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A Susceptible Gentleman
Sarah Meade, the vicar's sister, thinks her childhood friend Adam, Viscount Cheverell, is the pink of perfect chivalry. Adam can always be relied upon to rescue damsels in distress, whether they are his sisters with husband trouble or the village's unmarried mothers.
But Adam has another life in London, where he currently finds himself with three mistresses on his hands. And when Adam returns to the country, all three follow him, and descend upon the quiet vicarage.
Carola Dunn was born in London and grew up in the little Buckinghamshire village of Jordans. She graduated with a BA from Manchester University and proceeded to tour the world. Her first book was published in 1979. She currently lives in Eugene, Oregon, with Willow, her Black lab/German Shepherd dog.
But Adam has another life in London, where he currently finds himself with three mistresses on his hands. And when Adam returns to the country, all three follow him, and descend upon the quiet vicarage.
Carola Dunn was born in London and grew up in the little Buckinghamshire village of Jordans. She graduated with a BA from Manchester University and proceeded to tour the world. Her first book was published in 1979. She currently lives in Eugene, Oregon, with Willow, her Black lab/German Shepherd dog.
219 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1990
10 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
Carola Dunn
92 books891 followersCarola Dunn is the author of more than 30 Regency romances, as well as 16 mysteries (the Daisy Dalrymple mystery series is set in England in the 1920s). Ms. Dunn was born and grew up in England, where she got a B.A. in Russian and French from Manchester University. She travelled as far as Fiji before returning to settle in California. After 30 years in the US, she says she still sounds as if she arrived a month ago.
Prior to writing, Ms. Dunn’s various jobs included market research, child-care, construction--from foundation trenches to roofing--and writing definitions for a dictionary of science and technology. She wrote her first novel in 1979, a Regency which she sold to Warner Books.
Now living in Eugene, Oregon, Ms. Dunn has a son in California who has just made her a grandmother, and a large black dog named Willow who takes her for a walk by the Willamette River each morning. (www.belgravehouse.com)
Prior to writing, Ms. Dunn’s various jobs included market research, child-care, construction--from foundation trenches to roofing--and writing definitions for a dictionary of science and technology. She wrote her first novel in 1979, a Regency which she sold to Warner Books.
Now living in Eugene, Oregon, Ms. Dunn has a son in California who has just made her a grandmother, and a large black dog named Willow who takes her for a walk by the Willamette River each morning. (www.belgravehouse.com)
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 15, 2020
Despite being a fan of Carola Dunn's writing style, I couldn't finish this book.
No matter how it's dressed up, for any man to have THREE mistresses is reprehensible.
***SPOILER ALERT***
The heroine would have to be a saint and a fool to be able to forgive the hero for his past, let alone having to deal with his mistresses and their problems at the vicarage. because he was too frightened they would land on his doorstep and upset his mother. I'm afraid my 21st century sensibilities could not and would not forgive this plot and the tropes used.
No matter how it's dressed up, for any man to have THREE mistresses is reprehensible.
***SPOILER ALERT***
The heroine would have to be a saint and a fool to be able to forgive the hero for his past, let alone having to deal with his mistresses and their problems at the vicarage. because he was too frightened they would land on his doorstep and upset his mother. I'm afraid my 21st century sensibilities could not and would not forgive this plot and the tropes used.
February 20, 2022
Well, what can I say? This was meant to be humorous, and I gave it the benefit of the doubt for most of the way through (and it was funny, actually), but the hero just stepped beyond the pale, for me.
Here’s the premise: Sarah Meade is the vicar’s sister, living a quiet life in a country parish and at the age of twenty-four, almost at the point of giving up on the prospect of marriage. Besides, she’s been in love with neighbour Adam, Viscount Cheverell, for years, but he looks on her as a sort of honorary sister. He’s the only son, with four highly-strung sisters, which has made him ultra-sympathetic to female troubles. He’s set up homes for unmarried mothers and schools, and he’s also managed to acquire three mistresses - simultaneously!
Now, some readers will back away at this point, but I like to give a book the benefit of the doubt with its basic premise, however implausible or unheroic, and see how things develop from there. Adam finds himself in difficulties with all three mistresses, so when he’s summoned home to deal with one of his troublesome sisters, the three follow him there. To avoid inflicting them on his rather strait-laced mother, he sends them round to the vicarage, for Sarah and brother Jonathan to deal with. Meanwhile his sisters are determined to see him married off, and descend on him with three candidates. He agrees that he probably ought to get married, and so begins a delicate dance around the three women, while also dealing with his three mistresses.
There’s no doubt that all this is very funny, if the reader can set aside the pearl-clutching that the three mistresses evoke. It’s meant to be light-hearted fluff, and given the date it was written (more than thirty years ago), mores were quite different then and the heroes of Regency romances were expected to be men’s men. Mistresses were just a normal part of the genre, and I don’t mind that (much). What got seriously up my nose is the despicable way Adam treats Sarah. Time after time he says (or thinks), “Oh, Sarah’s a good sport, she won’t mind,” and Sarah herself says at one point, “If he says that one more time, I’m going to scream.” And you can see her point. He treats her *really* badly, he expects her to deal with his mistresses, and then, when he gets himself entangled with all three of his marriage candidates, he expects her to sort that out, too!
Needless to say, it all comes right in the end, but I have to wonder just how faithful a husband Adam would be. He’s just too susceptible to womankind and (frankly) too stupid to avoid future entanglements, and he’s just the sort of idiot to think, “Oh well, it’ll be fine because Sarah will never know about it.” Ugh. So for me this only rates three stars, but it’s very well written, and for anyone less twitchy about male misbehaviour, looking for a light-hearted traditional read, this will probably suit you very well.
Here’s the premise: Sarah Meade is the vicar’s sister, living a quiet life in a country parish and at the age of twenty-four, almost at the point of giving up on the prospect of marriage. Besides, she’s been in love with neighbour Adam, Viscount Cheverell, for years, but he looks on her as a sort of honorary sister. He’s the only son, with four highly-strung sisters, which has made him ultra-sympathetic to female troubles. He’s set up homes for unmarried mothers and schools, and he’s also managed to acquire three mistresses - simultaneously!
Now, some readers will back away at this point, but I like to give a book the benefit of the doubt with its basic premise, however implausible or unheroic, and see how things develop from there. Adam finds himself in difficulties with all three mistresses, so when he’s summoned home to deal with one of his troublesome sisters, the three follow him there. To avoid inflicting them on his rather strait-laced mother, he sends them round to the vicarage, for Sarah and brother Jonathan to deal with. Meanwhile his sisters are determined to see him married off, and descend on him with three candidates. He agrees that he probably ought to get married, and so begins a delicate dance around the three women, while also dealing with his three mistresses.
There’s no doubt that all this is very funny, if the reader can set aside the pearl-clutching that the three mistresses evoke. It’s meant to be light-hearted fluff, and given the date it was written (more than thirty years ago), mores were quite different then and the heroes of Regency romances were expected to be men’s men. Mistresses were just a normal part of the genre, and I don’t mind that (much). What got seriously up my nose is the despicable way Adam treats Sarah. Time after time he says (or thinks), “Oh, Sarah’s a good sport, she won’t mind,” and Sarah herself says at one point, “If he says that one more time, I’m going to scream.” And you can see her point. He treats her *really* badly, he expects her to deal with his mistresses, and then, when he gets himself entangled with all three of his marriage candidates, he expects her to sort that out, too!
Needless to say, it all comes right in the end, but I have to wonder just how faithful a husband Adam would be. He’s just too susceptible to womankind and (frankly) too stupid to avoid future entanglements, and he’s just the sort of idiot to think, “Oh well, it’ll be fine because Sarah will never know about it.” Ugh. So for me this only rates three stars, but it’s very well written, and for anyone less twitchy about male misbehaviour, looking for a light-hearted traditional read, this will probably suit you very well.
June 1, 2021
Some reviewers have disliked this book on the grounds that the hero starts with 3 mistresses, which they consider unconscionable. While I agree that having any mistresses at all not something to be admired, the way in which this situation arises seems forgivable to me, especially in light of the values of that time. Perhaps I am biased because I am male. At any rate, I found almost all of the characters admirable in some way, and the story well drawn, humorous, and thoroughly enjoyable.
April 28, 2018
DNF at 39%. I seriously can't understand why the heroine still like the hero.
April 25, 2021
Sarah deserves better 🙅🏼♀️
June 24, 2021
This story was funny witty and nice to read. The hero Adam is a charmer and women usually fall at his feet and do anything for him. He is keeping 3 mistress for his own reasons and is not ashamed of it.
Good best friend is Sarah who secretly loves him but doesn’t shoe it. She is always ready to help him and get him out of his problems.
Adam is a viscount and his mother and 4 sisters want to see him happily married and hence bring eligible ladies to meet him. A house party, ball , lots of excursions are arranged for Adam to interact and get to know the 4 prospective ladies.
Adam doesn’t like any of them and finally realises that his best friend Sarah is the one he wants to marry.
The story ends in his proposal to her and they live happily.
I liked the writing of Carola Dunn she clearly knows the regency period very well to describe the scenes perfectly.
I am looking forward to reading more such books by this author
Good best friend is Sarah who secretly loves him but doesn’t shoe it. She is always ready to help him and get him out of his problems.
Adam is a viscount and his mother and 4 sisters want to see him happily married and hence bring eligible ladies to meet him. A house party, ball , lots of excursions are arranged for Adam to interact and get to know the 4 prospective ladies.
Adam doesn’t like any of them and finally realises that his best friend Sarah is the one he wants to marry.
The story ends in his proposal to her and they live happily.
I liked the writing of Carola Dunn she clearly knows the regency period very well to describe the scenes perfectly.
I am looking forward to reading more such books by this author
January 31, 2026
Such Hilarity!
It has been an age since I giggled and laughed so much whilst reading.
Sarah is a lovely character; warm, kind and compassionate.
Adam is rather self-centred and blithely lives his life his way. At the same time, he is just as kind and compassionate.
Swan and Kerry are a delightful addition to the comical bumblebath that goes on around them.
The fun and games that descend on the Meads and the Chevrrells make this an absolutely must-read book.
Read now and don’t miss out.
It has been an age since I giggled and laughed so much whilst reading.
Sarah is a lovely character; warm, kind and compassionate.
Adam is rather self-centred and blithely lives his life his way. At the same time, he is just as kind and compassionate.
Swan and Kerry are a delightful addition to the comical bumblebath that goes on around them.
The fun and games that descend on the Meads and the Chevrrells make this an absolutely must-read book.
Read now and don’t miss out.
March 16, 2018
Quick, fun read.
July 28, 2014
I have enjoyed all of Carola Dunn’s regency books I have read so far. They are a nice, quick, easy read and they have a Jane Austen feel to them. Each book is different enough from the others to feel fresh and her enjoyable writing style is consistent.
September 4, 2013
This was cute in places but I like my books to be a little less... farce-ful?
June 17, 2020
An ok story, reasonably well written - no devilry, tension, stress or plotting; a cosy read for a wet afternoon if you're into regency romance.
June 27, 2014
Complete and utter crap. I read 30 pages and gave up.
February 14, 2015
Sometimes you can be too soft hearted, and that's what gets the hero Adam into so much trouble.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews