The Artful Miss Irvine (Zebra Regency Romance) [Paperback]

Jennifer Malin (Author)

Book Description

Series: Zebra Regency Romance | Publication Date: September 1, 2003

Betrayed by her fortune-hunting suitor, artist Maeve Irvine vows never to wed and devotes herself to painting. The plan is successful until she encounters the dashing Adrian, Duke of Ashton.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Betrayed by her fortune-hunting suitor, artist Maeve Irvine vows never to wed and devotes herself to painting. Hoping to keep her wealth a secret, she leaves Boston and moves to London to live with her aunt, who agrees to go along with Maeve's charade that she is destitute and must earn her keep. The plan is successful until she encounters the dashing Adrian, Duke of Ashton--and her resolve begins to melt under his piercing gaze.

Still smarting over his late wife's deception, Adrian has lost all interest in women--until he meets the beguiling Miss Irvine. But when he overhears a conversation she has with one of her maids, he's convinced she's after a family inheritance and sets out to watch her closely. Yet as he spends time in the company of the lovely artist, Adrian finds himself enchanted by her tenderness and quiet beauty. Might he be mistaken about her intentions? Now only fate can intervene to bring together two loving hearts

About the Author

Jennifer Malin is the author of five romance novels, ranging from the traditional Regency to steamy historicals to a ghost-ridden contemporary. Her novel LORD ST. LEGER'S FIND won the Golden Heart, presented by Romance Writers of America. She's currently working on her first novella, which is scheduled to appear in the Zebra Regency anthology JUNE BRIDES in June 2004.

Besides writing and reading, Jennifer loves to travel and watch films. She has recently started dabbling in yoga. She and her Aussie husband Martin live in the suburbs of Philadephia, PA.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Zebra (September 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0821774603
• ISBN-13: 978-0821774601
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,506,674 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars fine Regency romance, September 18, 2003

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Artful Miss Irvine (Zebra Regency Romance) (Paperback)

With both her parents dead and having inherited a coveted fortune, twenty-three year old Maeve Irvine decides to leave her home in Boston to escape the fortune hunters. She travels by sea to London to stay with her Aunt Eleanor Blaine. She plans to hide her wealth, never marry, and earn a living as a portrait artist.

At the embankment in England, Duke Adrian Ashton tells Maeve she looks familiar. Both flirt outrageously before she has to leave. At Eleanor's home, Adrian arrives to take his visiting mother and his daughter home when he recognizes Maeve, who he learns, is cousin to his deceased wife Belinda. He wonders if Maeve is just like Belinda, a cheating spouse who even said she could not be sure that he sired their child that he loves. As Maeve and Adrian fall in love, he runs hot and cold as to whether man eating runs in her family especially when she starts serendipitously visiting a man engaged to someone else.

Though clearly by the book, Regency romance readers will immensely enjoy THE ARTFUL MISS IRVINE, a charming tale made warm and entertaining by the lead duet. Maeve is a brave soul who never expected to find love, but now that it arrives she wants to cherish and enjoy it. However, Adrian, burned once, has problems reconciling his love for Maeve with his previous relationship. Jennifer Malin makes reading fun.

Harriet Klausner

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Decent book, October 27, 2003

By 

E. Kay "eclectic6" (Ohio) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Artful Miss Irvine (Zebra Regency Romance) (Paperback)

Maeve Irvine, fledgling artist, travels from America to England to live with her rich aunt. Maeve herself is rather rich, and decides to keep her fortune a secret. In her past, she fell victim to a fortune hunter and had her heart broken--now, she has no desire to marry. Nevertheless, her interest is piqued by Adrian, Duke of Ashton.

When Adrian meets Maeve Irvine on the docks, he is intrigued by her, though thinks her behavior borderlines and scandalous. Then, he finds out Maeve's true identity--she's the cousin of his late wife! Maeve's aunt think they would make a good match. Adrian's mother thinks the American girl is an uncouth, unsuitable match for her son. Adrian's experience with his late wife has also put him off of remarrying, even though his daughter could benefit from a mother. He is attracted to Maeve, but thinks she might lack moral fiber. So he decides to keep an eye on her...

Generally, this book is about 2 heartbroken people who suffer from a series of misunderstandings. Throughout the novel, Adrian always assumes the worst about Miss Irvine. I liked the characters, but I sometimes thought the novel was a bit tiresome. Usually, it takes me about 2 days (3, at the most) to read a book like this. This book took me six. That doesn't mean I didn't like it. I just didn't love it.