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Summary: A Lovely, Lovely Story
Review: I have just discovered Liz Carlyle and I feel fortunate indeed. I am halway through her second book, "A Woman Scorned" and I can barely tear myself away from it. This is a very gifted author and all her books should be read (I think in the order she has written them). Unfortunately there are only four books right now, but we can only hope that she is as prolific as she is gifted. Her characters are so well drawn out you can actually remember them. Her secondary characters are also rich and vibrant. Her dialogue is wonderful and her prose is unique and highly-charged emotionally whether she is describing a thought or a sensuous love scene. Buy her. Read her. Treasure her. I can't wait to read all of her books.
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Summary: First e-book..and what a great one.
Review: I love reading historical romance perhaps because I'm an avid history buff. I love a good tale and My False Heart ranks up there. It isn't heavy on the history like others I have read, like Marsha Canham that makes you put it down and actually do your own researching. It was just enough to set the scene and give a depth to the action. The story focuses all on the development of the characters. They are believeable because Carlyle gives them realistic humanity. Not some posh fluff that is pen and ink on a page. You feel like you are actually a fly on the wall watching the story unfold. A man, Elliot Armstrong, frustrated and driven by the demons of his past finds a bright light for the future in a woman, Evangeline, he meets by accident (how else do the best things in life happen to us, by chance). She is not without her own faults and skeltons in the closet. He is afraid that his tainted and sordid past and present will spoil something he sees as clean and desirable. Deep down he hungers for a change, but is unwilling to recognize it, to make the break from his past and when he does, he wants it bad. Meeting Evangeline, a very strong and honest woman, makes Elliot confront his past, present and future. She makes him realize all the man he wants to be and he helps her to awaken the desires of very sensual woman....
Rating:
Summary: Nothing false about this book
Review: I only discovered Ms Carlyle recently but she's become one of my favourite authors since. I'd read her later books first, but My False Heart loses nothing in quality compared to the later ones.
The yearning that Elliot displays came through extremely clearly. You will feel for them both, and what more can you ask for in a romance?
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Summary: I loved this book!!
Review: I picked it up by accident and then I couldn't put it down! I laughed and cried and did not want it to end. What a debut. Just finished "A Woman Scorned". Also a winner.
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Summary: Expectations fulfilled!!
Review: I've had Liz Carlyle's books in my TBR pile for some time and have just finished My False Heart. I found the plot to be well developed (if perhaps leisurely) and the characters rounded and believeable - people about whom I could care. The peripheral members of the cast, most especially the children and young people, were memorable and added great value to the overall story. Rannoch's gay valet, Kemble, was a real delight and an excellent foil to his master and his dissolute, overtly masculine circle of friends. If every woman loves a rake, then Elliot Armstrong, the Marquis of Ranoch, is truly delicious. His reformation and redemption make for a read full of angst and tension. Perhaps Evie is not quite as well drawn for sometimes I wanted to shake her and remind her that for such an intelligent woman she easily allowed herself to head down the wrong track where Rannoch was concerned. I particularly appreciated the evocative descriptions of every day life (for example the family meals and lively discussions) and the healing effects of a happy domesticity on the Marquis. It was a demonstration of true healing through the little things of life. Sometimes the author's word pictures reminded me a bit of the tranquility of a Vermeer painting. I now look forward to reading the rest of her books. I'm going on holiday soon and two of them will be in the luggage!
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Summary: Wonderful!
Review: I've started more so called romance books than I care to count. I won't even pick one up unless it received positive reviews on three web sites - The Romance Reader, All About Romance & this one. Of those I have read this is one of the best. "My False Heart" reminded me of the books of Georgette Heyer. Only better. I know Heyer was the creator of the "Regency" genre, but her books lack plain and simple romance. Lastly I loved the way the author switched from who's perspective the story was told.
Rating: 
Summary: Should have been half as long.
Review: If this book were tightened up to about 1/2 the amount of pages it could've been a great read. The h/h were likable, the setting was described well, and the story filled everything out decently, if only about 1/2 the internal narrative had been deleted. By page 200 it was like "We KNOW he thinks he's in love! Get to it, man!" There were just far too many scenes of them separately pondering how they felt about each other.
And having read the blurb I thought I might see some unusual Flemish scenes, but no! The Flemish part was just there for wallpaper, and we never learn anything vaguely Flemish (Belgian?). Still, I will prob. read Carlyle again because I do like her style.
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Summary: fascinating debut
Review: In 1809, Lord Elliot Armstrong breaks off his engagement to Miss Cicily Forsythe when he realizes that she is carrying someone else's child. Believing that Godfrey Moore is the father, Elliot challenges his rival to a duel. However, Godfrey's family quickly sends the lad overseas. Cicily dies not much after her disgrace. The Ton assumes Elliot threw her away after impregnating her. In the same year, Evangeline "Evie" Stone and her family leave Flanders to live in Kent. Since her papa still grieves the death of her mama, Evie raises her siblings. A decade later, an angry and thoroughly soaked Elliot rides his horse in the rural countryside during a nasty storm. When he finally sees a lit residence, he knocks on the door to obtain directions. Instead, the family welcomes him as if they expected his arrival. When he meets Evie, he cannot help hiding the truth about his identity. Instead he agrees to sit for a portrait from the talented Evie. As he continues to return for more sittings, he and Evie fall in love. However, Moore returns seeking vengeance on Elliot, the person he feels cost him a chance at happiness. MY FALSE HEART is an exciting Regency romance that centers on a wide variety of family relationships that are not all good. The exhilarating story line moves forward quickly. However, Liz Carlyle's tale is clearly a character-driven novel that includes depth to the lead protagonists as well as a strong ensemble cast that supports their romance. Readers will want several sequels starring many of these players. Harriet Klausner
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Summary: Ms. Carlyle Hits the Ground Running
Review: In her debut novel, Ms. Carlyle provides a delightful story capable of pleasing even the most discerning romance reader. Not only is her story line engrossing, her characters possess real-life qualities that enable the reader to relate to and know them personally. I think I was most impressed with Ms. Carlyle's vivid language use. Her descriptions include such exceptional use of imagery, particularly visual and tactile,as to allow the reader to nearly live the story. Evie and Elliot, as well as the other well-developed characters, become real people for the reader, their challenges, joys, and agonies can be felt by the reader as this well-conceived story unfolds. I was also impressed with Ms. Carlyle's eye for detail which lent her story and its ensuing twists and turns credibilty for the reader. Not unfamiliar with Ms. Carlyle's storytelling and writing abilities, I am delighted she has chosen to share her extraordinary talents. I found My False Heart to be captivating to the point I was loath to put it down. I eagerly await her next work....coming soon, I hope!
Rating:
Summary: Carlyle hits it big on her debut
Review: Liz Carlyle has made a smashing debut with My False Heart. The tension between Evie and Elliott felt so real as I read through the book. My heart went out to Elliott as he got stuck in the "love trap." He so much wants to do what's right but because of a tainted past his future could be dark. Love changes many things in life as Elliott has the chance to find out. Liz should be commended for introducing such a rivetting first novel. I look forward to her next novel. A definite TBR.
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