Sandy M’s review of Just One Season in London by Leigh Michaels
Historical Romance published by Sourcebooks Casablanca 1 Jul 11
This is only my second book by Leigh Michaels, and one of the elements I like in her stories is the way she integrates three romances into one book. She did that quite successfully in The Mistress’ House, which I reviewed back in February. While this is still a good read, the success of the three couples’ romances just isn’t there in Just One Season in London.
Viscount Ryecroft – Rye as he’s affectionately known – is one of those heroes who needs to marry an heiress, especially to make sure his mother is taken care of after he marries and also give his younger sister a season to secure her future. Hoping to find another way to bring in money to also fix up Ryecroft Manor, he heads to London after meeting the charming and mysterious Lady Stone, who has taken an interest in Rye and is willing to help solve a few of his problems.
Lady Miranda Ryecroft, mother to Rye and Sophia, has her own ideas about how to obtain the cash necessary while sparing her children the dire circumstances of marrying for money instead of love. Finagling a visit to an old friend, Miranda then works up the courage to offer herself as mistress to her one-time beau, Marcus Winston, uncle to the Earl of Carrisbrooke. Marcus, of course, is much more imposing as a man than the boy she remembers, along with being so very handsome and sexy, and Miranda finds herself fighting desire when he kisses and touches her. But when he refuses her proposal, she flees in embarrassment.
Sophia also gets into the drama when she figures it would be better for her, instead of Rye, to sacrifice by marrying for money. She hatches a plan to hightail it to London with Robert Wellington, the banker who’s renting Ryecroft manor for the season while the family is absent. After arrangements are made, and after Mr. Wellington first laughs at her and then guarantees he will get her to London, Sophie is surprised when Rye returns home with news that all is set up for the entire family to be guests of Lady Stone, who is also willing to host the ball that will introduce Sophie to society.
Rye is taken with Portia, Lady Stone’s companion. She’s beautiful, at times acerbic, but knows the ins and outs of societal mores and does her job well. Of course, she has a secret that not many are privy to. The banter between her and Rye is fun, especially in the beginning when she makes her opinion known of men who marry for money. But Rye goes with the flow, polite but giving as good as he gets. You can see their attraction from a mile away while they both deny it to the core.
All the plans made don’t go as well as hoped, so Sophia continues with her own plan to save the family and encourages the courtship of the Earl of Carrisbrooke, a poetry-spouting youngster. But it’s Robert Wellington who makes her smile, makes her laugh, and makes her tingle. In actuality, we don’t get much interaction with these two and no real intimacy whatsoever. Their attraction isn’t even said aloud until pretty close to the end of the book. I’d rather have more with them instead of the insipid earl, who at this point is not hero material.
Rye and Portia are more interesting, mostly because their attraction goes further, becoming unlikely lovers with conflict still abounding around them. Portia’s secret finally does come out, and Rye is caught unaware, questioning why she didn’t confide in him. They are the main couple in the story, but to me they’re not the most interesting.
That would be Marcus and Miranda, and that’s because theirs is a more mature love, one that means so much more than most couples starting out. Their history gives them a step up from first love, which Miranda now knows doesn’t last. Marcus is determined to have Miranda and shows her at every opportunity how it could be between them. I thoroughly enjoyed these two from beginning to end.
Whereas all three stories in Ms. Michaels’ previous book were all quite enjoyable, this one, for me, gave me only two while the third is just luke warm. But it’s still a nice story that will satisfy the historical fan in you.
Grade: B
Summary:
Meet the Ryecrofts…the family that courts together.
RYE — Viscount Ryecroft is a young man with a problem. Make that two problems: He has a beautiful sister to marry off — but no money to fund a London Season for her. Perhaps he needs to find an heiress for himself first?
SOPHIE – Miss Sophie Ryecroft is willing to marry for the good of the family — but since she can’t meet the sort of man Rye has in mind for her except in London, she’s looking for alternatives.
MIRANDA — Rye and Sophie’s mother, the dowager (but still young) Lady Ryecroft, will do anything for the sake of her children — even taking up again with a man she knew long ago, and offering to be his mistress.
Only in London can the Ryecrofts find their destinies…
No excerpt available.
