Just One of Those Flings (Signet Eclipse) (Paperback)

by Candice Hern (Author)
Key Phrases: crisp bow, Lady Somerfield, Miss Thirkill, Aunt Beatrice (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
Candice Hern is a gem! -- Julia Quinn

Only Candice Hern can be both naughty and nice at the same time! -- Teresa Medeiros

Product Description
The Merry Widows are thought to be among the finest ladies of society.

Though secretly, their thoughts are quite unrefined.

With the comforts of wealth to replace the absence of their husbands, the Merry Widows need not trouble themselves with marriage again. So they each agree to seek out a lover.

Beatrice, Lady Somerfield, is too busy chaperoning her niece and overseeing her own daughters to take a lover herself. Until one night at a ball a masked stranger makes her realize the delights she's been missing. He's Gabriel, the Marquess of Thayne, the man half the debutantes of London want for a husband. Thayne is captivated by Beatrice, and their attraction leads to a few satisfying encounters.

As he searches for a bride among the Season's young ladies, he finds himself increasingly drawn to Beatrice, and wants her as his wife. But will Beatrice's deepening feelings for Thayne be enough to overcome her vow never to marry again, and the scandal once their relationship is revealed?

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Signet (August 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451219201
• ISBN-13: 978-0451219206
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #599,774 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific Regency Read by a Master Wordsmith, June 9, 2006

By	M. Rondeau (West Springfield, MA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

For me, reading Candice Hern is oftentimes similar to reading a history book, only one that is going to deliver a much juicier and stimulating version of what goes on behind the staid doors to some of the lofty grand mansions of jolly ole England! Ms. Herns remarkable new trilogy featuring the wealthy `Merry Widows' who choose to remain independent while embracing their newfound freedom to discreetly take lovers and enjoy themselves is proving to be a `treasure trove' of sensual delights!

Beatrice, Lady Somerfield had yet to even think about taking a lover, so busy acting as a chaperone for her very beautiful but headstrong niece whose outrageous flirting at a masquerade ball bears some careful watching. What Beatrice soon became aware of was that someone was intently watching her, and as their eyes met a shiver of awareness ran up her spine. Her masked admirer whisked her away to dance, then to the gardens for a very sensual dance of a different nature that left her shaken but horrified at her lack of control and wanton behavior.

The Marquess of Thayne had returned to England to honor a vow made to his father to marry. Thoroughly captivated by his woodland nymph Artemis he couldn't concentrate on the young ingénues that would make respectable matches for him even Miss Emily Thorkill the Catch of the Season that Beatrice was pushing into his orbit. When Thayne finally discovers that the very proper Lady Somerfield is his Artemis, they are both shaken although their passion for each other cannot be denied they embark on a clandestine love affair. When disaster strikes and their affair comes to light lives are turned upside down and Beatrice who swore never to marry must rethink her vow to never marry again.

*** This reviewer has come to cherish the stories that Ms. Hern puts her indelible stamp on that continue to deliver impressive historical detail as well as providing endearing characters, wit, and charming sensual delights. She puts an uncommon twist to this story with a rare occurrence of a titled lord attracted not to the younger `Diamond of the first water' but to an older beautiful but more accomplished widow. High marks go to the author who was wise enough to fashion the character of Thayne as intelligent and mature enough to make the relationship feel real enough to be believable. The secondary characters all came into play in most convincing supporting roles in providing momentum to further the story into a fast paced read that kept this reviewers interest without having to resort to using a villain or mystery to carry the story. Anyone whose love of a well-written traditional regency with a delicious dose of beautifully inspired sensuality will surely find this a treat not to be missed!

Marilyn Rondeau - RIO, Reviewers International Organization

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Good Romance Centered Novel, August 21, 2006

By	Misuzmama (New York, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

If your looking for a regency historical that centers on the romance, this is it. There's no evil-do'ers scheming to keep the couple apart, no mystery, no murder and no kidnapping (that one is slightly debateable). Its hard to imagine that a book could be written and hold the reader without at least some of these ingredients, but Hern manages to do so with very well drawn characters and well written dialogue.

This is the second book of the Merry Widows society (In The Thrill Of The Night was Marianne's book). The ladies get together to talk about their upcoming charity balls and -of course- their lovers or their attempt to get one. Beatrice meets a man at a masquerade and has impromptu sex with him, embarrassed at her behavior, she flees before her identity is revealed. Gabriel, fresh from an eight-year stint in India, is stunned by the beauty and can't get her out of his mind -he vows to find her.

For the first 100 pages, neither know the identity of the other. Beatrice meets Gabriel, who's a very eligible marquis, several times with her niece and is determined to make them a match. When Gabriel realizes that Beatrice was actually the woman at the masquerade, all hell breaks loose. He's determined to have her again, she wants nothing to do with him especially since her obnoxious neice has set her cap on him. Love prevails in the end of course, but there are some interesting twists and turns in between as a result of assumptions and misunderstandings.

If you liked Hern's first Widow book, you'll like this one even better. The prude-like/do-gooder widow of a bishop, Grace is next to be matched up with the most notorious libertine of the ton, Viscount Rochdale.-that sounds very interesting.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very likeable... it won me over, August 25, 2006

By	statengirl (Massachusetts, USA) - See all my reviews

A settled widow with two teenage daughters has her world upended after an impulsive one-night fling with a slightly younger man. This is the second book in the Merry Widow series, about five titled widows seeking lovers, but not marriage, and centers on the very proper Beatrice, Lady Somerfield. In her three years of widowhood, 35-year-old Beatrice has enjoyed personal freedoms never permitted by her late controlling husband, and she is loath to ever again be under a man's power. However, she has lately begun to think about the physical side of her life. She is drawn to a stranger at a masquerade ball and, in a reckless moment, secretly goes off with him and has an intense intimate encounter. But Beatrice panics and leaves before they are unmasked or learn each other's names. The evening has left them both shaken, however, and neither can stop thinking about or trying to identify the other.

Soon thereafter, Beatrice and her niece Emily are introduced to Gabriel Loughton, the Marquess of Thayne, who recently returned after many years in India. Gabriel promised his family that he will marry by age 30 - which is soon - and he is thus actively seeking a bride. Handsome, titled and wealthy, Gabriel is considered quite a catch. The very pretty and self-confident (if somewhat vain) Emily immediately sets her sights on him. They begin to spend a good deal of time in each other's company, always with Beatrice along as Emily's chaperone. Oddly, Gabriel finds himself much more attracted to Beatrice than to her niece, and before long he realizes that she is the secret masked lover for who he has been searching. However, expectations have already been raised about his marrying Emily, and the party where he must announce his betrothal is rapidly approaching.

This story bolted right out of the gate and never lost my interest. Beatrice and Gabriel were clearly in love, even though they took a while to realize it. Their conversation was immensely enjoyable, and I liked the respectful and tender way they treated one another despite their rather scandalous beginning. The age difference added to the story's charm, and made Gabriel a more appealing hero for his patent disregard of it. A woman looking for an affair instead of marriage does not usually appeal to me, but I liked Beatrice' character and felt she had legitimate reasons for avoiding another marriage. Beatrice' rejection after Gabriel poured his heart out to her - and then stood gallantly by her - did not ring true, but this is a minor point. Overall, very well done...and a nice ending.