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In the Presence of Angels
Bestselling, award-winning author Katherine Kingsley, hailed as "a glorious treasure" by Romantic Times, sweeps us back to Regency-era England in a sizzling tale of passion, romance, and a touch of the miraculous....
He appeared on her doorstep as if by magic. A man of all work answering her ad--her last hope of saving her family, her farm, herself. Will Cutter was too handsome to trust, but she needed him now that her husband was gone. Will's dark eyes penetrated every defense she'd carefully constructed, leaving her confused and shaken, wanting what she'd vowed she'd never accept again: a man's touch. There was something special about Will, but she never guessed in how many extraordinary ways he would change her life.
It was too late to tell Louisa Merriem that he was really Major Lord William Fitzpatrick, son of a marquess, home from Waterloo to pay his respects to his best friend's widow. To her. And then to deliver the letters she had written to his comrade in arms. After reading Louisa's letters, he'd half fallen in love with her. But in person she was stunning, the most beautiful, vulnerable creature he'd ever seen. First he vowed to earn her trust and save her farm. And then, to marry her, mend her soul, and make her believe....In the Presence of Angels.
He appeared on her doorstep as if by magic. A man of all work answering her ad--her last hope of saving her family, her farm, herself. Will Cutter was too handsome to trust, but she needed him now that her husband was gone. Will's dark eyes penetrated every defense she'd carefully constructed, leaving her confused and shaken, wanting what she'd vowed she'd never accept again: a man's touch. There was something special about Will, but she never guessed in how many extraordinary ways he would change her life.
It was too late to tell Louisa Merriem that he was really Major Lord William Fitzpatrick, son of a marquess, home from Waterloo to pay his respects to his best friend's widow. To her. And then to deliver the letters she had written to his comrade in arms. After reading Louisa's letters, he'd half fallen in love with her. But in person she was stunning, the most beautiful, vulnerable creature he'd ever seen. First he vowed to earn her trust and save her farm. And then, to marry her, mend her soul, and make her believe....In the Presence of Angels.
338 pages, Paperback
First published March 7, 2000
25 people are currently reading
95 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 28, 2011
Katherine Kingsley has written a few of my all-time favorite romances including the unforgettable "No Sweeter Heaven" so I began this book with very high expectations. Expectations that disappointingly were not met once the story really got going.
Major Lord William Fizpatrick is sick of war and death. After his best friend Val dies in his arms he resigns his commission and heads home. But first he makes a pit stop to visit Val's widow, to bring her the letters she'd written to Val. In those letters Louisa had vividly described her happy home life and Will, who never had a happy home of his own, fell just a little bit in love with her.
Louisa wasn't honest in her letters though and she and Val had had anything but the idyllic love life that she hinted at. Val left Louisa and their young daughter Pip in dire straits and Louisa only wrote the letters in an attempt to soothe her pride and to make Val feel a little guilt at his desertion. As a result of her doomed marriage Louisa has hardened her heart and become grumpy.
When Will arrives she mistakes him for a handyman. Will becomes tongue-tied by her beauty and pretends to be a handyman named "Will Cutter". He sees this as a chance to become free of his past and longs to spend more time with Louisa.
This setup was often emotional and held much promise but the romance that followed did not live up to its potential. Louisa is a screechy, stubborn and mostly unlikeable heroine right from the get-go. She is desperate to keep Will at arm's length and spends most of the book treating him to harsh, uncalled-for tongue-lashings. After a few of these outbursts I was really shocked when he decided to stick around. But stick around he did, and emotionally abused he was. Sucker!
Will was a great hero, and the only reason that I continued to read the story. He's kind and has a fantastic sense of humor that really comes in handy when he's dealing with Louisa's red-hot temper. Louisa eventually warms up and the plot takes a temporary turn for the better. The story becomes entertaining, moving and highly sensual for a bit but then things begin to slide downhill again. Several annoying plot twists occur including a frustrating and simple to resolve misunderstanding, a catastrophe where Louisa acts in a embarrassingly pathetic fashion and a three-month long separation that occurs near the end of the story.
Despite the plot contrivances and irritating heroine this book had some genuinely touching moments, some way better than average love scenes and a beautiful spiritual element. But in the end, there were too many problems for me to give "In The Presence of Angels" anything more than a lukewarm rating. There are too many great books out there to stick with "meh" when you don't have to.
Major Lord William Fizpatrick is sick of war and death. After his best friend Val dies in his arms he resigns his commission and heads home. But first he makes a pit stop to visit Val's widow, to bring her the letters she'd written to Val. In those letters Louisa had vividly described her happy home life and Will, who never had a happy home of his own, fell just a little bit in love with her.
Louisa wasn't honest in her letters though and she and Val had had anything but the idyllic love life that she hinted at. Val left Louisa and their young daughter Pip in dire straits and Louisa only wrote the letters in an attempt to soothe her pride and to make Val feel a little guilt at his desertion. As a result of her doomed marriage Louisa has hardened her heart and become grumpy.
When Will arrives she mistakes him for a handyman. Will becomes tongue-tied by her beauty and pretends to be a handyman named "Will Cutter". He sees this as a chance to become free of his past and longs to spend more time with Louisa.
This setup was often emotional and held much promise but the romance that followed did not live up to its potential. Louisa is a screechy, stubborn and mostly unlikeable heroine right from the get-go. She is desperate to keep Will at arm's length and spends most of the book treating him to harsh, uncalled-for tongue-lashings. After a few of these outbursts I was really shocked when he decided to stick around. But stick around he did, and emotionally abused he was. Sucker!
Will was a great hero, and the only reason that I continued to read the story. He's kind and has a fantastic sense of humor that really comes in handy when he's dealing with Louisa's red-hot temper. Louisa eventually warms up and the plot takes a temporary turn for the better. The story becomes entertaining, moving and highly sensual for a bit but then things begin to slide downhill again. Several annoying plot twists occur including a frustrating and simple to resolve misunderstanding, a catastrophe where Louisa acts in a embarrassingly pathetic fashion and a three-month long separation that occurs near the end of the story.
Despite the plot contrivances and irritating heroine this book had some genuinely touching moments, some way better than average love scenes and a beautiful spiritual element. But in the end, there were too many problems for me to give "In The Presence of Angels" anything more than a lukewarm rating. There are too many great books out there to stick with "meh" when you don't have to.
November 20, 2009
romance aside, i like this book for its religious points.
June 29, 2017
After Waterloo, Major Lord William Fitzpatrick, son of a marquess, intends to pay his respects to his best friend's widow and return her letters. But when he gets to the farm, wearing a worn borrowed set of traveling clothes, she mistakes him for a man-of-all-work, for which she has advertised. Seeing the straightened circumstances, he lets the deception ride and determines to help her, her daughter and her father out. He had been exiled from his family 10 years before and he can wait to go home and try to fix things. Despite his own problems Will has a 'make the best of the circumstances you have been dealt' attitude and admires that in Louisa. The two work together solving problems and being drawn together until the point where his own family situation and his deception are near exposure. I would have liked a little more honesty from him rather than a dramatic exposure, but that's a minor quibble. Well done historical romance.
July 15, 2021
A moving tale of two people who have known trouble and despair but coped until they meet each other and thrive in each other's care. There are various difficulties to surmount, of course, along the way, but Will's faith makes it possible. I really loved his characterization and his knowledge of angels. Louisa was a little tougher to understand, but she manages her difficulties with wit and hard work. She also admits that she needs help, the first step to improving one's condition. Pip is a lot of fun and fairly insightful for an eight-year-old, showing that children often see, hear, and understand more than we think. All in all, a lovely tale. The only reason it didn't get five stars was that just once I would like to read a tale where the heroine does NOT go outside to join the hero when she sees him leave a building after dark. We all know where that leads, and at first I thought Louisa was going to break that mold, but she doesn't. It was a great disappointment.
July 20, 2025
There are a lot of "big circumstances" in this book for what is a rather quiet love story between a widow and her husband's commanding officer (who is hiding his identity from her due to a whiff at the start and doesn't really know how to tell her the truth).
The angels involved are not really central to the story and could be excised completely and not change a thing, especially one scene near the end. They mostly exist to make the ML "extra special" and come off a bit schmaltzy to be honest. He's an excessively--excessively--good guy though and doesn't need any heavenly help for that.
This book is not Christian fiction per se and I wouldn't tag it as such but there is quite a bit of the "inspirational feeling" in here non-fans of that might find off-putting.
The angels involved are not really central to the story and could be excised completely and not change a thing, especially one scene near the end. They mostly exist to make the ML "extra special" and come off a bit schmaltzy to be honest. He's an excessively--excessively--good guy though and doesn't need any heavenly help for that.
This book is not Christian fiction per se and I wouldn't tag it as such but there is quite a bit of the "inspirational feeling" in here non-fans of that might find off-putting.
May 1, 2023
This is absolutely a lovely story. Having survived Waterloo, Will goes to visit his best friend's widow to return the letters she'd written to her husband. After being mistaken for a laborer, he stays on to help the family with their farm. Will is a charming hero and Louisa is a stubborn, independent "damsel in distress." The writing is excellent and the story line flows beautifully, bring me to tears more than once.
Excellent.
Excellent.
November 23, 2019
Historical romance.
November 5, 2007
Easy to read time passer.
Read
May 21, 2017Wow
I read one of her books, and was hooked. I wanted all and read them all within a few months. I hope to read more from this amazing author.
I read one of her books, and was hooked. I wanted all and read them all within a few months. I hope to read more from this amazing author.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews