Customer Reviews

Lord Monteith's Gift (Signet Regency Romance)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I seem to be in the minority reviewing this apparently much loved book, but I was vastly disappointed. I have read a few of Ms. Butler's books. My favority is "The Ramshackle Suitor", which introduces the reader to Jason, Arkady's heir. Arkady's is a great character, and I hope to see a book that would include him and Jason. I actually enjoyed "Lord Montheith's Gift" up to page 179, where, for me, the story fell apart and any liking for the book was lost in the dragged out conclusion. It is refreshing to read a regency where the lead female character, in this case, Eveline, actually does have and appreciates her sexual curiosiy and nature. And Robbie, the Earl of Monteith, I found to be a hunky lead. However, he makes the mistake of rejecting Evelynne for marriage since she is from a lower class and the scandal could hurt his political ambitions. Given the time period, this was not something outlandish for him to consider. After all, his political ambitions were strong. But he regrets his choice, and begs (and I mean begs) Evelynne to give him another chance. Evelynne's 50 - 60 pages of refusals were exhausting. Most women, while being very hurt by the rejection, would be at leasing willing to listen and try again if one was actually in love. It takes a better person to admit being wrong and in the end, Robbie was the better man. Evelynne, by being so filled with smug righteousness, was made small and unattractive. I actually wished Robbie gave up on her and went on and met someone else!

Nancy Butler's first effort well illustrates just why this talented writer has fast become one of the best-loved authors in Regency Romance today. Robert MacIntyre, the Earl of Monteith is a dour man who follows a straight and narrow path to preserve his reputation and standing in the ton. But then he meets Evelynne Marriott, a charmingly headstrong heroine who is more concerned with keeping her family together than observing the social niceties of a well-bred young gentlewoman. When this unlikely duo meet, Robbie soon finds himself off his narrow path and onto a rocky road of danger, whimsy, and most importantly, love. I couldn't put this story down as I waited for Robbie to truly realize just what a gift he had found in Evelynne.

I couldn't put this down either! The characters were really well drawn, including the minor characters such as Arkady and Gil, Evelynne's brother. The plot was entertaining, and I loved Evelynne's resourcefulness.

I did find Robbie's change of heart towards the end of the book a bit unconvincing. Having said he loved Eve, and making it clear he wanted to marry her, suddenly he disbelieves her and goes out of his way to hurt her? And his behaviour in Arkady's carriage on the way to London seemed out of character as well.

But Butler resolved it all in the end, and I'm looking forward to reading this book again.

Evelynne and Robbie are a mesmering duo whose romp through the countryside is funny, lyrical, poignant and utterly romantic. This is a clever, original read. I can't wait for Ms. Butler's next! (Please let it be Arkady's story.)

I couldn't believe this book. It's wonderful! I wasn't able to put it down. There is so much adventure going on that it just keeps you running and wondering what will happen next. This is a first novel from Nancy Butler and it is definitely a keeper. This author is on her way if she keeps this kinds of wonderful writing up. Her descriptions of the Regency period are enough to make even a non-Regency reader appreciate the clothing, carriages, castles and lifestyles of the ton. I can't wait for her next book

I think this is the best of Nancy Butler's books so far, although I've enjoyed some of the others. She seems to focus on heroines who are considerably below her heroes in social standing - though not impossibly so - and who have fallen on hard times; this is certainly the case with Eveline here.

Robbie - or the Earl of Monteith - is a wonderful hero. Outwardly dour and conscious of his image, he has a loving heart just wanting to escape. Eveline, struggling to support her younger siblings, is a courageous young woman who disguises herself as a man in order to get a job. They are thrown together in unusual circumstances... and fall in love.

Many of the scenes between Eveline and Robbie, especially after she's saved his life, are marvellously entertaining while at the same time touching the heart; you won't easily forget these. However, I did - like another reviewer - find Robbie's complete volte-face later hard to take. Despite the circumstances, it was just difficult to accept that he would change so completely.

Despite that, I still love this book and have already re-read it.

I am continuing to catch up on Nancy Butler's back-list. Lord Monteith's Gift (a cabin/road romance) is an entertaining story with characters who are, in the main, well rounded and satisfactory.

Lord Monteith, a dour Scot and former military man, is now a politician working on reform matters. The heroine, Evelynne Marriott, is a young woman somewhat down on her luck. In a plot which combines intrigue with comedic misunderstanding, the author gives us a satisfying read.

However, I felt somewhat disappointed that the author resorts to allowing the hero behaving in a somewhat incredulous in order to facilitate the climax of the story. I felt she could have found another way rather than allowing him what was, by that point in the relationship with the heroine, caddish behaviour. This, for me, was a weakness in the plotting.

I was enchanted by one of the secondary characters, Arkady, Marquess of Mitford, a half Russian man of mystery and many facets. I can't see evidence that Nancy Butler has given him his own story; shame, that - he was great fun and very attractive!

Although perhaps not a keeper, I do recommend Lord Monteith's gift as a good read, peopled by three dimensional characters and a satisfying love story. I do feel, however, that the plot was perhaps the weakest point here although not overly so.

This book was an excellent introduction for me into Signet's Regency Romance series. Once I started reading I was scarcely able to put the book down. Nancy Butler is a tremendous talent and I hope to read many more titles from her in the years to come.

This is very well written, true to the period, and has great characters. What a story! This is definitely a keeper. I can't wait for Nancy Butler's next book.

This is the first Nancy Butler romance I have read - and enjoyed the humor and fun of it.