Under the Kissing Bough

by Shannon Donnelly

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0821771043
• ISBN13: 9780821771044
• Release Date: January 2001
• Publisher: Zebra Books
• Length: 222 Pages
• Weight: 0.28 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 4.2" x 6.9"

Customer Reviews

Couldn't Put it Down! A Keeper!

Predictable in many ways as Regency novels are, I still found the main characters compelling. Both try to fight their growing attraction for each other. Although not really spending much time together, the little things they find out make them fall in love. Throw in a little unrequited love, growing passion & some jealousy and I felt the tale was splendid! What is Eleanor going to request of Geoffrey? How can this work out? I had to finish it to find out the answers. I hope Shannon Donnelly will continue with novels about the remaining siblings!

an exquisitely heart warming Regency romance

Geoffrey Westerby, Lord Staines, needs to get married as soon as possible: his father is dying and the old man's sole wish is to see his eldest son safely settled before he dies. And while Geoffrey is determined to set his father's mind at ease by presenting him with a daughter-in-law, finding a sensible woman who will make a good countess, and be willing to settle for a marriage based on respect and some affection but not love, is not that easy at all. Having been rejected by the woman that he loves, Geoffrey has decided to turn his back on the notion of a marriage based on love, and has decided to settle for a comfortable one instead. And so, he decides to ask for the hand in marriage of Eleanor Glover, the daughter of one of his father's friends. And when he sees the shy and demure and rather plain Eleanor, Geoffrey congratulates himself that he has settled on exactly the 'right' kind of wife.Eleanor however, is not the person that Geoffrey thinks she is -- yes, she is shy and demure, but alas, she is not a very sensible woman, for kind hearted Eleanor has fallen in love with the very handsome but sad Geoffrey Westerly. Deciding to hide her love for Geoffrey, Eleanor agrees to marry him, hoping that her love will be enough for the both of them. However that is before she realises that Geoffrey is actually suffering from a broken heart. And then Geoffrey's father decides that Eleanor will not make Geoffrey a good enough wife, and decides to interfere. With such overwhelming odds against her, will shy, plain and kind hearted Eleanor be able to hold out and make this marriage work? Or will an interfering old man prove too much for her? In the meantime, Geoffrey is beginning to realise that his wife-to-be is not the colourless woman he thought she was. He begins to first appreciate her kindness; this slowly develops into a need to protect and cherish her. Could Eleanor be the cure for his shattered heart? "Under the Kissing Bough" is a wonderfully warm and tender love story about how a plain and shy young lady is able to capture the affections of her husband-to-be because of her kind and loving heart. It made for wonderful reading to see Geoffrey slowly realise what a gem Eleanor truly was, and how lucky he was to have found her. And it was satisfying to see Eleanor (finally) win Geoffrey's love and esteem. Both characters are well portrayed; and I liked the pace at which Shannon Donnelly allowed for the romance to develop between them. The different obstacles she threw at the couple (Geoffrey's infatuation with another woman, interfering relatives, Eleanor's unconventionality, etc) added zest to this otherwise run-of-the-mill plot, and made this a much more exciting and compelling romance novel. "Under the Kissing Bough" was a really first-class Regency romance, and just the thing for a recommended holiday read!