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The Langley Sisters #1
Lady In Disguise
Librarian Note: Alternate Cover Edition for ASIN: B00G88MQQY.
Desperate and penniless, Miss Olivia Langley is out of options. To ensure her family's survival she and her sister decide to take a drastic step - they don masks and take to the road as highwaymen. Disaster strikes when, inside the first carriage they rob, they find the one man Olivia had hoped never to see again. Five years ago Lord William Ryder had broken Livvy's heart. Now he has returned and she has a bad feeling that if anyone can succeed at unmasking her deepest secrets, it will be him.
Will knew his return would be greeted with both joy and resentment, but after five years of hard living he was ready to come home and take his place in society. He had never forgotten Olivia no matter how hard he'd tried, and whilst he hadn't imagined she would welcome him with open arms, the hostility and anger she displays are at odds with the woman he once knew. It is not long before he realizes she's living a dangerous lie, and now that he’s back, Will is determined to keep her safe and finally claim her for his own.
Desperate and penniless, Miss Olivia Langley is out of options. To ensure her family's survival she and her sister decide to take a drastic step - they don masks and take to the road as highwaymen. Disaster strikes when, inside the first carriage they rob, they find the one man Olivia had hoped never to see again. Five years ago Lord William Ryder had broken Livvy's heart. Now he has returned and she has a bad feeling that if anyone can succeed at unmasking her deepest secrets, it will be him.
Will knew his return would be greeted with both joy and resentment, but after five years of hard living he was ready to come home and take his place in society. He had never forgotten Olivia no matter how hard he'd tried, and whilst he hadn't imagined she would welcome him with open arms, the hostility and anger she displays are at odds with the woman he once knew. It is not long before he realizes she's living a dangerous lie, and now that he’s back, Will is determined to keep her safe and finally claim her for his own.
297 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 26, 2013
1320 people are currently reading
1507 people want to read
About the author
Wendy Vella
96 books829 followersWendy Vella is a USA Today and Amazon bestselling author of historical romances filled with mystery, intrigue, unconventional heroines, and dashing heroes.
Connect with Wendy in her Facebook reader group facebook.com/groups/wendyvellareaders or sign up for her reader newsletter at WendyVella.com to get goodies, exclusive excerpts and behind-the-scenes peeks.
Wendy also writes small town contemporary romances under the name Lani Blake.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 161 reviews
May 20, 2015
Yay a happy ending where the moron gets her guy. And the hero lets the villain get away with murdering two young girls so his fiance's family doesn't suffer the stigma of having a cousin as a murderer.
April 27, 2023
Nice start to this series. Will returns after Five years away . Olivia is trying her best to look after her family. After loosing both parents. Both realises they still have feelings for each other.
July 29, 2018
The author Wendy Vella did an expert job with the characters of the story. They are all well written. This begins the story of 3 sisters who are trying to survive after the death of there parents and the loss of all there wealth.
Olivia/Livvy Langley is the older sister and she is an excellent caregiver and supporter of her two younger sisters Phoebe and Isobella/Bella. Olivia's romantic interest is Lord William/Will Ryder second son of a Duke and brother to the current Duke Joseph 6th Duke of Rossetter. Will has returned after walking away from Livvy and his brother 5 years prior. Now Will has matured and become a Very Rich man in his own right. He slowly but surely lures Livvy back into loving him and they make a wonder couple. Lizzy has secrets as to how she has kept her family surviving, so the neighbors would not know the family was penniless. This was a page turner for me. I love the slow build up to Will and Livvy's romance. I also, love the way the brothers finally became loving siblings. Will and Joes relationship was once nothing now it is a true brotherly relation. The 3 sisters and housekeeper have a very well written relationship also.
All the characters make this a very good Historical Romance. Its a really good story!!
Olivia/Livvy Langley is the older sister and she is an excellent caregiver and supporter of her two younger sisters Phoebe and Isobella/Bella. Olivia's romantic interest is Lord William/Will Ryder second son of a Duke and brother to the current Duke Joseph 6th Duke of Rossetter. Will has returned after walking away from Livvy and his brother 5 years prior. Now Will has matured and become a Very Rich man in his own right. He slowly but surely lures Livvy back into loving him and they make a wonder couple. Lizzy has secrets as to how she has kept her family surviving, so the neighbors would not know the family was penniless. This was a page turner for me. I love the slow build up to Will and Livvy's romance. I also, love the way the brothers finally became loving siblings. Will and Joes relationship was once nothing now it is a true brotherly relation. The 3 sisters and housekeeper have a very well written relationship also.
All the characters make this a very good Historical Romance. Its a really good story!!
July 7, 2020
4.5 stars
Still such a great read!
2016: The first thing that grabbed my attention was that the main characters were female highway women. I mean how cool is that?! Very. So I needed to know more. We have Olivia, the eldest Langley sister, who bears the burden of taking care of her and her two sisters as their cousin has cut them off and refuses to take care of them like their father hoped he would be he died. Olivia and her sister, Phoebe done masks and pistols and head out into the night to rob an unsuspecting party that turns out to be an old friend William Ryder as he is returning from his trip abroad. Before Will left five years prior, he and Olivia were very close but he left quite suddenly after they shared a kiss which Olivia says she has forgiven him for but his abandonment hurt her much deeper than she is willing to admit.
I wanted to read this story because of the premise but I definitely stayed because of the emotional connection I was building with the characters. Olivia and her sisters struggle to keep up appearances in the critical eye of society and Will starts to rebuild his life with his family after leaving them behind with few words. They all have their struggles and I felt very sympathetic for them then protective as some threats started to emerge, especially for the Langley sisters.
I have read book with characters who are sisters but this one is definitely one of the best ones. Olivia, Phoebe and Isabella may have their own opinions and problems but they work together. They are all protective of each other and would do anything to help keep each other safe. Although Olivia has the most responsibility, or it seems like to Olivia, the others take care of each other as best as they are able. I really loved the sisterly bond they all shared.
I love the relationship between Will and Olivia. They sort of start over. They are two very different people and they have new lives to live and explore. Olivia tries very hard to resist and to ignore her feelings for Will but circumstances keep throwing them together. It took time for Olivia to open up to Will but when she did they realized how much they needed each other. It was a beautiful romance.
Still such a great read!
2016: The first thing that grabbed my attention was that the main characters were female highway women. I mean how cool is that?! Very. So I needed to know more. We have Olivia, the eldest Langley sister, who bears the burden of taking care of her and her two sisters as their cousin has cut them off and refuses to take care of them like their father hoped he would be he died. Olivia and her sister, Phoebe done masks and pistols and head out into the night to rob an unsuspecting party that turns out to be an old friend William Ryder as he is returning from his trip abroad. Before Will left five years prior, he and Olivia were very close but he left quite suddenly after they shared a kiss which Olivia says she has forgiven him for but his abandonment hurt her much deeper than she is willing to admit.
I wanted to read this story because of the premise but I definitely stayed because of the emotional connection I was building with the characters. Olivia and her sisters struggle to keep up appearances in the critical eye of society and Will starts to rebuild his life with his family after leaving them behind with few words. They all have their struggles and I felt very sympathetic for them then protective as some threats started to emerge, especially for the Langley sisters.
I have read book with characters who are sisters but this one is definitely one of the best ones. Olivia, Phoebe and Isabella may have their own opinions and problems but they work together. They are all protective of each other and would do anything to help keep each other safe. Although Olivia has the most responsibility, or it seems like to Olivia, the others take care of each other as best as they are able. I really loved the sisterly bond they all shared.
I love the relationship between Will and Olivia. They sort of start over. They are two very different people and they have new lives to live and explore. Olivia tries very hard to resist and to ignore her feelings for Will but circumstances keep throwing them together. It took time for Olivia to open up to Will but when she did they realized how much they needed each other. It was a beautiful romance.
January 9, 2019
Very unrealistic story, I’m afraid. 1.5 stars.
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July 19, 2020
This is the second book from Wendy that I’ve loved. First was duchess by chance. I love her style
March 30, 2021
I did really enjoy this story but I also found it to be a bit stupid. She could’ve saved everyone any trouble & told him what was going on but NOOO!?! I guess if she had done that, there would be no story. It also ended with a few unanswered questions & I hate when that happens. Unnecessary & stupid secrets, cowardice, bullies at every turn, & I’m left hanging - did she win the race?! Do they ever get the other guy back for his part?! I need to know these things!! Ha! Still an interesting story though, even if she was ticking me off 99% of the time!
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October 27, 2023DNF
I have read 11% on my kindle and I'm so bored, I have to stop. The book is badly written, and the protagonists' actions, motivations, and emotions are incomprehensible to me. They don't inspire any sympathy in me, just bafflement. Why do they behave the way they do?
I have read 11% on my kindle and I'm so bored, I have to stop. The book is badly written, and the protagonists' actions, motivations, and emotions are incomprehensible to me. They don't inspire any sympathy in me, just bafflement. Why do they behave the way they do?
November 20, 2013
A lovely romance, Lady in Disguise was a wonderful read. There was sweet romance, heinous blackmail, and a surprising secret. I really enjoyed reading this fantastic book.
Olivia was a strong heroine. After her father died, she took responsibility for her sisters, even as her cousin took away their money and left them more and more destitute. Until, there was no money and Olivia had to take to stealing just to get by. Hence, the whole highwayman scheme. I really liked her, for the most part. She was absolutely determined to take care of her sisters in the best way she could. I had one complaint about her. She let her pride get the better of her and it was frustrating. At any time, she could have asked the duke for help and he would have helped. And, when Will came back he offered his help (and frequently forced her to let him help), but she didn't want any of it. I understood her need to hold on to pride when she had nothing else, but she took it too far. Her pride wasn't going to feed her sisters, but the duke's help would have. And, she tended to get snippy about the smallest things, thinking them charity rather than a man wanting to help out a woman he cared for. It wasn't a huge deal, but it was annoying enough for me to knock off a bit of the rating. Other than that, though, I really liked her.
Will was amazing. He had left 5 years before because he knew he was on a path to destroying himself. Not only that, but he knew he would also be tearing down everyone around him if he stayed. So, he left. He knew he needed to get away so that he could grow up and become a better man. That definitely worked. He was a strong, honorable, clever man when he got back. But, then he had to deal with all the people he had left behind and inadvertently hurt. Including Olivia. I absolutely adored Will. He was a true gentleman, determined to care for those he loved. He made himself into a man that he could be proud of. I thought he was just perfect.
The romance was lovely. Olivia and Will were sweet together. Even after those 5 years apart, neither of them stopped caring about the other. And, there was a bit of spice in there, though it wasn't too much. But, what was there was definitely hot.
The plot was fast paced. I was hooked the entire way through. There was a secret that I never saw coming, one that had haunted Olivia for years. Definitely a shocker. I really enjoyed the story and the ending was lovely.
Lady in Disguise was a fantastic historical romance. I really enjoyed reading this wonderful book. Lovers of romance, you'll want to check this book out.
*I received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review
Olivia was a strong heroine. After her father died, she took responsibility for her sisters, even as her cousin took away their money and left them more and more destitute. Until, there was no money and Olivia had to take to stealing just to get by. Hence, the whole highwayman scheme. I really liked her, for the most part. She was absolutely determined to take care of her sisters in the best way she could. I had one complaint about her. She let her pride get the better of her and it was frustrating. At any time, she could have asked the duke for help and he would have helped. And, when Will came back he offered his help (and frequently forced her to let him help), but she didn't want any of it. I understood her need to hold on to pride when she had nothing else, but she took it too far. Her pride wasn't going to feed her sisters, but the duke's help would have. And, she tended to get snippy about the smallest things, thinking them charity rather than a man wanting to help out a woman he cared for. It wasn't a huge deal, but it was annoying enough for me to knock off a bit of the rating. Other than that, though, I really liked her.
Will was amazing. He had left 5 years before because he knew he was on a path to destroying himself. Not only that, but he knew he would also be tearing down everyone around him if he stayed. So, he left. He knew he needed to get away so that he could grow up and become a better man. That definitely worked. He was a strong, honorable, clever man when he got back. But, then he had to deal with all the people he had left behind and inadvertently hurt. Including Olivia. I absolutely adored Will. He was a true gentleman, determined to care for those he loved. He made himself into a man that he could be proud of. I thought he was just perfect.
The romance was lovely. Olivia and Will were sweet together. Even after those 5 years apart, neither of them stopped caring about the other. And, there was a bit of spice in there, though it wasn't too much. But, what was there was definitely hot.
The plot was fast paced. I was hooked the entire way through. There was a secret that I never saw coming, one that had haunted Olivia for years. Definitely a shocker. I really enjoyed the story and the ending was lovely.
Lady in Disguise was a fantastic historical romance. I really enjoyed reading this wonderful book. Lovers of romance, you'll want to check this book out.
*I received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review
November 26, 2025
Miss Olivia Langley is desperate to save her sisters and herself from scandal and financial ruin. Abandoned and left with little recourse Olivia turns to highway robbery to keep her family financially afloat...her plans were working until the day Lord William Ryder comes back to town.
William left 5 years ago without a word or good-bye, breaking Olivia's heart. Now he's back and determined to re-win the woman he left behind.
Olivia must guard her secrets from everyone, the last thing she can do is let William back into her life...or can she?
I loved watching the byplay between William and Olivia with the mechanization of her sisters.
Wendy Vella writes vivid characters that create instant reader connections, pulling you right into the story. You will feel the emotions, struggles, romance, and heartache right alongside Olivia while she fights for her family and the only home she's ever known.
Lady in Disguise is a wonderfully written romance that beautifully captures the essence of historical England.
I received this copy of Lady in Disguise from Wendy Vella in exchange for an honest review.
William left 5 years ago without a word or good-bye, breaking Olivia's heart. Now he's back and determined to re-win the woman he left behind.
Olivia must guard her secrets from everyone, the last thing she can do is let William back into her life...or can she?
I loved watching the byplay between William and Olivia with the mechanization of her sisters.
Wendy Vella writes vivid characters that create instant reader connections, pulling you right into the story. You will feel the emotions, struggles, romance, and heartache right alongside Olivia while she fights for her family and the only home she's ever known.
Lady in Disguise is a wonderfully written romance that beautifully captures the essence of historical England.
I received this copy of Lady in Disguise from Wendy Vella in exchange for an honest review.
December 23, 2020
Finding each other again
Will left 5 years ago and angry man. He left without a word to his brother or Olivia who loved him. Nothing from him for 5 years. When he returns a very wealthy man he is robbed on his way home.
Olivias father has been dead for several years with no help from he cousin the new Lord Langley. In order she and her sister have taken to the highway to Rob. The first person they come across is Will on his return trip home.
Can these 2 sort out their differences and realize they love each other before her cousin hurts the family. A beautiful written story. Can’t wait to read more in the series.
Will left 5 years ago and angry man. He left without a word to his brother or Olivia who loved him. Nothing from him for 5 years. When he returns a very wealthy man he is robbed on his way home.
Olivias father has been dead for several years with no help from he cousin the new Lord Langley. In order she and her sister have taken to the highway to Rob. The first person they come across is Will on his return trip home.
Can these 2 sort out their differences and realize they love each other before her cousin hurts the family. A beautiful written story. Can’t wait to read more in the series.
March 24, 2023
strong fierce heroine, a changed for the best hero
Olivia is the head of her family. She’s burdened with worries and two sisters. They have secrets. William has returned 5 years later a mature, wealthier, changed man. The story wobbles between Wills regrets, and Olivia’s devious behaviors. There is mystery, and poor decisions. It’s an interesting story with fun personalities well created. There is passion, lust, and fear. It’s a wild read right up to the end.
Olivia is the head of her family. She’s burdened with worries and two sisters. They have secrets. William has returned 5 years later a mature, wealthier, changed man. The story wobbles between Wills regrets, and Olivia’s devious behaviors. There is mystery, and poor decisions. It’s an interesting story with fun personalities well created. There is passion, lust, and fear. It’s a wild read right up to the end.
September 1, 2020
Lovely
This is one of the best books by Wendy Vella. Love all of them. Loved the strong heroine, Olivia, and her love of her family. She has not had an easy life but when her love/friend comes back home after 5 years away things are reaching an end but the hero is able to combine with her to make things right the their lives
This is one of the best books by Wendy Vella. Love all of them. Loved the strong heroine, Olivia, and her love of her family. She has not had an easy life but when her love/friend comes back home after 5 years away things are reaching an end but the hero is able to combine with her to make things right the their lives
November 9, 2016
Heroine is so independent she's idiotic. She also races publicly astride in breeches. Hero doesn't propose after taking her virginity or the second encounter. Villain is rapey and gets off lightly. Secondary characters are very good.
Mature content, formatting issues
Mature content, formatting issues
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 21, 2014
Run of the mill romance. Okay for a light read; but not particularly memorable.
November 22, 2013
Disclosure: I requested this review copy from the author. Thank you, Wendy, for the opportunity to read your work. Yes, this is an honest review.
* * *
When Wendy Vella informed me of her new book, Lady in Disguise, I was immediately intrigued by the idea of gently-bred young ladies masquerading as highwaymen in order to make ends meet. Add to that, a childhood love who returns home after being away for five years.
Unconventional heroine + Second chance at love story = insta-love.
What I didn't realize was just how much I would enjoy Lady in Disguise by Wendy Vella (answer: very, very, very much). ^_^
Olivia Langley is the eldest daughter of the late Viscount Langley. She and her sisters, Phoebe and Bella, are known as the Luscious Langley Ladies because of their beauty and social graces. Men chase after Olivia and her sisters and all the ladies are jealous of their popularity. What the residents of Twoaks do not know is that the late viscount died and left his daughters penniless and the heir, their cousin, does not provide for them. (And has, in fact, very dishonorable intentions towards Olivia and her sisters.)
To support the family, Olivia and her sisters live a double life: to the world outside, they continue to present the image of spoiled, carefree ladies but, in the cover of night, they disguise themselves as highwaymen and rob travelers. On their very first excursion as highwaymen, they rob William Ryder, the prodigal younger brother of the Duke of Rossetter, who has finally returned home from India after five years. He also happens be Livvy's first love and first heartbreak.
Will knows that he has much to explain and atone for in his five-year absence and he doesn't know where to begin. Will grapples with the burden of confronting his past: a version of himself that he now hates: a frivolous, rakish, hell-raiser -- and he is determined to prove to his older brother that he has changed.
Then there is Olivia, whom he left without saying goodbye to. He returns to discover a very different Livvy: distrustful, wary (and weary), burdened -- and Will wants to regain her trust and her love, if she would allow it. Will also knows that there is something "not right" in the Langley household but he can't put his finger on it -- and Livvy is being very evasive.
I loved that Will's story with his family was separate from Olivia's story with her family and the juxtaposition of the different but similar difficulties that our hero and heroine are experiencing as they come to terms with their present situation. Will successfully built a business and has more money than most of the titled lords in London -- but, he can't help but feel that he has failed his family, especially his younger sister. His adjustment is going slowly: England is too cold, he doesn't like tea, his old friends still think he is the same old Will, and Olivia treats him like she would an acquaintance. But I could see Will's determination to make everything right -- I loved his conversations with his brothers, which, I thought Wendy Vella did very well. The author captures the awkwardness, the uncomfortable-ness of two brothers talking again, when their last conversation ended in an argument and Will's running away. (Imagine trying to untangle a piece of string or a ribbon that has been pulled too tight in two different directions.) But both brothers admit their mistake and their willingness to move forward. It is an emotional (and very healing) homecoming for Will -- but, mending the fences with his family is only the first step.
Livvy's father died and that's what people know and understand -- what they don't know about is the circumstances of her father's death, which Livvy is keeping a secret, for fear that it might ruin their reputation. People also don't know that they don't have any more money but they continue to keep up appearances and succeed in doing so. No one in Twoaks has any idea how utterly destitute the Langley sisters actually are. Their front parlour is representative of the life they now lead, the best of everything in their house to show the world but, beyond that room, everything else is in shambles.
And the situation is worsening because of Bella's leg, which was injured in the same accident that killed their mother and brought their father into the spiral of despair, which eventually killed him. It is desperation that compels Livvy to cross over to the "dark side" and take up a life of crime. Wendy Vella chose to take an alternate route when she developed the Langley sisters. Before their financial ruin, they were actually the "mean girls" -- aware of their appeal and their popularity and cruelly wielded it to their advantage (and at the expense of the hapless gentlemen.) The drastic change in their fortune is a humbling dose of reality for them -- but, instead of confiding in and asking for help from the Duke of Rossetter, the sisters kept their financial problem a secret and I thought it was incredibly brave of them to stand by their convictions and it is amazing how well they have managed on their own as orphans.
But bravery takes it toll on even the strongest of people. Livvy tries her best to present a confident face but, deep inside, she is scared and worried about their uncertain future. Will's arrival makes Livvy feel even more vulnerable: men have done nothing but break her heart and disappointed her -- Will, her father and her cousin. While she cannot deny the love that she still feels for Will, she cannot allow herself to trust him ... yet.
Very strong emotions run through from beginning to end: heartbreak, yearning, sadness, weariness, etc. and the author does a good job of making her characters bleed literally and figuratively. As a reader, I was swept up in what Livvy and Will were going through and I felt for them -- to the point of getting very teary-eyed and weepy. How Vella resolves this story is a definitive, celebratory confirmation of the enduring power of love. There's just so much to enjoy in this story.
Lady in Disguise is the first book in Wendy Vella's The Langley Sisters series. Vella does an excellent job of shaping Phoebe and Bella's characters and I can't wait to read their stories. ^_^
* * *
When Wendy Vella informed me of her new book, Lady in Disguise, I was immediately intrigued by the idea of gently-bred young ladies masquerading as highwaymen in order to make ends meet. Add to that, a childhood love who returns home after being away for five years.
Unconventional heroine + Second chance at love story = insta-love.
What I didn't realize was just how much I would enjoy Lady in Disguise by Wendy Vella (answer: very, very, very much). ^_^
Olivia Langley is the eldest daughter of the late Viscount Langley. She and her sisters, Phoebe and Bella, are known as the Luscious Langley Ladies because of their beauty and social graces. Men chase after Olivia and her sisters and all the ladies are jealous of their popularity. What the residents of Twoaks do not know is that the late viscount died and left his daughters penniless and the heir, their cousin, does not provide for them. (And has, in fact, very dishonorable intentions towards Olivia and her sisters.)
To support the family, Olivia and her sisters live a double life: to the world outside, they continue to present the image of spoiled, carefree ladies but, in the cover of night, they disguise themselves as highwaymen and rob travelers. On their very first excursion as highwaymen, they rob William Ryder, the prodigal younger brother of the Duke of Rossetter, who has finally returned home from India after five years. He also happens be Livvy's first love and first heartbreak.
Will knows that he has much to explain and atone for in his five-year absence and he doesn't know where to begin. Will grapples with the burden of confronting his past: a version of himself that he now hates: a frivolous, rakish, hell-raiser -- and he is determined to prove to his older brother that he has changed.
Joseph had called him a leech on the dukedom, demanding to know when he would become the man his parents had raised him to be. Will had remembered those words. They had motivated him to become the man who stood here today.
- p. 11
Then there is Olivia, whom he left without saying goodbye to. He returns to discover a very different Livvy: distrustful, wary (and weary), burdened -- and Will wants to regain her trust and her love, if she would allow it. Will also knows that there is something "not right" in the Langley household but he can't put his finger on it -- and Livvy is being very evasive.
I loved that Will's story with his family was separate from Olivia's story with her family and the juxtaposition of the different but similar difficulties that our hero and heroine are experiencing as they come to terms with their present situation. Will successfully built a business and has more money than most of the titled lords in London -- but, he can't help but feel that he has failed his family, especially his younger sister. His adjustment is going slowly: England is too cold, he doesn't like tea, his old friends still think he is the same old Will, and Olivia treats him like she would an acquaintance. But I could see Will's determination to make everything right -- I loved his conversations with his brothers, which, I thought Wendy Vella did very well. The author captures the awkwardness, the uncomfortable-ness of two brothers talking again, when their last conversation ended in an argument and Will's running away. (Imagine trying to untangle a piece of string or a ribbon that has been pulled too tight in two different directions.) But both brothers admit their mistake and their willingness to move forward. It is an emotional (and very healing) homecoming for Will -- but, mending the fences with his family is only the first step.
Livvy's father died and that's what people know and understand -- what they don't know about is the circumstances of her father's death, which Livvy is keeping a secret, for fear that it might ruin their reputation. People also don't know that they don't have any more money but they continue to keep up appearances and succeed in doing so. No one in Twoaks has any idea how utterly destitute the Langley sisters actually are. Their front parlour is representative of the life they now lead, the best of everything in their house to show the world but, beyond that room, everything else is in shambles.
And the situation is worsening because of Bella's leg, which was injured in the same accident that killed their mother and brought their father into the spiral of despair, which eventually killed him. It is desperation that compels Livvy to cross over to the "dark side" and take up a life of crime. Wendy Vella chose to take an alternate route when she developed the Langley sisters. Before their financial ruin, they were actually the "mean girls" -- aware of their appeal and their popularity and cruelly wielded it to their advantage (and at the expense of the hapless gentlemen.) The drastic change in their fortune is a humbling dose of reality for them -- but, instead of confiding in and asking for help from the Duke of Rossetter, the sisters kept their financial problem a secret and I thought it was incredibly brave of them to stand by their convictions and it is amazing how well they have managed on their own as orphans.
But bravery takes it toll on even the strongest of people. Livvy tries her best to present a confident face but, deep inside, she is scared and worried about their uncertain future. Will's arrival makes Livvy feel even more vulnerable: men have done nothing but break her heart and disappointed her -- Will, her father and her cousin. While she cannot deny the love that she still feels for Will, she cannot allow herself to trust him ... yet.
He still unsettled her and at that moment in time she wanted to slap him, hard. She hated that he had the freedom only a man could have and that he was supported by the comfort and wealth of his family, but more importantly she was angry because once she had loved him and he had walked away from her without a backward glance.
- p. 58
Very strong emotions run through from beginning to end: heartbreak, yearning, sadness, weariness, etc. and the author does a good job of making her characters bleed literally and figuratively. As a reader, I was swept up in what Livvy and Will were going through and I felt for them -- to the point of getting very teary-eyed and weepy. How Vella resolves this story is a definitive, celebratory confirmation of the enduring power of love. There's just so much to enjoy in this story.
Lady in Disguise is the first book in Wendy Vella's The Langley Sisters series. Vella does an excellent job of shaping Phoebe and Bella's characters and I can't wait to read their stories. ^_^
September 28, 2022
A fun, as well as suspenseful, romp featuring a courageous young woman who will do anything to keep her family home and her two sisters from ending up in the street.
Back in Historical England, women have no power, money of their own or the right to make their own decisions. They are totally at the whim of mostly stupid and selfish men.
Olivia is forced to rob, steal and lie to keep a roof over her head. Yet Will is wealthy but wants Olivia to "ask" for help rather than just give her what she needs. What kind of love is that?
Back in Historical England, women have no power, money of their own or the right to make their own decisions. They are totally at the whim of mostly stupid and selfish men.
Olivia is forced to rob, steal and lie to keep a roof over her head. Yet Will is wealthy but wants Olivia to "ask" for help rather than just give her what she needs. What kind of love is that?
July 7, 2018
This was a great start of a series and fun story by a new to me author! I enjoyed every page!
June 17, 2021
4.5 stars
February 13, 2022
Great
I love this author. I have read many of her books and never been disappointed. All of the characters in this contributed to a thread that never lost its purpose. Good. Will find another of hers now. 😉 don't hesitate to try any of her stories.
I love this author. I have read many of her books and never been disappointed. All of the characters in this contributed to a thread that never lost its purpose. Good. Will find another of hers now. 😉 don't hesitate to try any of her stories.
August 7, 2021
This one had so much promise but fell short. For me, the story got off to a rocky start with several instances of "as you know" dialogue which felt unnatural and ham-fisted as a way to insert backstory. No one talks like that in real life. "As you know sister, our cousin left us penniless after Father died" etc etc. So on to the story itself...
We start with 3 sisters who have been left penniless by their aforementioned villainous cousin who inherited their parents' estate. The two eldest turn to highway robbery to make ends meet, which is where my first conflict started. While I'm certainly sympathetic to their plight and there's something interesting about highwaywomen, to resort to robbing people at gunpoint to keep up appearances and not have to let on that you're poor creates a questionable morality compared to, let's say, stealing so you don't starve. They could easily have gone to the Duke, William's brother, who is a close family friend, but they have their pride you know. I feel like that whole highwaywomen plot point got relatively short shrift in the story and is a missed opportunity to explore an interesting premise more deeply.
Olivia often annoyed me - she was frequently independent to the point of stupidity and talk about sending mixed signals to Lord Ryder. Still she had determination and grit, which is refreshing in a time period when women were expected to be docile and biddable decorations. I think I liked Phoebe the most out of the 3 sisters but I don't think I'll continue the series to the next book to read her story.
The cousin is a mustache-twirling paint-by-number villain. He leaves the sisters alone for a long period of time after he inherited the estate and title, despite Olivia's repeated pleas to support them. It's only when Olivia goes to London to visit him that he He apparently has some fairly extreme
After he almost Olivia decides that she and her sisters must resort to a more extreme plan and so she and Phoebe concoct a plan to Once they decide on this course, Olivia realizes that not only does she love Will, but this will mean she can't have a future with him - far be it to appeal to him for help since his money and influence could solve all of her problems. So she
The plans are rather far-fetched and Will finally breaks her down to reveal her circumstances and the situation with the cousin. From there, he takes over and this is my other moment of wtf with the story. Will has his man investigate
Overall, this was an OK read that for me missed the mark in several key places and missed an opportunity to make something more interesting of the highway robbery angle.
We start with 3 sisters who have been left penniless by their aforementioned villainous cousin who inherited their parents' estate. The two eldest turn to highway robbery to make ends meet, which is where my first conflict started. While I'm certainly sympathetic to their plight and there's something interesting about highwaywomen, to resort to robbing people at gunpoint to keep up appearances and not have to let on that you're poor creates a questionable morality compared to, let's say, stealing so you don't starve. They could easily have gone to the Duke, William's brother, who is a close family friend, but they have their pride you know. I feel like that whole highwaywomen plot point got relatively short shrift in the story and is a missed opportunity to explore an interesting premise more deeply.
Olivia often annoyed me - she was frequently independent to the point of stupidity and talk about sending mixed signals to Lord Ryder. Still she had determination and grit, which is refreshing in a time period when women were expected to be docile and biddable decorations. I think I liked Phoebe the most out of the 3 sisters but I don't think I'll continue the series to the next book to read her story.
The cousin is a mustache-twirling paint-by-number villain. He leaves the sisters alone for a long period of time after he inherited the estate and title, despite Olivia's repeated pleas to support them. It's only when Olivia goes to London to visit him that he He apparently has some fairly extreme
After he almost Olivia decides that she and her sisters must resort to a more extreme plan and so she and Phoebe concoct a plan to Once they decide on this course, Olivia realizes that not only does she love Will, but this will mean she can't have a future with him - far be it to appeal to him for help since his money and influence could solve all of her problems. So she
The plans are rather far-fetched and Will finally breaks her down to reveal her circumstances and the situation with the cousin. From there, he takes over and this is my other moment of wtf with the story. Will has his man investigate
Overall, this was an OK read that for me missed the mark in several key places and missed an opportunity to make something more interesting of the highway robbery angle.
May 9, 2017
This book was a kind of forgettable historical romance. The premise sounds great: two ladies who have lost their fortune after their parents died disguise themselves as highwaymen and rob rich carriages to try and support themselves and their sickly younger sister. Meanwhile, the younger brother of the local duke returns home after spending years abroad learning to work for himself and amassing his fortune. The heroine, Olivia (aka Livvy, which I hated), was being courted by Will Ryder, the aforementioned noble, when she was 17 and his leaving broke her heart. When he returns, she ends up robbing him and typical romance novel hijinks ensue. The initial start of the book was pretty good. What really lost me was Olivia was so independent that she was kind of an idiot, and Will was willing to overlook anything bad she did to be together so honestly she could have just admitted she had no money like 100 pages earlier than she did and he would have still been into her. This book also features three sisters so beautiful that every other woman in the book hates them (I hate this trope), plus conveniently wealthy guys to save them from their situation. The so-called highwaymen barely robbed anybody! I wanted more info about the whole crossdressing aspect of the plot. Then, the villain of the story, Olivia's cousin, was cartoonishly evil and that whole plotline was so convoluted that by the end I just wanted all of these characters to go away. Except for Phoebe, Olivia's younger sister, who actually was witty and funny, and I could see her book maybe being a better read. Otherwise this book wasn't really doing it for me.
August 9, 2020
Finally a genuinely good book with a solid story
"...Let me sleep with you in my arms and wake you with my kisses. Only with you can I truly be the man I want to be. You fill all the places inside me that have been empty for so long and you take away the pain of who I once was and the people I hurt.”" - Lord William Ryder
Short summary:
Olivia Langley is the eldest of three sisters who have lost both of their parents in a short span of time and were left penniless and alone. Olivia shoulders most of the responsibilities now although her sisters help in everything and are equally involved in the house affairs. She has accepted the fact that she will never have a season in London and therefore will remain unwed just so all of the funds could be given to her second sister Phoebe's season and her third sister Bella's health requirements.
The funds that they don't have at the moment. So they turn to highwaymen robberies. And as luck would have it, the first person to fall as a victim to them is Olivia's first love, Lord William Ryder, a man who left 5 years ago without telling anyone and hasn't contacted anyone since then.
Atop of all of that, there is a looming threat of the sisters' being evicted from their home by their cousin, the new Lord Langley, who doesn't want to support them at all but he does have a more sinister plot in mind for all of the sisters.
“Only a strong woman could have done what you did, love, and no matter how I feel about the choices you’ve made, I cannot blame you for them. You did what you thought was necessary to keep your family safe.” - Lord William Ryder
Characters.
Olivia Langley is a strong heroine for her time. She stepped up to being in charge of the household, of her sisters' affairs, of preserving the fake facade in front of the rest of the town and of sacrificing her own happiness for her sisters'. She also rides in a Derby and robs people with her sister Phoebe, holding people at gunpoint and taking their money which is an offence punishable by death. But she isn't portrayed like a 'mary sue', a flawless super heroine that nothing can get to, no, she is portrayed as a multi-layered person who has her moments of weakness but does her best for her sisters' sake.
"Yet, how could you prepare yourself to see the man you loved while pointing a gun at his head?"
"...to my mind, anyone who buys me a cinnamon bun is someone worth my time.”" - Olivia Langley
Lord William Ryder is a man who was born with a title and into huge wealth. He, as the second son, did not bear the weight of responsibility from an early age as his brother did so he grew up spoiled. William was one of those men who knew they had money for life and little responsibility and so they went around living in debauchery and only cared about their bad company and their appearances. He was arrogant and irresponsible. That is why his brother could not stand him and they continuously clashed. In a moment of clarity, William saw that his life will not improve with the current circumstances so he left. He left without one word. He left to build his own life and himself in his own way and on his own terms. And for that I have huge respect for this character. And yes, not even sending one letter later was not good but I can understand it. He wanted to achieve something on his own before he comes back to this life he left behind.
"“I couldn’t possibly leave without going into the church; after all, I could walk out a better man.” “To the best of my knowledge, my lord, the last miracle performed here was two hundred years ago,” Olivia muttered." - William and Olivia
"I do not tolerate men who threaten women, especially not a woman whom I count as my friend.” - Lord William Ryder
Writing.
Writing is extremely smart if I can put it like that. The author is very skilled with her words. There is subtle foreshadowing presented, an interesting story, multi-layered characters that we immediately connect with, plenty of witty humour, nicely presented era, slow building emotions and tension... almost everything I deem perfect in a book like this one.
“There are plenty who will say they are your friend but only a few who actually mean it.” - Lord William Ryder
What didn't work for me.
I would have to go into spoiler territory to fully explain but I won't do that. I'll just keep it simple. Sisters have lost their parents and were left with no money. The youngest sister needs medical remedies. They need money to keep appearances so they will have at least some prospect of marriage, or at least one of them. All of that is pressuring them into desperate actions to get the money. And here is where it doesn't fully work for me.
So, the sisters would rather risk highway robbery and being sentenced to death if found out or even risking death at the robbery itself rather than ask for help. Especially from the Duke. I understand one has pride. And ego. And doesn't want to spoil the good name of their family. But you cannot tell me you'd rather risk death and hold people at gunpoint (people who could be struggling for money themselves) rather than explain the situation to the Duke whose family has always had connections with their family and all of them grew up together and they knew the Duke's character. And since this is a very big part of the story, it always ate at me because I could not understand it.
The author could have made it more difficult for them to ask the Duke for help, like for instance their late father offending him or them already owing money to him or a refusal of some sort in his youth from one of the sisters... anything that would explain it better.
All in all.
Wonderful read in almost all aspects. It is truly a page turner. You want desperately to see what happens next and what other things will surface and make everything extra complicated.
Absolutely recommended.
"...“You love me, Olivia Langley, otherwise last night would never have happened.” “No, you are mistaken, my lord, I—I love no one.” “Your eyes say the opposite to your lips, my love. When I return to Willow Hall tomorrow we will talk, Livvy, and you will tell me what troubles you. And while you lay in your cold bed tonight remember one thing. You are mine now and I will never let you go.”" - Lord William Ryder
"...Let me sleep with you in my arms and wake you with my kisses. Only with you can I truly be the man I want to be. You fill all the places inside me that have been empty for so long and you take away the pain of who I once was and the people I hurt.”" - Lord William Ryder
Short summary:
Olivia Langley is the eldest of three sisters who have lost both of their parents in a short span of time and were left penniless and alone. Olivia shoulders most of the responsibilities now although her sisters help in everything and are equally involved in the house affairs. She has accepted the fact that she will never have a season in London and therefore will remain unwed just so all of the funds could be given to her second sister Phoebe's season and her third sister Bella's health requirements.
The funds that they don't have at the moment. So they turn to highwaymen robberies. And as luck would have it, the first person to fall as a victim to them is Olivia's first love, Lord William Ryder, a man who left 5 years ago without telling anyone and hasn't contacted anyone since then.
Atop of all of that, there is a looming threat of the sisters' being evicted from their home by their cousin, the new Lord Langley, who doesn't want to support them at all but he does have a more sinister plot in mind for all of the sisters.
“Only a strong woman could have done what you did, love, and no matter how I feel about the choices you’ve made, I cannot blame you for them. You did what you thought was necessary to keep your family safe.” - Lord William Ryder
Characters.
Olivia Langley is a strong heroine for her time. She stepped up to being in charge of the household, of her sisters' affairs, of preserving the fake facade in front of the rest of the town and of sacrificing her own happiness for her sisters'. She also rides in a Derby and robs people with her sister Phoebe, holding people at gunpoint and taking their money which is an offence punishable by death. But she isn't portrayed like a 'mary sue', a flawless super heroine that nothing can get to, no, she is portrayed as a multi-layered person who has her moments of weakness but does her best for her sisters' sake.
"Yet, how could you prepare yourself to see the man you loved while pointing a gun at his head?"
"...to my mind, anyone who buys me a cinnamon bun is someone worth my time.”" - Olivia Langley
Lord William Ryder is a man who was born with a title and into huge wealth. He, as the second son, did not bear the weight of responsibility from an early age as his brother did so he grew up spoiled. William was one of those men who knew they had money for life and little responsibility and so they went around living in debauchery and only cared about their bad company and their appearances. He was arrogant and irresponsible. That is why his brother could not stand him and they continuously clashed. In a moment of clarity, William saw that his life will not improve with the current circumstances so he left. He left without one word. He left to build his own life and himself in his own way and on his own terms. And for that I have huge respect for this character. And yes, not even sending one letter later was not good but I can understand it. He wanted to achieve something on his own before he comes back to this life he left behind.
"“I couldn’t possibly leave without going into the church; after all, I could walk out a better man.” “To the best of my knowledge, my lord, the last miracle performed here was two hundred years ago,” Olivia muttered." - William and Olivia
"I do not tolerate men who threaten women, especially not a woman whom I count as my friend.” - Lord William Ryder
Writing.
Writing is extremely smart if I can put it like that. The author is very skilled with her words. There is subtle foreshadowing presented, an interesting story, multi-layered characters that we immediately connect with, plenty of witty humour, nicely presented era, slow building emotions and tension... almost everything I deem perfect in a book like this one.
“There are plenty who will say they are your friend but only a few who actually mean it.” - Lord William Ryder
What didn't work for me.
I would have to go into spoiler territory to fully explain but I won't do that. I'll just keep it simple. Sisters have lost their parents and were left with no money. The youngest sister needs medical remedies. They need money to keep appearances so they will have at least some prospect of marriage, or at least one of them. All of that is pressuring them into desperate actions to get the money. And here is where it doesn't fully work for me.
So, the sisters would rather risk highway robbery and being sentenced to death if found out or even risking death at the robbery itself rather than ask for help. Especially from the Duke. I understand one has pride. And ego. And doesn't want to spoil the good name of their family. But you cannot tell me you'd rather risk death and hold people at gunpoint (people who could be struggling for money themselves) rather than explain the situation to the Duke whose family has always had connections with their family and all of them grew up together and they knew the Duke's character. And since this is a very big part of the story, it always ate at me because I could not understand it.
The author could have made it more difficult for them to ask the Duke for help, like for instance their late father offending him or them already owing money to him or a refusal of some sort in his youth from one of the sisters... anything that would explain it better.
All in all.
Wonderful read in almost all aspects. It is truly a page turner. You want desperately to see what happens next and what other things will surface and make everything extra complicated.
Absolutely recommended.
"...“You love me, Olivia Langley, otherwise last night would never have happened.” “No, you are mistaken, my lord, I—I love no one.” “Your eyes say the opposite to your lips, my love. When I return to Willow Hall tomorrow we will talk, Livvy, and you will tell me what troubles you. And while you lay in your cold bed tonight remember one thing. You are mine now and I will never let you go.”" - Lord William Ryder
January 27, 2014
Lady in Disguise is a fast-paced and exciting read. I really enjoyed Olivia’s character. She’s full of stubborn pride and reluctant to hand her heart back over, although she may not have ever stopped loving Will in the first place. Her and her sisters have fallen on hard times and are desperate. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and Livvy’s up to the challenge. But, this means she finds herself in some dangerous heart-pounding predicaments. Not to mention, she’s up against a time period where women had certain roles to play.
At first I found myself upset with Will. I wanted him to have cared more for Livvy the first go around, but he totally redeemed himself. Let’s say Livvy was able to hold out on him a LOT longer than I would have been able to. Plus, when they are together it’s hard to ignore the fireworks.
I recommend this to all those that enjoy historical romance with a little bit of steaminess and excitement on the side. There are some downright frightening scenes, too, that give the story a deeper plot than your average romance novel. I look forward to reading about the other Langley sisters!!
Warnings: language, sexual content, near rape
*I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.*
At first I found myself upset with Will. I wanted him to have cared more for Livvy the first go around, but he totally redeemed himself. Let’s say Livvy was able to hold out on him a LOT longer than I would have been able to. Plus, when they are together it’s hard to ignore the fireworks.
I recommend this to all those that enjoy historical romance with a little bit of steaminess and excitement on the side. There are some downright frightening scenes, too, that give the story a deeper plot than your average romance novel. I look forward to reading about the other Langley sisters!!
Warnings: language, sexual content, near rape
*I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.*
January 11, 2016
I'm not sure who recommended this book but I enjoyed it. I like the characters very much and the story was good. I bought the rest of the series because I wanted to read the heroine's sisters HEAs.
That being said, there were a few editing, grammar, plot (like using the wrong name) errors and that really disrupts the flow of the book. At least for me it does. And the next book was much, much worse.
Authors please have someone read your book for you before publication! Maybe your computer auto corrects or you get in a hurry but be professional. If the second in this series hadn't been almost unreadable, this author would have had a new fan for life.
That being said, there were a few editing, grammar, plot (like using the wrong name) errors and that really disrupts the flow of the book. At least for me it does. And the next book was much, much worse.
Authors please have someone read your book for you before publication! Maybe your computer auto corrects or you get in a hurry but be professional. If the second in this series hadn't been almost unreadable, this author would have had a new fan for life.
December 22, 2018
Overwrought and absurd
"She doth protest too much" could be the motto for the TSTL heroine of this silly novel. The "S" in TSTL could stand for either stupid or stubborn. The plot includes everything but the proverbial kitchen sink as it careens as wildly as a runaway carriage. Add to that a lack of understanding between the correct use of I and me, this book has little to recommend it. Find something that features a heroine with a smidgen of common sense.
"She doth protest too much" could be the motto for the TSTL heroine of this silly novel. The "S" in TSTL could stand for either stupid or stubborn. The plot includes everything but the proverbial kitchen sink as it careens as wildly as a runaway carriage. Add to that a lack of understanding between the correct use of I and me, this book has little to recommend it. Find something that features a heroine with a smidgen of common sense.
April 14, 2014
Pure enjoyment
good story and an easy read. wonderful book to enjoy on a rainy day. the story holds your interest and made me happy. can't wait to read the next by this author.
good story and an easy read. wonderful book to enjoy on a rainy day. the story holds your interest and made me happy. can't wait to read the next by this author.
October 13, 2017
La fierté est un sentiment dangereux qui peut nous amener à faire des choses aussi bien bonnes que mauvaises. J'ai bien aimé cette histoire dont les personnages sont très attachants.
November 13, 2013
Def worth the read. I absolutely love her story telling. It's never too much.
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