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The Discerning Gentleman's Guide
"Choosing a wife is not a task that should be undertaken lightly."
Bennett Montague, sixteenth Duke of Aveley, is seeking the perfect bride. He's narrowed his search to five worthy "Potentials"…until the arrival of his aunt's companion unravels his carefully laid plans.
Having fought for everything she has, Amelia Mansfield is incensed by Bennett's wife-selection methods. But as she's forced to spend time in his company, she begins to see another side to Bennett—and that man is infinitely more tantalizing and enticing…
Bennett Montague, sixteenth Duke of Aveley, is seeking the perfect bride. He's narrowed his search to five worthy "Potentials"…until the arrival of his aunt's companion unravels his carefully laid plans.
Having fought for everything she has, Amelia Mansfield is incensed by Bennett's wife-selection methods. But as she's forced to spend time in his company, she begins to see another side to Bennett—and that man is infinitely more tantalizing and enticing…
368 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2016
34 people are currently reading
758 people want to read
About the author
Virginia Heath
132 books1,171 followersWhen Virginia Heath was a little girl it took her ages to fall asleep, so she made up stories in her head to help pass the time while she was staring at the ceiling. As she got older, the stories became more complicated, sometimes taking weeks to get to the happy ending. Then one day, she decided to embrace the insomnia and start writing them down. Twenty books and two Romantic Novel of the Year Award nominations later, and it still takes her forever to fall asleep.
Her new Regency Romcom for St Martin's Press ~ Never Fall For Your Fiancée ~ is on sale November 9, 2021
If you want to find out more check out virginiaheathromance.com or follow her on Facebook @VirginiaHeathAuthor
Her new Regency Romcom for St Martin's Press ~ Never Fall For Your Fiancée ~ is on sale November 9, 2021
If you want to find out more check out virginiaheathromance.com or follow her on Facebook @VirginiaHeathAuthor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
December 18, 2016
The Discerning Gentleman's Guide was recommended to me by Caz. I had never tried this author before, but after reading this novel, I have added everything on this author's backlist to my pile.
In this story, the hero, Bennett Montague, is a stuffy duke who has constructed a rigid set of rules for himself to ensure he is honoring his father and maintaining his own sanity in the midst of all his responsibilities. The heroine, Amelia Mansfield, is the companion for the hero's aunt. She is a free spirit and open with her opinions. She is also highly dedicated to helping the poor due to tragic experiences in her past. To be honest, she is the first "social crusader" heroine I actually liked; she felt authentic and compassionate, but still acted appropriate for the time period and didn't come across as a shrew.
There really isn't much conflict in this story. It is almost entirely character driven. My friends, I LOVED this story. It was well-paced, the dialogue was delightful, and the characters acted in a way that felt real. The entire plot centers around the duke slowly unbending and the heroine coming to realize that the duke is so much more than he seems as each begins to view the world from the other's perspective as they share experiences.
There is one moment halfway through the book, where the hero truly begins to act out of character to see things from the heroine's perspective and it made my crow in triumph. I adore stories like this where I am so emotionally invested in the characters that I get wrapped up in the story and just want to hang out with them and see what they're doing even after "The End."
This is a Pride and Prejudice story that grabs you from the very beginning and doesn't let go. I enjoyed both of these characters and really enjoyed how Heath revealed different facets of each character layer by layer, while keeping me engaged by tying everything together as the story progressed.
I can't wait to read more by this author. An EXCELLENT read. 5 full stars.
In this story, the hero, Bennett Montague, is a stuffy duke who has constructed a rigid set of rules for himself to ensure he is honoring his father and maintaining his own sanity in the midst of all his responsibilities. The heroine, Amelia Mansfield, is the companion for the hero's aunt. She is a free spirit and open with her opinions. She is also highly dedicated to helping the poor due to tragic experiences in her past. To be honest, she is the first "social crusader" heroine I actually liked; she felt authentic and compassionate, but still acted appropriate for the time period and didn't come across as a shrew.
There really isn't much conflict in this story. It is almost entirely character driven. My friends, I LOVED this story. It was well-paced, the dialogue was delightful, and the characters acted in a way that felt real. The entire plot centers around the duke slowly unbending and the heroine coming to realize that the duke is so much more than he seems as each begins to view the world from the other's perspective as they share experiences.
There is one moment halfway through the book, where the hero truly begins to act out of character to see things from the heroine's perspective and it made my crow in triumph. I adore stories like this where I am so emotionally invested in the characters that I get wrapped up in the story and just want to hang out with them and see what they're doing even after "The End."
This is a Pride and Prejudice story that grabs you from the very beginning and doesn't let go. I enjoyed both of these characters and really enjoyed how Heath revealed different facets of each character layer by layer, while keeping me engaged by tying everything together as the story progressed.
I can't wait to read more by this author. An EXCELLENT read. 5 full stars.
March 3, 2023
I picked up and put down this book a couple of times as I was just not into it. Finally, I just read and skipped pages till I was done. Well received by many on goodreads it just never clicked with me. It was too political, and the characters didn't resonate with me. Probably a case of me not you.
December 18, 2016
I've given this a B+ at AAR, so 4.5 stars.
In Her Enemy At The Altar, Virginia Heath impressed me with her ability to craft an enjoyable story, create complex, likeable characters and to deliver a romance that is sensual and emotionally nuanced. In her latest book, The Discerning Gentleman’s Guide, she displays those talents once again while also putting a slightly different spin on the stuffy-aristocrat-unravelled-by-unconventional-heroine trope. It’s this aspect of the story that marks it out as something a bit different; the heroine with reformist tendencies who shows the hero the error of his snobbish ways is an often used plotline, but the heroine’s experiences in this story add a touch of authenticity to her words, and serves to make her dedication to the various causes she espouses all the more believable and understandable.
Although she is the daughter of a viscount, Amelia Mansfield heartily dislikes any and all aristocrats – with good reason, as the reader will come to know. Given that dislike, it’s somewhat ironic that she lives among them because of her position as companion to Lady Worsted, whose nephew, the Duke of Aveley is one of England’s most highly respected politicians. He is also, much to Amelia’s disapproval, the author of The Discerning Gentleman’s Guide to Selecting the Perfect Bride, which offers such pearls of wisdom as:
And –
– to gentlemen wishing to marry.
Amelia fully expects to find the duke to be dull, pompous and overbearing, so the fact that she finds herself strongly attracted to him is both unwelcome and annoying. But on the few occasions she converses with him, she gradually discovers him to be charming, and, most surprisingly, quite shy, leading her to suspect that beneath the detached and unemotional face he presents to the world is a sensitive, passionate man who holds back his emotions because he believes they weaken him.
Bennett Montague, sixteenth Duke of Aveley has spent practically his entire adult life following in the footsteps of his father, an austere, extremely correct and upstanding man who took his duty as a member of the government very seriously and who worked tirelessly in service of his country. Aged just thirty, Bennett is highly respected in parliamentary circles for his dedication, his ambition and his fine mind, and is widely tipped as a future Prime Minister. He is also, as he comes to realise, lonely, even when he is surrounded by people. Practically everyone he meets wants something from him, whether it is the latest batch of debutantes hoping to snare themselves a ducal husband, or the various gentlemen and members of the house who hope to sway him to their causes; and the feeling that he would quite like to be appreciated for himself and not what he can do for others has crept up upon him so slowly that he hasn’t really noticed it.
And he probably wouldn’t have acknowledged that desire or his loneliness had it not been for the presence in his home of his aunt’s outspoken companion. Amelia’s ability to speak passionately on political issues and her insistence on challenging him at every opportunity are not things Bennett has previously encountered in a lady, but the passion and conviction with which she speaks and her willingness to go toe-to-toe with him are mentally stimulating while her loveliness stimulates his interest in other ways.
Although nobly born Amelia has, through no fault of her own, fallen on hard times and suffered almost the worst life has to offer. Her father married her mother – an American heiress – for her money, and when she failed to produce the required heir after twelve years of marriage, he cast her and Amelia off and managed to have the marriage annulled. I admit here that I have no idea as to how feasible this would have been, but given the near impossibility of divorce at this period I imagine it would have been just as difficult. Unlike a divorce, however, the effect on Amelia was completely different, as an annulment means that the marriage never happened and thus branded her as illegitimate. She and her mother suffered terrible hardship, having to take lodgings in the poorest areas of town in order to eke out what money they had, and when her mother became ill and it was no longer possible for Amelia to work, their only option was the workhouse. After her mother’s death, Amelia managed to find employment and claw her way up and out of the gutter through dint of her own hard work and gumption. It’s this aspect of her background which makes this novel stand out; there are plenty of historical romances that tell of well-born young ladies having to become governesses or companions, but I don’t think there are so many where such a heroine finds herself forced to choose between a workhouse or starving on the streets.
Naturally, Bennett tries hard to adhere to his original plan of selecting himself the perfect bride, but very soon finds it impossible to ignore the fact that the only woman he can envisage spending his life with is Amelia. Yet he has spent so long determined to follow his father’s plan for him that it’s difficult for him to face up to the fact that he needs to live his own life and not someone else’s. Amelia, too, struggles to break through the conditioning of her past, but ultimately learns to see beyond the title to the man behind it. The romance between the couple develops at a sensible pace as they both have to adjust their preconceptions before their unlikely friendship gradually moves to become something more. The sexual tension between them simmers along nicely, and while the ending is perhaps a little bit too good to be true, it’s nonetheless a perfectly plausible and uplifting one for this thought-provoking and thoroughly enjoyable romance. The Discerning Gentleman’s Guide gets a big thumbs-up – and Virginia Heath has earned herself a place on my auto-buy list.
In Her Enemy At The Altar, Virginia Heath impressed me with her ability to craft an enjoyable story, create complex, likeable characters and to deliver a romance that is sensual and emotionally nuanced. In her latest book, The Discerning Gentleman’s Guide, she displays those talents once again while also putting a slightly different spin on the stuffy-aristocrat-unravelled-by-unconventional-heroine trope. It’s this aspect of the story that marks it out as something a bit different; the heroine with reformist tendencies who shows the hero the error of his snobbish ways is an often used plotline, but the heroine’s experiences in this story add a touch of authenticity to her words, and serves to make her dedication to the various causes she espouses all the more believable and understandable.
Although she is the daughter of a viscount, Amelia Mansfield heartily dislikes any and all aristocrats – with good reason, as the reader will come to know. Given that dislike, it’s somewhat ironic that she lives among them because of her position as companion to Lady Worsted, whose nephew, the Duke of Aveley is one of England’s most highly respected politicians. He is also, much to Amelia’s disapproval, the author of The Discerning Gentleman’s Guide to Selecting the Perfect Bride, which offers such pearls of wisdom as:
Marry a woman who thinks before she speaks. It will save you a great deal of time not having to correct her.
And –
A wife’s first duty is to obey her husband. Therefore, it is the husband’s first duty to enlighten her as to what he wants her to do.
– to gentlemen wishing to marry.
Amelia fully expects to find the duke to be dull, pompous and overbearing, so the fact that she finds herself strongly attracted to him is both unwelcome and annoying. But on the few occasions she converses with him, she gradually discovers him to be charming, and, most surprisingly, quite shy, leading her to suspect that beneath the detached and unemotional face he presents to the world is a sensitive, passionate man who holds back his emotions because he believes they weaken him.
Bennett Montague, sixteenth Duke of Aveley has spent practically his entire adult life following in the footsteps of his father, an austere, extremely correct and upstanding man who took his duty as a member of the government very seriously and who worked tirelessly in service of his country. Aged just thirty, Bennett is highly respected in parliamentary circles for his dedication, his ambition and his fine mind, and is widely tipped as a future Prime Minister. He is also, as he comes to realise, lonely, even when he is surrounded by people. Practically everyone he meets wants something from him, whether it is the latest batch of debutantes hoping to snare themselves a ducal husband, or the various gentlemen and members of the house who hope to sway him to their causes; and the feeling that he would quite like to be appreciated for himself and not what he can do for others has crept up upon him so slowly that he hasn’t really noticed it.
And he probably wouldn’t have acknowledged that desire or his loneliness had it not been for the presence in his home of his aunt’s outspoken companion. Amelia’s ability to speak passionately on political issues and her insistence on challenging him at every opportunity are not things Bennett has previously encountered in a lady, but the passion and conviction with which she speaks and her willingness to go toe-to-toe with him are mentally stimulating while her loveliness stimulates his interest in other ways.
Although nobly born Amelia has, through no fault of her own, fallen on hard times and suffered almost the worst life has to offer. Her father married her mother – an American heiress – for her money, and when she failed to produce the required heir after twelve years of marriage, he cast her and Amelia off and managed to have the marriage annulled. I admit here that I have no idea as to how feasible this would have been, but given the near impossibility of divorce at this period I imagine it would have been just as difficult. Unlike a divorce, however, the effect on Amelia was completely different, as an annulment means that the marriage never happened and thus branded her as illegitimate. She and her mother suffered terrible hardship, having to take lodgings in the poorest areas of town in order to eke out what money they had, and when her mother became ill and it was no longer possible for Amelia to work, their only option was the workhouse. After her mother’s death, Amelia managed to find employment and claw her way up and out of the gutter through dint of her own hard work and gumption. It’s this aspect of her background which makes this novel stand out; there are plenty of historical romances that tell of well-born young ladies having to become governesses or companions, but I don’t think there are so many where such a heroine finds herself forced to choose between a workhouse or starving on the streets.
Naturally, Bennett tries hard to adhere to his original plan of selecting himself the perfect bride, but very soon finds it impossible to ignore the fact that the only woman he can envisage spending his life with is Amelia. Yet he has spent so long determined to follow his father’s plan for him that it’s difficult for him to face up to the fact that he needs to live his own life and not someone else’s. Amelia, too, struggles to break through the conditioning of her past, but ultimately learns to see beyond the title to the man behind it. The romance between the couple develops at a sensible pace as they both have to adjust their preconceptions before their unlikely friendship gradually moves to become something more. The sexual tension between them simmers along nicely, and while the ending is perhaps a little bit too good to be true, it’s nonetheless a perfectly plausible and uplifting one for this thought-provoking and thoroughly enjoyable romance. The Discerning Gentleman’s Guide gets a big thumbs-up – and Virginia Heath has earned herself a place on my auto-buy list.
June 3, 2020
This is the second Virginia Heath Harlequin historical romance I've read and I now know I'll be looking for more. The two I've read so far, this one and Redeeming the Reclusive Earl, are not particularly unique in plots, but Heath has a way of developing them that makes them feel fresh.
Here we have a stuffy, just-so duke, Bennett Montague, who is serious about his place in the House of Lords and in Prinny's group of advisors. He's on the fast track to Prime Minister in a few years, if all goes as planned. But within his plans for the future, he will need to marry, and marry well. His late father even left him advice on how to choose the perfect bride, which Bennett has even seen fit to publish as the book The Discerning Gentleman's Guide for Selecting the Perfect Bride, to help other men of the peerage in their selection also.
And then there's our heroine, Amelia Mansfield. Born the daughter of an American heiress and an English viscount, she and her mother were set aside by the viscount when her mother failed after 12 years of marriage to produce the required heir. She and her mother lived a hard life in Cheapside, followed by an even harder life in Seven Dials after the minimal funds from her father dried up entirely. After the death of her mother, she has managed to work her way out of Seven Dials and now is the companion of Bennett's aunt who lives in Bath.
Amelia knows what it means to be poor. And she understands what it is like to live from hand to mouth and struggle to survive. She also knows that to be poor does not mean to be inferior as a human being. Now that she is living in relative comfort as a rich woman's companion, she gives back as much as she can to worthy causes and works for the betterment of the poor.
When Bennett's aunt comes from Bath for her month-long visit to London, she brings along Amelia, for whom she feels much fondness. Okey dokey then. Stuffy duke meets irrepressible reformer who dislikes aristocrats on principle because of her father. (She has also read Bennett's book. Another reason to dislike him.)
This was a genuinely fun book to read. The excerpts from The Gentleman's Guide are priceless and what you would expect. A woman should have good breeding, be decorative, be supportive, and be an excellent hostess. No independent thinkers should apply. So Bennett's search for that perfect wife has now been boiled down to five "Potentials", all beautiful, all blonde, all blue-eyed, all of the peerage, and all with suppressed personalities.
What's he supposed to do with brown-eyed brunette Amelia, she of the forthright opinions and crusading activism? Unaware of her parentage, all he knows is she comes from poverty (hence no good breeding) and is a pain in his backside (not at all meeting any of the other criteria for a suitable wife). Yet on the man-woman level she appeals to him as no woman has done before.
This is cute and romantic and funny. Heath writes well and intelligently. I enjoy her humor and wit and she does romance excellently.
Here we have a stuffy, just-so duke, Bennett Montague, who is serious about his place in the House of Lords and in Prinny's group of advisors. He's on the fast track to Prime Minister in a few years, if all goes as planned. But within his plans for the future, he will need to marry, and marry well. His late father even left him advice on how to choose the perfect bride, which Bennett has even seen fit to publish as the book The Discerning Gentleman's Guide for Selecting the Perfect Bride, to help other men of the peerage in their selection also.
And then there's our heroine, Amelia Mansfield. Born the daughter of an American heiress and an English viscount, she and her mother were set aside by the viscount when her mother failed after 12 years of marriage to produce the required heir. She and her mother lived a hard life in Cheapside, followed by an even harder life in Seven Dials after the minimal funds from her father dried up entirely. After the death of her mother, she has managed to work her way out of Seven Dials and now is the companion of Bennett's aunt who lives in Bath.
Amelia knows what it means to be poor. And she understands what it is like to live from hand to mouth and struggle to survive. She also knows that to be poor does not mean to be inferior as a human being. Now that she is living in relative comfort as a rich woman's companion, she gives back as much as she can to worthy causes and works for the betterment of the poor.
When Bennett's aunt comes from Bath for her month-long visit to London, she brings along Amelia, for whom she feels much fondness. Okey dokey then. Stuffy duke meets irrepressible reformer who dislikes aristocrats on principle because of her father. (She has also read Bennett's book. Another reason to dislike him.)
This was a genuinely fun book to read. The excerpts from The Gentleman's Guide are priceless and what you would expect. A woman should have good breeding, be decorative, be supportive, and be an excellent hostess. No independent thinkers should apply. So Bennett's search for that perfect wife has now been boiled down to five "Potentials", all beautiful, all blonde, all blue-eyed, all of the peerage, and all with suppressed personalities.
What's he supposed to do with brown-eyed brunette Amelia, she of the forthright opinions and crusading activism? Unaware of her parentage, all he knows is she comes from poverty (hence no good breeding) and is a pain in his backside (not at all meeting any of the other criteria for a suitable wife). Yet on the man-woman level she appeals to him as no woman has done before.
This is cute and romantic and funny. Heath writes well and intelligently. I enjoy her humor and wit and she does romance excellently.
June 3, 2020
Uptight, politically ambitious duke encounters his aunt's strong-minded, impertinent companion, who is nothing like the ideal wife/hostess he had envisioned for himself. She arrives at his house, hackles raised, prepared to dislike the pompous person who wrote an instruction manual on how to select the perfect bride with such condescension towards the female gender . He initially makes it easy for her by perpetuating the preconceptions of him with his lordy manners even as she takes note of his...well, noteworthy looks. Of course, after weeks of feisty interactions, their prejudices get slowly replaced by mutual respect and fondness - and a hearty dose of carnal attraction.
I must admit irritation with both characters initially. Amelia was very forward for a companion, contributing her unsolicited and fervent opinions and views at the dining table. While it is great that she was an intelligent character, dedicated to her cause of fighting poverty, she was inappropriately forward and outspoken, unrealistically so. And so judgemental. Bennett at 30 ought to be have his own set of values and ideologies rather than devoutly and unquestioningly regurgitating that of his late father. Fortunately the book improves and by the end, I was well and truly emotionally invested. There's some nice touches the story that gave it greater depth and continuity -like Bennett slowly gaining a different perspective (the initial ceiling scene introducing this concept) and Amelia's detailed background story shaping her into the gritty, very jaded and somewhat prickly person she was. The supporting characters were great, especially his uncle and butler. The ending was particularly well-written(). My first by this author, but I'll be back for more.
‘I set my watch by him. He is far more reliable than all of the other timepieces in the house.’
‘How interesting. Are you now comparing your own words, Your Grace, with the words of God?’
‘Is this another one of your conversational traps, Miss Mansfield? If I agree with you, I will sound conceited and you will have another reason to give me a set-down. Or should I pretend that I have no idea what you are talking about, when we are both painfully aware that your observations were correct. Either way, you will be condescending, and I am well aware of the fact that I do not deserve anyone’s pity.’
The pompous Duke, his fine house and his fine kisses could all go to hell. *
He was such a stickler for correct form that to deviate from exactly seven o’clock might cause him to have some kind of seizure.
The silent, pompous Duke was too well mannered to cause a scene at dinner. That would be bad for digestion.
He was off to haul potatoes, another thing he had never done in his life, yet suddenly all he wanted to do was grin. He was flirting! Him! Now he understood why Uncle George was so keen on it. It was strangely empowering.
I must admit irritation with both characters initially. Amelia was very forward for a companion, contributing her unsolicited and fervent opinions and views at the dining table. While it is great that she was an intelligent character, dedicated to her cause of fighting poverty, she was inappropriately forward and outspoken, unrealistically so. And so judgemental. Bennett at 30 ought to be have his own set of values and ideologies rather than devoutly and unquestioningly regurgitating that of his late father. Fortunately the book improves and by the end, I was well and truly emotionally invested. There's some nice touches the story that gave it greater depth and continuity -like Bennett slowly gaining a different perspective (the initial ceiling scene introducing this concept) and Amelia's detailed background story shaping her into the gritty, very jaded and somewhat prickly person she was. The supporting characters were great, especially his uncle and butler. The ending was particularly well-written(). My first by this author, but I'll be back for more.
‘I set my watch by him. He is far more reliable than all of the other timepieces in the house.’
‘How interesting. Are you now comparing your own words, Your Grace, with the words of God?’
‘Is this another one of your conversational traps, Miss Mansfield? If I agree with you, I will sound conceited and you will have another reason to give me a set-down. Or should I pretend that I have no idea what you are talking about, when we are both painfully aware that your observations were correct. Either way, you will be condescending, and I am well aware of the fact that I do not deserve anyone’s pity.’
The pompous Duke, his fine house and his fine kisses could all go to hell. *
He was such a stickler for correct form that to deviate from exactly seven o’clock might cause him to have some kind of seizure.
The silent, pompous Duke was too well mannered to cause a scene at dinner. That would be bad for digestion.
He was off to haul potatoes, another thing he had never done in his life, yet suddenly all he wanted to do was grin. He was flirting! Him! Now he understood why Uncle George was so keen on it. It was strangely empowering.
August 8, 2017
A solid 4.5 stars. What a lovely story. Yes, I know it is probably a bit unrealistic but this is Romancelandia and anything is possible! The heroine is a sweet, passionate crusader for social justice and she manages to awaken the hot duke from his narrow, entitled view of the world and help him break free from the weight of his father's expectations, expectations that have defined our hero and his life's course, even after his father's death.
It was interesting to see how the hero's character developed when he learned to look at things from a different perspective, as he was challenged to do by the heroine. He was totally endearing and his "stodginess" and awkwardness where any kind of emotion was involved were beyond cute. I loved the idea that a man who was innately a shy person came across as brusque and arrogant because he was so uncomfortable just being with other people, and all the while his inner monologue was: oh God, did I really just say that? Oh no, why did I say THAT? And he just didn't know where to put his hands, so clasped them stiffly behind his back, adding to his rigid, formal demeanour without even intending to. Poor darling.
Our beautiful, feisty heroine was able to move past her initial prejudice against his aristocratic birth and her ire at his seeming rudeness to see the man behind the facade. It was just lovely. Sigh.
The idea of a list of qualities a successful man should look for in a wife was hilarious, and I thoroughly enjoyed the way they were used to introduce each chapter. No wonder the heroine nick-named the hero "His Pompousness" :)
This is my third book by this author and each book is better than the last. They are not so much about angst and theatrics, although there are serious obstacles to overcome, but about people trying to work out who they are and what their purpose is in life -something we can all identify with. I look forward to Ms Heath'snext book with great anticipation.
It was interesting to see how the hero's character developed when he learned to look at things from a different perspective, as he was challenged to do by the heroine. He was totally endearing and his "stodginess" and awkwardness where any kind of emotion was involved were beyond cute. I loved the idea that a man who was innately a shy person came across as brusque and arrogant because he was so uncomfortable just being with other people, and all the while his inner monologue was: oh God, did I really just say that? Oh no, why did I say THAT? And he just didn't know where to put his hands, so clasped them stiffly behind his back, adding to his rigid, formal demeanour without even intending to. Poor darling.
Our beautiful, feisty heroine was able to move past her initial prejudice against his aristocratic birth and her ire at his seeming rudeness to see the man behind the facade. It was just lovely. Sigh.
The idea of a list of qualities a successful man should look for in a wife was hilarious, and I thoroughly enjoyed the way they were used to introduce each chapter. No wonder the heroine nick-named the hero "His Pompousness" :)
This is my third book by this author and each book is better than the last. They are not so much about angst and theatrics, although there are serious obstacles to overcome, but about people trying to work out who they are and what their purpose is in life -something we can all identify with. I look forward to Ms Heath'snext book with great anticipation.
February 4, 2018
2.5 stars
Read
July 31, 2017DNF @28%, so no rating.
For all the wonderful reasons for reading this, please read my friend Becca's review.
For all the reasons why this didn't work for me, see my status updates ^^ It's honestly not the books' fault that I got hooked on Cat Sebastian and K.J. Charles lately and got used to having two sensible, mature, normal leads around who treat each other with respect, even if they don't see eye to eye.
If you don't mind heroines who "hate" a hero for something he has done before bothering to meet him/talk to him/hear his side, go for it. But I refuse to spend time with a "heroine" who pisses me off every time she opens her mouth. The plot seemed really promising though, and I did love the stuffy duke. But I keep yelling at my poor Kindle, and I don't want to anymore...
For all the wonderful reasons for reading this, please read my friend Becca's review.
For all the reasons why this didn't work for me, see my status updates ^^ It's honestly not the books' fault that I got hooked on Cat Sebastian and K.J. Charles lately and got used to having two sensible, mature, normal leads around who treat each other with respect, even if they don't see eye to eye.
If you don't mind heroines who "hate" a hero for something he has done before bothering to meet him/talk to him/hear his side, go for it. But I refuse to spend time with a "heroine" who pisses me off every time she opens her mouth. The plot seemed really promising though, and I did love the stuffy duke. But I keep yelling at my poor Kindle, and I don't want to anymore...
November 17, 2016
4.5 stars - I thoroughly enjoyed A Discerning Gentleman’s Guide by new-to-me author, Virginia Heath. It put me in mind of the acclaimed contemporary romance The Rosie Project which also follows the path of a gentleman who has decided that it is time to take a wife and clinically sets out to find one following a written set of rules. In A Discerning Gentleman’s Guide it is Bennett Montague, sixteenth Duke of Aveley, who is following this path – two hundred years earlier – and he is referring to a manual/pamphlet he has actually written, using wisdom gleaned from his father. With its aid he has narrowed down the field of potential brides who might meet his exacting requirements. That is until he meets his aunt’s companion, the completely unorthodox and delectable Amelia Mansfield. She does not tick any of his boxes; nor is there a set of rules to abide by when physical attraction or even Cupid takes a hand.
Bennett is the only child of a distinguished politician who lived by a set of rigid guidelines – to the detriment of his family. The duke’s younger brother, George, had always disagreed with this philosophy and sought – without much success – to mitigate the worst effects of his brother’s teaching upon his son. Years later, Bennett continues to be ruled from the grave by his father’s ethics and opinions and as a result has become a stuffy workaholic. By no means an unkind or uncaring man he simply appears to lack imagination and seems incapable of thinking outside the box – or at least the box his father has created; working himself into the ground, treading his well worn path of duty-above-all-else; without deviation.
Amelia Mansfield has a chequered, tarnished past which is no fault of her own but has survived and lives to tell the tale, albeit with a strong disrespect for the aristocracy and a passionate need to help the less fortunate. She has been plucked from obscurity by Bennett’s aunt and employed as that lady’s companion. Lady Worsted likes Amelia’s no nonsense and outspoken approach to life and they rub along very well together. Inevitably Bennett and Amelia meet when Lady Worsted pays her annual visit to her sister, the duke’s mother. At their first encounter Amelia is outrageously dismissive and under-enthused about being in the presence of a duke. And Bennett, who is not used to such irreverence, is confused by this but also by the fact that he is attracted to her. Amelia is equally confused – because although Bennett is stodgy and pompous, he’s also drop-dead gorgeous and it goes against the grain as she simply cannot like trust or tolerate aristocrats.
Virginia Heath does an excellent job of developing the romance between these two disparate characters and bringing it gently to a point where they meet their prejudices and their growing love – in the middle. Both are warm and likeable and I loved how Amelia opens Bennett’s eyes to her way of thinking and finally takes him into the world of poverty she knows so well and that he thinks he knows exists, but doesn’t really believe until he sees and experiences it for himself. There are some excellent secondary characters, too; Uncle George, the amusing, unorthodox younger brother of the duke who has been the real role model throughout the young duke’s life and Lovett the butler, who regularly imbibes the duke’s port and brandy and is regularly and half-heartedly admonished by his master. The affection between the aristocrat and his servant is obvious and rather touching and from the beginning, this affection gives the reader an insight into Bennett’s real character.
The poverty and despair of the people in some of the worst parts of London are conveyed in a very real and shocking manner and I was impressed by the way Virginia Heath managed to combine authentic historical facts, a warm and sweet romance and even comedy into one novel and make it work. I loved the moment that Bennett actually throws away his manual and trusts his own instincts. I will definitely be reading more of this author’s work.
Bennett is the only child of a distinguished politician who lived by a set of rigid guidelines – to the detriment of his family. The duke’s younger brother, George, had always disagreed with this philosophy and sought – without much success – to mitigate the worst effects of his brother’s teaching upon his son. Years later, Bennett continues to be ruled from the grave by his father’s ethics and opinions and as a result has become a stuffy workaholic. By no means an unkind or uncaring man he simply appears to lack imagination and seems incapable of thinking outside the box – or at least the box his father has created; working himself into the ground, treading his well worn path of duty-above-all-else; without deviation.
Amelia Mansfield has a chequered, tarnished past which is no fault of her own but has survived and lives to tell the tale, albeit with a strong disrespect for the aristocracy and a passionate need to help the less fortunate. She has been plucked from obscurity by Bennett’s aunt and employed as that lady’s companion. Lady Worsted likes Amelia’s no nonsense and outspoken approach to life and they rub along very well together. Inevitably Bennett and Amelia meet when Lady Worsted pays her annual visit to her sister, the duke’s mother. At their first encounter Amelia is outrageously dismissive and under-enthused about being in the presence of a duke. And Bennett, who is not used to such irreverence, is confused by this but also by the fact that he is attracted to her. Amelia is equally confused – because although Bennett is stodgy and pompous, he’s also drop-dead gorgeous and it goes against the grain as she simply cannot like trust or tolerate aristocrats.
Virginia Heath does an excellent job of developing the romance between these two disparate characters and bringing it gently to a point where they meet their prejudices and their growing love – in the middle. Both are warm and likeable and I loved how Amelia opens Bennett’s eyes to her way of thinking and finally takes him into the world of poverty she knows so well and that he thinks he knows exists, but doesn’t really believe until he sees and experiences it for himself. There are some excellent secondary characters, too; Uncle George, the amusing, unorthodox younger brother of the duke who has been the real role model throughout the young duke’s life and Lovett the butler, who regularly imbibes the duke’s port and brandy and is regularly and half-heartedly admonished by his master. The affection between the aristocrat and his servant is obvious and rather touching and from the beginning, this affection gives the reader an insight into Bennett’s real character.
The poverty and despair of the people in some of the worst parts of London are conveyed in a very real and shocking manner and I was impressed by the way Virginia Heath managed to combine authentic historical facts, a warm and sweet romance and even comedy into one novel and make it work. I loved the moment that Bennett actually throws away his manual and trusts his own instincts. I will definitely be reading more of this author’s work.
March 18, 2020
Review originally published at Romancing Romances.
I received an eARC at no cost from the author, and I am leaving a voluntary and honest review. Thank you.
First of all, I love the title. It makes me want to know more about the book right away.
Bennett Montague, sixteenth Duke of Aveley, is an interesting man. He wishes to follow his father’s footsteps, but he is so different from his father, that it doesn’t work. He wants a wife who is pretty much “perfect”, as in the perfect politician’s wife. And, of course, he has a list. And he’s narrowed it down.
Enter Amelia Mansfield, who definitely does not fit the mould his looking for. She’s stubborn, and feisty. And she becomes rather indignant with the way Bennett chooses to find and select a wife.
There’s lots of banter, and you could feel the tension between the two characters.
I really liked Bennett, how he grew to understand he was behaving in a way that did not match his personality, and he was trying to be someone he was not. And when he realized he could do his best by just being him, that’s when everything changed for both our main characters.
The book also discusses politics and how people of different stations lived in during the time period. It’s interesting to see how Amelia, who has been trying to adapt to her situation as much as she can, also battles herself about how to make the world, and especially Bennett, see the true life of the poor and weak.
An entertaining and romantic book, with just the right amount of conflict.
I received an eARC at no cost from the author, and I am leaving a voluntary and honest review. Thank you.
First of all, I love the title. It makes me want to know more about the book right away.
Bennett Montague, sixteenth Duke of Aveley, is an interesting man. He wishes to follow his father’s footsteps, but he is so different from his father, that it doesn’t work. He wants a wife who is pretty much “perfect”, as in the perfect politician’s wife. And, of course, he has a list. And he’s narrowed it down.
Enter Amelia Mansfield, who definitely does not fit the mould his looking for. She’s stubborn, and feisty. And she becomes rather indignant with the way Bennett chooses to find and select a wife.
There’s lots of banter, and you could feel the tension between the two characters.
I really liked Bennett, how he grew to understand he was behaving in a way that did not match his personality, and he was trying to be someone he was not. And when he realized he could do his best by just being him, that’s when everything changed for both our main characters.
The book also discusses politics and how people of different stations lived in during the time period. It’s interesting to see how Amelia, who has been trying to adapt to her situation as much as she can, also battles herself about how to make the world, and especially Bennett, see the true life of the poor and weak.
An entertaining and romantic book, with just the right amount of conflict.
January 25, 2019
❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋
What a brilliant book , funny and lighthearted, witty banter galore and such wonderful lead characters.
Ben is Stuffy and staunchly Duke like , well he would be , he’s a Duke .
Amelia is against the Ton , for very legitimate reasons .
She’s a strong woman , feisty, opinionated and totally the wrong woman for him , and they both know that and accept it . At least in the beginning.
This is a war of the classes played out in one relationship between a Duke set for the highest position in Government and an illegitimate lady from Cheapside.
What results is magnificent in its writing and quite hilarious in parts , with some awesome characters including the Butler and the uncle who keep the chuckles coming .
The heartstrings as always are reserved for our leading couple who you find yourself routing for all the way through .
Excellent book .
I received an advance copy of this book and chose to submit a review
💋💋
What a brilliant book , funny and lighthearted, witty banter galore and such wonderful lead characters.
Ben is Stuffy and staunchly Duke like , well he would be , he’s a Duke .
Amelia is against the Ton , for very legitimate reasons .
She’s a strong woman , feisty, opinionated and totally the wrong woman for him , and they both know that and accept it . At least in the beginning.
This is a war of the classes played out in one relationship between a Duke set for the highest position in Government and an illegitimate lady from Cheapside.
What results is magnificent in its writing and quite hilarious in parts , with some awesome characters including the Butler and the uncle who keep the chuckles coming .
The heartstrings as always are reserved for our leading couple who you find yourself routing for all the way through .
Excellent book .
I received an advance copy of this book and chose to submit a review
February 1, 2019
Series: None - Standalone
Publication Date: 11/1/2016
Number of Pages: 288
Believable characters and witty dialogue populate this well-paced, excellently written, character-driven story. I loved that the heroine is very self-aware and the hero discovers that he really isn’t who he has been pretending (even to himself) to be. His metamorphosis is a sight to behold! You like each of the characters from the beginning, but as you learn more about them and their respective backgrounds you come to like and respect them even more.
Bennett Montague, sixteenth Duke of Aveley, has plans to be Prime Minister within the next few years. He is stodgy, extremely correct, pompous, and austere. He’s followed his father’s plans for his life to the letter and now, the next part of that plan is to find a wife – after all – a Prime Minister must be married. A year ago, he wrote down and then published, some words of wisdom his father gave him for finding a wife. He’s put those into action and has now narrowed his choices down to five ladies who seem to meet all of the criteria. Some of the words of wisdom are:
• Marry a woman who thinks before she speaks. It will save you a great deal of time having to correct her …
• A wife’s first duty is to obey her husband. Therefore, it is the husband’s first duty to enlighten her as to what he wants her to do …
• Do not allow your passions to control your decisions. Passion soon dies, attraction fades, but a pragmatic union to an obedient wife will stand the test of time …
• When selecting a bride, choose a biddable woman who defers to your superior opinion in all matters of importance …
Amelia Mansfield pulled herself up out of the gutter through sheer will and determination. She’s a beautiful, petite woman who spent quite some time living in Seven Dials alone and on her own. She’s gone from living and working in the workhouse to being the companion to Lady Worsted whose nephew is the Duke of Aveley. Amelia loathes and detests anyone with a title – and she has good reasons – which you’ll learn as you read the book.
I’ve read a number of books with the ‘stodgy aristocrat shown the error of his ways by enlightened reformer’ trope. Those were good, but the reformers usually come across just a bit like cardboard. That isn’t the case here. You see and understand why Amelia feels as she does. Why she fights for the poor. Why she crusades for workers rights. It is because she has lived it and she understands it. This author does that very, very well in this book.
Bennett does his dead-level best to adhere to all of his father's principles for finding the perfect bride – until he meets the outspoken, opinionated, disrespectful companion to his aunt. She certainly has no respect for him or his title. As a matter of fact, she thinks of him as His Royal Highness the Duke of Pomposity and wonders if being so adored becomes wearing on him.
Bennett really is a reformer at heart, but what he believes is fact, really isn’t. He wants to help the slums of Seven Dials, but believes what most folks think about the poor – that they are slovenly, lazy and much prefer to be on the dole. In his mind, he sees them living in homes – just poorer homes, etc. He has no idea that many of them, even though they work, are forced to sleep on the street along with their children. With their meager earnings, they have to choose between a place to sleep for the night or something to eat. Bennett is aghast and heartsick when he learns the truth. His awakening and transformation are a wonderful thing to read!
This delightful story is almost conflict-free and totally character driven. To me, the only thing that would have made it better would have been the addition of an epilogue. I would have loved to see them 5 years out (or even less) with a baby or two and their reform projects up and running, etc.
Please check out my reviews at:
Blog: https://flippinpages.blog/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/flippinpages...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlippinPagesRev
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarbBookReview
Publication Date: 11/1/2016
Number of Pages: 288
Believable characters and witty dialogue populate this well-paced, excellently written, character-driven story. I loved that the heroine is very self-aware and the hero discovers that he really isn’t who he has been pretending (even to himself) to be. His metamorphosis is a sight to behold! You like each of the characters from the beginning, but as you learn more about them and their respective backgrounds you come to like and respect them even more.
Bennett Montague, sixteenth Duke of Aveley, has plans to be Prime Minister within the next few years. He is stodgy, extremely correct, pompous, and austere. He’s followed his father’s plans for his life to the letter and now, the next part of that plan is to find a wife – after all – a Prime Minister must be married. A year ago, he wrote down and then published, some words of wisdom his father gave him for finding a wife. He’s put those into action and has now narrowed his choices down to five ladies who seem to meet all of the criteria. Some of the words of wisdom are:
• Marry a woman who thinks before she speaks. It will save you a great deal of time having to correct her …
• A wife’s first duty is to obey her husband. Therefore, it is the husband’s first duty to enlighten her as to what he wants her to do …
• Do not allow your passions to control your decisions. Passion soon dies, attraction fades, but a pragmatic union to an obedient wife will stand the test of time …
• When selecting a bride, choose a biddable woman who defers to your superior opinion in all matters of importance …
Amelia Mansfield pulled herself up out of the gutter through sheer will and determination. She’s a beautiful, petite woman who spent quite some time living in Seven Dials alone and on her own. She’s gone from living and working in the workhouse to being the companion to Lady Worsted whose nephew is the Duke of Aveley. Amelia loathes and detests anyone with a title – and she has good reasons – which you’ll learn as you read the book.
I’ve read a number of books with the ‘stodgy aristocrat shown the error of his ways by enlightened reformer’ trope. Those were good, but the reformers usually come across just a bit like cardboard. That isn’t the case here. You see and understand why Amelia feels as she does. Why she fights for the poor. Why she crusades for workers rights. It is because she has lived it and she understands it. This author does that very, very well in this book.
Bennett does his dead-level best to adhere to all of his father's principles for finding the perfect bride – until he meets the outspoken, opinionated, disrespectful companion to his aunt. She certainly has no respect for him or his title. As a matter of fact, she thinks of him as His Royal Highness the Duke of Pomposity and wonders if being so adored becomes wearing on him.
Bennett really is a reformer at heart, but what he believes is fact, really isn’t. He wants to help the slums of Seven Dials, but believes what most folks think about the poor – that they are slovenly, lazy and much prefer to be on the dole. In his mind, he sees them living in homes – just poorer homes, etc. He has no idea that many of them, even though they work, are forced to sleep on the street along with their children. With their meager earnings, they have to choose between a place to sleep for the night or something to eat. Bennett is aghast and heartsick when he learns the truth. His awakening and transformation are a wonderful thing to read!
This delightful story is almost conflict-free and totally character driven. To me, the only thing that would have made it better would have been the addition of an epilogue. I would have loved to see them 5 years out (or even less) with a baby or two and their reform projects up and running, etc.
Please check out my reviews at:
Blog: https://flippinpages.blog/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/flippinpages...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlippinPagesRev
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarbBookReview
July 25, 2018
My first book by this author and I would have enjoyed it a lot more if the heroine hadn't been such a self righteous judgemental twit almost throughout. She has her reasons for her crappy attitude but she was just way too preachy for me. I like strong willed heroines with spines of steel but there has to be another side to her otherwise she comes off as an angry hateful person. In this case she didn't soften until it was too late for me to change my opinion of her. The hero, Bennett, made this book for me. Definitely Darcy-esque as this is clearly a P&P homage, if you will and starchy heroes are my ultimate reader catnip. Bennett doesn't disappoint.
I loved that the author let the reader into his head. His arrogance and stodginess was just mask for an introverted, awkward soul constantly forced into social situations and the like. He was darling and I loved him to death. The writing was fantastic though I wished for less telling and more showing. All in all I will be definitely be looking for more from this author. 3 1/2 🌟
I loved that the author let the reader into his head. His arrogance and stodginess was just mask for an introverted, awkward soul constantly forced into social situations and the like. He was darling and I loved him to death. The writing was fantastic though I wished for less telling and more showing. All in all I will be definitely be looking for more from this author. 3 1/2 🌟
May 21, 2018
Sweet story of a Duke that is following his father’s footsteps (and being crushed by doing it) and a companion with a very sad past.
Bennet had a very strong Darcy flair (funny that his first name was Bennet - maybe not a total coincidence) and took his time to see that love conquers all. Amelia obviously was not thrilled by his reservations concerning her birth and station in life and played the honorable martir.
I’m not a huge fan of politics in romance, and again I think the book could be better if it had spent less time at it.
The heroine was sweet though and the romance very satisfying.
I like the way Virginia Heath writes and again this book does not disappoints.
Good read!
I won this book in a giveaway and I’m glad I had the opportunity to read it.
Bennet had a very strong Darcy flair (funny that his first name was Bennet - maybe not a total coincidence) and took his time to see that love conquers all. Amelia obviously was not thrilled by his reservations concerning her birth and station in life and played the honorable martir.
I’m not a huge fan of politics in romance, and again I think the book could be better if it had spent less time at it.
The heroine was sweet though and the romance very satisfying.
I like the way Virginia Heath writes and again this book does not disappoints.
Good read!
I won this book in a giveaway and I’m glad I had the opportunity to read it.
September 1, 2016
This was a enticing romance with a brooding aristocrat with silvery grey eyes and a ladies companion with a background. The spark was there throughout and you were led to become more engaged with Bennett Montague as the book goes on. He is looking for a wife to help further his political aspirations- but his heart is drawn to the seemingly unsuitable Amelia. He realises that your heart can over rule your head but they still have society to consider. It really transported me into the time and provided rich visual imagery. Although I probably wouldn't have picked this one to read- it was a very enjoyable read and I will look out for more by this author.
January 24, 2019
An amazing story for those discerning readers. Bennett Montague, a "stodgy" Duke, meets rebellious Lady's companion, Amelia. Bennett's guide is a very interesting look into the expectations of the time period. Its a wonderful story of how two very different people see the true person inside. Highly recommend.
August 14, 2017
4.5 stars
The story was very sweet but the ending was too abrupt. I'm just one of the readers who don't like a book to end on a emotional peak (like proposal or confession), and I love at least one "calm" scene after that for a satisfying end, it doesn't necessarily have to be a long epilogue.
I really liked Ben, I always love heroes who are cold on the outside but actually only shy. Which is a realistic portrayal, shy or introvert people can be described as arrogant. Amelia was a nice and likable hero who was perfect for Ben. They didn't have heated chemistry, their connection wasn't physical rather they complemented each other very well.
The story was very sweet but the ending was too abrupt. I'm just one of the readers who don't like a book to end on a emotional peak (like proposal or confession), and I love at least one "calm" scene after that for a satisfying end, it doesn't necessarily have to be a long epilogue.
I really liked Ben, I always love heroes who are cold on the outside but actually only shy. Which is a realistic portrayal, shy or introvert people can be described as arrogant. Amelia was a nice and likable hero who was perfect for Ben. They didn't have heated chemistry, their connection wasn't physical rather they complemented each other very well.
December 29, 2017
Despite the overuse of italicised words (one or two in a sentence, I love; six or more? Yikes!), I really enjoyed this book.
Bennett Montague, the Duke of Aveley, was a man who was almost clinical to a fault. He had to be a Prime Minister (to fulfill his father's ambitions) and he had to find the perfect duchess. I liked that despite his looks, he had no idea how to relate to people on a personal level, let alone in the presence of an unsuitable woman that quite took his breath away.
Amelia Mansfield was that unsuitable woman. Not only was she not a simpering blond, much like the Duke of Aveley's Potential brides, she had a mind of a own, strong-willed, with a keen sense of right and wrong, as well as being sarcastic and argumentative if the Duke needed to be taken down a peg or two.
It was wonderful watching them fight their attraction to one another , but it was a shame that there had to be some anachronisms to mar the period feel of the book.
Don't get me wrong though. I might have my gripes, but I really, really liked the book. It was sweet, but more could be done to the story for it to be pushed up to 5 stars for me.
Bennett Montague, the Duke of Aveley, was a man who was almost clinical to a fault. He had to be a Prime Minister (to fulfill his father's ambitions) and he had to find the perfect duchess. I liked that despite his looks, he had no idea how to relate to people on a personal level, let alone in the presence of an unsuitable woman that quite took his breath away.
Amelia Mansfield was that unsuitable woman. Not only was she not a simpering blond, much like the Duke of Aveley's Potential brides, she had a mind of a own, strong-willed, with a keen sense of right and wrong, as well as being sarcastic and argumentative if the Duke needed to be taken down a peg or two.
It was wonderful watching them fight their attraction to one another , but it was a shame that there had to be some anachronisms to mar the period feel of the book.
Don't get me wrong though. I might have my gripes, but I really, really liked the book. It was sweet, but more could be done to the story for it to be pushed up to 5 stars for me.
September 10, 2019
Pamatau pavadinime užrašą "Istorinis meilės romanas" ir mane jau galite įsivaizduoti su šia knyga rankoje. Pledukas, pagalvėlė, patogiai įsitaisau pintame krėsle prie knygų lentynos, užsidegu šviesą ir pirmyn. Jei dvejojate dėl šios knygos, patariu šį džiaugsmą paimti į rankas ir perskaityti pirmą skyrių arba bent pirmus puslapius. O jei jau skaitėte šios rašytojos ankstesnes knygas, tai ko dar laukiat? Tiek tikrai užteks, o jei tingite, pasakysiu taip - Paikas Hercogas išleidžia knygą, kaip susirasti tobulą žmoną, kuri ir pačiam ir visai aplinkai tokia atrodytų, niekada nepavestų ir nepriverstų raudonuoti bei t.t. Amelija perskaito šią knygą ir pasibaisėja, juk visa mėnesį reiks praleisti šio idioto namuose, kuris išties renkasi būsimą žmoną pagal šiuos kriterijus. Skaičiau ir krykštavau, ypač kur susiremdavo gerbiamo Hercogo Beneto ir kompanionės Amelijos požiūriai.
November 6, 2016
Outstanding and a cut above the regular Harlequin reads!
Ms. Heath's The Discerning Gentleman's guide is a perfect example of the new breed of historicals now being published by Harlequin/Mills & Boon. Excellent writing combined with a good solid plot and well-drawn characters all combine to make a very enjoyable read.
Yet another author to add to my auto-buy list.
Ms. Heath's The Discerning Gentleman's guide is a perfect example of the new breed of historicals now being published by Harlequin/Mills & Boon. Excellent writing combined with a good solid plot and well-drawn characters all combine to make a very enjoyable read.
Yet another author to add to my auto-buy list.
January 22, 2019
It’s a question of perspective
Miss Amelia Mansfied was happy to be back in London after a year away; she could see to the poor in the City. Amelia enjoyed her position of companion to Lady Worsted, what was not so pleasant at the moment was the idea of residing for a month in the Duke of Aveley’s Mayfair townhouse for the duration of her stay. Amelia had read the Duke’s book – The Discerning Gentleman’s Guide to Selecting the Perfect Bride, and she could guess what sort of pompous ass he would be. Bennett Montague, the aforementioned pompous ass, has been looking for a bride for a whole year. He was now down to five “Potentials”; he was just too busy in parliament for anything else. But Amelia’s first glimpse of the Duke leaves her almost overwhelmed by his golden godliness, and he is utterly mesmerised by his Aunt Augusta’s companion. But when he opens his mouth, the illusion is shattered: he is a pompous ass.
With every book, Virginia Heath has me almost swooning. THE DISCERNING GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE, at first, looks like the most delectable piece of fluff, then gradually becomes an enthralling study of class differences. Ms. Heath’s research and knowledge of the period is astonishing as vivid portraits come alive and we experience the splendour of Mayfair as thoroughly as the squalor of Seven Dials, where the poorest of the poor exist; and the author’s descriptions of the workhouses made my skin crawl. Bennett is a good man, determined to do his best to improve the nation, but by Jove, he is so rigid and proper, it’s a wonder he doesn’t break. Like all aristocrats, in truth he ignores how it really is. Bennett is an extraordinarily complex character; endearing, because he means well, and aggravating because he is just so stuffy. Or rather his father taught him he had to be stuffy. Amelia is a superb heroine whose backstory is heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time.
Amelia and Bennett’s romance is so much more than that of a duke and a commoner. In 1816, reform was in the air, and Britain feared a revolution like those that had rocked France and America, and Virginia Heath used these historical facts to make her story shine even more. Politics are so well integrated in the narrative, that they challenge the budding romance, provoke heartfelt and crushing conversations, but establish the foundation for the romance. I knew there was going to be a happy-ever-after, but I had no idea how it would happen. The dialogues are spectacular works of art – intricate and genuine; and the secondary characters are some of the best I have ever seen: Bennett’s butler, Lovett; Bennett’s adorable Uncle George, and his magnificent Aunt Augusta. One particular scene where Bennett reveals the man behind the rigid façade left me teary-eyed. THE DISCERNING GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE is yet another phenomenal story, heart-wrenching, enlightening, poignant, emotional, and ultimately one of the most romantic I have ever read because it all feels so real.
Miss Amelia Mansfied was happy to be back in London after a year away; she could see to the poor in the City. Amelia enjoyed her position of companion to Lady Worsted, what was not so pleasant at the moment was the idea of residing for a month in the Duke of Aveley’s Mayfair townhouse for the duration of her stay. Amelia had read the Duke’s book – The Discerning Gentleman’s Guide to Selecting the Perfect Bride, and she could guess what sort of pompous ass he would be. Bennett Montague, the aforementioned pompous ass, has been looking for a bride for a whole year. He was now down to five “Potentials”; he was just too busy in parliament for anything else. But Amelia’s first glimpse of the Duke leaves her almost overwhelmed by his golden godliness, and he is utterly mesmerised by his Aunt Augusta’s companion. But when he opens his mouth, the illusion is shattered: he is a pompous ass.
With every book, Virginia Heath has me almost swooning. THE DISCERNING GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE, at first, looks like the most delectable piece of fluff, then gradually becomes an enthralling study of class differences. Ms. Heath’s research and knowledge of the period is astonishing as vivid portraits come alive and we experience the splendour of Mayfair as thoroughly as the squalor of Seven Dials, where the poorest of the poor exist; and the author’s descriptions of the workhouses made my skin crawl. Bennett is a good man, determined to do his best to improve the nation, but by Jove, he is so rigid and proper, it’s a wonder he doesn’t break. Like all aristocrats, in truth he ignores how it really is. Bennett is an extraordinarily complex character; endearing, because he means well, and aggravating because he is just so stuffy. Or rather his father taught him he had to be stuffy. Amelia is a superb heroine whose backstory is heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time.
Amelia and Bennett’s romance is so much more than that of a duke and a commoner. In 1816, reform was in the air, and Britain feared a revolution like those that had rocked France and America, and Virginia Heath used these historical facts to make her story shine even more. Politics are so well integrated in the narrative, that they challenge the budding romance, provoke heartfelt and crushing conversations, but establish the foundation for the romance. I knew there was going to be a happy-ever-after, but I had no idea how it would happen. The dialogues are spectacular works of art – intricate and genuine; and the secondary characters are some of the best I have ever seen: Bennett’s butler, Lovett; Bennett’s adorable Uncle George, and his magnificent Aunt Augusta. One particular scene where Bennett reveals the man behind the rigid façade left me teary-eyed. THE DISCERNING GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE is yet another phenomenal story, heart-wrenching, enlightening, poignant, emotional, and ultimately one of the most romantic I have ever read because it all feels so real.
November 9, 2017
4.5 Stars as reviewed at The Romance Reviews: http://bit.ly/2vWPMpE
Amelia Mansfield has no love for titled society gentlemen, and with very good reason. She was born the privileged daughter of a viscount, but when her mother couldn’t produce another child, an heir, he found a way to have the marriage annulled. Amelia and her mother were then literally cast out, with no money, no home, and Amelia is now considered illegitimate. Forced to live in the slums, and eventually, the workhouse, Amelia’s mother became ill and died. Amelia managed to survive, and eventually became lucky enough to be hired as a companion to Lady Worsted, aunt to a duke. All of Amelia’s spare time, energy, and money is directed to helping the poor and aiding causes that will help improve their living and working conditions.
Bennett Montague, Duke of Aveley, is a member of His Majesty’s Council, and a focused, hard-working politician. He’s dedicated to improving England for all people, not just the wealthy. But he’s also a lonely man, and he believes it’s time he found a wife. Unfortunately, his way of going about that is to draw up a list of qualifications, based on advice from his late father, which he published in a booklet called “The Discerning Gentleman’s Guide for Selecting the Perfect Bride.” Much to his chagrin, the booklet has become extremely popular, and the finalists among his potential brides tend to quote the book regularly at book clubs and poetry readings.
When Lady Worsted comes for her annual visit with her nephew, Bennet, she brings Amelia with her. Upon introduction, Bennett and Amelia are both taken aback by their strong physical reaction to each other. Amelia has no use for titled men, no matter how handsome, and Bennett needs to focus on an aristocratic lady who can aid his career. Amelia is not shy, and she’s quick to take Bennett to task about his views. She doesn’t kowtow to him, and Bennett finds her challenges stimulating. Amelia comes to see that Bennett’s heart and intentions are in the right place, but his privileged life doesn’t give him all the facts. So she takes him to the seediest part of town, the one she was forced to live in.
Amelia and Bennett are two admirable characters who deserve happiness, even though that might seem impossible. Amelia’s history was very tragic, but she has to open her eyes to the fact that all titled men aren’t like her father. Bennett also has to do some soul searching to decide if the career he’s pursuing is his dream or his late father’s. THE DISCERNING GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE is a truly romantic book which I thoroughly enjoyed reading. I recommend it for historical romance fans who enjoy strong, sympathetic, intelligent characters in a well paced and captivating story.
Amelia Mansfield has no love for titled society gentlemen, and with very good reason. She was born the privileged daughter of a viscount, but when her mother couldn’t produce another child, an heir, he found a way to have the marriage annulled. Amelia and her mother were then literally cast out, with no money, no home, and Amelia is now considered illegitimate. Forced to live in the slums, and eventually, the workhouse, Amelia’s mother became ill and died. Amelia managed to survive, and eventually became lucky enough to be hired as a companion to Lady Worsted, aunt to a duke. All of Amelia’s spare time, energy, and money is directed to helping the poor and aiding causes that will help improve their living and working conditions.
Bennett Montague, Duke of Aveley, is a member of His Majesty’s Council, and a focused, hard-working politician. He’s dedicated to improving England for all people, not just the wealthy. But he’s also a lonely man, and he believes it’s time he found a wife. Unfortunately, his way of going about that is to draw up a list of qualifications, based on advice from his late father, which he published in a booklet called “The Discerning Gentleman’s Guide for Selecting the Perfect Bride.” Much to his chagrin, the booklet has become extremely popular, and the finalists among his potential brides tend to quote the book regularly at book clubs and poetry readings.
When Lady Worsted comes for her annual visit with her nephew, Bennet, she brings Amelia with her. Upon introduction, Bennett and Amelia are both taken aback by their strong physical reaction to each other. Amelia has no use for titled men, no matter how handsome, and Bennett needs to focus on an aristocratic lady who can aid his career. Amelia is not shy, and she’s quick to take Bennett to task about his views. She doesn’t kowtow to him, and Bennett finds her challenges stimulating. Amelia comes to see that Bennett’s heart and intentions are in the right place, but his privileged life doesn’t give him all the facts. So she takes him to the seediest part of town, the one she was forced to live in.
Amelia and Bennett are two admirable characters who deserve happiness, even though that might seem impossible. Amelia’s history was very tragic, but she has to open her eyes to the fact that all titled men aren’t like her father. Bennett also has to do some soul searching to decide if the career he’s pursuing is his dream or his late father’s. THE DISCERNING GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE is a truly romantic book which I thoroughly enjoyed reading. I recommend it for historical romance fans who enjoy strong, sympathetic, intelligent characters in a well paced and captivating story.
November 29, 2019
Very Clever Regency Well Told
Bennett Montague, Duke of Aveley, is seeking the perfect bride. He’s even written a guide with his father’s advice as to how to select one. He's narrowed his search to five women called “the Potentials”, all demure and blonde. But then he meets Amelia Mansfield, his aunt's companion, who is the daughter of a viscount who annulled his marriage to Amelia’s mother because she could not bear him a son. Bennett does not know Amelia is of the nobility but thinks her a mere commoner. Hence, when he finds himself attracted to her, he dismisses the possibility of her being one of “the Potentials”.
Amelia survived her father’s rejection and her mother’s death to become an outspoken bluestocking concerned with the plight of the poor. She is amused and angered by Aveley’s method of selecting a wife. She sees the duke as arrogant and harsh but the man beneath the veneer as very attractive.
The story of Bennett’s search for a bride was cleverly told through the clips from his book, which was his father’s advice that he comes to see as rigid and not at all like the man the duke wants to be. Both he and Amelia are committed to reform and once they realize how alike they are, well, it’s got to be love! A clever Regency.
Bennett Montague, Duke of Aveley, is seeking the perfect bride. He’s even written a guide with his father’s advice as to how to select one. He's narrowed his search to five women called “the Potentials”, all demure and blonde. But then he meets Amelia Mansfield, his aunt's companion, who is the daughter of a viscount who annulled his marriage to Amelia’s mother because she could not bear him a son. Bennett does not know Amelia is of the nobility but thinks her a mere commoner. Hence, when he finds himself attracted to her, he dismisses the possibility of her being one of “the Potentials”.
Amelia survived her father’s rejection and her mother’s death to become an outspoken bluestocking concerned with the plight of the poor. She is amused and angered by Aveley’s method of selecting a wife. She sees the duke as arrogant and harsh but the man beneath the veneer as very attractive.
The story of Bennett’s search for a bride was cleverly told through the clips from his book, which was his father’s advice that he comes to see as rigid and not at all like the man the duke wants to be. Both he and Amelia are committed to reform and once they realize how alike they are, well, it’s got to be love! A clever Regency.
August 23, 2017
3 e 1/2
"Aveva compreso di amare quella donna con ogni fibra del proprio essere e che l'avrebbe sempre amata. Lo provocava, lo eccitava, lo irritava, lo divertiva. Ogni volta che posava gli occhi su di lei si sentiva riscaldare il cuore. Quando non era con lei, il mondo era un po' più grigio"
Molto carina, il classico ying e yang funziona sempre ;D Onestamente avrei voluto magari meno politica e più storia d'amore, anche se sicuramente è interessante tutto il contesto delle battaglie politiche portate avanti dai due protagonisti, seppur in maniera diversa (e almeno inizialmente quasi opposta) ;)
"Aveva compreso di amare quella donna con ogni fibra del proprio essere e che l'avrebbe sempre amata. Lo provocava, lo eccitava, lo irritava, lo divertiva. Ogni volta che posava gli occhi su di lei si sentiva riscaldare il cuore. Quando non era con lei, il mondo era un po' più grigio"
Molto carina, il classico ying e yang funziona sempre ;D Onestamente avrei voluto magari meno politica e più storia d'amore, anche se sicuramente è interessante tutto il contesto delle battaglie politiche portate avanti dai due protagonisti, seppur in maniera diversa (e almeno inizialmente quasi opposta) ;)
September 20, 2017
I liked this book so much! It was delightful. Funny, heartwarming, touching, genuinely romantic, with surprisingly substantial subject matter and strong characterization for a fairly short novel. It was just plain fun to read. I'm three for three when it comes to this author! Highly recommend checking this one out.
October 24, 2020
Just right.
Well paced, better edited than other books by Heath, wonderful story arcs for both principle characters, and offering nuanced views of poverty and politics that echo issues that we still grapple with today. The balance of story and romance was just right for me.
Well paced, better edited than other books by Heath, wonderful story arcs for both principle characters, and offering nuanced views of poverty and politics that echo issues that we still grapple with today. The balance of story and romance was just right for me.
July 16, 2021
Beautifully written, excellent historical details with a slow burn romance. 💝
November 16, 2023
Ši rašytoja sugeba nustebinti (bent jau mane). Vėl XIX a. pradžios Anglija, tik šį kartą įdomus posūkis, kai susitinka aukšto posto valstybėje siekiantis, o kartu ir tinkamos žmonos ieškantis, hercogas ir jauna mergina, kurios praeityje yra ir turto, ir skurdo, ir neteisybės ir skandalo. Malonu buvo skaityti kaip šis susidūrimas abu stebina, pamažu keičia, ir moko pamatyti naujas perspektyvas.
March 9, 2017
Superb
I loved it. There was romance, passion. It had real history and it made the story come to life. Very good well fleshed out characters . A bit Jane Austen like but that's no bad thing.
I loved it. There was romance, passion. It had real history and it made the story come to life. Very good well fleshed out characters . A bit Jane Austen like but that's no bad thing.
February 1, 2017
Sublimely written, wonderfully funny and deliciously romantic, The Discerning Gentleman’s Guide is a wonderful Regency treat from the outstanding, witty and gifted pen of Virginia Heath!
Bennett Montague has his sights set on becoming Prime Minister and in order to achieve his objective his behaviour must be impeccable, his demeanor dignified and patrician and his reputation untarnished by even the merest hint of scandal. Well aware that it is incumbent upon him to make a suitable match, Bennett is adamant that his bride must be sensible, level-headed and biddable – which is why he has narrowed down his list of prospective brides to five young ladies who have been dubbed ‘The Potentials’. Any one of these girls would have met with his late father’s approval, however, recently Bennett has found himself unable to stop thinking about his Aunt’s companion, Miss Amelia Mansfield, who possesses none of the qualities he is looking for in a wife!
Thanks to bitter personal experience, Amelia has always had a low opinion of aristocrats – an opinion that is reinforced after reading Bennett Montague’s cringeworthy book, The Discerning Gentleman’s Guide, a ridiculous book peddling advice to empty-headed gentlemen about making the right kind of marital match. Circumstance had forced Amelia to have first experience of poverty, anguish and misery and despite the fact that she is now a companion to a wealthy society matron, she has never forgotten the cold, hunger and misery she had witnessed when she was fighting for survival on the streets of the Seven Dials. Every spare minute she has sees Amelia going to the poorest parts of London to feed the homeless and do everything in her power to help those less fortunate than her – which is why she has absolutely no time for politicians such as Bennett Montague, who blame the poor for all of their misfortune and do not lift a finger to help them in their hour of need.
Amelia is well aware that Bennett stands for all the things she despises most in the world, however, she soon begins to realise that beneath his haughty and arrogant exterior lies a kind and caring man whom she simply cannot stop herself from wanting to kiss! However, Amelia is well aware that a man like Bennett couldn’t possibly even dare contemplate a future with someone like her…or could he?
Torn between his heart and his head, will Bennett sacrifice the woman he has grown to love for the sake of duty? And will Amelia manage to show him that happiness and fulfillment are within reach, but only if he has the courage to stop living in someone else’s shadow and become his own man?
The Discerning Gentleman’s Guide is an enchanting, enjoyable, poignant and absolutely phenomenal tale that is superior to a vast majority of historical romances published today. Written with all the flair, style, sophistication and panache that would have made Georgette Heyer proud, The Discerning Gentleman’s Guide cleverly blends humour, emotion and drama into an irresistible tale that I found absolutely impossible to put down.
Amelia was an absolutely terrific heroine – she was daring, forthright, vulnerable, resilient and intrepid and Bennett was more than a match for her. Handsome, charismatic and brooding, he was an absolutely wonderful hero who will have readers everywhere swooning and reaching for their smelling salts!
A first class historical romance from one of the genre’s brightest stars, The Discerning Gentleman’s Guide is destined to become an absolute classic of the genre.
Bennett Montague has his sights set on becoming Prime Minister and in order to achieve his objective his behaviour must be impeccable, his demeanor dignified and patrician and his reputation untarnished by even the merest hint of scandal. Well aware that it is incumbent upon him to make a suitable match, Bennett is adamant that his bride must be sensible, level-headed and biddable – which is why he has narrowed down his list of prospective brides to five young ladies who have been dubbed ‘The Potentials’. Any one of these girls would have met with his late father’s approval, however, recently Bennett has found himself unable to stop thinking about his Aunt’s companion, Miss Amelia Mansfield, who possesses none of the qualities he is looking for in a wife!
Thanks to bitter personal experience, Amelia has always had a low opinion of aristocrats – an opinion that is reinforced after reading Bennett Montague’s cringeworthy book, The Discerning Gentleman’s Guide, a ridiculous book peddling advice to empty-headed gentlemen about making the right kind of marital match. Circumstance had forced Amelia to have first experience of poverty, anguish and misery and despite the fact that she is now a companion to a wealthy society matron, she has never forgotten the cold, hunger and misery she had witnessed when she was fighting for survival on the streets of the Seven Dials. Every spare minute she has sees Amelia going to the poorest parts of London to feed the homeless and do everything in her power to help those less fortunate than her – which is why she has absolutely no time for politicians such as Bennett Montague, who blame the poor for all of their misfortune and do not lift a finger to help them in their hour of need.
Amelia is well aware that Bennett stands for all the things she despises most in the world, however, she soon begins to realise that beneath his haughty and arrogant exterior lies a kind and caring man whom she simply cannot stop herself from wanting to kiss! However, Amelia is well aware that a man like Bennett couldn’t possibly even dare contemplate a future with someone like her…or could he?
Torn between his heart and his head, will Bennett sacrifice the woman he has grown to love for the sake of duty? And will Amelia manage to show him that happiness and fulfillment are within reach, but only if he has the courage to stop living in someone else’s shadow and become his own man?
The Discerning Gentleman’s Guide is an enchanting, enjoyable, poignant and absolutely phenomenal tale that is superior to a vast majority of historical romances published today. Written with all the flair, style, sophistication and panache that would have made Georgette Heyer proud, The Discerning Gentleman’s Guide cleverly blends humour, emotion and drama into an irresistible tale that I found absolutely impossible to put down.
Amelia was an absolutely terrific heroine – she was daring, forthright, vulnerable, resilient and intrepid and Bennett was more than a match for her. Handsome, charismatic and brooding, he was an absolutely wonderful hero who will have readers everywhere swooning and reaching for their smelling salts!
A first class historical romance from one of the genre’s brightest stars, The Discerning Gentleman’s Guide is destined to become an absolute classic of the genre.
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