Confessions from an Arranged Marriage (Avon Romance) [Mass Market Paperback]

Miranda Neville (Author)

Book Description

Release date: March 27, 2012 | Series: Avon Romance

“Sizzling, addictive, and deeply romantic: Miranda Neville’s novels are a joy to read.
—Eloisa James,

“Wickedly sexy and just as witty, Miranda Neville is one to watch!”
—Lisa Kleypas

One of the truly exciting new voices in historical romance fiction, Miranda Neville dazzles once again with Confessions from an Arranged Marriage. A smart, sexy, and fabulously fun Regency romp about a wastrel English lord determined to be as bad as he can be, a very proper and very ambitious debutante…and a most inconvenient marriage of convenience. Do extreme opposites really attract? Read Miranda Neville’s delightful Confessions from an Arranged Marriage and find out.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“The developing romance is a pleasure to witness, with witty banter and racy love scenes. The gradual discovery of Blakeney’s secret shame is genuine and endearing, making him far more than the standard scurrilous scoundrel.” (Publishers Weekly )

Sizzling, addictive, and deeply romantic: Miranda Neville’s novels are a joy to read. (Eloisa James, New York Times bestselling author )

You’ll love Miranda Neville’s charming romance, intriguing plot and fresh new voice. (Madeline Hunter )

“Wickedly sexy and just as witty, Miranda Neville is one to watch!” (Lisa Kleypas )

Readers are sure to enjoy the well written and interesting NEVER RESIST TEMPTATION. (Romance Reviews Today )

From the Back Cover

They couldn't be more different—but there's one thing they agree on . . .

In London after a two-year exile, Lord Blakeney plans to cut a swathe through the bedchambers of the demimonde. Marriage is not on his agenda, especially to an annoying chit like Minerva Montrose, with her superior attitude and a tendency to get into trouble. And certainly the last man Minerva wants is Blake, a careless wastrel without a thought in his handsome head.

The lights and din of her debutante ball set Minerva's teeth on edge. Surely a moment's rest could do no harm . . . until Blake mistakes her for another lady, leaving Minerva'sguests to catch them in a very compromising position. To her horror, the scandal will force them to do the unthinkable: marry. Their mutual loathing blazes into unexpected passion but Blake remains distant, desperate to hide a shameful secret. Minerva's never been a woman to take things lying down, and she'll let nothing stop her from winning his trust . . . and his heart.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Avon; Original edition (March 27, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062023055
• ISBN-13: 978-0062023056
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1.2 x 6.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #446,899 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I grew up in southwest England. During my misspent youth I devoured the works of Georgette Heyer, Jean Plaidy and any other historical novels I could lay hands on. As a result I attended the University of Oxford to study history, ignoring all hints that economics might be a more practical subject. I spent several years writing catalogues of rare books and original letters and manuscripts for Sotheby's auction house in London and New York. Much of my time in this job was spent reading the personal correspondence of the famous. This confirmed my suspicion that the most interesting thing about history is people.

I now live in Vermont where I enjoy skiing and writing romances set in Regency England where it hardly ever snows.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Romantic and delightfully sexy March 27, 2012

By Mina

Format:Mass Market Paperback

I would have loved to rate this HRN five stars, because I liked it and I believe the premises for a riveting romance were there. Yet, despite the great potential provided by the interesting main characters and their issues, the first half of the book falls short of all the very things that make a romance novel appealing: the romantic tension is lacking, the characters too tame. At some point the storyline is heavily loaded with historical references and although I appreciate a certain accuracy and consistency in my readings, the "historical element" with all those details about politics and elections were just too much for my "romance-reader" frame of mind.
Luckily, halfway into the novel something clicks in the right way and the storyline stirs in the right direction, giving depth and intensity to a love story that would have been otherwise very shallow. The second half of the book definitely deserves five stars and redeems all the shortcomings of the first part: the steamy love scenes are emotionally charged and extremely sweet. What started as an arranged marriage between two people who loathed each other turns slowly but relentlessly into a heavenly love-match.
Minerva Montrose is a young and pretty debutante at her first season, a typical English rose with an unusual interest in politics. Her highest ambition, in fact, is to marry a young and brilliant politician and help him advance in his parliamentarian career. And instead she gets involved in a scandal that will force her to accept the marriage proposal of a dissolute (and extremely handsome) marquess she utterly detests, Lord Blakeney. The feelings of dislike are mutual, at least in the beginning.
Although it wouldn't be fair to judge a book from the first one hundred pages, at an early stage the storyline doesn't captivate me, emotional depth is lacking and h/h are rather shallow. But don't worry, things will totally change. The readers' patience will be rewarded. An interesting as well as original twist will stir great emotion and sympathy towards our characters, especially the male hero: from this moment on the romantic tension will be much more palpable, rather sizzling and heartwarming.
Lord Blakeney (a soon to be duke) has a well-guarded secret: he is dyslexic, a condition not recognized or treated at that time. He is barely literate, he is unable to read and he can hardly write. His inadequacy makes it impossible for him to engage in any of the educated and elevated activities (involvement in politics or discussions about literature, knowledge of dead languages or fluency in French and German) a man of his station should be able to perform. In order to hide his inability, he spends his young and adult years building the reputation of a lazy, shallow and impertinent aristocratic. He rather and successfully engages in sports, outdoor activities or less intellectual tasks such as the running of his father's estate. In the eyes of society (and what hurts him the most, in the eyes of his wife Minerva) he has only good looks and no brain.
His dyslexia causes major trust and self-confidence issues and prevents him from showing his real self (he's not just a pretty face, Blake is a good, pleasant and practical man). His sense of being inferior holds him from establishing deep and confident relations with people, especially with Minerva who on the contrary is highly educated and extremely bright. Despite his lacks, Blake emerges as a very human and endearing character, certainly not fluent and articulate, but extremely sweet and capable of true and deep feelings . Even Minerva, initially all ambition and superficiality (due also to her very young age, she is barely twenty), will redeem herself showing a more vulnerable and loving aspect of her headstrong personality. She will understand her husband's condition, support him in his effort to fill his father's shoes as a duke and a political leader, and get to love him for what he is, with passion and pride.
The second half of the book definitely unfolds in a much more romantic and delightfully sexy way.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An actually historical Historical Romance May 2, 2012

By L. Taggart

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I very much enjoyed this book. The last two Regencies I read were basically modern stories with long dresses - very disappointing when I actually love the historical period. This book was a wonderful tonic to those two. It was very well written and the characters were fully fleshed out. I really enjoyed the romance between the hero and heroine, but what I loved most is the historical detail. I loved that being a Duke and a Duchess were talked about as more than an excuse to be rich and have fun. It built a real world with responsibilities and obligations and I loved how the characters' romance developed around those responsibilities. Minnie was independent, smart and ambitious, but within the context of the period. Blake was sensitive. intelligent, not your typical overwhelming Alpha-male, yet he was a strong and attractive male character.

I also really loved the way the characters were complete and well-rounded. Minnie and Blake were flawed, yet likeable. I could see them as real people with their own challenges and dreams. The supporting characters didn't feel paper-thin, but as if they had their own lives off the page I was reading. The sex felt real and it fit into the story. It didn't take over the story. I like spicy books as much as the next person, but I was getting tired of thinly-veiled erotica (not that I don't enjoy erotica, but I read romances for the emotional connection and the story). The sex was part of developing the relationship in this book.

This book was highly enjoyable and I am definitely looking forward to reading more of this author's work.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Intelligent, fun, moving and so romantic. LOVED it! April 6, 2012

By Claire

Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I am surprised at the negative reviews of this book. On the other hand, they were what led me to buy it -- I'm so glad I did! It was so much fun to read a story about people who had real preoccupations with the events of their time. Other reviews claimed there were too many names and too much political intrigue -- I couldn't disagree more: there was just enough to allow the story to move forward and for it all to make sense. Political duties were in fact part of life for many members of the aristocracy and the author did a great job describing the burdens and advantages for h/h -- she used a light touch (after all this is a romance novel!) These responsibilities formed who h/h were, how they'd been raised, and gave context for the life they were expected to lead. The heroine is not a girly girl interested in balls and jewelry, she has political ambition and so engages in politics in the only real way possible for women at the time. I thought the author carried the whole thing off beautifully. And the hero had a very serious problem which was well portrayed. The characters' actions made absolute sense and the story held together beautifully. Add to that some good historical accuracy and a sexy romance and it's a wonderful read! If this is a typical Miranda Neville novel, I will read more!