The Dangerous Viscount (Avon) [Kindle Edition]

Miranda Neville (Author)

Book Description

“Sizzling, addictive, and deeply romantic, Miranda Neville’s novels are a joy to read.
—Eloisa James, New York Times bestselling author

 

One of the most exciting new and rapidly rising stars in the firmament of historical romance, Miranda Neville delivers once more with The Dangerous Viscount—the second book in her electrifying Burgundy Club series about a small society of rogues in Regency England and the women who capture their hearts. This time, it’s the very dangerous Sebastian Iverley who is smitten by the enchanting Diana Fanshawe—while she, in turn, must deny her love and concentrate on marrying another in order to gain what she most desperately desires. Miranda Neville’s The Dangerous Viscount is the perfect blend of passion and humor that Regency romance readers crave.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Sizzling, addictive, and deeply romantic: Miranda Neville’s novels are a joy to read.

From the Back Cover

She is determined to find a husband. . . now!

Lady Diana Fanshawe’s impeccable bloodline doesn’t stop society from laughing at the antics of her eccentric family. She knows a proper marriage is her one chance to make her way in the world—which is precisely why she will marry Lord Blakeney, though she’s certain she’ll never love him. But then she’s kissed by the brilliant and unconventional Sebastian, Viscount Iverley . . . and her well-laid plans tumble into disarray.

Sebastian wants absolutely nothing to do with love or marriage. But when he arrives at his hated cousin Blakeney’s house party, Sebastian is smitten by the tantalizing Diana. But Diana is “the marrying kind,” and Sebastian has no wish to risk his freedom—though the passion betweenthem is hard to resist. Should the lady follow her heart in an attempt to win Iverley’s, though it seems hardened against her—or should she sacrifice her love for respectability?

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 498 KB
• Print Length: 384 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0061808725
• Publisher: HarperCollins e-books (September 28, 2010)
• Sold by: HarperCollins Publishers
• Language: English
• ASIN: B003V1WUN0
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Not Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #177,387 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Lots of smart characters! September 29, 2010

By Sonoma Lass

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Miranda Neville writes fun, sexy historical romance. In her latest book, the heroine is a widow. Diana Fanshawe married for money and position once, and now she has the match of her dreams in sight: Lord Blakeney, whom she has admired and hoped to marry since girlhood. While angling for Blakeney, however, she meets Sebastian Iverley, his bookish, socially awkward cousin. Her attraction to Sebastian doesn't fit with her marriage plans; when she bets Blakeney that she can entrap Sebastian into a kiss, she gets much more than she intended.

Sebastian is a wonderful hero; he is unaware and inexperienced in a number of ways, not just sexually. He had a strange upbringing, without much affection, which means that he isn't well equipped to handle the emotions that he feels because of Diana. Following the story of these two characters as they learn what real love is a wonderful ride -- their relationship IS the story, no spies or plotting villains necessary.

Secondary characters are always treats in Neville's books. She creates really interesting and unique people for her canvas -- Diana's family, in particular is a wonderful collection of lovable eccentrics. And they are smart people, as are Diana and Sebastian. I can never get enough of intelligent characters in my fiction, and this book is full of them. Very highly recommended.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Terrific hero with a good story, the ugly duckling becomes a swan October 3, 2010

By Melissa TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Mass Market Paperback

The heroine in Miranda Neville's latest novel, The Dangerous Viscount, is not that likeable at first but fortunately she grows on you because she grows up and puts away some childish behavior and childish fantasies. The hero in this novel is divine, exceptional and really memorable and he is the reason this story works.

Diana Fanshawe is ecstatic to be invited to Lord Blakeney's home, she's been infatuated with him for years and since she is now a widow she has set her sights upon him. Also in attendance is Blakeney's cousin, Sebastian Iverly. Oh, Sebastian, he is painfully awkward around women, controlled, uncertain and scholarly. He finds women a nuisance, he's barely been around them throughout his entire twenty-six years, but he is enchanted by Diana.

Diana is not exactly welcoming to Sebastian, she's cordial but she does something so mean spirited that I almost hated her; she uses this poor man's infatuation against him in a teasing bet with Lord Blakely. She is not very kind in this portion of the book.

After the house party, Sebastian turns over a new leaf, hoping to gain Diana's notice. Sebastian really does metamorphis into a somewhat debonair chap, he gets a new wardrobe, learns the art of social niceties and small talk and Diana cannot help but mark the changes. Sebastian is a planner and he plans his conquest with skill, and a little help from friends, he plans his campaign like it is the Norman invasion. Sebstian though still keeps part of his scholarly personality, it doesn't all disappear, he still loves old books and he still is at odds with his cousin Lord Blakeney.

For the first half of this novel Diana is shallow and a tad vain and still stuck in the past. It's almost as if she has reset the clock to five years earlier when she was a debutante at eighteen, she acts and thinks like she is still in her first season enraptured by Lord Blakeney. She is blind to his faults and worse she becomes simpering with him. It isn't until her sister Min, a very well written character who has more spark than Diana (I hope she gets her own book), gets involved before Diana realizes that people change and they should mature.

Sebastian and Diana have a somewhat dishonest relationship at least with facts, they keep secrets, but I never doubted the sincerity of their feelings, especially on Sebastian's part. They are a couple who recognize their relationship needs communication and forgiveness to work and fortunately they are not so very stubborn that they cannot adapt and mature into better people. Sebastian especially needs Diana to help him overcome his past and she needs him to show her a better future.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I stayed up until 3am to finish this book after I fell in love with Sebastian. November 12, 2010

By Nancy Mirtle

Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I skittishly started this book. Sebastian had been such a jerk in previous books, I couldn't imagine liking him. But as the truth unfolded and I understood his motivation, I cheered for him. An original story with humor and unique history. The negative reviewers fail to realistically consider social mores and manners of the time, and how sheltered/immature girls would've been in that time period. I found the characters believable.

Delightful author. Read all her books.

More About the Author

I grew up in southwest England. During my misspent youth I devoured the works of Georgette Heyer, Jean Plaidy and any other historical novels I could lay hands on. As a result I attended the University of Oxford to study history, ignoring all hints that economics might be a more practical subject. I spent several years writing catalogues of rare books and original letters and manuscripts for Sotheby's auction house in London and New York. Much of my time in this job was spent reading the personal correspondence of the famous. This confirmed my suspicion that the most interesting thing about history is people.

I now live in Vermont where I enjoy skiing and writing romances set in Regency England where it hardly ever snows.