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Poor Caroline and Matched Pairs
Poor Caroline
HOW SHE DETESTED THOSE WORDS... "Poor Caroline..." Orphaned and penniless at twelve, Caroline Whitlow had heard that phrase far too often. Taken in by her Uncle Clement, she'd made herself useful by running the household quite competently, and now, at twenty-four, she intends never to be pitied again...
But after her uncle's death, Caroline learns that Clement's heir is on his way to Crittenden Grange. Kit Meredith, embittered by the war, is anxious to return to England...and enjoy some peace and quiet on his estate. It's not his intent to drive Caroline out into the cold - but the fiercely independent young beauty would rather starve than accept the charity of this arrogant stranger!
By the time he arrives, she has fled. But it will take more than an invitation to bring Caroline back to the Grange. It will take scheming, deceit - and love...
Matched Pairs
A BROKEN BETROTHAL... The dashing Lord Canfield didn't like to get involved in domestic affairs. But when he moved to the tiny village of Derbyshire, he couldn't help noticing that neighbor Juliet Branscombe's engagement was headed for trouble. Her betrothed was enraptured by a charming London sophisticate...while shy Juliet seemed almost content to let him go! Struck by Juliet's delicate charm, Canfield decided to take matters into his own hands. He intended to help Juliet win back her fiance's heart--but he didn't expect her to steal his own instead...
HOW SHE DETESTED THOSE WORDS... "Poor Caroline..." Orphaned and penniless at twelve, Caroline Whitlow had heard that phrase far too often. Taken in by her Uncle Clement, she'd made herself useful by running the household quite competently, and now, at twenty-four, she intends never to be pitied again...
But after her uncle's death, Caroline learns that Clement's heir is on his way to Crittenden Grange. Kit Meredith, embittered by the war, is anxious to return to England...and enjoy some peace and quiet on his estate. It's not his intent to drive Caroline out into the cold - but the fiercely independent young beauty would rather starve than accept the charity of this arrogant stranger!
By the time he arrives, she has fled. But it will take more than an invitation to bring Caroline back to the Grange. It will take scheming, deceit - and love...
Matched Pairs
A BROKEN BETROTHAL... The dashing Lord Canfield didn't like to get involved in domestic affairs. But when he moved to the tiny village of Derbyshire, he couldn't help noticing that neighbor Juliet Branscombe's engagement was headed for trouble. Her betrothed was enraptured by a charming London sophisticate...while shy Juliet seemed almost content to let him go! Struck by Juliet's delicate charm, Canfield decided to take matters into his own hands. He intended to help Juliet win back her fiance's heart--but he didn't expect her to steal his own instead...
448 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 3, 2004
About the author
Elizabeth Mansfield
59 books63 followersElizabeth Mansfield is the author of numerous regency romances. She is an intelligent and thoughtful writer, a hidden gem whose novels deserve to be more widely read and enjoyed.
Elizabeth Mansfield is the pen name of the talented Paula Reibel Schwartz. Ms Schwartz also wrote different genres under the pen names Paula Reibel, Paula Reid, and Paula Jonas.
Elizabeth Mansfield is the pen name of the talented Paula Reibel Schwartz. Ms Schwartz also wrote different genres under the pen names Paula Reibel, Paula Reid, and Paula Jonas.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 26, 2010
Two enjoyable stories.
From the back cover:
For the first time in one volume two all-time favorites from Elizabeth Mansfield:
POOR CAROLINE
Orphaned and penniless at twelve, Caroline Whitlow has made herself useful these many years by running her uncle Clement's household. But upon her uncle's death, she learns that his heir, Kit Meredith, is returning from war to take over the state--a home where Caroline no longer feels welcome. By the time he arrives, she had fled--and it will take more than an invitation to bring Caroline back. It will take scheming, deceit...and love.
MATCHED PAIRS
When dashing Lord Canfield moves to the tiny village of Derbyshire, he cannot help but notice his new neighbor Juliet Branscombe--or that her engagement is headed for trouble. Her betrothed lavishes attention on a charming London sophisticate, while shy Juliet seems almost content to let him go. Struck by Juliet's delicate charm, Canfield decides to take matters into his own hands. He will help Juliet win back her fiance's heart--if he doesn't lose his own first.
And my review:
This volume contains two reissue stories. The first was originally published in 1995, the second in 1996.
This was my first try of this author, but it certainly won't be my last. If you love Regency romance that is written in an easy-to-read style, then you will enjoy the writing of Elizabeth Mansfield. I love Regency romance, but so many authors of this genre use such flowery language that theirs are more work to read than fun. That isn't the case here. Mansfield's writing it straightforward and flowing. You don't have to struggle to follow it. And as an added bonus, her romances are completely clean--there's never anything more suggestive than a kiss, so this a story you could let your teenaged daughter read without any worries.
POOR CAROLINE was an interesting story, with lots of loveable characters and interesting plot twists. My only complaint with this story was that the heroine was very stubborn for a long time. Considering she had such a wonderful man like Kit pursuing her, I wondered why she kept clinging to stubborn pride rather than accepting him (especially considering that she cared for him, too). But this was still an enjoyable story, so I give it four stars.
MATCHED PAIRS was my favorite of this collection. There were actually three relationships in this story (though the third one is very short). One thing that I really liked about this story was that the author kept me guessing almost right up until the end. The basic premise is that the two main characters, Tris and Juliet, have mothers who are best friends. To cement this friendship, they have decided ever since the children were babies that they would marry. However, Tris and Juliet only love each other as brother and sister, not as husband and wife. Tris falls in love with Cleo, a London woman, while Juliet's attention is captured by Peter, the new man in the country. Tris agrees to help Julie capture Peter so that he can be free to marry Cleo.
However, Peter thinks that Juliet is in love with Tris, and sets out to help her win him back. The complication is that he ends up falling in love with her himself.
So, you'd think it would be obvious who is going to end up with whom, right? But the author kept me guessing for a long time. I'd think of course that Tris and Cleo would end up together and Juliet and Peter would end up together. But then every time progress occurs between Peter and Juliet, Tris would get overwhelmingly jealous. Which would make me wonder if perhaps Tris actually loved Juliet after all, and just didn't realize it. I wasn't sure if this was going to be a story of the mothers knowing best, and if Tris and Juliet would end up together after all, or if Tris would end up with Cleo and Juliet would end up with Peter. I won't give away the outcome here, but it made for a very interesting read! Four stars.
From the back cover:
For the first time in one volume two all-time favorites from Elizabeth Mansfield:
POOR CAROLINE
Orphaned and penniless at twelve, Caroline Whitlow has made herself useful these many years by running her uncle Clement's household. But upon her uncle's death, she learns that his heir, Kit Meredith, is returning from war to take over the state--a home where Caroline no longer feels welcome. By the time he arrives, she had fled--and it will take more than an invitation to bring Caroline back. It will take scheming, deceit...and love.
MATCHED PAIRS
When dashing Lord Canfield moves to the tiny village of Derbyshire, he cannot help but notice his new neighbor Juliet Branscombe--or that her engagement is headed for trouble. Her betrothed lavishes attention on a charming London sophisticate, while shy Juliet seems almost content to let him go. Struck by Juliet's delicate charm, Canfield decides to take matters into his own hands. He will help Juliet win back her fiance's heart--if he doesn't lose his own first.
And my review:
This volume contains two reissue stories. The first was originally published in 1995, the second in 1996.
This was my first try of this author, but it certainly won't be my last. If you love Regency romance that is written in an easy-to-read style, then you will enjoy the writing of Elizabeth Mansfield. I love Regency romance, but so many authors of this genre use such flowery language that theirs are more work to read than fun. That isn't the case here. Mansfield's writing it straightforward and flowing. You don't have to struggle to follow it. And as an added bonus, her romances are completely clean--there's never anything more suggestive than a kiss, so this a story you could let your teenaged daughter read without any worries.
POOR CAROLINE was an interesting story, with lots of loveable characters and interesting plot twists. My only complaint with this story was that the heroine was very stubborn for a long time. Considering she had such a wonderful man like Kit pursuing her, I wondered why she kept clinging to stubborn pride rather than accepting him (especially considering that she cared for him, too). But this was still an enjoyable story, so I give it four stars.
MATCHED PAIRS was my favorite of this collection. There were actually three relationships in this story (though the third one is very short). One thing that I really liked about this story was that the author kept me guessing almost right up until the end. The basic premise is that the two main characters, Tris and Juliet, have mothers who are best friends. To cement this friendship, they have decided ever since the children were babies that they would marry. However, Tris and Juliet only love each other as brother and sister, not as husband and wife. Tris falls in love with Cleo, a London woman, while Juliet's attention is captured by Peter, the new man in the country. Tris agrees to help Julie capture Peter so that he can be free to marry Cleo.
However, Peter thinks that Juliet is in love with Tris, and sets out to help her win him back. The complication is that he ends up falling in love with her himself.
So, you'd think it would be obvious who is going to end up with whom, right? But the author kept me guessing for a long time. I'd think of course that Tris and Cleo would end up together and Juliet and Peter would end up together. But then every time progress occurs between Peter and Juliet, Tris would get overwhelmingly jealous. Which would make me wonder if perhaps Tris actually loved Juliet after all, and just didn't realize it. I wasn't sure if this was going to be a story of the mothers knowing best, and if Tris and Juliet would end up together after all, or if Tris would end up with Cleo and Juliet would end up with Peter. I won't give away the outcome here, but it made for a very interesting read! Four stars.
November 11, 2017
Regency
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews