The Lady Most Likely...: A Novel in Three Parts [Mass Market Paperback]

Julia Quinn (Author), Eloisa James (Author), Connie Brockway (Author)

Book Description

Release date: December 28, 2010

The Lady Most Likely is a historical romance anthology with a delightful difference. For the first time ever, New York Times bestselling romantic fiction superstars Julia Quinn, Eloisa James, and Connie Brockway join forces to produce a novel in three parts. Readers are cordially invited to a party at a grand English country manor at the height of the Regency Era, where the bachelor Earl of Briarly hopes to find a suitable wife—The Lady Most Likely—from among the unspoken-for female guests.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

A near-fatal accident with one of his beloved horses prompts Hugh Dunne, the Earl of Briarly, to realize it is time to get married. The only problem is that while Hugh might know horses, he knows nothing about women, which is why he turns to his sister Carolyn, the Marchioness of Finchley. Not only does Carolyn compile a select listing of the season’s most sought-after ladies, including the delightfully blunt Katherine Peyton and reigning beauty Gwendolyn Passmore. She invites them, as well as war-hero Captain Neill Oakes and newly titled Alec Darlington, to a country-house party. Now all Hugh has to do is select his bride, but he had better hurry, because it turns out he has some serious competition for the ladies. Quinn, Eloisa James, and Connie Brockway, three RITA Award winners, team up to create a novel in three parts, and the resulting book is a truly original, delightfully amusing treat. The Lady Most Likely . . . sparkles with wit, sizzles with sensuality, and, most important, is superbly satisfying. --John Charles

Review

“A truly original, delightfully amusing treat....Sparkles with wit, sizzles with sensuality, and, most important, is superbly satisfying.” (Booklist)

“Flirty, joyful, and just plain fun.” (Library Journal)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Avon; Original edition (December 28, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9780061247828
• ISBN-13: 978-0061247828
• ASIN: 0061247820
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (65 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #197,985 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

60 of 61 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars 3 authors, 3 romances, and 1 seamless novel. December 29, 2010

By Old Latin teacher TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Mass Market Paperback

(Correction: Make that 4 romances because the married couple who host the house party, setting for the novel, also have a lovely and romantic relationship.)

I don't often enjoy book compilations by various authors because the books are usually made up of individual and separate stories. This one, besides being written by 2 of my favorite HR authors and 1 that used to be a fave, is actually one novel with 3 romances woven into it pretty seamlessly. Everything takes place at a country house party given by Lady Carolyn Finchley to find a wife for her brother Hugh Dunne, the Earl of Briarly. Many eligible young ladies are invited and also worthy gentlemen to round out the numbers. The book is great fun, light-hearted and romantic with very likeable characters. The plot is not at all unusual. It's the formulaic house party romance, but it is developed deftly and humorously and is well written because all the contributors are skilled and experienced writers of HRs.

Those readers who are familiar with the writing styles of these 3 authors will be able to tell where one author's contribution merges into the next one's (especially the transition from Quinn to Brockway) but it is not too obvious or awkward, but rather a smooth transition that maintains the characters' personalities and way of behaving throughout the novel.

This is a book to read when you're in the mood for a feel-good, warm, romantic story. No angst, no Big Understandings, no Dark Secrets, no villains or abductions. Nothing but character-driven love stories. Keep in mind that because there are three romances in one novel, they are not in the depth that you might like. I enjoyed the book for the novelty of it and the skill of the authors.

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable with a few caveats December 28, 2010

By Maria Cocco

Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

More 3.25 stars than 3 stars, the story as a whole is enjoyable. It's light and fluffy fun, which is the most I ask for for a novel like this. Because it's 3 romances told in one book, there isn't much focus on any one character. That's a drawback when you quite like a character as I did Gwendolyn. She was completely refreshing and not at all a typical heroine. The rest of the heroines were less interesting to me. The romances were fast, but two of the three couples had history. I'm not totally sure I buy Alec and Gwen's HEA but I'll buy their infatuation. I think their story would have been better told in a full length novel devoted to them.

There's a small error that took me right out of the book. For a small portion of the book Carolyn becomes Caroline. Small annoyance but if it's only in the Kindle version perhaps it can be corrected? She's a major character, so it's a bit distracting and took me right out of the fantasy of the book itself.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars A Mixed Bag--three authors, three stories--one "5", one "4", one "2" January 31, 2011

By B. Jones

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Interesting concept but the three sections are definitely uneven. Wondering who wrote each section? The answer can be found at the top of the left-hand pages. The first and last chapters are not attributed, but Chapter 1 reads like Julia Quinn. Quinn's section (the story of Gwendolyn and Alec) shines with her signature whimsy and deft characterization. Connie Brockway's story (Katherine and Neill) is less engaging but still merits a "4". The final section by Eloise James (Georgina and Hugh)is particularly disappointing because the two lovers no longer seem to be the same intriguing indiviuals introduced at the novel's beginning. At best, it's a 2. I sure would love to see how Quinn would have handled the Georgina/Hugh romance. On balance, I rate THE LADY MOST LIKELY a 3. But be prepared for an uneven read.