Il segreto della debuttante

by Gail Whitiker

La bellezza e la grazia, i modi impeccabili e il perfetto inglese di Miss Sophie Vallois, appena giunta a Londra dalla Francia, fanno di lei la più ricercata fanciulla della buona società. Nessuno direbbe che è la figlia di un contadino e che non ha mai avuto alcuna ambizione matrimoniale, e alle feste e ai balli della stagione mondana attira i gentiluomini come i fiori un'ape. Tutti tranne l'unico che le interessa davvero. Robert Silverton, infatti, nutre un odio immenso nei confronti dei francesi, che gli hanno portato via l'amato fratello. Quando, però, lui si accorge che qualcuno sta tramando nell'ombra per avere Sophie tutta per sé, capisce anche di non poter rischiare di perderla.

Genres: Romance, Regency Romance, Historical, Harlequin, Historical Romance, Regency, Historical Fiction

205 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2010

About the author

Gail makes her home on the beautiful west coast of Canada, where she’s happy to say umbrellas outnumber snow shovels. Originally hailing from Wales, she says her fascination with the Regency period began during frequent trips back to visit family and friends when Sunday afternoon drives would inevitably lead to a castle, a cathedral, or a country house hotel (where she also discovered an unfortunate fondness for Devonshire cream teas and sticky toffee pudding).

She has written over twenty historical and paranormal romances and thinks the idea of writing a novel while sipping wine in Tuscany would have to be about as good as it gets!

Reviews

[Wednesday · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started out really well - many characters with lots of secrets in their past, delicately navigating their way through the strictures of the Regency Ton. Inevitably these secrets collide and everything turns to the proverbial custard among the gossiping tongues of society ladies and gentlemen. The hero and heroine are likeable; the spark between them, there for us all to see from their very first meeting. The villain is a true antagonist, becoming increasingly unlikeable as his character is revealed. The secondary characters are all rounded and interesting and there are a number of side stories going on which all add to the intrigue. However, and maybe because of all these side stories, things seem to disappear into the ether rather than collecting together to form a crescendo at the end. So many things are left unanswered, Although the hero and heroine resolve their immediate crisis, as you would expect in a romance novel, I got to the end and felt slightly deflated. What happened to A and B; how long before X was resolved etc. A little disappointing.

[Monique · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am going to be honest. The reason I started reading this book is because of Sophie's surname. I am a big fan of French and English history. This book had me hooked from the first page but what really would have made the book all that much more better was a better ending and Mr Oberon getting the justice he deserved.

I liked Jane and her brother from the get go and Nicholas and Lavinia as well. This is a really good book. It is just the ending that bothers me a bit.

[Éowyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found it a little disappointing as the villain of the piece was so unpleasant I really wanted to see him atone properly for his sins.

[Kim Schellin-Rog · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ending was kind of a disappointment. Up until then it was pretty enjoyable.

[Sabrina (Soter) Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

«Sono così felice che tutto sia finito bene. Non avremmo potuto avere una conclusione migliore nemmeno se fosse stata Miss Austen in persona a scrivere il finale della storia!»

Uno storico leggero e piacevole, senza grandi pretese! ;D Credo in realtà che ci sia un libro che lo precede (o almeno spero perché leggere della storia di Lavinia e Nicholas sarebbe interessante!) ma si può leggere tranquillamente anche da solo. Il primo incontro tra Sophie e Robert non è tra i più felici...infatti credendo che il gentiluomo non capisca il francese afferma seccamente che preferirebbe dormire nelle stalle della locanda che accettare il suo aiuto XD Certo quella sfortunata uscita,insieme alla sua bellezza, fanno senz'altro colpo sul nostro Lord che quando la rincontra a Londra non riesce a starle lontano nonostante lei sia francese e non nobile... Mi sarebbe piaciuto che la storia d'amore parallela tra Antoine, brillante medico e fratello di Sophie, e Jane, sorella zoppa di Robert, fosse stata seguita meglio perché le poche scene tra i due sono davvero dolci ma si arriva al loro lieto fine in sordina. La parte finale è un po' tirata per le lunghe e troppo melodrammatica, insomma il cattivo di turno dall'ossessione inspiegabile per la nostra bella tiene in scacco tutti con minacce e pettegolezzi...certo in quella società la reputazione era tutto ma insomma qualcosa di più concreto no? XD

[Michelle Fayard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sophie Vallois and her brother, Antoine, have been exiles in their homeland of France after it was discovered that they had assisted a wounded Englishman. Now, several years later, the man whose life they saved invites the siblings to stay with him and his wife in their London townhouse. In an effort to repay his debt of gratitude, the English lord has offered to finance Antoine’s dream to become a doctor. For Sophie, he and his wife promise a season in town and an opportunity to wed.

But Sophie and Antoine are the offspring of a farmer, and since a doctor is not viewed much higher in rank, Antoine knows better than to continue seeing Jane Silverman. For Sophie, it might already be too late to save her heart from Jane’s brother, Lord Robert, a man whose older brother was murdered by a Frenchman and whose position in society has tumbled after receiving the cut direct for a perceived scandal.

Can love overcome the prejudices of society? For if Sophie isn’t careful, she’ll be involved in her own scandal, as another member of the ton has wagered to win her heart—with or without a wedding band.

COURTING MISS VALLOIS is a light read that, after a slow start, includes a good dose of intrigue as well as people who aren’t who or what they seem.

[Tasneem · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having already read Nicholas and Lavinia's story in A Promise to Return , it was then lovely to see Sophie and Antoine in closer detail. Their actions in saving Nicholas did make me wonder then if more was to come, but this was lovely. I enjoyed seeing the horrible Oberon brought to at least stand for his crimes and Robert Silverton was a marvellous hero. Dark, brooding and then so utterly true and honourable. Lovely. Jane and Antoine made a marvellous side story too.

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sophie saved a Lords life in France years ago and now he brings both her and her brother to London to help them as his thanks. Sophie is introduced into polite society and they are unaware that she is really a farmers daughter. Robert Silvertton finds out the truth but will he let that stand in his way of pursuing her?

[Esther Somorai · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story that is also just right for teens as well as adults. There are lessons to be learned within these pages. If you're tired of all the over done sex scenes and bad language in books---this may be the book for you.