Lady in Waiting (Sinclair Family Saga) [Paperback]

Nicole Byrd (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 30, 2002

A talented artist, Circe Hill has no interest in the affairs of the ton-until the man she secretly loves pretends to court her to silence his matchmaking mother.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

For most proper young ladies of the Regency era, a London "Season" of glittering balls, royal court presentations and flirtations with marriageable gentlemen would be a dream come true. But Circe Hill reluctantly returning to England after two years abroad following her dream of becoming an artist is not a proper young lady. She wants more out of life, and she gets it. Before even departing Calais, Circe has rescued an Italian peasant girl from the Austrian secret police. Once in England, she becomes steeped up to the neck of her painter's smock in diplomatic scandals, smuggling, international wars, forgery, kidnapping, attempted murders and the theft of one of Europe's great treasures. Meanwhile, Circe's other childhood dream to have a passionate yet equal romance with David Lydford, the earl of Westbury is proceeding much more slowly, since the once rebellious rake seems to have reformed into a colorless milksop who's set on a submissive wife. Still, things are not always what they seem, as is illustrated by some highly unseemly but enjoyable plot turns: a striptease (his); several swashbuckling street fights (hers); a swooning fit (his); and much more. A profusion of period detail somehow makes it all believable, and Byrd's unpretentious writing style and sense of humor render this a delicious read.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Circe Hill never wanted to be a proper lady. She loves the freedom of her life as an artist traveling the Continent; but when her older sister Psyche (whose own romance was detailed in Byrd's Dear Imposter [2001]) insists that Circe pack up her paintbrushes and endure at least one proper Season, Circe reluctantly returns to London. There she unexpectedly encounters David Lyford, the Earl of Westbury, the very man whose attention Circe spent most of her teenage years trying to attract. David needs a suitable young woman to pretend to court while he searches for the perfect wife, and does a bit of discrete surveillance work for the government. David thinks Circe would be a natural, and Circe agrees, determined to prove that she is no longer the young hoyden he once ignored but instead a desirable woman. Bryd sifts a measure of intrigue and danger into her latest historical confection, which should prove to be irresistible to readers with a taste for deliciously witty, delightfully clever romances. John Charles
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Jove (April 30, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0515132926
• ISBN-13: 978-0515132922
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #644,411 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars an entertaining read, May 3, 2002

By 

tregatt (Portland, Oregon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lady in Waiting (Sinclair Family Saga) (Paperback)

A sequel to "Dear Impostor," "Lady In Waiting" by Nicole Byrd is a lively and charming romance novel that is sure to please. Miss Circe Hill has spent the last few years living in the Continent, learning to paint and broadening her horizons; and she's been having a wonderful time. Now, however she's received a missive from her elder sister, Psyche, begging her to come home and have a London Season. It's the very last thing she wants to do; but feeling that she has a duty to oblige her sister, Circe reluctantly packs up and leaves for London. Only the thought that she will again meet David Lydford, the Earl of Westbury (her brother-in-law's best friend), a gentleman she has secretly been in love with for a long time, sustains her. Perhaps now that she has attained a measure of sophistication David will finally recognise that she is a woman worthy of courting?

But almost as soon as she meets David again, she realises that her hopes are doomed. For David has metamorphosed from a rakish and elegant young man to a very proper and correct one. David has decided that it is about time that he marry and set up his nursery. And the type of wife he has decided on is the very antithesis of Circe: a meek, biddable and very proper young lady. However, right now he needs Circe to agree to a pretend courting just so that can get his mother off his back (so he says: actually he's on a secret mission for his uncle, and he needs a cover). Circe, while she is saddened that she does not match David's requirements for a wife, agrees to help him out, even if she does sense that there's something else going on! And so the charade begins -- but not entirely to David liking. For David never anticipated that so many other men would find Circe with her forthright and unconventional ways so appealing. And he soon finds himself torn between carrying out his surveillance mission, and (jealously) keeping an eye on the suddenly popular Circe, esp now that she has attracted the attention of a rather dangerous Austrian diplomat...

"Lady In Waiting" was an entirely witty, breezy and really delightful read. The badinage between the very clever Circe and the sometimes really dense David were an absolute joy to read. Nicole Byrd (the mother and daughter team of Cheryl Zach & Michelle Place) really struck gold with this book. The conversations and prose style was smooth and lively, and the storyline -- the developing romance between Circe and David, and the various subplots involving Austrian agents, a stolen Titian, and another romance involving two other secondary characters -- was entertaining and stimulating to boot. "Lady In Waiting" is definitely a read not to be missed!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars action packed Regency romance, May 6, 2002

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lady in Waiting (Sinclair Family Saga) (Paperback)

By 1822, Circe Hill feels her unrequited love for David Lydford will remain one sided though she has wished seemingly forever otherwise. However, David needs to court someone as a disguise to hide a dangerous diplomatic mission he performs so he rationalizes that Circe because of her perfect lineage and unquestionable respectability is the one. However, he really selects Circe because to him she will always be the kid sister of the wife of his best friend and so passion and love will never enter the equation.

However six years have passed since David last seen Circe who has just returned from studying art with the continent's masters. The Circe of his memory is not the beautiful woman enticing his heart and soul. This makes his mission even more dangerous as he struggles to concentrate on anything but the woman he now loves.

Readers who desire an action packed Regency romance starring two delightful protagonists need not wait any longer as Nicole Byrd delivers the goods with her latest tale, LADY IN WAITING. The story line would be typical of the sub-genre except for the strong cast that includes the return of the stars of the delightful DEAR IMPOSTOR and intriguing refreshing subplots that cleverly tie back to the prime courting theme. The lead couple charms the audience as Circe tries to seduce her initially unwilling but soon convert David into a lifetime together, which leaves the audience psyched for Ms. Byrd's next triumph.

Harriet Klausner

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The good, the bad, and the boring, May 16, 2004

By 

S. Reader "scibarfan" (Franklin, TN) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Lady in Waiting (Sinclair Family Saga) (Paperback)

This book is so difficult for me to review. I liked some things very much while others left me cold. Circe is definitely an unusual heroine; her outspokenness and greater-than-her-age wisdom are refreshing. David is sometimes annoying as a man is doesn't know who he wants to be, though he has certainly gorwn up since his brief appearance in Dear Imposter. His mother is an awful woman. It's wonderful to see Psyche and Gabriel again (from Dear Imposter); they play significant roles. And that novel's secondary character Sally makes her presence here as a secondary heroine, her romance almost as important as Circe's. Her beau is delightful, and their romance sweet. The epilogue is perfection.

Unfortunately, the action/mystery lacks conviction and often detracts from the rest of the book. As a result, the book is uneven and does not hold the reader's attention as well as its predecessor.