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At the Kingsborough Ball #1
The Trouble with Being a Duke
Sometimes happily ever after…
Anthony Hurst, Duke of Kingsborough knows the time has come for him to produce an heir. But first he must find a bride. When he meets the most exquisite woman at his masquerade ball, he thinks his search is over…until the breathtaking beauty runs off. With few clues other than her figure, her scent, and the memory of her kiss, Anthony must find his mystery lady.
…needs a little bit of help.
Isabella Chilcott can scarcely believe it: she is finally at the Kingsborough Ball. As a child, she dreamed of dancing a waltz here and now, thanks to a gorgeous gown she’s found in the attic, Isabella is living her fairytale fantasy. And she’s waltzing with the Duke of Kingsborough himself! But she must escape before he discovers her secrets…for she is not who she pretends to be, and falling in love with Prince Charming is the last thing she can allow herself to do…
Anthony Hurst, Duke of Kingsborough knows the time has come for him to produce an heir. But first he must find a bride. When he meets the most exquisite woman at his masquerade ball, he thinks his search is over…until the breathtaking beauty runs off. With few clues other than her figure, her scent, and the memory of her kiss, Anthony must find his mystery lady.
…needs a little bit of help.
Isabella Chilcott can scarcely believe it: she is finally at the Kingsborough Ball. As a child, she dreamed of dancing a waltz here and now, thanks to a gorgeous gown she’s found in the attic, Isabella is living her fairytale fantasy. And she’s waltzing with the Duke of Kingsborough himself! But she must escape before he discovers her secrets…for she is not who she pretends to be, and falling in love with Prince Charming is the last thing she can allow herself to do…
371 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 27, 2013
84 people are currently reading
1455 people want to read
About the author
Sophie Barnes
67 books1,754 followersUSA TODAY bestselling author Sophie Barnes writes historical romance novels in which the characters break away from social expectations in their quest for happiness and love. Having written for Avon, an imprint of Harper Collins, her books have been published internationally in eight languages. With a fondness for travel, Sophie has lived in six countries, on three continents, and speaks English, Danish, French, Spanish, and Romanian with varying degrees of fluency. Ever the romantic, she married the same man three times—in three different countries and in three different dresses.
When she’s not busy dreaming up her next swoon worthy romance novel, Sophie enjoys spending time with her family, practicing yoga, baking, gardening, watching romantic comedies and, of course, reading.
For all the latest releases, promotions, and exclusive story updates, subscribe to Sophie Barnes’ newsletter today: www.sophiebarnes.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
April 12, 2015
3 meh stars.
Didnt feel anything for ANY of the chracters except for the heroine's parents.
Loved her father,he was a gentleman through n through...while I stayed annoyed with her mother throughout the book...She was quite selfish and unnecessarily stubborn. :/
Didnt feel anything for ANY of the chracters except for the heroine's parents.
Loved her father,he was a gentleman through n through...while I stayed annoyed with her mother throughout the book...She was quite selfish and unnecessarily stubborn. :/
January 23, 2014
Setting: Regency England
Anthony Hurst Duke of Kingsborugh, discovers that anything can happen at the Kingsborough Ball when he dances with a masked beauty. He knows he must find a bride...(seems like all these poor fella's need a woman in these "Duke" books) Anyway..and Anthony thinks he has found her, until she disappears..
Anthony vows to track down and find this mystery woman no matter what. ( I'm feeling Cinderella theme here ) Now, Isabella Chilcott has dreamed of waltzing at the Kingsborugh Ball, but a lowly commoner cannot attend the social event of the season..or can she? With a beautiful gown,unearthed in the attic and a mask (minus glass slippers) Isabella can be anyone. A dance with a duke is unexpected (perhaps a prince was not available) and falling head over heals in love is impossible..or is it? There are many obstacles Anthony and Isabella to over come, and these two lovers have their work cut out for them.
Nasty step sisters and mother? Not telling :) Yes, the author did use our cultural love affair with the Cinderella theme, and I wasn't quite sure this was going to be too "fluffy" for me. But this turned out to be a fun fast paced, wish-fulfilling romance that can tug at a readers heart. The story was added with a Hero who struggles with his need to become a better man, and a Heroine who fights against her attraction to a man above her station. Ah yes... of course there is a cruel villainess, but a few smile inducing surprises are thrown in as well. I ended up really liking this book (maybe a Cinderella HEA was in the need at this moment for me who knows?) But I do look forward to book two
Love the covers on these books of hers, nicely done.
Anthony Hurst Duke of Kingsborugh, discovers that anything can happen at the Kingsborough Ball when he dances with a masked beauty. He knows he must find a bride...(seems like all these poor fella's need a woman in these "Duke" books) Anyway..and Anthony thinks he has found her, until she disappears..
Anthony vows to track down and find this mystery woman no matter what. ( I'm feeling Cinderella theme here ) Now, Isabella Chilcott has dreamed of waltzing at the Kingsborugh Ball, but a lowly commoner cannot attend the social event of the season..or can she? With a beautiful gown,unearthed in the attic and a mask (minus glass slippers) Isabella can be anyone. A dance with a duke is unexpected (perhaps a prince was not available) and falling head over heals in love is impossible..or is it? There are many obstacles Anthony and Isabella to over come, and these two lovers have their work cut out for them.
Nasty step sisters and mother? Not telling :) Yes, the author did use our cultural love affair with the Cinderella theme, and I wasn't quite sure this was going to be too "fluffy" for me. But this turned out to be a fun fast paced, wish-fulfilling romance that can tug at a readers heart. The story was added with a Hero who struggles with his need to become a better man, and a Heroine who fights against her attraction to a man above her station. Ah yes... of course there is a cruel villainess, but a few smile inducing surprises are thrown in as well. I ended up really liking this book (maybe a Cinderella HEA was in the need at this moment for me who knows?) But I do look forward to book two
Love the covers on these books of hers, nicely done.
February 15, 2019
This was just really ... dumb. The characters doing dumb things, saying dumb things. I skimmed a lot in order to make it to the end. I wanted to like it. I've been in a reading slump and I really want something to pull me out, but this was ... dumb.
I had some specifics I was going to include, but I've forgotten most of the book -- aside from the rickety plot that was padded to Michelin Man levels -- so details are very sketchy. Mostly I remember being annoyed by scene after scene with illogical character reactions and anachronistic dialogue.
It's not expensive, I'll give it that. Very disappointing.
I had some specifics I was going to include, but I've forgotten most of the book -- aside from the rickety plot that was padded to Michelin Man levels -- so details are very sketchy. Mostly I remember being annoyed by scene after scene with illogical character reactions and anachronistic dialogue.
It's not expensive, I'll give it that. Very disappointing.
August 10, 2013
Isabella Chilcott has dreamed of going to the Kingsborough Ball since she was a girl watching the fireworks from her bedroom and with the passing of the duke, the ball has been on hold for a few years. With the announcement that it will resume, Isabella knows she must attend before she is married to the stuffy man her parents have picked for her. She dons a beautiful gown stuffed away in the attic and sneaks in and captures the attention of the new duke, Anthony. Even knowing that Isabella snuck in he finds himself captivated by this vibrant, cheerful woman and when she slips away his only clue in finding her whereabouts is a drawing they had done together and also the fact that someone recognized her gown as one that has been missing. Taking these pieces he attempts to find the woman that has captured his heart in a glance but when he finds out the truth, will he be able to overcome all the objections, especially when a jealous lady spreads vicious lies?
The start of Sophie Barnes newest series is a feel-good, happy romance and I was very charmed by it. This was a delightful spin on one of my favorite fairy tales, Cinderella and I loved how all the pieces fit together but were a bit fresh from what I have read before. Isabella adores reading and finding her own happily-ever-after but the man her parents have chosen for her will help the family financially (as they are struggling) but he does not inspire her or treat her with the respect she deserves. Meeting Anthony changes everything but she knows he is well above her class station and that they can not have a future, no matter how much Anthony says that they can. Her mother has very strong feelings against the aristocracy and this adds some weight to the story. I did feel like her parents refusal to even consider the duke as a suitor was overdone but as the story unfolded, it made sense. Anthony had been feeling the weight of all his responsibilities following his beloved fathers death and meeting Isabella makes him feel happy again, the desire to have fun resurfaces and his load feels lifted with Isabellas sense of humor and forgiving nature. Stolen kisses, vengeful peers and a strong family bond complete this romance and one scene in the book will leave you very anxious to read the next book in this series and find out what else happens at the Kingsborough Ball. This book made me smile, laugh and sigh which is what all of Sophie Barnes charming romances make me do! 4 stars
Review copy provided by author
The start of Sophie Barnes newest series is a feel-good, happy romance and I was very charmed by it. This was a delightful spin on one of my favorite fairy tales, Cinderella and I loved how all the pieces fit together but were a bit fresh from what I have read before. Isabella adores reading and finding her own happily-ever-after but the man her parents have chosen for her will help the family financially (as they are struggling) but he does not inspire her or treat her with the respect she deserves. Meeting Anthony changes everything but she knows he is well above her class station and that they can not have a future, no matter how much Anthony says that they can. Her mother has very strong feelings against the aristocracy and this adds some weight to the story. I did feel like her parents refusal to even consider the duke as a suitor was overdone but as the story unfolded, it made sense. Anthony had been feeling the weight of all his responsibilities following his beloved fathers death and meeting Isabella makes him feel happy again, the desire to have fun resurfaces and his load feels lifted with Isabellas sense of humor and forgiving nature. Stolen kisses, vengeful peers and a strong family bond complete this romance and one scene in the book will leave you very anxious to read the next book in this series and find out what else happens at the Kingsborough Ball. This book made me smile, laugh and sigh which is what all of Sophie Barnes charming romances make me do! 4 stars
Review copy provided by author
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December 13, 2017funny. easy read
definetley a must if you dont have much time and looking for a enjoyable read
definetley a must if you dont have much time and looking for a enjoyable read
Epigraph
Once in a while, right in the middle of an ordinary life,
love gives us a fairy tale.
Anonymous
“Romantics are dreamers,
and dreams rarely have anything to do with reality.”
June 15, 2013
Hmmmm. I'm not sure how I feel about this book. On one hand, it was very cute and sweet.The kind of romance that makes you smile. On the other, there were some parts of the book where I wanted to shake some sense into the characters. Overall, though, I did like The Trouble with Being a Duke. It was a charming historical romance.
The whole Cinderella story was cute. You can't really go wrong with such a classic story. But, in this book, I felt like the author tried to over explain the love at first sight component. Anthony kept describing the "immediate bond" and it became a little cheesy. But I thought, as a whole, this book was a nice take on Cinderella. It brought in some interesting twists.
The one other part of the book that I didn't get was why Isabella's parents put up such a fight about her marrying a duke. And then, the whole thing about the almost fiance that her parents approved of. One, why would they be so insistent that Isabella marry a man that is such a fop while resisting her marriage to a charming and powerful duke? Why did the worry that said fiance would ruin Isabella's family if she didn't marry him come up so many times? She would have left him for a duke. And I think a duke would be powerful enough to squash a business owner like a bug. And, finally, I didn't get why they were so quick to question Anthony's motive. It wasn't as if he wanted to make her his mistress. He said to them, point blank, that he wanted to marry her. What was questionable about that? In the end, Isabella's parents did explain why they were reluctant to accept the duke. But, after how much of a fit they pitched, it felt lacking.
Isabella was an okay heroine. I wanted to see her with a bit more backbone. I felt like she let others (read: her parents) lead her around so much. By the end, she had toughened up and was determined to fight for what she wanted. So, I ended up liking her. Once she found her strength, she wasn't going to let anybody take her away from what (and who) she wanted.
Anthony was wonderful. He was very sweet and the very definition of a gentleman. I thought it was so sweet how he was determined to get the woman of his dreams, no matter the potential scandal, or any other obstacle. He was brilliant and I adored him.
The romance was sweet. There wasn't really much spice in this book. It was a fairly clean romance. But, the romance was cute, the type of romance that makes you smile.
The plot was okay. I was never bored, but I was never riveted either. Regardless, I was kept interested the entire way through. There were some secrets that I never saw coming. And the ending was very sweet.
The Trouble with Being a Duke was a cute romance. Though it had its flaws, it was an enjoyable read and I did like it. If you're looking for a sweet, light romance, this book is for you.
*Thanks to Edelweiss and Avon Books for a copy!
The whole Cinderella story was cute. You can't really go wrong with such a classic story. But, in this book, I felt like the author tried to over explain the love at first sight component. Anthony kept describing the "immediate bond" and it became a little cheesy. But I thought, as a whole, this book was a nice take on Cinderella. It brought in some interesting twists.
The one other part of the book that I didn't get was why Isabella's parents put up such a fight about her marrying a duke. And then, the whole thing about the almost fiance that her parents approved of. One, why would they be so insistent that Isabella marry a man that is such a fop while resisting her marriage to a charming and powerful duke? Why did the worry that said fiance would ruin Isabella's family if she didn't marry him come up so many times? She would have left him for a duke. And I think a duke would be powerful enough to squash a business owner like a bug. And, finally, I didn't get why they were so quick to question Anthony's motive. It wasn't as if he wanted to make her his mistress. He said to them, point blank, that he wanted to marry her. What was questionable about that? In the end, Isabella's parents did explain why they were reluctant to accept the duke. But, after how much of a fit they pitched, it felt lacking.
Isabella was an okay heroine. I wanted to see her with a bit more backbone. I felt like she let others (read: her parents) lead her around so much. By the end, she had toughened up and was determined to fight for what she wanted. So, I ended up liking her. Once she found her strength, she wasn't going to let anybody take her away from what (and who) she wanted.
Anthony was wonderful. He was very sweet and the very definition of a gentleman. I thought it was so sweet how he was determined to get the woman of his dreams, no matter the potential scandal, or any other obstacle. He was brilliant and I adored him.
The romance was sweet. There wasn't really much spice in this book. It was a fairly clean romance. But, the romance was cute, the type of romance that makes you smile.
The plot was okay. I was never bored, but I was never riveted either. Regardless, I was kept interested the entire way through. There were some secrets that I never saw coming. And the ending was very sweet.
The Trouble with Being a Duke was a cute romance. Though it had its flaws, it was an enjoyable read and I did like it. If you're looking for a sweet, light romance, this book is for you.
*Thanks to Edelweiss and Avon Books for a copy!
September 5, 2013
http://www.blue-moon.fr/spip.php?arti...
Et bien voilà un roman que vous pourrez éviter tranquillement. Le thème était tentant mais voilà l’auteure manque de talent, il vaut mieux le dire tout de suite. En plus, elle a jugé bon d’étirer cette toute petite romance sur un nombre infini de pages pour notre grand regret !
L’auteure a donc repris l’intrigue éprouvée de Cendrillon. La romance se délecte de ces contes de fée qu’elle revisite régulièrement et avec bonheur. Il vaut mieux clairement regarder la version d’Eloisa James que celle de Sophie Barnes. Ici, elle colle relativement au conte, remplaçant simplement la chaussure par une très belle robe. Notre héroïne, Isabella, va prendre une robe, trouvée miraculeusement dans le grenier familial pour se rendre au bal organisé dans un magnifique domaine près de chez elle, par le duc de Kingsborough. Celui-ci a poussé sa mère à relancer cette tradition après le décès de son père et va être complètement séduit par l’apparition de cette jolie jeune femme masquée. Tout cela est plutôt mignon et si c’est classiquement présenté, cela reste correct, le reste va lentement sombrer dans l’ennui.
Sophie Barnes ne sait pas faire court et va passer quatre vingt pages sur ce malheureux bal où il se produit beaucoup de choses où se croisent des dizaines de gens. On s’y perd un peu, il y a la famille du duc, des amis, des incidents à répétition. Tout cela sera exploité mais parfois bien plus tard.
D’autre part, le minimum dans une romance est de faire des personnages sympathiques et des rebondissements cohérents. Le duc est ...brave. C’est un gentil garçon, amoureux dès le premier regard posé sur Isabella mais voilà, elle est partie sans laisser de trace et il va devoir la retrouver ce qui arrive assez vite. Mais pour un duc, qu’il est mou et peu autoritaire ! Isabella quant à elle est une jeune fille qui se laisse mener par ses parents et préfère refuser le duc pour épouser un homme de basse extraction qui promet déjà de lui faire mener une vie d’enfer. Elle va même jusqu’à se mettre dans une colère noire quand le duc la séduit presque et elle lui reproche de la manipuler pour lui faire quitter son fiancé moche, antipathique, brutal et désagréable...
Il semble que tout cela ne sert qu’à faire durer le livre et nous faire comprendre la raison du refus obstiné des parents d’Isabella de lui laisser épouser le meilleur parti du pays. On devine très vite pourquoi donc continuer à lire les inepties d’Isabella n’apporte rien.
Nous passerons sur le fait que personne ne sourcille, dans l’entourage du duc, sur le que la fille d’un cocher va l’épouser. Notre brave duc attend, pleurniche en se demandant pourquoi l’amour de sa vie ne veut pas de lui, part au moment où il doit la rejoindre dans sa famille et oublie de la tenir au courant ce qui fâche la dame... Bref, tout cela est laborieux, ennuyeux et sans grand intérêt.
Et bien voilà un roman que vous pourrez éviter tranquillement. Le thème était tentant mais voilà l’auteure manque de talent, il vaut mieux le dire tout de suite. En plus, elle a jugé bon d’étirer cette toute petite romance sur un nombre infini de pages pour notre grand regret !
L’auteure a donc repris l’intrigue éprouvée de Cendrillon. La romance se délecte de ces contes de fée qu’elle revisite régulièrement et avec bonheur. Il vaut mieux clairement regarder la version d’Eloisa James que celle de Sophie Barnes. Ici, elle colle relativement au conte, remplaçant simplement la chaussure par une très belle robe. Notre héroïne, Isabella, va prendre une robe, trouvée miraculeusement dans le grenier familial pour se rendre au bal organisé dans un magnifique domaine près de chez elle, par le duc de Kingsborough. Celui-ci a poussé sa mère à relancer cette tradition après le décès de son père et va être complètement séduit par l’apparition de cette jolie jeune femme masquée. Tout cela est plutôt mignon et si c’est classiquement présenté, cela reste correct, le reste va lentement sombrer dans l’ennui.
Sophie Barnes ne sait pas faire court et va passer quatre vingt pages sur ce malheureux bal où il se produit beaucoup de choses où se croisent des dizaines de gens. On s’y perd un peu, il y a la famille du duc, des amis, des incidents à répétition. Tout cela sera exploité mais parfois bien plus tard.
D’autre part, le minimum dans une romance est de faire des personnages sympathiques et des rebondissements cohérents. Le duc est ...brave. C’est un gentil garçon, amoureux dès le premier regard posé sur Isabella mais voilà, elle est partie sans laisser de trace et il va devoir la retrouver ce qui arrive assez vite. Mais pour un duc, qu’il est mou et peu autoritaire ! Isabella quant à elle est une jeune fille qui se laisse mener par ses parents et préfère refuser le duc pour épouser un homme de basse extraction qui promet déjà de lui faire mener une vie d’enfer. Elle va même jusqu’à se mettre dans une colère noire quand le duc la séduit presque et elle lui reproche de la manipuler pour lui faire quitter son fiancé moche, antipathique, brutal et désagréable...
Il semble que tout cela ne sert qu’à faire durer le livre et nous faire comprendre la raison du refus obstiné des parents d’Isabella de lui laisser épouser le meilleur parti du pays. On devine très vite pourquoi donc continuer à lire les inepties d’Isabella n’apporte rien.
Nous passerons sur le fait que personne ne sourcille, dans l’entourage du duc, sur le que la fille d’un cocher va l’épouser. Notre brave duc attend, pleurniche en se demandant pourquoi l’amour de sa vie ne veut pas de lui, part au moment où il doit la rejoindre dans sa famille et oublie de la tenir au courant ce qui fâche la dame... Bref, tout cela est laborieux, ennuyeux et sans grand intérêt.
September 26, 2014
Anthony Hurst, is the Duke of Kingsborough and after seeing his family still suffering the effects of his fathers death, he knows it is time to step up and be the man he was born to be. So he convinces her mother that they need to host one of their famous balls, and they proceed with the preparations, and Anthony sees his family feeling more vibrant than ever. Isabella has always dreamed of going to the Kingsborough Ball and when she hears that they will be hosting it again, she finds herself dressing in her mothers only gown that would be suitable, and attends not knowing what to expect, knowing that even though this is the last place she should be, but can't resist...then she finds herself waltzing with the Duke himself, a man that only has eyes for her. Isabella, is almost engaged to a man she doesn't love, but feels a duty to marry him for her family's sake, but after leaving the ball, she never thought she would see Anthony again. Well Anthony is determined to find the one woman he desires more than any other, and he will find her and have her as his duchess...no matter what it takes.
The Trouble With Being A Duke is the first book in this series, after reading the second and third books, I was really wanting to reading Anthony's story. This series is about a ball that has a Cinderella centered theme. I would definitely consider this story a fairy tale romance, but with some other differences that relates a little bit with Sabrina. I didn't know how much I would like this one, when I started reading it, but once I really got into the story...I was hooked instantly. I think this is my favorite book from this author so far. At the beginning of the story Anthony practically falls in love with Isabella on sight, or lust...but it does turn into love and at first I was thinking that you just can't fall in love that quickly, but when you see his devotion to seeing through this, when it would be all easier just to give up, you see his commitment to Isabella and willing to fight for her when no one else will. Isabella is the daughter of a carriage driver, and the man she is suppose to marry is her father's boss, she knows her parents love her, but she also knows that this is her duty, even though her fiancee makes her feel smothered and a prisoner. When she is with Anthony, you see how she starts to flourish, and wishes for something more from her life. It was quite fun seeing these two work through the roadblocks and I love seeing a man fight for the woman he loves...he does have to get a bit creative at times, and these two were a pair.
Overall a winner of a regency romance...a story to capture you heart and bring the magic of the Cinderella Fairy Tale to life, with unique elements to pull you in further in the story. A Sweet romance to fall in love with!!
The Trouble With Being A Duke is the first book in this series, after reading the second and third books, I was really wanting to reading Anthony's story. This series is about a ball that has a Cinderella centered theme. I would definitely consider this story a fairy tale romance, but with some other differences that relates a little bit with Sabrina. I didn't know how much I would like this one, when I started reading it, but once I really got into the story...I was hooked instantly. I think this is my favorite book from this author so far. At the beginning of the story Anthony practically falls in love with Isabella on sight, or lust...but it does turn into love and at first I was thinking that you just can't fall in love that quickly, but when you see his devotion to seeing through this, when it would be all easier just to give up, you see his commitment to Isabella and willing to fight for her when no one else will. Isabella is the daughter of a carriage driver, and the man she is suppose to marry is her father's boss, she knows her parents love her, but she also knows that this is her duty, even though her fiancee makes her feel smothered and a prisoner. When she is with Anthony, you see how she starts to flourish, and wishes for something more from her life. It was quite fun seeing these two work through the roadblocks and I love seeing a man fight for the woman he loves...he does have to get a bit creative at times, and these two were a pair.
Overall a winner of a regency romance...a story to capture you heart and bring the magic of the Cinderella Fairy Tale to life, with unique elements to pull you in further in the story. A Sweet romance to fall in love with!!
October 9, 2015
This was horrible. I honestly wanted to throw this book across the room. There were so many things I hated about this book but I don't want to want to waste anymore time on it. I'm usually very, very lenient on HR books but I just can't with this one.
September 18, 2013
Lacked originality, depth, and character development.
January 23, 2023
Haven't read a Sophie Barnes novel in quite some time and "The Trouble with Being a Duke" was an easy read in all its fluff and "love at first sight" theme. The heroine and hero were likeable characters...a reformed rake and lower class beauty turned actual lady.
August 21, 2013
Normally I enjoy reading stories about a man who knows what he wants and then goes after it. Romance books with a hero in pursuit are definitely fuel for fantasy and readers can live vicariously through the women who are the center of his attention. However there comes a point where you need him to back off a bit so that the rest of the story can unfold and hopefully there is enough there to create an entertaining read. In The Trouble with Being a Duke the hero uses all of his rakish powers to catch the woman of his dreams, but behind that drive there is little else to completely fill out the rest of this rather thin story.
Lord Kingsborough walks that very thin line between smitten and stalker as he tries to find and woo the mystery woman he meets at his mother’s ball. Knowing that the beautiful woman he sees across the room is a party crasher, Anthony cannot bring himself to have her removed and sends his family to learn more about her before he makes a move to know her himself. However the young lady proves elusive and chooses not to share anything truthful about herself except for vague hints that she is a local and not quite what she seems. When an unexpected shooting breaks up the party, the mystery woman flees and Anthony is left only with a half –masked drawing of the enchanting woman who has immediately stolen his heart.
For the full review, please go to http://www.thewindowseat13.com/2013/0...
Lord Kingsborough walks that very thin line between smitten and stalker as he tries to find and woo the mystery woman he meets at his mother’s ball. Knowing that the beautiful woman he sees across the room is a party crasher, Anthony cannot bring himself to have her removed and sends his family to learn more about her before he makes a move to know her himself. However the young lady proves elusive and chooses not to share anything truthful about herself except for vague hints that she is a local and not quite what she seems. When an unexpected shooting breaks up the party, the mystery woman flees and Anthony is left only with a half –masked drawing of the enchanting woman who has immediately stolen his heart.
For the full review, please go to http://www.thewindowseat13.com/2013/0...
May 26, 2013
I received an ARC from the author. I have been a fan of Sophie since last year's "How Miss Rutherford Got Her Groove Back". "The Trouble With Being a Duke" had a very lovable duke as a hero and a "commoner" as a heroine. She was almost engaged to a man to whom her parents approved, but the duke was determined to win her. There were secrets within her family, which she was unaware of, but the duke figured out. Isabella fought her feeling for the duke because she thought it could never work out. I was routing for them to get to their HEA & overcome the family obstacles, as well as a nasty villainess. I had a hard time putting this book down! Can't wait to read the next book in the series!
July 30, 2016
Silly heroine, god-awful prose, and one of the most unimaginative plot I've ever read. It may not be the worse romance novel I've ever read, but it's not far from it.
July 6, 2022
I'm sorry to have to say this, but this was not good.
I could actually have enjoyed it (as a very light read) if it wasn't for the following two issues...
1. Issue the first: The two main characters HAVE NEVER MET BEFORE the beginning of this book. They meet and openly admit they know nothing about each other, but decide that they are head over heels in love. Yeah...nope.
2. Issue the second: Apparently, absolutely anything can be forgiven if it is done by a family member! The main (female) character's mother ran away many years ago with the man she loved (she was a nobleman's daughter who fell in love with one of her father's grooms). She tried telling her parents that she loved this man and wanted to marry him. Daddy's response was to find a man who needed money ($$) who would 'compromise' her and force her into marriage with a man of her class.
...In other words, he arranged for his own fucking daughter to be sexually assaulted.
Think about that one for a minute.
...Yeah I'm very much of the opinion that writing off toxic family members is not a bad thing. His daughter doesn't owe him ANYTHING, and she doesn't have to forgive him "for the sake of her own daughters". Fuck off with that shit.
I could actually have enjoyed it (as a very light read) if it wasn't for the following two issues...
1. Issue the first: The two main characters HAVE NEVER MET BEFORE the beginning of this book. They meet and openly admit they know nothing about each other, but decide that they are head over heels in love. Yeah...nope.
2. Issue the second: Apparently, absolutely anything can be forgiven if it is done by a family member! The main (female) character's mother ran away many years ago with the man she loved (she was a nobleman's daughter who fell in love with one of her father's grooms). She tried telling her parents that she loved this man and wanted to marry him. Daddy's response was to find a man who needed money ($$) who would 'compromise' her and force her into marriage with a man of her class.
...In other words, he arranged for his own fucking daughter to be sexually assaulted.
Think about that one for a minute.
...Yeah I'm very much of the opinion that writing off toxic family members is not a bad thing. His daughter doesn't owe him ANYTHING, and she doesn't have to forgive him "for the sake of her own daughters". Fuck off with that shit.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2017
I am dumber for having read this drivel
May 29, 2017
As other reviewers have said, this was a very easy-to-read, fluffy book. I must admit that it was too easy to read at some points. In the sense that I felt the writing sometimes over explained things. Things that were a given, were oftentimes explained in detail, which made me feel as a reader I was being treated like I was slow minded. It wasn't horrible, just came across as very elementary or amateurish writing. The dialogue also came across as contemporary, instead of historical. Especially with the hero. The way he spoke, the thought processes he had that came thru in his speech with friends and family was as if he was a very open, gossipy female. I just kept thinking to myself, no guy would talk like that, especially during that time period! Besides the dreaded insta-love that seemed to happen, it wasn't a bad story all around though.
August 8, 2014
***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***
The Trouble With Being A Duke by Sophie Barnes
Book One of the At the Kingsborough Ball series
Publisher: Avon Books
Publication Date: August 27, 2013
Rating: 4 stars
Source: eARC from Edelweiss
***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***
Summary (from Goodreads):
Sometimes happily ever after…
Anthony Hurst, Duke of Kingsborough knows the time has come for him to produce an heir. But first he must find a bride. When he meets the most exquisite woman at his masquerade ball, he thinks his search is over…until the breathtaking beauty runs off. With few clues other than her figure, her scent, and the memory of her kiss, Anthony must find his mystery lady.
…needs a little bit of help.
Isabella Chilcott can scarcely believe it: she is finally at the Kingsborough Ball. As a child, she dreamed of dancing a waltz here and now, thanks to a gorgeous gown she’s found in the attic, Isabella is living her fairytale fantasy. And she’s waltzing with the Duke of Kingsborough himself! But she must escape before he discovers her secrets…for she is not who she pretends to be, and falling in love with Prince Charming is the last thing she can allow herself to do…
What I Liked:
This book was so adorable yet so striking at the same time! I love the idea of it - it sounds like Cinderella! Anthony is a rich Duke who knows he must get married soon, so he can have an heir. Isabella also knows that she has to get married soon - because her parents have fallen on financial hard times. Isabella has a suitor - Mr. Roberts - but she dreams of fairy tales endings.
Isabella decides to sneak away to the Kingsborough Ball, a huge event hosted by the Duke of Kingsborough and his mother. There, she meets the Duke, Anthony, and many other splendid company. But it is the Duke with whom she falls head over heels in love, and it is she with whom Anthony fall heads over heels in love. But Anthony never finds out her name, and when the night is over, he fears he will never see her again.
I absolutely LOVE the way this book is set up. The ball happens, they meet, they part ways, he begins the search for her, they meet again, he has to win her AND her parents over... this is such a fun book. Every time Anthony and Isabella meet, I knew that something very funny or very steamy would happen. Throw in stuffy Mr. Roberts here and there, and it couldn't get better!
I like how Isabella was stubborn with Anthony - she didn't just run straight into his arms every time she saw him. She kept her distance for propriety's sake, but she still allowed interaction between them. Their relationship grew slowly but steadily, and I'm happy with how the author handled the progression of their relationship.
The romance, as I mentioned, was steamy and sweet. Anthony fell completely in love with Isabella when he saw her at his ball, and stopped at nothing to just see her again. I love HIS stubbornness towards her, his determination to see her.
The ending of this story is beautiful. I remember thinking, FINALLY! And then wanting to cheer. While the plot of this book wasn't overly complex or intricate, I enjoyed the small twists and turns and the truth of Isabella's lineage.
What I Did Not Like:
Okay, Isabella's parents got on my nerves. I understand why Isabella's mother is so touchy about a duke courting her daughter (especially when all is revealed at the end!), but seriously!? They got on my nerves at every turn of the page.
I also which there could have been a little more depth to this book. There is this one plot twist that I totally saw from the very beginning and figured out by one fourth of the book. Otherwise, this book is very straightforward - not a bad thing! I just read wayyyy too many Young Adult books.
Would I Recommend It:
Yes! This is one of my favorite historical romance novels. I hope you give it a try!
Rating:
4 stars. A cute, adorable, sweet, yet steamy romance novel that does not disappoint!
The Trouble With Being A Duke by Sophie Barnes
Book One of the At the Kingsborough Ball series
Publisher: Avon Books
Publication Date: August 27, 2013
Rating: 4 stars
Source: eARC from Edelweiss
***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***
Summary (from Goodreads):
Sometimes happily ever after…
Anthony Hurst, Duke of Kingsborough knows the time has come for him to produce an heir. But first he must find a bride. When he meets the most exquisite woman at his masquerade ball, he thinks his search is over…until the breathtaking beauty runs off. With few clues other than her figure, her scent, and the memory of her kiss, Anthony must find his mystery lady.
…needs a little bit of help.
Isabella Chilcott can scarcely believe it: she is finally at the Kingsborough Ball. As a child, she dreamed of dancing a waltz here and now, thanks to a gorgeous gown she’s found in the attic, Isabella is living her fairytale fantasy. And she’s waltzing with the Duke of Kingsborough himself! But she must escape before he discovers her secrets…for she is not who she pretends to be, and falling in love with Prince Charming is the last thing she can allow herself to do…
What I Liked:
This book was so adorable yet so striking at the same time! I love the idea of it - it sounds like Cinderella! Anthony is a rich Duke who knows he must get married soon, so he can have an heir. Isabella also knows that she has to get married soon - because her parents have fallen on financial hard times. Isabella has a suitor - Mr. Roberts - but she dreams of fairy tales endings.
Isabella decides to sneak away to the Kingsborough Ball, a huge event hosted by the Duke of Kingsborough and his mother. There, she meets the Duke, Anthony, and many other splendid company. But it is the Duke with whom she falls head over heels in love, and it is she with whom Anthony fall heads over heels in love. But Anthony never finds out her name, and when the night is over, he fears he will never see her again.
I absolutely LOVE the way this book is set up. The ball happens, they meet, they part ways, he begins the search for her, they meet again, he has to win her AND her parents over... this is such a fun book. Every time Anthony and Isabella meet, I knew that something very funny or very steamy would happen. Throw in stuffy Mr. Roberts here and there, and it couldn't get better!
I like how Isabella was stubborn with Anthony - she didn't just run straight into his arms every time she saw him. She kept her distance for propriety's sake, but she still allowed interaction between them. Their relationship grew slowly but steadily, and I'm happy with how the author handled the progression of their relationship.
The romance, as I mentioned, was steamy and sweet. Anthony fell completely in love with Isabella when he saw her at his ball, and stopped at nothing to just see her again. I love HIS stubbornness towards her, his determination to see her.
The ending of this story is beautiful. I remember thinking, FINALLY! And then wanting to cheer. While the plot of this book wasn't overly complex or intricate, I enjoyed the small twists and turns and the truth of Isabella's lineage.
What I Did Not Like:
Okay, Isabella's parents got on my nerves. I understand why Isabella's mother is so touchy about a duke courting her daughter (especially when all is revealed at the end!), but seriously!? They got on my nerves at every turn of the page.
I also which there could have been a little more depth to this book. There is this one plot twist that I totally saw from the very beginning and figured out by one fourth of the book. Otherwise, this book is very straightforward - not a bad thing! I just read wayyyy too many Young Adult books.
Would I Recommend It:
Yes! This is one of my favorite historical romance novels. I hope you give it a try!
Rating:
4 stars. A cute, adorable, sweet, yet steamy romance novel that does not disappoint!
March 14, 2021
3.75 Stars
I'm a little bit conflicted rating this book.
There were some things that I loved, but some things that really bothered me. As a whole, the story was cute and an enjoyable read. It's only looking back that I see some things that rub me the wrong way.
Trope: This is one of my favorite tropes. I love reading fairytale retellings and Cinderella is one of my favorites. With Cinderella, there is the problem with "love at first sight". The author certainly made a point to repeatedly point out that Anthony and Isabella were experiencing a one-of-a-kind bond. I initially loved that the author was explaining that their spark was special, but after the first few explanations, it got a little bit annoying.
My biggest issue was with Isabella's reason for not marrying the duke. One of the best parts of this story was how fast the duke was able to find Isabella. There wasn't any unbelievable difficulty recognizing the woman who he had such a strong connection with. Once he found her, both Isabella and her parents had horrible reasons as to why she needed ignore the duke and push for the horrible almost fiancé. They kept talking about how breaking the almost-engagement would anger the jilted party, and would therefore ruin her family. What I don't understand is how nobody thought that marrying a duke wouldn't give them some power and influence. That entire part of the plot made no sense to me. Even after the twist, I still couldn't justify that engagement.
Heroine: Isabella was meh. She seemed a little bit bland to me. I wish we could've had the rebellious woman who stole away to the Duke's ball for the entire book. She seemed like she allowed her parents to dictate her life. It didn't seem to matter what she wanted, she was going to forge ahead into a miserable marriage for absolutely no reason. It wasn't until more than halfway through the book that she seemed to grow a backbone. So, since I liked her at the beginning and the end, but not in the middle, I guess she earned a score of average.
Hero: Despite his repetitive surprise at their love at first sight, I generally liked Anthony. He was determined to make Isabella his and he went about it in a smart way. He didn't try any elaborate schemes and I was rooting for him the entire time.
Plot: Their relationship was cute and sweet. It honestly read like a classic fairytale with a hint of romance steam. As for the story, I loved the Cinderella aspect and I thought it was pretty well done. It was a little bit predictable, but I did like it.
Overall, this was a cute story and I loved the fairytale retelling. There were some flaws that held me back from rating it higher.
I'm a little bit conflicted rating this book.
There were some things that I loved, but some things that really bothered me. As a whole, the story was cute and an enjoyable read. It's only looking back that I see some things that rub me the wrong way.
Trope: This is one of my favorite tropes. I love reading fairytale retellings and Cinderella is one of my favorites. With Cinderella, there is the problem with "love at first sight". The author certainly made a point to repeatedly point out that Anthony and Isabella were experiencing a one-of-a-kind bond. I initially loved that the author was explaining that their spark was special, but after the first few explanations, it got a little bit annoying.
My biggest issue was with Isabella's reason for not marrying the duke. One of the best parts of this story was how fast the duke was able to find Isabella. There wasn't any unbelievable difficulty recognizing the woman who he had such a strong connection with. Once he found her, both Isabella and her parents had horrible reasons as to why she needed ignore the duke and push for the horrible almost fiancé. They kept talking about how breaking the almost-engagement would anger the jilted party, and would therefore ruin her family. What I don't understand is how nobody thought that marrying a duke wouldn't give them some power and influence. That entire part of the plot made no sense to me. Even after the twist, I still couldn't justify that engagement.
Heroine: Isabella was meh. She seemed a little bit bland to me. I wish we could've had the rebellious woman who stole away to the Duke's ball for the entire book. She seemed like she allowed her parents to dictate her life. It didn't seem to matter what she wanted, she was going to forge ahead into a miserable marriage for absolutely no reason. It wasn't until more than halfway through the book that she seemed to grow a backbone. So, since I liked her at the beginning and the end, but not in the middle, I guess she earned a score of average.
Hero: Despite his repetitive surprise at their love at first sight, I generally liked Anthony. He was determined to make Isabella his and he went about it in a smart way. He didn't try any elaborate schemes and I was rooting for him the entire time.
Plot: Their relationship was cute and sweet. It honestly read like a classic fairytale with a hint of romance steam. As for the story, I loved the Cinderella aspect and I thought it was pretty well done. It was a little bit predictable, but I did like it.
Overall, this was a cute story and I loved the fairytale retelling. There were some flaws that held me back from rating it higher.
September 18, 2013
2 stars. Originally posted on My Book Musings.
I was really excited for this latest book, but I almost DNF'd it. There were some illogical leaps of judgment, such as the time when Mr. Chilcott called his wife Margaret, and the Duke immediately realized she's the long-lost daughter of the Marquess of Deerford. What, there's only one Margaret in England?
Second, Isabella saw the determination in the duke's face and "as he turned his head to face her, she saw him for who he really was... The Duke of Kingsborough had resolve, but it was born from the love of a man he'd admired more than any other..." She saw that just by seeing his face?
Isabella also seemed to bring out the worse side of the Duke of Kingsborough. He became manipulative and selfish, and he stopped acting his best since he met her. His best friend, Casper, the infamous rake, acted more honorably than he did throughout the book.
The story is also a case of insta-love. They haven't spent that much time with each other and yet they're already in love. I didn't like the characters, they were too immature, even the duke, who has been acting responsibly for the past five years. I didn't like the two of them, but I did like the duke's mother. She was classy and loves her children very much.
I just finished the book because I really like Sophie Barnes, and I was hoping that the book would improve. But until the end, I was just frustrated. Weird as it may sound, I'm actually looking forward to the sequel, The Scandal in Kissing an Heir, because the plot seems more intriguing, and hopefully the characters have more depth and are more likeable.
I was really excited for this latest book, but I almost DNF'd it. There were some illogical leaps of judgment, such as the time when Mr. Chilcott called his wife Margaret, and the Duke immediately realized she's the long-lost daughter of the Marquess of Deerford. What, there's only one Margaret in England?
Second, Isabella saw the determination in the duke's face and "as he turned his head to face her, she saw him for who he really was... The Duke of Kingsborough had resolve, but it was born from the love of a man he'd admired more than any other..." She saw that just by seeing his face?
Isabella also seemed to bring out the worse side of the Duke of Kingsborough. He became manipulative and selfish, and he stopped acting his best since he met her. His best friend, Casper, the infamous rake, acted more honorably than he did throughout the book.
The story is also a case of insta-love. They haven't spent that much time with each other and yet they're already in love. I didn't like the characters, they were too immature, even the duke, who has been acting responsibly for the past five years. I didn't like the two of them, but I did like the duke's mother. She was classy and loves her children very much.
I just finished the book because I really like Sophie Barnes, and I was hoping that the book would improve. But until the end, I was just frustrated. Weird as it may sound, I'm actually looking forward to the sequel, The Scandal in Kissing an Heir, because the plot seems more intriguing, and hopefully the characters have more depth and are more likeable.
September 23, 2013
review posted at Got Fiction? books
This book starts off with a promising plot, and a new twist on the Cinderella tale. A duke sees a lady at his ball, she’s gorgeous, intriguing, and very obviously wasn’t invited. And yet. . .there’s something about her.
It isn’t until the end of the ball that someone comes up and asks him not just about the girl, but about her dress. You see that gown was made for their daughter who went missing many years ago, and the gown is identical. So now the duke has an even bigger mystery on his hands than just who she is.
Isabella is just the daughter of a carriage driver. Her parents have worked for a year to get Mr. Roberts to propose to her, and while Isabella knows she’ll have to marry him, she figures just once, she’d like to do something amazing. So she dons the gown she finds in the attic and sneaks into the Kingsborough Ball. Just looking is enough for her, but after several dances and being introduced to many of the Duke’s family, she finds she could grow to like the Duke of Kingsborough.
The identity of Isabella is discovered rather quickly, which I liked, but I didn’t like how slow the plot became after that. The romance is also very slow, and the obstacle in their path is moveable. I also didn’t like how the duke was constantly painted in a bad light for every way he tried to court Isabella. There is a small hiccup in their relationship later on due to a jealous miss, but even that wasn’t used to its full potential.
If you’re looking for a sweet romance with not much in the way of action, then this is your book.
***ARC courtesy of Avon Addicts
This book starts off with a promising plot, and a new twist on the Cinderella tale. A duke sees a lady at his ball, she’s gorgeous, intriguing, and very obviously wasn’t invited. And yet. . .there’s something about her.
It isn’t until the end of the ball that someone comes up and asks him not just about the girl, but about her dress. You see that gown was made for their daughter who went missing many years ago, and the gown is identical. So now the duke has an even bigger mystery on his hands than just who she is.
Isabella is just the daughter of a carriage driver. Her parents have worked for a year to get Mr. Roberts to propose to her, and while Isabella knows she’ll have to marry him, she figures just once, she’d like to do something amazing. So she dons the gown she finds in the attic and sneaks into the Kingsborough Ball. Just looking is enough for her, but after several dances and being introduced to many of the Duke’s family, she finds she could grow to like the Duke of Kingsborough.
The identity of Isabella is discovered rather quickly, which I liked, but I didn’t like how slow the plot became after that. The romance is also very slow, and the obstacle in their path is moveable. I also didn’t like how the duke was constantly painted in a bad light for every way he tried to court Isabella. There is a small hiccup in their relationship later on due to a jealous miss, but even that wasn’t used to its full potential.
If you’re looking for a sweet romance with not much in the way of action, then this is your book.
***ARC courtesy of Avon Addicts
April 7, 2021
While I enjoyed the writing and the hero, the heroine, Isabella, caused massive issues for me. Her stubbornness and "need to do the right thing" just made no sense.
She's sacrificing herself to marry a man she doesn't love (and who basically just wants her as a housekeeper) so that her family will be taken care of financially. Yet along comes a duke, Anthony, (who is wealthier than the other guy) and she can't marry him because she needs the other guy to take care of her family. Even after reassurances from the Duke that he'll care for her family and her sister and sees how much chemistry there is between them she STILL can't give up the other guy. I should probably also mention that the other guy has been coming to take tea with her every Sunday for a year and has yet to propose to her.
WHUT?
Her inner conflict created a lot of unnecessary issues in my opinion. The issue between Anthony and Isabella's mother was more realistic than any of Isabella's hangups.
Take out Isabella's issues and the rest of the book was great. I liked Barnes' writing; how she made Anthony grow, mature, and morph into a less selfish being; and also the bit of mystery that involved Isabella's mother. I'm intrigued to see how the other two events that happened at the ball play out in books 2 and 3 of the series.
She's sacrificing herself to marry a man she doesn't love (and who basically just wants her as a housekeeper) so that her family will be taken care of financially. Yet along comes a duke, Anthony, (who is wealthier than the other guy) and she can't marry him because she needs the other guy to take care of her family. Even after reassurances from the Duke that he'll care for her family and her sister and sees how much chemistry there is between them she STILL can't give up the other guy. I should probably also mention that the other guy has been coming to take tea with her every Sunday for a year and has yet to propose to her.
WHUT?
Her inner conflict created a lot of unnecessary issues in my opinion. The issue between Anthony and Isabella's mother was more realistic than any of Isabella's hangups.
Take out Isabella's issues and the rest of the book was great. I liked Barnes' writing; how she made Anthony grow, mature, and morph into a less selfish being; and also the bit of mystery that involved Isabella's mother. I'm intrigued to see how the other two events that happened at the ball play out in books 2 and 3 of the series.
August 4, 2013
The Trouble With Being a Duke is the first book in a three book trilogy. Every story starts at the annual Kingsborough Ball even though this is the first ball in five years so everyone is attending.
The Backstory: Anthony Hurst is holding the ball to help get his mother out after his father’s death. The ball has several uninvited guests.
The Characters: There is an early introductions to characters that will be in the next books. Then there are the main characters in the book. It was easy to see where the story is going when you meet the characters.
The Plot: Anthony wants to marry the woman he met at the ball, her parents do not want her to marry a Duke.
The writing: This does not move as smoothly as some stories. It started as a novella and then was expanded as the three book series. It did follow the scene – sequel writing style. That makes for great tension. Look for quite a few set ups for tension causing problems and their solutions.
It is an interesting concept and I will be looking for the next stories.
The Backstory: Anthony Hurst is holding the ball to help get his mother out after his father’s death. The ball has several uninvited guests.
The Characters: There is an early introductions to characters that will be in the next books. Then there are the main characters in the book. It was easy to see where the story is going when you meet the characters.
The Plot: Anthony wants to marry the woman he met at the ball, her parents do not want her to marry a Duke.
The writing: This does not move as smoothly as some stories. It started as a novella and then was expanded as the three book series. It did follow the scene – sequel writing style. That makes for great tension. Look for quite a few set ups for tension causing problems and their solutions.
It is an interesting concept and I will be looking for the next stories.
January 15, 2015
In full disclosure I didn't finish this book. I just couldn't do it. About ten pages into it I already hated the main female character, I found her to be very shallow. And the main male character was completely unbelievable. In addition the writing style felt juvenile, there was no depth. Still, I forced myself to keep reading, hoping that it would get better. By page 50 I threw up my hands, it didn't improve and I didn't want to waste any more time. I can only hope the book gets better as you go along for those who choose to read it, but this was not the book for me!
November 20, 2021
The party where the couple meet takes over 100 pages, which while allowing for time for that first meeting to develop is drawn out too much and takes away from any real development in the relationship that needs to take place over span of time. It was also drawn out so much that by the time the party scene was over to move into the major sections of plot development I was bored. I continued to skim for a little while longer before just giving up. Shame, I enjoy the type of plot but don't find many books that use it.
May 14, 2024
Tady je špatně úplně všechno.
s. 22, 23 A její dcera se nemotorně belhala, aby s ní udržela krok.
Přesto tančila. Čtverylku.
Anthony sice nerad tančí (s. 22), ale Nechoval k této zábavě odpor. (s. 141)
s. 55, 56 „Není divu, že se mu líbíte.“ (…)
„Kdo mě má rád?“
Bylo by dobré udržet myšlenku.
s. 60 „Milujete muže, za kterého se máte provdat?“ zeptal se.
Ale o tom už mluvili před chvílí na s. 41, kdy se jí ptal, jestli „pověděla rodičům, že představa manželství s tím mužem ji činí nešťastnou“ a ona mu to potvrdila.
Navzdory tomu, že se znají pár minut a vévoda o ní ví jenom to, že se vloudila na ples pod falešným jménem, rád by se jí dvořil. (s. 61)
s. 61 „Proč se za něho musíte provdat?“
„To nemůžu říct.“
Stejně mu to už řekla na s. 41, 42: „Je to velice výhodná partie – sňatek přinese velký prospěch mojí rodině.“
s. 71 a nařídil mu, aby zalarmoval strážné a nechali uzavřít všechny východy.
Přesto Isabella poděkovala za hezký večer a odešla. Jen tak.
s. 75 Lady D. potřebuje adresu tajemné dámy.
„Když se můj muž zmínil, že se šaty slečny Smithové podobají těm, které naše dcera měla na sobě, když před lety zmizela, měla jsem pochybnosti (…) avšak dnes jsem slečnu Smithovou uviděla. Její šaty jsou stejné, které si Margaret oblékla tu noc, kdy zmizela.“
No, oba ji dnes viděli poprvé. A když už – jeden by řekl, že ji odchytnou hned, když si jí všimli.
s. 77 a doufala, že ji nikdo nezahlédne
Proč taky. Kdo by si všiml žlutých plesových šatů.
s. 77 Ani nepoděkovala hostitelům za příjemný večer
s. 74 „Když mě míjela, řekla, že je pozdě a že musí domů.“
„Poděkovala ti za hezký večer,“ dodal Huntley.
Je potřeba ocenit, že hrdinka v plesových šatech šla 2 km na ples, 2 km zpátky a ještě dokázala vlézt do domu kuchyňským oknem. (s. 77, 78)
Až vévoda zjistí, že je z prosté chaloupky, nepožádá ji o ruku, ale učiní z ní svou milenku. Ale otec tomu brání a pobídne pana R, aby se vyjádřil. Protože z vdané ženy si bývalý prostopášník milenku neudělá.
Aha.
Smekal by vévoda v roce 1817 klobouk před starší dámou, kterou by potkal na ulici? (s. 107)
Taky si nedovedu představit konverzaci, kde jde vévoda a za ním jde Isabella a pan R.
Sice hledal hrdinku, ale hlavně se chtěl zeptat na ty šaty. A zeptal se? Nezeptal.
Ani vévodkyně vdova by neměla nic proti tomu, aby si její nejstarší syn vévoda vzal dceru kočího, kterou poznal před několika dny.
Hrdina ukončil vztah se svými třemi milenkami (s. 69) a V posledních pěti letech si musel vystačit sám se sebou. (s. 113)
Šel do sebe, když před pěti lety jeho otec onemocněl. Nebo možná od chvíle, kdy se stal vévodou. (s. 123) V tom autorka nemá úplně jasno.
Ale teď má hlavně výčitky, že by ji převzal někomu, koho bude potkávat ve městě. 🤦
Na s. 122 přišel naprosto nečekaný zvrat. Vévodu předchází jeho pověst prostopášníka, i když jak víme, už pět let žije v celibátu, a kdyby se s ním nějaká mladá dívka stýkala, „pošpinilo by to její dobré jméno a také jméno její rodiny“.
Což nebránilo matkám, aby mu na plese strkaly svoje dcerušky málem až do postele.
Požádá o její ruku, 3× spolu měli techtle a až potom se jí zeptal na křestní jméno.
Hrdinka se taky chová prapodivně.
Od dcerky „ano, mamá“, která nemůže ani pomyslet na to, že by zarmoutila svých rodičů, přes techtle mechtle s vévodou, po kterých mu to řádně vytmavila, až po svéhlavičku, která nebude tancovat tak, jak si rodiče usmyslí.
Taky neví, jestli si ho nechce vzít, protože tatínek už dal slovo jinde. Nebo jí vlastně nevadí, že by si vzala pana R. Protože vévoda tak nějak nekoná, jak by si ona představovala.
Vévodova matka se čtyři roky trápila, že je manžel nemocný a pak rok truchlila. Když její sestru trefil šlak, tak vévodův kámoš přišel s tím, že zdrcená vévodkyně by měla odjet do Londýna a poveselit se tam, protože po plese taky pookřála.(s. 186)
s. 170 Jedna věc je, když se vévoda chová indiskrétně – nic jiného bych neočekávala -, avšak nestrpím, aby o tom všichni věděli.
No... pokud se chová indiskrétně, tak to někdo asi vědět bude, ne?
s. 189 Přistoupil blíž a zůstal stát za jejím pravým ramenem (…) neboť mezi obočím se jí vytvořila hluboká vráska
A to viděl jak, když jí stál za zády?
Na s. 200 přišlo další OBROVSKÉ odhalení.
Tatík, který netušil, že vévoda přišel na čajík, oslovil manželku křestním jménem.
Margaret.
A tam to bylo.
V tu chvíli hrdinovi došlo, že to bude ta dvacet let ztracená dcera. A vznešený původ matky jasně vysvětlil Isabelliny ladné pohyby.
s. 203 Smetánka to pravděpodobně přijme s nelibostí – možná ještě více, když je Isabella spřízněna s dámou, jež před mnoha lety utekla s hlavním stájníkem. Skandál by patrně poškodil jméno Kingsboroughových, ale existovali také lidé, kteří budou stát při něm.
No. Rodiče té nezvedené dívky normálně do společnosti zvou.
A co může být hrošího, než když si vévoda vezme dceru kočího? Že má ta dcera šlechtický původ? No tak.
Scéna na s. 210 se žábou jenom potvrdila, že vévoda bude trochu zdegenerovaný.
s. 111 za Chaucera si schovat (sic!) Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure
Přeložit by to nešlo?
Bonusem je zrecyklovaná obálka.
https://www.obalkyknih.cz/file/cover/...
s. 24 uděláš_,
s. 106 těchto?“zeptala
s. 145 východě [výchově]
s. 155 množným [možným]
uvozovky – s. 99, 199
s. 22, 23 A její dcera se nemotorně belhala, aby s ní udržela krok.
Přesto tančila. Čtverylku.
Anthony sice nerad tančí (s. 22), ale Nechoval k této zábavě odpor. (s. 141)
s. 55, 56 „Není divu, že se mu líbíte.“ (…)
„Kdo mě má rád?“
Bylo by dobré udržet myšlenku.
s. 60 „Milujete muže, za kterého se máte provdat?“ zeptal se.
Ale o tom už mluvili před chvílí na s. 41, kdy se jí ptal, jestli „pověděla rodičům, že představa manželství s tím mužem ji činí nešťastnou“ a ona mu to potvrdila.
Navzdory tomu, že se znají pár minut a vévoda o ní ví jenom to, že se vloudila na ples pod falešným jménem, rád by se jí dvořil. (s. 61)
s. 61 „Proč se za něho musíte provdat?“
„To nemůžu říct.“
Stejně mu to už řekla na s. 41, 42: „Je to velice výhodná partie – sňatek přinese velký prospěch mojí rodině.“
s. 71 a nařídil mu, aby zalarmoval strážné a nechali uzavřít všechny východy.
Přesto Isabella poděkovala za hezký večer a odešla. Jen tak.
s. 75 Lady D. potřebuje adresu tajemné dámy.
„Když se můj muž zmínil, že se šaty slečny Smithové podobají těm, které naše dcera měla na sobě, když před lety zmizela, měla jsem pochybnosti (…) avšak dnes jsem slečnu Smithovou uviděla. Její šaty jsou stejné, které si Margaret oblékla tu noc, kdy zmizela.“
No, oba ji dnes viděli poprvé. A když už – jeden by řekl, že ji odchytnou hned, když si jí všimli.
s. 77 a doufala, že ji nikdo nezahlédne
Proč taky. Kdo by si všiml žlutých plesových šatů.
s. 77 Ani nepoděkovala hostitelům za příjemný večer
s. 74 „Když mě míjela, řekla, že je pozdě a že musí domů.“
„Poděkovala ti za hezký večer,“ dodal Huntley.
Je potřeba ocenit, že hrdinka v plesových šatech šla 2 km na ples, 2 km zpátky a ještě dokázala vlézt do domu kuchyňským oknem. (s. 77, 78)
Až vévoda zjistí, že je z prosté chaloupky, nepožádá ji o ruku, ale učiní z ní svou milenku. Ale otec tomu brání a pobídne pana R, aby se vyjádřil. Protože z vdané ženy si bývalý prostopášník milenku neudělá.
Aha.
Smekal by vévoda v roce 1817 klobouk před starší dámou, kterou by potkal na ulici? (s. 107)
Taky si nedovedu představit konverzaci, kde jde vévoda a za ním jde Isabella a pan R.
Sice hledal hrdinku, ale hlavně se chtěl zeptat na ty šaty. A zeptal se? Nezeptal.
Ani vévodkyně vdova by neměla nic proti tomu, aby si její nejstarší syn vévoda vzal dceru kočího, kterou poznal před několika dny.
Hrdina ukončil vztah se svými třemi milenkami (s. 69) a V posledních pěti letech si musel vystačit sám se sebou. (s. 113)
Šel do sebe, když před pěti lety jeho otec onemocněl. Nebo možná od chvíle, kdy se stal vévodou. (s. 123) V tom autorka nemá úplně jasno.
Ale teď má hlavně výčitky, že by ji převzal někomu, koho bude potkávat ve městě. 🤦
Na s. 122 přišel naprosto nečekaný zvrat. Vévodu předchází jeho pověst prostopášníka, i když jak víme, už pět let žije v celibátu, a kdyby se s ním nějaká mladá dívka stýkala, „pošpinilo by to její dobré jméno a také jméno její rodiny“.
Což nebránilo matkám, aby mu na plese strkaly svoje dcerušky málem až do postele.
Požádá o její ruku, 3× spolu měli techtle a až potom se jí zeptal na křestní jméno.
Hrdinka se taky chová prapodivně.
Od dcerky „ano, mamá“, která nemůže ani pomyslet na to, že by zarmoutila svých rodičů, přes techtle mechtle s vévodou, po kterých mu to řádně vytmavila, až po svéhlavičku, která nebude tancovat tak, jak si rodiče usmyslí.
Taky neví, jestli si ho nechce vzít, protože tatínek už dal slovo jinde. Nebo jí vlastně nevadí, že by si vzala pana R. Protože vévoda tak nějak nekoná, jak by si ona představovala.
Vévodova matka se čtyři roky trápila, že je manžel nemocný a pak rok truchlila. Když její sestru trefil šlak, tak vévodův kámoš přišel s tím, že zdrcená vévodkyně by měla odjet do Londýna a poveselit se tam, protože po plese taky pookřála.(s. 186)
s. 170 Jedna věc je, když se vévoda chová indiskrétně – nic jiného bych neočekávala -, avšak nestrpím, aby o tom všichni věděli.
No... pokud se chová indiskrétně, tak to někdo asi vědět bude, ne?
s. 189 Přistoupil blíž a zůstal stát za jejím pravým ramenem (…) neboť mezi obočím se jí vytvořila hluboká vráska
A to viděl jak, když jí stál za zády?
Na s. 200 přišlo další OBROVSKÉ odhalení.
Tatík, který netušil, že vévoda přišel na čajík, oslovil manželku křestním jménem.
Margaret.
A tam to bylo.
V tu chvíli hrdinovi došlo, že to bude ta dvacet let ztracená dcera. A vznešený původ matky jasně vysvětlil Isabelliny ladné pohyby.
s. 203 Smetánka to pravděpodobně přijme s nelibostí – možná ještě více, když je Isabella spřízněna s dámou, jež před mnoha lety utekla s hlavním stájníkem. Skandál by patrně poškodil jméno Kingsboroughových, ale existovali také lidé, kteří budou stát při něm.
No. Rodiče té nezvedené dívky normálně do společnosti zvou.
A co může být hrošího, než když si vévoda vezme dceru kočího? Že má ta dcera šlechtický původ? No tak.
Scéna na s. 210 se žábou jenom potvrdila, že vévoda bude trochu zdegenerovaný.
s. 111 za Chaucera si schovat (sic!) Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure
Přeložit by to nešlo?
Bonusem je zrecyklovaná obálka.
https://www.obalkyknih.cz/file/cover/...
s. 24 uděláš_,
s. 106 těchto?“zeptala
s. 145 východě [výchově]
s. 155 množným [možným]
uvozovky – s. 99, 199
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 1, 2018
Less than 24 hours after resolving to have fewer DNFs this year, I'm DNFing a novel. Showing-not-telling, a truly ridiculous set-up that bears no resemblance to actual history (I can't emphasize this enough), constant repetition of expository dialogue, and a hero and heroine who fall in love pretty much instantaneously and seem to be made entirely of cardboard - I can't read this. I just can't.
January 7, 2015
A Cinderella story. Another book that is loosely based on a folk tale.
I found it an average read, nothing to knock my socks off. Characters were good, as was the storyline - but read it all before.
Hope the following books in the series are better.
Nice front cover.
I found it an average read, nothing to knock my socks off. Characters were good, as was the storyline - but read it all before.
Hope the following books in the series are better.
Nice front cover.
August 19, 2014
I can't stand this author's writing style. She makes the heroine's younger sister speak with the word choice of a 55 year old university professor. I hate leaving things unfinished, but I have hundreds of books that I want to try, so why waste time on one I'm not enjoying...
September 29, 2015
Just okay, writing was fine but the whole ball Cinderella theme wasn't used in an inventive way I felt. Would try another in the series, I felt this one had a serious plot originality problem.
Rating 2.5
Rating 2.5
Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews