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Regency Love & Laughter Series #4
All a Woman Wants
Kidnapping his sister's small children to rescue them from abuse and neglect, determined American Lachlan MacTavish searches for a place to hide and someone to care for his young charges, until he meets Beatrice Cavendish, owner of a near-bankrupt estate she inherited from her father. Original.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 2001
781 people are currently reading
447 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Rice
153 books513 followersWith several million books in print and New York Times and USA Today's bestseller lists under her belt, former CPA Patricia Rice writes emotionally-charged contemporary and historical romances which have won numerous awards, including the RT Book Reviews Reviewers Choice and Career Achievement Awards.
Her books have also been honored as Romance Writers of America RITA® finalists in the historical, regency and contemporary categories.
A firm believer in happily-ever-after for good reason, Patricia Rice is married to her high school sweetheart and has two children. A native of Kentucky and New York, a past resident of North Carolina and Missouri, she currently resides in Southern California, and now does accounting only for herself.
She also writes under the pen name Jamie Quaid
Her books have also been honored as Romance Writers of America RITA® finalists in the historical, regency and contemporary categories.
A firm believer in happily-ever-after for good reason, Patricia Rice is married to her high school sweetheart and has two children. A native of Kentucky and New York, a past resident of North Carolina and Missouri, she currently resides in Southern California, and now does accounting only for herself.
She also writes under the pen name Jamie Quaid
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
December 24, 2017
Mac and Bea
Lachlan "Mac" Warwick MacTavish is an American who discovers his dead sister's children are neglected by their father, Viscount Simmons. Rescuing the children, Mac shows up on the doorstep of Beatrice "Bea" Cavendish's house looking for help. Bea, whose father has passed, wants someone to teach her how to manage her estate. The two strike a deal not counting on the attraction sparking between them. Can Mac hide the children from their father until he sets sail for America? Will Mac be able to teach estate management to Bea while escaping Bea's aunt's matchmaking attempts?
This novel was a quick read. The main character Bea is a sheltered innocent for a 28 year old. She doesn't even know how babies are made. She was not to worry her pretty little head about matters outside her parlor. The hero Mac is a knight in messed up clothes. The children are always messing up his clothing and hair. Mac grows to love the children and is very patient and gentle with them. My favorite secondary characters are Bea's aunt, Lady Taubee, and James, Bea's cousin, her footman. Both provided chuckles with their antics and attitudes. The plot is simple but fuels the motivation for the characters' growth. This is the fourth book in the series. I did not feel like I missed reading the the first three books, though, I'm look forward to reading them now.
Lachlan "Mac" Warwick MacTavish is an American who discovers his dead sister's children are neglected by their father, Viscount Simmons. Rescuing the children, Mac shows up on the doorstep of Beatrice "Bea" Cavendish's house looking for help. Bea, whose father has passed, wants someone to teach her how to manage her estate. The two strike a deal not counting on the attraction sparking between them. Can Mac hide the children from their father until he sets sail for America? Will Mac be able to teach estate management to Bea while escaping Bea's aunt's matchmaking attempts?
This novel was a quick read. The main character Bea is a sheltered innocent for a 28 year old. She doesn't even know how babies are made. She was not to worry her pretty little head about matters outside her parlor. The hero Mac is a knight in messed up clothes. The children are always messing up his clothing and hair. Mac grows to love the children and is very patient and gentle with them. My favorite secondary characters are Bea's aunt, Lady Taubee, and James, Bea's cousin, her footman. Both provided chuckles with their antics and attitudes. The plot is simple but fuels the motivation for the characters' growth. This is the fourth book in the series. I did not feel like I missed reading the the first three books, though, I'm look forward to reading them now.
Read
November 19, 2020DNF
At first I was relieved to find a heroine who was willing to admit that she might need help with learning how to govern her father’s estate. But, when she scoffed and questioned every suggestion the H made and the story DRAGGED…
Maybe come back later.
At first I was relieved to find a heroine who was willing to admit that she might need help with learning how to govern her father’s estate. But, when she scoffed and questioned every suggestion the H made and the story DRAGGED…
Maybe come back later.
April 12, 2013
This release of All a Woman Wants by Patricia Rice is a re-release in e book format. This book was originally published in 2001.
Thanks to Librarything for the early review digital copy.
Beatrice finds herself alone trying to run her father's farming operation after his sudden death. She never even got to finish her education and now the farm is going to seed quickly. Her only option is to start selling things off in hopes of making payroll.
Before she can think of any other way out of her dire situation, a brash American with two small childen in tow, shows up looking for her Nanny who was recently deceased.
Mac has his future mapped out. He is a businessman with no desire for the traditional family life. He wants to sail the seas and live a life of adventure. But before he sets sail for America he wants to check in on his sister. What he finds when he arrives at her home is unbelievable. He finds his beloved sister has died in childbirth and no one even tried to notify his family. The baby is found in the nursery screaming and wet and dirty with the maids explaining the father is drunk and passed out.
So, Mac kidnaps the kids, and goes in search of a Nanny he was told about. What he finds instead is that the Nanny is dead. He then finds himself stricking a deal with the lovely lady Beatrice. She will allow him to stay there with his kids until he finds a proper nursemaid and he will teach her how to run the farm.
Things go from bad to worse when the kid's father awakens to find his children gone and begins searching for Mac. Not only that, Bea's aunt arrives and manipulates Mac into agreeing to a marriage to Bea.
Bea doesn't want marriage, she wants an education and independence.
These two people come from entirely different backgrounds, with different goals for their futures. Mac wants to proceed with his business and adventures, while Bea insist on staying on her land and working for the community. To make a relationship work, each will have to grow up and accept that life is full of compromises and will have to learn if their dreams are more important than a life with each other.
Mac is a normal red blooded American male. He is like many men of the era, believing women belonged in the kitchen and bedroom and were otherwise in the way. He especially feels uncomfortable with real ladies.
Bea is tired of being treated as though she doesn't need an education, that she should marry someone to run the farm because a woman couldn't possibly be sucessful. Women should be knitting and having babies.
The story was good, but there really wasn't alot going on sometimes. There were times when it seemed like we were stuck in a rut. The back and forth between Bea and Mac was drawn out a little too long before the action started to take place. The last several chapters were really action packed when Bea and Mac both were forced to stop over thinking everything and DO something one way or the other.
Not the best historical of all time, but still enjoyable. Overall a B-
Thanks to Librarything for the early review digital copy.
Beatrice finds herself alone trying to run her father's farming operation after his sudden death. She never even got to finish her education and now the farm is going to seed quickly. Her only option is to start selling things off in hopes of making payroll.
Before she can think of any other way out of her dire situation, a brash American with two small childen in tow, shows up looking for her Nanny who was recently deceased.
Mac has his future mapped out. He is a businessman with no desire for the traditional family life. He wants to sail the seas and live a life of adventure. But before he sets sail for America he wants to check in on his sister. What he finds when he arrives at her home is unbelievable. He finds his beloved sister has died in childbirth and no one even tried to notify his family. The baby is found in the nursery screaming and wet and dirty with the maids explaining the father is drunk and passed out.
So, Mac kidnaps the kids, and goes in search of a Nanny he was told about. What he finds instead is that the Nanny is dead. He then finds himself stricking a deal with the lovely lady Beatrice. She will allow him to stay there with his kids until he finds a proper nursemaid and he will teach her how to run the farm.
Things go from bad to worse when the kid's father awakens to find his children gone and begins searching for Mac. Not only that, Bea's aunt arrives and manipulates Mac into agreeing to a marriage to Bea.
Bea doesn't want marriage, she wants an education and independence.
These two people come from entirely different backgrounds, with different goals for their futures. Mac wants to proceed with his business and adventures, while Bea insist on staying on her land and working for the community. To make a relationship work, each will have to grow up and accept that life is full of compromises and will have to learn if their dreams are more important than a life with each other.
Mac is a normal red blooded American male. He is like many men of the era, believing women belonged in the kitchen and bedroom and were otherwise in the way. He especially feels uncomfortable with real ladies.
Bea is tired of being treated as though she doesn't need an education, that she should marry someone to run the farm because a woman couldn't possibly be sucessful. Women should be knitting and having babies.
The story was good, but there really wasn't alot going on sometimes. There were times when it seemed like we were stuck in a rut. The back and forth between Bea and Mac was drawn out a little too long before the action started to take place. The last several chapters were really action packed when Bea and Mac both were forced to stop over thinking everything and DO something one way or the other.
Not the best historical of all time, but still enjoyable. Overall a B-
did-not-finish
February 11, 2018I yield at 50%. I am just not getting into the H/h and this is too much wallpaper for my tastes. Reader tastes vary, but even with a romance I want to feel like I'm in the period, and I'm not getting that with this book. Bah. Life is too short.
August 3, 2014
This was a very well written and engaging book. The only reason I gave it 3 stars instead of 4, is because I felt it bogged down in the middle. The heroine was afraid to have sex with the hero, and she spent the middle part of the book putting emotional distance between them. Her fear was based on her ignorance, and the things she had heard "proper" ladies say about sex. I just felt it dragged on too long. Other than that, I enjoyed the book, and will definitely seek out Ms. Rice's other books.
December 3, 2021
I'm not even going to review this book the rating should say it all. I didn't even finish the book. There were no high points in the book. Nada. Both protagonist were just boring. Guy: Big brute. Girl: Shy. It just didn't do it for me
January 2, 2015
Good book. Lachlan MacTavish, or "Mac", is an American businessman who has come to England to take delivery of his new clipper ship and check up on his sister. He arrives at her home to discover that she is dead and her two children are being neglected and abused. So he kidnaps them and desperately starts looking for a nanny and somewhere to hide until his ship is ready to sail. This leads him to Beatrice's estate, where he's dismayed to find out that the nanny has passed away.
Bea has spent the last several months trying to keep her estate going, after the death of her father. Her father had been overprotective of her, with very old-fashioned ideas of a woman's place. Therefore, she had very little education and no exposure to how to deal with the needs of the estate. She is desperate to find someone who can teach her what she needs to know. She had also never been anywhere outside of the village where they lived.
When Mac arrives she is somewhat overwhelmed by him. He is loud, forceful and large. But she quickly figures out that they could be helpful to each other. She offers to give him a place to stay with the children if he will teach her what she needs to know. This is where the fun begins. Bea doesn't have a lot of confidence in herself, but she knows she's smart enough to learn if someone will just teach her. She is tired of the way everyone keeps telling her just to find a husband and let him take care of it for her. She is determined to be able to do it herself and learns quickly how to stand up to Mac when he starts to ignore her. There are some really wonderful interactions between them as they learn to work together.
Mac is partly frustrated and partly intrigued by Bea. He's desperate to hide the kids from their father and grandfather until he can get them out of the country, so he doesn't feel like he has time to teach Bea what she needs to know. When he does start to show her how things should be done, she argues with him every step of the way. He also finds her incredibly beautiful, though she doesn't believe him, He is impressed by how well she handles the children.
There is also an attraction between them that gets stronger each day. Mac tries to ignore it, as he won't be staying in England and is too honorable to lead her on. Bea isn't sure what she's feeling about Mac at the beginning, but soon figures it out. While those feelings are wonderful, they also scare her because so many things are changing. When circumstances cause them to marry, Bea's nervousness creates some stress between them, but Mac finds the patience to deal with her fears. I loved seeing how Mac's support of her helped Bea overcome so many of her fears. Mac also develops more empathy for those around him thanks to Bea's influence. Both of them have their own stubborn views that they have to learn to compromise on before they can get the future they both want.
The taking of the children and Mac's determination to protect them was well done. I enjoyed seeing him try to cope with it all. I loved the how Bea's love and care for the village and its people came back to help her when those same people helped protect the children. I loved the ending, with Bea really stepping out of her comfort zone on behalf of Mac and the children, and Mac realizing just how vital Bea is to his happiness.
Bea has spent the last several months trying to keep her estate going, after the death of her father. Her father had been overprotective of her, with very old-fashioned ideas of a woman's place. Therefore, she had very little education and no exposure to how to deal with the needs of the estate. She is desperate to find someone who can teach her what she needs to know. She had also never been anywhere outside of the village where they lived.
When Mac arrives she is somewhat overwhelmed by him. He is loud, forceful and large. But she quickly figures out that they could be helpful to each other. She offers to give him a place to stay with the children if he will teach her what she needs to know. This is where the fun begins. Bea doesn't have a lot of confidence in herself, but she knows she's smart enough to learn if someone will just teach her. She is tired of the way everyone keeps telling her just to find a husband and let him take care of it for her. She is determined to be able to do it herself and learns quickly how to stand up to Mac when he starts to ignore her. There are some really wonderful interactions between them as they learn to work together.
Mac is partly frustrated and partly intrigued by Bea. He's desperate to hide the kids from their father and grandfather until he can get them out of the country, so he doesn't feel like he has time to teach Bea what she needs to know. When he does start to show her how things should be done, she argues with him every step of the way. He also finds her incredibly beautiful, though she doesn't believe him, He is impressed by how well she handles the children.
There is also an attraction between them that gets stronger each day. Mac tries to ignore it, as he won't be staying in England and is too honorable to lead her on. Bea isn't sure what she's feeling about Mac at the beginning, but soon figures it out. While those feelings are wonderful, they also scare her because so many things are changing. When circumstances cause them to marry, Bea's nervousness creates some stress between them, but Mac finds the patience to deal with her fears. I loved seeing how Mac's support of her helped Bea overcome so many of her fears. Mac also develops more empathy for those around him thanks to Bea's influence. Both of them have their own stubborn views that they have to learn to compromise on before they can get the future they both want.
The taking of the children and Mac's determination to protect them was well done. I enjoyed seeing him try to cope with it all. I loved the how Bea's love and care for the village and its people came back to help her when those same people helped protect the children. I loved the ending, with Bea really stepping out of her comfort zone on behalf of Mac and the children, and Mac realizing just how vital Bea is to his happiness.
April 15, 2013
ALL A WOMAN WANTS by Patricia Rice is an exciting Regency historical romance set in 1815 England. When a visionary and a homebody meets will love blossom? Fast paced and filled with trust and love. When Mac finds his beloved sister dead,her children abused and abandoned by their father,he set's off to get them to his parents in America. What follows is much more than he bargained for,wanted or expected. He finds Beatrice,who is left alone when her beloved father passes away,and leaves her with a huge responsibility to save her beloved home. She has never left her country estate,been sheltered from the outside world,knows not what to expect,or anything of running a huge estate on the brink of disaster. Enter Mac,his niece,nephew and a world of trouble. With humor,secrets,passion,romance and love you will not go wrong with "All A Woman Wants" which is love and happiness. A must read for any historical readers,and anyone who enjoys a great read where family is everything and worth the trouble. Received for an honest review from the author and Library Thing.
RATING: 4.5
HEAT RATING: MILD
REVIEWED BY: AprilR, My Book Addiction Reviews
RATING: 4.5
HEAT RATING: MILD
REVIEWED BY: AprilR, My Book Addiction Reviews
December 28, 2007
All a Woman Wants - Ok
Rice, Patricia
When Victorian spinster Bea Cavendish crosses paths with burly Lachlan Warwick MacTavish, a coarse Scottish-American seafarer, Bea realizes that he may be just the man who can teach her about estate management. Having lost her domineering father recently, dependent and unworldly Bea feels ill equipped to run the heavily mortgaged estate she's inherited. Fortunately, Mac has a good business mind, and he's willing to assist Bea if she agrees to find a nanny for his four-year-old nephew and infant niece. What Mac is reluctant to tell Bea is that he has kidnapped the children from their dissolute father, the Viscount Simmons, after learning of his sister's death and the Viscount's neglect. An unlikely yet heartening romance blooms between Bea and Mac as they work to repair her estate. The only factor that threatens to keep them apart is Mac's determination to sail back to America with his two charges.
Good characters, mediocre dialogue, plodding plot.
Rice, Patricia
When Victorian spinster Bea Cavendish crosses paths with burly Lachlan Warwick MacTavish, a coarse Scottish-American seafarer, Bea realizes that he may be just the man who can teach her about estate management. Having lost her domineering father recently, dependent and unworldly Bea feels ill equipped to run the heavily mortgaged estate she's inherited. Fortunately, Mac has a good business mind, and he's willing to assist Bea if she agrees to find a nanny for his four-year-old nephew and infant niece. What Mac is reluctant to tell Bea is that he has kidnapped the children from their dissolute father, the Viscount Simmons, after learning of his sister's death and the Viscount's neglect. An unlikely yet heartening romance blooms between Bea and Mac as they work to repair her estate. The only factor that threatens to keep them apart is Mac's determination to sail back to America with his two charges.
Good characters, mediocre dialogue, plodding plot.
March 13, 2018
DNF at 60%. What a useless, boring woman. I had hopes that this book would be about her growing, but we’re still just learning about more things she doesn’t know. And reiterating that, though she’s ashamed of her ignorance, she won’t actually taking any steps to change her situation because it’s scary and/or not proper.
Oh, and the fact that everyone around her can’t be bothered to teach her anything.
Oh, and the fact that everyone around her can’t be bothered to teach her anything.
March 16, 2019
This began like a light-hearted romp, but it quickly devolved into swollen crotches and heaving bosoms and the silliest pair of lovers in memory. I only finished it out of a mild curiosity over the fate of the children.
Read
December 31, 2017This book is listed on Amazon as part of a series called, "Regency Love and Laughter," and it is Book 4 of that series (though I note that here on Goodreads no series is mentioned). The problem is, this novel is definitely NOT set in the Regency. Unfortunately, after reading the whole book, I had no clear idea what year it took place in, because the author never said. She mentions corsets for the heroine and underdrawers for her and the hero, that the hero owns a clipper ship, and toward the end of the book there is a train ride and a hotel with a water closet and a bathtub with running, hot water. But that's all the clues there are. I much prefer historical novels that clearly state at the beginning of the book the date and location.
November 5, 2021
It was slow going for me at first, but a really cute story with a solid happy ending 🖤
December 30, 2017
If you enjoy historical romances you will enjoy this book.
March 3, 2013
Lady Beatrice Cavendish has been sheltered and cossetted for all of her life, to the point of becoming a spinster by her doting father. When father dies, Lady C is left with all of his debts and no idea how the world operates, which is a major source of frustration for her. She realizes the extent of how sheltered she's been and determines to become an independent woman.
Mac McTavish only plans to be in England long enough to visit his sister, who has been quiet too long, while he restocks his ship to prepare to sail back to America, where he will finally be master of his own business. Unfortunately, he finds his sister has died, and left two children behind, who are being neglected and abused by their drunken father. Rash and hot tempered, he kidnaps the children intending to take them back with him, but he needs a nanny. This need brings him to the door of Lady C, who seems to be the only one who can direct him to the nanny he is searching out.
Circumstances force Mac to take refuge with Lady Cavendish - she will help him shelter the children if he will help her learn how to manage the nearly bankrupt estate left to her charge.
It took me some time to invest myself in the story, but as it unfolded, I found myself drawn into the author's character studies. Two diametrically opposed personalities coming toward middle ground. I found the journey entertaining and the growth in the characters endearing, and yet there was still the dilemma of "home" to be settled once they found their way to each other. I enjoyed watching Lady C come out of her shell and the tremendous character growth she underwent. The romance I felt was done very well, and compared to other romance novels where the characters are carried away with hormones, this story had a more realistic approach to the physical side of things. It may have been drawn out overly long, and some of the "wickedness" might have been dealt with during the courtship so that by the marriage it wasn't quite as taboo. I was left wondering how they were going to determine where to live until the very end, seeing options open up. I can't say I'm satisfied with the choice that was made, but without writing another hundred pages to alter the decision, it worked. Obviously, one character had to make a big sacrifice, but as the book was about compromise, I might have preferred more middle ground.
Mac McTavish only plans to be in England long enough to visit his sister, who has been quiet too long, while he restocks his ship to prepare to sail back to America, where he will finally be master of his own business. Unfortunately, he finds his sister has died, and left two children behind, who are being neglected and abused by their drunken father. Rash and hot tempered, he kidnaps the children intending to take them back with him, but he needs a nanny. This need brings him to the door of Lady C, who seems to be the only one who can direct him to the nanny he is searching out.
Circumstances force Mac to take refuge with Lady Cavendish - she will help him shelter the children if he will help her learn how to manage the nearly bankrupt estate left to her charge.
It took me some time to invest myself in the story, but as it unfolded, I found myself drawn into the author's character studies. Two diametrically opposed personalities coming toward middle ground. I found the journey entertaining and the growth in the characters endearing, and yet there was still the dilemma of "home" to be settled once they found their way to each other. I enjoyed watching Lady C come out of her shell and the tremendous character growth she underwent. The romance I felt was done very well, and compared to other romance novels where the characters are carried away with hormones, this story had a more realistic approach to the physical side of things. It may have been drawn out overly long, and some of the "wickedness" might have been dealt with during the courtship so that by the marriage it wasn't quite as taboo. I was left wondering how they were going to determine where to live until the very end, seeing options open up. I can't say I'm satisfied with the choice that was made, but without writing another hundred pages to alter the decision, it worked. Obviously, one character had to make a big sacrifice, but as the book was about compromise, I might have preferred more middle ground.
March 27, 2013
3 STARS
All a Woman Wants is a historical romance. The plot is simple Mac sails from America to London to sell his cargo and look into how his sister his doing. His family has not heard from her for months. Mac is surprised to find that his sister died months ago in childbirth.
His nephew and niece are not being taken care off. His nephew has a broken arm and the children are being drugged. His brother-in-law
is a drunk. The nurse maids are not taking care of the children.
Mac decides to take the children and sail back home and letting his parents raise the kids right. He goes to the country to find the nanny he is told and finds she has died too.
Bea's father died and left her the estate but she was never taught how to take care of everything. Plus it's in debt. She is shy and hardly ever leaves the estate. She needs someone to teach her how to run it right and read the account books.
When Mac his guided to her estate they make a deal. He and the children can stay and Mac will teach her what he can till his new ship is ready to sail and he finds a new nanny to sail with him to take care of the children. Mac would rather do than show Bea how to run the estate. He yells a lot but is turning things around slowly.
The children's father regrets that he signed away his children and is looking for them. His father is a powerful Earl and if he does not have the kids won't recieve money for their care.
It is a nice story. Too many love scene details in it. I like that Bea wants to learn things not just let people around her make the decisions. She also wants to help her people. Mac is big,rough and loud. But he cares for the kids and his willing to go to jail for the kids safety.
I was given this ebook to read as part of Librarything early review program. The contents are my own opinion of the story.
Publisher: Rice Enterprises (January 6, 2013) 306 pages ASIN: B00AXQAFWY
All a Woman Wants is a historical romance. The plot is simple Mac sails from America to London to sell his cargo and look into how his sister his doing. His family has not heard from her for months. Mac is surprised to find that his sister died months ago in childbirth.
His nephew and niece are not being taken care off. His nephew has a broken arm and the children are being drugged. His brother-in-law
is a drunk. The nurse maids are not taking care of the children.
Mac decides to take the children and sail back home and letting his parents raise the kids right. He goes to the country to find the nanny he is told and finds she has died too.
Bea's father died and left her the estate but she was never taught how to take care of everything. Plus it's in debt. She is shy and hardly ever leaves the estate. She needs someone to teach her how to run it right and read the account books.
When Mac his guided to her estate they make a deal. He and the children can stay and Mac will teach her what he can till his new ship is ready to sail and he finds a new nanny to sail with him to take care of the children. Mac would rather do than show Bea how to run the estate. He yells a lot but is turning things around slowly.
The children's father regrets that he signed away his children and is looking for them. His father is a powerful Earl and if he does not have the kids won't recieve money for their care.
It is a nice story. Too many love scene details in it. I like that Bea wants to learn things not just let people around her make the decisions. She also wants to help her people. Mac is big,rough and loud. But he cares for the kids and his willing to go to jail for the kids safety.
I was given this ebook to read as part of Librarything early review program. The contents are my own opinion of the story.
Publisher: Rice Enterprises (January 6, 2013) 306 pages ASIN: B00AXQAFWY
May 26, 2016
this story starts out great: interesting, fast-paced and a quick getting-to-know the hero and the heroine. i really thought this was going to be a terrific story. the middle of the book got very slow and trite. and then the end of the book was kind of "recipe". they could have sold the horses. the father of the children signed over custody and then "took it back" somehow; this was never mentioned again. Bea and Mac discussed that she would stay on her property, then later, Mac acted like that had never happened. all in all, the start was great -- really great; but after that the plot just couldn't stay at the same level.
December 7, 2017
A lovely read
A 28 year-old red haired reclusive Lady Beatrice has not been trained in how to handle the family estate. But with her father dead and bills coming due she has no choice. She must find a teacher and quickly. The fresh from American merchant captain attempting to rescue his dead sister's children needs sanctuary. Can the come to terms?
Both are tail and intelligent. But with a little help, a hint of coercion and a shared soft heart for hurt children many minor miracles can be accomplished. There will be stormy seas and a great deal of hard work before them. This adventure, tossing lives topsy turvy, must be navigated. I found the journey deft, fun, and endearing. An a woman of hidden strengths, who has no confidence, must learn if she is to save the estate and not be forced upon the marriage mart of the ton. She must be shown that she is neither homely, awkward, nor a spinster. He must learn patience and trust while he waits for the shipyard to complete building his vessel.
A 28 year-old red haired reclusive Lady Beatrice has not been trained in how to handle the family estate. But with her father dead and bills coming due she has no choice. She must find a teacher and quickly. The fresh from American merchant captain attempting to rescue his dead sister's children needs sanctuary. Can the come to terms?
Both are tail and intelligent. But with a little help, a hint of coercion and a shared soft heart for hurt children many minor miracles can be accomplished. There will be stormy seas and a great deal of hard work before them. This adventure, tossing lives topsy turvy, must be navigated. I found the journey deft, fun, and endearing. An a woman of hidden strengths, who has no confidence, must learn if she is to save the estate and not be forced upon the marriage mart of the ton. She must be shown that she is neither homely, awkward, nor a spinster. He must learn patience and trust while he waits for the shipyard to complete building his vessel.
January 18, 2018
It ended well, but I found myself really aggravated when he asked her to marry him, fully intending to leave her behind for long periods of time to go off and sail on long voyages. Even after she confronted him about his possibly leaving her pregnant and alone. Normally this would be no worse than any other woman married to a sailor, but in her case she is the owner of a bankrupt estate and has no training on ANYTHING that has to do with real life - she has never left her estate and has never even been taught about the birds and the bees. She is beyond sheltered, a virtual babe in the woods. She kept asking to be taught things rather than having him just take care of them, leaving her just as helpless as before. I can't believe how long it took him to realize he needs to stick around at least until she is able to stand on her own two feet. Jeez. Made him kind of unlikable.
February 28, 2020
An interesting juxtaposition of opposites, this book pits a brash American with no respect for class distinctions or social polish against a gently reared English Amazon who is learning to think and act for herself while hampered by years of being cossetted by a father, now dead. You can imagine the difficulties of finding common ground. I was fascinated to discover that my pet peeve of people jumping into sex too soon could be counterbalanced by frustration that it took so long. Ms. Rice certainly knows how to push all my buttons. I loved watching Bea grow into a woman who stands up for herself and Mac into a gentler, more understanding man.
January 25, 2024
Lachlan “Mac” Warwick MacTavish goes to London to visit his sister and finds out his sister had died and her husband the Viscount Simmons is nowhere to be found. Mac takes his sister’s bratty children to take them back to his parents in Virginia. Beatrice “Bea” Cavendish inherits her father’s estate and finds it hard to manage with little money. Mac shows up with his nephew Percy and niece Pamela to Bea’s doorstep to help her manage her estate if she helps him take care of the children. They both agree and soon a romantic relationship starts between them. I really enjoyed this wonderful historical romance novel.
December 21, 2017
Well~crafted. I liked that though Lady Bestrice has some insecurity issues, the author has not dragged the Lady's angst to an annoying level (thereby earning this particular reader's gratitude in the process). This is a fun story with some mysteries with hilarious reveals, not too light ~ compared to the mangled regencies/historicals without any regard to timeline/genre that have cropped up these past years ~ and peopled with more relatable characters and put in more realistic situations. All together a very solid work.
October 10, 2021
Definitely an author I can rely on to give me a good read.
This is a really heartwarming story.
I think many women of those times would have been as ignorant as Beatrice when it comes to sex, and I liked the realism this added to the story, and Mac's patience with her made him even more likable.
There is a great moment later in the book (no spoilers) where Bea's servants all come to her aid, I really loved that scene, one of the most heartwarming in a book with plenty of that.
To sum up, good characters, plenty of action/drama, and a lovely romance, oh and humour too, which I always enjoy.
This is a really heartwarming story.
I think many women of those times would have been as ignorant as Beatrice when it comes to sex, and I liked the realism this added to the story, and Mac's patience with her made him even more likable.
There is a great moment later in the book (no spoilers) where Bea's servants all come to her aid, I really loved that scene, one of the most heartwarming in a book with plenty of that.
To sum up, good characters, plenty of action/drama, and a lovely romance, oh and humour too, which I always enjoy.
December 18, 2022
The Awakening
Very enjoyable, I read way into the night trying to finish the book. It wad a good mix of drama, humor and passion. Both Mac and Bea were wonderful characters and were accompanied by other wonderful characters who served to make the story come alive while adding their own flavour. The activities of the children, especially Buddy were a bit farfetched but could still be believable.
If you enjoy reading about characters thumbing their noses at aristocracy then you will like this story.
Very enjoyable, I read way into the night trying to finish the book. It wad a good mix of drama, humor and passion. Both Mac and Bea were wonderful characters and were accompanied by other wonderful characters who served to make the story come alive while adding their own flavour. The activities of the children, especially Buddy were a bit farfetched but could still be believable.
If you enjoy reading about characters thumbing their noses at aristocracy then you will like this story.
March 23, 2019
Good story
I enjoyed reading this period romantic romp. The story is character driven and doesn't bog down on historical details. If you want to know exactly what year the story occurs and an overview of current events and fashion, this isn't that book. But if you enjoy a heart filled portrayal of the meaning of family and courage in the face of change than I think you'd find this story worthwhile.
I enjoyed reading this period romantic romp. The story is character driven and doesn't bog down on historical details. If you want to know exactly what year the story occurs and an overview of current events and fashion, this isn't that book. But if you enjoy a heart filled portrayal of the meaning of family and courage in the face of change than I think you'd find this story worthwhile.
January 1, 2018
I have read all the magic books from Patricia Rice, so when I got this one I wasn't sure about it. But after reading it I really enjoyed the different twist to the story. Patricia Rice is such a good writer and I enjoy her use history settings in her books. The women in the story always have a mind and the men actually do something. This is a must read book.
October 16, 2020
Well...
What I can say with confidence is that Patricia Rice went from this to books that are much, much better. Her Ives/Malcolms period books are gems. This one is pretty much coal. I would advise skipping this one and going for the later ones, unless you want to see how Rice developed as an author. Everyone has to start somewhere.
What I can say with confidence is that Patricia Rice went from this to books that are much, much better. Her Ives/Malcolms period books are gems. This one is pretty much coal. I would advise skipping this one and going for the later ones, unless you want to see how Rice developed as an author. Everyone has to start somewhere.
November 12, 2021
Magical
Totally loved this book. It was heartwarming, charming, suspenseful and intriguing. The characters were lovable and well developed. The storyline was original and fascinating. The writing was well done with few typos and grammatical errors. The dialogue was delicious and very often laugh-out-loud humorous. Highly recommend this book.
Totally loved this book. It was heartwarming, charming, suspenseful and intriguing. The characters were lovable and well developed. The storyline was original and fascinating. The writing was well done with few typos and grammatical errors. The dialogue was delicious and very often laugh-out-loud humorous. Highly recommend this book.
April 5, 2022
For the most part, I enjoyed this well written book. Lady Beatrice’s father dies and she is left with an estate she has no idea how to run. Mac, an American captain, agrees to teach her what she needs to know. The main characters are interesting and nicely portrayed and I enjoyed the two children. The story dragged a bit in the middle but all in all, a nice read with a satisfactory HEA.
January 5, 2018
The description is quite correct. As this is a romance novel, the reader "knows" that Beatrice and Mac are going to get together, but it's the journey that they take to have a happy marriage.
This book is not for minors, but may be an introduction to feminism.
This book is not for minors, but may be an introduction to feminism.
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