Customer Reviews

The Price of Indiscretion

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I picked this book up and devoured it in a day. I am not a big Cathy Maxwell fan, but the premise seemed promising. The heroine was strong and beautiful. The hero sexy and enigmatic.

This is the story of star-crossed lovers seperated ten years ago by fate and family only to cross paths again. This is a story of unrequited love and passion that will keep you glued to it till the bitter, but happy end.

Miranda is forced to leave her American home and travel to London to save her sister's from financial ruin. In other words, find a wealthy and titled husband. She is reluctant because her heart has always belonged to her one and only true love, Alex. The two fell in love as teenagers but because he was half Shawnee Indian and she white, their love was doomed.

By a twist of fate, they are reuinted while docked in the same port. The best is yet to come. This novel is fraught with jealousy, anger, love, passion, and hope. Not your usual overused storyline.

Definitely one for the keeper shelf!

Miranda Cameron grew up as an American, far from the English ton.  But it's the ton she must conquer to achieve her goal of securing a better life for her sisters.  As the grand-daughter of an English earl with uncommon beauty and a small inheritance, Miranda sets sail for England in hopes of marrying an affluent aristocrat.

Alex Hadden, sea captain and enormously successful businessman, encounters Miranda, and his past, on his way to England.  He learns that the woman that once held his heart is now on the hunt for a titled husband.  Alex, however, as the grandson of a treasonous British General cannot offer Miranda the future she seeks.

Miranda soon becomes the season's Incomparable.  She is wildly successful as Alex watches from afar.  Miranda has her pick of noblemen, and the opportunity to fulfill her promise to her sisters or follow her heart.  Regardless of her choice, the price is high.

Fans of Historical Romance will enjoy this book. As a Cathy Maxwell fan, I wish I could say that this was her best effort. The miscommunication between the hero and heroine made me want to smack their heads together. In fact, I found myself rooting for Alex's main competitor in the race for Miranda's hand. While there is always a level of frustration and anticipation in the quest for true love, these two pushed my limit. I hope the next installment in this trilogy is a better reflection of Ms. Maxwell's talent.

Annabelle
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

I like Cathy Maxwell, I really do, so I was a bit disappointed in this effort. He does, then he doesn't, she will and she wouldn't, the sisters push and then pull. The characters are too far-fetched, too 21st century to fit in a London high society scene, he being a half breed [and son of a traitor] and she a backwoods beauty. I'm hoping for better from Cathy next time.

I enjoyed this book and cant wait for the next in the series...for the Duke and Miranda's Older Sister, Charlotte.
I liked Miranda and Alex. They acted how they did because of their own issues. Please remember Miranda was 15 years old when she met Alex the first time. How could we expect for her to leave her Father and Sisters and go off to live such a different type of life.
Very Good Effort!

In 1805 New York, Miranda Cameron consults with her two younger sisters about her going to England to marry a wealthy aristocrat. Having fallen in love with a half breed Pawnee-Englishman, Miranda has doubts, but feels her indiscretion with Alex ten years ago hurt her siblings. So with no prospects and little money, she agrees to go with Lady Overstreet, who will arrange a match for a fee.

In the Azores, Captain Alex Haddon of the Warrior is shocked to see Miranda is here. He never forgot or forgave her for what happened between them ten years ago. At a party in her honor, he is nasty to her, but also insists they are married even if it is Pawnee style and they never consummated their vows. A drunken Alex abducts Miranda. As they sail to London they argue until they make love for the first time.

In London, Miranda resides in the home of Alex's business partner while he refuses to see her. Instead he tells the wife of his partner to find her an aristocrat husband. Miranda cries as he has left her again, but vows to marry well for her sisters' sakes.

The strong lead couple with a solid support cast enhancing the plot turns THE PRICE OF INDISCRETION into a fine historical romance. Fans will appreciate the dilemma facing the likable heroine as she must choose between responsibility and loyalty to her beloved sisters vs. her beloved. Although at times Alex's behavior seems confusing, readers will appreciate this fine early nineteenth century tale and look forward to the sisters starring in future novels.

Harriet Klausner

The constant changing from Alex to the Duke on whoever at the moment was opposing her decision left my head spinning. I finished the book but would not give it my approval for a good read. Sorry Cathy, you are a great writer but this story could have been better.

*** Back cover synopsis ***
The granddaughter of an earl, Miranda Cameron has had an unconventional upbringing. However, for the sake of her sisters, she must charm the ton, and make a spectacular match. Miranda believes she is prepared for the task ahead - until she is confronted by Alex Haddon, the renegade son of a British general.
Alex has tempted fate to raise himself from a man scorned by society to one with vast wealth and influence. There had been a time when Miranda meant everything to him. His love for her had almost cost him his life. Now, all he sees is a woman willing to sell herself to the highest bidder--provided the bidder isn't him.
What man can resist such a challenge?
Miranda enchants London's powerful noblemen, even as she keeps her past a secret. Alex is not immune to her intoxicating sensuality. Scandal, and far worse, is what she must risk for another chance with the man she still loves... no matter the price.

*** Review (without spoilers ^_^) ***
Alex and Miranda were childhood lovers, well, maybe not childhood since they were of 15-17 years of age, anyway, because of Alex's birth background, Miranda's father forbidden them to be together, hence breaking up the young couple.
Years later, Miranda's oldest sister, Charlotte had enough of living under the eyes of the people in her town and wants to gain honor and respect back for her family. She devises a plan for Miranda to marry a man with a title, specifically a duke. Through Miranda's travel, she runs back into Alex and old sparks and feelings came rushing to them both again.
However, because of a misunderstanding, Alex decides to give up on Miranda only to find out that he can't live without her AGAIN. As he decides to win her back, Miranda was already planning to marry a duke for the sake of her sisters' happiness. She also realizes she weren't as saint as she thought she could be. She could never give up the love of her life for the world itself. The two finally had to make some struggles to achieve the love they felt for each other, which at the crucial time, too many people were already involved and would suffer the duke's raft if Miranda makes a hasty movement. Will love really bring everything back to right?

*** Personal opinion ***
The plot was really good and I usually don't like reading about childhood lovers, but this was a different one for me. I anticipated the moment for the both to meet again.
Alex has a likable character and Miranda on the other hand has my sympathy and understanding of why she agreed to her sister's plot to marry a man with a title. She just wanted to be selfless and restore happiness to her only family since it was her indiscretion in the first place that caused grieve to her sisters.
My favorite component of this book was the unexplainable feeling that Alex and Miranda shared: their ability to sense one another's presences when they are in the same room without seeing each other first. It was such a romantic sign to have to indicate soul-mates.
The thing that kept me from giving this book a 5 star was the plot Charlotte had. She's like blinded to the title. But she did make up for that at the end of the story. And the situation that Miranda got herself into when she agreed to marry the duke. It was a selfish act to breakup the engagement considering all the people that was going to be dragged into the pit by her. I just thought all of the raft that the duke was going to give them could've been avoided if Miranda came to her senses earlier and just stayed put with Alex. But I guess if that happens, we won't have the story that was intended.

I enjoy every book I have read of Cathy Maxwell. This one gave me a little bit of a emotional toll. They're together then they're not. I believe the character Miranda was too vanerable compared to the other female characters she has written. I did feel that the chracters from Temptation of a Proper Governess has change too much since we last read it. It is nice to seee the characters agian, I felt they had too soon of a twist in characteristics.

I don't believe that if Miranda and Alex did get together, it would have been such a hassel.

I have enjoyed each and every one of Cathy Maxwell's books. I generally buy them based on her name alone. This name recognition has always been a guarantee of pleasurable reading. Unfortunately, this effort was a disappointment. I was totally distracted by the indecision of the main characters. I honestly tried to like them - but found their consistent "bad timing" to be overdone. The book could have had far less of the repetitive "I love you, but I can't have you in my life" Honestly, Can a ship really spin around and change directions that many times???

I was also distracted by the number of typographical errors found throughout the book. Perhaps better editing could help here.

I can perhaps excuse Ms. Maxwell's effort this time - she actually does make mention of confusion in her life recently in the forward - I agree with her when she writes, "They say it takes a village. I say it takes a Mosh Pit." Hopefully, her situation is better - I wish her well and look forward to Charlotte's story - hopefully, being the older sister, she will be more mature in her approach to commitment.

I don't usually right reviews, but I need to vent about this book. The story itself wasn't half bad, but I could not stand either Miranda or Alex. Miranda was self-centered, indecisive, and moronic. Alex was equally self-centered, indecisive and moronic. One moment he's wearing his native-american collar to show he doesn't care what others think, and the next minute he's wishing he was full white to appease Miranda.
As far as I'm concerned these two suck and they probably deserve each other. I hope Charlotte and the Duke are not as thoroughly unlikeable in their story.