Confessions of an Improper Bride (Donovan Sisters, #1) by Jennifer Haymore

Jul 31, 2011 Terra rated it 5 of 5 stars

Now this is a book worthy of it's luscious characters with all their secrets and baggage on board. What starts out as a major scandal in the Ton leads to emotional pain and suffering so profound that it scars our characters for what seems a lifetime. Can deception bring about a sense of peace and less guilt or will it carve out a new saga that will only intensify what was started so many years ago?

Serena and Meg Donovan are identical twins in London for their first season. The girls mother has s...more Now this is a book worthy of it's luscious characters with all their secrets and baggage on board. What starts out as a major scandal in the Ton leads to emotional pain and suffering so profound that it scars our characters for what seems a lifetime. Can deception bring about a sense of peace and less guilt or will it carve out a new saga that will only intensify what was started so many years ago?

Serena and Meg Donovan are identical twins in London for their first season. The girls mother has sent them to hopefully snatch a rich husband with a magnificent title thus hoping to influence the hubbies into bringing the rest of the family home to London from the West Indies and destitution. Unfortunately the girls are young and even though they have a proper chaperon with their Aunt it's not quite enough to keep them in check.

Jonathan Dane is tall, dark and handsome but quite immature. Second son of an Earl with no hopes of inheriting the title, Jonathan is left to his own devises. Unfortunately for him he gets caught with his hands in the cookie jar so to speak and must publicly cut his conquest or be forever banned from the family and left destitute to find his own way in life as a pauper after having lived the life of Riley with carousing, gambling and drink.

Our story starts out with the girls on their way home to the West Indies disgraced and tossed out by the Ton but if that isn't bad enough there is a terrible accident that will forever scar everyone involved.

Six long years go by before the story picks up again with a much older young lady heading back to London with her sister to live a lie with a deception so cruel that it could permanently cast them out if they are caught. It would also cause severe pain to the man involved and who knows what else may happen if such a dire secret were to become known.

Not long after the return to London do our Ladies meet up with the intended victim but also with another notorious rake by the name of Jonathan Dane that will make the females quiver in fear if he should become to close and discover that which could destroy them.

Will the Ton catch wind of the dirty little secret? Is it true that some things are better left unsaid or will our characters find the courage to tell all even if it kills them?

Jennifer Haymore has given us a wonderful Cinderella story that does have more than it's share of pain but also has more than it's share of passion. A wonderfully paced story that will take you from London to Greta Green and back with a lush amount of sass, finesse and pizazz to keep you well satisfied like a cat in front of a bowl of milk. Just delicious!(less)

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Aug 12, 2011 Cynthia (aka Artemis) rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Historical romance readers; twin switching identity stories

Recommended to Cynthia by: Laurie (Bitten by Paranormal Romance)

Shelves: arc, historical-romance, requested-review

Reviewed at Bitten By Paranormal Romance

Serena Donovan lands in London with her 19 year-old sister, Phoebe, in tow. Her mission, should she succeed: Convince the Town she is her twin sister “Meg”, marry the fine and upstanding Captain William Langley, and find a good match for her sister. HA - Easier said than done! Especially when Jonathan Dane enters the picture. (Which he does quite frequently and so eloquently; appearing just at the right moment between Serena/Meg and William.) She despises...more

Reviewed at Bitten By Paranormal Romance

Serena Donovan lands in London with her 19 year-old sister, Phoebe, in tow. Her mission, should she succeed: Convince the Town she is her twin sister “Meg”, marry the fine and upstanding Captain William Langley, and find a good match for her sister. HA - Easier said than done! Especially when Jonathan Dane enters the picture. (Which he does quite frequently and so eloquently; appearing just at the right moment between Serena/Meg and William.) She despises the lies and deceit that make up her life. Yet, she continually asks herself, “What would Meg do?” As it gets closer to the wedding day, Serena/Meg realizes she still loves Jonathan, and the passion they shared has never died. Now, Serena/Meg has to make the tough choices – for her sisters - and she doesn’t want to hurt William.

The secondary romance of Phoebe and Sebastian is predictable and falls short. Yet, it does lead to one of the tenderest moments between Jonathan and Serena/Meg.

I usually avoid twin-switching identity stories because I find the idea preposterous. Anyone who knows a twin intimately (not necessarily sexually) will know the person is a fraud. However, with CONFESSIONS OF AN IMPROPER BRIDE, there were a few things that made the story a bit plausible.
---Serena was absent from England for six years (during her years between 18 and 24).
---She was cajoled into portraying Meg for the good of the family. After all, her sisters needed to be well situated.
---Jonathan knew immediately, with his heart, body, and soul, upon seeing “Meg” that it was Serena. Even though he kept telling himself it was Meg.

The positive feature of this novel is Jonathan. He is a grand example of a hero redeemed. He loves Serena so vehemently that he will do anything and everything in his power not to lose her, or hurt her or her family again; but to eventually possess her as his own. Yes, he has a reputation as a rakehell of the highest order for the past six years, but all is not as it seems. When his one true love, Serena died, Jonathan died, and there was no reason left for him to continue. He drowned himself in every vice he could find trying to dull the pain. Until he realized - the pain would never go away.

Ultimately, I did not like the way this book ended. I view it as a HFN. However, I am certain fans and followers of Ms. Haymore will delight in the romance of Serena/Meg and Jonathan, as I did.
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May 02, 2013 Tzippy rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: you-call-that-a-happy-ending, love-interest-is-a-jerk, historical-romance, rant, reviewed, setting-england, not-enough-groveling, parents-just-don-t-understand, unsatisfying-ending, first-in-series, series

I appreciate a certain symetry in fiction. Take Chekhov's Gun. I am a big fan of the Chekhov's Gun principle. It bothers me when books don't have a sound structure. I'm also a math person. It may be related.

Let me give you an example: in The Avengers movie, there's this feud between Iron Man and Captain America. Cap thinks that Iron Man's not a real hero, that he's selfish and just in this for the fame and glitz. Iron Man thinks that Cap is a conformist who just does whatever he's told. At the e...more I appreciate a certain symetry in fiction. Take Chekhov's Gun. I am a big fan of the Chekhov's Gun principle. It bothers me when books don't have a sound structure. I'm also a math person. It may be related.

Let me give you an example: in The Avengers movie, there's this feud between Iron Man and Captain America. Cap thinks that Iron Man's not a real hero, that he's selfish and just in this for the fame and glitz. Iron Man thinks that Cap is a conformist who just does whatever he's told. At the end of the movie (oh, uh, spoilers ahead), Iron Man is proven to be selfless and heroic and blah blah, meaning Cap was wrong about him, but Iron Man's view of Captain America is never challeneged. Either the movie is blatantly taking one side over the other, or the movie is structurally flawed.

Serena and Jonathan's story has the same problem.

(view spoiler)[At the beginning of their story, Jonathan publically embarrasses Serena, ruining her reputation (well, neglecting to save her reputation, at least) and setting into motion a chain of events where the name "Serena Donovan" is synonymous with scandal and shame. Therefore, the correct (okay, okay, "in my opinion") ending would have Jonathan publically acknowledging Serena, defending her honor, admitting his guilt, redeeming her good name, et cetera.

But it doesn't happen. Not even close.

Throughout the book, Serena believes that the only way for her to be a worthwhile human being is to masquerade as her more respectable twin sister. A real hero would have turned this assupmtion on its head, called out society for its hypocrisy, let Serena know that she's worthy in her own right. Instead, he...marries her under her sister's name. But only once his father and brother have died. Jonathan's flaw at the beginning of the story was his cowardice, and he never gets over it. He never stops being a coward. (The only time he ever defends her is in private, to one person, and using Meg's name.)

Furthermore, the rest of Jonathan's misdeeds are never redeemed. He ruined Serena and then made it up to her (to an extent) by eventually marrying her, but by his own admission, she wasn't the only one he did this to; just the first. What about the rest of them? Serena is disgusted by his behavior over the past six years, so why doesn't she demand that he make some sort of reparations to the other women he ruined before she agrees to marry him?

Aside from that, this book is basically a bunch of people doing (or having done) despicable things and patting themselves on the back for it. Serena, it's not okay to marry someone who is in love with your sister and thinks that you are she. Will, it's not okay to cheat on your unofficial fiancée. Jonathan, it's not okay to get your unofficially engaged buddy drunk and then throw him at a random girl who wants get rid of her pesky virginity--presumably because you're jealous and bitter that you sabotaged your own chance at happiness. Frankly, I'm surprised that Will and Jonathan stayed friends after that stunt.

So Serena and Jonathan get married at the end of this book, but I don't consider this nearly enough to qualify as a happy ending. All these other problems are never dealt with; they're barely addressed! Boo. (hide spoiler)](less)

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Feb 13, 2013 Leya rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorite-2012, library-book

I don't know about you, but when I try out a new author I'm always a bit skeptical. I'm never sure if the the book or the author's "hype" is truly deserved or just that...hype. So let's say just say I was giving this book my full attention and not having the reviews (that I read) cloud my judgement.

Serena was a young, romantic woman when Jonathan first hurt her. Now she has the opportunity to give her family the happiness that they deserve. The only problem is that she has to pretend to be her t...more

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Feb 03, 2013 Jo rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013

Well, I made it to the end of this book, but given I was thrown out of the story on the very first line, I should have taken it as an omen. Calling a Portsmouth ship the Victory in 1822 and not expect readers to get confused with the famous HMS Victory, which was sitting in Portsmouth Dockyard at that time? Poor judgement or poor research.

The conflict was thinly stretched by the end of the book - it is more suited to a 200-page book and the slow pace reflects this - but perhaps I would have born...more

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Aug 06, 2012 Beverly Diehl rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, historical-fiction

What would you do if your beloved twin sister was swept overboard, while you returned home in disgrace? If the only way to provide for your beloved younger sisters was to assume your lost sister's identity, and marry her fiance, even though you were actually in love with another man? Who had behaved like a complete jackhole to you, in the past, who fully disgraced you in the eyes of society, and yet... you still yearned for him?

Been there, done that. (As far as yearned for a man who had been a j...more

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Aug 06, 2012 Amber rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: audiobook-reader-review-included, historical-romance, romance, adult-romance, audiobook-reader-abby-craden, pathetically-weak-heroines

I wish I could give this book about 2 ¼ stars because I am certain it was not quite as bad as I unwisely experienced (endured might be a better description) it via audiobook via Abby Craden.

About the Audiobook Reader
Miss Caden had a pleasant enough voice, but she gave too much drama in some places and bland tones in others.

She was one of those audiobook readers that made me wonder if she actually read the story before trying to get in front of the recording mic to read it out loud.

Although it w...more

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May 26, 2012 Sue Grimshaw rated it 4 of 5 stars

A Donovan novel - prologue begins with twin sisters and one is lost at sea - Serena poses as Meg to fulfill her mother's scheme -- lots of plot twists with engaging characters. Be prepared to suspend your imagination as some the story I just went with, feeling like there were some missed explanations in what was transpiring in the story -- but all said and done I liked COAIB & was glad I read it & would recommend this story to other readers of historical romance.

Book Summary:
TWICE TEMPTE...more

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Nov 15, 2011 Mskchick rated it 1 of 5 stars

I spent the book rolling my eyes. I mean, come on! The "heroine" believes she was seduced, publicly caught en flagrente delicto, then dumped by this man 6 years ago. This then caused her aunt to cast her and her twin sister out of London, and her sister was killed on the ship ride home (if the man hadn't dumped her, they never would have been on the ship in the first place and her sister wouldn't have died). And yet, when she sees the man again, she flippantly forgets about all this and moons ov...more

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Oct 17, 2011 Leagh rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: own

Wow! I love historical romances and this one cemented that for sure. Confessions of an Improper Bride is a fast paced emotional ride through the lives of two people who, against all odds, have found love.

Serena Donovan is a women scorned. At a very young age she loved Jonathan Dane and thought he loved her too. Until the day she was caught in a compromising situation with him and he turned his back on her. Her and her family were forced to leave London because of her ruined reputation with the T...more

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Aug 16, 2011 April rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance-regency-england

RATING:4.5!CONFESSIONS OF AN IMPROPER BRIDE by Jennifer Haymore is an exciting historical romance set in 1822 and 1828 Portsmouth, England. It is the Book 1 in the "Donovan Sisters" series.It has romance,love,sweet sensuality,drama,passion,secrets,mystery,scandal,forgiveness,sacrifice,past mistakes,trust,exposing a truth,and a second chance at true love.Serena Donovan,is beautiful,was betrayed by her first love,has a broken heart,her reputation in ruins,her family's future in peril,her twin sist...more

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Aug 03, 2011 Mary Gramlich rated it 5 of 5 stars

CONFESSIONS OF AN IMPROPER BRIDE by Jennifer Haymore
08/11 - Grand Central Publishing - Mass Market Paperback, 384 pages

You say I can trust you, but can I believe you?

Serena Donovan lost her reputation and her twin sister Meg the last time she encountered London and Jonathan Dane. Jonathan said he loved her but when pushed to acknowledge their relationship after being caught chose to cut her instead. Now Serena posing as her late sister must come back to face the devil himself and make right what...more CONFESSIONS OF AN IMPROPER BRIDE by Jennifer Haymore
08/11 - Grand Central Publishing - Mass Market Paperback, 384 pages

You say I can trust you, but can I believe you?

Serena Donovan lost her reputation and her twin sister Meg the last time she encountered London and Jonathan Dane. Jonathan said he loved her but when pushed to acknowledge their relationship after being caught chose to cut her instead. Now Serena posing as her late sister must come back to face the devil himself and make right what went completely wrong last time.

Her mother created a scenario where Serena had died not Meg and pushed Serena to be Meg and go through with a marriage to a titled man. Though Serena is appalled to think she will now be in London pretending to be her sister, assuming the role of a future bride she will do so to preserve her family’s good name and ensure her younger sisters have a chance to snare husbands. Serena will make this work or she will die trying.

However, when faced with Jonathan Serena has a hard time keeping up the façade, especially when Jonathan tells her he knows she is Serena not Meg. He admits he was the cruelest of men for what he did to her before but now he is the Sixth Earl of Stratford and he can right the wrongs, bring Serena back into his life, and give her a title as his wife. But can he make up for the lies he has told, clean up the life he has let go to waste, and take Serena away from his best friend the man she is to marry? What a tangled web Jonathan has web all by himself and now he is stuck in it and has no idea how to get out of it.

London is the same headache it was before for Serena but this time she is also trying to keep her sister Phoebe out of trouble, stay away from Jonathan, and pretend to be in love with Will and success is not very achievable. The draw to Jonathan is outweighing her duty to Will and her sister is one hot mess of hormones that no adult knows how to handle.

During this decoy realizes that in some ways, she is the naïve girl that left London in a scandal but a woman who wants to make an adult decision about marriage based on love. She has doubts about Jonathan but the passion that drew them together before is stronger than ever and the lust is as equally out of control. Jonathan promises love and respectability but can Serena believe him and risk everything on his word again?

This new series is fresh, exciting, and quite devious with reputations at stake, subterfuge in place and passion running rampant. I love Jennifer Haymore’s books as they always keep you guessing about what is going to happen next and how this will all turn out. You think you know and then she throws you a curve ball you did not see coming.(less)

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Jul 21, 2011 Larena rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Serena Donovan made a mistake six years ago that ruined her reputation and left her heartbroken. She gave her heart to Jonathan Dane and paid a very steep price. Now because of that mistake she has had to take on the identity of her dead twin sister. This is the only way she will be able to return to London and save her family from the peril they are facing. But to do what she needs to do she will have to marry a man she doesn’t love. And the rest of her life is going to be one continual lie. Se...more Serena Donovan made a mistake six years ago that ruined her reputation and left her heartbroken. She gave her heart to Jonathan Dane and paid a very steep price. Now because of that mistake she has had to take on the identity of her dead twin sister. This is the only way she will be able to return to London and save her family from the peril they are facing. But to do what she needs to do she will have to marry a man she doesn’t love. And the rest of her life is going to be one continual lie. Serena is going to have to find a way to live with that lie because if she doesn’t her family will pay the price.

Jonathan Dane, Earl of Stratford made the biggest mistake of his life six years ago and turned to drinking, gambling and becoming an incorrigible rake all in the aim of forgetting Serena Donovan. Now he meets Meg the very prim and proper sister of his beloved Serena only to see that Meg is the one woman he has never forgotten, Serena. Now he has the chance to win Serena again and this time he has no intention of losing her. But for him to claim Serena he will have to destroy the lies Serena has so carefully built and all the sacrifices she has made. The first thing Jonathan will have to do though is convince Serena that she can trust him this time around that he will never let her down again. That isn’t going to be as easy as he would like but he knows that the only way either of them will have a chance at happiness is for him to prove himself to Serena.

This story is one that will pull on the reader’s heartstrings and have them turning the pages just to see if Serena and Jonathan are going to have their happy ending. This one has some very strong secondary characters that really help move the story along and draws the reader into the story and won’t let go until the very last page. It also shows the power of love and how sometimes it helps to overcome the things that have gone wrong and even when you think there is no way for things to work out that with a little luck and love things do work out in the end. This is the start of a series that will have the reader eagerly awaiting the next book in the series. This one is worth picking up and reading.
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Jul 19, 2011 Amy (Books, College, and Other Random Things) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

I’m reviewing this book for NetGalley

Jennifer Haymore begins another exciting series with her book Confessions of an Improper Bride. This first book in the Donovan series introduces the five Donovan sisters with an emphasis on the twins Serena and Meg and Phoebe. The prologue hints of a scandal surrounding Serena that causes the twins to leave England and return to their home in Antigua. On the return voyage home, Meg is lost in the sea due to an unfortunate accident and subsequently, Serena’s l...more

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Jul 15, 2011 Bookaholics rated it 4 of 5 stars

Confessions of an Improper Bride by Jennifer Haymore
Historical Romance - July 26th, 2011
4 ½ stars

Six years ago, Serena Donovan lost both her reputation and her beloved twin sister, Meg. With their family near financial ruin, Serena is pressured to return to London as Meg. For Meg has a rich fiancée.

Meg was the universally adored twin who was quiet and much loved. By posing as Meg and marrying Meg’s intended fiancé, she can chaperon her sister Phoebe as Phoebe looks for a husband, a wealthy one...more

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Jul 01, 2011 Lisarenee rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Notes: I read the ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of this book. The book comes out on July 26th.

Six years ago Serena Donovan fled London in humiliation after being caught in about as compromising a situation as is possible. Shortly after the "incident", the man whom she thought was "the one" gave her the cut direct in public stating he did not know her. Tragedy struck on the way home when her identical twin sister was knocked overboard in a freak accident and presumed dead. Her mother, thinking to ma...more

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Oct 12, 2011 Alex rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: didn-t-live-up-to-the-hype, historical, romance, for-review, net-galley

At First Sight: Once upon a time, Serena Donovan got her heart broke and her reputation shattered when she fell in love with Jonathan Dane, earl of Stratford.

Sent back home to Antigua in disgrace, Serena had yet to go through another heartbreak when a freak accident claims the life of her beloved twin sister Meg.

Meg was not only Serena's sister but also her best friend and support.

Years later, and with her family's future in danger, Serena agrees to assume Meg's identity and return to London...more At First Sight: Once upon a time, Serena Donovan got her heart broke and her reputation shattered when she fell in love with Jonathan Dane, earl of Stratford.

Sent back home to Antigua in disgrace, Serena had yet to go through another heartbreak when a freak accident claims the life of her beloved twin sister Meg.

Meg was not only Serena's sister but also her best friend and support.

Years later, and with her family's future in danger, Serena agrees to assume Meg's identity and return to London and live a lie to help the other Donovan girls by marrying Meg's former suitor - everyone thinks Serena is the one who died, rather than Meg.

But being in London puts her back in the path of Jonathan.
Jonathan is quite the rake these days, and he has never been able to forget Serena.

Second Glance: I have to say that I went up and down with this book. While the pace was great and I liked the characters, there were certain situations that made me a little uncomfortable.

I had tried once before to read Jennifer Haymore's books but I wasn't very successful since something very similar happened - I liked it, though not as much as I thought I would, and I still had issues with stuff that happened.

Usually, I don't mind the whole twin switcharoo as it can lead to a lot of fun, but in this case it was all heartbreak from start to finish and the decision Serena makes in the end, for the sake of everyone, made me very sad. I understand the why of it and it's not really a sad ending but, still.

Also, I didn't like that everyone was so dishonest for a large part of this book, not only Serena who was meant to play the charade but to a degree everyone else. Plus, Meg's fiance was a really nice guy and it didn't sit well with me what they were trying to do.

Bottom Line: Confessions of an Improper Bride is a good story, but not my favorite by far. A lot of it are personal issues, but the story itself should be appealing to a lot of people. Over all, I liked Serena and Jonathan, even if I didn't agree with their decisions. (less)

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Apr 03, 2013 Jean rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: dhasg-2013-general-reading-challeng, england, historical-romance, in-disguise, regency, romance, lpl

I'm torn about my rating. This story had good character development and story development. The premise is that the ruined twin assumes the identity of the other who perished. Due to Serena's mother's machinations, Serena is trapped in a lie. And her former lover and her betrothed's best friend sees right through it.

The tangled web had me engrossed. Majority of the story is through Serena's eyes and a bit from Jonathan's. Her character and emotions are well developed. Jonathan's grief and shame...more

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Aug 05, 2011 Jen rated it 2 of 5 stars

Short synopsis: Serena gets caught with Dane and he shuns her in society instead of marrying her. Serena and her twin sail back to Antigua but Meg falls overboard, never to be seen again. Unbeknownst to everyone else their mom kept up correspondence with Meg's love interest and when he asked her to marry him, mom said yes on behalf of Meg (who was lost at see) and sent Serena to England in place of Meg to marry Langley. Serena must marry to secure a place in society so her sister's can marry als...more

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Aug 05, 2011 Vanessa {Book ♥ Soulmates} rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

Let me begin by saying that I DO NOT typically read Historical Romance books. I usually find them corny and way to damn cheesy if not raunchy as hell. So needless to say I was VERY pleasantly surprised when I picked this book up and just couldn't put it down! I was totally not expecting to love this book. I know I should have more faith in Jennifer Haymore since Isalys loves her but hey, I've been burned by Historical Romance authors before! I am now pleased to announce that I am a part of her f...more Let me begin by saying that I DO NOT typically read Historical Romance books. I usually find them corny and way to damn cheesy if not raunchy as hell. So needless to say I was VERY pleasantly surprised when I picked this book up and just couldn't put it down! I was totally not expecting to love this book. I know I should have more faith in Jennifer Haymore since Isalys loves her but hey, I've been burned by Historical Romance authors before! I am now pleased to announce that I am a part of her fan club!

Confessions of an Improper Bride is the first book in the Donovan series. The prologue begins with the Donovan twins Serena and Meg, fleeing from England because Serena had ruined her reputation. She had fallen in love with the incredibly handsome Jonathan Dane who publicly denounced her after having had his way with her. While on the ship back home, Meg tries to comfort Serena and you are able to see how much they truly care for one another. Sadly, Meg gets thrown overboard never to return again. Once their mother hears of Meg’s death, she sends an obituary to England claiming that Serena was the one to perish on the ship! The mother, behind Serena’s back, continued corresponding with Meg’s boyfriend, William Langley, and after some time passes they get engaged. Serena, feeling guilty for having shamed her family, felt obligated to abide by her mother's wishes and took on Meg's persona. Six years later, Serena and her younger sister Phoebe are sent to England to introduce Phoebe into society. There, Serena begins her journey as Meg and pretends to love a man {William Langely} who doesn’t even know the real her. To add insult to injury, his best friend happens to be none other than Jonathan Dane himself! Throughout the story she must endure the pain of having to lie to everyone as well as silently suffer the loss of both her sister Meg and Jonathan's betrayal. Her story continually tugs at your heart and you find yourself wishing at least one thing could go right for her.

I truly enjoyed reading this book. I loved Serena’s character. She is strong willed, brave, and is an intelligent woman. I admired her for holding her ground and not giving in to temptation. Even though she was leading a life that wasn’t truly hers, she felt that she was doing what was right for her family and tried to make sure no one got hurt.

I appreciated the love scenes because they weren’t raunchy and disturbingly graphic. Jennifer Haymore took the time to build up the love and lust between the characters and then, when the time was right, they had their sensual moments. I also loved the twist at the end of the book that I did NOT see coming!

Overall I, a non-historical romance lover, thoroughly enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it!(less)

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Jul 31, 2011 Jen (Red Hot Books) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arcs, historical-romance

What a surprising gem this book turned out to be. It wrapped me up from the very beginning and I didn't want to put it down until it was over.

At just 18, Serena Donovan fell in love during her first season in London. But Jonathan was above her station. When the two of them were caught in the midst of a tryst, she was ruined in the eyes of society. And Jonathan turned his back on her. She was forced to set sail for her home in Anguila, with her twin sister Meg at her side. During a storm at sea,...more What a surprising gem this book turned out to be. It wrapped me up from the very beginning and I didn't want to put it down until it was over.

At just 18, Serena Donovan fell in love during her first season in London. But Jonathan was above her station. When the two of them were caught in the midst of a tryst, she was ruined in the eyes of society. And Jonathan turned his back on her. She was forced to set sail for her home in Anguila, with her twin sister Meg at her side. During a storm at sea, Meg went overboard and was never found.

Six years later, Serena discovers that her mother informed London society that it was she, not her sister, who died in that tragic accident. What's more, her mother has been corresponding with Will, the man Meg had been in love with. Will has believed he has been writing to Meg all this time and has now asked her to return to London to wed. Serena's mother insists that Serena go in Meg's place. If she marries Will, she can restore honor to the family and help finance a future for her younger sisters.

When Serena arrives in London, she comes face to face with Jonathan again. He's the only one who seems to recognize her for who she really is. Of course, this takes time to come out in the open. In the interim, Serena does her best to stay away from the man who broke her heart so completely all those years ago. But it's a losing battle.

There was so much raw emotion in this book. Serena's anguish over her past is palpable. She is such a sympathetic character, because you can see how trusting and in love she once was. Her shattered self esteem is crushed even more as she is forced to sublimate herself to take on her "good" sister's persona. But she does it for her family... for her remaining sisters who would have no future otherwise. She struggles with the lies she must tell and fights her own heart to stay away from Jonathan... even after he reveals that he knows who she is. And even though it would be easy to hate Jonathan for all he put Serena through, you can see the depth of his grief at her loss --and the honesty in his love for her now.

It was really very good and makes me want to find more from Jennifer Haymore. Almost 5 stars.

*ARC Provided by NetGalley (less)

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Aug 06, 2011 Mary (BookHounds) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, from-publisher-author

Jonathan Dane has left Serena Donovan's reputation is tatters and returns to England as "Meg" a prim and proper young lady scheduled to marry in order to save her family and their name. Even though she is now "Meg", Jonathan is immediately drawn to her, just like the first time. Sparks fly between the handsome rake and Serena again. Serena must keep up appearances and deny her heart a second time.

Oh, what a tangled web we weave...Yes, Serena does weave a web of deceit but no more than any other...more

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Sep 12, 2011 Ashia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance

CONFESSIONS OF AN IMPROPER BRIDE had an interesting plotline, but the story never quite took off.

Six years ago, Serena Donovan was in love with Jonathan Dane, 2nd son of the Earl of Stratford. When they were caught, Jonathan cut her, and ruined and heartbroken, she left with her twin sister Meg to return to Antigua. However, on the ship that carried them home, Meg was swept away to sea. Unbeknown to her, their mother proclaimed that it was Serena who had died.

Six years later, Serena masqueraded...more CONFESSIONS OF AN IMPROPER BRIDE had an interesting plotline, but the story never quite took off.

Six years ago, Serena Donovan was in love with Jonathan Dane, 2nd son of the Earl of Stratford. When they were caught, Jonathan cut her, and ruined and heartbroken, she left with her twin sister Meg to return to Antigua. However, on the ship that carried them home, Meg was swept away to sea. Unbeknown to her, their mother proclaimed that it was Serena who had died.

Six years later, Serena masqueraded as her twin sister Meg to accompany younger sister Phoebe for her first Season, and their family's hope rested on the younger girl marrying well so she might sponsor their two youngest sisters for a Season. And who should she meet again but Jonathan Dane, a Jonathan who seemed much changed from the simple, innocent youth she'd loved. This Jonathan was a rake and a scoundrel, with the worst reputation imaginable. How then could she still be attracted to him, especially when she was now engaged to Meg's fiance, Will? How could she hope to continue this masquerade when Jonathan's presence was enough to make her tremble, when he was suspicious of her identity?

What a tangled web we weave, when first we sought to deceive!

Serena is fiery and quick to temper. She's also not afraid of speaking her mind, and these traits differentiated her from her gentler sister, Meg, which in turn caused the men close to them to doubt her real identity. She also sees herself in her younger sister Phoebe, whose relationship with Harper, a penniless rake, had the unfortunate signs of "history repeating itself."

While Serena didn't quite endear herself to me, I was ready to accept her and hope for her HEA. Unfortunately, one would've thought she'd be sympathetic to her sister's plight, or at least learn from her own mistakes. Though Jonathan had cautioned her to go gentle on her sister and she herself acknowledged that confronting Phoebe would not do any good, yet all the while she was talking to Phoebe, she didn't give off sympathetic vibes, but instead was forcing Phoebe around to her way of thinking, which was to leave Harper. Which, of course, would not sit well with the rebellious Phoebe.

Jonathan was supposed to be the rich, dashing hero of this book. Unfortunately, he was much weighted down by his past, in which he gave Serena the cut direct when she needed him the most. The author's reason for his doing so was a bit lame, in my opinion, as Jonathan, in the snippets of scenes we've seen his younger self with his father, didn't show signs of being cowed by him at all.

Although he did redeem himself by pulling an a la Darcy later on, wherein he helped Phoebe and Harper (who eloped), knowing how much Phoebe meant to Serena. Oh, maybe I was mistaken, because I get the vibe that the Donovan family name--rather than Phoebe--mean more to Serena, because the family name must not be dragged through scandal once again or all hope would be lost for her two younger sisters back home. A fine sentiment, to be sure, if I was convinced of it. Because for all that Phoebe was her younger sister, I didn't sense any sisterly feelings between them at all. Like, really, would you leave your sick younger sister behind while you go off to enjoy Bath, whatever the reason for the trip?

I do have to say that the intimate scenes were quite hot and sizzling, and the time when Serena was trying to keep her identity a secret from Jonathan were all fun to read.

I've heard a lot of good things about Jennifer Haymore, so I was a bit disappointed after reading this book. Maybe this was just a fluke, so I'm still willing to give this author another try.

For more of my reviews, check out my page at The Romance Reviews: http://www.theromancereviews.com/mypagebooksreviewed.php?location=Ashia (less)

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Jun 20, 2011 Jen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance

I was fortunate enough to get my hands on an ARC through NetGalley, and I was tickled pink that it was a Jennifer Haymore novel. Each Haymore novel gets better and better. This book is no exception, and I was so tempted to stay up all night reading. This is the kind of book that makes you absolutely sigh with happiness when you close it. The ending was perfect, the story engaging, and the characters entirely likable.

When we meet Serena Donovan, she is on her way to London to pose as her deceased...more I was fortunate enough to get my hands on an ARC through NetGalley, and I was tickled pink that it was a Jennifer Haymore novel. Each Haymore novel gets better and better. This book is no exception, and I was so tempted to stay up all night reading. This is the kind of book that makes you absolutely sigh with happiness when you close it. The ending was perfect, the story engaging, and the characters entirely likable.

When we meet Serena Donovan, she is on her way to London to pose as her deceased sister Meg. She is to marry Captain Langley, her twin's love. Serena is hoping and praying she doesn't encounter her own love, Jonathan Dane, who thinks she died at sea six years ago. In reality, Meg was the one who died, and Serena is fraught with guilt over the situation but determined to do right by her family after bringing scandal down upon them six years ago.

Jonathan Dane is the typical rake. Handsome, proud, and still in love with his "dead" lover six years after her death, he's finally beginning to move on with his life by giving up some of his more lascivious activities such as gambling and carousing. But after Serena's death, he's sworn never to marry. Wracked with guilt over the part he played in her flight from England and subsequent death, it is a sort of homage to her that he remains single and childless.

Serena sweeps into town as Meg, and all of the old feelings between Serena and Jonathan reemerge. The problem is Jonathan believes her to be Meg, and having such an attraction to the living twin is disturbing, yet Jonathan can't help but want to spend time with her.

Serena wants to find ease with her fiancé, but she isn't in love with him. The ease Meg would've felt with him can't be attained, especially when she's fighting her attraction to Jonathan. But will Jonathan discover her identity? And can the love they felt so many years ago be recaptured?

I love stories of long-lost loves reuniting. Haymore has done a fantastic job of causing the reader to empathize with each character's plight. Serena is fighting the rebellious urge she's always had in order to be more like her sweet and calm sister. Jonathan feels shame and anger at what he did to Serena all those years ago. And all the while, we watch a subplot unfold between Serena's sister Phoebe and a wild young man named Sebastian Harper. As a reader, I wanted Serena and Jonathan to get their happy ending. I rooted for them, but at the same time, I didn't want the likable Captain Langley to be hurt in the process. I wanted him to find his own happiness somehow, but it was inevitable that someone would be hurt in this strange love triangle. With Serena's Aunt Geraldine watching everyone's every move, it seemed an impossible plight, but Haymore manages to tie up the loose ends nicely. I'm looking forward to the next books in this series.(less)

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Aug 11, 2011 Fani rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-netgalley-to-review, romance-historical, devil-in-disguise, second-chance, secondary-romance, he-did-a-bad-bad-thing, hero-is-besotted, hero-is-a-rake, heroine-i-loved, angsty, from-opposite-tracks, hero-or-heroine-already-engaged, lust-at-first-sight, self-flagellation, starcrossed-lovers, 3-half-stars, crappy-ending

Serena Donovan met Jonathan Dane 6 years ago when she first came to London. She was an impoverished Irish peer's daughter and he, the second son of a rich earl. Though they fell instantly in love with each other, his family didn't approve of the match and when they were caught in a compromising position, Jonathan chose to bend to his father's threats and cut her off instead of marrying her. Completely ruined, Serena left London with her twin sister Meg but while on board of the ship that was car...more Serena Donovan met Jonathan Dane 6 years ago when she first came to London. She was an impoverished Irish peer's daughter and he, the second son of a rich earl. Though they fell instantly in love with each other, his family didn't approve of the match and when they were caught in a compromising position, Jonathan chose to bend to his father's threats and cut her off instead of marrying her. Completely ruined, Serena left London with her twin sister Meg but while on board of the ship that was carrying them to their home in Antigua, Meg fell overboard. Serena's mother, rather than have the disgraced daughter alive, told everyone that it was Serena that died and Meg who lived.

Now, 6 years later, an offer of marriage from Meg's old love and suitor, Captain Langley, has arrived from London. The family's destitute, so Serena is to take Meg's place and marry Captain Langley in Meg's place, in order for her other sisters to later be introduced -and married- into London's high society. For the shake of her sisters Serena agrees with the plan, but finds it too difficult to go through with it when she finds out that Langley's closest friend and best man to be, is no other than Jonathan Dane, the current Earl of Stratford. Jonathan is surprised to find himself attracted to Serena's twin sister, which he had never noticed in the past, and feels ashamed for wanting his best friend's betrothed. But soon, he starts wondering if the woman he's lusting after isn't Serena after all, the woman he loved and thought he'd lost forever. Serena thought she was completely over Jonathan after his horrid betrayal, but being close to him, she can't deny that the old flame is still there. Still, can she forgive how he once betrayed her or forget what she must do for her sisters' shake?

The good:
-The writing was excellent, emotional and moving; the characters fully developed and even though I had trouble forgiving Jonathan in the beginning, I came to deeply sympathize with him, the more truths about the past incident came to light. Haymore obviously knows how to pull the reader's heartstrings and lovers of truly angsty, agonizing reads, will probably appreciate these lovers' stony path to happiness.
-I liked that Serena, realistically, didn't immediately forgive and forget Jonathan's behavior upon seeing him again, but it took her a long time to get over what he did to her.
-I also loved the fact that we 'saw' a big part of the story from Jonathan's eyes, this way actually seeing how sorry and ashamed he trully was for his old rejection. It's another thing to be told he was sorry, and another to actually see it from his POV. Plus, with what he did in the present to help Serena and what extra details we get for what happened 6 years ago, I'm happy to say, I was able to completely get over any grunge I held for him.

The bad:
-There was a secondary romance between Serena's sister Phoebe and a young rake, that was too conveniently similar to what happened to Serena and Jonathan in the past, to be easily swallowed. Besides, the lack of depth in that story arc -and I'm glad the focus stayed on the main couple, mind you- made the young rake's turn of heart, a little too fast and sudden to be believable.
-My other problem were the last 30-40 pages. A lot of things I didn't like occured in them, all in once, thus somewhat diminishing my overall enjoyment of the book.
-For starters, it got too sweet and cheesy. I read more declarations of undying love in 2 pages than I usually read in an entire novel. Of course, since I'm not a fan of sweet romances and lovey-dovey phrases, that which threw me off, is probably a plus for most other romance readers.
-The way that the writer got rid of Serena's/Meg's betrothed was completely unfair to him and utterly unpalatable to my taste. (view spoiler). The easy solution, is not in this case, the best one:(
-My last and most important peeve about the ending, is that by the number of times that Serena doubted Jonathan's love for her after their reconcialiation, I have much difficulty in imagining a real HEA for them, where each one is secure in the knowledge of the other's love. The author didn't manage to make me believe that the wound left by Jonathan in Serena's heart was finally healed by the book's end, a fact that made me put the book down with a sense of unfullfillment.

All in all, this was a very nice emotional, even angsty story of love between two people who have never stopped loving eacg other. I'll look forward to read other books by this author but I strongly wish the ending was different; it would then get a 4.5 rating from me. As it is though, I have to take a full star just for the ending, so I'd say it's a 3.5 leaning on 4 stars for me.

ARC received by NetGalley(less)

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May 17, 2012 Eli Yanti rated it 4 of 5 stars

Has a twin sister maybe sometimes so fun especially when we can change place or identity but how if we can’t change back to our truth identity forever?

This is what happened to Serena, who has been betrayed by her beloved and have to lost her twin sister (Meg) when they boarded the ship to sail from London back to Atiguai. Meg fell into sea and never found again.

6 years later, Serena has to return to London with a new identity (as Meg) to fulfill Captain Langley’s proposal of marriage (Langley i...more

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Mar 19, 2012 Linda Kage rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult-romance, historical

I think I just found a new author to love!! I was craving a regency historical romance so I took my chance on a book I'd never heard of before while browsing Amazon, and wow! I can't believe Haymore isn't more popular than she is. If you like Elizabeth Hoyt, Suzanne Enoch (historicals), Julia Quinn, Lisa Kleypas (historicals), Sabrina Jeffries, and Laura Lee Guhrke, then you definitely gotta try Jennifer Haymore. Wonderful writing, great steamy sexy tension between the H/H, and great plot tensio...more

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Aug 04, 2011 Angelc rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: already-own-read, keepers

4.5 Stars

My favorite thing about Jennifer Haymore is that she really knows how to write about overwhelming, all-consuming love. Her characters are always over the moon for each other, which is exactly what I want in a historical romance. At the same time, her writing is never sappy and the love story always feel real.

The plot was new and different for me. I liked the tangled web created by Serena masquerading as her sister. The almost love triangle or even love square was intriguing.But it was s...more

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Feb 15, 2012 ♡ Sassy ~ Amy ♡ rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance

Serena becomes a scandal being caught having sex with Johnathan, Earl of Stratmore and is banned from London. While her and her twin sister were talking about the embarrassing events onboard their ship back to the West Indies, her sister Meg is swept overboard & drown.

Six years later she finds out her mother has been writing to Lord Langley as Meg & he asks to marry her. Her mother says yes & forces Serena to live as Meg. Serena runs into Johnathan & he guesses something is amis...more

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Oct 31, 2011 Sheyla rated it 3 of 5 stars

Serena Donovan is back in London after six years. The last time she was in London her reputation was compromised and while going home to the Islands her twin (Meg) dies in a ship accident.
Years later Serena is forced by her mother to travel to London assuming her sister's identity and is engaged to be married.
To Serena's surprise the man who ruined her reputation is a good friend of her fiancee. She thought she had stopped loving Jonathan Dane but one look at him and the memories come back.
Jonat...more

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Confessions of an Improper Bride (Donovan Sisters #1)

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