Sherri H. (mamadoodle) -
Helpful Score: 1
Fabulous story of opposites attract! I couldn't put it down.
Helpful Score: 1
Edward, the Earl of Heyward, wouldn't have wanted the title the way he inherited it. He had a comfortable existence, had desultorily made plans for his future matrimony with his comfortable friend and thought he was content to never love. Lady Angeline Dudley turns all of his preconceived notions on end and refuses to be cowed by her unhappy childhood. Despite very little in common, the two of them gradually learn about love and romance even though there are significant obstacles to their relationship. Another exquisitely penned romance from a wonderfully lyrical and romantic author.
Goodreads
Goodreads
Edward and Angeline are polar opposites. He's oh, so correct and she's flamboyant, colorful, and speaks and acts without much if any thought. They both have good hearts, He cannot conceive of why he'd ever be attracted to her but she falls madly in love with him at first sight. There are some amusing moments as he tries to not want her and she wants him. I'd have given this a full 5 stars but the continuous stream of thought rambling got on my nerves and I wanted them to just get on with it, already.
Not exactly thrilling nor heart pounding, but rather romantic in the old school way--quiet, plodding, and very bland. I liked Edward very much--he was the unassuming type of alpha male--but the story focused way too much on the couple's inner thoughts and on the second guessing of motives. It got to the point where I was quickly skimming a lot of Angeline's personal musings and nonsensical chatter. The best part was the epilogue where things were satisfyingly, and quickly, concluded. 3 stars.
I didn't like this book at all! It reminded me of the books she wrote early in her career that the publisher has started releasing now. It was too "vanilla" for me, very bland (not sure how else to say it!). Normally I'm a fan of Mary Balogh's; loved her "Simply" series.
The new Earl of Heyward, Edward Ailsbury, knows his duty is to marry a titled lady and produce an heir. He would like to marry his longtime friend, Eunice Goddard, but she has no title and has refused him. His family is pushing for a match with Lady Angeline Dudley, a flamboyant debutante who soon sends his life into chaos. Lady Angeline knows she must marry a titled gentleman, but she doesn't want a rake like her brothers. She wants a quiet ordinary guy. And when Edward rescues her from a scoundrel, she knows she has found her true love. The problem is convincing the Earl of the fact.
This story was a bit slow moving at the beginning. It may be because Edward was such a proper stiff gentleman, he didn't even crack a smile until the middle of the book. The second half of the book flowed much better. I couldn't wait for Angeline to take the starch out of Edward and convince him that he already loved her. I also enjoyed the secondary romance involving Eunice and Windrow. My rating: 4 Stars.
This story was a bit slow moving at the beginning. It may be because Edward was such a proper stiff gentleman, he didn't even crack a smile until the middle of the book. The second half of the book flowed much better. I couldn't wait for Angeline to take the starch out of Edward and convince him that he already loved her. I also enjoyed the secondary romance involving Eunice and Windrow. My rating: 4 Stars.
Beautiful vintage Balogh
After reading the first two stories of this trilogy, I had no real interest in reading about Lady Angeline Dudley (the sister to the brothers highlighted in the first two novels). In these stories, she was characterized as having hoydenish characteristics and no real fashion sense. Her bonnets were always atrocious. She had regular vapors and chattered about nothing. I couldn't imagine how she managed to find a spouse until I learned that her dowery was substantial. Her husband in the first stories was referred to as a 'stick in the mud.' This seemed to hardly be an auspicious beginning for a romantic novel.
When Angeline becomes Edward's 'secret mistress,' I nearly threw the book at the wall. What poppycock. For most of the book, everyone has been worried about appearances and how innocent Angeline is. All of that is shed in the twinkling of an eye and suddenly Angeline became a secret mistress. What a disappointment.
Mistress Series
1. More Than a Mistress (2000)
2. No Man's Mistress (2001)
**3. The Secret Mistress (2011)
When Angeline becomes Edward's 'secret mistress,' I nearly threw the book at the wall. What poppycock. For most of the book, everyone has been worried about appearances and how innocent Angeline is. All of that is shed in the twinkling of an eye and suddenly Angeline became a secret mistress. What a disappointment.
Mistress Series
1. More Than a Mistress (2000)
2. No Man's Mistress (2001)
**3. The Secret Mistress (2011)
Loved it. Heartwarming and funny.
