A Virtuous Lady

by Elizabeth Thornton

HARDENED RAKE
Briony Langland knew she was expected to take her place in England's polite society. But the straight-laced Quaker miss had no patience for London's constant social whirl of halls, soirees, and the dashing young blades who flocked around her. And when the arrogant Lord Ravensworth mistook her for a poor relation and made her a shockingly indecent proposal, Briony was furious. No matter that his daring advances set her pulses racing in a very unvirtuous fashion, Briony was determined to take the handsome libertine down a peg or two and pay him back in his own coin...

LOVELY NEMESIS
She was not his usual sort at all. A dowdy chit of a girl, she was obviously a poor relation from the uncivilized wilds of a place called Philadelphia. But there was something strangely alluring about the challenge in those cool eyes of hers and though Montgomery, Marquess of Ravensworth, decided against his better judgment to honor the little Miss Prim and Proper with more than she deserved: a place in his bed. To his amazement she had the gall to turn him down. Well, she'd soon learn that virtue had its limitations-and he intended to be the one to show her why...

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Regency, Regency Romance

Mass Market Paperback

First published March 1, 1988

About the author

Mary Forrest George, née Baxter was born and educated in Aberdeen, Scotland, where she taught school for a number of years before establishing her own nursery school, St. Swithin Street Nursery School, an institution that is still going strong today.

She and her husband then emigrated to Canada with their three young sons. She taught kindergarten and Grade One for a number of years in Winnipeg, Manitoba, before becoming lay minister at a Presbyterian Church in Winnipeg.

As part of her continuing education, she enrolled in evening classes at the University of Winnipeg to study Classical Greek. Five years later, having completed an Honor's thesis on Women in Euripides, she received her B.A. (Classics Gold Medalist).

After reading her first romance, a Regency by Georgette Heyer, she was captivated by the genre. Hereafter, writing became her hobby. In 1987, her first book, a small Regency entitled, Bluestocking Bride, was published by Zebra books.

She is the author of twenty-four historical romances, and two novellas. She has been nominated for and received many awards including the Romantic Times Trophy Award for the best New Historical Regency Author and Best Historical Regency. Seven of her novels have been finalists in the Romance Writers of America Rita awards, Scarlet Angel, Strangers at Dawn, Princess Charming and The Perfect Princess, Shady Lady, The Marriage Trap, and The Bachelor Trap. Her books appear regularly on national best-selling lists and have been translated into many languages.

Elizabeth's hobbies include reading (particularly mystery and suspense novels, biography, and history), and traveling to do research for her novels. She is also an avid Harry Potter enthusiast.

Reviews

[Namera [The Literary Invertebrate] · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sadly, another miss from Thornton. It's kind of weird - when she's a hit, she's REALLY a hit, but when she's a miss (which is more often) it's generally a clanger.

Surprisingly, I wasn't put off by Briony's Quakerish reserve, and actually she wasn't too bad a character. But I read Thornton for her amazing alpha heroes and Hugh is just too bland.

[Preeti ♥︎ Her Bookshelves · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can’t believe this book was written by the same author who wrote To Love An Earl.
It had such a crumbly, half -baked feel to it. But it lifts towards the middle, to fall flat again at the end. (Yes, I am baking! :D)

It begins beautifully too. The h who is a highly principled, moralistic Quaker stumps an correspondingly immoral rake. But before she could get too preachy, the author decides to let her rebel a little and let loose her nonconformist side and the slide gets worse and worse (or better and better – matter of opinion!). Her particular penchant/almost addiction for snuff (tobacco) and wine are cute/concerning.
ET Hs tend to fall quickly and badly, but fight it hard too – as does this one. But that’s a losing battle.

So, a mixed bag.

[Nabilah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I generally adore ET's books, but this one is just meh for me. I think the major problem that I have with this book is the characterization, especially concerning the heroine, Briony. It was just all over the place. She is supposed to be this Quaker lady so basically a virtuous lady (as per the title of the book). Then, ET turned her into a hoyden with a penchant for snuff and wine. That's like a total end of each spectrum. The hero is supposed to love her for her virtuousness but actually loved her for hoydenish ways? Confusing stuff. The book is readable and different, yes, but not her best work.

[S Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars very entertaining and worth a second read

[Anooja · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favourite Elizabeth Thornton book, I understand that this is her debut novel so I don't want to judge it hard. As usual the writing style was the star-compelling as always.

[Ilze · Rating 1 out of 5]

The heroine of this story is an English Quaker whose main principle in life is complete openness and honesty all the time, even in situations where a "white lie", or just keeping one's mouth shut, could be used to smooth out a social situation. I.e. she is painfully naive and stupid. The hero is an unreconstructed rake who thinks nothing of offering to take up this naive innocent as his mistress because he's attracted to her, and thinks that a wife's main principle in life is to be obedient to her husband in all things. The book is about how these two extremely unlikely lovers come together as a couple and IMHO it doesn't work. Even three-quarters of the way through the book, and after they had been married for a month, the two still seemed like strangers to one another.

This theme (of the Quaker and the rake) was employed much, much better by Laura Kinsale in her "Flowers from the Storm".

[Gina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not her best work.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I guess this deserves a 3.5 because it was was mostly a cute rom-com.

[Love · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Book kept me on my toes as I rooted for the couple to get their HEA. And I adored the Harriette Wilson cameo.

[ChloeLeeNH · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the sparing in this book but that was about it... I just didn't feel that connected to either character. They weren't defined enough for me. But overall a sweet novel.

[Bree · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not sure why I gave it this rating (it's been 5 years), but the plot isn't even ringing any bells, so that is probably why.