Not Quite a Gentleman

by Jacquie D'Alessandro

Book Overview

Nathan Oliver, younger son of an earl, is content being a country doctor. Years ago he had worked for the Crown, but when a spy mission went awry, he left London for a simpler life. Now his world is turned upside down with the arrival of Lady Victoria Wexhall, a pampered Society miss more suited for the ballrooms of London than the quiet countryside of Cornwall. Victoria cannot believe her father would send her to the middle of nowhere, and just when...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B007SN35MW
• ISBN13: 9780060779382
• Release Date: January 2005
• Publisher: Avon Books
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 4.3" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Very Good

Three years ago at a party, Lady Victoria received her first kiss by handsome Nathan. Victoria is sure that he felt the spark she felt with that kiss and waits for him to come calling, but she never sees him again. Now three years later, Lady Victoria is being sent to visit Nathan's family by her father and she plots to kiss Nathan and make him want her and then walk away. However, Victoria finds out that Nathan was a spy and the reason he never came back was his brother and best friend got shot the same night and Nathan was blamed when some jewels came up missing. Nathan's father blamed him for his brother's shooting and Nathan left to become a country doctor and has only recently returned home. Also, Victoria finds out her father is also a spy and has sent Victoria to Nathan for protection. He has also sent Nathan a coded message that Victoria intercepts but then gets eaten by Nathan's pet goat. As Victoria and Nathan set off to clear his name, can she forget her quest to marry well or will she follow her heart and marry a poor country doctor? This book has everything, passion, intrigue, humor, and that little something that makes books worth reading.

D'Alessandro gets this romance right!

being a romance reader for a number of years, i have to admit i've never read a novel by jacquie d'alessandro until now. now that i have, i wonder what took me so long to find such a gifted author. NOT QUITE A GENTLEMAN is one of those romance novels that sneaks up on you and before you know it, you're emersed in a story of passion and intimacy. why does it sneak up on you? because the premise is overused and more times than not, means witnessing a heroine's petty attempts at exacting revenge against the hero who used her. not so the case in this instance. lady victoria wexhall is a young woman on a mission. three years prior to the beginning of the story, she shared a passionate and mind-blowing kiss with dr. nathan oliver. she anticipated he would court her after the interlude but he instead disappeared from her life and left her embittered. now her father has sent her to dr. oliver's estate in cornwall so that she can contemplate her future plans, which includes two offers for marriage. she sees this as the perfect opportunity to get her revenge and with the aid of the scandalous book "A Lady's Guide to Personal Happiness and Intimate Fulfillment" has devised a plan to kiss and leave dr. oliver just as he left her three years ago. dr. nathan oliver is a retired spy who is now a physician living in a small cottage with a menagerie of farm animals. his reputation was ruined as a result of a botched plan to steal jewels for the crown. he is thought to have betrayed the mission, which resulted in his brother and best friend being shot. while both of them lived, the hurt at their lack of faith in him and his guilt over his part in their injury forced him to leave his family for three years until he is summoned back to the family estate by victoria's father who says he has a note hidden in victoria's luggage that will help him to clear his name. initially i thought this would be a story full of misunderstandings because nathan is an ex-spy and victoria is a somewhat jilted woman who i thought would harbor nothing but ill-will and suspicion towards nathan, only enhanced by his secretive behavior. imagine my surprise and relief as d'alessandro skipped over those trite plot devices and instead had nathan be honest with victoria from the very beginning. also, victoria could have been a bitter, petty heroine. instead she turned out to be anything but. d'alessandro did an amazing job of creating two characters who were both intelligent, passionate, and honest with their feelings with each other while also creating the kind of sexual tension that left me breathless. as victoria and nathan embark on trying to locate the stolen jewels, the reader is able to witness them fall in love as they spend time together learning about each other and finding out all of the things they have in common, despite the fact that she's a london chit and he's a country doctor. this is a beautiful love story. nathan is sensual, loving, and honest with his feelings about v

intelligent extremely well written Regency who-done-it

Her father orders Lady Victoria Wexhall to leave London for the home of Viscount Sutton in a remote part of Cornwall as he wants a match. However, at Wexhall's estate is the viscount's younger sibling Nathan Oliver, a retired spy who kissed Victoria three years ago; that first kiss remains imprinted in her heart though the rascal vanished without a trace immediately afterward. He came home to search for jewels stolen from him while he was on an espionage mission before he ever met Victoria who he has not forgotten since the kiss. Immediately upon seeing one another, Victoria and Nathan know that the deep attraction they felt three years ago remains as strong as ever. However, he fears acting on his desires at least until he completes his current investigation because he wants no harm to come to the woman he admires. She, on the other hand, refuses to allow him to sneak off, and quickly forces herself into the inquiries. NOT QUITE A GENTLEMAN is an intelligent extremely well written Regency who-done-it starring two strong willed delightful sleuths, a professional and an amateur, who also have a past together. The story line is action-packed yet the beauty of a Jacquie D'Alessandro novel is that the author makes her era come alive through her fully developed lead characters. Fans will root for Victoria and Nathan to solve the case and remain with one another for a lifetime of love. Harriet Klausner

Wonderful! Excellent!! Gripping!!! (catch my drift?)

Not Quite A Gentleman wonderful spy romance novel. This book is sharp and fast-moving. The story grabbed me from the start, saucy characters, and great plot twists. It is a fun, escape from reality read. This is a story of unrequited love and passion that will keep you glued to it till end. The plot moved along at a great pace. Both characters felt "real" and made me believe they were in love with one another deeply. Both had great senses of humor too, which is always a plus. This book had everything you need to create a good romance: a dashing hero, a beautiful heroine and, most of all...PASSION! This book is sharp and fast-moving. Filled with Lovable characters, exciting and not too heavy action-mystery twists. I agree that Jacquie D'Alessandro excellent job turning a tired jilted-girl-seeking-revenge-on-boy plot into a fresh story. The relationship between the leads is endearing. The secondary characters are enjoyable as well. Watching Nathan's father and Victoria's aunt fall in love as well was great. Jacquie D'Alessandro has found a perfect match for the notorious Dr. Nathan with feisty Lady Victoria. They are well matched in temperament, intelligence and in their loyalty to their families. It was an interesting. There is enough conflict to make the story line interesting and not so much that your left wondering why they ever got together.

Ms. D'Allessandro Still Reigns Supreme

Lady Victoria Wexhall is very vexed with her father. He is send her to the wilds of Cornwall just when the "Season" is about to start, and to bring her vexation to the boiling point, he has also given her no reason. She dreams of the soirees, and her two ardent suitors that she will be missing. Lady Victoria has no idea what her father expects her to do in the backwater of Cornwall, other than she is to stay at Creston Manor. As long as she is being sent on this arduous journey, she does have a plan in mind - a plan of revenge. Dr. Nathan Oliver, who's father owns the man, had thoroughly kissed her while visitng London three years before. It was a devastatingly wonderful first kiss and yet he abruptly left town with no explanation. He shall pay! She has been reading the scandalous book " A Ladies Guide to the Pursuit of Personal Happiness and Intimate Fulfillment." She shall make Nathan beg for her in every way and then leave him. As so often happens, the best laid plans oft' times go awry. I have considered Ms. D'Allessandro to be one of the top five authors writing historical romances today since her debut novel RED ROSES MEAN LOVE was published. This novel is as outstanding as her other novels. She breathes such life into all of her characters that immediately draws the reader into their world. She can create an erotic scene with the barest touch of a hand. Her hero and hroine are always honest and intelligent. Her touches of humore are perfectly placed and always make me laugh. The passion between Victoria and Nathan sizzles and delights. HydePark7@aol.com