When Harry Met Molly (Impossible Bachelors, #1) by Kieran Kramer

Oct 29, 2010 Rane rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: regency-romance-napoleonic-era, keeper, pure-fluff

Funny.
Cute.
Fast-Paced.

I could on …but I wont. This is how When Harry Met Molly turned out to be. Not one to buy a book without first checking it out, I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed this fun romp of a book.

Lord Harry Traemore is a happy bachelor, content to play the bachelor in pursuit of pleasure. That is until him and his friends are named by the Prince Regent as Impossible Bachelors and forced into a crazy wager. The bachelor with the best mistress whom wins Most Delectable...more Funny.
Cute.
Fast-Paced.

I could on …but I wont. This is how When Harry Met Molly turned out to be. Not one to buy a book without first checking it out, I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed this fun romp of a book.

Lord Harry Traemore is a happy bachelor, content to play the bachelor in pursuit of pleasure. That is until him and his friends are named by the Prince Regent as Impossible Bachelors and forced into a crazy wager. The bachelor with the best mistress whom wins Most Delectable Companion gets a free year of unmarried bliss, and Harry isn’t worried on bit, he’s got this wager in the bag..that is until his mistress takes off with another leaving him without a mistress, stuck with his foe and if he doesn’t get one soon, forfeits the wager and must marry ASAP!

Harry’s “foe” Lady Molly Fairbanks is hot-headed, a total romantic and is running away from home to get married to her father’s assistant. She’s tried of being a caged bird, after a Christmas poem when she was a child, proclaiming her love for Harry’s older brother, her seeing her sister and Harry kiss..well gets Harry and Molly in some hot water. But that was years ago and she wants to taste freedom, that is until Harry and his mistress shows up, and her “beloved” runs off with Harry’s mistress leaving her stuck with Harry and his wager. So when Harry strikes up his own wager with Molly that if she plays his fake mistress and wins the wager, he’ll help her find her the very best husband. It sounds like a great plan that is until both start fighting off a sudden attraction between the two, fighting off a villainous Sir Richard, and making friends with other mistress. This wager leads Harry and Molly to something they didn’t think would happen, them falling in love with each other!

This book was a total farce, and that being said readers “Suspend Your Disbelief at the Door” cause some of the antics that happen in this book will having you laughing like with Molly taking up a dare by the other mistress to go streaking in front of the house, to a few eye rolling moments. This book is not one to take seriously it’s just a good old funny comedy HR. The characters are likeable with both craving the freedom their family denied them after a dumb but small incident. Harry isn’t what he appears to be, and through the week starts to open his eyes about things in his life he’s done. Molly is a romantic, and wants to be free to live her life and not be treated like she’s still a child by her father. These two do some growing up through the week finding who they truly are but, if you’re looking for more depth, you’re not going to find it. It’s not that the characters are shallow, their pretty normal and loveable, book is very much driven by the antics that both Molly and Harry get themselves into, and not by them so they doesn’t leave a lot of character growth or development. The romance between the two is funny and sexy and the story is fast-paced once you get into the book. The secondary characters that shine the most are the other mistresses, while the rest of Impossible Bachelors are pretty much shadowed in the background, with more about them later on in the books?
The author did a great job of making it non-gross with the Bachelors and Mistresses, it felt more like a party with friends then some big sex orgy party.

This may not be for all readers, but if your looking for a good laugh by a debut author, and fun romantic comedy- look no further then When Harry Met Molly(less)

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Nov 03, 2010 Juliana rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance, 3-half-stars, 2010-reads, 2010-nov-reads, set-in-england, 19th-century, 1810s, hr-childhood-history, hr-have-a-past-together, hr-hero-black-sheep-rebel-outcast, hr-hero-late-20s, hr-heroine-early-to-mid-20s, hr-hero-ladies-man, hr-heroine-somewhat-wallflower, hr-heroine-unusual-odd, hr-mistaken-identity-impersonation, hr-opposites-enemies-attract

Light and fun debut romance, but had a mixed reaction (3.5 stars)

I've been looking forward to this book, as it's been a somewhat uneven year (for me) for romance new releasees and it's always exciting to have a new writer on the scene. Unfortunately, I have to say my feelings are somewhat mixed on this one. I will definitely be picking up her next book - and depending on the summary, may again buy it on the release day - however I really wish a few changes had been made to WHEN HARRY MET MOLLY....more

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Feb 12, 2011 Robin (RBBR) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance, impossible-bachelors-quartet, paperback

I don't think there are any real spoilers. This book and its sequel were Christmas gifts. I actually received a total of I think at least 6 books for Christmas this year, one can never have to many books. Anyway, Kieran Kramer is a new author and this is her first book. I keep wanting to call it "When Harry Met Sally".

When Molly (Heroine) was 13 she fancied herself in love with her sister's fiance' who is the older brother of Harry (Hero) so she wrote a poem which she read aloud at a joint fami...more

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Jan 21, 2011 Tammy Walton Grant rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: hr-historical-lite, couldn-t-finish, 2011-january, romance-silly, snarky-troll-lives-here, hr-regency, romance-historical

Oh, I am so done with this book.

I could, I suppose, force myself to read it then write a long snarky rant about how much I hate books like this, but that's hardly fair. It's like shooting fish in a barrel and kinda mean-spirited. Or like pulling on a hangnail then complaining about it hurting.

I think Kieran Kramer is probably a good writer. (I won't even get started on the titles; that's a rant for another day.) The little bit I did read seemed to be well-written. It started off quite well: you...more Oh, I am so done with this book.

I could, I suppose, force myself to read it then write a long snarky rant about how much I hate books like this, but that's hardly fair. It's like shooting fish in a barrel and kinda mean-spirited. Or like pulling on a hangnail then complaining about it hurting.

I think Kieran Kramer is probably a good writer. (I won't even get started on the titles; that's a rant for another day.) The little bit I did read seemed to be well-written. It started off quite well: you meet the heroine just as she has caused her sister's fiance and his brother to come to blows over a poem she has written; she is shipped off to boarding school and the brother off to the Navy. Years later they still hate each other. But then this happens:

Harry and three of his bachelor buddies are flaked out in the games room of their gentlemen's club bemoaning the soon-to-be-married state of one of them. Then, voila, the fireplace shoves aside to reveal a secret passage and out comes a fat guy in an expensive outfit with a chippy on his arm. He starts to speak and they realize it is the Prince Regent himself! Drunk, of course. He does this speech about bachelorhood and makes a royal decree declaring the annual Impossible Bachelors wager, and the winner shall be granted an entire year of freedom from the trials and tribulations of marriage. One of the "Impossible Bachelors" is an Admiral in his Navy so he reassigns him (oh, FFS!!) to make sure he is present for the wager, and makes a further decree that those who cross the Prince Regent in his wish to see at least one of his bachelor subjects free from shameless pursuit shall forever be given the cut direct by His Royal Highness and his loyal subjects.

That was enough for me. I can suspend my disbelief as much as the next girl, but I just couldn't do it with this one.

Normally I love historical romances. I love the clothing, the way they speak, the beautiful homes, the pretty manners. I love it when a book I am reading immerses me in the history (without clubbing me over the head with it) so that I feel like I am right there. I like to learn about history while I am reading - whether it is about details of what it was like to live in 1814 or about the state of politicial relations with France. I like many different types of historical romances: I like the sweeping, grand sagas, the compelling, darker stories, the whimsical fairy-tale like stories, and the occasional frothy romp. I'll read about almost any historical period, although I seem to be partial to Georgian. I sometimes like books that make me laugh out loud while reading them, other times just the pleasure gained from just loving the way a story is being told is enough.

What I DON'T like is this: when you take an existing historical figure and insert them into the story for no reason other than to advance a premise THAT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN. Or at least I don't believe it could have happened. And I didn't. Not in the slightest. My reaction, IIRC, was a quite unladylike snort.

I don't know tons about the Regency period other than it seems to have been similar to the 80s (excess and ridiculousness by the upper class) and that "Prinny" was quite the piece of work. But I found it impossible to believe that scene, and it sets up the entire series.

So having said all of that I'm returning it to library. And making myself promise that I will not, however much I am tempted by the giggling, glowing reviews on GR, pick up one of these books again.

**This book ranks a 4/5 on the Teeth Grind-o-Meter.
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Nov 10, 2010 Katie(babs) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Kieran Kramer is now officially my favorite new historical romance author. I had so much fun reading When Harry Met Molly, even though half the things that occur in the book are not at all believable. With that being said, I didn’t care. Kieran has a great historical romance voice with enough laughs and quirky cuteness that one other historical author comes to mind, which is Julia Quinn. Keiran could possibly be the new Julia Quinn, and if her next two books are anything like this one, she’ll ha...more Kieran Kramer is now officially my favorite new historical romance author. I had so much fun reading When Harry Met Molly, even though half the things that occur in the book are not at all believable. With that being said, I didn’t care. Kieran has a great historical romance voice with enough laughs and quirky cuteness that one other historical author comes to mind, which is Julia Quinn. Keiran could possibly be the new Julia Quinn, and if her next two books are anything like this one, she’ll have me as a fan for life.

The epilogue is beyond funny. Thirteen year old Molly Fairbanks is the daughter of the widowed Earl of Sutton. She is crazy in love with the Duke of Mallan’s older son Roderick, who is likely to marry her older sister Penelope. But Molly catches Penelope kissing Harry, Roderick’s younger brother. In this case, what should Molly do? Why, write a poem, changing everyone’s name just to be safe about what she witnessed and recite it in front of all the guests at the Duke’s Christmas ball. Molly thinks she’ll be a big hit and Roderick will fall in love with her. But things don’t go the way Molly has planned and Roderick and Harry come to blows, Molly will be sent away to the Providence School for Wayward Girls, and Harry will be forced into the army. Harry blames Molly, and Molly blames Harry for being banished.
Eight years later, Harry and his bachelor compatriots in arms are saddened by one of their friends who has become a victim of the marriage noose. The Prince Regent pops out from a secret passage in the wall at the club they are at, and decides on a game for the single men there. Harry, as well as his bachelor friends, will hold a contest where their mistresses will try to win the Most Delectable Companion Contest. The bachelor whose mistress wins the title will give the bachelor another year of marriage freedom. The loser will have to propose marriage within two months to a woman of the other bachelors’ choosing. Harry isn’t happy because he enjoys being a bachelor. And if he loses, he’ll end up marrying a very dull and unexcitable woman. There’s nothing he can do to get out of this, and will do whatever he can to make sure he wins.

Molly is going to elope with Cedric Alliston, her father’s ho-hum assistant. They have stopped at an inn for a bite to eat before they go to Gretna Green. Mollly has never had her season in London and has remained in Kent with her father. At twenty-one, Molly despises her life and wishes she has what her sister Penelope has with a loving husband and four children, with another one of the way. Cedric isn’t a catch by any means, but he’ll have to do because she will then be free to have adventures and enjoy everything that was taken away from her at thirteen because of Harry Traemore. But then her past comes back to haunt her when Harry arrives at the same inn she’s at with his mistress. And Molly becomes stranded when Cedric runs off with Harry’s mistress. Now Harry doesn’t have a mistress for the Most Delectable Companion Contest, unless he uses Molly. He makes a bargain with Molly that if she pretends to be his mistress and does her best to win the contest, he’ll help her find a husband in London. Molly agrees, and off they go for a week together. Harry expects Molly to be biddable and play the tart so she can compete with the other tart like mistresses.

Molly is not necessarily the biddable type, and the women she is introduced to treat her with disdain and more like an enemy than a friendly adversary. She’s really a fish out of water and even when Harry gives her kissing lessons, she still can’t compete with the likes of these very scandalous ladies. Why Molly can’t even wear a fischu to cover her bosom and must wear shocking gowns. And when she expected to be in the kissing closet with another man other than Harry, (think seven minutes in heaven) she’s like to succumb to the vapors. But she wants to prove Harry wrong and win for she can be the best pretend mistress ever. Molly has some interesting plans up her hem, so to speak, and soon she not only has made friends with all the mistresses, but she may have a good chance in winning the contest and Harry’s heart.

When Harry Met Molly is cute, adorable and everything in between. Molly has this endearing sweetness that isn’t too grating. She’s a plucky and a very intelligent woman who not only has the brains but the book smarts. Molly’s reactions to things will definitely make you laugh, especially when she’s forced to wear Harry’s ex-mistress’s clothes. And when Harry has a sudden revelation about her, it’s really not all that surprising.

The utter loopiness of the tests the mistresses go through are ridiculous. A potato sack race by these women, and who the ultimate winner is, will have you in a snit as much as Molly was, although I found it silly in a good way. Also the alone time Harry and Molly have together as they get to know each other, as well as being intimate, really works well. And one scene, where Harry and Molly recreated a harem type setting is steamy. What Molly is more than willing to do with Harry sex wise is very unbelievable and seems out of place since Molly is a true innocent in the bedroom, but then again look at what she has agreed to do during the week.

The ending is way too pat, but so what? I had such a blast reading When Harry Met Molly. The majority of the time I was snickering or going, “awww”. Harry is this great combination beta/alpha, and Molly is really his perfect mate in every sense.

When Harry Met Molly is much like a big warm blanket you want to wrap yourself in that gives you the nice fuzzies in your stomach when all is said and done.(less)

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Jan 11, 2012 Book Review Diva rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historicalromance

Kieran Kramer 's Book- “When Harry Met Molly”

“When Harry Met Molly” is a delightful read that will leave you smiling. I enjoyed this book so much that I wish the book didn't have to end. My fingers could not turn the pages quick enough through this wonderful book. “When Harry Met Molly” is the debut book in Kieran Kramer's new series called “The Impossible Bachelors”.

Harry and his friends are part a group called “The Impossible Bachelors”. Once a year the bachelors meet with their mistress and...more

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Dec 29, 2012 Deborah Ideiosepius rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, l-l-love-and-lust

A good fun romp, a setting that I thought was pretty innovative ( Even if it was wholly, completely, impossible), a leading man that was a rogue without being a bad one, a leading lady who is funny smart and lusty, a classically nasty bad guy, it all works well.

I especially liked the bow to Jane Austin and the fact that she felt obliged to dedicate ‘Emma’ to Prinny, without liking or respecting him.

About as historical as a visit to a department store, I could poke more and larger holes in the ‘h...more

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Feb 16, 2012 Mareena rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Anyone who likes historical romance

Recommended to Mareena by: Tracee at Pump up Your Book

Lady Mary Fairbanks - Molly to her friends - is in trouble. She had planned to elope to Gretna Green with her father's archeological partner, Cedric. Cedric is somewhat unromantic, lackluster...but she digresses...anyway, Cedric is currently rocketing down the road in a coach and four with a lightskirt...not his "intended" new bride leaving her in the somewhat dubious company of her childhood foe Lord Harry Traemore.

Lord Harry Traemore is somewhat shocked to discover the delectable Fiona on her...more

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Oct 05, 2011 Melanie rated it 5 of 5 stars

I reviewed this book on my blog www.bookworm2bookworm.wordpress.com

Ms. Kramer had me at: A LOVE RECTANGLE OF TRAGIC PROPORTIONS! From that moment in the book I was very well on my way to enjoying one of this year’s great début books.

We meet Molly at thirteen years of age, and she is head over heels in love with Roderick, who is engaged to marry her older sister Penelope. Harry is Roderick’s younger brother, and Molly spies him kissing her sister. Oh, how we all can relate to this predicament of...more I reviewed this book on my blog www.bookworm2bookworm.wordpress.com

Ms. Kramer had me at: A LOVE RECTANGLE OF TRAGIC PROPORTIONS! From that moment in the book I was very well on my way to enjoying one of this year’s great début books.

We meet Molly at thirteen years of age, and she is head over heels in love with Roderick, who is engaged to marry her older sister Penelope. Harry is Roderick’s younger brother, and Molly spies him kissing her sister. Oh, how we all can relate to this predicament of such a young and tender love! She assumes that her sister doesn’t deserve Rodericks love and sets out to write a poem, which is to be read at the annual Christmas ball. Changing names of all involved was supposed to have worked, right? Wrong! Everything Molly planned goes awry. Duke’s Christmas ball comes to a crashing halt as Roderick and Harry come to blows, Molly is banished to school for girls, and poor Harry is forced into the army. For the next eight years these two develop deep animosity toward each other and never fail to be at each other’s hair at family gatherings, as Roderick has forgiven Penelope and they’ve been happily married all these years.

