Most helpful customer reviews
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4.0 out of 5 stars
A solid 4 & 1/2 stars, Jun 28 2004
Read out of order, but it's one of my favorites in the series. Devon is so full of himself, so conceited, so vain....it's both exasperating and amusing. When he's considering all the reasons Pamela ought to marry him, he happens to catch a glimpse of himself in the mirror and adds, "Handsome. Dashing." to his mental list. He's right, but he knows it in the most concetied way. He was not, however, raised that way as we see from his wonderful grandfather. So, over the course of the book, Devon's eyes are opened about the state of his heart and he matures greatly. He and Pamela suffer from the same emotional turmoil: an inability to trust in the fidelity of the opposite sex because of the actions of a parent. This, more than his conceit, is the obstacle they must overcome. We see multiple aspects of Pamela's personality: the warm, idealistic young woman who loves children and just wants peace & security, the no-nonsense governness who is prim and proper and completely willing to look down her nose at her unfeeling employer, and the woman of passion who loves despite the walls she has built around her heart. Pamela is freed more than she grows as a person. And her character and kindness help guide Devon's reformation. Beth is a delightful child, though she sometimes seems old for her age. I would like to have seen more of why Devon's best friend was his best friend. I thought the counterfeiting mystery could have had more depth. Motivations could have been stronger, and the characters involved could have been better defined. But the romance is marvelous, and as several reviewers have noted, hot. An excellent book, rated down from 5 stars only for the superficiality of the counterfeiting plot.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Nobody does it better than Christina Dodd..., Mar 30 2004
Rich and arrogant, Devon Mathewes, earl of Kerrich, enjoys his rakish lifestyle, and has no wish for change. However, he has recently fallen out of favor with Queen Victoria, his friend since childhood. She wishes him to give up his roaming, and settle down to a respectable life with one woman, or she will reveal an embarrassing indiscretion he has kept secret for years. To get back in her good graces, Devon has devised a plan. He approaches the Distinguished Academy of Governesses to hire a governess. There are a few stipulations for her employment. She must be plain, dowdy, past her prime, and have given up on all possibility of marriage. Because he is just fed up with women showing up naked in his bedchamber, and throwing themselves at his handsome, irresistible self. This governess must also procure a male orphan for him to sponsor, therefore giving the illusion he has changed into a stable, respectable person, without resorting to marriage. The young and beautiful Miss Pamela Lockhart does not meet these requirements, but she'll have to do. Disguising her beauty beneath large plain clothing, makeup and ugly glasses, she fools Devon, but not his wiley old grandfather who keeps her secret. Devon finds himself attracted to Pamela's mind, if not her appearance. And the orphan, Beth, is becoming more important to him than she should. Devon is finding it hard to concentrate on the other problems plaguing him and his family. Somebody is counterfeiting money, and it's threatening the family bank. In the end, this person may end up a threat to those he now finds he can't live without. Especially when he "uncovers" the real Pamela. This second book of the Governess Bride series is not only one of my series favorites, but one of my all-time favorite romances as well. The strong, independent and pragmatic Pamela has aristocratic roots, but has purposefully avoided marriage thus far. The fact she basically seduces Devon the first time was refreshing, and perhaps one of the steamiest love scenes I've ever read. I love the fact Ms. Dodd's heroines are frequently not above a little assertive seduction of their own! Devon was wonderful also - he came off as being so arrogant and sure of himself, but underneath he had a big heart. But probably the best character of all was Devon's grandfather who provided so much of the humor in this book. He was a riot! The intrigue was a nice extra also, although we knew who the culprit was. So to sum it up, this book was funny, sexy, well written, and difficult to put down. An all around winner from one of my favorite authors!! Don't miss it!
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3.0 out of 5 stars
An acceptable afternoon's diversion, May 21 2003
This is the first novel by Christina Dodd I've read, and although I found it to be an okay read, she didn't match the wit, grace or style of my favorite authors.The humorous moments between Kerrich and Pamela seem contrived and forced, but I admit I cracked a smile a few times. In the beginning, I liked Pamela, and thought she was the spunky character whose story I would enjoy reading. Unfortunately, at some rather abrupt moment, Dodd gives her characteristics that are so far removed from what we've been told to that point, that it's hard not to be jerked out of the novel and wonder what in the heck just happened. I'll also agree with another reviewer in saying that I didn't like Kerrich. He was too cold in the beginning for his sudden reversal of heart to seem anything but preposterous. This had the makings of a wonderful story, but Dodd falls flat in the character department. I gave it three stars because it isn't the worst romance I've read, and I will probably give Dodd another chance in the hopes that her writing will mature.
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by Christina Dodd
by Christina Dodd
by Christina Dodd
by Christina Dodd
by Christina Dodd
