Customer Reviews

The Viscount and the Virgin (Harlequin Historical)

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First let me say i'm glad I made it through this book, though it was purely sheer force of will. The H/H were not that likeable, at least for the first half of the book.

Imogen "midge" was looking forward to meeting her step-brother's friend, Monty; she'd corresponded with him through her brother during the war. Midge and Monty looked forward to meeting each other. However, they're never properly introduced with nicknames. He thinks she's Ms. Hebden, daughter to a notoriously loose woman, and she thinks he's just another arrogant lord, Viscount Mildenhall to be exact. Midge mistakenly bumps into him, which convinces him she's doing her damndest to snag a rich husband and his poor opinion sets in.

The one night her brother, Rick, is at a ball with her; he promises to introduce her to Monty. She heads off onto the balcony with high hopes of meeting and falling in love with Monty, only to run into Mildenhall who she humiliated herself with her clumsy actions earlier, who happens to BE Monty. They still don't know each other as Midge and Monty and instead treat each other horribly. Mildenhall is a complete a** here and gets to thinking he should just marry this girl after what he'd done (nothing drastic just a kiss, though she bit him and punched him for it). Mildenhall/Monty thinks Ms. Hebden is no good, after him for his title, loose like her Mother, but wants to marry her anyways? Is this some extension of the weird level of anger / extreme mild attraction he had when he cussed at her for spilling champagne on him? With NO other meeting between them except the champagne incident and the balcony forgive me if i'm not sold on this relationship.

Only the following day does he realize Ms. Hebden is Midge and he pretty much threatened her not to repeat what happened the previous night to her brother. She listened out of some morose fear of shaming her Aunt and Uncle. He then tells her they're to be married. He still thinks the worst of her.

He has this grand revelation on his wedding day, that Ms. Hebden may very well be Midge of the letters, and only then do you actually start to like him. Before hitting this grand revelation, I put this book down numerous times, I just didn't like either character enough. Once I made it to this part, I ploughed on to a somewhat better read. I just couldn't wrap my mind around these characters, their misunderstandings and lack of communication was just ridiculous. Midge's character was likable, but didn't hold up, she was described one way, but acted another - I hate when authors do this.

The tail end of this book would easily get a 3 star, but the beginning was just bad. If you're looking for a good read, go elsewhere.

As an aside, I read this on a Kindle, and this book had some incredibly irritating spacing issues. Random words had spaces in the center of them. It also had misuse of words, it was weird. Like they scanned the book in and allowed whatever OCR program to just figure out what words belonged where. Not the first for a Kindle read, I wish they'd edit better before putting them out for publication.

So I have read through the rest of the reviews and I think people have been rather harsh on this book. I agree the storyline left a bit to be desired--there were too many loose ends and unanswered questions. But frankly, when I read romances, I care less about the storyline and more about the relationship and character development. Because let's face it, most romances are predictable. As for the Viscount and the Virgin, I thought Annie Burrows created two deep, likable characters.

Imogen "Midge" Hebden is the daughter of two scandalous individuals. After her father was hung, her mother married a reclusive, old gentleman below her class and moved Imogen to the country. Here, Midge's life revolved around fishing, riding, and traipsing after her three older step-brothers. Unfortunately, after the death of her mother and her later her step-father, Midge is left with nothing and forced to live with her maternal uncle and aunt in London, who have promised to fund her for one season in hopes of her making a match. However, because of the scandal attached to her name as well as her tom-boyish nature, her prospects of marriage are few. Enter Viscount Mildenhall, aka "Monty". Monty, who recently inherited his title after the death of his brother, is ordered to London by his father to marry and produce an heir. The two meet at a ton party when Midge accidently spills champagne all over Monty. Monty does not believe in her innocence, but that this is a theatric to get close to him in hopes of marrying a rich titled peer. After the disastrous encounter, Midge is left strongly disliking Monty, while Monty, who neither respects nor likes Midge, is reluctantly attracted to her. But, as fortune would have it, Monty just happens to be an old solider friend of Midge's step-brother, Rick. Because both only know each other by their actual names, not nicknames (Midge and Monty), they do not realize that they are each the person Rick has talked about fondly. So long story short they end up married (Midge reluctantly, Monty happily). The rest of the story (which I admit I have greatly simplified) is about them getting to know one another, letting go of insecurities and coming to love, trust and rely on each other.

Like I said, I enjoyed the story immensely. However, I will point out that Midge's character is innately weak. She is self-deprecating and feels that she is unworthy of love--which could be because she has never really experienced it in any form before. On the other hand, I really liked Monty. He was rude and obnoxious in the beginning, but he explains his behavior, to me, satisfactorily. Later, he makes some poor decisions thinking he is protecting Midge, but his inner monologue redeems his character. Like I said, I liked the book, it's different from a lot of other romances and had really strong character development. However, I would like/hope, that Annie Burrows writes a follow up book, maybe about Rick, that ties up the loose ends.

I started out wanting to like this book, the premise was promising, if a tad over-familiar. The much pursued titled gentleman making himself obnoxious to the heroine, and he in his turn mistaking her for yet another husband-hunting young lady. I liked the idea of them already knowing and liking each other through the agency of Imogen's (nicknamed Midge, frightful name that boded ill for her character)letters to her soldier brother which he shared with his friend Monty.
Alas, the promise shown was not fulfilled and I have to agree with many of the unfavourable comments already made here. Midge was a pain in the neck in more ways than one and truly lived up to that much used label for annoying historical romance heroines - TSTL (too stupid to live). She was just a silly young woman and didn't even try to use whatever intelligence she may have possessed. The absurd way in which she runs away from the hero beggared belief. A five year old would surely have more commonsense.
Sad.

I read a lot of historical romance novels. This book had very weak characters. I enjoy reading books where I feel like I "know" what the main character is thinking. I too had to force myself to finish it. Disappointed!

The book goes deeply explaining the hero(not as much compare to the heroine) and heroine's inner feelings. What they think, what they hide, what they truly feel, what they wonder (about themselves and about the other) are thoroughly presented in the book. With each passing day,their attraction to each other grows. We get to know the characters along with their getting to know each other, which are quiet charming and sweet. The heroine is feisty, tomboyish, loyal, and straightforward, portray in such a way that no reader could resist not liking her. However if you want steamy passionate sex this is not the book. The sex scene are brief and bland. But overall the book is pretty sweet and romantic.

I thought that Annie Burrows wrote a very wonderful book. I loved the fact that i was able to hear both sides. Hero and Heroin. All in all, it was a good read. But, i agree that Annie should write a fallow up book. Or two. Or three. I hope i get to read more about what happens to Imogin, Monty, their unborn child, Rick, and not to mention Imo's half Brother. The exciting Stephen. Cant wait for the next addition. If there is one! HOPEFULLY!

Imogen Hebden mother and step-father are both deceased and now she is living with extended family. She was not raised in society and feels like ugly, clumsy wallflower. She spills a glass of champagne on Viscount Mildenhall, son of the Earl of Corfe and he thinks she is attempting to trap him into marriage. The twist is that the Viscount start to have feeling for Imogen and when he finds out that she is his best friends sister - he decides to take action.

I found the book interesting and the writing was good - off to findA Countess by Christmas (Harlequin Historical).