Rating: 
Summary: engaging but not sparkling
Review: I adore Jayne Ann no matter if it is Krentz, Castle or Amanda Q. But sigh, her last few half dozen books have been dull, only the Castle "After Glow" showing Jayne Ann can still razzle-dazzle with the best. This book is not JAK at her best - far from it - but it is a big improvement from the last two Quicks and two JAKs, that you tend to want to rate it higher than it deserves.I liked the characters - and REALLY wanted to love the book - and after the fire works on "After Glow", I really hoped she would keep that power. It starts out well, but sort of loses steam quickly (no pun intended!). This book is JAK formula all the way. I love the formula, so I don't mind that. But I do mind a rather boring mystery slowing the book down. Since JAK moved from "Romance Writer" to "Mainstream Writer", she has lost "THE ROMANCE" and it's killing her books. She almost rises to the level, but not quite. She needs to rediscover the power of emotional bonds. Her toning down the emotional tension between her leads and making it more a comedy of manners with a week mystery tossed in for diversion is watering down the JAK Magic. The mystery is hardly a mystery, and almost falls into the old trite Who Dun It style of introducing the evil villain at nearly at the last minute. I thought Eleanor and Arthur quite charming, they engaged my attention to the end, but they just did not sizzle with JAK's witchcraft. It's a good solid read, just not a great one. Nice book for the beach.
Rating: 
Summary: An Enjoyable Read
Review: I came across this book and thought it sounded interesting. As I was reading the book however, I noticed that the main premise and some of the details seemed to have been borrowed from the movie "Pretty Woman". While it is not completely the same there are several similar elements. The heroine, Eleanora. is a paid companion hired to pose as the hero's fiance while he investigates his uncles murder.
This book is an absorbing read and holds the attention easily. The book would have been better with less description of their romance and more attention to the narrative. Much is skimmed over that the reader is curious to know more about. While the book is a romance, it should appeal to even those who do not like romance fiction. The author could easily write mainstream fiction and be a success at it. This is the first novel by this author that I have read, as I generally avoid romance fiction. In summary, a good read and an enjoyable plot.
Rating:
Summary: Most enjoyable!
Review: I have been slightly disappointed in the last several Amanda Quick books, but this one restores my interest! It reminds me of earlier, paperback releases by Amanda Quick. The action and characters are more spritely than in recent releases, and I enjoyed it very much. Well done!
Rating: 
Summary: No matter what name she writes under ...
Review: I Like This Writer! Her characters are very easy to relate to and the plots are as a rule...STEAMY! Give her a try if you haven't read any of her books...You Won't Be Disappointed!
Rating:
Summary: Another winner.
Review: I love all of Ms. Krentz's books but my favorites are her Amanda Quick Regency era stories. This one is no exception. I highly recommend it. Enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: questionable science, but Heyeresque characters
Review: I really liked this book and almost rated it 5 stars. I tossed away the scientific portions because they felt awkward to me. Fortunately, I also found them unimportant overall. The murder mystery was interesting; Quick certainly kept the suspense up. But the most enjoyable thing for me was the romance. Granted the book was at least 1/2 mystery, but I didn't really expect anything else. Perhaps my lack of expectations caused me to rate it higher than other readers. Certainly expectations have caused me to rate books lower. Anyway, I really liked Elenora and Arthur. I found them to be well-developed and somewhat unusual characters. Arthur reminded me of Georgette Heyer's heroes. Somehow the book had an older feel to it despite the more modern language. I found it a very compelling combination. Arthur's growing admiration for Elenora is utterly convincing, and her dreams she hesitates to dream are very real, speaking vividly to a woman's heart, as does her determination to be practical. I liked it so well, I'm headed off to find another Amanda Quick book to read.
Rating:
Summary: Superb
Review: I wanted to read something different than the norm and was referred to this novel. This is my first read by Ms. Quick and I loved it! It is a very historial romantic suspense. Also, another different novel was referred called "Lust Of The Flesh" by Beverly Rolyat. This novel was definitely, by far, the most different novel I've ever read. A very riveting pageturner. Filled with lust, deceit, betrayal, plenty of sex and suspense.
Rating:
Summary: Quick and Easy Read!
Review: I was surprised by how quickly I was able to read this one. It was light and entertaining, with strong, well written characters, but I give it only three stars because it's not very original. This is just "Affair","With this Ring", and "I Thee Wed" all over again, only with different characters. Ms. Quick needs to find a new subject matter. I found her "Don't Look Back" and "Late for the Wedding" series better and more refreshing. I look forward to more installments from that series. One great thing about Amanda Quick is the names she gives her protaganists. A hero can have a name like Arthur and still be handsome, strong, intelligent and get the beautiful girl and not be just some wimp who ends up as a background character.
Rating:
Summary: Refreshing. A Big, Big 4 Stars.
Review: In "THE PAID COMPANION," Amanda Quick displays her ability to plan and execute a successful romance/mystery. Here the reader will NOT find the usual insecure misunderstandings. Instead the author presents mature thinking and witty exchanges. How refreshingly resourceful! Elenora Lodge is a delightful heroine. She is caring, headstrong, opinionated, and Elenora Lodge never backs down from an altercation. Avoiding poverty, Elenora deals with her life as a paid companion - normally a position designed to give comfort and companionship to an elderly person - normally. However, every career has its bends and turns, and Arthur Lancaster, the Earl of St. Merryn, now wants to pay Elenora's salary. Lancaster needs someone to play the role of his betrothed. Amanda Quick writes Arthur Lancaster as a terrific hero. A dark, no-nonsense man - a man gifted with razor perception. Yes, "THE PAID COMPANION" is a page turner and Amanda Quick delivers immense reading satisfaction. The author manages to fascinate her reader using witty dialogue yet holds her reader intrigued with a murder mystery vibrating in the background. Grace Atkinson, Ontario - Canada.
Rating:
Summary: exhilarating historical romantic suspense
Review: In Regency England, Miss Elenora Lodge had a beautiful estate, a wealthy inheritance, and a fiancée that she loved until her stepfather used her money to invest and lost it all. The new estate owner tosses her off the property and her fiancée dumps her. Elenora travels to London seeking employment as a companion. Earl Arthur Lancaster seeks a companion to pose as his fiancée so he can go about his business without the shackles of matchmaking matriarchs. He offers Elenora an exorbitant fee, which she gratefully accepts. In his St. Merryn home, Elenora learns that the murder of his cherished great-uncle brought him to town seeking justice. She needs to help him and while facing danger they fall in love with one another, but both fear rejection so they hide their feelings from one another. Amanda Quick has written an exhilarating historical romantic suspense tale that will keep reader attention from first page to last. Though the intrigue grips the audience, there is almost as much emphasis on the romance through the two wonderful protagonists. THE PAID COMPANION is an action-packed tale with terrific well developed lead characters and an interesting quirky support cast and the combination will send this author quickly to the New York Times best seller list. Harriet Klausner
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