The Beloved One (The De Montforte Brothers - Book 2)

I love stories about forbidden love or surprise romances and I love this writer! I bought a boxed set of Romance novels that had the first book in it. When that story was over I had to have more! So I bought this book and it was just as good, if not better! I will read all of what this author has to write. I enjoy Danelle Harmon books very much!

It was good but many things kind of go back to the first book but it does explain why it took him so long to return home. I did enjoy it and could even go back in a year or two and read the whole series again.

Loved the first book and this one brought back to life the brother thought to be dead. His survival at the hands of a colonial surgeon and our heroine was interesting and accurate. Looking forward to the next book.

This book is worth reading, but it's not a 5 star book. I understand that some readers didn't like Charles' response to Charlotte, I didn't either, however, I do understand it. Gareth was Juliet's husband and now Charlotte's father. Until recently Charles thought the child did not exist and now she belonged to his brother. I'm sure if Charles had had the chance to be there when Charlotte was born, he'd have felt a connection. I did like The Wild one better, though.

The book was okay the main character Charles kind of irritated me from time to time. I didn't like how he needs to be perfect all the time. But the storyline was interesting. I would read again on a rainy day.

I quite enjoyed this book, but again, it lacked proper editing. There were more grammatical errors in this than in "The Wild One." I found the run-on sentences disconcerting. Not too many typos to put one off. The novel leaned heavily on the tried and trusted "Cinderella" and had shades of "Running Bear" in the river rescue scene, except that Charles was a Brit and not an Indian, and the status rolls were switched. But that's okay, most romance stories are based on one or other fairy tale, or on Shakespeare's works. Again, the hook at the end compelled me to buy the next one in the series. I think you have potential, Ms. Harmon.

Very entertaining novel, but a little wordy. Wonderful visual description of the surroundings and the characters thoughts and feelings. Enjoyed the novel. Now onto the third novel in the series, "The Defiant One".

The book was okay the main character Charles kind of irritated me from time to time. I didn't like how he needs to be perfect all the time. But the storyline was interesting. I would read again on a rainy day.

I quite enjoyed this book, but again, it lacked proper editing. There were more grammatical errors in this than in "The Wild One." I found the run-on sentences disconcerting. Not too many typos to put one off. The novel leaned heavily on the tried and trusted "Cinderella" and had shades of "Running Bear" in the river rescue scene, except that Charles was a Brit and not an Indian, and the status rolls were switched. But that's okay, most romance stories are based on one or other fairy tale, or on Shakespeare's works. Again, the hook at the end compelled me to buy the next one in the series. I think you have potential, Ms. Harmon.

Very entertaining novel, but a little wordy. Wonderful visual description of the surroundings and the characters thoughts and feelings. Enjoyed the novel. Now onto the third novel in the series, "The Defiant One".

Although I loved the series but chose not to review until after I finished the fourth book I have to say how disappointed I am with only this particular book. I can't understand how anyone could consider a man who could not try to love his first born, who could simply call her a mistake and profess love of yet another child born to another women and be considered the beloved. Beloved my a## . Charles was a wimp, Gareth was more of a beloved who stepped up to the plate and took responsibility for his brother's "mistake", being a first born who was set aside as a "mistake" I found this book to be a sad testament to how easy it is for men to walk away from responsibility. I only wish I could get my money back for this book. Aside from this book the rest of the series was a good read. Now that I've vent I leave it up to another reader to decide how good this book is because I guess I am too bias about Charlotte.

In The Wild One, Lord Charles de Monteforte's death on the battlefields in America set off a chain of events that ended with his pregnant fiancée coming to England and marrying his younger brother, Gareth. They are now deeply in love and expecting another child and Gareth has accepted Charlotte, Charles' biological daughter, as his own. Now we know Charles is very much alive and has been living in America.

This story begins with the center of the controversy, showing what really happened to Charles and how it came to be that he was assumed killed in action. He ends up in a town not far from Boston being cared for by the Leighton family, or more specifically, Amy Leighton, the ostracized one in the household. She nurses Charles back to health physically and spiritually as he tries to cope with the long-term results of his accident and his diminished opinion of himself.

Charles' story is a darker tale, which is understandable given his propensity for being the perfect one who always does the right thing. He has no experience or preparation for falling short of his own ideals and expectations. Amy tries to help him maintain confidence in himself but worsens the situation because he also struggles to make sense of his attraction to her while being engaged to Juliet. It was fascinating to see the stark contrast between the once confident almost arrogant Charles with the broken, unsettled man trying to rise above his self doubt and depression. His lifeline is Amy, who in spite of her miserable circumstances still maintains a level of optimism for her prospects in life and sees in him what he cannot see for himself.

I really liked that this wasn't a frothy story. Charles' emotional state was so very realistic and even though his self-pity became tiresome and frustrating it was completely believable. His journey back, both literally and figuratively, was insightful. The emotional turmoil he experienced upon his return to England was jarring, especially his reaction to Charlotte. It's a brave approach that puts the "hero" of the story at risk but it gives the story more depth and credibility...this is what happens in real life. However, we get a wonderful payoff by the end.

It was really great to see the characters from the first book appear in this one and not gratuitously. They play a significant role in Charles' transformation. And, there are some really steamy moments here...Chapter 22 is incredible!

I read this book in a day. It's not a page turner; I just got so immersed in the story emotionally I lost track of time. With this being so different from the first book, I have no idea what to expect with the next and that's got me intrigued. I'm loving the unpredictability of this series. It's so well written and the characters couldn't be more appealing.

But to figure out why, you will have to read it yourself. It is an integral part of the man's character. Of course, the author may have inserted this flaw to show how much he changed. I don't know. I just didn't like it.
That said, the characters are quite well built (literally as well as figuratively). Who doesn't love a broad shouldered man.
The plot has a couple weird elbows, which integrate into that bit I didn't like about the beloved one...
The book overall is fine.

In The Wild One, Lord Charles de Monteforte's death on the battlefields in America set off a chain of events that ended with his pregnant fiancée coming to England and marrying his younger brother, Gareth. They are now deeply in love and expecting another child and Gareth has accepted Charlotte, Charles' biological daughter, as his own. Now we know Charles is very much alive and has been living in America.

This story begins with the center of the controversy, showing what really happened to Charles and how it came to be that he was assumed killed in action. He ends up in a town not far from Boston being cared for by the Leighton family, or more specifically, Amy Leighton, the ostracized one in the household. She nurses Charles back to health physically and spiritually as he tries to cope with the long-term results of his accident and his diminished opinion of himself.

Charles' story is a darker tale, which is understandable given his propensity for being the perfect one who always does the right thing. He has no experience or preparation for falling short of his own ideals and expectations. Amy tries to help him maintain confidence in himself but worsens the situation because he also struggles to make sense of his attraction to her while being engaged to Juliet. It was fascinating to see the stark contrast between the once confident almost arrogant Charles with the broken, unsettled man trying to rise above his self doubt and depression. His lifeline is Amy, who in spite of her miserable circumstances still maintains a level of optimism for her prospects in life and sees in him what he cannot see for himself.

I really liked that this wasn't a frothy story. Charles' emotional state was so very realistic and even though his self-pity became tiresome and frustrating it was completely believable. His journey back, both literally and figuratively, was insightful. The emotional turmoil he experienced upon his return to England was jarring, especially his reaction to Charlotte. It's a brave approach that puts the "hero" of the story at risk but it gives the story more depth and credibility...this is what happens in real life. However, we get a wonderful payoff by the end.

It was really great to see the characters from the first book appear in this one and not gratuitously. They play a significant role in Charles' transformation. And, there are some really steamy moments here...Chapter 22 is incredible!

I read this book in a day. It's not a page turner; I just got so immersed in the story emotionally I lost track of time. With this being so different from the first book, I have no idea what to expect with the next and that's got me intrigued. I'm loving the unpredictability of this series. It's so well written and the characters couldn't be more appealing.

By the middle of the story, I thought there would have been a little more character evolution for Amy, but she continued to portray an amoeba. I started to get interested when she made a decision to leave the colonies, but then I realized that she was not leaving. Instead, albeit just a tad dignified, she was following something one level above scraps. She wants to be a lady's maid? Well, I suppose she'd get paid.

By the time I reached the part on the reunion with his siblings and saw that his big brother was going to fix things by redirecting Charles to notice the amoeba,I could not finish the story.

I was very disappointed with this book. I had read all the others and I had read them out of order, but this book was terrible. The story was horrible and I forced myself to read it. I'm glad that I read this book last, because if I did read them in order I probably would not have read the other books in the series.

I was totally disappointed in this 2nd book in the series. I was not sure it was the same author. The story line is totally different. There are mistakes in the storyline in this book i.e. "sisters did not post letters but Charles receives responses". Was looking forward to continuing the family saga but now I am not so sure.

This book was refreshingly unique. I've never read Danelle Harmon before, but I intend to read more of her. I've read probably 300 historical romances over the last twenty years, preferring the regency genre. So, The Beloved was outside that particular genre and combined an interesting set of contrasts that, simply speaking, just worked. The hero is a British officer, and the heroine is a young, impoverished colonial girl. The setting is the early start of the Revolutionary War in Massachussettes. Sounds like it could be trite and unrealistic....but hang on. Without spoiling too much about this book, I want to point out some of what was truly delightful about this read.

First, the hero and heroine were richly developed and authentic. Harmon stayed true to them through the entire story - the hero, Charles, goes through horrific experiences in this story that test his sanity, his integrity, and his character and nearly break him as a man. One reviewer complained that he was whiny and ungrateful, but I didn't find that to be true. In fact, I almost wondered through the entirety of the book if Harmon has a background in psychology, because I found his responses to his events to be very compelling and legitimate. Amy, the heroine, is a young, sweet girl who is dealing with her own rotten lot in life. She's treated horribly by her family, and eventually, you find out why. Yet there's a sweet, guileless but strong nature about her, and she truly takes care of Charles when he's injured and suffering not to gain anything from him but simply because she's a good person. She could've come off as being a syrupy, naive bit of fluff--or even a victim--but Harmon had a knack for making her a genuine young woman of mixed emotions but a true moral compass. Same for Charles - he has an incredibly strong moral compass, as well. The two of them grow to become life lines for one another. While I couldn't say this of any of the romances I've ever read, I genuinely believed that because of the way their characters and story was developed, these two people would've found the initmate friendship they did if they'd had been real people, despite their vastly different backgrounds. And what is refreshing about this plot, is the two of them were genuine and real friends before their feelings developed beyond that, and it is with much tredidation on both their parts when it did begin developing into more intense feelings.

The secondary characters were a bit more contrived, unfortunately. Yet they still worked. There are two real villains in this story, and you'll hate them with true ferocity. That's what makes their characters work. You're supposed to really hate them and feel a tremendous sense of relief when Amy finally vanquishes them. Charles' family is a bit too good to be true, but there's a genuine love amongst them that is heartwarming. Amy truly got shafted in her life circumstances, and you're genuinely happy for her when she gets what she wants and deserves for the first time in her life.

This book is basically written in three parts and feels a little like an epic, which I loved about it. The first two parts I found to be thoroughly intriguing and compelling. Honestly, though, the last part gets a little campy and overwrought. Yet it's still entertaining and reaches a fulfilling ending. It ends up being an intelligent study of human nature--both at its best and worst.

So, read this story. Overlook the annoying aspects, for they are rare and don't interfere with the story overmuch, and you'll find a wonderful and surprisingly believable love story. I believe I'll keep this one and read it again from time to time, just to restore my faith in the romance genre!

For as much as THE WILD ONE was filled with a mix of humor and drama, I found THE BELOVED ONE to be filled mostly with drama.

We finally get a chance to find out what happened to Charles and whit took him almost two years to get in touch with his family.

Charles' story starts off with the letter Charles wrote to his brother Lucien in which he asks his brother that in case he never comes back alive from the upcoming battle, to please take care of the woman he loves and their baby she is expecting.

Oh how I loved Charles! This man was perfection in itself! There was nothing he did wrong, and thinking ahead and planning for any and all circumstances was something he did best. He was a man of deep convictions, and true hero. The high expectations this man put on himself were very admirable, yet also very unrealistic in the overall scheme of things, and when he couldn't reach them, the downfall was steep and very painful.

The author made a conscious decision to delve into Charles' psyche and ultimately we were rewarded with a much more dramatic and much more serious tale.

As for our heroine, Amy Leighton, Ms. Harmon gave us as well as Charles, a young woman of no more than seventeen; a gentle but longsuffering daughter of a local pastor whose two other girls enjoyed tormenting and bullying a sister that did everything around the home.
Talk about Cinderella story! Those girls were by far, the most obnoxious creatures I've ever had the displeasure to meet in a book!

To watch our hero struggle and then accept his infirmity while Amy tries everything in her power to help him cope with it, and then see the friendship grow and ultimately love blossom, was a trip worth taking. I loved everything about this story, but watching this man's acceptance of himself, his fate and coming to terms with his scattered feelings about Juliet and Amy, was brilliant writing!

The icing on this `cake' of a story is the reappearance of the de Montforte family as they deal with the brother they all adored and admired for his cool, calm and composed manner. They are all vested in his well being, and to watch him come apart, wasn't something they could idly stand by and watch, so all banded together to help him survive this battle he was having with himself.

I am very happy to give this highly emotional, sensual and very touching story my Five Quills. At this point, I am so much vested in these people that I can't wait to read THE DEFIANT ONE and see in which direction the author shall take Andrew's story. This is one family that will stay with me for some time to come and I hope you give them a chance.

Melanie for RCJR eZine

After trying a series of boring, mundane romances I thought I'd try book two in this Georgian Romance series. I'm so glad I did.

Book one was superb, and book two was fantastic as well. If you are like me and you are getting sick of some of the romances being put out now-basically a pretty cover but no substance-then let me recommend this book two you as a pleasant diversion.

The hero and heroine are well fleshed out- the writer will have you caring for what happens to them. The book is very emotional and will have you tearing up one moment and laughing the next. I loved Amy-a true Heroine with a heart of gold who has faced cruelty all her life but it never made her a bitter person. She is truly a sweet woman and Charles is a true hero. It is so refreshing to read a love story about two good people.

The De Montforte family is extremely well written-in the same vein of other Romance family's ala' The Malloreans or Bastiens. The villains are truly horrible and the friendships are heartwarming. The bedroom scenes are sensual but loving and are more about love than lust. The book is very action filled and you'll want to stay up reading through to the conclusion.

The only sad thing is that it seems that Danelle Harmon has stopped writing which is a shame as she has true talent for Historical Romance. I hope she will one day return as she is needed in the genre.

So if you are looking for exceptional Historical Romance here it is. 5 stars!

Charles and Amy's situation tore at my heartstrings. I can't even begin to imagine the feeling of betrayal so deep as what Charles was lead to believe. I know two people I could have easily taken to the river and drowned with no guilt. Amy's love for him kept them both strong enough to face what lie ahead while Charles found himself and let his heart take over. This is a story of hope and faith in the deepest, purest form. This family will firmly plant their feet at your doorstep and take you for a ride! There's also secondary characters in this series that will leave you in tears from laughter. If you haven't read Danelle Harmon yet, what are you waiting for?

I loved Charles, he is one of my top 10 heroes ever!

I loved this story. Amy was also excellent. My only complaint, a relatively tiny one, is that he didn't have feelings for his daughter Charlotte. I could understand if he didn't feel very close to her, since his brother Gareth was raising her & all, but I would have thought he would have felt SOME kind of a connection!

If Charles had a downfall, this was it. But that aside, he was great! He's probably number 10 on my top 10 male list.

1-10 scale: 9.9 I just wish Charles had loved Charlotte is all.

After reading "The Wild One" I was expecting more from this novel. While Charles is a beleaguered hero I found him to be missing much of the charm that had made his brother endearing in "The Wild One." While the set up of Charles' fiance and child made a great obstacle to be used in this story, it seemed to be underdeveloped and unrealistically resolved. I was expecting a sequel that would explore the problems created in the first novel and instead was left feeling that the author took the easy (and unsatisfying) way out. This didn't seem to me to be the best work Harmon has done. Too much of the central family conflict in England seemed to be disposed of at whim.

I am absolutely loving this series of books about these sexy brothers!! I thought that the first installment "The Wild One" was fabulous..well..let me tell you.."The Beloved One" was even BETTER! I LOVED this story. Charles and Amy were two wonderfully developed characters..they were so meant for eachother. It was heartwrenchingly bittersweet watching them fall in love..seeing all of the hardships that they went through and overcame together..I Love this family!! I am as we speak beginning the next in the series..Andrews story. I HIGHLY recommend these books..DEFINITE KEEPERS!..(In order they are.. The Wild One, The Beloved One, The Defiant One, and The Wicked One...enjoy!)

This is the second book by the author that I've read. She writes well and engages interest without resorting to easy tactics like Big Misunderstandings to drive the plot.

I enjoyed the first book in the de Montforte brothers series (The Wicked One) enough to immediately order this book. Charles is a little less interesting than Gareth though, and has to work through quite a lot of heavy trauma.
I've noticed that in both this and the previous book in the series, the male characters are much more interesting than the women, and in particular, the heroine of this book is so sweet and straightforward that she becomes a bit boring. Again, given the issues that Charles has to work through, perhaps the book would have become too angsty if there was more focus on her thoughts.

After falling in love with the hero of Ms. Harmon's THE WILD ONE, I couldn't wait to read the sequel, THE BELOVED ONE. It was well worth the wait. This was truly one of the very BEST books of 1998! Lord Charles de Montforte was a hero To-Die-For ... he was so real, so human, so tortured, and so handsome, that I wished I could take him home with me. He was larger than life. If only there were men like him in REAL life! I can't wait to hear what happens to the rest of the brothers. This series is awesome. Bring on Lucien!

This series just keeps getting better and better! This book is the second in the series and in my opinion is the best so far. It captured my attention and the characters were easy to love and enjoy. This author is still new to me but I'm loving the way she writes.

I loved this book! The characters were well developed and I fell in love with them. This is the second novel in a series but it stands alone also. Danelle is now one of my favorite authors. I am reading the rest of the series!

Charles is a captain in the British Army during the Revolutionary War. During the fighting near Concord, he spares the life of a boy named Will, but in the process falls and hits the back of his head on a rock, temporarily blinding him. Will feels responsible, and takes Charles back to his home. Will has two horrible spoiled sisters, and a half-sister, Amy, who is half Indian. The family all treat Amy like a slave, but of course Charles falls in love with her immediately.

The characters are terrible. Amy totally accepts her lesser place in society, and is a happy doormat, a blank Mary-Sue meets Cinderella. Her evil sisters are straight out of the most hackneyed fairy tale retelling. Charles whines and cries at every minor setback. And in describing his wallowing in self-pity, the author never uses one sentence when 10 will do. It goes on and on and on.

Even worse, the plot proceeds like something out of Gilligan's Island: one blow to the head, another blow to the head...Head injuries do not work that way! Ugh, it's just terrible.

I notice with this writer that her characters suffer a bit more and their emotions are more exposed along with any insecurities that they are facing...I find this refreshing...they come across like regular people. I like that....a good read

I did enjoy this book; however, there were some long stretches. Like the parts in America seemed to go on forever. Good story line I thought I would jump out of my seat as I read about Charles' returning night.

The Beloved One is touchingly tragic and triumphantly rewarding! The Demontforte brother is surrounded by the enemy and trapped in the expectations of his upbringing. He finally has the privilege of experiencing what it feels like to be completely out of control and his life has never been so sweet.

Started this series with a free copy of "The Wild One" and had to buy the story of "The Beloved One". it was worth every penny! The story the author weaves of how Charles and Amy come to love eachother is so engaging, sweet, and refreshing. I can`t wait to read the next two books!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Once I started it, I didn't want to put it down. The characters are extremely likable, and you find yourself wanting to read more and more about them. I do want to say it is on the steamy side, so be forewarned. I am looking forward to reading more from this author. Once you read this book, you will want to find the next in the series.

Had to finish this book in 2 days so I could get to the next one. Love the brothers they were so different and all the books was a continuation and it was GREAT. Didn't have to figure out who the character's were from going to one book to the next.

I thought this was a very good read. It was the second in The de Montforte Brothers. You could read it as a stand-alone, but don't. It was good to see that The Beloved One had imperfections that could be overcome. And Lucien continues to manipulate his family. I can't wait to read what he does to The Defiant One. I read one of the reviews that was not so favorable and almost did not read it. But I am glad that I did not miss this one.