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Affairs by Moonlight #2
Un caballero siempre es discreto
1890, la Toscana. La casualidad vuelve a reunir a dos eternos enamorados separados por el honor y el deber, que siguen interponiéndose entre ellos. Segundo libro de la trilogía de novelas románticas iniciada con Una dama nunca miente.
Hace seis años, Lilibet Harewood y lord Roland Penhallow estaban enamorados, cuando él se vio obligado a abandonarla sin decir una palabra. Tras mucho tiempo sin noticias suyas, Lilibet cedió a las presiones familiares y se casó con lord Somerton, un hombre cruel con el que tuvo un niño.
Ahora Lilibet ha decidido huir con su hijo, de cinco años, a un castillo italiano donde piensa permanecer oculta. Entretanto, ante una peliaguda situación personal, Roland opta por alejarse de Londres y retirarse por una temporada en la Toscana.
Ni Roland ni Lilibet se imaginaban que sus caminos volverían a encontrarse. Mientras ella lucha por comportarse como una dama, él no está dispuesto a dejar pasar esta nueva oportunidad de recuperar a la mujer que nunca ha dejado de amar.
Hace seis años, Lilibet Harewood y lord Roland Penhallow estaban enamorados, cuando él se vio obligado a abandonarla sin decir una palabra. Tras mucho tiempo sin noticias suyas, Lilibet cedió a las presiones familiares y se casó con lord Somerton, un hombre cruel con el que tuvo un niño.
Ahora Lilibet ha decidido huir con su hijo, de cinco años, a un castillo italiano donde piensa permanecer oculta. Entretanto, ante una peliaguda situación personal, Roland opta por alejarse de Londres y retirarse por una temporada en la Toscana.
Ni Roland ni Lilibet se imaginaban que sus caminos volverían a encontrarse. Mientras ella lucha por comportarse como una dama, él no está dispuesto a dejar pasar esta nueva oportunidad de recuperar a la mujer que nunca ha dejado de amar.
384 pages, Paperback
First published November 6, 2012
19 people are currently reading
513 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
February 3, 2017
El más aburrido y lento de los tres... solo recuerdo que no me gustó tanto como esperaba. Está serie la leí por mi hermana pero las dos concordamos en que a la autora todavía le faltan tablas.
February 24, 2017
Si algo ha tenido este libro que no ha tenido su predecesor es esa chispa en los diálogos entre ambos protagonistas, así como situaciones más divertidas o de carcajadas, pero es que todo lo que les ocurre durante los meses que dura su cohabitación compartida es para todo lo contrario.
En este libro por fin se desvela por qué desde la noche que todos se reencuentran en aquella posada camino del castillo en la Toscana tanto el carácter de Roland como el de Elisabeth cambia. Y es que ambos estuvieron juntos meses antes de que ella contrajera matrimonio con su actual marido. Sí, está casada cuando el libro comienza y la verdad es que me ha resultado cuanto menos curioso el poder leer una historia de este tipo.
La primera mitad para mí se me hizo un poco más cuesta arriba porque la autora nos vuelve a situar en la posada en la que todos se reencuentran y los sucesos son prácticamente los mismos que en el libro anterior con algunas escenas extendidas, en este caso de la pareja protagonista. Pero en la segunda parte la historia ha logrado por completo mi interés y mi angustia al ir descubriendo poco a poco situaciones, hechos y personajes que no te esperas se desarrollen de esa manera.
No es una serie inolvidable, pero te hace pasar un rato entretenido, está muy bien ambientada, tiene toques de humor y diálogos chispeantes.
PD: Ahora solo falta la historia del hermano de Roland, el conde de las vergüenzas al aire XD
En este libro por fin se desvela por qué desde la noche que todos se reencuentran en aquella posada camino del castillo en la Toscana tanto el carácter de Roland como el de Elisabeth cambia. Y es que ambos estuvieron juntos meses antes de que ella contrajera matrimonio con su actual marido. Sí, está casada cuando el libro comienza y la verdad es que me ha resultado cuanto menos curioso el poder leer una historia de este tipo.
La primera mitad para mí se me hizo un poco más cuesta arriba porque la autora nos vuelve a situar en la posada en la que todos se reencuentran y los sucesos son prácticamente los mismos que en el libro anterior con algunas escenas extendidas, en este caso de la pareja protagonista. Pero en la segunda parte la historia ha logrado por completo mi interés y mi angustia al ir descubriendo poco a poco situaciones, hechos y personajes que no te esperas se desarrollen de esa manera.
No es una serie inolvidable, pero te hace pasar un rato entretenido, está muy bien ambientada, tiene toques de humor y diálogos chispeantes.
PD: Ahora solo falta la historia del hermano de Roland, el conde de las vergüenzas al aire XD
December 2, 2017
This was not as enjoyable as the first book in the trilogy was. While it was well-written and I loved the setting, I had niggles that interfered with my reading pleasure:
The hero played the playboy ninny all the way through, never revealing his actual character even to the heroine. And he informed on her to the chief spy dude. Not cool, Penhallow, not cool. His fidelity over the six year separation seems a bit far-fetched. Laudable, admirable but ...truly?
The villain was a weird mix of vaguely acceptable moments and tons of disgustingly unacceptable moments. His behaviour towards his wife (the heroine) was unforgivable (he screwed anyone in a skirt from the start of their marriage.
The heroine took way too long to make a decision to leave. 6 years?
I choked- WTF? Who was he- God? So she goes through hell and her SON does, too, for 6 years, to allow the young Penhallow to"grow up". If I had been Penhallow I would have run the interfering old bastard through.
I still enjoyed it and am looking forward to the last one in the series. I just hope it is more like the first one!
The hero played the playboy ninny all the way through, never revealing his actual character even to the heroine. And he informed on her to the chief spy dude. Not cool, Penhallow, not cool. His fidelity over the six year separation seems a bit far-fetched. Laudable, admirable but ...truly?
The villain was a weird mix of vaguely acceptable moments and tons of disgustingly unacceptable moments. His behaviour towards his wife (the heroine) was unforgivable (he screwed anyone in a skirt from the start of their marriage.
The heroine took way too long to make a decision to leave. 6 years?
I choked- WTF? Who was he- God? So she goes through hell and her SON does, too, for 6 years, to allow the young Penhallow to"grow up". If I had been Penhallow I would have run the interfering old bastard through.
I still enjoyed it and am looking forward to the last one in the series. I just hope it is more like the first one!
Read
September 22, 2025Do you know that feeling when you know something is supposed to be funny or clever, but you don’t think it’s funny or clever, just stupid? Yeah, that’s what happened here.
I picked up this book for book bingo because of its Italian setting. However, after 15%, I have surrendered to the writing style. I just couldn’t stand it any longer. That was the last straw:
Roland’s mind, ordinarily a nimble and fluent instrument, seemed to have been drenched by a barrelful of treacle.
Lovely treacle, of course. Thick and dark and sweet, it spread around the folds of his brain in lazy trickles, obscuring all nimbleness and fluency. All that remained was sensation: the softness of Lilibet’s body wrapped around his; her honey-rich scent, laced with lavender, filling his nose; the gentle rush of her breath in his ear.
He attempted to lift his head, and discovered that the treacle was also heavy as the devil.
He kissed her ear instead. “Darling. My love, my Lilibet, you . . .”
“Shh.” She stroked his hair, his back. “Shh.”
Roland closed his eyes and obeyed her, because the treacle seemed to want him to, but after another moment of blissful lethargy he became aware of other and more uncomfortable sensations.
Namely, the hard wooden floor beneath his knees and elbows.
He lifted his head, this time with more success, and gazed at her face in adoration. In the shadows, she looked like a figure from a dream; the faint bluish light blurred her edges, hollowed out her cheeks, caught her loosened hair in a halo about her head. His angel, his love.
I picked up this book for book bingo because of its Italian setting. However, after 15%, I have surrendered to the writing style. I just couldn’t stand it any longer. That was the last straw:
Roland’s mind, ordinarily a nimble and fluent instrument, seemed to have been drenched by a barrelful of treacle.
Lovely treacle, of course. Thick and dark and sweet, it spread around the folds of his brain in lazy trickles, obscuring all nimbleness and fluency. All that remained was sensation: the softness of Lilibet’s body wrapped around his; her honey-rich scent, laced with lavender, filling his nose; the gentle rush of her breath in his ear.
He attempted to lift his head, and discovered that the treacle was also heavy as the devil.
He kissed her ear instead. “Darling. My love, my Lilibet, you . . .”
“Shh.” She stroked his hair, his back. “Shh.”
Roland closed his eyes and obeyed her, because the treacle seemed to want him to, but after another moment of blissful lethargy he became aware of other and more uncomfortable sensations.
Namely, the hard wooden floor beneath his knees and elbows.
He lifted his head, this time with more success, and gazed at her face in adoration. In the shadows, she looked like a figure from a dream; the faint bluish light blurred her edges, hollowed out her cheeks, caught her loosened hair in a halo about her head. His angel, his love.
October 23, 2012
Six years ago, Elizabeth Harewood and Lord Roland Penhallow meet and fell in love and were sure to marry each other....until Roland left and never sent any work to Lilibet. Thinking he deserted her, she marries an Earl and has a son but as time goes by, her husbands infidelity and indifference leave a mark on her. She escapes to the Italian countryside with her son and sister and friend to have a year to think, to see if she can gather to courage to ask for a divorce. However, fate deals her a major obstacle in the form of Roland and the past passion is quickly ignited again! How can she survive at this castle with him around, peppering her with compliments and lovely touches? Just when things seem to be finally fitting together, her husband arrives. With Roland determined to protect Lilibet and her son and Lilibet determined to protect Roland, who will come out ahead?
I so enjoyed Juliana Gray's debut and A Gentleman Never Tells is filled with the same wonderful writing and I just devoured it! This book takes place at the same times as A Lady Never Lies but beyond a few scenes, it is an entirely new story, which was a fact I was very happy about because sometimes when stories run parallel to each other the overlap is too similar. Not the case at all here! I was not sure how I would like this story since I do not usually approve of adultery in the story but the love between Roland and Lilibet just vibrates off the pages and I can forgive it in this storyline. I felt it was a nice change of pace to not have a horribly violent husband on the hunt for the missing wife, I enjoyed the little twists that Ms Gray put into this story regarding their relationship and how it ends up being resolved. Lilibet is a strong, vibrant, passionate woman who loves her son to the end of the earth and will do whatever is necessary to raise him into a dashing young man, far different from his father. I enjoyed watching Roland bungle his attempts to talk to the young boy, Henry, at first and they slowly developed a good relationship. Roland has a past he is keeping hidden from Lilibet that explains his sudden absence and his seemingly rakish lifestyle. He was such a treat to read! Silly yet serious. The first half kind of moved a little slow action wise but the pace picked up later and the story unwinds in ways I did not expect! I again loved all the attention to detail from the scenery to the manner of speaking, Ms Gray has a expert way about her writing that I just love and she is on my auto buy list. 4 stars for a clever story with characters you can't wait to read more about and see how a single choice can change everything.
ARC won from the author, thank you so much!
I so enjoyed Juliana Gray's debut and A Gentleman Never Tells is filled with the same wonderful writing and I just devoured it! This book takes place at the same times as A Lady Never Lies but beyond a few scenes, it is an entirely new story, which was a fact I was very happy about because sometimes when stories run parallel to each other the overlap is too similar. Not the case at all here! I was not sure how I would like this story since I do not usually approve of adultery in the story but the love between Roland and Lilibet just vibrates off the pages and I can forgive it in this storyline. I felt it was a nice change of pace to not have a horribly violent husband on the hunt for the missing wife, I enjoyed the little twists that Ms Gray put into this story regarding their relationship and how it ends up being resolved. Lilibet is a strong, vibrant, passionate woman who loves her son to the end of the earth and will do whatever is necessary to raise him into a dashing young man, far different from his father. I enjoyed watching Roland bungle his attempts to talk to the young boy, Henry, at first and they slowly developed a good relationship. Roland has a past he is keeping hidden from Lilibet that explains his sudden absence and his seemingly rakish lifestyle. He was such a treat to read! Silly yet serious. The first half kind of moved a little slow action wise but the pace picked up later and the story unwinds in ways I did not expect! I again loved all the attention to detail from the scenery to the manner of speaking, Ms Gray has a expert way about her writing that I just love and she is on my auto buy list. 4 stars for a clever story with characters you can't wait to read more about and see how a single choice can change everything.
ARC won from the author, thank you so much!
May 13, 2020
No ha sido tan entretenido como el anterior. La primera mitad del libro es lo que más me ha costado leer, porque muchas escenas eran repetidas al primero, y sólo cambiaba la perspectiva de los protagonistas.
También me ha costado entender las acciones de Lilibeth. Cuando leí el libro anterior pensé que ella había descubierto un secreto muy serio sobre su esposo, y debido a ello había salido huyendo de Londres. Creo que mis expectativas me han llevado a no disfrutar tanto su historia.
Lo que le dio un poco de vidilla a esa primera mitad fue la participación de Phillip, porque en el primer libro tuvo poca aparición y casi no lo conocí.
Creo que esta historia está muy desconectada de las otras, por lo que casi ni era necesaria para leer la tercera.
March 16, 2013
I knew I wouldn't really like this story (it has couple of my least favorite plot devices: a kid, second chance at love, ), but I decided to read it for the sake of continuity. I was curious how would author present events from the previous book (the series are three love stories overlapping, happening at the same time and place), but it turned out it was just a lot of rewriting same dialogues, some of them definitely unneccessary and irrelevant to this story.
DNF.
I'll tell you why romance authors should refrain from including kids in their books: because they have no effing idea how a 5 year old boy talks. They put these mature, eloquent and coherent sentences in kids' mouths and if you ever talked to real kid you can't help but cringe reading dialogues of these miniature adults.
DNF.
I'll tell you why romance authors should refrain from including kids in their books: because they have no effing idea how a 5 year old boy talks. They put these mature, eloquent and coherent sentences in kids' mouths and if you ever talked to real kid you can't help but cringe reading dialogues of these miniature adults.
November 12, 2012
Review posted: Happily Ever After - Reads
Blog rating: C
Lilibet and Roland were young and in love six years ago when Roland up and left Lilibet without a word. He was secretly working as an intelligence agent for the Bureau, living a life undercover and couldn’t get word to Lilibet that he was sent away on an assignment. She gave up hope after too much time went by without a word and ended up marrying Lord Somerton, a man who’s cheated on her for years and Lilibet has had enough. She’s now estranged from Somerton and she, along with her young son, travel to an Italian castle with Alexandra and Abigail to hide out for the time being. She never thought that she’d run into Roland, who’s also been advised to hide for the next year, as someone in his line of work has put a target on his back. He’s laying low for now, and couldn’t be more delighted to finally cross paths with Lilibet and he vows to not let her go again, husband or not.
What I enjoy quite a bit about this story and the series as a whole is the humor and quirkiness of the characters. They don’t take themselves too seriously, Roland especially, comes off as a happy go lucky, fun loving man, who’s leading a double life. It’s actually hard to imagine this man as an intelligence agent, since he’ll say the most random things. It’s the type of humor that a reader will either love and embrace or be turned off totally by it. For me, it works. I found myself chuckling and smiling at the conversations and actions from all the characters, leads and supporting cast and was entertained.
Where the story lost me a bit was with just that – the story. It was difficult to get into for ¾ of the book until the action picked up the pace at the end. This is a series where the three couple’s storylines are all happening at once. In book 1 we got Alexandra and Burke’s story, but still learned snippets of what was happening at the same time with the other two couples. Now it’s Lilibet and Roland’s turn and even though I found the idea interesting, having the three stories happening at once during the first book, getting a few repetitive scenes in book 2 (even from different character’s perspectives) dragged the pace of the story down for me. It’s not like the scenes were identical, they were unique in that we’re focused on a different set of leading characters, but it still didn’t help the flow.
“Darling.” He slid the gown over the smooth ball of her shoulder and kissed her there, through the nightgown. Her skin hummed with warmth beneath his lips. “What adorable scruples you have. I shall take great pleasure in divesting you of them, one by one.” He gave the gown a little tug with his other hand, and it slipped to the floor with a heavy sigh. “Do you know what I think?” He placed his lips in the hollow of her throat and ran the tip of his tongue along her delicate skin. “I think you’re far more wicked than you let on.”
The relationship between Lilibet and Roland was sweet albeit very quick with the love on Roland’s part. Granted, the man has never stopped loving Lilibet, but he was making future plans and declaring his complete love for her very soon after reconnecting after six years, never mind that she’s still married. I really liked Lilibet. She was forced into a marriage she didn’t really want to help her family and she’s been miserable ever since; the only good thing coming from the union is her son, Philip. She’s been gathering information against her husband for years and is finally ready to initiate divorce proceedings, but she’s still worried that he’ll take Philip from her. What Roland and Lilibet never counted on was a meddling family member and how that person impacts the end when Roland and Somerton finally face off.
From a character stand point, I was entertained, the humor was a hit with me and I found the characters, especially Roland and Lilibet (and from a supporting role, Abigail) to be enjoyable to follow. I just had a really hard time getting hooked into their story and felt like the action that came from the bad guy Somerton, only picked up steam at the very end. I liked this story, I just didn’t love it. But Abigail holds the most potential for craziness and fun, especially as she goes up against the hero of her story, Roland’s brother, the straight laced and serious Duke of Wallingford. I am looking forward to seeing their relationship play out in the next book.
Blog rating: C
Lilibet and Roland were young and in love six years ago when Roland up and left Lilibet without a word. He was secretly working as an intelligence agent for the Bureau, living a life undercover and couldn’t get word to Lilibet that he was sent away on an assignment. She gave up hope after too much time went by without a word and ended up marrying Lord Somerton, a man who’s cheated on her for years and Lilibet has had enough. She’s now estranged from Somerton and she, along with her young son, travel to an Italian castle with Alexandra and Abigail to hide out for the time being. She never thought that she’d run into Roland, who’s also been advised to hide for the next year, as someone in his line of work has put a target on his back. He’s laying low for now, and couldn’t be more delighted to finally cross paths with Lilibet and he vows to not let her go again, husband or not.
What I enjoy quite a bit about this story and the series as a whole is the humor and quirkiness of the characters. They don’t take themselves too seriously, Roland especially, comes off as a happy go lucky, fun loving man, who’s leading a double life. It’s actually hard to imagine this man as an intelligence agent, since he’ll say the most random things. It’s the type of humor that a reader will either love and embrace or be turned off totally by it. For me, it works. I found myself chuckling and smiling at the conversations and actions from all the characters, leads and supporting cast and was entertained.
Where the story lost me a bit was with just that – the story. It was difficult to get into for ¾ of the book until the action picked up the pace at the end. This is a series where the three couple’s storylines are all happening at once. In book 1 we got Alexandra and Burke’s story, but still learned snippets of what was happening at the same time with the other two couples. Now it’s Lilibet and Roland’s turn and even though I found the idea interesting, having the three stories happening at once during the first book, getting a few repetitive scenes in book 2 (even from different character’s perspectives) dragged the pace of the story down for me. It’s not like the scenes were identical, they were unique in that we’re focused on a different set of leading characters, but it still didn’t help the flow.
“Darling.” He slid the gown over the smooth ball of her shoulder and kissed her there, through the nightgown. Her skin hummed with warmth beneath his lips. “What adorable scruples you have. I shall take great pleasure in divesting you of them, one by one.” He gave the gown a little tug with his other hand, and it slipped to the floor with a heavy sigh. “Do you know what I think?” He placed his lips in the hollow of her throat and ran the tip of his tongue along her delicate skin. “I think you’re far more wicked than you let on.”
The relationship between Lilibet and Roland was sweet albeit very quick with the love on Roland’s part. Granted, the man has never stopped loving Lilibet, but he was making future plans and declaring his complete love for her very soon after reconnecting after six years, never mind that she’s still married. I really liked Lilibet. She was forced into a marriage she didn’t really want to help her family and she’s been miserable ever since; the only good thing coming from the union is her son, Philip. She’s been gathering information against her husband for years and is finally ready to initiate divorce proceedings, but she’s still worried that he’ll take Philip from her. What Roland and Lilibet never counted on was a meddling family member and how that person impacts the end when Roland and Somerton finally face off.
From a character stand point, I was entertained, the humor was a hit with me and I found the characters, especially Roland and Lilibet (and from a supporting role, Abigail) to be enjoyable to follow. I just had a really hard time getting hooked into their story and felt like the action that came from the bad guy Somerton, only picked up steam at the very end. I liked this story, I just didn’t love it. But Abigail holds the most potential for craziness and fun, especially as she goes up against the hero of her story, Roland’s brother, the straight laced and serious Duke of Wallingford. I am looking forward to seeing their relationship play out in the next book.
November 9, 2012
Giving this more like 3.5 stars. An adorable and funny read for sure however, a bit slow at times. The story line is interesting and the characters are very likable. I really enjoy how this story coincides with the timeline of the previous book A Lady Never Lies. So as you are reading through this story you're seeing things that occurred in the previous book from this couple's POV. It's really clever actually and a lot of it is quite humorous. I also believe that there is way more to the servants than meets the eye and I hope all is revealed about them in the next book.
July 29, 2013
Excellent! Roland's dialogue is hilarious and the book is worth reading for that alone. The story is lovely, and the ghosts don't impose themselves as much in this book as in the last one in the series. [The ghosts, particularly the female ghost, want to advance the love affairs in the castle so that the curse on them can be broken, but most of the time they just bungle things completely - the lovers end up together pretty much in spite of their meddling, not because of it.]
There is something strange about the book's cover (the one with the woman in the red dress) - the woman has the weirdest clavicles I've ever seen!
There is something strange about the book's cover (the one with the woman in the red dress) - the woman has the weirdest clavicles I've ever seen!
January 1, 2013
Another wonderful book by this new author. It continues/parallels the first book in the series. This is Roland's and Lilbet's story but the characters are the same, the setting, etc. but the parallel story is told from their perspective. Roland was in love with her years ago and she with him. He was also a fledgling spy and when sent on a mission he left Liliabet without notice. Due to family pressures she married another man. Now six years later they meet in Italy where she is trying to hide from her husband. There are twists and turns to their story that were unexpected and kept me reading far into the night. Good writing good story and an unusual setting all come together in a delightful book.
February 19, 2013
I read the first book in the series, and I love how Juliana Gray doesn't rehash all the details from the first book, but allows each couple to have their own perspective on the same events. I found it fun to see how the same events shaped another couple completely differently. Same castle, same events, but everyone is leading their own inner life. I loved Roland, Lilibet seemed a little flat compared to his character. The scene with Burke and Lady Morley under the car was hilarious. It made me appreciate the fresh take Juliana Gray has injected into historical romances. I can't wait to read the next book with the Duke. I expect more good times.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 13, 2013
3.5 stars for this sweet, funny story - the extra 0.5 star is for the great humour and for Philip, the 5 year old heart stealer. JG has used the device of telling the story from the varying perspectives of 3 couples in a series of 3 books. While I enjoyed this one overall, it dragged at times and the villain was painted to be far more dark than what the story revealed. Also the author strangely left the villain's, Somerton, fate unclear at the end, specially as he has a role in Naval Intelligence. Much preferred Book 1, A Lady Never Lies. Have been attracted to Abigail's character through the glimpses given in Books 1 & 2, so am looking forward to her antics and story.
October 24, 2017
3.5 Stars! Liked this one as much as the first, though it was totally different. Lilibet and Penhallow’s past, and the problems between Lilibet and her husband, lent this one a more serious air, though there were still light-hearted moments that made me grin. I felt for both of the leads, the way they still had feelings for each other, but circumstances and time, and the influences of others, had done their part in making things hard for them to come together. I liked how it was a serious subject, but did not ever get too seriously taken, too angsty. Though the situation was rough, there was always a nice feeling of hope, and of course, confidence, that everything would work out fine. Which, of course, it does. But I liked seeing how they got there, how they reconciled themselves with the past, and went on, happily, into the future.
The mystery of the castle still intrigued me here, and I liked the tiny drive of clues and such we get in this volume. Very much makes me want to jump right into book three, which I’m of course going to do! Bring on Abigail and Wallingford, I can’t wait to see their clash and how it’s going to play out! I’m definitely hooked in to this trilogy, and also wanting the author’s next trilogy as well, which I see features Lilibet’s wicked husband Somerton in one of the books! How is he going to redeem himself enough to be an H? I’m definitely wanting to find out!
The mystery of the castle still intrigued me here, and I liked the tiny drive of clues and such we get in this volume. Very much makes me want to jump right into book three, which I’m of course going to do! Bring on Abigail and Wallingford, I can’t wait to see their clash and how it’s going to play out! I’m definitely hooked in to this trilogy, and also wanting the author’s next trilogy as well, which I see features Lilibet’s wicked husband Somerton in one of the books! How is he going to redeem himself enough to be an H? I’m definitely wanting to find out!
October 14, 2014
คงต้องบอกก่อนว่า เราไม่ชอบพล็อตของหนังสือเล่มนี้เอาเสียเลย ยิ่งเมื่อประกอบกับว่า อ่านเล่มแรกในแล้วไม่ประทับใจในความเอื่อยเฉื่อยในการดำเนินเรื่องด้วย เลยทำให้วางเรื่องนี้ลงยาวเลยค่ะ มามีแรงฮึดอ่านเรื่องชุดนี้ก็เมื่อเพื่อนส่งข่าวมาบอกว่า ขอให้อดทนเอาไว้ เพราะเล่มสุดท้าย (How to School your Scoundrel) สนุกมาก
กระนั้นตอนหยิบมาอ่าน ก็เลยเป็นการอ่านแบบเร่ง ๆ เพื่อให้จบ ๆ ไป สิ่งที่ผิดคาดก็คือ เรื่องนี้สนุกกว่าที่คิดค่ะ ถ้าเราไม่ติดตรงที่ไม่ชอบพล็อตอย่างรุนแรง คะแนนน่าจะได้สูงกว่านี้
เพราะความอ่อนวัย และการแทรกแซงของมือที่สาม ทำให้ความรักระหว่างลอร์ดโรแลนด์ และอลิซาเบ็ธกลายเป็นความผิดหวัง คู่รักวัยเยาว์จึงต้องแยกจากกันเมื่อโรแลนด์ซึ่งถูกเรียกตัวให้ไปเป็นสายลับจำใจต้องทิ้งอลิซาเบ็ธไปเพื่อรับใช้ชาติ เพื่อที่จะกลับมาและพบว่า เธอได้แต่งงานไปกับคนอื่นแล้ว ชีวิตต่อมาหลังจากนั้นของเขาจึงเป็นการทำหน้าที่เพื่อชาติ เล่นบทบาทเป็นหนุ่มเจ้าสำราญเพื่อปกปิดฉากหน้าการเป็นสายลับตัวฉกาจ
แต่เมื่อดูเหมือนว่า เขากำลังถูกตามล่าเอาชีวิต ผู้เป็นลุงจึงส่งตัวเขาไปอิตาลีเพื่อความปลอดภัย และให้ออกไปจากเรื่องยุ่งยากทั้งหมด การเดินทางไปอิตาลีกับพี่ชาย และญาติอีกคนควรจะเป็นการใช้ชีวิตอย่างสนุกของหนุ่มโสด จนกระทั่งโรแลนด์ได้พบกับอลิซาเบ็ธอีกครั้ง
เธอยังคงแต่งงาน แถมมีลูกมาด้วยหนึ่งคน แต่หญิงสาวกำลังหนีจากสามีผู้โหดร้าย เหตุการณ์บังคับให้ทั้งคู่ต้องมาพักอาศัยอยู่ในปราสาทหลังเดียวกัน ใช้ชีวิตร่วมกัน ถ่านไฟเก่าที่ไม่หยุดลุกไหม้ก็โชติช่วงขึ้นมาอีกครั้ง
อย่างที่บอกนะคะ เราตั้งแง่ไม่ชอบเล่มนี้ไว้ตั้งแต่แรก แต่เมื่ออ่านไปกลับรู้สึกว่า เรื่องราวมีความน่าสนใจ ตัวละครมีความลึกมากกว่าที่คิดเอาไว้ ทำให้การอ่านไปได้เร็วมาก ไม่ใช่เร็วเพราะเร่งอ่านเพื่อให้จบ ๆ ไปนะคะ แต่เป็นการอ่านแบบที่เราอินเข้าไปในเนื้อเรื่อง กระนั้นเราก็คงต้องบอกว่า เราไม่ชอบคาแร็คเตอร์ของทั้งโรแลนด์และอลิซาเบ็ธมากนัก พวกเขาดูเป็นเด็กกันมาก และเวลาที่ผ่านไปก็ไม่ได้ทำให้มีความเป็นผู้ใหญ่มากขึ้น แต่เราเชื่อในส่วนของความสัมพันธ์ของทั้งคู่นะคะ มากขนาดที่ทำให้เราพอเข้าใจได้ว่า ทำไมพวกเขาจึงแทบจะไม่หยุดคิดเลยก่อนที่จะตัดสินใจมีความสัมพันธ์ระหว่างกัน
แต่ส่วนที่ดีที่สุด และเป็นไฮไลท์ของเรื่องนี้สำหรับเรา กลับไม่ใช่พระเอกนางเอกนะคะ หากแต่เป็น อันนี้เขียนหลังจากที่อ่านเล่มต่อ ๆ ไปในชุดแล้วนะคะ
เล่มนี้เป็นเล่มที่อ่านแล้วทำให้เริ่มมีกำลังใจในการอ่านงานเขียนของนักเขียนคนนี้ต่อ
กระนั้นตอนหยิบมาอ่าน ก็เลยเป็นการอ่านแบบเร่ง ๆ เพื่อให้จบ ๆ ไป สิ่งที่ผิดคาดก็คือ เรื่องนี้สนุกกว่าที่คิดค่ะ ถ้าเราไม่ติดตรงที่ไม่ชอบพล็อตอย่างรุนแรง คะแนนน่าจะได้สูงกว่านี้
เพราะความอ่อนวัย และการแทรกแซงของมือที่สาม ทำให้ความรักระหว่างลอร์ดโรแลนด์ และอลิซาเบ็ธกลายเป็นความผิดหวัง คู่รักวัยเยาว์จึงต้องแยกจากกันเมื่อโรแลนด์ซึ่งถูกเรียกตัวให้ไปเป็นสายลับจำใจต้องทิ้งอลิซาเบ็ธไปเพื่อรับใช้ชาติ เพื่อที่จะกลับมาและพบว่า เธอได้แต่งงานไปกับคนอื่นแล้ว ชีวิตต่อมาหลังจากนั้นของเขาจึงเป็นการทำหน้าที่เพื่อชาติ เล่นบทบาทเป็นหนุ่มเจ้าสำราญเพื่อปกปิดฉากหน้าการเป็นสายลับตัวฉกาจ
แต่เมื่อดูเหมือนว่า เขากำลังถูกตามล่าเอาชีวิต ผู้เป็นลุงจึงส่งตัวเขาไปอิตาลีเพื่อความปลอดภัย และให้ออกไปจากเรื่องยุ่งยากทั้งหมด การเดินทางไปอิตาลีกับพี่ชาย และญาติอีกคนควรจะเป็นการใช้ชีวิตอย่างสนุกของหนุ่มโสด จนกระทั่งโรแลนด์ได้พบกับอลิซาเบ็ธอีกครั้ง
เธอยังคงแต่งงาน แถมมีลูกมาด้วยหนึ่งคน แต่หญิงสาวกำลังหนีจากสามีผู้โหดร้าย เหตุการณ์บังคับให้ทั้งคู่ต้องมาพักอาศัยอยู่ในปราสาทหลังเดียวกัน ใช้ชีวิตร่วมกัน ถ่านไฟเก่าที่ไม่หยุดลุกไหม้ก็โชติช่วงขึ้นมาอีกครั้ง
อย่างที่บอกนะคะ เราตั้งแง่ไม่ชอบเล่มนี้ไว้ตั้งแต่แรก แต่เมื่ออ่านไปกลับรู้สึกว่า เรื่องราวมีความน่าสนใจ ตัวละครมีความลึกมากกว่าที่คิดเอาไว้ ทำให้การอ่านไปได้เร็วมาก ไม่ใช่เร็วเพราะเร่งอ่านเพื่อให้จบ ๆ ไปนะคะ แต่เป็นการอ่านแบบที่เราอินเข้าไปในเนื้อเรื่อง กระนั้นเราก็คงต้องบอกว่า เราไม่ชอบคาแร็คเตอร์ของทั้งโรแลนด์และอลิซาเบ็ธมากนัก พวกเขาดูเป็นเด็กกันมาก และเวลาที่ผ่านไปก็ไม่ได้ทำให้มีความเป็นผู้ใหญ่มากขึ้น แต่เราเชื่อในส่วนของความสัมพันธ์ของทั้งคู่นะคะ มากขนาดที่ทำให้เราพอเข้าใจได้ว่า ทำไมพวกเขาจึงแทบจะไม่หยุดคิดเลยก่อนที่จะตัดสินใจมีความสัมพันธ์ระหว่างกัน
แต่ส่วนที่ดีที่สุด และเป็นไฮไลท์ของเรื่องนี้สำหรับเรา กลับไม่ใช่พระเอกนางเอกนะคะ หากแต่เป็น อันนี้เขียนหลังจากที่อ่านเล่มต่อ ๆ ไปในชุดแล้วนะคะ
เล่มนี้เป็นเล่มที่อ่านแล้วทำให้เริ่มมีกำลังใจในการอ่านงานเขียนของนักเขียนคนนี้ต่อ
August 24, 2014
Juliana Gray prima por criar mocinhos perfeitos e mocinhos que deixam a desejar. Este segundo livro da série não foge a regra. Os mocinhos são sempre mega apaixonados e mocinhas sempre querem fazê-los de tolos.
Lilibet se apaixonou por Roland, mas por obra de um velho tolo terminou casada com Somertom, alguns anos depois, fugindo do marido, encontra-se novamente com Roland e engatam numa paixão que não puderam dar asas anteriormente e com esse enredo a autora, cria situações de um ligeiro suspense, ciúmes, e traições... Mas para seguirem juntos, terão que resolverem primeiro as pendências com o marido dela.
Lilibet se apaixonou por Roland, mas por obra de um velho tolo terminou casada com Somertom, alguns anos depois, fugindo do marido, encontra-se novamente com Roland e engatam numa paixão que não puderam dar asas anteriormente e com esse enredo a autora, cria situações de um ligeiro suspense, ciúmes, e traições... Mas para seguirem juntos, terão que resolverem primeiro as pendências com o marido dela.
October 24, 2012
3.5 stars. A Gentleman Never Tells is a humorous, steamy, sweet read with a very likeable hero and lots of interaction between Roland, the hero, and Elizabeth's son Philip. It also has some nice twists.
Although I don't like books with infidelity, I ended up liking this book in spite of that.
Reviewed for http://www.adcmagazine.com/ in the November/December issue.
Although I don't like books with infidelity, I ended up liking this book in spite of that.
Reviewed for http://www.adcmagazine.com/ in the November/December issue.
January 4, 2014
A mí no me ha gustado... hay cosas que no tienen ningún tipo de coherencia...
Una pena
Una pena
October 25, 2016
I must say I enjoyed having another look at the events of the first book through the eyes of 2 other lead characters. I liked Lilibet as a character and Roland as a hero, I think including Philip as much as they did made for a different twist in a romance novel that I enjoyed.
September 30, 2025
Installment #2 of this parallel series of love stories. This time the lovers who were separated years ago meet each other again. How will it all work out? Is someone going to need to die? Stay tuned.
July 29, 2017
3.5 Stars!! Quick read, loved the dynamic between Lillibet and Roland. Her son Philip is also a huge win for me as I love kids in books! Can't wait for Wallingford and Abigail! Eep!!!!
February 6, 2018
3.5 stars.
An enjoyable read, but I definitely preferred Somerton’s side of the story.
An enjoyable read, but I definitely preferred Somerton’s side of the story.
September 7, 2018
Prestigious men and women of the ton makes a crude bet. That didn’t happen back then in their world. Not my type of romance.
November 30, 2022
I love a book with Kids!
This Still went to too many places.
This Still went to too many places.
Read
December 14, 202312:34
January 22, 2024
Lots of adventure, great smut, slightly uneven writing. (EPUB)
December 4, 2012
Elizabeth Harewood and Lord Roland Penhallow were to be married at one time, that is until he up and left without any word. Elizabeth, or Lilibet, did what was necessary and moved on with her life, marrying someone else and having a child. As with most romance novels, time brings Elizabeth and Roland back together again. The old flame is quickly ignited and these two are in a battle against the sexual, physical, and emotional tensions that are created between them. Elizabeth, however, has recently escaped the infidelities of her husband, and he is hot on her trail. Roland realizes quickly that his feelings are still apparent when it comes to Lilibet, and that he will do whatever it takes to protect her and her son.
I greatly enjoyed all of the characters that made up this book and I loved how this book coincided with Juliana’s first book, A Lady Never Lies. There were a few places that the story progressed really slowly for me and I found myself wanting to skip a few pages. I wasn’t as into this story as I was with the first one, but it still had its perks. I really enjoyed Roland’s character, at times maybe more than Elizabeth’s. All my readers know that this is odd for me because I am usually a strong feminist, and the male characters in romance novels like this one usually get on my last nerve. I found Roland to be rather charming and I liked his fun-loving nature.
This novel is quite humorous and had me laughing at times, especially during some rather heated conversations. I like the spunk that both Elizabeth and Roland had to offer at times, and I think that I enjoyed the scenes when they were together most of all. I just felt like this story too closely resembled many others and I found myself being able to predict a lot of what would happen next. If you read the first book in this series, then I would definitely say to give this one a try!
***Thank you to the publishers at Berkley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review***
I greatly enjoyed all of the characters that made up this book and I loved how this book coincided with Juliana’s first book, A Lady Never Lies. There were a few places that the story progressed really slowly for me and I found myself wanting to skip a few pages. I wasn’t as into this story as I was with the first one, but it still had its perks. I really enjoyed Roland’s character, at times maybe more than Elizabeth’s. All my readers know that this is odd for me because I am usually a strong feminist, and the male characters in romance novels like this one usually get on my last nerve. I found Roland to be rather charming and I liked his fun-loving nature.
This novel is quite humorous and had me laughing at times, especially during some rather heated conversations. I like the spunk that both Elizabeth and Roland had to offer at times, and I think that I enjoyed the scenes when they were together most of all. I just felt like this story too closely resembled many others and I found myself being able to predict a lot of what would happen next. If you read the first book in this series, then I would definitely say to give this one a try!
***Thank you to the publishers at Berkley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review***
May 19, 2014
Lilibet, a runaway wife and mother travels with her cousins to Italy to escape her horrible husband - Alexandra (Lady Morley in the first of the series) and Abigail (the bookish, outlandish yet charming one in the third book of the series). NOTE: the husband, Earl of Somerton, will be featured in the third instalment of the Princess in Hiding series so i can't wait to see how the man described as a terrible husband here becomes a "hero" of sorts. Therefore you kind of know this book would have its happy ending in a way but the story - wow....it's so twisted!
Lilibet and Penhallow was a couple that didn't get to happen. He went off somewhere far, she married Somerton, got a son, have been unhappy since because the husband is a cad. She becomes a trophy wife but decided one day that she couldn't take her loveless marriage anymore, decided to run away with her 2 cousins who also have reasons of their own to run away to Italy. The first book established the fact that both the 3 gentlemen and the 3 ladies got stuck sharing the same castle in Italy (you'll find out eventually how it came to play). Penhallow seems like a bimboy at first but that's just a cover - he's actually a super-secret agent man (he channels a bit of Scarlet Pimpernel here).
The story has elements of espionage, adultery, the guilt and dilemma that come with it, love that's lost and found and a bit of a nice introduction to one of princesses cross-dressing as a man (in the other series - told you it's all inter-related). JG blends them all in and comes up with a rather believable tale of second chances. Oh and don't forget....the story also has its ghosts. Which you will find out more when you read the next book.
Lilibet and Penhallow was a couple that didn't get to happen. He went off somewhere far, she married Somerton, got a son, have been unhappy since because the husband is a cad. She becomes a trophy wife but decided one day that she couldn't take her loveless marriage anymore, decided to run away with her 2 cousins who also have reasons of their own to run away to Italy. The first book established the fact that both the 3 gentlemen and the 3 ladies got stuck sharing the same castle in Italy (you'll find out eventually how it came to play). Penhallow seems like a bimboy at first but that's just a cover - he's actually a super-secret agent man (he channels a bit of Scarlet Pimpernel here).
The story has elements of espionage, adultery, the guilt and dilemma that come with it, love that's lost and found and a bit of a nice introduction to one of princesses cross-dressing as a man (in the other series - told you it's all inter-related). JG blends them all in and comes up with a rather believable tale of second chances. Oh and don't forget....the story also has its ghosts. Which you will find out more when you read the next book.
September 27, 2016
I love how this story and it's sort of companion, How to School Your Scoundrel are overlapping stories but with different perspectives. I read Lord Somerton's story first then this one about his wife. It is all about perspective. Elizabeth has had enough of her scoundrel of a husband and decides to spend time away at a castle. I think it is perfect plan, until her old love, Roland Penhallow, shows up with the same plan to get away from society at the very same castle. Three women and three men work it out and plan to spend time together even if they would prefer the other party to find their own haven. This chance reunion is the opportunity for Elizabeth and Roland to reunite their love even if Elizabeth resists as she is still married to Somerton. I would recommend reading this book before Somerton's story as I think it works a bit better to avoid spoilers for the other book. I also think it will be more shocking and exciting to see her side first.
Let's face it, Somerton is not the best of husbands and he isn't as easy person to live with nor be married to. I can totally understand why she leaves him. I probably would have too. I know Somerton is not always as bad as Elizabeth believes because I have read his story first but in this book he is much more of a villain than hero. Even in his story he is both hero and his own villain.
One on side Elizabeth is in the right and on the other Somerton has some good reasons as well. Perspective people. I could totally sympathize with both sides so it was very interesting to get the whole picture when reading this book.
I have to go back and read the other two books in this trilogy because the other couples are intriguing as well.
Let's face it, Somerton is not the best of husbands and he isn't as easy person to live with nor be married to. I can totally understand why she leaves him. I probably would have too. I know Somerton is not always as bad as Elizabeth believes because I have read his story first but in this book he is much more of a villain than hero. Even in his story he is both hero and his own villain.
One on side Elizabeth is in the right and on the other Somerton has some good reasons as well. Perspective people. I could totally sympathize with both sides so it was very interesting to get the whole picture when reading this book.
I have to go back and read the other two books in this trilogy because the other couples are intriguing as well.
June 11, 2015
“In more than six years of clandestine service to his Queen and country, Lord Roland Penhallow had never before been summoned to the private library of the Bureau chief himself.
It could mean only one thing: He had inadvertently killed somebody.
Roland couldn’t imagine how. The last caper had tied up as neat as a bow, with hardly any noise and only a very little blood. Even the most perfidious villain can be made to serve some purpose, Sir Edward would intone, pressing one blunt forefinger into the polished mahogany of his Whitehall desk, but a dead body is a nullity. Roland had taken that advice to heart as a new recruit, and had lived by it ever since.”
This is the second volume in the series, Affairs by Moonlight. I don’t go out of my way to read series in order, but this time since all of Gray’s books in this series are on OverDrive, it is pretty easy to get them all. I have one more – who knows when I will read that one.
Once again Gray fulfills my requirements for historical romances. I get good characters and interesting world and drama well-written, but easily solved.
I was surprised by some of the topics covered by this romance. Usually the heroine is unattached and so the hero can swoop in and win her. In this case, the heroine is married. It did make for a different story.
It could mean only one thing: He had inadvertently killed somebody.
Roland couldn’t imagine how. The last caper had tied up as neat as a bow, with hardly any noise and only a very little blood. Even the most perfidious villain can be made to serve some purpose, Sir Edward would intone, pressing one blunt forefinger into the polished mahogany of his Whitehall desk, but a dead body is a nullity. Roland had taken that advice to heart as a new recruit, and had lived by it ever since.”
This is the second volume in the series, Affairs by Moonlight. I don’t go out of my way to read series in order, but this time since all of Gray’s books in this series are on OverDrive, it is pretty easy to get them all. I have one more – who knows when I will read that one.
Once again Gray fulfills my requirements for historical romances. I get good characters and interesting world and drama well-written, but easily solved.
I was surprised by some of the topics covered by this romance. Usually the heroine is unattached and so the hero can swoop in and win her. In this case, the heroine is married. It did make for a different story.
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