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Love Lessons
After molding her into an equestrian and botanist by the age of sixteen, and winning her heart in the process, Anne cannot believe that the young Earl of Pentargon would sent her off to London to find a husband. Reissue.
208 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 1, 1983
165 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Mansfield
59 books61 followersElizabeth Mansfield is the author of numerous regency romances. She is an intelligent and thoughtful writer, a hidden gem whose novels deserve to be more widely read and enjoyed.
Elizabeth Mansfield is the pen name of the talented Paula Reibel Schwartz. Ms Schwartz also wrote different genres under the pen names Paula Reibel, Paula Reid, and Paula Jonas.
Elizabeth Mansfield is the pen name of the talented Paula Reibel Schwartz. Ms Schwartz also wrote different genres under the pen names Paula Reibel, Paula Reid, and Paula Jonas.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 26, 2013
What a surprise!
I have only read two other regency romances by this author: The Counterfeit Husband (3 stars) and A Grand Deception (2 stars). So when I started LOVE LESSONS I wasn't sure how much I was going to like it. It contained three areas that are hard for many romance readers to enjoy. The first person tense, the May/December age span and the guardian/ward literary device. But Ms. Mansfield seems to make it work.
Anne Saunders begins her tale at the age of twelve. Her father died when she was very young and her mother passed away at the onset of the story. She is living temporarily with her paternal grandmother when Oliver Fleming, the young Earl of Pentargon, is called to her home. A confirmed bachelor, botanist and horseman, he wants nothing to upset his comforting lifestyle. So when he is approached to accept the guardianship of Anne he first responds with a firm 'No'. Little is he aware that Anne is in the background listening to their conversation. Words are exchanged between the two adults and Oliver finally agrees to take custody of her.
Over the next four years Oliver and Anne, as they agree to call each other, settle into a new life. He teaches her about botany and riding horses if she leaves him alone when he is busy with other duties. She is content with his dusty house, the few live-in servants he has, and her own quiet-time. In turn, he allows her within reason, to speak to him with honesty if he answers her the same. They get along.
By the time she is sixteen her feelings have changed for this man. One day she confesses to him that she is in love and will wait for him to marry her in a couple more years. Shocked, he sends her away to learn the ways of becoming a lady so she will someday attract a man closer to her own age.
Be aware that this traditional romance is clean. There is kissing at the most but don't delude yourself into thinking there is not sexual tension. There is. The best thing about this story is that everyone acts as if the book is taking place in the early 1800's. The dialog and attitudes are, for the most part, what might have happened on a country estate with a cast of unusual characters. You won't find any twenty-first century influences here.
There is a look at puppy love with another young man, a minor villain and the pursuit of a rake among those that influence Anne. This story was believable; it was a pleasure to read a romance that seemed true to the times.
I have only read two other regency romances by this author: The Counterfeit Husband (3 stars) and A Grand Deception (2 stars). So when I started LOVE LESSONS I wasn't sure how much I was going to like it. It contained three areas that are hard for many romance readers to enjoy. The first person tense, the May/December age span and the guardian/ward literary device. But Ms. Mansfield seems to make it work.
Anne Saunders begins her tale at the age of twelve. Her father died when she was very young and her mother passed away at the onset of the story. She is living temporarily with her paternal grandmother when Oliver Fleming, the young Earl of Pentargon, is called to her home. A confirmed bachelor, botanist and horseman, he wants nothing to upset his comforting lifestyle. So when he is approached to accept the guardianship of Anne he first responds with a firm 'No'. Little is he aware that Anne is in the background listening to their conversation. Words are exchanged between the two adults and Oliver finally agrees to take custody of her.
Over the next four years Oliver and Anne, as they agree to call each other, settle into a new life. He teaches her about botany and riding horses if she leaves him alone when he is busy with other duties. She is content with his dusty house, the few live-in servants he has, and her own quiet-time. In turn, he allows her within reason, to speak to him with honesty if he answers her the same. They get along.
By the time she is sixteen her feelings have changed for this man. One day she confesses to him that she is in love and will wait for him to marry her in a couple more years. Shocked, he sends her away to learn the ways of becoming a lady so she will someday attract a man closer to her own age.
Be aware that this traditional romance is clean. There is kissing at the most but don't delude yourself into thinking there is not sexual tension. There is. The best thing about this story is that everyone acts as if the book is taking place in the early 1800's. The dialog and attitudes are, for the most part, what might have happened on a country estate with a cast of unusual characters. You won't find any twenty-first century influences here.
There is a look at puppy love with another young man, a minor villain and the pursuit of a rake among those that influence Anne. This story was believable; it was a pleasure to read a romance that seemed true to the times.
March 7, 2017
"All of us, whoever our parents may be, have to forge our own characters in the end, or what's the meaning of human will?" -- pg 186
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this novel, and its characters have touched my heart. There is an essence of humanness to Anne and Oliver, to their characters, that explains all of their actions completely. In a way, this is a Bildungsroman and an acknowledgement of a maturing young woman that she is finally able to step out of the shadows of her mother (for fear of becoming like her) to forge her own character.
Throughout the book, Anne is referred to as a unique sort, a rara avis and it was wonderful to see her recognize that quality within herself which others have long gleamed. It is more her story than anything else, told in a first-person narrative style hat captures her impetuosity, intelligence, growth, and emotional burdens. I came away with a sense of celebration for the human spirit.
At this time of my life, I fear that I am more concerned with rapidly devouring books with my limited time than writing reviews for them, so I won't go into more details of this work...but I do feel that this is a work, once read, will bear a re-reading every so often.
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Edit: 3/6/2017
True to my words, I have a burning desire to re-read this book. If only it were readily available in electronic form! There is 3 weeks until I can get my hands on my book stash....
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this novel, and its characters have touched my heart. There is an essence of humanness to Anne and Oliver, to their characters, that explains all of their actions completely. In a way, this is a Bildungsroman and an acknowledgement of a maturing young woman that she is finally able to step out of the shadows of her mother (for fear of becoming like her) to forge her own character.
Throughout the book, Anne is referred to as a unique sort, a rara avis and it was wonderful to see her recognize that quality within herself which others have long gleamed. It is more her story than anything else, told in a first-person narrative style hat captures her impetuosity, intelligence, growth, and emotional burdens. I came away with a sense of celebration for the human spirit.
At this time of my life, I fear that I am more concerned with rapidly devouring books with my limited time than writing reviews for them, so I won't go into more details of this work...but I do feel that this is a work, once read, will bear a re-reading every so often.
--------
Edit: 3/6/2017
True to my words, I have a burning desire to re-read this book. If only it were readily available in electronic form! There is 3 weeks until I can get my hands on my book stash....
September 5, 2015
This is one of the best guardian/ward regency romances I’ve read. Told from the heroine’s first person POV, this is more than romance, it’s coming of age story that is both emotional and very touching. Other reviewers already described the plot in depth, so I wouldn’t go there. Let me just say that the author created a historically accurate setting, a smooth moving plot and romantic tension a plenty (achieved without removing any clothes). I finished reading and had a big smile. What a gem!
May 17, 2018
2.25 stars - pg13/r-lite
Did I read the same book as everyone else???? I rarely write long reviews of books and generally only make very brief notations to myself as to whether a book is clean, fun, engaging, romantic, etc. Usually the only time I jot LOTS of notes to myself as I read is when I'm having a hard time enjoying a book that I had thought would be wonderful (usually based on reviews/opinions of friends & people I tend to agree with). Here are the disjointed scribblings I made to myself on many little scraps of paper as I tried to get through this particular book:
Did I read the same book as everyone else???? I rarely write long reviews of books and generally only make very brief notations to myself as to whether a book is clean, fun, engaging, romantic, etc. Usually the only time I jot LOTS of notes to myself as I read is when I'm having a hard time enjoying a book that I had thought would be wonderful (usually based on reviews/opinions of friends & people I tend to agree with). Here are the disjointed scribblings I made to myself on many little scraps of paper as I tried to get through this particular book:
April 7, 2014
Elizabeth Mansfield's "Love Lessons"
Some wonderful things in this book, but quite a few What the Heck? moments as well.
The good things first: the fantastic characterization of the heroine as an adolescent - all the brashness, hormones, angst, impetuousity, rebelliousness, overconfidence yet deep-seated insecurity are so well portrayed in the character of the heroine Anne. All of her escapades ring true and so many of them are utterly cringeworthy. (I could remember my own adolescence and cringe along with the story.)
The bad things: both the hero and the heroine are unapologetically cruel to others. The hero sends the 16 year-old heroine ALONE to a party at a neighbour's house a few miles down the road. The heroine at this point has *never* been to any grown-up type social event before in her life, knows practically nobody at the party, and has had no training in any of the social graces! Even setting aside the fact that this would not have happened in that time period - there would have been some sort of a companion with the heroine - it was cruel and strangely insensitive of the hero to put the heroine, who is his ward and whom he loves dearly, into that situation. Of course, all sorts of disasters happen to the heroine at the party, so she leaves the party without telling anyone and runs home across the fields in a downpour, utterly bereft. I started having my doubts about the hero at that point, and there are several other places in the book where his actions are insensitive at best, cruel at worst.
And the heroine decides to take "revenge" on a man who does absolutely nothing to harm her in any way, simply because he is the son of a man who treated her mother badly. Her revenge is to make the guy crazy for her, become betrothed to him, and then throw him over. Not once does the heroine consider that she might hurt him - to her he is just a "rake" and a "philanderer", nor does she apologize when she does it. On top of that, the hero, whom she adores, has ordered her firmly to stay away from the man, but she is so convinced that her actions are right that she just ignores the order and the fact that the hero is "her" hero, so she should maybe consider his requests somewhat seriously.
To sum up - the story is quite enjoyable, at least for the character of the heroine, even if both the hero and heroine have deep flaws which make them not quite worthy of that status.
Some wonderful things in this book, but quite a few What the Heck? moments as well.
The good things first: the fantastic characterization of the heroine as an adolescent - all the brashness, hormones, angst, impetuousity, rebelliousness, overconfidence yet deep-seated insecurity are so well portrayed in the character of the heroine Anne. All of her escapades ring true and so many of them are utterly cringeworthy. (I could remember my own adolescence and cringe along with the story.)
The bad things: both the hero and the heroine are unapologetically cruel to others. The hero sends the 16 year-old heroine ALONE to a party at a neighbour's house a few miles down the road. The heroine at this point has *never* been to any grown-up type social event before in her life, knows practically nobody at the party, and has had no training in any of the social graces! Even setting aside the fact that this would not have happened in that time period - there would have been some sort of a companion with the heroine - it was cruel and strangely insensitive of the hero to put the heroine, who is his ward and whom he loves dearly, into that situation. Of course, all sorts of disasters happen to the heroine at the party, so she leaves the party without telling anyone and runs home across the fields in a downpour, utterly bereft. I started having my doubts about the hero at that point, and there are several other places in the book where his actions are insensitive at best, cruel at worst.
And the heroine decides to take "revenge" on a man who does absolutely nothing to harm her in any way, simply because he is the son of a man who treated her mother badly. Her revenge is to make the guy crazy for her, become betrothed to him, and then throw him over. Not once does the heroine consider that she might hurt him - to her he is just a "rake" and a "philanderer", nor does she apologize when she does it. On top of that, the hero, whom she adores, has ordered her firmly to stay away from the man, but she is so convinced that her actions are right that she just ignores the order and the fact that the hero is "her" hero, so she should maybe consider his requests somewhat seriously.
To sum up - the story is quite enjoyable, at least for the character of the heroine, even if both the hero and heroine have deep flaws which make them not quite worthy of that status.
May 25, 2015
The concept of a guardian and his ward falling in love may seem strange, but it really (and surprisingly) worked in this novel. I kept thinking maybe I shouldn't be enjoying it as much as I did because he had essentially been acting as her father for several years, but the way the romance came about was thoroughly believable and I was rooting for them both. Both h and H were fantastic- their characters well-developed- and they had enough quirks and eccentricities to make them believable. One of my favorites by Mansfield.
November 1, 2023
There were manipulations in this story that almost made me feel uncomfortable. Yet, although I was nearing the verge, I didn't cross it.
The style was very engaging. It was a smooth reading. Perhaps with too few romantic sparks. But at least, I didn't want to scream at historical inaccuracy - there weren't any noticeable.
[3-3.5 stars]
The style was very engaging. It was a smooth reading. Perhaps with too few romantic sparks. But at least, I didn't want to scream at historical inaccuracy - there weren't any noticeable.
[3-3.5 stars]
November 12, 2022
The premise: Oliver Fleming, as the head of the family, is appointed as Anne Saunder's guardian. She falls in love with him. As she matures, he falls in love with her.
Now, the writing was excellent. Ms. Mansfield writes in first person, as if this were Anne's personal diary. We get a close-up and personal accounting of her life and thoughts/feelings. I completely understand her falling in love with her cousin and protector. Her state of mind was so perfectly child-like...but it was still so at age 18. She did not cease her ridiculously childish thoughts even then! Oliver is engaged to another woman, and Anne cannot bring herself to hate this woman as she is so kind and wonderful. Yet, she still tries to break up their engagement by flaunting a letter to the poor woman that Oliver wrote to Anne.
And, in the end, despite absolutely no evidence, we find that Oliver has been in love with her since she was 16...and got engaged solely to keep him and Anne apart.
What kind of man is this?! Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.
Now, the writing was excellent. Ms. Mansfield writes in first person, as if this were Anne's personal diary. We get a close-up and personal accounting of her life and thoughts/feelings. I completely understand her falling in love with her cousin and protector. Her state of mind was so perfectly child-like...but it was still so at age 18. She did not cease her ridiculously childish thoughts even then! Oliver is engaged to another woman, and Anne cannot bring herself to hate this woman as she is so kind and wonderful. Yet, she still tries to break up their engagement by flaunting a letter to the poor woman that Oliver wrote to Anne.
And, in the end, despite absolutely no evidence, we find that Oliver has been in love with her since she was 16...and got engaged solely to keep him and Anne apart.
What kind of man is this?! Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.
September 18, 2025
Written in the first person, it was a drag. I felt sympathy for them both but was frustrated by their age difference and the years they were apart. I don't think I'll read it again. I gave it four stars, but it is more like a three and a half stars!
November 18, 2018
4.5
Very nice guardian ward romance.
Would have enjoyed more if hero’s perspective was also available.
But real historical with people behaving true to that period.
Liked Oliver and Anne
Very nice guardian ward romance.
Would have enjoyed more if hero’s perspective was also available.
But real historical with people behaving true to that period.
Liked Oliver and Anne
May 12, 2020
3.75 stars.
May 31, 2021
3.5 stars. There are some elements of the central romance that I find pretty distasteful, but this was an absorbing read. I was surprised that the narration is in first person, and then I was surprised that I enjoyed it anyway. I might write a longer review later, though I probably don't have much to say that other people haven't said already, but I must say it bothered me that
October 20, 2016
I always love reading this book. It has such marvelous characters and is well-written
Content: mistresses, some swear words
Content: mistresses, some swear words
September 25, 2009
Regency
August 9, 2016
Was a 3.5/5 up until the end. Very slow build, but a great ending.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews