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pyiab's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
balletbookworm's review
2.0
It takes a long time to get started. The introduction of a set of atrocious "Nanny" whatevers (Lord Langley's ex-mistresses who are all titled Continentals) just about killed the book in the first fifty pages. Then there is the not-dead Lord Langley and his amnesia/the rumor that he committed treason. Then there is the Minerva's secret subplot which was unnecessary considering that no one really cared in the end. Then some odd subplot involving Minerva's aunt's husband. By the time everything was explained/put into place we were near the end of the book and it seemed perhaps only a week had passed (romance novels often have implausible timelines but this one really felt rushed). I hadn't read the previous books in the Bachelor Chronicles (wasn't needed since there was a lovely family tree and enough exposition to fill in the blanks) and I'm not of a mind to now.
greenldydragon's review
3.0
The writing felt a little forced and the plot was similar to other romance novels I've read, but it was still an entertaining read.
33p3barpercent's review
2.0
A bit boring, to tell the truth. I didn't like the Heroine (bit too uptight), and the Hero's rakishness wasn't anything new to keep me interested. The Heroine has a great backstory/complication for her present that I felt Elizabeth Boyle didn't do enough with. I would have liked the entire book to be about that.
Spoiler
She's actually illegitimate. Her sister ran away with her regular-person betrothed, so her father shoved the Heroine up the aisle to the nobleman under a different name. Now, she's being blackmailed by her regular-person brother-in-law because she stopped sending money because she was cut off. Now the brother-in-law is threatening her and holding a marriage license that says they're married. INTERESTING! right?witandsin's review
3.0
My review originally posted on Joyfully Reviewed: http://www.joyfullyreviewed.com/new-reviews/lord-langley-is-back-in-town-by-elizabeth-boyle
All of London believes Lord Langley to be dead…and a good number think he might be a traitor as well. Neither is true, though someone has done their level best to kill Langley and frame him for treason. Having escaped a French prison, Langley is back in Town, ready to clear his name and reclaim his life. To do that, he needs a level of respectability, and how better to attain it than to arrange an engagement to one of society’s most proper widows? Minerva Sterling suits his needs perfectly – especially since they happen to be living in the same house. Too bad he can only get her to agree to a faux engagement. Still, to Langley’s delight, the beautiful widow isn’t quite as staid as her façade presents. But how can the rakish Langley convince Minerva to take a chance on him when he’s targeted by a ruthless killer and a house full of ex-mistresses?
A charming rake falling for a respectable lady is hardly a new plot device, but Elizabeth Boyle makes it feel fresh in Lord Langley Is Back in Town. I was utterly charmed by the pairing of Minerva and Langley, for the two just seemed to click in a wonderful way. The slow-burn of their romance kept me eagerly turning the pages of Lord Langley Is Back in Town. I will admit, however, that it took me a while to get to the point where Minerva and Langley were the dominating forces in the book, so Lord Langley Is Back in Town was a bit of a slow starter for me. Minerva and Langley’s story is hindered by an abundance of loud characters, most of whom are former mistresses of Langley’s who, for some reason, Minerva can’t seem to kick out of her house. I admit to having to take a few leaps of logic in this area, but since I generally enjoy Ms. Boyle’s books, I was willing to do so.
Lord Langley Is Back in Town is the third book in Ms. Boyle’s Standon Widows trilogy, which is a subset of her Bachelor Chronicles series (of which this book is number eight). Having not read the other two Standon Widows books (How I Met My Countess and Mad About the Duke), I did feel like I was missing something. And oddly enough, with the plethora of Bachelor Chronicles characters that appear in this book, Langley’s daughters are relegated to only a few pages, though Felicity (of Love Letters from a Duke) is frequently mentioned. I will concede that my disappointment in this area likely stems from the fact that Langley’s daughter Tally (of Confessions of a Little Black Gown) is my favorite heroine of Ms. Boyle’s, so I felt her absence more keenly than I would had I not read her book.
Lord Langley Is Back in Town is a solidly entertaining read, if one doesn’t try to pick it apart and examine it too closely. It’s not the best book by Ms. Boyle, but Minerva and Langley are a charming couple nonetheless and I was happy to see them so well matched with one another.
All of London believes Lord Langley to be dead…and a good number think he might be a traitor as well. Neither is true, though someone has done their level best to kill Langley and frame him for treason. Having escaped a French prison, Langley is back in Town, ready to clear his name and reclaim his life. To do that, he needs a level of respectability, and how better to attain it than to arrange an engagement to one of society’s most proper widows? Minerva Sterling suits his needs perfectly – especially since they happen to be living in the same house. Too bad he can only get her to agree to a faux engagement. Still, to Langley’s delight, the beautiful widow isn’t quite as staid as her façade presents. But how can the rakish Langley convince Minerva to take a chance on him when he’s targeted by a ruthless killer and a house full of ex-mistresses?
A charming rake falling for a respectable lady is hardly a new plot device, but Elizabeth Boyle makes it feel fresh in Lord Langley Is Back in Town. I was utterly charmed by the pairing of Minerva and Langley, for the two just seemed to click in a wonderful way. The slow-burn of their romance kept me eagerly turning the pages of Lord Langley Is Back in Town. I will admit, however, that it took me a while to get to the point where Minerva and Langley were the dominating forces in the book, so Lord Langley Is Back in Town was a bit of a slow starter for me. Minerva and Langley’s story is hindered by an abundance of loud characters, most of whom are former mistresses of Langley’s who, for some reason, Minerva can’t seem to kick out of her house. I admit to having to take a few leaps of logic in this area, but since I generally enjoy Ms. Boyle’s books, I was willing to do so.
Lord Langley Is Back in Town is the third book in Ms. Boyle’s Standon Widows trilogy, which is a subset of her Bachelor Chronicles series (of which this book is number eight). Having not read the other two Standon Widows books (How I Met My Countess and Mad About the Duke), I did feel like I was missing something. And oddly enough, with the plethora of Bachelor Chronicles characters that appear in this book, Langley’s daughters are relegated to only a few pages, though Felicity (of Love Letters from a Duke) is frequently mentioned. I will concede that my disappointment in this area likely stems from the fact that Langley’s daughter Tally (of Confessions of a Little Black Gown) is my favorite heroine of Ms. Boyle’s, so I felt her absence more keenly than I would had I not read her book.
Lord Langley Is Back in Town is a solidly entertaining read, if one doesn’t try to pick it apart and examine it too closely. It’s not the best book by Ms. Boyle, but Minerva and Langley are a charming couple nonetheless and I was happy to see them so well matched with one another.
shogins's review
3.0
This was fine. Minerva's back story is interesting. But yet again with this series, all the plot happens in the last few pages. I know this is a romance and not a mystery of spy thriller, but if you're going to introduce those plot elements, it's better if they're not resolved in a whirlwind.
virginiaduan's review
1.0
Dreck. Utter dreck. This is an example of me following a romance author's recommendation (Julia Quinn), only to find that surely, this must've been done solely on a self-serving basis. Because the writing is TERRIBLE. Utterly horrible. I want to gouge out my eyes and unread the last 63 pages. Truly abysmal.
ssejig's review
4.0
The last widow of the Standons is happy. Darn it. She doesn't have any money but the other two widows have married so she's got her own house. Sort of. It's just been invaded by the former lovers (aka "Nannies") of Lord Langley. Unbeknownst to Minerva, Lord Langley is there as well. He is trying to get his things out of her house when he accidentally stumbles into her chamber. When the nannies (all of whom took care of Langley's daughters at various points in their life,) try to break into the bedroom, Langley thinks fast and grabs Minerva, pretending she is his fiancee.
She goes along with it but sets up some rules. No kissing and no falling in love. She needs some protection of her own when an old flame who married her sister (but under Minerva's real name)returns to blackmail her.
Lots of stories but enjoyable.
She goes along with it but sets up some rules. No kissing and no falling in love. She needs some protection of her own when an old flame who married her sister (but under Minerva's real name)returns to blackmail her.
Lots of stories but enjoyable.
mslori's review
3.0
Cute, light and a fast read. But yet another hr romance with a spy?? How do I keep finding these?
daisy87's review
3.0
Okay, so I didn't dislike the book, but it didn't work all that well for me either. Minerva was a nice enough main character, though I thought she sometimes had a bit of too-stupid-to-live going on. But not the whole time, so I was somewhat accepting this. And Langley was odd, but well, he had been hit on the head (and no, not as a child).
Overall, I thought it was a bit unlikely. I mean, four of Langley's former mistresses storming Minerva's house and taking up residence there because they believe he will show up there after years of absence? And then when he's discovered in Minerva's bedroom, the first time they meet, he declares he came back to marry her and is actually meaning to go through with it? After 5 minutes?
I know the whole thing with historical romances is that there's usually a whirlwind romance and that can work if it's done right. But here, I just didn't believe it. In my opinion they didn't have enough moments before they decided they loved each other. There should be MOMENTS! MOMENTS that make their heart (and mine) beat faster and make them realise that maybe there's something more... And I always like a bit of gut-wrenching heartbreak. But that's just me.
Anyway, I didn't get all that. And though I did enjoy the story for what it was, it didn't really do much for me in the end. I did like that there was more to the story than just the romance. There was some mystery and Minerva and other women plotting (highly ill-advised plotting) and blackmailing going around.
My rating: 2,5 stars
Overall, I thought it was a bit unlikely. I mean, four of Langley's former mistresses storming Minerva's house and taking up residence there because they believe he will show up there after years of absence? And then when he's discovered in Minerva's bedroom, the first time they meet, he declares he came back to marry her and is actually meaning to go through with it? After 5 minutes?
I know the whole thing with historical romances is that there's usually a whirlwind romance and that can work if it's done right. But here, I just didn't believe it. In my opinion they didn't have enough moments before they decided they loved each other. There should be MOMENTS! MOMENTS that make their heart (and mine) beat faster and make them realise that maybe there's something more... And I always like a bit of gut-wrenching heartbreak. But that's just me.
Anyway, I didn't get all that. And though I did enjoy the story for what it was, it didn't really do much for me in the end. I did like that there was more to the story than just the romance. There was some mystery and Minerva and other women plotting (highly ill-advised plotting) and blackmailing going around.
My rating: 2,5 stars