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Married for His Convenience
A plain countess…
Tainted by illegitimacy, plain Sarah Martin has no illusions of a grand marriage. So when the Earl of Langford makes her a proposal that will take her one step closer to finding her half sister, she can't refuse!
Sebastian's dreams of romance died with his late wife's affair, so now he needs a convenient wife to act as governess for his silent daughter. Yet Sarah continues to surprise and challenge him, and soon Sebastian can't deny the joy his new bride could bring to his life—and into his bed!
Tainted by illegitimacy, plain Sarah Martin has no illusions of a grand marriage. So when the Earl of Langford makes her a proposal that will take her one step closer to finding her half sister, she can't refuse!
Sebastian's dreams of romance died with his late wife's affair, so now he needs a convenient wife to act as governess for his silent daughter. Yet Sarah continues to surprise and challenge him, and soon Sebastian can't deny the joy his new bride could bring to his life—and into his bed!
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2016
19 people are currently reading
348 people want to read
About the author
Eleanor Webster
28 books42 followersEleanor Webster has a passion for many things, the most ardent likely being shoes.
But she’s also passionate about a story well told. With the help of some debutantes and viscounts and a twist of the unknown, Eleanor’s stories weave a tale of enchantment, hope, and most importantly, love.
When not writing, you’ll find Eleanor dreaming of being a world traveler, reading, running, reading, hiking in the wilds of British Columbia, where she makes her home with her husband and two daughters, and – did we mention reading?
But she’s also passionate about a story well told. With the help of some debutantes and viscounts and a twist of the unknown, Eleanor’s stories weave a tale of enchantment, hope, and most importantly, love.
When not writing, you’ll find Eleanor dreaming of being a world traveler, reading, running, reading, hiking in the wilds of British Columbia, where she makes her home with her husband and two daughters, and – did we mention reading?
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
February 4, 2017
I've given this a B- at AAR, so 3.5 stars.
There are quite a few plot strands running through Married for His Convenience; in fact I’m not sure there aren’t a few too many. As well as the convenient marriage promised by the title, we have the subplot of the hero’s search for his missing son, the parallel plotline of the heroine searching for her long-lost sister, the hero’s electively mute daughter, a mysterious Scarlet Pimpernel type character called the English Lion, to name just a few … and it’s all crammed in to the usual (for a Harlequin Historical) 288 pages, meaning that some of those elements aren’t developed all that well and there are a lot of questions left unanswered.
Sebastian Hastings, Earl of Langford, gave up on love after the wife he loved to distraction ran off with another man, taking Sebastian’s two children to France along with them. The adulterous couple fled to France at the worst time imaginable (the book opens in 1793, so France wasn’t exactly the best place for an aristocratic lady to be), and although Sebastian’s daughter has been returned to him, his wife is now dead at the hands of Madame la Guillotine, and his son has disappeared.
Sebastian hopes that his friend, Kit Eavensham, may have received some news regarding Edwin from the English Lion. Kit tells him that the Lion’s contacts have established that there is no evidence of the boy’s death, but that is all he has discovered, along with the fact that Sebastian’s wife’s lover is at large somewhere, having escaped the Bastille.
During the course of his visit to the Eavenshams, Sebastian encounters Miss Sarah Martin, the ward of their neighbour, Mrs. Crawford, when Sarah is trying to rescue a wounded rabbit. Even her dowdy, unprepossessing appearance can’t disguise a certain irrepressible quality, and what Sebastian soon discovers to be a generally good-humoured, practical approach to life in spite of her improverished circumstances. Deciding that her compassion for animals and everyone around her makes Sarah the ideal candidate, Sebastian asks her to marry him, plainly setting out his reasons for asking. His daughter has been so traumatised by her experiences in captivity that she has withdrawn from everyone and does not speak; her governesses have been overly harsh and he needs to find someone to properly care for her. It also seems he will beneit financially from remarrying – although it’s not made clear how or why. Sarah makes it clear that she is not interested in marrying just to improve her own comfort, but when Sebastian mentions that they will reside for some of the time in London, she very quickly accepts his offer and the wedding takes place quietly, a few days later.
Where Sebastian is up front about his reasons for marrying, Sarah is not. For years, she has been preoccupied with the idea of finding her half-sister, Charlotte, who continued to live in London after the death of their mother – and Sebastian’s offer now affords Sarah the chance to look for her. As soon as they arrive at Sebastian’s town house, Sarah heads off to Charlotte’s last known address, without any knowledge of the local geography, or any thought for her personal safety or her new position as a countess.
Sarah worried that telling Sebastian that she is illegitimate would cause him to withdraw his offer of marriage, so she doesn’t tell him about her sister – and keeping secrets naturally doesn’t help their fledgling relationship. Sebastian has trust issues anyway as the result of his first wife’s betrayal, so the idea that Sarah is keeping things from him only serves to magnify them. Fortunately, however, Sarah is sensible enough to realise that she can’t do everything herself and eventually asks for her husband’s help; Charlotte is found and restored to Sarah, and that part of the plot is neatly wrapped up. This still leaves the storyline about Sebastian’s son to be resolved, but this is rather rushed and when, towards the end, Sarah elects to follow Sebastian to a rendezvous on horseback, I really couldn’t buy it. The idea that she, who has only just learned to ride a horse, would be able to spend a couple of days in the saddle without doing herself an injury, is highly implausible; plus it wasn’t the done thing for a young lady to ride around the country on her own, not only for propriety’s sake, but because it wasn’t safe to do so.
Sarah and Sebastian are attractive characters who work well together. Sebastian starts off as your typical “once bitten twice shy” sort of hero, but he turns out to have more depth than it seems at first, and I liked his willingness to make changes in his life for Sarah and his patience with her. But even though I liked Sarah for the most part, there were times when I wanted to shake some sense into her. She’s straightforward without being irritatingly ‘feisty’ or contrary for the sake of it, but on several occasions she acts in a way that is naïve at best and selfish at worst. I know these actions are meant to show how kind and loving she is, but instead they show her to be suffering from a bad case of tunnel vision. Sarah is lucky that for the most part, Sebastian considers her lack of concern for the superficial to be rather endearing and refreshing; I didn’t always agree with him.
This is the first time I’ve read a book by this author, and while I liked it enough to want to read more of her work, I can’t recommend it without reservations. Ms. Webster can obviously create likeable characters and interesting plotlines, but she needs to resist the temptation to throw all her ingredients into the pot at once, as there are far too many plot elements for the page count and too many things that seem to happen at random and without explanation. Sebastian and Sarah have a genuine romantic spark, and the romance is sweet and well-paced, even though, because of the numerous plotlines, it is pushed a little to one side at times. I did, however, appreciate that Ms. Webster has developed an actual relationship between the couple and not relied on insta-lust and a string of sex-scenes – although the book is at the tepid end of the scale when it comes to the latter.
Married for His Convenience was an enjoyable way to pass the time, although I doubt it’s a book I’ll re-read. There are some interesting storylines here; I just wish Ms. Webster had used fewer of them and developed her chosen elements more satisfactorily. I will definitely read another book by her, and hope that perhaps she can achieve a more effective balance next time.
There are quite a few plot strands running through Married for His Convenience; in fact I’m not sure there aren’t a few too many. As well as the convenient marriage promised by the title, we have the subplot of the hero’s search for his missing son, the parallel plotline of the heroine searching for her long-lost sister, the hero’s electively mute daughter, a mysterious Scarlet Pimpernel type character called the English Lion, to name just a few … and it’s all crammed in to the usual (for a Harlequin Historical) 288 pages, meaning that some of those elements aren’t developed all that well and there are a lot of questions left unanswered.
Sebastian Hastings, Earl of Langford, gave up on love after the wife he loved to distraction ran off with another man, taking Sebastian’s two children to France along with them. The adulterous couple fled to France at the worst time imaginable (the book opens in 1793, so France wasn’t exactly the best place for an aristocratic lady to be), and although Sebastian’s daughter has been returned to him, his wife is now dead at the hands of Madame la Guillotine, and his son has disappeared.
Sebastian hopes that his friend, Kit Eavensham, may have received some news regarding Edwin from the English Lion. Kit tells him that the Lion’s contacts have established that there is no evidence of the boy’s death, but that is all he has discovered, along with the fact that Sebastian’s wife’s lover is at large somewhere, having escaped the Bastille.
During the course of his visit to the Eavenshams, Sebastian encounters Miss Sarah Martin, the ward of their neighbour, Mrs. Crawford, when Sarah is trying to rescue a wounded rabbit. Even her dowdy, unprepossessing appearance can’t disguise a certain irrepressible quality, and what Sebastian soon discovers to be a generally good-humoured, practical approach to life in spite of her improverished circumstances. Deciding that her compassion for animals and everyone around her makes Sarah the ideal candidate, Sebastian asks her to marry him, plainly setting out his reasons for asking. His daughter has been so traumatised by her experiences in captivity that she has withdrawn from everyone and does not speak; her governesses have been overly harsh and he needs to find someone to properly care for her. It also seems he will beneit financially from remarrying – although it’s not made clear how or why. Sarah makes it clear that she is not interested in marrying just to improve her own comfort, but when Sebastian mentions that they will reside for some of the time in London, she very quickly accepts his offer and the wedding takes place quietly, a few days later.
Where Sebastian is up front about his reasons for marrying, Sarah is not. For years, she has been preoccupied with the idea of finding her half-sister, Charlotte, who continued to live in London after the death of their mother – and Sebastian’s offer now affords Sarah the chance to look for her. As soon as they arrive at Sebastian’s town house, Sarah heads off to Charlotte’s last known address, without any knowledge of the local geography, or any thought for her personal safety or her new position as a countess.
Sarah worried that telling Sebastian that she is illegitimate would cause him to withdraw his offer of marriage, so she doesn’t tell him about her sister – and keeping secrets naturally doesn’t help their fledgling relationship. Sebastian has trust issues anyway as the result of his first wife’s betrayal, so the idea that Sarah is keeping things from him only serves to magnify them. Fortunately, however, Sarah is sensible enough to realise that she can’t do everything herself and eventually asks for her husband’s help; Charlotte is found and restored to Sarah, and that part of the plot is neatly wrapped up. This still leaves the storyline about Sebastian’s son to be resolved, but this is rather rushed and when, towards the end, Sarah elects to follow Sebastian to a rendezvous on horseback, I really couldn’t buy it. The idea that she, who has only just learned to ride a horse, would be able to spend a couple of days in the saddle without doing herself an injury, is highly implausible; plus it wasn’t the done thing for a young lady to ride around the country on her own, not only for propriety’s sake, but because it wasn’t safe to do so.
Sarah and Sebastian are attractive characters who work well together. Sebastian starts off as your typical “once bitten twice shy” sort of hero, but he turns out to have more depth than it seems at first, and I liked his willingness to make changes in his life for Sarah and his patience with her. But even though I liked Sarah for the most part, there were times when I wanted to shake some sense into her. She’s straightforward without being irritatingly ‘feisty’ or contrary for the sake of it, but on several occasions she acts in a way that is naïve at best and selfish at worst. I know these actions are meant to show how kind and loving she is, but instead they show her to be suffering from a bad case of tunnel vision. Sarah is lucky that for the most part, Sebastian considers her lack of concern for the superficial to be rather endearing and refreshing; I didn’t always agree with him.
This is the first time I’ve read a book by this author, and while I liked it enough to want to read more of her work, I can’t recommend it without reservations. Ms. Webster can obviously create likeable characters and interesting plotlines, but she needs to resist the temptation to throw all her ingredients into the pot at once, as there are far too many plot elements for the page count and too many things that seem to happen at random and without explanation. Sebastian and Sarah have a genuine romantic spark, and the romance is sweet and well-paced, even though, because of the numerous plotlines, it is pushed a little to one side at times. I did, however, appreciate that Ms. Webster has developed an actual relationship between the couple and not relied on insta-lust and a string of sex-scenes – although the book is at the tepid end of the scale when it comes to the latter.
Married for His Convenience was an enjoyable way to pass the time, although I doubt it’s a book I’ll re-read. There are some interesting storylines here; I just wish Ms. Webster had used fewer of them and developed her chosen elements more satisfactorily. I will definitely read another book by her, and hope that perhaps she can achieve a more effective balance next time.
December 26, 2017
3.5 out of 5 stars
The author writes well, and I enjoyed the book up until about the last quarter. As several other readers have said, there were several plot lines going on at once. Most of them were resolved, and for me were interesting, and I enjoyed them. I also liked the characters, especially Sarah, the heroine. I have a weakness for heroines who save wounded animals, and relate to emotionally wounded children.
In one of the major plot threads, Sebastian, the hero, has been searching for his son, kidnapped and missing somewhere in France. Sebastian's been working with someone called The Lion to help him find and return his son. I never had any idea who the The Lion was, whether he was a government agent or some sort of Scarlet Pimpernel character. Further, the resolution of the kidnapping plot was confusing in the extreme. Since this resolution took up at least the last quarter of the book, that was a quarter of the book that didn't work for me.
Also, this is a small thing, but it bothered me. The story takes place in England in 1794. At one point, in a very minor scene, Sebastian and Sarah go to a ball at Carlton House, the residence of the Prince of Wales. At that point in time, King George IV was still the Prince of Wales. He did not become the Prince Regent until 1811. Yet he was referred to as the Prince Regent in the book. Historical inaccuracy, even a small one such as this, really bother me, and yank me right out of the story. It's so easy to research and double check a fact such as this.
On the whole, I like this author. I enjoyed about ¾ of the book, and I would certainly read other books by her.
The author writes well, and I enjoyed the book up until about the last quarter. As several other readers have said, there were several plot lines going on at once. Most of them were resolved, and for me were interesting, and I enjoyed them. I also liked the characters, especially Sarah, the heroine. I have a weakness for heroines who save wounded animals, and relate to emotionally wounded children.
In one of the major plot threads, Sebastian, the hero, has been searching for his son, kidnapped and missing somewhere in France. Sebastian's been working with someone called The Lion to help him find and return his son. I never had any idea who the The Lion was, whether he was a government agent or some sort of Scarlet Pimpernel character. Further, the resolution of the kidnapping plot was confusing in the extreme. Since this resolution took up at least the last quarter of the book, that was a quarter of the book that didn't work for me.
Also, this is a small thing, but it bothered me. The story takes place in England in 1794. At one point, in a very minor scene, Sebastian and Sarah go to a ball at Carlton House, the residence of the Prince of Wales. At that point in time, King George IV was still the Prince of Wales. He did not become the Prince Regent until 1811. Yet he was referred to as the Prince Regent in the book. Historical inaccuracy, even a small one such as this, really bother me, and yank me right out of the story. It's so easy to research and double check a fact such as this.
On the whole, I like this author. I enjoyed about ¾ of the book, and I would certainly read other books by her.
December 27, 2016
The title of this book attracted me as I'm rather fond of the 'marriage of convenience' trope. There are a number of potentially interesting plot lines in this story, but there are far too many of them going on at the same time to be plausible and none are particularly well developed, making it an easy book to put down. What saved it - enabling me to give it 3 stars - is that it is nicely written with likeable characters.
Sarah Martin has led a rather sad life which luckily, has barely touched her - she has been blessed with a sunny disposition and mostly sees life through rose-coloured spectacles. Sarah lived the first years of her life with her older sister, Charlotte, and their glamorous mother in London, only rarely seeing her rather austere, much older father. After her mother's death she discovers that she is illegitimate and that Charlotte is her half-sister; and unless I missed something in this tumult of happenings, I couldn't quite work out at what point Charlotte disappeared into the depths of London. Perhaps it was when Sarah's father made it clear that he was prepared to care only for Sarah... but in any case, he takes her home her to his wife. I bet that went down well! His wife is mentally unstable but is also a religious zealot and I'm sure her condition couldn't have been helped by having her husband's bastard dropped onto her when she herself is childless. Eventually he ups and dies leaving kind and caring Sarah to the not so tender mercies of her guardian.
Sebastian, Earl of Langford, needs a mother and carer for his severely traumatised daughter, who is part of just one of the too many plotlines running through this story. Suffice it to say that the child has withdrawn into herself and refuses to speak. Both his son and daughter were taken to France by his adulterous wife when she ran off with her lover, and he is now desperate to rescue his son. His wife is now dead at the hands of Madame Guillotine and although Sebastian's little girl has been returned to him, she has been so badly affected that she is unable to cast any light on what has happened to her brother. Understandably, Sebastian is not in a romantic state of mind and in his desperation to do the right thing, seeks for help with his little girl which in turn will free him to continue his search for his son.
Sebastian has witnessed Sarah rescuing and caring for a rabbit that had been caught in a trap. He sees this kind, soft-hearted girl in action whom he sees has a calming effect on damaged creatures and so it occurs to him that despite her dubious birth, she'll do fine. He no longer wants love and finds it difficult to trust, so the fact that she has a caring and nurturing manner is good enough for his purposes. He eventually persuades Sarah to marry him, although not without difficulty, as she is aware that her lack of beauty, social skills and bastardy make her a poor match for an earl. But once Sebastian mentions that they will go to London, she immediately agrees. Again another plot line that I will not go into.
Honestly, my head was buzzing by this time and I kept losing track of what was happening. I liked the main characters and there are some amusing moments, such as when Sarah is drunk on her wedding night, but on the whole the entire story is full of implausible plot lines, animals and children popping up all over the place. For instance, there's a boy called Fred who listens at doors and immediately understands and acts upon complicated instructions. And there's Sarah racing across the country on a horse when she can barely ride and with no clue as to where she's going but miraculously ending up in the place she needs to be! There's a mysterious character called The Lion - I'm still confused about him! And then there's the authors unfortunate proclivity with the 'word' um... I started noticing this about one third of the way through the book and it was very irritating.
This was a difficult book to grade, because as I said the writing is good and the characters are likeable but it seems to me that the author has an overactive imagination and could have shared these plots amongst three books and developed them further to greater effect. So yes, Married for his Convenience did live up to its title, because the hero and heroine did marry for his convenience but there was just too much going on for plausibility.
Sarah Martin has led a rather sad life which luckily, has barely touched her - she has been blessed with a sunny disposition and mostly sees life through rose-coloured spectacles. Sarah lived the first years of her life with her older sister, Charlotte, and their glamorous mother in London, only rarely seeing her rather austere, much older father. After her mother's death she discovers that she is illegitimate and that Charlotte is her half-sister; and unless I missed something in this tumult of happenings, I couldn't quite work out at what point Charlotte disappeared into the depths of London. Perhaps it was when Sarah's father made it clear that he was prepared to care only for Sarah... but in any case, he takes her home her to his wife. I bet that went down well! His wife is mentally unstable but is also a religious zealot and I'm sure her condition couldn't have been helped by having her husband's bastard dropped onto her when she herself is childless. Eventually he ups and dies leaving kind and caring Sarah to the not so tender mercies of her guardian.
Sebastian, Earl of Langford, needs a mother and carer for his severely traumatised daughter, who is part of just one of the too many plotlines running through this story. Suffice it to say that the child has withdrawn into herself and refuses to speak. Both his son and daughter were taken to France by his adulterous wife when she ran off with her lover, and he is now desperate to rescue his son. His wife is now dead at the hands of Madame Guillotine and although Sebastian's little girl has been returned to him, she has been so badly affected that she is unable to cast any light on what has happened to her brother. Understandably, Sebastian is not in a romantic state of mind and in his desperation to do the right thing, seeks for help with his little girl which in turn will free him to continue his search for his son.
Sebastian has witnessed Sarah rescuing and caring for a rabbit that had been caught in a trap. He sees this kind, soft-hearted girl in action whom he sees has a calming effect on damaged creatures and so it occurs to him that despite her dubious birth, she'll do fine. He no longer wants love and finds it difficult to trust, so the fact that she has a caring and nurturing manner is good enough for his purposes. He eventually persuades Sarah to marry him, although not without difficulty, as she is aware that her lack of beauty, social skills and bastardy make her a poor match for an earl. But once Sebastian mentions that they will go to London, she immediately agrees. Again another plot line that I will not go into.
Honestly, my head was buzzing by this time and I kept losing track of what was happening. I liked the main characters and there are some amusing moments, such as when Sarah is drunk on her wedding night, but on the whole the entire story is full of implausible plot lines, animals and children popping up all over the place. For instance, there's a boy called Fred who listens at doors and immediately understands and acts upon complicated instructions. And there's Sarah racing across the country on a horse when she can barely ride and with no clue as to where she's going but miraculously ending up in the place she needs to be! There's a mysterious character called The Lion - I'm still confused about him! And then there's the authors unfortunate proclivity with the 'word' um... I started noticing this about one third of the way through the book and it was very irritating.
This was a difficult book to grade, because as I said the writing is good and the characters are likeable but it seems to me that the author has an overactive imagination and could have shared these plots amongst three books and developed them further to greater effect. So yes, Married for his Convenience did live up to its title, because the hero and heroine did marry for his convenience but there was just too much going on for plausibility.
November 22, 2016
In the second Harlequin Historical release from Eleanor Webster, the talented author has once again created characters that could actually have lived in England during the late 1700’s. The often troubling predicaments they had to face were very believable for the time period, and I sympathized with numerous individuals because of the distressing events in their lives. Ms. Webster certainly knows how to make her stories conceivable, as I never thought for a moment that a situation could not have occurred. MARRIED FOR HIS CONVENIENCE is constantly engaging with heartfelt emotional issues, honest reactions and even dangerous risks.
Though Sarah Martin had come from humble origins, she did not let this keep her from enjoying life and being happy when things do go right. But she knows being illegitimate will keep her from ever appearing respectable to those who live by the rules of society. When Sarah meets Sebastian Hastings while she is walking in the country near her home, that incident and further interaction with the Earl of Langford proves insightful to him and an idea forms.
After the death of his wife, Sebastian had hired different governesses in the hope of helping his young daughter who has some difficult emotional problems. But with no improvement, he devises a new tactic as he would do anything to see the girl more stable. If Sebastian can get Sarah to wed him, perhaps she might be able to aid the child in making a full recovery. Although she is wary of marrying a man whom she has just recently met, the prospect of going to London where her missing half-sister is supposed to reside is enough incentive for her to agree. Both Sebastian and Sarah have reasons for being together, but finding love was not one of their goals.
With references to the revolution going on in France during the time of the story and its effect on someone in England, MARRIED FOR HIS CONVENIENCE is not only entertaining but also interesting. I always like a historical story when actual occurrences are included. There are plenty of details related to how a woman born out of wedlock might see herself because of social stipulations, and I felt for Sarah even when she tried so hard to appear positive. There are additional situations involving other people which are very convincing, and the author let me see how those in unfortunate circumstances might be forced to live. When a very genuine threat becomes a reality, the story turns heart-pounding as I waited to see what would ultimately happen.
When I met Sarah, I could instantly tell she did things her way, regardless of what others would think of her. Her compassion for creatures was admirable, and I laughed at several comical episodes starring her rescued rabbit and her delightful made-up animal stories. She often acts unconventionally, and it was fun to see how other people would respond to her actions. Sebastian has suffered through tough times lately, and Sarah surprisingly makes him feel that all joy has not gone out of his life. She has him seeing the world from a different perspective, and I loved watching his reactions to her more outrageous deeds. Since the two were practically strangers when they wed, it was enjoyable to see them learn what it would take to make their marriage real and not one of practicality. I am definitely looking forward to more historical stories from Eleanor Webster whose work is very original. MARRIED FOR HIS CONVENIENCE is creatively imaginative.
Copy received to review
Though Sarah Martin had come from humble origins, she did not let this keep her from enjoying life and being happy when things do go right. But she knows being illegitimate will keep her from ever appearing respectable to those who live by the rules of society. When Sarah meets Sebastian Hastings while she is walking in the country near her home, that incident and further interaction with the Earl of Langford proves insightful to him and an idea forms.
After the death of his wife, Sebastian had hired different governesses in the hope of helping his young daughter who has some difficult emotional problems. But with no improvement, he devises a new tactic as he would do anything to see the girl more stable. If Sebastian can get Sarah to wed him, perhaps she might be able to aid the child in making a full recovery. Although she is wary of marrying a man whom she has just recently met, the prospect of going to London where her missing half-sister is supposed to reside is enough incentive for her to agree. Both Sebastian and Sarah have reasons for being together, but finding love was not one of their goals.
With references to the revolution going on in France during the time of the story and its effect on someone in England, MARRIED FOR HIS CONVENIENCE is not only entertaining but also interesting. I always like a historical story when actual occurrences are included. There are plenty of details related to how a woman born out of wedlock might see herself because of social stipulations, and I felt for Sarah even when she tried so hard to appear positive. There are additional situations involving other people which are very convincing, and the author let me see how those in unfortunate circumstances might be forced to live. When a very genuine threat becomes a reality, the story turns heart-pounding as I waited to see what would ultimately happen.
When I met Sarah, I could instantly tell she did things her way, regardless of what others would think of her. Her compassion for creatures was admirable, and I laughed at several comical episodes starring her rescued rabbit and her delightful made-up animal stories. She often acts unconventionally, and it was fun to see how other people would respond to her actions. Sebastian has suffered through tough times lately, and Sarah surprisingly makes him feel that all joy has not gone out of his life. She has him seeing the world from a different perspective, and I loved watching his reactions to her more outrageous deeds. Since the two were practically strangers when they wed, it was enjoyable to see them learn what it would take to make their marriage real and not one of practicality. I am definitely looking forward to more historical stories from Eleanor Webster whose work is very original. MARRIED FOR HIS CONVENIENCE is creatively imaginative.
Copy received to review
June 6, 2017
This is a weak 4-star book. It is fast-paced, pleasurable reading if you don't stop to think too much. Once one stops to think, incredible acts and feats miraculously occurred in a very short period of time.
I liked it, but I think I might have loved it if the story had not been stripped of detail and condensed as a Harlequin short story.
The characters and their actions could have been portrayed so much more richly into an epic movie played out in the mind of the reader if only there had been more words and pages by this author.
I liked it, but I think I might have loved it if the story had not been stripped of detail and condensed as a Harlequin short story.
The characters and their actions could have been portrayed so much more richly into an epic movie played out in the mind of the reader if only there had been more words and pages by this author.
December 19, 2016
Sarah has been caring for an elderly woman in the throes of dementia for some time now. While Sarah is not shown a lot of love, she has an abundance of love for animals. Thwarting fox hunts, for one. She meets her future husband as she is saving a rabbit from a trap. Sebastian, the Earl of Langford is in the country visiting, when he comes across a woman who is sneaking a rabbit into the house. Sarah is plain and outspoken - blunt. This intrigues Sebastian. He notices how calmly and patiently she cares for the hurt rabbit and an idea spark's within him.
Sebastian's wife ran to France with his two children and her lover, and ended up dying at the guillotine. Sebastian was able to buy back his daughter, but his son is still in France, missing. His daughter, Elizabeth, is back at home with him, but has yet to speak a word. She rocks on her rocking horse during the daylight hours, a shell of a girl. Desperate to make a breakthrough with her, he thinks Sarah's compassion just might do the trick, and he proposes marriage. Sarah has a secret - her half-sister was forced to become a mistress years ago, and Sarah needs to get to London to look for her. A marriage to Sebastian would allow her this. She can't tell Sebastian about her sister, because that would mean she would have to tell Sebastian she is a bastard. She agrees to marry, and off to London they go.
Both Sebastian and Sarah are written well and I enjoyed how their relationship unfolds. Sarah is very blunt, and could care less about clothes or hair styles or going out to parties. She would rather sit at home and care for her rabbit than impress the ton, much to Sebastian's frustration. But her sharp mind and sparkling conversation enthrall Sebastian and he becomes quite smitten. I like that Elizabeth, Sebastian's traumatized daughter, doesn't magically get better in this book. She improves, with the help of Sarah, but there is no miracle, and that felt realistic.
There are a lot of story lines happening in this book - Elizabeth refuses to speak, a marriage of convenience which brings along intimacy problems, Sebastian's son is still missing in France and a man called "The Lion" is supposedly looking for him, and Sarah is secretly looking for her sister.
Whew. Elizabeth's health is the most focused upon, followed by the search for Sarah's sister. The story line looking for Sebastian's missing son is pushed way to the side. This intriguing character called The Lion is introduced early, but definitely left in the shadows. I think there is a little too much happening in this book and it loses some focus. Each storyline is wrapped up, but not enough time is spent letting the reader see aftermath.
Within the multiple story lines, there is a sweet romance with a very likable heroine.
Grade: B-
Sebastian's wife ran to France with his two children and her lover, and ended up dying at the guillotine. Sebastian was able to buy back his daughter, but his son is still in France, missing. His daughter, Elizabeth, is back at home with him, but has yet to speak a word. She rocks on her rocking horse during the daylight hours, a shell of a girl. Desperate to make a breakthrough with her, he thinks Sarah's compassion just might do the trick, and he proposes marriage. Sarah has a secret - her half-sister was forced to become a mistress years ago, and Sarah needs to get to London to look for her. A marriage to Sebastian would allow her this. She can't tell Sebastian about her sister, because that would mean she would have to tell Sebastian she is a bastard. She agrees to marry, and off to London they go.
Both Sebastian and Sarah are written well and I enjoyed how their relationship unfolds. Sarah is very blunt, and could care less about clothes or hair styles or going out to parties. She would rather sit at home and care for her rabbit than impress the ton, much to Sebastian's frustration. But her sharp mind and sparkling conversation enthrall Sebastian and he becomes quite smitten. I like that Elizabeth, Sebastian's traumatized daughter, doesn't magically get better in this book. She improves, with the help of Sarah, but there is no miracle, and that felt realistic.
There are a lot of story lines happening in this book - Elizabeth refuses to speak, a marriage of convenience which brings along intimacy problems, Sebastian's son is still missing in France and a man called "The Lion" is supposedly looking for him, and Sarah is secretly looking for her sister.
Whew. Elizabeth's health is the most focused upon, followed by the search for Sarah's sister. The story line looking for Sebastian's missing son is pushed way to the side. This intriguing character called The Lion is introduced early, but definitely left in the shadows. I think there is a little too much happening in this book and it loses some focus. Each storyline is wrapped up, but not enough time is spent letting the reader see aftermath.
Within the multiple story lines, there is a sweet romance with a very likable heroine.
Grade: B-
February 15, 2019
A new no conventional heroine for Ms. Webster, Sarah is strong and caring but is carrying the stigma of being illegitimate,
Sebastian is need of funds for the research of his son lost in the midst of the French Revolution and the only way is to find a wife to obtain the funds from an old great-aunt. He need also someone to look after his daughter that don't speak anymore after her rescue from France...
Sebastian is need of funds for the research of his son lost in the midst of the French Revolution and the only way is to find a wife to obtain the funds from an old great-aunt. He need also someone to look after his daughter that don't speak anymore after her rescue from France...
February 11, 2019
I loved it. At the end I had a huge smile on my face. Loved the hero and the heroine so much. It had interesting action aside the romance part and it wasn't too sappy. The heroine was smart, funny so she made me laugh and the hero was a true gentleman.
June 15, 2019
I really enjoyed this story. As mentioned by other reviewers there were a number of plot lines but they were all relevant and kept the story moving. The heroine's love of animals led to some amusing situations
I will be reading more of this author.
I will be reading more of this author.
November 26, 2023
Love to follow.
A father is searching for his son and daughter. Their mother had taken them when she left with her lover. She had been killed in France . Her lover was keeping the children to get information from their father. An interesting story that I enjoyed.
A father is searching for his son and daughter. Their mother had taken them when she left with her lover. She had been killed in France . Her lover was keeping the children to get information from their father. An interesting story that I enjoyed.
February 2, 2017
Historical romance readers are in for a treat with Eleanor Webster‘s second sparkling, witty and wholly captivating Regency tale, Married for His Convenience.
Miss Sarah Martin had resigned herself to living a dull and uneventful life. As the ward of a pious and God-fearing woman who believes in the power of prayer and sacrifice, but who scorns any kind of comfort as being the devil’s work, Sarah seeks solace in her love of animals and the novel she is writing featuring the brave and beautiful Miss Petunia Hardcastle. Her fictional creation is everything Sarah is not – valiant, courageous, adventurous and possessed of the power to make men fall at her feet. Unfortunately for Sarah, as she is poor, plain and illegitimate, the chances of making a good match seem to decrease every single day. But Sarah has got neither the time nor the inclination for romance – she is desperate to find her sister, Charlotte, whom she has not seen for years. However, with Charlotte’s last known address being in London, Sarah needs to leave her staid and bucolic life behind to find her sister. But how is a poor and penniless ward going to get the money to find her missing sister?
Romance is also the last thing on Sebastian Hastings, the Earl of Longford,’s mind. With his son missing and a young daughter who has not spoken a word in a very long time, Sebastian is in desperate need of a wife. Miss Sarah Martin is as far removed from anyone’s idea of a suitable wife as it is possible to get – so why on earth has Sebastian just proposed to her? Although their arrangement is meant to be a strictly convenient one, Sebastian cannot stop himself from wanting to kiss his bride – or from falling head over heels in love with her!
Marriage to Sebastian has provided Sarah with the means and opportunity to find her missing sister, but with rumours of her sister leading a less than salubrious life, Sarah finds herself with no other choice than to keep mum about her quest. As she finds herself thrust in a whole new world, Sarah soon begins to see a completely different side to her taciturn husband, but when mutual attraction leads to a passion that simply cannot be denied, will she have the courage to admit the truth about her feelings to Sebastian? And will her feelings be reciprocated?
Sebastian and Sarah’s convenient arrangement has given way to something deeper, but are they ready to grab this unexpected chance at happiness? Or will past mistakes and old fears condemn them to a lifetime of regret?
Eleanor Webster deftly combines humour, passion, desire, intrigue and heart in an unforgettable and mesmerizing historical romance readers will just not be able to put down. Sparkling with heart-pounding danger, poignant romance, wonderful descriptions of Regency England and searing emotional intensity, readers are sure to fall in love with spirited Sarah, brooding Sebastian and the wonderful cast of supporting characters that people this enchanting historical romantic tale!
Readers who like witty, warm-hearted and wonderfully written historical romances should definitely not dare miss Married for His Convenience for they will not only thoroughly enjoy this terrific Regency tale, but also add Eleanor Webster’s books to their auto-buy list!
Miss Sarah Martin had resigned herself to living a dull and uneventful life. As the ward of a pious and God-fearing woman who believes in the power of prayer and sacrifice, but who scorns any kind of comfort as being the devil’s work, Sarah seeks solace in her love of animals and the novel she is writing featuring the brave and beautiful Miss Petunia Hardcastle. Her fictional creation is everything Sarah is not – valiant, courageous, adventurous and possessed of the power to make men fall at her feet. Unfortunately for Sarah, as she is poor, plain and illegitimate, the chances of making a good match seem to decrease every single day. But Sarah has got neither the time nor the inclination for romance – she is desperate to find her sister, Charlotte, whom she has not seen for years. However, with Charlotte’s last known address being in London, Sarah needs to leave her staid and bucolic life behind to find her sister. But how is a poor and penniless ward going to get the money to find her missing sister?
Romance is also the last thing on Sebastian Hastings, the Earl of Longford,’s mind. With his son missing and a young daughter who has not spoken a word in a very long time, Sebastian is in desperate need of a wife. Miss Sarah Martin is as far removed from anyone’s idea of a suitable wife as it is possible to get – so why on earth has Sebastian just proposed to her? Although their arrangement is meant to be a strictly convenient one, Sebastian cannot stop himself from wanting to kiss his bride – or from falling head over heels in love with her!
Marriage to Sebastian has provided Sarah with the means and opportunity to find her missing sister, but with rumours of her sister leading a less than salubrious life, Sarah finds herself with no other choice than to keep mum about her quest. As she finds herself thrust in a whole new world, Sarah soon begins to see a completely different side to her taciturn husband, but when mutual attraction leads to a passion that simply cannot be denied, will she have the courage to admit the truth about her feelings to Sebastian? And will her feelings be reciprocated?
Sebastian and Sarah’s convenient arrangement has given way to something deeper, but are they ready to grab this unexpected chance at happiness? Or will past mistakes and old fears condemn them to a lifetime of regret?
Eleanor Webster deftly combines humour, passion, desire, intrigue and heart in an unforgettable and mesmerizing historical romance readers will just not be able to put down. Sparkling with heart-pounding danger, poignant romance, wonderful descriptions of Regency England and searing emotional intensity, readers are sure to fall in love with spirited Sarah, brooding Sebastian and the wonderful cast of supporting characters that people this enchanting historical romantic tale!
Readers who like witty, warm-hearted and wonderfully written historical romances should definitely not dare miss Married for His Convenience for they will not only thoroughly enjoy this terrific Regency tale, but also add Eleanor Webster’s books to their auto-buy list!
December 21, 2016
Great story line and I really enjoyed the characters. They were all wonderful to read. I wish it could have been longer.
December 30, 2016
Plain and illegitimate, Sarah Martin knows she will never make a match in the marriage mart. But when the Earl of Langford offers to marry her, she realizes that this opportunity would allow her to search for her half-sister.
Sebastian needs someone to care for his young daughter, who no longer speaks due to past trauma. He is not looking for romance, an idea that died with late wife’s affairs. Having her serve as governess will free him to search for his son. He did not count on Sarah surprising him at every turn. He also finds he cannot resist the lure of her kisses nor the delights found in the marriage bed.
Sebastian certainly got more than he thought when he married Sarah. Unlike anyone else he ever knew, he found Sarah to be delightful and filled with life. Against his better judgement, he found himself wanting more. But he also had a goal and he would not lose sight of that goal. I loved watching the interaction between Sarah and Sebastian. The two developed a tie that allowed for Sarah to help him even if he did not want that help. Sebastian fought it but Sarah embraced it. Pick up Married for his Convenience and watch as two become one in the battle that love brings. Delicious from beginning to end.
Sebastian needs someone to care for his young daughter, who no longer speaks due to past trauma. He is not looking for romance, an idea that died with late wife’s affairs. Having her serve as governess will free him to search for his son. He did not count on Sarah surprising him at every turn. He also finds he cannot resist the lure of her kisses nor the delights found in the marriage bed.
Sebastian certainly got more than he thought when he married Sarah. Unlike anyone else he ever knew, he found Sarah to be delightful and filled with life. Against his better judgement, he found himself wanting more. But he also had a goal and he would not lose sight of that goal. I loved watching the interaction between Sarah and Sebastian. The two developed a tie that allowed for Sarah to help him even if he did not want that help. Sebastian fought it but Sarah embraced it. Pick up Married for his Convenience and watch as two become one in the battle that love brings. Delicious from beginning to end.
November 30, 2017
loved the characters, action, and sarah's no nonsense attitude. interesting use of the animals to pull elizabeth and charlotte out of their shells. and as always, loved the animals for their ability to lighten a mood and bring a smile.
it is an interesting time period not typically covered for romances. it was refreshing to read a pre-napoleon story-line. how the character's had to act and react was different than during the post-napoleonic era.
only quip i had was sometimes i got confused when elizabeth and sarah were together. it was only sarah talking. that aside, loved this book and highly recommend it to anyone who's looking for a different time gone by!!
**SIGNED**
(Received free through Goodreads First Reads)
it is an interesting time period not typically covered for romances. it was refreshing to read a pre-napoleon story-line. how the character's had to act and react was different than during the post-napoleonic era.
only quip i had was sometimes i got confused when elizabeth and sarah were together. it was only sarah talking. that aside, loved this book and highly recommend it to anyone who's looking for a different time gone by!!
**SIGNED**
(Received free through Goodreads First Reads)
February 9, 2017
Cute read!
I really liked the main character Sarah! She was not the usual lady that everyone was excepting.
I really liked the main character Sarah! She was not the usual lady that everyone was excepting.
February 6, 2017
Like a hodge-podge of The Scarlet Pimpernel, Carla Kelly, Victoria Holt, and lots of rescue animals. 3.5 stars
December 20, 2016
The story is set in 1794. When Sebastian Hastings, the Earl of Langford rashly proposes
to Sarah Martin, she accepts.
Both have secrets that they will have to reveal if they want their marriage to be real.
While reading, I thought that Sarah might have been inspired by the author Beatrix Potter.
to Sarah Martin, she accepts.
Both have secrets that they will have to reveal if they want their marriage to be real.
While reading, I thought that Sarah might have been inspired by the author Beatrix Potter.
December 2, 2016
It's a good story. They get married, each have their own motives and both view it as a business arrangement but of course develop feelings for each other. It is well developed, not rushed.
December 23, 2016
3.5 out of 5
May 3, 2017
3.5 stars
January 19, 2018
Až na několik historických nepřesností a zmatečný konec docela dobré.
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