What do you think?
Rate this book
The Stanton Family #1
Mastering the Marquess
Since the loss of her parents, Meredith Burnley has contented herself with a solitary life looking after her half-sister, Annabel. But Meredith's peace is shattered when her uncle schemes to marry her off to his son in order to gain her inheritance. Desperate, Meredith has only one choice: to flee with Annabel to their estranged grandparents' home. But their arrival soon reignites a family scandal--and kindles unexpected romance...
Happily reunited with the girls, Annabel's grandmother resolves to convince her nephew, Stephen Mallory, the Marquess of Silverton, to abandon his rakish lifestyle and wed Annabel. Stephen is clearly captivated--but with the wrong sister! Determined to make Meredith his own, Stephen embarks on a seduction that will leave her with no choice but to surrender to his touch...
353 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2009
44 people are currently reading
761 people want to read
About the author
Vanessa Kelly
36 books1,755 followersVanessa Kelly is a bestselling author of historical mystery and historical romance. She has won multiple awards, including the prestigious Maggie Medallion for best historical romance. She is a USA Today, Barnes & Noble, BookScan, and Amazon bestseller several times over. To date, her books have been published in eleven languages. Vanessa also wrote USA Today bestselling contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels with her husband, under the pen name of V.K. Sykes.
After receiving her MA in English literature from Rutgers University, Vanessa spent several years in the Ph.D program at the University of Toronto, studying women authors of the 18th Century. She worked as a researcher for many years, and currently resides in Ottawa, Canada, with her husband.
After receiving her MA in English literature from Rutgers University, Vanessa spent several years in the Ph.D program at the University of Toronto, studying women authors of the 18th Century. She worked as a researcher for many years, and currently resides in Ottawa, Canada, with her husband.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
August 7, 2022
Read; 6/26/20
I enjoyed this read! The h did get on my nerves though.! "Yes the H wanted you..." accept it already. How many times does he have to say it. -1 star for the h acting like an idiot
I enjoyed this read! The h did get on my nerves though.! "Yes the H wanted you..." accept it already. How many times does he have to say it. -1 star for the h acting like an idiot
May 5, 2009
In the mood for a silly-sweet romance? Try "Mastering the Marquess" by Vanessa Kelly. It was a fairly quick read, the plot was easy to follow, the characters were entertaining, and what sex there was, was pretty hot. Better yet, as an 'author debut' novel from Zebra Historical, the price is an economical $3.99. Now that's hard to beat!
Lady in distress. Meredith doesn't expect much out of life for herself. She has the estate left to her by her beloved father, and her painting. But when it comes to her step-sister, it's a totally different story. Meredith adored Annabel from the time she came into the world via her father's second, and titled, wife. Now, with both parents gone, Meredith is all Annabel has left, well...except for Meredith's uncle, Annabel's guardian. When he and his family (including an apparently bipolar son) descend on Meredith's estate, she's not too worried. Until strange events become frightening and Meredith flees with Annabel.
Stephen is the Marquess of Silverton and is quite bored with life. He knows it's time to marry and begat the next heir, but he's having a devil of a time rousing any interest in the debutante line. Then, while visiting his uncle, a beautiful woman storms in and he's captivated by her energy, her beauty, and her bravery. But she's not titled, even if her sister is...and she's totally unsuitable. Now if only he could convince himself of that.
Yes, the plot is one I've read many times before. Yes, I knew how most of the story would unfold before I was three chapters into the book. And yet, Vanessa Kelly still kept me reading. Her characters are so well drawn I think I could recognize them on the street...assuming I traveled back to their time. And the flow of the action was so smooth, I just couldn't find a good place to take a break and read the whole story in one sitting! And the passion!! This is one steamy regency. I enjoyed "Mastering the Marquess" so much, I've put Vanessa Kelly's name on my list of 'authors to watch'. It wasn't perfect, but it was quite a bit better than many of the historicals I've read recently by some pretty big name authors. So this is one you may want to check out so you can brag that you read the author's 'debut' novel. I'm guessing I'll be seeing more of her books in the future.
Lady in distress. Meredith doesn't expect much out of life for herself. She has the estate left to her by her beloved father, and her painting. But when it comes to her step-sister, it's a totally different story. Meredith adored Annabel from the time she came into the world via her father's second, and titled, wife. Now, with both parents gone, Meredith is all Annabel has left, well...except for Meredith's uncle, Annabel's guardian. When he and his family (including an apparently bipolar son) descend on Meredith's estate, she's not too worried. Until strange events become frightening and Meredith flees with Annabel.
Stephen is the Marquess of Silverton and is quite bored with life. He knows it's time to marry and begat the next heir, but he's having a devil of a time rousing any interest in the debutante line. Then, while visiting his uncle, a beautiful woman storms in and he's captivated by her energy, her beauty, and her bravery. But she's not titled, even if her sister is...and she's totally unsuitable. Now if only he could convince himself of that.
Yes, the plot is one I've read many times before. Yes, I knew how most of the story would unfold before I was three chapters into the book. And yet, Vanessa Kelly still kept me reading. Her characters are so well drawn I think I could recognize them on the street...assuming I traveled back to their time. And the flow of the action was so smooth, I just couldn't find a good place to take a break and read the whole story in one sitting! And the passion!! This is one steamy regency. I enjoyed "Mastering the Marquess" so much, I've put Vanessa Kelly's name on my list of 'authors to watch'. It wasn't perfect, but it was quite a bit better than many of the historicals I've read recently by some pretty big name authors. So this is one you may want to check out so you can brag that you read the author's 'debut' novel. I'm guessing I'll be seeing more of her books in the future.
July 15, 2009
I really liked the luvable hero, 1 of the better ones I've read in romancelandia. Stephen's smitten w/ Meredith @ 1st sight from the moment she barges into his uncle's house. He proceeds to woo, pursue & seduce her. The feeling is mutual as Meredith thinks he's the most dazzlingly purrfect man she's ever laid eyes on, but she tries her darndest to resist his attraction. She feels that their background & lifestyles are 2 polar opposites, so she gives hero a run for his money. She worries that their lack of suitability won't bode well in the long run, esp as Stephen's bitchy whiny mom is not shy in voicing her objections to their union. Meredith thinks that turning down his proposal is the sensible thing to do. Stephen has to use everything he got, in trying to convince her that she's capable of being his Marchioness, as she's the luv of his life, that there'll be no other for him. The 2 villains are pure evil, enabling the golden hero to play the role of a knight in shining armor - who rescues the damsel in distress - to the max, as her villainous cousin & uncle try to get their grubby paws on Meredith's half-sister's inheritance. There's a hint of potential romance between Stephen's female cousin & his BFF (luv - hate relationship & they've known each other 4ever). There's quite a bit of sexy luv scenes. 1 thing that kinda annoyed me : Stephen keeps telling heroine to call him 'Stephen', but she still calls him 'My Lord' / 'Lord Silverton' 'cuz she doesn't think it's proper. Umm... hello, it's kinda absurd during their intimate scenes & esp she still 'My Lord' him up 'till the end, the Epilogue. Enough already =)~
January 28, 2009
Wow! What a great book. Vanessa Kelly is definitely one to watch. Her prose is wonderfully evocative. This is a character-driven Regency romance of the old-school, but with a sexier feel. Loved it!
December 8, 2020
Buku pertama seri Stanton Family ini ternyata mengecewakan... mengecewakan... mengecewakan...
Ceritanya gampang ditebak sih dan alurnya terlalu mainstream HR. Tapi yg bikin kzl adalah kepribadian Meredith Burnley ini yg lambat laun makin regresi aja.
Meredith bertekad utk menyelamatkan Annabelle, adik tirinya dari teror ancaman pamannya, maka Meredith mencari perlindungan dari Jendral Stanton yg adalah kakek kandung Annabelle. Disanalah Meredith bertemu dgn Stephen Mallory, sang Marquess Silverton (keponakan Stanton). Sempat diawali sedikit friksi dimana Stephen disodori Annabelle utk dinikahi, tapi Stephen bersikukuh dia menyukai dan berniat memperistri Meredith.
Makin ke belakang ceritanya makin remeh temeh belaka ala HR. Saya menangkap sisi baperan Meredith yg ngeselin saya (doi gak suka adiknya dibicarakan oleh ton). Belum lagi kelemahannya yg gampang saja diprovokasi oleh ibunya Silverton, sehingga Meredith jadi dramatis menolak Silverton.
Silverton juga gak ada istimewanya bagi saya sbg hero. Menang ganteng doang yg bikin lutut Meredith langsung osteoporosis. Ya spt hero prince charming, Silverton wajib banget utk menyelamatkan calon istrinya, kan?
Jadi karena saya gak suka dgn kedua tokoh utama ini, saya gak perlu repot-repot ngasih bintangnya juga.
Ceritanya gampang ditebak sih dan alurnya terlalu mainstream HR. Tapi yg bikin kzl adalah kepribadian Meredith Burnley ini yg lambat laun makin regresi aja.
Meredith bertekad utk menyelamatkan Annabelle, adik tirinya dari teror ancaman pamannya, maka Meredith mencari perlindungan dari Jendral Stanton yg adalah kakek kandung Annabelle. Disanalah Meredith bertemu dgn Stephen Mallory, sang Marquess Silverton (keponakan Stanton). Sempat diawali sedikit friksi dimana Stephen disodori Annabelle utk dinikahi, tapi Stephen bersikukuh dia menyukai dan berniat memperistri Meredith.
Makin ke belakang ceritanya makin remeh temeh belaka ala HR. Saya menangkap sisi baperan Meredith yg ngeselin saya (doi gak suka adiknya dibicarakan oleh ton). Belum lagi kelemahannya yg gampang saja diprovokasi oleh ibunya Silverton, sehingga Meredith jadi dramatis menolak Silverton.
Silverton juga gak ada istimewanya bagi saya sbg hero. Menang ganteng doang yg bikin lutut Meredith langsung osteoporosis. Ya spt hero prince charming, Silverton wajib banget utk menyelamatkan calon istrinya, kan?
Jadi karena saya gak suka dgn kedua tokoh utama ini, saya gak perlu repot-repot ngasih bintangnya juga.
February 29, 2024
I have loved the other two Vanessa Kelly books that I read, and I wanted to go all the way back to the beginning of her interconnected series since I kept missing backstories.
This was not my favorite of her books. Historical romance is hard for me when we get too realistic with the possible ideals of the time. The Marquess was a little too possessive and gave me the same vibe as some of the Bridgerton brothers when it came to consent. I think this whole vibe is really typical of romances of the 2000s, and I know I absolutely loved her more recent books, so I’m just going to chalk this up as…not my recommended starting place with her books! Stay tuned, I will find the perfect starting place.
If you like a more soap opera-y plot and don’t get the ick over super alpha men, this was a fun read!
This was not my favorite of her books. Historical romance is hard for me when we get too realistic with the possible ideals of the time. The Marquess was a little too possessive and gave me the same vibe as some of the Bridgerton brothers when it came to consent. I think this whole vibe is really typical of romances of the 2000s, and I know I absolutely loved her more recent books, so I’m just going to chalk this up as…not my recommended starting place with her books! Stay tuned, I will find the perfect starting place.
If you like a more soap opera-y plot and don’t get the ick over super alpha men, this was a fun read!
December 13, 2023
So instead of falling for the cousin, she falls for the nephew? I should pay attention to the summary more often. My own fault whoops. 2.5 ⭐
June 17, 2010
In the face of societal adversity, what to do? Sacrifice one’s dignity, or one’s love?
Meredith Burnley is a country spinster with no big aspiration other than taking care of her frail sister, Annabel. She will do everything for the girl, and when the time actually comes, Meredith knows she has to take matters in her own hands. Marriage would save Annabel from the dire fate their guardian has planned for her, and Meredith knows only the most powerful man of their acquaintance would secure Annabel’s safety. He is Stephen, Marquess of Silverton and infamous rake.
Silverton knows his days of gallivanting like a dandy in the haute society are coming to an end – he needs to settle down and marry. Annabel would suit this purpose just fine, as his family is prompt to point out to him. All set to consider the match, Silverton knows Annabel stirs nothing but polite affection in him, like the myriad of ‘proper’ girls already shoved his way. That is, until his gaze lands on Meredith. But then again, Meredith is the daughter of a wool merchant, and not exactly ‘proper’ by the Ton’s standards.
Stephen wants Meredith, and sets out to claim her as his own. Come hell or high water, he’ll make her his wife, because in his mind, she is more a lady than any of the titled ladies consistently flinging themselves on him. But there is a major obstacle – Meredith knows he is promised to her sister, and she will never, ever, compromise Annabel’s safety or happiness.
The siren call of love wraps itself around Meredith as she is powerful to evade the marquess’s intent seduction and wooing. But will love be enough to lure her to take on society? Silverton wants her, but to what extent? Merely as a conquest, or sincerely as his wife?
Ms. Kelly pens here a delightful tale that grips the reader from the first page to the very last. Master of her craft, she is a virtuoso at storytelling, wrapping the reader in the world of the Regency and the haute ton with skilful craftsmanship. MASTERING THE MARQUESS catches the attention from the start, and the bows and curtsies of the plot maintain a steady pace throughout the story. The take on Regency’s haute society is accurate and infused with a freshness that sets it apart as a story that is more than a simple historical.
The characters are well sketched and almost leap off the page. Meredith is presented as a woman who hovers between two worlds, that of the common woman of the age and that of the society belle. This perspective is a novel perception in the genre of Regency historicals, and this works very much in Ms. Kelly’s favour to portray a ‘different’ story.
Silverton, initially presented to the reader as a rake, shows he is in fact a man of honour and one who does not compromise on his own ideals and principles. A true hero.
Overall, a beautiful tale that will sweep you to another age and time with one snap of the fingers. I highly recommend MASTERING THE MARQUESS to lovers of historicals and romance alike.
(Review courtesy of Romance Junkies)
Meredith Burnley is a country spinster with no big aspiration other than taking care of her frail sister, Annabel. She will do everything for the girl, and when the time actually comes, Meredith knows she has to take matters in her own hands. Marriage would save Annabel from the dire fate their guardian has planned for her, and Meredith knows only the most powerful man of their acquaintance would secure Annabel’s safety. He is Stephen, Marquess of Silverton and infamous rake.
Silverton knows his days of gallivanting like a dandy in the haute society are coming to an end – he needs to settle down and marry. Annabel would suit this purpose just fine, as his family is prompt to point out to him. All set to consider the match, Silverton knows Annabel stirs nothing but polite affection in him, like the myriad of ‘proper’ girls already shoved his way. That is, until his gaze lands on Meredith. But then again, Meredith is the daughter of a wool merchant, and not exactly ‘proper’ by the Ton’s standards.
Stephen wants Meredith, and sets out to claim her as his own. Come hell or high water, he’ll make her his wife, because in his mind, she is more a lady than any of the titled ladies consistently flinging themselves on him. But there is a major obstacle – Meredith knows he is promised to her sister, and she will never, ever, compromise Annabel’s safety or happiness.
The siren call of love wraps itself around Meredith as she is powerful to evade the marquess’s intent seduction and wooing. But will love be enough to lure her to take on society? Silverton wants her, but to what extent? Merely as a conquest, or sincerely as his wife?
Ms. Kelly pens here a delightful tale that grips the reader from the first page to the very last. Master of her craft, she is a virtuoso at storytelling, wrapping the reader in the world of the Regency and the haute ton with skilful craftsmanship. MASTERING THE MARQUESS catches the attention from the start, and the bows and curtsies of the plot maintain a steady pace throughout the story. The take on Regency’s haute society is accurate and infused with a freshness that sets it apart as a story that is more than a simple historical.
The characters are well sketched and almost leap off the page. Meredith is presented as a woman who hovers between two worlds, that of the common woman of the age and that of the society belle. This perspective is a novel perception in the genre of Regency historicals, and this works very much in Ms. Kelly’s favour to portray a ‘different’ story.
Silverton, initially presented to the reader as a rake, shows he is in fact a man of honour and one who does not compromise on his own ideals and principles. A true hero.
Overall, a beautiful tale that will sweep you to another age and time with one snap of the fingers. I highly recommend MASTERING THE MARQUESS to lovers of historicals and romance alike.
(Review courtesy of Romance Junkies)
August 22, 2011
This book was ok. I liked the characters.. I liked the story.. but it just seemed like it dragged at times. There were many parts where I found myself thinking.. get on with it.
The main premise is that two orphaned half sisters are threatened by relatives.. and so they flee to London to find protection with other highly placed relatives of the younger girl.
The reason that the "bad" relatives are threatening them was fairly predictable but it was a good plot for landing the girls in the middle of their "other" family, which of course includes two interesting males.
There are some suspenseful and downright "gothic" scenes involving the evil relatives and the girls, but of course the heroes rescure the damsels in distress in the nick of time.
The older sister,Meredith, feels that she is not an "eligible" candidate on the marriage mart and fights her feelings for Stephen right to the end. Of course she is influenced by a mean prospective Mother in Law as well. Some of the more interesting parts happen as you read how Stephen tries to convince Meredith that she would make him an acceptable wife.
I think that since it does not seem that Annabelle and Robert are getting their own book.. I would have liked to see a bit more of their story, even if just in an epilogue.
It's an enjoyable read even with the slow parts.
The main premise is that two orphaned half sisters are threatened by relatives.. and so they flee to London to find protection with other highly placed relatives of the younger girl.
The reason that the "bad" relatives are threatening them was fairly predictable but it was a good plot for landing the girls in the middle of their "other" family, which of course includes two interesting males.
There are some suspenseful and downright "gothic" scenes involving the evil relatives and the girls, but of course the heroes rescure the damsels in distress in the nick of time.
The older sister,Meredith, feels that she is not an "eligible" candidate on the marriage mart and fights her feelings for Stephen right to the end. Of course she is influenced by a mean prospective Mother in Law as well. Some of the more interesting parts happen as you read how Stephen tries to convince Meredith that she would make him an acceptable wife.
I think that since it does not seem that Annabelle and Robert are getting their own book.. I would have liked to see a bit more of their story, even if just in an epilogue.
It's an enjoyable read even with the slow parts.
April 9, 2009
Mastering The Marquess by Vanessa Kelly
Regency Mass Market Paperback - April 7th
4 ½ Stars
Vanessa Kelly’s Mastering the Marquess is the story of Meredith Burnley and her half-sister Annabel who must flee their peaceful existence in the country when their uncle and guardian tries to force Meredith to marry his son in order to gain her inheritance. They flee to Annabel’s grandparents in the hopes of finding aid where they encounter Annabel’s grandparent’s nephew Stephen Mallory, The Marquess of Silverton. Even though Annabel’s grandmother has hopes of matching Annabel with their nephew the Marquess is immediately tempted by the lovely Meredith. Vanessa Kelly’s
Mastering The Marquess is a wonderful historical romance that is full of fun and excitement. The characters in this story are immediately interesting and intriguing and ones that you can feel for and hope that they get a happy ending. Mastering the Marquess is an excellent story for any readers who love romance with a bit of excitement and thrill added in their stories.
Reviewed by Mary from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
Regency Mass Market Paperback - April 7th
4 ½ Stars
Vanessa Kelly’s Mastering the Marquess is the story of Meredith Burnley and her half-sister Annabel who must flee their peaceful existence in the country when their uncle and guardian tries to force Meredith to marry his son in order to gain her inheritance. They flee to Annabel’s grandparents in the hopes of finding aid where they encounter Annabel’s grandparent’s nephew Stephen Mallory, The Marquess of Silverton. Even though Annabel’s grandmother has hopes of matching Annabel with their nephew the Marquess is immediately tempted by the lovely Meredith. Vanessa Kelly’s
Mastering The Marquess is a wonderful historical romance that is full of fun and excitement. The characters in this story are immediately interesting and intriguing and ones that you can feel for and hope that they get a happy ending. Mastering the Marquess is an excellent story for any readers who love romance with a bit of excitement and thrill added in their stories.
Reviewed by Mary from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
June 13, 2013
maybe this should have been called "mastering meredith". really, it was the heroine who needed mastering. the marquess, stephen(silverton) is the one who had to do the mastering.
meredith has a lot of things going on and she and her sister haven't had a good hand dealt to them in life. so, naturally, she's skittish, she's insecure, she sulks....oh i could go on...
there are several instances where stephen has to reassure her and soothe her because she gets these thoughts in her head and starts doubting him.
maybe after the third time i was getting a little annoyed with her. it's like, ok girl, how many times does he have to reassure you?! what does he have to do that he hasn't done already?!
as for stephen, i didn't have a picture of him in my head. i just couldn't accept that he was blond. i think it's my affinity for dark heroes.
he was a totally nice guy though who knew what he wanted and went after it. he fell in love with meredith immediately. i liked seeing their relationship blossom...
there's some villainy thrown in too. overall, i enjoyed it!
meredith has a lot of things going on and she and her sister haven't had a good hand dealt to them in life. so, naturally, she's skittish, she's insecure, she sulks....oh i could go on...
there are several instances where stephen has to reassure her and soothe her because she gets these thoughts in her head and starts doubting him.
maybe after the third time i was getting a little annoyed with her. it's like, ok girl, how many times does he have to reassure you?! what does he have to do that he hasn't done already?!
as for stephen, i didn't have a picture of him in my head. i just couldn't accept that he was blond. i think it's my affinity for dark heroes.
he was a totally nice guy though who knew what he wanted and went after it. he fell in love with meredith immediately. i liked seeing their relationship blossom...
there's some villainy thrown in too. overall, i enjoyed it!
March 10, 2019
Mastering the Marquess is such an enjoyable read, that I hope I can do it justice in a review. It is fast paced story, with complex characters caught up in the midst of family intrigue and strong passions. (Yes, there is intrigue and passion.) It is the story of Meredith and her younger sister Annabel who are thrown into the social whirl of London's season, unprepared for the complexity, and cattiness of the ton. Meredith already has trouble looking on the bright side of things and she suffers the most from the casual cruelty of the social elite. The hero is Lord Silverton who attracted to Meredith despite their social standings. Vanessa Kelly does a masterful job of keeping the reader in doubt, as to the whether the couple will reach the expected happily ever after.(Will they?) The most convincing recommendation that I can give is that I immediately bought the next book Sex and the Single Earl.
July 13, 2013
if you love timeless classic historical romance novels, you'll enjoy this debut from Vanessa Kelly. Meredith Burnley have lived a sheltered life with her half-sister Annabel, ever since their father died. In Swallow Hill, their evil aunt, uncle and cousin wants to do away with them for nefarious purposes. When Meredith flees with Annabel to their grandparent's home, they seek their sanctuary there in London and ask for some help. At first, they were skeptical, since it brought up memories of an old family scandal. There, Meredith meets Lord Silverton, Stephen Mallory, and his cousin Robert Station. And it brings them into a whirlwind of a romance. But she encounters some difficulty from the ton, Silverton's mother and other circumstances, since she's poor and common with an inheritance. No matter what, we see how they both struggle with this predicament and fall helpless in love, when they open up to each other. This is a new hit!
October 12, 2012
Very entertaining in parts (e.g. the love scenes), good period feeling, but other parts were over the top to the point of being gothic (which I detest). Also the heroine Meredith was a lovely person, but didn't quite become a real character that I could relate to.
Several reviewers have called Silverton, the hero, a "rake" but the way he was portrayed in this book, he was definitely not a rake, just a normal red-blooded male. A Regency rake, in my opinion, is a man who is just on the edge of being a real scumbag in his sexual mores, but who is not totally depraved and is still redeemable.
Several reviewers have called Silverton, the hero, a "rake" but the way he was portrayed in this book, he was definitely not a rake, just a normal red-blooded male. A Regency rake, in my opinion, is a man who is just on the edge of being a real scumbag in his sexual mores, but who is not totally depraved and is still redeemable.
June 25, 2009
I really enjoyed this book. I was drawn in from the beginning and didn't want to put it down. The only thing that lets it down, for me, was the rude bits. I would have given it 5 stars if it weren't for a few bits I skipped over, because they were a bit racy. As I read it felt as though I really knew the charecters and experinced their lives.
October 2, 2013
A brilliant start to The Stantons Trilogy.
This is the type of 'meat & potatoes' romance I adore. So easy to read, enjoyable with sexy bits and, of course, a HEA. The sort of book you can't put down until you finish it.
I'm reading all the trilogy in order and if the other two books are as good, then I'm happy!
This is the type of 'meat & potatoes' romance I adore. So easy to read, enjoyable with sexy bits and, of course, a HEA. The sort of book you can't put down until you finish it.
I'm reading all the trilogy in order and if the other two books are as good, then I'm happy!
April 1, 2009
I loved this! All the authentic flavor and simmering sexual tension of an old-school Regency mixed with the sexiness and accessibility of a single-title historical. An engaging read that I found hard to put down.
March 15, 2009
Keep an eye out for this one when it lands at a bookstore near you. I was hooked from the opening sentence, and it just got better. My prediction is that Vanessa Kelly will be joining the ranks of the best writers in historical romance.
December 17, 2010
Excellent romance set in the Regency period. The characters of Meredith and Silverton are true to the time and bring the era to life. I loved the richness of detail and the flowing pace of the storyline. Can't wait for the next book from this author.
January 26, 2019
I like the set-up of this, taking a rather worn plot point (woman trying to launch sister in the face of family/money challenges) and enlivens it. It's major imho shortcoming is that the prose and characters are just slightly insipid.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 17, 2019
Okay
Definitely not one of the best of this author. It was okay, but it could have been better edited. There are often jumps in the story line from one paragraph to the next. It feels like sentences were deleted without smoothing out.
Definitely not one of the best of this author. It was okay, but it could have been better edited. There are often jumps in the story line from one paragraph to the next. It feels like sentences were deleted without smoothing out.
October 11, 2013
I enjoyed this more than I expected. I'd tried this author before (Sex and the Single Earl) and it was only a 3-star. But this one I liked.
March 13, 2020
4 Stars
February 5, 2016
J'adore son style. Cette histoire est comme je les aime, pleine de romantisme.
October 18, 2019
"My lord, I fear you must be growing tired of coming to my rescue..."
That's the problem with this Regency-set romance in a nutshell. Meredith Burnley's uncle threatens to force Meredith's younger half-sister, Annabel, into an insane asylum if Meredith does not marry his son. Meredith, in a rare moment of action, steals herself and Annabel away to London, where she calls on Annabel's estranged grandparents for their help. The author backs Meredith into plot corners where she must rely on Annabel's cousin, the Marquess of Silverton, to rescue her—after being insulted at a ball; after Silverton's mother pours lies into her ear; after she and Annabel are discovered by their evil uncle and almost kidnapped; and after another kidnapping attempt proves successful. Silverton is supposedly attracted to Meredith for her strength and spirit, but the story only allows her to bicker with him, not to act in any way to demonstrate intelligence, resourcefulness, or cunning.
Silverton may not have grown tired of rescuing hapless Meredith, but I certainly grew tired of reading about it...
That's the problem with this Regency-set romance in a nutshell. Meredith Burnley's uncle threatens to force Meredith's younger half-sister, Annabel, into an insane asylum if Meredith does not marry his son. Meredith, in a rare moment of action, steals herself and Annabel away to London, where she calls on Annabel's estranged grandparents for their help. The author backs Meredith into plot corners where she must rely on Annabel's cousin, the Marquess of Silverton, to rescue her—after being insulted at a ball; after Silverton's mother pours lies into her ear; after she and Annabel are discovered by their evil uncle and almost kidnapped; and after another kidnapping attempt proves successful. Silverton is supposedly attracted to Meredith for her strength and spirit, but the story only allows her to bicker with him, not to act in any way to demonstrate intelligence, resourcefulness, or cunning.
Silverton may not have grown tired of rescuing hapless Meredith, but I certainly grew tired of reading about it...
April 23, 2021
Meredith and her half-sister Annabel run away from their evil uncles home to seek refuge in London with Annabel's estranged grandparents. Silverton is Annabel's cousin who falls hard for Meredith at first sight. She's attracted to him, but feels like because of their class difference and his mom hating her, it will never work.
I really wanted to like this. It is book 1 in the series and I have already read book 4 (didn't realize it was a series) and it was great. But the main characters in this book are written with such manic emotions from one minute to the next. Meredith is the most negative, lets-focus-on-all-the-bad-things-that-have-ever-happened heroines I have ever read. Also, the author left out some major conversations that would have added a lot to the story. But one minute the character is on their way to have a talk and the next paragraph its two days later. Or two characters are in the same house, but don't speak to each other for a fortnight. But they really do love each other. What?
I really wanted to like this. It is book 1 in the series and I have already read book 4 (didn't realize it was a series) and it was great. But the main characters in this book are written with such manic emotions from one minute to the next. Meredith is the most negative, lets-focus-on-all-the-bad-things-that-have-ever-happened heroines I have ever read. Also, the author left out some major conversations that would have added a lot to the story. But one minute the character is on their way to have a talk and the next paragraph its two days later. Or two characters are in the same house, but don't speak to each other for a fortnight. But they really do love each other. What?
June 30, 2021
I really enjoyed this character-driven romance. It was steamy in all the right places and had great storytelling. However my 4 star rating drops more to 3.5 because the writer is very lean on dialogue and heavy on introspect. I prefer much more dialogue than what is presented here. I did find myself thoroughly engrossed in the story, but I hate when a one-minute snippet of conversation (real-time within the story) takes several pages to convey because it gets bogged down by paragraph after paragraph of thoughts or backstory. That's prime time for me to get bored and want to skim, although, admittedly, this book kept me reading every word because I didn't want to miss anything. So that's a plus in the author's favor - she had me hooked. The only other big thing that bothered me was the use of the word "swoon" throughout the book. I started counting and lost count - really, it was ridiculous.
I think I already own book 2 in this series so I may check the synopsis to see if it is of interest. Might just be worth a look.
I think I already own book 2 in this series so I may check the synopsis to see if it is of interest. Might just be worth a look.
April 13, 2020
Total boredom. Every time I read it, all I did was yawn and went to sleep. Ms. Kelly didn't care to elaborate secondary characters but her main characters, Meredith and Silverton, were not interesting. They were both good people with good manners which made them both super boring. I didn't think that Meredith's status was that low so that she often felt self-conscious and unwelcome among the ton. The uncle and cousin's motive was vague as well. They only appeared at the beginning and end as decorative villains. It was funny since Meredith and Annabel could run away from them without any difficulties.
May 30, 2020
I am skimming this book just to finish it.
Silly sister Abigail giggles all the time. There’s also general, who seems to act like a Duke. The two main characters are madly in love but the author doesn’t SHOW and affection building, just their endless thoughts on the subject. And Meredith has misplaced pride - how are they supporting themselves? Why is such a beautiful woman so down on herself?
Silly sister Abigail giggles all the time. There’s also general, who seems to act like a Duke. The two main characters are madly in love but the author doesn’t SHOW and affection building, just their endless thoughts on the subject. And Meredith has misplaced pride - how are they supporting themselves? Why is such a beautiful woman so down on herself?
July 17, 2019
My first try with a book by Vanessa Kelly. It was not bad written, but I found the story bland and uninteresting overall. I probably won't remember much of this after a while. Maybe I was not in the mood.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews