What do you think?
Rate this book
Botany Bay #3
Gypsy Lover
A reputation in ruins . . .
Lovely Meg Shaw is a respectable governess in a wealthy household—and it is her duty to bring her charge safely home when the headstrong heiress runs away. But the perils for a young woman alone on dark English country roads pale before the dangers posed by Daffyd Reynard—a dashing, reckless gentleman with gypsy blood, who shadows Meg's every step.
A heart at risk . . .
An infuriating scoundrel, Daffyd has his own reasons for wanting to join Meg on her journey—though scandal will certainly ensue if she's discovered in the company of the ton's most notorious black sheep. Yet something powerful and inexplicable—something more than a need for safety in the night—is drawing Meg into his bold and brash arms. And her good name may well be the price she must pay for surrendering to the sweet temptation of her untamed gypsy lover . . .
Lovely Meg Shaw is a respectable governess in a wealthy household—and it is her duty to bring her charge safely home when the headstrong heiress runs away. But the perils for a young woman alone on dark English country roads pale before the dangers posed by Daffyd Reynard—a dashing, reckless gentleman with gypsy blood, who shadows Meg's every step.
A heart at risk . . .
An infuriating scoundrel, Daffyd has his own reasons for wanting to join Meg on her journey—though scandal will certainly ensue if she's discovered in the company of the ton's most notorious black sheep. Yet something powerful and inexplicable—something more than a need for safety in the night—is drawing Meg into his bold and brash arms. And her good name may well be the price she must pay for surrendering to the sweet temptation of her untamed gypsy lover . . .
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 25, 2005
6 people are currently reading
143 people want to read
About the author
Edith Layton
80 books103 followersEdith Layton wrote her first novel when she was ten. She bought a marbleized notebook and set out to write a story that would fit between its covers. Now, an award-winning author with more than thirty novels and numerous novellas to her credit, her criteria have changed. The story has to fit the reader as well as between the covers.
Graduating from Hunter College in New York City with a degree in creative writing and theater, Edith worked for various media, including a radio station and a major motion picture company. She married and went to suburbia, where she was fruitful and multiplied to the tune of three children. Her eldest, Michael, is a social worker and artist in NYC. Adam is a writer and performer on NPR's Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me. Daughter Susie is a professional writer, comedian and performer who works in television.
Publishers Weekly called Edith Layton "one of romance's most gifted writers." Layton has enthralled readers and critics with books that capture the spirit of historically distant places and peoples. "What I've found," she says, "is that life was very different in every era, but that love and love of life is always the same."
Layton won an RT Book Reviews Career Achievement award for the Historical genre in 2003 and a Reviewers' Choice award for her book The Conquest in 2001. Amazon.com's top reviewer called Layton's Alas, My Love (April 2005, Avon Books), "a wonderful historical." And her recent release, Bride Enchanted, is a Romantic Times 2007 Reviewers' Choice Award Nominee.
Edith Layton lived on Long Island where she devoted time as a volunteer for the North Shore Animal League , the world's largest no-kill pet rescue and adoption organization. Her dog Daisy --adopted herself from a shelter-- is just one member of Layton's household menagerie.
Edith Layton passed away on June 1, 2009 from ovarian cancer.
Graduating from Hunter College in New York City with a degree in creative writing and theater, Edith worked for various media, including a radio station and a major motion picture company. She married and went to suburbia, where she was fruitful and multiplied to the tune of three children. Her eldest, Michael, is a social worker and artist in NYC. Adam is a writer and performer on NPR's Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me. Daughter Susie is a professional writer, comedian and performer who works in television.
Publishers Weekly called Edith Layton "one of romance's most gifted writers." Layton has enthralled readers and critics with books that capture the spirit of historically distant places and peoples. "What I've found," she says, "is that life was very different in every era, but that love and love of life is always the same."
Layton won an RT Book Reviews Career Achievement award for the Historical genre in 2003 and a Reviewers' Choice award for her book The Conquest in 2001. Amazon.com's top reviewer called Layton's Alas, My Love (April 2005, Avon Books), "a wonderful historical." And her recent release, Bride Enchanted, is a Romantic Times 2007 Reviewers' Choice Award Nominee.
Edith Layton lived on Long Island where she devoted time as a volunteer for the North Shore Animal League , the world's largest no-kill pet rescue and adoption organization. Her dog Daisy --adopted herself from a shelter-- is just one member of Layton's household menagerie.
Edith Layton passed away on June 1, 2009 from ovarian cancer.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 31, 2023
It makes me mad that Goodreads has no half stars because this was a solid 3.5 stars for me.
I discovered this book in 2017 in a cafe in Managua, Nicaragua. I loved what I read and was sad when the group got ready to leave. I still liked this book, but it was missing the magical enthrallment I had remembered. But I've read hundreds of romance novels since 2017, so it could just be that I'm jaded, and in the past, this could have definitely been a five-star read for me.
The back blurb kept calling Meg a "governess", but she was a companion. She meets Daffyd, who's half-Gypsy, half-nobility, while they both search for Meg's charge, a runaway heiress.
Daffyd didn't love Meg until the end of the story. He was very jaded when it came to love, and I wasn't sure if he'd ever love her. In fact, I'm not sure I totally bought him coming into his feelings for Meg. I like how in this book, the HEA was uncertain. It was a slow burn, and I wasn't sure when the two would fall for each other. The unpredictability of the romance was good. One of my favorite things about this book was that the main characters actually talked a lot! A lot about their pasts. I'm sure IRL, you'd need even more to fall in love with a person, but it's a book after all...
I'm open to trying more Edith Layton books. It's a shame she passed away so young.
I discovered this book in 2017 in a cafe in Managua, Nicaragua. I loved what I read and was sad when the group got ready to leave. I still liked this book, but it was missing the magical enthrallment I had remembered. But I've read hundreds of romance novels since 2017, so it could just be that I'm jaded, and in the past, this could have definitely been a five-star read for me.
The back blurb kept calling Meg a "governess", but she was a companion. She meets Daffyd, who's half-Gypsy, half-nobility, while they both search for Meg's charge, a runaway heiress.
Daffyd didn't love Meg until the end of the story. He was very jaded when it came to love, and I wasn't sure if he'd ever love her. In fact, I'm not sure I totally bought him coming into his feelings for Meg. I like how in this book, the HEA was uncertain. It was a slow burn, and I wasn't sure when the two would fall for each other. The unpredictability of the romance was good. One of my favorite things about this book was that the main characters actually talked a lot! A lot about their pasts. I'm sure IRL, you'd need even more to fall in love with a person, but it's a book after all...
I'm open to trying more Edith Layton books. It's a shame she passed away so young.
April 1, 2018
LOVED this book! I intend to finish the series, since I read the first two. A fantastic read and fun from start to finish!
July 27, 2012
I am back on tract since I read #2, 'Alas My Love', out of order. 'Gypsy Lover' rated the same as 'Alas My Love'. I gave each on only 3 stars. The first book, 'The Return of the Earl', is by far the best of this series of four books. The H/H were likable characters in the story. The first problem for me,the story is quite unbelievable. It was hard for me to buy into Meg's adventures. The second problem is I now know more about gypsies that I ever wanted to know. There was a lot of filler to educate me on a number of topics. I prefer more words devoted to the H/H and their story.
November 6, 2021
I have really enjoyed this series. One more to go, hope it is as good as the first three.
Since this is my second time through this series, I know the next one is not as good as the first three. This one is the best of the four and well worth reading again.
Since this is my second time through this series, I know the next one is not as good as the first three. This one is the best of the four and well worth reading again.
May 14, 2021
Daffyd is up next in the Botany Bay series. Born of a Viscountess and her Gypsy lover, he has been abandoned to the gypsies and runs away at the age of seven to find himself on the streets of London. He is sent on an errand to find a missing girl and runs into that girl's paid companion, who is trying to salvage her job. After many adventures, she finds that she is a woman who can get things done and is brave enough to do them. That makes it doubly hard to return to a life at someone else's beck and call. Daffyd is no help. He is only interested in the short term. Or so he thinks.
December 25, 2019
This was a truly dull story and that’s all I have to say.
July 31, 2010
Edith Layton has a gift for words. If you enjoy regencies then consider this author. GYPSY LOVER is a story about a respectable governess who dashes off to locate her ward and meets up with a gentleman who is also a black sheep. Put off at first, Daffyd (the Gypsy) finally agrees to allow Meg, the governess, to tag along. He has his own reasons for persuing the chit who took off. Both naive but strong-willed, Meg threads her innocent character with Daffyd's capacity for taking care of do-gooders.
Rationalyzing that he is only there for Meg at the present time, he believes that once their days are up and the ward is found he'll go back to his old life. Little does he know how hard that will be.
Honestly, would the circumstances have really happened in Regency-period England? I doubt it but still it was an enjoyable read. The bantering between the two, some sly looks from Daffyd, and shy glances from Meg heightened my need for a happy ending. I wasn't disappointed.
I was unaware that this was book 3 in the Botany Bay series but I had no trouble with it as a read-alone. Still, I am sure reading the series in order would have broadened my understanding of Daffyd's character: RETURN OF THE EARL #1, ALAS, MY LOVE #2and HOW TO SEDUCE A BRIDE #4.
Rationalyzing that he is only there for Meg at the present time, he believes that once their days are up and the ward is found he'll go back to his old life. Little does he know how hard that will be.
Honestly, would the circumstances have really happened in Regency-period England? I doubt it but still it was an enjoyable read. The bantering between the two, some sly looks from Daffyd, and shy glances from Meg heightened my need for a happy ending. I wasn't disappointed.
I was unaware that this was book 3 in the Botany Bay series but I had no trouble with it as a read-alone. Still, I am sure reading the series in order would have broadened my understanding of Daffyd's character: RETURN OF THE EARL #1, ALAS, MY LOVE #2and HOW TO SEDUCE A BRIDE #4.
June 26, 2010
A nice little story with somewhat unusual characters - a companion - a lady in manners only, and a half gypsy. So often these stories are all about the aristocrats, but here they are more normal people.
May 23, 2010
Oh, how I love a good trashy romance. This is the first I have read by this author and I read it in less than 24 hours.
November 22, 2012
The story just didn't retain my interest.
December 30, 2012
Very enjoyabe. Loved the gypsy angle of the story. Probably my favorite Layton novel though the others in the series are good. Enduring with a good amount of angst with a strong hero.
July 31, 2020
DNF at 46%
It saddens me to not being able to finish it because Edith Layton has written some of my favorite books. It’s just not keeping my interest and I’m done pushing myself.
It saddens me to not being able to finish it because Edith Layton has written some of my favorite books. It’s just not keeping my interest and I’m done pushing myself.
May 21, 2012
awwwwwwww
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews