Customer Reviews

The Perfect Stranger (Merridew Series)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Once again Anne Gracie delivers! This third installment, "The Perfect Stranger," in the Merridew sisters series was a deeply satisfying read, proving to be as absorbing and as compelling as the other two books in the series ("The Perfect Rake" & "The Perfect Waltz"). However, readers used to swifter paced and more complex fare should be forewarned: while "The Perfect Stranger" truly was a wonderful read, and while the storyline was refreshingly different from the other two books in the series, the plot for "The Perfect Stranger" was rather straightforward one, with few frills and fancies.

Faith Merridew thought that she had found her soul-mate and love of her life when she met talented violinist, Felix Vladimir Rimavska and so eloped with the man to France in spite of her very proper upbringing. Unfortunately for Faith. she discovers too late that Felix had played her false, as he was already married and had actually courted and run off with her in order to win a bet. Her pride and good name in tatters, Faith leaves the cad and tries to return to England and her family. But it is a rather dangerous thing for a young, beautiful woman to travel alone with no escort and little money, and Faith soon finds herself destitute and in very dire straits indeed. And that's when Faith's luck suddenly changes for the better. Rescued from a gang of louts by Nicholas Blacklock (a veteran of the Peninsula Wars), Nicholas offers to rescue Faith's reputation by marrying her. Nicholas assures Faith that it will be a marriage of convenience, and has plans to send her back to England to live with his mother. But Faith has no intention of going quietly back to England. She senses that Nicholas is on a grave mission, and she's determined to prove her worth to him by sticking it out at his side. And already halfway in love with him, she's determined to win his love and approval as well....

There is much to recommend about "The Perfect Stranger" -- like how the author allows for Faith's self assurance to grow with each succeeding chapter, and how she showcases the love blossoms between the Faith and Nicholas (even though Nicholas refuses to admit his feelings for his wife for much of the book). In "The Perfect Stranger," Annie Gracie has written a novel about how two emotionally scarred people find each other and so discover a love they had quite given up on ever finding. And this makes for some rather poignant and satisfying reading. However, while the book could be characterised as an "adventure" romance novel, not very much happens adventure-wise -- there are no spies or murderers, etc for Nicholas to hunt or the group to run away from, nor are Nicholas and his friends on a revenge mission either. So that in spite of its on-the-road motif, "The Perfect Stranger" is essentially a quiet romance novel about the blossoming love. All in all, "The Perfect Stranger" was a very satisfying, romantic and moving love story, well worth the cover price, and its 5 star rating.

I'm not sure what to write about The Perfect Stranger and am a little at a loss about how to give it a fair star rating. I've decided on 3 stars, having initially given it 2. This is a road, cabin and "big secret" story. These are three things that almost inevitably annoy me in romantic fiction - admittedly a matter of personal taste. And, I have to say I thought Anne Gracie was running out of steam in this, the third instalment of stories about the Merridew sisters. Frankly, the fact that Faith Merridew had eloped and had a bigamous marriage and then was wandering alone on the beaches of northern France was a little to far-fetched for me - particularly as the previous books were not so unrealistic.

However, finally (for the first half of the book annoyed me - I nearly put it aside unfinished) the second half of the story started to pick up pace with the introduction of a gypsy (or perhaps Basque) character and her mysterious grandmother. At first I got even more annoyed because the story took on some rather fey and "magical" elements - something else that usually is a turn-off for me.

It was the last couple of chapters that lifted this book from 2 to 3 stars. The credulous but extremely emotional solution to the hero's problems (at last revealed) were movingly portrayed and even brought a tear to my eye.

I hope that if Anne Gracie is continuing the Merridew saga that she gets re-energised; otherwise, I think it is best left alone and she moves on to something else. As always, she writes extremely well but I did not think this story was up to the standards of the first two in the series.

I've been waiting for this third installment of the Merridew sister's saga and it did not disappoint. It's nice to have read the two previous books but it stands alone very well.We meet Faith Merridew on a French beach. She's being persued by a scruffy mini mob of lustful pigs thinking she's a skittish prostitute. She runs right into the arms of our hero Nicholas Blacklock, a waterloo veteran who's suffering mental and physical remnants of war. He protects her and introduces her to his companions. A rough Scot and his faithful retainer. They're on a mysterious journey back to the battlefields where all was lost.
This is essentially a marriage of convience/ road romance with a fresh twist. I appreciated that we were spared all the usual London Season hoop-la. Interesting secondary characters and great sexual tension makes this an outstanding read.

Faith Merridew left everything she's ever known to elope with a man whom she believed truly loved her. A full month after their supposed wedding Faith learns that her marriage is a fake. Not only is he already married, has five children, he's even lied about his nationality. With her reputation and heart in tatters, Faith sets out to return to England from Paris on foot with very few provisions. Faith crosses paths with her unlikely savior, Nick while evading her would-be rapists.

Nicholas Blacklock and his companions are traveling to the various battle sights where they'd lost friends. His years as a soldier have hardened him. He prefers sleeping outdoors to the comfort of a bed, which is the only reason that he was on the beach the night Faith was attacked. Nick harbors a secret that has him determined to keep Faith at a distance.

Faith's own parents had eloped and they'd been so happy. When Felix swept her off her feet and suggested eloping, Faith believed she was following in her parents footsteps. After learning of his deception returning to her home and siblings is her only acceptable option but as a woman traveling alone she's accosted by unsavory men and treated poorly by everyone else she's encountered. Her would-be rapists would have caught her eventually if Nick hadn't come to her rescue when she stumbled into his campsite. He fought them off and then took care of Faith's injuries and needs. He would have liked to delve more into the reason she's in such horrid condition and alone but one of his debilitating headaches strikes and it's morning before he hears the whole sordid tale. Aware of her precarious position Nick offers her a marriage of convenience. She'll have the protection of his name and he'll send her to stay with his mother while he and his companions continue with their mission. It seems like a simple plan until after the vows are exchanged. Faith takes them to heart - especially the "until death do us part" and thwarts Alex's efforts to send her away.

Readers are going to fall in love with Anne Gracie's THE PERFECT STRANGER. The characters are boldly endearing with larger than life personalities that kept me reading far into the night. I loved how Faith interacts with all the characters mentioned throughout this book but especially admire how she handles Nick's companions, Mac and Stevens. I had a truly wonderful time reading this story and fully intend to read the other books in this series as soon as I get the chance.

Even though THE PERFECT STRANGER is part of a series, it can be read alone. This book is the third one in Ms. Gracie's PERFECT series. Each book depicts the story of one of the Merridew girls, who are all named after virtues. THE PERFECT RAKE,THE PERFECT WALTZ, and THE PERFECT KISS are the other books that make up this series.

Chrissy Dionne (courtesy of Romance Junkies)

From the shards of shattered dreams, springs the sweet pairing of two tenderhearted souls. The story begins in France when "perfect stranger" Nicholas Blacklock rescues a tattered and desperate Faith Merridew from imminent gang rape. Faith has been alone on the road for days, having fled her musician "husband" of one month when she discovers he is already married. Faith eloped from England with this man, and now she is stranded in a foreign country, friendless, and recently robbed of her belongings. Moreover, she is a ruined woman who no decent man will want to marry. The next thing we know, Nick proposes that he marry Faith - albeit in name only - so that she can reclaim her reputation. She will then return alone to England, and he will continue on to Spain on a secret mission. Faith is reluctant to wed someone she has known for only a day. However, he is well-bred, affluent, a former army officer, and seems kind. And her circumstances are dire, so she agrees, and they wed the next day. Needless to say, "in name only" is sorely tested and fails miserably when Faith persuades Nick to let her join him. Yet he refuses to speak of love and is clearly distressed about something in the future. Faith desperately wants to help Nick, and wants to build a true marriage and have his child. Can true love triumph for this troubled twosome?

This was an emotional and gratifying read. Both leads were sympathetic and likeable, and I immediately wanted things to work out for them. I got caught up in guessing Nick's "big secret" and how it might be resolved. And I liked the mystical component and how it tied in with the rest of the story. The love scenes were a little simple and not that sensual, and a few more background details on Faith would have been helpful to those readers unfamiliar with the Merridew sisters' series. Still, the book had a good pace, moving dialogue and good cast of characters. I even enjoyed the quotes that begin each chapter. Nicely done.

Anne Gracie's Regency romances are definitely a notch above the average. Her "Perfect" series follows five sisters, all named after virtues (Prudence, Hope, Faith etc) as they find love. Although a series it's not necessary to read the books in order to enjoy any of the individual stories - they work fine as standalone books, this one particularly.

"The Perfect Stranger" focuses on Faith Merridew, twin sister of Hope, whose life at the outset of the book is a complete disaster. She has been tricked by a violinist into a sham marriage and has escaped him, only to find herself a social outcast, sleeping on the beach and in danger from various men. When chased by some men bent on rape she finds herself rescued by Nicholas Blacklock, a former soldier. All this happens right at the beginning of the book and it's a great and lively start to what becomes an engaging tale. Nick looks after Faith and soon offers her marriage to help her socially and to quieten his mother who has been trying to get him to marry for years. However Faith, once she feels a little more in control of her life, isn't willing to just wave goodbye to Nicholas as he journeys to Spain and Portugal on a mystery personal mission - she decides to travel along with him, hoping to turn their marriage into one more than name only.

Faith is a feisty heroine, a woman who is able to overcome incredible challenges - perhaps she's even too good to be true. Nicholas is the traditional tall dark and handsome but troubled hero that Faith wants to understand and help. The reader knows all along that there's something more going on in Nick's life - although most of the point of view of the story is Faith's we also occasionally dip into Nick's view. We also learn a little more about Nick's two companions, including the misogynistic Scotsman Mac, and there is even a side romance involving one of these characters.

The enjoyment in this story is that of the way in which Nick and Faith come to know each other and particularly in the way Faith manages to overcome her past (not particularly dwelt on in the story, we learn more of this in Prudence's story, "The Perfect Rake") and learn to be a suitable wife for a soldier. Of course there's a shock in this story which is trailed from fairly early on, and its resolution in some ways was slightly unsatisfying for me, but overall it was a very enjoyable story with a very different setting than usual - no balls, country houses and duels in this story, instead we read of travelling by foot and horse through France to Portugal with our characters sleeping on beaches and in open ground, suffering injuries and getting sunburned.

This is a very different story than Anne Gracie's other "Perfect" series to date, mainly in terms of the setting. The love story is sweet and not beset by the usually obligatory Big Misunderstanding or mutual hatred - our characters have other things going on to take their attention and that makes for a slightly different, but nonetheless enjoyable, read.

[...].

I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. It had some very interesting features in it like the healing scene which made it different to other books in this genre. The secondary characters added to the richness of the story, and I nearly cried when Faith realised Nicholas was very sick. My main criticism is that Faith's feelings about her previous relationship were glossed over. She jumped into Nicholas's bed far too quickly considering the era and what she had been through. Worth a read but not a keeper.

As I was reading this book, I was out of the story enough that I was aware that I wasn't enjoying it as much as the first two books in Anne Gracie's series. The storyline was okay, but I felt that it was somewhat implausible (I couldn't believe that Faith would have gotten herself into the trouble she got herself into, especially since she and her sisters shared such a close bond. It seems to me they should have been able to talk some sense into her.) The ending brought some serious emotion to the table, and it brought a tear to my eye. I'm glad I read it to keep up with what's happening with all the sisters, I only hope that the fourth book, The Perfect Kiss, is a little better than this one.

Anne Gracie's Regency romances are definitely a notch above the average. Her "Perfect" series follows five sisters, all named after virtues (Prudence, Hope, Faith etc) as they find love. Although a series it's not necessary to read the books in order to enjoy any of the individual stories - they work fine as standalone books, this one particularly.

"The Perfect Stranger" focuses on Faith Merridew, twin sister of Hope, whose life at the outset of the book is a complete disaster. She has been tricked by a violinist into a sham marriage and has escaped him, only to find herself a social outcast, sleeping on the beach and in danger from various men. When chased by some men bent on rape she finds herself rescued by Nicholas Blacklock, a former soldier. All this happens right at the beginning of the book and it's a great and lively start to what becomes an engaging tale. Nick looks after Faith and soon offers her marriage to help her socially and to quieten his mother who has been trying to get him to marry for years. However Faith, once she feels a little more in control of her life, isn't willing to just wave goodbye to Nicholas as he journeys to Spain and Portugal on a mystery personal mission - she decides to travel along with him, hoping to turn their marriage into one more than name only.

Faith is a feisty heroine, a woman who is able to overcome incredible challenges - perhaps she's even too good to be true. Nicholas is the traditional tall dark and handsome but troubled hero that Faith wants to understand and help. The reader knows all along that there's something more going on in Nick's life - although most of the point of view of the story is Faith's we also occasionally dip into Nick's view. We also learn a little more about Nick's two companions, including the misogynistic Scotsman Mac, and there is even a side romance involving one of these characters.

The enjoyment in this story is that of the way in which Nick and Faith come to know each other and particularly in the way Faith manages to overcome her past (not particularly dwelt on in the story, we learn more of this in Prudence's story, "The Perfect Rake") and learn to be a suitable wife for a soldier. Of course there's a shock in this story which is trailed from fairly early on, and its resolution in some ways was slightly unsatisfying for me, but overall it was a very enjoyable story with a very different setting than usual - no balls, country houses and duels in this story, instead we read of travelling by foot and horse through France to Portugal with our characters sleeping on beaches and in open ground, suffering injuries and getting sunburned.

This is a very different story than Anne Gracie's other "Perfect" series to date, mainly in terms of the setting. The love story is sweet and not beset by the usually obligatory Big Misunderstanding or mutual hatred - our characters have other things going on to take their attention and that makes for a slightly different, but nonetheless enjoyable, read.

Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book, [...]. © Helen Hancox 2007

I thoroughly enjoyed the first two books about the Merridew sisters and was very excited to get my hands on the third one. However, by about a third of the way through I simply could not believe I was reading a book by the same woman who wrote "The Perfect Rake". The story was dull, contrived, and -- I thought -- beyond unbelievable. I felt no connection with the characters, especially Faith. I did grit my teeth and finish "The Perfect Stranger", but sold it to 1/2 Price Books as soon as I could. The first two Merridew books were, to me, quite wonderful. This one simply did not measure up.