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Just One Season in London

by Leigh Michaels (Goodreads Author)

3.98 of 5 stars 3.98 · rating details · 94 ratings · 23 reviews

A family that courts together...

Viscount Ryecroft has a beautiful sister he needs to marry off... if only he had the money for her Season in London.

His family is in financial ruins, and his mother is willing to do anything to help her children, including sell herself to the highest bidder...

Finds passion on their own...

Sophie Ryecroft will sacrifice love to marry for t

...more

Paperback, 380 pages

Published July 5th 2011 by Sourcebooks Casablanca (first published July 1st 2011)

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Aug 16, 2011 Linda Banche rated it 5 of 5 stars

Charming characters, sparkling conversation and exuberant humor abound in Leigh Michaels's Regency historical, JUST ONE SEASON IN LONDON , an exhilarating story of love found while trying to make others happy.

Young Viscount Ryecroft has no money. How can he keep up his estate, give his little sister, Sophie, a London Season so she can find a mate she wants, and also provide for his widowed mother, Miranda? He has to get them all to London for the Season. He will do anything he has to, including...more

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Aug 14, 2011 Brenda Rupp rated it 4 of 5 stars

I liked the book! I was surprised there was more to the story than I thought there would be in the beginning. I was expecting a lot of fluff but there was a good story told in this book. It took me a couple of days but I was busy doing other things. The family in this book has a daughter who is of the age where she needs to have a lot of money to buy the trappings of a "Season" to be presented to the London society so she may meet a young man with money to help the family mansion to be updated....more

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Jul 24, 2011 Debbie rated it 5 of 5 stars

I love historical romances and whenever someone asks for suggestions or who my favorite authors are I always mention Julie Garwood, Julia Quinn or Johanna Lindsey. If all of Leigh Michaels' books are as good as this one then I have a feeling her name will quickly join my list of favorite authors. She captures the perfect balance between humor, romance and sexiness in this story.

The Characters

I can't think of a single character I disliked in this story. I really enjoyed Ryecroft and the fact that...more I love historical romances and whenever someone asks for suggestions or who my favorite authors are I always mention Julie Garwood, Julia Quinn or Johanna Lindsey. If all of Leigh Michaels' books are as good as this one then I have a feeling her name will quickly join my list of favorite authors. She captures the perfect balance between humor, romance and sexiness in this story.

The Characters

I can't think of a single character I disliked in this story. I really enjoyed Ryecroft and the fact that physically he wasn't an Adonis but he still had London's ladies flocking around him due to his humor, kindness and ok I'm sure his title had a little to do with it. Sophie was spunky, kind and naive and you can't help but love her. Unlike many heroines who do stupid things despite being made out to be strong, smart women she isn't painted to be the perfect woman. Yes she makes some bad decisions due to naiveness but they aren't out of character with your typical young woman who has never been to London. Everything she does is so realistic that you can't help but put yourself in her shoes and relate to her situation and feelings. Miranda, the man Sophie falls for and the woman Rye falls for were all wonderful characters as well. They were all perfectly flawed and perfectly endearing. I did find it funny that Miranda appears to be around her late 30s and there are constant references to her being past her prime and with the way her son refers to her you would think she was an old woman. I know people didn't have as long of life span as we do now but it still made me laugh on how the young view their parents sometimes. For those of you who are fans of Lady Danbury in Julia Quinn's books you will meet her equivalent, Lady Stone, who is just as crochety, plain speaking and soft hearted.

The Story

I'm always a little leery about books that centralize around several romances instead of focusing on just one couple with maybe a minor couple thrown into the mix. Leigh Michaels wove all three love stories in so well together that it never felt disjointed to me and all the couples wormed their way into my heart. It was hilarious watching the characters interact with each other and there was never a dull moment in the book for me. I stayed up way too late reading this book because I couldn't stop until I got to the end. Even though with most romances you know there will be a happy ending it was one of those stories you get immersed in and the journey to the end is just as satisfying as the happily ever after.

I find it hard to be coherent as I just want to gush about this book. If you are a fan of Julie Garwood, Julia Quinn or Johanna Lindsey and are looking for a new book I highly suggest picking this one up. I know I will be adding the rest of Leigh Michaels books to my to be read list.(less)

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Jul 20, 2011 April rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance-regency-england

RATING:4.5)JUST ONE SEASON IN LONDON by Leigh Michaels is an exciting historical romance set in Regency England. It is written with depth and details.The characters will capture your heart. This is a tale of a family of three,whom need money,love and happiness. It is about a son,his sister and his mother,each would sacrifice their happiness to save the others. Viscount Ryecroft's father left them with a fine estate but little to no finances.His sister,Sophie,needs a season in London,but how with...more

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Jul 09, 2011 Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical, non-erotic

A family that courts together...

Viscount Ryecroft has a beautiful sister he needs to marry off... if only he had the money for her Season in London.

His family is in financial ruins, and his mother is willing to do anything to help her children, including sell herself to the highe st bidder...

Finds passion on their own...

Sophie Ryecroft will sacrifice love to marry for the good of her family... but instead finds passion and solace in an attracti ve alternative.

With so much riding on their o

...more

A family that courts together...

Viscount Ryecroft has a beautiful sister he needs to marry off... if only he had the money for her Season in London.

His family is in financial ruins, and his mother is willing to do anything to help her children, including sell herself to the highe st bidder...

Finds passion on their own...

Sophie Ryecroft will sacrifice love to marry for the good of her family... but instead finds passion and solace in an attracti ve alternative.

With so much riding on their one and only Season in London, Rye, Sophie, and Miranda can't help but get hopelessly entangled with all the wrong people...

A chance to make a single lasting impression and hopefully garner a proposal for Sophie, an opportunity to become reacquainted with an old beau and gain a promise for Miranda, and a duty to fulfill by finding a willing and necessary heiress for Rye…all they need is Just One Season in London!

National Bestselling Author Leigh Michaels is well known for historical romances that sweep the reader along for epic adventures. Her characters will have you falling in love right along with them as they search for love in all the right places and manage to find it in the most unexpected places instead. This holds true for Lady Miranda Ryecroft, her son Viscount Ryecroft (Rye) and daughter Miss Sophronia Ryecroft (Sophie).

The Ryecrofts have lost so much since the death of their father and Miranda’s husband. All they have left is land that needs planting, a rambling manor in need of repairs, and their love and devotion to one another. Ms. Michaels has such a poignant way of building the characters up in the minds of the readers, I found myself worrying right along with them, considering all their options and finally rejoicing at how they each find their happily ever after.

Just One Season in London is a Regency historical and Ms. Michaels does a fantastic job of keeping true to the time period. If you’ve read this genre before you know that there are strict rules with the Ton. There are those that have money and title that is inherited and then there is the working class. Oftentimes the two cross when a member of the Ton marries down or one from the working class marries up. Both situations are highly frowned upon because it mixes “bad blood” either way. There is an underlying story about class distinction in Ms. Michael’s story that illustrates this outdated school of thought and the benefits of simply not caring.

Also, I must mention that Ms. Michaels uses a POV technique that I’ve not often seen and is difficult to pull off without confusing the reader. Within the pages of this novel the reader is treated to knowing what is going on with each character simultaneously in any given situation. It doesn’t come off as head hopping so much as a single continuing story where the directions and decisions made by Miranda, Rye and Sophie converge to produce a single fantastic journey.

I laughed, I sighed and I did my very best to steer the charismatic Ryecroft family in the right direction. Lucky for them, Ms. Michaels had their stories all planned out and it was terrific to sit back and watch. If beautiful settings, clever dialogue and heartwarming love stories are what you’re in the mood for then Just One Season in London is a true can’t miss. Move it to the top of you TBR, you won’t be sorry!

Originally published on Long and Short Reviews (less)

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Jun 29, 2011 Bookaholics rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Just One Season in London by Leigh Michaels
Historical Romance –July 1st, 2011
4 stars

Humorous, romantic comedy of errors makes for a vastly entertaining Regency romance.

Rye is a young earl without a penny to his name. His father gambled away his family’s future. As the whole family struggles, each devises a plan to find a way secure their future by having a season in London. Rye’s mother, Lady Miranda pins her hopes on finding the funds to give her beautiful and impetuous daughter a trip to Londo...more

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Aug 04, 2011 Laura rated it 3 of 5 stars

Viscount Rycroft has a title, but no money to maintain his family estate or to launch his beautiful sister Sophia into society. His mother, Lady Ryecroft contacts an old love from her youth seeking help to launch Sophie, but is rebuffed. Luckily Rye is able to rent the estate and take his family to London to see how the season treats them.

This story was told from many points of view revolving around the three main characters, Rye, Sophia, and Miranda. It was interesting having so many main chara...more

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Oct 11, 2011 Manda rated it 5 of 5 stars

Sooooo wonderful. I was smiling through the last 200 pages and up way too late finishing it. Three romances -- mom Miranda, son Rye and daughter Sophie. I wasn't quite sure how Sophie's was going to end, but it reminded me a lit of Emma. Rye and portia's romance was lovely, more pride and prejudice, and Miranda and Marcus felt very Persuasion. It ended too soon -- I wanted to spend more time with the characters. Great supporting characters, with the young nephew, the horrible rake and the meddli...more

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Aug 28, 2011 Sandy M rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical

This is only my second book by Leigh Michaels, and one of the elements I like in her stories is the way she integrates three romances into one book. She did that quite successfully in The Mistress’ House, which I reviewed back in February. While this is still a good read, the success of the three couples’ romances just isn’t there in Just One Season in London.

Viscount Ryecroft - Rye as he’s affectionately known - is one of those heroes who needs to marry an heiress, especially to make sure his m...more This is only my second book by Leigh Michaels, and one of the elements I like in her stories is the way she integrates three romances into one book. She did that quite successfully in The Mistress’ House, which I reviewed back in February. While this is still a good read, the success of the three couples’ romances just isn’t there in Just One Season in London.

Viscount Ryecroft - Rye as he’s affectionately known - is one of those heroes who needs to marry an heiress, especially to make sure his mother is taken care of after he marries and also give his younger sister a season to secure her future. Hoping to find another way to bring in money to also fix up Ryecroft Manor, he heads to London after meeting the charming and mysterious Lady Stone, who has taken an interest in Rye and is willing to help solve a few of his problems.

Lady Miranda Ryecroft, mother to Rye and Sophia, has her own ideas about how to obtain the cash necessary while sparing her children the dire circumstances of marrying for money instead of love. Finagling a visit to an old friend, Miranda then works up the courage to offer herself as mistress to her one-time beau, Marcus Winston, uncle to the Earl of Carrisbrooke. Marcus, of course, is much more imposing as a man than the boy she remembers, along with being so very handsome and sexy, and Miranda finds herself fighting desire when he kisses and touches her. But when he refuses her proposal, she flees in embarrassment.

Sophia also gets into the drama when she figures it would be better for her, instead of Rye, to sacrifice by marrying for money. She hatches a plan to hightail it to London with Robert Wellington, the banker who’s renting Ryecroft manor for the season while the family is absent. After arrangements are made, and after Mr. Wellington first laughs at her and then guarantees he will get her to London, Sophie is surprised when Rye returns home with news that all is set up for the entire family to be guests of Lady Stone, who is also willing to host the ball that will introduce Sophie to society.

Rye is taken with Portia, Lady Stone’s companion. She’s beautiful, at times acerbic, but knows the ins and outs of societal mores and does her job well. Of course, she has a secret that not many are privy to. The banter between her and Rye is fun, especially in the beginning when she makes her opinion known of men who marry for money. But Rye goes with the flow, polite but giving as good as he gets. You can see their attraction from a mile away while they both deny it to the core.

All the plans made don’t go as well as hoped, so Sophia continues with her own plan to save the family and encourages the courtship of the Earl of Carrisbrooke, a poetry-spouting youngster. But it’s Robert Wellington who makes her smile, makes her laugh, and makes her tingle. In actuality, we don’t get much interaction with these two and no real intimacy whatsoever. Their attraction isn’t even said aloud until pretty close to the end of the book. I’d rather have more with them instead of the insipid earl, who at this point is not hero material.

Rye and Portia are more interesting, mostly because their attraction goes further, becoming unlikely lovers with conflict still abounding around them. Portia’s secret finally does come out, and Rye is caught unaware, questioning why she didn’t confide in him. They are the main couple in the story, but to me they’re not the most interesting.

That would be Marcus and Miranda, and that’s because theirs is a more mature love, one that means so much more than most couples starting out. Their history gives them a step up from first love, which Miranda now knows doesn’t last. Marcus is determined to have Miranda and shows her at every opportunity how it could be between them. I thoroughly enjoyed these two from beginning to end.

Whereas all three stories in Ms. Michaels’ previous book were all quite enjoyable, this one, for me, gave me only two while the third is just luke warm. But it’s still a nice story that will satisfy the historical fan in you.

See my complete review at http://www.goodbadandunread.com (less)

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Sep 06, 2011 Amy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, best-book-of-2011

Tremendous!

This historical romance set in London and the "country" has a little something for everyone. With the family finances in a bind, Viscount Ryecroft, his mother, Miranda and younger sister, Sophie will do anything to get the family to London for the Season and protect the family.

Throughout this story, there are romances galore -- three stories for the price of one! Michaels does a wonderful job in telling each story. Although not necessary, what might have made this book a tad better (i...more

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Jan 25, 2012 LorettaLynn rated it 5 of 5 stars

To me this one was not your typical historical romance.
It started as it might turn out that way. Just let me say the girl falls for the last one I thought she would fall for.

In this story there is a family that has befallen hard times and one most married to bring everything back to stretch. The sister thinks it her; the brother the earl thinks it is him and the mother so wants to help as well.
This is such a great story, one of the ones that makes it hard to put down.
Lot’s of Twist and turns t...more

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Nov 10, 2011 The_Book_Queen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: own, read-in-2011, romance, england, historical, arc-copy, nor, reviewed

3.5 Stars. The review that follows is a partial review. To view the entire review, please visit:
http://tbqspersonalbookpalace.blogspo...

Just One Season in London held so much promise—promise of romance and second chances, of

happily ever afters and all the twists in the road while trying to get there. But upon reading the novel, I

found much of it to be, unfortunately, lacking in most of these areas, along with a few other important

ones as well.

I believe my biggest disappointment was the chara...more

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Aug 25, 2011 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: leigh-michaels, historical-romance

This was a very interesting, good book. It focuses on three couples, not just one, and while you would think it would be confusing or wouldn't work, Leigh Michaels somehow made it work! The story centers around the Ryecroft family and their need for money to keep the estate afloat. Viscount Ryecroft knows it is his duty to find a wealthy heiress so that he may provide for his mother and give his sister a season in London. When an unexpected opportunity falls into his lap, he is able to travel to...more

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Jul 12, 2011 Angelc rated it 4 of 5 stars

3.5 Stars

I really appreciate the author trying a different format for this book, but at the same time, I really missed my warm and cozy, familiar historical romance format!

Instead of introducing a hero and heroine with alternating points of view, and maybe a supporting romantic couple, this book had three leads and three love interests. This was too many romances for me to keep up with. I couldn't really get invested in any of them. I really liked the author's previous book with three separate b...more

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Sep 26, 2011 Jessica added it

With such a unique story line, and the author's familiar prose, Just One Season in London is a success as far as regency romance novels are concerned.

Read more at Suite101: Just One Season in London – a Regency Romance Review | Suite101.com http://jessicahastings.suite101.com/j...

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Aug 29, 2012 Elaine Orr rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is the middle of a group of three Regency romances Leigh issued in the last year or so, and it's my favorite. The three linked stories blend well, and the book is really funny. You'd have to say it's an ensemble cast of characters, but you can stay in tune with all of them. I highly recommend "Just One Season in London."

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Aug 07, 2011 Laurie (Bitten by Paranormal Romance) marked it as to-read

Shelves: historical-romance

I won at As the page turns.

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Jul 04, 2011 Angela Simmons rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: a-keeper, a-must-read, arc, books-i-own, england, historical, regency, romance, series

Review to come.

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Jun 12, 2011 Tiffany rated it 5 of 5 stars

Review to come!

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Apr 23, 2012 Stephanie Tracy rated it 2 of 5 stars

This book was only okay for me, which is surprising after reading all the fantastic reviews of it on here. I just found the details of the story to be a bit tiresome. The characters seemed pretty bland and there were so many different people involved that I started getting them mixed up after a while. Overall, not very impressed, but it was my first Leigh Michaels book, so I may try others.

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Nov 10, 2012 Michele Lacroix rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance

The story was excelent but Ms. Leigh could have cut the story down to Rye's story not the whole family.

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May 25, 2012 Megan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance, ebook, england, library-ebook, reunion, single-title, love-at-first-sight

Ok read. 3.5 stars. As always the last chapters rushed so all can have thei HEA.

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Jul 21, 2011 Sherri rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance, read_2011, update-2011-challenge

Review to come

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May 21, 2013 Mary marked it as to-read

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May 17, 2013 Peggy rated it 4 of 5 stars

May 11, 2013 Ofelia marked it as to-read

May 11, 2013 Alees rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

May 06, 2013 Sec2000 rated it 4 of 5 stars

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About Leigh Michaels

Leigh Michaels is the pseudonym used by LeAnn Lemberger (b. July 27 in Iowa, United States), a popular United States writer of over 85 romance novels. She published her novels in Harlequin Enterprises Ltd since 1984. She also teaches romance writing.

Michaels was born in Iowa, United States. She received a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, after three years o...more

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