An Independent Woman (Super Historical Romance S.) [Paperback]

Candace Camp (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2007 | Series: Super Historical Romance S.

Julia Holcott, a lady's companion, fears she will never experience true happiness--until she encounters her childhood friend, Lord Nicholas. What begins as a renewal of an old friendship soon bears the brunt of society's wrath. Original.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

When her father dies, Juliana and her mother lose everything they own. Wealthy relatives Lilith and Trenton coldly offer them shelter but only out of a society-imposed sense of duty. Juliana's cousins, both sadistic brats, make sure her life is miserable. Except for orphaned heir Nicholas, who is also at the mercy of Lilith and Trenton, Juliana is friendless. When Nicholas leaves his family estate, Juliana is truly alone. She finds work as a lady's companion; then, years later, while accompanying her charge to a ball, she runs into Nicholas, now a wealthy lord. When he finds out how miserable her life is, Nicholas proposes, although he is not sure that her feelings for him run beyond the bounds of friendship. The wedding itself is made even more memorable when one of their guests is murdered--and Nicholas is the main suspect. The talented Camp (Mesmerized, 2003; An Unexpected Pleasure, 2005) has deftly mixed romance and intrigue to create another highly enjoyable Regency romance. Shelley Mosley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Camp spins a tale than commands attention." -- Romantic Times on An Unexpected Pleasure --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Mills & Boon (March 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0263855333
• ISBN-13: 978-0263855333
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #485,196 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars terrific nineteenth century historical amateur sleuth romance, March 1, 2006

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: An Independent Woman (Mass Market Paperback)

They were once childhood friends before Lord Nicholas Barre fled to America promising Juliana Holcott he would return for her one day. She survived at Lynchwood Hall for several years based on that hope, but eventually that died when he never came home. Now she is a companion to Clementine, the daughter of minor aristocrat Mrs. Thrall and he is back in England for several months. At a ball Nicholas sees Juliana and dances a waltz with her. Not long afterward Mrs. Thrall fires Juliana when Nicholas courts her not her daughter.

Nicholas proposes marriage to Juliana insisting he will protect her. Though she wants his love, she accepts. They travel to his estate Lynchwood where his odious cousin Crandall and his nasty widow Aunt Lilith reside. Also there are Herbert's daughter Seraphina and her spouse Sir Herbert, who warns Crandall to keep his gambling shenanigans away from his wife. When someone kills Crandall, everyone suspects Herbert, Nicholas, a female servant the victim assaulted or his gambling cronies collecting a debt; that is everyone except Juliana who eliminates Herbert and Nicholas as she recognizes two honorable men protecting their women, but neither being a cold blooded killer. She plans to uncover the identity of the killer while proving to Nicholas that he deserves love.

This terrific nineteenth century historical amateur sleuth romance grips the audience from the moment that Juliana and Nicholas return to Lynchwood as a betrothed couple and never slows down. The story line contains several fabulous twists that will surprise the audience, but afterward seem the right course as the lead couple investigates the murder of an odious person whose enemies are everywhere. Readers will appreciate this clever will written tale starring AN INDEPENDENT WOMAN investigating murder in her new home.

Harriet Klausner

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Interesting Read, April 23, 2006

By 

Skye eslavica hikaru svenlenia "Deranged....b... (Texas, Sugarland,USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: An Independent Woman (Mass Market Paperback)

This book features the relationship between Julianna Holcott and Nicholas Barre, who were best friends as kids,they enjoyed 4 sweet years together, but have been apart for 12 years, because nicholas ran away, for a reason he reveals later in the story.

Julianna is a companion for the Thrall family, composed of Fiona, the sensible one, her bimbo sister Clementine, her disillusional mother,Lady Thrall and a father who's sensible enough to stay away from his wife. Nicholas and Julianna re-meet at a ball where Julianna is chaperoning Clementine, a series of shannengans occur that get Julianna fired.Clementine gets her well deserved put- down and Juliana gets a backbone.

Nicholas and Julianna travel back to the Barre estate, where their, hateful cousin Crandall, is killed on their wedding night, Nicholas took a vow of celibacy but apparently cant keep hos hands of Julianna. Julianna just wants to be loved and learns a shocking revelation about her mum. Julianna also might be having Nicholas's baby and the Crandall murder is still yet to be solved. The villian i must ay was obvious from the beginning, but from a characters point of view, it was not.

A highly, enjoyable book.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bravo!, March 13, 2006

By 

A. Salazar "Scentedmoon" (Salt Lake City, UT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: An Independent Woman (Mass Market Paperback)

This is one of the best romance novels I have read in a long time...and I read alot of them...I enjoyed the emotional whirlwind the author was able to create for the reader. I cried and laughed...

The only thing I think would of made this book even better, was more love scenes between the two main characers...they were wonderful together!