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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance
Gavin Whitridge, is the Duke of Baynton and expectations are high for him to marry and he can't just marry anyone especially the penniless playwright Sarah Pettijohn. She is the last woman that anyone would expect that Gavin would set his eyes on. Gavin knows that he can never marry Sarah, his mother and aunt already have a woman in mind. He knows he needs an heir however there is something different about Sarah that draws him. And when Sarah finds herself in trouble, Gavin proposes she become his mistress and he will support her and her
dreams of seeing her play become a reality. Sarah finds herself agreeing to a bargain she never though she would agree to but becoming Gavin's mistress isn't what she expected. He makes no demands on her that she isn't willing to make. Gavin desires a woman that he can be himself with, someone that is safe and makes him feel like he is at home with. Gavin however is forced to make a difficult choice duty or love...or will he realize he can have both?
What a story and Cathy Maxwell closes this series out with a bang with A Date At The Altar. I was highly impressed with this book, and I got it in audio format and I listened to it in TWO DAYS!!! I never listen to a audiobook that quickly, but after a couple of hours and I just wanted more and more and couldn't put it down. This story starts out with Sarah putting herself in a position to dance as the "siren" so she can have her play. And is shocked to see the infamous Gavin, Duke of Baynton at her show of all place. She is horrified, but when he saves her from a mob of men trying to get her she sees something more in him. Gavin has searched for the right wife for so long, and even though he wants a love match like his two brothers, he doesn't know if he will find it. Gavin and Sarah aren't the type of couple you could see together to be honest. They are so different from each other, however once they are together they just fit so perfectly well. I really enjoyed what I saw in this one. And we are also introduced into some surprises as well. This story does have its dramatic moments, and even though it seemed a bit unrealistic...it was so uniquely written that you have no real issue with it. I loved seeing the conflict that this pair is faced with and certain truths that they learn about themselves and about each other. There is a pivotal moment toward the end of the book, that brought tears to my eyes. A moment where Gavin and the hero (of the first book, the novella) and it made me fall in love with this series even more. It changes the whole tone to the story and is worth every moment until then to see how Gavin changes in certain ways. I loved the character growth and seeing one fight for LOVE over the threat of scandal. A love story you don't want to miss out on.
Sarah Jane Wells is simply brilliant and she did this series so well but especially Gavin's book is my favorite of her work. Her voice and the way she dispalys different tones of feelings of the story and character kept me captivated. She has such a pretty British accent, and I love the way she reflects that in the work she does. She is a must listen to if you like historical romances on audio.
What a gorgeous cover...I just love her dress and the playful smirk. Sets a playful tone
A Date At The Altar is a lively and dramatic romance that keeps the reader engaged, anxious and highly eager to see this couple get their HEA. A FUN ROMANTIC GEM!!
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Summary
Gavin Whitridge, is the Duke of Baynton and expectations are high for him to marry and he can't just marry anyone especially the penniless playwright Sarah Pettijohn. She is the last woman that anyone would expect that Gavin would set his eyes on. Gavin knows that he can never marry Sarah, his mother and aunt already have a woman in mind. He knows he needs an heir however there is something different about Sarah that draws him. And when Sarah finds herself in trouble, Gavin proposes she become his mistress and he will support her and her
dreams of seeing her play become a reality. Sarah finds herself agreeing to a bargain she never though she would agree to but becoming Gavin's mistress isn't what she expected. He makes no demands on her that she isn't willing to make. Gavin desires a woman that he can be himself with, someone that is safe and makes him feel like he is at home with. Gavin however is forced to make a difficult choice duty or love...or will he realize he can have both?Plot and Story Line
What a story and Cathy Maxwell closes this series out with a bang with A Date At The Altar. I was highly impressed with this book, and I got it in audio format and I listened to it in TWO DAYS!!! I never listen to a audiobook that quickly, but after a couple of hours and I just wanted more and more and couldn't put it down. This story starts out with Sarah putting herself in a position to dance as the "siren" so she can have her play. And is shocked to see the infamous Gavin, Duke of Baynton at her show of all place. She is horrified, but when he saves her from a mob of men trying to get her she sees something more in him. Gavin has searched for the right wife for so long, and even though he wants a love match like his two brothers, he doesn't know if he will find it. Gavin and Sarah aren't the type of couple you could see together to be honest. They are so different from each other, however once they are together they just fit so perfectly well. I really enjoyed what I saw in this one. And we are also introduced into some surprises as well. This story does have its dramatic moments, and even though it seemed a bit unrealistic...it was so uniquely written that you have no real issue with it. I loved seeing the conflict that this pair is faced with and certain truths that they learn about themselves and about each other. There is a pivotal moment toward the end of the book, that brought tears to my eyes. A moment where Gavin and the hero (of the first book, the novella) and it made me fall in love with this series even more. It changes the whole tone to the story and is worth every moment until then to see how Gavin changes in certain ways. I loved the character growth and seeing one fight for LOVE over the threat of scandal. A love story you don't want to miss out on.
Children mean nothing to me if I can't have you. You are the one I choose. I was meant to love you Sarah.
The Narration
Sarah Jane Wells is simply brilliant and she did this series so well but especially Gavin's book is my favorite of her work. Her voice and the way she dispalys different tones of feelings of the story and character kept me captivated. She has such a pretty British accent, and I love the way she reflects that in the work she does. She is a must listen to if you like historical romances on audio.
The Cover
What a gorgeous cover...I just love her dress and the playful smirk. Sets a playful tone
Overall View
A Date At The Altar is a lively and dramatic romance that keeps the reader engaged, anxious and highly eager to see this couple get their HEA. A FUN ROMANTIC GEM!!
Books N Tunes Pick #2: Your Hands Are Cold
I was hearing this song in my head as I was listening to this book especially some of the later scenes of the book.
Click To Buy On Amazon
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C~10
A~7
W~9
P~9
I~9.5
L~8
E~9
Rating: 8.78
Tropes: Social class difference, enemies to lovers, older woman younger man (only by 2 years), virgin hero, widowed heroine
I loved this romance a lot. Sarah and Gavin both were so sweet and deserved the world! Sarah had such a dark past that made her extremely protective and guarded over herself, which made Gavin even better since he made sure to treat her delicately and put her needs before his. Surprisingly, I did enjoy the way she was Gavin's mistress and they had to go against societal conventions to be together. The ending, where the prophecy from the prequel novel came true, was a really nice touch. I truly enjoyed this romance so much and the entire series was very well done.
A~7
W~9
P~9
I~9.5
L~8
E~9
Rating: 8.78
Tropes: Social class difference, enemies to lovers, older woman younger man (only by 2 years), virgin hero, widowed heroine
I loved this romance a lot. Sarah and Gavin both were so sweet and deserved the world! Sarah had such a dark past that made her extremely protective and guarded over herself, which made Gavin even better since he made sure to treat her delicately and put her needs before his. Surprisingly, I did enjoy the way she was Gavin's mistress and they had to go against societal conventions to be together. The ending, where the prophecy from the prequel novel came true, was a really nice touch. I truly enjoyed this romance so much and the entire series was very well done.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was really looking forward to this book and Cathy Maxwell really delivered.
Sarah Pettijohn is a playwright. Or at least she's trying to be. In return for one last performance as the Siren, Sarah is finally going to be allowed to stage her play. But she doesn't realize how much her last performance captured the attention of the ton or how low some of the men would stoop in order to get her in bed. One man in particular has bet a large sum of money that he will be the first to bed the siren. It's not the Duke of Baynton, Gavin Whitridge, but it is a friend of his. Well, a man who Gavin is finding out may not actually be a friend.
It is during her performance that Gavin realizes that it is the aunt of his second former-fiancee who is on the stage. A woman who worked her way under his skin. The woman who he wants to bed. To take his virginity. And he offers to help her in any way he can.
Sarah's problems mount and, though she doesn't want to be trapped into the same situation as her mother, becoming a prostitute or even a mistress, she sees Gavin as a way to solve her problems. As long as they just don't fall in love...
Sarah Pettijohn is a playwright. Or at least she's trying to be. In return for one last performance as the Siren, Sarah is finally going to be allowed to stage her play. But she doesn't realize how much her last performance captured the attention of the ton or how low some of the men would stoop in order to get her in bed. One man in particular has bet a large sum of money that he will be the first to bed the siren. It's not the Duke of Baynton, Gavin Whitridge, but it is a friend of his. Well, a man who Gavin is finding out may not actually be a friend.
It is during her performance that Gavin realizes that it is the aunt of his second former-fiancee who is on the stage. A woman who worked her way under his skin. The woman who he wants to bed. To take his virginity. And he offers to help her in any way he can.
Sarah's problems mount and, though she doesn't want to be trapped into the same situation as her mother, becoming a prostitute or even a mistress, she sees Gavin as a way to solve her problems. As long as they just don't fall in love...
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
A fun read that did some things really, really well.
The good:
- Our heroine Sarah is strong and confident and happy in her own skin. She's doing what she wants with her life and it's refreshing and wonderful to watch. Some people may doubt the plausibility of the plot so Maxwell shares some of her research in an afterward.
- Many Regencies talk about mistresses, often in the context of "oh no you don't" or "I can't believe he/she did". Here we get to see that experience from the other side and how the transaction often worked.
- The plot moves at a nice clip with some effective external conflict. I like how it stayed just this side of romantic suspense, with realistic but not overly done angst.
- Some prickly situations come up where I thought, there is only one way this can end well. If the character does one of these ten other things I would be so mad... but it always ended that one way, well. Phew.
- Virgin hero, yea!
- Not being able to have children, and what it would have meant at this time in history, is thoughtfully and compassionately considered. I was afraid it would be a "barren until you" storyline but the issue is handled realistically and well. Kudos to Maxwell.
The neither-good-nor-bad:
- This book qualifies as a Regency-not-in-a-ballroom, which is kind of amazing considering nearly all of the action is set in London.
The not-so-good:
- The first chapter is pure info dump, and even so I didn't realize that I had already read the second book of this series. Oops. Partly because...
- In book two of this series the Duke comes off as a boor, while here he seems like a totally different person. If you read this as a standalone you won't notice, though.
- The hero, who we are told has zero experience "knowing" a woman, still manages to give the heroine an orgasm effortlessly on the first try. Sigh.
- The plot is telegraphed, sometimes chapters in advance. The suspense factor is low so it wasn't a deal breaker, but I don't think the twists had the effect the author intended.
Overall I enjoyed A Date at the Altar as a quick, satisfying read despite the nitpicks.
The good:
- Our heroine Sarah is strong and confident and happy in her own skin. She's doing what she wants with her life and it's refreshing and wonderful to watch. Some people may doubt the plausibility of the plot so Maxwell shares some of her research in an afterward.
- Many Regencies talk about mistresses, often in the context of "oh no you don't" or "I can't believe he/she did". Here we get to see that experience from the other side and how the transaction often worked.
- The plot moves at a nice clip with some effective external conflict. I like how it stayed just this side of romantic suspense, with realistic but not overly done angst.
- Some prickly situations come up where I thought, there is only one way this can end well. If the character does one of these ten other things I would be so mad... but it always ended that one way, well. Phew.
- Virgin hero, yea!
- Not being able to have children, and what it would have meant at this time in history, is thoughtfully and compassionately considered. I was afraid it would be a "barren until you" storyline but the issue is handled realistically and well. Kudos to Maxwell.
The neither-good-nor-bad:
- This book qualifies as a Regency-not-in-a-ballroom, which is kind of amazing considering nearly all of the action is set in London.
The not-so-good:
- The first chapter is pure info dump, and even so I didn't realize that I had already read the second book of this series. Oops. Partly because...
- In book two of this series the Duke comes off as a boor, while here he seems like a totally different person. If you read this as a standalone you won't notice, though.
- The hero, who we are told has zero experience "knowing" a woman, still manages to give the heroine an orgasm effortlessly on the first try. Sigh.
- The plot is telegraphed, sometimes chapters in advance. The suspense factor is low so it wasn't a deal breaker, but I don't think the twists had the effect the author intended.
Overall I enjoyed A Date at the Altar as a quick, satisfying read despite the nitpicks.
Finally! Yes, the Duke of Baynton finally gets his happily-ever-after in A Date at the Altar. For those of you who have been following this series since the beginning, I think this particular story will make you very, very happy. And possibly swoon.
First I should caution that this is one of those times where it would be best to read a series in sequential order. It will make this installment much more interesting and you will understand what the duke went through in order to find a wife. (Poor guy) I think Cathy Maxwell found the perfect match for Baynton in Sarah. At first, I wasn’t sure how she would make their romance work, but the progression of their relationship–from antagonistic acquaintances to lovers–seemed genuine and true. And it turned out to be oh so very sweet, as well.
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Original Notes:
The Duke of Baynton finally--finally!--found his love match in A Date at the Altar. After reading the two previous books in this series, it was nice to see things (eventually) work out for his Grace this time around. I'll admit I was a bit surprised by Sarah's harsh background and how bleak her life seemed when this story began, as well as how lonely and unhappy Baynton was. I thought they made a nice couple. They had interesting chemistry from the first time they met in book two, so this pushed the envelope a bit further and showed how their opposing views and different personalities could mesh well after all. Full review to come.
First I should caution that this is one of those times where it would be best to read a series in sequential order. It will make this installment much more interesting and you will understand what the duke went through in order to find a wife. (Poor guy) I think Cathy Maxwell found the perfect match for Baynton in Sarah. At first, I wasn’t sure how she would make their romance work, but the progression of their relationship–from antagonistic acquaintances to lovers–seemed genuine and true. And it turned out to be oh so very sweet, as well.
Read More
_____________________________
Original Notes:
The Duke of Baynton finally--finally!--found his love match in A Date at the Altar. After reading the two previous books in this series, it was nice to see things (eventually) work out for his Grace this time around. I'll admit I was a bit surprised by Sarah's harsh background and how bleak her life seemed when this story began, as well as how lonely and unhappy Baynton was. I thought they made a nice couple. They had interesting chemistry from the first time they met in book two, so this pushed the envelope a bit further and showed how their opposing views and different personalities could mesh well after all. Full review to come.
The previous two books in the series were something of a mixed bag for me, with the first book being wonderful and the second being something of a disappointment, but this one is definitely pretty good, with the flaws being more due to small things than any major flaws in pacing or character development.
Gavin, who I really did not like in the last book, proves much more sympathetic in his own book, as we learn even more about him and the factors that shaped his life, which were only alluded to in the prior books. And the development of his relationship with Sarah feels realistic, so we know it is much more than about him having “needs,” and her essentially being property that could be disposed of, the way her mother was.
As for the flaws: despite the fact that the nature of Gavin and Sarah’s relationship changed, I really wanted there to be at least a moment where he recouped her losses from the theater managers. But the second best thing was what did happen between Gavin and Rov in the theater, so I guess I’m not too torn up about it.
But the slightly more annoying thing that I did wonder, especially as the story reached its conclusion, was regarding the succession. The story states that Ben is the heir, and if not, it will be his son (in effect, fulfilling the prophecy that was first mentioned in the first book). But I was under the impression that since Jack had been publicly recognized as not being dead in the previous book, he was still the heir, even though he was in another country? Noble titles aren’t something you can abdicate or be disowned from, to my knowledge, so unless he’s legally declared dead, wouldn’t he still be the heir? And being in another country does not keep you from inheriting a title, I would think.
Gavin, who I really did not like in the last book, proves much more sympathetic in his own book, as we learn even more about him and the factors that shaped his life, which were only alluded to in the prior books. And the development of his relationship with Sarah feels realistic, so we know it is much more than about him having “needs,” and her essentially being property that could be disposed of, the way her mother was.
As for the flaws: despite the fact that the nature of Gavin and Sarah’s relationship changed, I really wanted there to be at least a moment where he recouped her losses from the theater managers. But the second best thing was what did happen between Gavin and Rov in the theater, so I guess I’m not too torn up about it.
But the slightly more annoying thing that I did wonder, especially as the story reached its conclusion, was regarding the succession. The story states that Ben is the heir, and if not, it will be his son (in effect, fulfilling the prophecy that was first mentioned in the first book). But I was under the impression that since Jack had been publicly recognized as not being dead in the previous book, he was still the heir, even though he was in another country? Noble titles aren’t something you can abdicate or be disowned from, to my knowledge, so unless he’s legally declared dead, wouldn’t he still be the heir? And being in another country does not keep you from inheriting a title, I would think.