Rating:  Summary: Who'd have guessed that reform could be so much fun? Review: Fans of The Switch and Lady Pirate are in for a treat! Lynsay Sands has delivered another wonderful regency comedy in The Reluctant Reformer.The old proverb says that no good deed will go unpunished. Lord Ramsey and Maggie are just finding this out. Kidnapping, masquerades, hijinx in a notorious bordello-- Relucant Reformer has it all. It's just the ticket for driving off the winter gloom.
Rating:  Summary: Great! Funny! Could not put it down. Review: I have read all of Lynsay Sands' books -- her humor is wonderful and her books just get better and better. The misunderstanding between the main characters was so funny -- and not aggravating like some authors do.
Rating:  Summary: Mistakes can be sexually satisfying. Review: I just started reading books by this author and I must say that I have enjoyed each one so far. Her stories make me chuckle at times. She writes with humor and passion. The characters were warm and easy to get to know. By the third page I was hooked. The only thing that bothered me was that Maggie got knocked out a lot, other than that it was a nice mystery, fun and had several titilating love scenes. I like this writer and plan to read more. The last one I read was The Lady Pirate which I thought was GREAT! I would actually rate this book a 4 1/2 star book.
Rating:  Summary: not as good as her earlier books Review: I love this author but i didn't like this book very much. I was so looking forward to it that I bought it 4 months before it came out. I have always enjoyed the humor and wonderful writting style of Lynsay Sands but this book lacked that humor and style. I did find it somewhat funny in a few random scenes. And i will admit that the love scenes are hot but the plot didn't thrill me. The characters were boring to me and the situations that the heroine gets herself into may me think she was an incredibly stupid woman not one who was supposed to be making it on her own. I'm sorry that this wasn't a better book but I'll still read Lynsay Sands books in the future.
Rating:  Summary: The Reluctant Reformer (who really got reformed?) Review: I read everything Ms. Sands write. She is a must read for me. This book is one of her best. It was hilarious. I loved evey minute. I could not put it down. I recommend you read all her books. They all have good stories and a large amount of humor.
Rating:  Summary: The Reluctant Reformer (who really got reformed?) Review: I read everything Ms. Sands write. She is a must read for me. This book is one of her best. It was hilarious. I loved evey minute. I could not put it down. I recommend you read all her books. They all have good stories and a large amount of humor.
Rating:  Summary: Charming Book Review: Lady Margaret Wentworth would be the first to agree she's unconventional. Improper behavior is but a necessary tool of her trade. When her brother Gerald died in the War, Maggie found herself responsible for his town house and servants (family retainers, all). Despite the financial strain, Maggie could hardly put them out into the streets. Hence, her current predicament: teetering on the window ledge of a well-known brothel while trying to make her escape. Having exchanged her gown for a flimsy creation of see-through lace -- on the request of one of Madame Dubarry's girls -- Maggie is in something of a pickle. To complicate matters, Lord James Ramsey is on a quest to save Maggie from herself. Recently returned from the War, James is surprised to find Gerald's virtuous sister romping around in a brothel. His deathbed promise to Gerald (a compatriot in the War and a very dear friend) to look out for the girl is tested by the newly acquired knowledge that Maggie is Lady X, a masked courtesan the ton is all agog over. His source is quite reliable, and finding Maggie similarly garbed in Madame Dubarry's brothel is all the proof James needs of her sordid profession. He has no choice, then. He must kidnap Maggie and teach the sassy bit of baggage how to comport herself like a true lady -- and provide her with an alternate source of income into the bargain. Reforming Gerald's sister will be a difficult task, however. Although charming, the episodic blunderings of Maggie are familiar fare to readers of Ms. Sands. Once again, a heroine behaves precipitously by visiting brothels, dressing in breeches and snubbing all thought of convention. "Only you, Maggie," becomes a familiar refrain throughout as the aforementioned heroine bungles her way into one tidy mess after another. James is also a fairly common hero; he denies the existence of love until the very last possible moment. Love makes a man vulnerable, after all, and it's a bloody uncomfortable sensation. Such striking similarities to Ms. Sands' previous offerings dampened this reviewer's enjoyment of THE RELUCTANT REFORMER somewhat, but never extinguished the fire fully, if you will. A thin storyline enables the growth of strong characterizations (as Maggie and James's interactions are the sole focus of this novel -- until Maggie's life is endangered, that is). Their lusty encounters are heated and tempestuous, but also a source of great humor. Untimely interruptions force Maggie and James to duck and cover, so to speak. They're never quite quick enough, though. It's also refreshing to have a plot revolving around the heroine's reformation from a woman of lusty appetites to a lady of refinement. Of course, it's all a misunderstanding on James's part. Good intentions have ever been a man's downfall. Modern sentimentality may jerk a reader back to the present from time to time. However, THE RELUCTANT REFORMER is an historical romance that feels authentic for the most part. Ms. Sands is a writer of wit, wryness and wonderfully appealing characters. If she doesn't reform your reading tastes and bring an ear-splitting grin to your lips, well, you're sadly lacking a sense of humor, dear reader. Ms. Sands' backlist will no doubt cure you of that.
Rating:  Summary: Wonderfully appealing characters Review: Lady Margaret Wentworth would be the first to agree she's unconventional. Improper behavior is but a necessary tool of her trade. When her brother Gerald died in the War, Maggie found herself responsible for his town house and servants (family retainers, all). Despite the financial strain, Maggie could hardly put them out into the streets. Hence, her current predicament: teetering on the window ledge of a well-known brothel while trying to make her escape. Having exchanged her gown for a flimsy creation of see-through lace -- on the request of one of Madame Dubarry's girls -- Maggie is in something of a pickle. To complicate matters, Lord James Ramsey is on a quest to save Maggie from herself. Recently returned from the War, James is surprised to find Gerald's virtuous sister romping around in a brothel. His deathbed promise to Gerald (a compatriot in the War and a very dear friend) to look out for the girl is tested by the newly acquired knowledge that Maggie is Lady X, a masked courtesan the ton is all agog over. His source is quite reliable, and finding Maggie similarly garbed in Madame Dubarry's brothel is all the proof James needs of her sordid profession. He has no choice, then. He must kidnap Maggie and teach the sassy bit of baggage how to comport herself like a true lady -- and provide her with an alternate source of income into the bargain. Reforming Gerald's sister will be a difficult task, however. Although charming, the episodic blunderings of Maggie are familiar fare to readers of Ms. Sands. Once again, a heroine behaves precipitously by visiting brothels, dressing in breeches and snubbing all thought of convention. "Only you, Maggie," becomes a familiar refrain throughout as the aforementioned heroine bungles her way into one tidy mess after another. James is also a fairly common hero; he denies the existence of love until the very last possible moment. Love makes a man vulnerable, after all, and it's a bloody uncomfortable sensation. Such striking similarities to Ms. Sands' previous offerings dampened this reviewer's enjoyment of THE RELUCTANT REFORMER somewhat, but never extinguished the fire fully, if you will. A thin storyline enables the growth of strong characterizations (as Maggie and James's interactions are the sole focus of this novel -- until Maggie's life is endangered, that is). Their lusty encounters are heated and tempestuous, but also a source of great humor. Untimely interruptions force Maggie and James to duck and cover, so to speak. They're never quite quick enough, though. It's also refreshing to have a plot revolving around the heroine's reformation from a woman of lusty appetites to a lady of refinement. Of course, it's all a misunderstanding on James's part. Good intentions have ever been a man's downfall. Modern sentimentality may jerk a reader back to the present from time to time. However, THE RELUCTANT REFORMER is an historical romance that feels authentic for the most part. Ms. Sands is a writer of wit, wryness and wonderfully appealing characters. If she doesn't reform your reading tastes and bring an ear-splitting grin to your lips, well, you're sadly lacking a sense of humor, dear reader. Ms. Sands' backlist will no doubt cure you of that.
Rating:  Summary: A case of mistaken identity leads to love Review: Lady Margaret Wentworth's brother Gerald was unfortunately killed during the war, leaving Maggie to care for his London house and the servants that are dependant on her for a living. There is little cash in her inheritance, so Maggie does the scandalous thing of earning a living - continuing the writing career that her brother started. Before the opening of the book she has disguised herself to, for example, investigate a gentleman's gambling club to write about, something that would horrify society if they suspected who G W Clark really was. Now Maggie is investigating a brothel, conducting interviews in the very brothel housing the infamous `Lady X'. Lord Ramsey was a good friend of Gerald - in fact Gerald died saving his life. James had promised Gerald to watch over his sister. To live up to that vow, James employed an investigator on his return - an investigator who identified Maggie as Lady X. Now James is determined to save Maggie from herself, and on the very night she next travels to the brothel, James kidnaps her and takes Maggie to his estate. The issue of mistaken identity is resolved about half way through the book and Maggie returns to London, soon followed by James, but now it appears that someone is trying to harm her... Sands has a definite feel for comic situations. From the kidnap to the talking at cross purposes that goes on for days between James and Maggie, to Maggies attempt at escape, to the events that seem destined to happen whenever they go into a library, the talented Sands is able to infuse a lighthearted element even into moments of danger or stress. And in this case it even carries across to the love life of the two central characters - right up to the very last page. The eccentric servants, the brothel owner, James' aunt and his best friend Robert all make excellent secondary characters. I'm sure all readers of romance would enjoy this lively example.
Rating:  Summary: A case of mistaken identity leads to love Review: Lady Margaret Wentworth's brother Gerald was unfortunately killed during the war, leaving Maggie to care for his London house and the servants that are dependant on her for a living. There is little cash in her inheritance, so Maggie does the scandalous thing of earning a living - continuing the writing career that her brother started. Before the opening of the book she has disguised herself to, for example, investigate a gentleman's gambling club to write about, something that would horrify society if they suspected who G W Clark really was. Now Maggie is investigating a brothel, conducting interviews in the very brothel housing the infamous 'Lady X'. Lord Ramsey was a good friend of Gerald - in fact Gerald died saving his life. James had promised Gerald to watch over his sister. To live up to that vow, James employed an investigator on his return - an investigator who identified Maggie as Lady X. Now James is determined to save Maggie from herself, and on the very night she next travels to the brothel, James kidnaps her and takes Maggie to his estate. The issue of mistaken identity is resolved about half way through the book and Maggie returns to London, soon followed by James, but now it appears that someone is trying to harm her... Sands has a definite feel for comic situations. From the kidnap to the talking at cross purposes that goes on for days between James and Maggie, to Maggies attempt at escape, to the events that seem destined to happen whenever they go into a library, the talented Sands is able to infuse a lighthearted element even into moments of danger or stress. And in this case it even carries across to the love life of the two central characters - right up to the very last page. The eccentric servants, the brothel owner, James' aunt and his best friend Robert all make excellent secondary characters. I'm sure all readers of romance would enjoy this lively example.
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