The Famous Heroine (Signet Regency Romance) [Paperback]

Mary Balogh (Author)

Book Description

Series: Signet Regency Romance | Publication Date: February 1, 1996

Entering high society after rescuing a duke's son, merchant's daughter Cora Downes feels like a fish out of water, which is complicated by a misunderstanding that results in her engagement to blueblood Francis Kneller.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Signet (February 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451187733
• ISBN-13: 978-0451187734
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,123,444 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Mary Balogh is the New York Times bestselling author of the acclaimed Slightly novels: Slightly Married, Slightly Wicked, Slightly Scandalous, Slightly Tempted, Slightly Sinful, and Slightly Dangerous, as well as the romances No Man's Mistress, More than a Mistress, and One Night for Love. She is also the author of Simply Love, Simply Unforgettable, Simply Magic, and Simply Perfect, her dazzling quartet of novels set at Miss Martin's School for Girls. A former teacher herself, she grew up in Wales and now lives in Canada.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful regency romance!, July 21, 2000

By 

"avonlea" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Famous Heroine (Signet Regency Romance) (Paperback)

Cora Downes is a merchant's daughter who enters London's elite society after rescuing a duke's son. The genuine and fun-loving Cora feels out of place in cold London society. Her fear of the aristocracy does not extend to Francis Kneller though. He is a duke's son, but Cora feels comfortable around him. Francis is amused by Cora and decides to ease her entrance into society by paying attention to her. After he inadvertantly compromises her twice, Francis offers Cora marriage. They enter into a marriage neither really wants.

I loved that Cora was not a member of the ton. I loved Francis Kneller's pink coats and lace. I loved their relationship. There is much humor to be had in The Famous Heroine, but it never overshadows the romance. It develops slowly and believably. Mary Balogh has written another winner!

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Funny and fun, December 29, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Famous Heroine (Signet Regency Romance) (Paperback)

It's not every day (or every heroine) who decides to marry a man she thinks is gay. . . and who is mortified when she actually admits that to her amorous husband! This is a fun book that is the third in a series of novels for Balogh the first being "Dark Angel," followed by the hero of "The Famous Heroine" being prominently featured in "Lord Carew's Bride" where he loses the beauteous Samantha to Hartley Carew only to find true love and laughter with Cora in "The Famous Heroine." (These two also make an appearance in the story featuring Cora's brother as the hero in "Christmas Bride.")

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Funny, heartwarming, wonderful characters, September 7, 1999

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Famous Heroine (Signet Regency Romance) (Paperback)

As usual, Balogh writes an excellent, engaging book. Less than halfway through the first chapter and I was already hooked. A hero who thinks he's pining with love for someone else, a heroine who thinks the man she has to marry is gay... but it's handled so well, so wittily and sensitively.

I love both Cora and Frances (how could anyone think them shallow?) and I'd love to read 'Dark Angel' and 'Lord Carew's Bride,' but probably won't be able to since they're not available in the UK.

Balogh has a talent for making her characters seem real, genuine people; I don't think she could write a caricature if she tried. I have a pile of other Balogh books to read, and I'm looking forward to each one of them.