Siege of Hearts

by June Calvin

Despite her attraction to the handsome Lord Jack Maitland, Amanda Garfield believes that he has come to woo her beautiful sister and decides to avoid him, until a scheming party guest strands the couple together on an island overnight, threatening scandal if they do not marry. Original.

Genres: Regency, Romance, Fiction

224 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 1, 1999

About the author

June Calvin has been married to her one and only since 1962; they have one grown son, Craig. When not writing she loves to make candles, crochet, or watch birds. She has been a teacher, secretary, P.R. person, museum educator, antique dealer, newspaper reporter, and teacher again, before discovering the world of Regency romance. Finally realizing what she wanted to be when she grew up, she wrote The Baron and the Bookseller, which won the Romance Writers of America's Golden Heart award in 1993.

Reviews

[Catsalive · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining Regency, a little far-fetched but enjoyable for all that, until... the dreadfully contrived misunderstandings. Everything was going quite well until Amanda started listening at doors & going off half-cocked. I found it irritating that a reasonably intelligent woman suddenly started acting like an idiot just so the path to true love could have a few more bumps in it. Surely the author could have come up with something less demeaning. Otherwise, a fun read. 2.5★ rounded up.

[Andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a tough one because for 3/4ths of the book I was really enjoying myself. Then the last 1/4 was kind of awful. For the beginning and middle, I liked both the plotline and the two main characters Amanda and Jack. I thought they worked well together and there were just enough barriers to make some angst without it being overwrought. Then in the last 25%, there were several instances where Amanda would overhear half a conversation, draw the wrong conclusion, and then make the worst possible decision. She did this more than once. I hate that trope so much because if the characters would just be adults and have a two-minute conversation it would be all cleared up instead they do something stupid. It feels like manufactured conflict. So, I already don't like the trope but then to use it so often was enough to put me off the book which was a bummer because it started off so well.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very interesting that a complicated and interesting heroine should, 3/4 of the way through the book, become a stubborn shrew who I want to slap. I stopped caring after the fifth time she accused the hero of something dumb because she was eavesdropping. It was as if the book was stitched together from two other books, with different heroines. I would have liked to read of the hero conquering her insecurities over her looks. Not the "take off her glasses and she's a babe" type of makeover she got, and not the hero having to chase her down every time she got into a snit.

[Rabia · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the surface, this looks like a marriage of convenience story, but the author delves deeper into the personality complexes of her characters. The heroine, being the plainer twin had her own inferiority complex which made her doubt the hero's regard. The hero, having been a victim of a 'compromising' situation, is wary of young marriageable females. The plot is also enlivened by subtle humor. I loved the betting duo! I think I added a star just because of them!

The author did try to beef up the plot with some misunderstandings between Amanda and Jack, and it did get a bit tiresome. It also seemed to be a bit out of character for Amanda, who had been shown to be quite rational and level headed up to that point. But, the plot is redeemed by the sprinkling of humor even in those arguments (mules and mares play their part!). Also, I think the epilogue does justice to the book, and leaves the reader with a smile on their face. I was given an ARC of the book, and all opinions expressed are my own.

[Roberta · Rating 3 out of 5]

It only makes sense that the twin who has always been considered to be the prettier of the two should be paired up with a handsome man. So it was a cruel joke for a guest to make sure that the handsome man who had been earmarked for the pretty sister, should be stranded alone (Oh, the scandal) with the sister who is considered to be the less attractive. But the course of true love does not run smooth, neither does the plot and neither does the star rating system. 4 stars + 2 stars ÷ 2 = 3 stars

Once again, no compliments for Signet's cover. Yes, she's supposed to be the "ugly sister" but does she have to look like she got dressed in the dark? I wouldn't make anyone wear that color unless it was St. Patrick's day or they play for the Green Bay Packers.

[tysephine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely, but leans heavily on misunderstandings to drive the drama. Even the hero at one point says the heroine needs to stop overhearing things and overreacting, to come to him if she hears something that worries her so they can TALK IT OUT. You know it's bad when the characters themselves know how ridiculous the drama has become.

Honestly, that bit where he calls her out smoothed the whole up and down miscommunication drama over for me.

[Melanie Berry · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful book! I read this through at one sitting - I enjoyed reading about realistic characters in the Regency time period. The whole plot, placed mostly at the heroine's family home with the Garfield family, develops in a believable way with Amanda and Jack's relationship develops in a way that is heart-warming and refreshing. It is on the sweet romance side -anyone looking for a lovely romance will certainly enjoy this!

[Edra Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Siege of Hearts

I enjoyed this book, especially because of the many interesting characters! The descriptions of customs and every day life is interesting to me … a glimpse into another time and place! I recommend June’s book!

[Live2Read · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not what I anticipated. Hero is injured from Waterloo and I didn’t cared for a pretty twin vs a plain twin trope. Just like the rest hero desired the pretty one. Not my cup of tea.