THE ROMANCE REVIEWS – 4 stars
Bathsheba was one of the most complex female characters I've met in a long time. In a world full of scarred and wounded heroes who need redemption, it was incredibly refreshing to read about a heroine who has suffered and survived. She is prickly and competitive and sometimes very selfish, and all of it is so genuine that even these less attractive, sometimes downright annoying aspects of her personality were enjoyable to read. I loved that she kept her fiery independence and spirit, and cheered when, in the end, it was she who saved John when one of his patients came back for revenge.
You can read the entire review here.
ROMANCE JUNKIES BLUE RIBBON REVIEW – 5 stars
An absolute joy, MY FAVORITE COUNTESS, a witty and steamy historical romance, is one you definitely do not want to miss...talented author Vanessa Kelly sweeps you up in her story as she brings it to life right before your eyes. Beautifully filled with sexual tension, tender romance, complex and compelling characters, humor, passionate love scenes and conflict, this is a story that will grab your attention from the first page and not let go until the very end. It has definitely found a place on my keeper shelf. I highly recommend MY FAVORITE COUNTESS.
BOOKLIST – starred review
In her latest sublimely sensual Regency historical, Kelly delivers wit, a tightly knit plot, a
refreshingly different hero, and a realistically complicated heroine who could give Scarlett O’Hara a good run for her money.
— John Charles
RT BOOK REVIEWS – 4-1/2 stars
Kelly’s well-written and powerful love story will keep readers entertained with a captivating plot. The strong protagonists, deep emotional intensity and rising sexual tension all make the fast-paced romance memorable.
THE SEASON – 5 STARS
Fans of Kelly's other books will enjoy appearances by characters from those stories---one of my favorite things about series. My Favorite Countess is an emotional and deeply touching story that will hold you in its grasp from the very first page and won't let go until the last word. It is firmly ensconced on my keeper shelves and is one of my top reads of 2011. Brava to Vanessa Kelly, one of historical romance's shining stars.
SINGLE TITLES
In the latest release from Vanessa Kelly, the many phases of the Regency period are conveyed through true-to-life occurrences portrayed with earnest emotions. Though there are the requisite balls and gossipmongers in this story, the focus is on the more daily routines plus problems faced by those living in nineteenth century England and the result is an exceptional novel.
THE SEASON
Vanessa masterfully draws the reader into the lives of Bathsheba and John and gives the reader a reason to turn each page. The characters are deep, well written and distinctive. The love scenes are passionate and sensual, which fits the tone of the love story well.
JUST JANGA
Reading My Favorite Countess, a reader will understand why Booklist named Vanessa Kelly one of the new stars of historical romance. Richly complex characters, smoking hot love scenes, and elements that set the book apart from the usual romance—My Favorite Countess has all of these things and more. (You can read Janga’s entire review here.)
LONG AND SHORT REVIEWS – 5 BOOKS
My Favorite Countess is a thrilling and heart-touching historical romance that truly grips a reader right from the emotional beginning. The pace, dialogue and dramatic conflicts kept me on the edge of my seat while the interaction and by-plays between John and Bathsheba kept me entertained and committed to their story in the hope of their finding a happily ever after. That they did, with a very poignant, sincere and lightly humorous wrap up that satisfied the romantic in me. I am thrilled with the quality of writing that Ms. Kelly provides and I heartily look forward to her next book. My Favorite Countess is quality romance.
ROMANCE JUNKIES BLUE RIBBON RATING – 4.5
There are a lot of Regency romances around and what makes this one stand out is not just the quality of the writing, but the characterization. Bathsheba is not the kind of character that makes proper, stilted conversation. She’s had lovers and she is a combination of strength, beauty and vulnerability. John is a very admirable character, a doctor who not only works with those who are near the top of society’s food chain, but also is driven to help those far less privileged. John is also a rarity in Regency romance, a hero without a huge fortune, a gentleman who works for his living. The reader can understand exactly why Bathsheba is drawn to this man, and see that she is no gold-digger but a woman in desperate circumstances who can only resolve them within the constraints of the times. I often find that writers of Regency romance make frequent mistakes in using phrases that are either too modern or just plain ‘Americanisms.’ Not in this novel. This is a romance with real depth in both the plot and the characterization.
THE ROMANCE READER – 4 STARS
While John and Bathsheba are together, the we-shouldn’t-be-doing-this vibe is strong, exciting, and works well. The unlikely and wonderful combination of their very different personalities and personal failings work so well together and mesh so entirely that it seems that this star crossed pair really does make each other better people.
BOOK LOVERS INC – 4 BOOKS
I've never read a book where the author made me change my mind so drastically about 2 characters. I went from hate to love in just a few chapters. John is a doctor and it was a nice change from the usual aristocratic hero. John is a working man, he's a doctor who deals with midwifery. When you start learning about him and his beliefs, you can't help but love him.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Kelly works an intriguing medical twist into an otherwise standard Regency romance. Forward-thinking Dr. John Blackmore cares for poor pregnant women in London's slums, earning him the enmity of powerful Dr. Steele, who counsels his wealthy female patients that suffering is their lot for Eve's Original Sin. Bathsheba, the countess of Randolph (and the villain in 2010's Sex and the Single Earl) needs to marry someone rich following the death of her first husband, who abused her and left her too debt-ridden to care for her mentally disabled sister. After a sizzling encounter, the very alpha--in the best sense--Blackmore plans to court Bathsheba, but she's set her sights instead on a titled gentleman with political aspirations and an ambitious older sister.
COGITATIONS AND MEDITATIONS
Her character is the one that undergoes a sea change in this book from scared and scarred to caring, understanding, and confident. His love and steadfastness truly frees her to trust him and then to trust herself. Brava to Bathsheba, and brava to the author.
Reviews for Sex and the Single Earl
Long and Short Reviews – 4.5 Books
The dialogue clearly indicates a good handle of the vernacular of the day. The tone and atmosphere is spot on and time seemed to fly as I read Sophie’s exploits...I would recommend Sex And The Single Earl for historical romance buffs that enjoy a heroine who doesn’t simper or cow tow to her man and a hero who finds love and redemption in his woman’s arms.
Single Titles – 4.5 Stars: “Compels you to keep reading and thus discover each fascinating detail.”
For her second Regency novel, Vanessa Kelly often delves into a world outside ballrooms and daily visits with dramatic results. Sex And The Single Earl gives a vivid look into different social classes, where realistic details bring this story to life in an entertaining way.
BOOKPAGE – “A Regency Romp”
Sexy and charming, this fast-paced romance will have readers rooting for Sophie and Simon to survive impending scandal and find their happy-ever-after.
--Christie Ridgway
ROMANCE JUNKIES – 4½ Blue Ribbons
Author Vanessa Kelly...manages to bring the story to life right before your eyes. Filled with sensual love scenes, charismatic characters, an intriguing plot, romance and humor, this story is unforgettable. I highly recommend Sex And The Single Earl and I look forward to reading more of this author’s work.
ROMANTIC TIMES - 4 STARS
With smart, sassy characters, a fast pace, rapier-sharp dialogue and engaging characters, Kelly captures reader attention with this sexy romance. The traditional marriage-of-convenience plotline is enhanced by the history and background of industrialization.
BOOKLIST
As far as Simon, the Earl of Trask, is concerned, marrying Sophie makes sense. He needs the coal-rich land included in Sophie’s dowry for his mills, and she could use someone to keep her out of trouble since she is so often in danger of capsizing in the choppy waters of the ton. What Simon hasn’t counted on is that Sophie wants a love match. So he must figure out a way to convince her that he loves her, or seduce her into falling in love with him. Successfully marrying the tart wit of a traditional Regency romance with the steamy passion of today’s Regency historicals isn’t easy, but Kelly proves to be more than capable in her latest impeccably crafted romance.
--John Charles
BARNES & NOBLE HEART TO HEART BOOKCLUB: Top Ten Reads for the New Year by Michelle Buonfiglio.
Sophie Stanton’s loved Simon St. James, 5th Earl of Trask, since she was a child. He knows this, so he figures she won’t mind his marrying her for her land. He doesn’t count on her being ridiculously passionate – or on her being more dedicated to her true passions than the love for him Simon thought he would manipulate. His downfall into HEA’s a joy to behold.
THE SEASON
...a beautifully crafted tale of two life-long friends falling in love. The storyline and characters were well-developed and likeable. The chemistry between the main characters is sizzling and entertaining...I recommend this book for those who want a beautiful, well-written story that exhibits love, trust, betrayal, and forgiveness.
HISTORICAL ROMANCE WRITERS (EYE ON ROMANCE): 10 out of 10
I loved this story. I had to keep reading to the end as I learned more about Sophie and Simon and followed their relationship. There really is a battle of wits between Sophie, the young woman, and Simon, the sophisticated man about town...this was a thoroughly enjoyable story.
COFFEE TIME ROMANCE: 4 cups – An Outstanding Great Read
The plot is lively with a lot of action and some very good love scenes…this is a very good romance that fans of the historical/regency genre are going to love.
Reviews for Mastering the Marquess
FALLEN ANGELS REVIEWS – Recommended Read
Mastering The Marquess is a perfect gem of a Regency Romance. The characters shine. They’re unique and real and not-at-all perfect. Meredith, having had three parents die, expects everything to go wrong. She paints distressingly dark and rather gory painting. She is also accustomed to being in control and doesn’t give up this control easily. Silverton, in contrast, likes everything to be just so. He arranges his perfect world so no unpleasantness touches him. When Mr. Icy Perfection is faced with the gloomy, controlling beauty, the air between them sizzles. There’s challenge and attraction and real emotion. Mastering The Marquess is what a modern Regency romance should be.
ROMANCE JUNKIES: 4.5 Blue Ribbon Rating
"A beautiful tale that will sweep you to another age and time with one snap of the fingers."
"Ms. Kelly pens here a delightful tale that grips the reader from the first page to the very last. Master of her craft, she is a virtuoso at story-telling, wrapping the reader in the world of the Regency and the haute ton with skilful craftsmanship. Mastering The Marquess catches the attention from the start, and the bows and curtsies of the plot maintain a steady pace throughout the story. The take on Regency’s haute society is accurate and infused with a freshness that sets it apart as a story that is more than a simple historical."
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY – Beyond Her Book (WW Ladies Book Club Blurbs)
"Captivating tale of being a woman alone with no choices of her own. I cheered for Meredith when she escaped her cruel relatives and fought for her sister’s rights in a family she’s never known. This book pulled at my heartstrings and left me with a warm feeling."
THE ROMANCE STUDIO
"This is the best historical romance that I have read so far this year, and I look forward to more from this author."
"This is such a good romance it is hard to believe that it is the author’s debut. She has such a good grasp of the time period, its fashions, and customs that I’m sure this is only the start of a great career."
SINGLE TITLES – Four Stars: A Keeper
“MASTERING THE MARQUESS stirs the emotions of the reader by combining a passionate romance with an intriguing plot filled with unanticipated turns.”
“For her debut book, Vanessa Kelly brings the Regency period alive with festive social gatherings, scandals and plenty of emotion. The characters are genuinely portrayed, and the reader will come to deeply care about the hero and heroine, wanting them to finally find true happiness in their lives.”
ROMANTIC TIMES
“Fast paced and difficult to put down.”
“Kelly’s suspenseful and entertaining debut is a Regency romance with some gothic elements. The novel is a study in contrasts, and the main characters are well developed and supported by engaging secondary characters.”
