A Lady Never Lies

Affairs by Moonlight #1

by Juliana Gray, Veida Dehmlow (Narrator)

Lady Alexandra Morley, an alluring widow, is desperate to devise a plan to reverse her fortunes. When fate lands her in the arms of Phineas "Finn" Burke, an attractive inventor, she despairs of ever getting what she needs . . . until they kiss. Finn has always been impervious to the charms of the female species, intent only on perfecting his "horseless carriage" engine. He never dreamed he'd meet a woman like Alexandra, who is as stubborn as she is comely. Despite the brewing scandal, Finn longs to make Alexandra his wife, but he must first convince the maddening lady that their love is the only thing that matters.

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Italy, Adult

MP3 CD

First published August 7, 2012

Reviews

[Sombra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una historia divertida, con unos personajes a cada cual más diferente y que me ha hecho pasar unas horas muy amenas.

En este libro nos encontramos con 6 personajes relacionados entre sí que por diferentes circunstancias acaban viviendo bajo el mismo techo en un castillo de la Toscana. Todos ellos tienen razones para ese retiro, y ninguno quiere que nadie sepa dónde están y por qué. Motivo por el cual cuando todos se dan cuenta de que no tienen otra salida que vivir durante un año en conjunta armonía, empieza lo bueno.

Los personajes principales me han parecido muy buenos. Alexandra es una mujer que ha perdido todo por culpa de su sobrino político y una serie de inversiones que han salido mal y que decide irse de retiro para encontrar la manera de volver a recuperar lo perdido. Y ve la oportunidad perfecta al ver que uno de los huéspedes que se van a alojar con ella en el castillo no es otro que Phineas Burke, un renombrado científico e inventor que se ha retirado a la Toscana para trabajar en su nuevo coche eléctrico. Ambos comenzarán una relación basada en la ciencia y los coches hasta que poco a pococ se dan cuenta de que hay algo más ahí de lo que quieren aparentar.
Lo gracioso de esta pareja es que él es un científico que no tiene ningún interés en mujeres (por lo menos no siempre), mal hablado y que analiza TODO. Ella por el contrario es impulsiva, habladora y mandona, por lo que el contraste entre ambos da lugar a algunos de los diálogos más chispeantes y divertidos he leído en histórica.

Los secundarios ponen la guinda del pastel a una historia que está claro que todos los sucesos suceden a la vez. Pero al dar unas pequeñas pinceladas, la autora hace que desees leer los siguientes para saber el por qué de algunos de los comportamientos de los personajes. (Duque estirado y vergüenzas al aire, estoy deseando leerte para saber por qué!!!)

Tiene peros. La primera parte a pesar de sus situaciones chispeantes me pareció algo aburrida y había veces que no podía conectar con los personajes, pero en general es una historia bonita y que te hace pasar un rato muy agradable.

PD: El poder leer como podría haber sido la aparición de los primeros automóviles, el papel que tuvo la mujer en ese proceso y la investigación que ha hecho la autora han sido más puntos a su favor.

[Ursula · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable 4.5 stars.
I loved this Victorian HR. It was really different from the standard run-of-the-mill HR's, with a terrific context of Italy and the early days of the invention of the motorcar, culminating in an exhibition race around Rome.
Lots of fun and interesting detail but I especially liked the MCs. They were multi-faceted people who didn't do a whole lot of TSTL things but had to work through some issues before they could arrive at their HEA.
The writing was excellent- nice to read a British author, perhaps that is why it seemed so authentic- and I am absolutely looking forward to the rest of the trilogy (and more books by this author.)
And I don't even like cars!!! :)

[Lisa Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

★★★★★ Loved every word, so much so I bought the audio. Just when I thought the author was going to go down the same old clichés, she surprised me. Sure, the heroine and hero had misunderstandings, but they talked about them. Of course, other things popped up. Great story-line about the “horseless carriage” engine.

I also loved the way the characters in the next stories in the series were woven in, too. LOL! So creative. Although, one scene is making me die of curiosity.

Thanks, Kit★, for choosing this one for me!

[Viri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ni me acordaba que había leído este libro. Fue divertido y con una historia muy original. Genial para pasar el rato.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lady Alexandra Morley, along with her sister and cousin, travel to a remote castle in Tuscany in an attempt to find a solution to her new found money problems. They are all a bit startled when three gentleman also seem to have let the same castle but since it is large enough to be in separate wings, they agree to carry on. What especially captures Alexandra's attention is one ginger-haired man, Phineas Burke along with his dedication to finding a way to run a horseless carriage. Since her money is now tied up in a similar business, she hopes to gain some knowledge that she can pass on and earn her money back and get back to her life as she knows it. What she does not expect is the growing attraction blooming between herself and Finn. With a nosy duke and his lovestruck brother, along with her too-smart sister and too-quiet cousin, this group is sure to have lots of fun, heartbreak and hopefully triumph.

This was another wonderful debut I have read this year! The writing is smooth and flawless and peppered with lots of British words that I love--rubbish, jolly, sodding and bloody hell. I loved that this book is set in 1890 and we get a fresh perspective on the rise of the automobile. I feel like there are not enough books set in this time period so I am so happy to have found another author setting her stories here! Finn is a delightful scientist. First, he is ginger haired--love, but he is also intelligent with a dash of nerdiness, passionate and thorough (in more areas than one). Alexandra comes off a bit bossy at first and I wasn't sure about her but as time passes her true nature emerges. She is still a bit bossy but she is also fun and adventurous, bold and stubborn and wary of tying herself to another man after the death of her husband. Together, Finn and Alexandra explode but also bond over Finn's work with his battery for the automobile. But Alexandra is still holding out her secret and it may end up costing her in the end...and if that doesn't, her stubbornness will. Overall, I really adored this book. The setting, the characters, the dialogue, passion, intrigue--all of it was done so well, it is hard to believe this is a historical debut. The next two books will take place at the same time as this one and while that is usually not a favorite of mine, there were just enough snippets of the other couples that I think it is going to work out well. Plus, there is not major mystery linking the stories so I don't think there will be much rehashing. Juliana Gray has made it onto my auto-buy list with this debut and is an author all historical romance readers should read! 4 1/2 stars

[Lynn Spencer · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Adorable" is definitely a word I would use to describe this book. The set-up to this book sounds like the 1890s version of Airbnb gone wrong. Three men reserve a picturesque Italian castle as they compete in a wager. Meanwhile, they arrive only to discover that :(1) The home is somewhat less put together and well-run than advertised and (2) an aristocratic group of women have reserved the same home.

What ensues is a very fun romance. Alexandra, Lady Morley, is on the run from creditors and frankly not interested in jumping into another relationship. However, there is something about wealthy inventor Finn that just calls to her. And Finn is quickly head over heels for Alexandra. Despite the heroine's financial circumstances, this is actually a fairly light and fun romance. I enjoyed the story, and I found the early automobile history quite interesting. Alexandra was a bit abrasive at times and the big misunderstanding between her and Finn made me roll my eyes a bit. However, I enjoyed this book quite a bit overall.

Note: This author also writes as Beatriz Williams.

CW: References to past domestic abuse, some classism

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fun to read. I really liked that we stepped out of the ton and instead got to experience a little glimpse of the scientific/motor enthusiast world in the early days.

*For a sneak peek, check out the Tempting Teaser on Fiction Vixen*

*Review posted on Fiction Vixen*

[Naaytaashreads · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book just wasn't it for me.
It was too boring.
The plotline was dragging too much.

You know when you read a book and feel like it could have ended 10 chapters ago.
Yep that's how I feel.
I enjoyed the characters. They were badass characters but I wish it was more funny than what we got.

I didn't feel attached to the characters to be excited enough to find out what will happen to them.
This was unfortunately not my best reads.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A LADY NEVER LIES is extraordinary! In turns charming, passionate, and thrilling—and sometimes all three at once—A LADY NEVER LIES sets a new mark for historical romance. Juliana Gray is on my auto buy list.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite the mishmash. A bit too silly for my tastes - I need more humor to go with the slapstick scenarios.

[Miranda Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this at my library and took it home not realizing I'd already read and loved this one. Not only is the premise fresh, there are three, essentially overlapping, if not simultaneous, stories that make up the trilogy, of which this is first. It's set in the late 19th century. Three Englishmen retire for a year's monkish respite from their lives to the same castle in Italy that three Englishwomen have leased to get away for a while, to let the dust settle in their lives.

The men are a grumpy, rakish TDH duke, his charming younger brother and their inventor genius friend. The women are a marquis' widow, her sister and a friend and her young son. They meet by chance at an inn in Italy, a wager is suggested as talk turns to the capacity of the two sexes for serious scholarly pursuits...and off we go!

Better summaries exist, all I can say is the opening scene, during which a bright-eyed Mr. Finn Burke bedevils his hungover friends at the duke's residence and proposes a year in Italy is flat out brilliant, funny, droll and only the tip of the iceberg. What fun! I will happily re-read this and let the heroine/force of nature Lady Worley aim herself at the recalcitrant genius Finn.

I've only read the first, maybe I'll follow through with the others this time around...Happy, happy, joy, joy! Further in, it's getting to be a 4-star read but still fun.

[Kerry Allen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was so devoid of emotion, when I arrived at "the sunlight dimmed for just an instant, beaten back by mighty flame of their passion" (page 112), I literally fell over laughing, as I did again on page 162 when the heroine said, "Thank you, that was lovely," in appreciation of NOT a delightful cup of tea and watercress sandwich, but for supposedly great sex. There's no internalization, so the pointed telling about their supernova passion and boundless love has a slapstick effect.

The only believable expression of enthusiam by either protagonist was for the car. If you're interested in an education in the history of automobile development, you might find this a more satisfying reading experience.

Also extraordinarily heavy on the sequel bait--the sort of sequels I would anticipate being of the "three feet to the left" variety, recycling a lot of this book, as all the couples conveniently hooked up at the same time, in the same place, and were constantly tripping over each other.

And then there's the weakly developed Sixth Sense element thrown away in the epilogue.

[Palomaferi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es relectura y me ha entretenido y divertido como la primera vez que lo leí.

[Widala · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty light and entertaining read. I liked the language and the conversation. I also liked the development of the relationship, the attraction was instant but it took time to develop into something more, especially in the trust department.

The hiccup may be in Alexandra. I like strong heroines, but Alexandra felt a bit unnecessary defensive at times. And I'm not sure about the family relation.
Alexandra was paired with Finn, and Abigail with Wallingford. Alexandra and Abigail were sisters, while Finn turned out to be Wallingford's uncle (the bastard of his grandfather). And Roland, Wallingford's brother, was paired with Elizabeth, Alexandra's cousin. This tangled and close relationship made me rather confused and uncomfortable.

But, it's still a nice and humorous story.

3.5 stars because Finn was a ginger! With freckles!

[Ash · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Ana María · Rating 3 out of 5]

Es la historia de Lady Alexandra, viuda del Marqués de Morley, y del Sr Phineas Burke, científico e inventor, hijo bastardo de una cortesana y de un aristácrata importante.
Alexandra tiene aproximadamente 26 años. Lleva dos años de viuda y se encuentra en una situación económica difícil debido a malas inversiones. De ser la reina de los salones de Londres, parte a Italia un poco para ayudar a su prima a alejarse de su brutal marido y otro poco para disminuir sus gastos y replantearse su futuro. Se casó por conveniencia con el marqués de Morley, hombre bastante mayor que ella, luego de una desilusión amorosa. Dama fiel a su difunto marido y a sus amigos aunque un poco materialista. Una verdadera Lady en presencia y compostura, enérgica y arrogante. La historia que vivirá le servirá para reveer su vida y sus valores.
Phineas ronda la treintena. Pelirrojo de ojos verdes, delgado pero de excelente forma. Inventor famoso y millonario por sí mismo. Hombre estudioso enemigo de las juergas, un poco tímido. Tuvo pocas mujeres en su vida pero de calidad, le enseñaron bien y lo demuestra con Alex. No tiene problemas en sentir ni en expresar lo que siente aunque hay algunas confusiones que hacen tambalear la relación, pero no demasiado.
No hay grandes conflictos más que la carrera en sí y la situación económica de Alex que tiene relación con los negocios de Phin.
Bastante sexo con lenguaje muy cuidado.
Es una comedia.
Se esbozan las historias de las dos restantes parejas, sin detalles: la hermana de Alex, Abigail, con el Duque de Wallingford, y la de la prima, Lilibeth con el hermano del Duque.

Opinión:
Si bien tiene los ingredientes que me gustan, excepto los pelirrojos, no me terminó de enganchar. Me costó entender el inicio de la relación entre ellos, no terminé de entender qué los unió, por qué de ser enemigos luego se acercan. Las peleas iniciales en el castillo no las entendí, ni la apuesta, ni las preocupaciones del Duque. Por ahí me perdí algo. Después de que concretan, hacia la mitad del libro, me gustó más. La carrera me encantó.

[Rachel-RN · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alexandra and her sister and cousin are going to the Italian countryside to get away. Alexandra is in debt, Lilibet is escaping her abusive spouse. Finn and his nephews (I think that's right) are escaping for some quiet reflective time and for Finn to ready his automobile/battery (excuse me, horseless carriage). They both rent the same castle, unbeknownst to each other. However, since it's large, they opt to stay there on different sides/wings.
Alexandra was a hard person to like. I thought she was snobby, abrasive. I couldn't quite get what Finn saw in her. She does improve throughout the book, but sometimes it is hard to get over initial opinions/impressions. I did like Finn. The best part was reading about Finn's development of his automobile/battery and reading about the various methods being tested (battery, steam, internal combustion engine).
There is mention of a curse involving the castle and towards the end of the book, it's thrown out there that one of the female and one of the male servants may not exist. I could have done without this as it didn't add anything to the plot. The other secondary characters (Lilibet, Abigail, Roland, Wallingford) didn't really stand out to me. I find I really don't have an interest in their stories (which all take place at the same time).
I read this for Ripped Bodice Bingo- Scientific Pursuit

[Kira · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was honestly quite different from all the other historical / regency romances I've ever read. Mostly every one of them involved Tons and London Season in some capacity or the other but this one was something new entirely.

Alexandra, along with her sister and cousin, travels to Italy to find a solution to her money problem where she finds that three English gentlemen have been booked into the same castle as them and thus begins the close proximity trope. When Alexandra finds out that Finn is trying to invent a horseless carriage, her money being tied up in a similar business, she sees to opportunity to gather enough information about the same in order to save her fortune. But soon, sparks fly and the romance fills the air.

Now, I really liked the chemistry between the two and their snarky conversations had my heart but I was not so impressed by the smut honestly, I've read better in other historical romances. Also, the side characters, especially Duke Wallingford seemed insufferable to me and I was absolutely put off by his appearances every now and then. I didn't care about Alexandra's sister or cousin or their own romances with the other two English gentlemen so I was a bit bored whenever author spin the story in their direction.

It would have been much better for me personally if this book was all about Alexandra and Finn and their motor cars lol!

[Mariana · Rating 5 out of 5]

❤😍❤

Qué novela tan bonita, la he disfrutado tanto que se me ha acabado de un suspiro.
Finn y Alex son una de las mejores parejas que he visto. Creo que lo que hace tan especial su historia es su originalidad. Todo el tema del trabajo mecánico que hace Finn está integrado en la trama. La mayor parte de su historia de amor se desarrolla en el taller, mientras montan la batería o trabajan en el motor de su prototipo, y «escondiéndose» de los demás. La escena cuando salen juntos a probar el vehículo es de mis favoritas, junto con la carrera del final.
Considero que la autora escribe muy bien. Hubo escenas y diálogos que me sacaban más de una sonrisa, algunas veces por su ternura y otras por su hilaridad. También me pareció un acierto que se mostraran fragmentos de lo que pasaba con las otras dos parejas (me interesa sobretodo lo que pasa con el duque y la hermana 😆); por último, tengo curiosidad por el misterio que rodea al castillo que arrendaron y algunos de sus habitantes. Espero que la autora haya acertado en los siguientes dos libros.

[Janine Ballard · Rating 1 out of 5]

1 star. When this author is on, she's on and when she's off, she's off. Loved The Duke of Olympia Meets His Match but couldn't get into this one to save my life. And I tried. I really tried.

[Kit★ · Rating 3 out of 5]

July 2015 pick for WaMRL group pick it for me challenge, just now getting to it. Yes, I'm slow. 3.5 Stars! Really enjoyed this one, likable characters, some fun antics, enough seriousness and excitement to keep it from being too light and fluffy. I really enjoyed the automobile aspect of it, that was interesting, and I’m also intrigued by the mystery of the castle. I liked how the author left the other characters in the background a lot, since all the trilogy is to take place at the same time. Seems like it will avoid too much repetition of scenes, so that’s good. Gotta say, I’m curious about Lilibet’s wicked husband, and how she and Roland will work it out, but my biggest curiousity is for Abigail and Wallingford’s side of the story! Especially after the scene where Alexandra saw him run out of the woods buck naked hollering after Abigail. I think I like Wallingford a lot, and will be interesting to see how Abigail will have her way with him :D

[Miss_Cultura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Juliana, hace que ser mujer en el siglo diecinueve, principios del veinte, sea divertido, sea una aventura y sobre todo sea un choque de diálogos frescos, originales...De Inglaterra nos vamos a Italia, en un viaje del cual sabemos poco o nada, pequeñas pinceladas al principio del libro aquí y allá, haciendo que me intrigase este cambio repentino de una vida bulliciosa a una vida tranquila.
Los personajes que Juliana nos muestra son tres mujeres con un niño, Philip, que ha hecho mis delicias y tres hombres que parecen conocer muy bien a Lady Morley, sintiendo animadversión hacia ella, desde que la ven.
Es una historia llena de pequeños detalles que han hecho de mi lectura una verdadera delicia, como es el caso, de la introducción por parte de la autora a la protagonista Alexandra en el mundo del automovil, y es que Finn (Irlandés) es un estudioso e inventor que ahora esta interesado en un vehículo que no haga ruido, con mas velocidad...y el castillo de la Toscana es el lugar idóneo para estudiar y crear algo singular, pero no contaba con que todos se iban a encontrar en el mismo sitio, a la misma hora y que alguna dama podía hacer que todo se tambalease.
Finn, tiene sangre irlandesa y se vera en su temperamento y su manera de ser, en cambio Alexandra es la típica dama, que a simple vista parece tonta, pero tras esa fachada se esconden muchas cosas que como lectora me ha gustado conocer y entender.
Los personajes secundarios son un tanto atípicos, Juliana ha creado a dos personajes que os sorprenderán mucho al final, yo cuando pienso en ellos, sonrió como una tonta, y es que me deje engañar.
La pluma de esta autora sorprende por su sencillez, sin grandes florituras, ha hecho que la mujer en ese siglo de la mano de Finn, se sienta importante, colabore en algo mágico.
Dos personajes me han exasperado y han sido el duque de Wallingford y Roland, les hubiera dado un puntapié desde que abrieron su boca y empezaron a decir insensateces , pero sin ellos, esta historia no hubiese tenido la fuerza y las situaciones mas disparatadas que he leído hace meses.
Algo que me ha dejado confusa, y en la siguientes entregas pienso,creo...que la autora puede explicar son algunas escenas como la del plumón, el comportamiento de Lilibeth y su pasado, que no hace mucho incapie, pero siempre esta presente y es que se me han escapado de las manos pero,tras unas semanas sin ganas de leer, "Una dama nunca miente" me ha aportado tales sonrisas y una historia de amor de las de tira y afloja, que no os dejaran indiferentes,y que nada mas cerrar el libro, me he comprado en ingles ,el siguiente.

[May Mostly Romance · Rating 1 out of 5]

เป็นเรื่องที่อ่านแล้ว แทบไม่อยากจะอ่านงานเล่มอื่น ๆ ของนักเขียนคนนี้เลยค่ะ แต่ก็ทำไม่ได้ เพราะดันซื้อหนังสือของเธอมาตุนไว้ครบชุดแล้ว (ซึ่งอาจจะเป็นข้อดีก็ได้นะคะ ถ้าเราชอบเล่มอื่น ๆ ในชุด)

ฉากในเรื่องเกิดขึ้นช่วงปลายศตวรรษที่ 19 เรื่องจึงค่อนข้างยุคสมัยใหม่พอสมควร พระเอกเป็นนักประดิษฐ์ที่ประสบความสำเร็จ เดินทางมาอิตาลีพร้อมกับเพื่อนสองคน (ซึ่งเป็นพี่น้องกัน) ได้มาพบกลุ่มของนางเอกที่เดินทางมาเช่นกัน ด้วยความบังเอิญหรือโชคชะตา ทั้งหกคนพบว่า ตัวเองโดนหลอก โดยเจ้าของปราสาทอันเป็นบ้านเช่าในอิตาลีได้ปล่อยปราสาทให้เช่ากับทั้งสองคณะ ทำให้ทั้งหกคนจำใจต้องอาศัยอยู่ร่วมกัน

เรื่องชุดนี้ก็จับคู่สองฝั่งค่ะ มีสามคู่ สามเล่ม เราเข้าใจว่า เหตุการณ์ในเรื่องทั้งสามน่าจะเกิดในเวลาเดียวกัน เพียงแต่เล่าจากคนละมุมมองของคาแร็คเตอร์แต่ละตัว

ปัญหาที่เรามีต่อเรื่องนี้ก็คือ ความฉาบฉวยที่คนแต่งใช้นำเสนอตัวละคร เราอ่านไปจนจบเรื่องก็ยังไม่รู้สึกว่า ได้รู้จักตัวพระเอกหรือนางเอกอย่างแท้จริง มีบางช่วงเวลาในเรื่องที่ดูเหมือนจะน่าสนใจ ช่วงเวลาเหล่านั้นก็คือตอนที่พวกเขาเล่าเรื่องของตัวเอง จุดนี้น่าเสียดายมากนะคะ เพราะภูมิหลังของพระเอกก็น่าสนใจมาก ๆ เขาเป็นลูกนอกสมรสของนางบำเรอชื่อดัง (ลูกค้าของเธอเป็นถึงระดับเจ้าชาย) ฟินน์ต้องทำหลายอย่างเพื่อกันตัวเองให้ออกจากตราบาปที่ติดตัวมาตั้งแต่เกิด ซึ่งดูเหมือนเขาจะทำได้ดี โดยประสบความสำเร็จในสิ่งที่ทำ เป็นนักประดิษฐ์ที่ผลงานสร้างเงินจำนวนมหาศาล เรียกได้ว่า เขาได้ประโยชน์จากยุคปฏิวัติอุตสาหกรรมอย่างชัดเจน ประเด็นนี้เรารับรู้จากเนื้อเรื่อง แต่ไม่มีสักช่วงเวลาที่เรื่องลงรายละเอียดลึกซึ้ง ในขณะที่นางเอกถือว่าตื้นมาก ไม่ใช่ในแง่ของคาแร็คเตอร์หรอกนะคะ เธอดูเป็นคนใช้ได้ แต่เราก็บอกได้แค่นั้น เพราะเราไม่รู้สึกเลยว่า ตัวตนของเธอเป็นใคร เรามองไม่เห็นภายในจิตใจของเธอเลย

เรื่องใช้เวลาไปเยอะมากกับสิ่งประดิษฐ์ของพระเอก ถึงเทคโนโลยีในการผลิตเครื่องยนต์ (ที่ต่อมาพัฒนาใช้ในรถยนต์ยุคปัจจุบัน) ปัญหาคือ เราอยากได้โรแมนซ์ค่ะ ไม่ได้อ่านประวัติของเฮนรี ฟอร์ด ไม่อยากรู้ว่า มีเทคโนโลยีอะไรบ้างในยุคสมัยนั้น ไม่ได้บอกว่า เราต้องการเรื่องที่ปราศจากเกร็ดทางประวัติศาสตร์ที่น่าสนใจนะคะ แต่เล่มนี้เรารู้สึกว่า การให้น้ำหนักมันพิกล

ความสัมพันธ์ระหว่างพระนางพัฒนาไปเป็นความสัมพันธ์ทางเพศเร็วมาก นั่นยิ่งตอกย้ำความฉาบฉวยที่เรารู้สึก เราไม่เห็นความรักที่จริงจัง เหมือนการพบรักระหว่างวันหยุดฤดูร้อน จากกันก็จบไป

แล้วยังมีความหัวดื้อของนางเอก อาจเพราะเราไม่เคยเข้าถึงความคิดในใจของเธออย่างแท้จริง เราก็เลยไม่เข้าใจว่า เธอจะปฏิเสธพระเอกไปเพื่อสิ่งใด เธอต้องการเป็นคนที่คู่ควรกับเขา (ในแง่ของฐานะการเงิน) จึงปฏิเสธเงินของพระเอกในการทำให้สถานการณ์ทางการเงินของตัวเองดีขึ้น แต่มุ่งมั่นที่จะเอาชนะพระเอก เรางงว่าแตกต่างกันตรงไหน เพราะสุดท้ายหากเธอชนะ พระเอกก็แพ้ไม่ใช่หรือ

เรื่องนี้อ่านจบแล้วเหมือนจบกันไปเลย เราไม่ผูกพันกับคาแร็คเตอร์ กับพล็อตเรื่อง หรือกระทั่งกับฉากในเรื่อง ทุกอย่างมันดูห่างไกล และจับต้องไม่ได้

คะแนนที่ 53

[Anna Bowling · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little Shakespeare, a little Enchanted April, a handful of motorcars, and a whole lot of love make my first experience with Beatriz Williams' historical romance alter ego, Juliana Gray, a true pleasure. In 1890, three gentlemen repair to a rustic Italian villa, for a summer of pure intellectual stimulation, and absolutely no romance, but so, as luck would have it, do three ladies, for exactly the same reason. Romance readers can easily do the math here, but that's where this story leaves predictability far in the dust.

Alexandra, social maven and widow of a much older husband, has fallen on hard times, and is desperate to find a way to reverse her situation, without becoming obligated to any man. Phineas Burke, automotive pioneer, is no ordinary man. Tall, ginger, and brilliant, his devotion to developing his own horseless carriage first draws Alexandra's curiosity, and then sparks her own interest. Throw in tempting tidbits of the lovers' companions' own stories, dirty dealings during an automobile race, and, perhaps, a tiny taste of something not entirely logical, and get ready for something special. Beatriz Williams fans who wonder what it would be like if she wrote genre historical romance, this book is the answer, which, in a word, is yes.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I came across this title on a list of best romance novels of 2012 (and have since then seen it on a second list), and it sounded interesting, so I put it on hold and forgot about it. Once it arrived, I discovered it's the first in a trilogy that has a slight paranormal/magical overtone--i.e. there is some sort of mysterious curse on the Italian castle the main characters rent for the year. I am hoping the author lets us in on exactly what this curse is in later books, because she doesn't say much in this one.

I enjoyed reading this story over my Christmas vacation week, but I can't say that I would have put it on any Top Books of 2012 list. It's good; it's not outstanding.

The premise of this series is that in 1890, three British ladies in financial distress (and who've fled one's abusive husband) discover they have rented the same decrepit castle in Italy as three British gentlemen who have pledged to swear off women for the year. The focus of book one is Lady Morely, a young widow, and Mr. Phineas Burke, wealthy inventor who is working on designing an electric motorcar. Despite betting that whoever succumbs to temptation/seduction must leave the castle permanently, electricity is in the air. Literally. Alexandra decides to help Finn with his automobile to see if she can glean any information that might revive her fortune which was unwisely invested for her in a failing motorworks company.

For readers' advisors: story and character doorways. Some fairly explicit sex scenes. Mild swearing (i.e. such as "...the damned tea...").

[Lucimar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quando Finn bateu na porta do duque de Wallingford, colocando o pedante mordomo em seu lugar, eu comecei a amar esse personagem. Finn é filho bastardo de um nobre e sua mãe um mulher que teve muitos amantes a medida que ele crescia. Portanto, ele via a vida como ela era realmente, com todas as nuances de cores. Era um inventor aficionado por carros, até encontrar lady Alexandra Morley, viúva que se encontra em dificuldades e tem sob sua responsabilidade de casar sua irmã e cuidar do bem estar da prima que está fugindo de um triste casamento. É uma mulher manipuladora que atrai o Finn e o enreda nas teias de um enorme paixão, tão profunda que ele é capaz de renunciar a muitas coisas em nome desse amor.
Eles se encontram num recanto escondido da Itália, um castelo e por uma trapaça de uma magia se veem presos num lugar e a partir daí tem que conviverem com suas diferenças de classes.
É um livro divertido, com muita, muita paixão, diálogos maravilhosos e cheios de vivacidades.
Lady Alexandra poderia ser um pouco menos manipuladora, é o único ponto negativo dela...

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am giving this book 4 stars, but with reservations. I wish I could give it 3 1/2. I did not particularly care for the hero or heroine. Alexandra was Lady Morley, a widow with a title but no money. Finn was a wealthy, brilliant inventor with lots of money but no title, a bastard even.

I found the characters difficult to get to know and their conversations hard to follow. That must be why it took so long for me to finish. Set against the beginning of the automobile industry, this story definitely was unique in context. But so much of what was revealed seemed so nonessential to anything in the storyline.

However, her love scenes are quite superb. And to watch the Alexandra and Finn fall in love was delicious. But she fought it every step of the way making really stupid excuses. Finally she relents.

Maybe I'm just not a sophisticated reader. I will read the next one. But probably wait to find it in a used book store.

[Renae · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a charming romance. The relationship between Finn and Alexandra was fairly uncomplicated, and the drama and tensions between them were just enough to keep things juicy. The entire situation the two leads found themselves in had a very Puckish atmosphere, which was endlessly entertaining, but also unique. I also really loved how it was Finn who wanted a permanent relationship and Alexandra who was afraid of commitment—the unexpected role reversal was adorable and added a different tone to things. Throughout the book, Finn is admittedly in love with Alexandra, it’s only that he has to win her over. Very cute, very sweet, very enjoyable.

[Koki · Rating 5 out of 5]

S tvorbou tejto autorky som sa stretla po prvýkrát. Zaujal ma samotný názov knihy, keď som si povedala: tú knihu musím mať! A neľutujem. Jej čítanie som si vyslovene užívala.

Príbeh bol zábavný, romantický, nechýbali chvíle napätia a dokonca ani duchovia (v akom zmysle, to si už musíte prečítať sami). Tému, ktorú Juliana rozoberá, je nezvyčajná. Čitateľ sa dostáva do doby, kedy vznikali prvé automobily - dozvedáme sa ako sa začali používať, z čoho ich zostrojovali, a vôbec, ako všetko fungovalo pri zrode týchto, v súčasnosti, nezameniteľných strojov.

Celú recenziu si prečítajte tu: http://kokinakniznica.blogspot.sk/201...

[Natalia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bastante entretenido pero con un algo que no terminó de convencerle al término de la lectura de los tres libros, tal vez ha sido esa vertiente paranormal, no me gustan las historias de fantasmas, y que todo ha sido un cúmulo de casualidades un tanto rebuscadas.

La historia en sí es bonita, la noble que se enamora del hijo bastardo de otro noble, con el añadido de los gustos atípicos de los protagonistas en una época en la que ya se estaban dando los primeros pasos de la construcción de lo que hoy en día son los coches, esa parte del "carruaje sin caballos" ha sido la más interesante de todas.