It's been a very long while since I last read a Beverley book and I had forgotten how good she is in making the reader feel entangled in her heroes feelings and heartaches:)The heroine is Damaris Myddleton, a commoner who recently inherited a huge fortune. She decides to use her money to buy herself a titled husband. The book starts where the candidate she's almost betrothed with, the Marquess of Ashart, asks another woman to be his wife. Losing her self control, she manages to become a spectacle in front of everyone and decides to leave Rothgar Abbey the next day. At this point, the Marquess's close friend, Octavius Fitzroger, comes to her rescue. Fitz proposes that they flirt each other in front of everyone, so people would think that she got over Ashart. Damaris accepts and finds that flirting with Fitz comes very easy to her; he is a handsome man after all, even if he's untitled and poor. Fitzroger is a man of many secret talents. He used to act as a bodyguard for important persons during the war, while this facet of his is unknown to the public. He's actually on a mission here in Rothgar Abbey: to protect his friend Ashart, from a possible assasination attempt. He also can't help liking Damaris's spirit and determination though and wants to help her get aquainted with the ton's ways. When Rothgar sends all of them to Ashart's anchestral home to retrieve some important documents, Fitz believes he can combine both tasks while keeping the assasination threat a secret. It seems though that he underestimated Damaris in more than one ways: not only is she quick to realize he's actually guarding Ashart, but his admiration for her seems to become something much more. However a match between them could never be; Damaris wants to marry a titled man which Fitz is not, and besides Fitz is being shunned by the ton and his family because of a major scandal. Even if Damaris wanted to fight for them, he's determined not to let her because he feels himself unworthy of any decent woman. Besides, even if they did want to marry, her guardian, Rothgar, would hardly be likely to give his consent and that would mean they would be left without any money until she comes of age. I can understand how some readers may dislike Damaris, since she was almost ruthless in her pursuits. However, I admired her determination, spirit, honesty and cunning mind. Fitz however, was absolutely magnificent. A true knight in shining armor, looking out fot all the people he cared about while expecting nothing in return. He's made mistakes in the past, but tries desperately to cling to any honor he has still left; it may not matter to others anymore but it means a lot to him. But he was too unbending in the end and needed a strong push to leave some of the burdens of the past behind him, so Damaris was right for him in that way.I really loved this book! It was heavier in suspense and intrigue than I usually like, but that didn't leave the romance at the backstage. On the contrary, the romance was always predominant and I could really feel the attraction between those two become friendship and then love. My heart just ached for those two to get together and I could feel their anguish every step of the way. Lovely, deeply emotional book that was a pleasure to read. I just wish the epilogue was longer and showed some of their married life together. ( )

If you liked Jo Beverley's previous Malloren books, you'll probably like this one. If not, you won't. Seems to me they're getting interchangeable. This one lacks life and originality. ( )

Damaris lived with her mother, as her father dissappeared to the middle east. Her mother was very miserly and they planted their own garden. Damaris was talented with piono, singing and the harp. When her father died, 2 years later Damarisk was informed she was a very wealthy woman. Her mother died and she was left in the care of an uncle. In her search for a husband. She was attracted to Fritz, a penniless man with no prospects.
I held my breath a few times and loved the sweet romance without full blown sexual descrition. ( )

It's always a treat when I find a new Jo Beverley novel in the mail, and A Most Unsuitable Man is no exception. Part of the Malloren series, it takes place right after last winter's Winter Fire. Damaris Myddleton had expected to marry Ashart, the hero from Winter Fire, and when his engagement to Gemma is announced, she.... well, she makes quite a spectacle of herself.

Damaris has recently become an heiress, and plans to buy herself a titled husband. To that end, she's made a list of eligible gentlemen who need her fortune. She's nothing if not practical, our Damaris. As I was browsing a few reviews to get some ideas to discuss here, I noticed that a lot of them said Damaris was unlikeable at first. I'd have to disagree. Her temper tantrum did make me wince, but I could admire the way she planned for her future. It's usually the hero who's made plans regarding marriage that end up blowing up in his face because he hasn't taken love and fate into account, and it's fun and refreshing to see the same thing happen with a bright, determined heroine.

Fitz is the perfect match for Damaris. He's calm and logical where she's no less logical, but lets her emotions get in the way occasionally. He takes her in hand, helps her salvage the situation, all the while reassuring her that she doesn't have to worry about him--after all, he's a 'most unsuitable man'.

Fitz, by the way, has his hands full. As if Damaris herself wasn't a handful, he's also been charged by Rothgar with protecting Ash from a danger Rothgar fefuses to clarify, and is further enjoined to keep his protection a secret, even from Ash.

The romance develops along with the danger, and the two combined kept me turning pages long past my bedtime.

One last quick comment: it must be exhausting being Rothgar! ( )

This may be my favorite from this series ... It has two wonderful, unforgettable characters from previous books in this series: a young woman I found easy to hate in "Winter Fire" and a hero I loved in the same.

With AMUM I loved both of these. A great love story with twists and turns ... and, a happy ending. I couldn't ask for more. ( )