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Regency Quartet #4
The Last Rogue
Raleigh Hadn't Gambled On Finding A Virgin In His Bed - but when he awoke next to Jane Trowbridge, he knew all bets for bachelorhood were off. Now, instead of a love match, he'd gotten a sparring partner.
Jane had never imagined herself anyone's lawfully wedded wife, and now ironic fate had bound her to a hedonistic viscount who was a Tulip of the Ton.Still, could a man who only pursued pleasure find any pleasure pursuing her? And could she restrain her maidenly blushes long enough to let him... ?
Jane had never imagined herself anyone's lawfully wedded wife, and now ironic fate had bound her to a hedonistic viscount who was a Tulip of the Ton.Still, could a man who only pursued pleasure find any pleasure pursuing her? And could she restrain her maidenly blushes long enough to let him... ?
299 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 1, 1998
16 people are currently reading
439 people want to read
About the author
Deborah Simmons
157 books204 followersDeborah Simmons is the author of twenty-five historical romances and novellas, published by Avon, Berkley, and Harlequin.
A native midwesterner, Simmons graduated cum laude from Wittenberg University and was a journalist before turning to fiction. Her first book, Heart's Masquerade, was published by Avon in 1989 and was followed by a number of Harlequin Historicals, including a USA Today Bestselling anthology. Her 2003 release, A Man of Many Talents, was a launch title for Berkley's Sensation imprint.
Two of her books have been finalists in the Romance Writers of America's annual RITA competition for excellence: The Gentleman Thief in 2001 and A Lady of Distinction in 2005.
Simmons has sold two million books in North America, and her work has been translated and published in twenty-four foreign countries, including illustrated editions in Japan. She is a member of RWA, Novelists Inc., and the Author's Guild.
"I like to think of my stories as adventures," Simmons says. Most take place in Regency or Medieval England, such as her popular series on the thirteen century de Burgh family. But no matter what the setting, you'll find interesting characters, romance, humor, and mystery.
A native midwesterner, Simmons graduated cum laude from Wittenberg University and was a journalist before turning to fiction. Her first book, Heart's Masquerade, was published by Avon in 1989 and was followed by a number of Harlequin Historicals, including a USA Today Bestselling anthology. Her 2003 release, A Man of Many Talents, was a launch title for Berkley's Sensation imprint.
Two of her books have been finalists in the Romance Writers of America's annual RITA competition for excellence: The Gentleman Thief in 2001 and A Lady of Distinction in 2005.
Simmons has sold two million books in North America, and her work has been translated and published in twenty-four foreign countries, including illustrated editions in Japan. She is a member of RWA, Novelists Inc., and the Author's Guild.
"I like to think of my stories as adventures," Simmons says. Most take place in Regency or Medieval England, such as her popular series on the thirteen century de Burgh family. But no matter what the setting, you'll find interesting characters, romance, humor, and mystery.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
May 9, 2019
"The Last Rogue" is the story of Jane and Raleigh.
And another disappointing addition, the last book of this series.
So let's recap. Our hero Raleigh is the witty, matchmaking, alcohol and woman loving Viscount who preens like a peacock half the time, and is also broke AF. Our heroine Jane is the bespectacled, plain Jane daughter of the Vicar, sister to Charlotte, who is extremely standoffish, kinda shrewd and very snappy.
They get "compromised" because of a drunken incident, are forced into marriage, travel to claim his inheritance, get trapped in a Gothic and mysterious ghost house, have adventures, some drama followed by a HEA.
Ok I agree the heroine was not conventionally beautiful, and had trust issues, but she just came off as plain rude. She could have been confident in her intelligence and skills, but all she did was push the hero away, and find him lacking- which he was at times.
The story does get better at the very end, but it's all thanks to the hero (who was charming when needed). Very disappointed.
Meh.
Safe
2/5
And another disappointing addition, the last book of this series.
So let's recap. Our hero Raleigh is the witty, matchmaking, alcohol and woman loving Viscount who preens like a peacock half the time, and is also broke AF. Our heroine Jane is the bespectacled, plain Jane daughter of the Vicar, sister to Charlotte, who is extremely standoffish, kinda shrewd and very snappy.
They get "compromised" because of a drunken incident, are forced into marriage, travel to claim his inheritance, get trapped in a Gothic and mysterious ghost house, have adventures, some drama followed by a HEA.
Ok I agree the heroine was not conventionally beautiful, and had trust issues, but she just came off as plain rude. She could have been confident in her intelligence and skills, but all she did was push the hero away, and find him lacking- which he was at times.
The story does get better at the very end, but it's all thanks to the hero (who was charming when needed). Very disappointed.
Meh.
Safe
2/5
December 10, 2015
The book is beautiful!!
The book started out in a very annoying fashion. At the beginning, I despised the hero, Viscount Raleigh, and felt bad for Jane. However, as book progresses, my disliking for the hero lessens until it disappears.
Jane is a unique person. She is the uptight, plainly dressed, glasses wearing, and outwardly boring person who restrains her inner self that craves indulgence.
Raleigh, on the other hand, is outgoing, laid back, and seems to care more about fashion than anything else. However, that is just a part of him. He also has more to himself than meets the eye.
I connected with Jane's character a lot. She is someone who restrains herself from any pleasantries, such as gowns, sweets, and gothic books. Having grown up alongside her beautiful sister Charlotte, she has been compared to Charlotte a lot, in a rather unkind way. So, she feels very inadequate and has millions of insecurity. Even when he compliments her, she does not believe him but his words affect her in the way that what he says stays with her and makes her contemplate whether she is as worthy as he tells her. She is kind-hearted, intelligent and has a love for gardening. She also has a fun, prankster side that no one would expect.
At the beginning of the book they cannot stand one another. However, gradually, they become interested in each other. I love that the writer made their falling toward each other gradual. This book had good character development. However, I think the author might have been hasty at pushing them two together after Jane was kidnapped.
The book is soo sweet, beautiful, and interesting (minus the kidnapping part, of course). I would totally read the book again!
The book started out in a very annoying fashion. At the beginning, I despised the hero, Viscount Raleigh, and felt bad for Jane. However, as book progresses, my disliking for the hero lessens until it disappears.
Jane is a unique person. She is the uptight, plainly dressed, glasses wearing, and outwardly boring person who restrains her inner self that craves indulgence.
Raleigh, on the other hand, is outgoing, laid back, and seems to care more about fashion than anything else. However, that is just a part of him. He also has more to himself than meets the eye.
I connected with Jane's character a lot. She is someone who restrains herself from any pleasantries, such as gowns, sweets, and gothic books. Having grown up alongside her beautiful sister Charlotte, she has been compared to Charlotte a lot, in a rather unkind way. So, she feels very inadequate and has millions of insecurity. Even when he compliments her, she does not believe him but his words affect her in the way that what he says stays with her and makes her contemplate whether she is as worthy as he tells her. She is kind-hearted, intelligent and has a love for gardening. She also has a fun, prankster side that no one would expect.
At the beginning of the book they cannot stand one another. However, gradually, they become interested in each other. I love that the writer made their falling toward each other gradual. This book had good character development. However, I think the author might have been hasty at pushing them two together after Jane was kidnapped.
The book is soo sweet, beautiful, and interesting (minus the kidnapping part, of course). I would totally read the book again!
March 14, 2019
3.5 stars
This one suffered from a weak first half where the heroine comes across as severe and unlikable however thankfully this picks up. The heroine has a lot of insecurities growing up with a sibling who was a beauty so she had learnt to be in the background. The hero grew up with disapproving parents and was flamboyant. I liked how we saw them gradually thaw towards each other.
This one suffered from a weak first half where the heroine comes across as severe and unlikable however thankfully this picks up. The heroine has a lot of insecurities growing up with a sibling who was a beauty so she had learnt to be in the background. The hero grew up with disapproving parents and was flamboyant. I liked how we saw them gradually thaw towards each other.
April 29, 2012
2.5
Its refreshing to read about a hero who isnt a rake or rogue.There are way too few fops and dandies about. Who doesnt love a man who dresses fashionably and isnt afraid to flaunt it? ;)
I really liked the hero´s sense of humor and his observations of things around him (and the heroine of course) He wasnt just a dandy/fop because of some vague reasons. It was a kind of rebellion for him (against his all too proper parents) at first I think,but it had become part of his personality in time. He had embraced that part of his personality fully.
As for the heroine I cant say I liked her very much with her "oh my god im so plain and my sister is so beautiful" internal monologues and her treating the hero badly because he offends her just by being himself. I could have understand if he had treated her badly but the animosity was all on her part and for the silly reason of him making her feel shabby next to him. :/
I would have bought her resentment and bitterness if she had been a bit older but to me it come across more as teenage sulking.Wich is perfectly natural since she was teenager (18) But with all the reading and general bluestocking behavior she prided herself on having I would have expected her to be a little less smallminded.
In most romances the heroes doesnt deserve their heroines and has to work to win their love.However in this book it was the opposite.I wasnt so sure the heroine deserved the hero!
In the end if I have to think back about this book it felt like it was made up out of bits and pieces,it starts out as a compromised situation plot,then they marry and goes to London for a bit and you think "oh its going to be a making the marriage work plot"but no then they have to go to the hero's inherited house and it turns into a gothic story.
I guessed the cause for the spooky going ons at once, it was
In conclusion I think this is a good book to pass a few hours with,but sadly not keeper.
Its refreshing to read about a hero who isnt a rake or rogue.There are way too few fops and dandies about. Who doesnt love a man who dresses fashionably and isnt afraid to flaunt it? ;)
I really liked the hero´s sense of humor and his observations of things around him (and the heroine of course) He wasnt just a dandy/fop because of some vague reasons. It was a kind of rebellion for him (against his all too proper parents) at first I think,but it had become part of his personality in time. He had embraced that part of his personality fully.
As for the heroine I cant say I liked her very much with her "oh my god im so plain and my sister is so beautiful" internal monologues and her treating the hero badly because he offends her just by being himself. I could have understand if he had treated her badly but the animosity was all on her part and for the silly reason of him making her feel shabby next to him. :/
I would have bought her resentment and bitterness if she had been a bit older but to me it come across more as teenage sulking.Wich is perfectly natural since she was teenager (18) But with all the reading and general bluestocking behavior she prided herself on having I would have expected her to be a little less smallminded.
In most romances the heroes doesnt deserve their heroines and has to work to win their love.However in this book it was the opposite.I wasnt so sure the heroine deserved the hero!
In the end if I have to think back about this book it felt like it was made up out of bits and pieces,it starts out as a compromised situation plot,then they marry and goes to London for a bit and you think "oh its going to be a making the marriage work plot"but no then they have to go to the hero's inherited house and it turns into a gothic story.
I guessed the cause for the spooky going ons at once, it was
In conclusion I think this is a good book to pass a few hours with,but sadly not keeper.
March 6, 2014
This book is really cute. It's the historical romance version of cute guy falls in love w geeky girl. Totally not possible, but we don't read romance novels for reality do we?
May 30, 2016
4.5 stars rounded up.
Review to follow.
Review to follow.
January 27, 2022
I'll give this 2 and half stars
Wasn't really too good , but still not bad either
There were just some parts - which were unbearably awful
Wasn't really too good , but still not bad either
There were just some parts - which were unbearably awful
October 27, 2013
I discovered this book in my recent search for a books with dandy heroes. This book did not disappoint. It was fun with complex characters. It had a little bit of a Scooby Doo/gothic mystery in the middle of it which was a very good time and a surprise! There was gradual love here which I liked.
If you like beta heroes, bookworms, child-of-clergy, close-family, compromised, cynical-heroine, dandy, emotional-real-sex, english-romance,, glasses, good-girl, gothic, in-the-shadow-of, inheritance, kind-hero, kindle-own, knight-in-shining-armor, light, low-self-esteem, married, notable-servants, older-male, opposites-attract, plain-h-or-h, practical heroine,pretty-boy, rake, read, reformed,, reserved-heroine, road romance sisters, sunny-hero, ugly-duckling, and a very-young-lead, you will like this one. It has a bit of everything.
If you like beta heroes, bookworms, child-of-clergy, close-family, compromised, cynical-heroine, dandy, emotional-real-sex, english-romance,, glasses, good-girl, gothic, in-the-shadow-of, inheritance, kind-hero, kindle-own, knight-in-shining-armor, light, low-self-esteem, married, notable-servants, older-male, opposites-attract, plain-h-or-h, practical heroine,pretty-boy, rake, read, reformed,, reserved-heroine, road romance sisters, sunny-hero, ugly-duckling, and a very-young-lead, you will like this one. It has a bit of everything.
February 9, 2011
I read this story many years ago but I couldn't get it out of my mind even though I had forgotten all but the basic storyline. So, after much online searching and questions in several groups, someone (thank you Allison) finally came up with the title for me and I wasted no time finding it and rereading it. It's not very often that a Harlequin story sticks with me like that, usually I've forgotten most of it within a week, but I'm not letting this one be forgotten again - thanks to Goodreads it won't be! I can't even say what it is that appeals to me so much but, all these years later, I still loved it! Now, to see what I think of the rest of the series...
October 16, 2010
If by chance you wake up in the bed of a virgin, to whom you are not married, you soon will be. And so the charming and dandified viscount Raleigh finds himself married to a plan Jane. Somewhat of a road trip and a lovely tale.
Edited to add I read this book again as a palette refresher after a string of dismal Regencies. There's some fun poked at Gothic Romances. As enjoyable as ever!
Edited to add I read this book again as a palette refresher after a string of dismal Regencies. There's some fun poked at Gothic Romances. As enjoyable as ever!
May 31, 2021
As far as romance novels go, this is a good one. The hero is hilarious and refreshingly not a brooder or a smoulderer! Yes, the heroine was a bit of a shrew buti liked her for it- she was a total contrast to the hero and had a lot of backbone. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
December 1, 2023
Último livro da série Regency Quartet.
A história de Raleigh - o último solteiro e anjo da guarda presente nos outros livros - é mais bagunçada que todas as outras e tão hilária quanto o personagem.
O par romântico é Jane, uma mulher séria e de aparência comum que apareceu em Lábios de Deusa, o primeiro livro da série, como irmã mais nova de Charlotte, a protagonista deste. Diferente dela, Jane não comete desatinos ou se dá a arroubos de paixão... isso permanece tudo com Raleigh que aparentemente tem um fetiche por donas de casa.
Divertido.
A história de Raleigh - o último solteiro e anjo da guarda presente nos outros livros - é mais bagunçada que todas as outras e tão hilária quanto o personagem.
O par romântico é Jane, uma mulher séria e de aparência comum que apareceu em Lábios de Deusa, o primeiro livro da série, como irmã mais nova de Charlotte, a protagonista deste. Diferente dela, Jane não comete desatinos ou se dá a arroubos de paixão... isso permanece tudo com Raleigh que aparentemente tem um fetiche por donas de casa.
Divertido.
February 5, 2022
DNF 10%
This book has my least favorite type of heroine, the self righteous shrew archetype. She has a close minded sense of morality and is mean to others because she isn't pretty. Literally, her only beef with the hero is that he's handsome and dresses nice.
I have never understood this type of character. They are generally mean and spiteful and I will never believe that the handsome and charming heroes they get paired with would ever want anything to do with them.
This book has my least favorite type of heroine, the self righteous shrew archetype. She has a close minded sense of morality and is mean to others because she isn't pretty. Literally, her only beef with the hero is that he's handsome and dresses nice.
I have never understood this type of character. They are generally mean and spiteful and I will never believe that the handsome and charming heroes they get paired with would ever want anything to do with them.
December 5, 2022
2022: You know what you get with a Mills & Boon and I had expected a nice read. What I got was a delightful book filled with Gothic horrors.
Both Jane and Raleigh were great characters, although had Jane been a bit older, it would have made a bit more sense to me. Her being 18 and unwed did not have the same impact it would have had had she been about 25.
Other than that it was a lovely story with a good ending.
8 out of 10
Both Jane and Raleigh were great characters, although had Jane been a bit older, it would have made a bit more sense to me. Her being 18 and unwed did not have the same impact it would have had had she been about 25.
Other than that it was a lovely story with a good ending.
8 out of 10
March 22, 2019
Two people forced to marry with bias assumptions of each other, that slowly disperse while travelling to an inherited home and uncovering the hidden treasures within the house n within each other add in a
gothic mystery, enchanting read the is its own hidden gem where the further you read the more it unveils this great post marriage courtship
gothic mystery, enchanting read the is its own hidden gem where the further you read the more it unveils this great post marriage courtship
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 15, 2022
I love how their different personalities worked together but what I didn't like was how Jane made being not beautiful her whole identity for most of the book. She has a lot of redeeming qualities but sometimes you just have to fake it to make it.
August 14, 2017
Me divertí mucho con la historia ...
February 7, 2020
The hero was charming, but the heroine was dreadful for the first half of the book, at which point I gave up on her and put the book aside, not interested in whether she improved or not.
December 1, 2021
It was good i guess, but i really didn’t like her character.
May 19, 2024
this was super cuuuute, so howl and sophie coded. i also like that the third act conflict didn't involve them breaking up or something
February 9, 2025
Harlequin Hisorical romance
March 8, 2017
Now we come to the last in the trio of novels, The Last Rogue, 1998. This tale sheds the darkness and returns to a delightful romp. In this one we have Deverell Fairfax, Viscount Raleigh, a peacock, coxcomb, dandy if ever there was one. I was excited to see the return of the quizzing glass in this one - that wonderful foppish prop isn't used as much in more current historical novels. This quizzing glass is also cause for a wonderfully poignant scene, or should I say the absence of the glass is cause for a poignant, charming scene.
Raleigh actually was a pretty strong secondary character in both The Vicar's Daughter and Tempting Kate. He's one of those overdressed, silly men who hands out advice to his love-lorn friends and in the process manages to get some funny jabs in at their expense. So, now the shoe is on the other foot, so to speak.
This tale starts with Raleigh waking up to a scream. Dear oh dear, he has managed to show up drunk at his friend Max's house, be shown to his regular room and fall asleep. Unbeknownst to Max and Raleigh, Max's wife Charlotte has put her sister Jane in that room. Well, of course there is nothing for it but for these two to marry after being found in such a compromising situation. Once again we have a couple who are completely different, both in appearances and their outlook on life. Jane refers to herself as Plain Jane and she was a very young secondary character from The Vicar's Daughter and a sister to the heroine of that book. Well, she's grown up now and she's grown up with quite a complex.
Plain Jane has always felt she was compared to her beautiful sister Charlotte and found lacking, so she dresses the part. She pulls her hair back in a tight 'do, she wears glasses, she dresses in browns and grays, and she is somber, humorless and condemning of any one with a frivolous nature. Well, of course Raleigh is about as silly as they come. He dresses in bright colors with high collars, he jokes, he laughs, he smiles, and quips just fall off of his lips. However all that nonsensical business hides some insecurities...he can never seem to please his parents. Because he can never seem to make them happy, he has taken on the facade of not caring.
The Last Rogue is a story about two people with facades and how they slowly chip away at those facades to the people underneath. This was bright story about two delightful people. I smiled a lot at Jane's loud sniffs when Raleigh did something that disgusted her. What made this couple even better was that they fell in love with each others foibles and they didn't change too much over the course of the book. Also mixed into the romance is a light-hearted Gothic story that is pretty humorous.
Raleigh actually was a pretty strong secondary character in both The Vicar's Daughter and Tempting Kate. He's one of those overdressed, silly men who hands out advice to his love-lorn friends and in the process manages to get some funny jabs in at their expense. So, now the shoe is on the other foot, so to speak.
This tale starts with Raleigh waking up to a scream. Dear oh dear, he has managed to show up drunk at his friend Max's house, be shown to his regular room and fall asleep. Unbeknownst to Max and Raleigh, Max's wife Charlotte has put her sister Jane in that room. Well, of course there is nothing for it but for these two to marry after being found in such a compromising situation. Once again we have a couple who are completely different, both in appearances and their outlook on life. Jane refers to herself as Plain Jane and she was a very young secondary character from The Vicar's Daughter and a sister to the heroine of that book. Well, she's grown up now and she's grown up with quite a complex.
Plain Jane has always felt she was compared to her beautiful sister Charlotte and found lacking, so she dresses the part. She pulls her hair back in a tight 'do, she wears glasses, she dresses in browns and grays, and she is somber, humorless and condemning of any one with a frivolous nature. Well, of course Raleigh is about as silly as they come. He dresses in bright colors with high collars, he jokes, he laughs, he smiles, and quips just fall off of his lips. However all that nonsensical business hides some insecurities...he can never seem to please his parents. Because he can never seem to make them happy, he has taken on the facade of not caring.
The Last Rogue is a story about two people with facades and how they slowly chip away at those facades to the people underneath. This was bright story about two delightful people. I smiled a lot at Jane's loud sniffs when Raleigh did something that disgusted her. What made this couple even better was that they fell in love with each others foibles and they didn't change too much over the course of the book. Also mixed into the romance is a light-hearted Gothic story that is pretty humorous.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 5, 2012
OMG Jane is such a bitch! I hate her. I know they were thrown together but come on. She doesn't have to be such a harpy!! She says she don't want to have sex with him and chews him out when he's checking her out. But yet when he doesn't come to bed her, she says it's cause she's too ugly. Well what do you want you shrew?!?! For him to look at you or not? He tries to talk with her, she's rude every time. Eh she's a horrid woman. She's given nice gowns to wear, she'd rather wear ugly crap. Total shrew! And im only page 91 and hate her totally.
Made it to 184 and still hate Jane. She's bitter toward him cause she can't stop thinking of him. Well duh he is your husband and she's lucky he hasn't claimed her bed yet. Horrid horrid woman. The unfolding haunted house plot is great! Love the story line. Love Raleigh. Jane I hate. She will be just like the female character Beatrice in The Unlikely Governess.
Even at the end when the iciness left her, I still didn't connect with Jane. She did have some cute humor at the end, but it wasn't enough to make me like her overall. Raleigh was great from start to finish. The only thing I found I couldn't stand was his constant talking during sex. And I don't know if it was so much the idea he was talking, or just what he was saying, bleh! Other than that, he was awesome!
Made it to 184 and still hate Jane. She's bitter toward him cause she can't stop thinking of him. Well duh he is your husband and she's lucky he hasn't claimed her bed yet. Horrid horrid woman. The unfolding haunted house plot is great! Love the story line. Love Raleigh. Jane I hate. She will be just like the female character Beatrice in The Unlikely Governess.
Even at the end when the iciness left her, I still didn't connect with Jane. She did have some cute humor at the end, but it wasn't enough to make me like her overall. Raleigh was great from start to finish. The only thing I found I couldn't stand was his constant talking during sex. And I don't know if it was so much the idea he was talking, or just what he was saying, bleh! Other than that, he was awesome!
December 1, 2012
I adored the hero. There really are far too few dandy heroes out there, and I wish there were more. And the hero was rather unusual in other ways, too. He wasn't rich, and was actually living on (and occasionally exceeding) an allowance from his father, without secretly making investments or being amazing at gambling or whatever. He's actually the type of character that is far more often an unwanted suitor or useless brother- and I liked that.
The heroine was kind of annoying at times, though. She was just... Never happy and always sour for most of the book. I mean, she's eighteen. I really would have liked to have seen her warm up sooner. Yes, her sister might be more beautiful, and the hot guy might have ignored her (but really, how many mid-twenties guys pay attention to fourteen year olds?) but those don't really seem like sufficient reasons to become as sour as she already was.
But it was still a pretty fun book, and I enjoyed it.
The heroine was kind of annoying at times, though. She was just... Never happy and always sour for most of the book. I mean, she's eighteen. I really would have liked to have seen her warm up sooner. Yes, her sister might be more beautiful, and the hot guy might have ignored her (but really, how many mid-twenties guys pay attention to fourteen year olds?) but those don't really seem like sufficient reasons to become as sour as she already was.
But it was still a pretty fun book, and I enjoyed it.
November 12, 2022
The premise: Caught in a completely accidental compromising position, Jane Trowbridge (aka Plain Jane) and Deverelle Fairfax (Viscount Raleigh) marry. In order to be happy, Deverelle needs to get over his indifference to Plain Jane, and Jane needs to get over her distaste for the dandy Viscount.
Miscellaneous notes: Jane struck me as too cold. Deverelle struck me as too frivolous. That would be considered a good thing, as that was the writer's goal. However, their relationship fell flat for me. I didn't really like either of the main characters. And, perhaps I've seen one too many horror films, as I really thought that Mrs. Graves, the housekeeper, would have turned out to be a specter instead of a flesh and blood human. I was let down by the explanation of the presence of the old servant.
Miscellaneous notes: Jane struck me as too cold. Deverelle struck me as too frivolous. That would be considered a good thing, as that was the writer's goal. However, their relationship fell flat for me. I didn't really like either of the main characters. And, perhaps I've seen one too many horror films, as I really thought that Mrs. Graves, the housekeeper, would have turned out to be a specter instead of a flesh and blood human. I was let down by the explanation of the presence of the old servant.
March 17, 2012
Fun, quick read. nothing special
***spoiler summary***
Raleigh wakes up after a night in his cups to find him beside Plain Jane. Jane's sister Charlotte had sent her to the guest bedroom. Raleigh's friend Earl of Wycliffe, return home late and not knowing Jane had arrived, sent the inebriated Raleigh also to the guest bedroom. Jane and Raleigh marry. They set out to his inheritance (left to him by his uncle) Craven Hall, which seems haunted, but in fact is used by smugglers to store good. The smugglers try to "haunt" the couple away, but they discover what was happening (also the housekeeper is his uncle's illegitimate daughter, who came for revenge, but found a sick old man and ended up caring for him, charging smugglers money to store the goods)
***spoiler summary***
Raleigh wakes up after a night in his cups to find him beside Plain Jane. Jane's sister Charlotte had sent her to the guest bedroom. Raleigh's friend Earl of Wycliffe, return home late and not knowing Jane had arrived, sent the inebriated Raleigh also to the guest bedroom. Jane and Raleigh marry. They set out to his inheritance (left to him by his uncle) Craven Hall, which seems haunted, but in fact is used by smugglers to store good. The smugglers try to "haunt" the couple away, but they discover what was happening (also the housekeeper is his uncle's illegitimate daughter, who came for revenge, but found a sick old man and ended up caring for him, charging smugglers money to store the goods)
May 7, 2012
Un libro ligero, que a pesar de ser histórico no ahonda en hechos, fechas ni nada de eso. Solo toma un par de aspectos de las sociedades de esas épocas.
El, el típico Dandy que vive a causa de sus encantos. Ella la mujer que se esconde para evitar demostrar quien es. Entre medio, la sociedad que humilla a quienes no tienen dinero ni belleza.
Una historia de amor que surge lentamente, pero que resulta tierna.
No es el destino que ellos hubieran elegido, pero gracias a ellos obtienen lo mas importante en la vida: la felicidad.
Un par de sucesos sospechosos, un grupo de contrabandistas que quieren evitar que ellos vivan ahi, y una casa se que cae poco a poco, son los condimentos que acompañan a esta obra.
Para pasar el rato, sin muchas pretensiones.
El, el típico Dandy que vive a causa de sus encantos. Ella la mujer que se esconde para evitar demostrar quien es. Entre medio, la sociedad que humilla a quienes no tienen dinero ni belleza.
Una historia de amor que surge lentamente, pero que resulta tierna.
No es el destino que ellos hubieran elegido, pero gracias a ellos obtienen lo mas importante en la vida: la felicidad.
Un par de sucesos sospechosos, un grupo de contrabandistas que quieren evitar que ellos vivan ahi, y una casa se que cae poco a poco, son los condimentos que acompañan a esta obra.
Para pasar el rato, sin muchas pretensiones.
August 27, 2014
Cute story. Likeable hero. There wasn't much to like about the prickly heroine initially, but the author pulled through and caused me to warm up to her. It was a slow building romance with a mystery.
June 3, 2012
Probably a 3.5. A horror-tinged suspense novel as well as a romance, which the cover does not mention. I don't like suspense that much, but I liked this one well enough to finish it.
I thought Jane's shift was a too drastic when it happened. Raleigh's change was a little more realistic, but not by much. I liked both characters, but didn't love them. I did root for them both over the course of the novel, even though Jane was a unfair, priggish b*tch for much of the story.
I wish the epilogue would've been set further into the future. A glimpse of what could be was teased at a few times.
I thought Jane's shift was a too drastic when it happened. Raleigh's change was a little more realistic, but not by much. I liked both characters, but didn't love them. I did root for them both over the course of the novel, even though Jane was a unfair, priggish b*tch for much of the story.
I wish the epilogue would've been set further into the future. A glimpse of what could be was teased at a few times.
February 18, 2016
Totally had potential :( but in the end turned out stupid and annoying.
- Sick of him saying "lud"- one more time, and i'll scream! Even sicker of her "sniffing" all the time - make it stop!!!
- oh really, you HAD to realise you loved him from the time you were 14- it wasn't enough to fall in love now?? Oh- you didn't dislike him before, not really, it was low self esteem and admiration that caused you to act as. If you did? Whithout concious knowledge of course. Too stupid.
- Sick of him saying "lud"- one more time, and i'll scream! Even sicker of her "sniffing" all the time - make it stop!!!
- oh really, you HAD to realise you loved him from the time you were 14- it wasn't enough to fall in love now?? Oh- you didn't dislike him before, not really, it was low self esteem and admiration that caused you to act as. If you did? Whithout concious knowledge of course. Too stupid.
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