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Mallory
Lovely, dark-haired Mallory Tolgarth was only a few years older than her two young charges. She'd been hired by letter by their brother, wealthy Charles Portman. Mr. Portman had neglected to tell her that the girls were twins.
They were an impossible pair, mischievous, hoydenish, totally uncontrollable. Mallory was shocked that Mr. Portman had allowed them to grow up so unsuitably. And she told him so. To his face.
She also found herself wildly attracted to this cool young man who was quick to announce his engagement to a well-known beauty Mallory hated on sight.
She did not dare do what her heart urged her. But there had to be a way There just had to be!
They were an impossible pair, mischievous, hoydenish, totally uncontrollable. Mallory was shocked that Mr. Portman had allowed them to grow up so unsuitably. And she told him so. To his face.
She also found herself wildly attracted to this cool young man who was quick to announce his engagement to a well-known beauty Mallory hated on sight.
She did not dare do what her heart urged her. But there had to be a way There just had to be!
202 pages, Paperback
First published July 12, 1978
24 people want to read
About the author
Norma Lee Clark
20 books6 followersPseudonym: Megan O'Connor
Born in Jefferson City, Missouri, Clark began her career in show business with the Pittsburgh Children’s Theater and later acted at the Rochester Arena Theater. In the late 1940s, she moved to New York to take the female lead in the Buck Rogers TV series, “Captain Video and His Video Ranger,” which ran 1949 to 1955.
Her marriage to lighting designer David Clark ended in divorce.
She is survived by husband, Dimitri Vassilopoulos, her two daughters, Megan Clark and Emily Carvajal, and two grandchildren.
Born in Jefferson City, Missouri, Clark began her career in show business with the Pittsburgh Children’s Theater and later acted at the Rochester Arena Theater. In the late 1940s, she moved to New York to take the female lead in the Buck Rogers TV series, “Captain Video and His Video Ranger,” which ran 1949 to 1955.
Her marriage to lighting designer David Clark ended in divorce.
She is survived by husband, Dimitri Vassilopoulos, her two daughters, Megan Clark and Emily Carvajal, and two grandchildren.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 17, 2018
As this is my tenth romance by the expressive Ms. Clark -I was satisfyingly entertained with three of her stories-, I was hoping for more. More texture, i.e. ’feels’. More of the h/H and less of the twins. More layers with depth.
Sigh. And less of the prospective spouse.
The initial plot was fairly predictable: Miss Mallory Tolgarth’s father frittered the family fortune before passing on to the great hereafter. The gentlewoman applied for a governess’s job to support herself, her mother and a younger sister. She was approved, sight unseen. That should have rung a few bells.
Her charges were identical twins. Their undeclared motto? Freedom over responsibility. That said, the girls gave Mallory grief.
50+ pages in, their brother- Charles Portman-, graced the estate with his presence. He was recently engaged. Add one pretty lady (h), two prankish twins, a likable gentleman and a fiancé that made you wonder whether CP needed a hearing aid and glasses.
I enjoyed the ending.
2.5 rounded up to three, generous stars.
*In case anyone is interested, Ms. Clark wrote a follow-up with the twins with Sophia and Augusta and Harry and Courtly.*
Sigh. And less of the prospective spouse.
The initial plot was fairly predictable: Miss Mallory Tolgarth’s father frittered the family fortune before passing on to the great hereafter. The gentlewoman applied for a governess’s job to support herself, her mother and a younger sister. She was approved, sight unseen. That should have rung a few bells.
Her charges were identical twins. Their undeclared motto? Freedom over responsibility. That said, the girls gave Mallory grief.
50+ pages in, their brother- Charles Portman-, graced the estate with his presence. He was recently engaged. Add one pretty lady (h), two prankish twins, a likable gentleman and a fiancé that made you wonder whether CP needed a hearing aid and glasses.
I enjoyed the ending.
2.5 rounded up to three, generous stars.
*In case anyone is interested, Ms. Clark wrote a follow-up with the twins with Sophia and Augusta and Harry and Courtly.*
November 14, 2011
One of the best Regency Romances I've read in a very long time.
Read
January 21, 2023Mallory became a governess at the age of 18 after her father died and left debts behind. Three years later, she's hired to polish two sisters who'll be making their debut soon. She doesn't know much about them, but the position was recommended by a family friend and the pay is high. Upon arriving, she discovers that her charges are 16 and 1/2 year old twins who have driven away several governesses. They are lived by the staff but seem to be a bit neglected by their older brother whom they adore. They proceed to make Mallory's life difficult until they come to an understanding.
I liked this story very much, especially Mallory's attempts at gaining the girls' trust. She learns that they've had a tough upbringing after their parents died and haven't had much stability in their lives. We also learn that the brother was 15 (to their 5) when that happened, which later helps us understand why he was not that great at being their guardian. He's a loving brother, but he doesn't understand their needs.
Mallory is my favorite type of heroine. She's sensible and resourceful but by no means perfect. She struggles with self doubt and makes some blunders while attempting to help her charges. However, she does understand their loneliness and, when she's finally able to reach out to them, it's a very tender and lovely scene. She definitely acts older than 21. The twins do try your patience at first, but the author did a great job in explaining their background. Once they start trusting Mallory, they are sweet and caring.
Interestingly, the love interest doesn't appear until about page 80 (the book has 202 pages), but I didn't miss his presence. He's a great guy but young and imperfect. His main fault is in choosing a thoroughly horrible woman as his bride, who creates the conflicts for the second half of the book. He and Mallory are attracted to each other right away, but I wished that it had taken a bit longer. It would have been nice to see their love happen through their interactions rather than an immediate attraction. That said, they do spend time together due to the twins and their admiration for each other grows from there.
All in all this was a sweet, clean Regency that rose above the rest due to the relationship between Mallory and the twins. Theirs was the true love story in this book and, even though, I don't love books with young girls, I'm interested to read their story in Sophia and Augusta.
I liked this story very much, especially Mallory's attempts at gaining the girls' trust. She learns that they've had a tough upbringing after their parents died and haven't had much stability in their lives. We also learn that the brother was 15 (to their 5) when that happened, which later helps us understand why he was not that great at being their guardian. He's a loving brother, but he doesn't understand their needs.
Mallory is my favorite type of heroine. She's sensible and resourceful but by no means perfect. She struggles with self doubt and makes some blunders while attempting to help her charges. However, she does understand their loneliness and, when she's finally able to reach out to them, it's a very tender and lovely scene. She definitely acts older than 21. The twins do try your patience at first, but the author did a great job in explaining their background. Once they start trusting Mallory, they are sweet and caring.
Interestingly, the love interest doesn't appear until about page 80 (the book has 202 pages), but I didn't miss his presence. He's a great guy but young and imperfect. His main fault is in choosing a thoroughly horrible woman as his bride, who creates the conflicts for the second half of the book. He and Mallory are attracted to each other right away, but I wished that it had taken a bit longer. It would have been nice to see their love happen through their interactions rather than an immediate attraction. That said, they do spend time together due to the twins and their admiration for each other grows from there.
All in all this was a sweet, clean Regency that rose above the rest due to the relationship between Mallory and the twins. Theirs was the true love story in this book and, even though, I don't love books with young girls, I'm interested to read their story in Sophia and Augusta.
August 25, 2020
Very chill
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews