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The Butterfly and the Baron
She would choose her own husband! When Renee's wealthy parents arranged her marriage to a man she despised, she had fled to her beloved Aunt Katie's home in Queensland. There she had hoped to escape and recover her shattered pride, but her plans were crushed by Nick Garbutt, a man even more powerful than her father. Nick had the ability to arouse in her all the emotions she'd been accused of lacking -- emotions she now felt ill-equipped to handle. Especially knowing that Nick was to marry someone else!
189 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1979
3 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
Margaret Way
611 books162 followersMargaret Way was born and educated in the river city of Brisbane, Australia. Before her marriage she was a well-known pianist, teacher, vocal coach and accompanist, but her hectic musical career came to a halt when her son was born and the demands of motherhood dictated a change of pace.
On a fortuitous impulse she decided to try her hand at romance writing and was thrilled when Mills & Boon accepted her first effort, Time of the Jacaranda, which they published less than a year later in 1970; a feat that brought tears to her father's eyes. Some seventy odd books have followed resulting in a loyal readership whose letters provide a source of support and encouragement. A driving force in all her writing has been the promotion of her much loved country, Australia. She delights in bringing it alive for her readers; its people, way of life, environment, flora and fauna. Her efforts so far have not excited official recognition, but she expects one day she will be awarded the "Order of Australia."
Her interests remain with the arts. She still plays the piano seriously, but her "top Cs" have gone. She is still addicted to collecting antiques and paintings and browsing through galleries. She now lives within sight and sound of beautiful Moreton Bay and its islands, inspiration for some of her books. Her house is full of books, spectacular plants, Chinese screens and pots. She is devoted to her garden and spends much time "directing the design and digging and providing cold drinks and chocolates."
On a fortuitous impulse she decided to try her hand at romance writing and was thrilled when Mills & Boon accepted her first effort, Time of the Jacaranda, which they published less than a year later in 1970; a feat that brought tears to her father's eyes. Some seventy odd books have followed resulting in a loyal readership whose letters provide a source of support and encouragement. A driving force in all her writing has been the promotion of her much loved country, Australia. She delights in bringing it alive for her readers; its people, way of life, environment, flora and fauna. Her efforts so far have not excited official recognition, but she expects one day she will be awarded the "Order of Australia."
Her interests remain with the arts. She still plays the piano seriously, but her "top Cs" have gone. She is still addicted to collecting antiques and paintings and browsing through galleries. She now lives within sight and sound of beautiful Moreton Bay and its islands, inspiration for some of her books. Her house is full of books, spectacular plants, Chinese screens and pots. She is devoted to her garden and spends much time "directing the design and digging and providing cold drinks and chocolates."
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 19, 2017
Way too much OW/OM and no reckoning for the OW. She gets to bitch out the weak heroine day in day out, slut-shame her, pull her hair out while she is an invalid, accuse her of setting a dog on her, get cuddles and kind words from the hero, and finally torture the heroine by making her think the huge diamond engagement ring she has signifies her engagement to the hero. Of course, the OW ends up engaged to a successful artist who worships the ground she walks on and has already started spoiling her rotten with jewels, designer clothes and an extravagant honeymoon in Hawaii and California. So she really gets the last laugh. *sigh*
The heroine was too stupid and weak, and the hero too mocking and aloof, for me to be emotionally invested.
The only really great thing about this book was the title. They just don't make them like that anymore.
The heroine was too stupid and weak, and the hero too mocking and aloof, for me to be emotionally invested.
The only really great thing about this book was the title. They just don't make them like that anymore.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 12, 2017
Location: Northern Australia - land of tropical heat and great beauty.
Heroine: poor little rich girl who is extraordinarily beautiful and shy and insecure. She is fleeing an arranged marriage and her formidable mother.
Hero: Rich landowner who is smitten from their first meeting. His hobbies included horseback riding and psychoanalyzing the heroine.
OW: Daughter of a company man. Big boobs, but short legs. She's been trying to rope the H for years.
OM #1 Neurotic brother of the OW. Hero gave him a job out of pity. He whines about his hard life to the heroine from their first meeting.
OM#2 Under-achieving artist who is in love with the OW and puts his moves on the heroine for kicks and to make the OW jealous.
Artists:
Auntie who the heroine flees to is an artist.
There's a widower auntie wants to marry. He was a sculptor who has given that up to make pottery.
Every character is living below their potential until the heroine shows up.
MW does a great job of balancing all of these threads and moving the characters along on their own personal journeys. The heroine's thread is the central one. She doesn't think she's capable of anything (butterfly remember?) But she rides as well as the hero. She drives better than OM #2. She learns to cook. She is honest with the hero and herself.
For fun she gives her aunt a makeover, encourages OM#2 in his art, goes to the theater with OM#1, sits for a bronze bust for the sculptor who finally has inspiration, gets chased by a wild boar and sprains her ankle, discovers she's not frigid when the hero helps her after spraining her ankle.
When she declares her love, the hero basically sends her away. Heroine thinks he's going to marry OW, but he's sent her away to grow up just a bit more. She has learned a lot but she's never been independent. Heroine finds herself a job and a flat and makes friends, but she is miserable. When her auntie's sculptor friend puts on an exhibition in Sydney, she attends and sees the H again. Now he declares his intentions - he's done waiting for her. HEA.
There's a Noah's Ark ending - the aunt and sculptor. The OW and OM#2. OM#1 and the actress who had a crush on him. Everyone's art has improved.
If you don't mind nurturing alphas who are always right and always in control, you'll like this one. Otherwise the hero's speeches to heroine might come across as condescending. I was just glad she had someone looking out for her. The girl had some serious self-esteem issues.
Heroine: poor little rich girl who is extraordinarily beautiful and shy and insecure. She is fleeing an arranged marriage and her formidable mother.
Hero: Rich landowner who is smitten from their first meeting. His hobbies included horseback riding and psychoanalyzing the heroine.
OW: Daughter of a company man. Big boobs, but short legs. She's been trying to rope the H for years.
OM #1 Neurotic brother of the OW. Hero gave him a job out of pity. He whines about his hard life to the heroine from their first meeting.
OM#2 Under-achieving artist who is in love with the OW and puts his moves on the heroine for kicks and to make the OW jealous.
Artists:
Auntie who the heroine flees to is an artist.
There's a widower auntie wants to marry. He was a sculptor who has given that up to make pottery.
Every character is living below their potential until the heroine shows up.
MW does a great job of balancing all of these threads and moving the characters along on their own personal journeys. The heroine's thread is the central one. She doesn't think she's capable of anything (butterfly remember?) But she rides as well as the hero. She drives better than OM #2. She learns to cook. She is honest with the hero and herself.
For fun she gives her aunt a makeover, encourages OM#2 in his art, goes to the theater with OM#1, sits for a bronze bust for the sculptor who finally has inspiration, gets chased by a wild boar and sprains her ankle, discovers she's not frigid when the hero helps her after spraining her ankle.
When she declares her love, the hero basically sends her away. Heroine thinks he's going to marry OW, but he's sent her away to grow up just a bit more. She has learned a lot but she's never been independent. Heroine finds herself a job and a flat and makes friends, but she is miserable. When her auntie's sculptor friend puts on an exhibition in Sydney, she attends and sees the H again. Now he declares his intentions - he's done waiting for her. HEA.
There's a Noah's Ark ending - the aunt and sculptor. The OW and OM#2. OM#1 and the actress who had a crush on him. Everyone's art has improved.
If you don't mind nurturing alphas who are always right and always in control, you'll like this one. Otherwise the hero's speeches to heroine might come across as condescending. I was just glad she had someone looking out for her. The girl had some serious self-esteem issues.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 30, 2009
First time reading this one. It is just as good as all the others.
She would choose her own husband!
When Renee's wealthy parents arranged her marriage to a man she despised, she had fled to her beloved Aunt Katie's home in Queensland.
There she had hoped to escape and recover her shattered pride, but her plans were crushed by Nick Garbutt, a man even more poserful than her father.
Nick had the ability to arouse in her all the emotions she'd been accused of lacking--emotions she now felt ill-equipped to handle. Especially knowing that Nick was to marry someone else!
She would choose her own husband!
When Renee's wealthy parents arranged her marriage to a man she despised, she had fled to her beloved Aunt Katie's home in Queensland.
There she had hoped to escape and recover her shattered pride, but her plans were crushed by Nick Garbutt, a man even more poserful than her father.
Nick had the ability to arouse in her all the emotions she'd been accused of lacking--emotions she now felt ill-equipped to handle. Especially knowing that Nick was to marry someone else!
June 17, 2021
It’s okay average.
The book is all about beauty. Mainly about the h’s beauty, but also the beauty (or lack of beauty) of the other female characters.
As a woman, it made me feel uncomfortable that there was so much emphasis on female beauty from all the men in this book. The h was so much admired by all men for her beauty and there was so much talk about her beauty.
What shocked me, was the incident with the dog and the swine. The h is so stupid to go out riding with a horse in places where she shouldn’t have been. A swine wants to attack her, the poor dog defends her. The H comes to her rescue and he shoots both the swine and the dog to death.
I mean, I understand that the dog is heavily injured, but why not even try to take the dog to the vet. I hated this part of the story.
It wasn’t an awful read, but it wasn’t very enjoyable either, so three stars.
The book is all about beauty. Mainly about the h’s beauty, but also the beauty (or lack of beauty) of the other female characters.
As a woman, it made me feel uncomfortable that there was so much emphasis on female beauty from all the men in this book. The h was so much admired by all men for her beauty and there was so much talk about her beauty.
What shocked me, was the incident with the dog and the swine. The h is so stupid to go out riding with a horse in places where she shouldn’t have been. A swine wants to attack her, the poor dog defends her. The H comes to her rescue and he shoots both the swine and the dog to death.
I mean, I understand that the dog is heavily injured, but why not even try to take the dog to the vet. I hated this part of the story.
It wasn’t an awful read, but it wasn’t very enjoyable either, so three stars.
abrierto-to-read-hr-other
August 7, 2022Renee Dalton was a rich society butterfly - but she didn't like her artifical life at all, and now she was trying to make a last bid for escape before she got bogged down into the 'suitable' society marriage that faced her. But Nick Garbutt, that forceful, down-to-earth cattle baron, had no opinion of her at all, and gave her no encouragement. He told her flatly that she was frightened to feel - and he was right! For she realised she was frightened to feel anything for Nick. What was the use, when in addition to his low opinion of her he had Sharon Russell, who was his for the asking?
June 12, 2017
Just ok. Ended too abruptly.
April 20, 2019
Really enjoyed this book. The main female character was easy to relate to.
November 12, 2017
Aussie
February 6, 2016
Hero displayed cruelty at times.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews