Otherwise Engaged

by Amanda Quick

2015

Status

Available

Publication

Jove (2015), Edition: Reissue, 400 pages

Description

Fiction. Romance. Historical Fiction. HTML: Miss Amity Doncaster, world traveler, is accustomed to adventure and risk. Benedict Stanbridge, a man of science and a spy for the Crown, has faced danger in the darker corners of foreign lands. But they are about to face a threat that is shockingly close to home . . . One does not expect to be kidnapped on a London street in broad daylight. But Amity Doncaster barely escapes with her life after she is trapped in a carriage with a blade-wielding man in a black silk mask who whispers the most vile taunts and threats into her ear. Her quick thinking, and her secret weapon, save her ... for now. But the monster known in the press as the Bridegroom, who has left a trail of female victims in his wake, has survived the wounds she inflicts and will soon be on his feet again. He is unwholesomely obsessed by her scandalous connection to Benedict Stanbridgeâ??gossip about their hours alone in a ship's stateroom seems to have crossed the Atlantic faster than any sailing vessel could. Benedict refuses to let this resourceful, daring woman suffer for her romantic link to himâ??as tenuous as it may be. For a man and woman so skilled at disappearing, so at home in the exotic reaches of the globe, escape is always an option. But each intends to end the Bridegroom's reign of terror in London, and will join forces to do so. And as they prepare to confront an unbalanced criminal in the heart of the city they love, they must also face feelings that neither of them can run away from ..… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member Readsalot81
As much as I'm a fan of Amanda Quick, I actually have enjoyed her forays into the historical paranormal rather than the historical romantic suspense.

Otherwise Engaged is a return to that particular format (rom susp) with a quick thinking heroine named Amity Doncaster, and her enigmatic engineer
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love interest, Benedict Standbridge.

If you want originality, look elsewhere - if you like what Ms. Quick tends to offer, than Otherwise Engaged should surely fit the bill.

I like her heroines as they demonstrate an aptitude towards independence and bluntness, but after multiple books - they all start to sound the same. Same goes for her heroes. Even the names take on a familiar cadence.

My biggest beef is that I thought the book focused on whodunnit (who the Bridegroom is - who's after Stanbridge's notebook) more so than the actual romance at hand. Since I liked both Amity and Benedict, this was a disappointment. Amity's sister Penny, and the Scotland Yard Inspector Logan make for fairly well fleshed out secondary characters - but her villains tend to be on the one note side, and this book was no exception.

Was this an outstanding read? Nope. Was it decent and did it keep me turning the pages? Yes.
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LibraryThing member booksandbutter
This book was typical Amanda Quick. Good characters, good storyline, easy, light read. Somewhat predictable, but if one reads romance novels, you expect this. I thought it was engaging and enjoyed it.
LibraryThing member Talaskat
I love Amanda Quick's books. She can tell a story with the best of them. I am not usually a historical fiction reader but i do make an exception for this author. I received this book as an ARC. It was very enjoyable, I can not wait for more books by this author. She will probably be on my fav
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author list for as long as she writes.
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LibraryThing member SunnySD
A woman with talent for writing and a yen for exploring the world, and a man with logical mind and a penchant for mechanical design recruit assistance from their peers and their households, and match wits with a serial killer in this romantic suspense set in last century Britain.

Wish I could say
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this was something special, but it's pretty much cookie cutter for Quick's recent work. Readable, but not something I was driven to stay up all night finishing.
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LibraryThing member dd196406
Interesting book in the author's historical romantic fiction genre. Good murder mystery and the characters were engaging. Concepts and ideas were modern even though the story took place in Victorian England. Good beach read!
LibraryThing member hailelib
The usual fare from Amanda Quick except without the paranormal elements that have been in many of her recent books. A light, fast read that was a good fit between spells of more serious reading. I enjoyed it for what it was and would recommend it to the authors fans.
LibraryThing member ijpanko
Thanks to LibraryThing for a free book in exchange for a review.
I received an advanced readers copy of this book and was pleased with it. This author writes very well, and she's very well known, and even though this book was not one of the more exciting books it was still a great book. Great story
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premise, and well developed plot entertained me through a romantic story between two people facing numerous threats from several different facets. I love the men in these stories, and the brilliant exchange between the characters. The author introduces a new era with several new ideas and constructs a world where those ideas are plausible. It's engrossing and highly entertaining. Maybe I'm biased because I will read anything by this author, or her other names. I loved it, and if you liked her other books, then this one won't disappoint you. I have read a ton of indie books lately so it's a treat to read from a well written author. Overall entertainment is five stars.
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LibraryThing member Stacey42
I have always been a fan of Amanda Quick's books. Otherwise Engaged was a solid story, with weel developed characters & a decent mystery. Amity is what we would call a travel writer, while doing some research for a travel guide, she encounters Benedict who has been injured. She helps him back to
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her ship & nurses him back to health. Benedict is an enegineer who has taken on a bit of spy work for his uncle. The seperate when their ship docks in New York but a few months later they encounter one another again in London & Benedict's business draws Amity into danger. But Amity is in a different danger all on her own.

The spy plot was ok. The other plot, with the serial killer known as the Bridegroom, was better. The romance sort of came & went. We got bits of their feelings for one another but it was lacking the 'romance' I've come to expect in an Amanda Quick novel.

Overall a decent read, well worth your time.

I was given a free copy in exchange for a review.
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LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
I would have been happier reading this if I had known from the outset that it's not a historical paranormal like several of the other books in this series. It's a historical romance with some futuristic engineering involved, for example, solar power. However taken as a historical romance it's not a
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bad read, I like Amity and her resilience and her tessen, I also liked her romance (tho possibly not as much as her sister's)

The two meet while Amity is travelling around the world having adventures and planning a book, and is leaving a Caribbean Island when she happens on Benedict Stanbridge, shot and bleeding to death. Little does he know that she has medical skills, little does she know that this is going to change her life forever. When she returns to London she barely escapes with her life from the clutches of a serial killer, the Bridegroom, and ends up helping Inspector Logan with his investigation into this killer. Inspector Logan finds that her sister, Penny, a widow, is attractive and wonders if he can overcome class and the fact that he is a policeman to court her. Meanwhile the reason Benedict was shot was to do with the Great Game, a game that isn't resolved.

The characters were lively and engaging for me and I enjoyed the read, there were times when it felt a little drawn out but overall it engaged me and kept me reading.
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LibraryThing member caittilynn
I've been a fan of Amanda Quick for a long time and this is definitely her at her best. Amity Doncaster is thrown together with Benedict Stanbridge during a voyage and it doesn't take long for their connection to reach London. Unfortunately, this news brings Amity to the attention of the
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Bridegroom, a serial killer that is haunting the streets of London. She has a narrow escape and Benedict decides they need to present themselves to the world as an engaged couple to protect Amity while they try to figure out who is stalking her.

There was definitely an immediate attraction between the characters and Quick did a good job of drawing out their interactions in a believable way to develop their relationship. I would recommend this book both to those who are already fans of Amanda Quick as well as those who have yet to enjoy her books.
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LibraryThing member phyllis2779
Totally inauthentic historical ambiance and stilted , stiff dialog make this book painful to read at times. I don't understand why I keep reading (though no longer buying) Jayne Krentz's books. I used to like her books when they were about contemporary situations and the dialog was much much
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better. The characters were much less paint-by-numbers and a little bit more real. But it's been years since she has written a really good book. And I keep reading them. Why?
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LibraryThing member jencharlap
Everything you would expect from the amazing Amanda Quick. I particularly enjoyed the way that the suspense elements were balanced with romance. The characters were intriguing and seemed true to life. A great read!
LibraryThing member jendoyle2000
Solidly written, but maybe a little too solidly as I didn't really ever feel caught up in this. I've been exposed to Amanda Quick through reading romances and my expectations of this may have been a little off. Once I readjusted and thought of this with a mystery with romantic elements rather than
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the other way around, I enjoyed it much more. But it felt a little slow to me.
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LibraryThing member lorikoch
I absolutely adore Amanda Quick.. This book was such a disappointment, as I had such high expectations. The first half of the book could have been removed, and a short summary given.. It was very jumpy, from one situation to another, with no transition. The second half was much better, predictable,
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but better. I will still continue to read Amanda Quick, but I will lower my expectations next time!
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LibraryThing member bookswoman
Amity rescues Benedict after he is attacked and shot on a remote Caribbean island. Amity finds herself the target of some vicious gossip when she returns to London. The type of gossip that fuels the "Ton" of London society. Because of the medical skills she learned from her doctor father, she
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treated Benedict's wound on ship as they escape that island. This meant she spent a lot of time alone with the fascinating engineer but in Victorian England a single woman in a single man's room is scandal.

The scandal sets off a serial killer, known in the press as "The Bridegroom" because he takes photographs of the women in a white wedding gown before he kills them. Amity is his next target. Benedict is determined to keep Amity safe from the monster.

This is a fun book, it is fast paced, lots of different kinds of twists and turns, a pair of blooming romances and a mixture of spies and skullduggery.
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LibraryThing member Narshkite
I return to this author (under all her pseudonyms ) when I want something light and predictible and she nearly always comes through for me. It's like eating lite Cool Whip out of the container; it won't really satisfy you but it won't hurt you much and it feels good in the moment.
LibraryThing member blodeuedd
This was sure no fluffy romance, I liked that. It felt more like a hybrid.

The back story is over in a few pages, Amity and Benedict meet and part, and that's it. Then Amity gets kidnapped, but she is no swooning miss. She uses the weapons she have and gets away. She is resourceful, and independent
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(she travels and writes about her travels after all.) I liked Amity, she was a good heroine. Interested in everything and inquisitive.

Benedict, I am just going to call him a nerd because he was and I loved him for it. He is an engineer and loves everything about it. But he is also honorable, brave and with a good head on his shoulders.

I got two characters I enjoy and want to see together. There are also some good side characters.

The story was good too, it moved easy and suddenly I had finished the whole book. Light, yet suspenseful. Amity got away from a murderer who is still alive. So to stay alive they will team up and try to find the guy. There is also another danger in the background that has to do with how they two met in the first place.

Suspense, danger, spying and romance too of course. I enjoyed this one.
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LibraryThing member Lauren2013
Otherwise Engaged
4 Stars

When Amity Doncaster saves the life of Benedict Stanbridge, she unwittingly becomes the target of a deranged serial killer known only as The Bridegroom. Narrowly escaping the madman’s clutches, Amity must join forces with Benedict to stop the killer’s reign of terror
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before he strikes closer to home...

Anyone expecting something innovative and original from JAK is bound to be disappointed as Otherwise Engaged follows the same formula as the majority of her historical romances written under the pseudonym Amanda Quick. That said, readers interested in a light and entertaining book with enchanting characters and a touch of suspense are in for a treat.

Reader’s familiar with Quick’s books, will rapidly recognize the characters. Amity is a well-educated, independent woman with a yen for world travel and Benedict is the sexy yet slighty bookish Alpha male on the trail of a Russian spy. While their chemistry isn’t exactly off the charts, it is subtle and engaging.

The serial killer plot is gripping with an action packed climax and a satisfying resolution. The secondary plot involving the Russian spy is, unfortunately, not as good and the book would have been better without the unnecessary complexity.

All in all, Quick demonstrates that predictability is not necessarily a bad thing in this delightful historical romance.
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LibraryThing member kmartin802
With OTHERWISE ENGAGED Quick returns to an old familiar style and handles it excellently. This is an excellent mystery story without even a hint of the paranormal.

Amity Doncaster is a world traveler who hopes to write a book about traveling for gentlewomen. She rescues Benedict Stanbridge on a
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tropical island and nurses him back to health. Stanbridge is an upper class member of society who is wealthy and very interested in engineering. He is on a mission for his uncle to gather information on a possible solar weapon. It is his first and, if he has anything to say about it, last foray into the Great Game of spying.

However, chasing down a Russian spy who wants the plans is only part of the story. When Amity returns to London, she finds herself an object of gossip because of her suspected relationship with Benedict. The gossip draws the attention of a mad serial killer named the Bridegroom. When he kidnaps her in broad daylight, it is her quick wits and unusual weapon that saves her.

She and Benedict need to track down the Bridegroom before he kills again. And find the Russian spy. And fall in love.

Amity is an interesting character who considers herself a free-thinking, woman of the world. She is outspoken and rather eccentric. Benedict styles himself as a boring engineer who is very unlikely to ever write poetry to his love. However, Amity likes the man Benedict is.

A secondary romance between Amity's widowed sister and the Scotland Yard inspector assigned to the case also adds interest to this story.

Fans of historical mysteries and romances will enjoy this story.
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LibraryThing member kmartin802
With OTHERWISE ENGAGED Quick returns to an old familiar style and handles it excellently. This is an excellent mystery story without even a hint of the paranormal.FansoFan

Amity Doncaster is a world traveler who hopes to write a book about traveling for gentlewomen. She rescues Benedict Stanbridge
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on a tropical island and nurses him back to health. Stanbridge is an upper class member of society who is wealthy and very interested in engineering. He is on a mission for his uncle to gather information on a possible solar weapon. It is his first and, if he has anything to say about it, last foray into the Great Game of spying.

However, chasing down a Russian spy who wants the plans is only part of the story. When Amity returns to London, she finds herself an object of gossip because of her suspected relationship with Benedict. The gossip draws the attention of a mad serial killer named the Bridegroom. When he kidnaps her in broad daylight, it is her quick wits and unusual weapon that saves her.

She and Benedict need to track down the Bridegroom before he kills again. And find the Russian spy. And fall in love.

Amity is an interesting character who considers herself a free-thinking, woman of the world. She is outspoken and rather eccentric. Benedict styles himself as a boring engineer who is very unlikely to ever write poetry to his love. However, Amity likes the man Benedict is.

A secondary romance between Amity's widowed sister and the Scotland Yard inspector assigned to the case also adds interest to this story.

Fans of historical mysteries and romances will enjoy this story.
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Language

Original language

English

Original publication date

2014-04-22

Physical description

400 p.; 4.17 inches

ISBN

0515155373 / 9780515155372

Barcode

1600440
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