Helpful Score: 1
Lively and fun story of an uninhibited American ward sent to her English guardian when she is orphaned at 17. A little Unsinkable Molly Brown, a little My Fair Lady and lots of laughs.
Defying all the rules, daring to speak her mind, Charlotte Edgerton declared her independance before she even entered the Earl of Denbigh's home. Her new guardian immediately made her a prisoner in her own room--until she agreed to learn the ladylike arts.
A really good read!! Joan Johnston is a gifted writer.
Good Writer
From Publishers Weekly
Regency and historical romance devotees will find Johnston's (The Inheritance) latest lively and well-written, and her characters perfectly enchanting. Lady Charlotte Edgerton, Charlie to her friends, is an American fish who finds herself in stuffy English waters when her father dies and leaves her to the care of the Earl of Denbigh. Denbigh has two duties: to civilize Charlie and to find her a suitable husband-only it can't be him. Haunted by his fiancee's suicide, Denbigh mistrusts women. In spite of Charlotte's innocent appeal, he refuses to let himself become involved and tries his best to alienate her affections. But Charlotte (an American through and through) won't take no for an answer. An exciting secondary plot involving a duke bent on avenging his brother's murder by dishonoring Denbigh's sister adds an element of mystery.
Regency and historical romance devotees will find Johnston's (The Inheritance) latest lively and well-written, and her characters perfectly enchanting. Lady Charlotte Edgerton, Charlie to her friends, is an American fish who finds herself in stuffy English waters when her father dies and leaves her to the care of the Earl of Denbigh. Denbigh has two duties: to civilize Charlie and to find her a suitable husband-only it can't be him. Haunted by his fiancee's suicide, Denbigh mistrusts women. In spite of Charlotte's innocent appeal, he refuses to let himself become involved and tries his best to alienate her affections. But Charlotte (an American through and through) won't take no for an answer. An exciting secondary plot involving a duke bent on avenging his brother's murder by dishonoring Denbigh's sister adds an element of mystery.
Enjoyable.
American raised Lady Charlotte Edgerton shows up at the home of her guardian Lionel Morgan, Earl of Denbigh after the death of her father and the sparks begin to fly. It keeps page turning.
Part of a historical trilogy - The Bodyguard, After the Kiss, and Captive. All three are wonderfully written, very powerful stories. Lionel had been betrayed at the alter by another woman, and vowed never to love again. Then he meets a headstrong American, Charlotte, and becomes her captive.
A good read all in all. There is a secondary story line that proves to be interesting as well.
The characters were fairly well written. I wished that the hero would have been more willing to give in to his heart, but I guess it had only been a year since the death of his first love, so it is understandable.
I do like a little more detail in the physical aspect of the relationship. I felt that was the only thing that could have increased my rating on this book.
The characters were fairly well written. I wished that the hero would have been more willing to give in to his heart, but I guess it had only been a year since the death of his first love, so it is understandable.
I do like a little more detail in the physical aspect of the relationship. I felt that was the only thing that could have increased my rating on this book.
Lionel Morgan, Earl of Denbigh, had been betrayed at the altar by another woman and vowed that no female would ensnare him again. Then Charlotte Edgerton burst into his life. Denbigh wasn't prepared for this headstrong American -- or the passions she inspired on first sight. He knew only that he had to civilize her, present her at court, and Almack's, and then marry her off to the highest bidder. It wasn't until he nearly lost her that he realized the truth: She'd somehow reversed their roles and become the captor of his heart.
A very good read.
