Lady Amelia's Mess and a Half

Beau Monde #2

by Samantha Grace

JAKE BROKE HER HEART BY LEAVING HER AFTER SHARING A PASSIONATE KISS.
LADY AMELIA BROKE HIS BY MARRYING HIS BEST FRIEND.
When she returns to town a widow--pursued by an infamous rake, Jake's debauched brother, and just maybe by himself--Lady Amelia will have a mess and a half on her hands.
A sparkling romp through the ton, Lady Amelia's Mess and a Half delivers a witty Regency romance in which misunderstandings abound, reputations are put on the line, and the only thing more exciting than a scandal is true love.

"Clever, spicy, and fresh from beginning to end."--Amelia Grey, award-winning author of A Gentleman Never Tells

"A delightfully witty romp seasoned with an irresistible dash of intrigue and passion. Samantha Grace is an author to watch!"--Shana Galen, award-winning author of Lord and Lady Spy

Beau Monde Bachelor Series
Miss Hillary Schools a Scoundrel
Lady Amelia's Mess and a Half
Miss Lavigne's Little White Lie
Lady Vivian Defies a Duke

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Regency, Adult, Historical Fiction, Adult Fiction

384 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 5, 2012

About the author

Historical romance author Samantha Grace discovered the appeal of a great love story when she was just a young girl, thanks to Disney's Robin Hood. She didn't care that Robin Hood and Maid Marian were cartoon animals. It was her first happily-ever-after experience and she didn't want the warm fuzzies to end. Now Samantha enjoys creating her own happy-endings for characters that spring from her imagination. Publisher's Weekly describes her stories as "fresh and romantic" with subtle humor and charm. Samantha describes romance writing as the best job ever.

Part-time medical social worker, moonlighting author, and pilates nut, she enjoys a happy and hectic life with her real life hero and two kids in the Midwest.

FREE READ:
A Beau Monde Bachelor Christmas (extended epilogue)

Join newlywed couples Lord and Lady Norwick, Jake and Amelia Hillary, Daniel and Lisette Hillary, and Isaac and Serafine Tucker for their first Christmas together.

Bibi, the Countess of Norwick, would love to give her husband the one thing he really wants for Christmas: a ceasefire between her and his intractable sister. Facing Lady Troll during the holidays without reinforcements, however, would be foolish, and Bibi is no fool. She calls upon her dearest friends, Amelia and Jake Hillary, and a few more familiar faces to spend Christmas in Kent to help make the season a little brighter. Unfortunately, her guests are distracted by their own challenges this holiday season, and Bibi must find a way to connect with her sister-in-law without their help if she hopes to make Jasper's Christmas wishes come true.

To access A Beau Monde Bachelor Christmas, sign up for Samantha's newsletter group. www.samanthagraceauthor.com.

Reviews

[🐝 Shaz 🐝 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is about lost love that is found again.
Amelia love’s Jake he loves her. While Jakes away on family business. His best friend plotted and Married Amelia. After 3 months he leaves her to live on her own. After he dies, Amelia and Jake get a second chance at happiness .
This is the second book by Samantha Grace I have read. Looking forward to the next one .

[Rosamary Rosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

ilk kitaba göre edisyonu mükemmel olan kitap.

Hikayemizde iki çift vardı. Başta acaba rol çalınır mı diye endişelensem de bibi ve jasper'ı o kadar sevdim ki <3 hatta yer yer "acaba daha fazla mı okusaydık ya" dedim. Jasper grçen kitapta yapığın hödüklüğü bile unuttum. Bu kadar özverili bir aşık olduğun için, okuma deneyimimi eğlenceli hale getirdiğin için teşekkürler 🥰😍 sizi ana çiftten daha çok sevdim.

Ana çiftimiz, Jake'i sevmesine rağmen en yakın arkadaşı ile evlenmiş ve dul kalmış Amelia ve onu çok seven Jake'ten oluşuyordu. Yazarımız serinin ilk kitabında olduğu gibi kadın karakterleri kararsız yazmaya and içmiş galiba. Amelia'yı sürekli vazgeçerken görmek, Jake veya Bibi'nin sürekli bizim kızı gazlaması biraz sinir bozucuydu. Ve jake sanırım mahkeme ile ilgili bir şey yapıyormuş yer yer bahsedildi ama valla ne zaman okusam ya partilerde ya da Amelia'nın yanındaydı 😂 bu çocuk madem çalışmıyor meslek yazmayın havada kalmasın dedim 😂😂

Bir de en sonda bir mantık hatası vardı ondan ve kızın kararsızlığından bir puan kırdım. Yazar tamamıyla ne yazdığını unutmuş galiba 😅

[The Window Seat · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a rarity for me. I read - A LOT. But I don't always review them. If the book is less than great, I stick by the saying, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all." But in this case, the book was so absurd, and so ridiculous, that I really can't resist. Lady Amelia's Mess and a Half is just a train wreck.

First off, it is pretty clear early in the book that the story really needs the first book in the series to catch the reader "up" on things. From what I gathered, here is the backstory. Jake Hillary fell in love with Amelia from the moment he met her. But his nasty best friend (who gets his comeuppance by dying an early death) lied to Amelia and twisted the facts in order to get Amelia to marry him instead. Lord Audley didn't love Amelia, nor she him, but it dealt more with his friend Jake. So Amelia married David and lived in a miserable marriage while Jake nursed a broken heart. And nurse it he did.

For the full review, please go to http://thewindowseat13.blogspot.com/2...

[Elis Madison · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's probably not fair of me to give this just two stars. It's more my bias than bad writing or a bad story. I'm more into books that have a lot of action and danger with romance tossed in rather than hand-wringing over feelings, but this one did keep me turning pages despite all that. And the title is great.

The titular character, Amelia, is a widow who has always had a "thang" for Mr. Jake Hillary. (I always like it when the hero is NOT a titled man. If you get your history from romance novels you must believe that half of the men in bloody England are at least viscounts.) She loved him even before she accepted the marriage proposal of his best friend, David Audley (who was titled, unfortunately).

Jake has always loved her back. Unfortunately he has the spine of an eel, and never got up the nerve to tell her what he felt, so off she went to marry a guy she thought DID love her. Much she knew.

Now she's widowed, and Jake is still cringing from an argument they had where he gave her a dressing down. I may have skipped over the explanation for that--never did figure out why he dredged up the backbone to call her out when he never had the huevos to tell her he cared. Maybe it was in the first book in the series, which I haven't read.

So anyway, they're avoiding each other, even while sneaking secret, longing looks that everyone else sees and mentions for quite a few pages.

Another "complication" is that Jake doesn't like Bibi, Amelia's man-hating and light-skirted best friend. So that keeps them at odds for a few more pages.

It's actually the secondary story about scandalous Bibi and some of the men in her life, along with a really nice little twist in Amelia's story, that make the book a reasonably good read.

As for the writing, Grace is particularly skilled at dialogue--I was impressed from the very first scene, two brothers bickering, which sounded very much like a lot of people I actually know. The characterization is well-done also, and she does a good job with the history, for example, she neatly sidesteps the cliche shipboard wedding, which is quite historically inaccurate but I've seen it a dozen times. She also gives us a painfully honest insight into how people of that era--even the women themselves--viewed what we'd now call "date rape."

So there--I've talked myself into three stars for this. If you like romance-only romances, you'll probably enjoy this.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lady Amelia Audley is back in town after the shocking death of her husband. She has dedicated herself to raising funds for an orphanage to improve their living conditions and she must secure some more funding so it forces her to attend a ball held by the mother of the only man she has loved, Jake Hillary. Amelia draws comfort and support from her best friend Bibi but that causes a whole other set of problems as Bibi is a bit of a flirt and her actions have caused her to be shunned by most of the matrons of society. Still, they arrive at the ball determined to gather the funds needed all without encountering the man who broke her heart.

Jake Hillary has been in love with Amelia for years and was stunned when she married his best friend. It left him devastated and he moved on with his life but one glance at Mia and all the old feelings return in force. When his charming older brother attempts to make a play for Mia, he is forced to Daniel the truth and Mia and Jake slowly find themselves enjoying each others company once again. But with so much hurt and confusion in the past, will they be able to bury the past and find the future they long for together?

Sigh, what a wonderful romance book this was! I was worried that the entire book was going to be about miscommunications, that Jake and Amelia were not going to be together until the end of the book but I was so wrong and that made this book so much more delightful! Just when I wanted to say 'just talk to each other'--they did! That was very refreshing. There is no big misunderstanding--a few minor ones that are resolved quickly--but there is a bit of a twist near the end that will leave you flipping the pages and just when you think you have it all figured out...you just might not...and I loved that. There is a wonderful side romance between Bibi and an unlikely suitor that added another lovely layer of romance without subtracting from the main couple. And when the truth of Bibi's past is revealed, sigh. I also loved the inclusion of Jake's brother, Daniel, as he adds a bit of tension and also a nice dose of humor. I am very eager for his book! I really enjoyed seeing more of the big, lovable and meddlesome Hillary family. They all love each other and tease and 'help' each other as they see fit. I loved watching Jake and Mia refind their love and make it work, even with a few obstacles in the way (Jake and Bibi have a hard time sharing Mia) they stayed true to each other. If you are looking for a romance book that will make you laugh, smile, sigh and fan yourself, Samantha Grace has delivered a winner with Lady Amelia's Mess and a Half and she seems to be making a name for herself for her witty and sexy stories! 4 1/2 stars

I received this eARC from Sourcebooks via netgalley.com

[Scoyphenson · Rating 2 out of 5]

The characterization was neither consistent nor skillful. There were also some serious factual errors - anyone ever hear of a baby moving in week twelve of a pregnancy? Anyone? I don't think I will be reading more of her work.

[Nazlıcan · Rating 4 out of 5]

İlk kitaba nazaran gerçekten çok iyiydi. Bu sefer yazar dönemi daha iyi yansıtmış. Ayrıca hikaye fazlasıyla özgündü. Audley ile ilgili gerçekler tahminimin çok ötesindeydi. Aynı zamanda Amelia, Jake ve Jake'in ailesi ile ilgili birçok sır da bu kitapta açığa kavuştu. Romanın en sevdiğim karakteri kendine özgü ve cesur tavırlarıyla Bianca oldu.
Yalnızca şu kısaltma isimler biraz rahatsız etti beni. O dönem için bu kadar rahat ve bolca kullanılması biraz aşırı geldi. Bir de kimi yerde diyaloglar eksik kalmış gibiydi. Güçlü diyaloglar ve betimlemelerle hikaye daha hoş olabilirdi. Ayrıca gemi seyahati gibi kilit noktalarda zaman belirsiz kalmış gibiydi.

[Emma]

DNF @ 17%

[Dottie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delicious, historical romp! Taken from my review at RomanceJunkies.com:

Jake Hillary has been in love with Amelia for most of his life. He had been getting close to her before he suddenly had to leave town, right after they shared a very passionate kiss. His mother has a health problem in which she has spells that force her to retire to the country whenever they come upon her. When he left he sent letters to Amelia, telling her about his sudden departure and one of the letters even included a proposal of marriage. But unbeknownst to him, the letters have gone astray and she believes he has deserted her. His best friend, Lord Audley, knows of Jake’s love for the woman, but he convinces her that Jake is interested elsewhere and convinces her of his love, getting her to accept his marriage proposal. Jake had been devastated and words had been exchanged…words that he could not take back.

Amelia, Lady Audley, knew within three months of her marriage that her husband did not love her after all. She had always hoped for a relationship with Jake, but after sharing a passionate kiss, he had left town and she had not heard a word from him. She had married Lord Audley only after he convinced her that he loved her. She misses Jake, but knows that he has a poor opinion of her. With the shocking death of her husband, Amelia has returned to town and become involved in raising money for the orphanage. Her best friend Bibi is a silent partner in the foundling home renovation project, but she is a society outcast who does everything in her power to snub society, flaunting her sensuality. By association, Amelia is also a social outcast, but she is determined to stand by her best friend. Still for the orphans, Amelia tries to change society’s opinion of her. But it is proving hard to do. The one godsend is Jake’s mother, who comforted her after her husband’s death and is helping her raise the funds for the orphanage.

Anxious to see Amelia and clear the air, Jake awaits Amelia’s appearance at a ball being held by his mother. But he becomes irate when his debauched brother Daniel, a ship’s captain and an infamous rake, makes it known that he plans to pursue Amelia himself since Jake has taken so long to do it. Determined to stop his brother, he sets out to pursue her, hoping she will forgive him for his words of a year earlier. But with competition from his brother and his own past behavior, does he stand a chance, or is he doomed to a life without her?

Rompalicious! LADY AMELIA’S MESS AND A HALF, the second book in gifted author Samantha Grace’s BEAU MONDE BACHELOR series, is an enticingly witty historical romance that will captivate you from the first page. Other than the skirmish between Daniel and Jake, there is no conflict in the story once the misunderstanding about the letters is cleared up. But just when you think you have it figured out, Ms. Grace throws a surprise into the works. I am eager to read Daniel’s story and see him get his comeuppance. There is also a side romance between Bibi and Lord Norwick, two seemingly mismatched people who prove that opposites do attract. Beautifully written and packed with passion, humor, mystery, misunderstandings, plot twists, clever banter, romance and love, this story is one that you will want to read more than once. An absolute delight! As I look forward to reading the next book in Ms. Grace’s wonderful series, MISS LAVIGNE’S LITTLE WHITE LIE, be sure to get your own copy of LADY AMELIA’S MESS AND A HALF. I highly recommend it, especially to those readers who like plenty of heat and humor with their romance!

Dottie, RomanceJunkies.com

[Heather Book Savvy Babe · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 of 5 Stars

Lady Amelia’s Mess and A Half is a really good historical romance read. Lady Amelia’s life is a mess, she is recently widowed, her best friend is a source of gossip, and the man-who-got-away is confusing and challenging.

Amelia and Jake have always had a “spark,” however their romance never worked out. Jake had family issues and left town, and Amelia married his best friend. There were multiple reasons why the couple was kept apart, and it takes years and the death of Amelia’s husband before the truth comes out. Jake is still very much in love with Amelia and sets out to win her over. He is a very sweet man, he has honest intentions towards her, but the past continues to haunt them. Just when they think they are able to move forward, a ghost from the past threatens everything.

Amelia and Jake are the primary characters in Lady Amelia’s Mess and a Half, but there is another romantic side story. Amelia’s best friend Bianca, who is also a widow, learns that maybe there is such a thing as love. Bianca has had bad luck with men, she has been used, hurt, and has a reputation for being a loose woman. As more of Bianca’s story is revealed, I came to like her much more and Bianca also grows through the book too.

While I really enjoyed this story, I was confused as to the exact timeline of Amelia’s relationship with Jack. I was confused as to what happened when, when they kissed and when she married the best friend, and when she returned, all that gets a bit jumbled.

Overall, Lady Amelia’s Mess and a Half is a very enjoyable historical romance read. The romance is sweet and sensual, the characters are engaging, and I find that I am looking forward to reading more about them in the future. Lady Amelia’s Mess and a Half is book 2 in the series, but it can be read as a stand alone. I am curious to go back and read the first book, Miss Hillary Schools a Scoundrel, it’s going on my to-read list.

*I received this book for review*

[Terra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh this was just a delightful real old fashioned romance. Full of emotion, deceit, trust issues and so much more that will make you revel in a don't put it down story.

Lady Amelia has just returned to London after a proper grieving time resulting from her husband's untimely demise. Still young and very much beautiful she attracts the eyes of all the available bachelor's especially one in particular whom has been smitten with our delightful Lady most of her life.

Jake Hillary is still so besotted with Lady Amelia even after her jilting him for his best friend. Now his family has it in their minds that it is time that Jake take a stand for what he truly wants of forever hold his piece. Can Jake get up the courage to finally tell Amelia his true feelings? Will he be able to forgive her for marrying his best friend when it was he who should have held her heart?

This story is just delightful with a bit of scandal, lots of misinterpretations, lust flying around our characters as if it has a solid body of it's own. I really loved the coming alive of our characters in so many different ways. This story is just so rich in inspiration and dreams come true that you will probably need a few hankies along the way and don't worry about how loud you chuckle at a few instances. This is not one to be missed for a true romance lover.

[♡ Sassy ~ Amy ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lady Amelia Audley & Jake Hillary have loved each other for years. Due to a deceitful trick, Amelia marries Jake's best friend. After his death, they are thrown together once again & have to muddle through one misunderstanding after another!

It's one of those great stories that it almost seems to be resolved & fixed, but then something else happens! It was great!

I loved the fast pace of this book along with the ups and downs & all the misunderstandings & the "Oh, no you di'in't!" throughout the book. It was an original story & I didn't feel like I had read anything similar.

Hot & perfect cover!

[Sofia Lazaridou · Rating 1 out of 5]

It is a rather dull book and half of it was very, very boring. It's a wonder I finished it. The hero seems to have 2 different personalities. The first one is proper, boring, uptight and his view about sex is the same a young naive woman might had in that period of time. But later he becomes an experienced lover over a night and actually shows his feelings and some kind of activity. My feeling for Amelia are similar to the ones someone might have for a person he just met and does not like him.He is grateful he won't have to see him again.I feel the same for Amelia. I did not liked her and I dont want to see her again. The book is close to awful and boring but some tiny parts saved it

[Kelly_Instalove · Rating 2 out of 5]

Officially DNF'd at around 60%. Still hadn't reached whatever the main conflict was going to be, so it was still only about 2/3 of a rather boring mess. When I found myself liking the selfish BFF better than the Mary Sue heroine, I figured it was time to stop.

[Jae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ding! Ding! Ding! H O T cover alert.

[Danielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just couldn't connect with the story. I also had issues with the secondary characters. They were just a bit much to take. So over the top.

[Ashley Schuster · Rating 1 out of 5]

The characters were complete opposites from me and I couldn't sympathize. Bibi was more relatable but even she had major issues with playing nice.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got about 300-ish pages into the 460-ish pages my library app said the book was. And I just didn't care anymore. It was obvious the heroine was getting her man because that happened at the beginning. The "obstacles" that were thrown in their way didn't amount to much. At this point in the book I just don't see the point in reading any more. The side characters are taking on a huge role in the storyline but I'm not that interested in them.
I loved the first book in this series and maybe I'll come back to this one. But I've got an entire afternoon to read today and I'm just not feeling this one anymore.

[Meranda Semeniuk-Wappel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book was awesome! I hadn't expected to have such a turn of events. The fact that Jake and Amelia both had ghosts in the closet that they needed to address, was just the icing on the cake. There were many things that I didn't see coming and I will not create spoilers for future readers. I would recommend this series without a doubt! Can't wait to read the next book that is in this series!

[Wendy]

DNF 17%. This book and I just didn't see eye-to-eye. I loved the title. At the point I stopped I was already tired of people not talking to each other about how they felt and posturing and pursuing, which might have been all right but it just didn't flow for me.

[Mary Vilarino · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story maintained my interest and the characters were interesting and likable but it lacked something.

[Amethyst Creek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable, well-drawn characters. A romance with a surprise twist to the plot. Held my interest.

[Cherie Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes is was a great mess.and I lived it.
🌟⭐💜⭐🌟🧡⭐🌟💛⭐🌟💚⭐🌟💙🌟

[Kat Latham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lady Amelia and Jake Hillary have a complicated history. They've loved each other for years, but Amelia married Jake's best friend, Audley. After Audley's death, Jake and Amelia shared a passionate kiss, but then Jake disappeared to take care of family issues...and his family meddled in their relationship.

Years after they should've gotten together, Jake and Amelia finally have a chance to clear the air of all the misunderstanding and malicious acts that have kept them apart.

But just when it looks like they'll be able to have their richly deserved happily-ever-after, two things conspire to ruin their chance for happiness. First, Jake has difficulty accepting Amelia's promiscuous best friend. And once he comes to accept her friend, Amelia receives troubling news that she may not be a widow after all, making any marriage to Jake bigamous.

Samantha Grace debuted earlier this year with the first book in this series, Miss Hillary Schools a Scoundrel, which features Jake's sister Lana. I said in my review that it was full of  fun, feisty characters who are as adept at teasing each other as they are at waltzing.

Lady Amelia's Mess and a Half continues in that vein - though some of the men seem considerably less adept at waltzing.

Samantha Grace has a wonderful way of highlighting the small, intimate moments that make characters more human. I particularly loved this scene, after Amelia reads a children's book to a group of orphans at the foundling hospital she's raising money to restore. While she reads to the kids, Jake entertains them by acting out the story in pantomime, and the kids beg him to return the next time she reads to them.

"Nothing could keep me from returning next week." He lifted his imaginary sword. "Not vicious dragons, nor wild beasts of the forest, nor - "

"That is quite enough for tonight, sir." Despite her reprimand, Amelia grinned at him over her shoulder.

The nurses ushered the children from the drawing room to prepare them for bed. Their noisy chatter faded as they moved farther away. He and Amelia were alone and would see themselves out.

He offered her a hand up. She stood and wrapped her arms around his waist, laying her cheek against his chest.

"You shall be the finest of husbands, Mr. Hillary." Her warm breath penetrated his waistcoat.

"I shall try to be," he promised then placed a kiss atop her silkly hair. He would cherish her, love her with reverence, and protect her as a doting husband should. Nothing would stop him.

Not dragons.

Nor wild beasts.

No creature great or small.

Samantha Grace adds a delightful, quirky voice to the Regency romance world, and I was really pleased to spend more time with the wonderful Hillary family.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Heat: 4 (hot)

Publication date: June 1, 2012

Related:

Interview with Samantha Grace
Review: Miss Hillary Schools a Scoundrel

[Lisa Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Samantha Grace continues one of the best and entertaining historical romance series with LADY AMELIA'S MESS AND A HALF. A sexy and fabulous love story, Jake and Amelia are a couple you will find difficult to forget.

Jake Hilary has been in love with Lady Amelia Audley for quite some time but she broke his heart when she married his best friend. Now that she is a widow, their love stands a chance, but previous misunderstandings work to keep them apart once again. When Jake's brother makes advances for a place in Amelia's bed, Jack is determined to see that the only bed she occupies is his. Ghosts from their past and loved ones in their present are threatening this new chance at a happily ever after but Amelia is determined to not let a few trivial messes get in her way. After everything they have been through, Jake and Amelia realize true love is certainly worth fighting for.

When you read a novel by Samantha Grace, you are guaranteed a sexy romance with spectacular characters. Jake Hilary is absolutely stunning. A true romantic hero that would make any heroine swoon. His love for Amelia took my breath away and made me shed a few tears...it was that passionate and moving. I loved how in one chapter he could be her lover, in the next her protector and then later her strength...only to realize how perfectly he fit the role of her other half because he was always everything she needed.

And Amelia certainly turned out to be the heroine worthy of such devotion. She was bold, passionate and witty with a striking personality. She was a romantic like Jake, but she was also realistic, sometimes being the pessimistic voice in their relationship. Yet she was a kind, compassionate soul that always saw the goodness others were capable of and how she could help them. You loved her character because she was beautiful inside and out.

There was one very important factor that I loved about LADY AMELIA'S MESS AND A HALF. That would have to be the fact that there is no misguided communication or hesitation to declare their emotions. I have read many novels in the past where characters refuse to speak their mind or declare those three special words until the last few pages. Most times it is terribly frustrating, but in this novel that certainly wasn't the case. I enjoyed this novel so much more because they always said what they felt and I commend Samantha Grace for creating characters that didn't dance around their feelings. Not only that, but Ms Grace still kept the romance interesting while establishing a plot line and secondary romance that kept you thoroughly entertained throughout the remainder of the novel.

The Beau Monde Bachelor series is one of my favorite series that I am currently following. With such clever writing, spicy love scenes and irresistible characters, historical romance fans should be anxious to experience the magic of Samantha Grace's spellbinding novels. LADY AMELIA'S MESS AND A HALF is a unique and fabulous romance with characters that you will find scandalously delightful. Whether it's because of the emotional love story, the entertaining plot or the engaging characters, this is a novel Regency historical romance fans should not miss. This second novel, in what I'm sure will be a fabulous writing career, just goes to prove anything written by Samantha Grace deserves a coveted spot on my ‘keeper shelf.'

Lisa Jo @ The Romance Reviews

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Ms. Grace's second book in her Gentlemen of Beau Monde series and having read the first one just prior to reading the second was very helpful in understanding the dynamic between the main and secondary characters, as well as the family relationships that has been introduced throughout both books. I highly recommend they be read in order for the maximum enjoyment.

Lady Amelia Audley has been a widow for the past two years, however just recently she's become unattached as her short-term lover Lord Andrew Forest married the sister of the man she thought loved her. In order to help herself heal the wounds of a failed marriage and an affair that deeply hurt her, she dedicates most of her free time to her philanthropic endeavor that is close to her heart, and it seems that her dedication is finally starting to pay off. Her project for improving the living conditions of the orphans is mostly depending on the whims of the tons' wealthy and spoiled patrons and she'll do anything to attract and solicit their donations.

Mr. Jake Hillary has been in love with Amelia for many years and at one point he was sure she was reciprocating his feelings, yet no one was more stunned than he when she ended up marring his best friend. After her husband's death, the closeness and the feelings have resurfaced for both and the passion they shared in a kiss should have sealed their love, but a family emergency took Jake from London and by the time he returned, Amelia's affections strayed to Lord Andrew. Jake was devastated once more to have lost `his Mia' to such a scoundrel and to think of her as promiscuous hurt him more than anything.

We met Lady Amelia Audley in the debut of this series, and I was not much impressed with this lady of loose morals (I thought). She was `the other woman' in that story and I don't have much patience for characters like her, so color me happy when by the time I got done with Lana's story, my mind changed and I started to admire this woman who has been put through a lot of heartache by too many people that just couldn't mind their own business!

As for our hero Jake, who so reminded me of the prodigal son from the Bible, I actually wormed up in the debut and continued to admire through his own story. I mean, this man did everything a good son's supposed to do; he loved his family and stayed on the straight and narrow; trusted his best friend with his inner deepest secrets; made his parents and siblings proud of him and yet he couldn't catch a break when it came to his love life. He was a typical Beta hero all the way.

I must admit that I just didn't have much fate in Ms. Grace pulling this love story off, especially because of the previous intimate relationship that Lady Amelia shared with Lord Andrew in the debut of the series. Well, she has done the impossible, in my estimation, and made both stories acceptable and believable.

But the best part of this book was the secondary character of Bibi, another widow and the best friend of our heroine. Have you ever encountered the secondary character that just shined and literally taken over the story? Well, that was Bibi. She was witty and charming; strong and vulnerable. The love story between her and the man that no one would give the time of day was brilliant and I was so sorry it wasn't done all on its own. When it came for me to award this story my quills, this tipped the scale to a five for sure.

Melanie (review done for Romantic Crush Junkies eZine website)

[Kimm · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Story: Jake and Amelia have loved one another always, but Jake’s best friend, Lord Audley, weaseled his way betwixt the two and stole Amelia by way of deception. That nasty man! Of course, we don’t get to really meet Audley – because he’s dead. Hence, Lady Amelia is now a widow….hence, Jake and Amelia have a second shot at love, if only they can get over all those niggling little doubts that forever plague their minds. You know, the ridiculous thoughts that creep in your head… “Oh no, he could never love me….Oh no, she could never love me.” You catch my drift?

The Heroine: Lady Amelia is pleasant female lead. She didn’t bowl me over, but I liked her alright enough. She is strong and sensible (for the most part) and loyal to a fault, particularly with her BFF. Most of her appeal, for me, has to with her backstory and how she survived her relationship and subsequent loss of Lord Audley – a very damaging journey. Unfortunately, I’m not doing her description much justice, but just know that I think she will appeal to most readers.

The Hero: Jake, I wanted to scream at a couple of times. The man can be dense and moronic at moments! But, ultimately he is endearing and I did fall in love with him. He really gives good dialogue! I think it’s a point in Ms. Grace’s favor that she makes her characters both laughable and lovable, so you cannot help but smile at them. Despite the occasional throttling that he had coming, Jake really does shine through.

My Thoughts: Oh, Ms. Samantha Grace, how I do enjoy your books! First, you delight us with Miss Hillary Schools a Scoundrel and now you follow it up with Lady Amelia and Jake’s story. Of course, we should have seen it coming, since there was some foreshadowing of their relationship in Miss Hillary.

The book is light, but not too frivolous. It is easy to recognize the amount of thought and detail poured into it. The story makes sense, comes across as buyable/believable and leaves you with a smile at the ending. Although I’ve chosen not to include any details on the supporting characters, rest assured that they contribute successfully to the overall mood of the book. (I do enjoy seeing more than one HEA in a story).

As a fairly new author, I see Samantha Grace gathering a lot of momentum with her writing. She is getting stronger more polished as she goes along. Something I liked about the story in particular was the bit in the plot (no spoiler) at the end that I thought was clever (let’s say they take a trip) – kudos on that piece! It added another layered twist to an already interesting journey for Amelia and Jake.

I am really looking forward Grace’s third installment of the Beau Monde series, Miss Lavigne’s Little White Lie. What do you think we can expect? Daniel’s story, of course. He makes an exceptional appearance in Lady Amelia’s Mess and a Half – definitely not a man that can be overlooked!!

[Deborah Vespo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just discovered Samantha Grace... very good storyteller. A lot of background stories going on. Fun characters. Will be looking for more books with Samantha's name on it.

***Read again, two years later... still found it to be an enjoyable read. Have not found the first book or any books that may have followed.

Jake has fallen hard and fast for Lady Amelia. One night they share a kiss and Jake is determined to court her from that point on, however the next morning he had to leave London with his very sick mother. He leaves a note for Amelia so she would know happened. Knowing their feelings for one another, Jake's best friend interferes in their budding relationship by hiding his note and lies to her by telling her that Jake is courting another woman. On top of that he tells her that he is in love with her. Reeling over the loss of Jake, she decides to marry his best friend and move on with her life. Unfortunately for Amelia, she learns fast that her husband never loved her at all when he abandons her only a few months into their marriage. Not long afterward he dies in a fire, leaving Amelia brokenhearted over her failed marriage and alone.

Fortunately for Amelia she has the support and friendship of her best friend, Bibi. Bibi is very down on the whole of marriage after suffering a bad marriage herself. She doesn't believe in the idea of love and is not very supportive when Jake enters back into the picture. But a man with a very big heart may put a stop to all that when he falls for Bibi.

Jake is still in love with Amelia and is very determined to make her his, only now he has to deal with the interference of his rogue brother, Bibi and her warped ideas of marriage, the ladies of the ton who want to put a wrench in her friendship with Bibi by putting a halt to improvements to an orphanage in London, and worst of all Amelia's past.

[Lover of Romance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lady Amelia's Mess And A Half is the second installment, and my first book to read from this author. In the last few months I have seen this author popping up more and more, so when I was at my local library, I decided to try this one out. The first one wasn't available, so I decided why not read this serious out of order, and hope I can read it as a stand alone, which you definitely can. Although now I do want to read the first one, since we see the couple from the first book involved a bit in this story. Lady Amelia's Mess and a Half is a story set in regency England, and is about second chances. Jake and Amelia once cared about each other, but certain circumstances made it so they couldn't be together. Now Amelia is a widow and available. Jake has a guarded heart, not knowing if he can trust it to Amelia again. I found this story to be a likable romance, however I had a very difficult time getting fully into the story. Even though I was able to read it quickly, I just wasn't able to fully entrench myself into it. I am not sure if it was just me or if its the style of the authors writing, but I did have it as a rating of 3.5 Blossoms, for a reason. Even though there was quite a few things I enjoyed about this story, it didn't sing to me in any spectacular way. Its a romance you can relax into, and enjoy on a quiet afternoon, but not something that will make it memorable necessarily. I do recommend this if you are looking for a simple and easy read. I did feel like everything in this story just fell into place, not much conflict really. I do plan on reading more of the series, just so I can see more of the family here. They definitely caught my attention. I am hoping that this might just be a fluke, and the other I will enjoy quite a bit more. Overall a fun and clever romance.

[My Book Addiction and More MBA · Rating 4 out of 5]

LADY AMELIA’S MESS AND A HALF by Samantha Grace is an exciting Regency historical romance. It is book #2 in “Beau Monde Bachelor” Series,but can be read as a stand alone. See,”Miss Hillary Schools a Scoundrel”. Follow Jake and Amelia from the ballrooms of England across the ocean to New Orleans in America. As they search for the truth,is Amelia’s husband really dead or faking his death and gone to New Orleans. With witty banter,lust,passion,desire,and love they finally find true happiness after years of unhappiness for Amelia with another,Jake’s best friend. A tale of lost love,betrayal by a best friend,a secret or two,the rekindling of love and a love that can last forever. Ms.Grace has written a story with an interesting plot and characters who are not only engaging but who will capture your heart and hold it. A fast paced story with twists and turns. The blooming love between two of the secondary characters is a wonderful side line. A wonderful,delectable historical full of promises of love,the magic of finding said love and passion. A must read! Another hit for Ms. Grace. I can hardly wait for what comes next in these engaging characters. Received for an honest review from the publisher and Net Galley. Details can be found at the author’s website,Sourcebooks Casablanca, and My Book Addiction and More.

RATING: 4.5

HEAT RATING: MILD

REVIEWED BY: AprilR, My Book Addiction and More