Entries Tagged 'Duchess, Countess, Marchioness' ↓
March 11th, 2010 — 1 Star, Blackmail, Book Review, Category, Duchess, Countess, Marchioness, Great Britain, M-O, Regency, Secret Agent, Thief, Widow or Widower
Constance Townley is the dowager duchess of Wellford. She is extremely beautiful and extremely poor. Now a widow, Constance remembers the comfortable life she had with her departed husband. He settled her well, but because of the naïve (re. halfwit lamebrain imbecile) nephew (also known as the new duke) is not honoring it and has actually used her home to pay Barton a gambling debt.
Barton is the evil entitled gentlemen (and I use the term lightly) wants Constance to be his mistress/whore and it striving to get that by any means possible. He does several things such as acquiring her home, blackmailing her with the jewels which she had to sell, and threatening to spread malicious gossip.
The hero in all this is Anthony de Portnay Smythe. He is really Eustace Smith (not that this matters in the slightest). He’s a thief which in other words is a spy for government. As a self-made wealthy man, he’s just seen the last of his brothers’ widows’ daughters (how much does that suck seriously) married and feels like something in lacking in his life that gives him purpose. He’s been secretly in love with Constance for a long time but when the government suspects that she’s helping Barton he plans to use her to get his man by any means possible.
The whole story was annoying and gave me very little enjoyment. The repetition of the same drama and its same lack of resolution got old very quickly. For the most part I just couldn’t get involved at all as quite simply, it just couldn’t hold my attention. The cover on the other hand is scrumptious and very pretty.
Rating: 1 Stars
Buy: A Wicked Liaison
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February 27th, 2010 — 3.5 Stars, 4 Stars, ARC, Amnesia, Bride Stealing, Captain, Children, Cursed Lead, Duchess, Countess, Marchioness, Dukes and Earls, G-I, Great Britain, Love Triangle, Memory Loss, Revenge, Scarred Hero, Soldier, Widow or Widower
I'll be the first to tell you I'm not a fan of the love triangle for many reasons. The first and foremost reason is because I feel it's just a ploy by an author to fuel the angst and drama of a mediocre story. Haymore proves me wrong. She does not do this. The love triangle is a valid part of the plot and wholly integral with the storyline. She approaches the love triangle in a very unique manner. I don't want to spoil anyone, because it's so different than anything I've encountered before in my readings.
Another reason I have trouble with the love triangle situation is the waffling. I simply don't get it. I'm told this is because I haven't been in one and until I have triangles are hard to appreciate or sympathize with. If you're like me you probably think it's very black and white and very little gray. In my head, I know it's gray. I know that it is possible to love two people at once, but the Grinch side of me feels that if you can't make a choice between them then you don't love either one enough and should let both go. Haymore made me feel the conflict that Sophie, who is in the middle, goes through. I appreciate her position and I sympathize with her, something that is way out of the norm with me.
I have a feeling that a second read through will make it a better read, because I know where it's going. I was looking at all the wrong things in the book the first time and therefore was anxious and worried about how the plot was developing, certain that Haymore was going to bungle it. I just couldn't see how it was going to work out.
Haymore surprised me, the ending surprised me, and that says something. It made me reevaluate the whole book and all my complaints and worries held no weight.
A fan of the love triangle will be placing this novel on their favorite shelf. Someone who like me, needs a little persuasion about the loving the love triangle can read this and appreciate it. Who knows, it may hook you so completely you can't wait to grab a hold of another love triangle!
A brief summary:
Sophie loved Garrett since she was 16 years old and was devastated when he didn't return home from Water-Loo. Tristan is her best friend and together over many years they healed from their mutual loss. One night after their marriage Garrett returns. Everything as they knew it is changed from property to titles, from money to marriages--Haymore explores Regency law and Regency hearts.
Rating: 3.5-4 Stars
Buy: A Hint of Wicked
Originally posted 2009-05-31 03:48:02. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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September 28th, 2009 — 4.5 Stars, ARC, Counts, Marquis, Viscounts, Duchess, Countess, Marchioness, G-I, Great Britain, Guest Reviews, Regency, Rogues and Rakehells, Sports
by Susan Sigler, guest reviewer
A Marquis to Marry exemplifies the very essence of what a romance novel should be. It was superbly written and I’ve added Amelia Grey to my list of top authors. This is a novel I’ll read time and time again!
I recommend this book to every romance lover, regardless of their favorite sub-genre. This was a happy, witty, feel good romantic tale I know you’ll love.
A Marquis to Marry is book 2 of Grey’s (The Rogues’ Dynasty Trilogy). It completely stands alone, and you do not need to read book 1 A Duke to Die For in order to follow the story.
The Marquis (Alexander Mitchell Raceworth) is absolutely stunned, when a young Dowager Duchess by the name of (Susannah Brookefield ) accuses him of having “her” grandmother’s Talbot pearls. The very pearls “his” grandmother (Lady Elder) left to him in her will.
Susannah travels from Chapel Gate to London, with the misconception that all will be resolved quickly. What she didn’t foresee was that Race would be so stubborn! It seems she’s not the only one after the pearls; there are 3 men who also covet them. When the pearls are stolen, it’s a race against time to find the thief and recover the pearls.
Susannah has a lot to accomplish: retrieve the pearls, resist Race’s handsome good looks, convince him the pearls belong in her family not his, and re-enter London’s Polite Society despite her tarnished reputation of youth.
Every time Race calls the Duchess by her Christian name Susannah, it made my heart skip a beat. Grey has you feel the emotion & want, that emanates from the hero.
Things I enjoyed:
- Race’s shock when Susannah invites him to her bedchamber
- The camaraderie between Race, his cousins, and their older friend Gibby
- How Race pursues Susannah
- His informal notes to her
- The way Grey expertly transitions you from reader to character, you’ll feel every emotion as Susannah and Race fall in love
I didn’t grant this book the full 5 stars because of the pugilist (boxing match). It stole time away from the main characters, time I wanted for Susannah and Race.
A Marquis to Marry was absolutely beautiful! I’m eager to read book 3 An Earl To Enchant, which is set to release in April 2010.
Rating- 4.5 Stars
Buy: A Marquis to Marry
Regency Romance, ARC, Trilogy, Sourcebooks, Inc., Casablanca, October 2009, Print Pages 359.
ISBN-10: 1402217609 ISBN-13: 978-1402217609.
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September 17th, 2009 — About, Duchess, Countess, Marchioness, Georgian, Great Britain, Regency, Victorian
This list of reasons is for the young miss of the Georgian, Regency, or Victorian era. Entering into matrimony is not a decision to be made lightly. While it is important that you make a good match, every young lady should choose her future husband with great care. Below I have compiled a list of pros on marrying an earl. The discerning young woman will note the state and accuracy of each of these points against the gentlemen she wishes to wed. Not every earl will have all ten points in his favor, some for instance can be greedy fortune hunters. However, this list is not made with those rapscallions in mind.
1. The rank.
Rank makes all the difference in the world. Do you see yourself as a countess? Would you be thrilled to be deferred to by one and all as the 'Right Honorable Countess of (insert blank)' or 'My Lady?' If so, then marrying an earl is for you!
2. The high society.
You are part of the le bon ton. Being readily established as part of the Upper Ten Thousand will gain you a lot of influence. You'll be rubbing shoulders with Britain's elite!
3. The wealth.
A countess can expect to be able to indulge in a little shopping with the pin money she receives quarterly. She need not worry about money at all unless she is mismanaging her household. That of course, would never do.
4. The clothes.
The clothes, the accessories, the hair styles and shoes... fashion in short, my dears, and being at it's height is marvelous! A countess would be looked upon to set trends and knowledgeable about everything that is all the rage.
5. The parties
All that divine dancing! Which is your favorite? The country dance, the cotillion, or the scotch reel? How about the quadrille or the more scandalous waltz? You will need plenty of dancing slippers but it would be worth it!
6. The servants.
A countess need not cook or clean or lift a finger she does not want to raise. She can devote her energies to more personal and rewarding tasks such as correspondence, reading, drawing, visiting and more.
7. The London townhouse.
A townhouse in the most fashionable part of London is the perfect place to host an assembly or fancy dinner party. Many a hostess will envy your accomplishments in presentation and decoration of your home.
8. The country estates.
When London gets to be too smoggy and the Season is not in full swing, a countess must have a place to retire. Her country estates are just such a location and their beautiful sprawling gardens are the icing on top of the cake.
9. The travel.
To see all the beautiful sights and sites of the world or England is a joy for any countess. Won’t all your friends be envious of your latest trip to Paris?
10. The earl.
The most wonderful thing about being a countess is the earl. Do you not agree ladies? He should be handsome, kind, well mannered, not marred by scandal, and good to his hired help. It wouldn't hurt if he liked children, old matrons, and dances at Almack's, but I wouldn't get your hopes up. He's bound to have a failing somewhere. Just remember to keep the pros of marriage to him in the front of your mind and you will be content indeed!
Photo Credits: http://www.weheartit.com/
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June 29th, 2009 — 4 Stars, Book Review, Duchess, Countess, Marchioness, Dukes and Earls, Farming, Foster/Orphan, Great Britain, Historical Romance, M-O, Mistaken Identity, Survival, Travel, Widow or Widower
I selected this novel because of the gorgeous female cover model. She looks like a fairy princess and the pink and black and warm tones are just lovely. The big plus is this is how the heroine is described… well, I think it was an angel, but you get the point: lovely, blonde, kindhearted.
Moving on, the first half of the novel can be said in three sentences:
Grace Sheffey has been jilted twice, widowed once.
Michael Ranier has murdered twice, rescued once.
These two souls get together under a single lodging and share one passionate interlude.
The second half deals with the consequences. I found Love with a Perfect Scoundrel to be a fun, fast-paced romp filled with nutty characters, sensual situations, and many a marvelous moments. Some to me seems a little over the top, like a seventy-five thousand pound promissory note, but I will let you decide for yourselves.
I had a wonderful time reading the novel and I felt great when I finished. I haven’t read anything else by Sophia Nash, but I highly recommend her if her other novels are like this one.
Love with a Perfect Scoundrel is book three of the widow club.
Rating: 4 Stars
Buy: Love with the Perfect Scoundrel
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