The Baron and the Bluestocking

Six Rogues and Their Ladies #6

by G.G. Vandagriff

In the world of the Regency, Christian Elliott, Baron Shrewsbury has it all. Helene Whitcombe has nothing except a prickly slate of feminist principles and a job as a schoolteacher in Lord Shrewsbury’s Orphanage for Girls. Pride on both sides separates them, but that doesn’t stop the fierce attraction that builds between this unlikely pair. Can the penniless vicar’s daughter humble the haughty baron? Or will her uncomfortable principles and his high place in society prove to be insuperable barriers to love?

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Regency, Historical, Historical Fiction, Regency Romance, Ebooks

216 pages, Paperback

First published November 16, 2013

About the author

G.G. Vandagriff is the author of over thirty novels Amazon #1 Bestselling Author. The Last Waltz, the first novel in her 20th Century Historical Romance Series won the Whitney Award for Best Historical Novel in 2009. There are now two more books in that series—Exile and Defiance.
Thirteen of her novels are Regency romances, compared by critics to the witty novels of Georgette Heyer. She has also written a lively genealogical mystery series featuring Briggie and Alex, two whacky widows, as sleuths. Her most recent publications are Romantic Suspense. Her trilogy featuring Breaking News, Sleeping Secrets, and Balkan Echo tell the tale of high profile TV journalists--the Super Sleuths of WOOT TV station in Chicago.
GG graduated from Stanford and received her master’s degree from George Washington University. She worked as an associate editor at Stanford’s Hoover Institution, an assistant treasurer in the Harvard Treasurer’s office, a bond analyst at Fidelity Investments, and an international banker for Continental Illinois National Bank (later acquired by Bank of America).
She and her husband David are the parents of three children and seven grandchildren, her greatest joys in life. Her favorite novel? Jane Eyre. She also loves Florence, Sundance Resort, The Voice, hot chocolate, lilacs, and dachshunds.
Find out more about her books, download a free novella, and sign up for her newsletter at http://ggvandagriff.com. Also, be the first to know when Vandagriff’s next book is available by following her at http://bookbub.com/authors/G.G.Vandag... to receive new releases and discount alerts.

Reviews

[Tanya Sridhar · Rating 1 out of 5]

[Melyssa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a clean romance, but... but... too much was wrong.

To start, there were editorial errors everywhere... :( The whole Beethoven thing was not believable, the tone and vocabulary were off. Uhh... I don't think they would have said "first rate funk" in the Recency era. It all just felt very... off.

And I wasn't even that compelled by the characters.

Overall... Meh.

[G.G. Vandagriff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Today I am launching this, the third in my trilogy of Three Original Ladies and their Gentlemen. It is a standalone, however!

It is my book, so of course I have given it a 5-star effort. I hope my readers agree!

[Niffer · Rating 2 out of 5]

A thoroughly meh, dime-a-dozen regency romance.

[HR-ML · Rating 3 out of 5]

Regency.

This featured 3 men enchanted with stunning late
vicar's dtr, schoolteacher Helene:
1) plain, earnest wool merchant's son Samuel
'standing for MP. '
2) handsome but trustworthy (?) baron, William
3) handsome baron/ hero, Christian who enjoyed
debating the h.

Christian was fixated on Sophia, the woman who
got away, (they never kissed) who wed his best
friend. The H thought Helene a "feisty, needle-wit
goddess." They argued about the role of women
& should new laws protect women via universal
education & job training to prevent poverty (after
lost income due to death of parent or spouse)? It
took awhile for the hero to drop the social class
barrier distancing him from the heroine. He also
thought her views too radical.

One unexpected plot point seemed to change the
story direction. I wished this couple revealed their
true feelings sooner.

[Michele Bolay · Rating 1 out of 5]

I got this as either a free or a .99 e-book. The plot trope is one that I usually enjoy, but the characters and the writing style just didn't do it for me. I also think that the more in-depth/angsty/meaty historical romances I read have spoiled me for any Regencies except Georgette Heyer's, so I should just give up on them. They filled a need when I was much, much younger, but they don't hold my attention any more.

Also, the historical inaccuracies REALLY bugged me. For example, the word "feminist" wasn't in use until much later in the 19th century.

[Anna White · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story itself was fine. Sometimes I just need a quick easy read romance novel. Some of the story didn't make sense cause I was under the impression Beethoven and Austen were not the same time period.

[Frances · Rating 1 out of 5]

. The only thing more unbelievable than the characters was the plot.

[Abdmoody · Rating 3 out of 5]

A low 3 stars. it did not redeem itself much after the half way point.

[Laila · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book-cover is a turn off but the story isn't! The irony of 'don't judge a book by its cover"!
This is the kind of book, so well written that hard to put it away until you reached the last page--can't say if you're not a historical romance sucker like me--that not to say I don't have high expectations in this genre. Woe to me for I supposed to be reading this scholarly work that staring at me on my desk. Kudos to the writer for smarting the women's issues in the story-plot, nicely done, madam! While I did say it's a sin to have favorite even to books and writers, it suffice to say G.G. Vandagriff is an accomplished writer and a storyteller and I'm looking forward to read her other works.

[Reina · Rating 1 out of 5]

Uno de los peores libros que he leído. No sé siquiera si lo pasaron por edición o qué onda, porque tiene un uso del inglés de lo más triste. Vamos, que intenta ser una novela de la Regencia, pero se nota a leguas que fue escrito por una mamá aburrida que no sabe qué hacer con su tiempo mientras los niños están en la escuela.
Y no es que yo sea una experta en el Inglés británico de 1800, pero para escribir un libro de época hay que investigar, gente.
Otro punto menos por tanta pinche comparación forzosa con "Orgullo y prejuicio". No, señora, ni de lejos se me habría ocurrido comparar a su pareja insta-love con Darcy y Elizabeth. Get out. Odio que intenten obligarme a pensar de una forma en particular. Ninguno de los personajes te deja pensar por ti mismo, es ridículo.
Otro menos por su absurda línea cronológica y sucesos que se complican y solucionan en menos de tres párrafos. Ah, porque si se requiere resolver un "misterio", el personaje que lo sabe todo aparecerá y dará todas las respuestas a modo de carta para que no queden dudas y no tengas que preguntarte nada.
AND OH MY FUCKING GOD. Ni siquiera me hagan comenzar con su estúpida protagonista. Que se las quiere pintar de feminista, pero es todo lo que odio de las feminazis. NOOOOOPEEEEE.
Puaj.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did like this story. The characters were good and I loved the banter between them and the story was good. I wish more had happened in the middle, I felt like the end was so jam packed with things happening it made me feel like the rest of the book lacked. It was a little slow moving but overall I liked it. The problem I had with this book was it all felt very aloof and a little cold, till the very end. I was not convinced this girl and guy had much heart at all and really worried how this was going to end. The feel of the book changed a lot with the last couple of chapters and it ended well. Just not sure I like this style of writing.

[Whitebeard Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've gotten to know the characters in this series like the neighbors on my street. Actually better because the information I have on them is more complete than with my neighbors. That said, they are just as real as my neighbors and therein lies the appeal for continuing the series. What can I say, I'm swept along with a good story.

[Aiga Al · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall Six Rogues and Their Ladies series was quite nice. The biggest challenge for me was the pace of the books. For ~200 page books it's quite unusual for me not to read them in one sitting. Stories simply couldn't pull me in completely and in some cases they turned annoying. Pace wise last two books of the series were the best.

[Connie Cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a free book and it was a quick read. It was predictable. Set in England about a girls who’s father died and left them poor. She became a teacher, and took care of her sisters. She was a feminist (which was unusual for those times). She was beautiful and three different men wanted to marry her. There is attempted murder and dishonesty by some of the characters.

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5.0

“The Baron and the Bluestocking” is a classic Regency tale that takes place in England and reminiscent of a Georgette Heyer novel.

Read full review in the 2014 February issue of InD’tale Magazine.

[Kellie Dipiro · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just fluff!

[ABesse · Rating 3 out of 5]

A woman who likes to say ridiculous things to get a reaction meets a man who likes to do ridiculous things to get a reaction. Ridiculously unrealistic hijinks and a murder attempt ensue.

[Mary Baker · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think the author needed to develop her characters and her plot details more than she did. I felt that events happened before the reader was prepared for them.

[Noni Barker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Average Regency romance. Somewhat less than 3 stars.

[Elda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Heartwarming!

I have nothing but praises to sing of Ms Vandagriff’s writing. I literally could not tear my eyes away from my ereader as I devoured this book. I have read other books by this author and loved them all. I was very confident that I would find this to be a clean regency romance which it was. Her characters are diverse and realistic. I loved Hélène and her firm convictions regarding women’s equality which in the regency period were considered to be too radical. Although I do not consider myself to be a radical, I did sympathize with her as her feelings about this stemmed from her own experiences. My heart went out to her when I considered the plight that Hélène suffered having to find a way to take care of her siblings when both her parents died leaving them destitute. There are so many other points I could make about this story, not the least of which is the romance between Hélène and Christian. At first meeting one another they both were adversarial. You could feel the angst very strongly. Other twists to this story brought out some sadness, but also a very heartwarming HEA. I highly recommend this book to all lovers of regency romance.

[Jeanie's Kindle · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are sure you are right,you are more than likely wrong. Christian was a well educated, wealthy baron. A peer of the realm. Self assured and a free thinker. He helped establish a school for orphan girls. Teaching them to read and offering them a better life than what they had ignorant on the streets. Where their only option was selling their bodies.
Helene was one of eight children of a vicar who left his family penniless upon his death. Helene was hired to be one of the teachers at his school. The problem was due to her situation she had adopted radical ideas about women's education and marriage. At a time when women were considered property and didn't have the right to vote or own anything.

[D Call · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm giddy over this book!

Similar to Pride and Prejudice (which is also mentioned in the book), both hero and heroine have to shed pre-conceived notions of love and marriage to have their happily ever after.

I loved how they fell in love, I thought the excitement at the end was surprising and revealing, and I loved how they resolved the concerns they had.

Contains no sex scenes, no violence, and I don't remember any swear words. Fabulous fabulous book! I have found a new favorite author!

[Linda Rutland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll never marry

The oldest daughter of the recently deceased vicar is supporting her three sisters with her earnings as a teacher for orphaned and uneducated girls from the East End. She goes she'll never depend on a man for her care and protection which means she never plans to marry. Yet within forty-eight hours she has not one but three proposals. Great characters and story.

[Rachel Crosby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, more-or-less period accurate, but also regrettably wooden

Have you ever gone to see a live play in which the actors are so stiff and are filled with stage fright, they speak their lines like robots? Though the plot is interesting and the characters well written, I felt while reading that there was a cartoon quality to the novel. With a few exceptions, most of the scenes seemed mechanical.

[L S Hardy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Book for Women's History Month

Not only is this story interesting and filled with intrigue, but it also point out how dependent women were on their male relatives at this time in history. There really were few opportunities for women to earn a living and marriage truly was their only way to survive if not independently wealthy.

[Coy Lee Stroud · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classes vs Equality?

For me 5 stars means buying a hard cover. 4 stars = very good read. This book is highly enjoyable. Rich Baron vs penniless reformer. It' s fun to watch these these two learn to appreciate each other's point of view. Education anyone? Watch out for the evil scheamer!

[Shelby Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Baron and teacher

It takes a good while to convince himself that a Baron could love a Vicar’s daughter. Although she is raised a lady with an extensive education he has doubts but when Lord Delacouxe begins courting her and his sister tried to allure the Baron we see the true feelings come thru. Some evil things happen but love wins out!

[Lizette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting main characters and their romance

Two people happily single meet and dislike each other on the basis of superficial impressions. Over the course of succeeding interactions they continuously adjust their belifs about each other, and most surprisingly, about themselves.

[Paula Bothwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good new to me author. Clean. I did not realize this would have so much intrigue. I liked the heroine, but she was over the top sometimes. I think I would enjoy knowing someone as open, candid, and without guile.