Review: Surprising Lord Jack by Sally MacKenzie

Frances Hadley has managed her family’s estate for years. So why can’t she request her own dowry? She’ll have to go to London herself and knock some sense into the men interfering in her life. With the nonsense she’s dealt with lately, though, there’s no way she’s going as a woman. A pair of breeches and a quick chop of her red curls, and she’ll have much less to worry about…

Jack Valentine, third son of the famous Duchess of Love, is through being pursued by pushy young ladies. One particularly determined miss has run him out of his own house party. Luckily the inn has one bed left—Jack just has to share with a rather entertaining red-headed youth. Perhaps the two of them should ride to London together. It will make a pleasant escape from his mother’s matchmaking melodrama!


Review~ 

This was my first book from Sally MacKenzie and I would say it was a good first read. From the blurb I found it very intriguing and I love it when the heroines masquerades in breeches and cravats. From the first couple of pages I was already hook and excited about how the story was going to develop and it was also already picking up pace.
The characters were well developed and were very likable but then I just couldn't stand them towards the end. Mostly the heroine, Miss Frances Hadley. She was bold, headstrong, and judgmental. I liked her at first but then she kept on degrading and disregarding Jack Valentine's character. It was a never ending repetition of her thoughts of him being a Rake and a not good for anything because of all the gossip of him in the gossip columns. And then towards the end her ill thoughts of him just magically disappeared. Argh I really didn't like Miss Hadley that much anymore, how could she just automatically say loved him after all that snickering? She was an interesting character though.
Jack Valentine on the other hand I adore~ He is everything you would want in a man. For me that is. He did everything he can to help and be as patient as he could with Miss Hadley even though he knew she disliked him. He was not a Rake but was just playing the part being the thrid son of a Duke and all, he has to keep up on image right? Oh and he helped those in need, mostly fallen women and abandon children. Who wouldn't love him!
At the end of the story though, I felt like everything was rushed for them to be together and be in love. It was a clif hanger! It didn't end the way I wanted it to. We'll have to see how their relationship progress in the next book with eldest brother and heir Ash's story. I'm kind of afraid to read her first book in the series for Ned's story because of how he's portrayed in this book but all in all it was a great first read from Ms. MacKenzie.