Customer Reviews

7b

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

I was excited about this book because I had read the other books in this series (More & More and All Smiles) and was looking forward to reacquainting myself with the characters. To say I was disappointed is an understatement. The story was bizarre (which is not always a bad thing) and confusing. Sibyl Smiles wants a baby but doesn't want a husband so naturally she turns to her friend and neighbor Hunter Llyod. The conflicts from this situation are not well explored and there is another confusing side plot involving Hunter's involvement in a high profile trial. There was too much going on and the resolution of the conflicts don't make sense. Overall I ended the book with a sense of puzzlement over what had just taken place. Stella Cameron usually hits with me but this was a rare miss.

I hadn't read a book from Stella in a long time, and thought this one would be interesting, but instead I was confused and annoyed by the inconsistancies in the story, for example, the idea of a young woman wanting only impregnation just didn't fit my concept of the time period, the men realizing they've said the wrong thing over and over, and Hunter's conspiracy plot. I was going to write my first review, but was intimidated by the glowing reviews I read. I thought I'd have to read it again because I must have missed a lot. Thanks for saving me.

In 1822 London, the remaining resident of town house 7B decides at twenty-eight she wishes to raise a child. Perhaps it is loneliness since her sister Meg married. Still, shy Sibyl Smiles knows that she wants her neighbor, friendly barrister Hunter Lloyd, to sire the child with her without any matrimonial strings.

Hunter is already in love with Sibyl. However, this is not the time for Sybil to turn into a seductress siren as he has made enemies that could endanger his beloved if any one knew how much he loves her. Hunter has just successfully defended a friend of the monarch and the losers want vengeance with the barrister and Sibyl, being easier targets. As Hunter tries to keep Sibyl safe, long time ghostly resident Septimus Spivey plays matchmaker in the hope of ridding himself of pesky non-descendent mortals.

Stella Cameron's 7 Mayfair books are always fun to read and her latest may be her most entertaining to date. Sybil and Hunter are a charming duo while Septimus remains his usually humorous and cantankerous self, arguing with other ghosts and plotting a dehumanization campaign. The story line is filled with action as the villains plan to "appeal" the court ruling through any means including violence and murder until their side triumphs. Best- selling Ms. Cameron has written another amusing tale filled with warm characters, many of which appeared in the series previous two books.

Harriet Klausner

After reading all the reviews here you can tell that folks either adored this book or hated it. Add me to the adored column, because I devoured this book in one weekend and have it on my keeper shelf. Yes, there are graphic sex scenes but I think they advance the plot - they establish the lengths to which the characters are willing to go to get what they want. I like Sybil's independence and understand Hunter's reluctance so I cannot agree with those who say the plot is unrealistic. Except for the ghost, but he is hysterically funny and his interruptions are a welcome addition. I love this whole series, but this is my favorite of the bunch.

This book was terrible. The first out of hundreds I never finished. The setting had potential and I love steamy love scenes, but these were just...gross, frustrating and weird. Way too graphic for even this genre. And Ghost inhabitants that sort of act as narrators, I skipped those before I realized I was wasting my time with the book altogether. Our time is just too valuable. Really, skip this one. It was my first by this author, and unfortunately, now she's on my black list.

This was so..... boring that I would throw it down and read other books. I did finally finish it but would never buy another book by Stella Cameron. The editor counted on the author's name selling this book not the quality of the work. I would classify this book as more soft-core porn than a historical romance. I don't believe even the most forward thinking women of the period would sit around with friends describing either the physical attributes or prowess of their men....

Actually put this book down after about 4 days of trying to read - kept getting angry with all the subplots and inside jokes and general lack of focus in the writing. Who edited this thing?

Read one of the previous books in the series and don't remember this amount of frustation with the ghost sub plot which is way to obtrusive in the book.

Have resigned myself to skimming through the final pages to find out how it ends.......

Try as I might, I simply could not get into this book. Granted, Ms. Cameron is an excellent writer, but I personally felt she used her talent rather sparingly in this venture. I was more then halfway through before I started to feel like it wasn't a chore reading this book. Maybe it was because I simply found it so improbable that a 28 year old spinster in the early 1800's would consider having sex only to procur a baby. Somehow, the ghost that makes an appearance regularly throughout the book seemed more believable. Come to think of it, I think the comments of the ghost, Septimus Spivey, is what kept me slogging along to the end. He was very entertaining! Despite my lack of enthusiasm for this particular book, I still wouldn't hesitate to pick up another Stella Cameron novel.

I love historical romance and was excited when I saw the back cover to this one. This book is the first by Stella Cameron that I have read and may be the last. Please tell me that the quote by Linda Lael Miller on the cover: "Nobody does suspense and sensuality like Stella Cameron" wasn't a joke! I couldn't buy that a respectable woman in this time period would intentionally get pregnant without being married. I was also completely turned-off (read: "grossed out") by the cucumber scene! Yuck! All in all, if this were my first encounter with historical romance, I would never try another book.

It is so difficult to find a well written romance novel. I spend so much time waiting for my favorite authors to come out with their newest offerings-- I am always looking for someone to augment my collection. I took the Amazon "customers that bought this book also bought" recommendation and tried this book. It was confusing and not well plotted. I believe I will just keep waiting for Joan Wolf, Carla Kelly and Mary Balogh to write again.