A Merry Chase (Sonnet Books) (Mass Market Paperback)

~ (Author) "Enjoying a snifter of brandy at White's, Lord Royce Van Cleef relaxed against his leather chair, perfectly content to be alone..." (more)
Key Phrases: Lord Simmons, Lord Van Cleef, Lord Hammington (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Lord Royce Van Cleef, Earl of Tewksbury, bets his friends that he can win a bride by applying the rules of foxhunting to the romantic chase. The woman chosen to be the object of his attentions is the incomparable Lady Laurel Simmons. Laurel is intrigued by the infuriating yet enjoyable Royce and almost succumbs to his seductive schemes until she learns of the infamous wager. Livid at his deception and determined to outmaneuver him at his own game, Laurel plots to make Royce the quarry and sets all the matchmaking mamas of the ton on him. Royce soon realizes that Laurel has found him out and welcomes the challenge of winning his wary bride-to-be. The two are so intent on their own merry games that neither is prepared for the entry of new hunters bent on revenge and destruction. Malvey (Temptress) delights with her charming characters and witty situations, and the many plot twists add a dash of spice and suspense to this romantic chase. (Apr.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description

In Temptress and Enchanted, Victoria Malvey brought the beauty and elegance of nineteenth-century England to life. Now, with her special blend of storytelling and romance, she takes a fresh and engaging look at the eternal pursuit of love.

For Royce Van Cleef, earl of Tewkbury, marriage is a very simple matter. Rather than waste time and effort courting, one must make the intended bride become the pursuer. When his friends scoff, he proposes to put his theory to the test by winning Lady Laurel Simmons. She is beautiful, well-bred, and sharp-tongued -- an exceptional challenge for any man.

But Lady Laurel catches wind of Royce's foul scheme. Annoyed beyond words -- a rare state for her -- she decides to best him at his game. Before the season is over, she vows, Royce will be the one chasing after her. Now enthralled with ploy and counterploy, Royce and Laurel are making and breaking the rules with wild abandon -- until neither can admit the game has become heartbreakingly real...

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Pocket (April 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671775251
• ISBN-13: 978-0671775254
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,508,678 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A MERRY CHASE By Victoria Malvey, March 28, 2000

By	Carol Carter "Carol C in GA" (Thomaston, GA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

One afternoon while spending time with his friends at White's, their gentleman's club, a lively discussion took place. Van Cleef's friends were complaining about the time and effort it took to woo their future wives and were astounded when Royce told them to use the same logic they would in a fox hunt. Laughing, his friends proposed a wager: they would name the future bride and he had to come to scratch in a limited time or lose the bet. When he heard the lady's name he was to win - Laurel Simmons - he almost choked, but she was a beauty, had the right background, and it was time to marry and 'get an heir'. He decided this would sweeten the challenge and....would you believe it....He accepted the wager and 'The Chase' was on.

Laurel Simmons had decided she would never again give her heart to any man as she had to that low-down Archie Devens. The love of her life jilted her when he came into an unexpected inheritance and she knew then he was only marrying her for her dowry. But, when the handsome Lord Van Cleef began seeking her out she was flattered and began to fall under his spell. After all, wasn't he the most handsome, as well as richest, bachelor sought out today...

In fact, he was getting along so well that his friends decided to slow the process down and made arrangements for Lady Laurel to overhear their conversation and discussed the 'wager' in her hearing. She was quite upset, but this strong woman decided she would just turn the tables on him. She told the biggest gossips around that Royce Van Cleef had decided on a bride but would not give her name. Now, the plot thickens and the fun really begins as every Mamma has their daughter in front of Royce at every appearance, plus the woman he had been dating just knew it was she. The funny thing about this is that the more stumbling blocks Laurel creates the more interested Royce is. She is such a challenge and not the insipid type of women he had been previously seeking. He begins to have serious pangs of jealousy when his best friend Stephen begins to squire Laurel around town. He has an 'attitude adjustment' and falls in love with Laurel and earnestly wants her for his wife. Victoria Malvey has penned a regency romance that is light and fun. The plot of the story is the chase and her humor and wit come to the front in this tale. While A MERRY CHASE has a touch of intrigue, the story focuses more on the interplay between the hero and heroine. I was reminded of the Spencer Tracy/Katherine Hepburn type of banter between these two main characters. I highly recommend this one to make you laugh and put you in a light mood. I only hope Ms. Malvey is working on Stephen's story to delight readers once again.

Carol Carter

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A delightful romp, April 4, 2000

By	Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

In 1816 at Whites, Lord Royce Van Cleef debates with some friends the logic behind courting and marrying a woman. While his friends argue that logic is not part of the process, Van Cleef likens the chase to that of a foxhunt. His companions challenge Royce to prove his method by chasing down and wedding Lady Laurel Simmons, who has announced she will never marry after being unceremoniously dropped by her former fiancé when his fortunes changed three years ago. Though he thinks love is bogus, Royce accepts the wager because he needs an heir anyway.

Royce begins to study his quarry and his pursuit of the unattainable starts to make progress when Laurel learns about the bet. As they fall in love, Laurel changes the rules of the game in an attempt to checkmate her persistent suitor.

Though A MERRY CHASE is a by the book Regency romance, readers of historical love stories of any era will fully enjoy this jocular tale. The story line is entertaining due to the intelligent cast. The lead couple is a witty, humorous duo battling for the upper hand in the game of love. The support ensemble provides a feel for the era and motivates the two stars into action and reaction even as they observe the foxhunt twist into a bullfight. The enchanting Victoria Malvey makes Regency romance novels fun to read.

Harriet Klausner

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delicious and delightfully funny from start to finish!, May 18, 2000

By	Leslie Tramposch "PNR Reviewer" (Moon Township, PA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is by far Ms. Malvey's best book yet. The hero and heroine are well matched for spirit and wits. I couldn't put it down or stop laughing!

Royce van Cleef, Earl of Tewkbury, if extremely gifted. He is handsome, charming, and very, very lucky....at least at games of chance. Blissfully unattached he observes his friends' awkward attempts to woo their beloveds with great amuzement. He compares winning a mate to a fox hunt and advised studied observation as the obvious tactic for a successful campaign.

Is it any wonder that his friends want to take him down a peg. Knowing their cocky friend can't resist a sure thing they propose a wager. Royce must woo and win a woman of their chosing using his own technique. Royce hadn't considered marriage but he must produce an heir sooner or later, so he gamely accepts. He is wise enough to stipulate that the lady of choice must meet his criteria for an acceptable partner. He is greatly relieved that the woman they choose is Lady Laurel Simmons. She is lovely and well suited to his title. There is just one catch.

Lady Laurel has no use for men whatsoever. She'd been jilted once in favor of a minor inheritance and is determined never to risk her heart again. Neither the friends nor Laurel had counted on Royce's considerable charm. When it appears he is winning all too easily, his friends up the ante by "accidentally" tiping Laurel's best friend off to the wager.

Horrified at being duped a second time Laurel doesn't get mad, she gets even! Laurel spreads the word about the wager throughout the ton, omitting the name of the lady involved. Poor Royce finds himself inundated with hopeful debutants. In fact everyone seems to view him as the catch of the season. Everyone but the one he wants.

The moves and counter moves are hilarious, until Royce realizes that this is no longer a game. All to late he finds that he has more to lose than a simple wager. If he doesn't find a way to make amends he will lose the only woman he has ever loved. Now Royce must persue Laurel in ernest. But can he ever regain her trust?

Complications include the mechanizations of Royce's mother who opposes the match, the return of Laurel's faithless fiance', and a scorned debutante bent on revenge. The story concludes in a dramatic manner as befits this amusing tale.

Ms. Malvey gets better and better. I highly recommend this delightful Regency romp.

Leslie Tramposch ~ UReviewIT