A Lady Never Surrenders (The Hellions of Halstead Hall Book 5)

This entertaining georgian romantic farce is the fifth and last in a series of romances featuring the five brothers and sisters of the Sharpe family of Halstead Hall. The heroine of this one is Lady Celia Sharpe, the baby of the family, notorious for being a far better shot than most men. Celia is the brother of Oliver, niinth Marquis of Stoneville, who appeared in a number of previous books by the same author before this "Hellions of Halstead Hall" quintet.I would strongly recommend that if you plan to read this series you do so in sequence, which is:1) " The Truth About Lord Stoneville (Hellions of Halstead Hall) " (Oliver's story)2) " A Hellion in Her Bed (Hellions of Halstead Hall) " (Jarret)3) " How to Woo A Reluctant Lady (The Hellions of Halstead Hall) " (Minerva)4) " To Wed a Wild Lord (The Hellions of Halstead Hall) " (Gabe)5) This book, "A Lady Never Surrenders" (Celia)Celia is a fiery, spirited girl with a willowy figure, who is fascinated by guns, and has a tendency to terrify men because she is forever challenging her friend's brothers and her brothers' friends to shooting matches, and wiping the floow with them. In this novel we discover a little more about how she came to be interested in guns.The scene for this series was set nineteen years before the main action of the story, on the day in 1806 when the disastrous marriage, and the lives, of Celia's parents came to a tragic end. The prologue of each book of the series, including this one, is also set on that day, showing how it affected the central character of the book.Celia's father, the eighth Marquis of Stoneville, had married Prudence Plumtree, daughter of a wealthy brewer, for her money. He hoped to use the dowry she brought from the Plumtree brewery to keep up his vast but expensive house and estate at Halstead Hall, while continuing to live like a dissolute noble rake.Bad mistake. The Plumtree family may be in trade but judging by Hetty Plumtree, the grandmother of the five Sharpe siblings and a major character in the series, they are sharp as a whip, stubborn as a mule, and nearly as proud as the noble Sharpes. They really, really don't make good doormats.Prudence did not have the complaisant attitude to her husband's infidelity which is found in some parts of the aristocracy: when he cheated on her, she went ballistic. The elder Sharpe siblings' memories of their parents, particularly those of Oliver the firstborn, were of a series of cataclysmic rows - the prologue of this book makes clear that even four-year old Celia was aware that things were not always right between her mother and father.The prologue also describes how the infant Celia overhears a series of conversations on the day of her parents' deaths which may shed some light on how they really came to be shot - and may also put her life in danger if certain people become aware that she has remembered those conversations ...At the start of the first book the reader was given the impression that there was a murder-suicide in which the Sharpe siblings' mother shot first her husband and then herself. Exactly what really happened is a major plot element in all the books, including this one, so I don't want to give anything further away beyond saying that the tragedy haunts all the characters throughout the series.The main action of all the books in the series begins nineteen years later in 1825: the Sharpe siblings have grown up and each has become notorious in his or her own way. Oliver, the present Marquis of Stoneville, now 35, has become an infamous rake. Jarret, now aged 32, has become possibly the most notorious and skilled gambler in the country. Their sister Minerva, aged 28, writes gothic novels under her real name. Gabe the third brother, aged 26, is another rake and is nicknamed "The Angel of Death" for his skill at dangerous carriage races, and we have already explained that 23 year old Celia is notorious for her unladylike proficiency with guns.The purse-strings of the family are still held by their maternal grandmother, and at the start of "The Truth about Lord Stoneville," Hetty Plumtree's patience with the five Hellions of Halstead Hall finally snapped when Gabe broke his arm during yet another dangerous race. So she gave all five of them an ultimatum: settle down and marry within a year, or she'll cut them off without a penny and leave the brewery to their cousin Desmond.That's the background to all the books in the series, and each volume covers how one of the five brothers or sisters responds to Hetty's ultimatum.By the start of this book in November 1825, ten months after that ultimatum, all of Celia's brothers and sisters have married, and the wives of the elder two have babies on the way. Celia doesn't want to marry a man she doesn't love, but neither does she want to be the cause of her brothers and sisters losing most of the money they would otherwise inherit.So she asks the Bow Street Runner, Jackson Pinter, who has appeared in the previous books of this series and several others, to investigate the background of a number of possible suitors. Jackson, who is strongly attracted to Lady Celia but thinks she is out of his reach because he assumes that she would dismiss him as a fortune hunter, is furious as he doesn't consider any of them worthy of her. So furious that his customary discretion and iron self-control start to slip ...But he is also getting close to finding evidence about whether the Sharpe siblings' parents were really murdered - and this could bring both Pinter and Lady Celia into great danger ...This being the closing volume of the series several additional sub-plots and themes are resolved.There isn't a huge amount of historical detail, most of what there is referring to the organisation of the Bow Street Runners who preceded the formation of Britain's first modern police force, the Metropolitan Police, which came into being four years after the main events of this book. That event is foreshadowed in this novel.The series is entertaining nonsense, and I loved most of the characters, including Hetty, Celia, and Jackson Pinter. I've enjoyed each book more than the previous one. The five books form a progressive series, with each volume adding additional parts to the jigsaw as the brothers and sisters try to reconstruct the true story behind the deaths of their parents, and with character development in each of the first four books setting the scene for the following ones.If you like historical romantic farces set during or slightly later than the Regency period, you will probably enjoy this series.

There are a couple of things that are expected when you buy a book/e-book that's written by Sabrina Jeffries. You will get a decent characterization of the heroine and hero, a solid story for the chemistry of both characters to shine, passable to good structure that builds on what the two factors given and good pacing that optimizes the story and the characters that she created. Most of her books have always taken advantages of her strength as a writer while minimizing her issues within the framework of the genre she works with. In the last book of her Hellions of Halstead Hall series, she somewhat delivers on creating good characters and chemistry but was hampered by the pacing, plot structure and aspects of the story.A Lady Never Surrenders has Lady Celia Sharpe and Jackson Pinter as its central characters, if you have read the books preceding this one - you knew that Ms. Jefrries have been hyping this pairing for a while now. The story centers on them finding an honorable fiancee for Lady Celia since she's the last Sharpe who hasn't caved in to her Grandma's ultimatum of getting married to stop the Sharpe family from getting disowned. The worst of it all is that Lady Celia has only two months to go get married which the author doesn't take advantage as a plot device. While that problem exists in the story - they also have to solve the mystery of who killed the Sharpes' parents which can be a monumental task by itself. The mix of the romantic aspect along with the mystery/suspense structure of the story really killed the flow and pacing of the story as the author tried to juggle these into the book. Jeffries' ambitious desire to spread out the mystery of who killed the Sharpes' parents shows her deficiency as a mystery writer. The red herrings she has given to her readers tend to be uninspired and tedious. It's as predictable as a Godzilla movie where the Aliens who were interested in Godzilla got blasted by the monsters electric breath blast. While she uses whodunnit aspects in some of her books before - it doesn't hamper the romantic vibe of the story since it's not really a big driving force in her books. It tends to be passable and easily dismissed since her penchant for writing good characters and romantic plots camouflages her inability to write a decent secondary plot most of the time.The characterization of the Hero and Heroine were well fleshed out that they were well rounded and sympathetic most of the time. The angst aspect though tends to be overdriven by the author to such a degree that it does sound like both characters in some cases act like tweens who discovered Catcher In A Rye and tends to act it out in front of an audience for weeks on end. The Hero's obsession with the Heroine's wealth and station in life can be grating. As a device to flesh out his characterization - it is effective but cheap in some way. It is repeated a lot as a factor for them not to be together that the execution leaves a lot to be desired. The heroine has a more balanced development out of the two that she comes off as extremely likable, but even she tends to act out of character near the book. Both of these characters though were decently characterized that the book shifts to high gear when the two interact. The chemistry and sexual tension between the two made the pages fly fast until it shifts again to them trying to solve the murder of her parents and the Hero's comical way of being angry about his lack of pedigree that makes him unable to offer for the Heroine even though he has ruined her already. The Hero's issue with being a bastard was cheaply solved also that there wasn't foreshadowing at all.The supporting characters in this book compared to the other books in the series tend to be more like fillers. They don't really add anything to the story...though you can probably say that the Sharpes' well elaborated character, Grandma Hetty tends to be vexatious in this book that even in the end, her redemption tends to be bland and awkward. They tend to make the plodding vibe of the story really heavy handed that regardless of the books positive points - you tend to magnify the negative aspects of the book because of these factors.Regardless of its cumbersome plot pacing and structure that makes this one of the author's least satisfying books, A Lady Never Surrenders provides decent romance writing that the author is known for that makes this a good read when you want to spend your hours reading a book after a long hard days work.3.5/5 Rating

Lady Celia is the last unwed sibling, needing a husband to fulfil her grandmother's ultimatum, she asks Jackson Pinter, the Bow Street Runner who's been helping her family, and who she has a love-hate relationship with, to investigate the three gentleman she views as potential husbands. Jackson for his part is drawn to Celia even as he feels she is far above his reach. As Jackson also continues to investigate Celia's parents death danger comes to the door putting at risk Celia and Jackson's chance at happiness.An ok re-read (first read years ago), it just didn't have me sighing in delight or sinking into my sofa.At times the language used was much more 21st century than it should have been.The secondary plot surrounding the mystery of Jackson's father was just so meh.99p on amazon 21st Jan 2021.

This is the last book in the Hellions of Halstead Hall series by Sabrina Jeffries. After Celia has watched her four older siblings fall in love, and give into her Grandmothers ultimatum one by one and get married, she knows its down to her. She must get married before the year is up, or she and her brothers and sisters will be disinherited. However Celia has a plan, and she needs Mr Pinters help. The only problem? He has always disapproved of her and her hellion like ways, and never lets a chance to show his disapproval go by, which, as he has been looking into the mystery of her parents murder for the last year, if often.This was a beautiful story. The last book in the series, especailly when the series is about a very close group like siblings, always has high expectation, and can find it very hard to live up to these. However this book managed almost perfectly: there was just enough back story between Celia and Pinter for the reader to know exactly what we want to happen, but not too much that we know what is going to happen, and there are alot of twists and turns before the happy ending in this book! The characters of Celia and Pinter were warm and very believable, both with their own insecurities and secrets, and any private scenes between them had enough sparks to light up all of Halstead hall!Definately would advise reading, it stands up well on its own, but to get the full back story of Celia and Pinter, as well as that of her siblings and their partners, who feature in this book, I would encourage reading the whole series in order ( The Truth About Lord Stoneville (Hellions of Halstead Hall) , A Hellion in Her Bed (Hellions of Halstead Hall) , How to Woo a Reluctant Lady (The Hellions of Halstead Hall) , and  To Wed a Wild Lord (The Hellions of Halstead Hall) ), you won't regret it! The Truth About Lord Stoneville (Hellions of Halstead Hall)A Hellion in Her Bed (Hellions of Halstead Hall)How to Woo a Reluctant Lady (The Hellions of Halstead Hall)To Wed a Wild Lord (The Hellions of Halstead Hall)

Celia Sharpe is the last unmarried Sharpe grandchild and has only 2 months to find a husband or her Gran plans to cut all of them off. Setting her sights on three eligible bachelors she plans to get a proposal, show that she can get married, cry off and still get the inheritance for her siblings.Bow Street Runner, Jackson Pinter, has been hired to investigate Celia's three suitors. But with Celia bedevilling Jackson both day and night, the last thing he wants to do is help her find a husband. But with danger lurking and passions stirring it doesn't take long to realise that's because he wants her for himself.--This is the final book in the Hellions of Halstead Hall series following  The Truth About Lord Stoneville , A Hellion in Her Bed , How to Woo A Reluctant Lady  and  To Wed a Wild Lord . It's probably not essential that you read the books in order but I would strongly suggest that you do simply to get the back story and to get to know the characters.I've been looking forward to Celia and Pinter's story since the first book as I do love a couple that start off with an antagonistic relationship that turns to love. The book didn't disappoint and the pair still had that passion and spark with each other even once the relationship progressed.We really got to know Jackson and I felt both his desire for Celia and his anxiety over the barriers to their happily ever after. Celia, too, was a fine character that I liked and rooted for. She was impulsive, feisty but still had sense and intelligence.I liked the fact that the other characters from the previous books appeared although I would have liked a bit more interactions between the couples. Gran was also on fine form with her meddling although if I'm honest she really irritated me with her unwillingness to unbend when Celia was so obviously unhappy.As the last book in the series we finally find out the answer to the mystery of the parents' death. This could easily have overwhelmed the romance but I'm happy to say that it sat alongside it nicely. I was slightly underwhelmed by the solving of the mystery but that's probably just because it's been built up over the course of five books. It couldn't have gone any other way and I was still satisfied.Despite the couple of niggles I'm still giving this book 5 stars as the writing is superb, the characters come to life and it's a fantastic end to a series that I have really enjoyed. I'm glad to see that some of the secondary characters are to get their own stories so although the series ends, hopefully the characters that I've grown to love will appear again. The Truth About Lord StonevilleA Hellion in Her BedHow to Woo A Reluctant LadyTo Wed a Wild Lord

This is the last book in the Hellion series, but I've not read any of the others.At the beginning of the story, Lady Celia Sharpe is reflecting on her childhood. She believes she overheard something important regarding her parents deaths, but as she was so young, she cannot be certain. Her grandmother, Hetty Plumtree, has given her an ultimatum. Marry or be cut off. Some suitors are brought forward, but she isn't overly fussed by any of them. Nevertheless, she seeks out family friend and Bow Street Runner, Jackson Pinter. She tells him about her uncertainty regarding her parents deaths and asks him to make enquiries. She also asks him to find out about her suitors. Jackson isn't amused, as he is in love with Celia, but knows he cannot have her, since she's a highborn lady and he's just a Bow Street Runner on a lesser salary. He tries to remain aloof, but agrees to assist her. As investigations are made, it's clear Celia's fallen for Jackson, but he keeps trying to put her off. But then when the truth comes out, Celia realises her life may be at stake, and Jackson steps up to protect her.Overall, the book was very good. I enjoyed the scenes where Celia, her brothers, a couple of suitors and Jackson are competing in a shooting match. Not the typical Regency lady, Celia shows how good she is with a pistol, yet she hopes she can win a kiss from Jackson. It was great watching their love story unfold and when Jackson finally does something about his feelings. I haven't read any of the others, but I didn't feel as if I needed to, as the author seemed to provide just enough background information on the characters at the beginning. I decided to read it because the blurb appealed to me. I'm glad I took a chance.4/5

I'm not going to tell you anything about the plot as others are better at doing this than I am. But I do want to say how pleased I was that this last book in the series made a great end. I wasn't sure if it would fulfil my high expectations as many series fail at the end but this one was great. The series as a whole was a great read and as always Sabrina Jeffries didn't fail to deliver. I can't wait now to read her next book in Nov 11. I love this author and hope she keeps writing such great stories as quickly as possible.