Historical Romance Book Club discussion

Discussion thread for the second BOTM for September 2024. Please remember to use the spoiler tags when necessary! (Please see 'some HTML is ok' for instructions.)


Not Quite a Lady by Loretta Chase

Join us in reading this HR that features the theme Surprise reveal!

Synopsis:

Irresistible Force

Darius Carsington is a spectacularly handsome rake with a rare intelligence and no heart, a man who divides his time between bedding loose-moraled women and writing scholarly papers. He finds society's "perfect darlings" exceedingly boring. But there's something intriguing, and not quite perfect, about faultless Lady Charlotte Hayward. He senses a crack under her polished surface, and finding it is a challenge he can't resist.

Immovable Object

Lady Charlotte is so beautiful, charming, and gracious that no one has noticed what an expert she is at Not Getting Married. Early on, she learned a painful lesson about trust... and temptation. In the years since, she's devoted her life to being all she ought to be—and she's not about to let a man like Carsington entice her to do everything she shouldn't.

A Splendid Collision

But the rules of attraction can easily overpower the rules of manners and morals, and sometimes even the best-behaved girl has to follow her instincts, even if it means risking it all.

Happy reading!

I have read this one and really liked it. IMO one of Loretta Chase's better books. I definitely plan to reread it in September.

Jan wrote: "I have read this one and really liked it. IMO one of Loretta Chase's better books. I definitely plan to reread it in September."

Oh yes! I just finished this one--thought I'd read it early since I'll be a bit busier in September. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

I have yet to read Lord of Scoundrels which was on the Oprah Romance list that Missy (?) mentioned a few months back. I wonder how it compares to this book. Was it a good choice for the list, or are there better Loretta Chase novels?

Olivia wrote: "I have yet to read Lord of Scoundrels which was on the Oprah Romance list that Missy (?) mentioned a few months back. I wonder how it compares to this book. Was it a good choice for the list, or are there better Loretta Chase novels?"

Glad you enjoyed the BOTM. Chase does have quite a backlist. Although I haven't read them all, I liked some more than others (as with any author).

Lord of Scoundrels is a classic. Quite different from this BOTM. Personally I prefer the LoS companion book/sequel, The Last Hellion. I also enjoyed Don't Tempt Me, which is a standalone. Chase is a really good writer, and if you enjoyed this one, you might like to try out some of her others for yourself.

Thanks Jan. I think I will try some more Loretta Chase. I've been slowly working my way through The Palace of Rogues, and while it's been enjoyable, I could use a little break from the hotel:)

I read this before and did not enjoy, mostly because I didn't like the hero. Loretta Chase is a great writer, but I will not be joining in on this one.

I plan to start this one today as I have not read it before.

Mariana wrote: "I read this before and did not enjoy, mostly because I didn't like the hero. Loretta Chase is a great writer, but I will not be joining in on this one."

Your feelings about the hero are completely understandable, Mariana. He's no wicked duke, but then again, neither is he "England's Perfect Hero":)

(view spoiler)[What I liked was how unbothered he was by the heroine's scandalous past, that she could open herself up to him and feel completely accepted as she was. (hide spoiler)] I thought that said something quite positive about his character.

I am only through the first chapter so no spoilers here. My question is why Charolette had not spoken with her Stepmother about how to deal with her pregnancy (her concerns in the first chapter) as she would be expected to get married. She is now 27??? I also realize it's a book, so I need to go with it.

Merry wrote: "I am only through the first chapter so no spoilers here. My question is why Charolette had not spoken with her Stepmother about how to deal with her pregnancy (her concerns in the first chapter) as..."

I'm the queen of "going with it" so I love hearing these sorts of questions. I'm thinking that Loretta Chase just needs us to accept this as Charlotte's 'thing' (avoiding marriage and keeping her secret) even though she's obviously swimming against the tide as marriage would be the socially expected outcome eventually. There always needs to be a reason to keep the hero and heroine apart, so here we have Charlotte's secret and Darius's 'logical' brain:)

To be honest, I do think there were a few issues/holes in this story . . . but I really liked it anyway!

Thanks Olivia, I agree about the issues. Chapter 4. minor thoughts (view spoiler)[ The story has repeatedly told us how clever Charolette is at "hiding" her ability to dissuade potential suiters without anyone knowing but TWO men see what she is doing. (hide spoiler)]

I have started my reread and up to Chapter 6. I'm really enjoying this all over again. I like both main characters and the way the story is unfolding. I can see the issues some readers have, but for me it's convincing. I feel as if I 'get' both characters, and I like the way Ms Chase shows us insights into their thoughts and why they behave as they do.

I think it's cute how Darius is confused as his beloved logic is starting to fail him, as he falls for Charlotte. He was so over confident in how he lived his life, and the reader has the fun feeling of him being about to fall. LOL.

I feel for Charlotte and (view spoiler)[the way she hides her continuing grief after having to give up her baby (hide spoiler)]. An unexpected, hushed-up pregnancy at age 16 and a reluctant adoption would not have been an uncommon scenario. I feel Ms Chase handles this issue with compassion and sensitivity.

Jan it is fun to see the couple interacting, Chapter 10 (view spoiler)[ is Pip her son or not. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 13....(view spoiler)[ I have lost keys in my home never to be found but amazingly in a romance you can have a child adopted and then orphaned and show up at your home. I like the turn the main couple have taken. I feel more invested in them. (hide spoiler)]

Merry wrote: "Chapter 13....[spoilers removed]"

Ha, ha, ha! It's not so unlikely, Merry: this very thing happened to me just last week;)

Olivia that is so funny!

I just joined this group. I remember reading and liking Not Quite a Lady. I am going to reread it.

Roberta looking forward to your thoughts.

I finished my reread and once again really enjoyed it. 4 stars again :)

Merry re your Chapter 13 (view spoiler)[ I agree there were a few coincidences LOL. (and LOL to Olivia), But I was still able to just go with it and not feel it was too ridiculous or unbelievable. It was all possible, especially in a rural area, and not completely far-fetched IMO. I didn't let it spoil the very satisfying ending for me. It's so sad to think that in reality this happened to numerous young women over the years who probably did not get the lovely HEA, but missed their lost baby all their lives. (hide spoiler)].

Re the Colonel(view spoiler)[I liked that in the end he wasn't quite as bad as he first seemed. He really believed that Charlotte would be better off without Pip. Yeah, OK he was a scheming pig, but not quite as evil as I first thought. I liked that he genuinely wanted to apologise to Charlotte. He was so shocked that all his planning came to nothing LOL. (hide spoiler)]

I'm feeling a little tempted to go back and reread some of the books about the other Carsington brothers, although from memory this one was my fav.

Jan, I agree with you about the Colonel. I read book 2 before I was writing reviews, so I don't know why I only gave it 3*

Jan wrote: "I finished my reread and once again really enjoyed it. 4 stars again :)

A couple of points, neither of which spoiled the satisfaction of the story for me--so they're just notes, really:

1)Re the Colonel--I agree, Jan: (view spoiler)[ On the one hand, from a story-construction perspective, his role to create tension in the story probably should have been drawn out a bit more. On the other hand, as a reader, I was glad his role as the villain kind of fizzled. I was perfectly happy with a nice and simple HEA. (hide spoiler)]

2)My one disappointment: (view spoiler)[ What happened to the 'mating party'? I thought this was a lost opportunity for some humour but also to tease out the tension a bit more. (hide spoiler)]

I enjoyed reading through all the comments. Almost made me want to give it a second chance.

Olivia, you made a good point about the positive part of his character.

Merry, so true. What works out in books is not our real life. LOL!

Olivia wrote: "2)My one disappointment: (view spoiler)"

Oh yeah I never thought of that. Yeah it could have been fun/funny.