Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Funny - Action Packed - A Totally Entertatining Read!, October 24, 2004
Setting - Edwardian England, 1901 --- When the very proper teacher of deportment, Sabrina Edgewater, was talked into doing her cousin a favor by meeting the ship of the newly arrived American heir to an Earldom, the soon to be Viscount Wesley, Mr. Joshua Cantrell she didn't know that her life as she knew it was about to change. Approaching the docks, she couldn't help but be appalled as she witnessed a very tall, disreputable and oddly dressed man having an altercation with a sizeable crowd gathered near the end of the wharf - no, please, surely not him! Joshua Cantrell, would need some polishing according to British standards, but coming to the aid of a lady, even a street doxy, was something this brash and bold Texan would do. As the fight spread her way, and noticing Sabrina who was directly in the path, Joshua then came to her rescue and grabbed a hero's kiss. Unfortunately, before he could discover her name he was hauled off by the local police officers.
Raised in a Texas bordello, Joshua Cantrell was a self-made millionaire who initially turned down the offer of a title, until his old commanding officer TR, newly made President of the US, asked him to travel to London to help avert an international assassination plot. He was pleasantly surprised to discover he really liked his great-uncle, the Earl, but when the uncle suggested that a tutor be employed to refining him into becoming a proper English gentleman, he thought `not'! Well, that is until he discovered that his tutor was going to be none other than the very cute and uptight little bundle of indignation, he'd met at the docks!
When I had initially read the reviews and the excerpts available I looked forward to reading this book thinking it would be good - well, it was NOT good - it was FABULOUS! This book comprised all of the elements I look for - a well-researched plot for the historical era, titillating dialogs, humorous scenes and wonderfully matched protagonists! Joshua's down home folksy analogies were absolutely hilarious, as he and Sabrina fenced words in a bit of foreplay for the sizzling attraction that set off sparks whenever they got together. The whole intrigue plot was marvelous and full of action as well. This was an exceptionally quick read only because I found it so hard to put down! The author filled this with a superb cast of secondary characters, adding great depth to the story. I truly enjoyed Joshua's wily great uncle the Earl of Hambleton, playing cupid who was truly a darling adding even more zest to an already totally entertaining read! BOTTOM LINE --- The lively dialogs and repartee's filled with a Texan's down home analogies along with an exciting plot made this one of Henke's best in her American Lord series - simply outstanding! --- Marilyn Rondeau, for www.historicalromancewriters.com ---
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Plot 5, Yokel dialogue 1, Characters 4, October 15, 2004
This is one of those good storylines with "too much of a good thing." Our Texas cowboy goes to England to secure his title but more importantly to ferret out the bad guys in a treasonous plot.
The Earl hires a very proper teacher to teach our yokel manners, deportment and language. He plays the role of redneck to a T as he is supposed to but 300 pages of listening to his "pig in a poke" stuff gets tedious and detracts from the plot. I also got tired of hearing how he was raised in a bordello by garter gertie...It was not only cute but effective in the beginning but it got old very quickly. Too bad.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
wonderful early twentieth century romance , September 29, 2004
President Teddy Roosevelt worries about a Russian plot against the United States so he sends self made Texas millionaire Josh Cantrell, heir to an English Earldom, to England to learn what he can amidst the aristocracy. Josh meets Lady Sabrina Edgewater, who needs money to go to school. They cut a deal. He will pay her to teach him to behave like a gentleman so he can gain entry anywhere amongst the upper crust.
Though on a mission that he has not lost sight of, Josh enjoys shamming Sabrina into believing he is a red neck cowboy. In fact, he knows how to behave in any circle, but is having so much fun with Sabrina he cannot resist tricking her. However, as they fall in love and his presidential assignment places her in danger, Josh knows he is not fooling around when it comes to Sabrina's safety.
This entreating early twentieth century romance brings to life the beginning of the end of the aristocratic rule of England though the antics of the lead couple. He is a brash American while she is a Lady in need of money to attend school as a means of bettering herself. The story line is at its best when Josh pretends to be a bonehead because he enjoys teasing his beloved after meeting her during a dock side brawl. The late intrigue adds tension, but seems unnecessary as the cast makes this a wonderful historical tale of manners.
Harriet Klausner
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by Shirl Henke
by Shirl Henke
by Shirl Henke
by Shirl Henke
