Stubborn hearts might be the last to fall, but when the hard tumble comes, it’ll last forever. Jonathan Banshire, Viscount Trewellain, has become a bitter, sarcastic lord and against anything remotely smacking of romance. Though engaged to a woman whose hand he’d won in a game of cards years ago, he hasn’t thought of her in years. But he’s also a king’s agent, and as his duty to the Crown, he’s … duty to the Crown, he’s being sent to Spain to track down a missing peer. He goes to escape his personal life.
Miss Sophia Wickham is tired of men deciding her future. She’s on a mission to live her life on her terms, but can’t due to an ambiguous engagement to the Viscount Trewellain. Determined to gain her freedom, she sneaks onboard the ship intent to have Jonathan release her from that old promise. When he refuses in a fit of pique, she’s stuck as a stowaway, bound to the one man she can’t stand.
In Madrid, they search for not only the missing lord, but also stolen Spanish crown jewels and an ancient relic. Through crashing a glittering ball to hunting down clues to exploring the hidden catacombs and caves beneath Barcelona, the unlikely pair comes to an understanding. Vulnerable and trapped, truths are revealed as well as the fragile state of their hearts. But machinations of a madman bent on revenge could destroy a budding romance, and when the specter of death makes an appearance, Jonathan must finally decide what it is he desires the most.
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Interesting story!
This is a good story, nicely planned out and written. It has two opposites as main characters and both egg each other on in their adventure while solving a mystery and of course they fall in love.
There are some explicit and hot scenes, quite a bit of self-questioning about each others intentions as well as a lot of deliberation about how to solve the mystery. I loved the way they learned to care for each other.
The only thing that upset me about this audiobook was the narration. It is done by 2 different people, a male (Logan McAllister) and a female (Anneliese Rennie), both of whom, on their own could have done a satisfactory job of it, but the way they ‘read’ the story made it very stressful for me, because just as I got used to the one voice, I was suddenly listening to a totally different one as they took turns, each reading a chapter.
If it was necessary to use two voices (and I really don’t think it was) then it would have been far better to have the one person reading all the story bits and the male doing all the men characters’ verbalizations and the female doing the same for the female characters.
Its a pity, but the way this was done really spoilt this audiobook for me.
I requested and listened to the audiobook version and this is my voluntary and unbiased review of it.
I received this book for free. I am voluntarily leaving this review and all opinions expressed herein are mine.
This is the first book in the Lords of Happenstance series. It strongly reminds me of the Romancing the Stone moves with Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner. It is a mystery, adventure and romance.
Here, Jonathan Banshire is a Viscount but also a King’s Agent, whose duty is to the crown. He is assigned to find a missing peer and some missing jewels. When he boards the ship to start his assignment, he is confronted by his fiance – a woman he won in a card game against her father and whom he has not laid eyes on in 3 years. She demands that he either marry her or set her free. Now she is along for the adventure and very quickly proving to be an asset in his investigation.
I like this historical romance adventure – loved the globe trotting and the banter between the MC. It’s a completely engaging fun story. Although, Sophia Wickham [the fiance] may be a bit modern in her thinking and quick to abandon the social mores of that time -but she was enjoyable and a good match to Jonathan.
I listened to this book – This book has two narrators – male and female – who alternate reading chapters. I think having two narrators was unnecessary and a bit jarring when they switched. Either narrator would have done a good job but my preference would have been Logan McCalister with his deep brooding voice which seemed to encompass Jonathan’s character.
Three words. Spies. Relics. Romance. My three favorite things in books! When their story was hinted at in Caught with a Stolen Diamond I knew it was going to be a wild adventure, but had no idea of what it was between them. There is so much heat between them that it practically jumps off the pages. They are truly a unique couple that are opposites but perfect for each other. I was holding my breath wondering what was going to happen and wanting to know who was behind everything.
Sophia is the boldest heroine I have ever read and she my all time favorite! I loved her from the moment she stepped on the ship, but even more when she didn’t back down. She never gave up on him once she got to know him and saw the real him. When she kept at him to not give up was amazing. I loved how you could tell her tone depending on if she used his title or name.
Jonathan has the weight of so many things on his shoulders that he needs to let go of. Even though he one of the most stubborn people he is really very sweet. I loved that he didn’t send her back home and took her with him without a thought. The journey of him letting go of the past and realizing his true self was amazing.
The wait is over!! Jonathan was a secondary character in the fabulous Thieves of the Ton series. My heart ached for him in those books and I knew his tale would be amazing. Agent for the crown, Jonathan, Viscount Trewellain is sent on a mission to Spain to find a missing peer who seems to have stolen some jewels. What he didn’t expect was to have a lady hiding in his cabin on the ship that would start his journey. Well, not just any lady but his betrothed, Sophie, that he had won in a wager 3 yrs ago from her father. She wanted an answer. Either let her go or marry her. I mean what is a girl to do when he had not come to see her in 3 yrs? There are so many layers to this story and strong emotions that I could not stop reading once I started. From England to Madrid and Barcelona. To ancient libraries hiding their secrets and underground caves long forgotten. Searching for relics that have been sought by man for eons. Jonathan has such a good heart but so many demons and Sophie is determined to help him see the man he truly is instead of his perception. Sandra Sookoo first enchanted me with the Thieves of the Ton series, but she truly is amazing with the stories she writes and her imagination is endless. I cannot wait for more from this series and know that they will all be as wonderful as this one!!!
WOW! “What the Stubborn Viscount Desires, Lords of Happenstance, #1” and what a beginning! This is Jonathan Banshire, Viscount Trewellain, and Miss Sophia Wickham’s story and a what a story! From beginning to end your be on your toes and on the edge of your seat. Captivating from the first page to the last. Jonathan is an agent for the crown, stubborn, bitter, sarcastic, and guilt-ridden. Sophia is feisty, stubborn, betrothed to Jonathan for three years without a word from him, determined, smart, and on a mission to dissolve their betrothal. These two are a perfect match! Sophia is Jonathan’s light from his self proclaimed darkness.
Beautifully written and well crafted story of danger, a mission for the Crown searching for Spain’s crown jewels and for a missing lord, suspense, mystery, romance and finding a HEA. High-octane action, steamy passion, and fast moving story, with a suspenseful track from England to Spain to France. The characters are very intriguingly charming, engaging and realistic. I was impressed with how Ms. Sookoo brought all the elements together in a climactic, emotional and dramatic ending. Powerful, compelling with edge of your seat drama. I also was impressed with how this author handled Jonathan’s disability, with respect, dignity and caring. There are no cliffhangers but definitely leads into the next adventure in the LORDS OF HAPPENSTANCE series. Well done, Sandra Sookoo!! I can’t wait to read the next story in this amazing and thrilling Regency romance. Fans of Regency romance, mystery, suspense, high-octave action, HEA, and thrilling, compelling and dramatic story will definitely enjoy WHAT THE STUBBORN VISCOUNT DESIRES.