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Lady with a Black Umbrella
by
Lady with a Black Umbrella is the digital reissue of a previously published and long out-of-print novel by New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh.
Giles Fairhaven, Viscount Kincade, does not believe his life can get much worse after his purse is stolen at an inn before he has paid his bill and when he is set upon by three ruffians in the inn yard before he can leav ...more
Giles Fairhaven, Viscount Kincade, does not believe his life can get much worse after his purse is stolen at an inn before he has paid his bill and when he is set upon by three ruffians in the inn yard before he can leav ...more
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Kindle Edition, 224 pages
Published
February 8th 2016
by Class Ebook Editions Ltd.
(first published September 5th 1989)
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Community Reviews
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Start your review of Lady with a Black Umbrella
What a delightful book! There's really no other adjective to describe it. This was one of the funniest reads I've had, and I found myself smiling, chuckling and laughing the whole time.
Giles and Daisy were both adorable. Giles didn't know what to do with her at first but, little by little, she made a place in his life - and his heart - and, before he realized it, he couldn't see himself living without her. Ms. Balogh has done an excellent job showing Giles and Daisy's slow but steady growing aff ...more
Giles and Daisy were both adorable. Giles didn't know what to do with her at first but, little by little, she made a place in his life - and his heart - and, before he realized it, he couldn't see himself living without her. Ms. Balogh has done an excellent job showing Giles and Daisy's slow but steady growing aff ...more
B- / 3.5 stars.
Read for the April 2021 TBR Challenge Prompt- "Old School"
For this month’s “Old School” prompt, I went back to 1989 and a recently (digitally) re-issued golden oldie from Mary Balogh. “Light”, “fluffy” and “farcical” aren’t words one might readily associate with this author these days, as most of her recent books (and many of her earlier ones) are quiet and introspective, often dealing with darker themes and featuring characters with complex emotional problems and baggage - which ...more
Read for the April 2021 TBR Challenge Prompt- "Old School"
For this month’s “Old School” prompt, I went back to 1989 and a recently (digitally) re-issued golden oldie from Mary Balogh. “Light”, “fluffy” and “farcical” aren’t words one might readily associate with this author these days, as most of her recent books (and many of her earlier ones) are quiet and introspective, often dealing with darker themes and featuring characters with complex emotional problems and baggage - which ...more
This was adorable. Fast-paced and lighthearted, this is a reissue of one of Balogh's Signet Regency stories. The lady in the title is the heroine, who tried to save the hero from a beating at a coaching inn armed only with a black umbrella. The hero had his purse stolen and had to leave IOUs for everyone at the inn - including the prostitute who had entertained him the night before. Since the heroine couldn't save the hero from a black eye, she did one better and paid all of his bills. (Without
...more
Ummm no ...
One of those why-don't-I-love-it-like-everyone-else!
Mary Balogh rarely writes rom-coms and her A Matter of Class is one of my all time favorites but this one plummets (and how) after a bright promising beginning.
I thought we were getting a strong opinionated h who who rushes where angels fear to do, and although she does do that - rush into all kinds of rescue-fracas, but her personality quickly transforms into a blindingly silly quixotic klutz. An almost brainless and heedless one. ...more
One of those why-don't-I-love-it-like-everyone-else!
Mary Balogh rarely writes rom-coms and her A Matter of Class is one of my all time favorites but this one plummets (and how) after a bright promising beginning.
I thought we were getting a strong opinionated h who who rushes where angels fear to do, and although she does do that - rush into all kinds of rescue-fracas, but her personality quickly transforms into a blindingly silly quixotic klutz. An almost brainless and heedless one. ...more
This is definitely a treasure. I could not stop laughing. Much lighter than Silent Melody, Heartless, Dancing with Clara, or The Secret Pearl, but still very enjoyable.
I am so glad that MB's backlist is being republished in ebooks. I have loved her earlier work, but unfortunately not all were available in libraries.
...more
I am so glad that MB's backlist is being republished in ebooks. I have loved her earlier work, but unfortunately not all were available in libraries.
...more
Fun and light hearted. Which is unusual for those who know Balogh's habitual style. Relatively mild pontification here and there from the vicar-to-be brother of the hero. Heroine was occasionally a bit TSTL, but she was inherently charming.
The situations featured were far-fetched and the sisters being taken under the wing of a respectable woman would have been nigh unto impossible, but, going with the flow of the story, it was a super fun, quirky read.
Definite mood booster with lots of laughs. ...more
The situations featured were far-fetched and the sisters being taken under the wing of a respectable woman would have been nigh unto impossible, but, going with the flow of the story, it was a super fun, quirky read.
Definite mood booster with lots of laughs. ...more
3.5 stars.
It’s a historical romcom, 😂.
I have to give Ms. Balogh credit for writing this one, very different from her usual rather angsty story.
Not sure how I feel about Daisy, she made me laugh and wanted to shakes her too, for a few times, you little idiot! 🙄😳😂.
Anyway, it was good but fell apart little bit in the middle, the fortune hunter guy got too many pages 🙄, I don’t like it at all.
But, it was a fun read 😘.
❤️
It’s a historical romcom, 😂.
I have to give Ms. Balogh credit for writing this one, very different from her usual rather angsty story.
Not sure how I feel about Daisy, she made me laugh and wanted to shakes her too, for a few times, you little idiot! 🙄😳😂.
Anyway, it was good but fell apart little bit in the middle, the fortune hunter guy got too many pages 🙄, I don’t like it at all.
But, it was a fun read 😘.
❤️
While staying at an inn, and through a serendipitous series of events, Miss Daisy Morrison saved Giles, Viscount Kincade, from thugs intent on hurting him. He had already had issues with a thief and had no money. Without further thought, she comes to the rescue with her voice, fists and a large men's black umbrella. Hence, the title of the story.
Lord Kincade had promised the innkeeper he would pay all of his debts as soon as he returned home. Of course, Daisy didn't know this, so she not only pa ...more
Lord Kincade had promised the innkeeper he would pay all of his debts as soon as he returned home. Of course, Daisy didn't know this, so she not only pa ...more
Absolutely adorable and surprisingly lighthearted regency romance from MB.
I had no idea that the author who wrote some of my favourite angsty romances could also deliver in the adorable screwball comedy sub-genre.
I adored both couples, even if I was less than impressed by the main hero, Giles, in the beginning. However, his gradually deepening feelings for Daisy felt wholly authentic and all their interactions were priceless. Highly recommended to those looking for a short and sweet read from ...more
I had no idea that the author who wrote some of my favourite angsty romances could also deliver in the adorable screwball comedy sub-genre.
I adored both couples, even if I was less than impressed by the main hero, Giles, in the beginning. However, his gradually deepening feelings for Daisy felt wholly authentic and all their interactions were priceless. Highly recommended to those looking for a short and sweet read from ...more
Well, this was - and I don’t think I’ve ever said this about a Mary Balogh book - pretty darn cute.
I don’t think of light and fluffy with a touch of farce when I think of dear old MB. Her more recent series have dealt with heavier subject matters and H/h with complicated problems and emotional hang ups. They’re full of introspection and dark moments.
Absolutely none of that here. Our H/h meet when our heroine, Daisy, saves our hero, Giles, from a violent mugging by beating his assailants over t ...more
I don’t think of light and fluffy with a touch of farce when I think of dear old MB. Her more recent series have dealt with heavier subject matters and H/h with complicated problems and emotional hang ups. They’re full of introspection and dark moments.
Absolutely none of that here. Our H/h meet when our heroine, Daisy, saves our hero, Giles, from a violent mugging by beating his assailants over t ...more
.
This is more humorous than the author's usual. I mean, I do like her wit, but this one is a bit more slapsticky... but in a good way ; )
"Do you love her dreadfully, Giles?"
"Can one love dreadfully?" he asked. "But perhaps it is the best description of all for my feelings about Daisy"
He spends a good part of the book imagining himself throttling her, squeezing her neck, wringing her neck... etc. And yet somehow she remains impervious to his anger, and he is incapable of hurting her in even t ...more
This is more humorous than the author's usual. I mean, I do like her wit, but this one is a bit more slapsticky... but in a good way ; )
"Do you love her dreadfully, Giles?"
"Can one love dreadfully?" he asked. "But perhaps it is the best description of all for my feelings about Daisy"
He spends a good part of the book imagining himself throttling her, squeezing her neck, wringing her neck... etc. And yet somehow she remains impervious to his anger, and he is incapable of hurting her in even t ...more
4.5 stars rounded up to 5 because this book made me laugh so many times that I stopped counting! A surprisingly delightful read.
If you are in a bad mood and would like something light, fluffy and romantic - choose this one. I would have never thought that Balogh would be able to pull off this kind of humor because her recently released books are nothing like that. This one reminded me of Georgette Heyer. There is basically no angst in it, just delightful banter and funny action.
Daisy did come o ...more
If you are in a bad mood and would like something light, fluffy and romantic - choose this one. I would have never thought that Balogh would be able to pull off this kind of humor because her recently released books are nothing like that. This one reminded me of Georgette Heyer. There is basically no angst in it, just delightful banter and funny action.
Daisy did come o ...more
Argh...I wanted my own black umbrella to smack Daisy with. How utterly annoying a character she was. Unfortunately, I found no humor in her personality.
3.5/5
Hilarious and yet frustrating. I'm smiling ferociously on the inside.
The heroine Daisy, is the most agonisingly stupid cow, with a crusading streak, as if the world couldn't stand on its own feet, without her propping it up.
Usually the "stronger" the heroine the better (us girls gotta stick up for ourselves or someone is gonna tell us we can't fight off highway men with an umbrella). But Daisy..just made me cringe laugh while wanting to bang my head against the wall.
Surprisingly its an e ...more
Hilarious and yet frustrating. I'm smiling ferociously on the inside.
The heroine Daisy, is the most agonisingly stupid cow, with a crusading streak, as if the world couldn't stand on its own feet, without her propping it up.
Usually the "stronger" the heroine the better (us girls gotta stick up for ourselves or someone is gonna tell us we can't fight off highway men with an umbrella). But Daisy..just made me cringe laugh while wanting to bang my head against the wall.
Surprisingly its an e ...more
Lady with a Black Umbrella is the perfect farcical regency romance. Mary Balogh gets so much mileage out of a 25 year old spinster who thinks she's on the shelf and therefore able to do/say the things that she does, and a very proud viscount who finds himself confounded at said spinster's antics.
Giles does not want to like the audacious Miss Daisy Morrison, and it's funny to see Giles try to figure her out. He initially believes she has a deliberately fiendish character. Then he thinks maybe he ...more
Giles does not want to like the audacious Miss Daisy Morrison, and it's funny to see Giles try to figure her out. He initially believes she has a deliberately fiendish character. Then he thinks maybe he ...more
Mh. Not my favorite Balogh book. I ended up skipping passages from the heroine's point of view because she annoyed me to no end, but loved the rest of the story.
I guess I just wasn't in the right mood to enjoy the heroine's crazy antics. I know most people found her charming, but to me, she was just annoying. She was really oblivious, going on and on and ON about how now one could love her because she's just so old (25), managing, and annoying. She freely admits that logic and thinking things th ...more
I guess I just wasn't in the right mood to enjoy the heroine's crazy antics. I know most people found her charming, but to me, she was just annoying. She was really oblivious, going on and on and ON about how now one could love her because she's just so old (25), managing, and annoying. She freely admits that logic and thinking things th ...more
Like most of Mary Balogh's TSTL heroines, you either love them or you don't.
Either I wasn't in the mood for the heroine or for the book, but this book just didn't speak to me. My favorite of Mary Balogh's TSTL heroines is Josephine Middleton, who causes all sorts of ruckus by being the flakiest Regency heroine in the world. Daisy, on the other hand, was annoying to me in her inability to see how much she was ticking off Giles. The fact that they ended up together was surprising in the extreme. H ...more
Either I wasn't in the mood for the heroine or for the book, but this book just didn't speak to me. My favorite of Mary Balogh's TSTL heroines is Josephine Middleton, who causes all sorts of ruckus by being the flakiest Regency heroine in the world. Daisy, on the other hand, was annoying to me in her inability to see how much she was ticking off Giles. The fact that they ended up together was surprising in the extreme. H ...more
Jan 04, 2017
Megzy
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
georgian-or-regency-era
Lady with a Black Umbrella is the perfect book when you need a break from your denser and darker reads. It is fast-paced, clever and often humorous. If you like strong characters that pop right off the page, Daisy is your girl. She is pretty much a terror and between getting in the way and deciding to "help", she turns everyone's life upside down.
...more
4.5 stars. Cute. Very very cute.
Daisy, our heroine, reminds me very much of an Amanda Quick heroine. She’s a trouble magnet, a bit reckless, and she sort of lives by her own rules where her actions are not based on propriety or the rules of conduct but by what she feels is necessary, right, and intuitive. We feel the frustration of those around her, but we also love her because she is selfless – almost to her own detriment. These types of “wild” heroines are paired perfectly to starchy heroes a ...more
Daisy, our heroine, reminds me very much of an Amanda Quick heroine. She’s a trouble magnet, a bit reckless, and she sort of lives by her own rules where her actions are not based on propriety or the rules of conduct but by what she feels is necessary, right, and intuitive. We feel the frustration of those around her, but we also love her because she is selfless – almost to her own detriment. These types of “wild” heroines are paired perfectly to starchy heroes a ...more
3 1/2
It's truly a good writer the one who makes you love her story even when you hate her heroine (a stupid, stupid conceited dumb ass). Did I say she's really stupid? But I couldn't stop smiling. Weird, I found myself in the hero's shoes. I don't think it had ever happened before...
...more
It's truly a good writer the one who makes you love her story even when you hate her heroine (a stupid, stupid conceited dumb ass). Did I say she's really stupid? But I couldn't stop smiling. Weird, I found myself in the hero's shoes. I don't think it had ever happened before...
...more
Delightful
Very, very funny. Delightful, if quite obtuse, heroine and wonderful hero who would dearly love to rid himself of the pest (the heroine), but somehow always ends up being even more deeply involved with her.
This old Balogh Regency, from 1989, is a somewhat cute and entertaining rom-com. I have to agree with those reviewers who said it starts out strong and weakens as it moves along. This is between a 2- and a 3-star book for me but it has some fun turns of phrases that made me decide to go for the higher rating.
Heroine Daisy Morrison and her younger sister Rose are the well-off daughters of a deceased baron who made his money in coal and lived far from the tonnish life in London. Daisy is taking Ro ...more
Heroine Daisy Morrison and her younger sister Rose are the well-off daughters of a deceased baron who made his money in coal and lived far from the tonnish life in London. Daisy is taking Ro ...more
Yet another underrated treasure of Balogh's . I could not stop laughing , I never did take Balogh to write something so light hearted and lively . Thoroughly satisfying read ♥️
...more
I have a great time with this book. Thank you, Linda, for your tip!
It was the best of Mary Balogh I have read (as for now). I hope that there are more of her Regency romances that are as charming as this one. Some of her romances are a bit too modern and too serious as to me - I liked them but I prefer as lovely and funny as "Lady with a Black Umbrella".
The story of Daisy and Giles (and their families) was hilarious. I not only grinned but often laughed out loud. From the first to the last scene ...more
It was the best of Mary Balogh I have read (as for now). I hope that there are more of her Regency romances that are as charming as this one. Some of her romances are a bit too modern and too serious as to me - I liked them but I prefer as lovely and funny as "Lady with a Black Umbrella".
The story of Daisy and Giles (and their families) was hilarious. I not only grinned but often laughed out loud. From the first to the last scene ...more
Daisy Morrison was the key to this story. She either made you laugh or you thought she was tstl. I laughed out loud several times so it was 4 stars for me. An easy and fun read.
Mar 15, 2010
Tina
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
z2010-reads,
romance-historical
Pure, unadulterated fluff. And so fun to read.
Unlike the other Balogh regencies that I have been reading that have some serious themes and angsty heroes/heroines, this one is straight fun and humor.
The heroine Daisy is the daughter of an obscenely wealthy baron who died and left his daughters as his heiresses. Daisy has never married and thinks of herself as an aging spinster with lots of sense. She will tell this to everyone and anyone who will listen, except those listeners often look at the l ...more
Unlike the other Balogh regencies that I have been reading that have some serious themes and angsty heroes/heroines, this one is straight fun and humor.
The heroine Daisy is the daughter of an obscenely wealthy baron who died and left his daughters as his heiresses. Daisy has never married and thinks of herself as an aging spinster with lots of sense. She will tell this to everyone and anyone who will listen, except those listeners often look at the l ...more
4.00, This was old school MB writing (first published in 89). Fun, adventuresome female saving a lord from possible death and definitely from being badly beating.
Lots of fun, a stick straight lord somehow dealing with a woman with no regard to her reputation which adds to the enjoyment. At times our girl takes it into her head that she knows best and runs headlong into scandal. Just fun enjoyment, but it wasn't quite the writing of the Slightly Series but still very decent by the speed I read i ...more
Lots of fun, a stick straight lord somehow dealing with a woman with no regard to her reputation which adds to the enjoyment. At times our girl takes it into her head that she knows best and runs headlong into scandal. Just fun enjoyment, but it wasn't quite the writing of the Slightly Series but still very decent by the speed I read i ...more
Funny puff piece
Breezed through the book. Definitely a fun book to read. You will need to suspend some reality, especially if you're used to accurate historical romance, but it's not an impossible task. You'll laugh at the antics, as the characters have their faults, but don't look for anyone to learn a lesson. I think the secondary characters were deeper than the protagonists. I think I will prefer to think that marriage will temper them eventually. ...more
Breezed through the book. Definitely a fun book to read. You will need to suspend some reality, especially if you're used to accurate historical romance, but it's not an impossible task. You'll laugh at the antics, as the characters have their faults, but don't look for anyone to learn a lesson. I think the secondary characters were deeper than the protagonists. I think I will prefer to think that marriage will temper them eventually. ...more
This was such an entertaining, delightful historical romance! Maybe the funniest of Ms. Balogh's books, and for me one of her most beautiful stories. 5 stars.
...more
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Mary Jenkins was born in 1944 in Swansea, Wales, UK. After graduating from university, moved to Saskatchewan, Canada, to teach high school English, on a two-year teaching contract in 1967. She married her Canadian husband, Robert Balogh, and had three children, Jacqueline, Christopher and Sian. When she's not writing, she enjoys reading, music and knitting. She also enjoys watching tennis and curl
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“If only the devil were feminine - perhaps he (she) was; no one had ever seemed to think of that - he would readily believe that her pseudonym was Daisy Morrison.”
—
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“And probably Sunday evenings too.”
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