A Most Unconventional Match

I was not expecting such a delightful story that made me really care about the characters. Hal is an unlikely hero for a historical romance. He is smart but inarticulate. She is not the feisty heroine that I have come to expect to find in my historical romances. Together, they create a quiet magic that is engrossing to follow and surprisingly never makes for a dull story.

The story surprised. I was pleasantly surprised. It is a wonderful story. She is an excellent author!

Newly widowed, Elizabeth Lowery is at her wit's end. Her much older husband and his spinster sister had always taken care of the finances and household, leaving her to concentrate on her painting and her son. Now her husband is gone, leaving more problems than she could have anticipated, her own family is out of the country, and her sister-in-law has taken to her bed out of grief. Overwhelmed and still grieving herself, Elizabeth isn't sure what to do. Due to his aversion to beautiful women and his own awkward nature, Hal Waterman has avoided Elizabeth for years. As the best friend of her sister's husband, however, he knows it is his duty to help her straighten out her finances. Determined to keep his interactions with her brief and businesslike, he comes during her painting time. Then he meets her adorable young son and begins to see that Elizabeth is nothing like what he thought she was. Could she ever feel more than friendship for a man like him? A Most Unconventional Match is a most unconventional Regency. In a genre often populated by heroines who are anachronistically independent or too stupid to live, Elizabeth stands out. I normally hate indecisive and helpless women, yet I liked Elizabeth very much and found her realistic. Her air of helplessness is not due to a weak character, but to shyness and her husband and sister-in-law's overprotective actions. She wants to run her own life, she just doesn't know how. Hal also stands out amongst the crop of rakes, dukes, spies, and scarred, tortured heroes of most Regencies. Although he is a large man (which he sees as a flaw) and his manner of speaking is awkward, he's basically just a decent, kind man who is understandably insecure at times. He doesn't fit any of the hero molds, which only makes him more appealing. The romantic tension between the two of them was very well done. The conflicts in A Most Unconventional Match are interesting without being overdramatic or unrealistic. I love Regencies, but I admit to being tired of many of the clichéd plots, which is why I found A Most Unconventional Match so refreshing. It's a sweet, engaging love story about two people who aren't quite what others would want them to be, trying to make their own ways in the world. I'll be waiting for Julia Justiss's next book! Cassie reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

This is one of those surprising novels that Harlequin publishes in a rare blue moon. Every once in a while, they put out a romance that is shockingly good. I hope more readers discover this gem. Most romance readers bypass Harlequin as elementary and poorly written. But, Julia Justiss has done a remarkable job of writing an intelligent novel with great dialogue and indepth characterization. The hero, in particular, is a refreshing character who never really speaks in complete sentences throughout the book due to a childhood stutter. I thought that would get on my nerves, but interestingly enough, never bothered me. In fact, his discomfort with the spoken word made him seem more real and novel in the often boring world of pattern-card rakes and noblemen in Romance. The story is well-told and never dull. There are plenty of dramatic climaxes and a very satisfying ending. But, for the most part, I was so pleasantly surprised by Justiss's knowledge of Regency England. She uses offhand details about the time period as if it's just throwaway information instead of calculatedly placing the hist. info like other authors do. Additionally, she almost never resorts to modern, colloquial language (which absolutely drives me nuts with other historical romances...Julia Quinn anyone?). Her characters speak in the context of the times. All in all, this was a wonderful find. I hope readers discover this tucked away on the Harlequin stand. I almost passed it by and am so glad I didn't!

Seven years prior, Hal Waterman had met Elizabeth Lowery - one look at the exquisite beauty and he'd run the other way - she was just too beautiful for the likes of him. Now Hal finds himself calling on the newly widowed Elizabeth to find her lovelier than ever with her household in an uproar. Knowing her family including his very best friend Nicky to be away, Hal knows he must step up and offer his assistance to look after Elizabeth and her charming son David until his return. As much as he is attracted he knows that Elizabeth would never consider him anything other than a friend because of his speech impediment, reticent ways, and evasion of society strictures which make most people avoid him. Tending to be a bit on the reclusive side herself, Elizabeth finds Hal to be a comforting presence not only to her but to young David. As much as Elizabeth loved and cherished her dear departed husband, he never aroused the passionate feelings she was now guiltily experiencing when in the company of Hal Waterman, this most handsome, gentle, and kindly giant. *** What an original and creative break from the usually perfect heroes that most romance authors create these days. Ms. Justiss has written one of the loveliest romances I've read this year with a hero who can't express his true feelings or carry on a conversation with anything but the briefest of comments. Highly intelligent and extremely wealthy, Hal is usually frozen with fear and totally tongue tied when in the vicinity of beautiful women. This behavior expertly shown, was a result of his beautiful mother who was horridly unfeeling towards him as a child and loved nothing more than to indulge herself with his fortune. Hal has escaped his mother's attempts at marrying him off for years as she parades a multitude of insipid beautiful prospective brides in his vicinity. Hal believes that like his mother, beautiful debutantes do not see him, but only his deep pockets. Because of this, and Elizabeth's great beauty, Hal originally thought Elizabeth was cast from the same mold as most beautiful women, but the author draws great depth in showing how misguided his original opinion has been, especially where Elizabeth is concerned. Ms. Justiss took great care in developing her characters and the leads, along with young David were lovingly created, along with the overbearing mother from hell. The romance and the obligatory hurdles (evil money lenders, a disreputable rake, and an over-eager debutante) to overcome gave this story additional interest and very entertaining scenarios. Hal's blunt speaking, when he could find the words, was truly an inspired touch. Bottom line: This was a totally refreshing Regency that held me captive from the moment I turned the first page combining sweet sensuality and beautifully crafted characters. Highly recommended. Marilyn Rondeau, for www.ck2skwipsandkritiques.com