Anne Barton (3)
Author of When She Was Wicked
For other authors named Anne Barton, see the disambiguation page.
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Works by Anne Barton
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- female
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- Anne Barton started swiping romances from her mom’s bookshelf as a teenager and decided historicals (with their balls, dukes, and gowns) were the best. So, when she had the chance to spend a semester in London she packed her bags—and promptly fell in love with the city, its history, and its pubs. She dreamed of writing romance, but somehow ended up a software analyst instead.
Fortunately, a few years and a few careers later, Annefound her way back to writing the stories she loves and won the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart® for Regency Historical Romance. She lives in Maryland with her husband and three children, who try valiantly not to roll their eyes whenever she quotes Jane Austen. Her weaknesses include reality TV, cute-but-impractical shoes, and coffee. Lots and lots of coffee.
Anne is represented by Helen Breitwieser of Cornerstone Literary Agency.
website:http://annebarton.com/about/ - Nationality
- USA
- Places of residence
- Maryland, USA
- Associated Place (for map)
- Maryland, USA
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Reviews
****Full Review****
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review
Lady Olivia is the sister to a Duke who is friends with and employees Mr. James Averill as his solicitor. James and Olivia have been friends for a while but Olivia has harbored a secret for just as long; she loves James. As she is older now, Olivia hopes James will see her as more than just "the little sister". With James set to begin an show more archeological expedition in a couple weeks to Egypt for two years, Olivia decides it is now or never to make her move. She clandestinely follows James to the countryside for a chance at grasping her dream. As truths get revealed, class roles are tested, and love grows, Olivia and James learn who they truly are and want out of life.
This story delves in right away and I enjoyed that as it was engaging and exciting. This is part of a series but I definitely think it can be read as a standalone as the only thing I missed was how Olivia's brother Owen came to marry his wife; will be going back to read that one! The base of this story is Olivia believing she is in love with James and wanting to marry him. I liked how real James was with Olivia in the beginning, he recognized how the difference in their social classes could be a very real impediment. He never talks down to her but remarks how she has never had to want for anything in her life and maybe she doesn't quite understand what being married to a solicitor would entail. While Olivia does have her moments of being selfish and immature, she also knows pain and refuses to be dismissed so easily. I would have liked for the book to explore their class differences more but understand stories like this aren't really concerned about realism for it might get in the way of the fairy tale and I can certainly forgive that.
There is an ease to James and Olivia's dialogue and interactions that make reading about their relationship so pleasant. Olivia is forthright and brave with just enough of a hint of vulnerability to make you want to squeeze her hand as she faces the challenge of James. James has locked a bit of himself away for protection which stems from issues regarding his younger brother but finds he comes fully alive in Olivia's presence. It is when they are together and challenging each other that they develop to their full potential; Olivia realizes that she is capable of being more than James' wife and James learns that connections with people are what life is really about. The biggest problem I had with this book was towards the end when Olivia acts a bit out of character and runs away to solve a problem. This conflict was unnecessary dramatics and then resolved too quickly and easily with what felt like a shrug and hug. It seemed like the author felt there wasn't enough angst but the characters and story she crafted didn't work because of angst but rather their fun charm.
I was pleasantly surprised at how funny, charming, and sexy James and Olivia's relationship and intimate scenes were. Scandalous Summer Nights is a light regency read that will appeal to and please many a reader. I also can't wait for Olivia's quiet sister Rose to get her story with Charles the stablehand. show less
I received Once She Was Tempted as part of a Goodreads giveaway.
In order to earn money to save their dying mother, impoverished sisters Annabelle and Daphne Honeycut made sacrifices and choices that might ruin them in the eyes of polite society. Annabelle has since made good, marrying a duke (their story is the first in this series) and expecting their first child. Daphne's "sin," posing for two scandalous portraits, has now come back to haunt her, one having since made its way into the show more possession of Ben, Earl of Foxburn. Having been captivated by the portrait, he recognizes Daphne immediately and, thinking her a fortune hunter, steers his young protege (the younger brother of his best friend, killed in battle) away from her apparent attempts at seduction.
Upon confronting Daphne, however, he learns her true motivation and softens, offering to help her find the second portrait. As they race against time to save Daphne's reputation as an eligible young miss of the ton (brought about by her sister's favorable marriage), Ben, battling the physical and emotional scars of a war injury, also battles against deepening feelings for Daphne.
As far as romance novels go, I enjoyed Once She Was Tempted. Ben and Daphne are quite well-rounded characters, complex and imperfect. I could identify with Daphne in particular, and Ben's physical and emotional pain was also interesting to read. I'm skeptical that Daphne's nursing could heal Ben's injuries as completely as she seemed to, especially from just reading medical journals, but those are the sort of illogical leaps you tend to accept as part and parcel of romance novels.
Recommended for fans of the romance genre. show less
In order to earn money to save their dying mother, impoverished sisters Annabelle and Daphne Honeycut made sacrifices and choices that might ruin them in the eyes of polite society. Annabelle has since made good, marrying a duke (their story is the first in this series) and expecting their first child. Daphne's "sin," posing for two scandalous portraits, has now come back to haunt her, one having since made its way into the show more possession of Ben, Earl of Foxburn. Having been captivated by the portrait, he recognizes Daphne immediately and, thinking her a fortune hunter, steers his young protege (the younger brother of his best friend, killed in battle) away from her apparent attempts at seduction.
Upon confronting Daphne, however, he learns her true motivation and softens, offering to help her find the second portrait. As they race against time to save Daphne's reputation as an eligible young miss of the ton (brought about by her sister's favorable marriage), Ben, battling the physical and emotional scars of a war injury, also battles against deepening feelings for Daphne.
As far as romance novels go, I enjoyed Once She Was Tempted. Ben and Daphne are quite well-rounded characters, complex and imperfect. I could identify with Daphne in particular, and Ben's physical and emotional pain was also interesting to read. I'm skeptical that Daphne's nursing could heal Ben's injuries as completely as she seemed to, especially from just reading medical journals, but those are the sort of illogical leaps you tend to accept as part and parcel of romance novels.
Recommended for fans of the romance genre. show less
For some odd reason I’ve had all of Anne Barton’s books but I’ve never read them. They’ve gotten lost in my never-ending Kindle TBR, but this book had made me realize that I’ve missed on a slew of great characters, and that’s just not right. I am now determined to read them all in order and my reviews will be coming up shortly.
Here’s the thing I loved most about this story. It’s the social stations in life that were the obstacle these two needed to overcome and for the life show more of me I just didn’t know if that was possible, especially because there were so many other adversities they faced.
The second thing I adored was the chemistry these two characters had. It was oozing off the pages and I actually missed them where they weren’t together.
The third thing I loved were all the secondary characters showing up, which obviously had their own stories in the previous books, and every one of them was there with a purpose [least of all reminding me on what I’ve missed by not reading their happily ever after].
If you’ve missed on this author, as I have, please get on this series. Trust me. You will fall in love with the world she creates and stories she tells.
Melanie for b2b
Complimentary copy provided by the publisher show less
Here’s the thing I loved most about this story. It’s the social stations in life that were the obstacle these two needed to overcome and for the life show more of me I just didn’t know if that was possible, especially because there were so many other adversities they faced.
The second thing I adored was the chemistry these two characters had. It was oozing off the pages and I actually missed them where they weren’t together.
The third thing I loved were all the secondary characters showing up, which obviously had their own stories in the previous books, and every one of them was there with a purpose [least of all reminding me on what I’ve missed by not reading their happily ever after].
If you’ve missed on this author, as I have, please get on this series. Trust me. You will fall in love with the world she creates and stories she tells.
Melanie for b2b
Complimentary copy provided by the publisher show less
Okay, this was a First Reads win (thanks) and it was something of a cotton candy sort of book: sweet, fluffy, and quickly gone.
This is apparently Anne Barton's first novel, and she does have a capable way with words and characters within the narrow and expected confines of the genre in which the poor servant/governess/struggling young woman (or in this case, seamstress) encounters Prince Charming (or Owen, duke of Huntford). She is valiant, plucky, innocent but passionate, etc. There are show more secret nubs of pleasure and manly rods (the erotic scenes are tame, no need to take out your fans, miladies and gents). Although our heroine is a seamstress there is not much detailed description of the gowns and suits and such, contrary to the general Regency tradition in which writers seem to sit with a vocabulary list to chatter on about flocked dimity and whatnot. Also not much detail of the food, another regency tradition. But the plot moves swiftly, the good characters are good and the villains are very bad and there is of course a happy ending.
It was well written enough to keep me up reading straight through, because, despite myself I did care about this mass of characters, and there is a sort of mystery imbedded in the plot (why has Lady Rose ceased speaking?).
It looks as if Barton intends a series with the Honeycote women (sister Daphne gets the sequel). And I will look for her books. show less
This is apparently Anne Barton's first novel, and she does have a capable way with words and characters within the narrow and expected confines of the genre in which the poor servant/governess/struggling young woman (or in this case, seamstress) encounters Prince Charming (or Owen, duke of Huntford). She is valiant, plucky, innocent but passionate, etc. There are show more secret nubs of pleasure and manly rods (the erotic scenes are tame, no need to take out your fans, miladies and gents). Although our heroine is a seamstress there is not much detailed description of the gowns and suits and such, contrary to the general Regency tradition in which writers seem to sit with a vocabulary list to chatter on about flocked dimity and whatnot. Also not much detail of the food, another regency tradition. But the plot moves swiftly, the good characters are good and the villains are very bad and there is of course a happy ending.
It was well written enough to keep me up reading straight through, because, despite myself I did care about this mass of characters, and there is a sort of mystery imbedded in the plot (why has Lady Rose ceased speaking?).
It looks as if Barton intends a series with the Honeycote women (sister Daphne gets the sequel). And I will look for her books. show less
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