Customer Reviews

Beauty and The Baron

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

 

 

Miss Angela Lacewood had resigned herself to a quiet, solitary life in the country before Lord Lucius (also known as Lord Lucifer for his quick temper, solitary nature, tendency to stalk around at night, and the black mask that covers most of his face) strikes a deal with her. In exchange for a much-sought after commission for her brother, Angela will pretend to be Lucius' fiancee to please his dying grandfather, of whom Angela is also quite fond. To make the old earl happy in his final months (Angela initially rejects the commission for her brother), Angela agrees to carry off the charade with the intent of breaking off the engagement after the earl has passed on. As Angela and Lucius grow to know one another, however, will they want to break off their engagement?

What can I say, I have a suddenly intense weakness for scarred heroes. I therefore liked the character of Lucius, although I wish that he would just tear off his mask once in a while if not for anything more than dramatic effect! Having never seen his wounds, I have no idea how horrible they might be, but as one reviewer mentioned, so many soldiers were returning with scars, missing limbs, etc, and non-combattants also had pock marks, missing teeth, etc. Perhaps the mask was a reflection of his vanity - after all, he had been exceptionally handsome before Waterloo, and perhaps he did not want others to see how much he had changed in regards to looks. Perhaps the mask was a way of escape - perhaps his soul was tortured enough inside to want to block out the world in any way possible, including putting on a mask. I don't know, but the mask thing gave the book a mystery about it that I enjoyed. I, for one, have no qualms about a heroine potentially falling in love with a masked man - it's rather dashing, in my opinion. If the hero is masked, then the heroine has no choice but to fall in love with the person, rather than the looks! :)

At any rate, I liked the character of Angela. She was sweet and kind, although a bit too meek for my tastes. Angela and Lucius went well together, sparring and all. In his heart, Lucius wanted Angela to find happiness, even if that meant she didn't end up with him, and that was noble, if not frustrating to some extent. For the last 50 pages, I really just felt like thwacking Lucius on the side of the head. The story could have wrapped up 50 pages or so before it did, and I would have been happy, but there was yet another subplot to rear its not-so-attractive head. Sometimes there felt as if there was too much going on at any particular time, as if additional subplots were thrown in to keep the story going.

Nevertheless, I did enjoy this book greatly, so much so in fact that I stayed up late to finish the book because I couldn't bear to put it down! Despite a few minor flaws, the plot was good, and I never get tired of another retelling of the classic Beauty and the Beast story, especially when it involves engaging characters such as Angela and Lucius. This book earned four stars in my opinion, and a place on my "keepers" shelf!

Lord Lucifer, aka Lucius Daventry, has withdrawn from society because of damage done to his once-devastating face. Believe me. Lucius doesn't need an unmarred face to be devastating, and withdrawing from society only gives him the opportunity to develop his other admirable qualities. Take, for example, this quick-witted response:
"Though I have never touched lips with a horse, I believe I can say with some authority that yours are far preferable to kiss."

Angela Lacewood agrees to a pretend engagement with Lucius because they both want to make his dying grandfather's final days happy, but Angela is no fortune hunter, the only type of woman Lucius believes he can now attract. Instead, she's warm and tender-hearted, and Lucius would rather have her love than her pity. He's far easier to love than he thinks. With his sense of humour and ability to write love letters, this is a champion any woman would be wise to grab. Needless to say, Angela's no fool and this couple's "happily ever after" is justly deserved.

I just finished BEAUTY AND THE BARON, and enjoyed it immensely. Deborah Hale has created memorable, realistic characters the reader can relate to... I especially love the heroine, Angela, who is earthy, kind, and generous. I came to love the hero, Lucius, Lord Daventry, little by little. Ms. Hale has given us a very insulated, proud, and vulnerable hero whom Angela grows to love day by day... but for Lord Daventry, the road to loving Angela is fraught with emotional pitfalls. She's wonderful -- there's nothing not to love about her -- but he is scarred in many ways and for many reasons, and he doesn't love anyone easily. He's a great character, dark and intriguing without being annoying, as some of the dark heroes in romances can be!

The Earl of Daventry, grandfather to Lucius and friend to Angela, is a beautifully-drawn secondary character who springs off the page with a life of his own. Ms. Hale has written some other marvelous supporting characters, as well -- Mr. Michaeljohn (the shy vicar), Tibby, Mr. Shaw -- a pivotal character who turns the tide for both Angela and Lucius in a way one would not have foreseen -- and many others.

All in all, it's a great read and I recommend it highly. The author's prose is at times so lovely as to be poetic, but is never cloying. It's just great reading. A cut above. And she writes beautiful/powerful love scenes, as well!

This is a definite keeper, and I will be looking for more of her books!

Deborah Hale has done it again. I had barely begun Beauty and the Baron when I found myself as enchanted by her characters as I once was by the princes and princesses of fairy tales. Yet in Deborah's delicately wrought story, it is the hero who must be rescued by the lady--in this case, an irrepressible beauty with a weakness for sweets and a touching empathy for those who are wounded or alone. It is this empathy that allows Angela to brave the dark world Lucius inhabits. He shows her the beauty only visible in darkness, the beauty of the stars. And, having partaken of this beauty, she determines to return the favor--she teaches him to recognize the even greater loveliness of his own soul. In Beauty and the Baron, Deborah Hale shows us just how bright a happily-ever-after can be.

The familiar theme of a scarred hero rescued from his tortured past by a warm-hearted heroine has never been more riveting as they are in Deborah Hale's Beauty and The Baron. The hero, Lord Lucius Daventry, and the heroine, Angela Lacewood, are as the author tells us, as night is to day. With rich, powerful characterization, the seamless weaving of historical detail into the story, and elegant writing, Deborah Hale gives you everything you look for in a well written historical romance.

Deborah Hale explores the depths of her characters with a keen sense of the human heart, and gives readers exactly what they are looking for: a romantic, feel-good journey into the lives of two fascinating, multi-layered characters. This book is a delightful escape into the Regency period. It kept me turning pages until the end, just to find out how the kind-hearted heroine was going to bring the hero out of his dark existence and into one of joy and light. I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy intelligent writing, and well-drawn characters who stay with you long after you close the book.

I admit I am a fan of B&B-themes and I found this a nice, sweet and satisfying romance that had me reading all night until I finished.

Lord Lucius Daventry appears one day to ask Angela Lacewood to marry him. He's been injured and scarred as an officer at Waterloo and has been leading a reclusive life. But his grandfather, the earl, the man whom he loves as a father and who raised him, is dying and has made it known that he wishes his grandson and the kind, generous Angela could somehow make a match of it. Angela has befriended the lonely earl while his grandson was away and while he was recuperating. Lucius feels guilty for not spending time with his grandfather. He's had an eye injury that makes daylight painful, so he's been spending his time awake during the night, when he can be alone. It's not just the scars, which make people stare and causes him to wear a half-mask... but dealing with his inner demons after the horrors of war, as well.

Angela is a sweet heroine, solid and reliable, even having grown up at the beck and call of her cold relations after her parents died, leaving her and her brother orphans. Lucius promises her brother a dearly desired commission in turn for her agreeing to an engagement only. He wants to make his grandfather's last days happy, but he feels he's undeserving of a wife and happiness. Angela has her own insecurities, but she is the strong one here... hoping to save the dark and luscious Lucius from his nightmares and make him feel worthy of life and happiness.

There is poignancy and some sadness, but no heavy-handed drama or angst (it's also nicely light-handed with the limited love scenes, for those who care about that). The latter may have made for a more striking and moving read, but it was nice to have this sweet little romance to enjoy.

If I could, I would give this novel 3 1/2 stars. It's not as bad as the one-star reviewer would have you believe, but in my opinion, it's not as good as the 4 & 5 stars would say. I love some of the characters -- Angela is a fine heroine; the old grandfather; Tibby the housekeeper. Lucius was a difficult hero to admire; I have to sort of agree with the one-star reviewer about his mask, but the author made me understand the paranoia about his scarred face that was behind his wearing it. The book just fell flat somewhere for me. I thought the book went on too long, that's it; some nonsense about Lucius trying to get Angela to love the vicar instead was just that: nonsense. So I have to give it a solid 3 1/2 stars for the mostly well-plotted writing, & some characterizations, but in the end, it's not a keeper for me.

This Beauty and the Beast tale will win you over as surely as the lovely Angela Lacewood wins the fiercely guarded heart of Lord Lucius Daventry ("Lord Lucifer"). Expect Deborah Hale's trademark graceful writing and her remarkable ability to wring emotion from the reader.

The writing came off as if the author was shaking you and insisting you feel sexual tension and romance; but you inevitably just get a headache.