A Hellion in Her Bed

August 1, 2010

Annabel Lake will do just about anything to save her family's brewery, even wager her lucky heirloom ring for another brewer's marketing help. Notorious gambling hellion Lord Jarret Sharpe, the current reluctant manager of his family's Plumtree Brewery, ups the stakes to a night in his bed, but Annabel shocks him by calling his bluff--and winning. Still, Annabel is keeping secrets, and as they gradually come to light, Jarret demands another wager, one he doesn't intend to lose. Complex, immensely appealing protagonists, a delightful profusion of diverse secondary characters (including a particularly engaging 12-year-old), the perfect touch of fascinating detail about the late Regency-era beer trade, and a plot that becomes more intriguing as it unfolds add up to another stellar read and another success for the rapidly ascending Jeffries. VERDICT Rich with family interaction, deliciously redolent of yeast and hops, and overflowing with scintillating wit and heart-stopping sensuality, this addition to Jeffries's latest addictive series satisfies while cleverly doling out tidbits that will keep readers eager for the next installment. Jeffries (The Truth About Lord Stoneville) lives in Cary, NC. [Ebook ISBN 978-1-4391-6757-1.]

Copyright 2010 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from September 15, 2010
As a successful gambler, Lord Jarret Sharpe knows a thing or two about risk, but his latest deal with his grandmother just might be his biggest bet yet. If Jarret can manage the family brewery for one year, his grandmother will not only excuse him from her mandate that all of her grandchildren marry within a year or be disinherited, Jarret will also gain permanent control of the brewery. Annabel Lake knows a thing or two about brewing beer. She runs her family brewery, and hopes that her plan to export her October ale to India will result in a tremendous financial windfall. But Annabel needs Jarrets help, and Jarret seems oddly disinterested, until Annabel comes up with a wager he simply cannot refuse. A perfectly matched pair of protagonists who engage in a spirited battle of wits and wiles, and a lively plot blending equal measures of steamy passion and sharp wit come together brilliantly in the second addition to Jeffries tempting new Hellions of Halstead Hall series.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)