Customer Reviews

Scarlet Angel

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

 

 

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!

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.

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!

2 and half stars really. The romance didn't happen until chapter 12 of this book. Cam had a mistress through most of the book. This book was really more a history book than a romance. Cam was a total jerk and doesn't want Gabrielle until he sees her with his best friend's Simon about to kiss her. Then it is passionate but it only last a little while. I really never understood why Gabrielle even liked Cam more less loved him. I was cheering for Simon Cam's best friend and better man. Scarlet Angel is far more about French and English Politics during 1803 than romance. Scarlet Angel went into too much into historical detail. If I wanted that, I'd read non-fiction, not romance novels. I like good escapist books. The epilogue wasn't even about Gabrielle and Cam.

This book just wasn't for me. I feel like I wasted $6.50.

I loved Elizabeth Thornton last book but this book really can't be called a romance book.

I have read all her books and this is one of the top 3(others are the
Bride's Bodyguard and Whisper His Name). This has more than just a scan reading. It also has a unusual plot dealing with the French Revolution and the war with England. Yes, I know the revolution/war has been done before but not this way. I realize the hero is alpha male but the French girl he kidnaps really turns the table. She is from Normandy in France and even the servants(his) call it the second Norman Conquest-she just querked her finger and Dunraeden(his estate)went down in defeat.When I read for pleasure I don't get bent out of shape and ask if something was logical. I REALLY liked this book and it is a keeper for me