Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
Mrs. Drew Plays Her Hand
by
Carla Kelly
After her husband’s death, Roxanna Drew is faced with the daunting task of providing for her two small girls on her own. Pursued by her lecherous brother-in-law, Roxanna knows her only hope is to escape his grasp by moving into a derelict cottage, owned by Lord Winn—a man known to his tenants only by his checkered reputation.
But when fate brings Lord Winn to her door in th...more
But when fate brings Lord Winn to her door in th...more
Paperback, 1st, 368 pages
Published
September 11th 2012
by Cedar Fort, Inc.
(first published December 1st 1994)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
This book is not yet featured on Listopia.
Add this book to your favorite list »
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
1,020)
Dec 14, 2011
Frezanda
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
e-book-owned,
romance
This is one of the best romance I've ever read. It's so well written. It's quite surprising that I've never heard of Carla Kelly before. Every characters is outstandingly described from Roxanna, Winn, the children: Helen and Felicity, even the deceased husband, Anthony. Every characters just pops out of the book and come to life. They are so real.
It's already six month that her beloved husband died and now Roxanna was on the road of recovery to continue her life. With the new vicar coming, she a...more
It's already six month that her beloved husband died and now Roxanna was on the road of recovery to continue her life. With the new vicar coming, she a...more
I really liked this one. I have to say, I’ve been pleasantly surprised with the Carla Kelly books that have been recently published. I liked that this one was not your typical regency. It takes place entirely in the country, which was a nice change of pace. Ms. Kelly certainly knows how to tell a story, you quickly get sucked in and the characters become real. Roxanna was a really likable lead, very strong. Even though she may put off bad news, she always figures out how to take care of things....more
7 likes
·
like
· see review
When Roxanna Drew’s vicar husband dies, she and her two young daughters move into a dowager home on an absentee landlord’s estate to escape an inappropriate offer from her brother-in-law Lord Marshall Whitcomb. The landlord, Fletcher Rand, Marquess of Winn, has returned from war and was scandalously divorced from his wandering wife. He shows up unexpectedly late one evening as he is traveling to check on the affairs of each property.
Both Roxanna and Lord Winn nurture a mutual admiration for each...more
Both Roxanna and Lord Winn nurture a mutual admiration for each...more
This gorgeous little tear-jerker has restored my faith in the genre. I realize it was written years ago, but the fact that it is still being snapped up by new readers tells me that there is still a market out there, a readership that is hungry for heartfelt, well-written, realistic, tug-at-the-heartstrings romance novels. Containing no graphic, improbable sex scenes, no chasing of spies or solving of convoluted mysteries, no smugglers, pirates, characters in disguise, nor any of the other frenet...more
2 likes
·
like
· see review
Roxanna Drew has been left a widow with two little girls, after the long and agonizing illness of her vicar husband. Trying to escape the unwanted attentions of her brother-in-law, she finds a rather dilapidated dower house she is able to rent for ten pounds a year. She agrees to do the work of fixing up the place as part of her rent. The owner of the home is Lord Winn who has just returned from the war. A divorced and childless man, he is now tasked with visiting and assessing his many estates...more
Loved this book. Couldn't put it down and read it in one day. Carla really knows how to dig deep into characters and bring out the best for her readers.
Lord Winn has gone through a horrible divorce that leaves him emotionally scarred. He is no longer received in society because of it and he wonders if there's such a thing as a woman who believes in love and can honor her marriage vows.
Roxanna Drew has lost her husband and her home and she has two little girls to take care of. When she asks to l...more
Lord Winn has gone through a horrible divorce that leaves him emotionally scarred. He is no longer received in society because of it and he wonders if there's such a thing as a woman who believes in love and can honor her marriage vows.
Roxanna Drew has lost her husband and her home and she has two little girls to take care of. When she asks to l...more
I have become enchanted with Carla Kelly's books. I think what I enjoy best are her characters. I have yet to read one of her books where I didn't fall in love with her characters, especially the children. In this one, Roxanna has two delightful, but very different daughters. I found myself laughing at their antics, especially the antics of the precocious four-year-old Lissy. Lord Winn I found intriguing, certainly a flawed man, but a hero none-the-less. As the relationship between Winn and Roxa...more
It's been 6 months since Roxanna Drew's beloved husband Anthony died. Her life with her two daughters Helen and Felicity has gone on much as it went while he was sick in bed, but things are changing quickly. Roxanna's brother-in-law, Lord Whitcomb has already requested that she and her girls move in with him...and well he intends for her to be his mistress. She knows that that will not be an option for her, but she must come up with a new situation for herself and quickly! One day, as she's walk...more
Dec 18, 2011
Honour
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
historicals, regency, carla kelly fans, 1990s romance
Recommended to Honour by:
goodreads
The trouble with giving this one 3 stars is that I know I'm lowering it to the level of other books I've given the same score to. They weren't really this good.
Unfortunately, as I'm going through Ms Kelly's works most of them are getting 4 stars from me, which (as I grow in reviewing experience) is no longer a very common thing from me.
Mrs. Drew Plays Her Hand is a very good book, but it's simply less good than the three others I've read by the same author recently. What's a reviewer to do?
Ther...more
Unfortunately, as I'm going through Ms Kelly's works most of them are getting 4 stars from me, which (as I grow in reviewing experience) is no longer a very common thing from me.
Mrs. Drew Plays Her Hand is a very good book, but it's simply less good than the three others I've read by the same author recently. What's a reviewer to do?
Ther...more
I read this when it was first published and I've re-read it about 5 times since. It's such a comforting read to me. It's unusual for a regency, in that there are no balls, no ton, no scenes set in London. Instead, the setting is very homey, with the widowed Roxanne trying to forge a new life for herself and her two young daughters. The hero is divorced and thinks he is hardened against love, but really, he is just aching for a loving wife and a family. Roxy is sensible, Fletch is charming, the c...more
4.5*
What a pleasure it is to read such a well-written book. Like many of Kelly's books, Mrs. Drew Plays Her Hand has a serious story along with enough sweetness and fun to make you smile. Winn and Roxanna are such great characters, and their conversations are so natural and believable. In fact, the dialogue throughout the book is well done. There are a few characters that are less well developed, but even those are entertaining. And while I am not a fan of children in romance novels, Helen and F...more
What a pleasure it is to read such a well-written book. Like many of Kelly's books, Mrs. Drew Plays Her Hand has a serious story along with enough sweetness and fun to make you smile. Winn and Roxanna are such great characters, and their conversations are so natural and believable. In fact, the dialogue throughout the book is well done. There are a few characters that are less well developed, but even those are entertaining. And while I am not a fan of children in romance novels, Helen and F...more
5 likes
·
like
· see review
Perhaps, Carla Kelly fans fall into one of two camps, the "I liked Reforming Lord Ragsdale best" camp and the "I liked Mrs. Drew Plays Her Hand best" camp. I'm in the ILRLRB camp. I read three or four, one after the other, in a CK orgy but even this did not displace RLR from its top spot for me.
No one who loves Regency romances or Carla Kelly will regret reading this story. Best part, you get to decide which you like best of all, if it's possible to choose. Enjoy this, I did.
No one who loves Regency romances or Carla Kelly will regret reading this story. Best part, you get to decide which you like best of all, if it's possible to choose. Enjoy this, I did.
2 likes
·
like
· see review
What a fantastic discovery! I was visiting with a relative I don't see very often and the topic of books came up (as often happens with me. I don't know why.). When asked my favorite genre, I mentioned that I'd been reading a lot of romance, lately, but that I'm not happy with the erotic bent that much of the genre has taken. No sooner are the words out of my mouth than I'm being presented with a copy of a very fine book written by a local author.
Yeah, my expectations weren't high, either.
Inappr...more
Yeah, my expectations weren't high, either.
Inappr...more
As a reader, one of my hardest on-going quests is to find great romance novels (they are few). This one had stellar ratings on most sites; unfortunately, while it was good (objectively, 3 stars), it was not for me. The writing's solid, the characters likable, but it's a chaste romance with Christian undertones, and I'm more of a demon-lord-gets-reformed, can't-read-this-in-public-type of romance reader.
I knew the book by its Signet Regency Romance cover, and didn't realize it had been republish...more
I knew the book by its Signet Regency Romance cover, and didn't realize it had been republish...more
This is a fabulous book. I was moved to tears and just thought it was one of the sweetest and moving stories I've read. The most touching of relationships was the relationship between Winn and Roxanna's daughters. How Winn comes in and assumes such a caring and considerate paternal role was so believable and moving. After the death of their beloved father, they needed a man to love them like they were his own, and Winn does this in spades!
Now for the negative. I give this a 5 star rating becaus...more
Now for the negative. I give this a 5 star rating becaus...more
Ooh, I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this book! It was the perfect sweet romance and it made me happy. I've had the pleasure of reading and reviewing several books lately by Carla Kelly and I'm really loving her work. I believe this book is a re-release so many of you might have already read this book with a different cover.
I happen to love this cover. I think it's so pretty and it really captures the feel of the book.
It was so easy to fall in love with Roxanna and her girls. They were chara...more
I happen to love this cover. I think it's so pretty and it really captures the feel of the book.
It was so easy to fall in love with Roxanna and her girls. They were chara...more
Mrs. Drew played every hand exceptionally well, and so did author Carla Kelly. I lay in bed reading this book and actually caught myself smiling many times. I couldn't remember the last time I had so thoroughly enjoyed a book.
Roxanna Drew is an absolutely delightful and endearing heroine. Her strength, resilience, and love for her daughters is beautiful. The relationship she has with her children is so wonderfully written and each of them have very distinctive personalities, yet at the same, you...more
Roxanna Drew is an absolutely delightful and endearing heroine. Her strength, resilience, and love for her daughters is beautiful. The relationship she has with her children is so wonderfully written and each of them have very distinctive personalities, yet at the same, you...more
I found “Mrs. Drew Plays Her Hand” a delightful read! There were many extremely positive reviews and because of that, and the fact that I seem to enjoy other books by Carla Kelly, I decided to give it a chance.
I was afraid there was some kind of card gambling-type connection due to the title (which is no interest whatsoever to me), but there is none and the cliché title is a reference as to how we handle what we are dealt in life. I give it 5 stars because not only did I not want to put it down...more
I was afraid there was some kind of card gambling-type connection due to the title (which is no interest whatsoever to me), but there is none and the cliché title is a reference as to how we handle what we are dealt in life. I give it 5 stars because not only did I not want to put it down...more
Oct 12, 2012
Erica Anderson
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
2012-reads,
traditional-regency
This is not one of my favorite Carla Kelly books, as I think she does a much better job portraying regular people than lords and ladies. While I found the character of the heroine thoroughly believable, I can't say the same for the hero. He's supposedly a marquess and a military man, but he acts more like a country vicar--polite and kindly and without an ounce of presumption. While these are exactly the qualities that I usually like in Kelly heroes, I just didn't buy the idea that he would actua...more
(Genre:Romance/regency) This was a very entertaining, cute, fluff read that was so fun to get lost in for several hours. The characters were well done and people that you could admire (which is a frequent failing in many romances--don't get me started). Roxanna Drew lost her husband, a vicar, 6 months ago. But she actually lost him earlier due to the prolonged nature of his illness. She is now a widow with 2 young daughters and dependent on her brother in-law, Lord Whitcomb, for her quarterly li...more
This book was a thoroughly enjoyable book from start to finish. I can't believe I'd never heard of the author before, but I am definitely putting all her work on my TBR list!
This isn't like your typical romance novel. It doesn't rely on characters being thrown together and descriptive sex scenes to draw you in. Ms. Kelly is able to give you a full description, both physically and character-wise in her writing, and you immediately get drawn into the characters in the book. This children are portr...more
This isn't like your typical romance novel. It doesn't rely on characters being thrown together and descriptive sex scenes to draw you in. Ms. Kelly is able to give you a full description, both physically and character-wise in her writing, and you immediately get drawn into the characters in the book. This children are portr...more
I read this book twice in two days. It was so good that between readings I re-read my favorite, toe-curling parts.
Mrs. Drew is a widow who cared for her ailing husband for three years before he died. She finds that after his death, her husband's brother starts making unwanted advances. To escape him, she moves into a crumbling dower house on a neighboring estate. When the owner of the estate finds her there, things begin to get interesting.
Ms. Kelly seems to have a good grasp on the time periods...more
Mrs. Drew is a widow who cared for her ailing husband for three years before he died. She finds that after his death, her husband's brother starts making unwanted advances. To escape him, she moves into a crumbling dower house on a neighboring estate. When the owner of the estate finds her there, things begin to get interesting.
Ms. Kelly seems to have a good grasp on the time periods...more
4.5 stars
I loved reading this regency romance. I was caught up in the plot and wanted to find out how it would all come together in the end.
The book is mostly told from Roxanna Drew's point of view. Briefly the male point of view is told with Lord Winn. They are so good at feeding off of each other's antics. They are also not very good at expressing their true feelings.
The story takes place in the countryside where Mrs. Drew resides. She is recently widowed and taking care of her two delightful...more
I loved reading this regency romance. I was caught up in the plot and wanted to find out how it would all come together in the end.
The book is mostly told from Roxanna Drew's point of view. Briefly the male point of view is told with Lord Winn. They are so good at feeding off of each other's antics. They are also not very good at expressing their true feelings.
The story takes place in the countryside where Mrs. Drew resides. She is recently widowed and taking care of her two delightful...more
My Thoughts on Mrs. Drew Plays Her Hand: What a simply delightful book to read!!! I finished this book with a big smile on my face and a sense of peace that all is right with the world! I was rooting for Roxanna and Lord Winn all through the book. I must tell you also that I loaned this book to my seventy-eight year old mother when we experienced the terrible wind storms and lost power. Mom said that she started reading it one night when she went to bed and did not want to stop but her sleepy ey...more
I liked this book, especially the part about forgiveness. Someone had done a heinous thing, and for Roxana Drew to be able to forgive him woke up a part of my heart that had long been frozen. The story takes place in England, after the Napoleonic Wars. Some parts are funny, as to the hero's relationship with his sisters; some parts are strengthening, in showing how to overcome life-changing setbacks; and some parts are so enjoyable, the picture that you see between the mother and her two daughte...more
Jan 18, 2013
CJ Patrick
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
historical-romance,
i-own
I usually really like Carla Kelly books, especially her older stories, but this one wasn't as good. I think it may have been just too long. I would say the first two-thirds were perfect, but the last third, whew! In fact, it may have been almost a 5 star if Ms. Kelly hadn't decided to throw everything and the kitchen sink at this couple. The heroine goes from being brave and smart to brave and stupid. The hero went from being involved and caring to just absent. And the brother-in-law villian was...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Mrs. Drew Plays her Hand is an enjoyable Regency story written by an American - the children make "cookies" rather than "biscuits" for example. Roxanna Drew is a recently widowed mother of two delightful daughters, and she's at the mercy of her unscrupulous brother-in-law who is threatening to force her to become his mistress. Through the kindness of the bailiff on the local lord of the manor's estate, Roxanna rents the run-down dower house and proceeds to fix it up. Lord Winn arrives unexpected...more
Oct 22, 2012
Katie
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
historical-romance,
romance-clean
When young Mrs. Drew is widowed and left with two young daughters, it's up to her to provide for them. She works out a situation where she will live in and remodel the dower house. The owner is back from war and having been divorced, isn't very welcome in society. Winn makes a stop to check on the property and becomes enchanted with the widow and her girls. When her brother-in-law makes a move to take the girls from her, a marriage of convenience results.
I thought it was a very fun book with a g...more
I thought it was a very fun book with a g...more
This is a very sweet but entirely predictable love story. It is set in England in the early 1800s. The heroine, (in this case a recently widowed mother of two adorable young daughters) finds herself in dire financial straits and meets a very handsome, wealthy, but perceived by society as somewhat undesirable, man who seems to hold the answers to all her problems. The stage is set for the romance to unfold. Like almost every novel of this kind, they misinterpret each others intentions and let the...more
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Although Carla Kelly is well known among her readers as a writer of Regency romance, her main interest (and first writing success) is Western American fiction—more specifically, writing about America's Indian Wars. Although she had sold some of her work before, it was not until Carla began work in the National P...more
More about Carla Kelly...
Although Carla Kelly is well known among her readers as a writer of Regency romance, her main interest (and first writing success) is Western American fiction—more specifically, writing about America's Indian Wars. Although she had sold some of her work before, it was not until Carla began work in the National P...more
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
Sep 28, 2009 02:39am
You sna...more
Dec 13, 2011 02:49am
Dec 15, 2011 11:14pm