RONE Award Finalist for Historical: Post Medieval and the recipient of InD’tale Magazine’s 4.5 star review and coveted Crowned Heart for excellence! Miss Elizabeth Armistead, India born and raised, is happily betrothed to British soldier, Duncan Cruikshank. When she arrives in London a month prior to the wedding she meets Mr. Lloyd-Jones and soon finds that he has invaded even her dreams. … Besides Duncan, Mr. Lloyd-Jones is the only man who makes her feel as if he sees past her exceptional beauty to the person within. Her mother would prefer Elizabeth marry the rich and well-connected Mr. Lloyd-Jones while his sister is ecstatic that he is now free to woo Miss Armistead since he has broken off his engagement to the disgraceful Cecily Ponsonby. However, Elizabeth’s commitment to the man she promised to marry is at odds with the likes of Mr. Lloyd-Jones who has cried off from one engagement already. How can she betray the man she believes to love her for her virtues so as to indulge her love for a man she fears she cannot trust?
Jaded and betrayed, Mr. Colin Lloyd-Jones and Sir Anthony Crenshaw make a solemn vow to avoid the Marriage Mart for the duration of the London season. When Sir Anthony is called away on a journey in the company of his grandmother’s ward, Miss Delacourt, Colin finds he cannot abide by their agreement, especially when his father expects him to squire his sister to society’s endless balls and routs. When Colin encounters the breathtakingly beautiful Miss Elizabeth Armistead, he is intrigued by her lack of fascination for his great standing in society, family fortune, and captivating charm. When he learns that she is already betrothed, he feels himself safe from hurt in her company until he discovers the secret she has been guarding, one that threatens to batter his vulnerable heart all past mending.
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Mr. Colin Lloyd-Jones has sworn off the London season and ladies in general. After crying off from his unfaithful fiancee, he is in dire need of avoiding any fresh heartbreak. But when the breathtakingly beautiful Elizabeth Armistead knocks on his door after a carriage mishap, his best laid plans come to naught. With the assistance of his matchmaking younger sister, Colin contrives to further his acquaintance with the green-eyed beauty. But although Miss Armistead’s sweet nature is as captivating as her smile, Colin soon discovers that the very qualities which attract him to her are the things which must keep them apart….
Miss Elizabeth Armistead has returned from India to marry her soldier fiance, Duncan Cruikshank. Duncan, unfortunately, happens to have lost his eyesight in a sad accident–but to Elizabeth, this can only mean that he loves her for who she is and not for her striking good looks. But when circumstance repeatedly throws her into Mr. Colin Lloyd-Jones, Elizabeth begins to experience misgivings. Is what she feels for Duncan really love? Or is it someone else entirely who has captured her confusing heart?
If you like Georgette Heyer novels, you will love this book. Colin had just the right blend of manliness and attention to fashion to make the perfect Regency gentleman. Elizabeth was sensible and considerate, afraid to be judged as just a pretty face when there was so much more she had to offer. The romance between the two was sweet and satisfying, and as the story reaches its climax, Colin proves every bit the hero that the reader wants him to be. In typical Ashworth fashion, the novel was full of laugh out loud humor with Elizabeth’s predatory friend Miss Hale, who takes an interest in Colin that is decidedly one-sided.
An added bonus to this novel is that the story is set in the world of Miss Delacourt. Colin is best friends with Anthony, prior to the latter’s marriage to Ginny. We get to see, from a distance, Ginny’s disgrace at the London ball and then Anthony’s forced departure to the countryside as Aunt Regina demands that he woo Ginny as his bride. This adds a delightful layer to the story, as do the mentions of Lord Trevelin, from Heidi Ashworth’s Lord Trevelin Mysteries.
Great
What to do. You a promised to a soldier who you rescued in India where you live with your parents. You come to England to wed but meet another man and his sister and gives you doubt. A wonderful story of love.
I enjoyed this story very much. It was clean. I kept wanting to read ahead, but found that I would miss something by doing that. I ended up reading every word. I did finish it in one day. Looking forward to reading Ashworths’ next book which I already have in my kindle library.
clean-interesting
Enjoyable read
Interesting plot, loved the characters
I’m done with it, yay!
I picked up this book a few years ago and only opened it up recently. Once I started reading, I got easily distracted and set the book down. I finally picked it up again and realized I still couldn’t maintain my interest. It was an ok read but I don’t think I will be interested enough to pick up any other books by this author. The plot seemed too contrived and the characters are unbelievable. I’m happy to close out this book and be done with it.
The first half of the novel was incredibly slow. It didn’t need to be so long and drawn out. I did like the slow burn romance. It starts as suspicion and turns to friendship. It was nice until the friendship turned to love. Then the romance turned incredibly sappy and silly. The story is ruined by a villain who is incredibly transparent. I didn’t like that at all. I was wishing for a less gothic sort of plot.
I think fans of the fluffier, fantasy sort of Regency will enjoy this one. I’m all sense and very little sensibility at my great age and I don’t care for sappy love stories with characters who think they’re in a tragedy or melodrama.
I got bored and didn’t finish it.
Tedious – didn’t finish.
A little melodramatic and overdone.
I think the characters were interesting and maybe it was just me, but I found it impossibly hard to read. On every page I had to look up at least one word because I didn’t know the meaning. It wasn’t written to understand what was going on. I had to quit reading the book after reading several chapters.
The plot was a very great idea. Great read
It was great to read about unselfish characters.
A fun read. Some of the situations were a little far-fetched, and there wasn’t much to tell the reader why the other man was so undesirable, but it was a quick fun read.
First half boring, then it picked up.
Fir fans of Austen, this will be a great choice.
Gotta say I love a good book
Just what I needed as an escape from the work week.
Tedious.