This second outing from MacLean in the Ralston Siblings books is about Gabriel's younger twin brother Nicholas finding that life after being named one of London's most eligible bachelors is not all its cracked up to be. His 'plight' is further made frustrating by the fact his best friend and companion 'Rock' and his brother seem to find the entire situation hilarious.

Well so do I come to think of it.

As for Isabel, her entire house is made up of women she has saved from one sort of hell or other, but its threatening to crumble after the death of her degenerate, gambling, wastrel of a father dies. Not that anyone is terribly sad by this, least of all Isabel, but that means there's no money and no way to keep the lenders at bay. Because of happenstance she is saved by Nicholas. Because of the weather she's stuck with him for a few days. And because of a bunch of meddling, cupid wannabes a romance blossoms.

Like both of MacLean's other books, there is a high volume of entertaining banter, hijinks and feisty women. Even Georgianna, who begins the book timid and afraid, blooms into a force to reckon with by the end of novel. The story felt more fast-paced however, with the bulk of the action taking place over the course of a few days and the resolution happening some weeks later. Though I didn't doubt Isabel and Nicholas' feelings for each other, there wasn't as strong a sense of development between them as there had been between Callie and Gabriel.

There was also the matter of the situation at Minerva House. Though it didn't take Nicholas and Rock long to find the place, it seemed to take a pair of thugs even less time and they didn't even have the benefit of stumbling upon the mistress of the house! The whole set up itself was more than a little ridiculous, I can't believe that in six years not a single person said something about Minerva House when they shouldn't. If Isabel managed to keep such a thing hidden for that long she should have looked into a career with the Home Office.

Gabriel made an appearance at the start of the story, and makes another later on. As does Callie, and Julianna, but both of them are minor roles overall. I was a little sad to see Julianna wasn't as big a part of this book, but it made sense since most of the action happened far far away from where she was.

And I have a feeling that in book 3 is about Julianna (Gabriel and Nick's half-Italian sister) and Leighton, in fact I'll bet the farm on it. ( )

Libro già letto in passato ma sempre bellissimo.
***
Bellissima anche la storia del gemello del marchese di Ralston, Nicholas Saint Jones, che per scappare dalle tante zitelle che lo vogliano sposare si mette alla caccia della sorella del duca di Leighton e finisce per innamorarsi di Lady Isabel Townsend che gestisce una casa segreta per ospitare donne maltrattate. ( )

Enjoyable enough. Would have like more Lara/Rock and less Isabel angst. Spending more time with the ladies of Mineva House would be a great book. Nick was pretty much what I expected. Just didn't feel this book was exceptional. ( )

Desde que una popular revista femenina le nombra «soltero más codiciado de Londres», Nicholas St. John se ha visto perseguido sin descanso por toda mujer de la sociedad con el matrimonio en mente. Así pues, cuando se le presenta la oportunidad de escapar de la sociedad, la aprovecha sin pensárselo dos veces… y se cruza en el camino de la mujer más resuelta y condenadamente exquisita que jamás había conocido.
Hija de un gandul con título, lady Isabel Townsend tiene demasiados secretos y muy poco dinero. Aunque está acostumbrada a cuidar de sí misma, el reciente fallecimiento de su padre le ha dejado a la deriva y con la necesidad de contar con ayuda para proteger los derechos de nacimiento de su hermano. El apuesto y codiciado lord Nicholas podría ser la salvación que busca.

Good angst, LOVED the heroine. ( )