Promise Me Heaven

Royal Agents #1

by Connie Brockway

Lady Catherine “Cat” Sinclair will do whatever necessary to save her family from financial ruin—including marrying the ton’s most eligible bachelor for money. Lacking the skills to seduce the rich lord, Cat seeks out a legendary rake to school her in the art of desire. But when she finally tracks down Thomas Montrose—now retired—she dismisses him as “over the hill.”

Once a rake of mythic notoriety, Thomas is happy to forget his dissolute past and tend his country estate, until, that is, his peace is disrupted by a charming and infuriatingly dismissive miss. While he may no longer seduce women, he has certainly not forgotten how to make them surrender to his charms…and he’s only too happy to prove Cat wrong. So the master seducer promises to teach her his scandalous secrets

But Thomas never dreams his beautiful student could send him to the edge of temptation…or that witnessing her dazzle every lord who crosses her path would make him insanely jealous. Now he must act quickly—and overcome the secrets of his past—before he loses forever the woman to whom he’s already lost his heart.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Regency, Fiction, Espionage

384 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1994

About the author

New York Times and USAToday best selling author Connie Brockway has twice won the Romance Writers of America's Rita award for best historical romance as well as being an eight time finalist. After receiving a double major in art history and English from Macalester College, Connie entered grad school with an eye to acquiring her MFA in creative writing. Soon enough she jettisoned the idea of writing serious literature for what she considered (and still considers) the best gig in the world, writing romance.

Connie has received numerous starred reviews for her romances in Publisher's Weekly and Library Journal. Library Journal also named her Her 2004 romance, My Seduction, one of the year's top ten romances.

In November of 2011, THE OTHER GUY'S BRIDE (a sequel to the perennially popular AS YOU DESIRE) was Amazon's Montlake Publishing's launch title. Here next book, NO PLACE FOR A DAME will be published September, 2013. A regency set romance, it is also the sequel to ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT.Today Connie lives in Minnesota with her husband David, a family physician, and two spoiled mutts.

Reviews

[Jacob Proffitt]

At 25% in, I love Kat and Thomas won my heart and they're perfect for each other and I now have everything I want out of the book because each has admitted (internally) that they love the other. Which means I have an entire 75% of the book before they get to be together! And I just can't. Worse, I can see what it is that's going to get in the way and it all makes perfect sense because the author set up the conflict very well. So kudos.

I'm ending this "without prejudice" (rating) because I'm completely smitten by the main couple and the story to this point is a solid four, verging on five, stars. But I have no idea how the rest of the plot would work out and know I'd be frustrated by each new obstacle in their way. So it's a big fat "I don't know"...

[HR-ML · Rating 4 out of 5]

Regency England & France.

Thomas served as a former spy and soldier. He used any
means to obtain info from a female informant, including
seduction. He tired of this life and his rep, and retired to
the country. Lady Catherine's mother went on her 5th
honeymoon & "Cat" had responsibility for her 5 younger
sibs (family short on funds). Cat decided to pursue Giles,
a marquess. Cat sought known rake Thomas' expertise to
learn how to entice Giles. Unknown to Cat, Thomas and
Giles were friends and former army buddies.

She met a man in Devon with swarthy complexion & too
long hair, wrangling a ewe. With rough clothing & a too
small abode. Surely this uncouth, pockets-to-let (?) man
couldn't be Thomas? Soon after, Cat's great-aunt, former
flirtatious lady, now religious zealot, joined them. Cat
treated the hero (12 yrs her senior) as nearly aged and
doubted his amorous skills.

Thus began their adventure in Devon, Brighton, Paris, etc.
Cat felt trapped alone in Paris after Napoleon fled Elba for
Paris. Blockades went up. What to do?

The hero found himself in love w/ Cat, but felt he couldn't
compete w/ Giles, couldn't express his true feelings. The
H declined to hover over the h (hero's words not mine). He
didn't want to influence her decision. The hero felt yummy.
His "a convenient marriage" proposal (not a MOC) sounded
awkward yet endearing. The H + h were a lively couple with
nary a dull moment.

Revised.

[Atunah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first in a connected trilogy with "All through the night" next and the last is the latest "No place for a dame".

I had a bit an issue getting into this one. Especially the heroine and especially in the first 3rd or more of the book. Can't really explain why. Just one of those things. I think part of it was the stupidity of both not telling each other they love one another until almost the last page. It got old.
Retired rogue and rake and former spy with gray streaks, so old in his 30's. :)
Heroine hires him basically to teach her to be irresistible so she can get the a gent she picked to offer for her. He seems to be a bit stuffy and proper. She is being practical and tries to help her family this way.
So he is suppose to teach her how to allure her chosen one and of course he falls for her and she falls for him and neither of them can tell the other. Things heated up when they had to flee Paris when Napoleon broke out from Elba.

Overall though a bit meh for me.

As I own the other two in the trilogy, I will continue with the series. I have pretty much loved every other Brockway I read so I am looking forward to those stories.

[Cecilia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too much going on in this book - a contrived plot about getting a rake to teach a young woman to be seductive, misunderstandings, an Other Woman, spies, overcoming self-loathing, money problems, modern agricultural methods. Actually, I probably would have been find with all of the above tropes, if only the spy plot wasn't part of it. Spy plots make everything ridiculous.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, I liked the book. It got off to a good start and I instantly liked the hero, Thomas (heroine was a bit tetchy though.) He has an ignominious past as something akin to being the king of rakes in his "youth", (he's now a doddering old man in his 30's with graying hair.) Our heroine has the crazy notion to go to him for lessons on how to be seductive so she can catch a rich husband to bolster up her impoverished family. Of course she's beautiful and feisty and he falls for her immediately, but there's just all this other stuff going on all over the place and I found it exasperating at times for the hero and heroine were so dense about just saying what they really thought. Instead they were always playing games with each other. Then there is the inevitable "big misunderstanding" and then time goes by and we have an escape from Paris upon Napoleon's return from Elba! At times I thought this book had everything in it but the kitchen sink! Some loose ends and dangling characters as well, which I suspect we see more of in subsequent books. Still, parts were funny and entertaining, but needed a strong hand in concentrating more on the couple and less on the surrounding events around them.

3.5/5

[Dina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars (rounded down to 3 stars, because two Big Misunderstandings in a book are too much for me - no matter how much I really liked the overall story and the cast of characters)

[Sheila Majczan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book began (for me) as "My Fair Lady" but then progressed into a sort of "Beauty and the Beast". Lady Catherine (Cat) Sinclair is very thorough in her research for a husband to save her family from financial ruin but how to corner him? It seems her mother has run off with her fifth husband, who has money, but DID NOT leave any for the family to live on while they gallivant on an extended honeymoon. Cat has become the manager for the family property plus that which her young brother has inherited. But in trying to entice a proposal from her choice for a rich husband, she can't seem to get his attention.

So she does more research and comes up with the name of a past notorious rake, who now just happens to be related through marriage, and decides that he can teach her what will get the attention of "her man", Lord Strand. So she runs him down with her "aunt" in tow (This aunt has a notoriety of her own.) and pleas for advice.

Thomas Montrose is a hulk, dressed in out-dated shabby clothes and now very alluring looks, when Cat stumbles upon him in a field trying to untangle one of his sheep from a hedge. He agrees to take on the mission but informs her that she needs more than learning how to blink her eyes at any beau: she needs a complete makeover, to include a new wardrobe, which he will pay for. Some of what he says is tongue-in-cheek. She has insulted him, stated that he is ancient, and she doesn't find him at all attractive despite the long list of women he supposedly seduced.

Montrose is jaded. Having used his reputation as a roué to seduce secrets needed during the war with Napoleon from various women and, in one case, witnessing the death of an innocent child, while in the process of seducing the mother, has withdrawn from society and refused to continue in his spy role.

What these two have in common is their research into the modern ways (in their own time) of maintaining a successful estate, from the breeding of sheep to the use of manure, etc. in this. They find each other to be intelligent and good company. They begin to form a friendship, which, of course, grows. But each does not recognize signs in the other of more than friendship. Plus Montrose refuses to allow himself this attachment due to his history and how he believes the revelation of such would cause any woman to run the other way in horror.

This story goes from his small estate to Brighton, (where his past catches up to him in the form of a former lover and with disastrous results in his relationship with Cat), to Paris where they run into each other unexpectedly just as Napoleon escapes Elba and the British masses are fleeing his return with the army he is gathering. When Thomas is forced to propose we read a proposal which reflects the one Darcy made to Elizabeth in Hunsford. Does she throw that proposal in his face like our dear Lizzy did to Darcy?

This was the second story by this author that I have read. And the first one I read happens to be the third in this series so I was obligated to go back and read what preceded this one.

[Mary - Buried Under Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded to a four

Mini review: Considering that it's Connie Brockway's debut novel, this is an impressive effort. However, as I have adored most of her later works (some are now on my prized re-read shelf), I did not enjoy this story as much as I wanted to.

The Big Misunderstanding trope here did not frustrate as much as in most books, likely due to the emotional attachment of the characters, though it dragged on till nearly the end...within the last 10 pages on the ebook version. The last minute love declaration! Our characters have been in love with each other for over half of the book.

The bigger problem is this jarring use of punctuation, especially interrobangs and exclamation marks, which often disrupted the mood and flow of the story.

"Give it to me! To me!" he growled, stroking his tongue flat against her and upward.

"What?!" she cried again, nearly frantic.

"Your body's first pleasuring! Your want!” (90%)

Overall, this is definitely not a bad job as a debut, and I am extremely pleased that these major failings are absent from her later novels.

PostScript: My favorite book by her remains The Bridal Season, which won a RITA in 1999 (?). :)

[Dianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lady Cat Sinclair wants to catch a husband. She’s made a list, chosen her top candidate and formulated a plan of attack, but she needs help. She wants to learn how to be fascinating, so she has arrived on Thomas Montrose’s doorstep, to request lessons in seduction. He isn’t at all what she expected. Thomas is a big muscular man in his early thirties and going grey. In the paranormal vernacular, Cat conceptualises a rake as more vampire than werewolf, and Thomas is a scruffy dresser and kind of old, so she’s not sure she’s come to the right place. Thomas is intrigued by smarts and her hotness and her dismissive attitude, so he agrees to give her some pointers so she can get her man.

Cat’s connection to Thomas Montrose is tenuous. Her mother is married to his elder half-brother, so Thomas is her step half uncle, but there is no way that is a thing. However the connection is sufficient enough that when Thomas initially assumes that Cat has come to him for money, he’s willing to do the honourable family thing and, after an initial show of reluctance, give her some. In a nod to the conventions of staying in the house of a single man who is not a relative, Cat has an elderly titled aunt in tow. It is implied that Hecuba was wild in her youth, but she now pretends to religiousness.

It is to Hecuba, who has decided that the flesh is a sinful thing and abstinence is preferable, that Cat explains her reasons for needing a husband. She’s already dismissed Thomas’ rather feeble ‘what about love?’ question as irrelevant. Cat’s mother has run off to the continent with her new husband, leaving her children by various earlier marriages without funds. There’s an estate but it’s going to ruin, boys who should be attending educational institutions but have been sent home as fees have not been paid, and girls who should be socialising with single, wealthy young men to attract husbands of their own. Cat doesn’t need to justify herself to me: I don’t consider poorly paid employment caring for children, or devotion to a rich elderly relative to be any more noble a choice than trading on your rank and position to secure a wealthy husband with a job that it won’t bore you to support. It’s not sensible to assume every young woman will somehow transcend her time and get any other kind of job, or that she ought to spend most of a romance novel with some interesting aspiration that lovely love will eventually transcend.

This is what Cat has to say on the subject of love:
”Love? A most modern notion, Aunt Hecuba. One which, in my opinion, is overrated. I have never been infatuated for longer than a dance or the dessert course at dinner. I would not like to base my future on something so labile.”

This is Cat being witty, because this is one of those books where the characters will say witty things and I get a little impatient. Cat can hold intelligent conversations about the Corn Laws, and she’s got an analytical mind, but her conversation occasionally plays some sort of synonym game. Labile? Really? Sure, we get the meaning from the context, but this word is out of its context and wrong. This is the sort of thing that annoys me in books, although Cat does make up for it later by telling urchins stories about rats and the cats that kill them. Not because she finds urchins adorable and wants to teach them better manners – she wants to rescue the cat they’ve been tormenting.

Cat’s goal of marrying Lord Strand the handsome wealthy proto-rake with political connections that could be nurtured into something interesting will not be fulfilled. Because this is a romance, and she’s going to end up with Thomas, because she saw him first and he’s a sultry man-slut.

Thomas and Cat do sparky flirty things at each other, and then head down to Brighton to do some shopping. Cat needs a seduction wardrobe. They take Aunt Hecuba and a girl servant who has been promoted to dress Cat’s seduction hair. I refuse to acknowledge that this servant has a name. Thomas has servants with personality, but this is exactly like kitchen appliances and vacuum cleaners having personality: pointless. The servants have personality to show what nice, funny people Thomas and Cat are, because in the 19th century, nice, funny people made their servants feel ‘part of the family’ and talked to them and respected their opinions. The only reason I can see for a 19th century person to be charming and respectful to their servants is if they are not planning to pay them. Maybe you could be nice to a couple of the servants that raised you because your parents weren’t around because they were drinking and gambling your inheritance away with the fleshpots of Europe, but even that’s not very realistic. Servants are busy being kitchen and cleaning appliances and don’t really have a great deal of time to take you fishing, or to watch the miracle of horse birth (for example).

In Brighton, Thomas and Cat share the one hot scene that makes the book. If they had closed the deal right then, and spent the rest of the novel alternately kidnapped by pirates and cowboys with equally hot scenes in their between-kidnapping sandwich time, I’d have been in heaven. Instead, Cat catches Thomas making a feeble attempt not to be a sultry man-slut, gets the wrong idea, and heads off to Paris. Suddenly, for no good reason, she can afford to do so, and get another new wardrobe to replace the one she left behind because she wasn’t taking clothes the clothes he bought her, for some reason. See - this is what I don't understand. The guy buys you clothes, and you're planning to pay him back for them, since it's all part of the how-to on seduction, and not at all strange. Then, you develop some feelings for him, of the 'almost got it on, but not yet articulating that maybe I'll give up marriage plan A' variety. Then you witness something that indicates he wasn't on the almost feelings page, so you get embarrassed and run away. But be practical: you need those clothes. Seriously, those things don't grow on trees.

Then we get this whole ‘months’ later bit, and Cat is fascinating Lord Strand who is now deciding that he will marry her, actually. He always meant to eventually, but she’s come over all irresistible, and even though Thomas, who has known Strand all along, has told him to keep an eye on her, he’s now planning to keep an eye on her In Bed. Although naturally, not until after the proper marriage thing. Then Thomas turns up, and then Napoleon marches on Paris and Cat has to flee in a cart. There's a great deal more running around for no particular reason, and even after Thomas marries her and for some reason the book is still not done.

Thomas's back story on how he became a reformed sultry man-slut is revealed. It's presented as one of those things where the hero blames himself and the heroine gets to tell him that it wasn't his fault, or that he needs to grieve and let go because it's getting in the way. As a tragic past, it would have resonated more if it had come out earlier, and Cat hadn't been able to accept it and move on. It would have resonated if it had in any way contributed to the conflict in their relationship, rather than been one of Thomas' motivations for keeping Cat at a distance.

It's a nice book, but it falls over after Cat's first flight. There seemed to be great stretches of padding for no really good reason – I often found myself wanting the story to just get them together, get them into bed, and then write ‘the end.'

[Cecily · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ohmigoodness, I see what some of the other reviewers mean now by Cat and Thomas' mutual inability to just be sensible, say what they mean and then get over it. And the age thing is just plain silly. He's 32 for heaven's sake!!! Cat's propensity to flounce off (to another country or county) on the evidence of a moment's misconstrued peek through a doorway or an overheard comment stretched my credulity and patience with the characters and plot. Actually, Cat's behaviour was less 'cat-like' than 'cocker spaniel-like'. My dog has a similar tendency to spot an open door and feel the need for a precipitate escape bid for no good reason - sometimes making it several blocks before realising that perhaps it wasn't such a good idea and that living on the streets isn't exactly the life he wants. And that he might just miss the sofa and the deal with the food being delivered twice a day etc ... He then has to be found and rescued. Until the next time he does it. And it is generally Not A Good Thing in a romance novel for the heroine to bring to mind your rather clueless spaniel.

And OF COURSE a woman who was painfully up to date with the latest political debates, policy gossip and agricultural reform measures would just not notice Napoleon sneaking up on Paris. Or the political ferment going on in the hotel reception whilst she thought about breakfast. (Actually, on reflection, I sometimes feel hungry enough that it would be theoretically possible for me to ignore regime change in the hallway of my house. But I feel that still might only be a theoretical possibility).

The worse crime of the book is that most evenings I got into bed and thought 'shall I read for half an hour or shall I just turn out the light?' And then invariably turned out the light as the better of the two options.

I bought the other books in the series as part of the Kindle deal of the day. I do hope Strand/Stamp/Stad's tale is an improvement :-)

[Laura J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

a keeper

Humor, depth, teasing, sensual. The hero has a past he is ashamed of (he acknowledges his luck in avoiding catching any STD's which is refreshing in a historical romance). The heroine wants to use his past to learn how to catch a husband. Both characters were well written, the plot moved smoothly, the dialogue excellent.

[Nicole Pelcher · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really loved the idea of this book and it had lots of great moments of witty banter but unfortunately it got bogged down by WAY too much miscommunication. I swear it was miscommunication central. Neither character learned anything from previous mistakes and kept making them. It also could have been way shorter. I felt like I started skimming at parts cause it became so much repetition.

The dialogue is actually quite witty and there were parts that made me wish the author concentrated more on that.

2.5/5 stars... it may be closer to a true 2 but I decided to round up.

[Haruhi · Rating 2 out of 5]

WHY, at NINETY-TWO PERCENT IN, is there *STILL* DRAMA?? Uuugggh omg. I'm srsly gonna have to finish the rest later because I can't atm, I really can't.

Finished: I loved the first 25% or so before things unravelled. Bleh ending. Four stars plus for the beginning, two for the last 40%.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh this hit loads of my favourite historical tropes. Young girl, practically raising her siblings single-handedly goes to a notorious rake for his assistance in attracting the notice of a wealthy man.

Lady Catherine 'Cat' Sinclair is horrified that the man mountain she finds lugging sheep around on the farm is the fabled Thomas Montrose, surely a fabled libertine would be slender, dressed in fine lace and silk, not some bucolic farmer with long hair liberally streaked with grey? Suddenly her idea seems ludicrous.

Thomas has seen and done much in the service of King and country, most of which he wishes to forget. Retiring to his small country estate and becoming a farmer was an antidote to the horrors of being a spy and fighting in the Napoleonic Wars. Then a young chit comes to his home uninvited and instead of throwing herself at him and trying to seduce him she casts aspersions on his prowess as a seducer - Game On!

As Thomas teaches Cat how to flirt and act like a seductress the two of them fall in love, although neither of them is brave enough to say it out loud. Then Thomas' past rears its head as Prinny asks him to obtain some vital information about Napoleon from a vivacious French spy.

Of course there are misunderstandings and miscommunications, there's a flight from Paris, trips to Brighton and an Aunt who may, or may not, have discovered God after a life of debauchery.

Loved it.

[Thenia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid, satisfying romance.

Although I'm not a fan of historical romances with spy heroes, that element was light enough to not affect negatively my enjoyment of the story. The main couple are both interesting characters who held their cards too close to their chests for their own good and as a result end up torturing themselves quite a bit.

Thomas is a smart man, accepting his feelings early on, but for his own reasons, some understandable, others leftover trauma from his past, doesn't act upon them.

Cat is holding her own until her pride and subsequent assumptions and actions give her negative points enough to make her slightly annoying. I am not very patient with people who act upon unconfirmed conclusions based on assumptions that they take as facts and the stupid actions that usually follow.

The gradual build up of the couple's feelings is very well written and there's enough tension and heat between them to make their interactions pretty intense.

I would have preferred the last couple of chapters be written differently, since that's where most of my negative observations popped up, but despite them I really enjoyed reading Thomas and Cat's story.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this series!

I read this book because it was a prequel novel to a November 2013 Kindle First book. I actually read the series in the opposite order...Book 3, Bk 2, Bk 1. I loved them all, and I normally don't choose historical romances. I found the main characters to be interesting and the heroines were strong women with engaging personalities.

I enjoyed the give-and-take dialogue between Cat and Thomas. It is probably best to read the series in the correct order, as the minor characters in preceding books become the lead characters in subsequent books.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and was surprised at some of the low reviews. It was written in 1994 and perhaps expectations in this genre have changed. I thought Thomas Montrose, a reformed rake and former spy, was a compelling character as was Lady Catherine. The plot, as others have mentioned, was definitely stronger in the first half of the book than the second. For me it was an enjoyable read in spite of these things.

[Nanette · Rating 1 out of 5]

PB. obviously one of her earlier works, before she discovered her voice. very traditional romance. not very good. she does introduce giles, who is clearly meant for his own book someday.

[Lara May · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay not great but acceptable historical romance... Not a Quinn or Balogh by any means

[Christi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ridiculously boring and a waste of time. There was real potential here, but the story veered in a lame and frustrating direction. The only reason I finished the book was due to my completion anxiety.

[Celine · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 1/2 stars

This book had some snappy dialogue and funny parts but overall it was just full of stupid misunderstandings instead of real conflict and an actual plot.

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a gem

Well written with character development and real chemistry between the characters. Riveting love story that was genuinely believable and hard to put down.

[Vilesena · Rating 3 out of 5]

+ The first half of the book was interesting, albeit rather silly (a retired rake teaching his step niece the art of seduction while developing real feelings for her). There is a grumpy secondary character for a comic relief. I'm rounding up my rating to 3 stars because I do enjoy Connie Brockway's writing style.

- Once the action moved to Paris, the whole plot went haywire. Suddenly, the heroine was a superwoman dodging bandits left and right. Characters and suplots were introduced, only to be quickly disregarded. The romance between the characters became increasingly frustrating because of the endless misunderstandings between them.

Writing style: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Plot/storyline: 🌟
Characters: 🌟🌟🌟
Romance: 🌟🌟

"Having risen with God's own creatures, I partook of a crust of bread and then, of course, spent the remainder of the morning on my knees, praying for the heathens of the world. And for you."

"Now, desist with the mindless chatter... I'm sure it's all very charming to the local swains, but I have grown to know you better and am accustomed to your conversation having a bit of pepper in the broth."

"Whatever lessons you wish to bestow, I am all aquiver to receive."

"I am well on my way to becoming in fact the fiction we authored. But silly me, here I was studying for advanced degrees when I had not even mastered the rudiments."

[Sora · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book and I loved it. I've added it to the list of one of my favorites. Thomas is a retired spy who used his prowess to obtain valuable information from the French. When it resulted in the tragic death of a young boy, he retires and hides in his country estate. But, he leaves behind an infamous reputation.

Cat and her family are in financial ruin because of her neglectful mother. Cat takes on the role of caring for her family and decides that marrying rich will solve a lot of her and her family's financial problems. After much research, she files the perfect candidate - Strand. But, she lacks seduction capabilities.

She approaches Thomas, who is a family friend of her mother's latest husband, because he has an infamous reputation, to teach her the ways of seduction for marriage. He teaches her, but falls in love with her. But, he is a noble person and helps her achieve her plan.

There is another woman, an escape from France, a scandal, two proposals, a marriage, Waterloo, and much more. Cat unintentionally seduces the wrong man. But, they both end up happily ever after like another wonderful romance novel. I really enjoyed how Cat was portrayed. Competent, capable, and smart. She makes a strong female lead.

[catechism · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, let's be clear: this is not good. It took a while for me to learn why it was even on my reader, given that it is very 90s, and that was not a good decade for romance. Then there were the seduction lessions, which are not my favorite, but are often good for a laugh... and then I realized the dude is a spy!! Mystery solved, I love this book!!! Except that there wasn't a real spy plot, the tone and pace was incredibly uneven, and the couple was in love and knew it by page 75 and then spent a full 200 pages being stupid, which is like my least favorite thing. The sex scene used the phrase "nether lips."

Three stars, gonna read the next one in this series, don't @ me.

[bunny · Rating 5 out of 5]

quite possibly the best romance i have ever read to date. 1994 connie brockway’s first book

cat (lady cat/catherine) and thomas montrose

a rake, a spy, an officer, a landowner.
and she a young, smart, pragmatic, brave little toaster.

historical depth i can put only on the same level as her later books, and incomparable to all others. so much space, so much to see and hear and smell and touch and be part of. psychological complexity and the perfect blend of awkward first interactions— when the battle between friends and sexual tension is high and distracting and easy all at the same time.

yes yes yes
scared my husband half to death exclaiming with joy at the end.
yes.

[Lidia Cantrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first book by this author. Well written, engaging and a great love story. Thomas is among my favorite Heroes. Love him, love the way he thinks about Cat, the way he longs for her and yet puts aside his own feelings to do what he feels is best for her given the age difference and his past experiences. He is a noble hero. Love Cat too, practical but warm and sweet. She is smart and also self sacrificing. I liked that she was not one of those I am women who thought they were smarter than any man in their life. Just good commen sense and loving person. I loved the book and looking forward to the next one

[Joycee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh, my. All the misunderstandings, all the ups and down, their tender first time together (on their wedding night, no less - how refreshing!) ... quite the roller coaster of a story. Will they remain apart? Will they stay together?

And did they ever confirm that Aunt Hecuba’s man is truly the Marquis of Grenville? I thought Thomas mentioned that he’d died years back. Is the fellow eloped an impostor?!

[N.W. Moors · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lady Cat Sinclair comes to famous reformed rake Thomas Montrose for lessons on how to seduce the man she wants to marry her. Her family needs her to make a wealthy marriage, and she thinks Thomas can make the difference. You can see where this is going, right?
I'm somewhat hit or miss with Ms. Brockway's books, and this one was a miss for me. The setup was too unrealistic - actually, the whole plot was kind of silly. I'm sure others will enjoy it, just not for me.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This started out as a great read! I was loving it. For me the heroine was too back and forth. About 1/2 way through the the story began to slow. But...I have read other novels by this author and through 5 stars at them be cause they were so amazing! It may be this was just a timing read for me...idk. I will continue to pick up Connie Brockway's stories!!!