Customer Reviews

Golden Girl

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

 

 

I enjoyed this book. I found both the hero and heroine to be sympathetic and I enjoyed the twist on the "who is murdering the heroine" plot in that she doesn't become paranoid suspecting the hero. However, to be fair the story does seem like the melding of Wolf's previous Regencies "The American Duchess" and hmm... I can't quite remember the name--it was Double or Duel Deception or something like that. The original novels had more sponteneity but this one retained the likability and emotional stability of the characters. In the end it is an enjoyable (though perhaps uninspired) read.

I really enjoyed this book. Anthony was a wonderful hero; he was kind and thoughtful, which is somewhat at odds with the usual ‘beautiful’ men in a regency novel. They would generally come across pigheaded or arrogant. While in general he comes across quite delightful. I thought Sarah was a heroine to be proud of. She was independent yet loving, kind and intelligent to boot. I love it when the heroine has a passion as she does with her painting, and will not compromise it for anything. I thought their relationship was realistic and enthralling. It wasn’t all based on lust and passion, but they were friends and companions, not to say there wasn’t any excitement in their relationship!

This was my first Joan Wolf novel, and I will be definitely hunting out more of her books to read :-)

The courtship is so charmingly sweet that you may fall in love; you will certainly understand why the herione did. If you tire of books where the hero and heroine spot one another across a ballroom and tumble immediately, irrevocably and often inexplicably into love, you will be seduced by Ms. Wolf's skilfull handling of the wooing. From the opening page until the wedding, Ms. Wolf writes a top notch romance. Unfortunately, after the wedding all we get is a "who's trying to murder the heroine"-type plot with little romantic tension.

I've enjoyed Joan Wolf's regencies since I was a teenager. It's hard to describe, but her writing style has an aura of calm and rationality that makes the unfolding of the romance seem inevitable. In other words, they are real and more touching than more overwrought romances. Adrian's and Sarah's romance feels like a rain soaking into a bed of rosebuds. Adrian's the aristocrat who gives off an aura of noblesse oblige; Sarah, painter and merchant's granddaughter, is obviously meant to be a duchess despite her lowly birth. A beautiful romance.

I don't know why other readers didn't like this book--I thought it charming, and is one of my top two favorites of her Regency romances. Her third party narration was very well done, and I enjoyed hearing what the hero was thinking.

It has every thing I like:
Marriage of convenience between two interesting people who are determined to make a success of the marriage.
Handsome, sexy, decent hero. (I can't stand when the hero is a jerk and treats the heroine disrepectfully).
Some intrigue and interesting secondary characters
Sensual love scenes. I love a tender wedding night.
A gradual falling in love and HEA!

Ever since I read "The Guardian" and "The Gamble", I am always on the look-out for new Joan Wolf books! This is another excellent read.

I kept reading, hoping this book would get better. I wanted to like these characters, I really did - but they lacked warmth and depth. The book has so much potential to be a great regency romance. The heroine is likeable enough, but the hero never lights my fire.

Joan Wolf is a name that is easy for me to buy before the reviews are read. She has a great way of developing engaging characters with humor, eloquence and deep-felt emotions. This book was more light weight than previous novels, but certainly worked for me.

The faults would be the action parts of the book. I would want something more gritty, BUT that would change the tone of the story and another writer maybe.

I really enjoyed her previous books and this one was ok. But I especially enjoy books that make me laugh at the couples antics. This book just didn't do that for me.