His Unsuitable Viscountess

by Michelle Styles

A lifetime of living in a man's world has given sword-making factory owner Eleanor Blackwell some very definite opinions - particularly about the duplicity of men!

Benjamin Grayson, Viscount Whittonstall, seems to be cut from a different cloth - Eleanor responds to his touch with a passion normally only reserved for fencing! She may be spectacularly unsuited for aristocracy, but Ben has different ideas when he plans to safeguard her business with a very convenient proposal...

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Regency, Harlequin, Historical, Harlequin Historical

383 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Born and raised near San Francisco Califorinia, Michelle Styles currently lives a few miles south of Hadrian's Wall with her husband, three children and menagerie of pets. An avid reader, she became hooked on historical romance when she discovered Georgette Heyer, Anya Seton and Victoria Holt in her school's library. Michelle enjoys writing stories in a wide range of time periods including Roman, Viking, Regency and early Victorian. Her website can be found at www.michellestyles.co.uk

Reviews

[Julie]

A convenient arrangement between an unconventional Regency businesswoman and a debonair nobleman leads to something more in Michelle Styles’ delightful historical romance, His Unsuitable Viscountess!

Miss Eleanor Blackwell will do anything to save her thriving sword-making factory from the nefarious clutches of her stepfather’s nephew. Eleanor has not dedicated her entire life to the business only for it to be snatched away by an odious man who doesn’t know the first thing about making swords! With the welfare of her employees and their families to think about, Eleanor quickly realizes that the only solution available to her is matrimony! Suitable bachelors in Durham County are thin on the ground, but when Eleanor learns that an acquaintance of hers, Sir Vivian Clarence, is looking for a way to clear his substantial debts, she wonders whether she has found a solution to her problem. However, Eleanor’s plans to wed Sir Vivian hit a major stumbling block when his formidable cousin, Benjamin Grayson, Viscount Whittonstall, uncovers the truth about her disreputable intentions…

Eleanor is absolutely stunned when Viscount Whittonstall puts himself forward as a candidate for her hand in marriage. Eleanor might have only been looking for a convenient husband, but how can their relationship have any hope of succeeding when they both come from such different worlds? A man like Viscount Whittonstall needs a woman who is poised, elegant and sophisticated – he certainly does need a woman who is more at home in a foundry than in a ballroom! But with no other option available to her, Eleanor has got no other choice but to accept his proposal.Benjamin knows that the last thing his feckless cousin needs is to saddle himself with a wife. Sir Vivian is a spineless and feeble hedonist with a penchant for getting into trouble and a predilection for getting himself into debt. Marriage is certainly not on the cards for him. However, Benjamin is not so eager to see the vivacious Miss Blackwell walk out of their lives...

With his vast fortune, impeccable lineage and breathtaking good looks, Benjamin has been fighting off the advances of doe-eyed debutantes and lascivious society ladies for years. But Miss Blackwell is nothing like the women he usually comes across. She is fiercely intelligent, astonishingly clever, quick-witted – and the first woman in a long while to get under his skin! If she wants a husband, then Benjamin is more than willing to take up this position – providing that she understands that his heart is strictly off-limits!

Theirs was meant to be a marriage in name only – until a passionate kiss unleashes unforeseen emotions deep within them. Are Eleanor and Benjamin ready to face up to the truth about their feelings for one another? Or is their marriage destined to remain a cold and convenient arrangement?

Readers can always count on Michelle Styles to deliver a splendid historical romance that will keep them turning the pages late into the night and His Unsuitable Viscountess is certainly no exception. A captivating tale that sparkles with wonderful characters, searing emotion, witty dialogue and intimate sensuality, His Unsuitable Viscountess pits a strong and independent heroine against a gorgeous and honorable hero no woman will be able to resist!

A fantastic historical romance from one of my favorite writers, His Unsuitable Viscountess is another Michelle Styles book destined for your keeper shelf!

[Christina Hollis]

I bought this book on the strength of Michelle Styles' fascinating interview on the Smart Bitches site (http://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/bl...).
I'd heard about Eleanor Coade, but assumed she was a one-off. That wasn't the case at all, and Eleanor Blackwell is a worthy fictional addition to the ranks of female businesswomen.
"His Unsuitable Viscountess" opens with Eleanor in a bind. She must marry to secure her inheritance after her mother's unwise decision led to the family's respected sword-making business being endangered. Eleanor forges herself an arranged marriage, but it isn't quite the one she expected. BenJamin Grayson has concealed the extent of the guilt and pain he has felt following his wife's death. Eleanor's troubled youth makes it difficult to believe that good things can happen to her as an adult. An industrial accident and the sort of domestic tragedy that must have hit every home in those days make this a story full of interest. It kept me turning the pages to find out what would happen next.
Incidentally, it's a minor point but one well worth mentioning - I loved the cover. Everything about it made me want to find out more about the story. Well done, that designer!

[Sylvia]

-- Disclosure: I received a copy of this as a GoodReads giveaway --

I haven't read a romance in a very long time so I pleasantly surprised to receive this book as a way to get back into the genre. The author has a great way of building interest and intrigue and getting you hooked on the story. It was actually shocking how much I wanted to get back to reading the story, which I haven't found in a good book lately. I was thoroughly impressed.

My only critique is that it seems the author was told to use a thesaurus because occasional words would pop up that didn't fit with the flow of the sentence and the writer's style.

Also, some descriptions were a bit lacking. The one which made me stop, re-read, shake my head and put the book down was: "He gave a very huge smile and ..." Very huge? At the peak of the first intimate encounter? It ruined the moment entirely.

Overall, not a bad was for me to ease back into the genre. A light, easy read.

[Kirsten]

I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

And I glad that I won it. I enjoyed reading this book. I think that the author developed the characters well. I loved that there was a strong woman in this book as it is a Historical Romance and if know history it was not an easy time for women. I am trying to branch out from what I normally read (paranormal books) and this was a good book to help do that. I would recommend this book for anyone who likes historical romance or romance and a strong woman

[Lydia]

I loved the premise of this book with a non-traditional historical female character - a successful business owner. However, I felt that the conflicts were much too labored over and misguided on both the hero and heroine's part. A little communication could have gone a long way. It was refreshing at the beginning of the story how frank they were with one another, but by the middle both had turned into mushheads about everything.

*Potential spoiler*



Sensitive readers should be aware that this book deals heavily with miscarriage and death of children and adults.

[Sandra]

I can't remember the last time I read a regency romance, if at all, but I really liked this one! I particularly enjoyed the main character because she was a strong independent woman who didn't need a man, but was able to find love. A very good story with great ly developed, diverse characters. If you like regency romances, check this one out.

[Victoria Parker]

Probably one of my favourite of Michelle Styles' historical romances. From the tension-filled opening to the fantastic sword sparring between the H&H to the heartbreaking moments of dreams dashed, this is a highly emotional read, a true page-turner. Most definitely recommended!

[Gail]

Nice story about a business woman, the owner of a sword foundry, who needs to marry very quickly in order to keep her business. The hero is a viscount who encounters her, accepts her challenge to engage in a bout of swordplay, and is intrigued by her. So he proposes himself as her spouse. Things are going along swimmingly until his mother shows up and proves to be one of those sweet, manipulative women who passively aggress until everyone around them dances to her tune. And since the heroine is one of those astoundingly competent women who doubts her own femininity, it's a tough conflict. It's a good read. I liked it.

[Michelle Zapf-bélanger]

I thought it would be amusing to read a Regency on my phone in those quiet moments when I'd normally go to Facebook or those addictive word games. I still think it might be, but I need a different Regency. It seems as though this book struggles to find a plot. It has an interesting premise, but we never really know what the characters want or need, and the dialogue flows so badly sometimes that is seems that characters are just coming out with non-sequiturs. I'll try again.

[Verity Brown]

Best yet!

This book was a delight! This is easily the best book I've read by this author. I was unaware of the role that women played in business in the Regency era--particularly Lady Jersey. It's fun to see this side of Regency women.

[Tash]

Reviewed for Confessions From Romaholics

To see review at Confessions

When the author contacted me about this book, I immediately said yes, I love a heroine in a historical setting who is not the stereotypical historical heroine like the three heroines of the Ugly Duckling Series by Manda Collins. This is an example of the non-stereotypical heroine and to get some background information, you need to read this article that the author wrote for Smart Bitches Trashy Books (http://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/bl...) about the research she did for this book. It paints a different picture about the period of England that this book is set in. It focuses on women and their influence in the business world at that time.

Miss Eleanor Blackwell is in torment: she must marry soon or she will lose Moles, her family sword making business to her unscrupulous cousin Reverend Algernon Forecastle. Her cousin has made his plans clear, he wants Moles and doesn’t think that Eleanor should be running it. So Eleanor has conceived a plan to save her business: she will approach Sir Vivian who resides nearby and is a fan of the company swords and happens to be beset with money problems. But when she arrives at his house, her plans start to go awry.

Benjamin Grayson has arrived from London to help his cousin Vivian out after his aunt tells his mother that she worried about Vivian so to please his mother he has come to the country to help Vivian.

Benjamin Grayson lost his wife, Alicia, years ago and the memory of her death is not a happy one. He has been happy to remain a widower all this time but his mother wants a dynasty to continue the family legacy and is pushing him to marry one of her protégées. When he is beaten by Eleanor at fencing and taught a thing or two about swords, he is intrigued by her and when she presents the sword to Sir Vivian as a birthday present, he knows something is not right.

He goes to visit her and discovers the Reverend at his game trying to get Eleanor to give up her attempt to gain ownership of the company. Benjamin sees her as the answer to his dilemma and proposes that she gets married to him to save her company and protect him from his mother’s machinations.

Eleanor has been going by as Mrs Blackwell, the proper and prim face of the company, a woman who has no time for frills, so when she gets the proposal we see the softer side of her. She has used the name as a means to help her family business and she wants the best for her workers and the firm. But we also see why the reason for the hard façade and the secret she keeps about her dreams she’s carried from when she was fifteen and her life changed.

Benjamin can’t help himself from granting her wishes and finds delight in her non public persona but with his interfering mother’s arrival to inspect the business and meet her new daughter-in-law, cracks start to form.

I love how people reacted to Eleanor’s background when they discovered she is in the sword making business and very hands on. Benjamin is a man ahead of his time and it is pleasing to see that the author provides both sides of the view of a woman being successful and a member of the ton. And the things they do—fencing in Hyde Park in broad daylight! 4 stars. This book is great read for a rainy day. The only disappointment was in not getting Algernon’s reaction when he was foiled!

[Mnms]

More her story than his, it is all about believing in yourself and communication. It has good characters and an interesting point, but unfortunately it failed to move me.

[Samantha]

3/5 stars (I would of rated 3.5)

This book was a first of many, that included the main female character as a business woman. This was intriguing and wonderful as I read through the book. The character developments that had changed was remarkable, for she was changing her business ways into societal ways in hoping for love (although the change was not ideal and she did stay an incredible business woman).
It was fascinating and I was shocked how much I enjoyed the book. However, although the book was incredible with the business of swords, the convenient proposal and the character development, it needed more wow factor in the romance area. I believe this was because I am used to intense romance development that is the main area and that this style of writing was new due to other factors that correspond to the romance.
Although, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and encourage others to read it as well. I recommend this book because of the main female's incredible accomplishments in the historical days were they were only regarded as housewives, romance and many more.

Happy Reading!, And a happy new year!

[Sabrina (Soter) Sally]

3 e 1/2

«Di tutte le donne del mondo, ero io quella che desideravate baciare?»
«L’unica. Siete la sola che rende completa la mia vita.» Ben indicò le luci di Londra. «Tutto questo non significa nulla senza di voi.»

Come spesso accade, ad una prima parte carina e coinvolgente si contrappone una seconda più lenta e triste. Il primo incontro tra i due è originale, un duello tra spadaccini...che vince lei XD Inevitabilmente Ben ne rimane affascinato, del resto lei non solo è un'abile spadaccina ma anche un capitano d'industria e quindi non ha assolutamente nulla in comune con le damine del Ton. Questa speciale diversità, che cattura Ben e il lettore, si rivela però un problema con l'ingresso a Londra perché per essere la perfetta moglie di un nobile Eleanor cerca di cambiare la sua natura ma ovviamente questo non porta altro che fraintendimenti e depressione da ambo le parti (per non parlare di un triste lutto) fino al sospirato happy ending.

[Autaum]

I typically try and read any books I win through a Goodreads giveway in the order that I receive them. However, yesterday afternoon as it was pouring rain (a much needed rain) I couldn't help sitting outside on the porch with a glass of wine and a trusted romance novel. Harlequin's are never spectacular or unpredictable, but on a rainy day, they are perfect and exactly what you need. His Unsuitable Viscountess was a lovely afternoon treat, with the lead character Eleanor being an admirable female for that time period.

[Michelle]

I thought that the beginning to this novel was great but then felt like the tension in the plot deflated around the midpoint. Overall, not a bad story but I didn't feel as emotionally invested during the latter half of the novel.

[Rosa C.]

2.5 stars. I liked the characters but the story had it's bumps.

[Hasnamezied]

I give this 3.2

It was nice read . I enjoyed it .

[Norma Reasor]

I really enjoyed this Regency Romance. Women in business and merchants in general were not considered quite respectable in this time period. Fun to find not one but two women well respected in that era, and one of them was not fiction.