The Reasons for Marriage

I need to explain right away that I am old fashioned in lots and lots of ways. One particular way is in my preference for romance novels which place their emphasis on the romance aspect of a story. This Stephanie Laurens novel is exactly that, it is a story about the romance between two unwilling people which turns into love. This book was originally published in 1995 and then reissued in 2004. Even after such a short time (in the grand scheme of things) much has changed in the world of romance fiction. The two aspects which make me cringe the most in the modern version of a romance novel are the "super feisty" heroine and the "sex manual" approach to romantic interludes. Both modern writing techniques can turn me off in a heartbeat if they are not handled very, very carefully by a competent writer. I'm pleased to say that neither of those approaches is used in this book. Lenore Lester is actually living in a dream world but she hasn't realized that yet. She is the center of the family consisting of her father, an aunt and three brothers. She is the one who handles all the estate matters and manages the household. Everyone in the neighborhood knows that it is she who keeps everything at Lester Hall running smoothly. She also enjoyes reading subjects of an intellectual nature but makes sure only her family is aware of that fact. After all, women are not supposed to use their brains for anything substantial. After a serious illness suffered by her father, Lenore agrees to have a week long house party in order to help raise his spirits even more. Her brothers will invite their friends with an eye to slightly unconventional behavior but it will not concern Lenore, she will just remain completely in the background, as usual. She is sure none of the gentlemen invited will pay her the least bit of attention because she has managed to come up with a disguise guaranteed to turn away any interest. Jason, the Duke of Eversleigh has come to the realization that he must marry in order to carry on his ancestral lineage. His younger brother was supposed to have accomplished this feat but his death in the battle of Hougoumont changed the agreement the brothers had made with each other. Now Jason begins to search for the perfect wife. Perfect for him, that is. One who fulfills all his reasons for getting married but will not intrude too often on the life he expects to continue to lead. His arrogance is such that he actually explains to Lenore the reasons for his wanting to marry her but she understands that he does not include love as a possibility. His jaded lifestyle has taught him that love within the ton is not needed, wanted, nor expected. This is one of those old fashioned books which allows the reader to use their own imagination to fill in the blanks. Just as in the old black and white movies, this author chooses to fade to black during the physical aspect of this marriage. I wholeheartedly endorse that decision. As I said at th

I am frankly stumped how people can dislike this book! Compared to Stephanie Laurens's more recent works, this book is a jewel. Even compared to most of the other books I've read, I'd still rather pick this one up. When the Duke of Eversleigh needs a wife, he sets his sight - though it was unseen - on Lenore Lester, and stubbornly pursues her. Lenore, quite satisfied running her father's home, is reluctant, but the attraction that pulses between her and the arrogant duke intrigues her. Quite by accident, she finds herself giving in and marrying him. Amidst the English countryside and London social swirl, Lenore and Jason find out just how much they need and, yes, love each other. This is a book that should be a permanent addition to every Regency lover's bookshelf.

Whomever thought this a waste of time must have just come off of reading some bodice ripper consumed under the influence of a potent drink and perhaps a desperate need to indulge in escapist lust. I adored this story because these two were simply not standard and we were allowed to watch them actually move beyond their self-imposed preconceptions and barriers. Our heroine had humor, wit, a great deal of command and yet a wistfulness and a naivete that made it absolutely enchanting to watch the hero decimate all of her defenses. Likewise the humor had been so callous about choosing his bride and arrogantly thought that he'd been so clever to detect the loveliness beneath the plain disguise. Again, how enchanting to find him overwhelmed by a depth of loveliness that he had not had a clue was yet still beneath his initial discovery. I liked having the respite from unabated lust so prominent in other books of the several series. The extra two or three love scenes that are typically all too evidently filler were missing here, replaced by dialogue and plot that did a better job of giving us a glimpse into a real romance. By the end of it, perhaps some might have found the conclusion a bit light, but in fact I thought it was exceptional because there was relief, amazement and pure old fashioned head over heels. I loved it.

I couldn't have said it any better. Reasons for Marriage was a light, sweet, love story. Written in 1995, I noticed. Maybe that is why it isn't plaqued with the sex/porn of today's authors. I read Perfect Lover by SL and thought I would never read another of her books. The sex in Perfect overwhelmed whatever tender relationship that was developed, losing any interest in the romance/love for the main characters, a problem so many authors are writing today. I am glad I gave Reasons for Marriage a shot. I, too, love Mary Balogh, Putney, Garwood and McNaught. We've lost Garwood and McNaught. Keep writing Mary and Mary Jo. There aren't many left writing with intrique, passion (poignant passion) and that hard to find "love". The passionate, poignant, depth of love, no longer found in the writings of most historical romance authors today.

This is the kind of story which originally inspired me to buy Stephanie Laurens, but I'm not surprised by some of the other reviews ... because they sound as disappointed as I'd sound if I reviewed Laurens' more recent books. Vive la difference!I got so disappointed by cardboard characters and thin to nonexistent plots as an excuse for 300+ pages of erotica in her recent stuff that I quit buying her books about a year and a half ago ...But THIS one, a Regency rather than an historical, is a treasure, one that reminds me of Mary Balogh and Mary Jo Putney's early books, which I also keep and re-read often.