His Last Lover

Wow, I don't often think a book deserves a 5, for most have something that is not quite up to par. I cannot find anything to pick at in this one. James is a riveting character, unloved by his father and heartbroken by the disloyalty of his mother and death of his stepmother. He guards his heart and treasures his privacy, never letting his generosity show or sharing affection with anyone. His responsibilities are enormous involving an ill (and ill-tempered) father and several siblings that pop up, or are mentioned throughout the story. Along comes Marguerite, a Frenchwoman, with lies, laughter and burdens of her own. She touches him as no one else ever has and she takes on the role of housekeeper during a time of crisis. The main house has been burned by his father and the ruin must be picked through, servants must be supervised and life must go on. Marguerite takes on the tasks and breathes life back into Braemoor. But can James trust her? Will he let her in his heart? Will she be "his last lover?" The romance is compelling and sometimes I despaired of it ever ending happily! Not light-hearted, the emotions this novel evoked were incredible. A "must-read" and a keeper. I am off to find other Mary Blayney books - there are those other siblings I mentioned!

I have no idea when this bok came out or how long ago but all I know is that it was the very first romance novels I had ever read. NOw since then I have read over 100 novels (much to my mothers dismay)and I have found that this is one of the best. The way the charaters work together in this story and learn to depend, listen to, and love each other really makes this story bueatiful. Now most people would probably think what deos a 14 year old girl know ? Well when that 14 year old girl reads during class, after school, on the bus, at swimteam pratice and during american idol(which every mother cant get their teens away from) I would say she knows a whole lot.From: an avid and respectical romance reader at age 14

With this second installment in the Braedon family chronicles, Mary Blayney (the authour) completely lived up to my expectations and delivered an interesting and engaging novel that is (spectacularly) well written to boot. This time around, the hero of the piece is the eldest (and much despised) son, James Braedon, Viscount Crandall.The novel opens with James returning to Braemoor (the family estate) only to find it in flames. It is believed that his father, the Marquis of Straeford, may have started the estate on fire during one of his deranged episodes. Now, James is faced with trying to rebuild the house, maintain the estate as well as care for a cold and uncaring father whose bad humours are going from bad to worse. On top of it all, half the staff seems to have decamped, refusing to work anymore for the evil and mad marquis. Desperate to hire a housekeeper in order to alleviate some of the burdens of maintaining the household, James (reluctantly) hires a young Frenchwoman, Marguerite Voisson to the post. The last thing he expected was that Marguerite, who has experienced more than her fair share of trouble and heartache, but, who nevertheless seems to have maintained a rather optimistic and pragmatic way of looking at things, would affect him so, and pierce through the careful armour of indifference that he had erected to keep the world at bay. Or that her charm and warm nature would awaken a yearning in him. But James had always vowed that he would never allow an emotion such as love to affect him. What then of his feelings for Marguerite? Will James open his heart to her? Or will he decide that he has suffered enough heartache in his life and rebuff the love that Marguerite is offering?This is a romance novel to be read and savoured. A lot of the novel deals with both how Marguerite settles into her job and wins the approval and affection of all those around her, and how her relationship with James progresses from sympathy and empathy to love. Quite a bit of the novel also deals with James's background and why his father hates him so. As such, if you're looking for an 'easy' read all about tea parties and flirtations, this may not be the book for you. The storyline for "His Last Lover" is much more serious in nature, and the tone is also much more sombre. But it was written in a sensitive and intelligent manner that it made for compelling and riveting reading. I loved "His Last Lover." You really get to appreciate what a wonderful storyteller Mary Blayney is with this novel. And other than to note that the story unfolds seamlessly (though at a moderate pace), and that the characters were all brilliantly and vividly painted, all I'm going to do is recommend that you go out and buy or borrow this book.

James Braedon arrives home to find his house on fire. When his servants inform him that his father is to blame, James is not surprised. His father has been disturbed since the death of his second wife, and an apoplexy further incapacitated him. James's relationship with his father has always been troubled, but now matters deteriorate even further. And to make matters worse, James's housekeeper quits, leaving no one to supervise the salvage of the house.Enter Marguerite Voisson, a French lady whose own house was burned by an angry mob during the Revolution when she was a child. She takes on the housekeeper's job and soon puts his house in order and brings an unexpected joy into his life.The topic of mental illness in the Regency period adds an interesting dimension to this story. Marguerite realizes that the father's stroke has caused him to mix up common words, which aggravates him further, and James agrees that the latest medical research confirms this diagnosis. But most compelling is the way the hero and heroine overcome their troubled pasts and open themselves to love. This is a fine story of a wounded hero and the unusual lady who helps him heal. This is the sequel to His Heart's Delight -- brother Morgan Braedon's story -- though it's not necessary to read the first to enjoy this one. As an avid Regency reader, I'm always pleased to discover a promising new author. I look forward to the next installment.