A Game of Patience [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Elisabeth Fairchild (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2003

Patience Ballard adores her two childhood friends. But which one should she marry? Let the games begin.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Patience Ballard could not have asked for two better friends than Philip "Pip" Yorke and Richard Cavendish. The three had been inseparable as small children, but ten years later those bonds of friendship are about to be redefined. Clever, darling Pip is now a charming, handsome man; Richard has become an older version of the responsible, reliable boy he once was; and Patience hopes to change Pip's perception of her from old friend to young lady ready for romance. As Patience gradually learns more about Pip, she discovers he is not the man she imagined him to be, while "dear, dependable" Richard might ultimately prove to be the romantic hero for whom Patience has been waiting all these years. Fairchild's graceful, poetic writing style nicely complements this quiet, intimate Regency that deftly explores the effect of love and desire between friends. John Charles
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Thorndike Press (April 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786252227
• ISBN-13: 978-0786252220
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 6.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,172,513 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Interesting storyline but very repetitive verbiage., June 8, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: A Game of Patience (Signet Regency Romance) (Paperback)

I was disappointed in this Fairchild Regency because she usually is a better read. Fairchild usually has very creative storylines in a genre that is full of the same old stories over and over. In addition, her characters generally have depth. Unfortunately, this is not the case with the lead character Patience and this proved to be the fatal flaw as far as I was concerned. I felt like the writer progressed into her story and found she had chosen the wrong leading lady. The hero was much more interesting and likeable although he was soooo perfectly good - the word saintly wouldn't be much of an exaggeration. I found the anti-hero so shallow as to be irritatingly unbelievable. Added to this was Patience's constant repetition of "dear, dependable Richard" (the hero). It grew old after the 4th time much less the 20th. In a nutshell, I felt this book had definite potential but failed to even approach it. That left me with a dissatisfied feeling at the end of it all. However, please do not be discouraged from trying other Fairchild books. This is not the book on which to base your opinion of her talent.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars an excellent read, May 7, 2002

By 

tregatt (Portland, Oregon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Game of Patience (Signet Regency Romance) (Paperback)

Elisabeth Fairchild's "A Game of Patience" reminded me quite a bit of Shirley Kennedy's "Lady Flora's Fantasy" -- there're both Regencies about young women who fall for a golden illusion that is not rooted in reality, while ignoring the real hero who happens to be in-love with them and to be right under their noses. However, that's as far as the similarities went: somehow "A Game of Patience" turned out to be a more poignant read, and was really about a lot more than Patience Ballard's idealized hero worship of her childhood friend, Philip Yorke (Pip), the Earl of Royston; and her other childhood friend, Richard Cavensdish's unrequited love for her. It is also about friendship, and the particular bond that holds Patience, Pip and Richard together. And it also about growing up, and the giving up of childhood-girlish dreams in order to realize better, more mature ones.

Patience Ballard decided when she was 8 years old that she was going to grow up and marry her childhood playmate, the fun loving and flamboyant Pip Yorke. A grown up 17 year old Patience however discovers that her dreams are not so easy to accomplish, for Pip instead of waiting to discover that SHE is the woman for him, has gotten himself engaged to a rich society beauty. Now, however Patience is in London for her own Season, and it is her devout hope that somewhere along the way, Pip will discover his 'real' feelings for her. Patience hopes are further bolstered by Pip's odd behavior: he seems not to spend very much time with his fiance, and doesn't seem to be very interested in her either. But Pip seems to show very little interest in Patience as well (aside from being pleased that an old friend is in London at the moment). Patience soon finds herself treading a very fine line between euphoria and depression; and if it were not for her other childhood friend, Richard, Patience is sure that she would be quite sunk in despair. Dear, sweet, dependable Richard, who bolsters her ego and who is always taking care of her. What would she do without him? And then Patience discovers that Richard is hopelessly in love with someone who does not reciprocate his love. Patience cannot understand anyone not returning Richard's love, and is saddened for her friend's plight. But this also causes her to examine what her life would be like without Richard. As Patience slowly comes to realize the impact that Richard has had on her life, she also comes to see that she must more carefully consider the ties of friendship and affection that bind her to both Pip and Richard, and decided what (and who) it is she really wants...

What I liked about "A Game of Patience" most was that there was no standout villain. Everyone was slightly flawed in some way or the other; and not everyone behaved very well either. So that I couldn't find it in me to outrightly disapprove of any one character (save Richard's elder brother, Chase) very much. For example, I was unable to feel irritated with Patience over her obsession with Pip, because she was after all only 17 when the novel opens. And as for Pip, while his behaviour left a lot to be desired, he wasn't an outright cad either -- merely weak and spoilt. Richard (the really dependable character in this novel) is the rock upon whom all his friends have come to rely. And Elisabeth Fairchild did a wonderful job of gradually showing us what a gem he was -- you cannot but help approving of a man who loves steadfastly and true, even when the object of his affections doesn't even realize that he has a pulse! I liked the pacing of the novel -- the events chronicled in this book took place over a period of a year, instead of a few weeks or months as is the case of most Regencies. And I think this longer time span added more texture to the novel. "A Game of Patience" is much more than the usual Regency read in that it doesn't merely concentrate on romance. And Ms Fairchild didn't unnecessarily pad her novel with a murder or spy or nefarious doings subplot. Rather, this is an intelligent novel about the coming of age of a young lady, and a story about the bonds of friendship and love. And is well worth a 5 star rating.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars I guess it's a matter of opinion..., January 3, 2003

By 

Brittney Hinson "garnet17" (Ashford, Alabama) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Game of Patience (Signet Regency Romance) (Paperback)

The plot really was a good idea and the hero of the story was wonderful, BUT (you knew a but was coming) I really did not like the fact that Patience was totally obsessed with another man until the last few pages of the book. I would have loved to have seen Patience and Richard's relationship develop, but I was left with the feeling that the end of the book was only the barest of beginnings of their romance. Most of the time I was reading this book, I was longing to hit Patience over the head for ignoring the man who was so desperately in love with her.

The last straw for me was the scene (which was a tad much for a regency romance) where Patience came close to losing her virginity to her childhood crush, Pip. It was too detailed, if you get what I mean, and it was close to the end of the book, which made it worse some how.

This book gets one star for poor Richard. Elisabeth Fairchild has written much better...