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Lady Hathaway's House Party
One did not ask the Duke and Duchess of Avondale to the same party. Lady Hathaway knew that, but her cousin the duke had changed his mind about coming, and she'd already invited the duchess, who was on her way. There was nothing to be done except wait to see what happened when the estranged couple met again.
223 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 12, 1980
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
May 6, 2021
This is an interesting second chances Regency. Almost a rom-com.
3.75*
3.75*
August 4, 2024
A broken marriage is a really difficult setup for an author to tackle, but I felt it worked really well, and the focus was very much on the principal couple, as it should be, rather than the minor characters or the subplots.
Here’s the premise: society sophisticate Oliver, the Duke of Avondale, had astonished the ton by marrying country mouse Miss Belle Anderson, a girl of no particular beauty, connections or fortune. Despite their very different backgrounds, he had clearly been besotted with her, for no obvious reason, yet as soon as they had married, he had stopped trailing round in her wake and gone back to his old habits, and within a month she had run back to the seclusion of her father’s house. They agreed to a formal separation, and there was talk of divorce. And then Lady Hathaway inadvertently invited them both to her house party…
I confess, I found it implausible that Belle would agree to go to a house party at all, since she’s barely left her father’s estate since leaving her husband. But there’d be no story without that, so let it pass. Oliver is not quite so reclusive and Lady Hathaway is his cousin, so that part is more plausible. And despite Lady Hathaway’s best intentions, the two meet accidentally and quite unaware that the other will be there, and while Belle is enjoying a moment with her cicisbeo. However, the two manage not to flounce (because, again, there’d be no story if they did), and the stage is set for an extremely awkward house party. He thinks he’ll just have a nice chat with his wife, perhaps recreate a pleasant moment from the early days of their marriage, and she’ll come back to him. But she’s edgy and snippy, and things go off the rails pretty fast.
We learn quite early on (because the author tells us) why they fell out. After a fairly intense courtship, when he followed her about like a puppy, once married, he assumed she would immediately adapt to the rather vapid and dissolute society life that he was used to, spending time with his gossipy friends and pursuing her own interests, mostly without him. She was hurt by the disappearance of the charming pre-marriage man who wanted to spend time with her. She disliked his friends and fell in with a crowd of lower gentry types, who went off in big groups to look at museums and watch balloon ascensions, things she would have liked to do with her husband. He bought her expensive, showy presents that she disliked. He was insulted that she rejected these attempts to please her.
And all of that (and more, because there’s a reason why Belle left so abruptly) has to be resolved before they can get together again. Their altercations are marked by bitterness and downright rage, which I found unusually intense for a book of this era. Anyone expecting a lot of light-hearted banter will be sorely disappointed. The pair find it difficult to talk to each other in any way that doesn’t end (and sometimes start!) with hostility. And yet right from the start, it’s clear that Oliver, at least, is determined to win Belle back. One has to wonder why on earth he didn’t go to her father’s house, where she was hiding out for the best part of a year, but still, he didn’t, so this is his best opportunity to talk to her. But every time he tries, they end up fighting.
There are some lighter moments, fortunately. Belle’s cicisbeo, Arnold Henderson, who’s been quite happy to squire her about and enjoy a delicate flirtation, is horrified to meet her husband. He had planned ‘to walk and sit and ride and talk with her, to dance and flirt discreetly and entertain her, and it was not only extremely difficult but actually impossible to do so with Avondale glowering at him with murder in his eyes. Avondale was a big man, for one thing, a good three inches taller than himself and a couple of stones heavier, in all the right places. Shoulders like a dashed door, and of course he was a famous boxer, in an amateur capacity.’ Poor Arnold spends the entire house party avoiding Oliver like the plague, in the hope of not getting knocked down by him, and his efforts are highly entertaining. Then there is the gossiping Lady Dempster, who ignores all the rules of politeness in order to find out what is going on between Belle and Oliver.
Meanwhile, Oliver has turned his charm on Belle and taken her riding, which is the right thing to do. She’s halfway to being won over, until a certain lady arrives from London, and everything falls to pieces again. The whole book is like this… two steps forward and one (or two or three) steps back, as the two fight their own anger to get on terms again, as they both want. Sometimes it’s external events which throw them into a tizz, and sometimes it’s their own stupidity or just an infelicitous word or two. Always it’s Oliver pressing forward towards a reconciliation and Belle hesitating and pushing back. The dialogue between these two is perfectly judged. Joan Smith has always had a skilled hand with that, but here she is absolutely superb, and every encounter between the two combatants (word used advisedly) is compelling, with the comedy moments brilliantly interspersed.
It’s not exactly a spoiler to tell you that everything works out in the end, although I really hope that Oliver can control that temper of his, or everything will fall apart again. A fascinating look into what happens when two people from different worlds fall in love but fail to communicate sensibly. Five stars.
Here’s the premise: society sophisticate Oliver, the Duke of Avondale, had astonished the ton by marrying country mouse Miss Belle Anderson, a girl of no particular beauty, connections or fortune. Despite their very different backgrounds, he had clearly been besotted with her, for no obvious reason, yet as soon as they had married, he had stopped trailing round in her wake and gone back to his old habits, and within a month she had run back to the seclusion of her father’s house. They agreed to a formal separation, and there was talk of divorce. And then Lady Hathaway inadvertently invited them both to her house party…
I confess, I found it implausible that Belle would agree to go to a house party at all, since she’s barely left her father’s estate since leaving her husband. But there’d be no story without that, so let it pass. Oliver is not quite so reclusive and Lady Hathaway is his cousin, so that part is more plausible. And despite Lady Hathaway’s best intentions, the two meet accidentally and quite unaware that the other will be there, and while Belle is enjoying a moment with her cicisbeo. However, the two manage not to flounce (because, again, there’d be no story if they did), and the stage is set for an extremely awkward house party. He thinks he’ll just have a nice chat with his wife, perhaps recreate a pleasant moment from the early days of their marriage, and she’ll come back to him. But she’s edgy and snippy, and things go off the rails pretty fast.
We learn quite early on (because the author tells us) why they fell out. After a fairly intense courtship, when he followed her about like a puppy, once married, he assumed she would immediately adapt to the rather vapid and dissolute society life that he was used to, spending time with his gossipy friends and pursuing her own interests, mostly without him. She was hurt by the disappearance of the charming pre-marriage man who wanted to spend time with her. She disliked his friends and fell in with a crowd of lower gentry types, who went off in big groups to look at museums and watch balloon ascensions, things she would have liked to do with her husband. He bought her expensive, showy presents that she disliked. He was insulted that she rejected these attempts to please her.
And all of that (and more, because there’s a reason why Belle left so abruptly) has to be resolved before they can get together again. Their altercations are marked by bitterness and downright rage, which I found unusually intense for a book of this era. Anyone expecting a lot of light-hearted banter will be sorely disappointed. The pair find it difficult to talk to each other in any way that doesn’t end (and sometimes start!) with hostility. And yet right from the start, it’s clear that Oliver, at least, is determined to win Belle back. One has to wonder why on earth he didn’t go to her father’s house, where she was hiding out for the best part of a year, but still, he didn’t, so this is his best opportunity to talk to her. But every time he tries, they end up fighting.
There are some lighter moments, fortunately. Belle’s cicisbeo, Arnold Henderson, who’s been quite happy to squire her about and enjoy a delicate flirtation, is horrified to meet her husband. He had planned ‘to walk and sit and ride and talk with her, to dance and flirt discreetly and entertain her, and it was not only extremely difficult but actually impossible to do so with Avondale glowering at him with murder in his eyes. Avondale was a big man, for one thing, a good three inches taller than himself and a couple of stones heavier, in all the right places. Shoulders like a dashed door, and of course he was a famous boxer, in an amateur capacity.’ Poor Arnold spends the entire house party avoiding Oliver like the plague, in the hope of not getting knocked down by him, and his efforts are highly entertaining. Then there is the gossiping Lady Dempster, who ignores all the rules of politeness in order to find out what is going on between Belle and Oliver.
Meanwhile, Oliver has turned his charm on Belle and taken her riding, which is the right thing to do. She’s halfway to being won over, until a certain lady arrives from London, and everything falls to pieces again. The whole book is like this… two steps forward and one (or two or three) steps back, as the two fight their own anger to get on terms again, as they both want. Sometimes it’s external events which throw them into a tizz, and sometimes it’s their own stupidity or just an infelicitous word or two. Always it’s Oliver pressing forward towards a reconciliation and Belle hesitating and pushing back. The dialogue between these two is perfectly judged. Joan Smith has always had a skilled hand with that, but here she is absolutely superb, and every encounter between the two combatants (word used advisedly) is compelling, with the comedy moments brilliantly interspersed.
It’s not exactly a spoiler to tell you that everything works out in the end, although I really hope that Oliver can control that temper of his, or everything will fall apart again. A fascinating look into what happens when two people from different worlds fall in love but fail to communicate sensibly. Five stars.
April 13, 2013
Oliver, Duke of Avondale, courted and married Belle when she was 18 and fresh from the country. However, after the wedding he expected her to act like a Duchess when she was ill prepared. She thought he would continue to treat her as he had during the courtship. By the end of a month they were barely speaking. She goes to visit her father and doesn’t return, then asks for a legal separation. A year later they both get invited to the same house party and over the course of the visit they finally communicate. This was a very simply plotted Regency romance.
May 8, 2025
Good short read. A second chance story for a married couple that didn’t know how to communicate with each other. And aggravated by a big misunderstanding.
I liked that the Hero was remorseful and groveled throughout the book. He had some odd notions about how a married couple should act which added to the sorry state of their marriage.
Lovely HEA.
I liked that the Hero was remorseful and groveled throughout the book. He had some odd notions about how a married couple should act which added to the sorry state of their marriage.
Lovely HEA.
July 3, 2024
Vastly different tone from Joan Smith’s other books, but quite well done. The reconciliation of a couple of proud, disillusioned lovers is not an easy feat and she did very well. A lot of arguments and a lot of feelings canvassed but I didn’t mind at all because I wanted the couple to get back together so much! The usual cast of quirky side characters and some funny quips to give comic relief, but this is a more thoughtful and true story than per usual, though still quite romantic.
January 25, 2012
I have read this book twice and I enjoyed it even more the 2nd time. For its genre, it couldn't be better! It is laugh out loud funny. The main protagonists seem real. You can actually imagine hanging out with them! I realized when I finished the book, I was smiling!
April 9, 2021
Great, great book (despite the classic miscommunication twist, which I usually don't like)
AND funny! Made me laugh at loud at some parts.
Romance was nice but I especially enjoyed the many observations of the society and the events taking place. Lady Hathaway's voice was the best - just look the following paragraph about the dinner mishap:
She was at a loss to explain why it should also have clotted cream in it, and thought it better not to draw attention to the fact. She urged wine on everyone, hoping to dull their senses before the dry meat and wet potatoes hit the board. The meat wasn’t dry after all—it was dripping, and underdone mutton was as bad as, if not worse than, overdone. Worse— definitely worse, she decided after one bite. No matter, her reputation was ruined anyway. No one would ever come to her again. She would have to go to the poorhouse and orphanages to fill her table in future.
“Do have another glass of wine, Lord Eldon,” she invited weakly.
“Don’t mind if I do,” he replied, stretching his jaws over the raw mutton. As well call a spade a spade. It was raw.
The turbot was burned black on the bottom, as were the broccoli and asparagus. “Have some more wine, Lady Dempster.”
“I believe I will. Lovely champagne, Kay.”
Mrs. Rochester, a local lady who was making her first appearance at Ashbourne, said loudly, “Stew! How nice. I do like a nice plain stew.”
“Have some wine, Mrs. Rochester.”
“Thank you ever so. Tell me, was your husband related to Shakespeare’s wife?”
“Yes, it is all the same family,” she said, unable to face the dozen explanations required to be free of Anne Hathaway.
Dessert was finally served. Now how could they possibly ruin strawberries? Surely the strawberries were safe. No sugar on them. No sugar on the table, and the cream that should have accompanied them poured into the turtle soup, so that it was milk being passed around. Ghastly! “Care for a little champagne, Mr. Ponsonby? It goes well with strawberries.”
/.../
She gagged over stale macaroons and lifted her glass in return. Have a glass of wine, Lady Hathaway. Toast your old sister Anne. Don’t mind if I do. You wouldn’t have a dash of laudanum to liven it up? I’d prefer to sleep away the rest of this meal. Coffee bitter and an inch of sludge in the bottom of the cup. Never mind, pass the champagne.
LOVED IT!
(Raising a glass of champagne to you Joan Smith!)
AND funny! Made me laugh at loud at some parts.
Romance was nice but I especially enjoyed the many observations of the society and the events taking place. Lady Hathaway's voice was the best - just look the following paragraph about the dinner mishap:
She was at a loss to explain why it should also have clotted cream in it, and thought it better not to draw attention to the fact. She urged wine on everyone, hoping to dull their senses before the dry meat and wet potatoes hit the board. The meat wasn’t dry after all—it was dripping, and underdone mutton was as bad as, if not worse than, overdone. Worse— definitely worse, she decided after one bite. No matter, her reputation was ruined anyway. No one would ever come to her again. She would have to go to the poorhouse and orphanages to fill her table in future.
“Do have another glass of wine, Lord Eldon,” she invited weakly.
“Don’t mind if I do,” he replied, stretching his jaws over the raw mutton. As well call a spade a spade. It was raw.
The turbot was burned black on the bottom, as were the broccoli and asparagus. “Have some more wine, Lady Dempster.”
“I believe I will. Lovely champagne, Kay.”
Mrs. Rochester, a local lady who was making her first appearance at Ashbourne, said loudly, “Stew! How nice. I do like a nice plain stew.”
“Have some wine, Mrs. Rochester.”
“Thank you ever so. Tell me, was your husband related to Shakespeare’s wife?”
“Yes, it is all the same family,” she said, unable to face the dozen explanations required to be free of Anne Hathaway.
Dessert was finally served. Now how could they possibly ruin strawberries? Surely the strawberries were safe. No sugar on them. No sugar on the table, and the cream that should have accompanied them poured into the turtle soup, so that it was milk being passed around. Ghastly! “Care for a little champagne, Mr. Ponsonby? It goes well with strawberries.”
/.../
She gagged over stale macaroons and lifted her glass in return. Have a glass of wine, Lady Hathaway. Toast your old sister Anne. Don’t mind if I do. You wouldn’t have a dash of laudanum to liven it up? I’d prefer to sleep away the rest of this meal. Coffee bitter and an inch of sludge in the bottom of the cup. Never mind, pass the champagne.
LOVED IT!
(Raising a glass of champagne to you Joan Smith!)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 6, 2022
This was not as amusing as I expected it to be - I was looking for more banter between the MC, even if it was to be a trading of insults. But it rather turned out to be domestic fights, more or less one-sided (justified as it was - I sympathized with the heroine). It was redeemed by the efforts of the hero, who made genuine attempts to understand and rectify his mistakes. There was humor in the writing though, which I enjoyed.
However, a lot of entertainment was derived from the antics of two completely inappropriate characters, which didn't work for me. I especially wonder at the characters like Lady Dempster - whose inclination to gossip goes so far as to almost manufacture it, regardless of the cost to the people involved, and who don't even shy away from barging into personal and private conversations. I suppose its a caricature, but still wonder whether the etiquette in that society went so far as to not even insult such people.
2.5 stars, rounded up to 3.
However, a lot of entertainment was derived from the antics of two completely inappropriate characters, which didn't work for me. I especially wonder at the characters like Lady Dempster - whose inclination to gossip goes so far as to almost manufacture it, regardless of the cost to the people involved, and who don't even shy away from barging into personal and private conversations. I suppose its a caricature, but still wonder whether the etiquette in that society went so far as to not even insult such people.
2.5 stars, rounded up to 3.
August 19, 2021
Joan Smith writes wonderful Regency romances, but some I enjoy and some I do not. This is one of those I do not. Lord and Lady Avondale have separated after just one month of marriage. Belle left Oliver for her father's mansion and served Oliver with a legal separation without a word of explanation. Now she wants a divorce. Their friend, Lady Hathaway, invites Oliver to her houseparty, but he refuses. She then invites Belle who comes not knowing that Oliver has changed his mind and shows up. The rest of the story is one long, drawn out argument between the two: he gave her jewellry, clothing, a horse, all of which she considered tasteless. He should have spent more time with her and stopped seeing his lady friends. All of this can be brought to an end by the author. There is no doubt that it will. I was bored.
February 10, 2019
2 1/2 stars. The premise, of two people who married without really knowing each other and quickly run into problems before becoming estranged, is interesting, but the execution is lacking. It reads like it is not the final draft. I think we should have had a long flashback that showed the beginning of their marriage directly, rather than allusions to it throughout the book.
November 7, 2020
x. Smith makes conflicts and resolution believable. Positive direction, to save marriage. Ollie, Duke, and his wife Belle, still in love, separated by misunderstandings, get the chance to reconcile at Kay's country house party. Advice to talk, listen, effects change.
February 21, 2021
Everything that could go wrong went wrong till the comedy of errors became a bit frustrating even to a regency fan. Still the happy ending was worth it, and the chagrin of poor Lady Hathaway brought a smile at every other turn.
May 7, 2021
Low angst, fun story.
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September 8, 2024Its very easy to empathize with the characters and their misunderstandings. I loved the book for the humor and almost believable plot.
November 2, 2025
The main couple made an infamous mess of their marriage on the first go but now they've been reunited in a houseparty.
January 12, 2015
2.5/5 stars. I found Lady Hathaway's House Party a little boring since both Oliver and to a lesser extent, Belle recognize the problem. They simply refuse to acknowledge it to one another for two hundred pages or so and not much else happens. The ending was pretty satisfying, though, and the story was cute--pretty much par for the course with Joan Smith.
September 17, 2016
Nits: Too many similar names: Alfred/Arnold, Traveller/Tavellisomething, Ashbourne/Ashsomethingelse, Hsomething/Hsomethingelse/Hsomethingsomethingelse. So many people who were so hard to keep track of.
Heroine didn't get enough licks in. Hero got too many licks in.
It was cute, but a tidge annoying.
Heroine didn't get enough licks in. Hero got too many licks in.
It was cute, but a tidge annoying.
August 24, 2016
I am super busy today and did not intend to sit down and read this cover to cover but I did. A silly delightedly fun bit of fluffy romance. A short book so it's easy to lose an hour or two in this and then get back to real life.
December 28, 2010
Read as an eBook and hoped that it would be almost as good as my traditional Regency novels. Not close. But entertaining enough.....
February 6, 2012
Another Joan Smith success!
July 15, 2017
Enjoyable read with a very well developed conflict.
June 7, 2017
4.35 stars - pg13?
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews