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223rd out of 412 books
—
1,450 voters
A Notorious Countess Confesses (Pennyroyal Green #7)
She rose to spectacular heights…
From Covent Garden to courtesan to countess, beautiful, fearless, shamelessly ambitious Evie Duggan has riveted London in every role she plays. But the ton never could forgive her scandalous—if shockingly short—marriage, and when her star plummets amid gleefully vicious gossip, the countess escapes to the only legacy left to her: a manor hou...more
From Covent Garden to courtesan to countess, beautiful, fearless, shamelessly ambitious Evie Duggan has riveted London in every role she plays. But the ton never could forgive her scandalous—if shockingly short—marriage, and when her star plummets amid gleefully vicious gossip, the countess escapes to the only legacy left to her: a manor hou...more
Mass Market Paperback, 384 pages
Published
October 30th 2012
by Avon
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16th out of 62 books
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21 voters
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3.5-4 stars.
Important note: Readers, please note that the publication of this book had some major editing issues (details below), which according to a thread on JALs Facebook page are going to be fixed. So you might want to wait until they announce that the ebook version has been updated. It really was a great story, but sadly the publishers messed this one up and forgot to proofread and edit the book.
The Story:
Despite having a reputation as a 'black widow' and a former courtesan, The Reverand A...more
Important note: Readers, please note that the publication of this book had some major editing issues (details below), which according to a thread on JALs Facebook page are going to be fixed. So you might want to wait until they announce that the ebook version has been updated. It really was a great story, but sadly the publishers messed this one up and forgot to proofread and edit the book.
The Story:
Despite having a reputation as a 'black widow' and a former courtesan, The Reverand A...more
30 likes · like · see review
view all 38 comments
4.5 stars
Upon her husband's death and with nowhere else to go, Evie, Countess of Wareham moves to Damask Manor, Pennyroyal Green, Sussex. Once a Covent Garden actress and courtesan, her past is soon known to all the locals. Determined to fit into the country life and make friends, she enlists the aid of the local vicar.
Reverend Adam Sylvaine has been Pennyroyal Green's vicar for the past year. Related to the Eversea family and given his position by his wealthy uncle, Adam is much more circumspec...more
19 likes · like · see review
Review posted on Demon Lover's Books & More
4.5
This is a very quiet book. What I mean by that, is that it’s very understated and doesn’t have a whole lot of action. And yet...for a book that doesn’t have a whole lot going on, this book has a whole lot going on! (bear with me, I know that doesn’t make sense). What I mean is that while there isn’t a lot of action, there are a lot of things happening. There’s an auction, there’s the romance, there’s a ball, there’s a backstabbing friend, a coupl...more
11 likes · like · see review
Oh, pooh, a courtesan h. That's kind of ruined this for me already. I hate courtesan books. (okay that was my comment before the book came out!)
Now, what I thought after reading it. Gee, if only I knew what I thought. Mmm, obviously I liked it because I gave it four stars.
Okay, this book is so well written. The author, to me, has a different style to all other writers, she has one all of her own. And she is really good, hence four stars. The progression in the relationship, the banter between t...more
Now, what I thought after reading it. Gee, if only I knew what I thought. Mmm, obviously I liked it because I gave it four stars.
Okay, this book is so well written. The author, to me, has a different style to all other writers, she has one all of her own. And she is really good, hence four stars. The progression in the relationship, the banter between t...more
4 likes · like · see review
5 stars
Evie Duggan's life hasn't been sedate and quite. Born a poor Irish girl in a broken family, she had to fight for everything she wanted, nothing was simply given to her. She went through a lot of phases - the eldest child in her family who was responsible for her younger siblings, the Covent Garden actress desired by many, the famous courtesan man fought over, and lastly the widowed countess seeking peace in the country.
As everybody knows, the true path to being accepted in a small villag...more
Evie Duggan's life hasn't been sedate and quite. Born a poor Irish girl in a broken family, she had to fight for everything she wanted, nothing was simply given to her. She went through a lot of phases - the eldest child in her family who was responsible for her younger siblings, the Covent Garden actress desired by many, the famous courtesan man fought over, and lastly the widowed countess seeking peace in the country.
As everybody knows, the true path to being accepted in a small villag...more
10 likes · like · see review
Evie Duggan has risen from Irish peasant to become Countess of Wareham -- with stops along the way in Seven Dials and Covent Garden, where she was an opera dancer. She married the Earl of Wareham after he won her in a card game. When he dropped dead shortly after the wedding, rumors swirled that she had done him in and she became known as the Black Widow. Completely ostracized by society, she retreats to Damask Manor in Pennyroyal Green, hoping to live quietly in her reduced circumstances. She h...more
Mmmmm. Slow burn unstarching of a not-actually-all-that-starchy vicar by a unrepentant widow with a past. It would have been five stars but I wasn't crazy about the endless description of Adam's perfection and place in the town in the first chapter - too heavy handed. There were also a couple of distracting typos/errors.
But, I really loved it. Their first real meeting, on the road after church, put a huge open-mouthed grin on my face, and I was practically holding my breath with delight. I just...more
But, I really loved it. Their first real meeting, on the road after church, put a huge open-mouthed grin on my face, and I was practically holding my breath with delight. I just...more
4 likes · like · see review
3,5 stars
"Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is a strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave."
This is a somewhat quiet romance..it doesn't have a large number of angsty moments, and high stake's drama. And this isn't a bad thing. In fact its a very good thing, leaving us to appreciate the characters nature.
It has a good story, with an interesting romantic couple, who just don't fall inside the normal hero and heroine romantic guidelines. He's a Vi...more
"Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is a strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave."
This is a somewhat quiet romance..it doesn't have a large number of angsty moments, and high stake's drama. And this isn't a bad thing. In fact its a very good thing, leaving us to appreciate the characters nature.
It has a good story, with an interesting romantic couple, who just don't fall inside the normal hero and heroine romantic guidelines. He's a Vi...more
What the F?!? I thought this was finally going to be about Lyon and Olivia! Ugh. 7 books in now, it's time Ms. Long
4 likes · like · see review
Ok so here is my review, I had to think about this. My first instinct is to say this was a romance story that tried very hard not to be a romance; i know that sounds nuts but through the majority of this book the two main characters spent more time fighting their attraction to each other,for a town full of the wrong reasons.
Reverend Adam Sylvaine a cousin of the Eversea's is a tall, blond haired ,muscular and handsome man, who was appointed the Reverand of Pennyroyal green by his uncle Eversea's...more
Reverend Adam Sylvaine a cousin of the Eversea's is a tall, blond haired ,muscular and handsome man, who was appointed the Reverand of Pennyroyal green by his uncle Eversea's...more
1 like · like · see review
Aug 15, 2012
Kelly22
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Fans of angsty romance with darcy paragon hero & courtesan heroine/star-crossed lovers plots.
Shelves:
2012-releases,
2012-historicals,
advanced-review-copies-arc,
banter-all-the-way,
commoner-hero,
gorgeous-handsome-attractive-hero,
hero-celibate-virgin-less_practiced,
heroine-beautiful-pretty-covetted,
heroine-courtesans,
heroine-scandalous-fallen-outcast,
heroine-wild-child-unconventional,
historical-romance,
opposites-attract,
widow-widower-divorcee,
hero-good-boy-gentleman,
small-town-setup,
powerful-endings-epilogues,
powerful-secondaries,
hh-iconic-celeb-bigshot,
hero-smitten-in-love-in-pursuit,
hero-i-am-crazy-abt,
hero-darcylike,
hero-bashful-starchy-silent,
brooding-dangerous-hero,
alpha-hero,
favorite-series
4.50 Stars - Regency/Historical Romance
Man of God, Reverend Adam Sylvaine comes from the notorious Eversea bloodline. Despite of that, his passion towards his work as a vicar and impeccable manners have practically endorsed him as the epitome of suave noblehood. His gracious conduct and the fact that he is basically as handsome as the fallen angel himself have made him quite an endearing and popular sort in the little village of Pennyroyal Green. Unmarried ladies and match-making mamas are forev...more
Man of God, Reverend Adam Sylvaine comes from the notorious Eversea bloodline. Despite of that, his passion towards his work as a vicar and impeccable manners have practically endorsed him as the epitome of suave noblehood. His gracious conduct and the fact that he is basically as handsome as the fallen angel himself have made him quite an endearing and popular sort in the little village of Pennyroyal Green. Unmarried ladies and match-making mamas are forev...more
12 likes · like · see review
I was really enjoying this book in the beginning but it lost me somewhere along the way. The premise was interesting and a bit of a switch with the courtesan and the vicar. I was a little wary at first with this setup and wasn't sure if it would be done right. It ended up being okay, if somewhat predictable. It didn't blow me away however. I wasn't on the edge of my seat or anxious to pick the book back up after I put it down. I wasn't really drawn to the characters and didn't care one way or th...more
Evie has come a long way from her roots in the Irish countryside; from actress in Covent Garden, to widowed Countess in Pennyroyal Green. Now she is living in the little manor house left to her by her husband’s estate. A part of Evie longs to leave the rumors and expensive trappings of her existence behind for a simpler life in the country.
Adam Sylvaine looks nothing like one would think a vicar should. He has all the ladies of his parish showing up early for Sunday services. In fact, Adam’s lif...more
Adam Sylvaine looks nothing like one would think a vicar should. He has all the ladies of his parish showing up early for Sunday services. In fact, Adam’s lif...more
Despite numerous grammatical mistake, I really do still very much like this book.
The Vicar:
and the courtesan:
IT's not as corny as it sounds!!!!
Evie Duggan a countess and a former courtesan come to the always eventful Penyroyal Green. She just fell from grace because his husband, the Earl, died. The first thing Evie did in the village was fallen asleep during a sermon of a much beloved vicar of Penyroyal Green.
And the story goes from there. The relationship between Eve and Adam (Julie Anne L...more
The Vicar:
and the courtesan:
IT's not as corny as it sounds!!!!
Evie Duggan a countess and a former courtesan come to the always eventful Penyroyal Green. She just fell from grace because his husband, the Earl, died. The first thing Evie did in the village was fallen asleep during a sermon of a much beloved vicar of Penyroyal Green.
And the story goes from there. The relationship between Eve and Adam (Julie Anne L...more
3.5 stars
This is a tough book to rate. I liked the two main characters a lot, and I thought their passion was believable. I was caught up in their attraction and their resistance to it, and some of the little humorous obstacles provided welcome relief from the level of longing they felt and the seemingly insurmountable major obstacle of her reputation versus his profession.
What stopped me from fully enjoying the book were two things. One was the poor level of editing; others have mentioned the c...more
This is a tough book to rate. I liked the two main characters a lot, and I thought their passion was believable. I was caught up in their attraction and their resistance to it, and some of the little humorous obstacles provided welcome relief from the level of longing they felt and the seemingly insurmountable major obstacle of her reputation versus his profession.
What stopped me from fully enjoying the book were two things. One was the poor level of editing; others have mentioned the c...more
Oh, my God. This story made me cry.
The H/h characters are common archetypes, (the whore and the vicar, the sinner and the saint). I've read this combination of types in various other romance novels with different approaches. These characters were well done.
The sinner isn't as sinful as people think and the saint is a (good) man who must control his behavior to maintain his living. She wants to begin a new life, to start over. He wants to help her make friends and find acceptance in the small tow...more
The H/h characters are common archetypes, (the whore and the vicar, the sinner and the saint). I've read this combination of types in various other romance novels with different approaches. These characters were well done.
The sinner isn't as sinful as people think and the saint is a (good) man who must control his behavior to maintain his living. She wants to begin a new life, to start over. He wants to help her make friends and find acceptance in the small tow...more
Jan 10, 2013
D
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
regency fans in desperate need of a fix who haven't the patience to wait for something better
2.5 stars for a pleasant book i would pass on to friends without pause but with enough flaws to probably keep me from ever rereading it.
the prose was mostly fluid and clever, and i especially loved long's taking on a man of integrity and imbuing him with passion and foibles. it's so easy for the regency romance author to paint her hero the rake of stunning good looks and staggering fortune. but i believe it's much, MUCH harder to write a truly good character who is not boring or one-dimensional...more
the prose was mostly fluid and clever, and i especially loved long's taking on a man of integrity and imbuing him with passion and foibles. it's so easy for the regency romance author to paint her hero the rake of stunning good looks and staggering fortune. but i believe it's much, MUCH harder to write a truly good character who is not boring or one-dimensional...more
Every now and then I receive a hefty box of books from Happy Ever After blog goddess Joyce Lamb. You can imagine that opening these boxes and selecting books to read and review is like having my own little personal treasure hunt. And yes, I have certainly found some real gems. The latest shipment contained an author I'd never read before, Julie Anne Long, and I owe my boss a big sparkly thanks for including Long's latest release. Of all the amazing books I've read this year, A Notorious Countess...more
If you loved Courtney Milan's Unclaimed then you'll love this, maybe you'll love this even more than you did Unclaimed. Also for fans of Julia Quinn, Sherry Thomas and Meredith Duran.
The writing is absolutely, it's beyond words. Julie Anne Long really takes you into their worlds and you feel their pain and their longing and as they defend each other against the ton. Whoa, I only wish we had more of Evie in the other books. We've seen Adam tons of times in the other Pennyroyal Green titles but n...more
The writing is absolutely, it's beyond words. Julie Anne Long really takes you into their worlds and you feel their pain and their longing and as they defend each other against the ton. Whoa, I only wish we had more of Evie in the other books. We've seen Adam tons of times in the other Pennyroyal Green titles but n...more
Jan 03, 2013
Goldie
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Shelves:
adult,
family,
favorites,
female-protagonists,
funny,
historical-romance,
friendship,
love,
romance,
secrets,
self-discovery,
siblings
Originally posted in My Book Musings.
I’ve always enjoyed Ms. Julie Anne Long’s books and the latest Pennyroyal Green, book 7, The Notorious Countess Confesses, certainly does not disappoint. If I would describe it in one word, it would be ‘delicious’.
I really felt like Julie was at the top of her game while writing this. The plot is fresh for me because I have never read yet of a love story between an actress-turned-courtesan-turned-countess and a very virile priest. Moreover, this time, the wom...more
I’ve always enjoyed Ms. Julie Anne Long’s books and the latest Pennyroyal Green, book 7, The Notorious Countess Confesses, certainly does not disappoint. If I would describe it in one word, it would be ‘delicious’.
I really felt like Julie was at the top of her game while writing this. The plot is fresh for me because I have never read yet of a love story between an actress-turned-courtesan-turned-countess and a very virile priest. Moreover, this time, the wom...more
Evie Duggan, now the Countess of Wareham, is newly widowed by a man who won the right to wed her in a card game. She's lived a notorious life, coming from poverty in Ireland, via the stage in London, to the marriage bed of an earl who promptly died (too much marital activity). She's inherited a small estate in Pennyroyal Green, and lives there with her giant maid Henny and a handful of servants she can barely afford.
Vicar Adam Sylvaine is the heart-throb of Pennyroyal Green, but for the sake of...more
Vicar Adam Sylvaine is the heart-throb of Pennyroyal Green, but for the sake of...more
I'm not a huge fan of the Pennyroyal Green series because it annoys me that it seems to never end, but I'm sure glad I picked up this one. There aren't many romances out there where the hero is a vicar, and Adam doesn't disappoint. Oh, he certainly embraces being a man of the cloth and has the right temperament for it. He's also handsome, engaging, kind, and manly and makes all the single ladies swoon. He's also sexually inexperienced. I liked him instantly. I enjoyed watching him figure out his...more
Evie Duggan is no stranger to scandal, born an Irish peasant; she becomes an opera dancer and becomes the Countess of Wareham, after being won by the Earl in a card game. She quickly earns the title of the Black Widow when her new husband drops dead shortly after the wedding. Shunned by the Ton, Evie decides to seek peace at the Manor that is now hers in Pennyroyal Green.
His uncle made Adam Sylvaine the Vicar of Pennyroyal Green, but his hard work and dedication to his new position earned him th...more
His uncle made Adam Sylvaine the Vicar of Pennyroyal Green, but his hard work and dedication to his new position earned him th...more
Oh happy sighs and a sniffle or two. Great frothy romance. Although part of a long running series the main story is a stand alone. I had no trouble with the continuing characters, even though I have not yet read any of the other books.
Adam Sylvaine is the hottest vicar in recent memory. What a hunk, plus he's really a good person. Of course, he's the object of a number of matrimonial plots among his congregation. The calm village of Pennyroyal Green is thrown into an uproar when Evie Duggan, wid...more
Adam Sylvaine is the hottest vicar in recent memory. What a hunk, plus he's really a good person. Of course, he's the object of a number of matrimonial plots among his congregation. The calm village of Pennyroyal Green is thrown into an uproar when Evie Duggan, wid...more
I've read a lot of Julie Ann Long's books, but this is, by far, my favorite. Long has given us two people who are completely opposite in almost every way. Those opposite traits add spice to the story, but their similarities are what holds the characters together.
The secret behind Eve's rise to notoriety is something no one would ever guess: her desire to protect and provide for her siblings. With her parents out of the picture, it becomes her responsibility to care for and raise them. The pric...more
The secret behind Eve's rise to notoriety is something no one would ever guess: her desire to protect and provide for her siblings. With her parents out of the picture, it becomes her responsibility to care for and raise them. The pric...more
I admit, I was hoping for a little more backstory about Adam's miraculous touch (no, not THAT sort of touch-- read Chase's story, SINCE THE SURRENDER, if you don't know what I'm talking about), but that didn't make me enjoy the story we DID get any less.
More than any of the other series titles, this one was really ABOUT the village of Pennyroyal Green. We've met some of the townsfolk before, but this time we really get to know them (for better or for worse). To say that Evie (yes, yes, Adam and...more
More than any of the other series titles, this one was really ABOUT the village of Pennyroyal Green. We've met some of the townsfolk before, but this time we really get to know them (for better or for worse). To say that Evie (yes, yes, Adam and...more
Whenever I read a Julie Anne Long, I feel as if I’ve been changed, or at the least, transported. Her books are never less than 4 star quality, and usually 5. She frequently marries humor with pathos. For example, the heroine’s husband died at breakfast, falling face down in his eggs. Her description of it is a bit heartbreaking, and yet humorous, the housemaid screaming, splattered with yolk, and she rising, after a moment of shock, to check for a pulse, and then wipe his face, because he was al...more
A 3.5 for this one. I was very frustrated with some editing errors (like the heroine's name switching between two, it was so annoying!) and a few other sloppy typos and that really affected the story for me.
Also, the storyline is reminiscent of Courtney Milan's "Unclaimed" and I couldn't help making comparisons.
A countess who was a former courtesan comes to Pennyroyal Green after her husband of a very short time dies suddenly. All she's left with is a small allowance, a cottage and total ruin...more
Also, the storyline is reminiscent of Courtney Milan's "Unclaimed" and I couldn't help making comparisons.
A countess who was a former courtesan comes to Pennyroyal Green after her husband of a very short time dies suddenly. All she's left with is a small allowance, a cottage and total ruin...more
10 likes · like · see review
4.5 stars. Ms. Long is one of a few auto buy authors for me so I was eager for ANCC. I was getting bored w the genre after practically O.D.ing on it and some tepid buys.
This started off a little rough for me (mainly due to some choices in style/editing) but picked up steam quickly and I can enthusiastically say I really enjoyed it. Evie was a wonderful heroine. She had a past but was not apologetic (nor should she have been). She was strong and manipulative and caring and vulnerable. Adam was o...more
This started off a little rough for me (mainly due to some choices in style/editing) but picked up steam quickly and I can enthusiastically say I really enjoyed it. Evie was a wonderful heroine. She had a past but was not apologetic (nor should she have been). She was strong and manipulative and caring and vulnerable. Adam was o...more
Here comes book eight in Julie Ann Long’s Pennyroyal Greene series and while in this one we’re not following any of the Eversea’s or Redmond’s, even though our hero the Vicar is a cousin to Ian and Colin Eversea, it is still entertaining and character driven as the previous seven.
The story opens with Evie Duggan, or lately better known to the ton as The Black Widow, as they all ran her out of London believing her capable of ‘doing her husband’ in.
As she escapes to the only place left to her, she...more
The story opens with Evie Duggan, or lately better known to the ton as The Black Widow, as they all ran her out of London believing her capable of ‘doing her husband’ in.
As she escapes to the only place left to her, she...more
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| Re-edited yet? | 3 | 14 | Mar 02, 2013 06:07pm |
Well, where should I start? I've lived in San Francisco for more than a decade, usually with at least one cat. I won the school spelling bee when I was in 7th grade; the word that clinched it was 'ukulele.' I originally set out to be a rock star when I grew up (I had a Bono fixation, but who didn't?), and I have the guitars and the questionable wardrobe stuffed in the back of my closet to prove it...more
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“Love, real love, the kind that you fall in, isn’t like Corinthians. The “suffereth long” and “is kind” nonsense. It’s like the Song of Solomon. It’s jealousy and fire and floods. It’s everything that consumes.”
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“Sometimes, the only way out of the fire is through the fire, m’boy.”
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