False Steps (Signet Regency Romance) [Paperback]

Sandra Heath (Author)

Book Description

Series: Signet Regency Romance | Publication Date: January 7, 2003

Nothing exciting has ever happened to Winifred Smith-until a dashing Marquess turns up in her hometown. But when he mistakes her for a lady of fashion, she's too beguiled to correct him...

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

When the queen fears that one of her granddaughters has developed an unfortunate romantic interest in London aristocrat Cassian Stratford, he is temporarily banished to the quiet backwater of Weymouth. Walking through town one morning, Cassian catches a glimpse of Winifred "Freddie" Smith, an intriguing young woman, who one minute is fashionably dressed and the next clothed in a servant's cloak. Although her new friend, heiress Lavinia Thorogood, has gifted her with fashionable cast-offs, as the daughter of a lodging-house keeper, Freddie knows that her dreams of a London season and the opportunity to waltz in the arms of a handsome nobleman are just that: dreams. Freddie foils Cassian's attempts to learn the identity of the mystery miss, but when fate brings the two together in London, the chance for romance, and a waltz or two, proves too tempting to resist. A resourceful heroine, with the help of her delightful cat, finds her very own hero and happily-ever-after ending in Heath's latest regency, which will enchant readers with its charming fairy-tale-like quality. John Charles
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

Heath’s skill and experience are evident in this spellbinding tale of disguises, danger, deception, and derring-do amid the beau monde. -- Barbara Hume - NewAndUsedBooks.com

I highly recommend this delightful book. Regency fans will adore the blend of romance, mystery, and adventure. -- Romance Reviews Today - Susan Lantz - January 2003

Vintage Sandra Heath, with vividly drawn characters, sparkling dialogue, and marvelous descriptions that bring the Regency era to life. -- Romance Fiction Forum Team Captain, America Online - January 2003

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Signet (January 7, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 045120770X
• ISBN-13: 978-0451207708
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,264,031 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Only for readers who wish for more in their books!, January 6, 2003

By 

Huntress Reviews (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: False Steps (Signet Regency Romance) (Paperback)

Began in 1813, Weymouth.
Miss Winifred Smith was known as Freddie to her mother (Louisa) and her friends. Nothing spectacular ever happened to her before. Freddie and her mother ran a lodging house. It had an advantage since it was close to the royal residence and the Esplanade.

Cassian Stratford, Marquess of Lansdale, spied Winifred at the quay and became fascinated by her actions. Thus, he followed her for awhile. Though she ware fashion from a year before, he believed her to be a lady of quality who was trying to disguise herself for some reason. Upon learning this, Freddie did not attempt to change his idea of her. In fact, she did her best to embellish the opinion.

Heiress Lavinia Thorogood was Freddie's new close friend. She was smitten by a young poet named Andrew Beaumont. Freddie believed the man to be a fortune hunter, as did Lavinia's father, who wished to match Lavinia to another. However, Freddie could not make Lavinia see this.

Then there was Lady Heathcote, described as a false friend and rival of Lavinia's mother. Freddie, for the second time, was mistaken for someone (or something) else. This time as Miss Frederica Durham. Lavinia began to use the mix-up to prove (to her father) that his choice for her was not worthy of her hand.

**** There is much more going on that I state, as I am sure you could tell. Author Sandra Heath never writes shallow Regency novels, so it is usually impossible for me to give a good synopsis unless I turned it into an essay. I hope I managed to at least familiarize you with the main characters.

If you are looking for a simple romance with no mystery or sub-plots, look elsewhere. This novel targets readers who wish for more in their romances. ****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Do I hear a waltz?, January 3, 2003

By 

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

This review is from: False Steps (Signet Regency Romance) (Paperback)

Oh, yes! YES! There is a waltz on nearly every page of this swirling novel. Not a Viennese waltz, to be sure, but the rhythm, the pacing, the twists and turns, the notes-both sweet and not-so-sweet, abound throughout. You'll love it!

From the rather inauspicious beginning near the fish-market in Weymouth to the final glittering moments of Lady Holland's Golden Ball, the waltz is a constant factor in this delightful book. Its first notes are in the mind of Miss Freddie Smith (Winifred to her mother) as she dons a disguise to barter for better prices from the local fish-monger. More than anything in the world, Freddie longs for a night or two in London, where she might indulge in the scandalous dance craze--the waltz--newly imported from Austria. She is quite certain that after a very few nights of such participation in the social whirl of the *ton*, she could and would willingly return to her normal life. If, that is, she hasn't managed to capture the heart and hand of a handsome fellow who would take her for his wife.

Quite unbeknownst to her, a dashing young lord, Cassian Stratford, the Marquess of Lansdale, who has been banished to Weymouth by the Queen-no less-has observed her mission to the fish-market, and also been amused by the antics of the young woman's companion. Thomas Tomcat by name, he of the shiny black furcoat with a white bib, is determined to have his share of the mackerel that respose in the market basket.

Of course, there's more. There's the young heiress Lavinia Thorogood, whose father was injured in a carriage accident very near the front door of the boarding house run by Freddie's mother, and while Father recuperates, the two young ladies become fast friends. Lavinia is to journey to London to share a come-out with two cousins at the home of their aunt, Lady Bellamy. However, a match is in train for Lavinia with Magnus, the earl of Kerswell. Of course, Lavinia has, in the meantime, fallen for a young Byron clone, Andrew Beaumont by name.

Lavinia decides she needs Freddie's company on the trip to London, along with that of a chaperone hired by Mr. Thorogood. Judith Shaw is a military widow, who seems to be more aware of the surroundings than her charges. When Cassian and Magnus spend a night in the same town on their way to London, the scene is set for a multi-faceted showdown.

These are the main themes of this waltz, from which the entertaining variations ensue. And entertaining they are. Crisply written, lavishly adorned with humor, and a soupçon each of romance and intrigue and adventure, FALSE STEPS is one joyful measure after another. Indulge! You'll be happy that you did.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars not quite there..., March 17, 2003

By 

Tiffany Lloyd (Phoenix, Arizona United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: False Steps (Signet Regency Romance) (Paperback)

Ok I'm going to try to make this review as short and sweet as I can. This book is missing A LOT of things. The plot was INCREDIBLY weak. It had potential but didn't come close to making it. The main characters are able to fall in love with each other after only meeting 2 MAYBE 3 times. And each other those times was about 15 minutes max. The story was incredibly hard to believe. I don't know about you but friendship can only be pushed so far. And the secondary character Lavinia pushes it way to far mistreating our "heroine" of the story. But Freddie (heroine) keeps coming back for more. And in the end when it is proved that Freddie was right all along there's not even a big apology scene. So overall this really isn't that great of a book. I don't recommend it at all unless you are Really desparate for something to read. But do read some of this authors other books. She isn't normally this disappointing. This wasn't my first of her and won't be my last either.