What do you think?
Rate this book
Destitute on His Doorstep
Destitute and desperate, Jane Lucas knows there is one place where she can find refuge—her childhood home.
Landing on the doorstep, Jane is confronted with a new lord of the manor! Devilish Colonel Francis Russell is known for his fierce reputation in battle. The civil war may be ended but, by stepping over the threshold, Jane fears she's crossing enemy lines.
She will use every weapon in her arsenal to claim the home that's rightfully hers, starting with her bewitching charm…but then she goes and falls under the colonel's spell!
Landing on the doorstep, Jane is confronted with a new lord of the manor! Devilish Colonel Francis Russell is known for his fierce reputation in battle. The civil war may be ended but, by stepping over the threshold, Jane fears she's crossing enemy lines.
She will use every weapon in her arsenal to claim the home that's rightfully hers, starting with her bewitching charm…but then she goes and falls under the colonel's spell!
Mass Market Paperback
First published February 1, 2011
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 19, 2023
More flowing locks and throbbing loins than you can shake a stick at. How prejudiced of me to have expected this English Civil War-set Mills and Boon, with such a promising title and cover, to be trash.
Some sentences were nothing short of inspired: "The warmly mellow tones of Colonel Russell's voice were imbued with a rich quality that seemed to vibrate through Jane's womanly being." (p.49)
Struck by the elegance and insight of such a sentence, I immediately felt like a needed to read it again. Luckily, knowing the human heart like she does, Dickson provided: "The warmly mellow tones of his voice were imbued with a rich quality that seemed to vibrate through Jane's whole being." (p.63)
In short, I'm left wondering why Helen Dickson isn't (yet) a household name. Some say true artists are rarely appreciated in their own age...
Some sentences were nothing short of inspired: "The warmly mellow tones of Colonel Russell's voice were imbued with a rich quality that seemed to vibrate through Jane's womanly being." (p.49)
Struck by the elegance and insight of such a sentence, I immediately felt like a needed to read it again. Luckily, knowing the human heart like she does, Dickson provided: "The warmly mellow tones of his voice were imbued with a rich quality that seemed to vibrate through Jane's whole being." (p.63)
In short, I'm left wondering why Helen Dickson isn't (yet) a household name. Some say true artists are rarely appreciated in their own age...
December 20, 2023
If you’re expecting to be horny in the Himalayas reading this Mills and Boon, then let me save you the trouble of wishful thinking (and maybe packing your vibrator).
I knew in my heart of hearts that this book would be bad. I’ve read better fanfiction, to be honest. The historical element was about the only interesting element - civil war, witchcraft! Spicy!
But the “tension” built up between the main protagonists over 250 pages was frustratingly circular and repetitive. The language banal and equally unimaginative - “so male” was a particularly favourite adjective. Every cliché possible was used - an impressive feat. Though I can see why housewives of yesteryear enjoyed reading this romantic escapism - it’s easily digestible and offers a little more excitement than perhaps the humdrum of their routine lives.
However, not even the lofty peaks of the world’s most humbling mountains could save this book. The couple in a lodge room next to me exhibited more real romance from their early morning exploits than this book did.
I knew in my heart of hearts that this book would be bad. I’ve read better fanfiction, to be honest. The historical element was about the only interesting element - civil war, witchcraft! Spicy!
But the “tension” built up between the main protagonists over 250 pages was frustratingly circular and repetitive. The language banal and equally unimaginative - “so male” was a particularly favourite adjective. Every cliché possible was used - an impressive feat. Though I can see why housewives of yesteryear enjoyed reading this romantic escapism - it’s easily digestible and offers a little more excitement than perhaps the humdrum of their routine lives.
However, not even the lofty peaks of the world’s most humbling mountains could save this book. The couple in a lodge room next to me exhibited more real romance from their early morning exploits than this book did.
June 7, 2013
I just couldn't get into this one, mostly because of the writing. It felt very "old skool" romance--the villain was not only on the wrong side in the English Civil War, he was sadistic, perverted, cruel, etc., etc. the heroine was the most beautiful woman ever, the hero the most manly... And the writing was more telling than anything. It was the author's voice & style I just couldn't get into. Simply could not make myself slog through.
September 4, 2012
I tried and tried but just could not continue reading this book. The style of the writing was so archaic that I was surprised when I saw it is written in 2011. I could bet my life that it was written in 70-ies...
September 17, 2022
this book was a good story. i don't get many books from cromwells time.
April 15, 2018
She reminds me of a tomcat, hissing and spitting for all she's worth, no matter if she's getting cream or the cane. In fact she's being so irrational that I got bored with it. But there's plenty of fire and good language in the story and that does make it worth reading.
October 4, 2015
It's okay if you prefer your romances chaste and virginal. I, however, prefer mine to be a little more spicy and passionate, which this book is not.
The other problem I had with this book is that the author and publisher mark this story as being during the "English Civil War". For those of us who live on the Stateside of the Atlantic Ocean, we haven't a clue as to when that was. There was absolutely no indication anywhere in the book when that time period is in English history.
The other problem I had with this book is that the author and publisher mark this story as being during the "English Civil War". For those of us who live on the Stateside of the Atlantic Ocean, we haven't a clue as to when that was. There was absolutely no indication anywhere in the book when that time period is in English history.
March 18, 2014
I read the back and thought i wasn't going to enjoy this book. I was surprised.
A few small issues, but nothing that can be said without spoiling, and it didn't really effect the story, so i won't bother to much with them.
A few small issues, but nothing that can be said without spoiling, and it didn't really effect the story, so i won't bother to much with them.
April 6, 2016
Too much words
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews