Scarlet Angel [Paperback]

Elizabeth Thornton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1990

Eleven years ago, Cam Colburne, Duke of Dyson, witnessed the unspeakable horrors of mob hysteria in a French prison. Here, he watched his family condemned to death by the actions of an innocent young girl, the daughter of a French diplomat. Now, a decade later, Cam's moment of retribution has come. Lovely Gabrielle de Brienne is now his prisoner, held for ransom at Cornwall castle. The product of a most unconventional education, Gabrielle is now more hoyden than lady. Her powerful captor doesn't frighten her with his threats. But, his commanding kiss sends shivers of fear and desire through her body. For the tenderness beneath his pride and arrogance warns her that she is far too vulnerable. In the dark of night, she longs to understand the secret her enigmatic captor hides behind his mask of indifference. But by day, she plots her escape, fearing her heart and her will to resist him will soon be lost forever.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Ms. Thornton gifts us with a simply splendid love story, one that epitomizes the very best in romance. Don't miss it!" --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 447 pages
• Publisher: Pinnacle (August 1, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558173927
• ISBN-13: 978-1558173927
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,315,058 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Historical Sensual Romance, June 16, 2003

By 

M. Rondeau (West Springfield, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Scarlet Angel (Paperback)

This was another fabulous historical set in the early 1800's during the conflict between France and England and the Napoleonic struggles. It is the story of two individuals whose paths would cross as both fought for survival, not knowing that the outcome would forever control their destinies.

As a young child of eight years, Gabrielle de Brienne, was the granddaughter of a high placed French diplomat. An inadvertently innocent song she sang to gain her release from the prison where Cam Colburne, Duke of Dyson, and his family was being held was the impetus that caused mob hysteria for more blood letting as executions abounded during those tumultuous times and Cam lost the only family he had ever cared about. He vowed to hunt down both her and her grandfather and make both pay for his loss.

Eleven years later having grown up on the run, Gabrielle's sword fighting skills were more comparable to a seasoned fighter than those of a lady of the manor. Her grandfather had at last assumed a position of imminence and Cam, finally saw his opportunity to make them pay. He would abduct the hoyden, hold her in his Cornwall castle and manipulate her grandfather into betraying France for her release. As outside forces threatened to expose Cam's activities he would be forced to wed Gabrielle in a marriage of convenience but the more he came to observe her the more he would want than just the 'sham' of a marriage. Cam and Gabrielle would each fight unwanted attractions and their individual childhood terrors. The more Gabrielle learned of Cam from his devoted servants the more she fought her feelings for her abductor unable to fathom the reason for his hatred of her. Cam, with a beautiful mistress in the wings, tried to remain aloof and distant from his hoyden duchess but more and more Gabrielle invaded his every waking moment.

The love story is beautiful, passionate, and the action fast-paced and exciting. You are drawn into the period with numerous mentions of actual events and notable persons from that historical era. Thornton writes stunning visual imagery and wonderful sensual romance in this superb read for an out of print and hard to find novel! One can always hope that as more and more of Thornton's novels get reissued this will be on the list!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Ok but not her best, June 28, 2006

By 

DreamyEyez "Danielle" (NYC, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Scarlet Angel (Paperback)

The one reason why I am Elizabeth Thornton's loyal and devoted fan is because she has the ability to create some very memorable heroes - tortured, passionate, intelligent, stubborn, and very dark. I understand why many reviewers give her low ratings and I do not blame them but as an avid fan of her fiction I would like to put things into a little bit of perspective. Lets take Scarlet Angel, Cam lost his sister and stepmother due to Gabrielle's grandfather's machinations. We are not dealing with a normal person - this person is scarred already possibly forever scarred. No one wants to be handed this sort of responsibility and frankly, he sees this mirrored in Gabrielle's harsh upbringing and one learns a lesson here - people make mistakes and those mistakes have dire consequences if not to the culprit personally but possibly to his/her loved ones. As to his mistress, it may seem caddish to have your mistress in the same dwelling where the object of your affection is but he did not know his feelings for her did he? Elizabeth's heros are very proud being aristocrats and accustom to being superior that is why the hero's actions and seemingly caddish behavior is no surprise to mask his feelings of torment. It is these misunderstandings, real and human, that makes her story so believable. So enjoy her books but don't be too critical - her characters are not perfect and but they are very real and so their blunders, triumphs and tribulations are that much more heartfelt to the reader.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enchanting, November 29, 2000

By 

Hala Helmy - See all my reviews

This review is from: Scarlet Angel (Paperback)

Well developed antagonists lead us through a fast paced story full of suspense and action, enhanced by repeated changes of setting between France and England. Wild, carefree, hoyden Gabrielle and dark, handsome and secretive Cam stem from two countries at war and were never supposed to meet under normal circumstances. Who would have thought that they share some common nightmarish memories. They both will have to overcome their sad past and face their inner demons before they can fall in love and overcome their challenging fates. Enjoy!