”I wonder what it is you see,” she said, “when you look at me like that.” Her question jolted him. Their eyes met, and he very nearly answe4.5 stars
”I wonder what it is you see,” she said, “when you look at me like that.” Her question jolted him. Their eyes met, and he very nearly answered her with unfiltered honesty. Possibilities. That’s what he saw when he looked at her. Not only the possibilities she presented for his designs, but the possibilities of her. Of what she might mean to him if circumstances were different. If they were of the same race and class.”...more
”She was becoming increasingly difficult to ruffle. Good God, he’d had her virginity. The least she could do was blush. Perhaps there was3.75 stars
”She was becoming increasingly difficult to ruffle. Good God, he’d had her virginity. The least she could do was blush. Perhaps there was a hole in her brain, and everything to do with men slipped right out of it, leaving her clearheaded for the more important things, like dusty rocks and distant lands.”
This features the “bluestocking falls for a rake” trope and an interesting archaeological mystery. While I enjoyed the story and writing, the heroine was way too judgmental and strident for my tastes. I enjoyed the hero’s tortured and misunderstood character far more. ...more
I’ve read this series out of order so it’s nice to finally go back and read Alistair’s story. Although the canal business can be a bit much at times, I’ve read this series out of order so it’s nice to finally go back and read Alistair’s story. Although the canal business can be a bit much at times, I still enjoyed this book a lot. Alistair is a lovable character—a war hero suffering from PTSD who camouflages his distress with effortless charm and by being a dandy. And Mirabel, an heiress, is also wonderful as an intelligent and forceful spinster who single-handedly manages her family’s estate on behalf of her absent-minded father. Mirabel and Alistair are such opposites in character but complement each other so well. I loved the banter, especially Alistair’s self-deprecating humor and the relationship development. The quirky side characters were also great. ...more
I liked this, but nowhere near as much as anything from the Love by Numbers series. Sophie is one of five sisters who Society has collective3.25 stars
I liked this, but nowhere near as much as anything from the Love by Numbers series. Sophie is one of five sisters who Society has collectively nicknamed the Soiled S’s because of their “common” roots and scandalous courtships. And King, a marquess and heir to a dukedom, is known as the Royal Rogue for his rakish reputation.
Sophie defends her sister’s honor at a ball when she catches her brother-in-law cheating; she proceeds to dunk him into a pond and gives him a public dressing down. Unfortunately, her brother-in-law is a powerful duke and everyone sides with him. After being given the direct cut and treated like a pariah, Sophie flees the ball and sneaks into King’s carriage wanting to get home. Instead though, she unexpectedly finds herself heading to the country with him when his carriage goes there rather than to Mayfair.
While I loved Sophie’s and King’s carriage trip and subsequent adventure, their inner dialogue was incredibly repetitive. Sophie’s took the form of “I’m plain, uninteresting, and I don’t fit into Society so I need to leave London and go back to Mossbarn (former home).” And King’s is all “I can never fall in love or marry. I can’t wait to tell my dying father that the Lyne line ends with me.” Rinse and repeat.
Likes — Great writing — Carriage trip — Push-pull dynamic — Good relationship development — Side characters
”She loved him. She scarcely knew him, of course. There were whole facets of his being that he carefully shielded from her kn4.25 captivating stars
”She loved him. She scarcely knew him, of course. There were whole facets of his being that he carefully shielded from her knowing. But there were some things she knew. There was the intensely passionate, energetic, idealistic, charismatic boy he had been when he was at school with Graham. There was the young man with his broken body and shattered dreams who had been brought back to England from the Peninsula closer to death than to life, wanting death more than he wanted life. And there was the closed, disciplined, sometimes morose, very private man he was now with his empty eyes. Though they were not empty to her. The emptiness was like a curtain he had drawn across his soul to hide his pain from anyone who tried to look in....more
"I wish I could see your face." The pit of Amberley's stomach fell away as if the c(rake, blind heroine, wallflower, forced proximity, insta-love)
"I wish I could see your face." The pit of Amberley's stomach fell away as if the carriage had bounded over a deep rut but the very faint wistfulness in her tone had its effect and he did not hesitate. "Then, since I can't show it to you, perhaps this will help." And, lifting her hands, he laid her palms lightly against his face and released them."
Dominique Ballantyne is the thirty-four-year-old Marquis of Amberley who has recently returned from France. Fabulously wealthy, elegant and charming, he has a reputation for being a law unto himself. He's also a skilled, ruthless gambler.
Rosalind Vernon is a beautiful, blind lady who lives as a recluse in the country. She’s spirited and intelligent and doesn't let blindness defeat her. She lives on her own with a few servants and a parrot (Broody) who curses a blue streak.
The Plot Rosalind meets Dominique when he is attacked by highwaymen at night on his way to his country estate. He is forced to seek shelter at her home for the night. A snowstorm develops, however, and Dominique is snowed in at her house for a week. They soon become fast friends and fall in love with each other.
Highlights Dominique’s horror when he realizes Rosalind is the little girl that he knocked down withis carriage twelve years ago.
"How did you tell the girl you were deeply and helplessly in love with that you were responsible for shrinking her world to a place of darkness and solitary monotony? And, having told her, what then? Even if she didn't draw back in revulsion, it could scarcely be described as an auspicious overture to an offer of marriage."
Excellent relationship development from the moment the pair meets to their renewed acquaintance when Rosalind visits London
Vivid secondary characters such as the Duke of Rockliffe.
"There was a brief pause and then, "Your Grace—are you by any chance flirting with me?" Rockliffe appeared to consider the matter. "I believe", he said at length, "that I am attempting to do so. Have you any objection?" "Not in the least," she assured him politely. "I merely wondered. Please go on." And his Grace finally abandoned his air of languor and gave way to rare laughter.
A complex plot with several moving parts and characters is deftly managed.
A secondary romance involving Rosalind’s brother....more
“If he’d had a home at all, it hadn’t been here at Beasley Park. It had been her. Maggie Honeywell had been his home. His only harbor in t3.5 stars
“If he’d had a home at all, it hadn’t been here at Beasley Park. It had been her. Maggie Honeywell had been his home. His only harbor in the storm.”
— childhood best-friends to lovers — class differences — almost spinster/viscount — slow burn — long separation — poor boy makes good
I really like Mimi Matthews and she’s usually a sure thing, but sadly Gentleman Jim failed to hit the mark. It wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t what I was expecting nor did it live up to expectations.
Margaret Honeywell is the beautiful daughter of a wealthy squire. She’s a spirited, outspoken woman who’s under the oppressive guardianship of a longtime enemy.
Nicholas Seaton is a bastard and groom in the stables of Squire Honeywell. He’s Margaret’s childhood best friend and first love.
The Plot Margaret and Nicholas grow up as best friends despite their class differences. But Fred, the son of a baron, who lives on a neighboring estate, has always been jealous of their friendship and frames Nicholas for theft, forcing him to flee. Before leaving, Nicholas vows to return to Margaret and asks her to wait for him. When Margaret and Nicholas reunite by chance ten years, she is stunned to meet him as John Beresford, Viscount St. Clare. Yet Margaret, is under Fred’s guardianship by this point, and will be forced to marry him in a few months to retain her ancestral home.
Their Relationship I preferred their relationship as childhood best friends rather than when they reunite as adults. Firstly, Viscount St. Clare spends the longest time denying being Nicholas even though Margaret immediately recognizes him. Secondly, Nicholas admits he decided to make a clean break from his past so he could reinvent himself. However, he then makes a complete 180, claiming that he can no longer live without her, even at the risk of losing his title. So yeah, real side eye there. Thirdly, he alternates between being the aloof and rakish St. Clare and then the sweet Nicholas of old. Margaret, bless her, is the same bold, sweet, and loyal character throughout. She’s the best thing in the story.
Likes — Beautiful writing. — Great prologue. — Margaret’s feisty and strong character. — Secondary characters: Jane (Margaret’s friend).
Dislikes — Nicholas’s wishy-washiness. — Didn’t buy their relationship as adults.
(class differences, childhood friends, second chances, revenge)
“I’ve never cared one whit about the circumstances of your birt3.75 stars rounded up
(class differences, childhood friends, second chances, revenge)
“I’ve never cared one whit about the circumstances of your birth…where you come from, or who you are…you could be a rag man, and it wouldn’t matter to me. I would do anything, go anywhere, to be with you…I love you, McKenna. I’ve always loved you.”
I read this completely out of order having finished the entire Wallflowers series before reading Again the Magic, the prequel. It will be obvious to any Kleypas fan that this is one of her earlier works since it doesn’t have quite the same flow and polish of her later efforts, yet it’s still an engaging love story.
This is a second chance romance about childhood friends who grew up together. It is also about forbidden love between the daughter of an earl, Lady Aline Marsden, and a stable boy, John McKenna. Mere friendship was unlikely and shouldn’t have happened, let alone their unthinkable romance. Discovery was inevitable, McKenna’s dismissal a fait accompli, but Aline’s decision to deceive McKenna into thinking she no longer wants him was unexpected. McKenna leaves England for New York where he becomes a wealthy, self-made man. He comes back to Stony Park manor twelve years later seeking revenge—vowing to seduce Aline and break her heart.
The book also features a secondary romance between Aline’s younger sister, Livia, and Gideon, McKenna’s business partner. It takes place parallel to Aline’s and McKenna’s relationship as they reconnect and this secondary relationship also becomes a major focus.
So, all in all, it was an enjoyable read. The relationships were well developed although I identified more with Aline’s and McKenna’s childhood friendship and puppy love rather than their adult relationship.
Four full length love scenes provide enough steamy goodness to satisfy most readers....more
**spoiler alert** Tropes: Class Differences, Wallflower, Marriage of Convenience; Revenge
Our Main Characters
Adrian Devereux, the thirty-four year **spoiler alert** Tropes: Class Differences, Wallflower, Marriage of Convenience; Revenge
Our Main Characters
Adrian Devereux, the thirty-four year old Earl of Sarre is the mysterious L'Inconnu and goes by many names and disguises. A consummate actor, he flees his home at the age of twenty-two, when he is falsely accused of murdering his betrothed, Evie. Evie was a temperamental and mentally unstable beauty. The night before their wedding, Evie lures Adrian to the top of a building and falls to her death after telling him she won’t marry him and is pregnant with his best friend's (Marcus Sherman) child.
Caroline Maitland is the twenty-two year old grand daughter of a wealthy cotton and trade merchant. She is no great beauty but has two beautiful sisters and an ambitious mother who is determined to marry off her daughters to titled gentlemen. Her mother's and sisters's broad Yorkshire accents and common manners are objects of mockery among polite society.
As It Happens In addition to Marcus's betrayal with Evie, Marcus also accuses Adrian of murdering her, claiming that Adrian did so in a fit of rage because she was planning to leave him. Adrian's family doesn't believe in his innocence and forces him to flee to France, where he lives for 10 years. While Adrian lived in France, he acted at the famous Comedienne theater where he was known as the great L'Inconnu. He also gambled to earn a living and earned a small fortune; this allowed him to invest in London and found the exclusive gaming hell, Sinclair's. Adrian, however, keeps his part ownership of Sinclair’s secret. He returns home out of a sense of duty after his brother dies to assume the earlship.
Although Marcus is a baron and used to be wealthy, he squandered all his money gambling and on a lavish lifestyle. Among other creditors, he owes a huge debt at Sinclair's. Sinclair's continues to extend him credit long past other gaming halls have cut him off because Adrian seeks to ruin him. Marcus's creditors are breathing down his neck so his only hope out of his predicament is to marry a heiress. He is therefore determined to marry Caroline even though he feels utter contempt for her common background. But she turns down his proposal.
Adrian's interests as the Earl of Sarre are best served by Caroline not marrying Marcus. He finds his most challenging role to date is as an earl, where he presents himself as cold, remote, worldly, and impeccably dressed. But Adrian needs a wife in order to fulfill his duty as an earl and decides he can do far worse than Caroline. Plus marrying her would take away Marcus’s only hope of salvation. So, he proposes a marriage of convenience to Caroline but she also turns him down.
In an ironic twist, Adrian unwittingly creates his own obstacle to marriage because he has also been pretending to be a romantic French highwayman (Claude Duvall) all along. His original intention had been to use the role to provide a harmless distraction for Caroline and to make Marcus seem less attractive to her. He meets Caroline several times as Claude and never intends for things to go far but she ends up falling in love with "Claude". And they also end up eloping. Caroline is naturally furious once she discovers the deception. But once she learns about Adrian's past with Evie and the reasons for his bad blood with Marcus, she forgives him.
Hits • Adrian's backstory with Evie and how he came to be L'Inconnu. • Caroline’s strong character and refusal to marry Marcus despite immense family pressure. • Marcus's villainy and his convincing portrait of deceit and greed. • Well-drawn secondary characters. • Droll humor and wit.
Quibble • Caroline forgives Adrian for his deception remarkably quickly (couple days)....more
(Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, opposites attract, class differences, spinster/wallflower)
This is the tried and true tale of the starchy spinste3.2 stars
(Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, opposites attract, class differences, spinster/wallflower)
This is the tried and true tale of the starchy spinster meets gaming hell owner. Ainsley Bourne runs a matrimonial agency that is located across the street from Reed Sterling’s gaming hell. Reed is a former prizefighter who made a fortune and used it to open Sterling’s. Ainsley is morally opposed to gambling and is convinced that the gaming hell is driving away potential business from her matrimonial agency. She therefore sets out to put Reed out of business.
What stops this story from being completely formulaic is Ainsley's former betrothed. Ainsley fled her family's home in the country after breaking off her betrothal to Nigel. Nigel is a gas lighter, manipulative, and verbally and physically abusive. Her experience with Nigel, plus an absentee father has left her wary of men. She started her matrimonial agency to help women weed out potential bad apples and make good matches.
I'm a sucker for stories featuring self-made men who rise above their humble beginnings and therefore loved Reed. Reed is gentle at heart despite being a former prizefighter. Boxing was only the means to a better life for him. I love how protective he is of Ainsley, especially when it comes to Nigel. He never tries to curb her independent spirit or interfere in the running of her agency. And even though Ainsley goes out of her way to sabotage his business, he is always quick to forgive her and move past each incident.
I, however, did not like Ainsley. What makes enemies-to-lovers romances appealing is the witty sparring and bickering between the hero and heroine. But way too often in their early interactions, Ainsley was just plain condescending and seemed to look down on Reed. She made it clear that she thought him common and uncouth. This was really off putting for me. It's possible to rationalize her excessive hostility (plain rudeness really) and attribute it to her fear of men, but again it doesn't explain the snide remarks about his lack of refinement.
Another quibble is that the book dragged. The first half was slow, especially the sections focusing on Ainsley's plots against Sterling’s. Things only started picking up once creepy Nigel entered the picture and Reed emerged as a knight in shining armor....more
Re-read Jan 21, 2024: 4.75 stars I must have been sleep deprived or cranky when I first read this, or most likely both to justify my original stingy raRe-read Jan 21, 2024: 4.75 stars I must have been sleep deprived or cranky when I first read this, or most likely both to justify my original stingy rating. I remember having a gut feeling at the time that I was being unreasonably harsh—well I was. I absolutely love Tracy, the Duke of Rockliffe. He’s one of the best HR heroes ever and we get to enjoy his droll, acerbic wit throughout the series. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jul 2021: 3.75 stars
(Tropes: Rakes/Rogues, Wallflowers, Marriage of Convenience, Class Differences)
"It was not, he reflected critically, that he loved her. Not at all. It was merely that she never failed to surprise and intrigue him. She was cold and sharp as a razor, no beauty and utterly infuriating; and he wanted her."
The Mesalliance, features the Duke of Rockliffe, Tracy Wynstanton, and Adeline Kendrick. It's a wallflower meets a jaded, world weary rake trope type of story. Set in the Georgian era, the writing showcases beautiful word craft. It immediately sucks you into the story, with engaging characters, and a plot that moves forward at a brisk pace. The author's style reminds me of Georgette Heyer.
Tracy is incredibly handsome, suave and jaded. His world weary cynicism coupled with a razor sharp wit is legendary. He meets Adeline at a house party, eight years after he first met her at one of his estates in Northumberland. She was sixteen, shy and sprite-like at their first meeting--more comfortable surrounded by animals than people. But by the time they meet again, she has changed into a cool, composed woman who uses sarcasm and barbs as a defense mechanism.
Adeline has developed a sharp tongue and prickly demeanor to deal with her miserable situation as the poor relation in her aunt's home. Her aunt treats her like a paid companion, her cousin Diana is a spoiled brat with an uncontrollable temper, and her uncle Richard is sadistic.
Tracy and Adeline are caught in a compromising situation at the party, which leads to a hasty marriage. Dark secrets, conniving relatives and a series of misunderstandings plague their relationship at each turn. The miscommunication between them and inability to share their feelings with each other is frustrating beyond words. But the witty and funny dialogue offsets this; the story flows and the plot keeps you engaged. A jealous cousin, ambitious and calculating aunt, monstrous uncle, and a mother presumed dead for twenty-four years but still alive keep the plot interesting. There is also a secondary love story between Tracy's sister and one of his closest friends.
As is the norm with Riley's work, this is low on steam with a couple of kissing scenes and one full length love scene....more
“He leaned close. “Oh, I’d notice you, Miss Goodnight. I’d notice you. There’s no castle big enough to keep a man like me from being aware, every m“He leaned close. “Oh, I’d notice you, Miss Goodnight. I’d notice you. There’s no castle big enough to keep a man like me from being aware, every moment, of a woman like you. You don’t have to speak a word. I can hear the rustle of your petticoats. I can smell the scent of your skin. I can feel your heat.”
— fairytale romance — beauty and the beast — blind duke and penniless spinster — forced proximity — grumpy/sunshine — hurt/comfort — slow burn
• Destitute spinster seeking her own fairytale romance. • Scarred, blind duke in a gothic castle. • Set of fairytales provide backdrop, plus their fervid fans. • Strong UST and relationship development. • Great writing and dialogue. • Wonderful humor. • A vicious pet ermine. • Entertaining. • Moderate steam.
“For god sake. Don’t do that.” “Don’t do what?” “Smile.” “How do you know I’m smiling?” “I can hear it. Hell, I can feel it. It’s all warm and sweet and…” He scowled. “Bah.” She made a little crooning noise. “Oh, Ransom.” “That’s even worse.”...more
“And the realization that she cared for him, not for his title, struck him like a blow to the chest. He wanted to make her happy forever. He wanted“And the realization that she cared for him, not for his title, struck him like a blow to the chest. He wanted to make her happy forever. He wanted to see her look at him this way for the rest of his life. She saw him as he was, and admired him all the same.”
Caroline Linden is one of my go-to HR authors and this book didn’t disappoint. I thoroughly enjoyed the main characters, romance, and element of mystery.
Tessa Neville is a spirited viscount’s daughter. She’s fiercely independent and manages her brother’s investments and estate.
Charles de Lacey is the earl of Gresham and Duke of Durham. The eldest of three brothers, he’s a consummate rake.
Plot Tessa travels to Bath with her companion to meet Mr. Scott, who is promoting an investment opportunity which her brother is considering. Charlie is on the hunt for a man who is blackmailing his family and threatening his claim to the dukedom. He suspects Mr. Scott of being the blackmailer and goes to Bath to confront him. Charlie meets Tessa when they end up staying in the same hotel.
Romance This is a delicious slow burn, opposites attract romance. Tessa is full of scorn for Charlie when she meets him, judging him to be an indolent rake. She is wary of charming, handsome men having been badly burnt in the past. Charlie, on the other hand, is intrigued by the prickly and brusque Tessa. She’s not impressed by him nor does she flirt. In fact, she does everything she can to avoid him. But as Charlie’s help prevents Tessa from making a bad investment, her opinion of him changes. She realizes that there’s more to him than meets the eye and falls for him. Their chemistry is strong and I love their emotional connection. Charlie helps Tessa laugh and lighten up, while her analytical mind helps him with his investigation and claim to the title. They are perfect foils for each other.
Steam-o-meter Steamy. Four full length love scenes....more
Nelly S. (on semi-hiatus)
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