Customer Reviews

Fallen Angel (Signet Regency Romance)

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4 star:		(2)
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Fallen Angel was a read of desperation--I could not find anything else--what a sleeper! To date I have reread this book 4 times. Jaded arrogant Gabriel, Lord Rainsford thinks quiet, mousy Verity will make him a great wife who will know her place, fill his nursery, and cause him no trouble. And it's true. She will do those things but she has more to offer, such as loyalty, devotion, and compassion. And this hard-hearted man soaks it up like rain in the desert. Gabriel takes what he wants and he wants Verity. By asking nothing and offering everything, Verity brings healing to a bitter man. This is a Regency that plays a little fast and loose with the genre but in this instance it makes for a great read. And I have only mentioned a tiny part of the plot. You'll want to know about Gabriel's parents, his years at sea, and his finding his grandmother. But the best part? When Verity wakes after her wedding night to find Gabriel beside her and "her eyes widened and filled with joy, like a child who has received a most wondrous present". What a love story!

She's sweet, yet practical. He's arrogant and experiences. Together, they are perfect. I love this book because she proves that a lamb can tame the lion, and does not have to be a beauty to do so. Instead, you see that beauty inside shows itself on the outside when there's love.

I am aware from a comment posted on one of the other reviews here that the author is no longer writing. What a shame and what a loss to those of us who like the traditional regency. I came across this title via the "those who bought X also bought Y" feature here at amazon and it's amazing the things you find this way.

Here is what I truly liked about this book:

1 - The author writes with very polished prose. The style is fluid and flowing and a joy to read.

2 - I loved the hero. Gabriel, Lord Sherington is a "legal bastard" - that is he is a cuckoo in the nest and he has suffered much for the misdemeanours of his parents. Rejected by his "father" he was sent to sea as a young child (not so uncommon in those days) but rose above the difficulties and is now a man made good through his own efforts. Well, he did have some help but that would be a spoiler! Although Gabriel appears to be a hard man, he has a surprisingly soft inner self and although he falls deeply in love, he hasn't a clue about what to do.

3 - Our heroine is charming. Verity Jolliffe has not had a happy childhood either and, as an adult, is dwindling into that awful situation of being the "maiden aunt". She is neglected, dejected but boy does she have tenacity and spirit - mostly dampened down but smouldering away quite happily! She has a secret internal life that is credible and understandable and she has so much to give.

4 - The supporting cast of characters are well drawn. My favourite is the Rev Mr Stephen Todd who I wish had his own story. He is all that is admirable in the clergy and I thought he was well drawn. The others are not so nice and there is a wonderful scene where Gabriel replaces his domestic staff that was both funny and moving.

It's not often I will buy up an author's backlist in one go but I did yesterday and I look forward to reading more by this writer. Highly recommended - I thought this book was truly outstanding and I shall read it again!

Fleeing London after an argument with a spiteful aunt, Gabriel, the Earl of Sherrington, runs across a woman stranded at a burned out coaching inn. Despite his inclination to ignore her and keep moving, something about Miss Verity Jolliffe's straightfoward request and lack of feminine wiles compels him to drive her the short distance to her family's home. After a lengthy discussion of sheep, they arrive at her family's modest home, where Gabriel discovers an ill-tempered family to rival his own.

Upon picking her up for their return trip, he asks her why she should go to the trouble of caring for such a bunch of ungracious louts, as they'll certainly never mend their ways. When she explains that love is not given with the expectation of getting something in return, or with the aim of changing a loved one's ways, Gabriel has an idea. Marrying Verity would net him the perfect wife. She doesn't natter on about fashions or gossip and by her own admission she'd never try to manipulate him with her love. He resolves to court her when they reach London. He'll turn up the charm, make her love him and get both the perfect wife and revenge on his distasteful heir apparent in one fell swoop

While I guess it was just another jaded rake seeks biddable miss regency, I really liked the characters. Gabriel was an arrogant alpha, which I normally despise, but I found him completely likeable. Something about his brusque, brutal honesty endeared him to me. Sure he was domineering and demanding, but he was pretty clear about it. He says to himself that he's deceiving Verity, but I'd hardly rate "being a bit nicer than usual while courting a girl I fully intend to marry" as a grand deception. He's pretty much himself - a forceful personality who plays to win - from the start. All he leaves out is why he's courting Verity. So while he may not have initially been motivated by love, he's still not planning a bait and switch. He can tell himself he's a callous businessman just trying to close a deal, but only a man totally smitten gifts a heirloom cookbook to a woman who's said she loves managing a household.

For her part, Verity rather likes the big jerk just the way he is. I should have thought her a Pollyanna doormat for how she just took her family's ill treatment of her in stride. Somehow, she managed to look strong doing it. I'd guess it's because she didn't excuse their behavior or let it alter how she looked at herself. They were boorish, but they were her family, and 26 year old spinsters don't get a lot of options in the housing department. It made sense that she'd be attracted to the demanding but forthright Gabriel. After years of being manipulated by her family's false smiles and hollow praise as though she were some half-wit, she finds his open demands quite refreshing. When he also treats her like an actualized person by grumpily urging her to stand up to her family and stop being so damn meek, she's a goner.

They make a fine pair - he the hard-nosed power broker and she the quietly determined peace maker. I couldn't help but enjoy the book, well-worn premise or not.

No matter how many times I read this book, I still enjoy it. Verity's unexpectness and Gabriel's determination to get his way always make me smile. I only wish the author was still writing and had more books for me to read.

What a great story! Verity is so sweet and loving. Gabriel is so bitter and doesn't believe in love -- at least he feels he can't love! But he believes Verity is the woman who will be a perfect wife and wants her to fall in love with him. It will only take a couple weeks, right? Other women seem to fall in love with him right away!

Little does he know, by courting her he shows the side of himself that is loving and accepting! Of course Verity thinks he just wants a friend and hides her growing attachment!

Every incident that occurs in this book is handled so well and is so interesting. A keeper and well worth reading and re-reading. You come to love both hero and heroine and the assorted cast of well fleshed out side characters. (Well, you love the nice characters and enjoy the descriptions of the bad ones!)

My favorite phrase from Gabriel -- "Tell me what kind of a husband you want and I will be that man." -- wouldn't you fall in love with that man!!