Her Officer and Gentleman by Karen Hawkins
Her Officer and Gentleman by Karen Hawkins Series: Just Ask Reeves #2
on October 13, 2009
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Action & Adventure, Fiction / Romance / Historical / Regency
Pages: 329
Goodreads
A spinster finds herself seduced into a world of passion and suspense by a roguish lord in the New York Times–bestselling author's sexy Regency romance.
A mere whisper of the name "Gentleman James" sends chills throughout the ton (and thrills the ladies who have heard rumors of his amorous exploits). But with the passing of the father he never knew, the dashing brigand is shocked to inherit a title, a fortune . . . and a mission of revenge.
Considered unmarriageable at twenty-five, Lady Elizabeth has the perfect life, snuggled among her beloved books while caring for her curmudgeonly grandfather. Or so she thinks until she meets Christian Llevanth, Viscount Westerville—and discovers the delicious ache of desire. But there is more to the mysterious viscount than what so pleasingly meets the eye . . . more romance, more intrigue, and certainly more passion that Elizabeth ever anticipated.
Her Officer and Gentleman is book two in the Just Ask Reeves duology by Karen Hawkins. Although I truly enjoy her books, this title completely threw me off. I kept expecting there to be an officer in the mix, but there are no officers in the plot. I’m surmising that when this book was published in 2006 along with book one, Master and Commander, Avon, the publishing house, was wanting to get some traction from the movie Master and Commander starring Russell Crowe and the classic Richard Gere movie An Officer and a Gentleman. Both great flicks, by the way. Regardless of the thoroughly confusing title, I did enjoy this book. The hero, Christian James Llevanth, Viscount Westerville, is the twin brother of the hero pirate Tristan in Master and Commander. Westerville is a former highwayman, Gentleman James, whose father, the Earl of Rochester, died without legitimate heirs. Rather than let the title lapse, the Earl arranges through his butler, Reeves, to track down and “legitimize” his illegitimate sons, which is the premise connecting both books in the duology. At the heart of the story is a mystery about Westerville’s deceased mother. She was unjustly put in jail and died there. Finding the culprit behind this travesty is Westerville’s mission. Unfortunately, his mission clashes with the woman he finds himself falling for. There are a number of steamy scenes in this book. Overall, I enjoyed it, but it wasn’t my favorite Hawkins book so far. I will say that the cover is superb and an amazing work of art.
