Rating: 
Summary: Very strong book, although somewhat cloying
Review: This is a book that provokes mixed reactions in me (unlike the tremendously powerful GALLANT WAIF which I endorse whole-heartedly). For one, I have mixed feelings about "sweet" stories. I cannot even read Elizabeth Mansfields one after another, since I need to take a break from all that sweetness.First the good things. This book is a keeper for me for a couple of reasons. For one, we see a remarkable Grand Tour taken through Europe during the Peace of Amiens. The book is worth reading if only for the travel sections (and the descriptions of Tallie's reaction to the new French fashions and to the scenery). Secondly, while the story can be sentimental in parts, this is a powerful story about a man seeking children desperately (if not quite for the right reasons), and a young woman who has remarkable abilities to focus on what she believes she must do, despite her bitter recent past. Other reviewers have commented in detail on the plot. I will confine my comments to what works and what doesn't. Magnus's unbelievably callous parents are mirrored by the parents of Tallie's pupil. The father is absent; the mother is mostly absent, and remarkably careless and vindictive when present. Magnus, an earl, looks to his cousin Letitia (Tallie's employer and the callous mother described earlier) to find him a suitable bride. He believes that he desperately wants children, after years of confirmed bachelorhood. Letty's house party goes awry when Magnus decides that the most suitable candidate is not any of the aristocrats so carefully invited by his cousin, but - the governess. Tallie rejects Magnus's initial offer, and she is dismissed by her employer (who is smarting over Magnus's choice). Tallie then has no choice but to accept Magnus's renewed offer. She makes a couple of conditions, among which is a startling one - she must be taken on a Grand Tour for her honeymoon. Here begins the main part of the book, with the characters of the hero and heroine clearly set out for us. Magnus is cold, having had little familial warmth in his life. He is interested in children, not for the sake of continuing the title, but because he has suddenly found that he likes children. Tallie, who is wonderful with children, but is the penniless daughter of a late diplomat, has practically no wardrobe to speak off. Her dreams are very romantic (with a knight featuring prominently, hence the title), but rather naive. But her dreams are all she had, until her unexpected marriage. I have to agree that this book is miscast as a "traditional Regency". Harlequin Regencies - in the current version - are *not* the same as Signet Regencies, nor the same as Zebra Regencies. Not all Signet Regencies are PG or even PG-13 (a few of Balogh's works are quite explicit). TALLIE'S KNIGHT would be rated R for explicit sex scenes, although there is nothing tasteless. (There is R, and then there is R). Actually, the bedroom scenes are rather important, given that Letty (the cousin) has been particularly malicious, leaving both hero and heroine frustrated upto the middle. Tallie has been concealing a major secret from her new husband, well, actually two secrets. Both are revealed by the time they arrive in Italy. One is more delightful to the earl than the other. But the other is what makes the story slightly unbelievable for me. It is not so much that I doubt the facts that brought the secret into being, but the transformation of the Earl from a mere man (well, a mere peer) into a "very parfait knight" (to paraphrase Chaucer) is what is a bit unbelievable. The transformation is too quick, too pat. For most of the story, I would award this book 5 stars, but I found Tallie's day-dreaming somewhat irritating (she could have had more imagination, at least!). I also found Magnus's transformation by the end too quick. Finally, there were elements about the dark secret held by Tallie that I found a little hard to believe. Those are what keeps this book from perfection. But as an early novel by Anne Gracie, this is certainly a great start. Rating for this book 4.5
Rating: 
Summary: Romantic dreams tested against reality
Review: When Magnus Earl of d'Arenville meets Thalia Robinson he has already decided that he wants children and a marriage of convenience seems just the thing for the man known as 'The Icicle'. Thalia, or Tallie as she is known, is staying with her cousin Louisa, and she is the poor relation who is looking after Louisa's three children. Plain and on the shelf, Tallie spends her time in her own fantasy world while she looks after the children, hence part of the reason for the title 'Tallie's Knight'. She dreams of a romantic rescue, and what she ends up with is a proposal from the cold and reserved earl. The marriage takes place early on and Anne Gracie has set the novel against the failure of the Peace of Amiens in 1803 when France suddenly closed its borders against the English and held them prisoner. Tallie's Knight is not as funny as Gracie's first book "Gallant Waif" but again she has created wonderful, strong characters and a story full of twists. The reasons for Tallie marrying Magnus, whether or not they can reclaim one another from the misunderstandings and the failures and misfortunes of their past makes this a great read.
Rating:
Summary: Bravo!!!
Review: Wow - finally a marriage of convenience regency/historical romance done right. I don't know why so many regency authors write the M of C plot with no sex! I applaud the author in recognizing that hello - nobles who marry are not necessarily looking for great love, just an heir which means....sex! Brides of the regency era, or any era, know that the marital relations is expected. The author handles it nicely. Tallie' is scared, not very informed about what to expect and her mean cousin, Letitia, gives her pointedly bad advice. I liked Tallie's discovery about sex, how to be a wife, joy of motherhood. I liked that Magnus, the Earl, appreciated her great qualities. I was not offended by the sex between the two as that is an honest part of a relationship. This by no stretch was a Susan Johnson erotic novel. I found, however, Tallie's daydreaming silly after a while. The first one - when she shook herself to stop daydreaming as for her there would be no knight - was okay, but it went on to long. Also, the Earl was so cold! His transition from cold noble to warm one was okay, but maybe he should not have been quite so cold to begin with. Also, he leaves Tallie pregnant at his home and with one a brief note to say good-bye and goes off for months. Gee - think she will be made, unsure, upset? To think she would not was a stretch. Sure, it was for her that he left to find Richard and that was nice, but at least say good-bye in person! I look forward to more from this author!
| 
