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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Loretta Chase's only real competition is herself,
By
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This review is from: Not Quite A Lady (Mass Market Paperback)
Loretta Chase never disappoints. This isn't my favorite book by her, but it is worthy of her - it steers clear of the worst romance cliches, because it doesn't need them in order to build tension or generate heat. The writing is smooth and rich, characters are complex, there's a dose of fierce passion and of humor, too. A relationship between equals, a strong female lead, a good supporting cast.
That being said, it's not Loretta Chase's most powerful book - it doesn't have the sturm und drang of Lord of Scoundrels, or the hijinx and unexpected pathos of Mr. Impossible. It's a romance, not an adventure or a mystery - it takes place almost entirely over a period of a few weeks spent calmly in the country, and the two leads are mature, self-aware people who behave as such. There are complications, lives are changed, but even these earth-shattering events are rather domestic. But one thing I like about Loretta Chase is that she tries new things. Among books of this kind, the ones that revolve around house parties and match making and the profitiability of country estates, with occasional references to pig breeding and wall hangings, this one is head and shoulders above the rest.
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ms. Chase is sublime...a joy from beginning to end,
By statengirl (Massachusetts, USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Not Quite A Lady (Mass Market Paperback)
A most deserving heroine haunted by a painful secret from her past is given a second chance at happiness in this outstanding romance by Loretta Chase. Forced at barely seventeen to give up her illegitimate baby - fathered by a scoundrel who deserted her and then died - Lady Charlotte Hayward in reality gave up her self. She has never recovered from the shame and the loss, which have haunted her these past ten years. Although beautiful and highly prized, she has never married. She knows she is not a virgin, and is unwilling to deal with the attendant lies and deceptions. She is wary of men and lives a scrupulously proper and chaste life. Long buried is the passionate and playful girl of her youth.
Charlotte's father (who never knew of the child) feels it is long past time his beloved daughter marries. He arranges a house party filled with eligible bachelors for one month hence, and asks that Charlotte select a husband from among the group. Totally panicked, Charlotte runs to collect her thoughts and bumps into her new neighbor, Darius Carrington. Darius, a resolute bachelor and expert on animal husbandry (!), is trying to restore his newly acquired, but long abandoned, property. Charlotte is exceptionally rude to him, pegging him just another profligate playboy, and he in turn mercilessly teases and torments her for her frills and propriety. But they are acutely aware of each other as well. For the first time in forever Charlotte feels alive - and hungers for a man's touch. And for the first time EVER, Darius yearns for the comfort of a marriageable miss. But with marriage NOT on the menu (or so they both think), what is this couple in lust to do? I don't usually gush, but I LOVE THIS BOOK! It's the kind I can read over and over as the years pass and never tire of it. Perfectly put together from beginning to end, it is a superb blend of sentimental and sassy, sexy and sweet - and it is so infinitely satisfying. Loretta Chase is such a unique voice in historical romance. Her sly humor is her stock-in-trade and it is sublime, but she also hits all the right emotional notes: Charlotte's grief and longing for the son she held for only moments is palpable; her joy infectious; her newfound ardor so touchingly sweet. And Darius is a romantic hero to be cherished. Laugh-out-loud funny and wise one moment, he is achingly gentle the next. I literally choked up at one point - as did Charlotte - at his tender assurances. It is a rare author who moves so seamlessly between laughter and tears, joy and despair, all while creating a loving romance. But Ms. Chase has done it. This book is a treasure.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful read avoiding romance novel cliches,
This review is from: Not Quite A Lady (Mass Market Paperback)
I feel compelled to share how delighted I was with Ms. Chase's novel. There was no 'misunderstanding' interlude where the protagonists believe the worst of each other ; there was no hero lashing out at his lady (or vice versa) because s/he was afraid to love and then some unfortunate circumstance had to bring them back together.
The book wonderfully shows their relationship unfolding, and the 'impediment' as it were - the Colonel- was nicely sidestepped, but there was enough building up to where I was worried what would happen. An enjoyable and refreshing read!
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