Customer Reviews

Married to the Viscount (Swanlea Spinsters)

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Sabrina Jeffries is one author that has written romance novels that I have absolutely loved and written others that I could barely finish. What have I not liked in those books? Aggravating heroines. But Married to the Viscount's heroine, Abigail Mercer, did not fall into that category. She was a highly likable heroine and I loved this tale of Abigail and her viscount. True to Jeffries style, her hero is strong, strong, strong and in control - or at least he tries to be.

Viscount Spencer Law has recently returned from a trip wherein he visited his brother in America. During his trip he had become acquainted with Abigail Mercer, the daughter of a successful medicinal inventor. Spencer never intends to marry so he ignores his attraction to Abigail. His refusal to marry is at the heart of Married to the Viscount and is not your usual "I don't plan to marry" hero talk. Spencer plans for his younger brother to continue their family line. However, his brother doesn't want that responsibility either although their reasoning is vastly different.

Abigail was fascinated with Viscount Spencer Law when he visited America. She fondly remembers him and eagerly accepts his proposal of marriage by proxy. Spencer's brother stands in for him at this proxy marriage and makes plans for Abigail to travel to England to join her new husband once her father dies. Abigail arrives in England at the viscount's residence about a month later and gives the viscount one big surprise. It seems that Viscount Spencer Law knows nothing of his proxy marriage. Their initial confrontation is made somewhat public since the viscount is hosting a dinner at the time. Abigail faints, as she is thoroughly humiliated and greatly saddened at the truth - she is not married. The viscount is confused, enraged, and at the same time sympathetic of Abigail's vulnerable situation. He wants to do bodily harm to his scheming brother who masterminded this fake proxy marriage but he can't. His brother has disappeared and taken Abigail's dowry with him.

Just how this debacle is resolved is, of course, the story of Married to the Viscount. Abigail is well rounded, sensible and mature. She is also older than most virginal heroines. Spencer is not so mature although he is the older, more seasoned of the two. It is his fears and hurt that drive the interaction between the couple. It is not a boring book in the least - it is a fascinating story that I found difficult to put down. The action begins within the first dozen pages and it is basically a love story. There are no villains lurking around the corner. The couple doesn't spend time with silly misunderstandings or lies. Jeffries treats her readers to an intense love story beyond the typical romance plot lines. The story is a luscious one as well and the sensual rating is about a 4.25 out of 5.0 (see More About Me for rating guidelines).

All said - I think you can tell that I highly recommend Married to the Viscount. It is a refreshing romance that I will keep to read another day.

Readers of Ms. Jeffries' previous books will remember the hero of this one, Lord Ravenswood, from "Dance of Seduction." Like me, they probably viewed him as a stuffy bore....but believe me, he's been holding out on us. The heroine is vibrant, intelligent, and more than a match for the former spymaster and his uptight Regency cronies.

This one is hot, folks! Don't miss it! A fitting end to an excellent series

In 1821 Viscount Spencer Law accompanied his brother Nat to Philadelphia where he meets attractive Abigail Mercer and her ailing father, owner of Mercer Medicinal Company. Nat wants to own half of Mercer Medicinal, but Spencer has some doubts yet promises to fund the venture. However, the Home office calls Spencer back to England so he leaves Nat behind in the states.

A year later, Spencer waits for the arrival of Nat, who is late to his own engagement party to lady Evelina. However, instead of Nat's grand entrance, Abigail, in mourning due to her beloved father's death enters claiming to be Spencer's wife by proxy. Apparently, Nat forged documents, stole Abigail's dowry, and sat in for Spencer at a ceremony. Spencer, who had no plans to marry due to a war injury leaving him unable to produce children, sells Abigail with the idea of a marriage of convenience until they find his wastrel brother who is in hiding.

Before readers draw negative conclusions about Nat, he paid for Abigail to cross the Atlantic Ocean. Thus he is much more complex than just the first brush con artist that he seems. Spencer is an intriguing lead protagonist firmly believing he has no future and that the heir must come from Nat. Abigail is a charmer who makes Spencer feels whole. Regency romance fans will have good feelings towards author Sabrina Jeffries for this enjoyable historical.

Harriet Klausner

Spencer Law, Viscount Ravenswood, travels to America with his brother on business. But the business trip becomes pleasure upon meeting the beautiful and outspoken Abigail Mercer. As attracted as Spencer is to the lovely Miss Mercer, he has vowed never to marry. But during a drinking escapade with his brother prior to his return to London, he unknowingly reveals the extent of his attraction to her.

A few months later, much to Spencer's surprise, Abigail shows up on his doorstep during a party, claiming to be his bride. Apparently Spencer's brother married them by proxy, with Abigail believing Spencer had wanted the marriage. Now the brother has disappeared with her considerable dowry in his possession. To avoid scandal, Spencer has concocted a scheme where he and Abigail will pretend to be happily married, until he can locate his brother. But even though the controlling Spencer is determined not to have a wife in truth, will he be able to resist Abigail's charms, especially since she wants them to remain married?

I was really looking forward to reading a book by this author, after reading some of the glowing reviews of her work. Obviously, I had rather high expectations of this book, and unfortunately it turned out to be a major disappointment. The story was lackluster and unoriginal. The main characters were one-dimensional cardboard cutouts that, along with their story, never managed to engage my emotions. In fact, this book was just plain boring. I kept expecting it to improve, but too late I realized this was as good as it would get. I did manage to finish it, but only because I began skimming to reach the ending sooner. The whole premise of why he didn't want to be married became ridiculous, after it was carried on for so long. I kept thinking, man, just tell her and get this over with!

On the bright side, there were a couple of places where the author did succeed in adding something humorous, but those few times were not worth the effort of reading this whole book. Even the sex became mundane and boring after awhile. Don't walk, but run away from this one!

Spencer Law, Viscount Ravenswood, travels with his younger brother "Nat" to the U.S. to meet on a business prospect with the owner of Mercer Medical Company. It is an instant attraction between and his lovely daughter, Abigail, but Spencer is quick to forget her, thinking never to see her again.

Abigail Mercer turns up, a year later to cause all sorts of confusion in Spencer's life. He is waiting Nat's return - for Nat's engagement part to Lady Eveline. Instead of Nat returning, Abigail shows up - and informs him they are married. She had met him once, but later married him "By Proxy". Spenser is loathe to learn Nat forged documents to the proxy marriage, stole all Abigail's inheritance, leaving her money to go to end.

Spenser is furious, and would like to dismiss his "bride", but far too many people know about this. Spenser never expected to marry because of a physical problem caused by a wound. So he proposes that "stay married" until he finds Nat and gets her money back.

But things are not as they seem in many corners and Nat may turn out to be a faery-godfather rather than a scoundrel, as Spenser begins to fall for Abigail.

Very warm and cuddling romance that leaves you with a smile on your face penned under a very deft hand.

Congratulations to Sabrina Jeffries on this effort. This gal can write comedy. I giggled and laughed through the amusing pages. Yet, I found the author still maintained an air of yearning and passion. Not a small feat!

The storyline is delightfully pure - a stuffy English Viscount and a beautiful, exotic woman. His attitude? "Appearance is everything." Her attitude? "Hogwash."

The year is 1821, and in a Philadelphia pub two brothers sit and drink hard cider. Spencer Law, the fifth Viscount Ravenswood daydreams and mutters about the maddening, intriguing Miss Abigail Mercer they recently met. After several mugs of cider, the normally reserved viscount even spouts love poetry. His brother watches in astonished fascination and an idea is born.

Viscount Ravenswood returns to his uncluttered life in England. Weeks later, Abigail Mercer travels to England to begin her role as his viscountess. One problem, Ravenswood is not Abigail's husband or is he? With this, Sabrina Jeffries opens the flood gates.

This talented author pens a cheerful, tantalizing book from the first page to the last. Spencer Law is a man who does not know what he is neglecting; Abigail Mercer is only too happy to show him. She is an adorable heroine; she is perpetually upbeat and methodically waves her magic wand over the viscount, the refined upper class, and the spellbound reader.

Truly, "Married to the Viscount" is an amusing, sensual book. Why not a perfect score? Disturbingly, this reader felt a contemporary touch in some struggles and expressions. Nevertheless, this is a good book, and I will continue my search for this clever author.

Grace Atkinson, Ontario - Canada.

This was a great book to read on a snowy day. I loved it. The main characters, Abby and Spencer, truly were likable. Too often in romance novels, one or other of the leads is likable, but the other is just so-so. Not in this case. They both were instantly likable. Abby is an American with a questionable pedigree. Spencer has a problem which keeps him from wanting to get married, but this problem wasn't overdone or unrealistic. I won't give spoilers, but this book moves along quickly, has some really funny secondary characters, and comes to a believable and satisfactory conclusion. I have always read Sabrina Jeffries. The Pirate Lord is one of my all-time favorites and Married to the Viscount is a keeper, also. Characters from the last book are mentioned and it was nice to see them again. All in all, this was an excellent book that was hard to put down.

This book was very disappointing. What could have been an incredibly clever vehicle and plot (the proxy marriage by the meddling younger brother) was a waste of a good idea in this novel. The characters were wooden and too concerned with one another's physical beauty, and the dialogue was unnatural and didn't flow. I was more intrigued by the minor characters (the brother and his fiance) than I was by the main characters. Not a ringing endorsement.

Setting, 1822, England and America --- The Viscount Ravenswood, Spencer Law, was in America with his younger brother "Nat" to investigate a business prospect with the owner and his daughter Abigail of Mercer Medical Company. Abby, soon demonstrated that American woman were a different breed from the insipid British aristocracy he was used to and Spencer letting go of some his normally reserved ways, was entranced. His brother Nat soon discovered that although, Spencer was intrigued with the lovely American, he would not act upon his attraction convinced that because of a war injury, he could `never' marry and beget an heir. On the eve of sailing home to England and bemoaning the fact that he would probably never see Abigail again, Nat, witnessed Spencer's uncharacteristic lapse of both getting foxed and quoting Byron's poetry in describing the lovely American and decided that he couldn't let this opportunity slip by.

Some months later, Spencer, was highly irritated that Nat had failed to show up for his betrothal dinner to Lady Eveline. He was furious at having to make excuses to her for his brother's tardiness when he was informed by his butler that he had an uninvited female visitor. A visitor claiming to be, of all things, Lady Ravenswood, his wife! Unaware of Nat's machinations, Abigail smilingly informed him that before sailing home a month earlier, his brother Nat had stood up for him and had married Spencer and her `By Proxy'. Evidently, it turned out that his brother Nat had forged documents in Spencer's name and now it appeared that he had absconded with Abigail's dowry. With the surprise announcement of their being a `Lady Ravenswood' made in front of the biggest gossip columnist in London, and in order to avoid a scandal over his brothers seemingly nefarious deed, a furious Spencer convinces Abby to go along with the ruse until he can locate Nat, get Abby's inheritance back to her, and extricate himself from this beautiful and too attractive `bride'.

Written with undeniable charm, humor and a beautifully scripted sensual love story, this latest offering by the master word-smith, Sabrina Jeffries, is sure to be a hit for the dedicated fans of this author. While I was really furious at times with Spencer's high handedness in dealing with the innocent and duped Abby, I forgave him at the end as the author skillfully wrote him a beautiful and touching redemption. The sensuality was really hot, especially the scene where Spencer fought so hard against his base inclination to ravage his wife, and she so innocently convinced him that they could just be `playing'. The dialog was witty and skillfully crafted secondary characters all added to making this a completely wonderful romance that will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy. - Submitted by Marilyn, Official Reviewer for www.historicalromancewriters.com ---

I actually liked this book quite a bit. It does not adhere to the standard romance recipe of a heroine in peril rescued by our hero. The premise is that a 'physically damaged' viscount is compelled by honor to marry an American whom he believes his brother has cheated and lied to. The lady, Abigail, is completely lost in aristocratic society, but is willing to learn to please the man she actually loves. Her husband, is deeply attracted to her, but is so bitter over his injury and so determined to maintain complete control that he will not allow himself to acknowledge his feelings. He is sometimes cruel in his defense of his barriers, but ultimately she breaks through by choosing to leave him rather than be emotionally tortured for the rest of her life. I like the roughness of both the characters. They are far from perfect and the author is willing to let us see that.