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Three Soldiers #1
Gallant Officer, Forbidden Lady
The battlefields of Badajoz are nothing compared to the cutting tongues of polite society, but Jack Vernon has never been very "polite." A canvas is this brooding artist's preferred company—having once been the outlet for the horror he witnessed at war, it's now his fortune.
Painting the portrait of stunningly beautiful Ariana Blane is his biggest commission yet. Learning every curve of her body ignites feelings he thought were destroyed in battle. But he's not the only man who has Ariana in his sights….
Painting the portrait of stunningly beautiful Ariana Blane is his biggest commission yet. Learning every curve of her body ignites feelings he thought were destroyed in battle. But he's not the only man who has Ariana in his sights….
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 12, 2009
5 people are currently reading
133 people want to read
About the author
Diane Gaston
175 books127 followersDiane Gaston’s dream job had always been to write romance novels. One day she decided to pursue that dream and has never looked back; she is now writing full-time. Her books have won Romance’s highest honour—the RITA Award, the National Readers Choice Award and the Golden Heart. She lives in Virginia with her husband and three very ordinary house cats. Diane loves to hear from readers and friends.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 20, 2018
Hero Jack Vernon (who is a painter) and heroine Ariana Blane first meet at Somerset House/the Royal Academy of Art when she talks to him about a painting she admires (not knowing that Jack is the artist who did the painting). They enjoy each other's company but they get separated and do not learn each other's names.
Seven months later Jack goes to a play of "Romeo and Juliet" with his mother (Mary) and his sister (Nancy) and to his surprise the lady he met at Somerset House is playing Juliet. He is happy to have found her again and to finally learn her name. Ariana's mother Daphne Blane (a very famous actress) is also in the play. One day Jack is commissioned to paint Ariana's portrait by Lord Tranville. (Since Jack's father died Tranville has been having an affair with Jack's mother Mary for many years, and as his mistress Mary has been supported financially by Tranville. Jack resents this man, doesn't trust him, and wants his mother to dump him. But Mary seems to be besotted with Tranville, not knowing he's planning to ditch her for young Ariana who has no interest in Tranville at all.) Jack and Ariana are drawn to each other and become lovers. But Lord Tranville is causing problems...
This was a very captivating read. Jack was in the war and he had a horrible time during the siege of Badajoz, which is still giving him nightmares and flashbacks. He was a likable hero. He loved his mother and his sister Nancy and he tried to make a living selling his paintings so he could support his mother instead of her having to rely on Tranville.
I also liked Ariana. She was outspoken, caring, and didn't seem bothered if people thought of her as unrespectable since she was an actress. The same as Jack... people didn't think of his family as respectable either, with his mother being Tranville's mistress for years. I thought Ariana and Jack made a good couple since they had some things in common.
This story also had a sweet secondary romance between Jack's sister Nancy and a family friend, Michael. This was a really enjoyable read.
Seven months later Jack goes to a play of "Romeo and Juliet" with his mother (Mary) and his sister (Nancy) and to his surprise the lady he met at Somerset House is playing Juliet. He is happy to have found her again and to finally learn her name. Ariana's mother Daphne Blane (a very famous actress) is also in the play. One day Jack is commissioned to paint Ariana's portrait by Lord Tranville. (Since Jack's father died Tranville has been having an affair with Jack's mother Mary for many years, and as his mistress Mary has been supported financially by Tranville. Jack resents this man, doesn't trust him, and wants his mother to dump him. But Mary seems to be besotted with Tranville, not knowing he's planning to ditch her for young Ariana who has no interest in Tranville at all.) Jack and Ariana are drawn to each other and become lovers. But Lord Tranville is causing problems...
This was a very captivating read. Jack was in the war and he had a horrible time during the siege of Badajoz, which is still giving him nightmares and flashbacks. He was a likable hero. He loved his mother and his sister Nancy and he tried to make a living selling his paintings so he could support his mother instead of her having to rely on Tranville.
I also liked Ariana. She was outspoken, caring, and didn't seem bothered if people thought of her as unrespectable since she was an actress. The same as Jack... people didn't think of his family as respectable either, with his mother being Tranville's mistress for years. I thought Ariana and Jack made a good couple since they had some things in common.
This story also had a sweet secondary romance between Jack's sister Nancy and a family friend, Michael. This was a really enjoyable read.
May 27, 2020
Loved how the hero was an untitled soldier & the heroine a non-virgin, non-naive actress. The beginning was solid, but ultimately it fell flat with too little action, too many emoz, & an uber-beta MC.
--Memo to Jack:
YOU are the head of the household! YOU are the legitimate son of your mother, the legitimate elder brother. You may not have the right to dictate whether your mother willingly becomes some peer's mistress, but you do have the right to call him out for poor treatment, & you absolutely have the right to help your sister plan marriage. Douchebag McPeer has no legal or social standing to twist your sister's arm; she's NOT his daughter, & he's not even a real member of the family. How can a soldier justify saving a civilian woman from rape (chapter 1), yet stand by & let his mom & sis be manipulated by this asshat? Quit mooning over Ariana & be a man, FFS.
Anyway.
Too little action + too many emoz equals 2.5 stars. But I rounded up for the sake of the untitled MCs, & I also liked Ariana. I wish more HR heroines were sassy non-virgins, whether actresses or no.
--Memo to Jack:
YOU are the head of the household! YOU are the legitimate son of your mother, the legitimate elder brother. You may not have the right to dictate whether your mother willingly becomes some peer's mistress, but you do have the right to call him out for poor treatment, & you absolutely have the right to help your sister plan marriage. Douchebag McPeer has no legal or social standing to twist your sister's arm; she's NOT his daughter, & he's not even a real member of the family. How can a soldier justify saving a civilian woman from rape (chapter 1), yet stand by & let his mom & sis be manipulated by this asshat? Quit mooning over Ariana & be a man, FFS.
Anyway.
Too little action + too many emoz equals 2.5 stars. But I rounded up for the sake of the untitled MCs, & I also liked Ariana. I wish more HR heroines were sassy non-virgins, whether actresses or no.
March 3, 2010
Just finished this and have to say I really enjoyed it. Loved the setting - Napoleon wars - and the hero is war-torn suffering from battle fatigue. He is a do-the-right-thing kind of guy who is kind and sexy looking in the mix. The heroine is an energetic actress, very out going personality which does her credit. However, I found her a bit more one-dimensional and not as well written as the hero.
I couldn't understand the attraction the hero's mother had with one of her suitors. He was esentially the bane of the family's existence and I just couldn't understand how she kept defending the actions of this guy.
Aside from those small complains, I really enjoyed the story, it moved along and there were some nice supporting characters.
Will look for other books by this author soon!
I couldn't understand the attraction the hero's mother had with one of her suitors. He was esentially the bane of the family's existence and I just couldn't understand how she kept defending the actions of this guy.
Aside from those small complains, I really enjoyed the story, it moved along and there were some nice supporting characters.
Will look for other books by this author soon!
Read
January 9, 2010Highly recommend.
You won't find balls and other society parties in this regency. Instead you will find an honest hard-working artist suffering from bad memories of his time in the war. You will find a beautiful young actress who is still innocent in many ways. You will find a disreputable Lord who wants to own the actress, rule the artist, and basically make everyone suffer as long as he gets all he wants. You will get a very compelling read and a lovely look into the world of art and theatre. I fell hopelessly in love. "sigh"
You won't find balls and other society parties in this regency. Instead you will find an honest hard-working artist suffering from bad memories of his time in the war. You will find a beautiful young actress who is still innocent in many ways. You will find a disreputable Lord who wants to own the actress, rule the artist, and basically make everyone suffer as long as he gets all he wants. You will get a very compelling read and a lovely look into the world of art and theatre. I fell hopelessly in love. "sigh"
February 5, 2018
leído en Agosto 2014
4.5 estrellas
Me encantó esta historia!!
4.5 estrellas
Me encantó esta historia!!
March 27, 2018
This historical made me happy for quite a few reasons. The chief reason? It really is romantic. Those of you who like stories that don't feature lords and ladies will want to step right up for this one. The hero is a (non-aristocrat) soldier turned portrait artist, and the heroine is a young actress. Jack Vernon is hired to paint a portrait of Ariana Blane as Cleopatra to promote an upcoming production, and their work collaboration blooms into something else entirely.
The emotional side of the story is beautifully done. Yes, there's mental lusting but it's not written in a silly way at all. Both leads have reasons which hold them back from wholeheartedly jumping into a relationship, and these get explored throughout the story. Best of all, not only do the characters have to deal with their issues but they do so in ways that make it clear that they care about the other people involved.
Somehow it's this consideration that makes Jack and Ariana seem like a hero and heroine. Their very decency shows in vivid contrast to the villain of the piece. The bad guy in this story isn't eeeevil; he's just self-centered and he wants what he wants when he wants it - no matter how this might hurt others. In a way, this characterization makes the story more compelling. Our villain causes a lot of problems with Jack and Ariana, and he doesn't need to be a wicked mastermind to do it. Just being a common jackass is enough.
And that leads me to the other big strength of this book - its subtlety. As I read, I got the feeling that no detail in this story wandered in by accident. This starts at the beginning. In the prologue, Jack is present at the looting which followed the battle of Badajoz. Horrified by what he witnesses, he cannot rest until he channels those strong emotions into drawing. This scene is mirrored when Jack first meets Ariana. They share a pleasant conversation that obviously affects both of them more deeply than expected. After that event, Jack is once again compelled to his art - this time to sketch what he remembers of Ariana.
This is not a big, over-the-top novel but it is a lovely love story. I'm so glad I read it.
The emotional side of the story is beautifully done. Yes, there's mental lusting but it's not written in a silly way at all. Both leads have reasons which hold them back from wholeheartedly jumping into a relationship, and these get explored throughout the story. Best of all, not only do the characters have to deal with their issues but they do so in ways that make it clear that they care about the other people involved.
Somehow it's this consideration that makes Jack and Ariana seem like a hero and heroine. Their very decency shows in vivid contrast to the villain of the piece. The bad guy in this story isn't eeeevil; he's just self-centered and he wants what he wants when he wants it - no matter how this might hurt others. In a way, this characterization makes the story more compelling. Our villain causes a lot of problems with Jack and Ariana, and he doesn't need to be a wicked mastermind to do it. Just being a common jackass is enough.
And that leads me to the other big strength of this book - its subtlety. As I read, I got the feeling that no detail in this story wandered in by accident. This starts at the beginning. In the prologue, Jack is present at the looting which followed the battle of Badajoz. Horrified by what he witnesses, he cannot rest until he channels those strong emotions into drawing. This scene is mirrored when Jack first meets Ariana. They share a pleasant conversation that obviously affects both of them more deeply than expected. After that event, Jack is once again compelled to his art - this time to sketch what he remembers of Ariana.
This is not a big, over-the-top novel but it is a lovely love story. I'm so glad I read it.
July 17, 2018
Una novela maravillosa, donde la gallardia y virilidad del protagonista embriaga al lector y la osadia de la dama es unica, muy modernos para la epoca en que esta ambientada. recomendadisimo
July 3, 2023
Autorka w trzech książkach opowiedziała historię trzech oficerów. Czytałem już "Honor oficera". Teraz "Dama i oficer". Została mi jeszcze jedna. Mamy tutaj trzy historie, które dzieją się w tym samym czasie. Bohaterowie spotykają się najpierw w Hiszpanii, a potem pod Waterloo. Poza tym jednak każda ksiazka to osoba historia miłosna. Autorka świetnie oddała realia historyczne.
April 22, 2023
A story where eventually everything comes right but not before our H and h go through plenty of strife not of their making. There are battles, both physical and mental, young love, a scandalous portrait, blind love, lecherous men, villains, actresses and an artist. This book is well worth the read.
May 25, 2022
Amor.
Jack y Ariana se quedaran en mi corazoncito como una de las mejores parejas de mi librero. necesito mas libros de esta mujer ahora mismo.
Jack y Ariana se quedaran en mi corazoncito como una de las mejores parejas de mi librero. necesito mas libros de esta mujer ahora mismo.
June 11, 2022
Let's say 3.5 stars. I liked the main couple, but I was oddly more invested in the hero's mother?
Read
July 14, 2022DNF
October 6, 2024
Just okay.
November 1, 2012
This was my first Diane Gaston novel. I wanted to like this story, but I simply couldn't. The premise of "Gallant Officer, Forbidden Lady" is something that usually appeals to me and I was anticipating reading other novels in this series. What a disappointment this book turned out to be! The writing style is dull and stiff; short choppy sentences that do not suck you into the story. There is just no ambiance! The action and the dialogue seem contrived and the characters are two-dimensional; their psychological motivation and responses do not appear to be authentic to the period. Jack and Ariana are nice enough, but Lord Tranville and his son are caricatures. Jack's mother and sister are cardboard cutouts. Many episodes in the story seem to be there for no good reason - they do not advance character development or the plot.
I might give Diane Gaston's books another try in a while, but I won't be rushing out to buy her next novel.
I might give Diane Gaston's books another try in a while, but I won't be rushing out to buy her next novel.
May 21, 2015
I have a bit of a mixed reaction to this one. In some ways I thought I shouldn't like it. The style is oddly formal and stiff, including the dialogue. Yet it wasn't dull or hard to read, it was still compelling. I liked that the ending didn't have every single one of their problems all magicked away, there were still tricky things they'd have to negotiate in their lives, even though of course they got their happy ending. This slightly alloyed happiness gave more of a realistic feel - there are no easy answers and no magic wand to get rid of all your troubles.
And the characters were different from your standard Regency types, a soldier artist from a fallen-on-hard-times and tainted-with-scandal family and an actress. So no polite conversation over tea for these folks!
And the characters were different from your standard Regency types, a soldier artist from a fallen-on-hard-times and tainted-with-scandal family and an actress. So no polite conversation over tea for these folks!
June 21, 2012
Sweet little story about a soldier who is also an artist, and an actrice. Reminded me quite a bit of Carla Kelly - perhaps because of the setting in Spain of the prologue. A bit confused as to the status of the French woman rescued in the beginning - I thought the French were the bad guys at that time, as far as the Brits were concerned. I suppose I wasn't paying attention to something.
Read
January 9, 2010Amazon preorder
December 27, 2012
It was something to read I suppose!
March 15, 2015
A very nice and enjoyable read. Liked the characters and the plot.
October 26, 2015
A book that had you on the edge of your seat, this book had me guessing right up to the last page.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews