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An Angel's Touch
A Romance Novel
In the tradition of Regency Romance, a sweet story in the style of beauty and the beast.
Elizabeth Bailey is the author of historical fiction, including 18 romances for Harlequin Mills and Boon and the Lady Fan mystery series with Penguin’s Berkley Books.
Verity’s freely expressed criticisms drag a brooding reclusive marquis back into the world to learn to live and love again.
AN ANGEL’S TOUCH
Outspoken Verity Lambourn berates the mentor of two lost children, having no idea that the lame young man with the vibrant black eyes is the widowed Henry, Marquis of Salmesbury. When she knocks him flying in Tunbridge Wells, Verity realises she has not been able to get him out of her mind.
Tumbling towards a promising future, Verity must confront the shadows of Henry’s tragic past. Matters come to a head when the children are kidnapped, but it takes a threat to Henry himself to test the strength of Verity’s love and the truth of a gypsy’s prophecy.
In the tradition of Regency Romance, a sweet story in the style of beauty and the beast.
Elizabeth Bailey is the author of historical fiction, including 18 romances for Harlequin Mills and Boon and the Lady Fan mystery series with Penguin’s Berkley Books.
Verity’s freely expressed criticisms drag a brooding reclusive marquis back into the world to learn to live and love again.
AN ANGEL’S TOUCH
Outspoken Verity Lambourn berates the mentor of two lost children, having no idea that the lame young man with the vibrant black eyes is the widowed Henry, Marquis of Salmesbury. When she knocks him flying in Tunbridge Wells, Verity realises she has not been able to get him out of her mind.
Tumbling towards a promising future, Verity must confront the shadows of Henry’s tragic past. Matters come to a head when the children are kidnapped, but it takes a threat to Henry himself to test the strength of Verity’s love and the truth of a gypsy’s prophecy.
216 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 9, 1992
81 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Bailey
95 books304 followersAn avid reader from an early age, Elizabeth Bailey grew up in colonial Africa under unconventional parentage and with theatre in the blood. Back in England, she trod the boards until discovering her true métier as a writer in her thirties, when she fulfilled an early addiction to Georgette Heyer by launching into historical romance. Eight years and eight books later, Elizabeth joined the Harlequin Mills & Boon stable, fuelling her writing with a secondary career teaching and directing drama, and writing plays into the bargain.
With 18 historicals published, Elizabeth turned to other genres, producing two titles (Fly the Wild Echoes and For One More Tomorrow) in the cross-genre literary/paranormal field as well as a suspense novella (Silence of a Stranger). She has several short stories available too and a guide for writers on editing.
Continuing her foray into other genres, but returning to her favourite historical period, Elizabeth turned to mystery. She placed her female sleuth in the late Georgian world of intrigue, elegance, aristocrats and rogues, where privilege rubbed shoulders with the harsh realities of making ends meet. While Ottilia moves in the upper echelon of Society, she is thoroughly at ease in the lower, which allows Elizabeth to cross boundaries with impunity. These novels are now published with Sapere Books and the list continues to grow.
Sapere also publish her Brides by Chance Regency Adventures, a series dedicated to the countless women who could not ordinarily hope for romance and marriage: poor relations, dowerless females, those who did not "take", orphans. In a word, the classic Cinderella heroine.
Now retired from teaching, Elizabeth concentrates on writing and promotion, with a sideline in running an assessment critique service for writers.
With 18 historicals published, Elizabeth turned to other genres, producing two titles (Fly the Wild Echoes and For One More Tomorrow) in the cross-genre literary/paranormal field as well as a suspense novella (Silence of a Stranger). She has several short stories available too and a guide for writers on editing.
Continuing her foray into other genres, but returning to her favourite historical period, Elizabeth turned to mystery. She placed her female sleuth in the late Georgian world of intrigue, elegance, aristocrats and rogues, where privilege rubbed shoulders with the harsh realities of making ends meet. While Ottilia moves in the upper echelon of Society, she is thoroughly at ease in the lower, which allows Elizabeth to cross boundaries with impunity. These novels are now published with Sapere Books and the list continues to grow.
Sapere also publish her Brides by Chance Regency Adventures, a series dedicated to the countless women who could not ordinarily hope for romance and marriage: poor relations, dowerless females, those who did not "take", orphans. In a word, the classic Cinderella heroine.
Now retired from teaching, Elizabeth concentrates on writing and promotion, with a sideline in running an assessment critique service for writers.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 31, 2019
This was such a lovely story. What I did love was probably something others didn't. First I liked the way the Hero and heroine were depicted. The H was slender and average for the most part. Though nice looking, this was not a 6 foot broad shouldered older man. Instead, he was rather young with a permanent limp from an accident. The h similarly was nice looking and pretty in her own way but not a beauty. Yet they saw something in the other that drew them together. I personally loved that they were so well matched in not just age but everything. I also loved that the H had made gentle overtures towards the h. It was so sweet to be honest that I almost disliked the h for her initially rude rebuffs. I felt like the author did a great job in showing that both were human and could be unsure and occasionally intimated to approach the other. A great example is a ball at the assembly and the h is afraid to approach him or be approached. To her he looks suddenly imposing and every inch the marquess in his clothing and bearing. Later the H tells the H that he was unable to approach her at the ball because she looked so intimidating and unapproachable dressed in her finery. She was too beautiful and he feared a rebuff. In short, they were human!
I do so enjoy Bailey's books because they are not all the same. One thing though they mostly have in common are characters with real human weaknesses.
Now. If only I could find a way to read all the Brides by Chance which don't seem to be all available. From the descriptions I so want to start with number one!
I do so enjoy Bailey's books because they are not all the same. One thing though they mostly have in common are characters with real human weaknesses.
Now. If only I could find a way to read all the Brides by Chance which don't seem to be all available. From the descriptions I so want to start with number one!
December 17, 2020
One of the doyennes of traditional Regency
A delightful novel that doesn’t shy away from tragedy. It’s full of engaging characters, from Verity and Henry to Wystan and Peggy. The milieu of Tunbridge Wells is vividly depicted, and as with all Bailey’s novels, it is expertly written and edited. Also check,out her Brides By Chance series. A sheer delight.
A delightful novel that doesn’t shy away from tragedy. It’s full of engaging characters, from Verity and Henry to Wystan and Peggy. The milieu of Tunbridge Wells is vividly depicted, and as with all Bailey’s novels, it is expertly written and edited. Also check,out her Brides By Chance series. A sheer delight.
August 9, 2022
Difficult…
Really was difficult to rate. I wanted to give 4 stars as I enjoyed the story but by the end, the exaggerated emotion and overwritten depression left it at 3.
Although a nice character, Verity’s scruples and principles become extreme. She is too quick to judge and make decisions based on that judgement. She runs away rather than ask and find out about certain situations. She does redeem herself after reflection though.
Henry’s emotional self-flagellation is overwritten to the point of disbelief. A decent character, bound in his own misery until Verity gives him a verbal slap on the face.
Wystan and Peggy are adorable.
I do recommend it, as I did enjoy reading it.
Really was difficult to rate. I wanted to give 4 stars as I enjoyed the story but by the end, the exaggerated emotion and overwritten depression left it at 3.
Although a nice character, Verity’s scruples and principles become extreme. She is too quick to judge and make decisions based on that judgement. She runs away rather than ask and find out about certain situations. She does redeem herself after reflection though.
Henry’s emotional self-flagellation is overwritten to the point of disbelief. A decent character, bound in his own misery until Verity gives him a verbal slap on the face.
Wystan and Peggy are adorable.
I do recommend it, as I did enjoy reading it.
March 16, 2019
I have read several historicals by Elizabeth Bailey over the years, she being the first M&B period author I ever encountered, so will always have a special place in my heart. This novel falls squarely in the middle in terms of preference - we have a Rebecca plot going on with a scarred, brooding widower hero the heroine feels is still attached to his first wife. I liked the practical heroine and I like the late 18th century setting - it makes a nice change from Regency and aristocracy. This one is all about life of ordinary people in the countryside and I though this novel evoked that well. What I hated was the hero who was unromantic and while realistic, just not dashing in any way.
August 30, 2021
This story was very touching, with appealing characters. Verity’s overactive imagination made for vivid descriptions, taking the reader in her world, living her fears alongside her. Enjoy this book as you let Verity enter your heart as she did in those of this motherless and wifeless family.
May 4, 2019
I liked this book very much I felt that it was a charming story with believable characters.☺
March 9, 2020
Review
I enjoyed this story and will definitely read more by Elizabeth. I wish they were a little shorter in some details. Thank you
I enjoyed this story and will definitely read more by Elizabeth. I wish they were a little shorter in some details. Thank you
August 8, 2020
Absolutely brilliant
I do love this author never a dull moment, complex and likeable characters with suspense and villainy my only criticism is that the story ends too abruptly.
I do love this author never a dull moment, complex and likeable characters with suspense and villainy my only criticism is that the story ends too abruptly.
June 11, 2023
Historical Mills&Boon (especially vintage ones like this) are great to read. I enjoyed the plot of this one and it was fast paced and exciting.
August 17, 2013
'An Angel's Touch' has a Byronic, brooding, wounded hero in Henry. In the novel, Elizabeth Bailey deftly shows him as a man with all-too-human flaws, one who through overwhelming guilt after a dreadful accident has closed himself off from his surviving children. He is lame, too, and that serious infirmity never leaves him.
Into his tormented world comes Verity, a parson's daughter, one of a large family. She is warm, candid and direct. Verity has also known loss but she has the courage and warmth to not cut herself off from the world, a lesson she unconsciously teaches to Henry whom she encounters again and again when their paths cross and sometimes collide in Tunbridge Wells. Verity is a heroine I can really admire, compassionate, practical, at times given to startling flights of fancy. She has her own fears to overcome, particularly in the beautiful shape of Henry's wife, who died in the accident. Can she compete with a ghost? Will Henry's two delightful children accept her? And what part will the sinister gypsies play?
Both Verity and Henry endure a great deal of danger and heart-ache before they win through to their deserved HEA.
This is a Regency novel of the country, with country traditions and settings. It is a world of bearded ladies and huge pigs, of markets and fairs, gypsies and thieves. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Into his tormented world comes Verity, a parson's daughter, one of a large family. She is warm, candid and direct. Verity has also known loss but she has the courage and warmth to not cut herself off from the world, a lesson she unconsciously teaches to Henry whom she encounters again and again when their paths cross and sometimes collide in Tunbridge Wells. Verity is a heroine I can really admire, compassionate, practical, at times given to startling flights of fancy. She has her own fears to overcome, particularly in the beautiful shape of Henry's wife, who died in the accident. Can she compete with a ghost? Will Henry's two delightful children accept her? And what part will the sinister gypsies play?
Both Verity and Henry endure a great deal of danger and heart-ache before they win through to their deserved HEA.
This is a Regency novel of the country, with country traditions and settings. It is a world of bearded ladies and huge pigs, of markets and fairs, gypsies and thieves. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
June 12, 2016
Not a bad little book. Nothing earth shattering or ground breaking but a pleasant enough way to spend a rainy Sunday.
The h is 18 and away for the first time to Tunbridge Wells which lost its cache years ago.
She has a bunch of run-ins with a man she believes to be working for the marquis. And things progress from there.
I will say she has a very full day when she heads off to see the old estate. I'm amazed she gets back in time for dinner. But she's intrepid and plucky, our Verity.
The h is 18 and away for the first time to Tunbridge Wells which lost its cache years ago.
She has a bunch of run-ins with a man she believes to be working for the marquis. And things progress from there.
I will say she has a very full day when she heads off to see the old estate. I'm amazed she gets back in time for dinner. But she's intrepid and plucky, our Verity.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews