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Lady John
Mass Market 224 pages Ivy Books (March 12, 1982)
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 12, 1982
1 person is currently reading
35 people want to read
About the author
Madeleine E. Robins
45 books126 followersWriting gives Madeleine Robins the chance to focus on many of her ruling passions: cities, history, swordplay, the history of disease, and the future of mankind–with a side order of historical costuming and infrastructure (urban plumbing is far more interesting than you’d think).
Born in New York City, the Author has been, in no particular order, a nanny, a teacher, an actor and stage-combatant, an administrator, a comic book editor, a baker, typist-clerk for Thos. Cook’s Houses of Parliament office, a repairer-of-hurt-books, an editorial consultant, and a writer. She holds a degree in Theatre Studies from Connecticut College, and attended the Clarion Science Fiction Workshop in 1981. She is a founding member of Book View Cafe (http://bookviewcafe.com) where most of her short fiction is available for free!
Born in New York City, the Author has been, in no particular order, a nanny, a teacher, an actor and stage-combatant, an administrator, a comic book editor, a baker, typist-clerk for Thos. Cook’s Houses of Parliament office, a repairer-of-hurt-books, an editorial consultant, and a writer. She holds a degree in Theatre Studies from Connecticut College, and attended the Clarion Science Fiction Workshop in 1981. She is a founding member of Book View Cafe (http://bookviewcafe.com) where most of her short fiction is available for free!
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
July 13, 2012
I received this as a free review copy as I have reviewed two other of Robbin's older romances when they were released as eBooks. This one is slightly different from the standard Regency-era romance as the main female character is a widow, but one who has not been 'out' in London. Another difference from the 'norm' I enjoyed was that the first significant male characters we receive, while remaining important to the story line, are not the Hero. Often if one meets a potentially unpleasant male near the beginning, he is exculpated later or reformed by the Heroine. While one of these initial male characters would like to be the hero, at no point is he actually positioned as such by the hero, who allows him to remain a useful, and mostly autonomous, plot device instead of the roles of Potential Rival or Insulted Suitor. I liked that. As with many older Regency-period romances, there is no sex in this book between the main characters (not even implied), but without any impression that characters were not aware of it. Personally I enjoy these stories who allow the characters to evolve without relying on sex to drive the story, beyond a slightly coy reference to the fact that as a widow she isn't 'pure'. I was left in no doubt that the main characters will have a full relationship after marriage, but because it wasn't an issue for any of the characters, it wasn't focused on.
August 23, 2014
This was written back in 1982 and it shows in the sense it avoids the modern romance conventions - for instance, the hero doesn’t appear on the page until quite a bit into the book, IIRC. I liked it, but it’s not your usual romance.
April 25, 2017
I haven't read too many Regency romances over the years but i was in the mood for one and this one was on offer at the Librarything member giveaway. It's a standard type of love story where a couple dislike each other and the inevitable happens.
In this story, Olivia is the widow of John Penderer who died of influenza just after Waterloo. She and her mother are invited to stay with John's mother, the dowager Duchess. She has not met the family prior to her wedding since she met and married John in Brussels. She encounters a man, Lord Menwin, whom she had met before she married. She is astonished to find he is very rude to her through no fault of her own that she can think of. This is of course, a man she fancied but, since he'd left Brussels without warning, thought he didn't fancy her so she married John. During the course of the story there are misunderstandings and a bit of scheming and it all comes out in the end the way you would expect.
I liked the story and the characters. Olivia is the classic feisty redhead and Menwin is stern and proud but likeable. Olivia's mother is kind and John's family is mostly all very fun and enjoyable aside from the older brother, the current Duke who is a prig. There's always one, right?
In this story, Olivia is the widow of John Penderer who died of influenza just after Waterloo. She and her mother are invited to stay with John's mother, the dowager Duchess. She has not met the family prior to her wedding since she met and married John in Brussels. She encounters a man, Lord Menwin, whom she had met before she married. She is astonished to find he is very rude to her through no fault of her own that she can think of. This is of course, a man she fancied but, since he'd left Brussels without warning, thought he didn't fancy her so she married John. During the course of the story there are misunderstandings and a bit of scheming and it all comes out in the end the way you would expect.
I liked the story and the characters. Olivia is the classic feisty redhead and Menwin is stern and proud but likeable. Olivia's mother is kind and John's family is mostly all very fun and enjoyable aside from the older brother, the current Duke who is a prig. There's always one, right?
March 20, 2012
Madeleine Robins' comes into her own with her fourth Regency Romance, a lovely confection of missed signals, missed chances and fate's gift of one more try at love. If you relish a good Heyer Regency, check this out. A charming heroine who was too well bred to drop hints to the man she was beginning to love, a hero who foolishly failed to question the object of his desire, and a departed husband who was not above manipulation to get what he wanted -- including the wife he wanted.
But Lord John Temperer died not long after Waterloo, and now his young widow must make her way in the world. A visit to her in-laws seems like a courtesy she must perform -- but who should walk into her life again but that same soldier who stole her heart years ago.
Only now he acts as if she is invisible -- worse, as if she is an object of contempt.
Robins' weaves all her considerable skill in this one, with great supporting characters and a hero and heroine who manage to steal a few kisses and our hearts while not stepping out of the bounds of, well, Heyer propriety.
I will definitely read this one again! (I clicked spoilers on this one, because knowing some of this won't spoil the finale, but readers may wish to discover details on their own.) A Sweet Regency.
But Lord John Temperer died not long after Waterloo, and now his young widow must make her way in the world. A visit to her in-laws seems like a courtesy she must perform -- but who should walk into her life again but that same soldier who stole her heart years ago.
Only now he acts as if she is invisible -- worse, as if she is an object of contempt.
Robins' weaves all her considerable skill in this one, with great supporting characters and a hero and heroine who manage to steal a few kisses and our hearts while not stepping out of the bounds of, well, Heyer propriety.
I will definitely read this one again! (I clicked spoilers on this one, because knowing some of this won't spoil the finale, but readers may wish to discover details on their own.) A Sweet Regency.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 23, 2015
Lady Olivia John is a widow living in a small home with her mother. Months after the death of her husband she receives a letter from her late husband's family. They would like her to come visit them in the family home in London. Olivia is a bit apprehensive about meeting her husband's family, but accepts the invitation. What follows is enlightening time for Olivia and her mother.
Lady John was written in 1982 and has now become available in an ebook format. The book began a bit slow for me because it is written in regency style of writing and speaking. But once I became accustomed to the dialogue the book picked up and I enjoyed the story. There are several hilarious characters that I either loved or loved to hate. It's a sweet, romantic read that will definitely appeal to regency lovers.
I received this book free of charge from Library Thing in exchange for my honest review.
Lady John was written in 1982 and has now become available in an ebook format. The book began a bit slow for me because it is written in regency style of writing and speaking. But once I became accustomed to the dialogue the book picked up and I enjoyed the story. There are several hilarious characters that I either loved or loved to hate. It's a sweet, romantic read that will definitely appeal to regency lovers.
I received this book free of charge from Library Thing in exchange for my honest review.
January 26, 2024
This is a Regency-era romance book and it was a good read for me.
I won a complimentary copy from LibraryThing and Book View Cafe. The opinions are many own.
Lady John, Olivia, is a widow and she and her mother have been invited to visit her deceased husband's family in London. There she finds an old love before she married Lord John.
I recieved an e-book for the read and review. I could not find the book at my library system but the books are available on used book sites. This book was written in 1982.
I gave it a 5 star rating because I did enjoy the book. I will read more books by Madeleine Robbins.
I won a complimentary copy from LibraryThing and Book View Cafe. The opinions are many own.
Lady John, Olivia, is a widow and she and her mother have been invited to visit her deceased husband's family in London. There she finds an old love before she married Lord John.
I recieved an e-book for the read and review. I could not find the book at my library system but the books are available on used book sites. This book was written in 1982.
I gave it a 5 star rating because I did enjoy the book. I will read more books by Madeleine Robbins.
September 16, 2020
This is far far drier than a modern regency romance novel. Its not very long and the main characters do not spend that much time together.
November 10, 2020
Nice love story simple and easy to read.
June 12, 2021
A short and easy regency palate cleanse that I found more enjoyable than I probably should have.
November 8, 2025
A complicated story of love and understanding.
June 21, 2021
The protagonist wasn’t a very interesting character. The love interest was sexist and a bit dim.
July 14, 2012
Note - I received a review copy through LibraryThing Early Reviewers.[return][return]Reprint ebook edition of a Regency romance first published in 1982. I'm not a follower of historical romances in general and Regency romances in particular, so I'm looking at it from the perspective of someone who reads the occasional romance rather than someone who goes into nitpicking detail about exactly what type of glassware they had on the table in a particular decade. If you're a hardcore Regency reader you'll need to look at someone else's review.[return][return]With that in mind, my first impressions weren't good. I found the characters as initially introduced very two-dimensional, and in one case decidedly unpleasant. I really did think I might have trouble getting through enough of it to give it a fair chance. And then I realised that I was eagerly reading to see what happened next.[return][return]Lady John is a young war bride and widow who met her husband on the Continent and has never met any of his family save for a younger brother. She's invited by her late husband's family to visit them in England, mostly out of courtesy and some curiosity. She gets on very well with most of them, particularly her mother-in-law, who is set on helping her into society with a view to a fresh marriage.[return][return]But when her brother-in-law brings home a guest one night, Lady John and her new family are startled by his cold and rude behaviour to her. The last time she saw Menwin was on the Continent, just before Lord John proposed to her, and they had been friends then... [return][return]Misunderstandings abound, and I found some of them rather too contrived, particularly the way in which both Lady John and Menwin had never questioned what they were told by a third party some years earlier. But the scheming by various characters to put things right was entertaining, and I found this a fun light read once I got past the first couple of chapters.[return][return]The first few pages are available as a free sample at Book View Cafe, and it's worth taking a look if you like Regencies.
June 12, 2012
Obtained free as part of the Feb 2012 LibraryThing Early Reviewers batch. Offered by Book View Cafe to mark the books' publication as an ebook. (I took in epub format and read on my kobo).
Only 20 and already widowed, Lady Jane is invited to spend the winter with her late husband's family. There she is reintroduced to Lord Menwin, a man she was in love with before her marriage. After a few embarrassing meetings, where he is decidedly off hand and insulting to her, they realise it was all a misunderstanding, and decide that they are in love really. Unfortunately Menwin has not only inherited his father's title, but also his debts, and the only way for his grandfather to agree to dig him out is for Menwin to marry and produce an heir. The rest of the book is an attempt to get Menwin out of the disastrous engagement he's found himself in.
Not quite Jane Austen, this tries valiantly enough. The first pages try to overload you with too much information (a habit I hate, and I groaned when I read it), but it got better quickly. Lively, light, using some phrases I'm not entirely convinced were in use during the Regency period and some that were, overall an enjoyable book for a damp spring weekend
Only 20 and already widowed, Lady Jane is invited to spend the winter with her late husband's family. There she is reintroduced to Lord Menwin, a man she was in love with before her marriage. After a few embarrassing meetings, where he is decidedly off hand and insulting to her, they realise it was all a misunderstanding, and decide that they are in love really. Unfortunately Menwin has not only inherited his father's title, but also his debts, and the only way for his grandfather to agree to dig him out is for Menwin to marry and produce an heir. The rest of the book is an attempt to get Menwin out of the disastrous engagement he's found himself in.
Not quite Jane Austen, this tries valiantly enough. The first pages try to overload you with too much information (a habit I hate, and I groaned when I read it), but it got better quickly. Lively, light, using some phrases I'm not entirely convinced were in use during the Regency period and some that were, overall an enjoyable book for a damp spring weekend
March 5, 2012
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
I was a little apprehensive about the book described as a "Regency romance" because Romance novels in general are not my thing. I was extremely relieved that "Lady John" did not turn out to be a bodice ripper with minimal plot and character development. On the flip side, this novel is a pale imitation of Jane Austen, with the star-crossed lovers fighting against society to earn their happiness. The dialogue felt a bit forced, as though the author was trying too hard to replicate the speech patterns of Regency England. Beyond the spate of name-dropping and backgammon terminology, I was somewhat confused about the characters. For example, who was Sophie? Apparently, she was one of Lady John's sisters-in-law, but when she got to her in-laws' home, she met all three of the sisters, and the ornery Sophie wasn't one of them, nor did she ever appear in the book. Also, the Duke of Tylmath was a character with great comic potential, but completely incidental to the actual plot of the story. All in all, the main character and her love interest were likable, so a reader might actually care what happens to them, but standard plot devices kill any curiosity one might have about the ending.
I was a little apprehensive about the book described as a "Regency romance" because Romance novels in general are not my thing. I was extremely relieved that "Lady John" did not turn out to be a bodice ripper with minimal plot and character development. On the flip side, this novel is a pale imitation of Jane Austen, with the star-crossed lovers fighting against society to earn their happiness. The dialogue felt a bit forced, as though the author was trying too hard to replicate the speech patterns of Regency England. Beyond the spate of name-dropping and backgammon terminology, I was somewhat confused about the characters. For example, who was Sophie? Apparently, she was one of Lady John's sisters-in-law, but when she got to her in-laws' home, she met all three of the sisters, and the ornery Sophie wasn't one of them, nor did she ever appear in the book. Also, the Duke of Tylmath was a character with great comic potential, but completely incidental to the actual plot of the story. All in all, the main character and her love interest were likable, so a reader might actually care what happens to them, but standard plot devices kill any curiosity one might have about the ending.
July 18, 2012
Another rather entertaining read. Lady John is about a widow, the said Lady John who married her husband in Brussels during the war between the French and English and is now invited, by her husband's family, to come to England to meet with them. They're not sure who she is or what to make of her until she turns up and then they're delighted with her. She re-meets an old acquaintance but finds that he's cold towards her, she also has a friend from Brussels follow her.
It's light and entertaining. An enjoyable read.
It's light and entertaining. An enjoyable read.
April 15, 2015
I generally don't read a lot of romances any more, but I really like this writer, so I decided to give it a go.
I enjoyed it. I love that the author did her research into the Regency period, so I was never thrown out of the story by anachronisms. Yet, it wasn't too stuffy, either.
A fun book, especially if you like Regency romances.
I enjoyed it. I love that the author did her research into the Regency period, so I was never thrown out of the story by anachronisms. Yet, it wasn't too stuffy, either.
A fun book, especially if you like Regency romances.
March 13, 2010
I am having the best time! I got a box of old coventry romances off of Ebay, 24 for 4.99 and I am reading through them. Haven't read one yet that didn't deserve at least three stars. I highly recommend them for people who are tired of what they are now reading and wish to go back to the basics.
September 25, 2012
Madeleine Robins just keeps getting better. I have been reading her regencies in their order of publication, and I liked Lady John the best so far. Nicely drawn characters, a touching dilemma, sprinkled with laughs. A delightful confection.
March 7, 2013
'Lady John' by Madeleine Robins, was an okay book and a quick read. The plot is predictable but it was missing the witty dialog I enjoy in regency romance novels.
May 26, 2013
Cute story. The hero is a bit brainless, and I never quite figured out why the heroine likes him.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews