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Moonlight Mist
Lovely Lynden Downpatrick raged helplessly, her newfound woman's pride aching. For surely her newly wed husband Justin Melbrooke must believe her an accomplice in the infamous scheme that had made her his wife. Was he not the prize catch of London, this handsome celebrated young poet-Lord? Schoolgirl she might be, but she had heard the stories of the titled ladies who had given more than the hearts to this aristocratic rake. Indeed, they were wed less than a week and already the stunning Lady Silvia, Justin's mistress, was installed at nearby Crant Castle.
Well, she would show him she was no conniving society miss. Trapped into marriage he might have been, but she was resolved, though her heart might break, that he should be free ....
Well, she would show him she was no conniving society miss. Trapped into marriage he might have been, but she was resolved, though her heart might break, that he should be free ....
252 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 15, 1979
12 people are currently reading
112 people want to read
About the author
Laura London
14 books96 followersLaura London is the pen name for the husband and wife writing team Tom and Sharon Curtis. Married more than forty years, Tom and Sharon published ten historical and contemporary romance novels from 1976 to 1986, many of which have come to be regarded as classics in the genre. The daughter of a petroleum geologist father and historian and magazine editor mother, Sharon was raised overseas and lived in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, the Canary Islands, Turkey and Iran, and attended high school in London. As an adult, she worked in bookstore management. Tom attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison and has worked for a public television station as a writer and on-air reporter. He is currently employed as a semi truck driver for a chemical company and plays guitar with a Celtic band that includes a son on bodhran and a daughter on fiddle. Together they have played eighteen years of annual performances at the largest Irish musical festival in the world.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 30, 2024
I don't know.
Normally an age spread between the H and h in historical romances doesn't bother me as much as some readers. But Lynden is seventeen years old when she performs a foolish act and gets caught. Long story short, she is expected to marry Lord Melbrooke and she does, but they don't know each other, and he gives her plenty of space.
From then on, she behaves as I would expect a teenager to do, not the wife of a nobleman during the early 1800s. I am not sure if I am explaining myself correctly because there were some moments I found myself enjoying the story. Then Lynden would do something else, and I couldn't help but wonder what Melbrooke saw in her.
Jumping back and forth between 2 and 3 stars, so 2 1/2 stars.
On a side note, I had read that Tom and Sharon Curtis were supposed to start writing again. Sadly, Sharon Curtis passed away in September of 2022.
Normally an age spread between the H and h in historical romances doesn't bother me as much as some readers. But Lynden is seventeen years old when she performs a foolish act and gets caught. Long story short, she is expected to marry Lord Melbrooke and she does, but they don't know each other, and he gives her plenty of space.
From then on, she behaves as I would expect a teenager to do, not the wife of a nobleman during the early 1800s. I am not sure if I am explaining myself correctly because there were some moments I found myself enjoying the story. Then Lynden would do something else, and I couldn't help but wonder what Melbrooke saw in her.
Jumping back and forth between 2 and 3 stars, so 2 1/2 stars.
On a side note, I had read that Tom and Sharon Curtis were supposed to start writing again. Sadly, Sharon Curtis passed away in September of 2022.
January 24, 2015
In case I get lazy and forget to write a review, this Amazon review pretty much sums up my feelings. Meh. Kindle copy obtained via libary loan.
February 2, 2008
When I picked up this book I was totally convinced I was going to read a nice traditional regency. A shotgun wedding between an innocent Miss and a more experienced rake found in a compromising position seemed just the thing to entertain me for a few hours.
Why, oh why, would Lord Melbrooke, England's dashing poet laureate, marry a raucous imp with little dowry and less social position? Only Lynden, his seventeen-year-old bride, and her fretting family knew the truth. For the arrogant aristocrat had compromised the girl (or so said an archly ambitious aunt), and nothing short of matrimony would stop the scandal.
Astonishingly, Lord Melbrooke agreed. But now Lynden's pride burned. Her husband, it was said, had tasted the charms of England's most famous women and even now kept an elegant mistress at a nearby castle. Did he think he'd been trapped by a conniving society chit? Though it might break her very heart, Lynden was determined to set him free.
Lynden is forced to marry Lord Melbrooke after they are found in his bedroom by her family members. Lynden shows some aversion to being married like that but eventually she agrees and they leave for one of Melbrooke's estates in the company of Lynden's twin sister Lorraine.
I was convinced we were going to have Lynden and Melbrooke getting to know each other but instead the action focus more on Lynden and Lorraine's adventures trying to find more about a local smuggle/highwayman they come in contact with and who surprisingly similar to another gentleman they are introduced to. Lynden behaves very childishly towards Melbrooke who always seems very remote and not prone to share his emotions, he does however tell her he want's to have a true relationship with her.
In a way this book reminded me of Heyer's A Convenient Marriage. A much older hero marrying a young girl and then a rocky relationship where she gets in all sorts of complicated situations and he has to go to the rescue. In ACM however we actually see a relationship beyween them and how there is some attraction growing between them. Here I had no idea why Melbrooke put up with Lynden's bad manners and why did he fell in love with her. I think the story needed more time spent on the relationship of the hero/heroine to truly feel they were developing some feelings for each other.
Grade: C
Why, oh why, would Lord Melbrooke, England's dashing poet laureate, marry a raucous imp with little dowry and less social position? Only Lynden, his seventeen-year-old bride, and her fretting family knew the truth. For the arrogant aristocrat had compromised the girl (or so said an archly ambitious aunt), and nothing short of matrimony would stop the scandal.
Astonishingly, Lord Melbrooke agreed. But now Lynden's pride burned. Her husband, it was said, had tasted the charms of England's most famous women and even now kept an elegant mistress at a nearby castle. Did he think he'd been trapped by a conniving society chit? Though it might break her very heart, Lynden was determined to set him free.
Lynden is forced to marry Lord Melbrooke after they are found in his bedroom by her family members. Lynden shows some aversion to being married like that but eventually she agrees and they leave for one of Melbrooke's estates in the company of Lynden's twin sister Lorraine.
I was convinced we were going to have Lynden and Melbrooke getting to know each other but instead the action focus more on Lynden and Lorraine's adventures trying to find more about a local smuggle/highwayman they come in contact with and who surprisingly similar to another gentleman they are introduced to. Lynden behaves very childishly towards Melbrooke who always seems very remote and not prone to share his emotions, he does however tell her he want's to have a true relationship with her.
In a way this book reminded me of Heyer's A Convenient Marriage. A much older hero marrying a young girl and then a rocky relationship where she gets in all sorts of complicated situations and he has to go to the rescue. In ACM however we actually see a relationship beyween them and how there is some attraction growing between them. Here I had no idea why Melbrooke put up with Lynden's bad manners and why did he fell in love with her. I think the story needed more time spent on the relationship of the hero/heroine to truly feel they were developing some feelings for each other.
Grade: C
November 21, 2020
I read this novel right after The Windflower. I'm not saying this story is bad but it was a big disappointment. Nonetheless, the story is well-written and I found myself charmed by both twins. I think the blurb is misleading. The book contains a little romance since the hero seemed contented to let the heroine ignore him.
September 8, 2019
It's entertaining book but not what I expected when I read romance novels. H and h spent very little time together. The problem with the Crants took more pages than the actual romance, which seemed like an afterthought, rather than the core of the story.
May 26, 2021
Reread several times over the years
March 10, 2017
2.5 Requires great suspension of disbelief. Can't believe the hero would really have fallen in love with the heroine.
September 19, 2011
People reminisce about Laura London (aka Sharon & Tom Curtis) as one of the great romance authors of "her" time. Since her highly praised novel the Windflower is deemed a classic by many, I decided to go back and read some of her other works. Moonlight Mist was my first venture into Laura London. The heroine, Lynden, is very sheltered and juvenile 17 year old girl who is forced into marriage after she is caught in a situation that appears compromising but is actually innocent. Lord Melbrooke, the hero, is a sensitive poet who not only agrees to marry Lynden to save her reputation but also takes in her twin sister to make her happy. There is little interaction between Lynden and Melbrooke throughout the book as she is mostly avoiding him and getting into mischief with her sister. The book didn't really show Lynden's character mature or develop the relationship between her and Melbrooke because a majority of the book was spent on the sisters' adventures. Moonlight Mist definitely showed potential and was well written; however, the story just didn't grab me. In my opinion, it would have been more successful as a romance had it been longer to allow for more character and relationship development and/or focused less on the sisters’ relationship and more on the romantic one.
October 12, 2014
**I received a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased and honest review**
Review:3 stars
General: I found this book to be very well written. I had no problem sinking into historical England. The plot flowed very nicely, the characters were developed and distinct. However, overall the book was not for me. I found myself uninterested in anything except for the fact that when the duo go off…it’s actually a trio with her sister. I found that the element of the book that truly kept my attention. Along with strong writing style.
Characters: Lynden – Lyden wasn’t the most loveable characters for me. She felt too out of place in a historical world for me to truly believe. I liked that she was age appropriate for the time period but I felt her behaviors were not and while I know there can be many personality types when I read, I find I want the ones that fit the image of history that has been given to me through teachings. She was a little too irresponsible and immature based on what she would have been like from her upbringing.
Justin- Justin was a rouge and well written. I found him to be a little similar to ever other British Rouge that has been written but if I take into account the initial publication date of this story he was fresh.
Review:3 stars
General: I found this book to be very well written. I had no problem sinking into historical England. The plot flowed very nicely, the characters were developed and distinct. However, overall the book was not for me. I found myself uninterested in anything except for the fact that when the duo go off…it’s actually a trio with her sister. I found that the element of the book that truly kept my attention. Along with strong writing style.
Characters: Lynden – Lyden wasn’t the most loveable characters for me. She felt too out of place in a historical world for me to truly believe. I liked that she was age appropriate for the time period but I felt her behaviors were not and while I know there can be many personality types when I read, I find I want the ones that fit the image of history that has been given to me through teachings. She was a little too irresponsible and immature based on what she would have been like from her upbringing.
Justin- Justin was a rouge and well written. I found him to be a little similar to ever other British Rouge that has been written but if I take into account the initial publication date of this story he was fresh.
May 10, 2014
This is my least favourite Laura London book. Don't get me wrong, it is beautifully written, the pacing is good, the characters well portrayed (the heroine acts exactly as a 17 year old would act, not like some novels where the heroine is 16 but is written as if she's in her mid-twenties).
The problem stems from the fact that this is a romance novel with only the merest hint of a romance! Part of this is due to the heroine's lack of maturity; the other part is because the focus of the story is on solving a mystery, rather than developing the romance.
Even in the resolution, there is no grand declaration of emotion (although at that point, I was wishing more for some corporal punishment), so yeah, feeling kinda letdown.
As a side point, the hero is not the alpha male type. At all. Which is probably the other reason for the lack of romance, because the heroine really just ignores him for most of the book.
The problem stems from the fact that this is a romance novel with only the merest hint of a romance! Part of this is due to the heroine's lack of maturity; the other part is because the focus of the story is on solving a mystery, rather than developing the romance.
Even in the resolution, there is no grand declaration of emotion (although at that point, I was wishing more for some corporal punishment), so yeah, feeling kinda letdown.
As a side point, the hero is not the alpha male type. At all. Which is probably the other reason for the lack of romance, because the heroine really just ignores him for most of the book.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews