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Merely a Marriage
Alternate cover edition can be found here
As England mourns the death of Princess Charlotte, Lady Ariana Boxstall has another succession in mind. Her brother, Norris, is a strapping young man, but he’s also happily unmarried and childless. Norris agrees to take a wife on one condition: that Ariana take a husband first. Although she realizes she risks a lifetime in a loveless marriage, for the sake of her family, Ariana accepts his challenge.
When the Earl of Kynaston met Ariana eight years ago, he broke her heart. Since then, his own heart has been broken, and he’s sworn off love...until he sees Ariana all grown-up and his resolve is threatened.
Could Ariana’s bargain with Norris actually lead her to happiness? With real love on the line, she must win over the one man who refuses to be had.
As England mourns the death of Princess Charlotte, Lady Ariana Boxstall has another succession in mind. Her brother, Norris, is a strapping young man, but he’s also happily unmarried and childless. Norris agrees to take a wife on one condition: that Ariana take a husband first. Although she realizes she risks a lifetime in a loveless marriage, for the sake of her family, Ariana accepts his challenge.
When the Earl of Kynaston met Ariana eight years ago, he broke her heart. Since then, his own heart has been broken, and he’s sworn off love...until he sees Ariana all grown-up and his resolve is threatened.
Could Ariana’s bargain with Norris actually lead her to happiness? With real love on the line, she must win over the one man who refuses to be had.
380 pages, ebook
First published May 30, 2017
168 people are currently reading
1018 people want to read
About the author
Jo Beverley
140 books1,129 followersMary Josephine Dunn was born 22 September 1947 in Lancashire, England, UK. At the age of eleven she went to an all-girls boarding school, Layton Hill Convent, Blackpool. At sixteen, she wrote her first romance, with a medieval setting, completed in installments in an exercise book. From 1966 to 1970, she obtained a degree in English history from Keele University in Staffordshire, where she met her future husband, Ken Beverley. After graduation, they married on June 24, 1971. She quickly attained a position as a youth employment officer until 1976, working first in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, and then in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire.
In 1976, her scientist husband was invited to do post-doctoral research at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. When her professional qualifications proved not to be usable in the Canadian labour market, she raised their two sons and started to write her first romances.
Moved to Ottawa, in 1985 she became a founding member of the Ottawa Romance Writers’ Association, that her “nurturing community” for the next twelve years. The same year, she completed a regency romance, but it was promptly rejected by a number of publishers, and she settled more earnestly to learning the craft. In 1988, it sold to Walker, and was published as "Lord Wraybourne's Betrothed". She regularly appears on bestseller lists including the USA Today overall bestseller list, the New York Times, and and the Publishers Weekly list. She has been the recipient of numerous awards including the Golden Leaf, the Award of Excellence, the National Readers Choice, and a two Career Achievement awards from Romantic Times. She is also a five time winner of the RITA, the top award of the Romance Writers Of America, and a member of their Hall of Fame and Honor Roll.
Jo Beverley passed away on May 23, 2016 after a long battle with cancer.
In 1976, her scientist husband was invited to do post-doctoral research at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. When her professional qualifications proved not to be usable in the Canadian labour market, she raised their two sons and started to write her first romances.
Moved to Ottawa, in 1985 she became a founding member of the Ottawa Romance Writers’ Association, that her “nurturing community” for the next twelve years. The same year, she completed a regency romance, but it was promptly rejected by a number of publishers, and she settled more earnestly to learning the craft. In 1988, it sold to Walker, and was published as "Lord Wraybourne's Betrothed". She regularly appears on bestseller lists including the USA Today overall bestseller list, the New York Times, and and the Publishers Weekly list. She has been the recipient of numerous awards including the Golden Leaf, the Award of Excellence, the National Readers Choice, and a two Career Achievement awards from Romantic Times. She is also a five time winner of the RITA, the top award of the Romance Writers Of America, and a member of their Hall of Fame and Honor Roll.
Jo Beverley passed away on May 23, 2016 after a long battle with cancer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews
June 2, 2017
Merely a Marriage is a stand alone book by Jo Beverley. Knowing that the dear lady passed away a year ago made reading this book bittersweet for me. I was happy to be enjoying an entertaining book, but so sad knowing that it's author is no longer with us and that she won't be writing any more books.
Lady Ariana Boxstall is desperately upset after Princess Charlotte dies along side her baby in childbirth. It's very upsetting because Charlotte was young, but also upsetting because it makes Ariana realise that her brother, Norris, needs to marry and beget an heir sooner rather than later. He is the heir to the family estate and if anything were to happen to him before marrying and having an heir then everything goes to their good for nothing uncle. In her desperation Ariana tells Norris he must marry before the end of the year in just 2 months time! Of course he refuses, but when she won't take no for an answer he makes a deal with her; if she marries before the end of the year, he will marry by the end of January. He doesn't believe for one minute that she will agree to the deal, so is shocked when she does! She figures it can't be hard to find a man who is suitable and will make an agreeable husband. With that in mind, she heads to London where with the help of a family friend to make a list of men as tall or taller than her that would make a good husband, she sets out to fulfil her part of the deal. Ariana is a very tall woman, which has always made it difficult to feel comfortable at social routs. At one such occasion 8 years ago Ariana had quite a crush on a man, the Earl of Kynaston, and she was crushed when she overheard him talking amongst friends, taking the mickey of her Amazonian size and her large feet! She hoped she would never see him again.
Unfortunately, Titus, the Earl is in London and is staying at his aunt's house after selling his own town house. Even more unfortunate for Ariana is that the family friend helping her to find a husband, and with whom she is staying while in London, is none other than Kynaston's aunt! Another shock for her is that on the list that has been made of potential husbands, the aunt has put Kynaston's name. She decides to cross out his name immediately and to concentrate on the other men on the list.
Coming across Kynaston brings back bad memories, but it also brings back her old feelings for him, except now he seems to be a wastrel and a drunk. Ariana has no idea about what has changed him so much, and despite being adamant not to spend any time with him, she does just that and finds it harder and harder to stop wishing that he would just grab her and kiss her senseless. Does he feel the same, it doesn't seem like it, in fact he's helping her with her husband search! How can she possibly find the perfect guy when it is as plain as the nose on your face that she is comparing every man unfavourably to Kynaston.
Will she end up with a husband, and in turn will Norris find a bride too?
I did enjoy this book, but have to admit that it isn't one of Jo Beverley's finest. In fact while reading it, it crossed my mind that perhaps a lot of it was written while she wasn't well. The book just didn't have the special something that make her books extra special. The plot was good, and the subplots interesting, I especially liked the references to the Egyptian artefacts and a mummy that fascinated Ariana. Sometimes the plots did seem to get a bit messy, but still could be understood. I guess sometimes the book seemed a little disjointed and we could lose sight of the main plot. That said, there were some laugh out loud moments in the book, and some moments that brought a tear to my eyes. Jo Beverley definitely delivered when it came to making me enjoy the gamut of emotions whilst reading this book. All in all, it was still a pleasure to read and I am glad that I did.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers' copy of this book.
Lady Ariana Boxstall is desperately upset after Princess Charlotte dies along side her baby in childbirth. It's very upsetting because Charlotte was young, but also upsetting because it makes Ariana realise that her brother, Norris, needs to marry and beget an heir sooner rather than later. He is the heir to the family estate and if anything were to happen to him before marrying and having an heir then everything goes to their good for nothing uncle. In her desperation Ariana tells Norris he must marry before the end of the year in just 2 months time! Of course he refuses, but when she won't take no for an answer he makes a deal with her; if she marries before the end of the year, he will marry by the end of January. He doesn't believe for one minute that she will agree to the deal, so is shocked when she does! She figures it can't be hard to find a man who is suitable and will make an agreeable husband. With that in mind, she heads to London where with the help of a family friend to make a list of men as tall or taller than her that would make a good husband, she sets out to fulfil her part of the deal. Ariana is a very tall woman, which has always made it difficult to feel comfortable at social routs. At one such occasion 8 years ago Ariana had quite a crush on a man, the Earl of Kynaston, and she was crushed when she overheard him talking amongst friends, taking the mickey of her Amazonian size and her large feet! She hoped she would never see him again.
Unfortunately, Titus, the Earl is in London and is staying at his aunt's house after selling his own town house. Even more unfortunate for Ariana is that the family friend helping her to find a husband, and with whom she is staying while in London, is none other than Kynaston's aunt! Another shock for her is that on the list that has been made of potential husbands, the aunt has put Kynaston's name. She decides to cross out his name immediately and to concentrate on the other men on the list.
Coming across Kynaston brings back bad memories, but it also brings back her old feelings for him, except now he seems to be a wastrel and a drunk. Ariana has no idea about what has changed him so much, and despite being adamant not to spend any time with him, she does just that and finds it harder and harder to stop wishing that he would just grab her and kiss her senseless. Does he feel the same, it doesn't seem like it, in fact he's helping her with her husband search! How can she possibly find the perfect guy when it is as plain as the nose on your face that she is comparing every man unfavourably to Kynaston.
Will she end up with a husband, and in turn will Norris find a bride too?
I did enjoy this book, but have to admit that it isn't one of Jo Beverley's finest. In fact while reading it, it crossed my mind that perhaps a lot of it was written while she wasn't well. The book just didn't have the special something that make her books extra special. The plot was good, and the subplots interesting, I especially liked the references to the Egyptian artefacts and a mummy that fascinated Ariana. Sometimes the plots did seem to get a bit messy, but still could be understood. I guess sometimes the book seemed a little disjointed and we could lose sight of the main plot. That said, there were some laugh out loud moments in the book, and some moments that brought a tear to my eyes. Jo Beverley definitely delivered when it came to making me enjoy the gamut of emotions whilst reading this book. All in all, it was still a pleasure to read and I am glad that I did.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers' copy of this book.
May 25, 2017
A last book by a beloved author had me feeling all kinds of sentimental and predisposed to love this one. A sibling challenge, a fiery unconventional heroine, and a melancholy hero were mildly engaging.
As I said, this was a swan song book by an author I have been reading her books for over two decades. With a little connection to her Company of Rogues world, I happily looked for the cameos that were there. I enjoyed the redoubtable Dowager Countess of Cawle and another visit with Mr. Peake as strong side characters. A visit with the Major and Blanche in on scene and the older generation. The pall of the Princess Charlotte's death in child birth offered the historical backdrop.
Now, as to my thoughts on the story's plot and characters. I really don't want to say this, but at best I was mildly engaged with this book. It was boring. There, I said it. I didn't care for the heroine very much, the premise was weak for me, and the romance was nearly none existent while much of the book was waiting for something interesting to happen.
The premise revolves around the heroine, Ariana, panicking that her brother has no heir (he's 23, by the way) and the family will lose the estate if he dies young (not the family wealth just the estate so this isn't about survival). So she attempts to bully him into marriage. He gives that a 'you first' reply. So the story is her willing to merc herself out to any eligible bachelor of society even a marriage where she can barely tolerate a guy just to keep her father's collectibles and a house in the family. Yeah, I really wasn't buying it. And in the process, I did find her a bully who stuck her nose in where it didn't belong and formed short-sighted, prejudiced opinions. And what in the Sam Hill was it with the being tall thing. I swear a fourth of this book was about her height and everyone else's. It was like a fetish.
But the last nail in the coffin was the lack of romantic development. It was just not there. She crushed, she squirmed with attraction, and they fought a lot mostly because her observation and decision-making skills were squat, but there was no chemistry or solid evidence of love. They didn't even share much scene time if they weren't fighting.
So, I finished this one because I respected the author, but didn't more than mildly enjoy the story. It's an okay historical romance for me.
As I said, this was a swan song book by an author I have been reading her books for over two decades. With a little connection to her Company of Rogues world, I happily looked for the cameos that were there. I enjoyed the redoubtable Dowager Countess of Cawle and another visit with Mr. Peake as strong side characters. A visit with the Major and Blanche in on scene and the older generation. The pall of the Princess Charlotte's death in child birth offered the historical backdrop.
Now, as to my thoughts on the story's plot and characters. I really don't want to say this, but at best I was mildly engaged with this book. It was boring. There, I said it. I didn't care for the heroine very much, the premise was weak for me, and the romance was nearly none existent while much of the book was waiting for something interesting to happen.
The premise revolves around the heroine, Ariana, panicking that her brother has no heir (he's 23, by the way) and the family will lose the estate if he dies young (not the family wealth just the estate so this isn't about survival). So she attempts to bully him into marriage. He gives that a 'you first' reply. So the story is her willing to merc herself out to any eligible bachelor of society even a marriage where she can barely tolerate a guy just to keep her father's collectibles and a house in the family. Yeah, I really wasn't buying it. And in the process, I did find her a bully who stuck her nose in where it didn't belong and formed short-sighted, prejudiced opinions. And what in the Sam Hill was it with the being tall thing. I swear a fourth of this book was about her height and everyone else's. It was like a fetish.
But the last nail in the coffin was the lack of romantic development. It was just not there. She crushed, she squirmed with attraction, and they fought a lot mostly because her observation and decision-making skills were squat, but there was no chemistry or solid evidence of love. They didn't even share much scene time if they weren't fighting.
So, I finished this one because I respected the author, but didn't more than mildly enjoy the story. It's an okay historical romance for me.
May 22, 2017
This is a lively Regency tale, with a charming heroine, a captivating hero, and lots of twists and turns in the plot. It may take a few liberties with the manners of the day, but overall it is a fitting final book for an author of historical romances.
Lady Ariana Boxstall tells her brother she'll marry if he will to keep their family home out of the hands of the uncle who will destroy everything if her brother dies before having an heir. But finding someone she can marry is difficult-not only can he not repel her personally, but he has to at least match her in height. At six feet herself, finding a tall man without overwhelming liabilities is a trial.
And one of the few potentially eligible husbands, Titus, the Earl of Kynaston, broke Ariana's heart when she met him during her first visit to town 8 years ago. Now he appears to be a drunken wastrel-but things aren't always what they seem.
Can Ariana find the truth about the Earl's situation -and deal with the fallout from that truth?
I liked the fact that Ariana overcame her youthful heartbreak to become a strong, clear-headed woman and that Titus simply couldn't resist her, as hard as he tried. Some of the interactions between these two are where the accuracy of the time period break down-they would have been forced to marry long before they came to the conclusion they should, but otherwise, this was a fascinating glimpse into the life and times of the aristocracy of England in the early 1800s.
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
May 3, 2017
I am much saddened by this beloved author's passing, and it is doubly unfortunate that this story is simply quite dull. It took great effort for me to finish it because almost nothing happens - most of the pages are filled with Ariana's inner monologues. Her heart is in turmoil after meeting the Earl of Kynaston again, for whom she had a tendre many years ago, except he didn't really notice her then, and now he has, after some forced proximity to each other. The problem is, Ariana just acts as if he doesn't exist, and Kynaston doesn't really take action for much of the novel either.
Overall, it would have been nice if there was simply more in this novel - more dialogue, more character interactions, more show rather than tell, more reasons why we should like this hero and heroine.
*I received an advanced reader copy via Netgalley for an honest review
Overall, it would have been nice if there was simply more in this novel - more dialogue, more character interactions, more show rather than tell, more reasons why we should like this hero and heroine.
*I received an advanced reader copy via Netgalley for an honest review
May 13, 2022
.
I listened to the audible version of this book through Hoopla, thanks to my local public library. The length of the tale is 10 hours and 12 minutes. I prefer to increase the speed to one I can still interpret and comprehend with ease, which lessens the length of reading time.
It never ceases to amaze me when an author comes up with new and refreshing content in an era well written about. This author definitely met that challenge well with this selection!
It contains long-buried emotions that eventually bubble over, strict rules governing the ton, and eye-opening revelations not anticipated, regarding most of the main characters.
One scene near the end would probably be determined as a mild adult sex scene. But other than that, it was a clean read, for those that prefer to be aware of such.
.
I listened to the audible version of this book through Hoopla, thanks to my local public library. The length of the tale is 10 hours and 12 minutes. I prefer to increase the speed to one I can still interpret and comprehend with ease, which lessens the length of reading time.
It never ceases to amaze me when an author comes up with new and refreshing content in an era well written about. This author definitely met that challenge well with this selection!
It contains long-buried emotions that eventually bubble over, strict rules governing the ton, and eye-opening revelations not anticipated, regarding most of the main characters.
One scene near the end would probably be determined as a mild adult sex scene. But other than that, it was a clean read, for those that prefer to be aware of such.
.
May 22, 2021
Note to self: Jo Beverley is just not my jam. It’s probably unfair of me to give so low of a rating because the book is definitely well written and researched and engaging. The premise was totally up my alley - an almost/spinster and the rake who broke her heart when she overheard him insulting her. But it was a letdown all around, for me.
Also I get (and regret) that this is a clean romance, but there is no steam or spark or, just, anything. (1.5 stars)
Also I get (and regret) that this is a clean romance, but there is no steam or spark or, just, anything. (1.5 stars)
July 13, 2017
This book had some very depressing parts. The hero lost his beloved wife in childbirth. Then in real life history, Princess Charlotte died in childbirth.
The heroine was also over the top obsessed with a mummy that had a slight resemblance to the hero's dead wife. I found it creepy. They eventually buried the wife and the mummy in the same cemetery.
I felt the romance was lacking in this book. Heroine was obsessed with how tall she was and how she wanted a tall man.
The heroine was also over the top obsessed with a mummy that had a slight resemblance to the hero's dead wife. I found it creepy. They eventually buried the wife and the mummy in the same cemetery.
I felt the romance was lacking in this book. Heroine was obsessed with how tall she was and how she wanted a tall man.
May 29, 2017
***ARC Provided by Berkley Publishing Group***
Ariana and Kynaston had, I think, the potential to be a lot more interesting than they ultimately were, which is a shame as I had high hopes for this title, especially as this is the last book by Jo Beverly.
There was a lot going on here, with scandals in papers, running off to elope, brothers who don't want to marry, trips to London, and attempts to marry off a woman who is nearing (if not already) at an age where she would be considered a spinster.
Unfortunately, there was so much going on around Ariana and Kynaston that you sort of lost the story of them, and this is what the book is supposed to be about, their story. I didn't like their initial meeting in this book, and I thought that the attraction felt forced at first, which was a little hard to get past.
I did like the writing, and the stories that were told, but more as a woman's fiction story and less as a romance of the 2 characters. I would have been interested to hear some of the other stories in a later book, although with the death of the author sadly this isn't an option. There was just too much going on in this story for me to be able to feel fully invested.
The writing, as I mentioned, was wonderful and charming, and so perfect for a historical novel. It felt like it really was set in the 1800's while maintaining the ability to read it without having to look up each word on the page.
There was a lot about this book that was charming, and there were parts of it that didn't work the best. But, for fans of this author, reading her final book is definitely worth it. I do recommend this title.
Ariana and Kynaston had, I think, the potential to be a lot more interesting than they ultimately were, which is a shame as I had high hopes for this title, especially as this is the last book by Jo Beverly.
There was a lot going on here, with scandals in papers, running off to elope, brothers who don't want to marry, trips to London, and attempts to marry off a woman who is nearing (if not already) at an age where she would be considered a spinster.
Unfortunately, there was so much going on around Ariana and Kynaston that you sort of lost the story of them, and this is what the book is supposed to be about, their story. I didn't like their initial meeting in this book, and I thought that the attraction felt forced at first, which was a little hard to get past.
I did like the writing, and the stories that were told, but more as a woman's fiction story and less as a romance of the 2 characters. I would have been interested to hear some of the other stories in a later book, although with the death of the author sadly this isn't an option. There was just too much going on in this story for me to be able to feel fully invested.
The writing, as I mentioned, was wonderful and charming, and so perfect for a historical novel. It felt like it really was set in the 1800's while maintaining the ability to read it without having to look up each word on the page.
There was a lot about this book that was charming, and there were parts of it that didn't work the best. But, for fans of this author, reading her final book is definitely worth it. I do recommend this title.
April 21, 2017
After reading and enjoying The Viscount Needs a Wife by Beverley, I was a bit underwhelmed by Merely a Marriage. The characters in Merely a Marriage were likable enough (as with The Viscount Needs a Wife), but I found the premise rather predictable and the storytelling lacking. I hesitate to be overcritical or harsh because I have read that this is the author's final work. If you have not yet read Ms. Beverley's work, I highly recommend starting with another title.
**eARC Netgalley**
**eARC Netgalley**
June 7, 2017
I love Jo Beverly. Absolutely love her. But this book was awful. We have a female lead who is tall. And we find out she is tall on most of the pages. And then we read about her being tall some more. We have a male lead that drinks for some reason. And is therefore unsuitable. And we read about him being unsuitable on every page.
I think there could have been a good story in there somewhere, but this was just a train wreck.
I think there could have been a good story in there somewhere, but this was just a train wreck.
June 24, 2017
Reading this book is a heartbreaking bittersweet chore for me because Ms. Beverley has been a favorite author of mine since her early regency romances in the 80s.. I'll finish the book and then return with final thoughts. sigh.
Finished it...here are my (lengthy) thoughts (might be "mini" spoiling spoilers):
Merely A Marriage by Jo Beverley is set against the backdrop of Princess Charlotte and her newborn baby’s death. This sad event spurs Lady Ariana Boxstall into action to secure her own family’s future and to save them all from ruin – she must convince her brother to wed and beget an heir. He agrees to do so, but with one condition: she must find a husband first. Once upon a time, the Earl of Kynaston would have been an excellent choice, but years ago he broke Ariana’s heart. When they meet again, he leaves less than a stellar impression upon Ariana.
I don’t know what possessed me to read reviews of Merely A Marriage prior to reading it; that’s something I rarely do, but curiosity got the better of me. Talk about getting hit in the face with a baseball you never saw coming! The readers, with one or two exceptions, shared two common threads: dismay at the quality of the story, and a surfeit of guilt at criticizing the work of a recently passed author who was incredibly talented and beloved. I am now one of those readers. The first chapter promised a strong heroine and a lively, engaging premise. Then the train went off the tracks, the bottom fell out, the bubble burst…all those clichés and then some.
Jo Beverley had an amazing knack for writing well-rounded characters that sprung to life. You identified with the heroine. You fell in love with the hero. You knew they were destined to be together. You also knew their road to happily ever after was going to be bumpy, and you gladly hitched a ride because it was going to be a satisfying journey. Not so this time. Lady Ariana Boxstall and the Earl of Kynaston were two under-developed and wooden main characters who shared no real chemistry, and never engaged my attention or concern. I’m still not sure why *spoiler* they end up together.
Lady Ariana was feisty at the start, but then it was as if the author couldn’t decide whether she was feisty, shrewish, intelligent, nice or what. At first she hated Kynaston because he’d broke her heart years before with hateful words, but when she confronted him about it, she was very matter of fact about how it had made her feel, and he glossed over it all with geez, I was just a dumb kid. And she lets it all go. What?
Kynaston was a flat, cardboard, barely-there hero. His emotional state and the “mystery” surrounding him was not really that mysterious; I figured it out from the get-go, though what “it” is isn’t revealed to pretty much the end. In all honesty, for a romance novel, the hero was oddly absent.
There was no spark between the hero & heroine – their whole relationship felt obligatory because it’s a romance and requires a happy ending. I’m not a fan of gratuitous sex scenes for the sake of a sex scene, but *spoiler* when Ariana and Kynaston do “connect,” it’s in less than six sentences (3-minutes in real time) and hardly the joining of two people passionate towards one another and unable to deny their attraction.
Merely A Marriage also did not deliver Ms. Beverley’s always well-crafted story. It felt more like an outline with disconnected threads and random happenings. When the book ended, I felt like a teacher who had just read a student’s research paper and discovered the student had given no thought or effort to the project at all. Small things, which I can usually ignore because the story is well-written, irritated the hell out of me: the heroine uses a litany of facts to try to convince the hero that starting a family is safe…it read more like a writer unwilling to pare down the research goodies they’d unearth – such an approach is hardly a persuasive, compassionate argument to use with a loved one. Another character referring to another’s gaggle of children as “in their teens.” Did the list of male characters named but not fleshed out expand ten-fold as Ariana searches for her husband because they were meant to convey desperation on her part and therefore push her towards Kynaston? It only felt like filler and not advancement of her relationship with him.
And to make matters worse, the excerpt included from The Viscount Needs a Wife reminds you what a marvelously talented author Ms. Beverley was while emphasizing what a complete shambles is Merely a Marriage.
In order to deal with my disappoint in Merely A Marriage and because I’ve been a fan of Ms. Beverley’s since the beginning of her popular writing career, I’ve developed three coping mechanisms I’d like to share with you –
1) I’m pretending she didn’t write it;
2) As soon as I finished Merely A Marriage I started reading The Viscount Needs a Wife AND bought three of her traditional regency romances written from when she was first published AND one of her longer historical romances; and
3) re-read the numerous quotes of praise for Ms. Beverley, quotes that included words like “fabulous” “delightful” “well-crafted” “sensual” “romantic” and “satisfying.”
Thank you, Ms. Beverley for sharing your incredible creative talent with the world. You are sorely missed. RIP.
Finished it...here are my (lengthy) thoughts (might be "mini" spoiling spoilers):
Merely A Marriage by Jo Beverley is set against the backdrop of Princess Charlotte and her newborn baby’s death. This sad event spurs Lady Ariana Boxstall into action to secure her own family’s future and to save them all from ruin – she must convince her brother to wed and beget an heir. He agrees to do so, but with one condition: she must find a husband first. Once upon a time, the Earl of Kynaston would have been an excellent choice, but years ago he broke Ariana’s heart. When they meet again, he leaves less than a stellar impression upon Ariana.
I don’t know what possessed me to read reviews of Merely A Marriage prior to reading it; that’s something I rarely do, but curiosity got the better of me. Talk about getting hit in the face with a baseball you never saw coming! The readers, with one or two exceptions, shared two common threads: dismay at the quality of the story, and a surfeit of guilt at criticizing the work of a recently passed author who was incredibly talented and beloved. I am now one of those readers. The first chapter promised a strong heroine and a lively, engaging premise. Then the train went off the tracks, the bottom fell out, the bubble burst…all those clichés and then some.
Jo Beverley had an amazing knack for writing well-rounded characters that sprung to life. You identified with the heroine. You fell in love with the hero. You knew they were destined to be together. You also knew their road to happily ever after was going to be bumpy, and you gladly hitched a ride because it was going to be a satisfying journey. Not so this time. Lady Ariana Boxstall and the Earl of Kynaston were two under-developed and wooden main characters who shared no real chemistry, and never engaged my attention or concern. I’m still not sure why *spoiler* they end up together.
Lady Ariana was feisty at the start, but then it was as if the author couldn’t decide whether she was feisty, shrewish, intelligent, nice or what. At first she hated Kynaston because he’d broke her heart years before with hateful words, but when she confronted him about it, she was very matter of fact about how it had made her feel, and he glossed over it all with geez, I was just a dumb kid. And she lets it all go. What?
Kynaston was a flat, cardboard, barely-there hero. His emotional state and the “mystery” surrounding him was not really that mysterious; I figured it out from the get-go, though what “it” is isn’t revealed to pretty much the end. In all honesty, for a romance novel, the hero was oddly absent.
There was no spark between the hero & heroine – their whole relationship felt obligatory because it’s a romance and requires a happy ending. I’m not a fan of gratuitous sex scenes for the sake of a sex scene, but *spoiler* when Ariana and Kynaston do “connect,” it’s in less than six sentences (3-minutes in real time) and hardly the joining of two people passionate towards one another and unable to deny their attraction.
Merely A Marriage also did not deliver Ms. Beverley’s always well-crafted story. It felt more like an outline with disconnected threads and random happenings. When the book ended, I felt like a teacher who had just read a student’s research paper and discovered the student had given no thought or effort to the project at all. Small things, which I can usually ignore because the story is well-written, irritated the hell out of me: the heroine uses a litany of facts to try to convince the hero that starting a family is safe…it read more like a writer unwilling to pare down the research goodies they’d unearth – such an approach is hardly a persuasive, compassionate argument to use with a loved one. Another character referring to another’s gaggle of children as “in their teens.” Did the list of male characters named but not fleshed out expand ten-fold as Ariana searches for her husband because they were meant to convey desperation on her part and therefore push her towards Kynaston? It only felt like filler and not advancement of her relationship with him.
And to make matters worse, the excerpt included from The Viscount Needs a Wife reminds you what a marvelously talented author Ms. Beverley was while emphasizing what a complete shambles is Merely a Marriage.
In order to deal with my disappoint in Merely A Marriage and because I’ve been a fan of Ms. Beverley’s since the beginning of her popular writing career, I’ve developed three coping mechanisms I’d like to share with you –
1) I’m pretending she didn’t write it;
2) As soon as I finished Merely A Marriage I started reading The Viscount Needs a Wife AND bought three of her traditional regency romances written from when she was first published AND one of her longer historical romances; and
3) re-read the numerous quotes of praise for Ms. Beverley, quotes that included words like “fabulous” “delightful” “well-crafted” “sensual” “romantic” and “satisfying.”
Thank you, Ms. Beverley for sharing your incredible creative talent with the world. You are sorely missed. RIP.
November 16, 2022
Another Hoopla audiobook
I wavered between one and two stars - because I DID NOT LIKE THIS BOOK AT ALL.
But then again I actually listened to every part of it so ... basically I DID "read" it cover to cover...
https://twitter.com/Limecello/status/...
so there is that.
Like... I get wanting her brother to marry to ensure the line? But the issue is that's her SOLE thought and she thinks of NOTHING ELSE. No details, nothing about emotion.
Her whole thing is "pfft love whatever."
BUT THEN IT'S ALSO HER ONLY DRIVING FACTOR.
She's vapid and controlling and selfish.
She's all "oh I can't marry anyone shorter than me."
[Also WTF two historicals in a row written by different authors at different times with "unusually tall" heroines.]
And how she rules out the hero "because he drinks" and she just assumes he's broke and an alcoholic.
There's also ... nothing really to show a DEVELOPMENT of a relationship. She's obviously had a crush on him forever - but their first interactions are very unpleasant.
She's ... just.
So dumb. She's 25. Like. Really now.
AND then when she assumes who her brother likes - ENTIRELY based on looks - and how she's ... borderline cruel to Phoebe.
Just... she's SO JUDGMENTAL and makes snap decisions that are almost always wrong.
And by the end despite not ... having any real conversations oh the hero is in love with her?
And how she determines his first wife HAS to be buried in London or she won't be at peace... I mean that's more a you thing, bitch. [And ok SLIGHTLY for the hero.]
I just .. wow I really really really disliked her. And maybe it was a tiny part how the narrator read her/voiced her?
But ... really one of the worst.
While the hero is grouchy at parts - he has good reason. He just lost his wife.
Then his whole "I'm never getting another woman pregnant ever again" - his mom died in childbirth, his wife died in childbirth, princess Charlotte just died in childbirth right before the book began...
I really thought about DNFing really really early on - but then again you only get 10 borrows a month and I only have like 3 left so I felt like I had to read this .../finish it...
:\
I don't remember Jo Beverly books being like this but O_O if they're all like this.
Well.
anyway... D -------- .... >.>
I wavered between one and two stars - because I DID NOT LIKE THIS BOOK AT ALL.
But then again I actually listened to every part of it so ... basically I DID "read" it cover to cover...
https://twitter.com/Limecello/status/...
so there is that.
Like... I get wanting her brother to marry to ensure the line? But the issue is that's her SOLE thought and she thinks of NOTHING ELSE. No details, nothing about emotion.
Her whole thing is "pfft love whatever."
BUT THEN IT'S ALSO HER ONLY DRIVING FACTOR.
She's vapid and controlling and selfish.
She's all "oh I can't marry anyone shorter than me."
[Also WTF two historicals in a row written by different authors at different times with "unusually tall" heroines.]
And how she rules out the hero "because he drinks" and she just assumes he's broke and an alcoholic.
There's also ... nothing really to show a DEVELOPMENT of a relationship. She's obviously had a crush on him forever - but their first interactions are very unpleasant.
She's ... just.
So dumb. She's 25. Like. Really now.
AND then when she assumes who her brother likes - ENTIRELY based on looks - and how she's ... borderline cruel to Phoebe.
Just... she's SO JUDGMENTAL and makes snap decisions that are almost always wrong.
And by the end despite not ... having any real conversations oh the hero is in love with her?
And how she determines his first wife HAS to be buried in London or she won't be at peace... I mean that's more a you thing, bitch. [And ok SLIGHTLY for the hero.]
I just .. wow I really really really disliked her. And maybe it was a tiny part how the narrator read her/voiced her?
But ... really one of the worst.
While the hero is grouchy at parts - he has good reason. He just lost his wife.
Then his whole "I'm never getting another woman pregnant ever again" - his mom died in childbirth, his wife died in childbirth, princess Charlotte just died in childbirth right before the book began...
I really thought about DNFing really really early on - but then again you only get 10 borrows a month and I only have like 3 left so I felt like I had to read this .../finish it...
:\
I don't remember Jo Beverly books being like this but O_O if they're all like this.
Well.
anyway... D -------- .... >.>
March 18, 2017
Jo Beverley was a prolific author of romance novels until she died in 2016. I believe this is her last book. Unfortunately, it is not very good. It is dull and repetitive, with a plot that is all over the place.
It starts out well. Ariana, a young woman who is past the normal marrying age, is worried her younger brother, an earl, will die without an heir and they’ll lose the family home. She challenges him to marry and he says he’ll find a wife if she first finds a husband. She agrees to this bargain even though it means she’ll have to move out of that family home. She sets out to make a match come what may.
Her own coming out years before did not go well because she is six feet tall and has big feet. (Did women really grow that tall in the late 1700s?) She was mortified to be called an Amazon and had a humiliating experience with a particular man she was attracted to. She and her mother go to stay with a family friend, who makes out a list of tall single men who might suit her. At the bottom of the list is that man from eight years earlier. Although she furiously crosses him off the list, he is the friend’s nephew, so of course there are many opportunities to spend time with him as he is currently living with his aunt.
The big secret is why he is living with his aunt, drinking his life away, when he ought to have estates of his own to look after and work to be doing. Ariana thinks he is just a rake on the road to ruin, but of course there is a secret, although everyone already seems to know it except Ariana. One of the big problems with this book is that it takes forever the secret to be revealed. If I’d been reading a print copy of the book, I would have flipped forward to see what it was, but I was too lazy and indifferent I guess to do it in an ebook. The plot loses focus and by the last chapters I was just ready for it to end.
Recommended for die-hard Jo Beverley fans only.
I read an advance reader copy of Merely a Marriage from Netgalley.
It starts out well. Ariana, a young woman who is past the normal marrying age, is worried her younger brother, an earl, will die without an heir and they’ll lose the family home. She challenges him to marry and he says he’ll find a wife if she first finds a husband. She agrees to this bargain even though it means she’ll have to move out of that family home. She sets out to make a match come what may.
Her own coming out years before did not go well because she is six feet tall and has big feet. (Did women really grow that tall in the late 1700s?) She was mortified to be called an Amazon and had a humiliating experience with a particular man she was attracted to. She and her mother go to stay with a family friend, who makes out a list of tall single men who might suit her. At the bottom of the list is that man from eight years earlier. Although she furiously crosses him off the list, he is the friend’s nephew, so of course there are many opportunities to spend time with him as he is currently living with his aunt.
The big secret is why he is living with his aunt, drinking his life away, when he ought to have estates of his own to look after and work to be doing. Ariana thinks he is just a rake on the road to ruin, but of course there is a secret, although everyone already seems to know it except Ariana. One of the big problems with this book is that it takes forever the secret to be revealed. If I’d been reading a print copy of the book, I would have flipped forward to see what it was, but I was too lazy and indifferent I guess to do it in an ebook. The plot loses focus and by the last chapters I was just ready for it to end.
Recommended for die-hard Jo Beverley fans only.
I read an advance reader copy of Merely a Marriage from Netgalley.
June 3, 2019
I had a tough time with this book because I really did not like the heroine, Ariana. She’s constantly leaping to conclusions (and assuming the worst possible scenario) without any good reasons. Princess Charlotte dies in childbirth, and suddenly Ariana is panicked that her healthy 23 year old brother - who is obviously not about to give birth - will die without an heir, and the title and lands will go to their reprobate uncle. Naturally, Ariana insists her brother marry and reproduce NOW. She’s really pushy about it, and completely unreasonable. I think we were meant to be charmed by how impetuous she is, but she just struck me as a meddling idiot.
I never felt any spark for the hero, Kynaston, either. Sure, we’re told he’s handsome like Apollo, and charming and witty and observant and kind and a loving brother ... but other than being told all that, I didn’t really feel it. Usually these sorts of books go back and forth between heroine POV and hero POV, but this book is primarily Ariana (to the book’s detriment, I might add). This book was, sadly, published posthumously; I wonder if the author meant to go back and add more from Kynaston’s POV, but didn’t have time?
I never felt any spark for the hero, Kynaston, either. Sure, we’re told he’s handsome like Apollo, and charming and witty and observant and kind and a loving brother ... but other than being told all that, I didn’t really feel it. Usually these sorts of books go back and forth between heroine POV and hero POV, but this book is primarily Ariana (to the book’s detriment, I might add). This book was, sadly, published posthumously; I wonder if the author meant to go back and add more from Kynaston’s POV, but didn’t have time?
June 4, 2017
The characterisation of Ariana was very strange (flip-flopping every few lines - especially when she interacted with Phyllis - hate, then like, then dislike...) and it was hard to really see any romance developing as we only got Ariana's point of view for most of the novel. It would, perhaps, have been more visible if there was any of Kynaston's point of view (or if we learnt why he was sad earlier than the last few chapters... Ariana's constant "well, he must be poor and a drunkard but I won't ask anyone I'll just assume" throughout the book got incredibly irritating). Overall the plot was decent and I liked exploration of various reactions to early death in the book, but neither could eliminate how irritating Ariana was.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2019
Merely a Marriage was my first Jo Beverley, and I really had no idea what to expect. Despite having read some good ones, on the whole I'm a bit hesitant of most of the romance novelists who have been working for a while, just because I prefer the novels that bring a more modern sensibility to the tropes. Merely a Marriage has that in spades, and I devoured this fluffy historical romance in one day.
What really stands out to me about Merely a Marriage is how fluffy and light it is. Though it deals with some heavier subjects, the tone remains pretty light-hearted. There are, I think, two main camps in romance readers: those who enjoy the melodrama and those who prefer the novels without it. I'm in the second camp, and I liked that even the darker elements that would have lent themselves well to melodrama didn't veer in that direction. (Not saying there's anything wrong with melodrama btw, and I do think it can be done well, but on the whole it's just not my thing.)
Ariana's voice charmed me from the very beginning. At the outset, she's determined to make her younger brother wed and make babies so that she and her mother will be safe from the dreaded entail in the event of his death. Ariana's concerned because of the unanticipated death of Princess Charlotte, which I thought was a unique catalyst for the novel. Her brother doesn't wish to, so he says he'll marry by the end of January if she marries by the end of December. Though she doesn't really want to, she agrees because she's stubborn as hell.
I love Ariana's stubbornness, her playfulness, and her opinionatedness as she eliminates potential suitors for various reasons (including being overly hirsute). All the time, of course, she's trying to avoid the one man she actually wants, the Earl of Kynaston, with whom she regularly banters. It's adorable. The novel does lose a wee bit of steam towards the end as a scandal breaks and the Earl of Kynaston's sad (but realistic) back story are revealed, as the novel isn't quite as humorous on that end.
Two more fun things about this book: Ariana's really tall and the side ship features a handsome man and a woman deemed plain. I always love when romances do something different.
I really, really enjoyed this one, and I'm going to have to try some more Beverley, which apparently will mean going back to romance novels from the early 1990s, since it looks like she just has those two series otherwise. Oh, and for those who have read them, this book ties into Company of Rogues, I believe, though I did not feel lost not having read it.
What really stands out to me about Merely a Marriage is how fluffy and light it is. Though it deals with some heavier subjects, the tone remains pretty light-hearted. There are, I think, two main camps in romance readers: those who enjoy the melodrama and those who prefer the novels without it. I'm in the second camp, and I liked that even the darker elements that would have lent themselves well to melodrama didn't veer in that direction. (Not saying there's anything wrong with melodrama btw, and I do think it can be done well, but on the whole it's just not my thing.)
Ariana's voice charmed me from the very beginning. At the outset, she's determined to make her younger brother wed and make babies so that she and her mother will be safe from the dreaded entail in the event of his death. Ariana's concerned because of the unanticipated death of Princess Charlotte, which I thought was a unique catalyst for the novel. Her brother doesn't wish to, so he says he'll marry by the end of January if she marries by the end of December. Though she doesn't really want to, she agrees because she's stubborn as hell.
I love Ariana's stubbornness, her playfulness, and her opinionatedness as she eliminates potential suitors for various reasons (including being overly hirsute). All the time, of course, she's trying to avoid the one man she actually wants, the Earl of Kynaston, with whom she regularly banters. It's adorable. The novel does lose a wee bit of steam towards the end as a scandal breaks and the Earl of Kynaston's sad (but realistic) back story are revealed, as the novel isn't quite as humorous on that end.
Two more fun things about this book: Ariana's really tall and the side ship features a handsome man and a woman deemed plain. I always love when romances do something different.
I really, really enjoyed this one, and I'm going to have to try some more Beverley, which apparently will mean going back to romance novels from the early 1990s, since it looks like she just has those two series otherwise. Oh, and for those who have read them, this book ties into Company of Rogues, I believe, though I did not feel lost not having read it.
May 5, 2023
Possibly the most informative review I can give this book is that I accidentally read it twice. Perhaps about halfway through my (then unknowing) second reading, I began to suspect that I had read it before. Quite a long way to get before making that realisation. Worse still, the reason for this realisation was not that I remembered the hero or heroine's journey of self-discovery or that their deepening relationship felt familiar to me. No, it was because having a minor character with an "Amazonian" kink is a pretty uncommon comic device. Kudos to the author for originality at least, but if I were her, I wouldn't want that to be the most memorable thing about my story by a long shot.
My biggest gripe with this book is that it mishandled the previous relationship between the hero and heroine. To summarise, Lady Ariana was presented in London some years ago and suffered a lot of bullying, including in the press, for her very tall height and large feet. It was particularly painful when she overheard Lord Kynaston, who she had a crush on, making fun of her for those attributes to a group of his friends. She's gotten over her self-consciousness about her size since then and she returns to London now because she wants her brother to marry and secure the future of his estate, and she's made a bet with him to do so if she manages to marry by Christmas.
Before getting to their past, the flimsy plot device to set off Ariana’s husband hunt felt a bit half-hearted. There's no clear reason why she's so afraid that her brother will die without issue except for Princess Charlotte's recent untimely death. In childbirth. It seems like a remote risk for a cis man and hence a pretty significant stretch from there to throwing yourself into marriage with the most convenient available man to force your brother into getting married himself. There are very few scenes (in fact, I can only recall one) with the unsatisfactory uncle who would otherwise inherit, and therefore the reader can hardly feel invested in Ariana's quest to prevent it. Since Ariana herself won't own or even live in the estate if her plan succeeds, it's hard to find her motivation convincing. It turns out later in the book that Charlotte's death in childbirth is much more personally significant to Kynaston, whose first beloved wife died the same way. This is a much more convincing and affecting tie-in to that real historical event than Ariana's, but it comes extremely late in the book, without any real hints, and therefore doesn't provide much of an insight into his character for most of the story.
But this isn't by any stretch the most irritating missed opportunity in the plot. Based on their shared history, the reader would expect that the issue the heroine would have to overcome in order to allow herself to fall completely (back) in love with the hero would have some relationship to their shared history. If I were Ariana, I would relive the humiliation of hearing his mockery every time he came within sight. Once I because desensitised to his presence and maybe felt drawn to his good looks, I would start to think seriously about what that event said about him. He's unkind to people less fortunate than him to score points with his equals. That's a resoundingly unattractive - and frankly dangerous - quality in a man in a context where a husband has a lot of power over his wife.
On a more personal level, I would be utterly convinced, down to my very bones, that this man finds me hideous. Every time I felt attraction to him, it would be tainted by the humiliating conviction that he couldn't feel more differently toward me. Even if I'd previously completely reconciled myself to my size in general, in this particular case, I would know - because of the evidence - that he thought all the unpleasant things about me that I used to believe everybody thought on seeing me.
But instead of having any one of these thoughts or feelings, Ariana's just convinced that he's a drunk and a wastrel. That's her main reason for ruling him out of the running in her husband hunt. She never seems to reflect on their shared history. She's just seen him drink a bit, heard that he did some shady things while out of England, seems to be down on his luck, and concludes that he's bankrupted himself. This isn't what I would call a riveting storyline even absent their shared history. With it, it's frankly ludicrous. There are much bigger issues at play, or at least there should be.
One of the only reasons this storyline makes any sense at all is that Kynaston doesn't get a POV for most of the book, or at least not a meaty one. I believe this is unusual in the romance genre, and it certainly contributes to the overall sense that he's a flat character. "Mysterious" isn't really a personal quality. It certainly detracts from the reader's investment in him, because it means for most of the book we don't know what his demons are, what has made him so miserable, what prevents him from falling in love. I guess this is intended to add intrigue and make the reader curious to know more, and I do enjoy books where a character's backstory is revealed gradually throughout the story, but here I think misdirection of Ariana's misconceptions combined with being so little inside Kynaston's head just made it rather dull.
As usual, apart from the overall plot issues, there are a few icks here that I gather are less common in more recent romance novels. When they sleep together, Ariana thinks to herself that this means she's "won her prize. He was hers now." This happens right after he talks about his anguish at his first wife's death. It feels kind of tacky to me, like he's just using her to forget about his pain, and she thinks that sex equals love and commitment. They don't seem to be on the same page at all, which is not ideal at the very end of a romance novel. So overall, this one really didn't do it for me.
My biggest gripe with this book is that it mishandled the previous relationship between the hero and heroine. To summarise, Lady Ariana was presented in London some years ago and suffered a lot of bullying, including in the press, for her very tall height and large feet. It was particularly painful when she overheard Lord Kynaston, who she had a crush on, making fun of her for those attributes to a group of his friends. She's gotten over her self-consciousness about her size since then and she returns to London now because she wants her brother to marry and secure the future of his estate, and she's made a bet with him to do so if she manages to marry by Christmas.
Before getting to their past, the flimsy plot device to set off Ariana’s husband hunt felt a bit half-hearted. There's no clear reason why she's so afraid that her brother will die without issue except for Princess Charlotte's recent untimely death. In childbirth. It seems like a remote risk for a cis man and hence a pretty significant stretch from there to throwing yourself into marriage with the most convenient available man to force your brother into getting married himself. There are very few scenes (in fact, I can only recall one) with the unsatisfactory uncle who would otherwise inherit, and therefore the reader can hardly feel invested in Ariana's quest to prevent it. Since Ariana herself won't own or even live in the estate if her plan succeeds, it's hard to find her motivation convincing. It turns out later in the book that Charlotte's death in childbirth is much more personally significant to Kynaston, whose first beloved wife died the same way. This is a much more convincing and affecting tie-in to that real historical event than Ariana's, but it comes extremely late in the book, without any real hints, and therefore doesn't provide much of an insight into his character for most of the story.
But this isn't by any stretch the most irritating missed opportunity in the plot. Based on their shared history, the reader would expect that the issue the heroine would have to overcome in order to allow herself to fall completely (back) in love with the hero would have some relationship to their shared history. If I were Ariana, I would relive the humiliation of hearing his mockery every time he came within sight. Once I because desensitised to his presence and maybe felt drawn to his good looks, I would start to think seriously about what that event said about him. He's unkind to people less fortunate than him to score points with his equals. That's a resoundingly unattractive - and frankly dangerous - quality in a man in a context where a husband has a lot of power over his wife.
On a more personal level, I would be utterly convinced, down to my very bones, that this man finds me hideous. Every time I felt attraction to him, it would be tainted by the humiliating conviction that he couldn't feel more differently toward me. Even if I'd previously completely reconciled myself to my size in general, in this particular case, I would know - because of the evidence - that he thought all the unpleasant things about me that I used to believe everybody thought on seeing me.
But instead of having any one of these thoughts or feelings, Ariana's just convinced that he's a drunk and a wastrel. That's her main reason for ruling him out of the running in her husband hunt. She never seems to reflect on their shared history. She's just seen him drink a bit, heard that he did some shady things while out of England, seems to be down on his luck, and concludes that he's bankrupted himself. This isn't what I would call a riveting storyline even absent their shared history. With it, it's frankly ludicrous. There are much bigger issues at play, or at least there should be.
One of the only reasons this storyline makes any sense at all is that Kynaston doesn't get a POV for most of the book, or at least not a meaty one. I believe this is unusual in the romance genre, and it certainly contributes to the overall sense that he's a flat character. "Mysterious" isn't really a personal quality. It certainly detracts from the reader's investment in him, because it means for most of the book we don't know what his demons are, what has made him so miserable, what prevents him from falling in love. I guess this is intended to add intrigue and make the reader curious to know more, and I do enjoy books where a character's backstory is revealed gradually throughout the story, but here I think misdirection of Ariana's misconceptions combined with being so little inside Kynaston's head just made it rather dull.
As usual, apart from the overall plot issues, there are a few icks here that I gather are less common in more recent romance novels. When they sleep together, Ariana thinks to herself that this means she's "won her prize. He was hers now." This happens right after he talks about his anguish at his first wife's death. It feels kind of tacky to me, like he's just using her to forget about his pain, and she thinks that sex equals love and commitment. They don't seem to be on the same page at all, which is not ideal at the very end of a romance novel. So overall, this one really didn't do it for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 1, 2021
So, this was a thrifted book and the first I’ve read by this author. I’m sad to say that it was a bit disappointing. It’s even more depressing to read that this was the author’s last book before her death in 2016. 😞
The story was somewhat engaging, but the romance was just not there. I felt like the hero was pining for his dead wife until the very last minute. Even on their honeymoon, they exhumed her body in Italy and brought her back to England.
How romantic.
I love the concept of a hero who is upset over losing a wife in childbirth and I’ve been fascinated by the national mourning that occurred in response to the death of Princess Charlotte, but there was just little there in the way of romance.
Eventually I’ll try another of her books as they seem engaging. Maybe the romance was just off in this one.
The story was somewhat engaging, but the romance was just not there. I felt like the hero was pining for his dead wife until the very last minute. Even on their honeymoon, they exhumed her body in Italy and brought her back to England.
How romantic.
I love the concept of a hero who is upset over losing a wife in childbirth and I’ve been fascinated by the national mourning that occurred in response to the death of Princess Charlotte, but there was just little there in the way of romance.
Eventually I’ll try another of her books as they seem engaging. Maybe the romance was just off in this one.
May 24, 2017
Jo Beverley was one of my all-time favorite historical romance authors. I wept when I heard she had passed last May. I have read many of her books, and I also have quite a few in audio. I never tire of the wonderful Georgian world she created in her Malloran series, along with the Regency world in her Company of Rogues series.
Merely a Marriage paints the picture of her Regency world. While this book may not have had her final touches on it, I still enjoyed it. All the sexual tension she was a master at, is in this book. The pacing is wonderful, the characters vivid and the plot is well-thought out with a great many twists and turns.
Arianna is a troubled heroine with very poor self-esteem. As a young girl, she received her fair share of unkind, and at times, brutal comments for something she had no control over. While I did struggle with her thought processes, I still liked her character and was glad she got her happy ending.
Kynaston is also a troubled character. I would have liked to spend more time in his POV to better understand his anguish, but I could still feel his pain. I sensed his struggle because he is attracted to Arianna from the beginning. I will say, I would have liked his secret brought to Arianna’s attention sooner since so many people knew his story. That would have added more to the story.
If you love Jo Beverley’s writing, then you will still want to read her last book, even though it is not her finest. She will be greatly missed by all who enjoyed her books. Happy reading!
Merely a Marriage paints the picture of her Regency world. While this book may not have had her final touches on it, I still enjoyed it. All the sexual tension she was a master at, is in this book. The pacing is wonderful, the characters vivid and the plot is well-thought out with a great many twists and turns.
Arianna is a troubled heroine with very poor self-esteem. As a young girl, she received her fair share of unkind, and at times, brutal comments for something she had no control over. While I did struggle with her thought processes, I still liked her character and was glad she got her happy ending.
Kynaston is also a troubled character. I would have liked to spend more time in his POV to better understand his anguish, but I could still feel his pain. I sensed his struggle because he is attracted to Arianna from the beginning. I will say, I would have liked his secret brought to Arianna’s attention sooner since so many people knew his story. That would have added more to the story.
If you love Jo Beverley’s writing, then you will still want to read her last book, even though it is not her finest. She will be greatly missed by all who enjoyed her books. Happy reading!
June 10, 2017
I didn't care for the heroine, in fact she did not seem to me a Jo Beverley "kind of gel". I'm wondering if someone else wrote most of the novel, because it seemed too unstructured to be penned by the marvelous JoBev. The "big miss" which caused the "love you but you disgust me" trope is not enjoyable to me, nor is sabotage something I like in a novel. All in all the story was bland with trite situations and barely sketched characters, except for the tedious Lady Ariana. Ms. Beverley is one of my most beloved authors and I miss her, but Merely a Marriage had none of her usual charm.
May 31, 2017
Ariana Boxstall is tall. That seems to be the most important aspect of this story along with big feet. It's unfortunate as I really wanted to like this story. It was slow and all over the place. Most of the story was from the heroine's point of view; I would have liked to have more of Kynaston's to understand his backstory as it wasn't explained until very late in the book.
Ariana is one of the most unlikable heroines I've ever read in a Regency romance. She just whines about her height, yet derides other women for not dressing properly in her opinion. She assumes that she can get any 'tall' man she wants to marry her in a matter of days, yet I couldn't even find Kynaston's attraction to her believable. She's supposed to be sensible and a bluestocking, but is given to wild flights of fancy and false assumptions about the people around her.
I really wanted to like this book. I've enjoyed many of Ms. Beverley's other books, and the fact that this one is her last is poignant, but it just wasn't for me.
Ariana is one of the most unlikable heroines I've ever read in a Regency romance. She just whines about her height, yet derides other women for not dressing properly in her opinion. She assumes that she can get any 'tall' man she wants to marry her in a matter of days, yet I couldn't even find Kynaston's attraction to her believable. She's supposed to be sensible and a bluestocking, but is given to wild flights of fancy and false assumptions about the people around her.
I really wanted to like this book. I've enjoyed many of Ms. Beverley's other books, and the fact that this one is her last is poignant, but it just wasn't for me.
May 27, 2017
Recognizing that her home and family is in danger of falling to her drunken wastrel of an uncle if her brother doesn't marry and produce an heir, Lady Ariana Boxstall is determined to push Norris to get married. As a 23 year old, Norris is more interested in horses than marriage so he proposes that Arianna marry first. If she can marry in the next few weeks, he'll follow suit. Ariana hates Town but heads there to hunt a husband and accidentally ends up embroiled in scandal with the Earl of Kynaston. She thinks he's a drunk who's squandered all his money, but when he tries to help end the scandal, she sees a new side to the mysterious earl.
Merely a Marriage was a very up and down book for me. I enjoyed the fast-paced writing and Ariana's light humor, and was certainly interested enough to read the whole book. But at the same time the characters were shallow, often annoying, and didn't really seem to grow or develop as the book went on. The book is set just after the death of Princess Charlotte and Charlotte is a ghost that is meant to effect each of the characters in different ways. It has Ariana pushing Norris to marry and ensure the security of the family home and his mother and sister. It haunts Kynaston, reminding him of the death of his wife under similar circumstances and acts to further cement his idea of never marrying again. You would expect it would have Ariana thinking about the dangers of marriage, but apparently that never crosses her mind- she is surprised when Knyaston brings it up.
Unlike many historical romances, Ariana also never brings up the argument of how marriage would not limit Norris, but would greatly change her own life. Beyond living in a new place (which does come up) she would legally be under her husband's rule, her money would be his, and marrying the wrong man would have serious consequences. She blithely assumes she'll just pick one of her previous suitors, get married, and move on. The problem is that she's a very tall woman and refuses to marry a man shorter than her. In her mind, based on a disastrous season when she was 17, she's a freak because of her height. As a debutante she was made fun of, and many times she's still that awkward, unsure girl, while other times she's confident in herself and her intelligence. Ariana also flips back and forth on Knyaston. 8 years ago she was infatuated with him because of his looks but overheard him with friends joking about many debutants, herself included. Now she's determined to dislike the man and never works to discover anything of who he's become or what he's been through in the intervening years. The first time she sees him he's drunk in his aunt's library, and she decides that he's not only a rake but a drunkard who is financially ruined, treats his little sister terribly, and ignores everything outside of the bottle. The reader can tell she's a bit prejudice but frustratingly only sees him through Ariana's eyes and so only learns things as she does. I would have preferred the narrative to go back and forth between their points of view, but we rarely see anything from Knyaston's viewpoint. The few times we do, the scenes are short, simple, and don't help drive the narrative or the characters.
It's impossible to tell when Ariana falls for Knyaston or if she's always loved him and never admitted it (I think even Ariana couldn't answer that), but it's also hard to see why she loves him. She seems to decide that she can change the man she thinks he is and save him from himself without bothering to learn anything about him. There's no chemistry between them, although there are several entertaining scenes as they try and debunk rumors of a scandalous tryst. The end solution, when everyone who's anyone explores Mr. Peake's antiquities collections, is a novel and enjoyable solution to the tricky problem of Society's fickle opinion.
Overall an enjoyable enough book for a quick read, but don't expect a complex plot or engaging characters out of Merely a Marriage.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For my full review, go to:
http://bookwyrmreader.blogspot.com/20...
Merely a Marriage was a very up and down book for me. I enjoyed the fast-paced writing and Ariana's light humor, and was certainly interested enough to read the whole book. But at the same time the characters were shallow, often annoying, and didn't really seem to grow or develop as the book went on. The book is set just after the death of Princess Charlotte and Charlotte is a ghost that is meant to effect each of the characters in different ways. It has Ariana pushing Norris to marry and ensure the security of the family home and his mother and sister. It haunts Kynaston, reminding him of the death of his wife under similar circumstances and acts to further cement his idea of never marrying again. You would expect it would have Ariana thinking about the dangers of marriage, but apparently that never crosses her mind- she is surprised when Knyaston brings it up.
Unlike many historical romances, Ariana also never brings up the argument of how marriage would not limit Norris, but would greatly change her own life. Beyond living in a new place (which does come up) she would legally be under her husband's rule, her money would be his, and marrying the wrong man would have serious consequences. She blithely assumes she'll just pick one of her previous suitors, get married, and move on. The problem is that she's a very tall woman and refuses to marry a man shorter than her. In her mind, based on a disastrous season when she was 17, she's a freak because of her height. As a debutante she was made fun of, and many times she's still that awkward, unsure girl, while other times she's confident in herself and her intelligence. Ariana also flips back and forth on Knyaston. 8 years ago she was infatuated with him because of his looks but overheard him with friends joking about many debutants, herself included. Now she's determined to dislike the man and never works to discover anything of who he's become or what he's been through in the intervening years. The first time she sees him he's drunk in his aunt's library, and she decides that he's not only a rake but a drunkard who is financially ruined, treats his little sister terribly, and ignores everything outside of the bottle. The reader can tell she's a bit prejudice but frustratingly only sees him through Ariana's eyes and so only learns things as she does. I would have preferred the narrative to go back and forth between their points of view, but we rarely see anything from Knyaston's viewpoint. The few times we do, the scenes are short, simple, and don't help drive the narrative or the characters.
It's impossible to tell when Ariana falls for Knyaston or if she's always loved him and never admitted it (I think even Ariana couldn't answer that), but it's also hard to see why she loves him. She seems to decide that she can change the man she thinks he is and save him from himself without bothering to learn anything about him. There's no chemistry between them, although there are several entertaining scenes as they try and debunk rumors of a scandalous tryst. The end solution, when everyone who's anyone explores Mr. Peake's antiquities collections, is a novel and enjoyable solution to the tricky problem of Society's fickle opinion.
Overall an enjoyable enough book for a quick read, but don't expect a complex plot or engaging characters out of Merely a Marriage.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For my full review, go to:
http://bookwyrmreader.blogspot.com/20...
May 30, 2017
Jo Beverley has been one of my favorite romance authors for years, and it’s sad to think that this novel will be the last new one after her death from cancer in 2016. Merely a Marriage definitely can't be counted among her best books, and I have to wonder if her illness interfered with her work. It does reflect Beverley's favorite kind of plot, though, with two fundamentally good people overcoming the barriers between them to find love.
As a posthumous work, it seems fitting that the story revolves around a death, specifically the death of Princess Charlotte during childbirth. Lady Ariana is jolted by her sudden demise and becomes obsessed with her younger brother Norris getting married to ensure that he has an heir in case anything happens to him. Norris says that he will if she does first, and Ariana takes up the challenge. The problem is that Ariana is quite tall, which makes her an uncomfortable match for most men, or at least she believes so after an awkward season in London as a very young woman. Nevertheless, she travels to London, determined to find a man to marry. While there, she encounters the Earl of Kynaston, one of the men who made her earlier visit an unhappy one. Ariana has never been able to forget him, though, and she finds herself becoming fascinated with him again. Meanwhile, Kynaston has suffered a loss and is resolved to hold all women at arm’s length. However, that resolve is weakened as circumstances continue to throw them together . . .
The romance between Ariana and Kynaston revolves more around the growth of their feelings than passion. It’s not until the end of the book that the two of them do more than exchange kisses, and even that final encounter takes place mostly off the page. Readers looking for passionate love scenes will be disappointed, because the story is all about the emotional journey of the characters as they move from unwilling attraction to understanding and love.
A few things about the story kept it from being a great read for me. For one thing, Ariana’s obsessive push to get her brother married seems a bit overdone for a young woman who otherwise appears sensible; after all, there are no guarantees that Norris getting married will stave off tragedy. Also, Ariana makes a lot of judgements about Kynaston based on limited information. At one point, she thinks he might be a drunk, and then she believes he’s lost all his money. Why she just doesn’t try to learn more about him rather than imagining things didn’t make sense to me (although Beverley tries to excuse her lack of curiosity by saying that Ariana has never been interested in gossip). This is one of those romances where a few frank conversations could have cleared up misunderstandings, and I’m not sure it was necessary to hold off the revelation of Kynaston’s past until so late in the novel, given the other obstacles between them. It's especially detrimental to the story because it leads Beverley to include fewer chapters from Kynaston's viewpoint, which makes it harder for the reader to connect with him and his feelings
Still, I did appreciate this final glimpse into Beverley’s world. If you are a fan of her Regency historicals, then even with its flaws the book is a must-read, since it will be the last new romance by this iconic author. Luckily, her deep backlist gifts us with many novels that stand up to re-reading.
An eARC of this novel was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
As a posthumous work, it seems fitting that the story revolves around a death, specifically the death of Princess Charlotte during childbirth. Lady Ariana is jolted by her sudden demise and becomes obsessed with her younger brother Norris getting married to ensure that he has an heir in case anything happens to him. Norris says that he will if she does first, and Ariana takes up the challenge. The problem is that Ariana is quite tall, which makes her an uncomfortable match for most men, or at least she believes so after an awkward season in London as a very young woman. Nevertheless, she travels to London, determined to find a man to marry. While there, she encounters the Earl of Kynaston, one of the men who made her earlier visit an unhappy one. Ariana has never been able to forget him, though, and she finds herself becoming fascinated with him again. Meanwhile, Kynaston has suffered a loss and is resolved to hold all women at arm’s length. However, that resolve is weakened as circumstances continue to throw them together . . .
The romance between Ariana and Kynaston revolves more around the growth of their feelings than passion. It’s not until the end of the book that the two of them do more than exchange kisses, and even that final encounter takes place mostly off the page. Readers looking for passionate love scenes will be disappointed, because the story is all about the emotional journey of the characters as they move from unwilling attraction to understanding and love.
A few things about the story kept it from being a great read for me. For one thing, Ariana’s obsessive push to get her brother married seems a bit overdone for a young woman who otherwise appears sensible; after all, there are no guarantees that Norris getting married will stave off tragedy. Also, Ariana makes a lot of judgements about Kynaston based on limited information. At one point, she thinks he might be a drunk, and then she believes he’s lost all his money. Why she just doesn’t try to learn more about him rather than imagining things didn’t make sense to me (although Beverley tries to excuse her lack of curiosity by saying that Ariana has never been interested in gossip). This is one of those romances where a few frank conversations could have cleared up misunderstandings, and I’m not sure it was necessary to hold off the revelation of Kynaston’s past until so late in the novel, given the other obstacles between them. It's especially detrimental to the story because it leads Beverley to include fewer chapters from Kynaston's viewpoint, which makes it harder for the reader to connect with him and his feelings
Still, I did appreciate this final glimpse into Beverley’s world. If you are a fan of her Regency historicals, then even with its flaws the book is a must-read, since it will be the last new romance by this iconic author. Luckily, her deep backlist gifts us with many novels that stand up to re-reading.
An eARC of this novel was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 30, 2018
I didn't know that this was Jo Beverley's last book when I picked it up to read-- as it is also the first book I have read by her, I found that news to be sad. But I will definitely check out her other novels.
Though I thoroughly enjoyed the book and stayed up late into the early morning reading it (and its earned a place on my favorites shelf), I do have a few issues with it. I kept expecting some really heated scenes to pop up between the hero and the heroine, but nothing really ever happened that made me feel convinced that they were really in love with each other. I thought for sure, when Kynaston grabbed Ariana in the hallway and kissed her that something would happen there-- but nope... but I kept reading on, in hopes that the scenes that they graced together would lead to them acting on their repressed feelings.
One problem I had was that in Ariana's first season she overheard a remark made by Kynaston in private that really offended her and made her hate him. But when she has the opportunity to tell him- he just says "I was a stupid youth" and she let's it go! But it had been referenced so many times that his comment is the reason she thinks she's so ugly (her height making her a freak with big feet) and has felt this way for years. I couldn't believe that she would just let it go like that. I was expecting her to address it with him and then move past it for the rest of the book. But, instead she keeps bringing it up as a reason that she doesn't deserve a love match.
And Kynaston--- I loved him, he was the reason I kept on reading, but-- he's supposed to be a brooding, broken man who's sworn off love. Fine, perfect- I love an angsty hero! However, we don't find out why he's so broken until way late in the book! And if he's fallen for Ariana, I wanted to see him make more effort at trying to make it onto her list of eligible husbands. There was so much potential for him to do something, especially while they were both living in Lady Cawle's house. The kiss in the library-- then the meeting in the bedroom, the kiss in the hallway-- they felt like teases. And I kept waiting for the climatic sexy scene-- which never appeared for me.
The end felt rushed... like all these loose ends of a myriad of subplots had to be tied together. There was the subplot of her brother Norris falling for Kynaston's half-sister Phyllis, the Curious Creatures society and the Egyptian antiquities, Kynaston's mysterious past, Ariana trying to find an eligible husband based on height.... there was a lot going on that at points it felt like too much was trying to be put into this novel that not one plot really got the attention it deserved. I thought for sure once the scandalous cartoons came out in the gossip papers and Ariana and Kynaston had to fake being in love that something more would happen with that plot, but again I was a bit disappointed. Plus, I really didn't like how it felt like Ariana was trapping Kynaston into marriage when they were stranded at the inn. That made me lose respect for her. I would've liked to have seen a different ending where Kynaston was more in favor and less hesitant about marrying her. It seemed like he was still too much in love with his late wife and Ariana was trying to push her way into his heart.
I liked the premise a lot-- the deal with her brother about finding spouses and then the list of eligibles that Ariana is given. And she pointedly strikes Kynaston's name from the list because of the insult she overheard when she was younger. I think this had so much potential to be so much more steamier. It was a bit disappointing, but I still enjoyed reading it.
Though I thoroughly enjoyed the book and stayed up late into the early morning reading it (and its earned a place on my favorites shelf), I do have a few issues with it. I kept expecting some really heated scenes to pop up between the hero and the heroine, but nothing really ever happened that made me feel convinced that they were really in love with each other. I thought for sure, when Kynaston grabbed Ariana in the hallway and kissed her that something would happen there-- but nope... but I kept reading on, in hopes that the scenes that they graced together would lead to them acting on their repressed feelings.
One problem I had was that in Ariana's first season she overheard a remark made by Kynaston in private that really offended her and made her hate him. But when she has the opportunity to tell him- he just says "I was a stupid youth" and she let's it go! But it had been referenced so many times that his comment is the reason she thinks she's so ugly (her height making her a freak with big feet) and has felt this way for years. I couldn't believe that she would just let it go like that. I was expecting her to address it with him and then move past it for the rest of the book. But, instead she keeps bringing it up as a reason that she doesn't deserve a love match.
And Kynaston--- I loved him, he was the reason I kept on reading, but-- he's supposed to be a brooding, broken man who's sworn off love. Fine, perfect- I love an angsty hero! However, we don't find out why he's so broken until way late in the book! And if he's fallen for Ariana, I wanted to see him make more effort at trying to make it onto her list of eligible husbands. There was so much potential for him to do something, especially while they were both living in Lady Cawle's house. The kiss in the library-- then the meeting in the bedroom, the kiss in the hallway-- they felt like teases. And I kept waiting for the climatic sexy scene-- which never appeared for me.
The end felt rushed... like all these loose ends of a myriad of subplots had to be tied together. There was the subplot of her brother Norris falling for Kynaston's half-sister Phyllis, the Curious Creatures society and the Egyptian antiquities, Kynaston's mysterious past, Ariana trying to find an eligible husband based on height.... there was a lot going on that at points it felt like too much was trying to be put into this novel that not one plot really got the attention it deserved. I thought for sure once the scandalous cartoons came out in the gossip papers and Ariana and Kynaston had to fake being in love that something more would happen with that plot, but again I was a bit disappointed. Plus, I really didn't like how it felt like Ariana was trapping Kynaston into marriage when they were stranded at the inn. That made me lose respect for her. I would've liked to have seen a different ending where Kynaston was more in favor and less hesitant about marrying her. It seemed like he was still too much in love with his late wife and Ariana was trying to push her way into his heart.
I liked the premise a lot-- the deal with her brother about finding spouses and then the list of eligibles that Ariana is given. And she pointedly strikes Kynaston's name from the list because of the insult she overheard when she was younger. I think this had so much potential to be so much more steamier. It was a bit disappointing, but I still enjoyed reading it.
May 30, 2017
Merely a Marriage by Jo Beverley is a Regency/Historical novel. At the start, we meet Lady Ariana Boxstall , who is concerned about the future of her family, especially after the childbirth death of Princess Charlotte. Ariana fears that she would lose her beloved Boxstall residence to her drunken uncle, if her brother dies. She then sets a plan in motion for her brother Norris to marry, but the one condition is she must marry first.
Ariana and her mother travel to London to stay at the home of a family friend, and look for the perfect husband for her. The Earl of Kynaston, is also staying at the house of his aunt, and Ariana remembers him from 8 years before at her coming out ball, where he embarrassed her. Needless to say, of all the eligible men, Kynaston is now crossed off the list. We get to spend time with Ariana, as she attends various balls/events to meet the eligible bachelors, but she also must spend time with Kynaston, since he also attends. At first, they both are sarcastic to each other, and keep their distance when possible; but it seems they keep getting pushed together, since a lady is never supposed to be without an escort. Ariana also does not like that Kynaston drinks too much, and looks very unhappy, which she will later learn why.
What follows is a slow build romance, with Ariana in the forefront for most of the story. She is determined to find someone to marry, to force her brother to then get married. Things change slightly when Norris meets Kynaston’s young sister, and surprisingly falls in love. At the same time, Ariana fights off her growing attraction to Kynaston. As we got closer to the last 1/3 of the book, the romance between Ariana & Kynaston began to heat up, which also improved the story line a lot. During this time, we got to learn all about Kynaston’s tragic past which still haunted him, and Ariana’s help to open his heart again.
I liked the characters in this story, for the most they were interesting and fun. However, I did think much of the early part of the book was a bit slow reading, which does improve later on. If you enjoy historical romances, Merely a Marriage is a nice read by Jo Beverly.
Barb
< href="//thereadingcafe.com">The Reading Cafe
Ariana and her mother travel to London to stay at the home of a family friend, and look for the perfect husband for her. The Earl of Kynaston, is also staying at the house of his aunt, and Ariana remembers him from 8 years before at her coming out ball, where he embarrassed her. Needless to say, of all the eligible men, Kynaston is now crossed off the list. We get to spend time with Ariana, as she attends various balls/events to meet the eligible bachelors, but she also must spend time with Kynaston, since he also attends. At first, they both are sarcastic to each other, and keep their distance when possible; but it seems they keep getting pushed together, since a lady is never supposed to be without an escort. Ariana also does not like that Kynaston drinks too much, and looks very unhappy, which she will later learn why.
What follows is a slow build romance, with Ariana in the forefront for most of the story. She is determined to find someone to marry, to force her brother to then get married. Things change slightly when Norris meets Kynaston’s young sister, and surprisingly falls in love. At the same time, Ariana fights off her growing attraction to Kynaston. As we got closer to the last 1/3 of the book, the romance between Ariana & Kynaston began to heat up, which also improved the story line a lot. During this time, we got to learn all about Kynaston’s tragic past which still haunted him, and Ariana’s help to open his heart again.
I liked the characters in this story, for the most they were interesting and fun. However, I did think much of the early part of the book was a bit slow reading, which does improve later on. If you enjoy historical romances, Merely a Marriage is a nice read by Jo Beverly.
Barb
< href="//thereadingcafe.com">The Reading Cafe
November 20, 2017
Merely a Marriage is set in Beverley’s Rogues’ world, a world Beverley introduced to her readers with An Arranged Marriage in 1991. This book is the eighteenth story set in that world, and it is Jo Beverley’s final novel. Fans of the series will be pleased to spot several connections to the Rogues and their relatives in this last book. I especially enjoyed the cameos of Hal Beaumont, Lady Cawle’s godson, and his actress wife, Blanche Hardcastle, whose story arcs through early Rogues books, and of Ariana’s friend the Viscountess Faringay, the former Lady Hermione Merryhew, from Too Dangerous for a Lady (2015) and Viscount Dauntry, the hero of The Viscount Needs a Wife (2016), whom Ariana briefly considers as a potential husband.
It is perhaps not surprising that this novel, written in the final months of the author’s life, is laden with references to death. Paramount, of course, is the death of the heir to England’s throne. The death of Ariana’s beloved father and of Kynaston’s cherished young wife are significant to the plot, and the grief of both lead characters, particularly Kynaston, is intensified by the national mourning that follows the death of Princess Charlotte. It should be noted, however, that the novel ends with a wedding at Easter, the season of resurrection, and a boom of babies soon follows. Life goes on, and happiness is possible for those who survive.
Ariana and Kynaston are interesting characters, but they are not always sympathetic. Some readers will be disturbed by Ariana’s single-mindedness and her reasoning, which moves past the pragmatic to coldness at times. Kynaston may seem less off-putting, but the reader’s knowledge of him is limited because Ariana is the point-of-view character. The amount of time the reader spends in Ariana’s head may make the pace of the story feel slow to some. Jo Beverley’s last book may not be her best, but its historical resonance, its thematic complexity, and the characters that linger in the reader’s memory earn the novel a place in this beloved author’s rich legacy.
See full review at The Romance Dish:
http://www.theromancedish.com/2017/06...
It is perhaps not surprising that this novel, written in the final months of the author’s life, is laden with references to death. Paramount, of course, is the death of the heir to England’s throne. The death of Ariana’s beloved father and of Kynaston’s cherished young wife are significant to the plot, and the grief of both lead characters, particularly Kynaston, is intensified by the national mourning that follows the death of Princess Charlotte. It should be noted, however, that the novel ends with a wedding at Easter, the season of resurrection, and a boom of babies soon follows. Life goes on, and happiness is possible for those who survive.
Ariana and Kynaston are interesting characters, but they are not always sympathetic. Some readers will be disturbed by Ariana’s single-mindedness and her reasoning, which moves past the pragmatic to coldness at times. Kynaston may seem less off-putting, but the reader’s knowledge of him is limited because Ariana is the point-of-view character. The amount of time the reader spends in Ariana’s head may make the pace of the story feel slow to some. Jo Beverley’s last book may not be her best, but its historical resonance, its thematic complexity, and the characters that linger in the reader’s memory earn the novel a place in this beloved author’s rich legacy.
See full review at The Romance Dish:
http://www.theromancedish.com/2017/06...
May 26, 2017
Merely a Marriage by Jo Beverley is not merely a book: It is the final book by a beloved, iconic author of the genre. I’m happy to say that this swan song is a fitting closure to an illustrious career.
In the custom of so many historical romance novel heroines, Lady Ariana Boxstall doesn’t want to marry. However, her reluctance to enter into that institution has not prevented her from attempting to bully her brother into doing so. After Princess Charlotte’s death in childbirth, it became clear to Ariana that death can come for anyone at any time. Determined not to lose her entailed home to an unworthy relative because her brother dies before he can beget an heir, she harangues him about the importance of legitimate progeny.
Her nagging falls on deaf ears because Norris Boxstall does not, of course, have any desire to marry either. We wouldn’t have a book if he did. After a bit of back and forth between the siblings he issues an ultimatum: If Ariana can get herself wed by the end of the year, he will happily – well, not happily but at least willingly – wed before the end of January.
Initially Ariana feels only irritation about the demand but after a dinner at which she can think of nothing but the danger that Norris’ death will bring to her own circumstances, she accepts the challenge. Unfortunately, all the eligible men in her vicinity are either completely unacceptable or have gotten themselves engaged or married in recent weeks. She will be forced to go to London, a city that was once the scene of great humiliation for her. From cartoons which showed her as a giantess among midgets, to cruel jests from dance partners, Ariana’s height had made her a freak among the tiny, delicate beauties of the ton. She has no desire to return to relive the embarrassing experience but she has no choice. See the rest of my review at http://allaboutromance.com/book-revie...
In the custom of so many historical romance novel heroines, Lady Ariana Boxstall doesn’t want to marry. However, her reluctance to enter into that institution has not prevented her from attempting to bully her brother into doing so. After Princess Charlotte’s death in childbirth, it became clear to Ariana that death can come for anyone at any time. Determined not to lose her entailed home to an unworthy relative because her brother dies before he can beget an heir, she harangues him about the importance of legitimate progeny.
Her nagging falls on deaf ears because Norris Boxstall does not, of course, have any desire to marry either. We wouldn’t have a book if he did. After a bit of back and forth between the siblings he issues an ultimatum: If Ariana can get herself wed by the end of the year, he will happily – well, not happily but at least willingly – wed before the end of January.
Initially Ariana feels only irritation about the demand but after a dinner at which she can think of nothing but the danger that Norris’ death will bring to her own circumstances, she accepts the challenge. Unfortunately, all the eligible men in her vicinity are either completely unacceptable or have gotten themselves engaged or married in recent weeks. She will be forced to go to London, a city that was once the scene of great humiliation for her. From cartoons which showed her as a giantess among midgets, to cruel jests from dance partners, Ariana’s height had made her a freak among the tiny, delicate beauties of the ton. She has no desire to return to relive the embarrassing experience but she has no choice. See the rest of my review at http://allaboutromance.com/book-revie...
December 12, 2017
Meh. The book was a tad bit forgettable. The characters didn't really make a big impression on me. It wasn't bad but it wasn't good either. It was just so-so. I didn't really like or dislike the main characters. The character I liked the best was Lord Inching. I thought his fetish for tall women was the one interesting highlight of the book. He was angling for the heroine originally but her equally as tall lady's maid would do.
As far as the actual story goes, I didn't really care for it.
The story revolves around Ariana and Kynaston. They met when she debuted at seventeen. She overheard a cruel remark when he was insulting everybody for laughs. One of the insults was pointed at her freakish height and she held a complex over it ever since. She didn't really believe herself beautiful, which is why she doesn't notice when her prospective matches are actually receptive to the idea of marrying her.
That doesn't matter though because she holds a tendre for him that she suppresses. Her unrequited love manifests itself into resentment. Reverse her gender and we have a veritable creep. She criticizes his habits and obsesses over him. It wasn't until later that she admits she loves him and she expresses her obsession with him in a more positive manner. The realization was quick but not surprising. She mentions every little thing he does even if in a disapproving tone.
The book involves a marriage challenge, Egyptian collection, a dead wife, a guilty hero who sworn off having children (as it killed his first wife), a lord with a fetish for tall women, scandal perpetrated by scorned suitors, and young lovers eloping.
The book ended with her giving birth. Oh, the majority of the book was her finding a prospective husband so her brother could marry. The brother set the condition that if he was being forced to marry, she should do it first. She was concerned about it because she wanted to know the line was secure.
As far as the actual story goes, I didn't really care for it.
The story revolves around Ariana and Kynaston. They met when she debuted at seventeen. She overheard a cruel remark when he was insulting everybody for laughs. One of the insults was pointed at her freakish height and she held a complex over it ever since. She didn't really believe herself beautiful, which is why she doesn't notice when her prospective matches are actually receptive to the idea of marrying her.
That doesn't matter though because she holds a tendre for him that she suppresses. Her unrequited love manifests itself into resentment. Reverse her gender and we have a veritable creep. She criticizes his habits and obsesses over him. It wasn't until later that she admits she loves him and she expresses her obsession with him in a more positive manner. The realization was quick but not surprising. She mentions every little thing he does even if in a disapproving tone.
The book involves a marriage challenge, Egyptian collection, a dead wife, a guilty hero who sworn off having children (as it killed his first wife), a lord with a fetish for tall women, scandal perpetrated by scorned suitors, and young lovers eloping.
The book ended with her giving birth. Oh, the majority of the book was her finding a prospective husband so her brother could marry. The brother set the condition that if he was being forced to marry, she should do it first. She was concerned about it because she wanted to know the line was secure.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 12, 2019
Reviewed by Lori
Book provided by NetGalley
Historical romance is one of my favorite genres to read. I like pretending what it would be like to live in that time period. I’m only thinking in terms of fiction, I wouldn’t want to live in a time period where women are second class citizens and toothpaste, and deodorant hasn’t even been thought up yet.
I was intrigued when I saw that this book was available for review and I had high hopes as I love historical. Unfortunately, I thought that the story was a bit slow and I had a hard time liking Ariana because she was so bossy and I felt that she didn’t take other people’s feelings into consideration. She only thought of herself and how she would feel and she only thought of her circumstances.
Lord Kynaston was a very complex character as his back story is revealed to the reader very slowly so understanding him and what makes him tick was tricky.
I felt pity for Ariana, and began to like her as I got to know her because I discovered aspects about her that the reader didn’t know which formed who she is and the way she acts. I believe Ariana had the same experience that I as the reader did as she got to know Lord Kynaston. She had some definite opinions about him when the reader is introduced to both of them. I liked that fact that she grew as a character and was able to form new opinions and not be stuck in her thinking and be stubborn about her viewpoints.
I really liked the secondary charters, Ariana’s brother and her maid Ethel. They were both entertaining and Ethel’s no non-sense outlook on life was really great.
The story did pick up and I was glad that there was a happy ending for Ariana and Lord Kynaston as well as for her brother and her maid Ethel.
Book provided by NetGalley
Historical romance is one of my favorite genres to read. I like pretending what it would be like to live in that time period. I’m only thinking in terms of fiction, I wouldn’t want to live in a time period where women are second class citizens and toothpaste, and deodorant hasn’t even been thought up yet.
I was intrigued when I saw that this book was available for review and I had high hopes as I love historical. Unfortunately, I thought that the story was a bit slow and I had a hard time liking Ariana because she was so bossy and I felt that she didn’t take other people’s feelings into consideration. She only thought of herself and how she would feel and she only thought of her circumstances.
Lord Kynaston was a very complex character as his back story is revealed to the reader very slowly so understanding him and what makes him tick was tricky.
I felt pity for Ariana, and began to like her as I got to know her because I discovered aspects about her that the reader didn’t know which formed who she is and the way she acts. I believe Ariana had the same experience that I as the reader did as she got to know Lord Kynaston. She had some definite opinions about him when the reader is introduced to both of them. I liked that fact that she grew as a character and was able to form new opinions and not be stuck in her thinking and be stubborn about her viewpoints.
I really liked the secondary charters, Ariana’s brother and her maid Ethel. They were both entertaining and Ethel’s no non-sense outlook on life was really great.
The story did pick up and I was glad that there was a happy ending for Ariana and Lord Kynaston as well as for her brother and her maid Ethel.
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