A Useful Affair

Rating:
Summary: Would have been a good read, but...
Review: ...either the editor went crazy and chopped out more than necessary or the writer expected you to fill in the gaps. As much as I hate lengthy prologues, this story needed a few pages to set the stage better for the reader. The main characters would have been much more interesting with more background info. that related to the plot. For example, the author tells us Lord John Granville was a spy for the British government, but this had absolutely no bearing on any of the story. This aspect of his character could have made the pretext of how he becomes involved with the villian, Leggit, much more interesting than running from a spurned lover. The sub-story of the aunts and their enterprise just takes away from developing the story between Hattie and Lord Granville. The worst part was the ending, which seemed vague and abrupt. Overall, the plot seemed rushed and ill-explained, and the promise of the main characters and others was ruined by this. If there are subsequent stories for Lord Granville's brothers, I hope they are more well-developed.

Rating:
Summary: Disconnected and disappointing
Review: A Useful Affair was very frustrating and irritating to me. You can see the plot in the editorial review. It sounded interesting and potentially very romantic. It wasn't. The romantic characters are delayed in getting together--against all logic, the storyline needs at least some basic explanation,which is never supplied, odds and ends of plots are thrown in that don't seem to add a thing and actually distract, and there are conversations that seem to mean something but don't--and make you wonder why they were there in the first place. I usually read a book all the way through in one setting. This one I put down several times and finally, skipped a chapter or two to get it over with so I could take it to the used book store. And even the last chapter seemed out of place. That was a major problem with the entire book: I'd be reading along and think, "Did I miss some pages? What the heck is this all about?" If this is part of an intended series or a continuation of a series, then perhaps there would be some mental organization, but I don't believe that's the case. It's simply a loose concept for a story, strung together with strange acting characters who act OUT of character much of the time, especially for the era. Perhaps this was an earlier effort by Ms. Cameron and she meant to create something more or better. But, this effort simply didn't work well for me.

I think it says something that the postive quote by The Romantic Times on the back cover is about another book, not this one!

Rating:
Summary: Couldn't agree more
Review: Didn't like the hero, John, weak and he could only think with what was between his legs. Hattie was strong and smart with John but then so weak with her horrible husband. There was no development with these two characters, specially in the emotional/love area. It was all lust with nothing redeeming, nothing that wanted these two to get together, really. The Aunts, Albert and Snowdrop were great characters. The story could have been so good. First book I've read by this author. Probably wouldn't read another. Too bad, it had so much potential. I hate spending money on and wasting time on a book that's premise could have been so good. I am wondering if it is Mira. I can't think of a historical romance I've enjoyed/had any depth from this publisher.

Rating:
Summary: Definitely Had Potential!
Review: I rate this book 2 1/2 stars.

The storyline is good, though it was greatly underdeveloped to make it an attractive read. The characters and how they relate and/or interact certainly had more potential, but it was unremarkably written.

Getting to the root of the plot is rather exasperating and only moderately explained. Many times I was left wondering what one circumstance had to do with the other and the purpose of some characters. The writing style did not efficiently flow as I found myself having to re-read something to get the gist or understand the author's meaning.

It definitely could have been a great book.

Rating:
Summary: Definitely Had Potential!
Review: I rate this book 2 1/2 stars.

The storyline is good, though it was greatly underdeveloped to make it an attractive read. The characters and how they relate and/or interact certainly had more potential, but it was unremarkably written.

Getting to the root of the plot is rather exasperating and only moderately explained. Many times I was left wondering what one circumstance had to do with the other and the purpose of some characters. The writing style did not efficiently flow as I found myself having to re-read something to get the gist or understand the author's meaning.

It definitely could have been a great book.

Rating:
Summary: Would have been a good read, but...
Review: Lord John Elliot knows that he and his six year old second cousin Chloe are lucky to be alive unlike the misfortunate little girl's parents. Wealthy elderly merchant Bernard Leggit arranged for them to die. Only the intercession of a smuggler Albert Parker, who placed the pair inside a coffin, saved them from death. That followed up by Albert's beloved Snowdrop's actions got Chloe and "Uncle" John past their killers.

John takes up residency at a family estate in Bath. He plans revenge via seducing Bernard's young trophy wife Hattie. However, after meeting her, instead of using the young lady, he finds himself quite attracted to her especially when John sees how crass and verbally abusive Bernard is to his spouse. Soon John falls in love with Hattie and she reciprocates, but she belongs to the odious Bernard who would never allow any of his possessions to get away from him.

Though Bernard is too nasty and too obsessed as the villain, Regency romance fans will welcome this delightful tale due to several wonderful characters. The lead couple makes the tale hum as he realizes that the pawn in his quest for vengeance has become his most cherished beloved and she understands the mistakes she made by acting alone against her spouse (for a change the parents are not held culpable though they arranged the match). Little silent Chloe adds an element of empathy so that the audience hopes for what seems the impossible: that of the lead couple together with Chloe forever.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: A delightful tale
Review: Lord John Elliot knows that he and his six year old second cousin Chloe are lucky to be alive unlike the misfortunate little girl's parents. Wealthy elderly merchant Bernard Leggit arranged for them to die. Only the intercession of a smuggler Albert Parker, who placed the pair inside a coffin, saved them from death. That followed up by Albert's beloved Snowdrop's actions got Chloe and "Uncle" John past their killers.

John takes up residency at a family estate in Bath. He plans revenge via seducing Bernard's young trophy wife Hattie. However, after meeting her, instead of using the young lady, he finds himself quite attracted to her especially when John sees how crass and verbally abusive Bernard is to his spouse. Soon John falls in love with Hattie and she reciprocates, but she belongs to the odious Bernard who would never allow any of his possessions to get away from him.

Though Bernard is too nasty and too obsessed as the villain, Regency romance fans will welcome this delightful tale due to several wonderful characters. The lead couple makes the tale hum as he realizes that the pawn in his quest for vengeance has become his most cherished beloved and she understands the mistakes she made by acting alone against her spouse (for a change the parents are not held culpable though they arranged the match). Little silent Chloe adds an element of empathy so that the audience hopes for what seems the impossible: that of the lead couple together with Chloe forever.

Harriet Klausner