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Lord Livesey's Bluestocking
She is firmly on the shelf. He needs a wife for his motherless children. Surely nothing would go amiss in their quest to find true love?
Miss Phoebe Westbrook wishes she was anywhere other than at Lord Livesey's House Party. Family loyalty and duty forced her to accept the invitation. When she overhears Lord Livesey's opinion of her, she knows he wishes her as far away from him as she does. Determined to make the most of his library whilst visiting, she soon finds herself being drawn into the lives of Lord Livesey and his children, whether she likes it or not...
Lord Livesey has lived a lie. His marriage was not the love match everyone presumed. His children are strangers to him. After the death of his wife, he hid from the world. Persuaded to host a house party in which he's now trapped he scorns the women in attendance. After dismissing Phoebe cruelly, it seems that a future with her may be just the thing he's looking for...
An unconventional marriage proposal causes everything to be called into question. Misplaced values and hidden emotions will test any chance of a relationship they might have. Both will face hurdles they never anticipated but one thing's for sure - life won't ever be the same again....
Lord Livesey's Bluestocking is a Regency romance topped with a generous dose of humour, action, and tears. If you like simmering chemistry, troubled heroes, and feisty women, then you'll love Audrey Harrison's Regency tale.
Miss Phoebe Westbrook wishes she was anywhere other than at Lord Livesey's House Party. Family loyalty and duty forced her to accept the invitation. When she overhears Lord Livesey's opinion of her, she knows he wishes her as far away from him as she does. Determined to make the most of his library whilst visiting, she soon finds herself being drawn into the lives of Lord Livesey and his children, whether she likes it or not...
Lord Livesey has lived a lie. His marriage was not the love match everyone presumed. His children are strangers to him. After the death of his wife, he hid from the world. Persuaded to host a house party in which he's now trapped he scorns the women in attendance. After dismissing Phoebe cruelly, it seems that a future with her may be just the thing he's looking for...
An unconventional marriage proposal causes everything to be called into question. Misplaced values and hidden emotions will test any chance of a relationship they might have. Both will face hurdles they never anticipated but one thing's for sure - life won't ever be the same again....
Lord Livesey's Bluestocking is a Regency romance topped with a generous dose of humour, action, and tears. If you like simmering chemistry, troubled heroes, and feisty women, then you'll love Audrey Harrison's Regency tale.
261 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2018
824 people are currently reading
242 people want to read
About the author
Audrey Harrison
142 books136 followersAudrey Harrison was born about two hundred years too late. She wants to belong to a time when men were men and women were dressed in gowns and could float, simper and sigh.
In the real world she has always longed to write, writing a full manuscript when she was fourteen years old. Work, marriage and children got in the way as they do and it was only when an event at work landed her in hospital that she decided to take stock. One Voluntary Redundancy later, she found that the words and characters came to the forefront and the writing began in earnest.
Her ideal would be to write Regency Romances, but more modern characters are insisting on being heard, hence the release of’ ‘A Very Modern Lord’, a contemporary romance.
So, although at home more these days, the housework is still neglected and tea is still late on the table, but she has an understanding family, who usually shake their heads at her and sigh. That is a sign of understanding, isn’t it?
In the real world she has always longed to write, writing a full manuscript when she was fourteen years old. Work, marriage and children got in the way as they do and it was only when an event at work landed her in hospital that she decided to take stock. One Voluntary Redundancy later, she found that the words and characters came to the forefront and the writing began in earnest.
Her ideal would be to write Regency Romances, but more modern characters are insisting on being heard, hence the release of’ ‘A Very Modern Lord’, a contemporary romance.
So, although at home more these days, the housework is still neglected and tea is still late on the table, but she has an understanding family, who usually shake their heads at her and sigh. That is a sign of understanding, isn’t it?
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews
February 15, 2021
Oh man, another disappointment.
And I renewed my Kindle UL primarily for this one.
2.5* at max.
Again, fine writing, a good concept and neo-trad touch.
The characterizations are quite fine as well. A surly, bad-tempered overly handsome H. A plain, bespectacled bluestocking (*eyeroll*). His three sweet motherless daughters. A sister and an aunt with matchmaking aspirations. A two-week house-party with a smorgasbord of eligible women (and few men to make up the numbers).
The first half (the house party) with the h/H sparring, and the H being unreasonably rude is good stuff. The ow - some bitchy, some manipulative make for good drama. Lady Jane and her story overwhelm the middle half a bit too much.
But after that- it's tear-inducingly slow, inane and dreary.
As the H (chiefly) and the h make a complete hash of things and keep apart, the story hops from Hampshire to Bath to Northhamptonshire to London to Surrey. No, not Timbuktu.
And I renewed my Kindle UL primarily for this one.
2.5* at max.
Again, fine writing, a good concept and neo-trad touch.
The characterizations are quite fine as well. A surly, bad-tempered overly handsome H. A plain, bespectacled bluestocking (*eyeroll*). His three sweet motherless daughters. A sister and an aunt with matchmaking aspirations. A two-week house-party with a smorgasbord of eligible women (and few men to make up the numbers).
The first half (the house party) with the h/H sparring, and the H being unreasonably rude is good stuff. The ow - some bitchy, some manipulative make for good drama. Lady Jane and her story overwhelm the middle half a bit too much.
But after that- it's tear-inducingly slow, inane and dreary.
As the H (chiefly) and the h make a complete hash of things and keep apart, the story hops from Hampshire to Bath to Northhamptonshire to London to Surrey. No, not Timbuktu.
December 7, 2025
easy uncomplicated cheese romance... this is what I m in need sometimes
August 9, 2024
Honestly this felt a waste of several hours.
Lady Jessica arranged a house party of 6 potential mates
for her widowed, difficult brother, George, an earl. He
complained to Jess these spinsters were "the dregs of
society." George had an unhappy marriage to a moody
beauty + mostly ignored his 3 daughters (ages 8 to 10).
What a guy-NOT!
George made assumptions about and insulted the
bookish heroine, house party guest Phoebe. He
repeated this mistake often. Therefore I concluded
he acted obnoxious & entitled, needed to mature &
Phoebe was light-years ahead of him in intelligence.
At the 75% mark the hero called himself "a complete
idiot." So true.
Some HR authors want the heroine to internalize
the negative comments she overhears or the cruel
comments a guy like George makes about her?
Phoebe was owed the grovel of all grovels by this
man-child.
George needed an emotional make-over but Phoebe
was brave/ strong. She castigated him "I can't do this...
be emotionally battered by you." (81% mark). Kudos!
You go girl!!!! But she accepted him back. Why? Could
she trust him going forward?
The side story of Lady Jane seemed filler. Undecided if
I'd read this author again?
Lady Jessica arranged a house party of 6 potential mates
for her widowed, difficult brother, George, an earl. He
complained to Jess these spinsters were "the dregs of
society." George had an unhappy marriage to a moody
beauty + mostly ignored his 3 daughters (ages 8 to 10).
What a guy-NOT!
George made assumptions about and insulted the
bookish heroine, house party guest Phoebe. He
repeated this mistake often. Therefore I concluded
he acted obnoxious & entitled, needed to mature &
Phoebe was light-years ahead of him in intelligence.
At the 75% mark the hero called himself "a complete
idiot." So true.
Some HR authors want the heroine to internalize
the negative comments she overhears or the cruel
comments a guy like George makes about her?
Phoebe was owed the grovel of all grovels by this
man-child.
George needed an emotional make-over but Phoebe
was brave/ strong. She castigated him "I can't do this...
be emotionally battered by you." (81% mark). Kudos!
You go girl!!!! But she accepted him back. Why? Could
she trust him going forward?
The side story of Lady Jane seemed filler. Undecided if
I'd read this author again?
September 19, 2018
Good first draft
I really wanted to like this book. The ideas are great, but they remained undeveloped. If I were the editor, I would have handed the book back to the author and said "Show me--don't tell me."
For example, I am told throughout the book that Phoebe is a bluestocking, but I never see any sign of it. What book was Phoebe reading in the library when she fell asleep? Philosophy? Economics? Maybe a newspaper open to an editorial on Wellington's military strategies? How would George have reacted if he saw that on her lap?
When she has a chance to spend time with the children, she runs with the kite like a Hufflepuff instead of teaching them about gravity and airflow like a Ravenclaw. The whole reason I picked the book up was because it was supposed to be about a bluestocking, but I never got to read about one.
George is similarly underdeveloped. If parenthood scares him, where is an example of it? Where did that fear come from?
On top of that, there were several missing commas, misused hyphens and misused compound words, among other grammar and punctuation errors. (I know, my review had plenty of errors, but I was using voice-to-text on a phone rather than a keyboard. This review function is terrible to use on a phone. And I have higher expectations from a book with an editor.)
It reads like a really great first draft, but if the author spent just a couple of more months on it, it would have been a richer reading experience.
I really wanted to like this book. The ideas are great, but they remained undeveloped. If I were the editor, I would have handed the book back to the author and said "Show me--don't tell me."
For example, I am told throughout the book that Phoebe is a bluestocking, but I never see any sign of it. What book was Phoebe reading in the library when she fell asleep? Philosophy? Economics? Maybe a newspaper open to an editorial on Wellington's military strategies? How would George have reacted if he saw that on her lap?
When she has a chance to spend time with the children, she runs with the kite like a Hufflepuff instead of teaching them about gravity and airflow like a Ravenclaw. The whole reason I picked the book up was because it was supposed to be about a bluestocking, but I never got to read about one.
George is similarly underdeveloped. If parenthood scares him, where is an example of it? Where did that fear come from?
On top of that, there were several missing commas, misused hyphens and misused compound words, among other grammar and punctuation errors. (I know, my review had plenty of errors, but I was using voice-to-text on a phone rather than a keyboard. This review function is terrible to use on a phone. And I have higher expectations from a book with an editor.)
It reads like a really great first draft, but if the author spent just a couple of more months on it, it would have been a richer reading experience.
August 10, 2018
What an odd little book. So many things to irritate me but they all came together well and did not irritate me:} I almost gave up on the nasty Lord Livesy. If he hadn't had such a damaging past that made it very clear why he acted like an ass I would have put this one down. I am so glad Phoebe was a strong young woman and didn't let him get away with any of it. The writing style was so odd. We got a little of everyone's thoughts. People were introduced almost to the end of the story but you got there whole story and even a bit of there ending. It was so strange to read about so many characters in a story, but somehow it worked. But it also felt a little forced, like page filler, because my biggest complaint about this book was how little time the main characters actually spent together talking and getting to know each other. They spent most of the time they were together (which wasn't much) arguing. I would have enjoyed this so much more had they actually developed there relationship so I could believe they fell in love somewhere in there. There is no religious element the book is very chaste.
April 3, 2023
Sweet, clean romance with lots of misunderstandings. It's got a couple of smaller romances happening in the background, which is a pleasant change from an overexposure of the H&h . The highlight however is the epilogue. That alone gets 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Recommended 👍 👍
Recommended 👍 👍
December 22, 2019
Note to future self: never, ever, under no circumstances should you pick up a book by this writer.
August 23, 2019
Oh man ...
Anfangs dachte ich, das wird ein nettes unterhaltsames drei-Sterne Buch für meinen Urlaub, aber dann habe ich zwischendurch runterkorrigiert auf zwei und dann auf einen Stern.
Wo fang ich an, was mich alles gestört hat?
Die Prämisse ist eigentlich sehr nett. Finsterer, unsozialer Lord muss sich erneut verheiraten und sucht eine Braut. Schwester organisiert entsprechenden Ball voller annehmbarer Damen. Er gerät mit einer prompt aneinander und das ist natürlich die eine Dame, die "anders" ist als die anderen und seinen Geschmack trifft. Dann gibt es Irrungen und Missverständnisse und am Ende wird alles gut. Zwischendurch ist man in Bath, weil das seit Jane Austen in jedem Regency Roman wenigstens einmal gemacht wird. Nicht originell, aber halt nette Unterhaltung.
Was mich gestört hat, waren vor allem zwei Dinge:
Erstens, der auktoriale Erzähler. Es war total nervig immer von allen Anwesenden Personen sofort die Perspektive zu bekommen. Sie: Wenn sie doch nur wüsste, wie er für sie empfindet! Er: Er fand sie toll.
Man kriegt sofort von jedem Charakter der durchs Bild läuft einen Überblick über seine Meinung zu allen relevanten Personen, was einem effektiv jeden Spaß beim Lesen nimmt.
Ich meine, das ist ein Plot wo die Missverständnisse essentiell sind. Es wäre halt schöner, wenn man den Leser auch manchmal eine Weile im Unklaren lässt, was die Intentionen eines Charakters angeht. Die besten Missverständnisse werden mMn geschrieben, wenn der Leser auf das gleiche rein fällt wie der Erzählende.
Aber die Missverständnisse waren so hanebüchen und so dumm und wären mit zwei Sätzen aus der Welt zu schaffen gewesen, dass ich immer nur mit den Augen gerollt habe.
Irgendwo wird eine Hochzeit erwähnt und ein Captain SoundSo - zack, sofort nimmt der Held - Lord Livesey an, dass Phoebe heiraten wird. Wtf? Anstatt nachzufragen, ob diese völlig an den Haaren herbeigezogene Vermutung stimmt, leidet er einfach mal umsonst. Das hätte halt viel mehr Spaß gemacht, wenn ich als Leser aus seiner Perspektve auch den Schluss gezogen hätte und mit ihm mit gefühlt hätte. Tue ich aber nicht, weil er ein Idiot ist.
Oder es gibt eine Stelle, wo Lord Livesey Phoebe vorwirft, dass er sie nicht informiert, als seine Tante krank wird. Das ist sogar ein irgendwie berechtigter Einwand. Das Ding ist, Phoebe HAT ihn informieren lassen, aber halt über einen gemeinsamen Bekannten. Anstatt das EINFACH MAL ZU SAGEN, ist sie bodenlos verletzt von diesem Vorwurf und dann streiten sie sich über etwas, was sie nicht mal getan hat und was sie mit einem Satz grade rücken könnte. *Kopf gegen die Tischplatte hau*
Das zweite was mich extrem gestört hat, ist das man merkt, dass die Autorin recherchiert hat - und trotzdem fehlt ihr so jedes Verständnis, jedes Gespür für die Zeit. *tief einatme*
Lord Livesey ist ein reicher, gut aussehender Graf. Trotzdem wird an mehreren Stellen so getan als sei er schwer auf dem Heiratsmarkt zu vermitteln, weil er so ein finsteres Wesen hätte. Äh ja ne. Sorry, aber das ist einfach Hühnerkacke. Er ist ein Graf. Er kann in der Regency-Zeit absolut jeden heiraten.
Deswegen lädt seine Schwester auch lauter Damen ein, die er spöttisch als "zweite Wahl" bezeichnet, also Damen, die noch keinen gefunden haben in der Gesellschaft. Aber die sind auch fast alle reich und teils adelig - und erneut. Wie bitte, was? Die sollen Schwierigkeiten haben jemanden zu finden, nur weil ihr "Charakter" nicht der Beste ist. In welcher Welt lebt die Autorin bitte?
Auch gibt es in diesem Buch nur und ausschließlich Liebesheiraten und alle erzählen ausgiebig und breit darüber. Phoebes Schwestern heiraten aus Liebe. Ihre Eltern heiraten aus Liebe. Lord Liveseys Schwester - eine Liebesheirat.
Guter Gott. Ich bin wirklich der romantischste Mensch der Welt, aber sogar ich fand es ab einem gewissen Punkt unerträglich predigend und besserwisserisch wie mir JEDER verdammte Chara herablassend erzählen will, dass man nur aus Liebe heiraten darf und dass man alles riskieren muss und dass alles andere grässlich und verwerflich ist. Scheinbar gibt es in diesem historischen Roman keinerlei unglückliche Ehen oder Marriages of convenience, was ich historisch für absolut unglaubhaft halt.
Dazu gibt gibt es sogar eine höchst befremdliche Nebenhandlung in der eine Dame namens Lady Jane mit ihrem Dienstboten durchbrennt (nachdem er sie geschwängert hat) und ihn schließlich sogar mit dem Segen ihres Vaters heiratet, cause Love wins und so.
Guter Gott. Das wäre das absolute gesellschaftliche Ende für diese Lady Jane gewesen.
Aber besagte Dame ist ohnehin nicht allzu Helle. Sie schlägt unserem Lord Livesey eine Scheinehe vor, damit sie weiterhin mit ihrem Geliebten leben kann - so weit so gut. Aber dann hat sie angeblich keine Ahnung, dass jeder Bastard den sie zeugen würde automatisch Anspruch auf seinen Titel und sein Vermögen hätte? Na entschuldigung, das hätte doch wirklich JEDE Dame aus gutem Hause damals gewusst. Sie hat offenbar generell von nichts eine Ahnung und benimmt sich wie eine überforderte 14jährige, aber ist angeblich schon 31. Aha.
Das ganze Buch ist Tell, aber kein Show. Bei Phoebe wird behauptet sie sei ein "Bluestocking" (also eine Intellektuelle), aber man sieht davon rein gar nichts. Keine Ahnung, was sie liest in ihrer Freizeit oder wofür sie sich interessiert? Keiner weiß es.
Die Autorin behauptet einfach Dinge über Charaktere und die müssen wir dann glauben, aber sehen tun wir das alles nicht.
Und ja, am Ende kriegen sich Lord Livesey und Phoebe und ich möchte fast sagen, sie haben sich verdient. Sie können jetzt für den Rest ihres Lebens Missverständnisse haben, die man mit einem Satz klären könnte.
Anfangs dachte ich, das wird ein nettes unterhaltsames drei-Sterne Buch für meinen Urlaub, aber dann habe ich zwischendurch runterkorrigiert auf zwei und dann auf einen Stern.
Wo fang ich an, was mich alles gestört hat?
Die Prämisse ist eigentlich sehr nett. Finsterer, unsozialer Lord muss sich erneut verheiraten und sucht eine Braut. Schwester organisiert entsprechenden Ball voller annehmbarer Damen. Er gerät mit einer prompt aneinander und das ist natürlich die eine Dame, die "anders" ist als die anderen und seinen Geschmack trifft. Dann gibt es Irrungen und Missverständnisse und am Ende wird alles gut. Zwischendurch ist man in Bath, weil das seit Jane Austen in jedem Regency Roman wenigstens einmal gemacht wird. Nicht originell, aber halt nette Unterhaltung.
Was mich gestört hat, waren vor allem zwei Dinge:
Erstens, der auktoriale Erzähler. Es war total nervig immer von allen Anwesenden Personen sofort die Perspektive zu bekommen. Sie: Wenn sie doch nur wüsste, wie er für sie empfindet! Er: Er fand sie toll.
Man kriegt sofort von jedem Charakter der durchs Bild läuft einen Überblick über seine Meinung zu allen relevanten Personen, was einem effektiv jeden Spaß beim Lesen nimmt.
Ich meine, das ist ein Plot wo die Missverständnisse essentiell sind. Es wäre halt schöner, wenn man den Leser auch manchmal eine Weile im Unklaren lässt, was die Intentionen eines Charakters angeht. Die besten Missverständnisse werden mMn geschrieben, wenn der Leser auf das gleiche rein fällt wie der Erzählende.
Aber die Missverständnisse waren so hanebüchen und so dumm und wären mit zwei Sätzen aus der Welt zu schaffen gewesen, dass ich immer nur mit den Augen gerollt habe.
Irgendwo wird eine Hochzeit erwähnt und ein Captain SoundSo - zack, sofort nimmt der Held - Lord Livesey an, dass Phoebe heiraten wird. Wtf? Anstatt nachzufragen, ob diese völlig an den Haaren herbeigezogene Vermutung stimmt, leidet er einfach mal umsonst. Das hätte halt viel mehr Spaß gemacht, wenn ich als Leser aus seiner Perspektve auch den Schluss gezogen hätte und mit ihm mit gefühlt hätte. Tue ich aber nicht, weil er ein Idiot ist.
Oder es gibt eine Stelle, wo Lord Livesey Phoebe vorwirft, dass er sie nicht informiert, als seine Tante krank wird. Das ist sogar ein irgendwie berechtigter Einwand. Das Ding ist, Phoebe HAT ihn informieren lassen, aber halt über einen gemeinsamen Bekannten. Anstatt das EINFACH MAL ZU SAGEN, ist sie bodenlos verletzt von diesem Vorwurf und dann streiten sie sich über etwas, was sie nicht mal getan hat und was sie mit einem Satz grade rücken könnte. *Kopf gegen die Tischplatte hau*
Das zweite was mich extrem gestört hat, ist das man merkt, dass die Autorin recherchiert hat - und trotzdem fehlt ihr so jedes Verständnis, jedes Gespür für die Zeit. *tief einatme*
Lord Livesey ist ein reicher, gut aussehender Graf. Trotzdem wird an mehreren Stellen so getan als sei er schwer auf dem Heiratsmarkt zu vermitteln, weil er so ein finsteres Wesen hätte. Äh ja ne. Sorry, aber das ist einfach Hühnerkacke. Er ist ein Graf. Er kann in der Regency-Zeit absolut jeden heiraten.
Deswegen lädt seine Schwester auch lauter Damen ein, die er spöttisch als "zweite Wahl" bezeichnet, also Damen, die noch keinen gefunden haben in der Gesellschaft. Aber die sind auch fast alle reich und teils adelig - und erneut. Wie bitte, was? Die sollen Schwierigkeiten haben jemanden zu finden, nur weil ihr "Charakter" nicht der Beste ist. In welcher Welt lebt die Autorin bitte?
Auch gibt es in diesem Buch nur und ausschließlich Liebesheiraten und alle erzählen ausgiebig und breit darüber. Phoebes Schwestern heiraten aus Liebe. Ihre Eltern heiraten aus Liebe. Lord Liveseys Schwester - eine Liebesheirat.
Guter Gott. Ich bin wirklich der romantischste Mensch der Welt, aber sogar ich fand es ab einem gewissen Punkt unerträglich predigend und besserwisserisch wie mir JEDER verdammte Chara herablassend erzählen will, dass man nur aus Liebe heiraten darf und dass man alles riskieren muss und dass alles andere grässlich und verwerflich ist. Scheinbar gibt es in diesem historischen Roman keinerlei unglückliche Ehen oder Marriages of convenience, was ich historisch für absolut unglaubhaft halt.
Dazu gibt gibt es sogar eine höchst befremdliche Nebenhandlung in der eine Dame namens Lady Jane mit ihrem Dienstboten durchbrennt (nachdem er sie geschwängert hat) und ihn schließlich sogar mit dem Segen ihres Vaters heiratet, cause Love wins und so.
Guter Gott. Das wäre das absolute gesellschaftliche Ende für diese Lady Jane gewesen.
Aber besagte Dame ist ohnehin nicht allzu Helle. Sie schlägt unserem Lord Livesey eine Scheinehe vor, damit sie weiterhin mit ihrem Geliebten leben kann - so weit so gut. Aber dann hat sie angeblich keine Ahnung, dass jeder Bastard den sie zeugen würde automatisch Anspruch auf seinen Titel und sein Vermögen hätte? Na entschuldigung, das hätte doch wirklich JEDE Dame aus gutem Hause damals gewusst. Sie hat offenbar generell von nichts eine Ahnung und benimmt sich wie eine überforderte 14jährige, aber ist angeblich schon 31. Aha.
Das ganze Buch ist Tell, aber kein Show. Bei Phoebe wird behauptet sie sei ein "Bluestocking" (also eine Intellektuelle), aber man sieht davon rein gar nichts. Keine Ahnung, was sie liest in ihrer Freizeit oder wofür sie sich interessiert? Keiner weiß es.
Die Autorin behauptet einfach Dinge über Charaktere und die müssen wir dann glauben, aber sehen tun wir das alles nicht.
Und ja, am Ende kriegen sich Lord Livesey und Phoebe und ich möchte fast sagen, sie haben sich verdient. Sie können jetzt für den Rest ihres Lebens Missverständnisse haben, die man mit einem Satz klären könnte.
August 5, 2018
Mhm... Difficult one to rate
This book is pretty special as it's not only about one couple but two really and several side characters. I usually like that, don't get me wrong. Multiple povs give you a better Insight, show you how other characters feel, what drives them, why they do what they do etc.
But in this case, I would argue that the focus was a it misplaced. Sure, it was nice and fun at times to read about Aunt Dickson or the hero's sister but this book should have focused more on the Kids!!! They werent as integral to the story and plot as they should have been, I think.
Plus, I am not sure they could have been as easily placated as they were in the book by Phoebe, our heroine. After years of abuse and neglect, I would say that the Kids have scars that don't simply vanish. Plus, that doesn't portray the Hero in a positive light. Sure, he was in a bad place but he didn't seem to care at all about his girls. Okay, that's maybe a bit too harsh but to a certain degree it just seemed that way.
Other than that, I still enjoyed reading this one. It was different than others. The plot was entertaining. Phoebe as a character was well developed and brilliant. Adored that she was no pushover, wouldn't let their kiss intensify, wouldn't accept the hero without being sure that there is some love involved.
The writing style was good, too.
Will definitely pick up other books by this author.
This book is pretty special as it's not only about one couple but two really and several side characters. I usually like that, don't get me wrong. Multiple povs give you a better Insight, show you how other characters feel, what drives them, why they do what they do etc.
But in this case, I would argue that the focus was a it misplaced. Sure, it was nice and fun at times to read about Aunt Dickson or the hero's sister but this book should have focused more on the Kids!!! They werent as integral to the story and plot as they should have been, I think.
Plus, I am not sure they could have been as easily placated as they were in the book by Phoebe, our heroine. After years of abuse and neglect, I would say that the Kids have scars that don't simply vanish. Plus, that doesn't portray the Hero in a positive light. Sure, he was in a bad place but he didn't seem to care at all about his girls. Okay, that's maybe a bit too harsh but to a certain degree it just seemed that way.
Other than that, I still enjoyed reading this one. It was different than others. The plot was entertaining. Phoebe as a character was well developed and brilliant. Adored that she was no pushover, wouldn't let their kiss intensify, wouldn't accept the hero without being sure that there is some love involved.
The writing style was good, too.
Will definitely pick up other books by this author.
July 4, 2018
Very sedate story
I liked this story very much. It wasn't exciting, it wasn't steamy But it was good. I liked Phoebe the heroine very much. She was perfect. Now the hero? He wasn't so great to me. But they had their HEA. The last chapter which was an epilogue really tied all the story lines together. I felt bad about Captain Chester but Lady Jane's story ended well. Except for her Mother. I loved the Aunt and I will read this author again. She kept me entertained. Again this was not a particularly amazing read, but it was a good one. I liked how it made me feel. Just don't expect any monkey sex or steamy scenes. It is just a clean romance. And enjoyable too boot.
I liked this story very much. It wasn't exciting, it wasn't steamy But it was good. I liked Phoebe the heroine very much. She was perfect. Now the hero? He wasn't so great to me. But they had their HEA. The last chapter which was an epilogue really tied all the story lines together. I felt bad about Captain Chester but Lady Jane's story ended well. Except for her Mother. I loved the Aunt and I will read this author again. She kept me entertained. Again this was not a particularly amazing read, but it was a good one. I liked how it made me feel. Just don't expect any monkey sex or steamy scenes. It is just a clean romance. And enjoyable too boot.
June 8, 2018
DNF - in fact barely started. Anachronistic Americanisms ("I'm not that good of a person") and behaviour extremely unlikely for an arisocratic gentleman of the era (bursting into a room and swearing in front of his aunt and a female guest) within the first two pages. Add in some overblown descriptions and a good dose of telling rather than showing and I'm nope nope nopety noping out of there.
August 2, 2020
Phoebe Westbrook was a delightful character. She wasn’t the timid person that people assumed her to be. She would not hold back when she perceived an injustice. Livesey was a grouchy character, but having read of his first marriage, this was understandable in a way. Phoebe wouldn’t consider marriage without love and Livesey was afraid to love after his previous experience. There are a number of misunderstandings, relations who think they know best( and perhaps they do!) and another relationship that will cause friction. I did enjoy this story, it is a sweet romance.
March 24, 2019
A change of pace from the contemporary romances I've been reading recently, this is a nicely developed sweet romance. I wasn't interested in the side romance, it seemed to be a diversion from the mc's but one that wasn't well drawn.
July 21, 2020
Angry hero. Saintly heroine. Predictable story.
Chapter 28
She loved him.
It didn't matter that he had been a brute.
That my friends pretty much sums up the entire book. No matter how mean. No matter how many cutting remarks he makes it will never matter . All is forgiven. He has looks wealth a title and power. She is a bluestocking spinster of mediocre appearance. An easy target for insult. Not my cup of tea but if bully hero's and doormat heroines are your thing read on.
P.S. Great epilogue though.
Chapter 28
She loved him.
It didn't matter that he had been a brute.
That my friends pretty much sums up the entire book. No matter how mean. No matter how many cutting remarks he makes it will never matter . All is forgiven. He has looks wealth a title and power. She is a bluestocking spinster of mediocre appearance. An easy target for insult. Not my cup of tea but if bully hero's and doormat heroines are your thing read on.
P.S. Great epilogue though.
September 8, 2018
While this book was well plotted I had a hard time feeling very much for the H/h. It starts out at a house party where Lord Livesey's sister brings together a group of women from which she hopes he will choose a new wife to provide a mother to his children and companionship for himself. Phoebe Westbrook is one of the ladies invited there where she interacts with Lord Livesey but ultimately he chooses another woman for "reasons" while wondering why he seems so obsessed with Phoebe. Then the story takes an odd tangent by veering away from the main characters to another member of the house party. I thought this took away from the main characters and I didn't really care about the secondary plot. The story was all about heartbreak and duty and although the main characters did finally get together the journey was a bit staid. There was no humor to break up the progress and the Hero was a bit of an ass. I know not every book can be Georgette Heyer and this story had nice plotting and character development. I just wasn't that interested in the characters they developed into.
October 10, 2018
Poorly written. Lord Livesey definitely didn't deserve the chances he was given, but the female protagonist was incredibly annoying- way too perfect and flawless. It was an uneven pairing from the start, and there was nothing to redeem it as the story continued. I agree with what another reviewer wrote; this author really needs to understand and implement the "show me, don't tell me" strategy. This is not a book that is worth your time, and frankly, i'm astonished it is rated so well. Nothing about this book resembles a good regency work; if the characters weren't titled and didn't use some old fashioned words, you would forget that this book is even supposed to be a historical romance. And this is not even touching on the glaring historical inaccuracies- especially in terms of etiquette.
March 10, 2020
The H is rather stupid, seems stuck in a teenage mindset after marrying very young. He decides he needs a wife who can be a good mother to his 3 daughters, because he isn't a good father. So he starts by insulting the h before they are introduced, continued to be arrogant and stupid for most of the story. But somehow I liked him and I liked the h too. She's kind and smart enough to leave when she realises she's attracted to him, when he'd been so rude to her. There's quite a bit to like about this book.
June 14, 2018
Some of the story was charming, but Lord Livesey was not particularly nice. He called his kids brats and was rude to everyone. Not sure why Pheobe's love was so immediate and deep. Many of the characters were flat and I missed an interesting plot. I also was confused why everyone referred to Pheobe as a bluestocking. Sure she liked to hang out in libraries but she didn't particularly show her academic side much.
Maybe this was an "off" book for this author?
Maybe this was an "off" book for this author?
August 14, 2019
Phoebe Westbrook attends the house party of Lord Livesey because her parents and her uncle asked her to even though it is obviously a setup from Lord Livesey's sister to find a wife for her widowed brother and a mother for his three little girls - and Phoebe is quite sure that she is not even considered by the handsome brooding Lord for this position. No, she is not ugly but with her glasses and her preference for books over people she is the odd one here and none of the other women consider her as competition.
This is confirmed when she overhears the arrogant lord when he complains to his aunt about her appearance and assumed dull mind. Still she holds her head up high and soon proves him wrong. Lord Livesey soon has to reconsider his opinion but still does not see what is plain to see for his sister and aunt. His marriage was ugly and it has hardened him so he is convinced that love is just a stupid emotion for the weak and this why he makes the wrong decision..
This is one of the best historical romance books I have ever read - and I have read a lot of them. I saw some lower ratings here because of the bad behavior of Lord Livesey and I agree partly with them. Yes, he was very rude and his cruel words in Bath had me grinding my teeth and I wanted to strangle him BUT.. I was still rooting for them and hoped he would see that she was perfect for him. He was not easy to like but I could understand the emotional damage Angelina had caused. There was nobody there to comfort him after her death and to help picking up the pieces so he had hardened his heart and locked away any emotions. This is no excuse for his bad behavior but at least an explanation which made me understand his actions a bit.
Phoebe was very easy to love and I wanted to hug and encourage her a few times but she was a strong heroine and never let herself down and this is what I liked most. Whatever people said or did to her, she held her head up high and never let them see how much it had hurt. My favorite person in this book however was Aunt Dickson - this woman was hilarious and I loved the banter between her and Phoebe and how she scolded her nephew whenever he needed to hear it. A lovely story and great writing. I haven't heard from the author before and stumbled over the book by accident but I'm so glad I found it. 5 stars
This is confirmed when she overhears the arrogant lord when he complains to his aunt about her appearance and assumed dull mind. Still she holds her head up high and soon proves him wrong. Lord Livesey soon has to reconsider his opinion but still does not see what is plain to see for his sister and aunt. His marriage was ugly and it has hardened him so he is convinced that love is just a stupid emotion for the weak and this why he makes the wrong decision..
This is one of the best historical romance books I have ever read - and I have read a lot of them. I saw some lower ratings here because of the bad behavior of Lord Livesey and I agree partly with them. Yes, he was very rude and his cruel words in Bath had me grinding my teeth and I wanted to strangle him BUT.. I was still rooting for them and hoped he would see that she was perfect for him. He was not easy to like but I could understand the emotional damage Angelina had caused. There was nobody there to comfort him after her death and to help picking up the pieces so he had hardened his heart and locked away any emotions. This is no excuse for his bad behavior but at least an explanation which made me understand his actions a bit.
Phoebe was very easy to love and I wanted to hug and encourage her a few times but she was a strong heroine and never let herself down and this is what I liked most. Whatever people said or did to her, she held her head up high and never let them see how much it had hurt. My favorite person in this book however was Aunt Dickson - this woman was hilarious and I loved the banter between her and Phoebe and how she scolded her nephew whenever he needed to hear it. A lovely story and great writing. I haven't heard from the author before and stumbled over the book by accident but I'm so glad I found it. 5 stars
July 18, 2018
But for the language...
No, not off-color, harsh language. Just everyday contemporary language. But for some odd reason, it is used in what is supposed to be a historic romance.
If the writer chose to do no research at all, as to the language commonly used in 1811, why not just write a contemporary story?
I didn't get very far, maybe a few chapters, when the much too contemporary language (for example, 'two weeks' is used, repeatedly, as opposed to what would have, at the time, been referred to, as a 'fortnight') just got on my nerves. One of the many things I love about a good historic romance, is the quirky language no longer common today. This book, unfortunately, fell flat on it's face in that regard.
Had the language not been a deal-breaker for me, it seemed to be going along just fine. I just hate that the writer either didn't know, or didn't care enough to do a little research.
No, not off-color, harsh language. Just everyday contemporary language. But for some odd reason, it is used in what is supposed to be a historic romance.
If the writer chose to do no research at all, as to the language commonly used in 1811, why not just write a contemporary story?
I didn't get very far, maybe a few chapters, when the much too contemporary language (for example, 'two weeks' is used, repeatedly, as opposed to what would have, at the time, been referred to, as a 'fortnight') just got on my nerves. One of the many things I love about a good historic romance, is the quirky language no longer common today. This book, unfortunately, fell flat on it's face in that regard.
Had the language not been a deal-breaker for me, it seemed to be going along just fine. I just hate that the writer either didn't know, or didn't care enough to do a little research.
June 10, 2018
Good story, and I will read more of Audrey Harrison. Longer review to follow on my blog in July, as I'm currently on holiday. One thing: the book needs formatting.
July 1, 2018
Lord Livesay's Bluestocking, by Audrey Harrison.
This novel is really about men who are afraid to love, let alone to marry intelligent women. What is it about women who possess the intellectual capacity to be the equal of men that makes men so fear them? I'm afraid the answer is still something of a mystery, even today.
In Lord Livesay, Earl of Ansar, Viscount of Rothwell's case it is a disastrous marriage to a manic depressive wife, who later commits suicide, which has led him to distrust any emotion that might lead him to love, or even to trust any other woman, especially if he regards her as intelligent. For Phoebe Westbrook, the woman in the picture, she is bound and determined not to be bullied by any man she regards as arrogant, rude, and abusive--even if he is a handsome devil who stirs her deepest feelings. She wants to marry for love, not fortune.
Complicating the issue are Rothwell's three young daughters from his previous marriage who are motherless and somewhat afraid of their own father, since he has no idea of how to act like a fond parent.
In an effort to provide the children with a mother and Rothwell with a caring wife, his sister Jessica arranges a two-week-long house party to which she invites five carefully chosen women, including Phoebe, in the hope that the viscount will find one of them worthy to marry.
You can imagine the complications this leads to. In the end, the viscount choses a totally unsuitable "marriage of convenience" with a woman who is far from his intellectual equal and who is actually in love with another man. And that is where the story takes off. You will have to read it yourself to find out what happens.
I loved this Regency tale not only because it explores male/female relationships where both have been slighted in love. It also reveals how many men are reluctant to come to grips with their own emotional and intellectual needs, even when their families crave and demand it.
Audrey Harrison is a brilliant, sympathetic chronicler of relationships that are fraught with peril and you may be sure Lord Livesay's Bluestocking triumphs because she loves happy endings.
Although it's not strictly a review of the book, I would ike to commend the author for her choice of cover for this and other books in her library. So many Regency authors use covers that seem cloned from a single template. In my opinion, they truly do not represent the author's work. In Audrey's case, however, the covers of her books FEEL Regency, and give the reader the sense of being there even before cracking the cover.
This novel is really about men who are afraid to love, let alone to marry intelligent women. What is it about women who possess the intellectual capacity to be the equal of men that makes men so fear them? I'm afraid the answer is still something of a mystery, even today.
In Lord Livesay, Earl of Ansar, Viscount of Rothwell's case it is a disastrous marriage to a manic depressive wife, who later commits suicide, which has led him to distrust any emotion that might lead him to love, or even to trust any other woman, especially if he regards her as intelligent. For Phoebe Westbrook, the woman in the picture, she is bound and determined not to be bullied by any man she regards as arrogant, rude, and abusive--even if he is a handsome devil who stirs her deepest feelings. She wants to marry for love, not fortune.
Complicating the issue are Rothwell's three young daughters from his previous marriage who are motherless and somewhat afraid of their own father, since he has no idea of how to act like a fond parent.
In an effort to provide the children with a mother and Rothwell with a caring wife, his sister Jessica arranges a two-week-long house party to which she invites five carefully chosen women, including Phoebe, in the hope that the viscount will find one of them worthy to marry.
You can imagine the complications this leads to. In the end, the viscount choses a totally unsuitable "marriage of convenience" with a woman who is far from his intellectual equal and who is actually in love with another man. And that is where the story takes off. You will have to read it yourself to find out what happens.
I loved this Regency tale not only because it explores male/female relationships where both have been slighted in love. It also reveals how many men are reluctant to come to grips with their own emotional and intellectual needs, even when their families crave and demand it.
Audrey Harrison is a brilliant, sympathetic chronicler of relationships that are fraught with peril and you may be sure Lord Livesay's Bluestocking triumphs because she loves happy endings.
Although it's not strictly a review of the book, I would ike to commend the author for her choice of cover for this and other books in her library. So many Regency authors use covers that seem cloned from a single template. In my opinion, they truly do not represent the author's work. In Audrey's case, however, the covers of her books FEEL Regency, and give the reader the sense of being there even before cracking the cover.
October 2, 2018
One of my favorite trope is about bluestocking and spinster !
It was a different read from this common trope, Phoebe is not what I would call a true bluestocking, yes she wears looking glasses, she spends a lot of time in libraries and likes to read but she does not show off her learning, she is more a witty and spirited woman which in these time is frowned upon.
What I loved more is that she not let herself been bullied, she might not the prettiest of the women but it does not allow people to be unkind when there is no reason to.
“I can admire a handsome face along with everyone else. Luckily, I would not let myself get carried away with a pleasing appearance. There has to be substance behind the face.”
I didn’t hated not disliked George, Lord Livesey. He was unfair if not awful with Phoebe but he also was a broken man who has hidden himself from society to lick his wound after a very traumatic marriage. I would have slapped him if I had been in Phoebe’s shoes but she has chosen dignity over violence, which perfectly shows her good character. And it is thanks to her smart and sweet personality, he will begin to change and see beyond her facade. It will not be an easy nor a quick changeover, his path will be paved with dents and mistakes, they will get hurt and lost hope but gladly they have meddling families.
At time, Livesey will realizes she is the one woman for him, she will smooth his temper, is kind to his daughter and will challenge him with her sharp mind and last she will fulfill the emptiness left by his late wife.
“She would not indulge you but would worship you at the same time.”
Usually I like my read rather steamy, not too much but a minimum, but this story is a clean romance and it didn’t bothered me, as I was so engrossed with their trip to their HEA.
It was a different read from this common trope, Phoebe is not what I would call a true bluestocking, yes she wears looking glasses, she spends a lot of time in libraries and likes to read but she does not show off her learning, she is more a witty and spirited woman which in these time is frowned upon.
What I loved more is that she not let herself been bullied, she might not the prettiest of the women but it does not allow people to be unkind when there is no reason to.
“I can admire a handsome face along with everyone else. Luckily, I would not let myself get carried away with a pleasing appearance. There has to be substance behind the face.”
I didn’t hated not disliked George, Lord Livesey. He was unfair if not awful with Phoebe but he also was a broken man who has hidden himself from society to lick his wound after a very traumatic marriage. I would have slapped him if I had been in Phoebe’s shoes but she has chosen dignity over violence, which perfectly shows her good character. And it is thanks to her smart and sweet personality, he will begin to change and see beyond her facade. It will not be an easy nor a quick changeover, his path will be paved with dents and mistakes, they will get hurt and lost hope but gladly they have meddling families.
At time, Livesey will realizes she is the one woman for him, she will smooth his temper, is kind to his daughter and will challenge him with her sharp mind and last she will fulfill the emptiness left by his late wife.
“She would not indulge you but would worship you at the same time.”
Usually I like my read rather steamy, not too much but a minimum, but this story is a clean romance and it didn’t bothered me, as I was so engrossed with their trip to their HEA.
November 10, 2018
Bluestockinged wallflower in a Regency setting? That is my favourite trope ... when it is well done.
I do not know if the author researches her books or if she just watches Regency move adaptions and just thinks that is enough research but her settings can be set anywhere but Regency England.
My pet peeves, besides the more writing related side like using modern expressions, almost all relate to research. It is not well done research when describing fashion that does not fit the time frame of the novel, same with manners and customs. Sticklers of manners like Mr Darcy or Edward Ferrars were more common than a no care in the world seducers like Wickham and Willoughby. A gentlemanly disposition was what men of nobility and wealth strived for, what the supposed hero is showing is that of a gutter rat.
Nope sorry, the whole telling of the story made it completely unlikely.
I do not know if the author researches her books or if she just watches Regency move adaptions and just thinks that is enough research but her settings can be set anywhere but Regency England.
My pet peeves, besides the more writing related side like using modern expressions, almost all relate to research. It is not well done research when describing fashion that does not fit the time frame of the novel, same with manners and customs. Sticklers of manners like Mr Darcy or Edward Ferrars were more common than a no care in the world seducers like Wickham and Willoughby. A gentlemanly disposition was what men of nobility and wealth strived for, what the supposed hero is showing is that of a gutter rat.
Nope sorry, the whole telling of the story made it completely unlikely.
June 29, 2021
Sweet clean read
This had a kind of different plot and we have a lord who is not happy about a wife hunting house party put together by his sister. There are interesting tidbits at this party along with more drama once he thinks he decides to pick a wife of convenience. Lady Jane was really too arrogant in her proposal but all works out in the end
This had a kind of different plot and we have a lord who is not happy about a wife hunting house party put together by his sister. There are interesting tidbits at this party along with more drama once he thinks he decides to pick a wife of convenience. Lady Jane was really too arrogant in her proposal but all works out in the end
September 2, 2023
Adorable fun
Two great main characters, and a beautiful story that evolves and grows. This is an author that spins the most delightful tales - so much so I return again & again.
This is one of my favourites. ❤️
Two great main characters, and a beautiful story that evolves and grows. This is an author that spins the most delightful tales - so much so I return again & again.
This is one of my favourites. ❤️
December 24, 2021
Delightful
I loved it. As always, very well written and funny. Loved all the references to Pride and Prejudice. It's a wonderful companion for an afternoon of warm blankets and coffee....or your preferred beverage.
I loved it. As always, very well written and funny. Loved all the references to Pride and Prejudice. It's a wonderful companion for an afternoon of warm blankets and coffee....or your preferred beverage.
May 25, 2021
Good storyline, interesting character’s
Excellent comments on life are scattered through a well developed story. I found it an interesting amd energetic book to read,
Excellent comments on life are scattered through a well developed story. I found it an interesting amd energetic book to read,
August 9, 2021
4 Stars
A charming and delightful Regency romance that is an enjoyable afternoon read. It ties up all the storylines at the end and leaves you happy at the end of the book!
A charming and delightful Regency romance that is an enjoyable afternoon read. It ties up all the storylines at the end and leaves you happy at the end of the book!
June 30, 2023
My favorite part of the book is Phoebe. She is multifaceted with each facet fitted snugly. She just seems like she could be a real person. Really well created.
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