Lessons in Love [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Marion Chesney (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2002

Lady Lucinda Esmonds swine of a father was forever fleecing young bucks in Londons gaming halls - until he met Captain Mark Chamfrey who, having been once cheated, would not be made a fool of again and promptly kidnapped ten-year-old Lucinda for ransom!

But, when Chamfrey thought better of it and returned the girl, Esmond nonetheless exacted his own price: Chamfrey could redeem himself and save his skin by marrying his little victim nine years hence, just time enough for Chamfrey to inherit a title and fortune.

Lucindas father could not have foreseen what a beauty Lucinda would become, nor that Chamfrey, a newly made Marquess, would actually welcome the fulfillment of what was supposed to be his punishment!

ABOUT THE SERIES

Lovers are joined by force - by family pressure, by societal pressure, and cultural mores, but Chesneys heros and heroines never seem to want to give up on their search for the real thing. They are willing to go through almost anything in their hunt to find love - theyll jump through hoops to avoid the tricks of outsiders who thrust them together for fortune (that doesnt exist), theyll dance their way into the hearts of the most eligible bachelors using all of their charms, and if it takes even lessons in love (the title of one of these page turners) then so be it. The Love Series is all about love in its various forms, from lukewarm to searing hot and were along for the ride.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

From 1977 to the early 1990s, Marion Chesney wrote over one hundred romance novels. Now writing as M. C. Beaton, she is the bestselling award-winning author of two internationally successful mystery series - HAMISH MACBETH and AGATHA RAISIN. She lives in the United Kingdom.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 234 pages
• Publisher: Thorndike Press (February 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786236353
• ISBN-13: 978-0786236350
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,198,124 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Decent but thin, December 24, 2001

By 

Diana R. Sherman (Mountain View, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lessons in Love (Hardcover)

Chesney's usual wit and style is slightly subdued in this novel. The heroine, Lucinda, shows the most spunk and character as a child when Captain Chamfrey kidnaps her in an attempt to get her father to pay his gambling debts. The abduction, naturally, does not go as planned. Her father forces Chamfrey into an unwanted betrothal with the then little girl.

Time passes, her abusive father dies (under mysterious circumstances), Lucinda's grandmother takes the now beautiful young woman to London for a season. Unfortunately, Lucinda becomes rather placid as an adult, taking very little action of her own accord. She runs into Chamfrey, now a marquess, but is frightened that his forceful personality might lead him to be as abusive as her father was. He finds her fascinating and lovely, then discovers who she is and that she's engaged to be married to another man. Chamfrey falls in love with her, Lucinda finds herself drawn to him, but her grandmother, determined to protect Lucinda from the unwanted betrothal, tries to block Chamfrey's courtship.

The plot in this one gets a bit too tangled and a bit too dark (with several murders) to sustain the lighthearted romance. I am not certain, but I would guess this to be one of Chesney's earlier efforts. I find that her other novels generally have much more humor, warmth, and character development in them. This is a decent read if you have a few hours to kill, but don't judge Chesney's other works by this one.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Betrothal at a Tender Age: 'Twas Nothing New..., April 7, 2005

By 

Ellie "mittbooks" (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: LESSONS IN LOVE (Mass Market Paperback)

Except that the gentleman was a kidnapper!

Lady Lucinda Esmond's swine of a father was forever gleecing young bucks in London's gaming halls - until he met Captain Mark Chamfrey who, having been cheated, promptly kidnapped ten-year-old Luncinda for ransom!

But, when Chamfrey thought better of it and returned the girl, Esmond exacted his own price: Chamfrey could save his skin by marrying his little victim nine years hence. Time enough for Chamfrey to inherit a title and fortune.

Lucinda's father could not have foreseen what a beauty Lucinda would become. Nor that Chamfrey, a newly made marquess, might welcome the fulfillment of his punishment!