Love's Charade by Jane Feather

by Jane Feather

The Earl of Linton had never been prone to sentiment. only boredom could have led him to rescue Danny, a filthy street urchin, from the clutches of a drunken brawler. Once rescued, however, the spirited ragamuffin proved a handful even for the usually unflappable nobleman. Not only did a simple bath require force, but the squirming brat imprisoned in his arms turned out to be a winsome young lady - and a strangely familiar on at that...Danielle was grateful for the Earl's timely intervention, but not for his arrogance and bruising strength. She had fended for herself quite well until now, against dangers more far-reaching than anyone imagined. That she had won the Earl's considerable protection only made it more vital that she keep her wits about her - and never give in to the quickening of her heartbeat evey time his deceptively lazy eyes bore into hers.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Regency, British Literature, Fiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Jane Feather (born Jane Robotham) is a popular British–American writer of historical romance novels. In 1984 she wrote five contemporary romances under the pseudonym Claudia Bishop. She is a New York Times-bestselling, award–winning writer, and has more than ten million romance novels in print.

Reviews

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread: 2/20/24

Reread:6/2/20
Excellent. I loved Danny and Justin. They were the perfect couple. Danny was so impressive, impulsive, and downright cute. Justin was able to curtail her impulsiveness without taking away her spark. The couple shared in many adventures during the French Terror. I loved this read!

[* kyrat · Rating 1 out of 5]

No, just NO. WHY WOULD THE AUTHOR DO THIS?

1. I dislike the older man/under 18 girl trope, but I since I know that was common then, I suppress the ick factor & keep reading.
but then:
2. Turns out he slept with her MOTHER. ICK!!!!
AND
3. He slept with her mother 18 years ago. The mother had only birthed stillborns sons to the husband and given the exact right timing, I think oh ok, he's going to turn out to be her father. He's not the love interest, it's all ok then. This is just the subplot to the romance, she'll meet the love interest later.

Until I keep reading and he keeps thinking about how she arouses him.
*I'M GOING TO VOMIT.*

This is just wrong. Perhaps without those few sentences about her mother I might have felt differently, but now I'm just revolted and there is no enjoyment in this quasi-incestuous mess.

[Regina George · Rating 1 out of 5]

I felt like I was reading the ongoing brain dump of the authors dreams....some things she should have kept to herself **yikes- yep I went there** 😬

In theory there were a few good plot ideas, I liked the historical setting and I liked how multi-talented Danielle aka Danny is. She can fence, she can go undercover rescuing people, she is a talented equestrian and is just generally so brave. ✨ Girl power! ✨

What I really disliked about the book was how controlling her husband is. Theres a sexy way to do banter and then there's just straight out domestic control and abuse. Linton is just abusive, he constantly calls her 'brat' like its an endearment but it was weird, he treats her like a child by demanding that she obey him and he is constantly throwing her around and manhandling her - at one point forcing her to drink laudanum. 🤮

As other people have mentioned he has also slept with her mother - and he never tells her about this. It seems like the author tries to make him redeemable, because sometimes he will reflect on his actions - BUT THEN he just goes and does the same, dumb, controlling abusive stuff AGAIN!!! 😤 ❌❌

This book took me almost 8 whole hours to read, *** gags*** I suggest you sleep instead because we could all dream up something better than this book! 😴 ✨

[Noël Cades · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hugely enjoyable historic romance with a rich plot, exciting adventure and a sexy age-gap marriage.

Love's Charade by Jane Feather is a must-read for historic romance fans. As well as enjoying the love story, I learnt a lot about the French Revolution and enjoyed the detail of the setting.

Seventeen-year-old Danielle de St Varennes is rescued from the streets by 36-year-old Justin, Earl of Linton. There's rather a lot of extreme effort to preserve her honour and reputation (I did wonder about the plausibility and necessity of some of this, given he plans to marry her anyway, and given she is escaping a massacre and later revolution). But eventually he gets her to her grandparents' house in Cornwall and then rather rapidly marries her. I might have liked a bit of resistance from her at this point: she acquiesces immediately.

However Danielle then proceeds exactly as she pleases and they have endless rows, with Justin increasingly realising he can't control her.

Their relationship is quite erotically charged and there's a nice juicy drawn-out wedding night scene. "Lie on the bed now, Danielle." The soft command was enforced by his hands pushing her gently backwards.

It's possible readers looking for romance will find less to enjoy in the later stages, and you may wish to skim these. It's a reasonably long book: pretty much a full romance novella by the end of Part 1 so you could almost stop there if you wanted to. However I would recommend reading to the end as there is continued relationship development as well as adventure and intrigue.

[Rundee · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have the problem probably everyone has with the book: it's statutory rape, plain and simple. An older man that sleeps with the daughter of his former lover (18 years ago and the daughter now is 17) who he calls "child", hits so hard she falls on the floor, locks in frequently or carries away more than once.
And praises how small and tiny and skinny she is.
This is... Well... incestuous and (almost) pedophile.

And also how on earth does he know she's not his daughter? He never even checks.
Does it turn a certain audience on? Off course it does, that's why people read it.
And that's why this is probably the 3d book I accidentally read where a father figure sleeps with his charge.

I'm at the end of the first third now where he deflowered her and she off course came "like a mistress" in the first 30 seconds of said deflowering without being touched at her "secret place". Yeah right, that's totally how sex works...at 17 no less.
I think I'll DNF, I feel dirty reading this.

[Dogless · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can't read this. In just a few pages I was overcome with disgust due to the incest and pedophile vibes. He's clearly her dad, but he doesn't care and she doesn't know. And hey, I might even get past that, forget it's a thing... expect that it's really damn difficult when he keeps calling her a child, brat, infant etc every five minutes. Just eww.

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF.

Father/daughter incest story disguised as a bodice ripper. Weird. So, so weird.

[Fiordiligii · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-read June 2023: A comfort trash

Re-read February 2020: A+ This is an old school romance with a 17 year old heroine and a 34 year old hero. I love it to bits, it pushes all the right buttons.

Re-read August 2017: A+++

Re-read March 2017: It's been three years since I re-read this gem. Love's Charade is a typical old school romance but I love it to death A+.


This is one of my most cherished and favourite old school romances which I re-read regularly about once every one to two years. The printing is so small I would say one page contains at least one and a half as many words as regular pb books do today. With over 450 pages the story would probably be split into three parts à la Shades of Gray, whereas during the good old age of bodice rippers, novels were allowed to be meaty, lengthy and fleshed out without the hero and heroine going at each other from the second chapter.

What makes me love this novel so much are several factors. First, I love May-December romances and with an age gap of 17 years we certainly do have that constellation in this book. Furthermore, the heroine is a truly well-developed young lady with a believable yet untraditional upbringing which makes her stand out between all those boring school room misses. Third and lastly, there are true conflicts between the hero and heroine, even after their marriage, as the book doesn't end with the wedding night. And it is not always the hero who wins, on the contrary, he has to severely adapt his opinions several times in order win his woman over. A

[Nyasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. After reading the hunger games, i thought i'd dive into some old English-French romance. The story takes you back into the French Revolution. A time when the rich enjoyed the life of the privileged, and the poor where left to scramble. A time when the rich in France enjoyed the luxuriant lifestyles in the French court under the rule of Louis XVI and the infamous Queen Marie Antoinette. She who was famously quoted as saying, "if you don't have bread...then eat cake" Just showing how ignorant the rich were to the plight of the poor. Anyway, its romance, is it not? Danielle, or better known as Danny to her beloved husband, is born into that privileged life, only to have it all taken away by the people during the revolution. Alone, she lives the life of an urchin, in the streets of Paris, only to be rescued by the British Earl, Justin Linton. Their love blooms,and unlike most couples back in the day, these two have actually married for love. Like most couples, the story is of their love, and how it endures the strains of the Revolution going on in France, which affected their British counterparts. I could go on and on, about the book, but long story short, i enjoyed it...

However, i was not quite sure i liked the way the writer portrayed the main character, Danny! She was god at everything...the perfect wife, lover, absolutely intelligent beyond her age, beautiful...She was just too good to be true...to me that is

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just couldn't finish this one. The relationship seemed dated and patronizing.

[Marina P · Rating 1 out of 5]

I stopped reading because I did not like how the story progressed: the heroine is 17 and the hero could literally be her father, as he had an affair with her mother 18 years ago.

For me he is plain and simple a horny pedophile.

Simply disgusting.

[Sandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

The influence of 'These Old Shades' can be felt heavily in the first part and it might add to my disappointment about Love's Charade because it highlights what doesn't work. What irks me most is that Danny has absolutely no common sense, planning skills or self preservation. Leonie (TOS heroine) isn't a star in the planning department and her temper gets the better of her to her detriment sometimes but Danielle? She takes unneeded risks constantly. Two examples: she goes into Newgate to free a girl and is nearly killed, breaking her word to Justin, instead of a) taking competent help with her or b) waiting five more minutes for her husband who was minutes behind her! Most of her brawls (apart from the first one) are so stupid it grates, she constantly risks her disguise and her safety with her temper tantrums. 2nd: when she thinks Justin is dead she leaves (her kid) and personally saves victims of the Reign of Terror in France instead of using her social station to help, which would have been more effective.

The other really grating thing is of technical aspect, JF slips a lot and constantly inserts a future/author voice into the narrative referencing future historical events. It's extremely disruptive. Everyone who knows a little bit of history and reads the date and the first chapter KNOWS what will happen five years later. Give us readers some credit.

[Elle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jane Feather has a real gift for putting historical detail in a pretty good story. This one is set in the years leading up to the Reign of Terror. The heroine is a young but feisty French girl. The hero is a much older, jaded nobleman spying for Pitt. Lots of good background tying in with a story that is fun to read.

I think this must be Feather's first novel. It has a lot of the elements. First books are the books that the authors work the longest and hardest on, usually the stories that they have their first passion for. This one is a little overwritten in places, but there are also some really nice, fresh turns of phrase and great insights.

[Maverick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Over all this book was a good book. The main problem I had was the story just keep going on and on. It felt like i had read three books about this one couple and a bit like the author just didnt want to remove any "extra story" 3 stars

[Andrea · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

[JJ · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was terrible. No romance. Plot went on and on. Characters were not likable. The couple were 18 years apart and the relationship was ridiculous. So happy it's done.

[Sara L · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so insane. Truly so much going on. So many conflicts. In fact, my main complaint that knocks this book down for me is that it is just too long. It got a little slow in the middle before picking back up.

However, there was much more about this book that I liked than I didn’t. The backdrop of the French Revolution was very interesting and something I have never read in a HR before. And it wasn’t just a touch of French Revolution either. It was deeply embedded in the plot and character development. Danny was inextricably linked to France and the violence occurring there. Landmark moments in her life and relationship with Justin corresponded with important dates for the French. Notable historical figures appeared in the story. I’m not sure how much was true, but it was fascinating regardless.

Lots of great side characters in this book. And despite the slow moments and some frustrating ones, I overall enjoyed the relationship between Danny and Justin.

[Sharon Osburn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very Long Dramatic Romance somewhat boring

Because it was so long it became boring. You knew in advance the heroine's character would cause more adventure and her narrow escape. I almost didn't finish reading it because she was so young and he was twice her age. That turned me off even though that was the thing during that time. Still I didn't enjoy the romance because of it. She seemed not to learn from her mistakes and it was too much for me. I've read nothing like this plot and hopefully will never again. Therefore I won't read this author's books any more. I gave it 4 stars because despite my negative review it was well written and I did finish it despite my own desire to return it early.

[Norma · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF not even 1/3 of the way in.
1. Age: +34(?) male paired with 17 y/o female. Ick. Seems like something that ought to be able to be adjusted for current audiences?
2. Hero at age 16, sleeps with the heroine's mom (age unknown but over 20 and of an age to be multiple miscarriages into her marriage)... 18 years ago...and the heroine of the story is 17 y/o ... There is the tiniest mention that some of her features and mannerisms are like her mother, while others are like her mother's husband... ummm...

Honestly, if the ages and sexual experience could be delicately adjusted, a wider audience may be willing to stomach the autocratic BS from the paternalistic hero (🤢) but I just canNOT with those hanging over the entire story. Sorry ✌🏻

[marie fricchione · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Feather novel special!

Jane Feather! There’s no author like her. Her storytelling is beyond compare-always great storylines! Her descriptive scenes are breathtakingly beautiful and as you read it seems like you are there!
Her H/h are rare and exciting and you root for them hard!
This particular novel was very long and it took forever to get to the HEA! But it happens to be an exciting story filled with French history during the French Revolution. The lovers are mad about each other as they go on many dangerous adventures together.
I’m certain you will enjoy their escapades!

[Christina Pikas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Back to the older style historic romances with the 34 year old controlling dude and the 17 year old imp who is amazingly talented at sword fighting, riding a horse, talking like a gutter snipe, and being a lady in court. Bad guy intends sexual assault (as they apparently all did then?) A little past that, you know? But Feather does write a good and griping story. This is set earlier than most, in 1789 at the start of the French Revolution. The main character is a noble from far flung Languedoc and has to make her way to her mother's family in Cornwall. Dude is an English spy who rescues (sorta) her.

[Alexandra Beatriz · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s my first time to read a book as such, English-French Revolution. It gave me a lot of insights of what was happening at that time. It was well-written and the characters had developed throughout the story. The disappointing part is where Justin and Danny drew somehow apart from each other since their marriage. Also that the first part of the story is really sweet and would have wanted to end the book right after they got married but the story drag longer than it should have. It should’ve been one of those cute short stories but oh well.

[Bks43v3r]

Unrated

I DNF. I got about 40% in. I think it is more me than the book. The heroine was very young and very headstrong. I like that she wasn't a simpering miss. The Hero had a very strong, take charge personality. He was a little domineering at times. He was not bad, though. He was a lot older than her. But that was not a problem for me. Men marrying much younger women (had to get heirs etc.) and the 'man being in charge' was just how things were in those times. So it was just realistic. I am going to shelved it for now but I might pick it back up again in the future.

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

i enjoyed the beginning of the book and the very end. The rest of it was a chore to get through but I did not want to relegate it to the dreaded "Did Not Finish" shelf. I have enjoyed several other books by Jane Feather. This one is just too grim for me. I'd reread A Tale of Two Cities if I wanted to be immersed in the violence of the French Revolution again.

[Kayla Haswell Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms Feather at her finest

This story drops you in another place and time the characters come alive and you experience the story with them. The best storyteller this is one of my favorites from Jane Feather

[Tonileg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical English/French romance set in middle of the Terror in France and the proceeding years of crazy political upheaval while mostly our characters stay safe in England.
Lord Justin, Earl of Linton is in Paris on official English business when he saves a street kid from a violent baker who turns out to be a young high born lady, Danielle de St Varennes. It is obvious from the start of their journey back to England that Justin was going to marry Danny, because she was impossible compromised and would never be able to enter society with out a strong marriage to introduce her to London high society.
What was a surprise was the affection and respect that develops between Justin (thirty-something mature man) and the barely legal Danielle. We live about two years of their life as they start out their life partnership.
I liked this historical fiction because it really lives deeply in the political turmoil of the times as well as the misogynistic society. It was nice to see a tough smart lady making a difference in two countries with every level of society as she tries to make everyone that she comes into contact, have a better life then before. Maybe more of us could be a bit more like Danny.
478 pages
4 stars

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Historical romance set in revolutionary France and also in England.

[Scoyphenson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tedious.

[Cassandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bit of Georgette Heyer channeling here, even the names are the same as her novels. Old school is fun once in a while but I only made it halfway through. Too much on the TBR pile right now.

[Gevera Piedmont · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book wasn't bad it just went on forever. She just tried to cram too many ideas into one romance novel. It should have been two.