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Castonbury Park #1
The Wicked Lord Montague
'I have to inform you that your brother has died...'
Lord Giles Montague has always lived his life just the way he wants--fighting on the battlefields and fighting off the fawning ladies in London's clubs. But the notoriously wicked Montague is now reluctant heir to Castonbury Park!
Having grown up with the Montague family, Miss Lily Seagrove finds her least favourite by far is Lord Giles! He's arrogant, rude and oh, so infuriatingly handsome... But she's a girl of Gypsy heritage, and although she might be able to get under Giles' battle-scarred skin, she can never be Lady of the Manor...
Lord Giles Montague has always lived his life just the way he wants--fighting on the battlefields and fighting off the fawning ladies in London's clubs. But the notoriously wicked Montague is now reluctant heir to Castonbury Park!
Having grown up with the Montague family, Miss Lily Seagrove finds her least favourite by far is Lord Giles! He's arrogant, rude and oh, so infuriatingly handsome... But she's a girl of Gypsy heritage, and although she might be able to get under Giles' battle-scarred skin, she can never be Lady of the Manor...
174 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
14 people are currently reading
160 people want to read
About the author
Carole Mortimer
1,296 books908 followersI have written almost 250 romance novels in contemporary and Regency.
I am a USA Today Bestselling Author and recipient of the 2015 RWA Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2014 I received a Pioneer of Romance Award from Romantic Times in the US and in 2012 I was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II for my 'outstanding service to literature'.
I am very happily married to Peter with six sons, and live on the Isle of Man
I am a USA Today Bestselling Author and recipient of the 2015 RWA Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2014 I received a Pioneer of Romance Award from Romantic Times in the US and in 2012 I was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II for my 'outstanding service to literature'.
I am very happily married to Peter with six sons, and live on the Isle of Man
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 1, 2020
Lily Seagrove has dreaded the return of Lord Giles Montague to Castonbury Park. A year ago, after the death of his brother and her best friend Edward, he railed at her about how he'd never have let such a gold-digger marry his brother Edward since she was a foundling of questionable and probably inferior origins. Lily was both horribly offended and confused since she never wanted to marry Edward anyway. But Giles has returned and he's still horrible to her...except now there's an attraction that neither of them can resist. And once they give in to it and Lily begins to panic at the idea of getting caught, Giles believes she's gunning for a marriage proposal and quickly shuts her down. But Lily is working on a festival taking place at Castonbury Park, so they can't avoid each other. And the more Giles learns of Lily the more he realizes how wrong he was about her. But can he offer marriage to a woman of her past?
This was just okay for me. Giles is a bit of an ass and his turn around to non-ass is a bit sudden. But when he's not being an ass, he and Lily has some good times together, have some decent chemistry and he actually becomes a decent guy in the end. In the beginning though, he makes all kinds of assumptions about Lily because, I don't know why. Honestly, where his belief that she's a gold-digger comes from, I don't know. His belief in her potential promiscuity comes from his own experience, but he assumes that because she was so enthusiastic with him she must have been offering it up to at least 2 other people (his brother and a visiting Romany man). Lily spends a lot of this book confused about Giles's assumptions and also insecure since he's already attacked her biological heritage (evidently she looks as though she's descended from the Romany, so assumption is that she's one of them). So for some reason she falls in love with him. There's a lot of conversations and him admitting up to his vulnerabilities and showing of his softer side and that's what has Lily falling in love I guess...and forgetting the ways in which he wasn't so nice to her. But Lily is a big softy.
There's a bit of a suspense/mystery plot revolving around Lily's heritage. She is in fact descended from the Rom - and fair warning, this book makes liberal use of the word "gypsy" but for the most part it was in historical context and the author does explicitly point out (through the heroine) that these people prefer to be called Romany. I guess it's not her fault nobody really listens. And since I haven't seen any author do that in the past, I give kudos to this author for acknowledging that much. So while I didn't love the story, I didn't dislike it either. It was a good easy read.
This was just okay for me. Giles is a bit of an ass and his turn around to non-ass is a bit sudden. But when he's not being an ass, he and Lily has some good times together, have some decent chemistry and he actually becomes a decent guy in the end. In the beginning though, he makes all kinds of assumptions about Lily because, I don't know why. Honestly, where his belief that she's a gold-digger comes from, I don't know. His belief in her potential promiscuity comes from his own experience, but he assumes that because she was so enthusiastic with him she must have been offering it up to at least 2 other people (his brother and a visiting Romany man). Lily spends a lot of this book confused about Giles's assumptions and also insecure since he's already attacked her biological heritage (evidently she looks as though she's descended from the Romany, so assumption is that she's one of them). So for some reason she falls in love with him. There's a lot of conversations and him admitting up to his vulnerabilities and showing of his softer side and that's what has Lily falling in love I guess...and forgetting the ways in which he wasn't so nice to her. But Lily is a big softy.
There's a bit of a suspense/mystery plot revolving around Lily's heritage. She is in fact descended from the Rom - and fair warning, this book makes liberal use of the word "gypsy" but for the most part it was in historical context and the author does explicitly point out (through the heroine) that these people prefer to be called Romany. I guess it's not her fault nobody really listens. And since I haven't seen any author do that in the past, I give kudos to this author for acknowledging that much. So while I didn't love the story, I didn't dislike it either. It was a good easy read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 10, 2012
Mmmmm...I like historical romance; I like family-connected historical romance; I love Regency historical romance....so, why was this just OK?
First off: I've always like Carole Mortimer's Modern Romances from M & B - realistic, happy, genuine contemporary romance with the occasional twist; and second: I've never read one of her historicals before. Therefore, going in, quite happily expectant, I settled down to read......
Point 1: Giles Montague is NOWHERE NEAR "wicked"; he's honourable, strong, duty-bound (doing it but not liking it); kind, compassionate, keeps his feelings to himself; trying to do his best for everyone he is responsible for - THAT is who he is.
Point 2: shouldering the burden of becoming heir-apparent to the dukedom after the supposed 'death' of his eldest brother; feeling responsible that his younger brother followed in his footsteps into the army, but then managed to get himself killed at Waterloo; finding out that his father, the present duke, made a financial mistake leaving the estate they own in almost poverty; no wonder he makes assumptions about Lily, the virtuous 'friend' of his younger brother and the adopted daughter of the local vicar.
Point 3: Lily, sweet, outspoken, sometimes temperamental, beloved of the villagers, accepted both by the current duke and all his servants alike; plagued by gossip about her possible 'Romany' heritage - is an almost too good to be true heroine.
So as expected, Lily and Giles clash. Through several misunderstandings, Giles comes across as arrogant and pompous (though he's not, not really); Lily plays the 'hurt' dutiful friend/daughter (although sometimes she gives as good as she gets); and we 'see' them 'falling in love' (although neither realise it).
Point 4 (and this is major!): the two occasions where Giles 'makes love' with Lily, are totally and utterly NOT REGENCY TIMES. Both scenes contain deeds/scenarios which one would expect happening in a CONTEMPORARY setting. After two weeks of re-intoduction to each other, after the animosity displayed between the pair (mistaken or not), there is no WRITTEN indication of their growing attraction (i.e. how their feelings or even thoughts make us realise the falling-in-love process)! Oh, they do realise their assumptions of each other are wrong, but there's nothing to explain how they come to feel for each other in a 'true love' way.
So, mad, headlong rushing to the end of the story, almost as if the author wanted to get it over and done with.
Point 5: the final 20 pages (yes! 20 pages out of 331) explain away Lily's background/family connections; Giles is now madly, deeply in love with her, and her him; and a future story-line of an unexpected widow and heir is thrown in too!!
Gah! Disappointed, disillusioned, 'thank goodness that's over' and 'do I REALLY want to continue reading the series?' - not quite what I expected.
First off: I've always like Carole Mortimer's Modern Romances from M & B - realistic, happy, genuine contemporary romance with the occasional twist; and second: I've never read one of her historicals before. Therefore, going in, quite happily expectant, I settled down to read......
Point 1: Giles Montague is NOWHERE NEAR "wicked"; he's honourable, strong, duty-bound (doing it but not liking it); kind, compassionate, keeps his feelings to himself; trying to do his best for everyone he is responsible for - THAT is who he is.
Point 2: shouldering the burden of becoming heir-apparent to the dukedom after the supposed 'death' of his eldest brother; feeling responsible that his younger brother followed in his footsteps into the army, but then managed to get himself killed at Waterloo; finding out that his father, the present duke, made a financial mistake leaving the estate they own in almost poverty; no wonder he makes assumptions about Lily, the virtuous 'friend' of his younger brother and the adopted daughter of the local vicar.
Point 3: Lily, sweet, outspoken, sometimes temperamental, beloved of the villagers, accepted both by the current duke and all his servants alike; plagued by gossip about her possible 'Romany' heritage - is an almost too good to be true heroine.
So as expected, Lily and Giles clash. Through several misunderstandings, Giles comes across as arrogant and pompous (though he's not, not really); Lily plays the 'hurt' dutiful friend/daughter (although sometimes she gives as good as she gets); and we 'see' them 'falling in love' (although neither realise it).
Point 4 (and this is major!): the two occasions where Giles 'makes love' with Lily, are totally and utterly NOT REGENCY TIMES. Both scenes contain deeds/scenarios which one would expect happening in a CONTEMPORARY setting. After two weeks of re-intoduction to each other, after the animosity displayed between the pair (mistaken or not), there is no WRITTEN indication of their growing attraction (i.e. how their feelings or even thoughts make us realise the falling-in-love process)! Oh, they do realise their assumptions of each other are wrong, but there's nothing to explain how they come to feel for each other in a 'true love' way.
So, mad, headlong rushing to the end of the story, almost as if the author wanted to get it over and done with.
Point 5: the final 20 pages (yes! 20 pages out of 331) explain away Lily's background/family connections; Giles is now madly, deeply in love with her, and her him; and a future story-line of an unexpected widow and heir is thrown in too!!
Gah! Disappointed, disillusioned, 'thank goodness that's over' and 'do I REALLY want to continue reading the series?' - not quite what I expected.
October 8, 2012
!!! A fun read, but too !! Many !! Exclamations!!! To the point of distraction!! For me!!
December 19, 2019
I can't give this more than one star. The writing was weak, with many repeated phrases; the characters were either unlikeable (Giles) is the worst way, or just bland (Lily). And the treatment of the Romany was straight up racist. I'm glad the rest of the series isn't written by Carole Mortimer, and it'll be a while before I try any more of her books.
August 17, 2021
Il ritorno di Lord Montague è il primo volume della serie Gli scandali di Castonbury Park, chiamata così per il posto in cui sono ambientate le vicende. Ma, in più, ha una caratteristica molto particolare: i volumi che la compongono sono scritti da autrici diverse.
La storia inizia quando Lily figlia del vicario scopre che Giles, con il quale ha trascorso l'infanzia e con il quale non è mai andata d'accordo è diventato il nuovo erede del titolo di Duca di Rothermere. Giles, infatti, l'ha sempre considerata una donna senza scrupoli per motivi naturalmente errati. E mentre i due sono costretti a passare del tempo insieme, ben presto, scopriranno che provano ben altri sentimenti.
La storia è ambientata in Inghilterra nel 1816 ma siamo lontani dai salotti della capitale, siamo infatti in campagna dove le regole non sono così rigide e l'abbigliamento è modesto.
La trama aveva del potenziale ma risulta decisamente banale. Confesso che mi aspettavo decisamente di più.
A cominciare dai protagonisti. Giles si ritrova con un titolo che non desiderava e in più ci sono anche altri problemi che gravano sulle sue spalle. E' un uomo responsabile, gentile ma manca di fascino (non inteso come bellezza). Risulta un po' noioso e non si è accesa alcuna scintilla di interesse. Invece, Lily risulta poco credibile come personaggio. Le sue origini sono sconosciute, il suo aspetto fa pensare di essere figlia di zingari e nonostante tutto in paese tutti le vogliono bene (compresi il duca che l'ha fatta crescere con i suoi figli maschi). Mi sembra solo una bella favoletta.
Passiamo all'attrazione e poi il conseguente innamoramento tra i due protagonisti. Sinceramente non mi sembra affatto chiaro come sia avvenuto oltre ad essere un po' piatto. Spiegazioni di cosa provino e tensione sono carenti.
L'aspetto più intrigante di tutto il romanzo sono le origini di Lily che vengono finalmente alla luce, peccato però per il finale che ha un lieto fine ma lascia intendere che ci siano altri problemi all'orizzonte (non legati alla storia d'amore ma alla famiglia di Giles).
Sinceramente non sono interessata ad andare avanti.
La storia inizia quando Lily figlia del vicario scopre che Giles, con il quale ha trascorso l'infanzia e con il quale non è mai andata d'accordo è diventato il nuovo erede del titolo di Duca di Rothermere. Giles, infatti, l'ha sempre considerata una donna senza scrupoli per motivi naturalmente errati. E mentre i due sono costretti a passare del tempo insieme, ben presto, scopriranno che provano ben altri sentimenti.
La storia è ambientata in Inghilterra nel 1816 ma siamo lontani dai salotti della capitale, siamo infatti in campagna dove le regole non sono così rigide e l'abbigliamento è modesto.
La trama aveva del potenziale ma risulta decisamente banale. Confesso che mi aspettavo decisamente di più.
A cominciare dai protagonisti. Giles si ritrova con un titolo che non desiderava e in più ci sono anche altri problemi che gravano sulle sue spalle. E' un uomo responsabile, gentile ma manca di fascino (non inteso come bellezza). Risulta un po' noioso e non si è accesa alcuna scintilla di interesse. Invece, Lily risulta poco credibile come personaggio. Le sue origini sono sconosciute, il suo aspetto fa pensare di essere figlia di zingari e nonostante tutto in paese tutti le vogliono bene (compresi il duca che l'ha fatta crescere con i suoi figli maschi). Mi sembra solo una bella favoletta.
Passiamo all'attrazione e poi il conseguente innamoramento tra i due protagonisti. Sinceramente non mi sembra affatto chiaro come sia avvenuto oltre ad essere un po' piatto. Spiegazioni di cosa provino e tensione sono carenti.
L'aspetto più intrigante di tutto il romanzo sono le origini di Lily che vengono finalmente alla luce, peccato però per il finale che ha un lieto fine ma lascia intendere che ci siano altri problemi all'orizzonte (non legati alla storia d'amore ma alla famiglia di Giles).
Sinceramente non sono interessata ad andare avanti.
June 29, 2019
Stumbled on this series and it was a cute story. Lord Giles didn't expect to become the heir to a dukedom but now his older brother is missing and his younger brother is dead. To top it all off his father is sickly and he falling for the vicar's adopted daughter.
June 14, 2025
I felt the writing style was not captivating enough. Same typical storyline. The swolled words were quite questioning.
August 5, 2012
I have been looking forward to reading this series ever since I saw it show up on my Facebook feed. I've never watched the Upstairs Downstairs drama that popularized this type of books, but I've started Downton Abbey and after reading this book, I certainly want to watch both dramas.
Giles throughout the book seemed was pompous and arrogant and he eventually showed his softer side. I thought he seemed to embody what a man of his class would be like in that situation. I thought that added more realism to the story. I don't think I would have bought it if he weren't.
Lily was a great heroine, she stood up for herself, but she could always recognize her feelings for Giles, even though she didn't want them.
The only squabble I had with the book was even though there were good Romani, I thought the reveal with Mrs. Lovell's nephew was a bit...idk I thought it fell to a stereotype. Now I don't know much about the Romani people, but I didn't think it was needed.
I have the second book of the series and I am looking forward to reading it!
Giles throughout the book seemed was pompous and arrogant and he eventually showed his softer side. I thought he seemed to embody what a man of his class would be like in that situation. I thought that added more realism to the story. I don't think I would have bought it if he weren't.
Lily was a great heroine, she stood up for herself, but she could always recognize her feelings for Giles, even though she didn't want them.
The only squabble I had with the book was even though there were good Romani, I thought the reveal with Mrs. Lovell's nephew was a bit...idk I thought it fell to a stereotype. Now I don't know much about the Romani people, but I didn't think it was needed.
I have the second book of the series and I am looking forward to reading it!
May 25, 2015
http://leslecturesdeveralice.blogspot...
J'avoue être légèrement déçue car j'attendais un peu plus de cette histoire. Mais pour être honnête, je l'ai lu avec un plaisir un peu coupable en me délectant des situations et des personnages très convenus : la gentille et sensuelle fille de pasteur et le méchant-pas-si-méchant-que-ça-finalement Lord arrogant. Quelques petits intermèdes échevelés dans les bois plus tard, des petits tours de passe-passe avec de gentils rebondissements, et les voilà heureux en amour... Sans se prendre trop la tête côté psychologie.
Un air de régression délicieux parcourt cet harlequin à la couverture léchée, ce genre de bouquin qu'on lit à 14 ans cachée derrière le canapé de grand-mère... Allez, même s'il ne me laissera pas un souvenir impérissable, je suis curieuse de lire la suite.
J'avoue être légèrement déçue car j'attendais un peu plus de cette histoire. Mais pour être honnête, je l'ai lu avec un plaisir un peu coupable en me délectant des situations et des personnages très convenus : la gentille et sensuelle fille de pasteur et le méchant-pas-si-méchant-que-ça-finalement Lord arrogant. Quelques petits intermèdes échevelés dans les bois plus tard, des petits tours de passe-passe avec de gentils rebondissements, et les voilà heureux en amour... Sans se prendre trop la tête côté psychologie.
Un air de régression délicieux parcourt cet harlequin à la couverture léchée, ce genre de bouquin qu'on lit à 14 ans cachée derrière le canapé de grand-mère... Allez, même s'il ne me laissera pas un souvenir impérissable, je suis curieuse de lire la suite.
August 13, 2012
I thought it was just OK. I thought Giles lacked charisma and seemed downright sinister at the beginning (and not in an irresistible, smoldering Mr. Rochester kind of way). The characters just felt kind of flat and the book seemed kind of formulaic. It didn't engage me with the characters the same way other Regency romances like Edenbrooke have. It was a light, quick read and I'm still looking forward to reading more from this series and seeing what each author does with the characters of Castonbury Park.
June 19, 2014
Retour à Castonbury Park est une romance qui divertit agréablement, qui offre un bon moment de lecture, le tout sans chichis aucun. Les personnages sont bons, l'intrigue possède ce qu'il faut là où il faut et bien que le tout soit un peu juste, le plaisir à la lecture n'en demeure pas moins manifeste.
Ma chronique complète : http://bloggalleane.blogspot.fr/2014/...
Ma chronique complète : http://bloggalleane.blogspot.fr/2014/...
June 30, 2013
Trama banale,i due protagonisti sono abbastanza antipatici (lui è proprio ipocrita...),alcuni parti sono poco convinventi (possibile che lui non abbia confidenza con lei che da piccola era sempre in casa loro
??) e poi mancano le scintille,un pò di passione,infatti è scialbo.
??) e poi mancano le scintille,un pò di passione,infatti è scialbo.
Want to read
August 10, 2012facebook says that if you like downton abbey, you'll love these books...so i guess i'll give this one a whirl??
January 21, 2013
Probably 3.5 stars. Although the hero was a jerk towards the heroine. Ok so some of it was caused by jealousy but still.
May 18, 2016
So-So book
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews