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The Spurned Viscountess

by Shelley Munro (Goodreads Author)

3.35 of 5 stars 3.35 · rating details · 81 ratings · 30 reviews

Cursed with the sight and rumors of witchcraft, Rosalind's only chance at an ordinary life is marriage to Lucien, Viscount Hastings. She doesn't expect love, only security and children of her own. Determined to go through with the wedding, she allows nothing she encounters at the gloomy Castle St. Clare to dissuade her.

Recently returned from the Continent, Lucien has no ti...more

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Published September 2010 by Carina Press (first published July 2005)

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Oct 29, 2010 Carol *Young at Heart Oldie* rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 4-star-books

Take one gloomy cliff top castle, mix in several mysterious happenings, a band of smugglers and an unsolved murder. Then add a generous helping of romance, top it off with the special gift of ‘sight’ and voila! - Shelley Munroe has created the perfect recipe for an enthralling read.

At Castle St. Clare, Lucien is awaiting the arrival of his betrothed, Rosalind Chandler. Everyone believes he is Viscount Hastings who went missing over three years ago whilst on a trip to Italy but Lucien has only pa...more

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Nov 09, 2010 Tori [Book Faery] rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, e-book, netgalley, reviewed, read-in-2010

See this review in it's entirety at:
http://www.book-faery.blogspot.com

I've been on a historical fiction spree as of late. Actually, ever since I've read THE MASTER AND THE MUSES, I've been salivating for more books to read of that nature. So when I discovered THE SPURNED VISCOUNTESS, a historical fiction with paranormal elements, I was more than excited to dive straight into this tale.

Before I begin, it is important to note that the paranormal aspects do not play a huge role in this tale. I was...more See this review in it's entirety at:
http://www.book-faery.blogspot.com

I've been on a historical fiction spree as of late. Actually, ever since I've read THE MASTER AND THE MUSES, I've been salivating for more books to read of that nature. So when I discovered THE SPURNED VISCOUNTESS, a historical fiction with paranormal elements, I was more than excited to dive straight into this tale.

Before I begin, it is important to note that the paranormal aspects do not play a huge role in this tale. I was warned of this before I read the novel, so I didn't have any expectations about that part.

Overall, this is an enjoyable read. The storyline kept me intrigued from the first page all the way to the last. I kept wondering how Rosalind was going to win Lucien's favor. I wanted to know what would happen between the two, and whether or not Hawk, our bad guy, was going to get caught earlier rather than later. I wanted to know what was going to happen to Mary, despite how annoying she was.

The twist at the end--Hawk's identity--caught me by surprise. I definitely did not expect that person to be Hawk. Though now that I look back, it does make more sense.

I had a few problems with the tale. For starters, I found myself craving for more showing over telling. We have all of these events transpiring, and yet, I didn't always feel emotionally invested with what happened to Rosalind and Lucien. At these points, I felt more like an impassive bystander looking through binoculars.

Rosalind had a tendency to lift her chin up a lot. I would have enjoyed a few other actions used to explain her defiance or stubbornness; perhaps clenching her fists, placing her hands on her hips and narrowing her eyes, pursing her lips... there's so many. After a while, I began to roll my eyes whenever there was something about her chin. Then I began to wonder if Rosalind had a weird chin. Was it big? It always seemed to grab Lucien's attention first.

I thought Lucien's appearance towards the end was way too convenient. I also thought Rosalind should have used her powers before she wandered off with the two men she left with, especially when she began to catch glimpses of some weird thoughts. I don't know, that's what I would have done the second I felt something was off, despite any reservations about my mind reading abilities.

A word of warning for those of you using NetGalley: Formatting, I've noticed, is very wonky when it comes to NetGalley titles on a Kindle. This story is no exception, and I struggled with POV swaps because of said format. So if you decide to get this title via NetGalley, please keep that in mind.

