Lord Gray's List (The London List, #1)

Apr 22, 2013 Betty rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: hopelessly-romantic

I liked it *she says haltingly and with some suprise*. I really did. It's quite a beefy book to get through--small type, large pages and many of those. So I didn't feel like it was the usual throw away type of romantic drivel that has crossed my path lately.

I liked both characters. I felt like they had believable reasons for each of them having the character flaws that they did. I believed that their sexual attraction was strong. I wish we could have understood a little bit more why they origina...more

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Mar 29, 2013 Neko rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was an enjoyable read, but it was only pretending to be a historical romance. The vocabulary and attitudes of the characters are quite contemporary. Evie is a tabloid journalist/social justice crusader. She actually uses the term "social justice" to describe her actions. Significant portions of the book are dedicated to her rescuing people from the evils of the time. She rescues two different women from abusive situations. One way Ben signals that he has reformed from his previously dissipa...more

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Jan 19, 2013 Terri rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: regency

Ok, I like Maggie Robinson. I really do. And I did like these characters and even the first half of this book. However, .....

The physical relationship between these characters starts off pretty quickly. There is history between them, and although they don't like each other terribly much, sparks fly! Benton is a rich, purposeless but hedonistic and good-natured Lord. Evie, is a struggling newspaper man....or so society believes her to be. She is running the family newspaper in the guise of a man,...more

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Dec 12, 2012 My Book Addiction and More MBA rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance, regency-england

LORD GRAY'S LIST by Maggie Robinson is an exciting Regency Historical romance set in 1820 London. Book 1 in the "London List" series. Follow Scottish born Lord Benton Gray who was raised by his English mother and lives in London. And Evangeline Ramsey, who publishes a newspaper for London,everyone thinks she is her father,who is ailing. Scandal and gossip sales papers, especially Lord Gray's exploits. Lord Gray learns of her deception,and soon finds them not only in physical danger but in danger...more

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Nov 07, 2012 J9 rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, 2012-reads

LORD GRAY'S LIST is a sexy entertaining historical romance. The leads have a humorous, playful relationship that is the highlight of this otherwise improbable historical novel.

Readers will have to look past the historical inaccuracies to enjoy this novel. Of course a well-raised woman wouldn't masquerade as a man and publish a gossip newspaper but stick through that silly premise and you should enjoy this light-hearted romp as I did.

I like the characters here. Ben was an enjoyable bad-boy who wa...more

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Nov 04, 2012 Enchanting Ella rated it 4 of 5 stars

Lord Gray's List rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Release date October 30, 2012

“Lord Gray’s List" is the first in Robinson’s new series The London List
but can be read as a stand-alone novel.

How are the sex scenes?
Very, very good. Descriptive and imaginative but not over the top.

How are the story lines?
Enjoyable. They read very detailed and historical but keep you
interested despite the big words (this was my first historical).

Would you read it again?
Yes. I liked the hero and want to revisit him.

Back o...more

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Oct 30, 2012 Virginia Campbell rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance

If you've read one book written by marvelous Maggie Robinson, aka Margaret Rowe, then you'll have to read another...and another. I look forward to each new release from Maggie/Margaret, knowing that I am in for a real reader's treat. "Lord Gray's List" is the first book in "The London List" series, and it is downright delicious! Featuring an over-thirty heroine who cuts her hair, wears men's clothing, and has a roaring good time running her own scandal-sheet business, this is a Regency romance t...more

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Oct 28, 2012 Dottie rated it 5 of 5 stars

A sassy tale with plenty of heat and humor. Taken from my review at RomanceJunkies.com:

At thirty, Baron Benton ‘Ben’ Gray keeps himself in shape by fencing, rather than boxing at Gentleman Jack’s. A sport using his fist is too reminiscent of his abusive father’s activities. Until his father’s death, when Ben was still a child, Ben and his mother had suffered under his heavy hand and the feelings of helplessness and hopelessness had still not completely gone away. His father had been famous for h...more A sassy tale with plenty of heat and humor. Taken from my review at RomanceJunkies.com:

At thirty, Baron Benton ‘Ben’ Gray keeps himself in shape by fencing, rather than boxing at Gentleman Jack’s. A sport using his fist is too reminiscent of his abusive father’s activities. Until his father’s death, when Ben was still a child, Ben and his mother had suffered under his heavy hand and the feelings of helplessness and hopelessness had still not completely gone away. His father had been famous for his temper, so Ben tries to remain affable at all times. But the one thing that could ruin that mood was the London List, a popular news rag that is published every Tuesday. It has something for everyone, but it seems that Ben has starred in almost every issue. Tired of having his life on the front page of the paper, he decides to go down to the newspaper office and confront the publisher. Checking the paper, he could not help noticing the coincidence of the publisher having the same surname as his past lover. But then, as is usually the case, he discovers there is no such thing as coincidence as the man bent over the printing press turns around and Benton comes face-to-face with Evangeline, his ex-lover, clad in manly attire.

Ten years ago at the age of twenty-two, Evangeline ‘Evie’ Ramsey had turned down Ben’s proposal. Years later, she returned to London to take over running the newspaper that her father had won in a card game. Knowing she could not be productive at running her paper as a female, she chopped off her hair, donned men’s clothing and assumed the name ‘Mr. Ramsey.’ So far, everyone has believed her ruse. However, when she first returned to London, she had been upset to see Ben’s frivolous lifestyle, as he went from one mistress to another, especially after he had declared his undying love to her when he proposed. Needing retribution, she began writing articles about him, and Ben, with his wild rakehell antics, was very accommodating about providing fodder for her paper. His scandalous behavior has helped make her paper profitable, so, after two years, she is finally making money and paying off some of the massive debts left by her father’s gambling losses and his subsequent medical bills. Now, suffering from Alzheimer’s, her father stays at home and has his good days and his bad days, under a nurse’s care.

Coming face-to-face with Evie, Ben finds their years apart slipping away and he is hit with desire for her, despite her close-cut hair, men’s clothing and sharp tongue. But he is also tired of being the joke of London, as everyone eagerly anticipates the next issue of the London List and his latest antics. Soon things turn heated and Ben, who has been against marriage, finds himself falling in love. But their past together has put Evie off of marriage. After confronting Evie, Ben gets the idea to purchase the paper and shut it down, but she refuses to sell. So he goes behind her back to her father, who accepts his offer. But when his intention to shut down the paper becomes widely known, her readers and advertisers protest, appearing right on his doorstep. So he rehires Evie and starts the paper again. The only problem is they cannot be in the same room without sparks flying and passion flaring, despite Evie’s attempts to keep everything professional. How long can Ben bear to work side-by-side with the woman he can’t forget?

When they were younger, Evie turned down his marriage proposal because she desired security and she believed that Ben was following in her father’s gambling footsteps. Can she trust him now, or does his rakehell antics prove her right?

A deliciously sexy tale, LORD GRAY’S LIST, the first novel in exceptional author Maggie Robinson’s LONDON LIST series, is a fun, passionate historical romance that is sure to captivate readers from the very first page. Reading it kept me up late into the night as I could not put it down and ended up reading it in one sitting, but the loss of sleep was well worth it. A fan of Ms. Robinson’s work, I cannot pass up one of her books and I am so glad I read this one. As Ben works beside Evie, he finds himself enjoying his new profession and coming to the aid of those in trouble, something she has been doing all along. I could not help rooting for these two, who seem to be made for each other. Combining sassy humor, engaging characters, steamy sensuality, witty repartee, delectable scandals, surprising plot twists, second chances and true love, Ms. Robinson has penned a winning novel that readers will not soon forget. As I eagerly await the next book in this exciting, new series, be sure to get your own copy of LORD GRAY’S LIST. If you are looking for a terrific story with plenty of heat and humor, this is the one for you. Do not miss it!

Dottie, RomanceJunkies.com
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Oct 26, 2012 Margaret rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. ARC provided by Author

Evie has been discussing herself as a man so that she can take care of her ailing father. She has produced a newspaper that has the towns’ gossip as well as jobs. But she has always made her paper popular because of a certain Lord. She has known him for a long time and found his life amusing and wanted the rest of London to know. However she never thought that she would find him on her papers doorstep, let alone buying the paper from under her. She also never thought that...more ARC provided by Author

Evie has been discussing herself as a man so that she can take care of her ailing father. She has produced a newspaper that has the towns’ gossip as well as jobs. But she has always made her paper popular because of a certain Lord. She has known him for a long time and found his life amusing and wanted the rest of London to know. However she never thought that she would find him on her papers doorstep, let alone buying the paper from under her. She also never thought that signing a contract with him would lead her to her own happy ending.
Lord Gray has always loved how he lived his life. However he has gotten fed up with having it displayed in the town paper every week. He went to the paper and was surprised on who actually wrote all about his escapades. He then decided to buy the paper from her father to stop everything from being printed. He never thought that the paper was used for other things besides betting written about him. He found out first-hand what the paper was about. He never thought that he would find his future in that paper printing room.
Lord Gray and Evie knew each other. They had an interesting past together and parted ways very unexpectedly. So it was a surprise to Grey when he found out who was really printing the information about himself in the paper. Si8nce grey bought the paper, they made a deal. She would work from him until the New Year. There were a few other things added into the contract as well. The contract was signed.
Gray started enjoying what was going on at the paper he however did not like all of the hours Evie was putting into it so eh hired more men to help so that they both could get rest. Gray helped one person in particular with the help of Evie. It was then that he realized that he could not let her go. He proposed in a very unconventional way. She asked for time but finally agreed.
Throughout the whole book, there was always tension between the two main characters. As the book went one it became more and more clear why there was tension between them. It also made the book more interesting on how they were going to resolve it. It was good to read about how they could resolve their issue and finally realize that they loved each other all along and just were too stubborn to do anything about it.
I completely fell in love with the characters. I loved how they both pushed each other. They were both so stubborn that they worked so well together. Bravo to the author for creating these characters. I completely recommend this book. It is the type of book that proves that if people are meant to be together, stubbornness does not matter.(less)

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Oct 24, 2012 Janice rated it 4 of 5 stars

Baron Benton Gray (Ben) has had enough. He’s tired of the endless tales of gossip featuring him every single issue in the weekly called The London List. These stories are making a mockery of his life, and he’s fed up. So Ben goes to the paper’s editor demanding he stop printing these sour stories and is surprised to discover that the editor is not a ‘he’ but a ‘she’ dressed in men’s clothing. Evangeline Ramsey (Evie) has been featuring Ben’s escapades on the front page of The London List for ov...more Baron Benton Gray (Ben) has had enough. He’s tired of the endless tales of gossip featuring him every single issue in the weekly called The London List. These stories are making a mockery of his life, and he’s fed up. So Ben goes to the paper’s editor demanding he stop printing these sour stories and is surprised to discover that the editor is not a ‘he’ but a ‘she’ dressed in men’s clothing. Evangeline Ramsey (Evie) has been featuring Ben’s escapades on the front page of The London List for over two years. It’s the number one feature of the paper and happens to keep the paper afloat. With the profits that accrue from Ben’s stories, Evie can really do her life’s calling. She runs a matching service through the classifieds helping people find lost loves, potential mates, or even employment positions as needed. When Evie refuses to stop featuring Ben on the front page, Ben does what any wealthy titled gentleman would do, he buys the paper out from underneath Evie. (In typical Maggie Robinson style, that’s not the only thing Ben gets underneath Evie.)
Ben and Evie have a long past together that just won’t let go of either of them. Ben was Evie’s first lover, and his mark is forever on her heart. Ben still smarts from Evie’s refusal of his marriage proposal over 10 years ago. Since Evie is the editor and reporter for the paper, she’s seen firsthand how Ben is wasting his life and becoming a drunk and a libertine. When Ben shuts down the paper, there’s a revolt outside his home. It seems the paper is more important to the people of London than he thinks. For the sake of self-preservation, Ben decides to learn how to run it with Evie’s help so that he can sell it. Evie agrees in order to keep the classifieds operating. Even though they have been separated for years, their emotions are right on the surface. Hate, bickering, sniping, and of course, name calling quickly turn into wild uncontrolled passion between the two characters as they come to realize how important they are to each other.
Robinson crafts a delightful story that is laugh-out-loud funny. She frequently uses literary alliterations throughout the story to emphasize the characters’ feelings. For instance, Evie is upset with Ben at the beginning of the story for being “dissolute and dissipated.” She expresses this through an internal dialogue summarizing Ben as “[D]ismissive. Disgusting. Disappointing. Evangeline could ‘dis’ him forever, . . .” Meanwhile, Ben is frustrated with Evie’s continued portrayal of him as the bad guy. He reflects that Evie is “[t]he most infuriating, insulting—Incomparable.”
Robinson does this so many times throughout the story I lost count, but it’s a fun feature that makes this story a joyful read. But in true ‘Maggie Robinson’ style, the couple can’t resist each other, and their lovemaking is featured early and frequently to illustrate the point that when they are together, they make each other better.
This story is light and filled with humor. It was interesting to learn how printing presses operated during the time. Also, the book features the holidays as a vehicle for allowing the characters to develop their relationship. Although the book is not marketed as a holiday read, don’t be afraid to add it to your holiday reading list. Sigh, I look forward to the next book in this series. I got this ARC from the author.
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Oct 18, 2012 Melody May rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, historical, romance

Also on http://sillymelody.blogspot.com

For the last week I have been reading Lord Gray's List by Maggie Robinson. Since it's about to be release in a couple of weeks I figure I better get this done. I have to say that I do have an appreciation for Ms. Robinson's writing. I happen to stumble upon her work when one of her other books was recommend to me and I haven't look back since. So, without further ado I will share with you the first book in The London List series.

When Evangeline Ramsey (Evie...more

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Jan 15, 2013 May Mostly Romance rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical

การเขียนเรื่องแนวย้อนยุคไม่ได้มีพื้นที่สำหรับความคิดสร้างสรรอะไรมากมาย ส่วนหนึ่งเพราะข้อจำกัดทางยุคสมัยที่พฤติกรรมบางอย่างอาจจะไม่เป็นที่ยอมรับ แต่งานเขียนของแม็คกี้ โรบินสันค่อนข้างแตกต่างออกไป นั่นก็คือ คาแร็คเตอร์ของเธอมักจะทำอะไรที่แตกต่างจากข้อควรปฏิบัติในวงสังคมพอสมควร และการเขียนของเธอก็น่าเชื่อพอได้ว่า มันเป็นการกระทำที่แม้สังคมอาจจะไม่ยอมรับ แต่ก็เกิดขึ้นในชีวิตจริงได้

ดังนั้นเราจึงชื่นชมงานเขียนของเธอในแง่ที่สร้างความประหลาดใจให้กับเราได้ อย่างไรก็ตามหลังจากอ่านงานของเธอมาหลายเล่ม เราก็...more การเขียนเรื่องแนวย้อนยุคไม่ได้มีพื้นที่สำหรับความคิดสร้างสรรอะไรมากมาย ส่วนหนึ่งเพราะข้อจำกัดทางยุคสมัยที่พฤติกรรมบางอย่างอาจจะไม่เป็นที่ยอมรับ แต่งานเขียนของแม็คกี้ โรบินสันค่อนข้างแตกต่างออกไป นั่นก็คือ คาแร็คเตอร์ของเธอมักจะทำอะไรที่แตกต่างจากข้อควรปฏิบัติในวงสังคมพอสมควร และการเขียนของเธอก็น่าเชื่อพอได้ว่า มันเป็นการกระทำที่แม้สังคมอาจจะไม่ยอมรับ แต่ก็เกิดขึ้นในชีวิตจริงได้

ดังนั้นเราจึงชื่นชมงานเขียนของเธอในแง่ที่สร้างความประหลาดใจให้กับเราได้ อย่างไรก็ตามหลังจากอ่านงานของเธอมาหลายเล่ม เราก็เริ่มรู้สึกว่า เริ่มจับทาง "ความประหลาดใจ" ที่เธอใช้ในเรื่องได้แล้วล่ะ

เล่มนี้ก็เช่นกัน ทำให้ตอนที่อ่าน เราไม่ค่อยแปลกใจเท่าไหรกับทางเลือกที่ค่อนข้าง Unconventional ของเธอ คือเหมือนกับว่า คาดหวังไว้แล้วว่าจะเจอตัวละครแนวนี้ แล้วก็ได้เจอจริง ๆ ดังนั้นแม้คาแร็คเตอร์จะแตกต่างจากหนังสือแนวย้อนยุคทั่วไป มันกลับไม่ได้แตกต่างไปจากสไตล์ที่แม็กกี้ โรบินสันเขียนเอาไว้เลย (สรุปก็คือ ชักจะจับทางการเขียนของเธอได้ เลยไม่เซอร์ไพรส์อีกต่อไป)

ชื่อเรื่องก็พอบอกพล็อตได้นะคะ เมื่อลอร์ดเกรย์ซึ่งตกเป็นเป้าหมายการโจมตีของหนังสือพิมพ์แนวซุบซิบเขาก็หากทางออกด้วยการซื้อหนังสือพิมพ์นั้นมาซะเลย โดยเฉพาะเมื่อรู้ว่า คนที่เป็นบรรณาธิการ และตัวตั้งตัวตีในการทำลายชื่อเสียงของเขาก็คืออดีตคนรักเก่าในอดีต คนที่ทิ้งเขาไปนั่นเอง แต่ผลลัพธ์กลับไม่เป็นไปดังคาด เมื่อวงสังคมรับรู้ว่าเขากำลังจะสั่งปิดหนังสือพิมพ์ ก็เลยเกิดกระแสบีบให้เขาต้องหันมาทำงานเป็นบรรณาธิการเสียเอง โดยได้รับความช่วยเหลือจากหญิงสาวที่เป็นคู่ปรับนั่นแหละ

เราอ่านเรื่องนี้ก่อนคำสั่งห้ามฉายละครเหนือเมฆ 2 นะคะ แต่ดันมาเข้ากระแสยุคจำกัดเสรีภาพของสื่อพอดีกันเลย

พล็อตแนวคนรักเก่ากลับมาเจอกันอีกครั้ง เป็นพล็อตแบบที่เราชอบ ความแตกต่างก็คือ ไม่ได้มีเรื่องเข้าใจผิดเกิดขึ้น นางเอกของเราจงใจทิ้งพระเอกไปเอง เพราะเธอไม่เชื่อมั่นในความรักที่เขามีให้ คิดว่าด้วยอายุที่เด็กกว่า (ของพระเอก) เขายังไม่รู้จักโลกดีพอจะเข้าใจความรัก มันคงจะเป็นแค่ความหลงใหล และเพราะการที่พระเอกเป็นขุนนางเสเพล ทำให้เธอไม่ต้องการมีสามีที่ใช้ชีวิตแบบเดียวกับพ่อของตัวเอง เธอจึงบอกปัดความรักที่ถูกมอบให้ และทำให้ลอร์ดเกรย์กลายเป็นเสือผู้หญิง และไม่คิดจะลงเอยกับใครเป็นเรื่องเป็นราวอีก

การกลับมาเจอกันใหม่อีกครั้ง ทั้งคู่โตขึ้น เราไม่ชอบการที่นางเอกทำเหมือนว่า พระเอกเป็นคนผิด ตอนต้นเรื่องที่ยังไม่ได้เล่าเหตุการณ์ทั้งหมดที่เกิดขึ้นในอดีต มุมมองของนางเอกทำให้เราคิดไปถึงขนาดว่า เขาทิ้งเธอไป แต่เอาเข้าจริงกลับเป็นนางเอกนี่แหละที่เป็นคนผิด จุดนี้ก็เลยทำให้รู้สึกหงุดหงิดเล็กน้อยที่เหมือนเธอไม่ยอมรับความจริง แต่กลับโทษว่า การที่ความสัมพันธ์ของทั้งคู่ไปไม่รอดเป็นเพราะความเสเพลของพระเอก (ทั้งที่จริงแล้ว ตอนนั้นเขารักจริงหวังแต่ง เธอต่างหากที่ไม่เชื่อใจเขามากพอ)

ในแง่นึงเล่มนี้มีความไม่น่าเชื่อของพล็อตอยู่เยอะพอควร ตั้งแต่การปลอมตัวเป็นผู้ชายแล้วทำงานเป็นนักหนังสือพิมพ์ของนางเอก หรือการที่พระเอกซึ่งเป็นชนชั้นขุนนางกลับลงไปเป็นบรรณาธิการหนังสือพิมพ์ ซึ่งไม่น่าจะเป็นสิ่งที่ยอมรับได้ของยุคนั้น การอธิบายว่า ทั้งคู่ไม่แคร์สังคมก็พออธิบายได้บ้าง แต่ก็ยังดูไม่น่าเชื่ออยู่ดี

อย่างไรก็ตามเล่มนี้ก็ยังถือว่า อ่านได้สนุก แม้เราจะจับทาง "ความแตกต่าง" ของแม็กกี้ โรบินสันได้แล้ว แต่เรื่องนี้ก็ยังแตกต่างจากโรแมนซ์แนวย้อนยุคทั่วไป นอกจากนี้การเล่าถึงเรื่องของตัวละครรองที่เป็นบรรดาคนที่ลงประกาศในหนังสือพิมพ์ในเรื่องต่าง ๆ ก็น่าสนใจ (บางครั้งน่าสนใจยิ่งกว่าเรื่องของตัวเอกซะอีก) ก็ทำให้เรื่องนี้อยู่ในความสนใจของเราตลอดเวลาที่อ่านได้

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Feb 12, 2013 Tin Ong rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013

To read the complete review, visit: Love Saves the World

Unconventional is the word that comes to mind as I think about this book.

...Their courtship doesn't happen in ballrooms or waiting rooms or in rides around the park -- but amidst the ink and grease of the printing press.

Evie is also a unique heroine -- she didn't have a normal childhood because of her gamester father and had to figure out life by herself. And she did well. She knew, when they were younger, that she couldn't have Ben then --...more

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Apr 13, 2013 Anne rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was a nice change of pace from the usual historical novel. I always love a Lady in breeches story, so win-win! The heroine was madly in love with the hero when they were younger, but was too scared her would end up like her father to marry him in spite of their intimacies. Now she is keeping her dying father as well as possible posing as the owner/reporter of London's most loved scandal sheet and want ads, which happens to focus rather heavily on her old beau. When he decides he doesn't fee...more

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Jan 02, 2013 Carrie Olguin rated it 4 of 5 stars

A Regency story (quite a bit of story) with a contemporary slant. The sex scenes are sensual with words like penis used with manhood - and the f-word used several times. This is not a critique but an observation.

The heroine is a contemporary thinker, she dresses like a man and runs a newspaper. She has good reasons why she doesn't trust men easily. The story is well paced. The dialogue is contemporary. The hero is a scoundrel, but not a true bad-boy or an alpha-male. It's refreshing to meet an i...more

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Nov 18, 2012 Kelsey rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance

Evie Ramsay has lived her entire life either being really poor or living an okay life because of her father’s gambling problem. Now her father has developed dementia and all that is left is a printer’s shop that was won by her father. Still spurned by how things were left with Benton Gray, Evie decides to pose as a man and develops a gossip rag call The London List. Now all of Ben’s salacious exploits are splatter across the pages. Ben decides to stop this from happening anymore and purchases th...more

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Nov 19, 2012 Stella rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, historical, for-review, romance, erotica

I am a big fan of Maggie Robinson's Courtesan Court series (I think those were my introduction to historical erotica), so when I heard that there will be a new series after the Courtesan Court series comes to an end I was excited and impatient to see what it will be about. Well here it is, finally!

Maggie Robinson's new steamy historical romance series is centered around the London List, a vastly popular and beloved Regency gossip rag. In Lord Gray's List, the first novel of the series, we learn...more

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Jan 18, 2013 Nicole Laverdure rated it 4 of 5 stars

Lord Gray's list by Maggie Robinson
This is my first book of Ms. Robinson. I really had fun reading it!
Intrigue, plot, scandal and passion combined make this a hot
historical romance that I recommend. I loved her characters Evangeline,
who is a strong mind woman who likes to dress in masculine fashion so she
can pursue and report as a publisher. Her disguise helps her discover
hot articles to write in her paper specially about Lord Ben Gray. He
discovers that the publisher of the paper is a woman, wh...more

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Feb 08, 2013 Danielle rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013

I don't know. I wasn't super impressed by this one. lord benton gray is moderately likeable, but I didn't care for eve for most of the book. they start out immediately sleeping with each other, even though they hold the other in extreme dislike. benton uses sex as a weapon with eve, who is pretty much a b!tch. she petty, spiteful, and mean. she hates benton because he appears to be a rake and so decides to use him and his exploits to sell papers. she reminded me of the sleezy tabloid reporters....more

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Oct 29, 2012 Stephanie Collins rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was just a fun book to read. The main pair bicker back and forth to hide their need for one another but as we all know this doesn't work in the long run. They both have such a quick wit and joy for life that I found infectious once you get past his pompous attitude and need for control. Actually he wasn't so bad he just hides his hurt behind an overly callous exterior but when he falls he falls hard. She's just as bad about making decisions based on appearances but…. You realize really quic...more

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Jan 09, 2013 SidneyKay rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance-regency

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. So, tell me again - why don't we like the hero?

Lord Gray's List, by Maggie Robinson, has a couple of very strong characters. One of them, Evie, is so strong she is a human bulldozer. A bulldozer dressed as a man. However, her strength is also her weakness and because of that weakness I had a hard time liking her. You see, she has a grudge against our hero, Benton Gray. A big grudge. Once upon a time, Gray and Evie were lovers. They were also very young and Gray was a bit of a wastrel. But he was...more So, tell me again - why don't we like the hero?

Lord Gray's List, by Maggie Robinson, has a couple of very strong characters. One of them, Evie, is so strong she is a human bulldozer. A bulldozer dressed as a man. However, her strength is also her weakness and because of that weakness I had a hard time liking her. You see, she has a grudge against our hero, Benton Gray. A big grudge. Once upon a time, Gray and Evie were lovers. They were also very young and Gray was a bit of a wastrel. But he was also in love with Evie and so he laid his heart on the table for her to carve up and proposed. She declined. Either she blamed him for her father's gambling habits or she thought he was too much like her father. Whichever the case, she turned him down.

Time passed and we move forward 10 years and Evie is disguised as a man and running a newspaper. Or should I say, a scandal sheet! She also seems to be printing all kinds of salacious things about Gray. Evie is really, really peeved with Gray.

Ah, Gray... what an adorable rogue. In fact, he was painted as such a wonderful character, I had a hard time understanding all the hatred directed at him by Evie. She was seething with vindictiveness. For me, this couple didn't seem to balance one another. Evie was just so mean to Gray, and I kept hoping all the way through the book for the big reveal that would explain her one-track mind. Alas, it was not meant to be.

