Never a Lady

by Barbara Dawson Smith and Babara Dawson Smith

Book Overview

Mary Sheppard follows a troubling vision of her identical twin sister to London, but Josephine has vanished and is wanted by the Duke of St. Chaldon for the murder of his brother, and Mary masquerades... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312959362
• ISBN13: 9780312959364
• Release Date: November 1996
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.44 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 4.2" x 6.7"

Customer Reviews

SO FAR IT IS UNANIMOUS - B.D.S. IS A VERY INTERTAINING AUTHOR

Mary Elizabeth Sheppard wanted the deacon that worked for her father, Thomas Sheppard. His daughter, Josephine has left for London. Mary feels guilty that she has shut off the mind communication with her twin sister, Jo. She feels that she has driven her sister away. The deacon, Victor Gabriel has the grace and looks of an angel and has worked for Thomas for the last several months and had finally asked for Jo's hand in marriage. Now he is engaged to Mary since Jo took off. Strange. Mary arrived at Jo's London house only to find that she has disappeared. Mary is still troubled by the waking dream she had of Jo begging Mary's help. Here she runs into Adam Brentwell, Duke of St. Chaldon or rather he plops onto her. What a shock he is in for as he runs his hand up her limb. The contratemps between these two is very enticing. Mary soon finds a friend in the wounded soldier, Obediah that oversees Jo's home. Adam comes up with the plan to have Mary play the part of Jo to lure the suppossed shooter out into the open - among Jo's suitors was the Earl of Peterbourne - a rackity, vile old man. No matter what Adam wants, Mary seems to go her own way. Of course he wants her in his bed. She turns into a feather-brained idiot and wants him to teach her of the carnal pleasures. The tale just keeps getting better - the characters are very good, with Adam's sister hanging out with Lord Harry Dashwood - and Mary helping to bring Cyril out of his coma. Poor old Adam wasn't allowed to hang the wench on Cyril's say so. I enjoyed the intrigue of the family relations. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED --M This should be a keeper!

A Very Good Book

This is the first Barbara Dawson Smith book that I have read and I will definitly read more. The tranformation of Adam from arrogant noble to compassionate human being is wonderful. Mary is also transform to a passionate young lady. I highly recommend this book

Suspenseful romance..

Never A Lady is a different story. I loved the mind communication between the twins. The mystery and suspense kept me up half the night even though I was sure I knew the guilty party. I tried not to lose patience with the very stuborn duke and what he put Mary through. This is the first book I have read by Barbara Dawson Smith and I can recommend it highly. I found and bought 7 of her books at a local used book shop and won't stop until I have all she has written.

Another great one by Smith!

I don't know why Barbara Dawson Smith is not more popular, because her novels are topnotch, and Never a Lady is one of her very best. The Duke of St. Chaldon and preacher's daughter Mary Sheppard come together via their families; his brother appears to have been wounded by her sister Josephine (his mistress), whom Mary has come to aid after having a vision of her twin's distress. What makes this story intriguing and unusual is the lovers' characters: he not your typical aristocratic rake (though that's precisely what she assumes he is), but rather a man of pride, dignity, and responsibility, which makes their coming together all the more interesting, as she in turn represents everything his upbringing disdains: low birth and a disdain for the aristocracy and its values. She is refreshing first of all, in her plain name, which reflects her ugly duckling evolution in the face of the duke's haughty expectations. Secondly, she is an innocent without being prissy or overawed at her social superiors (as many heroines tend to be). These clashing perspectives are undermined by their chemistry and grudging admiration for values each holds at odds with their respective upbringings. I like the angle of the brother and sister and the added complications of the lovers becoming potential relatives whether she decides to become his mistress or wife. I also enjoyed the proposal scenes and the erotic scenes, particularly the last one in the carriage ride. The dialogue was captivating and lively, showing their wits and mutual attraction, and sweeping the reader along swiftly through to the end. I was loath to put this one down. I also highly recommend My Secret Affair, which again has some unusual lovers, especially the virginal lord, whose inexperience and reluctant passion is a fascinating read.

The glitter of Regency England; the romance of "Cinderella"!

This author has a unique ability to bring her characters and setting to life. This is a glorious romance to savor