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Regency Silk & Scandal #7
The Officer and the Proper Lady
Major Hal Carlow was a fine soldier, but he was also a flirt, a rake and a scoundrel! In general, he tried to steer clear of proper young ladies—no fun at all—and spend time with the sort of women who appreciated his finer qualities….
Miss Julia Tresilian's duty was to find a husband, but her prospective suitors bored her to tears. Yet even talking to the incorrigible Hal Carlow was dangerous to her marriage prospects, let alone anything more….
283 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2010
26 people are currently reading
287 people want to read
About the author
Louise Allen
424 books331 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
This author also writes under the name Francesca Shaw.
I have had my nose buried in a history book - fact or fiction - for as long as I can remember, but even more important to me are the places and the objects that conjure up the past. My first attempt at historical fiction at the age of eight was three pages of improbable medieval drama set in the local castle.
With a degree in geography and archaeology I love to try and 'read' the landscape and the buildings in it for clues about the past. Virtually any place can trigger ideas for plots, but I am particularly inspired by Venice, Burgundy, Mediterranean islands and the Hertfordshire and Norfolk countryside.
I live in England in a village in Bedfordshire with my long-suffering husband. He is not sure whether to be flattered or alarmed to be told he is the inspiration for all my romantic heroes! Whenever possible we escape to our cottage on the North Norfolk coast where Percy, the bossy pheasant, allows us to share the garden.
My resolution every time I start on a new plot is to plan it carefully, make copious notes first and write lots of drafts in a disciplined and orderly manner. What inevitably happens is that the story starts to write itself in my head until it gets completely out of control - meanwhile my study floor becomes a sea of open books, prints and maps and I am found sitting in the car at traffic lights, muttering dialogue. At that point I have to start writing, knowing full well that the hero and heroine are going to take over and sabotage all my attempts at discipline. It is, after all, their story.
This author also writes under the name Francesca Shaw.
I have had my nose buried in a history book - fact or fiction - for as long as I can remember, but even more important to me are the places and the objects that conjure up the past. My first attempt at historical fiction at the age of eight was three pages of improbable medieval drama set in the local castle.
With a degree in geography and archaeology I love to try and 'read' the landscape and the buildings in it for clues about the past. Virtually any place can trigger ideas for plots, but I am particularly inspired by Venice, Burgundy, Mediterranean islands and the Hertfordshire and Norfolk countryside.
I live in England in a village in Bedfordshire with my long-suffering husband. He is not sure whether to be flattered or alarmed to be told he is the inspiration for all my romantic heroes! Whenever possible we escape to our cottage on the North Norfolk coast where Percy, the bossy pheasant, allows us to share the garden.
My resolution every time I start on a new plot is to plan it carefully, make copious notes first and write lots of drafts in a disciplined and orderly manner. What inevitably happens is that the story starts to write itself in my head until it gets completely out of control - meanwhile my study floor becomes a sea of open books, prints and maps and I am found sitting in the car at traffic lights, muttering dialogue. At that point I have to start writing, knowing full well that the hero and heroine are going to take over and sabotage all my attempts at discipline. It is, after all, their story.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
February 4, 2013
3.5 stars
For entertainment value alone, this book could have earned 5 stars from my grumpy, grubby talons. I never got bored. Shit just happens all over the place in The Officer and the Proper Lady. Most authors would gravitate toward just one of the three avenues Allen explored in the text, and that's the problem with romance today. They think we can't concentrate on more than one thing at a time. Sure, that's true 97% of the time. Like, as I write this review, I lose my place every time a car drives by the building. But seriously, I'm so flattered that Louise Allen thinks I can be teh smartz. Also, some of the conflicts are fucking HILARIOUS.
Unfortunately, most of the conflicts are fucking hilarious because of inconsistent characterizations. I can deal with irrational characters behaving irrationally, but when an otherwise sensible person does something so goddamn DUMB that my brain weeps its own brain cells into my sinus cavity, I chisel away at the stars. This teh smartz thing works both ways, fictional characters! Add to that a sluggish final 1/3 of story and some major Kindle formatting issues. Words kept breaking apart or being forced together, so I spent a lot of time translating sentences that should have been easy. At one point, Hal refers to himself as a "cockscomb", but the formatting made it read "cock scomb", and I laughed and laughed because I thought Allen had misspelled "scum" or something. Because what kind of man calls himself cock scum, right?
Oh, the stories I tell ...
Anyway, let's get to this grand, one-of-a-kind ... Harlequin Historical #1020.
The Story
An Officer meets a Proper Lady in Brussels in the days leading up to Waterloo. He's a rake, and she's a ... well, she's a proper lady. They try to stay away from each other because she's in desperate financial straits and needs a husband. Just being seen with him can destroy her reputation, but their passion burns too strong. Can their tenuous relationship survive the ravages of war? Will Wellington defeat Napolean? Most importantly, can the officer tup his virgin miss without acting like a dwamatic wittle bitch about it?
The Officer
Major Hal Carlow is the second son of an earl and a dissolute rake. An outrageous flirt, Hal enjoys sexing up the ladies. Unless those ladies are virgins, in which case, Hal runs like the hounds of hell are on his heels. Naturally, his horse is the biggest, most fabulous-est horse in the British cavalry. And if the descriptions of his super-tight pants are to be believed, then he also has the biggest, most fabulous-est in all of Brussels.
I liked Hal. He's a fun guy who enjoys drinking, gambling, and sleeping with married women without too much wangst. He lives a soldier's life and maintains a soldier's mentality. It isn't until Hal tries to "reform" for his proper little miss that his character starts to derail. He explains the change away as trying to be "worthy" of her. This leads to his laughable "What the hell do I do with a virgin?" hang-ups. Did he really think that using his rakish tricks in bed would give her pause? As a "proper lady", she has no point of comparison! Hal, this opportunity is golden. Stop crying!
The Proper Lady
Miss Julia Tresilian is set on finding a proper, staid husband to secure her mother and her younger brother for the future. She's pretty, but not too pretty, and she's hot in the knickers for Hal Carlow. For a so-called proper lady, Julia rarely acts particularly proper. Sure, she isn't riding bareback through the park with her breasts exposed or anything, but any time she's given the choice between ignoring temptation and embracing it, she wraps her arms around that devil so tightly that air can't get between them.
Julia is also a fucking dimwit. TSTL to the max! When Napolean's troops cross the Belgian border and everyone else in Brussels is getting the fuck out, what does Julia - a girl who has never done ANYTHING that would make her handy in a crisis - do? She tricks her mother and stays behind, of course! Because that's obviously the most SENSIBLE and PROPER thing to do! Now, I'm not from the early-19th century, but I can guarantee you that if there was even an off-chance that Napolean would charge into my town and blow my house down, I would run like the fucking wind. For the love of god, Julia! She can't keep "an eye out" on Hal if she ends up dead or displaced. Has this woman never heard of collateral damage or war refugees? Dumb. Just so dumb.
Later back in England, Hal and EVERYBODY ELSE tells Julia, "Hey, there's a gypsy bent on revenge against our inner circle who sometimes kidnaps our ladies and keeps trying to ruin our lives. Stay away from him." But Julia, Queen of TSTL Mountain, decides to take YEARS of grudges and politics between PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT HER into her own hands and approaches the vengeful gypsy ALONE IN HIS HOUSE to "work something out". Such a dumbass. Granted, Julia is a lucky woman. Staying in Brussels . Going to the vengeful gypsy's house .
Yes, there's a Mysterious, Vengeful Gypsy in this story.
He's apparently been around for several of these Harlequin Historicals, and nothing - NOT EVEN WAR - can stop him from using his trickery against Hal's family. I'm not convinced that the gypsy's all bad, to be honest. I imagine he'll get his own book eventually, and the author will go to great lengths to describe how he's just misunderstood.
Julia Acquires a Groom with Knowledge about MODERN MEDICINE.
There's a hilarious scene in which Hal's dying of battle wounds, and Julia's newly acquired groom is just like, "I'll just stitch him up like I stitch up my horses." And then, OF COURSE, he keeps a clean environment because he learned that "just works better" with his horses. Also, he douses the wounds in alcohol just 'cause. My favorite part by far was when the groom scrubbed Hal's wounds with saltwater, apparently because he takes the horses out for rounds of aquatic water therapy. This can only bring me to one of 2 logical conclusions - A) Julia's groom is a time traveler, or B) Hal is a horse. You decide.
BUT I LIKED IT!
Despite Hal's virgin phobia and Julia's mouse brain, I genuinely enjoyed this book. The romance is very well done. It's easy to believe Hal and Julia's chemistry from beginning to end. My favorite part by far was chronicled in the days leading up to Waterloo. There was something very unsettling about following these people going to parties and balls, joking around in the park, and living rather ordinary lives just days before a huge battle. I couldn't help but read some of the descriptions of military characters and think, "Wow, he'll probably be dead soon." I loved reading about Brussels in that particular time, and it's clear that Allen did her research.
So sure, 3.5 stars to you, The Officer and the Proper Lady. The story isn't perfect, but I was certainly entertained!
Cock scumb.
LOL!
For entertainment value alone, this book could have earned 5 stars from my grumpy, grubby talons. I never got bored. Shit just happens all over the place in The Officer and the Proper Lady. Most authors would gravitate toward just one of the three avenues Allen explored in the text, and that's the problem with romance today. They think we can't concentrate on more than one thing at a time. Sure, that's true 97% of the time. Like, as I write this review, I lose my place every time a car drives by the building. But seriously, I'm so flattered that Louise Allen thinks I can be teh smartz. Also, some of the conflicts are fucking HILARIOUS.
Unfortunately, most of the conflicts are fucking hilarious because of inconsistent characterizations. I can deal with irrational characters behaving irrationally, but when an otherwise sensible person does something so goddamn DUMB that my brain weeps its own brain cells into my sinus cavity, I chisel away at the stars. This teh smartz thing works both ways, fictional characters! Add to that a sluggish final 1/3 of story and some major Kindle formatting issues. Words kept breaking apart or being forced together, so I spent a lot of time translating sentences that should have been easy. At one point, Hal refers to himself as a "cockscomb", but the formatting made it read "cock scomb", and I laughed and laughed because I thought Allen had misspelled "scum" or something. Because what kind of man calls himself cock scum, right?
Oh, the stories I tell ...
Anyway, let's get to this grand, one-of-a-kind ... Harlequin Historical #1020.
The Story
An Officer meets a Proper Lady in Brussels in the days leading up to Waterloo. He's a rake, and she's a ... well, she's a proper lady. They try to stay away from each other because she's in desperate financial straits and needs a husband. Just being seen with him can destroy her reputation, but their passion burns too strong. Can their tenuous relationship survive the ravages of war? Will Wellington defeat Napolean? Most importantly, can the officer tup his virgin miss without acting like a dwamatic wittle bitch about it?
The Officer
Major Hal Carlow is the second son of an earl and a dissolute rake. An outrageous flirt, Hal enjoys sexing up the ladies. Unless those ladies are virgins, in which case, Hal runs like the hounds of hell are on his heels. Naturally, his horse is the biggest, most fabulous-est horse in the British cavalry. And if the descriptions of his super-tight pants are to be believed, then he also has the biggest, most fabulous-est in all of Brussels.
I liked Hal. He's a fun guy who enjoys drinking, gambling, and sleeping with married women without too much wangst. He lives a soldier's life and maintains a soldier's mentality. It isn't until Hal tries to "reform" for his proper little miss that his character starts to derail. He explains the change away as trying to be "worthy" of her. This leads to his laughable "What the hell do I do with a virgin?" hang-ups. Did he really think that using his rakish tricks in bed would give her pause? As a "proper lady", she has no point of comparison! Hal, this opportunity is golden. Stop crying!
The Proper Lady
Miss Julia Tresilian is set on finding a proper, staid husband to secure her mother and her younger brother for the future. She's pretty, but not too pretty, and she's hot in the knickers for Hal Carlow. For a so-called proper lady, Julia rarely acts particularly proper. Sure, she isn't riding bareback through the park with her breasts exposed or anything, but any time she's given the choice between ignoring temptation and embracing it, she wraps her arms around that devil so tightly that air can't get between them.
Julia is also a fucking dimwit. TSTL to the max! When Napolean's troops cross the Belgian border and everyone else in Brussels is getting the fuck out, what does Julia - a girl who has never done ANYTHING that would make her handy in a crisis - do? She tricks her mother and stays behind, of course! Because that's obviously the most SENSIBLE and PROPER thing to do! Now, I'm not from the early-19th century, but I can guarantee you that if there was even an off-chance that Napolean would charge into my town and blow my house down, I would run like the fucking wind. For the love of god, Julia! She can't keep "an eye out" on Hal if she ends up dead or displaced. Has this woman never heard of collateral damage or war refugees? Dumb. Just so dumb.
Later back in England, Hal and EVERYBODY ELSE tells Julia, "Hey, there's a gypsy bent on revenge against our inner circle who sometimes kidnaps our ladies and keeps trying to ruin our lives. Stay away from him." But Julia, Queen of TSTL Mountain, decides to take YEARS of grudges and politics between PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT HER into her own hands and approaches the vengeful gypsy ALONE IN HIS HOUSE to "work something out". Such a dumbass. Granted, Julia is a lucky woman. Staying in Brussels . Going to the vengeful gypsy's house .
Yes, there's a Mysterious, Vengeful Gypsy in this story.
He's apparently been around for several of these Harlequin Historicals, and nothing - NOT EVEN WAR - can stop him from using his trickery against Hal's family. I'm not convinced that the gypsy's all bad, to be honest. I imagine he'll get his own book eventually, and the author will go to great lengths to describe how he's just misunderstood.
Julia Acquires a Groom with Knowledge about MODERN MEDICINE.
There's a hilarious scene in which Hal's dying of battle wounds, and Julia's newly acquired groom is just like, "I'll just stitch him up like I stitch up my horses." And then, OF COURSE, he keeps a clean environment because he learned that "just works better" with his horses. Also, he douses the wounds in alcohol just 'cause. My favorite part by far was when the groom scrubbed Hal's wounds with saltwater, apparently because he takes the horses out for rounds of aquatic water therapy. This can only bring me to one of 2 logical conclusions - A) Julia's groom is a time traveler, or B) Hal is a horse. You decide.
BUT I LIKED IT!
Despite Hal's virgin phobia and Julia's mouse brain, I genuinely enjoyed this book. The romance is very well done. It's easy to believe Hal and Julia's chemistry from beginning to end. My favorite part by far was chronicled in the days leading up to Waterloo. There was something very unsettling about following these people going to parties and balls, joking around in the park, and living rather ordinary lives just days before a huge battle. I couldn't help but read some of the descriptions of military characters and think, "Wow, he'll probably be dead soon." I loved reading about Brussels in that particular time, and it's clear that Allen did her research.
So sure, 3.5 stars to you, The Officer and the Proper Lady. The story isn't perfect, but I was certainly entertained!
Cock scumb.
LOL!
January 16, 2011
I really liked this one. The story is a great one, set among the Battle of Waterloo and its aftermath, and the characters are really great.
Things I liked about this one:
- The setting - the author has done a lot of research into what happened in Brussels at this decisive point in history, what people did and how it felt, and it really shows. The author has worked in some events which really happened, no matter how small, and it brings the whole story alive for me, in a way which most of the others in this series were not.
- The heroine - she is incredibly likeable. Yes, she is brave, making the decisions she makes, and following through with them, but the impression I'm really left with is her likeable intelligence. She's full of common sense, understands her responsibilities, but isn't really willing to sacrifice everything of her own happiness for them. She also understands how a "lady" should be behave, but also appreciates that there are occasions when that really doesn't matter. You just know she has the smarts, and the kind heart to make a wonderful life for herself and her hero.
- The hero - brave, naughty, fun-loving, this is a wonderful hero. He's the second son, but clearly loves the military life and loves women, booze, cards and fun.
Things I didn't like quite as much:
- Stephen/Stephano didn't play a big enough part for my liking. He made a minor appearance or two, but wasn't part of the action enough. His story was developed just that little bit further, but he could have been more in evidence all the way through
- The hero isn't enough of a rake - this is a constant nag of mine. My impression is that a large portion of aristocratic men slept their way through life, but the hero didn't really do anything particularly naughty in my books. Yes, he slept with loose women, yes, he gambled (but then everyone did), and yes, he drank like a fish (not medically advisable, but again nothing new), but he was essentially an honorable man. I would have preferred him to have been MUCH more naughty at the start of the book than he was.
So, in all, I really enjoyed this book. It had a wonderful atmosphere to it, which it shared with two others from this series
, and maybe
, and I do love the setting in one of the defining historical moments of the Regency era. It also had a very satisfying ending (you know they are going to have a wonderful marriage), and is well-written, advancing the series plot to just the right point for the next and concluding book of the series
, and surprise, surprise, the cover actually approaches something realistic, although I would have guessed the hero would have had a mustache (I don't know why, but that's how I imagine him), but I'll let them off, because the cover boy is so hot.
So, 4 stars, "I really liked this" and onto the concluding story.
Things I liked about this one:
- The setting - the author has done a lot of research into what happened in Brussels at this decisive point in history, what people did and how it felt, and it really shows. The author has worked in some events which really happened, no matter how small, and it brings the whole story alive for me, in a way which most of the others in this series were not.
- The heroine - she is incredibly likeable. Yes, she is brave, making the decisions she makes, and following through with them, but the impression I'm really left with is her likeable intelligence. She's full of common sense, understands her responsibilities, but isn't really willing to sacrifice everything of her own happiness for them. She also understands how a "lady" should be behave, but also appreciates that there are occasions when that really doesn't matter. You just know she has the smarts, and the kind heart to make a wonderful life for herself and her hero.
- The hero - brave, naughty, fun-loving, this is a wonderful hero. He's the second son, but clearly loves the military life and loves women, booze, cards and fun.
Things I didn't like quite as much:
- Stephen/Stephano didn't play a big enough part for my liking. He made a minor appearance or two, but wasn't part of the action enough. His story was developed just that little bit further, but he could have been more in evidence all the way through
- The hero isn't enough of a rake - this is a constant nag of mine. My impression is that a large portion of aristocratic men slept their way through life, but the hero didn't really do anything particularly naughty in my books. Yes, he slept with loose women, yes, he gambled (but then everyone did), and yes, he drank like a fish (not medically advisable, but again nothing new), but he was essentially an honorable man. I would have preferred him to have been MUCH more naughty at the start of the book than he was.
So, in all, I really enjoyed this book. It had a wonderful atmosphere to it, which it shared with two others from this series
, and maybe
, and I do love the setting in one of the defining historical moments of the Regency era. It also had a very satisfying ending (you know they are going to have a wonderful marriage), and is well-written, advancing the series plot to just the right point for the next and concluding book of the series
, and surprise, surprise, the cover actually approaches something realistic, although I would have guessed the hero would have had a mustache (I don't know why, but that's how I imagine him), but I'll let them off, because the cover boy is so hot.So, 4 stars, "I really liked this" and onto the concluding story.
May 31, 2013
This is the seventh in a series from Harlequin. There is a mystery that needs to be solved, though, that skips from book to book and not all of the books are written by the same author, something I've never encountered before. This story by Louise Allen is good and well written and I enjoyed it very much but there are editing flaws where one person's name is used as another's for two or three paragraphs and the extra spaces thrown in between syllables throughout the entire book really disrupts the flow of reading. If you can get past those quirks, it still is a good read. I'm just not sure if I want to plow through so many books in this ongoing series to discover how it finally ends up. I have to think on it.
August 5, 2024
Secondo volume dedicato ai fratelli Carlow, in realtà settimo volume della serie IL CAPPIO DI SETA.
La storia di Hal Carlow mi ha coinvolto di meno; sarà perché l’amore prima e dopo la battaglia di Waterloo mi ha ricordato un romanzo simile della Balogh (e anche quello mi aveva un po’ annoiata), ma ho trovato lui troppo possessivo, geloso e iper-protettivo, e Julia arrendevole anche se cento volte più acuta e intraprendente.
La storia di Hal Carlow mi ha coinvolto di meno; sarà perché l’amore prima e dopo la battaglia di Waterloo mi ha ricordato un romanzo simile della Balogh (e anche quello mi aveva un po’ annoiata), ma ho trovato lui troppo possessivo, geloso e iper-protettivo, e Julia arrendevole anche se cento volte più acuta e intraprendente.
January 6, 2012
I was on a bit of a romance novel kick for a week or two last month, eagerly looking for a romance novel that impressed me. I found one in Unlacing the Innocent Miss, which just so happened to be the sixth novel in Harlequin’s Silk and Scandal mini-series. Impressed, and eager to learn more about the mystery that was unfolding in the prior books, I picked up book number seven with the hopes of being wowed again.
In The Officer and the Proper Lady, we meet Major Hal Carlow and Miss Julia Tresilian, two completely different people, from two very different social worlds. Hal is a ladies man, and prefers a life of easy pursuits and lots of flirting, while Julia is a straight-laced person who must marry in order to save her family’s finances. She moves to Brussels with her mother and younger brother in order to save money, and is turned off by the suitors who come to court her, as they all bore her to death. Alas, she then meets Major Carlow. Although the more logical side of her knows that he is an extremely unsuitable match, and that they are complete and utter opposites, her heart begins to tell her otherwise, and it has nothing to do with the aspect of marrying for money. What happens surprises both Hal and Julia, and is far from the predictable “opposites attract” romance that is commonly found. How will the Battle of Waterloo change both of their futures forever? What will the future hold for them?
Going into this novel, I was expecting a typical love story where two completely different people fall magically in love and live happily ever after. Fortunately, Allen was quick to dispel this preconceived notion with new plot twists and a great back story for both of the characters that rounded out the entire work really well. For her part in this series, Allen does a wonderful job in making the story effortlessly flow while including tons of details to keep me entertained. I’m always prone to liking stories where the male character goes through a major transformation to make himself worthy of the woman he loves. Hal is one of those types of characters, deciding that love is worth changing for and doing so full force in order to secure the woman that he now knows is the one for him.
This is one of the first series I’ve ever read with a continual storyline involving multiple authors. I was concerned at first that with multiple authors unveiling more of the story with each book that the storyline would become inconsistent and hard to follow. I have to say my fears were completely unfounded! The “mystery” that looms in the background of all the books in the series continued without a hitch, making me wishing that the eighth book was right next to me upon completion of The Officer and the Proper Lady!
Kimberly (Reflections of a Book Addict)
http://wp.me/p18lIL-JX
In The Officer and the Proper Lady, we meet Major Hal Carlow and Miss Julia Tresilian, two completely different people, from two very different social worlds. Hal is a ladies man, and prefers a life of easy pursuits and lots of flirting, while Julia is a straight-laced person who must marry in order to save her family’s finances. She moves to Brussels with her mother and younger brother in order to save money, and is turned off by the suitors who come to court her, as they all bore her to death. Alas, she then meets Major Carlow. Although the more logical side of her knows that he is an extremely unsuitable match, and that they are complete and utter opposites, her heart begins to tell her otherwise, and it has nothing to do with the aspect of marrying for money. What happens surprises both Hal and Julia, and is far from the predictable “opposites attract” romance that is commonly found. How will the Battle of Waterloo change both of their futures forever? What will the future hold for them?
Going into this novel, I was expecting a typical love story where two completely different people fall magically in love and live happily ever after. Fortunately, Allen was quick to dispel this preconceived notion with new plot twists and a great back story for both of the characters that rounded out the entire work really well. For her part in this series, Allen does a wonderful job in making the story effortlessly flow while including tons of details to keep me entertained. I’m always prone to liking stories where the male character goes through a major transformation to make himself worthy of the woman he loves. Hal is one of those types of characters, deciding that love is worth changing for and doing so full force in order to secure the woman that he now knows is the one for him.
This is one of the first series I’ve ever read with a continual storyline involving multiple authors. I was concerned at first that with multiple authors unveiling more of the story with each book that the storyline would become inconsistent and hard to follow. I have to say my fears were completely unfounded! The “mystery” that looms in the background of all the books in the series continued without a hitch, making me wishing that the eighth book was right next to me upon completion of The Officer and the Proper Lady!
Kimberly (Reflections of a Book Addict)
http://wp.me/p18lIL-JX
May 5, 2018
3.5 Stars I have had difficulty rating this book. The first two thirds of the book are an excellent 5 star read but the last third descends into a messy 2 star hotchpotch. The trouble is that this is a shared plot with other authors. I am not adverse to reading a book in a series with shared characters but each book usually has its own resolution. This book does NOT. You do not get to know who the real villain is. No doubt this will be dealt with by another author.
I enjoyed the first two thirds of the book. Louise Allen has obviously done her research and portrays what I believe to be an accurate description of life in Brussels just before and during the battle of Waterloo. It is an entertaining and informative read. If the author had introduced her own villain with his own motivations, this book would have been an exceptional 5 stars read. The conclusion is messy. The author introduces extra characters in an attempt to incorporate a shared plot. This does not work for me. I actually understand the one and two star ratings. I would recommend this book if you are prepared to read the whole series, which I believe is four books. If you do not then don't bother as the loose end are not tied and there is no solid conclusion. There is nothing worse than being left high and dry wondering who the protagonist was. Louise Allen obviously knows her history and this book could have been so much better if she had written her story independently as a stand alone with a more solid and satisfactory conclusion.
I enjoyed the first two thirds of the book. Louise Allen has obviously done her research and portrays what I believe to be an accurate description of life in Brussels just before and during the battle of Waterloo. It is an entertaining and informative read. If the author had introduced her own villain with his own motivations, this book would have been an exceptional 5 stars read. The conclusion is messy. The author introduces extra characters in an attempt to incorporate a shared plot. This does not work for me. I actually understand the one and two star ratings. I would recommend this book if you are prepared to read the whole series, which I believe is four books. If you do not then don't bother as the loose end are not tied and there is no solid conclusion. There is nothing worse than being left high and dry wondering who the protagonist was. Louise Allen obviously knows her history and this book could have been so much better if she had written her story independently as a stand alone with a more solid and satisfactory conclusion.
December 30, 2014
3.5 stars.
An entertaining romance but with the added value that made Barbara Cartland's novels worth reading: the story being a convenient vehicle to show off impeccable research. I have never before read a novel about life in Brussels upon the brink of the battle of Waterloo. A solid depiction, as far as I can judge.
PS. One of the hottest covers on a romance novel.
An entertaining romance but with the added value that made Barbara Cartland's novels worth reading: the story being a convenient vehicle to show off impeccable research. I have never before read a novel about life in Brussels upon the brink of the battle of Waterloo. A solid depiction, as far as I can judge.
PS. One of the hottest covers on a romance novel.
November 6, 2019
Lovely classic regency tone and some vivid and convincing scenes of Brussels and the aftermath of the Battle of Waterloo. My first minor grumble is: I wasn't entirely convinced by the depiction of Hal's character - if he's such a wild rake by repute, I want to see some rakish action! He's far too gentlemanly for most of the novel. Secondly, I don't think this story's participation in a larger multi-book plot did it any favours. I didn't feel like the plot was satisfactorily wrapped up at the end, and there was some definite info-dump of the pre-existing plot earlier on.
Nevertheless, a highly enjoyable read and great example of this (sub-)genre.
Nevertheless, a highly enjoyable read and great example of this (sub-)genre.
January 3, 2025
Non amo le saghe; non sopporto le saghe dovute a più autori, e ancor meno le saghe 'non denunciate'.
Perciò, per quanto il romanzo di Louise Allen mi sia piaciuto abbastanza, non riesco a perdonarle di aver lasciato irrisolta una parte della trama, e NON comprerò il volume che me ne darà la soluzione.
In ogni caso, ho trovato abbastanza irritante la prima parte della storia, tanto che ho fatto trascorrere alcuni mesi prima di riprenderla in mano. Poi, ho l'letta tutto d'un fiato fino alla fine.
Perciò, per quanto il romanzo di Louise Allen mi sia piaciuto abbastanza, non riesco a perdonarle di aver lasciato irrisolta una parte della trama, e NON comprerò il volume che me ne darà la soluzione.
In ogni caso, ho trovato abbastanza irritante la prima parte della storia, tanto che ho fatto trascorrere alcuni mesi prima di riprenderla in mano. Poi, ho l'letta tutto d'un fiato fino alla fine.
February 12, 2025
This was my favorite of this series so far. I enjoyed the section dealing with the time before and after Waterloo. Louise Allen is definitely one if the better authors of the series.
But my goodness! The editing or printing in the entire is just terrible. Words are consistently separated into syllables or 3-4 words are typed with no spaces! I'm pretty sure there are competent editors and writers who could have fixed this. Does no one look at the book once it's in the laptop?
But my goodness! The editing or printing in the entire is just terrible. Words are consistently separated into syllables or 3-4 words are typed with no spaces! I'm pretty sure there are competent editors and writers who could have fixed this. Does no one look at the book once it's in the laptop?
November 2, 2022
In the beginning of the book it's so boring! It took me 5months to finish it! I read 3chaps and dnfed...then read it again and dnfed it then again and again till I didn't have any tbrs and finally read it and finished it! It's really not bad...but the beginning!
January 21, 2023
A refreshing regency novel. It had a nice pace though the family scandal plot confused me and the author made a few mistakes with putting the wrong characters names in scenes that they were not present.
August 6, 2025
Excellent.
Another well written book in this series.
An adventure filled storyline with a little angst, a bit of fun, some tragedy alone with romance and a continuation of the intrigue concerning the spy and the murder from years past.
Another well written book in this series.
An adventure filled storyline with a little angst, a bit of fun, some tragedy alone with romance and a continuation of the intrigue concerning the spy and the murder from years past.
April 15, 2018
Hal is truly marvelous, no wonder Julia falls for him!
I also enjoyed how they both strive to do what they feel is right, even when it's painful. Good stuff!
I also enjoyed how they both strive to do what they feel is right, even when it's painful. Good stuff!
May 6, 2018
A Regency HH = 3.5 stars
October 23, 2019
This book was just ok. I’ve read better and I’ve read worse.
September 9, 2020
In questo capitolo molto divertente Hal trova la sua dolce metà e al contempo un nuovo nemico che oltre lo zingaro cerca di farli la festa
September 15, 2021
This book was so much more than I expected. I absolutely love Julia and her stubbornness and I will most definitely reread this in the future.
May 26, 2022
I absolutely loved this story, the characters were great! I love how it all turn out, the setting is brilliant! Makes you think you are there, I highly recommend reading this book
January 20, 2024
I deeply adored this book, the details of the Waterloo's battle and the character of Julia
February 14, 2024
this sucked idek what was happening towards the end
December 24, 2010
The 7th out of 8 books in the Silk & Scandal Series.
Hal has always been a rake and happy go lucky sort of guy. Much unlike his older brother the responsible Marcus.
Julia and her Mama and little brother have had to move to Brussels as it is cheaper to live there. Her father has died and left them without because of his gambling.
Julia needs a husband so she can help her family but no one matches up once she has met Hal Carlow.
And what would a S&S book be without Stephen showing up to cause some problems to those he blames for his fathers death and what he must do to fulfill the curses of his gypsy mother.
Hal has always been a rake and happy go lucky sort of guy. Much unlike his older brother the responsible Marcus.
Julia and her Mama and little brother have had to move to Brussels as it is cheaper to live there. Her father has died and left them without because of his gambling.
Julia needs a husband so she can help her family but no one matches up once she has met Hal Carlow.
And what would a S&S book be without Stephen showing up to cause some problems to those he blames for his fathers death and what he must do to fulfill the curses of his gypsy mother.
March 15, 2016
I stopped on page 66. I just couldn't stick with it. It dragged and dragged, and it was like listening to an elderly relative talking about too many people whom I've never met. The author kept dragging in references to other characters outside of the main storyline, and it just made it confusing. Although, looking over other reviews, I couldn't help but wonder what it was that I was missing that made other people love or like this book so much while I just wanted to go to sleep. Maybe I'm partly just bored of the whole Regency period; these people sit around in their fancy dresses, go to balls, gossip about women who don't have chaperones or about who is "on the shelf".
February 10, 2015
I really enjoyed this book.
Julia is very likable as she tries to be realistic about finding a husband, struggling to push aside all romance and feelings of love.
But in comes Hal.... *sigh*....... Both are too stuborn to admit their feelings, telling themselves they aren't good enough for the other.
I felt it was left unfinished though, what about the attempted murder.... we just ignore it and hope the person doesn't succeed in the future?
Julia is very likable as she tries to be realistic about finding a husband, struggling to push aside all romance and feelings of love.
But in comes Hal.... *sigh*....... Both are too stuborn to admit their feelings, telling themselves they aren't good enough for the other.
I felt it was left unfinished though, what about the attempted murder.... we just ignore it and hope the person doesn't succeed in the future?
April 11, 2011
I liked this book. I forgot to review it closer to the time I read it, but I do remember liking it quite a bit. The officer is the scoundrel and the heroine the one who's trying to follow the rules in this one. I'm going to be keeping my eye out for more books by Louise Allen. (And trying to remember her name.)
April 6, 2013
I enjoyed this. I really liked Julia - trying to be pragmatic about finding a husband, trying to supress the romantic side as not necessary for her to make a decision.
Enjoyed the setting being in Brussels.
On the 'eve' of Waterloo and days following - the gaiety overlying the tension
And yes I like the rakish Hal.
I've enjoyed reading this series and look forward to the final instalment.
Enjoyed the setting being in Brussels.
On the 'eve' of Waterloo and days following - the gaiety overlying the tension
And yes I like the rakish Hal.
I've enjoyed reading this series and look forward to the final instalment.
August 2, 2015
I have loved this series. One more to go, I preordered on Barnes and Noble. This was one of the best, but the Louise Allen is great.
What can I say? Second time through, this wasn't even 3 stars. Trite plot, which was not only contrived but unplausible even for a regency.
What can I say? Second time through, this wasn't even 3 stars. Trite plot, which was not only contrived but unplausible even for a regency.
December 17, 2010
A refreshingly sweet story of a proper lady and a rakish officer, who get to know each other in Brussels just before Waterloo. When he is wounded, she nurses him back to health and they marry--but he thinks he isn't good enough for her. I liked it.
October 26, 2011
I´m a sucker for a rake =) Major Hal Carlow with his living as a scoundrel finds himself drawn to miss Julia Tresilian, a proper young lady not in need of a distraction. Part of the Regency Silk & Scandal series.
August 27, 2012
Loved this one, I think Hal is my favourite of all the men involved in the series. Julia was a worthy heroine for him and the historical touches surrounding The Battle of Waterloo gave the book a bit more of a bite.
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