Commodore Gabriel Montford, veteran of the British Royal Navy, is forced to resign his commission, thanks to his idiot brothers’ early deaths, now making him the tenth Viscount Montford, a title he does not want and an inheritance he cannot afford. To save his ancestral estate and his sisters’ future he must find a wife with a healthy dowry and the ability to give him heirs.Abigail Prescott, an … Prescott, an improverished spinster from Boston, has just landed in England to live with her last relation on earth. All she has is her pride, her lace-making talents and the knowledge that she’ll remain a spinster all her life. But at least one adventure might not be amiss, would it? When a wind-blown bonnet brings Montford and Abigail together, well-laid plans begin to unravel. And if Lady Caro Ashford has anything to do with turning the unassuming American into a sophisticated beauty . . . well then, the viscount had better re-think his plans.
This is the first novel in a new series, The School for Sophistication, featuring the intrepid Lady Caro as the teacher of sophisticated ways and manners (and perhaps how to enjoy an adventure or two!).
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Don’t be tardy!
Although it was Abigail and Gabriel’s story the characters that stood out to me were the Dowager Lady Rutherford and Lady Caroline Ashford. I love quirky characters with a good plot line. I loved Abigail I felt she was true to herself. As for Gabriel I wish he hadn’t taken so long to admit to his true feelings. There were times I really didn’t like Gabriel he was just plain shady when he was wooing Abigail for real one minute and the next he would think she was not of his station so he could just seduce her. Thank goodness for The School for Sophistication. I’m looking forward to finding out how Julia fares at school. Bravo Claire Hadleigh, Bravo !
Country bumpkin catches a titled lord
This isn’t really new – an Englishman of noble blood makes a career for himself in the Navy. Then one by one, his father and older brothers die, leaving him the title, the estate, and the family responsibility which will force him home from the sea. He’s not pleased, but he is resigned. He heads off to assume his new role and prepares himself for the necessity of wedding a titled and well-dowered bride. A chance meeting with a newly-arrived American poor relation to the family of a friend has him unsettlingly bedeviled by her brash manners and untamed American ways. You know where this is headed. The path forward is muddied and booby trapped by a pair of managing English ladies with nothing better to do than interfere in the lives of unmarried lords and American waifs. It all turns out well, and ticks off all the boxes required of a Regency romance. Diehard fans of the genre will enjoy it, and the rest of us will read it, pronounce it good enough, and move on.
I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I loved this couple. Both unconventional and perfect for each other. Abigail recently lost her mother and is now destitute. She makes exquisite lace, but is that enough to get by on? Then a cousin in England invites Abigail to live with her and her husband on their estate. As soon as Abigail steps off the ship she meets Gabriel, the new Viscount Montford. He rescues her from a lecherous sailor, and then she finds out he is friends with her cousin’s husband. She is attracted to him and he seems to like her also, but he as to find a wife with a dowry and Abigail has to money. Would she be happy being a mistress? I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
TANTALIZING AND SATISFYING!!!
Tapping out! Claire lowered the boom, broke the mold, seized the dynamics, mastering the whole kit-n-caboodle, racking ’em up, watching ’em roll, wielding this baby together seamlessly. Outstanding imagination and talent, so touching and heart melting with passion, style and finesse that throws the regency ton off kilter with stunning results. Struggling through the trials and tribulations with such exuberance and spirit, thrusting this gem into the eye of the storm, breaking it down, blasting it into a tailspin with an astonishing culmination. Expressing delightful, well rounded scenario’s that punch dead center, ramping up the anticipation and adrenaline with such intensity and precision, blasting this jewel to life spectacularly. The characters and scenes are strikingly sharp with such colorful descriptions it gives you a full understanding and realism that flow smoothly. Amazing job Claire, thanks for sharing this little gem with us.
Book one in The School for Sophistication series we meet Lady Caroline Ashford and the Dowager Lady Leticia Rutherford, two aristocratic ladies that have decided to open a school for young ladies as they learn the ins and outs of courtship. Commodore Gabriel Montford a veteran of the British Royal Navy becomes Viscount Montford when his brother dies, he meets American Abigail Prescott when the wind blows her bonnet away. I enjoyed reading their story and I want to read more in this series. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.