Heiress Without a Cause (Muses of Mayfair, #1) by Sara Ramsey

Apr 08, 2012 Evie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Ferguson is the new Duke of Rothwell, and he loathes it. An unexpected turn of events lands him the dreaded title and all that comes with it. He wants to marry his sisters as expeditiously as possible, so he can be off again to do whatever he's been doing for the last decade, and as far away from London as he can possibly get. He seeks the one person he's told can help him achieve his goal in a timely manner.

Lady Madeleine is happy to settle down into spinsterhood, and the freedom she finds in...more Ferguson is the new Duke of Rothwell, and he loathes it. An unexpected turn of events lands him the dreaded title and all that comes with it. He wants to marry his sisters as expeditiously as possible, so he can be off again to do whatever he's been doing for the last decade, and as far away from London as he can possibly get. He seeks the one person he's told can help him achieve his goal in a timely manner.

Lady Madeleine is happy to settle down into spinsterhood, and the freedom she finds in it. In the eyes of the ton, she's the perfect sample of a proper lady. She knows she's not that proper, and if her secret were found out, she'd be ruined as would the rest of her family. She knows, she walks on thin ice, but she doesn't care. The thrill, the adrenaline of the freedom her secret brings her is too much the temptation to not let it go if just for another few weeks.

It really is a bother when Ferguson approaches her and asks her for help in the debut of his sisters. She figures, somehow she will have to manage things, and be a little more careful so that her secret remains intact. Well, that is a good plan until Ferguson discovers the truth behind her all-too-proper-perfect-lady-facade.

Every minute they are together the attraction between them grows. Ferguson decides he's willing to make whatever choices he needs to, as long as he can have her. Madeleine, on the other hand, knows she wants to be with him, but she wants the freedom spinsterhood gives so much, that is hard for her to make a choice between the love and the dream of her life.

I cannot believe this is Sara Ramsey's debut. The way and the pace the story flows, the characters' personalities, the heat in the love scenes, I was really amazed. The arguments between the characters were rich. I cannot say how much I really enjoyed this story. I never expected it to be this good. It was so good, I also read book # 2 Scotsmen Prefer Blondes, and that one was even better than this one. I am now anxiously waiting on book # 3. All I can say is, Sara has a witty way with her characters, you'll find yourself falling in love with her writing.

Blurb
One title to change his life...

A disgraced son with a dark reputation, William “Ferguson” Avenel is content to live in exile – until his father dies in the scandal of the Season. With rumors of insanity swirling around them, his sisters desperately need a chaperone. Ferguson thinks he’s found the most proper woman in England – and he won’t ruin her, even if he secretly desires the passionate woman trapped beneath a spinster’s cap.

One chance to break the rules...

Lady Madeleine Vaillant can’t face her blighted future without making one glorious memory for herself. In disguise, on a London stage, she finds all the adoration she never felt from the ton. But when she’s nearly recognized, she will do anything to hide her identity – even setting up her actress persona as Ferguson’s mistress. She’ll take the pleasure he offers, but Madeleine won’t lose her heart in the bargain.

One season to fall in love...

Every stolen kiss could lead to discovery, and Ferguson’s old enemies are determined to ruin them both. But as their dangerous passion ignites their hearts and threatens their futures, how can an heiress who dreams of freedom deny the duke who demands her love?(less)

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Aug 16, 2012 Kelly_Instalove rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: genre-romance, theme-disguise, theme-courtesan-prostitute

Grade: C--- (very nearly a D+, but it wasn't quite a "Lady Alexandra's Excellent Adventure" level of bad.

The entire premise of this book is a big ol’ Hot Mess, with all the requisite confusing plot contrivances to force the action and motivations into something vaguely resembling logic.

I came very, very close to DNFing, but some swoon-worthy sentences (and the irrelevant fact that the author claims to be an Iowa girl) gave me hope that the writing might somehow overcome all the early red flags.

T...more

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Jun 02, 2012 Dee rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance, arc-net-galley, reviewed-netgalley, would-read-again, debut

HR is not usually my thing but a few friends have convinced me to dip my toe into the genre. To date I haven’t read many but my shelf of HR’s is steadily growing.

This is Sara Ramsey’s first book introducing us to a group of ladies who have named themselves the ‘Muses of Mayfair’, we also get to meet their families, friends and a few other characters. This first story tells us about Lady Madeleine Valliant, who at the age of 29, is considered to be a spinster and ‘left on the shelf’. Madeleine l...more HR is not usually my thing but a few friends have convinced me to dip my toe into the genre. To date I haven’t read many but my shelf of HR’s is steadily growing.

This is Sara Ramsey’s first book introducing us to a group of ladies who have named themselves the ‘Muses of Mayfair’, we also get to meet their families, friends and a few other characters. This first story tells us about Lady Madeleine Valliant, who at the age of 29, is considered to be a spinster and ‘left on the shelf’. Madeleine loves to act but of course it would be scandalous for a woman of the Ton to tread the boards of the stage. However, the draw is so strong for Madeleine that she finds a way, but of course she has to be in disguise and is believed to be Madam Guerrier, a French actress who becomes a huge success.

In the meantime Ferguson’s father has died and he has to return to London to claim his rightful title of Duke of Rothwell. Ferguson asks Lady Madeleine to chaperone and help his youngest sister debut and find them suitable husbands. Although Madeleine was plainly dressed and had her hair covered he felt some attraction towards her but cannot ruin her reputation as by affiliation it would also impact upon his sisters. After a visit to the theatre to see the new actress everyone is raving about he realizes that Madam Guerrier is in fact Madeleine in disguise and in order to protect her against all potential suitors/scandal, he tells her that the actress must play the role of his mistress.

It is obvious from the start that these two have an instant attraction to each other but Ferguson doesn’t want a wife but as Madeleine is a Lady and respectable member of the Ton he cannot engage in an affair with her and is torn. Madeleine doesn’t want a husband as that would mean she would have to give up acting but both find they cannot fight the attraction and end up having an affair.

I really liked the fact that it was Ferguson who was the first to declare his love as in a lot of romance novels it is usually the other way around! I also like that despite Madeleine continually refusing to acknowledge that she loved him and accept his marriage proposals, Ferguson still continued to support her and found ways to help keep her secret from everyone including her family.

Both Ferguson and Madeleine were very strong characters and were likeable. I also like some of the other characters like Amelia & Ellie and am looking forward to reading their stories, especially Ellie’s as a fair amount of ground work for her novel had been laid.

I am pleased to say that this is not a ‘fluffy’ story, the sex scenes were hot and steamy which is always a plus sign for me. Not having read much HR it is hard for me to make comparisons on the quality of the writing within that genre, but I definitely enjoyed Ms Ramsey’s style of writing as well as the premise of the story and would happily read any future works from her.

Copy kindly supplied by Spencerhill Associates via Netgalley
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Jan 02, 2013 Emily rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, adult-lit, romance

The first appearance of the duke of Rothwell in the life of Lady Madeleine was to ask her to chaperone his twin sisters. With that point being introduced at the beginning, one would think that would be a big part of the plot, however it was very much a side-plot that was hardly used at all. Most of the 'action' of the story revolves around Lady Madeleine's desire to be an actress. She tries to stay away from ruination by her actress character (Margeurite) becoming the mistress of the notorious r...more The first appearance of the duke of Rothwell in the life of Lady Madeleine was to ask her to chaperone his twin sisters. With that point being introduced at the beginning, one would think that would be a big part of the plot, however it was very much a side-plot that was hardly used at all. Most of the 'action' of the story revolves around Lady Madeleine's desire to be an actress. She tries to stay away from ruination by her actress character (Margeurite) becoming the mistress of the notorious rake: The Duke of Rothwell. The idea of her playing the mistress to the duke was really rather ingenious. However, you can't play with fire and not get burned! Once they discover their mutual feelings, it's all over!

Heiress Without A Cause is a fun and fast read, full of mishaps and intrigue. Will Lady M be able to pull off her stunt of being an actress on a vulgar stage without being found out? Will being the 'mistress' of the duke give her the cover she needs, or will it just add to the pile of her already smoldering camp fire? What about the duke--will he stay and help his family and his new love, or will he run away again the first time things get hot?

The fun never stops, the storyline never lags and the characters are full of wit and personality. The drawback (depending on your point of view, of course) is that this novel is one you'd be embarrassed if the guy on the bus behind you started reading over your shoulder. The beginning is enticing and fun, but about half way through, once the characters give way to their mutual attraction, it is all about how often and in how many ways they can have sex.

The fun romantic theme of the devout spinster catching the hottest catch of the Season makes for a great book. This is the first in a series about a group of friends who are all 'old' spinsters and set in their ways. If the rest of the books are as much of a page-turner as this one, it may be worth the time to check them out and see what happens next!

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Oct 14, 2012 Carrie Olguin rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Interesting story-line with characters I had some trouble liking. The heroine fears love and the hero fears responsibility. As I read, I had the feeling that something was missing in the story and even by the end I couldn't pinpoint any one particular thing. (A sense of "more tell than show," or the tell and the show were at odds where the main characters behaved in ways contrary to the descriptions by the narator and other characters.)

Both the H and h are basically cowards, running or hiding ra...more Interesting story-line with characters I had some trouble liking. The heroine fears love and the hero fears responsibility. As I read, I had the feeling that something was missing in the story and even by the end I couldn't pinpoint any one particular thing. (A sense of "more tell than show," or the tell and the show were at odds where the main characters behaved in ways contrary to the descriptions by the narator and other characters.)

Both the H and h are basically cowards, running or hiding rather than taking a stand for what they really desire. Hard to sympathize with them. Yah, know?

The hero wants to run away from his heritage and family responisbilities for purely selfish reasons. He'd rather live in isolation (turn his back on his family) in the Highlands than be a Duke and head of a devistated family who needs a strong patriarch. He's supposed to be in his mid thirties but behaves like a man in his early twenties. He's not yet "fully-formed" - he's wishy-washy at times, uncertain what to do, what he wants, how to gain what he wants, how to make ammends, how to be a man. He's actually a really nice guy even though he's supposed to have a reputation for immoral behavior.

The heroine fears love because her dead parents were more passionate about (and had more love for) their estate in France than they were for her (they were killed in the French Revolution). She never realizes that she is more passionate about her reckless need for rebellion and recognition (as an actress) than she is for the reputation, good opinion, and future of her cousins and aunt whom she claims to love. She wants to be an actress rather than live as a rich gentlewoman but she doesn't have the courage to take the leap. Instead, she hides behind a disguize to keep her reputation in tact. And that becomes the major premise of the book - how she can be an actress in the evening and not be found out by her family, friends and peers.

One thing which bothered me: according to Jennifer Kloster's "Georgette Heryer's Regency World, a woman reachedher majority at age 25 - considered firmly on the shelf. At that time she comes into her portion.

In this book, the heroine is 28 with a large inheitance/dowry. Yet there's a allusion that if she becomes socially ruined, she'll end up impoverished as well. Huh? What has one to do with the other when her guardian loves her as much as he does?

An acceptable read, no tears, a bit of humor, but nothing I'll remember in a few weeks.(less)

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Sep 23, 2012 Emily rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Adult Women

Recommended to Emily by: ebook on Amazon

Shelves: chick-lit, historical-romance, romance

I thought this was a very clever and witty regency romance. I absolutely loved the plot and the characters. I look forward to reading more work by Sara Ramsey.

Since I've tackled Heiress Without a Cause, I'll be moving onto to Scotsmen Prefer Blondes, book two of the Muses of Mayfair series.

Sara Ramsey has done an incredible job of balancing the history of the regency period with a page-turning plot and a significant amount of seduction.

I thoroughly enjoyed this read, and I completed the novel i...more

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May 19, 2012 Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical, non-erotic

Originally posted at: http://www.longandshortreviews.blogsp...

Emotional wounds from early years, inflicted by their parents, have never completely healed for “almost-a –spinster” Madeline Valliant or for Ferguson, the new Duke of Rothwell. To trust love will not be easy for either of them.

Longing for freedom to use and develop her acting talent makes Madeline risk total ruin if discovered. But the adoration she feels from the audience fills a long-time empty spot deep inside—she feels loved, but...more Originally posted at: http://www.longandshortreviews.blogsp...

Emotional wounds from early years, inflicted by their parents, have never completely healed for “almost-a –spinster” Madeline Valliant or for Ferguson, the new Duke of Rothwell. To trust love will not be easy for either of them.

Longing for freedom to use and develop her acting talent makes Madeline risk total ruin if discovered. But the adoration she feels from the audience fills a long-time empty spot deep inside—she feels loved, but she also knows this same audience can be fickle.

London Society knows Madeline as the orphan niece of Lady Augusta. She's a respectable, responsible, dull wallflower unlike her cousin Amelia who has many suitors. Madeline knows she's considered “unmarriageable”, but it still hurts when the duchess of Harwich and the duke of Rothwell, the notorious rake, ask her to chaperone his twenty-one-year-old twin sisters for the Season so they can find husbands. The thing is, the twins don’t want husbands. They want to have fun and experience life after having been locked away from society by a bitter father.

As Madeline juggles her multifaceted life, she has the support of Amelia and their friend Prudence. These three call themselves the muses of Mayfair for they all pursue secret passions. Amelia writes Gothic romance novels and Prudence writes treatise of academic nature that are widely read and praised by men. They use male pseudonyms to get their work published, but for Madeline to pursue her passion, she must disguise herself as a different person and run the risk of being found out, bringing on her own ruin plus shame for her family. But Amelia and Prudence support her and find Madeline playing “Hamlet” in a theater located in the rough district of Seven Dials to be exciting until blackmail is threatened.

Ferguson, Duke of Rothwell, hates having to return to London and take up the responsibilities of a dukedom. He's no stranger to the theater district in Seven Dials. His duchy owns property there. Ferguson spent more than his share of time in the rough district during his rakish years ten years ago, before he had finally been sent to Scotland for his outrageous behavior. He’d left behind a few friends, lots of enemies, and one extremely disgruntled ex-mistress.

As Ferguson and Madeline’s lives get entangled in two levels of society, the suspense gets intense with breath-holding events that grip the reader’s attention. His ambivalence about his unexpected position in Society, his desire for Madeline, his guilty feelings about his sister and his half-sisters, and his part in protecting Madeline’s identity, are strong emotions that weave in and out of the story like a magnetic thread. Madeline’s determination, her love for family, her naiveté about what she's gotten herself into, and her growing love for Ferguson pour through the story with warmth, humor, and more than a little anxiety.

Some of the secondary characters from the most influential in the ton to the greedy theater operator Madame Legrand, the vindictive ex-mistress Caro, and the lecherous Westbrook all up the stakes for Madeline’s ruin at every turn. However, others know Madeline and love her for herself and conspire to keep the “bad guys” at bay while the little house on Dover Street becomes a haven for the two lovers.

Sara Ramsey uses all the trappings of the usual Regency romance, but she creates a plot that insures Heiress Without a Cause is a page turner. Her character development makes the reader feel as if she knows them personally and desires to help get all the misunderstandings and hurts smoothed away. Ms. Ramsey weaves together a fantastic story with bits of humor, some scary situations, magical love scenes, compelling back stories, plus some comedic and other riveting London Society happenings. Heiress Without a Cause has its awesome happy-ever-after, but only after an abundance of bumps along the way.
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May 10, 2012 My Book Addiction and More MBA rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

HEIRESS WITHOUT A CAUSE by Sara Ramsey is an exciting historical romance set in 1812 London. It is the beginning of a new series,”MUSES OF MAYFAIR”. What a wonderful debut and a historical romance author to keep a watch for in the future. I found myself rooting for Lady Madeleine Vaillant,a lady,who wants to make one memory for herself as a disguised actress,before she must make a marriage match. And William “Ferguson”,a disgraced son who has a dark,bad boy reputation,but when he finds myself a...more

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Apr 29, 2012 Melanie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I reviewed this novel for my blog at www.bookworm2bookworm.wordpress.com

...starts slow, but boy does it pick up! Loved it...

This is Ms. Ramsey's début novel and first in the Muses of Mayfair Series (Madeline
Vaillant, Prudence Etchingham, Amelia Staunton and Ellie, Marchioness of Folkestone) and she starts off with Lady Madeline Vaillant's story.

The book opens up with our heroine attending a ball at Salford House, which is the home of her cousin Alexander Staunton, the Earl of Salford, his mothe...more I reviewed this novel for my blog at www.bookworm2bookworm.wordpress.com

...starts slow, but boy does it pick up! Loved it...

This is Ms. Ramsey's début novel and first in the Muses of Mayfair Series (Madeline
Vaillant, Prudence Etchingham, Amelia Staunton and Ellie, Marchioness of Folkestone) and she starts off with Lady Madeline Vaillant's story.

The book opens up with our heroine attending a ball at Salford House, which is the home of her cousin Alexander Staunton, the Earl of Salford, his mother, her aunt Augusta as well as Amelia Staunton, Alex's sister. She's been with them ever since she was a little girl, after her parents went back to France in the midst of the Revolution and gotten themselves killed in the process.

She is aware that no one has ever paid her any attention and that no one likely ever will. Not as long as she's determined to stay a spinster and dress like one, down to her spinsters cap. What the ton doesn't know, and if it did it would not only shock them but it would also ruin Madeline and possibly the family that she loves dearly, is that our heroine has a secret desire and a talent for acting.

Our hero is William "Ferguson" Avenel, and coming out of exile is not so easy for him. It has been a decade since he's seen his sister Ellie, and his twin half sisters who are both ready for their first London season, and to all of them, Ferguson needs to apologies for not being there for them when they needed him the most.

I really liked this story for lots of obvious reasons; for a début book, it was written well, paced well and its hero and heroine were very likeable, but what I liked the best about it was the relationship between the three friends, and after we meet Ellie, there was no doubt in my mind that she was perfect as, and eventually would become another, muse of Mayfair.

The author has done an excellent job in portraying the relationships between all the characters with so much reality that it will touch your hearts with an equal dose of humor and sensuality. You will come to care for everyone involved and that is what makes this début such a great read and I whole heartedly recommend it.

Melanie
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Mar 15, 2012 Romancing the Book rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, romance, regency

Reviewed By~robin
Review Copy Provided By~Netgalley

I simply loved this book. From the first page to the last I was enthralled with the characters that seemed to spring to life on the pages. I even read as I fixed dinner as I was not able to put it down. Evan though I neither an orphan nor French, I as a woman and a need to follow a dream; was able to relate to the characters.

Madeline wants to act. So act you may say, but it isn’t that easy; not in London and definitely not in 1812. Still Madeline...more Reviewed By~robin
Review Copy Provided By~Netgalley

I simply loved this book. From the first page to the last I was enthralled with the characters that seemed to spring to life on the pages. I even read as I fixed dinner as I was not able to put it down. Evan though I neither an orphan nor French, I as a woman and a need to follow a dream; was able to relate to the characters.

