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A Suitable Connection (Regency) by Cindy Holbrook
HER INNOCENCE INTRIGUED HIMRavenstoke wasn’t fooled for a moment by the ragged urchin he found perched in a tree near Grantham Hall. Any idiot with eyes could see the frightened creature was a girl…and a dashed pretty one at that. But once he’d heard all about how she’d fled the hideous betrothal her cruel stepfather had forced upon her, Ravenstoke understood why she’d struggled to mask her considerable charms. And-to his amazement-the jaded duke felt the urge to protect the chit from her unscrupulous parent’s greed…as well as from his own, less-than-gentlemanly desires. HIS WORLDLINESS SHOCKED HERMary Castleton felt like a complete ninnyhammer. Not only had she failed in her desperate masquerade, shed managed to fall in to the hands of one of London’s most infamous rakehells! One look at Ravenstoke’s indecently handsome face assured her of the danger she was in. He had promised her his protection and she was certainly in no position to refuse it. But she would have to keep a careful rein on her girlish emotions, lest she lose her unschooled heart to a man who could teach her more about passion than any lady ought to know!
Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1990
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About the author
Cindy Holbrook
25 books23 followersBefore becoming a romance novelist, Cindy received a BFA in theater and pursued a career in real estate. She was both a broker and a general contractor and actually began writing to entertain herself while she sat open house as a realtor.
Although born in Wisconsin, Cindy moved to Florida with her family at a young age and has never left. Her home in Fort Walton, on the Emerald coast, provides Cindy with warm weather, beautiful beaches, and magnificent waters. She loves reading, pretending to cook (she says that she reads cookbooks far more often than she actually makes anything), and admiring old cars-especially Mustangs. Cindy is also a devoted dog person who maintains that dogs are actually women's best friend.
Although born in Wisconsin, Cindy moved to Florida with her family at a young age and has never left. Her home in Fort Walton, on the Emerald coast, provides Cindy with warm weather, beautiful beaches, and magnificent waters. She loves reading, pretending to cook (she says that she reads cookbooks far more often than she actually makes anything), and admiring old cars-especially Mustangs. Cindy is also a devoted dog person who maintains that dogs are actually women's best friend.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 30, 2018
This is my fifth historical romance by Cindy Holbrook and I thought I had given up on her. Fortunately, I found two of her stories tucked in the back of my bookshelves. I am so happy I kept this romance.
In a nutshell, Ravenstoke was a libertine. With no apologies, he knew it. That is, until he came upon a character in a tree. As fate would have it, he started on the road to good deeds.
I loved everything that went on between Mary and her lordship in the first half of the romance. I would have easily given it five stars. Then Ms. Holbrook introduced a common plot device and the story slowed its pace. If you enjoy a possessive rogue-and-redemption-trope with some eye-rolling 🙄, give it a try.
In a nutshell, Ravenstoke was a libertine. With no apologies, he knew it. That is, until he came upon a character in a tree. As fate would have it, he started on the road to good deeds.
I loved everything that went on between Mary and her lordship in the first half of the romance. I would have easily given it five stars. Then Ms. Holbrook introduced a common plot device and the story slowed its pace. If you enjoy a possessive rogue-and-redemption-trope with some eye-rolling 🙄, give it a try.
October 16, 2012
I was pleasantly surprised with this one. I have been in a bit of a reading funk lately, not really getting into the books I was reading. So, when I picked this one up and was immediately caught up in the characters and story I was more than happy (for that I decided to give it an extra star). I don’t normally go for or believe the whole reformed rake storyline, but I totally believed it in this particular rake. From the moment Lord Ravenstoke meets Mary there is not only instant chemistry, but the knowledge that neither of their lives were ever to be the same. It wasn’t love at first sight (which I appreciated), but they had an easy comfort with each other, a fun banter that showed not only an understanding of each other but built a good foundation of friendship. This naturally grew to love as the story progresses.
When I started reading I kept thinking about a phrase I had read in my friend Hannah’s review http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/427563051 of a different book, but I thought it also related to our Lord Ravenstoke. She was referring to jaded hero’s helping out the innocent heroines. She says “One of the best moments in these books comes when the jaded hero steps up and takes on a problem because he knows it will help the heroine yet cause countless difficulties for himself. The best part about this plot device is that no one is more surprised than the hero himself that he makes this offer. It's as if he can't help himself, and it's at that moment he knows his heart is irrevocably lost to the heroine.”
Despite his colorful reputation, I liked Lord Ravenstoke instantly. I liked our heroine Mary quite a bit as well, they have a fun relationship. I enjoyed their banter, but I mostly loved how they saw the good in one another. They treated each other with respect and wanted what was best for each other. I liked that when one was in a sticky situation the other was always there to bail them out. I think what made Ravenstoke’s transformation so believable was you could see his remorse for his past choices. He never felt he was good enough for Mary. He treated her with respect and wanted only the best for her. He didn’t think he was the best and tried to take himself out of the picture. I like that he was humble and felt undeserving. For me that showed true remorse, but also showed he would be faithful and loving to Mary in the future. I also liked that Mary was true to herself; she eventually makes her feelings known and then does her best to respect his wishes. There does come a certain point where you wonder if they will ever get their happily ever after. Thank goodness for sweet grandmothers like Ravenstokes, who don’t sit by and let two people make a terrible mistake.
When I started the book I thought it would follow a typical regency outline. I was again pleasantly surprised when the story went a different way than I thought it would. It was fun to read and not know exactly what would happen next. It was so enjoyable; I am tempted to reread it right away.
Content: Pretty clean. There are a handful of swearwords (including the B word). There is no sex, but there is some mild innuendo. There is also an attempted rape, which doesn’t go too far.
When I started reading I kept thinking about a phrase I had read in my friend Hannah’s review http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/427563051 of a different book, but I thought it also related to our Lord Ravenstoke. She was referring to jaded hero’s helping out the innocent heroines. She says “One of the best moments in these books comes when the jaded hero steps up and takes on a problem because he knows it will help the heroine yet cause countless difficulties for himself. The best part about this plot device is that no one is more surprised than the hero himself that he makes this offer. It's as if he can't help himself, and it's at that moment he knows his heart is irrevocably lost to the heroine.”
Despite his colorful reputation, I liked Lord Ravenstoke instantly. I liked our heroine Mary quite a bit as well, they have a fun relationship. I enjoyed their banter, but I mostly loved how they saw the good in one another. They treated each other with respect and wanted what was best for each other. I liked that when one was in a sticky situation the other was always there to bail them out. I think what made Ravenstoke’s transformation so believable was you could see his remorse for his past choices. He never felt he was good enough for Mary. He treated her with respect and wanted only the best for her. He didn’t think he was the best and tried to take himself out of the picture. I like that he was humble and felt undeserving. For me that showed true remorse, but also showed he would be faithful and loving to Mary in the future. I also liked that Mary was true to herself; she eventually makes her feelings known and then does her best to respect his wishes. There does come a certain point where you wonder if they will ever get their happily ever after. Thank goodness for sweet grandmothers like Ravenstokes, who don’t sit by and let two people make a terrible mistake.
When I started the book I thought it would follow a typical regency outline. I was again pleasantly surprised when the story went a different way than I thought it would. It was fun to read and not know exactly what would happen next. It was so enjoyable; I am tempted to reread it right away.
Content: Pretty clean. There are a handful of swearwords (including the B word). There is no sex, but there is some mild innuendo. There is also an attempted rape, which doesn’t go too far.
July 30, 2015
Absolutely hilarious, quite sweet of a read. :) The hero is not so devilish as he believes, and I love how the machinations of the villains weren't being plotted throughout the entire book, but were quickly stopped and rectified. Exciting plot and very understandable characters - I highly recommend it! No plot spoilers here~
March 24, 2013
Don't let the cover fool you. This is a pretty clean read (few swear words and some mild innuendos). Again, I read this book a little while ago and can't remember specifics. I do remember I enjoyed it and thought the two main characters matched really well together.
May 14, 2019
Riding through a field on his property, libertine Ravenstock spied an urchin perched in a tree. Grubby and with short hair, he knew she was a female. After a lot of back and forth with her climbing up the tree, finally Mary tumbled into his arms. After he heard of her background and her stepfather's attempts to marry her to one of his game hall buddies, this devoted libertine felt he had to protect her. After taking her to London and having his grandmother turn her into a beauty for the Season, Ravenstock suddenly became jealous of every young man who danced with her!
Mary had no social graces and was leery of Ravenstock for a long time but couldn't deny his looks and kindness. Would she reform this libertine?
I loved this book. It's a clean, entertaining beach read. It's on going on my keeper shelf.
Mary had no social graces and was leery of Ravenstock for a long time but couldn't deny his looks and kindness. Would she reform this libertine?
I loved this book. It's a clean, entertaining beach read. It's on going on my keeper shelf.
June 4, 2020
This author has two eras, one 'buffoony and slapstick', and before that. This is from before that, and decent, although the man is a control freak--handsome, charming, well-intentioned, but a complete control freak.
April 11, 2013
If you are in the mood for a very light novel, this book is for you. The tone is never really serious and even the serious points are rather glib. In fact, that is my only complaint. From the get go, the main characters are just too glib and too well composed. It's like they are acting out a play. Don't get me wrong. The characters are a lot of fun and Holbrooks starts the novel and ends the novel with the same glibness. There's light intrigue of course. You have the scheming suitors, ne'er do well relatives and the spunky yet witty good guys. It is completely a two dimensional story. If you are looking for believable yet light fare, you might be disappointed. If you are looking for a madcap romantic comedy, this novel will definitely delight.
September 25, 2009
Regency
April 23, 2013
Pretty good fun story. Easy read and predictable. I did like how the hero changed who he was so that he could have what he really wanted. Her!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews