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Hearts Beguiled
Fleeing from those intent on kidnapping her young son, a beautiful, young widow finds protection and love in the arms of a brilliant and passionate scientist, but can their love sustain the secrets they both harbor?
412 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1989
1 person is currently reading
162 people want to read
About the author
Penelope Williamson
26 books237 followersPenelope Williamson is an internationally renowned author of historical romance and suspense. Penelope Williamson was born in Fairbanks, Alaska, and spent the first eleven years of her life as an US Air Force brat. She has a B.A. in history, an M.A. in broadcast journalism, and was in the U.S. Marine Corps for six years, where she reached the rank of Captain. She has more than 1.8 million books in print, including The Outsider, Heart of the West A Wild Yearning, Once in a Blue Moon, and Keeper of the Dream. Penny is a past winner of the Romantic Times' Best Historical Romance of the Year award and the Romance Writers of America's RITA awards. Penelope Williamson lives with her husband in Mill Valley, California.
pseudonyms: Elizabeth Lambert, Penn Williamson
pseudonyms: Elizabeth Lambert, Penn Williamson
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 2, 2023
Read:1/30/23
Not the author's best work!
The writing was great and well paced. I also enjoyed the characters. The H especially shines. His mischievous eyes and mysterious past were irresistible.
So why did I not like it? The actual story didn't make sense, or at least the h didn't. She's hiding herself and her child from evil people, but that doesn't stop her from doing nothing to prevent it.
Things she should have done :
Changed her unique appearance, don't go places where your enemy visits, and try to resist a man you don't know. The h kind of throws all commonsense out the window, then runs away when it backfires.
I'm probably being harsh.. 🤔 Exclude the h's bad decision-making and the rest of the book was very good.
Not the author's best work!
The writing was great and well paced. I also enjoyed the characters. The H especially shines. His mischievous eyes and mysterious past were irresistible.
So why did I not like it? The actual story didn't make sense, or at least the h didn't. She's hiding herself and her child from evil people, but that doesn't stop her from doing nothing to prevent it.
Things she should have done :
Changed her unique appearance, don't go places where your enemy visits, and try to resist a man you don't know. The h kind of throws all commonsense out the window, then runs away when it backfires.
I'm probably being harsh.. 🤔 Exclude the h's bad decision-making and the rest of the book was very good.
March 20, 2011
This was a delightful and romantic read. I have become a real fan of Penelope Williamson. The book just sails along with her excellent writing and when you think the book is about to end, the author must have realized she forgot all the WTFery that was an essential ingrediant of a BR novel in those times. So your in this romantic sexy haze and then, WTF- <*spoiler>the heroine is kidnapped, thrown into the Bastille and tortured.<*/spoiler> The H/h make a good match, an interesting story, and the H grovels appropriately for his adultery.
February 24, 2012
Pre French Revolution Romance - Superb!!
You can get this book used through Amazon and I wholeheartedly recommend it as well worth the time and trouble, Kindle notwithstanding. Think of it as early steam punk. I always know when I pick up an historical romance by Penelope Williamson that I'm going to have an adventure, feel my heart break at some point and be left with a belief that for some of us at least, true love can be found even if it's costly. This one is no different. In addition, her attention to historic detail, her wonderful ability to paint vivid word pictures and her ability to make you live through the lives of her characters are gifts only rarely found in romance fiction.
This story takes place in France, in Paris and its environs, at the dawn of the French Revolution in the 1780s. It's the story of Gabrielle who is poor but endowed with noble blood and beauty all men admire. At the tender age of 16, she loses her young husband and her mother on the same day. Pregnant and alone, she runs from her husband's father the duc de Nevers who would take her child and banish her to a cloister--or, should she not want that, prison. She escapes from him and his lackey, a creepy lawyer named Louvois, and manages to barely scrape out a living until she is rescued from life in the slums of Paris by a kind pawnshop owner who becomes a father of sorts to her. Through her work for him, she meets the dashing and mysterious Maximilian de Saint-Just, a brilliant scientist and bastard son of the comte de Saint-Just, who has turned his apartment into a science lab and is blowing things up as he seeks to discover a fuel for his hot air balloon. In addition to all that, Max has devoted his life to casting dirt on his father's name and is involved in spying for the cabal, an underground network of smugglers out for their own profit. But when Max meets and falls in love with Gabrielle, he wants to be a different man. They will face many challenges and both hide secrets that will tear at their love--all while the country is plunging into revolution and Max is uncovering new scientific discoveries.
It's a riveting tale that will sweep you away to 18th century France--an important time in history. It's a keeper!
You can get this book used through Amazon and I wholeheartedly recommend it as well worth the time and trouble, Kindle notwithstanding. Think of it as early steam punk. I always know when I pick up an historical romance by Penelope Williamson that I'm going to have an adventure, feel my heart break at some point and be left with a belief that for some of us at least, true love can be found even if it's costly. This one is no different. In addition, her attention to historic detail, her wonderful ability to paint vivid word pictures and her ability to make you live through the lives of her characters are gifts only rarely found in romance fiction.
This story takes place in France, in Paris and its environs, at the dawn of the French Revolution in the 1780s. It's the story of Gabrielle who is poor but endowed with noble blood and beauty all men admire. At the tender age of 16, she loses her young husband and her mother on the same day. Pregnant and alone, she runs from her husband's father the duc de Nevers who would take her child and banish her to a cloister--or, should she not want that, prison. She escapes from him and his lackey, a creepy lawyer named Louvois, and manages to barely scrape out a living until she is rescued from life in the slums of Paris by a kind pawnshop owner who becomes a father of sorts to her. Through her work for him, she meets the dashing and mysterious Maximilian de Saint-Just, a brilliant scientist and bastard son of the comte de Saint-Just, who has turned his apartment into a science lab and is blowing things up as he seeks to discover a fuel for his hot air balloon. In addition to all that, Max has devoted his life to casting dirt on his father's name and is involved in spying for the cabal, an underground network of smugglers out for their own profit. But when Max meets and falls in love with Gabrielle, he wants to be a different man. They will face many challenges and both hide secrets that will tear at their love--all while the country is plunging into revolution and Max is uncovering new scientific discoveries.
It's a riveting tale that will sweep you away to 18th century France--an important time in history. It's a keeper!
July 5, 2011
The book starts off by introducing the 17 year old Gabrielle, who appears to be unmarried, destitute and very pregnant. She gives birth by herself and there is a mystery as it appears the Duc de Nevers is after the baby as it is his grandson.
Gabrielle takes refuge with a pawn broker Simon Prion, who Treats her as his niece and her son Dominque as his own.
Enter Maximillien de Saint Just. Gabrielle is instantaneously attracted to Max when she mistakes him for another client. He pursues her and discovers where she lives and works and makes it clear that he is interested in an affair. He purchases a ruby ring from the shop but Gabrielle comes to wrongly believe that he also took her sapphire ring and so she breaks into his apartment to retrieve same. He catches her at this and they share a passionate embrace, however Max is now suspicious that she was either trying to steal from him or had more nefarious purposes. It emerges that Max works as an agent for a cabal of Parisienne businessmen, who are also involved in trying to progress the revolution. Max speaks to his handler Abel Hachette and tells him of his encounter with the girl and Abel appears to recognise her description and says he will look into it.
The romance between Gabrielle and Max develops but both continue to have trust issues and it is clear that each has their own secrets. Max takes her on a balloon ride, where they crash into a church. This is clearly a sign and they marry post haste. We are then given back ground information on both protagonists. Max is the illegitimate son of a horrible Comte. Gabrielle is also of noble blood and in fact had married the son of the Duc de Nevers. However the evil Duc disowned his son and tried to impoverish them so as to force Martin to end the marriage. When Martin died the Duc threatened to have Gabrielle sent to the Bastille unless she agreed to give up her child to him and be confined to a nunnery, never seeing the child again. She is shown a warrant for her arrest and an order forbidding her to ever marry again. Gabrielle flees on the spot and this is why she is in hiding. She has to give her real name when the priest comes to register the marriage. This raises further suspicion between the pair, especially when it appears that Max is tied up with gypsies who are involved with smuggling salt.
They return to Paris but neither feels able to tell their respective secrets. Max carries out a 'final' mission for Hachette by posing as a gypsy in the smuggling operation to find out who is behind it. Unfortunately it is run by Louvois ( the duc's man, who has his own sinister intentions towards Gabrielle). When he reports back to Hachette , he also informs him that he is now married and wants out of the cabal dealings but agrees to meet with Louvois on behalf of the Cabal as a last favour. Gabrielle finds out about the meeting and fears the worst - that her husband has betrayed her. She goes to the cafe where she sees Louvois hand Max a heavy purse and assumes he has sold her out. She flees with dominque. They spend a year on the run and end up destitute. Max, who has inherited a title by this stage, is also miserable during the year, drinking himself into oblivion and having an affair with a shallow aristocrat.
Upon return to his father's chateau he discovers Gabrielle and Dominque near death by the road side. He rescues them and Gabrielle is nursed back to health. She finally tells him her story which leads him to believe that she did not really love him if she believed he would sell her out. Then she discovers that he was unfaithful and there is the fairly predictable scenario of them both rejecting each other whilst really being madly in love.
The political situation in France deteriorates and Both get caught up in the revolution to some degree. They eventually wise up and declare their mutual love.
Max goes off to the convention leaving Gabrielle in Paris, whereupon the evil Louvois makes a reappearance, kidnapping her and D. She is taken to the Bastille, stripped, sexually assaulted ( but not raped) and then essentially water boarded upside down. Louvois makes off with D , having made his preferences for boys known. The Bastille is stormed and Gabrielle rescued. She and Max chase after Dominque in the Balloon ( as you do), rescue the boy, kill the villain and all live happily ever after in America.
I'm not quite sure what to make of this. The writing style was easy to read and I finished it in a day. I would not necessarily describe this as a bodice ripper, but it did have some qualities of same and had a bit of a 'saga' feel to it at times. Nonetheless, the heroine's antics were pretty annoying what with all the running away, falling into destitution, taking her child with her into illness and poverty and the I hate you- love you thing that went on was just kind of tedious. The hero often seemed fairly two dimensional , although he was good with the little boy. The villain's motives were never really explained and the scene in the Bastille was just bizarre, never mind the rescue by way of hot air balloon - although I suppose that should get some credit for originality as it's not something you read about ever day...
Not really a keeper.
Gabrielle takes refuge with a pawn broker Simon Prion, who Treats her as his niece and her son Dominque as his own.
Enter Maximillien de Saint Just. Gabrielle is instantaneously attracted to Max when she mistakes him for another client. He pursues her and discovers where she lives and works and makes it clear that he is interested in an affair. He purchases a ruby ring from the shop but Gabrielle comes to wrongly believe that he also took her sapphire ring and so she breaks into his apartment to retrieve same. He catches her at this and they share a passionate embrace, however Max is now suspicious that she was either trying to steal from him or had more nefarious purposes. It emerges that Max works as an agent for a cabal of Parisienne businessmen, who are also involved in trying to progress the revolution. Max speaks to his handler Abel Hachette and tells him of his encounter with the girl and Abel appears to recognise her description and says he will look into it.
The romance between Gabrielle and Max develops but both continue to have trust issues and it is clear that each has their own secrets. Max takes her on a balloon ride, where they crash into a church. This is clearly a sign and they marry post haste. We are then given back ground information on both protagonists. Max is the illegitimate son of a horrible Comte. Gabrielle is also of noble blood and in fact had married the son of the Duc de Nevers. However the evil Duc disowned his son and tried to impoverish them so as to force Martin to end the marriage. When Martin died the Duc threatened to have Gabrielle sent to the Bastille unless she agreed to give up her child to him and be confined to a nunnery, never seeing the child again. She is shown a warrant for her arrest and an order forbidding her to ever marry again. Gabrielle flees on the spot and this is why she is in hiding. She has to give her real name when the priest comes to register the marriage. This raises further suspicion between the pair, especially when it appears that Max is tied up with gypsies who are involved with smuggling salt.
They return to Paris but neither feels able to tell their respective secrets. Max carries out a 'final' mission for Hachette by posing as a gypsy in the smuggling operation to find out who is behind it. Unfortunately it is run by Louvois ( the duc's man, who has his own sinister intentions towards Gabrielle). When he reports back to Hachette , he also informs him that he is now married and wants out of the cabal dealings but agrees to meet with Louvois on behalf of the Cabal as a last favour. Gabrielle finds out about the meeting and fears the worst - that her husband has betrayed her. She goes to the cafe where she sees Louvois hand Max a heavy purse and assumes he has sold her out. She flees with dominque. They spend a year on the run and end up destitute. Max, who has inherited a title by this stage, is also miserable during the year, drinking himself into oblivion and having an affair with a shallow aristocrat.
Upon return to his father's chateau he discovers Gabrielle and Dominque near death by the road side. He rescues them and Gabrielle is nursed back to health. She finally tells him her story which leads him to believe that she did not really love him if she believed he would sell her out. Then she discovers that he was unfaithful and there is the fairly predictable scenario of them both rejecting each other whilst really being madly in love.
The political situation in France deteriorates and Both get caught up in the revolution to some degree. They eventually wise up and declare their mutual love.
Max goes off to the convention leaving Gabrielle in Paris, whereupon the evil Louvois makes a reappearance, kidnapping her and D. She is taken to the Bastille, stripped, sexually assaulted ( but not raped) and then essentially water boarded upside down. Louvois makes off with D , having made his preferences for boys known. The Bastille is stormed and Gabrielle rescued. She and Max chase after Dominque in the Balloon ( as you do), rescue the boy, kill the villain and all live happily ever after in America.
I'm not quite sure what to make of this. The writing style was easy to read and I finished it in a day. I would not necessarily describe this as a bodice ripper, but it did have some qualities of same and had a bit of a 'saga' feel to it at times. Nonetheless, the heroine's antics were pretty annoying what with all the running away, falling into destitution, taking her child with her into illness and poverty and the I hate you- love you thing that went on was just kind of tedious. The hero often seemed fairly two dimensional , although he was good with the little boy. The villain's motives were never really explained and the scene in the Bastille was just bizarre, never mind the rescue by way of hot air balloon - although I suppose that should get some credit for originality as it's not something you read about ever day...
Not really a keeper.
November 20, 2024
Hearts Beguiled by Penelope Williamson (1989) is a lively story set during the years leading up to the French Revolution, 1787-1789.., brimming with Parisian atmosphere and intrigue.
🇫🇷 Gabrielle de Vauclair de Nevers, a widow has been fleeing those who want to kidnap her young son Dominique, when she meets Maximilian de St Just who has a passion for science, and has been experimenting with balloons. In a grand demonstration in Paris he takes her up for a flight. Formidable, bien sur!
🇫🇷 There’s quick attraction between the two but lurking in the background are deep mysteries surrounding both .., they don’t share their past … especially Gabrielle who tells Max nothing.
🇫🇷 It’s wonderful to have characters who frequently say “Je t’aime” to each other! Alas, betrayal happens.
🇫🇷 The story was very slow to get going; not sure why because the last half is riveting as Gabrielle and Max sizzle thru numerous lush sex scenes as they fight with each other emotionally… then finally open up about their past lives. Danger continues for Gabrielle.
🇫🇷 Minor quibbles… the balloon ride near the end seemed far fetched, and there were several other implausible events. Nevertheless, there’s a terrific build up to the chaos on the streets of Paris.. heart stopping scary at times, and finally a wonderful ending. C’est magnifique!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🇫🇷 Gabrielle de Vauclair de Nevers, a widow has been fleeing those who want to kidnap her young son Dominique, when she meets Maximilian de St Just who has a passion for science, and has been experimenting with balloons. In a grand demonstration in Paris he takes her up for a flight. Formidable, bien sur!
🇫🇷 There’s quick attraction between the two but lurking in the background are deep mysteries surrounding both .., they don’t share their past … especially Gabrielle who tells Max nothing.
🇫🇷 It’s wonderful to have characters who frequently say “Je t’aime” to each other! Alas, betrayal happens.
🇫🇷 The story was very slow to get going; not sure why because the last half is riveting as Gabrielle and Max sizzle thru numerous lush sex scenes as they fight with each other emotionally… then finally open up about their past lives. Danger continues for Gabrielle.
🇫🇷 Minor quibbles… the balloon ride near the end seemed far fetched, and there were several other implausible events. Nevertheless, there’s a terrific build up to the chaos on the streets of Paris.. heart stopping scary at times, and finally a wonderful ending. C’est magnifique!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
February 27, 2023
Penelope Williamson is a GIFT. An absolute master at delving into human emotion and wringing out every feeling possible from her readers. Hearts Beguiled is one of her earlier books but her talent was already evident and she is in a league of her own in my opinion. Max and Gabrielle fall in love (lust actually) almost at first sight. Their mutual obsession with each other and their sexual tension carry the first portion of the book and kept me on the edge of my seat wanting them to have each other and put us all out of our misery. Even after they are officially together their chemistry continues and every scene between them pulls you in more and makes you FEEL what they're feeling. Their love, obsession, pain, euphoria are all laid bare. I loved both MCs individually and combined they were simply delicious. Spark meet Gasoline and COMBUST. The side characters are wonderful in their own right, Simon, Agnes and sweet Dominique each add a lot especially in terms of rounding out their family. (Though NGL, Simon and Agnes together made me uncomfortable). The backdrop of the French Revolution was also interesting as fewer historical romances are written in this setting. This book is long and certainly has it's twists and melodramatic moments which were the norm for the era it was written in but I enjoyed every single chapter so much I couldn't wipe the smile off my face and was reminded how much I love reading an amazing book for the first time. I probably highlighted half of the book because it's so swoony and romantic and hilarious and heart breaking. I adore angst, obsessed heroes, fantastic writing and lots of steam so this book ticked all my boxes and I HIGHLY recommend it. 5 Beguiling Stars!
March 17, 2025
Penelope Williamson, if you ever want to write historical romance again, we are leaving the light on for you.
Set before the French Revolution, this is a true delight. We have a widowed heroine in desperate circumstances to protect her young son, and a scientist hero who is also the bastard son of a French noble. When their paths collide with explosive (literally) force, neither will ever be the same. They marry in haste, get caught up in each other's circumstances, feel the heat of the revolution breathing down their necks (don't worry, they're fine) but with love on their side and a colorful supporting cast, love triumphs. Definitely going to read this again.
Set before the French Revolution, this is a true delight. We have a widowed heroine in desperate circumstances to protect her young son, and a scientist hero who is also the bastard son of a French noble. When their paths collide with explosive (literally) force, neither will ever be the same. They marry in haste, get caught up in each other's circumstances, feel the heat of the revolution breathing down their necks (don't worry, they're fine) but with love on their side and a colorful supporting cast, love triumphs. Definitely going to read this again.
October 9, 2011
I started this book on a trip to Boulder and lost the book in downtown Boulder. I rewalked my route but did not find the book. I was halfway done. I really enjoyed what I read of it. I hope to finish this book someday.
July 25, 2011
it´s years ago I read this novel.and I loved it!! if you are into historical literature, READ IT!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews