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The Very Comely Countess

The Very Comely Countess

List Price: $5.50
Your Price: $4.95
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A spirited orange girl captures the heart of an earl.
Review: A lord marrying an orange seller is as unlikely a Regency plot as I've ever seen, and yet...the interplay between these two characters kept me spellbound all the way through to the end. Of course, Harriet Treene isn't your average, everyday orange seller, and it isn't just her beauty that captures the heart of the broodingly handsome Lord Bonnington. Her courage and character, her intelligence, her witty repartee--yes, even her bold Cockney accent--make her the perfect counterpart for a lonely earl seeking purpose and meaning in his life.

Okay, I admit that it's a bit farfetched that Regency society would accept an orange-girl countess, especially one that was widely known to be the earl's mistress before their marriage. But you know what? This is one of those love stories that everyone dreams of in their heart of hearts--even those stuffy old matrons who look down their noses at any girl dancing the waltz without their permission--and I, for one, am willing to suspend judgment in exchange for the most engrossing read in the last six months.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A wonderful Cinderella story
Review: A thoroughly delightful book -- half Cinderella, half My Fair Lady. Very real characters and a great sense of place and period make thisstand above most regency-historicals. I also liked how hero/heroine aren't afraid to buck convention for love.

I see one of the other readers hear objects to the "dirt" in the story: helloooooo, the eighteenth century WAS dirty and Febreeze-free,a nd I respect the athor more for realizing that. That's one of the things I like best about Jarret's writing. She gives a realstory and not a prettied-up version.

Get this now before it goes out of print.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Mediocre
Review: I'll start off by saying that my reaction to this novel is purely a matter of personal preference and is not based on Jarret's style of writing. I personally didn't like this novel for two reasons: 1) It seemed unrealistic. I mean, I just don't picture a member of the peerage encouraging another member to start a serious romance with a former orange-seller. At that time in history with all the strict class distinctions, this just wouldn't happen. At most, a girl in such a position would be made a mistress. 2) I couldn't get past the cockney accent. It really got on my nerves. If indeed the hero was going to try to pass the heroine off as his new mistress, he should have gotten someone to coach her in speaking.

Now, maybe some of my problems with this novel are solved later on in the novel, which I wouldn't know because I just couldn't bring myself to finish it.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great romantic read!
Review: In 1799 London, William Manderville an Earl concludes that the actresses he uses to cover his government work on the French coast are failures. He needs someone different and thinks he found his answer in the drawing done by a Duchess of an orange seller commoner. When William finds the orange seller Harriet Treene he shows her the picture saying his friend will pay her if she poses as a model.

At the family pie shop, Harriet notices her older sister Bett looks tired from work, raising an infant, and being pregnant. Harriet decides to accept the Duchess' offer to paint her for a fee. Harriet visits the Duchess but William arrives and offers her a deal. He will finance a tea shop for her in exchange for her posing as his mistress on his messenger trips to France. As they act out the masquerade neither expected love or the danger that awaits them in France from an individual seeking revenge.

THE VERY COMELY COUNTESS, the sequel to the DARING DUCHESS, is an exciting tale due to the espionage subplot and a glimpse at the working class, but especially because of the love story between a commoner and a noble. Though this book uses the same plot device as its predecessor and lacks the locale creativeness of the first book, fans will enjoy the tale because the lead characters are a delightful daring duo who deserve a lifetime together. Regency romantic suspense fans will gain much pleasure from award winning Miranda Jarrett's wonderful tale.

Harriet Klausner

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Excellent romance
Review: In 1799 London, William Manderville an Earl concludes that the actresses he uses to cover his government work on the French coast are failures. He needs someone different and thinks he found his answer in the drawing done by a Duchess of an orange seller commoner. When William finds the orange seller Harriet Treene he shows her the picture saying his friend will pay her if she poses as a model.

At the family pie shop, Harriet notices her older sister Bett looks tired from work, raising an infant, and being pregnant. Harriet decides to accept the Duchess' offer to paint her for a fee. Harriet visits the Duchess but William arrives and offers her a deal. He will finance a tea shop for her in exchange for her posing as his mistress on his messenger trips to France. As they act out the masquerade neither expected love or the danger that awaits them in France from an individual seeking revenge.

THE VERY COMELY COUNTESS, the sequel to the DARING DUCHESS, is an exciting tale due to the espionage subplot and a glimpse at the working class, but especially because of the love story between a commoner and a noble. Though this book uses the same plot device as its predecessor and lacks the locale creativeness of the first book, fans will enjoy the tale because the lead characters are a delightful daring duo who deserve a lifetime together. Regency romantic suspense fans will gain much pleasure from award winning Miranda Jarrett's wonderful tale.

Harriet Klausner

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great Romance!!
Review: This book was a true "romance"! The Earl of Bonnington and Harriet were both delightful. It was really fun to watch the Earl fall for Harriet(an orange-seller)! They teamed up to "spy" for England on behalf of the Earl's best friend the Duke of Harborough("The Very Daring Duchess"). Harriet agrees to pose as the mistress of the Earl but soon finds herself falling in love. The great thing about this story is that the Earl really seems to like Harriet. This story was a twist on the "cinderella romance" I really enjoyed the dialogue and the plot. It was a very good read!!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great romantic read!
Review: This is a fabulous read, intelligent, fast-paced, witty, with a hero and heroine who create genuine sparks. I've read several of her books now, and I'm impressed with this author's gift for combining great characters--who have spice and intelligence and keep the reader guessing--with deeply romantic stories. Terrific romance, well written, and well worth your time!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A wonderful Cinderella story
Review: This was awful. I've never read any of her books before, but after this one, I'll never read another one. I have no problem with an Earl marrying someone who is not of noble birth. In fact, I think it's kind of romantic. But not like this. She was the opposite of noble birth. She was a common, coarse, and dirty. And worst of all, she spoke with that freaking Cockney accent the ENTIRE book. Like bad grammar and poor diction are the kind of qualities I look for in a heroine. I kept thinking she would change, that they would fix her up, but no, she kept that awful accent and crass conversation the whole book. And no one seemed to notice or care. And on top of that, he hired her to pose as his mistress. But he kept stressing the fact to her that she wasn't his mistress...But since he was paying her, sleeping with her, and they weren't married, that would in fact make her his mistress...Save your [money], this book is NOT worth it!

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Ugh...
Review: This was awful. I've never read any of her books before, but after this one, I'll never read another one. I have no problem with an Earl marrying someone who is not of noble birth. In fact, I think it's kind of romantic. But not like this. She was the opposite of noble birth. She was a common, coarse, and dirty. And worst of all, she spoke with that freaking Cockney accent the ENTIRE book. Like bad grammar and poor diction are the kind of qualities I look for in a heroine. I kept thinking she would change, that they would fix her up, but no, she kept that awful accent and crass conversation the whole book. And no one seemed to notice or care. And on top of that, he hired her to pose as his mistress. But he kept stressing the fact to her that she wasn't his mistress...But since he was paying her, sleeping with her, and they weren't married, that would in fact make her his mistress...Save your [money], this book is NOT worth it!


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