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Annabelle's Courtship
An inconvenient proposal. Ian MacKay, Laird of Graenfrae, has no use for love or marriage. However, his stepfather's will mandates that marriage is what he must have to an Englishwoman. A sensible man, Ian develops a list of requirements in a wife: Plain, moderately dowered, older and practical. He thinks he has found the perfect candidate in Lady Annabelle.
Labeled The Ordinary her first season, Annabelle longs for a man who will see her as beautiful and love her as her father loved her mother. When she meets Ian, she thinks she has at last found that man. Until his proposal, in which he has the audacity to list his requirements. She refuses his proposal. He informs her that she will marry him at the end of the season. The battle of wills is on.
Labeled The Ordinary her first season, Annabelle longs for a man who will see her as beautiful and love her as her father loved her mother. When she meets Ian, she thinks she has at last found that man. Until his proposal, in which he has the audacity to list his requirements. She refuses his proposal. He informs her that she will marry him at the end of the season. The battle of wills is on.
288 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2007
17 people are currently reading
248 people want to read
About the author
Lucy Monroe
619 books1,584 followersI write spicy romance books that end in an HEA. Contemporary romance, historical romance, paranormal romance…I write it all. The two things my books all have in common is lots of emotion and spice. Last year, I fell in love with a new subgenre: mafia romance. Since I write what I love to read, I started a new standalone series, Syndicate Rules where you’ll meet over the top alpha heroes in the Italian and Greek mafias as well as the Irish mob. There are arranged marriages, forced marriages, enemies to lovers, stalkers, forced proximity and lots of mafia intrigue. Morally gray is my new favorite color.
Follow me on BookBub for alerts on my next release: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lucy-...
I’ve been published a while and most of my 90+ books have hit the Nielson Bookscan bestseller list, a few ended up on the USA Today bestseller list and some even hit national bestseller lists in the UK and Australia. My books have been translated into numerous languages and are for sale in dozens of countries around the world. I’ve won awards and been published with most of the big houses in New York, but my greatest achievement is touching readers’ hearts. When I hear from a reader who got caught up in one of my books, I know I’m doing what I’m meant to do.
I love writing emotionally deep stories with snappy dialogue and solid plots. I’m more grateful than I’ll ever be able to express that so many readers have taken my stories into their hearts and put my books on their reread and keeper shelves.
Follow me on BookBub for alerts on my next release: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lucy-...
I’ve been published a while and most of my 90+ books have hit the Nielson Bookscan bestseller list, a few ended up on the USA Today bestseller list and some even hit national bestseller lists in the UK and Australia. My books have been translated into numerous languages and are for sale in dozens of countries around the world. I’ve won awards and been published with most of the big houses in New York, but my greatest achievement is touching readers’ hearts. When I hear from a reader who got caught up in one of my books, I know I’m doing what I’m meant to do.
I love writing emotionally deep stories with snappy dialogue and solid plots. I’m more grateful than I’ll ever be able to express that so many readers have taken my stories into their hearts and put my books on their reread and keeper shelves.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
April 15, 2011
Hmmm, this was an OK read... I guess. I mean, I didn't love it but I didn't hate it either, and that's the best thing I can say about it.
Scottish Laird Ian Mackay, Earl of Graenfrae, needs to get married - to an Englishwoman, blast it all! - in order to claim his stepfather's inheritance. As he's been betrayed by love before - of course, what else is new here? - Ian decides to search for a suitable bride in a "rational" way and makes a list with the qualities he expects to find in his future wife: she must be plain looking (because beauty is deceiving), modestly dowered (because wealthy means spoiled), older (meaning she'll be biddable and accepting of his proposal) and practical (because he doesn't have time to cater to the romantic needs of a woman). So off he goes to London...
As soon as Ian sets his eyes on Lady Annabelle, he knows she's the one: plain looking, modestly dowered, a 24-year-old spinster on the shelf and seemingly practical. Annabelle is attracted to Ian at 1st sight and fancies herself finding love at last, but after hearing him list the reasons why he's chosen her to be his wife, she's rightly offended and refuses him on the spot. Obviously, Ian doesn't take no for an answer and hence begins his courtship of Annabelle...
The premise of this book isn't new in Romancelandia, so I wasn't expected anything out of this world. Whether I enjoyed it or not, it would all depend on the author's skills to make the battle of wills between Ian and Annabelle interesting and entertaining. Funny banter, witty remarks, sizzling sexual tension, lots could be done here. Unfortunately, I got almost nothing of that. Ian was sweet (in that overbearing way that's Scottish heroes' trademark), Annabelle was nice but had a penchant for putting herself in danger that bordered on TSTL territory, the villain was a one-dimensional loony that wouldn't scare a child and the other secondary characters were OK but not remarkable. The pace of the story was slow and no real conflict hampered Ian and Annabelle's relationship. I don't need angst to enjoy a book, but at least give me something to make my heart skip a beat!
That said, I must point out what I liked about this book. Despite his past, Ian never jumped to the wrong conclusions about Annabelle's faithfulness, even though he found her in a compromising situation more than once. On her part, Annabelle wasn't that secure, but I liked the way she didn't shy away from confronting Ian and letting him know how she felt. This is one couple I'm sure will never fall on the traps of a Big Misunderstanding, and that's a big win in Romancelandia.
Scottish Laird Ian Mackay, Earl of Graenfrae, needs to get married - to an Englishwoman, blast it all! - in order to claim his stepfather's inheritance. As he's been betrayed by love before - of course, what else is new here? - Ian decides to search for a suitable bride in a "rational" way and makes a list with the qualities he expects to find in his future wife: she must be plain looking (because beauty is deceiving), modestly dowered (because wealthy means spoiled), older (meaning she'll be biddable and accepting of his proposal) and practical (because he doesn't have time to cater to the romantic needs of a woman). So off he goes to London...
As soon as Ian sets his eyes on Lady Annabelle, he knows she's the one: plain looking, modestly dowered, a 24-year-old spinster on the shelf and seemingly practical. Annabelle is attracted to Ian at 1st sight and fancies herself finding love at last, but after hearing him list the reasons why he's chosen her to be his wife, she's rightly offended and refuses him on the spot. Obviously, Ian doesn't take no for an answer and hence begins his courtship of Annabelle...
The premise of this book isn't new in Romancelandia, so I wasn't expected anything out of this world. Whether I enjoyed it or not, it would all depend on the author's skills to make the battle of wills between Ian and Annabelle interesting and entertaining. Funny banter, witty remarks, sizzling sexual tension, lots could be done here. Unfortunately, I got almost nothing of that. Ian was sweet (in that overbearing way that's Scottish heroes' trademark), Annabelle was nice but had a penchant for putting herself in danger that bordered on TSTL territory, the villain was a one-dimensional loony that wouldn't scare a child and the other secondary characters were OK but not remarkable. The pace of the story was slow and no real conflict hampered Ian and Annabelle's relationship. I don't need angst to enjoy a book, but at least give me something to make my heart skip a beat!
That said, I must point out what I liked about this book. Despite his past, Ian never jumped to the wrong conclusions about Annabelle's faithfulness, even though he found her in a compromising situation more than once. On her part, Annabelle wasn't that secure, but I liked the way she didn't shy away from confronting Ian and letting him know how she felt. This is one couple I'm sure will never fall on the traps of a Big Misunderstanding, and that's a big win in Romancelandia.
September 10, 2008
Fans of Lucy Monroe will be interested in "Annabelle's Courtship", a historical romantica (really really HOT, but not quite erotica) novel recently released in trade paperback by Samhain.
Ian must marry to inherit the money he needs to help his tenant landholders. He was once betrayed by beauty, so he makes his list of requirements for a wife: Plain, moderately dowered, older, and practical. When he meets Annabelle, he decides she's prefect for him. But when she refuses his proposal, he soon realizes that list or no list, she's the one woman for him. Unfortuantely, she needs wooing and his wooing skills...well, he doesn't seem to have any!
Annabelle is neither honored nor complimented when Ian proposes...after he explains his 'list'. She's downright insulted! She's also confused. She's refused his offer, given him names of other women who meet the requirements of his 'list', and is now discouraging to the point of rudeness. So why does he heart race when he's near and why won't he just leave her alone?
A sweet and very spicy story of two people who are both sure they know what they want...only to grow up and realize they really don't. Humorous and very sexy, with a light mystery/suspense element of a wacko lord determined to have Annabelle for her dowry. Well worth your time and money!
Ian must marry to inherit the money he needs to help his tenant landholders. He was once betrayed by beauty, so he makes his list of requirements for a wife: Plain, moderately dowered, older, and practical. When he meets Annabelle, he decides she's prefect for him. But when she refuses his proposal, he soon realizes that list or no list, she's the one woman for him. Unfortuantely, she needs wooing and his wooing skills...well, he doesn't seem to have any!
Annabelle is neither honored nor complimented when Ian proposes...after he explains his 'list'. She's downright insulted! She's also confused. She's refused his offer, given him names of other women who meet the requirements of his 'list', and is now discouraging to the point of rudeness. So why does he heart race when he's near and why won't he just leave her alone?
A sweet and very spicy story of two people who are both sure they know what they want...only to grow up and realize they really don't. Humorous and very sexy, with a light mystery/suspense element of a wacko lord determined to have Annabelle for her dowry. Well worth your time and money!
July 24, 2009
Well this book was a real dud :-/ It's endlessly long, painfully repetitive (you feel like you’re going around in a circle sometimes), very limited in steam (so surprising for a Samhain publication) and just plain dumb in some parts. It sounds like it could be so good but after the first third of the book I was getting fed up that nothing was really happening.
The heroine is constantly asking herself if the hero could love her one day as well as asking him directly for reassurances from everything to her looks to her smarts. It wears on the nerves fast. She has some serious TSTL moments too that don’t seem to match her character. She's supposed to be a crusader for women’s rights but sometimes it got to be too much. It was interesting to see Mary Wollstonecraft’s famous manifesto of the day, “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman”, mentioned in the novel even though the title used in the book was incorrect. Including something like that but not getting the title right (considering its importance and all) takes away from the importance the author puts on her characters beliefs I think. It’s almost like yeah she’s a crusader for women’s rights, who was the big name of the time, let’s stick that in somewhere but not bother checking that we have it right (!). The romance reader isn't an idiot passively reading and gobbing it all in.
The hero is pretty good, he could’ve been fleshed out a bit more but he’s just about the only one holding up the story. There's a filler and totally unbelievable sub-story that's supposed to add a dastardly villain to the picture. His parts read like those silent movies almost where the heroine gets tied to the train by the evil mustachioed bad guy, the hero saves her (again and again and again --!), she puts her hand on her forehead way too often to lament things --see what I mean? There’s an annoying dandy named Ceddy who constantly ends his sentences with “eh what?” that make no sense at all. Ending them with “eh” fine, but that “what”, which I’m assuming was to make him a more distinct kind of secondary character, made me wince more than once.
As far as steam goes for a romance novel, what little there is is not worth mentioning and barely holds your interest so that when they do get down and dirty (and I use that term very loosely with this book) you just want to finish it –good thing that it’s right at the end pretty much too so you don’t have far to go (!) The writing itself doesn’t segue well so you feel like there are descriptive parts that are missing or the author just touches the surface and skims over a scene instead of developing it. There are also too many expressions of the day that are overused leaving you to wonder if the author had a thesaurus/editor on hand or just couldn’t be bothered –the h/h always feeling like they’re being led around like they’re in “leading strings”, or someone is always “ringing a peal” over someone else etc etc. There are also stupid misunderstandings that get blown out of proportion time and time again. Really it felt like a book that an author owes a publisher so she just slaps down any ol’ thing on paper and says “Here, sell it”.
So basically, it was a complete waste of money (those Samhain ones don't come cheap!) and time and so very disappointing that it’s a Lucy Monroe book –goodness knows she’s done better. 2.5 stars
The heroine is constantly asking herself if the hero could love her one day as well as asking him directly for reassurances from everything to her looks to her smarts. It wears on the nerves fast. She has some serious TSTL moments too that don’t seem to match her character. She's supposed to be a crusader for women’s rights but sometimes it got to be too much. It was interesting to see Mary Wollstonecraft’s famous manifesto of the day, “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman”, mentioned in the novel even though the title used in the book was incorrect. Including something like that but not getting the title right (considering its importance and all) takes away from the importance the author puts on her characters beliefs I think. It’s almost like yeah she’s a crusader for women’s rights, who was the big name of the time, let’s stick that in somewhere but not bother checking that we have it right (!). The romance reader isn't an idiot passively reading and gobbing it all in.
The hero is pretty good, he could’ve been fleshed out a bit more but he’s just about the only one holding up the story. There's a filler and totally unbelievable sub-story that's supposed to add a dastardly villain to the picture. His parts read like those silent movies almost where the heroine gets tied to the train by the evil mustachioed bad guy, the hero saves her (again and again and again --!), she puts her hand on her forehead way too often to lament things --see what I mean? There’s an annoying dandy named Ceddy who constantly ends his sentences with “eh what?” that make no sense at all. Ending them with “eh” fine, but that “what”, which I’m assuming was to make him a more distinct kind of secondary character, made me wince more than once.
As far as steam goes for a romance novel, what little there is is not worth mentioning and barely holds your interest so that when they do get down and dirty (and I use that term very loosely with this book) you just want to finish it –good thing that it’s right at the end pretty much too so you don’t have far to go (!) The writing itself doesn’t segue well so you feel like there are descriptive parts that are missing or the author just touches the surface and skims over a scene instead of developing it. There are also too many expressions of the day that are overused leaving you to wonder if the author had a thesaurus/editor on hand or just couldn’t be bothered –the h/h always feeling like they’re being led around like they’re in “leading strings”, or someone is always “ringing a peal” over someone else etc etc. There are also stupid misunderstandings that get blown out of proportion time and time again. Really it felt like a book that an author owes a publisher so she just slaps down any ol’ thing on paper and says “Here, sell it”.
So basically, it was a complete waste of money (those Samhain ones don't come cheap!) and time and so very disappointing that it’s a Lucy Monroe book –goodness knows she’s done better. 2.5 stars
May 22, 2009
LOVED IT!
I'd give it an A-, just for some niggling little things, but a very good read. Its about a Scottish Laird named Ian MacKay who in order to inherit his stepfather's endowment but marry within a year and it cannot be a paper marriage. The only thing is she must be English. He decides his requirement for a wife he doesn't want to start with are: plain, of modest means, older and practical. He thinks he has found that in Lady Annabelle. Lady Annabelle (all of 24) was labeled "The Ordinary" in her first Season in London. She longs for a man who loves her for herself, just as her father and mother loved each other. When Ian proposes she is ecstatic, having thought she had finally found someone who desired her for her personality and charm (as she is quite plain) only to be horrified when Ian lists his "requirements" to her and tells her she is his "perfect match" in that way. She tells him in no uncertain terms where he can go and that she won't marry him. (It was actually quite heartbreaking to read that scene) He informs her she will marry him and gives her to the end of the Season to adjust her mind to it.
I absolutely loved Annabelle. She was quite charming and witty but also aware of her "shortcomings" and didn't become all stoic when Ian insulted her. She quietly left and cried, like most anyone in her position might do. Ian was a wonderful Scottish hero. You find out the reason for his "requirements" and they aren't all that far fetched. I honestly think he falls in love with her from the start but his mindset has him blinded. He takes to calling her "Belle" and ....oh heck, I'm going to re-write the book right here if I don't stop! If you like Scottish hero's and/or mild Regency romance, this is a great book.
I'd give it an A-, just for some niggling little things, but a very good read. Its about a Scottish Laird named Ian MacKay who in order to inherit his stepfather's endowment but marry within a year and it cannot be a paper marriage. The only thing is she must be English. He decides his requirement for a wife he doesn't want to start with are: plain, of modest means, older and practical. He thinks he has found that in Lady Annabelle. Lady Annabelle (all of 24) was labeled "The Ordinary" in her first Season in London. She longs for a man who loves her for herself, just as her father and mother loved each other. When Ian proposes she is ecstatic, having thought she had finally found someone who desired her for her personality and charm (as she is quite plain) only to be horrified when Ian lists his "requirements" to her and tells her she is his "perfect match" in that way. She tells him in no uncertain terms where he can go and that she won't marry him. (It was actually quite heartbreaking to read that scene) He informs her she will marry him and gives her to the end of the Season to adjust her mind to it.
I absolutely loved Annabelle. She was quite charming and witty but also aware of her "shortcomings" and didn't become all stoic when Ian insulted her. She quietly left and cried, like most anyone in her position might do. Ian was a wonderful Scottish hero. You find out the reason for his "requirements" and they aren't all that far fetched. I honestly think he falls in love with her from the start but his mindset has him blinded. He takes to calling her "Belle" and ....oh heck, I'm going to re-write the book right here if I don't stop! If you like Scottish hero's and/or mild Regency romance, this is a great book.
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December 1, 2014
My review contains spoilers and they're mostly my thoughts as I went with the book... for more, visit Punya Reviews...
I’ve heard of Lucy Monroe and Annabelle's Courtship seemed to be the perfect kind of book to start off her work. Though I wasn’t fond of the writing style all that much, it still managed to keep me going, mainly because I did love the characters. Most especially, Annabelle and Ian.
Annabelle is an orphan and has been living with her widowed aunt ever since her parents passed away. Her elder brother, the current Earl, Robert has married her best friend, Diana a while ago. They have a happy marriage based on love. Annabelle, a spinster with no intentions of getting married, is not only a spirited young woman but also, a budding suffragette. She loves what she does, and marriage, after an early disappointment, seems to have no place in her life. Being the loving brother, Robert does despair about her. He wants her to have the kind of life he now has with Diana but fate seemed to have other plans for Annabelle. She’s known to be a plain looking girl, as aside as The Ordinary, one of the major reasons why she never had many beaus to begin with. Though, when her only fiancé left her for an empty-headed, yet pretty young miss, Annabelle wasn’t hurt. Disappointed, yes, she even laughed a little but it didn’t cast any shadows on her life. She has gone on to live as she liked to, and enjoying whatever freedom she can have as an unmarried spinster of her age. But then, one Laird Graenfrae happened to her and everything seemed to turn upside down for her!
Ian has just inherited money and property from his deceased step-father, an English Lord, who has loved him as a son. But, in order to gain access to that inheritance, his shrewd step-father gave some major terms that need to be fulfilled within a year or so. The most important of those would be that Ian must marry. To say that it left Ian unhappy would be an understatement. I never had the impression that he was a womanizer bend on happy-go-lucky. He was more of a growly bear type; possessive and a little alpha, but not enough to make me wanna kick on his balls. But he had an issue with marriage, more specifically, anything to do with ‘love’. He was engaged before, but his fiancée betrayed him with his younger half-brother. Personally, I thought that ‘betrayed’ was a strong word, even though he loved using that word in his mind, as those two were not shagging behind his back or something like that. It wasn’t that Ian actually loved the girl either. He chose her for her looks and that she seemed kind and gently bred to be his wife. But his fiancée and his brother fell in love after the engagement. One day, he just found them kissing in the barn, declaring their love. It disturbed Ian way too much and he immediately called off the engagement, making it look like he has jilted his fiancée. So the blame was on him and the brother ‘stepped in’ to marry her to save her honor. After that, the stubborn oaf completely cut any communication with his family. Oh boy!
Ian needed the money from his step-father to work on his own properties inherited from his own father. Or so I assumed. That one was a run-down, austere type of estate needing a lot of work. If he marries and gains access to that money, all his problems will be solved. Seeing no other option, Ian finally decides that he’d travel to London from Scotland for a season to hunt down a bride for himself. But he had his own terms. He doesn’t want a beautiful young heiress fresh out of schoolroom for this MOC. Ian’s prospective bride must be plain, with medium to minimum dowry and a bit, er, older than any fresh debutante.
I know he sounds like an a$$ but trust me, Ian wasn’t. He just... had his own ideas of duty that he must abide by, alongside being practical. And this list seemed perfectly OK to him. But fate, too, had something planned for him, for the moment he set his eyes on Annabelle, he knew he had found the ‘perfect’ solution for all this problems. Ian thought it’d be easy-peasy to get her acceptance of his proposal since… well, she’s a spinster. He’d soon find out how wrong he was where Annabelle was concerned.
Their introduction was nothing out of the ordinary, thought Ian’s tall, well-built body, handsome face and that Scottish brogue did set Annabelle’s heart aflutter; something that never happened to her ever before. She tries to push it away, but then, it seems, the man is adamant about seeking her out everywhere she goes. She is so flattered by Ian’s attentions that when he finally broach the subject of marriage and that infamous list of his, Annabelle’s illusion that he finds her attractive enough for special attentions, shattered. She’s instantly angry, then morose at the thought. So it’s all because she is ‘plain’, doesn’t have big dowry and a spinster, is why he’s pursuing her?! All because of that freakin’ money? Annabelle is incensed and begins avoiding Ian, who couldn’t understand what exactly he said was wrong. Oh the lout! I was laughing my ass off as to Ian’s genuine confusion at Annabelle’s anger and rejection of his proposal. He even decides that he’d properly court her for the next two months, that should be enough to woo her, right? I was like ‘best of luck with that’. LOL
And thus started the infamous courtship of Annabelle. Ian still very much adamant on marrying Annabelle, who kept avoiding her, though her silly heart would still go in a stupor each time he’d arrive at a ball and simply single her out. Oh he was polite to other people and girls, their mamas even, but he always made it very clear exactly why he’s present. Ian would be the proverbial alpha laird, a bit stubborn, a bit of an oaf but not once annoying in anyway. He was actually adorable even when he was being frustrating. I found their chemistry and their banters very enjoyable. But she was still not giving into Ian no matter how her head would turn into mush. Ian’s single-minded pursuit would be the greatest compliment for her, had it not started on such a… less than stellar proposal. Too bad, Annabelle has no intentions of marrying without love.
Annabelle was a fine heroine IMO. She did her best to show Ian that she didn’t quite appreciate how blunt his proposal was. But Ian’s honest and practical attitude proved to me that when he says something, he means it wholeheartedly. So, when he said he wanted Annabelle, I knew absolutely meant it, if not his possessive natured proved it to me more than once. It was funny and heartwarming to watch them fall for each-other, with Ian starting to call Annabelle only ‘Belle’, and then complimenting her looks. Annabelle didn’t believe a word of it at first, yet gradually she had to, because though the world saw her as a ‘plain spinster’, Ian saw only his Belle. And that’s what, to him, made everything about her beautiful; her looks, grace, wits, even that quick temper when she’d be vexed at Ian for something he’d said or done. He even supported her activities as a suffragette, only raising concern when she was in danger or something. I just loved how after a kiss, or a touch, Annabelle would go limp in Ian’s arms in complete surrender. Because I already knew Ian to be a good man who cared for Annabelle, even if lacking in the ‘tender wooing’ department, I had no complain about it whatsoever.
Loved the scenes between Annabelle’s elder brother Robert and SIL Diana was also very good. They were the secondary couple and had a good presence throughout the story. I loved their interactions (Robert, Diana, Annabelle and Ian) together.
Of course, a villain came into the light who wasn’t much of a scary villain IMO. It was all about Annabelle’s dowry, and that man, in a big debt, wanted to marry Annabelle in any way possible. Even if it meant forcing himself on her, or by kidnapping her, didn’t matter. He was a creep no doubt who even resorted to blackmail Diana for money when his ‘wooing’ of Annabelle wasn’t going well. And he definitely wasn’t happy about Ian stalking his claim on her.
Unfortunately, Annabelle’s secret dowry creates some problem between her and Ian, who didn’t want a wife with dowry. He’s a man of honor, who didn’t need his wife’s money to get by. The oaf thought Annabelle hid it from him intentionally. Thankfully though, the misunderstanding was solved sooner, rather than later and they finally end up wed. After their marriage, Annabelle finds what she would’ve been missing if she never married; the marriage bed! And oh, she loved Ian’s ways. In fact, after the initial shyness, she couldn’t get enough of it. LOL
When Ian takes Annabelle to his ramshackle estate, that he meant to work on once his inheritance is accessible, he was worried that she’d not like his humble abode. But of course, far from it since Annabelle instantly saw it as her home where she meant to make a life with Ian. Whatever worry Ian had over it, she made it all go away. But what Annabelle wanted was to meet Ian’s estranged family. Her demand, which I didn’t think was illogical, made Ian’s mood rather sour. He knew it was going to happen sooner or later, but he probably wasn’t ready to see his half-brother who ‘betrayed’ him with his ex-fiancée (now his wife). He also hadn’t talked to his mother, which I found rather exasperating. As I mentioned before, I found this whole ‘betrayal’ drama a bit overboard but there it was!
Since Annabelle wouldn’t let it go, Ian finally takes her to meet his family. There, Annabelle seemed to be in her element. She wins them over, makes a friend out of the SIL, Jenny. Ian and Edward though, were still head-butting over that old matter, though it was pretty much apparent that both Jenny and Annabelle were exasperated about it. They wanted water under the bridge and all that.
Annabelle’s dream of making her surly husband love her came to fruition when the villain makes one last bold move where she ends up with a bullet. After that, Ian was smart enough to not to hold out on the three little words he’d been meaning to give back to her. Oh Annabelle had already confessed her feelings many times over, but Ian could be a dunderhead as I’ve already mentioned. His confession definitely made her recovery easier, most especially when they find out Annabelle’s secret joy... she seemed to have caught this baby fever from Diana and Jenny. *heehee*
Overall, Annabelle's Courtship was a nice little story that I quite enjoyed. It was a pleasant, ofttimes hilarious, read without any big headache inducing drama. 3.5 stars.
I’ve heard of Lucy Monroe and Annabelle's Courtship seemed to be the perfect kind of book to start off her work. Though I wasn’t fond of the writing style all that much, it still managed to keep me going, mainly because I did love the characters. Most especially, Annabelle and Ian.
Annabelle is an orphan and has been living with her widowed aunt ever since her parents passed away. Her elder brother, the current Earl, Robert has married her best friend, Diana a while ago. They have a happy marriage based on love. Annabelle, a spinster with no intentions of getting married, is not only a spirited young woman but also, a budding suffragette. She loves what she does, and marriage, after an early disappointment, seems to have no place in her life. Being the loving brother, Robert does despair about her. He wants her to have the kind of life he now has with Diana but fate seemed to have other plans for Annabelle. She’s known to be a plain looking girl, as aside as The Ordinary, one of the major reasons why she never had many beaus to begin with. Though, when her only fiancé left her for an empty-headed, yet pretty young miss, Annabelle wasn’t hurt. Disappointed, yes, she even laughed a little but it didn’t cast any shadows on her life. She has gone on to live as she liked to, and enjoying whatever freedom she can have as an unmarried spinster of her age. But then, one Laird Graenfrae happened to her and everything seemed to turn upside down for her!
Ian has just inherited money and property from his deceased step-father, an English Lord, who has loved him as a son. But, in order to gain access to that inheritance, his shrewd step-father gave some major terms that need to be fulfilled within a year or so. The most important of those would be that Ian must marry. To say that it left Ian unhappy would be an understatement. I never had the impression that he was a womanizer bend on happy-go-lucky. He was more of a growly bear type; possessive and a little alpha, but not enough to make me wanna kick on his balls. But he had an issue with marriage, more specifically, anything to do with ‘love’. He was engaged before, but his fiancée betrayed him with his younger half-brother. Personally, I thought that ‘betrayed’ was a strong word, even though he loved using that word in his mind, as those two were not shagging behind his back or something like that. It wasn’t that Ian actually loved the girl either. He chose her for her looks and that she seemed kind and gently bred to be his wife. But his fiancée and his brother fell in love after the engagement. One day, he just found them kissing in the barn, declaring their love. It disturbed Ian way too much and he immediately called off the engagement, making it look like he has jilted his fiancée. So the blame was on him and the brother ‘stepped in’ to marry her to save her honor. After that, the stubborn oaf completely cut any communication with his family. Oh boy!
Ian needed the money from his step-father to work on his own properties inherited from his own father. Or so I assumed. That one was a run-down, austere type of estate needing a lot of work. If he marries and gains access to that money, all his problems will be solved. Seeing no other option, Ian finally decides that he’d travel to London from Scotland for a season to hunt down a bride for himself. But he had his own terms. He doesn’t want a beautiful young heiress fresh out of schoolroom for this MOC. Ian’s prospective bride must be plain, with medium to minimum dowry and a bit, er, older than any fresh debutante.
I know he sounds like an a$$ but trust me, Ian wasn’t. He just... had his own ideas of duty that he must abide by, alongside being practical. And this list seemed perfectly OK to him. But fate, too, had something planned for him, for the moment he set his eyes on Annabelle, he knew he had found the ‘perfect’ solution for all this problems. Ian thought it’d be easy-peasy to get her acceptance of his proposal since… well, she’s a spinster. He’d soon find out how wrong he was where Annabelle was concerned.
Their introduction was nothing out of the ordinary, thought Ian’s tall, well-built body, handsome face and that Scottish brogue did set Annabelle’s heart aflutter; something that never happened to her ever before. She tries to push it away, but then, it seems, the man is adamant about seeking her out everywhere she goes. She is so flattered by Ian’s attentions that when he finally broach the subject of marriage and that infamous list of his, Annabelle’s illusion that he finds her attractive enough for special attentions, shattered. She’s instantly angry, then morose at the thought. So it’s all because she is ‘plain’, doesn’t have big dowry and a spinster, is why he’s pursuing her?! All because of that freakin’ money? Annabelle is incensed and begins avoiding Ian, who couldn’t understand what exactly he said was wrong. Oh the lout! I was laughing my ass off as to Ian’s genuine confusion at Annabelle’s anger and rejection of his proposal. He even decides that he’d properly court her for the next two months, that should be enough to woo her, right? I was like ‘best of luck with that’. LOL
And thus started the infamous courtship of Annabelle. Ian still very much adamant on marrying Annabelle, who kept avoiding her, though her silly heart would still go in a stupor each time he’d arrive at a ball and simply single her out. Oh he was polite to other people and girls, their mamas even, but he always made it very clear exactly why he’s present. Ian would be the proverbial alpha laird, a bit stubborn, a bit of an oaf but not once annoying in anyway. He was actually adorable even when he was being frustrating. I found their chemistry and their banters very enjoyable. But she was still not giving into Ian no matter how her head would turn into mush. Ian’s single-minded pursuit would be the greatest compliment for her, had it not started on such a… less than stellar proposal. Too bad, Annabelle has no intentions of marrying without love.
Annabelle was a fine heroine IMO. She did her best to show Ian that she didn’t quite appreciate how blunt his proposal was. But Ian’s honest and practical attitude proved to me that when he says something, he means it wholeheartedly. So, when he said he wanted Annabelle, I knew absolutely meant it, if not his possessive natured proved it to me more than once. It was funny and heartwarming to watch them fall for each-other, with Ian starting to call Annabelle only ‘Belle’, and then complimenting her looks. Annabelle didn’t believe a word of it at first, yet gradually she had to, because though the world saw her as a ‘plain spinster’, Ian saw only his Belle. And that’s what, to him, made everything about her beautiful; her looks, grace, wits, even that quick temper when she’d be vexed at Ian for something he’d said or done. He even supported her activities as a suffragette, only raising concern when she was in danger or something. I just loved how after a kiss, or a touch, Annabelle would go limp in Ian’s arms in complete surrender. Because I already knew Ian to be a good man who cared for Annabelle, even if lacking in the ‘tender wooing’ department, I had no complain about it whatsoever.
Loved the scenes between Annabelle’s elder brother Robert and SIL Diana was also very good. They were the secondary couple and had a good presence throughout the story. I loved their interactions (Robert, Diana, Annabelle and Ian) together.
Of course, a villain came into the light who wasn’t much of a scary villain IMO. It was all about Annabelle’s dowry, and that man, in a big debt, wanted to marry Annabelle in any way possible. Even if it meant forcing himself on her, or by kidnapping her, didn’t matter. He was a creep no doubt who even resorted to blackmail Diana for money when his ‘wooing’ of Annabelle wasn’t going well. And he definitely wasn’t happy about Ian stalking his claim on her.
Unfortunately, Annabelle’s secret dowry creates some problem between her and Ian, who didn’t want a wife with dowry. He’s a man of honor, who didn’t need his wife’s money to get by. The oaf thought Annabelle hid it from him intentionally. Thankfully though, the misunderstanding was solved sooner, rather than later and they finally end up wed. After their marriage, Annabelle finds what she would’ve been missing if she never married; the marriage bed! And oh, she loved Ian’s ways. In fact, after the initial shyness, she couldn’t get enough of it. LOL
When Ian takes Annabelle to his ramshackle estate, that he meant to work on once his inheritance is accessible, he was worried that she’d not like his humble abode. But of course, far from it since Annabelle instantly saw it as her home where she meant to make a life with Ian. Whatever worry Ian had over it, she made it all go away. But what Annabelle wanted was to meet Ian’s estranged family. Her demand, which I didn’t think was illogical, made Ian’s mood rather sour. He knew it was going to happen sooner or later, but he probably wasn’t ready to see his half-brother who ‘betrayed’ him with his ex-fiancée (now his wife). He also hadn’t talked to his mother, which I found rather exasperating. As I mentioned before, I found this whole ‘betrayal’ drama a bit overboard but there it was!
Since Annabelle wouldn’t let it go, Ian finally takes her to meet his family. There, Annabelle seemed to be in her element. She wins them over, makes a friend out of the SIL, Jenny. Ian and Edward though, were still head-butting over that old matter, though it was pretty much apparent that both Jenny and Annabelle were exasperated about it. They wanted water under the bridge and all that.
Annabelle’s dream of making her surly husband love her came to fruition when the villain makes one last bold move where she ends up with a bullet. After that, Ian was smart enough to not to hold out on the three little words he’d been meaning to give back to her. Oh Annabelle had already confessed her feelings many times over, but Ian could be a dunderhead as I’ve already mentioned. His confession definitely made her recovery easier, most especially when they find out Annabelle’s secret joy... she seemed to have caught this baby fever from Diana and Jenny. *heehee*
Overall, Annabelle's Courtship was a nice little story that I quite enjoyed. It was a pleasant, ofttimes hilarious, read without any big headache inducing drama. 3.5 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2010
I found this a very enjoyable and fun read. Although the plot could be slow moving, it was quite good with a strong heroine and a lovely Scottish Laird.
The story is about Lady Annabelle, who was labelled "The Ordinairy" in her first season; however, beneath her seemingly plain appearence and blue stocking tendencies is a passionate and romantic woman. Laird Ian McKay is coming to London to pick a wife so he can meet the tenets of his step fathers will. He puts a rather insulting list of attributes down that his wife will require, plainess, older, modest dowry, to protect himself from betrayal, something he has experienced in the past. He thinks he has found all these things when he meets Annabelle; however, he soon realizes that she is far more then a plain spinster and starts courting her for herself.
I really enjoyed reading this book, the heroine was feisty and intelligent, and I like the fact that although the ton may see her as ordinairy, she most definately is not. Also the hero Ian I love romances with Scottish Lairds and he didn't disappoint, he was possesive, tender and had that element of bafflement when trying to understand his "lass" that I really like and find very amusing.
This book is also quite hot, it doesn't go in to explicit detail but it has some spicy scenes that I think add to the romance of the story.
The only thing about this is that the plot can go abit slowly and it can be repetative.
But I would recommend this to all Historical Romance lovers to have a look at as it is a good solid read with a satisfing HEA
The story is about Lady Annabelle, who was labelled "The Ordinairy" in her first season; however, beneath her seemingly plain appearence and blue stocking tendencies is a passionate and romantic woman. Laird Ian McKay is coming to London to pick a wife so he can meet the tenets of his step fathers will. He puts a rather insulting list of attributes down that his wife will require, plainess, older, modest dowry, to protect himself from betrayal, something he has experienced in the past. He thinks he has found all these things when he meets Annabelle; however, he soon realizes that she is far more then a plain spinster and starts courting her for herself.
I really enjoyed reading this book, the heroine was feisty and intelligent, and I like the fact that although the ton may see her as ordinairy, she most definately is not. Also the hero Ian I love romances with Scottish Lairds and he didn't disappoint, he was possesive, tender and had that element of bafflement when trying to understand his "lass" that I really like and find very amusing.
This book is also quite hot, it doesn't go in to explicit detail but it has some spicy scenes that I think add to the romance of the story.
The only thing about this is that the plot can go abit slowly and it can be repetative.
But I would recommend this to all Historical Romance lovers to have a look at as it is a good solid read with a satisfing HEA
June 21, 2021
There is a lot I liked about this book, but it just wasn’t angsty enough for me. While I enjoyed the sexy scenes, I think I they took up more pages than the romantic developments. But what really held me back was two things: one, the suspense plot took up too much space and went on too long (especially given that ) and two,
Overall, I’ll give the author another shot if she has any more plain/spinster heroines, if they’re actually insecure, but this one just wasn’t quite what I was looking for. (2.5 stars)
Overall, I’ll give the author another shot if she has any more plain/spinster heroines, if they’re actually insecure, but this one just wasn’t quite what I was looking for. (2.5 stars)
December 8, 2012
Ok!!! I absolutely loved this book! I couldnt wait to write my review on it!! It was funny and sweet and romantic!! This is the first book that I've read by Lucy Monroe and it was such a pleasant surprise, I find I will have to check into her others . I loved Ian, he was sexy and stubborn as hell, protective and possessive, but not to the point of stalker quality;-) There is something entirely too sexy about a Scottish man with the accent to boot, who is determined to have you!! LOL! I also loved Annabelle, she was so feisty and loyal and down to earth for a well off woman of the 19th century. Reading the interaction between the two was great, I thoroughly enjoyed the journey these two took together, and watching the attachment between them grow. I would STRONGLY suggest this book to anybody who is a fan of time piece romance, romance in general, or heck if you just have a thing for sexy ass Scottish men!!!
July 22, 2011
I truly enjoyed every second of this book! Is it thought-provoking or life-changing? No! It's just a good bit of fluff and happiness.
Annabelle and Ian were so sweet as they fell in love, and I loved all the hijinx she got into that he had to rescue her from. She was a blue-stocking, but she didn't annoy me as much as they usually do. She had some TSTL moments, but they were light-hearted and didn't make me cringe. I'm so glad I found this little gem, and recommend it to anyone in need of some time in fantasy land.
Annabelle and Ian were so sweet as they fell in love, and I loved all the hijinx she got into that he had to rescue her from. She was a blue-stocking, but she didn't annoy me as much as they usually do. She had some TSTL moments, but they were light-hearted and didn't make me cringe. I'm so glad I found this little gem, and recommend it to anyone in need of some time in fantasy land.
September 23, 2008
Great book, good plot and the flow is nice. Characters are entertaining and unique and the female holds out on the male for more than several pages like other books. Refreshing compared to some other historical romances. Fantastic read!
September 19, 2010
What's not to love about a Lucy Monroe story? Every time I pick up one of her books, I get totally involved in te characters lives. It was no different with Annabelle and Ian. Thank you, Ms. Monroe for another great read.
January 27, 2016
My first Regency romance. Wasn't too sure at first, but I ended up really liking this book. The characters were likeable and the story had a bit of spice throughout. Jane Austen meets Harlequin Desire. For the genre, it was well written and an enjoyable read overall.
January 26, 2024
The h WAS GETTING ON MY NERVES.
Seriously.
She’s an infuriating TSTL feminist idiot with absolutely no talent of self-preservation. It was okay in the beginning but then her frustrating stupidity kept on multiplying and she kept on making same mistakes again and again which was too much for me to digest. I wanted to reach into the screen and slap her hard. Also her involvement in the cause was all for the wrong reasons. She possessed neither the intelligence, nor the Mary poppins type ingenuity to be a true feminist. She was just a jobless noble spinster who had gotten obsessed with it to tackle grief of losing her parents. It’s like giving a girl something to occupy since she doesn’t have anything better to do. The most ill suited feminist because she was an idiot sandwich and a true TSTL. Otherwise which woman will get attacked THRICE, told not to go anywhere without the H’s company and STILL GO AROUND WITH STRANGE MEN WITHOUT AN ESCORT??
Feminism or not, I cannot stand stupidity and ignorance.
Seriously.
She’s an infuriating TSTL feminist idiot with absolutely no talent of self-preservation. It was okay in the beginning but then her frustrating stupidity kept on multiplying and she kept on making same mistakes again and again which was too much for me to digest. I wanted to reach into the screen and slap her hard. Also her involvement in the cause was all for the wrong reasons. She possessed neither the intelligence, nor the Mary poppins type ingenuity to be a true feminist. She was just a jobless noble spinster who had gotten obsessed with it to tackle grief of losing her parents. It’s like giving a girl something to occupy since she doesn’t have anything better to do. The most ill suited feminist because she was an idiot sandwich and a true TSTL. Otherwise which woman will get attacked THRICE, told not to go anywhere without the H’s company and STILL GO AROUND WITH STRANGE MEN WITHOUT AN ESCORT??
Feminism or not, I cannot stand stupidity and ignorance.
January 24, 2022
I liked the book although I occasionally wanted to kick both MC's in the butt.
I thought both MC's often acted in a way that was not in their best interest; like Ian telling Annabelle his requirements for his wife almost as soon as he meets her. Did he really think that was going to go over well? Most mature men would have known better, I don't care what century you are in, telling a woman you want to marry her because she meets some very low requirements is not going to go over well.
As for Annabelle, she acts so impulsively (dare I say stupidly) that it makes you wonder how she survived to the ripe old age of 24. Her behavior suited this century more than the time the story was set, I don't think most women of that age would play so fast and loose with their reputations.
Still, despite those faults, I enjoyed the story enough to finish it in one day.
I thought both MC's often acted in a way that was not in their best interest; like Ian telling Annabelle his requirements for his wife almost as soon as he meets her. Did he really think that was going to go over well? Most mature men would have known better, I don't care what century you are in, telling a woman you want to marry her because she meets some very low requirements is not going to go over well.
As for Annabelle, she acts so impulsively (dare I say stupidly) that it makes you wonder how she survived to the ripe old age of 24. Her behavior suited this century more than the time the story was set, I don't think most women of that age would play so fast and loose with their reputations.
Still, despite those faults, I enjoyed the story enough to finish it in one day.
July 4, 2018
Can you fall in love with a book?
These characters the their story caught me from the beginning! Neither were content to fit into the role others wanted for them... And even as they fought each other, they were ment for none but each other. There is a stalker and a blackmailer that lend some intrigue, but this is a story of a man showing a woman she can be independent and have a mind while still being a wife.... And that even though she was labels as undesirable, that she was indeed beautiful and wanted by him. Also, a woman teaching a man that he deserves loyalty, companionship, return desire and love... And that it's safe and we'll worth it to love in return.
These characters the their story caught me from the beginning! Neither were content to fit into the role others wanted for them... And even as they fought each other, they were ment for none but each other. There is a stalker and a blackmailer that lend some intrigue, but this is a story of a man showing a woman she can be independent and have a mind while still being a wife.... And that even though she was labels as undesirable, that she was indeed beautiful and wanted by him. Also, a woman teaching a man that he deserves loyalty, companionship, return desire and love... And that it's safe and we'll worth it to love in return.
December 14, 2021
I found this a very enjoyable and fun read.
November 8, 2012
I really wanted to love this book. It had all of the ingredients for a thoroughly enjoyable historical romance. Ian MacKay as the Scottish hero and Lady Annabelle as the starchy spinster heroine are two of my favorite types of characters, and the storyline was good.
As Laird, Ian is all about duty and honor and responsibility. Having been betrayed years earlier, Ian has no use for romantic love - the clan's welfare is Ian's priority. Even though he doesn't like it, he knows he has no choice but to comply with his stepfather's will. He must marry (an Englishwoman) within a year in order to inherit, so he comes up with a list of requirements for his future wife. In order to find someone compatible with him and his lifestyle, and refusing to put his heart into the mix at all, he is determined to avoid young, spoiled debutantes with unrealistic romantic expectations. He wants someone of modest means who will be content with his quiet, humble life.
Annabelle is a plain, practical, older spinster with only a small dowry (if you ignore the fortune that belongs to her that nobody knows about), so the minute Ian meets her, he knows she is perfect for him. Annabelle is intrigued and entranced by Ian and completely flattered by his attention, until she discovers why he wants her - she has all of the qualities on his "list". She is appalled and hurt that he has no real interest in her, he only seems to want her for who she is NOT. Contrary to what he believed would happen, she is not just happy to be "off the shelf" - she wants to marry for love and only love!
Even though they have a huge battle of wills - he is determined to marry her and she stubbornly refuses his proposal - it doesn't take long before their feelings are drawn into the mix. Annabelle was helpless to avoid falling in love with Ian. She was prickly and intelligent and independent, but all of that hid a heart of gold that simply wanted to be loved.
You can't judge a book by its cover, and Ian didn't do that with Annabelle. He knew right away by her appearance and circumstances that she would fit right in with his demands, but he quickly saw past all of that to realize that he really WANTED her. She intrigued him and turned him on and pissed him off, and he knew he had to have her in his life.
Would Ian ever open his heart and truly care about Annabelle? Would Annabelle allow herself to love Ian not knowing if he would ever love her back? The answer, of course, is yes (this is a romance after all!). The journey to their happy ever after was entertaining, if not completely satisfying. I think there was just a little something missing for me... not enough intensity or details? Too little emotion and passion (it was pretty tame for a Samhain book!)? Whatever it was, it left me a little disappointed in the book, because I went into it with high expectations that weren't quite met.
I give Annabelle's Courtship 3.5 stars!
As Laird, Ian is all about duty and honor and responsibility. Having been betrayed years earlier, Ian has no use for romantic love - the clan's welfare is Ian's priority. Even though he doesn't like it, he knows he has no choice but to comply with his stepfather's will. He must marry (an Englishwoman) within a year in order to inherit, so he comes up with a list of requirements for his future wife. In order to find someone compatible with him and his lifestyle, and refusing to put his heart into the mix at all, he is determined to avoid young, spoiled debutantes with unrealistic romantic expectations. He wants someone of modest means who will be content with his quiet, humble life.
Annabelle is a plain, practical, older spinster with only a small dowry (if you ignore the fortune that belongs to her that nobody knows about), so the minute Ian meets her, he knows she is perfect for him. Annabelle is intrigued and entranced by Ian and completely flattered by his attention, until she discovers why he wants her - she has all of the qualities on his "list". She is appalled and hurt that he has no real interest in her, he only seems to want her for who she is NOT. Contrary to what he believed would happen, she is not just happy to be "off the shelf" - she wants to marry for love and only love!
Even though they have a huge battle of wills - he is determined to marry her and she stubbornly refuses his proposal - it doesn't take long before their feelings are drawn into the mix. Annabelle was helpless to avoid falling in love with Ian. She was prickly and intelligent and independent, but all of that hid a heart of gold that simply wanted to be loved.
You can't judge a book by its cover, and Ian didn't do that with Annabelle. He knew right away by her appearance and circumstances that she would fit right in with his demands, but he quickly saw past all of that to realize that he really WANTED her. She intrigued him and turned him on and pissed him off, and he knew he had to have her in his life.
Would Ian ever open his heart and truly care about Annabelle? Would Annabelle allow herself to love Ian not knowing if he would ever love her back? The answer, of course, is yes (this is a romance after all!). The journey to their happy ever after was entertaining, if not completely satisfying. I think there was just a little something missing for me... not enough intensity or details? Too little emotion and passion (it was pretty tame for a Samhain book!)? Whatever it was, it left me a little disappointed in the book, because I went into it with high expectations that weren't quite met.
I give Annabelle's Courtship 3.5 stars!
August 22, 2015
What does a feminist romance novel look like?
Surely the author of “Annabelle’s Courtship” wrestles with the issue. For the author, understanding desire encoded /embedded within scripts of modernity must utilize the primacy of “agency.” Annabelle wants to be in love, and therefore a fulfilling romance must necessarily be one of love. More importantly, it is necessary that the “hero” loves her for her plainness, so much so that he ultimately expresses her “prettiness.” Why must this exact type of concession occur in order to construct a fulfilling narrative? What we have here is someone attempting to get their cake and eat it too. To assume a narrative of progress and tradition, to attempt to reconcile the two, that ultimately feels insincere.
In choosing to craft this romance on top of a 19th century British backdrop, in choosing to depict modernity, the author conducts the same type of appropriation and erasure in understanding struggle, of both race and class. For one, her depiction of the suffragette movement is appalling. She has her heroine bemoan the state of “slavery,” marriage engenders, but there is no mention of the reality of slavery in the novel? It was common for suffragettes to appropriate this rhetoric while excluding Black people from their movement, but is the author so invested in this epistemological strategy that she cannot criticize it? No one criticizes Annabelle for the way she understands her position as a white upper class woman, and that’s terrible.
So strike one for unfeminist tendencies. Strike two is the hero/Ian’s derision of “beautiful,” empty-headed woman. Call it the Jane Eyre-effect, if you will. Understood as a proto-feminist text, this status is severely undermined that it still attempts the configuration of the Right kind of woman: Intelligent, modern, plain, without any observations that the choice to value these qualities arises directly out of the possibilities presented out of a social context. Ian’s preference is violent and ignorant.
Strike three is the bizarre subplot. Again, when we consider feminist movements, we have to consider who is represented as belonging into the fantasy, the ideal, and who is not. Lower-class people are not. I couldn’t read the subplot entirely because it read gross. It read as a justification of Ian’s possessiveness by presenting the WRONG type of possessiveness and assumption/consumption-: lower class.
I can’t say the author is trying to be authentic, because the phraseology is not of the 19th century. So what is being accomplished? Like I said before, what is the point of getting one’s cake and eating it too if the cake is ultimately rotten?
Surely the author of “Annabelle’s Courtship” wrestles with the issue. For the author, understanding desire encoded /embedded within scripts of modernity must utilize the primacy of “agency.” Annabelle wants to be in love, and therefore a fulfilling romance must necessarily be one of love. More importantly, it is necessary that the “hero” loves her for her plainness, so much so that he ultimately expresses her “prettiness.” Why must this exact type of concession occur in order to construct a fulfilling narrative? What we have here is someone attempting to get their cake and eat it too. To assume a narrative of progress and tradition, to attempt to reconcile the two, that ultimately feels insincere.
In choosing to craft this romance on top of a 19th century British backdrop, in choosing to depict modernity, the author conducts the same type of appropriation and erasure in understanding struggle, of both race and class. For one, her depiction of the suffragette movement is appalling. She has her heroine bemoan the state of “slavery,” marriage engenders, but there is no mention of the reality of slavery in the novel? It was common for suffragettes to appropriate this rhetoric while excluding Black people from their movement, but is the author so invested in this epistemological strategy that she cannot criticize it? No one criticizes Annabelle for the way she understands her position as a white upper class woman, and that’s terrible.
So strike one for unfeminist tendencies. Strike two is the hero/Ian’s derision of “beautiful,” empty-headed woman. Call it the Jane Eyre-effect, if you will. Understood as a proto-feminist text, this status is severely undermined that it still attempts the configuration of the Right kind of woman: Intelligent, modern, plain, without any observations that the choice to value these qualities arises directly out of the possibilities presented out of a social context. Ian’s preference is violent and ignorant.
Strike three is the bizarre subplot. Again, when we consider feminist movements, we have to consider who is represented as belonging into the fantasy, the ideal, and who is not. Lower-class people are not. I couldn’t read the subplot entirely because it read gross. It read as a justification of Ian’s possessiveness by presenting the WRONG type of possessiveness and assumption/consumption-: lower class.
I can’t say the author is trying to be authentic, because the phraseology is not of the 19th century. So what is being accomplished? Like I said before, what is the point of getting one’s cake and eating it too if the cake is ultimately rotten?
October 5, 2015
Two stars because it was a quick read and the H is a big burly Scot. Other than that, I just couldn't connect with the MC's (especially Belle,) and their "banter" was choppy and more silly than witty.
Annabelle is a plain looking spinster who has resigned herself to a lonely life without love. Ian is a man burned by love in the past who needs to marry fast in order to collect his inheritance. He thinks an "on the shelf" spinster who is plain, practical and desperate will not inconvenience him and he sets off to London.
I thought Ms. Monroe would make this comical in a sweet way, I mean she has the perfect match but for all the wrong reasons. But that was sadly not the case here. When Belle finds out that Ian only singled her out because she met all his requirements she stopped being practical but definitely became a bit desperate.
I couldnt' stand all this back and forth Belle did. One minute she's head over heels, can't-survive-without-him LOVE and in the next instant she's cursing him and pushing him away with her childlike temper tantrums. Also I felt really bad that everyone constantly brought up the fact that she was not pretty. Grrr!!! Even Belle says it about her self and I just wanted to Karate Chop EVERYONE - I mean not everything is about looks and the fact that appearance was so important here was a huge turn off.
Ian also was very wishy washy. His aversion to marriage and his estranged family history was just weird/wrong/unfair/shallow - take your pick! He actually is the wronged party and when he finally goes to see them, they all acted relieved that he finally made an attempt to apologize to them! What? Why? It seemed his mother and younger brother was snobby and self centered when they turned their backs on him and no one ever addresses this. I just wasn't okay with that. I hated his brother - and even his explaination for the events that took place were so lame as to be disgusting - I mean he robbed his brother of his family and made him isolatated and basically the villian when he knew damn well that wasn't the case, even at the end he never accepts or acknowledges his faults - and he doesn't seem to understand why he should ... I just couldn't believe we were expected to believe all that tripe and accept it!!!
This one is another in a long line of deceiving blurbs. The idea was great but the execution was a bust.
Annabelle is a plain looking spinster who has resigned herself to a lonely life without love. Ian is a man burned by love in the past who needs to marry fast in order to collect his inheritance. He thinks an "on the shelf" spinster who is plain, practical and desperate will not inconvenience him and he sets off to London.
I thought Ms. Monroe would make this comical in a sweet way, I mean she has the perfect match but for all the wrong reasons. But that was sadly not the case here. When Belle finds out that Ian only singled her out because she met all his requirements she stopped being practical but definitely became a bit desperate.
I couldnt' stand all this back and forth Belle did. One minute she's head over heels, can't-survive-without-him LOVE and in the next instant she's cursing him and pushing him away with her childlike temper tantrums. Also I felt really bad that everyone constantly brought up the fact that she was not pretty. Grrr!!! Even Belle says it about her self and I just wanted to Karate Chop EVERYONE - I mean not everything is about looks and the fact that appearance was so important here was a huge turn off.
Ian also was very wishy washy. His aversion to marriage and his estranged family history was just weird/wrong/unfair/shallow - take your pick! He actually is the wronged party and when he finally goes to see them, they all acted relieved that he finally made an attempt to apologize to them! What? Why? It seemed his mother and younger brother was snobby and self centered when they turned their backs on him and no one ever addresses this. I just wasn't okay with that. I hated his brother - and even his explaination for the events that took place were so lame as to be disgusting - I mean he robbed his brother of his family and made him isolatated and basically the villian when he knew damn well that wasn't the case, even at the end he never accepts or acknowledges his faults - and he doesn't seem to understand why he should ... I just couldn't believe we were expected to believe all that tripe and accept it!!!
This one is another in a long line of deceiving blurbs. The idea was great but the execution was a bust.
December 27, 2015
It's always lovely when a women (especially in a historical) doesn't act as she's 'supposed to' according to some silly man's thought processes. Not that the hero was silly, he was just guilty of thinking of women as most of society thought of women at the time.
I enjoyed this book a lot. I like watching the hero change as his feelings for the heroine grew and changed. I also liked that the heroine was willing to marry the hero even though he didn't love her as she wished (or so they both believed). I think it was a brave move on her part to accept that while he may not feel as deeply as she did, he did care, she knew that and she was willing to take the chance that it might change over time. Of course, it didn't really have to change since he did love her and just didn't recognize it as such.
I enjoyed this book a lot. I like watching the hero change as his feelings for the heroine grew and changed. I also liked that the heroine was willing to marry the hero even though he didn't love her as she wished (or so they both believed). I think it was a brave move on her part to accept that while he may not feel as deeply as she did, he did care, she knew that and she was willing to take the chance that it might change over time. Of course, it didn't really have to change since he did love her and just didn't recognize it as such.
September 19, 2015
the idea behind the plot for this book was good. the execution was not so good. more than half of the book was spent on the beginning of the story. there was almost no middle of the story. i don't like it when heroins act silly. Belle's going "to a lecture" with the Bad Guy was just silly. he had previously tried to rape her, for heaven's sake! and although the "squire" seemed to think he was courting Annabelle, the book really did show any believable examples of that. the wedding night was fun to read. Ian's brother had no reason to be all "huffy". he knew what he got caught doing, and explanation or no explanation, he knew what he got caught doing! so, it was ok, but i wouldn't really recommend it.
October 11, 2013
I love historical romance...and an erotic historical is even better. I purchased this as it was listed as an erotic read and being published by Samhain, I expected it to be just that...what a disappointment! I didn't care much for the H/h, the storyline seemed endless, very repetitive, and there was really nothing erotic about it. The authors use of dialogue for this time period was like no other historical I've ever read "eh, what?" it was distracting and just sounded wrong as I was reading it. For me, it was ok at best, but certainly not worth what I paid for the book.
February 4, 2013
I absolutely loved this book! I thought Ian was amazingly sweet, obtuse, and persistent. Annabelle was a pleasant surprise. They were wonderful together! The only thing I found somewhat annoying was that it took Ian so long to tell her he loved her and that the villian took so long to catch. That felt very drawn out. But anything that gave us a little more Ian is worth it. :)
November 13, 2008
Out of all of Ms. Monroe's books this was my least favorite. I loved all of her other books. Annabelle's Courtship lost my interest halfway through the book. It was very well written and I enjoy it but after awhile I just felt like I had to finish it.
October 14, 2014
Loved this one. I think some people won't like it because there was not any tension nor conflict between the characters. I loved that the hero was so determined, possessive and that he never gives up on her. And I understood why the heroine lacked self-confidence. A good read.
March 26, 2010
This is the first historical work by Lucy Monrow that I've read. All of her other books are contemporary/romance/suspense. It was cute if a little choppy.
March 1, 2009
This is a new author for me. It was a fast read, and I really enjoyed it - pure escapism for a dreary winter day!
January 11, 2021
I absolutely enjoyed reading it back in 2011, and I absolutely enjoyed re reading it now in 2021!
July 10, 2012
Fabulous. Loved every page.
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