So here's the deal with this book: I was 11, it was the week before my family left on our summer vacation, and my sister checked this out from the library for our trip. She read it first, and then passed it on to my other sister, who in turn passed it on to me. We all agreed that it was terrible, and yet we all read it. I have no explanation for this.

So here's the deal with the plot: Patience is a girl who lives in the British countryside and in the first chapter of the book dresses up as a man to intercept her best friend and stop him from dueling with this guy, who supposedly deflowered his sister or something. So, she runs into the duel like a complete idiot and gets shot. Turns out the guy doing the deflowering is her newly betrothed. Because crappy romance book. And on goes the strangest book I've ever read.

~A list of what happens (I haven't been able to find a copy in years, so I'm pretty sure it doesn't exist anymore, so spoilers don't really matter anymore)~

~She thinks that she is ugly but is described by both the book and literally everyone else as being an unearthly beauty
~She constantly faints in order to get out of difficult social situations or just when she's bored I guess
~Her best friend completely disappears from the plot
~At one point, she thinks a "mistress" is a very good thing (which her cousins say is not the case but don't tell her why) and goes to her jerky ex-boyfriend and asks him if she'd make a good mistress, and he's like, "Oh boy, yes please" and starts kissing her, and in comes her betrothed who beats the crap out of him. I'm pretty sure she faints at one point
~She doesn't know what sex is but tells everyone she does but on her wedding night, she thought they were just going to cuddle
~They have sex anyway but she faints to get out of it
~Her betrothed has an evil twin half-brother who is sullying his good name
~They have graphic sex like twice (and I was 11--why did my sisters not warn me??)
~She gets kidnapped by the evil twin half-brother and faints her way out of it

I love this book for some reason even though it's probably just about the worst thing I've ever read. It holds a special place in my heart. ( )

So here's the deal with this book: I was 11, it was the week before my family left on our summer vacation, and my sister checked this out from the library for our trip. She read it first, and then passed it on to my other sister, who in turn passed it on to me. We all agreed that it was terrible, and yet we all read it. I have no explanation for this.

So here's the deal with the plot: Patience is a girl who lives in the British countryside and in the first chapter of the book dresses up as a man to intercept her best friend and stop him from dueling with this guy, who supposedly deflowered his sister or something. So, she runs into the duel like a complete idiot and gets shot. Turns out the guy doing the deflowering is her newly betrothed. Because crappy romance book. And on goes the strangest book I've ever read.

~A list of what happens (I haven't been able to find a copy in years, so I'm pretty sure it doesn't exist anymore, so spoilers don't really matter anymore)~

~She thinks that she is ugly but is described by both the book and literally everyone else as being an unearthly beauty
~She constantly faints in order to get out of difficult social situations or just when she's bored I guess
~Her best friend completely disappears from the plot
~At one point, she thinks a "mistress" is a very good thing (which her cousins say is not the case but don't tell her why) and goes to her jerky ex-boyfriend and asks him if she'd make a good mistress, and he's like, "Oh boy, yes please" and starts kissing her, and in comes her betrothed who beats the crap out of him. I'm pretty sure she faints at one point
~She doesn't know what sex is but tells everyone she does but on her wedding night, she thought they were just going to cuddle
~They have sex anyway but she faints to get out of it
~Her betrothed has an evil twin half-brother who is sullying his good name
~They have graphic sex like twice (and I was 11--why did my sisters not warn me??)
~She gets kidnapped by the evil twin half-brother and faints her way out of it

I love this book for some reason even though it's probably just about the worst thing I've ever read. It holds a special place in my heart. ( )

**Courtesy of CK2S Kwips & Kritiques**

Scandal drove Patience into seclusion three years ago, far from the wagging tongues of the Ton. Through it all, she never lost the support of her family, including her cherished young cousins. With those same cousins now set to make their debut in London this year, Patience has promised that she will stand by their side, acting as chaperone and ensuring they do not repeat her unfortunate mistakes.

But Patience isn’t exactly aptly named. Indeed, the well-meaning but reckless girl tries the patience of those around her time and again with her hare-brained schemes. Never considering repercussions of her own actions beforehand, she finds herself in compromising situations again and again. Still, she is determined to look out for her innocent young cousins, despite her own ill-fated ideas.

Viscount Rexley was not ready for a wife, and cannot believe his father has signed a marriage contract on his behalf without consulting him first. Learning that his family’s fate and reputation depend on the marriage, he reluctantly agrees. When he meets the well-intentioned and socially inept woman promised as his bride, he balks. His family’s reputation means everything to him, and he won’t risk it – even for a creature as lovely and engaging as Patience.

But fate & love have a way of intervening in the most inconvenient ways, and Rexley soon finds himself veritably smitten with his young bride-to-be who he soon learns is ignorant of the marriage contract, leaving him no choice but to woo the recalcitrant damsel. When danger rears its ugly head, he must save her from a fate worse than social disgrace…

I have had the pleasure of reviewing several of C.H. Admirand’s novels, and can say without reservation that this is an author who can always be relied on for a great read! All of the stories I’ve read from her so far have been historicals set in two different periods, and she has handled each with considerable aplomb. I have to say that none of the blurbs I have read for Admirand’s books really do them justice. None convey just how rich and lively the worlds she creates are. Patience is no exception to this.

The title character, Patience, is an admirable heroine. She is noble, warm, with a giving nature that considers everyone else before herself. She also has the most regrettable tendency towards acting before thinking, which lands her in some hot water time and again. At times this ensues in some hilarity, but most often it leaves her in danger of varying degrees.

Rexley is a man of great honor, a savior to women in distress, and the perfect romantic hero. Although circumstance forces his betrothal upon him, he approaches it with the grace of a gentleman who has set his sights on courting the lady of his choosing. Of course, his natural attraction for Patience helps in that regard immensely. Still, Rexley exhibits his noble nature repeatedly, aiding not just his own lady-love, but saving the virtue and reputations of other women as well – most notably his betrothed’s own cousins. Rexley’s generosity and sense of justice knowns no boundaries, even extending to those of the lesser classes when they suffer from ill-deeds.

Patience is not alone in her exploits by any means. Her cousins Charity and Prudence not only join her in her schemes, but make a few bad choices of their own. I suspect Admirand is subtly setting the stage for sequels starring these two intriguing characters – at least I fervently hope so!

Patience is a wonderful book guaranteed to satisfy readers who love historical romances. With an appropriately reluctant heroine, a determined hero, and a cast of well-rounded supporting characters bound by an intriguing suspense plot, this is a book that will enjoy a long shelf life.

( )