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James River Trilogy #1
Counterfeit Lady
Return to the New York Times bestselling Jude Deveraux’s James River series with this passionate, enchanting, and breathtaking romance classic!
Nicole Courtalain—a passionate French beauty—finds herself the victim of a case of mistaken identity when she is kidnapped by mistake and swept across turbulent seas to eighteenth century Virginia. There, she discovers the lush lands, rolling rivers, and astonishing plantations—and Clayton Armstrong, who awaited his English bride. What does their future have in store for them now that fate has changed their plans forever?
Nicole Courtalain—a passionate French beauty—finds herself the victim of a case of mistaken identity when she is kidnapped by mistake and swept across turbulent seas to eighteenth century Virginia. There, she discovers the lush lands, rolling rivers, and astonishing plantations—and Clayton Armstrong, who awaited his English bride. What does their future have in store for them now that fate has changed their plans forever?
375 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 1, 1984
176 people are currently reading
1400 people want to read
About the author
Jude Deveraux
199 books7,041 followersJude Gilliam was born September 20, 1947 in Fairdale, Kentucky. She has a large extended family and is the elder sister of four brothers. She attended Murray State University and received a degree in Art. In 1967, Jude married and took her husband's surname of White, but four years later they divorced. For years, she worked as 5th-grade teacher.
She began writing in 1976, and published her first book, The Enchanted Land (1977) under the name Jude Deveraux. Following the publication of her first novel, she resigned her teaching position. Now, she is the author of 31 New York Times bestsellers.
Jude won readers' hearts with the epic Velvet series, which revolves around the lives of the Montgomery family's irresistible men. Jude's early books are set largely in 15th- and 16th-century England; in them her fierce, impassioned protagonists find themselves in the midst of blood feuds and wars. Her heroines are equally scrappy -- medieval Scarlett O'Haras who often have a low regard for the men who eventually win them over. They're fighters, certainly, but they're also beauties who are preoccupied with survival and family preservation.
Jude has also stepped outside her milieu, with mixed results. Her James River trilogy (River Lady, Lost Lady, and Counterfeit Lady) is set mostly in post-Revolution America; the popular, softer-edged Twin of Fire/Twin of Ice moves to 19th-century Colorado and introduces another hunky-man clan, the Taggerts.
Deveraux manages to evoke a strong and convincing atmosphere for each of her books, but her dialogue and characters are as familiar as a modern-day soap opera's. "Historicals seem to be all I'm capable of," Jude once said in an interview, referring to a now out-of-print attempt at contemporary fiction, 1982's Casa Grande. "I don't want to write family sagas or occult books, and I have no intention of again trying to ruin the contemporary market." Still, Jude did later attempt modern-day romances, such as the lighthearted High Tide (her first murder caper), the contemporary female friendship story The Summerhouse, and the time-traveling Knight in Shining Armor. In fact, with 2002's The Mulberry Tree, Deveraux seems to be getting more comfortable setting stories in the present, which is a good thing, since the fans she won with her historical books are eager to follow her into the future.
Jude married Claude White, who she later divorced in 1993. Around the same time she met Mohammed Montassir with whom she had a son, Sam Alexander Montassir, in 1997. On Oct. 6th, 2005, Sam died at the age of eight in a motorcycle accident.
Jude has lived in several countries and all over the United States. She currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina and has an additional home in the medieval city of Badolato, Italy.
She began writing in 1976, and published her first book, The Enchanted Land (1977) under the name Jude Deveraux. Following the publication of her first novel, she resigned her teaching position. Now, she is the author of 31 New York Times bestsellers.
Jude won readers' hearts with the epic Velvet series, which revolves around the lives of the Montgomery family's irresistible men. Jude's early books are set largely in 15th- and 16th-century England; in them her fierce, impassioned protagonists find themselves in the midst of blood feuds and wars. Her heroines are equally scrappy -- medieval Scarlett O'Haras who often have a low regard for the men who eventually win them over. They're fighters, certainly, but they're also beauties who are preoccupied with survival and family preservation.
Jude has also stepped outside her milieu, with mixed results. Her James River trilogy (River Lady, Lost Lady, and Counterfeit Lady) is set mostly in post-Revolution America; the popular, softer-edged Twin of Fire/Twin of Ice moves to 19th-century Colorado and introduces another hunky-man clan, the Taggerts.
Deveraux manages to evoke a strong and convincing atmosphere for each of her books, but her dialogue and characters are as familiar as a modern-day soap opera's. "Historicals seem to be all I'm capable of," Jude once said in an interview, referring to a now out-of-print attempt at contemporary fiction, 1982's Casa Grande. "I don't want to write family sagas or occult books, and I have no intention of again trying to ruin the contemporary market." Still, Jude did later attempt modern-day romances, such as the lighthearted High Tide (her first murder caper), the contemporary female friendship story The Summerhouse, and the time-traveling Knight in Shining Armor. In fact, with 2002's The Mulberry Tree, Deveraux seems to be getting more comfortable setting stories in the present, which is a good thing, since the fans she won with her historical books are eager to follow her into the future.
Jude married Claude White, who she later divorced in 1993. Around the same time she met Mohammed Montassir with whom she had a son, Sam Alexander Montassir, in 1997. On Oct. 6th, 2005, Sam died at the age of eight in a motorcycle accident.
Jude has lived in several countries and all over the United States. She currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina and has an additional home in the medieval city of Badolato, Italy.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
August 19, 2013
Rate: 3.5 stars
My third book from Jude Deveraux and she's definitely growing on me. I wasn't particularly taken by her Montegomery series but Twin of Fire was absolutely perfect. This was one was... Let's say I had mixed feelings about it. The ending just didn't sit well with me. I'm not even certain if the hero died or survived? Definitely not the ending the rest of the book (which was very impressive) seemed to build up to.
One thing I have come to love about this author is that she builds up the most delicious plot lines. Although the ones in this book were slightly too suspenseful for my liking, I still have to admire them for the way they drew me in and had me desperately waiting to read the outcome. This book was centred on a 'mistaken identity' plot which was quite intriguing and entertaining at first... but as soon as Bianca came into the story, I just wanted to kill her with my bare hands. What a vile, gluttonous, nasty excuse for a woman. Her presence was so offending it nearly ruined the story for me. I guess without her the story would have lost its drama but I wonder if Jude had to make her quite so horrible?
In the end, it was the ending that ruined the book. I'm sure I can say I enjoyed the first 99% of the book which would've been enough for me to give this book 5 stars if it wasn't for the abrupt unsatisfying ending. Right now I'm going to pick up River Lady to check if Clay survived from his injury. At least Bianca died. That's one thing to cheer about.
My third book from Jude Deveraux and she's definitely growing on me. I wasn't particularly taken by her Montegomery series but Twin of Fire was absolutely perfect. This was one was... Let's say I had mixed feelings about it. The ending just didn't sit well with me. I'm not even certain if the hero died or survived? Definitely not the ending the rest of the book (which was very impressive) seemed to build up to.
One thing I have come to love about this author is that she builds up the most delicious plot lines. Although the ones in this book were slightly too suspenseful for my liking, I still have to admire them for the way they drew me in and had me desperately waiting to read the outcome. This book was centred on a 'mistaken identity' plot which was quite intriguing and entertaining at first... but as soon as Bianca came into the story, I just wanted to kill her with my bare hands. What a vile, gluttonous, nasty excuse for a woman. Her presence was so offending it nearly ruined the story for me. I guess without her the story would have lost its drama but I wonder if Jude had to make her quite so horrible?
In the end, it was the ending that ruined the book. I'm sure I can say I enjoyed the first 99% of the book which would've been enough for me to give this book 5 stars if it wasn't for the abrupt unsatisfying ending. Right now I'm going to pick up River Lady to check if Clay survived from his injury. At least Bianca died. That's one thing to cheer about.
September 23, 2021
re-read 2021
From 4 to 3 stars.
Spoiler
I forgot that the H was in love with another woman (dead sis in law, then his fiancé who was SIL lookalike), which is a trope I hate in romance. This is an angst story because the h is his 2nd love, and he is so infatuated with the ow in front of the h, while she acts like a doormat. 🙄
This book just pissed me off. I’ll never reread this again by mistake!
From 4 to 3 stars.
Spoiler
I forgot that the H was in love with another woman (dead sis in law, then his fiancé who was SIL lookalike), which is a trope I hate in romance. This is an angst story because the h is his 2nd love, and he is so infatuated with the ow in front of the h, while she acts like a doormat. 🙄
This book just pissed me off. I’ll never reread this again by mistake!
November 22, 2021
Es el segundo libro que leo de este género y no me gusto, me encantoooooooo!!! jajaja
No era muy de leer novelas románticas históricas porque mucho no me va a el romance y me costaba ambientarme en el lugar que se me hacia más fácil con una novela contemporánea, pero me lleve una grata sorpresa a mi misma :D parece que crecí XD pero les voy a contar un poquito de que va esta novela que esta ambientada como dice la sinopsis en Virginia (Estados Unidos) en el siglo XVIII.
La protagonista Nicole pertenecía a la aristocracia francesa pero ciertas circunstancias gracias a la Revolución Francesa termina como doncella de una dama inglesa que deja mucho que desear como persona, Bianca. Gracias a Bianca, Nicole termina secuestrada por unos bandidos que la obligan a casarse con un estadounidense que ella ni conoce. Hasta que llega a Estados Unidos y conoce a su supuesto "marido" Clayton Armstrong, pero también para la sorpresa de Clay no es la esposa que estaba esperando.
Y es aquí cuando comienza la aventura y todo el romance, ya que cuando Bianca decide viajar a Estados Unidos ya es demasiado tarde y también para Clay que pensó que Bianca era una persona diferente todo el tiempo.
La autora tiene una escritura tan ágil y entretenida, que te enamoras de los protagonistas y sufrís juntos a ellos. Es lo que más me gusta de una novela que el lector se ponga en el papel de los personajes. Me encanto cada personaje y odie algunos que otro.
Tengo que aclarar que puede que algunos lectores les moleste un poco esta novela por como se la describe a Bianca a cada rato, igual cuando la conozcan se van a dar cuenta junto a Clay que clase de persona es y se les va a ir un poco ese malestar. Aunque obviamente no hay que obviarlo para los tiempos que estamos y las luchas para acabar una vez por todas con el bullying.
El final se me hizo un poquito precipitado pero como soy muy fans de la novela policial gusto, aunque me dejo con la sensación que me hubiera gustado que fuera distinto.
No era muy de leer novelas románticas históricas porque mucho no me va a el romance y me costaba ambientarme en el lugar que se me hacia más fácil con una novela contemporánea, pero me lleve una grata sorpresa a mi misma :D parece que crecí XD pero les voy a contar un poquito de que va esta novela que esta ambientada como dice la sinopsis en Virginia (Estados Unidos) en el siglo XVIII.
La protagonista Nicole pertenecía a la aristocracia francesa pero ciertas circunstancias gracias a la Revolución Francesa termina como doncella de una dama inglesa que deja mucho que desear como persona, Bianca. Gracias a Bianca, Nicole termina secuestrada por unos bandidos que la obligan a casarse con un estadounidense que ella ni conoce. Hasta que llega a Estados Unidos y conoce a su supuesto "marido" Clayton Armstrong, pero también para la sorpresa de Clay no es la esposa que estaba esperando.
Y es aquí cuando comienza la aventura y todo el romance, ya que cuando Bianca decide viajar a Estados Unidos ya es demasiado tarde y también para Clay que pensó que Bianca era una persona diferente todo el tiempo.
La autora tiene una escritura tan ágil y entretenida, que te enamoras de los protagonistas y sufrís juntos a ellos. Es lo que más me gusta de una novela que el lector se ponga en el papel de los personajes. Me encanto cada personaje y odie algunos que otro.
Tengo que aclarar que puede que algunos lectores les moleste un poco esta novela por como se la describe a Bianca a cada rato, igual cuando la conozcan se van a dar cuenta junto a Clay que clase de persona es y se les va a ir un poco ese malestar. Aunque obviamente no hay que obviarlo para los tiempos que estamos y las luchas para acabar una vez por todas con el bullying.
El final se me hizo un poquito precipitado pero como soy muy fans de la novela policial gusto, aunque me dejo con la sensación que me hubiera gustado que fuera distinto.
April 12, 2018
I will go on record as saying that 'Counterfeit Lady' was really,really not a good read.
The plot was poorly paced and fairly weak anyway, the characters were abysmal with no redeemable characteristics and the writing style wasn't punchy or engaging.
The hero - Clayton - what a mug he was. His entire backstory was weaker than a new born giraffe's legs but I could accept it if Clay had been someone worthy of James and Beth's adoration and love. Instead, he was brutish, demanding and rough with Nicole and he gave nothing back. There was no reason why she fell in love with him, no reason why she obeyed when he demanded or grabbed her and pulled her about.
Nicole herself was a wet blanket. She had no passion, fire or grit. She was insipid and bent to Clayton because her submission was required to make them a couple. She was a 'real-life' Snow White. So kind and loved by all. I'm not surprised that she did so much cleaning throughout this novel, she was probably helped by an army of forest creatures.
I thought that it was a rule in writing that your villains should have some redeemable features and should never just be 'bad' for the sake of the story. It gives them depth and realism. Instead, the only depth that Bianca had was her stomach. She was only ever eating, she was only ever described according to her weight. Bad fat Bianca and good skinny Nicole. She ate and ate and she got more and more mean… It was kind of laughable that she was so poorly written.
The pacing was entirely off. The plot should have been Nicole and Clayton's mistake of a marriage and then his subsequent chase of Bianca before realisation thatsnow white was actually the one for him. Instead, all of this happened in the first 100 pages. I reached about page 200 and with half the book left wondered what on earth could be left? It definitely should have ended at this point.
The sex was also very dismal. One part actually made me laugh out loud in a kind of horror: "No longer were his kisses sweet and gentle, but as he took her ear in his mouth he threatened to tear it from her head."
Ooh so romantic and roguish, so dreamy… oh no. Just violent and weird.
I really didn't like this book and I was disappointed because I've read really good Jude Devereaux novels before and they were much better.
The plot was poorly paced and fairly weak anyway, the characters were abysmal with no redeemable characteristics and the writing style wasn't punchy or engaging.
The hero - Clayton - what a mug he was. His entire backstory was weaker than a new born giraffe's legs but I could accept it if Clay had been someone worthy of James and Beth's adoration and love. Instead, he was brutish, demanding and rough with Nicole and he gave nothing back. There was no reason why she fell in love with him, no reason why she obeyed when he demanded or grabbed her and pulled her about.
Nicole herself was a wet blanket. She had no passion, fire or grit. She was insipid and bent to Clayton because her submission was required to make them a couple. She was a 'real-life' Snow White. So kind and loved by all. I'm not surprised that she did so much cleaning throughout this novel, she was probably helped by an army of forest creatures.
I thought that it was a rule in writing that your villains should have some redeemable features and should never just be 'bad' for the sake of the story. It gives them depth and realism. Instead, the only depth that Bianca had was her stomach. She was only ever eating, she was only ever described according to her weight. Bad fat Bianca and good skinny Nicole. She ate and ate and she got more and more mean… It was kind of laughable that she was so poorly written.
The pacing was entirely off. The plot should have been Nicole and Clayton's mistake of a marriage and then his subsequent chase of Bianca before realisation that
The sex was also very dismal. One part actually made me laugh out loud in a kind of horror: "No longer were his kisses sweet and gentle, but as he took her ear in his mouth he threatened to tear it from her head."
Ooh so romantic and roguish, so dreamy… oh no. Just violent and weird.
I really didn't like this book and I was disappointed because I've read really good Jude Devereaux novels before and they were much better.
August 30, 2015
Here, again, Ms. Deveraux makes the villain an overweight woman who seems to gain weight in proportion to how mean she is to everyone. Gone are the early days of Ms. Deveraux's career when the antagonist might be a strikingly beautiful woman (Alice in The Velvet Promise, for example).
I don't know what happened after the earlier books in her career. Perhaps it was that fame and/or money exposed her to a shallower pool of friends, but she clearly, and maliciously, began body-shaming women, be they main characters, or one-scene background walk-ons (see my review of Sweet Liar). It seems no one in her books, but the pretty, perfect heroine, could ever weigh less than a draft horse. Even friends of the heroine, such as Janie in this book, are always big, large or plump.
I still quite enjoy Ms. Deveraux's books (at least those she wrote before giving up on historical romances completely), but find I'm not nearly as enamored of them as I once was.
I don't know what happened after the earlier books in her career. Perhaps it was that fame and/or money exposed her to a shallower pool of friends, but she clearly, and maliciously, began body-shaming women, be they main characters, or one-scene background walk-ons (see my review of Sweet Liar). It seems no one in her books, but the pretty, perfect heroine, could ever weigh less than a draft horse. Even friends of the heroine, such as Janie in this book, are always big, large or plump.
I still quite enjoy Ms. Deveraux's books (at least those she wrote before giving up on historical romances completely), but find I'm not nearly as enamored of them as I once was.
May 29, 2012
So I have a bag of romance novels because I want to make a craft with the covers, but I actually read (most of) this one, and it was just awful. The plot was the everlovin' worst, the romance wasn't romantic, and the sexytimes weren't sexy. The male main character was whiny and failed to take care of business... I couldn't understand why the girl liked him. Also, I found it really disturbing that the moment he decides he has the hots for her is the same moment in which he thinks she looks like a child. Still, the cover will look great on whichever piece of furniture I decide to modpodge.
April 30, 2010
I have read a lot of Jude Deveraux in the past. I don't remember reading this book so I gave it a chance this past week. Everything was good. Not enough romance..they spent a lot of time apart fighting. The ending was bad though...it just stopped. I had a library copy and I checked to see if it really was the last page or if someone ripped the last chapter out.
June 29, 2013
The writing style in this book was juvenile, at best. There was no elegance to it at all. I don't ask for much from a book, honestly, but I'd like it if I didn't get thrown off so much by how much it felt like something a pre-teen had written.
Also, "OMG, Bianca is so totally a fat slut. Like, she's fat so obviously she's bad. And look at her eat. She eats like a pig. How could she eat so much food. She should die." I swear, there wasn't a time Bianca made an appearance that somebody didn't have a comment to make about her weight. What I took away from that was "Nichole is good because she's skinny, Bianca is bad because she's fat." And by all accounts, she was nothing more than statuesque at the start, but Nicole still talked about her weight. -sigh-
So yeah, the plot for the first half- fun, a decent story. The second half- Unnecessary drama that really drug the book down.
Also, "OMG, Bianca is so totally a fat slut. Like, she's fat so obviously she's bad. And look at her eat. She eats like a pig. How could she eat so much food. She should die." I swear, there wasn't a time Bianca made an appearance that somebody didn't have a comment to make about her weight. What I took away from that was "Nichole is good because she's skinny, Bianca is bad because she's fat." And by all accounts, she was nothing more than statuesque at the start, but Nicole still talked about her weight. -sigh-
So yeah, the plot for the first half- fun, a decent story. The second half- Unnecessary drama that really drug the book down.
September 13, 2016
O carte mai veche a autoarei, dar care si astăzi te face sa oftezi. Superba!
February 12, 2019
1794 - 1796 I don't think I like the laws for those years regarding marriage. I am glad they have adjusted them. Well, does Nicole and Clay, do they end up together? Plantations.
September 7, 2021
Durante mucho tiempo Jude Deveraux ha sido una de mis escritoras preferidas. Es más, tengo casi todos sus libros.
¿Me sigue gustando? Sí. Sus últimos libros me han gustado.
Pero este de la mujer falsa tiene ya unos años y me ha dado la sensación de libro antiguo. Ya se, es un libro de romance histórico, está bien que sea antiguo, pero es como si no hubiera envejecido bien.
Clay no sabe muy bien lo que quiere, o mejor dicho, sí que lo sabe. Y hace todo lo posible por conseguirlo, hasta raptar a Bianca y casarse con ella por poderes, sin dejarle opción.
Pero como todos los planes que se hacen con rapidez, la cosa no sale como se espera.
En lugar de raptar a Bianca, los contratados se llevan a Nicole.
Y Nicole es una mujer que puede con todo, que no se echa atrás por la adversidad, que no mira el pasado y es competente hasta la saciedad. Una mujer moderna, dentro de la historia, claro.
Y bueno, no puedo seguir hablando sin contar más.
Pero lo que sí puedo decir es que el final me resulta demasiado brusco, no es que deje cosas sin contar, pero me hubiera gustado saber cómo se desarrollan las cosas después del desenlace. Me gustan las novelas con un epílogo, donde me cuentan qué pasa en el futuro. Y ésta historia termina de manera muy brusca para mí opinión.
¿Me sigue gustando? Sí. Sus últimos libros me han gustado.
Pero este de la mujer falsa tiene ya unos años y me ha dado la sensación de libro antiguo. Ya se, es un libro de romance histórico, está bien que sea antiguo, pero es como si no hubiera envejecido bien.
Clay no sabe muy bien lo que quiere, o mejor dicho, sí que lo sabe. Y hace todo lo posible por conseguirlo, hasta raptar a Bianca y casarse con ella por poderes, sin dejarle opción.
Pero como todos los planes que se hacen con rapidez, la cosa no sale como se espera.
En lugar de raptar a Bianca, los contratados se llevan a Nicole.
Y Nicole es una mujer que puede con todo, que no se echa atrás por la adversidad, que no mira el pasado y es competente hasta la saciedad. Una mujer moderna, dentro de la historia, claro.
Y bueno, no puedo seguir hablando sin contar más.
Pero lo que sí puedo decir es que el final me resulta demasiado brusco, no es que deje cosas sin contar, pero me hubiera gustado saber cómo se desarrollan las cosas después del desenlace. Me gustan las novelas con un epílogo, donde me cuentan qué pasa en el futuro. Y ésta historia termina de manera muy brusca para mí opinión.
March 10, 2011
Not one of Deveraux's best. I didn't care for Clay, and I thought Nicole should have taken up Wesley on his offer of marriage. That's never a good sign for a romance, is it?
Despite all that, I did enjoy the first half of this book. A case of mistaken identity resulting in Clay marrying the wrong woman was a nice setup, and the ensuing drama was good. But about halfway through they both declared their love to one another, and as I noted the number of pages still left, I set it down and started reading something else. I came back to it today, half listening on tape while I did other things, and I actually think I could have just left it at that halfway point and been fine.
If you like Deveraux, you may like this. If you haven't tried Deveraux, I suggest you read A Knight in Shining Armor or The Heiress first. :=)
Despite all that, I did enjoy the first half of this book. A case of mistaken identity resulting in Clay marrying the wrong woman was a nice setup, and the ensuing drama was good. But about halfway through they both declared their love to one another, and as I noted the number of pages still left, I set it down and started reading something else. I came back to it today, half listening on tape while I did other things, and I actually think I could have just left it at that halfway point and been fine.
If you like Deveraux, you may like this. If you haven't tried Deveraux, I suggest you read A Knight in Shining Armor or The Heiress first. :=)
May 12, 2014
3.5 stars
Because I don’t like the ending. The ending is just like simple without perfect scene. I want something more, maybe HEA scenes.
"Clay!" she protested.
He leaned back on the grass, with the unicorn free at last. "You once said I thought you weren't worthy to touch what Beth had touched. What you didn't understand was it was I who was unclean." He lifted himself on one elbow--he had little strength after smashing the glass-and dropped the unicorn down the front of her dress. He gave her a lopsided grin. "I'll retrieve it later."
She smiled, tears rolling down her cheeks. "I must get a doctor."
He caught her skirt. "You'll return to me?"
"Always." She shifted the bodice of her dress. "There's a little silver horn poking me, and someone must remove it."
He smiled, his eyes closed. "I volunteer."
She turned away toward the gate.
October 30, 2010
Really good book, but it didn't end right. It's also part of a series so that could be the reason that it didn't end exactly right.
August 7, 2022
The author did no story telling, everything was told in black and white and plainly. The characters are some of the most one dimensional I’ve ever encountered. Also, for a 1700s Virginia plantation, there were suspiciously a lot of servants and workers and not many people enslaved. Just an odd historical take.
July 15, 2019
Overall I enjoyed this romance novel set in late eighteenth century Virginia, yet there were a few things which hindered me from giving this book a higher rating
1. The ending: 😒 I hate novels that end in such an open-ended way, especially if it’s a single book story. Couldn’t the author have given us 10 more pages of resolution just to know if Clay survives? I do admit that there are two more books in the series following other characters, so I suppose they would probably have some update as to how Clay and Nicole are faring, but still. This novel belonged to Clay and Nicole and I wish it had been more satisfactorily resolved.
2. Bianca’s weight: this is something that bothered me throughout the entire back 2/3 of the novel. When in the beginning it’s first mentioned that’s she’s gaining weight or whatever, it’s fine. The author is setting up the characters, so whatever. However throughout the book the fact that she’s fat becomes more and more incessant, and being fat seems to be an testament to her evil ways. Seriously? Everyone hates her because, not only is she proud and selfish, but (hold the phone!!) she’s fat! The fact that this became so important to everyone as a defense for why she’s a horrible person just rubbed me the wrong way and it just didn’t ever end.
Don’t get me wrong. The book wasn’t terrible. In fact I found myself enjoying the majority of it, with the exception of the above.
1. The ending: 😒 I hate novels that end in such an open-ended way, especially if it’s a single book story. Couldn’t the author have given us 10 more pages of resolution just to know if Clay survives? I do admit that there are two more books in the series following other characters, so I suppose they would probably have some update as to how Clay and Nicole are faring, but still. This novel belonged to Clay and Nicole and I wish it had been more satisfactorily resolved.
2. Bianca’s weight: this is something that bothered me throughout the entire back 2/3 of the novel. When in the beginning it’s first mentioned that’s she’s gaining weight or whatever, it’s fine. The author is setting up the characters, so whatever. However throughout the book the fact that she’s fat becomes more and more incessant, and being fat seems to be an testament to her evil ways. Seriously? Everyone hates her because, not only is she proud and selfish, but (hold the phone!!) she’s fat! The fact that this became so important to everyone as a defense for why she’s a horrible person just rubbed me the wrong way and it just didn’t ever end.
Don’t get me wrong. The book wasn’t terrible. In fact I found myself enjoying the majority of it, with the exception of the above.
July 9, 2024
Y luego???? Que pasó??? Ningún final donde se vuelven a casar o un epílogo de ellos con hijos??? Me decepciona mucho, los protas estuvieron sufriendo la mitad del libro y al final ni siquiera nos muestran que por fin pudieron vivir juntos en la misma casa??
Y no puede ser que Bianca va a ser por siempre la esposa muerta de Clay y el será viudo 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄
Clay no resuelve una mierda y era absolutamente débil, no lucho ni un poco por Nicole. Pero mis respetos para Nicole, es una absoluta reina. Ella si resolvió.
Por cierto, si hay una cosa peor que una ex amante en los libros, es una ex amante muerta🤡(si se puede llamar así ya que clay y su cuñada nunca fueron más que amigos) esos protas con primeros amores muerto siempre van a quedar traumados y comparando a la prota con ella. Los odio.
Hace muchos años me leí a Travis y a Reagan y Dios yo absolutamente LOS AMO, pero clay me quedo a deber, no lucho nada por ella y la tenia del otro lado del río viviendo :(
Y no puede ser que Bianca va a ser por siempre la esposa muerta de Clay y el será viudo 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄
Clay no resuelve una mierda y era absolutamente débil, no lucho ni un poco por Nicole. Pero mis respetos para Nicole, es una absoluta reina. Ella si resolvió.
Por cierto, si hay una cosa peor que una ex amante en los libros, es una ex amante muerta🤡(si se puede llamar así ya que clay y su cuñada nunca fueron más que amigos) esos protas con primeros amores muerto siempre van a quedar traumados y comparando a la prota con ella. Los odio.
Hace muchos años me leí a Travis y a Reagan y Dios yo absolutamente LOS AMO, pero clay me quedo a deber, no lucho nada por ella y la tenia del otro lado del río viviendo :(
May 29, 2013
Gripping! I really enjoyed reading this book, more for the fact that it was well written and always had a surprise around the corner then for the storyline. There were too many sex scenes which I skipped. But in the end third of the book Judy brushed past them which I preferred.
There were a few story line faults, which had me yelling at the characters to simply communicate!! And a but of back and forthing - will I, won't I, stuff.
I always enjoy learning some non-fiction in my fiction for some brain expansion, and this book delivered without being boring.
But I loved the fat Bianca character! Excellent, well done!
There were a few story line faults, which had me yelling at the characters to simply communicate!! And a but of back and forthing - will I, won't I, stuff.
I always enjoy learning some non-fiction in my fiction for some brain expansion, and this book delivered without being boring.
But I loved the fat Bianca character! Excellent, well done!
August 18, 2015
While on a trip to England, Clayton Armstrong falls for the beautiful Bianca and asks her to marry him. Clayton returns to America but Bianca refuses to join him there. Clayton then hires men to kidnap Bianca, marry her to him by proxy and bring to her America. The problem there is these men don't know Bianca and it results in Clayton being married to Nicole, Bianca's maid, and Nicole finds herself now married and in America with a husband that doesn't want her.
March 16, 2019
Me llamó la atención porque leí sobre estos personajes en otro libro de la saga (La mujer perdida) y tenía curiosidad por saber como terminaron juntos Clayton y Nicole. Y debo decir que aunque la historia de Travis y Reagan me gustó más, este libro es mejor. La historia es mucho más compleja y estructurada y el drama termina siendo mucho más interesante; aunque Clay termina cansando con su obsesión por su cuñada, Nicole es demasiado buena para ser verdad y el final termina siendo muy soso.
Read
December 6, 2009a woman is kidnapped by mistake and taken from england to the united states of 1778 to be bride of a man she doesn,t know
January 10, 2022
Neudrží myšlenku a je zbytečně překombinovaná.
s. 5 – je červen 1794 a Nicole je unesená na loď
s. 32 – plavba trvala 40 dní, ale do Ameriky připlula začátkem října
Pak ubíhají týdny, začnou žně a pak teprve přijde podzim. (s. 119)
Pak uplynou dobré dva měsíce a blíží se Vánoce... (s. 184, 185)
s. 11 ukryla se s dědečkem do truhly na obilí
s. 78 z dlouhé bedny vyházel všechno seno a strčil mě dovnitř. Nakonec si tam zalezl i on sám.
s. 9 Při útěku z Francie se jí podařilo zachránit (...) tři smaragdy. (...) Po setkání se sestřenicí smaragdy prodala.
s. 78 těmi smaragdy pomohli (...) Ty poslední dva prodala až v Anglii
s. 80 zašila mi do podšívky tři smaragdy
s. 92 Maggie mi hází jídlo buď nedovařené nebo syrové
To nedává smysl.
Maggie serves my food ether burned or raw, nothing in between.
s. 215 pak sundala ze zdi malou pánvičku a začala do ní roztloukat vajíčka na omeletu.
Do pánvičky?
Nicole took a small skillet from the wall, then began breaking eggs for a omelet.
s. 96 Bianca a spolu s Nicole se na Claye udiveně zahleděla. Upíral se na Biancu skutečně velice zvláštní pohled.
s. 276 „Cože, mluvila o Clayovi?“ užasla Janie.
To je divení. O pár řádek výš Janie pravila: „Nevyslovuje náhodou i Clayovo jméno?“
Nevkusná obálka.
s. 8 nevydržely.“-
s. 18 „_Ráda
s. 22 cestovvat
s. 119 měcíc
s. 132 Clayse
s. 154 ráda,Clayi
s. 172 prosmyk [prosmykl]
s. 218 Nicole, „Já
s. 233 nanejvíš
s. 246 tou [tom]
s. 254 v v těch
uvozovky - s. 55, 114, 117, 226, 243
ji/jí - s. 39, 129, 245
špatné dělení slov - s. 24, 101, 163, 198, 204,
s. 5 – je červen 1794 a Nicole je unesená na loď
s. 32 – plavba trvala 40 dní, ale do Ameriky připlula začátkem října
Pak ubíhají týdny, začnou žně a pak teprve přijde podzim. (s. 119)
Pak uplynou dobré dva měsíce a blíží se Vánoce... (s. 184, 185)
s. 11 ukryla se s dědečkem do truhly na obilí
s. 78 z dlouhé bedny vyházel všechno seno a strčil mě dovnitř. Nakonec si tam zalezl i on sám.
s. 9 Při útěku z Francie se jí podařilo zachránit (...) tři smaragdy. (...) Po setkání se sestřenicí smaragdy prodala.
s. 78 těmi smaragdy pomohli (...) Ty poslední dva prodala až v Anglii
s. 80 zašila mi do podšívky tři smaragdy
s. 92 Maggie mi hází jídlo buď nedovařené nebo syrové
To nedává smysl.
Maggie serves my food ether burned or raw, nothing in between.
s. 215 pak sundala ze zdi malou pánvičku a začala do ní roztloukat vajíčka na omeletu.
Do pánvičky?
Nicole took a small skillet from the wall, then began breaking eggs for a omelet.
s. 96 Bianca a spolu s Nicole se na Claye udiveně zahleděla. Upíral se na Biancu skutečně velice zvláštní pohled.
s. 276 „Cože, mluvila o Clayovi?“ užasla Janie.
To je divení. O pár řádek výš Janie pravila: „Nevyslovuje náhodou i Clayovo jméno?“
Nevkusná obálka.
s. 8 nevydržely.“-
s. 18 „_Ráda
s. 22 cestovvat
s. 119 měcíc
s. 132 Clayse
s. 154 ráda,Clayi
s. 172 prosmyk [prosmykl]
s. 218 Nicole, „Já
s. 233 nanejvíš
s. 246 tou [tom]
s. 254 v v těch
uvozovky - s. 55, 114, 117, 226, 243
ji/jí - s. 39, 129, 245
špatné dělení slov - s. 24, 101, 163, 198, 204,
June 20, 2024
This is the first book in the James River series by Jude Deveraux. However, it begins our journey that will circle back to the book Sweetbriar.
In this book, we meet Nicole a Frenchwoman who survived the war only to become a servant to a very self-indulgent Englishwoman named Bianca. When men try to kidnap Bianca, she offers up Nicole in her place. Nicole is swept across the ocean to her kidnapper Clay a plantation owner who is trying to relive his past.
Nicole is a very kind woman she offers love, protection and so much more to all around her. But no matter how wonderful she is she feels she is unable to live up to a ghost. So when Clay makes a huge mess of their relationship Nicole does the only thing she can she starts over with her friend Janie and the twins.
There were so many times I wanted to shake Clay or even smack him for not seeing what was in front of him. Everyone could see how amazing Nicole was and yet he kept screwing up. He seemed so blinded by his past memories that he could not even see how cruel Bianca was. She played him like a harp.
Jude did an amazing job here creating a beautiful setting got this book. She brought to life the beauty of the plantation, the people, and even the mill. I was once again swept up in Jude's book and completely taken in. She has magic in her pen and writes so beautifully that I can't put her books down. The characters feel like long-lost friends that I want to visit repeatedly.
Another extraordinary book story by Jude.
In this book, we meet Nicole a Frenchwoman who survived the war only to become a servant to a very self-indulgent Englishwoman named Bianca. When men try to kidnap Bianca, she offers up Nicole in her place. Nicole is swept across the ocean to her kidnapper Clay a plantation owner who is trying to relive his past.
Nicole is a very kind woman she offers love, protection and so much more to all around her. But no matter how wonderful she is she feels she is unable to live up to a ghost. So when Clay makes a huge mess of their relationship Nicole does the only thing she can she starts over with her friend Janie and the twins.
There were so many times I wanted to shake Clay or even smack him for not seeing what was in front of him. Everyone could see how amazing Nicole was and yet he kept screwing up. He seemed so blinded by his past memories that he could not even see how cruel Bianca was. She played him like a harp.
Jude did an amazing job here creating a beautiful setting got this book. She brought to life the beauty of the plantation, the people, and even the mill. I was once again swept up in Jude's book and completely taken in. She has magic in her pen and writes so beautifully that I can't put her books down. The characters feel like long-lost friends that I want to visit repeatedly.
Another extraordinary book story by Jude.
January 11, 2020
(3.5)
Las primeras páginas me atraparon demasiado y después sentía mucho enojo por los protagonistas, por un lado Nicole que representaba esa mujer completamente enamorada (en el sentido que incluso era segado por eso) y confiada que me frustraban y quería que reaccionará,esto último también me paso con Clay, es estreso demasiado que estuviera cegado por el pasado que no se diera cuenta de lo que ocurría,pero entre más avanzaba recobré un poco de fe en Nicole hasta as últimas páginas, pero le di el beneficio de la duda y medio lo deje pasar.
En general la historia si entretiene, una de las cosas que tiene esta autora es el drama en sus historias y créanme que no falto y en todo momento estaba preocupada por lo que podría ocurrir, sobre todo el papel que seguirían desempeñando los malos dela historia que sin duda no me decepcionaron, me provocaron asco, odios y deseos malos hacia ellos :v y no es malo-
Las primeras páginas me atraparon demasiado y después sentía mucho enojo por los protagonistas, por un lado Nicole que representaba esa mujer completamente enamorada (en el sentido que incluso era segado por eso) y confiada que me frustraban y quería que reaccionará,esto último también me paso con Clay, es estreso demasiado que estuviera cegado por el pasado que no se diera cuenta de lo que ocurría,pero entre más avanzaba recobré un poco de fe en Nicole hasta as últimas páginas, pero le di el beneficio de la duda y medio lo deje pasar.
En general la historia si entretiene, una de las cosas que tiene esta autora es el drama en sus historias y créanme que no falto y en todo momento estaba preocupada por lo que podría ocurrir, sobre todo el papel que seguirían desempeñando los malos dela historia que sin duda no me decepcionaron, me provocaron asco, odios y deseos malos hacia ellos :v y no es malo-
February 16, 2025
No no háganse el favor y no lo lean. La sinopsis del. Libro te atrapa pero no se dejen engañar
Como dos personas sufren tanto tanto hasta el final del libro y no tiene ni siquiera un digno final.
Encerio esto indignada la trama daba para tanto y simplemente que quiso dar tantos giros y sufrir tanto que no vez el maldito final y para colmo lo deja abierto,
Lloro de bronca , Nicole merecías a Wes pero estabas empecinada con Clay que nunca te diste cuenta, Clay no se que decirte la verdad el peor personaje eras tío y dejabas al cuidado de esos chicos a otros solo te importaba la maldita muerta de Beth y su memoria tenias lo mejor entre tus brazos y prácticamente te autosabotiaste , literal te cásate con Bianca para sufrir y sufriste hasta lo último.
Podría seguir despotricando pero realmente me da rabia encima tenia tantas ganas de seguir con Wes pero ahora tengo miedo de lo que vaya a leer
Como dos personas sufren tanto tanto hasta el final del libro y no tiene ni siquiera un digno final.
Encerio esto indignada la trama daba para tanto y simplemente que quiso dar tantos giros y sufrir tanto que no vez el maldito final y para colmo lo deja abierto,
Lloro de bronca , Nicole merecías a Wes pero estabas empecinada con Clay que nunca te diste cuenta, Clay no se que decirte la verdad el peor personaje eras tío y dejabas al cuidado de esos chicos a otros solo te importaba la maldita muerta de Beth y su memoria tenias lo mejor entre tus brazos y prácticamente te autosabotiaste , literal te cásate con Bianca para sufrir y sufriste hasta lo último.
Podría seguir despotricando pero realmente me da rabia encima tenia tantas ganas de seguir con Wes pero ahora tengo miedo de lo que vaya a leer
October 24, 2018
If any one young lady had to go through all the abuse that Nicole does in this book, I would be appalled. Actually, I was. It was hard to believe that so many people could love her and there were still enough left over to treat her so badly. Ms. Deveraux has created an interesting female villainess in Bianca. I couldn't help but feel a little sorry for her, but it was easy to dislike her. The two "disfunctional" females in the book did not stand a chance. In some ways I would have preferred that they get help and get better. In others, I understand why Ms. Deveraux dismissed them as characters. On the whole, Clay as a hero did not work well for me. I couldn't really admire him and I felt that Nicole's French practicality disappeared whenever he was around, which drove me crazy. She was such a wimp where he was concerned, but a great character in all other ways.
January 16, 2021
Counterfeit lady was probably my favorite of the trilogy. What I love about Jude is she doesn’t just give you a passionate romance she gives you a good plot line to keep you engaged. Her character descriptions are immaculate and make you feel as though you’re actually inside the story. I love her protagonists and the complex backgrounds that add to their personalities. She also does a good job of making you really hate the antagonists. I was hooked the entire time while reading and could not put the book down. Nicole and Clay’s relationship was so endearing and their constant problems only enhanced their chemistry. When I found out the was a series I was ecstatic because I was so curious to see where their relationship lead. My only complaint is the books abrupt’s ending. I did not feel that all loose ends were as neatly tied up as I would have liked.
May 9, 2023
A convoluted mess
I knew it was a bad sign when the heroine fell in love with the hero a few days into knowing him for no particular reason. I kept asking myself how many times can one woman get kidnapped and almost killed? The story is unnecessarily complicated with too many plot twists, poorly written villains and no direction. The premise would have been more interesting if it was just a case of mistaken identity and the two characters eventually realizing they’re meant to be.
I’ve read all the books in this series and the above seems to be a general theme with this author.
I knew it was a bad sign when the heroine fell in love with the hero a few days into knowing him for no particular reason. I kept asking myself how many times can one woman get kidnapped and almost killed? The story is unnecessarily complicated with too many plot twists, poorly written villains and no direction. The premise would have been more interesting if it was just a case of mistaken identity and the two characters eventually realizing they’re meant to be.
I’ve read all the books in this series and the above seems to be a general theme with this author.
March 7, 2025
3/5🌟
El libro pudo haber sido muchísimo mejor si tan solo Clay no fuese un hombre tan débil que no buscaba arriesgarse para poder ser feliz con la mujer que presuntamente ama.
En general, la trama fue interesante, pero Bianca para ser una persona muy torpe le salía todo bien y que Nicole carga con demasiadas responsabilidades y aún así sigue sufriendo por culpa de la falta de firmeza de Clay, a eso sumarle que ni siquiera fue Clay quien decidió acercarse primero a Nicole, sino todo lo contrario porque él se volvió un tonto alcohólico.
TROPES:
🩷ANGUSTIA
🩷ROMANCE DE ÉPOCA
🩷OW DRAMA
🩷MATRIMONIO POR ACCIDENTE
El libro pudo haber sido muchísimo mejor si tan solo Clay no fuese un hombre tan débil que no buscaba arriesgarse para poder ser feliz con la mujer que presuntamente ama.
En general, la trama fue interesante, pero Bianca para ser una persona muy torpe le salía todo bien y que Nicole carga con demasiadas responsabilidades y aún así sigue sufriendo por culpa de la falta de firmeza de Clay, a eso sumarle que ni siquiera fue Clay quien decidió acercarse primero a Nicole, sino todo lo contrario porque él se volvió un tonto alcohólico.
TROPES:
🩷ANGUSTIA
🩷ROMANCE DE ÉPOCA
🩷OW DRAMA
🩷MATRIMONIO POR ACCIDENTE
May 30, 2018
For the break I wanted this was satisfactory but not one of author's best. there's too much going on with never a respite for the heroine and the drama keeps piling up till the end. Clayton as the hero was a wimpy character with not a spine to stand on but probably that helped in developing Nicole's character to the strong woman she was underneath all her romantic dreams. I loved the supporting characters more and surely Wes has his own story which I might look up the next time I need a break from thrillers.
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