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The Earl's Intended Wife
would she be his bride?
Hebe Carlton had little idea of her own charm until Major Alex Beresford arrived on the island of Malta. She made no attempt to cast out lures and treated him with warm practicality, showing an insight and ability to read him that few others had managed. His attentions made Hebe blossom, and her stepmother began to entertain hopes of a wedding.
Then a letter arrived for Alex. The proposal of marriage he'd made to another before ever meeting Hebe had been accepted at last. He should be happy… But now Alex could only contemplate marrying one person—and it wasn't his betrothed!
Hebe Carlton had little idea of her own charm until Major Alex Beresford arrived on the island of Malta. She made no attempt to cast out lures and treated him with warm practicality, showing an insight and ability to read him that few others had managed. His attentions made Hebe blossom, and her stepmother began to entertain hopes of a wedding.
Then a letter arrived for Alex. The proposal of marriage he'd made to another before ever meeting Hebe had been accepted at last. He should be happy… But now Alex could only contemplate marrying one person—and it wasn't his betrothed!
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
About the author
Louise Allen
415 books334 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
This author also writes under the name Francesca Shaw.
I have had my nose buried in a history book - fact or fiction - for as long as I can remember, but even more important to me are the places and the objects that conjure up the past. My first attempt at historical fiction at the age of eight was three pages of improbable medieval drama set in the local castle.
With a degree in geography and archaeology I love to try and 'read' the landscape and the buildings in it for clues about the past. Virtually any place can trigger ideas for plots, but I am particularly inspired by Venice, Burgundy, Mediterranean islands and the Hertfordshire and Norfolk countryside.
I live in England in a village in Bedfordshire with my long-suffering husband. He is not sure whether to be flattered or alarmed to be told he is the inspiration for all my romantic heroes! Whenever possible we escape to our cottage on the North Norfolk coast where Percy, the bossy pheasant, allows us to share the garden.
My resolution every time I start on a new plot is to plan it carefully, make copious notes first and write lots of drafts in a disciplined and orderly manner. What inevitably happens is that the story starts to write itself in my head until it gets completely out of control - meanwhile my study floor becomes a sea of open books, prints and maps and I am found sitting in the car at traffic lights, muttering dialogue. At that point I have to start writing, knowing full well that the hero and heroine are going to take over and sabotage all my attempts at discipline. It is, after all, their story.
This author also writes under the name Francesca Shaw.
I have had my nose buried in a history book - fact or fiction - for as long as I can remember, but even more important to me are the places and the objects that conjure up the past. My first attempt at historical fiction at the age of eight was three pages of improbable medieval drama set in the local castle.
With a degree in geography and archaeology I love to try and 'read' the landscape and the buildings in it for clues about the past. Virtually any place can trigger ideas for plots, but I am particularly inspired by Venice, Burgundy, Mediterranean islands and the Hertfordshire and Norfolk countryside.
I live in England in a village in Bedfordshire with my long-suffering husband. He is not sure whether to be flattered or alarmed to be told he is the inspiration for all my romantic heroes! Whenever possible we escape to our cottage on the North Norfolk coast where Percy, the bossy pheasant, allows us to share the garden.
My resolution every time I start on a new plot is to plan it carefully, make copious notes first and write lots of drafts in a disciplined and orderly manner. What inevitably happens is that the story starts to write itself in my head until it gets completely out of control - meanwhile my study floor becomes a sea of open books, prints and maps and I am found sitting in the car at traffic lights, muttering dialogue. At that point I have to start writing, knowing full well that the hero and heroine are going to take over and sabotage all my attempts at discipline. It is, after all, their story.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
October 25, 2011
I really enjoyed this story set during the Napoleonic Wars. There is a bit of angst which I like. This was more of a traditional regency as the people acted correctly for their times and did not hop in and out of bed with impunity. Well written with good feel for the times, very clear descriptions etc. The plot made sense and the pacing etc., was good. The hero was very noble and I quite liked him and the heroine was a charming sensible girl.
thanks, willaful for the recommend.
thanks, willaful for the recommend.
September 14, 2020
This one was just OK. I didn't enjoy it that much. No real OP drama, questionable intimate scene
I just didn't feel the chemistry between the MCs and their love was built on very little. There was some cute banter, but that's about it.
I just didn't feel the chemistry between the MCs and their love was built on very little. There was some cute banter, but that's about it.
February 9, 2020
2.5 well written stars.
This is an early one of L. Allens, not quite as enjoyable for me. It has the dreaded "Big Misunderstanding" that isn't resolved in a timely manner, unlike her later books.
This is an early one of L. Allens, not quite as enjoyable for me. It has the dreaded "Big Misunderstanding" that isn't resolved in a timely manner, unlike her later books.
April 20, 2013
I loved this book up to 80%. Then I hit the wall with the "death of a good story" plot device of the Big Misunderstanding. Up to then, it was charming, humorous and one of my favourite story lines, a plain Jane who is a lovely, kind girl who is viewed by the males in environment, as just a friend, that is until our dashing hero enters the picture. Her confidence is boosted, he is smitten. The last 20% has the heroine suddenly going from a perceptive, clever mature woman to a girl blinded by her own naivety and assumptions. The last chapter was half way through before this frustrating impasse was over. I would recommend it, but I would have given it a much better rating if not for the weak ending, even though it was a happy ever after.
May 29, 2013
The thing that I absolutely adored about this book was that the male character was not your standard jerk-off Alpha Male, ready to dominate every situation, and the female protagonist was not a blushing virgin who was all, "Oooh, dominate me now!"
Alex was a perfect cross between Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley - bright, happy, perfect at smoothing over an awkward social situation, but at the same time, devastatingly wealthy and a bit intense in his role as a British spy.
I disliked the name Hebe, and I thought her family situation (orphan, raised by her stepmother and soon to be stepfather) sounded like a pretty convoluted excuse for her to be allowed to be unchaperoned so often. But she was smart and determined - a good match for Alex.
This was a fun read. If crazy misunderstandings drive you crazy (long after the couple has agreed to get married, they are both still sure that the other secretly hates them) then maybe you should pass. Also...
A nice Regency that begins in tropical Malta and ends in London.
Alex was a perfect cross between Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley - bright, happy, perfect at smoothing over an awkward social situation, but at the same time, devastatingly wealthy and a bit intense in his role as a British spy.
I disliked the name Hebe, and I thought her family situation (orphan, raised by her stepmother and soon to be stepfather) sounded like a pretty convoluted excuse for her to be allowed to be unchaperoned so often. But she was smart and determined - a good match for Alex.
This was a fun read. If crazy misunderstandings drive you crazy (long after the couple has agreed to get married, they are both still sure that the other secretly hates them) then maybe you should pass. Also...
A nice Regency that begins in tropical Malta and ends in London.
July 3, 2019
This was the first ever (!) penny dreadful romance I read over a decade ago after I nicked it from my mum's attic collection, although I remember skipping most of the romance-related stuff to get to the part about espionage, getting shipwrecked, climbing mountains and outwitting enemy soldiers....
The plot is still as ridiculous as I remembered, except for the downright rapey-stuff which I somehow completely ignored as a kid. However, it's a perfect combination of almost every Regency romance trope I've ever encountered - love triangles, arranged marriage, lots of miscommunication, letters that are delivered too late, dress porn, constant mentioning of the hero's eyes, huge amounts of pining and of course the feisty female side-kick - for which I have to give the author some credit. It's amazing how many tropes and implausible plot twists she manages to cram into the story.
The plot hasn't aged well at all, but it's one wild ride from start to finish, keeping you entertained through a mix of cheesy dialogue and unnecessary drama. It is literature written for women with boring 9 to 5 desk jobs (like me) who want to shut off their brains for a while and as such, it fulfills its purpose to perfection.
The plot is still as ridiculous as I remembered, except for the downright rapey-stuff which I somehow completely ignored as a kid. However, it's a perfect combination of almost every Regency romance trope I've ever encountered - love triangles, arranged marriage, lots of miscommunication, letters that are delivered too late, dress porn, constant mentioning of the hero's eyes, huge amounts of pining and of course the feisty female side-kick - for which I have to give the author some credit. It's amazing how many tropes and implausible plot twists she manages to cram into the story.
The plot hasn't aged well at all, but it's one wild ride from start to finish, keeping you entertained through a mix of cheesy dialogue and unnecessary drama. It is literature written for women with boring 9 to 5 desk jobs (like me) who want to shut off their brains for a while and as such, it fulfills its purpose to perfection.
April 7, 2017
I just have to start this by saying that Louise Allen titles, when not downright eyerollingly bad, are also usually inaccurate.
That aside, I did enjoy the story of Hebe (Hee-bee) and Alex. I thought their flirtations delightful, their wit charming, and Alex's attempts to be a gentleman being overset by his sudden overwhelming attraction to Hebe amusing.
However, the whole plotline more than a tad unbelievable, and seriously,
So, yes, fluff and fun and Napoleonic war shenanigans, but also a bit of me just wanting to yell, "Use your words, dagnabbit" at them for the last ten to fifteen percent of the book or so.
That aside, I did enjoy the story of Hebe (Hee-bee) and Alex. I thought their flirtations delightful, their wit charming, and Alex's attempts to be a gentleman being overset by his sudden overwhelming attraction to Hebe amusing.
However, the whole plotline more than a tad unbelievable, and seriously,
So, yes, fluff and fun and Napoleonic war shenanigans, but also a bit of me just wanting to yell, "Use your words, dagnabbit" at them for the last ten to fifteen percent of the book or so.
December 10, 2014
Old school with some classic tropes: heroine Hebe is a bit bookish but beautiful underneath it all. The hero, Alex, is a spy AND a noble scion. Hijinks and misunderstandings ensue. Their initial setting and interaction helps to elevate the book above the sometimes overwrought elements of the storyline. I did NOT like the plot twists in the last half to keep them apart. It seemed to me as if the author ran out of steam on real plot and inserted some half-baked elements to extend the tension long enough for a book.
June 1, 2024
4 stars. i loved hebe i loved alex they were just being silly. the big misunderstanding wasn't so annoying, it was the right amount of angst imo
also spoilers but idk how im feeling about the sick sa plotline? like it makes me wonder if its more about the fact that at the time women who weren't married would be told next to nothing about intimacy and she just thinks they had sex when it didn't ever get that far? also the vague description didn't help (not saying i would've liked something more graphic). this is just my two cents so take it as you will
also spoilers but idk how im feeling about the sick sa plotline? like it makes me wonder if its more about the fact that at the time women who weren't married would be told next to nothing about intimacy and she just thinks they had sex when it didn't ever get that far? also the vague description didn't help (not saying i would've liked something more graphic). this is just my two cents so take it as you will
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 20, 2025
Wonderful love story
Loved this interesting love story. Alex and Hebe were both complex and lovely, no nonsense, people who quickly fell in love and just as quickly fell apart. Hazards of War and escaping the French soldiers made this an intricate and exciting tale of love and misunderstandings. I adored all the characters in this story.
Loved this interesting love story. Alex and Hebe were both complex and lovely, no nonsense, people who quickly fell in love and just as quickly fell apart. Hazards of War and escaping the French soldiers made this an intricate and exciting tale of love and misunderstandings. I adored all the characters in this story.
October 8, 2021
Nice to learn about Malta.
October 7, 2014
Did i enjoy the novel, oh yes, well done. This is one of those regencies that straddles two worlds, historical fiction and harlequin romance. I was completely impressed at the first 3/4ths of the novel, and how excellently the plot, the characters, and the historical setting was handled. It felt real. The scene with the french soldiers felt downright menacing to me, and the aftermath was written with details that were not romantic at all, and gave the whole story a harsh light that made the story come to life. But alas, towards the end, the story started to lee towards the rocks of the standard regency romance tactics, which left me a little disappointed after all that great work. I wish that story had sailed a bit farther, I would have liked to have seen where it could have gone. Keep going, Mz Allen.
March 24, 2012
Would she be his bride?
Hebe Carlton had little idea of her own charm until Major Alex Beresford arrived on the island of Malta. She made no attempt to cast out lures and treated him with warm practicality, showing an insight and ability to read him that few others had managed. His attentions made Hebe blossom, and her stepmother began to entertain hopes of a wedding.
Then a letter arrived for Alex. The proposal of marriage he'd made to another before ever meeting Hebe had been accepted at last. He should be happy… But now Alex could only contemplate marrying one person—and it wasn't his betrothed!
The twists and turns that bring about Hebe's and Alex's joining are the perfect balance. This is another Louise Allen triumph.
Hebe Carlton had little idea of her own charm until Major Alex Beresford arrived on the island of Malta. She made no attempt to cast out lures and treated him with warm practicality, showing an insight and ability to read him that few others had managed. His attentions made Hebe blossom, and her stepmother began to entertain hopes of a wedding.
Then a letter arrived for Alex. The proposal of marriage he'd made to another before ever meeting Hebe had been accepted at last. He should be happy… But now Alex could only contemplate marrying one person—and it wasn't his betrothed!
The twists and turns that bring about Hebe's and Alex's joining are the perfect balance. This is another Louise Allen triumph.
December 16, 2011
This is an enjoyable novel. The scenes were never sluggish, and they were embellished with clear details. Their world came alive by the writing: the conversations were real and interesting, the relationship between Alex and Hebe (however delicate) took turns that were unexpected, and I ended up rooting for their future. Hebe seemed a little detached towards the end, but just when I thought I should give up on a happy ending, it turned the tides for a very acceptable finalization. The way Hebe reacted to a tragic incident towards the end was not agreeable to my taste, but overall the book was well-written.
August 30, 2016
I found Hebe to be a wonderfully original character. I liked how she thought for herself and didn't bow to the restrictions that society tried to place on her. Her reactions to the situations in which she found herself were refreshing and not at all what one might have expected to happen in this book. While the subject matter isn't lighthearted, there is a deftness to Ms. Allen's writing that made it easy for me to read this book straight through, without needing a break.
July 11, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. I was in the mood for a light romance and this story delivered. I would have given it a 5 star rating but I had to deduct a star for the too often used romance story device where the hero and heroine love each other, but believe it is unrequited, and never show their feelings under a misguided sense of honour or pride. But until the ending you are taken on an entertaining journey, especially when the couple are shipwrecked.
November 24, 2015
I remember this book very clearly from the first time and I still like it but just not as well. I think it's because of the miscommunication at the end of the book. If the characters would just be honest with each other in these books which they never seem to do.
Read
July 14, 2009Alex proposed to another woman and then met Hebe Carlton. He falls in love with her and has to find a way to get out of his engagement to be with Hebe.
April 20, 2011
Good Read!
August 29, 2013
estuvo interesante, pero fue muy trágico, le doy un 3,65
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews