A Useful Affair

The Elliot Brothers #1

by Stella Cameron

Married to a scoundrel, Hattie Leggit is desperate to earn enough money to pay off her parents' debt and leave her husband, Bernard, for good. But someone else has plans for revenge against Bernard--plans that involve Hattie. John Elliott blames Bernard for the death of his brother and plots to bring about his ruin by seducing his wife. Little does he know that Hattie might be a willing participant--and that Bernard may be more dangerous than he ever expected.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction

416 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2004

About the author

Stella Cameron is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author. With over fourteen million copies of her books in print, Cameron is now turning her pen to mysteries and independently publishing COLD, Introducing Alex Duggins. She draws on her English background for this new, already critically acclaimed mystery series. Atmospheric, deeply character and relationship driven, COLD reveals the power of old secrets to twist the present. Cameron’s reputation for using her backgrounds to add tension and allure to her stories is heightened again.

Cameron is the recipient of the Pacific Northwest Achievement Award for distinguished professional achievement and for enhancing the stature of the Northwest Literary community. She lives in Washington with her husband Jerry, her Papillon Millie, black cat Zipper, and a cheeky little tabby named Jack.

Reviews

[Stacy · Rating 2 out of 5]

John Elliot, the Marquis of Granville, escaped from being murdered at sea and managed to also save his small cousin, although not her parents. As the two escape to Bath John plans revenge against Bernard Leggit by having a very public affair with Bernard’s wife, Hattie. Hattie is 40 years younger than Bernard and was forced to marry him to save her parents and she thinks an affair with John might suit her purposes as well. The two do not count on falling for each other or how dangerous and twisted Bernard really is.

I did not care for this historical romance even though I picked it off my shelf because I was in the mood to be swept away and off my feet. I did not like or feel any sympathy for John or Hattie. They were cold fish to me and I never did warm up to them. There were a lot of characters in the book and there was quite a bit going on, but I was bored. I almost gave up on it a hundred pages in, but I have a hard time doing that. I will say that my reading pace picked up not because I couldn’t wait to get to the next page, but because I couldn’t wait to get to the last page.

[Lucimar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Um Romance inconveniente, é um histórico recheado de personagens principais e secundários fortes e com uma história diferente que poderia ter rendido melhor. No entanto, os diálogos confusos, às vezes perdidos, não me permitiram apreciá-lo devidamente.Faltou algo um tempero que nem mesmo sei qual foi. Havia um nota discordante entre os personagens. Alguns dos personagens secundários pareciam misteriosos (e fascinantes) sem que seus mistérios fossem explicados e creio que a autora falhou quando deu uma vaga ideia se eram aquilo que aparentavam.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book as a fun read, but nothing more. The characters lost their credibility early on. I like fun characters, but the lead character went from fun to ditzy too quickly.

[Frances · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am ashamed to have finished this book. Dumb does not say enough.

[UrPrincesss · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first and middle parts of the story is boring me. But in the last few pages, it gets exciting. And the fight (can you even call it that?) with Leggit is super anti climactic. I also kinda hate the unexpected and unnecessary betrayal by someone

[Linda Klages · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh what a tangled web we weave, when we try to deceive.........good book.

[Louise Broadfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

i enjoyed this book. it was a nice eays read. i hope the 2nd one is just as good.

[Veronica Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice historical romance.