Belle of the Ball

by Donna Lea Simpson and Annabeth Albert

Book Overview

Arabella Swinley has exactly one Season left to find a rich husband--and save herself from a lifetime of mended gowns, empty purses, and mountainous debts. But when she falls in love with a penniless man, will she follow her heart, or marry for money?

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0821770403
• ISBN13: 9780821770405
• Release Date: January 2001
• Publisher: Zebra Books
• Length: 255 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 4.2" x 6.9"

Customer Reviews

Not a bad book, would have liked the heroine less remorseful

I agree, this book is has some problems with the pace and plotting. But most readers seem to be bothered by the fact that the heroine is (or was) an unrepentant fortune hunter. Why is it that we can accept any sort of vile, disgusting behavior from male characters in the name of "historical accuracy", ("men behaved like that in those days!") but a woman who wants to marry for financial security is an evil *bleep*? What do readers expect a Regency gentlewoman with no money to do, start a dot.com business? I just wish that Ms. Simpson had not "softened" Belle up by making her mother the puppeteer pulling her daughter's strings.

refreshingly different kind of romance novel, I thought

"Belle of the Ball" by Donna Simpson is quite unlike other Regency romance novels in that it is mostly contemplative in nature -- the heroine, Arabella Swinley, spends much of the novel, reflecting on her unhappy circumstances, examining her past behaviour, which she is quite ashamed of and wondering if there is such a thing as 'love.' The hero of the novel, Marcus Westhaven, also spends quite a bit of time wondering why he's so taken with Arabella especially since she is the embodiment of everything he despises in a woman: proud, self-centered and entirely too preoccupied with finding a rich husband. There isn't much 'action' in this novel -- there is a lot of flirtation between Arabella and Marcus of course, but the novel remains between the parameters of the hero and heroine trying to decide what to do, all the while getting to know a little of each other's true nature as they flirt their way through the Season. Some readers may find the ruminative nature of this novel a little off-putting, however I found it to be refreshingly different and enjoyable.Briefly, the plot is as follows: after having spent the last few Seasons rejecting all offers of marriage from eligible bachelors for the most specious of reasons, Miss Arabella Swinley is suddenly faced with the unpalatable truth that she must find herself a rich husband this Season, or face losing her family home. And if that wasn't enough to put any woman in the doldrums, there's her mother's constant carping and the fact that this Season's eligible bachelors seem to be a rather sorry lot! And then, Marcus Westhaven, an adventurer who has just returned form the Canadian wilds, bursts upon the London scene. And suddenly the Season begins to take on a more interesting turn for Arabella. For in spite of his rough and unsophisticated ways, Arabella finds herself responding to Marcus's good looks, charm and adventurous spirit. But Marcus is quite poor, and Lady Swinley as already decreed that Arabella must somehow win 60 year old Lord Pelimore for her husband. What will Arabella do? Will she gird her loins and do her duty by encouraging the repulsive Lord Pelimore's suit? Or will she rebel and take a chance on love?After a steady diet of the usual, it is always fun to come across a novel that is refreshingly different. Arabella was first introduced in "Miss Truelove Beckons," and the Arabella of that novel was not very likeable at all: a little whiny, cold and manipulative. Flashes of a different Arabella only came to the fore now and then. In "Belle of the Ball" we see more of the likable Arabella and see how Lady Swinley's warped preconceptions about station wealth influenced her and not in a good way either. I found myself cheering for Arabella to come out from behind her mother's shadow and to become her own person, with her own opinions and values. Donna Simpson did a wonderful job of presenting a more sympathetic portrait of Arabella, so that we are able to feel for her when she realises that

Tender and realistic!

I thought this was a great book - very moving and tender. Arabella's change from in Miss Truelove Beckons was realistically portrayed. You could tell she was struggling with what she was raised to believe in, and learning what life and love really mean. If you believe that love makes us better people, then this is the book for you! I thought, too, that Marcus was the perfect match for her. Strong but caring. Love this book! The best one from Simpson yet!