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My Unfair Lady
Who says a proper lady can't carry a knife?
He created the perfect woman…
The impoverished Duke of Monchester despises the rich Americans who flock to London, seeking to buy their way into the ranks of the British peerage. So when railroad heiress Summer Wine Lee offers him a king's ransom if he'll teach her to become a proper lady, he's prepared to rebuff her. But when he meets the petite beauty with the knife in her boot, it's not her fortune he finds impossible to resist…
For the arms of another man
Frontier-bred Summer Wine Lee has no interest in winning over London society-it's the New York bluebloods and her future mother-in-law she's determined to impress. She knows the cost of smoothing her rough-and-tumble frontier edges will be high. But she never imagined it might cost her her heart…
From acclaimed author Kathryne Kennedy comes a delightful new take on a classic tale. As a Wild West beauty takes Victorian London by storm, the devilishly handsome duke she's hired to instruct her in proper deportment begins to wonder if his unconventional pupil might be perfect just the way she is…
He created the perfect woman…
The impoverished Duke of Monchester despises the rich Americans who flock to London, seeking to buy their way into the ranks of the British peerage. So when railroad heiress Summer Wine Lee offers him a king's ransom if he'll teach her to become a proper lady, he's prepared to rebuff her. But when he meets the petite beauty with the knife in her boot, it's not her fortune he finds impossible to resist…
For the arms of another man
Frontier-bred Summer Wine Lee has no interest in winning over London society-it's the New York bluebloods and her future mother-in-law she's determined to impress. She knows the cost of smoothing her rough-and-tumble frontier edges will be high. But she never imagined it might cost her her heart…
From acclaimed author Kathryne Kennedy comes a delightful new take on a classic tale. As a Wild West beauty takes Victorian London by storm, the devilishly handsome duke she's hired to instruct her in proper deportment begins to wonder if his unconventional pupil might be perfect just the way she is…
363 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 1, 2009
17 people are currently reading
298 people want to read
About the author
Kathryne Kennedy
20 books215 followersAs a college grad, business owner, and writer, Kathryne has published nearly a dozen short stories in the SFF/Romance genre, receiving Honorable Mention twice in the 'Writers of the Future' contest. Being a self-proclaimed "Air Force brat," Kathryne has traveled a great deal, and over the years has lived in Guam, Okinawa, and several states in the U.S
She currently resides in Arizona with her husband, two sons, and the rest of her family (including two chihuahuas named Precious and Baggins (think Lord of the Rings) who she's rather fond of).
She currently resides in Arizona with her husband, two sons, and the rest of her family (including two chihuahuas named Precious and Baggins (think Lord of the Rings) who she's rather fond of).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
March 3, 2013
DNF.
I haven't read much about this time period so maybe that was why I wasn't engaged in the story. But I suspect the problems had to do with the characters.
The wealthy American heroine (from Arizona) is trying to become more refined so that she can marry a man related to the Astors in New York (high society connection). So she goes to England and hires a duke to teach her how to be a lady, to sponsor her in English society and have her presented to the queen.
Warped logic? Or is it just me?
The impoverished Duke (the hero) hates American heiresses. When he receives her letter containing a business offer, he rushes to see her. Once there, he decides to accept her offer because he needs the money and doesn't consider helping her "work" since gentlemen do not work.
Odd hero behavior? He went to her home (not summoned her to his home - men have this thing about territory) to discuss a business arrangement with a woman? (Why would a Duke discuss business with a woman unless the discussion was bedroom business?)
Okay, so I had trouble with the Hero logic as well. He hates American heiresses. He claims he showed up only to find gossip to share with the Prince> But why bother with her? She's a nobody, not yet accepted in society, has no English connections to get into society. Would the Prince even care about a nobody? Who would listen to gossip about a non entity?
The Duke's mistress, a Marchioness, visits and plucks the heroine's eyebrows and teaches her how to apply cosmetics.
Really? A Marchioness plucking a peasant's eyebrows? Don't wealthy titled women have maids do that for them?
Okay, that is when my head hurt so bad from rolling my eyes that I decided to move on to a different story.
I haven't read much about this time period so maybe that was why I wasn't engaged in the story. But I suspect the problems had to do with the characters.
The wealthy American heroine (from Arizona) is trying to become more refined so that she can marry a man related to the Astors in New York (high society connection). So she goes to England and hires a duke to teach her how to be a lady, to sponsor her in English society and have her presented to the queen.
Warped logic? Or is it just me?
The impoverished Duke (the hero) hates American heiresses. When he receives her letter containing a business offer, he rushes to see her. Once there, he decides to accept her offer because he needs the money and doesn't consider helping her "work" since gentlemen do not work.
Odd hero behavior? He went to her home (not summoned her to his home - men have this thing about territory) to discuss a business arrangement with a woman? (Why would a Duke discuss business with a woman unless the discussion was bedroom business?)
Okay, so I had trouble with the Hero logic as well. He hates American heiresses. He claims he showed up only to find gossip to share with the Prince> But why bother with her? She's a nobody, not yet accepted in society, has no English connections to get into society. Would the Prince even care about a nobody? Who would listen to gossip about a non entity?
The Duke's mistress, a Marchioness, visits and plucks the heroine's eyebrows and teaches her how to apply cosmetics.
Really? A Marchioness plucking a peasant's eyebrows? Don't wealthy titled women have maids do that for them?
Okay, that is when my head hurt so bad from rolling my eyes that I decided to move on to a different story.
November 24, 2009
Summer is American that grew up in Tombstone Arizona, where she learned to shoot, and fight, but not schooled in the ways of a lady. Her father uprooted herself and her friend Maria to New York so he could continue investing in railroads and such. New York did not welcome her odd, uncivilized ways. All, except for Monte, who she is engaged too. Although Summer is very wealthy, Monte’s family does not accept that she is not a proper lady. So Summer Wine Lee has traveled to London and hired the Duke of Monchester, otherwise known as Byron to make her into a Lady so she can be presented to the Queen and go back to the states to marry Monte and make his family happy.
Byron is an impoverished Duke, he owns properly but they are quite ill maintained. He keeps his status and elite position in London by being Prince Albert’s eyes and ears in society. He collects embarrassing or funny stories about London’s elite and shares these stories with the prince to amuse him. Byron abhors American women who come to London title hunting. He is quick to offend and shock Summer and Maria. But Summer sees this as a golden opportunity – no sidestepping or manners to get in the way of shaping her up quickly to become a lady. His brash manner and shocking talk does nothing to embarrass her, much to the shock of Byron.
Byron is given an offer he can’t very well refuse. Summer offers him a hefty investment in the railroad she owns. Byron would be free of selling himself out to the prince, he would be able to live the life he wants, and not have to collect the silly stories that hurts others. Byron finds that Summer is not your everyday girl looking for a title. She carries a knife on herself, she is never one to be embarrassed – she is quite the match for Byron. The more time they spend together, the more the romance blooms.
I’ve gone back and forth in my head with My Unfair Lady. It is a cute premise for a book, but there were so many times I stopped reading because Summer or Byron did or thought something that just did not connect with me.
At the beginning of the book, Byron makes such a big deal about the amount of work he is going to have to do to get Summer ready but then two weeks are skipped and we don’t get to read any of his “preparations”. That is not to say she is a perfect lady by the time those two weeks are over, and I actually liked the fact that she stays true to who she is. However I think the story would have benefited by seeing how he transformed her those two weeks.
As the romance starts to develop between these two, I felt Summer lost her feelings for Monte way too easily. She travels all the way to London to be put at the grace of a Duke who humiliates people for a living, and I don’t think we saw her struggle with her feelings for Monte as she should have. After Byron and Summer give into temptation and he pleasures her and Byron wants to continue with intercourse, this conversation follows:
“I mean I can’t,” she took a deep breath, “make love to you.”
[…:] “I’ve already made love to you, my American girl. What we do now is rather anti-climatic, don’t you think?”
Summer blinked. He looked so beautiful in gaslight. “Yes, no, I mean, I gave my word to another man. I have to uphold that vow until and unless he releases me.”
His hands started sliding down her arms. “Too late,” he murmured.
”No, it’s not. I haven’t betrayed him completely.”
And then she proceeds to pleasure him. I get that if she is falling in love with Byron, and Monte is all the way in the States, she just can’t call and say hey – it’s over between us. But at this point in the story, she still has intentions to marry Monte, and I’m sorry but what she did with Byron is betraying Monte. A few pages later, Summer does have a revelation and admits to herself she had betrayed Monte and then she decides to “stop these feelings she had for the duke. Thank goodness she hadn’t done anything that she couldn’t undo.” Which, as I take it, means since she didn’t have intercourse, she didn’t have to worry about a baby. But then soon after she does have sex with him and afterwards she thinks this:
“Stop it,” she whispered firmly to herself, “We’re finished.” Wasn’t that the whole point of their encounter today, to end this longing for him? Or did it go deeper than that?
Summer winced. It didn’t matter, anyway. She’d made a promise to another man, and it would take more than one steamy afternoon to break it.
The back and forth, wishy-washy feelings made Summer an unlikable heroine in my opinion. I did enjoy Byron - cold hearted, quick with his tongue, not necessarily a nice person all the time. Someone is out to murder him and Summer and Byron must deal with the danger of the unknown always lurking about. Summer’s friend, Maria, who is not shy at all about the way she acts is a cute addition to the story. If I could have reconciled myself to Summer, I would have enjoyed this book much more.
November 24, 2010
This book is so phenomenally bad it might just be the worst one I've read all year. I don't know how this kind of stuff even gets published.
November 17, 2009
Remember that story "My Fair Lady" with Eliza Doolittle and Henry Higgins? This is the same concept with a blend of both America and England and a larger dash of a southern accent.This novel features Summer Wine Lee... a name that makes you blink.. as it did to the snooty English people she met. Immediately we are transported with her to England to fetch herself some manners, as I had no idea that Americans just didn't have any in those days. Summer's rich father was too busy to teach her any apparently, so she goes gallivanting to England to become the Duke of Monchester's protege of sorts. The book's cover features the mini blurb: "Who says a proper lady can't carry a knife?" and it is with this southern attitude that Summer Lee intrigued me as a reader. The Duke is utterly disgusted and yet thrilled by her odd ways, and I was laughing to myself during certain outrageous scenes that were chock full of mirth, knives, chihuahuas, monkeys, and fox pups. Yes, you'll find the word 'critters' more often then you would prefer to, but it added to the charm of Summer and her odd female companion as well.
Summer had her heart set on some old coot in New York, who in reality could care less if she returned to the States or not, and that was the frustration factor for me as a reader. Wake up, Summer! If that snobby Monte doesn't want you, throw him to the curb! Yet throughout the novel she continues to hold him up on a pedestal and repeats to herself "Monte Monte Monte" so that she remembers the purpose of her travels in England. She is deeply attracted to her instructor, the Duke, but refuses to admit to herself that he could possibly feel the same way. She is not the smartest apple in the basket, but still manages to figure out that there are murderers in their midst before the Duke admits to it himself. There was a small dose of a mystery with the attempts on their life that the two frequently encountered, but the author did not overly dramatize that fact which made the read a bit more satisfying. Instead it just felt like another day in Summer's world and I enjoyed learning more and more about her as the story progressed. Byron, aka the Duke, was also a pleasurable character and I knew from the start that he would fall in love with her just for the fact that she wasn't after him. Apparently the Duke was the toast of the town and was tired of being a sought after Duke. But he was a sensitive guy underneath it all, and somewhat close to perfect except for being a bit shorter than one would expect a handsome guy to be.
This is another romance issue from Sourcebooks Casablanca that I enjoyed although perhaps a bit predictable as romances normally are. It was a quick read that didn't have many sluggish moments and although you knew eventually the two main protagonists would come around and see the light (i.e. fall in love and live happily ever after) I had a lot of fun watching the charades. At 384 pages, I felt it was just the right length so that it wasn't drawn out and it wasn't just another stunted effort. I enjoyed the many events that occured along the way, and there were many.. I don't want to add spoilers but I must say there was more sexual content than was expected, so I feel I must warn you this should have a NC-17 rating. Although I am not used to that much 'imagination', I still enjoyed this one and you need to come back later this week (11/18/2009) to http://www.theburtonreview.com to read the author Kathryne Kennedy's guest post titled "Why I write historical romance...or, why I love it!" and be entered for a giveaway of this new book.
Summer had her heart set on some old coot in New York, who in reality could care less if she returned to the States or not, and that was the frustration factor for me as a reader. Wake up, Summer! If that snobby Monte doesn't want you, throw him to the curb! Yet throughout the novel she continues to hold him up on a pedestal and repeats to herself "Monte Monte Monte" so that she remembers the purpose of her travels in England. She is deeply attracted to her instructor, the Duke, but refuses to admit to herself that he could possibly feel the same way. She is not the smartest apple in the basket, but still manages to figure out that there are murderers in their midst before the Duke admits to it himself. There was a small dose of a mystery with the attempts on their life that the two frequently encountered, but the author did not overly dramatize that fact which made the read a bit more satisfying. Instead it just felt like another day in Summer's world and I enjoyed learning more and more about her as the story progressed. Byron, aka the Duke, was also a pleasurable character and I knew from the start that he would fall in love with her just for the fact that she wasn't after him. Apparently the Duke was the toast of the town and was tired of being a sought after Duke. But he was a sensitive guy underneath it all, and somewhat close to perfect except for being a bit shorter than one would expect a handsome guy to be.
This is another romance issue from Sourcebooks Casablanca that I enjoyed although perhaps a bit predictable as romances normally are. It was a quick read that didn't have many sluggish moments and although you knew eventually the two main protagonists would come around and see the light (i.e. fall in love and live happily ever after) I had a lot of fun watching the charades. At 384 pages, I felt it was just the right length so that it wasn't drawn out and it wasn't just another stunted effort. I enjoyed the many events that occured along the way, and there were many.. I don't want to add spoilers but I must say there was more sexual content than was expected, so I feel I must warn you this should have a NC-17 rating. Although I am not used to that much 'imagination', I still enjoyed this one and you need to come back later this week (11/18/2009) to http://www.theburtonreview.com to read the author Kathryne Kennedy's guest post titled "Why I write historical romance...or, why I love it!" and be entered for a giveaway of this new book.
April 13, 2010
This is a 3.5
Summer Wine Lee is a rough and tumble lady from Arizona whose Pa is one of the nouveau riche. A claimer that found a silver vein and now a railroad owner, Summer Wine Lee is used to wearing pants, shooting cards out of the sky and fox-walking, not bustles, corsets, shooting the shit and waltzing.
That's why her friend Maria, who is a lot more rough that Summer, suggests they go to England so that they can find a sponsor, get introduced to the Queen and Summer can make it back to New York with a new skill set that her fiance and his family (the famous Astor's) would love to have be part of their family.
So Summer asks Duke Byron Monchester, a financially bankrupt man, who has a knack for living off his ability to tell "stories" to the Prince Regent. He doesn't lie but what often comes out of his mouth is a scandal and often his retellings are accurate and full of the brutal truth.
With a promise of money and the thought of returning to her "intended" in NY, Summer gets him to agree to be her sponsor.
And herein lies our tale.
There's romance, duh, and there's a mystery that sort of takes a backseat here. Someone is out to kill the Duke and yet for a good portion of the book he doesn't really pay too much attention to it. It is Summer that brings it up and reminds him that 'hey, these 'accidents' aren't accidents."
Both characters have hidden pasts but the journey is not their secrets or the pasts but learning to accept themselves as they are and to not hide from it. Byron helps Summer and Summer helps Byron and you can tell that this match is more of a partnership, in the bedroom and out of it and the eventual pairing off is a satisfying one.
There were a few things that bugged me and that was Summer being sort of kick-ass to then always mentioning that Byron saved her life. I don't know if we were both reading the same script but it seemed an awful lot like the other way away. Summer is a strong woman, meaning she isn't just Annie Oakley/Daniel Boone but she is compassionate, loving and sweet.
I definitely got a kick out of Summer's revelation.
There were a few things that were inconsistent and felt very rushed. All in all, it is a good beach read and there is definitely enough chemistry between the two characters to make the book a very good read.
I do have one question, I wonder what happened to Maria?
Summer Wine Lee is a rough and tumble lady from Arizona whose Pa is one of the nouveau riche. A claimer that found a silver vein and now a railroad owner, Summer Wine Lee is used to wearing pants, shooting cards out of the sky and fox-walking, not bustles, corsets, shooting the shit and waltzing.
That's why her friend Maria, who is a lot more rough that Summer, suggests they go to England so that they can find a sponsor, get introduced to the Queen and Summer can make it back to New York with a new skill set that her fiance and his family (the famous Astor's) would love to have be part of their family.
So Summer asks Duke Byron Monchester, a financially bankrupt man, who has a knack for living off his ability to tell "stories" to the Prince Regent. He doesn't lie but what often comes out of his mouth is a scandal and often his retellings are accurate and full of the brutal truth.
With a promise of money and the thought of returning to her "intended" in NY, Summer gets him to agree to be her sponsor.
And herein lies our tale.
There's romance, duh, and there's a mystery that sort of takes a backseat here. Someone is out to kill the Duke and yet for a good portion of the book he doesn't really pay too much attention to it. It is Summer that brings it up and reminds him that 'hey, these 'accidents' aren't accidents."
Both characters have hidden pasts but the journey is not their secrets or the pasts but learning to accept themselves as they are and to not hide from it. Byron helps Summer and Summer helps Byron and you can tell that this match is more of a partnership, in the bedroom and out of it and the eventual pairing off is a satisfying one.
There were a few things that bugged me and that was Summer being sort of kick-ass to then always mentioning that Byron saved her life. I don't know if we were both reading the same script but it seemed an awful lot like the other way away. Summer is a strong woman, meaning she isn't just Annie Oakley/Daniel Boone but she is compassionate, loving and sweet.
I definitely got a kick out of Summer's revelation.
There were a few things that were inconsistent and felt very rushed. All in all, it is a good beach read and there is definitely enough chemistry between the two characters to make the book a very good read.
I do have one question, I wonder what happened to Maria?
September 13, 2010
The Good Things: Byron wasn't a towering example of man muscle. Yes, he was still muscular and happened to know kung fu, but he was a short man. While it wouldn't work for me personally, I loved meeting a hero that was not described as the second coming of Heracles. And he was sarky. That made me love him all the more. Also? He was poor! Yes, he held the highest title of the Peerage next to that of royalty. But he was dirt poor! Let's hear it for a hero that is a poor, short, has a tongue that could flay the skin off your back and is a non-Heracles without the slightest whiff of Croesus!
The Bad Things: I could have started at least three drinking games during this book. The word "tarnation" was waaaaaay overused. Also, Byron didn't just laugh. He always threw his head back and laughed. For someone who doesn't like being a spectacle, he sure made himself one often enough. And Summer spent so much time caressing her knife I began to wonder if she had penis envy and was using it as a substitute.
More Good Things: Our plucky heroine. I didn't want to throttle her. Well, most of the time. When she wasn't saying "tarnation" or moaning about how she had to go back to the fiance back across the pond. She could fight, use herpenis replacement knife, shoot, ride bareback, adored animals and went all out for her shot at experiencing passion. And when she finally realized what she needed to realize, I was cheering for her. Out loud. Shouldn't have done that in public, but oh well. That just proves that I liked her.
The Mediocre: The "someone is trying to kill our hero" subplot. Meh. It was necessary I suppose and proved mildly entertaining in spots but I would have liked to have seen more done with it.
The Judgment: A fun book, quick read and entertaining. As a friend of mine would say, "It was well good."
The Bad Things: I could have started at least three drinking games during this book. The word "tarnation" was waaaaaay overused. Also, Byron didn't just laugh. He always threw his head back and laughed. For someone who doesn't like being a spectacle, he sure made himself one often enough. And Summer spent so much time caressing her knife I began to wonder if she had penis envy and was using it as a substitute.
More Good Things: Our plucky heroine. I didn't want to throttle her. Well, most of the time. When she wasn't saying "tarnation" or moaning about how she had to go back to the fiance back across the pond. She could fight, use her
The Mediocre: The "someone is trying to kill our hero" subplot. Meh. It was necessary I suppose and proved mildly entertaining in spots but I would have liked to have seen more done with it.
The Judgment: A fun book, quick read and entertaining. As a friend of mine would say, "It was well good."
December 7, 2012
3,5
Değişik bir kitaptı aslında sevdim mi sevmedimmi çokta emin olamadım:)
Amerikan varisimiz var kitabımızda kız nişanlı Amerikanın yüksek sosyatesine kendini kabul ettirmek istiyor nişanlısı dolayısıyla ve bunun içinde dersler almak istiyor dükümüz de burada devreye giriyor paraya ihtiyacı var vs kabul ediyor tabii sonrası malum.
Başlangıcı çok iyi değildi bi yerden sonra ilgimi çekti inişli çıkışlıydı okuması benim için. Eğlenceli bir kitap aksiyonda vardı aslında sonlara doğru kızımıza biraz sinir oldum sözünü tutacak diye ama netice itibariyle ortalamanın çok az üstüydü benim için..
Değişik bir kitaptı aslında sevdim mi sevmedimmi çokta emin olamadım:)
Amerikan varisimiz var kitabımızda kız nişanlı Amerikanın yüksek sosyatesine kendini kabul ettirmek istiyor nişanlısı dolayısıyla ve bunun içinde dersler almak istiyor dükümüz de burada devreye giriyor paraya ihtiyacı var vs kabul ediyor tabii sonrası malum.
Başlangıcı çok iyi değildi bi yerden sonra ilgimi çekti inişli çıkışlıydı okuması benim için. Eğlenceli bir kitap aksiyonda vardı aslında sonlara doğru kızımıza biraz sinir oldum sözünü tutacak diye ama netice itibariyle ortalamanın çok az üstüydü benim için..
August 3, 2019
Maddi durumu pek parlak olmayan Monchester Dükü unvan arayışıyla Londra’ya akın eden zengin Amerikalıları hor görmektedir. Bu yüzden demiryolu mirasçısı Summer Wine Lee sosyeteye girebilmek için yardımını isteyip para teklif ettiğinde, kızı geri çevirmeye hazırdır. Fakat bıçak taşıyan bu küçük güzelle tanıştığında karşı koyamadığının sadece serveti olmadığını fark eder…
Londra sosyetesinin ilgisini çekmek gibi bir amacı olmayan Summer Wine Lee sadece nişanlısına layık görülmek istemektedir… Kusursuz bir hanımefendi olmasının bedelini karşılamaya da hazırdır. Ama bunun kalbine mal olacağını aklından bile geçirmez…
Londra sosyetesinin ilgisini çekmek gibi bir amacı olmayan Summer Wine Lee sadece nişanlısına layık görülmek istemektedir… Kusursuz bir hanımefendi olmasının bedelini karşılamaya da hazırdır. Ama bunun kalbine mal olacağını aklından bile geçirmez…
March 14, 2019
“My Fair Lady” meets the Wild West meets the Gilded Age.... this was a wild romp through Proper Society and The Rules, with American heiress Summer Wine Lee paying a disenfranchised Duke (Byron, no less) to help her become a real lady. Of course nothing works out as it should, and of course it’s as predictable as can be. (Isn’t that why we read these stories?) But there are some nice quirks and hilarious antics. It’s not meant to be a serious read — although there are some heavy moments, and hard truths, tucked inside.
July 16, 2012
Not nearly as good as The Fire Lord's Lover. Something about the American West/British cross just didn't do it for me, and too many plot elements seemed to come out of nowhere. Every time I read the word "tarnation" I wanted to laugh, as well, and it's in there way too often. Also, too many awkward graphic sex scenes and not nearly enough plot.
May 22, 2017
Uzun zamandır okuyamadığım bir kitabı aldım elime geçenlerde. Oluruna Bırak hiç tahmin etmediğim şekilde sevdirdi bana kendini. Esprili bir dili vardı yazarın. Karakterleri de aynı derece de güzeldi.
Hikaye Amerikalı genç bir kadının hanımefendiliği öğrenmek amacı ile ve kendini Kraliçe'ye tanıtmak için geldiği Londra'da başlıyor. Burada devreye Monchester Dükü giriyor. Kendini sivri dilli, dedikoduları prense taşıyan bir adam. Maddi durumu pek parlak değil ve Amerikalı mirasçılardan hiç hoşlanmıyor. Ancak Summer Wine Lee sosyeteye girebilmek için yardımını istediğin de ve para teklif ettiğin de karşı koyamıyor. Çünkü eteğinin altında bıçak taşıyan, sürüsüyle hayvana bakan, sıradaşı bu güzele ilk görüşte vuruluyor.
Summer şuana kadar okuduğum en renkli karakter sanırım. Ya kadına aşık oldum resmen. Hayvan sevgisi inanılmaz, yapmacık değil tamamen kendisi. Cesur, güzel, iyi kalpli... Maymunu var bir kere daha ne olsun? 😂
Byron ise yılardır soğuk görünmek için çabalamış, insanlara güvenmeyen ve arkadaşı olmayan bir tip. Summer'ın gelmesi ile hayatına büyük ölçekte renk geliyor. En sevdiğim ikili oldular resmen.
Summer'ın sosyeteye takdim edilmekteki acelesi geri dönmek için söz verdiği nişanlısı için. En başından beri hiç sevemedim. Yani sen bu kadını seviyorsan neden değişmesi için kilometrelerce uzağa gönderiyorsun ki?
Byron ise öyle mi? Olduğu gibi sevdi kızımızı. Çok eğlendim okurken, yazarın dili güzel. Konu harika. Keşke baskısı olsaydı. Bulabilecek olanlar için tavsiye ederim.
Hikaye Amerikalı genç bir kadının hanımefendiliği öğrenmek amacı ile ve kendini Kraliçe'ye tanıtmak için geldiği Londra'da başlıyor. Burada devreye Monchester Dükü giriyor. Kendini sivri dilli, dedikoduları prense taşıyan bir adam. Maddi durumu pek parlak değil ve Amerikalı mirasçılardan hiç hoşlanmıyor. Ancak Summer Wine Lee sosyeteye girebilmek için yardımını istediğin de ve para teklif ettiğin de karşı koyamıyor. Çünkü eteğinin altında bıçak taşıyan, sürüsüyle hayvana bakan, sıradaşı bu güzele ilk görüşte vuruluyor.
Summer şuana kadar okuduğum en renkli karakter sanırım. Ya kadına aşık oldum resmen. Hayvan sevgisi inanılmaz, yapmacık değil tamamen kendisi. Cesur, güzel, iyi kalpli... Maymunu var bir kere daha ne olsun? 😂
Byron ise yılardır soğuk görünmek için çabalamış, insanlara güvenmeyen ve arkadaşı olmayan bir tip. Summer'ın gelmesi ile hayatına büyük ölçekte renk geliyor. En sevdiğim ikili oldular resmen.
Summer'ın sosyeteye takdim edilmekteki acelesi geri dönmek için söz verdiği nişanlısı için. En başından beri hiç sevemedim. Yani sen bu kadını seviyorsan neden değişmesi için kilometrelerce uzağa gönderiyorsun ki?
Byron ise öyle mi? Olduğu gibi sevdi kızımızı. Çok eğlendim okurken, yazarın dili güzel. Konu harika. Keşke baskısı olsaydı. Bulabilecek olanlar için tavsiye ederim.
May 11, 2022
A friend lent me this book, and while this isn't usually my genre, I did have a good time.
I was probably through an embarrassing amount of the book before I realized this was a retelling of My Fair Lady, but in my defense, I've never seen the movie.
Summer seeks to become a respectable Lady so that she can marry her rich fiancé back in New York. To accomplish this, she has hired destitute Duke Byron, know bitter American heiress hating member of the gentry. The two of them do not get along (or do depending on how you want to look at it) and hijinks ensue.
While I found the dialogue a bit rough, particularly Summer's, I did find the book charmingly cheesy. There are a lot of improbable situations with sometimes silly resolutions, but at the end of the day, I had a very good time.
My favorite part had to be at the end, and while I don't want to give too much away, when describing the scene to a different friend, she described it as "two idiots calling to each other in the night while wearing noise canceling headphones". Which I think is my new favorite trope.
Anyway, if you like somewhat cheesy somewhat spicy historical romances, this was a fun time and I think you would like it.
I was probably through an embarrassing amount of the book before I realized this was a retelling of My Fair Lady, but in my defense, I've never seen the movie.
Summer seeks to become a respectable Lady so that she can marry her rich fiancé back in New York. To accomplish this, she has hired destitute Duke Byron, know bitter American heiress hating member of the gentry. The two of them do not get along (or do depending on how you want to look at it) and hijinks ensue.
While I found the dialogue a bit rough, particularly Summer's, I did find the book charmingly cheesy. There are a lot of improbable situations with sometimes silly resolutions, but at the end of the day, I had a very good time.
My favorite part had to be at the end, and while I don't want to give too much away, when describing the scene to a different friend, she described it as "two idiots calling to each other in the night while wearing noise canceling headphones". Which I think is my new favorite trope.
Anyway, if you like somewhat cheesy somewhat spicy historical romances, this was a fun time and I think you would like it.
May 28, 2017
2-1/2
I enjoyed the first half of the book, however, getting towards the second half, I just felt the author was stretching the story too much in order to make it longer. Sadly, it lost its charm at that point.
I enjoyed the first half of the book, however, getting towards the second half, I just felt the author was stretching the story too much in order to make it longer. Sadly, it lost its charm at that point.
May 25, 2017
Nice
This is a relaxing good read. Unique version of a British love story where an American comes to England to become a lady.
This is a relaxing good read. Unique version of a British love story where an American comes to England to become a lady.
August 27, 2018
Let me save everyone some time. She’s an American and she has a knife. That’s the entire book.
Read
June 12, 2020I don't know how to feel about this book. It started off well enough, but there was a lot that seemed over the top, but then later fit.
December 10, 2020
3.5 stars
November 14, 2021
Required WAY to much suspension of disbelief, and the language was too modern, too.
April 15, 2024
Combine a rambunctious American heiress with a proper English Lord. Throw in mischievous pets and a fox walking injun and you have a hilarious tale. Heat spicy. Open door.
December 10, 2009
While it took a bit longer to read My Unfair Lady than I would have liked, once I got into it, I did enjoy the story of Summer and her duke. I do think I would have enjoyed it more had the pace been quicker, with more details of the duke's attempts at transforming Summer into a lady. Even without that, I found the developing relationship between the two quite interesting.
From the beginning, Summer Wine Lee is an enigma to the Duke of Monchester. He really doesn't know what to make of her and what he considers her very unlady like manner. She is like nothing he has ever encountered. He also resents the fact that he needs her, or rather her money. He may be a duke but his father sold off everything he could before he died and left Byron with only what was entailed which was little more than a run down castle and the title.
I liked Byron the duke, but he wasn't easy to get to know at first. When we first meet him he comes across as an arrogant aristocrat who would prefer to have nothing to do with the uncivilized Summer. What Byron lets the public see isn't what Summer sees in private. Byron has far more layers to him than meets the eye. I knew he couldn't be as cold hearted as he portrayed himself, Summer would never have fallen so hard for him. The way Kennedy developed his character, showing the reader why Byron did what he did, his relationship with his family, made me like him so much. He does what he can to survive in the world of the ton. I do think he genuine liked Prince Albert but would have preferred living in the country as opposed to London and all it's intrigue.
Summer is a breath of fresh air to the stuffy London ton. She is accustomed to saying what she thinks and not being under the rule of any man. Her father adores her but is consumed with making money so Summer has been more or less raising herself. She has a small menagerie of "critters" who she rescues and adopts into her odd little family. Her best friend Maria decides that Summer needs someone to teach her how to be a proper lady if she's to be presented to the Queen. And Summer is determined to become a lady and be presented to the Queen, then she'll be able to wed her fiancé Monte. So the Duke of Monchester is hired for the undertaking of turning an American heiress into a lady.
This is an odd love triangle, for sure! There's Summer's secret fiancé Monte in New York and on the other side of the Atlantic are Summer and Byron thrown together at dinners and balls acting as a couple but both determined to resist any attraction. The whole thing about marrying Monte bugged me. I never understood why she continued to want him once she developed such strong feelings for Byron. And then once they got physical she still insisted she wanted Monte. It just seemed to go against her practical, frontier upbringing. From everything Summer said about Monte and the New York society it didn't sound like it would make her happy. I think she was doing it, trying to fit in with the Astors and New York because that's what she thought her father wanted. While she may have had feeling for Monte, those feelings were nothing compared to what Byron made her feel.
Overall, I liked Summer and Byron and their round about way of falling in love and finding their HEA. I much preferred their relationship when they were away from proper society and were able to be themselves. There is a mystery subplot that adds a bit of danger and intrigue to the story and shows the reader that both Summer and Byron are capable of taking care of themselves and each other. I enjoyed the way Summer kept surprising Byron, showing him the different sides of her and fascinating him as well as shocking him at times. And Byron had some surprises in store for Summer too.
From the beginning, Summer Wine Lee is an enigma to the Duke of Monchester. He really doesn't know what to make of her and what he considers her very unlady like manner. She is like nothing he has ever encountered. He also resents the fact that he needs her, or rather her money. He may be a duke but his father sold off everything he could before he died and left Byron with only what was entailed which was little more than a run down castle and the title.
I liked Byron the duke, but he wasn't easy to get to know at first. When we first meet him he comes across as an arrogant aristocrat who would prefer to have nothing to do with the uncivilized Summer. What Byron lets the public see isn't what Summer sees in private. Byron has far more layers to him than meets the eye. I knew he couldn't be as cold hearted as he portrayed himself, Summer would never have fallen so hard for him. The way Kennedy developed his character, showing the reader why Byron did what he did, his relationship with his family, made me like him so much. He does what he can to survive in the world of the ton. I do think he genuine liked Prince Albert but would have preferred living in the country as opposed to London and all it's intrigue.
Summer is a breath of fresh air to the stuffy London ton. She is accustomed to saying what she thinks and not being under the rule of any man. Her father adores her but is consumed with making money so Summer has been more or less raising herself. She has a small menagerie of "critters" who she rescues and adopts into her odd little family. Her best friend Maria decides that Summer needs someone to teach her how to be a proper lady if she's to be presented to the Queen. And Summer is determined to become a lady and be presented to the Queen, then she'll be able to wed her fiancé Monte. So the Duke of Monchester is hired for the undertaking of turning an American heiress into a lady.
This is an odd love triangle, for sure! There's Summer's secret fiancé Monte in New York and on the other side of the Atlantic are Summer and Byron thrown together at dinners and balls acting as a couple but both determined to resist any attraction. The whole thing about marrying Monte bugged me. I never understood why she continued to want him once she developed such strong feelings for Byron. And then once they got physical she still insisted she wanted Monte. It just seemed to go against her practical, frontier upbringing. From everything Summer said about Monte and the New York society it didn't sound like it would make her happy. I think she was doing it, trying to fit in with the Astors and New York because that's what she thought her father wanted. While she may have had feeling for Monte, those feelings were nothing compared to what Byron made her feel.
Overall, I liked Summer and Byron and their round about way of falling in love and finding their HEA. I much preferred their relationship when they were away from proper society and were able to be themselves. There is a mystery subplot that adds a bit of danger and intrigue to the story and shows the reader that both Summer and Byron are capable of taking care of themselves and each other. I enjoyed the way Summer kept surprising Byron, showing him the different sides of her and fascinating him as well as shocking him at times. And Byron had some surprises in store for Summer too.
July 26, 2011
Kathryne Kennedy has become a favorite author for me since I started reading her Relics of Merlin series. The world she has created in those books is fun to read, the characters are delightful, she gives the reader a new look at the paranormal, and I look forward to each new addition to the series. So when I had the chance the read her new historical, I jumped at it. She’s taken an old story and put her own spin on it, giving us more delightful characters that very stealthily sneak under your skin.
The best part of this book is the heroine, Summer Wine Lee. She’s frontier born and bred, growing up in Arizona, losing her mother early in life, left with a father unable to cope with that loss, friend to a Native American who teaches her how to survive on her own. She’s happy in her life until she meets Monte, a man she falls in love with, a man who is related to the New York Astors who look down on her because of her lowborn breeding. Wanting to become the lady Monte would be proud to have on his arm, Summer and her best friend Maria head to England with the goal of turning Summer into a lady under the tutelage of the Duke of Monchester.
The English don’t know what hit them when Summer blows into town. And what they don’t know or understand, they condescend to just as the New York elite did. Summer has an American accent, of course, and it’s laced with a western dialect and she’s full of western euphemisms. She straps a knife to her leg and can thow it unerringly accurately, can shoot a gun and bow and arrow like nobody’s business, loves animals so much she has a rescued menagerie of her own, and she’s her own CSI team thanks to her Apache friend who taught her how to track anything and anyone. But she wants all of these things she is to disappear as she morphs into a well-bred, gentile lady, something she hires Monchester to help her do. For a price, of course.
His impoverished state has kept the duke living on the largesse of others, his blunt and lethal tongue forging his way into the company of Prince Albert, keeping HRH in stitches with stories of putting society in their place. Hating title-seeking heiresses, English or American, he takes Summer at her word of not wanting an English lord since she’s left her fiance in America and wants to return to him as a lady. Thinking the task daunting but interesting, he has no idea what is truly in store for him once he begins to see the woman Summer really is.
After seeing Summer in action at what she considers her worst but is truly her best, after she helps pave the way for him to finally embrace his son, Monchester can’t help but fall for her. It’s Summer who won’t give in to her feelings for the duke, taking her word to another man seriously. These two characters grow on you with every chapter. Along with Summer’s “eccentricities,” Ms. Kennedy has given us a hero who is shorter than average, though the perfect size for Summer; so along with having to realize how he’s lived his life thus far, we learn about how he’s grown into the man he is, having to literally fight his way there. They both grow by leaps and bounds through the pages of this book.
I tried not to compare this book with those of the Relics of Merlin series. I love those novels so much, but I tried to be as fair as possible, and I know there’s a part of me that can’t look at the differences totally impartially because of my enjoyment of those preceding books. But despite that, My Unfair Lady is a very fun read with charming characters who can laugh at themselves with delight so that you take pleasure in their story while being pleasantly entertained, which for me has become this author’s trademark.
See my complete review at http://www.goodbadandunread.com
The best part of this book is the heroine, Summer Wine Lee. She’s frontier born and bred, growing up in Arizona, losing her mother early in life, left with a father unable to cope with that loss, friend to a Native American who teaches her how to survive on her own. She’s happy in her life until she meets Monte, a man she falls in love with, a man who is related to the New York Astors who look down on her because of her lowborn breeding. Wanting to become the lady Monte would be proud to have on his arm, Summer and her best friend Maria head to England with the goal of turning Summer into a lady under the tutelage of the Duke of Monchester.
The English don’t know what hit them when Summer blows into town. And what they don’t know or understand, they condescend to just as the New York elite did. Summer has an American accent, of course, and it’s laced with a western dialect and she’s full of western euphemisms. She straps a knife to her leg and can thow it unerringly accurately, can shoot a gun and bow and arrow like nobody’s business, loves animals so much she has a rescued menagerie of her own, and she’s her own CSI team thanks to her Apache friend who taught her how to track anything and anyone. But she wants all of these things she is to disappear as she morphs into a well-bred, gentile lady, something she hires Monchester to help her do. For a price, of course.
His impoverished state has kept the duke living on the largesse of others, his blunt and lethal tongue forging his way into the company of Prince Albert, keeping HRH in stitches with stories of putting society in their place. Hating title-seeking heiresses, English or American, he takes Summer at her word of not wanting an English lord since she’s left her fiance in America and wants to return to him as a lady. Thinking the task daunting but interesting, he has no idea what is truly in store for him once he begins to see the woman Summer really is.
After seeing Summer in action at what she considers her worst but is truly her best, after she helps pave the way for him to finally embrace his son, Monchester can’t help but fall for her. It’s Summer who won’t give in to her feelings for the duke, taking her word to another man seriously. These two characters grow on you with every chapter. Along with Summer’s “eccentricities,” Ms. Kennedy has given us a hero who is shorter than average, though the perfect size for Summer; so along with having to realize how he’s lived his life thus far, we learn about how he’s grown into the man he is, having to literally fight his way there. They both grow by leaps and bounds through the pages of this book.
I tried not to compare this book with those of the Relics of Merlin series. I love those novels so much, but I tried to be as fair as possible, and I know there’s a part of me that can’t look at the differences totally impartially because of my enjoyment of those preceding books. But despite that, My Unfair Lady is a very fun read with charming characters who can laugh at themselves with delight so that you take pleasure in their story while being pleasantly entertained, which for me has become this author’s trademark.
See my complete review at http://www.goodbadandunread.com
November 30, 2009
My Unfair Lady by Kathryne Kennedy
Genre: Historical fiction, Historical Romance
Rating: 4/5
Summary (from the back of the book):
HE CREATED THE PERFECT WOMAN… the impoverished Duke of Monchester despises the rich Americans who flock to London, seeking to buy their way into the ranks of the British peerage. So when railroad heiress Summer Wine Lee offers him a king’s ransom if he’ll teach her to become a proper lady, he’s prepared to rebuff her. But when he meets the petite beauty with the knife in her boot, it’s not her fortune he finds impossible to resist…
…FOR THE ARMS OF ANOTHER MAN. Frontier-bred Summer Wine Lee has no interest in winning over London society—it’s the New York bluebloods and her future mother-in-law she’s determined to impress. She knows the cost of smoothing her rough-and-tumble frontier edges will be high. But she never imagined it might cost her her heart…
Review: This book is so cute! The dialogue is lively, the characters are likeable (or in the case of the “bad ones”, hate-able), and the images and descriptions are clear and visible. I loved it by the end of the first chapter.
Summer was my kind of girl. She grinned when things were funny instead of trying to remain indifferent, she wasn’t afraid to show how she felt—but she could also throw a knife, shoot an arrow better than the woman champion of their day, and mount and ride a horse bareback (which I think is so cool!). She has a love for animals—and odd ones at that. She owns a three-legged dog, a dog with four legs but the size of a small horse, a monkey, a pocket-sized puppy, a fox, and a cat with no back legs (it sits in a cart and rolls around the room). She was raised by an Indian (one of those childhood dreams that I never quite left behind…) and he was the one who had taught her all that great stuff. Watching her try to settle into society was hilarious.
MY UNFAIR LADY has a lot of tension in it—both inner turmoil from poor Summer, and also sexual tension between the characters. However, it wasn’t overpowering because was so funny. I found that I laughed just as often as tension was built, so there was a constant, even balance. The end was very exciting, and I found it impossible to put down. Overall, reading this book was a hilarious and wonderful experience, and an unforgettable escape from reality.
Plot: My Fair Lady (the movie) shows a girl who is transformed to a lady, then the man falls in love with her. I love the change that has taken place in MY UNFAIR LADY—The man doesn’t want to change her, because he loves her the way she is. I like this plot better than the first!
Writing: The writing was decent, acceptable, and more readable than a lot of newly published romances. Though it wasn’t Dante, it wasn’t hard to read either.
Content: Refreshingly, there was no language in this book. Summer has her own set of expletives, but they weren’t offensive (“Tarnation!”). As far as sex, let’s just say there were several scenes (pages) in this book that I skipped completely, and just started reading again where the dialogue picked up. I didn’t miss anything important.
Recommendation: Ages 18+ to lovers of Historical fiction, Romance in general, or anyone who loves a girl who can shoot a gun, wield a knife, or use a bow and arrow better than a man!
**Thanks to Danielle at Sourcebooks for supplying my review copy!**
Genre: Historical fiction, Historical Romance
Rating: 4/5
Summary (from the back of the book):
HE CREATED THE PERFECT WOMAN… the impoverished Duke of Monchester despises the rich Americans who flock to London, seeking to buy their way into the ranks of the British peerage. So when railroad heiress Summer Wine Lee offers him a king’s ransom if he’ll teach her to become a proper lady, he’s prepared to rebuff her. But when he meets the petite beauty with the knife in her boot, it’s not her fortune he finds impossible to resist…
…FOR THE ARMS OF ANOTHER MAN. Frontier-bred Summer Wine Lee has no interest in winning over London society—it’s the New York bluebloods and her future mother-in-law she’s determined to impress. She knows the cost of smoothing her rough-and-tumble frontier edges will be high. But she never imagined it might cost her her heart…
Review: This book is so cute! The dialogue is lively, the characters are likeable (or in the case of the “bad ones”, hate-able), and the images and descriptions are clear and visible. I loved it by the end of the first chapter.
Summer was my kind of girl. She grinned when things were funny instead of trying to remain indifferent, she wasn’t afraid to show how she felt—but she could also throw a knife, shoot an arrow better than the woman champion of their day, and mount and ride a horse bareback (which I think is so cool!). She has a love for animals—and odd ones at that. She owns a three-legged dog, a dog with four legs but the size of a small horse, a monkey, a pocket-sized puppy, a fox, and a cat with no back legs (it sits in a cart and rolls around the room). She was raised by an Indian (one of those childhood dreams that I never quite left behind…) and he was the one who had taught her all that great stuff. Watching her try to settle into society was hilarious.
MY UNFAIR LADY has a lot of tension in it—both inner turmoil from poor Summer, and also sexual tension between the characters. However, it wasn’t overpowering because was so funny. I found that I laughed just as often as tension was built, so there was a constant, even balance. The end was very exciting, and I found it impossible to put down. Overall, reading this book was a hilarious and wonderful experience, and an unforgettable escape from reality.
Plot: My Fair Lady (the movie) shows a girl who is transformed to a lady, then the man falls in love with her. I love the change that has taken place in MY UNFAIR LADY—The man doesn’t want to change her, because he loves her the way she is. I like this plot better than the first!
Writing: The writing was decent, acceptable, and more readable than a lot of newly published romances. Though it wasn’t Dante, it wasn’t hard to read either.
Content: Refreshingly, there was no language in this book. Summer has her own set of expletives, but they weren’t offensive (“Tarnation!”). As far as sex, let’s just say there were several scenes (pages) in this book that I skipped completely, and just started reading again where the dialogue picked up. I didn’t miss anything important.
Recommendation: Ages 18+ to lovers of Historical fiction, Romance in general, or anyone who loves a girl who can shoot a gun, wield a knife, or use a bow and arrow better than a man!
**Thanks to Danielle at Sourcebooks for supplying my review copy!**
November 13, 2009
Born and raised in the infamous town of Tombstone, frontier lass Summer Lee is far from one of London's gently breed society ladies. But London is where she is looking to hire a titled man to teach her the ways of ladies.
You see, after Summer's father made a fortune doing this and that, he uprooted her to New York city where a handsome young man named Monte caught her fancy, and he's asked her to marry him, but his family snubs their nose at her because of her lack of propriety. Summer's not too suave when it comes to upper-class formalities.
So it's off to London for some training. Lord Byron, Duke of Monchester finds himself filling that precarious position as his need for the money she offers overrides his better judgment.
Neither Byron nor Summer are looking for a love match. But after much time spent attending balls, and dinners and the occasional deal that may or may not include a kiss, as well as a dose of danger. Summer and Byron are finding it easy telling their heads nothing is happening between them. It's trying to convince their hearts. That stubborn organ doesn't appear to want to listen.
I enjoyed this book immensely. I've read Kathryne Kennedy's Relics of Merlin series and while those are filled with magic, I felt that My Unfair Lady was filled with magic as well. Not in the paranormal sense, but in the writing. Ms. Kennedy weaved her characters together in such a way that you could feel Summer as her unconventional behavior penetrates Byron's cold façade, chipping away the layers to the true man beneath. And the love between them felt as accidental as it was meant to be. Another sweetly sensual tale weaved and brought to life by one of my favorite writers! However, I did grow a bit concerned with the continued motivation of Summer toward the end to continue carrying the pretense she wanted to be a lady for the sake of her vow to Monte. But all in all, it moved along swiftly. And I adored the secondary cast of 'critters'. Most especially, India, the monkey!
The moral of this story...Be happy for being who you are. Don't change yourself for love or for social standings, love will find you. The right person will embrace you, stand beside you, and support you for being you. And that's what both Summer and Byron learn in this book. My Unfair Lady is a remarkable tale of love and acceptance.
You see, after Summer's father made a fortune doing this and that, he uprooted her to New York city where a handsome young man named Monte caught her fancy, and he's asked her to marry him, but his family snubs their nose at her because of her lack of propriety. Summer's not too suave when it comes to upper-class formalities.
So it's off to London for some training. Lord Byron, Duke of Monchester finds himself filling that precarious position as his need for the money she offers overrides his better judgment.
Neither Byron nor Summer are looking for a love match. But after much time spent attending balls, and dinners and the occasional deal that may or may not include a kiss, as well as a dose of danger. Summer and Byron are finding it easy telling their heads nothing is happening between them. It's trying to convince their hearts. That stubborn organ doesn't appear to want to listen.
I enjoyed this book immensely. I've read Kathryne Kennedy's Relics of Merlin series and while those are filled with magic, I felt that My Unfair Lady was filled with magic as well. Not in the paranormal sense, but in the writing. Ms. Kennedy weaved her characters together in such a way that you could feel Summer as her unconventional behavior penetrates Byron's cold façade, chipping away the layers to the true man beneath. And the love between them felt as accidental as it was meant to be. Another sweetly sensual tale weaved and brought to life by one of my favorite writers! However, I did grow a bit concerned with the continued motivation of Summer toward the end to continue carrying the pretense she wanted to be a lady for the sake of her vow to Monte. But all in all, it moved along swiftly. And I adored the secondary cast of 'critters'. Most especially, India, the monkey!
The moral of this story...Be happy for being who you are. Don't change yourself for love or for social standings, love will find you. The right person will embrace you, stand beside you, and support you for being you. And that's what both Summer and Byron learn in this book. My Unfair Lady is a remarkable tale of love and acceptance.
December 9, 2009
My Unfair Lady
Frontier-bred Summer Wine Lee was raised in Tombstone, Arizona learning how to shoot, use a knife, and generally take care of herself. When her father made a fortune in silver mines and railroads, he wanted her to have the advantages he never had and sent her to New York City for culture and society. Summer Wine Lee falls in love with an Astor but she is ridiculed for her lack of style and polish. To win over her beloved's family, Summer Wine goes to London to become a lady and be presented to the Queen. Summer reasons that if she can do this, then the Astors will accept her and she can marry the man she loves. She approaches the impoverished Duke of Monchester, a renowned wit, to strike a bargain.
Duke of Monchester is incredulous when he receives the message that the upstart American Summer Wine Lee wants his help to become a lady and be presented to the Queen. His contempt for wealthy Americans buying titles is well known. But Summer Wine's offer of one third interest in a railroad gives him pause. And when she pulls a knife out of her boot and offers him a twinkly smile, he goes against his better judgment and agrees. The duke's help saves Summer Wine from the worst snubs, but instead of changing Summer Wine, together they change how Society's definition of what's acceptable.
After Summer Wine Lee is accepted in London, the Duke can't bear to have her leave for her old love in New York. He can't help think that if her beloved Monte loved her, he would accept her for who she is. When will she reach the same realization?
My Unfair Lady by Kathryne Kennedy is a fun retelling of My Fair Lady. Both Summer Wine Lee and the Duke of Monchester are engaging and sympathetic characters. If you're looking for a romantic read and a quick escape - this will surely hit the spot!
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (December 1, 2009), 384 pages.
Review copy provided by the publisher.
Frontier-bred Summer Wine Lee was raised in Tombstone, Arizona learning how to shoot, use a knife, and generally take care of herself. When her father made a fortune in silver mines and railroads, he wanted her to have the advantages he never had and sent her to New York City for culture and society. Summer Wine Lee falls in love with an Astor but she is ridiculed for her lack of style and polish. To win over her beloved's family, Summer Wine goes to London to become a lady and be presented to the Queen. Summer reasons that if she can do this, then the Astors will accept her and she can marry the man she loves. She approaches the impoverished Duke of Monchester, a renowned wit, to strike a bargain.
Duke of Monchester is incredulous when he receives the message that the upstart American Summer Wine Lee wants his help to become a lady and be presented to the Queen. His contempt for wealthy Americans buying titles is well known. But Summer Wine's offer of one third interest in a railroad gives him pause. And when she pulls a knife out of her boot and offers him a twinkly smile, he goes against his better judgment and agrees. The duke's help saves Summer Wine from the worst snubs, but instead of changing Summer Wine, together they change how Society's definition of what's acceptable.
After Summer Wine Lee is accepted in London, the Duke can't bear to have her leave for her old love in New York. He can't help think that if her beloved Monte loved her, he would accept her for who she is. When will she reach the same realization?
My Unfair Lady by Kathryne Kennedy is a fun retelling of My Fair Lady. Both Summer Wine Lee and the Duke of Monchester are engaging and sympathetic characters. If you're looking for a romantic read and a quick escape - this will surely hit the spot!
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (December 1, 2009), 384 pages.
Review copy provided by the publisher.
December 20, 2009
This was a quick pleasant read. I liked Summer and her spunky self. As much as she tried to change herself to fit in with society, Summer would keep reverting back to her normal usual self, whipping out her knife at a moments notice. Maybe it's the street smarts in me, but I admire women who can take care of themselves. Summer's character reminds us that people and society should accept you for you. Whenever we try to change ourselves to fit in with a group, we lose our individuality. How fun and interesting would life be if we were all the same? Fortunately Summer realizes she is fine just the way she is and remains true to herself.
This story is mostly about Summer and unfortunately the secondary characters disappeared, like Maria. She was crazy and I liked her immensely. Maria's part of the story was wrapped up too neatly for me, and didn't mesh with the close relationship I read about between her and Summer. I was sorry to see her go.
With regards to the Duke, I liked him as well and enjoyed his interactions with both Summer and the other characters in the story. It was very easy to imagine the look on his face when he met Maria and the critters. The Duke finally opens up towards the end, and I was happy to learn his thoughts.
My one pet peeve with the story was Summer's use of the word "Tarnation!" I know that is a common expression for Summer's character to have, but she said it way too often. It was akin to someone saying "OMG" too much.
Overall I liked the story and the characters of Summer and Byron. It made for some great escapist reading and it was a joyful ride. I will definitely read anothe of Kennedy's books.
This story is mostly about Summer and unfortunately the secondary characters disappeared, like Maria. She was crazy and I liked her immensely. Maria's part of the story was wrapped up too neatly for me, and didn't mesh with the close relationship I read about between her and Summer. I was sorry to see her go.
With regards to the Duke, I liked him as well and enjoyed his interactions with both Summer and the other characters in the story. It was very easy to imagine the look on his face when he met Maria and the critters. The Duke finally opens up towards the end, and I was happy to learn his thoughts.
My one pet peeve with the story was Summer's use of the word "Tarnation!" I know that is a common expression for Summer's character to have, but she said it way too often. It was akin to someone saying "OMG" too much.
Overall I liked the story and the characters of Summer and Byron. It made for some great escapist reading and it was a joyful ride. I will definitely read anothe of Kennedy's books.
October 26, 2016
Nihayet bitti. Nihayet diyorum çünkü bu kitap uzun bir süre elimde gezdi. Defalarca kez başa sarıp okudum ve yarım kaldı. Dün akşam bitmesi için yeni baştan başladığım zaten kitabin son sayfasında hoşuma gideceğini düşünmüyordum. Kabul şimdi beni baya bir şaşırttı.
Kitabın başlarında biraz sıkıldım ama sayfalar ilerledikçe çok sevdim. Şimdiye kadar okuduğum bir hanımefendi yoktu bu kitapta. Summer Wine Lee oldukça garip bir kadın. Amerika da bıraktığı nişanlısının sosyetik ailesine layık olabilmek için gelmişti Londra'ya. Bir hanımefendi olup geri dönecekti. En azından planları buydu ama evdeki hesabı elbette ki çarşıya uymadı.
Manchester Dükü Byron ile kraliçeye takdim edilmek için bir anlaşma yaptığında adama aşık olabileceğini hiç düşünmemişti.
Kitaptan çıkardığım ana fikir ise şudur ki; hiçbir zaman kendimizi bir başkası için değiştirmememiz gerektiğidir. Bizi biz olduğumuz için seven biri mutlaka vardır.
Summer da olduğu gibi.
Kitabı kesinlikle öneriyorum. Başında sıkılmış olsanız da devam edin. Finale kadar sizi şaşırtan bir dizi olay oluyor ve gerçek aşkı okurken koşulsuz güveni ve kendine güvenmek gerektiğini satırların arasında görüyorsunuz.
Kitabın başlarında biraz sıkıldım ama sayfalar ilerledikçe çok sevdim. Şimdiye kadar okuduğum bir hanımefendi yoktu bu kitapta. Summer Wine Lee oldukça garip bir kadın. Amerika da bıraktığı nişanlısının sosyetik ailesine layık olabilmek için gelmişti Londra'ya. Bir hanımefendi olup geri dönecekti. En azından planları buydu ama evdeki hesabı elbette ki çarşıya uymadı.
Manchester Dükü Byron ile kraliçeye takdim edilmek için bir anlaşma yaptığında adama aşık olabileceğini hiç düşünmemişti.
Kitaptan çıkardığım ana fikir ise şudur ki; hiçbir zaman kendimizi bir başkası için değiştirmememiz gerektiğidir. Bizi biz olduğumuz için seven biri mutlaka vardır.
Summer da olduğu gibi.
Kitabı kesinlikle öneriyorum. Başında sıkılmış olsanız da devam edin. Finale kadar sizi şaşırtan bir dizi olay oluyor ve gerçek aşkı okurken koşulsuz güveni ve kendine güvenmek gerektiğini satırların arasında görüyorsunuz.
March 20, 2013
I really enjoyed the other 4 books I've read by Ms Kennedy but for some reason I had difficulty finishing this one.
It was amusing the heroine Summer Wine Lee collecting a menagerie, carrying a knife beneath her skirts and having learned how to survive from a red indian. She now wants to be a lady to be good enough for her fiance's family.
Enter the Duke of Monchester, Byron, his job to get her introduced to the Queen and acceptable to her fiancee's family. (He needs the money to shore up crumbling estates.)
Naturally they fall in bed and in love, there's a sub plot of somebody trying to murder the Duke as well.
Why I only thought it was OK? As I said I found it hard to finish, I got fed up of Summer's denial of her love of Byron, even when she does accept she still has to go back to the US to her fiance.
I couldn't empathise with either character and hence the rating.(Something I had no trouble doing with the heroine of Beneath the 13 Moons by the same author despite her being widowed wit a child something I'm not fond of in romances)
It was amusing the heroine Summer Wine Lee collecting a menagerie, carrying a knife beneath her skirts and having learned how to survive from a red indian. She now wants to be a lady to be good enough for her fiance's family.
Enter the Duke of Monchester, Byron, his job to get her introduced to the Queen and acceptable to her fiancee's family. (He needs the money to shore up crumbling estates.)
Naturally they fall in bed and in love, there's a sub plot of somebody trying to murder the Duke as well.
Why I only thought it was OK? As I said I found it hard to finish, I got fed up of Summer's denial of her love of Byron, even when she does accept she still has to go back to the US to her fiance.
I couldn't empathise with either character and hence the rating.(Something I had no trouble doing with the heroine of Beneath the 13 Moons by the same author despite her being widowed wit a child something I'm not fond of in romances)
November 29, 2009
I was familiar with Kathryn Kennedy's Relics of Merlin, so when I heard she had a new book coming out I was very interested to see what it was all about. I knew I would enjoy it since it was to be set in the Victorian era. My Unfair Lady was a fun read. It was a journey of love, trust and acceptance. Beautiful written. I was captivated by the characters and story. My favorite part was how opposite Summer and Byron were, I found that very interesting. So, different but still drawn to each other.If you are fan of the play Pygmalion or the musical My Fair Lady, there is a good chance you'll enjoy this new spin on a beloved story.
July 22, 2014
I missed the fantasy element present in her other works. My unfair lady was fairly entertaining but a little shallow. I didn't *feel* the characters' emotions. And the ending was a little abrupt. I think Kennedy should have smoothed the resolution out a bit by fleshing out the scene between our lovers when they admit their feelings to the other. And, Kennedy should have added some additional scenes after the resolution or, at the least, an epilogue.
Overall though it was a fairly typical historical romance with a touch of humor. Nothing, characters, setting, plot, plot twists, etc, stood out as being particularly well-crafted or unusual.
Overall though it was a fairly typical historical romance with a touch of humor. Nothing, characters, setting, plot, plot twists, etc, stood out as being particularly well-crafted or unusual.
June 28, 2012
So much fun to read! I was slightly worried because Ms all of the other books by Ms Kennedy that I have read were fantasy or paranormal. This one is a straight historical romance but the same things I loved in her others I loved here. Between the world building, the hilarious characters and situations not to mention the supporting cast I found myself anxiously waiting to see what was going to happen next. The heroine certainly didn't fit the typical mold of rich American girl going to England nor was the hero the rake prowling gambling dens and avoiding marriage minded mothers.
I really hope she continues to write historicals as well as her fantasy and paranormals.
I really hope she continues to write historicals as well as her fantasy and paranormals.
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