TEST
When I closed this book I asked myself, But why did they fall in love? and that, I’m afraid, summarizes the main problem I had with this read.
Frederica MacKivern is a widow with a young son, Stu. Together with his best friend Matt, Stu devises a prank that introduces his mother to Matt’s father, Lord Blackthorn. He swiftly falls in love with her, and arranges for Matt and Stu to spend the summer together with Frederica. In return, Stu and Frederica will spend Christmas at Seymour Court, Balckthorn’s main residence. Blackthorn returns to London, and the two interested adults correspond by mail. When a typhus outbreak occurs, Blackthorn removes Frederica and the children to Seymour Court, and returns to London again. More letters are exchanged, and when Blackthorn finally returns, their sons run away to ensure their parents stay together and marry, so that the boys can become twins.
I didn’t bother count the number of pages Frederica and Blackthorn actually spent together, but they weren’t that numerous. The letters might have been written by loving fools, but were properly amicable . . . and lukewarm. Not only did this couple spend little actual time together, what time they did was filled with the children or Frederica’s in-laws. As it was, I’m not sure who it was they fell in love with, since they clearly didn’t get to know each other.
So, we have one powerful, politically prominent Earl who falls in love at the drop of a hat, and a terribly overprotective mother who cannot believe someone so high and mighty could wish to marry little-old her. I guess the antics of Stu and Matt were intended for comic relief, and they were at least worth a smile. However, they intruded on what romance there was, leaving even less space for Blackthorn and Frederica.
I found the language a bit heavy. There is plenty of internal thought mixed into conversations, and the same occurs when the main characters are writing letters. This slows down the flow of the story, which is not a good thing when you are waiting for the hero and heroine to get back together again.
So, while I did not throw this book into a wall, I did feel my interest wane and my eyelids drop about every ten pages. I prefer romances where the hero and heroine stay together most of the time, and when they are together, that they have a little time on their own. A Lady’s Lesson wasn’t actually bad so much as it was sleep-inducing. If you’re weaning yourself from Valium, this book might be an alternative. However, if your capable of falling asleep on your own, you won’t need this book at all.
Grade: D
Book Type: Regency Romance
Sensuality: Kisses
Review Date: 05/03/99
Publication Date: 1997
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Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.