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Lady #2
Something Like A Lady
There are worse things than hiding in a derelict old cottage, battling field mice, and sucking on one's last lemon. Or so Lady Annabella Price firmly believes. For example, spending the Season in London with her stepbrother and husband-hunting, as her mother has ordered. Instead, Annabella sends her maid in her place and exults in her questionable triumph... until the insufferable Lord Seabrook shows up.
It seems like a simple favor for a friend, something to distract him from his need to find an acceptable wife. Jonathan Durham, Fourth Earl of Seabrook, travels to Haselmere to find the duke's stepsister and make certain no harm has befallen her. But Annabella is no damsel in distress. She's a willful, spirited lady, and the impetuous beauty intrigues Seabrook. When they're caught in a compromising position and forced into a hurried marriage, Seabrook sees it as the perfect answer to both their problems. But how can he convince his unwilling bride to give their marriage a chance when she's determined to have it dissolved?
It seems like a simple favor for a friend, something to distract him from his need to find an acceptable wife. Jonathan Durham, Fourth Earl of Seabrook, travels to Haselmere to find the duke's stepsister and make certain no harm has befallen her. But Annabella is no damsel in distress. She's a willful, spirited lady, and the impetuous beauty intrigues Seabrook. When they're caught in a compromising position and forced into a hurried marriage, Seabrook sees it as the perfect answer to both their problems. But how can he convince his unwilling bride to give their marriage a chance when she's determined to have it dissolved?
375 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 10, 2013
17 people are currently reading
119 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
May 14, 2013
I had such a wonderful time reading this book. I laughed and had fun. Made me want to learn how to shoot a bow and arror. I loved Jonathan's grandma. She tells it like it is and you better watch out or she will take a gun after you. Don't even mess with her cats. Once she likes you she will have you doing all kinds of things.
Lady Annabelle really loved her father and never realized what was going on between her parents. When she gets older her mom wants her to go to London and find a husband but she doesn't want to do that. She goes and stays at a cottage on her families land. Little did she know that fate had other plans. Jonathan Durham is sent to find out where the real Annabelle is at.
This book has so many surprises in it. Just when I thought I had it all something else would happen and I would be hanging with my mouth open wondering what the heck. I love books that keep me on my toes and this one really did. I can't wait to read more by this author.
Lady Annabelle really loved her father and never realized what was going on between her parents. When she gets older her mom wants her to go to London and find a husband but she doesn't want to do that. She goes and stays at a cottage on her families land. Little did she know that fate had other plans. Jonathan Durham is sent to find out where the real Annabelle is at.
This book has so many surprises in it. Just when I thought I had it all something else would happen and I would be hanging with my mouth open wondering what the heck. I love books that keep me on my toes and this one really did. I can't wait to read more by this author.
May 23, 2013
Something Like a Lady by Kay Springsteen & Kim Bowman is a wonderfully humorous read. This was one of those books where everyone is house kept looking at me while I was reading it because I was laughing out loud. If you enjoy a good historical romance with a lot of humor thrown in this is a must read.
Lady Annabella Price is full of spunk, humor, and mischief. I loved Annabella from the beginning. She has no problem saying exactly what she is thinking and sometimes what she is thinking maybe should not be shared with others.
Jonathan Durham is a handsome fellow with a good attitude. He has to have a fine sense of humor with his grandmother around. As much as I loved Annabella I loved Gran more. This is one lady I think you would want on your side. She either really likes you or look out because this is one out spoken, pistol packing, arrow shooting Grandma.
I so enjoyed reading the story of Annabella and Jon. They don't exact start their relationship on the right foot and and there is a lot of drama and hilarious moments as these two get to know each other. There are a lot of twist and turns that I did not expect. There is a little mystery thrown in as well, much to my delight.
Overall this was just a really interesting historical romance that sure did keep my attention all the way through. I have not read the first story in this series and I didn't feel like I was missing any important details at all. However, as much as I enjoyed this book I sure would like to read the first in the Lady Series.
I had the pleasure of reading this fabulous story in exchange for sharing my opinion with you all.
Lady Annabella Price is full of spunk, humor, and mischief. I loved Annabella from the beginning. She has no problem saying exactly what she is thinking and sometimes what she is thinking maybe should not be shared with others.
Jonathan Durham is a handsome fellow with a good attitude. He has to have a fine sense of humor with his grandmother around. As much as I loved Annabella I loved Gran more. This is one lady I think you would want on your side. She either really likes you or look out because this is one out spoken, pistol packing, arrow shooting Grandma.
I so enjoyed reading the story of Annabella and Jon. They don't exact start their relationship on the right foot and and there is a lot of drama and hilarious moments as these two get to know each other. There are a lot of twist and turns that I did not expect. There is a little mystery thrown in as well, much to my delight.
Overall this was just a really interesting historical romance that sure did keep my attention all the way through. I have not read the first story in this series and I didn't feel like I was missing any important details at all. However, as much as I enjoyed this book I sure would like to read the first in the Lady Series.
I had the pleasure of reading this fabulous story in exchange for sharing my opinion with you all.
July 26, 2013
Something like a Lady is a rollercoaster of a story. Whilst you are genuinely sure it will all work out in the end for the couple, Annabella and Jon, you just can’t quite work out how they are going to get there. The book is a real page-turner that draws you into the fascinating love story of this couple whom fate seems to have pulled together, despite each of their best efforts to avoid marriage. In fact, you can’t help but fall in love with the pair yourself:
Annabella, who is headstrong, determined, vivacious and quick-witted, and Jon, who is everything a male lead of this genre should be: strong, handsome and honourable.
Despite being set in the regency period, and thus coming up against all the rules and regulations that young single people had to follow in this time, the book does manage to break away from that a little, and the personality and wittiness of the characters shows through. In fact, that is probably one of my favourite aspects of this book: as well as the haughtiness of the period, you also see the humanity of the characters. The way that description is used in the book accentuates this light-hearted approach:
Unsure whether to turn around and stalk off or grab Annabella by the shoulders and give her a good shake, Jon simply stared. Candlelight limned her face and gilded the honey-gold curls that cascaded about her shoulders. Her skin glowed peachy soft and her unusual dark green eyes gleamed like twin pools at midnight. She should have made him think of an angel. What she brought to his mind, though, was his gran’s favourite cat – the disagreeable brown tabby that hated everyone, particularly him, and never failed to spit and hiss whenever he got too close to her favourite perch.
The characterisation of this book is fabulous, leading to characters who not only seem real but are a joy to learn more about. My favourite character has to be Jon’s somewhat eccentric grandmother who steals the limelight at times and provides another humorous dimension to the book.
It is not very often that the main characters of a book of this period find themselves married before they fall in love, and the journey they take to find that love – or at least acknowledge it – provides a unique and enjoyable approach to the period romance genre.
When she looked up again, her expression was unreadable. “I… need to ask… what are your intentions as regards our marriage?”
His intentions? To Hold you and never let you go. To care for you. To worship you in every… He tamped down his baser urges.
This book is the second in a series (Lady Series) by these two authors, and I am now intrigued to read the first in the series, A Lot Like a Lady, which describes what happens to the maid who took Annabella’s place in London.
Annabella, who is headstrong, determined, vivacious and quick-witted, and Jon, who is everything a male lead of this genre should be: strong, handsome and honourable.
Despite being set in the regency period, and thus coming up against all the rules and regulations that young single people had to follow in this time, the book does manage to break away from that a little, and the personality and wittiness of the characters shows through. In fact, that is probably one of my favourite aspects of this book: as well as the haughtiness of the period, you also see the humanity of the characters. The way that description is used in the book accentuates this light-hearted approach:
Unsure whether to turn around and stalk off or grab Annabella by the shoulders and give her a good shake, Jon simply stared. Candlelight limned her face and gilded the honey-gold curls that cascaded about her shoulders. Her skin glowed peachy soft and her unusual dark green eyes gleamed like twin pools at midnight. She should have made him think of an angel. What she brought to his mind, though, was his gran’s favourite cat – the disagreeable brown tabby that hated everyone, particularly him, and never failed to spit and hiss whenever he got too close to her favourite perch.
The characterisation of this book is fabulous, leading to characters who not only seem real but are a joy to learn more about. My favourite character has to be Jon’s somewhat eccentric grandmother who steals the limelight at times and provides another humorous dimension to the book.
It is not very often that the main characters of a book of this period find themselves married before they fall in love, and the journey they take to find that love – or at least acknowledge it – provides a unique and enjoyable approach to the period romance genre.
When she looked up again, her expression was unreadable. “I… need to ask… what are your intentions as regards our marriage?”
His intentions? To Hold you and never let you go. To care for you. To worship you in every… He tamped down his baser urges.
This book is the second in a series (Lady Series) by these two authors, and I am now intrigued to read the first in the series, A Lot Like a Lady, which describes what happens to the maid who took Annabella’s place in London.
July 29, 2013
Something Like a Lady is the second book in Springsteen and Bowman's Like a Lady Series, and serves as a companion novel to last year's A Lot Like a Lady. The stories are concurrent, rather than sequential — an approach I very much enjoyed. And it makes perfect sense, too, since the heroines of these books are indeed companions, if curious ones — one is the disobedient daughter of a baronet and the other her mild-mannered maid. You certainly don't need to read the first book to find pleasure in the second, but I do recommend it, since Jon and Annabella both appear in the story that launches the series. And on top of that, A Lot Like a Lady is a charming and gratifying read.
You have to admit, the two covers are gorgeous. By the way, remember author Sophia Nash's research on the language of the fan? Opening the fan wide, as Annabella does on her book cover, means wait for me. I love how this reflects the heart of the story. Both Annabella and Jon have some emotional growing up to do, and of course they're not on the same timetable — how much fun would that be?!
Our hero and heroine struggle with self-esteem issues, and neither is completely honest with themselves or each other. This leads to a number of unexpected, unpleasant consequences — and a great deal of hilarity. Annabella can be overly dramatic at times, but Jon enjoys her spirit, and this is one reason why:
He cut off her tantrum with a kiss, long and deep and filled with such glorious heat of passion her knees weakened.
The authors excel at both Regency world building and character building, and creating emotional as well as situational suspense. The story's opening is especially touching, and the way Jon and Annabella meet is funny, cringe-worthy and delightful. But when Jon's unconventional grandmother marches onto the page, the story really takes off.
Another snippet, this one my favorite example of some really lovely prose:
He slammed the door to his room. Dust floated up from the wooden floor and began a slow ballet in the moonbeam slanting through the window.
This romantic historical by authors Kim Bowman and Kay Springsteen ably offers heartbreak, deception, danger, and an irresistible string of 19th century shenanigans. You'll find plenty to like about Something Like a Lady.
You have to admit, the two covers are gorgeous. By the way, remember author Sophia Nash's research on the language of the fan? Opening the fan wide, as Annabella does on her book cover, means wait for me. I love how this reflects the heart of the story. Both Annabella and Jon have some emotional growing up to do, and of course they're not on the same timetable — how much fun would that be?!
Our hero and heroine struggle with self-esteem issues, and neither is completely honest with themselves or each other. This leads to a number of unexpected, unpleasant consequences — and a great deal of hilarity. Annabella can be overly dramatic at times, but Jon enjoys her spirit, and this is one reason why:
He cut off her tantrum with a kiss, long and deep and filled with such glorious heat of passion her knees weakened.
The authors excel at both Regency world building and character building, and creating emotional as well as situational suspense. The story's opening is especially touching, and the way Jon and Annabella meet is funny, cringe-worthy and delightful. But when Jon's unconventional grandmother marches onto the page, the story really takes off.
Another snippet, this one my favorite example of some really lovely prose:
He slammed the door to his room. Dust floated up from the wooden floor and began a slow ballet in the moonbeam slanting through the window.
This romantic historical by authors Kim Bowman and Kay Springsteen ably offers heartbreak, deception, danger, and an irresistible string of 19th century shenanigans. You'll find plenty to like about Something Like a Lady.
October 21, 2016
It was OK at the beginning and seeming like a generic 3-star regency romance then it got real bad real fast.
Then the hero allowed the heroine to believe that he took advantage of her while she was drunk (which is rape) for a majority of the story. The heroine then just goes along with the marriage instead of running for her family (which is what you do when you think you might have gotten raped)
Then after that the hero does a multitude of borderline abusive acts that the heroine just throws a tantrum about then accepts like removing her door so she can't prevent her husband from getting to her while she's asleep. I started skimming after that and I can't say anything in the last bit was able to overcome the fact that their relationship was rather abusive
Then the hero allowed the heroine to believe that he took advantage of her while she was drunk (which is rape) for a majority of the story. The heroine then just goes along with the marriage instead of running for her family (which is what you do when you think you might have gotten raped)
Then after that the hero does a multitude of borderline abusive acts that the heroine just throws a tantrum about then accepts like removing her door so she can't prevent her husband from getting to her while she's asleep. I started skimming after that and I can't say anything in the last bit was able to overcome the fact that their relationship was rather abusive
April 15, 2013
In this second book, we find Lady Annabella hiding out in one of the cottages at the Wyndham Estate. Her Mother wants her to marry a London gentleman or Vicar . but Lady Annabella refuses to go to London and has sent her maid Juliet in her place. Her step brother realizes that Juliet is an imposter so he sends the Earl of Seabrook-Jonathan Durham to the Wyndham Estate to look for Lady Annabella.
This book is a little racier then I normally read, so if your looking for a clean read, just know that this one is a little more on the suggestive side.
This book is a little racier then I normally read, so if your looking for a clean read, just know that this one is a little more on the suggestive side.
June 24, 2013
Something Like a Lady by Kay Springsteen and Kim Bowman is a well-written regency period novel. I loved the passion with which Lady Annabella approaches life, and all the scrapes she seems to get herself in to, and how everyone is willing to help her get out of them. Such a genuine character. Lord Seabrook, well, he's a man--what more is there to say. :)
***I received this book from the publisher for the purpose of review. The above is my honest opinion.***
***I received this book from the publisher for the purpose of review. The above is my honest opinion.***
August 16, 2014
This is a well-written story with an interesting plot. The descriptions of country life in 19th century England flow smoothly and vividly across the page.
Read full review in the 2013 June issue of InD’tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2013 June issue of InD’tale Magazine.
May 18, 2013
good story
June 29, 2013
Really enjoyed. A fun follow up to the other book. Well written. The romance was good and clean!
March 8, 2017
Almost gave up once about 70% through, a lot of miscommunication. Not as good as the first book.
ETA: I've discovered I can't abide heroines that throw things. Especially in historical novels. I mean I know in their timeline they aren't usually antiques, but I just cringe.
ETA: I've discovered I can't abide heroines that throw things. Especially in historical novels. I mean I know in their timeline they aren't usually antiques, but I just cringe.
September 2, 2015
Reviewed by Julie
Book provided by the publisher
Originally posted at Romancing the Book
This may be the best historical romance I have read in a long while. In fact, I kind of have a little bit of a book hangover.
Annabella lived in the shadows of her parents very unhappy marriage. She vividly recalls conversations with her father as a child when he sadly explained to her why he traveled so often. Now, with her mother making threats to marry her off to the local minister if she does not travel to London for the Season, Annabella concocts a scheme to avoid going to London. Things might have worked out but a Lord Seabrook who was very good friends with Annabella’s stepbrother agreed to check in on Annabella’s well being. The carriage house where Annabella was hiding out is where Seabrook is housed during his stay. A hilarious case of mistaken identity occurs when Seabrook assumes Annabella is a servant.
One thing upon another compounds an already confusing situation when Annabella discovers a stash of money in the old carriage house bearing the Duke’s insignia. After indulging in a fine French wine, Annnabella and Seabrook wind up spending the night together, but not in the way you think. The thing is Annabella doesn’t remember what happened that night and Seabrook allows her to think the worse. A very hasty marriage is arranged which Seabrook intends to use to his advantage in order to obtain his inheritance. But, is that the only reason he rushed Annabella into marriage?
The hilarity continues as Annabella is taken to Blackmoor and introduced to Seabrook’s grandmother. I laughed out loud at the dowager who took Annabella under her wing and taught her some valuable lessons about life and men.
Annabella keeps Seabrook on edge from start to finish. She is not conventional or biddable. She’s feisty, independent, smart and has a mouth on her. Life with Annabella would never be boring. But, Seabrook continues to keep secrets from Annabella and they can’t have a conversation without Annabella accusing him of being in league with the devil. Seabrook never knew what hit him. He has no idea how to make things right for Annabella now that he has trapped her into marriage. Would it be better if he sent her to London and let her stepbrother help them annul the marriage… or could they somehow, someway manage to make this marriage successful after all?
This is a sweet romance full of charm and humor, zany mix ups and wonderfully drawn characters. I literally felt my mood lighten while reading this book and I’m still chuckling about some of the parts in the book when Annabella got a good zing on Seabrook or the dowager was in rare form. This is a delightful read, mostly on the sweet side as far as the steam level is concerned, but too much sexual content wouldn’t have fit all that well with this one. I highly recommend this one to all lovers of romance.
Book provided by the publisher
Originally posted at Romancing the Book
This may be the best historical romance I have read in a long while. In fact, I kind of have a little bit of a book hangover.
Annabella lived in the shadows of her parents very unhappy marriage. She vividly recalls conversations with her father as a child when he sadly explained to her why he traveled so often. Now, with her mother making threats to marry her off to the local minister if she does not travel to London for the Season, Annabella concocts a scheme to avoid going to London. Things might have worked out but a Lord Seabrook who was very good friends with Annabella’s stepbrother agreed to check in on Annabella’s well being. The carriage house where Annabella was hiding out is where Seabrook is housed during his stay. A hilarious case of mistaken identity occurs when Seabrook assumes Annabella is a servant.
One thing upon another compounds an already confusing situation when Annabella discovers a stash of money in the old carriage house bearing the Duke’s insignia. After indulging in a fine French wine, Annnabella and Seabrook wind up spending the night together, but not in the way you think. The thing is Annabella doesn’t remember what happened that night and Seabrook allows her to think the worse. A very hasty marriage is arranged which Seabrook intends to use to his advantage in order to obtain his inheritance. But, is that the only reason he rushed Annabella into marriage?
The hilarity continues as Annabella is taken to Blackmoor and introduced to Seabrook’s grandmother. I laughed out loud at the dowager who took Annabella under her wing and taught her some valuable lessons about life and men.
Annabella keeps Seabrook on edge from start to finish. She is not conventional or biddable. She’s feisty, independent, smart and has a mouth on her. Life with Annabella would never be boring. But, Seabrook continues to keep secrets from Annabella and they can’t have a conversation without Annabella accusing him of being in league with the devil. Seabrook never knew what hit him. He has no idea how to make things right for Annabella now that he has trapped her into marriage. Would it be better if he sent her to London and let her stepbrother help them annul the marriage… or could they somehow, someway manage to make this marriage successful after all?
This is a sweet romance full of charm and humor, zany mix ups and wonderfully drawn characters. I literally felt my mood lighten while reading this book and I’m still chuckling about some of the parts in the book when Annabella got a good zing on Seabrook or the dowager was in rare form. This is a delightful read, mostly on the sweet side as far as the steam level is concerned, but too much sexual content wouldn’t have fit all that well with this one. I highly recommend this one to all lovers of romance.
May 25, 2015
I enjoyed this book slightly less than the first one, Something like a lady, mostly because Annabella's temper and Seabrook's high-handedness tended to annoy me.
Like the first book, it is not terribly well structured, and most importantly, there are historical details about the ways of the nobility and especially rules of succession, titles, and forms of address, that do not quite fit. For instance, a second son somehow is an Earl while his brother and father are both alive. Seabrook repeatedly calls Annabella "m'lady" while she's passing as a servant and she doesn't seem to find that weird... I'm no expert on these things but I do prefer that books respect the reality of the times they are set in somewhat...
That said, it's still an enjoyable read.
Like the first book, it is not terribly well structured, and most importantly, there are historical details about the ways of the nobility and especially rules of succession, titles, and forms of address, that do not quite fit. For instance, a second son somehow is an Earl while his brother and father are both alive. Seabrook repeatedly calls Annabella "m'lady" while she's passing as a servant and she doesn't seem to find that weird... I'm no expert on these things but I do prefer that books respect the reality of the times they are set in somewhat...
That said, it's still an enjoyable read.
November 26, 2014
I found Annabella quite unlikeable for 2/3 of the book. then after the marriage and removal to Coventry, I began to dislike Lord Jon Seabrook. both were kind of dense and thickheaded. A grandmother shooting arrows and climbing hills. Her character was unbelievable since she was introduced and described as imbalanced during the dinner with cats--then the rest of the story was wise and shrewd. The story did not captivate me once I realized both characters were stuck on stupid. not much romance either
January 9, 2015
I liked this second book much more than the first, which totally surprised me. Annabella is about as unlikable a heroine as you can imagine, but she really grew on me as the book progressed. Jon was more rake than gentleman, but I found myself really rooting for the two of them and their love story. And Gran was hilarious! I laughed quite a bit whenever she graced the page.
Read
May 10, 20153 stars
Full review in June issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Full review in June issue of InD'tale Magazine.
August 28, 2015
Not quite as good as the first book. The heroine is thoroughly unlikable until the towards the end. The hero's grandmother is an absolute hoot. I would love to read a book based on her.
March 13, 2016
Nice regency romance with a spirited heroine. Kept my attention.
March 31, 2016
liked it. thought there was a lot off Downton Abbey in it. ;)
July 15, 2013
pretty typical historical romance
May 31, 2014
My review for this book will be posted on Romancing the Book Blog in the near future!
April 7, 2017
I was shocked at how much I hated this book, more so because I really enjoyed the first one in the series. The heroine was an awful person and I had an impossible time relating to her. She is selfish, childish, and throws tantrums where she breaks things. None of that, however, excuses the absolute horrible way she is treated by the "hero." At every step he acknowledges to himself that what he is doing is wrong, is damaging to her, and he should stop, but he doesn't! He basically ruins her life for the lulz.
historical
January 8, 2019There are worse things than hiding in a derelict old cottage, battling field mice, and sucking on one's last lemon. Or so Lady Annabella Price firmly believes. For example, spending the Season in London with her stepbrother and husband-hunting, as her mother has ordered. Instead, Annabella sends her maid in her place and exults in her questionable triumph... until the insufferable Lord Seabrook shows up.
It seems like a simple favor for a friend, something to distract him from his need to find an acceptable wife. Jonathan Durham, Fourth Earl of Seabrook, travels to Haselmere to find the duke's stepsister and make certain no harm has befallen her. But Annabella is no damsel in distress. She's a willful, spirited lady, and the impetuous beauty intrigues Seabrook. When they're caught in a compromising position and forced into a hurried marriage, Seabrook sees it as the perfect answer to both their problems. But how can he convince his unwilling bride to give their marriage a chance when she's determined to have it dissolved?
It seems like a simple favor for a friend, something to distract him from his need to find an acceptable wife. Jonathan Durham, Fourth Earl of Seabrook, travels to Haselmere to find the duke's stepsister and make certain no harm has befallen her. But Annabella is no damsel in distress. She's a willful, spirited lady, and the impetuous beauty intrigues Seabrook. When they're caught in a compromising position and forced into a hurried marriage, Seabrook sees it as the perfect answer to both their problems. But how can he convince his unwilling bride to give their marriage a chance when she's determined to have it dissolved?
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews