Hazard

by Jo Beverley

Book Overview

Lady Anne Peckwort prefers not to marry. Do not let others decide for her, though she knows her duties as a daughter of Count. Her shy nature and her limp does not help her to convince a suitor.... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0451205804
• ISBN13: 9780451205803
• Release Date: May 2002
• Publisher: Signet Book
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 4.2" x 6.8"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

A five star Jo Beverley

I've read three of Jo Beverley's books before and none of them have quite made it to five stars for me. However, Hazard was a definite improvement - the story and characters worked much better for me. Lady Anne Peckworth (who has appeared in two of the Rogues books) seems to have an unfortunate habit - that of being jilted by the Rogues. When the second Rogue who has been courting her marries someone else the Rogues, worried about Lady Anne who really is a very nice woman, send Race de Vere to check that she is OK. Race teams up with her brother Uffham, working as his secretary/assistant, and thus gets invited to the Duke of Arran's home (Anne's father) and is able to get to know her. Anne can't decide what to do with herself. Two betrothals that haven't quite happened make her wonder if it's safe to get married but the alternative, dwindling to a spinster, isn't appealing. When she meets Race de Vere she enjoys her conversations with him, particularly when he shows her more of the fun side of life - brandy drinking, playing hazard, kissing. Of course he's wildly ineligible, being from a family line which was born the wrong side of the blanket, but she finds herself coming out of her shell in his company. Then he disappears and Lady Anne sets herself the task of finding a husband with her friend, Tris St Raven, giving her advice on their suitability. Anne very much comes out of her shell in this book - she turns from a quiet, reclusive lady with a limp to a bright, lively woman who seems to slay passing men with her charms and who behaves in a rather indecorous way at times. In fact I wasn't entirely sure how believable Anne was... her behaviour towards the end of the book gets pretty shocking. De Vere is far too low down the social scale to even consider an alliance with Anne and yet the quality of this book is in the way in which it shows them as equals in terms of intelligence and interests which makes the reader eager to see things work out well for them. Although there is romance in this book the plot and characterisation takes more of a central position than in many regencies, plus the different social classes in this book sets it apart a little. The Rogues appear in this book in many places, and there are also references to characters in some of Beverley's other books, but this one can be read as a standalone book without any difficulties. It's an enjoyable way to while away a few hours and I can recommend it.

Did not expect to love this book so much!!

The story of Anne & Race I just did not expect to love as much as I did. Anne Peckworth in the other books by Beverley hardly seemed to have the strength to be interesting enough to carry a romantic adventure. It truly is a credit to Beverley's development of character - this book just builds and builds and with each chapter you are totally submerged into Anne's adventures and search for a husband. Of course the perfect match you know is Race which you meet in the first few pages. What a perfect hero Race was, strong, independent, adventurous with such a protective, caring way - but alas he had no "title" - no credible background and everything was about who and what you were back then. Certainly, he was not good enough for the daughter of a Duke. Anne really tries to follow her mother's advise that you can learn to love a man of proper birth - you just have to give it time. Anne tries, but no one can compare to what she feels for Race. One thing I especially liked was the patience Beverley had with the ending of the story. Too often writers hurry the ending, the last couple chapters of this book were truly superb and influence my 5 stars. St. Raven's help in the end was so romantic too, very romantic of Tris! He wanted to make sure his good friend was truly happy. And the father's of Anne and Race both came through in a big way too which in so many books the father's were horrific! Once again Beverley has done an excellent job - this is one of her best.

Couldn't put it down

This is a must read but make sure you have set aside some time because its one of those that you can't put down and hate to see end. Can't wait for the next book.

Another great Beverly title!

I've been a fan of Jo Beverly's books for years, but I'd been a little disappointed with the last few I'd read. However, "Hazard" was a stay-up-until-I-finish-it book, a definite keeper. This is much more a character study than an intricately plotted thriller, but the relationship between Anne and Race was touching and believable, and that's really all I ask here. And after seeing Anne jilted by the hero in both "Forbidden" and "The Dragon's Bride," it was nice to see her as our heroine, significantly more fleshed out than in either of the other books. Hooray!

a wonderful read

If you're looking for a romance novel that is rather racy and that is a bit heavy on the X-rating, than "Hazard" by Jo Beverly, will NOT be the romance novel for you. On the other hand if you're looking for a rather romantic novel about how a somewhat sheltered and reserved young lady learns to spread her wings and fly because of a specific set of circumstances, than this is definitely one romance novel that you will enjoy.Lady Anne Peckworth has been rejected twice in the marriage stakes. And although there never was any real legal understanding between Anne and the two gentlemen concerned, Anne did feel the sting of rejection when they both married other ladies more outwardly beautiful and outgoing than she. Now however Lady Anne finds that she must marry and soon, for her younger sister, Marianne, has fallen in love with a neighbour (who happens to be a younger son and so has very little material expectations), and their mother (the Duchess of Aaran) has decreed that Marianne will be allowed to marry only after Anne has. And so Anne, while dreading the whole venture, has more or less girded herself to face another London Season, when her elder brother, Uffham, brings home that well known scapegrace Race De Vere to Lea Park. Race, while ostensibly acting as Uffham's secretary, manages to tease, beguile and tantalize Anne to the extent that she begins to wonder if he may the man for her afterall. But Race is a well known flirt, and after having been burnt twice, Anne is a little dubious about her ability to attract such a man. And than there is also the fact that Race's pedigree is murky at best and not at all what her mother would accept in a suitor for her daughter's hand. Determined to find the an 'acceptable' husband, Anne begins to make the usual foray into London society and with some success. But she cannot quite ignore the effect Race has on her, or how all other men seem to pale beside him. Will Anne decide to chance everything for love? Or will she choose the safety of deciding on one of the many men who are pursuing her for her fortune and family connections?I liked this novel very much. It is more character driven than anything else -- there is no murder or espionage subplot, and "Hazard" is definitely not a tale about angst-filled star-crossed love. Rather it is a tale of how a rather reserved young woman learns to spread her wings and to become the capable and charming individual she was always meant to be. "Hazard" is also not a Rogue novel, so don't expect the Rogues to feature very much in this novel at all. And while some aspects of Race's story -- his background, etc -- remain mysterious and unaccessible (I still cannot comprehend his father's actions), I think that Jo Beverly did a really good job in showing us why Race and Anne were meant to be. The story unfolded smoothly and seamlessly, and the manner in which Anne & Race's romance unfolded was a joy to read. The one thing I have always liked about Jo Beverly is that he