Scan barcode
_dcall's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I listened to this thorugh audio and thought she did very well. This whole series is with the same narrator, fyi. I liked this story so much that when I was done I immediately downloaded the next and am almost done with that one. I really liked the flow, the cast of characters, the progression of the romance and the conclusion. Basically I thought it was done well and has the elements to keep a reader interested to the end. This is a Christian book. Perhaps Christian light since there is talk of God but not sermons or specific scripture or moralizing. It's more the character and their personal relationship as to which direction to take in life. I loved the friendships in the story and the message.
jan1234's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 Stars.
I borrowed this on Audible. I must admit I found it hard listening to an American trying to be Regency English. I would have preferred the same narrator as the previous books.
I felt like knocking the heads of Bianca & Hudson together! For me, the book started off well, but then I lost it for quite a while. I got into it a bit more after Adelaide & her husband came into it, from previous books. Aaron was quite a character too. Not my favourite of Kristi Ann Hunter's books tbh, but I have been wanting to read this series for a while, I have the 2nd book on my kindle, so I may prefer that.
I borrowed this on Audible. I must admit I found it hard listening to an American trying to be Regency English. I would have preferred the same narrator as the previous books.
I felt like knocking the heads of Bianca & Hudson together! For me, the book started off well, but then I lost it for quite a while. I got into it a bit more after Adelaide & her husband came into it, from previous books. Aaron was quite a character too. Not my favourite of Kristi Ann Hunter's books tbh, but I have been wanting to read this series for a while, I have the 2nd book on my kindle, so I may prefer that.
english_lady03's review against another edition
3.0
Vying for the Viscount is the first novel in Kristi Ann Hunter's new Regency series. Each series by this author has a slightly different focus, this time its the Newmarket racing set. Horses and horse racing, basically. Hudson owns a stable where horses are bred, and Bianca just loves horses. More than anything.
Regency capers ensue when Hudson, who grew up in India and returned to Britain to inherit his family's estate struggles to get used to a new way of life, adjust to the rules and mores of the upper classes, and keeps stumbling across the intriguing young lady who initially took him for a horse thief.
Witty banter and repartee is common between the two and their fiends and companions. Thus novel will certainly appeal to 'horsey' people, who will like these new characters, as well as some returning ones from former novels, among them Trent Hawthorne. I did enjoy the fact that the heroine has a very positive relationship with her father in this one. Its not always common.
I only gave this novel a lower rating for a couple of things: the inevitable Americanisms, and some out of place terms and phrases. The word 'okay' wasn't used in England at this time. I also felt that one of the incidents towards the end was a little too far-fetched and melodramatic.
Also the spiritual theme sort of felt like it was inserted in at the end, and comes over as a bit contrived. It COULD have been done more naturally, and indeed there were places where it was more natural, but its like the author felt there was not enough religion in the story, and so shoehorned in some more at the end.
Thanks to Bethany House and Netgalley for allowing me to read this title. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.
Regency capers ensue when Hudson, who grew up in India and returned to Britain to inherit his family's estate struggles to get used to a new way of life, adjust to the rules and mores of the upper classes, and keeps stumbling across the intriguing young lady who initially took him for a horse thief.
Witty banter and repartee is common between the two and their fiends and companions. Thus novel will certainly appeal to 'horsey' people, who will like these new characters, as well as some returning ones from former novels, among them Trent Hawthorne. I did enjoy the fact that the heroine has a very positive relationship with her father in this one. Its not always common.
I only gave this novel a lower rating for a couple of things: the inevitable Americanisms, and some out of place terms and phrases. The word 'okay' wasn't used in England at this time. I also felt that one of the incidents towards the end was a little too far-fetched and melodramatic.
Also the spiritual theme sort of felt like it was inserted in at the end, and comes over as a bit contrived. It COULD have been done more naturally, and indeed there were places where it was more natural, but its like the author felt there was not enough religion in the story, and so shoehorned in some more at the end.
Thanks to Bethany House and Netgalley for allowing me to read this title. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.
silver_anchor4's review against another edition
3.0
Ykw, I really loved the cast of characters and I had fun.
abbyrosereads's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
scarlettreader's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
tjazz's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Great premise, not so wonderful execution. Less enjoyable than her Hawthorne series.
I cannot stand a heroine with no backbone.
I cannot stand a heroine with no backbone.
a_kira's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
rosannelortz's review against another edition
3.0
When the new Lord Stildon returns from India, every lady in the surrounding neighborhood is eager to assess his eligibility for marriage, whereas every gentleman is curious to see what he will do with his grandfather's stables at Hawksworth. For Bianca Snowley, the latter concern is mostly on her mind as she has long had the privilege of exercising those fine horses every morning. But when Bianca's stepmother insists that she must marry within the month to make way for her younger and more favored sister, Bianca wonders if she should set her cap for the socially inept Lord Stildon. A marriage of convenience would be especially convenient since the viscount is the owner of her favorite racing mares and stallions. The only trouble is, he's asked her help to teach him the ways of society...so that he can pay his court to the reigning belle of the neighborhood. Perhaps Bianca would be better off exploring her other options since Lord Stildon sees her only as a friend....
Raised in India his whole life, Hudson finds himself woefully unprepared to enter English society to take his place as a viscount. How many other heirs to a title are incapable of dancing, paying morning calls, and making polite conversation with a woman? When he encounters his lovely, lively, and unconventional neighbor in the Hawksworth stables, he entreats Miss Snowley to help him develop his polite address. An advantageous match with a wealthy horse owner's daughter presents itself, and Hudson queues up with the other gentlemen in the area to win Lady Rebecca's interest. But why does he find every encounter with her insipid compared to the lively interaction that he has with Miss Snowley?
This Regency romance plays on the trope of two friends trying to find suitable matches for the other...and falling in love with each other in the process. The Regency setting of horse racing is thoroughly explored although the characters were very comfortable with ignoring Regency norms of behavior for unmarried men and women. Bianca was the typical heroine of modern Regencies, almost a spinster and more interested in masculine pursuits than was acceptable for the time. Hudson was hard to pin down as a character, being both socially inadequate and yet also a charmer every time Bianca observed him chatting up the other ladies. For me, one of the secondary characters--Aaron Whitworth, the master of the stables--stole center stage, and I found myself far more interested in this brooding, illegitimate son of an aristocrat than I was in the self-pitying Hudson.
This Regency was a quick and pleasant read, but it didn't particularly stand out to me amongst the other titles in this genre. The Christian elements of the story were less explicit than in some of the other titles by this author; however, Hudson does journey toward trusting God throughout his trials. Fans of clean romances will enjoy this story...and I will enjoy knowing if Aaron Whitworth gets his own story in the next book of this series.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Raised in India his whole life, Hudson finds himself woefully unprepared to enter English society to take his place as a viscount. How many other heirs to a title are incapable of dancing, paying morning calls, and making polite conversation with a woman? When he encounters his lovely, lively, and unconventional neighbor in the Hawksworth stables, he entreats Miss Snowley to help him develop his polite address. An advantageous match with a wealthy horse owner's daughter presents itself, and Hudson queues up with the other gentlemen in the area to win Lady Rebecca's interest. But why does he find every encounter with her insipid compared to the lively interaction that he has with Miss Snowley?
This Regency romance plays on the trope of two friends trying to find suitable matches for the other...and falling in love with each other in the process. The Regency setting of horse racing is thoroughly explored although the characters were very comfortable with ignoring Regency norms of behavior for unmarried men and women. Bianca was the typical heroine of modern Regencies, almost a spinster and more interested in masculine pursuits than was acceptable for the time. Hudson was hard to pin down as a character, being both socially inadequate and yet also a charmer every time Bianca observed him chatting up the other ladies. For me, one of the secondary characters--Aaron Whitworth, the master of the stables--stole center stage, and I found myself far more interested in this brooding, illegitimate son of an aristocrat than I was in the self-pitying Hudson.
This Regency was a quick and pleasant read, but it didn't particularly stand out to me amongst the other titles in this genre. The Christian elements of the story were less explicit than in some of the other titles by this author; however, Hudson does journey toward trusting God throughout his trials. Fans of clean romances will enjoy this story...and I will enjoy knowing if Aaron Whitworth gets his own story in the next book of this series.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.