Indiscreet (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Although Balogh's (Heartless) seamless, fairy-tale Regency lacks some of the complexity and period detail of her previous books, it nonetheless engages the reader with sharply drawn, likable characters. Lady Catherine Winsmore, a heroine of quiet courage, refused a forced marriage when rape left her with an illegitimate child. Exiled by her family, she poses as a young widow, Mrs. Catherine Winters. An innocent smile brings the unwelcome advances of another rake, the Viscount Rawleigh, Rex Adams. Rather than suffer from new scandal she accepts a loveless marriage to Rex. There are few twists or real subplots, and Catherine's problems aren't so much resolved as magically waved away by Rex. But what makes this book touching is its bittersweet portrayal of a victim wronged by her attacker and by society, and the compassion and trust that eventually redeem two lives.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description

Longing for diversion while visiting his brother, the Viscount Rawleigh propositions young widow Catherine Winters, and the shocked lady finds her virtues challenged by her budding feelings for the rakish lord.

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Jove (January 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0515120014
• ISBN-13: 978-0515120011
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #608,938 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Delicious Treat., July 3, 2000

By	kellytwo "kellytwo" (cleveland hts, ohio) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

What, if anything, could be better than a Regency romance by Mary Balogh? To be sure, it could only be a LONGER, more in-depth Regency romance by Mary Balogh. This was the first in a new series from Berkley as just such a lavish, extremely fulfilling treat. It is NOT a historical disguised as a Regency, but the very real thing.

From her first greeting to Viscount Rawleigh, Catherine Winters finds herself annoyingly attracted to the man, whom she had initially taken for his twin-brother and her near neighbor, Mr. Adams. The Viscount, on the other hand, makes erroneous suppositions about the lovely widow, and during the whole of this long and lovely book, sparks fly between these two strong and independent characters.

Against his better judgment, the Viscount accompanies his brother back to Bodley-on-the-water, for a change of scenery. His brother's wife is determined to make a match between her younger sister and the handsome Rex, refusing to believe he is not interested in the untried chit. He is equally determined to avoid her snares, protecting his heart from further damage, it having been broken once already.

Catherine is obviously a lady, or at least with some pretensions toward gentility, if a bit young to be a widow at the age of five-and-twenty. Content with her current existence, she has a dog for companionship, and enjoys the society (although knowing it for exactly the condescension that it is) of the occupants of the small village, from the Viscount's brother to the garrulous rector.

Of course, Rawleigh believes the toothsome widow to be eminently beddable, based on little more than a smile or two, and pursues his goal with admirable intent. She must certainly be interested in him, for how else could she so readily tell him apart from his identical brother? No one else ever could! No matter how impregnable any woman believes her fortress to be, the gates may nearly always be opened by the right key. He inadvertently compromises her; they must marry, and all the long-held secrets come tumbling out.

As usual, Mary Balogh does not disappoint the reader; this is truly (to borrow a word coined by her original publisher) a SUPER Regency!

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A regency favorite, December 26, 1999

By	Bonnie Gilbert (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews

If you are a lover of the regency period, this book is a must read for you.

When a bored young Viscount goes to the country to visit his twin brother he sees a beautiful young widow and is determined to have her as his "temporary" mistress. Just to pass the time. Viscount Rawleigh is shocked with beautiful Catherine Winters refuses him. Catherine is mortified when Viscount Rawleigh makes the inappropriate proposition to her, mostly because she was very, very tempted.

Determined to keep her reputation in tact, Catherine does all she can to stay away from the rake. Things don't turn out as Catherine plans and one night he is seen leaving her cottage after hours. Her reputation is ruined. Rex does the right thing and marries the young widow, but soon finds out that she is not as she appears. Catherine has many dark secrets. Secrets she would rather keep hidden.

This is a wonderful book that I'm sure the regency lover will adore. Catherine is charming and Rex is well, Rex is a rake. But don't we all love the rakes? Mary Balogh tells the story like no other can. Highly recommended.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent regency, introducing characters for further books, November 17, 2000

By	Dr W. Richards "wmr-uk" (Canada) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Catherine Winters smiles and curtsies at a gentleman passing her in the street, thinking him to be her landlord, Mr Adams. Instead, he is her landlord's twin brother, Viscount Rawleigh, who assumes that she's throwing out lures. So he pursues her, and eventually makes an improper proposal, which she rejects angrily. Not that he gives up; he continues to pursue her. Although she is attracted to him, she has no wish to become anyone's mistress and keeps refusing him... until the night when he's careless and she's compromised utterly...

One of the things Balogh does really well in this book is to give us an excellent picture of the nature of English society in the Regency era. First we have the claustrophobic village atmosphere, and the incredibly judgemental inhabitants; it's hard to imagine how people could have coped with that. Later, we have London society: the ton, for whom an eternity would be a short time, and who were not likely to have forgotten Catherine's indiscretion in a mere six years.

Rex was at his best in the scenes after his and Catherine's marriage; up until that point he appeared shallow and uncaring, but it was after they arrived at his estate that I started to like him. And in the end this was a lovely love story.

Can't wait to read the sequel next, to find out why Ken had to hurry off so suddenly!