Coup de Grace [Mass Market Paperback]

Emma Jensen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 30, 1996

CUPID'S DART SEEMS TO HAVE TERRIBLE AIM. . . .
After her ignominious Little Season and her subsequent banishment to the country, Lady Grace Granville (also known as Disgrace) lands in dire straits once again.
Cursing his luck, Rafael Marlowe comes to her rescue, putting down his brandy long enough to whisk her out of danger. With her devilish mind and angel's countenance, the chit has been trouble since they were children. But now Rafe has more important things to do--drinking himself to death, for example--than protect Grace from her family's wrath.
But, God save them all, Grace has decided to save Rafe . . . from himself! And if Cupid will cooperate, perhaps Rafe may come to love her as she has always loved him. . . .

Editorial Reviews

Review

Lady Grace Granville's compassionate heart and lack of common sense have landed her in many a scrape. Her latest has resulted in her banishment from town to East Sussex to stay with her cousin Bernice at Crow house. Life with her pious widowed cousin is beyond bearing, so Grace resolves to travel to her elder brother's home where she would be welcome. She boards the coach to Newhaven, secure in her disguise as a boy. Nature interferes with Grace's plans, supplying snow clogged roads that halt the coach well short of its destination. While she waits for a room to be prepared, common sense deserts Grace again, and she enters the tavern. Her masquerade as a boy is revealed by a pickpocket who encounters more than a money pouch . Grace is rescued from the resultant unwanted attention by an old friend of her brother's, Rafael Marlow, Duke of Avemar. The Rafe she knew is gone; replaced by a man withdrawn and bitter over the deaths of his parents in a fire. What hasn't changed is her love for him, and she is determined to pull him from his drunken solitude. The winter storms force them to stay together at Rafe's hunting lodge without even a servant as chaperone! Rafe leaves Grace at his elderly aunt's estate as soon as the weather breaks, hopeful the forgetful old woman won't notice the two day discrepancy between Grace's leaving her cousin's and her arrival at the house. A house party at her brother's throws Grace back into the bosom of her family and into contact with Rafe, who is one of the guests. All is well until Rafe's aunt reveals Grace's stay at the hunting lodge! Despite slipping into an occasional modern phrase, Emma Jensen explores the stiff Regency codes of conduct with humor. Grace's innocent escapades combined with a sharp wit produce a memorable character. Coup de Grace is a romp! Emma Jensen's characters come marvelously to life! Ms. Jensen captures the reader's heart with her penchant for trouble and guileless charm! Another winner for Emma Jensen!Linda Fitzner -- Copyright © 1994-97 Literary Times, Inc. All rights reserved -- From Literary Times

From the Inside Flap

CUPID'S DART SEEMS TO HAVE TERRIBLE AIM. . . .
After her ignominious Little Season and her subsequent banishment to the country, Lady Grace Granville (also known as Disgrace) lands in dire straits once again.
Cursing his luck, Rafael Marlowe comes to her rescue, putting down his brandy long enough to whisk her out of danger. With her devilish mind and angel's countenance, the chit has been trouble since they were children. But now Rafe has more important things to do--drinking himself to death, for example--than protect Grace from her family's wrath.
But, God save them all, Grace has decided to save Rafe . . . from himself! And if Cupid will cooperate, perhaps Rafe may come to love her as she has always loved him. . . .

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback
• Publisher: Ivy Books (June 30, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0449224864
• ISBN-13: 978-0449224861
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 4.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,691,508 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining continuation of the series, March 10, 2003

By 

Cilla (upstate NY) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Coup de Grace (Mass Market Paperback)

This is one in a series of books of love stories involving friends(Grace, Rafe, Vivian, Tarquin,Jason, Aurelie,etc.) I enjoyed it, but not as much as some others in the series--such as Choice Deceptions). Rafe is heir to a duke in an earlier book, and he is presented as fun-loving and kind-hearted. Before this book begins, he has lost his family to a fire, and has unwillingly become the duke after his father's death. He has known Grace since childhood, being friends with her brother. The loss of his family has embittered him, and he is trying to "drink himself to death." Grace comes back into his life, offering love and laughter. The idea for the plot was good. The only criticism I have is that it seemed too easy for Grace to help Rafe give up the alcohol and return to his life, and there wasn't enough explanation of how she was able to bring him back from his despair. I felt that the book lacked in emotion in that aspect. Rafe really acted like a jerk during most of the book. He rejected his friends, and pushed Grace away. I wish there has been a little more development of the gradual change in his attitude that took place, and it would have been good if he had had a catharsis to let out his pain over the deaths of his family members so that he could let go. The book was pretty good, but I just think it could have been a bit better. I do recommend it--I just don't think it is as good as some of the author's other books.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Grace, the best heroine a girl could want, March 11, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Coup de Grace (Mass Market Paperback)

When Grace runs away from her banishment, she runs into Rafe-the man of her dreams. Unfortunately Rafe is still bitter about his parents' death, and is drinking himself into a stupor daily. So, Grace decides to 'save' him. And she succeeds in getting him to her brother's Christmas celebration.
Everything is fine until two thing happen: Rafe kisses her, and his Aunt spills the beans about them having been *alone* together for several days.
Will Rafe decide to marry her? Will Grace's father and brothers kill Rafe?
These questions are answered splendidly.
Grace is one of the best heroines I have read about and truly deserves what she gets.