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Bachelor Chronicles #8
Lord Langley Is Back in Town
Lord Langley and Minerva, Lady Standon, began their faux engagement with three simple rules set down by the baron's all-too-proper (and utterly unlikely) bride-to-be.
1. No more kissing. The intoxicating kiss Langley stole from her lips still has Minerva aflutter.
2. She will not share his bed. (For if his kiss is that tempting, Minerva doesn't dare imagine what a night in Langley's embrace will do to her already addled senses.)
3. No scandals during their engagement. With the infamous Langley back in Town, there is no lack of trouble he can bring to Minerva's unblemished reputation.
Oh, the wily Lord Langley will keep his word—but that doesn't mean he won't use every rakish trick he knows to get Minerva to break her own proper rules, especially once he realizes that this convenient arrangement has led him to the only woman he's ever loved . . .
1. No more kissing. The intoxicating kiss Langley stole from her lips still has Minerva aflutter.
2. She will not share his bed. (For if his kiss is that tempting, Minerva doesn't dare imagine what a night in Langley's embrace will do to her already addled senses.)
3. No scandals during their engagement. With the infamous Langley back in Town, there is no lack of trouble he can bring to Minerva's unblemished reputation.
Oh, the wily Lord Langley will keep his word—but that doesn't mean he won't use every rakish trick he knows to get Minerva to break her own proper rules, especially once he realizes that this convenient arrangement has led him to the only woman he's ever loved . . .
275 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 31, 2011
69 people are currently reading
936 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Boyle
90 books2,082 followersElizabeth Boyle is the New York Times bestselling author of 27 historical romance novels and several novellas. Her upcoming novel, O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM, is a mix of women's fiction and historical fiction, with a bit of magic thrown in. This story of friendship and empowerment is already getting rave reviews.
Her first novel, Brazen Angel, won Dell's Diamond Debut Award and the Romance Writers of America's RITA Award for Best First Book. Her books are called "fast-paced," "adventurous," and "funny."
Not sure where to begin? If you love adventure, try THIS RAKE OF MINE or ONE NIGHT OF PASSION.
If you need to laugh, SOMETHING ABOUT EMMALINE, LOVE LETTERS FROM A DUKE, or THE VISCOUNT WHO LIVED DOWN THE LANE.
Want a little magic in your romance? Try HIS MISTRESS BY MORNING.
When not writing, Elizabeth enjoys knitting, gardening, travel and reading a wide variety of stories. She lives with her family in Seattle.
Sign up for her weekly newsletter, Five Things for Friday on her website. A weekly roundup of books, shows, and things to cook or laugh over, her readers love this weekly laugh.
Her first novel, Brazen Angel, won Dell's Diamond Debut Award and the Romance Writers of America's RITA Award for Best First Book. Her books are called "fast-paced," "adventurous," and "funny."
Not sure where to begin? If you love adventure, try THIS RAKE OF MINE or ONE NIGHT OF PASSION.
If you need to laugh, SOMETHING ABOUT EMMALINE, LOVE LETTERS FROM A DUKE, or THE VISCOUNT WHO LIVED DOWN THE LANE.
Want a little magic in your romance? Try HIS MISTRESS BY MORNING.
When not writing, Elizabeth enjoys knitting, gardening, travel and reading a wide variety of stories. She lives with her family in Seattle.
Sign up for her weekly newsletter, Five Things for Friday on her website. A weekly roundup of books, shows, and things to cook or laugh over, her readers love this weekly laugh.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
January 23, 2018
3 Estrellas. Es probable que la valoración no sea muy acertada debido a las condiciones en que he leído el libro, admito que ha sido culpa mía. Es lo primero que leo de Elizabeth Boyle y aquí viene el primer error. Compré el libro en oferta y porque era el único que tenían de la escritora en la tienda, cuando vi que era el octavo de una serie, de perdidos al río, dije que me lo leía sí o sí pese a lo que podría perderme.
Lo primero que me perdió fue el enorme árbol genealógico al principio del libro, puesto que me salían un montón de personajes y relaciones que no conozco (y durante el libro he ido atrás varias veces a ojearlo). Y después, la cantidad de personajes que hay, de los que por supuesto no sé de qué se conocen, ni quienes son, y no sé sus historias. Por este tipo de cosas es por lo que aborrezco leer las series salteadas. Las series están escritas y publicadas con un cierto orden, si no, pierden la gracia, y quien más te pierdes eres tú que vas con toda la ignorancia. De modo que tomo nota mental para no volver a cometer este error, aunque creo que antes habrá que maldecir a las editoriales por publicar tan mal y salteados los títulos de las series.
En cuanto a la historia en sí... bueno, los protagonistas me han gustado a secas, pero no he dejado de pensar que la autora los ha tratado muy superficialmente y no me ha dado la impresión de conocerlos realmente. Su romance tarda en aparecer, aunque el libro se desarrolla en apenas cuatro o cinco días y es difícil que te creas que se pueden enamorar en tan poco tiempo, más cuando se conocen del modo en que lo hacen, y tan en seguida comienzan su compromiso fingido.
La historia empieza cuando Minerva, una marquesa viuda respetable, ve su casa invadida por un escuadrón de mujeres de la nobleza europea, las llamadas "tatas", que están convencidas de que Lord Langley no está muerto y se halla en casa de Minerva. Minerva no tiene de idea de lo que dicen estas señoras, hasta que Lord Langley aterriza en su cama y son sorprendidos por las tatas, y no les queda más remedio que prometerse para guardar la reputación de Minerva. Lo sorprendente es que las tatas fueron todas amantes de Lord Langley, y es ahí cuando sabemos de la condición caradura y libertina de Lord Langley, pero nuestro héroe es diplomático y espía y sólo estaba haciendo su trabajo.
En cuanto a Lord Langley, todos le daban por muerto en Francia tras acusarlo de traición, pero Langley está vivo y de regreso en Inglaterra y con una misión; descubrir quién intentó asesinarlo y limpiar su reputación.
Admito que lo que me ha mantenido enganchada a la trama ha sido el desarrollo de las historias secretas de los protagonistas. Por un lado la de Langley, por descubrir quién lo traicionó y lo dio por muerto, y también la historia de Minerva, que guarda una historia bastante más oscura de lo que podría pensarse. Lo malo de todo esto, que me da la impresión de que la autora no lo ha desarrollado lo suficiente, si no que da unas pinceladas superficialmente, no profundiza en toda la historia, y se resuelve todo muy fácil y rápido.
El estilo de Elizabeth Boyle me ha gustado, eso sí lo admito. Es un libro bastante más corto de lo que parece, o será que el estilo de la autora hace que se lea muy rápido, pues tiene mucha conversación y poca descripción. Pero si es verdad que hay algo que no me termina de cuajar con estas historias. La autora narra todo desde un punto de vista cómico, obviamente es un libro para divertirse, pero en este tipo de historias se suele cometer un error muy común, te sacan de contexto porque están llenas de inverosimilitudes e incoherencias, con situaciones increíbles o ridículas, y comportamientos de sus personajes que te sacan de la trama. A muchas escritoras de histórica he dejado de leerlas por este motivo, no me gusta que no se guarden la etiqueta ni las normas sociales, y mucho menos leer una conversación donde un montón de señoras hablan abiertamente de sexo en medio de una visita en la que están tomando té, por poner un ejemplo.
Aún así, el libro me ha gustado lo suficiente como para querer darle otra oportunidad a esta escritora, pero ya digo, los fallos principales que he visto son la falta de profundidad, el romance exprés que no me ha convencido demasiado, y la falta de contexto histórico. A pesar de ello, no juzgaré a la autora solo por un libro, cuando lea uno o dos más veré si sigo opinando lo mismo.
Lo primero que me perdió fue el enorme árbol genealógico al principio del libro, puesto que me salían un montón de personajes y relaciones que no conozco (y durante el libro he ido atrás varias veces a ojearlo). Y después, la cantidad de personajes que hay, de los que por supuesto no sé de qué se conocen, ni quienes son, y no sé sus historias. Por este tipo de cosas es por lo que aborrezco leer las series salteadas. Las series están escritas y publicadas con un cierto orden, si no, pierden la gracia, y quien más te pierdes eres tú que vas con toda la ignorancia. De modo que tomo nota mental para no volver a cometer este error, aunque creo que antes habrá que maldecir a las editoriales por publicar tan mal y salteados los títulos de las series.
En cuanto a la historia en sí... bueno, los protagonistas me han gustado a secas, pero no he dejado de pensar que la autora los ha tratado muy superficialmente y no me ha dado la impresión de conocerlos realmente. Su romance tarda en aparecer, aunque el libro se desarrolla en apenas cuatro o cinco días y es difícil que te creas que se pueden enamorar en tan poco tiempo, más cuando se conocen del modo en que lo hacen, y tan en seguida comienzan su compromiso fingido.
La historia empieza cuando Minerva, una marquesa viuda respetable, ve su casa invadida por un escuadrón de mujeres de la nobleza europea, las llamadas "tatas", que están convencidas de que Lord Langley no está muerto y se halla en casa de Minerva. Minerva no tiene de idea de lo que dicen estas señoras, hasta que Lord Langley aterriza en su cama y son sorprendidos por las tatas, y no les queda más remedio que prometerse para guardar la reputación de Minerva. Lo sorprendente es que las tatas fueron todas amantes de Lord Langley, y es ahí cuando sabemos de la condición caradura y libertina de Lord Langley, pero nuestro héroe es diplomático y espía y sólo estaba haciendo su trabajo.
En cuanto a Lord Langley, todos le daban por muerto en Francia tras acusarlo de traición, pero Langley está vivo y de regreso en Inglaterra y con una misión; descubrir quién intentó asesinarlo y limpiar su reputación.
Admito que lo que me ha mantenido enganchada a la trama ha sido el desarrollo de las historias secretas de los protagonistas. Por un lado la de Langley, por descubrir quién lo traicionó y lo dio por muerto, y también la historia de Minerva, que guarda una historia bastante más oscura de lo que podría pensarse. Lo malo de todo esto, que me da la impresión de que la autora no lo ha desarrollado lo suficiente, si no que da unas pinceladas superficialmente, no profundiza en toda la historia, y se resuelve todo muy fácil y rápido.
El estilo de Elizabeth Boyle me ha gustado, eso sí lo admito. Es un libro bastante más corto de lo que parece, o será que el estilo de la autora hace que se lea muy rápido, pues tiene mucha conversación y poca descripción. Pero si es verdad que hay algo que no me termina de cuajar con estas historias. La autora narra todo desde un punto de vista cómico, obviamente es un libro para divertirse, pero en este tipo de historias se suele cometer un error muy común, te sacan de contexto porque están llenas de inverosimilitudes e incoherencias, con situaciones increíbles o ridículas, y comportamientos de sus personajes que te sacan de la trama. A muchas escritoras de histórica he dejado de leerlas por este motivo, no me gusta que no se guarden la etiqueta ni las normas sociales, y mucho menos leer una conversación donde un montón de señoras hablan abiertamente de sexo en medio de una visita en la que están tomando té, por poner un ejemplo.
Aún así, el libro me ha gustado lo suficiente como para querer darle otra oportunidad a esta escritora, pero ya digo, los fallos principales que he visto son la falta de profundidad, el romance exprés que no me ha convencido demasiado, y la falta de contexto histórico. A pesar de ello, no juzgaré a la autora solo por un libro, cuando lea uno o dos más veré si sigo opinando lo mismo.
June 18, 2011
Ahhh, Lord Langley. We knew we'd be seeing him again-- the international diplomat and spy who passed off his titled mistresses as his daughters' "Nannies." Like a bad penny, he had to turn up eventually, and yes, rumors of his death have been slightly exaggerated (although not for long, if he keeps digging away at the past). But he's not without problems; having finally escaped a French prison, he IS still living under the taint of treason, and with no memory of what plot he had uncovered or who betrayed him, thanks to the conk on the head that got him captured in the first place. Now he's back in London, determined to find the truth and clear his name. He just needs a little time. And help. And funds. And a place to stay... no, wait, he's got that. He's hiding out in the attic of his daughter's Mayfair residence... which happens to be the same house the Lady Standons were banished to.
Miranda Hartley, Lady Standon, is looking forward to some peace and quiet. With the other two Lady Standons happily married off, the house is hers alone, now, and she thinks she'd be happy to live there the rest of her days... if she can only get her meddling Aunt Bedelia to stop trying to marry her off. Her first marriage (never consummated, thankfully, since the old goat was generally too drunk to manage it) was enough of a nightmare. But Miranda's peace is not to last. Langley's flamboyant former misstr-- er, Nannies-- all FIVE of them-- have descended upon her household like a plague of houseguests, insisting that HE has returned and not willing to leave until they find him.
And then the man himself tumbles into her bed (by accident-- he was trying to get to the attic), and decides a fake betrothal to the all-too-proper-and-icy Lady Standon is just the thing to let him move around safely in Society and find out who wants to kill him (this time). But Miranda has secrets of her own, and though his kiss his everything she dreamed a kiss could be, she can NOT be tying herself to a practiced rake and a liar. People want him dead. Whenever the bounder opens his mouth and compromises her reputation further, Miranda feels she could be one of them. (She DOES have a gun, after all.) Besides, with his pick of beautiful, passionate mistresses, he couldn't possibly want *her*... could he?
It's been awhile since I read the previous books in this series, so I had to struggle a little to keep up with the burgeoning cast. (I had to refer to the family trees in the front of the book more than once... and I had never truly realized how TIGHTLY all these couples were connected until I saw those). For me, that was the only thing that really detracted from the book... the cast has gotten so large, and there were so MANY cameos in this one, that I started to lose track of people and who was important to whom and why.
Overpopulation aside, I LOVED Miranda and Langley. Langley is indeed the most OUTRAGEOUS bounder, but a delightful one. I found it touching that the attraction, for him, was there from the first-- although his former mistresses called Miranda plain, he never did. He's flattering, clever, utterly maddening, and uses the truth like a weapon, but he never shames her, and he never talks down to her. Even when his actions (or their consequences) might embarrass her, he doesn't generally leave her dangling-- he moves in to support her. Miranda can't deny she finds him attractive, but she doesn't toss her willpower out the window the first time he touches her. I like that she fights back, and that she puts him in his place (and on his behind) more than once in the course of the book. She's smart, she's a fighter, and she's practical-- an often-overlooked virtue in romance heroines, I feel.
And speaking of support-- yes, the supporting cast is huge, but for the most part delightful. The Nannies are sort of like evil fairy godmothers. (Actually, I felt they could have been used to forward the intrigue portion of the plot a little better-- I felt the author wasted an opportunity, there, by not drawing them out individually a little more... but that would've been a longer book, too.) I was happy to see many long-dangling plot threads (particularly Paris) finally wrapped up, although I would have liked to see that particular thread wind through the book a little more consistently.
So... Lord Andrew Stowe, next? Or perhaps... I wonder what Goldy will be like, when she grows up a little?
Miranda Hartley, Lady Standon, is looking forward to some peace and quiet. With the other two Lady Standons happily married off, the house is hers alone, now, and she thinks she'd be happy to live there the rest of her days... if she can only get her meddling Aunt Bedelia to stop trying to marry her off. Her first marriage (never consummated, thankfully, since the old goat was generally too drunk to manage it) was enough of a nightmare. But Miranda's peace is not to last. Langley's flamboyant former misstr-- er, Nannies-- all FIVE of them-- have descended upon her household like a plague of houseguests, insisting that HE has returned and not willing to leave until they find him.
And then the man himself tumbles into her bed (by accident-- he was trying to get to the attic), and decides a fake betrothal to the all-too-proper-and-icy Lady Standon is just the thing to let him move around safely in Society and find out who wants to kill him (this time). But Miranda has secrets of her own, and though his kiss his everything she dreamed a kiss could be, she can NOT be tying herself to a practiced rake and a liar. People want him dead. Whenever the bounder opens his mouth and compromises her reputation further, Miranda feels she could be one of them. (She DOES have a gun, after all.) Besides, with his pick of beautiful, passionate mistresses, he couldn't possibly want *her*... could he?
It's been awhile since I read the previous books in this series, so I had to struggle a little to keep up with the burgeoning cast. (I had to refer to the family trees in the front of the book more than once... and I had never truly realized how TIGHTLY all these couples were connected until I saw those). For me, that was the only thing that really detracted from the book... the cast has gotten so large, and there were so MANY cameos in this one, that I started to lose track of people and who was important to whom and why.
Overpopulation aside, I LOVED Miranda and Langley. Langley is indeed the most OUTRAGEOUS bounder, but a delightful one. I found it touching that the attraction, for him, was there from the first-- although his former mistresses called Miranda plain, he never did. He's flattering, clever, utterly maddening, and uses the truth like a weapon, but he never shames her, and he never talks down to her. Even when his actions (or their consequences) might embarrass her, he doesn't generally leave her dangling-- he moves in to support her. Miranda can't deny she finds him attractive, but she doesn't toss her willpower out the window the first time he touches her. I like that she fights back, and that she puts him in his place (and on his behind) more than once in the course of the book. She's smart, she's a fighter, and she's practical-- an often-overlooked virtue in romance heroines, I feel.
And speaking of support-- yes, the supporting cast is huge, but for the most part delightful. The Nannies are sort of like evil fairy godmothers. (Actually, I felt they could have been used to forward the intrigue portion of the plot a little better-- I felt the author wasted an opportunity, there, by not drawing them out individually a little more... but that would've been a longer book, too.) I was happy to see many long-dangling plot threads (particularly Paris) finally wrapped up, although I would have liked to see that particular thread wind through the book a little more consistently.
So... Lord Andrew Stowe, next? Or perhaps... I wonder what Goldy will be like, when she grows up a little?
November 8, 2011
Bagus nih, kisah tentang Lord Langley , sang duda keren yang ngumpet di rumah janda muda , yang setelah seminggu, baru ketahuan.
Ketahuan nya juga lucu...saat mengendap2 di kamar Minerva, Langley terjatuh ke tempat tidur,menimpa Minerva yang baruuuu aja mnengkhayal soal permintaan bibi nya untuk menikah lagi, dia pernah bilang kalo dia akan menikah lagi kalo laki2 itu jatuh dari klangit,langsung ke tempatb tidur nya.... eeehh..kejadian deh..asli nih peristiwa ini kocak banget. [image error]
Terkesan juga dengan para mantan mistress Langley dari berbagai negara yang berkumpul di rumah Minerva dan membantu menjodohkan Minerva dengan Langley, walaupun awal nya Minerva yg dingin dan biasa saja sempat di hina2 mereka, masa siiih Langley yg penuh semangat itu mau menikah dengan "dia" , sambil memandang menghina gitu hahahahaha..... [image error]
Kenapa mereka jadi tiba2 bertunangan, ya itu tadi , karena Langley kepergok ada di kamar Minerva [image error] ...dan juga karena usuk Minerva yang bilang , kalo mau membersih kan nama baik, yah, kamu cari istri aja.
kagetlah Minerva, waktu tiba2 di depan para mantan mistress nya Langley, malah dia di tunjuk sebagai "tunangan" nya si Lord Langley ini.
langley mau pun Minerva sama2 memiliki masa lalu yang ingin mereka hapus, sanggup kah cinta mereka (yang timbul karena kedekatan secara tiba2 ini) menghalau segala nya, atau kah Langley membiar kan Minerva pergi dan menjadi seseorang yang lain? Siapa sebenarnya Minerva?
Menarik , dengan alur cerita yang cepat dan kocak...juga seksi dan romantis...Suka dengan karakter Langley yang teguh mempertahan kan cinta nya walaupun dia tahu resiko apa yang dia akan hadapi dengan menikahi Minerva...atau bukan Minerva?
Ketahuan nya juga lucu...saat mengendap2 di kamar Minerva, Langley terjatuh ke tempat tidur,menimpa Minerva yang baruuuu aja mnengkhayal soal permintaan bibi nya untuk menikah lagi, dia pernah bilang kalo dia akan menikah lagi kalo laki2 itu jatuh dari klangit,langsung ke tempatb tidur nya.... eeehh..kejadian deh..asli nih peristiwa ini kocak banget. [image error]
Terkesan juga dengan para mantan mistress Langley dari berbagai negara yang berkumpul di rumah Minerva dan membantu menjodohkan Minerva dengan Langley, walaupun awal nya Minerva yg dingin dan biasa saja sempat di hina2 mereka, masa siiih Langley yg penuh semangat itu mau menikah dengan "dia" , sambil memandang menghina gitu hahahahaha..... [image error]
Kenapa mereka jadi tiba2 bertunangan, ya itu tadi , karena Langley kepergok ada di kamar Minerva [image error] ...dan juga karena usuk Minerva yang bilang , kalo mau membersih kan nama baik, yah, kamu cari istri aja.
kagetlah Minerva, waktu tiba2 di depan para mantan mistress nya Langley, malah dia di tunjuk sebagai "tunangan" nya si Lord Langley ini.
langley mau pun Minerva sama2 memiliki masa lalu yang ingin mereka hapus, sanggup kah cinta mereka (yang timbul karena kedekatan secara tiba2 ini) menghalau segala nya, atau kah Langley membiar kan Minerva pergi dan menjadi seseorang yang lain? Siapa sebenarnya Minerva?
Menarik , dengan alur cerita yang cepat dan kocak...juga seksi dan romantis...Suka dengan karakter Langley yang teguh mempertahan kan cinta nya walaupun dia tahu resiko apa yang dia akan hadapi dengan menikahi Minerva...atau bukan Minerva?
October 12, 2011
I really didn’t like this book. I can’t remember having read her before, although the little excerpt in the front of the book was like “whoa!” in a good way. So I picked it up a while back, and finally set to reading it last night. I’ll lay out a few of the reasons.
1. I disliked Felicity and the “Nannies.” I couldn’t get past how such a seemingly nice Duke could appreciate someone who is so money-motivated (and there is no backstory that would make me feel otherwise.) Her treatment of the widows was horrendous, and the beginning premise of her mistreatment of them, and the Duke quietly trying to assist, set the tone for the first chapters. As to the Nannies, that was a plot twist that we could have done without. They took away from the relationship that we as romance readers expect to see develop.
2. I didn’t like Lord Langley. I never had the sense that he was this master spy that he was made out to be, and he wasn’t a particularly likeable fellow. And he didn’t even have that rough/scarred emotional persona to make him that way. By the end, I could care less that he was being framed – I wanted him gone. And that’s a sad state of affairs for a romance novel! I couldn’t get myself to care about him and his future. I also disliked his relationship with Felicity. It’s only at the end that you get the reunion, and even then it’s glossed over.
3. I felt that the early chemistry between Langley and Minerva had lots of promise, but nothing lived up to that first moment when he decides to make her his wife.
There were more, but I think the overarching reason for why I didn’t like the book was relationships: the relationship between the hero and heroine, the relationship between his child and her relationship with the hero and heroine, and role of the secondary characters.
1. I disliked Felicity and the “Nannies.” I couldn’t get past how such a seemingly nice Duke could appreciate someone who is so money-motivated (and there is no backstory that would make me feel otherwise.) Her treatment of the widows was horrendous, and the beginning premise of her mistreatment of them, and the Duke quietly trying to assist, set the tone for the first chapters. As to the Nannies, that was a plot twist that we could have done without. They took away from the relationship that we as romance readers expect to see develop.
2. I didn’t like Lord Langley. I never had the sense that he was this master spy that he was made out to be, and he wasn’t a particularly likeable fellow. And he didn’t even have that rough/scarred emotional persona to make him that way. By the end, I could care less that he was being framed – I wanted him gone. And that’s a sad state of affairs for a romance novel! I couldn’t get myself to care about him and his future. I also disliked his relationship with Felicity. It’s only at the end that you get the reunion, and even then it’s glossed over.
3. I felt that the early chemistry between Langley and Minerva had lots of promise, but nothing lived up to that first moment when he decides to make her his wife.
There were more, but I think the overarching reason for why I didn’t like the book was relationships: the relationship between the hero and heroine, the relationship between his child and her relationship with the hero and heroine, and role of the secondary characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 10, 2016
Wasn't familiar with this author even though she's quite prolific but I really liked this book and will look for the others in the series. Likeable characters and smart dialogue.
August 5, 2022
Minerva, also known as Lady Standon, meets Lord Langley when the former British spy drops unannounced into her bedchamber. To stave off her hoard of visitors and his former paramours, he declares their betrothment. Secretly he’s trying to find who framed him for treason while Minerva hides a secret of their own. Can they work together to defeat their enemies? As a new reader to this series, I found the secondary characters who called themselves “nannies” rather annoying. I also felt as though reading the previous books might have clarified some of the relationships. Otherwise, it's a decent historical romance.
August 11, 2015
Author brain glomming glaze in effect.
As much as I love Elizabeth Boyle, I am happy that Lord Langley is Back in Town is the last of the full-length books in the Bachelor Chronicles for me to read. My brain developed a Boyle glaze over for a short while. Now, that may not sound too good for Lord Langley is Back in Town, especially when one considers I wasn't too fond of it the first time around. But don't get too excited because this time I liked it. I think that my change of opinion on this particular book lies mainly in the fact that I read it immediately after all the others, so this time around I wasn't lost in the plethora of characters that were found in the book. I will be honest, I don't think this is a very good standalone book. There are just too many paths to follow and plots to close from the other books. And, if your memory is shoddy, the numerous characters are overwhelming. However, as I said before, this time around I did enjoy this story and the characters of Minerva and Lord Langley.
Minerva is one of the Standon widows and now that the other two are married she has her whole house to herself and she's really really looking forward to it. She wants to be free, free of any entanglements and she definitely doesn't ever want to be married again, much to the chagrin of her matchmaking aunt. So, Minerva is ready to set in the easy chair with her feet up drinking coffee - wait, that's me - anyway, she's ready to enjoy the peace of the house she's living in without the other two widows and their baggage causing trouble. Knock knock. Uh oh, who’s that knocking at my door? Don't open it, don't open it! Too late, in barges the ex-mistresses of Lord Langley. They are on a mission, they know that Lord Langley's is in this house and they are determined to find him. Minerva knows he's not and she's determined to push these women out of her house. She loses; she is no match for a bunch of worldly, strong-willed women with a mission on their mind. Unbeknownst to Minerva, Lord Langley, who was thought to be dead, has escaped from a French prison and has been hiding out in Minerva's attic.
He is was a master spy who was set up and accused of being a traitor, so he has been sneaking around trying to find the person/s responsible. One evening he returns home to find the mistresses there and decides caution is of the essence, so he decides to climb up the drainpipe and ends up in Minerva's bed. Now, Minerva's reaction to a strange man in her room/bed isn't the quietest; in fact her screaming wakes everyone up. What plan does the master plan come up with? He embarks on a false engagement with Minerva. His thinking is that a public cavorting will bring out the evil villain.
Lord Langley is the fun part of this book. He's smart, good-natured, and playful. The banter between him and Minerva is a lot of fun. None of Minerva's secrets seem to have very much of a detrimental effect on Langley. He accepts most of them without any condemning. In fact, his wicked enjoyment of life pushes Minerva out of her repressed shell. Langley and Minerva are also an older couple, so there was a certain lack of innocence about the couple. The first time I read this book, I thought it would make a good Preston Sturgis screwball comedy and I still do. The shenanigans of a houseful of mistresses just screams for all kinds of demented episodes. I also liked Minerva better this time around. Her starchiness makes a perfect foil for the devil-may-care attitude of Lord Langley.
While I did enjoy this book for the most part, the ending was a little too much with waaaay to many previous characters showing up to save the day. Even though I wasn't confused about who was who this time around, it was just a little bit overcrowded to enjoy. I do wish authors didn't feel the need to include allll of their heroes and heroines from previous books in the final book of the series. I also wasn't too excited about the epilogue and the keeping of the secret from Felicity. Overall, this was a fun read, but it comes with a warning: it should be read in quick succession with the other in the series because it doesn't do well on its own.
Below is review from September of 2011:
OMG! Who are all these people??
Elizabeth Boyle is one of my favorite authors; she's an automatic buy. I always look forward to her books, because I know that I'm going to get a good yarn. Now, that doesn't mean there are some I don't like as much as others,cause there are, and Lord Langley is Back in Town is one that I don't like as much. Bummer.
I am a number one fan of books in a series and those little handy dandy pedigree charts that are stuck there to stop us from floundering around. However, even though I have read every single book in this series, I was lost. I couldn't remember who did what to whom when. And that was too bad, because I became so distracted by trying to remember all of these people, I found that I could not enjoy the book as much as I wanted to. That's doubly sad seeing as how I really, really, really liked Lord Langley. I thought he was just the bees-knees! He was older, sexy, and charming. He had a mischievous quality about him that I found most amusing.
Minerva I was less enchanted with, in fact I found her just a bit tiresome and I wasn't really that interested in her back story. I think in this case I would have been just as happy without her back story, because it didn't add too much too the overall book. Here we go: If it had been me writing the book, I would have enhanced the farce that was created by the four ex-lovers of Langley being in the same house. I could see all manner of Preston Sturges' shenanigans going on with all the women under the same roof. However, while humorous scenes did happen, I wished there had been more of a farce. And yes, I know, I didn't write the book!
I loved Langley, and I wish his romance with Minerva had been stronger. There were just too many other people crowding into this book for the romance between Langley and Minerva to develop. It's not a good sign when I can be easily distracted while reading a book, especially one that I was looking forward to with much anticipation. Anyway, I'll be waiting for the next in the series, Along Came a Duke. Maybe I'll do some rereading before then.
As much as I love Elizabeth Boyle, I am happy that Lord Langley is Back in Town is the last of the full-length books in the Bachelor Chronicles for me to read. My brain developed a Boyle glaze over for a short while. Now, that may not sound too good for Lord Langley is Back in Town, especially when one considers I wasn't too fond of it the first time around. But don't get too excited because this time I liked it. I think that my change of opinion on this particular book lies mainly in the fact that I read it immediately after all the others, so this time around I wasn't lost in the plethora of characters that were found in the book. I will be honest, I don't think this is a very good standalone book. There are just too many paths to follow and plots to close from the other books. And, if your memory is shoddy, the numerous characters are overwhelming. However, as I said before, this time around I did enjoy this story and the characters of Minerva and Lord Langley.
Minerva is one of the Standon widows and now that the other two are married she has her whole house to herself and she's really really looking forward to it. She wants to be free, free of any entanglements and she definitely doesn't ever want to be married again, much to the chagrin of her matchmaking aunt. So, Minerva is ready to set in the easy chair with her feet up drinking coffee - wait, that's me - anyway, she's ready to enjoy the peace of the house she's living in without the other two widows and their baggage causing trouble. Knock knock. Uh oh, who’s that knocking at my door? Don't open it, don't open it! Too late, in barges the ex-mistresses of Lord Langley. They are on a mission, they know that Lord Langley's is in this house and they are determined to find him. Minerva knows he's not and she's determined to push these women out of her house. She loses; she is no match for a bunch of worldly, strong-willed women with a mission on their mind. Unbeknownst to Minerva, Lord Langley, who was thought to be dead, has escaped from a French prison and has been hiding out in Minerva's attic.
He is was a master spy who was set up and accused of being a traitor, so he has been sneaking around trying to find the person/s responsible. One evening he returns home to find the mistresses there and decides caution is of the essence, so he decides to climb up the drainpipe and ends up in Minerva's bed. Now, Minerva's reaction to a strange man in her room/bed isn't the quietest; in fact her screaming wakes everyone up. What plan does the master plan come up with? He embarks on a false engagement with Minerva. His thinking is that a public cavorting will bring out the evil villain.
Lord Langley is the fun part of this book. He's smart, good-natured, and playful. The banter between him and Minerva is a lot of fun. None of Minerva's secrets seem to have very much of a detrimental effect on Langley. He accepts most of them without any condemning. In fact, his wicked enjoyment of life pushes Minerva out of her repressed shell. Langley and Minerva are also an older couple, so there was a certain lack of innocence about the couple. The first time I read this book, I thought it would make a good Preston Sturgis screwball comedy and I still do. The shenanigans of a houseful of mistresses just screams for all kinds of demented episodes. I also liked Minerva better this time around. Her starchiness makes a perfect foil for the devil-may-care attitude of Lord Langley.
While I did enjoy this book for the most part, the ending was a little too much with waaaay to many previous characters showing up to save the day. Even though I wasn't confused about who was who this time around, it was just a little bit overcrowded to enjoy. I do wish authors didn't feel the need to include allll of their heroes and heroines from previous books in the final book of the series. I also wasn't too excited about the epilogue and the keeping of the secret from Felicity. Overall, this was a fun read, but it comes with a warning: it should be read in quick succession with the other in the series because it doesn't do well on its own.
Below is review from September of 2011:
OMG! Who are all these people??
Elizabeth Boyle is one of my favorite authors; she's an automatic buy. I always look forward to her books, because I know that I'm going to get a good yarn. Now, that doesn't mean there are some I don't like as much as others,cause there are, and Lord Langley is Back in Town is one that I don't like as much. Bummer.
I am a number one fan of books in a series and those little handy dandy pedigree charts that are stuck there to stop us from floundering around. However, even though I have read every single book in this series, I was lost. I couldn't remember who did what to whom when. And that was too bad, because I became so distracted by trying to remember all of these people, I found that I could not enjoy the book as much as I wanted to. That's doubly sad seeing as how I really, really, really liked Lord Langley. I thought he was just the bees-knees! He was older, sexy, and charming. He had a mischievous quality about him that I found most amusing.
Minerva I was less enchanted with, in fact I found her just a bit tiresome and I wasn't really that interested in her back story. I think in this case I would have been just as happy without her back story, because it didn't add too much too the overall book. Here we go: If it had been me writing the book, I would have enhanced the farce that was created by the four ex-lovers of Langley being in the same house. I could see all manner of Preston Sturges' shenanigans going on with all the women under the same roof. However, while humorous scenes did happen, I wished there had been more of a farce. And yes, I know, I didn't write the book!
I loved Langley, and I wish his romance with Minerva had been stronger. There were just too many other people crowding into this book for the romance between Langley and Minerva to develop. It's not a good sign when I can be easily distracted while reading a book, especially one that I was looking forward to with much anticipation. Anyway, I'll be waiting for the next in the series, Along Came a Duke. Maybe I'll do some rereading before then.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 5, 2020
Cute, light and a fast read. But yet another hr romance with a spy?? How do I keep finding these?
September 4, 2024
Not bad.
October 29, 2011
ellis, baron langley, ayahanda felicity & thalia langley.
kalo mo liat felicity & thalia yg udah dewasa begitu pasti bayangin lord langley sbg pria paro baya yg kebapakan.
ternyata oh ternyata....nih bokap funky abisssss. masih ganteng, gagah & mempesona.
sekarang kita bisa tau daripada felicity mendapat sifatnya yg maju terus pantang mundur, siapa lagi kalo ga dari bokapnya.
bener2 deh baca cerita ttg lord langley ini susah bayangin dia udah punya anak gadis yg bukan hanya 1 tp 2.
baron langley, seorang agent kerajaan karna penghianatan orang terpercaya nya menghilang saat di paris & diberitakan meninggal, bukan itu saja langley bahkan ditudah sbg seorg traitor.
sekarang lord langley kembali ke london, siap mengungkap penghianatan tersebut & membersihkan namanya. tp kepulangannya blm boleh seorangpun yg tau termasuk felicity & thalia.
lord langley bersembunyi di rumah yg pernah ditempati oleh felicity & thallia, jl....brook no. 7 yang sekarang ditempati oleh para dowager lady stendon (elinor, lucy & minerva) - xixixixixi hasil karya felicity nih yg terlalu suka jd mak comblang makanya demi membuat para widow ini mau menikah kembali dia membuat mereka hidup dlm 1 atap dirumah ala kadarnya.
karna elinor & lucy sudah menikah kembali jd yg berada disitu tinggal minerva.
minerva yg tidak tau ttg lord langley yg menumpang dirumahnya kaget karna tiba2 para "nanny" dari eropa tiba2 datang & menuntutnya memberitahu dimana lord langley berada.
bingunglah minerva ini kenapa lagi,bukannya lord langley sudah meninggal???
nah ini kenapa para "nanny" jd berbondong2 datang kesini.
& para nanny ini bukan sembarang nanny, semua adalah lady2 terhormat dari berbagai belahan dunia & mereka semua sangat2 mempesona, lebih dari minerva.
minerva ngotot kalo ga ada lord langley dirumahnya, sedang para nanny juga ngotot kalo lord langley ada & mereka ga akan pergi jg minerva tidak mengatakan dimana lord langley.
pusing dengan kengototan para nanny ehhhhhhhh tiba2 minerva mendapati seorang pria tampan dikamar tidurnya.
lord langley!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ternyata benar perkataan para nanny kalo lord langley masih hidup & ada di rumahnya tp kenapa dia jd ga tau ya???
udah gitu ini baron langley heran tingkat kepedeannya tinggi amat ya, ketahuan banget kalo playboy cap kakap nih.
aq baca pas adegan lord langley salah masuk kamar & mendarat dikamar minerva pengen ngakak sekaligus geleng2 kepala.
ya ampun......yg ceweq tipe2 wanita kolot jaman dulu yg hanya tau pantas & tidak pantas sedang cowoqnya ampun deh setiap patah kata yg diucapkannya adl rayuan.
bener2 ga keliatan kalo dia ini ayah dr 2 anak gadis yg udah dewasa.
bener2 pasangan yg bagai kutub utara & selatan.
walau berbanding terbalik tp mereka saling tertarik.
langley suka banget menggoda ketenangan minerva.
dengan pedenya langley mengumumkan pertunangannya dgn minerva. pertunangan yg dimaksudkan agar para nanny melepaskan langley.
tp bukannya mereka melepaskan malah mereka terhina. terhina karna langley yg terkenal playboy & menghindari pernikahan ternyata memilih menikah dgn wanita "biasa2" saja.
mereka ga terima :D
pusing deh minerva dgn para tamu tak diundang dirumah mereka.
ketambahan dgn bibinya yg sama aja kayak felicity, mak comblang sejati & berusaha menjodoh2kan minerva dgn langley.
sebenarnya apa yg terjadi pada baron langley sampai diberitakan sudah meninggal di paris bahkan mendpt tuduhan traitor???
baron langley adl agent kerajaan yg pada saat misinya ke paris dikhianati oleh sekretaris pribadinya & temannya sendiri.
mereka melakukan penyelundupan thd mutiara2 berharga & mengirimkannya ke england, karna perbuatan mereka hampir terkuak makanya mereka mengkambinghitamkan langley, kasian ya cakep2 kok dijadikan kambing ya......
mereka menjebak langley membuatnya seolah2 menghianati england.
membuat langley menghilang & disangka meninggal pdhl langley dipenjara & sempat hilang ingatan. (harus terima kasih sama princess jamilla nih yg mengeluarkan langley dari penjara secara diam2).
3 tahun langley harus menghindari england, tidak bisa berkumpul bersama keluarga. sekarang langley siap untuk kembali ke england membersihkan dirinya.
& untungnya sahabat2nya masih setia & mempercayainya. ditambah dengan lord andrew yg juga merupakan asuhan ellyson percaya & akan membantu langley.
cerita langley kembali ke kota tentu saja membuat gempar dimana2 tp aq heran nih kemana si thalia ya??? trus felicity kenapa ga sesegera mungkin kembali ke kota ya???
sepanjang membaca aq harap2 cemas felicity nongol eh sekalinya nongol udah di ending2 buku.
aaaaaaaaaa sayang banget khan.
aq pengen banget baca interaksi antara felicity, thalia dengan lord langley.
begitu felicity nongol eh langsung bantuin bokapnya nangkap para penghianatnya.
aq bener2 masih ga bisa bayangin si flamboyan lord langley punya anak gadis gedhe2 yg udah married.
susah susah susah...................
kalo mo liat felicity & thalia yg udah dewasa begitu pasti bayangin lord langley sbg pria paro baya yg kebapakan.
ternyata oh ternyata....nih bokap funky abisssss. masih ganteng, gagah & mempesona.
sekarang kita bisa tau daripada felicity mendapat sifatnya yg maju terus pantang mundur, siapa lagi kalo ga dari bokapnya.
bener2 deh baca cerita ttg lord langley ini susah bayangin dia udah punya anak gadis yg bukan hanya 1 tp 2.
baron langley, seorang agent kerajaan karna penghianatan orang terpercaya nya menghilang saat di paris & diberitakan meninggal, bukan itu saja langley bahkan ditudah sbg seorg traitor.
sekarang lord langley kembali ke london, siap mengungkap penghianatan tersebut & membersihkan namanya. tp kepulangannya blm boleh seorangpun yg tau termasuk felicity & thalia.
lord langley bersembunyi di rumah yg pernah ditempati oleh felicity & thallia, jl....brook no. 7 yang sekarang ditempati oleh para dowager lady stendon (elinor, lucy & minerva) - xixixixixi hasil karya felicity nih yg terlalu suka jd mak comblang makanya demi membuat para widow ini mau menikah kembali dia membuat mereka hidup dlm 1 atap dirumah ala kadarnya.
karna elinor & lucy sudah menikah kembali jd yg berada disitu tinggal minerva.
minerva yg tidak tau ttg lord langley yg menumpang dirumahnya kaget karna tiba2 para "nanny" dari eropa tiba2 datang & menuntutnya memberitahu dimana lord langley berada.
bingunglah minerva ini kenapa lagi,bukannya lord langley sudah meninggal???
nah ini kenapa para "nanny" jd berbondong2 datang kesini.
& para nanny ini bukan sembarang nanny, semua adalah lady2 terhormat dari berbagai belahan dunia & mereka semua sangat2 mempesona, lebih dari minerva.
minerva ngotot kalo ga ada lord langley dirumahnya, sedang para nanny juga ngotot kalo lord langley ada & mereka ga akan pergi jg minerva tidak mengatakan dimana lord langley.
pusing dengan kengototan para nanny ehhhhhhhh tiba2 minerva mendapati seorang pria tampan dikamar tidurnya.
lord langley!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ternyata benar perkataan para nanny kalo lord langley masih hidup & ada di rumahnya tp kenapa dia jd ga tau ya???
udah gitu ini baron langley heran tingkat kepedeannya tinggi amat ya, ketahuan banget kalo playboy cap kakap nih.
aq baca pas adegan lord langley salah masuk kamar & mendarat dikamar minerva pengen ngakak sekaligus geleng2 kepala.
ya ampun......yg ceweq tipe2 wanita kolot jaman dulu yg hanya tau pantas & tidak pantas sedang cowoqnya ampun deh setiap patah kata yg diucapkannya adl rayuan.
bener2 ga keliatan kalo dia ini ayah dr 2 anak gadis yg udah dewasa.
bener2 pasangan yg bagai kutub utara & selatan.
walau berbanding terbalik tp mereka saling tertarik.
langley suka banget menggoda ketenangan minerva.
dengan pedenya langley mengumumkan pertunangannya dgn minerva. pertunangan yg dimaksudkan agar para nanny melepaskan langley.
tp bukannya mereka melepaskan malah mereka terhina. terhina karna langley yg terkenal playboy & menghindari pernikahan ternyata memilih menikah dgn wanita "biasa2" saja.
mereka ga terima :D
pusing deh minerva dgn para tamu tak diundang dirumah mereka.
ketambahan dgn bibinya yg sama aja kayak felicity, mak comblang sejati & berusaha menjodoh2kan minerva dgn langley.
sebenarnya apa yg terjadi pada baron langley sampai diberitakan sudah meninggal di paris bahkan mendpt tuduhan traitor???
baron langley adl agent kerajaan yg pada saat misinya ke paris dikhianati oleh sekretaris pribadinya & temannya sendiri.
mereka melakukan penyelundupan thd mutiara2 berharga & mengirimkannya ke england, karna perbuatan mereka hampir terkuak makanya mereka mengkambinghitamkan langley, kasian ya cakep2 kok dijadikan kambing ya......
mereka menjebak langley membuatnya seolah2 menghianati england.
membuat langley menghilang & disangka meninggal pdhl langley dipenjara & sempat hilang ingatan. (harus terima kasih sama princess jamilla nih yg mengeluarkan langley dari penjara secara diam2).
3 tahun langley harus menghindari england, tidak bisa berkumpul bersama keluarga. sekarang langley siap untuk kembali ke england membersihkan dirinya.
& untungnya sahabat2nya masih setia & mempercayainya. ditambah dengan lord andrew yg juga merupakan asuhan ellyson percaya & akan membantu langley.
cerita langley kembali ke kota tentu saja membuat gempar dimana2 tp aq heran nih kemana si thalia ya??? trus felicity kenapa ga sesegera mungkin kembali ke kota ya???
sepanjang membaca aq harap2 cemas felicity nongol eh sekalinya nongol udah di ending2 buku.
aaaaaaaaaa sayang banget khan.
aq pengen banget baca interaksi antara felicity, thalia dengan lord langley.
begitu felicity nongol eh langsung bantuin bokapnya nangkap para penghianatnya.
aq bener2 masih ga bisa bayangin si flamboyan lord langley punya anak gadis gedhe2 yg udah married.
susah susah susah...................
October 24, 2011
ceritanya bermulai dari kembalinya lord ellis langley ke inggris...
lord langley selama ini dikira sudah meninggal dan meninggal sebagai mata2 inggris....
padahal kenyataannya selama ini dia hidup di penjara di perancis akibat pengkhianatan yang dilakukan sekretaris nya...yang menyuruh org buat membunuh dia dan menaruh bukti2 palsu yang mencemarkan nama lord langley yang sebelumnya terkenal sebagai diplomat dan mata2 te4rkenal inggris....
lady minerva standon adalah seorang janda yang rumahnya di masuki lord langley secara diam2 buat bersembunyi sambil merencanakan tindakan selanjutnya buat mengembalikan nama baiknya...
suatu hari minerva kedatangan 5 orang mantan mistress nya lord langley yang menyerbu masuk rumah minerva buat mencari lord langley....
mereka bukan mistrees yang biasa, mereka semua wanita berkuasa dari belahan dunia lain, mereka sering disebut 'the nannies' (awalnya karena mereka yang jadi nany anakkembar nya lord langley yang masih kecil2 dan kehilangan ibu mereka pas melahirkan)...
ada nany brigid yang seorang contessa dari vienna, nanny jamilla yg seorang duchess dari perancia, nany lucia, duchess dari naples, nanny tasha, primcess rusia keponakan tsar dan nany helga, margravine of ansbach yang paling dingin diantara yang lain...
walau minerva bilang dia gak tau lord langley, mereka gak percaya dan langsung invasi ke rumah minerva dengan membawa segala pelayan mereka...
suatu saat lord langley lagi mengendap2, manjat2...salah masuk kamar ke kamar minerva....jatuhnya pas diatas minerva yang lagi tidur...
segala keributan membangunkan the nanies dan pelayan2....lord langley yang lagi mikir gimana cara nya supaya dia bisa kembali ke masyarakan dan gak sembunyi2 lagi,dapat ide...dia ngaku ke mantan2 mistressnya kalo sebenernya dia dan minerva bertunangan....
lord langley ini luar biasa tampan, semua ce yang liat dia pasti terpesona....para mistress nya gak percaya lord langley mau tunangan sama minerva secara minerva ini janda biasa2 aja yang kaku dan gak pernah bikin skandal..sedangkan langley itu full of scandal...
tadinya minerva gak mau dan menolak "pertunangan' itu...tapi karena minerva juga punya masalah, dia di blackmailed oleh seseorang dari masalalu nya yang memaksa dia harus segera mencari suami membayar orang itu biar tutup mulut sama rahasia minerva...
sebenernya minerva ini nama aslinya maggie something gitu...dia bukan anak earl...dia dipaksa kawin dengan lord sterling yang udah tua banget gantiin adik tiri nya yang kabur kawin lari sama pacar nya si maggie ini.....
maggie ini anak haram nya si earl dengan salah satu pelayan...maggie dipaksa menikah oleh ayah nya kalo enggak, ibu nya bakal diancam....
nah yang memb;ackmailed maggie ini adalah co mantan pacar nya yang mestinya dulu married sama maggie tapi ternyata kawin lari sama sodara tiri nya maggie....minerva yang asli...
after minerva yang asli meninggal si co ini mengancam akan membeberkan rahasia maggie kalo dia bukan lady yang asli...
padahal selama ini minerva/maggie udah hidup menderita dan bisa bener2 bebas pas suami nya yang tua dan kaya mati....
maggie (selanjutnya dipanggil minerva aja ya biar gak bingung) setuju menikah dengan lord langley dengan syarat:
1. gak boleh kissu2....soalnya lanley pernah kissu dia sekali di kamar itu dan bikin dia jadi lemas ;p
2. gak mau sharing tempat tidur secara maggie gak berani bayangin, di cium aja dia udah meleleh apalagi kalo sampe tidur bareng :P
3. selama pertunangan mereka, gak boleh ada skandal soalnya maggie adalah janda bereputasi tak tercela ...
tapi bukan lord langley namanya kalo gak bisa ngebalikin semua syarat minerva itu....
nantinya minerva membantu langley menjebak penjahat yang berniat membunuh dan memfitnah dia.....
langley juga sebenernya gak mau minerva membahayakan nyawanya sengan membantu dia...karena sedikit demi sedikit langley udah mencintai minerva.....minerva nya aja yang tangguh, dia bukan ce lemah dan gak takut menghadapi bahaya, beda sama mantan2 langley yang dulu...makanya langley bener2 cinta sama minerva...
dan minerva walo janda tapi masih vi loh....si langley aja kaget banget....tapi pas lagi uhuk2 si minerva nya gak mau stop :D
dengan bantuan minerva, felicity dan tally (anak2 langley yang udah merit sama dule dan baron) juga bantuan dari temen2 minerva...akhirnya mereka bisa menjebak si penjahat dan mengembalikan nama balik langley...
nantinya lord langley punya 3 anak dari minerva....seperti biasa..ending buku boyle selalu manis2....
lord langley selama ini dikira sudah meninggal dan meninggal sebagai mata2 inggris....
padahal kenyataannya selama ini dia hidup di penjara di perancis akibat pengkhianatan yang dilakukan sekretaris nya...yang menyuruh org buat membunuh dia dan menaruh bukti2 palsu yang mencemarkan nama lord langley yang sebelumnya terkenal sebagai diplomat dan mata2 te4rkenal inggris....
lady minerva standon adalah seorang janda yang rumahnya di masuki lord langley secara diam2 buat bersembunyi sambil merencanakan tindakan selanjutnya buat mengembalikan nama baiknya...
suatu hari minerva kedatangan 5 orang mantan mistress nya lord langley yang menyerbu masuk rumah minerva buat mencari lord langley....
mereka bukan mistrees yang biasa, mereka semua wanita berkuasa dari belahan dunia lain, mereka sering disebut 'the nannies' (awalnya karena mereka yang jadi nany anakkembar nya lord langley yang masih kecil2 dan kehilangan ibu mereka pas melahirkan)...
ada nany brigid yang seorang contessa dari vienna, nanny jamilla yg seorang duchess dari perancia, nany lucia, duchess dari naples, nanny tasha, primcess rusia keponakan tsar dan nany helga, margravine of ansbach yang paling dingin diantara yang lain...
walau minerva bilang dia gak tau lord langley, mereka gak percaya dan langsung invasi ke rumah minerva dengan membawa segala pelayan mereka...
suatu saat lord langley lagi mengendap2, manjat2...salah masuk kamar ke kamar minerva....jatuhnya pas diatas minerva yang lagi tidur...
segala keributan membangunkan the nanies dan pelayan2....lord langley yang lagi mikir gimana cara nya supaya dia bisa kembali ke masyarakan dan gak sembunyi2 lagi,dapat ide...dia ngaku ke mantan2 mistressnya kalo sebenernya dia dan minerva bertunangan....
lord langley ini luar biasa tampan, semua ce yang liat dia pasti terpesona....para mistress nya gak percaya lord langley mau tunangan sama minerva secara minerva ini janda biasa2 aja yang kaku dan gak pernah bikin skandal..sedangkan langley itu full of scandal...
tadinya minerva gak mau dan menolak "pertunangan' itu...tapi karena minerva juga punya masalah, dia di blackmailed oleh seseorang dari masalalu nya yang memaksa dia harus segera mencari suami membayar orang itu biar tutup mulut sama rahasia minerva...
sebenernya minerva ini nama aslinya maggie something gitu...dia bukan anak earl...dia dipaksa kawin dengan lord sterling yang udah tua banget gantiin adik tiri nya yang kabur kawin lari sama pacar nya si maggie ini.....
maggie ini anak haram nya si earl dengan salah satu pelayan...maggie dipaksa menikah oleh ayah nya kalo enggak, ibu nya bakal diancam....
nah yang memb;ackmailed maggie ini adalah co mantan pacar nya yang mestinya dulu married sama maggie tapi ternyata kawin lari sama sodara tiri nya maggie....minerva yang asli...
after minerva yang asli meninggal si co ini mengancam akan membeberkan rahasia maggie kalo dia bukan lady yang asli...
padahal selama ini minerva/maggie udah hidup menderita dan bisa bener2 bebas pas suami nya yang tua dan kaya mati....
maggie (selanjutnya dipanggil minerva aja ya biar gak bingung) setuju menikah dengan lord langley dengan syarat:
1. gak boleh kissu2....soalnya lanley pernah kissu dia sekali di kamar itu dan bikin dia jadi lemas ;p
2. gak mau sharing tempat tidur secara maggie gak berani bayangin, di cium aja dia udah meleleh apalagi kalo sampe tidur bareng :P
3. selama pertunangan mereka, gak boleh ada skandal soalnya maggie adalah janda bereputasi tak tercela ...
tapi bukan lord langley namanya kalo gak bisa ngebalikin semua syarat minerva itu....
nantinya minerva membantu langley menjebak penjahat yang berniat membunuh dan memfitnah dia.....
langley juga sebenernya gak mau minerva membahayakan nyawanya sengan membantu dia...karena sedikit demi sedikit langley udah mencintai minerva.....minerva nya aja yang tangguh, dia bukan ce lemah dan gak takut menghadapi bahaya, beda sama mantan2 langley yang dulu...makanya langley bener2 cinta sama minerva...
dan minerva walo janda tapi masih vi loh....si langley aja kaget banget....tapi pas lagi uhuk2 si minerva nya gak mau stop :D
dengan bantuan minerva, felicity dan tally (anak2 langley yang udah merit sama dule dan baron) juga bantuan dari temen2 minerva...akhirnya mereka bisa menjebak si penjahat dan mengembalikan nama balik langley...
nantinya lord langley punya 3 anak dari minerva....seperti biasa..ending buku boyle selalu manis2....
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 28, 2018
This was fine. Minerva's back story is interesting. But yet again with this series, all the plot happens in the last few pages. I know this is a romance and not a mystery of spy thriller, but if you're going to introduce those plot elements, it's better if they're not resolved in a whirlwind.
September 12, 2014
First of all, i have to say that i really thought _ after reading the first pages and being introduced to the "nannies _ that this book was going to be a disaster.
I was wrong.
It was worse.
An hero that although on his forty e two years old, "sounds" like he's twenty. His behaviour could be described as juvenile and i never saw anything that would correspond to the title of master spy. An heroine, Minerva, that has an unlikely _ and far-fetched _ secret. It just didn't work. I wasn't interessed in the story, i wasn't interessed in the two of them, and those "nannies"...arhg!!
I know this is suposed to be a light and fun reading, but it just got tiresome. That's the word i would use to describe this book. It wasn't funny at all, and i was counting the pages until it finally ended!!
This was the first book that i've read by Elizabeth Boyle, and after this, i dont know if i will try to read another one of this writer.
I was wrong.
It was worse.
An hero that although on his forty e two years old, "sounds" like he's twenty. His behaviour could be described as juvenile and i never saw anything that would correspond to the title of master spy. An heroine, Minerva, that has an unlikely _ and far-fetched _ secret. It just didn't work. I wasn't interessed in the story, i wasn't interessed in the two of them, and those "nannies"...arhg!!
I know this is suposed to be a light and fun reading, but it just got tiresome. That's the word i would use to describe this book. It wasn't funny at all, and i was counting the pages until it finally ended!!
This was the first book that i've read by Elizabeth Boyle, and after this, i dont know if i will try to read another one of this writer.
January 1, 2012
A bit boring, to tell the truth. I didn't like the Heroine (bit too uptight), and the Hero's rakishness wasn't anything new to keep me interested. The Heroine has a great backstory/complication for her present that I felt Elizabeth Boyle didn't do enough with. I would have liked the entire book to be about that.
September 25, 2011
Dreck. Utter dreck. This is an example of me following a romance author's recommendation (Julia Quinn), only to find that surely, this must've been done solely on a self-serving basis. Because the writing is TERRIBLE. Utterly horrible. I want to gouge out my eyes and unread the last 63 pages. Truly abysmal.
January 4, 2012
Liked it--did not love it. It was fun to have Lord Langley as a hero since we've known about him from the first book in The Bachelor Chronicles.
Minerva was not a particularly likable character in the earlier books, so it was nice to view her more sympathetically.
Minerva was not a particularly likable character in the earlier books, so it was nice to view her more sympathetically.
June 14, 2012
Another great book from Elizabeth Boyle. What I liked about this is that the hero is in his 40's and the heroine in her 30's. The love story is a bit haphazarded but still is great. I would have liked a little more of Felcity and Thalia to tie the story up at the end.
November 20, 2015
Pretty good but not very memorable.
December 5, 2021
Interesting book, confusing relationships but great plot. Lord Langley returns to England secretly. He is hiding out in the attic of one of his daughter's houses. He has come home to find out he has been thought dead and branded a traitor. He can't remember everything that happened before he was stuck down, left for dead and ended up in a French prison. He is here to clear his name and reclaim his honor.
To do all that Langley contrives a faux engagement to the present occupant of the house, Minerva, Lady Standon, who has secrets of her own. When a former acquaintance from her past shows up, trying to blackmail Minerva, she reluctantly agrees to the faux engagement with Langley but there are rules. Langley agrees..... but that doesn't mean he won't use every rakish trick he knows to get Minerva to break her own rules, especially once he realizes that this convenient arrangement may have led him to the only woman he will ever truly ever love.
I liked this book but it got confusing a bit with all the "nannies", daughters, aunts and secrets. Very interesting characters, good basic plot
To do all that Langley contrives a faux engagement to the present occupant of the house, Minerva, Lady Standon, who has secrets of her own. When a former acquaintance from her past shows up, trying to blackmail Minerva, she reluctantly agrees to the faux engagement with Langley but there are rules. Langley agrees..... but that doesn't mean he won't use every rakish trick he knows to get Minerva to break her own rules, especially once he realizes that this convenient arrangement may have led him to the only woman he will ever truly ever love.
I liked this book but it got confusing a bit with all the "nannies", daughters, aunts and secrets. Very interesting characters, good basic plot
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February 20, 2023Pull quotes/notes
"...he shoved open the door and stepped out, realizing at once that they were in one of the more infamous spots in the city. For behind him had once stood a great tower and clock to mark where seven streets came together, but was now no more than a warren for thieves. Even in broad daylight the place had a murky, dark sort of air about it. And more notably, it was the perfect place for a fellow to be murdered and no trace left of him. And conveniently, no witnesses.
"Seven Dials?" he asked, less as a question and more as a wry remark to his companion." (342-343/985)
"When you fall in love, it is not with a name or a title or a fortune (though all those points are indispensable) but with the heart that beats inside.
Advice to Felicity Langley from her Nanny Lucia" (916/985)
"...he shoved open the door and stepped out, realizing at once that they were in one of the more infamous spots in the city. For behind him had once stood a great tower and clock to mark where seven streets came together, but was now no more than a warren for thieves. Even in broad daylight the place had a murky, dark sort of air about it. And more notably, it was the perfect place for a fellow to be murdered and no trace left of him. And conveniently, no witnesses.
"Seven Dials?" he asked, less as a question and more as a wry remark to his companion." (342-343/985)
"When you fall in love, it is not with a name or a title or a fortune (though all those points are indispensable) but with the heart that beats inside.
Advice to Felicity Langley from her Nanny Lucia" (916/985)
May 29, 2018
Not your garden variety romance
First, the hero is 42, hiding out as a servant, and assumed dead. Then,if he were alive, he'd be tried for treason. Four of his former mistresses descend on the house where he is hiding, and insists that the widow who lives there produce our hero. But she knows nothing until he climbs into her bedroom window.
First, the hero is 42, hiding out as a servant, and assumed dead. Then,if he were alive, he'd be tried for treason. Four of his former mistresses descend on the house where he is hiding, and insists that the widow who lives there produce our hero. But she knows nothing until he climbs into her bedroom window.
January 15, 2019
Wow! So many things going on in this book. Minerva has a huge secret, Langley has a ton of secrets, they’re in a house full of his old conquests, and they’re pretending to be engaged all while falling in love at the same time. I have no idea how everything was kept straight but it was. Entertaining for sure!
January 31, 2019
Finally finished the first book of the year! This book pulled me out of my slump. I enjoyed the characters and the hint of intrigue. I need to go back through the other books in the series and see what I have read. But I would recommend the book. It’s not 5 stars because it wasn’t a total page turner and there wasn’t a ton of heat. But overall - a good read.
January 31, 2020
Esperaba con ganas este nuevo tomo de la serie pero he de admitir que en el libro han acontecido momentos o situaciones algo chocantes que no he comprendido del todo o que me parecían un poco como "demasiado" absurdas o incomprensibles.
Reseña completa: https://atrapadaenunashojasdepapel.bl...
Reseña completa: https://atrapadaenunashojasdepapel.bl...
April 2, 2018
they fall in love soooo quickly ... I was have rated this one 3.5 stars, but alas ...
April 21, 2018
Very very good ending of these series, the hero is one of the originals that set the tone for the whole first 4-5 books, funny and outrageous and swashbuckling. Fun read!
July 6, 2018
DNF Don't waste your time.
August 14, 2018
Maybe a 3.5 for Bachelor Chronicles fans. Interesting to meet Lord Langley and to get Minerva's story.
January 6, 2019
3.5 stars
April 6, 2020
Slow moving, kind of boring. Minerva, the last Lady Standon and Lord Langley, Felicity and Thalias father.
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