Customer Reviews

Compromised (Berkley Sensation)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I keep telling myself that I am NOT going to write reviews! I mean, who is anyone to critique another person's story, thoughts, and creative work? It just doesn't seem right to me.

Yet, it seems to never fail! One of two things invariably happens for me: 1- the story and characters are such a wonderful read, (and nowadays maybe a half dozen books a year, and I read a couple a week, make what I consider a "WOW! 5* 1-Nighter!") that I feel compelled to comment or 2- I read some idiots comments and go "What the $#&%?? Did they speed read this and miss like...the ENTIRE story??" Good grief!!

This was written extremely well! The characters were very real and believable, and each character had plenty of background and *meat* to them! I loved the humor and quirkiness!! And it was especially nice to see a story of a *loving* step-mother instead of the "wicked witch" version that seems to be the norm! All the relationships, sister - sister, husband - wife, and the romance all around was witty, entertaining, and delicious!

And yes, impoverished nobility *did* work for a living! Ever hear of genteel ladies who find themselves suddenly thrust into poverty for whatever reason becoming a governess? Or worse? And as with Sir Geoffrey, it was common for titles bestowed for specific deeds or heroic acts, particularly during the war. Sure there was still the barrier and some closed doors of the upper echelons of the ton, but as in this story and real life, kiss up to the right person, perform something meaningful to the right someone, and even those barriers could be overcome.

My only complaint/suggestion: the font size is way to small! I have good eyesight but it was a strain even for me. Aside from that, "Happy Writing Ms. Noble!" =)

I really wanted to like this book. I was in the mood for something light-hearted and romantic, with characters I could care about. This book does have that; it's not badly written stylistically, and the two sisters Evangeline and Abigail are both charming and credible. Their father and stepmother are well observed and individualized.

What ruined it for me is the careless errors -- there's a Sir LastName error and the hero's father has a baronet for a servant. Titles were important and people were punctilious about referring to the nobs correctly. Quayle is a very odd first name so I'm inclined to think it is this individual's last name; in that case he'd be Sir Robert Quayle when introduced and Sir Robert thereafter, but *never* Sir Quayle. And as for having a baronet as a servant, I'd love for the author to show us all a historical instance of that -- it'd be worth a whole novel in itself. One of the nobs might have gone into trade - that would have been considered bad enough - but to become a manservant? Highly unlikely - if nothing else, it would have been considered a disgrace to the family name.

I am aware that there are readers who don't care about any of this and think it's all just snotty nitpicking. To them I say that anything that drags me out of my suspension of disbelief as I read is bad writing. These two things I've mentioned are not difficult points for anybody who's read novels written during the period, or some social history, or read other regency authors with some attention, or has just run things by someone who knows - and there are thousands of writers and fans on the internet who do know these things. I can't understand how the editors at Berkeley let this type of thing pass.

If you don't wince at dopey mistakes, and you are in the mood for a lightweight romance, this might be worth your time and money. It would have been a much better book if the author knew the regency period a bit better.

In 1829 the Alton sisters return to London for their delayed debut season after spending several years abroad with their father Sir Geoffrey, an ambassador. The siblings see the upcoming galas differently though they agree that their new stepmother Romilla is a pompous flit. Beautiful Evangeline looks forward to the balls while way too tall and intelligent Gail fears she will be ridiculed.

Needing time by herself, Gail sneaks out for an early morning ride. However instead of serenity, Viscount Fontaine accidentally knocks her into the lake when he fails to reign in his horse. To her shock and outrage, Maximilian blames Gail for her soaking. Later she catches this arrogant rogue kissing and COMPROMISING Evangeline, whom he apparently feels will meet his father's criteria of a wife. If he doesn't marry someone his father approves of he will be or disinherited in three months. However, Max has one problem; the amusingly brilliant future sister-in-law is all he can think of making love to even when he steals a kiss with her sister.

COMPROMISED is an amusing historical romance with Romilla stealing the show from the onset as she explains to her dolt of a stepdaughter that in London people spy on their neighbors. The humorous story line is fast-paced from the early morning teas to the gossiping Ton to the final scandal of the month. Readers will appreciate this lighthearted late regency romp.

Harriet Klausner

I don't usually go for "romance" novels, but this book is truly fun and delightful. It wraps you into the story quickly and completely. Perhaps we should call it a romantic novel? The male lead is absorbing and sexy, while the supporting characters are refreshingly three-dimensional and quirky. Highly recommended for an afternoon tryst!

Why is Compromised such a grand book? There are so many things to recommend. Could it be the witty dialogue between the hero and heroine? Could it be that even though the setting is the typical Regency England where young misses must marry snooze worthy gentlemen, Kate makes things so lively and interesting? Or could it be that the first interaction between the dashing hero Viscount Maximillian Fontaine and the plain Jane heroine, Gail Alton will have you in stitches? Max's poor horse Jupiter is in love and unbeknownst to Max, Jupiter's horse sweetheart was sold. Because of that, Max can't control his steed and out of nowhere Gail comes trotting on her horse and they both end up in a lake. Gail blames Max. Max blames Gail. They come to the conclusion that they can't stand each other. And we the reader know these two will annoy each other throughout the whole book, which will lead to infatuation and finally love and that wonderful happily ever after we all want for these two crazy kids.

Gail has some problems at home with a new stepmother who wants her stepdaughters to get married. Gail's older sister Evangeline is the older of the two and the beauty. Gail is just so-so and there is not much to recommend to her, except her wit and her outspoken ideas, which get her into trouble. Max hopes he never sees Gail again because she has turned him all around. But they are bound to meet because Max's father plans to disown him if Max doesn't find a wife in three months. Max has no choice to attend a few balls During the Alton ball, he meets Evangeline in the conservatory and because they were standing too close to one another he will now have to marry her because they dared to almost kiss.

How will Gail ever stand to have Max as a brother-in-law? Max thinks Gail is a brat, or so he calls in a teasing way. Evangeline is not sure what to think of Max and turns to Gail to help her get to know her future husband. Gail loves her sister and will do whatever she can to ease her worries. Gail becomes Evangeline's chaperone whenever she is with Max. At first Max can't stand to have Gail around because she unnerves him so. And that is where these two fall in love.

Now I know what you are all thinking. Not another, "My sister is going to marry the man I love while I suffer and watch them together" storyline. Kate is able to work things out in a very pleasing matter. She makes sure to write Gail and Evangeline in a way that they won't be harassed by their father, who adores them both, or their stepmother who isn't as horrible as we first assume her to be. These two girls speak their minds and I love it!

The way Max tries to ignore Gail is adorable. He can't understand at first why Gail has snuck her way into his mind almost every hour of the day. She has made such a lasting impression on him that he has no choice but to fall for her, and she for him.

Compromised is an entertaining wonderful lighthearted romp that makes me appeal to Kate to write faster because I want more.

Katiebabs

"Compromised" was a light romance from new (to me) author Kate Noble. It's very much a regency romp with the added fillip of a touch of extra heat not normally found in your average regency. At 375 reading pages in trade paperback size, it's not exactly a quick read but I didn't find it hard to finish.

Gail is the smart daughter, the tall daughter, the daughter in the shadow of her classically beautiful sister Evangeline. Her father's job kept them moving from country to country in service to England and now they're finally returning home with their new-ish stepmother to be launched into society and find a match. Gail's brains don't, however, protect her from wild horses or spiteful scoundrels and when one scoundrel spikes her glasses of punch at her coming out ball, it sets into action a train of events that leads to her sister becoming secretly betrothed...to a man Gail dislikes...intensely. Of course, in regencies, dislike leads to love and so it goes in "Compromised".

Maximillian has received an ultimatum from his controlling, yet sickly, father. Marry within three months or he will only inherit what his father can't get rid of--leaving Max land rich and cash poor and possibly beggaring the estates. Max doesn't much care about one new debutante over another until he succumbs to the moonlight and ends up secretly engaged to the sister of the aggravating woman who inflames him like no other...in every way.

Even though I knew where the plot was headed, I enjoyed the journey. For a debut romance novel, Noble's sense of timing and dialogue kept me entertained. It did have a few roughish spots, but nothing that pulled me out of the story or the plot. A light romance with comedic elements that worked great for an afternoon read.

Unlike other readers, I did not stay up all night reading this book, in fact I struggled to finish it. It was overly long, and had way too much in the way of extraneous characters and events. At one point, the main foursome spend a couple of chapters at the British Museum, I suppose to reinforce the notion of Gail's intelligence and world travels. There is also major subplot involving a foreign trade emissary (from "Barivia" for Pete's sake) that seemed completely unnecessary.

That said, this is the first book from this author, and I plan to give her the benefit of the doubt and read s subsequent book. I think this author shows a lot of promise.

This is my second book by Kate Noble and one I actually picked up thinking only to read a chapter or two right before going to bed. That did not at all work out well for me and I was up till I finished it at 5am! That in and of itself tells you how good I thought it was and how much I enjoyed it.

The story is absolutely lovely and very much of an enemies-attract romance - Max and Gail, from their first encounter, annoy one another and get under each other's skin, but watching their interactions, dialogue, and the development of their love story is simply wonderful. They are such a perfect fit, and are surprisingly sweet, cute, funny, and tender with one another. If it hadn't been for the love square - which goes on for the whole book because of a huge case of Things Left Unsaid - this book would have 5+ stars, absolutely no doubt about it.

***PRAISE***
As with the first Noble book I read, Follow My Lead, this book had some terrific elements that are hard to find all in one romance ...

(1) Gail and Max are wonderful leading characters who are also perfect together, though I think we realize that before they do. Both of them have strengths and weaknesses, both have vulnerabilities that they're trying to cover up and/or work through. Together they fit perfectly though, and are able to provide the security and affection that the other so desperately needs. Gail may be one of my favorite heroines that I've read in quite awhile and Max is utterly charming (even when he's decidedly not). The scenes with them are funny, sweet, engaging, and ... chemical ...? (i.e. they have chemistry ;-)

(2) The romantic relationship is so believable; there is not instant lust - or even instant like - and their relationship truly develops and builds slowly but surely. This is made all the more real with Max's initial attraction to Evie, which while distressing (for me at least) to read, only serves to highlight for him and for the reader how much real, true love is different from momentary attraction or infatuation.

(3) Though not as historically rich in detail as FML, it is more due to the fact that there is not as much opportunity: there you had the main characters traveling all over Europe and an important subplot tied to art history; here you don't have either. There is still wonderful historical detail and much more than we see in most other romances. Both Gail and Max are intellectuals - and opinionated ones - so the back and forth between them on several pertinent issues of the times is both enlightening and fun.

(4) The chemistry is strong and one definitely feels the attraction between the hero and heroine - I think even before they do! Lol. There were not as many romance scenes as in FML, but again, this is due to differences in the story: they are not separated from society and the heroine here is much younger. What is there is strong and well-written though. The true magic in Kate Noble's books comes from the development of the relationship - in all aspects - so the strength of the emotional and intellectual connection leaves you not wanting for anything.

(5) Terrific secondary characters! I was especially impressed by Romilla, whom I thought was going to be the hated stepmother, but whom within the few pages you already get the sense that no, she's a fully-developed character and there's much more to her. Who doesn't love Will, Max's friend, and the only thing I wished is that we could have had a little more of Max's father, because there were definitely hidden depths there.

***ISSUES***
While this didn't end up being much of an issue because it's not mentioned frequently and she doesn't at all act like it, Gail is actually very young - only 18. Most heroines nowadays are older and frankly I prefer it that way, but essentially, unless the age and/or age difference is such that it's pervy, the number doesn't mean anything, it's how they act. Gail does not *at all* act like a young, immature, spoiled, TSTL 18-year-old romance heroine, so in the end her age is incidental. (I forget how old Max is, but it's mid- or late-20s.)

My biggest issue was with the love square (as in not a love triangle) - not a term I think, but now it is. Noble loves to tie her readers into knots and she succeeded oh so well with this reader in particular. I could barely read the beginning of the book - I was anxious, kept cringing, and wanted to throw the book across the room. I hated that Max was attracted to Evie, forgot about Gail, and gets engaged to her (due to necessity, yes, but still). This entire love-square aspect of the book caused me no end of stress, especially at the beginning and the end - OMG the almost-end: I wanted to scream and slap a particular female character upside the head!

Now, was this aspect of the story well-written? Yes. Were there any Big Misunderstandings? Aside from the initial one that necessitates the engagement, not really. Does it all get fixed and work out perfectly for everyone involved? Of course! Is it believably done? Yes. ... So essentially, I wish this part of the plot was absent only because it put too much of a damper on my enjoyment of Gail and Max's relationship and stressed me out waaaay more than I like to be when reading romances.

For those who think they're like me and will be bothered by this, I urge you to not let it stop you from reading the book though, because that would really be a shame. Relatively quickly, the glow for both Max and Evie begins to fade and while their engagement still stands and is a constant element of the plot (argh), emotion-wise each begins to go off in their own direction and we are able to enjoy the developing romance between Gail and Max.

I wish that one of the four would have just said something though, for god's sakes! Just stood up and shouted out the truth, because all of these Things Left Unsaid - also huge in FML - while not being as bad as Big Misunderstandings are just as trying on the nerves! *slight spoiler* It also drove me nuts that everyone - aside from the two people involved - were completely oblivious to what was blatantly developing between Evie and Will. *spoiler ends*

***BOTTOM LINE***
Read it and enjoy! Is absolutely fantastic and reaffirmed my belief that Kate Noble will become one of my favorite romance authors. I cannot wait to see what she comes out with next!

"Compromised" is a historical romance novel about two sisters, Gail and Evangeline, as they return to their 1829 London home with their father and new stepmother, Romilla, after years of travelling abroad. Romilla decides that both sisters will be introduced to London society with their own ball-a prospect that overjoys sweet and demure Evangeline as much as it horrifies the intelligent and oft-outspoken Gail. On the eve of the ball, Evangeline is caught in a compromising position with a handsome young bachelor named Max-the very same Max who unapologetically knocked Gail into a lake during a morning horse ride. With London society gossiping and the family facing scandal, it is decided that Evangeline and Max must marry. Max agrees, but has his own hidden motives for doing so while Gail must find a way to be civil around her soon-to-be brother-in-law who she finds to be both infuriating and more and more infatuating with each passing day.

First off, let me say that this is typically not the type of novel I usually read. I have nothing against the romance genre or the subset "historical romance" genre that this book falls into. It's just not my thing.

That said, I like to think of myself as open to any piece of entertainment be it film, novel, or dirty limerick, as long as it's well written. So when I was given a copy of "Compromised", a debut novel from author Kate Noble, I was wary, but willing to give it a shot.

I'm happy to say Ms. Noble did not disappoint.

From the very first chapter describing the arrival of the Alton family back to their London home and the gossip that surrounded the event, I knew the wit and charm of Noble's style would carry me through the rather...um...girlie? parts of the book. (Yeah, I know. It IS a romance novel after all...)

But the funny thing about the story is there were few actual "girlie" parts to this book. Not too much sex, no ridiculous or unnecessary subplots to slow the story down-just a sweet story that gave itself room to breathe and gave us, the readers, time to get to know the characters and actually believe the events that happen in the course of the story. All too often, I read stories where the main character does something that seems against his/her nature. Often this is the result of the author not spending enough time on character development in a rush to get the story moving. This event draws the reader out of the world the author created, essentially undermining all the work the author had put in to draw the reader into that world in the first place. Noble avoids this trap by focusing on the characters and allowing the story develop at its own pace. It's almost as if she just lets these characters tell their own story and she was just following along with her pen writing down what they said. It's the mark of an excellent writer to create a world as transparently as Noble does-without the seams showing, so to speak-and she does it well and seemingly without effort.

Noble has a deft hand at creating characters that jump off the page-even down to the minor ones like Jimmy, the protective but romantic stablehand. Stepmother Romilla steals every scene she is in, bouncing between the evil stepmother and understanding matron stereotypes, never landing on either and settling more into a more believable middle ground. Her greatest accomplishment, however, is the creation and characterization of Gail, the youngest Alton daughter. Both headstrong and unsure of herself, Gail is a character that members of either sex can relate to. Who among us hasn't been in a situation similar Gail at her ball-so confident in herself and her abilities usually, but cowed and silenced by the setting she finds herself in? To me, it honestly read like the first day at a new job where you know you're good enough and smart enough, but you don't know any of the little rules that will get you through your daily life. I'm sure that's not what the author was thinking when she wrote those scenes, but it just goes to illustrate how easily anyone, including myself, can relate to Noble's main character.

Finally, Noble does a tremendous job at creating the setting of 1829 high society London. Believable and at the same time frustrating, the intangible villain of gossip proved to be an enjoyable catalyst for many of the major events in this book. I found myself wanting more than anything for the characters to throw off the yoke of gossip's oppression and just say "Screw you!" to the entire world. I'm not going to say whether any of the characters actually did (well, I'll just flat out tell you that "Screw you!" appears no where in her book), but I will say I was satisfied with how Noble concluded her story.

My only other thoughts on this novel are that while I did enjoy this story, I would love for Kate Noble attack another genre. I think her writing style would translate well to gender neutral or even male audience dominated genres like thrillers. Just imagine her dry wit describing the innermost thoughts of a spy hunter diffusing a bomb-the heart pounding situation contrasted with calm, cool, and collected thoughts of a character thinking about the infuriating English spy she's forced to work with instead of the situation at hand. I would love to read that adventure...if only to avoid the stares I get when reading a romance novel in public.

But if it's another romance novel she writes, it's another romance novel I'm reading, staring eyes be damned.

This book starts a little slow - the heroine seems kind of ditzy and the romance builds very slowly... However, the writing was engaging so I kept going and got to know Gail and Max, who were a bit more complicated than they appeared at first. It was actually more interesting to take time to explore the people and what they wanted (which somehow doesn't seem to happen much in romance novels much anymore, everybody is jumping into bed so quickly!) - something the hero didn't do at first, and it got him in a lot of trouble!

Compromised was a very satisfying read - great for the beach. Check it out!