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271st out of 386 books
—
469 voters
The Reluctant Suitor
For as long as she can remember, Lady Adriana Sutton has adored Colton Wyndham, to whom she has been promised by an agreement of courtship and betrothal since childhood. As a young girl, she was wounded by Colton's stubborn refusal to comply with his father's wishes and by his angry departure. He was too proud and too stubborn to accept a future not of his own choosing. Ra...more
Paperback, 592 pages
Published
March 30th 2004
by Avon
(first published 2003)
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I read "Come Love A Stranger" and enjoyed it, so I signed out two more books by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss from the library and have been a bit disappointed by them.
In The Reluctant Suitor the 'bad guy' attempts to rape Lady Adriana and she is rescued in time by Colton...but once the bad guy is taken care of, Colton then looks at the Lady whose clothing is torn and gets to see some flesh. Colton's mind runs wild with thoughts and we get to read all his perverted thoughts. *yuck* The lady was just abo...more
In The Reluctant Suitor the 'bad guy' attempts to rape Lady Adriana and she is rescued in time by Colton...but once the bad guy is taken care of, Colton then looks at the Lady whose clothing is torn and gets to see some flesh. Colton's mind runs wild with thoughts and we get to read all his perverted thoughts. *yuck* The lady was just abo...more
Sep 29, 2012
Emily
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Adult Women
Recommended to Emily by:
Susan Parnell
My mother-in-law gave me this book several months ago, and I placed it on my 'to-read' shelf. All I have to say is, "What took me so long?!?!"
I'm so glad that I finally picked this book up to read. I really enjoyed the premise and all of the characters.
Kathleen E. Woodiwiss did an amazing job weaving an amazing plot around a group of fantastic characters. I looked forward to turning the page to reveal the next layer of the story.
I highly recommend this book to avid romance readers. It was such...more
I'm so glad that I finally picked this book up to read. I really enjoyed the premise and all of the characters.
Kathleen E. Woodiwiss did an amazing job weaving an amazing plot around a group of fantastic characters. I looked forward to turning the page to reveal the next layer of the story.
I highly recommend this book to avid romance readers. It was such...more
First off, I haven't finished this novel. I never stop half way through a novel, or at least not very often, but this one just seemed to loose my interest. I have to make it clear that it pains me to say I don't like a novel, mostly because I appreciate all writings. Just sometimes there's too much or not enough information, confusing or not steady plots, too much characters being introduced at once or it's just been done many times before. This one is the former. Too much information. I'm on pa...more
The Reluctant Suitor by Kathleen Woodiwiss. It was published in 2003.
This is the first book I have read by this author. I picked it up at the library,as the Summary sounded interesting. This book is 580 pages long and in my opinion could have done with some decent editing. There are so many things that kept on screaming at me:"what the .....?".
The book starts in 1815.
Our Hero Colton Wyndham is now 32 years old. He has been away from his home for 16 years. He left because his father had arrange...more
This is the first book I have read by this author. I picked it up at the library,as the Summary sounded interesting. This book is 580 pages long and in my opinion could have done with some decent editing. There are so many things that kept on screaming at me:"what the .....?".
The book starts in 1815.
Our Hero Colton Wyndham is now 32 years old. He has been away from his home for 16 years. He left because his father had arrange...more
There are so many things wrong with this book. I haven't even finished it yet. I don't know if I will (out of spite) or if I'm just going to give up, but I'm only halfway through and there is such an astonishing lack of basic research.
For one thing, why the hell is the heroine bathing at the hero's house? She lives next door! It's an excuse for the characters to see each other naked on the first day they met, but it might be one of the most contrived things I've ever read, and fairly inappropria...more
For one thing, why the hell is the heroine bathing at the hero's house? She lives next door! It's an excuse for the characters to see each other naked on the first day they met, but it might be one of the most contrived things I've ever read, and fairly inappropria...more
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I feel sorry for readers who see Kathleen Woodiwiss's name and pick up this book because Woodiwiss is considered to be the Mother of modern mass-market historical romance. This book is awful. First, and most problematic, the treatment of the female hero is abysmal. She is supposed to be a very capable young woman, but weak storytelling here finds her falling apart whenever the uber-masculine hero is around. Really? Do we have to do that old trope again? But even worse: she is sexually humiliated...more
After The Fountainhead I needed to take a mental break. So, here is some on my brain candy. I've read all of Woodiwiss' books, I think.
I enjoyed the characters and the plot but I think someone was feeling insecure because there was a lot of thesaurasizing going on. And it didn't help the story. In fact the big words, with obscure meanings actually detracted from the book. Also, in this novel there was a fascination with bubbles: tiny,tingling bubbles, bubbles of excitement, bursting bubbles, soa...more
I enjoyed the characters and the plot but I think someone was feeling insecure because there was a lot of thesaurasizing going on. And it didn't help the story. In fact the big words, with obscure meanings actually detracted from the book. Also, in this novel there was a fascination with bubbles: tiny,tingling bubbles, bubbles of excitement, bursting bubbles, soa...more
Lady Adriana Sutton is betrothed to Colton Wyndham since childhood. Only Colton wants to pick his own wife when he's ready, so he rejects her and leaves to join the war and doesn't return home for 16 years (after his father dies leaving him his title). Colton is taken by her beauty the moment he meets her and agrees to a 90 day courtship, but only to prove that love cannot be forced upon him and that he will not marry out of duty. Adriana has been in love with him since she was a young girl, but...more
This has so many delicious elements: An arranged marriage between two families - which is too much for the male half of this (one Colton Wyndham)to bare. So he goes off to soldier and when he comes back *gasp* his betrothed is still there and DAMN is she fine! But wait - I must assert my independence and prove that love cannot be forced - even to this fine doxy that is Lady Adriana Sutton. So Colton proposes to try a 90 trial of togetherness to show that he is giving it a fair chance. But he kno...more
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Ughh, I should avoid Woodiwiss. My mom liked this author, so I have tender memories of reading some of her copies as a young teenager. But it can get too repetitive even for a romance. Shotgun wedding. Creepy stalker that turns murderous by the end. Heroine saves everyone but the guy usually sweeps in at the last second to save everyone too. I think she usually has an animal almost die in every one as well. I am also in a mood where I don't want everyone to be unbelievably beautiful, witty, and...more
I tried to read this book twice and could not get through the first chapter. There is a point were being very eloquent in the writing is very distracting and just down right boring. That was this book. I can't rate the story because I couldn't find it around all the unnecessary words. However, if I don't finish a book it gets a one star rating. The story might be great but i'm never going to know because it is not worth my time to decifer. Too many other things out there to read. I have read oth...more
Eh. It just takes SO LONG for ANYTHING to happen, but at the same time there's a weird lack of detail. At the end of their forced three-month courtship the lady protagonist still feels like the gentleman protagonist doesn't truly love her - although I couldn't for the life of me figure out why. The back cover refers to the writer as as "the groundbreaking author who created romantic historical fiction"; maybe that's why there are so many incredible clichéd lines.
His words seemed to resonate thro...more
His words seemed to resonate thro...more
This book is intimidating to look at, being double the size of a normal romance. And in truth, it seems like two books in one. I was left with absolutely no questions about any aspect of the plot. It was very descriptive, and at points you will wonder why is it so wordy but then you'll read something and know that what you read was important. It seems like every small thing is a clue. I loved the mystery and the last third of the book I couldn't read fast enough.
Love love loved this book!! I don't care anyone else's opinion I can't believe I had never read this genre this was my 4th book of its kind and I'm hooked. Sure these novels are twisted they're all about rape and lust and selfish guys but if you feel uncomfortable don't read them. All I can say is I'm in love with Colton in the end love changes him. Woodiwiss is a new favorite!!
This is the First book I read from this Author... It was completely slow in the Beging... But if you stick with the book within the 12, 13, Chapter, It get's so good that it makes up for being slow... I loved this book. The characters were Awesome... Except for the Villians,"of course" Some Parts of this book are completely Repulsive.. But a Good read anyway
Mar 29, 2009
Lauri
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
historical-romance-regency
I believe this to be a masterpiece. This is so far my favorite book, out of all the books I have ever read. It has everything in it. I loved it from start to finish and I hated having to put it down to go to work. If I could have I would have just read it straight through, but work, when you got to go, you got to go. I strongly recommend this book.
Ohhhh...my! Having cut my historical romance teeth on Putney and Balough, If she is the "first lady," it must not refer to her skill. I'd suggest you skip the first 150 pages(you'll figure it out). The repetition is monotonous and her fixation on "orbs" whether they are his eyes or her breasts becomes OH SO tiresome. It was better at the end!
This was so bad that I couldn't even get through the first 2 chapters. It was too wordy and oddly written. I couldn't submerge myself into the story like I usually do with all other romances. Stilted conversation and just.... pedantic. All I know is it takes A LOT for me to not finish a book, this one went back to the library with a quickness.
Although the very long expansive descriptions this woman put in her books, I absolutely love her stories. Adriana falls in love at a very early age then has her heart broken, only to have another chance to have it mended. But she is worried that it still may be broken again and then have to suffer even more. Plus the added drama of other characters lives...
Haven't read any of her books for almost 30 years now and I was curious to see what it would be like to pick up one of her 'newer' ones.
The storyline didn't feel as well drawn out and plotted as her first few books. Maybe my memory is off but I'm going to re read one of her old ones just to see if it's what I remembered.
The storyline didn't feel as well drawn out and plotted as her first few books. Maybe my memory is off but I'm going to re read one of her old ones just to see if it's what I remembered.
I'm not saying this book was boring. I'm saying this book was really, really, really-stab yourself in the eye--boring. Fortunately I read chapters before bedtime and it had quite the soporific effect.
Ah, Katie. In your day, you were the reigning queen of the historicals. Alas, my dear, this falls quite short of your usual abilities.
Ah, Katie. In your day, you were the reigning queen of the historicals. Alas, my dear, this falls quite short of your usual abilities.
Sep 10, 2012
Suzanne Pringle
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
2012-books,
romance-fluff
I like Kathleen as a romance writer. She captures the era quit nicely. However I didn't really like this book. It had a great story line but I felt it contained too much "fluff"/extra dialog that didn't need to be there. Plus some of the dialog of certain lesser-born people were hard to follow.
Best subtitled "when historical romance goes really, really bad..." Back in the seventies, Woodiwiss spearheaded the historical romance genre, now she writes pallid sad novels. Urgh! Not worth it.
For the longer review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/content_95903...
For the longer review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/content_95903...
This is my all time favorite book. I read it yearly, have it memorized almost. LOL.........
Just the entire book, the goodguys the badguys, the chase is most awesome in this book, she doesn't give in too soon but does at just the right time. I would love to live this romance out!
Just the entire book, the goodguys the badguys, the chase is most awesome in this book, she doesn't give in too soon but does at just the right time. I would love to live this romance out!
Lots of words. Descriptions of long and useless conversations. I liked the female character well enough and the male character never won me over. Lots of concentration on how many suitors she had, and I liked a couple of them better and would have liked them to end up with her.
It was a sweet story, but way over written. This book could easily be 50 pages shorter by describing things a bit less. The interactions between the characters is nice, and you believe the love story, but I can't see keeping a copy around to reread.
I loved this book. I actually listened to the audiobook read by Lynn Redgrave. It was a great story which I finished in two days! Loved it and would recommend it to anyone for a good read. May not be the best of Woodiwiss's books but still quite enjoyable.
This one started out slow and finally got going half way through. It's a bit of a shame because some of her older stories were so good. This one ended well, but I felt I had to put a lot more work into it.
Not my favorite story of Woodiwiss', but still a good one. Too many secondary characters and sub-plots that became hard to follow. But it's Woodiwiss- she could do whatever she wanted and still have a fantastic story on the page.
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She was born Kathleen Erin Hogg, the youngest of eight children of Charles Wingrove Hogg, a disabled World War I veteran, and his wife, in Alexandria, Louisiana. As a child, Kathleen Hogg relished creating her own stories, and by age six was telling herself stories at night to help fall asleep. Her father died suddenly when Woodiwiss was only twelve, leaving her to be raised by her mother and olde...more
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