50 of 51 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
3 authors, 3 romances, and 1 seamless novel., Dec 29 2010
By Old Latin teacher - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Lady Most Likely...: A Novel in Three Parts (Mass Market Paperback)
(Correction: Make that 4 romances because the married couple who host the house party, setting for the novel, also have a lovely and romantic relationship.)
I don't often enjoy book compilations by various authors because the books are usually made up of individual and separate stories. This one, besides being written by 2 of my favorite HR authors and 1 that used to be a fave, is actually one novel with 3 romances woven into it pretty seamlessly. Everything takes place at a country house party given by Lady Carolyn Finchley to find a wife for her brother Hugh Dunne, the Earl of Briarly. Many eligible young ladies are invited and also worthy gentlemen to round out the numbers. The book is great fun, light-hearted and romantic with very likeable characters. The plot is not at all unusual. It's the formulaic house party romance, but it is developed deftly and humorously and is well written because all the contributors are skilled and experienced writers of HRs.
Those readers who are familiar with the writing styles of these 3 authors will be able to tell where one author's contribution merges into the next one's (especially the transition from Quinn to Brockway) but it is not too obvious or awkward, but rather a smooth transition that maintains the characters' personalities and way of behaving throughout the novel.
This is a book to read when you're in the mood for a feel-good, warm, romantic story. No angst, no Big Understandings, no Dark Secrets, no villains or abductions. Nothing but character-driven love stories. Keep in mind that because there are three romances in one novel, they are not in the depth that you might like. I enjoyed the book for the novelty of it and the skill of the authors.
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyable with a few caveats, Dec 28 2010
By Maria Cocco "geek, nerd and dweeb" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Lady Most Likely...: A Novel in Three Parts (Mass Market Paperback)
More 3.25 stars than 3 stars, the story as a whole is enjoyable. It's light and fluffy fun, which is the most I ask for for a novel like this. Because it's 3 romances told in one book, there isn't much focus on any one character. That's a drawback when you quite like a character as I did Gwendolyn. She was completely refreshing and not at all a typical heroine. The rest of the heroines were less interesting to me. The romances were fast, but two of the three couples had history. I'm not totally sure I buy Alec and Gwen's HEA but I'll buy their infatuation. I think their story would have been better told in a full length novel devoted to them.
There's a small error that took me right out of the book. For a small portion of the book Carolyn becomes Caroline. Small annoyance but if it's only in the Kindle version perhaps it can be corrected? She's a major character, so it's a bit distracting and took me right out of the fantasy of the book itself.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good but not Essential, Dec 30 2010
By E. A. Montgomery - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Lady Most Likely...: A Novel in Three Parts (Mass Market Paperback)
I like all of the authors involved in this project, in fact I can't stop raving about Storming the Castle: An Original Short Story with Bonus Content, but this novel in three parts left me with mixed feelings. The Lady Most Likely is at least as good as a selection of unconnected novellas. Compared to an older Signet Regency collection it holds up fine. As a full length novel it's connected well and the 'voice' of the book works well as a group. The problem is that as enjoyable as some paces are, others feel rushed. Each section needs more - instead of three novellas making the novel, it reads like three novels cut to novella size. I would still recommend it, I really did enjoy it, but it's not greater than the sum of it's parts. (Dropping another star was a tired cliche used for one of the characters past love interests. It is so far past the time to retire that one, I can't tell you. But it's a personal peeve and may not affect other's enjoyment.) 3 1/2 stars really, not quite a 4.