The Greatest Lover in All England

by Christina Dodd

Since childhood, Rosie's life has been the stage—passing herself off as a boy playing women's roles in the somewhat disreputable theatrical troupe of actor Danny Plympton, Rosie's adoptive father. But when unanticipated danger confronts them, they must flee London, taking refuge at the estate of Sir Anthony Rycliffe. A handsome, devil-may-care rakehell, Tony quickly sees through Rosie's disguise.

But a lush, womanly form and eminently kissable lips are not the ravishing young beauty's only secrets—and the burning attraction Tony feels for her does not lessen the peril she has brought to his doorstep. The dashing rogue is determined to strip the irresistible lady of her mysteries—and her masculine garb—using all of his fabled seductive powers. After all, Tony has a reputation to uphold, as . . .

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Adult, British Literature

400 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Upcoming:
— 6/30/26 TEACH THE TORCHES TO BURN: Daughter of Montague Historical Fiction #3 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

New and Now!
—MUCH ADO ABOUT MISTLETOE: Daughter of Montague Christmas novella https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
— THUS WITH A KISS I DIE Daughter of Montague Historical Fiction #2
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
— A DAUGHTER OF FAIR VERONA Historical Fiction Trade Paperback Once upon a time a young couple met and fell in love. You probably know that story, and how it ended (hint: badly). Only here’s the thing: That’s not how it ended at all…
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
— WELCOME TO GOTHIC: A Gothic novella in ebook (at last!) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
— WHAT DREAMS MAY COME Daughter of Montague novella 1.5 "I’m the daughter of Romeo and Juliet. Yes, that Romeo and Juliet. No, they didn’t die in the tomb…" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
— GIRL ANONYMOUS “Crackling sexual chemistry and a few love scenes guaranteed to scorch readers’ fingers as they turn the pages." — ⭐️ Booklist
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

Readers become writers, and Christina has always been a reader. Ultimately she discovered she liked to read romance best because the relationship between a man and a woman is always humorous. A woman wants world peace, a clean house, and a deep and meaningful relationship based on mutual understanding and love. A man wants a Craftsman router, undisputed control of the TV remote, and a red Corvette which will make his bald spot disappear.
When Christina’s first daughter was born, she told her husband she was going to write a book. It was a good time to start a new career, because how much trouble could one little infant be?
Ha! It took ten years, two children and three completed manuscripts before she was published. Now her suspense, paranormal, historical, and mystery novels have been translated into 30 languages and sold more than 15 million copies in print. Praised for her “brilliantly etched characters, polished writing, and unexpected flashes of sharp humor that are pure Dodd” (Booklist), her award-winning books have landed on numerous Best of the Year lists and, much to her mother's delight, Dodd was once a clue in the Los Angeles Times crossword puzzle. She lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest, where her 700 lavender plants share the yard with her husband’s various “Big Projects,” including a treehouse, zipline, and their very own Stonehenge.
Enter Christina’s worlds and join her mailing list for humor, book news and entertainment (yes, she’s the proud author with the infamous three-armed cover) at christinadodd.com. For more information on A DAUGHTER OF FAIR VERONA, visit daughterofmontague.com. Her legions of fans know that when they pick up a Christina Dodd book, they'll find the story, "Wildly entertaining, wickedly witty!"
Christina is married to a man with all his hair and no Corvette, but many Craftsman tools.

(Source: http://www.christinadodd.com )

Reviews

[*CJ* · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Greatest Lover in All England" is the story of Rosie and Anthony.

A heartwarming read with a spitfire heroine and a tomcat-turned-smitten hero. She's an actress masquerading as a man, he is the biggest playboy in England. They meet by chance when he needs a wife, and after a single look he is smitten. He finds her incredibly charming but unsuitable, but soon realizes she might be holding the key to the land he so desires. There are murder attempts, William Shakespeare live, Hamlet and plays, the Queen, obstinate older OW, loads of super hot sex, angst and HEA.
My favorite part definitely has to be the relationship between the heroine and her "father", and how Ms Dodd explored the father-daughter bond in this one. She paid equal attention to both the relationships, and one didn't overshadow another- the latter definitely making me cry.

The plot got too muddled at the end- but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Safe
4/5

[L H · Rating 1 out of 5]

l couldn't get past the first 3 Chapters! 1 actually read them twice trying to figure out what have I missed that made this novel impossible to get into! The first chapter was such a mess with the conversations barely understandable :S because the words are written in "Accent" to suit the charactors...
l don't think I will atempt to start reading again any time Soon...it is unfortuhate because I really like Christina Dodd's books...

[Angie Fehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rosie (aka Rosencrantz) is no stranger to life on the streets of 17th century London. She travels around with a group of performers, led by her adoptive father, Sir Danny Plympton (he "knighted" himself), singing for food or dollars. Though illiterate, Rosie has one illustrious benefactor in her life, the one and only "Uncle Will" --- William Shakespeare.

*BTW --- each chapter in this book opens with a quote from one of Shakespeare's plays.

Our girl is rocking one secret on the cusp of having an unplanned reveal: only those closest to her know she is female, everyone else has always accepted Rosie's masculine presentation as the truth. Sir Danny took Rosie in as a little girl and made the choice to raise & present her as a boy for her own safety. Only now, with Rosie's introduction to Sir Anthony Rycliffe (legitimately knighted), is that coming into question.

When it's suggested that Rosie may possibly be the true, lost heir of the estate Sir Anthony calls home, Anthony proposes they settle the dispute by marrying and combining their lands and wealth. The long-term benefits of the arrangement take some convincing for Rosie, but eventually she agrees to Anthony's idea. Naturally, because this is a romance novel, what starts as a seemingly straightforward business arrangement shortly turns into something much more feelings-infused.

But if you think that's all there could be to this story, oh no no. Dodd throws some fun intrigue her readers' way! We got the Earl of Southampton, a patron of Shakespeare's theater, asking him to put on a production of Richard III (the Earls of Southampton and Essex harbor secret hopes that it will incite rioting against Queen Elizabeth I); Is Sir Danny looking at a chance at love?; Then there seems to be a secret assassin targeting either Anthony or Rosie... or both... but who wants them dead so badly? And then we have a friend of Rosie's sent to Newgate Prison and Anthony does his best to charm the proverbial pants off the queen to get the friend released. But oooh, the scene where Anthony takes things too far and his flirtatious words happen to contain a verbal knock on Earl of Essex, one of the queen's current favorites... so Anthony ends up getting his ears boxed, repeatedly! There's no shortage of entertainment in these pages!

For a romance novel, this ended up feeling quite literary. The writing is wonderfully clever, with all sorts of bookish references woven in. The dialogue is light and cheeky, such as the line, "... the cat who got the canary...I can almost see feathers protruding from your lips, what do you have planned?" You can just imagine the twinkle lights going off in the eyes of these characters --- Great fun!

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun story set in late Elizabethan England during the abortive rebellion of the Earl of Essex. The heroine is the daughter of an actor who has her pretending to be a boy for protection and to play the female parts. But as the story develops, we learn more about who she is. The hero is the captain of the queen's guard, but Queen Elizabeth is angry with him, so he's away from court at his country estate, where the actor's troupe has come to entertain his guests. The story has an old mystery, conspiracy, romance (of course) and "Uncle Will" Shakespeare.

[Linda · Rating 1 out of 5]

Most disappointed with the bk. Didn't seem like a Christina Dodd at all. Maybe it was due to the different setting? There was zero chemistry btwn the heroine/hero. I couldn't figure how they fell in love. Almost zero interaction & what do you know it seems they are in love? Not even going to keep the book.

[Morgan Herschberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars•

I loved this book. I love a women being disguised as a man! The romance was *chefs kiss*

[Jen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Like many of this book's other reviewers have said, I just couldn't get into it.

[Marina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fun to read.Liked the characters.Good seduction.

If you would like to read this book or others like it please check out booksfreeswap.com.This book is ready for swap!

[Sue Gosland]

This very cocky Knight meets a very shy, beautiful woman who is hiding as a young lad in an acting troupe. She may have everyone else fooled, but he sees her. She has come to his home with the man she sees as her father to perform for his weekend party, but what neither of them know is that there are secrets held in the manor that hold the key to her nightmares and her past. They both go through a lot trying to get to each other, but I loved the twists and turns thrown at them in this book. Well done!!

[Sandi Niemeyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun

A delightful romp of a story. Excellent for forgetting your everyday problems and escaping to Queen Elizabeth's time. The characters are historical, and the fun is hysterical. I highly recommend it.

[Jacqueline SG · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite the title, the story is more mystery than romance.

[Tracie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the comedy

[Nicole alphAbet]

Fall Pile

[_inbetween_]

This is a mess. Coming from Dodd's best period, this shouldn't have been so awful. I have often voiced regrets about missed opportunities with authors I liked, but this whole book is a first draft, this should never have been published. It's all over the place, stuffed full with disjointed paragraphs that never create coherent wholes, not even of the characters - I still have no idea what they were meant to look like, let alone be like. There was more promising material than usual, with a girl in boy's clothing in an acting troupe, but the introduction of realistic theatre politics does not compensate for the utter pointlessness of it, since her disguise was never used or seen as a disguise. That might partly have to do with rampant homophobia in the genre, but it's just one example of how every scene - and I use that term loosely since not even the scenes are shaped enough to be recognisable - goes in five different directions and shows nothing at all.
Partly I can understand it as a transition from Dodd's mediaval romances to the Regency ones, but she's taking the worst of all parts and now the tiny tidbits no longer compensate, they jar. "Tony" shouldn't be protesting internally that he's no sensitive male. The sisters and the older female would be great if they didn't seem cruel yet crack-fic-y at the same time. The sex comes when it never should - as if the first kissing and stuff weren't random enough, as if the telling of how she was different and dear to him without them ever having interacted at all didn't drive me mad - when she was genuinely hurting, in a scene as touching and real as his boyhood, both of which felt like Dodd's earlier stuff, it should not have led to fucking. And I expected cunnilingus, not the worst for both of them, penetration with ejaculation, and nothing described.
It will never be rewritten, Dodd seems to have gone bad anyway, but this hurts like hell. I try to see glimpses of the incredibly appealing heroes in Tony, but Rosencrantz Rosie is just nothing at all, while we are told she is too much. My disbelief pends and pends and I'm suffering beyond belief over this last of what I was sure was Dodd's best writing.
If I were Czarina, I'd behead those publishers.

She probably just stopped because it was already over 350 pages, except not a single idea was ever sketched out, yet she wrote that it had been, from the repetition how Tony remembered the great times of friendship he'd shared with Rosie (never, not even possible in the time frames) to overlooking that she set up that tiresome idiot Rosie also as a healer but never said if she stitched Honora up well.
The best parts were Danny Plympton and Wart-Nose, but there the worst was as well because I had come to like Lady Honora and the insistence that Danny didn't, couldn't and would never really love her, let alone as much as she did him, was sickening and disturbing. While his healer qualities made more sense than stupid Rosie's, it was still too much: not only was he a loyal Royalist who wanted to warn Queen Elizabeth of rebellious plots from her beloved Essex, not only did he have letters from Tony vouching for him, not only did his friends and Tony bribe wardens in prison, not only did he soothe and amuse Elizabeth, tell her of the plots, he also had to draw her tooth. Not only was Rosie the real heir, not only did she have the fucking memories that didn't need the fucking added "ghosts" to draw further idiotic parallels to Hamlet (or rather Coogan's film "Hamlet 2"), not only does she look like her mother and have a letter from her father to the Queen, no, she also needs to find the ring again.
And so on and on I'm so upset! Anthony's story would have been emotionally understandable and his quirks were likable, but he never was the greatest lover, and the mentions of him loving all women then were watered down by Queen E's issues and Danny's lover status only to be given to that feckin idjit Rosie for no reason, no reason whatsoever, esp. considering 400 pages of nothingness, pointless empty words and sketched disjointed non-scenes ... in one "sex" scene he's "testing her temperature"! ... I have to stop now!
Dodd needed to write MORE about every single idea, actually write scenes, actually show any romance *SCREAMAGER* and cut out all the crap, ie. that useless running away with even less reason than in Once A Knight if Dodd wanted to keep in the actors part I have to stop now I cannot believe she wrote this and I have no more good books by her to read *reads a more recent and surely bad but maybe less stuffed one, shakily*

[Debby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rosie "Rozencrantz is a woman parading as a male actor playing women's parts in Elizabeth I's reign. Her "father" found her when she was young. Sir Anthony Rycliffe is a illegitimate son and captain of the Queen's guard. He was granted the estate of Edward Lord Sadler, who died of the plague and whose daughter disappeared. Rosalyn in the daughter, but she doesn't remember until arriving back at the estate. They fall in love, but Lord Essex' rebellion and Elizabeth's plans for both get in the way. Well done historically.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the world's a stage

Orphaned at a young age and rescued by Sir Danny Plympton, the greatest actor in all of England, Rosie has spent her life in an acting troupe, disguised as the boy, Rosencranz.

The bastard son of an Earl, Sir Anthony Rycliffe has fought his whole life for a place to belong. Rising to the ranks of Master of the Queen's Guard, he's awarded the estate of the deceased earl of Sadler.

Rosie and Sir Danny arrive at the newly named Odyssey Manor with a bold plan, present Rosie as the long lost heir and blackmail Tony. There's no way Rosie could really be the Lady Rosalyn, right? But why then does she know her way around the estate and have knowledge of how things were? And why is she plagued by nightmares of the past? Sir Danny has evidence to back up his claims, and Tony vows to marry Rosie to secure his rights to the estate. He's sure she'll fall willingly into his arms, after all, he is the greatest lover in all of England. What follows is a battle of the wills & the wits worthy of any of "Uncle" Will's comedies.

But danger stalks the halls of the manor and treason stalks Good Queen Bess. And all of our players are caught up in the turmoil. When Sir Danny is imprisoned in the Tower, Rosie will risk everything to free the only father she can remember. Will her turn as Ophelia sway the Queen's mercy? Will Lady Honora give up her claim on Tony? Will Shakespeare's newest play be a rousing success? Will the traitors be vanquished and Tony regain the Queen's favor? And will we find out who really is the greatest lover in all of England? Of course, All's Well That Ends Well.

With all the bawdiness of the Elizabethan Era, this historical romance from Christina Dodd delivers the goods. Packed with memorable characters, both real and imagined, witty dialogue, and heartwrending pathos, against the backdrop of history and the intrigue at court, you'll at turns laugh and cry as Rosie brings Tony to his knees. I first read this book when it was published in 1994, and loved it then. Revisiting it 30 years later and I'm even more delighted by it. The lost heir trope has always been one of my favorite romance themes, and Ms. Dodd definitely does it justice here.

[Reyes Sánchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

* En Resumen: Una divertida comedia romántica del s. XVII

* Historia: Rosie es una chica huérfana que se ha criado en la compañía de teatro itinerante de su padrastro. Tras huir de Londres, por problemas, acaban en la propiedad de Sir Anthony quien les da cobijo. Entre Rosie y Tony surje una atracción entre, que ninguno de los dos sabe explicar. Sobre todo Tony, puesto que se siente atraído por un ¡hombre!. Luego todo se complica y quizás sin querer todo vuelve a su lugar. Hay secretos bien guardados. Y todo esto mientras que los enemigos acechan.

* Personajes: Rosie/Ronsencrantz es una chica acostumbrada a vivir escondida bajo un disfraz de hombre. Actúa sobre los escenarios con personajes de mujer y en la vida real cómo hombre. Es una mujer fuerte, en un mundo de hombres.
Sir Anthony Rycliffe es un hijo ilegítimo, aunque muy amado. Le martiriza la circunstancia de su nacimiento y por fin ha encontrado un hogar gracias a sus servicios a la corona. Ahora teme que un gran secreto le haga perder todo lo que atesora. Esta acostumbrado a conquistar a todas las mujeres, menos a una que se le resiste.

* A destacar: Es una historia divertida, que nos traslada a la Inglaterra de Shakespeare. Nos cuenta la vida de los actores de la época y lo limitadas que estaban las mujeres en cuanto a ganarse la vida y tomar decisiones. Y todo esto, con aire de "comedia de corrales ". Los protagonistas viven un 'enemis to lover' con diálogos divertidos. Es muy tierno como poco a poco Tony se transforma y pone por delante a su amada, antes que a su persona. Bonita la relación entre "padre e hija" y la relación de Rosie con sus compañeros de "trabajo ".

Su lectura me dejó un buen sabor de boca. La recomiendo.

[Cathy Beckett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a lot of fun reading this historical romance. I love the 17th century England setting.

Tony Rycliffe is Queen Elizabeth's Master of the Guard. He has been exiled to his country estate because he has angered Elizabeth. He has accused one of her favorite courtiers of treason. He is having a house party searching for a wife.

Rosie is an orphan adopted by a traveling troupe of actors. She is the long lost heir to Tony's home, Odyssey Manor. She doesn't remember her past but as she walks the confines of the house and property her memories resurface.

Tony and Rosie fall in love. Exciting things start happening. There are several attempts on Tony and his family.

If you like action, if you like adventure, if you like suspense, if you like romance, this is the book for you.

[Pepa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Miprimer contacto con esta autora y creo que no he elegido su mejor libro.. o eso quiero pensar. la historia no me ha enganchado en ningún momento.. todo resulta demasiado fácil y sencillo, nada plantea problemas.
Lo único que me ha gustado es la nueva ambientación en el final del reinado de Isabel I y la integración en la historia de algunos personajes hitóricos...
Pero lo cierto es que se me ha hecho largo y tedioso....

[Erica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Normally for trashy romance I love Dodd. This one I just couldn't get into and once I put it down I just never cared enough about the characters to pick it back up. Maybe I just fell out of the mood for a romance. I might try it again later.

[W.E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first book I read by this author many, many years ago. In the interest of full disclosure, it's been many years since I read it, but at the time it made enough of an impact on me that I've been a fan since! A whimsical read, set in the land/time of Shakespeare.

[Jalyna Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the first ever romance book I had read. It was through this book that I began to love reading romance. Christina Dodd is an excellent writer! This book I would recommend to anyone who is a lover of romance, it is worth reading at least once.

[Tori · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not one of Christina Dodd's best. Had some good parts but probably would not reccomend as a must read.

[Goblin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually a cute book, it was a nice change from all of the regency stuff that seems to be the status lately.

[Angie]

It was a pretty funny book. Set in Shakespear's time, a hard-won love story.

[Nita Eyster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Smart, funny and Shakespeare.
I liked it but the chemistry seemed off. Not the best Dodd, but still way better than average

[Nomagugu Chelsie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first ever encounter with a Dodd book. Absolutely delightful. I've read t 3 more time since the first. Love it.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

ok, not her best

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fair book. She's found out pretty quickly.

[Linda · Rating 1 out of 5]

One of her earliest published novels and this is TERRIBLE. Could not finish it. No one in this novel is likeable. Plots for most romance novels are just remakes of various themes but done well, they are fun anyway. But in this book, the characters are so overblown and the events so random and nonsensical that they drown out any plot potential.