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Lady Lochinvar
Lady Catherine Cahill, an innocent young woman, falls in love with Lionel Eden, Vicount Benning, and is determined to capture the jaded nobleman's attention
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1987
1 person is currently reading
28 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Hazard
57 books15 followersBarbara (Booth) Hazard, a resident of Exeter, NH, died on October 25, 2019 in Boston, MA surrounded by family. Born in 1931 in Fall River, MA, the daughter of Albert L. and Lillian (Holland) Booth, she was raised and educated in New England. She graduated from Rhode Island School of Design in 1953 and was briefly employed by Ginn & Company in Boston as a Technical Editor. She married Donald T. Hazard in 1954 and next worked as a Graphic Designer/Artist for a Concord, NH advertising firm.
Originally trained as a musician, Mrs. Hazard also studied oil painting with Amy Jones and for a time had several shows in New York and Vermont. She began to write historical fiction in 1978. First published in 1981, she went on to write and publish 48 books, several of which are also in circulation abroad. She won several awards for her writing.
Mrs. Hazard wrote that there were several things in her life that she was most proud of; being Concertmaster of the MA All State Orchestra in Symphony Hall in Boston, having a successful career as an artist and as a writer, which was her greatest love besides her husband, three sons and their wives.
She loved New England and in particular, Cape Cod, which she visited every year for most of her life. Her other loves included her family, reading and music. She also wrote under the pen name of Lillian Lincoln.
Originally trained as a musician, Mrs. Hazard also studied oil painting with Amy Jones and for a time had several shows in New York and Vermont. She began to write historical fiction in 1978. First published in 1981, she went on to write and publish 48 books, several of which are also in circulation abroad. She won several awards for her writing.
Mrs. Hazard wrote that there were several things in her life that she was most proud of; being Concertmaster of the MA All State Orchestra in Symphony Hall in Boston, having a successful career as an artist and as a writer, which was her greatest love besides her husband, three sons and their wives.
She loved New England and in particular, Cape Cod, which she visited every year for most of her life. Her other loves included her family, reading and music. She also wrote under the pen name of Lillian Lincoln.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 28, 2024
In 1811, a 12 year old English girl falls in love instantly with her 20 year old distant relation, but she despairs of ever making him see her as more than the little Kitty-Kat he has known since she was a baby. Despite almost everyone in her family dismissing her feelings as a mere crush that will soon be outgrown, she perseveres in her obsessive pursuit for the next five years, ruthlessly manipulating people in order to get closer to him, and managing to eliminate potential girlfriends and wives (one of the potential girlfriends is her own sister!). For this unwavering loyalty and faith in her One True Love, she earns the nickname of Lady Lochinvar, after the faithful knight of Sir Walter Scott, but perhaps Psycho Stalker would have been more apt lol.
As unimpressed as I usually am by the trope of the girl in hot pursuit of an uninterested guy, I have to admit that the author made this an interesting read, and this was achieved mostly due to the characterization of a steel-spined, ruthless heroine. She wasn't desperate or pathetic in her years-long ordeal, she was more akin to a general strategizing a campaign to win the war, battle by excruciating battle. The hero meanwhile remains clueless of the heroine's worship. He spends his time chasing opera girls, and alternatively society debs. He even partakes in orgies and hangs out with real shady characters. Then, abruptly, he shows up one day in town with a fiancee.
The heroine is crushed but rallies. She is grown up now ( at the great age of 17) and is considered a prize on the marriage market. Things get interesting as the hero starts to notice the heroine, who may not be a conventional beauty, but has enough spice to have become the toast of the Season. It isn't long before he is consumed with jealousy towards the heroine's suitors, and assailed by strange, tingly feelings whenever he gets close to Miss Incomparable of 1816 lol.
Naturally, we eventually find out that the hero's betrothal was a Great, Big, Masquerade engineered to save a damsel in distress. Due to REASONS, the hero had to act as a "beard" for the OW until she could be reunited with her true love, which finally happens. Before she vanishes into the sunset, the OW is kind enough to explain to the clueless hero that the weird, possessive feelings he has been having about his Kitty-Kat are a lot more than simple brotherly love, and advises him to go after her.
It still takes him a while to get it though. I swear, neon signs, highlighters, a power point presentation and a few skillets to the head would not have gone through his thick skull! Honestly, I wasn't impressed by the hero's wishy-washiness and stupidity. It seemed real easy for him to put everything and everyone before the heroine, and I wonder if he will continue to easily dismiss heroine from his mind when new concerns or interests come up in the future.
If you must, read it for an interesting, Alpha heroine, and a very entertaining cast of secondary characters including the perfect Regency dowager duchess who wields as much power behind the scenes as a Godfather in an Italian mafia saga.
The heroine:
The hero:
As unimpressed as I usually am by the trope of the girl in hot pursuit of an uninterested guy, I have to admit that the author made this an interesting read, and this was achieved mostly due to the characterization of a steel-spined, ruthless heroine. She wasn't desperate or pathetic in her years-long ordeal, she was more akin to a general strategizing a campaign to win the war, battle by excruciating battle. The hero meanwhile remains clueless of the heroine's worship. He spends his time chasing opera girls, and alternatively society debs. He even partakes in orgies and hangs out with real shady characters. Then, abruptly, he shows up one day in town with a fiancee.
The heroine is crushed but rallies. She is grown up now ( at the great age of 17) and is considered a prize on the marriage market. Things get interesting as the hero starts to notice the heroine, who may not be a conventional beauty, but has enough spice to have become the toast of the Season. It isn't long before he is consumed with jealousy towards the heroine's suitors, and assailed by strange, tingly feelings whenever he gets close to Miss Incomparable of 1816 lol.
Naturally, we eventually find out that the hero's betrothal was a Great, Big, Masquerade engineered to save a damsel in distress. Due to REASONS, the hero had to act as a "beard" for the OW until she could be reunited with her true love, which finally happens. Before she vanishes into the sunset, the OW is kind enough to explain to the clueless hero that the weird, possessive feelings he has been having about his Kitty-Kat are a lot more than simple brotherly love, and advises him to go after her.
It still takes him a while to get it though. I swear, neon signs, highlighters, a power point presentation and a few skillets to the head would not have gone through his thick skull! Honestly, I wasn't impressed by the hero's wishy-washiness and stupidity. It seemed real easy for him to put everything and everyone before the heroine, and I wonder if he will continue to easily dismiss heroine from his mind when new concerns or interests come up in the future.
If you must, read it for an interesting, Alpha heroine, and a very entertaining cast of secondary characters including the perfect Regency dowager duchess who wields as much power behind the scenes as a Godfather in an Italian mafia saga.
The heroine:
The hero:
June 1, 2014
This was a nice little regency that packed a punch! It had me laughing and crying. The heroine was the perfect heroine in pursuit who wasn't too stupid to live. I loved her steadfastness and her refreshingly real personality that had flaws and all! I love a heroine that isn't the perfect miss goody too shoe and Catherine is far from perfect! She is one of my favorite heroines. I actually liked her more than the hero, which is usually the other way around. Barbara Hazard is an extremely talented author and I will definitely check out more of her work.
May 17, 2018
4.55 stars - pg13/heavy pg13 (secular “clean” traditional regency – possible use of: mild cursing/profanity, innuendo, mention of mistresses, gambling, drinking, etc. -- see below)
The cover blurb does not do this book justice but instead makes it seem silly or tawdry ~~ ignore the blurb!! It’s a lovely, well-written story. I was surprised to find that almost the entire first quarter of the book detailed our heroine, Kitty, as a twelve-year-old sweetly falling in love with the Hero who, of course, considers her a child (and continues to mistakenly think of her that way even when she has grown up). Her love never dies and the remainder of the story is even more fun and sweet than the beginning. She’s a refreshing heroine, not your usual simpering miss. I loved the scheming Dowager Duchess and how she takes young Kitty under her wing. There was one tiny little contrived bit, but overall a great story.
(Typical secular regency that most would consider totally clean --- however, there was a mention of implied "activities" with an opera dancer; and one long betrothal kiss between secondary characters with very brief intimate touch through bodice of clothing – basically the young pup got a little ahead of himself, but it was nipped in the bud immediately.)
The cover blurb does not do this book justice but instead makes it seem silly or tawdry ~~ ignore the blurb!! It’s a lovely, well-written story. I was surprised to find that almost the entire first quarter of the book detailed our heroine, Kitty, as a twelve-year-old sweetly falling in love with the Hero who, of course, considers her a child (and continues to mistakenly think of her that way even when she has grown up). Her love never dies and the remainder of the story is even more fun and sweet than the beginning. She’s a refreshing heroine, not your usual simpering miss. I loved the scheming Dowager Duchess and how she takes young Kitty under her wing. There was one tiny little contrived bit, but overall a great story.
(Typical secular regency that most would consider totally clean --- however, there was a mention of implied "activities" with an opera dancer; and one long betrothal kiss between secondary characters with very brief intimate touch through bodice of clothing – basically the young pup got a little ahead of himself, but it was nipped in the bud immediately.)
November 27, 2022
I liked the story overall, although I found it a bit strange in the beginning. At first it seemed frustrating that everyone seemed the prefer the MC's sister and take little notice of the MC. But it soon became clear why, it was simply beacause the sister was a grown-up and the MC still a child.
It was kind of akward and sad when the MC, a 12 years old, fell in love with a grown-up man, she knew it was very possible he might marry someone else until she was old enough to marry. Also, it feels more like a child fixation than love.
When she grows up a little, when she's about 15, the story gets much better, she begins to be able to actually do something about her feelings. Unlike most women in regency romance she's very intelligent and strong. She knows what she wants and she's not afraid to do whatever it takes to get it. It's delighful and funny the way she schemes and manipulates people weaker and less intelligent, including the hero. It doesn't make her unpleasant, just very determined.
The hero is quite weak, he lets himself used by other people and descovers he is in love with the MC only towards the end. It feels more like the MC simply wins him over with the force of her personality.
I found the story credible and I very much enjoyed it.
It was kind of akward and sad when the MC, a 12 years old, fell in love with a grown-up man, she knew it was very possible he might marry someone else until she was old enough to marry. Also, it feels more like a child fixation than love.
When she grows up a little, when she's about 15, the story gets much better, she begins to be able to actually do something about her feelings. Unlike most women in regency romance she's very intelligent and strong. She knows what she wants and she's not afraid to do whatever it takes to get it. It's delighful and funny the way she schemes and manipulates people weaker and less intelligent, including the hero. It doesn't make her unpleasant, just very determined.
The hero is quite weak, he lets himself used by other people and descovers he is in love with the MC only towards the end. It feels more like the MC simply wins him over with the force of her personality.
I found the story credible and I very much enjoyed it.
June 9, 2019
I wasn't expecting much when I picked it up, just something quick to read to fill some time. I was pleasantly surprised. Considering she fell in love when she was twelve, she wasn't whiny or clingy, just constant. His engagement at the end was a bit contrived but otherwise it was a good way to spend the time.
March 19, 2015
An old favorite.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews