What do you think?
Rate this book
Deveraux Trilogy #1
Tender the Storm
She was an engaging young lady of the French aristocracy... He was a daring English nobleman turned secret agent...
Together, Zoe Devereux and the man she knew only as "Rolphe" fled across a wartorn France to the safety of England. Finding it impossible to abandon the innocent girl to London's street:,, Rolphe Brockford, the Marquess of Rivard, scandalized society by making Zoe his wife, though in name only. But as Zoe blossomed from waif-like child to passionate and desirable beauty, the rules of the game changed. And nothing would ever—could ever—be the same again...
Together, Zoe Devereux and the man she knew only as "Rolphe" fled across a wartorn France to the safety of England. Finding it impossible to abandon the innocent girl to London's street:,, Rolphe Brockford, the Marquess of Rivard, scandalized society by making Zoe his wife, though in name only. But as Zoe blossomed from waif-like child to passionate and desirable beauty, the rules of the game changed. And nothing would ever—could ever—be the same again...
445 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1991
51 people are currently reading
329 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Thornton
61 books154 followersMary Forrest George, née Baxter was born and educated in Aberdeen, Scotland, where she taught school for a number of years before establishing her own nursery school, St. Swithin Street Nursery School, an institution that is still going strong today.
She and her husband then emigrated to Canada with their three young sons. She taught kindergarten and Grade One for a number of years in Winnipeg, Manitoba, before becoming lay minister at a Presbyterian Church in Winnipeg.
As part of her continuing education, she enrolled in evening classes at the University of Winnipeg to study Classical Greek. Five years later, having completed an Honor's thesis on Women in Euripides, she received her B.A. (Classics Gold Medalist).
After reading her first romance, a Regency by Georgette Heyer, she was captivated by the genre. Hereafter, writing became her hobby. In 1987, her first book, a small Regency entitled, Bluestocking Bride, was published by Zebra books.
She is the author of twenty-four historical romances, and two novellas. She has been nominated for and received many awards including the Romantic Times Trophy Award for the best New Historical Regency Author and Best Historical Regency. Seven of her novels have been finalists in the Romance Writers of America Rita awards, Scarlet Angel, Strangers at Dawn, Princess Charming and The Perfect Princess, Shady Lady, The Marriage Trap, and The Bachelor Trap. Her books appear regularly on national best-selling lists and have been translated into many languages.
Elizabeth's hobbies include reading (particularly mystery and suspense novels, biography, and history), and traveling to do research for her novels. She is also an avid Harry Potter enthusiast.
She and her husband then emigrated to Canada with their three young sons. She taught kindergarten and Grade One for a number of years in Winnipeg, Manitoba, before becoming lay minister at a Presbyterian Church in Winnipeg.
As part of her continuing education, she enrolled in evening classes at the University of Winnipeg to study Classical Greek. Five years later, having completed an Honor's thesis on Women in Euripides, she received her B.A. (Classics Gold Medalist).
After reading her first romance, a Regency by Georgette Heyer, she was captivated by the genre. Hereafter, writing became her hobby. In 1987, her first book, a small Regency entitled, Bluestocking Bride, was published by Zebra books.
She is the author of twenty-four historical romances, and two novellas. She has been nominated for and received many awards including the Romantic Times Trophy Award for the best New Historical Regency Author and Best Historical Regency. Seven of her novels have been finalists in the Romance Writers of America Rita awards, Scarlet Angel, Strangers at Dawn, Princess Charming and The Perfect Princess, Shady Lady, The Marriage Trap, and The Bachelor Trap. Her books appear regularly on national best-selling lists and have been translated into many languages.
Elizabeth's hobbies include reading (particularly mystery and suspense novels, biography, and history), and traveling to do research for her novels. She is also an avid Harry Potter enthusiast.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
August 24, 2022
Reread: 6/24/21
Reread: 8/24/22
Three children have to separate during the French Terror. Ava is escorted out of France by a British Agent/ Marquess Rivard. Ava has hero worship problem. Unfortunately , Rivard looks at her as a innocent girl. It didn't help that she was disguised like a little girl when escaping France. He even bought the 17yr old a doll.
A year in England, Ava is still in love. When Rivard visits her at her employer's house she tells him the Lord is always hugging her and alluded to other things. Shocked he ask her to marry him. Yes, she tricked him! The Lord was her employer's young grandson.
Unfortunately, her plan backfires. Believing she's too young for a real marriage he drops her off at his country home. His family is horrible! His mother is so mean she let's her daughter in law know about Rivard's mistress. Rivard on the hand, is working an important case and wants his wife safe. He also takes a mistress bc he doesn't want to hurt his wife with his sexual need. Isn't that soo considered!!
Ava decides their marriage was a mistake and leaves for France. She starts a new life in France. She rebuilds her old home hoping to find her siblings. She becomes worldly and the belle of this new society. Oh and she divorces her husband.
After healing from a gunshot wound, Rivard discovers his wife is gone. The man might be ignorant of women but he does love his wife. Unfortunately, his wife is converting with members of this underground society. He is blackmailed by his boss into working to find the villian responsible. Oh and his wife's brother might be an assassin for this group.
Can he win back his wife? Stop the villian?
This book is not your typical fluff. The writing is excellent and the characters were well rounded. The mystery was great, but does not overshadow the romance. At first, I wasn't sure if it was for me, cause the H starts off as an insensitive a**hole. Once the H is in France the book is fantastic. The first time I read this book I gave it 4 stars. Now after rereading, the book is still good_ - even knowing the mystery. That's worth an extra star
I highly recommend!!
Reread: 8/24/22
Three children have to separate during the French Terror. Ava is escorted out of France by a British Agent/ Marquess Rivard. Ava has hero worship problem. Unfortunately , Rivard looks at her as a innocent girl. It didn't help that she was disguised like a little girl when escaping France. He even bought the 17yr old a doll.
A year in England, Ava is still in love. When Rivard visits her at her employer's house she tells him the Lord is always hugging her and alluded to other things. Shocked he ask her to marry him. Yes, she tricked him! The Lord was her employer's young grandson.
Unfortunately, her plan backfires. Believing she's too young for a real marriage he drops her off at his country home. His family is horrible! His mother is so mean she let's her daughter in law know about Rivard's mistress. Rivard on the hand, is working an important case and wants his wife safe. He also takes a mistress bc he doesn't want to hurt his wife with his sexual need. Isn't that soo considered!!
Ava decides their marriage was a mistake and leaves for France. She starts a new life in France. She rebuilds her old home hoping to find her siblings. She becomes worldly and the belle of this new society. Oh and she divorces her husband.
After healing from a gunshot wound, Rivard discovers his wife is gone. The man might be ignorant of women but he does love his wife. Unfortunately, his wife is converting with members of this underground society. He is blackmailed by his boss into working to find the villian responsible. Oh and his wife's brother might be an assassin for this group.
Can he win back his wife? Stop the villian?
This book is not your typical fluff. The writing is excellent and the characters were well rounded. The mystery was great, but does not overshadow the romance. At first, I wasn't sure if it was for me, cause the H starts off as an insensitive a**hole. Once the H is in France the book is fantastic. The first time I read this book I gave it 4 stars. Now after rereading, the book is still good_ - even knowing the mystery. That's worth an extra star
I highly recommend!!
September 7, 2014
This book is the first in a trilogy about a trio of siblings caught up in The Terror. The Deveraux family is from a long line of wealthy bankers, and the writing is on the wall for the parents who know they're destined for the guillotine, but the children's father puts elaborate steps into place to safeguard the three children. In this book, Zoe is slipped out of France with the help of master spy in disguise Rolfe Brockford, Marquess of Rivard, brought to England and dumped in some kind of safe house. Eventually Rolfe gets it in his head to marry Zoe for her protection, but he's busy in 'Town' and dumps her with his bitch of a mother at the family homestead in the country. He's a peach of a guy:
"So I showed a few wild oats in my time...What of it? Once I took a wife to myself, I fully intended to give up my bachelor days.
Long story short and a tad spoilerish, . Rolfe's spy business (seriously, were dukes and earls really involved in this stuff?) takes him to Paris (in disguise, 'natch) where he can continue his male-chauvinist pig attitudes towards bringing his wife to heel.
"But you'll bend to me, my girl. You'll bend or I'll break you in the attempt.
Ah, romance and sweet words of love. Not.
"Malelike, Rolfe meant to demonstrate his power over her in that most intimate act of conjugal life. He had chosen the marital bed as his battle ground."
"I said that in the heat of passion. It's a sort of...you know...masculine fantasy. It doesn't mean a thing.
Wait...this is a romance, isn't it? No, it's not. No sexual chemistry and even when the author does start winding things up for the HEA, it isn't a love scene, it's just sex.
Not my cuppa tea. The author does bring a lot of historical elements and characters into the book, but the entire spy ring story is so convoluted that it's not even worth trying to follow.
I might have gone for two stars just 'cause I finished it, but I had to drop another star just for some seriously annoying typos. Couple of examples:
The sound carried for miles around, and a deathly stillness seemed to envelope the city...
Ouch!
"Zoe was all he could thing about.
I hope that's a typo. The imagery I'm getting about him thinging about something is too scary to contemplate.
"So I showed a few wild oats in my time...What of it? Once I took a wife to myself, I fully intended to give up my bachelor days.
Long story short and a tad spoilerish, . Rolfe's spy business (seriously, were dukes and earls really involved in this stuff?) takes him to Paris (in disguise, 'natch) where he can continue his male-chauvinist pig attitudes towards bringing his wife to heel.
"But you'll bend to me, my girl. You'll bend or I'll break you in the attempt.
Ah, romance and sweet words of love. Not.
"Malelike, Rolfe meant to demonstrate his power over her in that most intimate act of conjugal life. He had chosen the marital bed as his battle ground."
"I said that in the heat of passion. It's a sort of...you know...masculine fantasy. It doesn't mean a thing.
Wait...this is a romance, isn't it? No, it's not. No sexual chemistry and even when the author does start winding things up for the HEA, it isn't a love scene, it's just sex.
Not my cuppa tea. The author does bring a lot of historical elements and characters into the book, but the entire spy ring story is so convoluted that it's not even worth trying to follow.
I might have gone for two stars just 'cause I finished it, but I had to drop another star just for some seriously annoying typos. Couple of examples:
The sound carried for miles around, and a deathly stillness seemed to envelope the city...
Ouch!
"Zoe was all he could thing about.
I hope that's a typo. The imagery I'm getting about him thinging about something is too scary to contemplate.
hr-purgatory
April 27, 2016Definitely not for me!
Thank you, Misfit and Zoe for your reviews! Also, thanks to Nenia for flagging this!
Misfit's Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Zoe's Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Thank you, Misfit and Zoe for your reviews! Also, thanks to Nenia for flagging this!
Misfit's Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Zoe's Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
May 10, 2015
This was a buddy read with my friend Nenia, click on the link to read her bad ass review.
Disclaimer: I'm drunk off beer and writing this review. I can't guarantee that it will be spelled 100% correctly and grammar. Or will make much sense, but fuck it, let's go. :D
Zoe, a slut-shaming holier-than-thou heroine who was dumber than a post.
Rolfe, a misogynistic piece of shit asshole who should have died when he got shot half-way through the book. #Sorry #NotSorry
After awhile I was like yeah, Zoe, divorce your asshole husband. YAY! Open your own Salon. Get that money, girl. #NoJudgementsHere
Rolfe was just being himself which makes me want to smack him with a textbook.
Also nicknames in kinky/BDSM books usually don't bother me in context, but out of context in this book waskinda creepy.
There was some plot, but this book sucked. So, skip it! Unless you want a snark-a-thon.
And of course, they get back together, and Zoe gets pregnant. Oh dear lord god, why?
Honestly, read Nenia's review, she pretty much gave a more in-depth review on plot.
Disclaimer: I'm drunk off beer and writing this review. I can't guarantee that it will be spelled 100% correctly and grammar. Or will make much sense, but fuck it, let's go. :D
Zoe, a slut-shaming holier-than-thou heroine who was dumber than a post.
Rolfe, a misogynistic piece of shit asshole who should have died when he got shot half-way through the book. #Sorry #NotSorry
After awhile I was like yeah, Zoe, divorce your asshole husband. YAY! Open your own Salon. Get that money, girl. #NoJudgementsHere
Rolfe was just being himself which makes me want to smack him with a textbook.
Also nicknames in kinky/BDSM books usually don't bother me in context, but out of context in this book was
There was some plot, but this book sucked. So, skip it! Unless you want a snark-a-thon.
And of course, they get back together, and Zoe gets pregnant. Oh dear lord god, why?
Honestly, read Nenia's review, she pretty much gave a more in-depth review on plot.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 3, 2015
I liked the premise of this novel (I love The Scarlet Pimpernel stories) and at first this was an enjoyable read, but then it deteriorated into a mish-mash of random subplots and characters.
I liked Rolfe at first, (I LOVED Housard throughout the story!)but then Rolfe went and spoiled it all by forcing himself on Zoe, not once, but several times.
Zoe inched away. 'Please, Rolfe... no.' And what does he say? 'It's gone too far. I can't stop.'
Excuse me?? He can't stop??
and then:
'Don't be stupid,' he said roughly. 'If you fight me you'll only get hurt.'
and when she says that she won't allow him to do it, he pins her down on the bed: 'Do your worst,' he taunted, 'and see where it gets you.'
WTF??
And later:
'Open your legs for me sweetheart.' he said thickly.
'No!' panted Zoe. 'No.'
'Yes.' he contradicted. 'I've held off before now because I thought you were too much the innocent!...' (and that makes absolutely no sense, considering that he has already forced her to have sex with him at least twice before.)
Sounds like rape to me. He comes over as a vile brute. And the stupid woman marries him again. I gave up all hope at that point.
There was far too much repetition in the story, facts repeated several times, and the subplots were confusing and unnecessary. I would have preferred to read about how Zoe bested her repulsive mother-in-law and maybe even got her revenge on her oaf of a husband before swanning back to France.
I liked Rolfe at first, (I LOVED Housard throughout the story!)but then Rolfe went and spoiled it all by forcing himself on Zoe, not once, but several times.
Zoe inched away. 'Please, Rolfe... no.' And what does he say? 'It's gone too far. I can't stop.'
Excuse me?? He can't stop??
and then:
'Don't be stupid,' he said roughly. 'If you fight me you'll only get hurt.'
and when she says that she won't allow him to do it, he pins her down on the bed: 'Do your worst,' he taunted, 'and see where it gets you.'
WTF??
And later:
'Open your legs for me sweetheart.' he said thickly.
'No!' panted Zoe. 'No.'
'Yes.' he contradicted. 'I've held off before now because I thought you were too much the innocent!...' (and that makes absolutely no sense, considering that he has already forced her to have sex with him at least twice before.)
Sounds like rape to me. He comes over as a vile brute. And the stupid woman marries him again. I gave up all hope at that point.
There was far too much repetition in the story, facts repeated several times, and the subplots were confusing and unnecessary. I would have preferred to read about how Zoe bested her repulsive mother-in-law and maybe even got her revenge on her oaf of a husband before swanning back to France.
Read
March 10, 2016I read the first 15% and thought I liked the writer's style and the story. Then I paused to take a look at the GR reviews. Then I got scared. I had no idea that this book was so bad! Maybe it's not fair to abandon a book because of some bad reviews but I have learned to heed 1 star reviews, when they are piled on top of each other. It's a shame because I liked it so far. But I am not in a place where I could live down an ok book turned horrible. I decided to abandon ship before it's too late. No rating.
October 15, 2013
Just dreadful. Its only redeeming feature is the background of the French revolution and counter-revolution of the late 18th century. Otherwise, none of the characters, including the "hero" and "heroine", are in any way appealing or sympathetic, and several of them, including the 18-year-old main female character and her 15 year-old brother, are just unbelievable as characters. The "La Compagnie" subplot of murderers for hire makes no sense whatsoever.
January 26, 2012
This review is also posted on Always a Booklover.
I couldn’t like Tender the Storm. Mostly, the characters were likable and the plot was rather interesting. However, there was something lacking which made me unable to like the book. I couldn’t connect with the characters. And thus, I couldn’t understand them; I couldn’t see the world from their eyes. It’s quite a pity though. The book started off really good. I was instantly captivated by what I read. But what I expected and what happened were so different. It isn’t a bad thing in itself, but I just didn’t like what happened at all.
There were many things I couldn’t stand about the book. Can I begin by saying how much I hate Rolfe? I have hardly ever hated the heroes in romances but Rolfe just is such an ass that I can’t help but hate him. Give me a few moments to rant about him. HE HAS A TOTALLY CONVOLUTED IDEA ABOUT MARITAL SEX. WTH???????? Isn’t that supposed to be the view that women has which causes them to be happy when their husband takes a mistress?????????? And I don’t care whether you have consummated your marriage yet. You do not take a mistress after you’re married. Ba****d. Excuse my language. I’m annoyed with the him. Very annoyed. Alright, end of rant. Time to get back to this review.
I thought the plot was amazing in the beginning. I honestly thought the beginning when Zoe was escaping from France and Rolfe was escorting her was great! I could have just seen how they would have fallen in love, and I say it would have been a very sweet story
But as I read on, I realised I was getting more and more bored by the plot. Sure, the intrigue and mystery about Le Patron was cool. And let me tell you, when it was finally revealed who it was, my jaw dropped. I was completely and utterly surprised. There were many things I felt were left out. Just to give an example, when Rolfe was attacked. He spent months recovering from that attack. And guess how many pages was taken to write that attack and the recovery? Not even one. I would say that is an important part of the book, so why isn’t it talked about more?
And when I finished the book, I totally did not concur with the fact that they were apparently in love with each other. Zoe’s “love” for him is just hero-worship and I have no idea what he feels for her. That is not love to me.
As the book went on, I found myself just flipping through the pages. The plot just did not intrigue me and the descriptions were so long and unnecessary. I was bored by their dialogues, because it really didn’t spark any interest in me or in what they were saying. All I was thinking about was that they should just move on and get to the important parts. Of course, they never did!
I also felt that there wasn’t enough time the characters spent together to develop their relationship. They spent a lot of the book apart and even when they were together, they were arguing or he didn’t even really notice her. Which is why I can’t really understand why they claim to love each other. I totally can’t see it!
Even though I really didn’t like this book, I can’t help but say I’m going to read the next two books in the series. I mean, I start a series, I have to finish it, don’t I? I’m a little particular about that!
All in all, I really disliked this book. I honestly thought that the beginning was great but right after that, it took a downward spiral and just got worse and worse. Which is quite a pity though. I felt that there was a lot of potential in the book. The main reason why I dislike this is probably because I can’t connect with the characters. Yep, so just 2 stars from me. Hopefully, the next book will be better! :D
I couldn’t like Tender the Storm. Mostly, the characters were likable and the plot was rather interesting. However, there was something lacking which made me unable to like the book. I couldn’t connect with the characters. And thus, I couldn’t understand them; I couldn’t see the world from their eyes. It’s quite a pity though. The book started off really good. I was instantly captivated by what I read. But what I expected and what happened were so different. It isn’t a bad thing in itself, but I just didn’t like what happened at all.
There were many things I couldn’t stand about the book. Can I begin by saying how much I hate Rolfe? I have hardly ever hated the heroes in romances but Rolfe just is such an ass that I can’t help but hate him. Give me a few moments to rant about him. HE HAS A TOTALLY CONVOLUTED IDEA ABOUT MARITAL SEX. WTH???????? Isn’t that supposed to be the view that women has which causes them to be happy when their husband takes a mistress?????????? And I don’t care whether you have consummated your marriage yet. You do not take a mistress after you’re married. Ba****d. Excuse my language. I’m annoyed with the him. Very annoyed. Alright, end of rant. Time to get back to this review.
I thought the plot was amazing in the beginning. I honestly thought the beginning when Zoe was escaping from France and Rolfe was escorting her was great! I could have just seen how they would have fallen in love, and I say it would have been a very sweet story
But as I read on, I realised I was getting more and more bored by the plot. Sure, the intrigue and mystery about Le Patron was cool. And let me tell you, when it was finally revealed who it was, my jaw dropped. I was completely and utterly surprised. There were many things I felt were left out. Just to give an example, when Rolfe was attacked. He spent months recovering from that attack. And guess how many pages was taken to write that attack and the recovery? Not even one. I would say that is an important part of the book, so why isn’t it talked about more?
And when I finished the book, I totally did not concur with the fact that they were apparently in love with each other. Zoe’s “love” for him is just hero-worship and I have no idea what he feels for her. That is not love to me.
As the book went on, I found myself just flipping through the pages. The plot just did not intrigue me and the descriptions were so long and unnecessary. I was bored by their dialogues, because it really didn’t spark any interest in me or in what they were saying. All I was thinking about was that they should just move on and get to the important parts. Of course, they never did!
I also felt that there wasn’t enough time the characters spent together to develop their relationship. They spent a lot of the book apart and even when they were together, they were arguing or he didn’t even really notice her. Which is why I can’t really understand why they claim to love each other. I totally can’t see it!
Even though I really didn’t like this book, I can’t help but say I’m going to read the next two books in the series. I mean, I start a series, I have to finish it, don’t I? I’m a little particular about that!
All in all, I really disliked this book. I honestly thought that the beginning was great but right after that, it took a downward spiral and just got worse and worse. Which is quite a pity though. I felt that there was a lot of potential in the book. The main reason why I dislike this is probably because I can’t connect with the characters. Yep, so just 2 stars from me. Hopefully, the next book will be better! :D
October 10, 2019
THIS WAS ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE BECAUSE THE HERO WAS SELFISH, DISRESPECTFUL AND DOWNRIGHT SELF-SERVING. HEROINE WAS A VICTIM IN ALL THIS, AND SHE WAS ONLY 17. IF SHE ACTS STUPID OR HYSTERICAL...IT'S ONLY NORMAL FOR A GIRL FROM NOBILITY. WHAT WAS HIS EXCUSE?
THIS STORY HELD A PROMISING PLOT, AND IT STARTED OFF WELL UNTIL THE MC'S GOT MARRIED.
HERO was an abomination of a man. I thought he was charming and a gentleman in the beginning until he married Zoe and everything turned into a nightmare. He's a cheater, a liar and completely selfish. Obviously he was taken by Zoe when he assumed she was a young girl, as he smuggled her from France to England. His thoughts were often plagued by her and in the end, he offered to marry her because he can't stand the thought of leaving her unprotected. False chivalry! The man just lusted after her and cloaked it under the pretense of loving her as a sibling or daughter. While wedded, he cheated several times. I don't care what he said that he never cheated but I'm quite sure what I read about the author writing about the moments he cheated, with his ex-mistress and the actress. He was even doing his thinking after fucking. And the bastard had the gall to call it NOT CHEATING because they were only married in name. Mother Fucker I wanted to tear his balls to shreds. What a fuck twat. If he ever had love for Zoe, he would have respected her as a woman and not always call her out or forced his sexual attentions on her. I call RAPE when he was drunk and mistook her for his mistress and took her virginity callously. I was SUPER HAPPY when Zoe finally up and left him but the dog had the nerve to come back and woo her. Which wasn't much wooing at all. It was him acting all arrogant and self-serving, thinking to get her to heel like a dog and drag her back home. One of the worse heroes ever written in the face of literary fiction.
HEROINE was just a poor, naiive 17 year old who got caught up in the man's world. Some readers may find her behaviour annoying or appalling but I found it reasonable for a young woman her age. Think about it. She's from a rich family in France, and was surrounded by loving parents. When her family was arrested by the authorities for some political issue happening in France against the rich, her life was uprooted and torn to pieces. She was smuggled to England for protection, and met Rolfe at the same time who treated her well, enough for her to fall into puppy love with him immediately. A 17 year old who has never had much contact with the opposite sex meets a handsome, charming and kind man. Who wouldn't have notions about him? When she stupidly agrees to wed him, her nightmare begins and the poor girl didn't even know her husband was fucking other women until she has had enough, and her mother-in-law hates her, and her sister-in-law was secretly in love with her husband. Sighs! I rooted for her when she made the decision to leave her useless and never present husband, making a new independent woman's life in France. Until that is Rolfe comes to France under country business but also to bring his wife back. I'm not being biased but Zoe acted like a young girl you can expect at that age and era. Pity she didn't fight back more.
OVERALL I couldn't read the sex scenes at all. THEY ALL DISGUSTED ME and that's saying something because I LOVE EROTICA. Here, it just felt like mental rape and I'm hesitating to read the other books in this series. This one APPALLED me! The characters were horrible.
THIS STORY HELD A PROMISING PLOT, AND IT STARTED OFF WELL UNTIL THE MC'S GOT MARRIED.
HERO was an abomination of a man. I thought he was charming and a gentleman in the beginning until he married Zoe and everything turned into a nightmare. He's a cheater, a liar and completely selfish. Obviously he was taken by Zoe when he assumed she was a young girl, as he smuggled her from France to England. His thoughts were often plagued by her and in the end, he offered to marry her because he can't stand the thought of leaving her unprotected. False chivalry! The man just lusted after her and cloaked it under the pretense of loving her as a sibling or daughter. While wedded, he cheated several times. I don't care what he said that he never cheated but I'm quite sure what I read about the author writing about the moments he cheated, with his ex-mistress and the actress. He was even doing his thinking after fucking. And the bastard had the gall to call it NOT CHEATING because they were only married in name. Mother Fucker I wanted to tear his balls to shreds. What a fuck twat. If he ever had love for Zoe, he would have respected her as a woman and not always call her out or forced his sexual attentions on her. I call RAPE when he was drunk and mistook her for his mistress and took her virginity callously. I was SUPER HAPPY when Zoe finally up and left him but the dog had the nerve to come back and woo her. Which wasn't much wooing at all. It was him acting all arrogant and self-serving, thinking to get her to heel like a dog and drag her back home. One of the worse heroes ever written in the face of literary fiction.
HEROINE was just a poor, naiive 17 year old who got caught up in the man's world. Some readers may find her behaviour annoying or appalling but I found it reasonable for a young woman her age. Think about it. She's from a rich family in France, and was surrounded by loving parents. When her family was arrested by the authorities for some political issue happening in France against the rich, her life was uprooted and torn to pieces. She was smuggled to England for protection, and met Rolfe at the same time who treated her well, enough for her to fall into puppy love with him immediately. A 17 year old who has never had much contact with the opposite sex meets a handsome, charming and kind man. Who wouldn't have notions about him? When she stupidly agrees to wed him, her nightmare begins and the poor girl didn't even know her husband was fucking other women until she has had enough, and her mother-in-law hates her, and her sister-in-law was secretly in love with her husband. Sighs! I rooted for her when she made the decision to leave her useless and never present husband, making a new independent woman's life in France. Until that is Rolfe comes to France under country business but also to bring his wife back. I'm not being biased but Zoe acted like a young girl you can expect at that age and era. Pity she didn't fight back more.
OVERALL I couldn't read the sex scenes at all. THEY ALL DISGUSTED ME and that's saying something because I LOVE EROTICA. Here, it just felt like mental rape and I'm hesitating to read the other books in this series. This one APPALLED me! The characters were horrible.
May 10, 2013
Humm... how to describe this book. I made the mistake of reading the second book first in this series and I wasn't a big fan. In fact I skipped over many parts just so I could get to the happier parts. This book was a bit different however, there were some sad parts but mostly there was a lot of intrigue and mystery. I honestly did not see the antagonist being who it was, thought I had it all figured out and then the author threw a curve ball only giving a small hint just pages before the revile. So for the suspense alone I would give this book 4.5 stars. However when I go to read a book, for me reading is an escape and I know that its not real but I want that fantasy. I want to read the witty banter and see the happy parts well out weigh the bad. And while in the end everything worked out It took me a week to pick this book back up after only reading the first 100 or so pages. So for that fact I would give this book a solid 3 stars. (Though the beginning of this book is quite funny if you can look to see the humor!)
May 4, 2020
A toxic dish of drivel! I almost wasn't able to finish this, but kept expecting for an emancipatory turn that sadly never came. The "hero" is an overbearing & disrespectful misogynist bastard and never gets his due. The author ought to be ashamed for keeping up the double standards and condoning marital rape.
April 11, 2015
not enough romance.its about spying and history book...
June 21, 2017
A volte anche un'autrice di best-seller popolari imbrocca la storia, e riesce a tenerla coerentemente in pugno fino alla fine. Elizabeth Thornton (ancora una scrittrice-classicista, a quanto capisco) racconta senza gravi anacronismi, e intrecciando bene realtà storica e fantasia, intrighi, spionaggi, assassini (e, naturalmente, amori) di un gruppo di aristocratici tra Francia e Inghilterra negli anni della rivoluzione; e le poche situazioni realmente irritanti sono più che compensate da una narrazione, per lo più, chiara e avvincente.
È il primo volume di una trilogia, ma resisterò alla tentazione di leggere gli altri due: non posso aspettarmi che il 'miracolo' si ripeta.
È il primo volume di una trilogia, ma resisterò alla tentazione di leggere gli altri due: non posso aspettarmi che il 'miracolo' si ripeta.
December 28, 2019
By the time I was about halfway through, I was reading it to get through it rather than out of any enjoyment.
The only reason I started reading this in the first place was because Zoe and Rolfe are in the sequel, and depicted as a loving couple, in the style of most harlequin romances. So naturally, I was curious about how they ended up that way. How I wish I wasn't, because instead of wanting Rolfe for myself like I do most heroes in such romances, by the end of the story I was ready to throw him into the English Channel. The romance wasn't great and the subplot was also subpar. With all that, I don't have any strong reason to recommend this to anyone.
The only reason I started reading this in the first place was because Zoe and Rolfe are in the sequel, and depicted as a loving couple, in the style of most harlequin romances. So naturally, I was curious about how they ended up that way. How I wish I wasn't, because instead of wanting Rolfe for myself like I do most heroes in such romances, by the end of the story I was ready to throw him into the English Channel. The romance wasn't great and the subplot was also subpar. With all that, I don't have any strong reason to recommend this to anyone.
March 13, 2025
I love a historical romance… I didn’t realise there was a Deveraux trilogy and actually read the third “Cherished” as a stand alone and loved it. This trilogy exceeds the modern risqué romances by a long shot.. think fourth wing, pride and prejudice minus Fae and censor. Loved it.
February 12, 2020
DNF at 80%. Booooring!
November 28, 2022
Old school but meatier than a lot of newer titles.
February 1, 2024
Alphamale shenanigans
Elizabeth Thornton is great to turn to for your alphamale fix, though Rolfe was not as dominating as some of her other heroes.
Elizabeth Thornton is great to turn to for your alphamale fix, though Rolfe was not as dominating as some of her other heroes.
August 23, 2024
I have never hated a H as much as I did in this book. I kept reading, hoping his character would be redeemed. No luck. Ugh. Nope, nope, nope. Grrrrrr.
Want to read
March 25, 2025summer pile
December 18, 2025
Don't let all the pearl clutching dissuade you from reading this excellent HISTORICAL romance. Its writing is very evocative of the period being written about. Sometimes I wonder about the pearl clutchers. Did they go to school? Are they aware that this is an accurate portrayal of this time period. Do they believe that if they don't like it that no one can read it because it offends their sense of ......what? Twenty first century mores did not belong or exist! in the 18th century. So, did you sleep through World History 101? Come on, be honest, lol. I cannot stand this white washing of history. It gains nothing (just don't read it) and costs our future so much because what had been corrected is lived through again bc of ignorance. Argh. Plus, people. It's fiction, you're not making any sense.
June 27, 2013
Zoe Deveraux, a young aristocrat posing as a schoolgirl, escapes the French Revolution with the aid of an Englishmen in disguise. Back home, Rolfe takes her as his bride when it seems to be the only thing to do. Thinking Zoe too young, he abandons her at his country estate and returns to London. Here he attempts to expose a band of terrorists. Meanwhile, mistreatment by his family chases Zoe away and back home to France. Here she reclaims her birthright and establishes her position. No one there knows of her hasty marriage. Rolfe goes after her, but when he sees her poise and charm, he realizes his mistakes. How can he woo back his bride? If you like a historical romance with a touch of intrigue and suspense, this story will appeal to you.
December 21, 2016
I've enjoyed Ms Thornton's historical romances in the past and this first installment of a trilogy centered on the Devereux siblings is every bit as riveting as the political intrigues of the French Revolution which is the setting of this series.
The balance of tender romance, spy intrigue, sexual tension and historical storytelling was just perfect for me. After my recent spate of light romance stories in contemporary settings, the heavier drama of an important political period was a refreshing change that I gladly immerse myself in.
The balance of tender romance, spy intrigue, sexual tension and historical storytelling was just perfect for me. After my recent spate of light romance stories in contemporary settings, the heavier drama of an important political period was a refreshing change that I gladly immerse myself in.
December 1, 2015
First time with this author and really liked this book. Story around the French Revolution gives the life of the Deveraux children, orphaned by the French.
Intrigue, danger, romance , fairly good writing.
Intrigue, danger, romance , fairly good writing.
February 17, 2015
Is a great book to read
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews