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The Seduction of an English Lady
To seduce an English lady, a gentleman must always remember to . . .
Gaze longingly into her eyes while declaring her beauty . . .
Colonel Colin Mandland has wealth, power . . . everything but a bride. But although there is no mistress of his newly purchased manor, Maiden Hill, there is certainly a resident maiden: Lady Rosalyn Wellborne, a stubborn beauty who steadfastly refuses to leave the place she has always called home.
Hold her hand just a fraction longer than necessary...
Tantalizing Rosalyn proves to be far more difficult than any enemy he's ever met on the battlefield. She attacks by declaring Colin an upstart who is unfit for local society. He shockingly counters by offering for her hand in marriage—and she surprisingly accepts.
Or, when all else fails, conquer her.
Although this genteel lady has vowed never to succumb to unbridled passion, she quickly learns that theirs will be no marriage in-name-only, but rather a slow, sensuous and alarmingly effective seduction . . . that turns her world upside down.
Gaze longingly into her eyes while declaring her beauty . . .
Colonel Colin Mandland has wealth, power . . . everything but a bride. But although there is no mistress of his newly purchased manor, Maiden Hill, there is certainly a resident maiden: Lady Rosalyn Wellborne, a stubborn beauty who steadfastly refuses to leave the place she has always called home.
Hold her hand just a fraction longer than necessary...
Tantalizing Rosalyn proves to be far more difficult than any enemy he's ever met on the battlefield. She attacks by declaring Colin an upstart who is unfit for local society. He shockingly counters by offering for her hand in marriage—and she surprisingly accepts.
Or, when all else fails, conquer her.
Although this genteel lady has vowed never to succumb to unbridled passion, she quickly learns that theirs will be no marriage in-name-only, but rather a slow, sensuous and alarmingly effective seduction . . . that turns her world upside down.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 30, 2003
16 people are currently reading
402 people want to read
About the author
Cathy Maxwell
71 books2,178 followersCATHY MAXWELL spends hours in front of her computer pondering the question, "Why do people fall in love?" It remains for her the mystery of life and the secret to happiness.
She lives in the Austin, TX area where she is having the time of her life.
Visit her on Instagram, Twitter, FB, and TikTok at maxwellcathy (Yes, some other Cathy Maxwell nabbed the handle. However, she does own www.cathymaxwell.com and she'd love for you to swing by.)
She lives in the Austin, TX area where she is having the time of her life.
Visit her on Instagram, Twitter, FB, and TikTok at maxwellcathy (Yes, some other Cathy Maxwell nabbed the handle. However, she does own www.cathymaxwell.com and she'd love for you to swing by.)
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
April 22, 2022
Colonel Colin Mandland buys a house that is currently occupied by Lady Rosalyn Wellborne. She doesn't want to leave so the local Lord bribes Colin with the promise of a "seat in the Commons" if he'll marry Rosalyn. He wears her down and eventually convinces her to elope (and they bang for THREE STRAIGHT DAYS), before everyone has emotional breakdowns over their own flaws, which are solved by BANGING "Love".
1. This was froth. But not like fresh, good froth: no, this was like the froth left on the bottom of a mug after you've had a delicious hot caffeine drink and then forgotten the cup on your bedside table for 2 weeks. It's crusty, and whiffy, and the worst echo of delicious hot caffeine drink.
2. What I mean by that is: this thing is so goddamned shallow. Rosalyn, after knowing the hero for 7 days (and has only actually interacted with him like four total times: when they fight about the house; when they snub one another; when they bond (off-page) about a rosebush; when they agree to elope) realizes that she's falling in love (WHAT? HOW?) with Colin when he walks in on her in the bath and keeps his promise not to force her to have sex with him.
Which initiates the aforementioned THREE DAYS OF SEX thing.
But somehow we're meant to believe that feeling is the feeling of True Love? ....mmkay.
3. Maxwell has Colin's brother and Rosalyn's mother stand-in throw emotional grenades the moment they get back, which throw everything into turmoil and ultimately made the last few chapters a fucking feelings stew.
4. They save a fox though?
5. But seriously: this feels like the outline of a more robust novel about a blindly ambitious Colonel having to reckon with his legacy in the small village where he grew up; and the woman he marries (again in the pursuit of Something Greater) challenging him to soften and love and protect those already in his life even while improving himself.
Or something: I don't know.
1. This was froth. But not like fresh, good froth: no, this was like the froth left on the bottom of a mug after you've had a delicious hot caffeine drink and then forgotten the cup on your bedside table for 2 weeks. It's crusty, and whiffy, and the worst echo of delicious hot caffeine drink.
2. What I mean by that is: this thing is so goddamned shallow. Rosalyn, after knowing the hero for 7 days (and has only actually interacted with him like four total times: when they fight about the house; when they snub one another; when they bond (off-page) about a rosebush; when they agree to elope) realizes that she's falling in love (WHAT? HOW?) with Colin when he walks in on her in the bath and keeps his promise not to force her to have sex with him.
Which initiates the aforementioned THREE DAYS OF SEX thing.
But somehow we're meant to believe that feeling is the feeling of True Love? ....mmkay.
3. Maxwell has Colin's brother and Rosalyn's mother stand-in throw emotional grenades the moment they get back, which throw everything into turmoil and ultimately made the last few chapters a fucking feelings stew.
4. They save a fox though?
5. But seriously: this feels like the outline of a more robust novel about a blindly ambitious Colonel having to reckon with his legacy in the small village where he grew up; and the woman he marries (again in the pursuit of Something Greater) challenging him to soften and love and protect those already in his life even while improving himself.
Or something: I don't know.
June 27, 2015
DNF. I don't understand why an author, who obviously knows practically nothing about the time period where she sets her books, would write historical romances. There were several historically dubious details in the book prior to the two that ended it for me, e.g. an army horse being used to drive a racing phaeton? A cobbler's son being promoted to a colonel in the English Army? I was willing to pass over these - maybe during the Napoleonic Wars the army really was desperate for leaders and promotion was more readily available to lower-class soldiers than otherwise. And I don't really know much about how horses were used in the 19th century.
The first detail that killed the book for me is a plot detail. The hero comes to visit the heroine, who is packing up to move away to Cornwall in a few days, and brings her a "gift" - a rosebush to replace the one his horse apparently ate. Why on earth would he consider this a gift to the heroine? She's moving away in a couple of days and will never see the rosebush again. In fact, the rosebush will actually be his, since he's bought the property and is moving into the house. The author, however, seems to think that this is just a wonderful and thoughtful gift on the hero's part that is certain to impress the heroine. Doesn't work for me.
The second detail is a line that says "which reminded him of nothing less than a burgher's wife gleaning wheat sheaves from the fields." (pg. 104) This is utter nonsense. A burgher is a "citizen of a town or city, typically a member of the wealthy bourgeoisie". A burgher's wife would not be caught dead working in a grainfield like a common peasant! Second, the definition of gleaning is "to gather (leftover grain or other produce) after a harvest". Gleaning is done AFTER the wheat sheaves have been hauled way to be threshed, and would only be done by the poorest farmers who need every bit of grain they can get, or when the harvest has failed. Third, a wheat sheaf is "a bundle of grain stalks laid lengthwise and tied together after reaping." Gleaning is NOT done on wheat sheaves, it's done in the stubble that is left over after the grain has been harvested.
After this nonsense, I completely lost my interest in the book.
The first detail that killed the book for me is a plot detail. The hero comes to visit the heroine, who is packing up to move away to Cornwall in a few days, and brings her a "gift" - a rosebush to replace the one his horse apparently ate. Why on earth would he consider this a gift to the heroine? She's moving away in a couple of days and will never see the rosebush again. In fact, the rosebush will actually be his, since he's bought the property and is moving into the house. The author, however, seems to think that this is just a wonderful and thoughtful gift on the hero's part that is certain to impress the heroine. Doesn't work for me.
The second detail is a line that says "which reminded him of nothing less than a burgher's wife gleaning wheat sheaves from the fields." (pg. 104) This is utter nonsense. A burgher is a "citizen of a town or city, typically a member of the wealthy bourgeoisie". A burgher's wife would not be caught dead working in a grainfield like a common peasant! Second, the definition of gleaning is "to gather (leftover grain or other produce) after a harvest". Gleaning is done AFTER the wheat sheaves have been hauled way to be threshed, and would only be done by the poorest farmers who need every bit of grain they can get, or when the harvest has failed. Third, a wheat sheaf is "a bundle of grain stalks laid lengthwise and tied together after reaping." Gleaning is NOT done on wheat sheaves, it's done in the stubble that is left over after the grain has been harvested.
After this nonsense, I completely lost my interest in the book.
October 26, 2021
This is a highly entertaining book of fictional history about Queen Matilda, daughter of Henry the 1st, but also about her step mother, Queen Adeliza, wife and eventual widow of Henry the 1st also. Two very different women who form an unbreakable bond through the years. This book doesn't fail to pack a punch. I enjouyed it immensley.
May 31, 2019
Cobbler’s son with ambition, earl’s daughter without support—formula for marriage of convenience turn love match. It’s what turns the formula into the story of two people with strengths and weaknesses that makes it so enjoyable.
July 23, 2020
The book is written to formula and kept me occupied for a few hours. No need for realism or real plot, but some rowdy virgin-and-rake sex where everything ends Happily Ever After.
December 6, 2020
Pretty Good
March 7, 2023
Cute, sweet romance with low angst and drama. Didn't pull my heartstrings either way which was completely fine with me at the time. Perfect for taking a break from a heart wrenching story.
November 15, 2025
🌟🌟2.5🌟🌟
The first few chapters were really boring. It was not until Rosalyn knocked on Colin's house and asked him if the marriage proposal counted that I really thought about reading it🥲
The first few chapters were really boring. It was not until Rosalyn knocked on Colin's house and asked him if the marriage proposal counted that I really thought about reading it🥲
January 3, 2013
I enjoyed 'English Lady' very much. A marriage of convenience plot about a captain back from stellar service in Nelson's navy who uses his prize money to buy a manor up in Lancashire. As the house is currently occupied by the former Earl's daughter, who is thoroughly impoverished and resistant to leave, trouble ensues. The leads are given reasons for their personality clash and we get to stay with them as the warm to each other. The story is full of characters interacting in a village setting and makes for a welcome change from ballrooms and Ton gossip plots. Thanks Cathy Maxwell, I am putting you on my active list. Who, I wonder, gave the novel such a dreadful title?
November 18, 2019
This was a fun read. I'd rate it 3.5. I really enjoyed the first 2/3's of this book. I didn't like the ending much. My favourite character was the fox.
Colin buys a manor out from under the current resident, Rosalyn. Rosalyn's cousin inherited it from her father, then sold it out from under her. If Colin kicks Rosalyn out, the towns people will hate him. If Rosalyn has to leave, she'll end up with her horrible aunt and her companion will be heartbroken to leave her beloved town. How to resolve the issue? Marriage, but neither party is that enthusiastic initially.
Colin buys a manor out from under the current resident, Rosalyn. Rosalyn's cousin inherited it from her father, then sold it out from under her. If Colin kicks Rosalyn out, the towns people will hate him. If Rosalyn has to leave, she'll end up with her horrible aunt and her companion will be heartbroken to leave her beloved town. How to resolve the issue? Marriage, but neither party is that enthusiastic initially.
January 13, 2009
I hate when titles are so vague. This is alot about power and what people are willing to do get it...but what happens when they learn what's really important.
May 16, 2017
It was ok
April 13, 2010
Silly but entertaining enough.
January 7, 2012
Rated 3.5
July 21, 2012
What a great story! I laughed and cried many times! Such wonderful writing and really engaging characters!! I love this authors work!!
I am currently on a Regency kick and this one was terrific!!
I am currently on a Regency kick and this one was terrific!!
June 1, 2013
Great story, and luved the details just hate how Rose friends stop talking to her
October 17, 2014
an ok read
July 2, 2018
Historical Romance
Two prideful people of different classes find love in 1816 Clitheroe England.
Two prideful people of different classes find love in 1816 Clitheroe England.
September 25, 2009
Regency
September 3, 2016
2.5 stars
October 27, 2018
Very amusing story. I enjoyed it
Read
July 5, 2018Don't like the heroine, at all. There's no excuse for bad behavior.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews