Member Reviews
I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is book 1 in what happen's in the ballroom series. We have Elsinore the youngest of six children who is chafing with all the rules. At the beginning I have to say I wasn't a fan of her. She just came across as an annoying child. She did grow on me towards the end. Now, Quinn, got on my nerves as well. He is a man with a ton of secrets and those secrets caused a ton of problems. How, they manage to make their marriage work is a mystery but overall a good story just not a fan of the characters at times.
I so enjoyed this book! The author took us on quite a romp! A story full of great characters, a wild, strong and adventurous heroine, a hero who needs to believe in love again and some mystery and excitement made this a book that was so hard to put down! This one is a sure winner! Thoroughly engrossed in the story from start to finish, this story was very well-written with a nice twist in it. Well done!
When Elsinore Cosgrove escapes a ballroom in search of adventure, she has no idea it will lead to a hasty marriage. The youngest daughter of a duke, all she wants is to make her own choices. Now she's engaged to an infuriating, handsome Scottish baron who doesn't even know her name! Using all her feminine wiles, along with advice gleaned from a training guide for hunting hounds, Elsinore is determined to mold her baron into the husband she wants.
This was a really fun story. I really liked the main characters. The story flowed well and I read through it pretty quickly. I look forward to reading more from this author. I recommend.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book
A cute regency romance with a spunky, independent heroine and a tortured hero with a dark secret. They marry because of an inadvertent improper contact. It’s set at first in Britain, but quickly moves to Scotland.
This was my first time Diana Lloyd and I thoroughly enjoyed the story. A historical romance with fantastic chemistry between Quin and Elsinore, plenty of humor, crazy antics and a little bit of mystery to make this a fun, well-balanced story.
How to Train Your Baron is a cute story that had a current of utter sadness running through it. Elsinore leaves ball to follow a man who she believes is Lord Byron. But she loses him and ends up needing a rescue from Quin. This rescue results in a hasty engagement and hasty marriage.
Quin resigned himself to marrying Elsinore to avoid any more scandal attached to his name or family. But he doesn't want a real marriage, maybe Elsinore will give him a child and then she can live her life how she pleases.
Quin has been hurt, but he isn't very kind to Elsinore who for her part decides to bring him around to her idea of marriage through advice from a hound training book.
This was a nice story, there was definite chemistry between Quin and Elsinore along with funny parts and passion. It was a bit unmemorable. I wanted Quin to be a better man for Elsinore's sake but he didn't seem interested. The plot was set up to be angsty but to me it missed the mark a bit.
I am all about historical romance and this book is one of its finest. It was funny and steamy and everything you want in a hot summer read.
I really enjoyed this book. Quin and Elsinore were really good together. The story line was a good combination of suspense and them figuring out that they were good for each other.
I love a good redemption story and How To Train Your Baron is definitely that. Elsinore Cosgrove is the quirky heroine with a penchant for finding herself in troublesome spots. In one of these irksome situations is where she meets the hero Quin Graham, a man with secrets and a painful past. These two find themselves in an compromising predicament that leads to Quin asking for Elsinore's hand in marriage. Actually, it was more like forced into it by her father the Duke but Quin agreed and the two wed very soon after meeting. Then, Elsinore is whisked off to Quinn's estate in the Highlands of Scotland where mayhem and mystery abounded.
Elsinore is the youngest of six daughters born to a duke and she has always felt the odd man out in her family. They treat her like a child and talk down to her in a condescending way that just gets old after a while. This is why she is excited at the prospect of marrying Quinn. However, she comes to the realization that Quinn is not like the typical London aristocrats such as her favorite, Lord Byron. So, she picks up a handy little manual on how to train one's dog...
Quinn is a baron with a haunting past. His former marriage was not for love and his wife came to so despise him for his family's aid to England in the war, that she grew to hate him and ended up poisoning not only herself, but their infant son as well. Quinn cannot get past the guilt he feels for not saving his son and he does not believe that Elsinore will be safe in the Highlands as she is an English lady. So he tries to keep himself distant from his new wife, saying he will get an heir out of her then send her off to be kept elsewhere. Yet, he didn't count on falling in love with his new wife and all her cleverness and cute absurdities...
These two find themselves in many tense situations and daring rescues are made, while Elsinore and Quinn navigate the treacherous waters of true love and find themselves in each other's arms to stay in the end. I really enjoyed reading this wonderful book. I loved watching these two wary characters fall in love and find each other in the end. The secret revelations and the various dangerous characters made for a perfect mix of romance and suspense. Go grab your own copy of Diana Lloyd's How To Train Your Baron today!
How to Train Your Baron
by Diana Lloyd
BUY BUY BUY BUY BUY
A clever, witty captivating story that shall keep you turning the pages. Laughter and tears at the antics as well as the absolute freshness of the story line itself will keep you entertained. I so adored this book. I laughed and laughed at some of the antics of the heroine. I just so enjoyed her! I liked the hero and the total differences in each situation they went through. I can only say this book was a totally unexpected wonderful gift. I know you will enjoy it as I did, so buy the book , find a place to hide and just enjoy this wonderful book! I was given this arc via NetGalley. All opinions here are my own! Buy and enjoy this absolutely wonderful adorable story. Regards, Anna
How to Train Your Baron is Book 1 of the What Happens in the Ballroom Series by Diana Lloyd. This is an entertaining and lighthearted historical romance that gives readers the sweet romance we crave and the drama we love...all wrapped up in one delightful package. I will be keeping my eye out on future works by Ms. Lloyd.
Please note that an ARC was generously provided in exchange for an honest review of which this is both honest and completely voluntary.
If this a debut novel, I can't wait for the rest to come. This book mixed witty dialogues and hilarious situations with suspence and it got me hooked right from the start,
Our Scottish hero, Quin, is in London for business, looking for a Bow Street Runner to investigate into some secrets and threats that are related to his life in Scotland and the tragedies that hit him over the past year. He finds himself caught in a compromising situation with our heroine, Elsinore (Hamlet's fortress rings a bell? It should) and despite some deceits on her part, they are married in less than a week and are off to Scotland. Soon Elsinore will have to try and "tame" her groom into a loving husband AND solve the misteries surrounding his previous life that are putting them both in serious danger.
Will love triumph in the end? Of course it will, it's a romance, but it's how you get there that makes the difference between a good book and a disappointment, and this one belongs to the first category.
You know how some stories grab you from the start? You’re drawn into them, find yourself thinking of the characters when you aren’t reading the book, wondering what’s going to happen next, who’s responsible for the mystery of the story, how will you reach the HEA? This is one of those books. This is a new author for me, but I will continue to read the author. Greatly enjoyed the story, the humor and the passion of the couple. I received a free arc in exchange for an honest review.
What fun!!
Elsinore - She is one of those characters you can't help but love. She is a bit immature and definitely in need of a time-out, at times I can not help but question how she survives day to day. Being the youngest in the family gives her an acceptable innocence that seems to lend to her ability to find trouble in the most neutral of situations.
Quinn - I both loved and loathed his character. He is desperately looking for answers to a problem that has darkened the hallowed halls of his home. He is weary to trust but understands and acknowledges that duty will always come first. He will meet his societal obligations, clear his name and ensure that his royal house has an heir. He will NOT fall in love, he will never be duped again.
Between the two of them, this story is ripe with humor and mishap - suspense and romance. If there is a possibility of trouble befalling them, Elsinore will ensure they find it.
I made it to 52% and just couldn't finish this one. The heroine was just too immature for me. After her 5th or 6th rebellion, which was another obvious poor decision, I had to hang it up. I don’t enjoy characters who are silly and stupid all because they insist on making their own choices, despite their lack of wisdom and experience. After the fact, this heroine does seem to realize that she’s been foolish. Unfortunately, those countless instances didn't seem to curtail future childishness or impulsivity.
If you think willful, silly girls are funny or entertaining, you'll like this one. Otherwise, I recommend giving it a pass.
I received an ARC of this book, via Net Galley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.
This is a new author for me and I am quite impressed, this story has it all, adventure, humour, suspense, a curious heroine and a deluded hero.
Fabulous
I received a copy from Netgalley and I am voluntarily leaving my own honest opinion
This was certainly a delightful read! It was such a fun story that once I started it I didn't want to put it down. This book had one of the best first meetings of the hero and heroine ever. Quin discovers Elsinore with her hand trapped in a very real tabletop guillotine. Yes, you read that right. He tries to release her and a total farce ensues, requiring the two to wed. There I sat, reading and wearing a silly grin. The humor was throughout the entire book.
However, there was also some mystery and heartbreak (both past and current). Quin lost all his family, and there were very serious rumors as to Quin's connection with those tragedies. He received many notes with threats in them. He wanted to protect Elsinore from danger, so he tried to push her away. Except she pushed back.....using a dog training book and what appears to be the Kama Sutra to guide her. (Our Elsinore is certainly an unusual heroine, prone to causing trouble.) You'll root for these two to have a happy ending, as iffy as that seems to be. I certainly look forward to the next book in this series!
I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
Elsinore Cosgrove is sick of her family treating her like a child. However, when she sets out on her own during a night out, she never imagined leaving the ballroom would lead to her becoming engaged. Will Elsinore find a way to be free of her betrothal or will getting married be the end of her chance to have the kind of adventures she wants in her life?
What an enthralling, fast-paced, splendid read Ms. Lloyd has delivered in this first book of her What Happens in the Ballroom series where I loved everything about it from the heroine's need for adventure and the sticky situation she finds herself in at the beginning with the hero because she needs his help to the heroine's determination to show the hero that they wouldn't be a good match to the heroine's determination to challenge her husband and show him that she's not going to be the compliant woman he wants.
The way this story started drew me in immediately and had me loving the main characters, as I could understand the heroine's need for adventure with the way her family treats her. Moreover, the heroine is resilient, courageous, feisty, stubborn and I liked how much of a challenge she provided the hero because she's a grown woman that can make her own decisions instead of someone continuing to dictate what she can and can't do. Will the heroine get her way more times than not? While the hero, he's been through hard times and it's understandable why he is the way he is. No way will he allow anyone to deceive him again and take away the ones that matter. I also liked the hero's confidence; and his determination to protect the heroine, even if it means protecting her from him. Will the hero be able to keep the heroine safe from his past?
Overall, Ms. Lloyd has delivered a fantastic Historical Romance in this book where the emotionally-charged back story of the hero had me reading quickly, determined to discover more about him; the chemistry between this couple was intense; the romance was delightful and had me loving these two together, especially with the tricks they play on each other; and the ending had me on the edge-of-my-seat because of the danger these two face, but had me loving how things work out for the best for the pair. However, it was the epilogue that wrapped this story up nicely, as the hero and heroine are so happy together and have so much to look forward to. I would recommend How to Train Your Baron by Diane Lloyd, if you enjoy Historical Romance, the opposites attract trope or books by authors Eve Pendle, Jess Michaels, Lily Maxton and Scarlet Peckham.
I'm not a Regency romance reader so I don't know why I pushed for this book to be on my reading list.
Don't get me wrong though, the book was really good but just not my cup of tea.
Diana Lloyd is a new author to me. What called me was the blurb and the cover of this book. I'm not upset that I read it but I think I could have enjoyed it more.
Elsinore started as a fun, witty character and became a childish woman for me. I don't know how to express how ridiculous her behavior was at certain points. It was funny but, at the same time, it rubbed me wrong.
Quinn was more of a darker character but he also felt a little lacking. In comparison to Elsinore, he was better flushed as the main character, in my opinion.
The writing was well done and the humor with suspense and romance was a good touch from the author. I think Diana Lloyd has potential and can become an amazing regency romance author with time. I'll keep my eyes open for her, even though I don't love this sub-genre of romance so much.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book provided by Netgalley. The opinions expressed are my own.
How to Train Your Baron by Diana Lloyd is the First book in the What Happens in the Ballroom Series. This is the story of Elsinore Cosgrove and Quin Graham.
Elsinore is the youngest in her family and is treated as such...but Elsinore has a curious nature which leads her into trouble. Quin happens to save her but also ends up having to marry her...a women who he didn't even know her name. But Quin is in town on a serious matter that doesn't give him time for a wife much less one he can care about.
This was actually a funny story but also one with some adventures in it.
Loved their story.