Shall We Dance? [Paperback]

Judith A. Lansdowne (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Lansdowne (My Fair Quiggley) once again tries her hand at a lengthier historical with this carefully choreographed, conservative read. Ripe with eccentric characters and quirky humor, this Regency-era romance twirls a myriad of plot threads together but remains focused on the romance between Josiah Elliot, a man with meager means, and Lady Miranda Wesley, the sister of a duke. In the hopes that the Earl of Blazingame, a good-natured dandy, will help him discover the location of his missing brother, Josiah disguises himself as a valet and enters the earl's service. Josiah's brother has information proving his link to noble blood, the lack of which is the only obstacle that stands between him and Miranda. In true Regency form, the relationship between the two is chaste but somewhat undeveloped. While Josiah seeks to solve the mystery of his missing brother, he encounters strong-minded Eleanor Feebes and her brother Donovan. Josiah believes that the unconventional Eleanor may be a perfect partner for Blazingame and, inevitably, he's correct. A cow named Susan, a missing diamond and a greedy villain are only a few of the elements that combine to make this an engaging read, but readers who prefer sizzling romantic tension over witty repartee may be disappointed by this tame, traditional tale.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

When idealistic Eleanor Feebes attempts to rescue a man about to commit suicide, she has no inkling that she will be drawn into Mr. Eliot's desperate search for his missing brother and the lost papers that will enable him to marry his true love, Lady Miranda. Through Mr. Eliot, who is masquerading as a valet, Eleanor meets the inquisitive Earl of Blazingame, and soon the foursome are caught up in a whirl of danger and mystery. Fans of Lansdowne's "Lord Nightingale" series will be eager to read this well-plotted Regency, which sparkles with Lansdowne's trademark humor. The deft interweaving of romance and mystery, a cast of quirky and endearing characters, and two satisfying love stories (with the promise of more) are sure to appeal to readers who like their romance with a twist of fun and suspense. The award-winning author lives in Alabama. Amber Tatnall, York Cty. Technical Coll., Wells, ME
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Zebra (March 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0821770187
• ISBN-13: 978-0821770184
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,126,201 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Too confusing to follow, August 6, 2002

By 

Laura G (Monroe, MI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shall We Dance? (Paperback)

While this was charming and there were several characters to like, this book definitely became too confusing to follow. There were too many references to earlier books, without enough back ground to really refresh a reader's memory. Also, there were too many characters playing roles in this story, and they all seemed to be falling in love with each other (and not for any reason other than being of an appropriate rank/age).

In short, while mildly entertaining, keeping track of the plot twists was confusing and made the book difficult to enjoy.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great read!, May 12, 2003

By 

Charlene (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shall We Dance? (Paperback)

I'm a longtime Lansdowne fan and it's difficult to say how much I enjoyed reading SHALL WE DANCE? Let's just say, I hugged the book when I was done, I kid you not, and sighed. It was a wonderful read, with lovable, eccentric characters, witty, quirky dialogue, a bit of mystery and suspense - and, of course, romance - bravo!!!

I can't agree with the previous reviews - I buy these books, and love them, for some of the very reasons others panned them. (Note: reading MY FAIR QUIGGLEY prior to reading this one will help the reader appreciate who everyone is.) I love the richness of the characters, and the many secondary characters, to me, just show off Lansdowne's talent for "quirky and funny". I read to be entertained, to be taken away to another place, and to fall in love with the characters... all my expectations were fulfilled when I read this book. Thanks, Ms. Lansdowne!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Shall We Dance, January 8, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Shall We Dance? (Paperback)

I have to admit that I usually don't write reviews but this book took all I had not to put it away unfinished. The story is confusing till you are almost through with the book. The characters are so hard to follow that you find yourself spending your time leafing back trying to find out who the author is talking about. I think the story was to be a light easy romance but the complications of the story and characters took away from any enjoyment I had in reading it. I know I will think twice before I read this authors books again.