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Lady with a Black Umbrella
Giles Fairhaven, Viscount Kincade, does not believe his life can get much worse after his purse is stolen at an inn before he has paid his bill and then he is set upon by three ruffians in the inn yard before he can leave. But it does grow worse when a little slip of a lady clad only in a flannel nightgown and wielding a large black man's umbrella comes to his rescue and puts his assailants to rout and then--after he has left--pays his reckoning at the inn plus the money he lost the evening before in a card game with a fellow guest plus what he owed the barmaid with whom he spent the night. The ensuing gossip is almost too much humiliation for Giles to bear. Yet when he finds and confronts Daisy Morrison in London, far from being cowed by his displeasure, she declares with sunny good nature that if he insists upon repaying the slight favour she was able to do for him, then he can recommend a lady sponsor to her so that she may find a husband for her younger sister among the gentlemen of the ton. Inexplicably, Giles finds himself agreeing. His troubles are only just beginning.
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 5, 1989
305 people are currently reading
1243 people want to read
About the author
Mary Balogh
200 books6,337 followersMary Jenkins was born in 1944 in Swansea, Wales, UK. After graduating from university, moved to Saskatchewan, Canada, to teach high school English, on a two-year teaching contract in 1967. She married her Canadian husband, Robert Balogh, and had three children, Jacqueline, Christopher and Sian. When she's not writing, she enjoys reading, music and knitting. She also enjoys watching tennis and curling.
Mary Balogh started writing in the evenings as a hobby. Her first book, a Regency love story, was published in 1985 as A Masked Deception under her married name. In 1988, she retired from teaching after 20 years to pursue her dream to write full-time. She has written more than seventy novels and almost thirty novellas since then, including the New York Times bestselling 'Slightly' sextet and 'Simply' quartet. She has won numerous awards, including Bestselling Historical of the Year from the Borders Group, and her novel Simply Magic was a finalist in the Quill Awards. She has won seven Waldenbooks Awards and two B. Dalton Awards for her bestselling novels, as well as a Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award.
Mary Balogh started writing in the evenings as a hobby. Her first book, a Regency love story, was published in 1985 as A Masked Deception under her married name. In 1988, she retired from teaching after 20 years to pursue her dream to write full-time. She has written more than seventy novels and almost thirty novellas since then, including the New York Times bestselling 'Slightly' sextet and 'Simply' quartet. She has won numerous awards, including Bestselling Historical of the Year from the Borders Group, and her novel Simply Magic was a finalist in the Quill Awards. She has won seven Waldenbooks Awards and two B. Dalton Awards for her bestselling novels, as well as a Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 238 reviews
February 9, 2016
What a delightful book! There's really no other adjective to describe it. This was one of the funniest reads I've had, and I found myself smiling, chuckling and laughing the whole time.
Giles and Daisy were both adorable. Giles didn't know what to do with her at first but, little by little, she made a place in his life - and his heart - and, before he realized it, he couldn't see himself living without her. Ms. Balogh has done an excellent job showing Giles and Daisy's slow but steady growing affection, and then love, towards each other, and I can easily see them living happily ever after. I'd go as far as to say that I wouldn't mind reading about them even after their HEA. It would be one heck of a funny read, considering Daisy's "talent" to get herself in trouble - not that she ever acknowledged that "special gift" of hers, of course. :)
The secondary love story involving Arthur, Giles's brother, and Rose, Daisy's sister, was also very charming, though more "serious" in tone, and added to my overall enjoyment. While Giles's marriage proposal to Daisy cracked me up, Arthur's proposal to Rose was sight-worthy. I felt lucky, as if I had landed a two-for-one deal. Not bad, considering this was a short novel.
This was only my third book by Ms. Balogh - I know, where have I been living all these years?!? - and she's yet to disappoint me. Considering how huge is her backlist, I'm in for a long, amazing treat!
Giles and Daisy were both adorable. Giles didn't know what to do with her at first but, little by little, she made a place in his life - and his heart - and, before he realized it, he couldn't see himself living without her. Ms. Balogh has done an excellent job showing Giles and Daisy's slow but steady growing affection, and then love, towards each other, and I can easily see them living happily ever after. I'd go as far as to say that I wouldn't mind reading about them even after their HEA. It would be one heck of a funny read, considering Daisy's "talent" to get herself in trouble - not that she ever acknowledged that "special gift" of hers, of course. :)
The secondary love story involving Arthur, Giles's brother, and Rose, Daisy's sister, was also very charming, though more "serious" in tone, and added to my overall enjoyment. While Giles's marriage proposal to Daisy cracked me up, Arthur's proposal to Rose was sight-worthy. I felt lucky, as if I had landed a two-for-one deal. Not bad, considering this was a short novel.
This was only my third book by Ms. Balogh - I know, where have I been living all these years?!? - and she's yet to disappoint me. Considering how huge is her backlist, I'm in for a long, amazing treat!
November 7, 2016
This was adorable. Fast-paced and lighthearted, this is a reissue of one of Balogh's Signet Regency stories. The lady in the title is the heroine, who tried to save the hero from a beating at a coaching inn armed only with a black umbrella. The hero had his purse stolen and had to leave IOUs for everyone at the inn - including the prostitute who had entertained him the night before. Since the heroine couldn't save the hero from a black eye, she did one better and paid all of his bills. (Without him knowing, of course).
Then off to London our "ancient" heroine (she's 25) goes to procure a season for her lovely 19 year-old sister, who is ten times more practical than her idealistic sister, but also resigned to her sister's strong personality.
The hero hates the heroine because she injured his pride by paying his debts, but he can't quit her. Their lives become entangled with his aunt takes on the job of sponsoring both women and his sisters and brother befriend them as well.
They inadvertently become betrothed with they are caught together in an empty room (they were both looking to stop the hero's younger sister from meeting a fortune-seeking cad). The hero kisses the heroine to "hide her identity" but the secret is out. Both H/h enjoyed the kiss, so the betrothal of convenience isn't such a burden.
It's really fun to watch a hero succumb when he really, really doesn't want to like the heroine. The heroine is oblivious to his seething emotions because she's so busy trying to manage everyone else. It's fun to watch her dawning realization of his strength of character and her physical attraction to him. Balogh also manages a romance for the heroine's younger sister and for the hero's sister. The sinister cad trying to elope with the hero's sister was the weakest part of the story.
Then off to London our "ancient" heroine (she's 25) goes to procure a season for her lovely 19 year-old sister, who is ten times more practical than her idealistic sister, but also resigned to her sister's strong personality.
The hero hates the heroine because she injured his pride by paying his debts, but he can't quit her. Their lives become entangled with his aunt takes on the job of sponsoring both women and his sisters and brother befriend them as well.
They inadvertently become betrothed with they are caught together in an empty room (they were both looking to stop the hero's younger sister from meeting a fortune-seeking cad). The hero kisses the heroine to "hide her identity" but the secret is out. Both H/h enjoyed the kiss, so the betrothal of convenience isn't such a burden.
It's really fun to watch a hero succumb when he really, really doesn't want to like the heroine. The heroine is oblivious to his seething emotions because she's so busy trying to manage everyone else. It's fun to watch her dawning realization of his strength of character and her physical attraction to him. Balogh also manages a romance for the heroine's younger sister and for the hero's sister. The sinister cad trying to elope with the hero's sister was the weakest part of the story.
April 21, 2021
B- / 3.5 stars.
Read for the April 2021 TBR Challenge Prompt- "Old School"
For this month’s “Old School” prompt, I went back to 1989 and a recently (digitally) re-issued golden oldie from Mary Balogh. “Light”, “fluffy” and “farcical” aren’t words one might readily associate with this author these days, as most of her recent books (and many of her earlier ones) are quiet and introspective, often dealing with darker themes and featuring characters with complex emotional problems and baggage - which makes Lady With a Black Umbrella, with its comedic grumpy/sunshine romance and overall air of whimsy something a little different from the rest of her oeuvre.
Giles Fairhaven, Viscount Kincade, has stopped at an inn overnight to break his journey to Bath – where he’s headed in order to escort his parents back to London. In the morning however, he is unable to pay his bill (or the willing barmaid who kept him company for most of the night, or the gambling debt he accrued playing another guest at cards) because he finds that his purse has been stolen. With no alternative but to return to London so he can make arrangements to send payment to the innkeeper, he is getting ready to leave when he is set upon by three thugs.
Fortunately –or unfortunately, as he later counts it – his situation has been witnessed from an upstairs window by a young woman who refuses to stand by and watch such an unfair fight, and who rushes to his aid dressed only in a nightgown, wielding a hefty black umbrella with which she alternately beats and stabs at Kincade’s assailants. The men leave, and the viscount offers a curt thank-you and goes on his way.
Sensible, forthright, twenty-five-year-old Daisy Morrison has been running her parents’ household – and pretty much anything else that comes into her orbit - for years. Declaring herself a confirmed spinster with no intention of marrying (because she would “run” her husband - “And I do not think I could bear being married to a man who would allow himself to be dominated by me.” ) she is quite content to settle into the role of on-the-shelf chaperone, and has decided that her beautiful younger sister Rose should have a Season to find herself a husband. Rose is not particularly enthusiastic about the idea; she would much prefer a quiet life in the country – but trying to oppose Daisy is like trying to will the tide not to come in… so to London she will go.
Before they leave the inn, Daisy takes care to give the innkeeper a piece of her mind about what happened to Viscount Kincade, and then proceeds to pay his bill, his gambling debt and for his… er… entertainment the night before. After she and Rose have left, it emerges that the theft of the viscount’s purse was no accident; someone wanted to stop him getting to Bath – and is out to make life as unpleasant for him as possible. When Giles returns to town to find it awash with gossip about the fact that his debts were paid by a young woman – and that she also paid the barmaid – he’s equal parts furious and humiliated.
Daisy and Rose (who are, incidentally, the obscenely wealthy daughters of a baron who made a fortune in coal) arrive in London only to find that the relatives they had planned to stay with are out of the country (Daisy didn’t check in advance!) and so instead they head to the Pulteney Hotel while Daisy works out what to do. She is, at the advanced age of twenty-five, perfectly capable of acting as Rose’s chaperone, but without her aunt and uncle around to make the necessary introductions, Rose won’t be able to go anywhere where chaperonage would be needed.
Oops.
But Daisy is undaunted. And soon, her refusal to give up and go home pays off when, on a walk in the park, she spots the very man she had saved from a severe beating. He’s a viscount, so surely he must know a respectable female who could help introduce Rose into society?
Well, no prizes for guessing how this is going to go. I have to admit that Daisy isn’t my favourite type of heroine, but the author makes her so endearing here that it’s impossible not to like her, and I appreciated that her managing tendencies are well-grounded in her backstory. She’s is one of those characters with no brain-to-mouth filter most of the time and who doesn’t always look before she leaps but has the best of intentions and a genuine desire to help everyone and for everyone to be happy. Yes, she’s naïve, but she’s also like a breath of fresh air to Giles – who wants to throttle her or kiss her and isn’t sure which, half the time. (The number of times he imagines himself putting his hands around her neck is somewhat troubling though!). Daisy gets into scrapes constantly – leaping from the carriage to rescue a dog, berating a gentleman for trying to cheat a prostitute – and Giles dislikes her intensely. Except he doesn’t of course, eventually coming to realise that her lack of concern for the proprieties isn’t because she doesn’t know about them, but because she cares more about helping people than being correct. Daisy is improper and completely exhausting, yet somehow, Giles can’t help admiring her bravery and spirit and enjoying the time they spend together.
There’s a nice little sub-plot about Giles’ younger sister who believes herself in love with a most unsuitable swain, and a secondary romance for Rose; it’s all tightly written and moves along at quite a clip, and the author does a good job with the romance, clearly showing the growing affection between Daisy and Giles. Lady With a Black Umbrella isn’t going to win any awards for originality (it wouldn’t have, even back in 1989), but it’s a frothy confection of warmth, humour and silliness and an all-round fun read.
Read for the April 2021 TBR Challenge Prompt- "Old School"
For this month’s “Old School” prompt, I went back to 1989 and a recently (digitally) re-issued golden oldie from Mary Balogh. “Light”, “fluffy” and “farcical” aren’t words one might readily associate with this author these days, as most of her recent books (and many of her earlier ones) are quiet and introspective, often dealing with darker themes and featuring characters with complex emotional problems and baggage - which makes Lady With a Black Umbrella, with its comedic grumpy/sunshine romance and overall air of whimsy something a little different from the rest of her oeuvre.
Giles Fairhaven, Viscount Kincade, has stopped at an inn overnight to break his journey to Bath – where he’s headed in order to escort his parents back to London. In the morning however, he is unable to pay his bill (or the willing barmaid who kept him company for most of the night, or the gambling debt he accrued playing another guest at cards) because he finds that his purse has been stolen. With no alternative but to return to London so he can make arrangements to send payment to the innkeeper, he is getting ready to leave when he is set upon by three thugs.
Fortunately –or unfortunately, as he later counts it – his situation has been witnessed from an upstairs window by a young woman who refuses to stand by and watch such an unfair fight, and who rushes to his aid dressed only in a nightgown, wielding a hefty black umbrella with which she alternately beats and stabs at Kincade’s assailants. The men leave, and the viscount offers a curt thank-you and goes on his way.
Sensible, forthright, twenty-five-year-old Daisy Morrison has been running her parents’ household – and pretty much anything else that comes into her orbit - for years. Declaring herself a confirmed spinster with no intention of marrying (because she would “run” her husband - “And I do not think I could bear being married to a man who would allow himself to be dominated by me.” ) she is quite content to settle into the role of on-the-shelf chaperone, and has decided that her beautiful younger sister Rose should have a Season to find herself a husband. Rose is not particularly enthusiastic about the idea; she would much prefer a quiet life in the country – but trying to oppose Daisy is like trying to will the tide not to come in… so to London she will go.
Before they leave the inn, Daisy takes care to give the innkeeper a piece of her mind about what happened to Viscount Kincade, and then proceeds to pay his bill, his gambling debt and for his… er… entertainment the night before. After she and Rose have left, it emerges that the theft of the viscount’s purse was no accident; someone wanted to stop him getting to Bath – and is out to make life as unpleasant for him as possible. When Giles returns to town to find it awash with gossip about the fact that his debts were paid by a young woman – and that she also paid the barmaid – he’s equal parts furious and humiliated.
Daisy and Rose (who are, incidentally, the obscenely wealthy daughters of a baron who made a fortune in coal) arrive in London only to find that the relatives they had planned to stay with are out of the country (Daisy didn’t check in advance!) and so instead they head to the Pulteney Hotel while Daisy works out what to do. She is, at the advanced age of twenty-five, perfectly capable of acting as Rose’s chaperone, but without her aunt and uncle around to make the necessary introductions, Rose won’t be able to go anywhere where chaperonage would be needed.
Oops.
But Daisy is undaunted. And soon, her refusal to give up and go home pays off when, on a walk in the park, she spots the very man she had saved from a severe beating. He’s a viscount, so surely he must know a respectable female who could help introduce Rose into society?
Well, no prizes for guessing how this is going to go. I have to admit that Daisy isn’t my favourite type of heroine, but the author makes her so endearing here that it’s impossible not to like her, and I appreciated that her managing tendencies are well-grounded in her backstory. She’s is one of those characters with no brain-to-mouth filter most of the time and who doesn’t always look before she leaps but has the best of intentions and a genuine desire to help everyone and for everyone to be happy. Yes, she’s naïve, but she’s also like a breath of fresh air to Giles – who wants to throttle her or kiss her and isn’t sure which, half the time. (The number of times he imagines himself putting his hands around her neck is somewhat troubling though!). Daisy gets into scrapes constantly – leaping from the carriage to rescue a dog, berating a gentleman for trying to cheat a prostitute – and Giles dislikes her intensely. Except he doesn’t of course, eventually coming to realise that her lack of concern for the proprieties isn’t because she doesn’t know about them, but because she cares more about helping people than being correct. Daisy is improper and completely exhausting, yet somehow, Giles can’t help admiring her bravery and spirit and enjoying the time they spend together.
There’s a nice little sub-plot about Giles’ younger sister who believes herself in love with a most unsuitable swain, and a secondary romance for Rose; it’s all tightly written and moves along at quite a clip, and the author does a good job with the romance, clearly showing the growing affection between Daisy and Giles. Lady With a Black Umbrella isn’t going to win any awards for originality (it wouldn’t have, even back in 1989), but it’s a frothy confection of warmth, humour and silliness and an all-round fun read.
December 26, 2021
Ummm no ...
One of those why-don't-I-love-it-like-everyone-else!
Mary Balogh rarely writes rom-coms and her A Matter of Class is one of my all time favorites but this one plummets (and how) after a bright promising beginning.
I thought we were getting a strong opinionated h who who rushes where angels fear to do, and although she does do that - rush into all kinds of rescue-fracas, but her personality quickly transforms into a blindingly silly quixotic klutz. An almost brainless and heedless one.
There's an surprising amount of inner monologues and repetitive filler stuff as if the author had only this much to say - not how I see MB. Even her inner monologues are interesting but not here as they don't depict conflict or evolving thoughts but repetitive nonsense.
Later the follies of the fortune hunter takes centerstage.
The h's parroting of being an overaged spinster throughout gets annoying AF. Yes, she's 25 and that's old or just late for marriage, but she does have a mirror and everyone keeps assuring her of her looks and youth but -
“As if Lord Kincade would have any interest at all in seriously kissing an aging spinster like myself.”
“ A spinster past her youth!”
“But all that had been years ago, when she was young and foolish, before she had grown up and settled into a comfortable spinsterhood.”
Yes, she's a sweetheart and loves her 19 yo sister (who's also a sweetheart and thankfully a sensible one).
I kinda liked how she idolizes and champions the H even when he holds her in contempt, his sarcastic barbs and horror at her company all water off the duck's back, but it get tedious after a while because how can even a marginally intelligent person keep misinterpreting another or not read the very obvious signals. Although yes, the reader can tell that he's fallen for her even as he keeps being horrified by her.
So, a mixed bag of (unsatisfying) light weight fare.
One of those why-don't-I-love-it-like-everyone-else!
Mary Balogh rarely writes rom-coms and her A Matter of Class is one of my all time favorites but this one plummets (and how) after a bright promising beginning.
I thought we were getting a strong opinionated h who who rushes where angels fear to do, and although she does do that - rush into all kinds of rescue-fracas, but her personality quickly transforms into a blindingly silly quixotic klutz. An almost brainless and heedless one.
There's an surprising amount of inner monologues and repetitive filler stuff as if the author had only this much to say - not how I see MB. Even her inner monologues are interesting but not here as they don't depict conflict or evolving thoughts but repetitive nonsense.
Later the follies of the fortune hunter takes centerstage.
The h's parroting of being an overaged spinster throughout gets annoying AF. Yes, she's 25 and that's old or just late for marriage, but she does have a mirror and everyone keeps assuring her of her looks and youth but -
“As if Lord Kincade would have any interest at all in seriously kissing an aging spinster like myself.”
“ A spinster past her youth!”
“But all that had been years ago, when she was young and foolish, before she had grown up and settled into a comfortable spinsterhood.”
Yes, she's a sweetheart and loves her 19 yo sister (who's also a sweetheart and thankfully a sensible one).
I kinda liked how she idolizes and champions the H even when he holds her in contempt, his sarcastic barbs and horror at her company all water off the duck's back, but it get tedious after a while because how can even a marginally intelligent person keep misinterpreting another or not read the very obvious signals. Although yes, the reader can tell that he's fallen for her even as he keeps being horrified by her.
So, a mixed bag of (unsatisfying) light weight fare.
March 10, 2016
This is definitely a treasure. I could not stop laughing. Much lighter than Silent Melody, Heartless, Dancing with Clara, or The Secret Pearl, but still very enjoyable.
I am so glad that MB's backlist is being republished in ebooks. I have loved her earlier work, but unfortunately not all were available in libraries.
I am so glad that MB's backlist is being republished in ebooks. I have loved her earlier work, but unfortunately not all were available in libraries.
September 30, 2018
Fun and light hearted. Which is unusual for those who know Balogh's habitual style. Relatively mild pontification here and there from the vicar-to-be brother of the hero. Heroine was occasionally a bit TSTL, but she was inherently charming.
The situations featured were far-fetched and the sisters being taken under the wing of a respectable woman would have been nigh unto impossible, but, going with the flow of the story, it was a super fun, quirky read.
Definite mood booster with lots of laughs. And that poor, poor put upon man who had to deal with her. I like that a lot of the story was from his perspective.
More time could have been spent on their building a relationship and I was a bit unclear as to the passage of time over the course of the book, but I think it was meant to be more caper style à la Georgette Heyer so less focus on relationships and more insta-pairing and situational comedy. You get the same happy feel in this book as from Metzger's "Miss Lockharte's Letters". I particularly loved her extended, rather graphic, fantasy birth sequence where she imagined poor Giles somehow being the one who was forced by circumstance to deliver their baby himself.
Lines I loved-
Daisy yawned again, aloud and at great and satisfying length. Now, where had she been? Ah, yes. She was stretched out in bed, in a sweat-soaked bed, her lips raw with the effort of not screaming aloud and alarming Giles, who needed to remain calm. She had sent him to boil water, but he would be back soon to hold her hand and murmur soothing words to her. The wind howled outside and the sleet beat against the windowpanes. She thought her waters had probably broken. Her pains were coming thick and fast.
Daisy moved her hands from behind her head and spread them on her very flat abdomen. She smiled as Giles gently kissed her forehead and smoothed back her hair. Some minutes before their child was born, she slid into a peaceful sleep.
---
“Rose followed her sister downstairs and stood a few paces from the table where Daisy sat with a smiling plump gentleman who gave Rose the shudders. She could not explain why. He probably could not help having soft fat fingers with dark hairs on the backs of each. And if he chose to wear a ring on each of those fingers, well, that was entirely his business. And one could not quarrel with a smile and a quiet, polite manner. But Rose found her lips curling in distaste and had to deliberately school her expression to blandness.”
---
"You could almost hook your grin over your ears, you know.”
---
“What could possibly happen to embarrass him further? Matters were at such a low ebb that surely they could only improve. But then the fates that had so sensibly decreed such a pattern of existence had surely never known Daisy Morrison. He would believe his fortunes to be on the upward rise when he knew the woman to be safely back in the country again, managing her family as she claimed to have been doing all her life. And even then he would never again feel quite secure in the dignity of his name."
---
“I came to take you for a drive.”
“Did you?” she said, brightening. “I must say that I have not been enjoying Robinson Crusoe excessively. I had heard that it was an exciting book.”
“It probably becomes more interesting on page two,” he said, glancing down at the book in her lap. “At least I seem to remember that that was where my interest picked up.”
---
“She seemed to have no conception whatsoever of her own attractions.
And he was attracted. He found himself, at first unconsciously and then quite deliberately, touching her whenever he could do so without being too obvious”
The situations featured were far-fetched and the sisters being taken under the wing of a respectable woman would have been nigh unto impossible, but, going with the flow of the story, it was a super fun, quirky read.
Definite mood booster with lots of laughs. And that poor, poor put upon man who had to deal with her. I like that a lot of the story was from his perspective.
More time could have been spent on their building a relationship and I was a bit unclear as to the passage of time over the course of the book, but I think it was meant to be more caper style à la Georgette Heyer so less focus on relationships and more insta-pairing and situational comedy. You get the same happy feel in this book as from Metzger's "Miss Lockharte's Letters". I particularly loved her extended, rather graphic, fantasy birth sequence where she imagined poor Giles somehow being the one who was forced by circumstance to deliver their baby himself.
Lines I loved-
Daisy yawned again, aloud and at great and satisfying length. Now, where had she been? Ah, yes. She was stretched out in bed, in a sweat-soaked bed, her lips raw with the effort of not screaming aloud and alarming Giles, who needed to remain calm. She had sent him to boil water, but he would be back soon to hold her hand and murmur soothing words to her. The wind howled outside and the sleet beat against the windowpanes. She thought her waters had probably broken. Her pains were coming thick and fast.
Daisy moved her hands from behind her head and spread them on her very flat abdomen. She smiled as Giles gently kissed her forehead and smoothed back her hair. Some minutes before their child was born, she slid into a peaceful sleep.
---
“Rose followed her sister downstairs and stood a few paces from the table where Daisy sat with a smiling plump gentleman who gave Rose the shudders. She could not explain why. He probably could not help having soft fat fingers with dark hairs on the backs of each. And if he chose to wear a ring on each of those fingers, well, that was entirely his business. And one could not quarrel with a smile and a quiet, polite manner. But Rose found her lips curling in distaste and had to deliberately school her expression to blandness.”
---
"You could almost hook your grin over your ears, you know.”
---
“What could possibly happen to embarrass him further? Matters were at such a low ebb that surely they could only improve. But then the fates that had so sensibly decreed such a pattern of existence had surely never known Daisy Morrison. He would believe his fortunes to be on the upward rise when he knew the woman to be safely back in the country again, managing her family as she claimed to have been doing all her life. And even then he would never again feel quite secure in the dignity of his name."
---
“I came to take you for a drive.”
“Did you?” she said, brightening. “I must say that I have not been enjoying Robinson Crusoe excessively. I had heard that it was an exciting book.”
“It probably becomes more interesting on page two,” he said, glancing down at the book in her lap. “At least I seem to remember that that was where my interest picked up.”
---
“She seemed to have no conception whatsoever of her own attractions.
And he was attracted. He found himself, at first unconsciously and then quite deliberately, touching her whenever he could do so without being too obvious”
November 18, 2021
Absolutely adorable and surprisingly lighthearted regency romance from MB.
I had no idea that the author who wrote some of my favourite angsty romances could also deliver in the adorable screwball comedy sub-genre.
I adored both couples, even if I was less than impressed by the main hero, Giles, in the beginning. However, his gradually deepening feelings for Daisy felt wholly authentic and all their interactions were priceless. Highly recommended to those looking for a short and sweet read from MB!
I had no idea that the author who wrote some of my favourite angsty romances could also deliver in the adorable screwball comedy sub-genre.
I adored both couples, even if I was less than impressed by the main hero, Giles, in the beginning. However, his gradually deepening feelings for Daisy felt wholly authentic and all their interactions were priceless. Highly recommended to those looking for a short and sweet read from MB!
April 15, 2021
3.5 stars.
It’s a historical romcom, 😂.
I have to give Ms. Balogh credit for writing this one, very different from her usual rather angsty story.
Not sure how I feel about Daisy, she made me laugh and wanted to shakes her too, for a few times, you little idiot! 🙄😳😂.
Anyway, it was good but fell apart little bit in the middle, the fortune hunter guy got too many pages 🙄, I don’t like it at all.
But, it was a fun read 😘.
❤️
It’s a historical romcom, 😂.
I have to give Ms. Balogh credit for writing this one, very different from her usual rather angsty story.
Not sure how I feel about Daisy, she made me laugh and wanted to shakes her too, for a few times, you little idiot! 🙄😳😂.
Anyway, it was good but fell apart little bit in the middle, the fortune hunter guy got too many pages 🙄, I don’t like it at all.
But, it was a fun read 😘.
❤️
January 9, 2015
While staying at an inn, and through a serendipitous series of events, Miss Daisy Morrison saved Giles, Viscount Kincade, from thugs intent on hurting him. He had already had issues with a thief and had no money. Without further thought, she comes to the rescue with her voice, fists and a large men's black umbrella. Hence, the title of the story.
Lord Kincade had promised the innkeeper he would pay all of his debts as soon as he returned home. Of course, Daisy didn't know this, so she not only paid for his room but his gambling debt and an amorous night with a barmaid! When Giles found out, he was furious and is determined to meet her again.
Daisy has always had the best of intentions. She really does mean well. The reason she was on the road was to visit relatives in London so they could sponsor her sister, Rose, with her first season. Because of her age and spinsterhood, she thought of herself as the perfect chaperon. Propriety, be damned.
This was a romance that matched a reluctant hero, with whom dignity was all-important, and a motor-mouth but sensible heroine in a comedy of errors. I found myself both smiling and laughing while reading of all the hijinks that happened to Daisy while Giles tried to keep up. When one crisis leads to another, they found themselves compromised and Giles offered marriage. Because neither person wants this, they decided to pose as a betrothed couple to fool their respective families until Daisy can break it off without hurting anyone.
I am leaving out quite a bit concerning Daisy's sister, Gile's siblings, some friends and a few shady characters. Daisy continually referred to herself as five-and-twenty and on-the-shelf and it drove Giles (and me!) crazy. But you can't help but love this endearing, meddling young lady. It took the majority of the story for Giles to figure this out but he finallysurrenders falls in love.
Lord Kincade had promised the innkeeper he would pay all of his debts as soon as he returned home. Of course, Daisy didn't know this, so she not only paid for his room but his gambling debt and an amorous night with a barmaid! When Giles found out, he was furious and is determined to meet her again.
Daisy has always had the best of intentions. She really does mean well. The reason she was on the road was to visit relatives in London so they could sponsor her sister, Rose, with her first season. Because of her age and spinsterhood, she thought of herself as the perfect chaperon. Propriety, be damned.
This was a romance that matched a reluctant hero, with whom dignity was all-important, and a motor-mouth but sensible heroine in a comedy of errors. I found myself both smiling and laughing while reading of all the hijinks that happened to Daisy while Giles tried to keep up. When one crisis leads to another, they found themselves compromised and Giles offered marriage. Because neither person wants this, they decided to pose as a betrothed couple to fool their respective families until Daisy can break it off without hurting anyone.
I am leaving out quite a bit concerning Daisy's sister, Gile's siblings, some friends and a few shady characters. Daisy continually referred to herself as five-and-twenty and on-the-shelf and it drove Giles (and me!) crazy. But you can't help but love this endearing, meddling young lady. It took the majority of the story for Giles to figure this out but he finally
February 3, 2021
Well, this was - and I don’t think I’ve ever said this about a Mary Balogh book - pretty darn cute.
I don’t think of light and fluffy with a touch of farce when I think of dear old MB. Her more recent series have dealt with heavier subject matters and H/h with complicated problems and emotional hang ups. They’re full of introspection and dark moments.
Absolutely none of that here. Our H/h meet when our heroine, Daisy, saves our hero, Giles, from a violent mugging by beating his assailants over the head with a black umbrella - she’s still in her nightgown and her face is covered in oil. The hero promptly extricates himself from the scene & discovers later that, after he was unable to pay due to the aforementioned mugging, our heroine has paid off all of his debts at the inn including to the barmaid with whom he spent the night. Word gets around town and he’s equal parts humiliated and horrified.
And so begins their relationship.Giles, a Quite Proper Viscount and Daisy, a Managing Country Miss with no filter, getting into constant scrapes: see above for the umbrella beating & payment of sex worker, but also: finagles the hero and his brother into getting her sister introduced into society, stops a coach to save a poor dog, berates a man trying to cheat a prostitute, interrupts an assignation so the young woman isn’t compromised. To our hero, she is everything improper and awkward. He hates her. He wants to strangle her (the repetition of this imagery became slightly disturbing). Except, of course: he doesn’t, because, in spite of himself he admires her bravado and she entertains him. And, somewhere along the way of this gentle plot, he falls for her. He sees that, actually, she’s full of the very best intentions, she’s bright and she’d make a fine wife.
Then, funnily enough, he has to convince her of all those facts because actually, Daisy, despite all her outward confidence has written herself off as a romantic partner for anyone. She’s too managing.Giles doesn’t have any of that and but by bit he convinces her, as well as convincing himself that, in fact, she’s the one for him. It was just lovely to see them together as a couple. And Daisy stays absolutely herself throughout - prattling on through the sex scene and then inadvertently outing their pre-marriage bedroom antics to Giles’s father. Fantastic ending.
Low angst, silly and an all around fun time: 4 stars
I don’t think of light and fluffy with a touch of farce when I think of dear old MB. Her more recent series have dealt with heavier subject matters and H/h with complicated problems and emotional hang ups. They’re full of introspection and dark moments.
Absolutely none of that here. Our H/h meet when our heroine, Daisy, saves our hero, Giles, from a violent mugging by beating his assailants over the head with a black umbrella - she’s still in her nightgown and her face is covered in oil. The hero promptly extricates himself from the scene & discovers later that, after he was unable to pay due to the aforementioned mugging, our heroine has paid off all of his debts at the inn including to the barmaid with whom he spent the night. Word gets around town and he’s equal parts humiliated and horrified.
And so begins their relationship.Giles, a Quite Proper Viscount and Daisy, a Managing Country Miss with no filter, getting into constant scrapes: see above for the umbrella beating & payment of sex worker, but also: finagles the hero and his brother into getting her sister introduced into society, stops a coach to save a poor dog, berates a man trying to cheat a prostitute, interrupts an assignation so the young woman isn’t compromised. To our hero, she is everything improper and awkward. He hates her. He wants to strangle her (the repetition of this imagery became slightly disturbing). Except, of course: he doesn’t, because, in spite of himself he admires her bravado and she entertains him. And, somewhere along the way of this gentle plot, he falls for her. He sees that, actually, she’s full of the very best intentions, she’s bright and she’d make a fine wife.
Then, funnily enough, he has to convince her of all those facts because actually, Daisy, despite all her outward confidence has written herself off as a romantic partner for anyone. She’s too managing.Giles doesn’t have any of that and but by bit he convinces her, as well as convincing himself that, in fact, she’s the one for him. It was just lovely to see them together as a couple. And Daisy stays absolutely herself throughout - prattling on through the sex scene and then inadvertently outing their pre-marriage bedroom antics to Giles’s father. Fantastic ending.
Low angst, silly and an all around fun time: 4 stars
September 6, 2020
.
This is more humorous than the author's usual. I mean, I do like her wit, but this one is a bit more slapsticky... but in a good way ; )
"Do you love her dreadfully, Giles?"
"Can one love dreadfully?" he asked. "But perhaps it is the best description of all for my feelings about Daisy"
He spends a good part of the book imagining himself throttling her, squeezing her neck, wringing her neck... etc. And yet somehow she remains impervious to his anger, and he is incapable of hurting her in even the smallest way.
They meet in the yard of a rather disreputable inn after he has lost his purse and is set upon by scoundrels. Daisy comes to his rescue in a nightgown and brandishing a large black umbrella.
She not only rescues him, but after he leaves she pays all his debts at the inn including his card losses to a mysterious Mr. Martin, and the whoring fee of one of the inn's barmaids!
Somehow this information becomes public knowledge in London making Giles the butt of many jokes. Giles HATES being embarrassed!!
So it's rather unfortunate that he becomes closely involved with Daisy and her sister, since Daisy has a penchant for crusades and embarrassing situations.
There's a villain, some wonderful side characters (especially Giles' brother Arthur!) and even a romance on the side with her sister Rose. Rose is more in tune with what people think than Daisy who remains oblivious when the Ton find her actions ridiculous.
The power balance is quite good since both MCs seem to fall in love with each other without realizing it for quite a while. So neither is pining at any point.
I did wonder near the end if Giles could ever be a more romantic H with Daisy instead of grudgingly falling for her. And he does. It was really quite perfect. And the romance for Rose was wonderfully sweet as well, without stealing the stage from the MCs.
The action at the end with the villain was easily thwarted, and there's even some (fade to black sorta) sexy times.
Safety is good despite the whore.
This is more humorous than the author's usual. I mean, I do like her wit, but this one is a bit more slapsticky... but in a good way ; )
"Do you love her dreadfully, Giles?"
"Can one love dreadfully?" he asked. "But perhaps it is the best description of all for my feelings about Daisy"
He spends a good part of the book imagining himself throttling her, squeezing her neck, wringing her neck... etc. And yet somehow she remains impervious to his anger, and he is incapable of hurting her in even the smallest way.
They meet in the yard of a rather disreputable inn after he has lost his purse and is set upon by scoundrels. Daisy comes to his rescue in a nightgown and brandishing a large black umbrella.
She not only rescues him, but after he leaves she pays all his debts at the inn including his card losses to a mysterious Mr. Martin, and the whoring fee of one of the inn's barmaids!
Somehow this information becomes public knowledge in London making Giles the butt of many jokes. Giles HATES being embarrassed!!
So it's rather unfortunate that he becomes closely involved with Daisy and her sister, since Daisy has a penchant for crusades and embarrassing situations.
There's a villain, some wonderful side characters (especially Giles' brother Arthur!) and even a romance on the side with her sister Rose. Rose is more in tune with what people think than Daisy who remains oblivious when the Ton find her actions ridiculous.
The power balance is quite good since both MCs seem to fall in love with each other without realizing it for quite a while. So neither is pining at any point.
I did wonder near the end if Giles could ever be a more romantic H with Daisy instead of grudgingly falling for her. And he does. It was really quite perfect. And the romance for Rose was wonderfully sweet as well, without stealing the stage from the MCs.
The action at the end with the villain was easily thwarted, and there's even some (fade to black sorta) sexy times.
Safety is good despite the whore.
September 29, 2018
4.5 stars rounded up to 5 because this book made me laugh so many times that I stopped counting! A surprisingly delightful read.
If you are in a bad mood and would like something light, fluffy and romantic - choose this one. I would have never thought that Balogh would be able to pull off this kind of humor because her recently released books are nothing like that. This one reminded me of Georgette Heyer. There is basically no angst in it, just delightful banter and funny action.
Daisy did come off as a bit too naive and impulsive, but it wouldn't have been so funny if she was different. I loved the Viscount Kincade's monologues and inner thoughts, I LOL-ed each time Daisy pissed him off. It was hilarious.
If you are in a bad mood and would like something light, fluffy and romantic - choose this one. I would have never thought that Balogh would be able to pull off this kind of humor because her recently released books are nothing like that. This one reminded me of Georgette Heyer. There is basically no angst in it, just delightful banter and funny action.
Daisy did come off as a bit too naive and impulsive, but it wouldn't have been so funny if she was different. I loved the Viscount Kincade's monologues and inner thoughts, I LOL-ed each time Daisy pissed him off. It was hilarious.
April 13, 2024
Not as amusing as her other books, but it was still a good enough read. Wonderful writing as always.
May 16, 2015
Argh...I wanted my own black umbrella to smack Daisy with. How utterly annoying a character she was. Unfortunately, I found no humor in her personality.
December 5, 2017
3.5/5
Hilarious and yet frustrating. I'm smiling ferociously on the inside.
The heroine Daisy, is the most agonisingly stupid cow, with a crusading streak, as if the world couldn't stand on its own feet, without her propping it up.
Usually the "stronger" the heroine the better (us girls gotta stick up for ourselves or someone is gonna tell us we can't fight off highway men with an umbrella). But Daisy..just made me cringe laugh while wanting to bang my head against the wall.
Surprisingly its an enjoyable journey despite this flaw. Especially the many times when love interest (first comes hate, then love..terrible disease that one) Lord Giles Kincade imagines strangling and shutting her up during her wildly embarrassing escapades. Daisy is all the more likable when firmly shut up by Giles. A sign of a reliable hero..
However there were moments when I did appreciate her for her ridiculous self..like the various times when she would daydream about giving birth...I didn't think it could be that funny. But it just..was FUNNY.
I wish I could depict the scene better or copy a quote from the book to show it's hilarity..however I deleted my ebook (a figurative throw at the wall attempt) so (eep I didn't realise I would do this) I recommend you check out a copy..
Giles is a sweet hero, whose stern pompous self is suddenly overtaken by this crazy woman (determined to think herself an on the shelf spinster, despite evidence to the contrary that she is young and attractive), an unwanted Joan of Arc for all. He somehow melts and gives in after understandably hating her guts. Cute (do you see me smiling ferociously). Yet in reality would it sustain? It was sweet though.
The secondary characters were nice, not as strong as the main, but complementary to the story. I felt Daisy's sister could have a bit more backbone instead of sweetly sighing over Daisy's insanity.
I wish there was some true needed character development for Daisy. She needed to realise the amount of stress, embarrassment and calamity came from her "good deeds".
I realised later she reminded me of a quote by Miss Marple in The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side (Miss Marple, #9). On comparison of a murdered woman to a similar character in her village Marple remarked the lady "always saw her own point of view so clearly that she didn’t always see how things might appear to, or affect, other people."
Daisy. You may meet your death sooner rather than later..
Hilarious and yet frustrating. I'm smiling ferociously on the inside.
The heroine Daisy, is the most agonisingly stupid cow, with a crusading streak, as if the world couldn't stand on its own feet, without her propping it up.
Usually the "stronger" the heroine the better (us girls gotta stick up for ourselves or someone is gonna tell us we can't fight off highway men with an umbrella). But Daisy..just made me cringe laugh while wanting to bang my head against the wall.
Surprisingly its an enjoyable journey despite this flaw. Especially the many times when love interest (first comes hate, then love..terrible disease that one) Lord Giles Kincade imagines strangling and shutting her up during her wildly embarrassing escapades. Daisy is all the more likable when firmly shut up by Giles. A sign of a reliable hero..
However there were moments when I did appreciate her for her ridiculous self..like the various times when she would daydream about giving birth...I didn't think it could be that funny. But it just..was FUNNY.
I wish I could depict the scene better or copy a quote from the book to show it's hilarity..however I deleted my ebook (a figurative throw at the wall attempt) so (eep I didn't realise I would do this) I recommend you check out a copy..
Giles is a sweet hero, whose stern pompous self is suddenly overtaken by this crazy woman (determined to think herself an on the shelf spinster, despite evidence to the contrary that she is young and attractive), an unwanted Joan of Arc for all. He somehow melts and gives in after understandably hating her guts. Cute (do you see me smiling ferociously). Yet in reality would it sustain? It was sweet though.
The secondary characters were nice, not as strong as the main, but complementary to the story. I felt Daisy's sister could have a bit more backbone instead of sweetly sighing over Daisy's insanity.
I wish there was some true needed character development for Daisy. She needed to realise the amount of stress, embarrassment and calamity came from her "good deeds".
I realised later she reminded me of a quote by Miss Marple in The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side (Miss Marple, #9). On comparison of a murdered woman to a similar character in her village Marple remarked the lady "always saw her own point of view so clearly that she didn’t always see how things might appear to, or affect, other people."
Daisy. You may meet your death sooner rather than later..
December 23, 2020
Lady with a Black Umbrella is the perfect farcical regency romance. Mary Balogh gets so much mileage out of a 25 year old spinster who thinks she's on the shelf and therefore able to do/say the things that she does, and a very proud viscount who finds himself confounded at said spinster's antics.
Giles does not want to like the audacious Miss Daisy Morrison, and it's funny to see Giles try to figure her out. He initially believes she has a deliberately fiendish character. Then he thinks maybe her complete lack of awareness is due to provincial gaucheness. It's only later that he realizes what his reverend brother sees so clearly about Daisy: she doesn't care how she comes across because she cares more about helping others in need. And poor Giles doesn't realize it but he's so fascinated by Daisy! One of my favourite bits is when Daisy would say she doesn't like to draw attention to herself, and Giles is trying so hard not to let his jaw drop.
Meanwhile, Daisy thinks with "sisterly smugness" that Giles is incredibly attractive and would be the perfect match for her beautiful and sweet younger sister (?!) and it honestly gave me life every time Daisy misinterpreted Giles' moods.
Out of all the nonsensical things that happened, one of the most humourously ludicrous things was Daisy and Gile's respective daydreams about each other. Daisy's recurring fantasy was imagining herself giving birth to Giles' child while still managing to order Giles around. Meanwhile Giles' daydream fantasy is about putting his hands on Daisy's neck, which I don't enjoy (men dreaming about beating women) but I'll allow it this time because Daisy runs laps around Giles.
Lady with a Black Umbrella is going on my Keeper shelf. I also need to read another story with this same couple pairing again.
Giles does not want to like the audacious Miss Daisy Morrison, and it's funny to see Giles try to figure her out. He initially believes she has a deliberately fiendish character. Then he thinks maybe her complete lack of awareness is due to provincial gaucheness. It's only later that he realizes what his reverend brother sees so clearly about Daisy: she doesn't care how she comes across because she cares more about helping others in need. And poor Giles doesn't realize it but he's so fascinated by Daisy! One of my favourite bits is when Daisy would say she doesn't like to draw attention to herself, and Giles is trying so hard not to let his jaw drop.
Meanwhile, Daisy thinks with "sisterly smugness" that Giles is incredibly attractive and would be the perfect match for her beautiful and sweet younger sister (?!) and it honestly gave me life every time Daisy misinterpreted Giles' moods.
Out of all the nonsensical things that happened, one of the most humourously ludicrous things was Daisy and Gile's respective daydreams about each other. Daisy's recurring fantasy was imagining herself giving birth to Giles' child while still managing to order Giles around. Meanwhile Giles' daydream fantasy is about putting his hands on Daisy's neck, which I don't enjoy (men dreaming about beating women) but I'll allow it this time because Daisy runs laps around Giles.
Lady with a Black Umbrella is going on my Keeper shelf. I also need to read another story with this same couple pairing again.
August 5, 2016
Mh. Not my favorite Balogh book. I ended up skipping passages from the heroine's point of view because she annoyed me to no end, but loved the rest of the story.
I guess I just wasn't in the right mood to enjoy the heroine's crazy antics. I know most people found her charming, but to me, she was just annoying. She was really oblivious, going on and on and ON about how now one could love her because she's just so old (25), managing, and annoying. She freely admits that logic and thinking things through are not her strong suit (understatement of the year if you ask me. Over the course of the story she . All of which come from a good place, but she did it so obtusely and publicly that I can't imagine how even a pretend engagement saved her reputation). For the most part I wanted to encourage the hero to enact his fantasies of strangling her, which can't be a good sign. But Giles (our hero) was kind of adorable. His inner monologues about how he can't believe how that annoying little baggage managed to weasel her way into his thoughts are pretty sweet.
I guess I just wasn't in the right mood to enjoy the heroine's crazy antics. I know most people found her charming, but to me, she was just annoying. She was really oblivious, going on and on and ON about how now one could love her because she's just so old (25), managing, and annoying. She freely admits that logic and thinking things through are not her strong suit (understatement of the year if you ask me. Over the course of the story she . All of which come from a good place, but she did it so obtusely and publicly that I can't imagine how even a pretend engagement saved her reputation). For the most part I wanted to encourage the hero to enact his fantasies of strangling her, which can't be a good sign. But Giles (our hero) was kind of adorable. His inner monologues about how he can't believe how that annoying little baggage managed to weasel her way into his thoughts are pretty sweet.
November 11, 2015
Like most of Mary Balogh's TSTL heroines, you either love them or you don't.
Either I wasn't in the mood for the heroine or for the book, but this book just didn't speak to me. My favorite of Mary Balogh's TSTL heroines is Josephine Middleton, who causes all sorts of ruckus by being the flakiest Regency heroine in the world. Daisy, on the other hand, was annoying to me in her inability to see how much she was ticking off Giles. The fact that they ended up together was surprising in the extreme. How she wasn't kicked out of London society was another miracle.
Either I wasn't in the mood for the heroine or for the book, but this book just didn't speak to me. My favorite of Mary Balogh's TSTL heroines is Josephine Middleton, who causes all sorts of ruckus by being the flakiest Regency heroine in the world. Daisy, on the other hand, was annoying to me in her inability to see how much she was ticking off Giles. The fact that they ended up together was surprising in the extreme. How she wasn't kicked out of London society was another miracle.
January 4, 2017
Lady with a Black Umbrella is the perfect book when you need a break from your denser and darker reads. It is fast-paced, clever and often humorous. If you like strong characters that pop right off the page, Daisy is your girl. She is pretty much a terror and between getting in the way and deciding to "help", she turns everyone's life upside down.
February 13, 2014
4.5 stars. Cute. Very very cute.
Daisy, our heroine, reminds me very much of an Amanda Quick heroine. She’s a trouble magnet, a bit reckless, and she sort of lives by her own rules where her actions are not based on propriety or the rules of conduct but by what she feels is necessary, right, and intuitive. We feel the frustration of those around her, but we also love her because she is selfless – almost to her own detriment. These types of “wild” heroines are paired perfectly to starchy heroes and that’s who we get with Giles. I had a lot of fun reading this short book! Also to pair Giles & Daisy’s eventful romance, Mary Balogh provided us a side calm romance between Arthur & Rose – that was a nice addition.
Daisy, our heroine, reminds me very much of an Amanda Quick heroine. She’s a trouble magnet, a bit reckless, and she sort of lives by her own rules where her actions are not based on propriety or the rules of conduct but by what she feels is necessary, right, and intuitive. We feel the frustration of those around her, but we also love her because she is selfless – almost to her own detriment. These types of “wild” heroines are paired perfectly to starchy heroes and that’s who we get with Giles. I had a lot of fun reading this short book! Also to pair Giles & Daisy’s eventful romance, Mary Balogh provided us a side calm romance between Arthur & Rose – that was a nice addition.
July 7, 2016
3 1/2
It's truly a good writer the one who makes you love her story even when you hate her heroine (a stupid, stupid conceited dumb ass). Did I say she's really stupid? But I couldn't stop smiling. Weird, I found myself in the hero's shoes. I don't think it had ever happened before...
It's truly a good writer the one who makes you love her story even when you hate her heroine (a stupid, stupid conceited dumb ass). Did I say she's really stupid? But I couldn't stop smiling. Weird, I found myself in the hero's shoes. I don't think it had ever happened before...
January 26, 2020
Delightful
June 24, 2015
Very, very funny. Delightful, if quite obtuse, heroine and wonderful hero who would dearly love to rid himself of the pest (the heroine), but somehow always ends up being even more deeply involved with her.
January 10, 2018
This old Balogh Regency, from 1989, is a somewhat cute and entertaining rom-com. I have to agree with those reviewers who said it starts out strong and weakens as it moves along. This is between a 2- and a 3-star book for me but it has some fun turns of phrases that made me decide to go for the higher rating.
Heroine Daisy Morrison and her younger sister Rose are the well-off daughters of a deceased baron who made his money in coal and lived far from the tonnish life in London. Daisy is taking Rose to London for a comeout, sure that Rose's sweetness of character and her beauty will catch her a wonderful upper-class husband. 25-year-old Daisy believes herself to be firmly on the shelf and sufficient chaperon for their trip to London.
On their way they are staying at an inn where hero Giles, Viscount Kincade, is set upon by thugs and rescued by Daisy and her black umbrella. After the beating, he goes on his way, unable to pay any of his debts (including the bedsport services of the barmaid). To his embarrassment, he finds out later that his debts have all (yes, all of them) been paid by his rescuer. Instead of being grateful, Giles is humiliated and resentful about Daisy's actions.
They'll meet up again in London, of course. Daisy is a whirlwind of a managing female, not only managing the lives of those close to her, but also taking on crusader roles rescuing animals and prostitutes and whatever else catches her observant eyes on the streets of London. She's a burr under Giles' collar, a gnat flying around his head a...Well, let's just put it in the words in Giles' head: "She drew his eyes rather as an insect bite draws one's scratching fingers." Annoyed and attracted at the same time, he is totally befuddled.
Add to the story Giles' immature young sister Judith, who believes herself to be in love with a handsome fortune hunter and resents Giles' opposition to the match; Giles' very pregnant married sister Julia and her cowardly bear of a husband; Giles' brother Arthur, man of God on the road to sainthood; and various other characters, some of them villains. And there's an abduction, of course, but Daisy and her meddling are really to blame for it.
Considering how old this story is, I can't exactly call it "derivative". I'm sure many books published after this one have derived their plots from it. I can, however, call it not one of Balogh's best. It starts out well but by the halfway point became a tedious read for me. It didn't help that I found Daisy to be annoying and a little too obtuse about other people. However, Giles finds himself drawn to her little by little, until by the end he says such loving things to her as the following: "You can prattle on in a moment, love...I find it strangely arousing...Just let me kiss you for a while first."
So this is kinda cute. However, it's not a Balogh Best and, IMO, these old releases should be more moderately priced for what they are. But, in general, I find all Balogh's books to be overpriced, even the really good ones. At one point a few years ago, she even tried out the idea of publishing her romances in hardcover editions months to a year before releasing them in paperback. That's a bit much, I think.
Heroine Daisy Morrison and her younger sister Rose are the well-off daughters of a deceased baron who made his money in coal and lived far from the tonnish life in London. Daisy is taking Rose to London for a comeout, sure that Rose's sweetness of character and her beauty will catch her a wonderful upper-class husband. 25-year-old Daisy believes herself to be firmly on the shelf and sufficient chaperon for their trip to London.
On their way they are staying at an inn where hero Giles, Viscount Kincade, is set upon by thugs and rescued by Daisy and her black umbrella. After the beating, he goes on his way, unable to pay any of his debts (including the bedsport services of the barmaid). To his embarrassment, he finds out later that his debts have all (yes, all of them) been paid by his rescuer. Instead of being grateful, Giles is humiliated and resentful about Daisy's actions.
They'll meet up again in London, of course. Daisy is a whirlwind of a managing female, not only managing the lives of those close to her, but also taking on crusader roles rescuing animals and prostitutes and whatever else catches her observant eyes on the streets of London. She's a burr under Giles' collar, a gnat flying around his head a...Well, let's just put it in the words in Giles' head: "She drew his eyes rather as an insect bite draws one's scratching fingers." Annoyed and attracted at the same time, he is totally befuddled.
Add to the story Giles' immature young sister Judith, who believes herself to be in love with a handsome fortune hunter and resents Giles' opposition to the match; Giles' very pregnant married sister Julia and her cowardly bear of a husband; Giles' brother Arthur, man of God on the road to sainthood; and various other characters, some of them villains. And there's an abduction, of course, but Daisy and her meddling are really to blame for it.
Considering how old this story is, I can't exactly call it "derivative". I'm sure many books published after this one have derived their plots from it. I can, however, call it not one of Balogh's best. It starts out well but by the halfway point became a tedious read for me. It didn't help that I found Daisy to be annoying and a little too obtuse about other people. However, Giles finds himself drawn to her little by little, until by the end he says such loving things to her as the following: "You can prattle on in a moment, love...I find it strangely arousing...Just let me kiss you for a while first."
So this is kinda cute. However, it's not a Balogh Best and, IMO, these old releases should be more moderately priced for what they are. But, in general, I find all Balogh's books to be overpriced, even the really good ones. At one point a few years ago, she even tried out the idea of publishing her romances in hardcover editions months to a year before releasing them in paperback. That's a bit much, I think.
December 13, 2015
Ha sido extraño leer esta historia. A veces me gustaba, a veces me exasperaba, y aunque en general me ha gustado, tampoco me ha parecido nada del otro mundo.
Quizás la protagonista la ha estropeado un poco para mí. O quizás no he sabido divertirme leyéndola, pero en algunas ocasiones me ha parecido infantil la actitud de ella. Era como si todo el mundo tuviese que estar pendiente de que no se metiese en un lío, al principio era refrescante pero después me resultó cansino.
Precioso el romance secundario. Muy dulce.
Encantador el protagonista, realmente encantador. Me gusta cuando es él el que lucha contra sus sentimientos pero está embelesado con ella, muy a su pesar.
A excepción de la protagonista, los demás caracteres son creíbles, encantadores y sensiblemente reales.
A pesar de ello es la historia de esta autora que más me ha gustado. Es muy diferente a lo que he leído de ella, más relajada, más light…
It has been strange to read this story. Sometimes I liked it, sometimes it exasperated me, and although I've, in general, liked it, it was nothing special.
Perhaps the heroine has spoiled it a little bit for me. Or perhaps I have failed to have fun reading it, but sometimes I think the heroine´s attitude was too childish. It was as if the world had to be looking after her to not make a mess everywhere, it was refreshing at first but then I found it tiresome.
Lovely secondary romance. So sweet.
The hero is charming, really lovely. I like it when he is the one fighting his feelings but is besotted with her, much to his regret.
Except for the heroine, the other characters are credible, charming and noticeably real.
Nevertheless, this one is this author´s story that I most liked. It's very different from what I have read from her, more relaxed, more light...
Quizás la protagonista la ha estropeado un poco para mí. O quizás no he sabido divertirme leyéndola, pero en algunas ocasiones me ha parecido infantil la actitud de ella. Era como si todo el mundo tuviese que estar pendiente de que no se metiese en un lío, al principio era refrescante pero después me resultó cansino.
Precioso el romance secundario. Muy dulce.
Encantador el protagonista, realmente encantador. Me gusta cuando es él el que lucha contra sus sentimientos pero está embelesado con ella, muy a su pesar.
A excepción de la protagonista, los demás caracteres son creíbles, encantadores y sensiblemente reales.
A pesar de ello es la historia de esta autora que más me ha gustado. Es muy diferente a lo que he leído de ella, más relajada, más light…
It has been strange to read this story. Sometimes I liked it, sometimes it exasperated me, and although I've, in general, liked it, it was nothing special.
Perhaps the heroine has spoiled it a little bit for me. Or perhaps I have failed to have fun reading it, but sometimes I think the heroine´s attitude was too childish. It was as if the world had to be looking after her to not make a mess everywhere, it was refreshing at first but then I found it tiresome.
Lovely secondary romance. So sweet.
The hero is charming, really lovely. I like it when he is the one fighting his feelings but is besotted with her, much to his regret.
Except for the heroine, the other characters are credible, charming and noticeably real.
Nevertheless, this one is this author´s story that I most liked. It's very different from what I have read from her, more relaxed, more light...
June 2, 2019
Yet another underrated treasure of Balogh's . I could not stop laughing , I never did take Balogh to write something so light hearted and lively . Thoroughly satisfying read ♥️
October 7, 2019
I have a great time with this book. Thank you, Linda, for your tip!
It was the best of Mary Balogh I have read (as for now). I hope that there are more of her Regency romances that are as charming as this one. Some of her romances are a bit too modern and too serious as to me - I liked them but I prefer as lovely and funny as "Lady with a Black Umbrella".
The story of Daisy and Giles (and their families) was hilarious. I not only grinned but often laughed out loud. From the first to the last scene it was pure joy. And when at the end Giles said: "Tuesday mornings, Daisy,” he muttered, “and definitely Friday afternoons. And probably Sunday evenings too" I almost fall off the couch from the laugh. Or the scene with a chamber pot - such comical.
There was also time for sighing, like when Giles said: The trouble is that I have grown accustomed to worrying about you.
Summarizing, it was a wonderful, romantic comedy of errors. Of course, it wasn't Heyer's perfection but comparing to other Regency romances I have read (especially by Balogh) and wanting to show how much I have enjoyed it I give it 5 stars.
It was the best of Mary Balogh I have read (as for now). I hope that there are more of her Regency romances that are as charming as this one. Some of her romances are a bit too modern and too serious as to me - I liked them but I prefer as lovely and funny as "Lady with a Black Umbrella".
The story of Daisy and Giles (and their families) was hilarious. I not only grinned but often laughed out loud. From the first to the last scene it was pure joy. And when at the end Giles said: "Tuesday mornings, Daisy,” he muttered, “and definitely Friday afternoons. And probably Sunday evenings too" I almost fall off the couch from the laugh. Or the scene with a chamber pot - such comical.
There was also time for sighing, like when Giles said: The trouble is that I have grown accustomed to worrying about you.
Summarizing, it was a wonderful, romantic comedy of errors. Of course, it wasn't Heyer's perfection but comparing to other Regency romances I have read (especially by Balogh) and wanting to show how much I have enjoyed it I give it 5 stars.
January 29, 2024
Zbrzana i nabacana.
Iskreno, svidaju mi se knjige Mary Ballogh, na kraju krajeva, zato sam kupila i ovu knjigu. No, nije ni blizu kvalitetom prethodno procitanim.
Eto, kao da je napisala, jer je morala. Naravno, ima sarma, likovi su simpaticni, ali sve je kaoticno i povrsno. Daisy je divlja djevojka, koja zacrtane ciljeve ispunjava bez obzira na norme i misljenja drugih.
Samim time, upada u nevolje. Prvo odluci stici u London, kako bi pomogla pronaci sestri Rose odgovorajuceg supruga. Premda se nisu prije nasle u ovakvim krugovima, njihov otac im je ostavio pozamasan miraz, zbog cega ce vjencanje biti lako ostvarivo. Sa druge strane, sebe 25-godisnjakinju smatra usidjelicom, koja se nema zelju udati.
Naravno, nakon toga, upoznaje glavnom muskog lika, koji voli pravila i sav je u imidzu. Gle cuda, potpune razlike. Kroz cijeli roman se ne mogu smisliti. Jedno vrijeme Daisy misli kako bi on bio dobar prosac za Rose.
Doslovno, tek se u posljednjim stranicama zaljube jedno u drugo. DOSLOVNO. Zadnjih pet stranica.
Ne znam. Mogla je biti puno bolja. Cak i za klisejsku povijesno ljubavnu knjigu.
Iskreno, svidaju mi se knjige Mary Ballogh, na kraju krajeva, zato sam kupila i ovu knjigu. No, nije ni blizu kvalitetom prethodno procitanim.
Eto, kao da je napisala, jer je morala. Naravno, ima sarma, likovi su simpaticni, ali sve je kaoticno i povrsno. Daisy je divlja djevojka, koja zacrtane ciljeve ispunjava bez obzira na norme i misljenja drugih.
Samim time, upada u nevolje. Prvo odluci stici u London, kako bi pomogla pronaci sestri Rose odgovorajuceg supruga. Premda se nisu prije nasle u ovakvim krugovima, njihov otac im je ostavio pozamasan miraz, zbog cega ce vjencanje biti lako ostvarivo. Sa druge strane, sebe 25-godisnjakinju smatra usidjelicom, koja se nema zelju udati.
Naravno, nakon toga, upoznaje glavnom muskog lika, koji voli pravila i sav je u imidzu. Gle cuda, potpune razlike. Kroz cijeli roman se ne mogu smisliti. Jedno vrijeme Daisy misli kako bi on bio dobar prosac za Rose.
Doslovno, tek se u posljednjim stranicama zaljube jedno u drugo. DOSLOVNO. Zadnjih pet stranica.
Ne znam. Mogla je biti puno bolja. Cak i za klisejsku povijesno ljubavnu knjigu.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 16, 2021
L'héroïne est tellement dans son monde qu'elle ne réalise jamais quand elle est à côté de la plaque. Ce qui lui vaut un gros moment TSTL. Mais elle est tellement désintéressée, gentille et serviable que je l'ai tout de même appréciée. Il y a quelques moments amusants.
April 11, 2019
Daisy Morrison was the key to this story. She either made you laugh or you thought she was tstl. I laughed out loud several times so it was 4 stars for me. An easy and fun read.
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