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The Brides of Fortune #2
Scandals of an Innocent
Blackmail is such an ugly word, Miss Lister. It is essential that I marry you. So let us call it a bargain.When an ancient law requires all unmarried ladies to wed or surrender half their wealth, the village of Fortunes Folly becomes a heaven for fortune hunters and Miss Alice Lister is a prize to be won!Maid-turned-heiress Alice has fought hard for a modicum of respectability. Now the insufferably attractive Lord Miles Vickery is certain he can gain her fortune by blackmailing her into marriage.Miles finds his newfound frankness invaluable in entangling Alice in situations deliciously unbecoming of a lady. Of course, he doesnt yet know that hes falling hopelessly in love with this formidable innocent
384 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
15 people are currently reading
478 people want to read
About the author
Nicola Cornick
222 books1,164 followersInternational bestselling author Nicola Cornick writes dual-time historical mysteries that draw on her love for genealogy and local history. She studied History at London and Oxford and worked in academia for a number of years before becoming a full time author. Nicola acts as a guide and researcher at the stunning 17th century hunting lodge, Ashdown House and is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Friends of Lydiard Park in Swindon. She gives talks and tours on a variety of historical topics.
Nicola lives near Oxford and loves reading, writing, history, music, wildlife, travel and walking her dog. She also loves hearing from her readers and chatting to them. She can also be found on Facebook, Twitter @NicolaCornick and Instagram.
Nicola lives near Oxford and loves reading, writing, history, music, wildlife, travel and walking her dog. She also loves hearing from her readers and chatting to them. She can also be found on Facebook, Twitter @NicolaCornick and Instagram.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
September 16, 2009
My first Nicola Cornick book and I ended up really enjoying it. This is book 2 of the Brides of Fortune series and while this did manage to stand on it's own two feet there were times when I didn't know what the heck was going on.
I liked this book because of Miles and Alice. I liked them. They were two characters who were trapped by their circumstances and I felt so bad for them. For Alice, and yes, even Miles. At first Miles comes across as a, how shall I put this, as a humongous bastard. Call him every foul Regency era name in the book and it fits. He was an unrepentant bad boy and he snookered me completely. He was outrageous in his arrogance and ruthlessness and I fell for him like a rock. Then the book cuts to Alice and her anger and frustration at being once again at the mercy of an aristocrat killed my growing lust and I was ready to cut off his vital parts and lay them at Alice's feet for her approval. I found her likable and charming and never whiney. Which gets a big thumbs up from me. And Miles, while ruthless in his drive to get his hands on Alice's money and on her body, (in that order) should have disgusted me, or at the very least irritated me, but instead I felt so bad for him. He was a guy who had the deck stacked against him and I kept reading through this rather long winded book just so I could see him happy.
Having never read Nicola Cornick before I was surprised by the sizzle this book packed. Quite a naughty little Regency book this was. Nothing too overtly sexy but there was still a lot of heaving bosoms going on. And there's a naughty little secret that Alice is carrying around on her, uh, person that I found hysterical. OH, that was priceless. Though after I stopped laughing I had to cry out, "shenanigans!" If you really don't want one, nothing less than being shackled to a table will force you to sit still for it. Also, a brilliant move by the author had me laughing, after she had turned my own dirty mind against me.
All in all, I really liked it. It was amusing, had good pacing, I liked the the H/H and the zany family members. On the negative side it was a bit long winded, the author kept reiterating certain points and feelings, and since I did not read the first book in this series, the mystery lacked depth for me. Plus it was implausible. A servant girl even attempting to enter the aristocracy and reaching as high as a marquis? Please. But this was still enjoyable and I'm glad I read it and I hope to read the other books in this series again soon.
I liked this book because of Miles and Alice. I liked them. They were two characters who were trapped by their circumstances and I felt so bad for them. For Alice, and yes, even Miles. At first Miles comes across as a, how shall I put this, as a humongous bastard. Call him every foul Regency era name in the book and it fits. He was an unrepentant bad boy and he snookered me completely. He was outrageous in his arrogance and ruthlessness and I fell for him like a rock. Then the book cuts to Alice and her anger and frustration at being once again at the mercy of an aristocrat killed my growing lust and I was ready to cut off his vital parts and lay them at Alice's feet for her approval. I found her likable and charming and never whiney. Which gets a big thumbs up from me. And Miles, while ruthless in his drive to get his hands on Alice's money and on her body, (in that order) should have disgusted me, or at the very least irritated me, but instead I felt so bad for him. He was a guy who had the deck stacked against him and I kept reading through this rather long winded book just so I could see him happy.
Having never read Nicola Cornick before I was surprised by the sizzle this book packed. Quite a naughty little Regency book this was. Nothing too overtly sexy but there was still a lot of heaving bosoms going on. And there's a naughty little secret that Alice is carrying around on her, uh, person that I found hysterical. OH, that was priceless. Though after I stopped laughing I had to cry out, "shenanigans!" If you really don't want one, nothing less than being shackled to a table will force you to sit still for it. Also, a brilliant move by the author had me laughing, after she had turned my own dirty mind against me.
All in all, I really liked it. It was amusing, had good pacing, I liked the the H/H and the zany family members. On the negative side it was a bit long winded, the author kept reiterating certain points and feelings, and since I did not read the first book in this series, the mystery lacked depth for me. Plus it was implausible. A servant girl even attempting to enter the aristocracy and reaching as high as a marquis? Please. But this was still enjoyable and I'm glad I read it and I hope to read the other books in this series again soon.
August 5, 2009
"The Scandals of An Innocent" is book two of Nicola Cornick's early regency period trilogy. This series is set in Fortune's Folly, a fictional town in Yorkshire where the greedy 'Lord' has reinstated a Middle Ages 'Dames Tax' which will allow him to take up to half the fortune of every unwed woman of marriagable age after one year. Needless to say, every fortune hunter in the country has made his way to Fortune's Folly in an effort to wed an heiress; and the women of Fortune's Folly are literally under seige!
Alice is the young maid-turned-heiress who inherited a fortune from her last employer. While the money certainly made the lives of her, her mother, and her brother much easier, it has also brought about their horrible situation of 'not one nor the other'. They aren't ton, but they're not servants either. Alice HAS made some good friends, and she considered herself heartsore but lucky when the fortune hunter she cared for dumped her to woo a richer heiress. Unfortunately for her, now HE's back and still in need of her fortune...and he's got her over a barrel this time.
Miles has inherited not one, but two bankrupt estates. It's certainly not fair that HE wasn't the one to bankrupt them, but now he's saddled with trying to keep his family out of the poorhouse. A family estrangement and the horrors of war have removed every trace of caring from his being...at least that's what HE thinks. His situation is becoming desperate when he finally gets the break he needs--so he promptly blackmails Alice into an engagement.
I think most women like to read about 'bad boys'. We love our tormented heroes, our hard Alphas, and our regency rakes. BUT, we DO want to see them reforming. My beef with this story is that he really doesn't reform until the last few chapters of a 360-page read! For the vast majority of the book, he was a total A$$--constantly trampling Alice's feelings, not protecting her from the snobby locals, and being a jerk to just about everybody! How in the heck do I try and like a guy like that? Over and over again, he stressed to Alice that: 1-he was marrying her for her money; and 2-he was also happy that he would get to 'bed' her. What a guy, eh?
On the other hand, I did like Alice. She tried her best to deal with the jerk in a reasonable manner, even under duress. So having confessed that I hated the plot (well the nature of the hero and whole blackmail thing anyway), I CAN say that Nicola Cornick writes with lovely pacing and there's always a reason for the ongoing action in her stories. There's a bit of mystery (WHY is someone trying to kill Alice?) with small clues thrown here and there. I didn't figure out the 'bad guys' til the author did the unveiling at the very end. The supporting cast was a mostly likeable mishmash of family and friends that were first introduced in book one, "The Confessions of a Duchess". This story can stand alone with no problems, and as long as you can tolerate the jerk of a hero, you'll probably enjoy "The Scandals of An Innocent" much more than I did!
Alice is the young maid-turned-heiress who inherited a fortune from her last employer. While the money certainly made the lives of her, her mother, and her brother much easier, it has also brought about their horrible situation of 'not one nor the other'. They aren't ton, but they're not servants either. Alice HAS made some good friends, and she considered herself heartsore but lucky when the fortune hunter she cared for dumped her to woo a richer heiress. Unfortunately for her, now HE's back and still in need of her fortune...and he's got her over a barrel this time.
Miles has inherited not one, but two bankrupt estates. It's certainly not fair that HE wasn't the one to bankrupt them, but now he's saddled with trying to keep his family out of the poorhouse. A family estrangement and the horrors of war have removed every trace of caring from his being...at least that's what HE thinks. His situation is becoming desperate when he finally gets the break he needs--so he promptly blackmails Alice into an engagement.
I think most women like to read about 'bad boys'. We love our tormented heroes, our hard Alphas, and our regency rakes. BUT, we DO want to see them reforming. My beef with this story is that he really doesn't reform until the last few chapters of a 360-page read! For the vast majority of the book, he was a total A$$--constantly trampling Alice's feelings, not protecting her from the snobby locals, and being a jerk to just about everybody! How in the heck do I try and like a guy like that? Over and over again, he stressed to Alice that: 1-he was marrying her for her money; and 2-he was also happy that he would get to 'bed' her. What a guy, eh?
On the other hand, I did like Alice. She tried her best to deal with the jerk in a reasonable manner, even under duress. So having confessed that I hated the plot (well the nature of the hero and whole blackmail thing anyway), I CAN say that Nicola Cornick writes with lovely pacing and there's always a reason for the ongoing action in her stories. There's a bit of mystery (WHY is someone trying to kill Alice?) with small clues thrown here and there. I didn't figure out the 'bad guys' til the author did the unveiling at the very end. The supporting cast was a mostly likeable mishmash of family and friends that were first introduced in book one, "The Confessions of a Duchess". This story can stand alone with no problems, and as long as you can tolerate the jerk of a hero, you'll probably enjoy "The Scandals of An Innocent" much more than I did!
July 6, 2012
SPOILERS AHEAD
I can understand a cynical, emotionless, greedy, manipulator asshole for a hero. In fact, sometimes I prefer my men to be the “monster” rather than the everyday hero. It gives them a edge and an outlook on life that is both refreshing and realistic. Miles is everything I described but something about him irked me like no other. Miles' a selfish bastard and I would had preferred if he had stay that way instead of changing himself because “he fallen in love.” Then, he would had some character and I would had like him more. However, his development left a bad taste in my mouth especially with his abrupt change and the way it was just threw at us. BAM! “By God, I've changed and seen the light!”
And, don't get me started on Alice. Women like Alice annoy the hell out of me. We are told that she is strong and honest but from what I read she's nothing more than a simpleton woman who flutters around thinking she'll resist Miles but once he puts his kissable lips or strong hands on her she turns to mush and can't think of anything else but banging this bad boy. Granted, this is the same man who broke her heart a year ago and left her for a mistress while pursuing her with empty promises. I believe that I would had liked Alice more if she wasn't so much of a doormat and had a back bone or some kind of “oomph” to show me that she was much stronger than what Miles thought.
