What do you think?
Rate this book
Three Weddings and a Murder
This book was a limited time charity anthology and is no longer available. The authors wish to thank each person who read the anthology. Between anthology sales and private donations we raised over $10,000, which we donated to the 2012 Avon Breast Cancer Walk in Santa Barbara. Thank you, romance community!
The pleasure of your company is requested...
...at the most thrilling, sexy event of the year.
THREE WEDDINGS AND A MURDER
Four delicious, dangerous tales of love...
"The Scandalous, Dissolute, No-Good Mr. Wright" by Tessa Dare
Because of a foolish mistake in her youth, Miss Eliza Cade is not allowed "out" in Society until her three older sisters are wed. But while she's trying to be good, Eliza keeps bumping elbows--and lips--with the notorious rake Harry Wright. The passions he stirs in her are so wrong...but she just can't resist Mr. Wright.
"The Misbehaving Marquess," by Leigh LaValle
Having awaited the return of her husband for half a decade, Catherine Raybourne, the Marchioness of Foster, has no intention of reconciling with her misbehaving marquess. But when he insists he needs an heir--immediately--she must confront her own lingering desires. Can she protect her heart while attempting to win his once again?
"The Lady Always Wins," by Courtney Milan
Railway financier Simon Davenant has waited seven years for a second chance with his childhood sweetheart and best friend. He isn't about to let his impending financial ruin destroy the opportunity. This time, he'll do anything he can to secure her hand in marriage--even if it means losing her heart for good.
"Solomon's Wisdom," by Carey Baldwin
Bad-boy-turned-pediatrician Charlie "Drex" Drexler returns to Tangleheart, Texas hoping to reconnect with his old flame--but Anna won't cooperate, his dark past resurfaces, and his best friend's baby disappears. How will Drex and Anna mend their broken hearts while dodging bullets and racing to bring baby home safely?
The pleasure of your company is requested...
...at the most thrilling, sexy event of the year.
THREE WEDDINGS AND A MURDER
Four delicious, dangerous tales of love...
"The Scandalous, Dissolute, No-Good Mr. Wright" by Tessa Dare
Because of a foolish mistake in her youth, Miss Eliza Cade is not allowed "out" in Society until her three older sisters are wed. But while she's trying to be good, Eliza keeps bumping elbows--and lips--with the notorious rake Harry Wright. The passions he stirs in her are so wrong...but she just can't resist Mr. Wright.
"The Misbehaving Marquess," by Leigh LaValle
Having awaited the return of her husband for half a decade, Catherine Raybourne, the Marchioness of Foster, has no intention of reconciling with her misbehaving marquess. But when he insists he needs an heir--immediately--she must confront her own lingering desires. Can she protect her heart while attempting to win his once again?
"The Lady Always Wins," by Courtney Milan
Railway financier Simon Davenant has waited seven years for a second chance with his childhood sweetheart and best friend. He isn't about to let his impending financial ruin destroy the opportunity. This time, he'll do anything he can to secure her hand in marriage--even if it means losing her heart for good.
"Solomon's Wisdom," by Carey Baldwin
Bad-boy-turned-pediatrician Charlie "Drex" Drexler returns to Tangleheart, Texas hoping to reconnect with his old flame--but Anna won't cooperate, his dark past resurfaces, and his best friend's baby disappears. How will Drex and Anna mend their broken hearts while dodging bullets and racing to bring baby home safely?
292 pages, ebook
Published May 22, 2012
About the author
Tessa Dare
47 books14.6k followersSign up for Tessa's newsletter and be the first to hear about new books and hot deals! http://tessadare.com/newsletter-signup/
Tessa Dare is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of fourteen historical romance novels and five novellas. Her books have won numerous accolades, including Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA® award (twice!) and the RT Book Reviews Seal of Excellence. Booklist magazine named her one of the “new stars of historical romance," and her books have been contracted for translation in more than a dozen languages.
A librarian by training and a booklover at heart, Tessa makes her home in Southern California, where she lives with her husband, their two children, and a trio of cosmic kitties.
Tessa Dare is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of fourteen historical romance novels and five novellas. Her books have won numerous accolades, including Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA® award (twice!) and the RT Book Reviews Seal of Excellence. Booklist magazine named her one of the “new stars of historical romance," and her books have been contracted for translation in more than a dozen languages.
A librarian by training and a booklover at heart, Tessa makes her home in Southern California, where she lives with her husband, their two children, and a trio of cosmic kitties.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
May 28, 2012
It was the book overall that rather ... failed, not the novellas. Milan, Dare and LaValle wrote amazing stories. That's why this gets three stars, really, because each of those three novellas are just outstanding.
Tessa Dare: Her little story about Eliza and Harry was lovely. It smacked of Pride and Prejudice in terms of set up: there was more to both the hero and heroine than we originally thought, and each one's 'secrets' had a lot to do with the strength of his and her character. I won't give it away, so I won't go into more detail than that, but I loved the way Dare set up her characters and fully developed and fleshed them out. What I found most interesting was that I was able to absolutely adore a story where I initially thought the characters were quite ... selfish. Harry seemed rather flippant, dismissive, irreverent, and of course rakish at the start. Dare tempered that by introducing a sense of weariness, which of course signaled a depth of not only character but emotion that we hadn't come across yet as the reader. As for Eliza, she seems so eager at first to marry off her sisters so she can finally get her debut, and to have her 'Change And Get Better' would have been the easy way to do it. Instead, Dare makes the reader's perception of her change by very slowly revealing a depth she kind of hid at the beginning. Don't get me wrong, Eliza *does* change, but not that "Yay I'm A Better Person Now Isn't It Obvious" kind of way that is so popular in sub-par fiction. I think what it is is that Eliza changes slightly, grows up a bit, but the reader learns to appreciate her a bit more and understand her a bit better. What I loved was that, at the end, Harry and Eliza were still selfish and wonderfully flawed people in their own way, but that didn't diminish the romance at all. In fact, it only made it stronger. Their imperfections were what made that particular romance so passionate and sweet and complete. If that makes sense. Seriously, though, it's Tessa Dare. Just quit your life for an hour and read it.
LaValle - I loved the way she handled the Long Lost Spouse bit. And I thought the backstory was really interesting - the part about WHY Jamie left, specifically. It was a great twist on the 'foolish young lovers' trope, and she had both the H/H mature and develop gracefully. The secondary plot with the village was lovely, and I loved how that really fleshed out a part of the heroine's character. Charity work is a plot bunny often relied upon by Regency writers to make their heroines sympathetic. Sometimes, (often) it REALLY backfires. (See, Lisa Kleypas, Stranger in My Arms, which is one of the worst books I've ever read.) But LaValle made it work for her and for the heroine, Cat. And Jamie's stories from abroad, and the gifts he brought back, were lovely.
I will admit, though, I *hated* one thing about this novella. I don't normally hate things in books, unless I just dislike the book overall, but that's different. In this, I felt one brief twinge of actual hate. Jamie brings back a statue of Ganesh from his travels in India. He uses it as a bookend. He uses it as a f--king bookend.
Now, I'm not Hindu. I do not mean to speak for Hindus. But I am South Asian, part of the region known as "Hindustan" when this story took place. And I know that my Hindu friends have statues of their gods in their homes, in their cars, and so on. They say their prayers and they touch these statues and figurines. For health, for protection, for luck, out of gratitude. It's an act of worship, and the statute, the physical statue is very much a part of that, whether it's made of jewels, or gold, or bronze, or cheap plastic. It doesn't matter. The spirit or essence of the god rests inside, no matter what the casing.
And Jamie uses it as a f---king bookend.
That moment just brought all these notions of imperialism and the bloody conflicts in South Asia rushing to my mind. It's a very personal thing. To have the riches of your land stolen by marauding colonialists, who enslave the indigenous people, rape the women, kill the men and children, and then, less violently (or perhaps more), with less reliance on physical force, destroy a culture, a way of living. Impose upon the indigenous the mindset that everything about them is wrong. Their gods. Their food. The color of their skin. Their clothing. Their hair. Their manners. Everything about all of that is wrong. But then, later, when the white man puts up a statue of Ganesh in his home, it's called cultural tolerance and interfaith nonsense. When a white woman puts on a sari and bindi and gets henna tattoos, it's called progressive. When these same things - the gods, the clothing, the henna tattoos - on the indigenous people are thought of as medieval, savage, backward, uneducated. Wrong.
This is turning into a social justice rant and I don't want that in a book review. At the same time, I will throttle any of you who tell me I'm "taking it too seriously" or "need to lighten up." You do not get to tell me, a person of color, and Indian by heritage, what I may or may not find insulting with regard to discourse about my culture, or one of the religions of my countrymen. You do not get to decide what I find offensive.
Because I really found that moment, when Jamie removed a statue of Ganesh and used it to hold up his books, quite offensive.
But then I kept reading, because this really was a lovely story. I have never heard of LaValle before, but I like her style and if she's written other books, I'm probably going to track them down and read them.
Courtney Milan: This woman can write. I love, love, loved Simon and Virginia. Simon was amazing. The banter was awesome, and Simon's moment of self-revelation is powerful in a way that few romance novels have seemed powerful to me. (I don't mean to denigrate the genre; it's already much-maligned and, I think, unreasonably so. There is nothing surprising about a romance novel with strong, developed characters, a solid plot with unexpected twists, and more than that, *meaning.* And yet if you mention a romance novel like that, people always act surprised. "But, but, it's a romance novel!" Ugh, screw that mentality.) Anyway, I can't even say anything more about the Milan novella. It was great. It was just great. Read it. You'll enjoy it. You'll come away feeling quite satisfied. (And I'm not even talking about the love scene. Frankly, in remembering the story, I have to stop and think about whether there was a love scene or not, because the actual story, and the relationship between the characters, took center stage.)
Baldwin: Hm. This was where it fell apart for me. I didn't care for the characters. I tried. But I didn't connect with them, and I didn't really *get* them. I didn't care for the writing or the dialogue. I just ... didn't get it. It all felt completely out of place.
And that brings me to my larger criticism of the book. As an anthology, it was ... very disappointing.
An anthology, to me, is not four stories cobbled together between one front and one back cover.
To me, an anthology is a story where the characters exist in the same time, location or general sphere of awareness. I'm thinking of the Whistledown anthologies: in those books, the characters all knew each other. And even if they didn't know each other, they knew 'of' each other. There was some general awareness. And that created a cohesion that tied every novella together, whether the individual novella was good or bad.
This one just felt ... awkward. I didn't mind that in the three historic stories, none of the characters knew each other. That was fine. There was still something that tied it all together: the setting, the social norms, the country, for crying out loud. The final one was contemporary, and it just felt so out of place. It felt like it derailed the whole book. And I hate to say it, but the writing wasn't that great either. It was a total flop. I hate giving bad reviews, unless I've given that author a positive review on one of her other books, in which case, I'll be honest and say why I thought a certain book was terrible. I'm sure Ms. Baldwin is a lovely person and I feel bad saying all this, especially because I am doing so on GoodReads and all she has to do is google her book and my review will come up, and she can easily message me and flip out at me. (I mean, I don't care about that - she can flip out at me if she likes. I'm commenting on the nature of the new proximity that exists between authors and reviewers online.)
So I feel bad saying all this. But as an anthology, this kind of fails.
But the three stories I mentioned are all FABULOUS, and you should totally buy the book just for those.
Also, it has excerpts of the authors' new releases, and GOOD GOD I CANNOT WAIT FOR TESSA DARE'S NEW BOOK ABOUT KATE/THORNE. A Lady by Midnight. I swear, I'm going to go nuts waiting for it. Argh. (The excerpt is amazing, by the way. It's not the same one that was in "A Week To Be Wicked." It's a newer one. A shorter one, but hey, it's something. Ugh. I don't know how I'll make it to August.)
Tessa Dare: Her little story about Eliza and Harry was lovely. It smacked of Pride and Prejudice in terms of set up: there was more to both the hero and heroine than we originally thought, and each one's 'secrets' had a lot to do with the strength of his and her character. I won't give it away, so I won't go into more detail than that, but I loved the way Dare set up her characters and fully developed and fleshed them out. What I found most interesting was that I was able to absolutely adore a story where I initially thought the characters were quite ... selfish. Harry seemed rather flippant, dismissive, irreverent, and of course rakish at the start. Dare tempered that by introducing a sense of weariness, which of course signaled a depth of not only character but emotion that we hadn't come across yet as the reader. As for Eliza, she seems so eager at first to marry off her sisters so she can finally get her debut, and to have her 'Change And Get Better' would have been the easy way to do it. Instead, Dare makes the reader's perception of her change by very slowly revealing a depth she kind of hid at the beginning. Don't get me wrong, Eliza *does* change, but not that "Yay I'm A Better Person Now Isn't It Obvious" kind of way that is so popular in sub-par fiction. I think what it is is that Eliza changes slightly, grows up a bit, but the reader learns to appreciate her a bit more and understand her a bit better. What I loved was that, at the end, Harry and Eliza were still selfish and wonderfully flawed people in their own way, but that didn't diminish the romance at all. In fact, it only made it stronger. Their imperfections were what made that particular romance so passionate and sweet and complete. If that makes sense. Seriously, though, it's Tessa Dare. Just quit your life for an hour and read it.
LaValle - I loved the way she handled the Long Lost Spouse bit. And I thought the backstory was really interesting - the part about WHY Jamie left, specifically. It was a great twist on the 'foolish young lovers' trope, and she had both the H/H mature and develop gracefully. The secondary plot with the village was lovely, and I loved how that really fleshed out a part of the heroine's character. Charity work is a plot bunny often relied upon by Regency writers to make their heroines sympathetic. Sometimes, (often) it REALLY backfires. (See, Lisa Kleypas, Stranger in My Arms, which is one of the worst books I've ever read.) But LaValle made it work for her and for the heroine, Cat. And Jamie's stories from abroad, and the gifts he brought back, were lovely.
I will admit, though, I *hated* one thing about this novella. I don't normally hate things in books, unless I just dislike the book overall, but that's different. In this, I felt one brief twinge of actual hate. Jamie brings back a statue of Ganesh from his travels in India. He uses it as a bookend. He uses it as a f--king bookend.
Now, I'm not Hindu. I do not mean to speak for Hindus. But I am South Asian, part of the region known as "Hindustan" when this story took place. And I know that my Hindu friends have statues of their gods in their homes, in their cars, and so on. They say their prayers and they touch these statues and figurines. For health, for protection, for luck, out of gratitude. It's an act of worship, and the statute, the physical statue is very much a part of that, whether it's made of jewels, or gold, or bronze, or cheap plastic. It doesn't matter. The spirit or essence of the god rests inside, no matter what the casing.
And Jamie uses it as a f---king bookend.
That moment just brought all these notions of imperialism and the bloody conflicts in South Asia rushing to my mind. It's a very personal thing. To have the riches of your land stolen by marauding colonialists, who enslave the indigenous people, rape the women, kill the men and children, and then, less violently (or perhaps more), with less reliance on physical force, destroy a culture, a way of living. Impose upon the indigenous the mindset that everything about them is wrong. Their gods. Their food. The color of their skin. Their clothing. Their hair. Their manners. Everything about all of that is wrong. But then, later, when the white man puts up a statue of Ganesh in his home, it's called cultural tolerance and interfaith nonsense. When a white woman puts on a sari and bindi and gets henna tattoos, it's called progressive. When these same things - the gods, the clothing, the henna tattoos - on the indigenous people are thought of as medieval, savage, backward, uneducated. Wrong.
This is turning into a social justice rant and I don't want that in a book review. At the same time, I will throttle any of you who tell me I'm "taking it too seriously" or "need to lighten up." You do not get to tell me, a person of color, and Indian by heritage, what I may or may not find insulting with regard to discourse about my culture, or one of the religions of my countrymen. You do not get to decide what I find offensive.
Because I really found that moment, when Jamie removed a statue of Ganesh and used it to hold up his books, quite offensive.
But then I kept reading, because this really was a lovely story. I have never heard of LaValle before, but I like her style and if she's written other books, I'm probably going to track them down and read them.
Courtney Milan: This woman can write. I love, love, loved Simon and Virginia. Simon was amazing. The banter was awesome, and Simon's moment of self-revelation is powerful in a way that few romance novels have seemed powerful to me. (I don't mean to denigrate the genre; it's already much-maligned and, I think, unreasonably so. There is nothing surprising about a romance novel with strong, developed characters, a solid plot with unexpected twists, and more than that, *meaning.* And yet if you mention a romance novel like that, people always act surprised. "But, but, it's a romance novel!" Ugh, screw that mentality.) Anyway, I can't even say anything more about the Milan novella. It was great. It was just great. Read it. You'll enjoy it. You'll come away feeling quite satisfied. (And I'm not even talking about the love scene. Frankly, in remembering the story, I have to stop and think about whether there was a love scene or not, because the actual story, and the relationship between the characters, took center stage.)
Baldwin: Hm. This was where it fell apart for me. I didn't care for the characters. I tried. But I didn't connect with them, and I didn't really *get* them. I didn't care for the writing or the dialogue. I just ... didn't get it. It all felt completely out of place.
And that brings me to my larger criticism of the book. As an anthology, it was ... very disappointing.
An anthology, to me, is not four stories cobbled together between one front and one back cover.
To me, an anthology is a story where the characters exist in the same time, location or general sphere of awareness. I'm thinking of the Whistledown anthologies: in those books, the characters all knew each other. And even if they didn't know each other, they knew 'of' each other. There was some general awareness. And that created a cohesion that tied every novella together, whether the individual novella was good or bad.
This one just felt ... awkward. I didn't mind that in the three historic stories, none of the characters knew each other. That was fine. There was still something that tied it all together: the setting, the social norms, the country, for crying out loud. The final one was contemporary, and it just felt so out of place. It felt like it derailed the whole book. And I hate to say it, but the writing wasn't that great either. It was a total flop. I hate giving bad reviews, unless I've given that author a positive review on one of her other books, in which case, I'll be honest and say why I thought a certain book was terrible. I'm sure Ms. Baldwin is a lovely person and I feel bad saying all this, especially because I am doing so on GoodReads and all she has to do is google her book and my review will come up, and she can easily message me and flip out at me. (I mean, I don't care about that - she can flip out at me if she likes. I'm commenting on the nature of the new proximity that exists between authors and reviewers online.)
So I feel bad saying all this. But as an anthology, this kind of fails.
But the three stories I mentioned are all FABULOUS, and you should totally buy the book just for those.
Also, it has excerpts of the authors' new releases, and GOOD GOD I CANNOT WAIT FOR TESSA DARE'S NEW BOOK ABOUT KATE/THORNE. A Lady by Midnight. I swear, I'm going to go nuts waiting for it. Argh. (The excerpt is amazing, by the way. It's not the same one that was in "A Week To Be Wicked." It's a newer one. A shorter one, but hey, it's something. Ugh. I don't know how I'll make it to August.)
May 31, 2012
This is just a quick recap of a great anthology!
The Scandalous, Dissolute, No-Good Mr. Wright by Tessa Dare
For a novella, I usually prefer the couple to have know each other previously for the story to work better in the shorter space but in this one they don't...and it still works! Miss Eliza Cade made a foolish mistake when she was younger and pays for it no by not being able to have a Season until her three older sisters are married. She unintentionally meets the notorious rake, Harry Wright and they both capture each others attention. A bit of time passes and a chance encounter reacquaints them, and the desire and attraction still burns. With clever chapter titles and superb writing skills, you will fall for this couple and hope they overcome the obstacles that continue to arise. Tessa Dare is an auto buy author for me and she proves why, even in the shorter story length. 4 stars
The Misbehaving Marquess by Leigh LaValle
If you read Leigh LaValle's debut, The Runaway Countess, you know that Cat is in an unhappy marriage with her husband leaving her alone for five years. When Jamie suddenly returns home and demands he wants an heir, all the hurt and unresolved feelings from the past five years come back full force. It takes a small 'aha' moment for Jamie to finally talk to Cat about what happened in the past and try to forgive and move forward. But when Cat reveals her own heartache, will they be able to overcome the last hurdle to find a way to renew their vows and start anew? This was a very engaging story to a secondary character from a previous book and I am very happy with the results. We get a small peek into Mazie's life as well and I am anxious for more books from the very talented Leigh LaValle! 4 stars
The Lady Always Wins by Courtney Milan
Simon Davenant was crushed when his childhood sweetheart married another, just to have money since his father was going to cut him off if he dared marry Ginny. Now, seven years later, Ginny is a widow and he has three days to make her fall back in love with him before his new found wealth disappears. But Ginny had her reasons for marrying for money and when they come up, it about undoes Simon's plans. I enjoyed the banter between this couple, how they were always trying to one up each other and the ultimate one up comes at the end and was a nice little twist, which you don't always get in a novella. Another enjoyable story for one of my favorite authors. Seriously, Courtney Milan could write the phone book in a way that would be enjoyable :) 4 stars
Solomon's Wisdom by Carey Baldwin
It was kind of weird going from historical to romantic suspense, but once I got my brain adjusted I enjoyed this debut novella from Carey Baldwin. It is about two couples, one long estranged and one happily married with a son and what happens when some mysterious bruises appear on the child. The chain reactions from this event make for a quick story and twists and turns that worked all right with the novella length, but I felt would have been better situated as a full length or slightly longer novella story. It was an enjoyable, quick read and a nice taste for what is to come in the future. 3 1/2 stars
Overall, I enjoyed all the novellas and they seem to be a good taste of each authors work. For historical romance fans, I would recommend them all. They will make you smile and laugh and sigh and leave you with a happy heart...and your heart is sure to pound a bit with the last one. Overall, 4 stars
The Scandalous, Dissolute, No-Good Mr. Wright by Tessa Dare
For a novella, I usually prefer the couple to have know each other previously for the story to work better in the shorter space but in this one they don't...and it still works! Miss Eliza Cade made a foolish mistake when she was younger and pays for it no by not being able to have a Season until her three older sisters are married. She unintentionally meets the notorious rake, Harry Wright and they both capture each others attention. A bit of time passes and a chance encounter reacquaints them, and the desire and attraction still burns. With clever chapter titles and superb writing skills, you will fall for this couple and hope they overcome the obstacles that continue to arise. Tessa Dare is an auto buy author for me and she proves why, even in the shorter story length. 4 stars
The Misbehaving Marquess by Leigh LaValle
If you read Leigh LaValle's debut, The Runaway Countess, you know that Cat is in an unhappy marriage with her husband leaving her alone for five years. When Jamie suddenly returns home and demands he wants an heir, all the hurt and unresolved feelings from the past five years come back full force. It takes a small 'aha' moment for Jamie to finally talk to Cat about what happened in the past and try to forgive and move forward. But when Cat reveals her own heartache, will they be able to overcome the last hurdle to find a way to renew their vows and start anew? This was a very engaging story to a secondary character from a previous book and I am very happy with the results. We get a small peek into Mazie's life as well and I am anxious for more books from the very talented Leigh LaValle! 4 stars
The Lady Always Wins by Courtney Milan
Simon Davenant was crushed when his childhood sweetheart married another, just to have money since his father was going to cut him off if he dared marry Ginny. Now, seven years later, Ginny is a widow and he has three days to make her fall back in love with him before his new found wealth disappears. But Ginny had her reasons for marrying for money and when they come up, it about undoes Simon's plans. I enjoyed the banter between this couple, how they were always trying to one up each other and the ultimate one up comes at the end and was a nice little twist, which you don't always get in a novella. Another enjoyable story for one of my favorite authors. Seriously, Courtney Milan could write the phone book in a way that would be enjoyable :) 4 stars
Solomon's Wisdom by Carey Baldwin
It was kind of weird going from historical to romantic suspense, but once I got my brain adjusted I enjoyed this debut novella from Carey Baldwin. It is about two couples, one long estranged and one happily married with a son and what happens when some mysterious bruises appear on the child. The chain reactions from this event make for a quick story and twists and turns that worked all right with the novella length, but I felt would have been better situated as a full length or slightly longer novella story. It was an enjoyable, quick read and a nice taste for what is to come in the future. 3 1/2 stars
Overall, I enjoyed all the novellas and they seem to be a good taste of each authors work. For historical romance fans, I would recommend them all. They will make you smile and laugh and sigh and leave you with a happy heart...and your heart is sure to pound a bit with the last one. Overall, 4 stars
October 7, 2018
The Scandalous, Dissolute, No-Good Mr. Wright: 5
Now, THAT was absolutely delicious! A story of long-held love, peppered with marriages left, right and centre, and I was entirely sold! I absolutely loved the pairing of Harry and Eliza, and adored how their shared history was revealed chapter by chapter. Wonderful!
The Misbehaving Marquess: 4
While the story might've lacked angst, it ended up being a rather sweet second-chance story, with the dilemmas, climax and resolution being rather believable.
The Lady Always Wins: 5
Ah, this was lovely! It started out as revenge, then ended up on a wonderfully sweet note. Simon and Ginny both were entirely honest about their physical wants and needs, and I loved how true their conflicting needs were.
Solomon's Wisdom: 1
I read this story first because I didn't hear overwhelmingly positive things about it, and I'm glad I did. This story just did not appeal at all. The suspense seemed tacked on, and the second-chance romance was... lacking any semblance of suspense or tension.
Now, THAT was absolutely delicious! A story of long-held love, peppered with marriages left, right and centre, and I was entirely sold! I absolutely loved the pairing of Harry and Eliza, and adored how their shared history was revealed chapter by chapter. Wonderful!
The Misbehaving Marquess: 4
While the story might've lacked angst, it ended up being a rather sweet second-chance story, with the dilemmas, climax and resolution being rather believable.
The Lady Always Wins: 5
Ah, this was lovely! It started out as revenge, then ended up on a wonderfully sweet note. Simon and Ginny both were entirely honest about their physical wants and needs, and I loved how true their conflicting needs were.
Solomon's Wisdom: 1
I read this story first because I didn't hear overwhelmingly positive things about it, and I'm glad I did. This story just did not appeal at all. The suspense seemed tacked on, and the second-chance romance was... lacking any semblance of suspense or tension.
June 8, 2012
I am a BIG fan of Leigh LaValle and Courtney Milan, so when I heard they would contribute to an anthology I was excited! Even more when I heard the very titillating and promising title "Three Weddings and a Murder" (anyone else thought of Hugh Grant's Four Weddings and a Funeral? ;-) ).
Three Weddings and a Murder is an anthology featuring three historical romance novellas by Tessa Dare, Leigh LaValle and Courtney Milan, and a contemporary romantic suspense novella by Carey Baldwin. I'll start by reviewing the stories separately and will end with a general conclusion on the whole anthology.
The Scandalous, Dissolute, No-Good Mr. Wright by Tessa Dare
The Scandalous, Dissolute, No-Good Mr. Wright is the first novella in the anthology, and the very first story I read by Tessa Dare.
Eliza is the youngest of four sisters and must wait until her older sisters are married before she can have her time to shine and attend balls and experience courting.
Margaret had been responsible—therefore, Philippa kept her head in the clouds. Next came Georgie, the sweet one. Eliza had to be the spice.
Eliza is no shy, missish girl. She is a very strong-willed, stubborn and vivacious young woman. I found it a very refreshing change to have such a mischievious and willful heroine. She is not the usual gently-bred, proper and dull heroine, oh no, she is vibrant and outspoken and fierce. In short she was a joy to read:
“I’m not a child,” Eliza argued with the closed double doors. “I’m a grown woman. With accomplishments and bosoms and everything.”
The love interest was also quite the unusual hero. Despite being called Mr. Wright, Eliza and society believe him to be a rake without manners or scrupules. Yet we discover through the years and his every interaction with Eliza how much he respects her by protecting her reputation and giving her choices. We discover that despite appearances he is an honourable man (with bad boyish attributes) and his intensity just made him even more irresistible:
She promptly forgot how to breathe. “It’s like this,” he repeated in a low voice, just for her. “I’m not that sort of man. I don’t wait for the things I want.”
The highlight of this novella were the ping-pong sparring matches between Eliza and Mr. Wright which were so full of humour and light wit (and of course sizzling sexual tension):
“Stay here, and give my sister and Lord Brentley their privacy. And I’ll allow you to touch me. Any way you like, so long as my frock remains unsoiled and intact.” She forced herself to brave his gaze. “I know it’s what you want.”
“To protect your frock?”
“To put your hands on me.”
“I was wrong about you, Mr Wright. I abused you most unjustly.”
“And I enjoyed every minute of it.”
I loved how through this short novella Tessa Dare gave us a love story spanning through several years and we witnessed through brief flashes how Eliza matured and became a young woman from the girl she was at the beginning. How Mr. Wright made appearances through the years, being present in her life. And the ending was so very reminiscent of Mr. Darcy's monologue in Pride and Prejudice: *sighs*
"He tipped her chin with a single finger, demanding her close attention. “Now, listen. I know Lessing was a decent fellow, and I’m sorry as hell that your sister must experience this sorrow. But understand this. I didn’t travel all this way from London to pay my respects. I came for you. Only you. Because you’ve suffered a loss, as well.”"
Plot: 8/10
Characters: 8/10 The characters were interesting and unique, I would've loved them explored in more details in a full length novel.
Writing: 8/10
Ending: 9/10
Cover: 9/10 - I like it very much!
I give The Scandalous, Dissolute, No-Good Mr. Wright 4 stars!
The Misbehaving Marquess by Leigh LaValle
I immediately became an enthusiastic fan of Leigh LaValle after I read her debut novel The Runaway Countess. As most of her readers I was clamouring to know when we got to read the story of Cat, sister of The Runaway Countess' hero, so when I discovered that the novella penned by Leigh LaValle featured in this anthology was Cat's story I can tell you I was excited! But have no fear, The Misbehaving Marquess can very well be read as a stand-alone story.
Cat has been living a quite unfulfilling and lonely life ever since her husband has abandoned her and left 5 years ago. Since that night she hasn't heard a word from Jamie, so when she glimpses him in their drawing room she is shocked and nail spitting mad. But what is an even greater obstacle to overcome for her estranged husband isn't Cat's anger but the hurt his leaving caused. Cat isn't sure they can forget and forgive the past five years and rebuild their marriage, but Jamie is just as stubborn and won't give up.
The Misbehaving Marquess was once again full of those eloquent and beautifully descriptive images I grew used to in The Runaway Countess:
"The man standing before her tilted his head to the side. “Good afternoon, Cat.” It poured through her, the sound of her name. His deep voice. Poured through her like church bells ringing into the hills, awakening those who would forget their longing, their anger, their terrible regret."
Both Cat and Jamie were wonderful characters, Jamie was a lovable hero and the reader felt Cat's pain and doubts. Leigh LaValle's writing is just as exquisite as I remembered and in The Misbehaving Marquess she brings such an emotional and moving tale you won't be able to resist being affected.
“Because I missed you. And I saw you everywhere. And I suppose I wanted to share a piece of my experience with you.”
Plot: 8/10
Characters: 9/10
Writing 10/10
Ending: 9/10 Their vows were beautiful, but I still don't see what was the need for the fire...
Cover: 9/10 - I like it very much!
I give The Misbehaving Marquess 4.5 stars!
The Lady Always Wins by Courtney Milan
Though I have read only one novel by Courtney Milan to this day she has already become one of my favourite historical romance authors. Her writing is rich, evocative and enchanting, and The Lady Always Wins doesn't disappoint either.
It tells the story of Simon and Ginny, childhood friends and sweethearts who grew up together, fell in love when they were young but then Ginny married someone else because of circumstances. Now seven years later she is widowed and Simon comes back to claim Ginny.
Simon and Ginny were something else. There was such a deep bond connecting them, that despite the years they have spent apart they still knew everything about each other. All the little things as well as the more significant ones. They were truly made for each other, two halves of the same. The harmony, camaraderie and connection between them was both entertaining (reading about all their adventures and flashbacks to when they were 10 and 11 year old and how they became childhood friends was funny and so adorable) and poignant (reading how much heartache they went through by having wasted those seven years).
“Do you want me very, very badly then?” His other hand touched her face. Slowly—almost unwillingly—she let him raise her chin from contemplation of his wrist. His eyes seemed dark, and they glittered with some unspoken emotion. “Yes,” he said. “God knows I’ve wished it otherwise over the years. But yes. I have wanted you since I first knew what want was.”
"He raised his head. “I never wanted to spend all those years yearning for you. But every time I tried to fit some other woman in my heart, I failed. There was no room for anyone else. You were already there.”"
The Lady Always Wins was a wonderful story. Both light and moving, it constantly remained deeply romantic. I loved ever moment of it until the resolution of the conflict which I found too convenient.
I loved the characterisations of Simon and Ginny and how well fleshed out they were despite it being only a novella. And most of all I loved reading about their memories and all their secrets, and how every ordinary thing got a special meaning due to their history.
Plot: 9/10
Characters: 10/10
Writing: 10/10
Ending: 7/10
Cover: 9/10 - I like it very much!
I give The Lady Always Wins 4.5 stars!
Solomon's Wisdom by Carey Baldwin
This was the last novella in the anthology and completely different than the first three ones. And due to this I believe it wasn't such a good idea to include this story or to put it last. It doesn't match the previous ones neither in tone nor setting, and due to its novella length it takes most of the story for the reader to get through the centuries and continents and get their footing.
Solomon's Wisdom is a contemporary romantic suspense novella set in Texas, US. Charlie a young pediatrician came back to his hometown after 12 years of staying away, having decided to convince his childhood best friend Anna to give him a chance. Of course it isn't as simple as that, since 12 years ago Anna declared her love for Charlie and he just up and left not coming back for 12 years, so she isn't ready to get over that in a blink.
But the romantic storyline in Solomon's Wisdom takes a backseat, leaving the central stage to the suspense plot. I won't reveal much of that only that until the end I didn't really see where Cary Baldwin was taking this, but seeing the conclusion and explanation everything came together and made sense.
I found it surprising how bipolar the writing style was: the descriptive parts flew smoothly and were richly developed:
"Her pink lips twitched at the edges. Wait for it…ha! Like a field of prickly poppies answering the call of the morning sun, her expression opened and transformed into a thing of beauty—the best smile he’d seen since the day he’d left Tangleheart, Texas."
"If it hadn’t been for Megan O’Neal, Charlie might have taken a different road in life. All these years, conflicting emotions toward the girl—jealousy and pity, resentment and compassion—had been lying abed, twisting in the sheets, cuddling and kicking just below the surface of Anna’s consciousness."
"Lifting one hand from her shoulder, he traced her lips with his finger, softening her heart but not the pain."
but the dialogues between the characters read like a fractured puzzle, half words uttered between old friends without preambule or explanation, making the reader feel lost.
I also had ambivalent feelings towards the characters: not much was revealed about Anna (or Charlie) to make me feel like I knew them or what happened to them in the past, and I outrisght disliked the secondary characters. Both Simone and Nate appeared fake, playing a version of the perfect couple, perfect family while hiding the truth. And though it was stated several times, Simone just didn't sound like a loving doting mom, but rather a self-obsessed vain woman.
Overall I was satisfied with the conclusion to the mystery and due to Charlie's character and his intensity I was interested and invested in the romance part of the story as well:
“I love you, Anna. I always have, and I want a chance to earn back your trust. I want a chance to prove that no matter how sad and terrible the world around us becomes, I won’t walk away from you again. You love me, Anna. You told me so yourself. All you have to do is remember.”
Plot: 8/10
Characters: 7/10
Writing: 7/10
Ending: 6/10
Cover: well it doesn't suit the last story much..
I give Solomon's Wisdom 3 stars!
Verdict: Three Weddings and a Murder was a delightful anthology. And though based on the title I was expecting a Regency/Victorian historical romance-sleuth mystery I was not disappointed. If I had to describe the four stories in a few words I would say Tessa Dare's story was light and fun, Leigh LaValle's emotional and sexy, Courtney Milan's sweet and heartfelt while Carey Baldwin's suspenseful and thrilling. I think the last story was light years away from the first three both in time period, genre and tone, so maybe it wasn't such a winning idea to include it, as I fear for readers who got used to the tone of the first three stories, the length of this last novella won't be enough to get their footing in this very different setting and story.
I give Three Weddings and a Murder 4 stars!
**The profits of this anthology are donated to the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer**
Three Weddings and a Murder is an anthology featuring three historical romance novellas by Tessa Dare, Leigh LaValle and Courtney Milan, and a contemporary romantic suspense novella by Carey Baldwin. I'll start by reviewing the stories separately and will end with a general conclusion on the whole anthology.
The Scandalous, Dissolute, No-Good Mr. Wright by Tessa Dare
The Scandalous, Dissolute, No-Good Mr. Wright is the first novella in the anthology, and the very first story I read by Tessa Dare.
Eliza is the youngest of four sisters and must wait until her older sisters are married before she can have her time to shine and attend balls and experience courting.
Margaret had been responsible—therefore, Philippa kept her head in the clouds. Next came Georgie, the sweet one. Eliza had to be the spice.
Eliza is no shy, missish girl. She is a very strong-willed, stubborn and vivacious young woman. I found it a very refreshing change to have such a mischievious and willful heroine. She is not the usual gently-bred, proper and dull heroine, oh no, she is vibrant and outspoken and fierce. In short she was a joy to read:
“I’m not a child,” Eliza argued with the closed double doors. “I’m a grown woman. With accomplishments and bosoms and everything.”
The love interest was also quite the unusual hero. Despite being called Mr. Wright, Eliza and society believe him to be a rake without manners or scrupules. Yet we discover through the years and his every interaction with Eliza how much he respects her by protecting her reputation and giving her choices. We discover that despite appearances he is an honourable man (with bad boyish attributes) and his intensity just made him even more irresistible:
She promptly forgot how to breathe. “It’s like this,” he repeated in a low voice, just for her. “I’m not that sort of man. I don’t wait for the things I want.”
The highlight of this novella were the ping-pong sparring matches between Eliza and Mr. Wright which were so full of humour and light wit (and of course sizzling sexual tension):
“Stay here, and give my sister and Lord Brentley their privacy. And I’ll allow you to touch me. Any way you like, so long as my frock remains unsoiled and intact.” She forced herself to brave his gaze. “I know it’s what you want.”
“To protect your frock?”
“To put your hands on me.”
“I was wrong about you, Mr Wright. I abused you most unjustly.”
“And I enjoyed every minute of it.”
I loved how through this short novella Tessa Dare gave us a love story spanning through several years and we witnessed through brief flashes how Eliza matured and became a young woman from the girl she was at the beginning. How Mr. Wright made appearances through the years, being present in her life. And the ending was so very reminiscent of Mr. Darcy's monologue in Pride and Prejudice: *sighs*
"He tipped her chin with a single finger, demanding her close attention. “Now, listen. I know Lessing was a decent fellow, and I’m sorry as hell that your sister must experience this sorrow. But understand this. I didn’t travel all this way from London to pay my respects. I came for you. Only you. Because you’ve suffered a loss, as well.”"
Plot: 8/10
Characters: 8/10 The characters were interesting and unique, I would've loved them explored in more details in a full length novel.
Writing: 8/10
Ending: 9/10
Cover: 9/10 - I like it very much!
I give The Scandalous, Dissolute, No-Good Mr. Wright 4 stars!
The Misbehaving Marquess by Leigh LaValle
I immediately became an enthusiastic fan of Leigh LaValle after I read her debut novel The Runaway Countess. As most of her readers I was clamouring to know when we got to read the story of Cat, sister of The Runaway Countess' hero, so when I discovered that the novella penned by Leigh LaValle featured in this anthology was Cat's story I can tell you I was excited! But have no fear, The Misbehaving Marquess can very well be read as a stand-alone story.
Cat has been living a quite unfulfilling and lonely life ever since her husband has abandoned her and left 5 years ago. Since that night she hasn't heard a word from Jamie, so when she glimpses him in their drawing room she is shocked and nail spitting mad. But what is an even greater obstacle to overcome for her estranged husband isn't Cat's anger but the hurt his leaving caused. Cat isn't sure they can forget and forgive the past five years and rebuild their marriage, but Jamie is just as stubborn and won't give up.
The Misbehaving Marquess was once again full of those eloquent and beautifully descriptive images I grew used to in The Runaway Countess:
"The man standing before her tilted his head to the side. “Good afternoon, Cat.” It poured through her, the sound of her name. His deep voice. Poured through her like church bells ringing into the hills, awakening those who would forget their longing, their anger, their terrible regret."
Both Cat and Jamie were wonderful characters, Jamie was a lovable hero and the reader felt Cat's pain and doubts. Leigh LaValle's writing is just as exquisite as I remembered and in The Misbehaving Marquess she brings such an emotional and moving tale you won't be able to resist being affected.
“Because I missed you. And I saw you everywhere. And I suppose I wanted to share a piece of my experience with you.”
Plot: 8/10
Characters: 9/10
Writing 10/10
Ending: 9/10 Their vows were beautiful, but I still don't see what was the need for the fire...
Cover: 9/10 - I like it very much!
I give The Misbehaving Marquess 4.5 stars!
The Lady Always Wins by Courtney Milan
Though I have read only one novel by Courtney Milan to this day she has already become one of my favourite historical romance authors. Her writing is rich, evocative and enchanting, and The Lady Always Wins doesn't disappoint either.
It tells the story of Simon and Ginny, childhood friends and sweethearts who grew up together, fell in love when they were young but then Ginny married someone else because of circumstances. Now seven years later she is widowed and Simon comes back to claim Ginny.
Simon and Ginny were something else. There was such a deep bond connecting them, that despite the years they have spent apart they still knew everything about each other. All the little things as well as the more significant ones. They were truly made for each other, two halves of the same. The harmony, camaraderie and connection between them was both entertaining (reading about all their adventures and flashbacks to when they were 10 and 11 year old and how they became childhood friends was funny and so adorable) and poignant (reading how much heartache they went through by having wasted those seven years).
“Do you want me very, very badly then?” His other hand touched her face. Slowly—almost unwillingly—she let him raise her chin from contemplation of his wrist. His eyes seemed dark, and they glittered with some unspoken emotion. “Yes,” he said. “God knows I’ve wished it otherwise over the years. But yes. I have wanted you since I first knew what want was.”
"He raised his head. “I never wanted to spend all those years yearning for you. But every time I tried to fit some other woman in my heart, I failed. There was no room for anyone else. You were already there.”"
The Lady Always Wins was a wonderful story. Both light and moving, it constantly remained deeply romantic. I loved ever moment of it until the resolution of the conflict which I found too convenient.
I loved the characterisations of Simon and Ginny and how well fleshed out they were despite it being only a novella. And most of all I loved reading about their memories and all their secrets, and how every ordinary thing got a special meaning due to their history.
Plot: 9/10
Characters: 10/10
Writing: 10/10
Ending: 7/10
Cover: 9/10 - I like it very much!
I give The Lady Always Wins 4.5 stars!
Solomon's Wisdom by Carey Baldwin
This was the last novella in the anthology and completely different than the first three ones. And due to this I believe it wasn't such a good idea to include this story or to put it last. It doesn't match the previous ones neither in tone nor setting, and due to its novella length it takes most of the story for the reader to get through the centuries and continents and get their footing.
Solomon's Wisdom is a contemporary romantic suspense novella set in Texas, US. Charlie a young pediatrician came back to his hometown after 12 years of staying away, having decided to convince his childhood best friend Anna to give him a chance. Of course it isn't as simple as that, since 12 years ago Anna declared her love for Charlie and he just up and left not coming back for 12 years, so she isn't ready to get over that in a blink.
But the romantic storyline in Solomon's Wisdom takes a backseat, leaving the central stage to the suspense plot. I won't reveal much of that only that until the end I didn't really see where Cary Baldwin was taking this, but seeing the conclusion and explanation everything came together and made sense.
I found it surprising how bipolar the writing style was: the descriptive parts flew smoothly and were richly developed:
"Her pink lips twitched at the edges. Wait for it…ha! Like a field of prickly poppies answering the call of the morning sun, her expression opened and transformed into a thing of beauty—the best smile he’d seen since the day he’d left Tangleheart, Texas."
"If it hadn’t been for Megan O’Neal, Charlie might have taken a different road in life. All these years, conflicting emotions toward the girl—jealousy and pity, resentment and compassion—had been lying abed, twisting in the sheets, cuddling and kicking just below the surface of Anna’s consciousness."
"Lifting one hand from her shoulder, he traced her lips with his finger, softening her heart but not the pain."
but the dialogues between the characters read like a fractured puzzle, half words uttered between old friends without preambule or explanation, making the reader feel lost.
I also had ambivalent feelings towards the characters: not much was revealed about Anna (or Charlie) to make me feel like I knew them or what happened to them in the past, and I outrisght disliked the secondary characters. Both Simone and Nate appeared fake, playing a version of the perfect couple, perfect family while hiding the truth. And though it was stated several times, Simone just didn't sound like a loving doting mom, but rather a self-obsessed vain woman.
Overall I was satisfied with the conclusion to the mystery and due to Charlie's character and his intensity I was interested and invested in the romance part of the story as well:
“I love you, Anna. I always have, and I want a chance to earn back your trust. I want a chance to prove that no matter how sad and terrible the world around us becomes, I won’t walk away from you again. You love me, Anna. You told me so yourself. All you have to do is remember.”
Plot: 8/10
Characters: 7/10
Writing: 7/10
Ending: 6/10
Cover: well it doesn't suit the last story much..
I give Solomon's Wisdom 3 stars!
Verdict: Three Weddings and a Murder was a delightful anthology. And though based on the title I was expecting a Regency/Victorian historical romance-sleuth mystery I was not disappointed. If I had to describe the four stories in a few words I would say Tessa Dare's story was light and fun, Leigh LaValle's emotional and sexy, Courtney Milan's sweet and heartfelt while Carey Baldwin's suspenseful and thrilling. I think the last story was light years away from the first three both in time period, genre and tone, so maybe it wasn't such a winning idea to include it, as I fear for readers who got used to the tone of the first three stories, the length of this last novella won't be enough to get their footing in this very different setting and story.
I give Three Weddings and a Murder 4 stars!
**The profits of this anthology are donated to the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer**
May 27, 2012
I would love to rate this higher because Courtney Milan and Tessa Dare's novellas are wonderful, and Leigh Lavalle isn't that bad. Dare and Milan? Five stars. Lavalle? Easily three stars.
I rate this anthology two stars because the final story is awful. And it has nothing to do with the theme of the first three. It's a contemporary murder mystery that's poorly plotted, not well-fitted to a novella length and with two leads that I don't really get to know. It's simply a mess and I'm so annoyed that's paired with three otherwise good stories that it drags down a good anthology I can't justify a higher rating. Anthologies work on the theme of the book. Baldwin's entry is all wrong and awful to boot.
However, the first three stories are lovely, and it's a cheap buy, with profits that go to breast cancer so it's not a bad buy. I just don't recommend even touching the final story. Skip it altogether.
I rate this anthology two stars because the final story is awful. And it has nothing to do with the theme of the first three. It's a contemporary murder mystery that's poorly plotted, not well-fitted to a novella length and with two leads that I don't really get to know. It's simply a mess and I'm so annoyed that's paired with three otherwise good stories that it drags down a good anthology I can't justify a higher rating. Anthologies work on the theme of the book. Baldwin's entry is all wrong and awful to boot.
However, the first three stories are lovely, and it's a cheap buy, with profits that go to breast cancer so it's not a bad buy. I just don't recommend even touching the final story. Skip it altogether.
Want to read
May 24, 2012On sale for $2.99. All proceeds go to Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.
February 2, 2016
I went and read the Tessa Dare short after reading the two Spindle Cove books and though it isn't related it was a sweet read none the less. Also read the CM of course.
April 29, 2015
Three stars for the first 3 stories. Two stars for the last one. It was quite jarring to go from historical romance to modern murder mystery. Fail by editor!
September 25, 2012
This anthology is truly a mixed bag. The historical novellas by Tessa Dare and Courtney Milan, two of my favorite authors, are really great, thus my four star rating. The Leigh Lavalle story was decent. The final contemporary suspense novella by Carey Baldwin was very nearly a DNF for me. Probably should have been. It was disjointed and at times nonsensical.
So, if you're a fan of Tessa Dare and Courtney Milan, you can be assured you will enjoy their novellas, and my advice is to skip the last story in the collection.
So, if you're a fan of Tessa Dare and Courtney Milan, you can be assured you will enjoy their novellas, and my advice is to skip the last story in the collection.
November 27, 2012
First I have to admit.. I only read the 3 weddings. I loved all three stories.. wonderful characters, interesting stories. Since the 4th story is a contemporary (which I hardly ever read) AND I saw a review by someone with the same taste in books as I.. saying that this story was not up to par.. I decided to skip it.
The first three stories make the book worth the purchase even if you skip the last!
The first three stories make the book worth the purchase even if you skip the last!
August 28, 2012
Rating is only for Tessa Dare's novella. I'll be coming back to read the rest, I promise!
Shelved as 'stricken'
February 14, 2022Again, no problem, but I already have the Milan and the Dare stories, so I don't want to get them again by mistake
July 3, 2012
This anthology contains stories by Tessa Dare, Leigh LaValle, Courtney Milan, and Carey Baldwin. The four authors--who call themselves The Bodice Rippers--published this anthology to raise money for the fight against breast cancer. When the women were interviewed by USA Today, Ms. Baldwin said:
So, it's a book one can feel good about buying, especially given it costs just 2.99. The anthology isn't spectacular--I loved one of the stories, liked two (one more than the other), and disliked the fourth--but it's a pretty good read at a great price for an excellent cause. I give the collection, overall, a B.
"The Scandalous, Dissolute, No-Good Mr. Wright" by Tessa Dare.
This was my favorite tale of the four. Eighteen year old Eliza Cade is the youngest of four sisters. Eliza's parents see her as their most troublesome daughter--due to a reputation wrecking choice she made as a young girl--and have refused to allow her to come out into society until her older three sisters are wed. Eliza chafes mightily under the limits imposed upon her. One night, at a ball hosted by her parents to announce one of her sisters' engagements, Eliza is hiding out in her family's morning room, peeking at the dancers through the keyhole, and gossiping with her sister. When her sister leaves the room, Eliza is mortified to realize there's a man in the room, a man who’s heard all the embarrassing things she's just said. When she realizes the man is none other than the scandalous Harry Wright--the sort of scoundrel no young lady should ever be caught alone with--she's both appalled and enthralled. The two share a tantalizing conversation and make quite an impression on the other.
Over the next four years, Eliza and Harry are thrown together in various situations. Harry's actions on the surface appear to be those of a debauched, unprincipled womanizer, but the truth about the Scandalous, Dissolute, No-Good Mr. Wright is not as it appears.
This is wonderfully told story. Ms. Dare, in fewer than 150 pages, creates a compelling, interesting plot and two winning protagonists. Eliza and Harry are just right for one another—their interactions sparkle and sizzle with wit and desire. This story gets a solid A and ranks up there with the very best of Ms. Dare’s work.
"The Misbehaving Marquess" by Leigh LaValle.
This novella is also a treat. Its heroine, Catherine Raybourne, the Marchioness of Foster, was abandoned by her husband two weeks after their wedding. She was caught in a compromising position with another man and James, the Marquess, left her in anger. She's heard not a word from him for the past five years and is beyond shocked to find him, one quiet Wednesday afternoon, taking tea in their library. When she asks why, after all this time, he's returned home, he tells her, given the recent death of his cousin, he now needs an heir.
Cat and Jamie grew up together and were very much in love when they married. Cat's behavior, though innocent, enraged Jamie; his abandonment angered her equally. Cat has spent the past five years working on Jamie's estate and being desperately lonely. Jamie has traveled the world, always thinking about the woman he left behind. When he returns, the passion the two have always had for one another is still potent yet neither finds it easy to move past their hurtful past.
Ms. LaValle is an excellent wordsmith--I loved the language in this story. She does a nice job of showing the reader how both Jamie and Cat feel--their conflict and its resolution is deftly portrayed. Ironically, what I liked least about the story was its length. It was longer than it needed to be and overly and unnecessarily dramatic in its last quarter. Nonetheless, it was an enjoyable read. I give it a B.
"The Lady Always Wins" by Courtney Milan.
Frankly, I was surprised I didn't enjoy this novella more. I loved two of Ms. Milan's earlier novellas--"The Governess Affair" and "This Wicked Gift" but wasn't as enchanted with this one.
The hero of this novella, Simon Davenant, returns to the village he grew up in to woo and wed his childhood sweetheart... in three days. The woman, Ginny Barrett Croswell, is newly widowed and the last time the two spoke, "seven years, two months, and... four days ago", the two had a raging argument over Ginny's decision to marry another man. At the end of that fight, as Ginny reminds Simon, he threatened her.
Simon, who has made a fortune on the railways, is about to lose all of his wealth to a competitor... in three days. He knows--for this is the reason she rejected his suit seven years ago--Ginny won't wed him if he's a poor man. Ginny grew up destitute and has, her entire adult life, refused to ever risk such privation again. Simon still determinedly seduces her, keeping his upcoming misfortune a secret, sure having her is worth any cost.
This story didn't completely engage me. While I enjoyed interactions between Simon and Ginny--Ms. Milan's romances are sensual and her characters well-spoken--I didn't like either Simon's deception or Ginny's continued insistence on the importance of creature comforts. I also found the resolution of the story to be too tidy. I enjoyed the writing but not the plot. I give "The Lady Always Wins" a B-.
This is a partial review. To read the rest of the review, go to DearAuthor.com
http://dearauthor.com/book-reviews/ov...
We are a group of four friends who, inspired by the many examples of philanthropy in the romance community, decided to take action in the fight against breast cancer.
We are participating in the Sept. 22 Avon Walk, which has raised more than $423 million for research to find a cure or prevention, as well as for programs that enable all patients to access quality care. Support for the medically underserved is a key priority.
We're proud to be part of the romance community and want our team name to reflect that. While the term "bodice rippers" has been used as a derogatory way to refer to romance novels, we want to emphasize that what lies beneath the bodice is an important concern for every woman.
As part of our fund raising efforts, we put together Three Weddings and a Murder. This book is more than a compilation of reunion stories. It's a labor of love from four friends, and it's not intended to be a single-genre anthology. What ties together three historical romances with a contemporary romantic thriller is our love and respect for each other and for our readers. Like the readers in our community, the stories are diverse. We will donate all profits to the Avon Walk.
So, it's a book one can feel good about buying, especially given it costs just 2.99. The anthology isn't spectacular--I loved one of the stories, liked two (one more than the other), and disliked the fourth--but it's a pretty good read at a great price for an excellent cause. I give the collection, overall, a B.
"The Scandalous, Dissolute, No-Good Mr. Wright" by Tessa Dare.
This was my favorite tale of the four. Eighteen year old Eliza Cade is the youngest of four sisters. Eliza's parents see her as their most troublesome daughter--due to a reputation wrecking choice she made as a young girl--and have refused to allow her to come out into society until her older three sisters are wed. Eliza chafes mightily under the limits imposed upon her. One night, at a ball hosted by her parents to announce one of her sisters' engagements, Eliza is hiding out in her family's morning room, peeking at the dancers through the keyhole, and gossiping with her sister. When her sister leaves the room, Eliza is mortified to realize there's a man in the room, a man who’s heard all the embarrassing things she's just said. When she realizes the man is none other than the scandalous Harry Wright--the sort of scoundrel no young lady should ever be caught alone with--she's both appalled and enthralled. The two share a tantalizing conversation and make quite an impression on the other.
Over the next four years, Eliza and Harry are thrown together in various situations. Harry's actions on the surface appear to be those of a debauched, unprincipled womanizer, but the truth about the Scandalous, Dissolute, No-Good Mr. Wright is not as it appears.
This is wonderfully told story. Ms. Dare, in fewer than 150 pages, creates a compelling, interesting plot and two winning protagonists. Eliza and Harry are just right for one another—their interactions sparkle and sizzle with wit and desire. This story gets a solid A and ranks up there with the very best of Ms. Dare’s work.
"The Misbehaving Marquess" by Leigh LaValle.
This novella is also a treat. Its heroine, Catherine Raybourne, the Marchioness of Foster, was abandoned by her husband two weeks after their wedding. She was caught in a compromising position with another man and James, the Marquess, left her in anger. She's heard not a word from him for the past five years and is beyond shocked to find him, one quiet Wednesday afternoon, taking tea in their library. When she asks why, after all this time, he's returned home, he tells her, given the recent death of his cousin, he now needs an heir.
Thirty minutes later, Cat still could not catch her breath. Jamie had made the preposterous statement with utmost calm, his face quiet, his gaze steady on hers. As if he’d said “I need a new pair of boots.”
An heir.
Her skin burned with the very word.
It was not the thought of children that unsettled her. Not even the knowledge of how children were created.
It was the memories. Vivid flashes of heat that thrummed under her skin. Jamie in her bed. The shock of his mouth everywhere. His skin impossibly smooth against hers. The places she craved him. Jamie filling her, again and again, the madness between them. Her unimaginable pleasure.
Five years of a cold bed and she had not forgotten a thing.
Cat and Jamie grew up together and were very much in love when they married. Cat's behavior, though innocent, enraged Jamie; his abandonment angered her equally. Cat has spent the past five years working on Jamie's estate and being desperately lonely. Jamie has traveled the world, always thinking about the woman he left behind. When he returns, the passion the two have always had for one another is still potent yet neither finds it easy to move past their hurtful past.
Ms. LaValle is an excellent wordsmith--I loved the language in this story. She does a nice job of showing the reader how both Jamie and Cat feel--their conflict and its resolution is deftly portrayed. Ironically, what I liked least about the story was its length. It was longer than it needed to be and overly and unnecessarily dramatic in its last quarter. Nonetheless, it was an enjoyable read. I give it a B.
"The Lady Always Wins" by Courtney Milan.
Frankly, I was surprised I didn't enjoy this novella more. I loved two of Ms. Milan's earlier novellas--"The Governess Affair" and "This Wicked Gift" but wasn't as enchanted with this one.
The hero of this novella, Simon Davenant, returns to the village he grew up in to woo and wed his childhood sweetheart... in three days. The woman, Ginny Barrett Croswell, is newly widowed and the last time the two spoke, "seven years, two months, and... four days ago", the two had a raging argument over Ginny's decision to marry another man. At the end of that fight, as Ginny reminds Simon, he threatened her.
“You’ve allotted three days to accomplish all your threats?” Now she did smile. “My. You’ll be working quickly. When last we spoke, you said that if I married Mr. Croswell, I’d regret it.”
“I don’t believe I used quite those words. But yes, you’ve got the general gist of my sentiment.”
She put her head to one side, looking off into the distance. “You claimed that when he passed away, you’d seduce me, and once I’d fallen in love with you, you’d stomp on my bleeding heart and leave me weeping.” She recited those words as sweetly as if she were discussing a favorite recipe for plum preserves. “Oh, don’t give me that freezing look; I’m just trying to make sure our memories are in accord.”
There was only one thing for it. He was going to have to lie.
He reached across the table and took her hand. “You’ve got one thing wrong, Ginny. I didn’t just claim that I’d do those things. I promised I would.” He stroked his thumb across her palm. “And you know I always keep my promises.”
Simon, who has made a fortune on the railways, is about to lose all of his wealth to a competitor... in three days. He knows--for this is the reason she rejected his suit seven years ago--Ginny won't wed him if he's a poor man. Ginny grew up destitute and has, her entire adult life, refused to ever risk such privation again. Simon still determinedly seduces her, keeping his upcoming misfortune a secret, sure having her is worth any cost.
This story didn't completely engage me. While I enjoyed interactions between Simon and Ginny--Ms. Milan's romances are sensual and her characters well-spoken--I didn't like either Simon's deception or Ginny's continued insistence on the importance of creature comforts. I also found the resolution of the story to be too tidy. I enjoyed the writing but not the plot. I give "The Lady Always Wins" a B-.
This is a partial review. To read the rest of the review, go to DearAuthor.com
http://dearauthor.com/book-reviews/ov...
November 19, 2024
The rating is for the three historicals only. I loved the Tessa Dare novella and enjoyed the Milan story (although, nowhere near as much as I like her other novellas - not even close). The LaValle novella was a decent read. I didn't bother with the Baldwin piece.
August 28, 2013
Review posted on Got Fiction? Books
Three Weddings and a Murder is an anthology featuring 3 historical romance novellas for the “weddings,” and a contemporary romantic suspense novella by Carey Baldwin for the “murder” which I did not read. (I don’t read contemps very often, and I don’t think it would be fair to review it) That being said, this review is only for:
The Scandalous, Dissolute, No-Good Mr. Wright by Tessa Dare -5 flames
What struck me the most about this story was the emotion. I think I went through every single emotion possible. This story takes place over several years. That’s right, years. Eliza did something rash as a 14 year old, and consequently was ruined. Her parents forbid her to have a Season until each of her sisters was married, so she wouldn’t have a chance to ruin their prospects.
When she meets Mr. Wright for the first time, she immediately discovers he is Mr. All-Wrong. But for some reason they can’t leave each other alone. What is so sad about this one, is that once they realize they are in love, it isn’t possible for them to be together. The ending made me cry.
I think this is without a doubt Tessa Dare’s best work yet. I am so sad because I’ve read all of her books. But what makes that so wonderful, is that now I can re-read them!
The Misbehaving Marquess by Leigh LaValle- 4.5 flames
Leigh LaValle has a great story about love, betrayal and forgiveness. My favorite part was that the H/h are a married couple, and this story takes place 5 years after the wedding. Right after they got married, Cat was accidentally compromised, sort of. It was innocent enough, but it made a cuckold of her new husband, and his solution was to bail.
He left her.
For 5 years.
And in this story, it all begins with a pair of boots.
Cat is walking out the door to go riding when she spots a pair of boots resting on an ottoman. Surprise, surprise, her missing husband is not missing anymore. He’s home, and he didn’t even bother to let her know. He figured she’d happen upon him at one point or another.
This story is a bittersweet tale of love, anger, and redemption. Watching them try to hurt each other with their verbal barbs, and angry words is nothing compared to the forgiveness they look for. How can he forgive her transgression? How can she forgive his purposeful absence? It was a lovely story, and I am very glad I have her novel The Runaway Countess.
The Lady Always Wins by Courtney Milan- 4.5 flames
Ginny and Simon were childhood sweethearts, but Ginny was poor. Not just the scrimping and frugal poor, but the her father would sell his only daughter for money poor. So when Simon’s parents made no bones about cutting him off should he marry her, Ginny knew that Simon would marry her anyway. And she wouldn’t allow him to live in the horror and misery she’d known. So she married another man.
It infuriated Simon, so when he was one of the wealthiest railroad industrialists of his time, he found the perfect revenge. Ginny was widowed, and he was rich. . .for now. He was in the midst of the deal of a lifetime. A make-or-break you kind of deal. And he knew he was going to be broke (bad pun-ha ha). He would lose all his money, but in the meantime, he would find, seduce, and wed Ginny. She wouldn’t know they were poor until it was too late.
This isn’t exactly a revenge plot though, because he thinks that he can deal with her being angry with him, but he’ll at least have her-he can make her love him. Except, he finds out, that he can’t. But Ginny out-plots his plotting, and as the title states, The Lady Always Wins.
Three Weddings and a Murder is an anthology featuring 3 historical romance novellas for the “weddings,” and a contemporary romantic suspense novella by Carey Baldwin for the “murder” which I did not read. (I don’t read contemps very often, and I don’t think it would be fair to review it) That being said, this review is only for:
The Scandalous, Dissolute, No-Good Mr. Wright by Tessa Dare -5 flames
What struck me the most about this story was the emotion. I think I went through every single emotion possible. This story takes place over several years. That’s right, years. Eliza did something rash as a 14 year old, and consequently was ruined. Her parents forbid her to have a Season until each of her sisters was married, so she wouldn’t have a chance to ruin their prospects.
When she meets Mr. Wright for the first time, she immediately discovers he is Mr. All-Wrong. But for some reason they can’t leave each other alone. What is so sad about this one, is that once they realize they are in love, it isn’t possible for them to be together. The ending made me cry.
I think this is without a doubt Tessa Dare’s best work yet. I am so sad because I’ve read all of her books. But what makes that so wonderful, is that now I can re-read them!
The Misbehaving Marquess by Leigh LaValle- 4.5 flames
Leigh LaValle has a great story about love, betrayal and forgiveness. My favorite part was that the H/h are a married couple, and this story takes place 5 years after the wedding. Right after they got married, Cat was accidentally compromised, sort of. It was innocent enough, but it made a cuckold of her new husband, and his solution was to bail.
He left her.
For 5 years.
And in this story, it all begins with a pair of boots.
Cat is walking out the door to go riding when she spots a pair of boots resting on an ottoman. Surprise, surprise, her missing husband is not missing anymore. He’s home, and he didn’t even bother to let her know. He figured she’d happen upon him at one point or another.
This story is a bittersweet tale of love, anger, and redemption. Watching them try to hurt each other with their verbal barbs, and angry words is nothing compared to the forgiveness they look for. How can he forgive her transgression? How can she forgive his purposeful absence? It was a lovely story, and I am very glad I have her novel The Runaway Countess.
The Lady Always Wins by Courtney Milan- 4.5 flames
Ginny and Simon were childhood sweethearts, but Ginny was poor. Not just the scrimping and frugal poor, but the her father would sell his only daughter for money poor. So when Simon’s parents made no bones about cutting him off should he marry her, Ginny knew that Simon would marry her anyway. And she wouldn’t allow him to live in the horror and misery she’d known. So she married another man.
It infuriated Simon, so when he was one of the wealthiest railroad industrialists of his time, he found the perfect revenge. Ginny was widowed, and he was rich. . .for now. He was in the midst of the deal of a lifetime. A make-or-break you kind of deal. And he knew he was going to be broke (bad pun-ha ha). He would lose all his money, but in the meantime, he would find, seduce, and wed Ginny. She wouldn’t know they were poor until it was too late.
This isn’t exactly a revenge plot though, because he thinks that he can deal with her being angry with him, but he’ll at least have her-he can make her love him. Except, he finds out, that he can’t. But Ginny out-plots his plotting, and as the title states, The Lady Always Wins.
November 20, 2015
The Scandalous, Dissolute, No-Good Mr. Wright – Tessa Dare – 3/5 – This story takes place over the course of several years from the moment when Eliza meets Harry Wright at a ball and he’s being an absolute scoundrel and through the years as they develop a friendship and attraction. Eliza is trying to be a good and dutiful daughter, but Harry recognizes her for the hoyden she really is and tries to encourage it, so she’d be happy. He is in reality, not a scoundrel, but a good man who cares for her. This story sort of made me uncomfortable with a subtle kind of angst. The two clearly are falling in love, but circumstances (family, lifestyle, what have you) keep them apart for far longer than I wanted them to be.
The Misbehaving Marquess – Leigh LaValle – 3.5/5 – Wow. Another angsty one. Jamie and Cat married just as Cat was about to have her season. Two weeks after their wedding, Cat is caught in a compromising position and the two have a major fight. Jamie takes off for India and leaves Cat alone for 5 years. Until he one day suddenly returns and needs an heir. Cat isn’t about to forgive Jamie for disappearing and Jamie hasn’t yet worked up forgiveness for Cat’s actions before he left. The two have to figure each other out and how to rebuild their marriage. This was super angsty. Of the two of them, I think Cat had the greatest reason for truly being angry and wary of trusting her husband and while Jamie does a lot of groveling, it some how felt like not enough. Though his evidence that he hadn’t forgotten her was pretty close.
The Lady Always Wins – Courtney Milan – 3/5 - I dislike the kind of stories that are uncomfortably angsty - particularly when two people who are in love are separated for many years because of some misunderstanding, issue or something. In this case, the two loved one another, but the heroine, having a dreadful fear of poverty and facing living in poverty with the one she loves, chooses to marry another. The hero felt betrayed and devastated, but still loving her decides to go after her once she's widowed and he's still rich...but he's only still rich for the next few days.
Ultimately this is a story about defining the line between love and obsession. If you really love someone would you confine them to a lifetime of the poverty that they fear beyond all reason? Or would you want them to find happiness with someone else, no matter how crazy it drove you? If you truly loved someone wouldn't you be willing to get past that fear just to be with them? This story asks those questions and for that reason is a fantastic story - it really makes you think. But it gave me that uncomfortable twist in my gut that I didn't like, especially thinking of the pain the characters endured and how much they hurt one another with their decisions and fears.
Solomon’s Wisdom (AKA Hush)– Carey Baldwin – 2/5 – There was entirely too much going on in this story for a novella. First there’s the romance. Charlie comes back to town after 12 years. He initially left town without a word and left his best friend, Anna, behind the night that she told him he loved her (he also learned his girlfriend had committed suicide). So there’s that reunion angst to deal with. Then there’s a mystery surrounding the couples friends and their baby. And in the meantime, Charlie and Anna are trying to solve that while dealing with the fact that Charlie hurt Anna when he took off for 12 years without keeping in touch with his best friend. And considering his actions, ridiculously short on the grovel. She forgave him WAY too easily.
The Misbehaving Marquess – Leigh LaValle – 3.5/5 – Wow. Another angsty one. Jamie and Cat married just as Cat was about to have her season. Two weeks after their wedding, Cat is caught in a compromising position and the two have a major fight. Jamie takes off for India and leaves Cat alone for 5 years. Until he one day suddenly returns and needs an heir. Cat isn’t about to forgive Jamie for disappearing and Jamie hasn’t yet worked up forgiveness for Cat’s actions before he left. The two have to figure each other out and how to rebuild their marriage. This was super angsty. Of the two of them, I think Cat had the greatest reason for truly being angry and wary of trusting her husband and while Jamie does a lot of groveling, it some how felt like not enough. Though his evidence that he hadn’t forgotten her was pretty close.
The Lady Always Wins – Courtney Milan – 3/5 - I dislike the kind of stories that are uncomfortably angsty - particularly when two people who are in love are separated for many years because of some misunderstanding, issue or something. In this case, the two loved one another, but the heroine, having a dreadful fear of poverty and facing living in poverty with the one she loves, chooses to marry another. The hero felt betrayed and devastated, but still loving her decides to go after her once she's widowed and he's still rich...but he's only still rich for the next few days.
Ultimately this is a story about defining the line between love and obsession. If you really love someone would you confine them to a lifetime of the poverty that they fear beyond all reason? Or would you want them to find happiness with someone else, no matter how crazy it drove you? If you truly loved someone wouldn't you be willing to get past that fear just to be with them? This story asks those questions and for that reason is a fantastic story - it really makes you think. But it gave me that uncomfortable twist in my gut that I didn't like, especially thinking of the pain the characters endured and how much they hurt one another with their decisions and fears.
Solomon’s Wisdom (AKA Hush)– Carey Baldwin – 2/5 – There was entirely too much going on in this story for a novella. First there’s the romance. Charlie comes back to town after 12 years. He initially left town without a word and left his best friend, Anna, behind the night that she told him he loved her (he also learned his girlfriend had committed suicide). So there’s that reunion angst to deal with. Then there’s a mystery surrounding the couples friends and their baby. And in the meantime, Charlie and Anna are trying to solve that while dealing with the fact that Charlie hurt Anna when he took off for 12 years without keeping in touch with his best friend. And considering his actions, ridiculously short on the grovel. She forgave him WAY too easily.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 7, 2012
The Scandalous, Dissolute, No-Good Mr. Wright by Tessa Dare is a delectable bite of Ms. Dare's charming, irresistible voice. Every time I read something by this author, I feel like someone threw the curtains open and a ray of sunshine fills the room. This one is no exception. The heroine is spunky and contrary with a deep sense of loyalty. The title does a good job of describing the hero, but as with any good story, the hero is rarely the man he's first portrayed to be.
Mr. Wright covers more years than I'd expect from such a short story but the transitions are well done, the emotion and love story fully developed, and the HEA more than satisfying.
The Misbehaving Marquess by Leigh LaValle simmers with sexual tension. A high intensity reunion story, Cat and Jaime have been estranged for five years when the story begins. Bad decisions, injured pride, and a giant chasm of distrust stand between them. But love has the power to heal old wounds and by the end of this story, you'll be swooning in your rum and looking for some private time with your significant other. I am ashamed to report I have yet to read Ms. LaValle's other works, but that will be rectified straight away.
The Lady Always Wins by Courtney Milan might be my favorite of the four. Another reunion story but this time the heroine married someone else seven years ago, breaking the hero's heart. Now Ginny is a widow and Simon is back to claim the only woman he's ever really loved, by fair means or foul. This one looks sure to end badly until Ms. Milan throws in a twist that manages to surprise and make perfect sense all at the same time. By the end you'll have that overwhelming feeling that everything is right with the world as these two truly do belong together.
Solomon's Wisdom by Carey Baldwin thrusts us from the 1800s to present day and adds a dash of fast-paced suspense to this quartet. Yet one more reunion story (I wonder if they planned that) and again a hero and heroine with a long history and even longer separation. Anna, affectionately known as Peaches to the hero, was Charlie's best friend. But twelve years ago Anna declared her love at the worst time and without a word Charlie left town. Now he's back to win the girl he never should have left, but to reach their HEA they'll have to dodge bullets and solve a mystery before a woman and child end up the next victims.
This one moved a little too fast for me at times but then I read it pretty late at night (couldn't put it down) so that might have played a part. I'll admit I didn't see that ending coming and never would have guessed the evil that lurked so close by. Keep an extra light on while reading this one.
Mr. Wright covers more years than I'd expect from such a short story but the transitions are well done, the emotion and love story fully developed, and the HEA more than satisfying.
The Misbehaving Marquess by Leigh LaValle simmers with sexual tension. A high intensity reunion story, Cat and Jaime have been estranged for five years when the story begins. Bad decisions, injured pride, and a giant chasm of distrust stand between them. But love has the power to heal old wounds and by the end of this story, you'll be swooning in your rum and looking for some private time with your significant other. I am ashamed to report I have yet to read Ms. LaValle's other works, but that will be rectified straight away.
The Lady Always Wins by Courtney Milan might be my favorite of the four. Another reunion story but this time the heroine married someone else seven years ago, breaking the hero's heart. Now Ginny is a widow and Simon is back to claim the only woman he's ever really loved, by fair means or foul. This one looks sure to end badly until Ms. Milan throws in a twist that manages to surprise and make perfect sense all at the same time. By the end you'll have that overwhelming feeling that everything is right with the world as these two truly do belong together.
Solomon's Wisdom by Carey Baldwin thrusts us from the 1800s to present day and adds a dash of fast-paced suspense to this quartet. Yet one more reunion story (I wonder if they planned that) and again a hero and heroine with a long history and even longer separation. Anna, affectionately known as Peaches to the hero, was Charlie's best friend. But twelve years ago Anna declared her love at the worst time and without a word Charlie left town. Now he's back to win the girl he never should have left, but to reach their HEA they'll have to dodge bullets and solve a mystery before a woman and child end up the next victims.
This one moved a little too fast for me at times but then I read it pretty late at night (couldn't put it down) so that might have played a part. I'll admit I didn't see that ending coming and never would have guessed the evil that lurked so close by. Keep an extra light on while reading this one.
December 18, 2017
12/17/2017 - I read this book mainly because I wanted to read Tessa Dare's story. I absolutely loved The Scandalous Dissolute No-Good Mr. Wright and I wrote a review for it independently from this anthology because it deserved it. As for the other stories...well they were good, but not quite as great as Dare's.
For one, Leigh Lavalle's story made me angry because the guy left for five years after his wife of two weeks intervened in someone else's plan to compromise a good woman and somehow the whole town thought she was cheating on her husband. Her husband knows the truth, but he's angry because she made him look like a fool. So he leaves. She spends all her time bettering the estate and giving a home and a job to single mothers and other unfortunate souls. Her husband comes back demanding that she relinquish control back to him and is mad over the fact that she changed everything. She, obviously, is aghast that he would think he has any right considering he abandoned her and never thought to contact her. Her husband doesn't even think she has a right to ask where he's been the whole time. Somehow, this entire time, he has held on to his righteous indignation and still thinks himself wronged. Cat, for her part, had been pregnant, had a miscarriage, and then had to make a life for herself without her useless husband.
The whole story is them trying to get back together and forgive each other and all that, but I was just too pissed off over the fact that he left for five years and never contacted her. I could have forgiven two years, but five years is just too much. He also didn't feel enough remorse over that fact.
Courtney Milan's story was pretty good, but I would have liked it better if it had been a full book. The story is about two childhood friends who wanted to marry each other when they were in their late teens, but the guy's parents threatened to disown him and, although he claimed to not care, the girl would not force him to give up his dreams of going to school and fulfilling his greatest potential. So she lets him go and marries someone else. He's angry about this and goes off to school and becomes successful. Once her husband dies, the guy returns to make her fall in love with him and then he plans to trample all over her heart as she had done to him. This didn't bother me because he made this clear when they see each other again and she's all for it. Their romance was nice and ever-lasting and I liked the plot twist at the end. I really wish this had been a full-length novel.
I haven't read the last story yet, but I'll probably get to that at some point next year.
For one, Leigh Lavalle's story made me angry because the guy left for five years after his wife of two weeks intervened in someone else's plan to compromise a good woman and somehow the whole town thought she was cheating on her husband. Her husband knows the truth, but he's angry because she made him look like a fool. So he leaves. She spends all her time bettering the estate and giving a home and a job to single mothers and other unfortunate souls. Her husband comes back demanding that she relinquish control back to him and is mad over the fact that she changed everything. She, obviously, is aghast that he would think he has any right considering he abandoned her and never thought to contact her. Her husband doesn't even think she has a right to ask where he's been the whole time. Somehow, this entire time, he has held on to his righteous indignation and still thinks himself wronged. Cat, for her part, had been pregnant, had a miscarriage, and then had to make a life for herself without her useless husband.
The whole story is them trying to get back together and forgive each other and all that, but I was just too pissed off over the fact that he left for five years and never contacted her. I could have forgiven two years, but five years is just too much. He also didn't feel enough remorse over that fact.
Courtney Milan's story was pretty good, but I would have liked it better if it had been a full book. The story is about two childhood friends who wanted to marry each other when they were in their late teens, but the guy's parents threatened to disown him and, although he claimed to not care, the girl would not force him to give up his dreams of going to school and fulfilling his greatest potential. So she lets him go and marries someone else. He's angry about this and goes off to school and becomes successful. Once her husband dies, the guy returns to make her fall in love with him and then he plans to trample all over her heart as she had done to him. This didn't bother me because he made this clear when they see each other again and she's all for it. Their romance was nice and ever-lasting and I liked the plot twist at the end. I really wish this had been a full-length novel.
I haven't read the last story yet, but I'll probably get to that at some point next year.
May 27, 2012
For a novella type price, this was a steal. The stories are long enough that they are fleshed out, the writing very good and I highly recommend.
The star rating is an average for all the stories in the book. I liked two of them a lot and the other two were good but not great.
Solomon's Wisdom (Carey Baldwin)*** Was an OK short story; a bit creepy but contempories are really not my style anyway.
The Lady Always Wins (Courtney Milan)*** This was a good story of Simon and Ginny, friends for a long time. Simon was so in love with Ginny that he pressured her into marrying him before he had any money. Ginny was so afraid of proverty that she said no, and married an older, well-off man. After his death Simon comes back to claim Ginny, and has to do it in 3 days, as his business which has made him wealthy is going to go under and then he knows she won't marry him. Simon of little faith....and the tables are turned at the end. Just didn't have the same depth as the next two stories that I really loved.
The Scandalous, Dissolute, No-Good Mr. Wright (Tessa Dare)***** Over the course of the story, and therein lies one of the best things about this story, and over several years, we watch Harry and Eliza fall in love. Harry is always just a bit on the wild side, even though he is a duke's heir. Eliza has her own problems, and is not to be presented until after her three older sisters are married. All she wants is to take her place in society, but in order to do that she has to get them married. Harry discovers a kindred spirit in her and whenever they meet, sparks fly. The ending was fabulous and I really loved the whole story.
The Misbehaving Marquess (Leigh LaValle)*****If you haven't read the prior book, that is OK, but in it you would have been introduced to Cat. A woman whose husband left her after only a couple of weeks of marriage. Cat and Jaime had been childhood friends who grew into lovers and married. Both were young, and therein lies the problem. Cat did something stupid, it reflected back on Jamie and he got mad and left. Only he didn't come back----not for 5 years, with no contact in between. It is only after the death of his heir that he comes back to ask Cat to provide a son for him. Cat was ready to ask for an annulment so Jamie's return is an opportunity to obtain one, or is it? The story of Jamie's return and Cat's decision make for a wonderful story.
The star rating is an average for all the stories in the book. I liked two of them a lot and the other two were good but not great.
Solomon's Wisdom (Carey Baldwin)*** Was an OK short story; a bit creepy but contempories are really not my style anyway.
The Lady Always Wins (Courtney Milan)*** This was a good story of Simon and Ginny, friends for a long time. Simon was so in love with Ginny that he pressured her into marrying him before he had any money. Ginny was so afraid of proverty that she said no, and married an older, well-off man. After his death Simon comes back to claim Ginny, and has to do it in 3 days, as his business which has made him wealthy is going to go under and then he knows she won't marry him. Simon of little faith....and the tables are turned at the end. Just didn't have the same depth as the next two stories that I really loved.
The Scandalous, Dissolute, No-Good Mr. Wright (Tessa Dare)***** Over the course of the story, and therein lies one of the best things about this story, and over several years, we watch Harry and Eliza fall in love. Harry is always just a bit on the wild side, even though he is a duke's heir. Eliza has her own problems, and is not to be presented until after her three older sisters are married. All she wants is to take her place in society, but in order to do that she has to get them married. Harry discovers a kindred spirit in her and whenever they meet, sparks fly. The ending was fabulous and I really loved the whole story.
The Misbehaving Marquess (Leigh LaValle)*****If you haven't read the prior book, that is OK, but in it you would have been introduced to Cat. A woman whose husband left her after only a couple of weeks of marriage. Cat and Jaime had been childhood friends who grew into lovers and married. Both were young, and therein lies the problem. Cat did something stupid, it reflected back on Jamie and he got mad and left. Only he didn't come back----not for 5 years, with no contact in between. It is only after the death of his heir that he comes back to ask Cat to provide a son for him. Cat was ready to ask for an annulment so Jamie's return is an opportunity to obtain one, or is it? The story of Jamie's return and Cat's decision make for a wonderful story.
July 19, 2012
The Scandalous, dissolute, no-good Mr. Wright Tessa Dare
Eliza made a mistake many years ago, one for which she’s still paying. Though she’s eighteen, she hasn’t yet been brought out. It’s made her take refuge in watching balls through keyholes and eavesdropping on conversations. However, she does accidentally meet the unfortunately named Mr. Wright. Though an heir to a dukedomk, no matchmaking mamas are chasing after him. After all he’s a gambler, a skirt chaser, and not good enough for their daughters. But is he as wild as he seems?
The Misbehaving Marquess by Leigh Lavalle
Catherine Raybourne, the Marchioness of Forster, has been married to a man who hasn’t been around for the past five years. He left no word, never enquired after her, or gave any other sign that he even noticed that he was married. Now he’s back and wants an heir. But there is a Big Misunderstanding that needs to be cleared up first. . The two of them hurt each other terribly through pride and misunderstanding but they are both interested in becoming a family (Jamie more than Catherine, but he’s the one who needs an heir, he is also the one that was able to run away).
The Lady Always Wins by Courtney Milan
Simon Davenant has come to claim his bride. He swore that when she married another man, she’d live to regret it. He also made several threats, most of which he plans on carrying out.
Solomon’s Wisdom by
Charlie Drexler is back in town after being gone for twelve years. He knows that he hurt Anna Kincaid but he’s hoping that she might have it in her to forgive him. Would have been fine but there was a random murder with a major plot twist. Would have been much better as a longer story.
Odd, that the other three stories are historical and this one is contemporary.
Eliza made a mistake many years ago, one for which she’s still paying. Though she’s eighteen, she hasn’t yet been brought out. It’s made her take refuge in watching balls through keyholes and eavesdropping on conversations. However, she does accidentally meet the unfortunately named Mr. Wright. Though an heir to a dukedomk, no matchmaking mamas are chasing after him. After all he’s a gambler, a skirt chaser, and not good enough for their daughters. But is he as wild as he seems?
The Misbehaving Marquess by Leigh Lavalle
Catherine Raybourne, the Marchioness of Forster, has been married to a man who hasn’t been around for the past five years. He left no word, never enquired after her, or gave any other sign that he even noticed that he was married. Now he’s back and wants an heir. But there is a Big Misunderstanding that needs to be cleared up first. . The two of them hurt each other terribly through pride and misunderstanding but they are both interested in becoming a family (Jamie more than Catherine, but he’s the one who needs an heir, he is also the one that was able to run away).
The Lady Always Wins by Courtney Milan
Simon Davenant has come to claim his bride. He swore that when she married another man, she’d live to regret it. He also made several threats, most of which he plans on carrying out.
Solomon’s Wisdom by
Charlie Drexler is back in town after being gone for twelve years. He knows that he hurt Anna Kincaid but he’s hoping that she might have it in her to forgive him. Would have been fine but there was a random murder with a major plot twist. Would have been much better as a longer story.
Odd, that the other three stories are historical and this one is contemporary.
June 15, 2013
"The Misbehaving Marquess," by Leigh LaValle I had previously read when it was a Kobo freebie. I wasn't impressed and found it to be an eye-roller of sorts dialog wise.
"The Scandalous, Dissolute, No-Good Mr. Wright" by Tessa Dare. In the past I've found Ms. Dare's writing to be solid but not exactly exciting. I have to say THIS story proves me wrong. It was absolutely delightful! I loved the rakish but misunderstood hero and how flirty his demeanor was with the heroine. Wish it had been a full length book. 5 stars
"The Lady Always Wins" by Courtney Milan. I have to say this is the first time I have ever not enjoyed a story by Milan. I didn't connect with either character and I thought the reasons why they broke up initially were crass (hers) and tired (his). 2 stars
"Solomon's Wisdom" by Carey Baldwin threw me. The other stories were all historicals and suddenly we shift into contemporary mode. Baldwin was a new-to-me author. The story revolved around two couples, one estranged and one considering being together. I didn't care for it, to be perfectly honest. The writing was solid but humdrum. I wasn't excited about the story in any way, and it felt like a chore to finish it. 2 stars
I'm glad I spent the money and contributed to 2012 Avon Breast Cancer Walk with my purchase, but if I had been reading these authors for the first time, with the exception of Tessa Dare's story, this might have been a disappointment.
"The Scandalous, Dissolute, No-Good Mr. Wright" by Tessa Dare. In the past I've found Ms. Dare's writing to be solid but not exactly exciting. I have to say THIS story proves me wrong. It was absolutely delightful! I loved the rakish but misunderstood hero and how flirty his demeanor was with the heroine. Wish it had been a full length book. 5 stars
"The Lady Always Wins" by Courtney Milan. I have to say this is the first time I have ever not enjoyed a story by Milan. I didn't connect with either character and I thought the reasons why they broke up initially were crass (hers) and tired (his). 2 stars
"Solomon's Wisdom" by Carey Baldwin threw me. The other stories were all historicals and suddenly we shift into contemporary mode. Baldwin was a new-to-me author. The story revolved around two couples, one estranged and one considering being together. I didn't care for it, to be perfectly honest. The writing was solid but humdrum. I wasn't excited about the story in any way, and it felt like a chore to finish it. 2 stars
I'm glad I spent the money and contributed to 2012 Avon Breast Cancer Walk with my purchase, but if I had been reading these authors for the first time, with the exception of Tessa Dare's story, this might have been a disappointment.
May 30, 2012
When I read on Twitter that Tessa Dare, Leigh LaValle, Courtney Milan, and Carey Baldwin were writing an anthology to raise money for the Avon Walk, I was excited. If you don't know the Avon Walk fundraises for breast cancer research. They actually plan to participate at the one in Santa Barbara, CA, which is near my hometown and I think that is so awesome. So, I hope that they do well with there fundraising efforts.
With that said I should tell you what I thought about the book. I loved it. I loved the stories and how they all focus on second chances and a new release on life. You start off with Tessa Dare, The Scandalous, Dissolute, No-Good Mr. Wright, which is a fun story with the old saying that appearances are not always what they seem to be. Next you read Leigh LaValle, The Misbehaving Marquess, which is really about second chances and new beginnings. Afterwards you have Courtney Milan, The Lady Always Wins, which is all about seeing the big picture. And you have Carey Baldwin, Solomon's Wisdom, let me just say I didn't know what to expect and was shocked.
I hope that you all get a chance to get this ebook, because it is going towards a good cause. All the profits will be going to the research and treatment for breast cancer.
With that said I should tell you what I thought about the book. I loved it. I loved the stories and how they all focus on second chances and a new release on life. You start off with Tessa Dare, The Scandalous, Dissolute, No-Good Mr. Wright, which is a fun story with the old saying that appearances are not always what they seem to be. Next you read Leigh LaValle, The Misbehaving Marquess, which is really about second chances and new beginnings. Afterwards you have Courtney Milan, The Lady Always Wins, which is all about seeing the big picture. And you have Carey Baldwin, Solomon's Wisdom, let me just say I didn't know what to expect and was shocked.
I hope that you all get a chance to get this ebook, because it is going towards a good cause. All the profits will be going to the research and treatment for breast cancer.
January 15, 2013
The Scandalous, Dissolute, No-Good Mr. Wright
LOVED. 100 Stars please.
The Misbehaving Marquess
At first I was all: ugh, Jamie's a jerk and Cat is weak for just accepting him back after being abandoned by him 5 years prior. The second and third time I read it however I realized that Jamie and Cat married with they were both immature adults. Stupid circumstances make it apparent just how immature they are. When they are reunited five years later they are both more mature and able to be partners, working towards common goals. My biggest complaint is that I wish Jamie grovelled at Cat's feet more. Granted they both did things wrong, but he's the one that left for five silence filled years.
3 out of 5
The Lady Always Wins
Loved Simon and Ginny's odd relationship. Just the way they talked to each other, always thwarting the other's plans and motives.
4 out of 5
Solomon's Wisdom
Jury is still out on this one. Didn't seem to fit in the anthology really. The writing is good, but the story just didn't rope me in.
LOVED. 100 Stars please.
The Misbehaving Marquess
At first I was all: ugh, Jamie's a jerk and Cat is weak for just accepting him back after being abandoned by him 5 years prior. The second and third time I read it however I realized that Jamie and Cat married with they were both immature adults. Stupid circumstances make it apparent just how immature they are. When they are reunited five years later they are both more mature and able to be partners, working towards common goals. My biggest complaint is that I wish Jamie grovelled at Cat's feet more. Granted they both did things wrong, but he's the one that left for five silence filled years.
3 out of 5
The Lady Always Wins
Loved Simon and Ginny's odd relationship. Just the way they talked to each other, always thwarting the other's plans and motives.
4 out of 5
Solomon's Wisdom
Jury is still out on this one. Didn't seem to fit in the anthology really. The writing is good, but the story just didn't rope me in.
August 15, 2020
The Scandalous, Dissolute, No-Good Mr Wright - Tessa Dare
I have already read this one so I decided to skip it. But I loved this one. 5/5
The Misbehaving Marquess - Leigh LaValle
This was sweet and short. The characters know each other and are, in fact, married so whobwe meet are their matured selves. There was great chemistry between both the characters and I really liked this story as well 3.5/5
The Lady Always Wins - Courtney Milan
I felt like this story had a good premise and I rather liked how Simon turns out, my problem? I didn't connect with Virginia quite well, I felt like it was all about her fear of poverty, and I didn't exactly see much about her characters, whereas we're given deep insights to how Simon really is as a person. 2.5/5
Solomon's Wisdom - Carey Baldwin
I think this was the worst in the book, the time line doesn't match up with the previous 3 stories, there's no connection and chemistry between the characters and it felt like the scenes were jumping from one corner to another. It felt messy in short. 1/5
I have already read this one so I decided to skip it. But I loved this one. 5/5
The Misbehaving Marquess - Leigh LaValle
This was sweet and short. The characters know each other and are, in fact, married so whobwe meet are their matured selves. There was great chemistry between both the characters and I really liked this story as well 3.5/5
The Lady Always Wins - Courtney Milan
I felt like this story had a good premise and I rather liked how Simon turns out, my problem? I didn't connect with Virginia quite well, I felt like it was all about her fear of poverty, and I didn't exactly see much about her characters, whereas we're given deep insights to how Simon really is as a person. 2.5/5
Solomon's Wisdom - Carey Baldwin
I think this was the worst in the book, the time line doesn't match up with the previous 3 stories, there's no connection and chemistry between the characters and it felt like the scenes were jumping from one corner to another. It felt messy in short. 1/5
July 19, 2012
This was a strong anthology overall.
Both Tessa Dare's The Scandalous Dissolute, No-Good Mr. Wright and Courtney Milan's The Lady Always Wins were excellent. I was already a Milan fan going in, but now I'll definitely have to check out Dare's stuff as well. These two made the anthology for me.
Leigh LaVelle's The Misbehaving Marquess was mediocre, but not terrible. I'm a fan of reconciliation plotlines and though it wasn't the best I've ever read, it was solid enough. The hero wasn't quite likable enough to really carry it off, however. The split seemed to be entirely his fault and his reasoning was horribly petty.
I didn't care for Carey Baldwin's Solomon's Wisdom, but that's because I'm just not that into thrillers/suspense and thus, obviously, was reading this for the historical romances.
Both Tessa Dare's The Scandalous Dissolute, No-Good Mr. Wright and Courtney Milan's The Lady Always Wins were excellent. I was already a Milan fan going in, but now I'll definitely have to check out Dare's stuff as well. These two made the anthology for me.
Leigh LaVelle's The Misbehaving Marquess was mediocre, but not terrible. I'm a fan of reconciliation plotlines and though it wasn't the best I've ever read, it was solid enough. The hero wasn't quite likable enough to really carry it off, however. The split seemed to be entirely his fault and his reasoning was horribly petty.
I didn't care for Carey Baldwin's Solomon's Wisdom, but that's because I'm just not that into thrillers/suspense and thus, obviously, was reading this for the historical romances.
January 16, 2013
I got this because I wanted to read Courtney Milan.
"The Scandalous, Dissolute, No-Good Mr. Wright" by Tessa Dare
I read this as a stand alone and it's quite adorable. Totally recommend it. 4 stars.
"The Misbehaving Marquess" by Leigh LaValle
Yeah, this totally didn't work for me. It's supposed to be about second chances and to be honest, I just didn't like either character. 2 stars.
"The Lady Always Wins" by Courtney Milan
Milan simply knows how to write short stories. I really enjoyed this one. Also about second chances, only this time the characters are likeable and the banter is delicious. The end is a bit mushy, but hell, I totally enjoyed it. 4 stars.
"Solomon's Wisdom" by Carey Baldwin
Yeah. DNF. It just didn't fit with the other stories and was difficult to read.
Overall, two great stories, one meh, and one DNF.
"The Scandalous, Dissolute, No-Good Mr. Wright" by Tessa Dare
I read this as a stand alone and it's quite adorable. Totally recommend it. 4 stars.
"The Misbehaving Marquess" by Leigh LaValle
Yeah, this totally didn't work for me. It's supposed to be about second chances and to be honest, I just didn't like either character. 2 stars.
"The Lady Always Wins" by Courtney Milan
Milan simply knows how to write short stories. I really enjoyed this one. Also about second chances, only this time the characters are likeable and the banter is delicious. The end is a bit mushy, but hell, I totally enjoyed it. 4 stars.
"Solomon's Wisdom" by Carey Baldwin
Yeah. DNF. It just didn't fit with the other stories and was difficult to read.
Overall, two great stories, one meh, and one DNF.
June 14, 2024
Tessa Dare and Courtney Milan were fabulous. Vale and Baldwin really weren’t.
That last story especially felt so completely out of place in this collection that I could not bring myself to read beyond the first chapter. After reading Courtney Milan’s beautiful prose, the strange fanfic-y dialogue of Baldwin’s really wasn’t something I could deal with.
I had to review Tessa Dare separately because I just had to discuss hers at length but Milan as well was fabulous. Aah, Simon and Ginny and their excellent banter and imperfect feelings. It was incredible.
I liked LaValle a bit less, I just wasn’t sold on Jamie to be honest.
An okay anthology with some excellent and some not so excellent stories but overall failed as an anthology because of the addition of the last very odd murder mystery.
That last story especially felt so completely out of place in this collection that I could not bring myself to read beyond the first chapter. After reading Courtney Milan’s beautiful prose, the strange fanfic-y dialogue of Baldwin’s really wasn’t something I could deal with.
I had to review Tessa Dare separately because I just had to discuss hers at length but Milan as well was fabulous. Aah, Simon and Ginny and their excellent banter and imperfect feelings. It was incredible.
I liked LaValle a bit less, I just wasn’t sold on Jamie to be honest.
An okay anthology with some excellent and some not so excellent stories but overall failed as an anthology because of the addition of the last very odd murder mystery.
August 8, 2012
THREE WEDDINGS AND A MURDER, an anthology by four talented authors, Tessa Dare, Leigh LaValle, Courtney Milan, and Carey Baldwin is an exceptional, delightful, and brilliantly written collection of two Regencies, a historical, and contemporary suspense romances.
Since I've already reviewed each of the novellas in a post on my blog, it's easier to send you there to read my thoughts. I don't normally do that but I must share them with you and space is not sufficient here, so feel free to read my full review of THREE WEDDINGS AND A MURDER at http://unwrappingromance.blogspot.com...
A copy of this book was provided by Carey Baldwin without expectation of a review but this review has been rendered honestly and unscripted. Thank you Carey.
Since I've already reviewed each of the novellas in a post on my blog, it's easier to send you there to read my thoughts. I don't normally do that but I must share them with you and space is not sufficient here, so feel free to read my full review of THREE WEDDINGS AND A MURDER at http://unwrappingromance.blogspot.com...
A copy of this book was provided by Carey Baldwin without expectation of a review but this review has been rendered honestly and unscripted. Thank you Carey.
April 26, 2017
I almost did not finish this because of the final story. I understand that the book was a collection of stories published for charity but the fourth story was a big let down. It did not mesh well with the former three. It just did not fit this collection. Carey's story is a contemporary fix while the other three are historical romances. It also had a storyline that I found over the top and difficult to enjoy. I did not care about the characters at all. The other stories had entertaining storylines and fleshed out characters. I especially adored Tessa and Courtney's shorts. I liked Leigh's story too but the reason for the husband's absence was petty.
2 stars for the anthology. 1 for Baldwin. 4 stars for LaValle. 5 stars for Dare and Milan.
2 stars for the anthology. 1 for Baldwin. 4 stars for LaValle. 5 stars for Dare and Milan.
Read
February 12, 2018The Scandalous, Dissolute, No-Good Mr. Wright by Tessa Dare
Enjoyable characters who develop depth as the novella progresses.
The beginning of the story was a bit tiresome because Mr. Wright kept warning our heroine, Ella, away from another Gentleman whom she was about to become engaged to. I kept asking myself if Mr. Brentley's such a bad chap, why don't you provide more of an explanation. This riddle is explained letter, but it irritated me until we uncovered the secret. "Embarrasment is a frightfully constant quantity. If I'd spared you a measure of embarrassment, I would hvae been forced to heap some at Brentley's door.
Forgot to review the rest.
Enjoyable characters who develop depth as the novella progresses.
The beginning of the story was a bit tiresome because Mr. Wright kept warning our heroine, Ella, away from another Gentleman whom she was about to become engaged to. I kept asking myself if Mr. Brentley's such a bad chap, why don't you provide more of an explanation. This riddle is explained letter, but it irritated me until we uncovered the secret. "Embarrasment is a frightfully constant quantity. If I'd spared you a measure of embarrassment, I would hvae been forced to heap some at Brentley's door.
Forgot to review the rest.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews