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Muses of Mayfair #1
Heiress Without A Cause
One title to change his life… A disgraced son with a dark reputation, William Ferguson Avenel is content to live in exile in Scotland - until his father dies in the scandal of the Season, making him the new Duke of Rothwell and leaving him in charge of his young sisters. With rumors of insanity swirling around their family, the girls desperately need a chaperone. And he thinks he's found the lady for the job... until Rothwell discovers her dangerous secret life. One chance to break the rules... Lady Madeleine Vaillant may be the perfect chaperone, but she can't face her blighted future without making one glorious memory for herself. In disguise, on a London stage, she finds all the adoration she never felt from the ton. But when she's nearly recognized, she will do anything to hide her identity - even making a devil’s bargain with Rothwell, who saves her from discovery by claiming her as his mistress. She'll take the pleasure he offers - but Madeleine won't lose her heart in the bargain. One season to fall in love... Every stolen kiss could lead to discovery, and Rothwell's old enemies are determined to ruin them both. But as their dangerous passion ignites their hearts and threatens their futures, how can an heiress who dreams of freedom deny the duke who demands her love? --- Muses of Mayfair #1 Next Scotsmen Prefer Blondes, Muses of Mayfair #2 - available now! Regency Historical London, 1812 94,000 words (full-length novel) Hot You may like this if you women in disguise, actresses, dukes, reformed rakes, female friendships, girls with secret artistic passions, and guys who aren't afraid to say they're in love
343 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 23, 2012
844 people are currently reading
2583 people want to read
About the author
Sara Ramsey
9 books289 followersSara Ramsey writes fun, feisty Regency historical romances. She won the prestigious 2009 Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart® award with her second book, Scotsmen Prefer Blondes. Her first book, Heiress Without A Cause, was a 2011 Golden Heart finalist.
Hopelessly uncool as a child, Sara has overcompensated by becoming obsessed with fashion, shoes, and #regencyworldproblems. She has great taste in Champagne, bad taste in movies, and a penchant for tiaras. She also believes in taking naps, wearing sunglasses at night, and using Oxford commas. Sara currently lives in San Francisco, California, where she can be found drinking overly-artistic lattes and working on her next Regency historical romance.
Hopelessly uncool as a child, Sara has overcompensated by becoming obsessed with fashion, shoes, and #regencyworldproblems. She has great taste in Champagne, bad taste in movies, and a penchant for tiaras. She also believes in taking naps, wearing sunglasses at night, and using Oxford commas. Sara currently lives in San Francisco, California, where she can be found drinking overly-artistic lattes and working on her next Regency historical romance.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 328 reviews
August 17, 2012
Grade: C--- (very nearly a D+, but it wasn't quite a "Lady Alexandra's Excellent Adventure" level of bad.
The entire premise of this book is a big ol’ Hot Mess, with all the requisite confusing plot contrivances to force the action and motivations into something vaguely resembling logic.
I came very, very close to DNFing, but some swoon-worthy sentences (and the irrelevant fact that the author claims to be an Iowa girl) gave me hope that the writing might somehow overcome all the early red flags.
The setting....
Regency London. The fantasy-land Mistorical Island version (see below).
The backstory...
Our heroine, Lady Madeleine Vaillant, is half-French, orphaned by the guillotine because her parents stayed behind to protect their chateau. Or something like that. She lives in London with her aunt and cousins, desperately yearning for someone – anyone – to adore her (more on this later).
Our hero, William Avenel, is the newly-titled and very reluctant Duke of Rothwell. He’s edging his way back into the ton nearly ten years after purposely getting himself exiled to Scotland to escape his humorless father. The duke has three sisters – two are much-younger twins in need of a society chaperone, the other a scandalous widow.
The plot...
This is going to get a little hairy. Please be patient and save all your questions until the end.
Believing herself to be trapped in a “boring but comfortable prison,” and being desperately desperate for adoration (see below), our heroine decides her only option is to become An Actress.
The breeches and wig are part of her costume for her role in Hamlet. To be more specific, the LEAD role.
Our hero, who just happens to own the theater, is naturally stunned stupid by Lady Madeline’s amazing acting (performed under a French pseudonym, of course). Naturally, he accosts her in her dressing room, where he immediately recognizes her as the quiet Mayfair spinster he hoped to engage as a chaperone for his young sisters.
This recognition leads to our heroine (in her actress persona) pretending to be the duke’s mistress. For scandal-proofing and safety reasons, of course.
If you’re thinking that all these contrivances to get them into bed defy logic and reason, you are correct. All this happens in the first third of the book.
What made it even more frustrating is that our happy couple’s backstories are revealed too little, too late. Instead, we’re immediately dumped into the characters’ heads, where inexplicable things are happening.
My "oh, really???" bullshit-o-meter was starting to veer off the charts to the Land of DNF. But once I understood Madeline and Ferguson’s motivations, I was much more willing to keep reading.
Of course, I still held a grudge throughout the rest of the book. My good opinion, once lost, is lost forever. Usually. I occasionally relent if the sexy times are hot.
There was nothing too painful about the predictable “Oh NOES, I’m RUINED, no wait, NEVER MIND” road to the predictable baby-filled epilogue. In fact, the calming of the craziness allowed for some really good writing and characterization to peek through – just enough to make me feel a teensy bit guilty for my petulant snarking.
But wait – there’s more!
Lest you think I’ve gone all “Nice Girl Saying Sunshine-y Things About A Delightful Book By A Lovely Author” on you, it’s time to discuss the Mistoricals.
Yes, I am now using that as a noun. A proper noun, no less. However, if I ever use "mistoricalize" or any other variant as a verb, you have my full and complete permission to report such abuse to the Hypocrite Police and the Plain English Campaign.
ALSO: I’m thinking "The Mistoricals" would be a great name for a Monty Python-esque comedy troupe.
Where were we? Ah, yes – the slums of London.
The theater in which our heroine achieves her life-long dream of being an Adored Actress is located in Seven Dials. No, not a made-up, slightly seedy theater district like Covent Garden. You know, the notorious slum that’s even slummier than the rookeries of St. Giles surrounding it.
THAT Seven Dials.
Our heroine is headlining a proto-feminist version of Hamlet. As in the high-brow Shakespeare tragedy. In a theater located in a festering slum inhabited by uneducated and desperately poor footpads, cutpurses, prostitutes and street urchins. The production is a huge hit.
Our resident Drama Queen travels to the theater and back accompanied only by her aging maid. But it’s perfectly safe, because they take a hackney.
In all fairness, I know that many – if not most – readers won’t be familiar with the history of London slums. And there very well could have been such a theater in the midst of squalor.