Madeline wants to act. So act you may say, but it isn’t that easy; not in London and definitely not in 1812. Still Madeline has a passion for it. It turns out that she is rather good at it. So go for it I say and she did. But secrets had to be kept. She is also, a twenty-eight year old spinster. Now you aren’t considered a spinster till at least your 50’s and you decide to start bringing the neighborhood cat’s home.

Ferguson who ran away from life to Scotland over ten years ago is now back in London and must find someone to help debut his twin sisters. What better person for the job than a spinster? So he enlists the help of Mad as he refers to her. But, he soon learns of her secret and doesn’t want that to hinder prospects for his sisters, so he must devise a plan that works for all involved. He can be thoroughly exasperating at times in that take charge kind of way.

This was a delightful tale about a very courageous woman in Madeline for stepping out of her comfort zone and taking a risk in the theatre. Even though she at times seemed too cautious when it came to dealing with love. For a courageous woman she almost seemed to cower when it came to love.

But the more that Mad and Ferguson is together the more you find the passion that they have for one another. The love scenes between them that finally brought Mad out of her funk were simply HOT!!!

It was fun to watch as they explored the passionate side in between the acting and her pretending to be his mistress. Throwing in the way she would have to sneak into her home every night was more like they were teens rather than in their late twenties. I guess you can say and be grateful in saying ‘we’ve come and long way.’

I definitely enjoyed Ms. Ramsey’s first in the Muses of Mayfair Series and can’t wait to read Amelia’s story next. The new word for the day: “Manroot”.
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Mar 08, 2012 Brittany rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley, first-read, 2012-romance-challenge, 2012-reads

The female main character, Madeline, has always followed societies rules but also has a passion for theater. She LOVES to perform. After almost 30 years, she finally get's her chance to perform even if it's under the disguise of a french widow. However nothing ever goes 100% well and first a mysterious Duke, Ferguson, comes back into London and seeks her help in assisting his sisters debut then that same Duke arrives to her last show which is the spark to the fuse that causes a whole lot of othe...more

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Mar 02, 2013 Cinzia rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Sara Ramsey and her regency books series Muses of Mayfair were for me a pleasant surprise.
If I must be honest I reversed the order of the first two stories, but this did not create problems, because wanting they can also be considered one-shots in their stories, about different pairs.
I enjoyed Heiress Without a Cause more of the second book, for its plot and its main characters: Ferguson and Madeleine-Marguerite.
William Ferguson Avenel is a young Duke, with a questionable reputation because of h...more

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May 25, 2012 Kimberly rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Review written for www.books-n-kisses.com

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I was not sure what to expect since I have never read this author before but this will not be the last time I read her books. The writing was great and the story was compelling and I wanted to read every word of it.

Madeleine is a fascinating character. She is not the normal heiress we read about. She has an obsession to act and decides that losing her reputation is worth the compulsion. And to know she is willing t...more

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Apr 28, 2012 Marcie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Heiress Without A Cause by Sara Ramsey is a historical fiction book set around a group of woman who are bored with regency life. They are bored with the season. They are bored with society. However they each manage to have their own special talent. For Lady Madeleine Vaillant the season is especially dull since she is considered a spinster. However Madeline has a well kept secret. She's been acting on the stage. If the ton were to find out she would be ruined. Her life gets more complicated when...more

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Sep 24, 2012 Tonileg rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical, kindle, romance

William “Ferguson” Avenel has come into his title after he father dies is a terrible scandal in historical London so he travels back to London from his Scottish estate where he has hidden for the past decade.
Lady Madeleine Vaillant has accepted that she is officially a spinster, but that doesn't mean that she won't have a big adventure before she retires from London society. She decides to go on the stage to be everything that a 'Lady' can't be. Madeleine has a need to rebel after all the years...more

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Jul 05, 2012 Rachel rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

*I have received this book as part of Goodreads' "First Reads" giveaway.

I'm not even sure how to review this book as the genre is one I don't read. I do appreciate the kind note and bookmark from the author. I wanted to really like this book but it wasn't quite what I thought it would be.

Ramsey does create a solid starting point for a series with solid female characters. I don't know how historically accurate the details/language of the book really are but the focus of the book was on the romant...more

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Jan 24, 2012 Julia rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: historical romance readers looking for something new

Shelves: 2012, historical-romance, series, netgalley

Madeline is a spinster almost ready to live her life alone, but not until she has one last hurrah. In her case, it is acting in a stage play of Hamlet. Ferguson is a misunderstood rake who desires nothing to do with being a duke and longs to return to Scotland. Both of the leads have strong and weak qualities to them, which is great in developing well rounded characters. I didn't love either of them, but I didn't hate them either, and I particularly enjoyed certain aspects of each. That is proba...more Madeline is a spinster almost ready to live her life alone, but not until she has one last hurrah. In her case, it is acting in a stage play of Hamlet. Ferguson is a misunderstood rake who desires nothing to do with being a duke and longs to return to Scotland. Both of the leads have strong and weak qualities to them, which is great in developing well rounded characters. I didn't love either of them, but I didn't hate them either, and I particularly enjoyed certain aspects of each. That is probably one of the more vauge statements that I have written. Let me see if I can extrapolate.

Let's take Madeline. She is courageous enough to step out of her shell and take a risk, but also overly cautious about love due to some issues from her past. At the same time, some of those issues almost come across as a bit petty. So that is why I don't really hate her, but I can't love her either.

I think what I enjoyed about them the most was their passion for each other. The romance/steamy scenes between the two of them were awesome. I really enjoyed all of that. True story, I had to turn the little overhead air fan on while reading on the airplane I was so flushed from reading the love scenes.

The story was particularly engaging and unique with the whole acting/mistress aspect. That is really where to story focuses. The weak parts have to come in the beginning. The first chapter was extremely hard for me to read because I kept getting confused. There was a serious backstory dump at the introduction of each new character, and since chapter one is where you meet most of the new characters, I was lost despite my slower reading speed. But once I sorted it all out getting into the story came easier. My next issue came at the end though. It seemed a bit anti-climactic and the happily ever after was just ... there. I didn't feel like too much conflict resolution had happened and it was all of a sudden okay. I don't know, this may be a little nit-picky.

Overall, I enjoyed it and that is what matters. I definitely enjoyed it enough to pick up the next one when it comes out. Who would I recommend this to? If you are historical romance reader looking for something that is different than the norm, check it out. Once your through the first chapter, its a good read :)

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Oct 07, 2012 Debra rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book was good, for a Regency romance, except for one small detail... I couldn't stand Lady Madeleine Vaillant, the female protagnist. I found her to be selfish, whiny and unbelievably self-centered. Not to mention ridiculous for her reasons in passing up "Ferguson" Avenel, the Duke of Rothwell, when he made his first heartfelt attempt at winning her heart.

I must say, Ferguson, despite (or maybe because of) his contentious relationship with his family, is a complex, wonderfully written chara...more

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Jul 20, 2012 Dottie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Packed with humor and passion! Taken from my review at RomanceJunkies.com:

Madame Madeleine Vaillant has lived with her aunt and uncle at Salford House ever since her parents died eighteen years ago. Up to then she had been raised in France. After many unsuccessful Seasons, at twenty-eight, she is considered a spinster, along with her aunt’s daughter, Amelia, and their close friend Prudence. The three women each have their own artistic interests to keep them busy and have formed their own club kn...more Packed with humor and passion! Taken from my review at RomanceJunkies.com:

Madame Madeleine Vaillant has lived with her aunt and uncle at Salford House ever since her parents died eighteen years ago. Up to then she had been raised in France. After many unsuccessful Seasons, at twenty-eight, she is considered a spinster, along with her aunt’s daughter, Amelia, and their close friend Prudence. The three women each have their own artistic interests to keep them busy and have formed their own club known as the Muses of Mayfair. Amelia writes gothic , using a male pseudonym, and Prudence loves history and writes papers to a variety of historians, also as a male. However, Madeleine cannot indulge in her acting in secret like the other two. She needs an audience. Giving herself two weeks to indulge in her passion, she seeks out Madame Legrand, who manages the local theatre. For two weeks, she has a secret life as an actress on the stage, winning much acclaim and filling up the theatre with patrons. But on her last night, when she refuses the manager’s request that she extend her time on stage, the manager blackmails her into agreeing to stay for one month, promising to let her go after that time. However, if anyone finds out about her secret, she is ruined.

William ‘Ferguson’ Avenel, the Duke of Rothwell, returned to London to claim his title. He had left London for Scotland ten years ago, when, as just plain Ferguson, he had been the third son with a scandalous reputation and no prospects. Now the newspapers report that his father died in a carriage accident, but the rumors circulating are not so kind. In reality, his older brother killed their father before turning the gun on himself. At his father’s death, knowing his sisters needed him, he had returned, but once he manages to marry off his sisters, he plans to return to Scotland. Due to his absence during the past ten years, his sisters feel that he had abandoned them. Now he needs to find a way to once more get close to the siblings he left behind. His plans to return to Scotland are not helping the situation.

Making his first ducal appearance at the ball given by Madeleine’s aunt, he is accompanied by his father’s sister, Sophronia, the Duchess of Harwick. With his new title comes his duty to his twin sisters who need to make their debut in society. On the advice of Sophronia, he asks Madeleine to bring them out. Realizing that having the duchess on her side would be beneficial should her secret life come to light, she agrees to do it.

The following night, Ferguson decides to go to the theatre with a couple of his friends. That night, he discovers that Hamlet is being played by a woman who captivates him. However, when he goes backstage where she is still in disguise, she refuses to give in to his charms. So he secretly follows her and finds himself at Madeleine’s home. He knows that someone in that house is the astounding actress, and he suspects it is the woman helping him with his sisters. It had been his idea to go to the theatre that night. So when he sees his friends becoming interested in making the actress their mistress, he knows he has to take action.

Ferguson gets the idea to make Madeleine his mistress in name only to protect her from the line of men wanting to make her theirs. But he is having a hard time keeping his hands off of her. As for Madeleine, in the past two weeks she has been adored by her audience and she loves the feeling. She still has a month of adoration to go, but will that be enough when the time is up and she is once more just Madeleine? Can they get through the upcoming month with her reputation intact? Will Ferguson return to Scotland, or will he stay in London, retain the title and make Madeleine his own?

Deliciously witty, HEIRESS WITHOUT A CAUSE, the first novel in talented author Sara Ramsey’s MUSES OF MAYFAIR trilogy, is a passionate, intriguing historical romance that will have you avidly turning the pages as the story comes to life. Madeleine, like the other two in the Muses of Mayfair club, is very independent for a woman in the Regency era. Although society sees her as a spinster, she still harbors hope of making a marriage. That is, until Ferguson asks her to bring out his twin sisters. Then she begins to realize that her time to find a husband is drawing to a close. When she was first brought out, she was too shy and in later years, she became bored with the process. As for Ferguson, he and his sisters are not really mourning their father as they could not abide him. But Ferguson’s urgency to see his sisters married is only adding to the contention between them, making them believe he is just like their father. So Ferguson needs to make a decision; should he return to Scotland, or should he start life anew in London with the title and his family? Filled with passion, humor, family dynamics, scandal, romance and love, this story is a promising start to a delightful series. I highly recommend HEIRESS WITHOUT A CAUSE and look forward to the next installment in this wonderful series; SCOTSMEN PREFER BLONDES.

Dottie, RomanceJunkies.com

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Jan 21, 2012 Jen (Red Hot Books) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance, arcs

At 28, Madeleine is a spinster, firmly on the shelf. But there is more to her than the prim and proper exterior she shows the ton. For the past few weeks, she has been assuming an alter-identity as an actress to live her passion on the stage. Obviously, when Ferguson -a newly minted Duke- asks her to help his younger sisters come out into society, he has no idea she is anything less than the model of propriety.

Then Ferguson visits the theater. He is taken by Madeleine's alter ego and quickly fig...more

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Dec 28, 2012 Kris rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I wasn't too impressed by this book. It seemed much too cookie-cutter Historical Romance (HR). I've read some HR's that have had me in tears, or biting my nails, hoping the characters would get together, or overcome their adversity, or misunderstanding. Unfortunately, this wasn't one of those.
The characters seemed dry and dull, though they were well-described. There was no investment in them for me. I had no emotional...more

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Jun 29, 2012 Emiko Rei rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: hot-cover, kickass-heroine, mysterious-hero, historical, net-galley

The girls born in the wrong era!

I wish Muses of Mayfair are my best friends. They are fun, and confident girls (with the time setting where girls suppose to be meek and softies) and of course they're kick-asses.

Somehow, they reminded me of the Bronte sisters, with the pseudonym and the confidence to speak out their talent in the era of 'Men's world'

If this is Ramsey's debut novel, i predict success on her future novels. Her story, to me, is vivid and quite realistic page-turner. which is great...more

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Nov 20, 2012 Barbara rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I had a lot of fun with Lady Madeleine “Mad” Vaillant and William “Ferguson” Avenel. Spinster Mad is using her talent by acting incognito in a Seven Dials theater as Madame Guerrier and trying to keep it all a secret from her family as well as society. As a newly titled Duke, Ferguson has returned from his Scottish exile after his father and brother’s death. He enlists Mad’s help to chaperone his twin sisters as they make their debut in society. What a tangle ensues when Ferguson discovers that...more

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Feb 22, 2013 Jess the Romanceaholic rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013-read, courting-scandal, secret-identity, mistress-or-courtesan, family-issues, blame-it-on-your-parents, hero-in-pursuit, free-reads, kindle-lendable, needs-review

This is a Quickie Review. For the full review, please visit The Romanceaholic.

Expected Release Date: January 23, 2013
Publisher: Spencerhill Associates, Ltd.
Imprint: N/A
Author’s Website:
My Source for This Book: Amazon.com
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 1, Muses of Mayfair
Series Best Read In Order: N/A
Steam Level: Steamy
Pet Peeves: Unrealistic Behavior: Historical, Vindictive Ex
Favorite Tropes: Courting Scandal, Hero In Pursuit

There are a lot of historical romances out there with a heroine courting sc...more

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Apr 21, 2012 Laurel-Rain rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

In Book I of the Muses of Mayfair series, the author features Lady Madeleine Vaillant, a young woman bound by the constraints of the society in which she lives. "Heiress Without A Cause: Muses of Mayfair #1" opens in the spring of 1812 to a ball Madeleine is not the least bit interested in attending.

As she goes through the motions, she dreams of an alternate life she is living in secret as an actress on the London stage. Something she does in disguise that risks her reputation as a lady.

While dr...more

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Jul 05, 2012 Ithurielle rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I stumble upon this book on Netgalley half-expecting it to be a book for teenagers, yet I decided to give it a try. I was wrong on so many levels, and in a very good way. I had never read Regency literature before, and as an introduction to the style, this book proved to be particularly good. In a day and a half, I finished the first two books of the series, and I am longing for the other two to be published.

I liked the fast-paced action, the improbable situation with which the plot really start...more

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Feb 11, 2013 Heather Book Savvy Babe rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance, netgalley

I really enjoyed Heiress Without a Cause. Madeline Vallient is a woman determined to make her own dreams come true, even if just for a little while. She is a woman of the ton, a spinster on the shelf, but she breaks from that role to sneak off to the stage as an actress for a few weeks. She excels in her acting, and the ton soon takes notice. However, if the truth of her identity is found out, she will be ruined. The only person who can help her is the newly returned, disgraced Lord Ferguson. As...more I really enjoyed Heiress Without a Cause. Madeline Vallient is a woman determined to make her own dreams come true, even if just for a little while. She is a woman of the ton, a spinster on the shelf, but she breaks from that role to sneak off to the stage as an actress for a few weeks. She excels in her acting, and the ton soon takes notice. However, if the truth of her identity is found out, she will be ruined. The only person who can help her is the newly returned, disgraced Lord Ferguson. As Madeline’s fame ignites, so does her attraction to Ferguson. With the threat of discovery, ruination and her heart on the line, Madeline’s double identity changes her and the course of her life forever.

I adore Madeline. She is brave, smart, talented, and eager to experience new things. When most women would have been ashamed, shy, or scandalized, Madeline plowed forward, determined to see her dreams come true. Madeline was an orphan, and never really dealt with the array of feelings that came with being orphaned, until her new experiences caused her to look at herself and her circumstances in a deeper way. I really felt for Madeline, she goes through many emotions throughout the book; anger, desire, heartache, betrayal, loneliness, and hope. I came to admire her character and the risks she took.

Ferguson plays a huge role, and has his own emotions to work through as well. Ferguson spent his entire life running away from his disastrous upbringing and his family. He was very selfish through most of the book, and stubborn. He sees something in Madeline that has him looking more closely at his own life. He has sisters that he has wronged, and he begins to understand how his actions affect others. Ferguson starts making changes in his own life and he determines to make Madeline part of his life. The pair are a good fit. They have plenty of obstacles to get through and lessons to learn, they make mistakes and I loved their story.

I really enjoyed Heiress Without a Cause. The main characters are mull-faceted and intriguing, as well as the secondary characters. Madeline and her friends, her fellow spinsters, each have a secret talent that is taboo for women and they call themselves the Muses of Mayfair. Madeline loved acting, and the other women each have their own artistic/creative penchant. Through the book, I became immersed in the entire story and invested in all the characters.

With intriguing characters, emotional depth, and a well-developed plot, Heiress Without a Cause is an excellent historical romance read. This is the first book I have read by Sara Ramsey and I am looking forward to reading more of her work in the future.

*I received this book in exchange for an honest review*(less)

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Dec 11, 2012 shelly rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I don't normally read romance novels, but this series is written by one of my sister's best friends, so I had to see what it was all about.

While I can't speak to the quality of the romance or historical accuracy in relation to other historical romance books, I can say it was for me a lighthearted read with an intriguing plot line. It was very different from the stuff that usually ends up in my pile of books - suffice it to say there were points where my eyes were wide open from what I was readi...more

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Aug 07, 2012 Kate rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, net-galley, galley, adult, better-than-i-thought-it-would-be, characters-i-loved, drama, erotica, historical, kick-ass-female-lead, lived-up-to-the-hype, male-and-female-pov, part-of-a-series, reviewcopies, romance, romances-i-love, switching-pov, swoon-worthy-male-characters

For this review and more visit my blog

*I was given a copy of this book in exchange for a review*

One of the things I love about being a book blogger is that sometimes a book that you wouldn’t normally read lands in your lap and takes you by surprise. I am not normally a fan of historical romance, I will read Highland romance and Historical PNR but straight historical…well that is not normally my thing. In short, Heiress without a cause is not a book I would ever choose to read. I am really glad...more

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May 20, 2012 Alana rated it 3 of 5 stars

I read a review in RT Book Magazine for this book and I instantly needed to get my hands on it. I have also obtained the 2nd book "Scotsmen Prefer Blondes".
I love the charcters in this series. Strong independent women and the men that fall for them. Overall I did give this book a 3-3.5. Compared to other authors who also write in this genre, such as Lisa Kleypas, Julia Quinn, etc, this book was lacking something. I think I wanted more witty banter. I love it when a book can make me smile or bett...more

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