Despite a few bumps in the reading experience, THE SPURNED VISCOUNTESS was, nevertheless, a fun read. When I reached the final page, I gave a sigh in relief, now that I knew Lucien and Rosalind finally had their happily ever after.(less)

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Jul 10, 2011 Mikaela rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Anyone that like Historical Romance

The book: The Spurned Viscountess by Shelley Munro
The particulars: Historical Romance, Carina Press, available as e-book
The review:
The blurb:

Cursed with the sight and rumors of witchcraft, Rosalind's only chance at an ordinary life is marriage to Lucien, Viscount Hastings. She doesn't expect love, only security and children of her own. Determined to go through with the wedding, she allows nothing she encounters at the gloomy Castle St. Clare to dissuade her.
Recently returned from the Continent,...more

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Feb 17, 2011 Kelly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebooks, free-ebooks, historical, read-in-2011

This is a dark historical that has both mystery and mayhem. It comes with a crumbling castle, ghostly goings on, a woman who could be a witch and a scarred, amnesiac hero with a hardened heart. There might also be a crotchety old aunt and a hidden treasure. Yeah, it pretty much has all the hallmarks of AWESOME with a side of drafty hallways.

I really liked that the main characters didn't fall madly in love with one another at first sight. Lucien is mourning his recently murdered wife while trying...more

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Nov 10, 2010 Debbie rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book started off a little roughly as it irritated me in a few spots where Munro would use the same turn of phrase several times within a few pages. I got the point the first time and did not need to hear that over and over. I also thought the story was a little silly and yet something about it caught my attention and kept me reading.

The Characters

Rosalind had this very cool power of being able to touch people and see their thoughts but of course during this time period that made people susp...more This book started off a little roughly as it irritated me in a few spots where Munro would use the same turn of phrase several times within a few pages. I got the point the first time and did not need to hear that over and over. I also thought the story was a little silly and yet something about it caught my attention and kept me reading.

The Characters

Rosalind had this very cool power of being able to touch people and see their thoughts but of course during this time period that made people suspicious that she was a witch. Her character did rub me the wrong way a little because of the fact that she was so desperate to marry and have children she was willing to take any man. I can understand her desire and came to accept this but then she rationalizes at one point that she cannot let Lucien be killed because that would kill any chance of her having children. That just came across as very cold even though you know that is not supposed to be her true character. She also irritated me in that she suspected someone meant her harm and yet she continued to defy Lucien's orders to take a footman or someone else with her when she left the house. If you read my previous reviews you know that I like strong female characters but hate when they do stupid things just to prove that they won't be ordered around by the men in their lives.

Lucien initially behaves like a real ass towards Rosalind. I understand he does not want to remarry after losing the love of his life but he never stops to think that Rosalind may not have a real choice other than to marry him. He treats her horribly before he even gets to know her and I felt like although you should think he's noble for staying true to his love of his first wife a real gentleman would at least have been kinder to Rosalind. He does redeem himself later in the story so I cannot say I disliked him completely.

The Romance

I thought the build up of the romance was nicely done as we slowly see Lucien and Rosalind come to love one another. The pacing was great as you see Lucien come to terms that his feelings for Rosalind does not mean he is betraying his dead first wife. It was also nice that neither of the characters fit your standard romance mold of being stunningly handsome or beautiful.

The Story Line

I have to admit that the identity of the killer was somewhat of a surprise. There was one character I suspected all along but it turns out I was wrong. The story line itself was not bad but it was the characters actions that made the story line feel silly and hard to swallow. Like I mention above after Rosalind gets shoved out of her been, pushed off a cliff, shot at and a host of other things that makes her realize that obviously someone means her harm and she still goes on her way ignoring any attempt at caution. Then there is Lucien who despite all the evidence at first refuses to believe that anyone means Rosalind harm. It doesn't strike him as too much of a coincidence that all of this is happening to his new wife not long after someone targeted and killed his first wife?

I know this review sounds very critical of the book but I have to admit once I got into it I had a hard time putting it down. So I may not be able to put my finger on exactly what it was but it definitely had something that reels the reader in.(less)

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Sep 27, 2010 April rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance-paranormal

THE SPURNED VISCOUNTESS by Shelly Munro is a historical romance set in 1720 England.It is the revised version of The Second Seduction. It is well written with depth, details and is fast paced. It has betrayal, tragedy, sensuality, romance, suspense,paranormal, secrets, treachery and second chances. The hero, Lucien, is scarred, strong, determined to find the murderer of his first wife, memory lost, is married for convenience, and finds himself falling in love with his beautiful new wife. The her...more

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May 12, 2011 Jess the Romanceaholic rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, marriage-of-convenience, revenge-plot, amnesia-or-other-memory-loss, physically-imperfect-or-scarred, psychic, gothic

This is a Quickie Review. For the full review, please visit The Romanceaholic.

Expected Release Date: Available Now!
Publisher: Carina Press
Imprint: N/A
Author’s Website: http://www.shelleymunro.com
My Source for This Book: Amazon.com
Part of a Series: No
Series Best Read In Order: N/A
Steam Level: Steamy

There’s one main aspect of this story not mentioned in the official blurb, and that is Lucien’s amnesia. Lucien was attacked while traveling abroad, and lost his memory. Nursed back to health by France...more

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Oct 22, 2012 Kristi rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was a great book. I've had it for a long time and am now wondering why I waited so long to read it.

The story was compelling, mysterious, fast and action-packed. The characters were strong and I liked to read about them.

I had the mystery figured out about midway through the book but I had to wait until almost the very end for verification which was really cool.

I loved Lucien and I related to him on a level that some people may not in that he had a scar on his face that made people want to r...more

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Nov 18, 2010 Kate L rated it 3 of 5 stars

I read this book right smack dab in the middle of two very heavy and depressing books that I didn't really love, so The Spurned Viscountess was a very welcome relief. Sometimes, do you just want to read a fun romance that may not be the most prolific book you ever read, but just gives you a break from your stressful life? This is just the book. The was some mystery and murder, but not emotionally heart wrenching. The mystery element was more cozy mystery that heart pumping thriller, which was go...more

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Dec 31, 2010 Belinda Boring rated it 4 of 5 stars

I’m a sucker for all romance but I have an especially soft spot for those stories where the hero is adamant he doesn’t want the woman being forced on him but finds himself tempted beyond his limits as she slowly works her way into his heart. I love the uncertainty, the struggle as passions ignite to the point where it seems almost impossible to deny. One look at the books description told me I’d found such a story and so with an eager smile I began to read and I have to say, I wasn’t disappointe...more I’m a sucker for all romance but I have an especially soft spot for those stories where the hero is adamant he doesn’t want the woman being forced on him but finds himself tempted beyond his limits as she slowly works her way into his heart. I love the uncertainty, the struggle as passions ignite to the point where it seems almost impossible to deny. One look at the books description told me I’d found such a story and so with an eager smile I began to read and I have to say, I wasn’t disappointed.

THE SPURNED VISCOUNTESS is a historical romance that shares the story of Rosalind, a gentle yet tenacious girl who longs for the security and love of a husband. All her life she has been plagued by a curse that has placed her life in constant threat from those who would discover her secret and label her a witch. Honor bound to her family’s wishes, Rosalind agrees to marry Viscount Hastings but it doesn’t take long before she realizes she’s not wanted, that her husband Lucien is tormented by his dead love Francesca and his need to avenge her murder. Not wanting to give up the dreams of a loving husband and mother, Rosalind refuses to be turned away and vows to make the best of the situation, hoping to win over her husband in friendship. Lucien slowly warms to her but there is mystery and danger in the air as Rosalind becomes the target of a malicious stalker, one who is hell bent on harming her. This stalker could be anybody, even the allusive and dangerous Hawk, leader of the band of local smugglers who Lucien is searching for but until the truth is revealed Rosalind must be careful. As she turns to Lucien for help, it brings them closer together and it doesn’t take long before the ice around Lucien’s heart melts, his opinion towards Rosalind changing. But is it too late for love with danger around every corner, ready to destroy them both? Or by teaming up together, can Lucien and Rosalind find the threat and overcome it? Definitely a good reason to read the book!

Filled with action, mystery and the tension that comes from struggling against the needs of the heart, I had a lot of fun reading this book and had that nice “deep sighing” reaction at the end. It was a light read that was easy enough to follow; proving it’s a perfect choice for reading on a cold winter’s day snuggled under a blanket. I enjoyed the mystery behind everything although I will admit I was a little worried when I pretty much figured out who the mysterious Hawk was early on in the book. Would the author continue to keep me engrossed or would the book be all downhill now the suspense was over. I’m really happy to announce that even though I knew the “who”, I was still shocked by the “why” and how it all unfolded. I loved the attention that the author paid to Rosalind and Lucien with the different scenes she had them together in and the warming of their relationship. Although you go into a romance “kind of” knowing the outcome of the story, it still was amazing to watch the journey both characters went through, the little twists and challenges that came up that helped chip away the barrier between them.

Almost instantly Rosalind was labeled by Lucien as a little English mouse and it didn’t take long for me to realize that she was far from it. She had fire and determination which was evident each time she challenged Lucien when he ordered her about. She knew what she wanted and even though at first she tried to act proper, she quickly began to speak freely, something necessary because with all the danger that surrounded her, no one was taking her seriously. She was brave and little too fearless for her own good but she was extremely endearing and I crossed my fingers for her through the whole book, hoping she’d get what her heart desired and come out of the story unscathed.

I couldn’t help but like Lucien either. Even though it annoyed me the way that he treated Rosalind in the beginning, I understood it because he was so deeply troubled and emotionally scarred. The last thing he needed was for some “wife” to get in the way of his revenge and his heart was still too deeply connected with his dead wife. He’d also lost most of his memory, something that frustrated him to no end so Rosalind was definitely a distraction he couldn’t afford. But I loved the way his mind turned and his heart softened. Lucien wasn’t a cruel and cold man - he was strong, sensual, passionate and a man who was at war with himself. I sighed all the way to the giddy end with him as I watched him open up and ask himself whether he’d take that second chance at love.

This was such a great book and one that left me with the feel good feeling I love so much. It kept my attention despite knowing the villain and had my heart hoping for Rosalind and Lucien from the beginning. THE SPURNED VISCOUNTESS is definitely a book I’d recommend and one I’m sure all romance lovers will enjoy. Happy reading!!

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Jul 07, 2011 Kamery Solomon rated it 5 of 5 stars

So I decided to try my hand at romance again :) This time I was a little more daring though, haha!
Rosalind is a character that you can connect with easily because you know just as much as she does about her new life. It was nice to learn things with her verses having the blanks filled in by back stories and flashbacks shared between characters.
Lucien is one of those characters that you kind of love to hate right at the very beginning (love more than hate I would say!) because he's so distant a...more

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Oct 03, 2010 Laura the Highland Hussy rated it 3 of 5 stars

I received this book as an ARC.

The quick summary to this book is that a young girl needs to fulfill a betrothal contract for her family, but her cousin (the elder of the two) won't do it, so it falls to Rosalind. Rosalind takes this chance for several reasons, the main two being that she wants her own family and household, and she is considered a witch because of certain gifts she has. So, marrying a viscount seems ideal, even if he is considered a madman.

One thing that bothered me about this bo...more I received this book as an ARC.

The quick summary to this book is that a young girl needs to fulfill a betrothal contract for her family, but her cousin (the elder of the two) won't do it, so it falls to Rosalind. Rosalind takes this chance for several reasons, the main two being that she wants her own family and household, and she is considered a witch because of certain gifts she has. So, marrying a viscount seems ideal, even if he is considered a madman.

One thing that bothered me about this book is that the hero, Lucien, is not mad, and doesn't behave as if he were. He has amnesia, and goes by the name Lucien, not altogether believing he is the Viscount Hastings. But I never understood why they considered him mad. After the first few pages, it was never addressed again.

Another thing that really bothered me was Rosalind. She was able to read people's thoughts if she touched them, and she had healing abilities, so it's easy to see why she was branded a witch by her village. Her family was awful to her, considering it was hereditary, you'd think that her family would have been supportive. I liked her at first, I just thought of her as a bit of a doormat.

What bothered me is that she never defended herself, never spoke up, and she went through a lot! There was a murder plot (don't worry, no spoilers) and the little idiot got bashed in the head, pushed off a cliff, shot at, pushed down some stairs, goodness you name it? It happened to her! And every time her husband warned her to take a footman, or to not leave the castle, or to ask him to go with her, she'd go off on her own! Tra-la-la down the lane just to be thrown from a cart/horse/wasps under saddle, etc. Every other page, she was being idiotic. And then she used her gift of mind-reading to interrogate the villagers without them knowing, but knowing the bits and pieces she found out endangered her. I'm all for a spunky, feisty heroine, but the stupidity level on Rosalind just grated.

Lucien, on the other hand was a piece of work. But I liked him. He woke up after a severe beating in Italy, and a woman nursed him back to health. They married (I'm assuming that's how he became Lucien, rather than George the Viscount Hastings), and when Francesca was pregnant, they decided to travel to England to see if his memory could return. Well, they were attacked and she was killed, so his trip down memory lane became a quest for vengeance.

What I liked about Lucien was that he was able to love Rosalind too, and realize that he wasn't being unfaithful to his late wife, or desecrating her memory by loving his new wife. Too often in romances, we see the hero realizing that maybe he never loved his first wife, or that is was more affection than love. He was able to make room in his heart for love again, and I appreciated that.

What I didn't like was his not consummating the marriage for almost 3 months. It was grounds for annulment, or what if he was killed? She could be stripped of her title and financial security. I also didn't like how he never gave Rosalind any credit when she finally grew a backbone and told him someone was trying to kill them.

The story picked up from there, and it was interesting. I never saw who the villain was-I was waaay off on my guess, so kudos to you Ms. Munro.
The smuggling ring and the plots to kill Hastings and Rosalind were definitely intriguing. The treasure plot felt a bit too contrived, and thrown in there for no reason other than to add a red herring. I did enjoy the foppish cousin Charles, and I hated the Lady Sophia (we're meant to dislike her).

I would say that if you want a different take on an arranged marriage with the vengeance-obsessed hero, and the witchy heroine, this is your book. While I felt some of the stupid things Rosalind did would brand her Too Stupid To Live, I did like her more and more, and I love LOVED that she saved the hero, not the other way around! The twist in the ending, with the murder plot, smugglers and even a kidnapping made the book all the more interesting.

http://www.demonloversbooksandmore.co...(less)

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Oct 28, 2010 Tori smexys_sidekick rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: review-for-smexybooks

Originally posted at http://www.smexybooks.com/2010/10/rev...

Favorite Quote:”After she freed her husband, she’d smack him over the head with a sharp object. That would knock some sense into his addled brain.”

Roseland Chandler is on the shelf, a poor relation, and thought to be a witch. Marrying Lucien, Viscount Hastings, was the best she could hope for in her situation. When she arrives at Castle St. Clare she is rudely told by Lucian that this marriage is not wanted. But Roseland wants security...more Originally posted at http://www.smexybooks.com/2010/10/rev...

Favorite Quote:”After she freed her husband, she’d smack him over the head with a sharp object. That would knock some sense into his addled brain.”

Roseland Chandler is on the shelf, a poor relation, and thought to be a witch. Marrying Lucien, Viscount Hastings, was the best she could hope for in her situation. When she arrives at Castle St. Clare she is rudely told by Lucian that this marriage is not wanted. But Roseland wants security and a family of her own so she goes through with the marriage; only to discover that Lucian truly meant what he said.
Lucian has just recently returned from the continent mad for revenge for the men who murdered his first wife and unborn child. He has amnesia and doesn’t even believe he is Viscount Hastings. He hasn’t the time or inclination to marry Roseland but the marriage was contracted years ago. He may have to marry Roseland, but he will never love her. As accidents and close calls plague Roseland and threaten her life, Lucian will have to set aside his animosity and fear and find out who wants her dead and why.

Roseland comes off at first as easily intimidated and a bit silly. Never saying boo, she keeps her opinions to herself and does what she’s told. As time progresses and she is swept up in to Lucian’s problems, she begins to blossom and we see a more determined strong willed woman who does what she wants while paying lip service to Lucian and the rest of the family. I liked how Ms. Munro fleshes out her personality. It’s was a slow and believable emergence. Roseland gift is handled well and we see her use it through out the story. We are shown the good and the bad that results from it and it gives us insight into Roseland’s personality.

Lucian comes off very autocratic and aloof. In fact, he’s rather mean in the beginning. He has no time for Roseland and even goes as far as to think she is trying to seduce him into bed when she begins to tell him of the strange happenings at the castle. Rather then listen to her, he just orders her to stay home and quit getting into trouble. Lucian’s metamorphoses from cold and unfeeling to warm and attentive is nicely done. As you get his background story, you understand why he is the way he is and it goes a long way to forgiving his attitude.

Lucian and Roseland’s love for one another develops slowly over the course of the story. They aren’t forced or rushed in to bed and that makes the ending much sweeter. I also liked how Lucian is not forced to choose between his love for his first wife over his second wife. Often these stories will take the first wife out the picture completely; leave the hero to be with heroine guilt free. Ms. Munro allows Lucian both his loves.

A nice historical romance with a hint of paranormal and a suspenseful mystery. It has a Gothic overtone reminded me of works by Victoria Holt and Phyllis A. Whitney. Smoothly written with a flair for dramatics; I found the characters and their actions to be in keeping with the era of the times. Well written with a fast paced plot.

The mystery is convoluted and Ms. Munro does a fabulous job of keeping you on your toes and guessing as to the villain till almost the end. I didn’t see it coming but it works out wonderfully and ties up neatly. The secondary characters play small parts and aren’t deeply developed but do help make smooth transitions between scenes and characters.

I did feel there were a few small story lines that lacked depth and could have been developed more or just deleted. Roseland’s constant comments about babies does get a little redundant after the 5th time though. It kills the romance a little.

A nice read that held my attention till the end.(less)

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Jun 06, 2011 Juli rated it 2 of 5 stars

This book has a little bit of everything -- a heroine with psychic senses that she hides for fear of being thought a witch, a disgfigured bitter hero with a degree of amnesia, an arranged marriage, smugglers, ghosts, gaslighting, mysterious family connections, revenge plots, a rescued kitten, and multiple villains. I felt a touch of mental whiplash trying to follow the changes in direction.

The main villain was almost comic, but not (I fear) intentionally -- I made a note early on saying "stupid...more

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Dec 22, 2010 Sophia (FV) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Rosalind only wants to live an average life with the security of marriage and children. But she has been cursed with ‘the sight’ and there are rumors that she is a witch that threaten her future. She feels that marriage to Lucien, Viscount Hastings is her only hope to escape the rumors and her curse. However when she arrives at Castle St. Clare to meet her betrothed, she is greeted by a man who is cold, distant and is clearly only marrying her out of duty.

Lucien has recently returned to the cast...more Rosalind only wants to live an average life with the security of marriage and children. But she has been cursed with ‘the sight’ and there are rumors that she is a witch that threaten her future. She feels that marriage to Lucien, Viscount Hastings is her only hope to escape the rumors and her curse. However when she arrives at Castle St. Clare to meet her betrothed, she is greeted by a man who is cold, distant and is clearly only marrying her out of duty.

Lucien has recently returned to the castle from the continent a cold and bitter man. He has amnesia, is not even convinced he is actually Viscount Hastings, and is hell bent on avenging the death of his former wife and unborn child. The last thing he wants is marriage to Rosalind. If he must marry her, it will be in name only as he has no intention of ever having a family again.

After a series of odd accidents at the castle, particularly several directed toward Rosalind, Lucian is forced to protect his wife and get to the bottom of the strange goings on. In the process he begins to grow fond quite of her. Through her ‘sight’ Rosalind begins to learn about Lucien and his past and the reasons he is so bristly. She also gets to know Lucien, the man underneath the cold exterior and begins to fall in love with him.

Rosalind seemed timid and a little skittish when she first arrived at the castle. Thrust into a new environment with the hope of a fresh start her dreams are quickly crushed by her reluctant bridegroom. However as the story develops she grows into a quite a courageous heroine capable of standing up to her less than welcoming new family, helping Lucien track down a killer and eventually seducing her reluctant husband. Although the paranormal elements do not play a huge part in the story, Rosalind’s ‘sight’ was a nice twist and her use of her gift/curse enhanced the story for me as it was not overly dramatic and seemed believable.

Lucien’s character undergoes huge changes as he goes from cold, uncaring and bent on revenge to a warm, passionate marriageable gentleman. His progression to a very likable hero was well paced and very natural as the events of the story unfolded. I wouldn’t call him a swoon worthy hero, but I did enjoy watching as his character transformed.

The romance between Rosalind and Lucien is slow to develop but not so slow that I was bored or impatient. Lucien had much to work out regarding his feelings for his former wife and the story was presented in a way that allowed for Lucien’s healing and reconciliation of his broken heart. Rosalind was a bit quicker to fall in love than Lucien but her heart was more open in the first place.

What I liked about this romance was the incorporation of the mystery and how it eventually brought the hero and heroine together. I was totally caught off guard with the reveal of the villain which doesn’t happen very often. Usually, I have an idea of who to keep my eye on. Once the reveal was made all the pieces fell into place and it all made sense.

The Spurned Viscountess is an enjoyable historical read with suspense, mystery, romance and lightly laced with paranormal elements. The romance was nice and I enjoyed the characters but I think the mystery that piqued my interest over the romance. The story is nicely paced and held my attention from beginning to end with interesting characters, and an unexpected villain.
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Oct 26, 2010 Charlie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: net-galley

A classic regency romance with a strong female character and a stunningly likable male counterpart. Shelley creates a world where beauty masks ugliness and initial prejudices are pridefully wrong. The tale is packed with intrigue, scandal, plots and romance. The excitement builds through events and erupts in a heated confrontation that digresses beautifully as promised. Readers who enjoy Lauren Willig's Carnation series will certainly enjoy Shelley Munro's style and writing.

Rosiland's defiance i...more

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Jul 07, 2011 Angela rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: carina, ebooks, romance

I love me some Gothic romance, and Shelley Munro's The Spurned Viscountess is certainly that, with all the right elements to yoink me right in. We have your innocent young woman with strange abilities. We have your nobleman with a mysterious secret, getting his brood on. We have your string of mysterious accidents. And we have your suitably spooky, remote mansion, chock full of potentially dangerous people. For bonus Get Anna Engaged mileage, we've even got a bit of an amnesia plot going on, sin...more

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Oct 07, 2010 Christy B (Readin' and Dreamin') rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arcs-and-galleys, fiction, georgian, historical-romance

A very solid Georgian romance. Complete with a gothic castle, mysterious accidents, missing servants, a mind-reading heroine, and a scarred hero with amnesia.

Rosalind has set off to marry Lucien, Viscount Hastings, a man she's never met. Upon their meeting, Rosalind has glimpses of his past including a mysterious woman. As her fiancee gives her every chance to call off the wedding, Rosalind is dead set on marrying him and have the family she always wanted. However, starting on her wedding night,...more

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Oct 08, 2010 Daisy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley

I enjoyed reading this book, old fasioned romance is one of my guilty pleasures. The two main characters were likeable. Rosalind isn't a weeping lady waiting to be rescued, she tries to do some rescueing of her own! She knows what she wants and isn't afraid to go out and take it.
Lucien lost his memories after being beaten up in Italy, where he met his first wife, Francesca. She was shot and died in his arm, traumatizing him immensely. She was also pregnant at the time. The only reason Lucien is...more

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Sep 20, 2010 Judith rated it 4 of 5 stars

A marriage of convenience--not just for financial reasons, but because the bride is fearful of being accused of being a witch, all because she has "the sight." Her husband is honoring a long-standing marriage agreement and just simply doesn't want her. But she insists, seeing this marriage as a simple matter of survival. Good story that is well-told and gives insight into the prejudices that plagued persons with any form of ESP in the 18th and 19th centuries.

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Sep 24, 2010 Barbara ~*Lindt Ninja*~ rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, arc, netgalley

Gothic murder mystery may have been by the book, but the relationship between Lucien and Rosalind was played out well. Munro kept him unlikeable for most of the book, which was a bit different. I was in the mood for some good groveling, which I didn't get, but he did make up pretty nicely with Rosalind.

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Jul 07, 2011 Barbara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Classic gothic romance, with attempts made on the heroes life, attempts made on the heroines life, servants murdered, kidnapping, smugglers, accusations of witchcraft, you name it. All in all, an enjoyable read, Ms Munro made it work.

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Jun 24, 2012 Cathy rated it 4 of 5 stars

A fun gothic regency. A mystery, a few murders, smuggling, a bit of romance and talk of treasure; what more could you ask for in a book.

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Feb 22, 2012 Lady Domino rated it 3 of 5 stars

ok

BUT reminded me of Jane Atkin Hodge's Watch the Wall My Darling - which is a far better written book.

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Jun 10, 2011 ms bookjunkie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: digital-first, historical, romance, mystery, 2011

This kind of reminded me of the Victoria Holts I used to gobble up when I was aged twelve (or so). Kind of.

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Apr 04, 2011 CaroB rated it 2 of 5 stars

I've read Ms Munro's contemp novels and enjoyed them, but in all honesty, I think it was the mystery in this that kept it going for me. It was ok, but wouldn't read another historical from this author.

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Jul 19, 2011 Susan rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

Can't finish it! Boring.

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Jun 09, 2009 Carol rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romance

Fluffy Gothic romance. I ate it up. Sweet and sexy without being pornographic, which is hard to find in romances these days.

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Jan 02, 2011 Nocturne Romance Reads rated it 3 of 5 stars

READ OUR REVIEW AT:
http://paranormal-romancejunkies.webs...

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Dec 11, 2010 Laura marked it as to-read

Shelves: ebook, romance-novels, historical-fiction

Note: Bought the EPUB version directly from Carina Press

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About Shelley Munro

Shelley lives in Auckland, New Zealand with her husband and a small, bossy dog called Scotty.

Typical New Zealanders, Shelley and her husband left home for their big OE soon after they married (translation of New Zealand speak - big overseas experience). A year long adventure lengthened to six years of roaming the world. Enduring memories include being almost sat on by a mountain gorilla in Rwanda...more

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