The Best Intentions [Paperback]

Candice Hern (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1999

Customers who enjoy the traditional Regency Romances of Georgette Heyer, Barbara Metzger, and Carla Kelly will enjoy this witty Regency romp by New York Times bestselling author Candice Hern. The Earl of Strickland is a handsome widower in search of a new wife to be a mother to his two young children. Having lost his one true love, he is determined on a practical, dispassionate match with a mature woman. Young girls in their first Seasons, their heads full of romantic notions of love, are not for him. When his sister comes to visit bringing along a beautiful widow, Miles thinks he may have found the perfect match. But the widow is chaperoning her gauche, much younger sister, an artless girl who causes Miles's best intentions to go awry as he finds himself falling in love with precisely the sort of woman he sought to avoid. Set at a grand country estate in the Midlands, this sweet love story of the reserved and dignified Miles and the delightfully guileless, clumsy, outspoken Hannah is sure to charm readers.

"With fresh, crisp characterization and unerring romantic sensibility, Ms. Hern brings to joyous life all the wonder of falling in love in this deceptively simple, impeccably crafted keeper for the heart." – Romantic Times

"This is one Jane Austen herself would enjoy!" -- Rendezvous

"Don't miss THE BEST INTENTIONS. Candice Hern has crafted a joyous, passionate tale full of life and laughter, one that readers will savor long after the cover is closed." – The Romance Reader

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

When Miles Prescott's formidable sister, Winifred, descends upon Epping Manor with two eligible women in tow, the widowed earl knows his single days are numbered; but when he ends up being attracted to the sister of the woman everyone expects him to marry, things become a bit more complicated. This delightful, well-written Regency features an irrepressible heroine with a passion for architecture; a proper, still grieving hero who learns to love and laugh again; and a wealth of secondary characters, several of whom deserve stories of their own. Popular Regency writer Hern (A Garden Folly, LJ 11/15/96) lives in San Francisco.AKR
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Signet (June 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451195736
• ISBN-13: 978-0451195739
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,427,627 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Candice Hern is the award-winning author of historical romance novels set during the English Regency, a period she knows well through years of collecting antiques and fashion prints of the era. She travels to England regularly, always in search of more historical and local color to help bring her books to life, and prides herself on the detailed research that goes into each novel. Her books have won praise for their "intelligence and elegant romantic sensibility" (Romantic Times) as well as "delicious wit and luscious sensuality" (Booklist). Candice's award-winning website (www.candicehern.com) is often cited for its Regency World pages, where readers interested in the era will find an illustrated glossary, a detailed timeline, illustrated digests of Regency people and places, articles on Regency fashion, research links, and much more. The website also provides readers with more information on all Candice's books, including excerpts and a look "behind the scenes" of each novel. You can also find Candice on FaceBook and Twitter.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Candice Hern's best yet!, January 8, 2000

By 

Kimberly Borrowdale (Oregon USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Best Intentions (Paperback)

Rejoice--Candice Hern is back with her best one yet!

Miles Prescott, Earl of Strickland, always welcomes his sister Winifred for visits home to Epping Hall, but this time, in addition to her husband and sons, she is also bringing along two distant cousins: one young lady just about to make her debut, and her chaperone, a widow. Miles knows that whatever matchmaking plans Winifred has won't be easy to thwart. He asks his friend and neighbor, Joseph Wetherby, to also join them to make the numbers even. Miles, a widower, knows that he should remarry to provide his daughters with a mother and also to try to beget an heir, but a chit just out of the schoolroom isn't what he had in mind--perhaps the widowed chaperone...?

Hannah Fairbanks does not want a Season in London, nor to become a lady. Though she is nearly twenty, she is interested only in her studies of ancient architecture. The only reason she agrees to go to Epping Hall is to visit the nearby St. Biddulph's, a church built in Saxon times. She will never be a charming beauty like her older sister Charlotte and she doesn't wish to marry, so why must she learn all those rules of proper behavior--why can't she just be herself?

Hannah steals the show with her innocent, delightful enthusiasm for historic buildings, keeping children amused, and making people smile. It is a joy to join her on this leg of her journey of self-discovery. The romances (yes, more than one) build slowly, but build they do in sometimes surprising ways. Ms. Hern has a special knack for creating a marvelous blend of incredibly true-to-life, sympathetic characters; touching scenes and emotion; and subtle humor. THE BEST INTENTIONS will send Candice Hern to the top of the Regency charts.

Kimberly Borrowdale Under the Covers Book Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Tender and Sweet Love Story, June 3, 2011

By 

elm - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Best Intentions (A Regency Romance) (Kindle Edition)

Lady Winifred Tyndall sends a letter to her brother the Earl of Strickland inofrming him of her plans to visit with him with her children and her husband's two cousins. Miles Prescott's, Earl of Strickland, is in his early 30's widowed with two daughters and imediately senses his sisters plans to wed him off to one of them.

The very proper Lady Charlotte Abingodon is a widow and is accompanied by her nineteen year old sister Miss Hannah Fairbanks. Miss Fairbanks is fun, bookish and interested in architecture and is very different from her stuffy and ladylike sister. The Earl must choose which of the sisters would be the best mother for his daughters and then realizes his own heart in the process.

Came across her books as it was a recommendation on my kindle. Its a good regency story with clean romance(only passionate kisses)

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, Great price, June 23, 2011

By 

intunewithstars - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Best Intentions (A Regency Romance) (Kindle Edition)

I won't even try to write a better review, I couldn't improve on what's been written. I just wanted to add my vote for a great book with an incredible price. Best 99¢ book I have yet seen!