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Title: The Wedding Escape
ISBN: 0553584405
Author:
Karyn Monk
Publicate Date: 2003-03-04
Publish: 2003-03-04
List Price: $7.50
Average Customer Rating: 4.0
Format: Mass Market Paperback
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $1.25
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $0.01
Amazon Merchant Price: $7.50
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1: If my life depended on reading this book, I'd jump over a cliff instead.
I confess. I made it through only 60% of the book before I allowed myself to just GIVE UP and not read anymore. Dear Lord, the characters were such horrible stereotypes that I didn't care if got married, divorced, or fell off the planet: The spoiled heiress who is dimmer than a 4watt bulb and the tortured hero so full of angst he really needed professional help than true love. I do agree with other reviewers that the supporting characters (Jack's loyal servants and his siblings) are the scene stealers in this book. I love regency romances too. Try Mary Jo Putney for characters that you find believable, funny, and easy to care about...
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2: My favorite of Genevieve's misfits.
I rarely rate any book that I review as 5 star worthy. Now, as I review this amazing book, I know of two others that will be receiving 5 stars after I get done with this review.
After reading 'The Prisoner' I found myself wanting to read more about Genevieve and Haydon's band of unfortunates and misfits. This book gave me humor, passion, love, and a damn honest telling of England and surrounding areas in the late 1800's. Monk's straight forward descriptions of the horrendous lords and their lacking wealth are a refreshing perspective from many who glorify and romanticize that particular era.
Jack, in my opinion, is far from a violent homophobe (and believe me, I know homophobes). Satisfyingly dynamic, there is a definite change in him from the beginning to the end of the novel. Where there once stood an angry, self-loathing man forever haunted by his less-than-respectable parentage (I, for one, knew what role Lord Hutton played instantly), at the end there is a worldly man who loves a brave woman and is finally at peace with himself. Lovely.
Amelia, I also found, was surprisingly dynamic as well. Originally I didn't have much hope for her character, but she made me laugh a few times with her typical heiress-naievety. To me, Jack did a good job in making Amelia more down-to-earth, even though she had a large part in that as well. A very compelling heroine.
I recommend Monk's books to anyone who asks me. The majority of the time, she will never leave readers wanting. This book is a perfect example of it.
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3: Escape from the day
I read the Queen's Fool and really liked it. So naturally I had to go get the next book. I was disappointed in the fact she didn't use a original fictional character like Hannah, but never the less it was pretty good. Her description of the Tudor ear is beautifully written. I thought that Amy wasn't as constantans as her attitude had been in the first one. It was interesting to see all the different viewpoints of how people saw Robert. As a finial note some of it did seem to drag on and the plot was driven by this one piece of mysterious history that she really wanted to point out. Don't get me wrong it was interesting, but certain parts were dry.
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4: A captivating historical romance
Courtesy of The Best Reviews
Wealthy American heiress Amelia Belford is being forced into a marriage she does not want. Her mother desires her to marry into a high ranking reputable family and Amelia's father is eager for the business connections this marriage will open up to him in Europe. All she wants is to be happy and to find a marriage of love rather then convenience.
Jack Kent is attending the high society wedding of the wealthy socialite from America and her groom-to-be Duke Whitcliffe, for an opportunity to spend time with his family before heading off on another sea journey. When he escapes the Church to go outside for some air prior to the wedding, she is shocked to see the young bride making a break for freedom by shimmying out a Church window and down the wall, on a beeline for a carriage to escape in, and ends up in Jack's own carriage!
Jack is immediately taken with Amelia's spirit and bid for freedom, agreeing to help her by taking her first to London, then on to his home in Inverness, Scotland. Suddenly he finds himself protecting the young beauty, wanting to see no harm come to her as she discovers how it feels to be free. Jack and Amelia are drawn to each other... he to her indomitable will and she to the kindness in his heart, which can't quite mask the pain in his eyes - a pain he refuses to reveal.
However, fate is not ready for them yet. Someone has plans to ruin Jack's growing shipping business, destroying any credibility he's acquired by overcoming his less-then-stellar past. Amelia's family will do anything to get her back and married off. Will Jack and Amelia be able to overcome the obstacles - internal and external - to find the happiness only they can grant each other?
Ms. Monk continues the Kent family saga with this impressive read. Jack and Amelia show such passion and strength, still having their weaknesses, as the reader gets to know them. Jack is convinced everyone looks down on him for his scandalous past and Amelia longs for someone to love her for herself, not her money. Each longs for the other to love them for whom they are inside, not what is on the surface. All of the secondary characters are delightful as well... from Jack's extended family of reformed thieves to Amelia's brash family of "loud obnoxious" Americans.
Plenty of plot can be found in Jack's lowly background, Amelia's escapades to escape for The Wedding Escape, and the mystery behind the vandalism to his sea fleet and the attempts to destroy his business. Jack's brothers and sisters... and servants... add humor to the story, keeping it lighthearted and full of entertaining and memorable scenes.
One can't help but fall in love with Jack and Amelia, and all of the Kent family throughout this entire book. This reviewer loved this book and is eager to read more adventures of this loveable family.
?? Kelley A. Hartsell, April 2003. All rights reserved.
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5: Oh, if only everything had been wrapped up...
Wow! That Publisher's Weekly review really had an ax to grind--and it bore little resemblance to the book. That reviewer seems to have forgotten the mores & laws of the day as well as the other factors involved.
Jack definitely has his problems, and there were times I was put off by them. Indeed, his character seemed so changeable--for example, his later anger problems seemed at odds with his more laid-back demeanor early in the book. But Jack has not completely overcome the horrors of his youth, and Amelia--or his surprising feelings for her--become the trigger for years of repression to fall away. Much like organizing your basement, it gets worse before it gets better. But Monk really makes you feel Jack's despair at the thought that Amelia might leave him and his inability to articulate what he feels for her. As for the charges of near rape, ah....no. Amelia was a full participant.
Speaking of Amelia, she's a pampered gal who gains a lot of wisdom after she meets Jack. Unfortunately, there also comes a time when she seems to lose her newfound backbone. The servants and Jack's family are terrific secondary characters--sometimes they nearly steal the show. Ha! And Jack as a doctor was excruciatingly funny.
On the charge of too many unanswered questions....that's a big Yes. It's the book's major downfall. So many threads are set up--very important ones--and they are never resolved. Very bad form that. Therefore, I'm rating it at 3 stars.
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