An Unwilling Conquest (Mills & Boon Historical) [Paperback]

Stephanie Laurens (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 12, 1996 | Series: Mills & Boon Historical

Harry Lester samples women like wines. But after having his heart trampled upon by someone he actually loved, he has no intention of falling for a woman again, let alone be ensnared by the trap of marriage. Now, with a large inheritance to his name, Harry knows that he’d best start running from London’s matchmaking mothers and widows. Harry heads for the racing town of Newmarket, only to encounter Mrs. Lucinda Babbacombe, a beautiful, independent widow. And before he knows it, Harry vows to protect Lucinda from the town full of lonely gambling men, despite her refusal to accept his countless offers of help. Lucinda is extraordinary—an intelligent, tender, marriageworthy woman—but will Harry let himself be taken prisoner in this most passionate of traps? “Laurens’ writing shines.” – Publishers Weekly

--This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Stephanie Laurens' heroines are marvellous tributes to Georgette Heyer." - Cathy Kelly "All I need is her name on the cover to make me pick up the book." - New York Times bestselling author Linda Howard" --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Laurens began writing as an escape from the dry world of professional science. Her hobby quickly became a career. Her novels set in Regency England have captivated readers around the globe, making her one of the romance world's most beloved and popular authors. She currently has 42 books in print, with the last 24 of those becoming New York Times bestsellers. Laurens lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her husband and two daughters. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Mills & Boon (July 12, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0263797503
• ISBN-13: 978-0263797503
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,802,402 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Also available in..., October 19, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: An Unwilling Conquest (Mills & Boon Largeprint Historical) (Hardcover)

Although not in large print, be aware this novel was included in Rogues' Reform by Harlequin in 2000. Rogues' Reform contains three Stephanie Laurens stories (including An Unwilling Conquest) set during the English Regency. The stories feature the romances of the three Lester siblings, a sister and two brothers. The set is excellent and I would highly recommend them. They are much tamer, however, than Laurens more recent novels dealing with the Cynster family. Note: the hero in A Comfortable Wife, Lord Phillip Ruthven is introduced in Rogues' Reform.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A 4 1/2 Star Traditional Regency, May 7, 2006

By 

Beverly "Beverly" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: An Unwilling Conquest (Mira Historical Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)

Stephanie Laurens, noted for her sensual Cynster novels, breaks away from the Cynsters with this traditional Regency Romance. Handsome Harry Lester, horseracer and known rake, meets the beautiful, independent Mrs. Lucinda Babbacombe, widow and businesswoman, as he pulls her out of her overturned carriage on the road to Newmarket. Lucinda needs to remain in town in order to visit the various inns she owns. Harry has Lucinda stay with his Aunt Em in order to keep an eye on her so that the other rakes in town do not take advantage of the beautiful widow. Harry vows to never succumb to marriage like his friends and family and fights the allure of Luccinda. Eventually they come together one passionate afternoon. Harry then proposes to Lucinda, but she declines, feeling he is proposing out of honor rather than love. Harry then decides that he will win Lucinda's love by courting her in the traditional way. If you are a fan of the Regency, you will enjoy this courtship and romp through the ballrooms of the ton. Once again Ms. Laurens delights us with her knowledge of horseracing in the Regency period. If you are a fan of her other sensual romances, you will be a bit frustrated waiting for more of her wonderfully written love scenes, which just aren't here. This is a heartwarming story that will keep you smiling and believing that the traditional Regency is not a dead genre.

13 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Unwilling or Forced?, June 20, 2006

By 

Misuzmama (New York, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: An Unwilling Conquest (Mira Historical Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)

Ok, the writing is very good, but I just didn't like the story line. It felt a little bit cold at times.

****warning SPOILERS*******

Harry, a wealthy rake and horse breeder, meets Lucinda, a financially astute widower, in Newport. He's there to race his horses and she's there to look over Inns, which she's inherited upon her husbands death. Sparks fly. Harry refuses to allow Lucinda to visit and inspect the questionable establishments without a proper escort -himself and insists she stay at his Aunts nearby. The mutual attraction grows and soon everyone is trying to push the reluctant Harry into leg shackles.

They all return to London and one thing leads to another and Lucinda is compromised. Much to Harry's shock -she was a virgin! Apparently her much older husband married her for companionship/teacher for his daughter and to prevent Lucinda from a distasteful marriage. So Harry offers marriage after the comprise, but not for love. Lucinda rejects him of course! Here's where the book takes a down turn.

Harry believes he has to prove that her loves Lucinda before he actually says the words -in his mind he thinks she won't believe him otherwise. Lucinda takes on a desperate role here. Every turn she believes that Harry will declare his love -but he doesn't.

It gets a bit too much, especially when he takes her to his home and tells her he's getting it ready for a wife and children -making it seem that maybe she won't be the wife. Makes me so sad for Lucinda! She just becomes depressed that he'll never tell her that he loves her. And when he finally does? No big sweeping romantic jesture! You feel like she's just about given up by this point. Makes Harry out to be sort of a meanie to me.

It just didn't leave me all warm and fuzzy. Good book, but there are better out there. Read Kleypas, Quinn or D'Allessandro for some good ~sigh~ instead.