Customer Reviews

A Proper Companion

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(26)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I picked this book simply because it was a Candice Hern novel, and I don't regret it. This book, her first published, is as delightful as her later novels.

Emily has always been the proper companion and dutiful spinster who earned her keep. But then she meets Robert, Earl of Bradleigh, who completely throws her life out of whack. When her employer, the dowager Countess and Robert's grandmother, decides to go to London to celebrate Robert's recent engagement, Emily goes along and makes a splash in society. As Emily gains more notice, Robert realizes that he wants out of his engagement to pursue to lovely Emily himself!

This book is full of very charming characters that the reader grows to adore. The plot keeps moving and, except for a few long-winded sections, doesn't introspect too much. A few scenes seem contrived and predictable, but the book as a whole is fun to read.

As much as I try I really don't have much to complain about. It was a pretty good story line. Emily was a nice character not overly interesting and the Earl seemed the same. My favorite character was the Dowager and her crafty ways. The Dowager was the comic relief and I looked forward to her antics along the way. If not but for her, there would be no intervention or romance between the two. Over all a easy nice escape for a few hours read. try it I think you will like it.

The great price was the original attraction here, so I was pleasantly surprised to find myself quickly immersed in an engaging Regency Romance. Emily, our genteel heroine, accepts her unfair lot in life with grace. We are permitted to glimpse her in any number of roles, which she plays with aplomb and humor. Robert, the grandson of Lady Bradleigh, Emily's employer, is a gregarious character more suited to Emily's character than the arrogant, taciturn Lords typically cast in this role. Unfortunately Robert has already offered for Lady Augusta Windhurst, a decision made from his head, not his heart. The characters in this story, especially Lady Bradleigh with her little pug dog, are very enjoyable and the story moves swiftly. What I liked best about it, however, is that the connection between Emily and Robert is based on more than lust, and the reader can't help but believe these two would be wonderfully happy together. *sigh*

Let me start off by saying I never purchase a kindle book without
reading through the reviews first.
Unfortunately the reviews I read for this novel have let me down.
The two main characters Emily and Robert were insipid.
There were too many unnecessary side characters (I think the author introduces every servant in the entire household) The plot is explained well before the characters know whats happening and I don't mean implied either, the scene between the protagonist and his son clearly states their intentions towards the heroin so there is never any excitment or mystery. In fact the reader must then go through the frustrating process of following the characters as they discover what we have known for the past 8 chapters.
Another frustration I found was having to read 5 pages of Emily and Robert coming to terms with their feeling for each other, why they
feel this way, how they can never be together etc, etc, etc..only to have to go through it all again the next time they come in contact with each other.
And why must Robert, once he discovered that the love of his life was in immanent danger, feel the need to do a lap of the ball room, explain the protagonists motives to his friend (just incase we hadn't worked it out?) undergo a full and very detailed change of clothing, participate in a public break up with his fiancé, explain the reason for the break up to his cousin and give him his permission to pay his addresses to his now x fiancé and then and only then does he feel the need to go running off to save the day!?
There was just so much written in this book that was neither relevent or even neccisary. One would think that if the auther felt the need to describe the way the heroin, lost in thought, drops a peice of parchment then it must be vital to the plot but no...she picks it up again.
The story line had a lot of potential but the novel needed editing badly!

First and foremost my rating has more to do with my own personal preference of romance than to do with Hern's abilities as a writer. For me this story just dragged on for to long without anything actually happening. Traditional is the perfect description for this style of regency romance and that's just not my cup of tea but it was free so I thought I'd give it a shot. Everything was very proper and the smuttiest it got was a kiss about 75% of the way into the book. There were moments of wittiness on the author's part but I just didn't find myself caring much for either of the characters. It did seem to pick up at the end but by then I was pretty much over it and skimmed it to the end. It was a sweet story and the writing was very good so if you like a more traditional romance than this is certainly a great choice, I guess I just like mine a little trashier.

This one caught my eye and I was in a Jane Austin mood. I thought I'd give this author a try with a free book, and now I want to read all of her books. I highly recommend this story for anyone who loves Jane Austin. Unlike some who write in this style, it was easy to read and understand what the characters were saying. The plot flowed well with just enough detail to flesh out the picture in my mind without making it boring. There was plenty of romance that makes the heart flutter while keeping it a clean read.

A great romance in a 'proper' time period. I loved it. It's a keeper for me.

This was a quick, sweet read. It was written well and had all the great elements of a good love story. I liked the main character, she was strong and consistent. This is completely worth the 99 cents on amazon. It was fairly clean for a romance novel, they do go a little beyond kissing and there is a plotted rape. But the story would make a great BBC movie!

I really do enjoy reading Regency Romance "Chick Lit" type novels every now and then - but I was a little let down with this one.

After reading the reviews I think I must have been expecting the book to be 'more'... I found this light weight and predictable. The style of writing and language used is very basic. But I did read this right through to the end and as in true form the heroine Emily gets her man Robert, Earl of Bradleigh. Which is always pleasing.

I think I am too much of a Jane Austen or Elizabeth Gaskell fan - where their style of writing is an artform in itself.

2 Stars from me.

Torn between 1 and 2 stars I chose 2 because I'm actually going to finish the book. I had hoped that it would be, while not perhaps a Jane Austen, at least along the lines of Georgette Heyer, but it was not to be. The author is a horrible writer. Her characters are not only unrealistic but they also speak and act in a very modern way, totally incompatible with the century they are supposed to be living in. Here are some quotes, which should make clear the style of writing, etc.

"So," she said, making a show of ogling his lordship from top to toe. "This is the notorious Lord Bradleigh. Tell me, my lord," she said, a twinkle in her eyes belying her stern expression, "are you quite as wicked as one hears?"
"Much more so, I assure you." He offered a grin that was positively wicked.
"But I am told you are soon to marry," she said. "Surely that will interfere somewhat with your...er...normal activities?"

If you like reading modern romance novels maybe you will like this book. If you like good writing more than romance, then save your $2.00 because this book's not worth it.

This novel is no more and no less than you'd expect. The characters had basically good development, and the prose itself was well-written, but the plot was inane - I felt like I'd read the same book before in other novels. The ending especially seemed shallow and contrived. For a free read I thought it was more or less worth the couple hours that I spent reading it. But I would have been decidedly underwhelmed if I had paid for the book.