An Arranged Marriage: Amazon.ca: Jo Beverley: Books

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Product Description

Review

"A SPLENDID LOVE STORY!" -- Romantic Times --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Book Description

The reissue of the first of the successful Company of Rogues romances set in the Regency era, where the leader of the Rogues reconvenes the schoolboy group to assist him in a very tricky situation. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Customer Reviews

41 Reviews

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(7)

Average Customer Review

3.7 out of 5 stars (41 customer reviews)

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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not Ms Beverley's Best!, May 1 2004

By	Mskitty (East Coast U.S.A.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Arranged Marriage (Paperback)

"An Arranged Marriage" is one of Ms Beverley's earlier works, being first published in 1991, and it is also the first in the "Company of Rogues" series, set in Regency England. There are two major problems with this work: the first is that it is almost entirely told from the point of view of the heroine, Eleanor Chivenham, who is pregnant and housebound during most of the book. The most exciting elements, the adventures of the hero Nicholas Delany, happen offstage and are related to the reader by Nicholas at the conclusion of the narrative. The second major problem is that the book opens with the rape of the virginal heroine by Nicholas' brother, who arranges for Nicholas to marry Eleanor, hence the title of the book. Eleanor's reaction to the rape is surprising: she displays about the same level of emotion as if her bottom had been pinched! Even though the author had Eleanor considering throwing herself in the river this reader at least never felt her distress. She is far too understanding and pragmatic, even given the time period and her unhappy family background.

I had a lesser problem with the fact that Nicholas kept up an affair after the marriage to Eleanor, as it made sense on several levels: Nicholas had been spying on the suspected Bonapartist for months before he wed Eleanor, his marriage was not a love match in the beginning, and, as another reviewer pointed out, it was not unusual for men of his station to keep a mistress after marriage. However, for some more traditionally minded romance readers this was a major concern, as it went against the conventions of romance writing -- for me that was a bonus, but I didn't feel it was handled as well as it could have been in this book. Again, I think it was a problem of things being related to us mostly after the fact.

I have read some of the Company of Rogues series out of order, and in my opinion "An Arranged Marriage" is one of the weaker books. While I believe that Ms Beverley is one of today's outstanding writers of Regency and Georgian romances, mysteries are not her strong suit, and the longer Regency novels seem to "require" that there be a mystery. However, her later books are much better as: 1)she alternates point of view and 2)does not merely relate the most exciting parts of the story but actually makes the reader into a participant. This book is a must-read if you are going to complete the entire Compnay of Rogue series, and while IMO it is flawed, it is still a good introduction to the other characters in the "Company."

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5.0 out of 5 stars This Book is a *10*., Mar 11 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Arranged Marriage (Paperback)

Like most women, I've read hundreds of romance novels. I will always remember Nicholas Delaney as one of the top five heros ever created. He's that intriging.

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5.0 out of 5 stars I stayed up all night and read this book until I finished, Jan 16 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Arranged Marriage (Paperback)

Once I started reading this book I could not put it down. I have not read one like it before - the heroine is raped and then marries the brother who carries on an affair with his mistress for over 6 months of their marriage (for his country ofcourse). Who would have thought I would have found this book - one that I could not put down? I sure didn't. But it turned out to be an incredible story. I am glad I was not thrown off by the 3 stars average on Amazon.

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Most recent customer reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars What was Jo Beverley thinking?
I so hate it when characters that have a great potential are used in a less than satisfactory plot! That's what happened with this novel.

I could have loved Nicholas. Read more

Published on Nov 1 2003 by Thea

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Novel!
Beverley is a magnificent story teller and from all her books I found that this one was the best (even better than 'My Lady Notorious' which had me in tears!). Read more

Published on Oct 27 2003 by andry2aek

4.0 out of 5 stars Straining the boundaries of political correctness ...
This is the first romance novel I have read where the hero spends at least 3/4 of the book sleeping with another woman. Read more