Mary Penley and Kit Stansell were secret friends who became adolescent lovers and eloped - but the marriage didn't survive. Now, nine years later, Mary and Kit meet again and intense desire leads them to rekindle their physical relationship. But Kit is devoted to maintaining social order and once again finds himself at odds with Mary - a reformer who is appalled by the repressive government. When a political conspiracy forces them to work together, they have a second chance to reconcile their differences and create a future together.
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In March 1771, a son was born to Emilia and Walter Stansell, the Marchioness and Marquess of Rowen, at Rowen Castle, near the village of Grefford, in the southeast corner of Derbyshire. Read the first page
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In March 1771, a son was born to Emilia and Walter Stansell, the Marchioness and Marquess of Rowen, at Rowen Castle, near the village of Grefford, in the southeast corner of Derbyshire. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Sarah Dee
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
If you like Susan Johnson's books then you will enjoy this book.
A very fine writer who involves her reader in the lives of her characters from the start.
You are with her every step of the way.
You are taken on a roller coast of a ride with your emotions and you will not know whether to be angry with the hero for being stupid or the heroine for forgiving him his pathetic excuses.
You will either love this book or hate it but it is well worth the read.
After all other books in this genre are forgotten this will remain.
Look out for her other two books.
A very fine writer who involves her reader in the lives of her characters from the start.
You are with her every step of the way.
You are taken on a roller coast of a ride with your emotions and you will not know whether to be angry with the hero for being stupid or the heroine for forgiving him his pathetic excuses.
You will either love this book or hate it but it is well worth the read.
After all other books in this genre are forgotten this will remain.
Look out for her other two books.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
3.6 out of 5 stars
8 reviews
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
A many layered story
16 Nov 2006
By Constant Reader
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
This is a story with many layers: of time, character, marriage, history and human relationships set primarily in 1817 England, as post-Napoleonic War recession caused discontent among the working classes. The main action begins with a meeting between long estranged spouses: free-thinking, strong willed Mary, who has spent the last nine years wandering among the intelligensia (Byron, Shelley, that crowd); and handsome, sardonic Kit, who is trying to incorporate the maturity he gained during his wartime service into his former life as a free-spirited wastrel. Mary and Kit, both of the upper class, eloped at a young age in the teeth of a family feud. After a year of passionate sex and frolic, they stumble into betrayals and part in anger.
Now, nine years later, they are both at another turning point: Mary is thinking of divorce in order to marry her current lover; Kit is turning his thoughts to a career with the Home Office. Yet, their passionate reconnection side tracks them both into a reconsideration of their past and their future.
Rosenthal tells the story of these two flawed and vibrant people through flashbacks and shifting points of view, including the perspectives of various well-developed secondary characters.
The book is called an "erotic romance" in some marketing which made me hesitate before buying it and lead me to expect something especially graphic and highly charged. However, while Rosenthal does treat readers to some briskly enjoyed encounters between Mary and Kit, those looking for the lengthy descriptions of Stephanie Laurens or the intense sensuality of Jo Beverley and Mary Balogh will be disappointed. Instead, the pleasure of this book comes from the growth of even the most minor characters.
Now, nine years later, they are both at another turning point: Mary is thinking of divorce in order to marry her current lover; Kit is turning his thoughts to a career with the Home Office. Yet, their passionate reconnection side tracks them both into a reconsideration of their past and their future.
Rosenthal tells the story of these two flawed and vibrant people through flashbacks and shifting points of view, including the perspectives of various well-developed secondary characters.
The book is called an "erotic romance" in some marketing which made me hesitate before buying it and lead me to expect something especially graphic and highly charged. However, while Rosenthal does treat readers to some briskly enjoyed encounters between Mary and Kit, those looking for the lengthy descriptions of Stephanie Laurens or the intense sensuality of Jo Beverley and Mary Balogh will be disappointed. Instead, the pleasure of this book comes from the growth of even the most minor characters.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sparkles with wit and originality. Bonus points for violating The Big Taboo
4 Aug 2007
By SheReads
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
What likeable people - despite their flaws, or maybe because of them.
Childhood sweethearts who wed impulsively, this couple have nobody but themselves to blame for the falling-out that separated them. No big misunderstanding, no interfering relatives, no traumatic event; just two impulsive, spoiled young people whose romance isn't strong enough to see them through the difficult first year of marriage. Flashbacks to his adulterous affairs and her disastrous revenge (with his best friend!) don't inspire much sympathy. Nine years later, a tentative reunion turns into a name-calling, vase-throwing battle of blame. But when the dust clears, it's as if old demons have been exorcised, making room for the emergence of the love that should have been.
Kudos to author Pam Rosenthal for adding a generous dollop of reality to this otherwise frothy treat. The sex-in-a-carriage scene that is a staple of historical romance is done here with as much humor as sensuality, rather like sex in the back seat of your father's Buick; both participants wind up admitting that they're probably too old for that sort of thing and will wait for a bed next time. Most impressive is the handling of romance's big taboo: a bout of impotence that has the heroine snapping, "It's not as if it's that important," and the hero stomping out in a snit.
A few hours and one ego-boost later, he's back in fine form. Demonstrating, as happens in real life, that perfection is not a prerequisite to grown-up romance.
Childhood sweethearts who wed impulsively, this couple have nobody but themselves to blame for the falling-out that separated them. No big misunderstanding, no interfering relatives, no traumatic event; just two impulsive, spoiled young people whose romance isn't strong enough to see them through the difficult first year of marriage. Flashbacks to his adulterous affairs and her disastrous revenge (with his best friend!) don't inspire much sympathy. Nine years later, a tentative reunion turns into a name-calling, vase-throwing battle of blame. But when the dust clears, it's as if old demons have been exorcised, making room for the emergence of the love that should have been.
Kudos to author Pam Rosenthal for adding a generous dollop of reality to this otherwise frothy treat. The sex-in-a-carriage scene that is a staple of historical romance is done here with as much humor as sensuality, rather like sex in the back seat of your father's Buick; both participants wind up admitting that they're probably too old for that sort of thing and will wait for a bed next time. Most impressive is the handling of romance's big taboo: a bout of impotence that has the heroine snapping, "It's not as if it's that important," and the hero stomping out in a snit.
A few hours and one ego-boost later, he's back in fine form. Demonstrating, as happens in real life, that perfection is not a prerequisite to grown-up romance.
9 of 12 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of This Year's Bests
8 Oct 2006
By C. Snyder
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
There's not many reviews out yet, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Kit and Mary were young and so much in love. Alas, passion was not enough to weather the realities of life, and they separated nine years ago amidst deceit and scandal. This book is the story of the maturing of two strong-willed individuals and love's redeeming power over disillusionment and cynicism. The issues are realistic, and the road back home is neither straight nor simple.
Ms. Rosenthal integrates the story with the political and social discontent in Britain following the defeat of Napolean. The secondary characters are real people, with real issues, real emotions, and imperfect solutions.
The books appears to have been marketed as an "erotic romance", but I disagree. It may technically fit the definition because of the creative sexual encounters of this married couple. However, sex didn't permiate the entire book as one might have expected. The love scenes were tasteful and fit the temperature of the relationship at each point. The process of self-discovery within the historical context was key to this book, and the sensuality and sexual tension was thoroughly integrated into the overall plot.
This book is a keeper for me!!!
Ms. Rosenthal integrates the story with the political and social discontent in Britain following the defeat of Napolean. The secondary characters are real people, with real issues, real emotions, and imperfect solutions.
The books appears to have been marketed as an "erotic romance", but I disagree. It may technically fit the definition because of the creative sexual encounters of this married couple. However, sex didn't permiate the entire book as one might have expected. The love scenes were tasteful and fit the temperature of the relationship at each point. The process of self-discovery within the historical context was key to this book, and the sensuality and sexual tension was thoroughly integrated into the overall plot.
This book is a keeper for me!!!
›
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3.6 out of 5 stars
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