Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #32366 in Books
• Published on: 2007-08-02
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Synopsis
1 March 1811. Today I fell in love. At the age of ten, Miss Miranda Cheever showed no signs of ever becoming a Great Beauty. Her hair was lamentably brown, her eyes the same muddy colour, and her legs, which were uncommonly long, refused to learn anything which might remotely be called grace. Only, in 1811, the nineteen-year-old Viscount Turner - eldest brother of Miranda's closest friend - had kissed the hand of an awkward ten-year-old girl and promised her that one day she'd be as beautiful as she was smart. Now, eight years later, Miranda is a woman grown, and Turner an embittered widower. But she has never forgotten his kindness. Indeed it is only in her diary that she confides the truth: she has never stopped loving Turner, and she has never stopped hoping that one day he will see her as more than a nave girl.

Customer Reviews

Definitely Not Part of the Bridgerton Family
For all of Julia Quinn's followers who loved the Bridgerton Family, this book might seem a let-down. I believe that's due to the totally different circumstances of the characters.

Almost every young girl falls in love with an 'older' man, usually a friend's male cousin or brother sometimes almost a decade her senior. Miranda Cheever fits that mold but her youthful crush has far outlived its usefulness. Growing up on the lower rungs of British society she was not a commoner although there was no question that her lineage would benefit immensely from an infusion of blue blood. But instead she watches as the love of her life marries another.

When Viscount Turner suddenly becomes widowed, he turns stoic. Not missing in the least his philandering wife he directs his attention to being the head of his family, which conveniently includes Miranda, his sister's best friend. As Miranda grows into herself she becomes an attractive young woman who does not see her own good qualities.

The Viscount takes Miranda under his societal wing as she goes through the motions of attracting a suitable spouse only to find himself becoming so overly protective of her that he compromises her. Rather than inform the Viscount of his impending fatherhood, Miranda takes herself off to distant parts where she miscarries the child.

When at last Nigel (the Viscount) recognizes that his life is empty without Miranda and goes off in search of her, love takes advantage of the opportunity and a happy ending brings Miranda's secret diary entries to a satisfactory conclusion.

A thoroughly entertaining story by one of the best romance writers, this story actually rates a 3.5 but since it falls far short of the Bridgerton series I am only giving it 3 stars.

Great follow up to the Bridgerton series
Simply loved it, waited for this book to be published after i had finished the Bridgerton seires and found that i enjoyed it even more than i did some of the Bridgertons.

OK nothing to shout about
Her other books were better. This was not as funny or interesting! Nevertheless a good pass time. Not a keeper.