Gray was a delightful character - he was sexy, witty, fun, and while he's a bit of a rake through the course of the story, he grows into a better person. He sees his past life for what it was and tries his darndest to make Evie happy. I was never sure why he spent so much time trying to please this shrew of a woman. Although she couldn't seem to keep her hands, feet, and bosoms off all of him. It was hot sex, hate sex, mad sex, sex, sex, we can't do that again sex - all very irritating. I found her willingness to jump into bed with him, while holding him in disdain, very disturbing.

Gray was such a charming fellow, I only wish Evie was more deserving of him.

There was also a sub-plot involving two other women, which jerked me out of the story. Now, I would probably be interested in reading their stories (especially the fire starter), but these two scenarios distracted me from Evie and Gray's romance.

In the end, I was torn between a very entrancing, fun hero and a peevish, unlikeable heroine. I wish Evie had been a different person, for I would have liked the story better. As it was, these two just didn't connect for me. That doesn't mean I'm giving up on this series. No, this is just a case of heroine-phobia. I will, of course, be picking up the next book in the series.
KaysBlog (less)

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Oct 29, 2012 Kathy Jund rated it 5 of 5 stars

The One Wearing the Pants Makes the Rules!

Maggie Robinson’s newest release “Lord Gray’s List” it the first installment in her new List series. Set in 1820 London, Maggie pens a highly entertaining tale with characters that promise to keep you amused throughout! Baron Benton Alexander Dunbarton Gray is a Scottish born Lord, but upon his father’s early demise, had grown up in London with his English mother rather than in the crumbling old Castle Gray, his heritage, a circumstance he is grateful fo...more

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Jan 12, 2013 TerriC. rated it 3 of 5 stars

I wasn’t at all happy with this book. It’s not believable that Evie could masquerade as a man for years and get away with it. I just couldn’t get past that. She and Ben were likable and I enjoyed the dialogue between them, the way they were always aruging. I don’t like a heroine being as old as her, thirty-two, nor do I like that Evie was slightly older than Ben, who’s thirty.

I didn’t like that Evie’s big nose was mentioned often nor did I like the bit of violent nonsense involving Evie and ano...more

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Nov 06, 2012 Mandi Schreiner rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical

Lord Gray, or Ben to his friends is sick of being quoted on London’s popular newspaper, The London List every Tuesday. Each week the antics of ‘Lord G’ are printed for all to read. From the women he beds to the clubs he visits. Yes he is a rake and he likes women, but he doesn’t need everyone to know everything about him and he is determined to put a stop to it. But then he discovers the ‘Mr. Ramsey’ in charge of the paper is actually Evangeline Ramsey, better known as Evie dressed as a man and...more Lord Gray, or Ben to his friends is sick of being quoted on London’s popular newspaper, The London List every Tuesday. Each week the antics of ‘Lord G’ are printed for all to read. From the women he beds to the clubs he visits. Yes he is a rake and he likes women, but he doesn’t need everyone to know everything about him and he is determined to put a stop to it. But then he discovers the ‘Mr. Ramsey’ in charge of the paper is actually Evangeline Ramsey, better known as Evie dressed as a man and fooling everyone.

Evie’s father won the London List in a card game and is now ailing and can’t care for himself. She finds it much easier to conduct business as a man and has shorn off her long locks and now wears men’s clothing. The money brought in helps her and her father off tremendously, but The London List is more than just a gossip column. She also sells advertising space for people to anonymously look for a significant other or employment. Evie takes this seriously, as she has helped many people find the perfect job or even a the right companion.

Ben and Evie have a history, as in ten years ago they started sleeping together. But Evie wanted someone safe and mature, where Ben at the time was young and still sowing his oats. They split up, and lost contact. But now he is back, and furious she is writing all of this gossip about him. He decides to go straight to her father and offers to buy the newspaper, which he agrees to. Now Evie is the furious one, but Ben doesn’t realize just how popular The London List is and just how many people will get in an uproar if he shuts down the publication he now owns.

Lord Gray’s List is a lighthearted, cute book about two people who annoy the heck out of each other, yet can’t contain their lust when they are in each other’s company. Ben is sexy and charming and always knows the right thing to say. He constantly thinks about sex with Evie, and although he has matured in the ten years they have been apart, working with her at the paper, gives him further insight to what it is to be a responsible adult. Evie works hard, and he comes to respect her for that.

Evie is strong willed and has the support of many in the town when things start to go south for her paper. She tries to not fall for Ben’s charms (okay, she doesn’t try very hard) but ends up in bed with him on many occasions. There really isn’t a lot of conflict between them. I mean, they fight and they try to stay out of each other’s pants (since Evie dresses like a man they both wear pants! Ha!) but the pants don’t stay on for long. I kind of wish more had happened between them. More angst or more drama. I also didn’t buy into Evie tricking everyone that she was a man. That got kind of old.

But overall the book is a fun, quick read and pretty steamy too.

Rating: B-
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Oct 17, 2012 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: maggie-robinson, historical-romance, arc

Lord Benton Gray has had it with the weekly gossip rag, The London List. He is always the front page fodder and everyone, including his own mother, eagerly awaits each new issue. Deciding to end this once and for all, he goes and confronts the owner, a Mr. Ramsey. But who should this Mr. Ramsey turn out to be but the one woman he proposed to years ago...Evangeline Ramsey. Evie is running the paper to help pay her ailing fathers medical bills and dressing as a man has proved to be most advantageo...more Lord Benton Gray has had it with the weekly gossip rag, The London List. He is always the front page fodder and everyone, including his own mother, eagerly awaits each new issue. Deciding to end this once and for all, he goes and confronts the owner, a Mr. Ramsey. But who should this Mr. Ramsey turn out to be but the one woman he proposed to years ago...Evangeline Ramsey. Evie is running the paper to help pay her ailing fathers medical bills and dressing as a man has proved to be most advantageous as people are more willing to speak to a man over a woman and take her seriously. Seeing the man she made a foolish mistake with and ruined her future as a result stems her anger and frustration but the final straw is when Ben goes behind her back and buys the paper from her father! Sparks reignite, tempers flare and their past attraction still burns strong. Together, Evie shows Ben the ropes of running a paper and the side that the public doesn't seem much, the caring and helping of all the desperate, poor people who need so much yet can not afford the rates to advertise. Will Ben be able to truly turn over a new leaf and leave his rakish ways behind him and help Evie with all the issues with the paper and find what they thought they had lost all those years ago?

This book had everything I have come to expect from Maggie Robinson; heart, humor and heat. The heat starts off rather quickly, with Evie and Ben already having a torrid affair in the past but then the sexual tension sets in and just keeps building. The humor was just wonderful. Our couple are constantly trying to prove who is the man and should wear the pants (literally)...Ben wants Evie to wear dresses and be a female and take care of her while Evie wants to continue doing her job and the pants suit her just fine. Evie is a strong, bold, confident woman and does not need a man to take care of her! (Even if he is devilishly handsome, wealthy and shows himself to have a very generous heart). The heart comes from all the secondary characters that add a nice sense of completion to this story. Evie knows what it is like to struggle and when Ben decides to shut down the paper, she shows him how many people depend on The London List to find jobs, homes, and helpers, that it is far more that a scandal sheet. Yes, the situations that arose seemed to be settled fairly quickly and easily, but they were still pleasant to read. I also really enjoyed seeing some of the day to day operations involved in running a newspaper! Overall, a delightful, sensual romance that will surely please romance fans who enjoy a perfect blend of heart, wit, charm and heat. 4 stars

ARC provided by the author(less)

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Apr 02, 2013 Jo (My House of Books) rated it 3 of 5 stars

I read three of Ms. Robinson's four Courtesan Court novels and enjoyed two of them. Since those aren't bad odds, I decided to give her new series a try.

In order to really enjoy Lord Gray's List properly, I think one must maintain a sense of the unbelievable. For example, you have to believe that Evie can have womanly curves despite her height and still get away with impersonating a man at the offices of The London List. You have to believe Lord Benton Gray can overlook her large nose (which is c...more

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Feb 26, 2013 Tina rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance

Okay as far as historical romances go, but not great. I would've liked more background on the two main characters, as well as a more well-defined reason why they cared for one another. The plot to ruin one of the villans in the book was too vague and unbelievable, and the introduction of so many minor characters for such a brief interlude seemed totally unnecessary.

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Oct 31, 2012 Nicole Mcdonald rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: steam-level-4, i-ve-loved-you-forever, heroine-disguises-as-a-man, historical-romance

I loved the book, my only compliant was the use of the "F" word. It's use was aptly used first time or two but by the end of the book thought there should of been another word for it... Kind of cheapened the dead if you know what I mean.

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Dec 27, 2012 Annalise rated it 4 of 5 stars

Exactly what I'm looking for in a romance novel. Both main characters were interesting and smart and the romantic tension kept things interesting!

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May 09, 2013 Michelle rated it 3 of 5 stars

3.5 really. steamy, but found myself skipping a lot of the story or reading just the first. sentence of the paragraph. not a bad story but sometimes boring.

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Lord Gray's List (The London List #1)

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