Customer Reviews

Just Say Yes (Zebra Regency Romance)

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The plot for Myretta Robens' "Just Say Yes" may be a somewhat unoriginal one (an heir to a dukedom falls in love with the delightful but unassuming daughter of a vicar while pretending to be a humble steward), however the author's engaging and charming take on this much used plot made it a very enjoyable read.

Tired of the London social scene, and deeply afraid that he'd end up leading a useless life of dissipation, the young Earl of Cheriton, Geoffrey Dorrington, jumps at the chance to do something worthwhile with his life when his brother-in-law, Lord Marchbourn, asks him to take a look at an estate he has just inherited and to put it in order. And so that he will be left alone to do his job, and not have to waste time making social calls which as the heir to a dukedom he would be forced to do, Geoffrey decides to pass himself off as the humble steward, Geoffrey Dorton. And his plan would have been perfection itself but for the complication of the vicar's charming and kindhearted daughter, Cassie. Where the pale, elegant and cool London ladies made no impression at all, short, tanned and practical Cassie delights at every turn. But the son and heir to a dukedom must not fancy himself in love with a humble vicar's daughter, for there would be no future in it. And yet, that's exactly what Geoffrey finds himself doing...

The charm of "Just Say Yes" lies in the telling. As I have already noted, the plot is a much used one with little variation on theme, but the lively and invigorating manner with which the author tells her simple and affecting tale, and the totally engaging character portrayals of the hero and heroine made the book a very pleasant and fairly absorbing read (although it is true that some characters were very typical stock types: like Cassie's pushing social climbing mother, the cowardly lout that Cassie's mother keeps throwing at her, and Geoffrey's stiff and proud father). The romance that developed between Geoffrey and Cassie was rather well done too -- I think that the author captured the quick and deep manner with which both the hero and heroine fell in love with each other rather well. So that all in all, even though this was not a very "deep" and complex read, and even though the plot premise was an oft used one, "Just Say Yes" proved to be good and worthwhile read.

At seven and twenty, Cassie Hartwell is firmly on the shelf. Nevertheless, her mama sees one last chance to marry her off. Her mama's bachelor-of-choice, Rodney Gilbert, was unpleasant when Cassie knew him as a child. She can't imagine he's changed. Cassie is content with her life as a country lass, making friends with all the neighborhood dogs.

That is... until she meets Geoffrey Dorton, the new steward of a local lord. Mr. Dorton is handsome and charming, and his kisses are unlike anything she ever imagined.

But Geoffrey has a secret. He's not Geoffrey Dorton, he's actually Geoffrey Dorrington, Earl of Cheriton. And Cassie, as much as he likes her, is just a vicar's daughter. She's no match for a future duke.

I enjoyed "Just Say Yes" very much. It was charming & fun, and the dog scenes reminded me of something out of a Barbara Metzger book. It did get a bit slow at times (especially after a certain dog plot comes into play), but it's still a solid 4 stars. You've got to love a heroine with a name like Caspar Whittley Maria Hartwell!

Thanks to Amazon's review system and "Friends and Favorites", I bought this delightful regency novel, when I might otherwise not have done so.

Although the plot is basic and not filled with much action, the well written and developed main characters, a beautifully drawn setting, some humor, and a fair amount of realism on the part of the hero, Geoffrey, and heroine, Cassie make this novel a delight to read.

Geoffrey Dorrington, Earl of Cheriton and heir to the Duke of Passmore, has been rescued from a life of dissipation in London by his brother-in-law Lord Marchbourn, who has taken him back to his country estate and interested him in learning proper estate management. Now Marchbourn has inherited an estate, in the parish of Vicar Hartwell, Cassie's father. Geoffrey, wanting to prove his capabilities, goes to set it order; and because he wants to see what he can accomplish without the deference due to his title, styles himself plain Mr. Dorton, land steward.

Neither Geoffrey nor Cassie is expecting the attraction they feel, and the plot develops as we watch them cope with it. The tension arises because Geoffrey knows that Cassie, as a country vicar's daughter is "unsuitable" as a potential bride for the heir to a dukedom and does his best to behave in an honorable fashion given this reality. Cassie, believing that Geoffrey is a land steward, sees no impediment in developing her acquaintance with him, except for the interfering ways of her mother. Her mother is pushing the claims of the local squire's nephew and heir, Rodney who Cassie knew as a teenager and disliked intensely; Rodney has not improved with age! Throw in a few dogs, and several interesting secondary characters and proceed to enjoy.

Highly recommended for those who enjoy their romances centered around character and not ACTION. I look forward to subsequent efforts by this author.

Cassie is a very believable heroine, and Geoffrey is everything a girl could want. "Just Say Yes" is definitely fluff, but it's also very entertaining. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Sorry-this one's a stinker-implausible storyline, very inaccurate historical details and one dimensional characters. I quit it at about 50 pages in. This one was one of Zebra's last published Regency line romances-and it shows. From the poor writing, to the horrible "chick lit" style cover they were obviously trying to cash in on in 2005, you can see why the line went under.

This is a traditional Regency novel. It is a short novel and the story progresses quickly and the characters are likable. This is not the type of historical romance that I usually read or like. I like the longer, more complicated historical romances, so I do not think I will be buying or reading a traditional Regency novel any time soon.

Actually, I liked this story. Geoffrey, our hero, the faux steward of his brother-in-law's estate, and our heroine, Cassie, the last remaining unmarried daughter (age 27) of the local vicar, was a nice evolving story. Geoffrey, who is to be a Duke when his father passes on, fights his growing attraction to the sweet, sunny Cassie. He realizes that she knows zilch about society, how to be a furture Dutchess with its responsibilities and in charge of a large estate. How would she deal with the Ton and his peers in Parliment? All very important issues for him but love is love and he wants his girl. While the stories twists, the dogs, the trial, the discovery that Geoffery was not just a steward, were not super exciting, it flowed and the vivid descriptions of the time, place and characters was enjoyable to read. But I do have an issue with the ending in that it ended to early with Cassie finally saying "yes". With all Geoffrey's, his fathers and Cassie's concerns about how she would deal with being a Lady and the Ton, it would have been reasonable for the author to take us say one year into the future in an epilogue and play it out for us, the readers. Was she a success? Was she comfortable? Did she learn to go on and enjoy it or did she hole up in the country? When a reader invests time and money in a story, it should be completed.

Geoffrey Dorton is the new steward of Lord Marchborn's estate, but he is not what he seems. He is, in fact, Geoffrey Dorrington, Earl of Cheriton and heir to the Duke of Passmore. He has previously been the usual careless young sprig about Town, but now is eager to have a purpose in life.
The book opens with his dog related meeting with Cassie Hartwell, last unmarried daughter to the local vicar. Her mother is desperate to marry her off, but Cassie is unconcerned regarding her single state. However, that all changes once the handsome new steward arrives and Mrs. Hartwell is none too pleased. Especially as she has been making other arrangements with the local squire regarding his unappealing nephew Rodney Gilbert.
A very unexciting, if sweet tale on an old, old theme. Cassie is a nice girl and that's about it, despite the paens of Geoffrey and most of the inhabitants of the area regarding her goodness, sweetness and lightness.
The slight plot twist is frankly silly. Cassie betrays her lack of wits by stealing Rodney's pack of hounds one night after she sees him hit one of them. Alas, such a crime in this period would be shockingly serious. Englishmen and their legal system were very hardheaded indeed on the topic of stealing. She plunks herself square into a mess and rather nastily in fact expects Geoffrey to get her out of it.
The foxhound digression apart, the tale was slight. The background characters were almost caricatures, especially Mrs. Hartwell.
A pleasant amusement, but dull at bottom.