The Last Bachelor [Mass Market Paperback]

Betina Krahn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1994

Remington Carr, a rakish earl and London's most infamous bachelor, matches wits with Lady Antonia Paxton, a lovely young widow who has made a career out of assisting destitute women marry well by trapping eligible bachelors in compromising positions.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In 1882 London, a wealthy young widow, Lady Antonia Paxton, makes it her goal to marry off less fortunate widows-by catching them in flagrante delicto with eligible men. Her infamous exploits earn her a run-in with Remington Carr, the earl of Landon and a man who believes women should work, vote and not be dependent on any man-especially him. Their opposing viewpoints make collision inevitable and the two end up in a much-publicized wager involving role reversal. Thinking to take revenge on their matchmaker, Antonia's victims also hope the attractive, perpetually single Remington will seduce "the Dragon of Decency." Passion, understanding and respect gradually bring these antagonists to new insights. Although the tale is decidedly sensual, the emphasis is more on the complexities of gender than the complications of sex. Krahn (The Princess and the Barbarian) has a delightful, smart touch and even on the odd occasion that the narrative turns a bit schmaltzy (as in the concluding paeans to marriage), she is sure to keep readers happily engrossed in her protagonists' struggles to discover what makes a man, a woman and a marriage.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 528 pages
• Publisher: Bantam (August 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553565222
• ISBN-13: 978-0553565225
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1.1 x 6.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,251,053 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful, warm love story ..., November 17, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Last Bachelor (Mass Market Paperback)

Actually, I was NOT looking forward to reading this book. I picked it up at a used book store, an unknown (to me) author, and was sure I would be disappointed. But once I started the book, I couldn't put it down! I have read many, many romance books and very few do I end up liking both the hero and heroine through the story. Usually, while reading a romance, I end up saying "What a jerk!" for something he's done, or "She's an idiot!" for something she's done. With this book, the story is so realistic, so well written, I loved both characters from beginning to end. I snickered, I laughed out loud, I cried, and it was steamy and one of the most romantic stories I have ever read. I am looking for more books by this author in hopes that it isn't a fluke.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Well-Crafted Battle of the Sexes, May 20, 2004

By 

"klpepsi" (Indiana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Last Bachelor (Mass Market Paperback)

Lady Antonia Paxton has an interesting reputation among the prominent and wealthy men of London. She is the infamous Lady Matrimonia, who champions young widows with nowhere else to turn. Antonia sponsors these ladies in her home, and when each is courted by a well-heeled bachelor, she then crashes their love nest to catch them in a compromising position, thus forcing the man to offer marriage to avoid scandal. She steadfastly believes marriage is the only way these women can be properly provided for and protected.

Remington Carr, the Earl of Landon, is known for his extremely controversial views on the subjects of marriage and womens' rights. He believes marriage should be abolished, and women should be allowed to work and independently support themselves. When a group of Antonia's disgruntled husbands gather to complain of their bachelorhood demise, they enlist the help of Remington in teaching Antonia a lesson that will end her matchmaking career.

When Antonia and Remington meet, the sparks really fly, in more ways than one. The gauntlet is tossed down and a wager is made. Remington is to report to Antonia's house for a period of two weeks, and do an average woman's work each of those days. If by the end of that time, he hasn't changed his mind concerning the nature of women's worth and work, she will then do an average man's work for a two-week period.

The wager becomes more than either bargained for. Antonia has a whole host of older widow ladies residing with her who become Remington's teachers. And the pupil has his own ideas while in close proximity to Antonia. To seduce her into his bed. But what will happen when the "dragon of decency" falls in love with the "ladies man"?

This isn't your run of the mill romance novel. This story is interesting, witty, and unique, with multi-faceted characters that capture your heart and emotions. Antonia's ladies are endearing, and an exceptional addition to the story as secondary characters. Overall, this is a well-written book, and the first for me by this author. There was one problem that prevented me from giving it five stars. This book is 519 pages long, and it took me six days to read. If I'm really engrossed in a story, it takes me an average of one to two days to finish it. While I love detailed stories where I feel like I really know the characters, this had a plodding quality to it, and I couldn't stay with it for very long at a sitting. I think it may have been better edited down to pick up the pace. Overall, it was still worth the time, and I never considered not finishing it. Ms. Krahn is obviously a gifted writer, and I will be trying out more of her work.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Unlikeable hero and heroine, September 17, 2009

By 

Aunt Aggie (Arizona) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Last Bachelor (Mass Market Paperback)

I so disagree with the high-starred reviews. In my opinion, this story missed the mark with an unlikeable and shallow hero and heroine. I expect implausible story lines and that's fine but I must develop some connection with the hero and heroine that is, well, likeable.

The Earl of Landon opposes marriage but supports women's rights to support themselves. Lady Paxton believes women should marry for it is the duty of men to support and protect the lovely ladies.

The widowed Lady Paxton lives with a dozen elderly widows she has rescued from possible penury. Younger widows have also stayed with Lady Paxton until she is able to catch a bachelor and the young woman in a compromising position -- culminating in marriage.

Ex-bachelors are up in arms over Lady P's method of entrapping them. They enlist the Earl's help for revenge.

There is a wager between the Earl and the Lady. The Earl thinks it would be great if women could be trained to work. Lady Paxton sets out to prove how able and capable they are. So where is the argument? Ah, the Earl wants to abolish marriage and Lady P wants to see all women married and taken care of. So, for two weeks he will learn from the women and, in turn, Lady P will take on a man's tasks. The first scene starts out amusingly enough when the Earl is forced to don a corset.

And then the story turned from amusing to too tasteless to be enjoyed. Our hero shows himself to be an insensitive lout who just wants an excuse to be near the lady so he can seduce her. Lady Paxton, with all her fine morals, goals and quick wit, turns into a witless and foolish tramp every time he is in the vicinity. Despite a house full of elderly women and newspaper men covering the wager outside the door, climbing trees etc., the H/H constantly fall into an inappropriate clinch -- or more. Over and over again. The scenes were not romantic or particularly sensual. I simply could not like the shallowness of either character. At this point I started skim reading and finally skipping pages until I was near the end. The finale was too ridiculous to be entertaining.

This story reminds me of a meal gone wrong. The quality of it is tasteless but, plenty of it is served. I have read other books by this author that I enjoyed but, I recommend skipping this one.