Lady Amelia's Mess and a Half (Beau Monde, #2)

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Lady Amelia's Mess and a Half (Beau Monde #2)

by Samantha Grace (Goodreads Author)

3.38 of 5 stars 3.38 · rating details · 172 ratings · 39 reviews

JAKE BROKE HER HEART BY LEAVING HER AFTER SHARING A PASSIONATE KISS.

LADY AMELIA BROKE HIS BY MARRYING HIS BEST FRIEND.

When she returns to town a widow--pursued by an infamous rake, Jake's debauched brother, and just maybe by himself--Lady Amelia will have a mess and a half on her hands.

A sparkling romp through the ton, Lady Amelia's Mess and a Half delivers a witty Regency...more

Mass Market Paperback, 384 pages

Published June 5th 2012 by Sourcebooks Casablanca

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Aug 11, 2012 Elis Madison rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: he-loves-me-she-loves-me-not, era-regency, gay-characters-in-background, good-historical-detail, like-the-author, nice-twist

It's probably not fair of me to give this just two stars. It's more my bias than bad writing or a bad story. I'm more into books that have a lot of action and danger with romance tossed in rather than hand-wringing over feelings, but this one did keep me turning pages despite all that. And the title is great.

The titular character, Amelia, is a widow who has always had a "thang" for Mr. Jake Hillary. (I always like it when the hero is NOT a titled man. If you get your history from romance novels...more It's probably not fair of me to give this just two stars. It's more my bias than bad writing or a bad story. I'm more into books that have a lot of action and danger with romance tossed in rather than hand-wringing over feelings, but this one did keep me turning pages despite all that. And the title is great.

The titular character, Amelia, is a widow who has always had a "thang" for Mr. Jake Hillary. (I always like it when the hero is NOT a titled man. If you get your history from romance novels you must believe that half of the men in bloody England are at least viscounts.) She loved him even before she accepted the marriage proposal of his best friend, David Audley (who was titled, unfortunately).

Jake has always loved her back. Unfortunately he has the spine of an eel, and never got up the nerve to tell her what he felt, so off she went to marry a guy she thought DID love her. Much she knew.

Now she's widowed, and Jake is still cringing from an argument they had where he gave her a dressing down. I may have skipped over the explanation for that--never did figure out why he dredged up the backbone to call her out when he never had the huevos to tell her he cared. Maybe it was in the first book in the series, which I haven't read.

So anyway, they're avoiding each other, even while sneaking secret, longing looks that everyone else sees and mentions for quite a few pages.

Another "complication" is that Jake doesn't like Bibi, Amelia's man-hating and light-skirted best friend. So that keeps them at odds for a few more pages.

It's actually the secondary story about scandalous Bibi and some of the men in her life, along with a really nice little twist in Amelia's story, that make the book a reasonably good read.

As for the writing, Grace is particularly skilled at dialogue--I was impressed from the very first scene, two brothers bickering, which sounded very much like a lot of people I actually know. The characterization is well-done also, and she does a good job with the history, for example, she neatly sidesteps the cliche shipboard wedding, which is quite historically inaccurate but I've seen it a dozen times. She also gives us a painfully honest insight into how people of that era--even the women themselves--viewed what we'd now call "date rape."

So there--I've talked myself into three stars for this. If you like romance-only romances, you'll probably enjoy this. (less)

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Jul 06, 2012 My Book Addiction and More MBA rated it 4 of 5 stars

LADY AMELIA’S MESS AND A HALF by Samantha Grace is an exciting Regency historical romance. It is book #2 in “Beau Monde Bachelor” Series,but can be read as a stand alone. See,”Miss Hillary Schools a Scoundrel”. Follow Jake and Amelia from the ballrooms of England across the ocean to New Orleans in America. As they search for the truth,is Amelia’s husband really dead or faking his death and gone to New Orleans. With witty banter,lust,passion,desire,and love they finally find true happiness after...more

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Jun 27, 2012 Melanie rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is Ms. Grace's second book in her Gentlemen of Beau Monde series and having read the first one just prior to reading the second was very helpful in understanding the dynamic between the main and secondary characters, as well as the family relationships that has been introduced throughout both books. I highly recommend they be read in order for the maximum enjoyment.

Lady Amelia Audley has been a widow for the past two years, however just recently she's become unattached as her short-term lov...more This is Ms. Grace's second book in her Gentlemen of Beau Monde series and having read the first one just prior to reading the second was very helpful in understanding the dynamic between the main and secondary characters, as well as the family relationships that has been introduced throughout both books. I highly recommend they be read in order for the maximum enjoyment.

Lady Amelia Audley has been a widow for the past two years, however just recently she's become unattached as her short-term lover Lord Andrew Forest married the sister of the man she thought loved her. In order to help herself heal the wounds of a failed marriage and an affair that deeply hurt her, she dedicates most of her free time to her philanthropic endeavor that is close to her heart, and it seems that her dedication is finally starting to pay off. Her project for improving the living conditions of the orphans is mostly depending on the whims of the tons' wealthy and spoiled patrons and she'll do anything to attract and solicit their donations.

Mr. Jake Hillary has been in love with Amelia for many years and at one point he was sure she was reciprocating his feelings, yet no one was more stunned than he when she ended up marring his best friend. After her husband's death, the closeness and the feelings have resurfaced for both and the passion they shared in a kiss should have sealed their love, but a family emergency took Jake from London and by the time he returned, Amelia's affections strayed to Lord Andrew. Jake was devastated once more to have lost `his Mia' to such a scoundrel and to think of her as promiscuous hurt him more than anything.

We met Lady Amelia Audley in the debut of this series, and I was not much impressed with this lady of loose morals (I thought). She was `the other woman' in that story and I don't have much patience for characters like her, so color me happy when by the time I got done with Lana's story, my mind changed and I started to admire this woman who has been put through a lot of heartache by too many people that just couldn't mind their own business!

As for our hero Jake, who so reminded me of the prodigal son from the Bible, I actually wormed up in the debut and continued to admire through his own story. I mean, this man did everything a good son's supposed to do; he loved his family and stayed on the straight and narrow; trusted his best friend with his inner deepest secrets; made his parents and siblings proud of him and yet he couldn't catch a break when it came to his love life. He was a typical Beta hero all the way.

I must admit that I just didn't have much fate in Ms. Grace pulling this love story off, especially because of the previous intimate relationship that Lady Amelia shared with Lord Andrew in the debut of the series. Well, she has done the impossible, in my estimation, and made both stories acceptable and believable.

But the best part of this book was the secondary character of Bibi, another widow and the best friend of our heroine. Have you ever encountered the secondary character that just shined and literally taken over the story? Well, that was Bibi. She was witty and charming; strong and vulnerable. The love story between her and the man that no one would give the time of day was brilliant and I was so sorry it wasn't done all on its own. When it came for me to award this story my quills, this tipped the scale to a five for sure.

Melanie (review done for Romantic Crush Junkies eZine website)(less)

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May 18, 2012 Kat Latham rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance

Lady Amelia and Jake Hillary have a complicated history. They've loved each other for years, but Amelia married Jake's best friend, Audley. After Audley's death, Jake and Amelia shared a passionate kiss, but then Jake disappeared to take care of family issues...and his family meddled in their relationship.

Years after they should've gotten together, Jake and Amelia finally have a chance to clear the air of all the misunderstanding and malicious acts that have kept them apart.

But just when it look...more

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Jun 15, 2012 Melody May rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, historical

Definitely, different from the first book. Where Drew is a scoundrel of the first class, Jake Hillary is the complete opposite. Jake tends to put family first and looks out for everyone he cares for. His over-protective nature tends to get him into trouble at times. Lady Amelia Audley is still upset from Jake's treatment the year before. However, his brother sees Amelia and wouldn't mind jumping in her bed. However, Jake would rather see Amelia with him than his debauched brother. So, the brothe...more

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Apr 06, 2012 Jae rated it 5 of 5 stars

Ding! Ding! Ding! H O T cover alert.

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Jun 28, 2012 Dottie rated it 5 of 5 stars

A delicious, historical romp! Taken from my review at RomanceJunkies.com:

Jake Hillary has been in love with Amelia for most of his life. He had been getting close to her before he suddenly had to leave town, right after they shared a very passionate kiss. His mother has a health problem in which she has spells that force her to retire to the country whenever they come upon her. When he left he sent letters to Amelia, telling her about his sudden departure and one of the letters even included a p...more A delicious, historical romp! Taken from my review at RomanceJunkies.com:

Jake Hillary has been in love with Amelia for most of his life. He had been getting close to her before he suddenly had to leave town, right after they shared a very passionate kiss. His mother has a health problem in which she has spells that force her to retire to the country whenever they come upon her. When he left he sent letters to Amelia, telling her about his sudden departure and one of the letters even included a proposal of marriage. But unbeknownst to him, the letters have gone astray and she believes he has deserted her. His best friend, Lord Audley, knows of Jake’s love for the woman, but he convinces her that Jake is interested elsewhere and convinces her of his love, getting her to accept his marriage proposal. Jake had been devastated and words had been exchanged…words that he could not take back.

Amelia, Lady Audley, knew within three months of her marriage that her husband did not love her after all. She had always hoped for a relationship with Jake, but after sharing a passionate kiss, he had left town and she had not heard a word from him. She had married Lord Audley only after he convinced her that he loved her. She misses Jake, but knows that he has a poor opinion of her. With the shocking death of her husband, Amelia has returned to town and become involved in raising money for the orphanage. Her best friend Bibi is a silent partner in the foundling home renovation project, but she is a society outcast who does everything in her power to snub society, flaunting her sensuality. By association, Amelia is also a social outcast, but she is determined to stand by her best friend. Still for the orphans, Amelia tries to change society’s opinion of her. But it is proving hard to do. The one godsend is Jake’s mother, who comforted her after her husband’s death and is helping her raise the funds for the orphanage.

Anxious to see Amelia and clear the air, Jake awaits Amelia’s appearance at a ball being held by his mother. But he becomes irate when his debauched brother Daniel, a ship’s captain and an infamous rake, makes it known that he plans to pursue Amelia himself since Jake has taken so long to do it. Determined to stop his brother, he sets out to pursue her, hoping she will forgive him for his words of a year earlier. But with competition from his brother and his own past behavior, does he stand a chance, or is he doomed to a life without her?

Rompalicious! LADY AMELIA’S MESS AND A HALF, the second book in gifted author Samantha Grace’s BEAU MONDE BACHELOR series, is an enticingly witty historical romance that will captivate you from the first page. Other than the skirmish between Daniel and Jake, there is no conflict in the story once the misunderstanding about the letters is cleared up. But just when you think you have it figured out, Ms. Grace throws a surprise into the works. I am eager to read Daniel’s story and see him get his comeuppance. There is also a side romance between Bibi and Lord Norwick, two seemingly mismatched people who prove that opposites do attract. Beautifully written and packed with passion, humor, mystery, misunderstandings, plot twists, clever banter, romance and love, this story is one that you will want to read more than once. An absolute delight! As I look forward to reading the next book in Ms. Grace’s wonderful series, MISS LAVIGNE’S LITTLE WHITE LIE, be sure to get your own copy of LADY AMELIA’S MESS AND A HALF. I highly recommend it, especially to those readers who like plenty of heat and humor with their romance!

Dottie, RomanceJunkies.com(less)

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May 23, 2012 The Window Seat rated it 2 of 5 stars

This is a rarity for me. I read - A LOT. But I don't always review them. If the book is less than great, I stick by the saying, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all." But in this case, the book was so absurd, and so ridiculous, that I really can't resist. Lady Amelia's Mess and a Half is just a train wreck.

First off, it is pretty clear early in the book that the story really needs the first book in the series to catch the reader "up" on things. From what I gathered, here is...more

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Jan 16, 2013 Wench rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013, dnf, ebook, regency, romance

This is a big fat DNF.

It sounded really good! Love triangle? Broken hearts? Passionate kisses? YES PLEASE.

Our Hero's Christian name is Jake.

JAKE.

Just let that sink in for a minute.

JAKE.

IN THE REGENCY-ISH ERA.

Honey, no.

Also, there was a lot of us being TOLD that Jake harbors a LOT OF PASSION for Lady Amelia, but mostly we just see as it him being angry at his rake of a brother (who I liked a lot more in the thirty pages I actually read) and not much else. Mostly we're just told that OH MY GOD IT...more

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Jul 11, 2012 Belinda rated it 5 of 5 stars

I just finished reading Lady Amelia's Mess and a Half by Samantha Grace. The story of Lady Amelia Audley and Jake Hillary were exceptional characters. Lady Amelia is a widow who has returned to town with her best friend Bibi. Of course, Lady Amelia's life is a big mess because now she will have to see her ex-love Jake Hillary. But since her fiasco with Jake believing her a traitor when she married someone else, she still wants Jake. Jake sees "his Min" again and doesn't care what people think an...more

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May 02, 2012 Terra rated it 5 of 5 stars

Oh this was just a delightful real old fashioned romance. Full of emotion, deceit, trust issues and so much more that will make you revel in a don't put it down story.

Lady Amelia has just returned to London after a proper grieving time resulting from her husband's untimely demise. Still young and very much beautiful she attracts the eyes of all the available bachelor's especially one in particular whom has been smitten with our delightful Lady most of her life.

Jake Hillary is still so besotted...more

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Nov 04, 2012 Lisa Becker rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance

This was a great story about second chances. Lady Amelia has given up hope that she will find the love of her life after her disasterous marriage to Lord Audley. Jake Hillary has loved his best friend's wife since before she became a wife. He has determined that he will have her rather than letting his brother get a chance at her charms. His aim is to marry her; She has no idea what she wants but is willing to enjoy the ride. Meanwhile her best friend is finding out that her life need not be as...more

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Oct 11, 2012 Misty rated it 5 of 5 stars

Samantha Grace has done it once more. Lady Amelia’s Mess and a Half is a delightfully fun romp. Jake and Amelia were once young and in love but with a series of misunderstandings and a mess of trouble makers in their way these two lovers set out on different paths. Lady Amelia is a widow who never stopped loving Jake Hillary. For two years Jake has felt betrayed by Amelia after she gives her hand in marriage. However at a chance meeting at a ball the sparks once more begin to fly between these s...more

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Sep 23, 2012 Lisa Jo rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, keepers, physical-collection

Samantha Grace continues one of the best and entertaining historical romance series with LADY AMELIA'S MESS AND A HALF. A sexy and fabulous love story, Jake and Amelia are a couple you will find difficult to forget.

Jake Hilary has been in love with Lady Amelia Audley for quite some time but she broke his heart when she married his best friend. Now that she is a widow, their love stands a chance, but previous misunderstandings work to keep them apart once again. When Jake's brother makes advances...more
Samantha Grace continues one of the best and entertaining historical romance series with LADY AMELIA'S MESS AND A HALF. A sexy and fabulous love story, Jake and Amelia are a couple you will find difficult to forget.

Jake Hilary has been in love with Lady Amelia Audley for quite some time but she broke his heart when she married his best friend. Now that she is a widow, their love stands a chance, but previous misunderstandings work to keep them apart once again. When Jake's brother makes advances for a place in Amelia's bed, Jack is determined to see that the only bed she occupies is his. Ghosts from their past and loved ones in their present are threatening this new chance at a happily ever after but Amelia is determined to not let a few trivial messes get in her way. After everything they have been through, Jake and Amelia realize true love is certainly worth fighting for.

When you read a novel by Samantha Grace, you are guaranteed a sexy romance with spectacular characters. Jake Hilary is absolutely stunning. A true romantic hero that would make any heroine swoon. His love for Amelia took my breath away and made me shed a few tears...it was that passionate and moving. I loved how in one chapter he could be her lover, in the next her protector and then later her strength...only to realize how perfectly he fit the role of her other half because he was always everything she needed.

And Amelia certainly turned out to be the heroine worthy of such devotion. She was bold, passionate and witty with a striking personality. She was a romantic like Jake, but she was also realistic, sometimes being the pessimistic voice in their relationship. Yet she was a kind, compassionate soul that always saw the goodness others were capable of and how she could help them. You loved her character because she was beautiful inside and out.

There was one very important factor that I loved about LADY AMELIA'S MESS AND A HALF. That would have to be the fact that there is no misguided communication or hesitation to declare their emotions. I have read many novels in the past where characters refuse to speak their mind or declare those three special words until the last few pages. Most times it is terribly frustrating, but in this novel that certainly wasn't the case. I enjoyed this novel so much more because they always said what they felt and I commend Samantha Grace for creating characters that didn't dance around their feelings. Not only that, but Ms Grace still kept the romance interesting while establishing a plot line and secondary romance that kept you thoroughly entertained throughout the remainder of the novel.

The Beau Monde Bachelor series is one of my favorite series that I am currently following. With such clever writing, spicy love scenes and irresistible characters, historical romance fans should be anxious to experience the magic of Samantha Grace's spellbinding novels. LADY AMELIA'S MESS AND A HALF is a unique and fabulous romance with characters that you will find scandalously delightful. Whether it's because of the emotional love story, the entertaining plot or the engaging characters, this is a novel Regency historical romance fans should not miss. This second novel, in what I'm sure will be a fabulous writing career, just goes to prove anything written by Samantha Grace deserves a coveted spot on my ‘keeper shelf.'

Lisa Jo @ The Romance Reviews (less)

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Aug 16, 2012 Kimm rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

The Story: Jake and Amelia have loved one another always, but Jake’s best friend, Lord Audley, weaseled his way betwixt the two and stole Amelia by way of deception. That nasty man! Of course, we don’t get to really meet Audley – because he’s dead. Hence, Lady Amelia is now a widow….hence, Jake and Amelia have a second shot at love, if only they can get over all those niggling little doubts that forever plague their minds. You know, the ridiculous thoughts that creep in your head… “Oh no, he cou...more The Story: Jake and Amelia have loved one another always, but Jake’s best friend, Lord Audley, weaseled his way betwixt the two and stole Amelia by way of deception. That nasty man! Of course, we don’t get to really meet Audley – because he’s dead. Hence, Lady Amelia is now a widow….hence, Jake and Amelia have a second shot at love, if only they can get over all those niggling little doubts that forever plague their minds. You know, the ridiculous thoughts that creep in your head… “Oh no, he could never love me….Oh no, she could never love me.” You catch my drift?

The Heroine: Lady Amelia is pleasant female lead. She didn’t bowl me over, but I liked her alright enough. She is strong and sensible (for the most part) and loyal to a fault, particularly with her BFF. Most of her appeal, for me, has to with her backstory and how she survived her relationship and subsequent loss of Lord Audley – a very damaging journey. Unfortunately, I’m not doing her description much justice, but just know that I think she will appeal to most readers.

The Hero: Jake, I wanted to scream at a couple of times. The man can be dense and moronic at moments! But, ultimately he is endearing and I did fall in love with him. He really gives good dialogue! I think it’s a point in Ms. Grace’s favor that she makes her characters both laughable and lovable, so you cannot help but smile at them. Despite the occasional throttling that he had coming, Jake really does shine through.

My Thoughts: Oh, Ms. Samantha Grace, how I do enjoy your books! First, you delight us with Miss Hillary Schools a Scoundrel and now you follow it up with Lady Amelia and Jake’s story. Of course, we should have seen it coming, since there was some foreshadowing of their relationship in Miss Hillary.

The book is light, but not too frivolous. It is easy to recognize the amount of thought and detail poured into it. The story makes sense, comes across as buyable/believable and leaves you with a smile at the ending. Although I’ve chosen not to include any details on the supporting characters, rest assured that they contribute successfully to the overall mood of the book. (I do enjoy seeing more than one HEA in a story).

As a fairly new author, I see Samantha Grace gathering a lot of momentum with her writing. She is getting stronger more polished as she goes along. Something I liked about the story in particular was the bit in the plot (no spoiler) at the end that I thought was clever (let’s say they take a trip) – kudos on that piece! It added another layered twist to an already interesting journey for Amelia and Jake.

I am really looking forward Grace’s third installment of the Beau Monde series, Miss Lavigne’s Little White Lie. What do you think we can expect? Daniel’s story, of course. He makes an exceptional appearance in Lady Amelia’s Mess and a Half – definitely not a man that can be overlooked!!
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Jun 26, 2012 Heather Book Savvy Babe rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley, historical-romance, bookshelf-owned-print, reading-romances-challenge-2012, review-on-blog, romance

3.5 of 5 Stars

Lady Amelia’s Mess and A Half is a really good historical romance read. Lady Amelia’s life is a mess, she is recently widowed, her best friend is a source of gossip, and the man-who-got-away is confusing and challenging.

Amelia and Jake have always had a “spark,” however their romance never worked out. Jake had family issues and left town, and Amelia married his best friend. There were multiple reasons why the couple was kept apart, and it takes years and the death of Amelia’s husba...more

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May 18, 2012 Lisa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance, samantha-grace, netgalley, favorites

Lady Amelia Audley is back in town after the shocking death of her husband. She has dedicated herself to raising funds for an orphanage to improve their living conditions and she must secure some more funding so it forces her to attend a ball held by the mother of the only man she has loved, Jake Hillary. Amelia draws comfort and support from her best friend Bibi but that causes a whole other set of problems as Bibi is a bit of a flirt and her actions have caused her to be shunned by most of the...more Lady Amelia Audley is back in town after the shocking death of her husband. She has dedicated herself to raising funds for an orphanage to improve their living conditions and she must secure some more funding so it forces her to attend a ball held by the mother of the only man she has loved, Jake Hillary. Amelia draws comfort and support from her best friend Bibi but that causes a whole other set of problems as Bibi is a bit of a flirt and her actions have caused her to be shunned by most of the matrons of society. Still, they arrive at the ball determined to gather the funds needed all without encountering the man who broke her heart.

Jake Hillary has been in love with Amelia for years and was stunned when she married his best friend. It left him devastated and he moved on with his life but one glance at Mia and all the old feelings return in force. When his charming older brother attempts to make a play for Mia, he is forced to Daniel the truth and Mia and Jake slowly find themselves enjoying each others company once again. But with so much hurt and confusion in the past, will they be able to bury the past and find the future they long for together?

Sigh, what a wonderful romance book this was! I was worried that the entire book was going to be about miscommunications, that Jake and Amelia were not going to be together until the end of the book but I was so wrong and that made this book so much more delightful! Just when I wanted to say 'just talk to each other'--they did! That was very refreshing. There is no big misunderstanding--a few minor ones that are resolved quickly--but there is a bit of a twist near the end that will leave you flipping the pages and just when you think you have it all figured out...you just might not...and I loved that. There is a wonderful side romance between Bibi and an unlikely suitor that added another lovely layer of romance without subtracting from the main couple. And when the truth of Bibi's past is revealed, sigh. I also loved the inclusion of Jake's brother, Daniel, as he adds a bit of tension and also a nice dose of humor. I am very eager for his book! I really enjoyed seeing more of the big, lovable and meddlesome Hillary family. They all love each other and tease and 'help' each other as they see fit. I loved watching Jake and Mia refind their love and make it work, even with a few obstacles in the way (Jake and Bibi have a hard time sharing Mia) they stayed true to each other. If you are looking for a romance book that will make you laugh, smile, sigh and fan yourself, Samantha Grace has delivered a winner with Lady Amelia's Mess and a Half and she seems to be making a name for herself for her witty and sexy stories! 4 1/2 stars

I received this eARC from Sourcebooks via netgalley.com
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Jul 09, 2012 Ashley rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historic-romance

I don't like historic romance novels that tell the story of two romances. If the author doesn't love her characters enough to give them separate books then why should I love them? That is the first problem I had with this book. The second is that I fell more for Jake's brother the dashing Captain Hillary than I did for Jake, the hero of this book. I am sure Captain Hillary is the protagonist of the next novel in the series but I would have preferred reading about him now then wasting time readin...more

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Aug 16, 2012 Barbara rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-2012, romance-regency

Better by far than the first book. This is Jake and Amelia's story (introduced in the first book). Amelia and Jake both seemed immature but as the book went on it got a little less so. What made it better was the development of a good storyline dealing with Amelia's dead husband. Although a bit more flesh on that part of the story would have improved the book it was definitely a step in the right direction. The author is maturing in her writing and so are her characters.

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Feb 18, 2013 Marlene rated it 2 of 5 stars

It was just OK. Not a lot of action, more inner angst of the H/H. The friend of Lady Audley, BiBi--her story was added seemingly to bump up the interest--but even she was an unlikeable harridan. I was dissappointed. Some parts seemed ridiculous, such as not informing people of a medical condition on a rough ship to America. Even the ending explanation of what happened to Lord Audley was written so vaguely I had to read it threee times.

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May 09, 2012 ♡ Sassy ~ Amy ♡ rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, historical-romance

Lady Amelia Audley & Jake Hillary have loved each other for years. Due to a deceitful trick, Amelia marries Jake's best friend. After his death, they are thrown together once again & have to muddle through one misunderstanding after another!

It's one of those great stories that it almost seems to be resolved & fixed, but then something else happens! It was great!

I loved the fast pace of this book along with the ups and downs & all the misunderstandings & the "Oh, no you di'i...more

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Sep 19, 2012 Tes Hilaire rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance

A wonderful regency romp full of witty interactions and fun characters with just enough adventure to keep me turning the pages. I got my daily dose of escapism with this pair of star-crossed lovers. Better yet, I got double the fun with a secondary romance that I loved almost as much as the primary one!

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Jan 19, 2013 S rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: paul-marron

Good, solid read. Jake and Amelia was kept apart by his father and his best friend (and not just a love triangle but, as it turned out, a love quadrangle!). I totally didn't see THAT coming.

Also, "free rein" was used correctly twice which made this reader giddy with joy.

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May 29, 2012 Heather rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was a new author for me and I believe this is only her second book, the first being the first in the series. I really enjoyed her writting style. It was a light read but still kept me turning the pages. If I had a complaint it would be that the hero was a little too nice for my usual taste. I like my heroes to have and rough edge to them. But having said that I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the next book in the series, the hero's older brither Daniel sounds yummy!

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Aug 25, 2012 Deborah Vespo rated it 4 of 5 stars

Just discovered Samantha Grace... very good storyteller. I enjoyed this story, a lot going on with different people. A lot of background stories. Fun characters. Will be looking for more books with Samantha's name on it.

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Aug 13, 2012 Shaula rated it 2 of 5 stars

The characterization was neither consistent nor skillful. There were also some serious factual errors - anyone ever hear of a baby moving in week twelve of a pregnancy? Anyone? I don't think I will be reading more of her work.

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Mar 22, 2013 Sofia Lazaridou rated it 1 of 5 stars

It is a rather dull book and half of it was very, very boring. It's a wonder I finished it. The hero seems to have 2 different personalities. The first one is proper, boring, uptight and his view about sex is the same a young naive woman might had in that period of time. But later he becomes an experienced lover over a night and actually shows his feelings and some kind of activity. My feeling for Amelia are similar to the ones someone might have for a person he just met and does not like him.He...more

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Mar 09, 2013 Amy rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Sep 16, 2012 Shh I'm reading! rated it 2 of 5 stars

There were funny moments... but I disliked the characters, their relationships and actions. So much of the book dragged, and the twist wasn't surprising at all. I don't think I'll finish the series.

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Dec 03, 2012 Fullfaun rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: started-but-didn-t-finish, not-gonna-finish

I tried reading, my mom tried reading for several times.

It is too disjointed or it doesn't build up steam.

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About Samantha Grace

Samantha Grace is the author of several Regency romance novels. Publisher's Weekly describes her stories as "fresh and romantic" with subtle humor and charm. She writes what she enjoys reading: romantic comedies about family, friendship, and flawed characters who learn how to love deeply.

Samantha is a part-time hospice social worker, moonlighting author, and full time wife and mom. She enjoys life...more

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Books by Samantha Grace

Miss Hillary Schools a Scoundrel (Beau Monde, #1)

Miss Lavigne's Little White Lie (Beau Monde, #3)

Lady Vivian Defies a Duke (Beau Monde #4)

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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12835057-lady-amelia-s-mess-and-a-half?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327193740l/12835057.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12835057-lady-amelia-s-mess-and-a-half?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Lady Amelia's Mess and a Half by Samantha Grace[/url]

Lady Amelia's Mess and a Half (Beau Monde #2)

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