Customer Reviews

A Lord for Olivia (Signet Regency Romance)

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

 

 

I've only been reading Regencies for a few years and am not that well versed in all of the rules and regulations of the ton. Not a problem. A Lord For Olivia is set not in London but in the country. Nor am I that familiar with inheritance laws, wills, bets and gaming. Also not a problem because I was so enchanted with the hero and heroine that I just kept right on reading, even when I was confused! I never did really figure out the intricacies of the bets that set up the story.

I was more interested in watching Lord Edmund, an ex-officer and poor second son, become enamored with Olivia, sworn off men and married to her land. I spent several days spying on them and eavesdropping as they became friends after discovering their mutual love of the land. The book is actually a quick read but I chose to slowly savor it so that I could spend as much time with them as possible. June Calvin is a new author to me. I discovered her quite by accident and am grateful I did. I enjoy Regencies for the "feel" they evoke. I can't explain it; I can only tell when I've read a book that accomplishes that "feel".
This one did and I loved it for it.

If I have a quibble, it is with the overly villanous villain and an "over the top" ending. I personally was so enchanted with the love developing between Edmund and Olivia that the villain and resulting ending were an unpleasant intrusion. That quibble was minor though and I would not hesitate to search for her older books and am looking forward to her future books.

Because of the particular manner in which their father's will was worded as well as a deathbed promise made to their father, the Ormhill siblings (Olivia and Jason) discover that their fate and fortunes are irrevocably tied together -- unless Olivia marries and marries soon. Unfortunately, upon hearing the terms of the will, Olivia's fiance, Lord Corbright, breaks off their engagement, and marries someone else. Meanwhile, heartbroken at having been jilted, Olivia has eschewed all social life and has thrown herself into estate management instead. And being a young man ripe for adventure, this entire situation in unbearable for Jason, who chafes at being tied to the country. And just when he begins to fear that he may actually grow old and die of boredom, Jason meets Lord Edmund Debham.

Lord Edmund Debham has just only recently returned from the wars with the expectation of inheriting his mother's property. However, because of the debts that his mother had run up, and the unscrupulous actions of his elder halfbrother, Edmund finds himself penniless and with no where to go. A chance meeting with Jason at a country inn leads to a drunken wager, and several games of chance later, Edmund finds that he has pledged to marry Olivia. However, he makes a stipulation that they also reveal ALL to Olivia. (I liked that June Calvin ensured that all would be straight between Olivia and Edmund from the very start by making Edmund insist that Olivia know all about the wager. This saved the novel from descending into that tiresome loop where Edmund woos Olivia under false pretenses, and where Olivia only discovers the truth after she has fallen in love with him, thus getting her heart broken by his perfidy. A truly refreshing difference). Of course Olivia is incensed and humiliated with the entire set up, and refuses to have anything to do with Edmund. However, circumstances (and I'm not revealing what they are because that would spoil your enjoyment of this novel) see to it that Edmund remains on the Ormhill estate for a while. The more time Olivia spends with Edmund, the more she begins to like him -- she even finds that she is quite susceptible to his good looks and charm. But can she afford to trust another charming man, after having had her heart bruised by Lord Corbright? And then Lord Corbright enters her life again, and begins wooing her in earnest. Jason and the other Ormhills are over the moon with joy. But Olivia is not so sanguine. Is Corbright wooing her because he still loves her? Or does he have some other reason for wanting to marry her? And what of her attraction to Edmund?

I liked this book very much. And as another reviewer her already pointed out, this is one novel that keeps you guessing till the very end as to what Olivia will do, and which man she would choose. Even though this is a romance novel and all is supposed to end happily, I was sometimes in doubt if this happy ending would actually materialize! However, while I did like the characters of Edmund, Olivia, Jason and the other Ormhill relatives, the behaviour of the Ormhills, at times made me blink. For example, in spite of Corbright's poor behavior towards Olivia, when he suddenly decides to woo Olivia (again), her relatives all but rub their hands in glee as they not so gently push her to spend more time with the man! This seemed a little perverse and made little sense to me -- I mean, this was the man who jilted Olivia a while back afterall!

All in all however, this book was a really engrossing read, and should not be missed! I liked the manner in which June Calvin developed Olivia's and Edmund's romance, and I thought the atmosphere of menace that prevaded the last quarter of the novel was excellently done too. "A Lord for Olivia" is the kind of romance novel that one can read and reread over a preiod of time and never get bored. And it definitely deserves 5 stars.

An honorable decorated soldier, an independent woman, several dastardly villains and the family and community surrounding them make this potential marriage of convenience story priceless. Olivia's father included some language in his will that requires her to marry a "Lord" and her younger brother sets about to make it happen. Her previous fiancé, an upstart newly made lord, had her heart but when he threw her over for an heiress, she hardened her heart to love and marriage. Lord Edmund, a third son with only a courtesy title, is down to his last pence. Home from the wars, he is rejected by his family, his inheritance swallowed up by his mother's debts. He wants nothing more than a life as a country farmer, working the land and being a part of the rural community.

I felt that the uncertainty of Olivia's feelings for the two men who were potential husbands for her, was well done. Even after his betrayal, the newly widowed Lord Corbright, still stirs her senses. The growing relationship between Olivia and Lord Edmund is distorted by misunderstandings. When she finally makes her decision, the happy ever after is very satisfying.

The villains were sufficiently dreadful, and in most cases deserving of a bad end, although the redemption of a couple of the scoundrels is possible. I found that the feel was very much that of the time period, with any unusual quirks well explained. I would love to see a sequel, detailing the future romance of Jason, Olivia's hot headed younger brother.

The countryside provides a different setting for this regency romance by June Calvin.

Lord Edmund Debham is shaken after being cut off without a penny by his brother after returning from war and is wandering the countryside. He falls into the hands of a somewhat unusual card-sharp : young Jason Ormhill, seemingly eager to lose his money to a stranger he's heard of in dispatches, but desperate to find a husband for his sister and with an odd talent for cards once he's had a few drinks.

Olivia Ormhill would no more marry a man her brother wins for her at cards than reconsider the suit of her former fiancé, now a widower looking for a wife to manage his nouveau-riche estate. Edmund dares her to take a new bet, based on farming expertise unusual in the aristocracy : he'll stack hay in a cart high and correctly so that it doesn't fall out as it is taken up the hill to the barn.

Edmund has a great deal to contend with in Olivia's mistrust. Olivia, in turn, has a great deal of real villainy to deal with, and can sorely use a hero, if only she can find one she can depend on. Throw in the will that keeps young Jason chomping at the bit until his sister is married, and a few puzzled relatives, and this becomes an insightful and enjoyable tale of maneuvers in the countryside.

Overall, A Lord for Olivia maintains interest and delivers the sort of enjoyment expected for a romance of its type, with a little bit more in the thoughtful development of the main characters (although the villain is rather aggressive for the setting). I rate it a 4, below some of the really extraordinary regencies but not truly expected to compete at its length.

This one is slightly different from your usual balls/parties/picnics regency in which the characters are only
concerned about what clothes they'll wear and who they'll dance
with at Almacks. Both the hero and heroine are more interested in farming and living in rural England than in the social whirl of London and it's a nice change. The secondary characters are
nicely done and you get a good feel for the period. I highly
recommend this one.

This was my first June Calvin novel, but I hope it will not be my last. Edmund's character was well-drawn. He is a rare person in Regency fiction: a moral person who is neither self-righteous prig, bore, nor judge, but an honest, caring, wise, and trustworthy man with a conscience. He decides early on that he will not resort to seduction to win Olivia's love, but will earn it honestly or not at all. He is one of the most appealing heros I have come across.

Olivia is highly competent, and strong-willed without ever coming across as a spoiled brat. Her confusion is honest and makes sense. The love that develops between Edmund and Olivia is sincere, honest, serious, and drawn with a fine touch. Another rarity for Regency fiction: no sex scenes! The physical interchanges between Edmund and Olivia are tender, restrained, and absolutely beautiful.

The details Calvin provides about haymaking lend a wonderful air of authenticity to the setting.

Finally, I deeply appreciated reading a Regency that presented a clergyman in a positive light.

I found this story as refreshing and engaging as a Carla Kelly. I recommend it.

Lord Edmund Debham returns from the wars to be denied his inheritance and cast out of the family by his cruel older brother. With nothing but a few coins, the clothes on his back and his trusty horse, Edmund wanders across England pondering his situation. He stops at a hedge tavern to rest and finds himself entering into a high stakes card game with a young gentleman with a large purse. Thinking to teach the young man a lesson, Edmund seeks to relieve Jason Ormhill of his purse, however, the more Jason drinks, the better he plays and Edmund ends up literally losing himself. The wager: Edmund stays a year on the Ormhill estate to learn land manage and he marries Jason's older sister Olivia. Jason is eager to travel and explore the world but feels duty bound to protect Olivia until she marries. Jason thinks Edmund would make his sister the perfect husband, but she has other ideas. Olivia Ormhill is a beautiful, intelligent woman who is more than capable of handling her own estate. Her father recognized her intelligence in his will, stating that she should have complete control over her own lands even after marriage. The catch is, she needs to marry a lord or the lands will default to her brother. Jason thinks Edmund is the perfect lord for Olivia but Olivia has no interest in marriage any longer. She had once been engaged and had her heart broken and no longer trusts men. She believes Edmund is a foolhardy gamester and fortune hunter and wants nothing to do with the wager. Another wager shows her a different side of Edmund, one she could learn to appreciate, but she still doesn't quite trust him. Her former fiance, Lord Corbright comes back into Olivia's life and wants to rekindle their romance. He seems sincere but Olivia isn't sure she can trust him either. She must discover the true nature of both men and decide where her heart lies and whether she will be able to find happiness in marriage. This is a bit of an unusual plot since the hero defies conventions. The heroine and the other characters are fairly stereotypical though and then in this character-driven story, the author introduces a villain to complicate the already complicated plot. The villain reminded me of William Walter Elliot from Persuasion so I was suspicious of his motives and thought Olivia was a bit of an idiot to even think about taking him back. The romance didn't really do anything for me. It developed nicely and realistically, but yet I don't feel that Olivia and Edmund spent enough time together (at least on page) to really have any chemistry. I liked the secondary romance much better and was even more interested in Jason's plot than Olivia and Edmund. This is an average, forgettable story and not one that makes me want to read any others by the author unless she publishes one about Jason! *High sticklers beware that I believe there are some inaccuracies in this story