The Paid Companion

First book I've read by this author and could not stop reading. H/H were engaging from the start! Plot was great from beginning to end

I have never read (or heard) any other works by the author (in any of her names) so comments comparing it to other works have no relevance for me, I judge the book on its own merits. Elenora Lodge is forcibly expelled from her comfortable life and forced to find work to survive, rather than joining a brothel she becomes a "paid companion" but does poorly as she has too much spirit. Arthur is introduced as a cold-blooded man who won't even chase after his fiancee when she runs off with another man. His decision to obtain a "pretend" fiancee by simply paying for her services makes complete sense. The two of them meet in a striking scene that sends sparks and gives a delicious tingle of anticipation. The reader knows that these two are destined for each other but they will both fight it until the end. I found the book to be an outstanding read, the characters were larger-than-life in a perfect sort of way, just the way they ought to be in a romance. Elenora is a "diamond in the rough", perfectly suited to life among the rich and powerful, she always knows how to act, always knows the dance steps, never makes a mistake, just the sort of heroine that the reader can identify with and root for. Arthur is the perfect gentleman, strong silent, knows how to get things done. He effortlessly sweeps through the scenes taking command and fighting his natural tendencies to make passionate love to Elenora, all of which makes him a strong leading man perfectly suited for this style of book. The characters are introduced with prologues that I originally thought were simply to give a sense of the character and how they came into their present situation but the scenes turned out to be pivotal during the book giving plenty of "aha" moments when you realize if an action had gone differently they could not possibly succeed. The murder mystery was well handled, I was very interested in the science of it and how it was gradually discovered. Each clue seemed to lead naturally to the next and their handling of it was expertly done. It gave a nice counterpoint to the budding romance, keeping the plot from bogging down too much. The version I obtained was the unabridged CD. Michael Page does an outstanding job handling the various characters and voices. One can hear the difference between each person, more importantly one can hear the desperation or the sarcasm or pleading in the voices. Far from a simple reading of the words, Mr. Page converts it into an audio adaptation simply with the use of his voice. He does not get self-conscious when the bodice starts ripping but keeps the proper sense of wonder and feeling to reflect how they felt about each other. Nothing is perfect of course, I thought the ending scene was overly simplified and missed a lot of the passion and convincing I was looking forward to, and the characters really were incredibly perfect.... But these are minor quibbles of a great book. I highly recommend both the novel and the audio adaptation.

This book has got the old Krantz/Castle/Quick sprit back but even better if that is possible. I've been a long time fan of her's but have been a bit dissapointed is some of her later books. But this one hits the spot. Compelling, believable characters, good plot line and a bit of fun along with the suspense, romance, and action.

The Paid Companion is one of the best Amanda Quick's I've read for a while. The pace is fast, the plot compelling, and the characters likeable.Elenora loses her home and is forced to take up a position as a paid companion, but there is more to her employer, Arthur, than meets the eye. I'm always a sucker for this kind of plot - I loved Amanda Grange's Marriage at the Manor, which is an Edwardian along similar lines - and Amanda Quick does it justice. There's plenty of wit, humor and adventure, as Arthur tries to track down a killer, and of course there's romance.I've not been all that keen on her last few books but this definitely has the old sparkle. Recommended.

Fabulous! "Paid Companion" returns us to the Quick of old, giving us charming characters, a neat little suspense plot, and a wonderful happily-ever-after!I wasn't as big a fan of the Lavinia/Tobias books as I had been of the majority of the earlier Quick efforts, so it was with some trepidation that I went out and paid an egregious sum for "Paid Companion!" Never fear! I devoured this one in one day! Elenora ranks up there with Harriet ("Ravished") and Emma ("I Thee Wed") as one of my favorite Quick heroines, and Arthur is honestly one of the more realistic, well-rounded heroes Quick has imagined.I honestly found the supporting characters a bit less well-developed than in some of Quick's best, and the mystery/suspense element lacked some depth as well. Still, the main characters, and the development of their romance, more than made up for it.All in all, a big five stars for this enjoyable romp in the classic Quick style.

Wow! I just finished "The Paid Companion" and it is great. This book has all the things you look for in an Amanda Quick novel.Unlike her last three books, we have a wonderful heroine, Elenora Lodge, who has lost everything because of her step-father. Like the best Quick heroines, she doesn't take it lying down. She has a PLAN. A little (very little) downcast, she is seeking a new job as a paid companion, when our hero, Arthur, the Earl of St Merryn enters.He is seeking a lady to play his bethrothed. Through twists and turns, with humor and wit, we follow the adventures of the merry pair. Arthur is hunting the killer of his uncle, and plans to detour the marriage minded ton away, by introducing Elenora to them as his fiancee.Both soon discover they are well matched in the brains department and Elenora becomes Arthur's partner in the search for a killer. They not only find adventure, they also find each other. I really enjoyed this book. From the descriptions of a weary, marital-minded aristocracy, to the passionate love scenes, this is pure Quick.Thanks Amanda!