Lady With a Black Umbrella

Rating:
Summary: One of her best..
Review: The first chapter alone will have you laughing is stitches.. The completely delightful, completely misguided Daisy is used to managing everyone and everything around her. When she sees a man accosted by thugs, she rushes to his rescue, complete with cold cream and nightgown. Her weapon of choice is nothing less than a black umbrella, and to the Viscount's shame, she actually succeeds in driving them off!

The Viscount is proud, handsome, arrogant, and completely eligible. And he's NOT happy with having a slip of a girl rescue him and embarrass him publicly. Daisy wants to set him up with her beautiful and meek sister. But somehow, she finds herself gravitating towards him herself, and to his utter disgust, he finds himself equally gravitating towards her.

This book is for keeps despite being quite short. You'll enjoy the characters and the dialogue. Mary Balogh takes a few historical licenses, but they don't affect the story in any way. Besides, you will enjoy the dialogue and the twists and turns so much; you'll probably not even notice them!

Rating:
Summary: Unfortunately, the fun dies !!
Review: This regency romance is a comedy and the delightful beginning is superb. At twenty-five and a self-proclaimed spinster, Lady Daisy Morrison, staying overnight at an inn, sees a gentleman being attacked by hooligans. She charges to his rescue, wielding her father's large black umbrella, and rescues Viscount Giles Kincade from his assailants. To further his shame -- after the viscount's hurried departure -- Lady Morrison pays his inn bill, his gambling debts, and his "lady" of the evening.

Lord Kincade is an eligible bachelor who is good-looking, wealthy, and not pleased with the public humiliation Daisy has brandished his way. Now Mary Balogh frolics with her reader, emphasizing glorious humor. She allows Daisy to mistake the viscount's mortification for undying gratitude; therefore, allowing Daisy to request a favor. Daisy Morrison needs an introduction, to gain entry, into London's aristocratic social setting.

Mary Balogh entertains with a fine effort. Lady Daisy Morrison is a delightful creature, her hero the Viscount Giles Kincade is wonderful, and the writer casts her usual supporting players to further the reader's amusement. However, though the initiate start of the book is marvelous, somewhere in the process this reader felt the story slipping. Nothing notable, it just seemed that the end of the book didn't measure up with the opening pages. Somehow, the comical game was over and the continuing story turned into an ordinary read -- how disappointing.

Grace Atkinson, Ontario - Canada.