Customer Reviews

A Singular Lady (Signet Regency Romance)

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

 

 

Even before I started reading „A Singular Lady" I was inclined to be charmed because I had read in the blurb that the hero was called Edwin - such a delightfully down-to-earth name and such a change from all the Justins and Alexanders. My delight turned to dismay, however, when I discovered in the course of the first two chapters that the heroine was in the worst Barbara Cartland tradition: the "I must carry the whole financial burden of my brother's impoverished estate on my shoulders and not breathe a syllable to him about it because he must be kept safe from the knowledge" sort. Gah! I kept on reading, anyway, and found the rest of the novel a mixture between good and not quite so good points. On the plus side, the author has a dry sense of humour that shows to greatest advantage in the interior monologues. In fact, I would love to read a book by her that was just straightforward funny and lacked the melodrama of this one. The author loves to use long and rare words, however, and sometimes these tended to overwhelm the otherwise pleasant style.

Besides hero and heroine (if you ignore her stubborn desire for self-sacrifice), many of the characters are engaging: the younger brother, the dandified ex-soldier, the chaperone who has a romance on the side. Most unfortunately, Megan Frampton did not give these secondary characters enough space to develop in the narrative, because she chose of overcrowd the novel with too many plot-twists, especially in the last few chapters. In fact she introduced new, surprising twists with almost every page by then, so that neither the reader nor the protagonists have the space to react emotionally to each new turn, and a disappointingly high number of threads are left loose. This is a real shame, because there potential here, and a less convoluted ending would have been much more satisfying.

A word on titles and forms of address, even if this means to be nit-picking: If Edwin Worthington, Earl of Oakley, is son and heir to the Marquess of Taunton (p. 32), he is addressed as Lord Oakley and his father as Lord Taunton. When Megan Frampton calls both gentlemen Lord Worthington, sometimes on the same page, it is unnessecarily confusing and shows sloppy research.

All in all, the book is a pleasant read with some flaws which shows definite promise, and it will be interesting to see how the author develops in a (hopefully soon to be written) second novel.

Megan Frampton's debut book is smart and fun. The story of an impoverished blue stocking and a faux-impoverished earl is told with wit and charm. The heroine's anonymous newspaper column, "Reports from the Battlefront," about her search for a husband, begins each chapter, and provides a hint of our heroine's wry humor.

A Singular Lady is not perfect, but it is well worth picking up. Ms. Frampton is an original. Her unique voice and intelligent writing make her someone to look for in the future.

I was all prepared to write a long review of this book, but I can't. Let's just say I finished the book the day after getting it and wished that I had spaced it out longer to savor it. Even though I just read it, I plan to read it again this weekend. I simply can't wait any longer to reread it.

There are some faults. There are certain characters I wish I could know more about such as Claire, but you'll definitely come to know the heroine, Titania, very well. As a reader, it is so easy to fall in love with the hero, Edwin. He knows exactly what he wants, and he pursues it. I don't even view any of his actions negatively. He pursued Titania because he knew she wanted him too. It's true Edwin's behavior is a little less formal and predictable than the Lords of his time period, but he did just arrive back to England from America which probably accounts for some of the difference. That and the writing style isn't as formal as some of the Christmas Regency short stories I've read.

I highly recommend this light and easy read (even though it was emotionally engaging for me-I was sad when it was over!). After reading A Singular Lady you just might be willing to go back to the 1800s and give up electricity and all your modern-day amenities because you will be yearning for a Season of your own.

This is a great, light Regency full of quirky characters (I love that the heroine has a crooked nose). Great repartee between her and the hero, with some fun double entendres going on and some tongue-in-cheek playing with classic Regency elements.

I don't usually read traditional Regencies, but I picked this one up because of the heroine's unusual name. Unfortunately it sat in my TBR pile until recently when I was looking for a light fun read. I'm glad that I did. Megan Frampton's debut is a sparkling, lovely, breezy read. Her heroine Titania Stanhope has wit, charm, and is more than a match for the hero, Edwin. Ms. Frampton takes characters that could be stereotypes and turns them on their heads. I look forward to reading more from this author.

A Singular Lady is a delightful Regency debut. Titania may seem mercenary in her desire to marry well, but she certainly has good reasons - and her ultimate decision is one that readers will love. She's also a blue-stocking you actually believe is well-read - a definite plus. Edwin has an equally good reason to shy away from fortune-hunters. Wondering how these two will get together is great fun. This book is a great way to spend an afternoon or evening. I even took it to the gym!

I can't wait to read more books by Megan Frampton. The dry wit that pervades A Singular Lady is irresistible and hopefully will be in future books.

I am a true hopeless romantic, absolutely obsessed with Regency Romances. I have stumbled upon the series of Signet Regency Romances, hoping they would be sweet and tame. Unfortunately, "A Singular Lady" was nothing of the sort. I was highly disappointed. The characters have zero time to develop before they are immersed in 'scandalous' behavior. The premise itself of a poor and desperate woman seeking a rich husband to save her family only to fall in love with a man whom she assumes to be poor like herself could have been rich and entertaining, but the overall embarrassment of such blushing scenes ruined the entire book. Intense and yet subdued romantic moments between well-explained characters can be a true treat!... But this was not what I found in "A Singular Lady."

I have read so many mediocre Historical romances lately, I was thrilled to finally find one I truly like. Witty, delightful and humorous, Titania is one of my favorite heroines. It is a truly fast enjoyable read. I did not want it to end...my ultimate criteria of a good book!

I gave this book a 1-star rating because it is not really a "Regency" romance. It is a "Romance" set in the Regancy period, but it is not really a "Regancy" romance. There are certain characteristics that make a romance a "Regancy" romance as all die-hard Regancy fans know and this book does not even begin to fit the bill. So, if you are a die-hard Regancy fan you will probably not like this book. However, if you're a romance fan you probably will like it.