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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
1-Nighter! GREAT Debut!, February 26, 2009
I keep telling myself that I am NOT going to write reviews! I mean, who is anyone to critique another person's story, thoughts, and creative work? It just doesn't seem right to me. Yet, it seems to never fail! One of two things invariably happens for me: 1- the story and characters are such a wonderful read, (and nowadays maybe a half dozen books a year, and I read a couple a week, make what I consider a "WOW! 5* 1-Nighter!") that I feel compelled to comment or 2- I read some idiots comments and go "What the $#&%?? Did they speed read this and miss like...the ENTIRE story??" Good grief!! This was written extremely well! The characters were very real and believable, and each character had plenty of background and *meat* to them! I loved the humor and quirkiness!! And it was especially nice to see a story of a *loving* step-mother instead of the "wicked witch" version that seems to be the norm! All the relationships, sister - sister, husband - wife, and the romance all around was witty, entertaining, and delicious! And yes, impoverished nobility *did* work for a living! Ever hear of genteel ladies who find themselves suddenly thrust into poverty for whatever reason becoming a governess? Or worse? And as with Sir Geoffrey, it was common for titles bestowed for specific deeds or heroic acts, particularly during the war. Sure there was still the barrier and some closed doors of the upper echelons of the ton, but as in this story and real life, kiss up to the right person, perform something meaningful to the right someone, and even those barriers could be overcome. My only complaint/suggestion: the font size is way to small! I have good eyesight but it was a strain even for me. Aside from that, "Happy Writing Ms. Noble!" =)
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15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Welcome to RegencyLand, October 25, 2008
I really wanted to like this book. I was in the mood for something light-hearted and romantic, with characters I could care about. This book does have that; it's not badly written stylistically, and the two sisters Evangeline and Abigail are both charming and credible. Their father and stepmother are well observed and individualized. What ruined it for me is the careless errors -- there's a Sir LastName error and the hero's father has a baronet for a servant. Titles were important and people were punctilious about referring to the nobs correctly. Quayle is a very odd first name so I'm inclined to think it is this individual's last name; in that case he'd be Sir Robert Quayle when introduced and Sir Robert thereafter, but *never* Sir Quayle. And as for having a baronet as a servant, I'd love for the author to show us all a historical instance of that -- it'd be worth a whole novel in itself. One of the nobs might have gone into trade - that would have been considered bad enough - but to become a manservant? Highly unlikely - if nothing else, it would have been considered a disgrace to the family name. I am aware that there are readers who don't care about any of this and think it's all just snotty nitpicking. To them I say that anything that drags me out of my suspension of disbelief as I read is bad writing. These two things I've mentioned are not difficult points for anybody who's read novels written during the period, or some social history, or read other regency authors with some attention, or has just run things by someone who knows - and there are thousands of writers and fans on the internet who do know these things. I can't understand how the editors at Berkeley let this type of thing pass. If you don't wince at dopey mistakes, and you are in the mood for a lightweight romance, this might be worth your time and money. It would have been a much better book if the author knew the regency period a bit better.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
amusing historical romance, March 6, 2008
This review is from: Compromised (Berkley Sensation) (Paperback)
In 1829 the Alton sisters return to London for their delayed debut season after spending several years abroad with their father Sir Geoffrey, an ambassador. The siblings see the upcoming galas differently though they agree that their new stepmother Romilla is a pompous flit. Beautiful Evangeline looks forward to the balls while way too tall and intelligent Gail fears she will be ridiculed. Needing time by herself, Gail sneaks out for an early morning ride. However instead of serenity, Viscount Fontaine accidentally knocks her into the lake when he fails to reign in his horse. To her shock and outrage, Maximilian blames Gail for her soaking. Later she catches this arrogant rogue kissing and COMPROMISING Evangeline, whom he apparently feels will meet his father's criteria of a wife. If he doesn't marry someone his father approves of he will be or disinherited in three months. However, Max has one problem; the amusingly brilliant future sister-in-law is all he can think of making love to even when he steals a kiss with her sister. COMPROMISED is an amusing historical romance with Romilla stealing the show from the onset as she explains to her dolt of a stepdaughter that in London people spy on their neighbors. The humorous story line is fast-paced from the early morning teas to the gossiping Ton to the final scandal of the month. Readers will appreciate this lighthearted late regency romp. Harriet Klausner
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