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Torquay/Bessacarr #4
The Abandoned Bride
Book by Layton, Edith
222 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 7, 1985
14 people are currently reading
196 people want to read
About the author
Edith Layton
87 books103 followersEdith Layton wrote her first novel when she was ten. She bought a marbleized notebook and set out to write a story that would fit between its covers. Now, an award-winning author with more than thirty novels and numerous novellas to her credit, her criteria have changed. The story has to fit the reader as well as between the covers.
Graduating from Hunter College in New York City with a degree in creative writing and theater, Edith worked for various media, including a radio station and a major motion picture company. She married and went to suburbia, where she was fruitful and multiplied to the tune of three children. Her eldest, Michael, is a social worker and artist in NYC. Adam is a writer and performer on NPR's Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me. Daughter Susie is a professional writer, comedian and performer who works in television.
Publishers Weekly called Edith Layton "one of romance's most gifted writers." Layton has enthralled readers and critics with books that capture the spirit of historically distant places and peoples. "What I've found," she says, "is that life was very different in every era, but that love and love of life is always the same."
Layton won an RT Book Reviews Career Achievement award for the Historical genre in 2003 and a Reviewers' Choice award for her book The Conquest in 2001. Amazon.com's top reviewer called Layton's Alas, My Love (April 2005, Avon Books), "a wonderful historical." And her recent release, Bride Enchanted, is a Romantic Times 2007 Reviewers' Choice Award Nominee.
Edith Layton lived on Long Island where she devoted time as a volunteer for the North Shore Animal League , the world's largest no-kill pet rescue and adoption organization. Her dog Daisy --adopted herself from a shelter-- is just one member of Layton's household menagerie.
Edith Layton passed away on June 1, 2009 from ovarian cancer.
Graduating from Hunter College in New York City with a degree in creative writing and theater, Edith worked for various media, including a radio station and a major motion picture company. She married and went to suburbia, where she was fruitful and multiplied to the tune of three children. Her eldest, Michael, is a social worker and artist in NYC. Adam is a writer and performer on NPR's Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me. Daughter Susie is a professional writer, comedian and performer who works in television.
Publishers Weekly called Edith Layton "one of romance's most gifted writers." Layton has enthralled readers and critics with books that capture the spirit of historically distant places and peoples. "What I've found," she says, "is that life was very different in every era, but that love and love of life is always the same."
Layton won an RT Book Reviews Career Achievement award for the Historical genre in 2003 and a Reviewers' Choice award for her book The Conquest in 2001. Amazon.com's top reviewer called Layton's Alas, My Love (April 2005, Avon Books), "a wonderful historical." And her recent release, Bride Enchanted, is a Romantic Times 2007 Reviewers' Choice Award Nominee.
Edith Layton lived on Long Island where she devoted time as a volunteer for the North Shore Animal League , the world's largest no-kill pet rescue and adoption organization. Her dog Daisy --adopted herself from a shelter-- is just one member of Layton's household menagerie.
Edith Layton passed away on June 1, 2009 from ovarian cancer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
November 3, 2016
Not exactly sure how to rate. It kept me engaged, but I think I'm going to have to re-read the part between when H asks h to be his mistress and when he realizes he wants to marry her. I think I missed something... Then again, this is a category with a limited page count. Abrupt turnabouts are almost expected.
This is essentially HPLandia in the Regency era. The hero comes up with a convoluted plot to use the h to bring his wayward nephew into line. He believes she's a shameless, heartbreaking hussy. Of course, she's an innocent victim
I love the poor innocent heroine treated like a grasping whore plot, sicko that I am. It's sort of a classic vengeance trope, although the hero's motives are based on bringing his nephew back to England rather than avenging himself upon the heroine. He even plans on reimbursing the heroine for her time. Still, he treats the heroine badly, especially at first. The hero is infuriatingly condescending and autocratic, which seems to fit the times and his station.
Warning: There is a scene where he slaps her. That's always terrible, but will have to say that it was - at least - not simply swept under the rug and never mentioned again. It remains a barrier between them. Sadly, in the old school HP's we'd have a hero slap the heroine sometimes more than once and it would never be mentioned again and the heroine would never seem to fear further violence from the hero.
I would have liked to have more of a grovel for his behavior overall and not such immediate acceptance from the heroine at the end. I'm starting to sound like a broken record on that point.
This is essentially HPLandia in the Regency era. The hero comes up with a convoluted plot to use the h to bring his wayward nephew into line. He believes she's a shameless, heartbreaking hussy. Of course, she's an innocent victim
I love the poor innocent heroine treated like a grasping whore plot, sicko that I am. It's sort of a classic vengeance trope, although the hero's motives are based on bringing his nephew back to England rather than avenging himself upon the heroine. He even plans on reimbursing the heroine for her time. Still, he treats the heroine badly, especially at first. The hero is infuriatingly condescending and autocratic, which seems to fit the times and his station.
Warning: There is a scene where he slaps her. That's always terrible, but will have to say that it was - at least - not simply swept under the rug and never mentioned again. It remains a barrier between them. Sadly, in the old school HP's we'd have a hero slap the heroine sometimes more than once and it would never be mentioned again and the heroine would never seem to fear further violence from the hero.
I would have liked to have more of a grovel for his behavior overall and not such immediate acceptance from the heroine at the end. I'm starting to sound like a broken record on that point.
June 26, 2016
Once upon a time I really enjoyed Edith Layton's books. But, alas, they’ve not withstand the test of time for me. This is the second story I re-read after The Duke's Wager and I liked it even less. I had to shake my head-what I was thinking at that time? The ‘hero’ had insulted, deceived, threaten, abducted and the worst- struck the heroine -all in the first 25% of the story. And I'm not talking about a playful slap but a hit hard enough to leave heroine bruised and in a need of rice powder to cover it. Sorry, regardless of provocation, I'm not convinced that a man who will strike a woman once won't do so again. No matter how lovely their slow-building romance was portrayed, I just couldn't warm up to the 'hero'.
October 3, 2018
Pathetic whiny scumbag!
And if he had behaved in a sarcastic, cold, and brutal manner toward Julia, then she at least had the signal honor of being the first female he had ever treated so.
He treats her in the worst possible way - hounding her, insulting her, veritably kidnapping her, blackmailing her, threatening her with social ruin and worse, slapping her for no good reason and then wallows in self-righteous self pity - how usually he's such a pleasant, witty, and amiable fellow!
Well, you can take that signal honor and shove it you know where!
I liked some parts of the book - the prologue and the first few chapters are riveting and heartbreakingly angsty as we learn of the h's ruin and loneliness.
But Julia feared rejection as she feared nothing else in the world, and sensing rejection, she had to be the one to cut the ties first.
But then he enters and the book takes a downturn. I hated the guy from the word go and he never recovered in my estimation. And this is me saying so - the numero uno lover of asshat cruel Hs! He's not the usual cruel H. He makes excuses and would have us believe that he's only acting. Well, then he's just a sad beta trying on the furs of the big bad wolf!
But let's not forget the slap. For what? Did he think she was calling out on his masculinity? Well, that sure establishes your status.
Edith Layton's expectedly fine writing is charming but then large portions are also ponderous and boring. I liked the h but wanted to slap her (myself!) when she started enjoying her deceiver, kidnapper, seducer, and blackmailer's company and weak jokes, and the author would have us believe that they were connecting.
Some secondary characters evoke curiosity and I wished a bigger role for them but the ratfink just wouldn't budge from the narrative.
And if he had behaved in a sarcastic, cold, and brutal manner toward Julia, then she at least had the signal honor of being the first female he had ever treated so.
He treats her in the worst possible way - hounding her, insulting her, veritably kidnapping her, blackmailing her, threatening her with social ruin and worse, slapping her for no good reason and then wallows in self-righteous self pity - how usually he's such a pleasant, witty, and amiable fellow!
Well, you can take that signal honor and shove it you know where!
I liked some parts of the book - the prologue and the first few chapters are riveting and heartbreakingly angsty as we learn of the h's ruin and loneliness.
But Julia feared rejection as she feared nothing else in the world, and sensing rejection, she had to be the one to cut the ties first.
But then he enters and the book takes a downturn. I hated the guy from the word go and he never recovered in my estimation. And this is me saying so - the numero uno lover of asshat cruel Hs! He's not the usual cruel H. He makes excuses and would have us believe that he's only acting. Well, then he's just a sad beta trying on the furs of the big bad wolf!
But let's not forget the slap. For what? Did he think she was calling out on his masculinity? Well, that sure establishes your status.
Edith Layton's expectedly fine writing is charming but then large portions are also ponderous and boring. I liked the h but wanted to slap her (myself!) when she started enjoying her deceiver, kidnapper, seducer, and blackmailer's company and weak jokes, and the author would have us believe that they were connecting.
Some secondary characters evoke curiosity and I wished a bigger role for them but the ratfink just wouldn't budge from the narrative.
July 1, 2017
Julia and Nick.
Nick is at his wits end trying to get his nephew Robin to come back to England to see his dying father. He has determines that if he brings Julia to him, the girl who supposedly jilted Robin, then he will be more amenable. Nick believes Julia to be the worst kind of heartless gold digger, and treats her so. The story is a bit slow to get into. The author's language gets a bit verbose, and the MCs don't meet til about 20% in. I hadn't read this author before and was worried that Nick would be a heel til the last 10%. But this wasn't the case. He is actually a nice guy normally, but if he relinquishes his prejudice against Julia, it means that his beloved nephew is an out and out liar.
As they move through Europe searching for Robin, they get to know each other better and Nick knows even before finding his nephew, that Julia isn't the tramp he has treated her as. How can she ever forgive him?
The mystery of Robin was well done. I found it really hard to put the book down for the second half. The ending was funny and romantic and perfect! If it hadn't been so slow to start, I would have given it 5 stars.
As for the warning. He does hit her at one point, but it freaks him out as much as it does her and is a turning point in their relationship. He's not at all like one of those 70's harlequin heroes, imho.
i still like to revisit this one so bumped it up to 5 stars ; )
Nick is at his wits end trying to get his nephew Robin to come back to England to see his dying father. He has determines that if he brings Julia to him, the girl who supposedly jilted Robin, then he will be more amenable. Nick believes Julia to be the worst kind of heartless gold digger, and treats her so. The story is a bit slow to get into. The author's language gets a bit verbose, and the MCs don't meet til about 20% in. I hadn't read this author before and was worried that Nick would be a heel til the last 10%. But this wasn't the case. He is actually a nice guy normally, but if he relinquishes his prejudice against Julia, it means that his beloved nephew is an out and out liar.
As they move through Europe searching for Robin, they get to know each other better and Nick knows even before finding his nephew, that Julia isn't the tramp he has treated her as. How can she ever forgive him?
The mystery of Robin was well done. I found it really hard to put the book down for the second half. The ending was funny and romantic and perfect! If it hadn't been so slow to start, I would have given it 5 stars.
As for the warning. He does hit her at one point, but it freaks him out as much as it does her and is a turning point in their relationship. He's not at all like one of those 70's harlequin heroes, imho.
i still like to revisit this one so bumped it up to 5 stars ; )
July 13, 2022
Good grief -- this guy puts the h through the mill! He's as judgemental and irrational as a Jessica Steele hero.
January 23, 2018
I abandon this charming little soiree right here and now at 63%. The Regency aspect wasn't the deciding factor of the abandonment, but so many inconsistencies and unlikable traits in both heroine and hero, that I honestly hope they take a grand carriage ride, then a final wallop at the bottom of a ravine.
A flick-of-switch personalities cannot make me unseen the He-Man-Woman-Haters-Club that reverberates from this hero's soul. For someone so confident in his seeker of truth principles, he shoor does fly off the handle at every rumor, half-truth and paranoid delusion. It wasn't a BR hero's general domineering ways; it was deeper, more cynical, hate-inspired; almost disparaging women on a personal level, that surpassed conflicted revenge plots and so on. Hate the intent and deed, not Womankind, y'know? Sometimes this trope works if executed nicely, in others - it's this jarheaded awkwardness that cannot set a pillar to brace against patriarchy and all that shit, that I usually find pretty damn funnies.
Nor was I stomaching his idiosyncrasy any better with the heroine's Little Bo Peep persona that just encouraged further mistreatment.
Go ahead, play that victim card...all of your life.
Usually, I can take the revenge theme in stride; I actually prefer the passion laden stories, because it's an indication that there's conflict involved, instead of some sort of passive Sunday meeting, fans' fluttering the flies from your eyeballs, sort of listlessness. This hero maintained a frozen c*ck and inverted balls magnitude of defamatory, and it raised the hackles of my dormant feminism; like some kinda diseased male animal running the wilds, ran into, then realizing that the mating call was gonna be fatal. His inner monologue and actions were like Ron Jeremy, angrily masturbating/muttering obscenities in that porn palace peepshow machine in Boondock Saints.
The hero was also abusive towards the heroine, and I wasn't at all alarmed, I expected it, however, when the apologies were made, he acted in his own defense by suggesting it was beneath him; unbecoming of his person; that he was a true gentleman who loved women and was raised by them, and lastly, he despised such actions. Translation: I hate women, but don't keep reminding me of that, with your provocation in which I smack you. Seriously, though; be unapologetic about the violent nature, and at least honest.
Ultimately, he was sorry for him, not her. OK, these are the type of anti-BR heroes that you're better off just murdering. With every inner-monologue, and head-hopped thought he mustered, he disgraced her very memory with: Slut, whore, gold-digger, trollop, worthless..etc..etc..etc. Then, he'd publicly condemn her in-front of the staff, whilst the heroine lowered her head and silently wept. Please fight back, please fight back... I'm sick to death of heroine's who won't even claw someone's eyes, in defense of their own self. It doesn't even matter that the H isn't non-handsy; that's always a possibility, but when a heroine shrivels up and refuses to turn on her survival skills, I get very frustrated.
This is undisguised Regency Patriarchy, and I'm not finishing this outhouse wreckage. When a hero, through machinations of his I Will Correct My Behavior With A Gentleman's Touch, beginning to woo the heroine out of guilt that he consciously acted out his true self, instead of the heroine actually changing his mind in some romantical way, how...flattering is that shit?
Sister, call me when you've done a few miles of this shit charade, and wanna plot his demise.
A flick-of-switch personalities cannot make me unseen the He-Man-Woman-Haters-Club that reverberates from this hero's soul. For someone so confident in his seeker of truth principles, he shoor does fly off the handle at every rumor, half-truth and paranoid delusion. It wasn't a BR hero's general domineering ways; it was deeper, more cynical, hate-inspired; almost disparaging women on a personal level, that surpassed conflicted revenge plots and so on. Hate the intent and deed, not Womankind, y'know? Sometimes this trope works if executed nicely, in others - it's this jarheaded awkwardness that cannot set a pillar to brace against patriarchy and all that shit, that I usually find pretty damn funnies.
Nor was I stomaching his idiosyncrasy any better with the heroine's Little Bo Peep persona that just encouraged further mistreatment.
Go ahead, play that victim card...all of your life.
Usually, I can take the revenge theme in stride; I actually prefer the passion laden stories, because it's an indication that there's conflict involved, instead of some sort of passive Sunday meeting, fans' fluttering the flies from your eyeballs, sort of listlessness. This hero maintained a frozen c*ck and inverted balls magnitude of defamatory, and it raised the hackles of my dormant feminism; like some kinda diseased male animal running the wilds, ran into, then realizing that the mating call was gonna be fatal. His inner monologue and actions were like Ron Jeremy, angrily masturbating/muttering obscenities in that porn palace peepshow machine in Boondock Saints.
The hero was also abusive towards the heroine, and I wasn't at all alarmed, I expected it, however, when the apologies were made, he acted in his own defense by suggesting it was beneath him; unbecoming of his person; that he was a true gentleman who loved women and was raised by them, and lastly, he despised such actions. Translation: I hate women, but don't keep reminding me of that, with your provocation in which I smack you. Seriously, though; be unapologetic about the violent nature, and at least honest.
Ultimately, he was sorry for him, not her. OK, these are the type of anti-BR heroes that you're better off just murdering. With every inner-monologue, and head-hopped thought he mustered, he disgraced her very memory with: Slut, whore, gold-digger, trollop, worthless..etc..etc..etc. Then, he'd publicly condemn her in-front of the staff, whilst the heroine lowered her head and silently wept. Please fight back, please fight back... I'm sick to death of heroine's who won't even claw someone's eyes, in defense of their own self. It doesn't even matter that the H isn't non-handsy; that's always a possibility, but when a heroine shrivels up and refuses to turn on her survival skills, I get very frustrated.
This is undisguised Regency Patriarchy, and I'm not finishing this outhouse wreckage. When a hero, through machinations of his I Will Correct My Behavior With A Gentleman's Touch, beginning to woo the heroine out of guilt that he consciously acted out his true self, instead of the heroine actually changing his mind in some romantical way, how...flattering is that shit?
Sister, call me when you've done a few miles of this shit charade, and wanna plot his demise.
October 8, 2020
3.5 stars
July 9, 2016
Interesting story but the hero was a complete jerk for way too far into the book. It's one thing to make him overbearing, unreasonable and unlikeable at least initially but once violence came into it nothing he did after could possibly redeem him. He did improve, become engaging etc.
But he hit her, not even in one of those situations where you could maybe in some alternate universe see a man having had sufficient provocation (such as his wife in his bed with his teenage brother on their anniversary). So this 'Man" immediately does not qualify as any sort of romantic hero. No man worth his salt, who has any respect for women, would hit one.
Because of this, later, when he talks about his love for his mother and sisters You Don't Believe Him. When he does nice things He's Still a Low Worm. Basically you're so incredulous at the heroine falling for this derisive, abusive, Consistently Snide kidnapper, who persistently looks down on her, that you don't enjoy this supposed romance.
Being a "bodice ripper" era book is no excuse for any level of physical violence.
But he hit her, not even in one of those situations where you could maybe in some alternate universe see a man having had sufficient provocation (such as his wife in his bed with his teenage brother on their anniversary). So this 'Man" immediately does not qualify as any sort of romantic hero. No man worth his salt, who has any respect for women, would hit one.
Because of this, later, when he talks about his love for his mother and sisters You Don't Believe Him. When he does nice things He's Still a Low Worm. Basically you're so incredulous at the heroine falling for this derisive, abusive, Consistently Snide kidnapper, who persistently looks down on her, that you don't enjoy this supposed romance.
Being a "bodice ripper" era book is no excuse for any level of physical violence.
February 12, 2019
They kiss twice and that's it. I finished it, but I don't know why. The only exciting part is where he slaps her and it's only the once, despite her annoyingly pure attitude. Yawn...
January 15, 2011
I have really enjoyed some of Layton's books that I have enjoyed in the past so I'm always looking forward to find more. This one didn't quite match my expectations though.
The opening scene is Julia's elopement and the author does make it sound like there is a big mystery surrounding the groom's actions but in the end they were not that mysterious. The action then jumps to a few years afterwards. Julia's reputation suffered, she had to go away and find employment so that her sisters wouldn't suffer from her bad behaviour and she is now working as a governess but thinking of leaving her post.
That's when Nicholas Daventry makes his appearance. He is the uncle of Julia's potential groom in her botched elopement and he seems to believe that Julia was the one who left his nephew and treated him badly when the opposite was true. He is looking for his nephew and came up with a plan to take Julia with him to make the young man happy. We can immediately see that the young man must be an immature idiot who concocted a story to keep his uncle at bay. That he did it by harming Julia once doesn't seem to matter much.
I really didn't like Nicholas Daventry. He is arrogant and domineering; he forces Julia to go with him through a mad and a bit too convoluted scheme and eventually becomes violent when provoked. Even without that I just couldn't believe that taking Julia would be a guarantee that he would find his nephew so I thought it all a bit exaggerated. Since he was a disagreeable character I also couldn't understand how Julia kept giving him the benefit of the doubt or why she kept feeling attracted to him.
They do spend quite some time together till they find Daventry's idiot nephew but I never could overcome my initial dislike of the hero enough to be happy for them. I did like Julia but in my opinion she was too good for that hero. Daventry's stepfather sounded like an intriguing character and I wonder if he has his own book...
Grade: 2.5/5
The opening scene is Julia's elopement and the author does make it sound like there is a big mystery surrounding the groom's actions but in the end they were not that mysterious. The action then jumps to a few years afterwards. Julia's reputation suffered, she had to go away and find employment so that her sisters wouldn't suffer from her bad behaviour and she is now working as a governess but thinking of leaving her post.
That's when Nicholas Daventry makes his appearance. He is the uncle of Julia's potential groom in her botched elopement and he seems to believe that Julia was the one who left his nephew and treated him badly when the opposite was true. He is looking for his nephew and came up with a plan to take Julia with him to make the young man happy. We can immediately see that the young man must be an immature idiot who concocted a story to keep his uncle at bay. That he did it by harming Julia once doesn't seem to matter much.
I really didn't like Nicholas Daventry. He is arrogant and domineering; he forces Julia to go with him through a mad and a bit too convoluted scheme and eventually becomes violent when provoked. Even without that I just couldn't believe that taking Julia would be a guarantee that he would find his nephew so I thought it all a bit exaggerated. Since he was a disagreeable character I also couldn't understand how Julia kept giving him the benefit of the doubt or why she kept feeling attracted to him.
They do spend quite some time together till they find Daventry's idiot nephew but I never could overcome my initial dislike of the hero enough to be happy for them. I did like Julia but in my opinion she was too good for that hero. Daventry's stepfather sounded like an intriguing character and I wonder if he has his own book...
Grade: 2.5/5
June 14, 2022
Another uncomfortable book, although the discomfort did not last as long as in The Disdainful Marquis. To see a young lady so badly used by two men from the same family was a bit much, although the abuse was not sexual in nature. I did enjoy the acquisition of Celeste and Lady Preston, both down on their luck in war-torn France after the battle of Waterloo. The Pollyanna approach always wins me over.
January 22, 2010
Finally a Regency that had a little adventure to it and where the two leads were not instantly in love with each other! I thought this was really good. A young girl had been abandoned on the night of her wedding by the young gentleman with no explanation, leaving her innocence intact but her reputation in tatters. So as not to bring her family "down" with her, she earns her way serving as a governess or companion to various families over the next three years. When she heads to London to seek another position, she accepts a position that turns out to be totally different than what she thought and ends up practically kidnapped by her former fiance's Uncle and in France.
March 3, 2016
Disappointing
He hits her. I don't really need another seventeen word for this review. Either that's a deal breaker for you or its not.
He hits her. I don't really need another seventeen word for this review. Either that's a deal breaker for you or its not.
April 4, 2022
This novella offers a unique plot; I've never read one like it. Julia, at seventeen, leaves home with her parent's permission to marry. The young nobleman calls for a vicar and has a special license. However, he soon becomes drunk and sends her home with one of his friends. As a result, Julia is ruined socially (although not physically), and she leaves her beloved home to become a companion and governess. Three years later, the young nobleman's uncle, Nick, manipulates Julia into going with him to the Continent to find Robin, the young nobleman. His father is dying, and Robin needs to take over the reins of his family and estates.
Everyone talks about the slap that Nick gives Julia. It was unfortunate; it took a long time to look with favor at Nick. He is only four years older than Robin, but he is much more mature and level-headed. Over the years, Robin sent letters to Nick, explaining that Julia was a light skirt and she had dropped him and then taken up with Robin again later. Nick's opinion of Julia was terrible, but he needed her to get his nephew back to England, where he belonged.
The story revolves around the way Julia proves her innocence. However, I was disappointed in Nick. He took up with Robin as if there were no problems. Their family had ruined Julia's life. They owed Julia so much for her suffering. Even though the slap was a device used by the author to heighten tension, I thought it fell flat. This is not one of Edith Layton's best. Overall score = G+.
Everyone talks about the slap that Nick gives Julia. It was unfortunate; it took a long time to look with favor at Nick. He is only four years older than Robin, but he is much more mature and level-headed. Over the years, Robin sent letters to Nick, explaining that Julia was a light skirt and she had dropped him and then taken up with Robin again later. Nick's opinion of Julia was terrible, but he needed her to get his nephew back to England, where he belonged.
The story revolves around the way Julia proves her innocence. However, I was disappointed in Nick. He took up with Robin as if there were no problems. Their family had ruined Julia's life. They owed Julia so much for her suffering. Even though the slap was a device used by the author to heighten tension, I thought it fell flat. This is not one of Edith Layton's best. Overall score = G+.
December 1, 2018
I was hoping this would be on of these stories where the H pursues the h to be his mistress despite his disliking her, like in a modern HP, but it wasn’t. In the middle of the book, when they have gotten to know each other, he ask her to be his mistress. Mostly because he doesn't do love since he had a bad experience with a woman when he was 19 ( this felt modern HPish)
But he immediately retracts this proposition.
The H wasn’t as mean as I thought he would be. It was only in the first 1/3 when he blackmails the h to come with him, when he believed her to have been stringing his nephew along for three years, that he talk to her with disdain. Some of it the h takes stoically other times she answers back.
They slowly get to know and care for one another and by the last third of the book they are friends and the h is in love.
Then the book gets boring. The H goes of to find the nephew and eventually the characters congregate and the nephew confirms that the h is innocent but the H has already figure this out for himself.
I like my H to have to find out and then grovel to the h so this was a disappointment. But then again there was no real drama at all in this story after the H stopped talking nastily to the h.
I missed some heat and chemistry between the MC’s. There was only some kissing but those were basically described as “he kissed her, she kissed him back”
Maybe this book would have benefited by being Bodicrippe-fied?
But he immediately retracts this proposition.
The H wasn’t as mean as I thought he would be. It was only in the first 1/3 when he blackmails the h to come with him, when he believed her to have been stringing his nephew along for three years, that he talk to her with disdain. Some of it the h takes stoically other times she answers back.
They slowly get to know and care for one another and by the last third of the book they are friends and the h is in love.
Then the book gets boring. The H goes of to find the nephew and eventually the characters congregate and the nephew confirms that the h is innocent but the H has already figure this out for himself.
I like my H to have to find out and then grovel to the h so this was a disappointment. But then again there was no real drama at all in this story after the H stopped talking nastily to the h.
I missed some heat and chemistry between the MC’s. There was only some kissing but those were basically described as “he kissed her, she kissed him back”
Maybe this book would have benefited by being Bodicrippe-fied?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 10, 2024
This one was pretty satisfying.
CW:
But overall, I really enjoyed this book. Misunderstandings galore, FMC is poorly treated by MMC and his family, without being a complete victim - just, a lot of the tropes and problems with consent and realistic relationships between nobility/gentility and lower class people were addressed imo, and the FMC stood by her principles firmly and consistently without body betrayal or nonsense while also developing real feelings (not just insta lust) for the MMC. Just, their relationship developed nicely imo.
Interesting exploration of the culture of France immediately following Napoleon's second defeat (I think it was his 2nd?).
CW:
But overall, I really enjoyed this book. Misunderstandings galore, FMC is poorly treated by MMC and his family, without being a complete victim - just, a lot of the tropes and problems with consent and realistic relationships between nobility/gentility and lower class people were addressed imo, and the FMC stood by her principles firmly and consistently without body betrayal or nonsense while also developing real feelings (not just insta lust) for the MMC. Just, their relationship developed nicely imo.
Interesting exploration of the culture of France immediately following Napoleon's second defeat (I think it was his 2nd?).
April 5, 2025
5 for the writing alone. Although I loved the story. The way the author wove incidents around that allured you into a state of surprise was very skilled. To read a story like this and quibble about whether that slap was worthy of you reading on, one does not appreciate the scope of the character.
Some of these authors have such a skill of writing that they can take common, every day occurrences and lavish them with descriptions that you yourself would want to ride home on a cart pulled by an ancient horse who walked slower that you could. Their language, vocabulary and imagination in describing events leaves you enchanted over the simplest things. That's what makes these authors worthy of acclaim. The simple story itself had a depth of character and intrigue to it that pulled you in and mesmerized you.
Some of these authors have such a skill of writing that they can take common, every day occurrences and lavish them with descriptions that you yourself would want to ride home on a cart pulled by an ancient horse who walked slower that you could. Their language, vocabulary and imagination in describing events leaves you enchanted over the simplest things. That's what makes these authors worthy of acclaim. The simple story itself had a depth of character and intrigue to it that pulled you in and mesmerized you.
August 15, 2023
Clean Regency Romance
The main portion of the book is located in Paris after Napoleon's defeat. In Nicholas we have a perceptive hero, a bit ahead of his times in eschewing society's strictures, yet very much a man of his times. Julia! ah Julia! A youthful indiscretion has blighted her life and prospects and she faces the challenges and indignities of her position with courage and fortitude. She's a beautiful girl who thinks she's ugly. The plot has its twists it turns and cast of intriguing characters. It brings up the issue of homosexuality and its legal consequences in England. The moment I liked best is when Julia rejects Nicholas's apology - her explanation why is a masterpiece.
The main portion of the book is located in Paris after Napoleon's defeat. In Nicholas we have a perceptive hero, a bit ahead of his times in eschewing society's strictures, yet very much a man of his times. Julia! ah Julia! A youthful indiscretion has blighted her life and prospects and she faces the challenges and indignities of her position with courage and fortitude. She's a beautiful girl who thinks she's ugly. The plot has its twists it turns and cast of intriguing characters. It brings up the issue of homosexuality and its legal consequences in England. The moment I liked best is when Julia rejects Nicholas's apology - her explanation why is a masterpiece.
January 21, 2021
My first "Regency Romance!" Set in 1815 England & France, the young beautiful (we are reminded this many times) Julia Hastings is put into a perilous position by Lord Daventry, he of "Quality" and "Good Ton" and a real nodcock! This fribble believes poor Julia a Cyprian, a demirep, and light skirt! Rowdy pages of classism, sexism, secrets, and scathing banter! And a dozen different words for carriage.
April 16, 2024
Such a good premise, but it was severely lacking in angst in my opinion
the heroine was so composed it became unrealistic and annoying
they would both laugh and make jokes at times, as if she wasnt being coerced and manipulated this entire time
there just wasnt enough grovel and relationship development to make their ending believable
he did below the bare minimum so the hea becomes disappointing
the heroine was so composed it became unrealistic and annoying
they would both laugh and make jokes at times, as if she wasnt being coerced and manipulated this entire time
there just wasnt enough grovel and relationship development to make their ending believable
he did below the bare minimum so the hea becomes disappointing
February 10, 2022
As everyone who has read this series will say, the best book was the first one. The rest have certainly been worth reading and I have enjoyed this series very much. Wonderful characters, imaginative plots, and enough history thrown in to provide the historical background needed to define a regency as a regency.
March 4, 2019
Thank you, Edith.
I loved this one
I loved this novel and had difficulty putting it down. It's well worth the reading of it!
I loved this one
I loved this novel and had difficulty putting it down. It's well worth the reading of it!
July 18, 2019
Most of the book I was bored.
September 5, 2020
Horrible hero!!!
May 22, 2024
Good wrongfully accused trope. Low steam.
July 10, 2025
Very, very enjoyable enemies to lovers for fans of Edith Layton.
July 13, 2025
Entertaining story. Would recommend.
October 15, 2024
Its a nice story, interesting characters, not black and white good and bad guys. Gay and bi secondary characters that are not the villains / caricatures. I liked the trip to Paris, I liked the story, I liked the working class heroine.
Favorite part in the book:
My main issue was the writing:
1. There is too much narration of events and of characters thoughts. I'm more of a dialog and action person, here the narration goes on and on. Even during the dialog quite often one character speaks for two paragraphs. I get if the hero's confession of love is two paragraph long but I'm talking dinner conversation here.
2. Sometimes the text didn't make sense. I had to re-read it to understand what they said. And the conversations didn't flow naturally, I felt like this was not how real people talk.
As a note: The hero at some point in the start slaps the heroine. He apologises immediately (in two full paragraphs of apologies) but that may bother some. All in all he acts horribly in the first 40% of the book.
Favorite part in the book:
My main issue was the writing:
1. There is too much narration of events and of characters thoughts. I'm more of a dialog and action person, here the narration goes on and on. Even during the dialog quite often one character speaks for two paragraphs. I get if the hero's confession of love is two paragraph long but I'm talking dinner conversation here.
2. Sometimes the text didn't make sense. I had to re-read it to understand what they said. And the conversations didn't flow naturally, I felt like this was not how real people talk.
As a note: The hero at some point in the start slaps the heroine. He apologises immediately (in two full paragraphs of apologies) but that may bother some. All in all he acts horribly in the first 40% of the book.
March 16, 2023
Uno dei migliori della Layton, di quelli che fanno rimpiangere la sua prematura scomparsa. La tensione tra i due protagonisti è costruita e tenuta alta con grande maestria fino all'ultimo quarto del volume, quando (dopo una serie di indizi che il lettore accorto avrà saputo valorizzare) vengono definitivamente chiariti i motivi del comportamento, apparentemente irragionevole, dell'abbandono della sposa che dà il titolo al romanzo.
August 29, 2016
Nope! As soon as he hit Julia, I was done. I *did* finish the book, but Nicholas never got any better for me. He was totally nonredeemable in his dealings with Julia, even to the end. I just couldn't accept that.
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