Dukes don’t need help, or do they? Michael Redmond, the Duke of Cortland, needs to be in London–most expeditiously–but a band of highway robbers have thwarted his plans. Purse-pinched, coachless, and mired in mud, he stumbles on Lilly Beauchamp, the woman who betrayed him years ago.Ladies can’t be heroes, or can they?Michael was her first love, her first lover, but he abandoned her when she … needed him most. She’d trusted him, and then he failed to meet with her father as promised. A widowed stepmother now, Lilly loves her country and will do her part for the Good of England–even if that means aiding this hobbled and pathetic duke.They lost their chance at love, or did they?A betrothal, a scandal, and a kidnapping stand between them now. Can honor emerge from the ashes of their love?
more
This is a book well worth reading. I have been reading historical romances most of my life. Annabelle Anders books are reminiscent of the old great historical authors.
The story flows, the characters are believable and real. Actually making you want to slap a couple of them. lol
This one is a young love promised then abandoned. Then 9 yrs later revisited. Problems family’s can cause that change the course of peoples lives and woven throughout, a one constant in Lillie’s life is her beloved dachshund Miss Fussy.
I highly recommend this book.
As a disclaimer I received an ARC of this book. The review is completely mine.
I found a new must read author!
Nobody’s Lady is my introduction to author Annabelle Anders. This is book one of her Lord Love a Lady series. Although I am not a Lord, I am in love with this Lady’s writing! This book was supposed to be a paced reading for book club discussion. Needless to say, I was unable to conform and have already finished as I could not put it down!!!
This is a beautifully written story about getting a second chance at true love and learning from past mistakes. Michael met Lily at her coming out ball. There was that instant attraction. Circumstances mostly beyond their control separate them for ten years. When they meet again, Michael is betrothed and Lily is a widow.
It was a refreshing twist to have a likeable betrothed! I simply adored Lady Natalie. Instead of following through on the usual loveless marriage contract, she assisted in helping Michael win his true love. I suspect Lady Natalie may have a yen for Michael’s friend Lord Danbury. Time will tell (wink wink).
I laughed, felt hope, got angry and cried all while finding myself wanting to snuggle with Miss Fussy. It’s a wonderful thing to find an author whose work has the ability to make you feel multiple emotions. Now I’m simply obsessed and must read/collect everything Annabelle has written! This is one book I will be re-reading over and over again.
A must read for anyone that enjoys strong, well-written characters and a thoroughly entertaining story. After all, everyone should have a little Miss Fussy in their lives. You will not be disappointed.
He met her for the first time at her come out ball & they were instantly in love. He came to morning calls the next day with 3 bouquets; 1 for her Mother, 1 for her Aunt & one for her with Peach Blossoms (meaning I am your captive). This was how youngest son of the Duke of Cortland, Captain Michael Redmond planned his courtship of the beautiful, platinum-blond haired, amber eyed Miss Lilly Bridge, the niece of Lady Eleanor Sheffield.
Then life happened to both of them – Michael at one and twenty lost his brother and then his father to Scarlet Fever & he had to instantly take on a dukedom, bury the dead, help his ailing tenants/ vil & had to quarantine the whole village to eliminate the further spread of fever – no one got in & no one got out, including mail service for a month. This was when he was supposed to go back to London to ask for Killy’s hand in marriage. Lilly’s father convinced her that Michael was now a duke & would not lower himself to marry someone like her. Her father allowed her to wait a few weeks but then informed her that she would be marrying her brother-in-law. Her father was dying & wanted to be sure her & her Mother had security for the rest of their lives & after her sister Rose had died, she’s left a husband and little girl who needed a mother. She did as her father wished & married & when the quarantine was lifted, Michael raced to London only to be told that Lilly had married someone else.
The story was wonderful up to here & now it gets REALLY good – fast forward 9 years & Lilly is a widow & Michael is now a powerful duke with strong political influence. They meet at an inn under hilarious circumstances & their second chance begins as we bounce back and forth between their past times together & their present time trying to connect which will prove to be not an easy task.
Ms. Anders does such a wonderful & creative job of weaving past with present & helping the reader to love the characters because they know them so well! I love the small things that Annabelle put in the book that stayed with me like when Michael told her she was “You’re nobody’s lady, I remember. Humor me.” or the bouquet he gave her & she looked up the Peach Blossom meaning “I am your captive.”. Thank you Annabelle for writing such a wonderful book that I will not forget!
Nobody’s Lady by Annabelle Anders.
I LOVE this book! This is a beautifully written story with vivid characters, and a gripping storyline, that grabbed my attention from the start. It’s creatively filled with emotional angst, secrets, danger, deception, intrigue, adventure, passion and steamy 3-4 flame romance.
I love and prefer books like this one with witty storylines and dialogue, beautifully told in a way that brings the book to life, and gives the reader the opportunity to feel and experience the story along with the characters.
This is the first book I’ve read from this author and I’ve added it to my “one of the best books I’ve read this year” list!
I don’t think I’ve ever read one that intertwines the past and present like this and I loved it!! You really get to know both of them so much and it makes them seem so real. It was an adventure from the start with them and finding out who was behind the robbery. They didn’t realize it, but everything was working to bring them together again. I was holding my breath wondering how everyone would react and then the kidnapping had me on the edge of my seat. I wanted to do a happy dance when everyone came together to and supported love. I loved Hugh and can’t wait for Natalie’s story. I also loved that it handled some real history.
Lilly did what her father wanted all those years ago and now she was free from it all. She broke my heart when she talked about doing what her father had wanted. But her spirit wasn’t broken and I loved how she wouldn’t give up and her love of animals. She didn’t hold onto the past like some would.
Michael had changed in those years for many reasons, but duty doesn’t always win. I loved how even though he was a duke he saw the need for change to help others. When he saw the paper I knew a fight was coming. His story about what his father said made me tear up.
This book does contain a scene between Lilly and her husband that could be triggering to some due to the nature of it. Annabelle did a great job of handling it and I feel it was needed to understand things.
Nobody’s Lady by Annabelle Anders is the First book in the Lord Love a Lady series. This is the story of Michael Redmond, the Duke of Cortland and Lilly Beauchamp.
Michael and Lilly were young and in love but a misunderstand took that away. Now all this time later they meet again when Michael is set upon by highway men who take everything from him. When he meets Lilly again hurt feelings between them standout but they slowly start to work through what happen all those years ago…can this be their second chance?
Great characters and story-line….you won’t be able to put this one down until the end!
Love this book beyond measure. It was like reading two novels side by side where you dig deep into the couple’s past and then pick up again ten years later. Amazing writing!! Would pick up anything she wrote.
After nearly a decade apart, Lilly and Michael are reunited by chance and find themselves just as enamored by each other as they were before… but now he’s engaged to someone else.
Lilly is a strong, independent heroine, and Michael is honorable and likeable. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series!
Starring Michael Redmond, the Duke of Cortland and Lilly Bridge Beauchamp
Love at first site and torn apart lovers trope.
Things starts out perfectly for Michael and Lilly… they had a “some enchanted evening” moment when their eyes locked across a crowded ball room and BAM!… instant attraction. You can totally feel the absolute joy and intensity of their peach blossom love. But circumstances, sadly, pulls them apart, causing them both to harbor resentment for each other.
10 years later they meet again, this time older, wiser, and a little more cautious when it comes to love. Lilly is not as carefree as she once were. The years away from Michael wasn’t so kind and my heart totally broke for her. But she is a strong heroine who’s determined to shape her life on her own terms this time. You can’t help but cheer for her throughout this story.
Michael is now a powerful duke with strong political influence. He’s finally at the point in his life where he’s ready to settle down… until Lilly shows up unexpectedly to save him, not once but twice, after he is set upon by roadside robbers. Michael is the delicious kind of hero who wears his heart on his sleeve. He is torn between his obligations and his feelings for Lilly, which is stronger than ever. Oh I soooo love an angsty hero… and Michael is one of the best as he goes through a roller coaster of emotions for Lilly. Le sigh!!
I love Michael and Lilly and was sad that life-interruptus forced them apart. But the power of love is strong with these two. They had me laughing, sighing, and totally ugly crying. Oh and as they’re sorting this out on their HEA journey, there’s a little bit of intrigue thrown in.
And once again, Annabelle Anders has made me ugly cry AF. This is the first book in the Lord Loves a Lady series…. but I’ve already read a few out of order and each one has left me a beautifully sobbing mess. Totally the reason why Annabelle Anders is firmly on my keeper shelf and an auto-buy author for me. Love her stories.
PS. It’s the little things that make me happy and in this story, that Michael actually said the title of this book.
PPS. Unexpected ugly cry was a scene between a secondary character and her father.
My star rating: 5 stars
Ugly cried AF. Major book hangover. Characters and storyline were amazing. Made me wanna hug the author for writing a book that gave me all the feels!! Will be re-reading this story over and over and over again!!
Good read.
Stoty is refreshingly different
I received this book as an ARC and was very impressed with it. This is the first of Ms Anders books I have read and found it a very easy read. I enjoyed the way it was written in two time periods , 10yrs apart. They flowed beautifully and you felt like you were reading two stories at the same time. There was enough suspense to keep you reading , and the characters where well written and you could relate to them and I felt myself hoping the extra characters will one day have their own story. I feel this is a good recommendation for a book when the secondary characters draw you in. There was a small amount of sex in this book, which as usual this reviewer skipped over but it did not take away my enjoyment of the book. I would suggest this book to anyone looking for a pleasant easy read with suspense, and romance. Great book all round.
This was my first book by Annabelle Anders, but it definitely will not be my last! I normally don’t care for stories that go back and forth between the past and the present, but it really works here. It was crucial to show how Lilly and Michael were torn apart in the past, so we could see how tragic it was when it appeared to be happening again. I loved how they were reacquainted after nine years, when Michael ‘s coach was robbed and he walked miles in the mud to reach an inn. And there was Lilly….
Usually when there’s an “other woman” ,keeping our hero and heroine apart, you absolutely hate them. But you couldn’t here, because Michael’s fiance Natalie was a lovely woman, and she also deserved happiness. How was everyone supposed to get there deserved happy endings?! The yearning Michael and Lilly felt for each other had me in tears. Heartbreak, laughter, tears and love….This book had all the makings of a truly satisfying romance. I can’t wait for Natalie’s story to be released!
I received a copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
I totally love Lilly Beauchamp, she is my hero! For all that she had to go through, and is still going through, she followed her heart and believed in her own fairy tale of a HEA.
Michael Redmond, you sir are no gentleman! There are many times in this book that I wanted to crawl in between the pages and smack you silly! It’s a good thing you finally came to your senses.
Lots of action taking place in this story with the setting in London from 1815 – 1824. During this nine year period of time you will encounter a robbery, scandal, a few betrothals, death, a fire, and a kidnapping! This book had me laughing and crying throughout!
I love that Annabelle Anders has introduced me to the genre of Regency Romance! Another great book Ms. Anders and I highly recommend it if you are into Regency Romance and enjoy a great love story!
Ten years ago Captain Michael Redmond met Lilly Bridges & they fell in love on first sight, they spent a whirlwind season before Michael was called away to his father, The Duke of Cortland’s estate. When he didn’t return after a few weeks Lilly’s dying father persuaded her to marry Baron Beauchamp her elder sister Rose’s widower.
Michael Redmond, the Duke of Cortland, needs to be in London most expeditiously but a band of highway robbers have thwarted his plans. Purse-pinched, coachless, and mired in mud, he stumbles on Lilly Beauchamp travelling to London with her debutante step daughter. A widowed stepmother now, Lilly aids Michael in reaching London. Michael is now engaged to be married, to Lady Natalie Ravensdale.
This is the first book I’ve read by the author & I was blown away by it. A lovely story of misunderstandings & second chances. The characters really spoke to me & I was enthralled. I’m not a lover of stories with flashbacks but in this story it worked, I think because they were usually a separate chapter & clearly shown as being from a decade ago.
It was definitely a case of what if..
I certainly wanted Michael & Lilly to have their HEA but I also really liked Natalie & didn’t want to see her hurt & for her to find love also. Definitely a keeper & I’ll certainly be reading more from this brilliant new author
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Heartsmile. If you love heart stopping romantic historical novels, this one is for you.. I did not want it to end because I adored this couple so much and this story will stay with me for awhile. Annabelle Anders is adept at grabbing your attention at the beginning and not letting go until the end. Her prose is so beautifully written and this story just touched me from the start. Michael Redmond, the Duke of Cortland is on his way to London when he is set upon by brigands who take his coach and all in it. Making his way to the nearest Inn, he runs into none other than his first love, Lilly Beauchamp. Their romance when they were young was so intense and she thought he had not come back for her. He thought she just married another. So they are thrown together again and the sparks are still there, in fact they never left. The story goes back and forth between their meetings when they were young and present day and is interwoven amazingly. Can there be a second chance for them after so much time had passed? Lilly was now a widow and Michael is engaged to be married with the union being more of deal between families for political reasons. As they find out that both had been under the wrong impression as to what happened all those years ago, they cannot deny their feelings. But what to do? There were so many wonderful thoughts and emotions, I wish I could pull them out for you to see. I cannot say enough about this romantic story. It will go on my keeper shelf and I will be looking for the second book in this series, hopefully soon!!! 10****
AWESOME!! Nobody’s Lady by Annabelle Anders is book 1 in Lord Love A Lady series. This is my first book of Annabelle’s that I have read and it will not be the last. Oh how I enjoyed this story of going back and forth through time when it just doesn’t seem like the right time for love. Nobody’s Lady held me captive from the first page to the last and the well drawn characters easily come to life and captures the era in which the story is set. I cannot wait for more of this series, although this book can be read as a standalone. The descriptions are so vivid and clear you can picture it all in your mind. Can you tell I loved this book? This story has a long lost love, misunderstandings, death, abuse, a wicked step daughter, cruelty, an illegal marriage, politics, trust, rescue, broken promises, determination, evil, highway robbers, madness, kidnapping, theft and so much more. I cannot say enough about this book and I highly recommend it, you won’t be disappointed.
Travel back in time to 1824 London, England with Michael Redmond, the 8th Duke of Cortland, Lady Lilly Bridge Beauchamp and her Dachshund, Miss Fussy into the past and the present.
***This book was gifted to me and I am voluntarily reviewing.