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Putney Classic Romances #2
Carousel of Hearts
Antonia and Judith were the best of friends, until dashing Adam Yorke and handsome Lord Simon Launceston divided the two young women. Never had romance reveled in such dizzying turnabouts as Cupid emptied his quiver at hearts that would not stay still.
224 pages, Paperback
First published November 7, 1989
146 people are currently reading
279 people want to read
About the author
Mary Jo Putney
167 books2,261 followersShe writes young adult fiction as M.J. Putney.
Mary Jo Putney was born on 1946 in Upstate New York with a reading addiction, a condition for which there is no known cure. After earning degrees in English Literature and Industrial Design at Syracuse University, she did various forms of design work in California and England before inertia took over in Baltimore, Maryland, where she has lived very comfortably ever since.
While becoming a novelist was her ultimate fantasy, it never occurred to her that writing was an achievable goal until she acquired a computer for other purposes. When the realization hit that a computer was the ultimate writing tool, she charged merrily into her first book with an ignorance that illustrates the adage that fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
Fortune sometimes favors the foolish and her first book sold quickly, thereby changing her life forever, in most ways for the better. (“But why didn't anyone tell me that writing would change the way one reads?”) Like a lemming over a cliff, she gave up her freelance graphic design business to become a full-time writer as soon as possible.
Since 1987, Ms. Putney has published twenty-nine books and counting. Her stories are noted for psychological depth and unusual subject matter such as alcoholism, death and dying, and domestic abuse. She has made all of the national bestseller lists including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USAToday, and Publishers Weekly. Five of her books have been named among the year’s top five romances by The Library Journal. The Spiral Path and Stolen Magic were chosen as one of Top Ten romances of their years by Booklist, published by the American Library Association.
A nine-time finalist for the Romance Writers of America RITA, she has won RITAs for Dancing on the Wind and The Rake and the Reformer and is on the RWA Honor Roll for bestselling authors. She has been awarded two Romantic Times Career Achievement Awards, four NJRW Golden Leaf awards, plus the NJRW career achievement award for historical romance. Though most of her books have been historical, she has also published three contemporary romances. The Marriage Spell will be out in June 2006 in hardcover, and Stolen Magic (written as M. J. Putney) will be released in July 2006.
Ms. Putney says that not least among the blessings of a full-time writing career is that one almost never has to wear pantyhose.
Mary Jo Putney was born on 1946 in Upstate New York with a reading addiction, a condition for which there is no known cure. After earning degrees in English Literature and Industrial Design at Syracuse University, she did various forms of design work in California and England before inertia took over in Baltimore, Maryland, where she has lived very comfortably ever since.
While becoming a novelist was her ultimate fantasy, it never occurred to her that writing was an achievable goal until she acquired a computer for other purposes. When the realization hit that a computer was the ultimate writing tool, she charged merrily into her first book with an ignorance that illustrates the adage that fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
Fortune sometimes favors the foolish and her first book sold quickly, thereby changing her life forever, in most ways for the better. (“But why didn't anyone tell me that writing would change the way one reads?”) Like a lemming over a cliff, she gave up her freelance graphic design business to become a full-time writer as soon as possible.
Since 1987, Ms. Putney has published twenty-nine books and counting. Her stories are noted for psychological depth and unusual subject matter such as alcoholism, death and dying, and domestic abuse. She has made all of the national bestseller lists including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USAToday, and Publishers Weekly. Five of her books have been named among the year’s top five romances by The Library Journal. The Spiral Path and Stolen Magic were chosen as one of Top Ten romances of their years by Booklist, published by the American Library Association.
A nine-time finalist for the Romance Writers of America RITA, she has won RITAs for Dancing on the Wind and The Rake and the Reformer and is on the RWA Honor Roll for bestselling authors. She has been awarded two Romantic Times Career Achievement Awards, four NJRW Golden Leaf awards, plus the NJRW career achievement award for historical romance. Though most of her books have been historical, she has also published three contemporary romances. The Marriage Spell will be out in June 2006 in hardcover, and Stolen Magic (written as M. J. Putney) will be released in July 2006.
Ms. Putney says that not least among the blessings of a full-time writing career is that one almost never has to wear pantyhose.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
April 29, 2023
for a short, low stakes read this stressed me out (which I love)!
the plot is very character driven and it kept me guessing who would end up with whom, although my initial prediction was correct, I kept doubting who even belonged together as circumstances changed
interesting my biggest complaint with MJP is her books are too long and this short signet felt just right
the plot is very character driven and it kept me guessing who would end up with whom, although my initial prediction was correct, I kept doubting who even belonged together as circumstances changed
interesting my biggest complaint with MJP is her books are too long and this short signet felt just right
December 24, 2023
Classic Regency romance from 1989 with a fun "comedy of errors" plot
Lovely, self-effacing, impoverished gentlewoman, Judith Winslow, is a 28-year-old widow who has been a friend and companion for two years to gorgeous, fiery, 26-year-old Lady Antonia Thornton, who is a baroness in her own right. At the start of this story, Antonia's beloved second-cousin, 29-year-old Adam Yorke, has been working for the East India Company for the past 8 years, and they have been corresponding regularly the entire time. They were raised together and have known each other since Antonia was only 7 years old, when orphaned, 10-year-old Adam came to live with her family. During her teen years, Antonia had blithely, tacitly assumed that she and Adam, who was her adored BFF, would marry someday. But, shockingly, when she was not quite 18, Adam suddenly physically vanished from her life, leaving her only a brief note of explanation after he had already departed, in which he informed her that he had sailed for India.
In the years of Adam's absence, Antonia has mostly convinced herself that it was only her imagination that Adam felt as strongly as she had about their potentially being wed, because of the perpetually brotherly tone of his letters. Every year, during the season in London, Antonia has consistently been considered a marital prize of the highest order among the eligible men of the ton. She has consented to become engaged twice, but she ultimately cried off both times. Unconsciously, she has been restlessly seeking a man with whom she can feel as emotionally bonded and safe as she always has been with Adam. Because she is simultaneously gorgeous, wealthy, and high in the aristocratic pecking order, she has never had any pressing need to marry anyone other than someone whom she is absolutely certain will make her happy. Then suddenly, Adam returns to England and informs her, now that he has made his fortune, that he is home for good.
There are four main characters in this classic, short, Regency romance. In addition to Judith, Antonia, and Adam, the fourth player is Lord Simon Launceton, fifth Baron Launceton, who is a close friend of Adam and of the same age. Similar to The Diabolical Baron, which is MJP's first novel, COH, which is her second novel, is a comedy of errors as well. As is the case in TDB, the main romantic conflicts are low self-esteem and/or fear of counteracting entrenched societal rules, both of which are based on dauntingly strong strictures that aristocrats should marry within their own elite social class.
As an interesting aside, Dr. Ian Kinlock is an important subcharacter in this novel. He also appears as a crucial subcharacter in The Bargain, a rewrite of MJP's 1989 short Regency, The Would-Be Widow. In TB, the brilliant doctor gets his own romance.
As is common with the vast majority of short Regency novels, from the '80s all the way up to the present time, this is a "closed bedroom door" romance. Nothing more than kissing occurs onstage.
As a long time MJP fan, who has read every novel she has ever written, it is fascinating to me personally to note that her early novels seem to be almost the only time that she has created an MMC who is in his late 20s (I can only think of about two other exceptions). Virtually every MMC she has ever written in the years since has been in their 30s. Right from the start of her career in the '80s, however, she has never written a Regency romance with an FMC younger than around 26. This artistic choice is quite unlike Marion Chesney, in particular, who began her romance career in the '70s. MC consistently wrote Regency romances with huge age gaps between the FMC and the MMC, due to virtually all of her FMCs being debutantes, combined with the obvious assumption, among the vast majority of historical romance authors, that it is impossible for a man of any era to obtain emotional maturity until he is at least 30.
I had read this novel previously in Kindle format, and this week I checked out the audiobook version from Hoopla. The talented narrator, Siobhan Waring, does an excellent job.
Lovely, self-effacing, impoverished gentlewoman, Judith Winslow, is a 28-year-old widow who has been a friend and companion for two years to gorgeous, fiery, 26-year-old Lady Antonia Thornton, who is a baroness in her own right. At the start of this story, Antonia's beloved second-cousin, 29-year-old Adam Yorke, has been working for the East India Company for the past 8 years, and they have been corresponding regularly the entire time. They were raised together and have known each other since Antonia was only 7 years old, when orphaned, 10-year-old Adam came to live with her family. During her teen years, Antonia had blithely, tacitly assumed that she and Adam, who was her adored BFF, would marry someday. But, shockingly, when she was not quite 18, Adam suddenly physically vanished from her life, leaving her only a brief note of explanation after he had already departed, in which he informed her that he had sailed for India.
In the years of Adam's absence, Antonia has mostly convinced herself that it was only her imagination that Adam felt as strongly as she had about their potentially being wed, because of the perpetually brotherly tone of his letters. Every year, during the season in London, Antonia has consistently been considered a marital prize of the highest order among the eligible men of the ton. She has consented to become engaged twice, but she ultimately cried off both times. Unconsciously, she has been restlessly seeking a man with whom she can feel as emotionally bonded and safe as she always has been with Adam. Because she is simultaneously gorgeous, wealthy, and high in the aristocratic pecking order, she has never had any pressing need to marry anyone other than someone whom she is absolutely certain will make her happy. Then suddenly, Adam returns to England and informs her, now that he has made his fortune, that he is home for good.
There are four main characters in this classic, short, Regency romance. In addition to Judith, Antonia, and Adam, the fourth player is Lord Simon Launceton, fifth Baron Launceton, who is a close friend of Adam and of the same age. Similar to The Diabolical Baron, which is MJP's first novel, COH, which is her second novel, is a comedy of errors as well. As is the case in TDB, the main romantic conflicts are low self-esteem and/or fear of counteracting entrenched societal rules, both of which are based on dauntingly strong strictures that aristocrats should marry within their own elite social class.
As an interesting aside, Dr. Ian Kinlock is an important subcharacter in this novel. He also appears as a crucial subcharacter in The Bargain, a rewrite of MJP's 1989 short Regency, The Would-Be Widow. In TB, the brilliant doctor gets his own romance.
As is common with the vast majority of short Regency novels, from the '80s all the way up to the present time, this is a "closed bedroom door" romance. Nothing more than kissing occurs onstage.
As a long time MJP fan, who has read every novel she has ever written, it is fascinating to me personally to note that her early novels seem to be almost the only time that she has created an MMC who is in his late 20s (I can only think of about two other exceptions). Virtually every MMC she has ever written in the years since has been in their 30s. Right from the start of her career in the '80s, however, she has never written a Regency romance with an FMC younger than around 26. This artistic choice is quite unlike Marion Chesney, in particular, who began her romance career in the '70s. MC consistently wrote Regency romances with huge age gaps between the FMC and the MMC, due to virtually all of her FMCs being debutantes, combined with the obvious assumption, among the vast majority of historical romance authors, that it is impossible for a man of any era to obtain emotional maturity until he is at least 30.
I had read this novel previously in Kindle format, and this week I checked out the audiobook version from Hoopla. The talented narrator, Siobhan Waring, does an excellent job.
August 3, 2013
This is a nice, light read. The basic idea is a tried and true plot line but the execution is rather different. The middle of the book is a bit dark. The pacing is a bit slow. There's a lot of descriptive details about steam engines and astronomy which are very boring. The ending is a bit rushed. There's some sensual romance (kissing, touching, feelings) but nothing super graphic and no love scenes. Actually, there's about the same amount or just slightly more sensuality than in her teen novels. I liked the characters a lot. Judith and Tony resemble the Dashwood sisters. I felt sympathy for Judith but she was also a bit of a doormat and too noble. She's supposed to be intelligent and a bluestocking but she's overshadowed by Tony and most of her development occurs in passing. I would have liked more character development for her. The passionate, fiery Tony was more to my liking. The young men are decent heroes. I liked Simon better because he's scholarly. Adam is obviously bright and a good businessman, but if he were as good a judge of character as everyone claims he was, he wouldn't have had half the romantic problems. He's a bit of a mystery only revealing his true self at the end. His back story would have been more interesting if it had been played out rather than dropped in on the end. I liked this story for it's originality. It's predictable but a good read for fans of traditional style Regencies.
December 14, 2020
I actually think I like something about these early books better than her later books. I think it is that they have more characters and a little more complexity in some ways. Although I thought I might see the characters mentioned in the first book. As a 'series' this book is only book two in the sense that is the second of one of her 'classic' romances. Not in the sense of a shared world state. Still, totally worth the time to go back and read these early books. I highly recommend it.
April 9, 2017
Not sure I realized what I was getting myself into when I picked this up. This read a lot like something you'd expect a grade school student to write: first this happened, then that happened, then this next thing happened. The plot was pretty predictable, and the way it achieved its predictable ending was through a ridiculously unrealistic convolution of events.
I don't like the romance genre at all. It was my fault for not knowing what type of book I was reading. There were a lot of references to broad shoulders and masculine muscles. Not realizing the genre I was reading, I chalked this up to the author writing in a more modern voice. Nothing super racy happens in this book, though a scene about 3/4 of the way through the book caught me off guard and suddenly all the 'broad shoulder'-type references made sense: this is a romance. (Duh...)
Whatever. I don't know how I ended up finding this one. It was okay. Now, on to other things...
I don't like the romance genre at all. It was my fault for not knowing what type of book I was reading. There were a lot of references to broad shoulders and masculine muscles. Not realizing the genre I was reading, I chalked this up to the author writing in a more modern voice. Nothing super racy happens in this book, though a scene about 3/4 of the way through the book caught me off guard and suddenly all the 'broad shoulder'-type references made sense: this is a romance. (Duh...)
Whatever. I don't know how I ended up finding this one. It was okay. Now, on to other things...
August 31, 2020
This must have been an early Putney — she improved A LOT! Big misunderstanding + amnesia + flat characters = a tedious read.
February 17, 2024
A low-angst love quad, but there were moments that really moved me (particularly Judith’s anguish), each character is fleshed-out, and miraculously everything works out in a way that is in line with the characters. I was prepared to irrevocably dislike poor little rich girl Antonia but she quickly develops self-awareness and maturity, and is shown to be a kind, simply flawed human. Judith could have become the typical silently suffering, self-sacrificing heroine but she is shown to be deeply compassionate and quietly possessing a spine of steel; her actions reflect her integrity rather than any doormat tendencies. I got a real feel for Adam and Simon as well; they had real personalities, not just a collection of quirks and flat motivations. I appreciated that these guys weren’t über alphas yet still decisively took the initiative when necessary.
A pleasant delight.
A pleasant delight.
May 30, 2023
I was annoyed as I read this book. The premise was rather silly, love at first sight on the basis of one's beautiful features not very convincing. What could have been interesting was the amnesia which befalls one of the characters. However, it was rather black and white instead of memory coming back slowly in parts. At one stage on of the characters compares their plight to the plot of a bad reformation comedy. Too right!
I liked the sensible Judith so much better than Antonia whom I found extremely irritating and fickle.
A pity it was paired with the absolutely excellent "The Diabolical Baron".
Ms Putney's easy, flowing style is already present in this early work, but one has to be grateful than over the years she has refined her plotting and characterisation.
I liked the sensible Judith so much better than Antonia whom I found extremely irritating and fickle.
A pity it was paired with the absolutely excellent "The Diabolical Baron".
Ms Putney's easy, flowing style is already present in this early work, but one has to be grateful than over the years she has refined her plotting and characterisation.
December 24, 2024
This happened to be my 2nd book from Mary Jo Putney that has a "two couples" setting. This one is a lot more of a love square tangram than the previous one I read, and I'm happy to say it kept me glue to the text. While I took pleasure in the moving plot line, I can't say I got much enjoyment out of the writing. Her sentences are usually short, simple, just enough to carry the idea through. The few flowery words she used to describe characters are repeated to death. Lady Antonia was described 9 times as having "cinnamon" brown eyes. Adam had "sun-streaked" hair 4 times and "gray-green" eyes 13 times. She didn't even try to differ from these exact words.
July 5, 2020
An enjoyable romp through Regency England. Delightfully silly. And engaging. No debauchery (hahahaha BUT CLOSE - I SEE YOU TONI). The carousel was surprisingly very effective. It felt like A Midsummer Night's Dream - a foursome chasing each other in the wrong direction. I say surprisingly effective because I changed my mind multiple times as to who should end up together... but the ending was satisfying. I remember reading it on my commute to work, on the bus, totally getting motion sickness, totally not caring at all.
3 and a half stars!
3 and a half stars!
September 1, 2020
Another enjoyable romantic romp. When Antonia's cousin Adam returns to England after eight years in India, his one desire is to ask her to marry him. Unfortunately, before he can, he introduces his best friend, Simon, and it is love at first site. And Antonia's companion also falls for Simon. But not everything is perfect, as Antonia and Simon prepare for their wedding. . . . The author does a wonderful job in keeping the reader guessing as to just which couple will end up together. Impossible to put down. Highly recommended.
February 10, 2023
Quite disappointing, and dull as dishwater. (Does anyone even say that anymore?) I found all the characters rather uninteresting, and after a few slow-going chapters I really wasn't interested in what happened to them. Even worse, I started to dislike the female lead, and didn't find her sidekick getting beyond two dimensions. The men were both also not particularly endearing. I gave up and skipped to the end, which I found quite dreadful. Good thing Putney improved as a storyteller, and we don't have to base her reputation on this dismal bit of early work.
December 13, 2020
Wow - you certainly don't come across romance books like this every day! Apart from the fact that it take a truly towering work to earn 5 stars from me, my only criticism is that the refusal of the 4 main characters to be honest with themselves and each other pushes the bounds of credibility (not I said "pushes", rather than exceeds".) The author continually leaves you in suspense, wondering what plot turn is coming next. The only predictability is what is inevitable due to it being a romance.
February 28, 2024
I can’t feel strongly about this book one way or another. The writing is fine. As to the story, it’s a little silly, but not objectionably so. The plot revolves around two Hs and two hs as they figure out who loves whom. I liked Judith, less Antonia who came across as rather self-centred and over-indulged. The male leads, Simon and Adam, were ok but not particularly standout. Overall I would rate this as mildly amusing…
August 8, 2020
Likable characters. I was not sure how they would all get along in the end, but it worked out in a cute way. I am not fond of the childhood friends to marriage trope - I think it is weird. I don’t know of anyone IRL who were “best playmates” or almost-siblings and then eventually marry.
August 8, 2021
What a run around....whewww! I liked this story even though it was grating on my nerves. Glad it turned out the way it did. The characters were good and the plot, well it turned out well. Looking forward to reading more from Putney.
June 25, 2022
If you like farces, this is the one for you. I enjoy this author so was disappointed in this offering. Not sure I can say I 'read' it as I just skimmed through many endless pages of mental musings and angst to finally get to the end.
June 11, 2023
A delight to read
A carousel of hearts was a great title for this delightful book. There's enough love and changing of the "horses" to delight any reader. Everything worked out satisfactory for both couples in the end, with a delightful read to boot. Great book.
A carousel of hearts was a great title for this delightful book. There's enough love and changing of the "horses" to delight any reader. Everything worked out satisfactory for both couples in the end, with a delightful read to boot. Great book.
August 22, 2024
Putney is a master at keeping the reader guessing. This book is such a tangle it almost becomes frustrating, but Putney unravels the plot at just the right time. I love that she brings supporting characters from previous books into her storyline.
December 13, 2017
Library Kindle e-book
December 24, 2018
3.5 stars
August 22, 2020
Fun story
Amusing regency story I read this as a paperback, many of the series and have enjoyed all of Ms Putney’s stories.
Amusing regency story I read this as a paperback, many of the series and have enjoyed all of Ms Putney’s stories.
October 23, 2020
Cute story.
February 9, 2022
Simpatica lectura. M-a amuzat, enervat, dar finalul a fost pe placul meu. E o lectura usoara, cu peisaje frumoase si personaje dragute.
June 7, 2022
A light humorous read about star crossed lovers.
December 7, 2023
Don't really remember, but I chose to keep.
December 12, 2023
Unexpected Fun
At first the reading was slow going but then is got remarkably fun. A good read to keep you going.
At first the reading was slow going but then is got remarkably fun. A good read to keep you going.
September 19, 2024
I think 4 protagonists is a little much for a book that’s only 222 pages. But good concept.
September 16, 2025
Very boring!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews