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Stapleton-Downes #3
Dark Angel
Jennifer Winwood arrives in London with her cousin, Samantha Newman, for their come-out Season. Jennifer is particularly excited because finally the marriage that has been arranged between her and Lionel, Viscount Kersey, will become a reality. It seems to her that she has loved him forever, and she assumes that he loves her.
Gabriel, Earl of Thornhill, has just returned to England after a long stay in Europe, where he fled after a scandalous elopement with his father's pregnant wife. He is not in high favor with the ton, but when he sees that Lionel is also back in town, he is willing to risk further trouble for himself by causing harm to his old enemy in any way that presents itself...and Lionel has a new fiancée.
Gabriel, Earl of Thornhill, has just returned to England after a long stay in Europe, where he fled after a scandalous elopement with his father's pregnant wife. He is not in high favor with the ton, but when he sees that Lionel is also back in town, he is willing to risk further trouble for himself by causing harm to his old enemy in any way that presents itself...and Lionel has a new fiancée.
128 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 1, 1994
About the author
Mary Balogh
207 books6,021 followersMary Jenkins was born in 1944 in Swansea, Wales, UK. After graduating from university, moved to Saskatchewan, Canada, to teach high school English, on a two-year teaching contract in 1967. She married her Canadian husband, Robert Balogh, and had three children, Jacqueline, Christopher and Sian. When she's not writing, she enjoys reading, music and knitting. She also enjoys watching tennis and curling.
Mary Balogh started writing in the evenings as a hobby. Her first book, a Regency love story, was published in 1985 as A Masked Deception under her married name. In 1988, she retired from teaching after 20 years to pursue her dream to write full-time. She has written more than seventy novels and almost thirty novellas since then, including the New York Times bestselling 'Slightly' sextet and 'Simply' quartet. She has won numerous awards, including Bestselling Historical of the Year from the Borders Group, and her novel Simply Magic was a finalist in the Quill Awards. She has won seven Waldenbooks Awards and two B. Dalton Awards for her bestselling novels, as well as a Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award.
Mary Balogh started writing in the evenings as a hobby. Her first book, a Regency love story, was published in 1985 as A Masked Deception under her married name. In 1988, she retired from teaching after 20 years to pursue her dream to write full-time. She has written more than seventy novels and almost thirty novellas since then, including the New York Times bestselling 'Slightly' sextet and 'Simply' quartet. She has won numerous awards, including Bestselling Historical of the Year from the Borders Group, and her novel Simply Magic was a finalist in the Quill Awards. She has won seven Waldenbooks Awards and two B. Dalton Awards for her bestselling novels, as well as a Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews
March 3, 2011
Miss Jennifer Winwood is in town for her very first Season and positively vibrating with the excitement of it. Unlike other girls on their come out, though, she's not here to snag a husband. That was set for her five years ago, when she was 15, when her viscount father arranged her betrothal to a the heir to an earldom, Viscount Kersey. For five years she has constructed and worshipped a mental image of Kersey and the wonderful life they'll no doubt enjoy as a married couple. The joy of finally seeing Kersey again and having their betrothal made official is almost more than she can bear.
Gabriel, the Earl of Thornhill, is recently returned to London after a long stay on the Continent with his stepmother. The conventional wisdom among the ton is that he had absconded with his stepmother after getting her pregnant, leaving his father to die of a broken heart, and then abandoning her in Europe when he tired of her. The truth is, of course, much different, and he's decided to get his revenge on his stepmother's faithless lover. Hearing that the villain is recently engaged, he sets out to break the engagement, hoping to embarrass Kersey in the process.
All of this is laid out in the first few chapters. Balogh establishes Kersey as your stereotypical 80s and 90s movie villain early on. He's blond, blue eyed, drop-dead gorgeous and unfailingly charismatic. Unless you live under a rock, this description screams "sociopathic douchebag alert, DO NOT GO IN THE BASEMENT" to you. Nothing he says can be trusted, his motives are inherently suspect and so on.
Unfortunately, Jennifer didn't get the memo. This being the Regency, she lacks HBO and Lifetime. She doesn't know that blond guys are invariably panty-invading villains. The story is now perched upon her ignorance and the reader must watch her idolize the villain, trusting every word out of his mouth, and play right into a disaster you can clearly see off in the distance. I found this profoundly uncomfortable and unpleasant to watch. I rather wished I was left a bit in the dark along with Jennifer so I could've been confused with her, rather than cringing on her behalf.
Other than this quality, which may not bother other readers as much as it did me, it's a perfectly well-written book. The romance between Jennifer and Gabriel is drawn out slowly and organically through wonderful bits of dialog. The voice is pitch-perfect Regency throughout, and I loved watching the interplay between all the characters. The love was evident not only between Jennifer and Gabriel, but also between Jennifer and her poor cousin Samantha.
If I didn't have to spend three quarters of the book watching Jennifer make an unwitting fool of herself, I'd have liked this much more than I did. As it was, I'd rate it a weak 3 star or maybe a 2.5. I did consider quitting it a few times.
Gabriel, the Earl of Thornhill, is recently returned to London after a long stay on the Continent with his stepmother. The conventional wisdom among the ton is that he had absconded with his stepmother after getting her pregnant, leaving his father to die of a broken heart, and then abandoning her in Europe when he tired of her. The truth is, of course, much different, and he's decided to get his revenge on his stepmother's faithless lover. Hearing that the villain is recently engaged, he sets out to break the engagement, hoping to embarrass Kersey in the process.
All of this is laid out in the first few chapters. Balogh establishes Kersey as your stereotypical 80s and 90s movie villain early on. He's blond, blue eyed, drop-dead gorgeous and unfailingly charismatic. Unless you live under a rock, this description screams "sociopathic douchebag alert, DO NOT GO IN THE BASEMENT" to you. Nothing he says can be trusted, his motives are inherently suspect and so on.
Unfortunately, Jennifer didn't get the memo. This being the Regency, she lacks HBO and Lifetime. She doesn't know that blond guys are invariably panty-invading villains. The story is now perched upon her ignorance and the reader must watch her idolize the villain, trusting every word out of his mouth, and play right into a disaster you can clearly see off in the distance. I found this profoundly uncomfortable and unpleasant to watch. I rather wished I was left a bit in the dark along with Jennifer so I could've been confused with her, rather than cringing on her behalf.
Other than this quality, which may not bother other readers as much as it did me, it's a perfectly well-written book. The romance between Jennifer and Gabriel is drawn out slowly and organically through wonderful bits of dialog. The voice is pitch-perfect Regency throughout, and I loved watching the interplay between all the characters. The love was evident not only between Jennifer and Gabriel, but also between Jennifer and her poor cousin Samantha.
If I didn't have to spend three quarters of the book watching Jennifer make an unwitting fool of herself, I'd have liked this much more than I did. As it was, I'd rate it a weak 3 star or maybe a 2.5. I did consider quitting it a few times.
December 9, 2023
3 Stars
The "hero", intent upon using our heroine as tool of his revenge, fails to see that she is a person, and doesn't deserve to be hurt by his machinations. Jennifer deserved better.
The "hero", intent upon using our heroine as tool of his revenge, fails to see that she is a person, and doesn't deserve to be hurt by his machinations. Jennifer deserved better.
September 16, 2014
Jennifer is supposed to marry Lionel, who slept with Gabriel's stepmom a few years ago. Gabriel decides on the classic REVENGE DISH, best served sweet and cold. BUT THEN FEELINGS GET IN THE WAY!!
1. I'm so over the revenge trope.
2. So due to ~reasons, Gabriel and Jennifer end up married ASAP. Like 24 hours after her father CANES HER, they're boning. WHICH IS JUST. HER POOR BUTT.
3. Lionel is such a dick. Love it.
4. Jennifer is SUPER HOT, YOU GUYS. JUST SO FINE.
5. I was just kind of bored by the whole thing?
OH AND: Another reason I am/was so disappointed by this novel is that I've gone and read...most of the connected books already. And so I know that Jennifer and Gabriel retire to the country and pop out 8.6 billion children. Which, fine. EXCEPT THAT JENNIFER HAS THESE SPARKS OF WANTING TO TRAVEL IN DARK ANGEL. Gabriel, back from 2 years on the Continent, tells her about his travels and she dreams of seeing them for herself. And it's wonderful and GREAT and I wanted that for her and Gabriel SO BADLY. To travel to Switzerland together! To see the world! BUT I KNOW THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN AND SO I AM DISAPPOINT.
1. I'm so over the revenge trope.
2. So due to ~reasons, Gabriel and Jennifer end up married ASAP. Like 24 hours after her father CANES HER, they're boning. WHICH IS JUST. HER POOR BUTT.
3. Lionel is such a dick. Love it.
4. Jennifer is SUPER HOT, YOU GUYS. JUST SO FINE.
5. I was just kind of bored by the whole thing?
OH AND: Another reason I am/was so disappointed by this novel is that I've gone and read...most of the connected books already. And so I know that Jennifer and Gabriel retire to the country and pop out 8.6 billion children. Which, fine. EXCEPT THAT JENNIFER HAS THESE SPARKS OF WANTING TO TRAVEL IN DARK ANGEL. Gabriel, back from 2 years on the Continent, tells her about his travels and she dreams of seeing them for herself. And it's wonderful and GREAT and I wanted that for her and Gabriel SO BADLY. To travel to Switzerland together! To see the world! BUT I KNOW THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN AND SO I AM DISAPPOINT.
June 25, 2024
A tepid revenge plot poorly executed by a nincompoop hero on the even nincompoopier heroine, while the villain of the piece outsmarted them both (not a difficult feat) and stood back laughing. He had my respect and admiration, despite his unscrupulous and immoral character, which can tell you how much I loathed the actual hero and heroine of the piece. Honestly, after reading These Old Shades, I can't take any other revenge plot seriously.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 29, 2024
Read:3/27/24
Disappointing and just bad!
RtC
Disappointing and just bad!
RtC
June 22, 2023
LOVE this book, absolutely captivating. Classic HR. Mary Balogh is The Best.
September 24, 2014
This was U-N-B-E-A-R-A-B-L-Y
painful
to read. Does every sentence spoken by a character need to end in "was it not" or "does it not"? Two hundred twenty-two pages and I could probably count the lines of dialogue on my fingers. After all, the dialogue adds a lot to the story, does it not? The limited dialogue did not advance the plot and was limited to mundane idiotic things like "the ball was wonderful, was it not?"
The heroine was a moronic idiot- "when x happens, imbecile but oh so handsome fiancé will love me. And I love fiancé even though I haven't spoken two words to him in five years because he is oh so handsome. That is the basis of true love, is it not? Oh, x happened but fiancé does not love me. But no matter because when y happens fiancé will finally love me. Oh, y happened but fiancé did not deliver again." And on and on and on. And on and on and on and on . . . . "Oh, but let me keep deluding myself because I'm an idiot and I love to torture you, oh reader."
Her cousin was equally moronic. Actually, pretty much every character in this novel was a twat.
F-A-I-L.
The heroine was a moronic idiot- "when x happens, imbecile but oh so handsome fiancé will love me. And I love fiancé even though I haven't spoken two words to him in five years because he is oh so handsome. That is the basis of true love, is it not? Oh, x happened but fiancé does not love me. But no matter because when y happens fiancé will finally love me. Oh, y happened but fiancé did not deliver again." And on and on and on. And on and on and on and on . . . . "Oh, but let me keep deluding myself because I'm an idiot and I love to torture you, oh reader."
Her cousin was equally moronic. Actually, pretty much every character in this novel was a twat.
F-A-I-L.
October 19, 2014
I thought reading the companion sequel, Lord Carew's Bride, was a good thing, but now I think it was not! It made me think this book would be up my alley, but I didn't realize it was allll about revenge.
It's okay, though, because they fall in love super-quickly, so who cares he was just using her to begin with???
Also, the initial sex scene came off as rather dubcon to me.
It's okay, though, because they fall in love super-quickly, so who cares he was just using her to begin with???
Also, the initial sex scene came off as rather dubcon to me.
February 15, 2018
This book was bad. Just so bad. Basically for 200 pages two guys fought and hated each other and used Jennifer as a unsuspecting pawn in their scheme.
March 4, 2010
Jennifer Windwood and Samantha Newman are cousins who are just arrived in London to make their debut. For Jennifer there is no pressure because she is already practically betrothed to the breathtakingly handsome Lionel, Viscount Kersey. And Samantha should take well because she is incomparably beautiful.
And indeed, both women are very much admired during their stay. Samantha attracts a large court of beaus, while Jennifer, although the presumptive fiancee of Lord Kersey attracts attention of a very different sort. Gabriel, Earl of Thornhill finds Jennifer very attractive and once he learns that she is betrothed to Lionel, his interest is even more piqued. Gabriel and Lionel are enemies. They have a history that resulted in an incredible scandal for Gabriel and forced him away from London for many years. Now Gabriel is back and he wants vengeance and he believes in the person of one Miss Jennifer Windwood, he has found it.
I have read a lot of Mary Balogh's books. But I didn't really discover her until she went to mass market. She has an incredible back list of Signet regencies, many of which are out of print and exorbitantly priced on the used book market. But I always have good luck with out of print books and this was no exception. And even if I hadn't, this book has been reprinted and just released as a two-book omnibus )Dark Angel/Lord Carew's Bride) packaged with the second book in a four-book series.
AS I was reading this book, I couldn't help but think that Mary Balogh is a deceptively deep writer. Even though she writes what on the surface appears to be sparkling, light regencies, her books always have a deeper, sometimes even darker, psychological resonance.
I have certainly found that to be true with this book. This isn't just a love story, it starts out as a revenge story. Gabriel singles out Jennifer and deliberately attempts to undermine her betrothal, and actually her reputation, just to get back at Lionel. It is somewhat uncomfortable to see the hero treat the heroine as a means to an end, especially when in his interactions with her he seems sincere. To his credit, Gabriel does question his own motives and is himself sometimes uncomfortable with what he is doing.
But then Balogh ups the ante deliciously. Lionel is not a mustache twirling villain, but neither is he a character who is sacrificed to showcase the hero's manliness and superior wits. Lionel decides to play his own game and in this he not only uses Jennifer, but also Samantha and Gabriel as well.
As I was reading this I found myself questioning my own assumptions of Lionel's character. At each turn Balogh clearly paints him as, if not a stone villain, at least as someone who is a dishonorable antagonist. But, she leaves just a little bit of space for doubt and supposition. What is he up to? Is he really sincere when he says the things he says? Why is he doing what he is doing? While Gabriel's machinations are clear as day. Lionel's are often clear as mud.
And thus the book goes on with the two men playing a cat and mouse game, raising the stakes until you know that something is going to come to a head. And boy does it ever. And actually, there is a shocking scene at the end of Jennifer and Lionel's betrothal ball that I felt did not ring quite true. I felt myself questioning, 'Would they have really done that so publicly?' And that takes a star off my review.
But in the end, when the story is over, you are left with the realization that Balogh has created an ultimately satisfying romance novel with a very sympathetic heroine, a flawed hero and one character who is the portrait of a perfect sociopath.
And indeed, both women are very much admired during their stay. Samantha attracts a large court of beaus, while Jennifer, although the presumptive fiancee of Lord Kersey attracts attention of a very different sort. Gabriel, Earl of Thornhill finds Jennifer very attractive and once he learns that she is betrothed to Lionel, his interest is even more piqued. Gabriel and Lionel are enemies. They have a history that resulted in an incredible scandal for Gabriel and forced him away from London for many years. Now Gabriel is back and he wants vengeance and he believes in the person of one Miss Jennifer Windwood, he has found it.
I have read a lot of Mary Balogh's books. But I didn't really discover her until she went to mass market. She has an incredible back list of Signet regencies, many of which are out of print and exorbitantly priced on the used book market. But I always have good luck with out of print books and this was no exception. And even if I hadn't, this book has been reprinted and just released as a two-book omnibus )Dark Angel/Lord Carew's Bride) packaged with the second book in a four-book series.
AS I was reading this book, I couldn't help but think that Mary Balogh is a deceptively deep writer. Even though she writes what on the surface appears to be sparkling, light regencies, her books always have a deeper, sometimes even darker, psychological resonance.
I have certainly found that to be true with this book. This isn't just a love story, it starts out as a revenge story. Gabriel singles out Jennifer and deliberately attempts to undermine her betrothal, and actually her reputation, just to get back at Lionel. It is somewhat uncomfortable to see the hero treat the heroine as a means to an end, especially when in his interactions with her he seems sincere. To his credit, Gabriel does question his own motives and is himself sometimes uncomfortable with what he is doing.
But then Balogh ups the ante deliciously. Lionel is not a mustache twirling villain, but neither is he a character who is sacrificed to showcase the hero's manliness and superior wits. Lionel decides to play his own game and in this he not only uses Jennifer, but also Samantha and Gabriel as well.
As I was reading this I found myself questioning my own assumptions of Lionel's character. At each turn Balogh clearly paints him as, if not a stone villain, at least as someone who is a dishonorable antagonist. But, she leaves just a little bit of space for doubt and supposition. What is he up to? Is he really sincere when he says the things he says? Why is he doing what he is doing? While Gabriel's machinations are clear as day. Lionel's are often clear as mud.
And thus the book goes on with the two men playing a cat and mouse game, raising the stakes until you know that something is going to come to a head. And boy does it ever. And actually, there is a shocking scene at the end of Jennifer and Lionel's betrothal ball that I felt did not ring quite true. I felt myself questioning, 'Would they have really done that so publicly?' And that takes a star off my review.
But in the end, when the story is over, you are left with the realization that Balogh has created an ultimately satisfying romance novel with a very sympathetic heroine, a flawed hero and one character who is the portrait of a perfect sociopath.
September 18, 2017
The villain was cruel and despicable, but pretty cartoonish. The hero lacks depth, mostly because I find that his actions never really looked calculated - he always looked like the nice guy even when he was purportedly doing some dastardly deeds and was out for revenge (but maybe this is because I have the reader's POV). The heroine is just there.
The plotting is fairly good though!
The plotting is fairly good though!
August 15, 2017
Re-read. I still stand by my original rating. This is a weakly executed "revenge" story that falls apart due to the lack of depth in the plot, and the very weak character development. I do give the hero a few points on willingness to correct the mess he created, but I still don't believe in their HEA. I think they all deserved each other.
However, its interesting to see how much MB has evolved in her writing. For that, it might be worth a read.
____________________________________
It had so much potential, but every time I felt like the book was going to take off, it stalled.
The characters were absolutely abysmal, especially, the heroine. She was TSTL. The resolution was so conveniently tied up into a neat package that it was not only unbelievable, but very disappointing.
Was I really expected to believe that the parents of the evil Kersey were going to publicly humiliate him and live with the ridicule of the "ton" just to save the honor of a woman they personally destroyed? They never struck me as people with a strong moral fiber. They were self-centered, spoiled individuals who didn't give a da$%n about anyone.
The hero was rather complex and a bit delicious, but the author didn't develop him enough to make it interesting.
The HEA was unbelievable too. They went from hate to love in 2 days, just cause they were good in the sack. Really?
However, its interesting to see how much MB has evolved in her writing. For that, it might be worth a read.
____________________________________
It had so much potential, but every time I felt like the book was going to take off, it stalled.
The characters were absolutely abysmal, especially, the heroine. She was TSTL. The resolution was so conveniently tied up into a neat package that it was not only unbelievable, but very disappointing.
Was I really expected to believe that the parents of the evil Kersey were going to publicly humiliate him and live with the ridicule of the "ton" just to save the honor of a woman they personally destroyed? They never struck me as people with a strong moral fiber. They were self-centered, spoiled individuals who didn't give a da$%n about anyone.
The hero was rather complex and a bit delicious, but the author didn't develop him enough to make it interesting.
The HEA was unbelievable too. They went from hate to love in 2 days, just cause they were good in the sack. Really?
December 28, 2012
Written in 1994, reissued in 2010, the 1st in a series of 4 books with the same characters, they are traditional Regencies with warm love scenes. I think this is a lovely book. The misunderstood Hero , out for revenge, falls in love with his intended victim. She cannot understand why she is attracted to him when she is in love with her intended fiance. Through twists and turns, love of course conquers all. On to the next story.
August 5, 2017
Rating: 3.5 out of 5.
December 18, 2020
เล่มนี้เป็นเล่มแรกของชุดดาร์คแองเจิลในฉบับแปลไทย แต่ถ้าดูใน Goodreads เล่มนี้จะเป็นเล่มที่ 3 ในชุด Stapleton-Downes ซึ่งโอก็ยังงง ๆ อยู่ว่าแล้วสองเรื่องก่อนหน้านี่มันยังไง (สองเล่มนั้นชื่อภาษาอังกฤษคือ The Ideal Wife กับ A Precious Jewel ตามลำดับ)
นางเอกเรื่องนี้ชื่อเจนนิเฟอร์ วินวูด เจ้าหล่อนเดินทางมาลอนดอนพร้อมกับลูกพี่ลูกน้อง ซาแมนธา เพื่อเปิดตัวสู่วงสังคมครั้งแรก เจนนิเฟอร์หมั้นหมายกับลอร์ดไลโอเนลมาหลายปีแล้ว แม้จะไม่ได้มีโอกาสพูดคุยกันมากมายนัก แต่เจนนิเฟอร์ก็หลงรักไลโอเนลหมดใจ เขาทั้งหล่อเหลาและเป็นสุภาพบุรุษ ผมสีทอง ตาสีฟ้า เหมือนเทพบุตร
ตรงกันข้ามกับเกเบรียล เอิร์ลแห่งธอร์นฮิลล์ ที่ถึงแม้จะชื่อเกเบรียล แต่เขาเหมือนปิศาจมากกว่าเทพบุตร ด้วยผมและผิวสีเข้ม รวมถึงชื่อเสียงที่ฉาวโฉ่ในวงสังคมชั้นสูง
แน่นอนว่า เกเบรียลคือพระเอกค่ะ
ชื่อเสียงด่างพร้อยของเกเบรียลมาจากการที่เขาลักลอบมีอะไรกับแม่เลี้ยงที่ยังสาวของตัวเองจนหล่อนตั้งครรภ์ เขาจึงต้องพาหล่อนหนีไปต่างประเทศ หลังจากหล่อนคลอดบุตร เขาก็ทิ้งแม่เลี้ยงคนนั้นและลูกหนีกลับมา
และแน่นอนอีกเช่นกันว่า ข่าวลือนี้เป็นเท็จ แม่เลี้ยงของเขาลักลอบพบกับชายคนหนึ่งและมีลูกด้วยกันจริง เขาจึงต้องพาเจ้าหล่อนหนีจากพ่อที่อาจจะโกรธจัดจนทำอะไรที่ไม่คาดคิด เกเบรียลไม่สนใจแก้ข่าวลือที่ว่านี้ แต่เขาสนใจแก้แค้นชายชั่วที่เป็นต้นเหตุของเรื่องราว ที่นอกจากหนีหายไปไม่รับผิดชอบแล้ว ยังลอยหน้าลอยตามีความสุขอยู่ในสังคมอีกด้วย
และชายที่ว่านั่นก็คือ ไลโอเนล คู่หมั้นของเจนนิเฟอร์นั่นเอง
เกเบรียลต้องการทำให้ไลโอเนลได้อับอาย จึงวางแผนที่จะทำให้เจนนิเฟอร์ถอนหมั้นไลโอเนล เขาเอาตัวเองเข้าไปแทรกอยู่ตรงกลางระหว่างทั้งคู่ แผนการท้าทายนี้เป็นที่รู้กันระหว่างเกเบรียลและไลโอเนล เจนนิเฟอร์ไม่รู้เรื่องรู้ราวอะไรเลย คิดว่าที่เกเบรียลเข้าหาเพราะเขาต้องการเป็นเพื่อน และชอบหล่อนจากใจจริง สุดท้ายหล่อนจึงเป็นคนที่ได้รับบาดเจ็บมากที่สุด
แต่จริง ๆ แล้ว เกเบรียลถูกใจเจนนิเฟอร์ตั้งแต่แรกพบ ยิ่งได้พูดคุย ได้รู้จักยิ่งชอบ ยิ่งเจนนิเฟอร์จริงใจกับเขา เกเบรียลก็ยิ่งรู้สึกผิดที่ความต้องการแก้แค้นคนคนหนึ่งกลับต้องเป็นการทำร้ายเจนนิเฟอร์ที่เป็นผู้บริสุทธิ์ด้วย
เกเบรียลจึงตัดสินใจล้มเลิกแผนการในที่สุด แต่กลายเป็นว่า เขาถูกจอมวายร้ายไลโอเนลตลบหลังอย่างเจ็บแสบ
เรื่องนี้ค่อนข้างดราม่าทีเดียว พระเอกต้องการแก้แค้นให้แม่เลี้ยง (หล่อนอายุไล่เลี่ยกับเขา ก็เหมือนเป็นเพื่อนกันแหละ) นางเอกเดิมรักตัวร้าย แบบฝังจิตฝังใจด้วย เป็นอารมณ์เด็กสาวที่เฝ้าใฝ่ฝันหาเจ้าชาย ซึ่งเจ้าชายคนนั้นก็หล่อเหลาและสุภาพมาก แถมตัวเองยังมีสิทธิ์อันชอบธรรมที่จะฝันด้วย เพราะพ่อของทั้งคู่ตั้งใจให้หมั้นกันแต่แรก เจ้าหล่อนก็เลยไม่เคยเหลียวแลคนอื่นเลย ปักใจกับคนนี้ตลอด แต่มันเป็นรักแบบห��ง เพราะอันที่จริงหล่อนก็ไม่เคยคุยกับเขาเป็นกิจจะลักษณะ ไม่รู้นิสัยใจคอที่แท้จริง ไม่รู้ว่าจะเข้ากันได้หรือเปล่า ส่วนตัวร้ายก็ร้ายได้น่าอัดมาก
ไลโอเนล หนุ่มผมทองตาสีฟ้า ยศสูงศักดิ์ เป็นตัวอย่างของคนที่หน้าไหว้หลังหลอก ตลบตะแลง ปลิ้นปล้อน รู้ว่าตัวเองหน้าตาดี ท่าทีน่าเชื่อถือ ก็เอาข้อดีของตนไปหลอกลวงคนอื่น เพื่อสนองความต้องการ เพื่อความสนุกสะใจของตัวเอง ร้ายแบบน่าเตะสุด ๆ สาว ๆ ควรดูไว้นะคะ ผู้ชายหน้าตาท่าทางดีไม่ใช่พระเอกเสมอไป ตัวอย่างอยู่ที่นี่แล้ว /ผายมือ
ตอนอ่านเรื่องนี้ค่อนข้างอึดอัดนะ อย่างนางเอก นางก็จะเพ้อถึงแ��่ตัว���้าย เพราะเข้าใจว่าตนหลงรักมานาน จริง ๆ นางรู้สึกดีกับพระเอกแหละ รู้สึกว่าคนนี้อยู่ด้วยแล้วสบายใจ แล้วก็จะมีความคิดแวบเข้ามาเรื่อย ๆ ว่า เอ๊ะ กับไลโอเนลหล่อนจะรู้สึกสบายอกสบายใจเวลาอยู่กับเขาอย่างนี้หรือเปล่า เขามีจะเห็นด้วยกับความคิดหล่อนมั้ย มันจะมีจังหวะ เอ๊ะ อย่างนี้เข้ามาในใจนางเรื่อย ๆ แล้วพอผ่านไปก็เริ่มมีความรู้สึกว่า เอ สิ่งที่วาดฝันมันไม่น่าจะเหมือนความจริงเท่าไร เริ่มตระหนักอะไรหลาย ๆ อย่างเพิ่มขึ้นตามระยะเวลาที่ผ่านไป อย่างพระเอกเอง เขาเข้ามาแบบมีแผนการ คือเขามีความจริงใจให้นางเอกแหละ แตมันอยู่บนฐานของความตั้งใจตั้งต้นที่จะหลอกลวง มันก็เลยไม่บริสุทธิ์ผุดผ่อง แต่ถ้าถามว่าเขาเป็นคนดีไหม ดีเลยค่ะ หรืออย่างญาติของนางเอก ซาแมนธา นางเป็นเหยื่ออีกคนของตัวร้าย โดนหลอกให้หลงรัก ซึ่งตอนอ่าน โอภาวนาเลยนะว่านางอย่าเป็นนางเอก โอไม่ชอบนางเอกสไตล์นี้ (คล้ายแทงข้างหลังเพื่อนกลาย ๆ ) ซึ่งความตั้งใจนี้ไม่เป็นจริง นางเป็นนางเอกเล่มถัดไปค่ะ แต่เอาเข้าจริง โอก็เข้าใจนางนะ นางไม่ได้ตั้งใจ ความรู้สึกห้ามกันไม่ได้ แต่นางสามารถห้ามการกระทำได้ เท่านี้ก็โอเคแล้ว แถมตอนนั้นนางยังเด็กมาก ๆ ไม่เคยมีความรักมาก่อน มาโดนหลอกให้รักให้หลงอย่างนี้ ก็สามารถเข้าใจได้
โอว่ามันค่อนข้างเรียลในแง่ความรู้สึกสำหรับเรื่องนี้ ก็เลยอ่านไปอึดอัดไป อยากด่าไป สำหรับตัวร้าย นี่ยิ่งสุด ๆ จบได้ไม่สะใจเลย นายควรโดนให้หนักกว่านี้มาก ๆ โอไม่ชอบใครเป็นพิเศษในเรื่องนี้ ไม่ชอบนางเอกตรงที่นางชอบเพ้อถึงรักแรกของนาง เกลียดตัวร้าย เฉย ๆ กับพระเอก แต่โอชอบเพื่อนพระเอก โอชอบตอนพระเอกอยู่กับเ���ื่อน น่ารักดี เป็นฟีลแบบก๊วนหนุ่ม ๆ จับกลุ่มนินทา ไม่ใช่ฟีลเก๊กหล่อต่างคนต่างเข้ามุม โอรู้สึกว่าผู้เขียนเขียนผู้ชายได้น่ารักกว่าผู้หญิง อย่างตอนเพื่อนคนหนึ่งของพระเอกเพ้อถึงรักของตนแล้วทำแก้มพอง แบบ ฉันชอบ ทำไมน่าเอ็นดู หรือเพื่อนอีกคนที่ใส่เสื้อสีม่วงลาเวนเดอร์โดดเด่นตระการตา โอก็ชอบ ฉันชอบสีม่วง เอ็นดูจังเลย~
เล่มนี้โอให้ 3 ดาว เพราะไม่ค่อยช��บพระนางเท่าไร จะว่าไป โอควรเขียนถึงหน้าตาพระนางด้วยสินะ เรื่องนี้พระเอกคมเข้ม นางเอกผมแดง ออกเนื้อนมไข่หน่อย สเปกพระเอกแต่แรกทีเดียว
เห็นคำผิด ประดิษฐ์ประดอย ที่ถูกต้องสะกด ประดิดประดอย
ตอนนี้มีโปรลดราคา 70% ที่เพจสำนักพิมพ์แก้วกานต์อยู่นะคะ ถึงวันที่ 20 ธ.ค. เข้าไปดูรายชื่อได้ที่เพจ ชุดนี้ก็ลดทั้งชุดเลย จะซื้อแยกเล่มก็ได้ แต่โอแนะนำว่าถ้าจะซื้อ ซื้อไปเถอะทั้งชุด เพราะตอนนี้โออ่านถึงเล่ม 3 แล้ว เล่มต่อ ๆ มายิ่งน่ารัก โอชอบเล่ม 3 มาก ฮาสุด ๆ พ่อหนุ่มลาเวนเดอร์ของฉัน อ๊าย ขอเวลาเขี���นรีวิวแป๊บ
ถามว่าอ่านแยกเล่มได้ไหม อ่านได้ค่ะ แต่ถ้าอ่านเรียงก็จะได้ความครบถ้วนสมบูรณ์ เพราะตัวละครเกี่ยวข้องกัน พระนางเป็นเพื่อนกัน อีกอย่างถ้าไม่อ่านเรียง จะโดนสปอยล์เนื้อหาในเล่มที่มีเหตุการณ์เกิดก่อนหน้า แต่ถ้าไม่แคร์ก็โอเค อ่านไม่เรียงก็ได้
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หล่อนเกาะแขนเขาแล้วยอมให้เขานำหล่อนไปทางสวนผลไม้ “คุณเชื่อว่าผู้หญิงควรจะเป็นเพียงเครื่องประดับที่เสริมบารมีในชีวิตของผู้ชายงั้นหรือคะ” หล่อนถาม “ไม่มีทางเป็นอย่างอื่นได้เลยหรือ”
“ขอผมเถียงเฉพาะตามตัวอักษรนะครับ” เขาตอบ “ผู้ชายทุกคน...รวมถึงผู้หญิงด้วย...ต่างชอบถูกแวดล้อมด้วยของสวย ๆ งาม ๆ ทั้งนั้น เพราะมันทำให้ชีวิตของเรารื่นรมย์และสง่างามยิ่งขึ้น แต่ชีวิตคงจะน่าเบื่อและเงียบเหงาจนทนไม่ไหวหากไม่มีสิ่งใดเลยนอกจากเครื่องประดับที่สวยงาม มันจะหมดความน่าดึงดูดใจในไม่ช้าและเหลือประโยชน์แค่เพียงเอาไว้ขว้างทิ้งเพื่อระบายความหงุดหงิด ผู้หญิงคนใดก็ตามคงจะหมดเสน่ห์หากเธอปราศจากสิ่งอื่นที่จะมอบให้นอกเหนือจากนั้น ไม่ว่าเธอจะสวยงามน่ารักหรือช่วยเสริมบารมีได้มากเพียงใด”
“แหม” หล่อนพูด “เหลือประโยชน์แค่เพียงเอาไว้ขว้างทิ้งเพื่อระบายอารมณ์”
เขาหัวเราะเบา ๆ “นี่คือเหตุผลที่การแต่งงานมากมายล้มเหลวไงครับ” เขาพูด “คู่แต่งงานมากมายถูกจับให้อยู่ในกับดักแห่งความเบื่อหน่ายหรือกระทั่งความทุกข์ทรมานที่ไม่หยุดหย่อนไปชั่วชีวิต คุณเคยสังเกตไหมครับ และบ่อยครั้งเป็นเพราะครั้งหนึ่งพวกเขาเคยคิดว่าความรื่นรมย์ทางสายตาจะสามารถเติมเต็มอารมณ์และหัวใจไปได้ชั่วชีวิต”
“แปลว่าคุณไม่คิดจะมองหาเจ้าสาวที่หน้าตาสะสวยสินะคะ” หล่อนถาม
เขาหัวเราะอีกครั้ง “ผมยังไม่ทราบเลยครับว่าตัวเองมองหาอะไร” เขาพูด “ผมยังไม่คิดจะมองหาเจ้าสาวเลย แต่คุณเอาคำพูดผมมาตลบหลังผมเสียแล้ว เครื่องประดับสวย ๆ งาม ๆ ก็สำคัญนะครับ ชีวิตคนเราต้องมีความพึงใจทางสุนทรียภาพจึงจะสมบูรณ์ แต่ผมก็เชื่อว่า ยังต้องมีอย่างอื่นนอกเหนือจากนั้นอีกมากมายด้วย”
หน้า 110-111 บทที่ 7
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นางเอกเรื่องนี้ชื่อเจนนิเฟอร์ วินวูด เจ้าหล่อนเดินทางมาลอนดอนพร้อมกับลูกพี่ลูกน้อง ซาแมนธา เพื่อเปิดตัวสู่วงสังคมครั้งแรก เจนนิเฟอร์หมั้นหมายกับลอร์ดไลโอเนลมาหลายปีแล้ว แม้จะไม่ได้มีโอกาสพูดคุยกันมากมายนัก แต่เจนนิเฟอร์ก็หลงรักไลโอเนลหมดใจ เขาทั้งหล่อเหลาและเป็นสุภาพบุรุษ ผมสีทอง ตาสีฟ้า เหมือนเทพบุตร
ตรงกันข้ามกับเกเบรียล เอิร์ลแห่งธอร์นฮิลล์ ที่ถึงแม้จะชื่อเกเบรียล แต่เขาเหมือนปิศาจมากกว่าเทพบุตร ด้วยผมและผิวสีเข้ม รวมถึงชื่อเสียงที่ฉาวโฉ่ในวงสังคมชั้นสูง
แน่นอนว่า เกเบรียลคือพระเอกค่ะ
ชื่อเสียงด่างพร้อยของเกเบรียลมาจากการที่เขาลักลอบมีอะไรกับแม่เลี้ยงที่ยังสาวของตัวเองจนหล่อนตั้งครรภ์ เขาจึงต้องพาหล่อนหนีไปต่างประเทศ หลังจากหล่อนคลอดบุตร เขาก็ทิ้งแม่เลี้ยงคนนั้นและลูกหนีกลับมา
และแน่นอนอีกเช่นกันว่า ข่าวลือนี้เป็นเท็จ แม่เลี้ยงของเขาลักลอบพบกับชายคนหนึ่งและมีลูกด้วยกันจริง เขาจึงต้องพาเจ้าหล่อนหนีจากพ่อที่อาจจะโกรธจัดจนทำอะไรที่ไม่คาดคิด เกเบรียลไม่สนใจแก้ข่าวลือที่ว่านี้ แต่เขาสนใจแก้แค้นชายชั่วที่เป็นต้นเหตุของเรื่องราว ที่นอกจากหนีหายไปไม่รับผิดชอบแล้ว ยังลอยหน้าลอยตามีความสุขอยู่ในสังคมอีกด้วย
และชายที่ว่านั่นก็คือ ไลโอเนล คู่หมั้นของเจนนิเฟอร์นั่นเอง
เกเบรียลต้องการทำให้ไลโอเนลได้อับอาย จึงวางแผนที่จะทำให้เจนนิเฟอร์ถอนหมั้นไลโอเนล เขาเอาตัวเองเข้าไปแทรกอยู่ตรงกลางระหว่างทั้งคู่ แผนการท้าทายนี้เป็นที่รู้กันระหว่างเกเบรียลและไลโอเนล เจนนิเฟอร์ไม่รู้เรื่องรู้ราวอะไรเลย คิดว่าที่เกเบรียลเข้าหาเพราะเขาต้องการเป็นเพื่อน และชอบหล่อนจากใจจริง สุดท้ายหล่อนจึงเป็นคนที่ได้รับบาดเจ็บมากที่สุด
แต่จริง ๆ แล้ว เกเบรียลถูกใจเจนนิเฟอร์ตั้งแต่แรกพบ ยิ่งได้พูดคุย ได้รู้จักยิ่งชอบ ยิ่งเจนนิเฟอร์จริงใจกับเขา เกเบรียลก็ยิ่งรู้สึกผิดที่ความต้องการแก้แค้นคนคนหนึ่งกลับต้องเป็นการทำร้ายเจนนิเฟอร์ที่เป็นผู้บริสุทธิ์ด้วย
เกเบรียลจึงตัดสินใจล้มเลิกแผนการในที่สุด แต่กลายเป็นว่า เขาถูกจอมวายร้ายไลโอเนลตลบหลังอย่างเจ็บแสบ
เรื่องนี้ค่อนข้างดราม่าทีเดียว พระเอกต้องการแก้แค้นให้แม่เลี้ยง (หล่อนอายุไล่เลี่ยกับเขา ก็เหมือนเป็นเพื่อนกันแหละ) นางเอกเดิมรักตัวร้าย แบบฝังจิตฝังใจด้วย เป็นอารมณ์เด็กสาวที่เฝ้าใฝ่ฝันหาเจ้าชาย ซึ่งเจ้าชายคนนั้นก็หล่อเหลาและสุภาพมาก แถมตัวเองยังมีสิทธิ์อันชอบธรรมที่จะฝันด้วย เพราะพ่อของทั้งคู่ตั้งใจให้หมั้นกันแต่แรก เจ้าหล่อนก็เลยไม่เคยเหลียวแลคนอื่นเลย ปักใจกับคนนี้ตลอด แต่มันเป็นรักแบบห��ง เพราะอันที่จริงหล่อนก็ไม่เคยคุยกับเขาเป็นกิจจะลักษณะ ไม่รู้นิสัยใจคอที่แท้จริง ไม่รู้ว่าจะเข้ากันได้หรือเปล่า ส่วนตัวร้ายก็ร้ายได้น่าอัดมาก
ไลโอเนล หนุ่มผมทองตาสีฟ้า ยศสูงศักดิ์ เป็นตัวอย่างของคนที่หน้าไหว้หลังหลอก ตลบตะแลง ปลิ้นปล้อน รู้ว่าตัวเองหน้าตาดี ท่าทีน่าเชื่อถือ ก็เอาข้อดีของตนไปหลอกลวงคนอื่น เพื่อสนองความต้องการ เพื่อความสนุกสะใจของตัวเอง ร้ายแบบน่าเตะสุด ๆ สาว ๆ ควรดูไว้นะคะ ผู้ชายหน้าตาท่าทางดีไม่ใช่พระเอกเสมอไป ตัวอย่างอยู่ที่นี่แล้ว /ผายมือ
ตอนอ่านเรื่องนี้ค่อนข้างอึดอัดนะ อย่างนางเอก นางก็จะเพ้อถึงแ��่ตัว���้าย เพราะเข้าใจว่าตนหลงรักมานาน จริง ๆ นางรู้สึกดีกับพระเอกแหละ รู้สึกว่าคนนี้อยู่ด้วยแล้วสบายใจ แล้วก็จะมีความคิดแวบเข้ามาเรื่อย ๆ ว่า เอ๊ะ กับไลโอเนลหล่อนจะรู้สึกสบายอกสบายใจเวลาอยู่กับเขาอย่างนี้หรือเปล่า เขามีจะเห็นด้วยกับความคิดหล่อนมั้ย มันจะมีจังหวะ เอ๊ะ อย่างนี้เข้ามาในใจนางเรื่อย ๆ แล้วพอผ่านไปก็เริ่มมีความรู้สึกว่า เอ สิ่งที่วาดฝันมันไม่น่าจะเหมือนความจริงเท่าไร เริ่มตระหนักอะไรหลาย ๆ อย่างเพิ่มขึ้นตามระยะเวลาที่ผ่านไป อย่างพระเอกเอง เขาเข้ามาแบบมีแผนการ คือเขามีความจริงใจให้นางเอกแหละ แตมันอยู่บนฐานของความตั้งใจตั้งต้นที่จะหลอกลวง มันก็เลยไม่บริสุทธิ์ผุดผ่อง แต่ถ้าถามว่าเขาเป็นคนดีไหม ดีเลยค่ะ หรืออย่างญาติของนางเอก ซาแมนธา นางเป็นเหยื่ออีกคนของตัวร้าย โดนหลอกให้หลงรัก ซึ่งตอนอ่าน โอภาวนาเลยนะว่านางอย่าเป็นนางเอก โอไม่ชอบนางเอกสไตล์นี้ (คล้ายแทงข้างหลังเพื่อนกลาย ๆ ) ซึ่งความตั้งใจนี้ไม่เป็นจริง นางเป็นนางเอกเล่มถัดไปค่ะ แต่เอาเข้าจริง โอก็เข้าใจนางนะ นางไม่ได้ตั้งใจ ความรู้สึกห้ามกันไม่ได้ แต่นางสามารถห้ามการกระทำได้ เท่านี้ก็โอเคแล้ว แถมตอนนั้นนางยังเด็กมาก ๆ ไม่เคยมีความรักมาก่อน มาโดนหลอกให้รักให้หลงอย่างนี้ ก็สามารถเข้าใจได้
โอว่ามันค่อนข้างเรียลในแง่ความรู้สึกสำหรับเรื่องนี้ ก็เลยอ่านไปอึดอัดไป อยากด่าไป สำหรับตัวร้าย นี่ยิ่งสุด ๆ จบได้ไม่สะใจเลย นายควรโดนให้หนักกว่านี้มาก ๆ โอไม่ชอบใครเป็นพิเศษในเรื่องนี้ ไม่ชอบนางเอกตรงที่นางชอบเพ้อถึงรักแรกของนาง เกลียดตัวร้าย เฉย ๆ กับพระเอก แต่โอชอบเพื่อนพระเอก โอชอบตอนพระเอกอยู่กับเ���ื่อน น่ารักดี เป็นฟีลแบบก๊วนหนุ่ม ๆ จับกลุ่มนินทา ไม่ใช่ฟีลเก๊กหล่อต่างคนต่างเข้ามุม โอรู้สึกว่าผู้เขียนเขียนผู้ชายได้น่ารักกว่าผู้หญิง อย่างตอนเพื่อนคนหนึ่งของพระเอกเพ้อถึงรักของตนแล้วทำแก้มพอง แบบ ฉันชอบ ทำไมน่าเอ็นดู หรือเพื่อนอีกคนที่ใส่เสื้อสีม่วงลาเวนเดอร์โดดเด่นตระการตา โอก็ชอบ ฉันชอบสีม่วง เอ็นดูจังเลย~
เล่มนี้โอให้ 3 ดาว เพราะไม่ค่อยช��บพระนางเท่าไร จะว่าไป โอควรเขียนถึงหน้าตาพระนางด้วยสินะ เรื่องนี้พระเอกคมเข้ม นางเอกผมแดง ออกเนื้อนมไข่หน่อย สเปกพระเอกแต่แรกทีเดียว
เห็นคำผิด ประดิษฐ์ประดอย ที่ถูกต้องสะกด ประดิดประดอย
ตอนนี้มีโปรลดราคา 70% ที่เพจสำนักพิมพ์แก้วกานต์อยู่นะคะ ถึงวันที่ 20 ธ.ค. เข้าไปดูรายชื่อได้ที่เพจ ชุดนี้ก็ลดทั้งชุดเลย จะซื้อแยกเล่มก็ได้ แต่โอแนะนำว่าถ้าจะซื้อ ซื้อไปเถอะทั้งชุด เพราะตอนนี้โออ่านถึงเล่ม 3 แล้ว เล่มต่อ ๆ มายิ่งน่ารัก โอชอบเล่ม 3 มาก ฮาสุด ๆ พ่อหนุ่มลาเวนเดอร์ของฉัน อ๊าย ขอเวลาเขี���นรีวิวแป๊บ
ถามว่าอ่านแยกเล่มได้ไหม อ่านได้ค่ะ แต่ถ้าอ่านเรียงก็จะได้ความครบถ้วนสมบูรณ์ เพราะตัวละครเกี่ยวข้องกัน พระนางเป็นเพื่อนกัน อีกอย่างถ้าไม่อ่านเรียง จะโดนสปอยล์เนื้อหาในเล่มที่มีเหตุการณ์เกิดก่อนหน้า แต่ถ้าไม่แคร์ก็โอเค อ่านไม่เรียงก็ได้
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หล่อนเกาะแขนเขาแล้วยอมให้เขานำหล่อนไปทางสวนผลไม้ “คุณเชื่อว่าผู้หญิงควรจะเป็นเพียงเครื่องประดับที่เสริมบารมีในชีวิตของผู้ชายงั้นหรือคะ” หล่อนถาม “ไม่มีทางเป็นอย่างอื่นได้เลยหรือ”
“ขอผมเถียงเฉพาะตามตัวอักษรนะครับ” เขาตอบ “ผู้ชายทุกคน...รวมถึงผู้หญิงด้วย...ต่างชอบถูกแวดล้อมด้วยของสวย ๆ งาม ๆ ทั้งนั้น เพราะมันทำให้ชีวิตของเรารื่นรมย์และสง่างามยิ่งขึ้น แต่ชีวิตคงจะน่าเบื่อและเงียบเหงาจนทนไม่ไหวหากไม่มีสิ่งใดเลยนอกจากเครื่องประดับที่สวยงาม มันจะหมดความน่าดึงดูดใจในไม่ช้าและเหลือประโยชน์แค่เพียงเอาไว้ขว้างทิ้งเพื่อระบายความหงุดหงิด ผู้หญิงคนใดก็ตามคงจะหมดเสน่ห์หากเธอปราศจากสิ่งอื่นที่จะมอบให้นอกเหนือจากนั้น ไม่ว่าเธอจะสวยงามน่ารักหรือช่วยเสริมบารมีได้มากเพียงใด”
“แหม” หล่อนพูด “เหลือประโยชน์แค่เพียงเอาไว้ขว้างทิ้งเพื่อระบายอารมณ์”
เขาหัวเราะเบา ๆ “นี่คือเหตุผลที่การแต่งงานมากมายล้มเหลวไงครับ” เขาพูด “คู่แต่งงานมากมายถูกจับให้อยู่ในกับดักแห่งความเบื่อหน่ายหรือกระทั่งความทุกข์ทรมานที่ไม่หยุดหย่อนไปชั่วชีวิต คุณเคยสังเกตไหมครับ และบ่อยครั้งเป็นเพราะครั้งหนึ่งพวกเขาเคยคิดว่าความรื่นรมย์ทางสายตาจะสามารถเติมเต็มอารมณ์และหัวใจไปได้ชั่วชีวิต”
“แปลว่าคุณไม่คิดจะมองหาเจ้าสาวที่หน้าตาสะสวยสินะคะ” หล่อนถาม
เขาหัวเราะอีกครั้ง “ผมยังไม่ทราบเลยครับว่าตัวเองมองหาอะไร” เขาพูด “ผมยังไม่คิดจะมองหาเจ้าสาวเลย แต่คุณเอาคำพูดผมมาตลบหลังผมเสียแล้ว เครื่องประดับสวย ๆ งาม ๆ ก็สำคัญนะครับ ชีวิตคนเราต้องมีความพึงใจทางสุนทรียภาพจึงจะสมบูรณ์ แต่ผมก็เชื่อว่า ยังต้องมีอย่างอื่นนอกเหนือจากนั้นอีกมากมายด้วย”
หน้า 110-111 บทที่ 7
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October 11, 2015
My new favorite Mary Balogh. Jennifer came to town for her come out and to be formally engaged after a 5 year family promise to marry. Her cousin Samantha came for her come out as well.
Jennifer doesn't know her intended well but she has a big ole crush on the idea of him - Viscount Kersey. Gabriel is in town after a 2 year self imposed exile. He'd been living abroad with his stepmom - she'd been knocked up by someone who wasn't her husband. Gabriel went with her to protect her. It was rumored the kid was his.
As the book enfolds we learn that Lionel Kersey impregnated the stepmom. To get revenge Gabriel plots to break up Lionel and Jennifer. He does this by seducing Jennifer. Lionel begins seducing Samantha - bc he doesn't wanna marry Jennifer but wants Samantha to tell her.
Basically Lionel does all kinds of crappy horrible things. I really really hated him. Gabriel and Jennifer end up married through Lionel's tricks. And then Jenn figures out no one really liked her - they were using her to fuck with each other. She's crushed. And she has to sort out feelings for Lionel and Gabe - good and bad.
I had a strong emotional reaction to about 5/6 of this book. I was just pissed - but in that super good, emotionally invested, fun way that great books do. There were a couple of things I didn't like about the book - specifically Gabriel's taking possession when they were married. But it was understandable given the flow of the book. In sum I adored this book bc it made me feel. And it made me feel bc I adored it. I was with Gabe and Jenn every step of the way - they were completely real to me. This isn't a book I'll generalize by saying they were strong characters or smart characters - bc to me they weren't characters. They pulled me into their story and their world - and I forgot all about this being fiction.
Jennifer doesn't know her intended well but she has a big ole crush on the idea of him - Viscount Kersey. Gabriel is in town after a 2 year self imposed exile. He'd been living abroad with his stepmom - she'd been knocked up by someone who wasn't her husband. Gabriel went with her to protect her. It was rumored the kid was his.
As the book enfolds we learn that Lionel Kersey impregnated the stepmom. To get revenge Gabriel plots to break up Lionel and Jennifer. He does this by seducing Jennifer. Lionel begins seducing Samantha - bc he doesn't wanna marry Jennifer but wants Samantha to tell her.
Basically Lionel does all kinds of crappy horrible things. I really really hated him. Gabriel and Jennifer end up married through Lionel's tricks. And then Jenn figures out no one really liked her - they were using her to fuck with each other. She's crushed. And she has to sort out feelings for Lionel and Gabe - good and bad.
I had a strong emotional reaction to about 5/6 of this book. I was just pissed - but in that super good, emotionally invested, fun way that great books do. There were a couple of things I didn't like about the book - specifically Gabriel's taking possession when they were married. But it was understandable given the flow of the book. In sum I adored this book bc it made me feel. And it made me feel bc I adored it. I was with Gabe and Jenn every step of the way - they were completely real to me. This isn't a book I'll generalize by saying they were strong characters or smart characters - bc to me they weren't characters. They pulled me into their story and their world - and I forgot all about this being fiction.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 5, 2018
These lines by Sir Albert Boyle are so beautiful. He is only a secondary character, but these few lines just made up for the whole novel.
“You dance with a girl because you feel sorry for her and imagine how sad and humiliated she would be going home and to bed knowing that she had been a wallflower all evening while the prettier girls had danced. And then you take her driving for the same reason, and walking and boating at a garden party and then dancing again. And then you start to realize that there is someone hiding behind the plainness and the quietness and the —the dullness. Someone sort of sweet in a way and someone who—well, who would bleed if she cut herself, if you know what I mean. Someone who loves kittens to distraction and cries over chimney sweeps' climbing boys and likes to slip up to her sister's nursery to play with her nieces and nephews instead of sifting in the drawing room listening to the adults converse. And then you realize that she is not quite as plain or as quiet or as dull as you had thought."
It sort of creeps up on you. You don't notice it and you don't particularly want it or welcome it when you discover it. But it's there. And there seems to be only one thing to do about it.”
~ Dark Angel, Mary Balogh’s
I am a little disappointed in this book. When I read the premise, it seemed like a really good story. But there was no character development of the H/h and they fell in love in just a few meetings.
“You dance with a girl because you feel sorry for her and imagine how sad and humiliated she would be going home and to bed knowing that she had been a wallflower all evening while the prettier girls had danced. And then you take her driving for the same reason, and walking and boating at a garden party and then dancing again. And then you start to realize that there is someone hiding behind the plainness and the quietness and the —the dullness. Someone sort of sweet in a way and someone who—well, who would bleed if she cut herself, if you know what I mean. Someone who loves kittens to distraction and cries over chimney sweeps' climbing boys and likes to slip up to her sister's nursery to play with her nieces and nephews instead of sifting in the drawing room listening to the adults converse. And then you realize that she is not quite as plain or as quiet or as dull as you had thought."
It sort of creeps up on you. You don't notice it and you don't particularly want it or welcome it when you discover it. But it's there. And there seems to be only one thing to do about it.”
~ Dark Angel, Mary Balogh’s
I am a little disappointed in this book. When I read the premise, it seemed like a really good story. But there was no character development of the H/h and they fell in love in just a few meetings.
June 18, 2012
I really enjoy Mary Balogh's traditional regencies. The are a bit deeper than a usual traditional regency.
I was a bit troubled by how Gabriel used Jennifer in this book, but in the end I felt for Gabriel. He got caught up in his own game and realized the stakes were quite high indeed. I like that Jennifer didn't back down from him and gave him hell when she found out. I liked the plot and that things were turned upside down on Gabriel which forced his hand. I wanted to know what Rutherford said to his son.
Great story. I really look forward to reading the 2nd in this series about Jennifer's cousin Samantha.
I was a bit troubled by how Gabriel used Jennifer in this book, but in the end I felt for Gabriel. He got caught up in his own game and realized the stakes were quite high indeed. I like that Jennifer didn't back down from him and gave him hell when she found out. I liked the plot and that things were turned upside down on Gabriel which forced his hand. I wanted to know what Rutherford said to his son.
Great story. I really look forward to reading the 2nd in this series about Jennifer's cousin Samantha.
December 27, 2012
This is just not one of my favourite Baloghs. It has potential, because the hero is complex, but so much of the book is focused on the destructive games played by the hero and his nemesis that I never can quite feel the relationship between the hero and heroine.
March 22, 2024
Mary Balogh - Crni anđeo
(Posrnuli anđeli #3)
Nakon gomile nesrećnih okolnosti koje su odlagale njen debitantski bal i buduću veridbu,
Dženifer Vinvud konačno je stigla u London na svoju sezonu i dugoočekivani susret sa budućim verenikom Lajonelom,
lordom Kersijem.
Iako ga je jedva poznavala, činilo joj se da ga voli oduvek i nadala se da je on častan i dobar čovek, i da i on voli nju.
U vreme Dženinog dolaska, nakon dužeg odsustva zbog skandala u kome je učestvovao,
u London stiže i ozloglašeni ženskaroš Gabrijel, grof od Tronhila, koji sa Lajonelom ima neraščišćene račune.
Tražeći osvetu, Gabrijel dolazi na ideju da bi osvajanje Kersijeve verenice bilo nešto što bi zadovoljilo njegovu sujetu.
Međutim, hoće li istrajati u svojoj nameri, ili će mu Dženifer postati nagrada vrednija od osvete?
Tanka knjiga, po obimu podseća na vikend romane, samo 128 stranica. Ali autorka je uspela da upakuje jednu lepu priču, čini mi se karakterističnu za Viktorijansko doba. Vreme kad su žene stupale u brak sa strancima, ljudima koji su izbor njihovih očeva ili staratelja. Naša junakinja ima izbor između Anđela i Đavola, ali vremenom postaje zbunjena ko je ko 😅 Fina razbibriga ali čitala sam mnogo bolje knjige od Meri. Za ovu knjigu ocena 3☆
(Posrnuli anđeli #3)
Nakon gomile nesrećnih okolnosti koje su odlagale njen debitantski bal i buduću veridbu,
Dženifer Vinvud konačno je stigla u London na svoju sezonu i dugoočekivani susret sa budućim verenikom Lajonelom,
lordom Kersijem.
Iako ga je jedva poznavala, činilo joj se da ga voli oduvek i nadala se da je on častan i dobar čovek, i da i on voli nju.
U vreme Dženinog dolaska, nakon dužeg odsustva zbog skandala u kome je učestvovao,
u London stiže i ozloglašeni ženskaroš Gabrijel, grof od Tronhila, koji sa Lajonelom ima neraščišćene račune.
Tražeći osvetu, Gabrijel dolazi na ideju da bi osvajanje Kersijeve verenice bilo nešto što bi zadovoljilo njegovu sujetu.
Međutim, hoće li istrajati u svojoj nameri, ili će mu Dženifer postati nagrada vrednija od osvete?
Tanka knjiga, po obimu podseća na vikend romane, samo 128 stranica. Ali autorka je uspela da upakuje jednu lepu priču, čini mi se karakterističnu za Viktorijansko doba. Vreme kad su žene stupale u brak sa strancima, ljudima koji su izbor njihovih očeva ili staratelja. Naša junakinja ima izbor između Anđela i Đavola, ali vremenom postaje zbunjena ko je ko 😅 Fina razbibriga ali čitala sam mnogo bolje knjige od Meri. Za ovu knjigu ocena 3☆
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2019
Betrothed since childhood Jennifer looks forward to enter into the arranged marriage with a blond beau. When she meets a dark haired rake at a ball she is attracted to him but loves her future husband - so she thinks.
Gabe has ulterior motives for trying to seduce someone else's betrothed, and they have nothing to do with love.
I loved this one. So refreshing to have a love story where the protagonists learn to love rather than falling for each other the first second they meet. Problems made sense, mostly, and angst was kept to the necessary minimum.
I was afraid to read such an old novel from an author who is writing for decades, but this was a very pleasant surprise.
Gabe has ulterior motives for trying to seduce someone else's betrothed, and they have nothing to do with love.
I loved this one. So refreshing to have a love story where the protagonists learn to love rather than falling for each other the first second they meet. Problems made sense, mostly, and angst was kept to the necessary minimum.
I was afraid to read such an old novel from an author who is writing for decades, but this was a very pleasant surprise.
October 13, 2019
I really loved the story, characters and the romance.
It wasn't funny, although I could see here and there a sparkle of wit. But what is important, the seriousness of the story wasn't too heavy, there wasn't too much melodrama, etc. It was simply a well invented and written romance, but probably the plot wasn't typical for the Regency romances. I appreciate the freshness, the originality I found here (although it was perhaps why some readers rated it lower than I).
It wasn't funny, although I could see here and there a sparkle of wit. But what is important, the seriousness of the story wasn't too heavy, there wasn't too much melodrama, etc. It was simply a well invented and written romance, but probably the plot wasn't typical for the Regency romances. I appreciate the freshness, the originality I found here (although it was perhaps why some readers rated it lower than I).
October 11, 2023
J'ai adoré cette histoire. On se doute bien de qui est le gentil et qui est le méchant mais jusqu'à la fin on attend la révélation.
August 5, 2022
a 90s romance of a forced marriage with a devil rogue named gabriel tale deserves true four stars.
i would not be surprised if lisa kleypas read this one at some point and it sparked some vague ideas for her masterpiece devil in winter.
i would not be surprised if lisa kleypas read this one at some point and it sparked some vague ideas for her masterpiece devil in winter.
May 19, 2022
Histoire mignonne qui se lit vite.
February 15, 2018
Let me say first, that when all is said and done, I did not enjoy this book for many reasons which are discussed throughout this review. That doesn't mean that I can't recognize that it is a very impressive work. I want to give it below 2 stars to describe how little I enjoyed it, but I can't do that.
It is so much more than a romance book. It is also hard to read as a romance because it is a difficult book. It has a number of very difficult themes and events as well as a number of horrible events.
It sounds like it is going to be a simple revenge book where in the end, the innocent woman who was only used by the man seeking revenge gets treated poorly but eventually ends up
It is very hard to like Gabriel. He becomes obsessed with revenge and he even knows he is hurting Jenny. Yet Gabriel is a complex man. He has strong principles and he protects those that are his. (See discussion below about property.)
Jenny has flaws too. As she says at one point in the book - she is in love with the idea of Kersey, at least through most of the book. And she is naïve. And she doesn't think before she allows things to happen.
Like many of Balogh's books, this book has a lot to do with forgiveness. This is deep stuff.
I was deeply disturbed by some things in this book which is why I shelf it as "mature themes". The fairly detailed, extended, and repeated love scenes are not the reason for that, even though they are there.
First of all the idea that women are property, at least during the historical period described, is repeatedly brought up. In that period, a woman was completely under the control of the men in her life whether it was her husband or her father. Society really intended it to be true when a wife vowed to obey her husband during the wedding ceremony. So did Gabriel. And this leads into what really disturbed me, but I will have to deal with it as a spoiler because it occurs late in the book.
BTW A couple of totally off-topic observations. In the book about Francis, it keeps saying that he was always part of Samantha's court and even really close. No sign of that here. Maybe that gets explained in Samantha's book. Also
It is so much more than a romance book. It is also hard to read as a romance because it is a difficult book. It has a number of very difficult themes and events as well as a number of horrible events.
It sounds like it is going to be a simple revenge book where in the end, the innocent woman who was only used by the man seeking revenge gets treated poorly but eventually ends up
It is very hard to like Gabriel. He becomes obsessed with revenge and he even knows he is hurting Jenny. Yet Gabriel is a complex man. He has strong principles and he protects those that are his. (See discussion below about property.)
Jenny has flaws too. As she says at one point in the book - she is in love with the idea of Kersey, at least through most of the book. And she is naïve. And she doesn't think before she allows things to happen.
Like many of Balogh's books, this book has a lot to do with forgiveness. This is deep stuff.
I was deeply disturbed by some things in this book which is why I shelf it as "mature themes". The fairly detailed, extended, and repeated love scenes are not the reason for that, even though they are there.
First of all the idea that women are property, at least during the historical period described, is repeatedly brought up. In that period, a woman was completely under the control of the men in her life whether it was her husband or her father. Society really intended it to be true when a wife vowed to obey her husband during the wedding ceremony. So did Gabriel. And this leads into what really disturbed me, but I will have to deal with it as a spoiler because it occurs late in the book.
BTW A couple of totally off-topic observations. In the book about Francis, it keeps saying that he was always part of Samantha's court and even really close. No sign of that here. Maybe that gets explained in Samantha's book. Also
May 11, 2022
Caution SPOILERS ahead.
I could not put this book down. The hero and heroine were great even though they weren't perfect. Jennifer is young and naive even though she doesn't like being thought of as such. She's been in love with the idea of Lionel since she was 15 years old. She knows nothing different so she has convinced herself she loves him even though they've rarely seen each other in those 5 years. She wanted to be happy and having her marriage arranged she wanted her betrothed to be the one she would be happy with. She built him up in her head for 5 long years, falling in love with the idea of him. I think she said it best when she finally realizes the truth: "I loved the thought of him ... For five years he was my life, or at least my hope and my dream." When she finally meets him and spends little time with him, she realizes he's not what she thought he would be even though she doesn't really want to believe it and ignores the clues practically hitting her in the face.
Gabriel used an innocent girl to get his revenge without caring how much he would hurt her. His revenge meant more to him. He did not realize he was being just as dispicable as the man he hated. He justifies himself by thinking she will be better off without the psychopath as a husband. But his plan backfires on him and he falls in love with the girl he was so callously using. He realizes what he's done and goes about trying to fix it. Unfortunately it is too late and she's already been hurt and now is forced to marry him, but he tries anyways: "I will make it my life's work to see to it that you will in time be glad of your answer."
Lord Kersey was a horrible person and I was glad he got what he deserved.
I was not a fan of Samantha. In fact I hated her. Yes, she was young and naive. She was conned by a beautiful and charming man. But she knew that man was her cousin's betrothed. And she knew her cousin loved him. She even thinks it to herself a couple times: "...he was the man Jenny loved to distraction and had loved for five years." There was no excuse for what she did. As soon as Lionel said something to her, she should have immediately gone to her cousin to confess what had happened. Instead she lets him kiss her, twice, and kisses him back. She always thought him cold but with two kisses in one night she finds she has fallen in love with him. Ridiculous!
She hopes the marriage gets cancelled so she could end up with Lionel and even feels elated when the scandal happens: "...thought back with horrified guilt to the unwilling elation she had felt last night—and still felt today." And is wondering — as her cousin has been humiliated in front of the ton, cast aside, beaten with a cane by her father, has had her heart shattered and is forced to marry a man they think is Lucifer himself — how long Lionel will take before he calls on her. Those are not the thoughts of a good person. I felt no sympathy for her when she realizes she was played. She got what she deserved there. I wished she would been turned away by Jennifer once she knew what had happening. It could have been avoided if at first Samantha would have told her Lionel did not love or want to marry her.
I would have liked to have seen her father apologize for what he did to her. He arranged her marriage to a psychopath and then, instead of trusting and defending her, he beats her with a cane before even getting her side of the story. He should have gone to beg her forgiveness on his knees before being thrown out of the house by Gabriel.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this story. I did not want to read the next book since it is Samantha's story but the positive reviews have me curious. I love a good hero and it seems the next book has one. And Ms. Balogh's writing is addictive.
I could not put this book down. The hero and heroine were great even though they weren't perfect. Jennifer is young and naive even though she doesn't like being thought of as such. She's been in love with the idea of Lionel since she was 15 years old. She knows nothing different so she has convinced herself she loves him even though they've rarely seen each other in those 5 years. She wanted to be happy and having her marriage arranged she wanted her betrothed to be the one she would be happy with. She built him up in her head for 5 long years, falling in love with the idea of him. I think she said it best when she finally realizes the truth: "I loved the thought of him ... For five years he was my life, or at least my hope and my dream." When she finally meets him and spends little time with him, she realizes he's not what she thought he would be even though she doesn't really want to believe it and ignores the clues practically hitting her in the face.
Gabriel used an innocent girl to get his revenge without caring how much he would hurt her. His revenge meant more to him. He did not realize he was being just as dispicable as the man he hated. He justifies himself by thinking she will be better off without the psychopath as a husband. But his plan backfires on him and he falls in love with the girl he was so callously using. He realizes what he's done and goes about trying to fix it. Unfortunately it is too late and she's already been hurt and now is forced to marry him, but he tries anyways: "I will make it my life's work to see to it that you will in time be glad of your answer."
Lord Kersey was a horrible person and I was glad he got what he deserved.
I was not a fan of Samantha. In fact I hated her. Yes, she was young and naive. She was conned by a beautiful and charming man. But she knew that man was her cousin's betrothed. And she knew her cousin loved him. She even thinks it to herself a couple times: "...he was the man Jenny loved to distraction and had loved for five years." There was no excuse for what she did. As soon as Lionel said something to her, she should have immediately gone to her cousin to confess what had happened. Instead she lets him kiss her, twice, and kisses him back. She always thought him cold but with two kisses in one night she finds she has fallen in love with him. Ridiculous!
She hopes the marriage gets cancelled so she could end up with Lionel and even feels elated when the scandal happens: "...thought back with horrified guilt to the unwilling elation she had felt last night—and still felt today." And is wondering — as her cousin has been humiliated in front of the ton, cast aside, beaten with a cane by her father, has had her heart shattered and is forced to marry a man they think is Lucifer himself — how long Lionel will take before he calls on her. Those are not the thoughts of a good person. I felt no sympathy for her when she realizes she was played. She got what she deserved there. I wished she would been turned away by Jennifer once she knew what had happening. It could have been avoided if at first Samantha would have told her Lionel did not love or want to marry her.
I would have liked to have seen her father apologize for what he did to her. He arranged her marriage to a psychopath and then, instead of trusting and defending her, he beats her with a cane before even getting her side of the story. He should have gone to beg her forgiveness on his knees before being thrown out of the house by Gabriel.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this story. I did not want to read the next book since it is Samantha's story but the positive reviews have me curious. I love a good hero and it seems the next book has one. And Ms. Balogh's writing is addictive.
August 12, 2016
Quando il cervello e il buon senso sono stati distribuiti, Miss Jennifer non si trovava ancora a Londra purtroppo...
Mai trovata una protagonista più stupida di questa qui!
Dai, il padre le combina un fidanzamento con Lord Kersey e lei in 5 anni lo vede giusto un paio di volte, nelle quali lui è più freddo e gelido di un lago ghiacciato, fa commenti sprezzanti, è distaccato, la tratta come una stupida (cosa che effettivamente è, ma vabbè...) e lei che fa? Dice che si fida del padre e quindi anche della sua scelta e appena vede Lionel con i suoi occhi azzurri e i capelli biondi capisce che lo ama follemente. No, ok, ora qualcuno mi spieghi i motivi perchè io non li ho colti e nel libro di certo non sono scritti, a parte proprio il mero aspetto fisico.
E poi mentre lei sognava il suo caro Lionel, lui aveva almeno 3 amanti ufficiali, 3 figli illegittimi e altre numerose donne....
Jenny è veramente ingenua, ma a livelli imbarazzanti: dopo un bacio rubato a labbra chiuse dal conte di Thornhill è convinta di essere ormai una donna perduta e accetta di sposarlo (per evitare uno scandalo grande come una casa...) perchè il caro padre (colui che lei ama ma che non si è fatto scrupolo a frustarla per punizione) minaccia di tagliarle i capelli!
Ma siamo seri?????
E' davvero un peccato perchè Gabriel non è affatto male, ma Jenny è la stupidità fatta persona.
Aiuto!
Mai trovata una protagonista più stupida di questa qui!
Dai, il padre le combina un fidanzamento con Lord Kersey e lei in 5 anni lo vede giusto un paio di volte, nelle quali lui è più freddo e gelido di un lago ghiacciato, fa commenti sprezzanti, è distaccato, la tratta come una stupida (cosa che effettivamente è, ma vabbè...) e lei che fa? Dice che si fida del padre e quindi anche della sua scelta e appena vede Lionel con i suoi occhi azzurri e i capelli biondi capisce che lo ama follemente. No, ok, ora qualcuno mi spieghi i motivi perchè io non li ho colti e nel libro di certo non sono scritti, a parte proprio il mero aspetto fisico.
E poi mentre lei sognava il suo caro Lionel, lui aveva almeno 3 amanti ufficiali, 3 figli illegittimi e altre numerose donne....
Jenny è veramente ingenua, ma a livelli imbarazzanti: dopo un bacio rubato a labbra chiuse dal conte di Thornhill è convinta di essere ormai una donna perduta e accetta di sposarlo (per evitare uno scandalo grande come una casa...) perchè il caro padre (colui che lei ama ma che non si è fatto scrupolo a frustarla per punizione) minaccia di tagliarle i capelli!
Ma siamo seri?????
E' davvero un peccato perchè Gabriel non è affatto male, ma Jenny è la stupidità fatta persona.
Aiuto!
February 14, 2023
I like how Mary Balogh writes a villain, she’s got the psychology down very well. Not everyone is a fan of revenge courting but it didn’t even feel like revenge past the first interaction, it was pretty obvious the MMC is a good guy and genuinely interested in the FMC. I like how all characters made rational decisions and communicated with each other, even when there was reason to distrust, they went with their gut. That’s how it should always happen in romance, if you love someone you understand their character and what they’re capable of.
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