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Lester Family #2

by Stephanie Laurens, Renée Olsthoorn (Translator)

Aanstellerige, opgedirkte wichten, waar geen verstandig woord mee te wisselen valt. Voor de debutantes op de Londense societybals heeft landgoedeigenaar Jack Lester geen goed woord over. En nog minder voor hun opdringerige mama's, die in hem een geweldige partij zien voor hun oogappeltjes, ook al heeft hij de reputatie van rokkenjager. Dan valt Jacks oog op de lieftallige Sophie Winterton. Onmiddellijk besluit hij dat hij dit toonbeeld van schoonheid en elegance niet mag laten ontsnappen. Dit seizoen moet Sophie haar balboekje zo vol mogelijk zien te krijgen. Ze is al tweeëntwintig, dus het is hoog tijd dat ze trouwt. De perfect geklede, lange donkere man die tijdens een bedwelmende wals onverhoeds haar hart steelt, komt helaas niet in aanmerking. Ze moet een geschikte echtgenoot vinden, en dit heerschap blijkt niemand anders te zijn dan de beruchte Jack Lester...

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical, Regency, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Regency Romance

235 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Stephanie Laurens was born in Sri Lanka, which was at the time the British colony of Ceylon. When she was 5, her family moved to Melbourne, Australia, where she was raised. After continuing through school and earning a Ph.D. in Biochemistry in Australia, Stephanie and her husband moved to Great Britain, taking one of the last true overland journeys from Katmandu to London.

Once in London, Stephanie and her husband both began work as research scientists in Kent. They lived in an area surrounded by history. Their own cottage was built in the 16th century, while next door were the protected ruins of an early Roman villa, and nearby was a 14th century castle.

After four years in England, Stephanie and her husband returned to Australia, where she continued to work in cancer research, eventually heading her own research laboratory. One evening Stephanie realized that she did not have any more of her favorite romance novels to read. After years of thinking about writing her own novel, during nights and weekends for the next several months, she began crafting her own story. That manuscript, Tangled Reins, was the first of her books to be published. After achieving a level of success with her novels, Stephanie "retired" from scientific research and became a full-time novelist. Her novels are primarily historical romances set in the Regency time period.

Stephanie and her husband live on peaceful acreage on the outskirts of Melbourne. If she isn't writing, she's reading, and if she's not reading, she's tending her garden.

Reviews

[Rachel (BAVR) · Rating 1 out of 5]

Is it too harsh to say that A Lady of Expectations is a waste of paper? It isn't even a flaming pile of poo - that would give it too much personality. It's nothing. It's a blank maw of cliches. It's the color beige without the convenient color template options.

A Lady of Expectations is likely the most boring book I've ever been obligated to finish. Fuck this book. My time is worth SO MUCH MORE than what this Jane Austen Fanwank Tribute Piece gave me.

Moving on.

THE STORY:

Jack Lester (of the unfortunate surname that NEVER FAILED to bring "child molester" to my mind because patterns and stuff) has a boring conversation with his brother and buddies about how he needs a wife and wants one he can grow to love like his friend did with Jack's sister in the first book of the "Lester Family Saga". Never has the word "saga" been so misused. Anyway, Jack goes to a ball and immediately gloms on to Sophie Winterton, a lady of little money with a paleontologist papa, like mold on a month-old salad. Sophie's living with her well-to-do relatives. Her father is never mentioned except to note that he's a paleontologist, which apparently makes Sophie special. Sophie and Jack share a host of tedious interactions, always interspersed with the "fascinating" stories of the clown car of secondary characters, and fall in mutual love.

Alas, they face a major problem! Sophie thinks that Jack is poor and therefore refuses to marry him. She doesn't want to bring him down with her dirty, filthy poverty (paraphrasing). At first, Jack can't figure out why she's resisting his Class A Creeper methods of courting. She eventually throws a fit and says, "We have no money. People without money never marry each other. It simply isn't DONE (in my stupid imagination)." And Jack's like, "I have lots of money. Tons of it. I'm extravagantly wealthy. Sometimes I pay to have a servant coated in gold prepare me a bath of money, and we laugh and laugh."

Does Sophie believe him? OF COURSE NOT. Because she's fucking dumb. Dumber than a box of rocks. Dumber than I was for wasting one of my Care-Package-Ageddon DNFs on a book that wasn't as soul-gratingly awful as this one. So, yeah. Sophie's all, "Nuh uh. You're just lying to get me to marry you so we can be poor forever together. I'm onto your tricks, Jack Lester." In the meantime, the clown car of secondary characters just priming for their OWN godawful books continue to fill the story with inconsequential yimmering and yammering in ballrooms, dining rooms, parks, open fields, drawing rooms, anywhere that isn't the least bit interesting, etc. Will Sophie ever get a clue? Will Jack ever stop being creepy?

AN ILLUSTRATION OF THE PLOT IN THIS BOOK:



THE CHARACTERS:

I think it's already clear how I feel about Sophie "Me Teh Dumbz" Winterton. Jack is a great deal smarter than Sophie, because in the Lester Family's fucking SAGA, all the men are totes intelligent with their penises and lack of fleshy breasts. Unfortunately, Jack's intelligence is overshadowed by his creeper tendencies. He's constantly following Sophie around town (2 towns, actually), insinuating himself in her affairs, calling her his "golden head" ALL THE TIME in his mind, and calling her "my dear" ALL THE TIME to her face. If you want to get a firm grasp on how creepy Jack is, read the following quote.

From an alcove by the steps, shielded by a potted palm, Jack kept a brooding watch over his golden head until the last note had sounded and the last would-be suitors had been dismissed.

I rest my case.

THE ROMANCE:

Sucks.

This story of nothing actually could have been better with a healthy dose of sexxorz. I would have tolerated even disgusting, awkward sex to break up the monotony of rich people discussing rich people problems while being lavishly rich. There's no sex. Just a couple kisses, one boob fondle, and a fade-to-black love scene with less passion than a grapefruit.

THE WRITING:

Since Laurens is still writing what I can only assume is more tepid, Jane Austen inspired word vomit, I suppose that her writing isn't a problem with other, far kinder readers. Personally, I didn't care for the repetition of THINGS REGENCY PEOPLE PROBABLY SAID, nor did I think the "plot" was in any way worthwhile. It's pages full of meandering bullshit to me. The main characters don't grow. Nothing happens. No sex. Beige, I tell you. Beige.

To put it briefly, I didn't like this book.

A Lady of Expectations is a part of my Care-Package-Ageddon series of book reviews in gratitude to my GR friend Karla for sending me a GIANT BOX O'BOOKS. She said I "might" like some of them. o_O

[skein · Rating 1 out of 5]

godawful.
shorter book:
"My fairest damsel, although we have met only five minutes ago, you possess blonde hair and blue eyes and know how to maintain a house: therefore we are in love! Let us marry!"
"Oh my rougish darling, we cannot! For you are fake-poor and I am fake-poor and at least ONE of us needs to be super-rich for this relationship to work out! And you -- you are landed gentry! You need to repair the roof on your castle and feed your bloodhounds and whatnot!"
"Fear not, gentle maiden; I have been hiding my wealth from you to prevent you from marrying me for my money!"
"But darling, that makes no sense whatsoever. We fell in love before we knew anything about the other person."
"Your intelligence has began to hinder the plot. Let us fall into bed and I shall bring you to orgasm, elegantly, effortlessly, repeatedly."

END SCENE.

okay, so she refuses to marry him because she thinks he should marry a rich girl, right, and she's too generous to let him marry for love. okay. but then he confesses that he really IS rich so it's immaterial and she doesn't believe him; she WAITS FOR HER UNCLE TO REASSURE HER.
Why the fuck would she agree to marry a man when she can't even trust him not to trick her into marriage? ARGGGGGH

(4/6-4/11)

[Mandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was ok. The plot seemed forced. Towards the end I got really tired of reading the words golden head!

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is the vanilla ice cream of regencies; it's perfectly plain. But compared to the outlandish freakshows that pass as regency fiction these days, it was actually pretty nice to read.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rather boring with low stakes. Would make a better show than a book

[Abi Mallett · Rating 2 out of 5]

Regency romance, where Jack Lester decides he now needs to marry and decides on Sophie, without meeting her. He then pursues Sophie without letting on about his recent fortune. They both fall in love but Sophie believes she cannot marry him because he needs funds for his estate and she has some. That's about it.

It wasn't badly written but not a lot happened. The plot and conflict felt a little unnecessary and falls under my least favourite trope of miscommunication...or lack of communication.

[Lissy Liz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe 2.5 stars
Should I date and read the others ?

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked this one better than the first...

[Jody · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book did not seem to be up to my usual standards for Laurens. I loved the Cynster series. This was Ok but just not great. Man, recently wealthy, must find a wife without letting on he is rich. He meets the lady he wants and then she keeps saying (at least to herself)that there is no hope for them because he must marry money.
Cousin who is having her come out at the same time and her country beau comes up to convince her to come back and marry him. Lester takes him under his wing to get the lady to notice him in a new light.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice enough book but the whole 'I cant marry him because he needs a wife with money' just went on FOREVER driving me mad. I understand if someone had told Sophie earlier the main drama in the story would have been lost, but it was very frustrating.

And really, would my grandmother (who gave me the book) approve of the shenanigans going on after she finally accepts the proposal? :D

[Elke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even in her early days of writing Stephanie Laurens dragged me into her wonderful world of romance and rouges, Of Debutantes and Dowagers. I cry and I laugh. I want to slap the chits with more hair than wit. Then tumble in bed with the hot and steamy men that catch my heart and warm my dreams.
I highly recommend any and all books by Stephanie Laurens.

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story line, absolutely loved it. As Linda Howard puts it on the cover of the book "All I need is her name on the cover for me to buy the book". so true in this case also.

[Lori Yvette Fernandez Lopez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sweet, funny read! I love Stephanie Lauren's writing style. It is lofty and closer to a regency style composition than most other romances out there.

[Harlequin Books]

Categories
Historical Romance, Historical Fiction, Regency Romance

[Lady E · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heroine: Sophia Winterton, 22. Nickname: Sophie.

Hero: Jack Lester, 36. Oldest son in a newly wealthy family. He’s a rake.

Date: unknown (2 years after previous book in series)

How they meet: Jack has decided it is time to find a wife. He and Sophie meet at a ball and they have an instant mutual interest in one another.

What happens: After a positive first meeting, the next time their paths cross, Sophie questions if Jack has romantic feelings towards her. Not long after, she hears rumors that Jack needs to marry for money and is warned that it would be smart to stay away from him.

Jack continues to take opportunities to spend time with Sophie. While she enjoys his company, she is guarded knowing that she is not wealthy enough to be the wife he needs. Meanwhile Jack continues wooing her, but holds back because Sophie’s aunt has told him she wants Sophie to get to enjoy the season before any engagement.

Sophie also spends time talking to and dancing with other men, which makes Jack jealous. One particular suitor is rather overbearing and Jack is happy to step in to dismiss him (which gains him Sophie’s appreciation more than once). Jack has no idea Sophie thinks he needs a rich wife and he starts to lose patience. He presses his case, and she thinks to spare him by saying it is she who needs to find a wealthy spouse. He is put off by that because he wants her to marry him out of love and not out of financial need. Despite this bump in the road, he does not give up on her and the truth eventually comes out.

There is also a side romance involving Sophie’s cousin and her childhood friend, whom Jack takes under his wing. And also a small side story revolving around an abduction attempt.

Verdict: I found the hero and heroine to be likable enough. The pacing of this story was very slow and the side stories didn’t do much to add excitement. The abduction storyline felt like an afterthought and did not add much to the book. The side romance was cute. I like the bit of humor that Sophie’s pushy suitor added to the book--he was a good foil for Jack. This is one of Laurens's non-steamy books (mostly kissing and a small amount of of above the waist touching). This book reads fine as a standalone even though it is the second in a series.

Steam-level: very low steam and not explicit

Rating: 3 stars

[Sandra Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

My rating: 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars.

This book is well-written, because Stephanie Laurens is a talented writer. I've read a lot of her books, and have always enjoyed them, so I wanted to read this series, too. Since it is one of her earlier series, the sex scenes are not as descriptive or explicit as in her later books -- I liked that.

This book seemed a little slow at first, as the author spent a lot of time developing her characters and the plot. There was also a great deal of descriptive detail to wade through. It didn't bother me, but it did make the book long -- and some readers might not like that.

Jack was likable enough, but it bothered me that he just decided Sophie was perfect for his wife, without even meeting her first. That seemed incredibly arrogant to me. His silly plan to make everyone think he needed to marry a heiress ended up causing trouble with Sophie, too.

I liked Sophie, and liked that she was determined to help Jack by not marrying him -- since she thought he needed a wealthy wife. She was willing to give him up, even though she loved him, since she was not wealthy.

My rating system is below.
1 star -- Hated it, or did not finish. I usually only give this rating if some of the content is truly objectionable to me, like if one of the main characters does something really awful, and gets away with it.
2 stars -- Didn't like it. This rating usually means that I thought the writing wasn't very good, the editing was terrible, I didn't like the characters, or it had other major flaws.
3 stars -- I liked it, but had some minor issues with it. This rating means that there were minor editing issues, the story needed more character development, it was just too unrealistic, or had some other fairly minor issue. The majority of books I read get this rating – I do not consider it a bad rating.
4 stars -- I liked it a lot. This is a high rating for me, and I rarely give a higher one.
5 stars -- I loved it, and will probably read it again. Very few books are good enough to get this rating from me. The ones that do are usually classics.

[Jack Vasen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book in the Lester family series tells a complete story and could stand alone. There are few details needed from the first book nor does it spoil anything for the first book other than the fairly obvious, so it appears the series could be read in any order.

Unfortunately this book drags badly even while following two developing romances. There are endless balls and house parties which do little to advance any plot. The premise was annoying especially with the constant repetition in Sophie's mind. Likewise the climax was annoying as it seemed the author was struggling to find something more exciting than the mundane story that so far had transpired.

Sophie was not nearly the wonder that Lenore was from the first book. And what's with the annoyingly repetitive nickname "golden head"? And not just that, but "my golden head". Jack had some admirable traits but his arrogance and misogyny were not among them. I have to give him kudos for self control both in terms of not beating the snot out of Marston, and in how long he acted a gentleman with Sophie. Jack's reputation is repeatedly noted as a rake, yet he here was anything but. The story made it clear that his outlook had changed since deciding to marry, but natures don't change that quickly or easily. And I couldn't help be think of Jack almost interchangeably with Eversleigh from the first book.

The author tells the story in third person. Sometimes, that POV changed abruptly, but not as confusingly as the first book. The author is also fond of big words, but again, I didn't notice that as much as the first book.

Mature themes: Very mild. Other than some intimate fondling, sex is not described except to leave the details to the imagination as the camera pans away to the clouds. One person is punched twice. A man tries to abduct a woman against her will, but without otherwise harming her.

[Frances Law · Rating 5 out of 5]

Masterful.

Stephanie Laurens is a master of the Regency Romance genre. In this book Jack Lester has just recouped his family fortune, or I should say that his sister did. Until now Jack has been known to be a rake with the property and he lineage but with no money to speak of. He has also been somewhat lazy with regard to the ancestral acres and fortune and left it all in the capable hands of his sister. Now she is gone, married to a Duke, but not before acting on some advice from a friend of her father and replenishing the family coffers. This fact has not yet become known to the ton and Jack decides that he needs to marry before the ‘harpies’ get wind of it. While staying in his hunting lodge with his brother and a friend he receives an invitation to a ball from a family acquaintance. At the ball he catches sight of his ideal woman, his ‘golden hair’.
This is Sophie, the niece of his father’s old friend. Sophie is lovely but not wealthy. She will only have an inheritance on her father’s death, thus she is considered ‘a lady of expectations’.
The misunderstandings between these two is both funny and frustrating and there is another romance going on between Sophie’s cousin and a childhood friend. There is also the token villain. All in all, it is a very nice read.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not like this book as much as the first in the series. Jack was very proper and did all of the right things in his court of Sophie but it just fell flat. Sophie was in love with Jack. Jack was in love with Sophie. Sophie didn't want to marry Jack because she didn't have any money and she thought he needed to marry for money. Jack just came into a lot of money but didn't tell anyone so that the mother's wouldn't throw the daughters at him and he could make his own choice. Then, when he tried to tell Sophie she didn't believe him. It was all very bland. The best parts were when Jack was keeping Marston or whatever his name was away. He was insufferable and could not take a hint. Also, Jack with the young cousins, and with Ned was good. Ned and Clarissa were ridiculous, both in love with the other and neither willing to admit it. But the punch Ned gave the unscrupulous guard was good, and then the one Jack gave him later. There were good moments, but it just was kind of blah.

[Cait M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Insta-love, historical version.
36 year old Jack is a rake who now needs to step up and behave as an eldest son, by getting married and start being more responsible for his estates etc. Despite a good family name, up until recently he has not had a great deal of wealth, but since a very profitable investment has matured he's now very well-off. Knowing society will see him as a fine catch now, he keeps his new-found wealth a secret.

He meets 22 year old Sophie in a country ball and immediately decides she's perfect for him. She fits his "golden head" criteria and seems to have poise, common sense and the ability to manage her father's household, ergo she's "the One".

Jack seemed at turns pushy/protective, arrogant/experienced and manipulative/intelligent. I couldn't decide if I really liked him or not. He's a take-charge kind of guy, which ordinarily I really like but I always find it hard to get on board when it's insta love...

This book has a mildly descriptive love scene.

[Sharyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes reading books published in the 90's have some scenes that probably wouldn't be written today. I am sure when I read this book then, some of the things wouldn't have bothered me, but today, reading a scene where a man tells a woman he forbids her from doing something, and they aren't even a couple yet, does bother me.
so Jack doesn't want it known that he has a fortune again because he doesn't want woman after him for his money. This backfires when the woman he has set his sites on thinks he needs to marry for money, which she doesn't have. Quite the conundrum, which of course is finally resolved.

[Wednesday · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book more than the first in the series. Jack is a great romantic lead and is admirable in his efforts to keep his fortune secret to secure a woman who loves him and not his money. Sophie is a good match for him and has her own integrity when she believes she can't let Jack marry her because she has no fortune. I loved Lucilla and Horatio, the kind-hearted matchmakers, who are a loving and happy couple in their own right. All the characters are interesting and I felt invested in their personal stories.

[S Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars
I can understand why reviews trended the way they did. It is a very simple story with a weak plot (miscommunication/misunderstanding my least favorite HR trope). I was aware while reading that there was no resolution until the end so I was not as frustrated as if I had read blindly. My expectations were low and maybe that’s why I could enjoy this book. HR old school bodice ripper fans either stay away or be in the mood for something light and mild.

[Lo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t like this as much as the first book in this trilogy but liked it more than the third. Yes the misunderstandings were based on miscommunication and this was a relatively simple premise (regular London season courting) but I still liked it. I did have to skim a little, Stephanie Laurens does a bit too much description of clothing and rooms for me. But she does angst/longing quite well, and I will continue reading her.

[Plum-crazy · Rating 3 out of 5]

So-so romance, nothing exceptional but amusing enough to pass a couple of hours. It reminded me of Amanda Quick but not quite as engrossing in my humble opinion. Having said that, I would read further books by this author as next time I'd know not to expect anything too deep & the style's perfect for those times when you just want a bit of light romantic escapism.

[Patrizia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Non certo il miglior regency di SL. La costante presenza dell'aggettivo 'arrogante', riferito all'eroe, compendia bene il rapporto che istituisce con la 'lady' prescelta, e, sinceramente, la scena di 'rapimento/seduzione', che chiude l'infinita successione di equivoci, non serve certo a a fare apprezzare l'arrogante Jack a una lettrice dotata di un minimo amor proprio femminile.

[Louise Broadfield · Rating 2 out of 5]

this book was ok. i was not too shore about the hero until near the end of the book but when he started to say she is mine and no one ales i really went off him. in the last 100 pages he became controlling and jealous i really didn't like that. im not too shore about the heroine either really. o well 6 down 2 to go.

[Becca · Rating 2 out of 5]

Niet zo afgrijselijk slecht dat het in de "hated it" category terecht kwam maar jfc dit was geen goed boek 😂😂😂😂 of nou ja, het was een goede comedy want ik heb me stuk gelachen, juist om de romantische scènes. Ik begrijp nu precies weer waarom Fifty Shades zo popular was onder de bored housewife categorie hahaha

[Carole Roach · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always Ms. Laurens never dispoints. I am looking forward to read more about the Lester's.


I fell in love with Stephanie Laurens when I read Devil's Bride and all the rest of The Cynster and I am still reading Ms Laurens.