Saturday, September 3, 2011

Review -- Ecstasy Wears Emeralds

Ecstasy Wears Emeralds
Jaded Gentleman--Book 3
By Renee Bernard
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Release Date: September 6, 2011





Miss Gayle Renshaw comes to London with one purpose in mind—to become one of the first female physicians in England. Ever since her sister became ill and later died, she has aspired to learn the art of medicine and saving lives. Despite her aunt’s dislike of Dr. Rowan West, Gayle knows that he is touted as one of the best doctors around. So, who better for her to learn from but the best? Although, convincing him to take on a female assistant takes a bit of firm persuasion...and a tiny bit of blackmail. Dr. West agrees and Gayle soon realizes how wonderful it is, but that it does come with a price.

It was a strange slice of heaven sprinkled with a little bit of hell. The freedom to learn the forbidden sciences and arts of medicine, to have at her fingertips all the answers she had craved to all the endless questions in her mind. She’d sacrificed her future and her reputation to achieve her hardscrabble hold on this chance—and it was more than she’d hoped for so far.

Dr. Rowan West is an excellent and well-liked doctor, but his life hasn’t always been full of roses. He was once engaged and after taking an educational research journey to India (which landed him in a dungeon and tortured), he returned to learn that his fiancĂ©e died while he was gone. The only good that came out of his imprisonment in India during the Troubles was meeting the men he now calls his best friends, the Jaded. When a young woman shows up at his home one evening pleading with him to teach her all about being a physician, Rowan dislikes the idea. He’s looking out for her reputation and ultimately his own as well. After all, it wouldn’t look good for his practice if others in the medical field, who are so against women learning anything, much less becoming a doctor, discover that he is teaching one. But she is insistent and he eventually gives in, hoping that once she sees how much work is involved she will change her mind. But, she never does. In fact, she works hard and does very well. Rowan comes to appreciate her and begins to wonder what it would be like if Gayle was more than just his assistant...more like a partner.

And I thought of Gayle, working and practicing medicine with me. What would that be like—to have the spheres of your working life and your family life blended to coexist?

When the Jaded receive a note demanding that one of them “surrender the sacred treasure or your numbers will be diminished”, they realize that someone knows about their past in India. Rowan wants to protect Gayle and the only way to do so is by letting her go. But can he and his friends figure out specifically what the mystery person wants before time runs out?

Ecstasy Wears Emeralds is a terrific addition to Bernard’s Jaded Gentleman series set in Victorian England. I am really enjoying this series—it gets better and better with each book! As for Dr. Rowan West, I absolutely love him. He is strong and intelligent and everything that is good in a hero. Plus, he has a wonderful bedside manner. :) Despite the fact that Gayle pestered him into teaching her, Rowan remains patient and kind with her.

“Why are you so...kind to me? You needn’t be. I mean, I don’t expect you to be kind, Dr. West.”

“Perhaps that’s why.”


Sigh. I love to watch a man who is always so controlled come apart for the right woman. And Gayle is the perfect woman for him. I adored her, too. Even though she “blackmailed” him, it wasn’t done with malicious intent. She simply wants to be a physician that desperately. I really admired her determination. She and Rowan worked so well together and the attraction between them was potent. Furthermore, I thoroughly enjoyed their sexy anatomy lesson. *g*

The immediate villain is pretty easy to figure out, but the overall mystery thread is still ongoing and I assume it will be solved by the end of the series. The fact that it isn’t solved doesn’t take away from the individual stories as each stand completely on their own. It certainly makes me want to read more...now! Unfortunately, we will have to wait until May for the next installment (Passion Wears Pearls), but in the meantime, treat yourself to the first three gems in this delightful series—Revenge Wears Rubies, Seduction Wears Sapphires, and Ecstasy Wears Emeralds!

~Andrea



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26 comments:

  1. I can't wait to read this. I enjoyed the first book in the series. I should probably read the second book before picking this one up.

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  2. Jane, I hope you enjoy this one. Each book in this series gets better and better!

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  3. OK. My curiosity is really up now. You have a strong heroine and hero I'm sure fighting their sexual magnetism to one another in addition to a mystery thrown in. This sounds like a great book and I look forward to reading it.

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  4. Great review, Andrea! You've convinced me that I need to read this series. Now, if I could only arrange a few months on an island somewhere to catch up on my reading.....

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  5. What a great review Andrea! :) I'm intrigued by Gayle and Rowan already. And raising an eyebrow at the exact nature of this anatomy lesson. ;)

    If you're recommending this book so highly, I know I have to include it on my ever-growing TBR list, along with the rest of this serie! I've never read Ms. Bernard's book, but that's about to be remedied tout de suite.

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  6. Great review!

    The heroine sounds really interesting because of her profession. I'm curious as to when the action takes place, as I have no idea who the first female physician was.

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  7. That cover is grabbing me havent' read any of the series yet but on mu way to the store will at least look at them (keep me away from the register...lol)

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  8. I'm glad it peaked your curiosity, Connie. It really is a great book!

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  9. Thanks, Gannon! Oh, how I'd love to catch up on my reading, too...

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  10. Thank you, Lisa! I think you would really enjoy this series and Ms. Bernard's writing. :)

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  11. Thanks, Antonia! That's one of the things I liked about it--that the heroine wants to be a physician. I can't remember the last time I read about a female doctor. This story is set in 1859.

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  12. deerdoe69, I totally agree about the cover. The other covers in the series are pretty, but this one is gorgeous!

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  13. Fabulous review, Andrea. Man, there are so many great books out there that I need to read!!! :-)

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  14. Awesome review. I like the way the heroine defies tradition and wants to do some that is out of the ordinary for those times. My type of heroine.

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  15. Thanks, Buffie, and you are so right! You'd like this series.

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  16. Thanks, Sonali!

    I like the way the heroine defies tradition and wants to do some that is out of the ordinary for those times.

    That is exactly what drew me to this book.

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  17. One more series to add to my list! Thanks, Andrea! :)

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  18. Thanks for the review....I've never heard of this series but will be adding them to my list.

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  19. Thank you for the review.
    Renee bernard is a new author to me. This is just the type of story I like. Sigh, another author and series that I "must have." My day of cleaning bookshelves didn't help much, they are still full. I'll never read fast enough to make room for all the books I want to read and/or keep.

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  20. Thank you for this excellent review, Andrea!
    I love stories about women defying the conventions of her time in order to fulfill their professional dreams and personal desires. Jude Deveraux's "Twin of Ice, and Twin of Fire" book duo presents a similarrea theme of women battling the lmitations placed on them by sociatal conventions.
    Andrea, although this author is new to me you've got me on the hook for this book as well as the 2 previous ones in the series. I afraid that I am one of those readers that must read a series in order, even though they can be read as stand alone books. I enjoy the nuanceses I get by knowing
    the previous histories. It adds to my enjoyment of a book
    and series.

    Anyone out there like me with a quirk for reading a book series in order?

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  21. Wonderful Review! I knew nothing of this series but I looked at the other two and they look equally as interesting! I can't wait to dive into a new author and series! Thank you!

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  22. Thanks, Maria, and I hope you enjoy them!

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  23. librarypat said: I'll never read fast enough to make room for all the books I want to read and/or keep.

    Me, too, librarypat. I'm typically a pretty slow reader which is why my TBR pile is so huge!

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  24. Have no fear, Flora...we are in the same boat. I actually read this one before I read the second in the series (I bought it right after I finished EWE and read it), but I usually read (and prefer to read) series in order. :)

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  25. Thanks, BrittanyG, and welcome to the site! I'm happy to introduce you to this wonderful series. I hope you enjoy!

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