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Lady of Quality
Although her marriage to the Marquis of Emberay had been one of convenience, Eliza considered it a happy match and believed her husband to be equally content - until she discovered that he had become infatuated with opera singer Marisa Tarrazi. Shocked and helpless, there seemed nothing Eliza could do, until some well-meant advice spurred her into action. Amongst the glitter and frivolity of Regency London, she sets out to reclaim her wayward husband.
320 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1987
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Rachelle Edwards
46 books6 followersBrenda Castle
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Georgina Ferrand and Rachelle Edwards
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Georgina Ferrand and Rachelle Edwards
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
October 14, 2024
SPOILERS
Warning : Rage read-Hero you can really hate.
A group of aristocratic ladies were having their afternoon tea in Regency London, gossiping.
Their subject this day was the dashing and handsome, admired and desired by many women,
34 year old Marguis, Max.
When Max came to his title he was desperate for a fortune after his brother died leaving all those debts. He'd married Eliza not for love, but for her fortune.
They were getting along amicably and had two children, a 4 year old boy and a 2 year old girl.
The ladies at the tea gathering were discussing Max's infatuation with an Italian opera singer,
the very beautiful, Marisa Tarrazi.
Marisa hadn't been in London long, having come from Italy, and she became a sensation in London.
The ladies expressed concern for poor Eliza as this affair of her husband's seemed to be serious.
Eliza was a 22 year old lady of quality. She married Max at 17 and their relationship was amicable.
They had separate bedrooms, separate friends and different pursuits.
When they would meet at the house or together attend a function, they would be polite and felicitous to each other, and now and again he would visit her room.
But he did not visit her room for some time now.
Eliza caught her husband in various lies lately, and the other night he did not return back home at all.
Remarks made to her by various women unease her and she happened to see her husband with the opera singer, Marisa, together in his carriage.
Max was at Marisa's town house.
"Marisa, my love. I have waited for this moment since l left you last night. It is a lifetime. I want to be with you morning, afternoon and evening. "
"Poor Eliza!"
"Oh, you need not pity my wife Marisa."
"How can l not when l have the love of her husband. "
"Eliza is perfectly understanding. I am free to do whatever l please. She has her life and l have mine."
"Mayhap she has a lover too."
"Eliza with a lover! How incongruous. "
"Why, your wife whom l have seen, is very pretty. "
"I have never considered her so. Next to you, my dearest, all other women fade into obscurity. "
"You must have loved her when you asked her to marry you. "
"No, Eliza was a heiress and l needed a fortune. I spent our honeymoon inspecting the plantations in Jamaica she inherited. "
Max and Eliza attended a soiree. Eliza felt that curious looks were cast in her direction and conversation abruptly ceased when she approached.
For entertainment they had no other than Signora Marisa.
Eliza observed the dynamics between Max and Marisa.
Their intimacy spoke volumes.
Eliza felt heartsick, you see, she was in love with her husband even though she knew he did not return the feeling.
Eliza decided to fight back to win his love.
She put away her dowdy clothes, bought beautiful, fashionable gowns, adopted a new hairdo, had a complete makeover.
But even though she looked ravishing, when Max accompanied her to the ball that night, Eliza detected that he was still anxious to be gone from the gathering.
It did her spirits no good.
A young man, Lieutenant Peterson, admired Eliza and wanted to help her.
He said an appearance of intimacy was all that is required to bring her husband to his senses.
Eliza found out from a servant that Marisa Tarrazi was not really Italian. The servant was born in the same building and knew her for years. Not only Marisa was not Italian but she was from the slums of the East End of London.
Her real name was Mary Tate.
Max was again at Marisa's town house.
"I am so madly in love with you Marisa, l cannot bear to think you in the company of any other man."
"Just imagine how l feel when you return to your wife. "
"Eliza and I are on cordial terms, but no more than that. You must allow me to buy you an establishment of your own. "
"I cannot accept your offer caro. I don't wish to be hidden away from the world, seeing you only periodically. "
"You know very well l cannot marry you, Marisa. "
"You are the only man l shall ever love. How l long for the right to stand at your side for all the world to see, to bear your children. "
"My dearest Marisa, l cannot bear to hear you voice your unhappiness. "
"Next to your wife, l am nothing. "
"You are everything to me Marisa. "
"If only we could declare that to the world, Caro."
"You must give me time to ponder on this matter. "
Later, Marisa triumphantly told her maid to start to practice calling her a lady.
Eliza was driving into Hyde Park with Lieutenant Peterson as part of the plan to make her husband jealous. Her husband's carriage with Marisa at his side was driving towards them.
Max looked vexed seeing Eliza with the Lieutenant.
Marisa told Max :
"They appear to be on intimate terms caro. I thought you said your wife did not have a lover. "
"She hasn't, the notion is utterly ludicrous. "
"No doubt she would be as relieved as you to be free. Have you given any further thought to our future?"
"A great deal. I must of course discuss the matter with my wife. "
"If you catch her in a compromising situation with her lover, no blame will attach to you. "
"There will be none of that Marisa. "
Max wanted to have a talk with Eliza.
The reader knows he was going to ask her for a divorce but the conversation got diverted to other subjects and when Eliza reminded him, he said it was of no real importance.
Eliza, the Lieutenant and Max were sharing a box at the Opera.
After the first act, Max went to "congratulate " Signora Marisa.
Eliza told the Lieutenant that that was a hopeless situation. Max was as besotted as ever.
Max went out of town to visit his Estate.
Eliza begun to think that the situation was worse than she feared.
It appeared that Max might wish to marry Marisa.
If what she suspected was true she would lose everything.
She would be cast out, banished in the country, separated from her children and replaced by another woman.
She felt as if her home and family were under attack.
On his return back to London, Max visited his club where he heard the rumours about Marisa not been Italian but from the slums of London.
The next few days Eliza noticed that Max was making cryptic remarks.
She couldn't rid herself of the notion he was preparing her gently for the crushing blow to follow, but she would not cling to her husband if he loved another.
Marisa visited Eliza. She told her that Max loved her and wished to marry her.
As Marisa was leaving the house, Max's carriage was pulling into the courtyard.
Angry Max asked Marisa what she was doing there.
She said that, as he was hesitant to broach the subject of divorce to his wife, she had no option but to do it herself. It was for their future.
"We have no future. Are you so stupid you cannot see that? What you done this day to my wife is cruel. Did you really think l would abandon Eliza for you? Allow you to bring up my children?
Be mistress of my house? Mrs Tare, you have taken leave of your senses. "
She asked him to think of their love and let her explain and forgive her.
"Yes, you poor, wretched creature, l can forgive you even though l cannot hope to forgive myself. "
Max and Eliza never got a chance to talk about what happened, as their son took ill.
Two days later, Eliza took ill.
As she was recovering, Max wanted to have a talk with her.
Eliza was sure that he would ask her for a divorce.
Instead he begged her pardon for causing her so much pain. He was certainly infatuated with Marisa but he was never in love with her.
He loved only Eliza, he said. He had been suffering some kind of lunacy and he vowed it would never happen again.
He had been seeking something for a long time without knowing what he really sought was there all the time. He'd realised he was in love with his wife.
I often give Heroes the benefit of the doubt but l could not fall for this Hero's declaration of love, and l cannot root for him.
So we have a Hero who was married to the heroine for 5 years, had a family with her, but never loved her.
He did like her but l can't say he respected her as early in the book he was accompanying the ow around town for all to see and he said he did not care if his wife found out.
He lied to his wife numerous times, spent more time with the OW than his wife and demeaned her to the ow. He even said that he did not think his wife was pretty (she was) ,all the while praising the ow's beauty.
He was rich only because of his wife's fortune, and he was using that fortune to buy the ow jewellery.
He even wanted to buy her a house and support her for life.
The ow pressured him to divorce his wife and marry her, and he had actually considered it.
He was physically and emotionally cheating on his wife and l did not detect much guilt in him.
(Though there was some).
So how can we go from this sorry situation to suddenly "l love only you Eliza ".
What brought that on?
Was it the fact that his wife had a makeover allowing her beauty to shine?
Was it the attention a dashing Lieutenant was paying his wife forcing the Hero to acknowledge her worth and making him jealous? (Because he did get jealous).
Was it the fact that the ow was pressuring him to divorce his wife and that caused him to consider the dire consequences that such a divorce would cost his family?
Was it the fact that Marisa was not the person he thought she was ,but she was a fraudster and a deceiver? He told her towards the end "My God, why did I not see you for the scheming baggage you are?"
Or was it because Marisa had no aristocratic Italian blood, as he thought she had but was from the slums of London. Was he such a snob that he would cast out the ow even though he claimed throughout the book that he loved her?
Or was it what he told the heroine at the end, that it was an infatuation that had died down, he came to his senses and found himself in love with his wife?
The author never enlightened the reader.
This is a perfect book for angst freaks.
Warning : Rage read-Hero you can really hate.
A group of aristocratic ladies were having their afternoon tea in Regency London, gossiping.
Their subject this day was the dashing and handsome, admired and desired by many women,
34 year old Marguis, Max.
When Max came to his title he was desperate for a fortune after his brother died leaving all those debts. He'd married Eliza not for love, but for her fortune.
They were getting along amicably and had two children, a 4 year old boy and a 2 year old girl.
The ladies at the tea gathering were discussing Max's infatuation with an Italian opera singer,
the very beautiful, Marisa Tarrazi.
Marisa hadn't been in London long, having come from Italy, and she became a sensation in London.
The ladies expressed concern for poor Eliza as this affair of her husband's seemed to be serious.
Eliza was a 22 year old lady of quality. She married Max at 17 and their relationship was amicable.
They had separate bedrooms, separate friends and different pursuits.
When they would meet at the house or together attend a function, they would be polite and felicitous to each other, and now and again he would visit her room.
But he did not visit her room for some time now.
Eliza caught her husband in various lies lately, and the other night he did not return back home at all.
Remarks made to her by various women unease her and she happened to see her husband with the opera singer, Marisa, together in his carriage.
Max was at Marisa's town house.
"Marisa, my love. I have waited for this moment since l left you last night. It is a lifetime. I want to be with you morning, afternoon and evening. "
"Poor Eliza!"
"Oh, you need not pity my wife Marisa."
"How can l not when l have the love of her husband. "
"Eliza is perfectly understanding. I am free to do whatever l please. She has her life and l have mine."
"Mayhap she has a lover too."
"Eliza with a lover! How incongruous. "
"Why, your wife whom l have seen, is very pretty. "
"I have never considered her so. Next to you, my dearest, all other women fade into obscurity. "
"You must have loved her when you asked her to marry you. "
"No, Eliza was a heiress and l needed a fortune. I spent our honeymoon inspecting the plantations in Jamaica she inherited. "
Max and Eliza attended a soiree. Eliza felt that curious looks were cast in her direction and conversation abruptly ceased when she approached.
For entertainment they had no other than Signora Marisa.
Eliza observed the dynamics between Max and Marisa.
Their intimacy spoke volumes.
Eliza felt heartsick, you see, she was in love with her husband even though she knew he did not return the feeling.
Eliza decided to fight back to win his love.
She put away her dowdy clothes, bought beautiful, fashionable gowns, adopted a new hairdo, had a complete makeover.
But even though she looked ravishing, when Max accompanied her to the ball that night, Eliza detected that he was still anxious to be gone from the gathering.
It did her spirits no good.
A young man, Lieutenant Peterson, admired Eliza and wanted to help her.
He said an appearance of intimacy was all that is required to bring her husband to his senses.
Eliza found out from a servant that Marisa Tarrazi was not really Italian. The servant was born in the same building and knew her for years. Not only Marisa was not Italian but she was from the slums of the East End of London.
Her real name was Mary Tate.
Max was again at Marisa's town house.
"I am so madly in love with you Marisa, l cannot bear to think you in the company of any other man."
"Just imagine how l feel when you return to your wife. "
"Eliza and I are on cordial terms, but no more than that. You must allow me to buy you an establishment of your own. "
"I cannot accept your offer caro. I don't wish to be hidden away from the world, seeing you only periodically. "
"You know very well l cannot marry you, Marisa. "
"You are the only man l shall ever love. How l long for the right to stand at your side for all the world to see, to bear your children. "
"My dearest Marisa, l cannot bear to hear you voice your unhappiness. "
"Next to your wife, l am nothing. "
"You are everything to me Marisa. "
"If only we could declare that to the world, Caro."
"You must give me time to ponder on this matter. "
Later, Marisa triumphantly told her maid to start to practice calling her a lady.
Eliza was driving into Hyde Park with Lieutenant Peterson as part of the plan to make her husband jealous. Her husband's carriage with Marisa at his side was driving towards them.
Max looked vexed seeing Eliza with the Lieutenant.
Marisa told Max :
"They appear to be on intimate terms caro. I thought you said your wife did not have a lover. "
"She hasn't, the notion is utterly ludicrous. "
"No doubt she would be as relieved as you to be free. Have you given any further thought to our future?"
"A great deal. I must of course discuss the matter with my wife. "
"If you catch her in a compromising situation with her lover, no blame will attach to you. "
"There will be none of that Marisa. "
Max wanted to have a talk with Eliza.
The reader knows he was going to ask her for a divorce but the conversation got diverted to other subjects and when Eliza reminded him, he said it was of no real importance.
Eliza, the Lieutenant and Max were sharing a box at the Opera.
After the first act, Max went to "congratulate " Signora Marisa.
Eliza told the Lieutenant that that was a hopeless situation. Max was as besotted as ever.
Max went out of town to visit his Estate.
Eliza begun to think that the situation was worse than she feared.
It appeared that Max might wish to marry Marisa.
If what she suspected was true she would lose everything.
She would be cast out, banished in the country, separated from her children and replaced by another woman.
She felt as if her home and family were under attack.
On his return back to London, Max visited his club where he heard the rumours about Marisa not been Italian but from the slums of London.
The next few days Eliza noticed that Max was making cryptic remarks.
She couldn't rid herself of the notion he was preparing her gently for the crushing blow to follow, but she would not cling to her husband if he loved another.
Marisa visited Eliza. She told her that Max loved her and wished to marry her.
As Marisa was leaving the house, Max's carriage was pulling into the courtyard.
Angry Max asked Marisa what she was doing there.
She said that, as he was hesitant to broach the subject of divorce to his wife, she had no option but to do it herself. It was for their future.
"We have no future. Are you so stupid you cannot see that? What you done this day to my wife is cruel. Did you really think l would abandon Eliza for you? Allow you to bring up my children?
Be mistress of my house? Mrs Tare, you have taken leave of your senses. "
She asked him to think of their love and let her explain and forgive her.
"Yes, you poor, wretched creature, l can forgive you even though l cannot hope to forgive myself. "
Max and Eliza never got a chance to talk about what happened, as their son took ill.
Two days later, Eliza took ill.
As she was recovering, Max wanted to have a talk with her.
Eliza was sure that he would ask her for a divorce.
Instead he begged her pardon for causing her so much pain. He was certainly infatuated with Marisa but he was never in love with her.
He loved only Eliza, he said. He had been suffering some kind of lunacy and he vowed it would never happen again.
He had been seeking something for a long time without knowing what he really sought was there all the time. He'd realised he was in love with his wife.
I often give Heroes the benefit of the doubt but l could not fall for this Hero's declaration of love, and l cannot root for him.
So we have a Hero who was married to the heroine for 5 years, had a family with her, but never loved her.
He did like her but l can't say he respected her as early in the book he was accompanying the ow around town for all to see and he said he did not care if his wife found out.
He lied to his wife numerous times, spent more time with the OW than his wife and demeaned her to the ow. He even said that he did not think his wife was pretty (she was) ,all the while praising the ow's beauty.
He was rich only because of his wife's fortune, and he was using that fortune to buy the ow jewellery.
He even wanted to buy her a house and support her for life.
The ow pressured him to divorce his wife and marry her, and he had actually considered it.
He was physically and emotionally cheating on his wife and l did not detect much guilt in him.
(Though there was some).
So how can we go from this sorry situation to suddenly "l love only you Eliza ".
What brought that on?
Was it the fact that his wife had a makeover allowing her beauty to shine?
Was it the attention a dashing Lieutenant was paying his wife forcing the Hero to acknowledge her worth and making him jealous? (Because he did get jealous).
Was it the fact that the ow was pressuring him to divorce his wife and that caused him to consider the dire consequences that such a divorce would cost his family?
Was it the fact that Marisa was not the person he thought she was ,but she was a fraudster and a deceiver? He told her towards the end "My God, why did I not see you for the scheming baggage you are?"
Or was it because Marisa had no aristocratic Italian blood, as he thought she had but was from the slums of London. Was he such a snob that he would cast out the ow even though he claimed throughout the book that he loved her?
Or was it what he told the heroine at the end, that it was an infatuation that had died down, he came to his senses and found himself in love with his wife?
The author never enlightened the reader.
This is a perfect book for angst freaks.
March 7, 2020
I love a marriage in trouble book and cheating adds an interesting and challenging layer to it. This book has been on my tbr for a long time and I had to buy a paper book as digital version is unavailable.
First things first. You need a different palate, a different perspective to enjoy this very well written book. HRs, we normally read are embellished or amended to suit modern day sensibilities whereas this story lets the early 19th century aristocratic behaviors and mores speak out unfiltered.
The book opens on the gathering of three ladies of the ton as they wait for their fourth friend, Eliza (the h) to arrive. One of the more catty ones mentions the h’s husband, Lord Max Emberay paying too much attention to the opera singer, Marisa Tarazzi and staying back in London for her, instead of joining the general exodus to Newmarket with Prinny as he’s wont to do. A Lady Bramwell cuts her off to not spread baseless rumors and forbids her from enlightening the h about it. (No one needed to tell the h about her husband’s new fancy though as she herself catches sight of him escorting her about town, and also his lies.) What we gather from this meeting is that all these ladies have the typical ton marriages - comfortable but detached where they know that their husbands have affairs/'lightskirts' on the side and these ladies are okay with it. As is the h, we get to know.
So, a beautifully written book with all anachronisms shaken off determinedly. I recommend reading it but with a clear, unbiased approach.
First things first. You need a different palate, a different perspective to enjoy this very well written book. HRs, we normally read are embellished or amended to suit modern day sensibilities whereas this story lets the early 19th century aristocratic behaviors and mores speak out unfiltered.
The book opens on the gathering of three ladies of the ton as they wait for their fourth friend, Eliza (the h) to arrive. One of the more catty ones mentions the h’s husband, Lord Max Emberay paying too much attention to the opera singer, Marisa Tarazzi and staying back in London for her, instead of joining the general exodus to Newmarket with Prinny as he’s wont to do. A Lady Bramwell cuts her off to not spread baseless rumors and forbids her from enlightening the h about it. (No one needed to tell the h about her husband’s new fancy though as she herself catches sight of him escorting her about town, and also his lies.) What we gather from this meeting is that all these ladies have the typical ton marriages - comfortable but detached where they know that their husbands have affairs/'lightskirts' on the side and these ladies are okay with it. As is the h, we get to know.
So, a beautifully written book with all anachronisms shaken off determinedly. I recommend reading it but with a clear, unbiased approach.
June 29, 2010
I didn't think I was going to be able to get through this book in the beginning. The hero was such an unconscionable CHEATER who had the nerves to fall in love with his mistress and was actually thinking of procuring a divorce from the heroine so he could be with this B*@#$%!! He did not love the heroine at first since it was a marriage of convenience but they had two kids and were married for years and it broke my heart that he was ready to throw them all away for the conniving Slu#!! Oh but how sweet it was in the end when the witch got what she deserved! This book is not for everyone since not everyone can handle cheating in their romance, but it was a good read to me since it had a HEA.
November 3, 2022
4 Stars
An entertaining and overall, satisfying read. Angsty til the last page.
I have two gripes. One, the hero should have groveled longer than he did. Sometimes, this letdown can ruin a book for me, but fortunately, in this case it didn't. Two, as a reader, we don't know when or how the H came to realize he was in love with the heroine. Based on his behavior and reactions, we got vague hints that he was reevaluating his feelings, but we weren't privy to his thoughts on the matter. Oh, but we got to see exactly how he had felt about the OW; that was painfully clear. It's not until the very end that he declared his love for the heroine.
Still, there were some exciting and comforting scenes that saved the book. There were no sex scenes between the H and the OW. I can't even say for sure if they had sex or not, though I think it was implied. Then there was that scene where the conniving OW is told off by the H. I loved his reaction and every word he threw at her. God, that made me so happy. Good riddance! I also thought the heroine was indeed a "lady of quality." As much as I wish she would have at least confronted the H (I wanted her to leave him), I must credit her for being a fighter, and for handling the OW as magnificently as she did. BRA-VO! And lastly, I appreciated how for once, the secondary characters in a book gave the heroine excellent advice. They encouraged her to take on a lover *LOL* A+ for that! She didn't, of course, get a lover. but another man--an admirer--did step in to help her make the hero jealous and garner his attention. I love teamwork.
I read this in Open Library, and since I wasn't able to highlight, or add notes or bookmarks, I will add them to this review for future reference:
Pg. 254 - Heroine & OW Smackdown
Pg. 271 - H ends affair with OW
Pg. 300 - Even the H knows he got off easy.
Yes, you did. *shakes her head in disapproval*
An entertaining and overall, satisfying read. Angsty til the last page.
I have two gripes. One, the hero should have groveled longer than he did. Sometimes, this letdown can ruin a book for me, but fortunately, in this case it didn't. Two, as a reader, we don't know when or how the H came to realize he was in love with the heroine. Based on his behavior and reactions, we got vague hints that he was reevaluating his feelings, but we weren't privy to his thoughts on the matter. Oh, but we got to see exactly how he had felt about the OW; that was painfully clear. It's not until the very end that he declared his love for the heroine.
Still, there were some exciting and comforting scenes that saved the book. There were no sex scenes between the H and the OW. I can't even say for sure if they had sex or not, though I think it was implied. Then there was that scene where the conniving OW is told off by the H. I loved his reaction and every word he threw at her. God, that made me so happy. Good riddance! I also thought the heroine was indeed a "lady of quality." As much as I wish she would have at least confronted the H (I wanted her to leave him), I must credit her for being a fighter, and for handling the OW as magnificently as she did. BRA-VO! And lastly, I appreciated how for once, the secondary characters in a book gave the heroine excellent advice. They encouraged her to take on a lover *LOL* A+ for that! She didn't, of course, get a lover. but another man--an admirer--did step in to help her make the hero jealous and garner his attention. I love teamwork.
I read this in Open Library, and since I wasn't able to highlight, or add notes or bookmarks, I will add them to this review for future reference:
Pg. 254 - Heroine & OW Smackdown
Pg. 271 - H ends affair with OW
"Caro, it was for our future."
“We have no future. Are you so stupid you cannot see that?”
“Do not say so! You are angry and I am sorry, but don’t say things you cannot possibly mean."
"I have never meant anything more. My God, why did I not see you for the scheming baggage you are?”
“Caro!” she cried, shaking her head in bewilderment. “I beg of you don’t be so cruel.”
“What you have done this day is cruel.” His lip curled into a derisory sneer. “Did you really think I would abandon Eliza for you? Allow you to bring up my children? Be mistress of my house? Mrs Tate, you have taken leave of your senses.”
"Just let me make amends and everything will be as it was. You know you will forgive me.”
“Yes, you poor, wretched creature, I can forgive you even though I cannot hope to forgive myself.”
Pg. 300 - Even the H knows he got off easy.
"Poor Max," Eliza crooned.
"On this occasion I cannot complain, for I deserved the set-down,” he conceded. “In view of all that has happened, I am fortunate to have escaped retribution so lightly.”
Yes, you did. *shakes her head in disapproval*
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 11, 2023
Traditional Regency
A yummy marriage in trouble story. An arranged marriage where she has found love and he has found an opera singer. He’s a complete idiot, he has no idea his Italian opera singer is from the East End, and she’s trying to manipulate him into divorcing his wife; and the wife realizes something nis afoot.
With the help of friends she decides to make him jealous, which works like a charm
4 I was entertained by this stars.
A yummy marriage in trouble story. An arranged marriage where she has found love and he has found an opera singer. He’s a complete idiot, he has no idea his Italian opera singer is from the East End, and she’s trying to manipulate him into divorcing his wife; and the wife realizes something nis afoot.
With the help of friends she decides to make him jealous, which works like a charm
4 I was entertained by this stars.
July 18, 2010
This book was very well-written. It gave you a true sense of the time period and what was acceptable and what wasn't. It was also probably the most chaste regency I have ever read, sex was implied but never written about. No matter, it suited the book, which I read in one evening, it was that good!
February 26, 2013
OMG i tossed this book at least twice.... if i could have reached thru the pages and throttled this cheater and his nastty mistress I would have...that being said I loved it...lol. IT was a short read and definately made you have a reaction to it...
June 28, 2013
My copy was a library copy and in LARGE PRINT. Never had a large print book before. Looks like a schoolbook from first grade. But you get used to it and in the end I even liked it.
The story was very tame. I also expected more heartbreak and was quite disappointed. Sex is substituted with intimidate whispering and hand kisses, if anyone should look for a more steamy reading. The end of the book is not very authentic.
Three stars because I liked the heroine. She's strong and takes matters in her hands instead of whining around.
All in all, the book is not better than a harmless Harlequin, just without sex.
The story was very tame. I also expected more heartbreak and was quite disappointed. Sex is substituted with intimidate whispering and hand kisses, if anyone should look for a more steamy reading. The end of the book is not very authentic.
Three stars because I liked the heroine. She's strong and takes matters in her hands instead of whining around.
All in all, the book is not better than a harmless Harlequin, just without sex.
April 26, 2015
i never expected that i would enjoy reading this. the heroine is likable. i want to kick the hero a lot of times. and i want to throttle the mistress hahaa! does this happen in most of marriages? perhaps. i am not quite sure why i adore implied sex in the novels. maybe because it always leave everything to my imagination.. brrr...
September 3, 2017
Is it possible to write a novel with sentences with more than 10-12 words? Obviously it is complicated for Edwards. All in all, a harmless reading, not passionate at all, sometimes a bit too washy and somehow uninteresting. The h is much too restrained and the H too infantile. 2,5 stars. Pity that I bought the book in USA (on line) and it was much too expensive.
to-avoid
January 17, 2018CHEATER HERO
December 11, 2023
3 stars. The angst of this was good, the writing was good - most books written and published long ago are - but the romance and relationship development between the hero and heroine were lacking. You never get a sense of why the heroine loves the hero, and in turn, the hero realizing he loved the heroine at the end felt contrived. They really didn't have a lot of moments together.
In fact, the hero ends the relationship with OW and "realizes" he loves his wife only after he realized that the OW was a fraudulent schemer. And it all happens in the last 10 pages of the book. If the OW had been a honest, kind lady...the hero would have kept on with the cheating and likely divorced his wife.
Ultimately, there is something about old, relatively realistic, historical romances like these where the heroines just expect...less. The husbands can have their dalliances and the wives don't care. All of the heroines friends in this book describe their "happy" marriages like this. This book was kind of like that...except in this book, the hero falls in love with his latest dalliance, which finally inspired the heroine to care.
I'm really left with the feeling that the hero is going to continue having his dalliances after this, but just next time he won't fall in love and neglect his wife. And I also feel like she'll be okay with that...
In fact, the hero ends the relationship with OW and "realizes" he loves his wife only after he realized that the OW was a fraudulent schemer. And it all happens in the last 10 pages of the book. If the OW had been a honest, kind lady...the hero would have kept on with the cheating and likely divorced his wife.
Ultimately, there is something about old, relatively realistic, historical romances like these where the heroines just expect...less. The husbands can have their dalliances and the wives don't care. All of the heroines friends in this book describe their "happy" marriages like this. This book was kind of like that...except in this book, the hero falls in love with his latest dalliance, which finally inspired the heroine to care.
I'm really left with the feeling that the hero is going to continue having his dalliances after this, but just next time he won't fall in love and neglect his wife. And I also feel like she'll be okay with that...
February 4, 2025
Loved it! Had an intelligent feel to it as you embark on a narcissistic, privileged hero exploiting his position as he falls madly in love with a light skirt, ignoring his wife and children, besotted with a fake opera singer. And a beautiful, loving wife and mother endeavoring to win back her husband. It had a depth of conversation and emotional upheaval that I pant over. If you like arranged marriages with all of this intrigue, don't hesitate to dive into this one!
December 17, 2023
Surprisingly entertaining historical romance where the h is no doormat. The H is infatuated by an opera singer and the h decides to make him realize what he has and will lose. He is clueless. He does get his head out of his lower anatomy but a lot more groveling would have earned more stars.
Want to read
September 22, 2023DNF
January 29, 2014
I discovered Rachelle Edwards years ago and have enjoyed combing bookstores for her regencies. I found this one to be as interesting and well-written as the others. I like stories centered around a marriage of convenience where the couple find love after marriage. The heroine is extremely likable and faces the challenges of her position with dignity and courage. It took me a while to warm up to her husband, but in the end, he proved to be worthy of her love and respect. A good read.
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