Customer Reviews

Marry the Man Today

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

 

 

In 1853 suffragette supporter Elizabeth Dunaway plans an incident to insure she will be arrested as a way of protesting the lack of women's rights. However, her scheme goes awry when Earl Ross Carrington rescues her. Even more shocking Elizabeth is forced to marry her "hero" for proprietary sake.

Though a bride attracted to her spouse, Elizabeth continues her support of women's rights working as a conductor on the underground train that helps abused females to flee an untenable situation. At the same time, Ross keeps a vigil on developments in Russia and Austria that could impact England. When their two ventures suddenly merge, they realize they love one another, but first England is in jeopardy.

MARRY THE MAN TODAY is a strong Victorian romantic suspense that grips the audience from the moment that Ross rescues Elizabeth and never slows down until the final altercation. The story line is action-packed starring two courageous champions although their respective causes differ. Fans obtain an intriguing look at the frustrations of the early suffragettes struggling against a tide of "family values" that assumes a woman needs a man for food, shelter and safety/protection. Though the merging of the two subplots seems strained, readers will appreciate this fine historical tale.

Harriet Klausner

I liked Needham's previous books, so I picked this one up right away at the local bookstore. That said, following is a short synopsis. Elizabeth Dunaway is a beautiful, 19th century feminist, who is by her own rights, wealthy and smart. She's an intelligent business woman who owns a book shop (which carries books geared towards the rights of women), and the first exclusive women's private club, i.e. White's on estrogen. Enter the hero - Ross Carrington, Earl of Blakestone, diplomat for the government, all around good guy. Predictably, he sees her, wants her, and ends up "saving" her after she is thrown into prison for disorderly conduct - leading a women's march for rights.

For me, the book was entirely boring. The characters were one dimensional. Elizabeth is portrayed as the perfect woman, always does the right thing, always is successful...in other words, she can do no wrong. So is Ross. There is no depth within the characters, no sexual chemistry. It was a struggle to get through, took me days, I even chose to do laundry instead of reading the book. Even Elizabeth's close friends were more interesting. The characters were flat, the plot was flat, the ending was flat. Not sure if the author was hurrying to meet a deadline, or the characters didn't appeal to her, so she just wrote a mediocre storyline for them.

Unlike some of the other reviewers, I read this book in one evening and enjoyed it. It brought home what women at this time faced. I liked the fact that Elizabeth was a feminist who was also able to have a strong supportive husband and live "happily ever after"

But my impressions was....yeck. Thin plot, thin characters, thin historical content. The best point of the book is the understanding of the position of women in the 1800's. But I was so strongly reminded of the scene in 'Mary Poppins' where the mother goes and campaigns for the right to vote. I got the impression that if you have not read the previous books, you just wouldn't 'get it'.

Each chapter opens with a scene that is poorly developed with action and details I was forced to decipher. It made me wonder if I skipped a few pages of exposition. Needham tried to write a mystery/romance. But the only mystery was her plot. Also I didn't like the bickering of the femminist heroine Elizabeth. She was annoying. This book is a definite raspberry (stick your tongue out and blow).

I didn't dislike the authors writing style. The book moved along and though the characters were thin, I liked them. I haven't read the previous books with some interconnecting characters and I wonder if I had read them first if these characters would have seemed fuller. Even the interconnected characters were light weight in this book.

Overall, this is a fluffy, feel good book, that moves fast and leaves the world in a good place.