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Stapleton-Downes #6
เจ้าสาวปริศนา
ไม่มีเหตุผลใดเลยที่ขุนนางหนุ่มรูปงามผู้ทรงอำนาจอย่างดยุคแห่งบริดจ์วอเตอร์ จะชายตามองบุตรสาวพระอธิการผู้ต่ำต้อยอย่างมิสสเตฟานี่ เกรย์ ไม่มีเหตุผลใดเลย...เว้นแต่ท่านดยุคกำลังแสวงหาความบันเทิงในเชิงเสน่หา และทึกทักไปว่าสเตฟานี่เป็นผู้หญิงประเภทที่หล่อนไม่ได้เป็นเลยแม้แต่น้อย
สเตฟานี่ซึ้งใจที่ท่านดยุคช่วยหล่อนไว้จากสถานการณ์อันเลวร้ายบนทางหลวง แต่มันไม่ใช่เรื่องที่หล่อนจะต้องมาตอบแทนเขาเช่นนี้ ดังนั้น เมื่อท่านดยุคโฉบลงมาเพื่อจะพิชิต สเตฟานี่จึงรีบตั้งป้อมปกป้องตนเอง...เพียงเพื่อจะพบว่า แม้แต่สุภาพสตรีสาวที่เคร่งครัดที่สุดซึ่งกำลังยืนอยู่เหนือขอบเหวของอันตรายล้ำลึก ก็ยังสามารถตกหลุมรักได้...
สเตฟานี่ซึ้งใจที่ท่านดยุคช่วยหล่อนไว้จากสถานการณ์อันเลวร้ายบนทางหลวง แต่มันไม่ใช่เรื่องที่หล่อนจะต้องมาตอบแทนเขาเช่นนี้ ดังนั้น เมื่อท่านดยุคโฉบลงมาเพื่อจะพิชิต สเตฟานี่จึงรีบตั้งป้อมปกป้องตนเอง...เพียงเพื่อจะพบว่า แม้แต่สุภาพสตรีสาวที่เคร่งครัดที่สุดซึ่งกำลังยืนอยู่เหนือขอบเหวของอันตรายล้ำลึก ก็ยังสามารถตกหลุมรักได้...
252 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
14 people are currently reading
880 people want to read
About the author
Mary Balogh
196 books6,276 followersMary Jenkins was born in 1944 in Swansea, Wales, UK. After graduating from university, moved to Saskatchewan, Canada, to teach high school English, on a two-year teaching contract in 1967. She married her Canadian husband, Robert Balogh, and had three children, Jacqueline, Christopher and Sian. When she's not writing, she enjoys reading, music and knitting. She also enjoys watching tennis and curling.
Mary Balogh started writing in the evenings as a hobby. Her first book, a Regency love story, was published in 1985 as A Masked Deception under her married name. In 1988, she retired from teaching after 20 years to pursue her dream to write full-time. She has written more than seventy novels and almost thirty novellas since then, including the New York Times bestselling 'Slightly' sextet and 'Simply' quartet. She has won numerous awards, including Bestselling Historical of the Year from the Borders Group, and her novel Simply Magic was a finalist in the Quill Awards. She has won seven Waldenbooks Awards and two B. Dalton Awards for her bestselling novels, as well as a Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award.
Mary Balogh started writing in the evenings as a hobby. Her first book, a Regency love story, was published in 1985 as A Masked Deception under her married name. In 1988, she retired from teaching after 20 years to pursue her dream to write full-time. She has written more than seventy novels and almost thirty novellas since then, including the New York Times bestselling 'Slightly' sextet and 'Simply' quartet. She has won numerous awards, including Bestselling Historical of the Year from the Borders Group, and her novel Simply Magic was a finalist in the Quill Awards. She has won seven Waldenbooks Awards and two B. Dalton Awards for her bestselling novels, as well as a Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
September 11, 2016
A lot of this story was people talking past each other. And that usually drives me up a wall. It didn't here, and that's a tribute to Balogh being able to present her characters so strongly that you understand and sympathize even when you want them to behave differently (i.e. out of character). The thing is that Alistair and Stephanie are not only fundamentally different, but have fundamentally different backgrounds and expectations. Add initial experiences that they interpret differently and you have a world of mixed signals and bad assumptions to get past.
Helping me along was how very much I loved Alistair. His actions in the beginning that get him into the mess are ignoble, but not unkind and he does the right thing in the end. And I so feel his frustration in trying to understand Stephanie when he simply doesn't have the framework to do so. This is cemented in the last chapters when he has the unmitigated courage to open himself up completely to her review and judgement and does so without reservation—putting ultimate power over his fate in her hands. For a Duke and fundamentally reserved person to start with, this is an incredibly brave thing to do and I found that powerful. And that he does it solely to save his marriage and the potential for respect and affection with no promises or guarantees just won my heart completely.
And I loved Stephanie from the beginning too. She's so sincere and determined to do the right thing. I was engaged by her feeling so obliged to Alistair that she lets that bind her to twisting herself into the image of what she thinks she has to be. Her determination to become "the perfect duchess" provides a lot of the conflict for the story. And a lot of the heartbreak headed for the couple. That imbalance (of her changing herself to meet her idea of his expectations) persists for a long time and could have become tedious beyond all reason. I admit I clung rather desperately to the genre expectations of a happy ending because it got a bit bleak with both of them misunderstanding each other and perfectly reasonably so. I wondered how Balogh would reconcile it and I really enjoyed seeing how it played out.
I have to admit that the five stars comes on the strength of the last chapters, once they are married and Alistair and Stephanie finally start moving towards emotional reconciliation. It was painful getting there, but the payoff was heartrendingly pure and I was absolutely delighted to see them coming together, finally. Emotional vulnerability and reconciling expectations and freedom and compromise and joining to be more than you are apart all resonated deeply with me and provided a happily ever after I could believe would last and provide both characters deep satisfaction the rest of their lives. Man I loved that.
A note about Steamy: There are two full-blown explicit sex scenes and a few passingly described, putting this in the middle of my steam tolerance. I particularly liked how Balogh handled sexual intimacy, actually, and how it was a factor, but only a minor one for two people who had so much ground to make up. I liked that sex didn't heal all, but also that it was nevertheless a factor in their coming together, if that makes sense.
Helping me along was how very much I loved Alistair. His actions in the beginning that get him into the mess are ignoble, but not unkind and he does the right thing in the end. And I so feel his frustration in trying to understand Stephanie when he simply doesn't have the framework to do so. This is cemented in the last chapters when he has the unmitigated courage to open himself up completely to her review and judgement and does so without reservation—putting ultimate power over his fate in her hands. For a Duke and fundamentally reserved person to start with, this is an incredibly brave thing to do and I found that powerful. And that he does it solely to save his marriage and the potential for respect and affection with no promises or guarantees just won my heart completely.
And I loved Stephanie from the beginning too. She's so sincere and determined to do the right thing. I was engaged by her feeling so obliged to Alistair that she lets that bind her to twisting herself into the image of what she thinks she has to be. Her determination to become "the perfect duchess" provides a lot of the conflict for the story. And a lot of the heartbreak headed for the couple. That imbalance (of her changing herself to meet her idea of his expectations) persists for a long time and could have become tedious beyond all reason. I admit I clung rather desperately to the genre expectations of a happy ending because it got a bit bleak with both of them misunderstanding each other and perfectly reasonably so. I wondered how Balogh would reconcile it and I really enjoyed seeing how it played out.
I have to admit that the five stars comes on the strength of the last chapters, once they are married and Alistair and Stephanie finally start moving towards emotional reconciliation. It was painful getting there, but the payoff was heartrendingly pure and I was absolutely delighted to see them coming together, finally. Emotional vulnerability and reconciling expectations and freedom and compromise and joining to be more than you are apart all resonated deeply with me and provided a happily ever after I could believe would last and provide both characters deep satisfaction the rest of their lives. Man I loved that.
A note about Steamy: There are two full-blown explicit sex scenes and a few passingly described, putting this in the middle of my steam tolerance. I particularly liked how Balogh handled sexual intimacy, actually, and how it was a factor, but only a minor one for two people who had so much ground to make up. I liked that sex didn't heal all, but also that it was nevertheless a factor in their coming together, if that makes sense.
December 22, 2014
Alistair Munro, the Duke of Bridgwater, was bored with his life. All of his friends, along with his sisters and brother, had married in recent years and had children. At thirty-four years of age, he had his title, wealth and possessions but little else.
He was returning to London after being entertained by those same friends when he saw a young woman walking on the side of the road. Though her clothes were very plain, THE PLUMED BONNET she wore was garish. Because of the disinterest he was feeling, he had his coachmen stop and he offered her a ride.
Miss Stephanie Gray knew it was wrong. But she had little money and was hungry. She could not afford to stay at an inn and she was very tired. She had nervously slept last night for only a few minutes at a time on the side of the road. So she accepted the gentleman's offer to take her to the next village.
When they first met, little did Bridgwater and Miss Gray know how their lives would come together. He was entertained while he listened to her talk. After his initial kindness, he thought she had formed a ruse and was going to offer her his protection as his mistress. But she proved him to be out of line and so, instead, he asked her to become his wife.
Miss Gray knew that it was wrong but circumstances forced her to accept his offer. The newness of their relationship, the gap in how they were raised and what each was expected to bring to the marriage caused issues with communication. At times it was heart wrenching. The weeks before the wedding were filled with angst and minor misunderstandings. The time afterward was bittersweet. Alistair wanted, no, needed Stephanie to love him but he had never been taught how to show affection. How to reveal his feelings. For Stephanie's sake, he was willing to learn. But was it too late?
He was returning to London after being entertained by those same friends when he saw a young woman walking on the side of the road. Though her clothes were very plain, THE PLUMED BONNET she wore was garish. Because of the disinterest he was feeling, he had his coachmen stop and he offered her a ride.
Miss Stephanie Gray knew it was wrong. But she had little money and was hungry. She could not afford to stay at an inn and she was very tired. She had nervously slept last night for only a few minutes at a time on the side of the road. So she accepted the gentleman's offer to take her to the next village.
When they first met, little did Bridgwater and Miss Gray know how their lives would come together. He was entertained while he listened to her talk. After his initial kindness, he thought she had formed a ruse and was going to offer her his protection as his mistress. But she proved him to be out of line and so, instead, he asked her to become his wife.
Miss Gray knew that it was wrong but circumstances forced her to accept his offer. The newness of their relationship, the gap in how they were raised and what each was expected to bring to the marriage caused issues with communication. At times it was heart wrenching. The weeks before the wedding were filled with angst and minor misunderstandings. The time afterward was bittersweet. Alistair wanted, no, needed Stephanie to love him but he had never been taught how to show affection. How to reveal his feelings. For Stephanie's sake, he was willing to learn. But was it too late?
September 12, 2021
First off, Alistair was a sweetheart. I’m glad so much of the tale is told from his perspective. The comedy of errors/mistaken identity at the beginning was amusing and handled with a deft hand by the author. A knotty tangle that could have easily gone either way.
Fours stars upped to five because of some memorable lines scattered throughout the book and due to how wonderfully the issues of consent were handled by the author, particularly for a book written so long ago, and in an area Balogh has often been a bit dicey on in the past.
She did a great job here though, I don’t think I have ever read a historical where the hero asked so often “may I kiss you” (in a way that somehow didn’t even break the mood) rather than obnoxiously mauling the woman.
Even Balogh’s trademark depressing "lay back and think of England" sex scenes were actually plot appropriate where used here.
I also appreciated the agency he gave her after they were married, it was touching. I am glad the whole secret keeping stuff was not carried on too long, and I enjoyed the depiction of the first month of their marriage.
To many of the forced marriage plots don't bother to show us the everyday married life growing closer part, which I love when authors explore. I like also that his family was kind, helpful and not overly high in the instep.
Lines I Liked
“A life without dreams," he said so quietly that it seemed he was talking to himself more than to her. "Ah, yes, it is a lesson one learns with the experience of years, is it not? Have all your dreams been destroyed, Miss Gray?"
"If they have," she said, "I have not allowed their destruction also to destroy me, sir. There is always some satisfaction to be drawn from life. And there is always the future and always hope, even if there are not dreams.”
Fours stars upped to five because of some memorable lines scattered throughout the book and due to how wonderfully the issues of consent were handled by the author, particularly for a book written so long ago, and in an area Balogh has often been a bit dicey on in the past.
She did a great job here though, I don’t think I have ever read a historical where the hero asked so often “may I kiss you” (in a way that somehow didn’t even break the mood) rather than obnoxiously mauling the woman.
Even Balogh’s trademark depressing "lay back and think of England" sex scenes were actually plot appropriate where used here.
I also appreciated the agency he gave her after they were married, it was touching. I am glad the whole secret keeping stuff was not carried on too long, and I enjoyed the depiction of the first month of their marriage.
To many of the forced marriage plots don't bother to show us the everyday married life growing closer part, which I love when authors explore. I like also that his family was kind, helpful and not overly high in the instep.
Lines I Liked
“A life without dreams," he said so quietly that it seemed he was talking to himself more than to her. "Ah, yes, it is a lesson one learns with the experience of years, is it not? Have all your dreams been destroyed, Miss Gray?"
"If they have," she said, "I have not allowed their destruction also to destroy me, sir. There is always some satisfaction to be drawn from life. And there is always the future and always hope, even if there are not dreams.”
December 5, 2022
Sweet older hr.
I love Mary Balogh's way to lead her characters to through misunderstandings, wrongdoings, remorse and pride to trust and love.
4,5 stars.
I love Mary Balogh's way to lead her characters to through misunderstandings, wrongdoings, remorse and pride to trust and love.
4,5 stars.
October 29, 2011
This is classic Mary Balogh - character-based romance, no silly spy subplots or any of those kinds of devices to artificially establish conflict and suspense. Just adult and human interaction. This one deals with the painful side of the Cinderella story, sensitively and thoughtfully exploring what it would be like to be raised in status from ordinary mortal to the highest level of aristocracy. It's not the most dramatic romance I've ever read, but I finished it satisfied and moved.
December 22, 2020
เล่มสี่ของชุดแล้วค่ะ พระเอกชื่ออลิสแตร์ มันโร เป็นดยุคแห่งบริดจ์วอเตอร์ คนที่มาขอให้ฟรานซิสช่วยดันคอร่าให้นางหาสามีได้ ซึ่งสุดท้ายฟรานซิสก็เป็นคนที่มาลงเอยกับคอร่าเสียเอง จบท้ายเล่มที่แล้ว ท่านดยุคบอก ฉันไม่ขอแต่งงาน การแต่งงานมันน่ากลัวเกินไป ค่ะ พี่ทิ้งท้ายไว้อย่างนี้ คิดว่าจะรอดเรอะ
แต่พี่เขาก็อุตส่าห์สู้มาได้ถึงหกปีค่ะ เหตุการณ์ในเล่มนี้ห่างจากเล่มที่แล้วถึงหกปี พระนางเล่มก่อน ๆ มีลูกยั้วเยี้ยไปหมดแล้ว
ความผิดพลาดของท่านดยุคเริ่มจากตอนที่เขาตัดสินใจรับหญิงสาวในชุดสีบานเย็นกับหมวกบอนเน็ตประดับขนนกสีชมพูเข้ม บานเย็น และม่วงให้ติดรถม้าไปลงที่หมู่บ้านใกล้เคียง
ผู้หญิงคนนี้ก็คือนางเอก
พระเอกเห็นนางเอกปุ๊บ
โอ้แม่นกน้อย
ถ้าไม่เป็นนางละครก็เป็นหญิงงามเมืองแน่นอน
แต่เขาค่อนข้างมั่นใจว่าเป็นอย่างหลัง เพราะไม่มีผู้หญิงปกติคนไหนจะใส่ชุดอย่างนี้
ท่านดยุคกำลังเบื่อหน่าย แล้วก็มาเจอนางเอกเข้า จึงคิดว่าหล่อนน่าจะทำให้เขาหายเบื่อได้ ก็เลยรับหล่อนขึ้นมา ขอให้หล่อนเล่าเรื่องราวของหล่อนให้เขาฟัง
นางเอกก็เล่าเรื่องของตน ว่าชื่อสเตฟานี่ เกรย์ เดิมทำอาชีพเป็นครูพี่เลี้ยง กำลังเดินทางไปรับมรดกจากผู้เป็นตาที่ไม่เคยพบหน้ามาก่อน มรดกเป็นบ้านหลังใหญ่ และหล่อนก็กำลังจะเป็นเศรษฐี เพียงแต่มีเงื่อนไขนิดหน่อยคือหล่อนต้องแต่งงานภายในระยะเวลาที่กำหนด
พระเอกแสร้งเออออตั้งใจฟัง ทั้งที่ภายในบันเทิงมาก แบบ เดี๋ยวนางต้องบอกว่าเป็นครูพี่เลี้ยง แล้วนางเอกก็บอกว่าตนเองเป็นครูพี่เลี้ยงจริง ๆ คือพระเอกเดาสิ่งที่นางเอกจะพูดได้เป็นฉาก ๆ เพราะพล็อตเรื่องของนางแทบจะถอดละครน้ำเน่ามาหมด ซึ่งแน่นอนว่าเรื่องที่นางเอกเล่าน่ะจริง แต่พระเอกดันไม่เชื่อ เห็นนางเอกและเรื่องของนางเป็นละครฆ่าเวลาให้ตัวเองหายเซ็ง
นางเอกก็ไม่รู้เรื่อง ในใจนางนี่พระเอกเป็นผู้มีบุญคุณ เพราะนางถูกชิงทรัพย์ ทรัพย์สินเงินทองอะไรก็ไม่เหลือ ชุดที่ใส่ก็ขอหยิบยืมมา ในกระเป๋าเหลือแค่ขนมปังยาไส้ชิ้นเล็ก ๆ ชิ้นเดียว แล้วพระเอกก็เป็นคนเดียวที่ไม่แสดงอาการดูถูกนางเพราะนางแต่งตัวอย่างนี้ (จริง ๆ คือพระเอกเก็บอาการเก่ง)
ระหว่างทางพระเอกก็บันเทิงกับเรื่องของนางเอก ส่วนนางเอกก็ซาบซึ้งใจกับความมีน้ำใจของพระเอก จากที่จะส่งแค่หมู่บ้านใกล้ ๆ พระเอกเลยตัดสินใจไปส่งนางเอกถึงที่เลย
นางเอกก็ โอ๊ย ขอบคุณมากค่ะ แต่มันจะไม่เหมาะสมหรือเปล่า คือฉันเป็นหญิงสาว เดินทางมากับผู้ชาย มันจะดูไม่ดีนะ คุณส่งฉั���หมู่บ้านใกล้เคียงแล้วฉันนั่งรถม้าต่อดีกว่า
พระเอกก็ ไม่หรอก ไม่ต้องกลัว งู้นงี้บลา ๆ
แต่ในใจคือ โถ คิดว่าจะหนีรอดเหรอแ���่คุณ อยากเห็นภาพนางเอกหน้าซีดเมื่อไปถึงที่หมายแล้วเรื่องแดงออกมาว่านางโกหก
ใช่แล้วค่ะ เมื่อไปถึงที่หมาย พระเอกนี่แหละที่หน้าซีดแทน
ตายละ เรื่องของเจ้าหล่อนดันเป็นจริงซะนี่
หญิงสาวบริสุทธิ์เดินทางมากับชายหนุ่ม (และคนขับรถม้าและคนรับใช้) เพียงลำพัง เขาจะทำอย่างไรได้ นอกจากแสดงความเป็นสุภาพบุรุษด้วยการขอนางแต่งงาน
กับดักที่ตัวเองวาง ดันมาหนีบเท้าตัวเองได้
สมน้ำหน้าค่ะ ฮ่า ๆ
หลังขอแต่งงานพระเอกก็บอกว่าเขาเป็นดยุคแห่งบริดจ์วอเตอร์ เพราะฉะนั้น นางเอกที่แต่งงานกับเขาต้องเป็นดัชเชส นางเอกก็ไม่อยากแต่งหรอกค่ะ แต่พระเอกยืนยัน บวกกับนางมีเงื่อนไขการรับมรดกที่ต้องแต่งงานภายในกำหนดเวลาที่กระชั้น สุดท้ายก็เลยยอมรับคำขอแต่งงานของพระเอก หลังจากนั้นก็นัดหมายให้นางเอกมาเจอแม่กับน้อง ๆ ของเขา
แม่พระเอก (ที่เป็นดัชเชส) ก็ให้การต้อนรับนางเอกดีค่ะ เพียงแต่การเป็นดัชเชสนั้น มันมีอะไรที่มากกว่าตำแหน่ง นางเอกต้องทำตัวให้สมเป็นดัชเชส แม่พระเอกก็สอนเรื่องต่าง ๆ ของดัชเชสให้ ต้องวางตัวอย่างไรจึงจะเหมาะสม หาชุดที่เหมาะสมให้นางเอก ส่วนนางเอกก็ถือเป็นภารกิจที่ตัวเองต้องทำเพื่อให้คู่ควรกับพระเอก เพื่อไม่ให้พระเอกเสียหน้า เพื่อตอบแทนบุญคุณของพระเอก เพียงแต่ตัวตนของนางก็ค่อย ๆ หายไป
กลางเรื่องดราม่า หน่วงยาวทีเดียวค่ะ พระเอกเป็นพวกเก็บงำความคิด ส่วนนางเอกก็ไม่ยอมบอกว่าตัวเองคิดยังไง คนสองคนที่ไม่คุยกันให้รู้เรื่องก็เลยดึงดราม่ายาวเลย
ตอนนี้โออ่านครบทุกเล่มในชุดแล้ว โอว่าพระเอกเรื่องนี้ร้ายที่สุดในชุด ร้ายที่ว่าคือเป็นคนเย็นชา ไร้หัวจิตหัวใจ จริง ๆ ส่วนนี้ของเขาแย้มมานิด ๆ ตั้งแต่เล่มสองและเล่มสามในมุมมองที่เขามีและรูปแบบที่เขาพูดต่อฟรานซิส หรือในเล่มนี้ในช่วงต้นที่เขาเห็นนางเอกเป็นของเล่นแก้เบื่อ
เพราะพระเอกเป็นขุนนางสูงศักดิ์ด้วยละค่ะ เขาจะมีมาดในแบบที่ อย่า-มา-แหย็ม ฉัน-นะ ยกแว่นขยาย ปรายตามอง หรือบางทีแค่นิ่ง ๆ ก็ทำให้คนอื่นกลัวได้แล้ว น้องคอร่า นางเอกเล่มที่แล้วยังกลัวเลย
ที่จริงพระเอกของเล่มอื่นก็มียศนะคะ เพียงแต่พระเอกคนนี้หนักสุด และน่าจะมีบรรดาศักดิ์สูงสุดด้วย ใช่มั้ย (พระเอกเล่มแรกเป็นเอิร์ล พระเอกเล่มสองเป็นมาร์ควิส พระเอกเล่มสามไม่ใช่ลูกชายคนโต ไม่ได้รับสืบทอดบรรดาศักดิ์ เลยมีคำนำหน้าเป็นลอร์ดเฉย ๆ แต่เขาก็เป็นลูกและน้องชายของดยุค) เอ้อจะว่าไป ในเล่มสอง มาร์ควิสแห่งคาริวก็มีช่วงแผ่รัศมีความน่ากลัวนี่นะ เอาเป็นว่า พวกนี้มีรังสีพิฆาตเฉพาะตัวเป็นอาวุธเวลาต้องการแสดงอำนาจข่มอีกฝ่าย
กลับมาที่เล่มนี้
จริง ๆ พระเอกไม่ใช่คนไร้หัวจิตหัวใจหรอกค่ะ เขาก็เป็นคนเหมือนเรา ๆ นี่แหละ เพียงแต่ถูกหล่อหลอมให้เติบโตมาเป็นดยุค เป็นชนชั้นสูง บุคลิกบางอย่างมันเลยติดตัวมาด้วย เขาเคยชินกับการสวมหน้ากากของความเฉยชา ปฏิบัติต่อผู้อื่นด้วยมาดสุภาพชน ทั้งที่ลึก ๆ แล้วเขาเป็นคนหัวขบถ ช่างฝัน อยากจะแต่งงานกับหญิงที่รัก ลักยิ้มของนางเอกและบุคลิกที่ดูใสซื่อของนางเลยตกเขาได้ตั้งแต่แรก แต่พอนางเอกถูกสถานการณ์บีบให้ต้องเป็นปฏิบัติตัวเป็นดัชเชสที่เพียบพร้อม ความเข้าถึงได้มันเลยหายไป
คนหนึ่งเย็นชาเพราะเป็นนิสัยที่ไม่ชอบแสดงอารมณ์ คนหนึ่งก็เย็นชาเพราะเข้าใจว่าอีกฝ่ายไม่ชอบตน แถมโดนกรอบของความคาดหวังครอบอีกชั้น
สองคนนี้กว่าจะหาจุดที่ลงตัวก็กินเวลานานพอควร เป็นช่วงที่อึดอัดนะ ทั้งที่โอชอบช่วงแรก มาชอบอีกทีช่วงท้าย ๆ
เล่มนี้ก็เลยให้ 3 ดาว เล่มนี้พระเอกหล่อค่ะ นางเอกก็หน้าตาสวยน่ารัก มีลักยิ้ม
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ผู้ที่อยู่ในรถม้ากำลังดึงกระจกข้างที่ใกล้ตัวหล่อนที่สุดลงต่ำ มือข้างหนึ่งในถุงมือหนังสีครีมราคาแพงวางพักบนขอบกระจก แล้วใครคนนั้นก็โน้มตัวมามองขณะที่หล่อนเข้าไปหา เป็นผู้ชายคนหนึ่ง ดวงหน้าหล่อเหลาของเขาหยิ่งยโสแกมเบื่อหน่าย เรือนผมสีน้ำตาลดกหนาจัดทรงยุ่ง ๆ อย่างประณีต เสียงเขายามเมื่อเปล่งวาจาสอดคล้องกับสีหน้าท่าทาง
“นกน้อยสีจัดจ้าผู้แต่งแต้มทิวทัศน์ให้สดใส” เขาพูด “อะไรหรือคือสิ่งที่เธอต้องการ”
หล่อนคงจะตอกกลับใส่หน้าเขาไปแล้วหากไม่เหนื่อยและหิวขนาดนี้ ยังไม่นับที่เมื่อยเท้า มอมแมม หวาดกลัว...และอับอาย เขาคิดว่าหล่อนต้องการอะไรไม่ทราบที่ออกมายืนอยู่กลางถนนห่างไกลจากที่ไหนก็ตามเป็นไมล์ ๆ อย่างนี้
“ได้โปรดเถอะค่ะ คุณสุภาพบุรุษ” หล่อนพูดพลางหลุบสายตาลงมองกระเป๋าผ้าของตนซึ่งถูกกำแน่นอยู่ในมือทั้งสองข้างราวกับจะให้มั่นใจว่ามันจะไม่ถูกฉกชิงไป “ไม่ทราบว่าคุณจะกรุณาอนุญาตให้ฉันนั่งไปกับคนรับใช้ของคุณสักไม่กี่ไมล์ได้ไหมคะ”
หน้า 11 บทที่ 1
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แต่พี่เขาก็อุตส่าห์สู้มาได้ถึงหกปีค่ะ เหตุการณ์ในเล่มนี้ห่างจากเล่มที่แล้วถึงหกปี พระนางเล่มก่อน ๆ มีลูกยั้วเยี้ยไปหมดแล้ว
ความผิดพลาดของท่านดยุคเริ่มจากตอนที่เขาตัดสินใจรับหญิงสาวในชุดสีบานเย็นกับหมวกบอนเน็ตประดับขนนกสีชมพูเข้ม บานเย็น และม่วงให้ติดรถม้าไปลงที่หมู่บ้านใกล้เคียง
ผู้หญิงคนนี้ก็คือนางเอก
พระเอกเห็นนางเอกปุ๊บ
โอ้แม่นกน้อย
ถ้าไม่เป็นนางละครก็เป็นหญิงงามเมืองแน่นอน
แต่เขาค่อนข้างมั่นใจว่าเป็นอย่างหลัง เพราะไม่มีผู้หญิงปกติคนไหนจะใส่ชุดอย่างนี้
ท่านดยุคกำลังเบื่อหน่าย แล้วก็มาเจอนางเอกเข้า จึงคิดว่าหล่อนน่าจะทำให้เขาหายเบื่อได้ ก็เลยรับหล่อนขึ้นมา ขอให้หล่อนเล่าเรื่องราวของหล่อนให้เขาฟัง
นางเอกก็เล่าเรื่องของตน ว่าชื่อสเตฟานี่ เกรย์ เดิมทำอาชีพเป็นครูพี่เลี้ยง กำลังเดินทางไปรับมรดกจากผู้เป็นตาที่ไม่เคยพบหน้ามาก่อน มรดกเป็นบ้านหลังใหญ่ และหล่อนก็กำลังจะเป็นเศรษฐี เพียงแต่มีเงื่อนไขนิดหน่อยคือหล่อนต้องแต่งงานภายในระยะเวลาที่กำหนด
พระเอกแสร้งเออออตั้งใจฟัง ทั้งที่ภายในบันเทิงมาก แบบ เดี๋ยวนางต้องบอกว่าเป็นครูพี่เลี้ยง แล้วนางเอกก็บอกว่าตนเองเป็นครูพี่เลี้ยงจริง ๆ คือพระเอกเดาสิ่งที่นางเอกจะพูดได้เป็นฉาก ๆ เพราะพล็อตเรื่องของนางแทบจะถอดละครน้ำเน่ามาหมด ซึ่งแน่นอนว่าเรื่องที่นางเอกเล่าน่ะจริง แต่พระเอกดันไม่เชื่อ เห็นนางเอกและเรื่องของนางเป็นละครฆ่าเวลาให้ตัวเองหายเซ็ง
นางเอกก็ไม่รู้เรื่อง ในใจนางนี่พระเอกเป็นผู้มีบุญคุณ เพราะนางถูกชิงทรัพย์ ทรัพย์สินเงินทองอะไรก็ไม่เหลือ ชุดที่ใส่ก็ขอหยิบยืมมา ในกระเป๋าเหลือแค่ขนมปังยาไส้ชิ้นเล็ก ๆ ชิ้นเดียว แล้วพระเอกก็เป็นคนเดียวที่ไม่แสดงอาการดูถูกนางเพราะนางแต่งตัวอย่างนี้ (จริง ๆ คือพระเอกเก็บอาการเก่ง)
ระหว่างทางพระเอกก็บันเทิงกับเรื่องของนางเอก ส่วนนางเอกก็ซาบซึ้งใจกับความมีน้ำใจของพระเอก จากที่จะส่งแค่หมู่บ้านใกล้ ๆ พระเอกเลยตัดสินใจไปส่งนางเอกถึงที่เลย
นางเอกก็ โอ๊ย ขอบคุณมากค่ะ แต่มันจะไม่เหมาะสมหรือเปล่า คือฉันเป็นหญิงสาว เดินทางมากับผู้ชาย มันจะดูไม่ดีนะ คุณส่งฉั���หมู่บ้านใกล้เคียงแล้วฉันนั่งรถม้าต่อดีกว่า
พระเอกก็ ไม่หรอก ไม่ต้องกลัว งู้นงี้บลา ๆ
แต่ในใจคือ โถ คิดว่าจะหนีรอดเหรอแ���่คุณ อยากเห็นภาพนางเอกหน้าซีดเมื่อไปถึงที่หมายแล้วเรื่องแดงออกมาว่านางโกหก
ใช่แล้วค่ะ เมื่อไปถึงที่หมาย พระเอกนี่แหละที่หน้าซีดแทน
ตายละ เรื่องของเจ้าหล่อนดันเป็นจริงซะนี่
หญิงสาวบริสุทธิ์เดินทางมากับชายหนุ่ม (และคนขับรถม้าและคนรับใช้) เพียงลำพัง เขาจะทำอย่างไรได้ นอกจากแสดงความเป็นสุภาพบุรุษด้วยการขอนางแต่งงาน
กับดักที่ตัวเองวาง ดันมาหนีบเท้าตัวเองได้
สมน้ำหน้าค่ะ ฮ่า ๆ
หลังขอแต่งงานพระเอกก็บอกว่าเขาเป็นดยุคแห่งบริดจ์วอเตอร์ เพราะฉะนั้น นางเอกที่แต่งงานกับเขาต้องเป็นดัชเชส นางเอกก็ไม่อยากแต่งหรอกค่ะ แต่พระเอกยืนยัน บวกกับนางมีเงื่อนไขการรับมรดกที่ต้องแต่งงานภายในกำหนดเวลาที่กระชั้น สุดท้ายก็เลยยอมรับคำขอแต่งงานของพระเอก หลังจากนั้นก็นัดหมายให้นางเอกมาเจอแม่กับน้อง ๆ ของเขา
แม่พระเอก (ที่เป็นดัชเชส) ก็ให้การต้อนรับนางเอกดีค่ะ เพียงแต่การเป็นดัชเชสนั้น มันมีอะไรที่มากกว่าตำแหน่ง นางเอกต้องทำตัวให้สมเป็นดัชเชส แม่พระเอกก็สอนเรื่องต่าง ๆ ของดัชเชสให้ ต้องวางตัวอย่างไรจึงจะเหมาะสม หาชุดที่เหมาะสมให้นางเอก ส่วนนางเอกก็ถือเป็นภารกิจที่ตัวเองต้องทำเพื่อให้คู่ควรกับพระเอก เพื่อไม่ให้พระเอกเสียหน้า เพื่อตอบแทนบุญคุณของพระเอก เพียงแต่ตัวตนของนางก็ค่อย ๆ หายไป
กลางเรื่องดราม่า หน่วงยาวทีเดียวค่ะ พระเอกเป็นพวกเก็บงำความคิด ส่วนนางเอกก็ไม่ยอมบอกว่าตัวเองคิดยังไง คนสองคนที่ไม่คุยกันให้รู้เรื่องก็เลยดึงดราม่ายาวเลย
ตอนนี้โออ่านครบทุกเล่มในชุดแล้ว โอว่าพระเอกเรื่องนี้ร้ายที่สุดในชุด ร้ายที่ว่าคือเป็นคนเย็นชา ไร้หัวจิตหัวใจ จริง ๆ ส่วนนี้ของเขาแย้มมานิด ๆ ตั้งแต่เล่มสองและเล่มสามในมุมมองที่เขามีและรูปแบบที่เขาพูดต่อฟรานซิส หรือในเล่มนี้ในช่วงต้นที่เขาเห็นนางเอกเป็นของเล่นแก้เบื่อ
เพราะพระเอกเป็นขุนนางสูงศักดิ์ด้วยละค่ะ เขาจะมีมาดในแบบที่ อย่า-มา-แหย็ม ฉัน-นะ ยกแว่นขยาย ปรายตามอง หรือบางทีแค่นิ่ง ๆ ก็ทำให้คนอื่นกลัวได้แล้ว น้องคอร่า นางเอกเล่มที่แล้วยังกลัวเลย
ที่จริงพระเอกของเล่มอื่นก็มียศนะคะ เพียงแต่พระเอกคนนี้หนักสุด และน่าจะมีบรรดาศักดิ์สูงสุดด้วย ใช่มั้ย (พระเอกเล่มแรกเป็นเอิร์ล พระเอกเล่มสองเป็นมาร์ควิส พระเอกเล่มสามไม่ใช่ลูกชายคนโต ไม่ได้รับสืบทอดบรรดาศักดิ์ เลยมีคำนำหน้าเป็นลอร์ดเฉย ๆ แต่เขาก็เป็นลูกและน้องชายของดยุค) เอ้อจะว่าไป ในเล่มสอง มาร์ควิสแห่งคาริวก็มีช่วงแผ่รัศมีความน่ากลัวนี่นะ เอาเป็นว่า พวกนี้มีรังสีพิฆาตเฉพาะตัวเป็นอาวุธเวลาต้องการแสดงอำนาจข่มอีกฝ่าย
กลับมาที่เล่มนี้
จริง ๆ พระเอกไม่ใช่คนไร้หัวจิตหัวใจหรอกค่ะ เขาก็เป็นคนเหมือนเรา ๆ นี่แหละ เพียงแต่ถูกหล่อหลอมให้เติบโตมาเป็นดยุค เป็นชนชั้นสูง บุคลิกบางอย่างมันเลยติดตัวมาด้วย เขาเคยชินกับการสวมหน้ากากของความเฉยชา ปฏิบัติต่อผู้อื่นด้วยมาดสุภาพชน ทั้งที่ลึก ๆ แล้วเขาเป็นคนหัวขบถ ช่างฝัน อยากจะแต่งงานกับหญิงที่รัก ลักยิ้มของนางเอกและบุคลิกที่ดูใสซื่อของนางเลยตกเขาได้ตั้งแต่แรก แต่พอนางเอกถูกสถานการณ์บีบให้ต้องเป็นปฏิบัติตัวเป็นดัชเชสที่เพียบพร้อม ความเข้าถึงได้มันเลยหายไป
คนหนึ่งเย็นชาเพราะเป็นนิสัยที่ไม่ชอบแสดงอารมณ์ คนหนึ่งก็เย็นชาเพราะเข้าใจว่าอีกฝ่ายไม่ชอบตน แถมโดนกรอบของความคาดหวังครอบอีกชั้น
สองคนนี้กว่าจะหาจุดที่ลงตัวก็กินเวลานานพอควร เป็นช่วงที่อึดอัดนะ ทั้งที่โอชอบช่วงแรก มาชอบอีกทีช่วงท้าย ๆ
เล่มนี้ก็เลยให้ 3 ดาว เล่มนี้พระเอกหล่อค่ะ นางเอกก็หน้าตาสวยน่ารัก มีลักยิ้ม
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ผู้ที่อยู่ในรถม้ากำลังดึงกระจกข้างที่ใกล้ตัวหล่อนที่สุดลงต่ำ มือข้างหนึ่งในถุงมือหนังสีครีมราคาแพงวางพักบนขอบกระจก แล้วใครคนนั้นก็โน้มตัวมามองขณะที่หล่อนเข้าไปหา เป็นผู้ชายคนหนึ่ง ดวงหน้าหล่อเหลาของเขาหยิ่งยโสแกมเบื่อหน่าย เรือนผมสีน้ำตาลดกหนาจัดทรงยุ่ง ๆ อย่างประณีต เสียงเขายามเมื่อเปล่งวาจาสอดคล้องกับสีหน้าท่าทาง
“นกน้อยสีจัดจ้าผู้แต่งแต้มทิวทัศน์ให้สดใส” เขาพูด “อะไรหรือคือสิ่งที่เธอต้องการ”
หล่อนคงจะตอกกลับใส่หน้าเขาไปแล้วหากไม่เหนื่อยและหิวขนาดนี้ ยังไม่นับที่เมื่อยเท้า มอมแมม หวาดกลัว...และอับอาย เขาคิดว่าหล่อนต้องการอะไรไม่ทราบที่ออกมายืนอยู่กลางถนนห่างไกลจากที่ไหนก็ตามเป็นไมล์ ๆ อย่างนี้
“ได้โปรดเถอะค่ะ คุณสุภาพบุรุษ” หล่อนพูดพลางหลุบสายตาลงมองกระเป๋าผ้าของตนซึ่งถูกกำแน่นอยู่ในมือทั้งสองข้างราวกับจะให้มั่นใจว่ามันจะไม่ถูกฉกชิงไป “ไม่ทราบว่าคุณจะกรุณาอนุญาตให้ฉันนั่งไปกับคนรับใช้ของคุณสักไม่กี่ไมล์ได้ไหมคะ”
หน้า 11 บทที่ 1
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April 12, 2016
I enjoyed how the truth slowly unravels and the hero is "hoisted with his own petard".
Heroine was sweet and I appreciated that once she knew his true motives, she needed space to decide what was right for her. She did lead him a merry dance which IMHO was well deserved.
Heroine was sweet and I appreciated that once she knew his true motives, she needed space to decide what was right for her. She did lead him a merry dance which IMHO was well deserved.
November 29, 2010
The Plumed Bonnet is part of a series that starts with Dark Angel. I have read the previous books some time ago and I never wrote the reviews but reading this one actually made me want to go back and revisit those soon.
In the beginning of this story we find Stephanie Gray walking along the road in a very colourful hat and destitute. When the Duke of Bridgewater's carriage comes along he sees a lady of easy virtue who might help him pass a few comfortable hours and he offers her a ride. Stephanie is naturally grateful and tells him the story of how she ended up like that and who she is. The story sounds so fantastic that Bridgewater believes it to be made up just to gain his interest. Amused he plays along and they both spend a night in an Inn albeit in separate rooms. When Bridgewater realises she was telling the truth he feels duty bound to offer for her because he knows he has compromised her.
Stephanie accepts as she feels she has no option (she has to marry to receive her inheritance) and she does admire the Duke very much for what she feels was a good deed towards her. But the easy communication between the two is now at an end. Stephanie feels like a country bumpkin next to Bridgewater's family and despite being coached in her new duties by the dowager Duchess she feels she may never be sophisticated enough to fulfill her new duties, and Bridgewater realises he wants a true marriage between them but seems unable to express his feelings in a way she understands them.
On their wedding day he decides to be truthful and tell her what he really thought about her when they met. This makes Stephanie realise that he also has flaws; the man she thought had been so kind to her simply thought she was a trollop. While this causes her some pain it was also a much needed conversation to clear the air between them. After the initial big misunderstanding (which I usually don't like) that was quite funny and then the smaller ones that contributed to make this a very angsty read during their engagement. Bridgewater and Stephanie will have to build their relationship on who they really are.
I found this a lovely, entertaining story with very funny moments in the first half and then some poignant ones in the second. It covers the dangers to women alone on the road, the insecurity of meeting one's in laws and how difficult it is sometimes to understand others, be it words or looks, when you don't actually know them. Another winner!
Grade: 4.5/5
In the beginning of this story we find Stephanie Gray walking along the road in a very colourful hat and destitute. When the Duke of Bridgewater's carriage comes along he sees a lady of easy virtue who might help him pass a few comfortable hours and he offers her a ride. Stephanie is naturally grateful and tells him the story of how she ended up like that and who she is. The story sounds so fantastic that Bridgewater believes it to be made up just to gain his interest. Amused he plays along and they both spend a night in an Inn albeit in separate rooms. When Bridgewater realises she was telling the truth he feels duty bound to offer for her because he knows he has compromised her.
Stephanie accepts as she feels she has no option (she has to marry to receive her inheritance) and she does admire the Duke very much for what she feels was a good deed towards her. But the easy communication between the two is now at an end. Stephanie feels like a country bumpkin next to Bridgewater's family and despite being coached in her new duties by the dowager Duchess she feels she may never be sophisticated enough to fulfill her new duties, and Bridgewater realises he wants a true marriage between them but seems unable to express his feelings in a way she understands them.
On their wedding day he decides to be truthful and tell her what he really thought about her when they met. This makes Stephanie realise that he also has flaws; the man she thought had been so kind to her simply thought she was a trollop. While this causes her some pain it was also a much needed conversation to clear the air between them. After the initial big misunderstanding (which I usually don't like) that was quite funny and then the smaller ones that contributed to make this a very angsty read during their engagement. Bridgewater and Stephanie will have to build their relationship on who they really are.
I found this a lovely, entertaining story with very funny moments in the first half and then some poignant ones in the second. It covers the dangers to women alone on the road, the insecurity of meeting one's in laws and how difficult it is sometimes to understand others, be it words or looks, when you don't actually know them. Another winner!
Grade: 4.5/5
May 12, 2013
Read as part of an ebook set: The Famous Heroine / The Plumed Bonnet.
Early Balogh is not as good as later, but even so these are sweet, enjoyable stories. As I understand it, the Dark Angel series (no idea what that name is supposed to imply) is about four friends who embark upon forced, or nearly forced, marriages to women they don't love, or who don't love them. Naturally, they all end up happy.
The Plumed Bonnet is about the Duke of Bridgwater (Lord Francis's friend from the previous story) and his marriage to a governess turned heiress, Stephanie Gray. He literally picks up Stephanie on a country road, when she is wearing a fuchsia cape and a pink bonnet with three feathers. He thinks she's an actress or a ladybird and invites her into his carriage, mostly because he's bored and she has concocted a far-fetched story about being robbed on the way to claim her vast inheritance at her grandfather's estate in Hampshire. After they have traveled three days together and arrived at the estate, he is shocked to learn that her story is true. He insists that she marry him, partly to assuage his honor and partly because she will otherwise be forced to marry a creepy relative in order to keep her inheritance. (The will is one of those where she has to marry within six months to get the money. Did people really do that back then?) She accepts and they go to London, where the dowager duchess (the grateful grandmother from the previous story) trains her to be a proper duchess. Indeed, she becomes so proper that her own personality disappears, but she is so grateful to the duke for rescuing her and treating her with respect that she is determined to be the wife he should have. After they're married, he confesses what he first thought about her, and offers her her freedom. I think we all know what happens next.
Early Balogh is not as good as later, but even so these are sweet, enjoyable stories. As I understand it, the Dark Angel series (no idea what that name is supposed to imply) is about four friends who embark upon forced, or nearly forced, marriages to women they don't love, or who don't love them. Naturally, they all end up happy.
The Plumed Bonnet is about the Duke of Bridgwater (Lord Francis's friend from the previous story) and his marriage to a governess turned heiress, Stephanie Gray. He literally picks up Stephanie on a country road, when she is wearing a fuchsia cape and a pink bonnet with three feathers. He thinks she's an actress or a ladybird and invites her into his carriage, mostly because he's bored and she has concocted a far-fetched story about being robbed on the way to claim her vast inheritance at her grandfather's estate in Hampshire. After they have traveled three days together and arrived at the estate, he is shocked to learn that her story is true. He insists that she marry him, partly to assuage his honor and partly because she will otherwise be forced to marry a creepy relative in order to keep her inheritance. (The will is one of those where she has to marry within six months to get the money. Did people really do that back then?) She accepts and they go to London, where the dowager duchess (the grateful grandmother from the previous story) trains her to be a proper duchess. Indeed, she becomes so proper that her own personality disappears, but she is so grateful to the duke for rescuing her and treating her with respect that she is determined to be the wife he should have. After they're married, he confesses what he first thought about her, and offers her her freedom. I think we all know what happens next.
September 6, 2014
I am like stupidly mad about how I don't know what I think of this book.
Stephanie Gray is wearing a bright pink bonnet when Alistair picks her up in his carriage. Thinking her a prostitute, he offers her a ride to her destination and spends the next three days listening to her talk about her life as a cleric's daughter, governess, and potential heiress. EXCEPT IT TURNS OUT SHE'S TELLING THE TRUTH!! Time to get married, huh, and then ANGST ANGST ANGST HEA.
1. I really liked Stephanie for the most part. A governess! Just trying to get along! And also maybe inherit some money! And, ugh, the portrayal of how she struggled with becoming The Perfect Duchess was well done. Just--trying to balance what she thinks is necessary with who she truly is!
2. But then I was so damned frustrated with how that all played out. Because Stephanie forces herself into this mold that she assumes is necessary, but then Alistair confesses that he thought she was a prostitute! So then she doesn't need to impress him anymore! And then...she discovers freedom and they live HEA?
Here's the thing: the theme of freedom and how important it is to Stephanie only becomes A Thing in the last ... third of the book, if that. Until then, the theme is heavily on self-discovery, and attempting to determine who she really is after years of being a Governess, and then having to be The Perfect Duchess. The switch in themes was really discouraging and not well done.
It left me wanting more.
ESPECIALLY because there was never a conversation about what Alistair REALLY wanted in a wife. There was incident after incident of Stephanie misunderstanding Alistair's expectations and desires--which hurt her! JUSTIFIABLY! But then the narrative never stops to discuss that: Alistair never says "HEY LISTEN: I don't need or want The Perfect Duchess; I want you and your heart and your joy and excitement! Be yourself!" So that was disappointing.
3. HAYLOFT SEX.
4. Hayloft sex.
Stephanie Gray is wearing a bright pink bonnet when Alistair picks her up in his carriage. Thinking her a prostitute, he offers her a ride to her destination and spends the next three days listening to her talk about her life as a cleric's daughter, governess, and potential heiress. EXCEPT IT TURNS OUT SHE'S TELLING THE TRUTH!! Time to get married, huh, and then ANGST ANGST ANGST HEA.
1. I really liked Stephanie for the most part. A governess! Just trying to get along! And also maybe inherit some money! And, ugh, the portrayal of how she struggled with becoming The Perfect Duchess was well done. Just--trying to balance what she thinks is necessary with who she truly is!
2. But then I was so damned frustrated with how that all played out. Because Stephanie forces herself into this mold that she assumes is necessary, but then Alistair confesses that he thought she was a prostitute! So then she doesn't need to impress him anymore! And then...she discovers freedom and they live HEA?
Here's the thing: the theme of freedom and how important it is to Stephanie only becomes A Thing in the last ... third of the book, if that. Until then, the theme is heavily on self-discovery, and attempting to determine who she really is after years of being a Governess, and then having to be The Perfect Duchess. The switch in themes was really discouraging and not well done.
It left me wanting more.
ESPECIALLY because there was never a conversation about what Alistair REALLY wanted in a wife. There was incident after incident of Stephanie misunderstanding Alistair's expectations and desires--which hurt her! JUSTIFIABLY! But then the narrative never stops to discuss that: Alistair never says "HEY LISTEN: I don't need or want The Perfect Duchess; I want you and your heart and your joy and excitement! Be yourself!" So that was disappointing.
3. HAYLOFT SEX.
4. Hayloft sex.
February 25, 2014
I think it was a novella, thought it didn't feel like one. It dragged a little bit.
Nevertheless I really enjoyed it as it had a theme of my favorite marriage of convenience.
Yes, Hero was a prime jerk at the beginning. Heroine was definitely TSTL for getting with him into a carriage unchaperoned, not to mention running away from her previous employers without giving a notice. Plain stupid.
I wish they weren't both so racked with guilt over supposed-maneuvering the other into unhappy marriage.
I read couple of Balogh's books these last two years so I noticed she repeated some plots I saw in her other stories, but I guess it's inevitable when you are such a prolific author.
Nevertheless I really enjoyed it as it had a theme of my favorite marriage of convenience.
Yes, Hero was a prime jerk at the beginning. Heroine was definitely TSTL for getting with him into a carriage unchaperoned, not to mention running away from her previous employers without giving a notice. Plain stupid.
I wish they weren't both so racked with guilt over supposed-maneuvering the other into unhappy marriage.
I read couple of Balogh's books these last two years so I noticed she repeated some plots I saw in her other stories, but I guess it's inevitable when you are such a prolific author.
July 26, 2017
Very pleasant read, like all Balogh books. I didn't like how he mistook her for a whore or her obsequiousness when she believed she was indebted to him. However, I liked very much that the ultimate point of the story was the importance of honesty/authenticity and vulnerability (and equality) in love/marriage. Being loved for ones true self is truly beautiful.
August 8, 2010
Maybe an A- rather than A but the duke who finally finds his heart's desire is terrific. Humour, honesty, a heroine who regains her childhood serenity. Plus all the characters from the earlier books -- that's a treat.
October 21, 2024
Bring on the pain…. But also I love them. BUT ALSO HES SO DUMB!!! I cannot believe Mary ended this on an orgasm. 10/10
November 28, 2012
I've noticed an interesting trend with Goodreads' ratings for regency romances...All the cheesy, hyper-romantic and hyper-dramatic love stories get the higher ratings. The subtler stories, like this one, get low ones. This does not surprise me, but it does irk me. When will readers come to realize that the hyper-passionate tales don't stand out anymore? At least they should not. The uber-wild and sexy stories are, to a jaded reader like me, quite boring and unbelievable. I'm never able to buy into the book when the hero is described by the narrator herself as "wicked" and "drop dead gorgeous" and all those other disgusting adjectives. I'm never able to enjoy a book when the hero and heroine tumble headfirst into lust and into bed and into some stupid entanglement over feelings and whether this love is right!!! or wrong!!! I can't read those stories. And so I can't read most regency romances on the market today. They all end up feeling formulaic and repetitive. Heroines end up losing sight of themselves, their aspirations, their all important personalities to the tall, dark, and sexy hero. Blech. Can't deal with that.
What I've always appreciated about Balogh's stories, and particularly this series of books, is how slowly the characters come to realize their feelings for each other. And how slowly they come to reveal such feelings. You will never hear characters tell one another that they "love" each other halfway into a Balogh book, or even three quarters way through. They must first jump through hurdles like real people. And the dramatic irony Balogh uses to enhance those hurdles just makes these stories more fulfilling in the end.
Anyway, now I'll get onto actually reviewing this particular book, whose real rating is 4 and 1/2 stars.
The novel started off slow...tiringly slow. I did not feel much sympathy toward either character and ended up abandoning the book for a while to read another one. But today I decided I'd go back and give it another try. About halfway into the book, the real conflict revved up, and I found myself engrossed. The heroine, Stephanie, has been trapped into a marriage to the Duke of Bridgwater, Alistair. Having never been around society as high and mighty as this one, she struggles with coping with her new obligations and her imminent title as duchess. And she gets it into her head that her role as duchess must always be proper and formal and cordial, at most, with her husband. She begins to deny her physical and emotional affection toward Alistair. She does not want to, but she feels obliged and, after an insensitive comment by Alistair, menacingly determined to play the role of a "proper lady." Alistair meanwhile struggles to understand where the warm girl he once knew had disappeared to. She seems lost to the role of playing the duchess. Once he dreamed he'd have a passionate marriage, a wife as his best friend, but now he fears the worst might have happened--that Stephanie hates him.
And this dynamic is very charming to watch. I ended up rooting for them both to come to terms with their love for each other. Their slow, realistic love. I won't say any more on the plot other than this. I'll just end by saying that I enjoyed it a lot and was glad I returned to it after my hiatus.
What I've always appreciated about Balogh's stories, and particularly this series of books, is how slowly the characters come to realize their feelings for each other. And how slowly they come to reveal such feelings. You will never hear characters tell one another that they "love" each other halfway into a Balogh book, or even three quarters way through. They must first jump through hurdles like real people. And the dramatic irony Balogh uses to enhance those hurdles just makes these stories more fulfilling in the end.
Anyway, now I'll get onto actually reviewing this particular book, whose real rating is 4 and 1/2 stars.
The novel started off slow...tiringly slow. I did not feel much sympathy toward either character and ended up abandoning the book for a while to read another one. But today I decided I'd go back and give it another try. About halfway into the book, the real conflict revved up, and I found myself engrossed. The heroine, Stephanie, has been trapped into a marriage to the Duke of Bridgwater, Alistair. Having never been around society as high and mighty as this one, she struggles with coping with her new obligations and her imminent title as duchess. And she gets it into her head that her role as duchess must always be proper and formal and cordial, at most, with her husband. She begins to deny her physical and emotional affection toward Alistair. She does not want to, but she feels obliged and, after an insensitive comment by Alistair, menacingly determined to play the role of a "proper lady." Alistair meanwhile struggles to understand where the warm girl he once knew had disappeared to. She seems lost to the role of playing the duchess. Once he dreamed he'd have a passionate marriage, a wife as his best friend, but now he fears the worst might have happened--that Stephanie hates him.
And this dynamic is very charming to watch. I ended up rooting for them both to come to terms with their love for each other. Their slow, realistic love. I won't say any more on the plot other than this. I'll just end by saying that I enjoyed it a lot and was glad I returned to it after my hiatus.
June 8, 2012
Interesting, pretty good. The guy is a jerk at first, but at least he doesn't push her around or pressure her into sex (I'm really sick of overly aggressive "seduction" in romance). He isn't one of those extreme alpha males.
A big plus for me is that
Much is stressed about women getting choices and the ability to say no, which is a refreshing theme in a regency.
A big plus for me is that
Much is stressed about women getting choices and the ability to say no, which is a refreshing theme in a regency.
August 21, 2012
An older and shorter Balogh than the Slightly series.
The hero is a Duke, brought up from the craddle to take his right place in society and obviously that made him a bit self-righteous and not always so likable.
I really liked the first carriage ride when Stephanie tells her story and Alistair believing her to be an actress guesses out what the next thing will be. I also really liked how their relationship evolves first during their engagement and then in the first weeks of marriage.
A good one that already announces to me Slightly Dangerous and Wulfric.
The hero is a Duke, brought up from the craddle to take his right place in society and obviously that made him a bit self-righteous and not always so likable.
I really liked the first carriage ride when Stephanie tells her story and Alistair believing her to be an actress guesses out what the next thing will be. I also really liked how their relationship evolves first during their engagement and then in the first weeks of marriage.
A good one that already announces to me Slightly Dangerous and Wulfric.
December 29, 2019
I loved the beginning. Then it was too much like so many other books of the genre. And 'a turning point' was rather weak. On the other hand, I liked the message about freedom. And still much better (at least like I l like) than Mary Balough later Regency romances.
Summarizing: A lovely reading, solid 3-stars.
Summarizing: A lovely reading, solid 3-stars.
April 13, 2018
Distinctly good. The beginning is slightly farcical, the middle section (where the heroine is doing her best to become a Stepford Wife) is worrying, the ending a surprising but satisfactory downbeat account of trying to make a go of a potentially ruined marriage.
November 22, 2016
Love it ! supppppppperb! I can honestly say that from 3 Mary Balough I read so far this is my most favorite... How lovely the story and the progress... Sadly I want more... I want to read more about Stephanie and Alistair... Seriously, moooore please!
September 3, 2021
Sweet story where consent is a big part.
March 27, 2023
Siguiendo "The Famous Heroine", Balogh nos trae otra historia de este grupo de amigos, cuyos romances se basan básicamente en "malentendidos y meteduras de pata que te llevarán al amor".
En este nueva aventura, Sir Alistair recoge a Stephanie considerándola que es una "mujer de la calle", al estar viajando sola por los caminos, y porque va con un sombrero estrafalario y una capa. Lo que no sabe es que a ella le habían robado, y aunque escucha su historia, decide que es todo mentira y que es el momento de tener una "aventura", tras llevar meses "en depresión" porque pasan los años y nadie lo quiere.
Sinceramente, la primera parte de la novela es divertida y va bien. El problema viene tras la llegada a Londres y cuando las cosas se ponen serias. La complicidad inicial, parece forzada cuando vuelve a suceder, y el romance que se desarrolla y las "escenas subidas" son un poco mecánicas...cuando por fin parece que ganamos algo de "Alistair", que desde que llegaba a Londres se vuelve un estirado, es a Stephanie a quien perdemos...hasta llegar al final que se ve algo forzado.
Sin ser una pérdida tan grande como en "Dark Angel", "The Plummed Bonnet" cae abajo de la divertida "The Famous Heroine", y de la maravillosa "Lord Carew's Bride", aunque se mantiene como un entretenimiento liviano.
En este nueva aventura, Sir Alistair recoge a Stephanie considerándola que es una "mujer de la calle", al estar viajando sola por los caminos, y porque va con un sombrero estrafalario y una capa. Lo que no sabe es que a ella le habían robado, y aunque escucha su historia, decide que es todo mentira y que es el momento de tener una "aventura", tras llevar meses "en depresión" porque pasan los años y nadie lo quiere.
Sinceramente, la primera parte de la novela es divertida y va bien. El problema viene tras la llegada a Londres y cuando las cosas se ponen serias. La complicidad inicial, parece forzada cuando vuelve a suceder, y el romance que se desarrolla y las "escenas subidas" son un poco mecánicas...cuando por fin parece que ganamos algo de "Alistair", que desde que llegaba a Londres se vuelve un estirado, es a Stephanie a quien perdemos...hasta llegar al final que se ve algo forzado.
Sin ser una pérdida tan grande como en "Dark Angel", "The Plummed Bonnet" cae abajo de la divertida "The Famous Heroine", y de la maravillosa "Lord Carew's Bride", aunque se mantiene como un entretenimiento liviano.
September 1, 2017
Don't Judge a Book by it's Cover.
The Plumed Bonnet is another 2-in-1 re releases of Ms. Balogh's traditional regency. First published in 1996, it is connected to the Stapleton-Downs series. This is a story of misconception and misunderstanding. While the story has a strong beginning it is a tad bit slow in the middle but comes to a satisfying ending. The hero of the books is Alistair, Duke of Bridgewater, and he has had a strong presence in some of the previous books. He's the guy in the background handing out wise advice, which he does not follow in his own book. As the story begins he is ruminating about the fate of his friends who were all trapped into marriage. He observes that even though they all appear to be perfectly happy, he isn't about to let anything like that happen to him. No sir, he's going to be on his toes and not fall into any kind of trap. Famous last words.
As his coach travels along his eyes are drawn to woman standing along the side of the road. She is dressed in a fuchsia colored cloak and on her head is a plumed pink bonnet. He instantly jumps to the conclusion that she is a "bird of paradise". For all of you who have never read a Regency novel and are not familiar with that particular cant, a "bird of paradise" is a woman of easy virtue. Now, whether that term is real slang from Regency times or a term invented by the great Georgette Heyer is something which can be debated at a later date. But for now Alistair thinks she's a bird of paradise and he's eager to enjoy her "favors." Well, the supposed bird is our heroine Stephanie Gray and she has run into a bit of trouble.
Stephanie has inherited a fortune - sort of. She needs to claim that fortune and in order to do that she quit her governess job (which she hated), packed her valise of all her worldly goods, put most of her money in that valise, climbed on board a public coach and headed toward her fortune. Well, on the way she ran into some less than honest folk and everything in her valise was stolen. So, she decided to walk - what else could she do? Along the way, she ran into some "show-folk" who lent her some stage clothes - hence the outlandish ensemble. She is ever so grateful for the ride from the nice gentleman. Really grateful, for he saved her life. She proceeds to tell him her story.
I found the carriage ride scene quite fascinating. Stephanie is perfectly honest with Alistair, she tells him almost her entire story, all about her inheritance and how she was robbed, etc. But here's what Alistair hears: blah, blah, blah. All the time she is telling him the truth, he is thinking she's making the entire story up. He is bound and determined to not believe her and that is because he wants her to be something other than what she is. They travel together a couple of nights; he even shows up in the bedroom thinking to have his way with her. She on the other hand thinks he just lost his way; for a kind, fine, gentleman like him would never think of seducing her.
When they arrive at her soon-to-be inherited estate she warns him that his presence may be taken the wrong way. She suggests to him that he should just drop her off and she will walk the rest of the way. But Alistair is still stubborn and he wants to see her squirm out of the lies he thinks she's still creating. He wants to see just how far she'll go. He pooh poohs her and walks right into the marriage trap he was trying to avoid. Unlike a lot of Romanceland books, Alistair does not hold Stephanie responsible for the mistake. He knows it's his own stubbornness that has landed him at the altar and he takes it very calmly. It is also at this point that Stephanie finds out that he isn't a Mr. but a duke. Appearances can be deceiving; Stephanie isn't a strumpet and Alistair isn't a Mr. That particular misunderstanding is cleared up. Then the story journeys down another path and here is where some heavy-duty angst takes over.
The next portion revolves around Stephanie being sooooo grateful to Alistair that she does everything she can to change. She attempts to change into the perfect duchess thanks to some heavy-handed lessons from Alistair's mother. Alistair spends a great deal of time saying the wrong thing to Stephanie which only makes her even more determined to be perfect. When she is eventually the perfect duchess, Alistair realizes that maybe that isn't what he really wants; but how to change her back to the woman he realizes he fell in love with. This is a story filled with some pretty complex people and it takes Alistair and Stephanie a while to realize that neither one of them has to change to be perfect for each other.
I recommend this story.
KaysBlog
The Plumed Bonnet is another 2-in-1 re releases of Ms. Balogh's traditional regency. First published in 1996, it is connected to the Stapleton-Downs series. This is a story of misconception and misunderstanding. While the story has a strong beginning it is a tad bit slow in the middle but comes to a satisfying ending. The hero of the books is Alistair, Duke of Bridgewater, and he has had a strong presence in some of the previous books. He's the guy in the background handing out wise advice, which he does not follow in his own book. As the story begins he is ruminating about the fate of his friends who were all trapped into marriage. He observes that even though they all appear to be perfectly happy, he isn't about to let anything like that happen to him. No sir, he's going to be on his toes and not fall into any kind of trap. Famous last words.
As his coach travels along his eyes are drawn to woman standing along the side of the road. She is dressed in a fuchsia colored cloak and on her head is a plumed pink bonnet. He instantly jumps to the conclusion that she is a "bird of paradise". For all of you who have never read a Regency novel and are not familiar with that particular cant, a "bird of paradise" is a woman of easy virtue. Now, whether that term is real slang from Regency times or a term invented by the great Georgette Heyer is something which can be debated at a later date. But for now Alistair thinks she's a bird of paradise and he's eager to enjoy her "favors." Well, the supposed bird is our heroine Stephanie Gray and she has run into a bit of trouble.
Stephanie has inherited a fortune - sort of. She needs to claim that fortune and in order to do that she quit her governess job (which she hated), packed her valise of all her worldly goods, put most of her money in that valise, climbed on board a public coach and headed toward her fortune. Well, on the way she ran into some less than honest folk and everything in her valise was stolen. So, she decided to walk - what else could she do? Along the way, she ran into some "show-folk" who lent her some stage clothes - hence the outlandish ensemble. She is ever so grateful for the ride from the nice gentleman. Really grateful, for he saved her life. She proceeds to tell him her story.
I found the carriage ride scene quite fascinating. Stephanie is perfectly honest with Alistair, she tells him almost her entire story, all about her inheritance and how she was robbed, etc. But here's what Alistair hears: blah, blah, blah. All the time she is telling him the truth, he is thinking she's making the entire story up. He is bound and determined to not believe her and that is because he wants her to be something other than what she is. They travel together a couple of nights; he even shows up in the bedroom thinking to have his way with her. She on the other hand thinks he just lost his way; for a kind, fine, gentleman like him would never think of seducing her.
When they arrive at her soon-to-be inherited estate she warns him that his presence may be taken the wrong way. She suggests to him that he should just drop her off and she will walk the rest of the way. But Alistair is still stubborn and he wants to see her squirm out of the lies he thinks she's still creating. He wants to see just how far she'll go. He pooh poohs her and walks right into the marriage trap he was trying to avoid. Unlike a lot of Romanceland books, Alistair does not hold Stephanie responsible for the mistake. He knows it's his own stubbornness that has landed him at the altar and he takes it very calmly. It is also at this point that Stephanie finds out that he isn't a Mr. but a duke. Appearances can be deceiving; Stephanie isn't a strumpet and Alistair isn't a Mr. That particular misunderstanding is cleared up. Then the story journeys down another path and here is where some heavy-duty angst takes over.
The next portion revolves around Stephanie being sooooo grateful to Alistair that she does everything she can to change. She attempts to change into the perfect duchess thanks to some heavy-handed lessons from Alistair's mother. Alistair spends a great deal of time saying the wrong thing to Stephanie which only makes her even more determined to be perfect. When she is eventually the perfect duchess, Alistair realizes that maybe that isn't what he really wants; but how to change her back to the woman he realizes he fell in love with. This is a story filled with some pretty complex people and it takes Alistair and Stephanie a while to realize that neither one of them has to change to be perfect for each other.
I recommend this story.
KaysBlog
August 19, 2014
Author: Mary Balogh
First published: 1996
Length: 240 pages
Setting: London and Hampshire. Regency (6 years after The Famous Heroine)
Sex: Only a couple of times. Fade to black. First time ordinary, unsatisfactory for h.
Hero: A duke. Not interested in marriage.
Heroine: Governess to heiress.
"Perhaps... Oh, perhaps one day she could be herself again. Or was self always lost in marriage? Even when one did not owe one's life to one's husband, one became his property after marriage. All that one possessed became his." p.392
A story about appearances and defining yourself. Self-respect.
What is interesting about reading older pulp-Romances is the mono-storyline. There are no villans after stolen jewellery, background romances or deep psychological fissures preventing him from allowing her to love. No HFNs. It's just a single storyline, purely relationship driven. Boy meets girl and through the inevitable ups and downs of life they find lust grows into love and respect.
Sweet. Easy. Romantic.
Stapleton-Downes series:
The Ideal Wife - Miles Ripley, Earl of Severn and Abigail Gardiner
A Precious Jewel - Sir Gerald Stapleton and Priscilla Wentworth
Dark Angel - Jennifer Winwood and Gabriel, Earl of Thornhill
Lord Carew's Bride - Samantha Newman and Marquess of Carew
The Famous Heroine - Lord Francis Kneller and Cora Downes
The Plumed Bonnet - Stephanie Gray and Duke of Bridgwater
A Christmas Bride - Edgar Downes and Helena, Lady Stapleton
References:
Author's website: http://www.marybalogh.com
(read in The Famous Heroine / The Plumed Bonnet, ISBN 978044024538)
-CR-
First published: 1996
Length: 240 pages
Setting: London and Hampshire. Regency (6 years after The Famous Heroine)
Sex: Only a couple of times. Fade to black. First time ordinary, unsatisfactory for h.
Hero: A duke. Not interested in marriage.
Heroine: Governess to heiress.
"Perhaps... Oh, perhaps one day she could be herself again. Or was self always lost in marriage? Even when one did not owe one's life to one's husband, one became his property after marriage. All that one possessed became his." p.392
A story about appearances and defining yourself. Self-respect.
What is interesting about reading older pulp-Romances is the mono-storyline. There are no villans after stolen jewellery, background romances or deep psychological fissures preventing him from allowing her to love. No HFNs. It's just a single storyline, purely relationship driven. Boy meets girl and through the inevitable ups and downs of life they find lust grows into love and respect.
Sweet. Easy. Romantic.
Stapleton-Downes series:
The Ideal Wife - Miles Ripley, Earl of Severn and Abigail Gardiner
A Precious Jewel - Sir Gerald Stapleton and Priscilla Wentworth
Dark Angel - Jennifer Winwood and Gabriel, Earl of Thornhill
Lord Carew's Bride - Samantha Newman and Marquess of Carew
The Famous Heroine - Lord Francis Kneller and Cora Downes
The Plumed Bonnet - Stephanie Gray and Duke of Bridgwater
A Christmas Bride - Edgar Downes and Helena, Lady Stapleton
References:
Author's website: http://www.marybalogh.com
(read in The Famous Heroine / The Plumed Bonnet, ISBN 978044024538)
-CR-
November 12, 2011
Another early Signet by Ms. Balogh. I'm enjoying reading her backlog and seeing how her writing style has refined over the years.
Our heroine, a governess and orphaned daughter of a pastor, finds herself an heiress who stands to inherit an estate and large fortune if she marries within six months. Excited, she does not wait for the carriage sent for her and instead hires a spot on a carriage and is robbed of everything along the way. After spending the first night sleeping by the side of the road she is given a ride by a Duke who does not reveal his true identity. He does not believe her story believing her to be an actress trying to con him. When he realizes she's truthful, he recognizes he has compromised her and offers to marry her. Though both feel strongly for each other they do not reveal their thought, and proceed toward the marriage.
Ms. Gray was not raised to be a duchess so the duke's mothers sets about preparing her for her new life in a month. When she makes here debut at a ball, the duke is entranced, kisses her passionately, and then chastises her behavior. She withdraws physically and emotionally. Over the next few weeks the Duke realizes what a putz he was and how his behavior has doomed both of them to a loveless marriage.
Hoping to salvage the relationship, after the marriage the Duke announces that rather than finishing the rest of the season among the ton he is taking his new bride to his country his estate. There they slowly began to know each other, but the new duchess still maintains the emotional barrier that she believes is expected of him. It is only when the duke confesses the true circumstances of how they met and gives her permission to leave and live at her own estate do they come together and recognize their love.
So many things to like about this story. The heroine is strong and spunky, yet believable. The Duke is really a putz and a jerk, but recognizes it and makes an effort to change. Both characters grow into better people as the story progresses. As I read, I'm never quite certain things will turn out even though intellectually I know romances have the HEA. Although I am no expert on the regency time period, Ms Balogh seems to get it correct. Wonderfully written romance.
Rated on my 5 scale romance
Our heroine, a governess and orphaned daughter of a pastor, finds herself an heiress who stands to inherit an estate and large fortune if she marries within six months. Excited, she does not wait for the carriage sent for her and instead hires a spot on a carriage and is robbed of everything along the way. After spending the first night sleeping by the side of the road she is given a ride by a Duke who does not reveal his true identity. He does not believe her story believing her to be an actress trying to con him. When he realizes she's truthful, he recognizes he has compromised her and offers to marry her. Though both feel strongly for each other they do not reveal their thought, and proceed toward the marriage.
Ms. Gray was not raised to be a duchess so the duke's mothers sets about preparing her for her new life in a month. When she makes here debut at a ball, the duke is entranced, kisses her passionately, and then chastises her behavior. She withdraws physically and emotionally. Over the next few weeks the Duke realizes what a putz he was and how his behavior has doomed both of them to a loveless marriage.
Hoping to salvage the relationship, after the marriage the Duke announces that rather than finishing the rest of the season among the ton he is taking his new bride to his country his estate. There they slowly began to know each other, but the new duchess still maintains the emotional barrier that she believes is expected of him. It is only when the duke confesses the true circumstances of how they met and gives her permission to leave and live at her own estate do they come together and recognize their love.
So many things to like about this story. The heroine is strong and spunky, yet believable. The Duke is really a putz and a jerk, but recognizes it and makes an effort to change. Both characters grow into better people as the story progresses. As I read, I'm never quite certain things will turn out even though intellectually I know romances have the HEA. Although I am no expert on the regency time period, Ms Balogh seems to get it correct. Wonderfully written romance.
Rated on my 5 scale romance
May 21, 2013
Further enjoyable romance featuring the Duke of Bridgewater whom we met in the Dark Angel/ Lord Carew's Bride and Famous Heroine books.
Alistair Munro is on his way to London when he rescues the heroine Stephanie Grey on the road sporting a disreputable bonnet and cloak and claiming to have been robbed. Bridgewater doesn't believe the story of the governess/ heiress who was robbed on her way to collect her inheritance for a moment but decides to play along with Stephanie whom he believes to be a bit of muslin...
Things get a bit out of hand and by the end of it he has delivered her to her country estate in full expectation of a large laugh and a business deal for a new mistress by the end of it.
Of course it doesn't quite turn out that way and it is Bridgewater who gets a nasty surprise to realise the story has been quite true and that he has compromised a gentle woman. He does the decent thing and they end up engaged.
At no stage does he let Stephanie know about his presumptions and she remains overwhelmingly grateful to him.
Stephanie finds herself totally out of her depth in terms of what is expected of the Duchess of Bridgewater and due to her gratitude to him for treating her so well on the road she puts herself through hell trying to fit in with the rigid behaviour she believes he expects. Bridgewater doesn't help himself either as he mishandles some sensitive situations in a way that encourages her to think he has a disgust of any spontaneity on her part.
Eventually Bridgewater feels so guilty about her blankness / underlying bitterness, that he owns up and it all comes to a head.
This is of course Mary Balogh land and so everything works out in the end and there is a really sweet hea.
Lovely.
Alistair Munro is on his way to London when he rescues the heroine Stephanie Grey on the road sporting a disreputable bonnet and cloak and claiming to have been robbed. Bridgewater doesn't believe the story of the governess/ heiress who was robbed on her way to collect her inheritance for a moment but decides to play along with Stephanie whom he believes to be a bit of muslin...
Things get a bit out of hand and by the end of it he has delivered her to her country estate in full expectation of a large laugh and a business deal for a new mistress by the end of it.
Of course it doesn't quite turn out that way and it is Bridgewater who gets a nasty surprise to realise the story has been quite true and that he has compromised a gentle woman. He does the decent thing and they end up engaged.
At no stage does he let Stephanie know about his presumptions and she remains overwhelmingly grateful to him.
Stephanie finds herself totally out of her depth in terms of what is expected of the Duchess of Bridgewater and due to her gratitude to him for treating her so well on the road she puts herself through hell trying to fit in with the rigid behaviour she believes he expects. Bridgewater doesn't help himself either as he mishandles some sensitive situations in a way that encourages her to think he has a disgust of any spontaneity on her part.
Eventually Bridgewater feels so guilty about her blankness / underlying bitterness, that he owns up and it all comes to a head.
This is of course Mary Balogh land and so everything works out in the end and there is a really sweet hea.
Lovely.
February 15, 2016
da www.sognipensieriparole.com
Decisamente questa serie continua a piacermi parecchio, e questo è forse il romanzo che sinora preferisco. Sarà perché il protagonista, il duca di Brightwater, mi ricorda sotto vari aspetti il Duca di Ghiaccio, altro eroe maschile creato dalla Balogh e saldamente inchiodato nel mio cuore.
Tutto inizia con un clamoroso equivoco: lui che scambia la povera ex-istitutrice per una donna di facili costumi, la compiace per farne la sua amante e si ritrova "incastrato" alla grande. Il viaggio in carrozza, tra locande, sguardi sospetti della servitù e riflessioni interiori dei due che non hanno ancora capito cosa ciascuno in realtà pensa dell'altro, è davvero spassoso e fa' emergere un lato ironico della Balogh a cui non ero abituata.
Poi, una volta che scatta l'obbligo delle nozze "riparatrici", il romanzo rientra nei canoni più tradizionali, ma anche qui ho parecchio apprezzato il fatto che non si corra verso un lieto fine scontato, ma ci si soffermi sulle difficoltà e sugli ostacoli di un matrimonio imposto e basato sulle bugie.
Alistair è un personaggio magnifico sotto la sua corazza d'imperturbabilità e di regole rigide che gli hanno cucito addosso, e per questo il suo lento innamoramento, cedendo a emozioni troppo a lungo sopite, risulta ancora più intenso e struggente.
Decisamente questa serie continua a piacermi parecchio, e questo è forse il romanzo che sinora preferisco. Sarà perché il protagonista, il duca di Brightwater, mi ricorda sotto vari aspetti il Duca di Ghiaccio, altro eroe maschile creato dalla Balogh e saldamente inchiodato nel mio cuore.
Tutto inizia con un clamoroso equivoco: lui che scambia la povera ex-istitutrice per una donna di facili costumi, la compiace per farne la sua amante e si ritrova "incastrato" alla grande. Il viaggio in carrozza, tra locande, sguardi sospetti della servitù e riflessioni interiori dei due che non hanno ancora capito cosa ciascuno in realtà pensa dell'altro, è davvero spassoso e fa' emergere un lato ironico della Balogh a cui non ero abituata.
Poi, una volta che scatta l'obbligo delle nozze "riparatrici", il romanzo rientra nei canoni più tradizionali, ma anche qui ho parecchio apprezzato il fatto che non si corra verso un lieto fine scontato, ma ci si soffermi sulle difficoltà e sugli ostacoli di un matrimonio imposto e basato sulle bugie.
Alistair è un personaggio magnifico sotto la sua corazza d'imperturbabilità e di regole rigide che gli hanno cucito addosso, e per questo il suo lento innamoramento, cedendo a emozioni troppo a lungo sopite, risulta ancora più intenso e struggente.
November 12, 2022
The premise: The Duke of Bridgewater is bored with life. He's seen three of his friends forced into unwanted marriages and has sworn off love. He's so unhappy that he picks up a woman on the side of the road dressed in a fuchsia cloak and a decidedly inappropriate plumed bonnet. He assumes her story is all lies and means to escort her to her destination, thereby entertaining himself on the way back to London. Little does he know that Stephanie Gray is exactly who she says she is: a governess who has inherited a fortune, but is currently penniless due to a theft during her trip home.
Miscellaneous notes: Alistair's story did not inspire any kinder emotions in me. I disliked him in The Famous Heroine and I continued to develop that dislike for him in this book.
I must say that our heroine felt much the same for him...except that Ms. Balogh also described her as having fallen in love with him. I just don't get it. This Duke expects her to change WHO she is in order to please him. He essentially calls her a whore when she allows herself to succumb to his advances. Yet, she's in love. This book turned my stomach, in a bad way.
Don't get me wrong. It's still a decent read, just not one that I would have chosen to read had I known.
Miscellaneous notes: Alistair's story did not inspire any kinder emotions in me. I disliked him in The Famous Heroine and I continued to develop that dislike for him in this book.
I must say that our heroine felt much the same for him...except that Ms. Balogh also described her as having fallen in love with him. I just don't get it. This Duke expects her to change WHO she is in order to please him. He essentially calls her a whore when she allows herself to succumb to his advances. Yet, she's in love. This book turned my stomach, in a bad way.
Don't get me wrong. It's still a decent read, just not one that I would have chosen to read had I known.
February 13, 2018
I was disappointed with the story especially after reading The Famous Heroine immediately before it, like the same day.
This story was so sad for Stephanie for most of it. There wasn't the joy in the story as there was with the carefree Cora. In fact, some of the highlights of the earlier part of the book were the appearances of Cora, especially the relief she brought for Stephanie.
I think my biggest problem was that I just couldn't accept the premises of this book. I couldn't accept that Alastair would do what he did. I couldn't accept many of the consequences that followed. And while Stephanie's plight when Alastair made his offer was probably realistic, I rejected it probably just because I didn't like it.
I do have to say that the way the whole initial carriage ride was arranged up to the point where Alastair was trapped was outstanding. But after that it seemed to me to take too long to get to where you knew it had to go.
There were also some profound statements about freedom vs the kind of slavery that was inherent in the story. But has the world really changed enough?
The usual steam, albeit relatively mild.
This story was so sad for Stephanie for most of it. There wasn't the joy in the story as there was with the carefree Cora. In fact, some of the highlights of the earlier part of the book were the appearances of Cora, especially the relief she brought for Stephanie.
I think my biggest problem was that I just couldn't accept the premises of this book. I couldn't accept that Alastair would do what he did. I couldn't accept many of the consequences that followed. And while Stephanie's plight when Alastair made his offer was probably realistic, I rejected it probably just because I didn't like it.
I do have to say that the way the whole initial carriage ride was arranged up to the point where Alastair was trapped was outstanding. But after that it seemed to me to take too long to get to where you knew it had to go.
There were also some profound statements about freedom vs the kind of slavery that was inherent in the story. But has the world really changed enough?
The usual steam, albeit relatively mild.
November 4, 2011
I read this in the 2-novel volume with The Famous Heroine and this was my favorite of the two. I did enjoy the novel, but I could really feel that it was written 15 years ago. I liked Alistair more than I liked Stephanie and I liked the conclusion. I have the same negative about this one that I do about The Famous Heroine; I grew a little weary of the lengthy miscommunication/misunderstanding between the couple. It isn't real credible to me that neither one realizes how the other really feels about them and I don't want to read endless paragraphs about this. That said, I found it to be a simple, uncomplicated read that does go on my "keeper shelf" even though I like her recent works much better.
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