Forbidden

Company of Rogues, Book 4

By: Jo Beverley

Narrated by: Susan Duerden

The death of her husband freed Serena Riverton from life as an abused sex object. Now, her brother plans to sell her to another vile man.

This time, Serena flees, but finds herself stranded and near penniless. When a passing gentleman offers help, Serena accepts, and develops a new plan: become a rich man's mistress so she can leave at any time.

Believing herself barren, Serena initiates a passionate encounter with her rescuer. However, Francis, Lord Middlethorpe, is already committed to a sweet-natured lady. He finds Serena refuge with an elderly relative, and must return to his life. Then Serena discovers she's pregnant.

They have no choice but to marry, but assailed by Serena's scheming brothers, Francis's appalled relatives and Serena's painful past, is there any hope for the loving future they both seek?

Contains mature themes.

©2013 Jo Beverley (P)2022 Tantor

Excellent Narration

Thank you for bringing one of my favorite stories to life especially with such a sensitive scene and subject matter. Well done.

Touching

very interesting and shocking insights into the powerlessness and abuse of women of the Era still relevant today. Serena was so brave...

A book in the "Company of Rogues" series - excellent!

The company of Rogues had been formed years earlier when a dozen boarding school boys had made a collective choice to guard one another's backs from unjustified aggression from other students, and from unfair tutors and schoolmasters. Now age 25, as GB was deeply immersed in the Napoleonic wars in Europe, the young men have their individual lives, but are still close friends.

Good

I enjoyed this book more than some of the others in the series. The book got better as it got deeper into the storyline. The narrator was good.

Sick! what a disappointment!!

I have liked all the books in this series until this one. I liked that the others had an edge to them that played with taboos but never really crossed the line and end in a HEA. Unfortunately this one is the opposite. UT starts with forbidden topics and paints a picture of a bleak FMC 15 year old victim of sexual abuse. it makes one fall in love with her tenacity in the wake of her misery. Enter the MMC, Francis, who at first comes across as a milksap but fall victim to an forced arranged marriage... sorta. The author gives us hints that he is not as honorable as most think he is right from the start. There is 2 stories of intrigue that cross paths and result in an explosion of consequences. This is when we see the MMC true colors as a weak, selfish character. He injures his mate without regret. This really should have given way to a storyline that had him seeking forgiveness through a series of groveling events are at least a grand jester. That doesn't happen. instead we see a weak FMC emerge. Where she had been making promise to stand up for herself she caves and once again submits to a man's wishes and desires. It was sad to see her immediately forgive him and become complacent. More over we see what I think is supposed to be a moment of her owning her victim hood and turning it around. Again, unfortunately that is not what happens. Instead she plays forward reducing a sexual partner to an object and the result is her once again learning her place in this male dominated marriage. The autonomy the previous Rouge wives brought to the table never comes to fusion for this FMC. The story ends in a sick, unrealistic coupling of two very pathetic people.

The narration was good but Nothing bar a rewrite could have saved the piteous ending.