Portrait Of My Heart

Rawlings #2

by Patricia Cabot (Pseudonym)

They parted in disgrace...But desire would bring them back together.

Years ago, in one explosive instant, childhood rivalry turned into wild passion for Jeremy, handsome young Duke of Rawlings, and Maggie Herbert, the object of his affections. Unfortunately, the ensuing scandal found them banished to separate corners of the world.

Now fate has joined Jeremy and Maggie again-- for a long-overdue dance of desire as uncompromising as the lovers themselves. Jeremy, a decorated soldier, is determined to claim Maggie at last. And Maggie, engaged to be married to another man, finds her secret fantasies of Jeremy spinning out of control. All that stands between them and the steamy passion the years can no longer chain is the past-- and a present steeped in jealousy, intrigue, and danger...

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical, Adult, Historical Fiction, Chick Lit, Fiction

359 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 15, 1999

About the author

Pseudonym of Meg Cabot

Meggin Patricia Cabot was born and and raised in Bloomington, Indiana, USA, daughter of Barbara and C. Victor Cabot, a college professor. She also lived in Grenoble, France and Carmel, California (the setting for her bestselling Mediator series) before moving to New York City after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Indiana University.

After working for ten years as an assistant residence hall director at New York University (an experience from which she occasionally draws inspiration for her Heather Wells mystery series), Meg wrote the Princess Diaries series, which was made into two hit movies by Disney, sold over 20 million copies, and has been translated into 38 languages.

Meg also wrote the 1-800-Where-R-You? series (which has been reprinted under the title Vanished and was made into the Lifetime series called Missing), as well as numerous other award-winning, best-selling stand-alone books and series, including All-American Girl and Avalon High (on which an original Disney Channel movie was based), and several books told entirely in emails and text messages (Boy Next Door/Boy Meets Girl/Every Boy’s Got One).

Meg’s newest series include the tween hit Allie Finkle’s Rules for Girls, the YA trilogy Airhead, and Abandon, the first book in a new paranormal series for young adult readers (the sequel, Underworld, will be in US stores in spring 2012). Insatiable, Meg’s first paranormal romance for adult readers, was followed by a sequel, Overbite, in July 2011.

Meg is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of books for both adults and tweens/teens. Meg married financial writer and poet Benjamin D. Egnatz on 1 April 1993, she currently lives in Key West with her husband and two cats.

Reviews

[Mafi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Estava à espera deste livro desde 2012. Não desiludiu :)

Neste tipo de romances muitas vezes é difícil encontrar diferenças em tantas histórias parecidas e com
(...)
estrutura mas a autora soube introduzir alguns elementos que, mesmo não muito profundos, sempre dá para dar algum contexto social e histórico ao livro. Aqui é notório com a situação de Maggie que quer ser uma pintora, uma artist independente mas que não tem o apoio da família pois o pensamento é que as mulheres não podem criar nada, pois o seu lugar é tomar conta do marido. Claro que este assunto nem é o tema principal da história mas foi bom ver esta inclusão.

http://algodaodoceparaocerebro.blogsp...

[Isabel Almeida (Os Livros Nossos) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leia a crítica completa a este livro no Blog Os Livros Nossos em http://oslivrosnossos.blogspot.pt/201...

"(...) Margaret continua secretamente apaixonada pelo Duque de Rawlings, mas perante um silêncio total durante cinco longos anos onde apenas soube das suas façanhas militares através de esparsas cartas à tia - Lady Edawards - ou pelas notícias publicadas no The Times, rendeu-se às evidências de o destino de ambos ser percorrido por caminhos díspares.

Um sem número de peripécias, muita acção, perigo e a teimosia de ambos os protagonistas arrastam as leitoras para um interessante romance de época, onde se destaca a rigidez da sociedade Vitoriana, onde as mulheres eram vistas como prováveis mães de família, sem direito a terem uma carreira própria (que era encarada como escandalosa e reprovada familiar e socialmente). Também interessante é o papel de relevo da imprensa da época, em especial, o prestigiado The Times que impunha um verdadeiro dogma informativo, mesmo quando a realidade era bastante diversa dos relatos que chegavam ao jornal - o Duque de Rawlings vê-se confrontado com uma imprecisão narrativa e jornalística que o coloca erradamente como noivo da Estrela do Jaipur, alegadamente uma princesa Indiana que lhe fora "oferecida" como recompensa pelo Marajá (tio da Princesa) pelos honrosos préstimos militares do jovem.

Já Margaret é uma personagem também muito bem construída, sendo uma jovem voluntariosa, determinada, uma artista na sua verdadeira essência, que se vê discriminada e abandonada pela família, após o falecimento da mãe que era a sua mentora e apoiante, apenas pelo facto de trabalhar como pintora e fazer disso uma profissão remunerada, almejando alcançar a sua independência financeira através deste metier. Apesar de apaixonada, Maggie nunca se revela submissa perante o Duque, contestando, reclamando e sendo até agressiva quando não concorda com as circunstâncias que os rodeiam e com o modo como este aborda as questões da convivência entre ambos.

Margaret e Jeremy deixam-se enredar nas malhas da forte atracção que os une, acabando por ceder ao turbilhão de desejo que os atinge, sendo bastante intensas as cenas de natureza sexual que a autora descreve entre ambos, às quais não são alheias as emoções à flor da pele, e o conflito interno que os jovens vivenciam, quando tudo parece perdido quanto à possibilidade de um futuro em comum há muito sonhado.

Por sua vez, o perigo que ronda o Duque, que começa a ser alvo de tentativas de homicídio, ainda mais contribui para enriquecer a trama.

Carinho, paixão, orgulho, determinação, luta por ideais, redenção, perigo, exotismo e sensualidade resultam em linhas que lemos com muita atenção e indiscutível prazer, numa viagem a outras eras que é sempre fascinante."

[Kaethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ostensibly this is set in the UK, in Yorkshire and London, at the height of the Victorian era. It's a charming romance and ends most happily for damn near everyone. Such fun! The one star off is for how very Victorian it isn't. Despite her efforts, Cabot has written a thoroughly contemporary story about very modern characters. The art aspect feels real, albeit anachronistic. For one of an author's earliest efforts it shows off her many strengths: her humor, her familial relationships, romantic leads who are beset by action that keeps them from having the soul-baring conversations that would straighten everything out.
No doubt I'll bump up the rating next time I read it (there's no question, really).

Personal copy

[Christina (A Reader of Fictions) · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 stars

Well, Portrait of My Heart was better, but um it still wasn’t good. Cabot’s still trying to right romance novels like the ones that were popular at the time, rather than writing like she eventually comes to, aka with the primary goal of FUN and secondary goal of SHIP.

The ship in Portrait of My Heart was much better, which admittedly meant I got through the book really quickly. Like, there were definite Swan Princess relationship vibes. Only with sexy times. However, the whole thing is poisoned by the old school romance thing (also found in Where Roses Grow Wild) where almost every single kiss/sexy time is preceded by the heroine saying she doesn’t want it, but then melting as soon as he touches her. Books like this make me rage. I’m not sure why making things semi-rapey (or all out rape in some romance novels) was thought to be the most romantic thing because um no it’s not.

The other issue with Portrait of My Heart is the inclusion of the French and Indian characters, which could have been fun since romance novels are often very white and even very English. However, the portrayals were horribly stereotyped and just yikes.

So yeah, the awesome Meg Cabotness did not start with Portrait of My Heart either. *sighs*

[Joana]

review em breve

[Carla Marques · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gostei imenso deste livro pois a Maggie não é a típica menina/Senhora feminina que estamos habituados a ver nestes livros.
Opinião completa em:http://aviciadadoslivros.blogspot.pt/...

[Loucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un A&P que je relis de temps en temps, toujours avec le même plaisir. J'aime la personnalité des 2 héros. Ils se connaissent bien donc les malentendus ne durent pas des plombes. Et il y a beaucoup d'attirance et de tension entre eux dès le début du livre. Je le relirai encore.

[Andreia Silva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muito bom , esta autora nunca me desilude . Apesar de ser um romance muito cor de rosa , achei que tinha um personagem masculino muito fora do vulgar por roçar a criminalidade . Gostei imenso .

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugggggggh. This was a pretty generic romance novel, but I had all kinds of issues with it.

1. I was already a little weirded out at the idea of sex scenes involving someone we've previously only known as a ten-year-old. Yes, I do understand that's how life works but... eww.

2. From the blurb I was expecting Jeremy to have fallen in love with Maggie when they were children - but no, he only develops the desire to marry her when she happens to have turned out gorgeous with huge boobs and a tendency toward carnal thoughts. Throughout the book it seemed that his desire for her was all physical and her personality and talents didn't matter. Even the nice things he does for her are moves calculated to get her to marry him, not done just for her benefit.

3. Jeremy is a manwhore and has no concept of consent. I mean, he's a Victorian duke who no one says no to so I understand him being terribly entitled etc, but he literally stood over a sleeping Maggie thinking about how he could "violate her" several times without her waking up because he knows she's such a heavy sleeper, and then he's "not sure" what stops him. GROSS.

4. Anne, the sweet, decent friend of the previous book, is just awful for most of this one. I feel the Herberts got written as much crueler this time around just for plot's sake.

5. Anyone else think the brief meeting with Elizabeth Rawlings was just a setup for her to be the protag of a third Rawlings novel? I guess it didn't happen.

Anyway.... the writing itself wasn't terrible, but I am not loving these so far. (I bought all of the Patricia Cabot novels during my big Meg Cabot kick many moons ago and I'm just getting to them now.)

[Halima]

A wonderful read, a tad too long but fun nonetheless.

I loved the relationship between the characters. A smart intelligent heroine who isn't afraid to punch the hero when he deserves it and a faithful hero who has loved the heroine since childhood. A really sweet romance between the two.

I was a bit hesitant to read a historical by Cabot but she doesn't disappoint. I'm glad I read it.

[Amy Watt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a sort of continuation of 'Where Roses Grow Wild'. Ten year old Jeremy has grown up (he's 21 at the beginning and the 26 for most of the rest of the book) and has assumed the role of seventeenth Duke of Rawlings. A title which he despises. He falls for his childhood friend/rival, Maggie,(she's 5 years younger than him but beat him in everything). They then have a 'moment', where they're caught. Jeremy tries to do the right thing, Maggie doesn't want to know, so Jeremy joins the army and goes to India. The rest of the book is about what happens when they meet up again five years later.

I like romances where there's been almost a childhood rivalry. I find it sweet. Which might be weird, but that just sums me up in one word.

Maggie was a nice character. Whereas, with Meg Cabot's other heroines in her historical romance being strong but polite and everything that a Victorian woman was supposed to be, Maggie was her own person and didn't really care if people saw her ankles (or stuff like that). I thought that made a nice change from all the over-the-top Victorian woman that you get in historical romances.

Jeremy, although a Duke, doesn't care if he gets into fights and whatnot. He doesn't even want the title. Because of this, most people act with caution around him. Although, they continue to hang out with him for his money. But Jeremy doesn't care. He just wants someone who wants him for him and not his title. Which is why Maggie is perfect for him.

There were lots of comically awkward moments between the two main characters. Even more comically awkward moments with the servants and Jeremy's aunt and uncle (there is a moment when Jeremy is talking to his aunt and she casually remarks that she went into labour a couple hours earlier but refused to stay in bed. Jeremy, understandably, is shocked because she hadn't acted as if she was in labour at all).

I'd recommend this book if, like myself, you are a big fan of Meg Cabot's books. Or even if you aren't and just like your romances to have a humourous twist.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was not without flaws- honestly it could have been a lot shorter if the main characters did not repeatedly find reasons to not be together- but overall it was an enjoyable read. I liked Maggie a lot, and Jeremy became better as the book progressed, beginning as a stereotypical "rake" that didn't seem to have a lot of good qualities. I wasn't sure at first if I'd get into this one, having already read "Where Roses Grow Wild" and thinking of Jeremy as a 10-year-old, but that was quickly forgotten once I began. There were some funny moments (I did really enjoy the last few chapters probably best out of the whole book), as well as some suspenseful ones, but I never really doubted where it was eventually going to end up. (Which in my book is okay, since I don't like an unhappy ending.) "Patricia" Cabot is now 2/3 for me.

[Eli · Rating 2 out of 5]

2/5
Ellos jugaban juntos desde peque��os, pero cuando ��l vuelve porque lo echaron de la Universidad se encuentran con que ambos cambiaron mucho y se sienten muy atra��dos. ��l est�� acostumbrado a que las mujeres caigan rendidas a sus pies y como Maggie no lo hace, se enamora de ella. Le pide matrimonio, ella le dice que no y le pide que si cambia de opini��n le escriba una carta. Pasan los a��os, ��l se va al ejercito donde es condecorado, ella se va a Paris a estudiar arte. Pero cuando ��l se entera de que ella est�� comprometida, vuelve a aparecer, decidido a que ella no se case con nadie que no sea ��l. La trama parece interesante, a que si? Pues es lo ��nico interesante de todo el libro, porque es aburrido, lento, con personajes sin mucha gracia.

[Gabriela · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good guilty pleasure historical romance book.
If strong and masculine (and hairy I might add) male character is what you are looking for, search no more my friend. Jeremy Rawlings is the personification of the romance hero, swooning the reader the same way he does the heroine.
What surpised me was the level of historical detail in this novel. Really well done.

[Fernanda Leite · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a moment, I thought that maybe I was right about the end, but no! Meg, as Patricia, knew how to make things up! I love it!

[Titinha Scaeiro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gostei... Gostei... :D

[Ulrike Berlik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Erotik pur zwischen einem Herzog und einer Künstlerin

Allgemeines
Während einer Buchverlosung bei LovelyBooks habe ich von dem Verlag Digital Publisher ein E-Buch gewonnen und bedanke mich hierfür.

Formal / zeitliche Einordnung
Die Geschichte startet sehr turbulent 1871 in Yorkshire, England. Dann geht sie fünf Jahre später in London weiter. Der Text ist in der dritten Person geschrieben und beleuchtet hauptsächlich die Gefühle und Gedanken der beiden Protagonisten Jeremy Rawlings, genannt Jerry, Herzog von Rawlings, und Margret Herbert, genannt Maggie, Tochter eines Edelmannes.

Inhalt
Jeremy verhält sich wie ein ungehobelter Wüstling und wird darum der Universität verwiesen. Er betrachtet Frauen als Lustobjekte und zeigt keinerlei Interesse zu heiraten.
Margret hält nicht viel von gesittetem Benehmen. Sie will weder heiraten noch eine Familie gründen, sondern ihr Leben der Malerei widmen.
Als die Beiden aufeinander treffen, kompromittiert er sie, hält allerdings anstandshalber um ihre Hand an, was sie lachend ablehnt. Während er nach Indien in den Krieg zieht, darf sie nach Paris, um dort Kunst zu studieren.
Fünf Jahre später treffen Jerry und Maggie erneut aufeinander. Es gibt viele Verwirrungen, hitzige Diskussionen, ausgeschmückte Erotikszenen – aber auch eine kriminalistische Nebenhandlung.
Am Ende geht es rundum gut aus, so dass man sich mit einem wohligen Gefühl zurücklehnen könnte.

Meine persönliche Meinung (Spoiler!)
Ich hatte einen gefühlvollen Regency-Roman erwartet. In der Hand hielt ich allerdings einen erotischen Liebesroman, der alle Konventionen brach. Ob dieser Roman eine Ausnahme bei der Autorin ist, weiß ich nicht, da ich sie zum ersten Mal gelesen habe.
Die Leichtfertigkeit von Jeremy bereits ganz zu Beginn, der ein Mädchen entjungfert und es dann nicht heiraten will, sondern statt dessen ihren Bruder im Duell tötet, hat mich direkt gegen ihn eingenommen. Da er zu dem Zeitpunkt bereits ein Herzog ist, finde ich sein Verhalten skandalös.
Kaum bemerkt er, dass seine Kindheitsfreundin Maggie weibliche Formen bekommen hat, macht er sich an sie heran. Sie zeigt sich zwar hin- und hergerissen zwischen Lust und Anstand, doch interessiert ihn das nicht. Er verführt sie und sie schmilzt dahin. Jedes Mal.
Während er in Indien seine Lust mit verschiedenen Frauen stillt, zeigt sich Maggie absolut keusch und wird nicht einmal schwach, als sie nackte Männer zeichnet. Sie will natürlich nur Jeremy.
Der anfangs noch amüsante Einschub mit dem 'Stern von Jaipur' wird dermaßen oft erklärt, aus jeder Sicht und von jedem im Buch, dass es auf mich nur noch nervend wirkt. Auch die Verbissenheit, mit der Jeremy dem Verlobten von Maggie unterstellt, ihn töten zu wollen, ist geradezu lächerlich.
Doch Maggie ist nicht viel besser. Sie ist keusch verlobt mit Augustin. Doch ihre Jungfräulichkeit schenkt sie Jeremy, von dem sie glaubt, dass er verlobt ist. Statt sich für ihr unangemessenes Verhalten zu schämen und das Verhältnis zu beenden, kocht sie vor Eifersucht wegen seiner angeblichen Verlobten.
Zum Schluss bekehrt sich Maggies gesamte Familie. Der Attentäter ist nur ein verliebter Narr. Augustin bekommt Maggies beste Freundin. Und Maggie wird glücklich mit einem Mann, dessen Körper von Malaria-Anfällen geschüttelt wird, dessen Haut ungesund gelblich und krank aussieht, der eine gebrochene Nase hat, dessen Körper fast wie von einem Gorilla behaart ist, der aber dennoch der schönste Mann der ganzen Welt ist. Das muss einfach Liebe sein.

Fazit
Die Handlung dieses Romans wird von erotischen Szenen zusammen gehalten. Zwischen der Erotik taucht auch mal etwas schlechtes Gewissen auf. Als historischen Liebesroman würde ich das Werk jetzt nicht bezeichnen, eher als historischen Erotikroman.
Ich vergebe drei Sterne, weil mir die Szene mit dem Sturz vom Baum sehr gut gefallen hat und einige Szenen wirklich gelungen sind. Aber Regency war dieser Erotikroman nicht wirklich.

[May Mostly Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

หนังสือเล่มนี้เป็นเล่มต่อเนื่องกับนิยายเล่มแรกที่แพทริเซียเขียน (ซึ่งก็คือเรื่อง Where Roses grow wild หนังสือที่สนุกมากอีกเล่มนึงค่ะ แต่เราชอบ POMH มากกว่า) เป็นเรื่องราวของเจรามี่ ดยุคแห่งโรว์ลิ่งส์ ซึ่งเป็นหลานของพระเอกในเล่มแรก

ในวัยยี่สิบเอ็ดปี เจรามี่เพิ่งถูกไล่ออกจากอ๊อคซ์ฟอร์ดเพราะไปฆ่าคนตายในระหว่างการท้าดวล ก่อนหน้านั้นเขาก็ถูกไล่ออกจากอีตัน และฮาร์โรว์มาแล้ว เรื่องทำให้คนอ่านรู้อย่างชัดเจนว่า เจรามี่กำลังอยู่บนเส้นทางของการเป็นพระเอกจอมเสเพล ที่ใช้ตำแหน่งดยุค อำนาจและเงินตราที่มาพร้อมกับตำแหน่งในการใช้ชีวิตอย่างไร้สาระ และทำตัวไม่เป็นประโยชน์ และเพราะเขามีอาที่รักเขามากพอที่จะเลือกทางที่ยากลำบากให้ เอ็ดเวิร์ด (ซึ่งเป็นพระเอกภาคแรก และน้องชายพ่อของเจรามี่) ตัดสินใจส่งเขาไปเป็นทหารในอินเดีย เพื่อฝึกนิสัย

แต่ก่อนจะไป เจรามี่เดินทางกลับมาที่บ้านของอาและน้าสาว ที่นั่นเขาได้พบกับแม็กกี้ กุลสตรีผู้แสนเรียบร้อย ลูกสาวของเพื่อนบ้านที่เดินทางมาเยี่ยมน้าสาวของเขา

ทั้งเจรามี่และแม็กกี้เป็นเพื่อนสนิทกันในวัยเด็ก แต่ทั้งคู่ก็ไม่ได้เจอกันมาห้าปีแล้ว นับตั้งแต่เจเรมี่เดินทางไปเรียนหนังสือที่มหาวิทยาลัย ในขณะที่แม็กกี้ไล่ตามความฝันในการเป็นจิตรกรของตัวเอง ดังนั้นเมื่อแม็กกี้ได้ข่าวการกลับมาเยี่ยมบ้าน (แม้จะเป็นการชั่วคราว) ของเขา เธอจึงรีบไปดักพบเขาทันที

แต่เจรามี่เปลี่ยนไป ครั้งสุดท้ายที่เจอกัน แม็กกี้ซึ่งเป็นผู้หญิงร่างสูง ในขณะที่เจรามี่เป็นเด็กชายตัวเล็ก แต่ครั้งนี้เขายืนค้ำหัวเธอ แต่สำหรับเจรามี่ ความเปลี่ยนแปลงของแม็กกี้มีมากกว่าความสูง จากเด็กสาวร่างผอมบาง สูงเก้งก้าง เธอกลายเป็นสาวสวยชนิดเกินห้ามใจ และก็ด้วยนิสัยที่อยากได้อะไรก็ต้องได้ และเขาตัดสินใจในวินาทีนั้นว่าเขาต้องการแม็กกี้

เด็กทั้งสองเกือบเลยเถิด แต่ก็ไม่ถึงขั้นนั้น แม็กกี้ยังมีสติพอที่จะดึงตัวเองกลับมา และเธอก็มีสติพอที่จะไม่ตอบรับคำขอแต่งงานของเจรามี่ เธอไม่เหมาะที่จะเป็นดัชเชส และคิดว่ามันจะขัดขวางความฝันการเป็นจิตรกรของเธอ และที่สำคัญเธอรู้ว่าเจรามี่ไม่ได้รักเธอ

ห้าปีผ่านไป เจรามี่เดินทางไปอินเดียเพื่อเป็นทหาร ในขณะที่แม็กกี้ไปปารีสเพื่อเรียนศิลปะ เขาไม่เคยกลับมาอังกฤษอีกเลย จนกระทั่งได้ข่าวจากน้าสาวว่า แม็กกี้กำลังจะหมั้นหมายกับชายอื่น

เจรามีกลับมาทั้งที่ยังไม่หายป่วยจากมาลาเรียด้วยซ้ำ เขากลับมาเพราะผู้หญิงคนเดียวที่เขารักกำลังจะเป็นของชายอื่น และเมื่อเขาพบว่าแม็กกี้กำลังอาศัยอยู่ในบ้านของเขา (เพราะเธอถูกตัดออกจากวงตระกูลเนื่องจากเป็นจิตรกร) เขาก็รู้ว่า โอกาสเปิดแล้วเขาเอาชนะใจเธอแล้ว

หนังสือเล่มนี้เต็มไปด้วยข้อผิดพลาด การเขียนไม่ได้ใช้ภาษาสวยงามน่าอ่าน แต่ตัวละครคือสิ่งที่จับใจแม็กซ์ได้อย่างรุนแรง แม็กซ์ชอบความบกพร่องของเจรามี่ เขาไม่ใช่ผู้ชายที่สมบูรณ์แบบ คิดเอา ทึกทักเองก็เท่านั้น เหตุผลที่เขาไม่ยอมกลับมาอังกฤษ ทั้งที่ประสบความสำเร็จอย่างมากใน���าชีพที่อินเดีย ก็เพราะเขารอวันให้แม็กกี้เรียกตัวให้เขากลับ เขาเคยขอเธอแต่งงาน แต่ได้รับคำปฏิเสธ เขาต้องการให้เธอเป็นฝ่ายเรียกตัวเขากลับ (เพราะทึกทักเอาเองว่าเธอต้องรู้แล้วว่า เขารักเธอแค่ไหน) แต่เมื่อเธอไม่เรียก จนทุกอย่างเกือบจะสายเกินไป

เจรามี่เป็นทุกอย่างของพระเอกชนิดที่แม็กซ์ชอบ เขาอาจจะไม่ไปไำกลขนาดพระเอกสไตล์แอน สจ๊วต หรือแชนน่อน แม็คเคนน่า นะคะ ดีกรีจะอ่อนกว่า แต่ก็น่ารักไม่แพ้กัน คุณจะไม่รักพระเอกที่เจ้าเล่ห์ขนาดมอมยานางเอก และวางแผนร้ายสารพัดเพื่อให้นางเอกเลิกลากั���ชายที่เธอตั้งใจจะหมั้นหมายด้วยได้เหรอ บางคนอาจจะไม่ชอบ แต่นี่เป็นพล็อตที่แม็กซ์ปฏิเสธไม่ได้ด้วยประการทั้งปวง

นางเอกเล่มนี้ก็น่ารักค่ะ แล้วก็น่าสงสารไปในขณะเดียวกัน แม็กกี้เป็นหญิงสาวในความฝัน ในความรัก เป็นแรงบันดาลใจทุกอย่างให้เจรามี่ โดยที่เธอไม่รู้ตัว ดังนั้นเมื่อเขากลับมา และทำเหมือนทั้งคู่เป็นคู่รักที่พรากจากกันไปนาน แม็กกี้ก็อยู่ในภาวะที่สับสนกับชีวิตอย่างเต็มที่ เธอทำตัวไม่ถูก และไม่แน่ใจในความรู้สึกที่ตัวเองมี ไม่รู้ว่าสิ่งที่เจรามี่ทำเป็นเพราะหวงเหมือนหมาหวงก้าง เนื่องจากเธอกำลังจะเดินจากเขาไป หรือว่ารักเพราะทนเสียเธอไม่ได้กันแน่

ตัวละครทั้งคู่เป็นเด็กกันมากนะคะ อย่าคิดว่าอ่านเล่มนี้แล้วจะเจอพฤติกรรมของผู้ใหญ่ที่มีความรับผิดชอบสูงอะไร ปกติเราก็ไม่ค่อยได้ชอบหนังสือแนวนี้นะคะ แต่เล่มนี้ยกเว้นให้เพราะขอบอกว่าน่ารักมากกกกกกกกกค่ะ

คะแนนที่ 90

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eu amei esse livro, geralmente não curto quando o romance têm um veia mais humorística, mas aqui a autora foi super, hiper, megaaa feliz em balancear o humor com as características mais descontraídas dos personagens, sem ficar pastelão...me peguei com as tiradas sarcásticas do mocinho, ele com certeza é um dos melhores mocinhos que li esse ano, pois é mega determinado, apaixonado, intenso e brincalhão, enfim, foge um pouco do esteriótipo 'frio + traumatizado', e acaba sendo uma lufada de ar fresco nos romances que leio. Confesso que de início pensei que não fosse curtir, pois estava achando o envolvimento dos dois muito acelerado, tanto é que mesmo anos sem se verem, logo no início o mocinho já chega agarrando a Mag kkkk fiquei bem chocada com o descaramento dele, e pensei que o livro iria ficar nessa pegada sem ter o romance trabalhado...Mas me enganei redondamente, o casal é tão apaixonado que a autora não precisou se esforçar muito para deixar o romance fluir, amei o casal, cenas sensuais no ponto, diálogos cheio de humor, personagens secundários muito carismáticos (acho que nunca vou me esquecer da princesa que venho com o Jerry do exterior, só de lembrar do desfecho eu dou risada sozinha kkk), e mocinha forte e indepente!
Uma das coisas que mais chamou a atenção foram os esforços que o Jerry fez para ser merecedor do amor da Maggie, ele também foi super considerado em ajudá-la em tudo que a fazia se sentir triste (a questão da família dela, achei bem sensível da parte dele ter se pedisposto em tentar reuní-los), um mocinho perfeito, na verdade um casal perfeito!

O livro, na minha opinião poderia ser um tiquinho mais curto, porém mesmo assim as quase 400 páginas foram bem gastas e em nenhum momento o livro ficou maçante.
Com certeza um dos melhores romances históricos divertidos que li.

[Elsa Dantas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jeremy, o jovem Duque de Rawlings é um famoso libertino. E quando as suas atenções se viram para Maggie, todos ficam surpresos.
Para mostrar que é merecedor de uma mulher como ela, ele decide declarar-se à sua amiga e partir para o exército.
Passado alguns anos, Maggie fica noiva de outro e Jeremy regressa para mostrar-lhe o erro que ela está prestes a cometer.
Adorei esta leitura, o casal tem uma amizade de infância tipo cão e gato. Por isso, até eles ficam surpresos quando reconhecem o desejo que sentem um pelo outro.
Maggie é uma mulher muito à frente do seu tempo, ela sonha em ser pintora e isso fará com que tenha problemas no seu seio familiar.
E foi adorável testemunhar a felicidade do casal do primeiro livro, que está bastante presente neste volume.

[ann_zack_cee_am_ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would have liked it a whole lot better if the hero wasn’t so much of a manwhore. He wanted to marry Maggie and expected her to wait for him for 5 years until he came back from a cavalry in India but he went to whores to slake his lust throughout those years instead? And he had the audacity to be mad at Maggie for being engaged to someone else while he was away. Also, I don’t like many OW elements in this and I wish that segment had been replaced with more
time of the characters growing up. It didn’t feel like romance to me as both had come with major flaws ; Jeremy with his whoring ways and Maggie with her cheating on her fiancee with Jeremy. Plus, Jeremy only indicated that he was attracted to Maggie purely because of her big bosoms ans voluptuous curves. Good lord!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun, flirty, lighthearted escape read. I think this one has topped Lady of Skye as my favorite Patricia/Meg Cabot historical romance. I really liked both Maggie Herbert and Jeremy Rawlings. Maggie's painting hobby added an interesting dimension to the plot, and even though the ending is predictable (as all romance novels are) the story is satisfying. Lord Edward Rawlings and Pegeen from Where Roses Grow Wild make several appearances throughout the story, and that was fun, though this book definitely stands on its own.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was delightful, just really playful and silly at times. I loved it. Such a surprise. Lots of miscommunications and hijinks. Very lighthearted read. I almost didn’t read it because the description barely does it justice.

[Cristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dei umas boas gargalhadas!
Valeu a pena ler!
Gostei bastante!

[Laine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid romance and saucy banter.

[Ingkychaw · Rating 2 out of 5]

เหนื่อยมากกว่าจะอ่านจบ เข้าไม่ถึงเคมีของตัวเอกทั้งสอง ตอนจบก็อลหม่านมาก

[Amee · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.
Not as addictive as some of her other works, but a good read.

[Tina Braz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Rawlings books from Patricia (Meg) Cabot! They’re definitely page-turners if you’re into historical romance fiction!

[Catarina Figueiredo · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Oana-Maria Uliu · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was fun, but I disliked the main characters for a while - especially Jerry. The Duke, not the dog.