A Most Suitable Duchess (Zebra Regency Romance)

Rating:
Summary: basic plot is a much used one but book is still a good read
Review: "A Most Suitable Duchess" is a pleasant enough read if you're not already familiar with this plot premise, otherwise this novel could be a little disappointing as the authour does not deviate very much from the basic storyline.

Marcus Heywood, the new Duke of Torringford, needs to marry before his thirtieth birthday so that he can inherit the fortune left by the previous duke -- he will need this fortune in order to run his newly inherited estates. While drunk, he and his younger brother pen an advertisement for a wife; unfortunately there is a mix-up and the advertisement ends up being printed in all the Edinburgh newspapers. Elsewhere, Penelope Hastings is beginning to realise that she may not be able to continue living with her older brother, James, especially now that he is courting a rather nasty young lady, Amelia Carstairs. Penelope, a bluestocking and (she thinks) a confirmed spinster, has been running James's house for many years now, and lately things have become rather uncomfortable, esp since Amelia has been doing her very best to drive a wedge between James and Penelope. Spitefully, Amelia answers Marcus's advertisement in Penelope's name, and in the ensuing scandal that breaks, Penelope and Marcus come to the realisation that for the sake of both their reputations, they will have to marry. Will a marriage that began in such an ill propitious manner have any chance of flourishing? Can an Edinburgh bluestocking and a country gentleman find enough things in common so as to be able to make a match of things?

I'm probably not being very fair to this novel, as it is an extremely well written one. I especially liked the bits that dealt with Penelope and Marcus getting to know each other, finding things that they liked about each other, and coming to grips with running a ducal estate. I thought that both characters were well developed, and I liked the seamless manner in which the novel 'flowed.' It's just that this is s rather popular plot device -- two strangers forced to marry because of circumstances -- and it would have been nice if there had been a few plot twists that would have made this novel a little less run-of-the-mill. All, in all, "A Most Suitable Duchess" is a pleasant enough read, and should satisfy, esp if you can overlook the fact that it does possess a rather over used plot premise.

Rating:
Summary: A Quick & Light Read but Disappointing!
Review: He loves his farm, and breeding beagles. She loves her literary society and educational charities such as building a new observatory. On the surface, these two have nothing in common. Yet, due to a string of meddlesome people (a dead Duke, overly-helpful brother, and anxious soon-to-be sister-in-law, as well as the usual gossips) circumstances conspire to marry these two off. The conflict starts at once -- she wants to live in the city, he wants to return to his farm. They compromise by taking a lengthy tour of his newly inherited ducal estates.

That's when this quiet character study really comes into its own. Cut off from the props of their previous lives, the hero and heroine must discover what's truly important about their lifestyles, themselves, and their spouses. No one is more surprised than they as they discover when it comes to what's really important, they're more alike than different. But when the honeymoon is over, and they resume their former lives, can the tenuous bonds formed in isolation withstand the stress?

As always, Ms. Bray's characters are a delightful mix of insightful human commentary and Regency absurdity. (I loved the scene where the butler, having been brushed off and told to put the latest wedding gift in the room with the others before he can say what the gift is, gets to announce that the gift has just eaten one of the other gifts.) Fans of her previous books will not be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: No Substance
Review: I enjoy romance novels, especially Regencies. But this novel left me wanting and waiting for more story substance. Penelope and Marcus supposedly marry for convenience and eventually fall in love. But the details of their relationship were definitely missing. And in Penelope's supposed response to Marcus' advertisement, we are never told who truly wrote it or why. One more sub-plot that could have been nicely explored was Penelope's brother, James, and his changed attitude.

As much as I love Regencies, I really cannot recommend this novel. Perhaps Ms. Bray's other novels are much improved.

Rating:
Summary: No Substance
Review: I enjoy romance novels, especially Regencies. But this novel left me wanting and waiting for more story substance. Penelope and Marcus supposedly marry for convenience and eventually fall in love. But the details of their relationship were definitely missing. And in Penelope's supposed response to Marcus' advertisement, we are never told who truly wrote it or why. One more sub-plot that could have been nicely explored was Penelope's brother, James, and his changed attitude.

As much as I love Regencies, I really cannot recommend this novel. Perhaps Ms. Bray's other novels are much improved.

Rating:
Summary: Nothing to this book
Review: I really enjoy regency romances. But I have to agree with another reviewer that this book had no substance to it, at all. It started with some original twists to the "marriage for convience" plot, but it never went anywhere. I never felt connected to any of the characters. While the couple is obviously supposed to be slowly falling in love, the author never showed me why they would. They were one demonsional characters. There was no progression that made sense to me. I would not recommend this book. And there were holes in the plot - at one point the husband plans to take the cruel brother to task as soon as they return to Edinbourough, but then he never does. And all of a sudden the brother "hates" his sister - and she never had any problems with him for all her life until the few months of this book - and this antagonism is never satisfactorily explained.

Rating:
Summary: Nothing to this book
Review: This book is what I've come to expect from Patricia Bray's Regency stories-- a lighthearted comedy of manners that's just the thing to curl up with on winter's evening. The author has a knack for creating interesting characters that come alive, and then placing them in absurd situations.

Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: A fun read
Review: This book is what I've come to expect from Patricia Bray's Regency stories-- a lighthearted comedy of manners that's just the thing to curl up with on winter's evening. The author has a knack for creating interesting characters that come alive, and then placing them in absurd situations.

Highly recommended.