Published: June 28, 2011
Words: 70,325 (approximate)
Language: English
ISBN: 9780983496793

Short description

Charles Tyrone is happily building a bridge in Scotland when a family emergency catapults him to acting head of an earldom. Among his new charges is the well-dowered Lady Vanessa Rayne, whom the old earl wants him to marry. But it takes a strong dash of mystery, murder, and mayhem before either Charles or Vanessa can contemplate the other with anything but horror.

Extended description

All Major Charles Tyrone wants to do is forget his soldiering days and concentrate on making a success of his new engineering company. But Fate has other plans. Although an obscure third in line as heir to the Earl of Wyverne, Charles is suddenly catapulted to head of the family when the old earl suffers a stroke, the heir is killed, and Julian, the heir's only son, is in a coma from a curricle-racing accident.

As if that weren't enough, the major is confronted by Lady Vanessa Rayne, a ward of the old earl, who has been managing very well without the major's help, thank you very much. Animosity between Charles and Vanessa is further exacerbated by the earl's dictate that they shall marry.

The efforts to restore Julian to health are considerably hampered by a plethora of relatives, two of whom follow Charles in line of succession. Mr. Ambrose Tyrone is the local vicar; his mother, a woman accustomed to ruling the roose. Mr. Godfrey Tyron, a London dandy, arrives at Wyverne Abbe.. (Read more) All Major Charles Tyrone wants to do is forget his soldiering days and concentrate on making a success of his new engineering company. But Fate has other plans. Although an obscure third in line as heir to the Earl of Wyverne, Charles is suddenly catapulted to head of the family when the old earl suffers a stroke, the heir is killed, and Julian, the heir's only son, is in a coma from a curricle-racing accident.

As if that weren't enough, the major is confronted by Lady Vanessa Rayne, a ward of the old earl, who has been managing very well without the major's help, thank you very much. Animosity between Charles and Vanessa is further exacerbated by the earl's dictate that they shall marry.

The efforts to restore Julian to health are considerably hampered by a plethora of relatives, two of whom follow Charles in line of succession. Mr. Ambrose Tyrone is the local vicar; his mother, a woman accustomed to ruling the roose. Mr. Godfrey Tyron, a London dandy, arrives at Wyverne Abbey with his young sister, fluttery mother, and his mother's latest "friend" in tow. Not exactly welcome visitors in a house with two bed-ridden patients.

When hints of murder and attempted murder begin to rear their ugly heads, Charles calls on the support of some of the soldiers once under his command, but even that isn't enough to keep Julian, Charles, and even Vanessa from harm. Yet in spite of being caught in the midst of murder and mayhem, Charles and Vanessa begin to suspect that it truly is possible for the daughter of a duke and a lowly engineer to fall in love. If they live long enough to enjoy it.

Reviews:

"The very talented Blair Bancroft has added another diamond to the Regency treasure chest with the tightly plotted and delightfully executed The Major Meets His Match."*
Teresa Roebuck, Romantic Times
*now titled The Temporary Earl

"It's a vibrant and fun-filled glimpse into a time long ago, and I highly recommend it to ... any fan of romance. It has all the qualities that we look for, regardless of time period. Don't miss it. It's a keeper."
Celia Merenyi, A Romance Review
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Tags

mystery, regency, regency romance, regency historical, jane austen style

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Reviews

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Review by: cherry coleman on Oct. 02, 2011 :
what writing! murder, mystery, i couldnt do my job for sneeking to peek at my story
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: Elizabeth McCoy on Aug. 26, 2011 :
This is a combination murder mystery and romance. The characters are really quite entertaining, overall, and for the most part, the off-again-on-again emotional connection of our protagonists feels pretty reasonable. The mystery part doesn't quite follow all the mystery tropes (mystery buffs may be disappointed), from what I know of mystery tropes, but it's being an unexpectedly deep backset to a romance, with romancy tropes -- and those seeking romance tropes should be satisfied, methinks.

I do quibble at the scene where the readers are given the who-dun-it identity; I wish there'd been some other way to get that data across. But it's pretty minor and a personal quibble; I just don't like "spoilers" for mysteries, even when the author's doing the "spoiling"!

My main complaint is the last two chapters, where the emotional half of the situation wraps up in a way that is kind of... syrupy-sweet. I think that Vanessa's personality was shifted to something overly traditional, instead of pleasingly tart. (I liked her attitude, darnit! Why shouldn't a fulfilled romance still have a few prickles amidst the roses?)

Still, that's two chapters out of many, and since I can't do half-stars, I'll err on the side of more, rather than less.
(reviewed long after purchase)

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