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Miscalculations
A spendthrift viscount must contend with a financial advisor—a surprisingly beautiful and charming one—in this Regency romance. Jane Douglas had a sharp wit, a brilliant mind, and an extraordinary knack for numbers. As financial advisor to Lady Martha Kettering, she was able to provide for herself, her sister, and her mother. Jane had resigned herself to a quiet life in the country, in service. Viscount Luke Kettering was a self-confident, elegant, with a talent for all the manly arts, and a penchant for taking risks. He was admired by his peers, yet his constant requests for funds to settle his gambling debts caused his mother deep concern. He eagerly accepted her challenge to give him control of his inheritance if he could prove to be financially responsible. All he had to do was act prudently for one month. He did not factor in one detail—that Lady Martha's financial advisor would be overseeing his accounting for the month—and that he was—a she!
261 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2000
19 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Mansfield
59 books61 followersElizabeth Mansfield is the author of numerous regency romances. She is an intelligent and thoughtful writer, a hidden gem whose novels deserve to be more widely read and enjoyed.
Elizabeth Mansfield is the pen name of the talented Paula Reibel Schwartz. Ms Schwartz also wrote different genres under the pen names Paula Reibel, Paula Reid, and Paula Jonas.
Elizabeth Mansfield is the pen name of the talented Paula Reibel Schwartz. Ms Schwartz also wrote different genres under the pen names Paula Reibel, Paula Reid, and Paula Jonas.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
August 27, 2015
It's a romance; you expect some 'forcible' kissing; but when the it is the H who has a mistress under protection currently, is a gamester, gambler who keeps losing money (and tons of it), abuses the h for being a prude, and gets drunk and then does the forcible kissing, it's hard for me to let that go, even under the aegis of it being a "romance". :/
Not happy with the H. Don't like h to have to deal with ow/mistress :(
Perhaps author will redeem the "hero". But this sort of romance is just the pits.
H apparently has no morals and no consideration towards the h whatsoever.
One of the things that bothered me was that it's not really decent to have your mistress come over while you have decent women (and yes, his "man-of-business" and now her sister do come under that category, since they are of almost same social class-- since they can eat at the same table). H has no decency, really is a spoilt 31 year old, and his tantrums have led the h to doubt herself!
H treats the h shabbily, but his mistress he says can call on him anytime she needs something.
On top of everything, I didn't like the secondary romance either, because the h's sister is a petty, selfish little thing.
"Am I expected to congratulate you for wagering so great a sum?" "Where would you be if you'd lost?"
"But I didn't lose." "Don't look at me that way, my love. I was not as rash as it might seem. The bet was a sure thing."
...
"We wagered on you. I knew you'd never agree to run off with him."
She pulled her hands from his grasp and stared at him, white-lipped. Her heart plummeted as a kind of rage dissipated whatever was left of the dream. It was he, Luke Hammond, who'd incited Moncton to attempt the monstrous seduction in the carriage.
"Are you saying you wagered on the possibility that I'd go off with him? That he could induce me to become his... his fancy piece?"
"Well, I would not put it quite that way."
"How would you put it? Is there another way? Sir Rodney told me himself that he planned to take me to an inn by the sea. I would have the pleasure of listening to the waves as he seduced me."
"Damn him! I should've killed him,"
"And what if he'd succeeded in his abduction? He would have, if I'd not had the good fortune to have a weapon on my person."
"I would not have let him succeed."
"You can't be sure of that."
"But, dash it all, Jane, he didn't succeed."
"Is that your answer? Do you so easily forgive yourself?"
"Is there so much to forgive? I put my money on the soundness of your character, and I was right."
She made a gesture of despair. He didn't even see how immoral his act had been.
So, having once been rejected, the H goes off home to sulk. And it remains to the h to go to London and say ily back to him.
Not happy with the H. Don't like h to have to deal with ow/mistress :(
Perhaps author will redeem the "hero". But this sort of romance is just the pits.
H apparently has no morals and no consideration towards the h whatsoever.
One of the things that bothered me was that it's not really decent to have your mistress come over while you have decent women (and yes, his "man-of-business" and now her sister do come under that category, since they are of almost same social class-- since they can eat at the same table). H has no decency, really is a spoilt 31 year old, and his tantrums have led the h to doubt herself!
H treats the h shabbily, but his mistress he says can call on him anytime she needs something.
On top of everything, I didn't like the secondary romance either, because the h's sister is a petty, selfish little thing.
"Am I expected to congratulate you for wagering so great a sum?" "Where would you be if you'd lost?"
"But I didn't lose." "Don't look at me that way, my love. I was not as rash as it might seem. The bet was a sure thing."
...
"We wagered on you. I knew you'd never agree to run off with him."
She pulled her hands from his grasp and stared at him, white-lipped. Her heart plummeted as a kind of rage dissipated whatever was left of the dream. It was he, Luke Hammond, who'd incited Moncton to attempt the monstrous seduction in the carriage.
"Are you saying you wagered on the possibility that I'd go off with him? That he could induce me to become his... his fancy piece?"
"Well, I would not put it quite that way."
"How would you put it? Is there another way? Sir Rodney told me himself that he planned to take me to an inn by the sea. I would have the pleasure of listening to the waves as he seduced me."
"Damn him! I should've killed him,"
"And what if he'd succeeded in his abduction? He would have, if I'd not had the good fortune to have a weapon on my person."
"I would not have let him succeed."
"You can't be sure of that."
"But, dash it all, Jane, he didn't succeed."
"Is that your answer? Do you so easily forgive yourself?"
"Is there so much to forgive? I put my money on the soundness of your character, and I was right."
She made a gesture of despair. He didn't even see how immoral his act had been.
So, having once been rejected, the H goes off home to sulk. And it remains to the h to go to London and say ily back to him.
June 25, 2017
This was a ridiculous and at times offensive Regency romance. It's the worst Regency I have ever read. The "hero" is an idiot, and he manhandles the heroine twice very early in her employment as his "man of business," in a way that is violent, out of rage and drunkenness, and the author presents this as romantic and sexy. This is not, I remind you, a recent romance novel following in the "tradition" of 5o Shades of Gray. It is a clean romance from the 70s or 80s. Finally, the "hero" intentionally places the heroine in a position to almost be raped by a horrible man, and this is excused as romantic. WTF??? I get it, this is an older romance novel, but this kind of thing doesn't happen in Georgette Heyer. Mansfield was suggested by some readers as a Heyer read-alike, and that is totally ridiculous. They have nothing in common besides the time period they cover. But speaking of that, there are numerous glaring historical inaccuracies, not least of which is the basis for the whole "romance," which is that the heroine, a gentlewoman, if an impoverished one, is housed with no chaperone in the London house of an unmarried gentleman for the period of a month. And she is initially placed in the bedroom directly across the gentleman! As any reader of regencies knows, this would immediately make the gentlewoman into a ruined woman in the eyes of regency society, but it is not presented as anything at all by the author. Oh yeah, and don't get me started on the pointless and ridiculous secondary romance of the heroine's sister. This was totally stupid and made no sense at all. This is a sloppy and far from romantic novel.
September 7, 2017
I enjoyed reading some of Elizabeth Mansfields earlier books because of the quirky characters or settings.
This story too had some interesting characters like Taffy and some entertaining conversation.
But this is not a true Regency romance. The author seems to have no idea about the rules governing behavior in that era.
The hero's mother herself abandons the girl in the hero's town house. She actually stays the night in the room meant for the mistress.
Then when the villian offers a lift, the heroine refuses to go because there is no chaperone! Members of the ton pay her visits and ask her out for drive because they hear she is an intelligent woman.
This kind of working woman who lived alone with the hero for a few weeks, would never have been welcomed with open arms by either the mother or the servants, at that time.
This story seemed similar to the classic The Nonesuch (Georgette Heyer)
- a well respected working woman as a heroine ( woman of affairs in this story) , a badly behaved charge ( sister ) and a Corinthian as a hero.
This hero is no Sir Waldo Hawkridge, who was a capable and mature man about town.
Read only if you don't care about details or about a realistic setting.
This story too had some interesting characters like Taffy and some entertaining conversation.
But this is not a true Regency romance. The author seems to have no idea about the rules governing behavior in that era.
The hero's mother herself abandons the girl in the hero's town house. She actually stays the night in the room meant for the mistress.
Then when the villian offers a lift, the heroine refuses to go because there is no chaperone! Members of the ton pay her visits and ask her out for drive because they hear she is an intelligent woman.
This kind of working woman who lived alone with the hero for a few weeks, would never have been welcomed with open arms by either the mother or the servants, at that time.
This story seemed similar to the classic The Nonesuch (Georgette Heyer)
- a well respected working woman as a heroine ( woman of affairs in this story) , a badly behaved charge ( sister ) and a Corinthian as a hero.
This hero is no Sir Waldo Hawkridge, who was a capable and mature man about town.
Read only if you don't care about details or about a realistic setting.
April 5, 2016
A confident and kickass heroine, that I liked. But just about every other character was not to my liking. A thoughtless sister, a manipulative employer and an awful ass of a hero that didn't grovel enough to save himself or the relationship for me. 2,5 stars.
May 27, 2025
Dated in concepts of how the hero is forceful in kissing her. I liked the premise and concept, but it didn't come together.
Viscount Kettering is a wastrel, gambler, and womanizer- his mother sends her personal secretary and man of business to force him into being responsible.
But... her man of business is Jane Douglas, an impoverished barons daughter with a gift for math.
Hero was an idiot, and didn't really show much growth or changes. He was reckless and irresponsible, over and over again.
I didn't feel much chemistry between them and the events in the story didn't really build their relationship. it was a very "insta love" book. No steam or sex at all. Overall, meh.
I don't think Elizabeth Mansfield is a good writer, but this one didn't work for me.
Viscount Kettering is a wastrel, gambler, and womanizer- his mother sends her personal secretary and man of business to force him into being responsible.
But... her man of business is Jane Douglas, an impoverished barons daughter with a gift for math.
Hero was an idiot, and didn't really show much growth or changes. He was reckless and irresponsible, over and over again.
I didn't feel much chemistry between them and the events in the story didn't really build their relationship. it was a very "insta love" book. No steam or sex at all. Overall, meh.
I don't think Elizabeth Mansfield is a good writer, but this one didn't work for me.
October 13, 2025
A bit uneven
I didn't understand the hold Monk had over Luke or how winning a bet proved Luke succeeded in handling his finances well during his probation. I didn't understand how Jane focused on saving money over neck cloths could matter when much larger waste was going on.
And Jane almost never witnessed Luke's many acts of kindness. She did not have the whole picture of his character at all.
I usually love Mansfield's stories, but this one didn't quite measure up.
I didn't understand the hold Monk had over Luke or how winning a bet proved Luke succeeded in handling his finances well during his probation. I didn't understand how Jane focused on saving money over neck cloths could matter when much larger waste was going on.
And Jane almost never witnessed Luke's many acts of kindness. She did not have the whole picture of his character at all.
I usually love Mansfield's stories, but this one didn't quite measure up.
November 5, 2018
Almost 3.5.
Couldn’t fully warm to hero 😐
Not fully accurate for the time.
But compared to recent or new age historicals, this is very good.
Couldn’t fully warm to hero 😐
Not fully accurate for the time.
But compared to recent or new age historicals, this is very good.
November 21, 2022
3.5 stars. These books are so much fun.
October 25, 2023
This book was kind of cute, but the ending was pretty silly.
December 31, 2025
I enjoyed this story so much! Despite there being no parties or balls, etc., it was a charming and interesting tale! This book is a keeper!
February 11, 2016
Corinthian or Degenerate?
Luke, Viscount Kettering is a Corinthian, gambling, racing and having a mistress. Into his life stumbles Miss Jane who's a math whiz and been sent by his Mother to straighten out his finances. Naturally the innocent, ignorant and countrified Lady is shocked by his behavior and considers him degenerate.
Plot Reveal:
Well written and sailing along nicely with various problems and issues between the two, all reads well until Jane rejects his proposal. At this point she abruptly switched again in a most jarring fashion that made me want a little more depth and a few more pages of mental cognition for this change to be natural. The resolution needed more. I greatly enjoy Mansfield's writing and have read several of her books and this is the first time I was jolted out of the story. I also lost sympathy for Jane not over the rejection but over the immediate switch back. This is probably only my personal reaction. I do recommend this book and all Mansfield's other writings.
Luke, Viscount Kettering is a Corinthian, gambling, racing and having a mistress. Into his life stumbles Miss Jane who's a math whiz and been sent by his Mother to straighten out his finances. Naturally the innocent, ignorant and countrified Lady is shocked by his behavior and considers him degenerate.
Plot Reveal:
Well written and sailing along nicely with various problems and issues between the two, all reads well until Jane rejects his proposal. At this point she abruptly switched again in a most jarring fashion that made me want a little more depth and a few more pages of mental cognition for this change to be natural. The resolution needed more. I greatly enjoy Mansfield's writing and have read several of her books and this is the first time I was jolted out of the story. I also lost sympathy for Jane not over the rejection but over the immediate switch back. This is probably only my personal reaction. I do recommend this book and all Mansfield's other writings.
November 16, 2015
Good Story
I really enjoyed this book . The love story part of it seemed somewhat resting contrived but given the personalities of both the hair one in the hero that kind of fits . I won't do a recap of the story because that's already been done . But I will say I'm surprised at the writing of this book I really felt like it was a solid four star story . Above average . I know I gave it five stars because I guess I just wanted that extra star to figure into the bottom line because I feel like this book this story desires more than 3 1/2 stars . I like both of the heroine in the hero . He was very immature and that's kind of another thing. He seemed to grow up pretty fast in the story being that he spent a lot of years being self-indulgent . It's worth reading .
I really enjoyed this book . The love story part of it seemed somewhat resting contrived but given the personalities of both the hair one in the hero that kind of fits . I won't do a recap of the story because that's already been done . But I will say I'm surprised at the writing of this book I really felt like it was a solid four star story . Above average . I know I gave it five stars because I guess I just wanted that extra star to figure into the bottom line because I feel like this book this story desires more than 3 1/2 stars . I like both of the heroine in the hero . He was very immature and that's kind of another thing. He seemed to grow up pretty fast in the story being that he spent a lot of years being self-indulgent . It's worth reading .
June 29, 2011
This probably earned 2.5 stars for me. It was a nice average regency love story. It was clean all the way through so that wasn't a problem. There was also more to the plot then just the relationship. I think it didn't appeal to me as much as it could have because the relationship just didn't sound as believable as it could have been. Also the main characters were a little boring. Besides those flaws it was an ok book. The plot had enough meat to keep me reading (versus just dropping it in favor of one of the other books I had waiting). In the end I would recommend this book to someone who is looking for a quick fluffy romance read.
September 14, 2011
There seemed to a an identity crisis with this book. Instead of following one or two characters this author felt the need to have points of view told from whoever entered the room. Would have been fine for a much larger book but this being a small one, this style seemed to detract from what could have been a better story.
February 21, 2009
This is my favorite Mansfield so far as I liked the two leads quite a lot. I would have rated it higher but it lost some steam towards the end and I really could have done without the epilogue.
June 13, 2020
I enjoyed this story.
Content: some swearing, a mistress
Content: some swearing, a mistress
November 12, 2017
Regency
November 9, 2010
The good thing about this romance was that it was clean...the bad part was that it was missing romance...and was pretty cheesy---even for a romance novel.
November 17, 2014
Not her best.
August 14, 2017
This book started off so great and I thought whoopie finally a decent book by this author and then it went downhill so fast in the last half I had to drop it from five stars to three.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews