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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
5+ stars!
It's been a while since I've had a 5+ star rating but this was definitely deserving!!
The (surprisingly mature) angst, the characters, the plot, I loved everything. Merry was sweet and naive but also very strong. I think she underestimates herself and what she's capable of and ca[able of feeling.
Trent was the perfect stubborn (non)gentleman. He was so wonderfully possessive and strong.
Obviously you could see everything coming from a mile away, but I think it's a testament to Eloisa James' writing that the journey was amazing. So many butterflies and feels....
It's been a while since I've had a 5+ star rating but this was definitely deserving!!
The (surprisingly mature) angst, the characters, the plot, I loved everything. Merry was sweet and naive but also very strong. I think she underestimates herself and what she's capable of and ca[able of feeling.
Trent was the perfect stubborn (non)gentleman. He was so wonderfully possessive and strong.
Obviously you could see everything coming from a mile away, but I think it's a testament to Eloisa James' writing that the journey was amazing. So many butterflies and feels....
A cute book, I always like a love story with an American and a British character. There were some parts, the middle especially when a groom-swap is done, that was never really fully explained. You get it from the perspective of Merry, but it's never explained how Trent actually gets there. It is, but it's very vague; while I understand this was a way to get to the second half of the story quicker, It could have been done with a little more explaining of how events lead into each other. It felt like "pouf problem solved!" Which is pretty rare for this author, who keeps her characters so well grounded. I think I just wanted Merry to have a little more interest in the events that lead to her not having to marry a terrible guy, after she resigns her fate to being miserable. Too easily, that switch is flipped from dread to "oh this will work! I'm not really going to question the logistics." That said I did enjoy the book overall, it was cute and light, and who knew rented pineapples were real and as a result hilarious?
This book reminds me of two better books and I would recommend them over this. The two books are The Match of the Century by Cathy Maxwell (two aristocratic brothers in love/engaged to one girl) and It happened one Autumn by Lisa Kleypas (American heiress winning over an English aristocrat with a major title). Please read those other books instead of this one.
That being said, I will read the Wildes of Lindow Castle series by this author because they are supposed to be good.
That being said, I will read the Wildes of Lindow Castle series by this author because they are supposed to be good.
As an American married to an Englishman, I really enjoyed this book and felt like I could relate to the heroines many attempts to try to fit into her newfound English society as much as she could while also still remaining proud of her roots, her heritage, and her own country. The hero was intriguing and sexy, and their chemistry was believable.
Merry Pelford is something of a Runaway Bride type, but with more reasons than just being flighty. Instead, she might be construed as having fickle tastes. After fancying herself in love with men and securing marriage proposals, she soon discovers that the intended groom is not all she thought he was and thus, she breaks the engagement. Having done this twice in America, she opens the novel in England where she finds herself once again engaged to a titled Englishman. Shortly thereafter, she meets an intriguing man clad in all black--a man, as it turns out, that happens to be her future brother-in-law.
The Duke of Trent (who has a long line of proper names befitting a man of his station and stature in old school English society) is also curious about the American who doesn't seem like any of the other women whom he'd met before. In fact, he's so taken with her that he intends to marry her! Except she's already agreed to marry his twin brother--let's clarify this. It's his younger twin brother, who begrudges him his birthright which granted him the whole of the estate, the duchy, and the money and responsibility that comes with it.
This setup is really rather interesting and I was quite happy to follow along with the tale to see just how would the Duke of Trent resist his impulses, not take what his brother Cedric would be sure to see as yet one more thing he was entitled to being taken from him, and ultimately get what he wanted. The answer turns out to be a little simpler than I had expected--Cedric, who was just after Merry's money anyway, simply relinquishes his claim to the bride after all (despite the strong sentiments he expressed that he would do no such thing).
How? Why? It's not really discussed. It just is. So, Cedric sets off for the Bahamas and Trent stands in his brothers place when the much-pushed-for wedding actually occurs.
The last half of the book then focuses on overcoming the internal conflicts of the hero/heroine and having them fall in love with each other more deeply (because they were clearly interested in each other from the outset).
That's not exactly a criticism because I thoroughly enjoyed the book on the basis of the strong writing, engaging characters, and interesting setup. However, it was something of a curiosity to find that the book didn't quite follow the normal/traditional romance conventions and didn't quite blur the lines between overcoming both internal/external conflict simultaneously. I kept waiting for Cedric to return--furious at having been shipped out, maybe against his will! I kept waiting for the heroine to get frustrated with something and run back to Boston where the hero would then follow her--but no, this didn't happen either. Instead, the black moment seemed to be centered around Trent wondering if his wife had stopped loving him (after she has a small accident a little memory loss) and him trying to figure out how to get her to fall in love with him again.
Hmm. Different, definitely. But maybe that's why I liked it so much?
It's clear the Eloisa has done much research, and I felt that this added some truly lovely moments and scenes in the book. In particular, the party with the pineapple, the concept of a pineapple stove/rented centerpieces was really interesting. These periphery moments added to the flair and the overall appeal.
I'd recommend this book highly because it's entertaining, but I would caution some readers that the plot does seem to get resolved halfway through (perhaps because this story was intended to be shorter in the first place). Still a fun read.
Merry Pelford is something of a Runaway Bride type, but with more reasons than just being flighty. Instead, she might be construed as having fickle tastes. After fancying herself in love with men and securing marriage proposals, she soon discovers that the intended groom is not all she thought he was and thus, she breaks the engagement. Having done this twice in America, she opens the novel in England where she finds herself once again engaged to a titled Englishman. Shortly thereafter, she meets an intriguing man clad in all black--a man, as it turns out, that happens to be her future brother-in-law.
The Duke of Trent (who has a long line of proper names befitting a man of his station and stature in old school English society) is also curious about the American who doesn't seem like any of the other women whom he'd met before. In fact, he's so taken with her that he intends to marry her! Except she's already agreed to marry his twin brother--let's clarify this. It's his younger twin brother, who begrudges him his birthright which granted him the whole of the estate, the duchy, and the money and responsibility that comes with it.
This setup is really rather interesting and I was quite happy to follow along with the tale to see just how would the Duke of Trent resist his impulses, not take what his brother Cedric would be sure to see as yet one more thing he was entitled to being taken from him, and ultimately get what he wanted. The answer turns out to be a little simpler than I had expected--Cedric, who was just after Merry's money anyway, simply relinquishes his claim to the bride after all (despite the strong sentiments he expressed that he would do no such thing).
How? Why? It's not really discussed. It just is. So, Cedric sets off for the Bahamas and Trent stands in his brothers place when the much-pushed-for wedding actually occurs.
The last half of the book then focuses on overcoming the internal conflicts of the hero/heroine and having them fall in love with each other more deeply (because they were clearly interested in each other from the outset).
That's not exactly a criticism because I thoroughly enjoyed the book on the basis of the strong writing, engaging characters, and interesting setup. However, it was something of a curiosity to find that the book didn't quite follow the normal/traditional romance conventions and didn't quite blur the lines between overcoming both internal/external conflict simultaneously. I kept waiting for Cedric to return--furious at having been shipped out, maybe against his will! I kept waiting for the heroine to get frustrated with something and run back to Boston where the hero would then follow her--but no, this didn't happen either. Instead, the black moment seemed to be centered around Trent wondering if his wife had stopped loving him (after she has a small accident a little memory loss) and him trying to figure out how to get her to fall in love with him again.
Hmm. Different, definitely. But maybe that's why I liked it so much?
It's clear the Eloisa has done much research, and I felt that this added some truly lovely moments and scenes in the book. In particular, the party with the pineapple, the concept of a pineapple stove/rented centerpieces was really interesting. These periphery moments added to the flair and the overall appeal.
I'd recommend this book highly because it's entertaining, but I would caution some readers that the plot does seem to get resolved halfway through (perhaps because this story was intended to be shorter in the first place). Still a fun read.
You can never go wrong with an Eloisa James novel. It lightens the load and heart between serious topics.
Love meant you wanted the other person’s happiness more than your own. If you loved a person, you made yourself better.
This book had a lot of random plots tied up quickly.
Merry is an American heiress who came to England with her aunt and uncle after two failed engagements in America. Her reputation is nearly destroyed for being fickle. She meets Cedric and falls for him quickly.
She meets the Duke of Trent at a ball. Sparks fly between them. She has no idea he’s a Duke, he finds her refreshing and charming in her quirky American ways. And then he finds out she’s engaged to his brother.
So the first half of the book is a lot of angst. Merry quickly realizes she’s fallen for the wrong brother. Trent realizes he loves his future sister in law but she’s really Cedric’s best chance of turning his life around (Cedric has a drinking problem). Merry is trying to be the perfect fiancé to Cedric and fit into British society, but she finds the rules constraining.
In the back of his mind, Trent couldn’t believe that he was having to argue with a woman about the merits of being a duchess. He’d known from the time he was twelve years old that he was one of the most desirable men in England. But that was the point, wasn’t it? He had decided to marry an American woman because she overlooked his title for his own merits. He just never thought that his merits might not be enough.
It all comes to a head at a ball where Cedric is drunk and rude to Merry, and she calls out the fact that her uncle paid off his debts when they got engaged. In front of a lot of people. She runs off, Trent goes after her. Merry realizes her engagement is over. Trent is relieved, he wants to marry her. Cedric refuses to release her from her engagement.
Merry is miserable. Cedric is a fortune hunter second son, and needs her money. So she reluctantly decides to go through with the wedding.
Her veil is so thick she doesn’t realize until it’s lifted that Trent is the one at the alter, not her.
I was all about this book until this point. Because I mean really, she didn’t see him because the veil was too thick? But she didn’t recognize his voice? That’s a lot of disbelief to suspend.
Cedric has been neatly sent off to the Bahamas, Merry and Trent are married.
There’s still 40% of the book to go.
The second half of the book deals with their marriage. I normally like this - marriage is hard and I love stories with married couples. Merry and Trent fall in lust very quickly, love not so much. They are both clearly in love with each other, but when Merry figures this out she tells Trent. He thinks it’s her fickleness and is so condescending to her.
It’s all resolved after a fall down the stairs gives Merry amnesia, Trent realizes what he’s missed out on.
Oh and Cedric wasn’t the complete jerk we thought he was.
The end.
I liked the first half of the book. The dog George was hilarious. But it felt like two books mashed into one. Still it was an enjoyable read.
Love—true love—was something that came quietly in the night, like a thief who stole your heart.
This book had a lot of random plots tied up quickly.
Merry is an American heiress who came to England with her aunt and uncle after two failed engagements in America. Her reputation is nearly destroyed for being fickle. She meets Cedric and falls for him quickly.
She meets the Duke of Trent at a ball. Sparks fly between them. She has no idea he’s a Duke, he finds her refreshing and charming in her quirky American ways. And then he finds out she’s engaged to his brother.
So the first half of the book is a lot of angst. Merry quickly realizes she’s fallen for the wrong brother. Trent realizes he loves his future sister in law but she’s really Cedric’s best chance of turning his life around (Cedric has a drinking problem). Merry is trying to be the perfect fiancé to Cedric and fit into British society, but she finds the rules constraining.
In the back of his mind, Trent couldn’t believe that he was having to argue with a woman about the merits of being a duchess. He’d known from the time he was twelve years old that he was one of the most desirable men in England. But that was the point, wasn’t it? He had decided to marry an American woman because she overlooked his title for his own merits. He just never thought that his merits might not be enough.
It all comes to a head at a ball where Cedric is drunk and rude to Merry, and she calls out the fact that her uncle paid off his debts when they got engaged. In front of a lot of people. She runs off, Trent goes after her. Merry realizes her engagement is over. Trent is relieved, he wants to marry her. Cedric refuses to release her from her engagement.
Merry is miserable. Cedric is a fortune hunter second son, and needs her money. So she reluctantly decides to go through with the wedding.
Her veil is so thick she doesn’t realize until it’s lifted that Trent is the one at the alter, not her.
I was all about this book until this point. Because I mean really, she didn’t see him because the veil was too thick? But she didn’t recognize his voice? That’s a lot of disbelief to suspend.
Cedric has been neatly sent off to the Bahamas, Merry and Trent are married.
There’s still 40% of the book to go.
The second half of the book deals with their marriage. I normally like this - marriage is hard and I love stories with married couples. Merry and Trent fall in lust very quickly, love not so much. They are both clearly in love with each other, but when Merry figures this out she tells Trent. He thinks it’s her fickleness and is so condescending to her.
It’s all resolved after a fall down the stairs gives Merry amnesia, Trent realizes what he’s missed out on.
Oh and Cedric wasn’t the complete jerk we thought he was.
The end.
I liked the first half of the book. The dog George was hilarious. But it felt like two books mashed into one. Still it was an enjoyable read.
Love—true love—was something that came quietly in the night, like a thief who stole your heart.
2 stars for the first half of the book. 4 stars for the 2nd half. It was a slog until they got married, after that I really enjoyed it.
After two failed engagements Merry is determined to make number three work for her. At least until she meets her fiancé's brother, the Duke of Trent. Not knowing that Trent is a Duke she and her American ways treat Trent differently than he's used to and he's fascinated. Until he discovers who she is engaged to. He and his twin brother have been in a silent battle for years, one predominately lead by his brother, but Trent will do as little as he can to fan the flames. But he can't help the growing feelings he has for Merry. When engagement number three ends she's ready to hop the next boat back to Boston and Trent is not about to let that happen. He's ready to offer her marriage, friendship, but never love. Can Merry find happiness in a marriage that does not give her the love she craves? Loved the story, love the banter between Merry and Trent. Great read!
Lovely! I always wanted more American heiresses in regencies beyond Kleypas' wallflower quartet.
ETA: I've sat on this on for a bit.
What I liked: Merry! She's very much her own woman and honest about her faults. I liked Trent, but not nearly as much as Merry. I'm excited to see the inevitable sequel about Trent's brother, whose story, I think, has much more potential for a meaty novel than this one.
What I didn't like: the way Merry and Trent end up together is just too pat, it didn't seem realistic (shut up I know it's a romance but I want some realism). Trent must be a HUGE downer around his married friends if he's convinced love is bad.
Overall, I still really enjoyed this and will be happy to suggest it to folks, especially people who love both Downton and romance.
I received an advance copy from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
ETA: I've sat on this on for a bit.
What I liked: Merry! She's very much her own woman and honest about her faults. I liked Trent, but not nearly as much as Merry. I'm excited to see the inevitable sequel about Trent's brother, whose story, I think, has much more potential for a meaty novel than this one.
What I didn't like: the way Merry and Trent end up together is just too pat, it didn't seem realistic (shut up I know it's a romance but I want some realism). Trent must be a HUGE downer around his married friends if he's convinced love is bad.
Overall, I still really enjoyed this and will be happy to suggest it to folks, especially people who love both Downton and romance.
I received an advance copy from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
Merry is in London to find a husband after breaking 2 previous engagements but immediately after finding her third fiancée she meets a stranger on the balcony who she is instantly attracted to. She finds out shortly after that he is her latest fiancée's twin brother.
Trent decides after one conversation with the witty American woman that he wants to marry her, only to find out that she is the woman his brother told him he was proposing to. The relationship between the twins is contentious at best and Cedric is a drunkard(which Merry does not know).
You get to experience all the emotions with Merry as she begins to doubt her ability to pick good men and then she falls in love with her husband who wants nothing to do with the emotion and various other fits and starts through out the story. Really enjoyed this.
Trent decides after one conversation with the witty American woman that he wants to marry her, only to find out that she is the woman his brother told him he was proposing to. The relationship between the twins is contentious at best and Cedric is a drunkard(which Merry does not know).
You get to experience all the emotions with Merry as she begins to doubt her ability to pick good men and then she falls in love with her husband who wants nothing to do with the emotion and various other fits and starts through out the story. Really enjoyed this.