Love with the Proper Husband

by Victoria Alexander

Book Overview

Distressed over the current widespread disinterest inmatrimony among their eminently marriageable offspring, the formidable matriarchs of the ton have taken matters into their own meddling hands with the formation of The Ladies' Society for the Betterment of the Future of Britain. Their first challenge: the Earl of Pennington. Miss Gwendolyn Townsend has seen her late father's estate go to a distant cousin she can't abide ... leaving her well-educated,...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060001453
• ISBN13: 9780060001452
• Release Date: March 2003
• Publisher: Avon Books
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

I Can't Stop Re-Reading This One!

I don't think I need to explain the plot of "Love With The Proper Husband," as so many reviewers before me already have. Let me just say, though, this was the very first Victoria Alexander book I ever read and it has made me a huge fan! The chemistry between Gwendolyn and Marcus is palpable from the get-go. These two characters are not only extremely sexy together, but a lot of fun, too. Anytime I finish a novel that has left a bad taste in my mouth, I pick up "Love With The Proper Husband" one more time, have a good laugh, fan myself off & my love for historicals is renewed! This book is a keeper!

Simply Wonderful!

1800's Great Brittan LOVE WITH THE PROPER HUSBAND is a very enjoyable book to the Effington Family series, actually one of the best so far! The characters are well rounded and the storyline is strong and lovable! I give this one an A+!

Warm, witty and delightful

Love With the Proper Husband is warm, witty and delightful. It is fast-paced, unfailingly entertaining and full of thoroughly lovable characters.Penniless Miss Gwendolyn Townsend is called back to England from the post she loathes as a governess in America. She is thrilled to find out that she has a small legacy and that she will have a fortune if she does just one thing. Unfortunately, the one thing turns out to be to marry Marcus Holcroft, Earl of Pennington, a man she considers insufferably arrogant. Besides, she has no desire to marry anyone now that she finally has the means to be independent. Marcus is incredulous to find out soon before he turns thirty that his deceased father left a will saying that, failing to find a different bride earlier, Marcus must marry Gwen before he is thirty or lose his whole fortune. (Something else is afoot, of course, in this situation that the reader knows but the characters don't.) After repeatedly refusing Marcus, Gwen abruptly agrees to marry him-but only because she develops a secret life for which she must have money. It is hilarious, romantic and just plain fun watching Marcus and Gwen's growing relationship. And it is beautiful how warm and caring their relationship eventually becomes. Marcus' knack for lightening any situation and his easy forgiveness of Gwen's faults is endearing. Their wedding night is a hoot-funny, unexpected yet utterly passionate and romantic. The other characters are equally lovable and endearing-especially the three nieces and the two Madames are wonderful, as is Marcus' mother. She puts on quite a show for Marcus early in the novel-I wish we could have seen even more of her. The only weakness I noticed was that the last plot twist concerning the nieces is not really believable. Despite this, Love With the Proper Husband is a genuinely fun and absorbing novel that should not be missed!

Marvelous regency -- Very highly recommended

A lawyer's foolish mistake leaves Gwendolyn Townsend penniless. Resourceful and determined, she accepts work as governess, but her positions are short lived when employers attempt to force her into their beds. While working in America, Gwen receives a ticket back to London from her lawyer, which she gratefully accepts. It seems that her father's will did leave her modest living, and quite a bit more if she accepts her father's choice of a husband. Her father's wishes were for her to marry the Earl of Pennington. But it is Gwen's new obligation to her three orphaned nieces that seals her decision to marry.Marcus Hocroft, the Earl of Pennington, has sought a bride for years. But his desire for intelligence in addition to an attractive appearance seems to have made his quest impossible. Then, three months before his thirtieth birthday, Marcus learns of his father's will, dictating that he marry Gwendolyn Townsend if he has not previously chosen a bride by his birthday. He assumes he will have a marriage of convince until he meets Gwen and passion flairs. But passion is not enough when there is trust to be built.With quixotic flair, author Victoria Alexander pens a must read regency in LOVE WITH THE PROPER HUSBAND. Irreverent humor, unexpected levity and sparkling wit all find voice from fresh characterizations and subtly unexpected plotting. Gwen and Marcus, as well as marvelous cast of secondary characters, are filled with the joys and foibles that brings each characterization vividly alive. Matchmaking, fiery independence and necessity combine in this amusing read. Guaranteed to win the reader's heart, LOVE WITH THE PROPER HUSBAND comes very highly recommended.

Sweet, Sensual & Delightful!

I loved this book. It was pure fun to read.I've read hundreds of romances and this book was so nice. It was a real "feel good" story. I hope Victoria Alexander writes many more. It made me happy instead of aggravated like some authors do, yet it was suspenseful and hard to put down. If you like Julia Quinn, you will like this one.