[E6R]⇒ Read Gratis The Millionaire Rogue The Hope Diamond Trilogy Jessica Peterson 9780425272084 Books

The Millionaire Rogue The Hope Diamond Trilogy Jessica Peterson 9780425272084 Books

Download As PDF : The Millionaire Rogue The Hope Diamond Trilogy Jessica Peterson 9780425272084 Books

The Millionaire Rogue The Hope Diamond Trilogy Jessica Peterson 9780425272084 Books

This is the second installment of The Hope Diamond Trilogy by Jessica Peterson. Having enjoyed the first in which William, a bored Duke, meets Lady Violet, an almost spinster at 22 and equally bored, I was looking forward to a continuation of the story. In actuality, this turns out to be a rehash of the original. Lady Violet is dancing with William and is wearing the Hope Diamond.
Acrobats come storming into the ballroom, create havoc and when everything settles down the Diamond and William are both gone.

When I reached this part of the story I thought I had already read this book but NO--it is the exact plot of The Gentleman Jewel Thief, part one of the Trilogy, but retold from the perspective of Violet's young cousin, Sylvia and Thomas Hope, the banker who owns the Diamond. Quite a disappointment, since all of the major plot lines are repetitions. The difference is that Sylvia, determined to make an excellent match has caught the eye of the most eligible batchelor of the season and, because she has some pretty heavy romps with Thomas, finds herself turning down the man's proposal and settles for the non-English tradesman, Hope.

There wasn't even the suspense of the mystery of the theft of the Diamond or whether it would be recovered since that had all been revealed in the first book. I have the third book of the Trilogy and will read it--at least as far as it takes to determine whether there is any difference in the story--other than which guy is tearing which bodice this time. While that is fun there needs to be a plot in which it is set that offers SOME mystery to the story.

Left me as bored as William and Violet in the first.


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The Millionaire Rogue The Hope Diamond Trilogy Jessica Peterson 9780425272084 Books Reviews

After the first madcap adventure featuring the Hope Diamond and a daring thief, I was eager to give the second book telling the story of Thomas Hope himself a go. I've always enjoyed it when an author daringly writes a fictional story allowing real life characters some page time. In this case, its not a serious historical fiction, but a fun, passionate historical romantic romp. I had a good time with Thomas and his intrepid heroine, Sophia (already a point in her favor b/c of the name).

This second book in the series could be read out of order as the pertinent stuff needed to get what is going on is present, but...yes but. This story is told parallel to the first book so it makes a whole lot more sense when they are read in order because the reader would always feel like they were missing stuff that is going on off stage.

The story opens with Thomas Hope, successful banker to England's elite, being paid a clandestine call by a man he hasn't seen in years. Henry Beaton Lake, espionage agent for the crown, has a mission that only Thomas can do. Hope argues that he is done with all that, but gets dragged back into the Game for King and Country. His task is to convince the Princess Charlotte to sell a large unique blue diamond known as the French Blue. The gem once belonged to the French royal family, is thought to be cursed and is now a viable bargaining chip wit Napoleon. Unfortunately, other agents are at work and he is driven to seek asylum with an old partner who he interrupts meeting with the last person Hope expects to see. Innocent miss and debutante, Sophia Blaise, is sitting in the parlor of one of the most successful courtesans there is.

Sophia knows the danger of the secret life she lives as the biographer to such an infamous woman and so the arrival of her family's banker while she works on edits with La Reinette is most unwelcome. Suddenly she is in the adventure that she always dreamed about, but it is nothing like she imagined. Hiding in a secret closet with Mr. Hope, running with him for their lives, helping dupe the Princess and then helping to search for the stolen French Blue alongside a man who puts all the other men, including the very eligible wealthy marquess she plans to marry, to shame. Does she choose with her heart or with her head?

Thomas is frantic to get the stolen diamond back before the gossip gets out, his clients mistrust his ability to watch over their wealth, and he is ruined not to mention the Crown loses a good bargaining tool with Napoleon. With the help of an unlikely crew, they track down the thief only to discover that all is not so simple. Other parties want the gem and will stop at nothing to obtain it. Thomas wants Sophia to stay out of the excitement and thus out of danger, but she refuses. It breaks his heart to see her, love all that he has come to know about her, and yet know that he can never have her because she is determined to marry nobility and wealth.

Alright, so this story has a lot of excitement, intrigue, passion, and mad-cap ways to it. The pacing was good and it never dragged. There was a lot going on, but not to the point of crazy confusion. Again, I had no trouble because I read the parallel story that goes on at the same time and crosses through this one often. Not sure I liked the distraction of the two stories running side by side, but it wasn't a big deal either. I had a good time for the most part. I liked the characters, the plot, the pacing, the light tone, but I was only mildly into it.

I struggled with the match up in this one. I have weird kick ups like this once in a while and whole-heartedly admit that this issue is on me. I have nothing really against the characters and liked them as individuals and would even accept them as affectionate friends, but as lovers they didn't work for me. I have a hard time seeing an older mature man with a young fresh out in society young lady so its tricky to sell me on it. Sophia was a nice an sensible girl and she has an adventurous streak that leads her to writing a courtesan's memoirs and demanding to be part of the dangerous hunt for the jewel. However, this did not make me find her a good pairing for a man of Thomas Hope's experiences and depth. I actually saw Thomas better suited to his former espionage partner, Le Reinette, who had lived such a full, rich life too. I found her so much more fascinating a character and she dominated those early scenes putting debutante Sophia into the shadows. While, on the other hand, I totally could see Sophia with the adorable marquess that was courting her. They had so much more in common and felt more connected. So a little swapping around and I'd be content, but I get that it doesn't work that way.

The barrier to the romance didn't really do it for me either. They love each other, but the only barrier is Sophia's insistence that she needs to marry a wealthy aristocrat even after admitting that Thomas lights up her world, he is constantly in her thoughts, and the passion they share is off the hook. He's a wealthy banker so not a step up, but he is accepted in Society as much more than a tradesman so he's not exactly a step down either. Yeah, I just got impatient with her and wanted to bop some sense into her.

Looking ahead, there is another story line that has simmered in the background through book one and into this one. Henry Beaton Lake, Hope's spy friend, and Lady Caroline, another background character have bristled up at each other and given off serious sparks all along. There is something between the two of them and some of the explanation finally comes out in this one. I really want their story so I was thrilled to discover that theirs will be the final book in the trilogy. It ought to be a real humdinger.

All in all, it was fun and entertaining story. I like the author's playful style that still offers a good adventure and some passion. I would recommend this book to historical romance fans who like their stories more of spicy romance and madcap adventure.

My thanks to Penguin Group and to Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

The Millionaire Rogue by Jessica Peterson
Book Two of the Hope Diamond trilogy
Publisher Berkley
Publication Date January 6, 2015
Rating 4 stars
Source ARC sent by the author

***Warning this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***

Summary (from Goodreads)

In an age of stately decorum, the Hope Diamond was a source of delicious intrigue—and a font of unimaginable adventure…

Though not of noble birth, Thomas Hope has a skill in banking that’s made him one of the richest, most trusted men in London. Still, he keeps his dubious past hidden. So when an old acquaintance calls on Hope to help acquire the infamous French Blue Diamond, he’s desperate to be discreet. He never expects that his biggest concern shouldn’t be losing his reputation, but his heart…

Sophia Blaise is determined to make a brilliant match with this season’s most eligible, most titled bachelor, but her true passion has been ignited by the incredible stories she hears while secretly transcribing the memoirs of a notorious Madam. After a night of clandestine writing ends with Sophia caught up in a scandalous adventure of her own—with an alluring banker—she begins to question whether she’s suited to the proper life she’s always known…

Caught up in a thrilling exploit and unexpected romance, Sophia must make a choice between what her head knows is safe and what her heart desperately desires, before both slip from her grasp forever…

What I Liked

First, my thanks to the author, who contacted me directly to see if I would review her book. I've been taking little to no review requests for the better part of this year, but this request caught my attention. The author was very kind and professional, and expected nothing less than an honest review. Me enjoying the book was an added bonus!

What a lovely historical romance novel this was! I've not read this author debut novel, so I was not quite familiar with this book (or series, or even author). I'm glad it didn't fly under my radar - I'm always looking for new historical romance authors. Definitely adding Peterson to the list!

Thomas Hope has his sights set on the French Blue, a large diamond that is currently in the hands of the Princess of Wales. Fate would have him and Sophia Blaise pair up to obtain the diamond from the Princess... only for the diamond to be stolen at a ball. Sophia, Thomas, and several other important people work together to get the diamond back into the right hands.

It doesn't seem like this book is a romance novel at all, does it? No scandalously revealing cover, only one person on the cover, fully clothed, no sexy title, and once you read the book... the plot is so involved in the mystery and the hunt for the diamond. Don't get me wrong, the romance is alive and present and totally sizzling. But the mystery, the whodunit, seems to eclipse the romance, which I really liked!

I really liked Thomas Hope. He's an untitled gentleman, a banker who did really well for himself. He's not a scoundrel or a seducer, and he's a tiny bit awkward under all that healthy macho manliness. I like him a lot! He feels like he doesn't deserve a lady like Sophia, because he's just a banker, but he's so wrong - he's quite the catch.

I also really liked Sophia. She's very bold and brazen in a reserved way. Like, she's so used to a snobby life, to the expectation that she will marry a rich, titled man, and live in a castle on a hill. But she wants passion and color in life, and not a dull, boring existence. I liked Sophia. She didn't fight her attraction for Thomas at all, despite being a debutante (and therefore, a virgin).

Ooo, the romance. Thomas and Sophia sizzle right off the page, despite Thomas avoiding women for some time now, and Sophia being a virgin. The two of them click instantly, at least physically. Sophia has Thomas wrapped around her finger by the end of the book, even though she convinces herself that that isn't what she wants. She should do her daughterly duty, right...

The mystery was pretty interesting, and it took up much of the book. At first I thought things were a little overwhelming, like there were a lot of little things going on. But as I kept reading, I could see how the subplots intersected with the main plots.

The ending was really nice - everything wrapped up nicely, almost too neatly, but I liked it. I liked how the author left things with Thomas and Sophia, as well as with the French Blue. I was definitely sucked into the mystery, and didn't see it coming from early on, which is always a plus with a good mystery!

What I Did Not Like

The only thing that really stuck out to me was the constant switching of how the author referred to Thomas Hope - not in the dialogue. It varied from "Hope", to "Mr. Hope" to "Thomas"... sometimes on the same page, we would see at least two of those. I'm used to a sort of consistency with names/titles/etc., so I was hoping that this would be more consistent. This wasn't a problem with Sophia - she was always "Sophia" in the exposition, and not "Miss Blaise" or something.

Other than that, no serious complaints!

Would I Recommend It

This is definitely a smart, interesting historical romance with a sizzling romance! It's hard to find that combination in historical romance novels. A lot of them are heavily romance-driven (which is great!), but I like the ones that deviate from this expectation. So, yes, I would recommend this novel!

Rating

4 stars. An excellent novel by this rising historical romance author! I definitely hope to catch the next book in this series - especially after previewing the story in the back of this ARC! I'm intrigued by Peterson's choice of characters for the next book... though I can't say I'm surprised.
The story is good.
Very entertaining
This is the second installment of The Hope Diamond Trilogy by Jessica Peterson. Having enjoyed the first in which William, a bored Duke, meets Lady Violet, an almost spinster at 22 and equally bored, I was looking forward to a continuation of the story. In actuality, this turns out to be a rehash of the original. Lady Violet is dancing with William and is wearing the Hope Diamond.
Acrobats come storming into the ballroom, create havoc and when everything settles down the Diamond and William are both gone.

When I reached this part of the story I thought I had already read this book but NO--it is the exact plot of The Gentleman Jewel Thief, part one of the Trilogy, but retold from the perspective of Violet's young cousin, Sylvia and Thomas Hope, the banker who owns the Diamond. Quite a disappointment, since all of the major plot lines are repetitions. The difference is that Sylvia, determined to make an excellent match has caught the eye of the most eligible batchelor of the season and, because she has some pretty heavy romps with Thomas, finds herself turning down the man's proposal and settles for the non-English tradesman, Hope.

There wasn't even the suspense of the mystery of the theft of the Diamond or whether it would be recovered since that had all been revealed in the first book. I have the third book of the Trilogy and will read it--at least as far as it takes to determine whether there is any difference in the story--other than which guy is tearing which bodice this time. While that is fun there needs to be a plot in which it is set that offers SOME mystery to the story.

Left me as bored as William and Violet in the first.