My Favorite Countess [Mass Market Paperback]

My Favorite Countess explains in a delightfully awesome manner why a woman from a previous story was such an unbearable and nasty harridan and how she ends up deserving the love and acceptance she gets in this book. Once I realized who this book was about I was all excited with anticipation and the author met every one of my hopes as the plot unfolded.

Lady Randolph, Bathsheba, truly earned the title of heroine. She's a woman of her time who has been dealt with an overabundance of bad luck, sadness and victimization. As a woman with a noble title she's not expected to have to worry about much and it's acceptable for her to grace the parties and the dress makers in fashion and with attitude. All of it is a front. What a reader will find out is that Bathsheba is a woman driven to desperation and she will do anything she has to in order to protect her family. She has tried it in the past and fortunately failed. She can't fail in this book and a reader comes to understand how much is riding on the success of her personal sacrifices. A reader feels her wounds, her worry and her crushing fears of failure. She's a truly tortured heroine and it's going to take a special kind of man, a genteel warrior, to reach her heart and the terrified woman hiding within.

Enter Dr. John Blackmore. He needs more patience than patients. I couldn't resist saying that. But it's also very true. Bathsheba has the poor guy dancing down an emotion-filled path filled with thorns, potholes and honeyed candy. He's a smart, educated and intelligent man who would do Sir Sherlock Holmes proud. He watches, observes and sees what everyone else has failed to see and benefits from the insight he gains. He applies it to his practice with the poor and he applies it to the heroine. She is as injured as some of his patients to be sure and I really enjoyed watching the hero peel back Bathsheba's defensive layers to find the jewel within. He is as methodical as a surgeon -- focused and intent. I loved his steady strength, his sense of humor and his finesse. He's not perfect and I liked that too. Readers will find out that he has his own burden, his own fear that dogs his path and colors many of his decisions. It will take a very scary and dramatic confrontation to bring it all to the fore.

The conflict in this story is complicated and delightfully meaty which kept me turning the pages at a swift clip. I never could second guess the hero or heroine because they never did quite what I expected. It kept me off kilter but I'm glad to say they did that to each other too. That was fun. There were a few elements of external conflict that really showcased the strength of character and personality of both the hero and heroine. I also thought it made them grow into better people as the story continued. It wasn't an easy growth nor was it without pain. Those make for the best reading and Ms. Kelly delivers.

When John and Bathsheba succumb to the passion that burns inside them for each other, the pages turn smoking hot. I simply have to say that playing doctor was never so much fun especially when the guy is a real doctor. I found that I fanned myself from frequently heated cheeks because the scenes were so well written, I could visualize them. Thank goodness it's winter right now.

I also appreciated how Ms. Kelly had Lord Silverton and his family, as well as the Stantons from the previous book, play pivotal supporting roles in this story. I enjoyed seeing them again and I thought their gradual acceptance of Bathsheba a sweet and telling addition to the book. It gave me the warm and fuzzies. And no, readers do not need to read the first book to appreciate My Favorite Countess. This book completely stands on its own because the hero and heroine are such vibrant and well rounded personalities. The secondary characters are frosting on a very yummy cake.

My Favorite Countess is a thrilling and heart-touching historical romance that truly grips a reader right from the emotional beginning. The pace, dialogue and dramatic conflicts kept me on the edge of my seat while the interaction and by-plays between John and Bathsheba kept me entertained and committed to their story in the hope of their finding a happily ever after. That they did with a very poignant, sincere and lightly humorous wrap up that satisfied the romantic in me. I am thrilled with the quality of writing that Ms. Kelly provides and I heartily look forward to her next book. My Favorite Countess is quality romance.

Originally posted at the Long and Short of It Romance Reviews

RATING: 4.5)MY FAVORITE COUNTESS by Vanessa Kelly is an exciting historical romance set in 1817 London and 1817 Compton Manor,Yorkshire. It will written with depth and details.The characters are not only enchanting,charming but also obstinate,demanding at times,difficult at times and quite fierce. When Bathsheba meets Dr. John Blackmore she never expected to feel not only a sensual pull toward the good Dr. Blackmore but to also,dare I say, fall in love with him.For, Bathsheba,the Countess of Randolph, is in desperate need of a rich husband since her dead husband left her near penniless. She must support not only a household but also her sister,who is hidden away due to her illness. The now Lord Randolph,who is her ex-husband's cousin is not good with money.So Bathsheba feel she has a responsibility to them,even if it means her unhappiness. Dr. Blackmore is not only handsome,sexy,but he can't keep his eyes off of Bathsheba when they first meet and she him.What follows can only be sensual tension,while they both come to grips with their new found lust for each other.In the meantime Dr. Blackmore,also is on staff at one of the finest hospitals in London and he is working toward helping the less fortunate citzens of London. While the money isn't good he is in his own right weathly.Together, Bathsheba and Dr. Blackmore will surrender not only their bodies but also their hearts. This is a fast paced,page turning story that will leave you in awe of the differences between the upper and lower classes of Regency London during the 1800's,the sacrifices some make,and the differences some can and do make during this era. This is a must read. My Favorite Countess will become your favorite also. This book was received for the purpose of review from the publisher and details can be found at Zebra Book, published by Kensington Publishing Corp. and My Book Addiction Reviews.

Bathsheba is not your typical, cookie-cutter heroine and this is why I absolutely loved her! This book was a breath of fresh air for me. Sheba is gorgeous, but she's also quick-witted and sharp-tongued. I kept turning the pages to see what she'd say next. John, who is also not the stereotypical hero, is a brilliant match for Sheba, drawing her out and reeling her in. I couldn't wait for them to work through their issues because they both deserved a happy ending.

This book is beautifully written with fantastic descriptions and situations. I truly enjoyed it from start to finish!