A Diamond in the Rough (Signet Regency Romance) [Paperback]

Andrea Pickens (Author)

Book Description

Series: Signet Regency Romance | Publication Date: June 12, 2001

A young woman defies convention by posing as a young male caddie on a golf course-only to fall for an English lord and score in the game of love.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Signet (June 12, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451203852
• ISBN-13: 978-0451203854
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,660,755 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A gem of a tale!, June 19, 2001

By 

S. A. Lantz "LadyLantz" (Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Diamond in the Rough (Signet Regency Romance) (Paperback)

The life of Adrian Linsley, Viscount Marquand is proceeding according to plan...until his father loses everything except Woolsey Hall in a card game. Even that has been wagered, in the hope of regaining all the rest, on a game of skill between the earl's opponent and his son. The fate of the Linsley family home rests on a round of golf -- and Adrian has never played golf! He agrees to honor his father's wager, but the timing couldn't be worse. Adrian has just become engaged to a cool, poised Society beauty and won an important architectural commission. On the advice of a friend who knows the sport, Adrian travels to St. Andrews, armed with an introduction to Hugh Philps, the best clubmaker in the land and an excellent teacher. Adrian hopes the man is as good as his reputation -- he has a month in which to learn the game of golf whilst coming up with a design for the duke's commission.

Miss Derrien Edwards has two passions in life, gardens and golf. Although she can openly indulge the former, she must disguise herself as a boy to enjoy the latter. Derry is the best caddie in the city, thanks to her mentor, Hugh Philps. When the kindly old man requests a favor, she cannot deny him, despite her aversion to titled Englishmen. She agrees to teach the viscount, but all her lessons might not concern the game of golf!

DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH is a gem of a tale! Readers will adore Adrian and Derry, two intellectuals who find there is much to be said for love...and passions. The interactions between these two complex characters -- in both Derry's personas -- are realistic, but intriguingly unpredictable. The dialogue is crisp and witty and the plot evolves at a brisk pace.

Ms. Pickens's knowledge and love of golf is evident throughout but does not overwhelm the story, allowing readers who have never played the game to thoroughly enjoy the book whilst learning a bit about the sport. Avid Regency fans may find the errors in titles and forms of address mildly disconcerting, but overall will thoroughly enjoy this delightful tale.

If you're in the mood for a refreshingly different romance, with marvelous characters, wit, and charm, I highly recommend DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I'll bet Tiger would score this an ACE!, November 5, 2001

By 

kellytwo "kellytwo" (cleveland hts, ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Diamond in the Rough (Signet Regency Romance) (Paperback)

If you like to know the history of things, you'll truly appreciate this story in which an unusual wager is settled by a game of golf. The historic Old Course at St. Andrews in Scotland is credited with being the birthplace of that revered game, and one can only applaud Andrea Pickens for have done her homework so well.

Adrian Lindley, the Viscount Marquand, determined early in his life that he would not follow in the footsteps of either of his parents, known to society for their unconventional ways. For the Earl of Chittenden not only had a fondness for drinking but was also a gambler, unable to help himself in spite of numerous promises to his son that he would give it up. It took one final disastrous wager with the Marquess of Hertford to bring matters to a head. The Earl had done the one thing he'd promised his son he'd never do--wager Woolsey Hall, the last unencumbered property and the one closest to the heart of the Viscount.

Having experienced the residual effects of an overiding passion only too well, the Viscount had determined never to succumb to such lures for himself. He would be stable, and steady and dull, if that's what it took. That was why he'd proposed marriage to (and been accepted by) the beautiful Honoria Dunster. The blonde and beautiful young woman was considered a chunk of ice by many of the young men in London because of her lack of emotion. Adrian thought her exactly what he wanted and needed.

Of course, he was also a young man of his time, well up on shooting and riding and all the other manly activities. But the men of London seldom engaged in golf. So it was off to Scotland for Adrian to take a crash course in the game, as the only way to prevent the loss of his favorite estate, even if it meant nearly jeopardizing his true first love-- landscape design. A commission he desperately wants is about to be awarded, and time is short. But yet--there is Woolsey Hall to be considered.

To his great surprise, the game turned out to be far more complicated than he'd originally thought, and while Hugh Philp, the acknowledged master of St. Andrews promised to help Adrian in his quest, it was the young caddie Dirty Derry, who became his teacher.

Along with learning about the game, Adrian learns about himself, about Derry and about Honoria. For Derry isn't a lad, but an impetuous young woman, Derrien Edwards, who not only shares Adrian's great passion--landscape design--but has a prodigious knowledge of the game of golf--forbidden, of course, to females. Secrets unfold, while others are maintained, and tensions rise while waiting for the climactic game.

It's amazing how much story is stuffed into these 229 pages. Not one word too many is utilized in the setting forth of this story. It's simply marvelous! Worthy of the Masters, in fact!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Some historical issues, but well-done nonetheless, January 26, 2004

By 

S. Reader "scibarfan" (Franklin, TN) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: A Diamond in the Rough (Signet Regency Romance) (Paperback)

In the realm of series romances, Andrea Pickens is one of the top authors. Although the reviewer who lamented the historical errors makes valid points, including the shallowly drawn villain, the book as a whole is far beyond most of the offerings in series romances.

The hero and heroine are likeable, unique, and well-developed. The plot rarely hangs, keeping the reader interested throughout. There is a bare hint of passion, keeping this book from being too sweet (or, for that matter, too raunchy as some series romances are). The rather detailed picture of the early days of golf is intriguing as is the athletic hero's struggle to master the sport. He also battles the social stigma of having a trade, an interest he discovers that he shares with the heroine (who herself is frowned upon by society for her abilties and desire to use them).

Filled with the realistic developmentment of a romantic relationship, a couple with sufficiently unique characters, and a fresh approach to an old plot (rescuing the family fortunes).