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Castonbury Park #5
The Illegitimate Montague
'Be careful who you get close to...'
Adam Stratton is a new breed of Regency Man. A hero of Trafalgar, he is now an entrepreneur, rich beyond imagination. Yet all the money in the world can't erase the scandal and shame of his birth.
Since childhood, Amber has been the only one to know Adam's true value. And her memories of the housekeeper's son at Castonbury were the only respite from her unhappy marriage.
Now a widow, Amber finds her new-found freedom daunting, although the sight of Adam gives her hope. But, despite their simmering attraction, putting their faith in each other may be more dangerous than they had bargained for...
Adam Stratton is a new breed of Regency Man. A hero of Trafalgar, he is now an entrepreneur, rich beyond imagination. Yet all the money in the world can't erase the scandal and shame of his birth.
Since childhood, Amber has been the only one to know Adam's true value. And her memories of the housekeeper's son at Castonbury were the only respite from her unhappy marriage.
Now a widow, Amber finds her new-found freedom daunting, although the sight of Adam gives her hope. But, despite their simmering attraction, putting their faith in each other may be more dangerous than they had bargained for...
267 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
9 people are currently reading
71 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Mallory
210 books117 followersSarah Mallory is the pen name for Melinda Hammond.
Born in Bristol, England, UK, she grew up telling stories. She would make up adventures to relate to her school friends during break times and lunch hours, and she was once caught scribbling a story instead of listening to the French lesson. As a punishment, her teacher made her translate the story into French! She left school at sixteen and worked in offices as varied as stockbrokers, marine engineers, insurance brokers, biscuit manufacturers and even a quarrying company.
She married at nineteen, but continued to work until the birth of her first child. It was at that time that she decided to try her hand at her first love—writing, and shortly after the birth of her daughter she had her first book, Fortune's Lady, published under the pen name of Melinda Hammond. This was quickly followed by two more historical novels, Summer Charade and Autumn Bride, but with the birth of her twin sons the demands of family life meant that writing had to take a backseat for a few years. A compulsive scribbler, she never stopped writing and continued to work on research for her novels, experimenting with contemporary scenarios as well as writing pantomimes for her children's school. In 1989 the family moved to an isolated Pennine farmhouse in West Yorkshire, not far from Brontë country, where the family expanded to include a dog, two gerbils and a dozen chickens. The growing family needed funding and she went back to work full-time. The writing had to be put on hold.
Then, in March 2000, Sarah stepped off a curb and landed in hospital with one ankle broken and one badly sprained. This laid her up on a sofa for twelve weeks and gave her the time she needed to finish a novel. She wrote as Melinda Hammond and Maid of Honour was published the same year. Since then she has never looked back. She's published more than a dozen books under this pen name and has won the Reviewers' Choice Award in 2005 from Singletitles.com for Dance for a Diamond. Her novel Gentlemen in Question was a Historical Novel Society Editors' Choice Title in November 2006. In 2012 her novel The Dangerous Lord Darrington won the Love Story of the Year by the Romantic Novelists' Association. She is now concentrating on writing romantic historical adventures for Mills & Boon.
Born in Bristol, England, UK, she grew up telling stories. She would make up adventures to relate to her school friends during break times and lunch hours, and she was once caught scribbling a story instead of listening to the French lesson. As a punishment, her teacher made her translate the story into French! She left school at sixteen and worked in offices as varied as stockbrokers, marine engineers, insurance brokers, biscuit manufacturers and even a quarrying company.
She married at nineteen, but continued to work until the birth of her first child. It was at that time that she decided to try her hand at her first love—writing, and shortly after the birth of her daughter she had her first book, Fortune's Lady, published under the pen name of Melinda Hammond. This was quickly followed by two more historical novels, Summer Charade and Autumn Bride, but with the birth of her twin sons the demands of family life meant that writing had to take a backseat for a few years. A compulsive scribbler, she never stopped writing and continued to work on research for her novels, experimenting with contemporary scenarios as well as writing pantomimes for her children's school. In 1989 the family moved to an isolated Pennine farmhouse in West Yorkshire, not far from Brontë country, where the family expanded to include a dog, two gerbils and a dozen chickens. The growing family needed funding and she went back to work full-time. The writing had to be put on hold.
Then, in March 2000, Sarah stepped off a curb and landed in hospital with one ankle broken and one badly sprained. This laid her up on a sofa for twelve weeks and gave her the time she needed to finish a novel. She wrote as Melinda Hammond and Maid of Honour was published the same year. Since then she has never looked back. She's published more than a dozen books under this pen name and has won the Reviewers' Choice Award in 2005 from Singletitles.com for Dance for a Diamond. Her novel Gentlemen in Question was a Historical Novel Society Editors' Choice Title in November 2006. In 2012 her novel The Dangerous Lord Darrington won the Love Story of the Year by the Romantic Novelists' Association. She is now concentrating on writing romantic historical adventures for Mills & Boon.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 22, 2020
So the blurb makes it seem like our hero, the illegietimate housekeeper's son, Adam Stratton, acutally knows our heroine and formerly abused widow, Amber Hall. In fact, they played together as cildren once, but he barely remembers her and she only has a 7-year-old's hero worship of him. So there's no recognition when they meet up after Adam rescues Amber and her clothier merchandise from thieving ruffians. And yet gratitutde and that hero worship is what causes Amber to seduce him that night. Afterwards, she's so ashamed of herself and worried and afraid of the out-of-control feelings he causes in her, that she basically hands him his marching orders. But Adam is entirely intrigued and not about to give up on her, no matter her stubborness.
Amber of course gives Adam plenty of strife through this. She's frustrating, but her position is entirely understandable. She was married once already, it went horrible for her and she lost all of her freedom and agency in the process. So, naturally, the idea of going through that again and taking the chance that Adam would eventually be like her husband is a real and rational fear. I totally get it. And I liked the juxtaposition as Adam ends up experiencing a quasi-version of what Amber went through in her marriage. Adam is accused of arson, so suddenly his life is subject to the whims of others, he has no control and no freedom and he stands to lose everything he worked for if he's convicted of arson and goes to jail. And the angst of this event, of him being vulnerable, was actually the highlight of this book. I wasn't a huge fan of the fact that Amber jumped on the "accuse-Adam" bandwagon and honestly believed he'd betrayed her...nor the fact that Adam wasn't really all that angry or upset that she was ready to hang him for what she thought he'd done. She comes around pretty quickly, but only because people were willing to stand witness. She never once had any faith in him (or I suppose trust in herself that she's worth not betraying?)
The book was actually pretty good up to this point and, despite my frustration with Amber, I was fully and truly engaged. Then, this sort of brought in another angst point, that of both Adam and Amber's genealogy and this kinda lost me. I think I could have done without that little scare...I get why the author did it, what with the title of this book and the mystery of Adam's father, but it felt like a bit much after what they'd already been through.
Amber of course gives Adam plenty of strife through this. She's frustrating, but her position is entirely understandable. She was married once already, it went horrible for her and she lost all of her freedom and agency in the process. So, naturally, the idea of going through that again and taking the chance that Adam would eventually be like her husband is a real and rational fear. I totally get it. And I liked the juxtaposition as Adam ends up experiencing a quasi-version of what Amber went through in her marriage. Adam is accused of arson, so suddenly his life is subject to the whims of others, he has no control and no freedom and he stands to lose everything he worked for if he's convicted of arson and goes to jail. And the angst of this event, of him being vulnerable, was actually the highlight of this book. I wasn't a huge fan of the fact that Amber jumped on the "accuse-Adam" bandwagon and honestly believed he'd betrayed her...nor the fact that Adam wasn't really all that angry or upset that she was ready to hang him for what she thought he'd done. She comes around pretty quickly, but only because people were willing to stand witness. She never once had any faith in him (or I suppose trust in herself that she's worth not betraying?)
The book was actually pretty good up to this point and, despite my frustration with Amber, I was fully and truly engaged. Then, this sort of brought in another angst point, that of both Adam and Amber's genealogy and this kinda lost me. I think I could have done without that little scare...I get why the author did it, what with the title of this book and the mystery of Adam's father, but it felt like a bit much after what they'd already been through.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2020
I liked Adam and Amber, but felt the story didn't really hold up around them.
April 29, 2022
Guessing who was Illegitimate
May 3, 2018
A very long read. it just went on and on in the same track, often almost nausiatingly predictable and sweet. I rather like her other books though.
February 3, 2016
Adam Stratton left Castonbury under a cloud, he has always known he was illegitimate from a young age even though his mother had a comfortable lifestyle up at the "great house."
Due to a row with his mother when she will not reveal the identity of his father he leaves for ten years but now he is back to reunite with her as he has done what he had set out to do and prove himself.
But on the way home he meets a girl in need of help when she is attacked by ruffians and all his plans are upset.
Amber Hall is independent, spirited and mistress of her own destiny, her father is dead and also her abusive husband and she runs the family business of Ripley and Hall herself supplying all the locals with clothing and cloth.
Instantly from the first she is attracted to Adam but refuses to give up her independence in spite of his efforts to woo her into marriage.
But is this ALL that will stop the young lovers getting together or will the appearance of a dark family secret banish any hope of a union?
Exciting, great, gutsy characters and a treat for any fan of the historical, romantic novel.
A wonderful read and I hope to read the rest in the series.
Due to a row with his mother when she will not reveal the identity of his father he leaves for ten years but now he is back to reunite with her as he has done what he had set out to do and prove himself.
But on the way home he meets a girl in need of help when she is attacked by ruffians and all his plans are upset.
Amber Hall is independent, spirited and mistress of her own destiny, her father is dead and also her abusive husband and she runs the family business of Ripley and Hall herself supplying all the locals with clothing and cloth.
Instantly from the first she is attracted to Adam but refuses to give up her independence in spite of his efforts to woo her into marriage.
But is this ALL that will stop the young lovers getting together or will the appearance of a dark family secret banish any hope of a union?
Exciting, great, gutsy characters and a treat for any fan of the historical, romantic novel.
A wonderful read and I hope to read the rest in the series.
January 23, 2013
Both the hero and heroine were very strong and independent. I was not a fan of the heroine towards the end because she had zero trust in the hero but she did manage to redeem herself when she came to his defense. Of course this was only after having her suspicions proved wrong by someone else's confession. I thought she needed to grovel more.
June 29, 2013
Cheesy at times, but still an enjoyable read with a strong heroine and a hero who learns as he goes along.
Alas, I didn’t write the review immediately after finishing the book, but it’s an enjoyable read with a strong intelligent heroine and a plot that keeps one guessing. I’d read more by Ms. Mallory.
Rated on my 5 star romance novel.
February 24, 2013
The Canstonbury Park series really heats up with this book (quite literally at one point) With adorable characters, a great plot, and a clever twist at the end, this was the first of the series I really didn't want to put down until I finished.
May 8, 2014
My favorite of the Castonbury series
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews