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Dame Durden's Daughter
Book by Smith, Joan
Hardcover
First published January 1, 1978
18 people are currently reading
73 people want to read
About the author
Joan Smith
360 books156 followersJoan Smith is a graduate of Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, and the Ontario College of Education. She has taught French and English in high school and English in college. When she began writing, her interest in Jane Austen and Lord Byron led to her first choice of genre, the Regency, which she especially liked for its wit and humor.
Her favorite travel destination is England, where she researches her books. Her hobbies are gardening, painting, sculpture and reading. She is married and has three children. A prolific writer, she is currently working on Regencies and various mysteries at her home in Georgetown, Ontario.
She is also known as Jennie Gallant
Her favorite travel destination is England, where she researches her books. Her hobbies are gardening, painting, sculpture and reading. She is married and has three children. A prolific writer, she is currently working on Regencies and various mysteries at her home in Georgetown, Ontario.
She is also known as Jennie Gallant
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 9, 2017
First, I must say, I probably have spoilers dotted throughout this review so if you hate knowing anything about a story, then I would not read any of it until after!
I have read 17 Smith novels so far (I had to go back and count to make sure). While this is not my favorite (Imprudent Lady among a few others are), it is definitely not my least favorite. I notice that with novels like this (where romance is the primary feature), the H and h are often very harshly judged. But I feel that if Joan Smith wrote every novel the same, it would be very boring indeed. In fact, I think she adds a little something different to each novel that reveals that she has a deeper understanding of her characters and gives them a depth that many do not give her credit. For instance in Imprudent Lady and the somewhat criticized sequel Reprise, I thought she gave her characters very creditable reactions. The H was a known and self admitted womanizer. Any woman would feel feel insecure as to how long they would be able to hold his attention and to view any female associations of his with some wariness. A woman would be a fool not to.
Likewise, with Dame Durden's Daughter, I found that the characters were really refreshing. First, Helver and Edith were both very lonely children growing up. So much so that you have to remember that there is a 5 year difference in age for them as playmates. Helver mentions that he had his tutor at the age of 11 or 12 help her with her alphabet. 12 and 7 is quite a large gap developmentally at that age. And that friendship continued until he was about 17 or 18 as they talk about their escapades when she was 12. Also, Helver was given a lot of freedom and when he did something high spirited as a child it was often blown out of proportion. I confess as a parent I saw this in the view of "If you tell a child he is bad often enough, he will begin to believe it and decide that if he is to be blamed for things he didn't mean or do, then he may as well go ahead and do it."
Then there's Edith. Many writers would have made her relationship with her mother a point of contention. Edith's mother was stuck in her ways, kept her daughter isolated, and didn't bother to educate her. But again, I feel that Joan Smith defies expectations. What we see is a mother who loves her daughter and is not cruel. Also, a daughter who loves her mother and despite her mother's eccentricities, is not particularly embarrassed of her. Her relationship with her mother is loving and for the most part, open and honest. She wears the outdated and exceedingly prim clothing without feelings of self consciousness or resentment. Would she like to wear other things? Of course but it's not a priority for her or a measure of her self worth. If anything, there is something almost bittersweet about Edith as she acknowledges that she is not smart/well educated or current with the latest mode. It's self deprecating but not self lowering. Which goes back to Helver as well. He does not judge or ridicule Edith's mother's eccentricities but rather enjoys them. He thinks nothing of Edith's clothes when the more stylish Widow DeCourcy mocks them because like Edith, it's just how it's always been and he does not measure Edith's worth by such things. Edith does not need to change to engage him.
Which leads me to another point about Helver. He goes after the Widow but he's not stupid. He knows what she's about and he's young and single and not more than a friend to Edith (so there's no betrayal there). He sees the widow as an opportunity for, to put it bluntly, many romps in bed. He doesn't pretend otherwise and when he sees that the Widow is angling for more, he drops her without a second thought. In fact, I have to say it's probably good that he had traveled and had the experiences that he had because he didn't make any "mistakes" as it were.
Finally, at the end, during an argument between Helver and Edith, he does lash out and strike her. I thought I would feel outraged and consign Helver to the literary depths of hell. But I didn't. Because I got it. Helver is highly emotional and impetuous. When he decides that he wants Edith, everyone, including Helver, felt that he was going to make it happen even if he had to kidnap her. And as a reader, I felt he would too but not out maliciousness but again, as someone who loved adventure and had often acted on whatever he felt like doing without giving it much thought. But their argument was one that only two people who had literally grown up together since they were babies could have. They knew each other from the time Edith had difficulty learning her ABCs to when Helver took off for the continent. They knew where to strike where it hurt. And Helver, who never had anyone believe any good of him except Edith, had been laid low when he saw how much anger and hate, yes, hate, that she threw at him. When she confirms what everyone else had been saying about him since he was a child. And it was this one bit by the author that saved the scene for me. When in that moment, he recalled a childhood incident where Edith had picked another boy's truth over his. How an event that happened a decade earlier, when they were children, suddenly came to him. And THAT to me was honest. We can know someone our whole lives, love them for better and worse, but also have hurts both large and small that we carry. Hurts, resentments. This was an incident that would have been seen by an adult as so minor but for him, as minor as it was, had made a deep impression on him and I honestly think in that moment, it had not just come up from his subconscious but took him wholly by surprise by how deeply he had felt betrayed in that moment. And the current scene was simply a replay of an old hurt. And he struck. I also feel that the horror after was not downplayed, at last not by Helver. It was Edith who cried and apologized to him but I don't think she was apologizing for being hit. I think she was truly apologizing for calling him names and being horrible to him because Edith was and is a truly nice person. Someone who felt that the one thing she would be good for in life was helping make a difference for the poor and needy. I think she had horrified herself by her outburst and knew that for Helver to strike her, that she had hurt him badly.
Overall, I truly did enjoy this story. I enjoyed the freshness with which Joan Smith embued it. The main characters were not dishonest, play games, or anything really. Helver was very forthcoming about his interest and Edith didn't just fall into his arms because she truly felt that marriage was more than just a pretty face spouting pretty words. And THAT was a nice change of pace.
I have read 17 Smith novels so far (I had to go back and count to make sure). While this is not my favorite (Imprudent Lady among a few others are), it is definitely not my least favorite. I notice that with novels like this (where romance is the primary feature), the H and h are often very harshly judged. But I feel that if Joan Smith wrote every novel the same, it would be very boring indeed. In fact, I think she adds a little something different to each novel that reveals that she has a deeper understanding of her characters and gives them a depth that many do not give her credit. For instance in Imprudent Lady and the somewhat criticized sequel Reprise, I thought she gave her characters very creditable reactions. The H was a known and self admitted womanizer. Any woman would feel feel insecure as to how long they would be able to hold his attention and to view any female associations of his with some wariness. A woman would be a fool not to.
Likewise, with Dame Durden's Daughter, I found that the characters were really refreshing. First, Helver and Edith were both very lonely children growing up. So much so that you have to remember that there is a 5 year difference in age for them as playmates. Helver mentions that he had his tutor at the age of 11 or 12 help her with her alphabet. 12 and 7 is quite a large gap developmentally at that age. And that friendship continued until he was about 17 or 18 as they talk about their escapades when she was 12. Also, Helver was given a lot of freedom and when he did something high spirited as a child it was often blown out of proportion. I confess as a parent I saw this in the view of "If you tell a child he is bad often enough, he will begin to believe it and decide that if he is to be blamed for things he didn't mean or do, then he may as well go ahead and do it."
Then there's Edith. Many writers would have made her relationship with her mother a point of contention. Edith's mother was stuck in her ways, kept her daughter isolated, and didn't bother to educate her. But again, I feel that Joan Smith defies expectations. What we see is a mother who loves her daughter and is not cruel. Also, a daughter who loves her mother and despite her mother's eccentricities, is not particularly embarrassed of her. Her relationship with her mother is loving and for the most part, open and honest. She wears the outdated and exceedingly prim clothing without feelings of self consciousness or resentment. Would she like to wear other things? Of course but it's not a priority for her or a measure of her self worth. If anything, there is something almost bittersweet about Edith as she acknowledges that she is not smart/well educated or current with the latest mode. It's self deprecating but not self lowering. Which goes back to Helver as well. He does not judge or ridicule Edith's mother's eccentricities but rather enjoys them. He thinks nothing of Edith's clothes when the more stylish Widow DeCourcy mocks them because like Edith, it's just how it's always been and he does not measure Edith's worth by such things. Edith does not need to change to engage him.
Which leads me to another point about Helver. He goes after the Widow but he's not stupid. He knows what she's about and he's young and single and not more than a friend to Edith (so there's no betrayal there). He sees the widow as an opportunity for, to put it bluntly, many romps in bed. He doesn't pretend otherwise and when he sees that the Widow is angling for more, he drops her without a second thought. In fact, I have to say it's probably good that he had traveled and had the experiences that he had because he didn't make any "mistakes" as it were.
Finally, at the end, during an argument between Helver and Edith, he does lash out and strike her. I thought I would feel outraged and consign Helver to the literary depths of hell. But I didn't. Because I got it. Helver is highly emotional and impetuous. When he decides that he wants Edith, everyone, including Helver, felt that he was going to make it happen even if he had to kidnap her. And as a reader, I felt he would too but not out maliciousness but again, as someone who loved adventure and had often acted on whatever he felt like doing without giving it much thought. But their argument was one that only two people who had literally grown up together since they were babies could have. They knew each other from the time Edith had difficulty learning her ABCs to when Helver took off for the continent. They knew where to strike where it hurt. And Helver, who never had anyone believe any good of him except Edith, had been laid low when he saw how much anger and hate, yes, hate, that she threw at him. When she confirms what everyone else had been saying about him since he was a child. And it was this one bit by the author that saved the scene for me. When in that moment, he recalled a childhood incident where Edith had picked another boy's truth over his. How an event that happened a decade earlier, when they were children, suddenly came to him. And THAT to me was honest. We can know someone our whole lives, love them for better and worse, but also have hurts both large and small that we carry. Hurts, resentments. This was an incident that would have been seen by an adult as so minor but for him, as minor as it was, had made a deep impression on him and I honestly think in that moment, it had not just come up from his subconscious but took him wholly by surprise by how deeply he had felt betrayed in that moment. And the current scene was simply a replay of an old hurt. And he struck. I also feel that the horror after was not downplayed, at last not by Helver. It was Edith who cried and apologized to him but I don't think she was apologizing for being hit. I think she was truly apologizing for calling him names and being horrible to him because Edith was and is a truly nice person. Someone who felt that the one thing she would be good for in life was helping make a difference for the poor and needy. I think she had horrified herself by her outburst and knew that for Helver to strike her, that she had hurt him badly.
Overall, I truly did enjoy this story. I enjoyed the freshness with which Joan Smith embued it. The main characters were not dishonest, play games, or anything really. Helver was very forthcoming about his interest and Edith didn't just fall into his arms because she truly felt that marriage was more than just a pretty face spouting pretty words. And THAT was a nice change of pace.
January 12, 2022
I’ve had this sitting on my Kindle for a while, but I was reluctant to start it, for some reason. My experiences with Joan Smith have been variable, to put it mildly, ranging from five stars to bailing out after a couple of chapters. This one seemed like it might fall into the oddball category, and so it does, but it’s also wildly funny, with some glorious exchanges between the two principals.
Here’s the premise: Edith Durden has been raised by a mother who lives largely in the past, feeling that their Saxon roots are far superior to the upstart ducal family living nearby. Dame Durden is convinced that a local clergyman, Dr Thorne, whose blood is as pure as her own, is the only proper husband for Edith. Meanwhile, the old duke has died, and the new duke, his rakehell only son, Helver, returns from a long sojourn abroad to take up the reins of his estate. He’s at first disgruntled to find that he must actually apply himself to the work, and then surprised to find that he enjoys it. The other surprise is that his childhood playmate, Eddie Durden, is now a rather attractive young woman, but it isn’t until she becomes engaged to Dr Thorne that Helver begins to take her seriously.
So here we have the classic betrothed-to-the-wrong-man scenario, the heroine knowing perfectly well that she loves Helver, but since he only seems to see her as a friend, and she has to marry someone, she settles for the rather dreary clergyman, convincing herself that at least she will be part of the village, instead of sequestered away with her mother, and therefore she’ll be able to do some good for the parishioners.
I liked Edith very much, and unlike in many such tales, she isn’t forced to marry by the machinations of her evil mother. Her mother, in fact, while being wildly eccentric and having one foot very firmly planted in the Tudor era, is nevertheless a perfectly kind and loving mother, who wants the best for her daughter. Given the lack of likely marriage prospects, she weighs up the two possibilities and discounts Helver at once because despite the good looks and charm, he’s far too wild to be marriage material. Besides, he shows not the slightest romantic interest in Edith. So Dame Durden pushes her daughter very gently towards the terribly respectable and upright Dr Thorne. It’s only after the betrothal, when she’s thrown into his company a lot more, that she realises what a dreadful loveless marriage it would be.
Helver is a fascinating character. Being the only child of his elderly parents, and discovering that every minor infraction convinces them that he’s akin to the devil himself, he not unnaturally decided he might as well not bother even trying to be good. It soon becomes clear that although he has been pretty wild, much of his reputation has been exaggerated and his devilry consists mainly of wandering around Europe wherever the whim takes him, and bedding willing women. All of which he cheerfully describes to Edith, regarding her as an honorary bloke, perhaps. But despite a certain selfish streak born of idleness, when he’s forced to accept his ducal responsibilities, he proves to have a good heart, more willing to see to the modest needs of his tenants than his own family.
There are no surprises in the way the story ends, but the question of how that point will be reached is very much up in the air. Helver is late to the realisation that he loves Edith, but since he is sure she also loves him, he’s determined to see off the obnoxious Dr Thorne and win his bride. But the wild streak in him means that the reader can’t be quite sure just how he’ll do it. It’s mentioned more than once that he’s capable of kidnapping her and whisking her away to Gretna, and so a thread of uncertainty runs through the final chapters. Will he just get impatient, or has he finally grown up enough to tackle the problem with intelligence? I won’t spoil the surprise by answering the question, but I highly recommend reading the book to find out, and, perhaps an even bigger inducement, to enjoy the wonderful banter between the two principals. Brilliantly written, refreshingly different and only a very small scattering of Americanisms to jolt the unwary reader back to the 21st century. Five stars.
Here’s the premise: Edith Durden has been raised by a mother who lives largely in the past, feeling that their Saxon roots are far superior to the upstart ducal family living nearby. Dame Durden is convinced that a local clergyman, Dr Thorne, whose blood is as pure as her own, is the only proper husband for Edith. Meanwhile, the old duke has died, and the new duke, his rakehell only son, Helver, returns from a long sojourn abroad to take up the reins of his estate. He’s at first disgruntled to find that he must actually apply himself to the work, and then surprised to find that he enjoys it. The other surprise is that his childhood playmate, Eddie Durden, is now a rather attractive young woman, but it isn’t until she becomes engaged to Dr Thorne that Helver begins to take her seriously.
So here we have the classic betrothed-to-the-wrong-man scenario, the heroine knowing perfectly well that she loves Helver, but since he only seems to see her as a friend, and she has to marry someone, she settles for the rather dreary clergyman, convincing herself that at least she will be part of the village, instead of sequestered away with her mother, and therefore she’ll be able to do some good for the parishioners.
I liked Edith very much, and unlike in many such tales, she isn’t forced to marry by the machinations of her evil mother. Her mother, in fact, while being wildly eccentric and having one foot very firmly planted in the Tudor era, is nevertheless a perfectly kind and loving mother, who wants the best for her daughter. Given the lack of likely marriage prospects, she weighs up the two possibilities and discounts Helver at once because despite the good looks and charm, he’s far too wild to be marriage material. Besides, he shows not the slightest romantic interest in Edith. So Dame Durden pushes her daughter very gently towards the terribly respectable and upright Dr Thorne. It’s only after the betrothal, when she’s thrown into his company a lot more, that she realises what a dreadful loveless marriage it would be.
Helver is a fascinating character. Being the only child of his elderly parents, and discovering that every minor infraction convinces them that he’s akin to the devil himself, he not unnaturally decided he might as well not bother even trying to be good. It soon becomes clear that although he has been pretty wild, much of his reputation has been exaggerated and his devilry consists mainly of wandering around Europe wherever the whim takes him, and bedding willing women. All of which he cheerfully describes to Edith, regarding her as an honorary bloke, perhaps. But despite a certain selfish streak born of idleness, when he’s forced to accept his ducal responsibilities, he proves to have a good heart, more willing to see to the modest needs of his tenants than his own family.
There are no surprises in the way the story ends, but the question of how that point will be reached is very much up in the air. Helver is late to the realisation that he loves Edith, but since he is sure she also loves him, he’s determined to see off the obnoxious Dr Thorne and win his bride. But the wild streak in him means that the reader can’t be quite sure just how he’ll do it. It’s mentioned more than once that he’s capable of kidnapping her and whisking her away to Gretna, and so a thread of uncertainty runs through the final chapters. Will he just get impatient, or has he finally grown up enough to tackle the problem with intelligence? I won’t spoil the surprise by answering the question, but I highly recommend reading the book to find out, and, perhaps an even bigger inducement, to enjoy the wonderful banter between the two principals. Brilliantly written, refreshingly different and only a very small scattering of Americanisms to jolt the unwary reader back to the 21st century. Five stars.
June 5, 2020
3 stars, i’ve been reading lots of childhood friends to lovers in hr lately and the trope fits this time period so well.
February 14, 2022
I like that Joan Smith writes in a more traditional style, with attention to period language and (generally) attitudes. This was a fun story with a few quirky characters and a satisfying love story. I had a hard time liking the hero, however, because he was a little too rakish to get me to root for him getting the girl. But if you can believe he really did want to change, the love story was delightful.
August 23, 2024
Abusive
This was at least a 4 star book until the end. Somehow Helver convinces Edith to marry him by slapping her. He says he didn't mean to do it and won't do it again (although he's done it once before). It just seems very abusive. So it basically ruined it. If not for that, this would have been one of Joan smith's better books.
This was at least a 4 star book until the end. Somehow Helver convinces Edith to marry him by slapping her. He says he didn't mean to do it and won't do it again (although he's done it once before). It just seems very abusive. So it basically ruined it. If not for that, this would have been one of Joan smith's better books.
February 7, 2021
How cool is the alliteration in that title – I love it!
We first hear of the Duke of Saymore (Helver) in the very first paragraphs of Dame Durden’s Daughter. Unfortunately he does not sound very nice – “It was assumed as a matter of course that the child of every unwed mother in Saymore’s domain was to be laid at his door” – and it is difficult to see how he can become a true hero.
SPOILER – in my opinion he never does really.
We get to meet Dame Durden’s Daughter (Edith) in Chapter 2. Her mother’s “chief delight [is] to live in the past” specifically Tudor times and as a result Edith has not had a lot of interaction with the local villagers, apart from Helver. And it isn’t long after meeting Edith that we discover she has loved Helver for many years so no surprises there but will Helver learn to return her love?
Not if her mother has anything to do with it – she is keen on the local Vicar for her daughter, purely because he can trace “his ancestors back to Earl Alfgar in the Saxon period, with never a drop of Norman blood in the entire family.” That Tudor obsession coming to the fore again!
And certainly not if the Baroness de Courcy has her way – she’s very keen on Helver herself and as a more worldy woman than Edith, probably has the advantage over such a sheltered girl…
And then, just to add even more players to the mix Helver’s mother the Dowager Duchess brings in Lady Anne as her prefered partner for Helver.
What didn’t I like about this book?
The constant early multiple mentions of what a limb of Satan Helver is.
It really doesn’t encourage the reader to like Helver and then all of a sudden we’re being told that in fact he isn’t all that bad – it is in fact the fault of his parents for being too old when he was born and not knowing how to deal with him. The turn around was too quick for me and I never really warmed to Helver.
What did I like about this book?
There’s not a big age gap between the two main characters – Helver is 24 (and young for his years) whilst Edith is 19.
Edith’s quips – even though she’s not formally educated she is able to hold very witty conversations with Helver which add a nice touch of humour to the book.
I also really liked (and no surprise here) that Edith’s mother didn’t actively hate her – yes, she was encouraging Edith to marry someone that Edith didn’t love but not out of spite or jealousy. She just wanted the best for Edith and thought that was the best way to get it for her.
How did I feel at the end?
That’s really the important thing isn’t it? Did I feel the HEA was right? Did I feel happy or disappointed by the misunderstandings? Was I left with a warm and fuzzy feeling or wishing I could get my money back?
HEA – yes I felt this was right. It wasn’t rushed and I really enjoyed the conversation between Edith and Helver leading up to the proposal.
Misunderstandings – these were understandable given Helver’s standing in the community and Edith’s strong sense of duty to her mother.
At the end, although I wasn’t left with a warm and fuzzy feeling neither did I wish I could get my money back.
My final thoughts? Ultimately, this is not one of my favourite Joan Smith books but it is a nice romance and a good way to spend a Sunday afternoon particularly if you’re looking for witty conversations.
(Check out my personal blog for more Traditional Regency Romance reviews)
We first hear of the Duke of Saymore (Helver) in the very first paragraphs of Dame Durden’s Daughter. Unfortunately he does not sound very nice – “It was assumed as a matter of course that the child of every unwed mother in Saymore’s domain was to be laid at his door” – and it is difficult to see how he can become a true hero.
SPOILER – in my opinion he never does really.
We get to meet Dame Durden’s Daughter (Edith) in Chapter 2. Her mother’s “chief delight [is] to live in the past” specifically Tudor times and as a result Edith has not had a lot of interaction with the local villagers, apart from Helver. And it isn’t long after meeting Edith that we discover she has loved Helver for many years so no surprises there but will Helver learn to return her love?
Not if her mother has anything to do with it – she is keen on the local Vicar for her daughter, purely because he can trace “his ancestors back to Earl Alfgar in the Saxon period, with never a drop of Norman blood in the entire family.” That Tudor obsession coming to the fore again!
And certainly not if the Baroness de Courcy has her way – she’s very keen on Helver herself and as a more worldy woman than Edith, probably has the advantage over such a sheltered girl…
And then, just to add even more players to the mix Helver’s mother the Dowager Duchess brings in Lady Anne as her prefered partner for Helver.
What didn’t I like about this book?
The constant early multiple mentions of what a limb of Satan Helver is.
It really doesn’t encourage the reader to like Helver and then all of a sudden we’re being told that in fact he isn’t all that bad – it is in fact the fault of his parents for being too old when he was born and not knowing how to deal with him. The turn around was too quick for me and I never really warmed to Helver.
What did I like about this book?
There’s not a big age gap between the two main characters – Helver is 24 (and young for his years) whilst Edith is 19.
Edith’s quips – even though she’s not formally educated she is able to hold very witty conversations with Helver which add a nice touch of humour to the book.
I also really liked (and no surprise here) that Edith’s mother didn’t actively hate her – yes, she was encouraging Edith to marry someone that Edith didn’t love but not out of spite or jealousy. She just wanted the best for Edith and thought that was the best way to get it for her.
How did I feel at the end?
That’s really the important thing isn’t it? Did I feel the HEA was right? Did I feel happy or disappointed by the misunderstandings? Was I left with a warm and fuzzy feeling or wishing I could get my money back?
HEA – yes I felt this was right. It wasn’t rushed and I really enjoyed the conversation between Edith and Helver leading up to the proposal.
Misunderstandings – these were understandable given Helver’s standing in the community and Edith’s strong sense of duty to her mother.
At the end, although I wasn’t left with a warm and fuzzy feeling neither did I wish I could get my money back.
My final thoughts? Ultimately, this is not one of my favourite Joan Smith books but it is a nice romance and a good way to spend a Sunday afternoon particularly if you’re looking for witty conversations.
(Check out my personal blog for more Traditional Regency Romance reviews)
February 5, 2025
This book was so frustrating.
*Spoilers ahead*
So many things were wrong with this hook. Eddie is “in love” with Helver but really it can only be an infatuation. He is really self absorbed and Eddie is just clinging on something to avoid her bleak life. It was really frustrating reading a book where Eddie has no backbone at all…her mother completely controls her and Eddie does not ever push back. She lets her new fiancé control her too. Then she lets Helver control her!
But what really surprised me is that Helver slaps Eddie? That was the weirdest thing I’ve ever read. Talk about a man child. He’s the one that didn’t have the guts to confess his feelings, break off the engagement, call out the other guy. And then Eddie completely melts in his arms after he hits her? It was absolutely bizarre. I normally like Joan Smith books but this was just weird and extremely frustrating.
What the book needed was for Eddie to run away and have her own period of growth or rebellion. For the entire book she doesn’t change at all and is just patiently waiting for Helver which is so odd.
*Spoilers ahead*
So many things were wrong with this hook. Eddie is “in love” with Helver but really it can only be an infatuation. He is really self absorbed and Eddie is just clinging on something to avoid her bleak life. It was really frustrating reading a book where Eddie has no backbone at all…her mother completely controls her and Eddie does not ever push back. She lets her new fiancé control her too. Then she lets Helver control her!
But what really surprised me is that Helver slaps Eddie? That was the weirdest thing I’ve ever read. Talk about a man child. He’s the one that didn’t have the guts to confess his feelings, break off the engagement, call out the other guy. And then Eddie completely melts in his arms after he hits her? It was absolutely bizarre. I normally like Joan Smith books but this was just weird and extremely frustrating.
What the book needed was for Eddie to run away and have her own period of growth or rebellion. For the entire book she doesn’t change at all and is just patiently waiting for Helver which is so odd.
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January 4, 2025It started really well and I had a few laughs, but it soon became very boring. Friends to lovers is not my favourite trope and the FMC was so docile and isolated and boring, I almost didn't want the adventurous Hero chained down by her.
The more I read, the more I hated the FMC. Hated her fiancé even more and would have liked her to end up with the villainous vicar as punishment. I can't say I enjoyed this read inspite of the witty writing. But the last 20 pages and the battle of wits between the MMC and the greedy vicar was very interesting. Haven't seen anything like it in any HR I've read so far.
The more I read, the more I hated the FMC. Hated her fiancé even more and would have liked her to end up with the villainous vicar as punishment. I can't say I enjoyed this read inspite of the witty writing. But the last 20 pages and the battle of wits between the MMC and the greedy vicar was very interesting. Haven't seen anything like it in any HR I've read so far.
September 13, 2025
A strange mélange of a reformed rake, a snakelike cleric, and an antiquarian goodwife. The young duke is a lecherous fellow in the process of reform, and his brief violence to his beloved would make us uncomfortable in 2025, but perhaps would not be misplaced in the regency era. Dr. Thorne is a somewhat magnified version of Mr. Collins.. We also might be uncomfortable with the description of the simple daughter, but society has always been uncomfortable with the sexuality of the mentally challenged, or moonlings.
October 11, 2025
3.5 This was okay, quite a fun read. Friends to eventual lovers trope.
The Hero only realizes his feelings for the heroine when she gets engaged to someone else. So of course they have the complications of the whole engagement to overcome before they can get their happy ever after.
The Hero only realizes his feelings for the heroine when she gets engaged to someone else. So of course they have the complications of the whole engagement to overcome before they can get their happy ever after.
January 23, 2022
A great, easy and light hearted read. Loved the characters and found myself laughing throughout.
March 8, 2011
I did enjoy the book but it was not as outstanding as the other Joan Smith that I read. The Regency format is not one that I'm familiar with although I read the longer Regency Historical format often. Joan Smith's speciality is her humor that she uses to such perfection in her characterizations. I did not see as much humor used in this book and the heroine annoyed me to no end in that she waffled in her emotions too much. She disliked her fiance and yet would stick up for him when his faults were pointed out to her. Then she would run to mama to try to gain her approval. The hero had a few unlikeable qualities as well. Overall-I don't think this is the best offer by Smith.
September 27, 2015
A friend recommended this to me. It's not quite Georgette Heyer, but was better than some of the newer "regency."
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July 26, 20173.5 Regency romance. Sweet plot, but missing the wit and humor of Georgette Heyer. At least it was good, clean fun.
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June 29, 2018A
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