What do you think?
Rate this book
A Gentleman of Substance
The viscount and the vicar’s daughter?Drake Viscount Silverthorne needs an heir to the estate and business empire he rebuilt from nothing. Lucy Rushton needs a father for her unborn child. A businesslike marriage of convenience seems like the perfect solution for both. Or is it?
Lucy blames Drake for the death of his half-brother, whose memory she still cherishes. Yet Drake knows that charming Jeremy was not the paragon Lucy believes. With greedy relatives scheming to destroy their union, will the solitary viscount and his spirited bride realize they could be a perfect match… before it’s too late?
Lucy blames Drake for the death of his half-brother, whose memory she still cherishes. Yet Drake knows that charming Jeremy was not the paragon Lucy believes. With greedy relatives scheming to destroy their union, will the solitary viscount and his spirited bride realize they could be a perfect match… before it’s too late?
307 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1999
26 people are currently reading
180 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
August 19, 2016
Nunca había leído algo de esta autora, y realmente tengo que admitir que este libro pudo engancharme desde la primera página. Me encantó el personaje de Drake, siempre fuerte, siempre manteniendo firme el honor, aunque no haya sido interpretado de esa forma por Lucy, nuestra protagonista femenina. Lucy aborrece a Drake por creerlo el instigador del asesinato del hombre que ama, el hermano de Drake, muerto en un campo de batalla.
De repente, Lucy se encuentra sola, a la espera de un hijo y devastada por la muerte de la persona que ama. Ahí aparecerá entonces, dejando una huella imborrable el amor verdadero de la mano de Drake Strickland.
De repente, Lucy se encuentra sola, a la espera de un hijo y devastada por la muerte de la persona que ama. Ahí aparecerá entonces, dejando una huella imborrable el amor verdadero de la mano de Drake Strickland.
November 3, 2015
Very good Regency period story. I really like the way the two characters - Lucy and Drake - overcame their hurdles in order to see each other as they really were, not who they thought they were.
Spoilers:
Lucy's slow realization that the ghost she put on the pedestal was in fact not so worthy was well done and not rushed. Over and over Drake proved to her that their marriage of convenience was anything but. I really liked the situations each faced in proving that towards each other.
There were a few lame things in the story - at the end Lucy readily agrees to have a child with Drake after going through a grueling labor with her first child. I know of NO woman who immediately thought what a great idea to have more children after this ordeal but perhaps her brain was addled from exhaustion ;). Another instance was Lucy climbing down from a second story window via tied together sheets, while being close to her due date. No way, no how.
Overall though, it was a fine read and one I would recommend.
Spoilers:
Lucy's slow realization that the ghost she put on the pedestal was in fact not so worthy was well done and not rushed. Over and over Drake proved to her that their marriage of convenience was anything but. I really liked the situations each faced in proving that towards each other.
There were a few lame things in the story - at the end Lucy readily agrees to have a child with Drake after going through a grueling labor with her first child. I know of NO woman who immediately thought what a great idea to have more children after this ordeal but perhaps her brain was addled from exhaustion ;). Another instance was Lucy climbing down from a second story window via tied together sheets, while being close to her due date. No way, no how.
Overall though, it was a fine read and one I would recommend.
January 27, 2014
It is a good book, even if I am not a fan of "misunderstanding" stories. I prefer characters who are able to speak with each other and grow accustomed with their new situation in life wisely. All that drama could have been speared with one single, honest conversation. However, it is a 4 star book. The story is well written, with rich historical background. I recommend it to regency novels lovers, but if you are looking for funny, romantic ballroom romance with dashing, charming rogue hero don't choose this one.
December 4, 2017
Ahhhhh 4 estrellas por sorprenderme :)
Debo decir que no daba 2 centavos; me dio curiosidad porque la tapa me hacia acordar a Darcy.
Me sorprendieron los giros que tuvo la historia, no siguieron las típicas conductas.
Me gustó mucho ♥
Debo decir que no daba 2 centavos; me dio curiosidad porque la tapa me hacia acordar a Darcy.
Me sorprendieron los giros que tuvo la historia, no siguieron las típicas conductas.
Me gustó mucho ♥
January 28, 2023
I LOVED THIS.
Miscommunication is probably one of my least favourite tropes (WHY CAN'T PEOPLE JUST TALK?!) but here, it made sense.
I loved Drake, he was giving off strong Mark Darcy vibes and that is always a win for me.
Miscommunication is probably one of my least favourite tropes (WHY CAN'T PEOPLE JUST TALK?!) but here, it made sense.
I loved Drake, he was giving off strong Mark Darcy vibes and that is always a win for me.
January 15, 2020
Good book to read. I was surprised.
September 21, 2011
Few romance writers possess the scope and versatility of Deborah Hale. A GENTLEMAN OF SUBSTANCE is a perfect combination of two very different types of love story. One the one hand, the social world of the hero, Drake Strickland, is something out of a Jane Austen novel or a Noel Coward play. Drake's relations are all brittle, bitter, decadent, but incredibly skilled in verbal combat. The wit and humor of the early scenes of Drake's family sets the reader up for a satire with barbed elegance.
But the heroine of this novel, Lucy Rushton, is from an entirely different world. In the early scenes, she is at the opposite extreme from Drake and his family -- Lucy is pure emotion, pure feeling, and her tragic story grips the reader emotionally rather than intellectually.
There's something terribly urgent and dramatic about this story. Lucy Rushton is a girl in trouble who needs a husband. Drake Strickland is a man of honor who is determined to make up for his dead younger brother's selfish mistake. But what makes this story so moving and believable is how things aren't perfect between them at first. It takes time for things to heat up between them, but the wait is definitely worth it!
Lucy may be poor and hurt and vulnerable, but she has enormous understanding of people and she's totally in touch with her emotions. Drake may be rich and powerful, but he's lonely and doesn't know how to show his feelings. This is the basic problem in all great romance novels, but few authors combine gradual understanding with growing sexual tension in the subtle, suggestive way that Deborah Hale achieves in this novel. There are so many interesting background issues too -- Drake's no-good relatives are both colorful and obnoxious. They hate the fact that he's found a wife who might truly love him and might provide him with an heir! Lucy wants to help her husband deal with them, but also with his workers and his mining ventures.
Lucy is such a wonderful heroine. The more you get to know her the more you see she's so much more than just a foolish girl who gave up her virginity impulsively to the wrong man at the wrong time. She deserves a second chance, and by the time the book is over you really see that Drake needed saving as well. Lucy goes from being cast off and unwanted, weeping and helpless, to being the cherished and adored lady of the manor, someone who is at the very center of her husband's life.
Sigh!
But the heroine of this novel, Lucy Rushton, is from an entirely different world. In the early scenes, she is at the opposite extreme from Drake and his family -- Lucy is pure emotion, pure feeling, and her tragic story grips the reader emotionally rather than intellectually.
There's something terribly urgent and dramatic about this story. Lucy Rushton is a girl in trouble who needs a husband. Drake Strickland is a man of honor who is determined to make up for his dead younger brother's selfish mistake. But what makes this story so moving and believable is how things aren't perfect between them at first. It takes time for things to heat up between them, but the wait is definitely worth it!
Lucy may be poor and hurt and vulnerable, but she has enormous understanding of people and she's totally in touch with her emotions. Drake may be rich and powerful, but he's lonely and doesn't know how to show his feelings. This is the basic problem in all great romance novels, but few authors combine gradual understanding with growing sexual tension in the subtle, suggestive way that Deborah Hale achieves in this novel. There are so many interesting background issues too -- Drake's no-good relatives are both colorful and obnoxious. They hate the fact that he's found a wife who might truly love him and might provide him with an heir! Lucy wants to help her husband deal with them, but also with his workers and his mining ventures.
Lucy is such a wonderful heroine. The more you get to know her the more you see she's so much more than just a foolish girl who gave up her virginity impulsively to the wrong man at the wrong time. She deserves a second chance, and by the time the book is over you really see that Drake needed saving as well. Lucy goes from being cast off and unwanted, weeping and helpless, to being the cherished and adored lady of the manor, someone who is at the very center of her husband's life.
Sigh!
February 24, 2013
OMG!! I really fell in love with Drake and his story. As soon as I came across it and read the synopsis of the book, knew it was a "must read" for me and I am not at all disappointed. I think it was a beautifully written story. One of a broken man who happens to find love with the most unexpected woman, in the most unexpected of places and just by fulfilling another one of his gentlemanly duties. When the cousin refers in the story to him being "A Gentleman of Substance" she might refer to his money and position, but he is so much more than that. In one word: lovely.
March 11, 2019
Ugh. One gigantic misunderstanding after another dragged this plot out until the very end. These two never truly trusted each other, and all basically based on things that other people told them about each other. Quite the miserable reading experience!
However, this author can write, and if she'd decided to let her characters speak frankly to one another before literally the last page, then I would have enjoyed this more. I will try more of her work, just maybe not anytime soon.
However, this author can write, and if she'd decided to let her characters speak frankly to one another before literally the last page, then I would have enjoyed this more. I will try more of her work, just maybe not anytime soon.
April 11, 2022
Lucy enamored of one brother ends up marrying the older brother. What becomes of the marriage and just how far will family be able to throw obstacles in the way? Find the adventures that await this couple and to what end comes about.
March 1, 2018
Una historia entretenida, de rápida lectura.
July 29, 2018
A wee bit melodramatic, but a good solid read.
July 30, 2018
Una historia que engancha y con personajes muy tiernos 🤗
November 20, 2021
A good marriage of convenience story.
May 17, 2023
Love this book
I have loved this book since the first time I read it and I'm happy I managed to find it again and it back to my collection
I have loved this book since the first time I read it and I'm happy I managed to find it again and it back to my collection
Read
July 21, 2023letto in italiano
March 3, 2024
interesting plot twists
January 24, 2025
Bonita y romántica, no tiene escenas subidas de tono a penas pero aun así te hace pensar en ellas. Me ha gustado bastante aunque sea un libro reciente y no clásico como orgullo y prejuicio.
March 5, 2017
3.5 stars
An enjoyable melodrama filled with honor and secrets, but not far-fetched in the manner of some romance novels. This had a rather gothic bent, which I like, and the main characters of Lucy and Drake were delightful to watch and they slowly overcome the miscommunications and hidden passions inherent in such stories. The plot between Drake's relatives to break apart the couple and thus have access to Drake's fortune is a little dubious, but thankfully both Drake and Lucy exhibit the wit to see through and overcome those obstacles before they became too outlandish. The physicality of the romance is relatively restrained with only one sex scene depicted so for those of you who enjoy a romance but would rather not dwell on graphic description, you may find this enjoyable.
An enjoyable melodrama filled with honor and secrets, but not far-fetched in the manner of some romance novels. This had a rather gothic bent, which I like, and the main characters of Lucy and Drake were delightful to watch and they slowly overcome the miscommunications and hidden passions inherent in such stories. The plot between Drake's relatives to break apart the couple and thus have access to Drake's fortune is a little dubious, but thankfully both Drake and Lucy exhibit the wit to see through and overcome those obstacles before they became too outlandish. The physicality of the romance is relatively restrained with only one sex scene depicted so for those of you who enjoy a romance but would rather not dwell on graphic description, you may find this enjoyable.
August 26, 2014
I didn't care for some of the heroine's dialogues in the beginning
But the story was lovely.
I'm only about half way through though. Hope the story keeps up.
Hmm... 3 months go by between end of Chapter 20 and beginning of Chapter 21
I quite liked the hero. He's a real sweetheart.
It was a sweet story.
But the story was lovely.
I'm only about half way through though. Hope the story keeps up.
Hmm... 3 months go by between end of Chapter 20 and beginning of Chapter 21
I quite liked the hero. He's a real sweetheart.
It was a sweet story.
February 27, 2015
Feb 26, 2015
I just reread this book three years later. I didn't remember reading it the first time, not a single place, not a single word. I never had that vague, this is familiar moment. Weird.
And this time I'm giving it four stars instead of the three I gave it last time.
~~~~~~
Dec 28, 2011
This ebook was riddled with glitches that Harlequin should have caught. Fortunately, nothing that was absolutely confusing or pulled me totally out of the story, but still, more errors than I could begin to point out.
That's not why I gave it three stars. The three stars are for the good story and characters. Not great, but very interesting and sometimes moving.
~~~~~~~~
I just reread this book three years later. I didn't remember reading it the first time, not a single place, not a single word. I never had that vague, this is familiar moment. Weird.
And this time I'm giving it four stars instead of the three I gave it last time.
~~~~~~
Dec 28, 2011
This ebook was riddled with glitches that Harlequin should have caught. Fortunately, nothing that was absolutely confusing or pulled me totally out of the story, but still, more errors than I could begin to point out.
That's not why I gave it three stars. The three stars are for the good story and characters. Not great, but very interesting and sometimes moving.
~~~~~~~~
April 5, 2012
Yeni bir Harlequin Historical yazarı ilk defa kitabını okudum..Yazarı kalemini beğendim çok akıcı yazıyor..Çeviride başarılı idi..The Goodreads'de puanı 5/3,60 yani kitap beğenilmiş..Bende beğenerek okudum..Ama benim değer yargılarıma ters düştü..Başka bir erkeğin çocuğuna hamile olan bir genç kadın bebeğinin kardeşide olsa onun ile evlenmesi biraz ters geldi bana..Yine de kitabı keyifle okudum..
January 17, 2013
Although it was your typical Harlequin Romance and the ending was easily predictable, it did surprise me a few times. I enjoyed it.
April 15, 2016
The turns this book takes were not expected and I found it hard to put it down. It is a longer read than I was looking for at the time but I ate it up and enjoyed the fullness of the characters and the plot turns I was not expecting.
June 13, 2016
3 1/2. It would have been a solid 4 but it got silly towards the end. Had it stuck with being more of a straight up character study is have enjoyed it more.
Rated PG for one non-explicit sex scene.
Also note there is definitely talk of faith and God but it's not OTT.
Rated PG for one non-explicit sex scene.
Also note there is definitely talk of faith and God but it's not OTT.
December 31, 2010
typical generic romance, descriptive well written characters
September 4, 2012
a very well balanced romance that shows the insecurities of too people and how they overcome it
September 12, 2012
Not bad, but not entirely good either. A one-time read. It was a little too balogh-ish in style for my taste.
July 21, 2014
Too rushed of an end, and the horrible cousins got off too light! I skimmed chapter after chapter to get to an unsatisfying end. Very frustrating.
April 13, 2015
Loved Drake's character.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews