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A Matter of Duty
Handsome and wealthy, Lord Christopher Highclare made it painfully clear why he was asking a virtual nobody like Miss Louisa Cherington to be his wife. He had made a promise to her dying brother to do so, and was honor-bound to keep that vow. Proud and beautiful, Louisa made it just as clear why she was accepting this man who not only made no pretence of loving her, but made no secret of the ravishing woman who was his mistress. Louisa, too, was bowing to the wishes of her late brother, who wanted to rescue her from poverty and the peril of Captain Geoffrey Lawrence, the notorious rake who was in hot pursuit of her. Thus, these two were bound to marry—and bound to wonder what would happen.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1988
8 people are currently reading
137 people want to read
About the author
Sandra Heath
87 books24 followersSandra Heath is the ever-popular author of numerous Regencies, historical romances, novellas, and short stories. Among other honors, she has won the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Awards for Best Regency Author and for Best Regency Romance. She lives in Gloucester, England, and can be contacted at sandraheath@bluey onder.co.uk.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 28, 2022
Read: 6/27/23
2.5 stars - Very disappointing 😞 This really isn't a romance.
The book starts off with the h working as a governess to a sweet little girl. Her employer's son (Geoffrey) is having an affair with his young stepmother, Anne. Unfortunately, his roving eyes soon turn towards Lousia. Being a servant, it's hard to avoid the forced seduction. It doesn't help that Anne (employers wife) notices Geoffry's attraction to the h. Anne is doing everything she can to get rid of her competition. She finally succeeds in getting Louise fired. Now Louise has no money and is refused references, which without she can't find another position.
Meanwhile, the H is in love with a married woman. Before Kit leaves for London, he gives his mistress an ultimatum. Leave her husband right now and marry him or they end the relationship bc his conscience won't let him continue sleeping with a married woman. She, OF COURSE, turns him down. Heartbroken, he arrives in London to be a second for his friend.
The friend (Tom) called out a powerful man for cheating at cards. He makes the H promise to marry his sister if he dies. A sister that Kit didn't even know existed. And of course the brother dies.
Kit arrives just in time to save Louise. He offers a MOC and the h accepts. The two really are compatible. Kit is also very protective over Louise, which I loved! She needed someone to take care of her for once. They both start to fall in love.
Here is where the book is ruined
Problems: Both are extremely happy on the day they marry. Arriving home for the wedding breakfast, Louise is handed a package. Not knowing who it's from, the h opens it front of her new husband. It's an engraved locket from Geoffrey ****SPOILER*** It's really sent by the jealous stepmother. Kit believes she's lied to him and let's his jealously cloud his judgement. He refuses to consummate the marriage..🙄 ugh! A major pet-peeve of mine, along with stupid misunderstandings.
The misunderstanding continues so that the two are never in the same room. Cluelessly,, they don't realize how many enemies they have.
You have:
1. Geoffrey who is obsessed/determined with bedding Louise.
2. Anne the jealous stepmother, who wants to punish Louise. She also wants to punish Geoffrey for dumping her slutty ass.
3. Lord Rowe, who participated in the duel that killed Tom and injured his own arm. Naturally, he wants Louise to suffer for it. He also wants revenge on Kit for sinking his boat during a race. And it doesn't help that he just discoverd the affair his wife was having with Kit.
4. The former mistress (lady Rowe) wants Kit back and wants the h gone.
5. The ton that looks down on Louise bc she was a governess.
I didn't feel like this was a romance. I'm suppose believe they're in love when the MC have never even sat down and had a conversation. The only facts I know about them comes from their internal monologue. It didn't help that the marriage isn't consummated over ONE stupid misunderstanding.
Another problem is that the kind Kit from the beginning of the story disappears and he becomes a judemental a**hole. ****spoiler*** he cheats on his wife with his former mistress. Only once but that was enough.
The greatest character was Kit's grandfather. He finds away to bring the couple together. He is also wise enough to see through the Kit's vindictive mistress. I just loved him, mainly bc he was the only character with common sense.
Verdict:
This could have been a good story but the author ruined the second half. She had too many characters that the romance was overshadowed. I would not recommend this book but I will give the author one more chance.
Sidenote:
1. I apologize for such a long review.
2. Also the duel might not have been in London but I'm too lazy to look up the town's name.
3. I wonder if the author realized that getting a divorce was not an easy thing to get done and the scandal would be horrible.
2.5 stars - Very disappointing 😞 This really isn't a romance.
The book starts off with the h working as a governess to a sweet little girl. Her employer's son (Geoffrey) is having an affair with his young stepmother, Anne. Unfortunately, his roving eyes soon turn towards Lousia. Being a servant, it's hard to avoid the forced seduction. It doesn't help that Anne (employers wife) notices Geoffry's attraction to the h. Anne is doing everything she can to get rid of her competition. She finally succeeds in getting Louise fired. Now Louise has no money and is refused references, which without she can't find another position.
Meanwhile, the H is in love with a married woman. Before Kit leaves for London, he gives his mistress an ultimatum. Leave her husband right now and marry him or they end the relationship bc his conscience won't let him continue sleeping with a married woman. She, OF COURSE, turns him down. Heartbroken, he arrives in London to be a second for his friend.
The friend (Tom) called out a powerful man for cheating at cards. He makes the H promise to marry his sister if he dies. A sister that Kit didn't even know existed. And of course the brother dies.
Kit arrives just in time to save Louise. He offers a MOC and the h accepts. The two really are compatible. Kit is also very protective over Louise, which I loved! She needed someone to take care of her for once. They both start to fall in love.
Here is where the book is ruined
Problems: Both are extremely happy on the day they marry. Arriving home for the wedding breakfast, Louise is handed a package. Not knowing who it's from, the h opens it front of her new husband. It's an engraved locket from Geoffrey ****SPOILER*** It's really sent by the jealous stepmother. Kit believes she's lied to him and let's his jealously cloud his judgement. He refuses to consummate the marriage..🙄 ugh! A major pet-peeve of mine, along with stupid misunderstandings.
The misunderstanding continues so that the two are never in the same room. Cluelessly,, they don't realize how many enemies they have.
You have:
1. Geoffrey who is obsessed/determined with bedding Louise.
2. Anne the jealous stepmother, who wants to punish Louise. She also wants to punish Geoffrey for dumping her slutty ass.
3. Lord Rowe, who participated in the duel that killed Tom and injured his own arm. Naturally, he wants Louise to suffer for it. He also wants revenge on Kit for sinking his boat during a race. And it doesn't help that he just discoverd the affair his wife was having with Kit.
4. The former mistress (lady Rowe) wants Kit back and wants the h gone.
5. The ton that looks down on Louise bc she was a governess.
I didn't feel like this was a romance. I'm suppose believe they're in love when the MC have never even sat down and had a conversation. The only facts I know about them comes from their internal monologue. It didn't help that the marriage isn't consummated over ONE stupid misunderstanding.
Another problem is that the kind Kit from the beginning of the story disappears and he becomes a judemental a**hole. ****spoiler*** he cheats on his wife with his former mistress. Only once but that was enough.
The greatest character was Kit's grandfather. He finds away to bring the couple together. He is also wise enough to see through the Kit's vindictive mistress. I just loved him, mainly bc he was the only character with common sense.
Verdict:
This could have been a good story but the author ruined the second half. She had too many characters that the romance was overshadowed. I would not recommend this book but I will give the author one more chance.
Sidenote:
1. I apologize for such a long review.
2. Also the duel might not have been in London but I'm too lazy to look up the town's name.
3. I wonder if the author realized that getting a divorce was not an easy thing to get done and the scandal would be horrible.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 25, 2021
3.25*
Before anything else, I'd like to say that the author has that unique and charming way of traditional HR writers that may make you lose sight of the plot as you enjoy descriptions of people, houses, scenery etc. But at times, she tends to go overboard as well - like describing the background of the butler in the h's brother's friend's household that's visited just once!
I love the setting of Cowes on the Isle of Wight. I don't think I've ever read a book set there. And a HR with yacht racing too - not that we actually get a race.
Before anything else, I'd like to say that the author has that unique and charming way of traditional HR writers that may make you lose sight of the plot as you enjoy descriptions of people, houses, scenery etc. But at times, she tends to go overboard as well - like describing the background of the butler in the h's brother's friend's household that's visited just once!
I love the setting of Cowes on the Isle of Wight. I don't think I've ever read a book set there. And a HR with yacht racing too - not that we actually get a race.
September 17, 2013
I don't feel justified in providing my usual diplomatic review, so here is the breakdown:
1. Instead of one, there are two Big Misunderstanding tropes; one is credible, the other not. My reading journey was fraught with frustration at the hero and the heroine.
2. It is quite sad that the one character with any perspicacity is a secondary character - the hero's grandfather. In fact, if it were for him pushing the heroine to declare her love at the end, there would be no HEA. And might I add this end reconciliation happened near the absolute end?
3. I simply would not recommend this to anyone. It would be a waste of your money - considering the possible shipping fees for this older book - and time.
Given the scarce number of reviews up for this book, I felt compelled to voice my opinion on it. The entire book is filled with unresolved misunderstandings which, unlike the usual Big Mis trope, was not resolved through communication because neither the hero nor the heroine believed what the other said. And faced with such a fact, what else can be done?
1. Instead of one, there are two Big Misunderstanding tropes; one is credible, the other not. My reading journey was fraught with frustration at the hero and the heroine.
2. It is quite sad that the one character with any perspicacity is a secondary character - the hero's grandfather. In fact, if it were for him pushing the heroine to declare her love at the end, there would be no HEA. And might I add this end reconciliation happened near the absolute end?
3. I simply would not recommend this to anyone. It would be a waste of your money - considering the possible shipping fees for this older book - and time.
Given the scarce number of reviews up for this book, I felt compelled to voice my opinion on it. The entire book is filled with unresolved misunderstandings which, unlike the usual Big Mis trope, was not resolved through communication because neither the hero nor the heroine believed what the other said. And faced with such a fact, what else can be done?
October 23, 2008
A proud beauty weds a handsome lord who promises her everything but love
ALTAR-BOUND
Handsome and wealthy Lord Christopher Highclare made it painfully clear why he was asking a virtual nobody like Miss Louisa Cherington to be his wife. He had made a promise to her dying brother to do so, and was honour-bound to keep that vow.
Proud and beautiful Louisa made it just as clear why she was accepting this man who not only made no pretence of loving her, but made no secret of the ravishing woman who was his mistress. Louisa, too, was bowing to the wishes of her late brother, who wanted to rescue her from poverty and the peril of Captain Geoffrey Lawrence, the notorious rake who was in hot pursuit of her.
Thus these two were bound to marry - and bound to wonder what would happen then A MATTER OF DUTY
I really enjoyed the beginning of this story. Both the main characters were nice, sensible people. They were ready to enter in a marriage of convenience and making the best of it.
Although they marry because the hero has made a vow to Louisa's brother and she wants some security after being dismissed from the house she works in as a governess they find themselves pleased with each other and ready to develop warmer feelings to one another. However Louisa had been dismissed because the older brother of the girl she teached was pursuing her and his young stepmother was jealous (yes the stepmother was having an affair with the stepson). Looking for revenge the woman sends Louisa a gift pretending to be her stepson. This originates a huge misunderstanding between Louisa and her husband and everything goes bad after that. Louisa discovers her husband had a mistress and doesn't believe that it is over between them. And Christopher refuses to believe that Louisa did not accept gladly Captain Lawrence's advances.
The tension rises when all four meet for a regatta on the Island of Wight, it made for an interesting setting, and Louisa believes Christopher to be enamoured of Thea still and he still thinks she might have responded to Captain Lawrence's advances. It doesn't help that Thea is determined to get Christopher back and does everything to make Louisa jealous.
Although I do like some conflict I thought this one went on for too long. If they had just talked to one another many a misunderstanding and harsh words could have been avoided. Also the happy ending was a bit rushed as everything is solved in one final scene.
Grade: B-
ALTAR-BOUND
Handsome and wealthy Lord Christopher Highclare made it painfully clear why he was asking a virtual nobody like Miss Louisa Cherington to be his wife. He had made a promise to her dying brother to do so, and was honour-bound to keep that vow.
Proud and beautiful Louisa made it just as clear why she was accepting this man who not only made no pretence of loving her, but made no secret of the ravishing woman who was his mistress. Louisa, too, was bowing to the wishes of her late brother, who wanted to rescue her from poverty and the peril of Captain Geoffrey Lawrence, the notorious rake who was in hot pursuit of her.
Thus these two were bound to marry - and bound to wonder what would happen then A MATTER OF DUTY
I really enjoyed the beginning of this story. Both the main characters were nice, sensible people. They were ready to enter in a marriage of convenience and making the best of it.
Although they marry because the hero has made a vow to Louisa's brother and she wants some security after being dismissed from the house she works in as a governess they find themselves pleased with each other and ready to develop warmer feelings to one another. However Louisa had been dismissed because the older brother of the girl she teached was pursuing her and his young stepmother was jealous (yes the stepmother was having an affair with the stepson). Looking for revenge the woman sends Louisa a gift pretending to be her stepson. This originates a huge misunderstanding between Louisa and her husband and everything goes bad after that. Louisa discovers her husband had a mistress and doesn't believe that it is over between them. And Christopher refuses to believe that Louisa did not accept gladly Captain Lawrence's advances.
The tension rises when all four meet for a regatta on the Island of Wight, it made for an interesting setting, and Louisa believes Christopher to be enamoured of Thea still and he still thinks she might have responded to Captain Lawrence's advances. It doesn't help that Thea is determined to get Christopher back and does everything to make Louisa jealous.
Although I do like some conflict I thought this one went on for too long. If they had just talked to one another many a misunderstanding and harsh words could have been avoided. Also the happy ending was a bit rushed as everything is solved in one final scene.
Grade: B-
July 20, 2016
This one wasn't as exciting as Lady Jane's Ribbons even though the other woman triangle kept things lively for a while. The misunderstanding was very annoying. I hated that the hero thought the heroine was having an affair with another man for practically the whole book and didn't believe her when she told him she wasn't. Especially since she was being mistreated by the guy. Instead of protecting her from the jerk, he was too busy discrediting her virtue. 2.5 stars.
November 5, 2020
To explainy at the end. I mean, jeeze.
June 11, 2021
Third time is the charm lool!
After reading 2 books with heroines I didn't like, I really wanted one I would enjoy and I got it.
I loved the heroine here, Louisa: she remained strong and knew how to stand up for herself when faced with her husband's abuse.
And said husband was awful! Such a shame because Kit was so adorable in the beginning, so perfect...
Louisa starts the story as a governess for the Lawrences: the adult son Geoffrey is a jerk who is sleeping with his young step mother and he also wants Louisa, and when she refuses him he decides to rape her. Luckily she is saved from this hell by Kit when he came to propose to her one day after her beloved brother died after a duel. Kit was friend with her brother Tom who made him promise to marry Louisa and make her happy.
So he plans to do it, and does a good job in the beginning: you can even see them slowly falling in love and all, until after the wedding something happens! A huge misunderstanding that should have been cleared quickly, that Louisa tried to explain but Kit was so stubborn and stupid about it.
Then he quickly changes and becomes horrible to her, really mean simply because of his jealousy.
And because he confessed loving another before proposing to Louisa, she is insecure and thinks he is about to discard her and go back to that wicked woman. He does nothing to reassure her even!
The story is really angsty because everytime Louisa tries to breach that wall, Kit builds it back with his stubborness.
Until Kit's grandfather decides to intervene and put some sense into his big head!
There is some drama around the end and Kit finally realizes what a jerk he is and decides to confess his love to Louisa, begging her to stay.
I hated that he didn't grovel properly! I also hated that we didn't get to see them happy since their ILO only came in the last chapter. An epilogue would have been a seriously good idea.
But the writing style was good, especially during the first 35% before the wedding or so, when the author was relating to the events prior to Louisa and Kit first meeting. Everything happened for a reason and it helped understand the story.
4 stars because it was so gripping! Could have been a 5 with an epilogue or a lenghty grovel from Kit lool
It is also a clean romance that can be read by teens, no graphic sex, nothing at all lol!
After reading 2 books with heroines I didn't like, I really wanted one I would enjoy and I got it.
I loved the heroine here, Louisa: she remained strong and knew how to stand up for herself when faced with her husband's abuse.
And said husband was awful! Such a shame because Kit was so adorable in the beginning, so perfect...
Louisa starts the story as a governess for the Lawrences: the adult son Geoffrey is a jerk who is sleeping with his young step mother and he also wants Louisa, and when she refuses him he decides to rape her. Luckily she is saved from this hell by Kit when he came to propose to her one day after her beloved brother died after a duel. Kit was friend with her brother Tom who made him promise to marry Louisa and make her happy.
So he plans to do it, and does a good job in the beginning: you can even see them slowly falling in love and all, until after the wedding something happens! A huge misunderstanding that should have been cleared quickly, that Louisa tried to explain but Kit was so stubborn and stupid about it.
Then he quickly changes and becomes horrible to her, really mean simply because of his jealousy.
And because he confessed loving another before proposing to Louisa, she is insecure and thinks he is about to discard her and go back to that wicked woman. He does nothing to reassure her even!
The story is really angsty because everytime Louisa tries to breach that wall, Kit builds it back with his stubborness.
Until Kit's grandfather decides to intervene and put some sense into his big head!
There is some drama around the end and Kit finally realizes what a jerk he is and decides to confess his love to Louisa, begging her to stay.
I hated that he didn't grovel properly! I also hated that we didn't get to see them happy since their ILO only came in the last chapter. An epilogue would have been a seriously good idea.
But the writing style was good, especially during the first 35% before the wedding or so, when the author was relating to the events prior to Louisa and Kit first meeting. Everything happened for a reason and it helped understand the story.
4 stars because it was so gripping! Could have been a 5 with an epilogue or a lenghty grovel from Kit lool
It is also a clean romance that can be read by teens, no graphic sex, nothing at all lol!
October 3, 2015
Just okay
Was expecting a good drama, a gut wrenching plot and see how H work hard to redeem himself after all this book on the list of 'Heroes who grovel and heroines that make them work hard for h forgiveness". And after seeing solid 5 stars so here I am writing feeling unfulfilled.
Our H is in love with OW but since he cannot marry her so he agreed to marry h, MOC. The OW tries to win him back and h won't have it. Our H is not really a cheater both H/ h just try to make their union work based on what they know about each other pasts. Again just okay.
Was expecting a good drama, a gut wrenching plot and see how H work hard to redeem himself after all this book on the list of 'Heroes who grovel and heroines that make them work hard for h forgiveness". And after seeing solid 5 stars so here I am writing feeling unfulfilled.
Our H is in love with OW but since he cannot marry her so he agreed to marry h, MOC. The OW tries to win him back and h won't have it. Our H is not really a cheater both H/ h just try to make their union work based on what they know about each other pasts. Again just okay.
February 13, 2014
Wonderful! I have read this book before, but I enjoy it every time I read it.
August 27, 2017
No tá mal. Pelín naif.
April 24, 2017
Not sold yet, might have to read another one of Sandra Heath's books to draw a conclusion.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews