullivan. New York Times bestselling author Jane Feather’s Georgian trilogy concludes with a sexy tale sure to delight.

Only desperation would drive a lady to disguise herself in hopes of employment, but the twenty thousand pounds that their father promised beautiful Alexandra Douglas and her invalid younger sister has vanished into the hands of the greedy cousin who inherited the estate. Alexandra, in search of justice, embarks on an elaborate charade to infiltrate Combe Abbey, her ancestral home, and secretly take the money back.

Peregrine, visiting the Abbey, is intrigued by a woman whose mind matches his on every level. Who is this middle-aged spinster with a young woman’s eyes and a youthful step that even a limp cannot disguise? Sensing some scandalous secret, Perry assumes the lady would delight in being rescued. But his efforts are rebuffed; Alexandra will take care of herself and her sister, thank you very much. Can Perry court the daring and independent young woman, win her heart, and be the last brother to wed?

Review A Wedding Wager by Jane Feather

Title: A Wedding Wager (Blackwater Brides #2)
Author: Jane Feather
Source: Requested Review
Genre: Historical Romance
Format: Mass Market Paperback, 447 pgs
Release Date: June 21, 2011
Author Website




New York Times bestselling author Jane Feather again delights with her new book in this entrancing Georgian trilogy featuring three noble brothers who are offered a preposterous opportunity to restore their family’s mortgaged lands. An eccentric uncle promises a lavish inheritance, but only if each marries—thus redeeming—a fallen woman. And if even one brother fails to fulfill the old man’s decree, none will gain the windfall.

Lady Serena Grantley was born to the nobility, but fortune's whim placed her in control of her gamester stepfather, who uses her beauty to lure young men to his gambling tables. Serena even dismissed her first love, the Honorable Sebastian Sullivan, at her stepfather's command. But when he attempts to force her into a liaison with a dissolute earl, Serena resolves to do his bidding no more. Sebastian is the only man who ever captured her heart, and it is to him she turns. . . .

Torn between family loyalty and the woman he loves, Sebastian faces a devilish dilemma. His uncle is ailing, and time is running short. Desperate to find a solution, Sebastian conceives a dangerous plan—a wager that could bring him and Serena happiness at last . . . or separate them forever.



Rating -

Sexual -

My Review:

Set in 1762 London, nothing is predictable about this second novel in Feather's Blackwater Brides historical romance series. Serena and Sebastian find themselves mixed up with a will containing stipulations which must be fulfilled before the death, a wicked greedy stepfather full of nefarious plots, a love denied, two loves found and a sword fight.

Three years ago, Serena's stepfather forced her to break the heart of her true love, 24 year old Sebastian, by telling him she didn't love him, that he had just been a dalliance. Her stepfather promptly whisked her off to Brussels that very afternoon. Today, Serena is not happy to see Sebastian because she still loves him. But she is now an independent, strong woman and she will deal with the situation as best she can.

When 27 year old Sebastian visits the new gaming house, he is stunned to see Serena, to realize that he is not only still furious at her treatment of him, but he is also still deeply in love with her after all this time. His twin and older brother are disturbed to learn she is back; they remember what he was like when she left him.

Neither has any idea what meeting 16 year old Abigail will have on their lost relationship.

I don't typically read this genre because the story seems to get lost in all the historical aspects - descriptions of scenery, buildings, political atmosphere, etc. This was pleasantly devoid of those. The historical clothing, mode of transportation and slang are used as the background of the story and don't take it over; well done, Ms. Feather.

This is a good sexy romance with another romance between young friends thrown in for good measure. Had I not known before reading that this was part of a series, I wouldn't have suspected it. It is a stand-alone story with minor mentions of things that occurred in the past and a little bit of foreshadowing of something that may happen in the future with Perry, Sebastian's twin.

Warning Spoiler Alert!!!
This does have a HEA ending