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Dear Lady Truelove #2
The Trouble with True Love
Dear Lady Truelove,
I am a girl of noble family, but I am painfully shy, especially in my encounters with those of the opposite sex . . .
For Clara Deverill, standing in for the real Lady Truelove means dispensing advice on problems she herself has never managed to overcome. There’s nothing for it but to retreat to a tearoom and hope inspiration strikes between scones. It doesn’t—until Clara overhears a rake waxing eloquent on the art of “honorable” jilting. The cad may look like an Adonis, but he’s about to find himself on the wrong side of Lady Truelove.
Rex Galbraith is an heir with no plans to produce a spare. He flirts with the minimum number of eligible young ladies to humor his matchmaking aunt, but Clara is the first to ever catch his roving eye. When he realizes that Clara—as Lady Truelove—has used his advice as newspaper fodder, he’s infuriated. But when he’s forced into a secret alliance with her, he realizes he’s got a much bigger problem—because Clara is upending everything Rex thought he knew about women—and about himself. . . .
I am a girl of noble family, but I am painfully shy, especially in my encounters with those of the opposite sex . . .
For Clara Deverill, standing in for the real Lady Truelove means dispensing advice on problems she herself has never managed to overcome. There’s nothing for it but to retreat to a tearoom and hope inspiration strikes between scones. It doesn’t—until Clara overhears a rake waxing eloquent on the art of “honorable” jilting. The cad may look like an Adonis, but he’s about to find himself on the wrong side of Lady Truelove.
Rex Galbraith is an heir with no plans to produce a spare. He flirts with the minimum number of eligible young ladies to humor his matchmaking aunt, but Clara is the first to ever catch his roving eye. When he realizes that Clara—as Lady Truelove—has used his advice as newspaper fodder, he’s infuriated. But when he’s forced into a secret alliance with her, he realizes he’s got a much bigger problem—because Clara is upending everything Rex thought he knew about women—and about himself. . . .
389 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 30, 2018
194 people are currently reading
1269 people want to read
About the author
Laura Lee Guhrke
39 books1,812 followersFrom the publication of her very first historical romance, Laura Lee Guhrke has received numerous honors and critical acclaim for her novels and her writing style. She has been honored with the most prestigious award of romance fiction, the Romance Writers of America Rita Award, and she has received additional awards from Romantic Times and All About Romance. Romantic Times has proclaimed her, “One of the most natural voices in historical romance to be found today”. Her books routinely hit the USA Today Bestseller List, and Guilty Pleasures has been honored with the Romantic Times Award for Best European Historical Romance of 2004. Among her publishing credits are twelve historical romances, including her latest, And Then He Kissed Her, now available from Avon Books.
Laura is currently hard at work on her thirteenth historical romance for Avon Books. She has also written articles for various publications, including the Romance Writers Report, The British Weekly , and the Irish-American Press.
Laura is currently hard at work on her thirteenth historical romance for Avon Books. She has also written articles for various publications, including the Romance Writers Report, The British Weekly , and the Irish-American Press.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 279 reviews
July 26, 2024
I've given this a B+ at AAR, so that's 4.5 stars
In book one of Laura Lee Guhrke’s Dear Lady Truelove series, we were introduced to the Deverill sisters, owners of The Weekly Gazette, the single remaining newspaper in what used to be a stable of them until their father pretty much ran the business into the ground after their mother’s death.
The sisters couldn’t be more different. Irene is opinionated, outspoken, progressive and fiercely independent, an advocate of reform and women’s suffrage, while Clara is quiet, reserved and wants the more traditional things from life, like love, romance, a home, husband and family. She has grown up very much in Irene’s shadow and has little faith in her own judgement and abilities; but Irene’s marriage (The Truth About Love and Dukes) and subsequent honeymoon mean that Clara is tasked with running the Gazette, and she worries she is not up to the task.
To make matters worse, at the beginning of The Trouble with True Love, Clara receives a telegram saying that Irene and her new husband are extending their trip by a month and that Irene is confident that Clara can handle everything until their brother Jonathan arrives to take up the reins. But Jonathan isn’t coming; he is in America, where he has struck silver and intends to stay and work his claim – which leaves Clara to deal with the obnoxious editor Irene appointed before she left for her wedding trip, AND to write the weekly column in which the famously anonymous Lady Truelove offers advice to the lovelorn. With her first deadline looming, Clara decides to head to her favourite tea-room, hoping it’ll be quieter than her office and that she’ll somehow find some inspiration.
Clara finds just that in the form of an overheard conversation between the two gentlemen at the next table. One of them – Lionel – is complaining to the other that the woman with whom he is having an affair has made clear her desire to marry him, but he isn’t sure he wants to marry her. The other man – who is easily the handsomest man Clara has ever seen – quickly disdains the idea of marriage and suggests a way in which Lionel can talk his lady love into carrying on as before without the promise of a trip to the altar.
The longer she listens to this outrageous outpouring of male connivance and duplicity, the more incensed Clara becomes. She decides there and then to use Lady Truelove’s next column to warn the woman concerned about the deception about to be practiced upon her.
Rex Pierpont, Viscount Galbraith’s views on matrimony are well known throughout society, and given the state of his parents disastrous union, his intention to never get married is hardly surprising. But his Aunt Petunia, whom he adores, won’t stop trying to find him a nice girl to settle down with and introduces him to Miss Clara Deverill one evening at a ball. Rex feels a jolt of recognition – but he can’t place her and proceeds to ask her to dance. Instead of the shy wallflower he had expected, Rex finds that Miss Deverill has a surprisingly sharp tongue and that she doesn’t appear to have any scruples about saying what she thinks, which is a refreshing change from the constant fawning and eyelash-batting to which he is normally subjected.
Later the same night, however, Rex realises exactly why Miss Deverill seemed so familiar, when his best friend, Lionel Strange, announces that his lady love has broken with him, punches Rex in the face and accuses him of disloyalty. Rex is further astonished when Lionel produces a newspaper cutting of Lady Truelove’s most recent column in which is repeated, almost word for word, the advice Rex gave his friend in the tea-room. Rex then remembers where he had seen Clara Deverill’s lovely eyes before – and a few days later marches into her office threatening to expose her. While it seems Rex has the upper hand, Clara manages to turn the tables on him and proposes a mutually agreeable alliance…
The set up for The Trouble with True Love isn’t original and at first I was almost yawning my weariness at the same-old, same-old; but the story woven around it turned out to be much more engaging than I’d expected, in large part due to the likeability of the protagonists and the way that Rex, in particular, is revealed to be nothing at all like the heartless rake society thinks him to be. So many marriage-shy bachelors in historical romance cite the misery of their parents’ marriages as the reason they don’t wish to wed, but in Rex’s case, the author has taken the time to flesh those reasons out a bit, and – through his relationship with his social butterfly of a mother – to show that he’s a kind and honourable man. He finds Clara’s honesty refreshing, and, realising she defines herself in terms of everything she is not – she’s not beautiful (like Irene), she’s not clever (like Irene), she’s not confident (like Irene) – determines to show her that she’s a wonderful person in her own right.
Clara blossoms during the course of their friendship, but it’s a gradual and subtle change and, with Rex’s gentle encouragement and support, she gains confidence and a sense of self as she finds her own inner strengths and the ability to meet challenges head on. The attraction between Rex and Clara is palpable from the very beginning, and their romance is a lovely slow-burn that evolves naturally out of the genuine and unexpected friendship that grows between them. Ms. Guhrke does a great job of showing Rex falling head-over-heels in love without his having a clue he’s doing it as he discovers that the trouble with true love is that one never knows when it is going to strike – and that it’s all he never wanted.
I ended up enjoying The Trouble with True Love much more than I thought I would, given my ambivalence towards the set up. If you can get past that, it’s a lovely character-driven romance in which the author takes the time to explore her characters’ motivations and to develop their relationship in a way that feels natural and unhurried. For all his (supposedly) rakish ways and antipathy towards marriage, Rex is an adorable hero who wants to do the right thing for those he loves; and I applaud Ms. Guhrke for writing a heroine who chooses to be a wife and mother and doesn’t see those as ‘lesser’ ambitions. I’m pleased to recommend this one to fans of well-written, character-driven historical romance.
How has an author who has written so much British set HR still not worked out that we don't have shirtwaists or cents in the UK? It's blouse and penny.
Gah!
In book one of Laura Lee Guhrke’s Dear Lady Truelove series, we were introduced to the Deverill sisters, owners of The Weekly Gazette, the single remaining newspaper in what used to be a stable of them until their father pretty much ran the business into the ground after their mother’s death.
The sisters couldn’t be more different. Irene is opinionated, outspoken, progressive and fiercely independent, an advocate of reform and women’s suffrage, while Clara is quiet, reserved and wants the more traditional things from life, like love, romance, a home, husband and family. She has grown up very much in Irene’s shadow and has little faith in her own judgement and abilities; but Irene’s marriage (The Truth About Love and Dukes) and subsequent honeymoon mean that Clara is tasked with running the Gazette, and she worries she is not up to the task.
To make matters worse, at the beginning of The Trouble with True Love, Clara receives a telegram saying that Irene and her new husband are extending their trip by a month and that Irene is confident that Clara can handle everything until their brother Jonathan arrives to take up the reins. But Jonathan isn’t coming; he is in America, where he has struck silver and intends to stay and work his claim – which leaves Clara to deal with the obnoxious editor Irene appointed before she left for her wedding trip, AND to write the weekly column in which the famously anonymous Lady Truelove offers advice to the lovelorn. With her first deadline looming, Clara decides to head to her favourite tea-room, hoping it’ll be quieter than her office and that she’ll somehow find some inspiration.
Clara finds just that in the form of an overheard conversation between the two gentlemen at the next table. One of them – Lionel – is complaining to the other that the woman with whom he is having an affair has made clear her desire to marry him, but he isn’t sure he wants to marry her. The other man – who is easily the handsomest man Clara has ever seen – quickly disdains the idea of marriage and suggests a way in which Lionel can talk his lady love into carrying on as before without the promise of a trip to the altar.
The longer she listens to this outrageous outpouring of male connivance and duplicity, the more incensed Clara becomes. She decides there and then to use Lady Truelove’s next column to warn the woman concerned about the deception about to be practiced upon her.
Rex Pierpont, Viscount Galbraith’s views on matrimony are well known throughout society, and given the state of his parents disastrous union, his intention to never get married is hardly surprising. But his Aunt Petunia, whom he adores, won’t stop trying to find him a nice girl to settle down with and introduces him to Miss Clara Deverill one evening at a ball. Rex feels a jolt of recognition – but he can’t place her and proceeds to ask her to dance. Instead of the shy wallflower he had expected, Rex finds that Miss Deverill has a surprisingly sharp tongue and that she doesn’t appear to have any scruples about saying what she thinks, which is a refreshing change from the constant fawning and eyelash-batting to which he is normally subjected.
Later the same night, however, Rex realises exactly why Miss Deverill seemed so familiar, when his best friend, Lionel Strange, announces that his lady love has broken with him, punches Rex in the face and accuses him of disloyalty. Rex is further astonished when Lionel produces a newspaper cutting of Lady Truelove’s most recent column in which is repeated, almost word for word, the advice Rex gave his friend in the tea-room. Rex then remembers where he had seen Clara Deverill’s lovely eyes before – and a few days later marches into her office threatening to expose her. While it seems Rex has the upper hand, Clara manages to turn the tables on him and proposes a mutually agreeable alliance…
The set up for The Trouble with True Love isn’t original and at first I was almost yawning my weariness at the same-old, same-old; but the story woven around it turned out to be much more engaging than I’d expected, in large part due to the likeability of the protagonists and the way that Rex, in particular, is revealed to be nothing at all like the heartless rake society thinks him to be. So many marriage-shy bachelors in historical romance cite the misery of their parents’ marriages as the reason they don’t wish to wed, but in Rex’s case, the author has taken the time to flesh those reasons out a bit, and – through his relationship with his social butterfly of a mother – to show that he’s a kind and honourable man. He finds Clara’s honesty refreshing, and, realising she defines herself in terms of everything she is not – she’s not beautiful (like Irene), she’s not clever (like Irene), she’s not confident (like Irene) – determines to show her that she’s a wonderful person in her own right.
Clara blossoms during the course of their friendship, but it’s a gradual and subtle change and, with Rex’s gentle encouragement and support, she gains confidence and a sense of self as she finds her own inner strengths and the ability to meet challenges head on. The attraction between Rex and Clara is palpable from the very beginning, and their romance is a lovely slow-burn that evolves naturally out of the genuine and unexpected friendship that grows between them. Ms. Guhrke does a great job of showing Rex falling head-over-heels in love without his having a clue he’s doing it as he discovers that the trouble with true love is that one never knows when it is going to strike – and that it’s all he never wanted.
I ended up enjoying The Trouble with True Love much more than I thought I would, given my ambivalence towards the set up. If you can get past that, it’s a lovely character-driven romance in which the author takes the time to explore her characters’ motivations and to develop their relationship in a way that feels natural and unhurried. For all his (supposedly) rakish ways and antipathy towards marriage, Rex is an adorable hero who wants to do the right thing for those he loves; and I applaud Ms. Guhrke for writing a heroine who chooses to be a wife and mother and doesn’t see those as ‘lesser’ ambitions. I’m pleased to recommend this one to fans of well-written, character-driven historical romance.
How has an author who has written so much British set HR still not worked out that we don't have shirtwaists or cents in the UK? It's blouse and penny.
Gah!
April 9, 2022
The Trouble with True Love was a relatively low-angst HR novel with minimal drama... which, in my humble opinion, was sort of its downfall. I love romantic wallflower heroines and cycnical heroes as much as the next person but this book felt like so many others I had read before. Truthfully, I would have loved to see more of the newspaper columns and everything else that could have made this story unique.
All in all, I wanted more originality, passion and sparks!
Rating: 3/5
All in all, I wanted more originality, passion and sparks!
Rating: 3/5
February 9, 2018
I loved the first and loved the second! LOL
Where Irene was a tough nut, Clara is a marshmallow! But only at the beginning! She just needed to be forced by circumstances to open her wings and fly!
And that circumstances are summed up in Rex! ;-)
What I appreciated here was the sincerity between the two of them. They speak with each other and (usually) tell the truth to each other. The only thing they're hiding is the tender feelings!
The story is kind of Egly Duckling fairy tale, where the poor dukling is forced to confront all his insecurities because he's left alone without anyone to help him. But this is just what Clara needed!
Irene has protected her too much. She should have shoved her into life, given her some responsibilities!
Maybe it would have been brutal, but it would have been useful.
What Rex manage to do is shove her gently, show her with words and deeds that's she's capable and lovely.
Clara is not an idiot and she understands that what Rex is saying applies and act accordingly with results that surprise her first!
Rex is the one who doesn't accept suggestions (until almost the very end) and I wanted to smack him often! To tell him: "You think that you're so smart, but you don't apply all your cleverness to yourself!!"
All in all a very good book! :)
Where Irene was a tough nut, Clara is a marshmallow! But only at the beginning! She just needed to be forced by circumstances to open her wings and fly!
And that circumstances are summed up in Rex! ;-)
What I appreciated here was the sincerity between the two of them. They speak with each other and (usually) tell the truth to each other. The only thing they're hiding is the tender feelings!
The story is kind of Egly Duckling fairy tale, where the poor dukling is forced to confront all his insecurities because he's left alone without anyone to help him. But this is just what Clara needed!
Irene has protected her too much. She should have shoved her into life, given her some responsibilities!
Maybe it would have been brutal, but it would have been useful.
What Rex manage to do is shove her gently, show her with words and deeds that's she's capable and lovely.
Clara is not an idiot and she understands that what Rex is saying applies and act accordingly with results that surprise her first!
Rex is the one who doesn't accept suggestions (until almost the very end) and I wanted to smack him often! To tell him: "You think that you're so smart, but you don't apply all your cleverness to yourself!!"
All in all a very good book! :)
November 22, 2020
This second installment in Laura Lee Guhrke’s Dear Lady Truelove series features the younger sister of Irene Deverill, the heroine of book one, The Truth About Love and Dukes. Clara Deverill is shy and retiring, the polar opposite of her sister who is off on her wedding trip with the Duke of Torquil. Irene – a take-charge, energetic, and quite progressive woman for her time – has been running the family-owned newspaper, The Weekly Gazette, and writing its most popular feature, the “Dear Lady Truelove” advice column. Irene has left Clara in charge, and Clara is sure that she is not up to the job, her only experience having been as a stenographer to Irene. Moreover, Clara is feeling bullied by the paper’s gruff editor and abandoned by her brother who is supposed to be back from his travels in America to take over the running of the paper.
Faced with a looming deadline, Clara fights panic and escapes to a neighborhood tea shop, where salvation presents itself in the form of two gentlemen conversing at the next table. Lionel is being pressured by his merry-widow mistress to marry her, but he isn't sure that he wants to. His friend Rex, comes up with a ruse that Lionel can use to hold out the possibility of marriage without actually promising anything. Lionel should suggest ending the relationship, as he hasn't the funds to support a wife.
A few nights later, Rex dances with Clara at a ball; he thinks she looks familiar, but he cannot place her. Clara assures him that they have never been introduced. Then Lionel shows up, punches Rex in the face, and accuses Rex of ruining his love life. When Lionel shows Rex the Lady Truelove column and he sees their conversation reproduced almost verbatim, he makes the connection and realizes that he saw Clara in the tea shop. Rex visits Clara's office in high dudgeon and threatens to expose her secret identity as Lady Truelove. Clara surprises herself by standing up to him, with the result that they develop a surprising plan that suits them both: a fake courtship.
This arrangement suits Clara because she would like to get married and have a family, but her shyness and lack of presence make it difficult for her to meet gentlemen via the traditional marriage mart. If a handsome, titled man like Rex (he is Viscount Galbraith and heir to the Earl of Leyland) shows interest in her then other men will as well. Rex has no desire to marry, but his father has cut off his allowance, and he hopes that if he is seen as seeking a bride his father will restore it. Moreover, his beloved Aunt Petunia, who has been supporting him, would dearly love to see him marry.
Those of us who regularly read historical romance have seen the fake courtship plot before, but Ms. Guhrke pulls it off quite adeptly, primarily because she takes the time to develop the characters so that the reader comes to like and understand them. We see how Rex's selfish, feuding parents have soured him on the notion of marriage, and we come to know him as a basically honorable, caring man. He finds Clara to be adorable and authentic, so different from the typical society girls, and it's quite lovely how he helps her spread her wings and learn to fly out from under her older sister's shadow. Although the two are immediately attracted to one another, the love story plays out slowly and deliciously.
I was not enamored of the first book in this series, but The Trouble With True Love was engaging and fun to read, and I can wholeheartedly recommend it to readers who enjoy character-driven romances that don't resort to silliness or big misunderstandings.
Faced with a looming deadline, Clara fights panic and escapes to a neighborhood tea shop, where salvation presents itself in the form of two gentlemen conversing at the next table. Lionel is being pressured by his merry-widow mistress to marry her, but he isn't sure that he wants to. His friend Rex, comes up with a ruse that Lionel can use to hold out the possibility of marriage without actually promising anything. Lionel should suggest ending the relationship, as he hasn't the funds to support a wife.
“Remind her of that and suggest—gently—that perhaps the two of you should go your separate ways? You don’t want to do it, of course, because you’re wild about her, and you can’t sleep or eat for wanting her, and your nights with her are the most amazing thing that’s ever happened to you, but for her sake, you feel you must tear yourself away.”As Rex acts out the scene, he is confident that Lionel's lady-love will then realize that it's better to keep their relationship as is rather than giving up the man she loves. Clara is incensed by what she overhears and uses the next Lady Truelove column as a means of warning the lady, indeed warning all ladies about the duplicitous nature of men.
A few nights later, Rex dances with Clara at a ball; he thinks she looks familiar, but he cannot place her. Clara assures him that they have never been introduced. Then Lionel shows up, punches Rex in the face, and accuses Rex of ruining his love life. When Lionel shows Rex the Lady Truelove column and he sees their conversation reproduced almost verbatim, he makes the connection and realizes that he saw Clara in the tea shop. Rex visits Clara's office in high dudgeon and threatens to expose her secret identity as Lady Truelove. Clara surprises herself by standing up to him, with the result that they develop a surprising plan that suits them both: a fake courtship.
This arrangement suits Clara because she would like to get married and have a family, but her shyness and lack of presence make it difficult for her to meet gentlemen via the traditional marriage mart. If a handsome, titled man like Rex (he is Viscount Galbraith and heir to the Earl of Leyland) shows interest in her then other men will as well. Rex has no desire to marry, but his father has cut off his allowance, and he hopes that if he is seen as seeking a bride his father will restore it. Moreover, his beloved Aunt Petunia, who has been supporting him, would dearly love to see him marry.
Those of us who regularly read historical romance have seen the fake courtship plot before, but Ms. Guhrke pulls it off quite adeptly, primarily because she takes the time to develop the characters so that the reader comes to like and understand them. We see how Rex's selfish, feuding parents have soured him on the notion of marriage, and we come to know him as a basically honorable, caring man. He finds Clara to be adorable and authentic, so different from the typical society girls, and it's quite lovely how he helps her spread her wings and learn to fly out from under her older sister's shadow. Although the two are immediately attracted to one another, the love story plays out slowly and deliciously.
I was not enamored of the first book in this series, but The Trouble With True Love was engaging and fun to read, and I can wholeheartedly recommend it to readers who enjoy character-driven romances that don't resort to silliness or big misunderstandings.
March 26, 2018
4.5 helms
Please follow me on my blog :) Review originally posted on Vellum Voyages (www.vellumvoyages.com)
Oh myyyyy…….did you hear that? That’s my heart sighing over this book…Laura Lee Guhrke has mighty fine penmanship when it comes to relatable heroines and heroes and this new novel is no different. She is rapidly carving a place on my keeper shelf with her well-written historicals and memorable protagonists. If you loved "And Then He Kissed Her", “The Trouble with TrueLove” , has a very similar style of storyline and involves a heroine who works for a newspaper :)
The responsibility of the Lady TrueLove column has been passed on to Miss Clara Deverill while her sister honeymoons in Europe. Clara, unlike her sister, does not possess much experience with running a newspaper business or writing an advice column for the lovelorn and finds herself in a pickle. She ambles down to Mr’s Pott’s tea emporium seeking inspiration and accidentally eavesdrops on a private conversation between two gentlemen.
Rex Galbraith is the heir to a title but doesn’t care a whit about marrying or believe in love thanks to the toxic relationship of his parents. He doesn’t live the rakehell lifestyle anymore but still provides the illusion of his reputation as a rake to keep the gossippers satisfied. When sought out for advice on matters of the heart by his friend Lionel, he provides advice that he deems sensible.
Unknown to him, his advice and actions were overheard by Miss Deverill who was outraged and considered it rakish and ungentlemanly. She uses her column to directly counteract his advice and firmly confirms his reputation as a rake in her mind. Fate being fickle, throws the two together as it is also Clara’s coming out Season and Rex is amongst the Ton. Eventually putting the clues together, Rex realises his advice was overheard and had been published in the newspapers with some serious repercussions to his friendship with Lionel. Clara and Rex’s confrontation creates a surprise alliance with mutual benefits but even more surprising is the passion and admiration they start feeling for each other, turning their opinions of one another upside down.
Rex and Clara are sooo cute and good for each other! I loved the way Rex’s personality coaxed Clara’s to blossom and brought her out of her shell. The underlying simmer of passion and constant playful banter between them was perfectly combined with their friendship, creating a strong and believable bond. The pace of the story was really good and there was low-level drama, with the majority of the story, focused on the relationship between the couple. Unfortunately for those of us who are picky and notice Americanisms, there are many sprinkled throughout this book which might set your teeth on edge…..I did loose some enamel reading this but it was worth it….Laura Lee Guhrke does put effort into her research and it shows in other portions of the story so it's not all bad...Just editing issues maybe? Despite these minor flaws, the story itself was amazing and this is definite keeper material!
*Thank-you Laura Lee Guhrke, Edelweiss & Avon for the ARC.
Please follow me on my blog :) Review originally posted on Vellum Voyages (www.vellumvoyages.com)
Oh myyyyy…….did you hear that? That’s my heart sighing over this book…Laura Lee Guhrke has mighty fine penmanship when it comes to relatable heroines and heroes and this new novel is no different. She is rapidly carving a place on my keeper shelf with her well-written historicals and memorable protagonists. If you loved "And Then He Kissed Her", “The Trouble with TrueLove” , has a very similar style of storyline and involves a heroine who works for a newspaper :)
The responsibility of the Lady TrueLove column has been passed on to Miss Clara Deverill while her sister honeymoons in Europe. Clara, unlike her sister, does not possess much experience with running a newspaper business or writing an advice column for the lovelorn and finds herself in a pickle. She ambles down to Mr’s Pott’s tea emporium seeking inspiration and accidentally eavesdrops on a private conversation between two gentlemen.
Rex Galbraith is the heir to a title but doesn’t care a whit about marrying or believe in love thanks to the toxic relationship of his parents. He doesn’t live the rakehell lifestyle anymore but still provides the illusion of his reputation as a rake to keep the gossippers satisfied. When sought out for advice on matters of the heart by his friend Lionel, he provides advice that he deems sensible.
Unknown to him, his advice and actions were overheard by Miss Deverill who was outraged and considered it rakish and ungentlemanly. She uses her column to directly counteract his advice and firmly confirms his reputation as a rake in her mind. Fate being fickle, throws the two together as it is also Clara’s coming out Season and Rex is amongst the Ton. Eventually putting the clues together, Rex realises his advice was overheard and had been published in the newspapers with some serious repercussions to his friendship with Lionel. Clara and Rex’s confrontation creates a surprise alliance with mutual benefits but even more surprising is the passion and admiration they start feeling for each other, turning their opinions of one another upside down.
Rex and Clara are sooo cute and good for each other! I loved the way Rex’s personality coaxed Clara’s to blossom and brought her out of her shell. The underlying simmer of passion and constant playful banter between them was perfectly combined with their friendship, creating a strong and believable bond. The pace of the story was really good and there was low-level drama, with the majority of the story, focused on the relationship between the couple. Unfortunately for those of us who are picky and notice Americanisms, there are many sprinkled throughout this book which might set your teeth on edge…..I did loose some enamel reading this but it was worth it….Laura Lee Guhrke does put effort into her research and it shows in other portions of the story so it's not all bad...Just editing issues maybe? Despite these minor flaws, the story itself was amazing and this is definite keeper material!
*Thank-you Laura Lee Guhrke, Edelweiss & Avon for the ARC.
March 12, 2019
3.75/5. Socially timid, Clara Deverill lacks adequate life experience and confidence to serve in the role of Lady Truelove, the advice columnist in her family's newspaper. Unfortunately, her older sister, the real Lady Truelove and head of the family business, is honeymooning and Clara is forced to step out of her sister's significant shadow to take over her mantle temporarily. While at a public tearoom, she eavesdrops in on a conversation between two young men and finds herself outraged by the advice dispensed by one archetypical rake to his friend. Her pen finally finds inspiration, the column finished in time for the weekly print which triggers off a series of events that lead to her butting head with the aforementioned rake, Viscount Rex Galbraith. They eventually agree to a tentative truce after she proposes an offer he couldn't refuse although his compliance comes with many strings attached. The wallflower blooms slowly under Rex's attention as her confidence soars. In fact, it becomes increasingly obvious that he is particularly talented at making her soar! Of course, Rex turns out not to be quite the rake she thought him to be, but the course true love never did run smooth, especially when one party is completely oblivious to the fact that love has smacked him right in the face.
The premise of the book is a bit silly with Clara talking Rex into writing the Lady Truelove column for her. She is supposed to be timid and tremulous in public, but although this was alluded to many times, we never really saw this side of her. I did enjoy the slowburn of their relationship and how he immediately saw her worth from their first meeting, even when she couldn't see it herself.
The narration by Justine Eyre is a pleasure to listen to.
The premise of the book is a bit silly with Clara talking Rex into writing the Lady Truelove column for her. She is supposed to be timid and tremulous in public, but although this was alluded to many times, we never really saw this side of her. I did enjoy the slowburn of their relationship and how he immediately saw her worth from their first meeting, even when she couldn't see it herself.
The narration by Justine Eyre is a pleasure to listen to.
May 21, 2018
Clara Deverill is voluntold to run her sister's newspaper while her sister goes on honeymoon. While attempting to generate copy for the "Dear Lady Truelove" article that is allegedly the draw of the paper, she overhears Rex Galbraith giving a friend some shady-ass advice. Then Rex finds out and confronts Clara and discovers that the shy mouse is actually a sassy hotty OBVIOUSLY.
1. I honestly spent the first 40% of this book thinking it was the second aka lead-in to a book I read last year (Once a Gentleman, which was published in 2004) EXCEPT I WAS AND AM SUPER WRONG. But the parallels are enough to make me feel justified: this book deals with someone picking up the running of a newspaper after the marriage of the first owner with an auburn-haired secretary waiting for her own story. Once a Gentleman is the story of an auburn (or APRICOT)-haired secretary finding love after the magazine she works for is semi-abandoned after all previous owners find love.
2. Rex is a patented idiot hero: LOVE IS BAD AND SO IS MARRIAGE BECAUSE MY PARENTS FOUGHT A LOT AND DEMONSTRATED ONLY A SUPER UNHEALTHY PORTRAYAL OF "LOVE" THAT I WILL IMMEDIATELY PUT ASIDE THE MOMENT THE PLOT REQUIRES IT SO THAT I CAN ENGAGE IN AN EMOTIONAL CONFESSION OF "TRUE LOVE" IN ORDER TO FACILITATE A HAPPY ENDING.
3. Clara was somewhat better BUT ONLY SOMEWHAT. For starters, she is portrayed as "shy" and yet barely suffers from the affliction around Rex allegedly because she overhead him being an ass and so decided to detest him. She does go through some character growth as she embraces her role running the newspaper but it's kind of offset by the reliance upon the "shy plain wallflower" trope. Especially because that trope is undermined AT EVERY TURN by the narrative. SO.
4. Parts of this felt like they went nowhere? Like elements were introduced that didn't really result in any resolution which is more bothersome in retrospect than it was during the reading.
5. Also for it being the second book in the "Dear Lady Truelove" series, there is actually very little to do with the Dear Lady Truelove column beyond the initial setup? I was hoping for a more robust framing device for the story, using columns Rex was writing to parallel the story. COULD HAVE BEEN GREAT!!
1. I honestly spent the first 40% of this book thinking it was the second aka lead-in to a book I read last year (Once a Gentleman, which was published in 2004) EXCEPT I WAS AND AM SUPER WRONG. But the parallels are enough to make me feel justified: this book deals with someone picking up the running of a newspaper after the marriage of the first owner with an auburn-haired secretary waiting for her own story. Once a Gentleman is the story of an auburn (or APRICOT)-haired secretary finding love after the magazine she works for is semi-abandoned after all previous owners find love.
2. Rex is a patented idiot hero: LOVE IS BAD AND SO IS MARRIAGE BECAUSE MY PARENTS FOUGHT A LOT AND DEMONSTRATED ONLY A SUPER UNHEALTHY PORTRAYAL OF "LOVE" THAT I WILL IMMEDIATELY PUT ASIDE THE MOMENT THE PLOT REQUIRES IT SO THAT I CAN ENGAGE IN AN EMOTIONAL CONFESSION OF "TRUE LOVE" IN ORDER TO FACILITATE A HAPPY ENDING.
3. Clara was somewhat better BUT ONLY SOMEWHAT. For starters, she is portrayed as "shy" and yet barely suffers from the affliction around Rex allegedly because she overhead him being an ass and so decided to detest him. She does go through some character growth as she embraces her role running the newspaper but it's kind of offset by the reliance upon the "shy plain wallflower" trope. Especially because that trope is undermined AT EVERY TURN by the narrative. SO.
4. Parts of this felt like they went nowhere? Like elements were introduced that didn't really result in any resolution which is more bothersome in retrospect than it was during the reading.
5. Also for it being the second book in the "Dear Lady Truelove" series, there is actually very little to do with the Dear Lady Truelove column beyond the initial setup? I was hoping for a more robust framing device for the story, using columns Rex was writing to parallel the story. COULD HAVE BEEN GREAT!!
February 10, 2018
The Trouble With True Love by Laura Lee Guhrke is book Two in the "Dear Lady Truelove" Series. This is the story of Clara Deverill and Rex Pierpont, Viscount Galbraith. I haven't yet read the previous book, so for me this was a standalone book
Clara is filling in for her sister on writing the 'Dear Lady Truelove' series in the newspaper. People write in asking for love advise and she responds back. But Clara isn't as out going as her sister nor has she much experience with love or courting. Clara is the shy type who feels she isn't very beautiful. Rex is a rake whose parents are not the best examples of what love and marriage were. But he has a Aunt who is looking to match him up with someone.
Clara and Rex are very different people who end up coming together after Clara eavesdropped on his conversation with a friend. Information Clara used in her sisters 'Dear Lady Truelove' sections.
It was fun watching them bicker, grow and learn what love really is.
Clara is filling in for her sister on writing the 'Dear Lady Truelove' series in the newspaper. People write in asking for love advise and she responds back. But Clara isn't as out going as her sister nor has she much experience with love or courting. Clara is the shy type who feels she isn't very beautiful. Rex is a rake whose parents are not the best examples of what love and marriage were. But he has a Aunt who is looking to match him up with someone.
Clara and Rex are very different people who end up coming together after Clara eavesdropped on his conversation with a friend. Information Clara used in her sisters 'Dear Lady Truelove' sections.
It was fun watching them bicker, grow and learn what love really is.
March 31, 2019
3.5
I can't seem to move away from romance genre this year. Not sorry about that. The mood is just right. Who knows, maybe I end this year with something opposite. I doubt it, though.
There are only a couple of things you need to know about The Trouble with True Love.
One, as usual, suspend your disbelief for a bit. This is something every lover of this genre knows. There's always something to nitpick. I won't, don't worry.
Two, it is low to no angst love story. Nobody suffers too much, there are no others thrown into the mix. Your 'job' is to wait for them to get to the final realisation. Although she's described as plain (and she seems to be), there are things about her that make her extraordinary. The lovely thing about that is that the hero actually acknowledges the fact even before talking to her for the first time.
Three, the only thing that is resolved in a satisfying way is their romance. As it should be. Other people, like their parents, are left to deal with their own messes.
Four, these two are wonderful. I enjoyed their story.
I can't seem to move away from romance genre this year. Not sorry about that. The mood is just right. Who knows, maybe I end this year with something opposite. I doubt it, though.
There are only a couple of things you need to know about The Trouble with True Love.
One, as usual, suspend your disbelief for a bit. This is something every lover of this genre knows. There's always something to nitpick. I won't, don't worry.
Two, it is low to no angst love story. Nobody suffers too much, there are no others thrown into the mix. Your 'job' is to wait for them to get to the final realisation. Although she's described as plain (and she seems to be), there are things about her that make her extraordinary. The lovely thing about that is that the hero actually acknowledges the fact even before talking to her for the first time.
Three, the only thing that is resolved in a satisfying way is their romance. As it should be. Other people, like their parents, are left to deal with their own messes.
Four, these two are wonderful. I enjoyed their story.
February 28, 2018
This review was originally posted on Addicted To RomanceI received this book for free from Avon in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Trouble With True Love is stimulating and has its laugh out loud crazy moments that keeps you smiling and intrigued by this sexy Regency romance.....
The Trouble With True Love was truly a wonderful story to read and even though it took me a bit longer to read it than I would like, I truly was intrigued by this book and these sisters. Now I still haven't read book one yet, but after reading this one I truly would love a chance to crack at it.
Our story begins with our heroine, who is having to run the "Lady Truelove" column while her sister is on her honeymoon. Clara has no idea what she is really doing but made a commitment to see it through. So while sitting in a tearoom hoping for some inspiration she overhears a conversation between two gentlemen and talk of jilting an innocent woman. Well Clara is outraged on this innocent woman's behalf, and so she puts her advice to this woman in her column and all hell breaks loose when the injured party wants resolution from her. Rex is your typical rake, he has no plans for marriage, and loves to flirt and drink with the best of them and only does what he can to appease his aunt. But when he loses his best friend over this 'column' and realizes what happens, he is furious. Through some intensity between both strong characters, they come to a resolution and start to secretly work together but never realizing that the chemistry between them is too difficult to resist.
I truly liked this story for the most part, I did feel that it was really slow in the middle but the beginning and the ending were great, the story just didn't hold my interest and took me days to read (which is a long time to read) and honestly I ended up just forcing myself to get through it but thankfully it started to pick up in the later half of the story and I was very intrigued by this romance. I think what really drew me to this book in the first place was the chemistry and those laugh out loud moments. Boy, these two definitely know how to argue and it's so entertaining to witness. I really found the set up of the story very intriguing and even though I wasn't a huge fan of the heroine or some of her actions in the beginning especially, I grew to like her slowly. However, the hero in this story was delicious and boy I adored his character. Because he is NOT the rake that he appears to be and there is so much goodness to his personality that I was drawn to like a moth to a flame and just seeing him find an HEA was worth pushing through this book.
Even though not a perfect story, it was a truly enjoyable and lively read that was light and cheerful!!
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The Trouble With True Love is stimulating and has its laugh out loud crazy moments that keeps you smiling and intrigued by this sexy Regency romance.....
The Trouble With True Love was truly a wonderful story to read and even though it took me a bit longer to read it than I would like, I truly was intrigued by this book and these sisters. Now I still haven't read book one yet, but after reading this one I truly would love a chance to crack at it.
Our story begins with our heroine, who is having to run the "Lady Truelove" column while her sister is on her honeymoon. Clara has no idea what she is really doing but made a commitment to see it through. So while sitting in a tearoom hoping for some inspiration she overhears a conversation between two gentlemen and talk of jilting an innocent woman. Well Clara is outraged on this innocent woman's behalf, and so she puts her advice to this woman in her column and all hell breaks loose when the injured party wants resolution from her. Rex is your typical rake, he has no plans for marriage, and loves to flirt and drink with the best of them and only does what he can to appease his aunt. But when he loses his best friend over this 'column' and realizes what happens, he is furious. Through some intensity between both strong characters, they come to a resolution and start to secretly work together but never realizing that the chemistry between them is too difficult to resist.
Every rose blooms at some point, Clara. I just happened to be here when it happened to you.
I truly liked this story for the most part, I did feel that it was really slow in the middle but the beginning and the ending were great, the story just didn't hold my interest and took me days to read (which is a long time to read) and honestly I ended up just forcing myself to get through it but thankfully it started to pick up in the later half of the story and I was very intrigued by this romance. I think what really drew me to this book in the first place was the chemistry and those laugh out loud moments. Boy, these two definitely know how to argue and it's so entertaining to witness. I really found the set up of the story very intriguing and even though I wasn't a huge fan of the heroine or some of her actions in the beginning especially, I grew to like her slowly. However, the hero in this story was delicious and boy I adored his character. Because he is NOT the rake that he appears to be and there is so much goodness to his personality that I was drawn to like a moth to a flame and just seeing him find an HEA was worth pushing through this book.
I used to believe that true love was a myth, but now, for the first time in my life, I know it's not. Now, for the first time, I'm able to see the joy that two people can find in each other.
Even though not a perfect story, it was a truly enjoyable and lively read that was light and cheerful!!
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July 1, 2021
We enjoyed this second entry in the Dear Lady Truelove series. As usual, Laura Lee Guhrke's dialogue is fun, her relationships are heartfelt, and her period details are pitch perfect. We especially liked the setup and development of Clara and Rex's relationship because of their honesty and support for each other. We were a little disappointed that the final conflict ended up being a miscommunication issue, especially since the couple had been doing such a great job at candor and respect up until that point.
31-Word Summaries:
Laine: Rex's secret is that he financially supports his flaky mom. Clara sucks at writing advice but is great at editing. Fake relationship means he gets courting money and she gets suitors.
Meg: All Clara wants is a husband. So of course when she finally falls in love, it’s with someone who’s vowed never to marry. Confidence might help, so lean in at work!
31-Word Summaries:
Laine: Rex's secret is that he financially supports his flaky mom. Clara sucks at writing advice but is great at editing. Fake relationship means he gets courting money and she gets suitors.
Meg: All Clara wants is a husband. So of course when she finally falls in love, it’s with someone who’s vowed never to marry. Confidence might help, so lean in at work!
January 27, 2019
Clara's sister owns a newspaper and now when Irene is on her honeymoon it is Clara that has to care for the paper. And write a advice column! Not the easiest thing for shy wallflower. Poor Clara, Irene was meant to be back and writing the column by now.
Yes Clara. A bit of a wallflower who may start stammering when a handsome men approaches. But sweet, smart and utterly useless at giving other advice.
Rex, a rogue that is not really a rogue. Against marriage cos of his parents. Cut of by his dad and living on his aunt's allowance. But it all hasa reason and I felt that yes maybe he was actually too kind. Sometimes people needs to learn a lesson. Handsome as the devil too.
A bloody nose brings them together. He hates newsrags. She thinks he can shove his advice up his *beeP* And oh you two! Working close together and pretending things always lead to love! Will these rakes never learn! ;)
Stolen kisses. Banter and falling in love. There is never any real drama. The drama is more how these two are so different and must learn that love will always win.
Fun times!
Narrator
Well, yes, Justine Eyre again. I do enjoy her voice when it comes to historical romance. She does the men and women so well in them. She brings me to that era.
Yes Clara. A bit of a wallflower who may start stammering when a handsome men approaches. But sweet, smart and utterly useless at giving other advice.
Rex, a rogue that is not really a rogue. Against marriage cos of his parents. Cut of by his dad and living on his aunt's allowance. But it all hasa reason and I felt that yes maybe he was actually too kind. Sometimes people needs to learn a lesson. Handsome as the devil too.
A bloody nose brings them together. He hates newsrags. She thinks he can shove his advice up his *beeP* And oh you two! Working close together and pretending things always lead to love! Will these rakes never learn! ;)
Stolen kisses. Banter and falling in love. There is never any real drama. The drama is more how these two are so different and must learn that love will always win.
Fun times!
Narrator
Well, yes, Justine Eyre again. I do enjoy her voice when it comes to historical romance. She does the men and women so well in them. She brings me to that era.
September 17, 2023
september 2023 : this elderly marie loved this line : "if she was the rose, he was the sun and spring rain that had lifted her out of a lifetime of winter. maybe that, she thought, was what rakes were for".
october 2020 : this romance made me HAPPY. i read my first laura lee guhrke in january and i am guilty of forgetting all about her romance novels until i saw the gorgeous cover on my TBR list and decided to start reading it and what a delightful read. i smiled every time i picked up my ereader and i rearranged the last two days to just have time to read it.
rex and clara were such honest, funny and lovely characters and their love story is just the same. starting with very opposite views on love and marriage, they decide to use the other as best as they can to sort out a missing expert writer on love, a lack of fund and a need of a successful season (yes, there is a little fake courting trope hidding in the story). being blind to slowly falling in love, the both of them only acknowledge that they are becoming friends and then start some fabulous dances, late night at the newspaper, shortbreads comparisons and drinking a lot of champagne. the story was simple but effective and had some very interesting dialogues. i really enjoyed reading about rex and clara's views on life, love and marriage and it made me reflect that it is actually quite rare that romance novels address the subject and offer ideas and thoughts on love.
all of this made the novel a gorgeous romance in my books but if you add some beautiful romantic lines to it, i couldn't help but be ecstatic about it. i mean,
"eyes like yours are dangerous, Clara. they can slay a man with a look like an arrow through the heart. i should know," he added, smiling a little, "because i've had to dig several arrows out of my chest since we met".
isn't this SWOON WORTHY?!
ps: why is laura lee guhrke so underestimated?? i'd happily read a thousand more of her romances!
october 2020 : this romance made me HAPPY. i read my first laura lee guhrke in january and i am guilty of forgetting all about her romance novels until i saw the gorgeous cover on my TBR list and decided to start reading it and what a delightful read. i smiled every time i picked up my ereader and i rearranged the last two days to just have time to read it.
rex and clara were such honest, funny and lovely characters and their love story is just the same. starting with very opposite views on love and marriage, they decide to use the other as best as they can to sort out a missing expert writer on love, a lack of fund and a need of a successful season (yes, there is a little fake courting trope hidding in the story). being blind to slowly falling in love, the both of them only acknowledge that they are becoming friends and then start some fabulous dances, late night at the newspaper, shortbreads comparisons and drinking a lot of champagne. the story was simple but effective and had some very interesting dialogues. i really enjoyed reading about rex and clara's views on life, love and marriage and it made me reflect that it is actually quite rare that romance novels address the subject and offer ideas and thoughts on love.
all of this made the novel a gorgeous romance in my books but if you add some beautiful romantic lines to it, i couldn't help but be ecstatic about it. i mean,
"eyes like yours are dangerous, Clara. they can slay a man with a look like an arrow through the heart. i should know," he added, smiling a little, "because i've had to dig several arrows out of my chest since we met".
isn't this SWOON WORTHY?!
ps: why is laura lee guhrke so underestimated?? i'd happily read a thousand more of her romances!
March 7, 2019
2.5 stars, almost 3 but not quite (my ratings system is whackadoodle, okay?)
I really loved the setup of The Trouble with True Love. I mean, it paired together a rake and a wallflower in a sham courtship; talk about catnip! And while I thought Clara and Rex developed a wonderful rapport over the course of the story, their actual romance felt a bit forced or artificial. What I mean by that is, the author seemed to spend a lot of time telling me they were really, really attracted to each other (lord knows there were enough references about Rex’s “devastatingly handsome face”), but I never really saw the basis for said attraction or feel that they were developing deeper feelings for each other.
There was this sense that Rex was the one who fell for Clara first, but he didn’t realize it or confused love for lust. Now while I would’ve been all for a hero falling for the heroine first, I didn’t feel that it was fully executed in a way that made their romance believable. Maybe I’m being too picky because there was still a lot to enjoy about this book. I especially loved how Clara’s self confidence grew through her friendship with Rex and how he encouraged her at every turn whenever she began to doubt herself. I would’ve liked to have seen more or that and less emphasis on their lusty thoughts for each other. The sluggish pacing in the middle and rather abrupt ending didn’t help my slacking interest by the end. At least there was desk sex.
I really loved the setup of The Trouble with True Love. I mean, it paired together a rake and a wallflower in a sham courtship; talk about catnip! And while I thought Clara and Rex developed a wonderful rapport over the course of the story, their actual romance felt a bit forced or artificial. What I mean by that is, the author seemed to spend a lot of time telling me they were really, really attracted to each other (lord knows there were enough references about Rex’s “devastatingly handsome face”), but I never really saw the basis for said attraction or feel that they were developing deeper feelings for each other.
There was this sense that Rex was the one who fell for Clara first, but he didn’t realize it or confused love for lust. Now while I would’ve been all for a hero falling for the heroine first, I didn’t feel that it was fully executed in a way that made their romance believable. Maybe I’m being too picky because there was still a lot to enjoy about this book. I especially loved how Clara’s self confidence grew through her friendship with Rex and how he encouraged her at every turn whenever she began to doubt herself. I would’ve liked to have seen more or that and less emphasis on their lusty thoughts for each other. The sluggish pacing in the middle and rather abrupt ending didn’t help my slacking interest by the end. At least there was desk sex.
February 26, 2018
I had a hard time getting to the HEA of this book. I didn't care for the first book and I picked this up only because someone I respect as a reviewer mention that TTwTL was much better than THE TRUTH ABOUT LOVE AND DUKES. I disagree. The whole premise stinks. Ms. Guhrke created an uninteresting wallflower who never blooms in my opinion. Even though Rex loved Clara's "ripping smile" I couldn't feel/understand his attraction for her, she was just so bland in every way. Rex is great and I sympathized with him about his parents who made him miserable as a boy and even later on with their rancor for each other. It was a good idea, the gorgeous cynical hero and the "not as pretty or accomplished as her sister" heroine, but Ms. Guhrke couldn't deliver, she would've done better to have had a prejudiced Lizzie Bennett instead of a moralizing Mary Bennett. The most frustrating thing was how the novel felt cobbled together in a shallow and very haphazard way with absolutely no thought to the couple's actual personalities. I can't say anymore more than what a waste of a good hero.
February 24, 2019
Laura Lee Gurhke has a way with heroes and heroines. I loved Rex and Clara! They were a bit too self-aware and the ending arrived too swiftly yet their romance was treat to read.
February 20, 2018
Review The Trouble With True Love by Laura Lee Guhrke The Trouble With True Love by Laura Lee Guhrke is book Two in the "Dear Lady Truelove" Series. This is the story of Clara Deverill and Rex Pierpont, Viscount Galbraith. I haven't yet read the previous book, so for me this was a standalone book Clara is filling in for her sister on writing the 'Dear Lady Truelove' series in the newspaper. People write in asking for love advise and she responds back. But Clara isn't as out going as her sister nor has she much experience with love or courting. Clara is the shy type who feels she isn't very beautiful. Rex is a rake whose parents are not the best examples of what love and marriage were. But he has a Aunt who is looking to match him up with someone. Clara and Rex are very different people who end up coming together after Clara eavesdropped on his conversation with a friend. Information Clara used in her sisters 'Dear Lady Truelove' sections. It was fun watching them bicker, grow and learn what love really is.
April 30, 2019
L'histoire est mignonne et amusante. J'ai aimé la relation et la tension qui se développe entre les héros.
February 5, 2019
I enjoyed that our OTP fell in love little by little and the angst was minimal. Plus we got our sexy times but it was right amount so I didn't feel like skipping the whole thing..
December 30, 2019
Bon alors j'hésite entre 3 et 4 (c'est gonflant qu'on ne puisse pas mettre les demi...)
Parce que: l'histoire est à priori classique (le séducteur qui ne va jamais se marier parce que l'amour ça n'existe pas, la jeune fille qui rêve d'amour et de mariage, bla bla bla).
Mais j'ai bien aimé un certain nombre de réflexion, et puis on est chez Guhrke, alors même si c'est classique, ce n'est pas insipide ^^
Alors l'histoire entre Rex (c'est quoi ce prénom?) et Clara est bien classique. Clara se retrouve a devoir gérer le journal de sa sœur pendant que celle-ci prolonge sa lune de miel (et que le frangin prolonge son séjour aux Amériques en se prenant pour Jake London....) alors qu'elle à la base, elle ne rêve que de mariage. Même si elle est timide. Et qu'elle se voit mal jouer le rôle de Lady Truelove. Jusqu'à ce qu'elle chope par hasard une conversation avec un dragueur patenté filant des conseils à son ami...
Le dragueur c'est Rex , Vicomte Galbraith. Et quand son meilleur pote lui file son poing sur la figure, parce qu'il pense qu'il a raconté son histoire à Lady Truelove, et que sa copine l'a largué... ben il décide d'additionner 1+1 et de rendre visite à Lady T.
La suite, c'est refrain connu.
Finalement ce que j'ai aimé dans ce tome, ça a plus été lexploration de la définition de l'amour que la romance... Pour des raisons personnalles compréhensibles, Rex pense que l'amour c'est une illusion ou un piège... pour des raisons personnelles, Clara pense que ça vaut le coup. Ce qui va donner entre eux prétexte à pas mal de discussion, qui vont les faire évoluer...
L'autre chose qui m'a plu, mais c'est récurent chez Guhrke, c'est la description de l'époque et de la société... on se rend compte que l'on peut être un grand vicomte de 32 ans, et se voir couper les vivres par son père. Et comme la société considère que "ouhlà, le travail, c'est pour les pauvres " ben ça limite un peu les options. Et je me dis que cela doit être terrible d'être adulte... et d'être totalement dépendant finalement (même lorsqu'on est un homme, puisqu'en plus, on vit dans une société où l'homme doit être le pilier... mouais, amis de la logique sociale, bonjour).
Parce que: l'histoire est à priori classique (le séducteur qui ne va jamais se marier parce que l'amour ça n'existe pas, la jeune fille qui rêve d'amour et de mariage, bla bla bla).
Mais j'ai bien aimé un certain nombre de réflexion, et puis on est chez Guhrke, alors même si c'est classique, ce n'est pas insipide ^^
Alors l'histoire entre Rex (c'est quoi ce prénom?) et Clara est bien classique. Clara se retrouve a devoir gérer le journal de sa sœur pendant que celle-ci prolonge sa lune de miel (et que le frangin prolonge son séjour aux Amériques en se prenant pour Jake London....) alors qu'elle à la base, elle ne rêve que de mariage. Même si elle est timide. Et qu'elle se voit mal jouer le rôle de Lady Truelove. Jusqu'à ce qu'elle chope par hasard une conversation avec un dragueur patenté filant des conseils à son ami...
Le dragueur c'est Rex , Vicomte Galbraith. Et quand son meilleur pote lui file son poing sur la figure, parce qu'il pense qu'il a raconté son histoire à Lady Truelove, et que sa copine l'a largué... ben il décide d'additionner 1+1 et de rendre visite à Lady T.
La suite, c'est refrain connu.
Finalement ce que j'ai aimé dans ce tome, ça a plus été lexploration de la définition de l'amour que la romance... Pour des raisons personnalles compréhensibles, Rex pense que l'amour c'est une illusion ou un piège... pour des raisons personnelles, Clara pense que ça vaut le coup. Ce qui va donner entre eux prétexte à pas mal de discussion, qui vont les faire évoluer...
L'autre chose qui m'a plu, mais c'est récurent chez Guhrke, c'est la description de l'époque et de la société... on se rend compte que l'on peut être un grand vicomte de 32 ans, et se voir couper les vivres par son père. Et comme la société considère que "ouhlà, le travail, c'est pour les pauvres " ben ça limite un peu les options. Et je me dis que cela doit être terrible d'être adulte... et d'être totalement dépendant finalement (même lorsqu'on est un homme, puisqu'en plus, on vit dans une société où l'homme doit être le pilier... mouais, amis de la logique sociale, bonjour).
February 26, 2018
A wonderfully romantic escape, The Trouble With True Love, is a captivating read starring a very determined heroine and the sort of hero you wish would come bursting into your office :)
Clara Deverill is in a bit of a bind. With her sister away on her honeymoon and her brother's return to England postponed indefinitely, she has no choice but to run her family's newspaper business. Which wouldn't be so bad if it only consisted of managing the employees. But unfortunately it also means becoming the infamous Lady Truelove, which poses a bit of a problem since Clara has no idea how to offer the necessary advice the Lady Truelove column requires. Until she happens to overhear a private conversation between two gentlemen involving a detailed outline of how to continue bedding a woman without having to marry her. Outraged and inspired, Clara embraces her new persona in an effort to warn all women of men and their devious trickery.
Rex Galbreith is an undeniable flirt and a well-renowned rake who never plans to marry. But then he meets Clara and everything changes. Because this beauty appears to have no interest in him at all while also disliking him for reasons he can't quite seem to figure out. Until he discovers she overheard him telling his friend how to avoid marrying his mistress and that she has in fact written an entire article about it in her newspaper. Furious, he threatens to tell the world that Clara is Lady Truelove, but instead, she turns the table on him and he finds himself not only working with her, but falling for her in ways he never would have thought possible.
This story was thoroughly entertaining, consisting of an interesting plot and strong characters who struggled against the irresistible tug of true love. A read I would thoroughly recommend without question and one which can be read as a stand-alone although the prequel, Dear Lady Truelove, is definitely worth grabbing as well.
Clara Deverill is in a bit of a bind. With her sister away on her honeymoon and her brother's return to England postponed indefinitely, she has no choice but to run her family's newspaper business. Which wouldn't be so bad if it only consisted of managing the employees. But unfortunately it also means becoming the infamous Lady Truelove, which poses a bit of a problem since Clara has no idea how to offer the necessary advice the Lady Truelove column requires. Until she happens to overhear a private conversation between two gentlemen involving a detailed outline of how to continue bedding a woman without having to marry her. Outraged and inspired, Clara embraces her new persona in an effort to warn all women of men and their devious trickery.
Rex Galbreith is an undeniable flirt and a well-renowned rake who never plans to marry. But then he meets Clara and everything changes. Because this beauty appears to have no interest in him at all while also disliking him for reasons he can't quite seem to figure out. Until he discovers she overheard him telling his friend how to avoid marrying his mistress and that she has in fact written an entire article about it in her newspaper. Furious, he threatens to tell the world that Clara is Lady Truelove, but instead, she turns the table on him and he finds himself not only working with her, but falling for her in ways he never would have thought possible.
This story was thoroughly entertaining, consisting of an interesting plot and strong characters who struggled against the irresistible tug of true love. A read I would thoroughly recommend without question and one which can be read as a stand-alone although the prequel, Dear Lady Truelove, is definitely worth grabbing as well.
March 12, 2019
So this was a good book. I was a little bummed out by the narrator change from Carolyn Morris to Justine Erye :( (audible review)
The story line and plot was good. Clara had to run her sisters newspaper with no experience, I liked how she was working through that. I really enjoyed Clara, she was smart, funny and witty. Rex was great too and not the rogue he portrays himself to be. They had some great chemistry together.
There was some great dialogue between them. However, there was also a lot of internal dialogue going on that could have been left out. Other than that and the narrator change I don't have any complaints.
As for the narration, Justine Eyre does a good job, she is not the best but not the worst. Sometimes it sounds like she has serious dry mouth, but the men sound like men and she does give everyone a voice.
The story line and plot was good. Clara had to run her sisters newspaper with no experience, I liked how she was working through that. I really enjoyed Clara, she was smart, funny and witty. Rex was great too and not the rogue he portrays himself to be. They had some great chemistry together.
There was some great dialogue between them. However, there was also a lot of internal dialogue going on that could have been left out. Other than that and the narrator change I don't have any complaints.
As for the narration, Justine Eyre does a good job, she is not the best but not the worst. Sometimes it sounds like she has serious dry mouth, but the men sound like men and she does give everyone a voice.
January 31, 2018
"A woman who was shy and plain, who stammered when she was nervous and had never caught a man's eye in her life, could hardly be splendid at advising people about love and romance."
FINAL DECISION: A wonderful emotional story about two people who have a mature and adult relationship thankfully free of misunderstanding and drama. The slow burn of this relationship made me so happy.
THE STORY: During the absence of her recently married sister, Clara Deverill has taken the reins of her family newspaper and the Dear Lady Truelove advice column. The problem is that Clara doesn't know what advice to give to people having problems with love -- until she overhears a conversation between two men which convinces Clara to write a column directed toward the poor woman they are discussing. When Rex Galbraith finds out about the column (which is obviously about the conversation with his friend) he comes in search of Lady Truelove. Clara and Rex soon reach an unexpected agreement involving the Lady Truelove column and an orchestrated "courting" between them in order to satisfy Rex's family.
OPINION: I loved this book because it was focused almost entirely on the couple and their developing relationship to the exclusion of everything else. No dramatic external storyline, no external barriers to their relationship. This is purely a story of two people developing a love for one another despite their initial belief that they could never be compatible.
Clara first sees Rex when he is giving advice to his friend (which involves lying to her about his intentions) and Clara sees that Rex is a rake who cannot be trusted. Clara has always wanted what is a traditional role -- marriage and children, but her sister's absence has placed her in charge of the newspaper and she begins to find her footing and the self-satisfaction of having a job. While Clara wants to marry, she is determined that she will marry for nothing less than love.
Rex is a man who has seen nothing but bad things come from "love". He is determined never to marry, but he finds himself enthralled by an innocent and respectable Clara even as he knows that he must keep his distance from her. Although Rex has been a rake, he is an honorable man at heart. (And I think somewhat of a romantic despite his cynical musings about love and marriage).
I absolutely loved the slow burn of this book. The gentle way that these two draw together and eventually find a happy ending. The story of the shy wallflower who tames the rake is often done in romance, but this book is different. The wallflower finds her own footing and refuses to settle for less than what she wants. She is willing not only to sacrifice but also to forge ahead with her own altered plans.
My favorite books are emotional and focused on the couple. This story is about the growth and change in these characters on their journey and I enjoyed every step.
WORTH MENTIONING: I like this historical era (Victorian) where class distinctions are blurring and womens' roles are expanding.
CONNECTED BOOKS: THE TROUBLE WITH TRUE LOVE is the second book in the Dear Lady Truelove series. It is not necessary to read the first book in the series although there are some overlapping characters.
STAR RATING: I give this book 4.5 stars.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book via Edelweiss in order to prepare a review. I was not required to write a review or to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.This review was originally posted on Top10RomanceBooks.com
FINAL DECISION: A wonderful emotional story about two people who have a mature and adult relationship thankfully free of misunderstanding and drama. The slow burn of this relationship made me so happy.
THE STORY: During the absence of her recently married sister, Clara Deverill has taken the reins of her family newspaper and the Dear Lady Truelove advice column. The problem is that Clara doesn't know what advice to give to people having problems with love -- until she overhears a conversation between two men which convinces Clara to write a column directed toward the poor woman they are discussing. When Rex Galbraith finds out about the column (which is obviously about the conversation with his friend) he comes in search of Lady Truelove. Clara and Rex soon reach an unexpected agreement involving the Lady Truelove column and an orchestrated "courting" between them in order to satisfy Rex's family.
OPINION: I loved this book because it was focused almost entirely on the couple and their developing relationship to the exclusion of everything else. No dramatic external storyline, no external barriers to their relationship. This is purely a story of two people developing a love for one another despite their initial belief that they could never be compatible.
Clara first sees Rex when he is giving advice to his friend (which involves lying to her about his intentions) and Clara sees that Rex is a rake who cannot be trusted. Clara has always wanted what is a traditional role -- marriage and children, but her sister's absence has placed her in charge of the newspaper and she begins to find her footing and the self-satisfaction of having a job. While Clara wants to marry, she is determined that she will marry for nothing less than love.
Rex is a man who has seen nothing but bad things come from "love". He is determined never to marry, but he finds himself enthralled by an innocent and respectable Clara even as he knows that he must keep his distance from her. Although Rex has been a rake, he is an honorable man at heart. (And I think somewhat of a romantic despite his cynical musings about love and marriage).
I absolutely loved the slow burn of this book. The gentle way that these two draw together and eventually find a happy ending. The story of the shy wallflower who tames the rake is often done in romance, but this book is different. The wallflower finds her own footing and refuses to settle for less than what she wants. She is willing not only to sacrifice but also to forge ahead with her own altered plans.
My favorite books are emotional and focused on the couple. This story is about the growth and change in these characters on their journey and I enjoyed every step.
WORTH MENTIONING: I like this historical era (Victorian) where class distinctions are blurring and womens' roles are expanding.
CONNECTED BOOKS: THE TROUBLE WITH TRUE LOVE is the second book in the Dear Lady Truelove series. It is not necessary to read the first book in the series although there are some overlapping characters.
STAR RATING: I give this book 4.5 stars.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book via Edelweiss in order to prepare a review. I was not required to write a review or to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.This review was originally posted on Top10RomanceBooks.com
February 12, 2018
The book was mostly filled with god elements. I might not have liked a couple of things, but I wouldn't call it bad. The man characters were not able to make me love them although I can say that I liked them a little. They weren't bad and they had some flaws that made them more relatable. My biggest problem when it came to this book and what made me feel disconnected from it was the feeling of the modern era I got sometimes when I was reading the book. I failed to realise that the story is set to the second half of the 19th century (in my copy a date wasn't mentioned in the beginning of the story, but I saw a friend of GR who had marked is as 1850-1900's) and I wasn't so used to women having publicly positions of authority since I prefer novels that are set in the early 1800's. I couldn't connect to the book, so I am not able to say that I enjoyed it a lot and I can't fault the author further than not placing a date in the beginning of the story like so many other authors do when it comes to this genre.
The novel can be read as stand-alone and there is no need to have read the first novel in the series to understand what is going on here. I have to say that I was invested o the romance between Rex's friend and the widow. They seemed in love with each other and I wanted them to end up together more than I wanted to see the main characters! I will remain neutral on the recommendation.
The novel can be read as stand-alone and there is no need to have read the first novel in the series to understand what is going on here. I have to say that I was invested o the romance between Rex's friend and the widow. They seemed in love with each other and I wanted them to end up together more than I wanted to see the main characters! I will remain neutral on the recommendation.
January 28, 2025
Clara doesn't think she's cut out for running the paper and writing the Lady Truelove column while her sister Irene is on her honeymoon. She's scraping for ideas when she overhears Viscount Galbraith giving [potentially bad] relationship advice to a friend. She writes that into a column and when it's a hit, she asks Rex to write the Lady Truelove column. He'd refuse except he needs the money- his biggest secret is not that he's a gambler and a Rake, but that he gives all his money to his mother who has been cut off. Of course Rex has sworn off marriage, based on his parents' poor example, and he swears even shy Clara won't tempt him.
The second in the Lady Truelove series shows us more of the things book 1 set up: the inside workings of the newspaper, Clara and Irene's alcoholic father, society as seen through the eyes of someone used to being on the outside. It's a set of really classic tropes: the shy wallflower and the rake (even if he's too broke to actually rake) executed very well.
The second in the Lady Truelove series shows us more of the things book 1 set up: the inside workings of the newspaper, Clara and Irene's alcoholic father, society as seen through the eyes of someone used to being on the outside. It's a set of really classic tropes: the shy wallflower and the rake (even if he's too broke to actually rake) executed very well.
March 29, 2018
Entertaining, engaging, relatively realistic despite some anachronisms. Great relaxing read for the romance fan who wants a dose and would rather not be annoyed by far fetched plots or silly attempted murders.
I appreciated the development of their relationship. It was well paced and I totally compliment the author on the build up and time she took before kisses and other activities ensued. Both leads were endearing and the transformation of opinions on the part of the man did not happen without suitable lead up.
Great book. It was not in the realms of unforgettably epic precisely, which is why I docked a star because I’ve seen epic from Guhrke before, but it was a wonderful place to visit and a respite from the politics and dramas of the real world.
I appreciated the development of their relationship. It was well paced and I totally compliment the author on the build up and time she took before kisses and other activities ensued. Both leads were endearing and the transformation of opinions on the part of the man did not happen without suitable lead up.
Great book. It was not in the realms of unforgettably epic precisely, which is why I docked a star because I’ve seen epic from Guhrke before, but it was a wonderful place to visit and a respite from the politics and dramas of the real world.
April 17, 2018
Lovely story about a shy girl (Clara) that ends up responsible for writing her sister’s advice column in her family’s newspaper.
Having trouble fulfilling this duty as she can hardly council others about what she has no clue herself, she ends up eavesdropping a conversation and using it as base for her advice.
Rex, whose conversation has been usurped, ended up loosing his best friend and goes after Clara demanding she tells his friend he did not broke his confidence.
The rake meets the good girl, a friendship starts to blossom and love is there around the corner yet so hard to attain.
Rex could not see love even if it would spit in his face, yet he is such a good son and a great guy.
Good read!
Having trouble fulfilling this duty as she can hardly council others about what she has no clue herself, she ends up eavesdropping a conversation and using it as base for her advice.
Rex, whose conversation has been usurped, ended up loosing his best friend and goes after Clara demanding she tells his friend he did not broke his confidence.
The rake meets the good girl, a friendship starts to blossom and love is there around the corner yet so hard to attain.
Rex could not see love even if it would spit in his face, yet he is such a good son and a great guy.
Good read!
December 28, 2017
Posted on Les Romantiques - Le forum du site
Reviewed by Jazzmen
Review Copy from the Publisher
It is the second tome of “Dear lady Truelove” series. I already had read and liked the first book this year. This one made no exception, I think I even preferred it. As usual for this author, the watchword is humor.
It was a light and fascinating reading, I couldn’t stop. When I closed the book, I still had a smile on my face. I hadn’t had enough, I wanted more!
The historical context is well handled but has a less important place than in the first book.
No original plot or intense suspense but it doesn’t take the quality off the novel which was really well written and very addictive. Everything is clear and we stop reading being satisfied.
Guhrke is always very talented to drive us in her story, no need of a big mystery for that. Endearing characters and a story without down-time are enough. Exactly what this book possesses.
I really liked the main characters. The naïve and Manichean side of the heroine who evolves and matures through the story thanks to the hero. The hero is a bit deeper and less predictable than we thought in the first place. They were well drawn.
The secondary characters don’t have too much importance in the story, like in the first book. They are more here for us to understand that the heroes are not alone in the world. But they bring a nice touch of humor without being essential.
The sexual tension between the main characters comes very rapidly and is well handled.
Especially with the code of honor imposed by the main character and the naivety and innocence of the heroine. There clearly is a seduction game and a gradual evolution of the feelings, very lovely to follow. We realize before them that they’re in love and that’s really cute.
The dialogues and the spreads are fusing and are very pleasant to follow.
There are a few hot scenes (not too much but quite enough) which are of a big quality.
I think the subject approached by the novel is the fact of not judging by appearances. For example, the fact that the heroine only sees what she wants to see about the hero. And him who understands that there is something else behind the discretion of the young woman.
To conclude, I really liked this book full of humor, sensuality and romanticism. I had a really good time and it confirms that I want to read the other books of this series.
Reviewed by Jazzmen
Review Copy from the Publisher
It is the second tome of “Dear lady Truelove” series. I already had read and liked the first book this year. This one made no exception, I think I even preferred it. As usual for this author, the watchword is humor.
It was a light and fascinating reading, I couldn’t stop. When I closed the book, I still had a smile on my face. I hadn’t had enough, I wanted more!
The historical context is well handled but has a less important place than in the first book.
No original plot or intense suspense but it doesn’t take the quality off the novel which was really well written and very addictive. Everything is clear and we stop reading being satisfied.
Guhrke is always very talented to drive us in her story, no need of a big mystery for that. Endearing characters and a story without down-time are enough. Exactly what this book possesses.
I really liked the main characters. The naïve and Manichean side of the heroine who evolves and matures through the story thanks to the hero. The hero is a bit deeper and less predictable than we thought in the first place. They were well drawn.
The secondary characters don’t have too much importance in the story, like in the first book. They are more here for us to understand that the heroes are not alone in the world. But they bring a nice touch of humor without being essential.
The sexual tension between the main characters comes very rapidly and is well handled.
Especially with the code of honor imposed by the main character and the naivety and innocence of the heroine. There clearly is a seduction game and a gradual evolution of the feelings, very lovely to follow. We realize before them that they’re in love and that’s really cute.
The dialogues and the spreads are fusing and are very pleasant to follow.
There are a few hot scenes (not too much but quite enough) which are of a big quality.
I think the subject approached by the novel is the fact of not judging by appearances. For example, the fact that the heroine only sees what she wants to see about the hero. And him who understands that there is something else behind the discretion of the young woman.
To conclude, I really liked this book full of humor, sensuality and romanticism. I had a really good time and it confirms that I want to read the other books of this series.
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