2016/08/02

Worthy Any Price (Bow Street Runners #2)

Worth Any Price (Bow Street Runners, #3)Worthy Any Price Summary:
Nick Gentry is reputed to be the most skillful lover in all England. Known for solving delicate situations, he is hired to seek out Miss Charlotte Howard. He believes his mission will be easily accomplished - but that was before he met the lady in question.

For instead of a willful female, he discovers one in desperate circumstances, hiding from a man who could destroy her very soul. So Nick shockingly offers her a very different kind of proposition - one he has never offered before.

He asks her to be his bride.

And he knows that this will be much more than a union in name only. For he senses what Charlotte does not yet know - that her appetite for sensuality matches his own. But what Nick learns surprises him. For while London's most notorious lover might claim Charlotte's body, he quickly discovers it will take much more than passion to win her love.

Worthy Any Price Review:
Worth Any Price is around the same enjoyment level as Lady Sophia’s Lover. It wasn’t as good, but still not as bad as Someone to Watch Over Me. This book concludes the Bow Street Runners series which, in comparison to the Wallflowers/the Hathaways, needed some work on the characters and world building. In Worth Any Price, the plot was interesting, the characters were unique and we got to conclude the series in the best way possible.

This book had some really sweet moments, adequate character development and interesting plot. First, I’ll talk about the two main characters. These two started off really strong, but throughout their romance, their character flaws became really pronounced.

You could see most of this change in Charlotte, or Lottie as she prefers to be called. A normal girl couldn’t run away from home to protect herself from a controlling male. She chooses to become a servant instead of living in comfort so that she can live her own life. It was this act of courage that started the story and showed the type of steel that Lottie has inside her. This is what makes you rally behind, to hope that she gets her happily ever after.

“Yes, come along.” She gave his athletic form a deliberately challenging glance. “I only hope that you’ll be able to keep pace with me.”
“I’ll try,” he assured her wryly, falling into step beside her as she continued her walk.
They approached the trunk of a huge oak that had fallen across the path. Insects buzzed lazily through the rays of strengthening sunlight that streamed in from above. “Look,” Lottie said, gesturing to a dragonfly as it flew and dipped before them. “There are more than a dozen varieties of dragonfly in this forest, and at least a hundred different moths. If you come at dusk, you can see purple hairstreak butterflies— they gather right there at the tops of the tr—”
“Miss Miller,” he interrupted, “I’m a Londoner. We don’t care about insects, except to consider how they may best be exterminated.”
Lottie heaved a theatrical sigh, as if vexed by his lack of interest in the subject. “All right, then. I will refrain from describing the many varieties of aquatic beetle we have here.”
“Thank you,” came his fervent reply.


As soon as she moves away with Nick, we see her first flaw come out. She is too trustworthy. Even though she knows to be wary of men, she lets Nick kiss her repeatedly and walks alone in the forest with him, this is really soon after she meets him. From there we see her live with Nick and try and get used to him. When she tried to love him, I felt as though she was pitying him. It did turn into a really sweet love story, but in the beginning it was a lot more of pity. Another problem I had with her character was the significant changes in her personality. She went from being strong to weak as she always felt sad when Nick turned away from her. Instead of using a scheme (not in the bad, manipulative sense) to get Nick to understand her. It left her pushing Nick around for answers instead of listening or helping him because he clearly doesn’t want to be around others. The one good that she did in the relationship is refuse to kiss him. She didn’t jump into this relationship and valued herself over what he wanted to do with her.

Nick also was a conflicting hero. On one side he was the typical romance hero. He was incredibly sweet (maybe charming is the better word) to everyone that he cared about. He was not abrasively arrogant, nor was he overtly emotional. He was a tortured hero, and from reading Kenyon’s books I can say the Kleypas did pretty good job with Nick. He was always brooding and contained with what he did, but it worked with his past. On the other hand, he was constantly reminding us of his sexual prowess and his utter machoness (No that isn't a word). That got irritating quickly.

His lips quirked wryly. “No viscountess I’ve ever seen looks like you, Lottie.”
She smiled. “Is that a compliment?”
“Oh, yes. In fact…” Nick took her gloved hand and assisted her down the last step. He held her gaze compulsively, his fingers tightening around hers, and he answered her light question with a gravity that stunned her. “You are the most beautiful woman in the world,” he said huskily.
“The world?” she repeated with a laugh.
“When I say you’re beautiful,” he murmured, “I refuse to qualify the statement in any way. Except to add that the only way you could be more so is if you were naked.”
She laughed at his audacity. “I am afraid that you will have to reconcile yourself to the fact that I’m going to remain fully clothed tonight.”
“Until after the ball,” he countered.


Other than that, the book was really interesting to read, the romance was cliché but this is Romance so it has to be that way. The bantering or communication between the main couple was incredibly enjoyable to read. It was amusing and sometimes, very heartfelt.

“I finally know what to wish for.”
Puzzled, she gazed down at him while the long locks of her hair trailed over his chest and shoulders. “What?”
“The wishing well,” he reminded her.
“Oh, yes…” Lottie lowered her face to his chest and nuzzled the soft fur, recalling that morning in the forest. “You wouldn’t make a wish.”
“Because I didn’t know what I wanted. And now I do.”
“What do you want?” she asked tenderly.
His hand slipped behind her head, pulling her mouth down to his. “To love you forever,” he whispered just before their lips met."


The climax was weird. It was incredibly suspenseful but was cut short by what happened to Lottie. It felt to easy, but we got to see Nick realize this love for Lottie so it wasn’t all bad.

Another great thing we got from this book were the side characters, mostly Cannon and Grant. I loved seeing him interact with the two older men and try to understand their life advice. They forced Nick to own up to his position which was hilarious! The humor from their interactions was a great way to counteract the romance and drama from the couple.

“No matter how strong our resolve, we eventually find ourselves enslaved by the compulsive preference for one particular woman. You’ve been caught, my friend. You may as well reconcile yourself to it.”
Nick did not bother trying to deny it. “I was going to be so much smarter than you,” he muttered. Sir Ross grinned. “I prefer to think that intelligence has nothing to do with it. For if a man’s intellect is measured by his ability to remain untouched by love, I would be the greatest idiot alive.”


Overall this book is a 4.5 read. I originally but it at 3 but the Cannon and Grant brought it up .5 with their humor. Another star came from Marcus. This book made me realize that book the Gamblers series and BSR are happening right before The Wallflowers series!!

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