Worth Any Price (Bow Street, Book 3)

Very simply, Lisa Kleypas is the Joe Dimaggio of Historical Romance. Her stories have a smoothness, grace and power that is absolutely unmatched, and she carves out each tale with cool perfection and ease. Effortlessly summoning up all the luxury and allure of Victorian manners, clothing and cuisine, she combines the glamorous settings with deeply engrossing characters and raw, almost modern sexual pyrotechnics. Nick Gentry was the villain in the previous novel, LADY SOPHIA'S LOVER. As a bold master thief forced into a catching criminals as an elite Bow Street Runner, Nick is a conflicted character to begin with. Added to that, his childhood was marred by violence and sexual abuse, and he is deeply distrustful of emotions and authority. Nick's boss, Ross Cannon, is a stern father figure who makes Nick into a better man. Like most romance authors, Kleypas has a tendency to idealize male authority figures, and Ross is no exception. He is the perfect surrogate father to Nick, very demanding yet also quietly understanding. It helps that he's married to Nick's sister Sophia, of course. But Ross' decision to send Nick to rescue the kidnapped Charlotte Howard represents a real second chance for the bad boy gone good. Charlotte Howard is running from a cold, controlling man, and at first Nick seems like an equally overpowering figure. But, after a while, Charlotte senses how tormented and confused Nick is -- underneath the devastating sexual allure. The two of the come together in a sexual explosion so hot it literally scorches the pages! The problem is, each step towards love drags Nick towards a final surrender to Ross and respectability. Will he find a way to marry Charlotte and keep his own roguish identity intact? I loved this book. More than most romance authors, Lisa Kleypas understands that men have deep emotional relationships outside of the bedroom. Ross and Nick are, in their own way, as much the center of this story as Nick and Charlotte. By making peace with Ross, Nick is finally coming to terms with his own abandonment and abuse. Charlotte's love is the one thing that allows Nick to accept his place in the world and be the man he was always meant to be. A very powerful story, smoothly told.

This book was so worth the price to buy it and absorb this story right into your soul - Lisa Kleypas does that for me - and this, as in all her novels, left me in awe! It is the sequel to 'Lady Sophia's Lover'as our very sexy and accomplished lover/hero is Sophia's brother Nick Gentry. In that prequel, Nick was the scourge of the bow-street runners, and at the end of that story, Nick had been blackmailed by his sister Sophia's husband Sir Ross Cannon to work for and become a bow street runner himself. Please note here that just for the record, even if you have not read the prequel - this book stands quite well on it's own. As would happen with the runners, they would sometimes take on private investigations and so Nick was on the trail of a run away bride who had been missing for two years. Naturally, being the best at what he does, he finds the beautiful Charlotte Howard but being so totally attracted to her and sensing her terror at being sent back she is given three choices, one of which is marrying Nick! Being a bright girl, and also feeling the attraction she marries this very complex, and handsome man! This book is HOT - STEAMY - and absolutely, deliciously SENSUAL and should come with a warning to not start it at night as you will not be able to put it down. The very complexity of who Nick is and what make him tick is amazing and you will get this from the very first pages. The plot is relatively simple and not a great mystery - but it is still quite an amazing read! I highly recommend this book to buy and be placed on your keeper shelf with - if you are a Lisa Kleypas fan - all of the rest of her books!

I have been waiting months to find out the fate of the intriguing Nick Gentry, who, if you read Lady Sophia's Lover, was last "offered" a legitimate position as a Bow Street runner by his nemesis/now brother-in-law Sir Ross Cannon. At last the wait is over, and, as usual, Lisa Kleypas delivers!! We find out some very interesting things about Nick in the beginning of the story-things which help us to see Nick in another light and begin to empathize with him more. While you are awed by the street savvy devil-may-care Nick Gentry, you will also come to love the man who was robbed of his birthright and must struggle with and travel a path that leads him back to a life he was meant to have.Nick's fate is decided when he is sent to search for Miss Charlotte Howard ("Lottie"), the runaway bride of Lord Radnor. He finds her on the estate of Lord Westcliff, where she has become as inconspicuous as possible. From the first moment he sees her, Nick knows he must have her. Instead of returning her to Lord Radnor, Nick finds himself offering her the one thing he never expected-marriage. Although Nick doesn't know it at the time, Charlotte becomes his saving grace. But, can Nick reconcile his haunted past with his future?You will like Charlotte as a heroine. She is strong-willed and optimistic, despite the fact that she has a tainted secret she'd like to forget. She is drawn to Nick from the beginning and sees past his hardness. But, can she forgive him for betraying her trust? Can she come to love a man she has promised to marry, but finds she doesn't really know at all?As always, the story between the characters is mature and sensually rich. Unlike other authors, the heros and heroines in an LK novel grow and develop before our eyes. There isn't the harsh separation or cruel deceptions between the characters. Instead the characters are able to explore their feelings and come to a natural progression of love. Not to mention, Ms. Kleypas is always able to reinvent the love scene, giving us more and keeping us guessing with each new novel. This is the last of the Bow Street Runners series, and I really hate to see this hunky, dashing group of men go away. However, Ms. Kleypas still has a few minor characters to possibly develop into future novellas or stories. Dr. Linley or Lord Westcliff definitely would make good protagonists in a story. I especially like that Dr. Linley. Although he doesn't play a major role in this story, I am still wondering what makes the good doctor tick.You will fully enjoy all facets of Worth Any Price. The story is brilliantly written, the characters are mature and memorable, and the passion is beyond compare. To me, this story is worth any price...

This book is a trademark of Kleypas's writing. It is steamy, passsionate and has a hero that would make any woman tingle. He is also a character unlike any other. There is so much more to write about him but giving that away would ruin the book. Simply, he is not what he seems. This is the sequel to Lady Sophia's Lover and if you read that book, you know what is in store. This story is about Nick Gentry, brother of the heroine from Lady Sophia's Lover and former thief turned straight man, working for the Bow Runners. Nick's latest job is to find Charlotte Howard, who is hiding from her fiance and family. She has been missing for two years because the though of marrying a man her parents' forced her to turns her stomach. When Nick finds hers, he realizes she is the one for him and won't let her go. He must have her to redeem his soul, which he lost years ago. But first both must learn to trust each other and be willing to give and receive. Nick is the main focus of this story and from the first page you will be amazed by him. There are so many secrets about him and he is a Kleypas trademark hero. He is brooding, alpha but with a touch of vulnerability. And Charlotte is his equal half that shows him what it is to love. And the love scenes are STEAMY, HOT and too good for words. This book shows what a true talent Kleypas is. Also recommended along the same lines is Suddenly You and Lady Sophia's Lover. If steamy and passionate stories are your thing, pick up all three of these books. Katiebabs LADY SOPHIA'S LOVER