Becky is the envy of the courtesans of the demi-monde – the indulged mistress of the wealthy and charismatic Marquis of Aldridge. But she dreams of a normal life; one in which her daughter can have a future that does not depend on beauty, sex, and the whims of a man.
Finding herself with child, she hesitates to tell Aldridge. Will he cast her off, send her away, or keep her and condemn another … condemn another child to this uncertain shadow world?
The devil-may-care face Hugh shows to the world hides a desperate sorrow; a sorrow he tries to drown with drink and riotous living. His years at war haunt him, but even more, he doesn’t want to think about the illness that robbed him of the ability to father a son. When he dies, his barony will die with him. His title will fall into abeyance, and his estate will be scooped up by the Crown.
When Aldridge surprises them both with a daring proposition, they do not expect love to be part of the bargain.
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To dream of freedom and family
No woman should have to endure what the Rose of Frampton has suffered since she was 15, but sadly many have over the centuries. They certainly deserve to have their story told, which is why A Baron for Becky by Jude Knight is more than just a fictional romance.
Rose’s life, and that of her young daughter were both in dire jeopardy. Then an unlikely knight errant came to her rescue in the form of Lord Aldridge, aka The Merry Marquis. What happens next and over the ensuing years is the foundation of a most engrossing and entertaining tale. It’s an emotional story of lust and friendship, honesty and deception, as well as heartbreak and dreams that dare to come true. I vacillated between liked and disliked of Aldridge and Overton, but Rose (Becky) was a heroine worthy of a happy ever after, which is exactly what I enjoyed as this read came to a sweet and satisfying end.
Content 411: In addition to some swearing and bawdy terms, there is also a lot of passionate kissing and several “fade-out” on screen intimate scenes.
Disclosure: I received a complementary of this book from the author via BookFunnel. I am voluntarily submitting my honest review.
She is mistress to a Marquis and she is the envy of all her friends. She then finds herself pregnant but not by him. She is scared to tell as she is scared what he will do. She is going to be in for a shock as he offers her a deal. What is the deal? Will she take it? See if she will
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
What to say that can sufficiently describe this story? It seriously tore at my heart and I almost could not continue to read a couple of times as the story turned unexpectedly. Jude Knight has an amazing gift and her words always bring forth emotions that I have to remind myself, this is fiction. She makes it so real though, and I always become vested in her characters. They are imperfectly perfect with their scars, hidden and visible, with a history that is often almost unbearable, that come out gradually.
Becky had such a hard life and did what she had to do to survive. The daughter of a librarian for a peer, she was extraordinarily smart and knew how to comport herself. But when he father died she was on her own. I know you have read the blurb and other reviews so I will not go there, but her unexpected meeting with Aldridge was the catalyst that changed her and her daughter Sarah’s life.
Through him, she met Hugh, the most emotionally wounded of all who in the end might bring her what she longed for…
All I can say is to read this brilliant book by Jude and I do mean that sincerely, because it is far beyond just a simple historical romance. Beware though because your emotions are in for a roller coaster, but it will land perfectly as it should.
This is the first book by this Author that I have read.I found this story to be different from most regency stories that I have read which was a really nice change. So much happens within this story. A book that is well worth reading. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Second Half is An Emotional Read
I am of several minds about this book. I found it confusing to start off with. The heroine’s name is Becky, but the prologue and the first part of the book don’t refer to a Becky. The woman who is Becky is first called Rose, by the name she is known as a courtesan. The prologue itself was confusing because I had no idea who the man or the two children were or who the woman he referred to was. Was he talking about the heroine in the past tense? Sometimes prologues are like that. A bit too confusing for my liking. The first half seemed to be filled with crime with nasty characters and various types of debauchery. The men in the first half of the book did not comport themselves as gentlemen. But the second half, or so, of the book was a surprise, especially given what the first part of the novel was like. The story turned into something completely different. I found myself completely caught up in Becky’s story then, her horrible past as well as the future that she was trying to make with her husband. Even with all she had been through, she is a kind and compassionate person, trying to do her best for those in her sphere—all the while thinking poorly of herself because of her past. Reading her backstory and seeing her grapple with postpartum depression certainly brought tears to my eyes. So if you’re willing to slog through the first part, the second half is much better.
This was interesting, starts of very strong with the plight of a courtesan left to fend for herself.
A wicked libertine lord becomes her protector.
And then he plays matchmaker and the family and friends turn her respectable.
This is not erotica and not romance, it leans more into the historical side.
Good story about the fallen woman, but the characters did not make me root for them and their HEA.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A Wild and Tender Dream
It is not his scars, but hers.
Rose, a fallen woman of the gentry with a young daughter, finds her great protector in Aldridge, a debauched young Duke. Aldridge, a cuckolder of the worst sort, is strangely, also a good man when it comes to taking care of Rose. He provides well for her, she has a beautiful townhome of her own, plus a teacher and governess for her daughter, Sarah.
But Aldridge is at heart a despondent and unhappy man, even though he plays the happy, uncaring cad and libertine with his family and friends. He continues his womanizing ways, even as he cares for and protects Rose and her daughter from the ton.
Rose ( her real name is Rebecca), cares deeply for Aldridge but she knows not to fall in love with him. As the heir to a Duke, he cannot marry her because she would be exposed under the harsh scrutiny of the peerage society. Aldridge cannot be faithful either.
Baron Hugh Overton, a deeply scarred man, both inside and out, is Aldridge’s best friend. He lost his wife and baby to her suicide and murder of the baby at The same time, which he finally realized wasn’t even his. Hugh is supposedly infertile.
When Aldridge has Hugh meet Becky, Hugh calls her some unflattering names, even though he realises she is truly a lady at heart.
Eventually getting Becky with child even through their primitive precautions of the time, Aldridge plays matchmaker with her and Hugh. Aldridge has other illegitimate children he supports and cares for, but what if he could get Hugh and Becky together? They each have what the other wants!
Can Becky forgive Hugh, a man who has slurred her in every way possible? Can Hugh love a child that isn’t his own?
ARC Received from Booksprout
This ebook was $3.49 on Amazon at the time of This review.
Opinions Expressed here are my own.
This is a Very different ADULT Regency Romance from any of the thousand or so in have read. It is unique to say the least, because it does delve into the consequences of infidelity and adultery.
There is cheating in this book, so don’t read if you abhor that type of story. However, the story is a great tale of lost love and found love, and one of scandal that was all too common amongst the nobility and the wealthy in those days.
Sorry to make this review so long, but this is one of a small handful of truly well written and fascinating romance novels I have read this year! Heartfelt Kudos to author Knight.
Jude Knight’s stories present deeply grounded, well-rounded characters in abundance. Her plots are also carefully crafted and often take turns readers don’t expect. A Baron for Becky is no exception. When the Marquis of Aldridge first encounters Becky Winstanley the reader will be forgiven for assuming she has met the hero. But wait! Isn’t it Becky supposed to meet a baron? She is indeed, and Knight has taken the very unusual step of introducing a secondary character in a strong, even dominant, role at the beginning of the story. The hero slips in later and isn’t obvious at first.
Becky is known professionally as “The Rose of Frampton” is a highly successful courtesan who is the envy of the demi-monde (and half the married women in London) for having captured the charismatic Marquis. At heart, however, she seeks freedom from a life she didn’t choose, a normal life for herself and her daughter. When Hugh, Baron Overton, appears he is far from the stuff of dreams. How the two of them find first partnership and then love is complex, fraught with difficulty, and unexpected turns. Therein lies an emotionally rich story with a deeply satisfying ending.
Knight pulls no emotional punches. In lieu of the graphic sexual descriptions that pass for feeling in many books, she gives us instead the raw emotional interactions of three flawed people. She also manages to save Aldridge as a hero for another day. How on earth will she redeem him?
I had the good fortune to receive an advance reader copy of this book.