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Regency Trilogy #3
Merely A Mister
When illness curtails his Continental tour, Myles, Lord Hayden retreats to England's bucolic lake country. He finds refuge in the home of Everett Whyte and his charming daughter, Anne. A herbalist and healer, Anne thinks of Myles is simply another patient-- or so she tells herself. When her father's trips into the countryside assume a mysteriously troubling aspect, can she trust Myles to help resolve her difficulties... or does he present one of his own?
186 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2012
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283 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
February 9, 2016
"I think you must be an angel."
"You suggested that earlier today. You have had a fever."
He laughed weakly.
"You will not permit me to compliment you, Miss Whyte."
"Oh, but I will. Once I know you to be restored to good sense."
"Perhaps there is little of that for restoration."
"Then I fear you need stronger medicine than I might supply."
This is just one example of the sparkling back and forth in this heartwarming traditional regency story. I only realized that the book was the third in the series after I finished it and read some of the posted reviews. The author writing is superb making the whole range of topics from herbs and healing to bare-knuckled fighting rules sounds fascinating. And oh, the characters! I felt in love with them! They make the story so compelling and swoon-worthy.
January 7, 2016
Fun, quirky and very entertaining. The banter between H/h was delightful.
I've just downloaded the rest of the series.
I've just downloaded the rest of the series.
December 19, 2012
Loved it! I have loved every single one of her books and this was no exception. This is probably one of my top three favorites of hers. Fabulous story, romantic, great characters, and clean. Just what I like to read. :)
October 14, 2014
I've devoured this whole series even though I read it out of order. This one is probably my favorite, because Hayden and heroine seem most real to me. LOVED the hint of period politics.
February 8, 2014
I loved this as much as the first book of hers I read, and will read as much of this author as I can! Sweet romance that gradually unfolds. A misunderstanding of necessity on the part of Myles that creates a small rift for the characters. A very tender subtle unfolding of the feelings of both characters. Love that it portrays honor and integrity.
September 16, 2015
I liked this bc of the setting, the hero, the heroine, the fathers, the grandmother, the circumstances, the language,the pub scene, and the ending. In short, five stars.
January 1, 2016
Satisfying and romantic wrap-up. This was probably my favorite of the three regencies.
November 13, 2016
You can find this review in English below.
Encantadora.
Ha sido una historia preciosa. No pensé que me iba a gustar tanto pero así ha sido. Creo que es de las pocas historias en las que los malentendidos son razonables y creíbles, así como los motivos para mantenerlos.
El romance es precioso, lento y realmente apropiado. Los personajes tienen fondo y están trabajados y los secundarios enriquecen la historia pero no la dominan. Casi perfecto.
Si te gustan los romances históricos tradicionales esta historia es para ti. A mí me ha encantado.
***
Lovely.
It has been a beautiful story. I did not think I would like it so much, but I did. I think it's one of the few stories which I have read where misunderstandings are reasonable and credible, as well as the reasons for them being prolonged throughout it.
The romance is beautiful, slow and really appropriate. The characters have deep and background and the secondary ones enrich the story without overwhelming it. It has been almost perfect.
If you like regency historical romances this story is for you. I loved it.
Encantadora.
Ha sido una historia preciosa. No pensé que me iba a gustar tanto pero así ha sido. Creo que es de las pocas historias en las que los malentendidos son razonables y creíbles, así como los motivos para mantenerlos.
El romance es precioso, lento y realmente apropiado. Los personajes tienen fondo y están trabajados y los secundarios enriquecen la historia pero no la dominan. Casi perfecto.
Si te gustan los romances históricos tradicionales esta historia es para ti. A mí me ha encantado.
***
Lovely.
It has been a beautiful story. I did not think I would like it so much, but I did. I think it's one of the few stories which I have read where misunderstandings are reasonable and credible, as well as the reasons for them being prolonged throughout it.
The romance is beautiful, slow and really appropriate. The characters have deep and background and the secondary ones enrich the story without overwhelming it. It has been almost perfect.
If you like regency historical romances this story is for you. I loved it.
August 1, 2014
My favorite of three in this series (Quiet Meg, Major lOrd David, Merely a Mister) Set in the lake district. I thought hero Hayden was wonderful throughout and he deserved the most appealing heroine. I wish there was more.
February 5, 2019
Lovely story!
Miles, Marquis of Hayden is sick and ends up being tended by a young gentlewoman with a great deal of knowledge in herbs, a sweet voice that he believes (in his fever hallucinations) to be an Angel.
During his fever Ms. Whyte learns that the gentleman is Mr. Myles and when Myles is about to correct her something happens that leads him to pretend he is merely a mister and not the heir to the Duke of Braxton.
Sweet romance! Lovely characters! Best book of the series.
Miles, Marquis of Hayden is sick and ends up being tended by a young gentlewoman with a great deal of knowledge in herbs, a sweet voice that he believes (in his fever hallucinations) to be an Angel.
During his fever Ms. Whyte learns that the gentleman is Mr. Myles and when Myles is about to correct her something happens that leads him to pretend he is merely a mister and not the heir to the Duke of Braxton.
Sweet romance! Lovely characters! Best book of the series.
June 19, 2014
Myles Trent, Lord Hayden, eldest son of the Duke of Braughton is traveling in Italy when he feels an old lung malady coming on. Rather than be ill and at the mercy of his friends, Myles feels the overwhelming need to return home, and settle down. He knows he'll probably end up marrying someone his father picks out for him though he'd rather not marry at all. He knows his duty and it's always weighed heavily upon him. Rather than return to Braughton, he takes a detour and heads north to Cumberland where his father wanted him to check on something. What, he can't remember in his fevered state. He's taken to the home of a Mr. E. Whyte whose daughter Anne is an herbalist and healer. Anne's potions do wonders for his health and he begins to fall a bit in love with the beautiful woman, but she believes him to be "merely a mister" and is on the verge of being engaged to his father's problematic tenant. What a coil! Can Myles choose to follow his heart and please his father or will he give up his desires for duty? Anne Whyte is a local heroine: she heals the sick and once rescued a lad from being hit by a carriage. At 24 she is unwed and devoted to keeping house for her father and healing the sick. She has no thoughts of marriage despite what her most persistent suitor Perry Wenfield thinks. If she's honest with herself, she's falling in love with her patient Mr. Myles, but he's a grand London gentleman and she's merely a country girl. She must endeavor to think of Mr. Myles as merely another patient.
At last Myles meets his match! I was intrigued by the enigmatic Myles in Quiet Meg and Major Lord David and wondered about his thoughts and what makes him tick. This story doesn't quite go into a lot of depth but it was enough to get to know Myles. At heart, he's kind and generous but on the surface he appears a rake and a dandy. No one really knows the true Myles, not even his brother. He feels the burden of expectation on him and doesn't like it. He's torn between duty and desire. This endeared me to him very much. I didn't quite fall in love with him but I did like him best of all the three heroes, even better than his brother. I felt for Myles and I wanted him to be happy without compromising the family name.
Anne has the potential to be a Mary Sue character but she has a bit more personality than that. She trades witty banter with Myles and even shows fits of pique. She is a strong woman who knows her own mind and doesn't let convention sway her, yet she's also very proper and mindful of convention so she's not too modern for the period. I really liked her.
The plot moves along nicely. It gets a tiny bit bogged down 3/4 of the way through which makes the ending a bit rushed, but not too bad. I wanted a bit more in the end though. It also needed an epilogue or something. Most importantly, I learned a lot from this novel. I loved learning about the herbal remedies and how they were used. I also liked learning about the politics of the period. Most authors don't write about the political issues from the standpoint of the common folk so this was unique. I liked learning how the politics affected the farmers and how people could deal with the situation. It was a nice change to have that directly in the story rather than told in passing. The intrigue also made the story different from the usual Florence Nightingale plot. I stayed up too late reading this book because I really liked it.
At last Myles meets his match! I was intrigued by the enigmatic Myles in Quiet Meg and Major Lord David and wondered about his thoughts and what makes him tick. This story doesn't quite go into a lot of depth but it was enough to get to know Myles. At heart, he's kind and generous but on the surface he appears a rake and a dandy. No one really knows the true Myles, not even his brother. He feels the burden of expectation on him and doesn't like it. He's torn between duty and desire. This endeared me to him very much. I didn't quite fall in love with him but I did like him best of all the three heroes, even better than his brother. I felt for Myles and I wanted him to be happy without compromising the family name.
Anne has the potential to be a Mary Sue character but she has a bit more personality than that. She trades witty banter with Myles and even shows fits of pique. She is a strong woman who knows her own mind and doesn't let convention sway her, yet she's also very proper and mindful of convention so she's not too modern for the period. I really liked her.
The plot moves along nicely. It gets a tiny bit bogged down 3/4 of the way through which makes the ending a bit rushed, but not too bad. I wanted a bit more in the end though. It also needed an epilogue or something. Most importantly, I learned a lot from this novel. I loved learning about the herbal remedies and how they were used. I also liked learning about the politics of the period. Most authors don't write about the political issues from the standpoint of the common folk so this was unique. I liked learning how the politics affected the farmers and how people could deal with the situation. It was a nice change to have that directly in the story rather than told in passing. The intrigue also made the story different from the usual Florence Nightingale plot. I stayed up too late reading this book because I really liked it.
February 27, 2016
Ah, romance...
This book proofs that you don't need detailed sex scenes to feel the love. Just give me two loveable characters, witty banters and building sexual tension with believable reason they fall in love, my imagination can take care of the rest.
The story flowed nicely. My only problem was, for me, the language was too complicated. Not the author's fault, it's just English is not my first language.
But that won't stop me from enjoying those English countryside.
This book proofs that you don't need detailed sex scenes to feel the love. Just give me two loveable characters, witty banters and building sexual tension with believable reason they fall in love, my imagination can take care of the rest.
The story flowed nicely. My only problem was, for me, the language was too complicated. Not the author's fault, it's just English is not my first language.
But that won't stop me from enjoying those English countryside.
June 4, 2015
Something lovely about this setting and the heroine has to be one of my favorites.
July 15, 2012
Found this reviewed online, but had to request it through the library! Really good Regency genre story, with a believable central couple, an herbalist and an ill aristocrat. Classic and well written.
August 18, 2017
To begin, let me say that Ms Ferguson penned one of my favourite regency romances a few years ago and so bought my loyalty for all eternity. It was the charming
Lord Sidley's Last Season, which I would recommend to most regency lovers.
In three related but independent books, Ms Ferguson tells us the tales of three men, three brothers who are all descendants of dukes and all very stubbornly different from each other.
In Merely A Mister, the third and possibly final book in this series, we read about Lord Hayden, the eldest son and the heir to the Duke of Braughton.
Through
Quiet Meg (Avalon Romance) and
Major Lord David I have known the dutiful, solemn side of the Marquis. I have also seen him come to his brother's aid in a most unconventional way. It is easy to say that he puts family and honour before all personal happiness - he has sacrificed much - but he isn't a push over. He challenges his father's outdated ideas as he advices the Duke on matters of politics and admits to himself that it would take time and a lot of patience to usher in changes through his father. But as perfect a son and Marquis as Lord Hayden is, there are those in the ton who think him too serious, too much given to grim duty. And the same voices dub him 'His Resplendence' for certainly one of the duties of the heir to Braughton is to give in to the strict dictatorship of a demanding valet.
And so this elegant, sombre aristocrat is found in a villa by the Lake Camo at the beginning of our story, where he paused with a friend for a few weeks during a post-war tour of the Continent.
But Lord Hayden isn't well, he suffers, as he has since he was sixteen, from a lung infection that infrequently but for weeks renders him incapacitated. In Camo, despite the balmy weather, he can feel himself sickening again. He knows what comes next and in a bid to keep his family and friends from knowing of his illness he flies back to England and onward to some northern estates that his father had mentioned having some small trouble in some time ago.
But before he could reach the Priory where he'd sent his men and carriage to ahead of himself, he takes an ill-advised ride on an open cart with a tradesman and suffers a sudden relapse. He thought he had time before he was thus pulled under, but the journey had exhausted him and his one attempt at courting adventure landed him in an unconscious pile on the doorsteps of one Anne Whyte.
And so Hayden meets a woman whose education was far from conventional, who is determined and blunt and utterly capable. Anne Whyte eases his suffering and in a few days, Hayden finds himself improving more quickly than he had ever before. He finds himself flirting with her and then being unable to to stop himself from asking too much about her. He finds that the mere idea of another man courting her angers him and that he is extremely reluctant to correct her impression that he was a 'Mister' Myles, and not Myles Trent, the Marquis of Hayden.
But as wonderful as those idyllis days in the country were, the Marquis had heard enough as Mister Myles to understand that his father's worries hadn't been misguided. He had never before interested himself in the running of Lord Braughton's many estates, always preferring to guide his father in politics instead, but now his attention was caught. A certain Mr Wenfield, who had rented Hollen Hall from Braughton some years ago was charging its tenants too much and blaming Hayden's father for the rise in rent. Hayden knows this to be false and decides to investigate. But for that he must leave Anne Whyte and return to his previous life, that of the duty-bound Lord Hayden.
On one hand is the weight of expectations of his family and on the other his heart's desire. Hayden is fighting hard against his own happiness, but does he really have to?
I have always liked Ms Ferguson's fictional heroes. They are distinct creatures with realistic demons. In Myles', Lord Hayden's, case it was mostly his conviction that as heir he had certain burdens that he would shoulder alone, and if that meant entering a loveless marriage to the daughter of a peer, then that's what he would do.
Anne Whyte was an intelligent woman with a penchant for the medicinal arts. She is a gentleman's daughter and a lovely girl. That she was unmarried raised a lot of questions amongst their acquaintances, but if anyone was ill, it was to her they would send them. If some called her witch, she didn't mind. She laughed it off with her father, who had thoughtfully made provisions to ensure her independence after his demise. It was for him that she worried, and in that worry she turned to Hayden.
Her character was a mix of innocence and practicality. It is an underlying trait in all of Ferguson's heroines. In the story, she suffers from jealousy, insecurity and hurt, but through it all her introspection shows through. Given time to cool down, she analyses her behaviour and realizes that she never gave him a chance to explain. I think that's one of my favourite parts. The conclusion. Ferguson does Denouements very, very well. They are never carried through just on drama, but are always softly, sweetly romantic.
Even in her first historical
The Honorable Marksley, a book I never enjoyed quite as much as the others, I loved the ending. Not just the resolution, but the conversation, the setting.
It may not seem much to most readers, but for me the ending is everything - it is what leaves that final after taste in my mouth and colours by opinions when I think back on a story. The ending must be treated with respect.
The only reason I deprived this book of a single star was because in its predecessors I had judged Hayden to be a little like another Sidley, and hoped for an indescribable 'something more' in his own book. There was something about that character (Lord Sidley) I can't quite explain, that caught my imagination. But Hayden is his own man and of course his story is very different. It was probably my own expectations that ruined the story a little for me, but I think if I hadn't read Sidley before this, I would have gladly given it all five stars for the wonderfully smooth reading experience. =D
Lord Sidley's Last Season, which I would recommend to most regency lovers.In three related but independent books, Ms Ferguson tells us the tales of three men, three brothers who are all descendants of dukes and all very stubbornly different from each other.
In Merely A Mister, the third and possibly final book in this series, we read about Lord Hayden, the eldest son and the heir to the Duke of Braughton.
Through
Quiet Meg (Avalon Romance) and
Major Lord David I have known the dutiful, solemn side of the Marquis. I have also seen him come to his brother's aid in a most unconventional way. It is easy to say that he puts family and honour before all personal happiness - he has sacrificed much - but he isn't a push over. He challenges his father's outdated ideas as he advices the Duke on matters of politics and admits to himself that it would take time and a lot of patience to usher in changes through his father. But as perfect a son and Marquis as Lord Hayden is, there are those in the ton who think him too serious, too much given to grim duty. And the same voices dub him 'His Resplendence' for certainly one of the duties of the heir to Braughton is to give in to the strict dictatorship of a demanding valet.And so this elegant, sombre aristocrat is found in a villa by the Lake Camo at the beginning of our story, where he paused with a friend for a few weeks during a post-war tour of the Continent.
But Lord Hayden isn't well, he suffers, as he has since he was sixteen, from a lung infection that infrequently but for weeks renders him incapacitated. In Camo, despite the balmy weather, he can feel himself sickening again. He knows what comes next and in a bid to keep his family and friends from knowing of his illness he flies back to England and onward to some northern estates that his father had mentioned having some small trouble in some time ago.
But before he could reach the Priory where he'd sent his men and carriage to ahead of himself, he takes an ill-advised ride on an open cart with a tradesman and suffers a sudden relapse. He thought he had time before he was thus pulled under, but the journey had exhausted him and his one attempt at courting adventure landed him in an unconscious pile on the doorsteps of one Anne Whyte.
And so Hayden meets a woman whose education was far from conventional, who is determined and blunt and utterly capable. Anne Whyte eases his suffering and in a few days, Hayden finds himself improving more quickly than he had ever before. He finds himself flirting with her and then being unable to to stop himself from asking too much about her. He finds that the mere idea of another man courting her angers him and that he is extremely reluctant to correct her impression that he was a 'Mister' Myles, and not Myles Trent, the Marquis of Hayden.
But as wonderful as those idyllis days in the country were, the Marquis had heard enough as Mister Myles to understand that his father's worries hadn't been misguided. He had never before interested himself in the running of Lord Braughton's many estates, always preferring to guide his father in politics instead, but now his attention was caught. A certain Mr Wenfield, who had rented Hollen Hall from Braughton some years ago was charging its tenants too much and blaming Hayden's father for the rise in rent. Hayden knows this to be false and decides to investigate. But for that he must leave Anne Whyte and return to his previous life, that of the duty-bound Lord Hayden.
On one hand is the weight of expectations of his family and on the other his heart's desire. Hayden is fighting hard against his own happiness, but does he really have to?
I have always liked Ms Ferguson's fictional heroes. They are distinct creatures with realistic demons. In Myles', Lord Hayden's, case it was mostly his conviction that as heir he had certain burdens that he would shoulder alone, and if that meant entering a loveless marriage to the daughter of a peer, then that's what he would do.
Anne Whyte was an intelligent woman with a penchant for the medicinal arts. She is a gentleman's daughter and a lovely girl. That she was unmarried raised a lot of questions amongst their acquaintances, but if anyone was ill, it was to her they would send them. If some called her witch, she didn't mind. She laughed it off with her father, who had thoughtfully made provisions to ensure her independence after his demise. It was for him that she worried, and in that worry she turned to Hayden.
Her character was a mix of innocence and practicality. It is an underlying trait in all of Ferguson's heroines. In the story, she suffers from jealousy, insecurity and hurt, but through it all her introspection shows through. Given time to cool down, she analyses her behaviour and realizes that she never gave him a chance to explain. I think that's one of my favourite parts. The conclusion. Ferguson does Denouements very, very well. They are never carried through just on drama, but are always softly, sweetly romantic.
Even in her first historical
The Honorable Marksley, a book I never enjoyed quite as much as the others, I loved the ending. Not just the resolution, but the conversation, the setting. It may not seem much to most readers, but for me the ending is everything - it is what leaves that final after taste in my mouth and colours by opinions when I think back on a story. The ending must be treated with respect.
The only reason I deprived this book of a single star was because in its predecessors I had judged Hayden to be a little like another Sidley, and hoped for an indescribable 'something more' in his own book. There was something about that character (Lord Sidley) I can't quite explain, that caught my imagination. But Hayden is his own man and of course his story is very different. It was probably my own expectations that ruined the story a little for me, but I think if I hadn't read Sidley before this, I would have gladly given it all five stars for the wonderfully smooth reading experience. =D
November 14, 2017
4.25 stars...Very charming, enjoyable little story about a marquis, Myles, and the young woman, Anne, who cares for him when an illness waylays him in her little town. A little bit of deception on his part (perfectly understandable I believe) in that he does not immediately divulge his title and the fact that he is heir to a dukedom. His reasons were basically two-fold in that there was another young man vying for Anne's attention and Myles's family were connected to them in a business relationship and it also allowed Myles to get an unguarded account of some of the local tenant farmers concerns.
I really appreciated the author's writing style and her use of language that felt appropriate for the times. A sweet little romance and thanks to Arietta for recommending this book to me.
I really appreciated the author's writing style and her use of language that felt appropriate for the times. A sweet little romance and thanks to Arietta for recommending this book to me.
October 1, 2025
3.5 stars.
November 17, 2016
How serendipitous to read this book based in the Lakes while planning my trip to England this spring! We are staying in the Yorkshire Dales for a few days and are planning a day trip to the Lake District and a cruise on Windermere. Fun, fun, fun to read this while all that planning is going on. Aside from that, this was an enjoyable read. Having a peer of the realm always cutting the "g" off of his words (gettin' , lookin' ...) bugged me quite a bit, but other than that I really liked it.
December 18, 2014
Lovely read
Very much in the style of Jane Austen and Pride and Prejudice. A bit slow at times, with a rather thin "complication" to the lover's happy ending, but the writing was beautiful and the characters plausible. A very fun "proper romance".
Very much in the style of Jane Austen and Pride and Prejudice. A bit slow at times, with a rather thin "complication" to the lover's happy ending, but the writing was beautiful and the characters plausible. A very fun "proper romance".
June 8, 2015
I wondered how this series would end. I don't want to write spoilers but Myles meets his match. Loved this sweet REgency trilogy.
December 17, 2015
I've really enjoyed the trilogy and somehow each is different enough to retain interest.
October 3, 2014
I just had to read more about Hayden!
January 18, 2018
Well-written, with an engaging hero and heroine, whose behavior seemed consistent with regency mores. Not much of a story trajectory, though. Unfortunately, the entire romance was (for me) dwarfed by a subplot involving an injustice done to a set of tenant farmers. I applaud the author for introducing social issues into her novel, but I was too much caught up in the plight of her impoverished side characters to feel much concern about the trivial obstacles keeping the lovers apart.
January 29, 2018
Temevo il mio secondo incontro con la Ferguson... e invece, ancora una volta, si è dimostrata un'autrice fine, capace di trattare il romanzo regency con competenza e leggerezza. La storia nasconde forse una sottile allusione a 'Sybil' di Disraeli (l'utopista Everett Whyte ricorda un po' il 'cartista' Walter Gerard), ma senza gli eccessi filosofici e romantici del grande statista inglese. E i dialoghi, curati, ricchi di senso, giustificano da soli la lettura.
February 3, 2023
Nursing turns to love
The story was filled with many different events. First the sickness of Miles,and the love sick Perry. All the mystery of the Winfield father and his misdeeds. The misunderstanding of Ann's seeing Miles with another female. Glad it all turned out so well. Thank you for an enjoyable read.
The story was filled with many different events. First the sickness of Miles,and the love sick Perry. All the mystery of the Winfield father and his misdeeds. The misunderstanding of Ann's seeing Miles with another female. Glad it all turned out so well. Thank you for an enjoyable read.
October 14, 2024
Well written and clean, except that I didn't feel any chemistry between the leads.
Bonus: Myles has a severe but caring grandmother; he used to think his father was also severe but the father surprised him by not forcing him to marry someone he didn't love (like the father did). Anne also has a loving father.
Bonus: Myles has a severe but caring grandmother; he used to think his father was also severe but the father surprised him by not forcing him to marry someone he didn't love (like the father did). Anne also has a loving father.
November 7, 2016
Peobably my favorite by this author! I just love these storylines where the wealthy, aristocratic male falls for a woman below his station but very much his equal. The characters are excellent. I appreciate the author's diction. The plot moves and I devoured this one.
September 5, 2024
This is probably my favourite of all the three novels in this series. Hayden falls ill and is nursed back to health by a lovely gentlewoman named Anne. Sparks fly between them right from the start but Hayden in typical fashion is restrained. As the story progresses, we see Hayden transform from a seemingly cold, emotionless peer to a man violently in love. This is a story that I will enjoy reading again and again. Sherry Lynn Ferguson is a brilliant writer. I wish she would write more historical romances. A must-read!
February 25, 2020
3.75 stars
June 17, 2020
This was a very entertaining, clean historical romance.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews