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Rating: 
Summary: A most Excellent Regency Romance To Warm Your Heart
Review: Chloe Russell, after a disastrous and clumsy debut had retired from society, keeping to herself, in order to keep the sneers of her hated nickname - Miss Bumblebroth from her ears. She convinced herself that if she wasn't exactly happy, living with her brother and his wife, her cousin, she was at least content. Now at 21, it came as quite a surprise that her brother was promoting a betrothal that had been somewhat arranged by her late father years before and his friend, to Lord Michael Lyndon, heir to the Earl of Grantham. He was a true Corinthian, athletic, handsome and titled. The fact of the matter that was while Lyndon came from an old and revered title - there was little left of the money to go along with it therefore, Chloe's dowry and inheritance was the main attraction. Michael was not happy with the dictate from his father that he offer for Miss Russell, as he had heard all stories of her clumsiness and knew of the nickname she had been sporting since childhood. Upon meeting her for the first time, her outspokenness and candor, truly shocked him, as did her intelligence - but pleasantly so and he did offer for her. Chloe fell in love with Michael right off and it wasn't long before Michael began looking forward to spending time with her. She didn't become graceful overnight but with each other they became comfortable, and even Michael, the athletic Corinthian sharing some painful memories of a turbulent childhood tragedy. This has to be one of the sweetest regency romantic love stories I have read in some time. I confess to have started smiling from the very first pages of this book right to the very end. The innocence and the outspokenness of Chloe was so utterly charming and honest. Michael, Viscount Lyndon, while the total opposite of Chloe was totally sympathetic, kind, and supporting of Chloe - a true knight in shining armor - even if he was the last person to realize that he had fallen in love with her. The supporting characters were all amusing and fully developed and I especially loved the part where Chloe's sister-in-law Helena tries to explain the marital obligations of the wedding night - this was an absolute scream! This was a most excellent read and will go on my keeper shelf to be re-read and enjoyed again.
Rating:
Summary: A most Excellent Regency Romance To Warm Your Heart
Review: Chloe Russell, after a disastrous and clumsy debut had retired from society, keeping to herself, in order to keep the sneers of her hated nickname - Miss Bumblebroth from her ears. She convinced herself that if she wasn't exactly happy, living with her brother and his wife, her cousin, she was at least content. Now at 21, it came as quite a surprise that her brother was promoting a betrothal that had been somewhat arranged by her late father years before and his friend, to Lord Michael Lyndon, heir to the Earl of Grantham. He was a true Corinthian, athletic, handsome and titled. The fact of the matter that was while Lyndon came from an old and revered title - there was little left of the money to go along with it therefore, Chloe's dowry and inheritance was the main attraction. Michael was not happy with the dictate from his father that he offer for Miss Russell, as he had heard all stories of her clumsiness and knew of the nickname she had been sporting since childhood. Upon meeting her for the first time, her outspokenness and candor, truly shocked him, as did her intelligence - but pleasantly so and he did offer for her. Chloe fell in love with Michael right off and it wasn't long before Michael began looking forward to spending time with her. She didn't become graceful overnight but with each other they became comfortable, and even Michael, the athletic Corinthian sharing some painful memories of a turbulent childhood tragedy. This has to be one of the sweetest regency romantic love stories I have read in some time. I confess to have started smiling from the very first pages of this book right to the very end. The innocence and the outspokenness of Chloe was so utterly charming and honest. Michael, Viscount Lyndon, while the total opposite of Chloe was totally sympathetic, kind, and supporting of Chloe - a true knight in shining armor - even if he was the last person to realize that he had fallen in love with her. The supporting characters were all amusing and fully developed and I especially loved the part where Chloe's sister-in-law Helena tries to explain the marital obligations of the wedding night - this was an absolute scream! This was a most excellent read and will go on my keeper shelf to be re-read and enjoyed again.
Rating:
Summary: I loved the characters
Review: I can identify with Miss Bumblbroth as I am clumsy. It was comforting to read a heroine with the insecuritites that the rest of us suffer. Not only were the main characters real types of people, but the villians were also struggling with their own insecurities and shortfalls.Ms. Kingsley has taken a genre and given it a soupcon of reality. I recommend it heartedly.
Rating:
Summary: a real treat -- beyond 5 stars!!
Review: I know that I have given a lot of 5 star rating to quite a few Regencies of late, and that's because they have all been entertaining and well written novels with characters that engaged my interest. However, "Marrying Miss Bumblebroth" by Mary Kingsley is definitely the best Regency romance novel I've read so far all year, and it is definitely going on my reading-table bookshelf by my bed. What a fantastic book. This is, in my humble opinion, a romance novel for grown ups -- no juvenile heroines, no explicit sexual situations (nothing against them but there is a time and place for all of them, and a light Regency novel is, I feel NOT the place for them), a believable and probable storyline, and a hero I DIDN'T want to conk on the head! Rather, it's a book about two people who marry for convenience and who discover love, acceptance and happiness within their marriage. After a particularly disastrous London season in which she was dubbed 'Miss Bumblebroth' because of her clumsiness, Miss Chloe Russell was certain that she was destined to remain a spinster. However, circumstance (her sister-in-law's expensive spendthrift ways) has caused her brother to broker a marriage for Chloe. (Chloe is rich, and the marriage settlements would send some of the money her brother's way.) Chloe, of course, is aghast. The gentleman her brother has in mind is the much sought after Corinthian (but quite penniless) Lord Michael Lyndon, heir to the earldom of Grantham. The Corinthian and Miss Bumblebroth -- Chloe is sure that they will be the laughingstocks of society if anyone ever learns that such a match is being promoted. However, when Chloe and Lord Michael finally meet, they discover that this marriage proposal may actually have some merit. Chloe is relieved to find that Michael is intelligent and kindly, and that his chief aim is to repair his much neglected his country estate. While Michael is surprised to discover that there is something completely endearing about Chloe that makes him want to take on all her burdens and fears. And so the two decide to make a match of it. But just as things are beginning to come together for Chloe and Michael, Chloe's malicious cousin starts a campaign to drive the pair apart. Will he succeed? Or will Chloe and Michael successfully meet this threat to their well-being? "Marrying Miss Bumblebroth" has no mystery or spy subplot, and no distracting secondary romance subplot involving other characters either. It is just a straight romance about how two people with their own private fears and pain, learn to trust in the love and acceptance that the other is willing to offer, and in the process discover something truly precious and rewarding: love. Both Chloe and Michael are likable and grown up characters that never (thank God) revert to sulks and tantrums when things don't go exactly as they would like it to. I found this aspect (adult characters that actually behaved liked adults) wonderfully refreshing. Some romance readers may not appreciate novels with such characters, deeming them as dull and bland, lacking sizzle. However, for someone like me, novels like "Marrying Miss Bumblebroth" are a real treat, and worth treasuring. This novel was a truly fantastic read. And it made my weekend all the brighter for having indulged in such a wonderful read.
Rating:
Summary: Welcome back, Mary Kingsley!
Review: I know, she's not really been anywhere, but for the past few years, the author has been busily writing great mysteries, historical romances and the occasional Regency novel under a different name. Her own, in fact. And while I can honestly say I admire her books no matter which name they're published under, for me, there is an undeniable attraction to her Mary Kingsley books. This one is no exception. Chloe Russell is not the ordinary Regency miss; her interests lie entirely elsewhere than the usual round of gossip and at-homes and Almack's. In addition to a wonderful brain and considerable artistic talent, she feels she has also been blessed with two left feet, leading to the embarrassing appelation of Miss Bumblebroth. And of course, she is a considerable heiress. Orphaned at a rather young age, Chloe has been brought up with an older brother, and a pair of cousins. Her brother married the girl cousin, leaving the boy to grow into a man of questionable taste and habits. One of his favorite things to do is tease Chloe, by far the youngest of the batch, thus adding to her already developed sense of clumsiness. And, now living as she must with her brother and sister-in-law in London, Chloe is devastated by the news that an arranged marriage is at her threshold, planned years ago by the two fathers. Of course, she's heard of Michael, Viscount Lyndon, heir to the Earl of Grantham. Who hasn't? Why, he's one of the premier Corinthians of the day! Superbly athletic in every venue, grace personified, and she's to marry him? Well, yes, it appears so, and almost before she knows it, Chloe has become Michael's bride. Their journey of discovery is a enticing one for the reader, and not quite the usual marriage of convenience story. Layer by layer, Ms. Kingsley expertly unveils her two slightly-wounded characters, allowing them to comfort and discover each other by turns. Throughout these first months of their marriage, they will learn the values that will keep them in good stead for many years to come; trust, loyalty, and above all-love. This is truly a scrumptious book! Enjoy it for yourself.
Rating: 
Summary: Unfunny, offensive
Review: It looks as if I'm going to be in the minority with my opinion of this book but, in short, I loathed it. I didn't find the story remotely funny and, in fact, I found that the way the heroine was portrayed was tantamount to mocking the afflicted. The hero's treatment of the heroine made me wish that she'd find someone else. Add to that the anachronisms and the simply unbelievable events, and I can safely say that I will never ever again read anything by Mary Kingsley.
Rating: 
Summary: Good story - but marred
Review: Reading this story, I found myself torn between two extreme reactions - appreciation and dislike. As a result I gave it the middling option of 3 stars.
The premise is one common to Regencies. The unmonied titled hero has to marry the untitled monied heroine. Here it is Lord Michael Lyndon and Chloe Russell. Chloe, alas, had been spitefully nicknamed "Miss Bumblebroth" by society and suffered for it during her season. She withdrew herself from further hurt, but now her brother and sister-in-law have arranged her marriage to Michael. He, also, has been dragooned into the matter by his father the Earl to bring in much needed money for their estates.
Chloe might be clumsy, but she's no fool and amusingly attempts to give him a disgust of her at their first meeting (where he is to propose). She also paints and is busy making a fortune unbeknownst to her family. A believable sympathetic young lady.
Michael is similarly well drawn and instantly likable - not a rake or a dandy, but a Corinthian who has been straining at the fatherly leash that has kept him from his desire to run the family estate of Chimneys.
There is instant attraction on both their parts and although both had intended to negate the whole matter, they find themselves wanting to be married.
So they marry and discover each other and their hidden sorrows. Chloes anguish as being tormented as a child by her cousins and brother is really brought far more to the fore than the tragic history that Michael hides. Really, it seemed her pain ought to have paled into insignificance at that which was haunting him and his parents, and definitely tainting his relationship with his father. Chloe kept on falling back on her clumsiness and needing constant reassurance from him, and going about quailing at her cousin Edwin. When we discovered the reasons behind this fear of Edwin, I felt deflated and asked 'Is that all?'. One suspected something far worse.
Chloe's problems just pushed Michaels into the background and his recovery through her advice was made into a few vague lines regarding unseen events. A let down. Maybe this was due to the publisher's restraints regarding the length of the book, as there were other side issues that seemed cut short to the detriment of the story and its characters. The ending itself suffered badly in this respect.
The supposedly dirty dish, Edwin, I felt definitely was hard done by. He really had the potential to be an interesting character, but was shoved aside by Michael's desire to pummel him at every turn for so much as glancing at Chloe. Why does assault and battery at the hands of the hero deserve applause, when the exact behaviour from the semi-villain curry contempt?
As I said I enjoyed most of this story - well written for the most part, good characters, a believable recreation of Regency society.
Rating:
Summary: WONDERFULLY DIFFERENT!
Review: This is my second book by Mary Kingsley and I enjoyed it immensely. Tregatt has summed up the plot and made some excellent comments about the story and characterisations. I would like only to add the following. This book addresses a very subtle issue - bullying. I work with an internationally know charity which supports the despairing and suicidal and, sadly, increasingly we deal with victims of bullying - something not just confined to children and something which has life-long consequences. The heroine, Chloe Russell was bullied by her cousin Edwin throughout her childhood and even into young adulthood. The consequences of this shape her character and world view. It is early on apparent that only a very special man will be able to recognise what is wrong and help her deal with it - thereby allowing recovery. Michael, Vicount Lyndon, seemingly, on the suface would hardly be the man to help Chloe. A Corinthian, an athlete and man who lives very much in a man's world is about the last person one would expect to demonstrate the empathy and understanding to allow Chloe to evolve into the wholly functioning woman she can be. However, Michael is indeed the man and we learn why ultimately for he is a man with his own sadness and trauma. Together, they are able to help each other to heal thereby strengthing an already strong marriage. Their relationship is lovely; they grow together into a couple destined for much happiness. A lovely story, wonderful characters, a good deal of care taken by the author in dealing with a sad problem and well done within the historical framework of the novel. Bullying is not to be taken lightly and the author is to be congratulated for working it into a romanic novel without slipping into bathos. Excellent and worth a re-read in future.
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