[.ca] No Ordinary Groom (ISBN 0060543949)

engaging Victorian romance:
In 1844 her dad informs that he secretly arranged for her to marry William Chadwick. Jane is upset because not only did he go behind her back, she does not want to wed anyone especially shallow William. Worse she wonders if her father sold her to keep a major customer satisfied as William buys commodities from her dad's estate. Actually William hides five years of living dangerous by working for her father overseas behind his "Lord" façade. He finds himself attracted to Jane and wants her to feel the same way. However, he pretends to be a nineteenth century foppish nerd because he fears to show her or anyone the real William; she and the Ton might find him lacking. Jane is falling love with the real William that she has seen too few glimpses of escaping from his mask. This is an engaging Victorian romance that will please fans of the sub-genre due to the delightful cast. The story line moves quickly forward as William goes out of his way to hide his real persona from Jane, who has conquered his heart, for fear of rejection. However, she knows he is NO ORDINARY GROOM, but wonders why he is hiding from her. Their relationship makes Gayle Callen's tale a fine reading experience. Harriet Klausner

Was a good read!!:
This was my first, Gayle Callen book, and with this book, I will be on the look out, for all her books. In addition, buy her older writings. I will definitely buy the next book, about Nick and Charlotte, this fall. For some reason, I see the next book being five stars. This book, No Ordinary Groom, was very romantic, very sweet, and I like how the pages are not full of raw sex, and has a story to read. The sex was not so over bearing..That you need to skip pages, which is what I usually do if a book goes on and on about it. A salute to you Ms Gayle Callen, will done.

Thoroughly enjoyable:
Callen's newest work is enchanting. Jane is a reluctant fiance who keeps looking for ways to convince her father to end her betrothal to a fop. But William isn't what he seems; in fact, he's not quite sure who he is or who he wants to be...he's been a spy, putting on other personalities, for far too long. Even though Jane turns out not to be what he thought he wanted in a wife, she's exactly right for him. William's "Lord" routine is amusing as are Jane's exasperated responses. But as he reveals his true self in small ways, Jane becomes intrigued. Danger from a traitor adds to the tension and serves to draw them together. Both people learn about themselves and how they unthinkingly try to force the other into a certain mold. They learn, they grow. A delightful read.

Am I supposed to LIKE these people?:
I really wanted to like this book. I love the whole 'Scarlet Pimpernel' story, and thought it was a great plot device. But these characters are all over the board. First of all, I wish authors would get past the junior high idea of love - you know, if you really like someone, insult them, or make them angry, or pretend you can't stand them. I know it's harder to write books where the tension is intelligent, but that's what I spend my money for - characters who make you fall in love with them and who make you understand why they fall in love with each other. I do not buy books to read about young women who I am 'told' are intelligent, but who act like idiots, or men who enjoy irritating the woman they care about. It's possible I'm being somewhat unfair to this book, because I could only make it to page 176 before I skipped to the ending and then threw it down it disgust, but I've been reading romances for a long time, and I'm getting tired of some of the best authors turning in sloppy efforts they figure will sell just because their previous works have been so good.

4+ for the latest from Callen:
As usual Gayle Callen has written a fabulous romantic story. In this one (it is my guess the start of another trilogy, I hope) you meet Jane who has just been betrothed to a man she doesn't know by her father, whom she hasn't seen in 2 years. Not only that but the man is a "fop" how could her father do this to her. She meets with him and even agrees to go see her father with him, mostly to get ammunition to keep from marrying him. But, along the way she learns that what she wants might just be better with 2. I thoroughly loved this story especially "Killer"