Customer Reviews

The Courteous Cad (Miss Pickworth)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

What lover of inspirational romance would expect to admire a cad as a hero? Yet, I did. Catherine's hero was believable and likable, and flawed. I took to him immediately. :-)

Catherine Palmer's characters, the warmth she infused into her stories, and the well-crafted romantic element all shine in her upcoming release--The Courteous Cad.

This was my first exposure to her series including Miss Pickworth, yet I didn't feel like I was thrust into a world I couldn't understand or a cast of characters I couldn't follow. The Courteous Cad is a true stand-alone in that regard. I enjoy reading a novel without feeling I need to go back and read the previous books in the series. Catherine gave me that reading pleasure with this book.

I appreciated her heroine's drive to help the down-trodden mill workers. And the way the author wove history into the story made me crave another viewing of a Jane Austen film.

A delightful read.

Highly recommended.

I loved this book. Catherine Palmer wrote well in describing poor working conditions in England in the 1800's.

Spunky Prudence Watson decides it is her job to crusade on behalf of a group of workers at a local worsted mill.

She is angry at William Sherbourne who is the owner of the mill and away at sea as a Royal Naval officer. He has a reputation as a handsome charming cad.

As the two people meet and begin to develop a relationship, Prudence realizes that William isn't aware of the circumstances of his mill and she intends to let him know the facts from working there undercover. Her secret doesn't last as she is discovered and has to explain herself.

Early on, the cad has fallen for Prudence, but he must begin to mature and come to grips with what he really wants out of life while Prudence is attracted to him, he falls short in her eyes. She has committed herself to never marry, let alone a handsome wealthy cad. Why he treats all the ladies the same and tugs at their heart strings, she believes.

It will take an old blacksmith's love and care for Prudence to straighten out both young people's thinking and get them to share truths from their past before they can move forward into the future together.

Tyndale House graciously gave me this book to review and I enjoyed it thoroughly.

Sincerely,
Paulette L. Harris
Author/Speaker

I've enjoyed it very much.
This romance has great characters and an excellent plot.
This book is a Page-turner and I recommend it to anyone looking for a well-written romance!

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the second book in Miss Pickworth series the best, but this book was still enjoyable. I hope Palmer has more regency period books coming, she is truly a great author.

This read was a breath of fresh air. What a delightful story! William is a cad indeed, but isn't each of us really a sinner and deserving of hell forever? Without our Lord and Saviour dying for us and paying the ultimate price, we forever would suffer. However we have his promise, much like our lady, Ms Prudence Watson, ends up giving him after all the wrong they have done to each other and others as well.

This book will make you laugh because Prudence is so delightful a character. I am so excited to read more "gossip" by Ms Pickworth. Makes delightful books, having the message so well weaved throughout! Bravo Ms. Palmer!!! Well done..

"Marriage is not the object of my hearts desire...I shall never wed...when God reveals my mission, I mean to do it with all my heart."

"I shall champion those less fortunate than I." Miss Watson is serious about God's mission for her life; her sisters view it as silly. A woman as beautiful as Prudence should be seeking the most illegible partner, settling down and raising a family. This mission to help the poor was ridiculous thinking. Did this really come from God?

William Sherbourne agrees with Miss Prudence Watson about one thing, "I must say how delighted I am to learn your plan to remain unwed, partakers in uncorrupted innocence we shall be great friends forever. Chums, in fact."

William and Prudence are both smart, opinioned, beautiful people who enjoy verbal sparing. Neither will admit their feelings they have for the other.

William says, "You are correct in the wickedness you surmise about me. I am not a good man. I have committed such evil in fact, that I cannot hope to be forgiven."

Miss Watsons quick retort, "It is not my good opinion you should seek, Mr. Sherbourne...It is God's. You will find Him more forgiving than I and certainly more merciful. But I shall endeavor to like you. We are, after all chums."

This is fun filled book with substance. I was surprised by the risks Prudence took to fulfill her mission. Catherine Palmer urges us to "...take a closer look at ourselves, realize we are all a work in progress. We may reverse our opinions, make serious mistakes, and commit outright sin...The Holy Spirit wants to transform each of us into new creatures." I was entertained; I laughed and made to think about life in this Regency period story. I'm thankful for the review copy I received.

Nora St.Laurent
Finding Hope Through Fiction

The Courteous Cad by Catherine Palmer is the third book in the Miss Pickworth series taking place in Regency England. Prudence Watson is the toast of the ton with her golden curls and rosy cheeks, but while traveling in Yorkshire, she is struck by the plight of mill workers and feels the need to improve their working conditions. But when she meets the mill owner, William Sherbourne, she is forced to reconsider her quest. This historical romance never quite clicked for me. The story is mostly dialogue, and while Palmer tries to imitate Austen's quick wit and clever conversations, I was more frustrated by Prudence and William's insistence on always thinking the worst of each other and never telling the truth. I didn't understand what they saw in each other, because he was consistently telling her and everyone else that he was a cad, and she was forever telling him that she was silly. I enjoyed the historical portion of the story with Prudence's work in the mill and her relationship with her sisters was amusing as well.

The horrors of the industry were harsh and there is details in there, which the heroine endeavors to fight against in a variety of ways. This was a interesting story from that time period with hints of the mystery of Miss Pickworth and who she might be. In the days where women were required to marry, Prudence rises above with higher aspirations and wants to reform the mill industry, much to the consternation of the mill owners. Undercover work as well as keeping up with societies demands is difficult, but keeps her on her toes, all the while dealing with the courteous cad of a man, who irritates and fascinates her at the same time.
I found it a easy, lighter read, with some great history of this time period. If you enjoy light reads of regency era, you will enjoy this one.

Another good Regency book by Catherine Palmer. Here we encounter several characters from her other books but this book can definitely stand on it's own, no need to have read the others first. I like that about a series book, it's nice not feeling like you're missing some important background information when you read a new book. The Regency historical information is definitely on target. The characters are quite believable in their emotions and actions. One can see how assumptions can totally mess up a relationship and a conversation. I liked that this one didn't harp on society silliness like so many historical romances do, this one dealt with how a woman reacts to and deals with her brush with the plight of children working in the mills rather than what to wear at a ball. Don't get me wrong, there were many scenes involving fun too but they weren't the main menu. The end notes had some very good soul searching questions and contained a preview of one of her other books.

I have been reading Christian fiction for less than two years, but in that time I have read a lot of books. I have found that my taste in novels is very broad. I like many different types of books and writing styles. But sometimes I am just in the mood to read a certain type of book, and oh, was I in the mood to read a book like The Courteous Cad. It has been a while since I have gone on a journey to the English countryside and I really enjoyed this journey. There was enough romance, humor, and delightful characters to charm any fan of Christian fiction. The, at times, strained relationship between William and Prudence was very amusing and entertaining.

Now, I have a great interest in history, but I do not like to just sit and read a history book. I like my history with a story and Catherine Palmer has given readers a very interesting lesson on the history of abuses many workers had to face on the job. This gave Prudence a purpose, to help the workers, and heightened my interest in the story.

The most important aspect of this story is about facing our past mistakes, forgiving ourselves, and trusting God to forgive us. William had a past that he was not proud of and he struggled to allow himself forgiveness. That is something I have had to face in my life and I'm sure that everyone in some form or another can relate to that. Ms. Palmer has provided us with the verses of Scripture that shows us that we are forgiven and that makes this a very meaningful and spiritually uplifting story.