Customer Reviews

A Lady of Letters

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Lady Augusta Hadley is no ordinary society miss. She possesses a brain and opinions and is not afraid of either displaying her intelligence or airing her ideas. She also secretly pens editorials under the pseudonym "Firebrand", afterall her opinions would not be taken seriously if everyone knew that they were being voiced by a young waman. Certainly she is the bane of her mother's life and is considered to be brash and on-the-shelf by most gentlemen of the ton. But this does not worry Lady Augusta as she is of the opinion that most gentlemen of society are fools anyway.

Lord Sheffield certainly falls into her category of gentlemen she considers as wastrels. And whenever they meet, sparks fly. Lady Augusta somehow manages to make him feel foolish and he does not enjoy the feeling. However both Lady Augusta and Lord Sheffield have no idea that they have actually been secretly corresponding with each other for months. Sheffield, feeling that he is wasting his life, and having been inspired by Firebrand's articles, has been writing to Lady Augusta as "Tinder", exchanging ideas and asking for advice. And Lady Augusta, moved by Tinder's sincerity and sensitivity is beginning to fall in-love with her secret correspondent.

However it is the mysterious disappearance of a few of her father's tenants'children that truly throws both Lady Augusta and Sheffield together. Firebrand has written to Tinder asking for his help. This means that Augusta and Sheffield end up having to work together in order to discover what is going on. Will they be able to do so without tearing each other to shreds? And what will happen when Sheffield discovers that Firebrand is actually a woman, and one particular woman in question?

It's been a long time since I have really liked the heroine of a romance novel wholeheartedly and completely. Usually they start out smart and independent, and then halfway through the book seeem to loose all steam and initiative, or else they are so provokingly totty-headed that you just end up longing for them to come a cropper! (I sound impossibly hard to please don't I?) However I really liked Lady Augusta, who not only possessed intelligence, courage and compassion, but also had the good sense to admit when she may actually need help. I also liked the close relationship that Lady Augusta had with her younger sister. It's nice and refreshing to read of sisters who can be friends, especially when there is a visible age difference and a difference in temperament as well, instead of the rather stale sibling rivalry we sometimes get. And kudos to Andrea Pickens for actually creating a romance hero who realises that the lady he's in love with may actually be smarter than he is, and to agreeing to support her in her writing.

All in all a truly satisfying read.

Lady Augusta hides her bluestocking tendencies by writing political pamphlets under a pseudonnym. Bored and disgusted by his depraved lifestyle, Lord Sheffield begins a correspondence with the scholarly "Firebrand," which leads him to take an interest in political and social matters. At the same time, he finds himself constantly in the sphere of Lady Augusta, the sister of a friend, who despises him for his dissolute habits. Lord Sheffield, wondering why he should even care about her opinion, much less be hurt by it, finds himself constantly seeking her company, especially after he discovers that she is involved in some deadly intrigue.

When Augusta discovers that the "kindred soul" who has been writing to her is none other than Lord Sheffield, she knows that she must terminate the friendship on both levels....because she has fallen in love with him in spite of the fact that logic tells her that he could never love a bluestocking antidote like her...in a million years.

As intelligent as Augusta is, she has no idea how attractive she is, especially to the one man she has most vilified, insulted, and spilled punch on. Lord Sheffield's charm with the ladies is legendary, and yet, he despairs of ever winning the love of the unique lady who has captured his heart.

A truly riveting story that will leave you in tears of joy. One of the best Regencies I've EVER read!

The Earl of Sheffield was thought to be a shallow and selfish man. None understood the wisdom and shocking ideas that went on inside his head. None, that was, except for the anonymous writer who signed his essays as Firebrand. The man was exactly the type in which the Earl looked for as a pen pal. Someone he could actually speak intelligently with! Someone who would not look down upon his ideas because of his rank or reputation. Thus be began correspondence with Firebrand through his publisher. The Earl called himself Tinder. What he did not know was that Firebrand was female!

Lady Augusta Hadley was considered to be "on the shelf". She went to balls only as chaperon for her younger sister, Marianne. No one, not even her dear sister, knew that Augusta was the famous Firebrand that all the ton spoke about.... Full of adventure, a tad of romance, and a lot of dry wit. I found this one to be highly enjoyable. Definitely recommended.

Their first meeting was not one they would remember fondly. Lady Augusta Hadley spilled punch all over the Earl of Sheffield. But there was more to Gussie than clumsiness, more to the earl than his rakish lifestyle. Little did they realize that they were soulmates. Gussie is the political essayist known as "the Firebrand"; the earl is her correspondent, "Tinder." Their letters kindle ideas; their public meetings strike sparks. A conflagration is the inevitable result!

The Earl of Sheffield was thought to be a shallow and selfish man. None understood the wisdom and shocking ideas that went on inside his head. None, that was, except for the anonymous writer who signed his essays as Firebrand. The man was exactly the type in which the Earl looked for as a pen pal. Someone he could actually speak intelligently with! Someone who would not look down upon his ideas because of his rank or reputation. Thus be began correspondence with Firebrand through his publisher. The Earl called himself Tinder. What he did not know was that Firebrand was female!

Lady Augusta Hadley was considered to be "on the shelf". She went to balls only as chaperon for her younger sister, Marianne. No one, not even her dear sister, knew that Augusta was the famous Firebrand that all the ton spoke about.... Full of adventure, a tad of romance, and a lot of dry wit. I found this one to be highly enjoyable. Definitely recommended.

I really liked this book, it was a good quick read. I especially liked that the main ladies in the book were very intelegent and witty. The romance was very beleivable b/c the characters really knew each other. I was a little nervous that at some point it was going to get too steamy for my liking, but it never did. I liked the banter between the two main characters, it was just fun to read.

I have generally found single-title romances to be much superior, but this Regency is is better than many single titles. The heroine is intelligent, witty, charming, and practical. Her relationships are mature and sensible. The hero realizes he has some growing to do even before he meets her; she becomes (sometimes without their realizing it) the major impetous to his change. He even realizes that she's more intelligent than he is. Yet they are a good match...soul mates.

There's also humor in addition to some very realistic soul-searching and the disbelieving responses of others to someone who's trying to make positive changes in his life. Darn near perfect in every way.