Dancing the Maypole

by Cari Hislop

Taller than most men, Isabel de Bourbon has rejected numerous proposals of marriage. There is only one honourable man big enough to be her flesh and blood hero. A private scribbler of romances, Isabel has been penning the adventures of Pierre, a literary doppelganger of Peter Smirke, Viscount Adderbury. The man has been a widower for a decade, but Isabel is terrified of rejection. It’s safer to write about making love to the imaginary Pierre than face the real man. The identity of Pierre remains a secret until Isabel’s father announces at the breakfast table that Lord Adderbury is advertising for a wife. Monsieur de Bourbon dismisses the desperate Lord Adderbury as mad, but Isabel’s eyes fill with longing. Observing his daughters reaction, and wanting to find her some happiness, Monsieur de Bourbon impulsively orders his daughter to apply for the position.

“I can’t show up at the man’s door expecting a wedding ring. Whatever would he think of me?”

“He will think you want to be his wife. You have the fortune. You have the visage agréable. Once the man knows you are de Bourbon; he will look no further.”

“But Papa, his first wife was a short blonde. What if he prefers short women? What if he hates brown curly hair?”

“Bof! Il tu veut!” The Frenchman had spoken. The crazy Lord Adderbury would take one look at the five-feet eleven inches of Isabel de Bourbon and fall in love.

ebook

First published March 28, 2013

About the author

I’m an American married to an adorable English Goblin. I’m an artist with a degree in fashion design, but I’ve always been a story teller. Stories are everywhere; in every scent, every glimpse out of the corner of the eye. The most magical moments of my life have been born of ‘what if?’.

I’ve been making up stories as long as I can remember. At ten I started writing (it was a romance – the girl’s parents are killed by a plane falling on their house so of course she moves to England. Don’t ask me where she got the money or the passport!). I knew I was going to grow up to be an author! All my artistic talents (portrait artist, sculptor, illustrator) converge on my favorite subject; people. I find both individuals and general humanity endlessly fascinating.

Reviews

[tacitus · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Hislop's books for their farcical nature and sentiment, but I kind of lost it here. NONE of the characters came off as likable. Even Peter, the hero whom we are supposed to be sympathizing with, is weak and scatter-brained and creates an atmosphere of utter unfairness among his sons that is infuriating. In fact, Cosmo is the ONLY character I had any kind of sympathy for, and even he grates on you because his reactions to the unfairness around him are so consistent. I kept waiting for a real fist fight that never came.

Honestly, much of the frustration in this book comes from the sheer length. Half of the chapters could have been omitted with virtually no loss. The problem with serialized novels is that authors sometimes waste time showing us sub-characters whom they OBVIOUSLY intend to write books about later. It's a waste of time. The reader is not going to remember everything to told you us about Cosmo when you finally write his story three books from now, or whatever it is, so don't frustrate us with the distraction now. Stay focused!

Also, I had the impression in past novels that the Smirke boys were a tight-knit group who loved eachother and their father to distraction, yet in this novel I felt like I was sitting in the middle of a very harsh middle-school cafeteria. It was one nasty jibe after another, until I was convinced that every Smirke hates every other one! A disturbing change I didn't much care for.

As for the romantic plot...I'm not sure what to say. It felt utterly buried under the various conflicts of the sub-characters. Unfortunately, Hislop made Peter the most interesting character in her earlier novels, making me long to get to his story. Then, when I finally do, she manages to make Cosmo and Lucius more interesting that the main character I had thought I came for. *sigh*.... =/

[Lyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spoilers below! I really enjoyed the continuation of the Smirke family saga. We saw how John and his wife were doing and got sneak peeks into the possible futures of the Smirke boys.

This was primarily Peter’s story. Although it was predictable in its general outline, his journey was full of surprises and hilarious secondary characters. His story a had dramatic resolution that was, in whole, satisfying. Peter is frustrating at times because of his sublime obtuseness, but it’s clear this flaw helps add to the story’s suspense.

I loved how Ms. Hislop developed each character; introducing aspects of their past and possible future seamlessly throughout the story. I didn’t really like Agnes’ character in An Unlikely Hero, but here she was more like-able as a result of the brief glimpses of her love story/secret life with James. She is altogether too smug and arrogant as a whole and has this all-knowing quality that has me frankly hoping she’ll be knocked down a peg.

I was really surprised at the villain-like behavior of Robert Smirke. His cruelty to Cosmo was irritating in its relentlessness and his cold behavior toward his child had me hoping he never has a happily ever after.

And now for Cosmo, my favorite Smirke! He’s far from perfect but he has that endearing underdog, albeit cantankerous at times, quality going on that really draws you in. Although he can be clearly annoying; it’s hard for me not to sympathize with the way he’s often dismissed as unimportant among the family. I loved how he was Annabelle’s favorite Smirke boy too. It will be interesting to see the other Smirke boys reaction to Cosmo being her favorite step-son.

Overall I enjoyed this book and recommend if you enjoy clean, hilarious romantic comedies.

[Facemaker01 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sir Peter Smirke was introduced in 'The Hired Wife' and is the father to the beautiful Smirke boys as well as the brother to John Smirke and James Smirke. The Smirke boys place and advertisement to secure a wife for their widowed father following the success of Marshall and Mary Godfrey (The Hired Wife) Peter Smirke is a beautiful man, but has a stutter which has taken a toll on his confidence and his conversational skills are somewhat lacking. One person applies for the position, the tall Isobel de Bourbon, who writes romance novels based on Sir Peter. This story is about the relationship that develops between Isobel and Peter. Of course John Smirke makes an appearance in this book as well as his lovely wife Joan. I tended to skim through the dialogue between the Smirke sons as it tends to annoy me after a while. This was a pleasant read, and as expected, the quirky characters and funny dialogue are there. Agnes Smirke is the standout secondary character and I would love to read about James and Agnes

[Esbee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been a fan of Hislop's regency romance writing for a very long time. She creates loveable quirky characters that you just cannot let go off. You just want to know more about each of them. and yes you want a HEA for them too. Even the worst of them because she makes you sympathies no matter what.
Peter Smirke and his brood of almost grown up brats was introduced in a previous story and the stuttering and yet commanding parent was an instant hit for me. Here too he stays in character.
It is endearing that his well meaning but ultimately upto no good progeny mess up things time and time again for him.
However, in parts the writer could have made him less scatterbrained as that makes the overall story less relatable. Which is why I'm taking away one star.

[Leena Aluru · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25🌟🌟🌟

For me, this was a winner. I was first introduced to the Smirke's sons in the Hired Wife. They are just so real .... absolute daily sibling squabbles throughout. But, what stands out is the undying need to find their father a second chance at love. This book is a complete family drama so all those irritating relatives and well wishers are in abundance, aswell as the the sole need to bring about Isabel's and Peter's HEA.
I probably should have read Introducing Smirke before this to get an insight into the veritable Smirke Family, but hey I managed to fill and fix in missing pieces.

Recommended: 👍Absolutely

[Glen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This could have been a good book. Unfortunately, all of the characters are inremittingly nasty to each other, even though they love each other and (for the most part) seem to want want the best for each other. There seems to be no reason for this that's important to the story, and it ruined my enjoyment.

It's also quite a bit longer than it needs to be - the extra length adds nothing but more of the same.