But as a history geek, I have a really hard time imagining bored aristocrats going to the rookeries for shits and giggles. I struggled with this setting so much it completely knocked me out of the story every time it was mentioned.
My mental picture of Seven Dials looks much less like this...
...and a LOT more like this:
But darker. And noisier. With a smell that would knock you into next Tuesday.
Our heroine...
Two weeks into her acting gig, Lady Madeline is shocked – SHOCKED, I tell you – to learn that drunken rakish lords assume she is, or will be, someone’s mistress. This disturbing correlation of “actress = fallen woman” has never occurred to our titled 28-year-old heroine.
There’s a very fine line between naive and TSTL, and I’m pretty sure Lady Madeline crosses it.
More than once.
[image error]
And then again:
The duties and expectations of a courtesan are foreign to Lady Madeline – even though she knows what “carte blanche” is, compares a scent to an Eastern harem, and giggles over erotic engravings with her friends.
And...again:
Not done yet:
*~*SIGH*~*
Our hero...
Our duke is not a Sneering Snob type of duke. He’s a Very Reluctant type of duke. In fact, he’s so averse that he’s dithering over when – or IF – he will assume his exalted title and ducal responsibilities. First, though, he had to decide whether to truly be the duke.
On Mistorical Island, it's perfectly OK for an English peer to shrug off a title and send it back for a refund. Why is he so reluctant? Not only was his father an Evil Tyrant, but his two older brothers (now conveniently dead) had Mysterious Issues. These issues were so mysterious that gossips assumed Ferguson scarpered off to the Highlands because he was going mad from a bad case of the pox.
Another benefit of living in an anarchy like Mistorical Island is getting to Choose Your Own Name. Our hero takes full advantage of this by insisting on being addressed as Ferguson – his late mother’s maiden name. So naturally everyone in Mayfair and beyond foregoes the irksome formality of all those "Your Graces" and "milords" because they don’t want him to get all pissy about it.
ALSO: Within minutes of being introduced in a ballroom, our hero bestows our heroine with a unique and charming nickname. He calls her "Lady Mad." Get it??? (har har)
Basically, Ferguson is an Angsty Alpha. If pouting counts as angst and de-virginizing a spinster makes one an a he-man. He’s mostly just kind of there, waiting to rescue “Lady Mad” from her endearing cluelessness so he can go all caveman and drag her into his bedroom.
WAIT! Almost forgot the most important fact! His manhood is very well-sprung!
The good stuff!
Her:
Him:
See what I mean? There’s good stuff in there, but it’s a tough slog through the dreck to find it.
Now let me tell you what I REALLY think...
Did I mention that this was kind of a Hot Mess? But if you look hard enough, you can get a brief glimpse of some cute Literary Lingerie hidden underneath the Cloak of Crazy.
I also read the second book in the series, titled Scotsmen Prefer Blondes. Excising the WTFery left behind a weak and predictable "trapped into marriage" plot, with characters who continually flip-flopped between lust and hate for inane reasons.
Take a wild guess at the titles of the next two books in the series. Go ahead, pick a couple of completely random, unrelated movie titles and bastardize them in the most cringe-worthy manner possible.
Did you guess correctly?
Book 3: The Marquess Who Loved Me
More eye-rolling than cringe-worthy, you say? That was just a teaser.
Book 4: The Earl Who Played With Fire
Because it’s always a good idea to relate your Wallpaper Regency Mistorical to a Swedish crime thriller featuring a multi-tattooed and -pierced bisexual heroine with anger issues.
Keep up the good work there, Too-Cool-For-School Marketing Team – I’ll be hiding out in Carla Kelly’s backlist.
The entire premise of this book is a big ol’ Hot Mess, with all the requisite confusing plot contrivances to force the action and motivations into something vaguely resembling logic.
I came very, very close to DNFing, but some swoon-worthy sentences (and the irrelevant fact that the author claims to be an Iowa girl) gave me hope that the writing might somehow overcome all the early red flags.
The setting....
Regency London. The fantasy-land Mistorical Island version (see below).
The backstory...
Our heroine, Lady Madeleine Vaillant, is half-French, orphaned by the guillotine because her parents stayed behind to protect their chateau. Or something like that. She lives in London with her aunt and cousins, desperately yearning for someone – anyone – to adore her (more on this later).
Our hero, William Avenel, is the newly-titled and very reluctant Duke of Rothwell. He’s edging his way back into the ton nearly ten years after purposely getting himself exiled to Scotland to escape his humorless father. The duke has three sisters – two are much-younger twins in need of a society chaperone, the other a scandalous widow.
The plot...
This is going to get a little hairy. Please be patient and save all your questions until the end.
Believing herself to be trapped in a “boring but comfortable prison,” and being desperately desperate for adoration (see below), our heroine decides her only option is to become An Actress.
Here, in a white muslin ball gown, with her brown hair tucked into a spinster’s cap, no one spared her a first glance, let alone a second.
Last night, wearing breeches and a wild, unkempt wig, everyone cheered at her feet.
The breeches and wig are part of her costume for her role in Hamlet. To be more specific, the LEAD role.
Our hero, who just happens to own the theater, is naturally stunned stupid by Lady Madeline’s amazing acting (performed under a French pseudonym, of course). Naturally, he accosts her in her dressing room, where he immediately recognizes her as the quiet Mayfair spinster he hoped to engage as a chaperone for his young sisters.
This recognition leads to our heroine (in her actress persona) pretending to be the duke’s mistress. For scandal-proofing and safety reasons, of course.
If you’re thinking that all these contrivances to get them into bed defy logic and reason, you are correct. All this happens in the first third of the book.
What made it even more frustrating is that our happy couple’s backstories are revealed too little, too late. Instead, we’re immediately dumped into the characters’ heads, where inexplicable things are happening.
My "oh, really???" bullshit-o-meter was starting to veer off the charts to the Land of DNF. But once I understood Madeline and Ferguson’s motivations, I was much more willing to keep reading.
Of course, I still held a grudge throughout the rest of the book. My good opinion, once lost, is lost forever. Usually. I occasionally relent if the sexy times are hot.
There was nothing too painful about the predictable “Oh NOES, I’m RUINED, no wait, NEVER MIND” road to the predictable baby-filled epilogue. In fact, the calming of the craziness allowed for some really good writing and characterization to peek through – just enough to make me feel a teensy bit guilty for my petulant snarking.
But wait – there’s more!
Lest you think I’ve gone all “Nice Girl Saying Sunshine-y Things About A Delightful Book By A Lovely Author” on you, it’s time to discuss the Mistoricals.
Yes, I am now using that as a noun. A proper noun, no less. However, if I ever use "mistoricalize" or any other variant as a verb, you have my full and complete permission to report such abuse to the Hypocrite Police and the Plain English Campaign.
ALSO: I’m thinking "The Mistoricals" would be a great name for a Monty Python-esque comedy troupe.
Where were we? Ah, yes – the slums of London.
Seven Dials could be dangerous, particularly at night, but the overflow of crowds from nearby Covent Garden mitigated the risk.
The theater in which our heroine achieves her life-long dream of being an Adored Actress is located in Seven Dials. No, not a made-up, slightly seedy theater district like Covent Garden. You know, the notorious slum that’s even slummier than the rookeries of St. Giles surrounding it.
THAT Seven Dials.
Our heroine is headlining a proto-feminist version of Hamlet. As in the high-brow Shakespeare tragedy. In a theater located in a festering slum inhabited by uneducated and desperately poor footpads, cutpurses, prostitutes and street urchins. The production is a huge hit.
Our resident Drama Queen travels to the theater and back accompanied only by her aging maid. But it’s perfectly safe, because they take a hackney.
In all fairness, I know that many – if not most – readers won’t be familiar with the history of London slums. And there very well could have been such a theater in the midst of squalor.
But as a history geek, I have a really hard time imagining bored aristocrats going to the rookeries for shits and giggles. I struggled with this setting so much it completely knocked me out of the story every time it was mentioned.
My mental picture of Seven Dials looks much less like this...
...and a LOT more like this:
But darker. And noisier. With a smell that would knock you into next Tuesday.
Our heroine...
...the damp, moist air of the playhouse felt like her ruin closing in on her. But some secret place, which she would never confess to, was thrilled at her forced return to the stage. In all her years as a debutante, she had never walked into a room and felt – adored.
Two weeks into her acting gig, Lady Madeline is shocked – SHOCKED, I tell you – to learn that drunken rakish lords assume she is, or will be, someone’s mistress. This disturbing correlation of “actress = fallen woman” has never occurred to our titled 28-year-old heroine.
In the darkened alleyway, she should have been afraid – but there remained that fascinating feeling that she was in control, not them.
There’s a very fine line between naive and TSTL, and I’m pretty sure Lady Madeline crosses it.
More than once.
They discussed her like she was a commodity, and seeing how men spoke about women when there were no ladies present annoyed her.
[image error]
And then again:
Was this what it was to be a courtesan – an object for entertainment?
The duties and expectations of a courtesan are foreign to Lady Madeline – even though she knows what “carte blanche” is, compares a scent to an Eastern harem, and giggles over erotic engravings with her friends.
And...again:
She may have liked their adoration from the safety of the stage, but in the alley, their desires felt dangerous.
Not done yet:
...the next few weeks might be the only time she would ever feel adored – by the ton, by the audience, by the duke who promised to save her.
...Being alone with him in a closed carriage was very different from dancing with him in a crowded ballroom.
...With the events of the last two hours – losing her virginity, and then refusing a marriage proposal from a man she thought she might love – she knew she would not sleep easily.
*~*SIGH*~*
Our hero...
He had last been seen nearly a decade earlier, when everyone knew him as Ferguson – a third son with no prospects and a scandalous reputation.
Our duke is not a Sneering Snob type of duke. He’s a Very Reluctant type of duke. In fact, he’s so averse that he’s dithering over when – or IF – he will assume his exalted title and ducal responsibilities. First, though, he had to decide whether to truly be the duke.
On Mistorical Island, it's perfectly OK for an English peer to shrug off a title and send it back for a refund. Why is he so reluctant? Not only was his father an Evil Tyrant, but his two older brothers (now conveniently dead) had Mysterious Issues. These issues were so mysterious that gossips assumed Ferguson scarpered off to the Highlands because he was going mad from a bad case of the pox.
Another benefit of living in an anarchy like Mistorical Island is getting to Choose Your Own Name. Our hero takes full advantage of this by insisting on being addressed as Ferguson – his late mother’s maiden name. So naturally everyone in Mayfair and beyond foregoes the irksome formality of all those "Your Graces" and "milords" because they don’t want him to get all pissy about it.
ALSO: Within minutes of being introduced in a ballroom, our hero bestows our heroine with a unique and charming nickname. He calls her "Lady Mad." Get it??? (har har)
Basically, Ferguson is an Angsty Alpha. If pouting counts as angst and de-virginizing a spinster makes one an a he-man. He’s mostly just kind of there, waiting to rescue “Lady Mad” from her endearing cluelessness so he can go all caveman and drag her into his bedroom.
WAIT! Almost forgot the most important fact! His manhood is very well-sprung!
The good stuff!
Her:
...the amusement lurking on his face intrigued her. It was almost like he was playing a role – and laughing at those who could not see through his deception. She knew how that felt.
...Her dress, her cap, her slippers, even her undergarments were all new. But she felt like something old and broken accidentally left in the remade room, waiting for a chambermaid to notice and sweep her away.
...If her reputation survived the month, the reducing diet she feigned to throw Aunt Augusta off the scent might still kill her.
...She had the strangest desire to twine around his body, like ivy on a lamppost, supported by him and yet capable of pulling him down.
Him:
...At least maudlin and lovesick were preferable to bitter and ashamed.
..."If I lost you, I would become the man he was."
..."I would have endured another decade with my father without complaint if I had known you waited for me at the end of it."
See what I mean? There’s good stuff in there, but it’s a tough slog through the dreck to find it.
Now let me tell you what I REALLY think...
Did I mention that this was kind of a Hot Mess? But if you look hard enough, you can get a brief glimpse of some cute Literary Lingerie hidden underneath the Cloak of Crazy.
I also read the second book in the series, titled Scotsmen Prefer Blondes. Excising the WTFery left behind a weak and predictable "trapped into marriage" plot, with characters who continually flip-flopped between lust and hate for inane reasons.
Take a wild guess at the titles of the next two books in the series. Go ahead, pick a couple of completely random, unrelated movie titles and bastardize them in the most cringe-worthy manner possible.
Did you guess correctly?
Book 3: The Marquess Who Loved Me
More eye-rolling than cringe-worthy, you say? That was just a teaser.
Book 4: The Earl Who Played With Fire
Because it’s always a good idea to relate your Wallpaper Regency Mistorical to a Swedish crime thriller featuring a multi-tattooed and -pierced bisexual heroine with anger issues.
Keep up the good work there, Too-Cool-For-School Marketing Team – I’ll be hiding out in Carla Kelly’s backlist.
November 8, 2022
2,5 stars
March 1, 2024
Read: 2020
Not memorable
Not memorable
August 10, 2021
So I like a pinning hero, who doesn’t😃
I also like the aspect of how she’s secretly an actress but also a well respected spinster. It’s not something I’ve seen before and I actually managed to stay interested in the story. And when the hero finds out, Instead of removing her as the guardian for his younger twin sisters, he helps the heroine. He does so by becoming her protector, becuase since she is a very popular actress, so many people in the Ton wants to make her their mistresses, however she’s not really an actress and such an act won’t sit well with high society, so since the hero needs to protect his family name (because he’s been associating with her as a lady) he essentially need to protect her aswell. So she publicly becomes his mistress and keeps all the Ton men away. So he is attending balls with her during the night and after that she is his ‘fake’ mistress during the theatre…how wouldn’t they fall in love, when they are spending loads a time together
I liked the hero, he wanted to change who he was. He knew he fucked up 10 years ago with his family and his lover back then, but now he’s trying to change and in my eyes everyone seems to be putting him down, like give the dude a chance.
I liked the heroine, she was French and the voice actress made her sounds so sexy lol. I know she had anxiety about fall in love because all the people she loved has died (her parents) and she’s worried about commitment….however…when the man you secretly like, tells you he loves you, then bloody say yes to his marriage proposal!!! Stop making us wait damnnit, you know he’s the one for you but still you insist on saying no and looking for reasons to delay saying yes (some of the reasons were valid tbf…but still)
Overall, decent 👌🏾
I also like the aspect of how she’s secretly an actress but also a well respected spinster. It’s not something I’ve seen before and I actually managed to stay interested in the story. And when the hero finds out, Instead of removing her as the guardian for his younger twin sisters, he helps the heroine. He does so by becoming her protector, becuase since she is a very popular actress, so many people in the Ton wants to make her their mistresses, however she’s not really an actress and such an act won’t sit well with high society, so since the hero needs to protect his family name (because he’s been associating with her as a lady) he essentially need to protect her aswell. So she publicly becomes his mistress and keeps all the Ton men away. So he is attending balls with her during the night and after that she is his ‘fake’ mistress during the theatre…how wouldn’t they fall in love, when they are spending loads a time together
I liked the hero, he wanted to change who he was. He knew he fucked up 10 years ago with his family and his lover back then, but now he’s trying to change and in my eyes everyone seems to be putting him down, like give the dude a chance.
I liked the heroine, she was French and the voice actress made her sounds so sexy lol. I know she had anxiety about fall in love because all the people she loved has died (her parents) and she’s worried about commitment….however…when the man you secretly like, tells you he loves you, then bloody say yes to his marriage proposal!!! Stop making us wait damnnit, you know he’s the one for you but still you insist on saying no and looking for reasons to delay saying yes (some of the reasons were valid tbf…but still)
Overall, decent 👌🏾
June 2, 2012
HR is not usually my thing but a few friends have convinced me to dip my toe into the genre. To date I haven’t read many but my shelf of HR’s is steadily growing.
This is Sara Ramsey’s first book introducing us to a group of ladies who have named themselves the ‘Muses of Mayfair’, we also get to meet their families, friends and a few other characters. This first story tells us about Lady Madeleine Valliant, who at the age of 29, is considered to be a spinster and ‘left on the shelf’. Madeleine loves to act but of course it would be scandalous for a woman of the Ton to tread the boards of the stage. However, the draw is so strong for Madeleine that she finds a way, but of course she has to be in disguise and is believed to be Madam Guerrier, a French actress who becomes a huge success.
In the meantime Ferguson’s father has died and he has to return to London to claim his rightful title of Duke of Rothwell. Ferguson asks Lady Madeleine to chaperone and help his youngest sister debut and find them suitable husbands. Although Madeleine was plainly dressed and had her hair covered he felt some attraction towards her but cannot ruin her reputation as by affiliation it would also impact upon his sisters. After a visit to the theatre to see the new actress everyone is raving about he realizes that Madam Guerrier is in fact Madeleine in disguise and in order to protect her against all potential suitors/scandal, he tells her that the actress must play the role of his mistress.
It is obvious from the start that these two have an instant attraction to each other but Ferguson doesn’t want a wife but as Madeleine is a Lady and respectable member of the Ton he cannot engage in an affair with her and is torn. Madeleine doesn’t want a husband as that would mean she would have to give up acting but both find they cannot fight the attraction and end up having an affair.
I really liked the fact that it was Ferguson who was the first to declare his love as in a lot of romance novels it is usually the other way around! I also like that despite Madeleine continually refusing to acknowledge that she loved him and accept his marriage proposals, Ferguson still continued to support her and found ways to help keep her secret from everyone including her family.
Both Ferguson and Madeleine were very strong characters and were likeable. I also like some of the other characters like Amelia & Ellie and am looking forward to reading their stories, especially Ellie’s as a fair amount of ground work for her novel had been laid.
I am pleased to say that this is not a ‘fluffy’ story, the sex scenes were hot and steamy which is always a plus sign for me. Not having read much HR it is hard for me to make comparisons on the quality of the writing within that genre, but I definitely enjoyed Ms Ramsey’s style of writing as well as the premise of the story and would happily read any future works from her.
Copy kindly supplied by Spencerhill Associates via Netgalley
This is Sara Ramsey’s first book introducing us to a group of ladies who have named themselves the ‘Muses of Mayfair’, we also get to meet their families, friends and a few other characters. This first story tells us about Lady Madeleine Valliant, who at the age of 29, is considered to be a spinster and ‘left on the shelf’. Madeleine loves to act but of course it would be scandalous for a woman of the Ton to tread the boards of the stage. However, the draw is so strong for Madeleine that she finds a way, but of course she has to be in disguise and is believed to be Madam Guerrier, a French actress who becomes a huge success.
In the meantime Ferguson’s father has died and he has to return to London to claim his rightful title of Duke of Rothwell. Ferguson asks Lady Madeleine to chaperone and help his youngest sister debut and find them suitable husbands. Although Madeleine was plainly dressed and had her hair covered he felt some attraction towards her but cannot ruin her reputation as by affiliation it would also impact upon his sisters. After a visit to the theatre to see the new actress everyone is raving about he realizes that Madam Guerrier is in fact Madeleine in disguise and in order to protect her against all potential suitors/scandal, he tells her that the actress must play the role of his mistress.
It is obvious from the start that these two have an instant attraction to each other but Ferguson doesn’t want a wife but as Madeleine is a Lady and respectable member of the Ton he cannot engage in an affair with her and is torn. Madeleine doesn’t want a husband as that would mean she would have to give up acting but both find they cannot fight the attraction and end up having an affair.
I really liked the fact that it was Ferguson who was the first to declare his love as in a lot of romance novels it is usually the other way around! I also like that despite Madeleine continually refusing to acknowledge that she loved him and accept his marriage proposals, Ferguson still continued to support her and found ways to help keep her secret from everyone including her family.
Both Ferguson and Madeleine were very strong characters and were likeable. I also like some of the other characters like Amelia & Ellie and am looking forward to reading their stories, especially Ellie’s as a fair amount of ground work for her novel had been laid.
I am pleased to say that this is not a ‘fluffy’ story, the sex scenes were hot and steamy which is always a plus sign for me. Not having read much HR it is hard for me to make comparisons on the quality of the writing within that genre, but I definitely enjoyed Ms Ramsey’s style of writing as well as the premise of the story and would happily read any future works from her.
Copy kindly supplied by Spencerhill Associates via Netgalley
January 21, 2012
At 28, Madeleine is a spinster, firmly on the shelf. But there is more to her than the prim and proper exterior she shows the ton. For the past few weeks, she has been assuming an alter-identity as an actress to live her passion on the stage. Obviously, when Ferguson -a newly minted Duke- asks her to help his younger sisters come out into society, he has no idea she is anything less than the model of propriety.
Then Ferguson visits the theater. He is taken by Madeleine's alter ego and quickly figures out her identity. He is torn between wanting her for himself and wanting to keep her innocence intact. I'll bet you can guess which desire won out.
Madeleine's adventure was only supposed to last for a short time, but she is drawing in such a crowd, the owner of the theater begins blackmailing her to stay. She must team up with Ferguson to continue her charade and keep her identity a secret. This, as a passionate affair grows between them.
What I liked about this book is that the hero works out his feelings for the heroine very early on. Usually, in historical romance, the revelation that the hero is really in love doesn't come until close to the end of the book. Not the case here. Ferguson doesn't ever hold back his feelings for Madeleine. That doesn't mean he is perfect. He's overbearing and autocratic at times, though not nearly as much as he fears he is.
My biggest complaint was with Madeleine. Her reticence to accept a future with Ferguson was just... stupid. She explains her reasons, but they simply do not wash for me. I also found her to be reckless at times, and a little selfish. I didn't dislike her, but I wasn't always on board with her decisions.
The sex was definitely good. And bonus points for use of the word "manroot." I'll probably check out the next installment when it comes out. 3 1/2 stars.
*ARC Provided by NetGalley
Then Ferguson visits the theater. He is taken by Madeleine's alter ego and quickly figures out her identity. He is torn between wanting her for himself and wanting to keep her innocence intact. I'll bet you can guess which desire won out.
Madeleine's adventure was only supposed to last for a short time, but she is drawing in such a crowd, the owner of the theater begins blackmailing her to stay. She must team up with Ferguson to continue her charade and keep her identity a secret. This, as a passionate affair grows between them.
What I liked about this book is that the hero works out his feelings for the heroine very early on. Usually, in historical romance, the revelation that the hero is really in love doesn't come until close to the end of the book. Not the case here. Ferguson doesn't ever hold back his feelings for Madeleine. That doesn't mean he is perfect. He's overbearing and autocratic at times, though not nearly as much as he fears he is.
My biggest complaint was with Madeleine. Her reticence to accept a future with Ferguson was just... stupid. She explains her reasons, but they simply do not wash for me. I also found her to be reckless at times, and a little selfish. I didn't dislike her, but I wasn't always on board with her decisions.
The sex was definitely good. And bonus points for use of the word "manroot." I'll probably check out the next installment when it comes out. 3 1/2 stars.
*ARC Provided by NetGalley
freebies-historical
May 20, 2018I have to DNF this one at 54%. It’s very politic-y, and lacks the underlying rye humor or smartly worded retorts that I love in HR. It’s just sort of ..boring 😕
August 13, 2017
After re-reading, I am lowering from 5 to 4.5.
I still enjoyed this more than the average historical romance.
"It wasn’t until that night in Westbrook’s study that she realized she wasn’t merely leaning on Ferguson’s strength — they were strong together, like two pieces of an ancient rock that had been broken in two and finally pieced back together."
I still enjoyed this more than the average historical romance.
"It wasn’t until that night in Westbrook’s study that she realized she wasn’t merely leaning on Ferguson’s strength — they were strong together, like two pieces of an ancient rock that had been broken in two and finally pieced back together."
December 29, 2022
2.5 stars
A cute historical romance. I didn't always understand the logic but it was wholesome and I could comfortably skim it.
A cute historical romance. I didn't always understand the logic but it was wholesome and I could comfortably skim it.
October 11, 2025
just when I thought it was getting good, both of them made every effort to prove me wrong and become the most vexing main characters
January 25, 2022
Dnf at 25 % mark.
October 17, 2023
3.7
I've liked it more than what I anticipated, but there were still some elements I think weren't dealt with in the best way.
I've liked it more than what I anticipated, but there were still some elements I think weren't dealt with in the best way.
February 5, 2017
This was pretty entertaining for the author's first book. I like the heroine and her scandalous hobbies. I look forward to reading about the rest of the characters in the series.
April 29, 2012
I reviewed this novel for my blog at www.bookworm2bookworm.wordpress.com
...starts slow, but boy does it pick up! Loved it...
This is Ms. Ramsey's début novel and first in the Muses of Mayfair Series (Madeline
Vaillant, Prudence Etchingham, Amelia Staunton and Ellie, Marchioness of Folkestone) and she starts off with Lady Madeline Vaillant's story.
The book opens up with our heroine attending a ball at Salford House, which is the home of her cousin Alexander Staunton, the Earl of Salford, his mother, her aunt Augusta as well as Amelia Staunton, Alex's sister. She's been with them ever since she was a little girl, after her parents went back to France in the midst of the Revolution and gotten themselves killed in the process.
She is aware that no one has ever paid her any attention and that no one likely ever will. Not as long as she's determined to stay a spinster and dress like one, down to her spinsters cap. What the ton doesn't know, and if it did it would not only shock them but it would also ruin Madeline and possibly the family that she loves dearly, is that our heroine has a secret desire and a talent for acting.
Our hero is William "Ferguson" Avenel, and coming out of exile is not so easy for him. It has been a decade since he's seen his sister Ellie, and his twin half sisters who are both ready for their first London season, and to all of them, Ferguson needs to apologies for not being there for them when they needed him the most.
I really liked this story for lots of obvious reasons; for a début book, it was written well, paced well and its hero and heroine were very likeable, but what I liked the best about it was the relationship between the three friends, and after we meet Ellie, there was no doubt in my mind that she was perfect as, and eventually would become another, muse of Mayfair.
The author has done an excellent job in portraying the relationships between all the characters with so much reality that it will touch your hearts with an equal dose of humor and sensuality. You will come to care for everyone involved and that is what makes this début such a great read and I whole heartedly recommend it.
Melanie
...starts slow, but boy does it pick up! Loved it...
This is Ms. Ramsey's début novel and first in the Muses of Mayfair Series (Madeline
Vaillant, Prudence Etchingham, Amelia Staunton and Ellie, Marchioness of Folkestone) and she starts off with Lady Madeline Vaillant's story.
The book opens up with our heroine attending a ball at Salford House, which is the home of her cousin Alexander Staunton, the Earl of Salford, his mother, her aunt Augusta as well as Amelia Staunton, Alex's sister. She's been with them ever since she was a little girl, after her parents went back to France in the midst of the Revolution and gotten themselves killed in the process.
She is aware that no one has ever paid her any attention and that no one likely ever will. Not as long as she's determined to stay a spinster and dress like one, down to her spinsters cap. What the ton doesn't know, and if it did it would not only shock them but it would also ruin Madeline and possibly the family that she loves dearly, is that our heroine has a secret desire and a talent for acting.
Our hero is William "Ferguson" Avenel, and coming out of exile is not so easy for him. It has been a decade since he's seen his sister Ellie, and his twin half sisters who are both ready for their first London season, and to all of them, Ferguson needs to apologies for not being there for them when they needed him the most.
I really liked this story for lots of obvious reasons; for a début book, it was written well, paced well and its hero and heroine were very likeable, but what I liked the best about it was the relationship between the three friends, and after we meet Ellie, there was no doubt in my mind that she was perfect as, and eventually would become another, muse of Mayfair.
The author has done an excellent job in portraying the relationships between all the characters with so much reality that it will touch your hearts with an equal dose of humor and sensuality. You will come to care for everyone involved and that is what makes this début such a great read and I whole heartedly recommend it.
Melanie
August 21, 2014
My first book from this author.
Though it was not absolutely awful on every aspects, there was nothing in it that I really liked enough to make up for the glaring flaws and to give me incentive to try another book from this author. Maybe, if I come across another one for free, with a not to outlandish summary, maybe, I'll give it another chance. Otherwise, most probably not.
Historical realism is definitely totally absent from this book. Locations, character motivations, circumstances and actions, all those were full of anachronisms. Anyway the heroine at 28 frequently behaved as a spoiled and spurned child of barely 18, even though she was never really denied anything ever since her parents sent her to London for her safety and they died consequently. Frankly she often irritated me, and I thought her complaints and motivations extremely selfish and vain. The hero was in fact not much better, who needed to be banished by his father so that he could start his life. What for? Not sure considering he refused to take much responsibility for anything for about half the book and just wanted in a way to get rid of having to care of his younger twin sisters.
Love appeared almost magically between them, though both were so desperate that I could understand it. Of course, they end up having lots of sex before the proposal, let alone the wedding. The first hot scenes and the decision to go for it came out of nowhere.
Some of the secondary characters might have more potential, though I'm not fully convinced. In any case, character development was rather minimal and barely sketched and explained.
At least, for once, I was spared the French sentences full of grammar and spelling horror that are often put in the mouth of French or half-French characters.
Not the full blown horror that some so-called historical romances can reach, but nothing to rave about either. I do not really recommend though it was available for free.
Though it was not absolutely awful on every aspects, there was nothing in it that I really liked enough to make up for the glaring flaws and to give me incentive to try another book from this author. Maybe, if I come across another one for free, with a not to outlandish summary, maybe, I'll give it another chance. Otherwise, most probably not.
Historical realism is definitely totally absent from this book. Locations, character motivations, circumstances and actions, all those were full of anachronisms. Anyway the heroine at 28 frequently behaved as a spoiled and spurned child of barely 18, even though she was never really denied anything ever since her parents sent her to London for her safety and they died consequently. Frankly she often irritated me, and I thought her complaints and motivations extremely selfish and vain. The hero was in fact not much better, who needed to be banished by his father so that he could start his life. What for? Not sure considering he refused to take much responsibility for anything for about half the book and just wanted in a way to get rid of having to care of his younger twin sisters.
Love appeared almost magically between them, though both were so desperate that I could understand it. Of course, they end up having lots of sex before the proposal, let alone the wedding. The first hot scenes and the decision to go for it came out of nowhere.
Some of the secondary characters might have more potential, though I'm not fully convinced. In any case, character development was rather minimal and barely sketched and explained.
At least, for once, I was spared the French sentences full of grammar and spelling horror that are often put in the mouth of French or half-French characters.
Not the full blown horror that some so-called historical romances can reach, but nothing to rave about either. I do not really recommend though it was available for free.
October 1, 2017
A spinster with a dual identity. A rake who isn't really a rake and doesn't particularly want to be a Duke. Sullen twin terrors in want of a season. What's a reluctant Duke to do?
Madeleine has been reared by her aunt and uncle after her parents' early deaths. She leads a boring real life as a confirmed spinster who is noticed by no one except to remark upon her unremarkableness.
Ferguson hates the duchy he has inherited and all it stands for, but needs must, he has to launch his younger sisters and he needs a reputable chaperone for them.
I loved that the protagonists, in spite of their issues, recognized their attraction to one another. Although there were obstacles to their pairing, they worked together to overcome them. They didn't waste time denying their love.
As usual, the ton is vacuous and gossipy. I enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading the rest of the series from this new to me author.
Madeleine has been reared by her aunt and uncle after her parents' early deaths. She leads a boring real life as a confirmed spinster who is noticed by no one except to remark upon her unremarkableness.
Ferguson hates the duchy he has inherited and all it stands for, but needs must, he has to launch his younger sisters and he needs a reputable chaperone for them.
I loved that the protagonists, in spite of their issues, recognized their attraction to one another. Although there were obstacles to their pairing, they worked together to overcome them. They didn't waste time denying their love.
As usual, the ton is vacuous and gossipy. I enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading the rest of the series from this new to me author.
August 16, 2014
Just okay. Almost did not finish, but I had the free time, so I trudged on. Love the theater aspect of Madeleine, but somehow never warmed up to Ferguson as a hero. From the start there was already too much going on, too many characters I had to keep track of, and many of them never felt like real people (Caro and Westbrook). Later on I started to like Ellie more than Madeleine, and Alex than Ferguson, and when the reader is more interested in the secondary characters than the main ones, perhaps that is a sign that they are not interesting or lovable enough to sustain the reader's focus. This fails to be their love story then, but a long prologue intended to introduce all the characters in the later books.
January 25, 2020
I really enjoyed this entry in the Muses of Mayfair series. The characters were likable and I enjoyed the progression of the romance. We have our heroine who is a spinster wallflower orphaned from the French Revolution. And we have our hero - rogue exile from the ton, newly returned with a nice little title to boot. She and our hero discovers this and a bargain and courtship ensue.
At times the female MC could be a little childish and annoying but overall I enjoyed the book and am interested in continuing the series especially given the little teasers of future books that you receive in this one.
At times the female MC could be a little childish and annoying but overall I enjoyed the book and am interested in continuing the series especially given the little teasers of future books that you receive in this one.
February 8, 2017
This was a 3-star read but the couple and the fact that it was full of so many of my favorite tropes made me rate it higher.
Heiress Without a Cause (GREAT title by the way) was a very good start to the series. I really enjoyed the artists and rebels that were the Muses of Mayfair ladies. Ferguson (a ginger hero whoo-hoo!!! we need more of those) and Madeleine were so cute and I loved how supportive he was of her acting. I did feel like we were going around in circles when it came to the drama of the plot but I still really enjoyed this one a lot.
Heiress Without a Cause (GREAT title by the way) was a very good start to the series. I really enjoyed the artists and rebels that were the Muses of Mayfair ladies. Ferguson (a ginger hero whoo-hoo!!! we need more of those) and Madeleine were so cute and I loved how supportive he was of her acting. I did feel like we were going around in circles when it came to the drama of the plot but I still really enjoyed this one a lot.
October 21, 2014
I loved this book. I liked everything about it and did not want to put down. I can't wait to read the other books.
Read
February 8, 2015Captivated by the title, totally charmed by the group of heroines with Secret Talents, and totally seduced by the duke.
June 27, 2019
Ferguson and Madeleine start out as Employer and Chaperone but this soon changes. Along the way we find out that he was a rake up until he was exiled to Scotland 10 years previously and she is currently performing very successfully on stage, which is a 'no-no' for that era.
So they both have things that they are hiding and this story tells us how they both uncover the other's secrets and how it affects their relationships both with each other and with other family members.
It is a brilliantly written story with careful attention to detail. Many a time I found myself smiling at the antics and carrying ons but I thoroughly enjoyed the book in its entirety.
In addition there are some interesting love scenes and the romancing itself is rather novel.
One is also introduced to family members and other members of the ton who contribute their own background stories that tie in nicely with this main one.
I really did enjoy reading this book and can confidently recommend it and I look forward to reading more by this very talented author.
So they both have things that they are hiding and this story tells us how they both uncover the other's secrets and how it affects their relationships both with each other and with other family members.
It is a brilliantly written story with careful attention to detail. Many a time I found myself smiling at the antics and carrying ons but I thoroughly enjoyed the book in its entirety.
In addition there are some interesting love scenes and the romancing itself is rather novel.
One is also introduced to family members and other members of the ton who contribute their own background stories that tie in nicely with this main one.
I really did enjoy reading this book and can confidently recommend it and I look forward to reading more by this very talented author.
November 27, 2017
I loved this regency romance. While I've read several with a plot of a woman dressing as a man to do something she loves back in that time period, this book allowed the woman to be a woman and focused on her relationship with her 'savior'. I enjoyed the plot immensely as it was a bit more complex than most in this vane. And the author added more conflict, even at the very end and it made this an engaging and fun read. And I don't say that about most regency romances :) .
I'd recommend this book to those who long for a deeper plot in the romance genre.
I'd recommend this book to those who long for a deeper plot in the romance genre.
October 20, 2018
A historical romance with a definite twist. A spinster, a rake, an actress, a reluctant duke, a chaperone, and a mistress all how come together in this one. Madeleine is a spinster at the age of twenty-four when she's approached by Ferguson, a duke and notorious rake, to chaperone his younger twin sisters. She's above repute, which comes in handy with his sketchy reputation as a rake.
But is she as innocent as she seems? Does she have a secret to protect, and will it ruin her? Has Ferguson changed as well? How are all these people going to have a happily ever after?
But is she as innocent as she seems? Does she have a secret to protect, and will it ruin her? Has Ferguson changed as well? How are all these people going to have a happily ever after?
July 21, 2012
Packed with humor and passion! Taken from my review at RomanceJunkies.com:
Madame Madeleine Vaillant has lived with her aunt and uncle at Salford House ever since her parents died eighteen years ago. Up to then she had been raised in France. After many unsuccessful Seasons, at twenty-eight, she is considered a spinster, along with her aunt’s daughter, Amelia, and their close friend Prudence. The three women each have their own artistic interests to keep them busy and have formed their own club known as the Muses of Mayfair. Amelia writes gothic , using a male pseudonym, and Prudence loves history and writes papers to a variety of historians, also as a male. However, Madeleine cannot indulge in her acting in secret like the other two. She needs an audience. Giving herself two weeks to indulge in her passion, she seeks out Madame Legrand, who manages the local theatre. For two weeks, she has a secret life as an actress on the stage, winning much acclaim and filling up the theatre with patrons. But on her last night, when she refuses the manager’s request that she extend her time on stage, the manager blackmails her into agreeing to stay for one month, promising to let her go after that time. However, if anyone finds out about her secret, she is ruined.
William ‘Ferguson’ Avenel, the Duke of Rothwell, returned to London to claim his title. He had left London for Scotland ten years ago, when, as just plain Ferguson, he had been the third son with a scandalous reputation and no prospects. Now the newspapers report that his father died in a carriage accident, but the rumors circulating are not so kind. In reality, his older brother killed their father before turning the gun on himself. At his father’s death, knowing his sisters needed him, he had returned, but once he manages to marry off his sisters, he plans to return to Scotland. Due to his absence during the past ten years, his sisters feel that he had abandoned them. Now he needs to find a way to once more get close to the siblings he left behind. His plans to return to Scotland are not helping the situation.
Making his first ducal appearance at the ball given by Madeleine’s aunt, he is accompanied by his father’s sister, Sophronia, the Duchess of Harwick. With his new title comes his duty to his twin sisters who need to make their debut in society. On the advice of Sophronia, he asks Madeleine to bring them out. Realizing that having the duchess on her side would be beneficial should her secret life come to light, she agrees to do it.
The following night, Ferguson decides to go to the theatre with a couple of his friends. That night, he discovers that Hamlet is being played by a woman who captivates him. However, when he goes backstage where she is still in disguise, she refuses to give in to his charms. So he secretly follows her and finds himself at Madeleine’s home. He knows that someone in that house is the astounding actress, and he suspects it is the woman helping him with his sisters. It had been his idea to go to the theatre that night. So when he sees his friends becoming interested in making the actress their mistress, he knows he has to take action.
Ferguson gets the idea to make Madeleine his mistress in name only to protect her from the line of men wanting to make her theirs. But he is having a hard time keeping his hands off of her. As for Madeleine, in the past two weeks she has been adored by her audience and she loves the feeling. She still has a month of adoration to go, but will that be enough when the time is up and she is once more just Madeleine? Can they get through the upcoming month with her reputation intact? Will Ferguson return to Scotland, or will he stay in London, retain the title and make Madeleine his own?
Deliciously witty, HEIRESS WITHOUT A CAUSE, the first novel in talented author Sara Ramsey’s MUSES OF MAYFAIR trilogy, is a passionate, intriguing historical romance that will have you avidly turning the pages as the story comes to life. Madeleine, like the other two in the Muses of Mayfair club, is very independent for a woman in the Regency era. Although society sees her as a spinster, she still harbors hope of making a marriage. That is, until Ferguson asks her to bring out his twin sisters. Then she begins to realize that her time to find a husband is drawing to a close. When she was first brought out, she was too shy and in later years, she became bored with the process. As for Ferguson, he and his sisters are not really mourning their father as they could not abide him. But Ferguson’s urgency to see his sisters married is only adding to the contention between them, making them believe he is just like their father. So Ferguson needs to make a decision; should he return to Scotland, or should he start life anew in London with the title and his family? Filled with passion, humor, family dynamics, scandal, romance and love, this story is a promising start to a delightful series. I highly recommend HEIRESS WITHOUT A CAUSE and look forward to the next installment in this wonderful series; SCOTSMEN PREFER BLONDES.
Dottie, RomanceJunkies.com
Madame Madeleine Vaillant has lived with her aunt and uncle at Salford House ever since her parents died eighteen years ago. Up to then she had been raised in France. After many unsuccessful Seasons, at twenty-eight, she is considered a spinster, along with her aunt’s daughter, Amelia, and their close friend Prudence. The three women each have their own artistic interests to keep them busy and have formed their own club known as the Muses of Mayfair. Amelia writes gothic , using a male pseudonym, and Prudence loves history and writes papers to a variety of historians, also as a male. However, Madeleine cannot indulge in her acting in secret like the other two. She needs an audience. Giving herself two weeks to indulge in her passion, she seeks out Madame Legrand, who manages the local theatre. For two weeks, she has a secret life as an actress on the stage, winning much acclaim and filling up the theatre with patrons. But on her last night, when she refuses the manager’s request that she extend her time on stage, the manager blackmails her into agreeing to stay for one month, promising to let her go after that time. However, if anyone finds out about her secret, she is ruined.
William ‘Ferguson’ Avenel, the Duke of Rothwell, returned to London to claim his title. He had left London for Scotland ten years ago, when, as just plain Ferguson, he had been the third son with a scandalous reputation and no prospects. Now the newspapers report that his father died in a carriage accident, but the rumors circulating are not so kind. In reality, his older brother killed their father before turning the gun on himself. At his father’s death, knowing his sisters needed him, he had returned, but once he manages to marry off his sisters, he plans to return to Scotland. Due to his absence during the past ten years, his sisters feel that he had abandoned them. Now he needs to find a way to once more get close to the siblings he left behind. His plans to return to Scotland are not helping the situation.
Making his first ducal appearance at the ball given by Madeleine’s aunt, he is accompanied by his father’s sister, Sophronia, the Duchess of Harwick. With his new title comes his duty to his twin sisters who need to make their debut in society. On the advice of Sophronia, he asks Madeleine to bring them out. Realizing that having the duchess on her side would be beneficial should her secret life come to light, she agrees to do it.
The following night, Ferguson decides to go to the theatre with a couple of his friends. That night, he discovers that Hamlet is being played by a woman who captivates him. However, when he goes backstage where she is still in disguise, she refuses to give in to his charms. So he secretly follows her and finds himself at Madeleine’s home. He knows that someone in that house is the astounding actress, and he suspects it is the woman helping him with his sisters. It had been his idea to go to the theatre that night. So when he sees his friends becoming interested in making the actress their mistress, he knows he has to take action.
Ferguson gets the idea to make Madeleine his mistress in name only to protect her from the line of men wanting to make her theirs. But he is having a hard time keeping his hands off of her. As for Madeleine, in the past two weeks she has been adored by her audience and she loves the feeling. She still has a month of adoration to go, but will that be enough when the time is up and she is once more just Madeleine? Can they get through the upcoming month with her reputation intact? Will Ferguson return to Scotland, or will he stay in London, retain the title and make Madeleine his own?
Deliciously witty, HEIRESS WITHOUT A CAUSE, the first novel in talented author Sara Ramsey’s MUSES OF MAYFAIR trilogy, is a passionate, intriguing historical romance that will have you avidly turning the pages as the story comes to life. Madeleine, like the other two in the Muses of Mayfair club, is very independent for a woman in the Regency era. Although society sees her as a spinster, she still harbors hope of making a marriage. That is, until Ferguson asks her to bring out his twin sisters. Then she begins to realize that her time to find a husband is drawing to a close. When she was first brought out, she was too shy and in later years, she became bored with the process. As for Ferguson, he and his sisters are not really mourning their father as they could not abide him. But Ferguson’s urgency to see his sisters married is only adding to the contention between them, making them believe he is just like their father. So Ferguson needs to make a decision; should he return to Scotland, or should he start life anew in London with the title and his family? Filled with passion, humor, family dynamics, scandal, romance and love, this story is a promising start to a delightful series. I highly recommend HEIRESS WITHOUT A CAUSE and look forward to the next installment in this wonderful series; SCOTSMEN PREFER BLONDES.
Dottie, RomanceJunkies.com
July 5, 2017
WWell done
Is as well written with wonderful characters, awesome chemistry, and in a sense predictable but still a very nice read.
Is as well written with wonderful characters, awesome chemistry, and in a sense predictable but still a very nice read.
January 25, 2018
DNF: Tappade styrfart helt efter ungefär halva boken.
February 2, 2021
Hard to enjoy a book with the heroine is selfish and not very sympathetic. I kept reminding myself of her age, and context but still, she was pretty annoying.
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