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Families of Dorset #3
Cecilia
Cecilia Cosgrove’s beauty opens doors and hearts everywhere she goes. With a marquess courting her, the status and wealth her family is counting on her to obtain is finally within her reach—until she meets Jacques Levesque, the French nobleman who immediately pegs her as affected and superficial. While piqued and offended, Cecilia secretly begins to wonder whether he might not have a point.
Poor French émigré Jacques Levesque has been disguised as a French nobleman for almost as long as he can remember, trying his hardest to keep his head down in a society obsessed with rank and high birth. But when Cecilia Cosgrove comes into his life, he finds it hard to maintain his façade—or to want to. While Cecilia struggles between the desire to please others and the wish to pursue her own course, Jacques's interest in her provokes a powerful enemy intent on taking him down.
With love, acceptance, and the future on the line for them both, Cecilia and Jacques must decide whether a life lived behind a mask is any life at all.
200 pages, Paperback
First published November 13, 2019
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September 22, 2023
"You accuse me of affectation?"
"I mean to say that whatever I have come to know of you is in spite of what you have said rather than by virtue of it."
Cecilia (2019, Paradigm Press), third in the Families of Dorset series by Martha Keyes, is a standalone Regency romance. I've really been enjoying the audiobooks in this series.
Rating: 5 stars
Narration: 5 stars
Is it clean/chaste? Yes
Other content issues: mild violence
Christian elements: none that I remember
The hero: Jacques Levesque, a poor French émigré boy, sheds his identity at a young age to "become" a French nobleman - the marquess Lord Lord Moulinet. Unexpectedly, I really liked Jacques a lot, deception notwithstanding.
The heroine: Cecilia Cosgrove’s beauty is a burden in some ways, and she isn't blessed with many friends. "Who would wish to stand near you and be cast into the shade by your lovely face?" Her parents have always expected her to land a husband of high rank. Cecilia has been raised to make the most of her beauty, assuming superficial affectations in the pursuit of pleasing others. What she wants or how she feels is immaterial. She is expected to land the prize and has been trained not to expect love in a marriage.
What I liked:
*Jacques sees through Cecilia's outward persona. This means that he sees her for who she is rather than for what she looks like. I love storylines like this.
*Ms. Keyes does a wonderful job here with taking an unlikable character from a previous book and making her the heroine in this book. Very well done! My daughter was hesitant to listen to this one for that very reason, but I've assured her that it's an enjoyable read.
*The ending was a surprise to me! It took a direction that I did not expect, but I liked it. Hats off to the author for this. I don't expect to be surprised by the sweet romance reads I prefer, but it's a delight when I am.
What I didn’t like:
*Deception is a part of the plot, and that's an element that is not a favorite of mine. When I know that one of the main characters in a story or movie is going to engage in deception, I tend to seek other reading or watching options. But I wanted to continue this series, so I took the leap. I quickly learned that the deception is handled extremely well by the author. I guess this book has impressed me on multiple fronts.
Audiobook: The full audiobook is available on Martha Keyes' YouTube channel. The narrator Stevie Zimmerman is possibly my favorite. For some reason, Goodreads doesn't credit this audiobook to her.
The bottom line: This was a very enjoyable story about two main characters who each live life with some type of mask. I recommend this book to fans of clean and/or Regency romance novels. I've already eagerly listened to the next book in this series and enjoyed that one as well. After enjoying four of her books, I can highly recommend Martha Keyes for clean Regency.
Consider starting at book one: Wyndcross by Martha Keyes.
"I mean to say that whatever I have come to know of you is in spite of what you have said rather than by virtue of it."
Cecilia (2019, Paradigm Press), third in the Families of Dorset series by Martha Keyes, is a standalone Regency romance. I've really been enjoying the audiobooks in this series.
Rating: 5 stars
Narration: 5 stars
Is it clean/chaste? Yes
Other content issues: mild violence
Christian elements: none that I remember
The hero: Jacques Levesque, a poor French émigré boy, sheds his identity at a young age to "become" a French nobleman - the marquess Lord Lord Moulinet. Unexpectedly, I really liked Jacques a lot, deception notwithstanding.
The heroine: Cecilia Cosgrove’s beauty is a burden in some ways, and she isn't blessed with many friends. "Who would wish to stand near you and be cast into the shade by your lovely face?" Her parents have always expected her to land a husband of high rank. Cecilia has been raised to make the most of her beauty, assuming superficial affectations in the pursuit of pleasing others. What she wants or how she feels is immaterial. She is expected to land the prize and has been trained not to expect love in a marriage.
What I liked:
*Jacques sees through Cecilia's outward persona. This means that he sees her for who she is rather than for what she looks like. I love storylines like this.
*Ms. Keyes does a wonderful job here with taking an unlikable character from a previous book and making her the heroine in this book. Very well done! My daughter was hesitant to listen to this one for that very reason, but I've assured her that it's an enjoyable read.
*The ending was a surprise to me! It took a direction that I did not expect, but I liked it. Hats off to the author for this. I don't expect to be surprised by the sweet romance reads I prefer, but it's a delight when I am.
What I didn’t like:
*Deception is a part of the plot, and that's an element that is not a favorite of mine. When I know that one of the main characters in a story or movie is going to engage in deception, I tend to seek other reading or watching options. But I wanted to continue this series, so I took the leap. I quickly learned that the deception is handled extremely well by the author. I guess this book has impressed me on multiple fronts.
Audiobook: The full audiobook is available on Martha Keyes' YouTube channel. The narrator Stevie Zimmerman is possibly my favorite. For some reason, Goodreads doesn't credit this audiobook to her.
The bottom line: This was a very enjoyable story about two main characters who each live life with some type of mask. I recommend this book to fans of clean and/or Regency romance novels. I've already eagerly listened to the next book in this series and enjoyed that one as well. After enjoying four of her books, I can highly recommend Martha Keyes for clean Regency.
Consider starting at book one: Wyndcross by Martha Keyes.
April 10, 2020
This was always going to be that tricky third book of the series, the one where the heroine had been thoroughly unlikable throughout the first two. Is it possible to redeem her? This is one of an author’s greatest challenges, but Keyes is an accomplished storyteller and weaves Cecelia’s redemption effortlessly. She also has a great talent for an unusual premise. Our hero, Jacques Levesque, assumed the role of a French nobleman as a young boy after chance gave him and his father the opportunity. Now grown up, he struggles to live with the deception, as society accepts him without question. This is an intriguing starting point, and although the reader can guess that Jacques will be unmasked at some point, the how and why and what happens then are all to be revealed.
Cecilia is a difficult character to root for. She has been so thoroughly self-centred and unpleasant in the previous books, one almost wants to see her get her comeuppance. But because we are (at last) seeing Cecilia’s selfish behaviour from within her own head, we can begin to understand the pressure she is under to please her parents and make a stunning marriage. She is, after all, the beauty of the family, who draws men to her without even trying, so she’s been able to play games with them, imagining that she has only to smile to have them running back. But the loss of a suitor she believed constant in the previous book has dented her confidence, and when she meets Jacques and he tells her she is affected and superficial, she starts to rethink her attitudes. As for Jacques, he thinks her nothing but a shallow socialite until he overhears her in a completely different mood, and realises there is a completely different girl beneath the artificial exterior. Both of them begin to see behind the masks they’ve chosen to hide behind in society.
But it isn’t entirely Jacques who is the catalyst for Cecilia to change. Here the author takes a huge risk by introducing a real Regency character, Lady Caroline Lamb, who takes Cecilia under her wing and encourages her to break out of her docile little life. I must admit that my heart sank when she first appeared, because usually these real-world characters are introduced as cameos, scoring points for the author: hey, look at all the research I’ve done! Not so here. Lady Caroline is not only an integral part of the plot, she also feels totally believable, outrageous actions and all. Yes, she seems bonkers, but then she really was!
There was only one point where I felt a plot contrivance was stretched a bit thin, in that the one person who is in a position to reveal Jacques’ deception as a boy is coincidentally someone who is closely connected with him as an adult. I won’t say more than that to avoid spoilers, but it did seem a bit implausible. On the other hand, the twist that brought about the happy ending might seem a bit deus ex machina, but the groundwork was laid right through the book. Besides, at that point, I was so invested in our hero and heroine that I’d have accepted a far less likely scenario.
I was nervous about starting this book because I didn’t expect to like Cecilia very much, but I quickly got swept up in it, and deeply invested in and terrified for both hero and heroine: Jacques because he would inevitably be unmasked at some stage, and Cecilia because she would have to discover that the man she loved was an imposter. As always with Martha Keyes, the writing and historical accuracy are impeccable. Highly recommended. Five stars.
Cecilia is a difficult character to root for. She has been so thoroughly self-centred and unpleasant in the previous books, one almost wants to see her get her comeuppance. But because we are (at last) seeing Cecilia’s selfish behaviour from within her own head, we can begin to understand the pressure she is under to please her parents and make a stunning marriage. She is, after all, the beauty of the family, who draws men to her without even trying, so she’s been able to play games with them, imagining that she has only to smile to have them running back. But the loss of a suitor she believed constant in the previous book has dented her confidence, and when she meets Jacques and he tells her she is affected and superficial, she starts to rethink her attitudes. As for Jacques, he thinks her nothing but a shallow socialite until he overhears her in a completely different mood, and realises there is a completely different girl beneath the artificial exterior. Both of them begin to see behind the masks they’ve chosen to hide behind in society.
But it isn’t entirely Jacques who is the catalyst for Cecilia to change. Here the author takes a huge risk by introducing a real Regency character, Lady Caroline Lamb, who takes Cecilia under her wing and encourages her to break out of her docile little life. I must admit that my heart sank when she first appeared, because usually these real-world characters are introduced as cameos, scoring points for the author: hey, look at all the research I’ve done! Not so here. Lady Caroline is not only an integral part of the plot, she also feels totally believable, outrageous actions and all. Yes, she seems bonkers, but then she really was!
There was only one point where I felt a plot contrivance was stretched a bit thin, in that the one person who is in a position to reveal Jacques’ deception as a boy is coincidentally someone who is closely connected with him as an adult. I won’t say more than that to avoid spoilers, but it did seem a bit implausible. On the other hand, the twist that brought about the happy ending might seem a bit deus ex machina, but the groundwork was laid right through the book. Besides, at that point, I was so invested in our hero and heroine that I’d have accepted a far less likely scenario.
I was nervous about starting this book because I didn’t expect to like Cecilia very much, but I quickly got swept up in it, and deeply invested in and terrified for both hero and heroine: Jacques because he would inevitably be unmasked at some stage, and Cecilia because she would have to discover that the man she loved was an imposter. As always with Martha Keyes, the writing and historical accuracy are impeccable. Highly recommended. Five stars.
January 10, 2022
I enjoyed this story line so much. I loved the idea of the boy who is conflicted about his past! The ending was great. I loved the change in Cecilia's character and how she changes to become better, not just for him but for herself. I just missed the feelings and being really drawn into this book like I have been with others. It was just flat for me in a way. I was sad about that.
This is a proper romance with some sweet kisses.
This is a proper romance with some sweet kisses.
January 23, 2024
This is a DNF. I read to 38%.
I am not one for books about deceit in the first place so perhaps I should not have started this book since its very core is deception.
Jaques was a very engaging character and I was content to let this story play out ... until I was not. I really did not like the inclusion of Lady Caroline Lamb and when it came time for Miss Cosgrove to emulate her, I just lost immediate interest. It was not the dressing up, it was the meaningless deception for a lark that bothered me. Of course they would get into a jam and further the plot but I had no interest in going along, as it were. I wouldn’t go along with real people and I just didn’t want to with these pretend people. I have never been a person for mischief for it’s own sake. I don’t even like a practical joke.
I see that the agenda with the book is to undercut or point out all the ways the members of the ton were full of themselves and so it was at every turn with Jacques as the foil—not a noble with a bloodline—whose thoughts were contrasted with the fakery of the ton and its laundry list of social ills. It began to feel a bit overdone as time went by. There is seeing through the fakery and then there is the farthest conclusion that a person can disregard and live totally outside any social norms.
I also see the point of the book to “skool” Miss Cosgrove so that ultimately she is accepting of Jacques and his deception or, I suppose, happy for him to entirely throw off the deception, which alternative I was growing to expect.
I am not one for books about deceit in the first place so perhaps I should not have started this book since its very core is deception.
Jaques was a very engaging character and I was content to let this story play out ... until I was not. I really did not like the inclusion of Lady Caroline Lamb and when it came time for Miss Cosgrove to emulate her, I just lost immediate interest. It was not the dressing up, it was the meaningless deception for a lark that bothered me. Of course they would get into a jam and further the plot but I had no interest in going along, as it were. I wouldn’t go along with real people and I just didn’t want to with these pretend people. I have never been a person for mischief for it’s own sake. I don’t even like a practical joke.
I see that the agenda with the book is to undercut or point out all the ways the members of the ton were full of themselves and so it was at every turn with Jacques as the foil—not a noble with a bloodline—whose thoughts were contrasted with the fakery of the ton and its laundry list of social ills. It began to feel a bit overdone as time went by. There is seeing through the fakery and then there is the farthest conclusion that a person can disregard and live totally outside any social norms.
I also see the point of the book to “skool” Miss Cosgrove so that ultimately she is accepting of Jacques and his deception or, I suppose, happy for him to entirely throw off the deception, which alternative I was growing to expect.
November 6, 2019
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I have really liked the first two books in the Families of Dorset series, but after reading Isabel, I wasn't so sure if I would like Cecilia's story since she was a bit too much of a brat. Author Martha Keyes did a wonderful job though of showing me a deeper side to Cecilia's character and I really enjoyed how her story reveals her true nature as Jacques calls her out on her mask and she slowly realizes the person she really wants to be. This book was very original in its plot for a regency romance. Jacques is pretending to be a French nobleman at the same time he pushes Cecilia to stop pretending to only care about what society deems acceptable and important. The way the two of them fight against what their lives have required of them and fall in love was definitely enjoyable. I particularly enjoyed the ending and was very hooked as I wasn't sure how it was going to end happily. Definitely a book I will recommend, though I suggest reading Isabel first to have a better understanding of the main character.
April 14, 2023
A sweet, clean romance by a reliable author. This got me through a whole day of housecleaning!😉
April 1, 2024
Even better than the other books! I loved seeing Cecilia change and was impressed by the author’s ability to turn her from a selfish unlovable character to someone I empathized for and admired.
August 13, 2024
I liked it. I was a little confused about Lady Caroline. But the notes at the end helped. Her story just didn't flow as well into the story.
May 16, 2020
Perfect short little regency treat! I listened to this via audible and I would highly recommend it in that form. The narrator did a fabulous job sharing Martha Keyes 3rd story in her Dorset family series.
What I loved most is that this isn’t your typical damsel in distress story. So, if you want something different, but still sweet regency? This is for you! I’d recommend listening- it’s 6hrs of pleasant entertainment.
What I loved most is that this isn’t your typical damsel in distress story. So, if you want something different, but still sweet regency? This is for you! I’d recommend listening- it’s 6hrs of pleasant entertainment.
November 19, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. In some ways it took a completely different direction to what I thought it would but this I found to be quite refreshing. I also really enjoyed the historical elements used in the story. Whilst I know poetic license has been taken with certain events, there is enough accuracy in the details to make the situations portrayed to be believable. I don’t want to give away any spoilers so I won’t say anymore.
I loved the chemistry between the two key characters as well as the side characters. I loved Jacques & the friendships he makes throughout the book. If there is anything I could quibble about is that we didn’t get enough of him. On a side note, I really hope Letty gets to have her own story! With Jacques & Cecilia featuring in it regularly of course. Jacques is like the older brother so he has to make good on his reputation haha.
Needless to say, I have truly enjoyed this entire series & I am eagerly looking forward to the next book in the series!
I received a free copy of this book but was under no obligation to review it. All opinions are entirely my own.
This is a wholesome, clean read. If you enjoy stories set in the Regency era, I think you’re going to love this one.
I loved the chemistry between the two key characters as well as the side characters. I loved Jacques & the friendships he makes throughout the book. If there is anything I could quibble about is that we didn’t get enough of him. On a side note, I really hope Letty gets to have her own story! With Jacques & Cecilia featuring in it regularly of course. Jacques is like the older brother so he has to make good on his reputation haha.
Needless to say, I have truly enjoyed this entire series & I am eagerly looking forward to the next book in the series!
I received a free copy of this book but was under no obligation to review it. All opinions are entirely my own.
This is a wholesome, clean read. If you enjoy stories set in the Regency era, I think you’re going to love this one.
November 7, 2019
It was hard to see how this story was going to resolve into a happy ending but it happened. There were interesting elements I don't often see in Regency romance novels and the one that seems the most unlikely is actually based on a real historical figure so there was a twist.
Though I did not like Cecilia initially, I did like who she became as she dropped her mask to be her real self. And I liked Jacques who had the most difficult situation to manage. He wanted to lose his mask too but there would be so many repercussions for doing so. I also loved Letty and Caroline.
I got to the climax of this story and even though it was late I had to keep reading. How would this possibly resolve? I didn't exactly see that ending coming and thought other paths more likely.
I did wonder how Cecilia's parents reacted in the end and how the ton viewed the situation.
Clean, enjoyable read.
Sex: some kisses
Language: no
Violence: some
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
Though I did not like Cecilia initially, I did like who she became as she dropped her mask to be her real self. And I liked Jacques who had the most difficult situation to manage. He wanted to lose his mask too but there would be so many repercussions for doing so. I also loved Letty and Caroline.
I got to the climax of this story and even though it was late I had to keep reading. How would this possibly resolve? I didn't exactly see that ending coming and thought other paths more likely.
I did wonder how Cecilia's parents reacted in the end and how the ton viewed the situation.
Clean, enjoyable read.
Sex: some kisses
Language: no
Violence: some
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
May 16, 2020
Cecilia is the third in a series but can be read/listened to as a stand alone. Cecilia initially comes across as a shallow, spoiled debutante. She cares most about how she is perceived and how high she can climb the social ladder. When Cecilia meets Jacques, she first experiences what it's like to be seen for more than a pretty face. Her character arc has the potential for a big shift and Jacques is that hero that I love to see be a part of it. He is steady and stands up for what he believes in.
December 1, 2023
This is the first book I read in the series and I absolutely loved it. I love a “mean girl” redemption story. It’s so easy to hate on and judge the extremely good looking haughty people. But they have just as many trials as the rest of us. It was so good to see inside her head. But she did need to change. She did need to be humbled. I loved her character arc in this book. And Jac was the perfect man for her bc he didn’t put up with any of her crap. But he also praised her for her true qualities beyond beauty. I like that this book shows that beauty can actually be a trial. It really can. It’s hard for people to see past it and find the other good qualities of that person. And beauty fades over time. So if you base your self esteem on it, then you will have a very sad life. I looooooooooove Jac. What an epic person. And his story and background was so entertaining. I love every scene with the two main characters. And letti was even a fun side character. As well as Charlotte. Ive read a ton of regency novels and I feel like there were a lot of scenes that were unique in this book! The narrator did a great job in the audiobook too!
SPOILERS and book notes:
Dover england 1792
Jacque when he was 9 he and his father were serving a cruel count as his valet when he died on route to England to escape France. (Bc of the French Revolution) So then jac dad impersonated him!!
London 1813
I LOVE a redemption arc of the “mean girl” of the series. And getting to pick her brain of why she acts the way she does. I feel like everyone has their troubles and insecurities and trials. So we can’t judge people. Even the good looking mean people. It’s easy to hate/judge them yeah know? I love when she gets put in her place by him though. She did need to be humbled. And by a secret sexy Frenchman no less. Beauty is a trail (curse) too. Bc “once the beauty is gone, so too will be the admiration”. That is why we need to be beautiful on the inside too. And why it is more important when looking for a spouse. I love that both Jac and Cecilia are kind and uplifting to young letti. Jac is seeing the real Cecilia! Cecilia is verbally abused by her parents. Saying only her beauty is her worth. That is not where her worth comes from! Jax is feeling and that bc he and his dad took the place of the court that they stole someone’s fortune. But they are doing so much good with their title and wealth now. By serving so many people! I like the thought that no matter how you live your life you are condemned by someone, so you might as well live how makes you happy. Bahah I love that Cecilia is dressing like a gentleman and attending a fight. And then at the fight they insult a rake and he challenges them to a fight. But our dear jac comes to their rescue by fighting the take in their stead. He knew it was her the whole time too. How many and romantic. I love that Cecilia sees jac treat the poor immigrants with so much respect and doesn’t care what the ton think of him. It humbles her hopefully. I love that it was she that dragged him into an alcove and grabbed his face and kissed him! Haha jac and his dad are exposed, put into new gate prison and are now being deported back to France! How crazy and sad! And when he is being dragged away with shackles to be deported she yells “I love you Jac and I always shall” ahhhhh then it’s hea. AND he gets to be titled. Though she didn’t care about that at this point. The three years later epilogue was everything. She was pregnant and they had a little daughter and he took them back to France to show his family where he grew up. He wanted them to know his origins. He doesn’t want Cecilia or his daughter to be ashamed though. But Cecilia gave the most beautiful answer that no they are NOT. Beautiful ending.
SPOILERS and book notes:
Dover england 1792
Jacque when he was 9 he and his father were serving a cruel count as his valet when he died on route to England to escape France. (Bc of the French Revolution) So then jac dad impersonated him!!
London 1813
I LOVE a redemption arc of the “mean girl” of the series. And getting to pick her brain of why she acts the way she does. I feel like everyone has their troubles and insecurities and trials. So we can’t judge people. Even the good looking mean people. It’s easy to hate/judge them yeah know? I love when she gets put in her place by him though. She did need to be humbled. And by a secret sexy Frenchman no less. Beauty is a trail (curse) too. Bc “once the beauty is gone, so too will be the admiration”. That is why we need to be beautiful on the inside too. And why it is more important when looking for a spouse. I love that both Jac and Cecilia are kind and uplifting to young letti. Jac is seeing the real Cecilia! Cecilia is verbally abused by her parents. Saying only her beauty is her worth. That is not where her worth comes from! Jax is feeling and that bc he and his dad took the place of the court that they stole someone’s fortune. But they are doing so much good with their title and wealth now. By serving so many people! I like the thought that no matter how you live your life you are condemned by someone, so you might as well live how makes you happy. Bahah I love that Cecilia is dressing like a gentleman and attending a fight. And then at the fight they insult a rake and he challenges them to a fight. But our dear jac comes to their rescue by fighting the take in their stead. He knew it was her the whole time too. How many and romantic. I love that Cecilia sees jac treat the poor immigrants with so much respect and doesn’t care what the ton think of him. It humbles her hopefully. I love that it was she that dragged him into an alcove and grabbed his face and kissed him! Haha jac and his dad are exposed, put into new gate prison and are now being deported back to France! How crazy and sad! And when he is being dragged away with shackles to be deported she yells “I love you Jac and I always shall” ahhhhh then it’s hea. AND he gets to be titled. Though she didn’t care about that at this point. The three years later epilogue was everything. She was pregnant and they had a little daughter and he took them back to France to show his family where he grew up. He wanted them to know his origins. He doesn’t want Cecilia or his daughter to be ashamed though. But Cecilia gave the most beautiful answer that no they are NOT. Beautiful ending.
May 9, 2024
Cecilia Cosgrove has always been highly sought after by the men in society and her family is hoping that she will receive a marriage offer that will benefit them by either money or status. Jacques Levesque is a poor French émigré that has been disguised as a Nobleman for years. When Jacques meets Cecilia, he thinks that she is superficial and cares too much about what society thinks. Cecilia is surprised by Jacques reaction to her but is also intrigued by the man who put her in her place. Each of them is living beneath a façade and they may have more in common than either one thinks. As they get to know each other's true self, the masks come off. But will they be able to take a chance on love when society has certain social pressures pushing against them?
This is the third book in the Families of Dorset series and I listened to it on audiobook. This was a hard one for me because while I enjoyed the book, I wanted more out of it. This could be because it was shorter than the first 2 books in the series. Also, Cecilia was such an awful character in the previous installment that I almost skipped this one. Luckily some time had passed and she had learned some things and grown a little for this book. I still didn't love her as a character though. I also thought this book lacked direction at times. There were many little stories going on but it never felt like one cohesive story to me. And the romance just wasn't as good in this one which is probably in part due to the clunkiness of the story. If this book were a little longer, I think the different stories could have been tied together nicely and the romance could have developed a bit more. The parts were there but they just didn't connect for me. I still really enjoyed Martha's writing and will continue to read the next in the series. Overall, it was still enjoyable but needed to be longer so that stories could be tied together better.
This is the third book in the Families of Dorset series and I listened to it on audiobook. This was a hard one for me because while I enjoyed the book, I wanted more out of it. This could be because it was shorter than the first 2 books in the series. Also, Cecilia was such an awful character in the previous installment that I almost skipped this one. Luckily some time had passed and she had learned some things and grown a little for this book. I still didn't love her as a character though. I also thought this book lacked direction at times. There were many little stories going on but it never felt like one cohesive story to me. And the romance just wasn't as good in this one which is probably in part due to the clunkiness of the story. If this book were a little longer, I think the different stories could have been tied together nicely and the romance could have developed a bit more. The parts were there but they just didn't connect for me. I still really enjoyed Martha's writing and will continue to read the next in the series. Overall, it was still enjoyable but needed to be longer so that stories could be tied together better.
November 4, 2024
I enjoyed the story right up to the end. It was the ending that really brought me down from 5 stars to 3. The whole story is about being yourself and feeling safe enough around someone to be able to take your mask off and allow that person to see you for who you truly are. And as the number of pages I had left dwindled and a solution to the problem hadn't yet been reached, I wondered what kind of ending the book would have that could be done in so few pages. I cooked up some ideas, as we all do, but was not to be like anything I thought. Seriously though, I loved the rest of the book. I thought the characters grew and developed through the story and appreciated the changes. The romance was sweet.
September 11, 2024
Ugh. Disliked, then detested Cecelia in the previous book and there was nothing that could be written which could ‘redeem’ her, in spite of her narcissistic, gauche parents. Hated them for the way Isabelle was treated in the previous book.
Didn’t blame Jacques and his Dad for taking the place of the nasty old French Viscount either. Holier than thou readers who object to “deception” clearly live privileged lives and cannot relate.
Adding Lady Caroline Lamb was gratuitous and did NOT add to the story but only served to make me want to slap some sense into Cecelia more.
And Letty was the absolute worst character in this book, being even more stupid and annoying than Cecelia was in the earlier book.
I may read the next book simply hoping that Tobias, as a male, cannot possibly be as vacuous and idiotic as Cecelia was or as insecure and clueless as Isabella was.
Sooooo disappointed.
Didn’t blame Jacques and his Dad for taking the place of the nasty old French Viscount either. Holier than thou readers who object to “deception” clearly live privileged lives and cannot relate.
Adding Lady Caroline Lamb was gratuitous and did NOT add to the story but only served to make me want to slap some sense into Cecelia more.
And Letty was the absolute worst character in this book, being even more stupid and annoying than Cecelia was in the earlier book.
I may read the next book simply hoping that Tobias, as a male, cannot possibly be as vacuous and idiotic as Cecelia was or as insecure and clueless as Isabella was.
Sooooo disappointed.
May 21, 2020
4 1/2 stars! Review to follow. I just finished and it is 2 AM and I am too tired to write a worthy review. I will say that I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I’m delighted that I found Martha Keyes 😘 and can share her books with my daughters as well! More to follow...
I finished Cecelia last night and I'm still thinking about Cecelia and Jacques today. What an ambitious storyline this one was. After reading Isabel, it was hard for me to imagine her being the heroine of any story; she was so full of her own beauty and prowess and the impact that she thereby had on others. My one thought about her prior to this story was that her sister Isabel (from the previous story) seemed to have hope for her...and it was obvious that her parents (particularly her father) were to blame for much of the way in which Cecelia conducted herself.
Jacques (in spite of his secrets) was the perfect gentleman and hero. He was certainly the perfect match for Cecelia. Some of the antics of Cecelia and her "unusual friend Caro" were quite outrageous but also added a lot of fun and intrigue to the storyline...and gave Jacques an opportunity to show his courage and heart, as well as perhaps leading to his downfall.
I definitely highly recommend this read and, since the audiobook just became available today (and the narrator sounds great), I'm planning to start listening tonight!
I finished Cecelia last night and I'm still thinking about Cecelia and Jacques today. What an ambitious storyline this one was. After reading Isabel, it was hard for me to imagine her being the heroine of any story; she was so full of her own beauty and prowess and the impact that she thereby had on others. My one thought about her prior to this story was that her sister Isabel (from the previous story) seemed to have hope for her...and it was obvious that her parents (particularly her father) were to blame for much of the way in which Cecelia conducted herself.
Jacques (in spite of his secrets) was the perfect gentleman and hero. He was certainly the perfect match for Cecelia. Some of the antics of Cecelia and her "unusual friend Caro" were quite outrageous but also added a lot of fun and intrigue to the storyline...and gave Jacques an opportunity to show his courage and heart, as well as perhaps leading to his downfall.
I definitely highly recommend this read and, since the audiobook just became available today (and the narrator sounds great), I'm planning to start listening tonight!
March 16, 2023
Cecilia was the beautiful daughter of the social climbing family in the fringes of the ton in London. Trying to improve their social status by having their daughter marry higher up the social stratum than their own lowly status. Cecelia meets a French nobleman who immigranted to England when there was political strife at home. She realizes quickly that she has never really been attracted to any of the English nobelmen that she has flirted with or that had hoped to wed. Jacques quickly calls her a impostor and she realizes he is right. Jacques has secrets of his own and they are almost torn apart by jealousy and secrets.
August 4, 2024
OH MY GOOOOOSH I loved this book! Okay, so maybe I was anxiously waiting for Cecilia to redeem herself a bit, but this went beyond exceeded expectations. So much character growth for both of these MCs, and I loved every minute of it. We all wear masks to some extent, and this was such a beautiful story about being yourself and loving others for who they are. I really felt for Jacques and his predicament, and I loved watching him work through his struggles. I loved that his love for Cecilia blossomed as he began to see past her mask. Martha always delivers great, unique premises. Excellent tension and just so good
July 8, 2021
Great book
I loved Isabel, the book before this one, and did not like Cecilia in it. So I didn’t think I would like this book but the author did a great job explaining why she acted as she did and I thought the idea that we wear masks to hide who we really are was well used in this book. The addition of Lady Caroline was wonderful and her
background story as a real historical person was fascinating. Finally, I really enjoyed Jacques. He was very swoon worthy! Well written and a clean romance.
I loved Isabel, the book before this one, and did not like Cecilia in it. So I didn’t think I would like this book but the author did a great job explaining why she acted as she did and I thought the idea that we wear masks to hide who we really are was well used in this book. The addition of Lady Caroline was wonderful and her
background story as a real historical person was fascinating. Finally, I really enjoyed Jacques. He was very swoon worthy! Well written and a clean romance.
June 2, 2022
I love Martha Keyes books and I really wanted to like this one, but I just couldn't. The love story felt forced. Maybe it was because I didn't care for the main heroine in this book. I didn't care for her in the previous book either.
(Audible review since I listened to it)
I had issue with the narrator. I didn't care for her reading. But what bothered me the most was how much the recording echoed. It sounded like it was recorded on a phone in a very big and empty room. It was very distracting.
I hope the next story in the series is more exciting than this one was.
(Audible review since I listened to it)
I had issue with the narrator. I didn't care for her reading. But what bothered me the most was how much the recording echoed. It sounded like it was recorded on a phone in a very big and empty room. It was very distracting.
I hope the next story in the series is more exciting than this one was.
June 27, 2023
Cecilia Cosgrove is the belle of the ton, but using her beauty and other manipulations has led her to lose a good match, and now she may be forced to marry a confirmed rake. However, when she meets her cousin's cousin, French émigré Jacques Levesque, he turns her ideas upside down and sees past her mask. But things are not always as they seem, and sometimes it is too late when you finally realize what is most important.
A sweet book, and I really loved seeing how Cecilia change, especially after seeing her behavior in the previous book during her sister's story.
A sweet book, and I really loved seeing how Cecilia change, especially after seeing her behavior in the previous book during her sister's story.
September 23, 2023
After meeting Cecilia in the previous book of the series, I was admittedly nervous. Cecilia, at surface, appears to have VERY strong opinions on rank, suitability, etc. When she meets Jacques, he immediately recognizes her invisible mask - knowing he wears one of his own. Jacques challenges Cecilia’s views of the world and herself and she finds herself wrestling with frustration and admiration. Their story is beautiful, yet not easy - there are great challenges to overcome. This was a delightful read with some very swoon worthy moments. Highly recommend for regency readers! ❤️
May 5, 2020
Cecilia had a lot of growing up to do from the last book in this series. It was good to see her growth in this book. Jacques was essential for her in that regard. I struggled to find a few parts of this story believable (women disguised as men, only recognized by one), and others were a bit of a reach. The marquess was so easy to hate, it was nice watching the moments that didn't quite work out the way he wanted.
May 15, 2020
Cecilia has always done what was expected of her by her parents but she grows tired of it and wants to break free because she sees the emptiness in it all. She has always been known for her beauty and has easily flirted her way into men’s hearts until she meets someone that is immune to her powers of seduction. I truly enjoyed watching the transformation of Cecilia. This was a proper clean romance that you will enjoy.
May 6, 2021
Taming of the Shrew
Cecilia was as unlikable as her parents in the preceding book. But her sisters marriage and the emptiness of flattery has brought her closer to home to herself. At that point she meets a man who can see through her superficial skin to the warm caring person is underneath. The change she under goes is not a fundamental change but a shaking off of artifice and finally showing her true self.
Cecilia was as unlikable as her parents in the preceding book. But her sisters marriage and the emptiness of flattery has brought her closer to home to herself. At that point she meets a man who can see through her superficial skin to the warm caring person is underneath. The change she under goes is not a fundamental change but a shaking off of artifice and finally showing her true self.
February 28, 2023
5 stars!
I was pleasantly surprised to find the story of Cecelia drawn so nicely! I was very hesitant to read about her character as she definitely rankled in the previous books of the series. However, the story of her redemption, the change of character (though hoped upon) was very grasping. Plus the love, plus the suspense. Well done!
Now, will we have a story about Letty? Maybe?
I was pleasantly surprised to find the story of Cecelia drawn so nicely! I was very hesitant to read about her character as she definitely rankled in the previous books of the series. However, the story of her redemption, the change of character (though hoped upon) was very grasping. Plus the love, plus the suspense. Well done!
Now, will we have a story about Letty? Maybe?
January 31, 2024
The premise of the book lured me in, but overall it was a missed opportunity and the book unfortunately felt very flat. I wouldn't call this a romance, but instead a historical fiction.
This could have been a heartwarming story of growth and acceptance, with a love interest helping Miss Cecilia Cosgrove finally realising her true worth and remove her social mask that concealed her feelings of inadequacy. Instead, the focus was mostly on her love interest, the imposter Jacques Levesque, who had no real character growth. Things happened to the characters- they didn't take charge or carry the plot along. The main romance almost felt forced, with no slow blossoming of tender feelings and instead an immediate attachment that seemed unsubstantiated.
The story was also marred and heavily carried along by the unnecessary inclusion of the real Caroline Lamb and her "circling the drain" behaviour regarding Lord Byron. It felt like the author didn't know how to carry out the plot, and so crammed real people into the story to force it along.
For a true revelation of character and a gripping romance, I would instead recommend the spicy 'A Daring Pursuit' by Kate Bateman (plus the prequel 'A Reckless Match').
This could have been a heartwarming story of growth and acceptance, with a love interest helping Miss Cecilia Cosgrove finally realising her true worth and remove her social mask that concealed her feelings of inadequacy. Instead, the focus was mostly on her love interest, the imposter Jacques Levesque, who had no real character growth. Things happened to the characters- they didn't take charge or carry the plot along. The main romance almost felt forced, with no slow blossoming of tender feelings and instead an immediate attachment that seemed unsubstantiated.
The story was also marred and heavily carried along by the unnecessary inclusion of the real Caroline Lamb and her "circling the drain" behaviour regarding Lord Byron. It felt like the author didn't know how to carry out the plot, and so crammed real people into the story to force it along.
For a true revelation of character and a gripping romance, I would instead recommend the spicy 'A Daring Pursuit' by Kate Bateman (plus the prequel 'A Reckless Match').
April 5, 2024
What a fun, sweet book by Martha Keyes. I'd not read the first two in the series but this one stood alone just fine, though I'm sure I would have enjoyed knowing about the other characters from the previous books. I was a little worried when I realized that this was one of those hidden identity type books. Those always make me nervous. This one was different though. The book engaged me from the first chapter. It was narrated perfectly as well. Overall a very sweet, clean Regency romance.
August 19, 2024
Don’t you just love it when you find an author that you can trust and who writes exactly what you love to read? Martha Keyes is this author for me.
A delightful book about a girl who finally meets her match and forces her to look within herself and grow up. I wasn’t even bugged by the slightly outrageous denouement - I went right along with it.
Highly recommend. If you’re interested in clean, wholesome books you don’t have to hide from your kids or spouse, this author delivers.
A delightful book about a girl who finally meets her match and forces her to look within herself and grow up. I wasn’t even bugged by the slightly outrageous denouement - I went right along with it.
Highly recommend. If you’re interested in clean, wholesome books you don’t have to hide from your kids or spouse, this author delivers.
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