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Much Obliged
John Fitzwilliam and Addie Winstead were engaged to one another by their fathers, long before the pair had anything to say about the matter.
Yet over the years, Addie has carried a torch for the seductive prizefighter, whose amorous escapades demanded she hide her feelings and her hopes and focus on earning an income for her household by secretly writing a popular boxing column in the London Post. Ever the professional, Addie must report in detail even her beloved's most embarrassing defeat.
And despite himself --- perhaps it was the knock he took the head, or more likely, an arrow to his heart --- Fitz suddenly feels a delicious new longing for lovely Addie. But when a passionate kiss turns into scandal, will he be forced to defend Addie's honor in the ring? Worse, will Addie have no choice but to deny her greatest love in order to save him?
Yet over the years, Addie has carried a torch for the seductive prizefighter, whose amorous escapades demanded she hide her feelings and her hopes and focus on earning an income for her household by secretly writing a popular boxing column in the London Post. Ever the professional, Addie must report in detail even her beloved's most embarrassing defeat.
And despite himself --- perhaps it was the knock he took the head, or more likely, an arrow to his heart --- Fitz suddenly feels a delicious new longing for lovely Addie. But when a passionate kiss turns into scandal, will he be forced to defend Addie's honor in the ring? Worse, will Addie have no choice but to deny her greatest love in order to save him?
285 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
103 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 28, 2017
I found this title on a list of funny Regencies, and those who know my reading habits know I'm a sucker for witty Regency dialog and amusing situations. So it's no surprise that I tracked this down, finally getting a copy through paperbackswap. I was so excited to begin. But I was quickly disappointed. I realize that humor is different to different people, but as I read this I kept waiting for something funny. Something amusing? Something to make me smile? Anything? I didn't see the clever dialogue others mentioned. And the characters were so boring I kept forgetting who they were.
Every time I picked up this book, even a few hours later, I had to remind myself what I was reading and what this book was about. That just doesn't happen with me. I kept having to reread the back and dive into the first few pages again to remember what was going on. So at about 30% I gave up. Not funny, not amusing. The best I could call what I read was "light".
NB - My idea of funny Regencies include The Unknown Ajax, (and plenty of other Heyers'), The Temporary Wife, Just Like Heaven, Miss Grimsley's Oxford Career and many others. I was hoping this book could join that list. :(
Every time I picked up this book, even a few hours later, I had to remind myself what I was reading and what this book was about. That just doesn't happen with me. I kept having to reread the back and dive into the first few pages again to remember what was going on. So at about 30% I gave up. Not funny, not amusing. The best I could call what I read was "light".
NB - My idea of funny Regencies include The Unknown Ajax, (and plenty of other Heyers'), The Temporary Wife, Just Like Heaven, Miss Grimsley's Oxford Career and many others. I was hoping this book could join that list. :(
March 29, 2011
I laugh through this whole book. I find the play between the characters to be perfect! Addie is a fantastic character who is torn between her head and her heart. The side characters are all wonderful and rich and add a lot to the story. You really see the whole situation involved, not just one side of it. The more romantic scenes are some of my favorite ever. Truly a great read.
http://cleanromancereviews.blogspot.com
http://cleanromancereviews.blogspot.com
February 22, 2018
Much Obliged - PG/PG13
Violence: fisticuffs
Language: <20 swears
Sex: descriptive kissing, loads of references to "kept" women
Jessica Benson is a Regency ROCKSTAR. I happened upon this while deep diving looking for clean romance. I cannot believe she hasn't e-published. This is the second book of hers that I've read and I'm looking for more.
Violence: fisticuffs
Language: <20 swears
Sex: descriptive kissing, loads of references to "kept" women
Jessica Benson is a Regency ROCKSTAR. I happened upon this while deep diving looking for clean romance. I cannot believe she hasn't e-published. This is the second book of hers that I've read and I'm looking for more.
Read
March 23, 2008Maybe I'm forever doomed to only like whatever book I read first of "new" authors now - although liking is rare, and the extent to which I loved Benson's Duchess was rarer still, probably the only book this century that had made me feel like this (dare I say happy? Satisfied despite publisher restriction caused flaws? Certainly energised for as long as it lasted).
This book started out even funnier than her second, with truly amusing dialogues, again of the sort of Heyer's secondary characters, the bits that the millions of plagiarists never even attempt. And then, after a few chapters, it stalled and not even the ending, which had the promise of more incredibly witty scenes in them - I can spoil it since it's already spoiled: after training boxing all this time, the hero shoots his attacker, who hadn't even meant to attack him (WHAT GOLD turned into dross) - not even that picked it up.
There wasn't even any sex, but more importantly there was no actual gettingtoknoweachother, not really time spent between them were they interacted meaningfully, just the typical pages and pages of internal repetition - I love UST but the genre romance's denial paired with it's lust-at-first-site is plain dumb.
Very promising set-ups, and I'm dying to get Benson's Stanhope, and will try to read her contemporary novel even, but I'm still sure enough of my critical faculties to say that it's not just first-book-syndrome: Benson could be the best thing since ***** and I was ready to list her as a favourite author, but the world of publishing, books and editors ruins everything.
This book started out even funnier than her second, with truly amusing dialogues, again of the sort of Heyer's secondary characters, the bits that the millions of plagiarists never even attempt. And then, after a few chapters, it stalled and not even the ending, which had the promise of more incredibly witty scenes in them - I can spoil it since it's already spoiled: after training boxing all this time, the hero shoots his attacker, who hadn't even meant to attack him (WHAT GOLD turned into dross) - not even that picked it up.
There wasn't even any sex, but more importantly there was no actual gettingtoknoweachother, not really time spent between them were they interacted meaningfully, just the typical pages and pages of internal repetition - I love UST but the genre romance's denial paired with it's lust-at-first-site is plain dumb.
Very promising set-ups, and I'm dying to get Benson's Stanhope, and will try to read her contemporary novel even, but I'm still sure enough of my critical faculties to say that it's not just first-book-syndrome: Benson could be the best thing since ***** and I was ready to list her as a favourite author, but the world of publishing, books and editors ruins everything.
January 24, 2021
why i gave this a five am not remembering since read it several years ago. i do remember the unpalatable suitor for her hand, the uncles, and other obstacles. And the expert boxing columns she penned anonymously. Also finally the hero recognizing his undeniable attachment to her. all of Benson's writings were first person narratives but the wit overcame my complaints. i wish she had a greater body of work.
January 12, 2012
Cute story. I was not a fan of how rakish Fitzwilliam was, but I adored Addie. And the scened at Fitzwilliams's house with the three older women were absolutely hysterical. Each had their own agenda and none of the others realized what it was! A decent read, and I'm really glad it only cost $1.29, that definitely helped!
June 23, 2015
I loved Addie's personality and also enjoyed the boxing. The banter of the three older women was hilarious. The sweet and humorous ending felt good!
September 25, 2009
Regency
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews