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Marriage #1
Married in Haste
New York Times bestselling author Cathy Maxwell’s classic romance Married in Haste is a fan-favorite marriage-of-convenience tale that resonates with unforgettable passion and love.
Brenn Owens, The Earl of Merton, has come to London to choose a bride. A sexy war hero, he has his pick of the season’s debutantes, and once he spies beautiful Tess Hamilton no other will do.
But Tess has a dark secret she’s desperate to hide—she has no choice but to marry quickly before her family’s ruin becomes grist for the gossip mill. She accepts Brenn’s sudden proposal without telling him the truth, but can she really marry him without feeling she’s betrayed him—especially when he offers ecstasy beyond her wildest dreams? And will he see her subterfuge as a lie?
Cathy Maxwell’s Married in Haste is a historical romance to fall in love with.
Brenn Owens, The Earl of Merton, has come to London to choose a bride. A sexy war hero, he has his pick of the season’s debutantes, and once he spies beautiful Tess Hamilton no other will do.
But Tess has a dark secret she’s desperate to hide—she has no choice but to marry quickly before her family’s ruin becomes grist for the gossip mill. She accepts Brenn’s sudden proposal without telling him the truth, but can she really marry him without feeling she’s betrayed him—especially when he offers ecstasy beyond her wildest dreams? And will he see her subterfuge as a lie?
Cathy Maxwell’s Married in Haste is a historical romance to fall in love with.
368 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 14, 2006
73 people are currently reading
1382 people want to read
About the author
Cathy Maxwell
71 books2,191 followersCATHY MAXWELL spends hours in front of her computer pondering the question, "Why do people fall in love?" It remains for her the mystery of life and the secret to happiness.
She lives in the Austin, TX area where she is having the time of her life.
Visit her on Instagram, Twitter, FB, and TikTok at maxwellcathy (Yes, some other Cathy Maxwell nabbed the handle. However, she does own www.cathymaxwell.com and she'd love for you to swing by.)
She lives in the Austin, TX area where she is having the time of her life.
Visit her on Instagram, Twitter, FB, and TikTok at maxwellcathy (Yes, some other Cathy Maxwell nabbed the handle. However, she does own www.cathymaxwell.com and she'd love for you to swing by.)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 167 reviews
May 15, 2012
This is the worst frickin book I've ever read. I would use stronger frickin words but I don't know if we're allowed to cuss on GoodReads.
This book sucked so much butt that I didn't even read half of it. SPOILERS will follow but don't worry; you won't want to read this crap anyways.
So there's Tess Hamlin. She's a rich heiress. And there's the Earl of Merton. He's broke. So he's come to London to find a rich wife. They meet at a ball and there is attraction. There's a to-do about Tess getting all of the single ladies to make a wager on who would get the first marriage proposal that night and everyone freaks out when they find out. Tess's brother, let's call him JackAss, acts even more pissed than anyone else and somehow forces her to accept Meron's proposal (he's heard she's rich). Tess is livid and fights with her brother. During the argument, she finds out her as$hole of a brother has lost all of her money. Fifty thousand pounds, I think. Now, HE still has money to live on but that money is managed by Mr. Christopher and Mr. Christopher won't let him spend it unwisely. So JackAss blows through all of Tess's money because he has a harpy of a wife and she wants and wants and wants and he's too much of a drunken wuss to say no to her. WHATEVER!!
So Tess and Merton marry and they get along at first but then she finds out that he married her for money and he finds out that she's broke and then they hate each other. Then they find all of the nice crap that Tess brought into the marriage. I guess it was a shit-ton of silver dishes, etc. So now they have money and he can rebuild this wonderful mansion that has fallen to crap. Blah blah blah. Happily Ever After.
The thing is that Tess's brother and his wife never get their comeuppance. Never. After Tess leaves London, they're barely mentioned again. Only when Tess and Merton realize that it wasn't a bad investment but that her brother had blown all her money on his wife and their lifestyle. And it pisses me off so much because Tess's brother's wife was such a snobby bitch throughout the book! And she never gets what's coming to her?? I don't think so. If that's what Cathy Maxwell calls a Happily Ever After, she can keep it. I'm done with her books.
This book sucked so much butt that I didn't even read half of it. SPOILERS will follow but don't worry; you won't want to read this crap anyways.
So there's Tess Hamlin. She's a rich heiress. And there's the Earl of Merton. He's broke. So he's come to London to find a rich wife. They meet at a ball and there is attraction. There's a to-do about Tess getting all of the single ladies to make a wager on who would get the first marriage proposal that night and everyone freaks out when they find out. Tess's brother, let's call him JackAss, acts even more pissed than anyone else and somehow forces her to accept Meron's proposal (he's heard she's rich). Tess is livid and fights with her brother. During the argument, she finds out her as$hole of a brother has lost all of her money. Fifty thousand pounds, I think. Now, HE still has money to live on but that money is managed by Mr. Christopher and Mr. Christopher won't let him spend it unwisely. So JackAss blows through all of Tess's money because he has a harpy of a wife and she wants and wants and wants and he's too much of a drunken wuss to say no to her. WHATEVER!!
So Tess and Merton marry and they get along at first but then she finds out that he married her for money and he finds out that she's broke and then they hate each other. Then they find all of the nice crap that Tess brought into the marriage. I guess it was a shit-ton of silver dishes, etc. So now they have money and he can rebuild this wonderful mansion that has fallen to crap. Blah blah blah. Happily Ever After.
The thing is that Tess's brother and his wife never get their comeuppance. Never. After Tess leaves London, they're barely mentioned again. Only when Tess and Merton realize that it wasn't a bad investment but that her brother had blown all her money on his wife and their lifestyle. And it pisses me off so much because Tess's brother's wife was such a snobby bitch throughout the book! And she never gets what's coming to her?? I don't think so. If that's what Cathy Maxwell calls a Happily Ever After, she can keep it. I'm done with her books.
December 27, 2020
This is a VERY average book featuring an heiress who is vapid and don't know anything about the outside world. She doesn't know the man's anatomy, the fact that many languages are spoken within the same country, and really basic things. However, she does grow and has strong character growth but the plot is dry and there is hardly any conflict to make this book interesting.
August 19, 2012
When I put this book on my TBR on Goodreads, I noticed some of the more recent reviews of Married in Haste by Cathy Maxwell, weren't all that good. So, I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading this one. Published in 2006, this regency period historical romance, centers around an heiress, named Tess. She has put off marriage as long as possible, hoping for more from life than just marriage and children.
Brenn Owen, of Welch decent has recently been given an title. He is the owner of Erwynn Keep, and as the Earl it is up to him to restore the ruined keep. But, he has no money and has come to London to find a rich wife.
Once Brenn meets Tess, he knows she is the one for him. She is fabulously wealthy and beautiful. Tess has put herself in a terrible position with a few of her friends and finds her reputation on the line, and her brother Neil decides it is well past time for Tess to marry. She still refuses to marry the Earl, until Neil reveals a shocking secret.
Brenn has kept the state of Erwynn Keep and the fact that he is a fortune hunter to himself. So, he finds himself married with the week. On the trip to his homeland, Tess falls in love with Brenn, and dreads the moment she must confess her terrible secret to him, while Brenn also dreads the moment Tess sees where she will have to live. But, once they arrive and Tess realizes Brenn only married her for her fortune, she grows as a woman and takes on the task of restoring the keep. But, her marriage to the Earl, is a business deal only. When Tess hardens her heart against Brenn, he realizes how much he loves her for real, and works to win her back.
I don't really know why the reviews for this one were so erratic. I thought the author did well in describing the laws according to the regency period. The story was a sweet love story, showing how two people could work together to overcome the obstacles they faced as well as forgiving betrayals and hurts that would cause many to give up. I enjoyed the book and I believe it is the first in a trilogy. I look forward to the next installment. Overall a B-/ C+.
Brenn Owen, of Welch decent has recently been given an title. He is the owner of Erwynn Keep, and as the Earl it is up to him to restore the ruined keep. But, he has no money and has come to London to find a rich wife.
Once Brenn meets Tess, he knows she is the one for him. She is fabulously wealthy and beautiful. Tess has put herself in a terrible position with a few of her friends and finds her reputation on the line, and her brother Neil decides it is well past time for Tess to marry. She still refuses to marry the Earl, until Neil reveals a shocking secret.
Brenn has kept the state of Erwynn Keep and the fact that he is a fortune hunter to himself. So, he finds himself married with the week. On the trip to his homeland, Tess falls in love with Brenn, and dreads the moment she must confess her terrible secret to him, while Brenn also dreads the moment Tess sees where she will have to live. But, once they arrive and Tess realizes Brenn only married her for her fortune, she grows as a woman and takes on the task of restoring the keep. But, her marriage to the Earl, is a business deal only. When Tess hardens her heart against Brenn, he realizes how much he loves her for real, and works to win her back.
I don't really know why the reviews for this one were so erratic. I thought the author did well in describing the laws according to the regency period. The story was a sweet love story, showing how two people could work together to overcome the obstacles they faced as well as forgiving betrayals and hurts that would cause many to give up. I enjoyed the book and I believe it is the first in a trilogy. I look forward to the next installment. Overall a B-/ C+.
November 19, 2013
i read this book after i read 'the marriage contract' - the last in the series. i didn't know that 'the marriage contract' is a part of a series until the epilogue. since i like it well enough, i searched for the other two books and decided to read the first one.
i think the book reflects its title - 'married in haste'. it was good but lacks some depth.
i think the book reflects its title - 'married in haste'. it was good but lacks some depth.
October 25, 2017
Öyle çok ahım şahım bir kitap olmamasına rağmen hoşuma gitti..
İlk başları gayet güzeldi de sırlar açığa çıktıktan sonra her şey kitabın adına uygun bir şekilde yıldırım hızıyla gerçekleşti. Bence asıl hikaye ondan sonra başlıyordu, ama yazar farklı düşünmüş demek ki! :D
Neyse seriye devam edelim bakalım!
İlk başları gayet güzeldi de sırlar açığa çıktıktan sonra her şey kitabın adına uygun bir şekilde yıldırım hızıyla gerçekleşti. Bence asıl hikaye ondan sonra başlıyordu, ama yazar farklı düşünmüş demek ki! :D
Neyse seriye devam edelim bakalım!
January 4, 2023
Tess and Brenn
reread January 2023
reread January 2023
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 7, 2011
More like "Finished in Haste" AMIRIGHT?
I thought the book started out great, but the end was just so rushed, and I felt like there was an awful lot of action that should've happened to make it completely satisfying. It really felt almost like a novella, but perhaps the follow up books continue the story a bit? Fingers crossed I guess.
I thought the book started out great, but the end was just so rushed, and I felt like there was an awful lot of action that should've happened to make it completely satisfying. It really felt almost like a novella, but perhaps the follow up books continue the story a bit? Fingers crossed I guess.
April 4, 2019
Marriage of convenience story by Cathy Maxwell that was very nice, however I dragged this one out due to the narration. The voice was not as pleasing as some narrators I've heard.
April 29, 2013
3.5 stars
Married in Haste is a fairly run-of-the-mill marriage-of-convenience story in which both protagonists enter into the arrangement under completely false pretences.
Tess Hamlin is an acknowledged beauty and despite having been out for several seasons, has not yet accepted any of the numerous proposals of marriage she has received. She likes to have a string of admirers, but has not yet found a man she can like or respect enough to entrust with her future. In fact, she isn’t at all sure she wants to marry –she has a fortune (and a mind) of her own, and is reluctant to surrender her independence.
Her brother Neil, however, has other ideas. Or rather, her brother’s wife does, and can’t wait to get Tess married off and out of their house for good. So when Tess creates a scandal which threatens to ruin her reputation, Neil, eager for an easy life, jumps at the chance to see her married to Brenn Owen, the new Earl of Merton.
Brenn, a former military man, has come to London in search of a rich wife. His estates in Wales are dilapidated and he needs to marry money in order to repair and rebuild, so he is delighted when the chance to marry Tess and rescue her from scandal presents itself. She’s beautiful, intelligent and incredibly wealthy, so Brenn counts himself fortunate – money and looks together are more than he dared hope for.
But what neither he nor Tess knows is that her money is all gone, spent and badly invested by Neil who was unable to get at his own money due to entails and other legalities. When she finds out, she is horrified – but is encouraged by Neil not to say anything to Brenn until after the wedding has taken place. She is not happy about the deceit, but mistakenly believing Brenn to be wealthy decides to do as Neil asks.
From then on, of course, it gets harder and harder for them to tell each other the truth. They find that they like each other and enjoy each other’s company, as well as enjoying each other in bed, and it’s not long before Tess realises she has fallen in love with her husband. Brenn is attentive and kind, and Tess starts to believe that the feeling is mutual.
But the time for honesty eventually arrives, and Tess’s dream of love and a home of her own crumble around her, as she realises Brenn married her for her money.
Fortunately, Tess is not one to fall into hysterics or to be defeated by setbacks. Instead of falling into a swoon or railing at Brenn, she realises that what’s done can’t be undone and that she has to make the best of it. She gets to work – coming up with plans for the house, thinking of a way to raise money, hiring servants; but her illusions have been shattered. She has as little to do with Brenn as possible, having decided she needs to make her own life without relying on him - and as the work on the house progresses, Brenn realises that he needs to woo his wife.
The story won’t win prizes for originality, but the central characters are likeable, and I enjoyed seeing Tess, a spoiled darling of the ton show real backbone in the way she adapted to the realities of her marriage. Brenn is handsome and charming with a mischievous sensed of humour, and he cares passionately about his home. His treatment of Tess when she reveals she has no money is somewhat unkind, but once he realises what he’s done, he sets to his wooing with a vengeance. (And lots of flowers!)
It’s an enjoyable enough story, something for when you want a decent, not-too-taxing read.
The audio version I listened to was narrated by Virginia Leishman. Her performance wasn’t spectacular, but certainly more than half-way decent, and I’d be quite happy to listen to her narrate other books. The one complaint I have is that while I can accept that Brenn, having been educated in England would not necessarily have a Welsh accent, I did think that the villagers and servants at Erwynn Keep, most of whom were Welsh speakers, should have had local accents. Instead, Ms Leishman had a tendency to veer further north and towards the north of England and Scotland for those characters. But other than that, her character voices were fairly distinctive, and I didn’t discover any annoying vocal ticks.
Married in Haste is a fairly run-of-the-mill marriage-of-convenience story in which both protagonists enter into the arrangement under completely false pretences.
Tess Hamlin is an acknowledged beauty and despite having been out for several seasons, has not yet accepted any of the numerous proposals of marriage she has received. She likes to have a string of admirers, but has not yet found a man she can like or respect enough to entrust with her future. In fact, she isn’t at all sure she wants to marry –she has a fortune (and a mind) of her own, and is reluctant to surrender her independence.
Her brother Neil, however, has other ideas. Or rather, her brother’s wife does, and can’t wait to get Tess married off and out of their house for good. So when Tess creates a scandal which threatens to ruin her reputation, Neil, eager for an easy life, jumps at the chance to see her married to Brenn Owen, the new Earl of Merton.
Brenn, a former military man, has come to London in search of a rich wife. His estates in Wales are dilapidated and he needs to marry money in order to repair and rebuild, so he is delighted when the chance to marry Tess and rescue her from scandal presents itself. She’s beautiful, intelligent and incredibly wealthy, so Brenn counts himself fortunate – money and looks together are more than he dared hope for.
But what neither he nor Tess knows is that her money is all gone, spent and badly invested by Neil who was unable to get at his own money due to entails and other legalities. When she finds out, she is horrified – but is encouraged by Neil not to say anything to Brenn until after the wedding has taken place. She is not happy about the deceit, but mistakenly believing Brenn to be wealthy decides to do as Neil asks.
From then on, of course, it gets harder and harder for them to tell each other the truth. They find that they like each other and enjoy each other’s company, as well as enjoying each other in bed, and it’s not long before Tess realises she has fallen in love with her husband. Brenn is attentive and kind, and Tess starts to believe that the feeling is mutual.
But the time for honesty eventually arrives, and Tess’s dream of love and a home of her own crumble around her, as she realises Brenn married her for her money.
Fortunately, Tess is not one to fall into hysterics or to be defeated by setbacks. Instead of falling into a swoon or railing at Brenn, she realises that what’s done can’t be undone and that she has to make the best of it. She gets to work – coming up with plans for the house, thinking of a way to raise money, hiring servants; but her illusions have been shattered. She has as little to do with Brenn as possible, having decided she needs to make her own life without relying on him - and as the work on the house progresses, Brenn realises that he needs to woo his wife.
The story won’t win prizes for originality, but the central characters are likeable, and I enjoyed seeing Tess, a spoiled darling of the ton show real backbone in the way she adapted to the realities of her marriage. Brenn is handsome and charming with a mischievous sensed of humour, and he cares passionately about his home. His treatment of Tess when she reveals she has no money is somewhat unkind, but once he realises what he’s done, he sets to his wooing with a vengeance. (And lots of flowers!)
It’s an enjoyable enough story, something for when you want a decent, not-too-taxing read.
The audio version I listened to was narrated by Virginia Leishman. Her performance wasn’t spectacular, but certainly more than half-way decent, and I’d be quite happy to listen to her narrate other books. The one complaint I have is that while I can accept that Brenn, having been educated in England would not necessarily have a Welsh accent, I did think that the villagers and servants at Erwynn Keep, most of whom were Welsh speakers, should have had local accents. Instead, Ms Leishman had a tendency to veer further north and towards the north of England and Scotland for those characters. But other than that, her character voices were fairly distinctive, and I didn’t discover any annoying vocal ticks.
Read
September 26, 2017DNF. Too much alcohol, and too little consent or communication. The structure and style were solid and easy to read, so I'd definitely be willing to read another Cathy Maxwell book, but this one was not for me.
March 13, 2025
Married in Haste by Cathy Maxwell
.
Cover (stepback): 5/5
Story: 3.5/5
Steam: 🔥 🔥
Ending: HEA
.
Series or Stand Alone: Book one of the Marriage series. Absolutely can be a stand alone.
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England & Wales, Regency (1814)
Fortune Hunting Earl
Ice Queen Heiress
Forced Proximity
Road Trip
Opposites Attract
Welsh Hero
Secret Finanical Ruin x2
Lady Rivals
Ladies Wager
Marriage by Scandal
Marriage in Trouble
Super Shitty Brother
.
I read this one at least a month ago and am only now catching up on reviews.
Book is OK. Hero and Heroine can't communicate with each other. Heroine is super icy to Hero. Lots of groveling and grand gestures.
The ladies wager set up for the book had so much potential but is basically forgotten in book two and three. Meh.
Read as a physical copy. Honest review left voluntarily.
.
Content Warning (not complete, spoilers likely):
.
.
.
.
.
De*th of parents- not in page
Social ruination
Financially irresponsible/ab*sive brother
Finanical destitution
Marital estrangement
.
Cover (stepback): 5/5
Story: 3.5/5
Steam: 🔥 🔥
Ending: HEA
.
Series or Stand Alone: Book one of the Marriage series. Absolutely can be a stand alone.
.
England & Wales, Regency (1814)
Fortune Hunting Earl
Ice Queen Heiress
Forced Proximity
Road Trip
Opposites Attract
Welsh Hero
Secret Finanical Ruin x2
Lady Rivals
Ladies Wager
Marriage by Scandal
Marriage in Trouble
Super Shitty Brother
.
I read this one at least a month ago and am only now catching up on reviews.
Book is OK. Hero and Heroine can't communicate with each other. Heroine is super icy to Hero. Lots of groveling and grand gestures.
The ladies wager set up for the book had so much potential but is basically forgotten in book two and three. Meh.
Read as a physical copy. Honest review left voluntarily.
.
Content Warning (not complete, spoilers likely):
.
.
.
.
.
De*th of parents- not in page
Social ruination
Financially irresponsible/ab*sive brother
Finanical destitution
Marital estrangement
January 13, 2024
this series is all solid marriage of convenience stories
people who left bad reviews were mad that the heroine’s brother and awful SIL didn’t get their comeuppance but first of all, this is a series so they might, and secondly, that completely misses the point… her family wasn’t really the villains, they were just used to present a set of circumstances that resulted in the romance being tested and coming out stronger
I also liked that it was based on real people that existed, that’s always fun
people who left bad reviews were mad that the heroine’s brother and awful SIL didn’t get their comeuppance but first of all, this is a series so they might, and secondly, that completely misses the point… her family wasn’t really the villains, they were just used to present a set of circumstances that resulted in the romance being tested and coming out stronger
I also liked that it was based on real people that existed, that’s always fun
August 2, 2014
Tess Hamlin is the toast of the ton. Again. She's beautiful, and whoever marries her will be rich as Croesus. Thing is, she's not keen to be married for these reasons, and that seems to be all people see. She wants something more, which is why she's refused so many suitors she's been dubbed the Ice Maiden.
Brenn Owen is the new Earl of Merton, come to London in search of an heiress. He's reputed to be a wealthy man—which is all to the good—but while he's inherited a once-fabulous estate and a lot of arable land, he's cash-poor and the old homestead is a falling-down ruin. He needs an infusion of money to finance its restoration. And it doesn't hurt that his target—Tess—is easy on the eye.
Brenn offers for her, and despite her protests, her brother announces their betrothal. When she threatens to refuse the marriage, her brother lets her in on a dirty secret—seems he's lost her fortune. She has no dowry. Not a shilling. If she doesn't marry this guy before the news gets out, she'll be ruined. At least Brenn Owen isn't after her for her fortune.
The hasty wedding goes off without a hitch, and Tess travels back to Wales with her new husband. The sex is hot, so along the way she falls in love (because great sex is all we women need to love a guy).
When the lies on both sides are exposed, let's just say things get rocky.
This is another relationship-driven story. If you like them, this may be a great read. Me, I like stories that have more to them than that. There is a subplot involving a man who hates Brenn, but .
I'll give this 3 stars. It's a decent read but I'm not in love with it.
Brenn Owen is the new Earl of Merton, come to London in search of an heiress. He's reputed to be a wealthy man—which is all to the good—but while he's inherited a once-fabulous estate and a lot of arable land, he's cash-poor and the old homestead is a falling-down ruin. He needs an infusion of money to finance its restoration. And it doesn't hurt that his target—Tess—is easy on the eye.
Brenn offers for her, and despite her protests, her brother announces their betrothal. When she threatens to refuse the marriage, her brother lets her in on a dirty secret—seems he's lost her fortune. She has no dowry. Not a shilling. If she doesn't marry this guy before the news gets out, she'll be ruined. At least Brenn Owen isn't after her for her fortune.
The hasty wedding goes off without a hitch, and Tess travels back to Wales with her new husband. The sex is hot, so along the way she falls in love (because great sex is all we women need to love a guy).
When the lies on both sides are exposed, let's just say things get rocky.
This is another relationship-driven story. If you like them, this may be a great read. Me, I like stories that have more to them than that. There is a subplot involving a man who hates Brenn, but .
I'll give this 3 stars. It's a decent read but I'm not in love with it.
November 21, 2020
TUTKULAR AŞKA, YALANLAR SEVGİ DOLU SÖZCÜKLERE DÖNÜŞEBİLİR Mİ?
Her genç kız Londra sosyetesine tanıtılmanın, en özel balolara gitmenin, muhteşem elbiseler giyerek pırıltılı mücevherler takmanın hayalini kurar… Sosyetenin en yakışıklı erkekleriyle gizliden gizliye öpüşmeye ve tutkulu sözlere dair hayallere dalarak tüm gece dans etmekten daha heyecan verici ne olabilir ki…
Merton Kontu Brenn Owen, kendisine bir eş bulabilmek için Londra’ya gelmiştir. Yakışıklı savaş kahramanının önünde sosyeteye yeni tanıtılan birçok genç kız varken, gözlerini Tess Hamlin’in üzerine diktiği anda Londra’nın güzellik kraliçesini kendisine bağlamadan rahat edemeyeceğini anlar.
Ancak Tess’in umursamaz tavırlarının altında derin bir çaresizlik yatmaktadır. Ailesinin başından geçen talihsiz olaylar, sosyetenin dedikodu malzemesi olmadan önce evlenmekten başka şansı kalmamıştır. Fakat Brenn’in de çıkarları olduğuna dair hiçbir fikri yoktur...
Her genç kız Londra sosyetesine tanıtılmanın, en özel balolara gitmenin, muhteşem elbiseler giyerek pırıltılı mücevherler takmanın hayalini kurar… Sosyetenin en yakışıklı erkekleriyle gizliden gizliye öpüşmeye ve tutkulu sözlere dair hayallere dalarak tüm gece dans etmekten daha heyecan verici ne olabilir ki…
Merton Kontu Brenn Owen, kendisine bir eş bulabilmek için Londra’ya gelmiştir. Yakışıklı savaş kahramanının önünde sosyeteye yeni tanıtılan birçok genç kız varken, gözlerini Tess Hamlin’in üzerine diktiği anda Londra’nın güzellik kraliçesini kendisine bağlamadan rahat edemeyeceğini anlar.
Ancak Tess’in umursamaz tavırlarının altında derin bir çaresizlik yatmaktadır. Ailesinin başından geçen talihsiz olaylar, sosyetenin dedikodu malzemesi olmadan önce evlenmekten başka şansı kalmamıştır. Fakat Brenn’in de çıkarları olduğuna dair hiçbir fikri yoktur...
May 25, 2024
2.5 stars. i like the writing and i was invested before the plot went to shit. i kind of wish this book was longer only because the last 20% was so rushed. also I'm so conflicted about the second AND third act conflict??? the ending overall is just kinda unsatisfying. I'm still reading the next 2 in the series though lol
July 24, 2024
A pretty mediocre marriage of convenience story. 2.5 stars
October 22, 2014
Cathy Maxwell, what can I say...I love her stories, they aren't particularly mind blowing works but they are yummy in a nostalgic way. And every now and then it feels wonderful to treat yourself to one of her novels. This one is quite lovely, I tittered about the pillow stick analogy and the tight Satin breeches. The mixup before and after the wedding was silly but not totally unbelievable, given that communication between bride and groom was not encouraged or expected before the wedding in an arranged marriage.b Brenn is quite a dashing hero, good looking, he saves his wife's life when they are being robbed by highwaymen. Her reaction to his secret was quite tame, I thought she would have been livid with the living conditions but she took it quite maturely.
I loved the fairy stories and it reminded me of The Bride Said Maybe which had a couple of bedtime fairy tale scenes in it. I did feel a tad disappointed that the brother did not receive his just desserts for what he did. However, the epilogue was wonderful, they deserved a wonderful HEA.
I feel this older story was a richer, less fluffy romance than CM's the Bride said No/maybe series. This audiobook version was borrowed from the library.
I loved the fairy stories and it reminded me of The Bride Said Maybe which had a couple of bedtime fairy tale scenes in it. I did feel a tad disappointed that the brother did not receive his just desserts for what he did. However, the epilogue was wonderful, they deserved a wonderful HEA.
I feel this older story was a richer, less fluffy romance than CM's the Bride said No/maybe series. This audiobook version was borrowed from the library.
June 15, 2019
Going to leave this at 3 stars though it may be 2.5.
I can see why I enjoyed this book the first time. Tess is strong and smart and isn't afraid to adapt to her surroundings. She's true to the time period and still speaks to modern sensibilities.
I have two issues. The first is the brother and SIL. Neither get the comeuppance they deserve. Tess should have let Goodwin print his article so they'd be ruined. The brother was a complete asshole.
The second is Brenn. He never really shows any growth, and it would have been easy to do. He never understood how his parents were so in love, and while Brenn fell in love we never saw his reconciliation with his younger self's views. That would have gone a long way towards making him a better character. He's already good- not afraid to apologise or admit mistakes or even grovel. But he could have had better insight to his parents now that he's happily married.
Some parts of this book are very funny though. I especially appreciated Tess putting all those flowers into Brenn's bed.
As an editorial note, the author uses way too many exclamation points. They were such a distraction.
I can see why I enjoyed this book the first time. Tess is strong and smart and isn't afraid to adapt to her surroundings. She's true to the time period and still speaks to modern sensibilities.
I have two issues. The first is the brother and SIL. Neither get the comeuppance they deserve. Tess should have let Goodwin print his article so they'd be ruined. The brother was a complete asshole.
The second is Brenn. He never really shows any growth, and it would have been easy to do. He never understood how his parents were so in love, and while Brenn fell in love we never saw his reconciliation with his younger self's views. That would have gone a long way towards making him a better character. He's already good- not afraid to apologise or admit mistakes or even grovel. But he could have had better insight to his parents now that he's happily married.
Some parts of this book are very funny though. I especially appreciated Tess putting all those flowers into Brenn's bed.
As an editorial note, the author uses way too many exclamation points. They were such a distraction.
February 2, 2013
3.5 stars
This was a free book that I got from Barnes & Noble.
This was an easy to read fun story of Tess Hamlin and her journey to finding true love. Tess rushes into marriage with someone she doesn't know and ends up falling in love.
I really didn't get the low ratings this book recieved. Why not 5-star worthty, I found the book told a story and concluded an HEA.
The reason for the 3.5 rating is that I felt Maxwell could have done alot more with the story. World-building was minimal and and the ending felt rushed. (Just when I really started enjoying the book it came to the conclusion.)This book also lacked depth in the story-telling. That said,I still enjoyed the story and did'nt feel that it was a waste of my time.
This was a free book that I got from Barnes & Noble.
This was an easy to read fun story of Tess Hamlin and her journey to finding true love. Tess rushes into marriage with someone she doesn't know and ends up falling in love.
I really didn't get the low ratings this book recieved. Why not 5-star worthty, I found the book told a story and concluded an HEA.
The reason for the 3.5 rating is that I felt Maxwell could have done alot more with the story. World-building was minimal and and the ending felt rushed. (Just when I really started enjoying the book it came to the conclusion.)This book also lacked depth in the story-telling. That said,I still enjoyed the story and did'nt feel that it was a waste of my time.
January 7, 2013
Nook Free Fridays Book
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It was just what I needed, a very cute story with a touch of welsh magic. I was surprised by how quickly they figured out a solution, after harping over their big problem and finally admitting it to eachother, they figured out a solution in about 2 pages... and then delt with other stuff. On the other hand I did enjoy how the story took place over a few months. While I can live with love at first sight (if it's done well) sometimes what really bothers me is placing all of the major life event of a character in the span of a week. In conculsion, it won't blow you away but it it was sweet read for a rainy day.
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It was just what I needed, a very cute story with a touch of welsh magic. I was surprised by how quickly they figured out a solution, after harping over their big problem and finally admitting it to eachother, they figured out a solution in about 2 pages... and then delt with other stuff. On the other hand I did enjoy how the story took place over a few months. While I can live with love at first sight (if it's done well) sometimes what really bothers me is placing all of the major life event of a character in the span of a week. In conculsion, it won't blow you away but it it was sweet read for a rainy day.
September 26, 2018
.
This was a historical, romantic, tale commencing with the ambiance of the ton and later transferring to a country earldom in Wales, two totally opposite settings.
With both parties entering the marriage under a deception from the other, it is a true test to discover if they will eventually find love and will it conquer all.
This was not totally clean read, but it was moderately so. It is able to stand on its own and there is a 'fairytale' type H.E.A.
This was a historical, romantic, tale commencing with the ambiance of the ton and later transferring to a country earldom in Wales, two totally opposite settings.
With both parties entering the marriage under a deception from the other, it is a true test to discover if they will eventually find love and will it conquer all.
This was not totally clean read, but it was moderately so. It is able to stand on its own and there is a 'fairytale' type H.E.A.
January 12, 2013
This was a Nook Free Friday book, so I didn't have high expectations...but it was a cute quick read...a little soft porn in places, which seemed really out of place in an otherwise interesting story. The author could have easily left that out and still had a successfull book....I hope this isn't a new trend we will start seeing thanks to the success of Fifty Shades....
December 21, 2015
Good reading if you have nothing else to read better.
The story was interesting in the beginning and started losing my interest midway. Towards the end it became very predictable. Then the author puts a light drama. Of course it does not help at the end of story which lasts not more than couple of pages.
The story was interesting in the beginning and started losing my interest midway. Towards the end it became very predictable. Then the author puts a light drama. Of course it does not help at the end of story which lasts not more than couple of pages.
July 3, 2009
I usually don't said this sort of thing's about book , bur this book is bad, not really bad, but bad.
It has no flow, no really motivation.
Bad just Bad.
If you don't have nothing more to read the maybe give it a shot, but only if desperate.
It has no flow, no really motivation.
Bad just Bad.
If you don't have nothing more to read the maybe give it a shot, but only if desperate.
November 24, 2012
I really enjoyed the simplicity and the charm of the story and the characters. Highly recommend this to all historical romance readers who wants to take a breather from all the complication real life has to offer ;)
February 17, 2015
ben sevdim bu hikayeyi :)
hemen serinin ikinci kitabına geçiyorum :)
hemen serinin ikinci kitabına geçiyorum :)
September 30, 2017
Tess is the superstar among the young ladies who are part of this season. She has no desire to wed. Although she is the wealthiest heiress and beautiful as well, she has not found any man who holds her interest.
Then she makes an error by making a wager that makes gentlemen look foolish. The wager also makes her look like someone who does not respect the process of the marriage mart.
She meets the brand new Earl of Merton, Brenn is a Welsh war hero. He was wounded and now walks with a limp, which means he does not dance. But, he is handsome and charming and he listens to Tess as though he cares what she says.
Brenn is looking for a wife. His estate is poverty stricken and he needs to find a wife who is wealthy.
Because of her flaunting the rules of the ton, Tess's brother agrees to her marriage to Brenn. Tess is horror stricken. She does not know this man, she does not know anything about Wales, and she does not know anything about a marriage between a woman and a man.
After their wedding, the journey from London to Wales is an education for both of them. They learn about one another. They learn to enjoy one another's company as well as the sexual side of their relationship. Everything seems to be moving along beautifully.
But, both Tess and Brenn are keeping important secrets from one another. These are life changing secrets.
Tess is a snob. She has no clue about life other than being cared for by servants and traveling among very wealthy people. She even allows her maid to be a snob and belittle others.
Brenn is dealing with huge changes in his life. He never expected to become an earl and he certainly never expected to become responsible for so much. His dream is to restore the estate to former glory and live a life of peace. He does not have any expectation of finding happiness and love in marriage.
Life comes along and changes both of them. They begin to realize the possibilities in the world and within themselves. Each of them discover their strengths as well as their vulnerabilities.
I liked both of these people very much. Ms Maxwell has given us two leading characters who grow right before our very eyes.
The secondary characters are a part of the story. Some of them are admirable and some of them are really miserable examples of human beings. They add to the story, but the main focus remains on Tess and Brenn.
This is a romance, but it is also about learning to live in the real world. Life is not always easy, but life is certainly well worth the journey.
I won this book in a contest sponsored by the author. I am voluntarily writing this review and all opinions are my own.
Then she makes an error by making a wager that makes gentlemen look foolish. The wager also makes her look like someone who does not respect the process of the marriage mart.
She meets the brand new Earl of Merton, Brenn is a Welsh war hero. He was wounded and now walks with a limp, which means he does not dance. But, he is handsome and charming and he listens to Tess as though he cares what she says.
Brenn is looking for a wife. His estate is poverty stricken and he needs to find a wife who is wealthy.
Because of her flaunting the rules of the ton, Tess's brother agrees to her marriage to Brenn. Tess is horror stricken. She does not know this man, she does not know anything about Wales, and she does not know anything about a marriage between a woman and a man.
After their wedding, the journey from London to Wales is an education for both of them. They learn about one another. They learn to enjoy one another's company as well as the sexual side of their relationship. Everything seems to be moving along beautifully.
But, both Tess and Brenn are keeping important secrets from one another. These are life changing secrets.
Tess is a snob. She has no clue about life other than being cared for by servants and traveling among very wealthy people. She even allows her maid to be a snob and belittle others.
Brenn is dealing with huge changes in his life. He never expected to become an earl and he certainly never expected to become responsible for so much. His dream is to restore the estate to former glory and live a life of peace. He does not have any expectation of finding happiness and love in marriage.
Life comes along and changes both of them. They begin to realize the possibilities in the world and within themselves. Each of them discover their strengths as well as their vulnerabilities.
I liked both of these people very much. Ms Maxwell has given us two leading characters who grow right before our very eyes.
The secondary characters are a part of the story. Some of them are admirable and some of them are really miserable examples of human beings. They add to the story, but the main focus remains on Tess and Brenn.
This is a romance, but it is also about learning to live in the real world. Life is not always easy, but life is certainly well worth the journey.
I won this book in a contest sponsored by the author. I am voluntarily writing this review and all opinions are my own.
October 19, 2020
Such a promising beginning and such a disappointing ending.
(Ok, the very very beginning of Chapter 1 with the bet was hella stupid, I have no idea why the book starts this way, but ignoring it and move on...)
I loved everything from Chapter 2 (pg. 22) to about chapter 15 (pg. 271): Brenn & Tess's "courting" and their relationship as it grew and they fell in love... It was going perfectly. I knew it would be dramatic when Brenn found out Tess had no money, but seriously they both get stupid & their relationship devolves & the next 100 pages was a chore to get through.
Brenn went from a man who saw Tess as a person (saw her worth) to someone who suddenly didn't understand interpersonal relationships/how to communicate (or say sorry) with Tess & only missed her for the sex. It was really so upsetting.
The ending with Goodwin "stopping by" was contrived and stupid. The fairy circle was stupid. Him sending her flowers and not saying "sorry" was stupid. The fact that neither Tess nor Brenn thinks to sell off her dresses and silver right away was stupid.
Also, obviously Tess's brother and her sister-law Stella are the villains here & it boils my blood that no one holds them accountable for stealing Tess's inheritance. The fact that this whole book revolves around this one weak plot point is maddening and stupid.
2 stars.
(Ok, the very very beginning of Chapter 1 with the bet was hella stupid, I have no idea why the book starts this way, but ignoring it and move on...)
I loved everything from Chapter 2 (pg. 22) to about chapter 15 (pg. 271): Brenn & Tess's "courting" and their relationship as it grew and they fell in love... It was going perfectly. I knew it would be dramatic when Brenn found out Tess had no money, but seriously they both get stupid & their relationship devolves & the next 100 pages was a chore to get through.
Brenn went from a man who saw Tess as a person (saw her worth) to someone who suddenly didn't understand interpersonal relationships/how to communicate (or say sorry) with Tess & only missed her for the sex. It was really so upsetting.
The ending with Goodwin "stopping by" was contrived and stupid. The fairy circle was stupid. Him sending her flowers and not saying "sorry" was stupid. The fact that neither Tess nor Brenn thinks to sell off her dresses and silver right away was stupid.
Also, obviously Tess's brother and her sister-law Stella are the villains here & it boils my blood that no one holds them accountable for stealing Tess's inheritance. The fact that this whole book revolves around this one weak plot point is maddening and stupid.
2 stars.
April 17, 2019
This was the first book I read by Cathy Maxwell. I am attending a book convention and she is an author that will be there. I am trying to expose myself to new-to-me authors before I attend the convention. I read mainly contemporary romance books and occasionally historal romance. I looked into Cathy Maxwell’s facebook page and her website and saw that she had a give-a-way going on. I entered and won this book! My review is my own opinion, not based on winning the book.
I enjoyed this book’s plot so much. I do not like to read about helpless woman, so I was overjoyed to find out that the heroine of this story has a lot of spunk and intelligence. Both the hero, Brenn and the heroine, Tess are flawed but have strengths that overcome their short comings. They are Married in Haste to avoid a scandal and in time find out that both of them are harboring secrets.
As in all romance stories, they have a happy ending but what a journey they take to get there!
I think the plot and characters were well developed and the story flowed very easily. I think it was believable for the time period that the story took place in. I am happy to think that there were strong, intelligent women in historical times.
I enjoyed this book’s plot so much. I do not like to read about helpless woman, so I was overjoyed to find out that the heroine of this story has a lot of spunk and intelligence. Both the hero, Brenn and the heroine, Tess are flawed but have strengths that overcome their short comings. They are Married in Haste to avoid a scandal and in time find out that both of them are harboring secrets.
As in all romance stories, they have a happy ending but what a journey they take to get there!
I think the plot and characters were well developed and the story flowed very easily. I think it was believable for the time period that the story took place in. I am happy to think that there were strong, intelligent women in historical times.
July 6, 2023
Bu ara tarihi kurgu okurken zorlanıyorum. Uzun zamandır kitaplığımda olan bir seriye başladım. Ne yazık ki aşırı severek ve heyecanla okuduğum bir kitap olmadı.
🤍
Karakterler arasında aşk ve tutkuyu hissedemedim bana soğuk geldiler. Diğer yandan mantığıma oturmayan bazı yerler vardı ve kadın karakterden pek hoşlanmadım.
🤍
Son kısımlar güzeldi ama o kısımlara gelene kadar hevesim bir tık sönmüştü.
🤍
Londra sosyetesinin gözdesi olan Tess evlilik tekliflerini birer birer reddederken erkeklerin ona duyduğu ilgiden hoşlanmaktadır. O gözde bir varistir ve evlenmek için acelesi yoktur. Ailesinin başına gelen talihsiz bir olay onu acilen evlenmek zorunda bırakana kadar...
Merton Kontu Brenn zengin bir gelin aramaktadır. Ona miras kalan toprakları gerçek bir kontluğa çevirmesinin tek yolu budur. Bu yüzden Tess eşi bulunmaz bir adaydır.
🤍
"Galiba sizi öpeceğim," dedi Brenn.
Tess'in yanakları kızarmıştı.
"Durun, söylemeyin," dedi Brenn. "Beyefendiler öpüşmeden önce pek izin istemez."
"Ah, hep isterler ama ben hiç izin vermem."
"O zaman ben izin istemeyeceğim."
🤍
🤍
Karakterler arasında aşk ve tutkuyu hissedemedim bana soğuk geldiler. Diğer yandan mantığıma oturmayan bazı yerler vardı ve kadın karakterden pek hoşlanmadım.
🤍
Son kısımlar güzeldi ama o kısımlara gelene kadar hevesim bir tık sönmüştü.
🤍
Londra sosyetesinin gözdesi olan Tess evlilik tekliflerini birer birer reddederken erkeklerin ona duyduğu ilgiden hoşlanmaktadır. O gözde bir varistir ve evlenmek için acelesi yoktur. Ailesinin başına gelen talihsiz bir olay onu acilen evlenmek zorunda bırakana kadar...
Merton Kontu Brenn zengin bir gelin aramaktadır. Ona miras kalan toprakları gerçek bir kontluğa çevirmesinin tek yolu budur. Bu yüzden Tess eşi bulunmaz bir adaydır.
🤍
"Galiba sizi öpeceğim," dedi Brenn.
Tess'in yanakları kızarmıştı.
"Durun, söylemeyin," dedi Brenn. "Beyefendiler öpüşmeden önce pek izin istemez."
"Ah, hep isterler ama ben hiç izin vermem."
"O zaman ben izin istemeyeceğim."
🤍
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