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moosepathleague's review
5.0
Hit just the right tone for me at the right time. Three Light-hearted novellas seemlessly sewn together. Made me want to keep reading until I finished, even to staying up most of the night. Fun and quick.
rhrousu's review
3.0
Fun, humorous, and sweet. A bit spicy for an audiobook. Recommended for fans of light historical romance.
transientmeow's review against another edition
4.0
[Original review, 2013] Read this in a couple hours!! Very fun read - had me laughing out loud. Each couple's story did have a slightly different tone, but overall it was very seamless. My favorite lady was Catriona for sure, and I kind of liked Taran a lot by the end!
tammyhai's review
3.0
I usually read a fluffy book in between heavier reads and Julia Quinn romances are definitely a guilty pleasure. However I just read the first in this series of collaboration with Quinn, Eloisa James, and Connie Brockway so I felt like I needed to continue.
Similar to how I felt about the first, the three stories felt rushed and a bit disjointed. I liked this one less, the characters didn't feel as well planned out and their personalities and mannerisms changed depending on who was writing. It was irksome but didn't take away too much from the book but it definitely was less charming than the first
Similar to how I felt about the first, the three stories felt rushed and a bit disjointed. I liked this one less, the characters didn't feel as well planned out and their personalities and mannerisms changed depending on who was writing. It was irksome but didn't take away too much from the book but it definitely was less charming than the first
ninjess26's review
4.0
All three parts of the book were great. Even though I expected it, the epilogue was a bit gross. I don't need to hear about 20 year old women marrying 50+ year old men, even if it WAS common at the time.
caffeinatedreviewer's review
4.0
The Lady Most Willing was a unique anthology style historical romance where there are three romances entwined in one tale and composed by three different authors. Set in 1819, Scotland at Finovair Castle; complete with men in kilts, this romantic tale was delightful, with just enough heat to keep you warm. This is the second book in the Lady Most series, but each can be read as a standalone and offer the same unique writing style.
The Comte De Rocheforte and his cousin the Earl of Oakley have come to their Uncle’s cold and drafty castle in Scotland to celebrate the holiday. Their Uncle Taran Ferguson is worried there will be no one to carry on his family’s line, if his two nephews do not marry and begin producing heirs post haste. On the eve of a horrific snow storm, he is drunk and comes up with an idea. A very clever idea and so he and his merry men crash a ball at the Bellemere Castle and snag four; single, rich, Scotswomen for his nephews to choose from as their brides! They unknowingly throw them into the carriage of the Duke of Bretton, who is sleeping one off inside. They travel quickly back to the castle, barely making it as the snowstorm closes the pass to his castle. The tale that unfolds was hilarious, sweet and filled with fascinating characters as they find themselves trapped for days as a winter storm rages outside.
The cast was delightful and the authors did an excellent job of fleshing them out. Each had a unique personality, a little back history and I easily formed opinions about them all. Each of the romances while taking place over a five to seven day window still managed to feel genuine. Maybe there was something in the air or water near this drafty old Scotland castle?
What a fun plot and I loved how the three romances smoothly transitioned within the tale. The authors did a wonderful job of collaborating. I loved the setting; I mean who does not want to spend time in a drafty, cold castle during a snowstorm with smexy men in Scotland? The different personalities made for some interesting scenes, and I adored some characters, and wanted to clock others. I enjoy it when the author(s) makes the characters real for me and that is exactly what happened in The Lady Most Willing.
I want to thank HarperCollins for providing this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review. Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer
The Comte De Rocheforte and his cousin the Earl of Oakley have come to their Uncle’s cold and drafty castle in Scotland to celebrate the holiday. Their Uncle Taran Ferguson is worried there will be no one to carry on his family’s line, if his two nephews do not marry and begin producing heirs post haste. On the eve of a horrific snow storm, he is drunk and comes up with an idea. A very clever idea and so he and his merry men crash a ball at the Bellemere Castle and snag four; single, rich, Scotswomen for his nephews to choose from as their brides! They unknowingly throw them into the carriage of the Duke of Bretton, who is sleeping one off inside. They travel quickly back to the castle, barely making it as the snowstorm closes the pass to his castle. The tale that unfolds was hilarious, sweet and filled with fascinating characters as they find themselves trapped for days as a winter storm rages outside.
The cast was delightful and the authors did an excellent job of fleshing them out. Each had a unique personality, a little back history and I easily formed opinions about them all. Each of the romances while taking place over a five to seven day window still managed to feel genuine. Maybe there was something in the air or water near this drafty old Scotland castle?
What a fun plot and I loved how the three romances smoothly transitioned within the tale. The authors did a wonderful job of collaborating. I loved the setting; I mean who does not want to spend time in a drafty, cold castle during a snowstorm with smexy men in Scotland? The different personalities made for some interesting scenes, and I adored some characters, and wanted to clock others. I enjoy it when the author(s) makes the characters real for me and that is exactly what happened in The Lady Most Willing.
I want to thank HarperCollins for providing this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review. Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer
kadie_lcd's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
golden_lilies's review
4.0
Read This Review & More Like It At Ageless Pages Reviews
I was absolutely thrilled when The Lady Most Willing’s ARC showed up on edelweiss, because I have a massive soft spot for it’s predecessor, The Lady Most Likely. Likely was the first real “romance novel” I read, and that coupled with its unique anthology style stuck with me, so I was highly anticipating a return to the three authors.
Not a traditional sequel, Willing features an all new cast of characters in an entirely different country. What ties it back to the original is the structure. Again, each author will write a third of the novel, detailing a romantic connection between two characters as a group of Scottish and English gentry are stuck together during a snowstorm. The fact that they were brought together by a kidnapping by Byron and Robin’s uncle, well that’s what brings a freshness to Willing.
Taran Ferguson has a dilemma. The Scottish Laird is a widower with no heir and his sisters had the nerve to marry an Englishman and a Frenchman, each giving him a half-Scot nephew. Taran does not feel these nephews are up to snuff, as neither of them are showing the proper Scottish attitude to inherit Finovair Castle, particularly in the matrimony department. Having drunk a bit too much, Taran hatches an ingenious scheme. He’ll raid a ball at a nearby castle and kidnap several eligible young ladies, forcing his nephews to choose one.
Unfortunately, as most schemes hatched at the bottom of a scotch bottle, Taran doesn’t quite end up with what he bargained for. He does kidnap three heiresses, (although one of them is ruined and not marriage material,) but he also ends up with Miss Catriona Burns, lovely but poor and untitled, and the Duke of Bretton. One was scooped up in all the excitement, the other was sleeping in his carriage. I’ll leave you to imagine which is which. The octet is quickly trapped in the castle by a massive snowstorm, forcing everyone together into a great big orgasmic lovefest.
As with Likely, Quinn is hamstrung by going first and again her couple falls in love and agrees to wed in about the span of an afternoon. I really must pick up some of her longer books to see if she’s able to build tension when given more than 24 hours. This time there is external conflict carried through the entire novel, which greatly elevates everyone’s plotting, but the major conflict remains societal expectations and class. This section is no exception, dealing mostly with the heroine's feelings of unworth when compared to her intended. I thought her hero did the best at reassuring the H and I felt their connection most strongly.
James continues to be my least favorite of the trio with a can’t miss plot involving feuding sisters, Jane Austen, and a man who fell to his death trying to commit rape. And what does the plot resort to? Jealous alpha males compromising women and magical virginity detecting penises. I will say Fiona was my favorite of the three heroines and I really liked her chapter by herself in the barn. Shame about her hero. I enjoyed the novella more than James’ previous.
Brockway closes with a flatly ridiculous confection that is nonetheless humorous and charming, Her characters can lack depth, but they’re endearing and work well together. I don’t feel like we learn enough about Cecily to root for her specifically, as her characterization is the only one that feels like it was written by a different author. Her hero blends seamlessly with the rest of the book, making me think it’s not a mark against Brockway so much as an oversight when working with multiple personalities.
The end is typical full-blown fantasy, with a massive, multi-person wedding ending just as the pass opens and everyone’s father comes streaming in, out for blood. Of course, one look at how happy their daughters are, all is forgiven and no one’s reputation suffers. 9 months later, there are a gaggle of babies for everyone to coo over and silly things, like the fact that someone’s inheritance just got totally knackered, are forgotten. The end.
An easy, enjoyable read, the book mostly focuses on romantic love and less on the erotic. There is one steamy love scene, personally marred for me by the aforementioned virginity detecting peen, and a few fade to black moments. For the most part, everyone is satisfied with kisses and vows of undying love. There is no resolution to the conflict: once the person is beaten, they magically turn nice and get a happy ending too. The Lady Most Willing is sugar and spice and everything nice, a bubbly Christmas Regency without the overt holly and ivy. Bright and fun, but probably not destined to stick with me forever. 4 out of 5 stars.
I was absolutely thrilled when The Lady Most Willing’s ARC showed up on edelweiss, because I have a massive soft spot for it’s predecessor, The Lady Most Likely. Likely was the first real “romance novel” I read, and that coupled with its unique anthology style stuck with me, so I was highly anticipating a return to the three authors.
Not a traditional sequel, Willing features an all new cast of characters in an entirely different country. What ties it back to the original is the structure. Again, each author will write a third of the novel, detailing a romantic connection between two characters as a group of Scottish and English gentry are stuck together during a snowstorm.
Spoiler
Quinn starts us off with Catriona and John, the Duke of Bretton; James takes Fiona and Byron, the Earl of Oakley; and Brockway winds us up with Lady Cecily and Robin, Comte de Rocheforte.Taran Ferguson has a dilemma. The Scottish Laird is a widower with no heir and his sisters had the nerve to marry an Englishman and a Frenchman, each giving him a half-Scot nephew. Taran does not feel these nephews are up to snuff, as neither of them are showing the proper Scottish attitude to inherit Finovair Castle, particularly in the matrimony department. Having drunk a bit too much, Taran hatches an ingenious scheme. He’ll raid a ball at a nearby castle and kidnap several eligible young ladies, forcing his nephews to choose one.
Unfortunately, as most schemes hatched at the bottom of a scotch bottle, Taran doesn’t quite end up with what he bargained for. He does kidnap three heiresses, (although one of them is ruined and not marriage material,) but he also ends up with Miss Catriona Burns, lovely but poor and untitled, and the Duke of Bretton. One was scooped up in all the excitement, the other was sleeping in his carriage. I’ll leave you to imagine which is which. The octet is quickly trapped in the castle by a massive snowstorm, forcing everyone together into a great big orgasmic lovefest.
As with Likely, Quinn is hamstrung by going first and again her couple falls in love and agrees to wed in about the span of an afternoon. I really must pick up some of her longer books to see if she’s able to build tension when given more than 24 hours. This time there is external conflict carried through the entire novel, which greatly elevates everyone’s plotting, but the major conflict remains societal expectations and class. This section is no exception, dealing mostly with the heroine's feelings of unworth when compared to her intended. I thought her hero did the best at reassuring the H and I felt their connection most strongly.
James continues to be my least favorite of the trio with a can’t miss plot involving feuding sisters, Jane Austen, and a man who fell to his death trying to commit rape. And what does the plot resort to? Jealous alpha males compromising women and magical virginity detecting penises. I will say Fiona was my favorite of the three heroines and I really liked her chapter by herself in the barn. Shame about her hero. I enjoyed the novella more than James’ previous.
Brockway closes with a flatly ridiculous confection that is nonetheless humorous and charming, Her characters can lack depth, but they’re endearing and work well together. I don’t feel like we learn enough about Cecily to root for her specifically, as her characterization is the only one that feels like it was written by a different author. Her hero blends seamlessly with the rest of the book, making me think it’s not a mark against Brockway so much as an oversight when working with multiple personalities.
The end is typical full-blown fantasy, with a massive, multi-person wedding ending just as the pass opens and everyone’s father comes streaming in, out for blood. Of course, one look at how happy their daughters are, all is forgiven and no one’s reputation suffers. 9 months later, there are a gaggle of babies for everyone to coo over and silly things, like the fact that someone’s inheritance just got totally knackered, are forgotten. The end.
An easy, enjoyable read, the book mostly focuses on romantic love and less on the erotic. There is one steamy love scene, personally marred for me by the aforementioned virginity detecting peen, and a few fade to black moments. For the most part, everyone is satisfied with kisses and vows of undying love. There is no resolution to the conflict: once the person is beaten, they magically turn nice and get a happy ending too. The Lady Most Willing is sugar and spice and everything nice, a bubbly Christmas Regency without the overt holly and ivy. Bright and fun, but probably not destined to stick with me forever. 4 out of 5 stars.