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The Radwells #1
The Inconvenient Duchess
Dear Cici and Father,
I have come to Devon and married a duke. And I'm more tired and hungry than I have ever been in my life. Please let me come home.
Compromised and wedded on the same day, Lady Miranda was fast finding married life not to her taste. A decaying manor and a secretive husband were hardly the stuff of girlish dreams. Yet every time she looked at dark, brooding Marcus Radwell, Duke of Haughleigh, she felt inexplicably compelled—and determined—to make their marriage real!
I have come to Devon and married a duke. And I'm more tired and hungry than I have ever been in my life. Please let me come home.
Compromised and wedded on the same day, Lady Miranda was fast finding married life not to her taste. A decaying manor and a secretive husband were hardly the stuff of girlish dreams. Yet every time she looked at dark, brooding Marcus Radwell, Duke of Haughleigh, she felt inexplicably compelled—and determined—to make their marriage real!
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
395 people are currently reading
2161 people want to read
About the author
Christine Merrill
239 books215 followersChristine Merrill has wanted to be an author for as long as she can remember. But one thing stood in her way: touch typing.
Six weeks spent on an IBM Selectric in her Sophomore year of high school proved that she would never be able to produce one readable page of manuscript, much less several hundred.
Twenty years passed, and she found ways to pass the time: marrying her high school sweetheart; having two sons; and taking an assortment of jobs in professional theater costume shops, including a miserable year and a half spent styling wigs for a certain hamburger-selling clown (who shall remain nameless, since I don't want to incur the wrath of a major American corporation) and a couple of weeks working on a TV movie with one of the sexiest men alive (whose name I'm happy to drop: Mark Harmon!).
During that time, someone invented word processing, and a reliable spell checker.
Christine returned to her childhood dream, only to discover that there was more to the whole writing thing than accurate typing. The next years were spent learning to tell stories that people might want to read, and trying to find someone who wanted to buy them. Her chance came when she won the RWA's Golden Heart Competition for unpublished manuscripts. The winning story, soon to be known as THE INCONVENIENT DUCHESS, was bought by the contest judges, the delightful editors at Mills & Boon, in Richmond, Surrey.
Christine is now busy writing her fifth book, and is more than slightly jealous that her manuscripts get to visit England, while she stays home in Wisconsin
Six weeks spent on an IBM Selectric in her Sophomore year of high school proved that she would never be able to produce one readable page of manuscript, much less several hundred.
Twenty years passed, and she found ways to pass the time: marrying her high school sweetheart; having two sons; and taking an assortment of jobs in professional theater costume shops, including a miserable year and a half spent styling wigs for a certain hamburger-selling clown (who shall remain nameless, since I don't want to incur the wrath of a major American corporation) and a couple of weeks working on a TV movie with one of the sexiest men alive (whose name I'm happy to drop: Mark Harmon!).
During that time, someone invented word processing, and a reliable spell checker.
Christine returned to her childhood dream, only to discover that there was more to the whole writing thing than accurate typing. The next years were spent learning to tell stories that people might want to read, and trying to find someone who wanted to buy them. Her chance came when she won the RWA's Golden Heart Competition for unpublished manuscripts. The winning story, soon to be known as THE INCONVENIENT DUCHESS, was bought by the contest judges, the delightful editors at Mills & Boon, in Richmond, Surrey.
Christine is now busy writing her fifth book, and is more than slightly jealous that her manuscripts get to visit England, while she stays home in Wisconsin
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 396 reviews
February 20, 2012
When you marry a person, you marry their family, bad and good. Both Miranda and Marcus take their share of family baggage into their marriage. Miranda's family is not good ton at all, with some quite shocking scandal in their background, and Marcus' family is full of ugly secrets and betrayal. Honestly, this book has some dark aspects to it. Marcus' brother was a real piece of work. He starts trying to destroy Marcus and Miranda's marriage from the beginning, and Miranda is naive to his schemes, and just lonely enough and unacquainted with her husband to fall into his trap. I didn't particularly like that Marcus and Miranda spend a chunk of time apart for the 1st part of this book, but I understand why this was done, in light of the plot device of St. John's machinations against the newly wedded couple. I hadn't made up my mind about my feelings about Miranda being attracted to and somewhat susceptible to St. John's charms. When the reveal comes at the end, that makes sense as well. And in a way, it made me love Marcus and respect Miranda more. She was just a normal woman, with all the feelings that women feel, and a neglected bride. And Marcus for fighting to overcome his understandable fears and insecurities due to his disastrous first marriage, and St. John's role in destroying it. In light of those aspects of realistically flawed humanity evident and a very tangled web woven around her, and how she does try to be honorable about it, I couldn't really hold what happens against her. Admittedly, I was glad that things didn't go too far, although there were some uncomfortable moments where I yelled at the page, my stomach clenched into a knot.
Overall, I think the elements that challenged me about this book made it a stronger read for me. This book falls into the darker regency category just because of the emotional tangles that exist between Marcus and St. John, and how Miranda gets caught in that trap, but untangles both herself and Marcus from it with the power of her love and loyalty for him, her strong nature tested by a rocky life prior to becoming Marcus' duchess, and her determination to stand by her husband and honor her vows, even if that was harder than she thought it would be.
I'd have to give this book four stars because it packed a punch, and I really did enjoy the journey of strangers coerced into marriage to a couple deeply in love with each other.
Overall, I think the elements that challenged me about this book made it a stronger read for me. This book falls into the darker regency category just because of the emotional tangles that exist between Marcus and St. John, and how Miranda gets caught in that trap, but untangles both herself and Marcus from it with the power of her love and loyalty for him, her strong nature tested by a rocky life prior to becoming Marcus' duchess, and her determination to stand by her husband and honor her vows, even if that was harder than she thought it would be.
I'd have to give this book four stars because it packed a punch, and I really did enjoy the journey of strangers coerced into marriage to a couple deeply in love with each other.
October 23, 2016
I frigging LOVED this book. I'm sorry, I can't think of any other way to put it.
I was trolling my kindle for something to read the other night when I happened upon the title. As I remembered exactly nothing about the book (other than that I really liked it) I figured what the heck and re-read it.
Now I'm gonna gush.
I love Christine Merrill's writing. An author of some wit, her books are infused with a sense of it, both in the prose and in her characterizations. Not all authors have this, and when I find one who does, I glom their backlist like RIGHT. NOW.
It doesn't hurt, of course, that The Inconvenient Duchess has one of my favourite plots ever - a marriage contrived by a scheming relative bringing together the stuffed-shirt Hero and an upstart heroine. This Hero stomps about yelling at the staff and slamming doors, just the way I like 'em. He isn't so much of a boor that he doesn't recognize what a jackass he is, and this is his saving grace. The heroine is another favourite type of mine, the ruined/poor/spinster with a temper.
I laughed out loud at some parts, grinned to myself at others, and thoroughly enjoyed every second of reading it.
One of my favourite quotes from the book is here:
A couple of things kept this from being a 5 star - perhaps it was a little rushed, but that might be due more to the fact that this is a Harlequin Historical than any other. In any event, it's going on my "favourites" shelf, and is a perfect feel-good regency keeper.
And I'm off to glom Christine Merrill's backlist. :)
I was trolling my kindle for something to read the other night when I happened upon the title. As I remembered exactly nothing about the book (other than that I really liked it) I figured what the heck and re-read it.
Now I'm gonna gush.
I love Christine Merrill's writing. An author of some wit, her books are infused with a sense of it, both in the prose and in her characterizations. Not all authors have this, and when I find one who does, I glom their backlist like RIGHT. NOW.
It doesn't hurt, of course, that The Inconvenient Duchess has one of my favourite plots ever - a marriage contrived by a scheming relative bringing together the stuffed-shirt Hero and an upstart heroine. This Hero stomps about yelling at the staff and slamming doors, just the way I like 'em. He isn't so much of a boor that he doesn't recognize what a jackass he is, and this is his saving grace. The heroine is another favourite type of mine, the ruined/poor/spinster with a temper.
I laughed out loud at some parts, grinned to myself at others, and thoroughly enjoyed every second of reading it.
One of my favourite quotes from the book is here:
"I know that you must have certain...needs," she almost whispered the word. "If you might wish to visit your mistress...I would not blame you for it."
He choked on his tea. "There are a few things we need to make clear, lady wife. Firstly, I do not wish you to discuss such things at all, but, if you must, you will not do so over the breakfast table. Secondly, if and when I seek to visit my "mistress" I will not ask, or for that matter, need your permission to do so. Thirdly, you should not even know of such things, and if you do, I'll thank you to keep the information to yourself. The last thing I want to do is discuss "my needs" with my wife." The last seemed to him so ridiculous a statement that he was momentarily struck dumb. No wonder, with an attitude like that, he'd sought to avoid the married state for so long.
A couple of things kept this from being a 5 star - perhaps it was a little rushed, but that might be due more to the fact that this is a Harlequin Historical than any other. In any event, it's going on my "favourites" shelf, and is a perfect feel-good regency keeper.
And I'm off to glom Christine Merrill's backlist. :)
June 21, 2012
Speed review: I loved this.
The more I read of this, the more I was surprised this was published under a Harlequin line. If you're expecting a sweet regency with a cliched misunderstanding for the plot, you're in for a ride. This is a dark, sensual, forceful read and I had a tremendously hard time putting it down. The characters have secrets, all of them, and are so intertwined that at times you almost want to give the author thunderous applause at how deftly she wove this story together.
Miranda is a Lady born, but raised in poverty. She has known nothing but service since she was 10 years old. She has callouses on her hands and has known backbreaking work. Hardly the makings of a lady of the Ton. She's been raised by her father, a former Lord who wasted his life and money, and a woman who through no fault of her own became a famous courtesan, now also living in abject poverty. In a daring move to save Miranda from the life they have been living, her parents send her unchaperoned to the home of two notorious rakes - brothers St John and Marcus Radwell (Duke of Haughleigh), hoping one of them will offer for her and "save her reputation".
Some families are not loving however, and while Miranda had known poverty but also love, the brothers Radwell have only known jealousy and strife. Raised by parents who hated each other, the former Duke favored Marcus while his wife showed overt favoritism to St John, which has caused decades of anger between them.
Marcus was fascinating to me. At times you could see he wanted to feel love towards his mother and even towards St John, but so much water under the bridge has made that impossible. When he meets Miranda and understands what has transpired (her being alone with his brother and himself), he immediately offers for her. He sees in her a kindred soul of sorts, and cannot allow her to be ruined and cast off into a life servitude or worse.
Miranda's transition from housemaid to Duchess is not easy, nor is the beginnings of their marriage. They fight quite a bit and Marcus is cruel to her several times. Miranda takes quite a bit from Marcus because she believes she should be grateful for the position she now holds. But Marcus is not a tyrant. He eventually has a "come to Jesus" moment and realized what he is doing and not doing and makes great effort to bring Miranda up into the world she should rightfully have been living all along.
Secrets, lies, family fights - none of these can stay hidden for long and eventually they rear their ugly head, but it only makes the story more enthralling. St John is NOT the misunderstood brother but I believe truly damaged inside. Marcus is NOT the martyr, he gives as good as he gets. Miranda is NOT a Cinderella, rising from the ashes with the help of a fairy godmother. They are all three flawed human beings.
I'm giving this story a 5 star, even though there was a few formatting errors and even though I think one aspect of the story near the end was a little rushed. Overall, this was a book that kept me thinking about it when I wasn't able to read, and when I was, didn't allow me to put it down. A dark, hidden gem of the first order wrapped in a Harlequin bow.
Kudos Ms. Merrill.
The more I read of this, the more I was surprised this was published under a Harlequin line. If you're expecting a sweet regency with a cliched misunderstanding for the plot, you're in for a ride. This is a dark, sensual, forceful read and I had a tremendously hard time putting it down. The characters have secrets, all of them, and are so intertwined that at times you almost want to give the author thunderous applause at how deftly she wove this story together.
Miranda is a Lady born, but raised in poverty. She has known nothing but service since she was 10 years old. She has callouses on her hands and has known backbreaking work. Hardly the makings of a lady of the Ton. She's been raised by her father, a former Lord who wasted his life and money, and a woman who through no fault of her own became a famous courtesan, now also living in abject poverty. In a daring move to save Miranda from the life they have been living, her parents send her unchaperoned to the home of two notorious rakes - brothers St John and Marcus Radwell (Duke of Haughleigh), hoping one of them will offer for her and "save her reputation".
Some families are not loving however, and while Miranda had known poverty but also love, the brothers Radwell have only known jealousy and strife. Raised by parents who hated each other, the former Duke favored Marcus while his wife showed overt favoritism to St John, which has caused decades of anger between them.
Marcus was fascinating to me. At times you could see he wanted to feel love towards his mother and even towards St John, but so much water under the bridge has made that impossible. When he meets Miranda and understands what has transpired (her being alone with his brother and himself), he immediately offers for her. He sees in her a kindred soul of sorts, and cannot allow her to be ruined and cast off into a life servitude or worse.
Miranda's transition from housemaid to Duchess is not easy, nor is the beginnings of their marriage. They fight quite a bit and Marcus is cruel to her several times. Miranda takes quite a bit from Marcus because she believes she should be grateful for the position she now holds. But Marcus is not a tyrant. He eventually has a "come to Jesus" moment and realized what he is doing and not doing and makes great effort to bring Miranda up into the world she should rightfully have been living all along.
Secrets, lies, family fights - none of these can stay hidden for long and eventually they rear their ugly head, but it only makes the story more enthralling. St John is NOT the misunderstood brother but I believe truly damaged inside. Marcus is NOT the martyr, he gives as good as he gets. Miranda is NOT a Cinderella, rising from the ashes with the help of a fairy godmother. They are all three flawed human beings.
I'm giving this story a 5 star, even though there was a few formatting errors and even though I think one aspect of the story near the end was a little rushed. Overall, this was a book that kept me thinking about it when I wasn't able to read, and when I was, didn't allow me to put it down. A dark, hidden gem of the first order wrapped in a Harlequin bow.
Kudos Ms. Merrill.
April 23, 2020
I couldn't like the book despite some of the good elements. Mostly, I didn't like that Marcus, the hero abandon Miranda after their marriage for quite a long time. During this time Marcus, brother tried to destroy their marriage. I get that Miranda was quite naive and unable to comprehend her brother-in-laws motive, but still she chooses to ignore some of her suspicions. And the most important thing, The book was full of secrets. I don't mind secrecy, but the heroine was quite OK with it.
It was my first book by this author and her writing was OK for me. It's just, I didn't like the way things turned out so maybe I will give her other books a try.
It was my first book by this author and her writing was OK for me. It's just, I didn't like the way things turned out so maybe I will give her other books a try.
April 7, 2023
Quite a convoluted story actually.
3.25*?
3.25*?
March 15, 2021
Ini novel author yg pertama saya baca. Sebenarnya karakter Miranda bagus sekali, begitu pula karakter Marcus lumayan mengesankan utk ukuran duke. Tapi sayangnya dialog² yg ditulis agak kaku dan kelewat panjang, selain jg terlalu formal.
Marcus terpaksa berjanji pd ibunya yg sekarat, utk segera menikah kembali stl menduda selama 10 thn, dgn gadis yg dijodohkan ibunya. Tapi ujug² Miranda, gadis tsb sudah nongol di rmhnya saat rmh tsb msh dlm keadaan berduka sepeninggal si duchess. Dan demi menyelamatkan reputasi Miranda, Marcus terpaksa menikahinya dgn terbirit-birit dan langsung pergi ke London pagi esok harinya.
St John, adik Marcus yg udh diusir, pny urat gak tau malu yg sangat tebal. Memanfaatkan ketidakhadiran abangnya, St John mencoba merayu Miranda spy jatuh ke pelukannya. Tapi Miranda bukanlah spt Bethany, almarhumah istri Marcus. Miranda tidak cantik tapi punya prinsip tinggi dan tidak segan² bersikap temperamental jika dibutuhkan.
Andai ceritanya gak bertele-tele mungkin saya bs lbh enjoy menikmati membaca novel ini. Saya juga gak mau menghakimi kesukaan Miranda utk membenahi manor tsb, tapi gak usah mengebu-ngebu gitu dong, spt mengejar piala duchess paling giat bekerja dan gak sungkan bertangan kotor. Over glorifikasi ke Miranda jg terasa "maksa" bhw dia bisa jadi bidan (entah ini dpt drmn) yg sptnya bukan kualifikasi pekerjaan dari mantan pelayan bar rasanya.
Chemistry Miranda & Marcus juga slow burner dan dirangkum hampir di akhir cerita. Masalah kepercayaan menjadi tema novel ini, krn pasangan ini jelas gak pny kepercayaan satu sama lain, dmn Miranda curiga dan bersikeras Marcus pny simpanan (berkat gosokan St John). Marcus jg kelewat lamban dlm bertindak dan bikin saya gregetan bacanya.
Usaha Miranda dlm menjembatani hubungannya yg rapuh dgn Marcus kurang semengesankan spt saat Miranda memecat kepala rumah tangga manor yg korup tsb. Itu scene paling bagus (bagi saya) krn Miranda menegaskan otoritasnya siapa yg lebih berhak berkuasa di manor tsb. Tapi memang butuh pengalaman yg sangat banyak utk menghadapi narsistik berbahaya spt St John. Overall, lumayan sih membaca novel ini.
Marcus terpaksa berjanji pd ibunya yg sekarat, utk segera menikah kembali stl menduda selama 10 thn, dgn gadis yg dijodohkan ibunya. Tapi ujug² Miranda, gadis tsb sudah nongol di rmhnya saat rmh tsb msh dlm keadaan berduka sepeninggal si duchess. Dan demi menyelamatkan reputasi Miranda, Marcus terpaksa menikahinya dgn terbirit-birit dan langsung pergi ke London pagi esok harinya.
St John, adik Marcus yg udh diusir, pny urat gak tau malu yg sangat tebal. Memanfaatkan ketidakhadiran abangnya, St John mencoba merayu Miranda spy jatuh ke pelukannya. Tapi Miranda bukanlah spt Bethany, almarhumah istri Marcus. Miranda tidak cantik tapi punya prinsip tinggi dan tidak segan² bersikap temperamental jika dibutuhkan.
Andai ceritanya gak bertele-tele mungkin saya bs lbh enjoy menikmati membaca novel ini. Saya juga gak mau menghakimi kesukaan Miranda utk membenahi manor tsb, tapi gak usah mengebu-ngebu gitu dong, spt mengejar piala duchess paling giat bekerja dan gak sungkan bertangan kotor. Over glorifikasi ke Miranda jg terasa "maksa" bhw dia bisa jadi bidan (entah ini dpt drmn) yg sptnya bukan kualifikasi pekerjaan dari mantan pelayan bar rasanya.
Chemistry Miranda & Marcus juga slow burner dan dirangkum hampir di akhir cerita. Masalah kepercayaan menjadi tema novel ini, krn pasangan ini jelas gak pny kepercayaan satu sama lain, dmn Miranda curiga dan bersikeras Marcus pny simpanan (berkat gosokan St John). Marcus jg kelewat lamban dlm bertindak dan bikin saya gregetan bacanya.
Usaha Miranda dlm menjembatani hubungannya yg rapuh dgn Marcus kurang semengesankan spt saat Miranda memecat kepala rumah tangga manor yg korup tsb. Itu scene paling bagus (bagi saya) krn Miranda menegaskan otoritasnya siapa yg lebih berhak berkuasa di manor tsb. Tapi memang butuh pengalaman yg sangat banyak utk menghadapi narsistik berbahaya spt St John. Overall, lumayan sih membaca novel ini.
December 26, 2012
What a bunch of party poopers. That, or I am completely out of touch. Having suffered through a few prize Regency romance stinkers recently, this was thoroughly entertaining from the get go. The dialogue is terrific, witty, and well-differentiated. The descriptions vivid and clear. Even the minor characters are given concise, hilarious treatment. The story is deftly told by a talented author. Very entertaining.
A droll, dry-humored, deeply cynical TDH hero and a wonderful, intelligent if water-logged heroine meet under the worst, wettest circumstances. During a torrential rain, she's arrived on his doorstep unannounced, unchaperoned and penniless with desperate hopes to marry the widowed duke and outrun undisclosed scandals ("There was a limit to the number of counties she could be disgraced in, and still have a hope of a match."). Under the circumstances, he marries her to save her reputation. Lots happens as detailed elsewhere in reviews. Why should I spoil your fun in discovering it for yourself? First half is rollicking, second slows but is still very good, there is more conflict but well resolved. It's not a deep read but I don't read HR for depth. For a romp, it's lots of fun.
Due to errors, I assumed it was self published. Shame on Harlequin copyeditors for missing inconsistencies, (should be Lord Grey if she is Lady Miranda) and misspellings.
A droll, dry-humored, deeply cynical TDH hero and a wonderful, intelligent if water-logged heroine meet under the worst, wettest circumstances. During a torrential rain, she's arrived on his doorstep unannounced, unchaperoned and penniless with desperate hopes to marry the widowed duke and outrun undisclosed scandals ("There was a limit to the number of counties she could be disgraced in, and still have a hope of a match."). Under the circumstances, he marries her to save her reputation. Lots happens as detailed elsewhere in reviews. Why should I spoil your fun in discovering it for yourself? First half is rollicking, second slows but is still very good, there is more conflict but well resolved. It's not a deep read but I don't read HR for depth. For a romp, it's lots of fun.
Due to errors, I assumed it was self published. Shame on Harlequin copyeditors for missing inconsistencies, (should be Lord Grey if she is Lady Miranda) and misspellings.
August 19, 2012
I got this free from Amazon.
Thanks to my mother, I am a sucker for Harlequin books. This one did not disappoint me. Merrill did a great job in creating great characters. Miranda, the female lead was the best. Usually the male lead is the favorite (duh) but she was such a great person. Funny and strong she had what it took to take over a household.
At first I thought there were words being misspelled but then I recognized the author must be from the UK. LOL
I thought the story was creative. It was a little new and I liked the differences that Merrill brought.
Overall, this is a great book for a re-read.
Thanks to my mother, I am a sucker for Harlequin books. This one did not disappoint me. Merrill did a great job in creating great characters. Miranda, the female lead was the best. Usually the male lead is the favorite (duh) but she was such a great person. Funny and strong she had what it took to take over a household.
At first I thought there were words being misspelled but then I recognized the author must be from the UK. LOL
I thought the story was creative. It was a little new and I liked the differences that Merrill brought.
Overall, this is a great book for a re-read.
February 21, 2017
Lady Meredith Grey shows up on Marcus Radwell (Duke of Haughleigh)'s doorstep with a carpetbag full of secrets. He marries her, and then unintentionally leaves her at the mercy of his deplorable brother. Then there's more secrets and nonsense and it ends with tumultuous sex.
1. Even though this was a touch overwrought, it was entertaining? I didn't loathe it? I kind of flew through it?
2. St. John was straight creepin'.
3. But I think it says a lot that I don't remember anything about it even though I finished it just a few hours ago? So there's that.
1. Even though this was a touch overwrought, it was entertaining? I didn't loathe it? I kind of flew through it?
2. St. John was straight creepin'.
3. But I think it says a lot that I don't remember anything about it even though I finished it just a few hours ago? So there's that.
September 26, 2011
This is the new free read at tryharlequin.com , and it wasn't bad at all. I really liked the hero, who had been heartbroken and betrayed 10 years ago, and was so gruff and bitter and angry, but was a very kind and romantic soul under all that. He was really rather sweet. I also liked the heroine who was a take-charge no nonsense kind of woman, who was a bit naive, but didn't fall for the hero at first sight.
I didn't like the villainness of the villain though. St. John, the brother of the hero, was just too bad, and I hated how much time he spent with the heroine. And everything he said and did was so obviously a lie, I didn't have patience for it, and wanted to skip ahead whenever he was in sight.
I did like that Miranda and Marcus actually slowly got to know each other, and trusted on the perception they had of each other. No huge Big Misunderstandings, which I always appreciate.
However, with all the build up for the bad guys plans, the falling in love aspect got a bit glossed over, and I'm not even sure they ever actually say they love each other.
So I wasn't entirely satisfied.
St. John is the hero of the next book, but I don't think I'm interested to see how he redeems himself.
I didn't like the villainness of the villain though. St. John, the brother of the hero, was just too bad, and I hated how much time he spent with the heroine. And everything he said and did was so obviously a lie, I didn't have patience for it, and wanted to skip ahead whenever he was in sight.
I did like that Miranda and Marcus actually slowly got to know each other, and trusted on the perception they had of each other. No huge Big Misunderstandings, which I always appreciate.
However, with all the build up for the bad guys plans, the falling in love aspect got a bit glossed over, and I'm not even sure they ever actually say they love each other.
So I wasn't entirely satisfied.
St. John is the hero of the next book, but I don't think I'm interested to see how he redeems himself.
July 13, 2023
The author has an easy to read writing style but other than that I just didn't like the book. It was impossible to tell even what period it was set in!
Not recommended.
Not recommended.
March 8, 2022
Mumu' - per RFS
.
Care fenici, cosa pensereste se una sera, all’improvviso, fosse piombata in casa vostra una giovane infreddolita e fradicia di pioggia?
Beh, Marcus Radwell, quarto duca di Haughleigh, non ha potuto far altro che sposarla il mattino dopo.
La povera lady Miranda Grey, per poter trovare il coraggio di presentarsi sola e in tarda serata dinnanzi alla porta dell’uomo, un perfetto sconosciuto, si è dovuta aggrappare alla propria disperazione. Non aveva modo e tempo di preoccuparsi della sua opinione in merito, lui doveva assolutamente chiederla in sposa.
Dal canto suo Marcus, ancora adirato con la madre, alla quale sul letto di morte aveva giurato di conoscere questa fanciulla per riparare un vecchio torto della duchessa a un’amica, non poteva esimersi dal condurla all’altare, dato che oramai l’onore della giovane era irrimediabilmente compromesso.
Ed è così che, una sera sotto il cielo battente di pioggia, comincia una meravigliosa storia d’amore, anche se i due ancora non lo sanno.
Subito dopo le frettolose nozze, il duca parte lesto per Londra alla ricerca di informazioni su questa donna dall’aria delicata ma tenace. Miranda, dal canto suo, non perde tempo e prende le redini della dimora, diventando una perfetta padrona di casa, sebbene si ritrovi costantemente tra i piedi Sir John, l’odiato fratello minore di Marcus, che le causerà non pochi problemi.
Come si evolve la vicenda lascio a voi scoprirlo; quello che posso dirvi è che si tratta di un libro molto piacevole, privo di intrecci narrativi molto complessi in quanto preferisce focalizzarsi quasi esclusivamente sull’evoluzione della storia d’amore tra i protagonisti. Il racconto è molto scorrevole e non sono mancati momenti molto divertenti. La vicenda è ambientata quasi esclusivamente nella dimora del duca, quindi non ci sono descrizioni particolarmente minuziose di luoghi o infiniti balli. Ho apprezzato i dialoghi tra i protagonisti, i continui battibecchi tra i due, ma anche i momenti di infinita tenerezza.
In definitiva, care fenici, vi consiglio assolutamente la lettura di questo romanzo che, pur non distinguendosi per l’originalità della trama, ha il pregio di essere scritto molto bene, mantenendo l’interesse verso il racconto sempre vivo e alternando scene molto divertenti a momenti più profondi.
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Care fenici, cosa pensereste se una sera, all’improvviso, fosse piombata in casa vostra una giovane infreddolita e fradicia di pioggia?
Beh, Marcus Radwell, quarto duca di Haughleigh, non ha potuto far altro che sposarla il mattino dopo.
La povera lady Miranda Grey, per poter trovare il coraggio di presentarsi sola e in tarda serata dinnanzi alla porta dell’uomo, un perfetto sconosciuto, si è dovuta aggrappare alla propria disperazione. Non aveva modo e tempo di preoccuparsi della sua opinione in merito, lui doveva assolutamente chiederla in sposa.
Dal canto suo Marcus, ancora adirato con la madre, alla quale sul letto di morte aveva giurato di conoscere questa fanciulla per riparare un vecchio torto della duchessa a un’amica, non poteva esimersi dal condurla all’altare, dato che oramai l’onore della giovane era irrimediabilmente compromesso.
Ed è così che, una sera sotto il cielo battente di pioggia, comincia una meravigliosa storia d’amore, anche se i due ancora non lo sanno.
Subito dopo le frettolose nozze, il duca parte lesto per Londra alla ricerca di informazioni su questa donna dall’aria delicata ma tenace. Miranda, dal canto suo, non perde tempo e prende le redini della dimora, diventando una perfetta padrona di casa, sebbene si ritrovi costantemente tra i piedi Sir John, l’odiato fratello minore di Marcus, che le causerà non pochi problemi.
Come si evolve la vicenda lascio a voi scoprirlo; quello che posso dirvi è che si tratta di un libro molto piacevole, privo di intrecci narrativi molto complessi in quanto preferisce focalizzarsi quasi esclusivamente sull’evoluzione della storia d’amore tra i protagonisti. Il racconto è molto scorrevole e non sono mancati momenti molto divertenti. La vicenda è ambientata quasi esclusivamente nella dimora del duca, quindi non ci sono descrizioni particolarmente minuziose di luoghi o infiniti balli. Ho apprezzato i dialoghi tra i protagonisti, i continui battibecchi tra i due, ma anche i momenti di infinita tenerezza.
In definitiva, care fenici, vi consiglio assolutamente la lettura di questo romanzo che, pur non distinguendosi per l’originalità della trama, ha il pregio di essere scritto molto bene, mantenendo l’interesse verso il racconto sempre vivo e alternando scene molto divertenti a momenti più profondi.
September 5, 2012
3 1/2 stars - I downloaded this ebook for Free. I’m not a, “I start reading a book and have to finish it,” type of reader. I can stop anywhere, and I do. One paragraph, a couple of pages, a couple of chapters, half way through the book – so I go through a lot of books (especially a lot of free ones I put on my Kindle) without reviewing them because I think it might not be fair to review something I didn’t finish. But here I am, finally with a finished book to review.
I think "The Inconvenient Duchess" is actually my first true historical romance I’ve read. Romance is usually not a genre I pick up. (I read other genres with some romance in them) But I must say, I really enjoyed reading it. It had tension, secrets, and moved at a nice pace. I love the character development of both main characters and the slow reveal of the villain.
There were a few things that kind of made me go, “What? Why would she do that?” More than once, I thought either the dialogue or the actions of both MCs were out of character. Sometimes things just didn’t seem to flow with the rest of the story and that includes some of the love scenes. But here again, I’m new to this genre, so maybe it is just me.
Overall, I think if you are a historical romance fan you will like this one. And if you are new to the genre, this would probably be a good place to start.
I think "The Inconvenient Duchess" is actually my first true historical romance I’ve read. Romance is usually not a genre I pick up. (I read other genres with some romance in them) But I must say, I really enjoyed reading it. It had tension, secrets, and moved at a nice pace. I love the character development of both main characters and the slow reveal of the villain.
There were a few things that kind of made me go, “What? Why would she do that?” More than once, I thought either the dialogue or the actions of both MCs were out of character. Sometimes things just didn’t seem to flow with the rest of the story and that includes some of the love scenes. But here again, I’m new to this genre, so maybe it is just me.
Overall, I think if you are a historical romance fan you will like this one. And if you are new to the genre, this would probably be a good place to start.
November 30, 2010
I wanted to give this book a better rating, but i felt so many contradictions, from not being able to put it down, to wanting to hurl it across the room, that i had to settle for 3 stars. I loved the author's style, it is light, but very descriptive, it got me involved with the characters, which were all too flawed and human. There is where my problem with this book lies: for the first time while reading this type of book i felt conflicted, i loved the hero, he was wonderful underneath the gruff exterior, but the heroine kept me on pins and needles. At times i could relate to her, could respect her backbone, but at others she completely made me want to vomit(seriously)with some of her choices and feelings at the beginning of the book, a few times i felt pity for her, and the overwhelming feeling was that she did not deserve her husband, and didn't love him as she should. A feeling that an epilogue-like ending wrapped with a bow could not really shake.
June 22, 2015
The only problem I found in this book was the lack of deep emotional connection between Marcus and Miranda. This was not the story of earth shattering or forbidden love. It was more like a sweet story of 2 individuals who fond themselves in matrimony and try to make the best of it. Marcus is the kind of hero who would fall in love with anyone he married for he wants marital bliss and respects the institution of marriage...but he has been unlucky in the past, so he gets lucky this time because despite her inexperience, volatile nature, and indiscriminate sensuality(which initially get in the way of their HEA)....Miranda believes in loyalty towards her husband. There was a very sweet and memorable scene of 'the morning after' described by Marcus' valet...I couldn't help but grin at Marcus' long-coming happiness.
October 20, 2013
Marcus Radwell, Duke of Haughleigh, gave a promise to his mother before she died and now he cannot turn the soaked and alone Lady Miranda Grey away. She was unlucky (or lucky enough) to be seen by the vicar and his wife when she first came to the village, so the duke was obliged to marry her.
Miranda Grey is more real than most heroines I've read. She has her weaknesses and she makes mistakes trusting people she shouldn't. Now that could be either a good thing if you want to read about characters with real flaws and mistakes, or not so good if you expect a fairy tale. This story is neither here nor there. I can't decide why I didn't like this story as much as I thought I would. Almost every problem in the book got a clean resolution which was too naive even for this type of story.
Miranda Grey is more real than most heroines I've read. She has her weaknesses and she makes mistakes trusting people she shouldn't. Now that could be either a good thing if you want to read about characters with real flaws and mistakes, or not so good if you expect a fairy tale. This story is neither here nor there. I can't decide why I didn't like this story as much as I thought I would. Almost every problem in the book got a clean resolution which was too naive even for this type of story.
August 19, 2012
3.5 stars, rounded up.
It was a nice story, and one that I enjoyed despite myself. The heroine and the hero were not TSTL per se, but that makes it even more annoying, when perfectly sensible people act like doofuses. It made the conflicts seem contrived. Even so, the story was well-executed.
Unfortunately, while I liked the main couple of this book very much, I am not inclined to go looking for the other books in the series, especially since the idiot brother is the hero of book 2. But book 1 was good fun.
It was a nice story, and one that I enjoyed despite myself. The heroine and the hero were not TSTL per se, but that makes it even more annoying, when perfectly sensible people act like doofuses. It made the conflicts seem contrived. Even so, the story was well-executed.
Unfortunately, while I liked the main couple of this book very much, I am not inclined to go looking for the other books in the series, especially since the idiot brother is the hero of book 2. But book 1 was good fun.
August 7, 2012
It was so boring!
I know that historicals usually have the same structure, but the author has to make up this with the writing.
I repeat, it bored me to death!
I know that historicals usually have the same structure, but the author has to make up this with the writing.
I repeat, it bored me to death!
September 9, 2013
The Radwells are a family of secrets and enmity -- they get along best when they are apart from one another, but the Dowager Duchess of Haughleigh can no longer deny the need to secure the succession and so she summons her eldest, Marcus, the current Duke of Haughleigh to her bedside to extract a promise from him.
Tired of his mother's interference and her many ploys to get him to marry, Marcus does not believe the deathbed tableau his mother has set up for him but, to humor her, he agrees to meet and to consider the young lady his mother's former classmate is taking care of.
Who is this mysterious former classmate? What does she hold over his mother? And who is this young lady who dares to come to his house and see herself married to a duke?
Marcus doesn't have time to ponder the questions or the repercussions of the promise he made to her -- until one rainy day, a few weeks after his mother's death, a lady walks up to his doorstep and announces that she is expected by the Dowager Duchess and by the Duke of Haughleigh.
Lady Miranda Grey is a lady in name only -- with no money and no prospects, she follows Cici's urging to go to Devon and pay a visit to the Radwells. She arrives, tired and wet, with a small trunk and no chaperone. It is that last small detail that seals Marcus's fate -- and, to save Miranda's reputation (and his), he promptly proposes marriage to her.
And like that, Miranda Grey becomes a lady in truth, a duchess in fact, -- and gets swept up in the tumultuous lives of the Radwells.
The Inconvenient Duchess by Christine Merrill is the first Harlequin Historical that I am reviewing for this blog. I discovered Christine Merrill through Read a Romance Month and I thought her post on Day 18 was beautiful and eloquent. I contacted Bobbi of RARM asking for which book to read first and she reminded me that one of Christine's books was being offered for free so I got a copy and read it.
And loved it. All 292 pages of wonderful words and of breathtaking storytelling and of a most complex hero and a most capable heroine.
Marcus Radwell's first marriage ended tragically with the death of his wife in childbed, but the deeper story is that Bethany had never loved Marcus and only wanted him for his title. Marcus reminds me of Mary Balogh's heroes: a bit emotionally distant at the beginning, a bit gruff and a bit too serious.
Now his second marriage is off to a bad start: married too quickly and conveniently to avoid gossip to a woman he believes his mother had schemed with:
They are virtually strangers. There is resentment, mistrust and anger -- but Miranda has a very optimistic, very positive view of the situation, and I liked that about her. She's had a difficult life and is in a hostile environment but she's just so brave and quite cheeky -- and very determined to make her situation work.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading about how she transformed Marcus's house and whipped his staff into shape. (Read: Chapter 7 and 9) As the house gets sorted, their lives and hearts seem to follow suit -- and our hero and heroine develop a wonderful relationship. There is still a strain of sadness in Miranda, traces of her past life -- and it lends the novel a very poignant tone.
Marcus's brother St. John lends to the air of mystery that surrounds the Radwells. It is clear that he and his brother do not have a good relationship. They deal with each other with civility but one can sense the tension, the resentment that threatens to bubble over to the surface.
Between the lines. Christine Merrill does an excellent job of conveying quite clearly that there is something deeper, something hidden, something unsaid -- and it makes for a very layered, very nuanced, very satisfying read.
Tired of his mother's interference and her many ploys to get him to marry, Marcus does not believe the deathbed tableau his mother has set up for him but, to humor her, he agrees to meet and to consider the young lady his mother's former classmate is taking care of.
Who is this mysterious former classmate? What does she hold over his mother? And who is this young lady who dares to come to his house and see herself married to a duke?
Marcus doesn't have time to ponder the questions or the repercussions of the promise he made to her -- until one rainy day, a few weeks after his mother's death, a lady walks up to his doorstep and announces that she is expected by the Dowager Duchess and by the Duke of Haughleigh.
Lady Miranda Grey is a lady in name only -- with no money and no prospects, she follows Cici's urging to go to Devon and pay a visit to the Radwells. She arrives, tired and wet, with a small trunk and no chaperone. It is that last small detail that seals Marcus's fate -- and, to save Miranda's reputation (and his), he promptly proposes marriage to her.
And like that, Miranda Grey becomes a lady in truth, a duchess in fact, -- and gets swept up in the tumultuous lives of the Radwells.
The Inconvenient Duchess by Christine Merrill is the first Harlequin Historical that I am reviewing for this blog. I discovered Christine Merrill through Read a Romance Month and I thought her post on Day 18 was beautiful and eloquent. I contacted Bobbi of RARM asking for which book to read first and she reminded me that one of Christine's books was being offered for free so I got a copy and read it.
And loved it. All 292 pages of wonderful words and of breathtaking storytelling and of a most complex hero and a most capable heroine.
Marcus Radwell's first marriage ended tragically with the death of his wife in childbed, but the deeper story is that Bethany had never loved Marcus and only wanted him for his title. Marcus reminds me of Mary Balogh's heroes: a bit emotionally distant at the beginning, a bit gruff and a bit too serious.
Now his second marriage is off to a bad start: married too quickly and conveniently to avoid gossip to a woman he believes his mother had schemed with:
His business-like demeanour evaporated under the strain. "That is not what I want," he snapped. "But it is what must be done. You are here now, no thanks to my late mother for making the muddle and letting me sort it out. And don't pretend that this wasn't your goal in coming here. You were dangling after a proposal, and you received one within moments of our meeting. This is a success for you. A coup. Can you not at least pretend to be content? ..."
- p. 28
They are virtually strangers. There is resentment, mistrust and anger -- but Miranda has a very optimistic, very positive view of the situation, and I liked that about her. She's had a difficult life and is in a hostile environment but she's just so brave and quite cheeky -- and very determined to make her situation work.
"Damn the Winslows!"
"Damn them indeed, sir," she whispered quietly, "but do it quietly. They are probably listening at the door."
- p. 65
I thoroughly enjoyed reading about how she transformed Marcus's house and whipped his staff into shape. (Read: Chapter 7 and 9) As the house gets sorted, their lives and hearts seem to follow suit -- and our hero and heroine develop a wonderful relationship. There is still a strain of sadness in Miranda, traces of her past life -- and it lends the novel a very poignant tone.
"You had no hopes? No dreams? No girlish fantasies?"
"I suppose ..." She paused and began again. "I left girlish fantasies behind long ago. It was quite plain that I would marry the man who would have me and make the best of it in any case. One can aim high, hoping to hit a star, and miss the target entirely."
"But if one aims too low?" he asked.
"At least one does not lose the arrow. It seemed foolish to hope for a particular type of husband, when I would be saying yes to the man who offered, regardless of his features, his wealth or his personality."
- pp 190-191
Marcus's brother St. John lends to the air of mystery that surrounds the Radwells. It is clear that he and his brother do not have a good relationship. They deal with each other with civility but one can sense the tension, the resentment that threatens to bubble over to the surface.
Between the lines. Christine Merrill does an excellent job of conveying quite clearly that there is something deeper, something hidden, something unsaid -- and it makes for a very layered, very nuanced, very satisfying read.
December 31, 2012
Miranda is gently born but after her father gambles their money away, she works as a maid. The woman who raised her fears that she's growing up too pretty, and so blackmails an old schoolfriend into inviting her as a guest to the ducal house. Because Miranda arrives late in the evening, without a maid, her reputation is compromised. The duke feels constrained to marry her, but leaves the next day to investigate her claims to gentility. Miranda is left in a dusty old mansion with the duke's scapegrace brother St.John.
This like a less gothic, Regency-era take on Rebecca. The duke's last wife was breath-catchingly beautiful, and Miranda keeps catching the duke and his brother staring up at her portrait in the gallery. The characters respond refreshingly sensibly to various romance tropes: for instance, I also really liked that Miranda's main character trait is her work ethic. Her beauty is mentioned a few times, but what everyone talks about and responds to is how hard she works. Merrill doesn't just tell the reader Miranda is a hard worker, she shows us: her hands are calloused and scarred, she has personal formulas for cleaning wallpaper, she has no musical or artistic accomplishments because she spends her free time doing extra chores.
This book was free on amazon, so my expectations were low. But in fact, I was surprised by how much I liked this. I'm going to search out more books by Merrill in hopes they're as enjoyable as this one. It's so rare but wonderful to find someone who can write Regency romance novels with plots, heroines who are sensible, and heroes who aren't rape-y.
This like a less gothic, Regency-era take on Rebecca. The duke's last wife was breath-catchingly beautiful, and Miranda keeps catching the duke and his brother staring up at her portrait in the gallery. The characters respond refreshingly sensibly to various romance tropes: for instance, I also really liked that Miranda's main character trait is her work ethic. Her beauty is mentioned a few times, but what everyone talks about and responds to is how hard she works. Merrill doesn't just tell the reader Miranda is a hard worker, she shows us: her hands are calloused and scarred, she has personal formulas for cleaning wallpaper, she has no musical or artistic accomplishments because she spends her free time doing extra chores.
This book was free on amazon, so my expectations were low. But in fact, I was surprised by how much I liked this. I'm going to search out more books by Merrill in hopes they're as enjoyable as this one. It's so rare but wonderful to find someone who can write Regency romance novels with plots, heroines who are sensible, and heroes who aren't rape-y.
May 12, 2013
I get daily newsletters with Kindle freebies and occasionally I find myself tempted to try a new author just because the blurb or the cover seemed interesting. This cover didn't do anything for me but the blurb sounded intriguing and I thought I would give it a try.
Sadly the story didn't quite work for me but I do get how it might work for others because if you can suspend your disbelief of some things and stop worrying about others this may just be an entertaining light read. I'll start with the characters - I did like both Miranda and Marcus but they didn't seem well developed enough or at least I didn't buy into their actions and motivations. I did like the set up of them having to marry but felt Marcus accepted it too easy. I liked how she conveyed the brother was a dangerous person and how the reader was the first one to feel it and I liked the shadow of the first wife over everything. I also liked Miranda putting everyone to work when it was needed.
However, I didn't like that Marcus spent a good part of the book away and I would rather have seen them working the relationship and facing Marcus' brother together. This was definitely an historical of the light variety in terms of the historical setting but it did have some dark shadows in terms of what the characters face...
I have read that this was Merrill's first book and that might explain these little things I'm complaining about. If I ever come across another freebie by the author I will give it a try and see how it goes.
Grade: 3/5
Sadly the story didn't quite work for me but I do get how it might work for others because if you can suspend your disbelief of some things and stop worrying about others this may just be an entertaining light read. I'll start with the characters - I did like both Miranda and Marcus but they didn't seem well developed enough or at least I didn't buy into their actions and motivations. I did like the set up of them having to marry but felt Marcus accepted it too easy. I liked how she conveyed the brother was a dangerous person and how the reader was the first one to feel it and I liked the shadow of the first wife over everything. I also liked Miranda putting everyone to work when it was needed.
However, I didn't like that Marcus spent a good part of the book away and I would rather have seen them working the relationship and facing Marcus' brother together. This was definitely an historical of the light variety in terms of the historical setting but it did have some dark shadows in terms of what the characters face...
I have read that this was Merrill's first book and that might explain these little things I'm complaining about. If I ever come across another freebie by the author I will give it a try and see how it goes.
Grade: 3/5
January 18, 2013
It was a good read. The story's a bit darling. I liked the characters. I found their personalities quite unique. The story's about two strangers who had unpleasant pasts, gotten into forced marriage, and they're hoping to find contentment, happiness and love in each other through their marriage.
Marcus is a true people person despite his brooding. He's actually really nice and kind. He's a keeper and quite an excellent lover. Miranda is just so innocent and serene that made to my liking. Men liked her because she is such a sunshine and her presence makes men desire her and women envy her. So when these two connected, passion is there with intensity but oh how I wish it to explode since there's no declaration of love between them. Or it may have but not in the usual I-love-yous way.
How I wish, too, that Marcus' brother St. John wasn't as bad as his character's written because I quite liked him. He seemed so carefree, friendly, nice and kind. Such attributes, in other historical romance characters I've known, usually are rakes but there are tenderness, nice and kind in them. In here, it's opposite but it's still nicely written as it went along with the plotline. It did make sense why he's being nice and all.
Lastly, only if Miranda's didn't do that one thing, this book might earn another star. Read the book if you're curious to what I am talking about.
Read on your own peril.
Marcus is a true people person despite his brooding. He's actually really nice and kind. He's a keeper and quite an excellent lover. Miranda is just so innocent and serene that made to my liking. Men liked her because she is such a sunshine and her presence makes men desire her and women envy her. So when these two connected, passion is there with intensity but oh how I wish it to explode since there's no declaration of love between them. Or it may have but not in the usual I-love-yous way.
How I wish, too, that Marcus' brother St. John wasn't as bad as his character's written because I quite liked him. He seemed so carefree, friendly, nice and kind. Such attributes, in other historical romance characters I've known, usually are rakes but there are tenderness, nice and kind in them. In here, it's opposite but it's still nicely written as it went along with the plotline. It did make sense why he's being nice and all.
Lastly, only if Miranda's didn't do that one thing, this book might earn another star. Read the book if you're curious to what I am talking about.
Read on your own peril.
July 4, 2013
The heroine was an absolute soldier. Whatever she was faced with, she would summon her courage and handle it. Her first two weeks of marriage were a type of boot camp. It was nice to see her version of female empowerment in the Regency era. She had a lot on her plate and she handled it with efficiency and without complaint. It was fun when she took charge of the household and confronted the staff.
The hero played spin-the-wheel between being a really nice guy and an utter a##hole. These opposites natures were extreme. Ten years after his first wife had died, he was still an emotional wreck. There is something I want to talk about here but I can't think of how to say it without a huge spoiler. Let's just say his new wife got burned by the past.
The bad boy brother provides a lot of extra tension and drama to the story. This part of the story is done very well. His slow seduction of the heroine was great. The characters in this book are pretty screwed up.
This book was very well written and had great dialogue despite the somewhat unbelievable beginning and a lack of bedroom steam. I would like to read more of this series.
October 18, 2012
I like books that make me feel things other than gushy mushy love. This one was great for that. This one got me so angry at one point that I wanted to throw my Kindle across the room. It's wasn't anger at the writer or the writing style, but at a character! I wanted to throttle her! It's a good thing the hero in this tale has a mostly level head (well, at least he is able to think things through properly AFTER he loses his temper and he isn't afraid to apologize).
I went through this book super fast. It was hard to put down (although I did take a short break when I got angry). The plot was good (and different! Not just your typical ugly duckling turns into a swan bull), the characters had unique and likable personalities, and the hero wasn't afraid to use the "L" word. (I hate when theres a 100 page dance around saying the word 'love'.) Thanks to Mom for recommending this one!
I went through this book super fast. It was hard to put down (although I did take a short break when I got angry). The plot was good (and different! Not just your typical ugly duckling turns into a swan bull), the characters had unique and likable personalities, and the hero wasn't afraid to use the "L" word. (I hate when theres a 100 page dance around saying the word 'love'.) Thanks to Mom for recommending this one!
July 1, 2013
3.5 stars
It was an easy read ,but it kept my mind occupied even after I had to put it aside for the night , I just wanted to keep reading.I really liked H/H . There was a scene in it that reminded me of Whitney, My Love. It wasn't as bad as that scene though!
There was a bit of mis-communication in there(which I absolutely hate when it becomes the main focus in books) but was solved fast.
The heroine was in distress but wasn't a damsel, I don't know how else to say this. she was strong and normal and she didn't fell in love head over heels the first time she saw the hero .She could solve her problems on her own .
It was an easy read ,but it kept my mind occupied even after I had to put it aside for the night , I just wanted to keep reading.I really liked H/H . There was a scene in it that reminded me of Whitney, My Love. It wasn't as bad as that scene though!
There was a bit of mis-communication in there(which I absolutely hate when it becomes the main focus in books) but was solved fast.
The heroine was in distress but wasn't a damsel, I don't know how else to say this. she was strong and normal and she didn't fell in love head over heels the first time she saw the hero .She could solve her problems on her own .
August 27, 2012
When Miranda Grey shows up on his doorstep, soaked by the rain, with a letter indicating an invitation from the late Dowager Duchess, Marcus Radwell, Duke of Haughleigh cannot turn her away. Since the vicar and his wife had met her on her way, and due to a death bed promise to his mother to consider the marriage, he was obliged to marry her to save her reputation. I usually enjoy a marriage of convenience story, and this one was entertaining. I liked Miranda, brought down by circumstances but never defeated; and Marcus, disappointed and hurt by his late wife and deserving of happiness if only he can trust his new wife.
August 11, 2012
This was free, and it would have been worth $$$.
Miranda and Marcus...they really did need each other. It bugged me, like it bothered him, that his wicked mother brought them together. I really hated his brother, St. John...ugh.
At one point, in the library, I wasn't sure what was going on. St. John? Marcus? Did she know?
But otherwise, this was charming, an easy read...and I'm going looking for more of this author's books.
I found it by stalking Rabea.
Miranda and Marcus...they really did need each other. It bugged me, like it bothered him, that his wicked mother brought them together. I really hated his brother, St. John...ugh.
At one point, in the library, I wasn't sure what was going on. St. John? Marcus? Did she know?
But otherwise, this was charming, an easy read...and I'm going looking for more of this author's books.
I found it by stalking Rabea.
July 12, 2018
While the story is interesting, I definitely think this book would have been much better if it had been longer. There would be more time for the story to develop better. The twist at the end wasn't much of a surprise.
November 23, 2013
3 1\2
A delightful read, as long as things like accuracy, plausibility and the like don't bother you. Brain candy, maybe, but of the better kind. No wimps, no damsel in distress (even if she is). An acceptable "villain"
A delightful read, as long as things like accuracy, plausibility and the like don't bother you. Brain candy, maybe, but of the better kind. No wimps, no damsel in distress (even if she is). An acceptable "villain"
January 18, 2013
A bit melodramatic and saccharine. Tolerable, I suppose.
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