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The Paradise Will
When Alyssa Paradise inherits her uncle's grand estate in Dorset she is determined to meet the challenge. However every week for six months she must dine tête-à-tête with the enigmatic Sir Giles Maxton who owns the adjoining land. Alyssa wonders how she will endure this arrangement—Sir Giles cuts a dashing figure but is brusque and aloof.
Although Alyssa soon discovers the warm, generous man beneath and Giles in turn finds Alyssa beguiling, they fight their growing attraction, knowing they are both promised elsewhere. But when Alyssa is caught up in a web of intrigue and revenge, Giles must race against time to rescue the woman he loves.
Although Alyssa soon discovers the warm, generous man beneath and Giles in turn finds Alyssa beguiling, they fight their growing attraction, knowing they are both promised elsewhere. But when Alyssa is caught up in a web of intrigue and revenge, Giles must race against time to rescue the woman he loves.
225 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2008
6 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Hanbury
17 books66 followersI write Regency/historical romance with swoonworthy heroes, sparkling heroines, and a dash of wit and humour.
I'm a member of the Romantic Novelists' Association and Society of Authors and write for people like me, who need a little escape from the stresses of daily life.
“A Regency writer of real skill, depth, wit and charm” - Nicola Cornick.
My books:
A Knight to the Rescue
(in aid of Crohn's Disease research)
Regency Rakes and Rebels Series
Christmas at Rakehell Manor (Book #2)
Midsummer Eve at Rookery End (Book #1)
Regency Secrets and Scandals Series
Lady Vane's Secret (Book #1)
Three Secrets and a Scandal (Book #2)
The Cinderella Debutante
The Paradise Will
Brief Encounters (short story anthology with Phillipa Ashley and Nell Dixon)
More details, news, sensuality rating guide and excerpts can be found on my web-site -
http://www.elizabethhanbury.com :)
I'm a member of the Romantic Novelists' Association and Society of Authors and write for people like me, who need a little escape from the stresses of daily life.
“A Regency writer of real skill, depth, wit and charm” - Nicola Cornick.
My books:
A Knight to the Rescue
(in aid of Crohn's Disease research)
Regency Rakes and Rebels Series
Christmas at Rakehell Manor (Book #2)
Midsummer Eve at Rookery End (Book #1)
Regency Secrets and Scandals Series
Lady Vane's Secret (Book #1)
Three Secrets and a Scandal (Book #2)
The Cinderella Debutante
The Paradise Will
Brief Encounters (short story anthology with Phillipa Ashley and Nell Dixon)
More details, news, sensuality rating guide and excerpts can be found on my web-site -
http://www.elizabethhanbury.com :)
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 26, 2015
From the start of the book, you can tell that The Paradise Will is going to be a very different kind of regency romance, something I have to say is a trend of the author, Elizabeth Hanbury. I have read all of her books now, and must say that the twists and surprises in the story make for an entertaining read.
Alyssa Paradise is the inheritor of a vast estate from the recent death of her uncle. Whilst this sounds wonderful, and is clearly a wonderful gain in a period where women were still subservient to men, there is a devilish caveat employed in the will - that Alyssa must spend time with the rather oafish Sir Giles Maxton.
If this sounds weird, it gets more strange that she must dine with him every week for six months. Twenty-four months in the company of someone you hate - perhaps hate is too strong a word, but Alyssa certainly dislikes being around Giles, even if he has a title, good looks, money and so on.
It's like her dear (now, not so dear) departed uncle has played a rather nasty trick on her.
This was one book from the start where I did not want Alyssa and Giles to get together. I thought she was far too good for him. But that would be too early to say that was how the book was going to end. This is a longish tale, so it is inevitable other characters will be introduced that will cause conflict between these two principal characters and around them.
Note: I loved the mention of Chancery Lane (I was there in April 2015) and it's just typical of Alyssa to get hamstrung by the lawyers that are in residence there!
Things are complicated further by the fact that other parties are involved. I can't imagine in today's world where a partner / fiance/e or spouse would be allowed to have dinner on such a regular basis with someone of the opposite sex, so God only knows how it would have been received back then!
Speaking with others in the story, they find it an incredible arrangement too, exclaiming "Would Tom (her uncle) want you to have dinner with some old fossil?"
These kind of lines and great humour are throughout Miss Hanbury's books, and amongst the exciting drama of her writing, it takes an author of real skill to drop in cool humour at key points.
The key driver of the book for me was not 'will they or won't they get together', it was more about how they would come to agreement over the rather preposterous instructions of the will. Fortunately, Alyssa is the best of heroines, spirited and steadfast without being overbearing or heavily opinionated.
Giles is a character one warms to, but not easily, and maybe that's the intention. I thought the regular dinners would be a source of both fun and conflict and it makes for a very enjoyable and interesting book.
I think of all of Miss Hanbury's books, this is the one with the heaviest Georgette Heyer influence, which is no bad thing. In fact, the way The Paradise Will is so masterfully crafted, it's great to know that a regency period author of great skill will entertain for many more years to come.
Alyssa is a heroine that no-one cannot fail to fall for (gosh, that's a lot of f's in one sentence!) but not because she is cherry blossom in her appeal. She's a practical girl who knows what she wants, and also what repulses her. In the end, she wants what is bequeathed to her, and no-one could blame her for the choices she makes.
Alyssa Paradise is the inheritor of a vast estate from the recent death of her uncle. Whilst this sounds wonderful, and is clearly a wonderful gain in a period where women were still subservient to men, there is a devilish caveat employed in the will - that Alyssa must spend time with the rather oafish Sir Giles Maxton.
If this sounds weird, it gets more strange that she must dine with him every week for six months. Twenty-four months in the company of someone you hate - perhaps hate is too strong a word, but Alyssa certainly dislikes being around Giles, even if he has a title, good looks, money and so on.
It's like her dear (now, not so dear) departed uncle has played a rather nasty trick on her.
This was one book from the start where I did not want Alyssa and Giles to get together. I thought she was far too good for him. But that would be too early to say that was how the book was going to end. This is a longish tale, so it is inevitable other characters will be introduced that will cause conflict between these two principal characters and around them.
Note: I loved the mention of Chancery Lane (I was there in April 2015) and it's just typical of Alyssa to get hamstrung by the lawyers that are in residence there!
Things are complicated further by the fact that other parties are involved. I can't imagine in today's world where a partner / fiance/e or spouse would be allowed to have dinner on such a regular basis with someone of the opposite sex, so God only knows how it would have been received back then!
Speaking with others in the story, they find it an incredible arrangement too, exclaiming "Would Tom (her uncle) want you to have dinner with some old fossil?"
These kind of lines and great humour are throughout Miss Hanbury's books, and amongst the exciting drama of her writing, it takes an author of real skill to drop in cool humour at key points.
The key driver of the book for me was not 'will they or won't they get together', it was more about how they would come to agreement over the rather preposterous instructions of the will. Fortunately, Alyssa is the best of heroines, spirited and steadfast without being overbearing or heavily opinionated.
Giles is a character one warms to, but not easily, and maybe that's the intention. I thought the regular dinners would be a source of both fun and conflict and it makes for a very enjoyable and interesting book.
I think of all of Miss Hanbury's books, this is the one with the heaviest Georgette Heyer influence, which is no bad thing. In fact, the way The Paradise Will is so masterfully crafted, it's great to know that a regency period author of great skill will entertain for many more years to come.
Alyssa is a heroine that no-one cannot fail to fall for (gosh, that's a lot of f's in one sentence!) but not because she is cherry blossom in her appeal. She's a practical girl who knows what she wants, and also what repulses her. In the end, she wants what is bequeathed to her, and no-one could blame her for the choices she makes.
August 1, 2016
The words that crossed my mind while reading this book were adorable and cute. Everybody was so polite and honorable, except the villain of course.
I liked how the writing managed to bring me to that time period, with the description, the narration and the dialogue, without being too heavy on the language for me.
In fact, the atmosphere was so proper, I felt almost scandalized when the sexy time scene wasn't a fade to black occasion (gasp). But the author made it sexy without being vulgar.
And I just loved the cover. So beautiful and softly romantic.
Despite its flaws (a bit cheesy love declarations), I found this book a very satisfying read.
I liked how the writing managed to bring me to that time period, with the description, the narration and the dialogue, without being too heavy on the language for me.
In fact, the atmosphere was so proper, I felt almost scandalized when the sexy time scene wasn't a fade to black occasion (gasp). But the author made it sexy without being vulgar.
And I just loved the cover. So beautiful and softly romantic.
Despite its flaws (a bit cheesy love declarations), I found this book a very satisfying read.
January 11, 2015
The first 3/4 I loved. There was intrigue but I felt for as dramatic as Caroline is as a character, her presence was lacking and her revenge didn't match the intensity of her outrage; there needed more conflict. Alyssa and Gil also fell for each other a little too easy I think. The end felt like everything came together too neatly and a tad rushed.
That aside, the premise of the book and colorful cast of characters were intriguing. I enjoyed it more than an average 3 star novel but not enough to give 5 stars. A few extra scenes could have changed that.
That aside, the premise of the book and colorful cast of characters were intriguing. I enjoyed it more than an average 3 star novel but not enough to give 5 stars. A few extra scenes could have changed that.
May 27, 2019
I really enjoyed the characters but I did find the third person omniscient pov to be distracting. It felt like a lot of headhopping
March 11, 2009
The Paradise Will was a delightful read! I found Alyssa and Letty to be absolutely charming. And Gil is a wonderful hero. I really liked Piers too and enjoyed his development throughout the course of the book. If you like Georgette Heyer, but would like something a bit more adult, this is the book for you!
May 21, 2013
Thoroughly entertaining offering from Hanbury. Delightful hero and heroine and good supporting characters. The nasty character get their comeuppance and all is right with the world!
More please!
More please!
March 2, 2014
I really liked this story but it wasn't clean.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews