What I've Read This Week . . .
Brighton Road by Susan Carroll -- Regency Romance
Gwenda Mary Vickers dreams of a handsome hero who will sweep her off her feet. So far, he hasn't appeared but in the meantime she writes gothic romance novels. When she accidentally overhears the toplofty Lord Ravenel's prosaic marriage proposal and subsequent rejection, she feels sorry for the gentleman and offers her advice to a very unwilling Lord Ravenel. He recognizes her name as being a member of an eccentric family and wants nothing to do with her and gives her a lecture in propriety, which Gwenda accepts cheerfully and Lord Ravenel hopes never to see Gwenda again. Soon he and Gwenda, along with her boot-chewing/cat-chasing dog embark on a wild adventure together and Lord Ravenel discovers what it means to have fun and Gwenda finds the lover she's always dreamed of. This is a great read! Though the writing isn't terribly wonderful and the story lacks the historical details of Georgette Heyer's wildest stories, the madcap adventures of Gwenda make for many laughs and a wonderful romantic adventure!
Knave's Wager by Loretta Chase -- Regency Romance
Lilith Davenant has been in charge of her own life for the past five years since her rakeish husband died. She's lived simply, however, she is responsible for financing the come-outs of her nieces and thanks to some bad investments, is in need of money. She decides to accept Thomas Bexley. She doesn't live him, but she needs the money and Bexley will make a comfortable husband. On the road to London with her niece, Cecily, they rescue a victim of a carriage accident who turns out to be the Marquess of Brandon, the man whom Lilith believes ruined her husband. She refuses to see or acknowledge Brandon except through her man of business. The Marquess won't accept her refusal because he has made a wager with a lady of the demimonde that the Marquess can seduce the seemingly icy Lilith in exchange for the promise that the lady will give up all ideas of marriage to the Marquess's younger cousin. Meanwhile, Lilith's beautiful, outspoken young niece makes her impresses on Brandon's cousin. The book jacket promises the reader will fall in love with the hero before the heroine does, but this was not the case with me. I didn't even find him likable, nor Lilith either. The Marquess acted despicably through most of the book and Lilith responded to his flirtations though she was engaged to another man. The only character I really liked was Cecily because she spoke the truth even when it wasn't polite and she knew what she wanted and didn't stoop to any of the usual tricks to make a man fall in love with her. The book dragged on for the first 3/4 of the story and then I found myself more interested in Cecily and Robert than Lilith and Julian. This is not one I'm likely to read again or recommend.
The Impetuous Twin by Irene Saunders -- Regency Romance
Lady Georgina Forsythe can ride better and faster than her twin brother and prefers wearing his old clothes to gowns and getting her brother into scrapes. When their guardian, Lord Meridith, decides to buy William a pair of colors and a position in his regiment on the Continent, Georgina proposes she tag along as William's manservant in order to escape their cruel grandmother and poor estate. William reluctantly agrees and the twins head off to Portugal, where Gina is befriended by a Gypsy woman who sees through her disguise and persuades Gina to dress as a Gypsy camp follower. Unfortunately for Georgina, when it is discovered that William is living with a camp follower, Georgina's disguise gets her into trouble and makes Lord Meredith extremely angry. When he discovers who Gina really is, he sends her packing off to a lady friend in Lisbon where Georgina learns to act and dress like a lady. Then Lord Meredith decides to send Georgina back to England to stay with his mother for a time while he investigates the management of William's estates. While visiting the dowager Lady Meredith, Georgina builds family ties with Lord Meredith's mother, eldest niece, and young daughter. Lady Meredith decides to sponsor Gina's come-out and during the Season, Gina learns about family, danger and true love. I found Georgina very appealing as a heroine in a novel. She was spunky and smart; willing to learn but still be true to herself. I had problems with Lord Meredith and his temper and the romance seemed to kind of just happen and it was rather odd given the relationship between the two characters. There were also too many subplots that didn't appear until halfway through or more and then were wrapped up in the last few pages with very little action. I did like this book but I wouldn't choose it as one of my top favorites.
A Grand Design by Emma Jensen -- Regency Romance
Tall, redhaired and positively ancient at 26, Cate Buchanan does not dream of romance but of architecture! Living with her younger sister and two eccentric, artistic uncles, Cate has a plan to bring the family some money and all her sister the dream of marriage and her uncles the freedom to pursue their art, she has started an architectural firm with her uncles as the front for her unladylike occupation. Buchanan & Buchanan have been hired to renovate the home of the Marquess of Tregaraon, who has returned to London from eight years of self-imposed exile in Wales after a tragedy that has condemned him in the eyes of society forever. Cate tries to hide her true role in the business and avoid the man who once nearly seduced her. Cate's carefully laid plans start to crumble as the Marquess takes more and more interest in the renovations and seems to always be on hand to rescue her from the wicked man who once tried to seduce her. The Marquess seems drawn to Cate and she to him but someone is sending him mysterious messages that may ruin everything. The plot doesn't follow the traditional model very much and the backstories of the characters are revealed slowly over the course of the story, which I really liked. I have since discovered that this book is part of a series of novels featuring the same characters, so some of the backstory may have been revealed in a previous novel. This one stands well on it's own and is very well-written. The architectural theme makes it a bit different and provides some new historical details. I wasn't crazy about the Marquess, though he gets bonus points for having an adorable Corgi. The epilogue reveals the "what happens next" in a rather hurried manner leaving the reader to wonder how the problem of women's role in society was resolved or whether Cate doesn't care, not being one to focus on gossip. If you're looking for something different and like brooding gentlemen and heroines who dare to be different, pick this one up!
Gwenda Mary Vickers dreams of a handsome hero who will sweep her off her feet. So far, he hasn't appeared but in the meantime she writes gothic romance novels. When she accidentally overhears the toplofty Lord Ravenel's prosaic marriage proposal and subsequent rejection, she feels sorry for the gentleman and offers her advice to a very unwilling Lord Ravenel. He recognizes her name as being a member of an eccentric family and wants nothing to do with her and gives her a lecture in propriety, which Gwenda accepts cheerfully and Lord Ravenel hopes never to see Gwenda again. Soon he and Gwenda, along with her boot-chewing/cat-chasing dog embark on a wild adventure together and Lord Ravenel discovers what it means to have fun and Gwenda finds the lover she's always dreamed of. This is a great read! Though the writing isn't terribly wonderful and the story lacks the historical details of Georgette Heyer's wildest stories, the madcap adventures of Gwenda make for many laughs and a wonderful romantic adventure!
Lilith Davenant has been in charge of her own life for the past five years since her rakeish husband died. She's lived simply, however, she is responsible for financing the come-outs of her nieces and thanks to some bad investments, is in need of money. She decides to accept Thomas Bexley. She doesn't live him, but she needs the money and Bexley will make a comfortable husband. On the road to London with her niece, Cecily, they rescue a victim of a carriage accident who turns out to be the Marquess of Brandon, the man whom Lilith believes ruined her husband. She refuses to see or acknowledge Brandon except through her man of business. The Marquess won't accept her refusal because he has made a wager with a lady of the demimonde that the Marquess can seduce the seemingly icy Lilith in exchange for the promise that the lady will give up all ideas of marriage to the Marquess's younger cousin. Meanwhile, Lilith's beautiful, outspoken young niece makes her impresses on Brandon's cousin. The book jacket promises the reader will fall in love with the hero before the heroine does, but this was not the case with me. I didn't even find him likable, nor Lilith either. The Marquess acted despicably through most of the book and Lilith responded to his flirtations though she was engaged to another man. The only character I really liked was Cecily because she spoke the truth even when it wasn't polite and she knew what she wanted and didn't stoop to any of the usual tricks to make a man fall in love with her. The book dragged on for the first 3/4 of the story and then I found myself more interested in Cecily and Robert than Lilith and Julian. This is not one I'm likely to read again or recommend.
Lady Georgina Forsythe can ride better and faster than her twin brother and prefers wearing his old clothes to gowns and getting her brother into scrapes. When their guardian, Lord Meridith, decides to buy William a pair of colors and a position in his regiment on the Continent, Georgina proposes she tag along as William's manservant in order to escape their cruel grandmother and poor estate. William reluctantly agrees and the twins head off to Portugal, where Gina is befriended by a Gypsy woman who sees through her disguise and persuades Gina to dress as a Gypsy camp follower. Unfortunately for Georgina, when it is discovered that William is living with a camp follower, Georgina's disguise gets her into trouble and makes Lord Meredith extremely angry. When he discovers who Gina really is, he sends her packing off to a lady friend in Lisbon where Georgina learns to act and dress like a lady. Then Lord Meredith decides to send Georgina back to England to stay with his mother for a time while he investigates the management of William's estates. While visiting the dowager Lady Meredith, Georgina builds family ties with Lord Meredith's mother, eldest niece, and young daughter. Lady Meredith decides to sponsor Gina's come-out and during the Season, Gina learns about family, danger and true love. I found Georgina very appealing as a heroine in a novel. She was spunky and smart; willing to learn but still be true to herself. I had problems with Lord Meredith and his temper and the romance seemed to kind of just happen and it was rather odd given the relationship between the two characters. There were also too many subplots that didn't appear until halfway through or more and then were wrapped up in the last few pages with very little action. I did like this book but I wouldn't choose it as one of my top favorites.
Tall, redhaired and positively ancient at 26, Cate Buchanan does not dream of romance but of architecture! Living with her younger sister and two eccentric, artistic uncles, Cate has a plan to bring the family some money and all her sister the dream of marriage and her uncles the freedom to pursue their art, she has started an architectural firm with her uncles as the front for her unladylike occupation. Buchanan & Buchanan have been hired to renovate the home of the Marquess of Tregaraon, who has returned to London from eight years of self-imposed exile in Wales after a tragedy that has condemned him in the eyes of society forever. Cate tries to hide her true role in the business and avoid the man who once nearly seduced her. Cate's carefully laid plans start to crumble as the Marquess takes more and more interest in the renovations and seems to always be on hand to rescue her from the wicked man who once tried to seduce her. The Marquess seems drawn to Cate and she to him but someone is sending him mysterious messages that may ruin everything. The plot doesn't follow the traditional model very much and the backstories of the characters are revealed slowly over the course of the story, which I really liked. I have since discovered that this book is part of a series of novels featuring the same characters, so some of the backstory may have been revealed in a previous novel. This one stands well on it's own and is very well-written. The architectural theme makes it a bit different and provides some new historical details. I wasn't crazy about the Marquess, though he gets bonus points for having an adorable Corgi. The epilogue reveals the "what happens next" in a rather hurried manner leaving the reader to wonder how the problem of women's role in society was resolved or whether Cate doesn't care, not being one to focus on gossip. If you're looking for something different and like brooding gentlemen and heroines who dare to be different, pick this one up!
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