Eight years later we meet Molly as she’s trying to elope with Cedric Alliston. They’ve stopped at an inn while on their way to Gretna Green. Here is where all the fun begins, and it doesn’t stop until the end of the book. We’re made to connect to a girl who never had her season, spent long periods of time away from her family, and at twenty-one, feels that life is passing her by. That is until she finally gets to know a man who for the longest time, she thought, she hated and despised.

Our Hero eight years later is with his friends, all bachelors, all deep in their cups, mourning one of their own that is getting leg shackled. The Prince Regent shows up at their club and decides to hold a contest where each of their mistresses will enter a contest to win the Most Delectable Companion. The Companion who wins, enables the bachelor another year of bachelorhood. The loser however has to propose marriage to someone who the others choose. None of them are happy about this game that their King decrees, but they have no choice in the matter, so let the games begin! I was a bit disappointed in him in regards to holding a grudge towards Molly for such a long time. He was a bit older than she so I did expect him to be more mature. However it didn’t detract or distract me from enjoying him and his life story.

I’m not going to tell you the rest because I want you to read the book and find out on your own. This is a fun, exciting and sweet story with plenty of love scenes and a first for me to read of a certain “position” where Harry instructs Molly….WHOA! I had so much fun reading this book, and I can only imagine the fun that Ms. Kramer had in writing it. I giggled and LOL’d reading of tests that the mistresses were put through. The characters were all three-dimensional, the story and plot unique. I was grinning, giggling and laughing through all of their adventures and misadventures! I’ve read some reviews where the readers are questioning the realism of the plot. Really? Seriously? THIS IS A ROMANCE NOVEL!!! Enjoy it as such! I have and I applaud the author for taking me with her on this romantic romp.

I hope you get to read this book and if you do please let me know what you think. It has been my great fortune to have discovered a bunch of new women out there that are blowing my mind with their début novels! I say more power to them! Keep an eye on Ms. Kramer, she’s got two more coming out. They’re already on my MUST HAVE list!

Melanie(less)

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Jul 18, 2011 Sarah Eiseman rated it 5 of 5 stars

OK, so I admit that my previous aversion to historical romance really had more to do with not finding the right authors than not liking the books. Case and point: Kieran Kramer’s first book in the Impossible Bachelors series was seriously one of the best books I’ve read all year. This book was funny, light, but had an interesting enough plot and lovable characters that I literally had trouble putting it down and was genuinely sad when the book was finished. Luckily for me, though, there are a f...more

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Jun 04, 2011 Christine rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance

Fun, outrageous, and well-written.

Harry and Molly actually met as children. They grew up as neighbors, at least until one horrible moment when 13-year-old Molly reads a love poem, offering her undying love to Harry's older brother while telling everyone about Harry's kiss with his brother's fiance (Molly's sister). As a result, Molly is shipped off to the country and Harry is sent off to war.

Years later, Harry gets involved in a crazy wager forced on him and some of his fellows by the prince re...more Fun, outrageous, and well-written.

Harry and Molly actually met as children. They grew up as neighbors, at least until one horrible moment when 13-year-old Molly reads a love poem, offering her undying love to Harry's older brother while telling everyone about Harry's kiss with his brother's fiance (Molly's sister). As a result, Molly is shipped off to the country and Harry is sent off to war.

Years later, Harry gets involved in a crazy wager forced on him and some of his fellows by the prince regent himself. They are all to bring their mistresses to a house party, and after a series of games and cast ballots, one of the women will be given the title of most delectable companion. The winner is freed from the hassles of match-makers for a year, while one loser's name is drawn at random, forced to propose marriage to a woman of the club's choosing.

All right, I'll stop here -- it's beyond far-fetched. If your alarm bells are going off already, that makes sense, and if you truly don't think you can handle it, then this book may not be for you. But if you're willing to suspend disbelief on the setup, there were some gems in here. The thing you have to realize is that the book isn't entirely serious. It's meant to be outrageous.

Yet within the rules set forth, I thought it displayed remarkable sensitivity. Molly gets involved with this whole fiasco when, on the way to elope with just about the only man she's been allowed to meet over the last 8 years, he runs off with Harry's mistress during a chance meeting at an inn. Harry won't let Molly go home alone, and if he shows up without a mistress, he forfeits the wager and has to marry, so he convinces her to pose as his mistress for the week.

I think what really struck me about this book, even more than the relationship between Harry and Molly, was the mistresses themselves. At first, they were fierce competitors for a useless title, but Molly stirs things up. Each one comes alive, and becomes more than their labels.

The book didn't have many laugh out loud moments, thought the entire situation remained amusing in a farcical sort of way.

I recommend this book to those who like historical romance, but who don't always take it seriously.

www.christineamsden.com

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May 28, 2011 Sabrina added it

I'm still working on my review, but here are my thoughts I wrote down not long after I started this book...

Sometimes you hear so much awesomeness about a book that it really never has a chance to live up to the expectations that have been built up about it. Then, there are those books that deserve every single bit of purple prose that they've received.

I've found one of those books and I can't even wait to finish it before coming on here to tell you I LOVE IT!

What's the book? It's actually a bo...more

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Apr 22, 2011 TheInnocentButler rated it 3 of 5 stars

My four-sentence or less take on the plot: When Molly is 12-years-old, she performs an embarrassing poem that ends up getting her sent away to a strict boarding school, as well as getting family friend Harry sent in to the military. They consider themselves enemies. When Harry is pulled into a stupid little game of the Prince, he commandeers Molly (who he found running off to Gretna Green with a milksop employee of her father) to pretend to be his mistress for a week. As this is a historical rom...more

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Apr 18, 2011 Audrey rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical

For the most part, I liked this book. That said, I have mixed feelings about parts of it where I thought it was uneven...which is where I ended up picking myself up and just heaving myself over those doubts.

I have to say, though, that one thing I found VERY distracting: bad editing! 1/3 of the time, Molly's eyes are blue; 2/3 of the time, they are a warm brown. Call me crazy, but this is DISTRACTING to the extreme. I'm not even a very picky everything-has-to-be-absolutely-precise-and-time-period...more For the most part, I liked this book. That said, I have mixed feelings about parts of it where I thought it was uneven...which is where I ended up picking myself up and just heaving myself over those doubts.

I have to say, though, that one thing I found VERY distracting: bad editing! 1/3 of the time, Molly's eyes are blue; 2/3 of the time, they are a warm brown. Call me crazy, but this is DISTRACTING to the extreme. I'm not even a very picky everything-has-to-be-absolutely-precise-and-time-period-accurate reader usually. However, some things just can't slip by. Another thing that bothered me - references to time passing were inconsistent. Sometimes, Harry has been back from his military service for one year; others, several years. Again...distracting (and easy to fix, I would think!).

*shoves those things to the side*

Okay, having vented about that, here's what I DID like. I thought Harry was charming. He starts off a rather dissolute wastrel, but there's an underlying vein of goodness and honor that threads itself through his actions. I liked the interactions and chemistry between Harry and Molly. You could really feel sparks flying between them.

I thought the beginning of the book was a little bleh, and I wasn't sure if I'd like Molly (or even Harry!). She just didn't seem like a heroine I could relate to (she actually seemed TSTL in the first couple scenes, which included a botched Gretna Green run with an unworthy suitor). Harry at times seemed like he didn't GET how scandalous and outside Molly's realm of experience pretending to be a mistress would be (he later thinks this through and berates himself for it).

Needless to say, I (or she?) overcame these doubts.

Let me say up front that I'm not a fan of mistress Regencies, and the premise of the book (a mistress competition???) is a little shocking to the sensibilities of this reader of traditional Signet/Zebra Regencies. That said, the scandalous house party ended up a more enjoyable (and not as scandalous?) read than I anticipated.

I thought a number of the secondary characters were pretty well done. The mistresses, who started out catty, came out from behind that facade to reveal surprising depths (or, at least, less shallowness than originally expected). Other than Viscount Lumley, we didn't see much in terms of characterization of the other three bachelors in the Impossible Bachelors series. Even so, I saw enough of HIM to be curious as to his story.

In the end, I really liked reading about Harry and Molly, period. It's like they can't help being attracted to each other, and in being drawn together - not just physically, although maybe at first this is the case - they really get to know each other. They find they have a lot in common and really just want the best for each other. In terms of love scenes, I actually liked the way they were presented in this book. I felt like they actually furthered their couple-ness. Harry, who is lusty yet tender and struggling with his honor that refuses to let things go too far with Molly, and Molly, who is completely without artifice and possessed of a hoydenish curiosity...even in the bedroom, make a great pairing.

Overall, I'd say yes...I liked it, but with reservations. I liked it enough to try the second book, at least. (less)

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Apr 11, 2011 Allison rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-in-2011, format-ebook, romance, historical-romance

I picked this up for the title alone (and the fact that I'm a big fan of "childhood friends/enemies/acquaintances/etc. growing up and discovering feelings for each other" stories). The premise is absolutely ridiculous and for me the secondary characters (at least the male ones) blended together, apart from the villain. (view spoiler)...more

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Apr 01, 2011 Sarah rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2011

Normally, I'm very hesitant to try new romance authors. However, I came across this one at the library - the title caught my eye, and Julia Quinn's blurb on the cover convinced me to borrow it.

Molly is a feisty daughter of an earl, who has been closeted away in strict schools for the last 8 years. She's dying to escape from that boring life, and means to elope with a friend of the family's when her plans go awry.

Harry is the son of a duke, who had a career in the army but ran into a disgracefu...more

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Feb 02, 2011 Lady Rogue rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. In order to understand the hostility between Molly and Harry, you have to read the prologue. At age 13, Molly thought herself in love with her sister's fiance and Harry's brother. When Molly brought to light via a love poem about her sister and Harry's indiscretion, Molly and Harry were the ones deemed trouble makers and both were sent away blaming and hating each other. The meat of story starts years later. Harry was done with the military and Molly was in the process of running off to Gretna G...more In order to understand the hostility between Molly and Harry, you have to read the prologue. At age 13, Molly thought herself in love with her sister's fiance and Harry's brother. When Molly brought to light via a love poem about her sister and Harry's indiscretion, Molly and Harry were the ones deemed trouble makers and both were sent away blaming and hating each other. The meat of story starts years later. Harry was done with the military and Molly was in the process of running off to Gretna Green to elope with her father's assistant, Cedric. But, in a strange turn of events, Cedric ran off with Harry's mistress leaving both Harry and Molly out in the middle of nowhere and in an unfortunate predicament.

Harry needed a mistress to attend the Most Delectable Companion contest held out in the country. The contest was Prinny's, the Prince Regent, brilliant idea of entertainment. If Harry showed up without a mistress, he would forfeit and would be required to marry within a months time. Harry had no desire of marriage. However, the winning bachelor would have a year free of any marriage commitments, no matter his indiscretions... another words- a rakehell's dream. Molly however, was a dreamer. She hoped that one day, her knight in shining armor would come and whisk her away and live happily ever after. She wanted to marry and have kids. But unfortunately, she was abandon and had no way of returning home. So a deal was hatched and agreed upon. Molly would pretend to be his "fake mistress" for one week and Harry would provide her with transportation home and help her find a suitable husband.

I loved that Molly was spunky and while she was innocent, she was far from ignorant. Harry and his Impossible Bachelor club had put the mistresses through some unusual challenges. For example, the woman were to compete in a potato sack race...only it wasn't who was suppose to cross the finishing line first...it was whose boobs bounced most. Men! The other mistresses appeared not to be bothered by the challenges, but Molly was, so much so, it brought suspicion. But, she used her sharp wit and intellect to find ways around the challenges and the suspicions. I loved that while she was uncomfortable, she managed to have the courage to confront the other mistresses. The thing about Molly was not that she was impulsive, charming, and intelligent, she was just plain infectious. She brought out the best in people and they liked her for it.

I liked Harry, he balanced Molly's whimsical and carefree innocence with practical reasoning and experience. However, as an individual, I would have liked to seen more depth and perhaps more fire to his character. Although there were moments, I questioned Harry's judgement mostly in regards to the challenges, I did think he was a honorable man or at least tried to be.

The chemistry between Harry and Molly was exhilarating. I had no doubt, I was reading with a smile on my face and had random burst of laughter. The back and forth banter, the flying insults, and the one-uppers was highly entertaining. It is said, there is a fine line between love and hate. I enjoyed watching the relationship between these two grow from loathing to loving..

The supporting characters were fun to read. Although, I confess, I thought the females overshadowed the men. The author gave the mistresses more personality and depth. I found them to be much more engaging. The men seemed to be a little stiff in the personality department and only shined when the women were around. The villain of the story had me questioning if he truly was one...apparently he had cause for hating Harry... However, it was his abusiveness that sealed his role as villain for me.

Overall, this was a light-hearted and delightful read. While the premise is a little silly, the writing was seasoned and the characters engaging. This debut novel was filled with wit, hi jinks, and sexual tension and was a wonderful start to a fun and entertaining historical romance series.
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Jan 31, 2011 Jessi rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, part-of-a-series, 2011, appealing-characteristic-story, historical

I think this is the author's first book so I'm willing to give her a second chance.
The plot was pretty ridiculous. Harry and Molly have known each other for over a decade when her sister married his brother. She fell in love with him but caused a major scandal when she revealed that Harry had kissed her sister while engaged.
Ten years later, their disdain is still mutual. Harry is now known as one of the Impossible Bachelors. It is a group of five men who, by order of the prince, must compete eve...more

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Jan 21, 2011 Book Binge Blog rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review

I'm very conflicted about this novel. It isn't often that I'm so torn when I finish a book.While this novel was enjoyable, I had a hard time suspending disbelief through much if it. I'm willing to give the characters some leeway in any historical novel I read, if the author provides an entertaining enough read to distract me from the fact that what's going on would never have been allowed in real life. Kramer exceeded in this at times, but all too often I was left feeling vaguely ill, waiting fo...more I'm very conflicted about this novel. It isn't often that I'm so torn when I finish a book.While this novel was enjoyable, I had a hard time suspending disbelief through much if it. I'm willing to give the characters some leeway in any historical novel I read, if the author provides an entertaining enough read to distract me from the fact that what's going on would never have been allowed in real life. Kramer exceeded in this at times, but all too often I was left feeling vaguely ill, waiting for the ax to fall and the characters to be caught.

Harry and Molly have been adversaries since the year Molly was 13, fancied herself in love with her sister's fiance, and proceeded to tell the world that she'd seen Harry (the younger brother of her sister's fiance) kissing her sister two weeks before the wedding. With that one act she forever changed her future and Harry's. So started a lifetime of animosity.

When Molly runs into Harry as she's on her way to elope with her father's assistant some 8 years later, not much about their feelings for one another has changed. Due to circumstances outside their control, Molly's intended runs off with Harry's mistress..which is really bad timing for Harry because he's been roped into a wager with 5 other men who are all hoping to win a full year of freedom from marriage, thanks to the prince regent.

So they agree to help each other - Molly will pretend to be Harry's mistress for a week. If she wins the title of "most delectable companion" (something she and the other mistresses will be competing for during the course of the week), Harry will help her find a husband during the next season. In the meantime, Harry will teach her what she needs to know to be a mistress and they'll hope for the best.

Harry has always been "the spare". Being the second son of a duke, there were no expectations for him to do anything great with his life, especially after the incident with his older brother's fiance. He was shipped off to the army where his heroics were overshadowed by a scandal involving the wife of a senior officer. Since his return from the army, he's done his best to live up to his bad reputation. His feelings of inadequacy really defined him and gave him some much needed depth.

At the outset of the story Molly was a naive girl who let her emotions lead her in everything. She's confident she'll have no trouble pretending to be a mistress and winning the competition alongside Harry. It isn't long before she realizes she's in over her head. Her desire to win over the other mistresses and her constant blundering were hard to read at times. Her inner strength and perseverance eventually emerged, which made her much more likable.

Naturally I had some trouble accepting that a young noblewoman could pretend to be a mistress without consequences. First of all, who would believe it? She's a girl who's been tucked away at school or acting as companion to her ailing aunt for the last 8 years. I cringed for her every time she made some faux pas or someone hinted that she wasn't a real mistress. Not to mention the fact that they weren't exactly discreet while discussing their real arrangement, leaving themselves wide open for discovery. Beyond that, since they both come from influential families, the ruse seemed even more ridiculous.

But here's where I'm conflicted. Both characters showed tremendous growth (especially Harry) and I truly enjoyed their journey into love. But I think the author asked too much of us with the plot, especially at the end.

Despite the issues I had with this book, I've already started the next. Though I struggled with the plot, I enjoyed the characters and Kramer's writing.

3.75 out of 5

This review was originally posted by Holly on Book Binge. You can find her review here: http://thebookbinge.com/2011/01/revie...(less)

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Jan 19, 2011 Jenny Rebecca rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance-novels

I had a bit of a hard time with this book at first. Mainly because of a paragraph on the very first page. Let me quote:

*Harry describing one of his closest male friends*

"Lumley was rich as Croesus, with the most twinkling blue eyes Harry had ever seen and a grin that could light up Vauxhall Gardens at midnight better than any fireworks."

The reason I had a difficult time with this was simply that I knew Harry was the hero of the novel, and having read the back cover I saw that Molly was to be the...more

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Jan 14, 2011 Carolyn rated it 3 of 5 stars

Rarely do I write reviews but this time I have to. I enjoyed this book. What I had problems with was the editing. Who the heck edited this had to have been some kind of ***** (you can fill in the blank as you see fit).

The story was entertaining. That's why it got 3 stars. My problem? Someone explain to me how a heroine's eyes can go from "Wedgewood blue" (page 25) to "puckish brown" (page 57) to "impish blue gaze" (page 246) to "curious brown eyes of hers" (page 374) with in the span of the book...more

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Jan 11, 2011 Calisto rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: easily-forgettable

The Professor with the candlestick in the library...and his little dog too!

This has the feel of a smutty madcap screwball comedy that ultimately falls short of it's goal. It's a 2.75 star book but I'm giving it 3 because it did make me laugh out loud and the prologue is simply hilarious. Having said that, three main things keep this story from being a true 3 or higher star book.

The heroine's melodramatic romantic naivete, while adorable as a thirteen year old, gets old very quickly in the adult...more

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Dec 19, 2010 April rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: debut-regency-historical-romance

WHEN HARRY MET MOLLY by Kieran Dramer is a funny delightful historical romance set in 1816 London. It is the first in THE IMPOSSIBLE BACHELORS series and this author's debut book. What a delightful, witty debut into Regency historical romance.It is well written with details,depth, fast paced, and a page turner. It has wit, humor, romance, love, sweet sensuality, laugh out loud scenes, courageous witty woman, a romantic wager from the Prince Regent involving mistresses and marriage, and last but...more

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Dec 03, 2010 Joelle rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book thought t was great from beginning to end.The character;s were awesome you could not help but love them all save for one of them lol. Molly and Harry had a run in when they were younger they despised each other hoping to never see each other again. During which time each of there parents sent each of them out of London's reach to avoid scandal. Years later they met at a Inn Molly with her intended and Harry with his Mistress. Molly was on here way to Greta Green to elope with C...more I loved this book thought t was great from beginning to end.The character;s were awesome you could not help but love them all save for one of them lol. Molly and Harry had a run in when they were younger they despised each other hoping to never see each other again. During which time each of there parents sent each of them out of London's reach to avoid scandal. Years later they met at a Inn Molly with her intended and Harry with his Mistress. Molly was on here way to Greta Green to elope with Cedric one of her fathers co-workers but Cedric spies Fiona Harry Mistress and decides that getting married to Molly's not what he wants her wants Harry's mistress instead. Left alone both dumbfounded are Harry and Molly to fend for themselves .Even though Molly and Harry still hold grudges towards each other, Harry cannot leave Molly alone and unprotected.But Harry is on is way to a house party that the Prince Regent has set up for several bachelors and must arrive there with his Mistress as she is part of the game. The game that the Prince Regent is set up is to win the contest to be the The Most Delectable Companion. This means if Harry's Mistress is chosen above all others he will win one full year of freedom from the match making momma's trying to get there daughters married to him becoming leg shackled free for another year. What man would not be up winning this contest but the loser must propose marriage to the Regents choice in a wife.Harry convinces Molly yo play along with him for and entire week pretending to be a false Mistress and he will then return Molly home to her father with no hint of the folly Molly was about to make with Cedric.She agrees to help Harry with his Mission but what does a virgin know about being a mistress as she has never even been kissed .Harry has been chosen by the Prince to set forth the rules of the game and the Princes wishes on the game in which it can be played. Needless to say she is failing horribly at being a mistress so Harry's sets out to give Molly some tips and practice on how to be a good Mistress. Won't have to tell you how this is going to turn out. LOL. Molly is coming to care for Harry regardless of his past so she decides to give it her all to help Harry win this contest.The men after every challenge need to pick there favorite Mistress of the day each night into a kitty and at the end of the week all votes are tallied and the winner declared. But with Molly's quick wit she turns the table on the men to and has them competing for a title as well.Giving Molly as chance to win the other bachelors over and on to her side in order to win the game. But as usual there is a rogue in the mist trying to seduced Molly and her secrets out of her so she has to work even harder to win the game in turn making her life miserable with his interfering ways.But Molly is not giving up ! You can only guess who I am rooting for. Go Molly !.Thought this was just a great really funny love story that made you laugh and cry throughout the book and just kept turning those pages turning because I couldn't wait to see what would happen next.This was a new author for me and she now has a fan in the making ,looking forward to her next book in this series which comes out in December 2010.(less)

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Nov 28, 2010 Jamie - Nitty Gritty Reviews rated it 5 of 5 stars

The "Short Story:"

A cute light and fluffy read. It has it's flaws but still a very good read.

The "Long Story:"

The prologue starts with a young Molly declaring her love for her sister's fiance' in a poem at a Christmas gathering, while also outing her sister for kissing her fiance's younger brother Harry. The events that happen next set the tone for most of the book, where Harry and Molly pretty much HATE each other as a result of those events.

Then the Prince Regent decides one drunken night that...more

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Nov 04, 2010 Danica Avet rated it 4 of 5 stars

The first thing that grabbed me about this book was the title. I loved it. I thought it was cute, which meant I then checked out the blurb. Eh. I wasn't sure about it. It seemed more than a little farfetched, but I chanced it.

And I'm so glad I did! Harry is impossible. Honestly impossible. The entire time I read this book, call I could think was, "How could he do this to an innocent virgin of good family?" (Okay, so my Victorian matron was rearing her ugly head, but I got over it.) He was cluel...more

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Feb 12, 2012 Destiny rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 1800s, historical-romance, regency-romance, romance, enemies-into-lovers, favorites

Before I write my thoughts on this lovely book, I have to admit something. I have never seen When Harry Met Sally beside the clip of the infamous fake orgasm scene by Meg Ryan. But I will try to watch in the future.

When I started reading the prologue and it introduced 13 year old Molly with her love poem, I knew I was going to love this book. It had already gotten off to a good start with the humor.

The first chapter begins in 1816 ten years after the prologue. The reader is reintroduced to Harry...more

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Nov 16, 2011 Fira Rosli rated it 3 of 5 stars

Alright. So I just finished this book yesterday night and I have to say I didn't like this book on an overall basis.

Firstly, the characters in this book are absolutely fine. They don't really give me any problems and I don't have any feeling of hatred or resentment towards any of the characters in here BUT - aha! - the way how Kramer style her characters into her storyline or plot is a little bit.... how do I say this? It's kind of weird, unsatisfied in fulfilling the characters attributes and...more Alright. So I just finished this book yesterday night and I have to say I didn't like this book on an overall basis.

Firstly, the characters in this book are absolutely fine. They don't really give me any problems and I don't have any feeling of hatred or resentment towards any of the characters in here BUT - aha! - the way how Kramer style her characters into her storyline or plot is a little bit.... how do I say this? It's kind of weird, unsatisfied in fulfilling the characters attributes and attitude towards the whole storyline, and then there's the way how Kramer tries to rush through the marriage of Harry and Molly.

Secondly, the almost ending part of the story. Oh goodness! It is as if ALL of the characters in the book has suddenly turned into a dramatic actor/actresses. I mean, how can she just CONCLUDE everything with just one full (and quite pointless) dramatic way during a soiree? Uh, excuse me. That's not how you try to end a story here. You have go through and solve the problems one at a time. For example, how the hell can the colonel's wife can all of a sudden reveal herself at a freaking goddamn party from being a maid in the duke's (Harry's father) household after all these years?! Why of ALL time to reveal herself must she choose the moment? Is it because there's Richard, her brother, there? Or is it because Kramer wants the everyone and everything to be satisfied and end it in one big happy moment. UH, NO. Let's just I am not that pleased after reading this book.

Thirdly, I don't know about this but maybe this is just me but hell, I'll say what I wanna say here. Through out the whole book I was really anticipating their love scenes, knowing fully that they are nemesis and I couldn't wait until they submit to each other. But I was very, very disappointed that there is ONLY FREAKING ONE LOVE SCENE. And to make matters worse, it's right at the freaking end of the book after Harry and Molly got married. So much for stating that Harry is such a debauched lord. My god. I'm sorry but this is just me. I hate last minute love scenes, as if the author has forget about it until at the end. Pretend nothing happened and just slip a last minute love scene. Jeez.

But I'll give Kramer a chance because this is her debut novel. No doubt I will try her other books from the Impossible Bachelors. Characters are fine and I enjoy the private interludes between Harry and Molly at the house party. It's endearing yet lusty. It's just the way how she plots the story, that's all. (less)

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Aug 03, 2011 Beate rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical, romance

Even with probably a million Regency books on the market, this one stands out. It's witty and spunky and full of situations that will make you laugh.

I love that the heroine is strong and very much her own woman. She's not some sniveling, whiny, weak princess that makes you want to throw the book and hope it breaks when it hits the wall. Sure, the main lady, Molly, has her weak moments, but she always rises to the challenge and makes you love her even more. A strong female character like this who...more

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Apr 13, 2012 Lizzie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Me encantó. Debo confesar que cuando vi el titulo de inmediato vino a mi mente la pelicula Cuando Harry encontró a Sally, no me pregunten que escena vino a mi mente, GRACIAS!, por lo que pensé sería una buena opción para leer. Es un libro que desde el comienzo te atrapa, bastante divertido pero sin perder el toque de romanticismo ideal en este tipo de libros. Harry es simplemente encantador, un chico al que todos dan por granuja pero que realmente no es tan malo como se piensa, tiene sus momento...more

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title link	preview: When Harry Met Molly
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When Harry Met Molly (Impossible Bachelors #1)

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