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Abandoned at the Altar #1
Wedding of the Season
“Fresh, fabulous and ravishingly romantic, Wedding of the Season is one of the best romances of the season! Laura Lee Guhrke has earned a permanent spot on my keeper shelf.”—Teresa Medeiros
The first book in New York Times and USA Today bestseller Laura Lee Guhrke’s delightful “Abandoned at the Altar” historical romance series—featuring the amorous exploits of three sexy dukes and the ladies who capture their hearts—Wedding of the Season is the story of the perfect match that wasn’t, when William James Mallory reluctantly leaves Lady Beatrix, his bride-to-be, behind to pursue a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. A deliciously sensuous Victorian romance, Wedding of the Season is pure Guhrke gold—and the reason why perennial bestseller Christina Dodd insists that, “Laura Lee Guhrke is always a delight to read,” and historical romance superstar Julia Quinn says, “I adore everything she writes.”
The first book in New York Times and USA Today bestseller Laura Lee Guhrke’s delightful “Abandoned at the Altar” historical romance series—featuring the amorous exploits of three sexy dukes and the ladies who capture their hearts—Wedding of the Season is the story of the perfect match that wasn’t, when William James Mallory reluctantly leaves Lady Beatrix, his bride-to-be, behind to pursue a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. A deliciously sensuous Victorian romance, Wedding of the Season is pure Guhrke gold—and the reason why perennial bestseller Christina Dodd insists that, “Laura Lee Guhrke is always a delight to read,” and historical romance superstar Julia Quinn says, “I adore everything she writes.”
389 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 28, 2010
123 people are currently reading
2232 people want to read
About the author
Laura Lee Guhrke
39 books1,812 followersFrom the publication of her very first historical romance, Laura Lee Guhrke has received numerous honors and critical acclaim for her novels and her writing style. She has been honored with the most prestigious award of romance fiction, the Romance Writers of America Rita Award, and she has received additional awards from Romantic Times and All About Romance. Romantic Times has proclaimed her, “One of the most natural voices in historical romance to be found today”. Her books routinely hit the USA Today Bestseller List, and Guilty Pleasures has been honored with the Romantic Times Award for Best European Historical Romance of 2004. Among her publishing credits are twelve historical romances, including her latest, And Then He Kissed Her, now available from Avon Books.
Laura is currently hard at work on her thirteenth historical romance for Avon Books. She has also written articles for various publications, including the Romance Writers Report, The British Weekly , and the Irish-American Press.
Laura is currently hard at work on her thirteenth historical romance for Avon Books. She has also written articles for various publications, including the Romance Writers Report, The British Weekly , and the Irish-American Press.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 318 reviews
August 6, 2016
THE FIRST 50% OF THE BOOK IS LITERALLY THE HERO BEING THE BIGGEST DICK IN ALL OF ENGLAND, THE UNITED KINGDOM, AND THE WORLD!!!! THE BEST PARTS OF THIS BOOK WERE WHEN BEATRIX HATED HIM!!!! THE NEXT 50% ARE HIM BEING THE BIGGEST TOOL IN ALL OF ENGLAND, THE UNITED KINGDOM, AND THE WORLD!!!!
Six years ago, Will left his fiance Beatrix literally days before their wedding to fulfill his lifelong dreams of not being English nobililty. Beatrix is finally moving on and getting married to a nice young man who will clearly be featuring in a sequel. EXCEPT THEN THEIR PATHS CROSS AND """"FEELINGS"""" HAPPEN (IN BETWEEN ALL OF THE YELLING).
1. So the big "breaking point" in their original relationship happened when Will trotted off to Egypt rather than marry Beatrix. He invited her, a barely-out-of-the-schoolroom genteel miss, to come along but she declined, citing her ailing father and uncertainty at the conditions. (I SIDE WITH BEATRIX ON THIS.)
So 6 years later the hero comes waltzing back into England looking for a loan because he spent his entire inheritance (OVER £100,000!!!!!) on his dig. Rather than STAYING IN THE BACKGROUND until he can find his funds, he keeps INSERTING HIMSELF into Beatrix's life, space, feelings, etc. Beatrix tells him that she is 100% done with him and he doesn't listen; instead, he continues to force his presence on her in a series of meetings that escalate into the EXACT SAME SHOUTING MATCH EVERY TIME.
At this point, I wanted to light the bastard on fire. I have hated my fair share of heroes, but this particular brand of "Your no means nothing to me" really grinds my gears.
2. ADD TO THAT the fact that the entire book is set up to cast Beatrix as the one with the problem. There are several moments where she clearly lays out all the things that went wrong, but the hero is so full of himself and hot air that I could hear the "Well, actually..."s coming. HE LECTURES HER AT LENGTH ABOUT HOW SHE'S A COWARD. AT LENGTH. AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN.
FOR REFUSING TO GIVE UP HER FAMILY, FRIENDS, HOME, LIFE AT 19 TO FOLLOW A MAN ACROSS THE WORLD. (Which ties into Beatrix's mother's history, too, MIGHT I ADD. THERE ARE LAYERS TO THIS SHIT.)
So because she made a completely defensible decision, Will throws the most obnoxious of extended tantrums and berates her for never having adventures. EGYPT =/= DIVING OFF A CLIFF, JACKASS. YOUR METAPHORS AND YOUR CHARACTERIZATION SUCK.
(Like, here is an ACTUAL QUOTE taken from this ACTUAL TRASH HEAP: "They'd had this discussion so many times, he thought in frustration, and it never seemed to go anywhere. It never accomplished anything." (71% SEVENTY-ONE PERCENT!!! There is literally 29% left to reconcile these two dunderheads!!!!!!!!)
I have a lot of feelings. Anyway.
3. So the hero, in addition to mocking Beatrix for being an alleged coward, mocks her for her "3 button rule" which is to say that when they were young and in love, he was only allowed to undo 3 buttons during their mashing sessions. I mean, sounds like a fair rule, especially in light of her fiance's EPIC DICKARY.
Except the moment he gets her alone as a GROWN UP ADULT MALE WHO HAS RUINED BOTH OF HER ENGAGEMENTS, he's very much like "OK TIME FOR 3 BUTTONS. I coerced her into this 'adventure' with me and do not have her consent, but it's ok!! THAT OLD RULE STILL STANDS!!!" So he goes from kissing her to undoing 3 buttons without so much as a by-your-leave.
I WAS SCANDALIZED!!! How was such a sweaty grundle of a hero allowed into a romance novel????
BUT WAIT: THERE'S MORE. The moment the heroine takes her own agency in hand and decides to pursue things with the hero in a physical, temporary fashion, HE FLIPS THE HELL OUT!!!! Because, if you haven't caught onto the theme of this DIATRIBE, it's this: THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS IS WHAT THE HERO WANTS. Anything else--what Beatrix wants, what society dictates, what responsibility looks like: none of that means anything if it's not in alignment with what he wants.
I AM OUT OF CURSEWORDS FOR THIS USELESS SACK OF SKIN.
4. I can handle gross heroes, for the most part. ESPECIALLY when they get what's coming to them via their amazing heroines. But this book did not want to do that. The hero compromises approximately 2% and even that means nothing because the heroine does a patented 180 degree flip flop on the issue that is the CRUX OF THE BOOK. I.e., she decides to ~take the leap and ~follow Will to Egypt. I PUT DOWN THIS BOOK SCREAMING BOTH INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY.
For 95% of the book, we are bludgeoned with the idea that Will and Beatrix are, at heart, different people. Beatrix wants adventure, but she wants a hearth-fire at the end of the day. She considers England her home. Will wants adventure, and he wants to forge his own destiny. He considers Egypt his home. And with 5% of the text remaining, I wanted them to go their separate ways.
In my eyes, that's not exactly the recipe for a successful romance.
OH AND PS THERE IS LITERALLY A "JUST THE TIP" SCENE BECAUSE THE HERO IS BEING ~~~RESPONSIBLE PLEASE FIND ME CHOKING ON MY OWN TONGUE THANKS.
Six years ago, Will left his fiance Beatrix literally days before their wedding to fulfill his lifelong dreams of not being English nobililty. Beatrix is finally moving on and getting married to a nice young man who will clearly be featuring in a sequel. EXCEPT THEN THEIR PATHS CROSS AND """"FEELINGS"""" HAPPEN (IN BETWEEN ALL OF THE YELLING).
1. So the big "breaking point" in their original relationship happened when Will trotted off to Egypt rather than marry Beatrix. He invited her, a barely-out-of-the-schoolroom genteel miss, to come along but she declined, citing her ailing father and uncertainty at the conditions. (I SIDE WITH BEATRIX ON THIS.)
So 6 years later the hero comes waltzing back into England looking for a loan because he spent his entire inheritance (OVER £100,000!!!!!) on his dig. Rather than STAYING IN THE BACKGROUND until he can find his funds, he keeps INSERTING HIMSELF into Beatrix's life, space, feelings, etc. Beatrix tells him that she is 100% done with him and he doesn't listen; instead, he continues to force his presence on her in a series of meetings that escalate into the EXACT SAME SHOUTING MATCH EVERY TIME.
At this point, I wanted to light the bastard on fire. I have hated my fair share of heroes, but this particular brand of "Your no means nothing to me" really grinds my gears.
2. ADD TO THAT the fact that the entire book is set up to cast Beatrix as the one with the problem. There are several moments where she clearly lays out all the things that went wrong, but the hero is so full of himself and hot air that I could hear the "Well, actually..."s coming. HE LECTURES HER AT LENGTH ABOUT HOW SHE'S A COWARD. AT LENGTH. AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN.
FOR REFUSING TO GIVE UP HER FAMILY, FRIENDS, HOME, LIFE AT 19 TO FOLLOW A MAN ACROSS THE WORLD. (Which ties into Beatrix's mother's history, too, MIGHT I ADD. THERE ARE LAYERS TO THIS SHIT.)
So because she made a completely defensible decision, Will throws the most obnoxious of extended tantrums and berates her for never having adventures. EGYPT =/= DIVING OFF A CLIFF, JACKASS. YOUR METAPHORS AND YOUR CHARACTERIZATION SUCK.
(Like, here is an ACTUAL QUOTE taken from this ACTUAL TRASH HEAP: "They'd had this discussion so many times, he thought in frustration, and it never seemed to go anywhere. It never accomplished anything." (71% SEVENTY-ONE PERCENT!!! There is literally 29% left to reconcile these two dunderheads!!!!!!!!)
I have a lot of feelings. Anyway.
3. So the hero, in addition to mocking Beatrix for being an alleged coward, mocks her for her "3 button rule" which is to say that when they were young and in love, he was only allowed to undo 3 buttons during their mashing sessions. I mean, sounds like a fair rule, especially in light of her fiance's EPIC DICKARY.
Except the moment he gets her alone as a GROWN UP ADULT MALE WHO HAS RUINED BOTH OF HER ENGAGEMENTS, he's very much like "OK TIME FOR 3 BUTTONS. I coerced her into this 'adventure' with me and do not have her consent, but it's ok!! THAT OLD RULE STILL STANDS!!!" So he goes from kissing her to undoing 3 buttons without so much as a by-your-leave.
I WAS SCANDALIZED!!! How was such a sweaty grundle of a hero allowed into a romance novel????
BUT WAIT: THERE'S MORE. The moment the heroine takes her own agency in hand and decides to pursue things with the hero in a physical, temporary fashion, HE FLIPS THE HELL OUT!!!! Because, if you haven't caught onto the theme of this DIATRIBE, it's this: THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS IS WHAT THE HERO WANTS. Anything else--what Beatrix wants, what society dictates, what responsibility looks like: none of that means anything if it's not in alignment with what he wants.
I AM OUT OF CURSEWORDS FOR THIS USELESS SACK OF SKIN.
4. I can handle gross heroes, for the most part. ESPECIALLY when they get what's coming to them via their amazing heroines. But this book did not want to do that. The hero compromises approximately 2% and even that means nothing because the heroine does a patented 180 degree flip flop on the issue that is the CRUX OF THE BOOK. I.e., she decides to ~take the leap and ~follow Will to Egypt. I PUT DOWN THIS BOOK SCREAMING BOTH INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY.
For 95% of the book, we are bludgeoned with the idea that Will and Beatrix are, at heart, different people. Beatrix wants adventure, but she wants a hearth-fire at the end of the day. She considers England her home. Will wants adventure, and he wants to forge his own destiny. He considers Egypt his home. And with 5% of the text remaining, I wanted them to go their separate ways.
In my eyes, that's not exactly the recipe for a successful romance.
OH AND PS THERE IS LITERALLY A "JUST THE TIP" SCENE BECAUSE THE HERO IS BEING ~~~RESPONSIBLE PLEASE FIND ME CHOKING ON MY OWN TONGUE THANKS.
August 7, 2018
Una lectura que me sorprendió bastante. La sinopsis no deja entrever el verdadero conflicto de la pareja de esta novela. No se trata solo de una novia plantada en el altar, sino de las expectativas de una vida juntos. Poco antes de casarse, sucede un hecho frente al cual ambos esperaban que el otro cediera, lo que por supuesto no ocurrió. De verdad, cuesta ponerse del lado de uno o de otro, pues las razones de sus respectivas posiciones eran muy válidas, pero absolutamente irreconciliables.
Seis años después, pero con mayor madurez, vuelven a enfrentarse al mismo conflicto y creo que por primera vez en un libro de este género, me costó visualizar cómo podrían superarlo. Afortunadamente, el carácter de William hace que todo sea posible.
Una buena lectura, emotiva y chispeante, como todas las de Laura Lee Guhrke.
Seis años después, pero con mayor madurez, vuelven a enfrentarse al mismo conflicto y creo que por primera vez en un libro de este género, me costó visualizar cómo podrían superarlo. Afortunadamente, el carácter de William hace que todo sea posible.
Una buena lectura, emotiva y chispeante, como todas las de Laura Lee Guhrke.
August 3, 2018
QUIERO UN HARRY QUIERO UN WILL!!
Laura Lee Guhrke se ha convertido en una de mis autoras favoritas de romance histórico, sus libros siempre me enganchan demasiado.
Pensé que Will no me iba a gustar tanto y que tenía que remendar el daño que le hizo a Beatrix al abandonarla que era un egoísta, pero conforme fui leyendo me di cuenta que los tenían sus razones válidas y que él no la abandonó sin más, él quería estar con ella y compartir sus logros con ella.
Los dos tenían puntos de vista distintos y planes distintos, ella quería seguridad, una familia estable un futuro asegurado que es lo que le daba el ducado de Will, pero él quería aventura quería hacer cumplir sus sueños y no sólo tener que cumplir las responsabilidades de ser el futuro duque cuando tuvo la oportunidad de hacer realidad lo que tanto deseó los quiso cumplir con ella,
Yo entendí sus puntos de vista y era válido pero para estar juntos uno tenía que ceder y al final serían infelices pero lo bueno que llegaron a un punto intermedio.
La historia de Will y Trix me gustó mucho, son amigos desde la infancia y siempre han estado enamorados, los dos sacan chispas juntos, siempre discutiendo, él presionándola para sacarla de su zona de confort y que se arriesgara siempre llevando a aventuras.
Will era un AMOR, era tan gracioso, irreverente y apasionado con su trabajo que por cierto es arqueólogo y sobre todo es un DUQUE!! Muy fuera de lo común pero siempre con ese charm que los caracteriza.
Lo que más me gustó del libro aparte de Will es la aparición de Harry y Emma de Y entonces él la besó no sabía que estaban entrelazadas las series ME ENCANTÓ volver a reencontrarme con mi Harry adorado de mi corazón sigue siendo mi protagonista y libro favorito de la autora.
Laura Lee Guhrke se ha convertido en una de mis autoras favoritas de romance histórico, sus libros siempre me enganchan demasiado.
Pensé que Will no me iba a gustar tanto y que tenía que remendar el daño que le hizo a Beatrix al abandonarla que era un egoísta, pero conforme fui leyendo me di cuenta que los tenían sus razones válidas y que él no la abandonó sin más, él quería estar con ella y compartir sus logros con ella.
Los dos tenían puntos de vista distintos y planes distintos, ella quería seguridad, una familia estable un futuro asegurado que es lo que le daba el ducado de Will, pero él quería aventura quería hacer cumplir sus sueños y no sólo tener que cumplir las responsabilidades de ser el futuro duque cuando tuvo la oportunidad de hacer realidad lo que tanto deseó los quiso cumplir con ella,
Yo entendí sus puntos de vista y era válido pero para estar juntos uno tenía que ceder y al final serían infelices pero lo bueno que llegaron a un punto intermedio.
La historia de Will y Trix me gustó mucho, son amigos desde la infancia y siempre han estado enamorados, los dos sacan chispas juntos, siempre discutiendo, él presionándola para sacarla de su zona de confort y que se arriesgara siempre llevando a aventuras.
Will era un AMOR, era tan gracioso, irreverente y apasionado con su trabajo que por cierto es arqueólogo y sobre todo es un DUQUE!! Muy fuera de lo común pero siempre con ese charm que los caracteriza.
Lo que más me gustó del libro aparte de Will es la aparición de Harry y Emma de Y entonces él la besó no sabía que estaban entrelazadas las series ME ENCANTÓ volver a reencontrarme con mi Harry adorado de mi corazón sigue siendo mi protagonista y libro favorito de la autora.
October 6, 2020
Adorei. Há imenso tempo que não "apanhava" um livro tão "fofinho".
Começa com um desafio, com uma briga, com um regresso, com a buzina de um automóvel (sim, um automóvel, não é um romance de época tão "atrasado", a acção decorre na primeira década de 1900), um cavalo a assustar-se e um duque a ficar de rabo no chão, joelho magoado e abandonado na estrada.
Adorei a personagem de William, a luta de vontades entre ele e Trix acabam por desencadear situações super amorosas e divertidas.
Começa com um desafio, com uma briga, com um regresso, com a buzina de um automóvel (sim, um automóvel, não é um romance de época tão "atrasado", a acção decorre na primeira década de 1900), um cavalo a assustar-se e um duque a ficar de rabo no chão, joelho magoado e abandonado na estrada.
Adorei a personagem de William, a luta de vontades entre ele e Trix acabam por desencadear situações super amorosas e divertidas.
January 2, 2011
4.5 stars. I finished this yesterday and really enjoyed. It is set in 1902, and I loved the more modern take on historical England. Women are becoming more independent (smoking, driving and showing some ankle!), aristocracy is losing power to commercialism, and the rules of society are quickly being rewritten to allow people more personal freedoms. Music, fashion, and even transportation are all evolving, and I thought LLG did a great job bringing many of these elements into this story.
At age 23 William Mallory, heir to the Duke of Sunderland, had his life all planned out for him and handed on a silver platter - a title, money, a beautiful fiance...etc., but instead chose to follow a once in a life time opportunity and left for Egypt in hopes of unearthing King Tut's tomb. His fiance Beatrix (Trix) Danbury, dutiful daughter to a neighboring Earl, refused to go with him and live in such a horrid climate, and therefor gives him an ultimatum. He chooses Egypt, and now 6-years later has comes back to England to find financial support to continue his archaeological digs.
Will and Trix are now older, wiser and living the lives they thought they wanted. Newly engaged to the Duke of Trathen, Trix has finally gotten over the love of her life leaving his ducal duties behind to pursue his dreams, and is now ready for the comfortable (but passionless) companionship her upcoming marriage will provide. And then she see's Will riding his horse on the side of the road, and nothing is the same again.
While both Will and Trix felt they made the right decision 6-years ago, spending time together again reveals the deep passion they once shared is far from gone. Six years ago they were so focused on their own desires that the other person's desires were dismissed without any real consideration.
The chemistry between Will and Trix was so believable, and the way they slowly reveal their past hurt and accept their own part in it while learning to see the situation through each others eyes was well done. While I did get frustrated with Trix for taking so long to finally lighten up, her strict background made her actions believable. And now for Will to win Trix back, he has to prove his love and take on the monumental task of winning back her trust.
If you are looking for a regency historical with a simpering, doe-eyed virginal heroine and a dominate alpha-male hero, this isn't that book. This is a more modern historical that addresses issues of conflict where both the hero or heroine made many mistakes. It was such an enjoyable read and I recommend it to LLG fans. I can't wait for the next in the series.
At age 23 William Mallory, heir to the Duke of Sunderland, had his life all planned out for him and handed on a silver platter - a title, money, a beautiful fiance...etc., but instead chose to follow a once in a life time opportunity and left for Egypt in hopes of unearthing King Tut's tomb. His fiance Beatrix (Trix) Danbury, dutiful daughter to a neighboring Earl, refused to go with him and live in such a horrid climate, and therefor gives him an ultimatum. He chooses Egypt, and now 6-years later has comes back to England to find financial support to continue his archaeological digs.
Will and Trix are now older, wiser and living the lives they thought they wanted. Newly engaged to the Duke of Trathen, Trix has finally gotten over the love of her life leaving his ducal duties behind to pursue his dreams, and is now ready for the comfortable (but passionless) companionship her upcoming marriage will provide. And then she see's Will riding his horse on the side of the road, and nothing is the same again.
While both Will and Trix felt they made the right decision 6-years ago, spending time together again reveals the deep passion they once shared is far from gone. Six years ago they were so focused on their own desires that the other person's desires were dismissed without any real consideration.
The chemistry between Will and Trix was so believable, and the way they slowly reveal their past hurt and accept their own part in it while learning to see the situation through each others eyes was well done. While I did get frustrated with Trix for taking so long to finally lighten up, her strict background made her actions believable. And now for Will to win Trix back, he has to prove his love and take on the monumental task of winning back her trust.
If you are looking for a regency historical with a simpering, doe-eyed virginal heroine and a dominate alpha-male hero, this isn't that book. This is a more modern historical that addresses issues of conflict where both the hero or heroine made many mistakes. It was such an enjoyable read and I recommend it to LLG fans. I can't wait for the next in the series.
December 2, 2010
Gurhrke bucked romance traditions with this novel, and it worked wonderfully. Everything about the characters and the story was refreshing. Daring and unique, the time period (early 20th century) was unusual, since most period romances take place a bit earlier. It lent itself well to the clash of tradition and modern mores; what surprised me more was that it was the woman clinging to tradition, and not the man.
Lady Beatrix expected that her fiance Will would stay home, work the land with his tenants, and continue his fascination with Egypt from afar. Will's travel plans and unknown future are frightening to a woman looking to build a family. Will expected that Beatrix, always daring and following his footsteps, would follow him when he was given the career opportunity of a lifetime. Will's feelings that if Beatrix loved him enough she would have left, and Beatrix's fear that he couldn't support a family are seated in a truth that they must work out.
Years later, Beatrix has moved forward without Will, looking for a companion and a marriage of affection and finding it with Aiden. Will's been holding her engagement notice for months, and finally returns home. For closure? A mad elopement? Money? Even Will isn't sure. And this is when the fun begins. The sparks between these two lit up the pages; they love to clash. He upsets her comfortable world and she rattles him thoroughly. Their love shines through and their honest conversations about what they expected from each other in the past was heart-wrenching. I loved that Will pushed her to be what she was, and not what she thought people wanted. Eating caviar, drinking lemonade when she wants champagne, being SAFE - Will gives her the push to break the boundaries she has allowed others to place on her. And he comes to realize that professional success is worthless without someone to share it with. Does she realize that playing it safe doesn't always lead to happiness?
Much is happening with the secondary characters marriages - Julia and Pete in particular. I'm looking forward to seeing what happened between Julia and Aiden. There are strong hints of a shared past, and I can't wait to read book two in the series. And the follow up to previous books in her other series was done tastefully and made me want to go grab the other books and do some re-reading.
Wedding of the Season is a definite add to my personal and library collection.
Lady Beatrix expected that her fiance Will would stay home, work the land with his tenants, and continue his fascination with Egypt from afar. Will's travel plans and unknown future are frightening to a woman looking to build a family. Will expected that Beatrix, always daring and following his footsteps, would follow him when he was given the career opportunity of a lifetime. Will's feelings that if Beatrix loved him enough she would have left, and Beatrix's fear that he couldn't support a family are seated in a truth that they must work out.
Years later, Beatrix has moved forward without Will, looking for a companion and a marriage of affection and finding it with Aiden. Will's been holding her engagement notice for months, and finally returns home. For closure? A mad elopement? Money? Even Will isn't sure. And this is when the fun begins. The sparks between these two lit up the pages; they love to clash. He upsets her comfortable world and she rattles him thoroughly. Their love shines through and their honest conversations about what they expected from each other in the past was heart-wrenching. I loved that Will pushed her to be what she was, and not what she thought people wanted. Eating caviar, drinking lemonade when she wants champagne, being SAFE - Will gives her the push to break the boundaries she has allowed others to place on her. And he comes to realize that professional success is worthless without someone to share it with. Does she realize that playing it safe doesn't always lead to happiness?
Much is happening with the secondary characters marriages - Julia and Pete in particular. I'm looking forward to seeing what happened between Julia and Aiden. There are strong hints of a shared past, and I can't wait to read book two in the series. And the follow up to previous books in her other series was done tastefully and made me want to go grab the other books and do some re-reading.
Wedding of the Season is a definite add to my personal and library collection.
February 25, 2019
Will es 😍
Trix es 🤔🤷🏻♀️
No me gustó mucho ella pero el libro es bueno.
Trix es 🤔🤷🏻♀️
No me gustó mucho ella pero el libro es bueno.
January 26, 2014
Una historia cortita pero bonita, que habla de sentimientos y de sueños rotos, de segundas oportunidades.
me ha sorprendido, quizás porque me esperaba menos y porque me ha encantado que el peso del libro fuera Will, quizás no estemos ante el mejor libro de la autora pero me lo he leído de una sentada y al cerrarlo me ha dejado una gran sonrisa.
me ha sorprendido, quizás porque me esperaba menos y porque me ha encantado que el peso del libro fuera Will, quizás no estemos ante el mejor libro de la autora pero me lo he leído de una sentada y al cerrarlo me ha dejado una gran sonrisa.
November 7, 2023
I wasn’t in the right mood for this book. It had a few of my favorite tropes: forced proximity and hero pursues heroine. However, it didn’t impress me.
June 12, 2021
Hace seis años Beatrix “Trix” Danbury fue plantada a pocos días de su boda por el que fue su prometido William “Will” Mallory, duque de Sunderland.
Ahora él ha regresado pocos días antes de que Trix se case y todo su mundo parece volver a desmoronarse.
Primera historia de la serie “Plantadas en el altar” y como su propio título indica tenemos a una joven “abandonada” a poco días de casarse pero los motivos por los que su antiguo prometido la abandona los iremos conociendo poco a poco.
Así que tenemos una historia de segundas oportunidades, un novio a la fuga que regresa y una mujer que teme por que una vez más todo se derrumbe.
El cincuenta por ciento de la novela estuve odiando (y aburriéndome con la lectura) al personaje de Will, pues su “obsesión” por descubrir la tumba de Tutankamón en Egipto me sacaba un poco de quicio puesto que era poco empático por la pobre de Trix que tuvo que soportar lo que en una chica de la época era el acabose. Y es que Will es egoísta y no siente nada de culpa por todo lo acontecido hace seis años y sus sentimientos por Trix dejan mucho que desear así que creo que es normal que no simpatice con él.
En esta parte empatizo mucho con Trix que ha tenido que lidiar con la situación y retomar su vida y justo en el momento en el que lo consigue se presenta su ex prometido para poner todo del revés.
Después de cierto hecho en una playa que creo que se podría decir que es el otro cincuenta por ciento restantes de la novela, mis impresiones sobre Will van cambiando poco a poco, puedo decir que me conquista. La autora desvela el momento de la ruptura y los personajes se sinceran, tanto Will como Trix se dicen las cosas claras y podemos conocer los dos puntos de vista y entender mejor todo. Y esta parte me gustó mucho porque sueltan todo lo que sienten y es difícil no comprender cada una de las partes.
Will era muy joven, con sueños y no quería arrepentirse en el futuro por dejarlos atrás...
...https://oceanodelibros.blogspot.com/2...
Ahora él ha regresado pocos días antes de que Trix se case y todo su mundo parece volver a desmoronarse.
Primera historia de la serie “Plantadas en el altar” y como su propio título indica tenemos a una joven “abandonada” a poco días de casarse pero los motivos por los que su antiguo prometido la abandona los iremos conociendo poco a poco.
Así que tenemos una historia de segundas oportunidades, un novio a la fuga que regresa y una mujer que teme por que una vez más todo se derrumbe.
El cincuenta por ciento de la novela estuve odiando (y aburriéndome con la lectura) al personaje de Will, pues su “obsesión” por descubrir la tumba de Tutankamón en Egipto me sacaba un poco de quicio puesto que era poco empático por la pobre de Trix que tuvo que soportar lo que en una chica de la época era el acabose. Y es que Will es egoísta y no siente nada de culpa por todo lo acontecido hace seis años y sus sentimientos por Trix dejan mucho que desear así que creo que es normal que no simpatice con él.
En esta parte empatizo mucho con Trix que ha tenido que lidiar con la situación y retomar su vida y justo en el momento en el que lo consigue se presenta su ex prometido para poner todo del revés.
Después de cierto hecho en una playa que creo que se podría decir que es el otro cincuenta por ciento restantes de la novela, mis impresiones sobre Will van cambiando poco a poco, puedo decir que me conquista. La autora desvela el momento de la ruptura y los personajes se sinceran, tanto Will como Trix se dicen las cosas claras y podemos conocer los dos puntos de vista y entender mejor todo. Y esta parte me gustó mucho porque sueltan todo lo que sienten y es difícil no comprender cada una de las partes.
Will era muy joven, con sueños y no quería arrepentirse en el futuro por dejarlos atrás...
...https://oceanodelibros.blogspot.com/2...
April 8, 2011
I was so excited to read this because the storyline seemed so interesting, but it went down hill for me because I lost all respect for the hero when I found out that he wasted all his inheritance and had no shame in begging for money from anyone who was willing to give it- all for searching for Tutankhamen in Egypt! I was also hoping for some real life drama with the heroine being engaged to marry someone else - but come to find out- she doesn't really want the fiance and he doesn't really want her! (yawn) That's way too easy! Give me some angst! This book was not what I was expecting from LLG! She's definitely starting to lose me as a fan with her last few books :(
March 30, 2023
He left her and ofc he wasn't celibate. She only kissed(*cringe af*) Her fiance😒 and that's it. He comes back after six years and she melts away in his arm. In a month she is back with him.
January 29, 2011
"Now, when I die,
now don't think I'm a nut,
don't want no fancy funeral.
Just one like ole king Tut."
http://www.lauraleeguhrke.com/index.htm
We are about to reflect upon a pet peeve moment. Sometimes when one reads historical novels, one stumbles across history that authors tamper with for one reason or another. Usually, unless you are Virginia Henley, the author includes a page or two saying something like, yes, I changed this or that because I wanted to blah blah blah. And, when the author does that, I can live with it and not worry about it. However, in the case of Wedding of the Season, one of my favorite authors failed in her duty to me. I'm not sure why the dates of Tutankhamun's discoveries were changed. Maybe it was to keep it in the Edwardian era, not sure. However, since I happen to love history and have always been fascinated by Tutankhamun, this tampering threw me out of the story. So, I am including a brief history of the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb.
Howard Carter (credited with finding the tomb) was obsessed for years in his search for the relatively unknown pharaoh, especially after some cups and a piece of stone bearing Tutankhamun's name were pronounced as unimportant by Theodore Davis (private sponsor). This moment of stupidity on Davis' part happened around 1907. After years of looking, a war, and an ultimatum from the guy with the big bucks backing the dig, Lord Carnarvon, Carter's water carrier stumbled across the stairs leading down to the tomb on November 4, 1922. The mostly intact tomb was not opened until February 16, 1923, and Egyptology hasn't been the same since. (By intact I mean that although the tomb had been broken into, all the good stuff was still there.) And, I wonder what ever happened to the water carrier? That is the brief history. And if you want to learn more watch for that wacky Dr. Zahi Hawass (one of my favorite talkers). In Wedding of the Season, our hero goes to Egypt in 1896, and the stairs are discovered in 1901. Plus, Beatrix keeps referring to the pharaoh as King Tut... got on my nerves...
Maestro, music please:
"You've got to give a little, take a little, and let your poor heart break a little. That's the story of, that's the glory of love."
Now, let's explore Wedding of the Season, the first in the Abandoned at the Altar series. I will say up front that this story was painful to read. Not because of writing or because of the history malfunction, but because these two people, Beatrix and Will, were really hard to like. Their story is one of two people who love each other, but neither one of them is willing to give in or change for the other. They expect the other person to do all the giving and changing, so, because Beatrix refuses to go with Will to Egypt, they break their engagement. After six years, Beatrix is engaged to Aiden (our next hero). However, just weeks before the wedding, who should show up like a bad penny? You guessed it - Will.
Now, you might think that after six years these two people might have had a change of heart; maybe they realized they were wrong all those years ago. Nope. Not these two, they still want the other to do the giving up. So, it is a constant, constant, constant struggle... you change, no you change, no you give everything up, no you give everything up, you don't trust me, you're irresponsible. I have to admit that I found both arguments (Beatrix and Will) to be strong and realistic. I also admit that I agreed with Beatrix in her desire for security and being grounded. And, I also admit that while I was reading some really strong writing, I just couldn't see any resolution to their dilemma. Oh, there is a solution and it's touching, but it doesn't quite solve the problems that these two people raise throughout the book. I doubt their future happiness.
This is not a light read, and if you are like me you will become involved with the torturous love story contained within these pages. Some great writing, just very painful and for some readers, this pain may go on way too long before it's resolved.
I am looking forward to Aiden's story. He was written as a stuffed shirt in this book and we all know I love my stuff shirts.
Time/Place Edwardian England
Rating: B-
Sensuality Rating: Hot
now don't think I'm a nut,
don't want no fancy funeral.
Just one like ole king Tut."
http://www.lauraleeguhrke.com/index.htm
We are about to reflect upon a pet peeve moment. Sometimes when one reads historical novels, one stumbles across history that authors tamper with for one reason or another. Usually, unless you are Virginia Henley, the author includes a page or two saying something like, yes, I changed this or that because I wanted to blah blah blah. And, when the author does that, I can live with it and not worry about it. However, in the case of Wedding of the Season, one of my favorite authors failed in her duty to me. I'm not sure why the dates of Tutankhamun's discoveries were changed. Maybe it was to keep it in the Edwardian era, not sure. However, since I happen to love history and have always been fascinated by Tutankhamun, this tampering threw me out of the story. So, I am including a brief history of the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb.
Howard Carter (credited with finding the tomb) was obsessed for years in his search for the relatively unknown pharaoh, especially after some cups and a piece of stone bearing Tutankhamun's name were pronounced as unimportant by Theodore Davis (private sponsor). This moment of stupidity on Davis' part happened around 1907. After years of looking, a war, and an ultimatum from the guy with the big bucks backing the dig, Lord Carnarvon, Carter's water carrier stumbled across the stairs leading down to the tomb on November 4, 1922. The mostly intact tomb was not opened until February 16, 1923, and Egyptology hasn't been the same since. (By intact I mean that although the tomb had been broken into, all the good stuff was still there.) And, I wonder what ever happened to the water carrier? That is the brief history. And if you want to learn more watch for that wacky Dr. Zahi Hawass (one of my favorite talkers). In Wedding of the Season, our hero goes to Egypt in 1896, and the stairs are discovered in 1901. Plus, Beatrix keeps referring to the pharaoh as King Tut... got on my nerves...
Maestro, music please:
"You've got to give a little, take a little, and let your poor heart break a little. That's the story of, that's the glory of love."
Now, let's explore Wedding of the Season, the first in the Abandoned at the Altar series. I will say up front that this story was painful to read. Not because of writing or because of the history malfunction, but because these two people, Beatrix and Will, were really hard to like. Their story is one of two people who love each other, but neither one of them is willing to give in or change for the other. They expect the other person to do all the giving and changing, so, because Beatrix refuses to go with Will to Egypt, they break their engagement. After six years, Beatrix is engaged to Aiden (our next hero). However, just weeks before the wedding, who should show up like a bad penny? You guessed it - Will.
Now, you might think that after six years these two people might have had a change of heart; maybe they realized they were wrong all those years ago. Nope. Not these two, they still want the other to do the giving up. So, it is a constant, constant, constant struggle... you change, no you change, no you give everything up, no you give everything up, you don't trust me, you're irresponsible. I have to admit that I found both arguments (Beatrix and Will) to be strong and realistic. I also admit that I agreed with Beatrix in her desire for security and being grounded. And, I also admit that while I was reading some really strong writing, I just couldn't see any resolution to their dilemma. Oh, there is a solution and it's touching, but it doesn't quite solve the problems that these two people raise throughout the book. I doubt their future happiness.
This is not a light read, and if you are like me you will become involved with the torturous love story contained within these pages. Some great writing, just very painful and for some readers, this pain may go on way too long before it's resolved.
I am looking forward to Aiden's story. He was written as a stuffed shirt in this book and we all know I love my stuff shirts.
Time/Place Edwardian England
Rating: B-
Sensuality Rating: Hot
February 14, 2018
2.5 Stars
January 10, 2011
2 ½ stars. It was ok, but I couldn’t get excited about it. Nothing special or different. Weak on passion.
STORY BRIEF:
Will and Beatrix have been in love since childhood and were engaged to be married. Then Will got an offer to join a famous archaeologist in Egypt. This was his dream. He wanted Beatrix to go with him, but she refused, so the wedding was called off. Six years later, Beatrix is engaged to Aidan. Will has used up his inheritance and returns to England to look for a sponsor for his work. He is searching for King Tut’s tomb. Marshall invites a group of friends to his summer home in Devonshire for a few weeks. Will attends because he hopes to ask Marshall to be his sponsor. Beatrix and Aidan also attend. While there, Will and Beatrix realize they are still in love with each other. Beatrix doesn’t want to admit it.
Beatrix’s father influenced her to be caution and avoid risk. He wanted her to stay close to him forever. After he died, Beatrix’s cousin Julia brought Beatrix out of her shell by teaching her to smoke and to drive. Julia even gave her a car. After that, Beatrix met and became engaged to Aidan who was similar to her father – cautious and conservative.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
A theme of the book is Beatrix wanting to travel and go on adventures but afraid of taking risks. It’s an ok idea but felt too long and drawn out when trying to tell a full length story about it. There was too much pondering repetition. There is a scene with Beatrix probably in her teens. Will and others jump off a cliff into the ocean, a 30 foot dive. Beatrix wanted to do it but backed out and claimed she preferred to admire the view from above. This scene is discussed and pondered several times during the book. Most of the book seems to be about Beatrix figuring out what she wants in life, who does she love, and will she take risks. There wasn’t much plot. The characters didn’t intrigue me.
Another part of the story is that they love each other but they each want something else more. She claims she wants a home, children, and to stay in England. He wants his archaeological career. And when he returns it’s not for her, it’s for money for his work. So it’s weak on passion.
Her last minute change of mind and actions annoyed me. Instead of suspense, I felt anxiety over someone being too late for something.
DATA:
Story length: 360 pages. Swearing language: mild, including religious swear words. Sexual language: moderate. Number of sex scenes: 2. Estimated number of sex scene pages: 16. Setting: 1896 and 1901 England. Copyright: 2011. Genre: historical romance.
STORY BRIEF:
Will and Beatrix have been in love since childhood and were engaged to be married. Then Will got an offer to join a famous archaeologist in Egypt. This was his dream. He wanted Beatrix to go with him, but she refused, so the wedding was called off. Six years later, Beatrix is engaged to Aidan. Will has used up his inheritance and returns to England to look for a sponsor for his work. He is searching for King Tut’s tomb. Marshall invites a group of friends to his summer home in Devonshire for a few weeks. Will attends because he hopes to ask Marshall to be his sponsor. Beatrix and Aidan also attend. While there, Will and Beatrix realize they are still in love with each other. Beatrix doesn’t want to admit it.
Beatrix’s father influenced her to be caution and avoid risk. He wanted her to stay close to him forever. After he died, Beatrix’s cousin Julia brought Beatrix out of her shell by teaching her to smoke and to drive. Julia even gave her a car. After that, Beatrix met and became engaged to Aidan who was similar to her father – cautious and conservative.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
A theme of the book is Beatrix wanting to travel and go on adventures but afraid of taking risks. It’s an ok idea but felt too long and drawn out when trying to tell a full length story about it. There was too much pondering repetition. There is a scene with Beatrix probably in her teens. Will and others jump off a cliff into the ocean, a 30 foot dive. Beatrix wanted to do it but backed out and claimed she preferred to admire the view from above. This scene is discussed and pondered several times during the book. Most of the book seems to be about Beatrix figuring out what she wants in life, who does she love, and will she take risks. There wasn’t much plot. The characters didn’t intrigue me.
Another part of the story is that they love each other but they each want something else more. She claims she wants a home, children, and to stay in England. He wants his archaeological career. And when he returns it’s not for her, it’s for money for his work. So it’s weak on passion.
Her last minute change of mind and actions annoyed me. Instead of suspense, I felt anxiety over someone being too late for something.
DATA:
Story length: 360 pages. Swearing language: mild, including religious swear words. Sexual language: moderate. Number of sex scenes: 2. Estimated number of sex scene pages: 16. Setting: 1896 and 1901 England. Copyright: 2011. Genre: historical romance.
June 1, 2011
I've really enjoyed all the romances by Guhrke that I've read previously, and this one was no exception. I've read nearly all the Girl Bachelor books (just have the last one still unread on my shelf), which are set at the end of the Victorian era (late 1890s). This one is set at the very beginning of the Edwardian era (begins 1901), and the Victorian/Edwardian setting makes for a very welcome change. Though, I guess the publishers couldn't care less, since their covers never show proper period costume!
Lady Beatrix Danbury was engaged to her childhood friend and the love of her life, William Mallory, heir to a dukedom. But just a few weeks before their wedding he receives an offer he can't refuse: to join Sir Edmund Tavistock's archeological team at a dig in Egypt. It's a dream come true for William, and he wanted Beatrix to come with him. But Beatrix can't fathom the idea of leaving the comforts of England or her father, and the wedding is called off.
Years later, having spent all his money on the dig to find Tutankhamun's tomb, William, Duke of Sunderland, returns to England to raise funds. His family estate, now falling into disrepair due to his absence and lack of money, is next door to where Beatrix lives with her aunt and cousins now that her father is dead. Beatrix thinks he has come back because she is getting married to another man, also a duke, Aidan Trathen, a rather repressed and very proper and responsible man - everything William is not, for Beatrix seeks security for her and any children she may have. Thrown into each others' company again, William decides that he can't let Beatrix marry the dull Trathen, but making her admit that she still loves him isn't easy - and their old argument about responsibilities and duty rears its ugly head again.
There are several things Guhrke does really well: give us a different time period, give us more original and entirely understandable plots, and give us entertainment. The characters are great fun, their antics enjoyable and funny, and their quarrels justifiable. Both Beatrix and William have good points to make, and part of their problems is that they want different things. If they want to be together, someone has to make a sacrifice. That seems unfair, and yet the way it works out is so very satisfying.
Trathen reminded me a lot of Cecil from A Room With a View, and may well have been modelled off him; I think he's the hero of the next book, Scandal of the Season, though, so he'll have to come out of his repressed shell. This was lots of fun and I highly recommend Laura Lee Gurhke, especially if you're tired of Regency London!
Lady Beatrix Danbury was engaged to her childhood friend and the love of her life, William Mallory, heir to a dukedom. But just a few weeks before their wedding he receives an offer he can't refuse: to join Sir Edmund Tavistock's archeological team at a dig in Egypt. It's a dream come true for William, and he wanted Beatrix to come with him. But Beatrix can't fathom the idea of leaving the comforts of England or her father, and the wedding is called off.
Years later, having spent all his money on the dig to find Tutankhamun's tomb, William, Duke of Sunderland, returns to England to raise funds. His family estate, now falling into disrepair due to his absence and lack of money, is next door to where Beatrix lives with her aunt and cousins now that her father is dead. Beatrix thinks he has come back because she is getting married to another man, also a duke, Aidan Trathen, a rather repressed and very proper and responsible man - everything William is not, for Beatrix seeks security for her and any children she may have. Thrown into each others' company again, William decides that he can't let Beatrix marry the dull Trathen, but making her admit that she still loves him isn't easy - and their old argument about responsibilities and duty rears its ugly head again.
There are several things Guhrke does really well: give us a different time period, give us more original and entirely understandable plots, and give us entertainment. The characters are great fun, their antics enjoyable and funny, and their quarrels justifiable. Both Beatrix and William have good points to make, and part of their problems is that they want different things. If they want to be together, someone has to make a sacrifice. That seems unfair, and yet the way it works out is so very satisfying.
Trathen reminded me a lot of Cecil from A Room With a View, and may well have been modelled off him; I think he's the hero of the next book, Scandal of the Season, though, so he'll have to come out of his repressed shell. This was lots of fun and I highly recommend Laura Lee Gurhke, especially if you're tired of Regency London!
April 9, 2011
Wedding of the Season is set in Edwardian England and it was rather surreal seeing an otherwise typical historical romance novel with dialog that took me back to E. Nesbit or P.G. Wodehouse: people calling each other “old bean,” crying pax to make up... I don’t think anyone ever actually said “pip pip,” but I wouldn’t put it past them. Unfortunately, other than the novelty of the setting, the book was not particularly notable.
The noise of a passing motorcar causes the Duke of Sutherland’s horse to bolt -- but this symbolic clash of old vs. new is deceptive. Will is the one who left a dukedom behind to make archeological discoveries in Egypt, and the car is driven by his former fiance Beatrix, who refused to leave the safety and respectability of England behind and go with him. Six years later, Beatrix is marrying another Duke -- the respectable, upstanding kind of Duke -- while Will is only back in England to get funding for his expeditions... it has nothing to do with that engagement announcement he cut out from the paper and just can’t seem to throw away...
The first half of this story was nothing special but enjoyable. The pain the characters felt about their estrangement, and the way their lives hadn’t gone as they hoped, was strong. Beatrix seemed a little unfeeling towards someone she had once loved, but I liked how Will’s feelings are drawn:
“He’d forgotten, he realized in astonishment. He’d been gone so long, he’d forgotten just how beautiful her smiles were. How could he have let that happen?
Slowly, however, another feeling came to the fore, an uneasy sense that something was wrong... She was smiling at whoever had just entered the shop. ‘Aidan,’ she said as a man approached the counter where she stood, and Will realized what was wrong. Her smile seemed different to him because it was not for him. It was for another man.”
Around midway, I started feeling dissatisfied. The tone of the book became oddly jocular in feeling, as if the emotions involved were trivial; Beatrix is the only one who still seems to have a sense of what went wrong, and everyone, including Will, treats her like she’s being silly. Add in a fairly ridiculous hymen scene -- in a book written in 2010? Seriously? -- and I could not feel really thrilled with this book, even if it did start out somewhat like “The Philadelphia Story” and ended like “The Harvey Girls.” Three stars for keeping me engaged throughout, and I will definitely read the next book in the series, because that involves the respectable Duke Aidan and there’s nothing I love more than a stuffed shirt hero.
The noise of a passing motorcar causes the Duke of Sutherland’s horse to bolt -- but this symbolic clash of old vs. new is deceptive. Will is the one who left a dukedom behind to make archeological discoveries in Egypt, and the car is driven by his former fiance Beatrix, who refused to leave the safety and respectability of England behind and go with him. Six years later, Beatrix is marrying another Duke -- the respectable, upstanding kind of Duke -- while Will is only back in England to get funding for his expeditions... it has nothing to do with that engagement announcement he cut out from the paper and just can’t seem to throw away...
The first half of this story was nothing special but enjoyable. The pain the characters felt about their estrangement, and the way their lives hadn’t gone as they hoped, was strong. Beatrix seemed a little unfeeling towards someone she had once loved, but I liked how Will’s feelings are drawn:
“He’d forgotten, he realized in astonishment. He’d been gone so long, he’d forgotten just how beautiful her smiles were. How could he have let that happen?
Slowly, however, another feeling came to the fore, an uneasy sense that something was wrong... She was smiling at whoever had just entered the shop. ‘Aidan,’ she said as a man approached the counter where she stood, and Will realized what was wrong. Her smile seemed different to him because it was not for him. It was for another man.”
Around midway, I started feeling dissatisfied. The tone of the book became oddly jocular in feeling, as if the emotions involved were trivial; Beatrix is the only one who still seems to have a sense of what went wrong, and everyone, including Will, treats her like she’s being silly. Add in a fairly ridiculous hymen scene -- in a book written in 2010? Seriously? -- and I could not feel really thrilled with this book, even if it did start out somewhat like “The Philadelphia Story” and ended like “The Harvey Girls.” Three stars for keeping me engaged throughout, and I will definitely read the next book in the series, because that involves the respectable Duke Aidan and there’s nothing I love more than a stuffed shirt hero.
August 5, 2011
WEDDING OF THE SEASON is the first book in Laura Lee Guhrke's ‘Abandoned at the Altar' series and is a charming ‘second chance on love' story.
It was supposed to be the wedding of the season but eight days before the nuptials, the groom, William (Will) Mallory, the Marquess of Richfield, chose to accompany the renowned archaeologist, Sir Edmund Tavistock, to Egypt rather than marry his childhood sweetheart, Lady Beatrix (Trix) Danbury.
Heartbroken, Trix hopes he will change his mind and come back, but when Will does not even return for his father's funeral or to take up his responsibilities as the new Duke of Sunderland, she realises that she needs to forget him and move on with her life. When the story opens, six years have passed since Will left and Trix is now engaged to the dependable Aidan Carr, Duke of Trathen. But her world is about to be turned upside down because Will has returned!
Nominally, he has returned to try to secure additional funding to continue his archaeological dig to locate King Tutankhamen's tomb. However, when Will sees Trix again, all the feelings for her, which he has tried so hard to forget, come flooding back. He realises he still loves her and will do everything in his power to win her back. But it is not going to be easy. He broke Trix's heart once and will have to regain, not only her love, but her trust as well. Then there's the small obstacle of her current fiancé. Can Will and Trix take a second chance on love?
One of the reasons I enjoyed this book is the unusual early Edwardian setting. This is a time of far-reaching social and economic changes when the role of women in society is evolving and the balance of power is moving away from the landed aristocracy to the nouveau riche industrialists. Ms Guhrke succeeds in capturing this changing world so well in this book. What I also find appealing is that most of the story takes place in the picturesque village of Babbacombe in South Devon, rather than the hurly-burly of London.
Six years ago, the main obstacle to Trix and Will's happiness was their conflicting dreams. Will wanted adventure and travel and not the life he was born to:
"Yes, there was my whole life laid out before me before I was even out of short pants. Can you blame me when a life I'd only dreamed of opened up?"
Whereas Trix wanted security and stability:
"I want marriage and a home of my own. That precious excavation site of yours didn't even include a house. I wanted children. Just where was I supposed to have them? In a tent?"
Neither was willing to compromise on their dreams, and when they meet again, this conflict is still the main issue. How they resolve it forms the main theme of the book.
At first, Will's determination to go to Egypt seems selfish and irresponsible, but I came to realise that he is very astute because he realises the British aristocracy is in decline and he needs to either earn money or marry into money to keep his estate solvent. So he invests his inheritance in finding Tutankhamen's tomb because success will bring a secured income for life, which is preferable to leading a life of pointless duties and silly social rituals. Even though it is risky, I quite admire his forward thinking.
He is honest in admitting that he has never stopped loving Trix and in his determination to win her back – "I want to win you back. I want you in my arms, in my bed, in my life." Even if he doesn't succeed this time, he will keep coming back in the hope of changing her mind.
I believe Trix's reluctance to venture beyond the realm of duty and tradition can be laid squarely at her father's door. We learn that her mother ran away to Paris when Trix was very young, and from that time, her father became overprotective of her because he wanted to ensure she never leave him. After her father's death, she does start to show a little more independence but only after encouragement from her scandalous cousin, Julia, Baroness Yardley.
I can certainly understand her determination not to let Will back into her life. After all he broke her heart and left her with only shattered dreams. Trix sees in her new fiancé, Aidan, someone who is the total opposite of Will, dependable and considerate and able to provide her with the kind of stable life she wants. It may be a passionless marriage, but Trix is more than willing to accept a marriage based on affection, mutual respect and shared aspirations for their future.
I love the whole idea of Will persuading Trix to go on a series of adventures with him, just as they did when they were children, in order to regain her trust. These childhood reminiscences really provide a wonderful background to the story and add depth to the characters. My favourite is the scene on Smuggler's Island. The adventures also serve to heighten the sexual tension between Trix and Will, but for me one of the best scenes is where Will suddenly turns up at Pixy Cove, where Trix is drawing, and starts to strip to go bathing and Trix can't stop staring at his body!
His shoulders and chest were wide, tanned by the hot Egyptian sun and shaped by years of hard excavation into a bronze wall of muscle and sinew. His chest tapered down to an absolutely flat stomach, and his trousers were slung low on his lean hips, revealing the deep indent of his navel and the shadowy hint of dark hair below it. Her gaze dropped another notch, she gave a choked sound and hastily forced her gaze back up, but only managed to get as far as the flat brown disks of his nipples.
WHEW!!
Although I know there are varying opinions about the ending, it really worked for me. Of course, the happy-ever-after is never in any doubt but I loved the wonderful will they/won't they moment and finally closed the book with a satisfied sigh.
I am looking forward to the next book in the series, Scandal Of The Year, because it pairs Aidan and Trix's cousin, Julia. Their dislike for each other is very obvious in WEDDING OF THE SEASON and so I will be very intrigued to read their story!
If you are looking for a delightful love story with a more unusual setting, then I am sure you will enjoy WEDDING OF THE SEASON.
http://www.theromancereviews.com/view...
This review was originally written for The Romance Reviews
It was supposed to be the wedding of the season but eight days before the nuptials, the groom, William (Will) Mallory, the Marquess of Richfield, chose to accompany the renowned archaeologist, Sir Edmund Tavistock, to Egypt rather than marry his childhood sweetheart, Lady Beatrix (Trix) Danbury.
Heartbroken, Trix hopes he will change his mind and come back, but when Will does not even return for his father's funeral or to take up his responsibilities as the new Duke of Sunderland, she realises that she needs to forget him and move on with her life. When the story opens, six years have passed since Will left and Trix is now engaged to the dependable Aidan Carr, Duke of Trathen. But her world is about to be turned upside down because Will has returned!
Nominally, he has returned to try to secure additional funding to continue his archaeological dig to locate King Tutankhamen's tomb. However, when Will sees Trix again, all the feelings for her, which he has tried so hard to forget, come flooding back. He realises he still loves her and will do everything in his power to win her back. But it is not going to be easy. He broke Trix's heart once and will have to regain, not only her love, but her trust as well. Then there's the small obstacle of her current fiancé. Can Will and Trix take a second chance on love?
One of the reasons I enjoyed this book is the unusual early Edwardian setting. This is a time of far-reaching social and economic changes when the role of women in society is evolving and the balance of power is moving away from the landed aristocracy to the nouveau riche industrialists. Ms Guhrke succeeds in capturing this changing world so well in this book. What I also find appealing is that most of the story takes place in the picturesque village of Babbacombe in South Devon, rather than the hurly-burly of London.
Six years ago, the main obstacle to Trix and Will's happiness was their conflicting dreams. Will wanted adventure and travel and not the life he was born to:
"Yes, there was my whole life laid out before me before I was even out of short pants. Can you blame me when a life I'd only dreamed of opened up?"
Whereas Trix wanted security and stability:
"I want marriage and a home of my own. That precious excavation site of yours didn't even include a house. I wanted children. Just where was I supposed to have them? In a tent?"
Neither was willing to compromise on their dreams, and when they meet again, this conflict is still the main issue. How they resolve it forms the main theme of the book.
At first, Will's determination to go to Egypt seems selfish and irresponsible, but I came to realise that he is very astute because he realises the British aristocracy is in decline and he needs to either earn money or marry into money to keep his estate solvent. So he invests his inheritance in finding Tutankhamen's tomb because success will bring a secured income for life, which is preferable to leading a life of pointless duties and silly social rituals. Even though it is risky, I quite admire his forward thinking.
He is honest in admitting that he has never stopped loving Trix and in his determination to win her back – "I want to win you back. I want you in my arms, in my bed, in my life." Even if he doesn't succeed this time, he will keep coming back in the hope of changing her mind.
I believe Trix's reluctance to venture beyond the realm of duty and tradition can be laid squarely at her father's door. We learn that her mother ran away to Paris when Trix was very young, and from that time, her father became overprotective of her because he wanted to ensure she never leave him. After her father's death, she does start to show a little more independence but only after encouragement from her scandalous cousin, Julia, Baroness Yardley.
I can certainly understand her determination not to let Will back into her life. After all he broke her heart and left her with only shattered dreams. Trix sees in her new fiancé, Aidan, someone who is the total opposite of Will, dependable and considerate and able to provide her with the kind of stable life she wants. It may be a passionless marriage, but Trix is more than willing to accept a marriage based on affection, mutual respect and shared aspirations for their future.
I love the whole idea of Will persuading Trix to go on a series of adventures with him, just as they did when they were children, in order to regain her trust. These childhood reminiscences really provide a wonderful background to the story and add depth to the characters. My favourite is the scene on Smuggler's Island. The adventures also serve to heighten the sexual tension between Trix and Will, but for me one of the best scenes is where Will suddenly turns up at Pixy Cove, where Trix is drawing, and starts to strip to go bathing and Trix can't stop staring at his body!
His shoulders and chest were wide, tanned by the hot Egyptian sun and shaped by years of hard excavation into a bronze wall of muscle and sinew. His chest tapered down to an absolutely flat stomach, and his trousers were slung low on his lean hips, revealing the deep indent of his navel and the shadowy hint of dark hair below it. Her gaze dropped another notch, she gave a choked sound and hastily forced her gaze back up, but only managed to get as far as the flat brown disks of his nipples.
WHEW!!
Although I know there are varying opinions about the ending, it really worked for me. Of course, the happy-ever-after is never in any doubt but I loved the wonderful will they/won't they moment and finally closed the book with a satisfied sigh.
I am looking forward to the next book in the series, Scandal Of The Year, because it pairs Aidan and Trix's cousin, Julia. Their dislike for each other is very obvious in WEDDING OF THE SEASON and so I will be very intrigued to read their story!
If you are looking for a delightful love story with a more unusual setting, then I am sure you will enjoy WEDDING OF THE SEASON.
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This review was originally written for The Romance Reviews
February 15, 2024
you can read the premise of the book over and over again and it’s like you read the book, it was just that same conversation recapping what happened with multiple people and between the MCs, not angsty or interesting
May 25, 2025
2,50 🌟 Es una linda historia pero me quedó corta de todos lados, sobre todo el final.
December 10, 2021
I liked the book. I'm starting the second one. Because there hasn't any epilogue I hope we can know what happened with the first couple and the "curse" of Tutankhamen. I really hope the author doesn't left that out of the story ;)
February 7, 2015
I was initially very intrigued by the premise of this book, with a couple that started as childhood friends and were about to marry, when something happened to break them apart, and the inevitable reunion years later.
Unfortunately, I really didn't like Beatrix from the start to the end of the book, and that lessened my enjoyment of the story drastically.
The couple of the next book, Scandal of the Year, was introduced here, as they both have ties to Beatrix, and I am hopeful that I'll like their story better.
Unfortunately, I really didn't like Beatrix from the start to the end of the book, and that lessened my enjoyment of the story drastically.
The couple of the next book, Scandal of the Year, was introduced here, as they both have ties to Beatrix, and I am hopeful that I'll like their story better.
December 15, 2014
2/5; 2 stars; C
A very boring book. As audiobooks go it was just background noise while I did something else. Nothing to hate but nothing to really like either.
A very boring book. As audiobooks go it was just background noise while I did something else. Nothing to hate but nothing to really like either.
March 7, 2025
Six years ago, William James Mallory left Lady Beatrix just two weeks before her wedding to pursue his dream of excavating tombs in Egypt. But neither of them really recovered. Now Duke of Sunderland, he's back from his travels just months before Beatrix is set to marry someone else. He swears he's not there ro interfere, but Will and Beatrix are still drawn together after all these years.
While this lacked some of the typical sparkle I get from LLG, I still really enjoyed it. It's a second chance romance where I believed the reason for the split (though immature, it was clear both Will and Trix were not ready for marriage six years ago) and I believed that they would succeed in a second chance. I wasn't sure until the very end how LLG would make their relationship get an HEA, but I think she was successful with each mc bending a little.
I love how LLG's heroines are looking for their own place in changing society, and her heroes are ones who rarely rest on their laurels. The late 19th and early 20th century showed aristocrats either taking up the mantle of employment or driving estates with empty coffers further into the ground. I can't help but laugh that Will thinks his expedition to find King Tut's tomb is better worth his time and investment (even as he runs out of funds) than the typical ducal responsibility of managing an estate.
While this lacked some of the typical sparkle I get from LLG, I still really enjoyed it. It's a second chance romance where I believed the reason for the split (though immature, it was clear both Will and Trix were not ready for marriage six years ago) and I believed that they would succeed in a second chance. I wasn't sure until the very end how LLG would make their relationship get an HEA, but I think she was successful with each mc bending a little.
I love how LLG's heroines are looking for their own place in changing society, and her heroes are ones who rarely rest on their laurels. The late 19th and early 20th century showed aristocrats either taking up the mantle of employment or driving estates with empty coffers further into the ground. I can't help but laugh that Will thinks his expedition to find King Tut's tomb is better worth his time and investment (even as he runs out of funds) than the typical ducal responsibility of managing an estate.
January 22, 2023
"Ella lo vio sonreír y esa vez no le dolió mirarlo. Al contrario, aquella sonrisa la llenó de felicidad".
No soy fan de los triángulos amorosos pero sí amo la pluma de la autora, así que, me animé a leer esta historia y la disfruté, me lo leí super rápido y me tenía muy enganchada pero no me encantó porque el protagonista no me convenció del todo de sus motivos, me hubiese gustado que Beatrix lo hiciera sufrir un poco más después de haberla abandonado por tantos años y lo peor es que nisiquiera regresó por ella, lo hizo por dinero para sus investigaciones 😐. Además, no me gustaba que él la diera por sentado, ni siquiera estaba dispuesto a dejar su regreso a Egipto pero la confundía con respecto a sus sentimientos.
El libro en general es entretenido y adictivo pero definitivamente no fue un libro amado para mí.
No soy fan de los triángulos amorosos pero sí amo la pluma de la autora, así que, me animé a leer esta historia y la disfruté, me lo leí super rápido y me tenía muy enganchada pero no me encantó porque el protagonista no me convenció del todo de sus motivos, me hubiese gustado que Beatrix lo hiciera sufrir un poco más después de haberla abandonado por tantos años y lo peor es que nisiquiera regresó por ella, lo hizo por dinero para sus investigaciones 😐. Además, no me gustaba que él la diera por sentado, ni siquiera estaba dispuesto a dejar su regreso a Egipto pero la confundía con respecto a sus sentimientos.
El libro en general es entretenido y adictivo pero definitivamente no fue un libro amado para mí.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 1, 2019
4.5 Estrellitas
Me gustó mucho la historia.... sobre todo Will su forma de ser persistente con Beatrix y a pesar de todo volver a conquistarla, de demostrarle ese amor puro que siempre ha sentido por ella y que ni la distancia de 6 años pudo borrar.... me encantó.
En algunos momentos Beatrix me desesperó menos mal que después entró en razón!!
Ver como pudo haber sido esos primeros años de la creación del automóvil, como lo conocemos, fue muy interesante... el rechazo de algunos estas nuevas máquinas y como les parecían que ir a 40 km/h era ir a mucha velocidad jajajaja
Me gustó mucho la historia.... sobre todo Will su forma de ser persistente con Beatrix y a pesar de todo volver a conquistarla, de demostrarle ese amor puro que siempre ha sentido por ella y que ni la distancia de 6 años pudo borrar.... me encantó.
En algunos momentos Beatrix me desesperó menos mal que después entró en razón!!
Ver como pudo haber sido esos primeros años de la creación del automóvil, como lo conocemos, fue muy interesante... el rechazo de algunos estas nuevas máquinas y como les parecían que ir a 40 km/h era ir a mucha velocidad jajajaja
February 5, 2012
Being jilted two weeks before her first attempt of marriage has left Lady Beatrix Danbury shy of marrying again but she has now found a sensible and reliable man to marry, he doesn't stir her passions as Will, Duke of Sunderland her childhood sweetheart did, but he is dependable. But when Will returns from Egypt her well planned future doesn't begin to look as exciting as she thought. Will has always loved Beatrix but after 6 years of being apart after she refused to come with him to Egypt he thought that would be over, but seeing her has brought all the old feelings back, and this time he is determined not to leave without her.
Although I liked this book, there is one thing that stopped me from really enjoying it. Beatrix. I just didn't understand her and she drove me just a little nuts, I didn't see why she resisted to Will as much as she did, especially when she clearly wanted what he was offering. To me she came across as a little dull and a little priggish. Because of this I didn't feel the connection between Will and Trix and didn't see why Will loved her so much. Will, however, I did like, he was fun, easy going and adventurous. The other characters in the book were also likeable, especially Julia and I look forward to reading about her.
Despite not liking the heroine this was a well written book and LLG writes with real emotion, I can feel Trix's anguish and hurt even if I don't quite understand it. Although, for me, this series hasn't started with a bang, I liked the writing and the other characters enough that I will try out the next book.
Although I liked this book, there is one thing that stopped me from really enjoying it. Beatrix. I just didn't understand her and she drove me just a little nuts, I didn't see why she resisted to Will as much as she did, especially when she clearly wanted what he was offering. To me she came across as a little dull and a little priggish. Because of this I didn't feel the connection between Will and Trix and didn't see why Will loved her so much. Will, however, I did like, he was fun, easy going and adventurous. The other characters in the book were also likeable, especially Julia and I look forward to reading about her.
Despite not liking the heroine this was a well written book and LLG writes with real emotion, I can feel Trix's anguish and hurt even if I don't quite understand it. Although, for me, this series hasn't started with a bang, I liked the writing and the other characters enough that I will try out the next book.
April 8, 2012
Esta escritora cativou-me desde o seu primeiro livro publicado em Portugal (que eu saiba) - "Prazeres Proibidos" - pelo que tenho seguido as seguintes publicações. No entanto até agora nenhuma delas tem conseguido para mim alcançar o ponto em que se encontra o livro atrás mencionado. Nem "O Casamento do Ano" (o livro que estou a criticar, já agora) nem "A cama da paixão", o sucessor de "Prazeres Proibidos", o que me desilude um pouco.
Mas enfim, criticando este livro - é uma boa leitura para ter. Leve, romântico, um bom entretenimento, sem dúvida. A história desenvolve-se em volta de Beatrix e o seu ex-noivo, Will, tendo pouca incidência no actual noivo - penso que a sua história será mais desenvolvida num livro posterior já lançado nalgum país, segundo já li. A história entre Trix e Will tem muitas nuances que se vão desenrolando ao longo do livro, no entanto achei que o fim tornou-se um tanto quanto precipitado. Um vai não vai todo o livro para no final se decidir. É certo que o final tem que trazer uma conclusão, uma decisão, mas achei a coisa algo repentina. Enfim, opiniões.
Das personagens do livro fiquei curiosa acerca de Julia e acerca do pobre infeliz Paul, dois dos primos de Beatrix. Talvez saiba mais deles num livro próximo. Espero é que esse próximo seja melhor que este. Talvez levando expectativas mais baixas me surpreende.
Enfim, para quem quer uma leitura leve e que goste dos romances históricos dos inícios dos séculos XX, faça favor :)
Mas enfim, criticando este livro - é uma boa leitura para ter. Leve, romântico, um bom entretenimento, sem dúvida. A história desenvolve-se em volta de Beatrix e o seu ex-noivo, Will, tendo pouca incidência no actual noivo - penso que a sua história será mais desenvolvida num livro posterior já lançado nalgum país, segundo já li. A história entre Trix e Will tem muitas nuances que se vão desenrolando ao longo do livro, no entanto achei que o fim tornou-se um tanto quanto precipitado. Um vai não vai todo o livro para no final se decidir. É certo que o final tem que trazer uma conclusão, uma decisão, mas achei a coisa algo repentina. Enfim, opiniões.
Das personagens do livro fiquei curiosa acerca de Julia e acerca do pobre infeliz Paul, dois dos primos de Beatrix. Talvez saiba mais deles num livro próximo. Espero é que esse próximo seja melhor que este. Talvez levando expectativas mais baixas me surpreende.
Enfim, para quem quer uma leitura leve e que goste dos romances históricos dos inícios dos séculos XX, faça favor :)
May 28, 2017
DNF'd. What a vicious, mean, petty, stupid, insipid, lacking a kind bone in her body girl. And I only read 20 pages. Yeah honey, just leave him out 2 miles from anywhere after you cause his horse to throw him because you're being a mean, vicious driver and don't worry about the fact that the horse kicked him in the leg and he can't walk. It'll be fine. It's totally okay. What a little brat. I don't care who you are. THAT'S NOT HOW YOU TREAT PEOPLE!!! Even if they did do you wrong (in your eyes) 6 years ago. I would abandon you at the alter too. And you'd deserve it.
February 11, 2018
Beatrix dibatalkan pernikahannya oleh Will, Duke Sunderland, yg lebih memilih menggeluti arkeologi menemukan makam Raja Tut di Mesir.
6 thn kemudian, Beatrix sudah bertunangan dgn Aidan, Duke Trahern yg memiliki sifat berlawanan dgn Will. Eh ternyata Will sudah pulkam dan bertekad utk mendapatkan kembali Trix. Saat ciuman panas berlangsung, mereka kegep oleh bbrp org tmsk oleh Aidan. Dan spt yg diperkirakan, pertunangan ini batal dan Trix gagal lagi ke pelaminan utk kedua kalinya.
Trix yg murka pd Will walau menyangkal mati²an ketertarikannya pd Will, akhirnya jatuh juga pd rayuan gencar Will. Dan Will terus menekankan pd Trix bhw Trix msh mencintai dirinya.
Sebenarnya alur ceritanya enak dibaca walau ada bbrp repetitif. Cuma yg bikin gak tahan adalah sifat galau Trix yg sebentar menyangkal krn marah dan sakit hati, eh dicolek dan dicium Will langsung meleleh. Blm lagi perdebatan mereka, Trix ingin menetap di Inggris sedangkan Will kekeuh mau balik ke Mesir. Jadilah tarik ulur ini hingga akhir cerita. Lagi² author bikin saya cengok dgn penampilan Trix yg super impulsif krn dimabok cinta. Ya Tuhan, gak ada ending yg lebih baik apa? Apa kata dunia?
6 thn kemudian, Beatrix sudah bertunangan dgn Aidan, Duke Trahern yg memiliki sifat berlawanan dgn Will. Eh ternyata Will sudah pulkam dan bertekad utk mendapatkan kembali Trix. Saat ciuman panas berlangsung, mereka kegep oleh bbrp org tmsk oleh Aidan. Dan spt yg diperkirakan, pertunangan ini batal dan Trix gagal lagi ke pelaminan utk kedua kalinya.
Trix yg murka pd Will walau menyangkal mati²an ketertarikannya pd Will, akhirnya jatuh juga pd rayuan gencar Will. Dan Will terus menekankan pd Trix bhw Trix msh mencintai dirinya.
Sebenarnya alur ceritanya enak dibaca walau ada bbrp repetitif. Cuma yg bikin gak tahan adalah sifat galau Trix yg sebentar menyangkal krn marah dan sakit hati, eh dicolek dan dicium Will langsung meleleh. Blm lagi perdebatan mereka, Trix ingin menetap di Inggris sedangkan Will kekeuh mau balik ke Mesir. Jadilah tarik ulur ini hingga akhir cerita. Lagi² author bikin saya cengok dgn penampilan Trix yg super impulsif krn dimabok cinta. Ya Tuhan, gak ada ending yg lebih baik apa? Apa kata dunia?
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