Especially because when Miles would tell her in the cruelest way that he was just using her to save himself from his debt and wouldn't hesitate to bed her if he had the chance you would think that this woman would grow up and move on with her life. But no, she fancied herself in love and thought that when Miles did something “honorable” it meant that he cared for her and was changing himself to become a better person for her despite knowing his true nature.
She lived in a black and white world. I just didn't find myself caring for her. I wanted to see how she would change as I read more but instead she stay the same and had no character development. I would had preferred it if she had picked herself up, threw away the excess baggage, looked into Miles' eyes, saw him as the ass he was and told him to go to hell. That she was going to find a real man who appreciated her, would walk through fire for her AND if he was going to manipulate her to at least be better at it because she wouldn't put up with that shit.
I'm going to reveal the climax, which was also the spot where I stopped reading. (This is done from memory as the book is no longer in my possession out of fear that I would had shred it into pieces.)
So, Miles' mistress (the same one he left Alice for one year ago) shows up and kisses Miles at some party or other. Alice runs away because she's heart broken because we are told she loves Miles—though Lord knows why. She wonders off somewhere and Miles runs after her and tells her that because he is honorable and that because he changed-gasp!-he's going to release Alice from their Blackmail Engagement. Alice decides that even though this asshole manipulated her and broke her heart, she wants to give her virginity to him to show him that she loved him or something. So they banged on the cement floor.
Then the magistrate or someone comes in and tells them that our “hero” Miles told him she's a thief who stole the dress that started this Blackmail Engagement (which she did.) Instead of lying and manipulating the facts like he's always done before our “hero” finally decides to tell the truth and said that yes indeed, Alice did stole the dress. So, Alice is sent into jail right after f*cking this man she so loves. He gets her out of jail and expects her to be grateful that he saved her from death. She's mad that he didn't lie to protect her. Then he had the nerve to tell her that he changed-gasp- and he decided to tell the truth because of her influence instead of protecting her. Instead of cutting this asshole out of her life she realizes that she can't resist his charms
I just quit there. I hope that whoever was trying to kill Alice succeeded because I truly hated this girl.
July 12, 2017
confesso que não esperava gostar tanto deste mini livro . A história está muito bem escrita muito bem desenvolvida e tem um sentido lógico e interessante.
September 12, 2009
Rakes and rich heiresses, blackmail and deception, mystery and murder, love and lust. Sounds enthralling, doesn't it? This is Nicola Cornick's second installment in the Brides of Fortune Trilogy which takes place in the Regency time period (1810) and in a small town called Fortune's Folly. Alice, our heroine, is a former maidservant who was left a large inheritance by her former employer and is now a very desirous heiress with a coveted fortune of 80,000 pounds. Miles Vickery, is a well-known and dangerous rake who intended to seduce Alice last fall and marry her for her money. The plan backfired when Alice discovered how black Miles character really was and decided she wanted nothing to do with him.
Miles, now, has fallen into some bad luck, he has inherited his father's debt and his cousin's debt, as well as cursed title. The future looks very bleak for Miles and he will soon face the consequences of these debts unless he marries a rich heiress. As luck would have it, he catches Alice in the act of an illegal crime and decides that, in his desperation, his best course of action is to blackmail Alice into marriage.
Alice is a very likable and admirable heroine, she cares very much about her family and staff. She does not act like a true heiress that sits at home idly, she answers her own door and does what ever she can to make the work of the servants easier. Remembering how harsh her life was as a servant and how dangerous it is for a female servant to ward off the attentions of lecherous gentlemen, Alice has much sympathy and compassion for those who work as servants. She is described by Miles, quite accurately, as “an odd mixture of innocence and impropriety.” While she is disgusted with Miles behavior and ruthlessness, she cannot deny the fact that she is attracted to him and is aware that her judgment can be compromised where he is concerned.
Miles, what a cynical and cold-hearted rake! No one seems to like him and with good reason he doesn't care about anything or anyone. Or so he would have you believe . . . Miles has a dark past, it is known that he is estranged from his family, but it isn't known why. He is devious and deceitful towards Alice, but when stipulations of her inheritance requires him to become an honest and upright man for three months, he surprisingly doesn't find it as difficult as he thought it would be. Perhaps is soul is not so black after all.
The reason I gave this book four stars instead of five was that the mysterious aspect of this book was weak compared to the romantic aspect. There are actually several enigmas or intriguing secrets in this book: Where did Tom Fortune go after escaping from prison? Who is the real murderer if Tom is as innocent as he says he is? And who would want to kill Alice? I would have liked to seen these plot developments come into the foreground of the story more and be a little bit more elaborated. Some of the resolutions of these mysteries were disappointing in that they were hurried and inexplicable.
I enjoyed this installment of the Brides of Fortune, I am now eager to read the other two! I recommend this book to anyone who loves to read historical romances and especially likes regency romances. I, myself, love to read Jane Austen, so this was right up my alley.
Miles, now, has fallen into some bad luck, he has inherited his father's debt and his cousin's debt, as well as cursed title. The future looks very bleak for Miles and he will soon face the consequences of these debts unless he marries a rich heiress. As luck would have it, he catches Alice in the act of an illegal crime and decides that, in his desperation, his best course of action is to blackmail Alice into marriage.
Alice is a very likable and admirable heroine, she cares very much about her family and staff. She does not act like a true heiress that sits at home idly, she answers her own door and does what ever she can to make the work of the servants easier. Remembering how harsh her life was as a servant and how dangerous it is for a female servant to ward off the attentions of lecherous gentlemen, Alice has much sympathy and compassion for those who work as servants. She is described by Miles, quite accurately, as “an odd mixture of innocence and impropriety.” While she is disgusted with Miles behavior and ruthlessness, she cannot deny the fact that she is attracted to him and is aware that her judgment can be compromised where he is concerned.
Miles, what a cynical and cold-hearted rake! No one seems to like him and with good reason he doesn't care about anything or anyone. Or so he would have you believe . . . Miles has a dark past, it is known that he is estranged from his family, but it isn't known why. He is devious and deceitful towards Alice, but when stipulations of her inheritance requires him to become an honest and upright man for three months, he surprisingly doesn't find it as difficult as he thought it would be. Perhaps is soul is not so black after all.
The reason I gave this book four stars instead of five was that the mysterious aspect of this book was weak compared to the romantic aspect. There are actually several enigmas or intriguing secrets in this book: Where did Tom Fortune go after escaping from prison? Who is the real murderer if Tom is as innocent as he says he is? And who would want to kill Alice? I would have liked to seen these plot developments come into the foreground of the story more and be a little bit more elaborated. Some of the resolutions of these mysteries were disappointing in that they were hurried and inexplicable.
I enjoyed this installment of the Brides of Fortune, I am now eager to read the other two! I recommend this book to anyone who loves to read historical romances and especially likes regency romances. I, myself, love to read Jane Austen, so this was right up my alley.
March 26, 2010
Alice Lister has money. A LOT of money and Lord Miles Vickery is desperate to get his hands on it. He's two steps away from debtors prison and the beautiful, one-time servant, who's former eccentric employer left a fortune to, is his ticket to freedom.
After he dumped her for a richer heiress years before, Alice cannot believe Vickery has the gall to approach her once again. But when he pulls out his trump card- he knows something about her that can never come to light- she reluctantly agrees to an engagement. Of course Alice knows he'll never meet the terms of her inheritance- for Vickery is nothing if not a cold hearted scoundrel- the type of man that Alice's benefactor has ensured will never get her money.
But much to the surprise of both of them, he begins to meet those terms- in spades- so that when the chance comes for Alice to break from his blackmailing attempts, she finds it difficult to let go because she's falling helplessly in love with him once again.
Could it be true? Could love really change a man? Or is he simply the unfeeling man he portrays to the world and always claimed to be?
This one is not gonna sit well with Historical Romance purists, but I, for one, enjoyed it. Miles Vickery is an unapologetic manipulator. After suffering at the hands of his hypocritical father, he's shut off all emotions and he'll stop at nothing to get what he wants. Because he's distanced himself so far from his emotions- he usually does! When he blackmails Alice into marriage to save himself from debtors prison, he doesn't lie to her. He wants the marriage for one reason only, despite the fact he's drawn to her like none other. For this reason, he initially comes off more of the villain than the hero. But never fear, in the grandest tradition of romance, love will find a way.
Alice is kind-hearted AND a fighter and I found her to be engaging. Most aspects of the plot needs one to suspend belief- but then, what romance novel plot doesn't? These two sizzle together and that's evident from page one and I even enjoyed the mystery/thriller twist to the plot too- if for seeing the bad guys get it in the end alone!
My one issue with the story is that it felt like it took the author too long to get to where she was going. We knew right away that Miles wasn't really as cold hearted as he seemed and was going to redeem himself, but it wasn't till half way through the book that we actually SAW him getting there. Unfortunately this made the book drag in the beginning and steals the pleasure of the refreshing hook the sucked us in.
Still, it's good enough to make me curious about the rest of the gals she's writing about in the series!
After he dumped her for a richer heiress years before, Alice cannot believe Vickery has the gall to approach her once again. But when he pulls out his trump card- he knows something about her that can never come to light- she reluctantly agrees to an engagement. Of course Alice knows he'll never meet the terms of her inheritance- for Vickery is nothing if not a cold hearted scoundrel- the type of man that Alice's benefactor has ensured will never get her money.
But much to the surprise of both of them, he begins to meet those terms- in spades- so that when the chance comes for Alice to break from his blackmailing attempts, she finds it difficult to let go because she's falling helplessly in love with him once again.
Could it be true? Could love really change a man? Or is he simply the unfeeling man he portrays to the world and always claimed to be?
This one is not gonna sit well with Historical Romance purists, but I, for one, enjoyed it. Miles Vickery is an unapologetic manipulator. After suffering at the hands of his hypocritical father, he's shut off all emotions and he'll stop at nothing to get what he wants. Because he's distanced himself so far from his emotions- he usually does! When he blackmails Alice into marriage to save himself from debtors prison, he doesn't lie to her. He wants the marriage for one reason only, despite the fact he's drawn to her like none other. For this reason, he initially comes off more of the villain than the hero. But never fear, in the grandest tradition of romance, love will find a way.
Alice is kind-hearted AND a fighter and I found her to be engaging. Most aspects of the plot needs one to suspend belief- but then, what romance novel plot doesn't? These two sizzle together and that's evident from page one and I even enjoyed the mystery/thriller twist to the plot too- if for seeing the bad guys get it in the end alone!
My one issue with the story is that it felt like it took the author too long to get to where she was going. We knew right away that Miles wasn't really as cold hearted as he seemed and was going to redeem himself, but it wasn't till half way through the book that we actually SAW him getting there. Unfortunately this made the book drag in the beginning and steals the pleasure of the refreshing hook the sucked us in.
Still, it's good enough to make me curious about the rest of the gals she's writing about in the series!
February 11, 2012
Sabe bem ler estes romances históricos de vez em quando! O Miles é um cretino mas a Alice conquistou-o. :D
November 14, 2011
This was my first Nicola Cornick and the second book in the Brides of Fortune series. I didn't feel lost coming in on the second book because there was enough back-story rehash to bring me up to date. That being said, I'm not sure I'd read another NC story. I'm on the fence.
The book had one trope I loved: "commoner" Alice, a former maid receives inheritance from her employer and now is an heiress in her own right. Alice didn't have any of the sometimes insane notions that those born to the Ton have about working or their place in society. She's just a working girl made good, with a Mama who has let the $$ go to her head and a brother who still works the fields, although he's now master instead of laborer. Quite a family dynamic there. She has loyal friends she has made in two middle echelon women who have fallen out of favor with their upper crust families, and she's made a life for herself, even if she's single. Unfortunately a ridiculous middle age (stone age in my opinion) decree says that any unmarried heiress in said town will have to forfeit half her fortune to the town's coffers if not married by a specific date. To this, we meet our hero Miles.
Lord Miles Vickery is a near destitute baron in search of a wealthy heiress. Last year, (apparently this happened in book 1) he was courting Alice but threw her over for an even richer heiress. Alice's heart was broken and Miles himself was thrown over for a richer Lord, and now you have your story: Miles wants to pick up with Alice where he left off. Hard to get very excited about that kind of "hero", at least in my opinion.
I loved Alice in that even when she was on the receiving end of horrifically rude behavior from other "ladies", she never let them see her die inside. She never let on to the men who made crude remarks or the women who swished their skirts the other way that they affected her. She was a true lady inside and I loved her for it. Even with Miles, who admittedly coerced her in a truly abominable way to be his betrothed, she didn't let him see how his actions hurt her. Some might say that's being cowardly, but I think its more along the lines of not letting them know how much you DO care, in order to avoid them purposefully damaging you further.
Miles, for all that he had a few good moments, also had some REALLY bad ones too. He was hard to forgive, even when his "dirty little secret" was revealed. I'm not sure I ever warmed up to him like the author intended. I also didn't think the ending was all that, and to me, it was more of a "ok let's hurry up and end this because I'm almost to 400 pages" than a happy resolution to the story.
3 stars / Recommendation: only if you're a fan
The book had one trope I loved: "commoner" Alice, a former maid receives inheritance from her employer and now is an heiress in her own right. Alice didn't have any of the sometimes insane notions that those born to the Ton have about working or their place in society. She's just a working girl made good, with a Mama who has let the $$ go to her head and a brother who still works the fields, although he's now master instead of laborer. Quite a family dynamic there. She has loyal friends she has made in two middle echelon women who have fallen out of favor with their upper crust families, and she's made a life for herself, even if she's single. Unfortunately a ridiculous middle age (stone age in my opinion) decree says that any unmarried heiress in said town will have to forfeit half her fortune to the town's coffers if not married by a specific date. To this, we meet our hero Miles.
Lord Miles Vickery is a near destitute baron in search of a wealthy heiress. Last year, (apparently this happened in book 1) he was courting Alice but threw her over for an even richer heiress. Alice's heart was broken and Miles himself was thrown over for a richer Lord, and now you have your story: Miles wants to pick up with Alice where he left off. Hard to get very excited about that kind of "hero", at least in my opinion.
I loved Alice in that even when she was on the receiving end of horrifically rude behavior from other "ladies", she never let them see her die inside. She never let on to the men who made crude remarks or the women who swished their skirts the other way that they affected her. She was a true lady inside and I loved her for it. Even with Miles, who admittedly coerced her in a truly abominable way to be his betrothed, she didn't let him see how his actions hurt her. Some might say that's being cowardly, but I think its more along the lines of not letting them know how much you DO care, in order to avoid them purposefully damaging you further.
Miles, for all that he had a few good moments, also had some REALLY bad ones too. He was hard to forgive, even when his "dirty little secret" was revealed. I'm not sure I ever warmed up to him like the author intended. I also didn't think the ending was all that, and to me, it was more of a "ok let's hurry up and end this because I'm almost to 400 pages" than a happy resolution to the story.
3 stars / Recommendation: only if you're a fan
February 21, 2010
Pages Survived: 126
No. No way!
This book was a flunk from the start. I didn't even bother with finishing the thing for the simple fact that, first of all, the writing seemed so jumpy. One thought or descritpion of a characters actions would barely finish itself before another completely varied thought or action would take place.
I found the hero to be TOO much of an ass, and while that more probably will change throughout the story, that wasn't enough in my book. Add that to the fact that I find the heroine, Alice, to be entirely unbelievable. She is jilted by the same man who comes up a few months later to blackmail her into marriage, admitting all he wants is her body and money, and while the believability to her outrage at this character is entirely lacking.
While I realize that for a romance story to take place, the storyline must progress with the two characters thrust together, however, I found Alice's character to be a bit of a joke. She barely scrapped together enough condemnation of Miles to be any where near the reality of a strong, admirable heroine.
Overall, I just couldn't stomach much more of this book, and decided to throw in the towel. The ONLY reason I would have kept reading till the end would be to see Miles groveling like no man has groveled before. He is depicted as an ass to the fullest, and if the author had planned on slowly revealing that such was not the case, she should have dropped subtle hints, enough to allow the reader to read this character without wanting to kick him in his fiendish man-business!
Simply put, it is impossible for me to ever finish a book or story where I have zero respect for one of the characters. In this case, depressingly enough, I not only had zilch respect for not one, but BOTH leading characters!
No. No way!
This book was a flunk from the start. I didn't even bother with finishing the thing for the simple fact that, first of all, the writing seemed so jumpy. One thought or descritpion of a characters actions would barely finish itself before another completely varied thought or action would take place.
I found the hero to be TOO much of an ass, and while that more probably will change throughout the story, that wasn't enough in my book. Add that to the fact that I find the heroine, Alice, to be entirely unbelievable. She is jilted by the same man who comes up a few months later to blackmail her into marriage, admitting all he wants is her body and money, and while the believability to her outrage at this character is entirely lacking.
While I realize that for a romance story to take place, the storyline must progress with the two characters thrust together, however, I found Alice's character to be a bit of a joke. She barely scrapped together enough condemnation of Miles to be any where near the reality of a strong, admirable heroine.
Overall, I just couldn't stomach much more of this book, and decided to throw in the towel. The ONLY reason I would have kept reading till the end would be to see Miles groveling like no man has groveled before. He is depicted as an ass to the fullest, and if the author had planned on slowly revealing that such was not the case, she should have dropped subtle hints, enough to allow the reader to read this character without wanting to kick him in his fiendish man-business!
Simply put, it is impossible for me to ever finish a book or story where I have zero respect for one of the characters. In this case, depressingly enough, I not only had zilch respect for not one, but BOTH leading characters!
Read
October 27, 2009Second book in the The Bride's of Fortune series.
Umm, what can I say, Nicola Cornick had another winner here definitely doesn't stress enough how good her books are. I love this series and Alice's story is wonderfully entertaining.
Alice cannot believe she is being blackmailed into marriage but it won't be that simple for her blackmailer, Lord Miles. For him to gain her fortune upon marriage certain terms have to be met according to the terms written into her inheritence. There is no way the decietful man can be totally honest for 3 months. However, jumping through the hoops to satisfy her lawyers teaches them both that they are perfect for each other.
READ THIS SERIES!!!!!! LOL
Umm, what can I say, Nicola Cornick had another winner here definitely doesn't stress enough how good her books are. I love this series and Alice's story is wonderfully entertaining.
Alice cannot believe she is being blackmailed into marriage but it won't be that simple for her blackmailer, Lord Miles. For him to gain her fortune upon marriage certain terms have to be met according to the terms written into her inheritence. There is no way the decietful man can be totally honest for 3 months. However, jumping through the hoops to satisfy her lawyers teaches them both that they are perfect for each other.
READ THIS SERIES!!!!!! LOL
May 21, 2016
This is such a lovely well written story. I could read Nicola Cornick all day long! (and sometimes do).
May 6, 2015
Historical romance. Light and frothy read. Just what you need sometimes.
June 7, 2017
Thought it 'd be better. She seemed a tough one at first but she soon became a "stupid" girl in love with the bad guy who eventually changed for his wife(-to-be)and love her back.....
September 11, 2017
Charming. Great plot. Well written. Could've have been condensed though.
January 31, 2018
leído en Julio 2014
Me gustó!
Me gustó!
July 7, 2019
Loved the book.
April 9, 2021
Good choice on buying the book before the pandemic. Really enjoyed it
June 16, 2021
Cute plot
June 26, 2021
Well written, but couldn’t get behind the male protagonist. Kind of more of an asshole than a bad boy, and that is not appealing to me. Otherwise a fun read
November 17, 2022
Me encanta la sencillez de las novelas de época y un buen enemies to lovers, nunca falla.
December 10, 2022
The story didn't feel very credible, tbh. The male protagonist wasn't deep enough to be to my liking and I couldn't understand Alice's attraction to him.
March 5, 2023
Ooo another delicious romance. I really enjoyed this one and I didn't suspect the 'villains' of the story at all!
April 13, 2024
Smut from Grammy but the best part is she never cracked the book open …..
December 13, 2024
Just okay.
October 13, 2012
Yalancı Sevda Nicole Cornick
Yazarın Fortune Brides Serisinin İkinin Kitabı
Goodreads Puanı 5/3,46 Benim puanım 5/4
İlk kitap kadar iyi bir kurgusu vardı..Hikayede biraz durağanlık varsa da karakterlerin ve hikayenin derinliğini sevdim..
Serinin ilk kitabındaki Laura ve Dexter bu hikayede de vardı..Laura beş aylık hamile idi..
Romandaki kadın kahramanımız bir düşes değil bu sefer..Bir hizmetçi olan Alice Lister'e işvereni yüklü bir miras bırakırnca bir anda kısmeti açılır..Şehirdeki tüm servet avcıları peşine düşer..BU kişiler arasında Lord Miles Vickery'ide vardır..Ama Miles işi abartarak Alice'e şantaj yaparak evlenmeye ikna etmeğe çalışır..Alice ise bu acımasız adama güvenmediği kadar kalp kırıklığı da vardır..
Çünkü bir yıl önce Alice'e kur yaparken onu zengin ve ünvanlı bir kadın için bırakmış ama o da daha ünvanlı bir kişi için yüz üstü bırakılmıştır....
Fakat babasından kalan borçlar devraldığı ünvanın önceki temsilcisinin borçları da eklenmesi ile kötü olan maddi durumunu çıkmaza sokmuştur..Öyleki bu borçlar yüzünde her na hapise girmesi söz konusudur..
Miles babası ile bilinmeyen bir sebep ile yaptığı bir kavga sonucunda ailesi ile tüm bağlarını koparmıştır..Olayı takiben orduya yazılmış yıllarca dönmemiş..Bencil, duyarsız ,ahlaksız bir adama dönüşmüştür..
Alice'i baştan çıkarmada kararlıdır..Alice ile aralarındaki mevcut çekime güvenerek daha da ileri gitmeye hiç tereddüt bile etmeden başlar..Bu çabaları sonuç vererek başarılı olsa da Alice'in bir şartı vardır..Miles üç ay içinde dürüst olacak hiç yalan söylemeyecektir...Miles'in bunu pek başaramayacağını düşünde de..Sonuçları çok şaşırtıcı olacaktır..
Bu arada Alice'in arkadaşları Lydia ve Lizzie'ninde ayrı hikayeleri vardı ki etkileyici idi..
Lydia sevgilisi tarafından baştan çıkarılıp hamile bırakıldıktan bir cinayet yüzünden sevgilisi ortadan kaybolmuştur.Bu olaydan sonra ailesi tarafından red edilmiştir..Gidecek yeri olmadığı için de Miles'in kuzeni olan Laura'nın yanında kalmaktadır...
Lizzie ise bu Kelle vergisi yüzünden evlenmeğe tövbe etmiştir..Ama Dexter ve Miles'in çalışma arkadaşı Nathaniel maddi durumunu iyileştirmek amacı ile zengin ama pek de özelliği olmayan bir kız ile evlilik planları yapmakta ve bu Lizzie'nin epeyce de canını sıkmaktadır..
Genel olarak sevdim ama durağanlık vardı romanda..Bu arada çeviri başarılıydı bana göre..Sonuna doğru hikaye şaha kalktı bence..Sonuda yoğun duygusallık vardı..
Üçüncü hikaye ise Lizzie ile Nathaniel'in hikayesi ki onların macerasını daha çok merak ediyorum....Nathaniel o kızla evlenecek mi? Lizzie'yimi baştan çıkarmaya kalkacak...Değişik bir historicaldi...Keyifli okumalar dilerim...
Yazarın Fortune Brides Serisinin İkinin Kitabı
Goodreads Puanı 5/3,46 Benim puanım 5/4
İlk kitap kadar iyi bir kurgusu vardı..Hikayede biraz durağanlık varsa da karakterlerin ve hikayenin derinliğini sevdim..
Serinin ilk kitabındaki Laura ve Dexter bu hikayede de vardı..Laura beş aylık hamile idi..
Romandaki kadın kahramanımız bir düşes değil bu sefer..Bir hizmetçi olan Alice Lister'e işvereni yüklü bir miras bırakırnca bir anda kısmeti açılır..Şehirdeki tüm servet avcıları peşine düşer..BU kişiler arasında Lord Miles Vickery'ide vardır..Ama Miles işi abartarak Alice'e şantaj yaparak evlenmeye ikna etmeğe çalışır..Alice ise bu acımasız adama güvenmediği kadar kalp kırıklığı da vardır..
Çünkü bir yıl önce Alice'e kur yaparken onu zengin ve ünvanlı bir kadın için bırakmış ama o da daha ünvanlı bir kişi için yüz üstü bırakılmıştır....
Fakat babasından kalan borçlar devraldığı ünvanın önceki temsilcisinin borçları da eklenmesi ile kötü olan maddi durumunu çıkmaza sokmuştur..Öyleki bu borçlar yüzünde her na hapise girmesi söz konusudur..
Miles babası ile bilinmeyen bir sebep ile yaptığı bir kavga sonucunda ailesi ile tüm bağlarını koparmıştır..Olayı takiben orduya yazılmış yıllarca dönmemiş..Bencil, duyarsız ,ahlaksız bir adama dönüşmüştür..
Alice'i baştan çıkarmada kararlıdır..Alice ile aralarındaki mevcut çekime güvenerek daha da ileri gitmeye hiç tereddüt bile etmeden başlar..Bu çabaları sonuç vererek başarılı olsa da Alice'in bir şartı vardır..Miles üç ay içinde dürüst olacak hiç yalan söylemeyecektir...Miles'in bunu pek başaramayacağını düşünde de..Sonuçları çok şaşırtıcı olacaktır..
Bu arada Alice'in arkadaşları Lydia ve Lizzie'ninde ayrı hikayeleri vardı ki etkileyici idi..
Lydia sevgilisi tarafından baştan çıkarılıp hamile bırakıldıktan bir cinayet yüzünden sevgilisi ortadan kaybolmuştur.Bu olaydan sonra ailesi tarafından red edilmiştir..Gidecek yeri olmadığı için de Miles'in kuzeni olan Laura'nın yanında kalmaktadır...
Lizzie ise bu Kelle vergisi yüzünden evlenmeğe tövbe etmiştir..Ama Dexter ve Miles'in çalışma arkadaşı Nathaniel maddi durumunu iyileştirmek amacı ile zengin ama pek de özelliği olmayan bir kız ile evlilik planları yapmakta ve bu Lizzie'nin epeyce de canını sıkmaktadır..
Genel olarak sevdim ama durağanlık vardı romanda..Bu arada çeviri başarılıydı bana göre..Sonuna doğru hikaye şaha kalktı bence..Sonuda yoğun duygusallık vardı..
Üçüncü hikaye ise Lizzie ile Nathaniel'in hikayesi ki onların macerasını daha çok merak ediyorum....Nathaniel o kızla evlenecek mi? Lizzie'yimi baştan çıkarmaya kalkacak...Değişik bir historicaldi...Keyifli okumalar dilerim...
July 27, 2011
Alice is a former maidservant who has inherited a fortune from her now-deceased employer. She’s been refusing suitors left and right because they want her only for her money due to the Dame’s Tax the local squire has placed on all unmarried females. The one man who she might have said yes to, if he hadn’t left her high and dry while he chased another heiress for her fortune, is back in Fortune’s Folly, blackmailing Alice into accepting his proposal.
Having been foisted aside for an man of higher rank, Miles finds himself back in Fortune’s Folly looking again for the right woman to take to wife and take care of his incredible debt, which he now has more of after inheriting the Marquisate of Drum, a crumbling, low-earning estate. Alice Lister is the perfect candidate when he catches her red-handed breaking the law. He’s a cynical philanderer, so why not add blackmailer to his list of attractions.
Miles is in for a bit of a surprise, however, when he finds that Alice’s fortune comes with conditions of a prospective groom. Forced into behaving as a gentleman should for the next three months, both he and Alice begin to learn more about each other as well as themselves and their attraction once again grows, much to Alice’s dismay. Try as she might, she can’t keep her heart from wanting Miles after his despicable treatment of her before. And Miles is stunned when his heart begins to feel things that it hasn’t known for years.
See my complete review at http://www.goodbadandunread.com
Having been foisted aside for an man of higher rank, Miles finds himself back in Fortune’s Folly looking again for the right woman to take to wife and take care of his incredible debt, which he now has more of after inheriting the Marquisate of Drum, a crumbling, low-earning estate. Alice Lister is the perfect candidate when he catches her red-handed breaking the law. He’s a cynical philanderer, so why not add blackmailer to his list of attractions.
Miles is in for a bit of a surprise, however, when he finds that Alice’s fortune comes with conditions of a prospective groom. Forced into behaving as a gentleman should for the next three months, both he and Alice begin to learn more about each other as well as themselves and their attraction once again grows, much to Alice’s dismay. Try as she might, she can’t keep her heart from wanting Miles after his despicable treatment of her before. And Miles is stunned when his heart begins to feel things that it hasn’t known for years.
See my complete review at http://www.goodbadandunread.com
September 15, 2013
Csak rászánom magam pár gyors sorra.
Az biztos, hogy jobb, mint az első kötet. Míg abból minimum a felét kihagytam volna, itt legfeljebb 100-120 oldalt gyomlálnék ki. Amikor ötvenedszer olvasom ilyen, olyan, amolyan megfogalmazásban, hogy Alice szobalány volt, hogy Miles mekkora korhely, milyen cinikus, érzéktelen, stb., hogy csak a lány pénze kell neki, ja, meg a teste természetesen… és a végtelenségig folytathatnám az ismétlések sorát, no olyankor nagyon szívesen mondanék valamit az írónőnek.
Viszont, amikor történik valami, az nagyon jó, a párbeszédek élvezetesek, pergők, humorosak. Miles anyja tipikus arisztokrata mama, s néha a könnyem is potyogott, ahogy Miles a pokolba kívánta az egész kedves családot. Felbukkannak az előző részben megismert szereplők (ezt különösen szeretem a sorozatokban), köztük Tom is, aki megszökik a börtönből, így legalább a bonyodalom is képviseltetve vagyon, főleg hogy Lydia Cole sem veszett el.
Tom szökésének hála a három jó barát nem unatkozik, nyomozhat tovább, s meg kell mondanom, az eredménnyel sikerült is meglepniük. Csak azt nem tudom, mi lesz a következő részben (azonkívül persze, hogy a harmadik páros is összejön:), mert itt már mindent megoldottak, gyilkos leleplezték, Alice-t megmentették, és mindenki „heppi”.
Ajaj, sok a szöveg.
Szóval a lényeg, ha az ember túl tud jutni az unalmas, ismétlős részeken, akkor nagyon jó könyvecskét kap a kezébe.
Az biztos, hogy jobb, mint az első kötet. Míg abból minimum a felét kihagytam volna, itt legfeljebb 100-120 oldalt gyomlálnék ki. Amikor ötvenedszer olvasom ilyen, olyan, amolyan megfogalmazásban, hogy Alice szobalány volt, hogy Miles mekkora korhely, milyen cinikus, érzéktelen, stb., hogy csak a lány pénze kell neki, ja, meg a teste természetesen… és a végtelenségig folytathatnám az ismétlések sorát, no olyankor nagyon szívesen mondanék valamit az írónőnek.
Viszont, amikor történik valami, az nagyon jó, a párbeszédek élvezetesek, pergők, humorosak. Miles anyja tipikus arisztokrata mama, s néha a könnyem is potyogott, ahogy Miles a pokolba kívánta az egész kedves családot. Felbukkannak az előző részben megismert szereplők (ezt különösen szeretem a sorozatokban), köztük Tom is, aki megszökik a börtönből, így legalább a bonyodalom is képviseltetve vagyon, főleg hogy Lydia Cole sem veszett el.
Tom szökésének hála a három jó barát nem unatkozik, nyomozhat tovább, s meg kell mondanom, az eredménnyel sikerült is meglepniük. Csak azt nem tudom, mi lesz a következő részben (azonkívül persze, hogy a harmadik páros is összejön:), mert itt már mindent megoldottak, gyilkos leleplezték, Alice-t megmentették, és mindenki „heppi”.
Ajaj, sok a szöveg.
Szóval a lényeg, ha az ember túl tud jutni az unalmas, ismétlős részeken, akkor nagyon jó könyvecskét kap a kezébe.
September 10, 2014
I thought this would be a much more passionate romance novel. It is written well enough, but I did find myself putting it down to do something else more than I would have if the novel was more engaging. This is not one of your smutty historical romance novels. It is a tiny bit smutty but mostly it has quite the story line!
If you are into softly smutty historical romance with a long story attached, then you will probably thoroughly enjoy reading it. Not only that but it is one book in a series of books from "The Brides of Fortune" line. It is not a quick read but it is a somewhat easy read however, you do have to pay attention because there is a bit of murder/mystery involved! With hard core reading, this can be read in two days. You have your usual innocent beautiful heiress & your dastardly rake who ravishes her innocence yet falls madly in love in the process. Of course in between there are turbulent waters. Murder, attempted murder, black mail etc.. Overall it was a decent read but I have read better.
If you are into softly smutty historical romance with a long story attached, then you will probably thoroughly enjoy reading it. Not only that but it is one book in a series of books from "The Brides of Fortune" line. It is not a quick read but it is a somewhat easy read however, you do have to pay attention because there is a bit of murder/mystery involved! With hard core reading, this can be read in two days. You have your usual innocent beautiful heiress & your dastardly rake who ravishes her innocence yet falls madly in love in the process. Of course in between there are turbulent waters. Murder, attempted murder, black mail etc.. Overall it was a decent read but I have read better.
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