Prior Betrothal [Mass Market Paperback]

Elsie Lee (Author)

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback
• Publisher: Dell Publishing Co., Inc.; First Edition edition (1976)
• ASIN: B000GZG4A4
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,117,334 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Next Best To Heyer, August 21, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Prior Betrothal: A Novel of Regency England (Hardcover)

Although I doubt that anyone will ever manage to top Georgette Heyer at Regency novels, Elsie Lee comes closer than anyone else I've read and Prior Betrothal is one of her best. With the exception of the uncle who adopted her, Clytie Flower has been disowned by her family on the instructions of the head of family. However, on discovering a betrothal agreement signed by her father and the late Duke of Banglor, between her and the duke's heir, her uncle comes up with the idea of trading the duke an unbetrothal in exchange for the assistance of the dowager duchess in bringing Clytie out. The result is a charming and charmingly funny novel.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great characters, great dialogue, great plot, November 1, 2007

By 

Constant Reader (North Carolina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Prior Betrothal: A Novel of Regency England (Hardcover)

I have read and re-read this book many times and always finish it with great satisfaction. While I enjoy today's racy Regencies, it is refreshing to return to a time when all those pages currently devoted to sex scenes are instead used to turn mere characters into living breathing people who live on in your imagination long after the novel ends.

Clytie Flowers was adopted by her Uncle Ponty as an infant when her ramshackle father Reggie disappeared and her ancient regime mother died. The overbearing head of the family - the Earl of Vye - has forbidden anyone to recognize Reggie's "illborn brat," but Uncle Ponty is not quelled. However, when it comes time for the delightful Clytie to make her come-out, Uncle Ponty must implement a clever plot.

Using an almost forgotten betrothal contract which scapegrace Reggie concocted years ago with his friend the future Duke of Banglor, Uncle Ponty inveigles the powerful - an very handsome - current Duke of Banglor into his plan to circumvent obnoxious Vye.

This charming and delightful tale moves from the rural English countryside to glittering society London and on to Brussels and the Battle of Waterloo. Peopled with a plethora of fascinaing characters who speak their minds with great verve and wit, this is one book which proves it is possible to write a great romance with no more than a kiss.

4.0 out of 5 stars Early Elsie Lee, December 31, 2011

By 

J. Adamo (Carlsbad, NM USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Prior Betrothal: A Novel of Regency England (Hardcover)

I love Elsie Lee books. Got hooked on them when I was younger, and enjoy the European flavor and dry wit. I decided to try to collect all of the titles I can find, and was pleased to come across one I had not read before. The heroine in this one is young and finds herself betrothed to an older man who isn't interested in marriage. But, he agrees to be her uncle's friend, and introduce her to his aunt who will help, so she can have her London debut. Rich characters, and nice double, even triple romance follows. It is a good read.