Customer Reviews

The Nobody (Signet Regency Romance)

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Caitlin Campbell, daughter of an impoverished mere Mr, is enjoying a Season in London as the guest of her aunt, the widow of a baronet. However, although she's made friends with an earl's daughter, there are others who consider her a mere nobody. It is the consequence of hearing the Lady Elizabeth refer to her as such at a ball that Caitlin is walking home alone late one night. A strange man crashes into her, running away from some footpads, and as a ruse to evade his pursuers he grabs Caitlin and kisses her senseless.

At a subsequent entertainment, Caitlin recognises her assailant as Richard, Lord Kilverton; and to her mortification he recognises her too. He begins to tease her, and she realises just how attracted she is to him - and he to her. But Kilverton is betrothed, and to the same Lady Elizabeth who looked down her nose at Caitlin.

How can Richard and Caitlin find love, when betrothals are - for a gentleman, at any rate - as sacrosanct as marriage? Can Richard's sister Serena help at all? His irrepressible friend Ned? Or Caitlin's demure and shy sister Emily? (Plenty of secondary romances in this delightful novel!)

There is also a further issue to resolve: just why was Richard being chased in the first place, and why does he keep falling victim to accidents? Could it be that his life is in danger? And why?

Diane Farr is another Regency writer whose books I would order without question, without waiting for reviews. Her books are, without fail, witty, sparkling, romantic and very much in character for the period. She's been likened to Georgette Heyer, and with good reason. This book, her first, is a stunning debut, and deserves all the praise which has been heaped upon it....

I can thoroughly recommend Diane Farr, and if you like this book you'll certainly like her others!

What a great debut novel from Diane Farr! Its fun, witty, there is sparkling conversation, and wonderful little historical touches which don't intrude into the story and good story line to boot. I think Farr has got a natural talent for writing really good mass character scenes - the opening scene to this book which is around the Breakfast table was hilarious.

The story is about heroine Caitlin, or Catie who is propelled into London society but does not make a hit at all - in fact she is referred to rather scathingly as a nobody - however a chance encounter in the darkened street with a rakish gentleman changes everything. The man turns out to be Lord Kilverton and there is a definitely a spark between these two, but he has been rash enough to betroth himself to serpent tongued and socially high-brow Serena.

I loved the story and Farr's light handling of it. Mind you, I've never enjoyed laboured angsting or modern heroines dressed up as Regency Misses who pepper some romances. I think Farr captures the age and the humour of the sort of Regency I like. Light, good-humoured fun - and with a hero and heroine I really enjoyed.

After struggling through some of the worst Regency romances (by Hendrickson, Heath, to name just a few) this was truly a refreshing and wonderful book. Thank you Ms. Farr for researching the era properly, for having an actual plot befitting this era, and especially for your sense of humor so well portrayed by your principal characters! This "tongue-in-cheek" style was delightfully humorous but didn't cross the line into just plain meanness as some other supposedly funny writers have done! Please give us MORE!! And More!! Everybody who likes Regencys MUST read this one!!

THANK YOU!!!!

Aunt Harriet has offered to sponsor Caitlin and her sister, Emily for a London season. Although Emily is expected to make a good match, Caitlin is considered to be "on the shelf". She is determined to enjoy her time in London however and devotes her time to making new friends. When she makes friends with Lady Serena Kilverton she suddenly starts to move in very fashionable circles and ends up meeting the man of her dreams. Of course, the path of true love never runs smooth and he is already engaged to a rather nasty woman who is determined to marry well. In the end, things work out for the best and everyone lives happily ever after. Diana Farr has likeable characters and a sweet romance with just a touch of intrigue.

When a book receives as much praise as this one has, my expectations are set unreasonably high, making disappointment almost inevitable when I finally read the novel. I was not disappointed in THE NOBODY. The writing was good, the heroine believable and sympathetic, and the hero utterly wonderful.

In an age where many historical romances are ruined by creeping modernism, it was refreshing to read an old-fashioned Regency where the author stayed true to the mores of the time.

"First" novels are often difficult to get through because the author doesn't have the mileage under her belt to pull it off with panache and polish. I know of seasoned authors who would just as soon have the public forget their first book.

Ms. Farr's THE NOBODY is a worthy first effort which will do her justice long after she is famous. I look forward to her next book.

Ms. Farr is a treasure. She knows the regency and, even more wonderful, her characters seem actually to be from the period. They think and feel and behave in accord with the rules and preoccupations of that long ago space in time. And they fall so delightfully in love.

I purchased this on a friend's recommendation and I thoroughly loved it! Farr is definately a reader to watch!

The Nobody is a wonderful romp that no Regency reader will want to miss. It featured beautiful prose, with very well-written characters and an interesting plot. I plan to order her back list now.

I really enjoyed this well-written and entertaining Regency. I usually don't read today's Regency novels, since I haven't found any modern writer who comes near the mark set by Georgette Heyer, but this author comes pretty darn close.

Diane Farr's first novel, The Nobody, is beautiful, touching, charming, and exuberant. As in all her novels, Farr brings her characters alive in an intensely entertaining way and embeds them in an absorbing story that keeps the reader turning the pages as quickly as possible. At the same time, it's so pleasurable to slow down and savor the snappy repartee that Farr creates as her delightful hero and heroine fall in love.

Country miss Caitlin Campbell is a kind, good-natured, intelligent, and witty breath of fresh air in the stuffy London season of 1818. Having little hope of marrying at the ripe old age of 22, she is nevertheless thrilled to accompany her younger sister to visit their London aunt,who sponsors them among the ton.

Caitlin, however, soon meets a dashing noble, Lord Richard Kilverton, who both shocks and attracts her with his bold actions and words. Drawn together against their wills and sustained by immensely entertaining banter, Richard and Caitlin cannot, however, voice their feelings for one another.

Richard is engaged to a cold, shrewish prig who makes it her business to attempt to banish Caitlin from polite society.

At the same time, there appears to be a plot against Richard's life, which serves to bring him and Caitlin closer while also endangering her. As usual, Farr plays out the plot twists in the most satisfying way possible.

The Nobody is a delightful romp that no romance lover will want to miss. It is beautifully written, with words that sing to the reader's senses while touching her heart with uplifting characters and situations. Farr's novels are always life-affirming, reminding us of the goodness and value of humanity. Any reader will be glad to spend time in their presence.

I believe I have read all that is published (books, not anthologies) by Diane Farr. The quality of her stories varies but never dips down to match some of the tripe I have (sadly) read passing as a Regency Romance.

This book, I think, is the best of them. The heroine is a person who could have (might have) actually existed, she *rings true*. The hero is, of course, rich and handsome but he is also believable.

The secondary characters are amusing or annoying, as they are meant to be. All in all, I read this right through, impatient of the real life that got in the way of my reading. That is rare enough for me. I wish there were some new Diane Farr books.

The publishers seem to find and print some amazing garbage that passes for romantic but they pass on Diane Farr, a writer with skill and humor. Go Figure.