The Finer Things

By Brenda Joyce

Book Overview

The Power...The Passion...The Incomparable Romance of Brenda Joyce The Pretender An orphan from London's East End, a fugitive from the poorhouse, Violet Cooper was tired of sleeping on stoops and being huntry and cold. But she dared to enter a world forbidden to her and her kind. Even marriage to a gentle elderly knight and the title Lady Goodwin could not open closed doors, stop the cold stares, or hush the shadowy rumors of murder... The Aristocrat He was a man of the world. The rules of Victorian society did not interest him, nor could a gauche pretender with a Cockney acent possibly turn his head. Yet Thodore Blake, second son fo the Earl of Harding, was immediately compelled by Violet--and soon found himself defending the investigation. But wedding vows were the only way to save her from a certain hanging... The Finer Things Two people from different were brought together by passion, bund together by whispered accusations, and torn apart by scandal and misfortune. The world claimed they should never love each other. Their hearts claimed otherwise.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312998821
• ISBN13: 9780312998820
• Release Date: January 2004
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

fine story

I thought this was another of Joyces great reads. I loved Violette and Blake and the Harding family. This had such a great story line that it made every chapter have something new. It just keeps you going. I loved the ending too. There were also sad parts that could make you want to cry.

I loved this book

This was the first book I read from Brenda Joyce. My friend lent it to me. I'm hooked, I cant get enough of her books. This book was great it has so many ups and downs in it. A really good read!

An excellent story

This is the only Brenda Joyce book thus far that has made me cry. I thought Violet Cooper was an endearing heroine. She never had opportunities for education and such, but when they were offered to her she didn't turn them down. Her goal throughout was to better herself. Some of the situations were implausible, yes, but isn't that why they call it fiction? I was somewhat surprised by the ending although it was hinted at several times throughout the story. I have enjoyed all of Brenda Joyce's books thus far, my favorite being "The Third Heiress," but I especially like the time and place of books like "The Finer Things."

Great Read

I thought that this was a great book. Some of the reviews I read said that the story was not realistic, but don't we read romance novels for the fantasy - not the realism?

EXcellent - keeps your interest

I read this book, thank goodness, before I read the reviews, otherwise I may have put it off. When I find myself rushing to get things done so I can continue reading where I left off, I know it is a 5 star book.I found the love Violet had for Blake beautiful. Violet, an orphan growing up in the slums of Londan determines to better herself. She marries an older knight and gains the title of Lady. She meets and falls madly in love with Blake. She discovers he is the one she was captivated with when she was a small child watching from a distance at a party. Violet is constantly getting into more and more situaltions that Blake has to rescue her from. Blake was hard to understand because he kept saying things to hurt Violet, but never meaning to hurt her. It was acceptable behavior to me because I know this happens in real life. He was also very caring and did everything he could to help and protect her.This was a great book! It is charming, heart warming, sad, suspenseful, and brings out every other emotion that you can think of. Brenda Joyce is the best!