The Accidental Countess

Not being a fan of Melissa Schroeder's more explicit contemporaries, I hesitated to pick up The Accidental Countess. But, after reading some reviews, I took a chance and got it. I loved it. It was such a charming little book. It has wonderfully endearing characters. I am such a sucker for reformed rakes. Sebastian is rescued from freezing to death by our heroine, Colleen. She lives by herself and is a refreshing change from a lot of the heroines in books today. She can take care of herself, is intelligent, and hasn't been used and abused by some man. And, she never has a TSTL moment. Everything she does is thought out and arrived at in a smart manner. I just loved her. And that is something that is hard for me to say. Too often, a book has a great hero, but the female ruins the book for me. Not here, they were both great. I loved the fact that she didn't fall all over Sebastian and I liked the banter between the two when Colleen was first nursing him back to health. Sebastian, coming to realize he loved Colleen, was a sight to behold. You could see the evolution of his feelings and it all felt right. I loved these characters, loved the set up with Douglas and Cicely for the next book, and am hoping that Daniel's book will soon follow. As I said, I'm not a fan of the explicit books around today, so I am glad I took a chance and discovered that Ms. Schroeder had written such an adorable little charmer as The Accidental Countess.

This was just a delightful Regency read. Not having come across Melissa Schroeder's works - as I read mostly historical, I was pleasantly surprised by the sincere, simple warmth and the emotion this book has. All the characters are real - charming; displaying genuine sincerity and heartfelt emotion. With a simple and tried and true plot - THE ACCIDENTAL COUNTESS was a joy to read. All that Colleen MacGregor's life as a spinster is completely changed overnight. How was she to know that saving the life of Sebastian Ware, a drunk whom she finds unconscious in a ditch and almost frozen to death, will change her life forever? After she helps him recover, they are found in a compromising situation by the town vicar and there is no recourse. Much to Colleen's displeasure and refusal - her reputation is ruined so she has to accept Sebastian's offer that they marry. Their agreement is simple - after they are joined in matrimony, he will disappear and she will remain in her cottage. Of course, complications arise in the form of his mother and sister arriving at Colleen's cottage bringing sorrowful tidings. And when she thought things couldn't get any worse - Sebastian Ware is none other than the bloody Earl of Penwyth and she is now a Countess! Uprooted from her simple country life and whisked into London, Colleen tries valiantly to fit in and prevail with the new life. Sebastian's mother and sister love Colleen genuinely and coupled with Sebastian's care for her wellbeing, they make her welcome. She starts developing feelings for her new husband who is quite handsome and solicitous. Our hero and heroine fall deeply in love and it is captivating to watch their magnetic attraction flow flawlessly on the pages. The "accidents" that have taken the lives of his uncle and cousin are no accident and soon Sebastian realizes, with the aid of a Bow street runner that someone wants his title and is indeed trying to kill him. Now the newfound happiness that he has found with his wife turns to anguish as he realizes that his new countess is now in danger. A great book - with great characters and a simple story - beautifully written. A book that is sure to stay in your keeper shelf. Worth every penny of the $13.50 - am sure you will agree!

I completely fell in love with Sebastian and Colleen in THE ACCIDENTAL COUNTESS. This is a heartwarming tale about self-doubt and gaining trust and confidence in oneself as well as in one's partner. I will most assuredly be looking for more of Ms. Schroeder's writing! If you are into historicals with flair, and looking for a great, fun, entertaining read - get this!

I became a Melissa Schroeder fan recently. Drawn to her work because of her involvement in the CHARMING THE SNAKE anthology (I had to have it as an MJ fan), I found an author with strong voice and a fantastic ability to paint pictures. After that first taste, I delved into her e-book offerings, including A LITTLE HARMLESS SEX, THE BOUNTY HUNTER, and THE HIRED HAND. Because all of these books were contemporary or futuristic, I was interested to see Ms. Schroeder deliver on a Regency time period. I was not disappointed. Colleen MacGregor has managed nicely over they years. She has learned to be self-sufficient and relatively happy living by herself. She is lonely, of course, but not enough to sacrifice her standards or morals. She definitely has strong opinion, but all are well-motivated with backing described in a brilliant insertion of backstory. Long and short of it, she finds the hero unconscious in her backyard. Being a caretaker, she cannot leave him out there, in a snowstorm, to die regardless of the puritanical repercussions. Sebastian Ware is a man, a bit misunderstood. He was at a party, last he knew. Now, he's in a strange woman's home, with a horrid headache, and mostly naked. His family members are dropping like flies, and apparently he's next on the list. If that weren't enough on his pained mind, he now has a woman's reputation hanging on by a thread because of her selflessness in saving him. What's a man to do? Ms. Schroeder sucked me in with the first page. The banter, the emotion, and the whole beauty of blossoming love kept me with her right to the last page.

When Colleen MacGregor pulled Sebastian Ware out of a ditch in a snow storm she thought she had saved a drunk from certain death. However, once she got him out of the cold and into her home she discovered that he had been struck on his head and left to die in the snow. With a storm raging outside Colleen has no choice but to allow Sebastian to stay at her home and, since he is injured, she set him up in her bedroom. She never expected to find herself compromised and forced to marry Sebastian when the local vicar stops by to check on her. Colleen and Sebastian are already wed when they get the startling news that Sebastian's cousin has died leaving him the new Earl of Penwyth. Suddenly Colleen is a Countess and on her way to London with a new husband she barely knows but finds herself coming to have feelings for. But Sebastian had sworn never to marry again after the nightmare his first marriage was and most certainly never to allow a woman to into his heart again. Sebastian and Colleen quickly find themselves falling in love but when Sebastian's mysterious enemy sets their sights on Colleen, can Sebastian figure out who is behind these mysterious attacks before it's too late? I have read all of Melissa Schroeder's past releases and enjoyed them but with The Accidental Countess she outdoes herself. The emotional connection between Sebastian and Colleen is so richly woven that the reader finds themselves enthralled waiting for them to have the happy ending they so deserve. As I have said in the past, Melissa Schroeder's books have been entertaining reading but if The Accidental Countess is an example of what we can expect in the future then Melissa Schroeder's future looks bright indeed. Melissa Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed