Step in Time (Signet Regency Romance)

Description

Transported back in time to Regency London and into the arms of handsome Lord Ashindon, Amanda McGovern finds herself trapped in the identity of the innocent heiress Amanda Bridge and is devastated when it appears that Ashindon wants her only for her wealth.

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Customer Reviews

An absolute keeper...
I loved this book right from the start. It is fast paced, witty and kept me to my couch until the end. It was funny to read that Amanda - the time traveller - would have killed for a piece of pizza or a juicy cheeseburger. That she suffered through the realization that toilet paper had to be inveted yet, etc. I wished that Amanda would have used her knowlege of the future more to change everyday life, expecially when planning the restoration of "The Park" or in any other aspect of life, to better the position of women in society for excample. Her adaption into regency life as a woman without even trying to "meddle" quite a lot did not strike true to me. To be fair it has to be said that the book only covers about two months in Amanda's new life therefore there is not much that she could have achived. But I would have loved to read an additonal chapter like "10 years later" or so, just to learn what she did with her knowledge and if her husband learned to accept her as an equal partner. Nevertheless, the book is more than worth reading, so if you can put your hands on a copy - DO IT.

2004-12-22 | book-lover (Germany) | Helpful Votes: 1 | Rating: 5

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Delightful Regency
Ms. Barbour's knowledge of the Regency era is as solid as her power of reasoning. Both combined allowed her to create a believable time-travel story -- not an easy task for any writer. Fans of the conventional Regency romance will like this book and so will anyone who enjoys a well-plotted story.

This is indeed a keeper. I have it on my shelf.
RDP

2002-07-11 | novelist (Illinois United States) | Helpful Votes: 1 | Rating: 5

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A definite keeper!
I have read many romance time travel novels and only a handful are worth rereading. This book is one of them. It's truly a delight, and for once I was actually disappointed when the book came to an end!

1999-07-03 | Helpful Votes: 4 | Rating: 5

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A Dedicated Scoundrel

Description

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Customer Reviews

Not your ordinary Regency; thrilling and romantic
Justin, a man with a painful past and a reputation as a troublemaker, finds himself in deep, deep trouble. A spy, disowned by his family, he finds himself framed for a murder he did not commit and with his own life in danger. Not knowing who he can trust, he sets out to hide himself while he tries to investigate. Then he saves Catherine Meade's life, and is badly injured himself...

He can't tell Catherine who he is, so he pretends that his initial amnesia has continued. Although she is drawn to him, she doesn't trust him; she knows he's lying, and she also sees him sneaking out of the house at nights. And her own past makes her see his attempts at flirtation as the mark of a seducer.

However, propinquity does have certain effects, if either of them were able to see what is happening to them....

The love story here is low-key, but warm and loving; a man and a woman, neither of whom think they deserve to be loved, slowly begin to realise that their perceptions are not reality. In the end, Justin gains more than Catherine; the shadows of his past turn out to be less distressing than he had imagined. Catherine, too, has the courage - thanks to Justin's encouragement - to face her demons.

As for the threat to Justin's life and the many assassination attempts made in the course of the book, Barbour handled that well, keeping me guessing right up until a couple of lines before she revealed the culprit. Very cleverly plotted!

Definitely a keeper.

2000-09-05 | wmr-uk (Canada) | Helpful Votes: 4 | Rating: 5

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a definite "read again"
I definitely agree with the romantic times review by M. Helfer. The plot is absolutely absorbing, the characters well drawn and believable.

1999-10-26 | Helpful Votes: 3 | Rating: 5

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A Regency Christmas Carol (Super Regency, Signet)

Description

Ring in a joyous holiday season as five of romance's most beloved Regency authors bring you this special melodious collection! Mary Balogh, Anne Barbour, Elisabeth Fairchild, Carla Kelly, and Edith Layton weave these spectacular song-inspired tales, capturing the true spirit of the holidays: the giving and receiving of the gift of love!

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Customer Reviews

Gentle Stories for the Holiday Season. - Overall Grade: B+
A Regency Christmas Carol, a collection of seasonal stories written in the spirit of gentle romance . . .

Mary Balogh: "The Bond Street Carolers." Grade: A-
A delicate, lovely story. All little Katie Berlinton wanted, for Christmas, was a papa. Of course, she told everyone, who asked, she wanted a doll. Because in her little heart she knew that was what they wanted to hear, but in her prayers she asked for a daddy. Mary Balogh delivers a beautiful seasonal story in THE BOND STREET CAROLERS. The author writes her tale using little Sarah's point of view, an idea which proves to be ingenious.

Edith Layton: "The Earl's Nightingale." Grade: B
A gentle story. Impoverished Eliza Dumont sadly pawns a family heirloom - a delicate golden cage, containing a tiny jeweled bird. Truly, an exquisite piece shimmering with magic. Hopefully Eliza will reclaim this token of love. A token of love from her grandmother. But alas, the shop's unscrupulous proprietor sells Eliza's dainty treasure. The buyer -- the roguish Earl of Elliot. The author's clean writing style spins THE EARL'S NIGHTINGALE into a very nice holiday read.

Elisabeth Fairchild: "The Mistletoe Kiss." Grade: C
Good heavens, THE MISTLETOE KISS is a dark dreary story. Constance Conyngham is the governess of Leland Manor and a lonely widow. Her husband, of three months, was taken by the unforgiving sea. Lucian Deleval is soured with memories of a runaway bride, for Lucian Deleval was abandoned at the matrimony altar. On the 21st day of December, Mrs. Conyngham's three small charges think Lord Deleval is in need of some blessed goodness and they employ their governess to help them deliver the honor. This story is too melancholy for the joy of the Christmas season.

Carla Kelly: "Make a Joyful Noise." Grade: A-
A beautiful story. This is the Carla Kelly I love to read - poignant and touching. Peter Chard, the Marquis of Wythe, lives the life of a doting father, a successful landowner, and a very lonely man. Lately, Peter Chard finds himself intrigued by a woman. A woman he sees every day out walking on his estate. Who is she? She is the lovely widow, Rosie Wetherby. Ms. Kelly does a fine job in MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE. Her characters are well drawn and real, her words are touching, and her story is truly divine.

Anne Barbour: "Melody." Grade: A-
A bright, uplifting story. Reluctantly, American born Josh Weston realizes he is the Eighth Earl of Sandborne. Gently-born Melody Fairfax is a lady's paid companion. The lady she serves is Josh Weston's aunt. Josh Weston arrives in England with American views and reasonably disregards the stringent English social rules. He falls in love with his sweet, gentle friend -- Melody. Well done; MELODY is truly a `make you feel good' read. Ms. Barbour presents a wonderful style of writing -- descriptive and smooth.

Grace Atkinson, Ontario - Canada.

2004-12-27 (Ontario, Canada.) | Helpful Votes: 5 | Rating: 4

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Christmas with some of our favorite Regency authors
This heart-lifting volume collects the storytelling talents of some of Signet's most beloved Regency authors, all spinning tales with Christmas carols as a central part of the yarn. These talented ladies pack into less than one hundred pages each an emotional wallop that is rarely found in novellas--sure to please even readers who do not usually find the depth they hope for in anthologies.

Mary Balogh starts us off with "The Bond Street Carolers" in which Lord Heath, who dislikes Christmas, stops in his tracks on Bond Street to hear a boy's angelic voice raised in song. Lord Heath decides that this young man must perform at his annual winter concert--but the boy's mother, Fanny Berlinton, does not want her son exploited. Little Katie Berlinton sees the tall man enjoying her brother's singing, and renews her wish for a Papa for Christmas. Even readers who do not normally care for children intruding on their romance will be enchanted by the parts these two take in this delighful story.

In "The Earl's Nightengale" by Edith Layton, a young woman pawns a musical mechanical bird left to her by the grandmother she never met--a gift that her grandmother said would bring her happiness. When she goes back a week later, as promised, to pay the loan and reclaim her heirloom, it is gone. She catches up with the Earl of Elliott, who purchased it, because it is her only link with her grandmother, and because she and her mother could certainly use some happiness right now. Ms. Layton's Nightengale is a charming gift to her readers, topped with an extra-special bow of an ending.

Next up is Elisabeth Fairchild with "The Mistletoe Kiss." On St. Thomas's Day, five days before Christmas, governess Constance Conyngham is convinced by her young charges to take them "a gooding"--but they did not expect to encounter Lord Deleval at The Devil's Keep, and everyone was even more surprised when he showed up the the bell-ringers' rehearsal. This is a heartening story of two wounded souls who can perhaps heal each other.

In "Make a Joyful Noise" by Carla Kelly, Lord Wythe is charged by his mother to help recruit new choir members for the annual competition between the churches of the neighboring shires. One of his first requests is to Rosie Wetherby, but soon he is ent ranced by more than just her beautiful voice... and Ms. Kelly's readers are entranced as well with the relationship that blossoms.

Anne Barbour concludes this collection with "Melody" in which American Josh Weston, now Earl of Sandbourne, meets his match in Melody Fairfax, companion to the dowager countess. We are emotionally involved from the beginning as we watch these two meet and quickly find a fearsome affinity towards each other. In a collection of masters of the Regency subgenre, Ms. Barbour shines as the star atop the tree.

Kimberly Borrowdale, Under the Covers Book Reviews

2000-05-17 (Oregon USA) | Helpful Votes: 11 | Rating: 4

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A Dangerous Charade

Description

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Lady Liza's Luck

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Miss Prestwick's Crusade

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Customer Reviews

a good 3 1/2 star read
Miss Prestwick has a mission: to ensure that her nephew is properly recognized as the twelfth Earl of Camberwell. Of course her task is not as simple as it seems: there already is a twelfth Earl of Camberwell -- Edward Beresford, a cousin to the deceased heir, Christopher Beresford; plus the unpalatable truth that she has no physical proof that her sister was actually married Christopher. Add to that the fact she knows (based on bits of information that Christopher has seen fit to divulge) that the present earl, Edward, has always been jealous of Christopher and has always coveted the title. Such a man will no doubt make things really difficult for Helen!

However, when Helen confronts Edward, she is surprised and relieved to discover that while he doesn't totally believe her story, he is willing to investigate her claims and to house her nephew, William, her duena, Miss Horatia Barnstable and her, until they discover how exactly things stand. Helen is floored -- she never expected for things to go so smoothly even though she is resolved to see things through and baby William restored to his rightful position -- but grateful for Edward forbearance. But why exactly is Edward so accommodating? Is he not quite so black as Christopher painted? Or does he have some sinister plan up his sleeve? As the days pass and Helen begins to see just how much in tune with Edward she actually is, and how much she actually likes and respects him, she cannot help but wonder about Christopher's claims. Unfortunately, Helen has a few skeletons rattling in her own closet, and as the days pass, and as Edward's agents fail to turn up any evidence of Christopher's marriage and William's legitimacy, Helen cannot help but fear that her secrets will be revealed and that the impact of those secrets will cost William and her dearly...

What I liked about "Miss Preswick's Crusade" was the fact that both Edward and Helen acted in a manner that reflected their ages, maturity and life experiences -- in other words if you rather enjoy Regencies where either the heroine or hero indulges in massive hysterical bouts of infantile behaviour, give this book a miss! However while the romance that developed between Edward and Helen was quite nicely paced, it was also true that it took Helen a long time to reconcile the evidence before her eyes (as to Edward's character) with Christopher's tales -- in fact it took her so long that I sometimes wanted to shake her. However, when one factors in what Helen's past experiences were and what she went through (plus the betrayal that she suffered at the hands of those that should have stood up for her), you can totally understand her hesitation to trust Edward outright. And because Helen kept waffling on whether or not she could trust Edward, the pacing of the storyline was not always smooth -- in fact things really slowed down after the first quarter of the book. On the whole though, if you're in the mood for a good grown-up romance novel, complete with a believable hero and heroine, then definitely "Miss Preswick's Crusade" will completely satisfy.

2003-10-05 (Portland, Oregon) | Helpful Votes: 3 | Rating: 3

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Simply put: good
Miss Helen Prestwick has journeyed all the way to Portugal to do one thing: to prove her late sister's child is actually the rightful Earl of Camberwell. However, it's her fear that the current earl, after hearing her story, will simply turn her away. When she meets Edward Beresford, he is nothing like the monster she expected. In fact, he is actually quite nice.

Mr. Beresford, who has no real interest in his earldom, intends to help Helen prove her claim--even if his entire family thinks her story is too far-fetched. While he investigates her claim, Helen Prestwick stays in close quarters (she's trying to restore his family's art collection). The more they get to know each other, the closer they become.

But Miss Prestwick is hiding a secret from her past--a secret she feels might rattle Mr. Beresford's newfound friendship with her.

All in all, the story was nothing I hadn't read before. The lead characters were interesting, if not a bit stubborn. (I was happy to find a hero who wasn't handsome, or arrogant, or a rake). The secondary characters were a bit surprising (a couple of them turned out to be better than I had originally suspected). But the main story is somewhat predictable, and the ending is a bit rushed. Still, I came across a few parts where I was unable to put the book down. Overall, Ms. Barbour has given us an enjoyable read. I give it 3 1/2 stars.

2003-10-04 | karenlk (Ohio) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 3

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