Customer Reviews

A Gentleman Always Remembers (Willowmere)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

3 ½-4 stars. This second book in the Willowmere series centers on the romance between Fitzhugh "Fitz" Talbot, the charming, wealthy and indolent brother of an earl, and Eve Hawthorne, a beautiful army widow who was recently hired to chaperone his two American cousins. Fitzhugh lusts after Eve from the very start and pursues her with a vengeance, but he is an inveterate bachelor and wants only an affair with Eve, nothing more permanent. Eve cannot deny that she is drawn to Fitz. She endured a rather chaste relationship with her late husband and is intrigued and flattered by Fitz's attentions. But she refuses to succumb to temptation, for her reputation would be ruined and she would never again find work as a chaperone. She worries too that she will become too attached to Fitz and then have her heart broken when he moves on, as inevitably he will do. But Eve's determined resistance is no match for Fitz's considerable charms.

For the most part, this is a pleasing, upbeat romance. There are no serious obstacles to the couple's union, nothing particularly gripping about their love story, little romantic tension between them...and yet, it IS a very pleasant read. The story flows easily, is well-written, and has an appealing heroine and a strong secondary romance that almost steals the show. In fact, it is the secondary romance that has all the drama! Fitz's somewhat predatory behavior in the beginning is a little much, but he nicely redeems himself after this. He is not a weighty character, but he is likable. And Eve is a strong and admirably pragmatic leading lady who is long overdue for happiness.

This installment improves on the first book in the series...much better heroine...much better portrayal of the cousins. Worth the read.

This second installment in the Willowmere series is just as enjoyable as the first. Maybe more, because all the characters are already "in place" and the only new person is Eve, the heroine of this story.

It is a pleasant, unstressed, and easy-flowing romance. It might have been boring, but the character development, the secondary romance, and the subplots all combine to keep the story moving along. I liked that, while there is a slight mystery going on, the story is mainly character-driven.

I like that this series is a trilogy in spite of the fact that there are enough characters in it to keep it going much longer. Each book has told the story of more than one of the main characters making one the principal story and the other a secondary (but important) story. The final book is shaping up to be the story of Oliver and Vivien (which should be great) and Camellia and someone. (A preview appears at the end of this book).

It was wonderful to have the first two books released back-to-back and I was expecting the third to follow shortly. It isn't. It is announced for Spring of 2011. I should have learned by now not to start reading a series until the final book is out!

I was two hundred pages into the book and still waiting for the story--action--anything to begin. The story meanders, there's lots of narrative, characters chat about trivialities, and although the main characters are pleasant and likable, the author keeps them at a distance from us by telling us -- she thought... she felt... she saw... she wondered --. Directly showing would be more immediate and intimate. I was mostly bored and looked forward to the end. There was never a doubt about a happy ending for all.

With the death of her military officer husband Bruce two years ago, twenty-six years old Eve Hawthorne knows she needs a job to escape her martinet stepmother. Thus she gracefully accepts a position as chaperone to the Earl of Stewksbury's visiting American orphaned cousins the Bascombe sisters (practical eldest sister Mary, shy Rose, knife-totin' Camellia, and silly Lily. However her transition to prim and proper widow has a slight problem; her escort to the Earl's estate is his brother, Fitzhugh Talbot, whom she shared a bit of flirtatious behavior.

At Willowmere, Eve is on her best behavior as she needs the job of chaperone while Fitz keeps up the seductive pressure on her. As they begin a tryst, Fitz falls in love with the charming widow, but soon letters arrive warning Eve to leave or suffer the consequences.

The second Willowmere late Regency romance (see A Lady Never Tells) is an enjoyable pairing of a roguish male with a widow who has just a bit more experience in spite of eight years of marriage with the other gender as her charge. As chaos grows with each new arrival and romance is everywhere while the threat increases, readers will relish this fun historical.

Harriet Klausner

Fitz was fantastic - he was a rogue but respectfully so, he was handsome as sin and even used his looks and charm when needed but never in an arrogant way, he was wealthy but never flaunted his status. He was in a word - perfect. Just perfect. I loved him!

I'm not so sure aristocrat families would treat a chaperone as 'one of their own' but I'd like to believe families like Fitz's existed. Eve pretty much had the run of the place and she was treated like the lady of the manor.

The story was a bit long but necessary to delve into all the goings-on. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Thoroughly. The characters were very memorable and the author made it easy for the reader to feel more like a part of the story rather than a reader of it. I HIGHLY recommend it.

Mostly due to all the many characters & all the going ons. The guy was nice & sweet. The girl was similar. They had a tame romance with quite a bit of down time.

Some of the sex was good, but no out of this world passion.
Just lots of activity involving everyone in the house.

Again, I just wanted much more on Oliver & Vivian- the expectations are HUGE for these two. I can't wait to read their story.

This is an OK read.

Another great additional to `The Willowmere Series' that centers around Earl of Stewkesbury family. In this novel the Earl of Stewkesbury hires Eve Hawthorne who is an willowb to chaperon his two youngest American Cousins.Eve has been living with her father and step-mother since her husband's death and can wait to leave. She is escorted to her new employers by the Earl's younger brother Fitz. The sparks fly between Fitz and Eve from the very beginning - while everything bad that can happen in Earl's home - DOES - Great Book - Enjoy!

I can't wait for An Affair Without End - coming out in spring of 2011.

If you enjoy this genre I would also suggest; A Lady Never Tells (1st in the Willowmere Series), Married by Morning (Hathaways, Book 4) and Sex and the Single Earl.

I liked this book so much I bought the previous book in the series and several others written by Candace Camp. She's one of my favorite authors and was so glad to add her recent books to my collection.

The heroine came across as a dog in heat. She really could not say no to the hero. She acted like she had to have it and the hero was the one to say no we can't because he didn't want to ruin her reputation. Could we get heroines that try to act like modest ladies. The secondary characters were interesting and that is why I gave it three stars. The other characters gave the story a comedic touch which to me helped the story. I got the book from a second hand book store, I guess the person who had the book first decided the book was not a keeper.

I loved the book review, but unfortunately did not read "Open Here"!!!! Am I the only one who cannot enjoy the redundant "she did this", "she did that" along with "Eve this and Eve that". Reminds me of first person where every other sentence starts with "I". Speaking of "I", I have not read any books by this author in several years. The reason is that the last book I read by this author was right after reading a book by Georgette Heyer, that she almost repeated word for word. One less author on my long list.