The Marriage Ring [Mass Market Paperback]

Cathy Maxwell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 23, 2010

The woman who will one day wear Richard Lynsted's ring will be genteel, dainty, and well-bred.

This eliminates Grace MacEachin on all three counts. A hellion of the first order, the alluring, infuriating woman would be nothing more than a passing temptation to an upstanding gentleman like Richard—if it weren't for the fact that she's trying to blackmail his father!

Or, as Grace sees it, trying to get justice—and maybe just the slightest hint of revenge on the family that tore her life asunder when she was just a girl. And as for Lynsted, well, the stuffy, humorless man wouldn't suffer for time spent in company more exciting than that of his company ledgers. Only when Richard gets Grace alone, she discovers he may know a thing or two about excitement after all . . .

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Cathy Maxwell spends hours in front of her computer pondering the question, "Why do people fall in love?" It remains for her the great mystery of life and the secret to happiness.

She lives in beautiful Virginia with her children, horses, dogs, and cats.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Avon; Original edition (February 23, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061771929
• ISBN-13: 978-0061771927
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #682,682 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Bestselling novelist Cathy Maxwell, a storyteller since childhood, embraces her writing romance as a way to express her belief that "loving well is the greatest adventure of all," and to explore her fascination with the Regency period.

The author of twenty-five historical romance novels and four novellas Cathy's latest THE SEDUCTION OF SCANDAL, the fifth of her Scandal and Seduction novels, has just been published. The others, also set in the Regency period, are quintessential Cathy Maxwell--traditional historicals with a contemporary sensibility and a touch of humor. They are A Seduction at Christmas, The Marriage Ring, The Earl Claims His Wife, and His Christmas Pleasure. Each has appeared for multiple weeks on The New York Times Best Seller list.


Cathy received recognition from the start with her first novel, All Things Beautiful. Published in 1994, it was nominated for Best First Book by the Romance Writers of America and for Best First Historical by Romantic Times magazine. It also received first place recognition as Best Read of 1994 from the Reader's Voice

Born in Olathe, Kansas, Cathy's family roots go back to the Mayflower and the Revolutionary War. She has long called Virginia home, noting she is "a Virginian by choice, but a Kansan by nature." She worked in television news and spent six years in the Navy. She attended Air Force intelligence school, worked in the Pentagon and did a tour with Naval Intelligence.

Cathy began her writing career in 1991. Now, twenty years later, she is the author of sixteen national bestsellers and her novels appear regularly on The New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists. Her books include In the Highlander's Bed, Bedding the Heiress, In the Bed of a Duke, The Price of Indiscretion, Temptation of a Proper Governess, and The Seduction of an English Lady. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, Washington Romance Writers, Virginia Romance Writers, and Novelists Inc., and she is a frequent speaker at writers' conferences, libraries and special events.

She lives in rural Powhatan County with her rescued dogs Rico and Maya and with her son during college breaks, and is just a few miles from her horses, Duncan and Dinero.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good overall, wanted an epilogue, February 24, 2010

By 

Chase (Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Marriage Ring (Mass Market Paperback)

I really wanted to give this book a five star rating, but the end of the book held me back. That's not to say the end of the book was bad (it wasn't) but I was hoping for more. The characters are refreshing and, even though they come to love each other in such a short period of time, the reader can appreciate what they go through together. I wanted this book to keep going and, as I approched the end, I knew it would be wrapped up too quickly. I would have really loved an epilogue...a letter from Grace to her friend Fiona (from Seduction at Christmas) telling of her marriage, or a look ahead to Grace's and Richard's married years...something that would have given me that extra satisfaction at the end of the story.

Other than that, a solid romance and definitely one I will re-read.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hero steals the scenes in this sweet tale, March 17, 2010

By 

Melissa (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Marriage Ring (Mass Market Paperback)

I was delighted with Cathy Maxwell's new tale The Marriage Ring, largely because the hero is so unexpected. He is really the star of this novel.

Richard Lynsted is upright, moral and a wee bit judgmental and even at age twenty-nine he wants his father's approval. He believes he can earn it when he tries to thwart a blackmail attempt against his father and uncle. Problem is the blackmailer is a beautiful Scot who is outspoken and angry.

Grace MacEachin is also trying to win her father's approval. He was convicted of embezzling money from an elderly lady and sent away to a penal colony for years. During her father's absence everything fell apart for Grace, she left her Inverness home for London and is now an actress. She believes in her father's innocence and is convinced that Richard's father and uncle were the real culprits, so she sends them a note demanding money or she will tell the magistrates that they were involved with the embezzlement.

Richard is a fair minded person and after meeting Grace, is willing to hear her side of the story and he is ready to meet her father too. This necessitates a trip to Scotland and it is on this journey that Richard and Grace really discover each other.

Both leads are distrustful and longing for parental approval and yet both have lived their lives very differently. Grace is defiant and her past is less than perfect. Richard is a model citizen but he is missing joy and companionship. During their long journey to Scotland they take stock of their lives and really grow into a loving couple. Grace just seems to mature, she realizes she has been headstrong and her escape to London was not ever going to solve her problems.

Richard is so good and honorable it is almost impossible not to like him. Yes, he is a bit reserved but he is also incredibly kind hearted, brave and heartbreakingly vulnerable too. His metamorphosis from stern unbending barrister to open hearted, loving hero is wonderful.

There are a few sections of this novel that get bogged down a little and Grace is a little too forward but hero Richard more than makes up for these little problems. The dialogue is also good (these two speak to each other with respect and affection). This is a definite recommend.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars "hard to get through", April 13, 2010

By 

pen pen (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Marriage Ring (Mass Market Paperback)

This was just not my cup of tea. For one the hero is a virgin. The plot was pretty good but, it was just too much going on. I really was disapointed considering how much I liked her last book. Not hot enough!