Reforming Lord Ragsdale

by Carla Kelly

Book Overview

"Don't cry, Emma," he said. "I'm not crying," she murmured, attempting to wipe away the tears. "Thank goodness for that," he replied, keeping his tone light. " 'Pon my word, Emma, I hope you are worth... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0451184653
• ISBN13: 9780451184658
• Release Date: October 1995
• Publisher: Signet Book
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Marvelous story...much heart satisfaction.

Incredible detail with character development paramount. Finding that they both change was a delight. The nuances and witty dialogue made it even more special. I'm ordering a copy for a friend because I won't lend her my copy. Hahahaha.

Big Bucks on the Secondary Market, But Worth Every Penny!

Oh, this was good; this was very, very good! REFORMING LORD RAGSDALE is a must read for all historical romance readers. Carla Kelly writes a wonderful love story with very believable characters and just enough romance to seize her reader's heart . . . forever. What a joy to find a love story so well-written, so emotionally touching and so marvelously captivating. If you CAN find a copy, grab it and break away, for you'll never regret reading it. MaryGrace Meloche.

When opposites attract each other

John Staples is a rake of the worst kind. He gambles, drinks and keeps a mistress of whom he's tired. He doesn't enjoy his life, but doesn't find the courage to take the necessary steps to change it. When Emma Costello steps into his life, as the servant of his American cousins, he loathes her on the sole purpose that she is Irish; losing his father and his eye in a battle against her people didn't help in making him friendly towards them.And yet he saves Emma from being gambled in a game of cards. He buys her indenture back and finds himself "owning" a woman he hates. He doesn't treat her as a slave, though, but employs her as his secretary. He never suspects what ideas are up her sleeve, and he isn't careful enough when she makes him sign a document allowing her to reform him and make him a respectable gentleman until he can marry Lady Clarissa Paltridge.John's growly reaction to Emma's first few actions to lead him to a righteous way of life are hilarious, but soon we realise that he's more willing to obey than he appears. But is his goal to become the gentleman that Lady Paltridge has set her eyes on? Or is he more interested in his reformer than he wants to admit? And can Emma ignore the desire that this dangerous rake stirs in her?This is another must-read by Carla Kelly. The antagonism between the two main characters makes their journey to love enthralling. John hates the Irish, and yet he will help Emma in her search for her family, supporting her in her search at the Criminal Office. John does all he can to find answers to the questions haunting her. Their friendship is refreshing and proves that even a war between their people can't keep our two heroes apart. I've seen several readers mention that Carla Kelly writes about people before all, and this is true of this novel again.My one and only regret, although Reforming Lord Ragsdale remains an outstanding novel, is that the first kiss between Emma and John wasn't showed live. The way it was written lessened its impact, I'm afraid, and I wish Carla Kelly had showed us what happened between the characters *when* it happened and not afterwards.But this nitpick is very much compensated by the depth of character development that Ms Kelly devotes to her every novel. Reforming Lord Ragsdale is no exception when it comes to the quality and care brought to the personalities of both Emma and John.

One of the best Regencies written

Unfortunately, most Regency books are churned out with uninspired stock characters, plots, and endings - with only a few exceptions. "Reforming Lord Ragsdale" breaks the formula Regency with compelling charm and originality. The title character is quite simply wonderful: he's funny, flawed, deep, and complex. His reformer, Emma, is equally rich and imperfect, and the two together are possibly one of this limited genre's most engaging couples.I loved this book and couldn't help falling a little in love with Lord Ragsdale - as will anyone else who reads it. It's Carla Kelly's best and will spoil the reader for other Regencies, most of which will seem pallid, silly even, in comparison.Get a hold of this book any way you can, you'll read it over and over - it's that irresistible!

A regency with a social conscience

Emma may seem like a brash Irish servant, but Lord Ragsdale soon discovers a well-educated upper class woman dealing with harsh Anglo-Irish reprisals has become his servant. Great characters and depth of feeling emerge as Ragsdale sobers up and takes notice of his surroundings, and of Emma in particular.