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Miss Billings Treads the Boards
Cynical, lazy Lord Grayson is coerced into delivering a message to lovely Katherine Billings, whose late father frittered away a fortune on artwork. All his purchases were forgeries, save one, which--if sold--would offer Kate a modest living. Meanwhile, Kate has bowed to necessity and set off for Wakefield to become a governess. Gently reared, she has no plans to become a scandalous actress, but Things Happen. Injured by a highwayman hired by his greedy nephew, Lord Grayson staggers to a barn where a play is in progress. There he sees Kate, playing a small role. Through a mishap, she has ended up in Wickfield, not Wakefield, and is performing with the Bladesworth Traveling Company, an acting troupe. What’s a lazy and cynical marquis to do? Lord Grayson--using his everyday name of Hal Hampton--joins the troupe, partly to protect himself from his nephew, but mostly to get to know Kate better. They both fall under the spell of the impecunious but talented Bladesworths. A charming French émigré, a single-minded Bow Street Runner, and love round out a summer where the repertory includes deception, faux marriage, the law, and enough unsavory characters to suit any would-be Shakespeare. After all, the play’s the thing.
234 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 1993
21 people are currently reading
241 people want to read
About the author
Carla Kelly
138 books805 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Although Carla Kelly is well known among her readers as a writer of Regency romance, her main interest (and first writing success) is Western American fiction—more specifically, writing about America's Indian Wars. Although she had sold some of her work before, it was not until Carla began work in the National Park Service as a ranger/historian at Fort Laramie National Historic Site did she get serious about her writing career. (Or as she would be the first to admit, as serious as it gets.)
Carla wrote a series of what she now refers to as the "Fort Laramie stories," which are tales of the men, women and children of the Indian Wars era in Western history. Two of her stories, A Season for Heroes and Kathleen Flaherty's Long Winter, earned her Spur Awards from the Western Writers of America. She was the second woman to earn two Spurs from WWA (which, as everyone knows, is all you need to ride a horse). Her entire Indian Wars collection was published in 2003 as Here's to the Ladies: Stories of the Frontier Army. It remains her favorite work.
The mother of five children, Carla has always allowed her kids to earn their keep by appearing in her Regencies, most notably Marian's Christmas Wish, which is peopled by all kinds of relatives. Grown now, the Kelly kids are scattered here and there across the U.S. They continue to provide feedback, furnish fodder for stories and make frantic phone calls home during the holidays for recipes. (Carla Kelly is some cook.)
Carla's husband, Martin, is Director of Theatre at Valley City State University, in Valley City, North Dakota. Carla is currently overworked as a staff writer at the local daily newspaper. She also writes a weekly, award-winning column, "Prairie Lite."
Carla only started writing Regencies because of her interest in the Napoleonic Wars, which figures in many of her Regency novels and short stories. She specializes in writing about warfare at sea, and about the ordinary people of the British Isles who were, let's face it, far more numerous than lords and ladies.
Hobbies? She likes to crochet afghans, and read British crime fiction and history, principally military history. She's never happier than talking about the fur trade or Indian Wars with Park Service cronies. Her most recent gig with the National Park Service was at Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site on the Montana/North Dakota border.
Here's another side to this somewhat prosaic woman: She recently edited the fur trade journal of Swiss artist Rudolf F. Kurz (the 1851-1852 portion), and is gratified now and then to be asked to speak on scholarly subjects. She has also worked for the State Historical Society of North Dakota as a contract researcher. This has taken her to glamorous drudgery in several national archives and military history repositories. Gray archives boxes and old documents make her salivate.
Her mantra for writing comes from the subject of her thesis, Robert Utley, that dean of Indian Wars history. He told her the secret to writing is "to put your ass in the chair and keep it there until you're done." He's right, of course.
Her three favorite fictional works have remained constant through the years, although their rankings tend to shift: War and Peace, The Lawrenceville Stories, and A Town Like Alice. Favorite historical works are One Vast Winter Count, On the Border with Mackenzie and Crossing the Line. Favorite crime fiction authors are Michael Connelly, John Harvey and Peter Robinson.
And that's all she can think of that would interest anyone. Carla Kelly is quite ordinary, except when she is sometimes prevailed upon to sing a scurrilous song about lumberjacks, or warble "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" in Latin. Then you m
Although Carla Kelly is well known among her readers as a writer of Regency romance, her main interest (and first writing success) is Western American fiction—more specifically, writing about America's Indian Wars. Although she had sold some of her work before, it was not until Carla began work in the National Park Service as a ranger/historian at Fort Laramie National Historic Site did she get serious about her writing career. (Or as she would be the first to admit, as serious as it gets.)
Carla wrote a series of what she now refers to as the "Fort Laramie stories," which are tales of the men, women and children of the Indian Wars era in Western history. Two of her stories, A Season for Heroes and Kathleen Flaherty's Long Winter, earned her Spur Awards from the Western Writers of America. She was the second woman to earn two Spurs from WWA (which, as everyone knows, is all you need to ride a horse). Her entire Indian Wars collection was published in 2003 as Here's to the Ladies: Stories of the Frontier Army. It remains her favorite work.
The mother of five children, Carla has always allowed her kids to earn their keep by appearing in her Regencies, most notably Marian's Christmas Wish, which is peopled by all kinds of relatives. Grown now, the Kelly kids are scattered here and there across the U.S. They continue to provide feedback, furnish fodder for stories and make frantic phone calls home during the holidays for recipes. (Carla Kelly is some cook.)
Carla's husband, Martin, is Director of Theatre at Valley City State University, in Valley City, North Dakota. Carla is currently overworked as a staff writer at the local daily newspaper. She also writes a weekly, award-winning column, "Prairie Lite."
Carla only started writing Regencies because of her interest in the Napoleonic Wars, which figures in many of her Regency novels and short stories. She specializes in writing about warfare at sea, and about the ordinary people of the British Isles who were, let's face it, far more numerous than lords and ladies.
Hobbies? She likes to crochet afghans, and read British crime fiction and history, principally military history. She's never happier than talking about the fur trade or Indian Wars with Park Service cronies. Her most recent gig with the National Park Service was at Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site on the Montana/North Dakota border.
Here's another side to this somewhat prosaic woman: She recently edited the fur trade journal of Swiss artist Rudolf F. Kurz (the 1851-1852 portion), and is gratified now and then to be asked to speak on scholarly subjects. She has also worked for the State Historical Society of North Dakota as a contract researcher. This has taken her to glamorous drudgery in several national archives and military history repositories. Gray archives boxes and old documents make her salivate.
Her mantra for writing comes from the subject of her thesis, Robert Utley, that dean of Indian Wars history. He told her the secret to writing is "to put your ass in the chair and keep it there until you're done." He's right, of course.
Her three favorite fictional works have remained constant through the years, although their rankings tend to shift: War and Peace, The Lawrenceville Stories, and A Town Like Alice. Favorite historical works are One Vast Winter Count, On the Border with Mackenzie and Crossing the Line. Favorite crime fiction authors are Michael Connelly, John Harvey and Peter Robinson.
And that's all she can think of that would interest anyone. Carla Kelly is quite ordinary, except when she is sometimes prevailed upon to sing a scurrilous song about lumberjacks, or warble "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" in Latin. Then you m
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
February 7, 2017
Comedy of errors. A pleasure to read. I enjoyed the fact that the main characters were not handsome or beautiful, he had thinning hair and needed to lose a lot of weight and he was lazy... she had a big nose and was much taller than what was considered beautiful at the time, but they were perfect in each others eyes and that's more important than how a person is perceived by all others.
February 19, 2019
Lord this cover is bad but the inside is fantastic. While I love weeping over a good Carla Kelly (Looking at you, Miss Milton Speaks Her Mind), I am learning that she also has a scathingly smart sense of humour which is put to amazing use here....
You see, this is a romance between people who meet in the middle of a uniquely picaresque narrative about an unlikely (super unlikely hero) and a woman who finds herself at the end of her rope--- so throws herself into a life of a thespian.
There is Shakespeare, there is drama, there is a Bow Street Runner and everything is one deliciously lively comedy of errors.
Heavy on the comedy.
I laughed a ton.
The romance is wonderful only because (as in all the Kelly books I have read thus far), it is based on a preternatural kinship, a connection and in this one particularly you see how the dimensional characters shift and grow into who they are meant to be: separately and together.
But perhaps the greatest gift of this book is a hero who wants a heroine to be able to be a leader. To have the opportunity to stand on her own two feet. To have the privilege of providing for herself.
Much as Mr. Butterworth in Miss Milton Speaks Her Mind encourages Jane to finally find her voice, so Henry/ Hal wants to ensure that his lady love finds herself before she finds love.
A deeply feminist and heartening tale. I ADORED IT!
You see, this is a romance between people who meet in the middle of a uniquely picaresque narrative about an unlikely (super unlikely hero) and a woman who finds herself at the end of her rope--- so throws herself into a life of a thespian.
There is Shakespeare, there is drama, there is a Bow Street Runner and everything is one deliciously lively comedy of errors.
Heavy on the comedy.
I laughed a ton.
The romance is wonderful only because (as in all the Kelly books I have read thus far), it is based on a preternatural kinship, a connection and in this one particularly you see how the dimensional characters shift and grow into who they are meant to be: separately and together.
But perhaps the greatest gift of this book is a hero who wants a heroine to be able to be a leader. To have the opportunity to stand on her own two feet. To have the privilege of providing for herself.
Much as Mr. Butterworth in Miss Milton Speaks Her Mind encourages Jane to finally find her voice, so Henry/ Hal wants to ensure that his lady love finds herself before she finds love.
A deeply feminist and heartening tale. I ADORED IT!
May 14, 2014
Mini review: LOL. This story is so funny! But, alas, the plot falls short and become jumbled in the last 20%. Before that, I laughed till tears came to my eyes.
October 15, 2013
Kate Billings' father has died and left her nothing so she is on her way to Wakefield to be a governess. She accidentally gets off 30 miles too soon in Wickfield and someone is there to pick her up (actually he's there to pick up an actress and he assumes that she is that actress). They realize the case of mistaken identity, but she has learned that her new employer is a lecher, and this nice young man is in need of an actress. She is well-versed in Shakespeare and the Bladesworth family are so incredibly kind -- and so she joins the Bladesworth's Traveling Company for one night.
Meanwhile, Henry Tewksbury-Hampton, Fifth Marquess of Grayson, is meeting with his solicitor who informs him that he has become frivolous and moody, and is turning into a lazy fellow, but that he can change again. And that he should change back to how he used to be. And marry and breed. And then the solicitor asks him to deliver a message to one of his other clients that she is not destitute after all and that she has a painting that is actually worth a handsome sum.
On his way to deliver this message to Miss Billings in Wakefield, he is set upon by a very inept highwayman - who accidentally shoots him. Along comes his "worthless young chub" of a nephew (who is also his heir) to "rescue" him... It turns out his nephew planned the "robbery" so he could rescue his uncle and have his allowance increased. But now his uncle has been shot and the nephew has to go off for help.
And Henry Tewksbury-Hampton is left to rescue himself. He finds the Bladesworth's Traveling Company, and realizes that he has inadvertently found Miss Kate Billings. But he is not in a hurry to deliver the message and have her leave the traveling company, especially while he is recovering from the gunshot wound. And so he uses the name Hal Hampton and he and Kate both stay with the Bladeworth's Traveling Company. When a Bow Street Runner is pursuing him, he and Kate pose as a married couple to try to throw the Bow Street Runner off their trail.
I loved both Hal - the rich, lazy marquess who has finally found a reason (Kate) to go out of his way and sacrifice a little - and Kate who is kind and generous and willing to take some risks especially if it will help someone else. But I think what made this book a "5" for me was the Bladesworth family - materially they had so little to give, and yet they shared everything they had. Even as their dreams are crashing down around them, Malcolm and Ivy Bladesworth continue to be kind and generous and loyal. It almost made me want to go tread some boards with them (by the way, if you don't know what that means it's a slang term for performing onstage in a theater).
Clean Read. I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Meanwhile, Henry Tewksbury-Hampton, Fifth Marquess of Grayson, is meeting with his solicitor who informs him that he has become frivolous and moody, and is turning into a lazy fellow, but that he can change again. And that he should change back to how he used to be. And marry and breed. And then the solicitor asks him to deliver a message to one of his other clients that she is not destitute after all and that she has a painting that is actually worth a handsome sum.
On his way to deliver this message to Miss Billings in Wakefield, he is set upon by a very inept highwayman - who accidentally shoots him. Along comes his "worthless young chub" of a nephew (who is also his heir) to "rescue" him... It turns out his nephew planned the "robbery" so he could rescue his uncle and have his allowance increased. But now his uncle has been shot and the nephew has to go off for help.
And Henry Tewksbury-Hampton is left to rescue himself. He finds the Bladesworth's Traveling Company, and realizes that he has inadvertently found Miss Kate Billings. But he is not in a hurry to deliver the message and have her leave the traveling company, especially while he is recovering from the gunshot wound. And so he uses the name Hal Hampton and he and Kate both stay with the Bladeworth's Traveling Company. When a Bow Street Runner is pursuing him, he and Kate pose as a married couple to try to throw the Bow Street Runner off their trail.
I loved both Hal - the rich, lazy marquess who has finally found a reason (Kate) to go out of his way and sacrifice a little - and Kate who is kind and generous and willing to take some risks especially if it will help someone else. But I think what made this book a "5" for me was the Bladesworth family - materially they had so little to give, and yet they shared everything they had. Even as their dreams are crashing down around them, Malcolm and Ivy Bladesworth continue to be kind and generous and loyal. It almost made me want to go tread some boards with them (by the way, if you don't know what that means it's a slang term for performing onstage in a theater).
Clean Read. I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
August 12, 2016
Miss Billings Treads the Boards offered enormous promise, but sadly fell short. Henry Tewskbury-Hampton, Fifth Marquis of Grayson, runs into some excitement when he is attacked en route to a party and finds refuge with Bladesworth's Company of Actors.
Katherine Billings, meanwhile, is en route to a new position as a governess, and learns that her new employer is unsavory in the extreme. Katherine disembarks determined not to go through with her new placement when she is also swept up by Bladesworth's Company. Without any other options, she agrees to join them.
Henry is enamored with Katherine and while he connives to stay with the actors as luck would have it some men turn up looking around for the missing Marquis. Henry becomes Hal, a working actor and husband to Katherine, now Kate, as a rouse to continue hiding.
Throughout the novel both Hal and Kate experience emotional growth, but the novel ends with work still needing to be done. Both main characters lacked depth and the plot was far too contrived to be plausible or believable. That being said I found the novel entertaining but not engrossing in the least.
Katherine Billings, meanwhile, is en route to a new position as a governess, and learns that her new employer is unsavory in the extreme. Katherine disembarks determined not to go through with her new placement when she is also swept up by Bladesworth's Company. Without any other options, she agrees to join them.
Henry is enamored with Katherine and while he connives to stay with the actors as luck would have it some men turn up looking around for the missing Marquis. Henry becomes Hal, a working actor and husband to Katherine, now Kate, as a rouse to continue hiding.
Throughout the novel both Hal and Kate experience emotional growth, but the novel ends with work still needing to be done. Both main characters lacked depth and the plot was far too contrived to be plausible or believable. That being said I found the novel entertaining but not engrossing in the least.
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August 5, 2017
My review contains spoilers and they're mostly my thoughts... for more, visit Punya Reviews...
Miss Billings Treads the Boards, a clean regency romance, is another one of Carla Kelly’s single novels where I went in blindly. I liked it for the most part because there were some really witty dialogues throughout. However, it won’t be my favorite. Somewhere along the way, the story fell short of being amazing, which I thought it could’ve been.
In the beginning, we’re introduced to a Marquess, who is also a war veteran. Henry Tweksbury-Hampton, the Marquess of Grayson is filthy rich and lives the life of a laze about peer. Over the 7yrs since he’d been off the army and took his “role” of a peer seriously, Henry’s gone mellow. Even with a tall physique, these days his paunch shows. A thinning head of hair does his looks no good either. So, all in all, even though he’s one of the most sought after bachelors because of his title and wealth, Henry knows his shortcomings. He had a vague feeling that no one wanted him for himself but for what he can offer to them. The feeling though, has grown tenfold since he’s been taking care of his sister’s family too, and made his only nephew Algernon his heir. Algernon, who goes by as Algie, is really something of the sort. He’s a super-dandy, spendthrift and completely empty in the brain-box. To say that Henry worried over the future of his title is a gross understatement. But when, to allay that niggling suspicion, Henry ends up asking Algernon if he likes his uncle, things began going downhill. How exactly? Let’s see if I can elaborate in the following...
That Algie would reply like an idiot wasn’t a surprise. After all, he was an idiot. Even then, his reply saddened and irritated Henry to such an extent that he thought it’s time to take matters in hand. Obviously, Algie was brutally honest; the sole reason for his liking is because Henry pays his quarterly allowances in time. -_- So Henry simply cuts Algie off without a question. Then, after a few hours with his solicitor and making new arrangements, he decides he’s going to go away from London for a few days. Henry will spend a few weeks of peace at Pinky D’Urst’s estate. Even while thinking that, Henry knew he won’t have any peace there either. Pinky had a sister, who was, uh, too plain to entice Henry. She’s a spinster to boots, of an advanced year! So Henry hated the fact that they all, including Florence herself, expected him to marry her, an incident would never take place even if it meant Henry will be without an heir. But Henry needed a break from his bothersome and ungrateful relatives, so he simply runs away.
Along the way though, Henry’s straightforward plan is road-killed, quite literally. His dumb valet, who’d just lost his job and Algie, who doesn’t need any form of introduction, muck up a stupid plan of their own when they accost and shoot Henry. Well, don’t ask me to elaborate anymore cause the plan itself was so harebrained, I wasn’t sure what to think so I rolled my eyes and read on to know what happened next...
While Henry was being plagued by his dumb relatives and servants, the beautiful daughter of an eccentric village vicar, who loved studying Italian paintings, Katherine Billings was on her way to her own destiny, blank and unreadable as it was. Katherine’s father, who had a tidy fortune, lost it all by pursuing one painting or the other, only to turn out fake later. He passed away a couple of months ago, leaving last remaining gift to her, also a painting. Katherine is pretty sure it’s junk too. Only because it was literally the last thing he gave to her is why she couldn’t throw it away. When everything else was sold to pay off the debt, Katherine was bound to become a governess to a home far away from London. She didn’t like it at all but Katherine knew it’s her lot now and she should better get used to with it.
On the way though, her straightforward plan gets bungled when the coach dumps her in the wrong place, where she finds herself acquainted with one Gerald Broussard, a Frenchman who apparently came to fetch her. From there, fate took over and turned Katherine’s life upside down. She had heard rumors that the squire, whose children’s governess she was going to be, is a total lecher. Katherine was dreading her journey there. She didn’t know Gerald but thought he worked for the squire. His introduction of himself and where they were going...well, let’s just say was not well worded since his English wasn’t all that polished, and Katherine thought the worst! She slapped the daylights out of Gerald and asks to be returned to the inn where she was supposed to be waiting.
Thankfully, the misunderstanding is resolved soon when Gerald explains further. He works for a traveling theater. Though the squire and the owner of the troupe share the same name, they definitely aren’t the same person. And that she’s at the wrong place, her destination being quite far away from here. Though Gerald offers to drive her to her destination, Katherine decides she doesn’t want to. The theater is performing one of the Bard’s plays, and they’re now missing an actress, whom Gerald went to pick up and mixed up with Katherine. But she loved Shakespeare and so it happens that the big and loud theater manager gives Katherine the role for the day. Yes, she thought it’d be for the day. She can journey towards her destination come morning and pray that she still has a job. But for today, she’s gonna have some fun.
The play in question went well, Katherine tackling it somehow because 1. She had ample knowledge of the Bard’s plays and 2. Her role was a small one. But when she discovers a man, all bloodied, inside the troupe’s wagon, things again take an oddly hilarious turn. The man, thankfully alive, couldn’t tell who he was for a while since he was groggy from his injuries. Soon we learn that Henry, who was injured but not too badly, somehow made his way here and passed out. And his first eyeful was Katherine’s bountiful bosom—despite her extreme embarrassment, she dressed like a lascivious woman because her part called for it—which Henry appreciated more than anything else in the world. Then he saw Katherine and the deed was done. Henry was in love for the first time in his life, though no idea if it was Katherine’s beauty or her bosom. :/
Henry, who was quite liking being with the traveling troupe, decides that he’s going as Hal Hampton from now on until he feels like becoming Henry Tewksbury-Hampton, 5th Earl of Grayson. The people there knew he was a peer or the realm but he gave them the notion that his greedy nephew is trying to kill him for money and the whole troupe came to his rescue, eagerly hiding his identity from the outside world, even a runner who comes in search of him later. Henry was also enjoying Katherine’s undivided attention for she felt very responsible because, after finding him there she was so scared silly she had, uh, bonked him on the head with something that rendered him unconscious for the second time. With everything going good, Henry decides to stay with them for a time and see what fun they offer to his miserably lonely life.
However, though his journey with the traveling theater started out as a joke of sort, Henry soon finds that life with these so-called lowly actors AKA common people is a life he enjoys very much. We don’t get much background of his life in the army apart from the fact that he was quite a randy young man (then again, that’s not really news *eyeroll*). I wished I knew more so I could compare him with this older Henry. This older Henry is mellowed down and he wanted to find true love. Or at least someone who genuinely liked him for who he was. At this point, it seemed like Katherine Billings was that person. For a moment, he was about to tell Katherine he knew her cause they share the same solicitor and he’s got good news about that painting she thinks is junk, but he doesn’t find the time to tell her until later.
Katherine takes the news with much excitement, for the money she’s getting she’ll be able to buy that little house she’d been dreaming of. At least now she has no fear of a blank future. But things change for her when the owner of the traveling troupe, Malcolm Bladesworth loses a lot of money on a property he’s been eying for a while. Their whole future was tied to that old theater they were planning on refurbishing, then opening as their own. All the money they made in the past years, he, his wife Ivy, their daughters Phoebe and Maria, and only son David, even Gerald who has been with them for a long time since his childhood, lost... gone, all thanks to the a$$hole Malcolm thought was his friend. Who was supposed to have been taking care of their finance while they tour. Such sad, and utterly gut-wrenching news, casts heavy shadow on the otherwise boisterous group. The hired actors leave the moment they hear the news that the Bladesworths are literally broke. Lonely Katherine has come to think of the Bladesworths as her family because they’d been so kind to her, giving her a home and a job. How could she enjoy the dreams of an exciting future, when the Bladesworths will be thrown into streets soon, maybe in the poorhouse if no one does anything about it? She’s got the money! No, the kind Katherine can never enjoy the bounty, it was just too much.
Henry though, couldn’t help because he was in hiding and any query about money would make the point moot. But Katherine beats him to it anyway by buying the old, dirty theater on her own, then making Malcolm the manager of it. Now they have a new venture, a new challenge to go through. Now Katherine’s own future is also tied to this place for she hadn’t had much left after paying for that place. Her worry begins anew, because, once again, she’s starting out. Everything now depends on the success of this theater.
The rest of the story goes to show you how a band of most unlikely people can come together, work hard and make a stupendous success out of something from practically nothing. Katherine and the Bladesworths, even Henry, work hard to make the theater a success with a play written by Gerald. Katherine thought he had the potentials and he doesn’t disappoint. But can’t say the same for Henry and Katherine’s relationship, which wasn’t going that well. They were already acting as husband and wife to hide from Bow Street Runner, Will, who later becomes an important part of the theater and Katherine’s unwavering champion. Despite their intimacy, showy for Will’s convenience or real, Katherine was ever in doubt of Henry’s feelings towards her, her new station in life as a theater owner, not to mention, her family (the Bladesworths). And I couldn’t blame her. To be brutally honest, I was never that fond of Henry because of his snotty behavior. His thoughts about Florence were extremely demeaning and I kinda lost my respect for him there. I was sure it was Katherine’s beauty he was attracted to for a long time. Though his feelings for her grew later, and he did help out around the theater, Henry was not my ideal hero material in any way. I liked Katherine quite a bit for she does work really, really hard to make the theater a success.
Other than that, the story was entertaining and I enjoyed reading about the secondary characters, the Bladesworths, for they were a really loud and a little crazy, bunch of people. People you’d like to know better. :D 3.5 stars but I rounded up on 4.
Miss Billings Treads the Boards, a clean regency romance, is another one of Carla Kelly’s single novels where I went in blindly. I liked it for the most part because there were some really witty dialogues throughout. However, it won’t be my favorite. Somewhere along the way, the story fell short of being amazing, which I thought it could’ve been.
In the beginning, we’re introduced to a Marquess, who is also a war veteran. Henry Tweksbury-Hampton, the Marquess of Grayson is filthy rich and lives the life of a laze about peer. Over the 7yrs since he’d been off the army and took his “role” of a peer seriously, Henry’s gone mellow. Even with a tall physique, these days his paunch shows. A thinning head of hair does his looks no good either. So, all in all, even though he’s one of the most sought after bachelors because of his title and wealth, Henry knows his shortcomings. He had a vague feeling that no one wanted him for himself but for what he can offer to them. The feeling though, has grown tenfold since he’s been taking care of his sister’s family too, and made his only nephew Algernon his heir. Algernon, who goes by as Algie, is really something of the sort. He’s a super-dandy, spendthrift and completely empty in the brain-box. To say that Henry worried over the future of his title is a gross understatement. But when, to allay that niggling suspicion, Henry ends up asking Algernon if he likes his uncle, things began going downhill. How exactly? Let’s see if I can elaborate in the following...
That Algie would reply like an idiot wasn’t a surprise. After all, he was an idiot. Even then, his reply saddened and irritated Henry to such an extent that he thought it’s time to take matters in hand. Obviously, Algie was brutally honest; the sole reason for his liking is because Henry pays his quarterly allowances in time. -_- So Henry simply cuts Algie off without a question. Then, after a few hours with his solicitor and making new arrangements, he decides he’s going to go away from London for a few days. Henry will spend a few weeks of peace at Pinky D’Urst’s estate. Even while thinking that, Henry knew he won’t have any peace there either. Pinky had a sister, who was, uh, too plain to entice Henry. She’s a spinster to boots, of an advanced year! So Henry hated the fact that they all, including Florence herself, expected him to marry her, an incident would never take place even if it meant Henry will be without an heir. But Henry needed a break from his bothersome and ungrateful relatives, so he simply runs away.
Along the way though, Henry’s straightforward plan is road-killed, quite literally. His dumb valet, who’d just lost his job and Algie, who doesn’t need any form of introduction, muck up a stupid plan of their own when they accost and shoot Henry. Well, don’t ask me to elaborate anymore cause the plan itself was so harebrained, I wasn’t sure what to think so I rolled my eyes and read on to know what happened next...
While Henry was being plagued by his dumb relatives and servants, the beautiful daughter of an eccentric village vicar, who loved studying Italian paintings, Katherine Billings was on her way to her own destiny, blank and unreadable as it was. Katherine’s father, who had a tidy fortune, lost it all by pursuing one painting or the other, only to turn out fake later. He passed away a couple of months ago, leaving last remaining gift to her, also a painting. Katherine is pretty sure it’s junk too. Only because it was literally the last thing he gave to her is why she couldn’t throw it away. When everything else was sold to pay off the debt, Katherine was bound to become a governess to a home far away from London. She didn’t like it at all but Katherine knew it’s her lot now and she should better get used to with it.
On the way though, her straightforward plan gets bungled when the coach dumps her in the wrong place, where she finds herself acquainted with one Gerald Broussard, a Frenchman who apparently came to fetch her. From there, fate took over and turned Katherine’s life upside down. She had heard rumors that the squire, whose children’s governess she was going to be, is a total lecher. Katherine was dreading her journey there. She didn’t know Gerald but thought he worked for the squire. His introduction of himself and where they were going...well, let’s just say was not well worded since his English wasn’t all that polished, and Katherine thought the worst! She slapped the daylights out of Gerald and asks to be returned to the inn where she was supposed to be waiting.
Thankfully, the misunderstanding is resolved soon when Gerald explains further. He works for a traveling theater. Though the squire and the owner of the troupe share the same name, they definitely aren’t the same person. And that she’s at the wrong place, her destination being quite far away from here. Though Gerald offers to drive her to her destination, Katherine decides she doesn’t want to. The theater is performing one of the Bard’s plays, and they’re now missing an actress, whom Gerald went to pick up and mixed up with Katherine. But she loved Shakespeare and so it happens that the big and loud theater manager gives Katherine the role for the day. Yes, she thought it’d be for the day. She can journey towards her destination come morning and pray that she still has a job. But for today, she’s gonna have some fun.
The play in question went well, Katherine tackling it somehow because 1. She had ample knowledge of the Bard’s plays and 2. Her role was a small one. But when she discovers a man, all bloodied, inside the troupe’s wagon, things again take an oddly hilarious turn. The man, thankfully alive, couldn’t tell who he was for a while since he was groggy from his injuries. Soon we learn that Henry, who was injured but not too badly, somehow made his way here and passed out. And his first eyeful was Katherine’s bountiful bosom—despite her extreme embarrassment, she dressed like a lascivious woman because her part called for it—which Henry appreciated more than anything else in the world. Then he saw Katherine and the deed was done. Henry was in love for the first time in his life, though no idea if it was Katherine’s beauty or her bosom. :/
Henry, who was quite liking being with the traveling troupe, decides that he’s going as Hal Hampton from now on until he feels like becoming Henry Tewksbury-Hampton, 5th Earl of Grayson. The people there knew he was a peer or the realm but he gave them the notion that his greedy nephew is trying to kill him for money and the whole troupe came to his rescue, eagerly hiding his identity from the outside world, even a runner who comes in search of him later. Henry was also enjoying Katherine’s undivided attention for she felt very responsible because, after finding him there she was so scared silly she had, uh, bonked him on the head with something that rendered him unconscious for the second time. With everything going good, Henry decides to stay with them for a time and see what fun they offer to his miserably lonely life.
However, though his journey with the traveling theater started out as a joke of sort, Henry soon finds that life with these so-called lowly actors AKA common people is a life he enjoys very much. We don’t get much background of his life in the army apart from the fact that he was quite a randy young man (then again, that’s not really news *eyeroll*). I wished I knew more so I could compare him with this older Henry. This older Henry is mellowed down and he wanted to find true love. Or at least someone who genuinely liked him for who he was. At this point, it seemed like Katherine Billings was that person. For a moment, he was about to tell Katherine he knew her cause they share the same solicitor and he’s got good news about that painting she thinks is junk, but he doesn’t find the time to tell her until later.
Katherine takes the news with much excitement, for the money she’s getting she’ll be able to buy that little house she’d been dreaming of. At least now she has no fear of a blank future. But things change for her when the owner of the traveling troupe, Malcolm Bladesworth loses a lot of money on a property he’s been eying for a while. Their whole future was tied to that old theater they were planning on refurbishing, then opening as their own. All the money they made in the past years, he, his wife Ivy, their daughters Phoebe and Maria, and only son David, even Gerald who has been with them for a long time since his childhood, lost... gone, all thanks to the a$$hole Malcolm thought was his friend. Who was supposed to have been taking care of their finance while they tour. Such sad, and utterly gut-wrenching news, casts heavy shadow on the otherwise boisterous group. The hired actors leave the moment they hear the news that the Bladesworths are literally broke. Lonely Katherine has come to think of the Bladesworths as her family because they’d been so kind to her, giving her a home and a job. How could she enjoy the dreams of an exciting future, when the Bladesworths will be thrown into streets soon, maybe in the poorhouse if no one does anything about it? She’s got the money! No, the kind Katherine can never enjoy the bounty, it was just too much.
Henry though, couldn’t help because he was in hiding and any query about money would make the point moot. But Katherine beats him to it anyway by buying the old, dirty theater on her own, then making Malcolm the manager of it. Now they have a new venture, a new challenge to go through. Now Katherine’s own future is also tied to this place for she hadn’t had much left after paying for that place. Her worry begins anew, because, once again, she’s starting out. Everything now depends on the success of this theater.
The rest of the story goes to show you how a band of most unlikely people can come together, work hard and make a stupendous success out of something from practically nothing. Katherine and the Bladesworths, even Henry, work hard to make the theater a success with a play written by Gerald. Katherine thought he had the potentials and he doesn’t disappoint. But can’t say the same for Henry and Katherine’s relationship, which wasn’t going that well. They were already acting as husband and wife to hide from Bow Street Runner, Will, who later becomes an important part of the theater and Katherine’s unwavering champion. Despite their intimacy, showy for Will’s convenience or real, Katherine was ever in doubt of Henry’s feelings towards her, her new station in life as a theater owner, not to mention, her family (the Bladesworths). And I couldn’t blame her. To be brutally honest, I was never that fond of Henry because of his snotty behavior. His thoughts about Florence were extremely demeaning and I kinda lost my respect for him there. I was sure it was Katherine’s beauty he was attracted to for a long time. Though his feelings for her grew later, and he did help out around the theater, Henry was not my ideal hero material in any way. I liked Katherine quite a bit for she does work really, really hard to make the theater a success.
Other than that, the story was entertaining and I enjoyed reading about the secondary characters, the Bladesworths, for they were a really loud and a little crazy, bunch of people. People you’d like to know better. :D 3.5 stars but I rounded up on 4.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 17, 2014
I read somewhere that Ms. Kelly only writes stories that she wants to read. And that she writes herself into her books: a practical, down-to-earth, not TSTL individual who solves her own problems. Miss Billings is just that.
Katherine Billings, 'Kate', is a beautiful and kind woman. Unfortunately, she lacked a dowry, is six-and-twenty and had accepted a position as a governess. Her father passed away recently leaving her to fend for herself. Her only 'inheritance' is a sketch of angels by someone named Giotto. She was told it was a fraud and worthless.
During the ride on the mail coach she finds out that the Squire who will become her employer is a scoundrel. She has little hope when she mistakenly gets off at the wrong stop. And, again, is mistaken and leaves with an actor of a small family troupe.
Henry Tewksbury-Hampton, Fifth Marquess of Grayson had seen better days. His hair is thinning, he could lose some weight and he had become the very person he had always despised: someone with no goals, little ambition and considered lazy. He is bored but before the day is over his solicitor offers him a commission. He needs to correct the matter of the sketch by Giotto; he found out that it has value after all and asks for Lord Grayson to assist him. He wants the nobleman to locate Miss Billings and help her sell the print if she so chooses. Then she can live comfortably without having to accept the Squire's shady job.
'Treading the Boards' refers to someone who performs on the stage or in the theater. Kate is convinced to help the family of actors for one night. By the end of evening, Kate and Lord Grayson's lives will become entwined.
This romance is like looking through a window and viewing a particular time in slower motion. Lord Grayson, 'Hal', has his work cut out. For the first time in his life he has fallen in love. Though rich beyond measure, he has limited funds at that moment. He doesn't want to scare Kate off. Instead, he needs to convince her to feel the same way he does but the road is not easy.
Their story was pleasant but not as good as other books I have read by this author. Poor Hal, the hoops he had to go through! Gentle in some respect, it lacks the 'punch' or some of the tension that I found in THE LADY'S COMPANION or the Channel Fleet trilogy. But I still prefer reading Ms. Kelly's stories to those by some other Regency authors.
Katherine Billings, 'Kate', is a beautiful and kind woman. Unfortunately, she lacked a dowry, is six-and-twenty and had accepted a position as a governess. Her father passed away recently leaving her to fend for herself. Her only 'inheritance' is a sketch of angels by someone named Giotto. She was told it was a fraud and worthless.
During the ride on the mail coach she finds out that the Squire who will become her employer is a scoundrel. She has little hope when she mistakenly gets off at the wrong stop. And, again, is mistaken and leaves with an actor of a small family troupe.
Henry Tewksbury-Hampton, Fifth Marquess of Grayson had seen better days. His hair is thinning, he could lose some weight and he had become the very person he had always despised: someone with no goals, little ambition and considered lazy. He is bored but before the day is over his solicitor offers him a commission. He needs to correct the matter of the sketch by Giotto; he found out that it has value after all and asks for Lord Grayson to assist him. He wants the nobleman to locate Miss Billings and help her sell the print if she so chooses. Then she can live comfortably without having to accept the Squire's shady job.
'Treading the Boards' refers to someone who performs on the stage or in the theater. Kate is convinced to help the family of actors for one night. By the end of evening, Kate and Lord Grayson's lives will become entwined.
This romance is like looking through a window and viewing a particular time in slower motion. Lord Grayson, 'Hal', has his work cut out. For the first time in his life he has fallen in love. Though rich beyond measure, he has limited funds at that moment. He doesn't want to scare Kate off. Instead, he needs to convince her to feel the same way he does but the road is not easy.
Their story was pleasant but not as good as other books I have read by this author. Poor Hal, the hoops he had to go through! Gentle in some respect, it lacks the 'punch' or some of the tension that I found in THE LADY'S COMPANION or the Channel Fleet trilogy. But I still prefer reading Ms. Kelly's stories to those by some other Regency authors.
March 15, 2014
I counted titles and this is the 17th Carla Kelly book I have read. Obviously one of my favorite authors, who writes in my favorite genres: Regency England and historical fiction. “Miss Billings Treads the Boards” is purely the former.
Not having any drama experience, I hadn’t a clue what “treading the boards” even meant. (That’s the only thing I learned.) The whole story was just pure entertainment and fun! The main characters were down-to-earth good people; the “villains” were silly and pathetic, which added a whole different flavor to the story. The plot was original and humorous. I was surprised that Kelly was able to capture my interest from the very beginning – especially considering the drama theme is not at all a fascination of mine.
The heroine, Kate, finds herself alone in the world with nothing but a valuable art sketch to sell for financial support. Due to a destination mistake, Kate finds herself in the wrong place – which of course, turns out to be the right place in the long run. She becomes involved with a traveling theater group and finds them to be a wonderful new “family” for her.
Enter a seemingly lazy Marquis, who accidently stumbles on the same drama troupe. Lord Grayson runs from a bumbling valet and a selfish, lunatic nephew, and ends up “hiding” out with the actors and lovely Miss Kate. Thus the plot unfolds…
One of my favorite things was how Lord Grayson teaches Kate to gain confidence and strength, enough for her to become a determined leader. She, in turn, shows Lord Grayson that he too, can become an effective and productive person.
Well done, yet again Carla Kelly! I thoroughly enjoyed “Miss Billings…”. 4 1/2 big stars from me!
Not having any drama experience, I hadn’t a clue what “treading the boards” even meant. (That’s the only thing I learned.) The whole story was just pure entertainment and fun! The main characters were down-to-earth good people; the “villains” were silly and pathetic, which added a whole different flavor to the story. The plot was original and humorous. I was surprised that Kelly was able to capture my interest from the very beginning – especially considering the drama theme is not at all a fascination of mine.
The heroine, Kate, finds herself alone in the world with nothing but a valuable art sketch to sell for financial support. Due to a destination mistake, Kate finds herself in the wrong place – which of course, turns out to be the right place in the long run. She becomes involved with a traveling theater group and finds them to be a wonderful new “family” for her.
Enter a seemingly lazy Marquis, who accidently stumbles on the same drama troupe. Lord Grayson runs from a bumbling valet and a selfish, lunatic nephew, and ends up “hiding” out with the actors and lovely Miss Kate. Thus the plot unfolds…
One of my favorite things was how Lord Grayson teaches Kate to gain confidence and strength, enough for her to become a determined leader. She, in turn, shows Lord Grayson that he too, can become an effective and productive person.
Well done, yet again Carla Kelly! I thoroughly enjoyed “Miss Billings…”. 4 1/2 big stars from me!
April 20, 2020
3.5 out of 5 stars
December 12, 2017
I was initially annoyed at something the hero pulled, but he somewhat justified it in the end. And he indulges in so many shenanigans in the course of the novel that this is in no sense a spoiler! I did not find him nearly so charming as the heroine did, but he does keep things interesting.
Also got cranky with the heroine's solution to a financial problem, which is insanely unlikely to anyone who knows the average income of the era (although the cost of the challenge she faces seems equally unlikely, so there's that). But the very fact that I'm paying that much attention to finances probably means I was in too foul a mood to be reading a new-to-me romance, I suppose.
Entertaining, despite all my gripes. Carla Kelly's main characters tend to have a warm good humor and a lack of pretension that can be pleasing, and her plots move along right sprightly.
Also got cranky with the heroine's solution to a financial problem, which is insanely unlikely to anyone who knows the average income of the era (although the cost of the challenge she faces seems equally unlikely, so there's that). But the very fact that I'm paying that much attention to finances probably means I was in too foul a mood to be reading a new-to-me romance, I suppose.
Entertaining, despite all my gripes. Carla Kelly's main characters tend to have a warm good humor and a lack of pretension that can be pleasing, and her plots move along right sprightly.
July 17, 2018
I ran across this book in a used bookstore about 20 years ago and had to buy it since the title made me laugh out loud. It’s not often someone with the surname of Billings is the heroine! Thankfully this book also made me chuckle as I was reading it, too. It’s a fun Regency romance where Miss Katherine Billings finds herself orphaned and penniless and one things leads to another and she’s acting on the stage with a marquess in disguise. Hilarity ensues. The plot is thin, so thank goodness all the characters are so enjoyable.
May 29, 2025
That summary is certainly a mouthful, and is rather misleading. Miss Billings had more than a one way out of her "predicament" of taking a job as a governess to a known lecher, and the head of the traveling troupe of actors she falls in with is hardly a forcible lecher himself, as is implied. But that's getting ahead of things.
The book actually opens with Henry Tewsbury-Hampton, 5th Marquess of Grayson, who is pondering a rather bleak future. He is 35 and single; a former soldier who was held in a Spanish prison for years during the war, he's lived a life of idleness for the last half decade and is now running to fat and thinning hair. He despises his heir, his nephew Algernon who is a mincing dandy who constantly overspends his allowance and begs for advances to cover his bills. He isn't too fond of his valet, either, who treats him like a naughty child. Henry finds himself facing a summer house party at his supposed best friend's estate in Yorkshire. He's dreading it, however, as he knows full well he will be pushed towards his BFF's spinster sister, whose charms he has never favored. He basically takes stock of his life in the first chapter and decides its time for a change.
So he visits his solicitor. He's going there to cut off his mincing dandy nephew, but relents at the last minute. However, his solicitor does have a favor to ask: another one of his clients is a newly orphaned woman who is in possession of a rare Giotto sketch. The solicitor mistakenly told her it wasn't worth anything, and thus wishes to correct his mistake - Miss Billings could sell the sketch and make a tidy sum and thus, wouldn't have to enter service. She is the daughter of a vicar, a man who travelled all through Europe and collected lots of art, most of it forgeries and fakes.
Grayson sees an opportunity for an adventure and agrees to convey the message to Miss Billings. He is given instruction to meet her at Wakefield, where she is travelling towards a post as a governess, and he does just that. He returns home, summarily dismisses his valet, closes up his house, and sets off.
Meanwhile, Katherine Billings is travelling on the mail coach. She enjoys the ride, for the most part, until her fellow passengers warn her that her prospective employer is a handsy lech who bothers all the women on his estate. Katherine has been through a lot in her twenty-six years and figures she can handle him. She needs the money; selling off her father's art collection only just allowed her to escape his debts.
Unfortunately, she gets off the coach in Wickford instead of Wakefield, not realizing her mistake until her expected ride doesn't show up. A gorgeous man does arrive and heads straight for her, having mistaken her for an actress he is to pick up. The two realize their mistakes on the way to the traveling acting troupe, and Katherine decides she'd rather take her chances with them than show up late at the lecher's estate. The gorgeous man is Gerald Broussard, a Frenchman who aspires to be a playwright.
Kate meets the Bladesworths, the family who makes up the majority of the troupe. She agrees to fill in for the missing actress, but only for one night - especially when she realizes they want her to play the "lusty widow" in The Taming of the Shrew. She unexpectedly enjoys herself, though, and becomes fast friends with the Bladesworths. They are a poor, traveling group out to entertain the rustics in their barns, though they have been squirreling away money to buy a ramshackle theatre in Leeds so they have a permanent home.
While Kate is playing her role, Grayson is on the road to Wakefield, and is suddenly confronted with a supposed highwayman. He thinks he recognizes him, especially after said cloaked man shoots him and gives a squeak. Grayson briefly loses consciousness and comes to in Algernon's arms. His nephew explains that he and the valet had cooked up a plan to "rob" Grayson on the road so Algernon could sweep in and save him. Grayson is not injured too badly; the shot grazed the side of his head and he's bleeding profusely, but is otherwise all right. He sends Algernon off for help, but when said nephew doesn't return, Grayson drags himself up and down the road. He finds the Bladesworths' wagons and crawls into one of them, and thus he meets Kate and the troupe.
The group agrees to keep Grayson with them, to take him to their next stop on their way to Leeds and care for him as best they can. When they arrive at an inn, Grayson and Kate enter together, and thus enter into a 'farcical' marriage. Grayson gives his name as Hal Hampton and pretends to be one of the actors who was injured while striking sets. Once word starts to spread about the missing - and possibly murdered - marquess, who left his horse and a bloody coat on the road and then vanished off the face of the earth - Grayson makes a choice: he doesn't want to be found and dragged back to his boring old life. He asks to stay with the Bladesworths and Kate, delivers his message to Kate about her Giotto sketch, and they agree to keep him in their circle, especially once a Bow Street Runner shows up and starts sniffing around.
The group go to Leeds, where the Bladesworths learn that their local partner has lost all their money and they won't be able to buy their theatre after all. Kate sells her sketch and impulsively decides to buy the theatre for the family, considering they have nowhere else to go and their non-family members have abandoned them. So Kate buys the theatre, the whole group sets out to put it to rights, and the runner continues to hang around because he knows Quality when he sees it.
Because the runner is still dogging their every move, Kate and Grayson continue to pretend to stay married. This is much to Grayson's delight and Kate's consternation. Grayson has fallen head over heels for Kate and her lovely soft bosom; she fears that he is merely larking about and will leave them once he tires of his charade. She doesn't understand why Grayson doesn't dump them and return to his rich, idle life posthaste.
Meanwhile, the Bladesworths and Gerald are hatching a plan: Gerald will write an original play for the troupe that's left and they will use that as their opening act at the newly refurbished theatre. Grayson, Kate, and even the runner, Will, are all roped into playing parts. Everyone wants to the theatre - and the play - to succeed, for various reasons, even as they continue to come up against barrier after barrier.
This is a lighthearted story, more of a farce than a comedy of errors, with lots of playacting and 'trading lines' of Shakespeare. We get to see the development not only of Kate and Grayson's feelings for each other, but two side romances for the eldest Bladesworth daughters (with Gerald the Will the runner, respectively) and everything they go through to open the theatre and make a profit from their hard work.
I really enjoyed the Bladesworth family: patriarch Malcolm; matriarch Ivy; daughters Phoebe and Maria; son Davy. They are actors through and through, and use their various skills to great use as they put the theatre back in order and rehearse their play.
I was a little less enthralled with our leads, Grayson and especially Kate, who was stubborn to a fault. The third act mess of matters was pretty much all her fault, especially once she turned her back on Grayson and refused to listen to him or read his letters. Once they actually talk, they realize they have no issues between themselves, and even a common goal. The third act also contains a kidnapping and an elopement to Gretna Greene, so it was all a bit too much action packed into the last third of the book.
This was pretty much the epitome of a "meh" read for me. Ms Kelly is an extremely talented writer, but I'm not sure she can really pull off farce as well as she does with quieter stories. There was too much frame (Gerald's play is a story within a story, so at times it's like there's 3 of the same plot going on all at once) and not enough attention paid to the main romance. I feel this one is for completionists only; newcomers to this author's work are best served starting elsewhere.
Find more reviews at The Vintage Romance Reader
The book actually opens with Henry Tewsbury-Hampton, 5th Marquess of Grayson, who is pondering a rather bleak future. He is 35 and single; a former soldier who was held in a Spanish prison for years during the war, he's lived a life of idleness for the last half decade and is now running to fat and thinning hair. He despises his heir, his nephew Algernon who is a mincing dandy who constantly overspends his allowance and begs for advances to cover his bills. He isn't too fond of his valet, either, who treats him like a naughty child. Henry finds himself facing a summer house party at his supposed best friend's estate in Yorkshire. He's dreading it, however, as he knows full well he will be pushed towards his BFF's spinster sister, whose charms he has never favored. He basically takes stock of his life in the first chapter and decides its time for a change.
So he visits his solicitor. He's going there to cut off his mincing dandy nephew, but relents at the last minute. However, his solicitor does have a favor to ask: another one of his clients is a newly orphaned woman who is in possession of a rare Giotto sketch. The solicitor mistakenly told her it wasn't worth anything, and thus wishes to correct his mistake - Miss Billings could sell the sketch and make a tidy sum and thus, wouldn't have to enter service. She is the daughter of a vicar, a man who travelled all through Europe and collected lots of art, most of it forgeries and fakes.
Grayson sees an opportunity for an adventure and agrees to convey the message to Miss Billings. He is given instruction to meet her at Wakefield, where she is travelling towards a post as a governess, and he does just that. He returns home, summarily dismisses his valet, closes up his house, and sets off.
Meanwhile, Katherine Billings is travelling on the mail coach. She enjoys the ride, for the most part, until her fellow passengers warn her that her prospective employer is a handsy lech who bothers all the women on his estate. Katherine has been through a lot in her twenty-six years and figures she can handle him. She needs the money; selling off her father's art collection only just allowed her to escape his debts.
Unfortunately, she gets off the coach in Wickford instead of Wakefield, not realizing her mistake until her expected ride doesn't show up. A gorgeous man does arrive and heads straight for her, having mistaken her for an actress he is to pick up. The two realize their mistakes on the way to the traveling acting troupe, and Katherine decides she'd rather take her chances with them than show up late at the lecher's estate. The gorgeous man is Gerald Broussard, a Frenchman who aspires to be a playwright.
Kate meets the Bladesworths, the family who makes up the majority of the troupe. She agrees to fill in for the missing actress, but only for one night - especially when she realizes they want her to play the "lusty widow" in The Taming of the Shrew. She unexpectedly enjoys herself, though, and becomes fast friends with the Bladesworths. They are a poor, traveling group out to entertain the rustics in their barns, though they have been squirreling away money to buy a ramshackle theatre in Leeds so they have a permanent home.
While Kate is playing her role, Grayson is on the road to Wakefield, and is suddenly confronted with a supposed highwayman. He thinks he recognizes him, especially after said cloaked man shoots him and gives a squeak. Grayson briefly loses consciousness and comes to in Algernon's arms. His nephew explains that he and the valet had cooked up a plan to "rob" Grayson on the road so Algernon could sweep in and save him. Grayson is not injured too badly; the shot grazed the side of his head and he's bleeding profusely, but is otherwise all right. He sends Algernon off for help, but when said nephew doesn't return, Grayson drags himself up and down the road. He finds the Bladesworths' wagons and crawls into one of them, and thus he meets Kate and the troupe.
The group agrees to keep Grayson with them, to take him to their next stop on their way to Leeds and care for him as best they can. When they arrive at an inn, Grayson and Kate enter together, and thus enter into a 'farcical' marriage. Grayson gives his name as Hal Hampton and pretends to be one of the actors who was injured while striking sets. Once word starts to spread about the missing - and possibly murdered - marquess, who left his horse and a bloody coat on the road and then vanished off the face of the earth - Grayson makes a choice: he doesn't want to be found and dragged back to his boring old life. He asks to stay with the Bladesworths and Kate, delivers his message to Kate about her Giotto sketch, and they agree to keep him in their circle, especially once a Bow Street Runner shows up and starts sniffing around.
The group go to Leeds, where the Bladesworths learn that their local partner has lost all their money and they won't be able to buy their theatre after all. Kate sells her sketch and impulsively decides to buy the theatre for the family, considering they have nowhere else to go and their non-family members have abandoned them. So Kate buys the theatre, the whole group sets out to put it to rights, and the runner continues to hang around because he knows Quality when he sees it.
Because the runner is still dogging their every move, Kate and Grayson continue to pretend to stay married. This is much to Grayson's delight and Kate's consternation. Grayson has fallen head over heels for Kate and her lovely soft bosom; she fears that he is merely larking about and will leave them once he tires of his charade. She doesn't understand why Grayson doesn't dump them and return to his rich, idle life posthaste.
Meanwhile, the Bladesworths and Gerald are hatching a plan: Gerald will write an original play for the troupe that's left and they will use that as their opening act at the newly refurbished theatre. Grayson, Kate, and even the runner, Will, are all roped into playing parts. Everyone wants to the theatre - and the play - to succeed, for various reasons, even as they continue to come up against barrier after barrier.
This is a lighthearted story, more of a farce than a comedy of errors, with lots of playacting and 'trading lines' of Shakespeare. We get to see the development not only of Kate and Grayson's feelings for each other, but two side romances for the eldest Bladesworth daughters (with Gerald the Will the runner, respectively) and everything they go through to open the theatre and make a profit from their hard work.
I really enjoyed the Bladesworth family: patriarch Malcolm; matriarch Ivy; daughters Phoebe and Maria; son Davy. They are actors through and through, and use their various skills to great use as they put the theatre back in order and rehearse their play.
I was a little less enthralled with our leads, Grayson and especially Kate, who was stubborn to a fault. The third act mess of matters was pretty much all her fault, especially once she turned her back on Grayson and refused to listen to him or read his letters. Once they actually talk, they realize they have no issues between themselves, and even a common goal. The third act also contains a kidnapping and an elopement to Gretna Greene, so it was all a bit too much action packed into the last third of the book.
This was pretty much the epitome of a "meh" read for me. Ms Kelly is an extremely talented writer, but I'm not sure she can really pull off farce as well as she does with quieter stories. There was too much frame (Gerald's play is a story within a story, so at times it's like there's 3 of the same plot going on all at once) and not enough attention paid to the main romance. I feel this one is for completionists only; newcomers to this author's work are best served starting elsewhere.
Find more reviews at The Vintage Romance Reader
September 16, 2014
Carly Kelly has cemented her position as one of my favorite romance authors. She has a way with words that keep me turning pages and entertained.
In Miss Billings Treads the Boards, a down on her luck, soon to be governess finds herself in an acting group. Katherine Billings got off the mail coach at the wrong stop. A series of misinformation and a little bit of bungling find her heading farther and father away from her destination in Wakefield.
Lord Grayson wanted time away from his boring life. He had come to the realization that he was lazy, balding, and overweight. He decided to take the long route to his friends estate, adding a couple of weeks or so to his itinerary. His valet and nephew met him on the road, a misguided attempt for his nephew to become a hero and back in his Uncle's good graces.
This has many funny moments. It is a romantic comedy set in the regency era. The interaction between the characters made me laugh several times. They are very likable, except the nephew and the valet. The people you think you are going to dislike, end up becoming endearing.
This book contains innuendo, but is a fairly clean read.
In Miss Billings Treads the Boards, a down on her luck, soon to be governess finds herself in an acting group. Katherine Billings got off the mail coach at the wrong stop. A series of misinformation and a little bit of bungling find her heading farther and father away from her destination in Wakefield.
Lord Grayson wanted time away from his boring life. He had come to the realization that he was lazy, balding, and overweight. He decided to take the long route to his friends estate, adding a couple of weeks or so to his itinerary. His valet and nephew met him on the road, a misguided attempt for his nephew to become a hero and back in his Uncle's good graces.
This has many funny moments. It is a romantic comedy set in the regency era. The interaction between the characters made me laugh several times. They are very likable, except the nephew and the valet. The people you think you are going to dislike, end up becoming endearing.
This book contains innuendo, but is a fairly clean read.
May 24, 2015
I was curious to see what Ms. Kelly was going to do with an overweight, balding hero named "Hal". She did manage to write a good story with interesting characters. I didn't feel it was quite up to par with most of the other books I have read by this author, but still 3- 3 1/2 stars.
I definitely prefer this older cover pictured here and not the new cover that is on the paperback now. The two floating heads really do not sell this book at all.
I definitely prefer this older cover pictured here and not the new cover that is on the paperback now. The two floating heads really do not sell this book at all.
June 9, 2015
I'm not sure if I completely bought into the heroine just dropping everything to join an acting troupe, but I didn't much care after she clobbered the hero with a candlestick. The hero is balding AND chubby and his character growth is just charming.
May 21, 2014
Lots of fun and funny dialogue. Loved the stodgy, balding, overweight hero who immersed himself in adventure and got his groove back!
April 2, 2014
Review by: Lizzie English
Link to Review: http://www.romantichistoricalreviews....
Link to Review: http://www.romantichistoricalreviews....
February 8, 2014
4 1/2 stars. A delightful story, and a fun read every time.
July 22, 2019
One of her lightest novels. A comedy!
The darkest thing in this book is that poor Kate is penniless, job-less and alone in the world, after her dear Dad passed away. But after a little -and funny- misunderstanding, she comes to work for a traveling theater group, which is the kindest and loveliest family she could ever meet. And at the same time, our hero Hal, who is rich and lazy and far from looking like a dashing hero (he is big and plump and has thinning hair! which for me has always been a turn-off, but Hal is so nice and flirty and supportive and kind that I wish I would marry someone plump and balding!), gets hurt in a silly way and ends up "hiding" with the theater group.
And since there is a Runner, and Hal wants to hide his identity, he poses as Kate's husband, which leads to many funny and romantic situations between them two. It was so cute how Hal, before meeting Kate, was very romantic, in a sense of wanting to marry someone who loved him for who he was and not for his money. And wanting to marry decided to never cheat on his wife, unlike some of his friends. And then, how instantly he falls for Kate.
I do think that Kate was a bit too uptight in the whole book -and it ends to fast, it made me think it was a whole new Kate- but she has her moments, like the unthinkable moment when she buys the theater. Poor girl.
The Bladesworths family was super nice and deserved all happiness in the world. I love how these new outsiders (Will the Runner, Kate and Hal) become fast members of the group, acting and mending the theater and the clothes. I wish the author mentioned the names of the youngest children, and how many they were... I know there were 2 younger girls, but I am not sure about the boys.
I loved this. I am not sure i I love her most dramatic -and darkest- romances or her comedies. Gold.
The darkest thing in this book is that poor Kate is penniless, job-less and alone in the world, after her dear Dad passed away. But after a little -and funny- misunderstanding, she comes to work for a traveling theater group, which is the kindest and loveliest family she could ever meet. And at the same time, our hero Hal, who is rich and lazy and far from looking like a dashing hero (he is big and plump and has thinning hair! which for me has always been a turn-off, but Hal is so nice and flirty and supportive and kind that I wish I would marry someone plump and balding!), gets hurt in a silly way and ends up "hiding" with the theater group.
And since there is a Runner, and Hal wants to hide his identity, he poses as Kate's husband, which leads to many funny and romantic situations between them two. It was so cute how Hal, before meeting Kate, was very romantic, in a sense of wanting to marry someone who loved him for who he was and not for his money. And wanting to marry decided to never cheat on his wife, unlike some of his friends. And then, how instantly he falls for Kate.
I do think that Kate was a bit too uptight in the whole book -and it ends to fast, it made me think it was a whole new Kate- but she has her moments, like the unthinkable moment when she buys the theater. Poor girl.
The Bladesworths family was super nice and deserved all happiness in the world. I love how these new outsiders (Will the Runner, Kate and Hal) become fast members of the group, acting and mending the theater and the clothes. I wish the author mentioned the names of the youngest children, and how many they were... I know there were 2 younger girls, but I am not sure about the boys.
I loved this. I am not sure i I love her most dramatic -and darkest- romances or her comedies. Gold.
January 19, 2014
This is one of Carla Kelly's older books but only recently came out on Kindle. It was written in 1993.
Background: Our Main Guy, Lord Grayson, who has the title of Marquess is getting somewhat plump and out of shape since his return from fighting the war against Napoleon. He is bored and not altogether pleased with his life. His decision to attend a house party gives him the occasion to call upon his solicitor to gather some funds and listen to advice about various issues including his fop of a nephew who is the current heir to the Marquessate. While there, his solicitor asks a personal favor of Lord Grayson which would involve delivering a message to the lovely Katherine Billings, a 26 year old spinster, whose father recently passed and left her nearly penniless - but not quite. It seems that her father had a history of purchasing "fake" paintings but apparently not all were forgeries. The solicitor has found out that one of the paintings, hopefully still in Kate's possession is quite valuable and will provide her with a home and a living if she didn't burn it along with all the other fakes.
Kate is traveling to her new post - that of governess for a family in Wakefield. On the way, she realizes that her position might not be all she thought it would be. Apparently her new boss is not a very nice man and the women who work for him are often at his mercy in more ways than one. When she arrives at the inn where she is to wait on someone to pick her up and take her to her new post, she is very concerned that she is getting in over her head. Not knowing that she has a painting in her trunk worth 4,000 pounds, she reflects upon her future and whether or not she should go on to her job or head back to London. Eventually a young man arrives to take her to her new job, or so she believes. However, it soon becomes apparent to Kate that there has been a mix-up related to the towns of Wickfield and Wakefield and she is actually on her way to Leeds to join a troupe of actors headed up by the inestimable Malcolm Bladesworth and his family. She decides to go along for the ride while she attempts to figure out how she will spend the rest of her life.
*Slight Spoilers* In the meantime, Lord Grayson agrees to his solicitor's request to meet up with the unknown Kate and give her the good news that she is not penniless after all. He packs up his saddlebags, sends his valet packing and heads out on his journey determined to have a few days to himself - do a little dieting and horseback riding - hoping his change in lifestyle will help him regain some of his "figure" so to speak. Along the way, he is waylaid by a couple of nincompoops (his nephew and his former valet) who accidentally shoot him and leave him by the side of the road. It is all a big farce - they didn't intend to actually hurt him, etc. However, he is left with a huge headache, his horse runs off and he has nothing left but the clothes on his back and the funds he received from his solicitor. He finds a place to hide out and sleep while he recovers from his aching head. It just happens to be in the rundown barn where the Bladesworth troupe is performing.
Yes, you probably have guessed by now - Lord Grayson is rescued by the same troupe of actors who have Kate in tow and the fun begins. Lord Grayson decides he needs this lark of a vacation and wants to rest up a week or two and just hang out with the actors. Of course Kate has her own reasons for hanging out with the troupe and things begin to get a little juicy at this point. Lord Grayson falls hard for Kate and she for him although it takes her longer to realize how hard she has fallen. The story is livened up by other characters in this story including all the Bladesworths, a Bow Street Runner who has been sent to find Lord Grayson, and a very gifted young man who is part of the troupe.
Once Lord Grayson realizes who Kate is, he immediately tells her that she is the owner of a valuable painting whereupon she immediately sells said painting and begins to make some simple plans for her future involving a small cottage and a milk cow. Coincidentally, the Bladesworths realize their partner who was supposed to be investing the money they had been sending him for years in order to buy a theatre in Leeds has not been a faithful steward of their funds and they are left high and dry. By now, Kate is "all in" so to speak with these wonderful people who have become kind of a family to her. After much reflection and tears, she uses her funds to purchase the theatre and this is where the relationships really settle in as all of the characters including Lord Grayson work really hard to restore the theatre, write a new play, etc. Further complicating matters, Lord Grayson and Kate are pretending to be husband and wife (Hal and Mrs. Hampton)to help keep his identity from the Bow Street Runner because nobody is sure who sent the runner to find Lord Grayson.
The problem: Although Kate and the Bladesworths were aware all along that Lord Grayson was a marquess, they thought they were helping him hide from his dastardly nephew. They never realized he was not in any danger. When Kate and the others find out the score, they have a decision to make. Will they forgive Lord Grayson for his deception? For awhile, it seems they will not. He is banished back to his home and Kate will not speak to him - all his letters return unopened. I will leave the rest for you to sort out.
Carla Kelly is one of my favorite authors. I wait with bated breath for her books to be released and/or for the older ones to come out on Kindle. Although I don't consider this book to be one of her best, I do indeed love her style of writing. Lord Grayson is not your typical "perfect in looks" hero that we have become accustomed to in our regency heroes. There is however, something about the way Ms. Kelly writes that gives unique insight into how her Main Guys think that I find quite appealing. The romance between "Hal" and Kate is sweet and develops with words, hugs, a few kisses and touching as opposed to lengthy sexual foreplay. Descriptive sexual foreplay and the act of sex can get old and boring very quickly and yet seems to be part and parcel of many romance novels being published by bestselling regency romance authors. Ms. Kelly doesn't require all the sexual balderdash to write a great romance story.
Background: Our Main Guy, Lord Grayson, who has the title of Marquess is getting somewhat plump and out of shape since his return from fighting the war against Napoleon. He is bored and not altogether pleased with his life. His decision to attend a house party gives him the occasion to call upon his solicitor to gather some funds and listen to advice about various issues including his fop of a nephew who is the current heir to the Marquessate. While there, his solicitor asks a personal favor of Lord Grayson which would involve delivering a message to the lovely Katherine Billings, a 26 year old spinster, whose father recently passed and left her nearly penniless - but not quite. It seems that her father had a history of purchasing "fake" paintings but apparently not all were forgeries. The solicitor has found out that one of the paintings, hopefully still in Kate's possession is quite valuable and will provide her with a home and a living if she didn't burn it along with all the other fakes.
Kate is traveling to her new post - that of governess for a family in Wakefield. On the way, she realizes that her position might not be all she thought it would be. Apparently her new boss is not a very nice man and the women who work for him are often at his mercy in more ways than one. When she arrives at the inn where she is to wait on someone to pick her up and take her to her new post, she is very concerned that she is getting in over her head. Not knowing that she has a painting in her trunk worth 4,000 pounds, she reflects upon her future and whether or not she should go on to her job or head back to London. Eventually a young man arrives to take her to her new job, or so she believes. However, it soon becomes apparent to Kate that there has been a mix-up related to the towns of Wickfield and Wakefield and she is actually on her way to Leeds to join a troupe of actors headed up by the inestimable Malcolm Bladesworth and his family. She decides to go along for the ride while she attempts to figure out how she will spend the rest of her life.
*Slight Spoilers* In the meantime, Lord Grayson agrees to his solicitor's request to meet up with the unknown Kate and give her the good news that she is not penniless after all. He packs up his saddlebags, sends his valet packing and heads out on his journey determined to have a few days to himself - do a little dieting and horseback riding - hoping his change in lifestyle will help him regain some of his "figure" so to speak. Along the way, he is waylaid by a couple of nincompoops (his nephew and his former valet) who accidentally shoot him and leave him by the side of the road. It is all a big farce - they didn't intend to actually hurt him, etc. However, he is left with a huge headache, his horse runs off and he has nothing left but the clothes on his back and the funds he received from his solicitor. He finds a place to hide out and sleep while he recovers from his aching head. It just happens to be in the rundown barn where the Bladesworth troupe is performing.
Yes, you probably have guessed by now - Lord Grayson is rescued by the same troupe of actors who have Kate in tow and the fun begins. Lord Grayson decides he needs this lark of a vacation and wants to rest up a week or two and just hang out with the actors. Of course Kate has her own reasons for hanging out with the troupe and things begin to get a little juicy at this point. Lord Grayson falls hard for Kate and she for him although it takes her longer to realize how hard she has fallen. The story is livened up by other characters in this story including all the Bladesworths, a Bow Street Runner who has been sent to find Lord Grayson, and a very gifted young man who is part of the troupe.
Once Lord Grayson realizes who Kate is, he immediately tells her that she is the owner of a valuable painting whereupon she immediately sells said painting and begins to make some simple plans for her future involving a small cottage and a milk cow. Coincidentally, the Bladesworths realize their partner who was supposed to be investing the money they had been sending him for years in order to buy a theatre in Leeds has not been a faithful steward of their funds and they are left high and dry. By now, Kate is "all in" so to speak with these wonderful people who have become kind of a family to her. After much reflection and tears, she uses her funds to purchase the theatre and this is where the relationships really settle in as all of the characters including Lord Grayson work really hard to restore the theatre, write a new play, etc. Further complicating matters, Lord Grayson and Kate are pretending to be husband and wife (Hal and Mrs. Hampton)to help keep his identity from the Bow Street Runner because nobody is sure who sent the runner to find Lord Grayson.
The problem: Although Kate and the Bladesworths were aware all along that Lord Grayson was a marquess, they thought they were helping him hide from his dastardly nephew. They never realized he was not in any danger. When Kate and the others find out the score, they have a decision to make. Will they forgive Lord Grayson for his deception? For awhile, it seems they will not. He is banished back to his home and Kate will not speak to him - all his letters return unopened. I will leave the rest for you to sort out.
Carla Kelly is one of my favorite authors. I wait with bated breath for her books to be released and/or for the older ones to come out on Kindle. Although I don't consider this book to be one of her best, I do indeed love her style of writing. Lord Grayson is not your typical "perfect in looks" hero that we have become accustomed to in our regency heroes. There is however, something about the way Ms. Kelly writes that gives unique insight into how her Main Guys think that I find quite appealing. The romance between "Hal" and Kate is sweet and develops with words, hugs, a few kisses and touching as opposed to lengthy sexual foreplay. Descriptive sexual foreplay and the act of sex can get old and boring very quickly and yet seems to be part and parcel of many romance novels being published by bestselling regency romance authors. Ms. Kelly doesn't require all the sexual balderdash to write a great romance story.
November 9, 2022
Clergyman’s daughter Katherine ‘Kate’ Billings finds herself deep in debt after the death of her art-loving father, who seems to have squandered all his money on an art collection that is not even valuable. When Kate sets out to take up a position as a governess, however, a minor error lands her in the midst of a theatre group—leading to Miss Billings treading the boards. At the same time, there comes into her life the marquess Hal Hampton (as he calls himself through most of the book), supposedly fleeing a bloodthirsty heir.
In typical Carla Kelly style, there’s a good build-up of the relationship between the hero and heroine. They talk, they flirt (or rather, Hal flirts, shamelessly), there is more to them than sudden lust which a reader is expected to believe is love. Also, in a refreshing change from the norm, the hero is (physically speaking) less than perfect: initially overweight, and beginning to lose his hair (I don’t think I’ve come across the latter, anywhere else).
Sometimes amusing, often heart-warming, and generally cozy, comfortable romance. The Bladesworths were sometimes cloyingly sweet, which is why I didn’t like this book as much as I’d have expected of a Carla Kelly.
In typical Carla Kelly style, there’s a good build-up of the relationship between the hero and heroine. They talk, they flirt (or rather, Hal flirts, shamelessly), there is more to them than sudden lust which a reader is expected to believe is love. Also, in a refreshing change from the norm, the hero is (physically speaking) less than perfect: initially overweight, and beginning to lose his hair (I don’t think I’ve come across the latter, anywhere else).
Sometimes amusing, often heart-warming, and generally cozy, comfortable romance. The Bladesworths were sometimes cloyingly sweet, which is why I didn’t like this book as much as I’d have expected of a Carla Kelly.
May 4, 2025
As someone who married a tall, barrel-chested and heavyset man, this book made me all kinds of happy to read about a male main character who reflects the love of my life.
(Although every version of this novel's cover makes me giggle, because they all have too much hair and not enough paunch.)
This whole story was an absolute lark, from start to finish. The dialogue was snappy and fun, the plot worthy of the Bard himself, and the people realistic in their foibles (even if his nephew Algernon was a bit exaggerated in his foppishness).
I loved the dynamic between Hal and Kate, and the fact that he was a big fan of his Love's curves reminded me of what being married is really like. 😂
It was a closed door romance, only initiated after a marriage happened near the end, so no need to worry about the Spice level.
But there were very realistic observations about one another's bodies and the physical attraction between them, so if you aren't up for even that small level of sensuality then it might not be for you.
That being said, as someone who married at an older age, I loved it all.
This book was simply a good time. I wish that there was more to enjoy.
(Although every version of this novel's cover makes me giggle, because they all have too much hair and not enough paunch.)
This whole story was an absolute lark, from start to finish. The dialogue was snappy and fun, the plot worthy of the Bard himself, and the people realistic in their foibles (even if his nephew Algernon was a bit exaggerated in his foppishness).
I loved the dynamic between Hal and Kate, and the fact that he was a big fan of his Love's curves reminded me of what being married is really like. 😂
It was a closed door romance, only initiated after a marriage happened near the end, so no need to worry about the Spice level.
But there were very realistic observations about one another's bodies and the physical attraction between them, so if you aren't up for even that small level of sensuality then it might not be for you.
That being said, as someone who married at an older age, I loved it all.
This book was simply a good time. I wish that there was more to enjoy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 31, 2023
This was cute and goofy and I really enjoyed it!
Henry Grayson is a marquess who's become a bit complacent -- at the beginning of the story he realizes that he's lazy, and his solicitor tells him as much to his face. Morose at the thought of how his life has become so dull post-war, Grayson decides to visit a friend in the country, and on the way deliver some good news to his solicitor's other client, Katherine Billings.
Kate is on her way to a rather bleak governess positions when, due to a misunderstanding, she ends up with a troop of actors. It's there, in her garb as "Lusty Widow" that she encounters a bloodied Grayson (going by "Hal"), who was injured by his nephew in a goofy scheme. Hal could easily move on with his life and go to the country as planned, but he decides to pretend that his life in danger so he can spend more time with Kate, hoping to convince her to love him.
Very fun, very silly. I have a complaint but I don't care enough about it to air it here.
Henry Grayson is a marquess who's become a bit complacent -- at the beginning of the story he realizes that he's lazy, and his solicitor tells him as much to his face. Morose at the thought of how his life has become so dull post-war, Grayson decides to visit a friend in the country, and on the way deliver some good news to his solicitor's other client, Katherine Billings.
Kate is on her way to a rather bleak governess positions when, due to a misunderstanding, she ends up with a troop of actors. It's there, in her garb as "Lusty Widow" that she encounters a bloodied Grayson (going by "Hal"), who was injured by his nephew in a goofy scheme. Hal could easily move on with his life and go to the country as planned, but he decides to pretend that his life in danger so he can spend more time with Kate, hoping to convince her to love him.
Very fun, very silly. I have a complaint but I don't care enough about it to air it here.
May 27, 2020
Quite an enjoyable read with some very adorable characters. Some of the characters even went through actual growth! The hero wasn't drop-dead gorgeous, the heroine had a decent brain, the side characters were delightful. There was even a healthy, respectful, adoring married couple for the courting duo to mimic if they had the brains to. Mind you, the "villains" of the piece are pretty thin and ridiculous, straining their motives to a weak point. So that's the downside but, overall, it's a lovely little read.
Oh, and I don't know who wrote the summary on here for this book because it is NOT at all accurate and leads one to believe they're going to read a very different book.
Oh, and I don't know who wrote the summary on here for this book because it is NOT at all accurate and leads one to believe they're going to read a very different book.
July 22, 2017
Vintage Kelly
For once Carla Kelly's novel has nothing to do with the Royal Navy. It is however exactly what you would expect from her, with a war-weary, life-weary marquess whose hair is thinning as his waist is thickening. The heroine has reached the bottom and is on her way to be a governess to a lecherous employer, when a simple mistake brings them together with a band of travelling players. Everyone except the heroine will see the twist at the end from miles away, but who cares?
For once Carla Kelly's novel has nothing to do with the Royal Navy. It is however exactly what you would expect from her, with a war-weary, life-weary marquess whose hair is thinning as his waist is thickening. The heroine has reached the bottom and is on her way to be a governess to a lecherous employer, when a simple mistake brings them together with a band of travelling players. Everyone except the heroine will see the twist at the end from miles away, but who cares?
August 29, 2021
Something comforting in reading something that feels like one of the romances my mother used to read when I was a kid that was unobjectionable enough that she would let me read it too. This is a bit too instalove-y for my tastes, and there were a couple moments I side-eyed (but this is a pretty clean book, so nothing like the things I side-eye in other old school books), but for the most part it's just a farcical romp. And the MCs feel like they actually genuinely like each other, and that's not always a guarantee in romance, so I'll take it.
September 4, 2018
NOT UP TO HER STYLE
It really pains me to give this novel such a low rating...but it is just not good. I am a loyal, appreciative fan of Carla Kelly. I think she was not feeling good when she wrote this insipid story. Skip it. Read anything and everything else by Carla Kelly, but especially my favorite: The Wedding Journey. Also, The Double Cross novels and her newest Master Genius Able Six. You will not be disappointed!!!
It really pains me to give this novel such a low rating...but it is just not good. I am a loyal, appreciative fan of Carla Kelly. I think she was not feeling good when she wrote this insipid story. Skip it. Read anything and everything else by Carla Kelly, but especially my favorite: The Wedding Journey. Also, The Double Cross novels and her newest Master Genius Able Six. You will not be disappointed!!!
July 26, 2020
I love Carla Kelly stories. They are romantic with good stories without being sappy or peppered with detailed sex. They have scenes that we used to call risque. This feel-good story had it all-action, a mystery and a surprise ending. You might think you figured it out, but maybe not. Recommend Carla Kelly stories.
August 15, 2024
This book is not good. Which is surprising, since Kelly's books are usually very good. But Hal is obnoxious: he lies for no reason, he's a perv about Kate's boobs, and he forces her to struggle through her problems on her own as a treat to see if she's good enough for him to marry. Ugh.
Second star for the acting troupe, who are delightful.
Second star for the acting troupe, who are delightful.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 9, 2019
A solid 3.5. The story was light hearted, breezed along and didn’t take itself too seriously. All the characters were enjoyable (save the false friends and family) but that is as it should be. If you like your romance mixed with the theater you may well enjoy this.
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