Smitten by Books

My Lord Jack
Author: Hope Tarr
Publisher: Carina Press
Pub. Date: July 12, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-1426890413
Retail: $5.39
Pages: Novel-length

Former French courtesan Claudia Valemont can’t believe her life has come to this: standing in front of a Scottish judge, sentenced to death for stealing a horse. She fled France to find her father and escape the hangman’s noose. Now here she is, facing the same fate—alone, desperate and penniless.

“Hold! I will speak for her.”

Burly Scottish hangman Jack Campbell takes pride in his work: serving justice and giving the condemned a quick end to their sorry lives. Why he spoke for that pale, hollow-eyed Frenchwoman he’ll never know. But now he’s stuck with her—assigned to be her keeper for six months’ indenture.

Bound together by the rules of her sentence, Jack and Claudia learn to appreciate their differences. But as their wary affection turns to tender desire, secrets from the past appear and threaten to destroy their future…

~*~*~

The simple book cover of Hope Tarr’s My Lord Jack, perfectly conveys a story centered around a man with so much heart it’s matchless. The unusual pairing of Jack Campbell and Claudia Valemont is central to this powerful novel packed with storyline, redemption, heartfelt emotion, and unrelenting action steeped in Scottish customs.

The village of Selkirk Scotland is beset upon by French beauty, refugee and accused thief Claudia Valemont. Intent on finding her father in England after fleeing France and life as a courtesan, Valemont is marooned in a village and desperate to reach her destination. The decision to steal a horse to continue her journey proves a nearly fatal one as she is caught, tried and sentenced to death until her execution is stayed by none other than, the state hangman: Jack Campbell.

“Hold, I will speak for her.”

Ahhh…That sentence alone captured my imagination, with Jack going on to capture my heart as surely as he will readers of this unique tale.

Now remanded into his custody for six months, Claudia must learn how to function in servitude and reconcile her past with the kindness of strangers and the love from and for Jack that grows with each day and new undertaking.

And adventures fuel the plot turns that are pleasantly unyielding. From Jack’s hateful half-brother Callum intent on destroying him, to Claudia’s desire to remain with Jack yet find her birth father in order to be free. At every village and country, it seems that time has run out for one or the other through missteps or machinations, keeping readers turning the pages seeking the ending they want mostly for Jack but certainly for Claudia. Unrelenting twists and turns build casual suspense, bringing the reader to their knees weeping, loving and cheering with and for this improbable couple.

Warning: Spoiler Alert!

What Tarr brilliantly accomplishes is a unique and very definitely, welcome romantic twist that reveals itself as the sexual tension has built to a tsunami with the very virile Campbell divulging his life-long secret: he’s a virgin. But, thanks to excellent inner dialogue and human responses, the reader would never guess. And thanks to her adept storytelling, you don’t until Jack reveals it. This makes him all the more endearing and no less skilled as instinct and insatiable curiosity take over and provide some very passionate love making and discovery. My Lord Jack has provided a role-model for writers of romance with this virginal male character because there is none of the awkwardness so often associated with the title, and all of the human emotion and reactions typical of a man and woman deeply attracted to one another on more than the physical level.

The juxtaposition of a man skilled in killing, to his vow of chastity with a woman who has been a courtesan in order to survive is riveting. It’s made even more touching by the fact that Claudia has never been in love while Jack has always felt deeply toward his friends, homeland and animals but more poignantly, in his humane treatment of the condemned. The moody Scottish moors serve as a perfect backdrop to this moving novel reflecting its characters: Jack in his rugged beauty and Claudia in her delicate yet resolute determination.

Though this book is a journey for both, we come to truly know, respect and love Jack as he maneuvers the powerful sexual urges and attraction for his charge while sharing his tender side without appearing a besotted idiot. As Claudia’s edges are softened by Jack’s attention and patience, she wars with a need to confront her father, forgive herself and stay with Jack. Enriching this tale and assisting them, are lively secondary characters; Milread, Callum, Luicas and Duncan.

Tarr very skillfully weaves Scottish & English dialect with Claudia’s French in both conversation and internal dialogue delivering an authenticity, providing deeper character insight and a sense of place in a story spanning three countries and a love that feels no boundaries.

This perfectly balanced novel furnishes readers with everything they want and more and, “Och, I ken ye will love it!” I highly recommend My Lord Jack and really look forward to her next novel!

Rating: 9 (Excellent)

Heat-Level: 4 (Hot)

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