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The Battling Bluestocking
Sir Brian Gregory was immensely wealthy. He was vastly powerful. He was dazzlingly brilliant. He was extremely handsome. And he was thoroughly charming. All of which made the beautiful Miss Jessica Sutton-Drew extremely nervous.
Jessica had long since resolved to have nothing to so with this perilously perfect man. For she took her strong-willed aunt, Lady Susan Peel, as her model -- and Lady Susan was the most formidable bluestocking in London, a champion of every worthy cause, including that of women's independence.
Jessica would only be breaking faith with her admirable aunt if she surrendered to Sir Brian's blandishments. Instead, she had to armor herself against his most enticing entreaties -- even if it meant betraying her own treacherous heart...
Jessica had long since resolved to have nothing to so with this perilously perfect man. For she took her strong-willed aunt, Lady Susan Peel, as her model -- and Lady Susan was the most formidable bluestocking in London, a champion of every worthy cause, including that of women's independence.
Jessica would only be breaking faith with her admirable aunt if she surrendered to Sir Brian's blandishments. Instead, she had to armor herself against his most enticing entreaties -- even if it meant betraying her own treacherous heart...
223 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published July 2, 1985
99 people are currently reading
118 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Scott
172 books382 followersAmanda Scott, USA Today Bestselling Author and winner of Romance Writers of America’s RITA/Golden Medallion (LORD ABBERLEY'S NEMESIS) and Romantic Times’ Awards for Best Regency Author and Best Sensual Regency (RAVENWOOD'S LADY), Lifetime Achievement (2007) and Best Scottish Historical (BORDER MOONLIGHT, 2008), began writing on a dare from her husband. She has sold every manuscript she has written.
Amanda is a fourth-generation Californian, who was born and raised in Salinas and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in history from Mills College in Oakland. She did graduate work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, specializing in British History, before obtaining her Master’s in History from California State University at San Jose. She now lives with her husband and son in northern California.
As a child, Amanda Scott was a model for O’Connor Moffatt in San Francisco (now Macy’s). She was also a Sputnik child, one of those selected after the satellite went up for one of California’s first programs for gifted children. She remained in that program through high school. After graduate school, she taught for the Salinas City School District for three years before marrying her husband, who was then a captain in the Air Force. They lived in Honolulu for a year, then in Papillion, Nebraska, for seven. Their son was born in Nebraska. They have lived in northern California since 1980.
Scott grew up in a family of lawyers, and is descended from a long line of them. Her father was a three-term District Attorney of Monterey County before his death in 1955 at age 36. Her grandfather was City Attorney of Salinas for 36 years after serving two terms as District Attorney, and two of her ancestors were State Supreme Court Justices (one in Missouri, the other the first Supreme Court Justice for the State of Arkansas). One brother, having carried on the Scott tradition in the Monterey County DA’s office, is now a judge. The other is an electrician in Knoxville, TN, and her sister is a teacher in the Sacramento area.
The women of Amanda Scott’s family have been no less successful than the men. Her mother was a child actress known as Baby Lowell, who performed all over the west coast and in Hollywood movies, and then was a dancer with the San Francisco Opera Ballet until her marriage. Her mother’s sister, Loretta Lowell, was also a child actress. She performed in the Our Gang comedies and in several Loretta Young movies before becoming one of the first women in the US Air Force. Scott's paternal grandmother was active in local and State politics and served as president of the California State PTA, and her maternal grandmother was a teacher (and stage mother) before working for Monterey County. The place of women in Scott’s family has always been a strong one. Though they married strong men, the women have, for generations, been well educated and encouraged to succeed at whatever they chose to do.
Amanda Scott’s first book was OMAHA CITY ARCHITECTURE, a coffee-table photo essay on the historical architecture of Omaha, written for Landmarks, Inc. under her married name as a Junior League project. Others took the photos; she did the research and wrote the text on an old Smith-Corona portable electric. She sold her first novel, THE FUGITIVE HEIRESS - likewise written on the battered Smith-Corona in 1980. Since then, she has sold many more books, but since the second one she has used a word processor and computer. Twenty-five of her novels are set in the English Regency period (1810-1820). Others are set in 15th-century England and 14th- through 18th-century Scotland, and three are contemporary romances. Many of her titles are currently available at bookstores and online.
Amanda is a fourth-generation Californian, who was born and raised in Salinas and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in history from Mills College in Oakland. She did graduate work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, specializing in British History, before obtaining her Master’s in History from California State University at San Jose. She now lives with her husband and son in northern California.
As a child, Amanda Scott was a model for O’Connor Moffatt in San Francisco (now Macy’s). She was also a Sputnik child, one of those selected after the satellite went up for one of California’s first programs for gifted children. She remained in that program through high school. After graduate school, she taught for the Salinas City School District for three years before marrying her husband, who was then a captain in the Air Force. They lived in Honolulu for a year, then in Papillion, Nebraska, for seven. Their son was born in Nebraska. They have lived in northern California since 1980.
Scott grew up in a family of lawyers, and is descended from a long line of them. Her father was a three-term District Attorney of Monterey County before his death in 1955 at age 36. Her grandfather was City Attorney of Salinas for 36 years after serving two terms as District Attorney, and two of her ancestors were State Supreme Court Justices (one in Missouri, the other the first Supreme Court Justice for the State of Arkansas). One brother, having carried on the Scott tradition in the Monterey County DA’s office, is now a judge. The other is an electrician in Knoxville, TN, and her sister is a teacher in the Sacramento area.
The women of Amanda Scott’s family have been no less successful than the men. Her mother was a child actress known as Baby Lowell, who performed all over the west coast and in Hollywood movies, and then was a dancer with the San Francisco Opera Ballet until her marriage. Her mother’s sister, Loretta Lowell, was also a child actress. She performed in the Our Gang comedies and in several Loretta Young movies before becoming one of the first women in the US Air Force. Scott's paternal grandmother was active in local and State politics and served as president of the California State PTA, and her maternal grandmother was a teacher (and stage mother) before working for Monterey County. The place of women in Scott’s family has always been a strong one. Though they married strong men, the women have, for generations, been well educated and encouraged to succeed at whatever they chose to do.
Amanda Scott’s first book was OMAHA CITY ARCHITECTURE, a coffee-table photo essay on the historical architecture of Omaha, written for Landmarks, Inc. under her married name as a Junior League project. Others took the photos; she did the research and wrote the text on an old Smith-Corona portable electric. She sold her first novel, THE FUGITIVE HEIRESS - likewise written on the battered Smith-Corona in 1980. Since then, she has sold many more books, but since the second one she has used a word processor and computer. Twenty-five of her novels are set in the English Regency period (1810-1820). Others are set in 15th-century England and 14th- through 18th-century Scotland, and three are contemporary romances. Many of her titles are currently available at bookstores and online.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
October 28, 2020
Regency England. Kindle version. Kisses but no sex scenes.
Sir Brian, a wealthy baronet and magistrate, inherited tin
& other mines and a sugar plantation. Jessica patterned
herself after her activist Aunt Susan, who was anti-
slavery & anti-chimney sweep boys. Jessica assumed
the H owned a coal mine & exploited women/ children
but neither assumption turned out to be true.
Aunt Susan took 2 rash actions from which Jess tried to
rescue her. Brian & Jess, both with tempers, engaged
in bantering and arguing. Brian's temper soon cooled,
but Jess- not so much.
Brilliant, masculine Brian knew how to solve problems.
He was A-1 except in one instance. Jess did not think
things through 1st before she made a decision, but she
gradually matured and I liked her.
This couple felt comfortable together. The hero was
equally crazy about the h's mind, humor, compassion
& lush body. One person re-connected with family.
IMO, not a 'cookie-cutter story.'
Sir Brian, a wealthy baronet and magistrate, inherited tin
& other mines and a sugar plantation. Jessica patterned
herself after her activist Aunt Susan, who was anti-
slavery & anti-chimney sweep boys. Jessica assumed
the H owned a coal mine & exploited women/ children
but neither assumption turned out to be true.
Aunt Susan took 2 rash actions from which Jess tried to
rescue her. Brian & Jess, both with tempers, engaged
in bantering and arguing. Brian's temper soon cooled,
but Jess- not so much.
Brilliant, masculine Brian knew how to solve problems.
He was A-1 except in one instance. Jess did not think
things through 1st before she made a decision, but she
gradually matured and I liked her.
This couple felt comfortable together. The hero was
equally crazy about the h's mind, humor, compassion
& lush body. One person re-connected with family.
IMO, not a 'cookie-cutter story.'
August 6, 2025
Too much social justice, too little romance. These types of books are read for the latter and it can be tiring when authors go too much into heavier subjects. The narrator made it bearable.
April 28, 2015
3.5 STARS
"Strong-willed and intelligent, Miss Jessica Sutton-Drew enjoys championing worthy causes such as women's independence, much like her formidable aunt, Susan Peele, London's most daunting bluestocking, and regardless of other relatives' protests against such unladylike behavior. But Miss Sutton-Drew may have met her match in Sir Brian Gregory, a shockingly wealthy mine owner and local magistrate, who is also handsome, brilliant, and charming. Convinced that Sir Brian is guilty of any number of social injustices, Jessica resists his enticing flattery and flirtation. But can she cease her battling ways long enough to listen to her heart? Or will oncoming scandal ruin everything before she recognizes the truth?" (From Amazon)
A fun story! A romantic comedy set in regency England with a strong independent heroine and equally strong independent hero. The question is who will bend first and I had a fun time finding that out.
"Strong-willed and intelligent, Miss Jessica Sutton-Drew enjoys championing worthy causes such as women's independence, much like her formidable aunt, Susan Peele, London's most daunting bluestocking, and regardless of other relatives' protests against such unladylike behavior. But Miss Sutton-Drew may have met her match in Sir Brian Gregory, a shockingly wealthy mine owner and local magistrate, who is also handsome, brilliant, and charming. Convinced that Sir Brian is guilty of any number of social injustices, Jessica resists his enticing flattery and flirtation. But can she cease her battling ways long enough to listen to her heart? Or will oncoming scandal ruin everything before she recognizes the truth?" (From Amazon)
A fun story! A romantic comedy set in regency England with a strong independent heroine and equally strong independent hero. The question is who will bend first and I had a fun time finding that out.
June 12, 2013
It won’t come as a surprise to anyone who knows me that a Regency romance featuring an opinionated feisty woman totally appeals to me! Amanda Scott creates characters that feel more real than some traditional Regency stock characters. The story moves nicely, has interesting A & B plots, but it is mostly about the interplay (primarily verbal) between these two strong willed people. A fun read, and because it doesn’t include any sex scenes – could be more or less to your liking…
May 5, 2013
Miss Jessica Sutton-Drew is a gorgeous woman who has found that most people don't bother to look past the exterior to find the woman beneath. Consequently she has remained unwed and has spent the past few years traveling from family member to family member to "help" them with their lives. Most of the time this is appreciated but every so often her forthright manner can throw a person off.
Sir Brian Gregory is a man who believes in the law.. and stands strong in his beliefs. He has managed to accumulate wealth from a variety of sources and has yet to find the woman he wants to spend his life with. Until he meets Jessica Sutton-Drew. Within moments he knows she is the woman he has been waiting for. Now all he needs to do is convince her.
Jessica comes off as a know it all at times yet very much a woman of her age. She is dependent upon family and as a woman without a man in her life is expected to rely on the men in her world. She is frustrated and often furious with the way things work. She has become a strong opinionated woman and has no desire to bend.. and no way is any man going to rule her life. It takes some pretty serious issues and a family scandal before she realizes what her attitude could cost her. I will admit though, once she realizes what she is about to loose she does take matters in hand. This is not some wuss.. I liked her.
Brian is a really great character, he is a man of his times and yet he doesn't succumb to the pressure of society he honestly believes that confrontation is not always the best way of handling things. He is willing to ask questions and try and figure out what is for the best.. What he isn't very good at is letting someone else take charge. He has a tendency to sweep a person along with him. Something that has it's place but can most certainly be annoying to a strong willed woman with ideas of her own.
This book was a much better representation of hero and heroine clashing of wills.. they battled but were likable as individuals and it was easy to fall for both of them. Ms Scott once again offers us wonderful insights to the era and how a character would act within that time period. An excellent example of historical romance
Shauni
This review is based on the ARC of The Battling Bluestocking provided by netgalley and scheduled for re release on May 7, 2013
Sir Brian Gregory is a man who believes in the law.. and stands strong in his beliefs. He has managed to accumulate wealth from a variety of sources and has yet to find the woman he wants to spend his life with. Until he meets Jessica Sutton-Drew. Within moments he knows she is the woman he has been waiting for. Now all he needs to do is convince her.
Jessica comes off as a know it all at times yet very much a woman of her age. She is dependent upon family and as a woman without a man in her life is expected to rely on the men in her world. She is frustrated and often furious with the way things work. She has become a strong opinionated woman and has no desire to bend.. and no way is any man going to rule her life. It takes some pretty serious issues and a family scandal before she realizes what her attitude could cost her. I will admit though, once she realizes what she is about to loose she does take matters in hand. This is not some wuss.. I liked her.
Brian is a really great character, he is a man of his times and yet he doesn't succumb to the pressure of society he honestly believes that confrontation is not always the best way of handling things. He is willing to ask questions and try and figure out what is for the best.. What he isn't very good at is letting someone else take charge. He has a tendency to sweep a person along with him. Something that has it's place but can most certainly be annoying to a strong willed woman with ideas of her own.
This book was a much better representation of hero and heroine clashing of wills.. they battled but were likable as individuals and it was easy to fall for both of them. Ms Scott once again offers us wonderful insights to the era and how a character would act within that time period. An excellent example of historical romance
Shauni
This review is based on the ARC of The Battling Bluestocking provided by netgalley and scheduled for re release on May 7, 2013
July 3, 2013
Basically a love story in which two strong-willed people fall in love, but neither wants to take the plunge.
Jessica is beautiful, intelligent and gives more importance to saving the needy than paying attention to her own wildflower condition . Especially because she is following in the footsteps of her aunt unique personality, Aunt Susan.
Jessica met Brian in her match.
He soon felt that the two were made for each other, but it would be difficult to get the Miss Queen-of-arguments. And with that they engage in an endless struggle of egos and opinions.
What Jessica did not realize then is that every time she needed help, Brian was there to help her. Until finally she succumbs to the sentiment, but it seems that Brian was no longer interested and went away.
How could she have him back without undermining her own pride?
A fun story, full of power play.
Amanda Scott writes gently, using a vocabulary learned and well-founded.
I felt no connection to the characters, but I admit they were interesting and matched as a couple.
The pace of the story is good, but as said above sometimes the vocabulary became a bit far-fetched.
Positive point: the dialogues between the couple were the strong point of the story. And Aunt Susan was a funny character and striking.
Negative point: the vocabulary. sometimes got a little tense and I felt off-season.
Recommended book to lovers of historical novels with a more complex content.
4 STARS.
Jessica is beautiful, intelligent and gives more importance to saving the needy than paying attention to her own wildflower condition . Especially because she is following in the footsteps of her aunt unique personality, Aunt Susan.
Jessica met Brian in her match.
He soon felt that the two were made for each other, but it would be difficult to get the Miss Queen-of-arguments. And with that they engage in an endless struggle of egos and opinions.
What Jessica did not realize then is that every time she needed help, Brian was there to help her. Until finally she succumbs to the sentiment, but it seems that Brian was no longer interested and went away.
How could she have him back without undermining her own pride?
A fun story, full of power play.
Amanda Scott writes gently, using a vocabulary learned and well-founded.
I felt no connection to the characters, but I admit they were interesting and matched as a couple.
The pace of the story is good, but as said above sometimes the vocabulary became a bit far-fetched.
Positive point: the dialogues between the couple were the strong point of the story. And Aunt Susan was a funny character and striking.
Negative point: the vocabulary. sometimes got a little tense and I felt off-season.
Recommended book to lovers of historical novels with a more complex content.
4 STARS.
September 18, 2014
Hott Synopsis:
Miss Jessica Sutton-Drew has long passed the marriageable age and is well on her way to becoming a blue-stocking. Not that she didn’t have her chances – there is just no sense in marrying someone who can carry on an intelligent conversation.
However, Jessica finally meets her match after accosting a would-be highwayman while travelling to visit her sister.
Well, Jessica may have met her match but will she allow him the get any closer?
Hott Review:
Amanda Scott is one of my favorite authors. I own most of her books in both hardcover & e-version. I did thoroughly love the characters and found this book humorous in the extreme. I can’t even image the snark that goes on in Ms. Scott’s house ;)
This particular title is not one of my favorites, it puts me in mind of Emma which I didn’t love.
More…
Author: Amanda Scott
Source: Purchased from Amazon on July 10, 2013 because she’s one of my favorites
Grade: B+
Ages: 16+
Steam: YA
Setting: England
Miss Jessica Sutton-Drew has long passed the marriageable age and is well on her way to becoming a blue-stocking. Not that she didn’t have her chances – there is just no sense in marrying someone who can carry on an intelligent conversation.
However, Jessica finally meets her match after accosting a would-be highwayman while travelling to visit her sister.
Well, Jessica may have met her match but will she allow him the get any closer?
Hott Review:
Amanda Scott is one of my favorite authors. I own most of her books in both hardcover & e-version. I did thoroughly love the characters and found this book humorous in the extreme. I can’t even image the snark that goes on in Ms. Scott’s house ;)
This particular title is not one of my favorites, it puts me in mind of Emma which I didn’t love.
More…
Author: Amanda Scott
Source: Purchased from Amazon on July 10, 2013 because she’s one of my favorites
Grade: B+
Ages: 16+
Steam: YA
Setting: England
September 28, 2021
Not Quite What I Expected
I expected this to be about a protagonist who was quite cerebral in her approach to life, because she’s well read and therefore would have reasoning and logical thinking skills.
Instead, I find that she is ‘merely’ strong minded and opinionated! So the story isn’t driven along, but rather, it’s dragged: complaining and whining and jumping to conclusions, rather than discussing and debating matters!
And, to top it all off, she gets ‘Missish’ towards the end of the narrative! Certainly not a favourite of mine by Ms Scott.
I listened to the audiobook version of this title, it was well read by Ms Polly Lee.
I expected this to be about a protagonist who was quite cerebral in her approach to life, because she’s well read and therefore would have reasoning and logical thinking skills.
Instead, I find that she is ‘merely’ strong minded and opinionated! So the story isn’t driven along, but rather, it’s dragged: complaining and whining and jumping to conclusions, rather than discussing and debating matters!
And, to top it all off, she gets ‘Missish’ towards the end of the narrative! Certainly not a favourite of mine by Ms Scott.
I listened to the audiobook version of this title, it was well read by Ms Polly Lee.
April 16, 2020
dealt with several critical social issues--slavery-- and did it well, especially the courtroom scene.
two leading characters well suited and finally together
witty dialogue and rapid pace kept interest
finished in afternoon
ok am having to reread all these romances to keep sane, it is ap 15 during the plague
second time around am skimming
still love both h/h
two leading characters well suited and finally together
witty dialogue and rapid pace kept interest
finished in afternoon
ok am having to reread all these romances to keep sane, it is ap 15 during the plague
second time around am skimming
still love both h/h
September 15, 2014
Different subject matter in this regency dealing with major social issues which the author dealt with according to the times. Liked the main leads and secondary were fleshed out enough to round out the story. will be keeping this one.
May 31, 2016
Less violent than another Scott book I glimpsed, but the characters were at times childish with their communication between each other. I liked the beginning, although the rest of the book just kind of faded from memory after a while.
It was cute!
It was cute!
September 26, 2020
THE BATTLING BLUESTOCKING : pub. 1985 - Is my first read by this author. I rated it two stars out of generosity. I found the book pompous and tedious. At 90% read, the hero and heroine are still battling. Lots to learn but very little relating to romance....sigh
June 4, 2014
Slow & simple to keep the reader attention. An interesting marriage offer which demand by the bride.
September 28, 2014
Boring. Too much talking.
October 8, 2014
From 1985 resurrected on Kindle
Kind of slow.
Tame by today's standards
Kind of slow.
Tame by today's standards
March 13, 2016
It was an OK story but it was not really evident why they were not getting together earlier and the love between the protagonists was not really felt.
February 14, 2017
Library Kindle e-book
September 29, 2024
not a reread
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews