No Ordinary Groom (Spies and Lovers, 1)

by Gayle Callen

Book Overview

tender,touching and classically romantic! This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060543949
• Release Date: December 2003
• Publisher: Avon
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.8" x 1.0" x 4.2"

Customer Reviews

A cut above the ordinary

A toe-curlingly cheesy cover on this book wasn't encouraging, neither was the blurb on the back including such memorable phrases as "does his heated gaze enflame a desire in her" but this book was actually rather a pleasant surprise. Jane Whittington is a dutiful daughter of separated parents. Her father has arranged a match for her with Lord William Chadwick to which she agrees but with significant reservations. Lord William, although reasonably attractive, is a brainless fop and Jane herself is well-read and intelligent. However, she obeys her parents' wishes in her betrothal (a point that is necessary for the plot but was a little bit unrealistic as the novel moves on and we find out more about Jane's independent nature). Of course things aren't as they seem (when are they ever?) Will is a former spy who has taken on the mantle of his last disguise - the English nobleman fop - as he doesn't really know who he is any more. However he finds himself embroiled in another mission to catch red-handed a traitor to England who just happens to be at a house party he can also visit. Will manages to whisk Jane away on a visit to her father in Yorkshire and is able to divest her of her maid on the way. He then seems to spend rather a lot of time trying to shock her and seduce her whilst protecting her from potential enemies that may be following him. Their interactions are well written as Jane gradually realises that there's more to William than the brainless dandy and also begins to understand herself and her longing for excitement, adventure and her horror of being controlled by a husband. The spy plot part of the book is pretty minor really - we meet a couple of other people in it and there's another book about one of the spies already written - and in fact I didn't think the plot worked too well. However the rest of the book was definitely more interesting than a lot of other Regency romances that I have read recently. Strong characterisation is surprisingly difficult to find in this genre and I felt that this book bucked the trend. Worth a read!

Thoroughly enjoyable

Callen's newest work is enchanting. Jane is a reluctant fiance who keeps looking for ways to convince her father to end her betrothal to a fop. But William isn't what he seems; in fact, he's not quite sure who he is or who he wants to be...he's been a spy, putting on other personalities, for far too long. Even though Jane turns out not to be what he thought he wanted in a wife, she's exactly right for him.William's "Lord" routine is amusing as are Jane's exasperated responses. But as he reveals his true self in small ways, Jane becomes intrigued. Danger from a traitor adds to the tension and serves to draw them together. Both people learn about themselves and how they unthinkingly try to force the other into a certain mold. They learn, they grow. A delightful read.

Was a good read!!

This was my first, Gayle Callen book, and with this book, I will be on the look out, for all her books. In addition, buy her older writings. I will definitely buy the next book, about Nick and Charlotte, this fall. For some reason, I see the next book being five stars. This book, No Ordinary Groom, was very romantic, very sweet, and I like how the pages are not full of raw sex, and has a story to read. The sex was not so over bearing..That you need to skip pages, which is what I usually do if a book goes on and on about it. A salute to you Ms Gayle Callen, will done.

4+ for the latest from Callen

As usual Gayle Callen has written a fabulous romantic story. In this one (it is my guess the start of another trilogy, I hope) you meet Jane who has just been betrothed to a man she doesn't know by her father, whom she hasn't seen in 2 years.Not only that but the man is a "fop" how could her father do this to her. She meets with him and even agrees to go see her father with him, mostly to get ammunition to keep from marrying him. But, along the way she learns that what she wants might just be better with 2.I thoroughly loved this story especially "Killer"

engaging Victorian romance

In 1844 her dad informs that he secretly arranged for her to marry William Chadwick. Jane is upset because not only did he go behind her back, she does not want to wed anyone especially shallow William. Worse she wonders if her father sold her to keep a major customer satisfied as William buys commodities from her dad's estate.Actually William hides five years of living dangerous by working for her father overseas behind his "Lord" façade. He finds himself attracted to Jane and wants her to feel the same way. However, he pretends to be a nineteenth century foppish nerd because he fears to show her or anyone the real William; she and the Ton might find him lacking. Jane is falling love with the real William that she has seen too few glimpses of escaping from his mask.This is an engaging Victorian romance that will please fans of the sub-genre due to the delightful cast. The story line moves quickly forward as William goes out of his way to hide his real persona from Jane, who has conquered his heart, for fear of rejection. However, she knows he is NO ORDINARY GROOM, but wonders why he is hiding from her. Their relationship makes Gayle Callen's tale a fine reading experience.Harriet Klausner