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Corbins #2
Corbin's Fancy
When a traveling carnival left Fancy Jordan stranded in the rugged Washington Territory, she thought her luck had run out. Alone, penniless, she welcomed a most intriguing offer -- to live in the home of Jeff Corbin's brother, and coax the wounded, withdrawn Jeff back to health and happiness.
But a villainous attack on his ship had hurt only his body -- a far deeper sorrow tortured him, heart and soul. For as the beautiful gamine fell deeply in love with his handsome, brooding man, she faced a phantom rival...one that only the most splendid, most heartfelt passion could conquer!
But a villainous attack on his ship had hurt only his body -- a far deeper sorrow tortured him, heart and soul. For as the beautiful gamine fell deeply in love with his handsome, brooding man, she faced a phantom rival...one that only the most splendid, most heartfelt passion could conquer!
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
152 people are currently reading
587 people want to read
About the author
Linda Lael Miller
553 books3,225 followersThe daughter of a town marshal, Linda Lael Miller is a #1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of more than 100 historical and contemporary novels, most of which reflect her love of the West. Raised in Northport, Washington, Linda pursued her wanderlust, living in London and Arizona and traveling the world before returning to the state of her birth to settle down on a spacious property outside Spokane.
Linda traces the birth of her writing career to the day when a Northport teacher told her that the stories she was writing were good, that she just might have a future in writing. Later, when she decided to write novels, she endured her share of rejection before she sold Fletcher’s Woman in 1983 to Pocket Books. Since then, Linda has successfully published historicals, contemporaries, paranormals, mysteries and thrillers before coming home, in a literal sense, and concentrating on novels with a Western flavor. For her devotion to her craft, the Romance Writers of America awarded her their prestigious Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007.
Long a passionate Civil War buff, Linda has studied the era avidly for almost thirty years. She has read literally hundreds of books on the subject, explored numerous battlegrounds and made many visits to her favorite, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where she has witnessed re-enactments of the legendary clash between North and South. Linda explores that turbulent time in The Yankee Widow, a May 7, 2019 MIRA Books hardcover, also available in digital and audiobook formats.
Dedicated to helping others, “The First Lady of the West” personally financed fifteen years of her Linda Lael Miller Scholarships for Women, which she awarded to women 25 years and older who were seeking to improve their lot in life through education. She anticipates that her next charitable endeavors will benefit four-legged critters.
More information about Linda and her novels is available at www.lindalaelmiller.com, on Facebook and from Nancy Berland Public Relations, nancy@nancyberland.com, 405-206-4748.
Linda traces the birth of her writing career to the day when a Northport teacher told her that the stories she was writing were good, that she just might have a future in writing. Later, when she decided to write novels, she endured her share of rejection before she sold Fletcher’s Woman in 1983 to Pocket Books. Since then, Linda has successfully published historicals, contemporaries, paranormals, mysteries and thrillers before coming home, in a literal sense, and concentrating on novels with a Western flavor. For her devotion to her craft, the Romance Writers of America awarded her their prestigious Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007.
Long a passionate Civil War buff, Linda has studied the era avidly for almost thirty years. She has read literally hundreds of books on the subject, explored numerous battlegrounds and made many visits to her favorite, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where she has witnessed re-enactments of the legendary clash between North and South. Linda explores that turbulent time in The Yankee Widow, a May 7, 2019 MIRA Books hardcover, also available in digital and audiobook formats.
Dedicated to helping others, “The First Lady of the West” personally financed fifteen years of her Linda Lael Miller Scholarships for Women, which she awarded to women 25 years and older who were seeking to improve their lot in life through education. She anticipates that her next charitable endeavors will benefit four-legged critters.
More information about Linda and her novels is available at www.lindalaelmiller.com, on Facebook and from Nancy Berland Public Relations, nancy@nancyberland.com, 405-206-4748.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
March 11, 2024
Both characters were unlikable. What started as bodice ripper fun quickly turned into childish incoherent melodrama. I love soapy drama but I need characters that make a bit of sense. The premise was interesting to me because the heroine is a magician traveling with a performing circus group, she even has a bunny named Herschel that she pulls out of a hat. The “nursing” the scarred recluse hero that’s promised on the blurb covers 5 minutes at most, 1 whole page and that’s it. The heroine is every bit her 19 years of age, acting and reacting to things first then realizing she was wrong every single time but keep lashing out to be spiteful. She just can’t help herself. She's always bursting into tears and wailing at the drop of a hat. This book should be soaked through with the amount of crying the heroine does. The hero for his part is no batter. He's a dismissive ass but suddenly realizing he loves the heroine out of nowhere. Well he had a really weird way of showing his love. Always wandering off with the slutty farmgirls or fancy titled city misses who want to get in his pants and don't give one fig that he's married but yet our dear hero is shocked over why the heroine is hurt by his actions every time he does this? Pfft. (no he doesn't cheat but the implications were enough) His wishy washy actions made no sense to me. Both of them were stupid as hell too. What kind of hero sends a letter to the villain telling him exactly where he can find him and the heroine, knowing full well the villain is trying to kill both of them?? O_o He knows the heroine is hiding from the villain but tells the villain where to find her? What fuck? Did he lose some of his common sense too in that ship explosion? I was waiting for an explanation on this grand plan but all we got was he thought it was a “good idea at the time". For who??? The heroine keeps making public scenes and getting in trouble and putting herself in peril and blames it on the hero. She was very much written like an overbearing emotional shrew who made no sense half the time. I own quite a few of LLM books from her backlist a few from this Corbin series too and if this was anything to go by it makes me want to give them all out. :/
October 14, 2025
This is the second book in the Corbin family series. It follows Banner O'Brien, the book featuring doctors Adam Corbin and Banner O'Brien's story. The first book introduces Jeff Corbin, the captain of the merchant ship (Sea Mistress) and second oldest Corbin son. Like his brother, Jeff had fallen instantly in love with Banner when he first met her. Time has passed and it's now December 24, 1887. MMC Jeff still harbors resentment against Adam for lying about what happened to their father (from the previous book) and the fact that Jeff still has feelings for Banner. These are the reasons he leaves the Corbin family's Christmas Eve gathering and returns to his ship. Which is blown to smithereens not long after he boards.
FMC Fancy Jordan (real name being Frances Gordon) was also first introduced in book one. She's attractive, reddish blonde, and a diminutive young woman. She was employed as a performer on the Silver Shadow, a brothel/saloon in Port Hastings. She was also Temple Royce's girlfriend. Royce being Jeff's evil nemesis. Fancy leaves Port Hastings immediately without telling Royce after Jeff's ship has been bombed. She wants to get as far away as possible and wants nothing more to do with Royce after overhearing he was responsible for the attack.
It's now about five months later and Jeff has been recuperating at his brother Keith's place in Wenatchee, Washington Territory. Fancy has just been fired by a traveling road show for failing to succeed in her "magical" tricks at coincidentally, Keith's parsonage and house grounds. Keith introduces himself and offers her a job. Helping Jeff.
"Jeff doesn't need a nurse so much as he needs a companion - someone who can spend time with him and bring him out of that inner world where he's hiding."
Not knowing if Jeff remembers her, and in dire need of money, Fancy accepts the job. At 19, she's a mature and responsible woman. When she has work, she always sends money home to her parents in Newcastle. A mining community that has them trapped in debt.
Fancy doesn't pull any punches with Jeff's antagonistic attitude. When he tells her "I love a woman I can't have." Her response is "Life is tough." He follows with:
"I lost my ship!" Fancy doesn't blink an eye before saying "People lose things every day." .... "From what I've seen, you have more - much more- than the average man, anyway."
They go on like this until he begins teasing her about what he really needs that she could help him with. When his innuendos make her mad, she ends up dumping his dinner tray of food in his lap.
Eventually though, Jeff remembers where he's seen Fancy before in Port Hastings and believes she's a prostitute for Temple Royce - his most hated enemy. And who he blames for the destruction of his ship and loss of many lives aboard it. Even though Jeff finds Fancy attractive and spirited, his attitude towards her worsens and he's finally successful in hurting her feelings. Keith becomes furious with Jeff and tells him to apologize to Fancy for his meanness. When Jeff finds Fancy in the barn, he tells her he's sorry and makes advances on her. She's not experienced in intimacy and soon finds herself compromised. She's furious and Jeff is extremely surprised to find out she was a virgin.
Keith immediately knows after seeing both of them what has transpired and wants Jeff to leave. But Fancy beats him to it. She leaves Wenatchee in the middle of the night with Hershel, her rabbit. Phineas Pryor happens along and gives her a ride in his wagon to his next destination that is a carnival show where they both can perform. Knowing she was the first woman to awaken his feelings again, Jeff takes off to find her after discovering her missing the following morning.
Back and forth they go. He finds her and then she leaves him again. Even after they're married by the carnival snake man. Sheesh, these two drove me crazy. (A bit reminiscent of "Whitney, My Love.")
All the while in the background, Temple Royce is destined to find Fancy. He knows that she knows he was the one responsible for dynamiting Jeff's ship. His goal is to silence her. After he finds out she married Jeff Corbin, Royce is determined to kill them both.
It's a good story with great side characters, but like Banner O'Brien, it was heavy with sexual activity filler. But what kept me turning the pages was wanting to know when Fancy was going to admit to Jeff she knew Temple Royce was responsible for bombing his ship and why she never reported it. When she does finally say something, it happens at the worst possible time.
What happens in the last 10% of the book is what sets up the premise for the third book. It's sad, but it accomplishes the transition needed to move on to Keith's story.
I waffled between two and three stars, ultimately going with 2.5 and rounding up. This book is the second in a four book series that I stumbled upon at a bargain bin sale. It's now ready for a new home.
FMC Fancy Jordan (real name being Frances Gordon) was also first introduced in book one. She's attractive, reddish blonde, and a diminutive young woman. She was employed as a performer on the Silver Shadow, a brothel/saloon in Port Hastings. She was also Temple Royce's girlfriend. Royce being Jeff's evil nemesis. Fancy leaves Port Hastings immediately without telling Royce after Jeff's ship has been bombed. She wants to get as far away as possible and wants nothing more to do with Royce after overhearing he was responsible for the attack.
It's now about five months later and Jeff has been recuperating at his brother Keith's place in Wenatchee, Washington Territory. Fancy has just been fired by a traveling road show for failing to succeed in her "magical" tricks at coincidentally, Keith's parsonage and house grounds. Keith introduces himself and offers her a job. Helping Jeff.
"Jeff doesn't need a nurse so much as he needs a companion - someone who can spend time with him and bring him out of that inner world where he's hiding."
Not knowing if Jeff remembers her, and in dire need of money, Fancy accepts the job. At 19, she's a mature and responsible woman. When she has work, she always sends money home to her parents in Newcastle. A mining community that has them trapped in debt.
Fancy doesn't pull any punches with Jeff's antagonistic attitude. When he tells her "I love a woman I can't have." Her response is "Life is tough." He follows with:
"I lost my ship!" Fancy doesn't blink an eye before saying "People lose things every day." .... "From what I've seen, you have more - much more- than the average man, anyway."
They go on like this until he begins teasing her about what he really needs that she could help him with. When his innuendos make her mad, she ends up dumping his dinner tray of food in his lap.
Eventually though, Jeff remembers where he's seen Fancy before in Port Hastings and believes she's a prostitute for Temple Royce - his most hated enemy. And who he blames for the destruction of his ship and loss of many lives aboard it. Even though Jeff finds Fancy attractive and spirited, his attitude towards her worsens and he's finally successful in hurting her feelings. Keith becomes furious with Jeff and tells him to apologize to Fancy for his meanness. When Jeff finds Fancy in the barn, he tells her he's sorry and makes advances on her. She's not experienced in intimacy and soon finds herself compromised. She's furious and Jeff is extremely surprised to find out she was a virgin.
Keith immediately knows after seeing both of them what has transpired and wants Jeff to leave. But Fancy beats him to it. She leaves Wenatchee in the middle of the night with Hershel, her rabbit. Phineas Pryor happens along and gives her a ride in his wagon to his next destination that is a carnival show where they both can perform. Knowing she was the first woman to awaken his feelings again, Jeff takes off to find her after discovering her missing the following morning.
Back and forth they go. He finds her and then she leaves him again. Even after they're married by the carnival snake man. Sheesh, these two drove me crazy. (A bit reminiscent of "Whitney, My Love.")
All the while in the background, Temple Royce is destined to find Fancy. He knows that she knows he was the one responsible for dynamiting Jeff's ship. His goal is to silence her. After he finds out she married Jeff Corbin, Royce is determined to kill them both.
It's a good story with great side characters, but like Banner O'Brien, it was heavy with sexual activity filler. But what kept me turning the pages was wanting to know when Fancy was going to admit to Jeff she knew Temple Royce was responsible for bombing his ship and why she never reported it. When she does finally say something, it happens at the worst possible time.
What happens in the last 10% of the book is what sets up the premise for the third book. It's sad, but it accomplishes the transition needed to move on to Keith's story.
I waffled between two and three stars, ultimately going with 2.5 and rounding up. This book is the second in a four book series that I stumbled upon at a bargain bin sale. It's now ready for a new home.
February 12, 2022
3.5 stars. Fancy and Jeff. Fast paced, lots of sexy scenes. heroine cries a ton, and the hero will not promise to even not take a mistress. A enjoyable read to me-just be ready for lots of crying and fainting by Fancy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 13, 2009
I am rereading some of Linda Lael Miller's early books and am beginning with the Corbin Series. As with the first in the series, Banner O'Brien, I enjoyed Corbin's Fancy, but didn't find it to be as wonderful as I did twenty years ago. I found some of the interaction between the hero and heroine to be frustrating, but I found the book to be entertaining overall.
Fancy Jordan is down on her luck in Washington territory, and has been barely supporting herself with her carnival magic act. When Keith Corbin offers Fancy employment as a companion to his brother, she jumps at the chance for a better situation. Jeff Corbin was gravely wounded when his ship exploded and he has languished for months, withdrawn and lacking motivation to live. Fancy's presence immediately draws Jeff out of his shell and back to life. Jeff and Fancy are drawn to one another and soon marry. Lack of both trust and communication creates some difficuties in their relationship. At the same time, Jeff and Fancy face danger from the man who caused the explosion aboard Jeff's ship.
I enjoyed reading this book again, but I liked Banner O'Brien slightly better. I felt more empathy for both the hero and heroine in the first book of the series. I found both Fancy and Jeff to be frustrating at times. I look forward to reading the third book in the series, Memory's Embrace, which was my favorite when they were written.
Fancy Jordan is down on her luck in Washington territory, and has been barely supporting herself with her carnival magic act. When Keith Corbin offers Fancy employment as a companion to his brother, she jumps at the chance for a better situation. Jeff Corbin was gravely wounded when his ship exploded and he has languished for months, withdrawn and lacking motivation to live. Fancy's presence immediately draws Jeff out of his shell and back to life. Jeff and Fancy are drawn to one another and soon marry. Lack of both trust and communication creates some difficuties in their relationship. At the same time, Jeff and Fancy face danger from the man who caused the explosion aboard Jeff's ship.
I enjoyed reading this book again, but I liked Banner O'Brien slightly better. I felt more empathy for both the hero and heroine in the first book of the series. I found both Fancy and Jeff to be frustrating at times. I look forward to reading the third book in the series, Memory's Embrace, which was my favorite when they were written.
February 14, 2021
So the male character was a prick, who believed everyone could read his mind, especially Fancy. I stand in awe that she accepted whatever he dished out, whether with or without reservation. Of course, there were always tears. Then she reluctantly moved on, as if she knew he would follow or bring her back. With this MOD, she and her star-studded dress went from pitifully poor and alone, to overwhelmingly rich and in love. Not a believable read but perhaps a wishful one. Linda Lael Miller always makes the impossible, possible. It holds one's attention for many reasons, one major one for me -- you have to read on to find out how one can be so fitfully simple and still come out on top.
January 12, 2015
DNF. Sorry the heroine was TSTL :( Really.
I think I'll quit on this series.
I think I'll quit on this series.
September 20, 2018
This book wasn't bad, but it wasn't my favorite from Miller. I found Fancy to be quite an annoying character, and it's hard to love a book when you do not love the characters. The "he loves me, he loves me not," pity parties and insecurities are really getting old and I wish authors could come up with some new concepts. But if you're looking for a quick romantic read, nothing too dirty (almost too tame), then this is the book for you!
June 2, 2023
Very good plot and storyline but needs an editor!
Lots of intrigue, humor, and love story. However, the egregious lack of editing made it a struggle to read. I usually report such errors in order to help authors to make corrections, but this was too much.
The plot and storytelling was good enough to make me finish but it was a struggle.
Lots of intrigue, humor, and love story. However, the egregious lack of editing made it a struggle to read. I usually report such errors in order to help authors to make corrections, but this was too much.
The plot and storytelling was good enough to make me finish but it was a struggle.
May 18, 2024
CORBIN’S FANCY by Linda Lael Miller, Corbin Series Book 2
A desperate woman and a tormented man searching for love and happiness in the Pacific Northwest. Linda Lael Miller creates vibrant characters and stories about their day-to-day struggles.
A desperate woman and a tormented man searching for love and happiness in the Pacific Northwest. Linda Lael Miller creates vibrant characters and stories about their day-to-day struggles.
July 18, 2024
80% Sex
Linda Lael M iller is a fabulous storyteller. This is one of her earlier books before she came into her own as a master of her craft with deep subject matter. Most of this one was description of their sex life over and over.
Linda Lael M iller is a fabulous storyteller. This is one of her earlier books before she came into her own as a master of her craft with deep subject matter. Most of this one was description of their sex life over and over.
October 24, 2017
Historical romance.
February 26, 2018
A romance story where heroine cried too much and the hero was a jerk most of the time.
August 20, 2018
I really really enjoyed this book. The main character was constantly crying and the male was an arrogant prick, but it worked. I enjoyed the bit of mystery. Overall fantastic.
June 23, 2019
Jeff Corbin is a volatile man, not easy to like. But Linda Lael Miller manages to make him loveable all the same.
October 23, 2019
Alright. But why does all of Linda’s books imply cheating is occurring? I hate that!
April 5, 2020
fancy was a fun character
April 10, 2020
Absolutely Fantastic
I am into the 3rd book in the series and really enjoy this series. Hope she continues writing these great series.
I am into the 3rd book in the series and really enjoy this series. Hope she continues writing these great series.
May 22, 2023
Corbin's Fancy
Funny, happy, full of love and family. Loved this book. Highly recommend if you want a good read and happy ending
Funny, happy, full of love and family. Loved this book. Highly recommend if you want a good read and happy ending
April 4, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75 /5
I actually liked that the fmc cried. She was a tough character BUT she also cried when times came and I really appreciate that!
I actually liked that the fmc cried. She was a tough character BUT she also cried when times came and I really appreciate that!
June 6, 2019
The first book in this series: BANNER O'BRIEN, set the stage for the Corbin clan. CORBIN'S FANCY is the second son, Jeff's, story. At the end of the last book, he's devastated by the loss of Banner - she marries his older brother, Adam -- and Jeff sets off to sea.
A catastrophe occurs and Jeff almost dies. After a long recovery, Jeff is of a morbid turn of mind; the family is concerned. The third brother, Keith, takes it upon himself to find a solution; he finds Fancy, a sometimes magician. Fancy also has a side-kick named Herschel - an obese rabbit who is reluctant to help with Fancy's hat tricks.
The first few chapters make sense; Fancy is just what Jeff needs. She's as volatile as he is - but with the chutzpah to react in outrageous ways. This pulls Jeff from his morbid thoughts rather quickly.
Over the years, I've learned that when sex begins by page 49, there is precious little plot included in the tale. Fancy's insecurities became burdensome after a while. I learned more about Jeff as a person in the first novel. In this book, Jeff and Fancy were just hormone-crazy teen-types; sex - fight - reconcile - sex - fight - reconcile (you get the picture).
I was really looking forward to this story; the first book did a wonderful job of showing Jeff as a strong male lead. Book two turns Jeff into a cartoon - what a waste of a great character!
Corbin
1. Banner O'Brien (1984)
2. Corbin's Fancy (1985)
3. Memory's Embrace (1986)
4. My Darling Melissa (1990)
A catastrophe occurs and Jeff almost dies. After a long recovery, Jeff is of a morbid turn of mind; the family is concerned. The third brother, Keith, takes it upon himself to find a solution; he finds Fancy, a sometimes magician. Fancy also has a side-kick named Herschel - an obese rabbit who is reluctant to help with Fancy's hat tricks.
The first few chapters make sense; Fancy is just what Jeff needs. She's as volatile as he is - but with the chutzpah to react in outrageous ways. This pulls Jeff from his morbid thoughts rather quickly.
Over the years, I've learned that when sex begins by page 49, there is precious little plot included in the tale. Fancy's insecurities became burdensome after a while. I learned more about Jeff as a person in the first novel. In this book, Jeff and Fancy were just hormone-crazy teen-types; sex - fight - reconcile - sex - fight - reconcile (you get the picture).
I was really looking forward to this story; the first book did a wonderful job of showing Jeff as a strong male lead. Book two turns Jeff into a cartoon - what a waste of a great character!
Corbin
1. Banner O'Brien (1984)
2. Corbin's Fancy (1985)
3. Memory's Embrace (1986)
4. My Darling Melissa (1990)
November 5, 2019
Very, very, VERY bad
The Bad: Let me put it to you this way: The couple (who communicate with each other like they are in high school) had so much sex that (Twice. Yep, twice!) they needed to use bag balm (See: Old timey Vaseline) to soothe the resultant chafing. Once again, the author had a ridiculous villain (recycled from the last book no less) and a gaggle of one-dimensional characters. In fact, there was even a duplicate character who just kept getting a new name. She was really only there to cause drama and start trouble. Jewel the milkmaid and Meredith the lady were the same character who served the same function as the ridiculous Francelle in the last book. They have all slept with a Corbin brother, they are all "secretly" in love with a Corbin brother, have got a snowball's chance in hell to ever be with a Corbin brother, and the Corbin brothers have no problem whatsoever using them to make their wives jealous anytime they like. And why is it impossible for any of the Corbin men to pledge eternal fidelity to their wives? More importantly, why do the Corbin wives put up with that bullshit?
The Good?: There were some things done better in this book over the last: The hero didn't rape the heroin (How sad is it that this has to be pointed out as a "good" quality?) or try to beat her. But he did routinely threatened to beat her, implied she was a whore, and regularly seduced any qualms she had with him into silence (that technique apparently runs in the Corbin family along with high-strung emotions, instant love with a "beautiful" woman--because beauty is obviously the best trait any woman should strive to have--and a penchant for running off to God-knows-where the second something bad happens.
The Ugly: Fancy Corbin is an intelligent woman who is able to sing, dance, do magic, and make her way in the world. Yet, two seconds after she meets Jeff Corbin, she transforms into a woman who can't control her libido, faints constantly, and cries at the drop of the hat. Why any man would want to be with her is beyond me. Moreover, how anyone could get any real enjoyment from this book is also beyond me. I am only reading them because they are so bad, they are hilarious. (I know. I'm weird.)
PS--I have devised a new drinking game for the series. Every time you see an exclamation point, take a shot. You will be passed out by the third page. One paragraph alone had 6. Yep, I counted.
The Bad: Let me put it to you this way: The couple (who communicate with each other like they are in high school) had so much sex that (Twice. Yep, twice!) they needed to use bag balm (See: Old timey Vaseline) to soothe the resultant chafing. Once again, the author had a ridiculous villain (recycled from the last book no less) and a gaggle of one-dimensional characters. In fact, there was even a duplicate character who just kept getting a new name. She was really only there to cause drama and start trouble. Jewel the milkmaid and Meredith the lady were the same character who served the same function as the ridiculous Francelle in the last book. They have all slept with a Corbin brother, they are all "secretly" in love with a Corbin brother, have got a snowball's chance in hell to ever be with a Corbin brother, and the Corbin brothers have no problem whatsoever using them to make their wives jealous anytime they like. And why is it impossible for any of the Corbin men to pledge eternal fidelity to their wives? More importantly, why do the Corbin wives put up with that bullshit?
The Good?: There were some things done better in this book over the last: The hero didn't rape the heroin (How sad is it that this has to be pointed out as a "good" quality?) or try to beat her. But he did routinely threatened to beat her, implied she was a whore, and regularly seduced any qualms she had with him into silence (that technique apparently runs in the Corbin family along with high-strung emotions, instant love with a "beautiful" woman--because beauty is obviously the best trait any woman should strive to have--and a penchant for running off to God-knows-where the second something bad happens.
The Ugly: Fancy Corbin is an intelligent woman who is able to sing, dance, do magic, and make her way in the world. Yet, two seconds after she meets Jeff Corbin, she transforms into a woman who can't control her libido, faints constantly, and cries at the drop of the hat. Why any man would want to be with her is beyond me. Moreover, how anyone could get any real enjoyment from this book is also beyond me. I am only reading them because they are so bad, they are hilarious. (I know. I'm weird.)
PS--I have devised a new drinking game for the series. Every time you see an exclamation point, take a shot. You will be passed out by the third page. One paragraph alone had 6. Yep, I counted.
March 10, 2010
I'm really glad this was not the first Linda Lael Miller book I read. It would have put me off her books forever. Usually, I find her books engaging and well written, with good character and relationship development. Not so with this one. Though it may have been well written, the characters were not at all fleshed out. And their relationship definitely had issues. It was altogether too unrealistic. I know it's fiction, but there has to be a bit of realism to fiction, too. It has to be just a bit believable...
The main female character, Fancy Jordan, is fired from the traveling circus she was with and is almost immediately offered a job by Keith Corbin, a pastor. She is to be a companion to his brother, Jeff, who suffered burns when his ship was set on fire. Keith wants Fancy to draw Jeff out of the inner world he has hidden himself in. Within two days, it seems she's successful. Jeff goes outside for the first time in a long time, picking a fight with his brother and calling Fancy a slut. The brothers don't end up fighting, as Keith will be late for church. Instead, Fancy and Jeff have sex. And then Fancy runs away. Fancy is very insecure about herself and prone to jealousy, stemming from her insecurities and lack of self confidence. The story is basically Fancy and Jeff arguing, making up, having sex, and then doing it all over again. They did not get to know each other at all, even after they got married. They each claimed to love the other, but all they really seemed to have going was sex. Also, the antagonist of the story, Temple Royce, whom Fancy has been running from and who is Jeff's enemy, is dealt with in an unsatisfying way. After all the times Temple is mentioned and seen in the story, the ending was very anti-climatic. It seemed like Temple was there just so there could be a villainous character in the never. In the end, it seems the author got tired of writing and just wanted it to be over with.
So, to sum it up: I found problems with the characters and the ending. Plus, the plot wasn't very original.
The main female character, Fancy Jordan, is fired from the traveling circus she was with and is almost immediately offered a job by Keith Corbin, a pastor. She is to be a companion to his brother, Jeff, who suffered burns when his ship was set on fire. Keith wants Fancy to draw Jeff out of the inner world he has hidden himself in. Within two days, it seems she's successful. Jeff goes outside for the first time in a long time, picking a fight with his brother and calling Fancy a slut. The brothers don't end up fighting, as Keith will be late for church. Instead, Fancy and Jeff have sex. And then Fancy runs away. Fancy is very insecure about herself and prone to jealousy, stemming from her insecurities and lack of self confidence. The story is basically Fancy and Jeff arguing, making up, having sex, and then doing it all over again. They did not get to know each other at all, even after they got married. They each claimed to love the other, but all they really seemed to have going was sex. Also, the antagonist of the story, Temple Royce, whom Fancy has been running from and who is Jeff's enemy, is dealt with in an unsatisfying way. After all the times Temple is mentioned and seen in the story, the ending was very anti-climatic. It seemed like Temple was there just so there could be a villainous character in the never. In the end, it seems the author got tired of writing and just wanted it to be over with.
So, to sum it up: I found problems with the characters and the ending. Plus, the plot wasn't very original.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 26, 2012
It should come as no surprise how much I loved this book. I can say it was really well written as are all her books. I feel like her earlier books had more PG-13/R rated moments. Her newer books like Big Sky Country/Mountain are a little more tame. Banner O'Brien was such a great book that I was worried this book might some how fall short. WRONG, it so did not. I instantly fell in love with Fancy Jordan as a heroine. She was such a vivid character, so funny & as they call them in the old West " a hellcat"... Jeff Corbin struck a cord with me earlier on in the Banner O'Brien book, I found myself intrigued by the Captain of the Sea Mistress, this wayward middle brother, married to the ocean, but in love with his brothers intended. Struggling to come to terms with his brother Adam's betrayal, all the while fighting with the evil Temple Royce, who has been his enemy since childhood. During this book his fighting with Temple Royce meets new heights, it becomes much more viscous, and the rift between Adam and himself grows deeper. I love Linda Lael Miller's pattern of having the love be confusing & she always thrusts them into a situation where they question their love.. "Does she love me for my money?" "Is he still in love with someone else?" "Is she really still married?" She always has a funny little power struggle in all her books, this one is no different. I read so many of these books I sometimes don't thoroughly review them. I can honestly say though all her books are treasures to me, and she has quickly become one of my all time favorite authors.
July 7, 2013
I have read and loved Linda Lael Miller books for years. This one was horrifically bad. The female protagonist had sex with the male lead character one day after meeting him, then falls in love with and marries him, all in the first 5 chapters...and they spend the rest of the book fighting, misunderstanding each other, being angry for no tangible reason, or having sex. He was supposedly on his death bed when they met, but it seems as though he was just deathly bored, as hale and hearty as he seems throughout the book. The villain was clearly nothing more than a plot device, and the way that he met his end was completely ludicrous. Most of the characterizations veered wildly throughout-it seemed like the book was written by committee, with different people writing different segments. I may try the first book in this series, but probably not any time soon. Sure, it's nearly 30 years old, but I'm pretty sure that readers back then still wanted plotting and character depth.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 10, 2013
I liked this wish I read Banner O'Brien first so I had the background story of Adam and Banner. Anyway, Jeff Corbin is a disenchanted ex sea captain who almost dies in a blast that was meant to kill him. You meet Fancy Jordan(aka Francis Gordon, who is a magician in a travelling carnival. She meets Keith, who is Jeff's brother, he hires her to care for Jeff and help give him the will to live. She knows who Jeff is and has her own secrets about how he was injured. Jeff immediately is attracted to Fancy and her rebuffs are not accepted. He doesn't take no for an answer and she tries to deny him but she can't stop a steamroller. At times you go through what Fancy feels, thinking why did this happen and you feel her ire. But she forgives him always. He is very affectionate and doesn't care where he is if he feels the need to please.
January 17, 2008
Corbin's Fancy - G
Miller, Linda Lael
When a traveling carnival left Fancy Jordan stranded in the rugged Washington Territory, she thought her luck had run out. Alone, penniless, she welcomed a most intriguing offer -- to live in the home of Jeff Corbin's brother, and coax the wounded, withdrawn Jeff back to health and happiness.
But a villainous attack on his ship had hurt only his body -- a far deeper sorrow tortured him, heart and soul. For as the beautiful gamine fell deeply in love with his handsome, brooding man, she faced a phantom rival...one that only the most splendid, most heartfelt passion could conquer!
Hot!
Miller, Linda Lael
When a traveling carnival left Fancy Jordan stranded in the rugged Washington Territory, she thought her luck had run out. Alone, penniless, she welcomed a most intriguing offer -- to live in the home of Jeff Corbin's brother, and coax the wounded, withdrawn Jeff back to health and happiness.
But a villainous attack on his ship had hurt only his body -- a far deeper sorrow tortured him, heart and soul. For as the beautiful gamine fell deeply in love with his handsome, brooding man, she faced a phantom rival...one that only the most splendid, most heartfelt passion could conquer!
Hot!
December 7, 2012
Excellent!
Jeff Corbin was determined to move on, instead of pining after his brother's wife. Instead, he finds the true woman of his dreams in the magical Fancy. Frances Gordan aka Fancy Jordan traveled the country earning money to send home to her parents by performing magic. After failing to get her rabbit to come out of the hat, she finds herself in need of a new job and Keith Corbin thinks she is just the one to help his brother get on with life.
A very enjoyable story.
Jeff Corbin was determined to move on, instead of pining after his brother's wife. Instead, he finds the true woman of his dreams in the magical Fancy. Frances Gordan aka Fancy Jordan traveled the country earning money to send home to her parents by performing magic. After failing to get her rabbit to come out of the hat, she finds herself in need of a new job and Keith Corbin thinks she is just the one to help his brother get on with life.
A very enjoyable story.
January 9, 2013
Oh jeez. Remind me not to pick up random trashy romances at the bus station any more. This was just so terribly written - how many times can one author use the same adjective? I did like the female lead, Fancy, although I'm not sure why she kept bursting into tears. Or why she kept brushing her hair until it crackled. Is static a good thing for hair?
This was an okay way to kill two hours on a bus, though.
This was an okay way to kill two hours on a bus, though.
January 16, 2015
I love this series! LL Miller can occasionally get a little in her prose, but she writes such engaging characters that I end up not minding. The word velvet shows up a couple of times, if you know what I mean. However, she does write some of the most sensual love scenes around. In this series she makes me cry for each of her strong, larger-than-life heroes and I find myself smiling as things right themselves. If you love series romance, these books are defiantly worth reading!
October 28, 2011
this was a good book, i had a hard time getting into it, it might have been what was going on in my house than the book. put it down for a week and picked it back up yesterday and finished it today. love jeff and fancy, love adam and banner, and it is so sad what happened to keith, but will make me look forward to reading his story, and find his mate. would read again!
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