The Conquest of Lady Cassandra (Fairbourne Quartet) Mass Market Paperback – February 26, 2013

A pleasant story with a marriage of convenience which by end turns into love. The reason for only 3 stars is that Cassandra and Yates have little passion and chemistry. They really do connect by the end but an earlier connection would have been nice

As a devoted Madeline Hunter reader I have yet to be disappointed in her stories. In Conquest of Lady Cassandra you find a heroine who has made decision on her life with difficult consequences. But she has no regrets and at no time in the story does Hunter muddy her character with senseless remorse. Cassandra is a strong character but a woman of deep passion and compassion. She is a loyal friend to Emma and Lydia and unquestionably loyal to her Aunt Sophie.Yates, Lord Amsbury, a close friend of Southwaite the husband of Emma, was introduced as Cassandra was in the last book. His character is of a man with deep loyalties to his friends and a love for his parents despite past conflicts. As his father slowly dies Yates returns to learn his duties as the Earl but to also solve the mystery of stolen/lost earrings. This is what leads him to Cassandra and is one of the themes of the story.These two characters have history and a strong attraction. Hunter doesn't just make this a simple love story but a journey in trust, honesty and friendship. Both are fiercely committed to present and past friends. But each have the ability to not blindly and irrationally cling to assumptions. In the end as they are able to let down their walls a true and real relationship is founded.Hunter never makes any of her character anything but real. I read this story knowing that there would be no tricks. There are surprises and I discovered that what I thought would happen didn't but the plot flowed evenly.Throughout the book there are previews of who will be prominent in the next books. Penhurst and Lydia, Renfeld and maybe Marielle. I like that. The next book can't come out soon enough for me. A wonderful series.

Not love at first sight, but something much better. This is the story of two people whose lives become intertwined almost against their will.Ms. Hunter brings them together in a story and a mystery that keeps you guessing to the end, and perhaps beyond.You will fall in love with both Yates and Cassandra. They belong together, the reader knows it... they however take a much longer time to figure it out. Fortunately it is a wonderful ride all the way to the end.Ms. Hunter never fails to entertain, and you always end the story with a sigh, one that says, how wonderful, but I am sorry it is over.In case you are wondering the erotic scenes are there, and just as well written.One little warning, and it may just be me. Ms. Hunter has her own style of writing, and sometimes when I began reading I am a little confused as to who is talking. However, it always falls into place and I am once again lost in the story by this great author.It is a don't miss read if you love historical romance.

If you are looking for a 'pretty' book then this one isn't for you and if you want a typical virginal h then the same is true again. If you are looking for a well written, intriguing book with a little romance, slowly developed, then you'll enjoy this story. The other reviewers have summarised the book well so all I'll say is that I felt a little sad at times for what might have been for the h. It seems a pity that she made the choices she did and that she suffered for them. Anyway I was gripped and couldn't put the book down from start to finish, with the exception of 2 toilet breaks:) The H grew on me, he wasn't my favourite at the beginning and I didn't like that he didn't trust or believe the h until the very end. His music making melted my heart though. A good book and I look forward to the next one. I hope there's going to be a story about the Duke as he intrigued me.

Madeline Hunter doesn't always write fast enough to keep me satisfied, but I haven't found a single author that is able to do that, I still read faster than they can write the book. This author has, however, pleased me for more years than either one of us would really care to admit. Lady Cassandra is another on my kindle and the author is making amazon a happy place to be. Enough reviewer tell the tale, I just can't write as good as this author so I simply recommend you try her and find out. Thank you Madeline Hunter you will note I will be looking for your next new book and rereading your backlist which I have stashed around the place, Kindled, Microsoft Readered, and Paperback I kept an old laptop of mine because it has you loaded on a reading program that I can't change to my new laptop or Kindle. I may have to stack up laptops like Paperbacks, but I won't lose your books easily gonna want to reread them.

I enjoyed reading this novel. It's different from all the usual regency romances that are cookie cutter. I would recommend if your looking for something different in regency romance.

Of the four books in this quartet, this one has the most interesting plot twists. Madeline Hunter does is an expert at creating an ever-deepening mystery from a pair of earrings that somehow find their way from dangling from the ears of a Countess in an old painting to a dispute at an auction house. Unravelling the mystery brings long lost loves and buried secrets so dangerously close to revelation, that one character will do almost anything to keep them buried. A good read any time of year, this is a special treat for your summer vacation retreat.

I love Madeline Hunter for her rich and witty dialogue. The book is well done and has an interested and unique plot. However, I felt the two characters lacked a lot of chemistry compared with other books from the same author. I found that the book fell a little flat in the middle and almost to the end. A few twists at the end raised my opinions a bit. I think I liked the supporting characters as much, if not more than the main characters and might be enticed to read the second installment.

I've had this on my Kindle for a while. I'd forgotten how much I enjoy Ms Hunters writing. The characters are well drawn,the dialogue intelligent and the story with some unexpected twists was wonderful .

I enjoyed this book in so many ways. The story contains some mysteries as the romance between Cassandra and Yates develops. Clues to these helped me guess all but one which came as a surprise. The growing love, tenderness and sexual hunger the couple share is well written with wit, humour and directness. The story is set against a wider background of friends and past events that link together the hero and heroine in an initial context of misunderstanding and mistrust. Happily this is overcome and they have their happy ending. A really enjoyable romance on September several levels. I have already bought more books by this author and will be buying more I'm sure. I can recommend this book to those who enjoy Regency romances, a good story and wit and humour in their writing.

I enjoyed this book very much. Rather than just a race to the end, I found the development of Cassandra and Yates' relationship, and the building of the story itself, enthralling. Ms Hunter was previously an author I enjoyed but had slipped off my radar. I will keep an eye out again.

interesting book. it reminded me of how essential it is to like both the main characters. I'm afraid I couldn't warm to Cassandra at all.even so it was well written and enjoyable not as good as the first in the series though . I will still buy the next one.

This is another I have gone back to a few times,