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The Butler Who Laughed
SHE WOULD MARRY FOR WEALTH OR POSITION... OR NOT AT ALL!
Thus, Sarah Thorndike was admonished by her parents. In fact, a bridegroom had been selected: Viscount Lyleton, a dandy of the first order with whom she would acquaint herself at a summer house party.
A more reluctant pair there never had been. And Lyleton had a problem quite apart from Sarah: blackmail. However, he had a most kindhearted and resourceful friend, Lord Rawlins, who, posing as a butler during the house party, would make a devilish attempt to steal a certain incriminating letter...and perhaps steal a heart along the way....
Thus, Sarah Thorndike was admonished by her parents. In fact, a bridegroom had been selected: Viscount Lyleton, a dandy of the first order with whom she would acquaint herself at a summer house party.
A more reluctant pair there never had been. And Lyleton had a problem quite apart from Sarah: blackmail. However, he had a most kindhearted and resourceful friend, Lord Rawlins, who, posing as a butler during the house party, would make a devilish attempt to steal a certain incriminating letter...and perhaps steal a heart along the way....
219 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 30, 1997
39 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 6, 2007
Is this book super well written? No. Does this book have too many characters and too much going on for its short length? Yes. Is this book still totally awesome? Yes!
Okay, so there is this duke's daughter whose parents want to marry her off to this viscount (who is super fun, just wrong for her). But she doesn't fit in with her social peers! Her best friends are all servants! Oh no! So she gets hauled off to this house party put together by her and the viscount's scheming parents and there she meets a dreamy butler! Only he's not a butler really, he's the illegitimate son of a duke who is only pretending to be a butler to help out his friend the viscount! But! He's not a totally fake butler because he was raised as a servant until his father decided to send him to school. So he's the secret son of a duke and he's genuinely butlery!
It's all very sweet and silly and I liked the characters and, all in all, it was a fun thing to read while soaking in the bath. Mostly because I just love butlers ridiculously a lot.
Okay, so there is this duke's daughter whose parents want to marry her off to this viscount (who is super fun, just wrong for her). But she doesn't fit in with her social peers! Her best friends are all servants! Oh no! So she gets hauled off to this house party put together by her and the viscount's scheming parents and there she meets a dreamy butler! Only he's not a butler really, he's the illegitimate son of a duke who is only pretending to be a butler to help out his friend the viscount! But! He's not a totally fake butler because he was raised as a servant until his father decided to send him to school. So he's the secret son of a duke and he's genuinely butlery!
It's all very sweet and silly and I liked the characters and, all in all, it was a fun thing to read while soaking in the bath. Mostly because I just love butlers ridiculously a lot.
May 15, 2022
Cudo. Michelle Martin błyszczy na tle innych autorek romansów historycznych. To druga jej książka (po "Diablicy"), którą czytam, i tak samo nie mogłam się oderwać. Fabuła bazuje nie na wątku erotycznym, a... przygodowym, z mnóstwem towarzyskich niezręczności i żywymi, doskonale zbudowanymi charakterami.
Tylko Martin udaje się stworzyć tak wspaniałą chemię między postaciami bez nawet jednego pocałunku. Opisy gestów, min, myśli, barwne, realistyczne dialogi... tu nawet naiwność niektórych motywów nie przeszkadza. Uwielbiam.
Tylko Martin udaje się stworzyć tak wspaniałą chemię między postaciami bez nawet jednego pocałunku. Opisy gestów, min, myśli, barwne, realistyczne dialogi... tu nawet naiwność niektórych motywów nie przeszkadza. Uwielbiam.
August 16, 2019
Another all-time fave regency romance. Michelle Martin creates the most interesting characters and looks at some tough topics all while making you laugh and cry. Also, no bodice ripping aka sex scenes: this is good clean fun.
November 6, 2015
A clean, forgettable Traditional Regency.
I thought the idea of the hero (son of a duke) posing as a butler was sweet. Totally unrealistic, but sweet. He wants to help his dear friend Fitz to take a incriminating letter from his blackmailer, and what better than posing as a member of the staff? Lots of guests are invited, among them, our heroine Sarah, who is forced to accept the hand of Fitz.
I guess I was hoping for a funnier, cuter, more romantic story. When I've read the "twinkle in Rawlins' eye" I was ecstatic. I thought he was going to be an amusing, teasing hero. Disguised as butler, nonetheless! A handsome man in a dignified pose is so swooning. Like a Sebastian Michaelis in a Regency romance
Instead, I got a serious, aloof, unhappy man.
I never felt the chemistry between Rawlins and Sarah. Mostly because Rawlins was so cold and aloof. Allies, yes. Comrades, no. Rawlins was just another friend among the staff for Sarah, only more educated and more handsome.
Another thing is that there were too many supporting characters. Besides one couple or two, I forgot most of the times who was who. There was no need to have so many supporting characters.
Ugh, Sarah's parents. To me they were well written because they resembled parents of today as well. Parents that insist their unwed daughters make a good "catch", pushing their daughters to pretend being someone they are not. And if that doesn't work, these parents blame all to the daughter and her poor figure. Sarah's mother was the worst of all, slapping Sarah whenever she was disappointed or angry.
Sarah's and Fitz' scheme to scare their parents to call the engagement off was entertaining. But a bit unsatisfying because I thought Rawlins was going to be part of it, making it a funny, intelligent trio with witty ideas. He was not. He barely contributed with things like "they don't like xxx" and that's it.
It wasn't too romantic because the interactions between Sarah and Rawlins were MEH.
Overall, a so-so romance.
I thought the idea of the hero (son of a duke) posing as a butler was sweet. Totally unrealistic, but sweet. He wants to help his dear friend Fitz to take a incriminating letter from his blackmailer, and what better than posing as a member of the staff? Lots of guests are invited, among them, our heroine Sarah, who is forced to accept the hand of Fitz.
I guess I was hoping for a funnier, cuter, more romantic story. When I've read the "twinkle in Rawlins' eye" I was ecstatic. I thought he was going to be an amusing, teasing hero. Disguised as butler, nonetheless! A handsome man in a dignified pose is so swooning. Like a Sebastian Michaelis in a Regency romance
Instead, I got a serious, aloof, unhappy man. I never felt the chemistry between Rawlins and Sarah. Mostly because Rawlins was so cold and aloof. Allies, yes. Comrades, no. Rawlins was just another friend among the staff for Sarah, only more educated and more handsome.
Another thing is that there were too many supporting characters. Besides one couple or two, I forgot most of the times who was who. There was no need to have so many supporting characters.
Ugh, Sarah's parents. To me they were well written because they resembled parents of today as well. Parents that insist their unwed daughters make a good "catch", pushing their daughters to pretend being someone they are not. And if that doesn't work, these parents blame all to the daughter and her poor figure. Sarah's mother was the worst of all, slapping Sarah whenever she was disappointed or angry.
Sarah's and Fitz' scheme to scare their parents to call the engagement off was entertaining. But a bit unsatisfying because I thought Rawlins was going to be part of it, making it a funny, intelligent trio with witty ideas. He was not. He barely contributed with things like "they don't like xxx" and that's it.
It wasn't too romantic because the interactions between Sarah and Rawlins were MEH.
Overall, a so-so romance.
September 3, 2012
THE BUTLER WHO LAUGHED is a traditional regency that is taken one step further. Lord John Rawlins poses as a butler in order to help his friend, the Viscount Lyleton, catch a blackmailer. Born on the other side of the blanket to a housemaid and a Duke, John has a deep dislike of the Ton. He was knighted for bravery in battle and rewarded with a home and land in the countryside. Little does he know that Lady Sarah Thorndike, soon to be betrothed to Lyleton, will steal his heart.
Though Sarah is the legitimate daughter of a duke, her parents treat her shabbily. More like a piece of property, they mean for her to marry a title with money and finish supporting her. She is the last child still at home and they are tired of her. She was raised by nannies and servants; hence the reason for her kind and empathetic personality. Neither she not Lyleton want to get married to each other and they do their best to cause their parents grief. At this point, this traditional regency asks the reader to stretch their imagination.
At some times the reading was slow. I wanted more contact between the hero and heroine. There are quite a few secondary characters packed within 219 pages and it was hard to keep track of who was who. But I had to keep reading to find out how John and Sarah would have their HEA. For these reasons I am giving it three stars.
Though Sarah is the legitimate daughter of a duke, her parents treat her shabbily. More like a piece of property, they mean for her to marry a title with money and finish supporting her. She is the last child still at home and they are tired of her. She was raised by nannies and servants; hence the reason for her kind and empathetic personality. Neither she not Lyleton want to get married to each other and they do their best to cause their parents grief. At this point, this traditional regency asks the reader to stretch their imagination.
At some times the reading was slow. I wanted more contact between the hero and heroine. There are quite a few secondary characters packed within 219 pages and it was hard to keep track of who was who. But I had to keep reading to find out how John and Sarah would have their HEA. For these reasons I am giving it three stars.
August 31, 2015
Delightful! Clean in every way. Even made me laugh!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews