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Girl Bachelors #2
Amor con condiciones
Prucende Bosworth sobrevive con los ingresos de una costurera y un puñado de fantasías, pero siempre ha anhelado el amor y el romanticismo. Entonces hereda una fortuna de un padre al que jamás había visto, con la condición de que se case antes de que pase un año. Prudence está decidida a casarse por amor, y después de ver de primera mano la espléndida caballerosidad de cierto duque, sólo él es el posible candidato.
Rhys de Wynter, duque de St. Cyres, oculta su cinismo tras su ágil mente y una sonrisa más ágil incluso. Debe casarse con una heredera, y por fortuna, la hermosa costurera convertida en heredera es justo lo que necesita. Pero nunca esperó enamorarse de Prudence, y cuando su escandaloso engaño sale a la luz, no se detendrá ante nada para recuperarla... aun cuando ello signifique renunciar a todos y cada una de sus costumbres de libertino.
Rhys de Wynter, duque de St. Cyres, oculta su cinismo tras su ágil mente y una sonrisa más ágil incluso. Debe casarse con una heredera, y por fortuna, la hermosa costurera convertida en heredera es justo lo que necesita. Pero nunca esperó enamorarse de Prudence, y cuando su escandaloso engaño sale a la luz, no se detendrá ante nada para recuperarla... aun cuando ello signifique renunciar a todos y cada una de sus costumbres de libertino.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 26, 2007
90 people are currently reading
1832 people want to read
About the author
Laura Lee Guhrke
39 books1,812 followersFrom the publication of her very first historical romance, Laura Lee Guhrke has received numerous honors and critical acclaim for her novels and her writing style. She has been honored with the most prestigious award of romance fiction, the Romance Writers of America Rita Award, and she has received additional awards from Romantic Times and All About Romance. Romantic Times has proclaimed her, “One of the most natural voices in historical romance to be found today”. Her books routinely hit the USA Today Bestseller List, and Guilty Pleasures has been honored with the Romantic Times Award for Best European Historical Romance of 2004. Among her publishing credits are twelve historical romances, including her latest, And Then He Kissed Her, now available from Avon Books.
Laura is currently hard at work on her thirteenth historical romance for Avon Books. She has also written articles for various publications, including the Romance Writers Report, The British Weekly , and the Irish-American Press.
Laura is currently hard at work on her thirteenth historical romance for Avon Books. She has also written articles for various publications, including the Romance Writers Report, The British Weekly , and the Irish-American Press.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 307 reviews
February 24, 2019
3,5. A pesar de ser bastante previsible y no llegar a la altura de esa pequeña maravilla que es “Y entonces él la besó”, esta segunda entrega de la serie Girl Bachelors ha sido de esas novelas que no puedes soltar a pesar de conocer el desenlace. Ahora, a por la historia de Maria.
Mi primer libro del #RetoRita3 y del #RitaLaura
#PopSugar 2019 Reto 20: Un libro con la palabra “amor” en el título
#RadioPatio Reto Alicia en el país... Libro 10: un libro que forma parte de una serie
Mi primer libro del #RetoRita3 y del #RitaLaura
#PopSugar 2019 Reto 20: Un libro con la palabra “amor” en el título
#RadioPatio Reto Alicia en el país... Libro 10: un libro que forma parte de una serie
January 18, 2020
DNF 8%
The hero rescues a scullery maid from attempted rape in view of the heroine, then proceeds to seduce the scullery maid. We don't see the seduction but the morning after, where they have fade to black sex again.
The hero rescues a scullery maid from attempted rape in view of the heroine, then proceeds to seduce the scullery maid. We don't see the seduction but the morning after, where they have fade to black sex again.
January 4, 2010
As you can see from my rating, I did NOT enjoy Laura Lee Guhrke's second "Girl-Bachelor" book, The Wicked Ways of a Duke. Had it been written by another author, it may have gained a 2.5, but I have so enjoyed other books by Guhrke ---
Guilty Pleasures
,
And Then He Kissed Her
--- that I was all the more disappointed by this one. I had it up and posted on PaperbackSwap before I'd even completely finished.
So where do I start?!
THE HEROINE --- Prudence was sympathetic, but after awhile the urge to slap her grew a little too strong. I liked her when the book started: she's independent, works hard, is kind and generous, smart (or so we thought), and she doesn't have the beautiful face and figure that heroines often do (she's supposed to be a little plump --- don't let the cover drawings fool you).
My opinion changed pretty quickly as I became increasingly frustrated with her. Prudence is supposed to be 28 years old and have lived in London *by herself* for 11 years . . . yet she's still so naive and gullible?!?! I didn't view this as sweet and innocent --- which is Rhys' interpretation --- but just plain annoying and dumb. She acts childish, is overly romantic, and is basically a lovesick puppy who acts far too desperate for a man who doesn't seem to have many redeemable qualities --- if any. I *love* reformed rake stories, don't get me wrong, but usually there is some underlying goodness that can be accessed; Rhys is by no means cruel or mean and at least he has that going for him, however my overwhelming feeling towards him was definitely one of contempt.
THE HERO --- Rhys is selfish, lazy, uncaring, and solely driven by lust. He is *unbelievably* manipulative and even though we sometimes have heroes who are the bad-boys-we-love-to-love, this went way beyond that. It was kind of like St. Vincent in Lisa Kleypas' It Happened One Autumn --- i.e. he's bad enough to be the villain of this book but good enough to be the hero of the next one.
We see no process of change --- up until the day before Prudence discovers his duplicity, he's still acting irresponsible and lazy. Then he spends the day touring one of his estates that is in horrible condition, and all of a sudden he's Mr. man-of-the-people, ready to settle down with his wife, have children, take on work and duties . . . even though the day before he had still be wanting to shirk his ducal responsibilities and spend his time with Prudence traveling around Europe and never settling down.
THE PLOT --- One of the most unbelievable and annoying things about Prudence and the plot is that never once is she suspicious of Rhys and his pretense that he has no idea of her change in circumstances. It's essential how Guhrke decided to have her story play out, and that's really the only reason it's there, because HELLO?! Has he not spoken to another living being in London or read a single paper?!?! The seamstress-turned-millionaire-heiress is supposed to be the talk of the town, so unless he's a hermit, how would it be possible that he hasn't heard and doesn't hear for two weeks?!
THE ROMANCE --- Secondly, the belief that they love each other is utterly and completely ridiculous. We're dealing with books of ~300 pages here, however some authors are able to truly show you and make you completely believe that two characters who didn't know one another before have indeed fallen in love with one another and will have their HEA. (Mary Balogh comes to mind, as I find that is true with almost all her books and I'm always amazed at how complex her characters are and how intricate her stories --- especially compared to a lot of other HR authors out there).
This is seriously how the story goes: Rhys and Prudence meet at a ball, speak a few sentences; they meet at the opera, speak a little longer; he follows her to a museum, great conversation; they have a nice afternoon together alone, with a picnic and fishing; . . . and that's it, she's in love with him and wants to marry him. I'm sorry, but it would take more than two brief conversations and two afternoons for me to decide to tie myself for life to another person, especially in that day and age when women didn't have the rights they do today.
Prudence is able to choose her husband --- why decide after a week acquaintance that this is the guy for you? Basically: lust. Yup, that is pretty much what drives both sides of that relationship. She loves how he's good looking (how wonderful for her), he likes her "luscious" body --- and the fact that she's loaded (how wonderful for him).
"GIRL-BACHELOR" SERIES
1) And Then He Kissed Her
2) The Wicked Ways of a Duke
3) Secret Desires of a Gentleman
4) With Seduction in Mind
BOTTOM LINE
The hero was unlikable, the heroine was pitiful, the romance was completely unrealistic and implausible, there was lust but no love, and the only good part of the entire book was the actual blow-up when Prudence discovers the treachery and the unusual ending. *SKIP IT* and read Guhrke's Guilty Pleasures or And Then He Kissed Her instead.
So where do I start?!
THE HEROINE --- Prudence was sympathetic, but after awhile the urge to slap her grew a little too strong. I liked her when the book started: she's independent, works hard, is kind and generous, smart (or so we thought), and she doesn't have the beautiful face and figure that heroines often do (she's supposed to be a little plump --- don't let the cover drawings fool you).
My opinion changed pretty quickly as I became increasingly frustrated with her. Prudence is supposed to be 28 years old and have lived in London *by herself* for 11 years . . . yet she's still so naive and gullible?!?! I didn't view this as sweet and innocent --- which is Rhys' interpretation --- but just plain annoying and dumb. She acts childish, is overly romantic, and is basically a lovesick puppy who acts far too desperate for a man who doesn't seem to have many redeemable qualities --- if any. I *love* reformed rake stories, don't get me wrong, but usually there is some underlying goodness that can be accessed; Rhys is by no means cruel or mean and at least he has that going for him, however my overwhelming feeling towards him was definitely one of contempt.
THE HERO --- Rhys is selfish, lazy, uncaring, and solely driven by lust. He is *unbelievably* manipulative and even though we sometimes have heroes who are the bad-boys-we-love-to-love, this went way beyond that. It was kind of like St. Vincent in Lisa Kleypas' It Happened One Autumn --- i.e. he's bad enough to be the villain of this book but good enough to be the hero of the next one.
We see no process of change --- up until the day before Prudence discovers his duplicity, he's still acting irresponsible and lazy. Then he spends the day touring one of his estates that is in horrible condition, and all of a sudden he's Mr. man-of-the-people, ready to settle down with his wife, have children, take on work and duties . . . even though the day before he had still be wanting to shirk his ducal responsibilities and spend his time with Prudence traveling around Europe and never settling down.
THE PLOT --- One of the most unbelievable and annoying things about Prudence and the plot is that never once is she suspicious of Rhys and his pretense that he has no idea of her change in circumstances. It's essential how Guhrke decided to have her story play out, and that's really the only reason it's there, because HELLO?! Has he not spoken to another living being in London or read a single paper?!?! The seamstress-turned-millionaire-heiress is supposed to be the talk of the town, so unless he's a hermit, how would it be possible that he hasn't heard and doesn't hear for two weeks?!
THE ROMANCE --- Secondly, the belief that they love each other is utterly and completely ridiculous. We're dealing with books of ~300 pages here, however some authors are able to truly show you and make you completely believe that two characters who didn't know one another before have indeed fallen in love with one another and will have their HEA. (Mary Balogh comes to mind, as I find that is true with almost all her books and I'm always amazed at how complex her characters are and how intricate her stories --- especially compared to a lot of other HR authors out there).
This is seriously how the story goes: Rhys and Prudence meet at a ball, speak a few sentences; they meet at the opera, speak a little longer; he follows her to a museum, great conversation; they have a nice afternoon together alone, with a picnic and fishing; . . . and that's it, she's in love with him and wants to marry him. I'm sorry, but it would take more than two brief conversations and two afternoons for me to decide to tie myself for life to another person, especially in that day and age when women didn't have the rights they do today.
Prudence is able to choose her husband --- why decide after a week acquaintance that this is the guy for you? Basically: lust. Yup, that is pretty much what drives both sides of that relationship. She loves how he's good looking (how wonderful for her), he likes her "luscious" body --- and the fact that she's loaded (how wonderful for him).
"GIRL-BACHELOR" SERIES
1) And Then He Kissed Her
2) The Wicked Ways of a Duke
3) Secret Desires of a Gentleman
4) With Seduction in Mind
BOTTOM LINE
The hero was unlikable, the heroine was pitiful, the romance was completely unrealistic and implausible, there was lust but no love, and the only good part of the entire book was the actual blow-up when Prudence discovers the treachery and the unusual ending. *SKIP IT* and read Guhrke's Guilty Pleasures or And Then He Kissed Her instead.
September 23, 2017
Hace poco leí Y entonces él la besó de esta misma autora y me gustó tanto que quise incursionar en otra de sus novelas, continuando con su serie dedicada a las Chicas de Little Russell.
La historia de Amor con condiciones es poco original y muy previsible, pero definitivamente el encanto viene de la mano del estilo de la autora que, a pesar de lo anterior, te retiene en sus páginas y no puedes soltar el libro hasta terminarlo. Sin embargo y como es inevitable hacer comparaciones, hay que reconocer que a estos personajes les falta la convicción y despliegue que desbordaban los de la primera entrega. De todas maneras, se pasa un buen rato leyéndolo.
La historia de Amor con condiciones es poco original y muy previsible, pero definitivamente el encanto viene de la mano del estilo de la autora que, a pesar de lo anterior, te retiene en sus páginas y no puedes soltar el libro hasta terminarlo. Sin embargo y como es inevitable hacer comparaciones, hay que reconocer que a estos personajes les falta la convicción y despliegue que desbordaban los de la primera entrega. De todas maneras, se pasa un buen rato leyéndolo.
November 26, 2018
A generous 2/5 stars. Simply because the writing by LLG is always on point, and the blink-and-you-miss-it appearance from Harry and Emma in the previous book.
However in the case of this book, her brilliant writing can't save the absymal plot and terrible characters.
The plot goes something like this; Rhys de Winter first meets Prudence Bosworth (one of the Girl Bacherlor friends of Emma from the first book) when she is kneeling at the feet of a prissy, arrogant soceity miss and fixing her hem or something. While Emma was prim and too thin, Prudence is plump and insecure (*sigh - you know where we go from this*) and instantly fascinated by the handsome as sin Rhys who kneels down next to her to help her. She doesn't go unnoticed for the first time by a soceity man, and it gives her butterflies. Well you see, this isn't a new trope in any HR, and I usually lap it up eagerly but what happens later is perhaps twisting my view of even their meet cute.
Despite my issues with the hero, I moved ahead because I liked the heroine and I love LLG. The plot now takes a turn when Prudence is suddenly given a huge ass inheritance from her american father (she was illegitimate - of course) but the condition to the inheritance is that she must marry by some particular date or the money will be lost. Prudence wants the money, but doesn't simply want to marry anyone for the money - especially not when she's clearly taken with Rhys. They have a few interactions up until this time and he likes her as well, because she's built exactly like he likes his women - plump and curvy in the right places.
There's nothing of her character, her personality he likes - only how much he wants to bed her. And eventually, when someone tells him of her inheritance, he wants her for her infinitely physical appeal AND the dinero!
So here's the thing, this is neither the first poor-peer-looking-for-rich-wife book I've read, and it won't be the last either. I don't usually mind it, because the story isn't written in a way that the hero is nothing but a money hungry, manipulative bastard. For example - An Earl Like You by Caroline Linden is one of my favorite books with this trope, because it doesn't leave you with doubt that the MC's were meant to be together.
Never did I think Prudence and Rhys belong together, and the reasons are multiple:
1. Once he knows that she's loaded (or will be post marraige) he takes her out for a picnic and plays the martyr of how much he doesn't feel like he belongs, of how he's not as great as she thinks he is. He physically manipulates her by playing hot and cold.
2. Then he purposely makes her jealous by ignoring her thoroughly the day after and paying his attentions to another woman.
3. Only eventually to come to her on the third day and cry about how he's poor and he needed an heiress to keep his estates alive. Basically doing a wonderful rendition of woe-is-me and telling her how if he had a choice he'd choose her but he just can't .
4. And he does all this knowing that she has an inheritance, but doesn't want to come out and say it - so once again he's emotionally manipulating her by making her jealous and suddenly showing her the way she can have him. It made me sick to the core.
By this point he knew she was in love with him, and that she wanted him - so he knew she'd tell him about her inheritance and voila! He gets to have his cake and eat it to.
The shitty plot and characterizations don't stop post this. I felt terrible for her, and her heartbreak when she finds out is the worst - god I wanted to smack the idiot. But LLG pulls a half decent ending with the kind of sort of grovel the hero pulls.
But right at the end, Prudence lies and deceives Rhys to see if he's really in this for her or the money - and ugh it made me groan. These two are both insecure, manipulative individuals who can't even trust the people they supposedly love the most in the world. I just don't know how to root for this couple.
I still love LLG, but this was not for me.
However in the case of this book, her brilliant writing can't save the absymal plot and terrible characters.
The plot goes something like this; Rhys de Winter first meets Prudence Bosworth (one of the Girl Bacherlor friends of Emma from the first book) when she is kneeling at the feet of a prissy, arrogant soceity miss and fixing her hem or something. While Emma was prim and too thin, Prudence is plump and insecure (*sigh - you know where we go from this*) and instantly fascinated by the handsome as sin Rhys who kneels down next to her to help her. She doesn't go unnoticed for the first time by a soceity man, and it gives her butterflies. Well you see, this isn't a new trope in any HR, and I usually lap it up eagerly but what happens later is perhaps twisting my view of even their meet cute.
Despite my issues with the hero, I moved ahead because I liked the heroine and I love LLG. The plot now takes a turn when Prudence is suddenly given a huge ass inheritance from her american father (she was illegitimate - of course) but the condition to the inheritance is that she must marry by some particular date or the money will be lost. Prudence wants the money, but doesn't simply want to marry anyone for the money - especially not when she's clearly taken with Rhys. They have a few interactions up until this time and he likes her as well, because she's built exactly like he likes his women - plump and curvy in the right places.
There's nothing of her character, her personality he likes - only how much he wants to bed her. And eventually, when someone tells him of her inheritance, he wants her for her infinitely physical appeal AND the dinero!
So here's the thing, this is neither the first poor-peer-looking-for-rich-wife book I've read, and it won't be the last either. I don't usually mind it, because the story isn't written in a way that the hero is nothing but a money hungry, manipulative bastard. For example - An Earl Like You by Caroline Linden is one of my favorite books with this trope, because it doesn't leave you with doubt that the MC's were meant to be together.
Never did I think Prudence and Rhys belong together, and the reasons are multiple:
1. Once he knows that she's loaded (or will be post marraige) he takes her out for a picnic and plays the martyr of how much he doesn't feel like he belongs, of how he's not as great as she thinks he is. He physically manipulates her by playing hot and cold.
2. Then he purposely makes her jealous by ignoring her thoroughly the day after and paying his attentions to another woman.
3. Only eventually to come to her on the third day and cry about how he's poor and he needed an heiress to keep his estates alive. Basically doing a wonderful rendition of woe-is-me and telling her how if he had a choice he'd choose her but he just can't .
4. And he does all this knowing that she has an inheritance, but doesn't want to come out and say it - so once again he's emotionally manipulating her by making her jealous and suddenly showing her the way she can have him. It made me sick to the core.
By this point he knew she was in love with him, and that she wanted him - so he knew she'd tell him about her inheritance and voila! He gets to have his cake and eat it to.
The shitty plot and characterizations don't stop post this. I felt terrible for her, and her heartbreak when she finds out is the worst - god I wanted to smack the idiot. But LLG pulls a half decent ending with the kind of sort of grovel the hero pulls.
But right at the end, Prudence lies and deceives Rhys to see if he's really in this for her or the money - and ugh it made me groan. These two are both insecure, manipulative individuals who can't even trust the people they supposedly love the most in the world. I just don't know how to root for this couple.
I still love LLG, but this was not for me.
June 17, 2017
Prudence Bosworth is a seamstress barely making ends meet when she learns that her father has left her millions. The catch is she won't inherit unless she is married within the year. Overnight she goes from seamstress to heiress, attending afternoon teas, the opera, and even a ball. Prudence is surprised when the Duke of St. Cyres, Rhys de Winter, speaks to her at the opera. Rhys is looking for a rich heiress to help him pay the debts that have piled up from the previous Duke. He sees Prudence as the perfect Duchess for him and the answer to his prayers.
This is a slow paced historical romance. It seemed like it took forever for the story to start moving forward. Unfortunately, when it did, the story was very predictable. I knew every move that was going to be made long before it happened. I also had a hard time with the hero in this book. He lied and manipulated the heroine for most of the story. When he suddenly decided he was in love with her, it seemed rather abrupt to me. My rating: 3 Stars.
This is a slow paced historical romance. It seemed like it took forever for the story to start moving forward. Unfortunately, when it did, the story was very predictable. I knew every move that was going to be made long before it happened. I also had a hard time with the hero in this book. He lied and manipulated the heroine for most of the story. When he suddenly decided he was in love with her, it seemed rather abrupt to me. My rating: 3 Stars.
February 14, 2019
3/5 #RitaLaura #RetoRita3
Me ha gustado menos que el anterior, "Y entonces él la besó", no he llegado a conectar del todo con la pareja protagonista, sobre todo con ella que se me ha hecho pelín empalagosa por momentos, se pasa de inocencia y dulzura para mi gusto.
Lo positivo es que como me gusta el estilo de esta autora siempre agradezco leer uno de sus libros y bueno, no se me ha hecho pesado.
Me ha gustado menos que el anterior, "Y entonces él la besó", no he llegado a conectar del todo con la pareja protagonista, sobre todo con ella que se me ha hecho pelín empalagosa por momentos, se pasa de inocencia y dulzura para mi gusto.
Lo positivo es que como me gusta el estilo de esta autora siempre agradezco leer uno de sus libros y bueno, no se me ha hecho pesado.
May 13, 2018
4 estrellitas.
Si le comparo con el primero de la serie, definitivamente éste libro ha tenido menos impacto en mí. Aún así, no puedo decir que no me ha gustado, porque mentiría.
El pero que le pongo es que el romance de ellos me ha parecido un poco forzado al principio, sobre todo por parte de ambos. Rhys la engaña para poder quedarse con su dinero y ella se enamora de una ilusión, un ideal que ella ha hecho de él desde que la defendió a ella y a una amiga suya de unas situaciones bastante desagradables.
Aún así, como digo, me ha gustado mucho esta nueva entrega de la serie, que ha tenido un romance un poco tenso al principio pero luego ha ido todo sobre ruedas y de nuevo la autora nos ha regalad escenas de los más románticas entre ambos.
Rhys es un hombre que al principio del libro es un libertino, amoral, egoísta y todos los apelativos poco halagadores que se me ocurren, pero a medida que vemos lo que le ocurrió para ser así, puedes llegar a entender en parte algunas de sus ideas y actitudes.
Sobre Prudence, de nuevo encontramos una protagonista trabajadora, y con las ideas bastante claras, aunque muy soñadora y demasiado confiada, lo que hace que a veces tuviera serias dudas sobre si ese amor que sentía por Rhys era por él mismo o por su ideal romántico, como he dicho antes.
Pero la autora lo ha resuelto bastante bien, la tema es sencilla pero engancha y los secundarios han aportado su granito de arena cuando ha sido necesario.
En resumen, una historia que nos enseña que no es el dinero el que da la felicidad, sino que la felicidad son las pequeñas cosas de la vida que nos rodean.
Definitivamente la autora ha ganado una nueva lectora y en breves me pongo con el siguiente de la serie, que tengo muchas ganas de conocer la historia de Maria.
Si le comparo con el primero de la serie, definitivamente éste libro ha tenido menos impacto en mí. Aún así, no puedo decir que no me ha gustado, porque mentiría.
El pero que le pongo es que el romance de ellos me ha parecido un poco forzado al principio, sobre todo por parte de ambos. Rhys la engaña para poder quedarse con su dinero y ella se enamora de una ilusión, un ideal que ella ha hecho de él desde que la defendió a ella y a una amiga suya de unas situaciones bastante desagradables.
Aún así, como digo, me ha gustado mucho esta nueva entrega de la serie, que ha tenido un romance un poco tenso al principio pero luego ha ido todo sobre ruedas y de nuevo la autora nos ha regalad escenas de los más románticas entre ambos.
Rhys es un hombre que al principio del libro es un libertino, amoral, egoísta y todos los apelativos poco halagadores que se me ocurren, pero a medida que vemos lo que le ocurrió para ser así, puedes llegar a entender en parte algunas de sus ideas y actitudes.
Sobre Prudence, de nuevo encontramos una protagonista trabajadora, y con las ideas bastante claras, aunque muy soñadora y demasiado confiada, lo que hace que a veces tuviera serias dudas sobre si ese amor que sentía por Rhys era por él mismo o por su ideal romántico, como he dicho antes.
Pero la autora lo ha resuelto bastante bien, la tema es sencilla pero engancha y los secundarios han aportado su granito de arena cuando ha sido necesario.
En resumen, una historia que nos enseña que no es el dinero el que da la felicidad, sino que la felicidad son las pequeñas cosas de la vida que nos rodean.
Definitivamente la autora ha ganado una nueva lectora y en breves me pongo con el siguiente de la serie, que tengo muchas ganas de conocer la historia de Maria.
August 4, 2021
So, it's not actually half bad. St. Cyres did kinda redeem himself in the end. He became a degenerate due to his family and his past. I do think Pru was a bit too forgiving. She should have made him grovel more. Like some other reviewers, I was affected by the scene early in the story where St. Cyres saved a maid from a raping by a drunken aristocrat but ended up sleeping with her himself. His reasoning was that he was out of blunt so streetwalker didn't appeal to him (due to venereal disease, I suppose) and he can't afford a courtesan so a maid would do. I shuddered when I read the scene. He was such a cad that if he'd appeared in front of me, I would have shot him dead. He was very manipulative and calculative in his courtship of Pru too. In the end, I still don't quite like him. However, Ms. Guhrke's lovely writing saved the book from being a total failure.
February 4, 2021
The Wicked Ways of a Duke
1 Star
This is one of my very rare one-star reviews and it all comes down to the hero. There is absolutely nothing appealing about him, and as such, the romance falls completely flat.
Rhys de Winter, Duke of Cyres, is financially and morally bankrupt. In addition to being self-absorbed, elitist, and lazy, he is also a liar, a cheat, and a thief. It is completely anathema to me how the heroine, Prudence Bosworth, could possibly entertain the notion of forgiving him, and the fact that she does makes her stupid and pathetic.
The previous book in this series is excellent, but this one is truly awful.
1 Star
This is one of my very rare one-star reviews and it all comes down to the hero. There is absolutely nothing appealing about him, and as such, the romance falls completely flat.
Rhys de Winter, Duke of Cyres, is financially and morally bankrupt. In addition to being self-absorbed, elitist, and lazy, he is also a liar, a cheat, and a thief. It is completely anathema to me how the heroine, Prudence Bosworth, could possibly entertain the notion of forgiving him, and the fact that she does makes her stupid and pathetic.
The previous book in this series is excellent, but this one is truly awful.
November 5, 2022
Twenty-eight year old seamstress going on sixteen - rather bland and frightfully naive, infatuated with impoverished Duke who needs to marry money. Lo and behold, she inherits millions. He zooms in on her for the kill, and she happily submits herself for target practice, even handing him the arrows. Too easy, so who can blame him for his single-minded pursuit?
September 16, 2021
Necesitaba más drama en esta novela.
El final es previsible y lindo pero considero que "Y entonces él la besó" va a ser difícil de superar, al menos con los libros de esta serie.
Rhys es todo un cínico, canalla y mentiroso, sí, la manipuló pero siempre con la verdad. Prudence es muy dulce e inocente casi como Jane Bennet con su bondad, dulzura y cero malicia pero la diferencia entre ellas es que Jane AL MENOS NO ES TAN CIEGA, o al menos no se demoró tanto en abrir los ojos. 🤦♀️
Me disgustó el hecho de que hasta el final él no tuviera ninguna ambición para su vida y que ella confiara en él tan ciegamente a pesar de que le advirtieron las consecuencias de adquirir mucho dinero, no sé si ella era muy buena o muy boba.
El final es previsible y lindo pero considero que "Y entonces él la besó" va a ser difícil de superar, al menos con los libros de esta serie.
Rhys es todo un cínico, canalla y mentiroso, sí, la manipuló pero siempre con la verdad. Prudence es muy dulce e inocente casi como Jane Bennet con su bondad, dulzura y cero malicia pero la diferencia entre ellas es que Jane AL MENOS NO ES TAN CIEGA, o al menos no se demoró tanto en abrir los ojos. 🤦♀️
Me disgustó el hecho de que hasta el final él no tuviera ninguna ambición para su vida y que ella confiara en él tan ciegamente a pesar de que le advirtieron las consecuencias de adquirir mucho dinero, no sé si ella era muy buena o muy boba.
February 6, 2017
"Lloró por sus estúpidas ilusiones, por sus ideales románticos, y por la muerte de sus sueños. Pero, sobre todo, lloró por todo el amor que ella había sentido y nunca había sentido él."
¿Así o más claro?
El 85% de este libro lo pasé mal leyéndolo porque no puedo tener tan mala suerte al elegir históricos que leer. No los leo nunca y cuando agarro uno justo tiene que ese que represente todo por lo que dejé de leerlos hace rato.
Rhys es un perfecto duque en ruinas que necesita desesperadamente una heredera bien forrada para poder pagar siquiera la comida que consume, Prudence es una dulce e ingenua costurera que vive sola en Londres desde los 17 (now 28) y está contenta con su sencilla vida (more or less). Maldito el día en que Prudence hereda una millonaria fortuna y la coloca en el centro de atención de todos los cazafortunas del mundo (que no aparecen porque Rhys rápidamente la saca de circulación).
No me sentí bien con este libro porque Ryhs deliberadamente engaña, manipula y juega con los sentimientos de Prudence. Él sabe lo que tiene que hacer para ganársela y si la chica cree en el romance él le da la pantomina de ello y ella lo compra ENCANTADA. No soy muy fan de protas tan ingenuas, es tan inocente en el sentido de que ella de verdad CREE que un duque arruinado, totalmente endeudado, desconoce que ella fuera la heredera multimillonaria. Me apena que sea tan tonta, era un secreto a voces y no se da cuenta de nada (y se supone que los empleados son los que siempre saben todo). Rhys no es un completo villano, él sabe que Prudence es una buena persona, con feelings y esas cosas pero "un hombre tiene que hacer lo que tiene que hacer" así que trata de engañarla de la manera más feliz posible dandole la fantasía que ella pide a gritos.
Así que mientras ella compra toda esa pantalla (de Rhys siendo un perfecto caballero atento con ciertos tonos de pícaro) además sufre el abuso de tener encima parientes que han recordado el "gran afecto que le tenían". Obvios. Es un 85% del libro donde ella besa con lengua los pies de Rhys y donde "deja estar" a sus parientes porque no quiere discutir mientras tanto la llevan de acá para allá y ni chista. Juro que no puedo con alguien tan manejable. Le falta carácter, un poco de cinismo, es increíblemente ingenua que se la deja servida a personas como Rhys que ven la oportundidad y marchan sobre ello (y eso que a Rhys Prudence le gusta y todo). No me gusta, lo siento. Recién en el final se descubre engaño y empezamos a ver a sus personajes desenmascarados: un Rhys (más arruinado que antes) que descubre que se enamoró de su heredera y una Pru que está horrible y espantosamente destruida (lo que me encanta, al fin ve el mundo con otros ojos y actúa en consecuencia).
May 21, 2018
The whole book is in the book summary. I mean it, the whole thing is there - from the beginning (her job, the inheritance) to the end (the winning back part lasts a couple of pages near the end of the book). If you've read any historical romance with a similar theme, then you can fill in the blanks.
Despite all that, I liked the story.
Despite all that, I liked the story.
November 19, 2013
Portada horrible para un libro precioso que habla sobre las prioridades y el amor desinteresado. Esta serie de "las chicas de Little Russell" es mi favorita de esta autora, y en esta, su segunda entrega; me ha enamorado con el canalla de Rhys y la inocente Pru.
May 10, 2023
Era bello. Bello come un mattino d'autunno nello Yorkshire, quando i boschi di faggi si tingono di mille sfumature dorate e una brina d'argento ammanta i prati ancora verdi. Sentì il suo profumo. un profumo terroso come le carrucole di torba, i fumosi fuochi di legna e il cedro speziato della sua infanzia.
4,5 Dopo un primo volume promettente, anche il secondo conferma la qualità della serie, una quadrilogia dedicata a raccontarci le avventure di quattro ragazze "lavoratrici" nell'Inghilterra vittoriana, quindi con un punto di vista diverso dalle solite debuttanti nobili.
Anche Prudence è borghese, senza una goccia di sangue blu, ed è riuscita a costruirsi una vita autonoma, partendo come orfana illegittima e arrivando a farsi una modesta posizione, come sarta in una modisteria di abiti per la buona società.
Forse per i nobili è invisibile e non conta nulla, ma Prudence è soddisfatta della propria onestà e dell'amicizia con le ragazze che vivono nel suo pensionato femminile.
Finché un'eredità inaspettata non la catapulta senza preavviso tra i milionari e nel mondo rischioso dei cacciatori di dote.
A parte il finale forse un po’ troppo veloce, l'ho trovato un romanzo con una costruzione quasi perfetta, con un'analisi cristallina della manipolazione e degli inganni, con la descrizione inappuntabile di come un duca al verde riesca a carpire fiducia e innocenza di una ragazza ingenua e sognatrice, senza aver previsto però la ricaduta di ogni sua singola bugia.
E, davvero, pur apprezzando Prudence, non si riesce a tifare un po' anche per Rhys, costretto suo malgrado ad avvalersi di mezzi cinici e subdoli per un ruolo che la società, il ducato e la famiglia gli hanno riservato, con tutte le illusioni e i lati tragici collaterali.
Alla fine, ne risulta un romanzo intenso, con pagine distruttive e bellissime, sull’amore finto e apparente e su quello vero e ignorato, su un ragno che tesse con cura la tela, attira la piccola mosca, e si scopre più invischiato della sua preda.
Attesa e incertezza sono l'essenza del corteggiamento romantico.
4,5 Dopo un primo volume promettente, anche il secondo conferma la qualità della serie, una quadrilogia dedicata a raccontarci le avventure di quattro ragazze "lavoratrici" nell'Inghilterra vittoriana, quindi con un punto di vista diverso dalle solite debuttanti nobili.
Anche Prudence è borghese, senza una goccia di sangue blu, ed è riuscita a costruirsi una vita autonoma, partendo come orfana illegittima e arrivando a farsi una modesta posizione, come sarta in una modisteria di abiti per la buona società.
Forse per i nobili è invisibile e non conta nulla, ma Prudence è soddisfatta della propria onestà e dell'amicizia con le ragazze che vivono nel suo pensionato femminile.
Finché un'eredità inaspettata non la catapulta senza preavviso tra i milionari e nel mondo rischioso dei cacciatori di dote.
A parte il finale forse un po’ troppo veloce, l'ho trovato un romanzo con una costruzione quasi perfetta, con un'analisi cristallina della manipolazione e degli inganni, con la descrizione inappuntabile di come un duca al verde riesca a carpire fiducia e innocenza di una ragazza ingenua e sognatrice, senza aver previsto però la ricaduta di ogni sua singola bugia.
E, davvero, pur apprezzando Prudence, non si riesce a tifare un po' anche per Rhys, costretto suo malgrado ad avvalersi di mezzi cinici e subdoli per un ruolo che la società, il ducato e la famiglia gli hanno riservato, con tutte le illusioni e i lati tragici collaterali.
Alla fine, ne risulta un romanzo intenso, con pagine distruttive e bellissime, sull’amore finto e apparente e su quello vero e ignorato, su un ragno che tesse con cura la tela, attira la piccola mosca, e si scopre più invischiato della sua preda.
Attesa e incertezza sono l'essenza del corteggiamento romantico.
February 22, 2010
This book is getting a lot of mixed reviews, and I actually changed my rating after giving this further thought.
Prudence Bosworth is a seamstress who dreams of prince charming.She meets Rhys de Winter Duke of St Cyres (pronounced sincere)and see's him as a brave hero after he performs one kindness. But St Cyres is a selfish rake and on the hunt for a wealthy heiress as his fortunes have dwindled. Guess what? Prudence inherits millions from her estranged dead father in America.
Rhys has noticed Prudence and is delighted when he learns she is a heiress. But Rhys is a crafty rogue and pretends he knows nothing of her inheritance. He manipulates, lies and seduces her and even states that he cannot marry her because he has nothing to offer and must marry money.A true rat..Needless to say the lies come back to bite our charming rat and by then he has fallen hard for prudence.
To be honest the plot is predictable and I could see the ending coming at me like a Jumbo Jet.But the way LLG has written this is compelling. Maybe we expect too much from LLG's books and would rate higher if written by an unknown author? Because of that I give it a 4* instead of a 3*.
Prudence Bosworth is a seamstress who dreams of prince charming.She meets Rhys de Winter Duke of St Cyres (pronounced sincere)and see's him as a brave hero after he performs one kindness. But St Cyres is a selfish rake and on the hunt for a wealthy heiress as his fortunes have dwindled. Guess what? Prudence inherits millions from her estranged dead father in America.
Rhys has noticed Prudence and is delighted when he learns she is a heiress. But Rhys is a crafty rogue and pretends he knows nothing of her inheritance. He manipulates, lies and seduces her and even states that he cannot marry her because he has nothing to offer and must marry money.A true rat..Needless to say the lies come back to bite our charming rat and by then he has fallen hard for prudence.
To be honest the plot is predictable and I could see the ending coming at me like a Jumbo Jet.But the way LLG has written this is compelling. Maybe we expect too much from LLG's books and would rate higher if written by an unknown author? Because of that I give it a 4* instead of a 3*.
June 22, 2023
Nothing special. You won't miss out on anything if you choose not to read this book. Plus, the hero sleeps with a maid the same night he meets the heroine. I have no problem with that, but most readers do, so there's the warning.
We have a broke, rakish duke, Rhys, who needs an heiress to pay his debts. The heroine, Prudence, works as a seamstress before she inherits a fortune from her father (who moved to America and made millions). Prudence was born a bastard, but the book doesn't focus too much on the stigma of being born a bastard like other HRs. I'm not sure how old she is, but I reckon she is young since she's a little naive, innocent, and infatuated with Rhys. She sees him as a hero after he came to her rescue (from a debutante) and a maid's rescue (from a drunk aristocrat). I imagine a spinster heroine who just inherited a fortune would be less trusting of any man's sudden courtship of her.
When Rhys learns that Prudence is an heiress, he pretends that he doesn't know anything about it when he's around her. He schemes to get her to marry him with the assistance of his valet. There's a mini side love story between Rhys's valet and Prudence's maid (about 3-4 excerpts). They get engaged but Prudence breaks the betrothal after she learns the truth. I think Rhys could have groveled more and Prudence should have waited to forgive him.
So far, 2 out of the 4 books in this series have failed to impress me. I'm not sure if the other two will impress me.
We have a broke, rakish duke, Rhys, who needs an heiress to pay his debts. The heroine, Prudence, works as a seamstress before she inherits a fortune from her father (who moved to America and made millions). Prudence was born a bastard, but the book doesn't focus too much on the stigma of being born a bastard like other HRs. I'm not sure how old she is, but I reckon she is young since she's a little naive, innocent, and infatuated with Rhys. She sees him as a hero after he came to her rescue (from a debutante) and a maid's rescue (from a drunk aristocrat). I imagine a spinster heroine who just inherited a fortune would be less trusting of any man's sudden courtship of her.
When Rhys learns that Prudence is an heiress, he pretends that he doesn't know anything about it when he's around her. He schemes to get her to marry him with the assistance of his valet. There's a mini side love story between Rhys's valet and Prudence's maid (about 3-4 excerpts). They get engaged but Prudence breaks the betrothal after she learns the truth. I think Rhys could have groveled more and Prudence should have waited to forgive him.
So far, 2 out of the 4 books in this series have failed to impress me. I'm not sure if the other two will impress me.
November 9, 2011
Spoilerish
The more I think about this book, the less I can figure out what the hell I thought of it.
On the one hand, it's a Laura Lee Guhrke. She has become one of my "go-to" authors. The Guilty series was outstanding, Abandoned at the Altar is shaping up to be even better, and the first book in this series, And Then He Kissed Her, is one of my absolute favourites.
The writing is great, the H/h are well drawn, and the cast of supporting characters (especially the ladies at the boarding house) are either charming or exasperating, depending who they are.
BUT....
I just didn't really like Rhys. I'm not even really sure why, because, within a chapter of meeting him you know exactly what he's about. Charming, insincere, self-absorbed, dissolute and irresponsible. When we meet him he is wondering if he could talk Prudence into a tup; he saves a maid from being raped by a peer, but sleeps with her himself immediately afterward (mostly because she's cheap and he can't afford to keep a mistress). He comes by his character quite honestly; his title is hollow and his estates are in ruins, mostly due to 6 generations of dukes before him who behaved exactly as he did. Creditors are banging on the door and he's reduced to dining-and-dashing at gentlemen's clubs and couch-surfing at his friends' residences. He needs to marry money. Huge money. And fast. I actually felt like Rhys was probably quite historically accurate. His description to Prudence of what peers did with themselves was hilarious:
Heh. Maybe I did kind of like him. See what I mean? I can't even decide what I think about the Hero. Towards the end of the book all bullshit he's been slinging comes home to roost (oops, mixing metaphors here), he realizes that he actually meant all of it, and that Prudence was the one good thing he'd managed to finagle and he has to try to figure out how to keep her.
OR MAYBE...
it was Prudence I didn't really like. I did at first - she was independent and sure of herself, but then she became besotted with Rhys and inherited gazillions of $$ and lost her marbles. Her ideal of marrying for love seemed anachronistic (HUH, you say? Bear with me, I'll explain). During the time the book is set, marrying for love was the exception, not the rule. Arranged marriages happened ALL the time - for money, social position or bloodlines - that's just the way it was done. It was expected that your dowry would bail out whichever peer offered for you. So for Prudence to be so set on marrying for love (and a penniless DUKE, nonetheless) and for her to be so outraged and vocal about her hurt when she finds out seemed wrong to me. For us 21st century women, sure. For a late Regency/Victorian miss? Uh-uh. And crossing the class lines seemed too simple in this story as well.
I've swallowed bigger loads of baloney in a historical romance, but I need to be able to lose myself enough in the story so that I don't notice myself choking on it.
BUT PROBABLY...
it was the ending that clinched it for me. I know it's a historical romance and we all need our HEA, but for these two to get past the big lie would take YEARS, not a week. Years of him being in love with her to prove to her that he means it; years for her to accept that even if he didn't love her from beginning he loves her now.
AND ANOTHER THING!
The fact that Rhys' terrible childhood (oh, those poor little British kids shipped off to Eton and abused by their wicked, wicked mothers and evil Uncles) and his relationship of mutual dislike with his mother seemed to be thrown into the mix for good measure, instead of being used with any depth for what it was most likely intended. Wow, did that make sense?
Hmm. After all this I'm still not sure what I thought of this one. I guess I'll call it at 3.5 stars. Liked the writing, the premise and the supporting characters, didn't like the Hero or the heroine all that much.
The more I think about this book, the less I can figure out what the hell I thought of it.
On the one hand, it's a Laura Lee Guhrke. She has become one of my "go-to" authors. The Guilty series was outstanding, Abandoned at the Altar is shaping up to be even better, and the first book in this series, And Then He Kissed Her, is one of my absolute favourites.
The writing is great, the H/h are well drawn, and the cast of supporting characters (especially the ladies at the boarding house) are either charming or exasperating, depending who they are.
BUT....
I just didn't really like Rhys. I'm not even really sure why, because, within a chapter of meeting him you know exactly what he's about. Charming, insincere, self-absorbed, dissolute and irresponsible. When we meet him he is wondering if he could talk Prudence into a tup; he saves a maid from being raped by a peer, but sleeps with her himself immediately afterward (mostly because she's cheap and he can't afford to keep a mistress). He comes by his character quite honestly; his title is hollow and his estates are in ruins, mostly due to 6 generations of dukes before him who behaved exactly as he did. Creditors are banging on the door and he's reduced to dining-and-dashing at gentlemen's clubs and couch-surfing at his friends' residences. He needs to marry money. Huge money. And fast. I actually felt like Rhys was probably quite historically accurate. His description to Prudence of what peers did with themselves was hilarious:
"Darling, most duchesses are like most dukes. And marquesses and earls, etcetera, etcetera. We don't do anything. We lead terribly lazy lives in which we give and attend fabulous parties, gamble away our fortunes - if we have them - eat outrageously rich food, drink excessive amounts of champagne and port, travel the world, accumulate massive amounts of debt, and engage in outrageous exploits. All because the lot of us suffer from terminal ennui....Peers are the lilies of the field, my sweet. We toil not, neither do we spin."
Heh. Maybe I did kind of like him. See what I mean? I can't even decide what I think about the Hero. Towards the end of the book all bullshit he's been slinging comes home to roost (oops, mixing metaphors here), he realizes that he actually meant all of it, and that Prudence was the one good thing he'd managed to finagle and he has to try to figure out how to keep her.
OR MAYBE...
it was Prudence I didn't really like. I did at first - she was independent and sure of herself, but then she became besotted with Rhys and inherited gazillions of $$ and lost her marbles. Her ideal of marrying for love seemed anachronistic (HUH, you say? Bear with me, I'll explain). During the time the book is set, marrying for love was the exception, not the rule. Arranged marriages happened ALL the time - for money, social position or bloodlines - that's just the way it was done. It was expected that your dowry would bail out whichever peer offered for you. So for Prudence to be so set on marrying for love (and a penniless DUKE, nonetheless) and for her to be so outraged and vocal about her hurt when she finds out seemed wrong to me. For us 21st century women, sure. For a late Regency/Victorian miss? Uh-uh. And crossing the class lines seemed too simple in this story as well.
I've swallowed bigger loads of baloney in a historical romance, but I need to be able to lose myself enough in the story so that I don't notice myself choking on it.
BUT PROBABLY...
it was the ending that clinched it for me. I know it's a historical romance and we all need our HEA, but for these two to get past the big lie would take YEARS, not a week. Years of him being in love with her to prove to her that he means it; years for her to accept that even if he didn't love her from beginning he loves her now.
AND ANOTHER THING!
The fact that Rhys' terrible childhood (oh, those poor little British kids shipped off to Eton and abused by their wicked, wicked mothers and evil Uncles) and his relationship of mutual dislike with his mother seemed to be thrown into the mix for good measure, instead of being used with any depth for what it was most likely intended. Wow, did that make sense?
Hmm. After all this I'm still not sure what I thought of this one. I guess I'll call it at 3.5 stars. Liked the writing, the premise and the supporting characters, didn't like the Hero or the heroine all that much.
July 9, 2009
This is the second in the "Girl Bachelor" series and it is my favorite! I have now read the three that have been written and am anxiously awaiting the next one to come out in August. Prudence and the duke of St. Cyres have wonderful chemistry in the story. I love Prudence because she was a very sweet and independent heroine. The Duke was a rake for pretty much most the book, but I still liked him. The story was resolved well and it just reinforced to me why the "Girl Bachelor" series is one of my favorites! There is a special formula these stories have that I really appreciate. I think Laura Lee Guhrke's books get better with each one and I can't wait for Daisy's story to be next.
September 4, 2019
Segunda novela de esta serie de mujeres independientes y caballeros en sus horas bajas… Prudence Bosworth es una mujer que lucha por sobrevivir trabajando todo lo duro que puede hasta que un día sus sueños se hacen realidad cuando es nombrada heredera de una de las fortunas más grandes de Inglaterra. Rhys de Wynter, duque de St. Cyres es todo un canalla y sufre las consecuencias de una vida de excesos y debe encontrar pronto a una mujer con una gran dote que lo salve de la ruina.
La autora nos trae de nuevo una historia que engancha, eso sí, esta tal vez un poco menos que las otras porque la situación es distinta, tenemos a un Rhys que al principio no nos caerá muy bien (bueno sí, le perdonaría todo lo canalla), más que nada porque empieza con mentiras y el lector anda con la mosca detrás de la oreja y no se lo cree del todo. Todo esto hace que no te hagas ilusiones pero lo ha resuelto bien...
Continúa la reseña en: http://oceanodelibros.blogspot.com/20...
La autora nos trae de nuevo una historia que engancha, eso sí, esta tal vez un poco menos que las otras porque la situación es distinta, tenemos a un Rhys que al principio no nos caerá muy bien (bueno sí, le perdonaría todo lo canalla), más que nada porque empieza con mentiras y el lector anda con la mosca detrás de la oreja y no se lo cree del todo. Todo esto hace que no te hagas ilusiones pero lo ha resuelto bien...
Continúa la reseña en: http://oceanodelibros.blogspot.com/20...
September 1, 2020
Para mi es un NO. No he conectado con la pareja, no hay química entre ellos, ni romanticismo. Es una pena que el anterior sea una joya y este sea tan tan flojo. Me he quedado como estaba después de leerla.
June 19, 2023
Ik heb de Nederlands talige uitgave gelezen : Verrukkelijke erfgename - Harlequin Historische roman 124 eerder uitgegeven als Candlelight Historische roman nr. 796
Een ongeinspireerd verhaal over een naaister die miljoenen erft en een armlastige Hertog . De prettige schrijfstijl redt dit verhaal van de ondergang .
Een ongeinspireerd verhaal over een naaister die miljoenen erft en een armlastige Hertog . De prettige schrijfstijl redt dit verhaal van de ondergang .
August 12, 2009
The Wicked Ways of a Duke is the second book in Laura Lee Guhrke's Girl Bachelor series. After reading And Then He Kissed Her, I expected much more from this book than the author delivered. The book was well written, but the plot was lacking and the characters weren't engaging.
Rhys de Winter was an impoverished duke who needed to marry an heiress in order to pay debts. Although the situation was common during the time, the way Rhys manipulated Prudence into marrying him was a bit distasteful. The entire book had a sordid feel. Rather than feel sorry for Rhys, I just wanted to tell him to get a job. LOL
The storyline with Rhys's brother was sad, however the way it was presented to Prudence felt like just another effort to manipulate her into doing what he wanted.
This book is probably somewhere between a 3 and 4 for me. Again, it was well written and a pleasant read, but it didn't live up to the expectations I had after reading And Then He Kissed Her.
Rhys de Winter was an impoverished duke who needed to marry an heiress in order to pay debts. Although the situation was common during the time, the way Rhys manipulated Prudence into marrying him was a bit distasteful. The entire book had a sordid feel. Rather than feel sorry for Rhys, I just wanted to tell him to get a job. LOL
The storyline with Rhys's brother was sad, however the way it was presented to Prudence felt like just another effort to manipulate her into doing what he wanted.
This book is probably somewhere between a 3 and 4 for me. Again, it was well written and a pleasant read, but it didn't live up to the expectations I had after reading And Then He Kissed Her.
January 17, 2018
Nada que ver con la historia de Harry y Emma que fue casi perfecta. Aquí le faltó fluidez, más química al principio.
Las escenas finales fueron casi de derramar la lagrimita, en especial cuando Rhys le cuenta su secreto, si fue muy doloroso y triste.
PD. Como el libro de Harry y Emma no tuvo epílogo agradecí mucho sus apariciones. AMO A ESE HOMBRE.
Las escenas finales fueron casi de derramar la lagrimita, en especial cuando Rhys le cuenta su secreto, si fue muy doloroso y triste.
PD. Como el libro de Harry y Emma no tuvo epílogo agradecí mucho sus apariciones. AMO A ESE HOMBRE.
July 2, 2021
I like the premise and I want to read more historical with this storyline but the hero was just rubbish
2,5⭐
2,5⭐
October 16, 2010
I LOVED the first book I read by Ms Guhrke (And Then He Kissed Her), but I was sorely disappointed in this one. Basic plot: "girl bachelor" Prudence is working as a seamstress when she discovers that the father who abandoned her before she was born had moved to America, made scads of money opening department stores, and then died, leaving his entire estate to her. One catch: she must marry within one year or forfeit her inheritance. Now ... what kind of stipulation is that??? Here! have millions of pounds, so that people will come out of the woodwork to be your "friend" just so they can get to your money, and I'll also force you to tie yourself to one of these fortune-hunting scumbags for life. But okay, this is a romance novel, and this genre just THRIVES on the ridiculous circumstance. So fine, I accept that. Naturally, our dear Prudence happens to meet a deeply indebted duke, Rhys, and of course she falls in love, and of course he wants to marry her, since he needs the money.
I also know that romance novels are fond of making the hero seem to be a "rake" - bad boys are more attractive, I guess. But this anti-hero just went beyond the pale - he spends nearly the entire novel deceiving Prudence, pretending to be something he is not, just so she'll agree to marry him. He doesn't hide the fact that he's in debt, but he deceives her nonetheless. And most of the time in romance novels when the "hero" acts like a jerk, when we read HIS viewpoint, he's feeling really really BAD about being a jerk. But Rhys doesn't seem to have any pangs of guilt about deceiving Prudence. He wants what he wants and he doesn't care what he has to to do get it. Oh sure, he's supposed to be redeemed in the end, but I just really really didn't like him.
And then in the end, when she discovers his deception, and she's incredibly hurt, and she tells him: "You're not the man I thought you were. I don't know who you are." ... it takes her all of TWO DAYS to completely forgive him. Oh. Please. Spare. Me.
I also know that romance novels are fond of making the hero seem to be a "rake" - bad boys are more attractive, I guess. But this anti-hero just went beyond the pale - he spends nearly the entire novel deceiving Prudence, pretending to be something he is not, just so she'll agree to marry him. He doesn't hide the fact that he's in debt, but he deceives her nonetheless. And most of the time in romance novels when the "hero" acts like a jerk, when we read HIS viewpoint, he's feeling really really BAD about being a jerk. But Rhys doesn't seem to have any pangs of guilt about deceiving Prudence. He wants what he wants and he doesn't care what he has to to do get it. Oh sure, he's supposed to be redeemed in the end, but I just really really didn't like him.
And then in the end, when she discovers his deception, and she's incredibly hurt, and she tells him: "You're not the man I thought you were. I don't know who you are." ... it takes her all of TWO DAYS to completely forgive him. Oh. Please. Spare. Me.
August 18, 2009
I had some issues - namely that the heroine had major self-image issues and the author kept referring to her as "plump" when she was described as anything but, and also the hero was a complete ass for the first 1/2-3/4 of the book.
However, the author really turned it around for me. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed both characters at the end, and how glad I was to see them fall in love. I almost put the book down because of my frustrations, but I'm glad I finished it.
However, the author really turned it around for me. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed both characters at the end, and how glad I was to see them fall in love. I almost put the book down because of my frustrations, but I'm glad I finished it.
June 22, 2010
I got to around 150 pages and couldn't bring myself to go any further. It wasn't bad, but I found it rather boring. The characters to me felt flat other than a scene where Prudence is walking in the rain that I thought was kind of funny. The one other book I've read by Laura Lee Guhrke took a while to pick up but the set up and the characters kept me reading. Here I wasn't as impressed. Maybe I'll find better luck with the next book.
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