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Camberleigh #2
Mayfair
A TANGLED WEB OF DECEPTION CLOUDED WITH OVERPOWERING GREED, THREATENED TO DESTROY ALL THAT WAS BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL...
Serena was living a life of stately bliss, sharing an idyllic love with her new husband, Lord Justin Barkham, in the elegant family estate...
But then, shadows of danger befell the grand house. A tragic death, a whirlpool of deceit, and a terrifying secret leads the vulnerable Serena into the arms of another man. A cunning man who, alone, holds the key to Serena's imprisoned desires... and the haunting truth that could destroy her future.
Serena was living a life of stately bliss, sharing an idyllic love with her new husband, Lord Justin Barkham, in the elegant family estate...
But then, shadows of danger befell the grand house. A tragic death, a whirlpool of deceit, and a terrifying secret leads the vulnerable Serena into the arms of another man. A cunning man who, alone, holds the key to Serena's imprisoned desires... and the haunting truth that could destroy her future.
395 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 1, 1986
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 11, 2017
N.B.: While this book follows the narrator of
Camberleigh
, it NOT a continuation; Camberleigh stands alone in terms of story closure, & the events in this book are born of completely separate incidents. (That said, I highly recommend reading #1 before Mayfair, as you'll miss the groundwork for Serena & her interactions with other characters.)
Now then...Mayfair.
It's impossible to summarize without spoiling everything, so I won't try. This review is officially spoiler-free. ;) Suffice it to say Serena's HEA is ruined by a series of events that cause her to make a Really Dumb Decision. This decision is painful to watch, & the consequences are glaringly obvious to the reader.
Indeed, Serena comes to the same realization almost immediately afterward...but it's too late. She's not a stupid heroine, but her Functional Adulthood Compass goes completely off the rails & then she finds herself in an impossible situation. (Alas, squeezing the book spine & yelling at Serena's faulty logic do absolutely no good whatsoever. I speak from personal experience. :P)
In truth, the first third of the novel is pretty slow. It lingers lovingly over the HEA born from Camberleigh, but that tranquility is eventually abandoned in favor of an onslaught of WTFery. These ingredients are drugging, rape (by the villain), emotional abuse, psychotic 180 personality switches, kidnapping, & attempted murder, complete with the classic long-winded villainous explanation -- during which Serena & the reader both consider that it might have turned out differently if our loyal heroine hadn't denied her hormonal instincts. That in itself is a good old-fashioned mindfuck, yes? :D
The voice & style of the first book are continued here, complete with random cringe-worthy sentences & Harlequin-esque angst wedged into a soapy historical ripper. This installment is lighter on the gothic angle, but there's plenty of melodrama to make up for the lack. And while the resolution of Camberleigh left room for a smidge of sympathy for the villain, Mayfair features a baddie that you'd be happy to feed through a woodchipper. This guy oh-so-merrily joins the ranks of Sarah's most hated dudes -- an elite list featuring such scum as Richard from The Favored Child & Joffrey from Game of Thrones, aka the sort of guys that deserve to be beaten by an angry Vulcan.
Anyway...
Be warned that the writing isn't perfect & there are old-skool elements that will bother sensitive readers. These are books that will entertain a specific audience, primarily those who enjoy bodice rippers with a gothic tinge & flagrantly soapy historicals -- if that's not your thing, proceed with caution. (They're definitely on my keeper shelf, so let that be your guide.)
Now then...Mayfair.
It's impossible to summarize without spoiling everything, so I won't try. This review is officially spoiler-free. ;) Suffice it to say Serena's HEA is ruined by a series of events that cause her to make a Really Dumb Decision. This decision is painful to watch, & the consequences are glaringly obvious to the reader.
Indeed, Serena comes to the same realization almost immediately afterward...but it's too late. She's not a stupid heroine, but her Functional Adulthood Compass goes completely off the rails & then she finds herself in an impossible situation. (Alas, squeezing the book spine & yelling at Serena's faulty logic do absolutely no good whatsoever. I speak from personal experience. :P)
In truth, the first third of the novel is pretty slow. It lingers lovingly over the HEA born from Camberleigh, but that tranquility is eventually abandoned in favor of an onslaught of WTFery. These ingredients are drugging, rape (by the villain), emotional abuse, psychotic 180 personality switches, kidnapping, & attempted murder, complete with the classic long-winded villainous explanation -- during which Serena & the reader both consider that it might have turned out differently if our loyal heroine hadn't denied her hormonal instincts. That in itself is a good old-fashioned mindfuck, yes? :D
The voice & style of the first book are continued here, complete with random cringe-worthy sentences & Harlequin-esque angst wedged into a soapy historical ripper. This installment is lighter on the gothic angle, but there's plenty of melodrama to make up for the lack. And while the resolution of Camberleigh left room for a smidge of sympathy for the villain, Mayfair features a baddie that you'd be happy to feed through a woodchipper. This guy oh-so-merrily joins the ranks of Sarah's most hated dudes -- an elite list featuring such scum as Richard from The Favored Child & Joffrey from Game of Thrones, aka the sort of guys that deserve to be beaten by an angry Vulcan.
Anyway...
Be warned that the writing isn't perfect & there are old-skool elements that will bother sensitive readers. These are books that will entertain a specific audience, primarily those who enjoy bodice rippers with a gothic tinge & flagrantly soapy historicals -- if that's not your thing, proceed with caution. (They're definitely on my keeper shelf, so let that be your guide.)
October 27, 2024
Pasan los años y todavía sigo indignada por todas las maquinaciones del villano…
•Mi opinión puede contener Spoilers.
•Esta destinada a ser un descargo personal no para que alguien más lea pero si lo haces y te ofende, me disculpo porque sé lo que es que te guste un libro y otros lo critiquen.
Mayfair de Evelyn Grey Serie Camberleigh libro 2
Argumento:
Serena estaba viviendo una vida de felicidad señorial, compartiendo un amor idílico con su nuevo marido, Justin Barkham, en la elegante mansión.
Pero entonces, las sombras del peligro inundaron la gran casa. Una muerte trágica, un torbellino de engaños, y un secreto aterrador lleva a la vulnerable Serena a lanzarse a los brazos de otro hombre. Un hombre astuto que, por sí solo, tiene la llave de la prisión de Serena... y la inquietante verdad que podría destruir su futuro.
Mi humilde opinión:
Podría decir que Mayfair es una secuela de Camberleigh pero muchos años después. En este segundo libro nos muestra lo realmente felices que son Serena y Justin junto con sus dos hijos pequeños, Alexander y Daphne hasta que un villano inesperado llega para destruirla.
Volviendo a leer este histórico viejito tiempo después me deja con las mismas sensaciones de la primera vez que lo leí. Comenzó bien pero enseguida empecé a hiperventilar. Era doloroso leer cómo las malas decisiones de Justin y Serena arruinaban sus vidas en un chasquido de dedos.
Si tan solo Serena no hubiera aceptado de forma estúpida a la propuesta de Philip la historia hubiera tenido una vuelta de rosca diferente y mucho mejor. Quería tanto a una Serena en un rol de detective! Ya podía imaginarla investigando lo que realmente le sucedió a Justin. Le hubiera quedado perfecto por cómo era su personalidad pero la autora me la cambió totalmente. Al principio ella desconfiaba de este personaje Philip y yo pensé bien porque a mí tampoco me cae bien. Me daba a entender que no era bueno. Era increíble que nadie indagara sobre él, ni siquiera Justin. Pero luego Serena también cae en su manipulación y fue por lo más crédula.
Entendí su dolor pero ella acepta todo con demasiadas banderas rojas a la vista y actitudes extrañas por parte del villano. Era muy evidente. ¿Cómo pudo la pareja depositar su confianza en este extraño del que no sabían nada? Y de nuevo ella tiene que pasar por una violación luego de casarse con él? y no solo eso, el tipo mostraba tendencias psicópatas y me daba realmente miedo. Él secuestra a Justin y planea deshacerse de él para robarle todo lo que tiene, abusa emocionalmente y físicamente de Serena, la droga y quiere asesinarla. ¿Y todo porque le tiene envidia a un lord y quiere lo que posee? Título, riquezas y una esposa hermosa? Realmente se fue al extremo para conseguirlo y lo más loco es que casi lo logra.
Me enojó que la autora quisiera que le tenga simpatía al villano, ese final con el carruaje fue exagerado, no esperé que Serena tenga tanta puntería pero bueno… Hubiera querido que tenga otro tipo de justicia porque la muerte para Philip fue una salida fácil. Merecía pagar en vida.
Y lloré. sí lloré como una tonta por el pequeño Jaspar. Siempre pensé que fue una muerte injusta para el leal spaniel de Serena.
En cuanto al romance, hay algunas escenas íntimas no tan explicitas y se muestra que los protagonistas tienen un matrimonio feliz, se notó que se trataban como iguales y que se tenían amor y respeto. Pero están separados durante la mayor parte del libro.
La historia está contada con la misma voz del anterior pero sin el estilo gótico. Aparecen los personajes secundarios del libro anterior salvo por Oliver pero dan actualizaciones de su vida. El drama reina y los giros inesperados con angustia, peligros, violencia, injusticias y suspenso. Comenzó lento pero está bien escrito y me mantuvo leyendo, indignada por todas las maquinaciones del villano por supuesto, pero me mantuvo leyendo. A pesar de lo malo todo se resuelve y hay un final feliz.
Recordar que es una novela vintange con temas sensibles, no para todos.
October 29, 2022
This book was well written, but it deserves only wo stars because both the H, Justin and the h, Serena act TSTL when they put their trust in the wrong person, and I do mean WRONG!!!! The OM/Villain is so incredibly diabolical, you'll long for him to get his comeuppance in a major way. If anyone deserves a trip back in time to a medieval torture chamber, it's this guy. How neither Justin nor Serena could see through his BS is beyond me. Him wanting to make a success of his railroad venture and her being vulnerable for a supposed loss are no excuses for two intelligent people to dumb down. true, the guy puts on a good act, but they should have been able to see through it.
Also, Justin and Serena were separated way too long, for almost the entire book. I like when couples spend at least half the novel together.
I recommend you skip this one.
Also, Justin and Serena were separated way too long, for almost the entire book. I like when couples spend at least half the novel together.
I recommend you skip this one.
November 9, 2010
Predecible...
September 19, 2014
I dont like this history because is not connected whit the first book.
October 11, 2014
not a good read
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews