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A Bird in Hand #2
Birds of a Feather
A mere chaperone and companion, the plain, bespectacled Joanna Patterson finds herself continually thrown into the company of Lord Wylie, a great arbiter of fashion for London society, who is rumored to care more for the design of his coat than the feelings of others. Original.
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 1, 1999
14 people are currently reading
76 people want to read
About the author
Allison Lane
40 books36 followersAllison Lane is the author of 20 Regency novels and 6 novellas. She is a Holt Medallion Winner and the 2005 Romantic Times Career Achievement Award Winner, as well as National Readers' Choice Awards Finalist for three books.
Notes from Allison Lane:
I am not one of those who always wanted to be a writer, though I suspect I wanted to be just about everything else -- doctor, astronaut, artist, scientist, and concert pianist, to name only a few. My actual careers were not quite so exciting. Designing computer software and running horse shows gave way to motherhood, home improvement projects, and teaching piano. But books have always been one of the cornerstones of my life.
When I was growing up in the mid-west, reading and music kept me sane through frequent changes of address. As an adult, books offered a respite from the strain of daily living. Often I would finish the last page with the thought, I wish I were that creative. Occasionally it would change to, Surely even I could do better than this! So one day I tried. But this is not a fairy tale, folks. My first book was less than stellar. In fact, it stunk. Good writing is hard work. But I enjoyed the process (or maybe I just enjoy playing God) so I tried again. By the third tale, I had a publishable story.
Where am I headed in the future? I don’t yet know. For now, I write Regencies. It is a fascinating period and an entertaining genre. My work is classed as traditional though I don’t consider it in quite that way. I try to avoid clichés -- except for happy endings, of course; those are what offer us respite from that daily crisis. But I like to pose universal problems to my characters and then watch them find solutions. I have long been fascinated by how people surmount problems to find the happiness that we all deserve.
These days my spare time is limited. Writing consumes most of my day. I still read as much as ever and keep up with the world of science. And everyone knows better than to step between me and a TV during football season -- it somehow takes an extra month to complete fall manuscripts.
From: Regency Reads
Notes from Allison Lane:
I am not one of those who always wanted to be a writer, though I suspect I wanted to be just about everything else -- doctor, astronaut, artist, scientist, and concert pianist, to name only a few. My actual careers were not quite so exciting. Designing computer software and running horse shows gave way to motherhood, home improvement projects, and teaching piano. But books have always been one of the cornerstones of my life.
When I was growing up in the mid-west, reading and music kept me sane through frequent changes of address. As an adult, books offered a respite from the strain of daily living. Often I would finish the last page with the thought, I wish I were that creative. Occasionally it would change to, Surely even I could do better than this! So one day I tried. But this is not a fairy tale, folks. My first book was less than stellar. In fact, it stunk. Good writing is hard work. But I enjoyed the process (or maybe I just enjoy playing God) so I tried again. By the third tale, I had a publishable story.
Where am I headed in the future? I don’t yet know. For now, I write Regencies. It is a fascinating period and an entertaining genre. My work is classed as traditional though I don’t consider it in quite that way. I try to avoid clichés -- except for happy endings, of course; those are what offer us respite from that daily crisis. But I like to pose universal problems to my characters and then watch them find solutions. I have long been fascinated by how people surmount problems to find the happiness that we all deserve.
These days my spare time is limited. Writing consumes most of my day. I still read as much as ever and keep up with the world of science. And everyone knows better than to step between me and a TV during football season -- it somehow takes an extra month to complete fall manuscripts.
From: Regency Reads
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 14, 2010
This is an offshoot of the author's earlier A Bird in Hand featuring a friend of the hero.
I could not finish this. The hero came across as too anachronistically modern and I have no tolerance for traditional regency authors who don't know the correct forms of address for the nobility.
I could not finish this. The hero came across as too anachronistically modern and I have no tolerance for traditional regency authors who don't know the correct forms of address for the nobility.
February 8, 2014
Joanna Patterson, a homely vicar's daughter, has been hired as companion to Miss Harriet Wicksfield to act as chaperon for Harriet's first season, screen Harriet's suitors and keep Lady Wicksfield from over-spending her budget. All this is a tall order for a daydreamer like Joanna, but she prides herself on her intelligence and interest in helping others. Joanna's interests lead her into disaster as she continually crashes into Lord Sedgewick Wylie. Sedge is a dandy and a leader of the ton who prides himself on his perfect public appearance. Whenever he encounters Joanna, he meets with disaster. Joanna becomes tongue-tied around the arrogant lord and he believes her to be a brainless idiot. Joanna strikes up a friendship with Sedge's brother Reggie, Lord Ellisham and work together to find Harriet the perfect husband. Sedge is certain that Joanna is a desperate fortune hunter out to ruin his brother and their family. Sedge is determined to separate them, yet can't help but be attracted to Joanna's womanly figure. A public scandal and unhealthy family relationships create a lot of drama and nearly prevent these birds of a feather from realizing they belong together. The hero and heroine of this novel are truly not birds of a feather. Sedge is a rude, arrogant, selfish, snobby, pig who is nothing but cruel to Joanna. Joanna begins to understand that Sedge has a hidden side to him that's vastly different from his public persona but the story from his point of view does not develop his character sufficiently to really understand him or like him.
This book is a sequel to a Bird in Hand, which I did not read. Perhaps if I had, I would understand Sedge's anger better but the story should really be able to stand on its' own. I liked Reggie much better and he would have made a better husband for Joanna. I was more interested in poor Harriet's fate than what happened between Joanna and Sedge. Needless to say, I did not like this book and won't be looking for the prequel.
This book is a sequel to a Bird in Hand, which I did not read. Perhaps if I had, I would understand Sedge's anger better but the story should really be able to stand on its' own. I liked Reggie much better and he would have made a better husband for Joanna. I was more interested in poor Harriet's fate than what happened between Joanna and Sedge. Needless to say, I did not like this book and won't be looking for the prequel.
October 20, 2024
This book is a sequel to A Bird in Hand and is sort of centered around Sedge, Randolph's BFF who helps him out by accidentally posing as him while unconscious from a carriage accident in ABIH.
This was a disappointment- I have to say, I'm glad this author didn't take on many series because they really aren't her forte imo.
Sedge(wick?) does not have the same personality as he did in the previous book, at ALL. He was portrayed as a dandy-but-caring, toast of the ton, society-leading, charming, intelligent, kind but witty/sarcastic man who is always suave, smooth, and takes everything in his stride previously.
In this book, while he's *described* as all of that, he is shown to be supercilious, arrogant, condescending, and judgmental, and that's to society in general. To the *heroine* he's all of that but also hateful, borderline abusive, violent, insulting, demeaning, condemning, and awkward, but not in a cute way. And it's not believable that it's awkwardness due to attraction imo.
Also the way they were forced into marriage was incredibly contrived, the 'villains' are over the top to the point of parody, and there is absolutely no romance that grows between them at any point, they just decide they love each other for no apparent reason even though especially the hero has done and shown nothing to be even kinda lovable.
I will say that at least they weren't constantly being attacked by the forces of nature like in the 1st novel where the actual earth itself seemed to have a vendetta against the main characters, but yeah still this was unsatisfying and frustrating.
This was a disappointment- I have to say, I'm glad this author didn't take on many series because they really aren't her forte imo.
Sedge(wick?) does not have the same personality as he did in the previous book, at ALL. He was portrayed as a dandy-but-caring, toast of the ton, society-leading, charming, intelligent, kind but witty/sarcastic man who is always suave, smooth, and takes everything in his stride previously.
In this book, while he's *described* as all of that, he is shown to be supercilious, arrogant, condescending, and judgmental, and that's to society in general. To the *heroine* he's all of that but also hateful, borderline abusive, violent, insulting, demeaning, condemning, and awkward, but not in a cute way. And it's not believable that it's awkwardness due to attraction imo.
Also the way they were forced into marriage was incredibly contrived, the 'villains' are over the top to the point of parody, and there is absolutely no romance that grows between them at any point, they just decide they love each other for no apparent reason even though especially the hero has done and shown nothing to be even kinda lovable.
I will say that at least they weren't constantly being attacked by the forces of nature like in the 1st novel where the actual earth itself seemed to have a vendetta against the main characters, but yeah still this was unsatisfying and frustrating.
November 16, 2019
I so wanted to like this more, but the hero was just such an ass. There are instances where we are told that he is kind and does nice things, but we rarely see it. And we see far more of him being an ass, particularly to the heroine (also wtf is the deal with the quizzing glass?!). In the end, I didn’t find the romance very believable. It had a plain, somewhat insecure heroine, but it didn’t quite nail the trope for me. (2.5 stars)
Afterthought: actually, this really reminds me of the relationship in Twilight by Stephanie Meyer.
Afterthought: actually, this really reminds me of the relationship in Twilight by Stephanie Meyer.
October 20, 2023
3.5 stars. I liked this better than some, but not enough for 4 stars.
December 23, 2024
I totally enjoyed this book much more than I thought I would. A total page-turner.
July 14, 2014
Author Allison Lane crafts an enjoyable, funny Regency romance that seems more a short story than an actual novel. Bearing a great deal of similarity to Julia Quinn’s “The Viscount Who Loved Me,” Lane’s novel pairs plain chaperon Joanna Patterson with the dashing rake Lord Sedgewick (or just Sedge), the arbiter of fashion in England. They go together like sequins and sand, but the story’s Beauty and the Beast like plot rolls merrily along.
Lane uses many terms that were unfamiliar to me, but were common during the time period that Regency romances cover. A dictionary might be helpful if this is your first Regency romance. Also, the dialogue between Joanna and Sedge crackles and sparks, and it’s the best part of this novel. Joanna and Sedge are forced into a marriage of convenience after running into each other (literally) a few times and exchanging words. Found in a compromising position by society’s worst gossips, they wed quickly and quietly, but love surpasses the separation of classes in Regency England’s haut ton.
Interestingly, the character of Lord Sedgewick first appears in another of Lane’s novels, “A Bird in Hand”, which provides more backstory than this novel. Sedge is a dandy to be sure, but underneath his heroism and kindness are notable. I’d love to see what happens to Sedge’s brother Reggie (Lord Ellisham), who appears to be pining for Joanna when Sedge marries her.
Joanna herself is a strong, complex, intelligent, likable character. She and Sedge both seek something deeper than the shallow world of high society London. I like Lane’s complicated plots and complex characters. I also liked her realistic portrayal of Regency England and its social issues. I loved her dialogue. She’s an author I will be reading much more of in the future.
Lane uses many terms that were unfamiliar to me, but were common during the time period that Regency romances cover. A dictionary might be helpful if this is your first Regency romance. Also, the dialogue between Joanna and Sedge crackles and sparks, and it’s the best part of this novel. Joanna and Sedge are forced into a marriage of convenience after running into each other (literally) a few times and exchanging words. Found in a compromising position by society’s worst gossips, they wed quickly and quietly, but love surpasses the separation of classes in Regency England’s haut ton.
Interestingly, the character of Lord Sedgewick first appears in another of Lane’s novels, “A Bird in Hand”, which provides more backstory than this novel. Sedge is a dandy to be sure, but underneath his heroism and kindness are notable. I’d love to see what happens to Sedge’s brother Reggie (Lord Ellisham), who appears to be pining for Joanna when Sedge marries her.
Joanna herself is a strong, complex, intelligent, likable character. She and Sedge both seek something deeper than the shallow world of high society London. I like Lane’s complicated plots and complex characters. I also liked her realistic portrayal of Regency England and its social issues. I loved her dialogue. She’s an author I will be reading much more of in the future.
November 11, 2012
Joanna Patterson and and Lord Sedgewick Wylie are as different as can be. The former is a clumsy, wool-gathering, bespectacled vicar’s daughter with a tendency to stammer when she’s flustered. Sedge is the pinacle of fashion, and he can make or ruin a person’s reputation with a sharp word and a critical glace through his quizzing glass. All Joanna wants is to successfully find a suitable husband for her charge, Harriet. If only she could stop colliding with Sedge–literally–and navigate London society without making a complete cake of herself . . .
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http://www.numbersonthespines.com/201...
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews