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Mischief and Marriage
When Ashley me Harry...
Mischief was what Harry Clifton intended when he traveled to Australia in search of an heir.
Marriage was the last thing on Ashley Harcourt's mind when she met Harry.
But William, Ashley's enterprising young son, had other ideas! He saw Harry and decided he'd make a perfect father. To his surprise, Harry found he liked the idea of an instant family. But he'd need more than young William's help to persuade Ashley to trust in love again....
288 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 1996
About the author
Emma Darcy
643 books332 followersEmma Darcy is the pseudonym created by the married writing team of Wendy (1940-2020) and Frank Brennan (1936-1995). Their life journey has taken as many twists and turns as the characters in their stories, whose international popularity has resulted in over sixty-million book sales. With more than a hundred titles, Emma Darcy appeared regularly on the Waldenbooks bestseller lists in the U.S.A. and in the Nielson BookScan Top 100 chart in the U.K.
Wendy was born 28 November 1940 in Australia. Her sister was the novelist Maureen Mary (Miranda Lee). Her father was a country school teacher and brilliant sportsman. Her mother was a talented dressmaker. She obtained an Honours degree in Latin and initially worked as a high school English/French teacher. She married Frank Brennan, an Australian businessman born in 1936. She changed careers to computer programming before marriage and motherhood settled her into a community life. She was reputedly the first woman computer programmer in the southern hemisphere.
As voracious readers, the step to writing their own books seemed a natural progression and the challenge of creating exciting stories was soon highly addictive. They were published since 1983. In 1993, for the Emma Darcy pseudonym's 10th anniversary, they created the "Emma Darcy Award Contest" to encourage authors to finish their manuscripts. After the death of Frank Brennan in 1995, Wendy wrotes books on her own. She lived in a beachside property on the central coast of New South Wales, and liked to travel extensively to research settings and increase her experience of places and people.
Wendy Brennan passed away on December 21, 2020. She is survived by her children, grandchildren, and sister, writer Miranda Lee.
Wendy was born 28 November 1940 in Australia. Her sister was the novelist Maureen Mary (Miranda Lee). Her father was a country school teacher and brilliant sportsman. Her mother was a talented dressmaker. She obtained an Honours degree in Latin and initially worked as a high school English/French teacher. She married Frank Brennan, an Australian businessman born in 1936. She changed careers to computer programming before marriage and motherhood settled her into a community life. She was reputedly the first woman computer programmer in the southern hemisphere.
As voracious readers, the step to writing their own books seemed a natural progression and the challenge of creating exciting stories was soon highly addictive. They were published since 1983. In 1993, for the Emma Darcy pseudonym's 10th anniversary, they created the "Emma Darcy Award Contest" to encourage authors to finish their manuscripts. After the death of Frank Brennan in 1995, Wendy wrotes books on her own. She lived in a beachside property on the central coast of New South Wales, and liked to travel extensively to research settings and increase her experience of places and people.
Wendy Brennan passed away on December 21, 2020. She is survived by her children, grandchildren, and sister, writer Miranda Lee.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 28, 2018
Re Mischief and Marriage - Emma Darcy does one of her 'different' books. In this one the billionaire landed English gentry H impersonates a butler to woo and win the mother of his potential heir.
The book starts with the H's long time family hereditary butler telling the H that he needs an heir to ensure that the butler's family's tenure on the H's estate remains intact. There is a long backstory about the H's family being fighting daredevils and the butler's family being long time loyal family retainers since the 16th century.
The H has been despondent and rather reckless with his physical safety for the last three years, ever since his beloved fiancee died from leukemia after a protracted struggle.
The H's butler despairs over finding a way to perk the H up and get him participating in life again, until he comes up with the idear to have the last remaining potential heir, who lives in Australia, come to England and learn about his future heritage.
The H decides that he would rather go check out Australia himself, a little jaunt might be just what he needs to relieve his sadness and help fill the hole in his heart. So he decides to take himself off to the other side of the world, as soon as he gets the cast off his leg. In the meantime, we learn a little about the other side of the H's illustrious landed family.
It turns out one of the H's earlier ancestors had a fling with a Duke's wife and got banished to Australia. That side of the family soon multiplied, as families do, until eventually the early 20th century flu epidemic narrowed the Australian side down to a young nine year old boy named William.
William's mum is widowed, it seems she did not enjoy a happy marriage with the H's distant relative, William's dad. She was in the process of divorcing the bullying tyrant and fighting for custody of William when the bully's determination to impose his will on all things caused him to drive over a flooded bridge despite the flood warning danger.
It seems the bully and his equally bullish mother were not impervious to Mother Nature, the raging river took no notice of their determination and swept them a way to a watery end. This relieved the h, William's mum, very much. Cause rather than a big battle, she just needed a way to earn a living.
So the h started a staffing service and when the H arrives, one of her clients is getting rather pushy, he is very threatening and rude over not getting his way. When the h's confrontation with him turns ugly, the H steps in and claims he is the h's butler. Soon the slime slurper former client is swiftly on his way.
The H manages to work his way into the h's home under guise of being the landed gentry's family butler sent to investigate the possibility of bringing William over to England as the new potential heir. Since the lurve force mojo vibes are immediately felt by both the H and the h, the h isn't at all unwilling to give the H a bed in the extra bedroom.
William is excited to have the H there too. He soon proves that he is definitely part of the H's side of the family with his enterprising entrepreneurial outing of selling Polaroid pictures to his friends of them sitting in the H's Rolls Royce and charging them ten dollars for the 'experience of a lifetime'.
The H admires William's very lively little schemes and soon has won him completely over. The H wins the h over when one of William's friend's very witchy busybody mother calls and tries to berate the h for letting William charge his friends for the pictures.
Then the woman tries to patronize the h and tries co-opt the H for her exclusive party that she did NOT invite the h too. We learn that there is a Butler Code of Ethics and that Butlers Can't Be Loaned to Busybody Society Snobs Who Are Mean To the h. So the snot snarker busybody invites the h to her party if she will come in the Rolls Royce and park it in the driveway.
The h agrees and while we are waiting for the big party to arrive, the H and h share their backstories and get much closer. They both really like each other and William is quite keen to go to England and see the ancient manor after the H tells him it is full of ghosts.
The H and h and William quickly form a nice family unit and the H realizes that he is in love with the h. The h is feeling the love right back, but neither one of them says anything to the other, not even when the lurve force mojo leads to a purple passion explosion moment in the h's office.
The day of the big party arrives and the H, who has gotten the h to agree to visit England with William using some really subtle manipulation, proposes marriage to the h as he parks the Rolls at the door of the party.
The h now has something to contemplate while her friends have some amusing interactions, then William shows up chasing the snot snarfer busybody's son through the house. It seems the equally snotty son said derogatory things about William's mum, so William punched him and knocked his tooth out.
The snot snarfer busybody woman is having a conniption and the nasty former client from the beginning of the book drops the bomb that the H is a billionaire and not really the butler. The h doesn't care tho, cause the H strolls in and makes all the nasty people in the room back off.
He also publicly humiliates the snot snarfer busybody woman and when she vows revenge against the h and William, the h announces that she is going to England and the H proposed marriage to her, so the busybody better have a very long reach.
Then we are all off to England and the h starts fretting that she might be preggers. She also starts fretting that she loves the H, but he might still be in love with his dead fiance and not able to love her back. William settles in rapidly and is soon chasing ghosts with the real butler all over the manner.
In an extremely unusual, (but very poignant scene considering ED was a very recent widow in real life when this book was written,) ED writes out a scene with the living h talking to the ghost of the dead fiancee.
The dead fiancee is very adamant that the H needs to start living again and that there is nothing but love in her heart for the H and h moving on together. The ghost is definitely on the John Lennon spiritual party line as she insists that "All you need is love" and she is sharing the love too.
She also tells the gobsmacked h that she is preggers and recommends a very nice local village obstetrician named Dr. Jekyll who lives in Hyde house. Then the fiancee ghost is followed by the h as the ghost goes off to find the H and have a final, but very loving farewell.
The H and h then declare their love to each other. They promise to tenderly care for each other and William and the extended butlering family for the rest of their days. We get a little epilogue where William is being enterprising, the family butler is delighted his scheming worked and the H and h have a newborn set of twins for a big ED Rosy Glow Kitten Rainbow HEA.
This one was a very sweet ED. She dedicated the book to her husband Frank, whom she lived all the great romances with. The ghost at the end was a big surprise, but the message she carried was a sincerely written and very heartfelt personal note to a lost loved one and I was totally feelin' the love that ED put in to it.
Give this one a go if you run into it. It is a very touching farewell and very nice HPlandia outing.
The book starts with the H's long time family hereditary butler telling the H that he needs an heir to ensure that the butler's family's tenure on the H's estate remains intact. There is a long backstory about the H's family being fighting daredevils and the butler's family being long time loyal family retainers since the 16th century.
The H has been despondent and rather reckless with his physical safety for the last three years, ever since his beloved fiancee died from leukemia after a protracted struggle.
The H's butler despairs over finding a way to perk the H up and get him participating in life again, until he comes up with the idear to have the last remaining potential heir, who lives in Australia, come to England and learn about his future heritage.
The H decides that he would rather go check out Australia himself, a little jaunt might be just what he needs to relieve his sadness and help fill the hole in his heart. So he decides to take himself off to the other side of the world, as soon as he gets the cast off his leg. In the meantime, we learn a little about the other side of the H's illustrious landed family.
It turns out one of the H's earlier ancestors had a fling with a Duke's wife and got banished to Australia. That side of the family soon multiplied, as families do, until eventually the early 20th century flu epidemic narrowed the Australian side down to a young nine year old boy named William.
William's mum is widowed, it seems she did not enjoy a happy marriage with the H's distant relative, William's dad. She was in the process of divorcing the bullying tyrant and fighting for custody of William when the bully's determination to impose his will on all things caused him to drive over a flooded bridge despite the flood warning danger.
It seems the bully and his equally bullish mother were not impervious to Mother Nature, the raging river took no notice of their determination and swept them a way to a watery end. This relieved the h, William's mum, very much. Cause rather than a big battle, she just needed a way to earn a living.
So the h started a staffing service and when the H arrives, one of her clients is getting rather pushy, he is very threatening and rude over not getting his way. When the h's confrontation with him turns ugly, the H steps in and claims he is the h's butler. Soon the slime slurper former client is swiftly on his way.
The H manages to work his way into the h's home under guise of being the landed gentry's family butler sent to investigate the possibility of bringing William over to England as the new potential heir. Since the lurve force mojo vibes are immediately felt by both the H and the h, the h isn't at all unwilling to give the H a bed in the extra bedroom.
William is excited to have the H there too. He soon proves that he is definitely part of the H's side of the family with his enterprising entrepreneurial outing of selling Polaroid pictures to his friends of them sitting in the H's Rolls Royce and charging them ten dollars for the 'experience of a lifetime'.
The H admires William's very lively little schemes and soon has won him completely over. The H wins the h over when one of William's friend's very witchy busybody mother calls and tries to berate the h for letting William charge his friends for the pictures.
Then the woman tries to patronize the h and tries co-opt the H for her exclusive party that she did NOT invite the h too. We learn that there is a Butler Code of Ethics and that Butlers Can't Be Loaned to Busybody Society Snobs Who Are Mean To the h. So the snot snarker busybody invites the h to her party if she will come in the Rolls Royce and park it in the driveway.
The h agrees and while we are waiting for the big party to arrive, the H and h share their backstories and get much closer. They both really like each other and William is quite keen to go to England and see the ancient manor after the H tells him it is full of ghosts.
The H and h and William quickly form a nice family unit and the H realizes that he is in love with the h. The h is feeling the love right back, but neither one of them says anything to the other, not even when the lurve force mojo leads to a purple passion explosion moment in the h's office.
The day of the big party arrives and the H, who has gotten the h to agree to visit England with William using some really subtle manipulation, proposes marriage to the h as he parks the Rolls at the door of the party.
The h now has something to contemplate while her friends have some amusing interactions, then William shows up chasing the snot snarfer busybody's son through the house. It seems the equally snotty son said derogatory things about William's mum, so William punched him and knocked his tooth out.
The snot snarfer busybody woman is having a conniption and the nasty former client from the beginning of the book drops the bomb that the H is a billionaire and not really the butler. The h doesn't care tho, cause the H strolls in and makes all the nasty people in the room back off.
He also publicly humiliates the snot snarfer busybody woman and when she vows revenge against the h and William, the h announces that she is going to England and the H proposed marriage to her, so the busybody better have a very long reach.
Then we are all off to England and the h starts fretting that she might be preggers. She also starts fretting that she loves the H, but he might still be in love with his dead fiance and not able to love her back. William settles in rapidly and is soon chasing ghosts with the real butler all over the manner.
In an extremely unusual, (but very poignant scene considering ED was a very recent widow in real life when this book was written,) ED writes out a scene with the living h talking to the ghost of the dead fiancee.
The dead fiancee is very adamant that the H needs to start living again and that there is nothing but love in her heart for the H and h moving on together. The ghost is definitely on the John Lennon spiritual party line as she insists that "All you need is love" and she is sharing the love too.
She also tells the gobsmacked h that she is preggers and recommends a very nice local village obstetrician named Dr. Jekyll who lives in Hyde house. Then the fiancee ghost is followed by the h as the ghost goes off to find the H and have a final, but very loving farewell.
The H and h then declare their love to each other. They promise to tenderly care for each other and William and the extended butlering family for the rest of their days. We get a little epilogue where William is being enterprising, the family butler is delighted his scheming worked and the H and h have a newborn set of twins for a big ED Rosy Glow Kitten Rainbow HEA.
This one was a very sweet ED. She dedicated the book to her husband Frank, whom she lived all the great romances with. The ghost at the end was a big surprise, but the message she carried was a sincerely written and very heartfelt personal note to a lost loved one and I was totally feelin' the love that ED put in to it.
Give this one a go if you run into it. It is a very touching farewell and very nice HPlandia outing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 28, 2021
A farce with a completely out-of-whack supernatural ending. A billionaire English Lord mourning the death of his wife three years earlier is slowly killing himself by engaging in reckless sports. His butler, whose family has been serving the lord’s family for generations, is fed up and gives his boss the idea to look up a 9 year old Australian boy who is the last of the line in the “Black Sheep” Australian branch of the lord’s illustrious family.
For some reason, when he meets the single mom heroine and her son, he pretends he is the butler sent by England to retrieve the heirs to the manor. The heroine just lets him move in with her because that’s absolutely normal. After all, he has a silver Royce Rolls and a chauffeur!
Soon they are getting hot and heavy with the whole neighborhood watching in seething envy. A confrontation occurs when the neighborhood snooty Karen Queen Bee and her son try to slut-shame the heroine. Hero stands up for his woman, shutting up all the poisonous mouths, and finally reveals he is a billionaire and he is whisking heroine and son back to the English Manor because he wants to marry her.
Heroine is smitten but unsure about marriage since her dearly departed husband and mother-in-law made her life hell, partly because they suffered delusions of grandeurs as blue blooded descendants of the lordly English clan. THANK GOD the hero’s wife’s ghost is on hand to comfort and give her blessing to hero, heroine, and the plot moppet son. The ghost even tells them heroine is already pregnant so there will be an heir AND a spare.
I am sure most readers will swoon at the romance of it all, and just in time for Halloween too. They don’t have my shriveled up hard little black raisin heart that scoffed at this ludicrous, cheesy ghost tale.
For some reason, when he meets the single mom heroine and her son, he pretends he is the butler sent by England to retrieve the heirs to the manor. The heroine just lets him move in with her because that’s absolutely normal. After all, he has a silver Royce Rolls and a chauffeur!
Soon they are getting hot and heavy with the whole neighborhood watching in seething envy. A confrontation occurs when the neighborhood snooty Karen Queen Bee and her son try to slut-shame the heroine. Hero stands up for his woman, shutting up all the poisonous mouths, and finally reveals he is a billionaire and he is whisking heroine and son back to the English Manor because he wants to marry her.
Heroine is smitten but unsure about marriage since her dearly departed husband and mother-in-law made her life hell, partly because they suffered delusions of grandeurs as blue blooded descendants of the lordly English clan. THANK GOD the hero’s wife’s ghost is on hand to comfort and give her blessing to hero, heroine, and the plot moppet son. The ghost even tells them heroine is already pregnant so there will be an heir AND a spare.
I am sure most readers will swoon at the romance of it all, and just in time for Halloween too. They don’t have my shriveled up hard little black raisin heart that scoffed at this ludicrous, cheesy ghost tale.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 22, 2018
Nice palate cleansing sorbet after the bad taste left after sick sexual heavy drama of Hearts of Fire series, Passion & the Past, and the bad mommy's of The English Lord's Secret Son.
Boogenhagen says it all, https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
but I'll add a hurray for a nice, hunky bon vivant hero (think Cary Grant or Remington Steele) who knows how to go alpha on the ones who deserve it instead of a misunderstood heroine. Another big star for William the heroine's son who is more than happy to embrace the high life sooner rather than later, and shows great promise of amassing his own billionaire tycoon fortune at an early age. He is quick topimp out promote the romance between the H and his own mother as seeing the benefits of a very cool "Uncle" with a Rolls Royce even if he is just a "butler" far outweighs negatives.
4 stars for a refreshing change from the usual sourpuss HP tycoons and the doormats they wipe their feet on. The heroine was okay, but the male characters from the concerned butler, the caring and charming hero and the irrepressible capitalistic little boy stole the show.
Boogenhagen says it all, https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
but I'll add a hurray for a nice, hunky bon vivant hero (think Cary Grant or Remington Steele) who knows how to go alpha on the ones who deserve it instead of a misunderstood heroine. Another big star for William the heroine's son who is more than happy to embrace the high life sooner rather than later, and shows great promise of amassing his own billionaire tycoon fortune at an early age. He is quick to
4 stars for a refreshing change from the usual sourpuss HP tycoons and the doormats they wipe their feet on. The heroine was okay, but the male characters from the concerned butler, the caring and charming hero and the irrepressible capitalistic little boy stole the show.
March 10, 2019
"Mischief and Marriage" is the story of Ashley and Harry.
A sweet love story filled with deception, romance and a hint of paranormal, this one has
-A hero (still) mourning his (dead) first love- and when his butler informs him of a long lost relative who could potentially be the next Harcourt heir, he decides to fly to Australia to investigate as he's not ready to procreate
-There he meets Ashley and her son William, wife to his late and very distant cousin, and soon becomes their knight in shining Armour, as well as their imposed "butler" as he is instantly taken by them
-He wins over both their hearts, reintroduces Ashley to love while discovering its meaning himself, rescues her from all her problems and becomes a father figure to William
-They then fly back to Harcourt, where a ghost ties it all together, ending in a sweet HEA
Honestly, the cover page is a spoiler to the epilogue- but too adorable. I liked that the heroine did not judge the hero, and without much drama admitted their love for each other, acknowledging the attraction instead of running around the issue.
For all this, and the heartbreaking prologue (because I love Emma Darcy, and this was an ode to her husband) an extra half star.
Safe
3.5/5
--------------
Oh my god. The prologue broke my heart.
Dear Reader,
Four years ago my husband became very ill with a rare condition that affected his whole system. It was a devastating blow, but we determined then to find all the joy we could in the time that was left to us. It was especially hard when my husband lost most of his vision, but he could still live the stories I read to him in his mind.
Through it all he wanted the stories to go on, to give what he could to them. Mischief and Marriage was our last book together and features a ghost. My husband made up the rules for ghostland. One of them was that love knew no boundaries. The only boundaries that existed were those that people imposed themselves.
people imposed themselves.
My husband passed away on 14th March 1995.
I hope that reading Mischief and Marriage brings you as much joy as it brought to Frank and me while we were creating it.
Best wishes,
Emma Darcy
*insert tears*
A sweet love story filled with deception, romance and a hint of paranormal, this one has
-A hero (still) mourning his (dead) first love- and when his butler informs him of a long lost relative who could potentially be the next Harcourt heir, he decides to fly to Australia to investigate as he's not ready to procreate
-There he meets Ashley and her son William, wife to his late and very distant cousin, and soon becomes their knight in shining Armour, as well as their imposed "butler" as he is instantly taken by them
-He wins over both their hearts, reintroduces Ashley to love while discovering its meaning himself, rescues her from all her problems and becomes a father figure to William
-They then fly back to Harcourt, where a ghost ties it all together, ending in a sweet HEA
Honestly, the cover page is a spoiler to the epilogue- but too adorable. I liked that the heroine did not judge the hero, and without much drama admitted their love for each other, acknowledging the attraction instead of running around the issue.
For all this, and the heartbreaking prologue (because I love Emma Darcy, and this was an ode to her husband) an extra half star.
Safe
3.5/5
--------------
Oh my god. The prologue broke my heart.
Dear Reader,
Four years ago my husband became very ill with a rare condition that affected his whole system. It was a devastating blow, but we determined then to find all the joy we could in the time that was left to us. It was especially hard when my husband lost most of his vision, but he could still live the stories I read to him in his mind.
Through it all he wanted the stories to go on, to give what he could to them. Mischief and Marriage was our last book together and features a ghost. My husband made up the rules for ghostland. One of them was that love knew no boundaries. The only boundaries that existed were those that people imposed themselves.
people imposed themselves.
My husband passed away on 14th March 1995.
I hope that reading Mischief and Marriage brings you as much joy as it brought to Frank and me while we were creating it.
Best wishes,
Emma Darcy
*insert tears*
October 14, 2018
A fun, quirky read. Others have done excellent reviews, so I'll just leave it that I enjoyed this.
However, there were a couple of things that bothered me.
However, there were a couple of things that bothered me.
March 5, 2017
Its a Ok sort of read . definitely not ED's best anyways .
I enjoyed reading the first half of the book , and there is a scene where H defends h in a party and her son throws a few punches when his friend badmouths h , I quite liked that . h and H were attracted to each other from almost the beginning of the book and they both wanted marriage , that was all good .
But then h sees a ghost , actually talks to her . guess who ? H's ex-fiance who died 3 years ago . Bummer !? and the ghost says she is happy for the h and H and the baby they are expecting , what more ? she also advises a clinic >.< REALLY !???? And then h informs H about her ghost-talk and H remembers the ghost's fav part of the manor , and that is where H finds our ghost and H is also rewarded with a nice tete a tete with the ghost . That spoiled for me . I can take paranormal infact I enjoy , but not something this ridiculous .
I enjoyed reading the first half of the book , and there is a scene where H defends h in a party and her son throws a few punches when his friend badmouths h , I quite liked that . h and H were attracted to each other from almost the beginning of the book and they both wanted marriage , that was all good .
But then h sees a ghost , actually talks to her . guess who ? H's ex-fiance who died 3 years ago . Bummer !? and the ghost says she is happy for the h and H and the baby they are expecting , what more ? she also advises a clinic >.< REALLY !???? And then h informs H about her ghost-talk and H remembers the ghost's fav part of the manor , and that is where H finds our ghost and H is also rewarded with a nice tete a tete with the ghost . That spoiled for me . I can take paranormal infact I enjoy , but not something this ridiculous .
September 21, 2018
Adorable!
This is SO RIGHT UP MY ALLEY. It is filled with humor and sweetness and adorable characters and HELLO-WAY-OTT-LOVE-SCENE (hhhhhaaaaaaaaa, let me find my favorite quote) and scrappy little kid, delicious hero, and even a super-crazy-bit-o'- paranormal ghostly stuff at the end.
LOLOLOLOLOL.
Love. This. Book. So very quirky!
Okay, let me look for one of the awesome sex scene quotes...hold on...
"...leaving her totally unprepared for such an explosion of exquisite sensation, the sheer billowing glory of it seizing her body, holding it in thrall to the moment...when she was no longer herself but him, too, an entity that belonged to both of them, yet more than either of the two, like an ecstatic star burst that she imagined must have fired the dawn of creation."
Oh. My. God. There is a sexy description you don't see every day in a Harly! LOVE IT!
Grade: A
This is SO RIGHT UP MY ALLEY. It is filled with humor and sweetness and adorable characters and HELLO-WAY-OTT-LOVE-SCENE (hhhhhaaaaaaaaa, let me find my favorite quote) and scrappy little kid, delicious hero, and even a super-crazy-bit-o'- paranormal ghostly stuff at the end.
LOLOLOLOLOL.
Love. This. Book. So very quirky!
Okay, let me look for one of the awesome sex scene quotes...hold on...
"...leaving her totally unprepared for such an explosion of exquisite sensation, the sheer billowing glory of it seizing her body, holding it in thrall to the moment...when she was no longer herself but him, too, an entity that belonged to both of them, yet more than either of the two, like an ecstatic star burst that she imagined must have fired the dawn of creation."
Oh. My. God. There is a sexy description you don't see every day in a Harly! LOVE IT!
Grade: A
December 20, 2018
Well, that was a largely, uncomplicated book. There was insta-love and attraction both sides, and a fear of commitment (for different and rather reasonable reasons) - stock standard for HP / M&B books, really.
However, what really stood out for me was that Emma Darcy truly nailed what it meant to be in love with someone. The absolutely fulfilment, the connection, and the desire to be open, no matter how misrepresented one was to begin with. Definitely read it just to feel the sweetness and purity of what love truly is.
August 29, 2011
Hmm - I can't understand why I didn't like it that much? I think maybe it didn't go all out and was just fringing on this side of safe. Plus the hero was gallant and protective but I didn't get to see much of his funny side (although I'm sure it must have existed)...Oh, well.
March 10, 2021
4 Stars ~ The author known as Emma Darcy is actually a pseudonym created by the married writing team of Wendy and Frank Brennan. In the Dear Reader letter at the beginning of this book, Wendy shares that Mischief and Marriage was the last book they wrote together before his death. This is a light hearted romance, indeed, filled with mischief of a delightful variety. The ghost cameo was Frank's message that "love knew no boundaries. The only boundaries that existed were those that people imposed themselves."
Our hero, Harry, is a wealthy Englishman with a long aristocratic lineage. Since the death of his fiancée three years before, he'd sought diversions that taxed him physically and became more and more dangerous. His Butler George, and longest family friend, is concerned and reminds Harry that it would be irresponsible for him to die without an heir. What would become of the estate and more importantly, what would become of George's family who had been butlers to Harry's family for over four hundred years. He dares Harry to check into the black sheep branch of the family, in particular, a young fatherless lad named William and William's most beautiful mother, Ashley.
When her husband and mother-in-law died in an auto accident seven years before, Ashley focused on making a life for her and her young son. The marriage had been a controlling one and Ashley vowed never to be taken over again. So when Harry suddenly appears in her life, she's thrown by how wonderful it feels when "he" looks after her. She has no idea that Harry is actually the far-away-many-generation-removed relative to her son. He presents himself as the "butler" to that distant cousin and he's been sent on a mission to get to know them, as presently young William is the sole living heir to the family fortune.
Hiding behind the role of butler, Harry discovers he actually enjoys taking care of Ashley and nine-year-old William. The boy is a chip off the old family block; smart, crafty and quick to see opportunity to advance his goals. And the mother, well she awakens feelings he thought he'd never feel again. Their attraction is instantaneous and they seem to be able to read each other with just a look. So he decides to sweep her off her feet and make her see that he's the man she's been waiting for.
This is a light hearted romance that brings smiles and chuckles. While the premise is a tad over the top, it worked for me. The author brought her characters to life and had me eager to read on to see what was going to happen next. Their HEA was heartwarming and the woo woo factor at the end, was fun to read.
Our hero, Harry, is a wealthy Englishman with a long aristocratic lineage. Since the death of his fiancée three years before, he'd sought diversions that taxed him physically and became more and more dangerous. His Butler George, and longest family friend, is concerned and reminds Harry that it would be irresponsible for him to die without an heir. What would become of the estate and more importantly, what would become of George's family who had been butlers to Harry's family for over four hundred years. He dares Harry to check into the black sheep branch of the family, in particular, a young fatherless lad named William and William's most beautiful mother, Ashley.
When her husband and mother-in-law died in an auto accident seven years before, Ashley focused on making a life for her and her young son. The marriage had been a controlling one and Ashley vowed never to be taken over again. So when Harry suddenly appears in her life, she's thrown by how wonderful it feels when "he" looks after her. She has no idea that Harry is actually the far-away-many-generation-removed relative to her son. He presents himself as the "butler" to that distant cousin and he's been sent on a mission to get to know them, as presently young William is the sole living heir to the family fortune.
Hiding behind the role of butler, Harry discovers he actually enjoys taking care of Ashley and nine-year-old William. The boy is a chip off the old family block; smart, crafty and quick to see opportunity to advance his goals. And the mother, well she awakens feelings he thought he'd never feel again. Their attraction is instantaneous and they seem to be able to read each other with just a look. So he decides to sweep her off her feet and make her see that he's the man she's been waiting for.
This is a light hearted romance that brings smiles and chuckles. While the premise is a tad over the top, it worked for me. The author brought her characters to life and had me eager to read on to see what was going to happen next. Their HEA was heartwarming and the woo woo factor at the end, was fun to read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 7, 2015
I started a Emma Darcy's Novels marathon last week and ended with five of her books today, there are more in library but well, let's see if I can complete with ARC'S by this month.
Okay so I will start with the names of the five books I read,
1) Last Stop Marriage
2) Marriage and Mischief
3) The Father of her child
4) Their wedding day
5) Craving Jamie,
I try to be as patient as I can be with the books I read. This was written by a renowned author, Emma Darcy. I expected a lot from this novel. As it was a standalone, I read it before reading the other four books. I read it whenever I got the time but it chagrined me. I hoped too much, I guess. The writing style was brilliant, it was the story that made me a bit less focused on the novel. I wanted to FINISH it, not read it, so it became a chore. The story did get better with pages though. At the end, I was engrossed but I would have liked it much more if the story was not so weak in the beginning.
3.5 stars
Okay so I will start with the names of the five books I read,
1) Last Stop Marriage
2) Marriage and Mischief
3) The Father of her child
4) Their wedding day
5) Craving Jamie,
I try to be as patient as I can be with the books I read. This was written by a renowned author, Emma Darcy. I expected a lot from this novel. As it was a standalone, I read it before reading the other four books. I read it whenever I got the time but it chagrined me. I hoped too much, I guess. The writing style was brilliant, it was the story that made me a bit less focused on the novel. I wanted to FINISH it, not read it, so it became a chore. The story did get better with pages though. At the end, I was engrossed but I would have liked it much more if the story was not so weak in the beginning.
3.5 stars
February 26, 2014
A disappointing book in my opinion, for this writer. It felt quite outdated, too short, rushed and artificial, even though there were a few good things in there too.
I liked the heat and attraction between the two main characters, the child's prank were also rather funny.
However I did not care much for the overall plot: a billionaire lord playing his own butler for a game in which he did not even really believe in at first - convincing his heir to go to England with him - just because he got the hots for the heir's mother. So he did lie to her repeatedly and seduced her in a matter of days. The way the story was solved, after the neighbors' noisy interference, felt way less than satisfying to me. It felt like a child's answer to a dare or an insult, not the responsible answer of two adults and their dialogues often felt to me like dismissal of any difficulties.
I liked the heat and attraction between the two main characters, the child's prank were also rather funny.
However I did not care much for the overall plot: a billionaire lord playing his own butler for a game in which he did not even really believe in at first - convincing his heir to go to England with him - just because he got the hots for the heir's mother. So he did lie to her repeatedly and seduced her in a matter of days. The way the story was solved, after the neighbors' noisy interference, felt way less than satisfying to me. It felt like a child's answer to a dare or an insult, not the responsible answer of two adults and their dialogues often felt to me like dismissal of any difficulties.
June 24, 2020
A PG Wodehouse style romance flick. The hero is a rich lordly aristocrat from England. His butler reminds him that its time to give up his philandering ways and get married. Its a question of continuing the family legacy you see. Not just the hero'es , the bulter's too !! After all his family's continuing employment depends on the hero and his heirs !!
Just as a threat to spur his employer into action, the butler reveals that there is an Australian branch of the family that will inherit if the hero doesn't do anything about the whole business. And the sole heir in the Australian branch is a 9 year old fellow !!!
Quite contrary to expectations, the hero happily decides to visit Australia and get the 'heir' back home. Just to escape getting married !!!!
However, when he reaches Australia, he realizes that the young fellow is a package deal with his immensely lovable, gorgeous single mother. A working woman who runs her own employment agency.
A comedy of errors ensues. The hero impersonates his butler and joins the heroine's household. Sparkling chemistry develops between the butler and the employer. She doesn't care a damn that he is below her in status. They have a fun affair. She even parades her butler in front of her peer society ladies. They are all left gaping open mouthed at such a fabulous find ;)))))))))
He proposes marriage with most honorable intentions but tells her his life is back in England. So she needs to make a tough call. One of the society parties turns out to be the game changer. The truth of the hero being a billionaire aristocrat masquerading as a butler comes out.
Its a rom-com you see. Nothing dramatic ensues. He still professes undying love, but insists on going back. She decides to take the plunge and go to England to test the waters.
The 9 year old fellow and his mischievous escapades in the English manor are a rip roaring laughter riot. Especially when he teams up with the real butler to hunt for ghosts in the household.
A light frothy romance. Tough genre to pull off. Its easier to write about angst and villainy. But to keep things light and interesting is a challenge. The author does a fantastic job. Lovely read.
Just as a threat to spur his employer into action, the butler reveals that there is an Australian branch of the family that will inherit if the hero doesn't do anything about the whole business. And the sole heir in the Australian branch is a 9 year old fellow !!!
Quite contrary to expectations, the hero happily decides to visit Australia and get the 'heir' back home. Just to escape getting married !!!!
However, when he reaches Australia, he realizes that the young fellow is a package deal with his immensely lovable, gorgeous single mother. A working woman who runs her own employment agency.
A comedy of errors ensues. The hero impersonates his butler and joins the heroine's household. Sparkling chemistry develops between the butler and the employer. She doesn't care a damn that he is below her in status. They have a fun affair. She even parades her butler in front of her peer society ladies. They are all left gaping open mouthed at such a fabulous find ;)))))))))
He proposes marriage with most honorable intentions but tells her his life is back in England. So she needs to make a tough call. One of the society parties turns out to be the game changer. The truth of the hero being a billionaire aristocrat masquerading as a butler comes out.
Its a rom-com you see. Nothing dramatic ensues. He still professes undying love, but insists on going back. She decides to take the plunge and go to England to test the waters.
The 9 year old fellow and his mischievous escapades in the English manor are a rip roaring laughter riot. Especially when he teams up with the real butler to hunt for ghosts in the household.
A light frothy romance. Tough genre to pull off. Its easier to write about angst and villainy. But to keep things light and interesting is a challenge. The author does a fantastic job. Lovely read.
December 28, 2021
Mischief and Marriage
The story read like a satire of comedy right out of all the great books if time. The main character goes to Australia from England in search of his family lineage. He finds his cousin's widow and son. He possesses as the family butler. This story was dry in places due to the UK humor. And their courtship was predictable.
The story read like a satire of comedy right out of all the great books if time. The main character goes to Australia from England in search of his family lineage. He finds his cousin's widow and son. He possesses as the family butler. This story was dry in places due to the UK humor. And their courtship was predictable.
October 16, 2016
Ok.
The book was sweet, but not exciting. Her son was something else though, he was the most entertaining character in this story. A bit too poetic for me, and I am definitely not into the paranormal. I will not read again.
The book was sweet, but not exciting. Her son was something else though, he was the most entertaining character in this story. A bit too poetic for me, and I am definitely not into the paranormal. I will not read again.
June 7, 2012
Even the paranormal factor... UGH. 
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