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The Women of the Woods #2
An Independent Miss
What’s love to do with anything? ….
Immersed in her herbal laboratory, Lady Felicity secretly yearns for a dashing, romantic love straight from a gothic novel. So when her brother’s houseguest, Lord Andover, presses her hands to his chest, and proposes, she is too stunned to take in his words of undying love. Words he surely spoke. Didn’t he? Oh, drat, she should have listened.
Victims of misguided and inept medical men, Lord Andover’s father and brothers are in their graves, his mother lost to the apothecary’s opium. Desperate to save his mother, give her a will to live, he sets three goals: marry a sweet, soothing young lady, produce an heir and free them of apothecaries and quacks. In return he offers all he that he is, all that he owns, except his beleaguered heart.
… Title, wealth, and good name are all a man need offer.
Immersed in her herbal laboratory, Lady Felicity secretly yearns for a dashing, romantic love straight from a gothic novel. So when her brother’s houseguest, Lord Andover, presses her hands to his chest, and proposes, she is too stunned to take in his words of undying love. Words he surely spoke. Didn’t he? Oh, drat, she should have listened.
Victims of misguided and inept medical men, Lord Andover’s father and brothers are in their graves, his mother lost to the apothecary’s opium. Desperate to save his mother, give her a will to live, he sets three goals: marry a sweet, soothing young lady, produce an heir and free them of apothecaries and quacks. In return he offers all he that he is, all that he owns, except his beleaguered heart.
… Title, wealth, and good name are all a man need offer.
301 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 31, 2015
192 people are currently reading
398 people want to read
About the author
Becca St. John
17 books48 followersAn Accidental Writer ~
Writing was a tool, not a toy, until a stay in an ancient (I swear it was haunted) hotel on a frightfully stormy night straight from a clichéd novel full of howling wind and creaking floors. The night drove me to a bookcase full of dog eared romances. Sleepless turned to fascination. Hooked I read old romances, new romances, both sexy and sweet until my own tales begged to be written.
Writing was a tool, not a toy, until a stay in an ancient (I swear it was haunted) hotel on a frightfully stormy night straight from a clichéd novel full of howling wind and creaking floors. The night drove me to a bookcase full of dog eared romances. Sleepless turned to fascination. Hooked I read old romances, new romances, both sexy and sweet until my own tales begged to be written.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
January 25, 2016
This is the first book I've read by this author and I quite enjoyed it. As far as historical romance goes, it was a nice change of plot I haven't come across much. The romance was sweet although Andover was confusing. He was devoted and determined to marry Felicity but his internal dialogue kept showing his indecision. I couldn't figure out which one he was. Also the situation with the aunt was nuts! And he says he can't talk about it and explain because that wouldn't be gentlemanly? Uh, buddy you better start explaining because what you did is also pretty ungentlemanly.
There just seemed to be too much of a lack of communication that went on for too long. I guess my big complaint would or be that the book dragged on just a tad too long.
Overall, a solid 3 star read.
There just seemed to be too much of a lack of communication that went on for too long. I guess my big complaint would or be that the book dragged on just a tad too long.
Overall, a solid 3 star read.
February 19, 2016
This was a nice little break from all the science fiction that's been streaming through my head lately.
While I really enjoyed our heroine in this book, our hero was a bore, not to be confused with boar. The only thing he really did was make our lady's heart race and palms sweat, which really, who needs that when you're medicating patients.
Emjoyable without being annoying.
While I really enjoyed our heroine in this book, our hero was a bore, not to be confused with boar. The only thing he really did was make our lady's heart race and palms sweat, which really, who needs that when you're medicating patients.
Emjoyable without being annoying.
March 25, 2018
Ultimately a decent enough story, but...
I found getting past the rampant punctuation errors, multiple characters with shifting names, the spelling mistakes and a few unexplained leaps in the plot very difficult. On the whole, it was terribly frustrating.
I first bought and read this book a couple of years ago and neglected to review it because I felt so ambivalent about its merits. On one hand, I think St. John has some real, albeit raw, talent; on the other, I think she needs a talented editor to polish her work. I didn't want to give a bad review for this, as I've read so much worse. So, I read it again today.
