Customer Reviews

The Second Lady Emily (Signet Regency Romance)

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

 

 

First of all the heroine name is Cherlynn not Candace(what book were you people reading)? This is a story about a woman who has had alot of bad breaks, is Not beautiful nor is she very successful at her chosen profession. Who has the opportunity,at first against her will, to make right a great wrong by going back in time. While it's a shame that she wasn't accepted for how she looked or what she was in the present she has a second chance to take the "essence" of what she is and repackage it in a more desirable form. I LOVED her intellegence and the way she was able to show it off and correct all the things that went wrong. Ah, if it were only that easy. For all those who had trouble believing the evil woman of the piece, where is equality here. Woman can be just as evil as men and sometimes, unfortunately, do it better. And excuse me but this is a time travel book so what's the difference. Besides it only made the punishment all the more satisfactory. I also like the way the author wrote the last chapter to mirror the first only with a twist. It was very clever. And if I'm a little unhappy that there wasn't a little more "romance", I guess you can't have everything. Besides I have a good imagination so I can fill in the blanks. All in all I think the heroine came out looking better than the hero, but then it was her story anyway. And in the end they each got what they needed most, love and acceptance.

This was a tremendous romp -- and the best of the time-trave subgenre I've read. The heroine, who is *not* beautiful in her contemporary persona, is transported back to a beautiful body, in danger of her life from the (mal)practice of medicine there/then, and about to watch the man she loves as he is forced into a loveless marriage to another. As the "second" Lady Emily, she is realistic (she misses her Reeboks!), feisty, and manages not to "blow her cover" to anyone but her beloved. Fortunately she read (and tried to write) Regency romances in our time, and so had her own knowledge to draw upon; it also allows her to comment on things *we* would notice. One of my favorite parts was her explanation to her maid of the sudden change in her demeanor. The hero is grand also -- bright, questioning, believable, and good looking! Truly a fine story, and well done.

I agree with Romantic Times' review saying that Allison Lane is a "Superlative storyteller." There is a lot of emotional intensity in this story, something that we jaded romance readers long for and can never get enough of. The Second Lady Emily has a particularly sympathetic heroine and a dynamic hero as well. I highly recommend this book not just to Regency fans but to fans of time travel and fantasy, and fans of an excellent, compelling love story.

I bought this book for the novelty of the premise and the goodreviews on this site. However, I just can't concur with the otherreviewers' opinions of it. The 'setup' elements of it just seemed utterly ridiculous. The contemporary heroine feeling compelled to bid for the Lordship of the Manor (which is *not* the same as an aristocratic title, and would have nothing to do with the queen or Buckingham Palace, so that element of the story is just incredible).

When Candace/Emily ends up back in the eighteenth century, the story gets even less credible. The hero spending hours alone in her bedchamber, despite being engaged to someone else and Emily being an unmarried woman? No way. And when she tells him her secret, that she's from the twentieth century, I find it unbelievable that he doesn't have her sent to Bedlam. But no; he believes her, and spends hours late at night talking to her about politics, world affairs, literature and all sorts of things which, let's remember, women were supposed to have very few opinions on then.

So yes; I find many aspects of the plot aside from the time-travel bit unconvincing. But besides this, the 'other woman' is too unremittingly evil to be true, as well. Lane needs to take some lessons from writers such as Balogh and Putney in writing villains; very few of them are evil through and through, and Lane's characterisation here was just unbelievable.

Not recommended.

Considering that the 18th century is vastly different than our own, this book was a wasted opportunity to show the differences. How would a 20th or 21st centry miss cope with things such a chamber pot, foods, how about deodorant and tooth paste! One would think the Emily/Candace grew up with none of these things! What a silly book where no one is especially interesting.

I was shocked to see that some people (especially the person who wrote the rewiew from May 1st, 2000) wrote such devastating reviews on one of the best romance books I have ever read. In "The second lady Emily", a modern day woman experiences a ghostly attack that transports her back to the beginning of the 19th century where she gets the chance to prevent a curse that effects her future life. She finds herself in the body of the young lady Emily who suffered a mysterious, almost fatal accident and has been involved in a star-crossed love with the hero that is bound to marry someone else. While trying to set right history, the heroine falls in love with the hero herself and he is enchanted by the new Emily. Both of them (and also the other characters) are brought to life by Mrs Lane's superb way of writing and their feelings are described very touchingly. The love between them seems to be very real - not an instant love based on faces and bodies solely but a growing love based on the personalities of the hero and the heroine. This is why I think of this book as a very successful romance. Additionally, the plot of the book is absolutely thrilling (I don't want to give away any more here). Of course, people who want to read something realistic should not buy a trime travel romance. One off the other reviewers complained that the villain in this book is too evil to be realistic. Of course that is so, but what else would be potent enough to trigger curses and dinive interaction? One suggestion to the critics: Just enjoy the story and don't think too much about missing realism or missing historical details. I enjoyed reading this book so much that I read it again immediately after I finished it the first time. Altogether, I cannot count the times anymore I have reread this book since I bought it two years ago. If you like a sweet romance with a touch of mystic and mystery in it, this will be the right book for you.

Just didn't like this book! I couldn't believe in the characters or the silly plot. I ended up giving my copy away - there's no way I'd read it again.

Cherlynn was just a modern woman of the 20th century. A writer of Regency stories, she gains the chance for the best research of her life when she is transported back in time. To get back to her day, she must help Lady Emily to right the wrongs against her and Drew. To keep neutral feelings about Drew is difficult, especially when her treacherous heart seems to reach out to him. Another outstanding book by Allison Lane. Once again she has broken all the rules and turned out an awesome book.

Don't get me wrong. I love a good time-travel romance and I also like to read Regencies with thoughtful characters and a story that is well-written. This book was neither.

THE SECOND LADY EMILY is Cherlynn Cardington, once of 1998, now living in 1812. Apparently not much to look at and just over a divorce she arrives in time to meet her 'love', Drew Villiers, current Earl of Thurston. At 26, Drew's feelings towards Emily are love yet he is to marry another. No longer in her own body, Cherlynn is younger and prettier than before, but her mannerisms haven't changed. She is aware that if Drew marries Fay he will only live another three years and that time will be hell. Suspicions abound yet everyone appears to be naive. I knew what would happen by the third chapter.

I think it would take a much longer time to adjust to chamber pots, no hot and cold running water, showers, etc. Also, how does one talk during that era, not having acquired the accent or familiar with the colloquialisms used during that time? Somehow Cherlynn makes do. I felt the chemistry between Cherlynn/Emily and Drew was lacking. Add to that the quick-fix unbelievable ending and you have a mish-mash of a storyline and a hard book to complete.

I am a huge fan of time travel romance, and a very picky one at that. I especially enjoy regency era time travel romance from present to past. Although I did enjoy this book immensly, I must warn anyone thinking of buying it. The story was a little hard to keep straight and the ending seemed to be hurridley wrapped up. Also (SPOILER ALTER)the main character seemed all too eager to give up her love without a fight because she loved him. It barely even touched on how that may have been a difficult desicion for her! Despite those fact, the rest was an enjoyable read, but it definetly could have used a few more love scenes!!! Wheres the passion!?