A Most Unconventional Match

Wellingfords #3

by Julia Justiss

Hal Waterman's calling on the newly widowed Elizabeth Lowery is the caring act of a gentleman. And with her household in turmoil and a young son to support, she is certainly grateful for his help. Hal finds Elizabeth even more lovely than when they first met, but knows that she will only ever see him as a kind and often taciturn friend.

Elizabeth finds comfort and companionship in Hal's caring of her. But then a tantalizing desire starts to simmer. His reassuring strength and presence have become so very attractive...so alluring...

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Regency, Historical Fiction, Friends To Lovers, Harlequin

282 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 1, 2007

About the author

Julia Justiss grew up breathing the scent of sea air near the colonial town of Annapolis, Maryland, a fact responsible for two of her life-long passions: sailors and history! By age twelve she was a junior tour guide for Historic Annapolis, conducting visitors on walking tours through the city that was a hotbed of revolutionary fervor. (Annapolis hosted its own tea party, dispensing with the cargo aboard the "Peggy Stewart," and was briefly capital of the United States.) She also took tourists through Annapolis's other big attraction, the United States Naval Academy. After so many years of observing future naval officers at P-rade and chapel, it seemed almost inevitable that she eventually married one.

But long before embarking on romantic adventures of her own, she read about them, transporting herself to such favorite venues as ancient Egypt, World War II submarine patrols, the Old South and, of course, Regency England. Soon she was keeping notebooks for jotting down story ideas. From plotting adventures for her first favorite heroine Nancy Drew she went on to write poetry in high school and college, then worked as a business journalist doing speeches, sales promotion material and newsletter articles. After her marriage to a naval lieutenant took her overseas, she wrote the newsletter for the American Embassy in Tunis, Tunisia and traveled extensively throughout Europe. Before leaving Tunis, she fulfilled her first goal: completing a Regency novel.

Children intervened, and not until her husband left the Navy to return to his Texas homeland did she sit down to pen a second novel. The reply to her fan mail letter to a Regency author led her to Romance Writers of America. From the very first meeting, she knew she'd found a home among fellow writers--doubtless the largest group of people outside a mental institution who talk back to the voices in their heads.

Her second goal was achieved the day before her birthday in May, 1998 when Margaret Marbury of Harlequin Historicals offered to buy that second book, the Golden-Heart-Award winning novel that became THE WEDDING GAMBLE. Since then, she has gone on to write fourteen novels, three novellas and an on-line serial, along the way winning or finalling for historical awards from The Golden Quill, the National Reader’s Choice, Romantic Times, and All About Romance’s Favorite Book of the Year.

Julia now inhabits an English Georgian-style house she and her husband built in the East Texas countryside where, if she closes her eyes and ignores the summer thermometer, she can almost imagine she inhabits the landscape of "Pride and Prejudice." In between travelling to visit her three children (a naval officer son stationed in Washington, DC, a textiles and design major daughter who cheers for University of Texas at Austin, and a mechanical engineering major son also at UT Austin) keeping up with her science teacher husband and juggling a part-time day job as a high school French teacher, she pursues her first and dearest love--crafting stories.

To relax, she enjoys watching movies, reading (historical fiction, mystery, suspense) and puttering about in the garden trying to kill off more weeds than flowers.

Reviews

[willaful · Rating 4 out of 5]

A huge, inarticulate guy who's shy with women -- how could I not want to read more about Hal Waterman, after he was introduced in The Wedding Gamble?

Hal is instantly smitten with his best friend Nicky's new sister-in-law, Elizabeth -- which is why he instantly runs. The son of a noted ton beauty, he has no interest in having yet another selfish, demanding woman in his life. Besides, such an exquisite woman could never be interested in a big lout like him.

But when Elizabeth is widowed seven years later, at a time when Nicky's entire family is abroad, Hall feels obligated to offer his assistance. He finds her sorely in need of help, since she's been cherished and protected her entire married life -- including being protected from the fact that her husband was terrible at managing money. Hal takes on the role of helpful family friend while sternly admonishing himself not to consider being anything more. He has no idea that Elizabeth's artist's eye is fascinated by his unfashionably muscular body and handsome profile.

This book is all about the characters -- in fact, every time the plot seems to be going to a possibly exciting or scary place, the issue is resolved fairly quickly. Being an angst-whore, I thought that a bit of a shame, but it's a charming story regardless, because Hal and Elizabeth are worthy characters going through interesting changes..

Everything we see about Hal shows how intelligent, competent and admirable he is -- including a touching scene in which his warmhearted mistress urges him to leave her and follow his heart, despite the fact that she obviously adores him. Trust Hal to have a sweet, genuine mistress! (And I wish the poor woman had her own happy ending.) Hal might seem almost too perfect if it weren't for his genuine trouble with speaking. Because of a childhood stutter, he's learned to concentrate on the most important idea he's trying to convey; his elliptical speech drops most articles and pronouns in a way that can make him appear cloddish. He's also generally at a loss in an argument, because his brain outruns his ability to speak.

Elizabeth's character is also sympathetic -- she's not a fool, but she's been sheltered for so long, she has trouble finding her feet or knowing who to trust. One of the lovely things about the story is that though Hal is only to happy to advise and protect Elizabeth, he also respects her talent and encourages her to live a life beyond being a proper, helpless lady. Elizabeth blossoms to the point that, in the end, she seduces him -- pretending to want to paint him, she persuades him to strip. I was charmed by how the ladylike Elizabeth is so entranced by Hal's body, she can't stop herself from staring and touching. It also shows how she's gained confidence in her ability to make decisions, and learned to trust her own feelings.

My gut is sort of leaning towards a 3 1/2 rating for this because of the overall lack of tension, but I'm going with a 4 because it's so unusual and thematically interesting.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this smexy regency romance (but no sex till the end, after the relationship grows and the chemistry simmers).

Sigh. I adore Hal Waterman, a financial genius who stutters and mumbles, with no town bronze, but still a member of ton society, with some highly placed good friends. He's also a decent sportsman. His superficial mother is overtly ashamed of him, even though he is polite and good looking. Appalling -- how she treats him.

Hal has loved Elizabeth Lowery for years, even before her first marriage, but he thought she could never look twice at him -- mummy dearest really did a job on him! Now Elizabeth is a widow, with an adorable son of about 5 years. She needs help, because someone is ripping her off and threatening her good name. Hal comes quietly to her aide.

Both Hal and Elizabeth are shy -- she is an artist -- but their gradually developing bond brings out the protective and passionate in each of them. By the end of the story, Elizabeth is facing down dragons and Hal is standing up to loan sharks and other assorted creeps.

A special regency romance. Just dreamy. I heart Hal.

Part of a series, but I haven't read the others, and didn't really need to.

[Georgie-who-is-Sarah-Drew · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cinnamon roll hero, soppy heroine, obvious villain, several small anachronisms. Well-meaning, I suppose.

[MRB · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like this was a three star book with a five star hero.

Hal is a delightful reminder that heroes can be thoroughly kind and decent without being the least bit wimpy or dull. He has a speech impediment that's made him self-conscious, but he's not a quaking, insecure mess. In fact, he's actually quite emotionally healthy given that his superficial shrew of a mother is not exactly reticent in expressing her profound disappointment with our hero. Sure, Hal may be strong, smart, insightful, and uncommonly kind and loyal, but these things fail to register with good old mom, who appears to view his mild to moderate lack of social graces and indifference towards fashion as somewhere up there with murder on her list of mortal sins. Anyway, Hal's first thought upon seeing our heroine, who is (of course) impossibly beautiful is that Elizabeth is almost as beautiful as...well, as his mother. Yes, Freud would have a field day with this family :) At the very end, there's some mildly contrite mumbling from Hal's mother about how she just loves and wants the best for him, but I didn't find it especially satisfying.

Happily, Elizabeth turns out to be nothing like his hyper-critical maternal noose. Despite Hal's clipped style of speech and lack of suaveness, she immediately likes and accepts him as is. And it's no wonder she adores our hero as much as I did, because he immediately goes to great pains to help her in every way possible. You get the sense that Hal is such a decent soul that he'd go out of his way to help anyone who needed it, not just the woman with whom he happens to be enamored.

Anyway, Elizabeth is a recently widowed woman who's left with a son named David, unexpected debts incurred by her late husband that some not especially nice people want paid off, and the attentions of her husband's ridiculously smarmy "best friend" and business partner. I like that Elizabeth is so passionate about her art. (And, naturally, Hal encourages her to pursue her dreams and more, because as you've no doubt ascertained by now...Hal is awesome!) I always appreciate it when heroines have well-defined interests outside of dresses and parties and their heroes. I found Elizabeth sympathetic and likable, albeit not exactly among the more dynamic, memorable heroines I've come across. It was a tad annoying that she didn't see Husband's Smarmy Best Friend for the oily, arrogant ass that readers will peg him as from the very millisecond he appears, but the author did attempt to give us a few reasons why she wanted to believe the best in him.

The plot is a little choppy and thin, consisting of a few different conflicts that are all resolved in somewhat anticlimactic fashion. I was oddly torn on the writing style. At times it felt very stilted, unnatural and forced to me, but then the writer would trot out a certain quote or turn of phrase that had me hitting my Kindle's highlight button. There's a kind of quaint, old-fashioned tone---so much so that it felt almost jarring and bizarre to include a sex scene in such a sweet little book! At times the overall feel didn't quite work for me, but it was also a mildly refreshing change from the more 'modern' historical novels I often devour. I know "modern historical" is a ridiculous oxymoron, but hopefully you get the gist of what I mean!

I finished this in under two hours. That's very atypical of me, so obviously I was engaged. But I was also left wistfully wishing that the book had more to it---not more length, but a bit more substance, flair, sparkle, cleverness and/or emotional resonance. The book isn't really witty, vibrant and energetic enough to qualify as the lighthearted fluffy fun to which I'm so addicted, but nor does it have nearly enough depth and substance to be one of those semi-serious romances that resonates with you long after you read it. I will remember this book, but the primary reason why can be summed up in three letters: Hal. Did I mention that I was quite fond of our hero? :)

[Jane Stewart · Rating 3 out of 5]

4 stars for neat characters. 2 stars for too much internal pondering and doubt.

I LIKED:
I really enjoyed the characters. Elizabeth did not care to be part of society - the ton. She did not want to have “a season,” and she found someone to love and marry without going through the parties. She did not care about clothes. She was happy to wear prior year styles. She loved to draw and paint. Hal had a speech problem. He spoke in phrases. He was brilliant in business - like a venture capitalist - finding projects to invest in and oversee. He was never interested in the many ladies his overbearing mother forced on him. His mother insulted him and demeaned him. He avoided her as much as possible.

The story begins with Elizabeth in mourning after her husband’s death. Hal comes to help manage her finances. I liked the plot and I liked the events that happened.

I DID NOT LIKE:
Several times after they see each other, they both have long, internal ponderings and doubts. She thinks he couldn’t possibly like me. He’s only doing this for this reason. He thinks she could never love me, she is only grateful for whatever reason. It was a downer reading these thoughts. It was excessive to create extra conflict. Let the story and personalities create conflict. Don’t spend all this time on inaccurate assumptions and doubts. And then they would act cold or avoid the other because of these assumptions. And it was worse after they had sex. Each believing the other couldn’t possibly ever love them. Ick. I wanted some happiness time together and can’t-wait-to-see-you-so-we-can-have-more-sex. We don’t get that.

I did not like the motivation for the sex scene. It didn’t feel right for her to initiate it. He was always respectful of her by controlling his desire. I’d rather see him lose some control. Instead it was like “ok if you really want this I’ll do it” – tepid.

DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Story length: 370 pages. Swearing language: mild. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: 1. Setting: 1813 and 1820 London, England. Copyright: 2010. Genre: regency romance.

[Jeske · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. Writing style not extraordinary. Liked the book better at the beginning, as it was decent and focussed on the main characters and their developing personalities as they got to know each other more and more. But i became highly disappointed with it when the story was nearing the end and started to become annoyingly explicit. I guess when historical romantic books are written by contemporary authors, one cannot escape the vulgarities of this time and age. I'm done with this cheapness and will all the more happily return to Jane Austen, the Brontë sisters and George Elliot. Hurrah for these appreciators of real romantic love, which, people, believe it or not, is NOT focussed on sex.

[Harlequin Historical]

The hero, Hal, has always been a disappointment to his mother because of his manners but since he is so rich she is still able to find many debutantes willing to marry him. Only he has managed to avoid all of her attemps to get him married. He has few true friend in his life so when he discovers that the sister of his best friend's wife needs help, he is willing to do all he can even if it is a struggle for him. He is highly attracted to Elizabeth but knows there is no future for them. No way she could ever return his desire. Little does he know that Elizabeth was already struggling with her reaction to him. She really didn't want those kind of feelings. She had a son to raise, a household to care for, and moneylenders demanding payment. But something about Hal makes her forget all her worries.

I found the book very entertaining.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

The characters make this a really special regency romance. Hal Waterman stuttered as a child and has a beautiful mother who frequently makes disparaging remarks about him and tries to "improve" him. New widow Elizabeth Lowery is extremely shy and allowed her older husband to manage all aspects of their life together and now not only has no idea how to cope with finances and servants but is extremely naive about a "friend" of her husbands who keeps calling. This is a lovely story of two good people who have trouble communicating but deserve happiness with one another. A real treat - I wanted to savor it but also wanted Hal and Elizabeth to have their happy ending as soon as possible.

[Dancer · Rating 5 out of 5]

For some unknown reason, I really enjoyed this book. Maybe it was the "rooting for the underdog" syndrome. Hal Waterman is a rich businessman/aristocrat. The trouble is Hal stutters, and many think is "dumb" because of that. Hal falls for Elizabeth Lowery the first time he sees her, but he is too embarrassed to say anything. Six years later, she is a widow. As her brother Nick's best friend, he calls on her to help with settling her husband's estate. Her husband ran up gambling debts and wasted money on antiques. Now, she could lose everything, but Hal won't let that happen. He protects her and her son, and, eventually, Elizabeth sees the real worth of Hal Waterman.

[Tsholo Mothibi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't quite believe the "love" story. She loved the fact that he took care of her, he loved that she was so pretty - all flash, no substance.

[Katherine Bone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book captivated me from the start. Hal Waterman is a man's man, however he has a most disagreeable handicap - he stutters. Never before have I read a hero like this. From the beginning of the book, I was mesmerized and wrapped around Hal's finger. I felt his desire for love and normalcy, as well as his pain.

Widowed Elizabeth Lowery tenders sympathy as she tries to raise her young son without a father. Though suitors offer for her hand in marriage, Hal convinces her she can secure her future another way. It is through this intricately woven relationship that Hal discovers love is often not determined by words, but by deeds.

A Most Unconventinal Match has stayed with me for a long time. I applaud Ms. Justiss for creating Hal and Elizabeth, and for making me feel completely satisfied!

[Rosemarie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was alright, the characters were likable. The scene where the hero left his mistress to pursue the heroine made me cry, the mistress was obviously in love with the hero. I was a little frustrated with the heroine, I know she was supposed to be cosseted her whole life, but I felt that she left things in the the hands of others when she should have been taking responsibility. She didn't make much effort to learn her new role, although by the end of the novel she was improving.

[SidneyKay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, I really liked this book. While I sometimes consider books a way of escaping the real world, I think sometimes we are bombarded with stories which stretch credibility just because authors think they must do that to make the story “fresh.” While I occasionally may read a book which is silly or nonsensical and the actions of the characters are way over the top, I also love reading romances which can take normal everyday life and create something unique. It takes a special writer to take the mundane and turn it into something engaging. That’s what we have here in Julia Justiss’ A Most Unconventional Match - 2008.

Let’s start with our hero, Hal Waterman. Hal was always a disappointment to his mother and an object of fun to his schoolmates. Why? Because he stuttered, and on top of that he grew into a big hulking fellow. Over time he was able to overcome that stutter. Now he speaks in a slow, stilted cadence, sort of like Yoda but more understandable…and with a deeper voice. He has also become somewhat of a financial success and has a few men he actually calls friend. Beautiful women still manage to flummox him and he avoids them at all cost. Which is why he is surprised at his own decision to help the beautiful widow Elizabeth Lowery. He has loved Elizabeth, from afar, for a long long time. For years he has avoided her. But now she has lost her husband and Nicky is out of town. Who’s Nicky? Well, he’s a connecting character. He is married to Elizabeth’s sister and he is also one of Hal’s bestest buddies. So you see, Hal feels a responsibility toward his friend and must offer any kind of help to Elizabeth he can – at least until Nicky returns to town. Good excuse. Hal has an enormous sense of loyalty. He is really a nice guy and yes, he is a beta hero.

Poor Elizabeth. She needs help – lots of help. While she isn’t exactly a pampered woman, she isn’t a woman who has ever done anything in the household. She doesn’t know how to manage a household, she doesn’t know anything about finances, has never seen a bill. Her entire married life has been spent letting her husband handle everything. He has kept everything from her. So, now she is totally lost, trying to raise her son. Her servants are taking advantage of her and she is being threatened by money-lenders. So, when Hal offers his help, she readily accepts. She has a lot of growing-up to do.

I liked Elizabeth and Hal a whole lot. The story is not moved by outside forces. There isn’t a lot of drama. There are no kidnappings, spies, or over-the-top-villains. There is a sleaze-ball guy who tries to take advantage of Elizabeth, but he is just a normal everyday slimy guy, a smooth operator. He reminded me a little of George Sanders in The Ghost and Mrs. Muir. This is a very unexceptional love story told in an extraordinary narrative. I became enchanted as Elizabeth and Hal stumble and grow. It’s magical, yet believable as Elizabeth becomes a strong, independent woman and Hal overcomes his insecurities. Don’t get me wrong, these characters have weaknesses, they are flawed and they don’t always have the right answers. They make mistakes. But they are careful with each other and as they become strong individuals, they also become a solid couple. They were a delightful couple, they were friends and very supportive of each other.

This was a gentle romance. Maybe some might consider it slow, but I thought it was lovely. I highly recommend it.

[Jerry Jares · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's a lot to like about the characters that Julia Justiss created.  Elizabeth Lowery is a new widow and is trying to create stability in her son's life, as well as her own.  Hal Waterman has a speech impediment but is a gentle giant who has great business acumen.  Together, they try to find a way through the dead husband's muddled finances, to find a way for Elizabeth and her son to keep their comfortable life.

I didn't like Elizabeth when she first appeared.  She was pampered and didn't have to do anything except paint and meet visitors.  She had no idea about her husband's finances, how to take care of the house (leading the servants), etc.  She was a basket of nerves when she wasn't painting.  I didn't find much to admire about the woman, except for the fact that she wasn't dedicated to spending money.

I also didn't like the long sequences that each of the main characters spent ruminating about being interested in each other.  It got trite.  Overall, the story showed that Elizabeth had gumption when someone gave her some guidance.  3.5 STARS 

I've decided not to read the others in this series.

Wellingfords
1.The Wedding Gamble (1999)
2.The Proper Wife (2001)
** 3.A Most Unconventional Match (2008)
4.From Waif to Gentleman's Wife (2009)
5.Society's Most Disreputable Gentleman (2011)

[Kelspar · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 rounded down to 3

Talk about sloooooooow burn. The MMC is best friends with the FMC brother-in-law. When the FMC husband dies and leaves her a mess of problems, the MMC swoops in to take help, as he has been in love with her since the moment he saw her 7 years earlier. He is content to assist with her problems or just be a friend, even though he yearns for more. He was a total sweetheart and totally smitten with everything about her. There's just something about big, silent men with deep running passions that they struggle to express, that makes me melt.

I thought both characters were well developed and while their relationship was slow, it was understandable due to their situations. I just wish the first kiss happened before the 92% mark! And there wasn't even an epilogue! If there is going to be slow burn the ending needs to satisfying as heck, and it just wasn't (for me).

[Eve Gaddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book by Julia Justiss. I love her heroines. They are always unusual. I really liked that Elizabeth had loved her older husband and enjoyed her awakening, both to her own strengths and to her feelings for Hal. And Hal was a sweetheart. Endearing. This one had a lot of humor in it. I laughed a lot while reading it. Very enjoyable!

[Xiamorah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something is missing for me to give it a full 4 stars. I thinks it’s because it started going really slow at some point and the miscommunication was annoying. And the fact that Elizabeth was not independent at all kinda thru me off. But overall the book is a good read loved the relationship between Hal and David. 3.5

[Cc · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit purpley prosey (Not real words, I know. But her writing isn't as "dramatic " as, say, Beatrice Small", but close enough) for me.

[HistoricalHussy]

Don't know how I stuck with this. I found the insipid beauty of a heroine particularly trying.

[Anna-Maria Nylund · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mukavaa lukemista, tarina ja hahmot kantoivat sitä hyvin. Pidin myös hieman tasa-arvoa johdattelevasta vireestä.

[Bea Tea · Rating 5 out of 5]

So sweet!

[Shanda Haffly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay so first things first I absolutely loathed the heroine Elizabeth!!! I mean I hate her!! She is whiny and bitchy. She is also a bit of a whore and my worst complaint she is a horrible mother!! She ignores her kid to paint all damn day, she can't do anything! I mean I understand back then women were to just sit and look pretty buuuut seriously this woman is so useless she cant even mother her son right. She complains over every small detail like having to pay her servants!!!!! What!!??? Could you sound any more spoiled!!??

[Lika · Rating 4 out of 5]

ONE OF MY NEW ALL TIME FAVS - thnak you thnak you thank youuuuuU!U!UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

[Sabrina (Soter) Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Hal attirò Elizabeth tra le braccia, guardandola con un’intensità che la sconvolse. «Sogno» mormorò. «No. Nessun sogno è bello come questo» mormorò a sua volta lei, attirando a sé il suo viso per un altro bacio."


Una storia molto dolce e delicata, con un protagonista un po' atipico: non abbiamo il solito eroe tenebroso, o l'alfa bastardo, ma un uomo goffo, timido e paziente...diciamo che per una volta la spalla ha conquistato la bella! XD E di pazienza dovrà mettercene parecchia Hal, perchè dalla prima volta che ha visto Elizabeth, al matrimonio del suo migliore amico, ed ha avuto (seppur inconsapevolmente) un vero colpo di fulmine il secondo incontro avviene ben sette anni dopo in condizioni non proprio allegre. Elizabeth infatti ora è madre e recentemente vedova ed è vittima di usurai, corteggiatori poco onorevoli e servitù indisciplinata. E qui entra in gioco il nostro eroe, pronto ad aiutarla non solo negli affari ma anche in tutte quelle questioni in cui la donna, vissuta da sempre sotto una campana di vetro, non ha alcuna esperienza. Sinceramente mentre ho adorato il personaggio di Hal non sono rimasta molto colpita da , spesso fin troppo incapace e ingenua per i miei gusti XD Nel finale però, una volta capito quello che vuole, si "sveglia" e anche Hal tira fuori quella fiducia in sé stesso che è stata soffocata da una madre prepotente e iper-critica e dai suoi problemi di linguaggio (era balbuziente e per eliminare il suo difetto si è allenato a parlare il meno possibile...di conseguenza molti lo credono stupido e non potrebbero sbagliarsi di più! ;D) e conquista finalmente l'amore della sua lei!

[Laura Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

En ce moment, je suis en pleine période de révision. Ainsi le soir, il me faut des lectures légères, pas question pour moi de me lancer dans un livre "prise de tête".

Par conséquent, je me suis tournée vers cette petite romance historique qui se déroule sous la Régence. Premier point que j'apprécie particulièrement puisqu'un de mes livres préférés est Orgueil et préjugés donc j'aime retrouver cette ambiance.

J'ai passé un bon moment à lire cette petite romance bien qu'une semaine après la lecture, je ne me souviens plus très bien de l'histoire!

Les personnages sont attachants et pour une fois, l'héroïne n'est pas de première jeunesse. Celle-ci a déjà été mariée donc elle va découvrir l'amour avec le héros sans qu'elle soit totalement naïve. C'est le deuxième point que j'ai apprécié.

[Anne Chapel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book. Hal Waterman is a hero unlike anything I’ve read. One gets tired of the same fills-out-his-jacket, polished Hessians, deep, dark, mysterious and damaged, dangerous “Ooh I deal in the UNDERWORLD of society, people think I’m a devil” hero. Hal is incredibly vulnerable in a unique way, and watching him realize he is worth loving is excellent. Elizabeth almost bordered on being on a pedestal the entire time, a loathable concept, but we got in deep with her character, too. Anyway, I’m a sucker for a book that takes place entirely in polite society, with nary a carriage chase, flight across the countryside in disguise, secret compartment or murder to create the plot. Just two people falling in love!

[Frances · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh! I read this book in 2011 and gave it one star and I still give it one star. I would like to give it zero. The hero is a man with a speech impediment which is fluency not vocabulary or an understanding of how sentences are put together. The author has him talking like a dimwit instead of a person who would speak very slowly and pause frequently. He would not be leaving out words and leaving out endings and beginnings of words. He would have the proper tense, what he would not have is cadence. This book sucks.

[Mymyworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Je dois dire qu’il m’a manqué une touche plus prononcée de sensualité à cette histoire pour qu’elle me transporte réellement. Néanmoins, elle reste agréable à lire. Les personnages secondaires y sont pour beaucoup d’ailleurs. Tantôt attachants (le petit David), tantôt horripilants (la mère de Hal), ils contribuent à rendre Hal et Elizabeth un peu proches du lecteur à force de compassion pour eux.

Ma chronique ici : http://songedunenuitdete.com/2013/08/...

[Diane Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be an enjoyable story with decent people (and some not-so-decent) who do their best. Hal is wonderful but Elizabeth isn't lacking either. At first, she's a bewildered widow but with Hal's faith in her, her confidence grows. Not an adventurous story, they deal with rumor and self-doubt, sneaky servants and sneakier 'lords and ladies of the ton' rather than spies or finding the lost goblet of Merlin or some other treasure. The ending seemed a bit rushed and the confrontation with Hal's mother was a bit of a let-down. Still, an enjoyable story I'll re-read again.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a sweet story! Hal made me fall in love with him from the beginning with his adorable crush on Elizabeth, his shyness, and his business smarts. I have a thing for big, quiet heroes and Hal definitely fits the bill. I read this quite a few years ago and I don't remember much about Elizabeth, but I do remember liking her. But, Hal is the true star of the story and that was fine with me!