~ This romance was a real find! I immediately added it to my list of favorites (4.5 stars) ~
[Setting: 1813, England]
Miss Mirabelle Browning (25) and Whittaker Cole, Earl of Thurston (31) have been nemeses since first meeting as children eighteen years ago. When Whit's mother forces a truce upon them at her week-long house party, they are finally forced to look beyond the constant barbs and banter they've been exchanging for nearly two decades, and get to know one another as people.
As the love story unfolds, there are a few subplots that are revealed at the same time. One is that certain people might be trying to help their romance along, and another is one that could put Mirabelle in danger and makes her doubt that she and Whit can ever have their HEA.
PROVIDENCE SERIES:
1) AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT - Miss Sophie Everton and Alex Durmant, Duke of Rockeforte
2) TEMPTING FATE - Miss Mirabelle Browning and Whittaker Cole, Earl of Thurston
3) MCALISTAIR'S FORTUNE- Miss Evie Cole and Mr. James McAlistair
4) DESTINED TO LAST - Lady Kate Cole and Mr. Andrew Hunter
MAIN CHARACTERS:
Mirabelle is my favorite type of heroine: unusual, independent, self-reliant, strong, intelligent, and somewhat the wallflower-type. I say "somewhat" because she's not a wallflower and she's definitely not quiet, however she can be unsure of herself, isn't considered beautiful, is on the more mature side age-wise, and doesn't think she'll ever find love. Her home life has been difficult, starting with being orphaned at the age of 7 when her neglectful and indifferent parents died. She was then sent to live with her cruel, greedy, and dumb uncle, who has barely supported her financially since and who continues to try to control and scare her. Luckily, his next-door neighbors are the Coles, who take Mirabelle in and basically become her family.
Whittaker is a *wonderful* hero! Like most historical romance readers, I'm a sucker for those great rakes and rogues, but this book reminded me that having a nice guy hero is just as enjoyable, though for completely different reasons. Whit has been trying for many years to restore his family's respect and honor and though he is the "perfect gentleman," don't think that he's boring or staid. Of course, when Mirabelle is around, sparks fly, his "perfect gentleman" persona starts to slip, and the control he so greatly prizes goes right out the window.
MY OPINION:
*SO FANTASTIC!!!* Thank you to my Goodreads friends who recommended TEMPTING FATE, because it was amazing and I now have an all-time favorite book to add my list, as well as a watch-for author. (And have already ordered two others in the series, so while I thank them, my pocketbook does not! ;-).
Yesterday I read MISS WONDERFUL (Carsington Brothers, Book 1) and couldn't help but wax poetically about its hero, Alistair. While he's still fabulous and if he showed up on my door, I would definitely welcome him in, Whit is my current knight in shining armor, lol. I loved the antagonism between him and Mirabelle - the banter was witty and entertaining - and when they started "getting along," their exchanges were even better.
The only thing I would change was the additional plot twists in the last third of the book. They were unnecessary and detracted, IMHO, from the overall romance story. Obstacles are needed, yes, but Johnson threw a few too many in there at the end and it clouded up the simple delight of seeing Mirabelle and Whit get their HEA. For this reason, I had to knock my rating down from 5 stars to 4.5. I'll still be rereading it several times in the future though!
UPDATE, 8/23/2010: I just read MCALISTAIR'S FORTUNE and it was absolutely wonderful!! While I gave it a lower rating than this book (4 stars), I think that McAlistair has replaced Whit in my affection ... I know, I'm flighty, I can't help it! Read the book and you'll see - I actually dare you NOT to fall in love with McAlistair!!
(Written on August 19, 2010)
[Setting: 1813, England]
Miss Mirabelle Browning (25) and Whittaker Cole, Earl of Thurston (31) have been nemeses since first meeting as children eighteen years ago. When Whit's mother forces a truce upon them at her week-long house party, they are finally forced to look beyond the constant barbs and banter they've been exchanging for nearly two decades, and get to know one another as people.
As the love story unfolds, there are a few subplots that are revealed at the same time. One is that certain people might be trying to help their romance along, and another is one that could put Mirabelle in danger and makes her doubt that she and Whit can ever have their HEA.
PROVIDENCE SERIES:
1) AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT - Miss Sophie Everton and Alex Durmant, Duke of Rockeforte
2) TEMPTING FATE - Miss Mirabelle Browning and Whittaker Cole, Earl of Thurston
3) MCALISTAIR'S FORTUNE- Miss Evie Cole and Mr. James McAlistair
4) DESTINED TO LAST - Lady Kate Cole and Mr. Andrew Hunter
MAIN CHARACTERS:
Mirabelle is my favorite type of heroine: unusual, independent, self-reliant, strong, intelligent, and somewhat the wallflower-type. I say "somewhat" because she's not a wallflower and she's definitely not quiet, however she can be unsure of herself, isn't considered beautiful, is on the more mature side age-wise, and doesn't think she'll ever find love. Her home life has been difficult, starting with being orphaned at the age of 7 when her neglectful and indifferent parents died. She was then sent to live with her cruel, greedy, and dumb uncle, who has barely supported her financially since and who continues to try to control and scare her. Luckily, his next-door neighbors are the Coles, who take Mirabelle in and basically become her family.
Whittaker is a *wonderful* hero! Like most historical romance readers, I'm a sucker for those great rakes and rogues, but this book reminded me that having a nice guy hero is just as enjoyable, though for completely different reasons. Whit has been trying for many years to restore his family's respect and honor and though he is the "perfect gentleman," don't think that he's boring or staid. Of course, when Mirabelle is around, sparks fly, his "perfect gentleman" persona starts to slip, and the control he so greatly prizes goes right out the window.
MY OPINION:
*SO FANTASTIC!!!* Thank you to my Goodreads friends who recommended TEMPTING FATE, because it was amazing and I now have an all-time favorite book to add my list, as well as a watch-for author. (And have already ordered two others in the series, so while I thank them, my pocketbook does not! ;-).
Yesterday I read MISS WONDERFUL (Carsington Brothers, Book 1) and couldn't help but wax poetically about its hero, Alistair. While he's still fabulous and if he showed up on my door, I would definitely welcome him in, Whit is my current knight in shining armor, lol. I loved the antagonism between him and Mirabelle - the banter was witty and entertaining - and when they started "getting along," their exchanges were even better.
The only thing I would change was the additional plot twists in the last third of the book. They were unnecessary and detracted, IMHO, from the overall romance story. Obstacles are needed, yes, but Johnson threw a few too many in there at the end and it clouded up the simple delight of seeing Mirabelle and Whit get their HEA. For this reason, I had to knock my rating down from 5 stars to 4.5. I'll still be rereading it several times in the future though!
UPDATE, 8/23/2010: I just read MCALISTAIR'S FORTUNE and it was absolutely wonderful!! While I gave it a lower rating than this book (4 stars), I think that McAlistair has replaced Whit in my affection ... I know, I'm flighty, I can't help it! Read the book and you'll see - I actually dare you NOT to fall in love with McAlistair!!
(Written on August 19, 2010)
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