Because of You (Avon Romantic Treasure) [Mass Market Paperback]

Cathy Maxwell (Author)

Book Description

Series: Avon Romantic Treasure | Publication Date: October 25, 2011

Is a reckless rogue worthy of the love of an innocent enchantress?

Pretty Samantha Northrup knows it is her duty to marry—but the chaste English vicar’s daughter secretly desires to be swept off her feet by a man whose kisses leave her breathless. And when a seductive stranger arrives at her door one stormy night, Samantha’s neat and orderly life is turned upside down—especially when she finds herself in a most compromising position . . . and is forced to marry a man she barely knows!

Samantha is unaware that her mystery bridegroom is Yale Carderock, the dashing, disinherited rakehell son of a duke, banished by his father years before. Now Lord Yale has returned—wealthier but only somewhat reformed—and he is bewitched by his lovely new bride’s awakening sensuality and innocent fire. But can this marriage of convenience be something more . . . and can a confirmed cad and society outcast truly change his ways enough to merit the lady’s tender love?

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Compromised and forced into marriage with the long-lost, disreputable son of a duke, vicar's daughter Samantha Northrup makes the best of a difficult situation?and finds a love she never thought she could have. Lively dialog, concise writing, and an unusual slant on the traditional forced-marriage plot make this story of a tormented hero and a determined heroine one that Maxwell's fans will be cheer. Maxwell (When Dreams Come True, Avon, 1998) lives in Virginia.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"An illuminating Talent." -- Affair de Coeur

"Cathy Maxwell can't be beat." -- Jill Barnett, author of Wild

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Avon (October 25, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380797100
• ISBN-13: 978-0380797103
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #236,041 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Bestselling novelist Cathy Maxwell, a storyteller since childhood, embraces her writing romance as a way to express her belief that "loving well is the greatest adventure of all," and to explore her fascination with the Regency period.

The author of twenty-five historical romance novels and four novellas Cathy's latest THE SEDUCTION OF SCANDAL, the fifth of her Scandal and Seduction novels, has just been published. The others, also set in the Regency period, are quintessential Cathy Maxwell--traditional historicals with a contemporary sensibility and a touch of humor. They are A Seduction at Christmas, The Marriage Ring, The Earl Claims His Wife, and His Christmas Pleasure. Each has appeared for multiple weeks on The New York Times Best Seller list.


Cathy received recognition from the start with her first novel, All Things Beautiful. Published in 1994, it was nominated for Best First Book by the Romance Writers of America and for Best First Historical by Romantic Times magazine. It also received first place recognition as Best Read of 1994 from the Reader's Voice

Born in Olathe, Kansas, Cathy's family roots go back to the Mayflower and the Revolutionary War. She has long called Virginia home, noting she is "a Virginian by choice, but a Kansan by nature." She worked in television news and spent six years in the Navy. She attended Air Force intelligence school, worked in the Pentagon and did a tour with Naval Intelligence.

Cathy began her writing career in 1991. Now, twenty years later, she is the author of sixteen national bestsellers and her novels appear regularly on The New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists. Her books include In the Highlander's Bed, Bedding the Heiress, In the Bed of a Duke, The Price of Indiscretion, Temptation of a Proper Governess, and The Seduction of an English Lady. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, Washington Romance Writers, Virginia Romance Writers, and Novelists Inc., and she is a frequent speaker at writers' conferences, libraries and special events.

She lives in rural Powhatan County with her rescued dogs Rico and Maya and with her son during college breaks, and is just a few miles from her horses, Duncan and Dinero.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An emotional historical romance, May 30, 2003

By 

greeneyes (England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Because of You (Avon Romantic Treasure) (Mass Market Paperback)

"Because of You" is a heartwarming romance set in Regency England mostly in London and a backwater Northumbrian village called Sproule. Samantha Northrup is an attractive young woman, the daughter of the late vicar living alone in the vicarage. She hasn't got much income and she knows she will have to move out soon. On a stormy night a handsome arrogant stranger knocks on her door with a very strange demand.Soon after this incident the stranger falls ill and the superstitious villagers leave him in Samantha's care. When the stranger conquers his illness the villagers find them in a compromising situation and they are forced to get married. The stranger wants to do the right thing by Samantha and he marries her. After the passionate wedding night Samantha is a different woman and in her innocence she thinks she has fallen in love. The problems arise when circumstances and fate interfere. Samantha finds out that her husband is Lord Yale Carderock the disinherited second son of the Duke of Ayleborough who everybody thought dead.Yale is the prodigal son who returned from his adventures in the world to prove his father his worth., He is a different reformed man but still hiding his past with lots of guilt and regrets. He is strongly attracted to Samantha but he has no need for love and a wife.Fate and family take them to London and a whole new world opens up in front of Samantha. After the village people's hypocrisy and betrayal together with Yale's deception she finds it hard to believe in love and togetherness again. Yale is a matured man and he is forced to change his attitude towards his family, his origins and especially Samantha.The author has a wonderful warm touch on the reader by her handling of family relationships and the meaning of belonging and togetherness.I like the way she described the inhabitants of the village. Her descriptions of the people are very accurate, human and realistic.
BECAUSE OF YOU is a warm historical romance pulling on the heartstrings of the reader. It demonstrates how important family and love are for us. I recommend it to readers in need of a bit of emotional uplifting.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Because It's Another Cathy Maxwell Triumph, May 31, 2002

By 

M. Rondeau (West Springfield, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Because of You (Avon Romantic Treasure) (Mass Market Paperback)

I really loved this book. It was so moving to see these two people fall in love after such a miserable start!

Samantha Northrup was the vicar's daughter and somethng of a healer. She really was put upon by the villagers but it wasn't until they forced her to marry the man she had taken in and healed thru a serious bout of infulenza did she really see them for the hypocrites they really were.

Yale Carderock, the prodigal son, returns to his home to show his father that he wasn't worthless, only too late for his father had died a couple of years earlier.

The most amazing thing was see the growth of Yale in this book. He was honorable - otherwise, no one could have possibly forced him to marry Samantha - nothing had hapened between them, but he recognized the fate that awaited Sam and he was there to save her, even if meant continuing a lie - such as marrying her under a false name. But he was determined to make sure he took care of her for she had saved his life. What follows was his passage from an angry and proudful young man to a caring and loving person. It was a joy to behold, to watch him fall in love.

Cathy Maxwell is surely a genius in touching the human heart and soul. She has touched mine with these so romantic love stories she so effortlessly tells. This was a can't put down kind of book... Definitely one to savour.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Because of Maxwell, Regency fans have a humorous treat, December 19, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Because of You (Avon Romantic Treasure) (Mass Market Paperback)

In 1806, a stranger arrives in Sproule, England, seeking the vicar, who he learns recently died. He turns to the daughter of the deceased vicar and demands she provides him with the keys to the aristocratic Carderock family vault. When Samantha Northrop refuses, he just takes them. She follows as he looks at the gravestones of his parents and to his shock, his own. He learns that he (Yale) died at sea after a long-term estrangement with his father.

When Yale becomes ill, Samantha nurses him back to health. However, the townsfolk become upset and force the duo to marry after spending time together unchaperoned. Yale does what is expected of an aristocrat even one considered to be a dissolute bum. As the pair begins to fall in love, Yale frets over Samantha's reaction when she learns who he truly is.

Readers will fall in love with the Regency romance sub-genre after reading Cathy Maxwell's BECAUSE OF YOU. The story line cleverly combines jocularity with poignancy, making for a pleasurable tale. The lead characters are many layered, adding to the overall fun. Fans of the sub-genre will believe their dreams of a fabulous book will have come true due thanks to the marvelous Ms. Maxwell.

Harriet Klausner