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Ladies of Paradise Road #3
The Rake's Unconventional Mistress
Miss Letitia Boyce didn't begrudge her sisters their fun with the pick of London's available bachelors. She'd chosen her path and knew book-learning and marriage rarely mixed. Her proof was Lord Seton Rayne, who had made it abundantly clear that an unmarried schoolma'am was of no interest to him—no matter her good connections.
Wealthy and titled, one of the most notorious rakehells in town, Seton had every heiress hurling herself at him. So his sudden kissing of captivating, unconventional Letitia took them both by surprise….
Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
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112 people want to read
About the author
Juliet Landon
78 books37 followersAs the author of books on embroidery design, the progression in 1994 from fact to fiction was perhaps less daunting for Juliet than it might have been for a complete beginner. But in many ways, the requirements are similar: a strong imagination and sense of design; an eye for detail; a love of color, scenery, and research; and a willingness to share inner thoughts and feelings with readers. Dedication is also useful to Juliet, living in the country, as the temptation to spend time picnicking and sightseeing instead of writing is sometimes very strong.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
March 18, 2010
What bothered me about this book is that the main character is portrayed as a strong, independent woman... but we hardly ever enjoy her independence. Yes, she is unusual for her time period, but I think she could have been stronger or more spirited. Any time things get difficult, she is immediately rescued by Rayne. Despite her supposed intelligence and independence, she is very naive and seems to need Rayne around to make the smart "manly" protective decisions, which weakned her as a character.
I felt the plot meandered a bit, too. There was no one climax or great turning point, rather there were many subplots scattered throughout, meaning that while the story was fun, I never found it particularly gripping.
I also found the clichees a little amusing (bluestocking who writes racy novels and even meets Jane Austen!) but the book was a fun read regardless.
I felt the plot meandered a bit, too. There was no one climax or great turning point, rather there were many subplots scattered throughout, meaning that while the story was fun, I never found it particularly gripping.
I also found the clichees a little amusing (bluestocking who writes racy novels and even meets Jane Austen!) but the book was a fun read regardless.
July 28, 2024
Ho completato anche il terzo volume perché ormai avevo il libro in mano, ed in effetti è il migliore dei tre.
Tuttavia, anche qui il protagonista (il già noto Lord Seton Rayne) è da prendere a sberloni, tutti sono un po’ detestabili e la protagonista (che dovrebbe essere una guida per le proprie allieve e in privato scrive opere d'amore audaci) è una barchetta di carta in balia degli eventi.
La mia esperienza con quest’autrice finisce qua.
Tuttavia, anche qui il protagonista (il già noto Lord Seton Rayne) è da prendere a sberloni, tutti sono un po’ detestabili e la protagonista (che dovrebbe essere una guida per le proprie allieve e in privato scrive opere d'amore audaci) è una barchetta di carta in balia degli eventi.
La mia esperienza con quest’autrice finisce qua.
June 25, 2019
Some things plot-wise stretched credulity, and I do wish the heroine was a bit more proactive in taking her destiny in her own hands without relying on her manly hero to do so. I mean, she is allegedly strong and independent but though the “telling” part was clear, there was very little to “show” for that trait. Overall, enjoyable read with many thanks to a friend for the donation.
January 4, 2018
Leído en Dic 2012
2.5 estrellas
2.5 estrellas
October 18, 2018
A delightful and exciting warm love story about a blue-stocking school mamsel for a knowledge-hungry blue-stocking herself.
Read
April 4, 2009Throughly enjoyable.
Letitia Boyce is not your average heroine. She is an independent young woman who has started a seminary to teach young ladies. She is an author. She is outspoken and completely lovable. Always told that blue-stockings did not get married, she is determined to have a life she can be proud of with or without her mother's approval.
Lord Seton Rayne is a rakehell and very full of himself, in Letitia opinion. They clash every time they meet. Oh but that does spark the interest in Rayne for Letitia. She is a challenge and hopelessly in need of protection. The woman is to delictable for her own good. She seems unaware of the men who can't keep their eyes off her. He helps her out of one scrape after another, slowly working his way into her life, even though she fights him. Soon she begins to think that he may just be the man to help her gain the experience she needs if she is to make her book characters more believable.
And the book keeps getting better and better from that point on.
Letitia Boyce is not your average heroine. She is an independent young woman who has started a seminary to teach young ladies. She is an author. She is outspoken and completely lovable. Always told that blue-stockings did not get married, she is determined to have a life she can be proud of with or without her mother's approval.
Lord Seton Rayne is a rakehell and very full of himself, in Letitia opinion. They clash every time they meet. Oh but that does spark the interest in Rayne for Letitia. She is a challenge and hopelessly in need of protection. The woman is to delictable for her own good. She seems unaware of the men who can't keep their eyes off her. He helps her out of one scrape after another, slowly working his way into her life, even though she fights him. Soon she begins to think that he may just be the man to help her gain the experience she needs if she is to make her book characters more believable.
And the book keeps getting better and better from that point on.
January 26, 2010
Heroine is acknowledged bluestocking who’s opened a seminary for young ladies. She meets the rake who’s been escorting her younger twin sisters and isn’t impressed. Then she meets him again on the military training ground where he’s instructing new cavalry officers, and is less impressed. This has a lot of clichéd elements—the intellectual heroine who secretly writes scandalous novels and Also has a girl’s school, the rakish hero who wants to be in control—but they are done so well. The sparks in the conversation could almost catch the pages on fire. This was an entertaining, well done story, IMO, and held up well the second time I read it.
December 26, 2019
While the third instalment of the Ladies of Paradise Road, the story successfully stands on its own merit.
The heroine of the story is not only a headmistress but also secretly a novelist. This is done in a unique way by Juliet Landon which I found intriguing.
While the hero of the tale is meant to be a rake, throughout the story I found his character to be too sincere and while typical of an aristocrat in other ways, he was too infatuated with the heroine for me to have believed him to be such a rakehell as at first described by the heroine.
This tale captivated me from start to end. Highly recommended to lovers of Regency tales.
The heroine of the story is not only a headmistress but also secretly a novelist. This is done in a unique way by Juliet Landon which I found intriguing.
While the hero of the tale is meant to be a rake, throughout the story I found his character to be too sincere and while typical of an aristocrat in other ways, he was too infatuated with the heroine for me to have believed him to be such a rakehell as at first described by the heroine.
This tale captivated me from start to end. Highly recommended to lovers of Regency tales.
March 23, 2020
Muy malo, he estado debatiéndome entre una y dos estrellas. No hay nada salvable salvo, tal vez, que la escritura no te da ganas de querer sacarte los ojos motivo por el que me he decantado por las dos estrellas. Sin embargo, todo lo demás hace aguas.
Los personajes no se hacen querer, principalmente porque no me parecen bien construídos y la historia da vueltas y vueltas y da la sensación de que sobran páginas porque no aportan nada. En un punto incluso me planteé abandonarlo pero como ya no me quedaba demasiado para terminar aguanté hasta el final.
Los personajes no se hacen querer, principalmente porque no me parecen bien construídos y la historia da vueltas y vueltas y da la sensación de que sobran páginas porque no aportan nada. En un punto incluso me planteé abandonarlo pero como ya no me quedaba demasiado para terminar aguanté hasta el final.
August 7, 2020
Really well put together.
August 18, 2022
Started well but the story had a sluggish pace.
July 8, 2015
I read this Regency romance a bit ago, but never got around to reviewing it. When I was looking at the list of books I’d read this year for something to post today, the title caught my eye. A quick skim, and the story has bloomed full again in my mind. That, to me, is the sign of a good book. It means not only did I enjoy it the first time round, but that the story was strong enough to leave hooks for my memory to latch on to.
The Rake’s Unconventional Mistress speaks to the women who did not choose the path of balls and the marriage mart, something as familiar to Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen as to Regency romances, but there are historical instances as well.
Lettie is a woman of conviction who believes young ladies should have more education than a list of accomplishments that make them attractive to the rakes and money hounds looking for a bride. She takes her inheritance after her father’s unfortunate death by accident and starts a school.
However, her plans are not well received by many, including her mother, and the threat of scandal is a constant one.
Why then does she let Lord Seton Rayne under her skin even as she chastises her girls for watching the soldiers on the parade grounds? Not that Rayne gives her much choice. What starts as an attempt to knock her down a peg or two soon becomes an obsession.
The story is a wonderful trek through developing passion and love while faced with the very real dangers and complications facing an unwed young lady in the Regency, though not always from the expected direction.
If you enjoy historical romance, this is one not to miss. Landon offers a complex story that touches on how people are constrained by the social conventions of the time while also showing ways they worked around them. But social niceties aren’t the only conflicts offered. I’ll say only that more than just hearts come up against risks in this book.
The Rake’s Unconventional Mistress speaks to the women who did not choose the path of balls and the marriage mart, something as familiar to Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen as to Regency romances, but there are historical instances as well.
Lettie is a woman of conviction who believes young ladies should have more education than a list of accomplishments that make them attractive to the rakes and money hounds looking for a bride. She takes her inheritance after her father’s unfortunate death by accident and starts a school.
However, her plans are not well received by many, including her mother, and the threat of scandal is a constant one.
Why then does she let Lord Seton Rayne under her skin even as she chastises her girls for watching the soldiers on the parade grounds? Not that Rayne gives her much choice. What starts as an attempt to knock her down a peg or two soon becomes an obsession.
The story is a wonderful trek through developing passion and love while faced with the very real dangers and complications facing an unwed young lady in the Regency, though not always from the expected direction.
If you enjoy historical romance, this is one not to miss. Landon offers a complex story that touches on how people are constrained by the social conventions of the time while also showing ways they worked around them. But social niceties aren’t the only conflicts offered. I’ll say only that more than just hearts come up against risks in this book.
February 22, 2012
This is one of those stories I don’t know how to rate. On one hand, the parts that I liked were worth 5 stars, on the other hand there were parts I didn’t like that don’t deserve such a high rating. So it all comes down to the percentage of like/dislike.
What I liked:
The story/romance between Lettie Boyce and Seton Rayne. It didn’t start as your typical romance, she disliked him on sight, she yelled at him on the next meeting and he kissed her angrily to knock her down a peg or two. The rest was history. They were cute together, he was persistent, she was a little blind (both literally and figuratively) and a bit thick when it came to men, their bickering was funny, the growing friendship a breath of fresh air, the hot scenes *hot*, and the scene in the attic absolutely perfect.
What I didn’t like:
It started a tad too slow for me, almost ending as a DNF, the narration was long and winding (especially in the parts that had nothing much to do with the main story), and the language the characters used (probably more accurate historically than in the rest of the historicals out there, but it still bothered me).
It’s not exactly 50/50, so I decided to give it 4 stars. The story was too good and Lettie and Seton too sweet, so the parts I didn’t particularly like lay forgotten in the end.
What I liked:
The story/romance between Lettie Boyce and Seton Rayne. It didn’t start as your typical romance, she disliked him on sight, she yelled at him on the next meeting and he kissed her angrily to knock her down a peg or two. The rest was history. They were cute together, he was persistent, she was a little blind (both literally and figuratively) and a bit thick when it came to men, their bickering was funny, the growing friendship a breath of fresh air, the hot scenes *hot*, and the scene in the attic absolutely perfect.
What I didn’t like:
It started a tad too slow for me, almost ending as a DNF, the narration was long and winding (especially in the parts that had nothing much to do with the main story), and the language the characters used (probably more accurate historically than in the rest of the historicals out there, but it still bothered me).
It’s not exactly 50/50, so I decided to give it 4 stars. The story was too good and Lettie and Seton too sweet, so the parts I didn’t particularly like lay forgotten in the end.
April 9, 2012
I have enjoyed Juliet Landon's books.
This is the 3rd book in a series Ladies of Paradise Road.
Actually the 4th if you count One Night in Paradise.
Than A Scandalous Mistress and Dishonor & Desire.
This story is of Letitia Boyce and Lord Rayne, younger brother of Lord Nicholas from A Scandalous Mistress.
Letitia is running a school for girls and what no one knows is that she has authored two very popular and somewhat scandalous books. She is quite independent.
From the moment she meets Lord Rayne she seems to be sharp tongued with him and he with her. He is known for being a rake and she don't want to be involved with him but they seem to keep ending up in situations, mostly where she needs rescuing and he is the rescuer.
Letitia is writing her 3rd book and realizes that some practical knowledge may help her with her romances. When Lord Rayne suggests she becomes his mistress she agrees, for her characters knowledge of course.
This is the 3rd book in a series Ladies of Paradise Road.
Actually the 4th if you count One Night in Paradise.
Than A Scandalous Mistress and Dishonor & Desire.
This story is of Letitia Boyce and Lord Rayne, younger brother of Lord Nicholas from A Scandalous Mistress.
Letitia is running a school for girls and what no one knows is that she has authored two very popular and somewhat scandalous books. She is quite independent.
From the moment she meets Lord Rayne she seems to be sharp tongued with him and he with her. He is known for being a rake and she don't want to be involved with him but they seem to keep ending up in situations, mostly where she needs rescuing and he is the rescuer.
Letitia is writing her 3rd book and realizes that some practical knowledge may help her with her romances. When Lord Rayne suggests she becomes his mistress she agrees, for her characters knowledge of course.
May 30, 2012
Richmond, Surrey 1814
Our hero Lord Rayne is 33 and Letitia is 24.
Yeah story wasn't that great. Could have been , but wasn't. I had read that for being a story of a "independent" woman, she sure did need to be rescued alot from Lord Rayne. Or acted like she needed him make her most important decisions. Or handle her publisher. And it's true. She's was weak while trying to act strong. And for being a woman trying to teach young girls how to act, she had no problem becoming Lord Rayne's mistress. As soon as he said she need to get out and take life by storm, she did. Not caring really how it may affect her pupils or her school. Such bull. No woman would have taken a chance like that if it could ruin her income. Not that great of a book. Mr. Waverly who helps her, as a close friend is gay. While never coming out and saying it, it's made known. I found that I liked Lord Rayne's character way more than the heroines.
Our hero Lord Rayne is 33 and Letitia is 24.
Yeah story wasn't that great. Could have been , but wasn't. I had read that for being a story of a "independent" woman, she sure did need to be rescued alot from Lord Rayne. Or acted like she needed him make her most important decisions. Or handle her publisher. And it's true. She's was weak while trying to act strong. And for being a woman trying to teach young girls how to act, she had no problem becoming Lord Rayne's mistress. As soon as he said she need to get out and take life by storm, she did. Not caring really how it may affect her pupils or her school. Such bull. No woman would have taken a chance like that if it could ruin her income. Not that great of a book. Mr. Waverly who helps her, as a close friend is gay. While never coming out and saying it, it's made known. I found that I liked Lord Rayne's character way more than the heroines.
November 10, 2016
Nota: 3,5 sobre 5. La primera novela que leo de esta autora y tengo que decir que me ha sorprendido. Narrada con estilo, buena puesta en escena, parece que estás leyendo un clásico, personajes con vocabulario y maneras de la época, divertido y con verdadero encanto, incluso pensé en el buen trabajo que había hecho el traductor, eso... durante la primera mitad de la novela, después dio un giro argumental hacia unos hechos inverosímiles o por lo menos yo no los sitúo en absoluto permitidos en esa época, además muchos hechos se relatan a tiempo pasado más que vivirlos por los protagonistas, como si no se tuviera tiempo para terminar la novela, con prisas, que te preguntas si la autora no se habrá cansado de su propia novela. Una pena, o obstante tengo que decir que la novela me ha entretenido mucho, he disfrutado leyéndola, pero por lo expuesto anteriormente no puedo ponerle la gran nota que en la primera mitad se merecía.
June 15, 2012
I'm back in my stash...it seems this is the only book I had by Juliet Landon. The story took place in 1814. First of all, the herione is a 'blue-stocking' and has gone her own way separate from her widowed mother and two sisters. When she meets the hero, she begins an adversarial relationship with him...to the point of being rude. She is definitely unlikable, but I overlooked that knowing there would be a point when the tide would turn. I got a completely different look at the use of mistresses in that era. This must have been close to the end of the Regency Period. Other authors never gave me the same impression of that subject as does Ms. Landon. Otherwise, I liked the story, but got lost a couple of times when new characters appeared. I think they may have been in an another book in the set of linked stories.
August 22, 2011
Actually the third in a series of three books, I read this one first because it's the one my library had. Now I'm going to have to try and dig up the first two....
I'm a sucker for books where the hero/heroine is an author, and really enjoyed the scenes where Lettie was working on her latest scandalous novel. The whole "you can be my socially accepted mistress and it will help out your school for young ladies" bit was more than a little far-fetched, but by the time it came around I liked the characters so much I was willing to overlook it. A fun read.
I'm a sucker for books where the hero/heroine is an author, and really enjoyed the scenes where Lettie was working on her latest scandalous novel. The whole "you can be my socially accepted mistress and it will help out your school for young ladies" bit was more than a little far-fetched, but by the time it came around I liked the characters so much I was willing to overlook it. A fun read.
December 12, 2011
Leticia Boyce runs a ladies' seminary, against the wishes of most of her family, and proves unconventional in other ways as well. This narrative is less presentist than it could be, a fact to its benefit; Leticia is less independent than she seems, though at least she's allowed to keep her dignity and there's no irritating Stockholm Syndrome. More readable than I'd expected, in short. (This was yet another temporarily free ebook, though not a Kindle promotion.)
May 4, 2011
Overall, this was a fun read. Some of the plot stretched the bounds of credibility, but it was a nice little escapist adventure, and the characters were well-drawn, and generally likeable. I would read more of her books.
March 29, 2015
Had trouble sticking with the story - Heroine's character had potential at the beginning and perhaps Hero shoed glimmers, but some of the conversation was silly and the whole section on her conversation with Jane Austen was just over the top for me...Did Not Finish
June 10, 2010
I really enjoyed this book. And I love Rayne as the hero and Lettie as the heroine. Great characters!
Want to read
April 29, 2010Picked this up as a free download
August 20, 2013
Read the norwegian version
March 27, 2012
Boring and bland. Bloring.
August 26, 2012
Silly even by romance novel standards.
December 24, 2013
Straightforward, holiday read. I don't mind that it is predictable...
dnf
October 6, 2015Yawn, and I gave up. DNf
August 17, 2017
más largo que un día sin pan
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews