Book Review: Until You


Title: Until You (Westmoreland Series Book 3)
Author: Judith McNaught

Synopsis:

A teacher in a school for wealthy young ladies, Sheridan, Bromleigh is hired to accompany one of her students, heiress Charise Lancaster, to England to meet her fiancé. When her charge elopes with a stranger, Sheridan wonders how she will ever explain it to Charise's intended, Lord Burleton.

Standing on the pier, Stephen Westmoreland, the Earl of Langford, assumes the young woman coming toward him is Charise Lancaster -- and informs her of his inadvertent role in a fatal accident involving Lord Burleton the night before. And just as Sheridan is about to speak, she steps into the path of a cargo net loaded with crates!

Sheridan awakens in Westmoreland's mansion with no memory of who she is; the only hint of her past is the puzzling fact that everyone calls her Miss Lancaster. All she truly knows is that she is falling in love with a handsome English earl, and that the life unfolding before her seems full of wondrous possibilities...

Thoughts on the Book:

STEPHEN DAVID ELLIOTT WESTMORELAND. Earl of Westmoreland, Earl of Langford, Baron of Ellingwood, Fifth Viscount Hargrove, Viscount Ashbourne. With so many title associated with his name, you'll probably know how many ladies, wishing to marry a man with a title, have thrown their selves at him. I've had a glimpse of him before because he also appeared in Whitney, My Love. In case you don't know, Stephen is Clayton's younger brother. I remembered him as a happy-go-lucky guy who seems so at ease in the company of women. When I started reading this book, I can't believe they're the same person because his personality terribly changed. He's so different from the Stephen I knew. Aside from that, Stephen is also an architect and has built many palatial houses. One of which is Montclair, where Sheridan was to become the mistress.

SHERIDAN  BROMLEIGH. Before she became a governess and a teacher, she was once a nomad together with her father. They traveled into some countries and in exchange for a place to stay for a night or two, her father would offer to work for them. But when they visited her aunt, she was forced to stay with her to learn the rightful manners of a proper lady. I like Sheridan because she doesn't have any pretensions. She loves challenges and she's like one of the guys. She doesn't care about what she look like. She's independent and takes cares of her father. She also knows how to interact around people of different cultures and colors. She may not be prim and proper when her aunt met her, but I'm certain that all her positive inner attributes, she learned it during their years of travelling. After she became a teacher, her only past time was reading romance novels. Her aunt doesn't favor this hobby, so she reads them in the dark.

THE EVENTS THAT HAS DRAWN THEM TOGETHER. Stephen led his carriage pulled by horses, which are untrained, into the town. Coincidentally a drunk Lord Burleton came out rushing towards the street unaware of the incoming carriage. This mere coincidence resulted to an accident as Stephen's carriage bumped Burleton causing his untimely and unfortunate death. Feeling guilty about the accident, he came to Burleton's house. His footman, Hodgkin, later informed him that he was supposed to wed a certain Lady Charisse Lancaster the next day. He decided to fetch his fiancee and thought it best to personally deliver that bad news about her fiancee's unfortunate accident. Little did he know that Charisse Lancaster eloped with someone else. So her governess decided to meet Lady Lancaster's fiancee and tell him the truth. However, after Stephen told her the truth, Sheridan was hit in the head and when she woke up, she couldn't remember anything.

AMNESIA. (from Greek Ἀμνησία) is a condition in which one's memory is lost. The causes of amnesia have traditionally been divided into certain categories. Memory appears to be stored in several parts of the limbic system of the brain, and any condition that interferes with the function of this system can cause amnesia. So this is the most exciting part because she doesn't have any recollection of her past. She doesn't have to base her actions and emotions from the lessons her aunt taught him.

CLAYTON & WHITNEY. I'm just glad that they were still included in this book. I just love this couple. They're so sweet and they're a sight to behold. Who could have known that a bad-ass duke could reform and fall hard for a woman?

NICHOLAS DUVILLE. I like this guy. I hope McNaught will also right a full-length novel about him. I hope he'll find his true love. Women find him irresistible and I wonder what would it take for him to fall in love too. He played an important role in this book because it made the love between Stephen and Sheridan lovelier the second time around. I loved it when he acted as an emissary for Stephen. I found his alibi amusing. 

CHARITY THORNTON. This old lady is so funny. She may be old but she can be useful when needed. She was the one who provoked Stephen to go and have a talk with Nicholas. She's so adorable.

Most of the other characters in this book were also present in Whitney, My Love. McNaught included some of the dukes who have starred in some of her books like Ian Thornton and Jason Fielding. I just wished the issue with Helene Davernay was explained clearly. It was as if she was suddenly excluded from the book without explanation. Plus the issue with Sheridan's family. I thought they won't be included anymore. I wished they were given more exposure especially Rafe. Overall, the book is worth my time. I enjoyed it but I's still prefer Whitney, My Love. :)

Quotes from the Book
Stephen: Look at me. I have several reasons for asking you to walk into that chapel, where there is a vicar waiting for us, but guilt is not among them. I also have several things to ask of you before you agree to go in there with me.
Sheridan: What sort of things?
Stephen: I would like you to give me daughters with your hair and spirit. I would like my sons to have your eyes and your courage. Now, if that's not what you want, then give me any combination you like, and I will humbly thank you for giving me any child we make. I want to change your name so there's no doubt who you are ever again, or who you belong to. I want the right to share your bed tonight and every night from this day onward. I want to make you moan in my arms again, and I want to wake up wrapped in yours. Last of all I want to hear you say I love you everyday of my life. If you aren't ready to agree to that last request right now, I would be willing to wait until tonight, when I believe you will. In return for those concessions, I will grant you every wish that is within my power to grant you.  
Rating: 5/5

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