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Merely Married
Life for Adrian Devereau, the sixth duke of Raven, was flawless, but for one nagging detail. Try as he did to live down to his reputation as the Wicked Lord Raven, the ladies persisted in viewing him as desirable husband material. So he conceived a bold solution to foil them once and for all--he would marry a woman on her deathbed and adopt the role of grieving widower. He even found a most suitable wife: Leah Stretton, overtaken by a sudden illness while journeying to London. But with Leah's "miraculous" recovery, Adrian found himself properly wedded to a beauty as headstrong as she was healthy. Now his only chance at freedom was playing her game. More adept at writing about romance and adventure than living it, Leah could not permit a new family scandal to ruin her sister's launch into society. If Adrian played her devoted husband, she would grant him an annulment later. There was only one rule: neither of them could fall in love. Of course, rules were made to be broken.
327 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 6, 1998
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648 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Coughlin
46 books18 followersPatricia Coughlin won the 1999 RITA® in the Short Historical category for her novel Merely Married. She is also a Romantic Times Magazine "Career Achievement Award" winner. Coughlin, who also wrote under the name Liz Grady, graduated from Providence College. She began her writing career in 1982.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
April 4, 2022
3.5 stars
August 1, 2013
Adrian Deveraux Earl of Raven is like so many other rakes in regency romances tired of matchmaking mamas and their debutante daughters trying to capture him in marriage.
He is also very drunk, so when he and his similarly inebriated friends arrive at the friends house and the housekeeper in tears tells them that there is a young lady near death in the upstairs chamber. She had been traveling when she fell deathly ill.
Adrian comes up with a clever plan.He will marry this dying woman and then when she has kicked the bucket he will be a grieving widower.In effect he will be off the marriage mart.
Did I mention he was drunk? :P
So he,his barrister friend and his priest friend and the near unconscious young woman go through with the ceremony.After wich Adrian returns to London and begins regaling the ton with stories about his sudden marriage and his deep love for his new bride. All the while waiting for a message to arrive with word about her death.
But judge his surprise when his "wife" Leah appears at the door of his London home and she is clearly not in the least dead.In fact she is quite the resolute young lady who informs him that she wont go quietly away and she offers him a deal. If they will pretend to be married for the time it takes for her to launch her younger sister Christiana in society and see her married to some eligible man,then she will agree to an annulment.
Adrian agrees at first reluctant to her proposal but after doing some thinking of his own he agrees...and from there the story goes.
I have to admit that I put down this book with a sigh after reading only a few pages in. The premise was just so silly and unrealistic!
Also the hero was nicknamed Raven.Wich is such a cheesy name.Could it have more cliches?
But I decided to give it another go just to see what would happen next.And then I got swept along.
Adrian is one of those heroes that are far from perfect,of course he is a rake but it goes beyond that,he could be downright sneaky as Leah finds out as she comes to know him better.For example the way he got her into bed...I would have been so angry to find out the truth but hey its romancelandia.
Their relationship was quite the rollercoaster due to both characters having their invidiual insecurities.Leahs being afraid she was too much like her mother and choosing to deny herself happiness and instead try to give her younger sister all that she herself thought she didnt deserve to have.
So despite the marriage being a mismatch in the end the couple complemented each other very well and had me believing in their relationship.And the sex...well that was very racy.;=
While some aspects of the story could have been embellished/researched more once you got past the awkward beginning it was quite an engrossing read. Good if you are looking for a fast and entertaining read with some angst thrown in.
He is also very drunk, so when he and his similarly inebriated friends arrive at the friends house and the housekeeper in tears tells them that there is a young lady near death in the upstairs chamber. She had been traveling when she fell deathly ill.
Adrian comes up with a clever plan.He will marry this dying woman and then when she has kicked the bucket he will be a grieving widower.In effect he will be off the marriage mart.
Did I mention he was drunk? :P
So he,his barrister friend and his priest friend and the near unconscious young woman go through with the ceremony.After wich Adrian returns to London and begins regaling the ton with stories about his sudden marriage and his deep love for his new bride. All the while waiting for a message to arrive with word about her death.
But judge his surprise when his "wife" Leah appears at the door of his London home and she is clearly not in the least dead.In fact she is quite the resolute young lady who informs him that she wont go quietly away and she offers him a deal. If they will pretend to be married for the time it takes for her to launch her younger sister Christiana in society and see her married to some eligible man,then she will agree to an annulment.
Adrian agrees at first reluctant to her proposal but after doing some thinking of his own he agrees...and from there the story goes.
I have to admit that I put down this book with a sigh after reading only a few pages in. The premise was just so silly and unrealistic!
Also the hero was nicknamed Raven.Wich is such a cheesy name.Could it have more cliches?
But I decided to give it another go just to see what would happen next.And then I got swept along.
Adrian is one of those heroes that are far from perfect,of course he is a rake but it goes beyond that,he could be downright sneaky as Leah finds out as she comes to know him better.For example the way he got her into bed...I would have been so angry to find out the truth but hey its romancelandia.
Their relationship was quite the rollercoaster due to both characters having their invidiual insecurities.Leahs being afraid she was too much like her mother and choosing to deny herself happiness and instead try to give her younger sister all that she herself thought she didnt deserve to have.
So despite the marriage being a mismatch in the end the couple complemented each other very well and had me believing in their relationship.And the sex...well that was very racy.;=
While some aspects of the story could have been embellished/researched more once you got past the awkward beginning it was quite an engrossing read. Good if you are looking for a fast and entertaining read with some angst thrown in.
January 2, 2017
Another RITA-winning oldie. I believe this is the first book I have read by Patricia Coughlin. She was an excellent writer and I will look into other books by her. This one was charming, witty and romantic. It starts with the popular premise of a Regency bachelor avoiding marriage. In a drunken state he and his friends concoct a solution to keep the marriage-minded mamas at bay -- he will marry a girl that is about to die and then wallow in his "grief." As usual, all good ideas are prone to go astray. So we end up with a marriage of convenience. There was clever dialogue, some good secondary characters, and some surprises. It all adds up to a really fun, well-written book.
July 29, 2016
Yes I did read this one but I did not like it so I will be nice and say nothing just shelf it here.
March 26, 2017
Thou shalt never speak the truth . . . unless it's behind someone's back -The 1st commandment of the ton
Adrian Devereau, the Duke of Raven (aka Wicked Lord Raven), is not the ideal romantic hero. He's selfish, vengeful, and deeply wounded. When we first meet him, he's drunk. He impulsively marries a stranger, Lady Leah Stretton, to rid himself of husband hunters. Adrian thinks Leah will soon die from her illness, leaving him to enjoy a few years as the grieving widow. However, Leah does not succumb to the sickness that forced her to seek refuge in a rectory. She eventually becomes strong enough to travel to London and presents herself to her husband during a dinner party. This is when the fun begins! As in life, things don't always go according to plans. Appearances are deceitful. Misconceptions are damning. Assumptions lead to disappointment.
Both the Duke and Duchess of Raven experience a lot of character growth in this book. Their journey from darkness to light was both difficult and beautiful to watch. The TRUTH sets Adrian and Leah free.
I do wish there had been more build up to foreshadow the destruction of the walls around Adrian's heart. His sudden change was rather abrupt. Other than that, I loved this book.
Adrian Devereau, the Duke of Raven (aka Wicked Lord Raven), is not the ideal romantic hero. He's selfish, vengeful, and deeply wounded. When we first meet him, he's drunk. He impulsively marries a stranger, Lady Leah Stretton, to rid himself of husband hunters. Adrian thinks Leah will soon die from her illness, leaving him to enjoy a few years as the grieving widow. However, Leah does not succumb to the sickness that forced her to seek refuge in a rectory. She eventually becomes strong enough to travel to London and presents herself to her husband during a dinner party. This is when the fun begins! As in life, things don't always go according to plans. Appearances are deceitful. Misconceptions are damning. Assumptions lead to disappointment.
Both the Duke and Duchess of Raven experience a lot of character growth in this book. Their journey from darkness to light was both difficult and beautiful to watch. The TRUTH sets Adrian and Leah free.
I do wish there had been more build up to foreshadow the destruction of the walls around Adrian's heart. His sudden change was rather abrupt. Other than that, I loved this book.
October 23, 2017
3.25 stars
Well I was really enjoying this book when it went downhill. The heroine just catapulted to the hero's seduction, also I also found the hero's behaviour off putting for some reason. The casual way he seduced the heroine and his behaviour after, I mean I enjoy books about rakes but something about him rubbed me the wrong way.
Well I was really enjoying this book when it went downhill. The heroine just catapulted to the hero's seduction, also I also found the hero's behaviour off putting for some reason. The casual way he seduced the heroine and his behaviour after, I mean I enjoy books about rakes but something about him rubbed me the wrong way.
May 19, 2010
Merely Married follows a very much "done" plot line, but is very unique in it's characters making it a strong and memorable book in my opinion.
The strength of this novel lies in the character of Leah. She is sweet without being too angelic, strong without being aggressive, and witty without being annoying. She is what really makes this book for me. Raven is your typical wounded rakish male who has sworn off love. How Leah goes about "getting to him" is what makes this novel so unforgettable. Their dialogue is so engaging, and how Leah matches wit with him is so funny. I smiled throughout this novel.
The weakness of the novel is that it sort of "fizzles out" near the end. There is this weird "irony" that occurs that I just didn't really like, get, or find necessary. I would've believed these two were meant for each other without it.
Overall, the first 2/3's of the book make it worth your time and a very enjoyable couple to read about.
The strength of this novel lies in the character of Leah. She is sweet without being too angelic, strong without being aggressive, and witty without being annoying. She is what really makes this book for me. Raven is your typical wounded rakish male who has sworn off love. How Leah goes about "getting to him" is what makes this novel so unforgettable. Their dialogue is so engaging, and how Leah matches wit with him is so funny. I smiled throughout this novel.
The weakness of the novel is that it sort of "fizzles out" near the end. There is this weird "irony" that occurs that I just didn't really like, get, or find necessary. I would've believed these two were meant for each other without it.
Overall, the first 2/3's of the book make it worth your time and a very enjoyable couple to read about.
July 19, 2010
I wasn't expecting too much out of this book, so I was very much surprised when I found that I was hooked from the first paragraph.
The author has a fantastic ability to characterise, and despite being written in the third person, Adrian's voice got straight into my head. He is portrayed as the standard rakish rogue, and the opening scenes in which we find him establish his character for most of the rest of the novel.
As for Leah, she is a wonderful heroine. Stubborn, but without being unbearably so, and with an intelligence and wit to match Adrian's. She, like Adrian, has her own agenda and seems to be the perfect counterpart, antagonist and eventual lover to him.
None of this would've been discovered though, had not these two been forced together in a marital situation that neither of them are happy with, and the rest of the story follows the amusing consequences of this marriage.
The author also intersperses the story with wit and comedy in the form of Adrian's two friends, and in the dialogue exchanges between him and Leah. However, it is clear that Adrian's friends serve no other purpose here than to provide comic relief for the sexual tension between Leah and Adrian, which is a shame as they definitely had potential to take more active roles towards the end.
I wasn't convinced by the end of the novel though, which is why I'm giving this book three stars. The ironic twist was far too convoluted and unbelievable for my liking, and in my opinion, the novel would've worked much better without it. The actual ending, although sweet, did lack the power that had been driving the story forwards from page one.
The author has a fantastic ability to characterise, and despite being written in the third person, Adrian's voice got straight into my head. He is portrayed as the standard rakish rogue, and the opening scenes in which we find him establish his character for most of the rest of the novel.
As for Leah, she is a wonderful heroine. Stubborn, but without being unbearably so, and with an intelligence and wit to match Adrian's. She, like Adrian, has her own agenda and seems to be the perfect counterpart, antagonist and eventual lover to him.
None of this would've been discovered though, had not these two been forced together in a marital situation that neither of them are happy with, and the rest of the story follows the amusing consequences of this marriage.
The author also intersperses the story with wit and comedy in the form of Adrian's two friends, and in the dialogue exchanges between him and Leah. However, it is clear that Adrian's friends serve no other purpose here than to provide comic relief for the sexual tension between Leah and Adrian, which is a shame as they definitely had potential to take more active roles towards the end.
I wasn't convinced by the end of the novel though, which is why I'm giving this book three stars. The ironic twist was far too convoluted and unbelievable for my liking, and in my opinion, the novel would've worked much better without it. The actual ending, although sweet, did lack the power that had been driving the story forwards from page one.
May 5, 2016
This book made me laugh out loud at times and wants to strangle the characters at others. The idea of marrying a barely conscious dying woman just so that you can become a widower and be left alone is just the kind of wacky plan that I self-indulgent idiot would come up with. However that's exactly what Adrian came up with to save himself from the marriage minded mamas of society. And it almost worked. Watching the two of them try to work out their marriage and maintain their headstrong Waze was entertaining to say the least. I think my favorite part was learning about the Duke's intention to build a "bird sanctuary". I honestly almost laughed out loud on the bus on the way home from work. Far from being a sugarcoated cheesy romance, I found it to be very thought-provoking and interesting and real. I became truly fascinated by the story and of course even though you knew how it would end, it was still a good read.
August 6, 2016
Good story with witty H/h interactions. It reminded me little bit of Loretta Chase 's "Lord of Scoundrels": mature very likable heroine, growling, alpha hero and great H/h chemistry.
May 12, 2012
Excellent book with likable characters and a solid (if not entirely original) story-line. Leah, the heroine, is one of a few (very few) smart, strong, and reasonable females in historical fiction. She knows what she wants and goes after it without being insufferable or too stupid/annoying to live. The hero, Raven, is a typical yet well written rake. The two together have great chemistry, and their dialogue is wonderful.
As some other reviewers have mentioned, the ending was a little too abrupt, and .
Overall an excellent read.
As some other reviewers have mentioned, the ending was a little too abrupt, and .
Overall an excellent read.
March 25, 2013
2.5 stars
It's a light and breezy read but if you're 40 percent in and the biggest conflict in sight is that Leah immediately started to redecorate her accidental husband's townhouse in girly flowers despite having just a limited marriage agreement it doesn't not bode well. I need some emotional tension and I don't want to wait too long for it.
The hero is more of a careless, live-in-the-moment type and not your typical brooding, cunning and demanding rake. The heroine was bright and resourceful. Both were perfectly acceptable characteres but neither of them made me care.
It's a light and breezy read but if you're 40 percent in and the biggest conflict in sight is that Leah immediately started to redecorate her accidental husband's townhouse in girly flowers despite having just a limited marriage agreement it doesn't not bode well. I need some emotional tension and I don't want to wait too long for it.
The hero is more of a careless, live-in-the-moment type and not your typical brooding, cunning and demanding rake. The heroine was bright and resourceful. Both were perfectly acceptable characteres but neither of them made me care.
April 17, 2018
I wanted to like this book. I really did. I loved Leah and her determination but the book fell apart around the time of their consummation of marriage. It happened too late and really I never saw Adrian change. While it was nice to hear him express that at the end, I didn't feel like he was a worthy opponent for Leah's determination. And I kind of hated the seduction scene simply because he knew that Leah was trusting him, on some level, to be honest but wanted to wed and discard at his convenience.
Honestly, the most disturbing part for me was the fact they got married when she wasn't conscious. I know the book was written 20 years ago. Still took me out of the book. Leah basically made the book for me. This is the kind of historical protag I like.
I wish there had been more about her family, though. It was a driving force but kinda shoe-horned in. And her care of Aunt Millicent felt weird considering how the matriarch left her two nieces to starve for attention while enjoying the benefits of being related to an earl. Micheal, her mother's confident, needed more set up. Leah was too easily influenced by someone she barely knows.
Overall, a solid 3 stars for the book.
Honestly, the most disturbing part for me was the fact they got married when she wasn't conscious. I know the book was written 20 years ago. Still took me out of the book. Leah basically made the book for me. This is the kind of historical protag I like.
I wish there had been more about her family, though. It was a driving force but kinda shoe-horned in. And her care of Aunt Millicent felt weird considering how the matriarch left her two nieces to starve for attention while enjoying the benefits of being related to an earl. Micheal, her mother's confident, needed more set up. Leah was too easily influenced by someone she barely knows.
Overall, a solid 3 stars for the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 21, 2021
I love fiction with these sorts of ‘and now through various shenanigans we’re married and must make the best of things while falling in love.’ I enjoyed the banter, the book was just the right length and while the shenanigans in question aren’t something I’d condone in reality, it’s over the top enough that you almost forget about it. Especially because the heroine takes control of the relationship so quickly and you see them getting on pretty well from very early on. Delightful read, really enjoyed it.
February 28, 2018
Gotta say this hero sucked big time. Sure he had a horrid past that colored everything but couldn't he have some interests? His friends were way cooler than he was. The heroine sister is spoken about nonstop but never ever shows up. Heroine just 'loves' the hero...for no reason. He did nothing but trick and manipulate her every chance he got. And the time in this book makes no sense. Everything is suppose to happen in like 3 days? Uhhh okay...no.
July 13, 2022
How the heck did I not know about this author? She's a fantastic writer - though none of the synopsises on her other books sound that great :)
What's important is that she had one great book. I'll remember her for it.
A shame the MMC didn't grovel nearly as much as he should have. But good writing will have me forgive some of the worst sins.
What's important is that she had one great book. I'll remember her for it.
A shame the MMC didn't grovel nearly as much as he should have. But good writing will have me forgive some of the worst sins.
January 8, 2020
Świetny romans historyczny. Motyw "kto się czubi, ten się lubi". Nie nudziłam się, wciąż coś się działo i chociaż końcówki można się domyślić to jednak sama książka potrafiła zaskoczyć w różnych momentach. Bohaterzy przezabawni. Naprawdę polecam :)
August 31, 2017
The hero is a perfect Cad... yet the romance is believable... some parts of the book were messy... much more could have been done with this story.
October 10, 2020
Έξυπνοι διάλογοι και πολύ καλογραμμένο.Ητσν ευχαρίστηση η ανάγνωση του.
September 25, 2024
This is my first book by this author but definitely not my last, really enjoyed the twist and turns,so in love with the characters.
April 23, 2014
Karma is one fine lady towards the rakes like the sixth duke of Raven. Not only did he commit a dead with a wicked intention, the scoundrel got what his reputation deserved. And that is the brave, beautiful and stubborn - Leah Stretton.
From the first few pages, one will be intrigued to the world of absolute entertainment. And the perks of being married are being presented in the most hilarious way.
With each page, the relationship between them turned to be a surprise after surprise.
However, the ending disappointed as I felt it was unnecessarily rushed. I preferred intrigue and stubbornness from both sides, which was present until the last boring part began, forcing my eyes to scan through the rest pages in haste.
Though the events and hilarious moments are definitely must read!
The read is worth one's time, I assure you.
November 19, 2016
I enjoyed this historical romance. The duke hero is tired of women throwing themselves at him. So he decides to marry a dying woman so he can claim he is a grieving widower and women will leave him alone. Only the woman recovers and now he has a wife. Surprise!
I liked how there was a slow build to the romance. They were married in the first chapter of the book and the hero and heroine talk to each other and flirt and learn about each other before they consummate the marriage.
The hero also gives her some amazing compliments and says some beautiful things to her. I know I'll be re-reading those scenes.
I liked how there was a slow build to the romance. They were married in the first chapter of the book and the hero and heroine talk to each other and flirt and learn about each other before they consummate the marriage.
The hero also gives her some amazing compliments and says some beautiful things to her. I know I'll be re-reading those scenes.
April 2, 2012
Adrian Devereau, 6th Duke of Raven, decides the way to avoid marriage minded women is to have a wife. The men he has been drinking with brought up the story of a man whose wife died shortly after their marriage. This leads to Adrian decision to marry, Leah Stretton, a woman on her deathbed and take up the role of grieving widower.
The plan is a failure and Adrian finds himself legally wed to the headstrong woman.
The plan is a failure and Adrian finds himself legally wed to the headstrong woman.
August 22, 2014
Jerk, thy name is Adrian.
Another marriage of convenience plot. While it was not state of the romance art, it was a pleasant read.
Two things surprised me in heroine's actions: Overall this book read like a novella and I felt like some threads weren't properly developed.
Another marriage of convenience plot. While it was not state of the romance art, it was a pleasant read.
Two things surprised me in heroine's actions: Overall this book read like a novella and I felt like some threads weren't properly developed.
June 24, 2014
OK, now I see what the reviews meant. It's a good story, but the ending is too rushed, he gets off WAY too easily. Still, I liked the heroine, and the jerk...I mean hero..cough...has two best friends that are funny as hell. He does show some heart here and there, but the sudden turn around at the end felt like their story was cheated.
August 2, 2013
Oh, finalmente un romance in cui Lui e Lei si confrontano e si dicono le cose apertamente, senza finire nei soliti estenuanti fraintendimenti tipici del genere! Una bella novità, nonostante il libro non sia nuovissimo. Situazioni e dialoghi frizzanti, e non mancano le scene sensuali.
May 16, 2014
It could easily have been 4 or 5 stars, but that ending almost ruined the entire book for me. It was rushed and Leah deserved more. Hell I am pissed ...
Damnit!
Damnit!
February 11, 2010
A quick read about an even quicker romance. Not sure if I bought it in the end, but I have to say, Leah and Adrian did have some good moments together.
September 28, 2012
I am rereading this and enjoying it again.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews