Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.

Start by marking “And Then Mine Enemy” as Want to Read:

Other editions

Enlarge cover

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Open Preview

Read Book

And Then Mine Enemy

(Feathers in the Wind #1)

Alison Stuart (Goodreads Author)

4.12 · Rating details · 43 ratings · 17 reviews

A family ripped apart in a country divided by war . . .

England 1642: Hardened mercenary, Adam Coulter returns to England sickened by violence, seeking only peace, but he finds England on the brink of civil war. He has seen first-hand what that will mean for every man, woman and child and wants no part of it.
King or Parliament? Neutrality is not an option and Adam can only ...more

Get A Copy

ebook, 141 pages

Published December 25th 2016 by Oportet Publishing

More Details... Edit Details

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about And Then Mine Enemy, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Add this book to your favorite list »

Community Reviews

Showing 1-30

Average rating 4.12 ·

Rating details

· 43 ratings · 17 reviews

More filters

Sort order

Start your review of And Then Mine Enemy

Dec 11, 2016 Brenda rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2016-release, aussie-authors, historical-fiction, arc, gift-from-author, reviewing-by-request, own-read, read-on-kindle

When Adam Coulter returned to England from France in 1642, he was desperate for peace – the past six years had been hard ones, and he was looking forward to settling quietly on a piece of land and putting the violence behind him. But it wasn’t to be. England was on the brink of Civil War and he was disgusted at the thought of Englishmen killing Englishmen; but was his support to be for the King or with the Parliament?

The cruelty and hatred of his half-brother Denzil toward Adam hadn’t lessened ...more

flag 20 likes · Like · see review

Dec 31, 2016 Phrynne rated it really liked it

A nice introduction into a new series by one of my favourite historical fiction authors. This one is set in the English Civil War and Alison Stuart as usual presents all the historical facts from the time in an interesting and engaging way.
The two main characters, Adam and Perdita are easy to like and they carry the story well. It is an interesting aspect of civil war that neighbour can end up killing neighbour and that a simple shopping trip to the nearest town can result in you being caught up ...more

flag 21 likes · Like · see review

Dec 14, 2016 Shelagh rated it it was amazing

Alison Stuart has brought the English Civil War to life in this exquisitely detailed story. Her characterisation is superb and I truly felt as though I were peering at unfolding events through a window in time, with real people going about their business before my eyes.
There were so many things to like about this story. Obviously the people, and then the fact that Alison Stuart has made a point which is often lost when events fade into history, and that is in civil war it can be brother against ...more

flag 7 likes · Like · see review

Mar 09, 2017 Wendy rated it really liked it

3.5 stars. And Then Mine Enemy, the first book in Alison Stuart's new series set during the years of the English Civil War, begins just as the people of England are readying themselves for war. After years of peace and prosperity, men from all walks of life are expected to take up arms and are preparing to march off to face friends and relatives across battlefields with differing loyalties and opinions to themselves. Half hearted, amateurish preparations are underway and Ms. Stuart takes us thro 3.5 stars. And Then Mine Enemy, the first book in Alison Stuart's new series set during the years of the English Civil War, begins just as the people of England are readying themselves for war. After years of peace and prosperity, men from all walks of life are expected to take up arms and are preparing to march off to face friends and relatives across battlefields with differing loyalties and opinions to themselves. Half hearted, amateurish preparations are underway and Ms. Stuart takes us through the war from when the first fight takes place and moves her story through major skirmishes and battles, date by date. I found this to be a helpful way of explaining unfolding events.

Adam Coulter, a career soldier and mercenary, has returned from the continent after six years to find his country divided. He is immediately summoned to a meeting with his two half-brothers who assume that he will fight alongside them, on behalf of Charles I and is offered a commission in their regiment. From the outset, Adam, who has had enough of fighting over his years abroad, is determined not to get involved and travels on to view the small estate he hopes to purchase and settle down on. En route, he makes a detour to visit his aunt, the only person in his life to ever really care for or about him. The circumstances of his birth have always been swathed in mystery; suffice to say that he did not share the same mother as his legitimate brothers even though he was brought up in the same household, and has always been resented, especially by Denzil, the elder of his brothers. Adam left the country under a cloud after having been involved in an abortive affair with Denzil's betrothed which ended in a tragedy. The animosity between the half brothers has not diminished, especially since Denzil is now married to the lady involved in Adam's scandal. Adam's refusal to fight for the King's cause has only widened the rift with Denzil who had hoped to utilise Adam's not inconsiderable soldiering skills. Adam is an extremely likeable and attractive character, tough and fair and I was drawn to him immediately. In fact the image on the cover of this book is very true to how I imagined him - and it's nice to see a cover that reflects the story for once.

Perdita Gray suffered a degrading and abusive marriage to a much older man of her father's choosing. Now widowed, she is living with distant kin, who happens to be Adam's aunt, Joan. Perdita has just become engaged to Simon, Joan's step-son, whom Perdita likes and respects but does not love in a romantic way. Adam's arrival is a blessing for Simon, who as a farmer has had no experience of soldiering but is expected to lick a band of farm hands and labourers into shape in anticipation of them all marching off to serve their King. Adam agrees to help, although again declines an offer - this time from Simon - to join in the fight for the Royalist cause. Adam and Perdita are quietly attracted to one another although Perdita's respect and affection for Simon keep this attraction very much under wraps. And Adam likes Simon too much to disrespect his hospitality. Having said that, this is an historical romance with the emphasis being very much on the history; readers looking for multiple passionate encounters might be disappointed, but I liked that the author places the history - serious as it is - above all else. Still, the attraction is there, though quietly simmering. At first, Perdita seems cool and unapproachable, and she did not endear herself to me in the way that Adam did, although perhaps that can be accounted for by the suffering she endured in the past.

As the story evolves and Adam becomes involved in the country's civil war despite his misgivings, he bucks the trend of his family, and joins the Parliamentarians. I must say that Adam's capitulation is rather unexpected; suddenly he is explaining that he always believed the King was in the wrong and that he has accepted a commission in the Parliamentarian forces. Yet not long before this, he was adamant he was not getting involved and was on his way to buy his small estate.

I am a very recent convert to this period of history, so cannot say with any real certainty whether Ms. Stuart has her facts right. But as far as I can tell she seems to know what she's talking about and I found it easy to follow and understand the sequence of events as she relays them. One thing she does well is to highlight the horror of civil war; she's made no attempt to glamorise it and the fact that families often fought on opposing sides and met in battle was a terrifying reality. The way each side had to deal with the casualties within their own troops too was really quite horrifying and Ms. Stuart used Perdita on more than one occasion to show how dying and wounded soldiers (from both sides of the war and often lying side by side) had to be treated by civilians, dragged off battle fields with field hospitals set up in barns; it's all brought home with rather horrifying clarity.

As the story proceeds and Perdita and Adam cross each other's paths frequently, their attraction deepens into something more intense and lasting and they have to learn to hide their feelings. However, I did not feel truly invested in that growing love and felt that something was missing, some spark or chemistry between the couple. I couldn't help wondering if perhaps Alison Stuart was so intent on getting the historical facts straight and the sequence of events correct that she did not develop the romance as well as she could have. But in any case, it wasn't enough to put me off and I shall certainly read the next in this series. I'd love to see more of Adam and Perdita and how they cope as a couple who began their life together on opposing sides of this terrible conflict. ...more

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

May 03, 2017 Helen Hollick rated it really liked it

This book has received a Discovering Diamonds Review:

"... a very entertaining read, set in a fascinating period that Stuart creates naturally and convincingly."

Helen Hollick
founder #DDRevs ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Apr 02, 2017 InD'tale Magazine rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2017-april, genre-historical, rating-4-5-star, rating-crowned-heart, steam-2

4.5/5.0

The English King once more outpaces today’s politicians for cunning, effrontery, and vengeful machinations against his English Parliament.

Read full review in the 2017 April issue of InD'tale Magazine. ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Dec 25, 2016 Helen rated it it was amazing

I love stories with historical history in them and MS Stuart knows her history and she has such a way with words that the characters and happenings of the time come to life and take you back in time to journey with them and this one is so moving and fabulous.

Adam Coulter returns to England at a time of unrest with the start of civil war where friends family and neighbours fight against each other for what they believe in but Adam is hardened he has led a life that has seen suffering and injustic ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Jan 04, 2017 kathie rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: dangerous-situations, hero-english, historical-england, killings, steam-level-0, steam-tepid, thought-it-would-be-better

Well....I have read all three of Stuart's Guardian of the Crown novels and enjoyed them very much (all four stars) and was really looking forward to this book. It's not that I hated it or anything but for me, it was just an average read (which I see puts me in the minority with the 8 people who have rated this book thus far). There were certainly things I really appreciate about this author such as her attention to detail and the feeling of authenticity in regards to the language used (more than ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Feb 06, 2017 Nicole Laverdure rated it really liked it

Emotional war story! 4.5 stars

Captivating introduction to Alison Stuart's new series, Feathers in the Wind! And Then Mine Enemy, a romantic saga of the English War, tells the story of Adam Coulter and Perdita Gray, two beautiful souls, tormented by war.

Adam, a mercenary, returns to England, to find peace, however England is on the brink of a civil war. So that moment of peace hasn't arrived yet for him. Enters in his life, Perdita Gray, a sweet soul, in search of a man she can really love and t ...more

flag Like · see review

Jan 02, 2017 Roz ~ My Written Romance rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2017-reading-challenge, australian-author, cover-love, first-in-a-series, historical-romance, leisure-reading

I started the reading year off with one of my favourite historical romance authors, Alison Stuart, and her December 2016 release, And Then Mine Enemy. I am a total fan, and was super excited to kick off my reading renewal with this book.

People, I tell you, there is no disappointment to be had here. And Then Mine Enemy, the first book in the Feathers in The Wind series, is another utter winner from the pen of Ms. Stuart.

My thoughts on And Then Mine Enemy:
At the risk of being entirely repetitive ( I started the reading year off with one of my favourite historical romance authors, Alison Stuart, and her December 2016 release, And Then Mine Enemy. I am a total fan, and was super excited to kick off my reading renewal with this book.

People, I tell you, there is no disappointment to be had here. And Then Mine Enemy, the first book in the Feathers in The Wind series, is another utter winner from the pen of Ms. Stuart.

My thoughts on And Then Mine Enemy:
At the risk of being entirely repetitive (I say this to myself every time I read one of her books), there is something about the way in which Alison Stuart sets the stage in the opening of And Then Mine Enemy that has a real visual quality. I can just about see the scene in my mind, as clear as the words on the page describe. The battle-scarred former soldier, Adam walking towards a remote inn and into a fraught situation with his brothers, all cold, wet and weary. This set up the story beautifully and had me hooked straight away.

Perdita is another in a long line of wonderful heroines created by Ms Stuart. She’s a survivor, and shows such resilience and strength in the face of war and loss. Adam, the hero of the story, is highly principled – unable to stand by and ignore his conscience. Both have been through the ringer and I found myself hoping for them to find their peace and happiness with each other.

If you are on the hunt for a hot and heavy historical romance, you won’t find that in this book. To be honest, that’s more than OK – the beauty in the relationship between Adam and Perdita for most of the story is that their attraction is unspoken. The tension and chemistry slowly burns, but is nonetheless obvious and strong. Theirs is an emotion-charged connection, where a mere glance can tell more than a roll in the hay.

The attention to detail is evident, and the reality of the situation in which Adam and Perdita find themselves is never lessened or ignored. As it is in civil war, family and friends were on both sides of the battle – with good and bad people in each camp.

Once again, the peripheral characters (both likeable and villainous) help to create a rich and deeply fascinating story. The barely concealed disdain that seethes between Adam and his half-brother, Denzil is really well done. Perdita’s intended, Simon isn’t made out to be contemptible or milquetoast, which I loved.

Based on what was delivered in And Then Mine Enemy, I cannot wait to discover what is in store for Adam and Perdita in book two, which I believe comes out sometime towards the middle of this year.

Intriguing and intricate in equal measure, lovers of historical romance and historical fiction will surely love this tale as much as I did. ...more

flag Like · see review

Dec 26, 2016 Lynn Brooks rated it it was amazing

4 1/2 STARS!

A historical saga centered around the start of the English Civil War and the turmoil and unrest that become of the country throughout. You are drawn in to the lives of the characters very quickly, and continue to be enthralled as each new thing happens. Not a huge amount of romance, but it's a great read anyway!

Adam Coulter has lived the ravaged life of war before, so when he returns home to England just to discover the King is ready to start a civil war, he isn't happy. He can't jus ...more

flag Like · see review

Feb 08, 2017 Amanda rated it really liked it

And Then Mine Enemy by Alison Stuart is a gripping, intense historical tale where we meet two headstrong, vibrant protagonists, Perdita and Adam. Set in 1642, the story gives us a glimpse into an era where war and chaos disrupted the lives of many. But to experience Perdita and Adam’s journey through vivid, picturesque prose only shows Ms. Stuart’s skill as a storyteller!

Recommended
4 Stars

flag Like · see review

Jan 03, 2017 Cheryl Steckling rated it it was amazing

And Then Mine Enemy: A Romantic Saga of the English Civil War (Feathers in the Wind)
By Alison Stuart
This historical romance takes place back in 1642 during a time of war and hardships. The family is torn apart and now Adam Coulter returns to England and he wants peace but he finds it in turmoil like the brink of the civil war.
Perdita Gray has escaped an unpleasant marriage and wants to find peace in England and to find a good man to love. Adam Coulter finds her and he brings with him the reality ...more

flag Like · see review

Jan 14, 2017 Kathy Cohen rated it liked it

I interrupted reading The Winter Prince to finish Stuart's latest, which I had started reading on Wattpad (thank goodness it's on my kindle now). The setting is the very beginning of the English Civil War, which divides family loyalties and makes enemies of brothers. Adam Coulter, returning from the German wars to peacefully settle in England, is reluctantly drawn into the political conflict, as well as into family conflict. He meets widowed Perdita Gray who is betrothed to his aunt's stepson. S ...more

flag Like · see review

Dec 26, 2016 Dottie rated it it was amazing

Take history, add Perdita Gray a widow who lives with family after a cruel loveless marriage. Next add Adam Coulter who returns to England, at a time of the start of the civil war. He knows what he feels and must do even though he has gotten bitter over time. Perdita plans to marry Simon but in times like this things change and when she finds Adam on her doorstep helping him may change even more. Ms. Stuart has done a great job putting love in this time of war. A great read for everyone.

flag Like · see review

Jan 28, 2017 Adel rated it really liked it

And Then Mine Enemy by Alison Stuart is the first in the Feathers in the Wind series and it is an excellent depiction of the 1640’s and the Civil War that waged in England during that period. The detail is extraordinary, the language is authentic and the characters are amazing.

The story is about Adam Coulter and Perdita Gray finding love and some happiness despite the ugliness of war. I recommend this book to all historical romance lovers.

flag Like · see review

Jan 15, 2017 TashNz rated it it was amazing

Shelves: romance-book-haven, historical, alison-stuart

Invest your time in this story because it is worth it and has been written with such care it deserves the time and effort to enjoy and consume.

A historical romance, Perdita and Adam's story in book 1, set during wartime 1642, I was transported right there! The depth of the characters and the plot and the flow of the story is amazing.

Well enjoyed and highly recommend for lovers of historicals! ...more

flag Like · see review

Lynette Williams rated it it was amazing
Jul 24, 2019

gayle robinson rated it it was amazing
Apr 26, 2020

vaneeta naik rated it liked it
Apr 27, 2017

a couillault rated it really liked it
Feb 05, 2020

william sanday rated it it was amazing
Feb 22, 2020

Alexandra Thom rated it really liked it
Aug 13, 2020

stephen reeves rated it it was amazing
Apr 02, 2020

Dangermousie rated it really liked it
Oct 05, 2017

Jenny Thomas rated it it was amazing
Mar 12, 2020

N V rated it liked it
Mar 01, 2020

Ines Nicholas rated it liked it
Aug 22, 2020

Chris rated it really liked it
Nov 23, 2019

Dale Kelly rated it liked it
Jul 12, 2020

« previous 1 2 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend It | Stats | Recent Status Updates

Readers also enjoyed

See similar books…

Genres

Romance > Historical Romance

2 users

Historical > Historical Fiction

2 users

See top shelves…

About Alison Stuart

Alison Stuart

270 followers

Mystery, history, romance and ghosts… Award winning Australian author, Alison Stuart learned her passion for history from her father. She has been writing stories since her teenage years but it was not until 2007 that her first full length novel was published. Alison has now published eight full length historical romances and a collection of her short stories and is working on a series of historic ...more