saphawk's review against another edition
3.0
This alternate history romance fantasy had an endearing story about an unexpected marriage between a magic hating viscount and a magic wielding daughter of gentry. The pluses of this story were the bonding and self discovery that happened throughout the story. The drawback was the repeated love making scenes that didn't really add anything to the plot or the characters. While I enjoyed this book I doubt that I'll read another from this author.
stitchywitch's review against another edition
1.0
You know, I can appreciate a good trashy novel. Sometimes it's nice to escape, and lord knows I am not a book snob. So when I saw the summary of this book - nobleman in regency England marries a female wizard - I thought "why not?" I like it when genres collide. Unfortunately, this succeeds as neither a paranormal romance nor a regency. None of the characters were particularly well written or interesting, and the magical system was pretty poorly explained. I didn't see the attraction between the main characters at all. The plot meandered and seemed pretty unlikely. It's too bad, because like I said I thought the book started out really well - it just didn't ever go anywhere interesting to me.
kayedacus's review against another edition
4.0
My first paranormal (slightly) Regency romance. Things worked out too easily between the couple, but it was still a good read.
amyiw's review against another edition
4.0
Really liked this as it has my favorite two genres, historical romance and paranormal.
So this is set in a slightly alternative England (regency) and magic is common but not excepted by the aristocracy... much. The heroine, Abby, has watched, and wanted, the hero, Jack, since she encountered him in her small town, where aristocrats come to hunt. She does know who he is at first but finds out and watches him from afar during hunts. Her father is a minor Baron, given the title for service as a healer. This is really the only acceptable type of magic by the ton. During the current hunt, Jack is gravely (mortally) injured and brought to the Barons house. Since the Baron is not home, Abby, his daughter helps. For her help she gets Jack to agree to a marriage proposal, since she is risking her well-being, she gets him to agree to the same. Jack being an aristocrat, and one that grew up harshly for having dabbled in magic as a child, the thought of it is a bit appalling.
Through his recovery, Jack begins to see Abby as a straight forward and likable woman. With her they discover what was truly done to him as a child and how it affects him today. Abby on the other hand still wonders if pushing him was the right thing and if he truly likes her.
Very quick read for me and very enjoyable. If it was part of a series, I would already be reading the next.
1st read Aug 14, 2013
2nd Jan 11, 2017
So this is set in a slightly alternative England (regency) and magic is common but not excepted by the aristocracy... much. The heroine, Abby, has watched, and wanted, the hero, Jack, since she encountered him in her small town, where aristocrats come to hunt. She does know who he is at first but finds out and watches him from afar during hunts. Her father is a minor Baron, given the title for service as a healer. This is really the only acceptable type of magic by the ton. During the current hunt, Jack is gravely (mortally) injured and brought to the Barons house. Since the Baron is not home, Abby, his daughter helps. For her help she gets Jack to agree to a marriage proposal, since she is risking her well-being, she gets him to agree to the same. Jack being an aristocrat, and one that grew up harshly for having dabbled in magic as a child, the thought of it is a bit appalling.
Through his recovery, Jack begins to see Abby as a straight forward and likable woman. With her they discover what was truly done to him as a child and how it affects him today. Abby on the other hand still wonders if pushing him was the right thing and if he truly likes her.
Very quick read for me and very enjoyable. If it was part of a series, I would already be reading the next.
1st read Aug 14, 2013
2nd Jan 11, 2017
soulkissed2003's review against another edition
4.0
Abby is a healer (some might say witch or wizard) with special, often misunderstood, gifts. After a nasty hunting accident, a young lord clings to life. Jack abhors magic, but agrees to marry Abby if she will be able to heal his fractured neck and save his life. Yet more than his body needs healing. Dark spells cast long ago have set up barriers in Jack's mind, keeping him away from his home property, and fighting his own suppressed inner gifts. With Abby, perhaps he can finally face down his own demons and find true recovery and a happy future.
Mary Jo Putney is one of my favorite Regency romance authors. Sure, sometimes the plots have a bit of silliness in them, but it's fun and entertaining. The stories, including this one, are well written and show realistic characters who have the same foibles and face the same dilemmas we all may deal with from time to time. Okay, so we may not ever encounter a wizard, but we can definitely relate to rocky relationship issues or the stress of returning home to deal with the ghosts of our childhood again. This was an interesting book and I found it was just as good as Putney's magic-free romance novels.
Mary Jo Putney is one of my favorite Regency romance authors. Sure, sometimes the plots have a bit of silliness in them, but it's fun and entertaining. The stories, including this one, are well written and show realistic characters who have the same foibles and face the same dilemmas we all may deal with from time to time. Okay, so we may not ever encounter a wizard, but we can definitely relate to rocky relationship issues or the stress of returning home to deal with the ghosts of our childhood again. This was an interesting book and I found it was just as good as Putney's magic-free romance novels.
tita_noir's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this low-key Marriage of convenience storyline and the two romantic conflicts -- one internal where the hero has to come to terms with his prejudice against wizards and marrying one -- and one external where the h&h have to work together to overcome an enemy.
Listened on audio and Simon Prebble (who is always a great listen) did the story justice.
Listened on audio and Simon Prebble (who is always a great listen) did the story justice.
mountie9's review against another edition
3.0
Not my fav, but a nice enjoyable story for reading on the beach. The passages that dealt with magic were a little hokey in my opinion, but I have never much enjoyed the historical romances that incorporate the paranormal. Good characters, fast moving storyline, not a bad way to spend an afternoon
shinysue's review against another edition
4.0
A cute little story. Everything about this is wholesome and simple and nice.
simplyparticular's review against another edition
2.0
I just couldn't buy the alternate history that the book's premise was based on - the magical world didn't seem "real" to me. Maybe I've been spoiled by Harry Potter and Susan Carroll's series.