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Miss Gordon's Mistake
When a handsome baron forces her friend to marry him, Miss Kitty Gordon decides to kidnap the baron and save her friend, but after snatching the brute from his unwilling wife, Miss Gordon finds herself irresistably drawn to the man she once detested
496 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 1, 1991
14 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
About the author
Anita Mills
44 books66 followersA former history and English teacher, Anita Mills turned to writing in the mid-1980's. After her regency romance SCANDAL BOUND was published followed by her highly acclaimed LADY OF FIRE, Anita Mills went on to enjoy an award filled career. Her historical novels and regency short stories are ranked among the best in their respective genres. The parents of four children, Anita and her husband Larry find peace on a small farm near Plattsburgh, Missouri. This former teacher has drawn upon her love for both history and English to enrich her novels.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 30, 2015
Do not, as I did, trust the positive reviews on what a fun story this is. This book's plot is entirely idiotic and filled with asinine characters. Every one of the characters, save the poor hero, is two-dimensional and seems fitting for the theatre.
**Summary - skip if you want to read my opinion**
Kitty Gordon, late of Charleston, South Carolina, was forced to go live with her aunt in London when her father died, but she tires of the London life and wants to return home. Her aunt, however, wants her to marry Lord Sturbridge, but Kitty encourages his love with her cousin Jessica. Problem? Jessica is already married to Baron Haverhill who married and didn't give a fig about her for 6 years, so Kitty decides to convince Haverhill to have an annulment so Jessica can marry Lord Sturbridge and Kitty can return home.
However, unbeknownst to them all, Haverhill recently passed away and his heir, a war hero - "Red Jack" - is the new baron. Kitty breaks into Jack's townhouse, abductions him at gun point to take him to her aunt's house, but they are robbed en route and Jack is shot due to Kitty's impulsiveness. So, they are forced to make some delays as Jack hovers near death, but eventually they make it to her aunt's home where many things happen at once: Kitty's money was all put in a trust fund which did poorly, meaning she has no money now; Jessica convinced Sturbridge to marry Kitty so Kitty won't become a poor relation; Jessica also refuses to see Haverhill for a good number of pages but eventually sees that this isn't her husband, which means she's a widow and can marry Sturbridge...except he just proposed to Kitty and his mother opposes Jessica far more she does Kitty.
**end**
I stopped reading around 60% because I just couldn't stomach this drivel anymore. These characters are nuts! They're selfish, unthinking, idiots and I pity Jack all too much. For a good chunk of the story he has been in a much weakened state, if not near death, due to these idiots. Can't a man get some peace after he comes back from war?
As nonsensical as this plot goes, I'm truly surprised at:1) Why Jack DID NOT tell Kitty that the old baron is dead when she abducted him
2) Why they didn't read the newspaper of the baron's death - for they surely announce such news of the peerage
4) No reason was given to why Haverhill married Jessica in utter secrecy and never once visited her. She's not rich or of high birth.
5) And since NO ONE knew of Jessica's marriage, she would have been free to marry Sturbridge
There is no logic to the events of this book - any reasonable person would easily unravel the knots, but these characters didn't. As such, the plot drags due to stupidity, stubbornness, and a series of unnecessary misunderstandings. What a disappointment.
**Summary - skip if you want to read my opinion**
Kitty Gordon, late of Charleston, South Carolina, was forced to go live with her aunt in London when her father died, but she tires of the London life and wants to return home. Her aunt, however, wants her to marry Lord Sturbridge, but Kitty encourages his love with her cousin Jessica. Problem? Jessica is already married to Baron Haverhill who married and didn't give a fig about her for 6 years, so Kitty decides to convince Haverhill to have an annulment so Jessica can marry Lord Sturbridge and Kitty can return home.
However, unbeknownst to them all, Haverhill recently passed away and his heir, a war hero - "Red Jack" - is the new baron. Kitty breaks into Jack's townhouse, abductions him at gun point to take him to her aunt's house, but they are robbed en route and Jack is shot due to Kitty's impulsiveness. So, they are forced to make some delays as Jack hovers near death, but eventually they make it to her aunt's home where many things happen at once: Kitty's money was all put in a trust fund which did poorly, meaning she has no money now; Jessica convinced Sturbridge to marry Kitty so Kitty won't become a poor relation; Jessica also refuses to see Haverhill for a good number of pages but eventually sees that this isn't her husband, which means she's a widow and can marry Sturbridge...except he just proposed to Kitty and his mother opposes Jessica far more she does Kitty.
**end**
I stopped reading around 60% because I just couldn't stomach this drivel anymore. These characters are nuts! They're selfish, unthinking, idiots and I pity Jack all too much. For a good chunk of the story he has been in a much weakened state, if not near death, due to these idiots. Can't a man get some peace after he comes back from war?
As nonsensical as this plot goes, I'm truly surprised at:1) Why Jack DID NOT tell Kitty that the old baron is dead when she abducted him
2) Why they didn't read the newspaper of the baron's death - for they surely announce such news of the peerage
4) No reason was given to why Haverhill married Jessica in utter secrecy and never once visited her. She's not rich or of high birth.
5) And since NO ONE knew of Jessica's marriage, she would have been free to marry Sturbridge
There is no logic to the events of this book - any reasonable person would easily unravel the knots, but these characters didn't. As such, the plot drags due to stupidity, stubbornness, and a series of unnecessary misunderstandings. What a disappointment.
Read
February 24, 2014DNF at 38%. Couldn't go on.
It was just too silly - or as Every. Single. Person. Would. Say: 'Twas.
Yes. 'Twas. 'Twould. And everything else which sounds old-fashioned. Like "ere" instead of before.
And the totally ridiculous and hare-brained abduction theme with the mistaken identity.
Not funny. Not entertaining. Stupid and annoying.
It was just too silly - or as Every. Single. Person. Would. Say: 'Twas.
Yes. 'Twas. 'Twould. And everything else which sounds old-fashioned. Like "ere" instead of before.
And the totally ridiculous and hare-brained abduction theme with the mistaken identity.
Not funny. Not entertaining. Stupid and annoying.
December 26, 2024
This is a cute story, there is no major angst. Pluses: red-haired hero, great, plain-speaking heroine and interesting cast of characters. Minus: virtually no heat, which is pretty typical for a regency, but it could have used some. Also, it could have used an epilogue. I give it three and a half stars.
*Update 2024: Upon rereading, downgraded to 3 stars. Still somewhat entertaining, but rather far-fetched and could have used some trimming.
*Update 2024: Upon rereading, downgraded to 3 stars. Still somewhat entertaining, but rather far-fetched and could have used some trimming.
May 11, 2014
An entertaining tale of two misbegotten engagements, a reluctant hero, and an unusual heroine.
March 29, 2015
Thoroughly enjoyable regency romance. My favorite and funniest scene is when the heroine gives the hero not one, but two purges, in revenge.
June 18, 2023
Don’t waste your time with a bunch of characters that feel they are mind readers, make assumptions, jump to conclusions and fail to communicate. The story just continues to rework the same device over and over. Anita Mills has written much better stories so find one of those to read.
August 27, 2023
so so good
This book is like having the chance to read a Heyer novel. I thoroughly enjoyed the story. It’s a lot of fun, romantic and well written.
This book is like having the chance to read a Heyer novel. I thoroughly enjoyed the story. It’s a lot of fun, romantic and well written.
Read
March 28, 2016heroine sounds idiotic. skipped for my sanity.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews