Seducing MR Heywood

by Jo Manning

Book Overview

A Booklist Top 10 Romance of the Year Jo Manning's latest Regency romance is replete with period charm, lively dialogue, and fascinating detail. Lady Sophia Rowley, thrice married and thrice widowed, has returned to Rowley Hall to rusticate. Meeting vicar Charles Heywood, who was named guardian of her sons on the death of her third husband, she is at first angry . . . and then intrigued.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1410400719
• ISBN13: 9781410400710
• Release Date: January 2002
• Publisher: Five Star Trade
• Length: 248 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.5" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

a risque regency with a twist...

as an avid regency reader, I'm always on the lookout for new regencies with a twist or the unexpected. Seducing Mr. Heywood certainly fits that bill. Unlike most regencies-where the man is the rake,notorious and experienced-in this regency the lady-thrice married and quite a beau monde scandal maker-is the much more experienced of the two. I loved the fact that the hero is a bit younger, fresh faced and never married VICAR! The book is well written and fast paced-the author was able to turn, what at first glace,a very unlikable heroine into a wonderful character by novels end. The author fits many funny and interesting characters into this short,fun and flirty novel. This book is quite sexy by most regency standards-while not explicit-you'll find yourself rooting for both characters-that they find their love-and make love as well:) I thoughly enjoyed this fresh new look at regency romance! 5 stars:)

Highly Recommended Regency

Seducing Mr. Heywood by Jo Manning May 13, 2005 (Edited May 16, 2005) In SEDUCING MR.HEYWOOD, a widow, Lady Sophia Rowley, starts out as a woman with a reputation among the ton, but finds that she has maternal instincts and longs to take care of her children and bond with them after many years of being the negligent mother. She's gone through two husbands who abused her in some way, and the third was a very elderly but kind man that understood her needs, allowing her to run free in London. He too has passed on, and she is now left a widow, wondering if she will marry again. Upon his death, the local vicar, Mr. Heywood, has become the guardian over her two sons. Lady Sophia decides she likes Mr. Heywood, although the shy and inexperienced vicar is a far cry from the men she had been seen with in the past. It seems that Lady Sophia has had a change of tune, and is ready to settle down. And the vicar soon realizes that the rumors about Sophia may not all be true, and sees a different side of the widow that the rest of the world did not. A subplot involving Sophia's estranged father, Tom Eliot, the Earl of Dunhaven, spices up the story line with an attempted kidnapping, among other things, giving the novel an exciting twist. I loved this regency - it had a lot of humor in it, a bit of intrigue and a lot of excitement with the arrival of Sophia's father. I would recommend this romance to all who may have been avoiding regencies in the past. It's books like this that make me want to read more of this genre. Overall, THE SEDUCING OF MR. HEYWOOD comes highly recommended as a very enjoyable regency. This reviewer will gladly read another historical romance by Jo Manning.

Is the heroine redeemable? Only if the author is talented.

I literally stumbled across this book by "web" recommendation. I was also quite impressed with the cover art and so I decided to give it a try, even though my taste for straight Regency is limited. I've added Jo Manning to that small, select list of authors who "does it for me." The first chapter is hilarious and you're going to love the butler, even though he doesn't figure too prominently. But all of Ms. Manning's characters are likeable, as I'll explain later. After that first chapter, I was willing to proceed with what I thought might be a comical (in the mood-lifting sort of way) read. I wasn't completely accurate in my initial assessment on this book. It was funny... in spots, but with an intelligent wit. SEDUCING MR. HEYWOOD is more than that. It offers a good deal of insight into the way that the Church of England and the gentry worked together and worshipped. There's some great imagery and dialogue inside the church. The story also takes you to "the wilds of York," which is not too often written about in Historicals. I like to be educated when I read and I like it when the author assumes I'm intelligent enough to pick up on the subtleties. Ms. Manning is such an author. In SEDUCING MR. HEYWOOD, you can get a fascinating education on the responsibilities of a rural vicar through the eyes of the imperfect, but beautiful, Lady Sophia. There are lot's of lessons you'll enjoy learning. She's a very colorful character who sets out to seduce the vicar of Saint Mortrud's church... who also happens to be the Guardian of her two sons. This guardianship business has been willed by her estranged -- and now deceased -- husband. The late Baron, who is present in thought only, cares a great deal for Lady Sophia and honors her for being the mother of his heir, even if she did spend years away from him and her children. Even dead, he's a character that touches you. Is such a woman redeemable? Only if the author is talented enough to do so... and Ms. Manning is. Ms. Manning writes very succinctly and the characters are very loveable -- even the sub-characters to the storyline. Everybody in this story is infinitely likeable (except the villian)... really... truly... endearing people. Add Jo Manning to your list of authors to watch and read.

Elegant Prose in a Most Enchanting Story

Setting - Rowley Hall, Yorkshire, 1811 --- The very notorious Lady Sophia Rowley, thrice married, thrice widowed and smarting from the loss of her latest lover she had intended on making husband number four, was not in the best of moods. On the advice of her solicitor she had come home to Rowley Hall to make the acquaintance of the vicar of St. Mortrud's, Mr. Charles Heywood, whom her late husband had appointed guardian of their two sons. To say the least, their first meeting could in no way be termed favorable, - but I'll let the reader delight in THAT inauspicious moment. In spite of her bad humor, and Charles' mortification it would be days before they would once more, accidentally meet and Sophia, thought to make the very handsome vicar her next lover while she rusticated in the country. Charles had always admired the beautiful woman from her portrait during his many visits and had it not been for the confidences shared with him by the late baron of how Sophia had been sold into a brutal and hideous first marriage by her despicable father, he might have the same unfavorable opinions of her that others had. Armed with that knowledge, and as their friendship developed he began to admire the intelligent and tenderhearted woman that was kept hidden behind the jaded and brittle mask she donned to hide her vulnerability. There seemed to be a real chance at happiness for both of them if only they could survive the vicious manipulations that the re-emergence of her obnoxious father would bring back into her life. *** I found this to be a divine read. I absolutely loved how Sophia the once-jaded and totally selfish heroine (from THE RELUCTANT GUARDIAN) finally came to her epiphany realizing her self worth as a caring, loving mother and found her true love in such an unlikely candidate. It was also a very original read in that the female/male roles were reversed where she was the rake, so to speak, and he the innocent. In addition, I found the many varied characters were so very well defined that the reader could feel a part of the entire ensemble. Of particular note, is the way the author conveyed warm and loving feelings for the character of the deceased Baron Rowley. Due to his unselfish regard in maintaining for his sons the illusion of a mother's love, he thoughtfully paved the way for her re-emergence into their life. I thought that this very cleverly done to have such a warm and wonderful feeling for a character whom you never really meet in the story but who plays such a seemingly big part due to the fond remembrances and good deeds he'd done during his life. Bottom line - With elegant prose, fresh and charming dialogs, and lovely regency touches the author had me totally enchanted from start to finish in this wonderfully feel-good romance. --- Marilyn, for www.romancedesigns.com ---

Great fun!

Lady Sophia Rowley is not your typical Regency herione; she is older, widowed, and hardly virginal. She returns to the country after her husband's death to see to his estate and her step-sons. Against all her expectations, the country is not dull and boring. Her first encounters with the local parson are hardly promising, but he finds her fascinating. It is also time for her to get to know her step-sons, and provide them with the happy family life she did not have. A good introduction to the Regency period for those who don't normally read Regency romances... unlike some of the genre, this is hardly insipid, but rather a lively romp. I look forward to seeing more heriones along the lines of Lady Sophia Rowley.