Jenny Voorhees (USA: IL) (2008/07/17): I was in the mood for a nice romance and this book delivered! I really enjoyed it. wildhart (USA: LA) (2010/02/03): Ophelia Reid is an incomparable beauty with a reputation for starting rumors and spreading them. Having purposely wrecked her engagement to Duncan MacTavish, a future marquis, which her social-climbing father arranged, Ophelia wants to return to London's marriage mart and make her own choice of a wealthy husband. But on her journey home, something unexpected happens.... The heir to a dukedom, Raphael Locke, Viscount Lynnfield is -- in spite of his disinterest in marriage -- the most sought-after young lord in England. He instantly disliked Ophelia when she caused a scandal to avoid marriage to his friend MacTavish, but having comforted her in a tearful moment, he begins to wonder if she's not all bad. So when MacTavish claims that Ophelia will never be anything but a spiteful beauty, Rafe bets his friend that he can turn her into a kindhearted lady who will one day make a good match, just not with him. With her parents' blessing, Rafe commandeers Ophelia's coach and whisks her -- chaperoned, of course -- to his remote estate in the countryside. There, as he tries to show his furious, sharp-tongued "guest" the error of her ways, he discovers the surprising reasons for her bad behavior. Soon his daily lessons with Ophelia take effect and he finds himself irresistibly attracted to her. When Rafe champions the new and improved Ophelia's re-entry to London society, marriage proposals pour in. Only then does Rafe start to wonder whether he hasn't gone and fallen in love with Ophelia himself.
Marianne (Australia) (2011/01/31): Ophelia Reid is an extremely beautiful woman. But she is also cranky, surly and self-centred. She appears to be a rumourmonger and is, by her own admission, impatient, tells lies when it suits her and has difficulty controlling her temper. She is bitter because she feels that people only act like her friends because of her looks. Viscount Lynnfield, Rafael Locke is an extremely handsome man. He’s a rake, enjoying his bachelorhood and not planning to get married anytime soon. He likes to champion the underdog, and enjoys a challenge. Rafe looks upon Ophelia as a challenge. He is convinced that he can change her anti-social behaviour, that he can transform her from a spiteful, spoiled ice queen into a sweet person. And, although the 100 pound bet with his friend (and Ophelia’s ex-fiancé) is the impetus for this, he is motivated more by the noble idea that he can change her into a woman who will be happy, who will be loved for herself, find real friends and a husband during the Season in London. So he kidnaps her and takes her (chaperoned, of course) to his remote Northumberland property, intending to tame this hellcat. In doing so, he discovers, under the surface, a witty, engaging woman who enjoys laughter and simple pleasures. And someone with quite valid reasons for some of her behaviour. Having prepared her for the Season, he returns her to London, but then realises that he is not enamoured with the idea of another man marrying her. This is the first book by Johanna Lindsey that I have read, but I realised fairly early in the read that it would not be the last. Johanna developed a plot which seemed like it was going to be predictable, but a few twists kept the story interesting. The dialogue was witty and often funny, and there were some delightful scenarios. Rafe’s method of warming up the snow-bound Ophelia and later, defusing her temper tantrum were novel (ladies, try this at home if you have a Rafe handy!). Rafe was an immediately likeable character, and it was easy to empathise with Ophelia as her character developed from a spoiled debutante into a fuller person. This is a delightful book, very romantic! I really enjoyed reading it.
