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Those Magnificent Malverns #1
The Seduction of Sarah Marks
England, 1857
After a blow to her head, Sarah Marks awakens in a strange bed with a strange man and no memory of how she got there. Her handsome bedmate, Lord Eastleigh, tells her she's suffering from amnesia, and the best course of action is to travel home with him until she recovers her memory.
Lord Eastleigh has his own reasons for helping Sarah and keeping her close. Reasons he cannot tell her. As they struggle to restore her memory, their undeniable, inadvisable attraction grows—until Sarah finally remembers the one thing that could keep them apart forever.
After a blow to her head, Sarah Marks awakens in a strange bed with a strange man and no memory of how she got there. Her handsome bedmate, Lord Eastleigh, tells her she's suffering from amnesia, and the best course of action is to travel home with him until she recovers her memory.
Lord Eastleigh has his own reasons for helping Sarah and keeping her close. Reasons he cannot tell her. As they struggle to restore her memory, their undeniable, inadvisable attraction grows—until Sarah finally remembers the one thing that could keep them apart forever.
270 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 9, 2014
24 people are currently reading
274 people want to read
About the author
Kathleen Bittner Roth
10 books191 followersKathleen Bittner Roth creates passionate stories featuring characters faced with difficult choices, and who are forced to draw on their strength of spirit to overcome adversity and find unending love. Her own fairy tale wedding in a Scottish castle led her to her current residence in Budapest, Hungary, considered one of Europe’s most romantic cities. However, she still keeps one boot firmly in Texas and the other in her home state of Minnesota. A PAN member of Romance Writers of America®, she was a 2012 Golden Heart® finalist.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 64 reviews
June 9, 2014
With all its twists and turns, clever dialogue, giggle-worthy wit, and delicious hero, The Seduction of Sarah Marks was a fabulous read that kept me up, turning pages, way past my bedtime. The twists were so clever I didn’t see them coming, and I kept flipping through the pages eager to see what would happen next. The story’s incorporation of “megrims” and amnesia, as dealt with in the time period, was so fun and interesting. I also love a little humor in romance novels, and Ms. Bittner-Roth delivered there, too: There were so many witty lines and clever circumstances -- from the horse statues, to Mum’s stories about Lady Hester Stanhope, to Eastleigh’s lines when he’s amused by the heroine (“Madam,” he commanded. “Come out from under there before you suffocate.”) Eastleigh was an absolutely delicious hero – I was rooting for him from the start. And for the heroine, too – these were two characters who you really wanted to see work things out. This was such a fun read – I’m already looking forward to the release of the next books from Ms. Bittner-Roth!
I received an ARC from the publisher for an impartial review.
I received an ARC from the publisher for an impartial review.
July 8, 2014
I thought I was getting tired of Regency romances. Turns out, I was just getting tired of the same old stories. This is not one of those. Though I had trouble accepting the extreme coincidence of an amnesiac running into another amnesiac purely by chance, the couple in this story are thoroughly likable and believable, convenient amnesia and all. The crisis scene in the river seemed to lack sufficient tension, and the title is thoroughly misleading, since there is only one seduction scene and we never meet the real Sarah Marks, but the writing and storytelling is so good, I didn't care.
October 20, 2015
My first read from this author and I really enjoyed it. While I had a feeling about one of the twists part of the way into the story , I still enjoyed the reveals .
I adored Eastleigh's character. He was so patient and understanding and I just found him to be all around wonderful. This is such a refreshing change, especially after having to deal with some very frustrating and annoying alpha males in other books.
The only complaint I have is that I wish the secondary characters, particularly Eastleigh's family, were better fleshed out. They conveniently kept disappearing and reappearing when they were needed/required for story progression--like, they literally left the estate and then came back--and we don't even really get to know his sisters at all. Maybe if the story were a little more tightly written and edited, we could've had more memorable interactions and scenes with the secondary characters. We're introduced to many of them but we never really get to know them and I really liked them all and what they added to the story. There were even the ones I didn't like. There was so much more telling than showing when it came to introducing us to people like Sarah's father...and then we meet him for all of five minutes before we don't ever really have to deal with him again (other than a mention at the end).
I definitely wouldn't be averse to this being a series and being acquainted with the rest of the Malvern family more intimately. I want a Will/Lady Willamette novel! And Sir Robert (tell me who the woman in the portrait is!). Oh, and definitely more Mum!
I adored Eastleigh's character. He was so patient and understanding and I just found him to be all around wonderful. This is such a refreshing change, especially after having to deal with some very frustrating and annoying alpha males in other books.
The only complaint I have is that I wish the secondary characters, particularly Eastleigh's family, were better fleshed out. They conveniently kept disappearing and reappearing when they were needed/required for story progression--like, they literally left the estate and then came back--and we don't even really get to know his sisters at all. Maybe if the story were a little more tightly written and edited, we could've had more memorable interactions and scenes with the secondary characters. We're introduced to many of them but we never really get to know them and I really liked them all and what they added to the story. There were even the ones I didn't like. There was so much more telling than showing when it came to introducing us to people like Sarah's father...and then we meet him for all of five minutes before we don't ever really have to deal with him again (other than a mention at the end).
I definitely wouldn't be averse to this being a series and being acquainted with the rest of the Malvern family more intimately. I want a Will/Lady Willamette novel! And Sir Robert (tell me who the woman in the portrait is!). Oh, and definitely more Mum!
September 6, 2016
I've given this a C+ at AAR, so 3.5 stars.
The Seduction of Sarah Marks is the first in a new series from this author. It’s an enjoyable read overall, though some of the plot points were overly contrived and the writing, while generally good, felt rather rough-edged and unpolished in places. But the book did hold my interest, and there were some engaging characters clearly being set up to feature in future books that I may seek out.
The story opens with the eponymous heroine waking in a bed not her own next to a man – also not her own. But she can’t remember anything other than that her name is Sarah Marks (which isn’t actually her name, but I’ll refer to her that way for the purposes of this review). She has no idea where she comes from, where she was going, or how she came to be in this situation, and is, understandably more than a little panicked at finding herself in bed with a complete stranger.
Here’s where the first of the contrivances I mentioned comes in, because it turns out that this chap – who introduces himself as Augustus Malvern, Lord Eastleigh – is a fellow amnesia sufferer. And not only that, he has a personal physician residing at his home who is somewhat of an expert, having treated Eastleigh since he returned from the Crimean war several years previously minus most of his memories. In the intervening years, his memory has returned, although there are still some chunks missing.
Eastleigh tells Sarah not to try too hard to remember things about herself, as that’s likely to make things worse - and then suggests that she accompany him to his home in Kent. She is immediately alive to the impropriety of such a thing and tries to refuse, but as Eastleigh points out, he can’t leave her alone at a roadside inn, and as she has no idea where she lives, what other option is there? His physician, Doctor Hemphill, will likely be able to help her, and she can rest until she regains her memories and they can work out a more suitable plan of action.
Sarah agrees reluctantly, and although she is very wary of Eastleigh, she can’t fail to notice that he’s a very attractive man. The attraction is mutual – although most of Eastleigh’s attempts at friendly conversation are met with gentle and not-so-gentle rebuffs, as Sarah struggles with the reality of her situation. There’s the merest hint at the idea that perhaps her desire to keep a distance between them is stems from more than her disorientation and anxiety over her memory loss.
It’s difficult to say much more about the plot without giving too much away, because at around the 40 percent mark, there’s a twist I hadn’t seen coming – which puts a different complexion on the relationship between the two protagonists. We learn of Sarah’s unhappy past and the difficult and unpleasant home life which has caused her to become so guarded. At first, and under pressure, she begins to revert to type, but there comes a point at which she realises she has too much to lose and decides to fight for what she wants, which is an admirable trait in her.
Eastleigh is rather an enigmatic character to start with, although as the story unfolds, the reasons for this become clear, and I applaud the author for the way she manages to keep his speech and motives necessarily vague without making him seem unpleasant. He’s a likeable hero, possessed of much patience and compassion. A former soldier, he suffers badly from PTSD which manifests itself in the form of terrible “megrims” (what we might today call migraines) which can send him to bed for days at a time. We are given hints as to the severity of his illness which evoke sympathy, and feel for him when, after a series of particularly bad episodes, he despairs of ever being able to lead a normal life.
As this is the first in a series, we are introduced to the brood of Malverns who will no doubt feature in the books that follow. There are Eastleigh’s three brothers and four sisters – although one of the girls (Willamette) insists on dressing and behaving like a man and on being called Will – and his mysterious cousin, Rob, who lives on a neighbouring estate. The author paints a broad picture of a close-knit and loving family, presided over by a wonderfully eccentric matriarch named “Mum” – who is actually their grandmother. Mum – so named because she sometimes believes herself to be the Queen Mother – is warm and funny, preferring her tea laced with gin and being rather ahead of her time when it comes to matters of love and sex. She tells stories of her desert adventures and her nights of passion under canvas; she’s a lady modelled on Lady Hester Stanhope, the intrepid traveller and adventuress whose exploits became legendary.
The romance, while at first seeming like a bad case of mutual insta-lust, actually turns out to be quite sweet and well-developed. Sarah and Eastleigh learn to like and trust each other – which is especially important for Sarah, as she has to learn that not all men are cruel and manipulative. The dual-amnesia plot naturally throws up various obstacles; and while the plot device is contrived, the resulting emotional turmoil experienced by both protagonists grows naturally from it and makes sense.
I finished the book feeling, on the whole, pleasantly surprised. When I discovered that both main characters were suffering from amnesia, I rolled my eyes and wondered how long it was going to be before I became impatient with such an obvious contrivance. And while I maintain that it’s a bit much to swallow, Ms Roth does make the story work, especially when it comes to the big reveal, which is unexpected. She has also created two likeable characters in Sarah and Eastleigh, although there were times that Sarah in particular was hard to sympathise with because of her tendency to act as though she has a stick up her arse (as Mum gleefully points out) .
I’m giving The Seduction of Sarah Marks a very qualified recommendation because, while the book is engaging, there are times there is almost too much going on and the focus is lost. Some of the characterisation is inconsistent, and I felt that the writing could have been a little more polished. But I enjoyed the story enough to want to look out for future books in the series.
The Seduction of Sarah Marks is the first in a new series from this author. It’s an enjoyable read overall, though some of the plot points were overly contrived and the writing, while generally good, felt rather rough-edged and unpolished in places. But the book did hold my interest, and there were some engaging characters clearly being set up to feature in future books that I may seek out.
The story opens with the eponymous heroine waking in a bed not her own next to a man – also not her own. But she can’t remember anything other than that her name is Sarah Marks (which isn’t actually her name, but I’ll refer to her that way for the purposes of this review). She has no idea where she comes from, where she was going, or how she came to be in this situation, and is, understandably more than a little panicked at finding herself in bed with a complete stranger.
Here’s where the first of the contrivances I mentioned comes in, because it turns out that this chap – who introduces himself as Augustus Malvern, Lord Eastleigh – is a fellow amnesia sufferer. And not only that, he has a personal physician residing at his home who is somewhat of an expert, having treated Eastleigh since he returned from the Crimean war several years previously minus most of his memories. In the intervening years, his memory has returned, although there are still some chunks missing.
Eastleigh tells Sarah not to try too hard to remember things about herself, as that’s likely to make things worse - and then suggests that she accompany him to his home in Kent. She is immediately alive to the impropriety of such a thing and tries to refuse, but as Eastleigh points out, he can’t leave her alone at a roadside inn, and as she has no idea where she lives, what other option is there? His physician, Doctor Hemphill, will likely be able to help her, and she can rest until she regains her memories and they can work out a more suitable plan of action.
Sarah agrees reluctantly, and although she is very wary of Eastleigh, she can’t fail to notice that he’s a very attractive man. The attraction is mutual – although most of Eastleigh’s attempts at friendly conversation are met with gentle and not-so-gentle rebuffs, as Sarah struggles with the reality of her situation. There’s the merest hint at the idea that perhaps her desire to keep a distance between them is stems from more than her disorientation and anxiety over her memory loss.
It’s difficult to say much more about the plot without giving too much away, because at around the 40 percent mark, there’s a twist I hadn’t seen coming – which puts a different complexion on the relationship between the two protagonists. We learn of Sarah’s unhappy past and the difficult and unpleasant home life which has caused her to become so guarded. At first, and under pressure, she begins to revert to type, but there comes a point at which she realises she has too much to lose and decides to fight for what she wants, which is an admirable trait in her.
Eastleigh is rather an enigmatic character to start with, although as the story unfolds, the reasons for this become clear, and I applaud the author for the way she manages to keep his speech and motives necessarily vague without making him seem unpleasant. He’s a likeable hero, possessed of much patience and compassion. A former soldier, he suffers badly from PTSD which manifests itself in the form of terrible “megrims” (what we might today call migraines) which can send him to bed for days at a time. We are given hints as to the severity of his illness which evoke sympathy, and feel for him when, after a series of particularly bad episodes, he despairs of ever being able to lead a normal life.
As this is the first in a series, we are introduced to the brood of Malverns who will no doubt feature in the books that follow. There are Eastleigh’s three brothers and four sisters – although one of the girls (Willamette) insists on dressing and behaving like a man and on being called Will – and his mysterious cousin, Rob, who lives on a neighbouring estate. The author paints a broad picture of a close-knit and loving family, presided over by a wonderfully eccentric matriarch named “Mum” – who is actually their grandmother. Mum – so named because she sometimes believes herself to be the Queen Mother – is warm and funny, preferring her tea laced with gin and being rather ahead of her time when it comes to matters of love and sex. She tells stories of her desert adventures and her nights of passion under canvas; she’s a lady modelled on Lady Hester Stanhope, the intrepid traveller and adventuress whose exploits became legendary.
The romance, while at first seeming like a bad case of mutual insta-lust, actually turns out to be quite sweet and well-developed. Sarah and Eastleigh learn to like and trust each other – which is especially important for Sarah, as she has to learn that not all men are cruel and manipulative. The dual-amnesia plot naturally throws up various obstacles; and while the plot device is contrived, the resulting emotional turmoil experienced by both protagonists grows naturally from it and makes sense.
I finished the book feeling, on the whole, pleasantly surprised. When I discovered that both main characters were suffering from amnesia, I rolled my eyes and wondered how long it was going to be before I became impatient with such an obvious contrivance. And while I maintain that it’s a bit much to swallow, Ms Roth does make the story work, especially when it comes to the big reveal, which is unexpected. She has also created two likeable characters in Sarah and Eastleigh, although there were times that Sarah in particular was hard to sympathise with because of her tendency to act as though she has a stick up her arse (as Mum gleefully points out) .
I’m giving The Seduction of Sarah Marks a very qualified recommendation because, while the book is engaging, there are times there is almost too much going on and the focus is lost. Some of the characterisation is inconsistent, and I felt that the writing could have been a little more polished. But I enjoyed the story enough to want to look out for future books in the series.
April 14, 2016
3.75 I think. Overall, I liked this. I had already read Portrait of a Forbidden Lady, so I was familiar with the Malvern family. The leads in this one, Eastleigh and Sarah are both damaged people who manage to find one another, only to have to overcome many more obstacles. They are both likeable, and most of their actions and decisions are hard to find fault with. I thought Sarah , and I thought Eastleigh was silly in , but overall they were fun to read about. I love Mum- she is far and away the best Malvern in this book. Not sure why Will was made out to be such a biznitchel in this book....I didn't understand it, and it was never really explained. I don't remember her being that way in book 2. The main reason I can't give this 5 stars and am actually waffling a bit between 3 and 4 is just that the sheer amount of dramatic episodes in this book require more suspended disbelief than I can muster. The odds of Sarah having amnesia in the company of someone else who has had amnesia are quite slim, and that in combination with just take the drama a bit over the top for me. I'm choosing 4 stars since I did like both of the main characters, I can't say the premise of this isn't creative, and I rooted for everything to work out in the end. It also had the single most shocking twist moment I've ever read in a HR. It was a bit gimmicky, but it got my jaw to the floor. I really think I like this author, and I'll be happy to read about more of the Malverns.
*Final side note- I was glad when the issue of Sarah's father was eventually addressed. I kept wondering why he hadn't done anything about Physical abuse is a plot point in this book, so if that is a trigger or bothers you, you may want to avoid this one.
*Final side note- I was glad when the issue of Sarah's father was eventually addressed. I kept wondering why he hadn't done anything about Physical abuse is a plot point in this book, so if that is a trigger or bothers you, you may want to avoid this one.
May 28, 2014
A lovely and enjoyable historical romance, The Seduction of Sarah Marks was a fantastic read. I absolutely loved this delightful book. With sweet romance and shocking secrets that managed to take me by surprise, this book was wonderful.
Sarah was a lovely heroine. Despite being stuck in a chaotic situation, she kept herself together. She was quietly strong and resilient, considering how she handled everything she went through (before and after her memory loss). I thought she was great and I really liked her.
Eastleigh was wonderful. I loved how devoted and gentle he was with Sarah, determined to help her regain her memory. He had a dark and troubled past of his own but, even after going through all of it, he remained a kind and very sweet man. I thought he was adorable.
The romance was lovely. Sarah and Eastleigh were great together. I appreciate that they weren't the type to stubbornly stick to pride and, instead, knew when to apologize or forgive. There was some heat there as well, and it spiced things up. They were a perfect couple.
The plot was fast paced and I was hooked the entire way through. There were a few twists along the way as secrets were revealed and they actually took me by surprise. I really enjoyed the story and the ending was lovely.
The Seduction of Sarah Marks was a brilliant historical romance. I absolutely loved this book. From the romance, to the secrets, this story was a delight. Romance lovers, this is a book you won't want to miss.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Sarah was a lovely heroine. Despite being stuck in a chaotic situation, she kept herself together. She was quietly strong and resilient, considering how she handled everything she went through (before and after her memory loss). I thought she was great and I really liked her.
Eastleigh was wonderful. I loved how devoted and gentle he was with Sarah, determined to help her regain her memory. He had a dark and troubled past of his own but, even after going through all of it, he remained a kind and very sweet man. I thought he was adorable.
The romance was lovely. Sarah and Eastleigh were great together. I appreciate that they weren't the type to stubbornly stick to pride and, instead, knew when to apologize or forgive. There was some heat there as well, and it spiced things up. They were a perfect couple.
The plot was fast paced and I was hooked the entire way through. There were a few twists along the way as secrets were revealed and they actually took me by surprise. I really enjoyed the story and the ending was lovely.
The Seduction of Sarah Marks was a brilliant historical romance. I absolutely loved this book. From the romance, to the secrets, this story was a delight. Romance lovers, this is a book you won't want to miss.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
September 1, 2016
Sarah Marks wakes up to find herself in a strange bed with a man she does not know. That man is Lord Eastleigh. He tells her that she was hit over the head when someone attacked their carriage. Other than her name, Sarah can't remember anything of her past, including what she was doing in the carriage with man that is in her bed. Eastleigh says the best course of action is to go back to his home where a doctor can help her with the amnesia.
As Sarah and Eastleigh spend more time together, they have to fight their attraction to each other. They don't know anything about Sarah's past and the doctor doesn't want anything to interfere with her recovery.
Soon Sarah remembers her own name and that she has a husband. What will happen when Sarah remembers it all and learns that Eastleigh was hiding something about her past all along?
This was the first novel that I have read by the author and I throughly enjoyed it! All the little twists and turns had me not wanting to put the book down. There was even one twist that had me gasping out loud after reading it.
I did find it a little unrealistic that Eastleigh and Sarah would both suffer from amnesia, but I guess that made the story what it was.
I hope that Roth continues this series with stories about all the Malvern siblings!
Thanks go to Entangled Publishing via NetGalley for a copy of the book in exchange of an honest review.
As Sarah and Eastleigh spend more time together, they have to fight their attraction to each other. They don't know anything about Sarah's past and the doctor doesn't want anything to interfere with her recovery.
Soon Sarah remembers her own name and that she has a husband. What will happen when Sarah remembers it all and learns that Eastleigh was hiding something about her past all along?
This was the first novel that I have read by the author and I throughly enjoyed it! All the little twists and turns had me not wanting to put the book down. There was even one twist that had me gasping out loud after reading it.
I did find it a little unrealistic that Eastleigh and Sarah would both suffer from amnesia, but I guess that made the story what it was.
I hope that Roth continues this series with stories about all the Malvern siblings!
Thanks go to Entangled Publishing via NetGalley for a copy of the book in exchange of an honest review.
June 12, 2014
THE SEDUCTION OF SARAH MARKS by Kathleen Bittner Roth is an interesting Victorian Historical Romance set in 1857 England. " A Those Magnificent Malverns " series. First in the series, I believe and what a beginning!
This is Augustus, Viscount Eastleigh, and Miss Sarah Marks who has amnesia.
A mysterious, sensual tale of love and romance!
Well written with engaging characters, secrets, PTSD, an intriguing storyline, and trauma that brings two people together with an over-bearing family in the mix. With a few twists and turns along the way. I enjoyed this story from beginning to end and look forward to Ms. Roth's next installment. Received for an honest review from the publisher.
RATING: 4
HEAT RATING: HOT
REVIEWED BY: AprilR, courtesy of My Book Addiction and More
This is Augustus, Viscount Eastleigh, and Miss Sarah Marks who has amnesia.
A mysterious, sensual tale of love and romance!
Well written with engaging characters, secrets, PTSD, an intriguing storyline, and trauma that brings two people together with an over-bearing family in the mix. With a few twists and turns along the way. I enjoyed this story from beginning to end and look forward to Ms. Roth's next installment. Received for an honest review from the publisher.
RATING: 4
HEAT RATING: HOT
REVIEWED BY: AprilR, courtesy of My Book Addiction and More
June 8, 2014
I LOVED this story - seriously!! I couldn't put it down and was totally shocked by the twists and turns! Great tension and suspense that made the steamy bits very enjoyable!! I really felt like I knew the characters and cared about them. I enjoyed being with them. I loved the author's description of Eastleigh's estate and the surrounding countryside. I could see it. This is my first romance novel and I'm hooked! I want Eastleigh - or his hunky cousin!
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
June 1, 2014
Kathleen Bittner Roth's debut is a self-assured, well written story that draws you in from page 1 when the heroine wakes up in bed with a strange man and has no memory of who she is or how she ended up there. The revelation of her identity and how they ended up together threw me totally for a loop and is well worth waiting for. I'm looking forward to more from this author.
August 4, 2014
Well written, fast paced debut. The characters are as intriguing without being anachronistic, the narrative keeps the reader on tenterhooks till the very end. I loved the author's assured handling of the plot- she manages to give us a HEA without tying things up too tidily.
August 30, 2015
Love this story, but wish it had been longer to include more delicious details! There were times when I felt like I missed something in reading. With that exception.... Great story with Miss Bittner Roth's usual unexpected twists. I hope to see and learn more about these characters in future books.
December 7, 2014
I loved this book! Clever, funny, and with endless surprises. I could not put it down and cannot wait to read her next book.
March 27, 2016
Loved it!!
Great story; not like the typical romances. I found the twist in the story to be incredibly written and made the story even more fantastic!!
Great story; not like the typical romances. I found the twist in the story to be incredibly written and made the story even more fantastic!!
June 11, 2014
Kathleen Bittner RothThis review is going to be different from my usual review because this most excellent adventure just screams for it. To understand this tale, you most learn of the extraordinary Malvern clan, which is ruled by the Matriarch of the clan, Mum. Why Mum do you ask, it's simple, she thinks her daughter, Lady Millicent, is the Queen of England, so she naturally is the Queen Mother. Mum has lived an usual life, for a lady of 1800s, she traveled for many years with her BF Lady Stanhope to Africa, took up male clothing, learned about sexuality, how to unlocking hidden desires, had numerous and wonderful lovers and to always have endless boundaries. Mum rules this avant-garde and hilarious Malvern clan with her iron fist, warm and caring heart and loves to throw in as many stories of her scandalous, eventful, unconventional and adventurous life. That clan consists of Millicent, her loving bed ridden hubby, Lord Ardmore, and her 8 grandbabies, 5 males, 3 females and Willamette, who was born female, but considers herself a man.
This story is about the oldest, Augustus, Viscount Eastleigh, who came home from the war with severe wounds and no memories at all. With the help of Doctor Hemphill and his locusts of a loving family, he regained some of his memory, but not all. He lives at his estate, Easton Park, with his unorthodox Mum, but he feels something or maybe someone is missing and decides he needs a change. Eastleigh is going to find a wife and travel the continent for a 3 or 4 month as their honeymoon. What do they say about plans?
She wakes up in a strange room, full clothed and in a unknown man's bed. She freaks and tries to sneak out of the bed and room, but he opens his gorgeous eyes and says, "The key is in my pocket and do you know your name?" She thinks and realizes she has no memory of anything, but she does know one thing her name, Miss Sarah Marks. He explains who he is, that they were robbed, how she jump in front him, received a blow to her head, passed out and he carried her to this nasty Inn. Eastleigh tells her of his own memory loss from the war and how he has a doctor that treats him at his home, Sarah feels, deeply inside herself, that she will be safe and going with him is the only option for her predicament.
Now when Sarah arrives at Easton Park, steps out the carriage and steps into a her own personal version of the Looking Glass! She meets Doctor Hemphill, grand Mum and is introduced to all as Mum's Ward! They all go to Mum's Grand Tea, no one is ALLOWED to miss grand tea time, Mum reaches for her exquisite tea pot and calmly asks Sarah, "Milk or gin, dear!" and throws in, "I will be happy to pull that iron bar from your ar$e!" Need I say anymore, Sarah tries to regain her memories and her life get very complicated, twisted and even sunnier with all of the Malvern's help. Sarah's desires for Eastleigh race off the charts, but she doesn't know if she is married. Eastleigh just wants to cuddle, caress, kiss and pleasure Sarah, but he has a secret that could destroy not only Sarah, but his peaceful world. All they need is a little help from their unique Fairy Godmother, Mum. Can Sarah regain her memory? Is there a family or hubby out there, waiting for her? How will Eastleigh's secret detonate their lives? Will Eastleigh accept Sarah as she is? Can two people with uncontrollable desires reign them in until the truth is reveled? How will Mum make their lives even crazier?
This book is my first read from Kathleen Bittner Roth and I am impressed. I read a lot and when an author shocks and surprises me with her plot, she is AWESOME! Ms. Roth got me good and no, I will not tell you anymore because you have to read this web that she creates for yourself. Ms. Roth loves, nurtures, delivers and gives birth to each original character of this one of a kind and marvelous clan. Sarah is a heroine who suffered from an unknown dark and angry force, but she has an unhidden strength that she discovers and must uses in full force. Eastleigh is a deeply scarred, inside and out, from his time at war and his mysterious loss memories, but his locusts of a caring, loving and quacky family help him to heal. Strong and hot sexual tension flowed between Sarah and Eastleigh and it lite more than a few sparks and smoke from my Kindle. Mum is one of those great characters, like Julia Quinn's Lady Bridgeton or Sabrina Jeffries' Grandma Hetty, who gives all of her awe inspiring heart to make this tale a overwhelming, impressive and unforgettable read. I must give Ms. Roth my THANKS for bring this extraordinary Clan to life and I am (insert pompoms here) her newest FAN and on automatic PREORDER for all her future Malvern reads. Ms. Roth gets my top score of 5 fingers up and 10 toes!
NetGalley ARC given for my honest review.
July 7, 2017
*Changed my rating after a re-read. I remember I couldn't quite get into the story and ended up giving this a lower rating (I wholly blame uni and my then crappy part-time job.) I picked it back up on a whim and I have to say, I'm glad I did!
The characters were lovely. I think this is one of the rare books where I actually understood and supported the hero's decision to split from the heroine. He suffers from severe migraines and amnesia ever since he returned from war. It is a fact that his migraines became worse after meeting the heroine and wanting an out from the pain is a perfectly reasonable decision.
I gradually warmed up to the heroine as well. She too suffers from amnesia when they are waylaid by robbers and she takes a blow meant for the hero. Yes, her actions were prickly but considering her history of being abused, it was in line with her character to be distrustful and standoffish towards men.
What I didn't like was the way the conflict between them was resolved by outside sources. So, once the hero asks her to leave and she complies, it is due to the hero's mother falling ill that she's called back into the house. I wanted the hero to come to terms with his inner struggles and bring her back himself. Otherwise what is the point? What happens the next time she behaves foolishly and the stress causes another migraine? I don't think her trauma from abuse is going to magically evaporate and not cause further problems.
They never really sort this out because immediately after that she leaves the house and is caught up in an accident that nearly kills her. Of course hero rushes to the rescue and THEN realises he loves her.
This trope is so permeated throughout HR it's almost impossible to avoid it. In the third quarter the heroine always either runs away, is abducted, meets with an accident or some other ~incident~ that forces ILU's from the hero. Why do things have to get so drastic for the confession to occur? This also conveniently ignores/undermines their previous conflict so the author doesn't have to work on it.
That being said, the pacing was good and the characters engaging enough that above problems were only a minor pet-peeve and not something that would detract from the story. I'd recommended this for anyone who likes amnesia-tropes and not too much drama between the characters.
The characters were lovely. I think this is one of the rare books where I actually understood and supported the hero's decision to split from the heroine. He suffers from severe migraines and amnesia ever since he returned from war. It is a fact that his migraines became worse after meeting the heroine and wanting an out from the pain is a perfectly reasonable decision.
I gradually warmed up to the heroine as well. She too suffers from amnesia when they are waylaid by robbers and she takes a blow meant for the hero. Yes, her actions were prickly but considering her history of being abused, it was in line with her character to be distrustful and standoffish towards men.
What I didn't like was the way the conflict between them was resolved by outside sources. So, once the hero asks her to leave and she complies, it is due to the hero's mother falling ill that she's called back into the house. I wanted the hero to come to terms with his inner struggles and bring her back himself. Otherwise what is the point? What happens the next time she behaves foolishly and the stress causes another migraine? I don't think her trauma from abuse is going to magically evaporate and not cause further problems.
They never really sort this out because immediately after that she leaves the house and is caught up in an accident that nearly kills her. Of course hero rushes to the rescue and THEN realises he loves her.
This trope is so permeated throughout HR it's almost impossible to avoid it. In the third quarter the heroine always either runs away, is abducted, meets with an accident or some other ~incident~ that forces ILU's from the hero. Why do things have to get so drastic for the confession to occur? This also conveniently ignores/undermines their previous conflict so the author doesn't have to work on it.
That being said, the pacing was good and the characters engaging enough that above problems were only a minor pet-peeve and not something that would detract from the story. I'd recommended this for anyone who likes amnesia-tropes and not too much drama between the characters.
June 9, 2014
England, 1857
After a blow to her head, Sarah Marks awakens in a strange bed with a strange man and no memory of how she got there. Her handsome bedmate, Lord Eastleigh, tells her she's suffering from amnesia, and the best course of action is to travel home with him until she recovers her memory.
Lord Eastleigh has his own reasons for helping Sarah and keeping her close. Reasons he cannot tell her. As they struggle to restore her memory, their undeniable, inadvisable attraction grows—until Sarah finally remembers the one thing that could keep them apart forever.
Review:
Holy amnesia!
Wonderful debut story from Kathleen Bittner Roth. The story well written and had me hooked from the beginning. I especially loved the plot twists later in the story and I will try not to give them away in the review, because I was truly surprised by them.
I really enjoyed "Sarah" and Eastleigh, I thought they were both flawed enough to balance each other in the story so they were both enjoyable and relatable. Again, I am trying to make this spoiler free. Let me say, these two really are made for each other, look at all they go through and they manage to work it out and get their HEA.
I really enjoyed Eastleigh's family, I thought they both a hindrance and help to the relationship forming between the main characters. I hope to read more about the family. Cousin Rob is in need of some loving and Will needs to have the rug pulled out from under her...lol
Great Historical Romance, with trauma, mystery, an over-bearing family and two stubbornly great main characters!
4Stars
After a blow to her head, Sarah Marks awakens in a strange bed with a strange man and no memory of how she got there. Her handsome bedmate, Lord Eastleigh, tells her she's suffering from amnesia, and the best course of action is to travel home with him until she recovers her memory.
Lord Eastleigh has his own reasons for helping Sarah and keeping her close. Reasons he cannot tell her. As they struggle to restore her memory, their undeniable, inadvisable attraction grows—until Sarah finally remembers the one thing that could keep them apart forever.
Review:
Holy amnesia!
Wonderful debut story from Kathleen Bittner Roth. The story well written and had me hooked from the beginning. I especially loved the plot twists later in the story and I will try not to give them away in the review, because I was truly surprised by them.
I really enjoyed "Sarah" and Eastleigh, I thought they were both flawed enough to balance each other in the story so they were both enjoyable and relatable. Again, I am trying to make this spoiler free. Let me say, these two really are made for each other, look at all they go through and they manage to work it out and get their HEA.
I really enjoyed Eastleigh's family, I thought they both a hindrance and help to the relationship forming between the main characters. I hope to read more about the family. Cousin Rob is in need of some loving and Will needs to have the rug pulled out from under her...lol
Great Historical Romance, with trauma, mystery, an over-bearing family and two stubbornly great main characters!
4Stars
June 10, 2014
Augustus Malvern, Lord Eastleigh, has come home from the war missing a large part of himself. He no longer enjoys being in London and the whirl that goes with it. He now enjoys the relative quiet of the country, spending time with his family. He has a large, loving and boisterous family. He is handsome and has a charming chipped front tooth that he worries when he is feeling stress.
“Sarah Marks” is very quiet, afraid of men and being touched, and does not know who she is. Her past is missing, but the tidbits she does remember are about horticulture and the curative properties of honey.
Amnesia is something they have in common; hers from a bump on the head and his from the war. He knows her past and is treading lightly to try to help her remember on her own. They have an attraction that grows as they get to know each other. He is battling megrims, brought on by stress that put him in bed for days. He takes her to his home where his grandmother, a very eccentric vivacious woman will be their chaperone. The tenderness and care he shows her is foreign to her. Once she remembers a large part of her life she goes home to her parents. There the rest of her memory returns. The revelation that she is married and who she is married to brought a good gasp and smile. The balance of the story, omitting spoilers, is remarkable. She learns trust, love and what family is. His family members bring charm, humor, loyalty and spirit to the story. I enjoyed the pace and the conversations. I have discovered a new author to watch.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
“Sarah Marks” is very quiet, afraid of men and being touched, and does not know who she is. Her past is missing, but the tidbits she does remember are about horticulture and the curative properties of honey.
Amnesia is something they have in common; hers from a bump on the head and his from the war. He knows her past and is treading lightly to try to help her remember on her own. They have an attraction that grows as they get to know each other. He is battling megrims, brought on by stress that put him in bed for days. He takes her to his home where his grandmother, a very eccentric vivacious woman will be their chaperone. The tenderness and care he shows her is foreign to her. Once she remembers a large part of her life she goes home to her parents. There the rest of her memory returns. The revelation that she is married and who she is married to brought a good gasp and smile. The balance of the story, omitting spoilers, is remarkable. She learns trust, love and what family is. His family members bring charm, humor, loyalty and spirit to the story. I enjoyed the pace and the conversations. I have discovered a new author to watch.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
March 2, 2015
This story is Kathleen Bittner Roth’s debut and I loved it!
The book blurb gives you enough of the storyline, so I’m going to tell you what I liked about this story and why I think you’ll like it too.
First, let’s talk about our hero. I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed this man and the reason for it is because he is such a flawed and complex character that you have no choice but to care for him, even though at times you want to smack him. But most of the time, you just want to hug him!
As for our heroine, she is as flawed and possibly even more complex than our hero, and no mater her actions, I found myself willing her to persevere in her quest to find out who she is and where she belongs.
I also found the romance between these two perfectly paced and the chemistry electric, even when our main protagonists were at daggers drawn and at cross purposes.
As I finished reading this story, I wholeheartedly wished for all the secondary characters to find their happily ever after. They have truly enhanced this story, from Mum, Eastleigh’s eccentric grandmother who thinks she’s the Queen Mother, to Will, Eastleigh’s younger sister who dresses in men’s clothing and is overly protective of her brother. And don’t even start me on Sir Crocodile! You need to read the book to find about this man!
To close, this début is well written, well plotted with some curve balls that were not expected and plenty of twists that will keep you guessing and reading until wee hours of the morning.
Melanie for b2b
Complimentary copy provided by the publisher
The book blurb gives you enough of the storyline, so I’m going to tell you what I liked about this story and why I think you’ll like it too.
First, let’s talk about our hero. I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed this man and the reason for it is because he is such a flawed and complex character that you have no choice but to care for him, even though at times you want to smack him. But most of the time, you just want to hug him!
As for our heroine, she is as flawed and possibly even more complex than our hero, and no mater her actions, I found myself willing her to persevere in her quest to find out who she is and where she belongs.
I also found the romance between these two perfectly paced and the chemistry electric, even when our main protagonists were at daggers drawn and at cross purposes.
As I finished reading this story, I wholeheartedly wished for all the secondary characters to find their happily ever after. They have truly enhanced this story, from Mum, Eastleigh’s eccentric grandmother who thinks she’s the Queen Mother, to Will, Eastleigh’s younger sister who dresses in men’s clothing and is overly protective of her brother. And don’t even start me on Sir Crocodile! You need to read the book to find about this man!
To close, this début is well written, well plotted with some curve balls that were not expected and plenty of twists that will keep you guessing and reading until wee hours of the morning.
Melanie for b2b
Complimentary copy provided by the publisher
June 10, 2014
Well, I’ve been reading all day because I could not put this book down until I found out everything! What a brilliant debut novel by Kathleen Bittner-Roth! Actually, it’s hard to believe this is her first novel as it reads like an old pro – but with bite! Ms. Roth has a unique voice and an absolutely delightful cast of character! If I wasn’t already hooked by the hero and heroine, who both have their share of scars and amnesia – with a side of wit—the secondary characters utterly and totally locked it in!
How could a reader possibly pass up the grandmother, “Mum,” when she holds court at high tea in this Regency-set story? When she turns to the heroine and asks, “Milk or gin, dear?” instead of “One lump or two?” And the heroine responds, “Gin, please.”
Add to this, plot twists all over the place! Just when I thought I had a handle on this story and had everything figured out, there was another twist or turn that totally blindsided me. Add in a brilliant psychological tension of PTSD issues – not from today’s Middle East, but from the Crimean War… as true today as those issues were then. The author excelled in her research of both the combat issues and the quirky “Mum” as Lady Stanhope’s traveling companion in early 1800’s Africa. Ms. Bittner-Roth is truly an author to watch. I can’t wait to read more stories in this series about the quirky Malvern Clan – and I truly hope that Mum - and her gin bottle - will make a reappearance.
How could a reader possibly pass up the grandmother, “Mum,” when she holds court at high tea in this Regency-set story? When she turns to the heroine and asks, “Milk or gin, dear?” instead of “One lump or two?” And the heroine responds, “Gin, please.”
Add to this, plot twists all over the place! Just when I thought I had a handle on this story and had everything figured out, there was another twist or turn that totally blindsided me. Add in a brilliant psychological tension of PTSD issues – not from today’s Middle East, but from the Crimean War… as true today as those issues were then. The author excelled in her research of both the combat issues and the quirky “Mum” as Lady Stanhope’s traveling companion in early 1800’s Africa. Ms. Bittner-Roth is truly an author to watch. I can’t wait to read more stories in this series about the quirky Malvern Clan – and I truly hope that Mum - and her gin bottle - will make a reappearance.
August 4, 2014
Amnesia is a tricky device in fiction. At its best, it’s a clever way for a character to learn about herself and her life as the reader does. At its worst, it’s completely unbelievable and unrealistic. I was doubtful about it at first when I read Sherry Thomas’ wonderful Tempting the Bride a few years ago (which uses this trope) but, in a good writer’s hands, it can be done well. And Kathleen Bittner Roth does it well, too.
Sarah Marks—not her real name—wakes up at an inn, in bed with a handsome stranger, and has no recollection whatsoever of how she got there. This auspicious opening reminded me of Jennifer McQuiston’s What Happens in Scotland but, in that book, alcohol was the cause. In this novel, Sarah has been hit in the head and, when she comes to, the stranger introduces himself as Lord Eastleigh, a fellow companion in the carriage they shared when they were set upon by thieves. Or so he claims.
For my full review on my historical romance and history blog: http://bit.ly/1qLl6gX
Sarah Marks—not her real name—wakes up at an inn, in bed with a handsome stranger, and has no recollection whatsoever of how she got there. This auspicious opening reminded me of Jennifer McQuiston’s What Happens in Scotland but, in that book, alcohol was the cause. In this novel, Sarah has been hit in the head and, when she comes to, the stranger introduces himself as Lord Eastleigh, a fellow companion in the carriage they shared when they were set upon by thieves. Or so he claims.
For my full review on my historical romance and history blog: http://bit.ly/1qLl6gX
June 11, 2014
This was a wonderful read. Lilith and Eastleigh were wonderful together and separately. Lilith was a very endearing character. I loved the blend of vulnerability and quiet strength she possessed in the face of her situation and her father's abuse. The hero was scrumptious, very sweet and dashing. His patience with her, his tenderness and how much I loved him really took my by surprise. Normally if my hero is not dark and broody I feel a little cheated. Not so with Eastleigh at all. He was pretty wonderful. This author has a way with word that drew me in and quiet tantalized me. I loved that. Everything felt authentic and fresh. I love the amnesia trope and this one was done well without seeming repetitious at all The plot was fast pace and very engaging. The secondary characters were well drawn and I am already anticipating Rob's book..actually anticipating all of Eastleigh's siblings having a story of their own..
Kudos and I highly recommend to historical romance lovers!
Kudos and I highly recommend to historical romance lovers!
June 28, 2014
It was a fun read with a lot of fun characters you liked a lot. Sarah was just one of the many fun characters and even though she had amnesia, she coped as best she could. Especially, since she was trapped in a hotel room with a strange man and then that same strange man takes her to his residence.
She meets his family, some she didn’t take to right away and others she got along fabulously with. Lord Eastleigh,turned out to be a good man with a few secrets and demons of his own and his family was definitely something else.
His grandmother (who they call Mum), needs her own story. She was a hoot and the good doctor needs his own story too and the rest of the family from Cousin Rob to the Brothers and maybe even the bully Will.Just to see how she got that way in the first place.
It had a lot of humor a few chills and a lot of off-handed wisdom and the characters were believable, if a little outrageous and it was a thoroughly enjoyable read you’d enjoy.
She meets his family, some she didn’t take to right away and others she got along fabulously with. Lord Eastleigh,turned out to be a good man with a few secrets and demons of his own and his family was definitely something else.
His grandmother (who they call Mum), needs her own story. She was a hoot and the good doctor needs his own story too and the rest of the family from Cousin Rob to the Brothers and maybe even the bully Will.Just to see how she got that way in the first place.
It had a lot of humor a few chills and a lot of off-handed wisdom and the characters were believable, if a little outrageous and it was a thoroughly enjoyable read you’d enjoy.
June 10, 2014
Such a fun romantic read. Viscount Eastleigh, came back from the war broken. He has been living on his estate with his very quirky mum and receiving treatment for the injuries as well as the amnesia. However, he feels that something is missing from his live and he goes in search of a wife and then travel. However, life has other plans. Sarah jumps in front of him during a robbery and wakes up unconscious lying next to a man she doesn’t even know and is informed the door is locked. Lord Eastleigh takes her home to receive treatment from his Doctors. What secrets do these two have buried in their minds that could cause problems for them as well as others? Highly entertaining read, funny characters and excitement. I couldn’t put it down, looking forward to reading more from Kathleen Bittner Roth.
June 14, 2014
"The Seduction of Sarah Marks" is a beautifully crafted historical romance that deftly blends the mystery of an amnesia victim's true identity with the love that takes root between two strong-willed souls. When Sarah Marks awakens in a strange bed next to a handsome man she doesn't know, it's definitely not love at first sight. Confused and understandably distressed, amnesia victim Sarah is aided by the stranger, Lord Eastleigh, and travels with him to stay at his home until she regains her memory. Once there, she encounters Eastleigh's colorful family, including the wonderfully eccentric grandmother whose delightfully spicy tales of her youth deserve a story of their own. The path to love isn't smooth for Sarah and Lord Eastleigh, but it's an engrossing, passionate tale of two souls who conquer the ghosts of their pasts to embrace the love they deserve.
July 24, 2016
This is my first book from Kathleen but I enjoy it immensely. The mystery as to who Sarah Marks is intrigue me throughout the book. Throughout the book, I kept wondering why Sarah Marks and Lord Eastleigh would even ride together. Even though there was someone else with them, it was still not right but it cleared up in the end. I did not expect anything when she regain her memories though. I didn't even think of that while reading the book. Both Sarah and Lord Eastleigh were something. Lord Eastleigh has more of a protective and caring atmosphere around him that I love because he wants to help Sarah remembers. Sarah, even though she lost her memories, stays stable and doesn't have a mental break down. That I love!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
June 8, 2014
I LOVED this story - seriously!! I couldn't put it down and was totally shocked by the twists and turns! Great tension and suspense that made the steamy bits very enjoyable!! I really felt like I knew the characters and cared about them. I enjoyed being with them. I loved the author's description of Eastleigh's estate and the surrounding countryside. I could see it. This is my first romance novel and I'm hooked! I want Eastleigh - or his hunky cousin!
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
June 24, 2014
I absolutely loved this book. From start to finish, this beautifully-written story kept me intrigued and turning pages as the author poignantly told the story of a hero and heroine both suffering from the same affliction—amnesia—and the doctor overseeing the health of both. The hero’s family, the Malverns, are a delightful lot, especially Mum, Eastleigh's eccentric grandmother, and I’m eagerly awaiting stories about these most interesting characters. I highly recommend this book and I look forward to reading more from this author.
historical
January 14, 2019England, 1857
After a blow to her head, Sarah Marks awakens in a strange bed with a strange man and no memory of how she got there. Her handsome bedmate, Lord Eastleigh, tells her she's suffering from amnesia, and the best course of action is to travel home with him until she recovers her memory.
Lord Eastleigh has his own reasons for helping Sarah and keeping her close. Reasons he cannot tell her. As they struggle to restore her memory, their undeniable, inadvisable attraction grows—until Sarah finally remembers the one thing that could keep them apart forever.
After a blow to her head, Sarah Marks awakens in a strange bed with a strange man and no memory of how she got there. Her handsome bedmate, Lord Eastleigh, tells her she's suffering from amnesia, and the best course of action is to travel home with him until she recovers her memory.
Lord Eastleigh has his own reasons for helping Sarah and keeping her close. Reasons he cannot tell her. As they struggle to restore her memory, their undeniable, inadvisable attraction grows—until Sarah finally remembers the one thing that could keep them apart forever.
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