The Mad Herringtons

This book has kind of a trad regency feel to it. There is nothing more than kissing between the leads and not much of it, almost all the story takes place in the English countryside, there is a cast of eccentric characters and happily ever afters all around. The story of The Mad Herringtons, the huge, rather crazy family of this tale, is a real charmer. They are all slightly out of their minds, the lusty parents and the wild children in equal measure. The exception to the general family rule of insanity is Aphrodite, the only respectable Herrington. She is about to marry the friendly and equally well behaved Freddie and goes to an English conutryside house party with him, two of her wild sisters and a flirty brother. There, she meets up again with an old flame who broke her heart and realizes that her intended might be better suited to another one of her family members. I really enjoyed this book even though it was full of silly antics and confused romantic interests which are not usually my cup of tea. The Herringtons just never failed to entertain, their interactions with each other were original and funny and they obviously really loved one other at the end of the day. I couldn't get enough of them, even when they made mistakes and acted so naughty. They were truly a wonderful cast of characters. In fact, this book might work better as a comedy of manners with many Shakespearean twists and turns than a romance since there were three ongoing romances and none of them were completely satisfying. Still, this book is a keeper for me based on the sheer enjoyment and endearment of this family of lovable misfits.

Aphrodite loves her family deeply despite the fact they seem wild for society standards. She just doesn't understand why she is not like that. Although Warwick (Thomas) can see in the depths of her eyes that she has the same spirit as her family. When there is a house party thrown for her soon be fiance Fredrick that things begin to heat up and she watches as her many members of her family and herself change. It is a wonderful read and delightful surprise. It's one I intend to eventually add to my personal library.

Being the only sane member of a the Mad Herringtons isn't an easy job but Ditie accepts her role as the responsible sister gracefully. At least until she is engaged to Frederick and the family attends his house party. As the story unfolds, Ditie, short for Aphrodite, longs for the inner freedom to exhibit the wild abandon of her other family members; to have the courage to stand up and tell the whole world exactly what's in her heart.The Mad Herringtons is absolutely delightful. If you haven't read it, you're missing a wonderful, entertaining read that will grab your heart and soul and keep them in its clutches until the very last word.

What a delightful story! I didn't want to put it down - even after I finished it. The heroine, Aphrodite, loves her family in spite of the fact they're ruled by their passions. In her experience, passion only leads to heartbreak and she's determined to not let it rule her life. That puts her in the position of being 'sensible' and as such, her family looks to Aphrodite to help them get out of trouble when one of their mad escapades blows up in their faces. Aphrodite doesn't mind helping her family--much--but she wants a family and home of her own and a nice 'sensible' man to share her life with. After staid Frederick asks for her hand, Aphrodite and her family attend a house party at his country estate--primarily to see if Freddie and she will be a good match. Unfortunately, his mother, a harridan if one ever existed, is there and soon Freddie's cousin, Viscount Thomas Warwick, arrives. Warwick is a rogue's rogue and Aphrodite finds herself more and more tempted by him in spite of all her good intentions.

It's a great story - I thoroughly enjoyed it. The heroine, Aphrodite, Diti for short,is the only "responsible" one in a crazy family - 13 children with #14 on the way. All people of passion except for Diti. She almost gets engaged to a dull young man who dotes on his monster of a mother. Diti and her sisters go to the dull Frederick's estate for two weeks to see if he and Diti "suit". The outlandish Warwick, a distant relative, is there too. He hates to see the lovely Diti in such a mismatch, especially since he fancies her himself. A great read with lots of fun, based on A Midsummer's Night Dream.