Helpful Score: 6
I had been waiting for the final book in this series since Camp piqued my interest with the chemistry between Lady Francesca and Rochford in the Marriage Wager (book 1). I was not disappointed. I think this is my favorite book of the four. And I don't think you need to read the other 3 books to understand the 4th, however the couples from the previous stories do make an appearance.
Thoroughly enjoyed it and read it within a day of purchase. I was glued to the pages.
Thoroughly enjoyed it and read it within a day of purchase. I was glued to the pages.
Helpful Score: 4
I have been waiting for this book for a long time. I was eager to read about Francesca and the Duke of Rockford. Camp did not disappoint me as authors tend to do with much-awaited books. The plot moves along very nicely. There are a few editorial mistakes but if you can get pass that, you will have a good time with this book.
I stayed up late and finished this book in one night. Could not put it down.
I stayed up late and finished this book in one night. Could not put it down.
Joan W. (justreadingabook) reviewed The Courtship Dance (Matchmakers, Bk 4) on + 1726 more book reviews
Loved it, great ending to the series. Gotta love the tension, intrique and steamy scenes. Wonderful book. A great read.
I loved, loved, loved this book so much. I could not put it down. I was so sad that it had to end. :( I felt the series as a whole was ok, that it was entertaining but not a keeper. In the past books I would relish every scene that Rochford and Francesca were together. They held my attention way more then the main characters of the other books. The love between the both of them was so believable and sweet. The only negative things I have to say is that I wish they would have been together more sooner. I would just wait on pins and needles for them to interact with eachother. Also, I would have liked to have had more narration from Rochford. Otherwise I give the book 5 stars! It will definetly be a keeper and well worth the wait!
Books like this one are the reason I keep returning to historical romances. Nothing unique or surprising, but a good solid romance with characters that you care about. I even cried a few tears at the end. This is the last of a series of four books. It could be read as a stand alone, but if you read the other books first, you are really eager to see this couple get their HEA.
Lady Francesca Haughston has had to help the ladies/gentlemen of the ton find their husbands/wives just to make ends meet since her husband has died and left her in debt. One person that she truly wants to help is Sinclair, Duke of Rochford to make up for breaking of their engagement when she was very young. Her and Sinclair have always remained friends but deep down she is still in love with him. The chemistry between the two is off the charts! Sinclair gives in and agrees to the plan (but only because he is going to propose to her). Her late husband's friend Galen Perkins comes back and tells Francesca that he actually owns her house and if she wanted to keep it, she needs to come up with the money to pay him off. Francesca starts to sell everything she can but still can't come up with the money. Her only hope is Sinclair!
Francesca is such a strong independent woman (my favorite heroine type). She has done everything she can to get by without help of others and not showing her stress. But she also knows when things are way over her head that she needs to ask for help.
Sinclair is the dashing hero who sweeps in to help. He is everything a knight in shining armor should be. He has always loved Francesca and until she confessed why she broke off the engagement he thought there was no way that she loved him.
Galen Perkins is the slimy foe who has come back after being exiled after he killed a man. He was Francesca's late husband's gambling buddy and he supposedly has a note that says her husband signed over the house to pay a gambling debt he owed to him. Really all he wants is for her to be his mistress so when his plan is foiled by Sinclair, he decides to kidnap Francesca.
Great story, loved the interaction between all the characters. Would recommend this to anyone that enjoys the historical romance genre...:)
Francesca is such a strong independent woman (my favorite heroine type). She has done everything she can to get by without help of others and not showing her stress. But she also knows when things are way over her head that she needs to ask for help.
Sinclair is the dashing hero who sweeps in to help. He is everything a knight in shining armor should be. He has always loved Francesca and until she confessed why she broke off the engagement he thought there was no way that she loved him.
Galen Perkins is the slimy foe who has come back after being exiled after he killed a man. He was Francesca's late husband's gambling buddy and he supposedly has a note that says her husband signed over the house to pay a gambling debt he owed to him. Really all he wants is for her to be his mistress so when his plan is foiled by Sinclair, he decides to kidnap Francesca.
Great story, loved the interaction between all the characters. Would recommend this to anyone that enjoys the historical romance genre...:)
this is the story of Francesca that seems to finish the current series. It is very satisfying! I enjoyed all the books so far and will keep watching for CC's new works.
It's the first time I've read a book by Candace Camp. I loved this story because it was a different twist from other romance books I've read. Once I started reading it, I couldn't out it down until the very end. I will definitely look for other books written by her.
Kimberly D. (WickedWitchWB) - , reviewed The Courtship Dance (Matchmakers, Bk 4) on + 4 more book reviews
I've always enjoyed CC's work. This was the like having the best piece of cake at the end of an excellent meal. This is the 4th of a quartet of very well written---characters, dialogue, romance/comedy/some intrigue. Emotional, yet not maudlin....This was my favorite of the 4, but truly I do recommend reading all 4 in this series--in order if possible, only so you can really enjoy how things wrap up in this last book.
Candace Camp is a great Regency romance novelist. her plots are well-planned and her characters well developed. I like the way the three novels in this Matchmaker series tie together.
Shelley F. (shelleysalibi) reviewed The Courtship Dance (Matchmakers, Bk 4) on + 280 more book reviews
From the back cover...
Lady Francesca Haughston had given up on romance for herself, finding passion instead in making desirable matches for others. So it seemed only fair, when she learned she had been deceived into breaking her own long-ago engagement to Sinclair, Duke of Rochford, that she now help him find the perfect wife.
Of course, Francesca was certain any spark of passion between them had long since died-her own treatment of him had seen to that. The way Sinclair gazed at her or swept her suddenly into his arms...well, that was merely practice for when a younger, more suitable woman caught his eye. But soon Francesca found his lessons in love scandalously irresistible-and a temptation that could endanger them both.
Lady Francesca Haughston had given up on romance for herself, finding passion instead in making desirable matches for others. So it seemed only fair, when she learned she had been deceived into breaking her own long-ago engagement to Sinclair, Duke of Rochford, that she now help him find the perfect wife.
Of course, Francesca was certain any spark of passion between them had long since died-her own treatment of him had seen to that. The way Sinclair gazed at her or swept her suddenly into his arms...well, that was merely practice for when a younger, more suitable woman caught his eye. But soon Francesca found his lessons in love scandalously irresistible-and a temptation that could endanger them both.
Loved this book! I could not wait to read it and once I started I couldn't put it down!
I loved this series, definetly worth reading.
