Helpful Score: 1
Generally good, but not very memorable. I think I've read it twice now but I'm struggling to remember what actually happened.
Helpful Score: 1
This story is an absolute hoot. It has everything. Misunderstood heroine check. Highly intelligent and of an unconventional attractiveness, of course - check. Wicked stepmother check. Fabulously handsome, wealthy and aristocratic love interest check. Initial misunderstanding by chief couple and instant dislike of each other check. Endless complications before true love finds its way check.
Its basically Pride and Prejudice with the added bonus of a botched kidnapping (literally), a surreal trip to France, and horses.
But it is the cast of secondary characters that make this book a truly delightful read. From Phoebes childhood friend, Tom Orde, to her stepmother, Lady Marlow, to Alice, the landladys daughter at an inn (who tells Sylvester that he is more important than a gobblecock), to Sylvesters vain and stupid (but beautiful) widowed sister-in-law, Ianthe (Lady Henry Raine), with her six-year-old son, Master Edmund Raine, who is Sylvesters ward, and her dandified suitor, Sir Nugent Fotherby, every character is well-rendered, memorable, and often very funny.
Its basically Pride and Prejudice with the added bonus of a botched kidnapping (literally), a surreal trip to France, and horses.
But it is the cast of secondary characters that make this book a truly delightful read. From Phoebes childhood friend, Tom Orde, to her stepmother, Lady Marlow, to Alice, the landladys daughter at an inn (who tells Sylvester that he is more important than a gobblecock), to Sylvesters vain and stupid (but beautiful) widowed sister-in-law, Ianthe (Lady Henry Raine), with her six-year-old son, Master Edmund Raine, who is Sylvesters ward, and her dandified suitor, Sir Nugent Fotherby, every character is well-rendered, memorable, and often very funny.
He was every woman's dream but hers....
Sylvester,the Duke of Salford, is a polished bachelor who has stringent requirements for his future wife -- she must be well-born, intelligent, elegant and attractrive. And of course she must be able to present herself well in high society. But when he is encouraged to consider Phoebe Marlow as a bride, Sylvester is taken aback by the coltish woman who seems to resent him....
When Phoebe runs away, circumstances find the two striking up an unusual friendship. Phoebe discovers that the duke isn't the villain she first thought. And Sylvester stumbles upon something he never dared hope for....
Sylvester,the Duke of Salford, is a polished bachelor who has stringent requirements for his future wife -- she must be well-born, intelligent, elegant and attractrive. And of course she must be able to present herself well in high society. But when he is encouraged to consider Phoebe Marlow as a bride, Sylvester is taken aback by the coltish woman who seems to resent him....
When Phoebe runs away, circumstances find the two striking up an unusual friendship. Phoebe discovers that the duke isn't the villain she first thought. And Sylvester stumbles upon something he never dared hope for....
Sylvester, the Duke of Salford, is a polished bachelor who has stringent requirements for his future wife -- she must be well-born, intelligent, elegant and attractive. And of course she must be able to present herself well in high society. But when he is encouraged to consider Phoebe Marlow as a bride, Sylvester is taken aback by the coltish woman who seems to resent him . . .
When Phoebe runs away, circumstances find the two striking up an unusual friendship. Phoebe discovers that the duke isn't the villian she first thought. And Sylvester stumbles upon something he never dared hope for . . .
When Phoebe runs away, circumstances find the two striking up an unusual friendship. Phoebe discovers that the duke isn't the villian she first thought. And Sylvester stumbles upon something he never dared hope for . . .
He was every woman's dream but hers
Sylvester, the Duke of Salford, is a polished bachelor who has stringent requirements for his future wife she must be well-born, intelligent, elegant and attractive. And of course she must be able to present herself well in high society. But when he is encouraged to consider Phoebe Marlow as a bride, Sylvester is taken aback by the coltish woman who seems to resent him.
When Phoebe runs away, circumstances find the two striking up an unusual friendship. Phoebe discovers that the duke isn't the villain she first thought.
And Sylvester stumbles upon something he never dared hope for.
Sylvester, the Duke of Salford, is a polished bachelor who has stringent requirements for his future wife she must be well-born, intelligent, elegant and attractive. And of course she must be able to present herself well in high society. But when he is encouraged to consider Phoebe Marlow as a bride, Sylvester is taken aback by the coltish woman who seems to resent him.
When Phoebe runs away, circumstances find the two striking up an unusual friendship. Phoebe discovers that the duke isn't the villain she first thought.
And Sylvester stumbles upon something he never dared hope for.
