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A Sensible Lady: A Traditional Regency Romance
When Katherine Brampton’s cousin and former fiancé inherits her family home, she resolves not to be dependent on a man for whom she has no respect. So she leases the Dower House from a kindly baron on a neighboring estate, believing that she has successfully met the greatest challenge of her life.How wrong she is! The kindly baron dies. An orphan arrives, whom Katherine accepts as her nephew. She is determined to provide for him, which means she must forget about love and marry a gentleman with money.There are three possibilities.Her cousin, Sir Clive Brampton, is eager to let bygones be bygones and marry Katherine. She would be able to return to her family home and live a life of financial ease. Her nephew would be provided for and launched into a career deemed suitable by Sir Clive. Can Katherine just accept Sir Clive’s generous offer?The Reverend Mr. Augustus Wharton, the newly arrived vicar, listens attentively to Katherine’s anguished musings over the loss of her brother on a distant battlefield in Spain. There are rumors that Mr. Wharton’s present vocation is a stunning contrast to his past as a hard drinking, gambling rake. Katherine dismisses the rumors and wonders if she could live happily with a man for whom she feels only sisterly affection.Finally, there is the new baron, Lord Henry Dracott. Lord Harry, as he is called, is clearly attracted to Katherine. But in spite of their best efforts to be civil to each other, their disagreements end up in arguments. Although there is mutual attraction, Katherine knows that Lord Harry’s heart is buried with his dead wife.Katherine tries to be a sensible lady and accept a practical marriage. But will her heart let her?
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 10, 2012
18 people are currently reading
154 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 23, 2020
It's always a pleasure to discover a new author who writes well, and tells a good story with enjoyable characters. This was very much a traditional Regency, that felt very authentic. I will certainly look for more books by this author.
March 10, 2016
This is a re-read on my part. I read this a couple years ago and couldn't remember a thing about it. So where to start....
There was some mild confusion on my part at the beginning. I wasn't getting who was who right away and had to do some backtracking to figure things out. So that was a little annoying. The plot isn't the most well constructed. One has to utilize the imagination fairly often, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. It just seemed a little swiss-cheesy and confusing at times.
The characters are fine. I wouldn't call the heroine "sensible" at all. She was quite the little airhead most of the time. I can only assume that word was archaically meant, which would make more sense. I was disappointed in the "boys will be boys" attitude displayed toward the male characters. I understand that at least a couple of them were supposed to be reformed rakes, but there is still just this ho-hum, "what's the big deal" attitude about it that irritates me.
The content is clean as long as one doesn't count all the lusting after the heroine from every male character and all the talk about adultery and the like, obviously. There is no violence but quite a bit of alcohol, tobacco and snuff usage. I did not note any profanity.
I wouldn't call this story particularly predictable. But it's a pretty typical regency novel and has a satisfying end. It seems the story was set up for a sequel since there are plenty of unanswered questions and characters who didn't receive a satisfactory sense of closure.
There was some mild confusion on my part at the beginning. I wasn't getting who was who right away and had to do some backtracking to figure things out. So that was a little annoying. The plot isn't the most well constructed. One has to utilize the imagination fairly often, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. It just seemed a little swiss-cheesy and confusing at times.
The characters are fine. I wouldn't call the heroine "sensible" at all. She was quite the little airhead most of the time. I can only assume that word was archaically meant, which would make more sense. I was disappointed in the "boys will be boys" attitude displayed toward the male characters. I understand that at least a couple of them were supposed to be reformed rakes, but there is still just this ho-hum, "what's the big deal" attitude about it that irritates me.
The content is clean as long as one doesn't count all the lusting after the heroine from every male character and all the talk about adultery and the like, obviously. There is no violence but quite a bit of alcohol, tobacco and snuff usage. I did not note any profanity.
I wouldn't call this story particularly predictable. But it's a pretty typical regency novel and has a satisfying end. It seems the story was set up for a sequel since there are plenty of unanswered questions and characters who didn't receive a satisfactory sense of closure.
February 14, 2014
While I did enjoy this one, I thought it could have been better. I liked our heroine Katherine. I don't want to give spoilers, so I'll just say she finds that she needs to marry quickly and has three options. First, her ex-fiancé Sir Clive (who were supposed to think is a villain, and then she realizes he's not "so bad" and that storyline kind of peters out). Second, the former rake turned preacher Mr. Wharton. I actually liked him and I hope gets his own book. There was even a surprise twist at the end that I didn't see coming with him. And lastly, there is Lord Dracott. It's no surprise that he is the main love interest so I don't think it's giving too big of spoilers to focus on them. I actually really liked the time they were together. I think the book would have been stronger if they had been thrown together more often. By the end, I thought their relationship felt rushed. They hardly spent any time together and yet they were in love. I'm not sure why I should believe that. They do have some great moments though and I'm glad they get their HEA.
I did enjoy the overall story, I think the villain could have been played up a little more. I also think Mr. Wharton and Charlie could also have been used better as well. I liked their characters and think they could have added some fun tension and maybe made Dracott realize his feelings and maybe actually have to fight for Katherine a bit more. I just think the romance could have been amped up a little more. It was still an enjoyable read though and one I would probably read again.
Content
Romance: Clean
Other: I can't remember any language or violence, etc.
I did enjoy the overall story, I think the villain could have been played up a little more. I also think Mr. Wharton and Charlie could also have been used better as well. I liked their characters and think they could have added some fun tension and maybe made Dracott realize his feelings and maybe actually have to fight for Katherine a bit more. I just think the romance could have been amped up a little more. It was still an enjoyable read though and one I would probably read again.
Content
Romance: Clean
Other: I can't remember any language or violence, etc.
February 17, 2015
What a spectacular regency novel! I am a lifelong fan of both Austen and Heyer, and I'll be colored blue if this doesn't read like the very best of Heyer's books. I was initially put off by the rather dull cover, but as soon as I dove in I knew--shall I do the "book by it's cover" cliche? No, I shouldn't. I won't.
Anyways, this is a delightful story with enough twists and turns to keep you invested in the plot. It also has enough character variety to entertain, with an extremely likeable protagonist that you keep right on rooting for. It's true to the period, free of grammatical and spelling errors, and flows like a beautiful river.
Highly, highly recommended!
Anyways, this is a delightful story with enough twists and turns to keep you invested in the plot. It also has enough character variety to entertain, with an extremely likeable protagonist that you keep right on rooting for. It's true to the period, free of grammatical and spelling errors, and flows like a beautiful river.
Highly, highly recommended!
May 11, 2012
Beautifully done. I'm really glad I read this, it was great.
January 12, 2013
3.5 stars. A very sweet, delicately rendered Regency told without the incursion of modern sensibilities and mores. I want to see more like this.
September 5, 2013
I was pleasantly surprised at how much a "historical romance" was like the show Downton Abbey!
A Sensible Lady was a fun read and has taught me to keep an open mind about the Romance genre.
A Sensible Lady was a fun read and has taught me to keep an open mind about the Romance genre.
May 19, 2020
I was excited to read this book but pretty disappointed. Not very well written. There were parts where the characters would be talking to each other, for instance, and use each other’s names EVERY SINGLE TIME they addressed one another, which I’ve never heard anyone do. The heroine was pretty vapid, and none of the other characters particularly likable. The plot had several (in my view) unnecessary twists at the end, like the author was trying very hard to make it unpredictable. I did end up reading the whole book, because it’s so short, but even then I skipped over some parts. Really hard to read any regency after Georgette Heyer and not compare it.
April 4, 2018
Great Read, Great Characters
This woman can write. She does an excellent job with the time period, speech, feelings and thoughts. The three men are well described and believable. Katherine is a terrific heroine. Even the villains aren't evil. The ending was easy to figure out but it didn't matter. I really enjoyed this book.
This woman can write. She does an excellent job with the time period, speech, feelings and thoughts. The three men are well described and believable. Katherine is a terrific heroine. Even the villains aren't evil. The ending was easy to figure out but it didn't matter. I really enjoyed this book.
May 21, 2017
Not as good as A Match for Lady Constance, but entertaining.
November 5, 2016
A Touching Read
Sure it has all the constituents of the traditional Regency genre. Heroine a spinster, but beautiful; a hero who refuses to love, and unwanted suitor and poverty forcing them heroine's hand. But it is so much more than that. The unpacking of the backstory of all the main characters is deeper than a Heyer would go. We d give it 6 stars out of five except that the subplot of Miguel ends rather abruptly and left one matter hanging. What would Clive be up to on his travels?
Sure it has all the constituents of the traditional Regency genre. Heroine a spinster, but beautiful; a hero who refuses to love, and unwanted suitor and poverty forcing them heroine's hand. But it is so much more than that. The unpacking of the backstory of all the main characters is deeper than a Heyer would go. We d give it 6 stars out of five except that the subplot of Miguel ends rather abruptly and left one matter hanging. What would Clive be up to on his travels?
March 1, 2013
Old fashion Regency romance? We'll see
Gave it 2 stars but 1 and a half would more likely do!!
Didn't fell for it. The story's background was good but the author did not follow through. Katherine was much to much of a ninny, innocent and stupid without any backbone. And the ending is just to plain. What comes of Sir Clives does he fight for the title or does he run in shame? What happens with Miguel, does he get to be heir to his father? Same as Gus and Charlie what happens to them?
Gave it 2 stars but 1 and a half would more likely do!!
Didn't fell for it. The story's background was good but the author did not follow through. Katherine was much to much of a ninny, innocent and stupid without any backbone. And the ending is just to plain. What comes of Sir Clives does he fight for the title or does he run in shame? What happens with Miguel, does he get to be heir to his father? Same as Gus and Charlie what happens to them?
May 13, 2012
If you're looking for a book that really feels like it's placed in the Regency era, this one is it. The delicate financial circumstances of the "sensible" heroine have to be taken into account once she decides to raise her nephew. Now, not only her fate, but the fate of her nephew, is tied up in her need to wed in order to educate the boy. Will she win true love as well?
Want to read
May 7, 2012Free today on Kindle 5.6.12.
May 14, 2012
What was here was nice but there are too many loose ends......I felt like I was in the middle of the story and then there were no more pages.....
May 31, 2012
I adore strong, witty female characters and Katherine easily falls into this category.
The book has a definite 'Regency' feel to it and is a pleasant read.
The book has a definite 'Regency' feel to it and is a pleasant read.
July 2, 2012
A sensible lady? Perhaps. A sensible book? Hardly. This book was so confusing at times that I had to scroll back and forth just to figure out which character was which.
March 5, 2014
This book took a little to get into and ended abruptly. The middle was well written.
September 4, 2016
3.5 stars, really. But there was repeated use of the word 'discrete' when it should have been discreet, and other errors.
January 20, 2019
3.5.
Nice, but not that good like first one.
Nice, but not that good like first one.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews