To Bed a Beauty (Courtship Wars, Book 2)

by Nicole Jordan

Book Overview

Nicole Jordan takes the delights of the Regency mating game to breathless new heights in this daring second novel of a superb new trilogy, The Courtship Wars. Clever and charming Roslyn Loring, the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0345494601
• Release Date: February 2008
• Publisher: Ballantine Books
• Length: 448 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.8" x 1.2" x 4.3"

Customer Reviews

Drew and Roslyn-SPOILERS

Favorite scene with Roslyn- Roslyn ends their betrothal because of an argument. Favorite scene with Drew- Telling another man that he can have Roslyn. Together- Roslyn meets his ex-governess. What did you like about Roslyn- Her love for books and learning. I know this sounds weird, but not believing in outer beauty. Inner beauty is more important, as is heart love. Believing in love. Her strength. And her innocence (esp. when it comes to fighting). She cared about her friends, and gladly helped them. What didn't you like about Roslyn- Although Roslyn wanted a loving marriage, she almost lost Drew because of her stubborness and stupidity. She wasn't willing to risk her heart. She didn't believe Drew when he told her otherwise. Although she didn't want marriage with Drew, she didn't mind getting HOT and heavy with him. What did you like about Drew- He cared about his friends, and gladly helped them. Despite not believing in love and marriage, he fell, hard, for Roslyn. He wore his heart, and feelings, on his sleeve. His jealousy. Willing to give up Roslyn so that she'd be happy. What didn't you like about Drew- He wasn't willing to risk his heart. He didn't believe in love and marriage. Despite his jealousy, he believed that Roslyn loved another man. Casting Drew, I'd cast Brad Pitt. Casting Roslyn, I'd cast Kate Winslet.

Historical excellence

When an independent beauty asks for lessons in love from a rake who is notorious for his extraordinary lovemaking skills, a tale of sensually blistering passion and unexpected emotion is guaranteed to follow. Having seen her parents destroy themselves in a loveless marriage, Roslyn Loring is determined to marry for nothing less than true love. She attends a Cyprian's masked ball in an attempt to find out what makes a man fall for a woman. It's there that she meets Drew Moncrief, the Duke of Arden, who is on the prowl for a mistress. Roslyn successfully evades him for a short time, but doesn't escape him altogether until after the two have shared a briefly passionate encounter. When Roslyn is confronted by Drew at her sister's wedding to his best friend, she has no choice but to admit to the suspicious Drew the true reason behind her attendance at the ball. When she goes so far as to ask him for lessons in seduction so she can seduce her handsome neighbor into proposing, Drew cannot refuse. When Drew sees the familiar face of Roslyn Loring at his friend's wedding, it doesn't take long before he places her as the young woman he met at the ball. He threatens to expose her to her family if she doesn't tell him the truth behind her risqué behavior. Once he gets past the initial shock of Miss Loring's request to teach her the ways of seduction, he finds he cannot refuse her. When those lessons go beyond simple instruction and the two become intimate, Drew can no longer bear the thought of continuing to prime Roslyn for another man. He wants her for himself, but convincing Roslyn that he is ready to put his rakish ways behind him won't be easy. It appears that Drew may well have a lesson or two to learn from his delicately beautiful pupil. TO BED A BEAUTY is the second in a three-book "Courtship Wars" series by Nicole Jordan. I read this book before reading the first book and enjoyed it very much as a stand-alone novel. I didn't feel as any details were missed by my not having read the first book. Roslyn is an independent, highly intelligent woman who is determined to marry on her own terms rather than those set out by society. Her strong feelings after the heartache and pain she and her sisters experienced at the hands of their parents are excellently written. Drew is a rake, a real ladies' man who is determined to never marry. Having been raised by a coldhearted mother he has his own reasons to avoid shackling himself to a woman. Watching these two fall for each other, incredulous at the deep emotions the other has stirred, was highly enjoyable. Secondary characters and events serve to enrich this wonderful story without detracting from Roslyn and Drew. Ms. Jordan is undoubtedly one of the masters of historical romance and I highly recommend this book as well as any of her previous work. I did go back and read the first book in this series, TO PLEASURE A LADY, and equally enjoyed it, but haven't yet read the third book, TO SEDUCE

Roslyn's clever plans of 'orderly' love are shaken by the Real Thing

I love all three books of the Courtship Wars Trilogy! Jordan's tone in this trilogy is 'lighter' (there's more light humor) than in her previous romances, but that doesn't mean the LOVE is any less intense -- the simmering heat between hero and heroine are very much alive and kicking. In fact, Roslyn (the middle sister of the Lorings) has a very carefully planned strategy for winning the hand of a respectable gentleman, which involves pleasing him as a mistress would... since she has always noticed that men seem to LOVE their mistresses more than their wives. She hopes to act like a mistress in order to attract the 'right' man to marry her (and, fall in love with her, for she wants genuine love), but she has no experience in these matters. The man who can teach her these things is the Duke of Arden; he doesn't believe in love matches at all, so he feels he can teach Roslyn these things without falling for her -- this will prove to be much more difficult than he ever dreamed! Roslyn and Drew are full-blooded, four-dimensional characters, complete with hearts and souls, who fall hard for each other. And wow do they have some beautiful love scenes together. Another reviewer wrote that Nicole Jordan puts the 'steam' in steamy. I'll second that! She is an amazing author who draws you in, page by page. Her plots and characters are believable, real, and you cannot help but want to know more... and THEN you want to read the third book (To Seduce a Bride), another winner! Enjoy the ride!

What a beauty!!!

Nicole Jordan never disappoints. I could not put this book down. I loved Drew and Roslyn!!! Cannot wait for Lily's story.

This is for every keeper shelf!

I just have to say how much I loved this book, the characters were both interesting and myself I find it refreshing that the man does the chasing! If I have to read one more Regency about how the young innocent lady is on her knees for an unattainable rogue I will barf. This heroine is smart, well read and actually unimpressed when others judge her for her beauty alone. The loves scenes are sensual and sexy, the hero and heroine are terrific in that they actually talk honestly with one another. The 'teach me how to make a man fall in love with me' is a ploy that could have so easily fallen flat, but Ms. Jordan does it with such talent in her writing that you not only believe the heroine, you are cheering her on. I loved this book! Can't wait for the third one in this series.