Giveaway and Review: "Barely a Lady"

As part of the "Barely a Lady" blog tour, I have my review and a giveaway of 5 copies of the book, sponsored by Hachette!

"Barely a Lady"
by Eileen Dreyer

Source: provided for review by Hachette Books

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

My Review:

Five years ago, jack Wyndham, Earl of Gracechurch, kicked out his wife, Olivia, over a misunderstanding instigated by his jealous cousin Gervaise. Olivia changed her last name to Grace after the scandalous divorce and lived trying to forget her love for Jack, while trying to hide from the malicious Gervaise. She is among a group of women tending soldiers injured in Waterloo, when she comes face to face with a near-death Jack, wearing a French uniform. Even after all he's done to hurt her, she takes it upon herself to nurse him back to health. As he comes to, she realizes Jack has amnesia and believes them to still be married.

I have mixed feelings about this book. I have some problems with the story, but Dreyer's writing style is addictive! I was turning the pages as quickly as possible, and there was never a slow moment.

I was reminded a little of Sherri Thomas and Meredith Duran's writing, in that the leads are very flawed and have dealt with a lot over long periods of time. Add in a war, and you've got a really sweeping tale of love and hardship.

Sigh, I wanted to like Jack, I really did. He just seemed so...likeable. I was ready to forgive him for the divorce, but then he started to remember his affair with Mimi. I don't know what is worse, reading about the hero telling another woman that he loves her or reading his love scenes with her. Jack didn't have to be a monk while they were divorced, but the Mimi affair was too much for me. Poor Olivia, already having to deal with so much on her own, and then she has to deal with Mimi.

I did enjoy all of the supporting characters, especially Grace and Diccan. I really looked forward to their scenes.

I liked the style of the book, with all the past secrets being revealed slowly throughout the book. There was a lot going on, and it was a bit like a mystery unraveling. I also liked that the characters were re-united after a long time apart. I just would rather not have to be so upset with the hero for most of the book!


Main Characters: 3/5
Supporting Characters: 4/5

Setting: 3/5

Romance: 3/5 (I liked the romance, I was just so upset with Jack!!)

Uniqueness: 4/5
Cover: 5/5 (I LOVE this cover!!)
Writing: 4/5



Bottom Line: I do think I'll read the other books in the series because I really liked the author's style, even though I had problems with the story itself.


GIVEAWAY RULES:

Contest is closed! Thanks for entering!

Hachette
books has generously provided FIVE copies of this historical romance for readers of my blog!

All you have to do is follow my blog and leave a comment on this review with your email address!

Extra Entries:
  • +2 Tweet this contest (leave link in comment)
  • +2 Post link in sidebar of your blog (leave link in comment)

Rules:
  • US and Canada only
  • No PO Boxes please
  • Must be a follower to enter
  • Extra entries are optional and can all be left in the same comment
  • Leave a comment with your email address
  • Books will be mailed out by Hachette
  • Ends Tuesday July 20
Thanks to everyone for entering! Good luck!

36 comments

  1. I would like to enter for a chance to win. I'm a follower.
    peacelily_2006(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Publicly following In the Hammock with Google Friend Connect [Cheryl F. {The Lucky Ladybug}] -- I enjoyed your review and would love to read Barely a Lady :) *Thanks* for the giveaway!

    +2 Tweeted the giveaway

    +2 Linked the giveaway in sidebar, Delicious

    theluckyladybug[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm a follower, count me in! tWarner419@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. I am a follower and would love to win this book- I love the cover!

    smittenwithbooks (at) hotmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'm a follower.

    hewella1 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  6. I've been seeing great reviews for this book by Eileen Dreyer and would like a chance to form my own opinion!

    I'm a GFC follower

    alternate email from blogger
    magenta 2 red [at] gmail [dot] com

    ReplyDelete
  7. I am pretty sure I would be upset with Jack too

    ReplyDelete
  8. I am a follower and love scandals but don't know if I could come to love Jack.
    kr_moreau(at)doglover(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  9. please count me in
    I am a follower

    elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  10. please add my name in your contest.I'm a follower peg360@hotmail

    ReplyDelete
  11. I am a follower, please, count me in!

    gcpeach17 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  12. I'd love a shot at this one. Please count me in. Thank you!

    +2 Tweet:
    http://twitter.com/nfmgirl/status/18150309400

    +2 Blogged:
    http://cerebralgirl.blogspot.com/2010/07/book-giveaways-in-blogworld-07-03-10.html

    nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  13. Awesome! Count me in! bambbles at gmail . com

    ReplyDelete
  14. hmmmm.. Now I'm all kinds of curious about Jack. I wanna know what you mean about trying to like him. I have to say, I like the cover, too!

    Thanks!
    missie at theunreadreader dot com
    The Unread Reader

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hmmm... I'm not sure I will like Jack either. Is there a HEA at least? Thanks for the contest, count me in!

    +2 Tweet: http://twitter.com/AmongTheMuses/statuses/18200593767
    +2 Sidebar: www.amongthemuses.com

    ~Tanya
    amongthemuses @ gmail . com
    Among The Muses

    ReplyDelete
  16. Please include me. I'm a new follower. And thanks for sponsoring.

    bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  17. I'm a follower

    Have a link to it here http://dementedreading.blogspot.com/p/stalking.html

    And here http://dementedreading.blogspot.com/

    vampireprincess2468@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  18. Sounds like a great book. Thanks for the giveaway.
    I follow via GFC
    eswright18 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  19. Cara-I tried to post once, but I guess I screwed it up(always possible with technology). I wanted to thank you so much for your thoughtful review. I understand your hesitation. Writing Jack was a real juggling act for me, because Mimi is a vital character, and as Jack gets his memory back, I don't know how he can help remembering her. That's one reason I liked having Lady Kate there. She said all the things we'd like to say about him.
    Tanya-yes. I promise. There is a HEA. In fact, Jack and Olivia's relationship carries onto the next book, so we see even more of their healing.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Thank you so much for stopping by, Eileen! I really enjoyed the book, thanks for reminding me about Lady Kate, she and the rest of the household say everything to Jack that the reader wants to say! Jack is such a likeable character, but he just does some things that are hard to forgive! I'm looking forward to the next book!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Count me in for the giveaway please. I follow.

    kiris089 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  22. Please don't enter me as this looks a bit steamy for me, I just have a question. How did all the heroes in Regency romances get so tan? Wasn't it ungentleman like to go around without a shirt? Maybe they all swam in lakes like Mr. Darcy? LOL not that I'm complaining...that cover is great! ;-)

    XOXO~ Renee

    ReplyDelete
  23. Renee, you didn't know about those regency tanning beds? ;-}. I think that there as many tanned heroes as there are black haired blue eyed English Dukes. Not that I'm going to stop writing about black haired blue eyed English Dukes....

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hahaha I like the black haired, blue eyed Dukes the best...but shhhh don't tell Mr. Darcy! :-P

    XOXO~ Renee

    ReplyDelete
  25. OOhh amnesia. I don't know why but I love whenever a character in a book loses their memories. Makes for good stuff.

    GFC follower

    +2 tweeted
    http://twitter.com/suan_tian/status/18455765060

    patronus89013 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  26. You always have the best contests. I'd love to win a copy.
    I am a follower!
    Lvsgund @ gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  27. Hi- I tweeted this but as I said in another post I don't know how to link back. The only thing I see is www.twitter.com/Imburiedinbooks. I will post a picture with the link back to you on my sidebar. Email is hrose2931@gmail.com and I am a follower via Parajunkee's Friday blog hop

    ReplyDelete
  28. I retweeted with your advice and here is where it is "twitter.com/Imburriedinbooks/status/18731374900. Hope that helps. Thanks for your help!

    ReplyDelete
  29. This looks like a fabulous read! Please count me in I am a new follower! :)

    jennj28ATyahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  30. I've been wanting to read this book, please count me in!

    GFC follower!

    lilazncutie1215 @ yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  31. Follower!

    allisonsbj3(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  32. Would love to win this

    vidishamun@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  33. count me in I'm a follower

    cams1031(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  34. I am a new follower and would love to win this book. Thanks!
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  35. Thanks for the comment, Carrie. Eileen Dreyer did such a wonderful job with the pacing of the book. As for the Mimi character, I have a feeling she is going to cause some major havoc for Jack and Olivia in the next installment.

    -Karina

    ReplyDelete

Thanks so much for your lovely comments!