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Code of Honor
A gifted artist, Alexandra Chilton is far more passionate about painting and intellectual pursuits than the shackles of marriage. Until she meets the most notorious rake in London, the Earl of Branford, who seems determined to win her favors by any means.
Bored and restless, Branford has accepted a seduce Miss Alexandra Chilton. Unaware that Alexandra is an Innocent-and that he's being used as a pawn in a nefarious game-Branford is surprised when Alexandra challenges both his intellect and jaded heart.
Passion flares, scandal threatens, and suddenly it's no longer a game, as a cunning enemy seeks to destroy their blossoming love.
INTREPID HEROINES SERIES, in order
Code of Honor
The Hired Hero
A Stroke of Luck
Pistols at Dawn
SCANDALOUS SECRETS SERIES, in order
The Banished Bride
Lady of Letters
The Major's Mistake
LESSONS IN LOVE, in series order
The Defiant Governess
Second Chances
The Storybook Hero
Bored and restless, Branford has accepted a seduce Miss Alexandra Chilton. Unaware that Alexandra is an Innocent-and that he's being used as a pawn in a nefarious game-Branford is surprised when Alexandra challenges both his intellect and jaded heart.
Passion flares, scandal threatens, and suddenly it's no longer a game, as a cunning enemy seeks to destroy their blossoming love.
INTREPID HEROINES SERIES, in order
Code of Honor
The Hired Hero
A Stroke of Luck
Pistols at Dawn
SCANDALOUS SECRETS SERIES, in order
The Banished Bride
Lady of Letters
The Major's Mistake
LESSONS IN LOVE, in series order
The Defiant Governess
Second Chances
The Storybook Hero
170 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 1998
38 people are currently reading
279 people want to read
About the author
Andrea Pickens
39 books97 followersAndrea Pickens is a pseudonym for an author who has also written as Cara Elliott for Grand Central and Andrea Penrose for Kensington and NAL. Her historical mysteries and romantic novels are set in Regency England, an era that has fascinated her ever since she picked up a copy of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.
A graduate of Yale, she has won numerous writing awards, including two Daphne Du Maurier Awards for historical mystery, the Golden Leaf, and she’s been a three-time finalist for the prestigious RITA Award. Her books have been translated into nine different languages.
A graduate of Yale, she has won numerous writing awards, including two Daphne Du Maurier Awards for historical mystery, the Golden Leaf, and she’s been a three-time finalist for the prestigious RITA Award. Her books have been translated into nine different languages.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
July 3, 2012
This was an enjoyable, lightweight read with well-drawn principals. It was well-written (if a bit predictable) and I wasn't overly keen on the mystery aspect of the plot, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
I feel compelled to point out that the ebook version I read contained a number of typos and that in quite a few places, there were words missing, like "and", "to" - things that one can easily supply for oneself, but which jar when reading.
The most striking ommissions however appeared (or didn't!) whenever a character used a latin name for a plant or something similar, and in the text what appeared was : (Latin). It looks to me as though whoever prepared the ebook version meant to go back later and add in the correct words and never got around to it!
I feel compelled to point out that the ebook version I read contained a number of typos and that in quite a few places, there were words missing, like "and", "to" - things that one can easily supply for oneself, but which jar when reading.
The most striking ommissions however appeared (or didn't!) whenever a character used a latin name for a plant or something similar, and in the text what appeared was : (Latin). It looks to me as though whoever prepared the ebook version meant to go back later and add in the correct words and never got around to it!
March 7, 2017
I loved this book and finished it in no time. I'm sure I will continue to read other books of this author
The romance was the best part of this story. I found the relationship that forms between Alex and Brandford so romantic and I really liked that Alex's brother reminds Brandford of his lost cousin. I really recommend this book to thoses who love romances with happy endings.
The romance was the best part of this story. I found the relationship that forms between Alex and Brandford so romantic and I really liked that Alex's brother reminds Brandford of his lost cousin. I really recommend this book to thoses who love romances with happy endings.
May 20, 2010
Code of Honor was the first regency I've ever read by the talented Andrea Pickens. I was very impressed and finished this book in no time.
This book revolves around "the bet plot"......a plot that is frequently done in romance novels. What's different about this book is that as soon as The Earl of Branford finds out that the lovely bluestocking Alex is an innocent...HE CALLS THE BET OFF! His honor will not allow him to seduce and innocent. Fortunately for him, after meeting Alex..it's all over for him. He falls in love with Alex very early on, even though he won't admit it!
The romance was the best part of this story. The mystery was distracting for me and so I took off 1 star for that. The relationships that form between Alex and Branford and Branford and Alex's brother are alone worth finding this book for. I loved it and will continue to scope for this author's work.
This book revolves around "the bet plot"......a plot that is frequently done in romance novels. What's different about this book is that as soon as The Earl of Branford finds out that the lovely bluestocking Alex is an innocent...HE CALLS THE BET OFF! His honor will not allow him to seduce and innocent. Fortunately for him, after meeting Alex..it's all over for him. He falls in love with Alex very early on, even though he won't admit it!
The romance was the best part of this story. The mystery was distracting for me and so I took off 1 star for that. The relationships that form between Alex and Branford and Branford and Alex's brother are alone worth finding this book for. I loved it and will continue to scope for this author's work.
November 10, 2016
This is a fun, adventure read. Full marks for featuring a Regency-era heroine who manages to be "intrepid", intelligent, and bold while also staying within the historical probabilities of the age. She's a very knowledgeable botanist and artist whose family is in danger from forces unknown, and nobody will take her (very warranted) suspicions seriously. Except for one man... who knows a few things about being misunderstood because of vicious rumors. "Code of Honor" is a quick read, with plenty of twists and turns all ending in an earned HEA between two characters who we see enough of to know they would genuinely suit each other and have a relationship based on mutual respect and understanding. Lovely read, if somewhat predictable in every respect with an over-the-top mustache-twirling villain.
January 20, 2017
Entertaining Regency Romance with a heroine more interested in botany and her botanical paintings than twu luv. And the hero is not an ass to her.
June 21, 2017
Way too predictable. I was hoping for a fun, clean romance, but it was not. The hero is introduced in the most annoying way: in bed with one of his many mistresses. Later on he redeems a bit, since he is more tolerable than the heroine, who is a know-it-all arrogant girl, what with all her "at least there would be one interesting conversation in the ball".
I knew how the story was going to develop, how it was going to end... so predictable, including a cartoonish villain (that reveals all his crimes and plan towards the end, thinking he already won), duels, kidnaps... yawn.
I knew how the story was going to develop, how it was going to end... so predictable, including a cartoonish villain (that reveals all his crimes and plan towards the end, thinking he already won), duels, kidnaps... yawn.
March 7, 2019
Honor
I enjoyed reading this book. Alexandra Chilton and her brother Justin are in town for the season. Alex does care about the parties but she is doing it for her brother.
Sebastian, Lord Branford meets Alex and realizes that she is not like the other women of the ton.
Things start happening, accidents, a coded letter. Someone is trying to get rid of the sister and brother.
I think anyone would enjoy this book.
I enjoyed reading this book. Alexandra Chilton and her brother Justin are in town for the season. Alex does care about the parties but she is doing it for her brother.
Sebastian, Lord Branford meets Alex and realizes that she is not like the other women of the ton.
Things start happening, accidents, a coded letter. Someone is trying to get rid of the sister and brother.
I think anyone would enjoy this book.
July 1, 2017
good summer read, 200+ pages.
July 16, 2020
(2014) Strong, independent, poor, on-the-shelf female meets well respected )but gishonorable?) Lord. You know the rest Fun read.
October 5, 2021
Ok read not great, romance was not that great. The mystery was bit implausible.
September 26, 2025
The main characters are too stupid for this to be an enjoyable story. Not one of Andrea Pickens' best.
March 14, 2013
Initially, I was put off by the wager and thought it was an awful premise. However, that was quickly squashed and motivations and characters redeemed very early on that you became more involved in the intrigue and the relationship between Alex and Branford. You also enjoyed the side interaction with Alex's brother, Justin and Branford.
As the story progressed, the main focus was the intrigue that surrounded the various attempts on Justin's life. While Justin didn't take them seriously, Alex and subsequently Branford did. I like the potential of this story and I was very much hooked into finding out what the hell was going on. However, I felt the story didn't consistently develop its characters or pacing. The pacing of the suspense portion of the story was beautiful and the relationship with Alex and Branford was getting there. But the introduction to the side stories and the bit of development paid to it was a bit wanting. It felt that this should have been a longer story and that the other threads needed to be better woven.
With that said, I believe the story rating is more of a 2.5. It has great potential and good suspense development. However, it lacked artful incorporation of the various threads and deeper character development than the superficial gothic treatment that just didn't do this story justice.
As the story progressed, the main focus was the intrigue that surrounded the various attempts on Justin's life. While Justin didn't take them seriously, Alex and subsequently Branford did. I like the potential of this story and I was very much hooked into finding out what the hell was going on. However, I felt the story didn't consistently develop its characters or pacing. The pacing of the suspense portion of the story was beautiful and the relationship with Alex and Branford was getting there. But the introduction to the side stories and the bit of development paid to it was a bit wanting. It felt that this should have been a longer story and that the other threads needed to be better woven.
With that said, I believe the story rating is more of a 2.5. It has great potential and good suspense development. However, it lacked artful incorporation of the various threads and deeper character development than the superficial gothic treatment that just didn't do this story justice.
January 20, 2015
Clean Historical English romance with a bored rich lord has a bet to seduce an innocent young lady so this doesn't seem possible because that usual means that marriage would be forced for such bad manners.
I got some old school Barbara Cartland vibes as I read this story about reputations and reality. Some good writing and honestly well fleshed out characters. Lord Sebastian Branford, the Earl of Branford is our anti-hero as well as our actual hero because he is a good guy although his nasty reputation keeps everyone away from him so it comes to no surprise that a country bred young lady shows up with no preconceived ideas about people and immediately seems Branford for the kind gentleman that he really is.
Miss Alexandra Chilton is an artist as well as the caregiver to her family so she grew up much faster then her contemporaries so she would be very interesting to a mature grown man until the childish young ladies looking for a husband during the London season.
Crazy death threats, plots, kidnapping and lots of botany in this fun fluff read.
195 pages and kindle freebie
3 stars
I got some old school Barbara Cartland vibes as I read this story about reputations and reality. Some good writing and honestly well fleshed out characters. Lord Sebastian Branford, the Earl of Branford is our anti-hero as well as our actual hero because he is a good guy although his nasty reputation keeps everyone away from him so it comes to no surprise that a country bred young lady shows up with no preconceived ideas about people and immediately seems Branford for the kind gentleman that he really is.
Miss Alexandra Chilton is an artist as well as the caregiver to her family so she grew up much faster then her contemporaries so she would be very interesting to a mature grown man until the childish young ladies looking for a husband during the London season.
Crazy death threats, plots, kidnapping and lots of botany in this fun fluff read.
195 pages and kindle freebie
3 stars
November 23, 2014
Nice, if predictable, story
Misunderstood, handsome, brooding hero falls in love with bookish, naive heroine because she's different than all the gorgeous, sophisticated ladies who fall so easily into his bed. We have the wager gone badly, the inevitable duel, the greedy, overconfident villain with ludicrous plots to keep a title and fortune that are not his. The story culminates when our supposedly intelligent heroine lapses into incredible stupidity and ends up in the villain's grip. A rescue ensues and our hero and heroine declare their undying love for another. Still, the story proceeds nicely with some entertaining dialogue. There are some editing glitches, but they don't disrupt the flow too badly.
Misunderstood, handsome, brooding hero falls in love with bookish, naive heroine because she's different than all the gorgeous, sophisticated ladies who fall so easily into his bed. We have the wager gone badly, the inevitable duel, the greedy, overconfident villain with ludicrous plots to keep a title and fortune that are not his. The story culminates when our supposedly intelligent heroine lapses into incredible stupidity and ends up in the villain's grip. A rescue ensues and our hero and heroine declare their undying love for another. Still, the story proceeds nicely with some entertaining dialogue. There are some editing glitches, but they don't disrupt the flow too badly.
November 21, 2014
This book could have been so much better, but I was distracted by the editing. Misspelled words, fragmented sentences, paragraphs switched around all led to me giving this book 3 stars. Wasn't thrilled with the bad guys, because they were so typical. It was an easy read, but didn't live up to my expectations.
February 1, 2015
Guess
Ms Pickens keeps you hopping. Just enough clues to keep you wondering. Up to near the end. Wondering who was trying. What were the plans(just that there were plans). Why were they doing what they were doing. Story just kept nudging you along with questions. Excellent. Thank you.
Ms Pickens keeps you hopping. Just enough clues to keep you wondering. Up to near the end. Wondering who was trying. What were the plans(just that there were plans). Why were they doing what they were doing. Story just kept nudging you along with questions. Excellent. Thank you.
dnf
July 18, 2016Old-fashioned Regency, which, although well-written, features characters who are a bit too dull/traditional for my taste. A lord is goaded into a bet that he will sleep with a bluestocking, but after he finds out that she is a virgin, he rips up the bet. But it is too late; he's already attracted to the unusual woman. A mystery plot line attempts to add life, but just bogs things down.
January 6, 2015
It took me a long time to read Code of Honor, I kept trying thinking I would like it but for some reason it did not hold my attention.
The characters were interesting and the story line fun but I just had to keep forcing myself to go back to it.
The characters were interesting and the story line fun but I just had to keep forcing myself to go back to it.
February 11, 2016
A competely forgetable book. I read it while in Italy because it just showed up on my Nook and when I got home, I had to go back to read part of it to remember what it was about. Not worth the time.
December 30, 2009
Enjoy her writings
November 13, 2014
I debated between 2 and 3 stars for this book. It wasn't bad, but I'm glad it was free. I guess....the story was pretty reasonable, but the writing wasn't especially compelling.
January 12, 2016
Is a great book to read forever and ever since the heart of a great book to read
November 28, 2014
Good reading.
Decent plot...likeable characters...
Heroine did come off rather stupid at a critical point but I suppose her actions carried the plot along.
Decent plot...likeable characters...
Heroine did come off rather stupid at a critical point but I suppose her actions carried the plot along.
November 28, 2014
A nice simple read. I got this as a free nook book and it lived up to my expectations. There were a few distracting spelling errors in this copy, maybe get those fixed. Overall an ok read.
March 14, 2015
This is a fun light read.
March 29, 2015
Quite short and very enjoyable for a free ebook! Will look into the rest of the series
July 26, 2015
Great, quick read. The hero and heroine are both likable characters and the relationship really grows naturally throughout the book.
September 1, 2015
Code of Honor
Book 1 of a series kept me reading. Well thought out plot. What kind of trouble we can get into by not trusting.
Book 1 of a series kept me reading. Well thought out plot. What kind of trouble we can get into by not trusting.
September 22, 2015
Good
I enjoyed this book very much. Wished Alex, had a little more sense to follow her intuition and truly all could have been prevented.
I enjoyed this book very much. Wished Alex, had a little more sense to follow her intuition and truly all could have been prevented.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews