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Seabrook Family #2
The Rake and the Wallflower
Among the ton, innocent young Mary Seabrook is positively out of place. She'd rather go bird watching than go to a ball, and her embarrassing habit of speaking the truth gets her nothing but funny looks. If her peculiar behavior keeps up all Season, she may never find a man to marry.
But when her bird-watching eyes catch sight of Lord Grayson, she sees right through his bad reputation to the intelligence and good humor beneath. Unfortunately, she can also see that danger follows Grayson at every turn, and that his many mishaps are more than mere coincidence. Someone wants him dead, but why? Could the kind Lord Grayson have something to hide after all?
But when her bird-watching eyes catch sight of Lord Grayson, she sees right through his bad reputation to the intelligence and good humor beneath. Unfortunately, she can also see that danger follows Grayson at every turn, and that his many mishaps are more than mere coincidence. Someone wants him dead, but why? Could the kind Lord Grayson have something to hide after all?
96 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 2001
31 people are currently reading
364 people want to read
About the author
Allison Lane
40 books36 followersAllison Lane is the author of 20 Regency novels and 6 novellas. She is a Holt Medallion Winner and the 2005 Romantic Times Career Achievement Award Winner, as well as National Readers' Choice Awards Finalist for three books.
Notes from Allison Lane:
I am not one of those who always wanted to be a writer, though I suspect I wanted to be just about everything else -- doctor, astronaut, artist, scientist, and concert pianist, to name only a few. My actual careers were not quite so exciting. Designing computer software and running horse shows gave way to motherhood, home improvement projects, and teaching piano. But books have always been one of the cornerstones of my life.
When I was growing up in the mid-west, reading and music kept me sane through frequent changes of address. As an adult, books offered a respite from the strain of daily living. Often I would finish the last page with the thought, I wish I were that creative. Occasionally it would change to, Surely even I could do better than this! So one day I tried. But this is not a fairy tale, folks. My first book was less than stellar. In fact, it stunk. Good writing is hard work. But I enjoyed the process (or maybe I just enjoy playing God) so I tried again. By the third tale, I had a publishable story.
Where am I headed in the future? I don’t yet know. For now, I write Regencies. It is a fascinating period and an entertaining genre. My work is classed as traditional though I don’t consider it in quite that way. I try to avoid clichés -- except for happy endings, of course; those are what offer us respite from that daily crisis. But I like to pose universal problems to my characters and then watch them find solutions. I have long been fascinated by how people surmount problems to find the happiness that we all deserve.
These days my spare time is limited. Writing consumes most of my day. I still read as much as ever and keep up with the world of science. And everyone knows better than to step between me and a TV during football season -- it somehow takes an extra month to complete fall manuscripts.
From: Regency Reads
Notes from Allison Lane:
I am not one of those who always wanted to be a writer, though I suspect I wanted to be just about everything else -- doctor, astronaut, artist, scientist, and concert pianist, to name only a few. My actual careers were not quite so exciting. Designing computer software and running horse shows gave way to motherhood, home improvement projects, and teaching piano. But books have always been one of the cornerstones of my life.
When I was growing up in the mid-west, reading and music kept me sane through frequent changes of address. As an adult, books offered a respite from the strain of daily living. Often I would finish the last page with the thought, I wish I were that creative. Occasionally it would change to, Surely even I could do better than this! So one day I tried. But this is not a fairy tale, folks. My first book was less than stellar. In fact, it stunk. Good writing is hard work. But I enjoyed the process (or maybe I just enjoy playing God) so I tried again. By the third tale, I had a publishable story.
Where am I headed in the future? I don’t yet know. For now, I write Regencies. It is a fascinating period and an entertaining genre. My work is classed as traditional though I don’t consider it in quite that way. I try to avoid clichés -- except for happy endings, of course; those are what offer us respite from that daily crisis. But I like to pose universal problems to my characters and then watch them find solutions. I have long been fascinated by how people surmount problems to find the happiness that we all deserve.
These days my spare time is limited. Writing consumes most of my day. I still read as much as ever and keep up with the world of science. And everyone knows better than to step between me and a TV during football season -- it somehow takes an extra month to complete fall manuscripts.
From: Regency Reads
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
April 25, 2015
The Rake and the Wallflower is one of those Regencies that make you realize you're darn glad you don't live in the Regency era. It made tea parties intolerable, fashion tedious, balls dreadful, and dowagers absolutely redoubtable. How did anyone ever have fun back then, when the society was so controlled by a set of arbitrary rules where no one ever said or did what they truly thought? If you are shy and quiet, people think you lack manners and consider you a disgrace. But if you say too much, you are forward and hoydenish. And if you're a young, handsome and single man and so much as look at a unmarried lady, you've basically ruined her reputation.
Wait, what?
Gossip. Freaking gossip. This book is all about gossip. Drawing-room gossip. It could have been funny and entertaining had it not been so exaggerated. Because when I said that Lord Grayson (young, handsome, rich, single) ruined ladies by simply looking at them, I wasn't exaggerating. Gray is considered the rakest rake that ever raked and every young woman standing within a few meters of him is automatically tainted. Heck, any lady who mentions his name suddenly has her virtue in question.
And you know what? Lord Grayson is not even a rake. Not even close to being one. Okay he has a mistress and allusions are made to a wild and debauched period of his youth, but other than that he's perfect. Like, really perfect. He's always helping the less fortunate, tries to comfort the afflicted and ease the shy, participates in tons of charitable activities, is always kind, helpful and friendly and has a successful shipping business. So what the hell people!? Rumor has it that he jilted a young woman, then seduced another one who later killed herself because she was with child, his supposed child, and she couldn't bear the scandal. He denied everything but no one believed him, and even though he hasn't done anything reprehensible in three years, he remains semi-ostracized and considered dangerous and beyond redemption.
The only one who shows him kindness and friendliness is the shy wallflower Miss Mary Seabrook, whom he meets behind potted palms at Lady Debenham's ball. They keep meeting by accident in the oddest places and soon become good friends, each helping out the other in their own way. Their chemistry was great and I loved both characters a lot. My problems with this book were the plotholes...and Laura Seabrook.
We all know a Laura Seabrook. She's the beautiful girl wearing an inch-thick of make-up, who has her string show above her jeans, who's always posting selfies and updating her relationship status, and who is always bad-mouthing and jealous of everyone who gets attention. You know her. We all do. Her character was so exaggerated in this novel though, that she wasn't believable at all. She wasn't human. No one actually acts the way she did. And Mary's eternal forgiveness was even less believable. Laura should have been locked up in an asylum, not parading about London going to electrical meetings and having trysts with rakes in Grecian temples. She drove me crazy and considerably diminished my enjoyment of the story.
Not that the story was any more believable, however. Mary gets the brilliant idea to check the newspapers to prove that the dates of Gray's doings and Miss Turner's accusations don't go together, and you think "Well, great, yeah that is what you guys should definitely be doing, but wait...no one has ever done it before?!" You tryna make me believe that no one has read those newspapers in three years?!?!??! How the heck did no one ever read them and added two and two together?! Hellooooo!!! *waves newspaper frantically* IT'S ALL IN THERE!
Just...so many plotholes...on so many aspects. Let's not talk about the time Mary and Gray were supposed to watch Laura but ended up making out passionately behind the bushes. It was disappointing, because it was a fun book, very light and enjoyable, with two wonderful protagonists. Sadly, the plot pretty much sucked. And although I loved Gray and Mary, their relationship never develops. They meet, become friends, have obvious mutual attraction, and decide to get married. It wasn't romantic at all, because we were never told the evolution of their feelings.
This is the second of a trilogy, and even though I usually read series in order, I haven't read the first book and probably never will, nor will I read the third. Mary and Lord Grayson were the only two characters I like, and I have zero interest for the others.
Needless to say I don't overly recommend this one.
Wait, what?
Gossip. Freaking gossip. This book is all about gossip. Drawing-room gossip. It could have been funny and entertaining had it not been so exaggerated. Because when I said that Lord Grayson (young, handsome, rich, single) ruined ladies by simply looking at them, I wasn't exaggerating. Gray is considered the rakest rake that ever raked and every young woman standing within a few meters of him is automatically tainted. Heck, any lady who mentions his name suddenly has her virtue in question.
And you know what? Lord Grayson is not even a rake. Not even close to being one. Okay he has a mistress and allusions are made to a wild and debauched period of his youth, but other than that he's perfect. Like, really perfect. He's always helping the less fortunate, tries to comfort the afflicted and ease the shy, participates in tons of charitable activities, is always kind, helpful and friendly and has a successful shipping business. So what the hell people!? Rumor has it that he jilted a young woman, then seduced another one who later killed herself because she was with child, his supposed child, and she couldn't bear the scandal. He denied everything but no one believed him, and even though he hasn't done anything reprehensible in three years, he remains semi-ostracized and considered dangerous and beyond redemption.
The only one who shows him kindness and friendliness is the shy wallflower Miss Mary Seabrook, whom he meets behind potted palms at Lady Debenham's ball. They keep meeting by accident in the oddest places and soon become good friends, each helping out the other in their own way. Their chemistry was great and I loved both characters a lot. My problems with this book were the plotholes...and Laura Seabrook.
We all know a Laura Seabrook. She's the beautiful girl wearing an inch-thick of make-up, who has her string show above her jeans, who's always posting selfies and updating her relationship status, and who is always bad-mouthing and jealous of everyone who gets attention. You know her. We all do. Her character was so exaggerated in this novel though, that she wasn't believable at all. She wasn't human. No one actually acts the way she did. And Mary's eternal forgiveness was even less believable. Laura should have been locked up in an asylum, not parading about London going to electrical meetings and having trysts with rakes in Grecian temples. She drove me crazy and considerably diminished my enjoyment of the story.
Not that the story was any more believable, however. Mary gets the brilliant idea to check the newspapers to prove that the dates of Gray's doings and Miss Turner's accusations don't go together, and you think "Well, great, yeah that is what you guys should definitely be doing, but wait...no one has ever done it before?!" You tryna make me believe that no one has read those newspapers in three years?!?!??! How the heck did no one ever read them and added two and two together?! Hellooooo!!! *waves newspaper frantically* IT'S ALL IN THERE!
Just...so many plotholes...on so many aspects. Let's not talk about the time Mary and Gray were supposed to watch Laura but ended up making out passionately behind the bushes. It was disappointing, because it was a fun book, very light and enjoyable, with two wonderful protagonists. Sadly, the plot pretty much sucked. And although I loved Gray and Mary, their relationship never develops. They meet, become friends, have obvious mutual attraction, and decide to get married. It wasn't romantic at all, because we were never told the evolution of their feelings.
This is the second of a trilogy, and even though I usually read series in order, I haven't read the first book and probably never will, nor will I read the third. Mary and Lord Grayson were the only two characters I like, and I have zero interest for the others.
Needless to say I don't overly recommend this one.
November 11, 2021
Well, this packed in a lot for a 300 page novel! We've got attempted murder as misguided revenge, a rake who is nothing of the sort, an almost cartoon-villainess, gossip, attempted seduction and - well, you get my drift.
Mary Seabrook is the "Wallflower" of the title. She's quiet, kind and intelligent, and is having her first Season, along with her sister Laura, who is a "diamond of the first water". Unfortunately, however, Laura is also spoilt, selfish and, it becomes apparent later on, somewhat unhinged! Our "Rake", Grayson, has a terrible reputation which he has actually done nothing - other than be in the wrong place at the wrong time - to earn. Like Mary, he's bookish and kind, although nobody would ever believe it of him!
Initially, the plot does seem rather prepostrous... but thinking about it, the way that society rumour and gossip circulated in the Regency era, ruining reputations at the slightest provocation - isn't too far removed from the way the gutter press operates these days, is it? People have been wrongly accused of all sorts of things as front page news and have had to fight tooth and nail to prove their innocence and get an apology printed at the bottom of page 23 in 10 point type!
So maybe that part of the plot isn't too far-fetched after all!
Mary and Gray made a sweet, well-matched couple, who fall into friendship before falling in love, which is always a good place to start!
The Rake and the Wallflower is a well-written undemanding romance; perfect for reading while lazing in the garden on a bright summers's day!
Mary Seabrook is the "Wallflower" of the title. She's quiet, kind and intelligent, and is having her first Season, along with her sister Laura, who is a "diamond of the first water". Unfortunately, however, Laura is also spoilt, selfish and, it becomes apparent later on, somewhat unhinged! Our "Rake", Grayson, has a terrible reputation which he has actually done nothing - other than be in the wrong place at the wrong time - to earn. Like Mary, he's bookish and kind, although nobody would ever believe it of him!
Initially, the plot does seem rather prepostrous... but thinking about it, the way that society rumour and gossip circulated in the Regency era, ruining reputations at the slightest provocation - isn't too far removed from the way the gutter press operates these days, is it? People have been wrongly accused of all sorts of things as front page news and have had to fight tooth and nail to prove their innocence and get an apology printed at the bottom of page 23 in 10 point type!
So maybe that part of the plot isn't too far-fetched after all!
Mary and Gray made a sweet, well-matched couple, who fall into friendship before falling in love, which is always a good place to start!
The Rake and the Wallflower is a well-written undemanding romance; perfect for reading while lazing in the garden on a bright summers's day!
June 22, 2018
Mary and Gray.
I think this author just isn't my cup of tea...
The MCs are cute and well suited but the roadblocks to their romance we numerous.
I skimmed a fair bit. The ending was good.. sweet and Justice served for all, so it was satisfying. But getting to that point was a little too laborious.
I did appreciate that Gray wasn't a 'he-man'. He was a regular, likeable guy. He was a lonely guy until Mary's sister's foolish machinations lead to his betrothal to Mary. Mary had been lonely too and together they were sweet. I think I would have enjoyed the tale more if they'd had more time together and less time spent on the silly villainy of side characters.
I think this author just isn't my cup of tea...
The MCs are cute and well suited but the roadblocks to their romance we numerous.
I skimmed a fair bit. The ending was good.. sweet and Justice served for all, so it was satisfying. But getting to that point was a little too laborious.
I did appreciate that Gray wasn't a 'he-man'. He was a regular, likeable guy. He was a lonely guy until Mary's sister's foolish machinations lead to his betrothal to Mary. Mary had been lonely too and together they were sweet. I think I would have enjoyed the tale more if they'd had more time together and less time spent on the silly villainy of side characters.
August 5, 2013
Author: Allison Lane
First published: Oct 2001
Length: 3046 kindle locations
Setting: Regency, mid 1810s (Lane references Lady Caroline Lamb and Lord Byron, their affair in 1812, and her subsequent stalking of the poet prior to his departure from the UK in 1816.)
Sex: Not exactly clean. While the act itself does not occur there are many intimate kisses with tingling desire and engorgement.
Series: Book 2 of 3. Book 1 elaborates on Catherine and Blake's story. Their story is heavily discussed, possibly giving away critical plot points. "The Rake and the Wallflower" would stand alone.
A typical Regency romance as we follow our heroes through ballrooms and clubs - Whites and Almacks, morning calls and the opera. It's a nice easy read with a light suspense to give the plot sufficient depth.
However.
Mary is just so *good*.
She's just a little bit perfect.
And that gets so bloody annoying.
Sister Laura is bad. Catherine is absent. Gray is nice but a little patronising. Blake is paternal.
But Mary, she's just good. All the effing time.
*sigh*
It's a nice easy read with a perfect heroine and an almost perfect Hero.
Birds!
hoopoe image from https://upload.wikimedia .org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/23/Common_Hoopoe_Photograph_By_Shantanu_Kuveskar.jpg/300px-Common_Hoopoe_Phot...
titlark (pipit) image from http://upload.wikimedia .org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/42/Meadowpippit2008_edit.jpg/250px-Meadowpippit2008_edit.jpg
The Seabrook Family:
The Notorious Widow - Catherine Parrish and The Earl of Rockhurst
The Rake and the Wallflower - Mary Seabrook and Lord Grayson
The Purloined Papers - Captain Andrew Seabrook and Chloe Fields
Reference:
Author website: http://www.eclectics.com/allisonlane/
W'pedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/
-CR-
First published: Oct 2001
Length: 3046 kindle locations
Setting: Regency, mid 1810s (Lane references Lady Caroline Lamb and Lord Byron, their affair in 1812, and her subsequent stalking of the poet prior to his departure from the UK in 1816.)
Sex: Not exactly clean. While the act itself does not occur there are many intimate kisses with tingling desire and engorgement.
Series: Book 2 of 3. Book 1 elaborates on Catherine and Blake's story. Their story is heavily discussed, possibly giving away critical plot points. "The Rake and the Wallflower" would stand alone.
A typical Regency romance as we follow our heroes through ballrooms and clubs - Whites and Almacks, morning calls and the opera. It's a nice easy read with a light suspense to give the plot sufficient depth.
However.
Mary is just so *good*.
She's just a little bit perfect.
And that gets so bloody annoying.
Sister Laura is bad. Catherine is absent. Gray is nice but a little patronising. Blake is paternal.
But Mary, she's just good. All the effing time.
*sigh*
It's a nice easy read with a perfect heroine and an almost perfect Hero.
Birds!
hoopoe image from https://upload.wikimedia .org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/23/Common_Hoopoe_Photograph_By_Shantanu_Kuveskar.jpg/300px-Common_Hoopoe_Phot...
titlark (pipit) image from http://upload.wikimedia .org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/42/Meadowpippit2008_edit.jpg/250px-Meadowpippit2008_edit.jpg
The Seabrook Family:
The Notorious Widow - Catherine Parrish and The Earl of Rockhurst
The Rake and the Wallflower - Mary Seabrook and Lord Grayson
The Purloined Papers - Captain Andrew Seabrook and Chloe Fields
Reference:
Author website: http://www.eclectics.com/allisonlane/
W'pedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/
-CR-
November 9, 2013
Miss Mary Seabrook has accompanied her sister Laura to London for their come-out. Promised by her brother-in-law that she would be able to meet others who share her scholarly interests in birds, Mary looks forward to the Season. The Season does not turn out to be quite what Mary expected. First, there's her sister Laura, a diamond of the first water and a spoiled brat determined to get rid of Mary and outshine everyone else. While hiding from the advances of an overly familiar gentleman, Mary takes to sketching the members of the ton as the animals their personalities most resemble. Lord Grayson is also hiding from scheming minxes, like Mary's sister, who think they are attracted to him because of his dangerous past. When Gray discovers Mary and her sketches, he is intrigued. Sensing that Mary is shy and nervous, he immediately puts her at ease, as he has often done for other shy misses in the past, much to his regret. One of those shy misses took her own life, accusing him of getting her with child. The incident of Miss Turner, combined with another young miss who set out to trap him into marriage by scheming, have contributed to his social ruination. Mary knows she shouldn't be talking with Gray, but he's so kind that she can't help liking him. Laura becomes a sensation, though not in the way she dreamed of, and is determined to have her own way and ruin her reputation and Mary's as well. Gray helps Mary find her confidence in order to save herself and when mysterious and dangerous happenings start to affect Gray, Mary is convinced he's innocent of all past wrongdoing and is determined to catch the would-be murderer and the true seducer of poor Miss Turner. Along the way, Mary falls for this kind, sensitive man who shares her scholarly interests and he discovers the pleasure of finding a woman who appreciates him for his own sake and not just his scandalous reputation.I had a hard time liking this book. Mary and Gray are both likable and I wouldn't even classify Gray as a rake. He's much more kind and sensitive than most other Regency heroes thanks to his bullying father and kind mother. Laura is deranged and I can't think of why anyone wouldn't see through her. She belongs in a mental institution, even though they were nasty places. The plot leaves a lot to be desired. It's somewhat long and the mysteries seem to be solved too easily once the villains were discovered. There isn't a full explanation of what exactly happened to Mary's family 18 months ago. She shares a little bit of the story with Gray and Laura's story also comes out but I was left wondering what happened to Mary's father and Catherine's first husband. The plot is also darker than I would prefer and the characters have a hard time controlling their passions and get a little bit too carried away in some incredibly stupid and pointless scenes. This book falls high on the AAR subtle category. I wouldn't recommend this one to true devotees of good literature or well-written Regency novels
November 14, 2019
50% in.....
Grrrl, Seriously if that ends up being a major conflict I will be SO annoyed as it is so obvious and that girl is so over the top toxic!
65% in...
“Enough, Frannie. It is not your place to judge your betters. Nor does a proper maid repeat her mistress’s tirades. Not if she wishes to retain her position.” She ignored Frannie’s sudden frown. Never again would a servant intimidate her. It was time to find her own maid.”
Yeah this does not endear me to the heroine. I don’t care if she’s being bitchy, telling a person that they are less than you is reprehensible. Ugh, class society is the worst.
100% read
Ok, I ended up liking this despite reservations. The villains were a little over the top, but I actually enjoyed the minutiae of unraveling the mystery. There was a decent dose of insecurity but it was obscured by the plot. I liked the beta hero. Overall a good read IMO, even if I am questioning my own enjoyment of . It’s that German word about enjoying another’s suffering... I guess I am more spiteful than I thought!
Grrrl, Seriously if that ends up being a major conflict I will be SO annoyed as it is so obvious and that girl is so over the top toxic!
65% in...
“Enough, Frannie. It is not your place to judge your betters. Nor does a proper maid repeat her mistress’s tirades. Not if she wishes to retain her position.” She ignored Frannie’s sudden frown. Never again would a servant intimidate her. It was time to find her own maid.”
Yeah this does not endear me to the heroine. I don’t care if she’s being bitchy, telling a person that they are less than you is reprehensible. Ugh, class society is the worst.
100% read
Ok, I ended up liking this despite reservations. The villains were a little over the top, but I actually enjoyed the minutiae of unraveling the mystery. There was a decent dose of insecurity but it was obscured by the plot. I liked the beta hero. Overall a good read IMO, even if I am questioning my own enjoyment of . It’s that German word about enjoying another’s suffering... I guess I am more spiteful than I thought!
October 6, 2024
3.5, rounded down to 3 because of some issues toward the end.
This has a few glaring flaws, but overall I really, really liked it, as my rating shows. I also remembered having read it years ago, which is a big point in its favor, I think, since I struggle to remember a lot of the books I read in my first big spate of reading Regency romance in junior high/high school. For steam level, well, there's no actual sex, but there's a definite awareness of it and a lot of caresses that get pretty sensual, so I wouldn't consider it sweet/clean.
It's kind of like Regency romance does the Perils of Pauline, but it's still fun. Or, I guess, maybe, Regency romance as seen through Victorian melodrama/three-volume novels, which I guess is kind of fitting, like a combination of 19th century silver fork novels and Victorian melodrama or something. The plot isn't really trying to be realistic, but it's fun.
I didn't have a problem with the issues with the hero's reputation being easily resolved in the end, because, well, that's how gossip is. Change the narrative, and you can change the whole thing, and someone has to has a reason to present a different view or take on something before there's any reason to spread that story instead of the other. It was obviously sort of a sop to explain why he hadn't thought of this earlier, but I also appreciated the discussion of how when things have gone really badly and you're emotional and sunk in depression it's hard to look at things rationally and figure out what you should do. Having that kind of discussion applied to the hero's actions (and not to excuse some horrible bullshit he'd engaged in, just in sympathy for him) was really kind of nice.
One of the things I like most about this book is the unusual hero. Shy, bluestocking heroines aren't that unusual in Regency romance, but shy, sweet, softhearted heroes who faint at the sight of blood are a lot rarer. I felt like the author did a really, really good job making the hero attractive as a romantic lead and yet not your typical Regency romance hero in pretty much any way. He fits the heroine really, really well, and you really believe they could be happy together. And I liked the way his father's abuse of him for being softhearted came through without it really being harped on too hard. It made sense. His dad is an asshole, and we got it, and I appreciated that his dad's asshole nature became a plot point in a way that worked. This author seems to like softer heroes with domineering fathers, but this particular version is the one that's worked best for me out of her work so far. He has a few weird moments of lust that seem a bit random and OOC for him (I've noticed this with this author, too, that she seems to feel maybe like the lust is needed to make things convincing and so shoehorns it in at times in ways that don't really fit? It often feels shoehorned in, anyway, and most of that doesn't need to happen; I already bought his attraction to the heroine and hers to him) and a few moments that seem equally random of arrogance that also seem kind of like the author felt like they needed to be there to sell him as a hero/rake/aristocrat or something, but overall I really like him. He's cute, and the fakiest fake rake that was ever fake, but . . . again with the lack of realism that I don't mind, and also, I'm not a big fan of rakes, so like, I'll take mine fake any day. I really liked how bookish and sensitive he was.
I also liked the heroine a lot. I felt like she was actually convincingly nerdy, which is nice, because a lot of bluestocking heroines don't really convince me in their intellectual pursuits. She was really genuinely into birds and natural history; I bought it. I think the author loves birds, too, based on this being sort of a theme in her work, but hey, in that case, it just helped make that more convincing. She was Really Nice and Really Forgiving and Really Loyal to her family, but I appreciated how that was shown as not always a good thing, and she kind of grew out of being a doormat. I felt like the author was trying to do something kind of interesting with her character, and that was show an abusive/unhealthy relationship between her and her sister and the ways that Mary justified it to herself versus how things really were, what with Mary constantly making excuses for Laura. I wasn't sure if it actually worked 100%, mind you, but I appreciated the attempt. It's tricky to show a character's perception slowly changing versus reality, and even though Laura was pretty over the top, and that was kind of cartoonish/grating, I liked what I felt like the author was trying to do with her there.
I also really liked the sense of Society you get in this novel. It really feels like a real social group filled with actual personalities and real people. I like how well populated it feels. It makes the whole peril of the ruined reputation for the heroine and her family feel real, on top of how much I appreciated that it was a man's reputation that was ruined as well, in this one, in a different way than you usually see. I thought this aspect was one of the stronger aspects of the novel.
I did have some issues. (Spoilers Ahead)
One is that I thought that the portrayal of Laura was not only over the top, but started to be kind of, I don't know, feel spiteful toward pretty but mean girls in general, like it was wish-fulfillment to see her so willfully ruining her life and seeing Mary prosper in her place. Like, I get it, Laura is a type that definitely exists, and to a certain level (though one she far exceeded eventually), there are people with those basic characteristics. But it felt like there was a little too much glee in seeing her brought low and getting her comeuppance and exalting Mary in her place. It also made me really uncomfortable when Gray and Mary were feeling each other up and getting caught up in it when they were supposed to be watching Laura, and the line about them getting "affected by the scene they were watching" was so gross it almost ruined the book for me. You're getting turned on by watching your sister/your girlfriend's sister get sexually assaulted by an asshole rapist? Like sure, Laura was still into it at that point, but they both KNEW the guy was a rapist and what he was out there to get from her, so it felt like "oh man I'm so turned on that Laura's going to get raped/almost raped" and it was frankly nauseating. I justified it to myself as another one of those awkward "sexy" moments the author sometimes inserted without integrating them well, but it really made it hard to respect the characters. I just had to write it off as random OOC bullshit because the author felt like the hero and heroine in a romance are supposed to get a little hot and heavy toward the end of a romance novel these days or something, kind of like how in older superhero comics they always made the hero suit up in his/her hero outfit at least once an issue because those are just The Rules no matter how awkward it was for the plot. I agree with the other reviewer who said that Laura's comeuppance at the end felt more than a little exploitative. It was very sexualized and like . . . can you not? That was the weakest part of the whole book for me, and if I'd liked the two main characters and their friendship to romance arc any less, it would definitely have turned me off the whole thing.
Very minor in comparison, but there were also some phrasing issues and vocabulary that felt like Americanisms, though I'm not entirely sure on a few of them. It also frustrated me that Mary never figured out what sort of animal caricature fit Gray (or Laura, for that matter). It felt like her trying to draw Gray was built up through the entire book but never went anywhere/got its resolution.
Overall, the main draw of this book for me was the friendship to romance between the two main characters and how sweet and likable I found them. (And okay, the hurt/comfort vibe with some of the hero's close calls didn't hurt.) I really liked their dynamic, their relationship, and their personalities to the point I forgave an ending sequence that would probably have really put me off a book I'd enjoyed less up to that point.
This has a few glaring flaws, but overall I really, really liked it, as my rating shows. I also remembered having read it years ago, which is a big point in its favor, I think, since I struggle to remember a lot of the books I read in my first big spate of reading Regency romance in junior high/high school. For steam level, well, there's no actual sex, but there's a definite awareness of it and a lot of caresses that get pretty sensual, so I wouldn't consider it sweet/clean.
It's kind of like Regency romance does the Perils of Pauline, but it's still fun. Or, I guess, maybe, Regency romance as seen through Victorian melodrama/three-volume novels, which I guess is kind of fitting, like a combination of 19th century silver fork novels and Victorian melodrama or something. The plot isn't really trying to be realistic, but it's fun.
I didn't have a problem with the issues with the hero's reputation being easily resolved in the end, because, well, that's how gossip is. Change the narrative, and you can change the whole thing, and someone has to has a reason to present a different view or take on something before there's any reason to spread that story instead of the other. It was obviously sort of a sop to explain why he hadn't thought of this earlier, but I also appreciated the discussion of how when things have gone really badly and you're emotional and sunk in depression it's hard to look at things rationally and figure out what you should do. Having that kind of discussion applied to the hero's actions (and not to excuse some horrible bullshit he'd engaged in, just in sympathy for him) was really kind of nice.
One of the things I like most about this book is the unusual hero. Shy, bluestocking heroines aren't that unusual in Regency romance, but shy, sweet, softhearted heroes who faint at the sight of blood are a lot rarer. I felt like the author did a really, really good job making the hero attractive as a romantic lead and yet not your typical Regency romance hero in pretty much any way. He fits the heroine really, really well, and you really believe they could be happy together. And I liked the way his father's abuse of him for being softhearted came through without it really being harped on too hard. It made sense. His dad is an asshole, and we got it, and I appreciated that his dad's asshole nature became a plot point in a way that worked. This author seems to like softer heroes with domineering fathers, but this particular version is the one that's worked best for me out of her work so far. He has a few weird moments of lust that seem a bit random and OOC for him (I've noticed this with this author, too, that she seems to feel maybe like the lust is needed to make things convincing and so shoehorns it in at times in ways that don't really fit? It often feels shoehorned in, anyway, and most of that doesn't need to happen; I already bought his attraction to the heroine and hers to him) and a few moments that seem equally random of arrogance that also seem kind of like the author felt like they needed to be there to sell him as a hero/rake/aristocrat or something, but overall I really like him. He's cute, and the fakiest fake rake that was ever fake, but . . . again with the lack of realism that I don't mind, and also, I'm not a big fan of rakes, so like, I'll take mine fake any day. I really liked how bookish and sensitive he was.
I also liked the heroine a lot. I felt like she was actually convincingly nerdy, which is nice, because a lot of bluestocking heroines don't really convince me in their intellectual pursuits. She was really genuinely into birds and natural history; I bought it. I think the author loves birds, too, based on this being sort of a theme in her work, but hey, in that case, it just helped make that more convincing. She was Really Nice and Really Forgiving and Really Loyal to her family, but I appreciated how that was shown as not always a good thing, and she kind of grew out of being a doormat. I felt like the author was trying to do something kind of interesting with her character, and that was show an abusive/unhealthy relationship between her and her sister and the ways that Mary justified it to herself versus how things really were, what with Mary constantly making excuses for Laura. I wasn't sure if it actually worked 100%, mind you, but I appreciated the attempt. It's tricky to show a character's perception slowly changing versus reality, and even though Laura was pretty over the top, and that was kind of cartoonish/grating, I liked what I felt like the author was trying to do with her there.
I also really liked the sense of Society you get in this novel. It really feels like a real social group filled with actual personalities and real people. I like how well populated it feels. It makes the whole peril of the ruined reputation for the heroine and her family feel real, on top of how much I appreciated that it was a man's reputation that was ruined as well, in this one, in a different way than you usually see. I thought this aspect was one of the stronger aspects of the novel.
I did have some issues. (Spoilers Ahead)
One is that I thought that the portrayal of Laura was not only over the top, but started to be kind of, I don't know, feel spiteful toward pretty but mean girls in general, like it was wish-fulfillment to see her so willfully ruining her life and seeing Mary prosper in her place. Like, I get it, Laura is a type that definitely exists, and to a certain level (though one she far exceeded eventually), there are people with those basic characteristics. But it felt like there was a little too much glee in seeing her brought low and getting her comeuppance and exalting Mary in her place. It also made me really uncomfortable when Gray and Mary were feeling each other up and getting caught up in it when they were supposed to be watching Laura, and the line about them getting "affected by the scene they were watching" was so gross it almost ruined the book for me. You're getting turned on by watching your sister/your girlfriend's sister get sexually assaulted by an asshole rapist? Like sure, Laura was still into it at that point, but they both KNEW the guy was a rapist and what he was out there to get from her, so it felt like "oh man I'm so turned on that Laura's going to get raped/almost raped" and it was frankly nauseating. I justified it to myself as another one of those awkward "sexy" moments the author sometimes inserted without integrating them well, but it really made it hard to respect the characters. I just had to write it off as random OOC bullshit because the author felt like the hero and heroine in a romance are supposed to get a little hot and heavy toward the end of a romance novel these days or something, kind of like how in older superhero comics they always made the hero suit up in his/her hero outfit at least once an issue because those are just The Rules no matter how awkward it was for the plot. I agree with the other reviewer who said that Laura's comeuppance at the end felt more than a little exploitative. It was very sexualized and like . . . can you not? That was the weakest part of the whole book for me, and if I'd liked the two main characters and their friendship to romance arc any less, it would definitely have turned me off the whole thing.
Very minor in comparison, but there were also some phrasing issues and vocabulary that felt like Americanisms, though I'm not entirely sure on a few of them. It also frustrated me that Mary never figured out what sort of animal caricature fit Gray (or Laura, for that matter). It felt like her trying to draw Gray was built up through the entire book but never went anywhere/got its resolution.
Overall, the main draw of this book for me was the friendship to romance between the two main characters and how sweet and likable I found them. (And okay, the hurt/comfort vibe with some of the hero's close calls didn't hurt.) I really liked their dynamic, their relationship, and their personalities to the point I forgave an ending sequence that would probably have really put me off a book I'd enjoyed less up to that point.
October 15, 2024
Its a fun book.
The hero
I would have rated it slightly lower but its got a hero that faints when he sees blood and freezes in violent situations so up the rating goes just for that. The hero also draws, saves puppies, nurses birds, plays matchmaker, likes smart bookish girls. All the while he's independent, active and financially successful on his own right. Great guy! He just can't throw a punch to save his life (literally), which is fine by me :)
The heroine
Liked her but she didn't stand out really. Sweet bookish girl, draws caricatures of the people she meets (she'd be so dead if someone found her sketch book), not afraid to take charge when she needs to. Saves the hero's life, I really enjoyed that part.
Cover
Horrible. Not at all as I imagine either characters.
Pet peeve
When a character gets past an issue that they shouldn't get past.
Non spoiler version: The person that stutters and is afraid of crowds suddenly goes into an eloquent speech at the town square cause they must, cause its important, cause its for their love. Hmmmm...
Spoiler version:
I don't really mind but I see this so often that well... what do you need doctors and therapists when you got love right?
Cheers to Romancing the Duke that surprised me by not curing the hero's with love :P
The hero
I would have rated it slightly lower but its got a hero that faints when he sees blood and freezes in violent situations so up the rating goes just for that. The hero also draws, saves puppies, nurses birds, plays matchmaker, likes smart bookish girls. All the while he's independent, active and financially successful on his own right. Great guy! He just can't throw a punch to save his life (literally), which is fine by me :)
The heroine
Liked her but she didn't stand out really. Sweet bookish girl, draws caricatures of the people she meets (she'd be so dead if someone found her sketch book), not afraid to take charge when she needs to. Saves the hero's life, I really enjoyed that part.
Cover
Horrible. Not at all as I imagine either characters.
Pet peeve
When a character gets past an issue that they shouldn't get past.
Non spoiler version: The person that stutters and is afraid of crowds suddenly goes into an eloquent speech at the town square cause they must, cause its important, cause its for their love. Hmmmm...
Spoiler version:
I don't really mind but I see this so often that well... what do you need doctors and therapists when you got love right?
Cheers to Romancing the Duke that surprised me by not curing the hero's with love :P
June 29, 2019
I give this book 4 stars for the nicely drawn main characters and some good historical detail. But the crazy-sauce kept pulling me out of the period. The melodrama was over the top with not one but THREE psychotic vengeful women playing key roles in the story and two more mustache twirling bad guys. So, back down to 2 stars.
May 11, 2020
3.5 out of 5 stars
May 1, 2023
Engaging MCs. The foil characters were rather extreme but I'm so grateful for a Regency romance about something other than manners and yap.
October 6, 2024
Mixed feelings on this. I read the previous entry in this series first. It focused on the devastation destructive, malicious gossip can create in people's lives esp in Regency England.
This one also focused on the devastation that destructive, malicious gossip can create in people's lives especially in Regency England.
Apart from that, while the leads were perfect for each other, and also perfect individually, and whatnot, they and almost everyone else in this story including villains, were Too Stupid to Live.
The good people were too trusting, too slow to connect obvious patterns, and even when cognizant of very real danger both to lives and social standing, continued to make dumb decisions that left them and their loved ones wide open for death, injury, scandal, ruination, and even (attempted) rape.
The climactic scene (ALMOST in more ways than one) consisted of one of the villainesses (the FMC's spiteful, hateful, insane, deluded, completely out of touch with reality sister) having an assignation with one of the villains in a gazebo. No less than 4 people were outside the gazebo, watching as the villain groped, made out with, kissed, and started to rape the villainess, who was unfortunately part of the "good" family and therefore to be protected. Everyone waited until he was just about to commence penetration to intervene, having WATCHED the whole time!!! Just, WTF.
Anyway, like... I finished it, because I wanted to, and it wasn't so unenjoyable that I couldn't, but it was a frustrating read because one woman is going around completely out of her head, a danger to herself and others, mostly her sister, but no one is doing anything to stop her, the FMC while deploring her sister's flaunting of society's rules, is also flaunting them in her own way by repeatedly getting herself in situations with the MMC who's a societal pariah most of the book, where they're alone and STAYING there, the idjit, just... blergh.
IDK
This one also focused on the devastation that destructive, malicious gossip can create in people's lives especially in Regency England.
Apart from that, while the leads were perfect for each other, and also perfect individually, and whatnot, they and almost everyone else in this story including villains, were Too Stupid to Live.
The good people were too trusting, too slow to connect obvious patterns, and even when cognizant of very real danger both to lives and social standing, continued to make dumb decisions that left them and their loved ones wide open for death, injury, scandal, ruination, and even (attempted) rape.
The climactic scene (ALMOST in more ways than one) consisted of one of the villainesses (the FMC's spiteful, hateful, insane, deluded, completely out of touch with reality sister) having an assignation with one of the villains in a gazebo. No less than 4 people were outside the gazebo, watching as the villain groped, made out with, kissed, and started to rape the villainess, who was unfortunately part of the "good" family and therefore to be protected. Everyone waited until he was just about to commence penetration to intervene, having WATCHED the whole time!!! Just, WTF.
Anyway, like... I finished it, because I wanted to, and it wasn't so unenjoyable that I couldn't, but it was a frustrating read because one woman is going around completely out of her head, a danger to herself and others, mostly her sister, but no one is doing anything to stop her, the FMC while deploring her sister's flaunting of society's rules, is also flaunting them in her own way by repeatedly getting herself in situations with the MMC who's a societal pariah most of the book, where they're alone and STAYING there, the idjit, just... blergh.
IDK
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 20, 2020
Rating 3.5
I’m going to give spoilers in this review. Not many but some.
A big part of this plot is the distinction between how opposite our leading lady Mary and her sister Laura are. Mary being all that is good and pure and not that pretty. Not a thing wrong with her really. While Laura is spiteful and basically evil. Also a beauty. I never read the first book so I don’t have the backstory for both, though the author summarizes the first books events in this book. So I do not know what happened in terms of the character development from the first book to this book.
I am aware this is just a story, but my heart broke for Laura. I just felt so sorry for her. I know she had continuously do selfish and inconsiderate things for the storyline but I just couldn’t help but connect with her fragility as if she were a real and living human being. Perhaps because I’ve experienced first hand how a person can switch from being caring and kind to being angry at the world. Had she lived in another time she could have seen a psychologist or a psychiatrist because she was clearly in need of help. She just wasn’t born in the right time. Yes, she created her own suffering the choices she made and I’m sure there were things in her childhood that influenced why she had such a low view of herself as well as narcissistic behavior. She must take responsibility as an adult for her own part though. I will however imagine she gets her happily ever after.
That being said though, I think the book was solid. The author goes into a lot of detail and doesn’t rush the book and for this I was grateful. The characters and the relationship between the leads was cute. They had a great connection. I’m a sucker for the shy girl gets the guy romances and this one was pleasant.
The book wasn’t perfect though, but it’s definitely on my shy girl gets the guy favorites. Thank you to the author.
I’m going to give spoilers in this review. Not many but some.
A big part of this plot is the distinction between how opposite our leading lady Mary and her sister Laura are. Mary being all that is good and pure and not that pretty. Not a thing wrong with her really. While Laura is spiteful and basically evil. Also a beauty. I never read the first book so I don’t have the backstory for both, though the author summarizes the first books events in this book. So I do not know what happened in terms of the character development from the first book to this book.
I am aware this is just a story, but my heart broke for Laura. I just felt so sorry for her. I know she had continuously do selfish and inconsiderate things for the storyline but I just couldn’t help but connect with her fragility as if she were a real and living human being. Perhaps because I’ve experienced first hand how a person can switch from being caring and kind to being angry at the world. Had she lived in another time she could have seen a psychologist or a psychiatrist because she was clearly in need of help. She just wasn’t born in the right time. Yes, she created her own suffering the choices she made and I’m sure there were things in her childhood that influenced why she had such a low view of herself as well as narcissistic behavior. She must take responsibility as an adult for her own part though. I will however imagine she gets her happily ever after.
That being said though, I think the book was solid. The author goes into a lot of detail and doesn’t rush the book and for this I was grateful. The characters and the relationship between the leads was cute. They had a great connection. I’m a sucker for the shy girl gets the guy romances and this one was pleasant.
The book wasn’t perfect though, but it’s definitely on my shy girl gets the guy favorites. Thank you to the author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 25, 2023
I bought a box of older Regencies (mostly Signets) and this one caught my eye right away. It's the second book of a trilogy that ought to be read in order, but I survived without reading the first novel and you probably can, too.
Female lead Mary Seabrook reads as if she might be autistic or have an anxiety disorder. She stammers or becomes tongue-tied in difficult conversations, has trouble talking about anything but her special interest (natural history in general and birds in particular), and is frequently clumsy. The male lead, Lord Grayson, explicitly DOES have an anxiety disorder (a phobia that I won't spoil). So if you're looking for characters who are neurodivergent/mentally ill/significantly different, this might be a book to keep on your TBR.
All that aside, one of the things I liked about this book is that it incorporated a mystery into the plot. I also really liked the way the romance began as an attraction between two people with mutual interests. When you finish some romances, you wonder whether the couple can actually make a life together despite their dissimilarities, because all they seem to have binding them together is sex. In this novel, it's clear that Gray and Mary share things in common and will enjoy living with each other, not just going to bed together.
Readers who love steam should note that although there are some sensual/very physical make out scenes, there are no sex scenes.
Female lead Mary Seabrook reads as if she might be autistic or have an anxiety disorder. She stammers or becomes tongue-tied in difficult conversations, has trouble talking about anything but her special interest (natural history in general and birds in particular), and is frequently clumsy. The male lead, Lord Grayson, explicitly DOES have an anxiety disorder (a phobia that I won't spoil). So if you're looking for characters who are neurodivergent/mentally ill/significantly different, this might be a book to keep on your TBR.
All that aside, one of the things I liked about this book is that it incorporated a mystery into the plot. I also really liked the way the romance began as an attraction between two people with mutual interests. When you finish some romances, you wonder whether the couple can actually make a life together despite their dissimilarities, because all they seem to have binding them together is sex. In this novel, it's clear that Gray and Mary share things in common and will enjoy living with each other, not just going to bed together.
Readers who love steam should note that although there are some sensual/very physical make out scenes, there are no sex scenes.
June 10, 2021
I can't. I read barely the first chapter and I'm out because the entire cast was a bunch of caricatures without depth. The older sister was a beautiful jealous vixen. Our main character was a stuttering victim who happened to like birds. The vixen accepted a dance for the victim from a creep to get revenge for the victim having a dance with eligible bachelor the night before. The creep somehow was the lowest of the low, in the most incomprehensible way, because he spent the dance criticising everything about the victim, but then also tried to entice her out onto the balcony. (For what end? Was he trying to steal a grotesque kiss or criticise her even more, which honestly seemed to be more likely? Why even have this character, whose actions don't even match up?)
In the span of not a dozen pages, the author has set out a cast of uninteresting caricatures with no surprises in store. I've seen enough.
PS the creep didn't criticise her or steal a kiss because she ran and hid. Thus the initial conflict didn't even have any surprises. Yawn.
In the span of not a dozen pages, the author has set out a cast of uninteresting caricatures with no surprises in store. I've seen enough.
PS the creep didn't criticise her or steal a kiss because she ran and hid. Thus the initial conflict didn't even have any surprises. Yawn.
May 27, 2023
Un'autrice sconosciuta. Ambientazione Regency. Una serie di commenti entusiasti. Un punteggio che collocherebbe il romanzo una misera stellina al di sotto di uno qualunque di Jane Austen.
Che potevo fare, se non comprarlo?
Solo dopo aver cominciato la lettura mi son resa conto del mio errore: e l'avrei immediatamente reso, se Amazon non fosse diventato così maledettamente sospettoso con i resi.
Così, ho voluto dare una chance all'autrice e l'ho terminato.
Onestamente, non credo di potergli dare più di una stella: un tempo, prima di metter mano a un romanzo storico, si aveva l'abitudine di studiare un po', magari leggendo un po' di letteratura del tempo...
Che potevo fare, se non comprarlo?
Solo dopo aver cominciato la lettura mi son resa conto del mio errore: e l'avrei immediatamente reso, se Amazon non fosse diventato così maledettamente sospettoso con i resi.
Così, ho voluto dare una chance all'autrice e l'ho terminato.
Onestamente, non credo di potergli dare più di una stella: un tempo, prima di metter mano a un romanzo storico, si aveva l'abitudine di studiare un po', magari leggendo un po' di letteratura del tempo...
June 16, 2019
Perfectly pleasant regency romance novel, but I found that the endless realms of ballroom gossip and the continual reiterations of how ruined the hero's reputation is and how awful the heroine's awful sister is got tedious, so I skipped to the last few chapters and greatly enjoyed all the shooting and shouting and running about, although the pat wrap-up at the end would have been intolerable in anything other than a category romance.
April 22, 2021
3.5 stars. Well written, likable characters of shy Mary and misunderstood Gray. They sweetly fall in love. Too much of the book centres on Mary’s unbelievably bad sister Laura, and the attempts on Gray’s life. Like, way too much and with too many other characters. Other reviewers have also noted this point.
April 10, 2022
I thought it was cute. A stronger story than the previous book. The romance developed much more organically.
I was disappointed in the evil sister Laura though. She was a more complex character in the first book, and could have made an interesting heroine. Instead, she was cartoon evil, and a little insane in this book.
I was disappointed in the evil sister Laura though. She was a more complex character in the first book, and could have made an interesting heroine. Instead, she was cartoon evil, and a little insane in this book.
August 19, 2017
okay for aayesha
March 19, 2020
Boring
Impossible story, ok hero and heroine, boring senseless evil sister. Unrealistic story, senseless plot
Impossible story, ok hero and heroine, boring senseless evil sister. Unrealistic story, senseless plot
January 3, 2023
Not enough romance in this romance centered book
July 3, 2024
Loved it. Read it in one day but couldn’t figure out how
to enter Replace date in “No Finished Date””
to enter Replace date in “No Finished Date””
February 20, 2022
Gossip has the power to make or break reputations. That is the over arching theme of this story.
There was so much packed in here that made for a highly entertaining read. A wallflower, a rake done wrong, an over the top villainess, ladies of the ton brandishing gossip that cuts or mends reputations, misguided murder attempts, and the list goes on.
This was a romp and the second book I have enjoyed by Allison Lane. It has a lot of over the top drama and moments of sweetness.
There was so much packed in here that made for a highly entertaining read. A wallflower, a rake done wrong, an over the top villainess, ladies of the ton brandishing gossip that cuts or mends reputations, misguided murder attempts, and the list goes on.
This was a romp and the second book I have enjoyed by Allison Lane. It has a lot of over the top drama and moments of sweetness.
August 26, 2014
A melodramatic regency, but an enjoyable one. The villain, the heroine's sister, is s a bit of a one note jealous diva, but the consequences of her selfishness take the story in exciting directions. The hero is a sensitive intellectual, afraid of blood, dislikes hunting, and is seen saves no less than three animals in the course of the story. Being ostracized by society for a false rumor some three years ago his sensitive nature has been cruelly worn down the endless snubs. The heroine's steadfast protection and care for his well being is acknowledged as a true turning point in his life. For her part Mary finds strength in help Grey, and begins to stand up for her own happiness. It's a very empowering story. Laura, the villain, is given a bit of poetic justice at the end, but her "punishment" comes off as a little exploitative. Still, the main romance is wonderfully built, and it was nice to see a "sensitive" man presented with such care.
September 18, 2013
This is a very well told story. It has all the necessary elements of a good romance as well as a compelling plot involving Lord Grayson and Miss Mary Seabrook. Lord Grayson has the undeserved reputation of a rake while Mary struggles with a nervous stammer and a sister, Laura, who outshines her. Gray (Lord Grayson) and Mary meet while both are trying to avoid others and thus starts an unlikely friendship. As subplots unfold, including murder attempts on Gray, the story continues at a good pace keeping the reader engrossed. By the novel's conclusion things have been nicely resolved but in a most satisfying way. 4-1/2 stars.
June 1, 2013
The book started off sweet. Finally, after so long, Mary was seen by Gray as a lady who was interesting instead of her sister's shadow. Getting to know Gray and Mary was a treat and I loved that Mary's intelligence was shown and that Gray respected that about her. I feel that the story became convoluted at the end where it's wasn't about them falling in love but the secondary characters. I disliked this and wished the Mary and Gray would have stayed the focus of the story. I also felt that the story ended abruptly. Again, the story started off as a sweet love story, but...
January 23, 2015
Young, awkward Mary Seabrook is delighted when handsome Lord Grayson enters her life. But she soon discovers that danger follows him at every turn-and that his many mishaps may be more than mere coincidence...
I appreciate that Ms. Lane mentions the characters from Devall's Angel. This helped to tie the action to something else I had read. I did have difficulty believing that a group of intelligent people could overlook the spoiled sister, Laura's, many deceptions. Then she runs off, and we have no resolution for her...no retribution for the havoc she had created.
I appreciate that Ms. Lane mentions the characters from Devall's Angel. This helped to tie the action to something else I had read. I did have difficulty believing that a group of intelligent people could overlook the spoiled sister, Laura's, many deceptions. Then she runs off, and we have no resolution for her...no retribution for the havoc she had created.
April 29, 2019
Second time reading this fabulous book!!!! The sister wow what a conniving character if ever there was one! Towards her own sister no less she was protected long enough & too vain for her own good! Besides that lol loved the strong heroine & flawed hero storyline made them so much more enriching to follow them on their journey!!!! Sweet regency novel! Highly recommended!
June 27, 2010
A delightful book in the style of the traditional regencies. I recommend all three books in this series.
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