Jump to ratings and reviews

The Aristocrat's Lady

"An Unexpected Encounter"For a few moments on a moonlit balcony, Nicole Beaumont was just a beautiful woman catching the eye of the handsome Lord Devlin--but she knew the illusion couldn't last. If the enigmatic aristocrat knew her secret, he'd realize that her disability left her unfit for love. So who could blame her for hiding the truth a little longer?

Devlin had never met a woman like Nicole. Her unique combination of innocence and wisdom left him utterly intrigued. Yet what was she hiding? For a man who did not trust easily, discovering her secret was devastating. Overcoming their pasts and forging a future would take faith, forgiveness and trust. And second chances could lead to new beginnings...

288 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

Loading...
Loading...

About the author

Mary Moore

3 books54 followers
I am a writer (and reader) of Regency Historical inspirational novels. My love for the Regency period has inspired me to write for fifteen years. My husband and I now life in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains in southwestern Virginia. We have one "child" a black lab named Darcy.
When I'm not writing, I love to spend time with my husband, read, watch old movies and do weekend-get-aways. I'd love to hear from you!

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
109 (37%)
4 stars
97 (33%)
3 stars
61 (20%)
2 stars
19 (6%)
1 star
5 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
Profile Image for Pamela.
29 reviews
June 1, 2021
The Aristocrat's Lady is a very good book which I enjoyed from beginning to end. The story was unique and I liked all of the major characters. There were several surprises throughout the book which made the story unpredictable and kept me turning the pages! I've been reading quite a few Regency novels lately and this one ranks among my favorite! I'm going to look for more books by Mary Moore!
Profile Image for Kyndall.
20 reviews
April 16, 2018
This book will teach you about learning how to get over hardships and to trust God during them. Even when you face difficulties God always seems to find a friend for you. Learn to lean on him and he will provide a wonderful future for you.
Profile Image for Margaret Metz.
415 reviews8 followers
August 28, 2011
I won this book in a contest on Lena Nelson Dooley's blog A Christian Writer's World. I was really excited because I love historical fiction and regencies in particular. There aren't a lot of them out there from a Christian perspective. Mary Moore is not just a new author to me, but this is her debut effort, and it is wonderful.

You know how I love characters and these were awesome!

Devlin is much more complicated than his reputation in society would have Nicole believe. This kind of reminds me of the movie Batman Begins because Bruce plays up the idea of being a partying, irresponsible, playboy when he really is fighting for justice. Devlin isn't a vigilante, but he isn't a playboy Lord with no interest in the lower classes either.

Nicole is determined to not be a burden on anyone. She didn't want to make this trip, but since she's here, she's determined not to allow anyone to pity or mollycoddle her. She convinces her family to keep her secret so they can have a "normal" trip. She didn't think it would make a difference anyway ...

Both of them have been hurt by people in the past. So, as the summary says, trust is a serious issue for them. The tension comes from how their secrets and determination not to get involved may cost them their future. Unlike many romances, there seems to be a real chance this one won't work out - and one of the secrets was an unusual one I haven't seen used this way before.

The dialogue was great and there was good romantic tension throughout. Thank you again to Lena Nelson Dooley and Mary Moore for holding the contest. This one goes on the list I use to choose favorites of the year. :o)
Profile Image for Barbara Horn.
19 reviews2 followers
September 28, 2011
The Aristocrat's Lady by Mary Moore, published by Harlequin's "Love Inspired Historical" line was one of the most amazing regency books that I have read in years. The reader will fall in love with the hero and heroine from the very first pages. A mystery shrouds them both as they exchange niceties during a chance meeting on a veranda and the reader will immediately want to know more.

It becomes evident from the start that the heroine has a grounded faith in God and wants to live that conviction to the fullest. The hero, though he boasts a certain bravado, is actually more vulnerable than he lets on. Even the minor characters will become a fixture as the story unfolds and the reader will not be able to keep him/herself from falling in love with each of them.

A conflict begins to unfold with very soon which throws a possible budding romance off balance and only a love strong enough to endure will prevail. The regency setting adds magic to the moment and the reader will be transported there with the help of generous descriptions.

Moore's pages are rich with action and there is never a dull moment in the book. This reader was riveted to this book from the start and practically finished it in one long sitting because she could not put it down.

Grab this book up as soon as you can and find yourself lost in this mesmerizing romance. Can't wait to see who gets the movie rights.

Barbara Horn
Profile Image for Michelle.
446 reviews10 followers
January 2, 2016
Okay, so...I should give this book three stars at the most, but it captured and held my interest through the entire book, so I just had to give it an extra star for that.

The romance in this was great! I loved the whole idea behind the story. But...there is no way in this world a person can hide such a handicap from a group of intelligent (or even unintelligent) people! I had a friend who got the same handicap after graduating from college and it was very obvious to everyone (I am not revealing the handicap, but I knew what it was simply by reading the back of the book).

Also, the ending was a bit much for me. Though I'm glad the author did not go down the road I thought she was going down, I don't think Devlin's solution to the problem was very realistic...

But when a book holds me captured like this book does, it's deserving of a good rating unless there are some really, really bad mistakes - and though the "hidden handicap" was a bad mistake well...I just was entertained!
Profile Image for Christy.
321 reviews90 followers
February 2, 2012
Let me preface this review by saying that I do not normally read small, mass market paperbacks. I've often found them either to all be the same, or to have so little plot and character development that I'm bored by book's end.

Today I ate those words.

I can't remember the last time I enjoyed a Regency novel more than I enjoyed this one. The prose was exceptional, the characters and their flaws believable, and the romance was heart-stopping. I loved the witty banter between the two major characters, as well as the secret that propelled much of the storyline. And if all that wasn't enough to blow me away, the fact that The Aristocrat's Lady was Mary Moore's debut novel....well, you could've easily blown me over with a feather.

Quite possibly, this book will make my Top Ten list at year's end, and we've got a long way to go before we get there! Ms. Moore is an author that I will be reading more from in the future...of that, I have no doubt.
Profile Image for Jane.
98 reviews1 follower
July 25, 2011
A great debut! I look forward to reading more from this author.

This story is set in London during the Regency period.

At 23, Lady Nicole Beaumont goes to London after her mother convinces her to go. She steps outside while at a ball and meets Lord Devlin, an earl and a handsome bachelor. He is intrigued by her and keeps her in the garden for a while in order to further his acquaintance.

She declines to tell him and the rest of society of her secret. There is a depth to the main characters and the author does a good job of demonstrating their personal struggles.

A tender and lovely story of faith and trusting in Him.
Overall its an enjoyable and touching story.
Profile Image for Nicki.
111 reviews7 followers
Want to Read
September 10, 2011
Can't wait to read this book, it looks really good! :D
23 reviews2 followers
November 11, 2016
Having some "invisible disabilities" myself, I understand NOT wanting to burden others with the neccessary accommodations, inconveniences & expense I require. So this story truly touched me. I also appreciate that the author avoided the temptation to suddenly 'cure' Nicole. Unconditional love is the truest blessing and reflects that of the author of life!
Profile Image for Susan Ross.
Author 8 books8 followers
September 5, 2019
When I purchased this book I didn't notice it was classified as "inspirational" which is apparently another way of saying "religious."

As I'm not religious, I found the constant references to God annoying. If not for that, I would have given this book 4 stars.

If you like "inspirational" books I am sure you'll like this one.
Profile Image for Caitlyn (delightful.reading).
633 reviews42 followers
June 25, 2018
It had some nice light banter. Yay! All in all, it was a sweet story about learning to trust others- even though the two MCs were sometimes annoying with the fact that they didn't want to tell the truth to each other bc they were afraid of the reaction of the other.
Profile Image for Lyna Reyes.
181 reviews
April 5, 2019
I love reading these kind of books...Christian romance books!!
Profile Image for Natasha.
98 reviews7 followers
April 27, 2016
my rating: 3.5 stars

Well, I finally finished this book! It kept getting put off for other books, but I'm done it now. :) I enjoyed this book, for the most part. It wasn't real fast-paced, but I don't think I was ever really bored.

The romance was fine. There was this one part... That didn't seem very appropriate, especially since one of them was a Christian and one wasn't. And they were supposed to only be friends- they didn't have any commitment to each other.
But all in all it wasn't a really romance-y novel. Like, not really "mooshey" all the time, or anything. :D At first the two were just friends... or so they said.

Nicole was a nice character. She had a temper, but not one that was annoying. And she was a real lady. :P She was very selfless, which maybe could result in he close relationship with God. :) This book probably involved God more than many Christian romance books, so that was cool. :) But Nicole really shouldn't have had such a friendship with Lord Devlin, since he wasn't a Christian. That is dangerous, especially since they fell in love. He DID come to know God in the end, but that definitely doesn't always happen.
Nicole was also not perfect. She kept her disability hidden from Devlin because she didn't trust him... and that led to some problems.

Lord Devlin... well, he wasn't the greatest character at first. He was okay. But he wasn't the greatest gentleman at one point, and I was happy when he got punched! Ha! :D Anyhow, that made him a more realistic character. He had some big faults. He changed in the end, though. :)

I also liked Toby a bit. :D How he protected Nicole was really cool. He was a great character. :)

So yea, all in all, a pretty good book. :) It taught lessons of honesty, and showed a heart being willed to accept love again. Also that God's plan for you now could change to something else in the future.

I recommend The Aristocrat's Lady to fifteen and up. I'm sure younger teens could read it, and be just fine, but it's probably not quite the age group.
Profile Image for Judy.
278 reviews11 followers
September 11, 2011
The story begins with Lady Nicole Beaumont in London with her mother and younger sister Chelsea. She is starting to regret having allowed her mother to convince her to come. While attending a ball at the home of Lord and Lady Swathmore Nicole ventures out onto the terrace to be alone to reflect on home and the peace God has given her.
She has sensed she is not alone and quickly learns there is a man on the terrace too. She smells his cigar smoke. Not wanting to disturb him she turns to go back into the ballroom. He stops her with some insulting words. After some bantering back and forth she soon learns that he is Jared DeVale, Lord Devlin.

As the story unfolds we learn that Lady Nicole once was engaged to be married. The marriage was called off because of the secret Lady Nicole is keeping from everyone in London. This secret is in regards to her health. Lord Devlin was once married for five years. That marriage was a disaster. Both Lady Nicole and Lord Devlin vowed never to get married. Lady Nicole because of the secret she is keeping; and Lord Devlin because of his failed marriage.

The author Mary Moore takes us through the past history of both Lady Nicole and Lord Devlin as the story unfolds. Both have been through some rough times. Trust being a huge issue.

Will either of them find love and trust again? God plays an important part in Lady Nicole’s life but what about Lord Devlin? Does God play an important part in his life?

This book teaches us about what God can do in our life if we only turn it over to him completely. It is about trusting, not only in God but in the lives of ones we love. It is about faith and unconditional love.

Thank-you Mary for a great inspiring and romantic read. I loved every page of it!
Profile Image for Amber.
38 reviews1 follower
October 22, 2011
I received this book in a giveaway through Goodreads. It is worth $5.75 U.S. and $6.75 CAD.
This book was not what I expected. I was surprised by the fact it is quite Christian. It is a lovely story about a girl,Nicole, hurt by life but courageous in going forward and making the best of what she was given. She is stubborn in that she is convinced she knows the path God has chosen for her....although how she came to that decision I am unsure. The hero is the Earl of Devlin, who had a rough first marriage and has decided that he will not marry again until he needs a heir. They meet on a terrace and have a wonderful first conversation/argument. They become friends and the rest of the book is of their struggle in dealing with their feelings and ideas of what their lives should be.
My favourite character is Toby,who is Nicole's servant. My favourite scene is when he tells Devlin whats what.
I gave this book three stars because 1. I found it did not have a terribly strong story line. and 2. because of the Christian aspect..as I am not religious at all.
I wish Mary Moore luck with her writing and would definitely read another novel written by her!
Profile Image for Jenni Ebba.
289 reviews29 followers
February 3, 2012
I won this novel through Goodreads First Reads. Thank you Mrs. Moore:
Let me just start by saying that I did not know this novel was a Christian novel. I never would've picked this book up without having won it and I honestly would've missed out. This novel is a refreshingly romantic tale of two people who must learn to trust each other to form a love that transcends time and leaves the reader sighing in contentment.
It's a good story about a girl named Nicole Beaumont who is determined not to "burden" others with her secret (and no I won't ruin it for you). Nicole thinks that she knows what path God wants for her and she seems almost resigned to a loveless life.
In comes Lord Devlin, AKA Jared DeVale. Having come from a horribly disastrous marriage that were five pain filled years, he too believes he is destined for a marriage-less life. Like many historical romance heroes Lord Devlin puts on a brave front, but he is quite vulnerable on the inside.
The two have to work to create a trust and come to the conclusion that maybe they don't know what God has in store for them. Maybe there is hope for them yet, but first they have to learn to forgive....
Profile Image for Nurul Badia.
205 reviews2 followers
March 31, 2016
Such a great story in Regency Era even it was her debut novel.
I loved it cuz its all about redemption and finding God's love in two different characters
I wish there will be translation version in my country so I can keep this book as my collection..

Now, let's meet the heroine, Lady Nicole Beaumont, she is blind and think that her disability will left her unfit for love. But in one day, while attending a ball one evening, she steps outside in order to get some fresh air when she notices she is not alone cuz suddenly she met Lord Devlin.

Lord Devlin, an earl and handsome bachelor obviously, had never met a woman like Nicole. Her unique combination of innocence and wisdom left him utterly intrigued.

For a man who did not trust easily like him, discovering her secret was devastating and frustrated also. So in this story, they have to overcoming their pasts and forging a future that would take faith, forgiveness and trust. And second chances could lead to new beginning in a beautiful way... so he decides to further his acquaintance with her and pursuit her love.
Profile Image for Miss Pippi the Librarian.
2,816 reviews60 followers
October 19, 2011
Nicole Beaumont wanted a moment alone on the balcony. She never expected to meet someone, let alone Lord Devlin. Nicole soon returns to her mother's side, but Devlin is captivated by Miss Beaumont. As their friendship blossoms, Devlin feels that Nicole is keeping a secret from him. Will he be able to trust her? Could she mend his heart or break it?

Moore welcomes the reader to the Regency period. Moore shares a story about a society lady that holds a secret and an injury. Nicole's family is striving for a normal London season. I don't want to spoil the story, but Moore's ending was very pleasing. She didn't wrap it up in bows and dreams, she stood firmly in reality. I greatly appreciated it.

For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. ~ Jeremiah 29:11 (NAS)

Time Period: Regency
Location: London, England

Profile Image for Kathrin Stacked'n'Painted.
78 reviews27 followers
February 12, 2016
I truly enjoyed this story. While it is unlikely that everyone would miss the fact that our female MC in fact has this disability. They must be especially blind to what is going on around them to miss that. At times I felt as if Lady Beth knew and would not mention it, but that proved to be wrong. Towards the end, I feared out MC would be cured miraculousily, but that, as well, did not happen. All in all, Moore managed to write a wonderful story and left people guessing for long enough. I enjoyed that she did not cop out and chose the easy way of a cure, and that she created strong supporting characters.
Profile Image for Tracie.
3 reviews
September 19, 2012
LOVED THIS BOOK, what a "Romance" novel should be.
I was deeply touched, finally a Love Inspired where there was real romance - there are so few imo. So sweet as Devlin & Nicole fell in love with each other, so romantic how he pursued her! Waltzing, balls, roses, rides in the park, opera! Plus a very deep, non shallow connection between a man and women.
You really feel the emotions as a misunderstanding tears them apart. More like this one Harlequin, please!
Profile Image for Katy Kauffman.
Author 14 books29 followers
June 1, 2015
I enjoyed reading this book. What started as some flirting on a balcony became a character study of two people who had hidden hurts and setbacks. The dialog is what captivated me, and it drives the book. I am not quite sure if the main character could have kept her secret so well-hidden, but it makes for a good story. The book is so well-written, I flew through the pages. Had to stay up late to see what would happen. Thank you, Mary Moore, for this story.
51 reviews
January 17, 2014
I loved it!! It was so sweet how Jared convinces Nicole he cannot live without her, and she would never be a burden to him even being blind. It is amazing how Nicole attempted going through a season blind. The language takes some getting used to. I read this again, and I found it harder to adjust to the writing style, but it is a fabulous book!
Profile Image for Rhonda.
76 reviews1 follower
April 10, 2015
Another sweet Christian regency. This had a very God centered theme. I appreciate references to God, but this was almost on every page, which I thought a bit much. Devlin and Nicole are great, though I wasn't sold on how she kept her "physical impairment" hidden so well. It wasn't believable to keep such a major physical secret for so long. Overall, a clean, sweet, Christian read.
Profile Image for Cheri.
Author 50 books302 followers
February 6, 2012
I won this from Goodread's "First Reads" giveaways. It came with a card and it was signed by the author.

I did have trouble buying the fact that she could hide such a major disability for so long. Even so, I really did enjoy the story and am very glad I won it!
Profile Image for Kathy.
Author 38 books27 followers
July 9, 2012
Take out your tissues! I couldn't help becoming emotionally invested in the outcome of this book and the characters' lives. Touching and powerful story. I did struggle to get into it in the beginning because of the historical language, but once I was in, I was gripped!
Profile Image for Melanie.
2,230 reviews608 followers
September 1, 2024
Currently reading

Only on page 80, but slightly struggling to finish. A couple things have happened that make it a little unbelievable, but I'm hoping the next part will be better. I liked the opening scene when they met each other. Right now she is about to go hear him speak at Parliament.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jenna.
133 reviews
September 9, 2011
Quick and fun. I liked the characters and the setting. The author also used an interesting challenge for the main character that I haven't seen elsewhere in these types of books.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews