Comments on: The Countess Trilogy, “The Countess’s Client (No.1),” Alison Richardson http://avidbookreader.com/2009/12/16/the-countess-trilogy-the-countesss-client-no-1-alison-richardson/ A reader review blog { of genre fiction } Mon, 26 Jul 2010 22:26:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Janine http://avidbookreader.com/2009/12/16/the-countess-trilogy-the-countesss-client-no-1-alison-richardson/#comment-55797 Janine Thu, 17 Dec 2009 04:01:24 +0000 http://avidbookreader.com/?p=7777#comment-55797 @<a href="#comment-55796" rel="nofollow">Wendy</a>: The second and third were both very amusing and good IMO, but I think I liked the third one best because it was more romantic than the other two. @Wendy: The second and third were both very amusing and good IMO, but I think I liked the third one best because it was more romantic than the other two.

]]> By: Wendy http://avidbookreader.com/2009/12/16/the-countess-trilogy-the-countesss-client-no-1-alison-richardson/#comment-55796 Wendy Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:38:10 +0000 http://avidbookreader.com/?p=7777#comment-55796 I agree with Janine - the series definitely gets better as it goes along. The first story was a letdown for me with that ending (which I just couldn't wrap my mind around) - and I felt the second and third stories were "stronger." If I had to pick which one worked the best for me? Probably the second story - An Impolite Seduction. I found the storyline in that one quite amusing (Anna's naive virginal cousin plans to marry a man who is a notorious bore - LOL) I agree with Janine — the series definitely gets better as it goes along. The first story was a letdown for me with that ending (which I just couldn’t wrap my mind around) — and I felt the second and third stories were “stronger.” If I had to pick which one worked the best for me? Probably the second story — An Impolite Seduction. I found the storyline in that one quite amusing (Anna’s naive virginal cousin plans to marry a man who is a notorious bore — LOL)

]]> By: Janine http://avidbookreader.com/2009/12/16/the-countess-trilogy-the-countesss-client-no-1-alison-richardson/#comment-55795 Janine Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:07:36 +0000 http://avidbookreader.com/?p=7777#comment-55795 Keishon, I got the same thing out of the ending that you did. It was definitely a bit over the top and something of a stretch. I was able to suspend disbelief because I saw it as campy. I do agree, though I also think that one of the fun things about these novellas is the way James and Anna both try to gain the upper hand. Keishon, I got the same thing out of the ending that you did. It was definitely a bit over the top and something of a stretch. I was able to suspend disbelief because I saw it as campy. I do agree, though I also think that one of the fun things about these novellas is the way James and Anna both try to gain the upper hand.

]]> By: Avid Reader http://avidbookreader.com/2009/12/16/the-countess-trilogy-the-countesss-client-no-1-alison-richardson/#comment-55794 Avid Reader Wed, 16 Dec 2009 22:34:36 +0000 http://avidbookreader.com/?p=7777#comment-55794 @<a href="#comment-55793" rel="nofollow">Janine</a>: aw, thanks Janine. Appreciate your kind words but they're not necessary. I realize that DA is more into new books and this challenge is really voluntary so no worries. You all along with other readers participated when you could and that's good enough for me. re Richardson, thanks so much for recommending her. I enjoy her voice very much. As for the ending, I thought that it showed James getting the best of her, showing all that she's not as virtuous as she seems but still, her station and status in society went unchallenged...bizarre ending but that's the message I got from it. I plan to read the other two as well. @Janine: aw, thanks Janine. Appreciate your kind words but they’re not necessary. I realize that DA is more into new books and this challenge is really voluntary so no worries. You all along with other readers participated when you could and that’s good enough for me.

re Richardson, thanks so much for recommending her. I enjoy her voice very much. As for the ending, I thought that it showed James getting the best of her, showing all that she’s not as virtuous as she seems but still, her station and status in society went unchallenged…bizarre ending but that’s the message I got from it. I plan to read the other two as well.

]]> By: Janine http://avidbookreader.com/2009/12/16/the-countess-trilogy-the-countesss-client-no-1-alison-richardson/#comment-55793 Janine Wed, 16 Dec 2009 22:07:15 +0000 http://avidbookreader.com/?p=7777#comment-55793 PS Just wanted to add that I'm sorry I didn't last that long with the TBR challenge. I read good books because of it but the thing about reviewing for Dear Author is that it always makes me feel I should keep up with newer books. I'm a slow reader so it's not always easy for me to do that. But I do think the TBR challenge is a great thing. PS Just wanted to add that I’m sorry I didn’t last that long with the TBR challenge. I read good books because of it but the thing about reviewing for Dear Author is that it always makes me feel I should keep up with newer books. I’m a slow reader so it’s not always easy for me to do that. But I do think the TBR challenge is a great thing.

]]> By: Janine http://avidbookreader.com/2009/12/16/the-countess-trilogy-the-countesss-client-no-1-alison-richardson/#comment-55792 Janine Wed, 16 Dec 2009 22:04:22 +0000 http://avidbookreader.com/?p=7777#comment-55792 Excellent review! It really gets across the charm and appeal of Richardson's writing. I'm so glad that you enjoyed this, Keishon! For what it's worth, I liked each story in this trilogy better than the previous one. My grade for "The Countess's Client" was a B, for "An Impolite Seduction" a B+/A- and for "The Birthday Present" an A-. I don't know if you will like the other two as well as I did, but I agree there was an oddness to the last scene in this first novella, and I didn't find anything like that in the later two. I do love Richardson's voice (and I am not usually all that into first person!) and I also really enjoyed Anna's snobbery. It is so refreshing to come across a romance heroine who is almost an anti-heroine. At first I wasn't sure I would like her, but her haughtiness resulted in a lot of humor, so I ended up enjoying her quite a bit. I liked James better in the latter two stories than I did in the first. And I thought the sex became sexier in the later stories, too. I'm not sure if you will feel the same way or not but I hope you do since you bought them on my recommendation. The three stories are best read back to back IMO because they are really like thirds of one longer story. Excellent review! It really gets across the charm and appeal of Richardson’s writing.

I’m so glad that you enjoyed this, Keishon! For what it’s worth, I liked each story in this trilogy better than the previous one. My grade for “The Countess’s Client” was a B, for “An Impolite Seduction” a B+/A– and for “The Birthday Present” an A-.

I don’t know if you will like the other two as well as I did, but I agree there was an oddness to the last scene in this first novella, and I didn’t find anything like that in the later two.

I do love Richardson’s voice (and I am not usually all that into first person!) and I also really enjoyed Anna’s snobbery. It is so refreshing to come across a romance heroine who is almost an anti-heroine. At first I wasn’t sure I would like her, but her haughtiness resulted in a lot of humor, so I ended up enjoying her quite a bit.

I liked James better in the latter two stories than I did in the first. And I thought the sex became sexier in the later stories, too. I’m not sure if you will feel the same way or not but I hope you do since you bought them on my recommendation.

The three stories are best read back to back IMO because they are really like thirds of one longer story.

]]> By: Keishon http://avidbookreader.com/2009/12/16/the-countess-trilogy-the-countesss-client-no-1-alison-richardson/#comment-55791 Keishon Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:20:04 +0000 http://avidbookreader.com/?p=7777#comment-55791 re TBR Challenge, yes, I will be doing another challenge next year! Ho-ray that you're be participating. Also re Richardson, agree, the ending was weird and unconvincing. Didn't know what to say that other than her virtue was not questioned... re TBR Challenge, yes, I will be doing another challenge next year! Ho-ray that you’re be participating. Also re Richardson, agree, the ending was weird and unconvincing. Didn’t know what to say that other than her virtue was not questioned…

]]> By: Wendy http://avidbookreader.com/2009/12/16/the-countess-trilogy-the-countesss-client-no-1-alison-richardson/#comment-55790 Wendy Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:18:47 +0000 http://avidbookreader.com/?p=7777#comment-55790 I've read all three stories - and while I adored Richardson's writing style (loved it!), I had a ton of issues with Anna and James. The ending of this story, in particular, felt really "bizarre" to me. I was rollin' with it up to that point. But, the writing did suck me in - so no doubt I'll read more Richardson titles should they appear on the horizon. She's got a real knack for first person POV and erotica....says me. And will there be a TBR Challenge for 2010? And when ya gonna announce it? Because I'm thinking of throwing my hat in the ring next year :) I’ve read all three stories — and while I adored Richardson’s writing style (loved it!), I had a ton of issues with Anna and James. The ending of this story, in particular, felt really “bizarre” to me. I was rollin’ with it up to that point.

But, the writing did suck me in — so no doubt I’ll read more Richardson titles should they appear on the horizon. She’s got a real knack for first person POV and erotica.…says me.

And will there be a TBR Challenge for 2010? And when ya gonna announce it? Because I’m thinking of throwing my hat in the ring next year :)

]]> By: SarahT http://avidbookreader.com/2009/12/16/the-countess-trilogy-the-countesss-client-no-1-alison-richardson/#comment-55789 SarahT Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:16:49 +0000 http://avidbookreader.com/?p=7777#comment-55789 This sounds interesting. Thanks for the review! This sounds interesting. Thanks for the review!

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