The Pleasure of His Company (Zebra Regency Romance)

Rating:
Summary: Prossy Heroine
Review: Mariel Bradeon Whitlow, who actually should be called Lady Mariel Bradeon Whitlow, had been disinherited by her family when she married Charles, the good Vicar. 10 years have passed, she is now a mother of Anna and a widow in London with her grandmother. The problem for me with this story is Mariel, herself. As one reviewer already wrote, she is very judgemental and not really all that smart but thinks she is. Sort of prossy. Her brother, James, the head of the family, was involved in her leaving the family along with her father yet 10 years later, he is "reformed" with a flighty wife, and Mariel forgives just like that? Most people would have a hard time just saying okay, enough done. After all, she had a daughter who was also ignored by the family. Seems too trite to just gloss it over. Also, extremely stupid of Edward not to tell Mariel that he had an idea who her other brother, the missing William, was. It made no sense that when she confided in him, he would not with her. His reasons were illogical. Also illogical was her dismissal of his good deeds. He gave money away but also opportunities for others to improve themselves. What exactly was her problem - why shame him that way? I really did not like her.

Rating:
Summary: A good book, despite a couple of gripes
Review: Mariel Whitlow travels to London to spend time with her ailing grandmother, the dowager Duchess of Hale. Mariel, a meek, selfless widow, tells her grandmother about a few chance meetings with an alluring gentleman. Through Mariel's stories, the dowager duchess recognizes the identity of Mariel's mysterious man... and arranges for them to meet.

Edward Hadley is a lucky, meddling, charming fellow whose good spirits have made him a popular man. When Mariel meets him, she's a bit guarded at first (why would he be interested in a widow with a 10-year-old daughter?)... but she is also susceptible to his charm. Edward is determined to make Mariel his lover before the end of the Season.

The book has its share of twists and secrets, and Mary Blayney offers some good insight into the characters' feelings. However, I often thought the book was verrrry slowly paced, especially at the beginning. Also, I think I would've benefited from reading the author's previous novels (His Heart's Delight & His Last Lover). "Pleasure of His Company" is filled with characters from those books.

Still, this book is enjoyable, and I really felt like I could empathize with the characters. Overall, 3 1/2 stars.

Rating:
Summary: A good book, despite a couple of gripes
Review: Mariel Whitlow travels to London to spend time with her ailing grandmother, the dowager Duchess of Hale. Mariel, a meek, selfless widow, tells her grandmother about a few chance meetings with an alluring gentleman. Through Mariel's stories, the dowager duchess recognizes the identity of Mariel's mysterious man... and arranges for them to meet.

Edward Hadley is a lucky, meddling, charming fellow whose good spirits have made him a popular man. When Mariel meets him, she's a bit guarded at first (why would he be interested in a widow with a 10-year-old daughter?)... but she is also susceptible to his charm. Edward is determined to make Mariel his lover before the end of the Season.

The book has its share of twists and secrets, and Mary Blayney offers some good insight into the characters' feelings. However, I often thought the book was verrrry slowly paced, especially at the beginning. Also, I think I would've benefited from reading the author's previous novels (His Heart's Delight & His Last Lover). "Pleasure of His Company" is filled with characters from those books.

Still, this book is enjoyable, and I really felt like I could empathize with the characters. Overall, 3 1/2 stars.

Rating:
Summary: Prossy Heroine
Review: My goodness - could this book have dragged anymore than it did? The pacing was too slow. Mariel was priggish, missish and out there pious which led her to be very judgemental, which was not a very nice characteristic in her. Edward seemed almost too slick to be likeable. So there you have it - neither was very easy to like therefore not an interesting story.

Rating:
Summary: to slow
Review: My goodness - could this book have dragged anymore than it did? The pacing was too slow. Mariel was priggish, missish and out there pious which led her to be very judgemental, which was not a very nice characteristic in her. Edward seemed almost too slick to be likeable. So there you have it - neither was very easy to like therefore not an interesting story.