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jackiehorne's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 I've been unimpressed with Hunter's latest regencies, and this one struck me as weaker than the others in this current series. The blackmail plot that brings the hero and heroine together struck me as rather ridiculous--would a halfway intelligent woman truly believe she could be accused of being a spy based on something she'd written as part of a novel? This feeling was exacerbated by the fact that the heroine doesn't seem to take her blackmailer very seriously, or feel very threatened or in danger from him. It all seemed just a ploy for her to need money, and to take up the dare of the man she hates in order to get it. And of course her reasons for hating him are all wrong, and her love for another man are all based on false impressions. And she's fairly passive in her resistance to the blackmail. All which made me find her far too close to the TSTL heroine to make for a compelling read. And she gambles, but only because she's bored, AND because she wants to get back at a man who cheated her friend. AND she donates her winnings to charity. Ties in to the false impressions theme, but also made me feel she was too good to be true.
jbeen21's review against another edition
3.0
Thanks to the Goodreads First Reads giveaway program for a copy of “The Accidental Duchess” by Madeline Hunter.
This Regency romance follows young Lady Lydia Alfreton as she visits gambling tables, is blackmailed for a scandalous manuscript she’s written, and eludes a kidnapper. The culmination of these poor choices results in her marriage to her childhood acquaintance, the Duke of Penthurst; it is an initially undesirable union for both of them.
While I appreciated the headstrong and independent nature of Lydia, her behavior is so continually immature that it makes her an unlikable and unsympathetic protagonist. Likewise, her eventual love-interest, the Duke, has few memorable character qualities, although I did enjoy his visits into the countryside to work off his frustrations on the local soil. I also liked the dialogue and the endearing friendship shared by Lydia and her maid, Sarah.
Overall, I found the romance between Lydia and the Duke to be very lackluster, both in and out of bed. The back story about the duel-gone-wrong also played too much into the present story; I cared little about a dead character and his past intentions. While the language and dialogue was nicely-executed by Hunter, the story was average, the characters unremarkable.
This Regency romance follows young Lady Lydia Alfreton as she visits gambling tables, is blackmailed for a scandalous manuscript she’s written, and eludes a kidnapper. The culmination of these poor choices results in her marriage to her childhood acquaintance, the Duke of Penthurst; it is an initially undesirable union for both of them.
While I appreciated the headstrong and independent nature of Lydia, her behavior is so continually immature that it makes her an unlikable and unsympathetic protagonist. Likewise, her eventual love-interest, the Duke, has few memorable character qualities, although I did enjoy his visits into the countryside to work off his frustrations on the local soil. I also liked the dialogue and the endearing friendship shared by Lydia and her maid, Sarah.
Overall, I found the romance between Lydia and the Duke to be very lackluster, both in and out of bed. The back story about the duel-gone-wrong also played too much into the present story; I cared little about a dead character and his past intentions. While the language and dialogue was nicely-executed by Hunter, the story was average, the characters unremarkable.
tessisreading2's review against another edition
3.0
I've really been enjoying this series, which I read mostly out of order. While there is a near-constant presence of previous heroes and heroines, they each retain their own personalities, quirks, and behaviors; the glimpses we have of their relationships, post-marriage, are satisfyingly pleasant but not obnoxiously and unbelievably saccharine. This particular book isn't one of my favorite entries in the series but it was a nice read, as usual. The plot device to propel matters forward - the reason for Lydia's being blackmailed - was just silly, which really colored my opinion of the whole blackmail plot. I really liked the reason for Lydia's behavior earlier in the series, though; That said,
Spoiler
she was childishly infatuated with Lakewood, who had been killed. Lydia was just practical enough to realize that perhaps he had not reciprocated, while being romantic enough that she still cared about him.Spoiler
spying for the French? Really? Again, I thought the revelation that the reason for the duel was Lakewood's selling of commissions was great, but the addition of spying was just over the top. I really liked that throughout the series Hunter avoided tarring Lakewood with too black a brush: it's always annoying when you're given a hero who is intelligent, powerful, noble, etc., and he's then given a best friend who is an irredeemable louse, and we're supposed to swallow that this amazingly intelligent and perceptive hero never noticed a thing. Lakewood did some terrible things, but at the same time, he was not a horrible human being altogether - he compromised Cassandra but he believed himself to be in love with her and he didn't physically abuse her. (I know, faint praise, but this is the early nineteenth century we're discussing, and a romance novel - a lot of authors take the easy out.) He was romantic with Lydia but he didn't compromise her in any real way. Then, towards the end, it's as though Hunter decided that this was leaving things too ambiguous for us to understand that the hero was totally in the right, so she added in Lakewood's Deep Dark REALLY Terrible Secret.rachelini's review against another edition
2.0
Not the best. The heroine made some very stupid decisions (or had to advance too many convenient plot points). Although it made me interested enough in the secondary characters to try the earlier books in the series.
soulkissed2003's review against another edition
4.0
Lady Lydia Alfreton is a young lady who likes her independence, and to her brother's dismay, gambling halls. It's quite the scandal, even though she usually wins! Still, her brother is desperate to marry her off to the first eligible bachelor who will put up with her headstrong ways. Lydia is having none of it.
Yet one day, Lydia finds herself in a predicament. A blackmailer produces some notes she took on some ships docked at England's shore. The details were fodder for a story she was working on, one she had all but forgotten as she felt it wasn't very good. Still, in a time of unease between England and France, those papers could make some conclude that she was acting as a spy! Seeing little way out but to pay, Lydia strikes a bold bargain with her brother's friend, the Duke of Penthurst. She bets the taking of her innocence in exchange for the money she'll need to pay off the nasty blackmailer. And this time, she loses the hand of cards!
How will she get out of this mess? I enjoyed the plot twists in this romance story; there were several good surprises and the story line kept me guessing throughout the novel. I loved Lydia's fierce self-confidence and contentment in her own skin. Penthurst is a complex character, hard to figure out; this only makes the story richer. The love scenes were vivid and passionate.
The book was published in June 2013 and is the last in a quartet of books sharing some mutual characters. It is a Jove Historical Romance through Penguin Books. ISBN #978-0-515-15131-2. Suggested retail price for the paperback edition is $7.99 in the US or $9.99 in Canada. Fans of historical romance will enjoy this selection.
Yet one day, Lydia finds herself in a predicament. A blackmailer produces some notes she took on some ships docked at England's shore. The details were fodder for a story she was working on, one she had all but forgotten as she felt it wasn't very good. Still, in a time of unease between England and France, those papers could make some conclude that she was acting as a spy! Seeing little way out but to pay, Lydia strikes a bold bargain with her brother's friend, the Duke of Penthurst. She bets the taking of her innocence in exchange for the money she'll need to pay off the nasty blackmailer. And this time, she loses the hand of cards!
How will she get out of this mess? I enjoyed the plot twists in this romance story; there were several good surprises and the story line kept me guessing throughout the novel. I loved Lydia's fierce self-confidence and contentment in her own skin. Penthurst is a complex character, hard to figure out; this only makes the story richer. The love scenes were vivid and passionate.
The book was published in June 2013 and is the last in a quartet of books sharing some mutual characters. It is a Jove Historical Romance through Penguin Books. ISBN #978-0-515-15131-2. Suggested retail price for the paperback edition is $7.99 in the US or $9.99 in Canada. Fans of historical romance will enjoy this selection.
dilliam's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
ajenkins979's review against another edition
5.0
OMG I can't believe I didn't write up a review for this right away.
I did find this book just a great as all of Madeline Hunter's work. I was thrilled to be chosen to receive an ARC of this book.
Lady Lydia is just very headstrong, and wishes to be completely independant. So much so, that when she finds herself in deep trouble she refuses to ask for help, going so far as to sneaking around trying to fix the situation. Which as you can imagine, just makes matters worse.
Penthurst, well he seems at first like a stick in the mud or a snob for sure. But we see how he truly cares about others and tries to help Lady Lydia.
I do understand the frustration Lydia must have felt, wanting to be "free", having some freedom but just not completely. Although, I understand why she felt the need to try to fix her own problems, but when her Blackmailer kept changing things up, I don't understand why she didn't go to someone then.
This is book 4 in the series, but I only read book 1 before this. I was not completely thrown off balance with what is going on or had happened. So I think its safe to say that you don't have to read the whole series before this one, but it would help to piece together the little details. I know I will eventually get to book 2 & 3.
I did find this book just a great as all of Madeline Hunter's work. I was thrilled to be chosen to receive an ARC of this book.
Lady Lydia is just very headstrong, and wishes to be completely independant. So much so, that when she finds herself in deep trouble she refuses to ask for help, going so far as to sneaking around trying to fix the situation. Which as you can imagine, just makes matters worse.
Penthurst, well he seems at first like a stick in the mud or a snob for sure. But we see how he truly cares about others and tries to help Lady Lydia.
I do understand the frustration Lydia must have felt, wanting to be "free", having some freedom but just not completely. Although, I understand why she felt the need to try to fix her own problems, but when her Blackmailer kept changing things up, I don't understand why she didn't go to someone then.
This is book 4 in the series, but I only read book 1 before this. I was not completely thrown off balance with what is going on or had happened. So I think its safe to say that you don't have to read the whole series before this one, but it would help to piece together the little details. I know I will eventually get to book 2 & 3.
ssejig's review against another edition
4.0
Lady Lydia Thornton has been through a lot in this series. Her brother got married and she's been looked at strangely because of her gambling habits. And she experienced the loss of a friend when Lakewood was killed in a duel with the Duke of Penthurst. Now, she's being blackmailed over a novel (journal?) she wrote when she was younger.
Clayton Galbraith, Duke of Penthurst, has always known Lydia. In fact, before he put his foot down, they were supposed to be married (childhood engagement). But he knows that, while she is a little outre, she's not going to do anything to seriously damage her own reputation or her family's. Which is why it's such a shock to see her sneaking out of a gambling hall with a single man. He interrupts Lydia at a very tenuous negotiation point and seems to do it over and over. Never on purpose, but he does seem to barge in at all the wrong moments. That and his unceasing good luck leaves her in his debt. Big time.
Somehow, between her headstrong nature and his need to control, these two will struggle, but ultimately find their HEA.
I quite enjoyed Lydia's character. She was trying to carve out as much of a life for herself as was possible in the close strictures of her time period.
Clayton Galbraith, Duke of Penthurst, has always known Lydia. In fact, before he put his foot down, they were supposed to be married (childhood engagement). But he knows that, while she is a little outre, she's not going to do anything to seriously damage her own reputation or her family's. Which is why it's such a shock to see her sneaking out of a gambling hall with a single man. He interrupts Lydia at a very tenuous negotiation point and seems to do it over and over. Never on purpose, but he does seem to barge in at all the wrong moments. That and his unceasing good luck leaves her in his debt. Big time.
Somehow, between her headstrong nature and his need to control, these two will struggle, but ultimately find their HEA.
I quite enjoyed Lydia's character. She was trying to carve out as much of a life for herself as was possible in the close strictures of her time period.
Spoiler
Should Lydia have been more upset with Penthurst and not quite so willing to forgive (it seemed awfully fast). I don't know. I was sort of bothered by that fact but she also seemed to instinctively know that Lakewood wasn't all that he appeared. Also, I think she takes a cue from her brother. He forgave so there's some indication she should as well. It's a little "He's got the magic wang so I must believe in him" but it's really more of a reasoned thought process.kenzigrl's review against another edition
5.0
Clayton and Lydia story is certainly unconventional but I love it.