Lady in Disguise

Rating:
Summary: a good read in spite of the hurried and sudden ending
Review: All in all, "Lady in Disguise" was a rather satisfying and magical read; and it definitely would have received a 5 star rating from me even it wasn't for the fact that it did suffer from poor pacing towards the end of the book.

Tired of being hemmed in by protocol and proper behaviour, Lady Emma Weston, the niece of the visiting Russian diplomat, Count Suravov, has escaped from the Pulteney Hotel, disguised as a maid, in order to enjoy the London sights. Much as Lady Emma loves her aunt and uncle, and much as she's been grateful to them for having taken her in when her parents died, she has found her life at Tsar Alexander's court to be rather stifling. Lady Emma had rather hoped that being back in England again would mean a little relaxing of all the rules about protocol and proper behaviour. Unfortunately, she's found life in London, so far, to be as stifling as life in St. Petersburg. And so, she's decided to slip out, in order to enjoy a few hours respite. And she was enjoying herself quite a bit until she was accosted by a lout. Fortunately, she's rescued by a very dashing and handsome Englishman whom she promptly (and unwisely) looses her heart to.

Except that her Englishman is no ordinary Englishman, he's actually Jack Howard, the Viscount St. Albans, and he's a spy in His Majesty's secret service. And it is while he's out (dressed as an underpaid secretary) delivering secret papers to Count Suvarov, that he runs into the Count's lovely niece, Lady Emma. Now Jack recognizes Lady Emma (he'd been introduced to her a few nights before); but it soon becomes clear to him that she does not recollect having met him at all. Half in love with Lady Emma because of her dazzling looks and her dreamy eyes, Jack decides to play along, little dreaming that he would find himself totally in love with the bewitching Lady Emma by the time their day together is over. To be able to meet Lady Emma again and spend more time with her is all Jack can think of. And yet what will Lady Emma say when she discovers his charade (as she will sooner or later), and can he persuade her to overlook his deceit and to carry on looking at him with her heart in her eyes?

I don't know if this has ever happened to you, but here's what happened to me: I was enjoying the book enormously -- the nice and sedate pace at which things were unfolding between Jack and Emma, the manner in which the authour had fleshed out Jack's and Emma's characters (as well as a few others -- Madame Ana, Bertie Stonwich, Sir Jeremy Ashbey, Emma's aunt, Lady Lydia, and Jack's mother, Jane), as well as the slightly darker subplot that was developing in tandem to the main plot involving the Jack and Emma's romance, when suddenly everything moved at lightening speed (in the last 15 odd pages), to a shocking climax, with several issues still left hanging (in my opinion) in midair. And since this is supposed to be a Signet SUPER Regency romance (which I took to mean a little longer than the usual 200 odd pages format), I had rather expected everything to be resolved a little more satisfactorily and a lot more smoothly. For example, how does Lady Emma take the news that she's married to a spy? Will Jack give up spying in favour of a quiet life with Emma? Was there something even more sinister to the villain's fixation on Lady Emma than was indicated with the hurried ending? I wanted these questions answered, and was rather disappointed when they weren't.

On the whole though, "Lady in Disguise" is a rather magical and satisfying story of two lonely people who find love and fulfillment in each other -- and if that's not a good enough recommendation, I really don't know what is.

Rating:
Summary: Might be a Nice Read for Some
Review: I agree with the other reviewer that the romance and plot kind of fizziled out a little over half way through the book. However, if you just think of the book as ending at this point, it is a nice read.

Rating:
Summary: Delightfully sweet
Review: I enjoyed Lady in Disguise. It features a heroine who knows her duty and will do it, but she just wants one taste of life's excitement that she sees occurring outside her window. When she slips out for that one day, of course she gets a whole lot more than she bargained for!
I liked how the relationship between the hero and the heroine developed so believably. Her "one perfect day" was so beautiful, it made my heart ache with happiness. It recalled the perfect days in my own life--although I never slipped out in a disguise. Still, if you are looking for a delightfully sweet read, this is the one for you.

Rating:
Summary: Delightfully sweet
Review: I should start off by saying that I have read and enjoyed most of Amanda McCabe's previous novels. I am surprised to see myself giving a 2-star rating to this 5-star author.

Lady Emma Weston, neice of a Russian Count and Countess, has lived in Russia for most of her life. She travels to England with her aunt and uncle, expecting it to be exciting, only to find that it is anything but. Emma has very little patience for etiquette and Society. Hoping to find the adventure she came for, Emma dresses as a maid and sneaks into the streets of London.

While there, she is rescued by a man named Jack Howard, who is dressed as a tradesman. He says he is a secretary--and she doesn't remember meeting him the previous night. Jack, who is actually Viscount St. Albans, is intrigued by the dark-haired beauty who claims to be a Russian maid (he knows the truth about her identity). Jack decides to play along with her ruse. Together, they spend one magical night on the streets of London.

Emma is afraid she'll never see Jack again. Of course, they DO meet up again... about 1/3 of the way through the novel. This interesting beginning is followed by a grueling middle and end.

"Lady in Disguise" lacked the mysticism of Amanda McCabe's previous novels. The characters were (in my opinion) rather dull. I became irritated by the heroine's naivete and impulsiveness. We were introduced to a mere skeleton of a villain, who barely made an appearance in this overlong novel. The ending was awkward and rushed.

Fortunately, the novel is well-written and easy to read... if you can commit to the 278 bland pages (178, if you exclude the good beginning).

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I should start off by saying that I have read and enjoyed most of Amanda McCabe's previous novels. I am surprised to see myself giving a 2-star rating to this 5-star author.

Lady Emma Weston, neice of a Russian Count and Countess, has lived in Russia for most of her life. She travels to England with her aunt and uncle, expecting it to be exciting, only to find that it is anything but. Emma has very little patience for etiquette and Society. Hoping to find the adventure she came for, Emma dresses as a maid and sneaks into the streets of London.

While there, she is rescued by a man named Jack Howard, who is dressed as a tradesman. He says he is a secretary--and she doesn't remember meeting him the previous night. Jack, who is actually Viscount St. Albans, is intrigued by the dark-haired beauty who claims to be a Russian maid (he knows the truth about her identity). Jack decides to play along with her ruse. Together, they spend one magical night on the streets of London.

Emma is afraid she'll never see Jack again. Of course, they DO meet up again... about 1/3 of the way through the novel. This interesting beginning is followed by a grueling middle and end.

"Lady in Disguise" lacked the mysticism of Amanda McCabe's previous novels. The characters were (in my opinion) rather dull. I became irritated by the heroine's naivete and impulsiveness. We were introduced to a mere skeleton of a villain, who barely made an appearance in this overlong novel. The ending was awkward and rushed.

Fortunately, the novel is well-written and easy to read... if you can commit to the 278 bland pages (178, if you exclude the good beginning).

Rating:
Summary: from Romantic Times magazine
Review: Lady Emma Weston has not been to England since she was 6, but now the Tsar's visit to her birthplace offers her a chance to go home again. As members of this delegation, Emma's aunt and uncle are very conscious of the need for decorum with their young charge, but Emma yearns for freedom. She impulsively decides to masquerade as a servant to see the fireworks exhibit and is rescued from a scoundrel by "Jack", who recognizes the lovely Lady Emma. Jack, the Viscount St. Albans, is one of England's finest intelligence officers, and it occurs to him that Lady Emma may, in fact, be a spy and not the delightful innocent she appears. He vows to discover the truth about the LADY IN DISGUISE, and discovers along the way that he loves her dearly. Amanda McCabe spins another engrossing tale for her devoted fans. Readers will sympathize with her spunky heroine, who just wants a taste of freedom, and her hero will melt hearts as he treads the fine line between deceit and delight.

Rating:
Summary: good, not the best
Review: there were a few issues with this book although i really enjoyed it...

one is the fact that we didn't get to see much passion between jack and emma. we were built up and built up waiting for them to consumate their marriage and then disappointingly, it is entirely left for the imagination. i also did not like how they got married sooo quickly after meeting...not very believable, nor very romantic. i think it's best when romance is built up slowly.

it was a fun to read book, and had a very nice premise to it. although the villian, jeremy, comes across weakly. his story is never fleshed out...and it could have been made interesting too. all i can say is thank god he didn't try to kidnap emma, because honestly the story is so full of cliches that i found myself expecting that.

i've read more romantic and passionate stories before, but if you are looking for something cute in the way of a regency romance, then check this book out.

Rating:
Summary: Fair
Review: This book is fairly well written and the plot is mildy interesting. But I never really sensed that much chemistry between the heroine and hero. The heroine was way too juvenile and guileless for my taste, and I felt that the abrupt ending lack dramatic tension.

In short, not bad, but hardly a page turner.