Not Quite a Husband

Apr 26, 2011

Lady Jayne *~*The Beach Bandida*~* rated it

Recommends it for: Those who love second chance romances and dark, complex romances

Recommended to Lady Jayne *~*The Beach Bandida*~* by: new_user and Quinn

Shelves: romance-historical, owned-read

4.5 Stars - Also reviewed at: Lady Jayne's Reading Den

Sherry Thomas’ books have been highly recommended to me by my Goodreads friends new_user and Quinn – Thank you both! I decided to start with Not Quite Husband because I saw that the We Love Lisa Kleypas Group had read it as a Group Read and also… because I thought I’d read the red covered one to "pop my Sherry cherry”. LOL Plus, the cover is pretty sexy!

I wanted to say thank you to Beanbag for urging me to not ge...more

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Apr 24, 2011

Beanbag Love rated it

The main two reasons I bought this book were the good reviews and it wasn't an anti-free market price fix by one of the greedy publishers that have become my arch nemeses. After a few chapters, however, I wondered what I'd gotten myself into.

The first part of the book is very staid. A married couple who simply can't communicate. A heroine you want to drop off a cliff she's so bitter and hurtful. It takes a tad too long to find out why she behaves the way she does. I really had d...more

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May 20, 2009

seton rated it

Recommends it for: Mary Jo Putney fans

Shelves: childhood-connect, older-woman, pride-n-prejudice-riff, good-cry

Sherry Thomas pretty much writes my favorite type of romance -- an angsty read written in elegant concise prose -- so this book suited me to a T.

Some parts - reunited married couple working out their past against an exotic backdrop - reminded me of Mary Jo Putney's SILK AND SECRETS. The part of the hero, Leo, being fascinated/in love with the older heroine all his life reminded me of a bit of Jude Deveraux's THE INVITATION. I am just glad that the heroine Bryony NEVER baby-sat Leo a...moreSherry Thomas pretty much writes my favorite type of romance -- an angsty read written in elegant concise prose -- so this book suited me to a T.

Some parts - reunited married couple working out their past against an exotic backdrop - reminded me of Mary Jo Putney's SILK AND SECRETS. The part of the hero, Leo, being fascinated/in love with the older heroine all his life reminded me of a bit of Jude Deveraux's THE INVITATION. I am just glad that the heroine Bryony NEVER baby-sat Leo and changed his diapers. That would have killed the romance for me and would have been a point of no return. And as always, there are touches that remind me of Judith Ivory (probably ST's favorite author), especially of Ivory's own older woman/younger man romance SLEEPING BEAUTY.

Reading the book, it really brought home to me that ST is one of the best at depicting the bittersweet yearning of people unsure in love. She knows how to heighten the agony of the moment so that it's pungent and sweet like the first taste of the ripest fruit, a moment not soon to be forgotten. To my mind, not many writers can do that as well as I would like.

But as I wiped my tears after I closed the books, I had a few quibbles and those niggles ultimately leads me to grade this as a B+ Read.

First of all, there is the controversal heroine, Bryony. She is antisocial, very intelligent, tightly wound, and such an emotional coward that she acts like a stone cold beeyotch through the first half of the book. Intellectually, I might have understood her but emotionally, I never warmed to her.

Second, altho it was not a big deal, I would have liked a line as to why Bryony thought she couldn't have children. It was never explained as to whether this was a physical reality or an emotional decision. WTH?

Third, the majority of the book is set during an uprising in northwest British India and all the descriptions of the local color with all them fur-reine words made my eyes glaze. This was definitely not ST's strongpoint.

Fourth, NQAH is related to ST's previous book in that Leo is the brother of the secondary hero in DELICIOUS. Leo is one of five brothers and the way ST casually throws out the names of the brothers as well as other characters from DELICIOUS is a little jarring, even for someone like me who had read DELICIOUS. Probably because it's been a while since I read it. NQAH could be read stand alone but just be aware of the name throwing.

But ultimately, these are minor quibbles. I am mostly forlorn that I will probably have to wait till next year for ST's next book to come out. Sigh. ST, please write faster.

More detailed joint discussion of this book with full spoilers on my blog:
http://coulditbeseton.wordpress.com/2009...(less)

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Jan 17, 2010

Verity rated it

Shelves: thomas-sherry, cougars, reunion, all-time-favs, road-romance

*~o~/*o*\~o~* Beware of SPOILERS *~o~/*o*\~o~*

Initially, I didn't think this book would be a page turner. I’m a quirky reader. I usually read the beginning & the ending first, ‘cuz I can’t stand the suspense =)~. I read the 1st 40 pages & the Epilogue, both didn't really grab me, so I switched to another book. Boy, was I wrong. I ended up loving & savoring ST’s luminous prose. Older heroine / younger hero is 1 of my fav themes.

The perilous journey of 2 people ( in love y...more*~o~/*o*\~o~* Beware of SPOILERS *~o~/*o*\~o~*

Initially, I didn't think this book would be a page turner. I’m a quirky reader. I usually read the beginning & the ending first, ‘cuz I can’t stand the suspense =)~. I read the 1st 40 pages & the Epilogue, both didn't really grab me, so I switched to another book. Boy, was I wrong. I ended up loving & savoring ST’s luminous prose. Older heroine / younger hero is 1 of my fav themes.

The perilous journey of 2 people ( in love yet disillusioned w/ each other) is sprinkled w/ heart-pounding action, terror & heartache. When death is just around the corner, Bryony & Leo begin to re-think & re-evaluate their past, present & future. What could / would / might have been, if only they'd opened up to each other ? What happened between their engagement & their disastrous marriage ? Is it possible to forgive & forget, to pick up the splintered ruins of their marriage & make it whole again, stronger than before ? Where did they go wrong ? Revelation upon revelation, as they gradually have their long-overdue, heart-to-heart TALK, they discover how much they’ve hurt & failed each other. Bryony finally opens her eyes a li'l too late, how much she'd taken Leo for granted, by not appreciating his efforts during their brief marriage, how well he'd taken care of her, the lengths he’d gone to, in making sure their household ran smoothly like a well-oiled machine. I sympathized w/ both Leo & Bryony. Her sad, lonely, affection-deprived childhood had shaped the woman that she was. Both of them were unable to convey how they really felt to each other. When Bryony made a painful & shocking discovery by being @ the wrong place, @ the wrong time in her line of duty, predictably, she chose to retreat further into her impenetrable shell. Her vanity, blind adoration & determination to possess the unattainable, proved to be the downfall of her marriage. She’d gambled & lost. She over-estimated her ability to close that chapter of her life. Her unwillingness to lay it out in the open made it almost impossible for her to revel in wedded bliss. Something that Leo said during a chance encounter made her see the light, that she’d been blind in her desperation to cling on to the 1 thing that she loved the most. Upon her request for an annulment, Leo decided that she was not worth it. He could not stay away from her tho’. He still keeps tabs on her whereabouts & manages to stay in the same country, just in case anything happens to her, she wouldn’t have to cross the ocean to seek help.

During their reunion, Leo realized the enormity of his guilt, of reducing her into this travelling physician. He’s remorseful of how he’d utterly failed. Can they ever put their trust in each other again ? Marriage won’t always be a bed of roses. Love is not always enough. Will they have the fortitude to withstand the impact if their love’s put to the test ? Can they learn from past mistakes & compromise ? ST explored in depth, all the possibilities of rebuilding their shattered dreams & the fragility of love & human nature.

I thought ST must've overlooked Bryony's barrenness, as I reached the end & there’s no explanation whatsoever. As a confounded reader, I was left to conclude on my own that, since Bryony is a top-notch physician & knows human disease better than anybody else, she must’ve self-diagnosed based on her symptoms (irregular periods), that the possibility of her having kids is minuscule. I got foggy-eyed a li’l bit when Bryony made her peace w/ her dying father. There are moments that clench my heartstring. The epilogue was not really aaawww-worthy (I’m a sucker for HEA w/ kids), but I was spellbound by the rich historical texture & well-crafted characters =^P

My fav phrase of the book :
“Sometimes limbs must be re-broken to set properly, her heart too needed to shatter anew before it could truly heal.”
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Apr 18, 2011

UniquelyMoi *~*Dhestiny*~* rated it

Shelves: historical, historical-romance, romance-historical, historical-romance-stand-alones, format-paperback, british-india, cant-have-kids, location-india, old-beaus-reunited, starts-with-m-thru-p, friends-since-childhood, war-battles, author-sherry-thomas, first-read-of-an-author, 4-stars, 2011-reads, reviewed-by-me, series-loosely-related, second-chances

It’s such a treat to pick up a book by an author I’ve never read before and fall in love with their writing, their characters, and the entire world they create. Such is the case with Sherry Thomas and Not Quite a Husband. It was not just a book, but an adventure that took me to another time, one we don’t often read about – late 19th/ early 20th century in the British Indian Empire, also referred to as the British Raj. This is one of those epic novels that had me questioning exactly what ...more

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Nov 19, 2009

Linds rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: 1800-s, asia, england, historical-romance, romance, unrequited-love, war, regency, victorian

I liked this romance.

Very angsty, kind've dark, lots of yearning and regret for what could have been.

Leo and Bryony are an estranged English married couple from the late 1800's. There is a lot of hurt and betrayal on both sides that they need to work through.

Bryony is a doctor (unusual in regencies) and has fleed to India after an annulment. Leo comes to get her because her father is dying. While in India they get caught in a rebellion and have to confront their pas...more

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Jun 20, 2011

Kelly22 rated it

Recommends it for: Fans of intense historical romance with strong heroes!

Recommended to Kelly22 by: Steffi

Shelves: historical-romance, traumatized-abused-heroine, alpha-hero, hero-aristrocrat-but-no-title, good-girl-bad-boy, intense-powerful-storyline, brooding-dangerous-hero, bad-boy-rake-rogue-casanova, childhood-ties, enemy-to-lover, favorite-couple, favorite-hero, favorite-story, gamma-anti-hero, gorgeous-handsome-attractive-hero, hero-smitten-in-love-in-pursuit, marriage-of-convenience, married-couples, prim-proper-prudish-heroine, reformed-rake-player, sweet-reunions-second-chances, tortured-hero, virgin-herione, heroine-in-love-in-pursuit, brazen-unrepentant-rakes, heartbreaking-powerful-romance, hero-intellectual-scientist-genius, cheating-elements, hero-god-s-gift-to-woman

4.5 stars - historical romance

Not Quite a Husband is a third Sherry Thomas novel which concentrates on two ex-lovers who had a disturbing past of miss-understanding and confusion which was somewhat due to their lack of communication.

Leo Marsden who was four years junior to Bryony Asquith was her neighbor throughout their childhood. While growing up Leo nurtured intense feelings for Bryony which she never was aware of. After Leo grew up he became a gifted mathematician an...more4.5 stars - historical romance

Not Quite a Husband is a third Sherry Thomas novel which concentrates on two ex-lovers who had a disturbing past of miss-understanding and confusion which was somewhat due to their lack of communication.

Leo Marsden who was four years junior to Bryony Asquith was her neighbor throughout their childhood. While growing up Leo nurtured intense feelings for Bryony which she never was aware of. After Leo grew up he became a gifted mathematician and distributed his expertise to various universities. Bryony studied medicine and became a much rare female doctor during those times. One day due to an evening of heated moment of passion, Bryony proposed Leo to marry her on a whim. Leo could not find any reason to refuse her and they were married almost immediately.

However, their marriage wasn’t a happy one. Bryony proved to be a very cold wife throughout which was not easy for Leo to accept. Finally one day Bryony asked Leo’s assistance for granting them an annulment so that they could live their life separately which he accepted.

Now the story begins four years after their annulment when Bryony practices her medical at various countries and finally India. Leo locates her in order to tell her that her father was ill and that she must accompany Leo to England. She agrees unwillingly and they set for a dreadful journey from India to England. During their journey in various moments including Leo falling ill and Bryony nursing him, the previous couple finally acts upon the much needed communication which was absent in them from the beginning to sort out their misunderstanding and mistakes out of happenstance.

A beautiful romance evolves when the couple proceeds to act in their call of physical passion and eventually call out their lack of trust and dependence on each other. In such moments, many mysteries and untold anecdotes evolve which makes them identify and realize each other and their relationship to a whole new level.

What will happen? Will they be able to overcome their past turmoil and conquer their demons?

I found it to be a very atypical yet fulfilling romance story with compatible and believable hero and the heroine. I just loved Leo (:D), who proved to be a strong character and was relentless in his pursuit of making the heroine realize her mistakes and identify her feelings towards him. At one point, both of them embarked on to respect each other and attempt to be civil in each other’s presence which was absent before. This is where the story gets interesting.

The love scenes are passionate and are successful to accumulate the H/h’s passion and romance for the story. The book starts slow in the beginning and is thoroughly descriptive portraying various historic settings, cultures and geographical locations in its course.

Due to its narrative nature of geographical settings, I found it a bit long and impatient at times and therefore will give it a 4.5 rating. Otherwise I would like to say, it is a very good story with a potent author, an emotional (and heart-breaking sometimes) account, authentic characters and powerful dialogues.

Will definitely read her other books!!!
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Oct 31, 2011

Kinga rated it

It's this time of the year again when I had to read some girly porn.

Sherry Thomas is one of my favourite girly porn writers. She is actually quite clever, and she spends a little more time building her characters than your average romance writer.

"Not Quite a Husband" is all about forgiving and trusting, because even dashing romance heroes make mistakes. It's also about expecting nothing short of perfection from your other half and how it will make you unhappy e...more

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Aug 22, 2011

Laura Lulu rated it

Recommended to Laura Lulu by: new_user

Shelves: historical-fiction, romance

I have some GR friends who were peer pressuring me into trying some historical romance. They know I'm not a big PNR fan, but they urged, nonetheless. And I guess I like romances of the historical variety better than I like those of the paranormal variety. Or at least this one.

There were angst & misunderstandings, but they were real, not silly plot devices to create drama. Not that the characters weren't stupid, but it was understandable--they had been hurt, and the best of us create...more

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Jun 18, 2011

Steffi rated it

Shelves: historical-romance, favourites, exotic-setting

Not Quite A Husband was my first book by Sherry Thomas.
I was a little wary at first because I'm simply not a fan of the getting-back-together plot. There are a lot of good reviews, though, and I decided to give it a try.

I'm glad, I did!

Bryony Asquith and Leo Marsden married without even knowing each other. The feelings were there but they were not voiced. Both of them developed insecurities about their relationship until the situation made Bryony ill and she put a...more Not Quite A Husband was my first book by Sherry Thomas.
I was a little wary at first because I'm simply not a fan of the getting-back-together plot. There are a lot of good reviews, though, and I decided to give it a try.

I'm glad, I did!

Bryony Asquith and Leo Marsden married without even knowing each other. The feelings were there but they were not voiced. Both of them developed insecurities about their relationship until the situation made Bryony ill and she put an end to their marriage. Towards the end, we find out that Bryony witnessed something that crushed her trust in Leo even before they were married. Hurt, anger and insecurity are lodged deep in their souls. Only if they both let go of the past, can they find back to each other.

Bryony now works as a doctor in India, when Leo arrives to take her back to England. Bryony's father is ill and supposedly hasn't got long to live.

The first four to five chapters were somewhat of a drag for me but I'm glad I didn't give up right away. Bryony appears to be very cold and unfeeling. In the course of the story we get to know her better and learn that she is an incredibly sensitive person and feels so strongly that, without her icy facade, she would shatter into a thousand pieces from all the hurt inside her. A book is special and unforgettable, particularly, when one can connect to the characters. I will never forget Not Quite A Husband because I had a deep connection with Bryony. Her feelings and actions were understandable to me because they remind me of myself in certain situations.
In addition, I love exotic settings and India is one of my favourites.

Not Quite A Husband is a high-maintenace book. You have to have a lot of patience and be open-minded but your efforts will pay off. Sherry Thomas made me work for it but it was definitely worth it!! I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys more complicated and highly emotional plots and a beautiful and touching story.

Also reviewed at www.bookworldtravels.blogspot.com (less)

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Jun 07, 2011

Jan rated it

Shelves: romance, stars5, z-2011, historical-romance

AS new_user said, even better than Private Arrangements.

I think I'm a sucker for romances with a second chances theme, mostly because the characters have a history together, and overcoming mistakes you made yourself is always the hardest.

I love Sherry Thomas' inconvential heroines, both in their profession and interests, but also in their personalities. I also love how her characters make true mistakes that are very hard to overcome. Relationships take work and a lot of c...more

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Jan 21, 2010

Cheryl rated it

Shelves: historical-romance

This story evoked such deep and strong emotions that my written account of it could not do it justice. While reading this book I truly felt pain for the hero and heroine and I yearned for their story to have a happy ending. Much of the time I would find myself thinking that I would have reacted the same way to their different circumstances, making it even more painful as their mistakes became my own in a sense.

The marriage between Leo Marsden and Bryony Asquith was over before it e...moreThis story evoked such deep and strong emotions that my written account of it could not do it justice. While reading this book I truly felt pain for the hero and heroine and I yearned for their story to have a happy ending. Much of the time I would find myself thinking that I would have reacted the same way to their different circumstances, making it even more painful as their mistakes became my own in a sense.

The marriage between Leo Marsden and Bryony Asquith was over before it even began. There are just some betrayals that are unforgivable.

Bryony is shy, uptight and very much closed off to people around her. She defied society and became a doctor, making her even more mysterious to our hero, Leo. Her mother died when she was a baby but when her father remarried she found a new mother and friend in that woman. Bryony loved her step-mother and thought she was perfect. Then, just a few short years later her new mother died. She was then raised by a cold and uncaring nanny, her father was around but did not take an active role in parenting. It was during this time that Bryony built up a fortress around her feelings and emotions so that no one could get close enough to hurt her again.

Leo is very popular, extremely good looking and brilliant. He is a mathematician and playwright, and he could have any female of his choosing. Leo and Bryony grew up as neighbors, but not friends. They knew each other but because Bryony was older than Leo, they never really had the chance to get to know one another. But Leo had always had a fascination with her, this strange yet beautiful girl. And that is why when Bryony suddenly asked Leo to marry her, he agreed to it.

The problem with these two from the get-go was that they did not take the time to get to know one another or develop any feelings toward one another other than lust and fascination. They also did not communicate properly. Bryony created a problem by placing her happiness in Leo's hands, and we all know what happens when you do that. You get hurt-- because people make mistakes and no one is perfect. But she expected perfection, which wasn't fair to Leo. Another problem was that Leo was never honest with Bryony. He had never told her that he had loved her for as long as he could remember, that the moment they said "I do" was the happiest hour of his life. He also did not tell her that he was nervous about marrying her, that if he were honest with himself, he would admit that they really didn't know each other as well as they should know each other before committing to the rest of their lives together. And then there was the ultimate act of betrayal that Leo committed against Bryony, just one week before the wedding. Instead of forgiving Leo, Bryony turned cold and bitter towards him, pushing him further away day by lonely day, until finally they end their marriage.

Years after having their marriage annulled, Leo goes in search for Bryony to bring her back home to England to her dying father. She left England after the annulment and kept running until he found her. Little did she know that each time she ran further away, Leo was running right after her, he never could quite let her go. It was on their journey from India to England that they finally become honest with one another. It is then that their beautiful but very scarred love story begins. Leo finally tells her how he has always felt about her and also tells about his betrayal towards her. He begs for forgiveness and it is truly a very touching scene. Bryony also starts to let down the walls of her fortress around her heart and allows Leo to get close to her. She slowly starts to loosen up and even shares some laughs with Leo. It was so beautiful watching their love unfolding and trust becoming part of their relationship, words cannot even describe this transformation!

The reason I gave this book 4 stars rather than five, was because of the very long paragraphs describing the terrain and surroundings of the land that they traveled through. Literally there would be several paragraphs of this at the beginning of each chapter. I prefer a much shorter description of the surroundings and get on with the story. Geography lovers would probably love this though! Speaking of geography, a map would be very handy while reading this. It goes into great detail of the countries and territories between India and England.

Some of the most touching and beautiful quotes that I have read can be found in this book. And as I find more time I will add them here to my review.
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Jul 17, 2011

TJ rated it

Shelves: historical-romance, adc-reviews

I picked this book up thinking it would be a light, easy read, boy was I was wrong! It is a lot more rich and in many ways dark than either the cover or the synopsis suggest. In it, Thomas has created two very deeply flawed and tragically broken characters. Then she slowly peels away all the hurt, betrayal and fear until finally forgiveness and acceptance is achieved. I loved following this journey. This book would easily have been a 4 or even 5 star read if the sex had not disturbed me so much....more

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Jul 01, 2011

Moss rated it

Shelves: clutched-to-my-bosom, historical-romance

I read historical romances for the comfort factor, for how soothing they are, for how delicious and particular and pointed they are. There's something about a historical that's more removed from reality than any other sub-genre in romance - it's of your world, but not of your time. Its borders are so prettily demarcated - and so secure - that I like to wrap myself up in its snug, warm assurances and slip into it like a warm bath: all gentle healing, and only the mild challenge of fumbling for ...moreI read historical romances for the comfort factor, for how soothing they are, for how delicious and particular and pointed they are. There's something about a historical that's more removed from reality than any other sub-genre in romance - it's of your world, but not of your time. Its borders are so prettily demarcated - and so secure - that I like to wrap myself up in its snug, warm assurances and slip into it like a warm bath: all gentle healing, and only the mild challenge of fumbling for a lost bar of soap every now and again.

This book didn't offer me those assurances. I didn't miss them.

This isn't a book to invite a dispassionate review. I can't adequately describe, for example, how tender and poignant the writing is. I can't explain how tightly Thomas coils the tension between Bryony and Leo, winding it up degree by maddening degree, until the strain almost lifts the word off the page and you, like our hero and heroine, feel like you're being driven to insanity by it. Or how all the hurts and wounds they carry drift through every page like spectres, and you read with something moving in your peripheral vision, just off centre. It's a haunted story, troubled with a past that's brittle and breakable. Two people meet and betray each other, two people separate and betray each other. It's not a new story, but this retelling of it will very likely break your heart.

Thomas' writing is about as good as it gets. Prose that could be purple from someone else's pen comes out sounding like simple truth from hers. Her control over her writing is fierce and awe-inspiring. She uses her landscapes like subsidiary characters; I would have read this book for the depth of her research into the time and country alone.

I can't fault this book, I can't fault the writing. I'm a little in love with both Bryony and Leo, and more than a little in love with Sherry Thomas.

I can't recommend this book highly enough. Read it, read it. Falling in love is uncomfortable and wounding. Get out of the warm bath. Read it anyway.

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Jan 02, 2011

Quinn rated it

Shelves: library-book, regency-victorian-romance, aar-top-100-2010, favourites, i-own

Sherry Thomas is an extraordinarily talented author. Her prose is letter perfect, and her study of a fractured relationship is second to none. She is a master of the slow-reveal, feeding the reader the pieces of the puzzle with a brilliant sense of timing, steadily drawing the reader in, engaging their emotions exquisitely and placing them firmly and personally within the hidden, private depths of a broken marriage.

In Not Quite a Husband, Sherry will lead you to question your notions...moreSherry Thomas is an extraordinarily talented author. Her prose is letter perfect, and her study of a fractured relationship is second to none. She is a master of the slow-reveal, feeding the reader the pieces of the puzzle with a brilliant sense of timing, steadily drawing the reader in, engaging their emotions exquisitely and placing them firmly and personally within the hidden, private depths of a broken marriage.

In Not Quite a Husband, Sherry will lead you to question your notions of right and wrong, and show you that sometimes there is no clear answer or even purpose to assigning blame.

How do you move forward, when, having long believed yourself the victim, you discover that the failure of your marriage could more accurately be placed upon your shoulders? That you can no longer claim the high ground? When your behaviours prove more abhorrent than that one misdeed of his? When you finally, finally realise what you never knew you had and were too blind to see?

She had a sudden vision of herself as a wizened old physician, her hands too arthritic to wield a scalpel, her eyes too rheumy to diagnose anything except measles and chicken pox. The wizened old physician would very much like to drink tea next to her wizened old professor, chuckle over the passionate follies of their distant youth, and then go for a walk along the river Cam, holding his paper-dry liver-spotted hand.

How ironic that when they’d been married, she’d never thought of growing old with him. Yet now, years after the annulment, she should think of it with the yearning of an exile, for the homeland that had long ago evicted her.

What if you made one stupid mistake, and it cost you everything you hold dear, your very future? If there was nothing you could ever do to make it right, no way to repair the damage? If you were forever destined to live your life as a shadow, trapped in the wanting of what you can never have?

Amazing what a man thought of, looking at a fully clothed woman who did nothing more provocative than sipping her tea while gazing thoughtfully into the distance.

For the thousandth time he wished he’d just met her. That they were but two strangers traveling together, that such lovely, filthy thoughts did not break him in two, but were only a pleasant pastime as he slowly fell under the spell of her aloof beauty and her hidden intensity.

There were so many stories he could tell her, so many ways to draw her out of her shell. He would have waited with baited breath for her first smile, for the sound of her first laughter. He would be endlessly curious about her, eager to undress her metaphorically as well as physically.

The first holding of hands. The first kiss. The first time he saw her unclothed. The first time they became one.

The first time they finished each other’s sentences.

But no, they’d met long ago, in the furthest years of his childhood. Their chances had come and gone. All they had ahead of them were a tedious road and a final good-bye.

And what then, when you discover this truth? That the carnage of your life, the years of torture and heartache, the loss of your dreams and future, all of this could all have been saved by the simple act of honesty and communication. Would you then be forced to live with the regret, which must surely be more powerful and devastating than all that has come before?

Neither Bryony Asquith nor Leo Marsden are as they first appear. The author gradually provides the reader with both Leo and Bryony’s perspectives on their disastrous marriage and the years since the annulment, along with details of their respective lives before they met. Thus you come to learn about the characters and understand their behaviour.

Not Quite a Husband is an extremely poignant and moving tale, plumbing the depths of emotions with heartbreaking insight and hindsight. Set against the majestic backdrop of India in rebellion, this book, along with the extraordinary Private Arrangements are must-reads for any lover of complex - and at times dark - historical romance.
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Feb 25, 2011

Bekah rated it

Shelves: 2011-reads, ebook-copy

Sherry Thomas is a genius. Her prose is indescribable, it is so utterly heart flutteringly beautiful and without compare. Her writing and use of the Enlish language is all that much more amazing when you discover that it is not her first, but her second language. She puts us all to shame. Its raw and gritty and tender and loving all at the same time. For any avid reader of romance who has not experienced a story with Sherry Thomas, please find an opportunity to do so as soon as possible. You w...moreSherry Thomas is a genius. Her prose is indescribable, it is so utterly heart flutteringly beautiful and without compare. Her writing and use of the Enlish language is all that much more amazing when you discover that it is not her first, but her second language. She puts us all to shame. Its raw and gritty and tender and loving all at the same time. For any avid reader of romance who has not experienced a story with Sherry Thomas, please find an opportunity to do so as soon as possible. You won't regret it.

She has four books published and I've currently read 2 of them and so far they have been along the same theme; the estranged husband/wife reconciling. Its a favorite theme of mine because the sheer plethora of emotions to be explored is great and Sherry does it astonishingly well and like no other.

This story is of Leo and Bryony. Leo is a brilliant mathmetician and Bryony one of the first lady doctors. They marry and eventually because of circumstances you find out about later, have their marriage mutually annulled and go their seperate ways. Three years later we find Bryony in India and Leo showing up to escort her back to London to visit her ailing father. What I loved about this story and something that seems to be present in Sherry's writing is the yearning that is so tangible between the characters. You hurt and ache with how obvious these people want and desire one another. She writes it so that you feel these extreme emotions right along with the characters and then you hurt with the cutting and biting and sometimes outright cruel things they say to one another to hurt the other. It's such a painful and pleasurable experience rolled all together. My favorite character was Leo. His devotion and yearning and desire was so great for Bryony that it was hard not to love him. I loved that he was 4 years younger, I loved that he was flawed but still was able to show his devotion. I loved how he was mature enough to not settle and hope and reach for more. There is a scene in this book that funnily enough involves a pear, simple enough right? But with the way that Sherry Thomas writes, this scene becomes so much more than just about eating a pear. It manages to demonstrate the depth of love and caring and the whole state of their marriage in just that one small and simple action. It's true talent really. Bryony was slower in her growth but it slowly happend and in the end their love was really quite beautiful.

I wish Ms. Thomas would write faster. Her books are such a rich experience and so addictive to me and maybe part of that is in the fact that they are so few and far between. They then tend to be that much more valuable. (less)

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Sep 06, 2010

Mariel rated it

Shelves: coughhistoricalscough

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Bryony is a heroine that I can relate to more easily than most romance novel heroines. She's distant, and doesn't find it easy to risk her heart, and especially not on someone who has stepped on it before. (You must have had to be cold indeed for the Victorian English to call you thus. Notoriously uptight, they were.) I could relate all too well to the common perception (even from her family) that she was cold. There had only been one person in her life who did not fail her, her stepmother Toddy...moreBryony is a heroine that I can relate to more easily than most romance novel heroines. She's distant, and doesn't find it easy to risk her heart, and especially not on someone who has stepped on it before. (You must have had to be cold indeed for the Victorian English to call you thus. Notoriously uptight, they were.) I could relate all too well to the common perception (even from her family) that she was cold. There had only been one person in her life who did not fail her, her stepmother Toddy, and her ex (and again) love Leo believes that love has to be freely given like that for Bryony to accept it. Maybe I'm basing this on myself (I tend to base a lot on myself because I know me best), but I think there's another side to that. If the worst has already happened, sometimes the rest doesn't seem too bad by comparison. If Bryony had any reason to believe that her father loved her, things might have been different. He left her always fearing more abandonment. It's not exactly right, but I understand it and it's sad as hell.
As for Leo, Bryony gave him a chance and he ruined it by cheating on her before their wedding. That's not something that is easily overcome, no matter who it happens to. The real problem was that she wanted Leo to change her. When that did not happen, she gave up. Bryony did not want to be lonely Bryony, but Bryony life of the party. Everything that happened was considered proof by her that she was not party to his life.
I've noticed in life that the most popular people are those who make other people feel good about themselves. That must be why there are such things as arm candy and trophy wives. That thought depresses me. I don't get into romances that are about how they make you feel about you. (Probably because it makes me despair for myself!) Real love is for them, no matter what you get out of it, and no strings attached. Leo was too wrapped up in his ability to save her from herself too, and slunk into a corner when it didn't happen overnight.
I liked this book a lot though, because their misery apart and inability to stay away proved there was something beyond themselves and their insecurities. I'd have loved it if their present time (or flashbacks even) had more to do with just them than outside forces. The uprising was all right to read (I'd never say no to history) but still, outside forces from the main point.

I don't know if they'll make it. I liked that Leo had to trust her to trust in them. Something doesn't have to last forever to mean anything. Bryony will take risks, and Leo will be patient. At least if it doesn't work out the second time, they won't live in seperate countries miserable and alone. It was too sad that that happened.

It's more of a shame that they didn't live in a time that allowed them to simply date before getting married. (less)

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Nov 16, 2010

Gem H rated it

Shelves: 2010-books-read, historical-romance

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This was a book I had to swing about whether it was three or a four star book. Ultimately I chose three stars and I will explain why

Thomas has again written a story where the hero and heroine have met fell in love and married only for the rose coloured ending we usually expect has crashed and burned. In this case the heroine Bryony and the Hero Leo have had their marrige annulled due to what appears to be a marrige that had Bryony protrayed as a fridged shrew.

It is at th...more

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Jan 24, 2010

FlibBityFLooB rated it

Shelves: read-in-2010, historical, era-victorian, witty-i-am-not, zzauthor-thomas

4.5/5 stars. Sherry Thomas is an author after my own heart. In this book, she managed to pack plenty of my favorite things:

- Mathematics (I minored in math in college)
- Medicine (I work in a hospital)
- Women with Higher Education in the Victorian Era
- Indian Food (dahl, pakora, chicken briyani.... yummmmmmmy)
- A bittersweet storyline in a romance novel

I thought that the backdrop of most of this novel was very unique. I liked the idea of the hero...more

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Dec 30, 2011

Amy rated it

I really entreat readers to look beyond the book cover and give this a try. It was on my Goodreads recommendations list but after seeing the cover and the title I was skeptical. This book is a historical romance but has many different layers. Anybody who has ever been married could relate to the relationship problems and joys experienced by the characters. The author does a great job creating the personalities of her two main characters. So many times authors describe a character one way bu...more

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Dec 15, 2011

Hope rated it

Shelves: historical-fiction, romance-novel

Sherry Thomas writes in her acknowledgements that Duran's Duke of Shadows inspired her to write Not Quite a Husband, a very different book. An award-winning author, her writing is smooth and the emotions are intense. People who enjoy the poignancy of heartbreak and scarred souls will get teary for the characters in a tale full of regret and not quite a happily ever after.

I picked up books by Joanna Bourne and Meredith Duran on the recommendation of an urban fantasy author who I admire....moreSherry Thomas writes in her acknowledgements that Duran's Duke of Shadows inspired her to write Not Quite a Husband, a very different book. An award-winning author, her writing is smooth and the emotions are intense. People who enjoy the poignancy of heartbreak and scarred souls will get teary for the characters in a tale full of regret and not quite a happily ever after.

I picked up books by Joanna Bourne and Meredith Duran on the recommendation of an urban fantasy author who I admire. I hadn't really read historical romance before; the titles and covers had me highly skeptical. Delighted to discover, then, how well written the novels turned out to be, with compelling plot lines and characters who are interesting and likeable, with some edgy darkness in Duran's novels that adds depth I like.

For this one, I agree with readers who raise some basic points about the character building and plot development. Why would an intensely personal heroine go through with the marriage, instead of breaking it off privately and running away from an intensely awful emotional situation? I know, I know, verisimilitude isn't a watch word for even the best plot lines in a fantasy, which all romance novels are to a greater or lesser extent. Bourne and Duran don't hit a home run with every book, and maybe this one by Thomas isn't the very top of her game. But, in good fantasy novels, you don't raise the common sense questions because you're there, caught up in a satisfyingly intense story, fascinated with characters that you not only like, but want to like, too.

Bryony is almost there, but we're told of her intelligence rather than seeing it in action the way we do in Thomas' His at Night, a more lighthearted approach to a couple who marry then fall in love. There, the enemy is deliciously Dickensian; here, the central characters are the villains. Bryony is too iron-clad in her impenetrable armor, and glimpses of her acting out on intense emotions, even out of sight of other characters, would have been a good foreshadowing from a craft perspective and won the reader to her side even if Leo and everyone else was perplexed by her. Leo is too golden, apart from his great mistake, with an over the top infatuation with Bryony, which also makes his choice of rebellion, on which everything hinges, and then his rather cold calculation about the marriage when they return to England seem out of character. Other readers say similar things in reviews here.

For me, and this is just a personal quirk: I do not enjoy movies that make me feel embarrassed along with the characters. I really did not enjoy feeling devastated right along with Bryony (view spoiler) Thomas had me feeling the character's deep shame and hurt. Personally, I don't take pleasure in feeling emotional betrayal, and the culminating theme of regret and saying sorry wasn't satisfying for me.

So, Not Quite a Husband is right for the right reader, but I'll cheer for the witty, lighthearted Thomas characters of His at Night instead.(less)

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Sep 24, 2011

Juliette Swett rated it

Shelves: read-romance

For my third book in the Reading Through the RITAs project, I checked out an ebook copy of Not Quite a Husband through My Media Mall. Since I do not normally read historical romances, I knew this book would push me out of my comfort zone a bit.

I wanted to love this book--and not just because it had a fabulous red cover. It also took place in India AND had a strong female protagonist: Byrony, the independent doctor, had learned to be detached and clinical to protect herself. To e...more

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Aug 01, 2011

Mlle. X rated it

Shelves: gorgeous-writing, historical-romance, favorites

Here's why I picked up NOT QUITE A HUSBAND: (1) It won the RITA award for Best Historical Romance of 2010 (2) It now appears on All About Romance's Top 100 Romances of ALL TIME list (3) Meredith Duran lists it as one of HER top 10 favorite romances of all time.

Having said that, I avoided buying this book for quite a while because of the publisher's blurb. It gave me totally the wrong idea about NOT QUITE A HUSBAND, and it took a series of really insanely laudatory accolades to make me...moreHere's why I picked up NOT QUITE A HUSBAND: (1) It won the RITA award for Best Historical Romance of 2010 (2) It now appears on All About Romance's Top 100 Romances of ALL TIME list (3) Meredith Duran lists it as one of HER top 10 favorite romances of all time.

Having said that, I avoided buying this book for quite a while because of the publisher's blurb. It gave me totally the wrong idea about NOT QUITE A HUSBAND, and it took a series of really insanely laudatory accolades to make me believe the blurb must be misleading. First I read: female surgeon. That made me think: the heroine is going to be a sensible, no-nonsense sort of gal. Not so. Bryony is an intensely emotional woman - she's actually just generally, all around intense - the human equivalent of a shaken champagne bottle.

Because I'd assumed Bryony would be the practical type, the prospect of a road trip depressed me. I figured it would also be practical, dry and annoying. Again, not so. Every stop on Bryony & Leo's journey to the coast is described in the most gorgeous, vivid prose. The atmosphere itself drenches the couple in romance, like the mountains themselves are conspiring to reunite the couple.

Then I went on to read: scheming sister tries to reunite Bryony with her ex-husband. When I read "scheming sister" I think...hijinks. I imagine I'll be reading a book full of ridiculous contrivances and forced hilarity. Cues like "scheming sister" are more likely to make me avoid a book than pick it up. Well, there is a scheming sister but she has a very small role to play. There are no hijinks and no ridiculous contrivances and no forced hilarity. This book would be better described by words like...well, "intense," "epic," "sweeping" "heartwrenching" and "gorgeous."

And then there's the fact that this couple was previously married, which made me worry that I'd have to read about the hero groveling a lot, and I don't enjoy that. But no, there's no groveling in this book at all.

I just figure, if I am the kind of person who will LOVE love love love this book, why is the blurb designed to make me think I will hate it? Am I crazy or is this a total failure of marketing? By the time I was done reading I was feeling...well, mostly I was feeling like my heart had melted like a ball of wax, because this is a fantastically romantic book, but I was also feeling FURIOUS with the blurb. Because I might have missed out on this absolutely fabulous book because of it.

As a final note - if the first paragraph of this review, with its insanely laudatory accolades, isn't enough to make you think NOT QUITE A HUSBAND is an amazing book, here's one last pitch. If you like Loretta Chase or Judith Ivory, if you thought the RAVEN/LEOPARD/SERPENT PRINCE trilogy was fantastic, were over the moon about THE MADNESS OF LORD IAN MACKENZIE, or call DUKE OF SHADOWS by Meredith Duran a Desert Island Keeper...you will probably LOVE love love NOT QUITE A HUSBAND by Sherry Thomas. (less)

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Jul 30, 2011

Sandy M rated it

Shelves: historical

This is my first Sherry Thomas book, much to my dismay. I’ve chatted with other readers who have read her books and while they all enjoy their reads, it’s a split decision on whether they like the flashbacks that Ms. Thomas utilizes. I have to say that I rather liked this element use in NQaH. It gave me more insight on the characters both in the present and in the past, sometimes giving me a look at what gave rise to the current circumstances. It worked quite effectively.

We learn about...moreThis is my first Sherry Thomas book, much to my dismay. I’ve chatted with other readers who have read her books and while they all enjoy their reads, it’s a split decision on whether they like the flashbacks that Ms. Thomas utilizes. I have to say that I rather liked this element use in NQaH. It gave me more insight on the characters both in the present and in the past, sometimes giving me a look at what gave rise to the current circumstances. It worked quite effectively.

We learn about the hero and heroine’s childhood and how they met at the same time we’re learning about them and how they’re reconnecting in real time. We also learn why Bryony had her marriage to Leo annulled so quickly even before Leo himself finds out, which is the bottom line that runs through this story. Ms. Thomas does an excellent job of then giving us their romance and love story all over again as they go through the trials of forgiveness and rediscovering each other through danger and heartbreak.

It’s been several years since their annulment when Bryony is surprised by Leo showing up in India where she’s putting her medical knowledge to good use. He bears bad news concerning her father, and though she doubts the veracity of the news due to its origination, she agrees to accompany him back to London to make sure all is well. This is where those flashbacks really shine in the story. While they both are wary around each other now, we get see how things really happened when Bryony approached Leo with her request to end their marriage, how he was thrown for a loop by that request, not seeing it coming, and how they acted around each other through the whole process and then how they’re currently reacting to each in the present.

This continues through their journey home, giving the reader more and more insight into these two characters. The trek they take is enlightening for both of them, as well as fraught with danger, and they end up in the middle of an Indian attack on an English outpost, suffering seven days and nights of not knowing if they will survive, seven days and nights of getting to know each other body and soul all over again. These are terrific moments between them during this time. They love and they share their thoughts and feelings more than ever before, bringing them closer and showing them they really can make a life between them work.

Back home in England, they still have a few issues to get through, but this time around they’re more open with each other, know each other better, and have decided to trust each other. I really enjoyed Leo and Bryony. Leo is more of a beta hero with moments of alpha-ness that all have to do with Bryony and his feelings for her, his sorrow at the hurt he caused her. I like that he’s open and willing to talk to her when the time calls for it. Bryony is strong-willed and very independent, has covered the globe in her post-annulment days, not sure at all what she now wants out of life. I thought at first she might make Leo pay even more dearly than she had before, but she’s definitely grown up in her traveling years and now faces everything much differently than before.

I really enjoyed Ms. Thomas’ writing. I have her previous books in the TBR pile and have every intention of cracking them open as soon as I can.

See my complete review at http://www.goodbadandunread.com (less)

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Jul 28, 2011

Judi Lacanlale rated it

This is my second book from Ms. Thomas and it did not disappoint! This is a much darker book than her more recent 'His all Night' but no less enjoyable. It's a story of unrequited love in between two people that love each other immensely but cannot be honest with each other, which what drove them apart and ruined their marriage. Bryony is a very unconventional lady in which she is a working surgeon who left England once her marriage fell apart. Her ex-husband is also quite accomplished as a ...more

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Apr 22, 2011

Joy rated it

· review of another edition

Recommended to Joy by: WLLK March BOTM

Shelves: ebooks, historical-romance

This is the first book I've read from Sherry Thomas and I wasn't disappointed at all. Given she has Lisa Kleypas's praises, that alone carries weight since LK is my favorite historical romance author. After reading the prologue, I was intrigued since it's been a while since I read something from this genre. Ms Thomas's story touched me and kept me reading further to find out if the hero and heroine would find it in their hearts to give it another go.

This was quite an emotional novel,...more

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Oct 03, 2010

Kay rated it

Shelves: romance

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I've read all four of Sherry Thomas's books and this one is my least favorite. I was really, really bothered by the "love" scenes. Leo creeped me out. I mean, really, if your wife sleep's in a separate room, is cold toward you, and acts like she can barely stand sleeping with you, what kind of person thinks that it's a good idea to sneak into her room in the early morning hours and have sex with her while she's asleep? I'm pretty sure what he was doing was rape because there was zero c...moreI've read all four of Sherry Thomas's books and this one is my least favorite. I was really, really bothered by the "love" scenes. Leo creeped me out. I mean, really, if your wife sleep's in a separate room, is cold toward you, and acts like she can barely stand sleeping with you, what kind of person thinks that it's a good idea to sneak into her room in the early morning hours and have sex with her while she's asleep? I'm pretty sure what he was doing was rape because there was zero consent involved and she was pissed when she discovered what he was doing. The woman had to lock her freaking door! Seriously creepy.

And the way the author carried out the sex while asleep thing for most of the book further bothered me. Really. What are the chances that both Byrony AND Leo are such deep sleepers that they wouldn't notice someone tugging their clothes off and having their way with them? I would wake up in a second, so that part of the plot felt contrived.

When I ignored Leo's squicky behavior with the sex stuff, I kind of liked him. He was sweet and totally in love with Byrony. He wanted to be with her again, he hadn't slept with anyone else since her and he followed her around the globe. Swoon-worthy, right? But when Byrony decides to give him a second chance after the big reveal of the "secret" that made her cold toward him (was it *really* a secret? everyone knew it from the beginning of the book, right?), he tells her no. Yep. That's right. He finally gets his chance to have his wife, whom he LOVES, back, and he says no. I was a very frustrated reader at that point.

But no fear. The uprising starts a few pages after that. Byrony, because she's stupidly stubborn (a common trait with Thomas's heroines), puts them right in the middle of danger. So they start messing around (mostly when one or the other is asleep) and decide that yes, they do love each other.

So, we have our happily ever after ending.

And then we have another 100 pages to read. I'm still not sure what the point of those last 100 pages were. I guess a 200 page book isn't a hot seller these days? Probably not. I don't mean to be snarky, but those pages did feel like filler to make a minimum wordcount.

I still love Thomas's writing. The way she uses similes and metaphors? Wow. Love it. And there were some points in the story where I smiled and rooted for the hero and heroine. Overall, I think the type of story that Thomas writes just isn't for me (though I did enjoy her latest release HIS AT NIGHT - I think it's my favorite of her books). If you enjoyed PRIVATE ARRANGEMENTS and DELICIOUS, you should love this book.(less)

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Apr 07, 2010

Kat rated it

Shelves: fiction, girl-power, good-sex, romance, victorian

Sherry Thomas did it again for me. I love her creative and unlikely scenarios, so different from any other historical romance I've read. (Though, I'll admit, of historical romance, I read mostly regency.) I love that she takes us outside of England, though her characters are still English. I love the research that imbues every page, making it seem authentic and even plausible. And I love her characters when they're not being whiny and melodramatic. (Though this book reminded me a great dea...more

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Nov 03, 2009

Christine rated it

Shelves: kiss-me-now-you-fool

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jun 03, 2009

Rhianon rated it

Shelves: historical-fiction, five-star-rec-s

"Trust is a choice. I choose to trust your love and your stalwartness. I trust that should there be a day when either the past or the present overwhelms me, you will be there to guide me past that dark moment." (p. 184)

Wow. Just... wow.
Out of all the historical fiction and regency romances I've read, this one has by far exceeded the field. Mostly, I think, because of the cord with which it resonated deep within me.
Anyone who's ever been in a relationship -- and ...more

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