Customer Reviews

A Most Unsuitable Man (Signet Historical Romance)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Every romance reader deserves to be gifted with a novel like "A Most Unsuitable Man" every now and then -- a novel where the hero is honourable and thrilling, the heroine is intelligent and determined and where the romance is both passionate and poignant. A follow-up of "Winter Fire," this is, for me anyway, one of the best romance novels that Jo Beverly has written to date.

Damaris Myddleton has just inherited her ruthless father's fortune. And having lived quietly in the country near penury all these years, has decided that what she wants is to belong to the glittering world of the aristocracy. But in order to do that she would have to marry a titled gentleman. And after careful consideration, she settles on the impoverished Marquess of Ashart. Except that Ashart, having fallen in love with his aunts' companion, Genova Smith, opts to marry Genova instead, much to Damaris' humiliation. Now she must look for some other impoverished aristocrat to marry. Definitely she shouldn't waste any time of Ashart's good friend, Mr. Fitzroger. An adventurer, with a scandalous past and no money, Mr. Fitzroger is exactly the sort of person she should avoid. Except for the fact that he seems to understand her completely, that he makes her pulses and has agreed to stand her friend. Thrown together by unforeseen circumstances, Damaris and Fitzroger find themselves working together to untangle a tantalising secret; and the more Damaris comes to know Fitzroger, the more she begins to wonder about her plan to marry a title. After all, shouldn't an heiress be able to buy what she wants? And if she should want an adventurer who fires her blood and who matches her in intelligence and temperament, what's to stop her...

I've always preferred Jo Beverly's Georgian romances to her Regency-ear ones. Perhaps it's because she's given her Georgian heroes and heroines different temperaments from her Regency ones. Somehow, her Georgian heroes usually expect the heroines to be intelligent and independent and courageous, and all bent out of shape if the heroine actually has a thought in her head! This was definitely the case in "A Most Suitable Man." Damaris and Fitzroger were (obviously) a perfectly matched pair: Fitzroger was noble and honourable, while Damaris was determined and courageous. Each appreciated the other's sterling qualities, and worked well together to achieve their goal. And this, more than anything else, raised the passionate romance that developed between them to the level of a "once-in-a-lifetime-love." So that all in all, I'd vote this as a romance novel not to be missed, and a definite keeper.

Jo Beverley is a prolific writer and I have read *a lot* of her books; I think that "A Most Unsuitable Man" is perhaps my favorite. This story is an off-shoot of the Georgian period Malloren series (although other Malloren family members are in this book, everyone except for Rothgar is just wallpaper.) I *loved* both the hero and the heroine in this book and the plot was definitely a page-turner.

Damaris Myddleton is the daughter of a wealthy merchant who was "little better than a pirate" and an heiress with a mission--to marry as high up in the aristocracy as her vast fortune will allow. After single-mindedly pursuing the cash-strapped Marquess of Ashart, she suffers the humiliation of having Ashart publicly announce his betrothal to his aunt's beautiful but impoverished companion, Genova Smith, at the Malloren family Christmas celebration. To hide her shame, Damaris tries to flee Rothgar Abbey only to be stopped in her foolish flight by Ashart's friend, Octavius Fitzroger. Fitzroger is a handsome, penniless adventurer with a scandalous past--"most unsuitable" husband material but sooooo attractive and supportive that Damaris finds herself drawn to him.

Fitzroger is a first-class hero--honorable, intelligent, brave, and gorgeous. Only barely tolerated in society because of a *very* scandalous incident in his youth, Fitz is a loyal friend to Ashart and is secretly acting as his bodyguard. Damaris is not your run-of-the-mill heroine. An unabashed social climber who has had her lawyers draw up dossiers on eligible, impoverished peers, she goes after what she wants with impressive single-mindedness. When Fitzroger surprises her with a kiss, she surprises him right back by pushing him down and kissing him *very* thoroughly. She is a smart, passionate, determined young lady and I liked her alot. Charmingly, Damaris and Fitz are attracted to qualities in each other that other people tend to overlook or find unattractive.

The story moves along well with sub-plots of attempted murders and undisclosed royal marriages, but the book is truly about Damaris coming to realize that what she really should use her fortune to pursue is her own heart's desire.

In summary, this is an exceptionally good Georgian period romance with a compelling hero and heroine. I usually don't like pictures of the hero on the cover of my books (because they are nearly always so very cheesy), but I have to admit the cover model on this one is a hottie.

Highly recommended.

In 1763 wealthy Damaris Myddleton is stunned when Marquess Ashart proposes to poor companion Genova Smith instead of her. She had set her sights on him and thought he would marry her if for no other reason than he needs money. Realizing she made a fool of herself, she flees, but is stopped by Ash's pal impoverished former soldier Octavius Fitzroger, who persuades her to hold her head up high. She turns to her host Lord Rothgar, family patriarch and asks him to be her guardian instead of the elderly avaricious Henry Malloren; he agrees with the stipulation that she serve as companion to Genova.

Rothgar also hired Fitzroger to keep Ash safe from an unknown assailant. As Fitz watches over Ash and Damaris spends time with Genova, they become acquainted and begin to fall in love, which interferes with his task. It helps though frustrates Fitz that she wants a title so he is A MOST UNSUITABLE MAN for a social climber like her.

The latest Malloren tale is a fine Georgian romance but readers at first will be very cold towards the heroine until she is endangered. The story line is fast-paced on two sub-plots that of the romance between Fitz and Damaris and the attempts to kill Ash. Jo Beverley effortlessly brings these two themes together along with the return of cast from previous novels into a finely honed historical.

Harriet Klausner

Ah! Taming of the Shrew?

Not quite, but close enough.

Damaris, (lovely name) last seen shrieking & threating in the original book has a wonderful background to unveil as a plausible explanation for her grasping behaviour.

Her father was a merchant and varment of the high seas, and Damaris unabashedly shares his piratical tendencies. A girl after my own heart - in fact, just as ungracious at accepting a compliment. Applauded on her name, Damaris states baldly, "it means heifer in Greek". ..

So, likeable although occasionally dense heroine, handsome and clever hero - oh yes, a little about him. Fitzroger is a bit of a henchman for the redoubtable Malloren Duke, as well as being the good friend and sometime hanger-on for the man Damaris had planned to marry, Ashart.

Terribly honorable, not a bit servile and a wonder with the rapier!

And the plot, the plot the plot. Well... Damaris has been a bit of a vixen in the previous book and now must overcome her somewhat nasty reputation to make a suitable match. Being the girl she is, she determines to make the best match she can ie, the highest title she can purchase and has the notion to buy a Duke.

Reality steps in the way a little when she must realise that she doesn't in fact want a Duke, and there are plenty of obstacles to be overcome, such as a lurking menace which Fitzroger is meant to guard against.

And we all know how the heroine must fall in love with her guard!

kotori 2005

4.5 stars. This is my first book by this author and it won't be my last. I found AMUM a delightful read with interesting storylines-both the main plot and the sub-and even when things cradled the line of unbelivablity, it was still entertaining. In truth the only thing I was confused on was the whole Prince Henry Stuart plot. We went through so much to unearth the truth and the very thing we feared is confirmed and then...nothing. That whole line of intrigue was completely anti-climatic. It looks like I'm in the minority when I say I liked Demaris (didn't care for the name though) I liked the fact that she was no great beauty AND she wasn't a martyr. The last thing another historical romances need is another martyr. I didn't understand the thirst for a title-but then again maybe it was the pirate in her. Fritz was chrismatic enough and he did all the right things. But no--they didn't blow me away as a couple-but I wasn't turned off by them either. Overall: a very good read.

In so many of the novels out now, the male aristocrat looks for an heiress to marry but ends up marrying the poor girl for love...this book is the complete opposite...Damaris the heiress is looking to marry to gain a title and ends up marrying a poor man for love...the characters are not ordinary and boring...both have been described plain in appearance but of course, attractive in their own way. Damaris is spunky no weak, whinny miss and Fitz is a strong man without being overbearing and bossy...

Jo Beverley rarely disappoints and succeeds again with A Most Unsuitable Man. Her characters are never perfect, but always interesting. As in real life, two people who have flaws find out that they can still love each other in spite of (or maybe because of) these flaws. This book, like all of Jo Beverley books, is not particularly easy reading (i.e.above 8th grade level), but it is a most suitable book for reading by the fire in the middle of a snowstorm!!!

Damaris Myddleton has recently become an heiress, and plans to buy herself a titled husband. To that end, she's made a list of eligible gentlemen who need her fortune. She's nothing if not practical, our Damaris.

Fitz is the perfect match for Damaris. He's calm and logical where she's no less logical, but lets her emotions get in the way occasionally. He takes her in hand, helps her salvage the situation, all the while reassuring her that she doesn't have to worry about him--after all, he's a 'most unsuitable man'.

Fitz, by the way, has his hands full. As if Damaris herself wasn't a handful, he's also been charged by Rothgar with protecting Ash from a danger Rothgar refuses to clarify, and is further enjoined to keep his protection a secret, even from Ash.


The Good:
The gender role reversal. It's usually the hero who's made plans regarding marriage that end up blowing up in his face because he hasn't taken love and fate into account, and it's fun and refreshing to see the same thing happen with a bright, determined heroine.
The blend of romance and adventure. The romance develops along with the danger, and the two combined kept me turning pages long past my bedtime.
The series development. Part of the Malloren series, it takes place right after Winter Fire. Damaris had expected to marry Ashart, the hero from Winter Fire, and when his engagement to Gemma is announced, she.... well, she makes quite a spectacle of herself.
Jo Beverley's writing. The vivid characters, the humor, the plots. And Rothgar.

The Bad:
Damaris takes some getting used to. Her temper tantrum made me wince, and she tended toward the emotional and the dramatic.

The Verdict:
It's always a treat when I find a new Jo Beverley novel in the mail, and A Most Unsuitable Man is no exception.

"A Most Unsuitable Man," features "piratical" heiress Damaris Myddleton who must marry a suitable man, a man with title, honor and her means to the upper echelon of Georgian society. She sets her sights on the Marquess of Ashart, but her plans to marry him was thwarted by his announcement of his engagement to his aunt's companion, Genova Smith. Damaris was so humiliated by this turn of events she ran away only to be brought back by Ashart's friend and confidante, Octavius Fitzroger. Octavius Fitzroger is indeed a most unsuitable man for Damaris' specifications of the man she wanted to marry but her heart dictates that Fitz, despite his dark past, is the one for her.

I like Damaris for fighting for Fitz despite the risks and the uncertainty of her future with him. But I love Fitz for being a true knight in "dented" yet shining armour, he wanted to protect Damaris from himself thus almost losing his chance to true happiness.

Hmm well, I really like Ms Beverley's writing style and I treasure several of her books but this one puzzled me.

It certainly is cleverly and very prettily written and gives you a good depiction of that famous 'different atmosphere' of the 18th century but I found myself utterly uninterested in the romance. Damaris and Fitz were atypical romance characters and I couldn't wait to see what Ms Beverley had in store for them. But I was quickly disappointed. I relished all those little details pertaining to the period but couldn't have cared less what happened to the protagonists. I never felt the 'spark' or tension I'm looking for between two lead characters in a romance novel. They had issues: Damaris really wanted to 'buy' herself a title by marrying a nobleman and wouldn't give in to a commoner like Fitz; Fitz felt he was not good enough for her and didn't want to be taken for a fortune hunter. I never really cared about those issues; both Damaris and Fitz clung to those pretexts for far too long before setting them aside most abruptly and in an unsatisfactory manner.

The Famous Rothgar appeared briefly at the beginning of the novel and ruined the good impression I had of him after reading Devilish. The lead couple from Beverley's Winter Fire featured heavily in A Most Unsuitable Man and burdened an already muddled and unbelievable 'mystery' plot.

I was really prepared to love this book and it pains me to admit that I couldn't. The beautiful and clever prose (like the rhyming game for example) couldn't make up for the improbable mystery plot or the unsatisfactory romance unfortunately.