I liked Lady Felicity well enough to want to read her story, but Andover was a boorish lout whenever the subject of her life's passion came up. Until he wasn't. At the very end of the book. With no real time for him to have made the change of heart. Throughout the book, it was clear why he might like her, but it never became clear why she grew to love him. I didn't feel as if her feelings for him grew past the lust (not that it was termed as such) she feared had driven her to accept his proposal.
I would have enjoyed the book a lot more if it had had an editor (and several copy editors) and if the "romance" had been ancillary to Felicity's work. Oddly enough, I *was* curious about the budding romances of several side characters. But even if St. John has written about those characters by now, I wouldn't be able to bring myself to buy another of her books for fear that out might be as poorly executed as this one.
I found getting past the rampant punctuation errors, multiple characters with shifting names, the spelling mistakes and a few unexplained leaps in the plot very difficult. On the whole, it was terribly frustrating.
I first bought and read this book a couple of years ago and neglected to review it because I felt so ambivalent about its merits. On one hand, I think St. John has some real, albeit raw, talent; on the other, I think she needs a talented editor to polish her work. I didn't want to give a bad review for this, as I've read so much worse. So, I read it again today.
I liked Lady Felicity well enough to want to read her story, but Andover was a boorish lout whenever the subject of her life's passion came up. Until he wasn't. At the very end of the book. With no real time for him to have made the change of heart. Throughout the book, it was clear why he might like her, but it never became clear why she grew to love him. I didn't feel as if her feelings for him grew past the lust (not that it was termed as such) she feared had driven her to accept his proposal.
I would have enjoyed the book a lot more if it had had an editor (and several copy editors) and if the "romance" had been ancillary to Felicity's work. Oddly enough, I *was* curious about the budding romances of several side characters. But even if St. John has written about those characters by now, I wouldn't be able to bring myself to buy another of her books for fear that out might be as poorly executed as this one.
September 1, 2017
Trying out a new review format to see if I can be less stream of consciousness and give the semblance of organized thought. I'm sure this will change over time.
Why I Read This:
Got this book for $0 and was curious to see how a female healer would face marriage in 19th century England. Feeling brain dead and wanted something sweet and happy.
Characters?
So-so. I was never convinced the relationship was going to work, nor did I see how Andover came to grips with Felicity's skills, which were talked about more than shown. I was never too impressed with Felicity. I was expecting her to stand out a bit more, but she came off as too sedate. She was perhaps a bit too doormat-like for me, too. At least with Andover he was dealing with major grief and his past explained his present situation.
Quality of Writing:
A touch Austenian, repetitive, slightly excessive on the internal monologues. Overall, it is a simple and easy read, but not particularly clever, gripping, or memorable.
Pacing:
Slow and repetitive.
Overall Scale of Approval (Discarded(0-stars) to All-the-Warm-Fuzzies(5-stars):
2-stars. Just ok.
Reason for Stars:
The potential to be interesting was there but was ultimately too unbelievable and redundant for me. It was a lot of "I must talk to him" and she's never fast enough to get her words out. Then there's also Andover's vagueness throughout the entire book about how it has to be Felicity because she's calming, pretty, intelligent (Though, I don't feel like I saw that. More like dramatic and jumps to conclusions)...and that's it. It's unclear to me how he came to his decision in the end,
Why I Read This:
Got this book for $0 and was curious to see how a female healer would face marriage in 19th century England. Feeling brain dead and wanted something sweet and happy.
Characters?
So-so. I was never convinced the relationship was going to work, nor did I see how Andover came to grips with Felicity's skills, which were talked about more than shown. I was never too impressed with Felicity. I was expecting her to stand out a bit more, but she came off as too sedate. She was perhaps a bit too doormat-like for me, too. At least with Andover he was dealing with major grief and his past explained his present situation.
Quality of Writing:
A touch Austenian, repetitive, slightly excessive on the internal monologues. Overall, it is a simple and easy read, but not particularly clever, gripping, or memorable.
Pacing:
Slow and repetitive.
Overall Scale of Approval (Discarded(0-stars) to All-the-Warm-Fuzzies(5-stars):
2-stars. Just ok.
Reason for Stars:
The potential to be interesting was there but was ultimately too unbelievable and redundant for me. It was a lot of "I must talk to him" and she's never fast enough to get her words out. Then there's also Andover's vagueness throughout the entire book about how it has to be Felicity because she's calming, pretty, intelligent (Though, I don't feel like I saw that. More like dramatic and jumps to conclusions)...and that's it. It's unclear to me how he came to his decision in the end,
December 18, 2016
An amusing and fast paced book. Great for a quick read between more involved fiction. I liked it as it had all the required elements for a historical romance, two likeable main characters, surprising obstacles to their romance, good supporting characters with two devious 'baddies' intent on causing trouble and has some amusing misunderstandings. As William Shakespeare wrote in A Midsummer Night's Dream, "the course of true love never did run smooth" but An Independent Miss has a very satisfactory conclusion to an entertaining tale.
August 11, 2018
I love how the hero comes to honour the heroine by the end of the story. And I love love loved the heroine and her herbal knowledge right from the start! I picked up some interesting tidbits of herbal and healing knowledge in this book. Love that.
August 9, 2017
A pleasant surprise showcasing an intelligent, determined woman.
The setting is of a common English aristocracy. Some of characters are common in aristocracy novels of the same period. The lead character is a refreshingly intelligent and driven woman, willing to do whatever is needed to follow her passion for helping others. I expected this character to be quite arrogant, to have the novel revolve around her, and making her the center of society. While the novel is about her, it is less about her as a person, and more about her passion of treating others regardless of the social consequences. I expected her to covet her ideas and be unwilling to share her thoughts and treatments. Throughout the book, I had many pleasant surprises, as the character was anything but arrogant or typical of English aristocracy novels in which pleasing society was the utmost concern. All in all, a refreshing read.
The setting is of a common English aristocracy. Some of characters are common in aristocracy novels of the same period. The lead character is a refreshingly intelligent and driven woman, willing to do whatever is needed to follow her passion for helping others. I expected this character to be quite arrogant, to have the novel revolve around her, and making her the center of society. While the novel is about her, it is less about her as a person, and more about her passion of treating others regardless of the social consequences. I expected her to covet her ideas and be unwilling to share her thoughts and treatments. Throughout the book, I had many pleasant surprises, as the character was anything but arrogant or typical of English aristocracy novels in which pleasing society was the utmost concern. All in all, a refreshing read.
August 11, 2017
I like that the author made Felicity such a strong yet caring woman. She is also dedicated to her craft, loves and celebrates her Gift and that she finds such joy and fulfillment in that aspect of her psyche. I also like the way the author dealt with the sensitive subjects of Andover's angst about healers, his mother's depression and the emotional and physical scars of war and the lack of support that returning soldiers get from the country they have served not to mention society's (or those who should care) indifference to the sacrifices they have made. I am glad that Andover did not turn into such an obdurate jackass. All in all Ms. St. John did a good job and I prefer the way she dealt with the love scenes. (I am tired of the too explicit descriptions during these scenes that anyone can just move around these things from one novel to another so that the descriptions have become banal and redundant.)
September 7, 2017
I wanted to like this more than I did. In fact I did like it more initially but got turned off about chapter 18... That was where passionate kissing included roaming hands. "Stunned, Felicity tilted her head, watching her mother hesitate and turn to go back into the salon". Mom saw them and then just walked away? Yeah... I wasn't a fan of this chapter.
I was frustrated with the main characters and their inability to communicate about what was obviously going to be a major issue in their relationship.
I did admire Felicity's willingness to flout society to heal people.
Sex: More than I wanted to read even if the wedding night wasn't horribly explicit. Attempted seduction.
Violence: A serious bout of fisticuffs and memory of a severe beating. And the gory wounds in the aftermath of war.
I was frustrated with the main characters and their inability to communicate about what was obviously going to be a major issue in their relationship.
I did admire Felicity's willingness to flout society to heal people.
Sex: More than I wanted to read even if the wedding night wasn't horribly explicit. Attempted seduction.
Violence: A serious bout of fisticuffs and memory of a severe beating. And the gory wounds in the aftermath of war.
October 22, 2017
Strange flow from page to page
The premise of the book was good.I was interested in what they would do in presenting the healing herbs, and was disappointed. The redundance in a story always upsets me. Does a writer and publisher have a contest on how many times can we say the same thing over and over again. The flow of the story was really poor. I would turn the page and felt like I walked into the middle of a different section of the story. A few times I reread the paragraph prior to see if it was me or the story, always poor story flow.
The premise of the book was good.I was interested in what they would do in presenting the healing herbs, and was disappointed. The redundance in a story always upsets me. Does a writer and publisher have a contest on how many times can we say the same thing over and over again. The flow of the story was really poor. I would turn the page and felt like I walked into the middle of a different section of the story. A few times I reread the paragraph prior to see if it was me or the story, always poor story flow.
November 28, 2018
Regency Romance with a Heroine that does not follow ton rules.... what could go wrong...
Really enjoyed this book. What kept me going is that I never really knew what the outcome would be. Each is so set in their own way but are perfect for each other....but because of their own insecurities they do not see that. Add to the mix that another Lady is set on pulling them apart! Lovely regency romance with the heroine Lady Felicity that does not follow the strict rules of the ton (I like my ladies like that ).
Really enjoyed this book. What kept me going is that I never really knew what the outcome would be. Each is so set in their own way but are perfect for each other....but because of their own insecurities they do not see that. Add to the mix that another Lady is set on pulling them apart! Lovely regency romance with the heroine Lady Felicity that does not follow the strict rules of the ton (I like my ladies like that ).
August 13, 2017
4 stars
I enjoyed this story. I was most taken by how a presumed sensible betrothal to a calm and dutiful woman reveals itself to be a love match to an adventurous, determined, blue stocking whom even the physicians seek out for counsel.
I enjoyed this story. I was most taken by how a presumed sensible betrothal to a calm and dutiful woman reveals itself to be a love match to an adventurous, determined, blue stocking whom even the physicians seek out for counsel.
August 28, 2017
The depths of her
The characters popped off my Kindle and ran across the pages. I was cheering for Felicity and Bea's blooming love with Andover & Upton. The settings were intimate and public makes for a scandle .
The characters popped off my Kindle and ran across the pages. I was cheering for Felicity and Bea's blooming love with Andover & Upton. The settings were intimate and public makes for a scandle .
January 1, 2018
Great read
A wonderful story that pulls you in from the very first. Although it is a sweet clean book, I thoroughly enjoyed the plot. All characters are well developed and enjoyable.
A wonderful story that pulls you in from the very first. Although it is a sweet clean book, I thoroughly enjoyed the plot. All characters are well developed and enjoyable.
May 14, 2019
This was an interesting novel about a woman who is a healer and the problems she has being accepted in her society. I enjoyed it, but I felt that the author dragged the story out too much at the end.
May 31, 2017
Young Lady Allows Herself a Fulfilled Life
Author gives Felicity center stage with her struggle to have the life and marriage with Andover that they both need.
Author gives Felicity center stage with her struggle to have the life and marriage with Andover that they both need.
August 14, 2017
I loved it!
I loved the characters, all of them flawed to an extent, but engaging nevertheless. I enjoyed the plot progression, and the ending was joyous!
I loved the characters, all of them flawed to an extent, but engaging nevertheless. I enjoyed the plot progression, and the ending was joyous!
September 3, 2017
I liked this book. The heroine, Felicity, is a healer. She knows about herbs and such. The hero, Andover, has a title and wealth. He obtains his title when his father and brother die. His family dies because his pregnant sister-in-law picks some poisonous mushrooms. His mother, in her grief, has become addicted to narcotics. Andover is violently opposed to Felicity's remedies and does not trust her knowledge of them. Felicity's knowledge of healing and herbs is a huge part of her identity. Andover has been granted permission to marry Felicity by her parents. She is concerned how her marriage and her practice of healing will work together. This book can be read as a stand alone novel. I did not feel that I was missing anything by not having read the previous book. This is a romance but, that is not the whole story. I am glad I read it. I hope you will enjoy it as well.
December 2, 2017
Excellent Story
There was a slow start to this book. Suddenly it just ran away and I couldn't stop until the end. Do read it. She is my kind of heroine.
There was a slow start to this book. Suddenly it just ran away and I couldn't stop until the end. Do read it. She is my kind of heroine.
November 8, 2020
Great simple plot, great characters, happy read
January 18, 2016
Historical English society romance with a smart herbal healer from a rich titled family finding love with her brother's best friend.
Lady Felicity is the quiet one in her loving boisterous family. She is a natural healer that cares for everyone and anyone that she knows so it comes a total surprise when her brother's best friend becomes friends and then asks her to marry him during a house party at her family estate. Lord Andover needs a wife becuase he has recently lost his older brother, his wife and his father after eating bad mushrooms. He is fearful of medicine which is completely justified as medicine at that time was just guessing and nonsense for the most part. Lady Felicity helps with tried and true herbs, but Andover only fears anything to do with healing so there is a lot of secrets and back an forth miscommunication before they find their way to marriage and happiness.
Story based about the quackery known as 'medicine' in the 19th century.
335 pages and kindle freebie
2 stars
Lady Felicity is the quiet one in her loving boisterous family. She is a natural healer that cares for everyone and anyone that she knows so it comes a total surprise when her brother's best friend becomes friends and then asks her to marry him during a house party at her family estate. Lord Andover needs a wife becuase he has recently lost his older brother, his wife and his father after eating bad mushrooms. He is fearful of medicine which is completely justified as medicine at that time was just guessing and nonsense for the most part. Lady Felicity helps with tried and true herbs, but Andover only fears anything to do with healing so there is a lot of secrets and back an forth miscommunication before they find their way to marriage and happiness.
Story based about the quackery known as 'medicine' in the 19th century.
335 pages and kindle freebie
2 stars
October 6, 2021
Gave this Regency 4.5 stars.
Lord Andover wanted to wed Lady Felicity. He called
apothecaries and those who foraged in the woods for
herbs & mushrooms, charlatans. Several family members
died due to 'inept medical men.' He regretted his mother's
opium addiction.
Lady F had success w/ her herbal skills & had an herbal
lab. Her mama cautioned: don't inform her new husband
of her skills & reminded her that Lady F's grandmother
was called a 'witch' for her skills. The family passed down
written apothecary principles, to other family members,
starting in the 13th century.
Lady F decided to quietly help others w/o her husband's
knowledge. When discovered this caused a huge rift. He
finally validated her skills after she demonstrated her
competence. This couple shared a genuine love.
Lord Andover wanted to wed Lady Felicity. He called
apothecaries and those who foraged in the woods for
herbs & mushrooms, charlatans. Several family members
died due to 'inept medical men.' He regretted his mother's
opium addiction.
Lady F had success w/ her herbal skills & had an herbal
lab. Her mama cautioned: don't inform her new husband
of her skills & reminded her that Lady F's grandmother
was called a 'witch' for her skills. The family passed down
written apothecary principles, to other family members,
starting in the 13th century.
Lady F decided to quietly help others w/o her husband's
knowledge. When discovered this caused a huge rift. He
finally validated her skills after she demonstrated her
competence. This couple shared a genuine love.
Read
January 16, 2016This is a first time read of this author, I liked the story line, I liked Felicity Stanton and Andover St John. The plot was good enough to keep me reading far into the night.
"Cis" is a herbalist, very good at the profession. Andover had lost his father, brother sand sister in law to the foraging, for mushrooms by an ninept sister in law. A baby brother to the incompetence of doctor's. He had no use for, or trust in medicine.
This set Felicity on a course of heart break in her betrothal to Andover. Because as Thomas her brother told him "You don't know the depth" of Felicity.
The end was satisfying.
"Cis" is a herbalist, very good at the profession. Andover had lost his father, brother sand sister in law to the foraging, for mushrooms by an ninept sister in law. A baby brother to the incompetence of doctor's. He had no use for, or trust in medicine.
This set Felicity on a course of heart break in her betrothal to Andover. Because as Thomas her brother told him "You don't know the depth" of Felicity.
The end was satisfying.
March 21, 2015
If you are a fan of historical romances, look no further! Becca St. John made the characters come so alive for me that I was sad to lose them to the end of the story. Independant and a romance reader Felicity has many wants in her life. Her parents have let her "run" her life a bit too much when the scandal hits. She has to marry Lord Andover, but he's got a past that will not forgive her favorite hobby. How they make this work, the twists & turns, and the wonderful romance is just some of why you will enjoy this story.
January 28, 2016
Love is the best medicine
This is my favorite book in this series so far. A woman with the hunger for knowledge and the courage to treat the needy of her day was highly unusual. She is taken with her brother's good friend who's family died from ingesting poison mushrooms by accident which has predisposed him with a hate for all Dr's and herbalists because they were unable to save them. With secrets that were kept she is able to get under the Marchioness's skin and they fall in love but not without a lot of twists and turns. A good read with very minute sexual content.
This is my favorite book in this series so far. A woman with the hunger for knowledge and the courage to treat the needy of her day was highly unusual. She is taken with her brother's good friend who's family died from ingesting poison mushrooms by accident which has predisposed him with a hate for all Dr's and herbalists because they were unable to save them. With secrets that were kept she is able to get under the Marchioness's skin and they fall in love but not without a lot of twists and turns. A good read with very minute sexual content.
January 30, 2016
3.5*
The story was very good, a herbalist and intelligent stubborn independent young woman falls in live with her brother friend, a lord which needs to marry after all his family members died except his now grieving mother. He fears everything about medicine and herbal treatments. There is a long way with many obstacles before the 2 can marry and stand behind their love.
Like I said the story was wonderful, but the writing for me felt a bit inconsistent. And the first 50% were a long stretch and in the end it felt a bit rushed compared to the first part.
The story was very good, a herbalist and intelligent stubborn independent young woman falls in live with her brother friend, a lord which needs to marry after all his family members died except his now grieving mother. He fears everything about medicine and herbal treatments. There is a long way with many obstacles before the 2 can marry and stand behind their love.
Like I said the story was wonderful, but the writing for me felt a bit inconsistent. And the first 50% were a long stretch and in the end it felt a bit rushed compared to the first part.
February 10, 2016
Really enjoyed this! Wasn't sure what to expect, since it started out with an acceptance of a marriage proposal.
I thought it was going to be drama in the post-marriage life, but it wasn't.
Throughout the read, I was really rooting for Lady Felicity and Lord Andover! They're such a lovely couple.
The plot is a nice pace, albeit the fast events of the end. Though to be honest, I already feel like they're betrothed since the beginning, so it wasn't too much of a rush.
Definitely a recommended quick read for historical romance fans :)
I thought it was going to be drama in the post-marriage life, but it wasn't.
Throughout the read, I was really rooting for Lady Felicity and Lord Andover! They're such a lovely couple.
The plot is a nice pace, albeit the fast events of the end. Though to be honest, I already feel like they're betrothed since the beginning, so it wasn't too much of a rush.
Definitely a recommended quick read for historical romance fans :)
February 24, 2016
An Independent Miss by Becca St. John is an entertaining read. Ms St. John has delivered a well written book. Felicity and Andover's story is loaded with lovable characters, drama, humor and spice. I enjoyed reading An Independent Miss and look forward to reading more from Becca St. John in the future. An Independent Miss is book 2 in The Women of the Woods Series, but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.
July 10, 2016
An Independent Miss
An intriguing story of stealth and love. Lady Felicity finds herself betrothed to Lord Andover, but then finds that he cannot tolerate any type of apothecary or "quack" physician. Felicity is a healer, and is from a long line of healers. When scandal arises, will she and Andover be able to survive? This is definitely not a religious romance, but it is fairly clean.
An intriguing story of stealth and love. Lady Felicity finds herself betrothed to Lord Andover, but then finds that he cannot tolerate any type of apothecary or "quack" physician. Felicity is a healer, and is from a long line of healers. When scandal arises, will she and Andover be able to survive? This is definitely not a religious romance, but it is fairly clean.
January 17, 2016
Enjoyable
A well written tale of historical romance. The story of an intelligent English woman who shunned convention to do what she loved and the developing love of a man who really did not know or understand the "depth" of her. I read this book hoping he would eventually figure it out.
It was hard to put this one down.
A well written tale of historical romance. The story of an intelligent English woman who shunned convention to do what she loved and the developing love of a man who really did not know or understand the "depth" of her. I read this book hoping he would eventually figure it out.
It was hard to put this one down.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews