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A Man of Many Talents
LOSING HIS SPIRIT
Christian Reade, heir to the earldom of Westhaven, is tired of ghosts. It's his own fault for debunking a haunted house in Belles Corners as the work of two silly pranksters. Now the practical "ghost-hunter" -- inundated with reports of apparitions -- is trying to get away from it all with a long-overdue stay with his grandfather. Unfortunately, Christian's reputation has followed him. But this time, the request for his services is irresistible ... as it comes from the enigmatic Miss Parkinson of Sibel Hall.
WINNING HER HEART
She claims that a phantom is disrupting her plans to sell her gloomy home. But upon Christian's arrival, he's met with all-too-human antagonism from the residents, from the servants, and -- especially surprising -- from Miss Parkinson as well. What dire predicament is really unfolding at Sibel Hall after the sun goes down? The intriguing puzzle -- and the fetching beauty who wants it solved -- have sparked more than curiosity in Christian. But first he must solve the mystery of the seductive Miss Parkinson herself...
Christian Reade, heir to the earldom of Westhaven, is tired of ghosts. It's his own fault for debunking a haunted house in Belles Corners as the work of two silly pranksters. Now the practical "ghost-hunter" -- inundated with reports of apparitions -- is trying to get away from it all with a long-overdue stay with his grandfather. Unfortunately, Christian's reputation has followed him. But this time, the request for his services is irresistible ... as it comes from the enigmatic Miss Parkinson of Sibel Hall.
WINNING HER HEART
She claims that a phantom is disrupting her plans to sell her gloomy home. But upon Christian's arrival, he's met with all-too-human antagonism from the residents, from the servants, and -- especially surprising -- from Miss Parkinson as well. What dire predicament is really unfolding at Sibel Hall after the sun goes down? The intriguing puzzle -- and the fetching beauty who wants it solved -- have sparked more than curiosity in Christian. But first he must solve the mystery of the seductive Miss Parkinson herself...
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 3, 2003
About the author
Deborah Simmons
158 books206 followersDeborah Simmons is the author of twenty-five historical romances and novellas, published by Avon, Berkley, and Harlequin.
A native midwesterner, Simmons graduated cum laude from Wittenberg University and was a journalist before turning to fiction. Her first book, Heart's Masquerade, was published by Avon in 1989 and was followed by a number of Harlequin Historicals, including a USA Today Bestselling anthology. Her 2003 release, A Man of Many Talents, was a launch title for Berkley's Sensation imprint.
Two of her books have been finalists in the Romance Writers of America's annual RITA competition for excellence: The Gentleman Thief in 2001 and A Lady of Distinction in 2005.
Simmons has sold two million books in North America, and her work has been translated and published in twenty-four foreign countries, including illustrated editions in Japan. She is a member of RWA, Novelists Inc., and the Author's Guild.
"I like to think of my stories as adventures," Simmons says. Most take place in Regency or Medieval England, such as her popular series on the thirteen century de Burgh family. But no matter what the setting, you'll find interesting characters, romance, humor, and mystery.
A native midwesterner, Simmons graduated cum laude from Wittenberg University and was a journalist before turning to fiction. Her first book, Heart's Masquerade, was published by Avon in 1989 and was followed by a number of Harlequin Historicals, including a USA Today Bestselling anthology. Her 2003 release, A Man of Many Talents, was a launch title for Berkley's Sensation imprint.
Two of her books have been finalists in the Romance Writers of America's annual RITA competition for excellence: The Gentleman Thief in 2001 and A Lady of Distinction in 2005.
Simmons has sold two million books in North America, and her work has been translated and published in twenty-four foreign countries, including illustrated editions in Japan. She is a member of RWA, Novelists Inc., and the Author's Guild.
"I like to think of my stories as adventures," Simmons says. Most take place in Regency or Medieval England, such as her popular series on the thirteen century de Burgh family. But no matter what the setting, you'll find interesting characters, romance, humor, and mystery.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
October 18, 2018
I found the hero sleazy. Weird sexual obsession with governesses and lilacs. She was not a governess by the way except in his fantasy. She was just a poor plain dowd who had been an unappreciated companion to some lousy distant relative. Then fate stepped in and left her an inheritance . Unfortunately it was a haunted house and she needed Lord Sleazy to debunk the ghost so she could get it sold. He spent so much time thinking about nailing her I was starting to think he'd never get the job done.
Of course she fell for him. I chalk this up to her extreme loneliness. Or perhaps vain men with no charm were her type. Anyway this is my first and last Deborah Simmons book.
Of course she fell for him. I chalk this up to her extreme loneliness. Or perhaps vain men with no charm were her type. Anyway this is my first and last Deborah Simmons book.
May 24, 2016
Intriguing storyline with the right amount of mystery... too bad Christian was a huge a$$hole. =__=
And then the heroine started to get on my nerves, not to say the (two) culprits were pretty clear from the start.
And then the heroine started to get on my nerves, not to say the (two) culprits were pretty clear from the start.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 4, 2017
The mystery part was good.
I just skipped all the sexual nonsense. Whatever age this was a woman was ruined if she was no longer a virgin. Hence she'd be a fool to throw away the only coin she had. And he was a disgusting male to take it from her.
I just skipped all the sexual nonsense. Whatever age this was a woman was ruined if she was no longer a virgin. Hence she'd be a fool to throw away the only coin she had. And he was a disgusting male to take it from her.
December 27, 2017
An intriguing gothic regency mystery romance! This is not my favorite book of Deborah Simmons, I have read them all, but it is still a fun easy read. It was hard to guess at the heroine's motivation and it wasn't revealed until too late. The hero was a strong and sexy character with an interesting back story. I loved the ensemble characters, I thought they added a lot to the story! WARNING: there is sex in this book, it is not erotica, but enough to be a steamy & hot adult romance. Please do not read if that offends you.
Romance-4/5 Steaminess-2/5 Explicitness-3/5
https://bigcomfychair.wordpress.com/
Romance-4/5 Steaminess-2/5 Explicitness-3/5
https://bigcomfychair.wordpress.com/
October 15, 2018
I can’t, I just can’t. This book is so phoned in it barely qualifies as a story. The author didn’t bother with creating chemistry, she just made the hero inner monologue about how intrigued he was by Abigail every other paragraph or so, even when nothing intriguing was happening. She’s looking for keys in the study, he is intrigued by her. She’s walked by him in the hall, he is intrigued again. And he gets weirdly turned on by lavender. She smells faintly of lavender and he’s ready to plant some of it at his home.
For some reason he also calls her a governess constantly in his mind. She isn’t Abagail or Miss Parkinson, she’s The Governess which is strange because she was not a governess nor were there any children about. Our hero apparently has some weird hang ups.
I could not finish it, not after the thousandth time Christian saw her do absolutely nothing and was so intrigued. Both characters were dull as dirt. I skipped to the end before I was even 20% in. And I never do that. It’s a shame, because the premise was so fantastic and a lot of fun could have been had with it.
For some reason he also calls her a governess constantly in his mind. She isn’t Abagail or Miss Parkinson, she’s The Governess which is strange because she was not a governess nor were there any children about. Our hero apparently has some weird hang ups.
I could not finish it, not after the thousandth time Christian saw her do absolutely nothing and was so intrigued. Both characters were dull as dirt. I skipped to the end before I was even 20% in. And I never do that. It’s a shame, because the premise was so fantastic and a lot of fun could have been had with it.
June 30, 2017
I'm not sure how I ended up with this book, since I carefully scour the ratings of book to make sure I don't get stuck with something like this. Apparently I slacked on this one. The ghost story/mystery part of this book is really interesting. The writing is good. But the sexual innuendo is too much. Not only is it offensive, but it really distracts from the actual story. I'm about 40% of the way through the book so I haven't seen any actual sexual content yet, but apparently it's coming! I deleted it from my Amazon account. I don't want that kind of thing stuck in my head.
April 22, 2023
A delightful adventure!
This is certainly one of the most entertaining books, though I thought in some places in the middle ,dragged a bit. Ferreting out the ghost, Christian finds mysteries, confusion and love. Abigail, trying to support her dream cottage, forgets that life is made from the people surrounding you and not the place you live. There were many twists and turns and keeps you guessing who the real culprit is until revealed. I thought the ending chapter was VERY well done and interesting, certainly different than most HEA’s!
This is certainly one of the most entertaining books, though I thought in some places in the middle ,dragged a bit. Ferreting out the ghost, Christian finds mysteries, confusion and love. Abigail, trying to support her dream cottage, forgets that life is made from the people surrounding you and not the place you live. There were many twists and turns and keeps you guessing who the real culprit is until revealed. I thought the ending chapter was VERY well done and interesting, certainly different than most HEA’s!
September 28, 2018
This was a fun book to read. The hero is just stand offish until he begins to notice the heroine's many enticing ways. The fact that she was oblivious of him at first was fun. She is a proper, stiff spinster and fights her growing attraction every step of the way. On top of the romance is a cast of relatives that will be hard to forget. And I won't forget this book - I plan on rereading it when I need to laugh.
July 5, 2017
Wonderful read, right down to the plunge bath
Dry humor, understatement and logical sleuthing make this character study a joy to read. Never saw the final plot twist coming. All in all the laugh-aloud graphs vs real life situational ethics endear this book as a potential reread when I want/need a pick-me-up.
Dry humor, understatement and logical sleuthing make this character study a joy to read. Never saw the final plot twist coming. All in all the laugh-aloud graphs vs real life situational ethics endear this book as a potential reread when I want/need a pick-me-up.
October 27, 2018
I enjoyed this book and thought it was better than the usual romances I read. I could not figure out what was going on and was semi-surprised at the ending.
I did I did feel that the hero's train of thought was a bit to repetitive. (Yes, I know in real life we often think the same thing over and over and over particularly if we are attracted to people.)
I did I did feel that the hero's train of thought was a bit to repetitive. (Yes, I know in real life we often think the same thing over and over and over particularly if we are attracted to people.)
December 29, 2023
There were a couple of minor errors but I enjoyed this story, especially the slightly gothic feel. After inheriting a house, Abigail is keen to sell it, in order to fund a small cottage. However, a ghost thwarts her plans. She calls in Viscount Moreland to assist, a supposed haunting expert. His attempt to unmask the person behind the ghost results in hidden passages and adventure.
June 3, 2017
More than one treasure
Ghosts and old castles don't always mix ,but when they do just add some old memories and a touch of long forgotten kisses with a touch of people looking for themselves.
Ghosts and old castles don't always mix ,but when they do just add some old memories and a touch of long forgotten kisses with a touch of people looking for themselves.
June 6, 2017
Very good, as always.
I would definitely suggest this book to anyone who enjoys historical romance! I feel like I could put it down, and when I did stop reading I found myself wondering what was going to happen next.
Loved it.
I would definitely suggest this book to anyone who enjoys historical romance! I feel like I could put it down, and when I did stop reading I found myself wondering what was going to happen next.
Loved it.
October 14, 2018
Oh, so sweet and satisfying!
I enjoyed this read! It had its tricks but ended up being a treat! Usually, there are too many people to keep track of but the author was so clever about setting the scene and only adding those it really needed. I got my HEA, I do love a happy ending with love and possibilities of seeing these characters in another story.
I enjoyed this read! It had its tricks but ended up being a treat! Usually, there are too many people to keep track of but the author was so clever about setting the scene and only adding those it really needed. I got my HEA, I do love a happy ending with love and possibilities of seeing these characters in another story.
April 19, 2023
Read e-book edition--not listed on Goodreads.
same as shown for paperback.
same as shown for paperback.
May 3, 2023
The basic story has potential, but the first 50 or so pages dragged and felt so redundant I almost didn’t stick it out. Once the mystery picked up and the characters actually interacted with each other, it improved. But it still tended to lose direction periodically.
May 31, 2023
A lovely story
A lovely story. Not Julia Quinn but not awful either.
She very seriously needs and editor for the many misused words. It jerks me out of the story trying to figure out what is intended.
A lovely story. Not Julia Quinn but not awful either.
She very seriously needs and editor for the many misused words. It jerks me out of the story trying to figure out what is intended.
March 3, 2025
delightful fresh
Very sweet fun and exciting.
A mission drives the book, with a mystery at the heart.
never taking themselves too seriously our main characters are charming.
supporting plot keeps the interest fresh.
Very sweet fun and exciting.
A mission drives the book, with a mystery at the heart.
never taking themselves too seriously our main characters are charming.
supporting plot keeps the interest fresh.
June 10, 2017
Definitely Worth Reading
A very interesting book about a haunted house and about a lost treasure. I found it to be fun to read.
A very interesting book about a haunted house and about a lost treasure. I found it to be fun to read.
May 6, 2018
I was hoping for more of a chill (as in chills and thrills) with the Gothic ghost angle. But the story kept my interest and I enjoyed the wry humor in Christian’s unspoken thoughts.
August 3, 2019
Simmons's plot has a light Gothic touch, with rumors of a ghost and hidden treasure.
December 10, 2020
An awesome read as usual. I love how you don’t find out the secret until the very end
added-it
April 5, 2023🎁 FREE on Amazon today (4/5/2023)! 🎁
April 18, 2023
awesome
This book was amazing. Great characters and so funny. Don’t usually read steamy stuff, but it was worth it. Thank you MsSimmons
This book was amazing. Great characters and so funny. Don’t usually read steamy stuff, but it was worth it. Thank you MsSimmons
March 5, 2024
Poor. I've read better from Deborah Simmons.
Did Not Finish
October 14, 2024I really cannot get behind any of these characters, but the male MC is particularly off putting.
August 21, 2014
This was funny and the mystery of the treasure was quite well enough. I wasn't expecting it or the person who pulled a gun on them
The part about h having an aversion to the H because was childish, as the h acknowledges. And it just gave a bitter taste to a sweet tale. I don't like stories where the H is off gallivanting while the h keeps faithfully waiting for him. But that's my quibble, not everyone minds it.
The part about h having an aversion to the H because was childish, as the h acknowledges. And it just gave a bitter taste to a sweet tale. I don't like stories where the H is off gallivanting while the h keeps faithfully waiting for him. But that's my quibble, not everyone minds it.
May 29, 2008
Deborah Simmons usually writes great romance, but I was very disappointed in this book. The chemistry between the two characters was pretty lame for the first half of the book and the whole instant attraction thing was annoying and seemed forced. Plus, the description of the heroine was extremely unattractive at the beginning. It also felt really misogynistic at some points.
It just didn't work for me. The second half of the book was better, but I would pick up a different Deborah Simmons if you are looking for a good read.
It just didn't work for me. The second half of the book was better, but I would pick up a different Deborah Simmons if you are looking for a good read.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews