Customer Reviews

Endure My Heart

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This is an exciting cat-and-mouse tale, where the heroine takes on a lord/customs officer in disguise in a battle of wits to catch the most notorious brandy smuggler on the coast. The story is told by Mabel, who sounds exactly like all of Smith's other first person narrators--dry, humorous and incisive--but I could forgive that to see how, in the end both she and the officer win the game. This is also satisfyingly longer than most of Smith's other books.

Mabel Anderson, the young sister to a town's local cleric, unexpectedly finds herself in the position of leading a pack of smugglers. Although she didn't look for the position, she ends up loving it and excels, increasing the group's profit. When the government gets concerned about how much smuggling is going on and sends someone to investigate, Miss Anderson enters into a chess game with her new opponent, trying to outwit him and keep her heart out of the matter.

This book was really delightful - Joan Smith did what so many before and after have tried to do in creating a historical female who shows what women are really made of when people didn't think so much of them. So many people fail at doing this, usually because the character is too strong, reading like someone who would be normal in today's society but seems incredibly out of place 200 years ago. But Miss Mabel sticks with many of the standards of her time and doesn't try to physically lead her crew (although she does participate in small ways a few times). Mostly she's the brains, figuring out where to bring loads of the smuggled brandy to evade the excisemen and then bargaining with the London merchants for a better price. A subtle but great character of female empowerment.

Her opponent/hero, Sir Stamford Wicklow, is a fairly interesting character, too, being able to match wits with Miss Anderson while not being some all-knowing male. I also loved that the romance wasn't something where the two main characters were kept apart most of the book, magically coming together right at the end. They're together fairly often throughout the book and even express their feelings for each other in the middle, although of course more road blocks pop up throughout to create tension. I also enjoyed his history of facing his own struggles in the world and not being too perfect.

The side characters are OK, perhaps not the most interesting ones but they certainly don't detract from the story. The plot is full of twists and turns as Miss Anderson and Sir Wicklow circle each other, trying to see who will come out on top. The resolution was fun and surprising. Over all, a great read.

Wonderfully suspenseful smuggling story told in first person with a dash of romance and comedy! Great writing by Joan Smith as usual, the romance was slow to start at first and seemed lukewarm at times, and I bit my lip along with the heroine wondering what her man was up to. At one point, the smuggling plot was so entertaining I quite forgot to keep an eye on the romance! But it (like all her regencies) came to an emotionally satisfying end, despite its short length and seemingly light-hearted guise. Do not be deceived, the lady author has a way with words and will sweep you away!

As an avid reader regency romances, I can recommend this one highly. Joan Smith's books are humorous, romantic and exciting adventures. This book is at the top of her game. Characters are likeable, and the story is well thought out. Lots of humor and the ending is just as it should be!