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A Passionate Endeavor
Wounded in the war, Lord Huntington returns to his family estate only to find his father ill and the duchy in dire straits. Little does Nicholas know that the young nurse tending his father is capable of unlocking the burdens that plague his soul. Yet when he takes Miss Charlotte Kittridge in his arms and tastes desire, all chance of lasting happiness is dashed by the secret promise he’s vowed to keep.
A spinster with seven and twenty years in her dish and no dowry, Charlotte Kittridge knows that her life will be devoted to duty. But as the daughter of an aristocratic French mother lost during the revolution, and a respected doctor, Charlotte cannot help but fall in the love with Lord Huntington during their passionate endeavor to change the course of his fate. Charlotte and Nicholas must wager all and come to terms with their secrets and desires if they are to succeed in their quest for love and happiness.
A spinster with seven and twenty years in her dish and no dowry, Charlotte Kittridge knows that her life will be devoted to duty. But as the daughter of an aristocratic French mother lost during the revolution, and a respected doctor, Charlotte cannot help but fall in the love with Lord Huntington during their passionate endeavor to change the course of his fate. Charlotte and Nicholas must wager all and come to terms with their secrets and desires if they are to succeed in their quest for love and happiness.
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 3, 2004
25 people are currently reading
147 people want to read
About the author
Sophia Nash
17 books269 followersSophia Nash’s novels have won almost two dozen national awards including the prestigious RITA Award and two spots on the American Library Association's “Top Ten Romances of the Year.” Sophia was born in Switzerland, raised in France and the United States, but says her heart resides in Regency England. Her ancestor, an infamous French admiral who traded epic cannon fire with the British Royal Navy, is surely turning in his grave. Before pursuing her long held dream of writing Historicals, Sophia was an award winning television producer for CBS, a congressional speechwriter, and a nonprofit CEO.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
January 11, 2010
Excerpt from Sophia Nash homepage:
Returning from the war with a wounded leg, Lord Huntington isn’t expecting to find a young nurse on his father’s estate. Not only does Charlotte Kittridge possess a most delicate touch, but something about her intelligent mind and fiery heart makes Nicholas want to take her in his arms and never let go. Unfortunately, he took a secret vow long ago to never marry.
At seven and twenty and without a dowry, Charlotte Kittridge is considered an old maid. The petite daughter of the most talented physician in all of Europe and an aristocratic French mother lost during the French revolution, she can’t stop nursing the hope that the man who makes her heart flush with desire will someday return her dangerously passionate love.
Charlotte and Huntington must wager all and come to terms with their secrets and desires in their quest for love and happiness.
I had high hopes for this book. Perhaps too high. In all honesty the excerpt was better than the actual book. The characters of Nicolas and Charlotte was alright in by-themselves, but they really shouldn't have ended together. They were victims of what i'd like to call "forced
symptom" in that they were forced together. I never once got the impression that they were more than anything but friends in the book. Counter to what the author was trying to accomplished. Their whole relationship was really really forced to a point it was like reading fanfiction. And not good fan fiction either. The author tried to rectify this many times by throwing random events in, but all it did was make it more painful to read. Seriously Charlotte's father suddenly dies, a rich viscount cousin shows up, & Nicholas brother and estate manager is caught embezzling funds in the very last chapter. Then for the life of me i could not figure out who this other dowager duchess was for the longest time till the second to the last chapter when i find out she's Nicolas's grandmother who was talked about as if she was dead the whole book. So no character chemistry, too many thrown in events,and basically lack of interesting story. In all actuality a passionate endeavor this book was not.
Returning from the war with a wounded leg, Lord Huntington isn’t expecting to find a young nurse on his father’s estate. Not only does Charlotte Kittridge possess a most delicate touch, but something about her intelligent mind and fiery heart makes Nicholas want to take her in his arms and never let go. Unfortunately, he took a secret vow long ago to never marry.
At seven and twenty and without a dowry, Charlotte Kittridge is considered an old maid. The petite daughter of the most talented physician in all of Europe and an aristocratic French mother lost during the French revolution, she can’t stop nursing the hope that the man who makes her heart flush with desire will someday return her dangerously passionate love.
Charlotte and Huntington must wager all and come to terms with their secrets and desires in their quest for love and happiness.
I had high hopes for this book. Perhaps too high. In all honesty the excerpt was better than the actual book. The characters of Nicolas and Charlotte was alright in by-themselves, but they really shouldn't have ended together. They were victims of what i'd like to call "forced
symptom" in that they were forced together. I never once got the impression that they were more than anything but friends in the book. Counter to what the author was trying to accomplished. Their whole relationship was really really forced to a point it was like reading fanfiction. And not good fan fiction either. The author tried to rectify this many times by throwing random events in, but all it did was make it more painful to read. Seriously Charlotte's father suddenly dies, a rich viscount cousin shows up, & Nicholas brother and estate manager is caught embezzling funds in the very last chapter. Then for the life of me i could not figure out who this other dowager duchess was for the longest time till the second to the last chapter when i find out she's Nicolas's grandmother who was talked about as if she was dead the whole book. So no character chemistry, too many thrown in events,and basically lack of interesting story. In all actuality a passionate endeavor this book was not.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 26, 2021
Read as background reading for characters with dyslexia.
This edition was clearly scanned from a print book and never corrected; it was *filled* with distracting errors.
Typical Regency, with wounded war hero returning home, and mousy spinster (at the ancient age of 26 or something) set to nurse him. He is dyslexic and has sworn never to marry, lest he pass on his defect. His step brother is running the estate into the ground with the help of a corrupt estate agent.
She is the daughter of French nobility, still traumatized from seeing her mother guillotined; she now lives with her doctor father, acting as his nurse.
The action takes place at his estate, where there's a country home full of stock characters -- two older women vying for the affection of the local vicar, an heiress hoping to lure the hero, the heroine's brother who is being forced into being a parson, and the heroine's cousin, a French dandy who is mistaken for a love interest.
Ultimately, the heroine's father drops dead, and the hero saves her from a life of being a lady's companion. She teaches him to read, using clay letters molded into three dimensions.
This book actually had a decent presentation of the shame of the dyslexic, who is treated by others as if he's lazy or stupid. The miraculous cure comes too easily, but it ties everything up in a bow.
This edition was clearly scanned from a print book and never corrected; it was *filled* with distracting errors.
Typical Regency, with wounded war hero returning home, and mousy spinster (at the ancient age of 26 or something) set to nurse him. He is dyslexic and has sworn never to marry, lest he pass on his defect. His step brother is running the estate into the ground with the help of a corrupt estate agent.
She is the daughter of French nobility, still traumatized from seeing her mother guillotined; she now lives with her doctor father, acting as his nurse.
The action takes place at his estate, where there's a country home full of stock characters -- two older women vying for the affection of the local vicar, an heiress hoping to lure the hero, the heroine's brother who is being forced into being a parson, and the heroine's cousin, a French dandy who is mistaken for a love interest.
Ultimately, the heroine's father drops dead, and the hero saves her from a life of being a lady's companion. She teaches him to read, using clay letters molded into three dimensions.
This book actually had a decent presentation of the shame of the dyslexic, who is treated by others as if he's lazy or stupid. The miraculous cure comes too easily, but it ties everything up in a bow.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 28, 2016
3.5 stars
August 13, 2021
E' il primo romanzo che leggo di questa autrice e sono davvero contenta di averlo fatto perché amo i regency e poi perché la scrittrice ama Jane Austen (come me). A dimostrazione di ciò la vicenda si svolge proprio nel periodo citato poi ad ogni inizio capitolo compare una frase tratta dalle sue opere: Orgoglio e Pregiudizio, Emma, Persuasione e Ragione e Sentimento.
La stessa protagonista femminile adora leggere i romanzi della Austen anzi tanto ne è affascinata che vorrebbe assomigliare alle protagoniste dei romanzi che legge. Perfino lo stile delicato e romantico (infatti il livello di sensualità è basso) evoca i romanzi della sua scrittrice preferita.
La vicenda si svolge in Inghilterra nel 1814 e più precisamente nel Wiltshire. La trama non è assolutamente banale anzi affronta perfino una problematica che a quell'epoca era sconosciuta: la dislessia.
Nicholas è l'erede di un ducato ma essendo dislessico (quindi ritenuto in quell'epoca al pari di uno stupido o peggio) decide di non sposarsi e lasciare tutto nelle mani del suo fratellastro. È sicuramente un uomo segnato da un'infanzia difficile ma che grazie all'esercito prima e poi all'amore di Charlotte finalmente riesce a trovare la felicità. Anche la protagonista non ha avuto un'infanzia felice (tratto che l'accomuna a Nicholas) ha perso la madre quando era piccola e in modo violento questo l'ha segnata profondamente inoltre non essendo una grande bellezza non ha avuto molti corteggiatori e questo l'ha resa ancora più insicura. Per fortuna arriva Nicholas sulla sua strada.
È sicuramente un bel romanzo da leggere tutto d'un fiato...
La stessa protagonista femminile adora leggere i romanzi della Austen anzi tanto ne è affascinata che vorrebbe assomigliare alle protagoniste dei romanzi che legge. Perfino lo stile delicato e romantico (infatti il livello di sensualità è basso) evoca i romanzi della sua scrittrice preferita.
La vicenda si svolge in Inghilterra nel 1814 e più precisamente nel Wiltshire. La trama non è assolutamente banale anzi affronta perfino una problematica che a quell'epoca era sconosciuta: la dislessia.
Nicholas è l'erede di un ducato ma essendo dislessico (quindi ritenuto in quell'epoca al pari di uno stupido o peggio) decide di non sposarsi e lasciare tutto nelle mani del suo fratellastro. È sicuramente un uomo segnato da un'infanzia difficile ma che grazie all'esercito prima e poi all'amore di Charlotte finalmente riesce a trovare la felicità. Anche la protagonista non ha avuto un'infanzia felice (tratto che l'accomuna a Nicholas) ha perso la madre quando era piccola e in modo violento questo l'ha segnata profondamente inoltre non essendo una grande bellezza non ha avuto molti corteggiatori e questo l'ha resa ancora più insicura. Per fortuna arriva Nicholas sulla sua strada.
È sicuramente un bel romanzo da leggere tutto d'un fiato...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 25, 2021
For a book with "passion" in its title, it had absolutely no passion at all.
Such an awkward book. What a ride. There was absolutely zero chemistry between the H and h. Perhaps a little on the H's side during the first half... The H and h felt like entirely two different people in the second half. This would have done better as a slow-burn-friends-to-lovers. It was refreshing to find the H just a regular sarcastic guy. He was perfect.
The little steam that there was was so out of place. The wedding night was such a struggle to get through. I was dying of secondhand embarrassment the entire time. It was from the POV of the H. The poor h had such an awful experience. But suddenly the next morning she's very wanton. With the h basically being a nurse, shouldn't she be more knowledgeable? What a character flip.
Every trope is used here and it is just so unnecessary. I also could’ve done without the Austen references.
I think the biggest crime was the Duke. He goes from basically despising the H for his "curse" to always being hopeful he would step up one day.
Bit of a creep factor with the h constantly being described as “childlike.”
The h is so annoying. With her tiny figure and ability to solve all problems, I’m wondering if she’s supposed to be like a fairy godmother?
As a side note, I’m really getting sick and tired of “progressive” heroes. We’re stuck we the heroine feminist type because everyone copies Austen. But must we also read of heroes taking convenient interests in the poor or slavery?
Huge disappointment. This book started out so good!
Such an awkward book. What a ride. There was absolutely zero chemistry between the H and h. Perhaps a little on the H's side during the first half... The H and h felt like entirely two different people in the second half. This would have done better as a slow-burn-friends-to-lovers. It was refreshing to find the H just a regular sarcastic guy. He was perfect.
The little steam that there was was so out of place. The wedding night was such a struggle to get through. I was dying of secondhand embarrassment the entire time. It was from the POV of the H. The poor h had such an awful experience. But suddenly the next morning she's very wanton. With the h basically being a nurse, shouldn't she be more knowledgeable? What a character flip.
Every trope is used here and it is just so unnecessary. I also could’ve done without the Austen references.
I think the biggest crime was the Duke. He goes from basically despising the H for his "curse" to always being hopeful he would step up one day.
Bit of a creep factor with the h constantly being described as “childlike.”
The h is so annoying. With her tiny figure and ability to solve all problems, I’m wondering if she’s supposed to be like a fairy godmother?
As a side note, I’m really getting sick and tired of “progressive” heroes. We’re stuck we the heroine feminist type because everyone copies Austen. But must we also read of heroes taking convenient interests in the poor or slavery?
Huge disappointment. This book started out so good!
November 12, 2022
The premise: Lord Nicholas Huntington returns from war with a badly broken and infected leg. The estate's doctor and his daughter nurse him back to health.
Miscellaneous notes: Having no knowledge of this writer, I would venture to say that her writing is amateurish with promise. She uses too many adjectives and substitutes ridiculous words for her characters (I.E. “the younger man”…just say “James”! We know who he is. The fact that he’s younger doesn’t even matter in the context.) Also, Ms. Nash springs issues and themes upon us. The main issue, of Nicholas’ illiteracy, is well formed and thought through, but others, such as Charlotte's fear of being left alone, is not.
She also needs some work on her plotting. It seems perfectly natural that Charlotte would not feel "good enough" for a Duke's heir, given her humble birth and station. The same is true for Nicholas, who sees Charlotte's intelligence and feels himself to be an "ignorant" and therefore not good enough to be with her. (Nicholas is not actually stupid, he is dyslexic.) However, Ms. Nash handles it poorly, making Nicholas jealous of Charlotte's slimy cousin and then making him behave like a cave man.
The only part in this book that actually dug down to touch my emotions was the death of a character and it's reaction on Charlotte. The romance itself was tepid at best.
And the epilogue? Skip it if you're diabetic...or have any sense of taste. It features a scene with our heroes reading a book to their children called "A Passionate Endeavor".
Miscellaneous notes: Having no knowledge of this writer, I would venture to say that her writing is amateurish with promise. She uses too many adjectives and substitutes ridiculous words for her characters (I.E. “the younger man”…just say “James”! We know who he is. The fact that he’s younger doesn’t even matter in the context.) Also, Ms. Nash springs issues and themes upon us. The main issue, of Nicholas’ illiteracy, is well formed and thought through, but others, such as Charlotte's fear of being left alone, is not.
She also needs some work on her plotting. It seems perfectly natural that Charlotte would not feel "good enough" for a Duke's heir, given her humble birth and station. The same is true for Nicholas, who sees Charlotte's intelligence and feels himself to be an "ignorant" and therefore not good enough to be with her. (Nicholas is not actually stupid, he is dyslexic.) However, Ms. Nash handles it poorly, making Nicholas jealous of Charlotte's slimy cousin and then making him behave like a cave man.
The only part in this book that actually dug down to touch my emotions was the death of a character and it's reaction on Charlotte. The romance itself was tepid at best.
And the epilogue? Skip it if you're diabetic...or have any sense of taste. It features a scene with our heroes reading a book to their children called "A Passionate Endeavor".
February 11, 2017
Another very good RITA winner. Sophia Nash straddles the line between a traditional Regency romance and a spicier one. It has the subtlety of a traditional Regency, but there is a tidy bit of sensuality as well. Both the hero and the heroine demonstrate a significant amount of character development. Some other reviewers have remarked that there seem to be a larger than necessary amount of events or situations surrounding the couple. I think that is somewhat true; there seemed to be quite a few things that happened in a cluster, causing the story to come to a rapid conclusion. This is especially true when compared to the slow pacing of most of the book. Nevertheless, I truly enjoyed the story and was happy to see the H and h develop into better, happier people.
January 26, 2012
I have to write a review because I don't usually read romances. But my mother is a fourth grade teacher, and I REALLY REALLY REALLY LOVED the fact that Nicholas was learning-impaired (add in that I am an artist, and viola! I half love the characters already).
Contrary to other reviews I have read, I actually thought that Charlotte and Nicholas work well as a couple, and I wasn't at all surprised by the "bad guys" in the book. In my opinion, they were kind of obvious from the get-go.
The only character I could do without was Charlotte's cousin, who was just... too much. That guy needs a muzzle.
Oh--another thing I really appreciated about this book--only ONE lovemaking scene. Sometimes I feel like in romance novels the characters spend half their time in bed. Not so in this book!
Contrary to other reviews I have read, I actually thought that Charlotte and Nicholas work well as a couple, and I wasn't at all surprised by the "bad guys" in the book. In my opinion, they were kind of obvious from the get-go.
The only character I could do without was Charlotte's cousin, who was just... too much. That guy needs a muzzle.
Oh--another thing I really appreciated about this book--only ONE lovemaking scene. Sometimes I feel like in romance novels the characters spend half their time in bed. Not so in this book!
January 14, 2014
Just to set the record straight...I did read this story in e-book form, but it was on my Nook not a Kindle. (I was just too lazy to add the Nook edition:) The graphic is the same!
I found this story delightful! At times it had a 'Georgetta Heyer' quality to it. I think it was 'the visiting cousin' that did it! It was published as a Signet Regency Romance Novel with only 224 pages...not a long book and the e-book was only 200 pages. I did not have to skip through a lot of 'filler' text. I just enjoyed the H/H's story and all the hurdles they encountered before they got to the 'happily ever after' ending. I see that Ms. Nash has also written another book for Signet, 'A Secret Passion'. I think I'll check it out since I liked this one so much!
I found this story delightful! At times it had a 'Georgetta Heyer' quality to it. I think it was 'the visiting cousin' that did it! It was published as a Signet Regency Romance Novel with only 224 pages...not a long book and the e-book was only 200 pages. I did not have to skip through a lot of 'filler' text. I just enjoyed the H/H's story and all the hurdles they encountered before they got to the 'happily ever after' ending. I see that Ms. Nash has also written another book for Signet, 'A Secret Passion'. I think I'll check it out since I liked this one so much!
Read
October 17, 2012This was a good, quick read. I found the relationship between Nicholas and his father touching. It's one of those stories where you know where it's going from the very beginning, but the getting there is good fun so you don't mind so much. I wish that Charlotte would have been a bit more wicked, but she was a fairly interesting character. My favorite character was, of course, the long-lost cousin. I'd love to read a book about him mending his wicked ways. He was a whole lot of fun! Overall, not bad for a 99 cent Kindle book!
August 11, 2016
It's my first book from this author and I loved it that she is a fan of Jane Austen too. The story line is sweet and different in one aspect and the characters interesting but there were a few things that I did't like: the cousin of the heroine make some inappropriate comments in a lot of occasions and I though it was completely unnecessary and out of place in a historical romance; the hero takes too much time to say I love you. But all in all it was a good read, endearing.
March 15, 2016
I finished this book with a feeling that the main characters were more friends than lovers, I loved Nicholas and his friendship with Charlotte, but I missed more passion between the two of them to convince me more about them as a couple in love.
Also I felt that some dramas appeared in the story out of nowhere and were a little too much.
3,5 of 5 stars.
Also I felt that some dramas appeared in the story out of nowhere and were a little too much.
3,5 of 5 stars.
October 21, 2012
My first book by Ms. Nash left me highly pleased. This is a beautiful story and the style is more to my liking that other Regency Romances I've read. I really loved the storyline, characters and how she develops the story. I'm looking forward to read more of her work.
January 9, 2013
2.5 stars, just so-so.
March 22, 2013
review soon @ thefaeryromanticlibrarian.blogspot.com
August 20, 2017
Classic regency romance, with a bit o'spice. Sophia Nash can always cleanse my reading palate!
historical
January 8, 2019Wounded in the war, Lord Huntington returns to his family estate only to find his father ill and the duchy in dire straits. Little does Nicholas know that the young nurse tending his father is capable of unlocking the burdens that plague his soul. Yet when he takes Miss Charlotte Kittridge in his arms and tastes desire, all chance of lasting happiness is dashed by the secret promise he’s vowed to keep.
A spinster with seven and twenty years in her dish and no dowry, Charlotte Kittridge knows that her life will be devoted to duty. But as the daughter of an aristocratic French mother lost during the revolution, and a respected doctor, Charlotte cannot help but fall in the love with Lord Huntington during their passionate endeavor to change the course of his fate. Charlotte and Nicholas must wager all and come to terms with their secrets and desires if they are to succeed in their quest for love and happiness.
A spinster with seven and twenty years in her dish and no dowry, Charlotte Kittridge knows that her life will be devoted to duty. But as the daughter of an aristocratic French mother lost during the revolution, and a respected doctor, Charlotte cannot help but fall in the love with Lord Huntington during their passionate endeavor to change the course of his fate. Charlotte and Nicholas must wager all and come to terms with their secrets and desires if they are to succeed in their quest for love and happiness.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews