Love and the Single Heiress

Rating:
Summary: Excellent read!
Review: Catherine Ashfield, Viscountess Bickley, is a widow just out of mourning. When a close friend asked her, Lady Catherine was only too happy to assist with the publication of "A Ladies' Guide". She saw it as a quiet way to get a bit of revenge on a society which had turned its cruel back on her son, Spencer, due to his club foot. It was published under the name Charles Brightmore. Soon it seems as though every female has a copy of the scandalous book and the men are NOT happy at the changes in their women. But Lady Catherine never dreamed her involvement could put her life in jeopardy and force her to flee London in the company of a disarmingly attractive protector.

Andrew Stanton knew Catherine was hiding something from him, but playing the role of protector and friend helps him keep her close by. Andrew has no noble lineage. He is the best friend of Catherine's brother, but wishes only to court Catherine now that she is FINALLY out of mourning. But Catherine's marriage had been far from happy and she is determined never to remarry. Worse yet, she seemed to live by the crazy book that has all of town abuzz. Andrew is determined to subtly court her while playing his guardian role. And not only has Catherine captured his heart, but her twelve-year-old son has too.

***** Chalk up another best seller from renowned author Jacquie D'Alessandro! This author has yet to disappoint me in her enthralling romances! In fact, she seems to get better and better with every title she publishes. Every time I believe she can get no better, she proves me wrong. Highly recommended! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Rating:
Summary: Charming and Enchanting
Review: I loved this romantic, enchanting story of true love conquering all obstacles. The heroine, Catherine, was so completely refreshing, such a change from the younger, virginal Regency heroines. And Andrew was incredibly charming, loyal and romantic.

One of the best books I've read all year!

Rating:
Summary: Witty and so funny!
Review: I loved this story! Catherine was a heroine who really touched my heart. She was warm and funny and a breath of fresh air from the typically stale regency heroines in most novels. This was the first book by this author that I have read, but I can guarantee it won't be the last. If you're looking for a funny and wildly romantic story, this one's for you.

Rating:
Summary: Bubbling with wit
Review: I've seen a number of romances capitalise on plots where the heroine is involved in a publication, so while the plot was predictable, D'Alessandro's writing was not - it was witty and I enjoyed every bit of conversation between Catherine and Andrew. A plot where both protagonists have been married before and one has a child with a club foot does make for quite a lot of emotional baggage, so I found this book richly satisfying.

I'm reminded of Amanda Quick's earlier books, where the conversation is almost farcical and there's a bit of mystery mixed in. If you like Quick you'll probably like this.

Rating:
Summary: Another great one...
Review: Jacquie D'Alessandro continually writes fantastic books! The chemistry between the hero and heroine is terrific, as always. I laugh through her books, and I'm always touched by the emotion and depth of the story.

I was a bit aggravated by the posts here, however, regarding Lady Catherine's name. I find this odd, as Lady Catherine is the daughter of an earl. This entitled her to be called "Lady Catherine" for life, regardless of marrying Bickley before the book began. I realize she married "beneath" her station when she joined with Bickley, but she's still entitled to use the title of "Lady Catherine" given at birth.

And, really, that seems silly to harp on. The story is full of laughter, memorable characters, quiet momements of discovery and a great mystery. It's a pleasurable escape from the real world. Do yourself a favor and discover the fun and loving world Jacquie D'Alessandro creates.

Rating:
Summary: Daring Heroine and Delicious Hero
Review: Jacquie D'Alessandro does it again! Humor, wit, and a spicy love affair sprinkled with danger make Love and the Single Heiress a wonderful adventure for the romance reader. Lady Catherine, whom by right of being an Earl's daughter retains her title despite circimstances of her unhappy marriage and widowed state, is a heroine worth loving for she risks scandal and her reputation to pen a guide to help other women to personal happiness and sets the ton on its ear. Andrew, a man with tragic secrets, finally dares to open his heart and brings healing and love to Catherine and her son, whom his deceased father had despised because of a birth defect. With heartwarming tenderness and talent, Jacquie gives new meaning to Regency Romance.


Rating:
Summary: First, she's not an heiress . . .
Review: Second, she shouldn't be called "Lady Catherine," which implies she's an unmarried woman (the heroine is a widow). Third, the son's club foot would not have been that big a deal at the time (Lord Byron--yes, the one dubbed "Mad, bad, and dangerous to know"--had a club foot, and it didn't hold him back socially). And there's simply no reason a club foot would prevent someone from learning to ride, let along drive. This book just felt utterly contrived.

Rating:
Summary: Totally Charming Regency
Review: Staring across the crowded ballroom, Andrew Stanton recalled how he initially fell in love with the image of Lady Catherine, his best friend's sister; later becoming more enthralled with each and every newsy letter he shared with him. He'd waited years for the day when he could finally begin to court her. At long last, Lady Catherine, now a widow, was out of mourning and Andrew who in the intervening yeas had become a close friend of the family, was ready to pursue the object of his desires. He was fully aware that as a common man, his chances at wooing a lady of the nobility would be difficult, if not fruitless. Knowing that her marriage had been disastrous and that Catherine had vowed to never re-marry, did not deter Andrew from pursing the object of his desire. She now seemed to be a devout advocate and champion of the mysterious author Charles Brightmore, the author of the scandalously popular `Ladies' Guide' that had most men of the ton ready to commit murder should they ever discover his true identity.

Secretly, while rusticating in the country with her son Spencer, Lady Catherine had been only too happy to assist a friend with the publication of A Ladies' Guide. The guide had taken society by storm but not without it's detractors. Having endured the narrow mindedness and hateful comments directed at her son's affliction she'd hope to set nobility on its ear, never dreaming that her involvement would place her life in danger. After narrowly escaping an attempt on her life she was forced to leave the city with Andrew as her able bodied protector, a task he gladly took for the golden opportunity it afforded to begin his campaign of seduction.

This was another winner from the very talented Ms. D'Alessandro who writes lively intelligent and witty dialogs and characters that endure long after you've finished the last pages. While Andrew's wooing of Catherine was utterly romantic, and sweetly sensual, the endearingly honest loving relationship he established with 12-year-old Spencer and help in teaching him to deal with his physical limitations was simply outstanding. D'Alessandro also gives another interesting secondary character in Catherine's friend Genevieve, who as the true author of the `guide' would make a terrific sequel with a story of her own. Bottom Line - While this seemed to have a bit more serious tone than her customary belly laugh humorous romances, her dialogs and finely drawn characterizations along with an inspiring romance and seduction is totally charming and heart warming... definitely recommended! --- Marilyn Rondeau, for www.historicromancewriters.com ---



Rating:
Summary: Deserves Zero Stars
Review: This book is FLAT, BORING, and an UTTER WASTE OF TIME. I can't believe some people gave it four and five stars. There is simply NO chemistry between the hero and heroine. Halfway through I gave up caring about them, and simply skimmed till the chore of reading it was over.

Rating:
Summary: dull dull dull
Review: This is the 2nd or 3rd book I have read by this author and I have to say I will not try her again. I have to agree with the 1 review that I thought it was boring, not much going on til the very end and I had to push myself to read to the end hoping that it was going to get better. It did not. I saw all the glowing reviews and I thought I would try it. Not much happened way into the story. It could have been so much better using the plot where the hero tries to find out more about the author of the book society is conflicted about. That would have made it a little more exciting! Instead both the hero and the heroine go round and round about their feelings and the story doesn't go anywhere. Pretty blah.