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Sinclair Brides #2
Anne's Perfect Husband
Anne's Perfect Husband by Gayle Wilson released on Feb 22, 2001 is available now for purchase.
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 1, 2001
6 people are currently reading
187 people want to read
About the author
Gayle Wilson
150 books87 followersGayle Wilson is a two-time RITA® Award winner, taking home the RITA® Award for Best Romantic Suspense Novel in 2000 and for Best Romantic Novella in 2004. In addition to twice winning the prestigious RITA® Award, Gayle’s books have garnered more than 50 other awards and nominations, including most recently the Daphne du Maurier Award for the Best Single Title Romantic Suspense of 2008, awarded to Victim, her latest novel from MIRA.
Gayle holds a master’s degree in secondary education, with additional certification in the education of the gifted. Although her specialty was teaching honors and gifted students, as a former high school history and English teacher, she taught everything from remedial reading to Shakespeare—and loved every minute she spent in the classroom.
Gayle was on the board of directors of Romance Writers of America for four years. In 2006 she served as the president of RWA, the largest genre-writers’ organization in the world.
Gayle has written 41 novels and four novellas for Harlequin Enterprises, including works for Harlequin Historicals, Harlequin Intrigue, Special Releases, HQN Books, MIRA, and Mills & Boon.
Gayle holds a master’s degree in secondary education, with additional certification in the education of the gifted. Although her specialty was teaching honors and gifted students, as a former high school history and English teacher, she taught everything from remedial reading to Shakespeare—and loved every minute she spent in the classroom.
Gayle was on the board of directors of Romance Writers of America for four years. In 2006 she served as the president of RWA, the largest genre-writers’ organization in the world.
Gayle has written 41 novels and four novellas for Harlequin Enterprises, including works for Harlequin Historicals, Harlequin Intrigue, Special Releases, HQN Books, MIRA, and Mills & Boon.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 2, 2019
This book can be divided into two parts depending on the plot and the reaction evoked.
*With Spoilers* For most part. It's a slow moving tango between a forced guardian and his ward. They are both attracted but he maintains an avuncular facade as he has his reasons to avoid closeness with anyone. Her coming into his wardship is also strange as she’s the daughter of his enemy/nemesis from the army days. Her father’s cowardly act lead to the death of men under him as well as his own life threatening injuries. So why the father willed it so remains a mystery. The h is unaware of the history between the two men and assumes them to be have been close friends.
He brings her to London to give her a season so she can find someone suitable and his duty would be done. She acquires a handsome and persistent suitor but her heart is certainly not into it.
The second part involves the h coming to know of her (hated by many) father’s treachery as also some people start giving her the cut direct and gossip spreads. She leaves London to go back to her school where she’s spent most of her young life.
Major Spoiler
*With Spoilers* For most part. It's a slow moving tango between a forced guardian and his ward. They are both attracted but he maintains an avuncular facade as he has his reasons to avoid closeness with anyone. Her coming into his wardship is also strange as she’s the daughter of his enemy/nemesis from the army days. Her father’s cowardly act lead to the death of men under him as well as his own life threatening injuries. So why the father willed it so remains a mystery. The h is unaware of the history between the two men and assumes them to be have been close friends.
He brings her to London to give her a season so she can find someone suitable and his duty would be done. She acquires a handsome and persistent suitor but her heart is certainly not into it.
The second part involves the h coming to know of her (hated by many) father’s treachery as also some people start giving her the cut direct and gossip spreads. She leaves London to go back to her school where she’s spent most of her young life.
Major Spoiler
January 5, 2022
What a disappointment! The first 75% follows a typical traditional regency romance, but the final 25% veers off into the bizarre. I take it that the author wanted to create something different, but unfortunately, it just didn't work here.
What I liked:
1) She’s a new to me author and I quite liked her writing style. The words have a nice flow to it.
2) Guardian/ward trope and this happens to be one of my fav tropes.
3) The plot is actually pretty decent for the first 75%.
What I didn't like:
1) The hero’s inactions. He spent too much time playing the noble.
2) The final 25%. The tone was light and suddenly, it went totally dark. It was just bizarre.
3) The ending. What ending? It ended so abruptly that I think I got a whiplash from it. No resolution to speak of. I actually thought the final pages were missing, but looking at the reviews, that’s the only ending that we get.
So, not one of my better reads. I saw that the author has a couple of interesting books, but I’m just going to place her books on hold for the moment.
Steam factor: Nil. Only kisses. I would actually consider this book as a clean romance.
What I liked:
1) She’s a new to me author and I quite liked her writing style. The words have a nice flow to it.
2) Guardian/ward trope and this happens to be one of my fav tropes.
3) The plot is actually pretty decent for the first 75%.
What I didn't like:
1) The hero’s inactions. He spent too much time playing the noble.
2) The final 25%. The tone was light and suddenly, it went totally dark. It was just bizarre.
3) The ending. What ending? It ended so abruptly that I think I got a whiplash from it. No resolution to speak of. I actually thought the final pages were missing, but looking at the reviews, that’s the only ending that we get.
So, not one of my better reads. I saw that the author has a couple of interesting books, but I’m just going to place her books on hold for the moment.
Steam factor: Nil. Only kisses. I would actually consider this book as a clean romance.
May 17, 2018
Guau, novela dura. No sé si vale las cuatro estrella que le puse pero, al igual que la primera de la serie, valoro la audacia del tema. No esperen rositas en el desarrollo del desenlace.
March 10, 2015
What can I say about this novel. Loved the characters. Ian and Anne I liked very much. Found the story premise interesting and let's face it I am a sucker for the theme Guardian/Ward Romance. Even when reading the book I really did enjoy it. So I am at a loss as to why after reading, Anne's Perfect Husband, I can honestly say overall I did not like it.
The primes of the story is about Major Ian Sinclair, our hero, who is dealing with unbelievable pain and injuries he is suffering after fighting the war in Portugal. His body is a ticking time bomb with shrapnel, left in his body that could move and stop his heart or cause other damage that will kill him at any moment. He is aware that war make men do strange things but to be named guardian of the daughter of the man responsible for ending his career—and very nearly his life, was beyond the pale. Yet now Anne Darlington was his responsibility, and he found himself longing for a future he'd thought he no longer believed in. Cloistered in a remote boarding school, Anne Darlington had grown up never knowing any other life. She has lived at the Fenton School since her mother died when she was 4 years old. Now at 19, she is a beautiful, happy, intelligent young woman. A young woman who see's her future as a teacher at the school she calls home, until fate thrust her into the strong arms of Ian Sinclair.
Like I mentioned above I really liked Ian and Anne. I found the romance only hinted or suggested. Not even a kiss between the to main characters until the very last pages....There are very talented authors who are able, without cheap graphics or page after page of sex, write incredible hot passionate moments between the main characters, which is after all the corner stone of a great romance. Unfortunately, this book lacks them. After reading this novel I thought....there are more talented romance authors out there. I do not need to read a romance novel that only hints at the romance no matter how likable the characters. I do not need a 1950's approach to romance, the behind close doors, use your imagination. I do not recommend this book.
The primes of the story is about Major Ian Sinclair, our hero, who is dealing with unbelievable pain and injuries he is suffering after fighting the war in Portugal. His body is a ticking time bomb with shrapnel, left in his body that could move and stop his heart or cause other damage that will kill him at any moment. He is aware that war make men do strange things but to be named guardian of the daughter of the man responsible for ending his career—and very nearly his life, was beyond the pale. Yet now Anne Darlington was his responsibility, and he found himself longing for a future he'd thought he no longer believed in. Cloistered in a remote boarding school, Anne Darlington had grown up never knowing any other life. She has lived at the Fenton School since her mother died when she was 4 years old. Now at 19, she is a beautiful, happy, intelligent young woman. A young woman who see's her future as a teacher at the school she calls home, until fate thrust her into the strong arms of Ian Sinclair.
Like I mentioned above I really liked Ian and Anne. I found the romance only hinted or suggested. Not even a kiss between the to main characters until the very last pages....There are very talented authors who are able, without cheap graphics or page after page of sex, write incredible hot passionate moments between the main characters, which is after all the corner stone of a great romance. Unfortunately, this book lacks them. After reading this novel I thought....there are more talented romance authors out there. I do not need to read a romance novel that only hints at the romance no matter how likable the characters. I do not need a 1950's approach to romance, the behind close doors, use your imagination. I do not recommend this book.
March 29, 2016
This was an odd book. It was Balogh-esque in that it wasn't a light Regency comedy of manners and that's fine by me. I actually like the darker Regencies. However, the last chapter was very disappointing. There's all this build up. A BIG, BAD THING happens and then within 10 pages or so it's a HEA. I was amazed at the depiction of the BIG, BAD THING and was glad it wasn't glossed over; however, the aftermath of the BIG, BAD THING was and that infuriated me. This had the potential to be a 5-star book had there been a better ending.
May 29, 2014
I can't believe the ending! I fell like the last pages of the book has gone missing somewhere. Maybe it was ripped, misplaced or even forgotten to be printed for some reason (I wish…). How can a story which relationship between the H/h was built quite carefully unhurried has such disappointing way of solving the main problem? And what sort of ending was that? If it were not because of that, I would happily give the book 5 stars.
May 17, 2017
"An open and gallant heart."
I need this conclusion to be better resolved, explored and extended for more half a dozen chapters, maybe more, until I can get some satisfaction in seeing them together. Except that, this book is a tremendous delight.
💋💋💋
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
I need this conclusion to be better resolved, explored and extended for more half a dozen chapters, maybe more, until I can get some satisfaction in seeing them together. Except that, this book is a tremendous delight.
💋💋💋
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
October 4, 2016
Good book, except for the ending. 3.5 stars rounded up
December 15, 2020
4.5 stars rounded up.
The female main character was a lovely “Jane Eyre” type young woman. Lots of dark stuff hovering around her while she tries to make the best of things.
The male main character is a rather tragic figure with a clearer view of ugly realities and a strong desire to protect the lady. Unfortunately his efforts keep them both delightfully miserable for most of the story. I was feeling all the feels over this one. Then things go very wrong. Straight up trigger warning of a rape that happens ”off camera” but takes the story from dark drama to horror story territory. Not sure why the author went there. The happy ending felt off and if I hadn’t read the next book first I would have really struggled to find any connection and believability in the conclusion.
Violence, a vague sex scene but references to a rape, mild language.
The female main character was a lovely “Jane Eyre” type young woman. Lots of dark stuff hovering around her while she tries to make the best of things.
The male main character is a rather tragic figure with a clearer view of ugly realities and a strong desire to protect the lady. Unfortunately his efforts keep them both delightfully miserable for most of the story. I was feeling all the feels over this one. Then things go very wrong. Straight up trigger warning of a rape that happens ”off camera” but takes the story from dark drama to horror story territory. Not sure why the author went there. The happy ending felt off and if I hadn’t read the next book first I would have really struggled to find any connection and believability in the conclusion.
Violence, a vague sex scene but references to a rape, mild language.
February 15, 2024
In 1813, Ian Sinclair finds himself the unwilling guardian of the daughter of the man whose actions in Portugal during 1812 have wounded him so severely. He goes to get her from her school to bring her to his home for Christmas only to find that she is not the child he expects but a young woman nearly twenty. The book is filled with incidents that make you wonder if poor Ian is accident prone or just unlucky. It ends too abruptly, so unless the youngest brother gets a book, the reader may never know what happens with Ian's health and wounds or with Anne's school where she had planned to become a teacher.
September 2, 2022
i didn't enjoy this book much. i just don't fell the hero and heroine spend enough time together or they talks are intesting. i just founded it really hard to get in to. the kiddnapping was exsiting but what the villain did i hope he burns in hell.
April 13, 2014
Nice read.
All thanks to the characters and the decent writing, although the plot follows same formula, as one too many HR or just romance books, in general.
Ian Sinclair. Here’s one alpha male from HR i like. This guy’ humble nature is due to a long ago injury he suffered as a soldier in war. Don’t give me grief for liking this guy because he’s a hurt puppy. Since otherwise he’d be the ever infamous rake whose arrogant overconfidence comes from all his sexual escapades. Just tired of ‘em all. If you find beta/downplaying HR guys do let me know. They’re a rarity. But author does stroke Ian’s ego by giving him those heroic moments, yeah. And yes of course he has the hots for his girl, but he decently hides it.
Anne- she’s awesome. No frills, no games, she’s as straight forward as they come. And she ain’t no damsel in distress. Good to see something different from the emotional blubbering mess too. She holds her own.
There are only two things I don’t like here. First is that even though they have romantic feels for each other, Ian is equation with Anne is so avuncular which is due to the reason that he’s her guardian(she’s almost 20 and he’s 30 something, no, the age doesn’t bother me) . And that is all sorts of creepy. Anne’s father left her with Ian whose injury was a result of his decisions in war. That question is raised several times in the book but not concluded.
All thanks to the characters and the decent writing, although the plot follows same formula, as one too many HR or just romance books, in general.
Ian Sinclair. Here’s one alpha male from HR i like. This guy’ humble nature is due to a long ago injury he suffered as a soldier in war. Don’t give me grief for liking this guy because he’s a hurt puppy. Since otherwise he’d be the ever infamous rake whose arrogant overconfidence comes from all his sexual escapades. Just tired of ‘em all. If you find beta/downplaying HR guys do let me know. They’re a rarity. But author does stroke Ian’s ego by giving him those heroic moments, yeah. And yes of course he has the hots for his girl, but he decently hides it.
Anne- she’s awesome. No frills, no games, she’s as straight forward as they come. And she ain’t no damsel in distress. Good to see something different from the emotional blubbering mess too. She holds her own.
There are only two things I don’t like here. First is that even though they have romantic feels for each other, Ian is equation with Anne is so avuncular which is due to the reason that he’s her guardian(she’s almost 20 and he’s 30 something, no, the age doesn’t bother me) . And that is all sorts of creepy. Anne’s father left her with Ian whose injury was a result of his decisions in war. That question is raised several times in the book but not concluded.
February 7, 2010
4.5 stars
Very well done Regency romance. More in depth than many out there. Not a comedy of manners and the characters were not just modern people dressed up in fancy clothes. It was reminescent of early Balogh's style. The hero Ian is an honorable man who falls in love with his ward who is the daughter of a cowardly man who almost got him killed in Portugal. Both the hero and the heroine are very well developed and you care about both of them. The only reason I don't give it that last half star is because I was disappointed in the brevity of the ending. I didn't get the full effect of a happy ever after because the scene was not fully developed enough. I don't want to say why and spoil it for others but I think you'll see what I mean if you read it. Even so it was worth reading.
Very well done Regency romance. More in depth than many out there. Not a comedy of manners and the characters were not just modern people dressed up in fancy clothes. It was reminescent of early Balogh's style. The hero Ian is an honorable man who falls in love with his ward who is the daughter of a cowardly man who almost got him killed in Portugal. Both the hero and the heroine are very well developed and you care about both of them. The only reason I don't give it that last half star is because I was disappointed in the brevity of the ending. I didn't get the full effect of a happy ever after because the scene was not fully developed enough. I don't want to say why and spoil it for others but I think you'll see what I mean if you read it. Even so it was worth reading.
Read
December 5, 2024Plenty of angst, not enough romance. Not sure if I'd say that there's NO chemistry between the hero and heroine but it is a bit like... uh... when did they fall in love and how/why exactly? Ending felt rushed and a bit of a let-down.
March 18, 2016
This is not a book to be reread, the formula of this author is becoming then.
February 19, 2012
This was well done. It was well written with a good plot. Clean.
April 18, 2013
The ending did not live up to the rest of the story. It was more of a 2 1/2 stars for me.
April 12, 2013
for a man that is supposed to be crippled and injured, Ian Sinclair sure gets around England in this book. Still, this was a fun, sweet, & quick romantic read.
March 11, 2018
Excellent
August 9, 2016
3.5/5
April 22, 2016
Vídeo-reseña en mi BookTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcJqM...
July 27, 2011
Too heavy for my tastes, at least in a romance.
Read
January 29, 2016It was decent and I enjoyed it, but I probably wont keep it.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews