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3.0 out of 5 stars
Weak and farfetched., August 19, 2000
This review is from: Lady Semple's Secret (Regency Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)
Cripple with a clubfoot, lady's maid Meg Quincy was an unusual servant. She knew how to read, loved poetry, and spoke like a lady. Richard, Lord Beaumont, vowed to never marry, but his dying mother begged that he propose to Allegra, their neighbor's obnoxious daughter. Trapped by love for his mother, Richard agrees, only to be taken by Meg. Mysteries about Meg's background complicate her work for Lady Semple's daughter, Allegra. A wannabe bit of froth and frolic that is too predictable and lacks depth and real humor. The ending was unrealistic. Kennedy shows promise, but needs more logic and realism in the relationships between servant and master/mistress.
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3.0 out of 5 stars
Rather trite; unrealistic, yet I read the whole thing!, March 21, 2005
This review is from: Lady Semple's Secret (Regency Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)
He (Lord Beaumont) was an aristocrat and she (Meg Quincy), a ladies maid. Even a young servant raised along with a nobleman's daughter to be literate and charming could never have caught Richard Beaumont's eye ... or could she. I found it difficult to suspend belief, but this is fiction! So, I followed along with the unlikely romance. It was rather sweet. Meg Quincy just never learned to be humble and it got her into trouble time and time again. Lord Beaumont, an ever sought after bachelor, had never met a spitfire like Meg. They had a secret rendezvous location (a glade near the river) but only exchanged stolen kisses.
Lord Beaumont was engaged to Meg's new and horrid mistress Allegra - so how could she believe his whispers of love. Because of a "deathbed" promise to his mother, Richard engaged himself to the despicable Allegra while realizing himself in love with Meg. He offers to make Meg his mistress and she rejects that offer. How can they ever have more??
There are secrets to be exposed and mysteries to solve. I will not spoil it for you. The secondary characters are actually interesting. The passive Lady Semple, angry Aunt Lydia and the detestable Allegra all have interesting facets to them. I felt horrible for Meg, who had such a pathetic life - did no one hate that the family she had been with since birth to age 18 just dumped her practically into the street??? Anyway, this is a quick afternoon read - but not in anyway realistic to the class conscious Regency times.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
ATouching Story, January 8, 2005
This review is from: Lady Semple's Secret (Regency Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)
I really enjoyed this book, and I have reread it a couple of times. I found it a touching story, and I loved the characters. Meg and Richard are appealing as individuals and a couple, and many of the minor characters were interesting, too. Allegra was a selfish monster, Aunt Lydia an overbearing, conniving shrew, Edward a jolly, lighthearted friend, and Lady Semple was a gentle, suffering mother. I found the ending especially touching. I recommend this to any reader who is sensitive and likes to cheer the underdog!
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