Much Obliged

Regency readers everywhere may now rejoice. The very enchanting "Lord Stanhope's Proposal" was not a fluke. Jessica Benson's second book, "Much Obliged" is every bit as wonderful as the first one was. This is not always the case, as many of us have learned to our sorrow. Here we have John Fitzwilliam, Earl of Claremont, who was betrothed to Adelaide while she was still in her crib, both fathers being age-old buddies. However, as is usually the case, distance does its thing, and now that the younger ones are of an age to marry, they're rather disinclined. Neither father is still around to provide any nudges, which is also a hindrance to their once-grand plot. Addie's father was somewhat of a gambler, however, and left her and her younger sister Justine, with pockets to let, but in the care of their Aunt Honoria. Addie has a pair of very special skills, which she is not at all hesistant to utilize in the necessity to keep them all fed and clothed and reasonably warm. Her father was a best friend of the noted pugilist 'Gentleman' Jackson, who has retired from the ring as a fighter, but runs the noted salon where other gentlemen may work out with him from time to time, and learn the art of manly protection. Addie learned all about this science at an early age, and is now considered to be very knowledgeable on the subject by none other than the Gentleman himself. Her other skill is the written word, and she combines these two activities to pen an anonymous column about the happenings at Jackson's salon. When Fitzwilliam comes to grief at the hands of a friend, what worse will happen to him when he is challenged to defend Addie's honor -- in the ring? Jackson and Addie set up a training regimen to be conducted at Claremont's country estate, which promptly turns into a farcical house party, complete with encroaching Mamas, (none of whom are at all friendly with any of the others) hopeful daughters, a know-it-all son (temporarily betrothed to Addie, in what she saw as a self-defence mechanism -- she needed protecting from herself as well as from Fitzwilliam), an abundance of dogs, tempermental servants, you name it--it's to be found at Kenton House. Along with lots of Benson's wonderful ways with humor and words. A triumph! Now, we can only--and eagerly--anticipate the next sure-to-be-delightful opus.

Ah, Saturday. And a perky little book to wile away the time while awash in a rainy day outside and laundry day inside. So, what to do but read while-u-wait. Here is a wickedly humorous quickie by a new author, who, if she sticks to her own devilishly engaging and very hip style of writing about intellectually empowered women who know what they want, yes, even in Regency England, will become quite successful in a genre otherwise all too full of vapid, victimized, damsels-in-distress which, to this reader is soo boring.The heroine in this tale is Addie who is betrothed by arrangement to her lifelong heartthrob the naughty "rake" John Fitzwilliam, Earl of Claremont. The Earl, however, still has a whole bushelful or two of wild oats to sow and wants no part of marriage for he is content with his lightskirt du jour and relishes his freedom and bachelorhood. Yes, he would "do right" by Addie, "only if", but he really would prefer that she release him from the marriage contract that was brought about by their respective parents, and for her to move on and get married to someone else.So he arranges an evening out with Addie and family to facilitate the romance between her sister and his best friend Drew, respectably accompanied by their maiden aunt. They all go to a Winter Festival at the notorious Vauxhall where he believes that during a private moment he can ask her to set aside their arranged future marriage. She assents, but, as she reviews their near impoverished conditions brought about by the bad fiscal management of her late father, she believes herself forced to accept a proposal from a former suitor the really repellant, albeit rich, and totally hypochondriacal Wallace Raines who is doing a rerun for a bride and offers again for her hand. Alas, she is completely unsuited for this medieval-minded moron, and in her heartbreak over losing Fitzwilliam she attempts to convince herself that she was right to accept the undesirable suitor in order to preserve her security and reputation. Her conflict is hightened by her secret source of income garnered from her highly successful "illicit" writing skills as an anonymous "gossip" columnist which may be discovered by society and ruin any marital prospects for herself, her sister or her aunt.But, Fitzwilliam, in a moment of lust kisses Addie and begins to wrestle with a burgeoning conflict heretofore unknown to him. He realizes that he is slowly falling "in like" and then into love with her and, much to his dismay, wakes up to smell the coffee after she has betrothed herself to dear Wallace and his ever present, controlling mother. Literally.The plot is fairly predictable but the hilarious dialog and madcap twists and turns by the adorably likable and well suited hero and heroine makes this story quite amusing as they attempt to untangle themselves from the misbegotten mess that they have each created respectively. Much Obliged is the second novel by Ms. Benson and according to other reviews

I'm a voracious romance reader but not normally a fan of regency. A friend told me about Much Obliged and when I read it I felt that a new romance talent had arrived on the market. If you are a fan of Nora Roberts, Jayne Anne Krentz, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, or Stephanie Laurens you will love this book. It's great writing, funny, romantic and the hero and heroine are real characters and not "caricatures". The plot holds together, and the theme of a female boxing coach is such an original idea. I can't wait to read her next one!!!!!

I found MUCH OBLIGED lived up to the high expectations I had held because of loving Jessica Benson's first book so much. It was such a refreshing change to have a Regency hero who could not box well and to find out the reason. Fitz was no wimp for he proved it in other ways. I liked to see how he worked out his uncertainties about the ability of a man from his family to love. Addie was refreshingly different as well. I especially enjoyed the very amusing scenes at the breakfast table, laughing aloud at them. This is a keeper, a good comfort read.

Jessica Benson's latest light-hearted romp through Regency England offers readers a quick, witty read. Hilarious contretemps ensue when the heroine, the anonymous author of a boxing column, is called upon to "coach" the hero in the art of the sport. This refreshing twist places Much Obliged on my "keeper shelf."