The Troublemaker

by Rexanne Becnel

Book Overview

Sarah Palmer, a reckless beauty with a penchant for trouble, has enraged her family for the last time with her foiled plan to elope with a fortune hunter. Sent to stay with her married half-sister in... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312977557
• Release Date: November 2001
• Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.8" x 0.8" x 4.3"

Customer Reviews

Well researched and very realistic for this time period.

A lot of regencies are simply contemporary people dressed up in costume. This book is not. This was my first book by Rexanne Becnel, and while I cannot give it five stars, I do think it deserves at least four stars and would like to explain why: a. It is a very well written book. b. I always enjoy a book when the characters are true to their proposed time frame in history (e.g. when Regency people actually act like Regency people), and the characters in the story act appropiately. Ms. Becnel has done her research and more, and it shows. I can see, though, why this is not her best book. The story does not completely pull me in, and the h/h are not the easiest to like. (Although I do understand why the hero is so bent on revenge, and I like him a little better than the heroine, who I could not warm up to). So although I cannot give this book five stars, I do think that this book does deserve at least four stars. I can see that Ms. Becnel is a great writer, and I am looking forward to reading some of her more highly rated stories.

4 1/2 Stars - great follow-up to "The Matchmaker"

The second book in the "Maker" series focuses on Sarah Palmer who we met as a precocious 12 year old in "The Matchmaker". She is now a 21 year old ingenue who likes to push the envelope of what is proper for a Society miss. Her latest adventure - a plan to elope with a fortune hunter - was thwarted by her brother and she has been sent to live with her older half-sister Olivia in Scotland to keep her out of trouble for a while. But she arrives in sleepy Kelso only to discover that her sister's family has just left for Glasgow for a month. Sarah decides she needs the solitude and stays at Byrde Manor, Olivia's inheritance from her father, Cameron Byrde. Sarah is determined to prove to her family that she has forsaken her reckless ways for good!Marshall MacDougal has come to Kelso, not to escape trouble, but to bring it! With the recent death of his beloved mother, he discovers that his father did not die on a ship enroute to join his wife and son in America - he just never followed them. He sets out for Scotland bent on revenge for the difficult life he and his mother were forced to lead due to his father's treachery. Unfortunately, he discovers that his father has been dead for 20 years. Still needing someone to vent his anger on, he discovers that Cameron Byrde had another wife and a daughter here while he and his mother struggled alone. So he decides he will take the inheritance he should have had - Byrde Manor - from the half-sister he never knew he had. There is only one problem. He has no proof that his father actually married his mother, but he is determined to prove it if he has to visit every little kirk in Scotland!Then he meets Sarah and things quickly spiral out of control. He finds himself drawn to her and in a heated moment reveals his true purpose in Kelso. She is determined to protect her mother and sister from him and his revenge. But she is just as attracted to him. What a mess! But Sarah is determined to prove to her family and herself that she can be responsible. But will she sacrifice herself to this dangerous stranger to save her sister's inheritance?I liked the book and Sarah & Marsh were a tempestuous couple, but his anger was almost too much at times. He was almost too cruel to her, though he always berated himself for his behaviour later. He was just lucky that Sarah was an understanding woman who could see past his anger and see the honorable and loyal side of him. To see that deep down, he was a good man - the right man for her!

You're going to LOVE this one!

Set in 1827. Marshall Byrde had grown up in America with only his mother, Maureen MacDougal Byrde. She had always told him that his father had died during the voyage from England to America. But when Maureen died, Marshall found a letter from his father, Cameron Byrde, to his mother. After sending his pregnant wife to America with a promise to join them shortly, he changed his mind. Instead, Cameron Byrde married a London lady and remained in England. Marshall went in search of Cameron, for justice and revenge. Sarah Palmer had gotten into trouble one time too many! She was sent from London to stay with her married half-sister, Olivia Hawke, in the Scottish countryside. Upon arriving, she learned the family had just left and would be gone a month! Sarah planned to remain with the housekeeper and behave for once. But even though Sarah was trying to avoid trouble, trouble found her anyway in the form of a man calling himself Marshall MacDougal. They were fascinated by each other until Sarah learned that it was her own mother and Olivia that Marshall was out to destroy! ***** This one is even better than the previous book, "The Matchmaker". The author has proven herself to be very talented. I was hooked on the very first page and held engrossed until the ending! I cannot recommend this one highly enough! *****

Sizzling Regency Read

"The Troublemaker" by Rexanne Becnel, the sequel to "The Matchmaker",introduces us to Sarah Palmer, a snobby social butterfly who seems to attract trouble everywhere she goes. After she is caught trying to run away with a young man, Sarah is given two options: marry the man or go to visit her sister in Scotland until the scandal dies down. Sarah, seeing that the man in question suddenly revolts her, decides to visit her sweet half-sister Olivia and her family in Kelso. Upon arriving, Sarah discovers that her sister and her family have traveled to Glasgow for a month. Knowing that she should inform someone that she is unescorted and alone in Byrd Manor, Sarah decides to use this time to her advantage and relax a little. How much trouble could she possibly get into there?.......Marshall "Marsh" MacDougal is out for revenge! After his mother's death, Marshall learns that his father, Cameron Byrd, never died, but in fact abandoned his wife and unborn son and remarried and had a daughter. Hell bent on getting revenge and restoring his mother's honour, Marsh begins to search for his father. Learning that his parents may have met and married in Scotland, Marshall begins his journey across the Atlantic and ends up in Kelso. Once in Scotland he meets a wealthy young woman, Sarah Palmer, who stirs his blood and his heart. There seems to be a catch to the attraction between these two though, Sarah's half-sister is also Marsh's half-sister. Sarah, upon learning the truth of Marsh's visit to Scotland, decides to protect her family at all costs and begins searching for the alleged truth behind Marsh's parent's marriage. Along the way, the hatred and distaste Marsh and Sarah feel for each other begins to turn into something even more dangerous....passion. But will Marsh's thirst for revenge drive Sarah away from him forever?"The Troublemaker" is your typical Regency romance: a moody hero, a wealthy socialite, and a scandelous love. But Becnel also adds a tasty helping of steamy, passionate love scenes that leave you wide eyed and wanting more. Aside from the love scenes, the story itself is very captivating. It's interesting to watch Marsh and Sarah fight their feelings towards each other. I couldn't put the book down until I found out if Marsh's parents actually married and if he was going to follow through with his revenge on Sarah's mother and sister. This is a really great book and I look forward to reading Rexanne Becnel.Gennie Bailey-Rogers

Absolutely luscious!

You can't go wrong with this latest by Rexanne Becnel. This sequel to The Matchmaker has Sarah clashing with American businessman Marsh MacDougal. Marsh is a very sexy hero, and Sarah is wonderful as the young woman struggling with her tendency to get into trouble and her desire to prove to her family that she can be responsible. Marsh doesn't make it easy for her to behave, however, and the tension between her good sense and her desire is delicious. If you like to see a tormented hero saved by love, then this book is for you. I couldn't put it down.