Time's Fool

The Tales of the Jewelled Men #1

by Patricia Veryan

In this first compelling tale from Patricia Veryan Time's Fool, Captain Gideon Rossiter returns to England after a six-year absence with one goal in mind: to marry and settle down with his betrothed, the enchanting Lady Naomi Lutonville, the thought of whom has sustained him through many a trial of war.

It is not, however, a happy homecoming that waits the captain. Rossiter is shocked to find his fortune lost, his father accused of fraud, and his family name disgraced entirely. Worst of all misfortunes, Lady Naomi's family has dissolved the engagement, and the lady herself is of no mind to ask that it be reinstated...

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Georgian, Georgian Romance

308 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Patricia Valeria Bannister was born in London. After World War II, she married Allan Louis Berg and moved to the United States; she lived on the West Coast and was the author of many historical novels from 1978 until 2002, using the pen names Patricia Veryan and Gwyneth Moore.

At the time of her death, she was living in Bellevue, Washington, USA.

Reviews

[Misfit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my, what a wild ride this was and can't wait to get my hands on book #2. Quite the romp, mystery and adventures in Georgian England as our band of characters try to solve the mystery of a couple of jeweled chessmen and who or what is behind it all. Note: this is a six book series, and while there's a nice HEA ending, there are still many mysteries left unsolved.

[Katie McP · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm finding it really hard to rate this book. You see, each book in this fantastic series of 6 books has its own romance and plot, and books 1-5 I'd rate individually at a 3-4. But the romances between two different couples, as well as the overall quest to uncover and stop whoever is plotting to overthrow England... THAT is what makes the series altogether 5-star.

It all begins with Gideon Rossitter when he comes home from fighting Napoleon to discover that his father's fortune and reputation has been destroyed in his absence. It is not long before Gideon begins to find credit in his father's claims that it was a conspiracy... and the quest begins. Gideon's suspicions are discredited by everyone in authority, but a few of his friends believe him. Together they set out to uncover the truth, save Gideon's father from prison for things he didn't do, and find out who the actors are who makes up the secretive and traitorous League of Jewelled Men.

The romance in this book is perhaps the weakest of the series. Naomi and Gideon were childhood sweethearts, and neither is quite sure whether they can trust the other after all the rumors and suspicions flying around London.

But then there's Gwen, Gideon's sister whose leg is crippled but whose tongue and fighting spirit is most definitely not crippled. And there's August Falcon, a handsome rakish character scorned and labeled 'half-breed' by the ton... but he's also Gideon's almost-friend who finds himself quite baffled to discover that the tiny and delicate-looking Gwen is the only one in England intimidated by him and his sharp tongue.

There's Katrina Falcon, August's beautiful sister, whom August won't let any man near... and James Morris, Gideon's good friend who falls in love with Katrina at first glance. Unfortunately, he mistakenly shoots August in the opening scenes of the book, which results in some of the funniest scenes throughout the entire series! August - who loves nothing better than fighting duels with his sword - challenges him immediately. But with one thing after another and the danger and intrigue of going on, it seems they'll never get around to their duel. You'll have to wait 'till the last book in the series to find out if they ever will fight or if they become friends, if Jamie will win Katrina, if Falcon will fall in love with anyone, if Gwen will get her happily-ever-after, and if the League of Jewelled Men will succeed in destroying these men before the Preservers (as Gideon's group comes to be called) can succeed in unmasking the League and proving to the government that they are a very real threat to England's safety!

Have fun tracking these books down and enjoying them!

[Mela · Rating 4 out of 5]

An eventful book. One is sure, a reader isn't bored. I would even say, that sometimes a twist of the plot or jump to the next event was almost too fast. But thanks to this, it was very entertaining and fast reading.

It was also funny. The character of Morris was charming and he made me smile many times.

"Faith, but I marvel Lieutenant Morris survived the war. He is a perpetual disaster!''

And I confess, I would read the whole series just for the last part - the story of Falcon ;-) Yes, I love Falcon!

In short, this novel (like, I presume, the whole series) was an adventure story with a romance.

The book for a lovely time.

[Rebekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

***some spoilers if you've never read a romance***Time’s Fool, is an excellent beginning to Patricia Veryan’s second series of action/mystery/historical romances. Taking place 2 or 3 years after The Golden Chronicles, this series involves some of our old friends from the first series and introduces some intriguing new additions. We briefly catch up with Tio Glendenning, Dimity and Piers Cranford and her husband Tony, and Gordon Chandler, to name a few. We are introduced to some very promising new additions: Gwen Rossiter, The Falcons, and Jamie Morris.

Who could not love Gwen right at the outset? She tells her friend Naomi, our heroine, that she is so forthright and frank because she feels she doesn’t need to guard her tongue since no one would want to marry a cripple anyway. Then the gentle sweet girl proceeds to rattle and thwart the hot tempered and intimidating August Falcon. August is an intriguing piece of work. Veryan catches our interest right at the beginning by telling us that he is a half caste and not accepted by most of society due to his heritage. Yet he is rich, handsome and formidable. He is respected, and even feared. We are told he has the instincts of a scorpion. She then proceeds to put him in one comical situation after another which reveals that he is more than a one dimensional cardboard character. His nemesis, Jamie Morris, falls head over heels at first sight with Augusts’ beautiful and reserved sister, Katrina, who is totally uninterested in this apparent booberkin. Quite simply, Jamie is a joy and a delight who amuses every time he opens his mouth. As does Tummett, Gideon’s “valet”. The slang and cant that comes out of these two characters mouths is hilarious. Patricia Veryan really amazes with her comical dialogue in this novel.

Gideon Rossiter and Naomi, the two principals in this novel are a little problematical and probably why I wasn’t all that fond of this one when I first read it. On this go round I liked them right away. Their antipathy towards each other at first set up the inevitable reconciliation to look forward to. They played off and fenced with each other very effectively. Some of their insults and wisecracks were pretty deadly. I loved the way Gideon found his pride and told off and stood up to Naomi. I loved Naomi’s bratty ripostes. When she somehow she found herself trapped awkwardly on a balcony and lost her shoe she really won me over. That scene, and several others in which she found herself in a pickle, as well as her friendship with Gwen and Katrina, and her treatment at the hands of her father, gained my sympathy and admiration, when otherwise I would have found her boring and two dimensional. I hated the way Gideon’s father, Sir Mark, treated him compared to his evil twin, Newby. He was so blind throughout, it was maddening. Gideon was so very long suffering and noble, it was a little over the top. But our author leavens his heroism with humor, some good confrontations with really despicable characters and legit derring do. Unfortunately, once Naomi and Gideon finally understood each other and reconciled, they were so besotted with each other, it was just a bit too much and verged on the cloying.

This first of the The Tales of the Jeweled Men sets up an intriguing mystery and conspiracy and starts to put the various players, both major and minor, in place for future appearances and their roles. All is far from resolved. We don’t understand what is going on at first, or the motivations. This will be revealed in the books to come.

[Caz · Rating 4 out of 5]

B+ / 4.5 stars

February’s prompt – “Previously in Romance” – had me looking through the older books in my library and brought me to Patricia Veryan, who published over thirty Georgian and Regency set romances between 1978 and 2002. I’ve reviewed a few of her books for previous TBR Challenge prompts; the last time was in 2020 ( Feather Castles , book two in the Sanguinet Saga ), and at that time, very few of her books were available digitally in the UK, but that situation has improved since then, and this book and many others are now available in digital formats here.

Time’s Fool dates from 1991 and is the first book in The Tales of the Jewelled Men saga, a series of six books that are linked by an overarching plotline about the search for a group of traitors out to overthrow the British government and the monarchy. It’s more of an adventure romp with a romantic sub-plot than it is a straightforward historical romance; the plot is intricate and well-constructed and while the book is a little slow to start thanks to the need to introduce several recurring characters and set up the mystery, I enjoyed it and will try to read more of the books in the series. (There’s another prompt coming up later this year for which I might read another one!)

When the story begins, Captain Gideon Rossiter is on his way home after six years spent fighting in Europe (I don’t think in which war is stated explicitly, but the date would suggest the War of the Austrian Succession). He’s been out of action for well over six months following a serious injury and has had no communication with home, so he has no idea what he’ll be facing when he gets back to England. A couple of his fellow officers know what’s happened – that his father’s shipping business, trading company and bank have failed and the family is ruined - but haven’t known what to say or how to tell him and have kept their silence.

In the meantime, gossip around Gideon’s romantic exploits have become rife in London society and it’s said that he has fathered at least one child with one of his many mistresses. Before he left the country, Gideon was betrothed to Lady Naomi, the daughter of his father’s good friend, the Earl of Collington, but the rumours of Gideon’s love affairs have caused her to harden her heart and she certainly has no intention of marrying him now. She was sixteen when Gideon left England, and in the intervening years Naomi has become the toast of London with a string of admirers hanging on her every word.

When Gideon finally lands in England, his first thought is to see Naomi, but after he is refused admittance to Collington Hall, he decides to makes his way to his family’s country home, Promontary Point, and stops at an Inn along the way. While there, he runs into an old friend, Lieutenant James Morris, and after a convivial meal, the two of them arrange to travel on together. They set off in Gideon’s carriage, and haven’t gone far along the road when they spy a vehicle ahead that looks to be in trouble. Drawing nearer, they see a dark shape lying on the ground and a woman struggling with a large man; jumping down, Gideon and Morris head to the rescue and run off the ruffians, unfortunately wounding an ally in the process. As the young woman – who is, of course, Naomi, although neither she nor Gideon recognise each other in the darkness and the falling rain - rails at Gideon for manhandling her away from the villain and about his friend’s clumsiness, Morris steps on what he at first believes to be a very sharp pebble but which, on closer examination looks more like a toy, a small figure carved from pink stone set with red beads. It’s an odd thing, but it’s pretty; he decides maybe his niece would like it and puts it in his pocket.

It’s not until Gideon reaches London a few days later that he finds out the truth about his family’s problems. It’s a massive blow, but as he listens to his father’s story of lies and betrayal, Gideon starts to think that there is perhaps something in Sir Mark’s theory that a group of men had set out to deliberately ruin him – but who would do such a thing and why? Gideon decides to make some enquiries, even though he knows they will be unwelcome – and then discovers that being shunned by society, repudiated by his love and being the target of impromptu missiles in the streets are the least of his worries. Someone is systematically ransacking properties belonging to his family – but what are they looking for? And how – if at all – could their actions be related to Gideon’s search for the men who ruined his father?

Time’s Fool is a cracking read with a clever, twisty plot, lots of witty dialogue and a well-defined set of characters who are easy to root for. Some of the secondary cast is going to appear in the other books, most notably the waspish August Falcon, whose snarky exchanges with Morris are a lot of fun (I really hope there are more of them in the other books!), and Gideon’s no-nonsense sister, Gwendolyn, and while we do find out who was behind the plot to ruin the Rossiters, the identity of the evil mastermind known only as The Squire will, I assume, not be revealed until the final book of the series.

As I said at the beginning, the romance between Gideon and Naomi is more of a sub-plot; while thoughts of Naomi have sustained Gideon through his long years away and his one goal on returning home is to marry her and settle down, she has heard only of his dalliances with other women and is nursing a broken heart. Misunderstandings are eventually cleared up and they get their HEA, but it takes a loooong time; several times it seemed we were going to find out the truth, but something always happened to prevent a proper explanation. Grrrrr.

As the book dates from 1991 (as far as I know, it has not been re-edited), and the story is set in the mid-eighteenth century, there are some words and attitudes here that are dated and which some readers may find objectionable. There are a couple of scenes in which the kisses between the estranged couple don’t start out as consensual, and the men are all very protective and sometimes overbearing towards the ladies - although the ladies definitely more than hold their own and even take part in some of the action. Naomi can be a bit of a curl-tossing foot-stamper, but she manages to stay the right side of the line between TSTL and brave; her travels in Europe have given her the courage to speak her mind more than other young ladies, perhaps, but she’s well aware of the conventions that govern society and knows how important it is that she should remain within their bounds. The Georgian setting is nicely done in decriptions of clothing and locations, and the author attempts to give an authentic period feel with the language she uses, so there are lots of “Lud!”s and “Egad!”s and “’pon rep”s, and similar expressions, which may feel a bit outdated.

Time’s Fool sets up the series nicely, with a gentle romance, an exploration of complex family dynamics, a dastardly villain and the formation of an interesting fellowship of friends. If you’re burned out on wallpaper historicals and characters from the twenty-first century in period costume, and don’t mind a plot-driven rather than romance-driven historical, then I’d definitely suggest giving this one a go.

[Christa Schönmann Abbühl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sets up the series very nicely. The love story is touching, the villains are dastardly, the fellowship of friends is all I can wish for. And nothing makes me laugh like the dialogue between Morris and Falcon. I am so looking forward to those two love-hating each other for the next five books.

To the modern reader there are some scenes between the estranged young couple where the hero does not quite follow the rules of consent when he kisses the girl.

The young men are all very protective and overbearing towards the ladies - but the women do get back some of their own. They may be subject to the strange rules and standards of the times, but they do strain against them and take an active part in some of the action.

For those who read Veryan because of her way with duels: there is a very good one in here, with a fabulously funny ending.

The description of complex relationships between family members is another one of this authors many strengths.

There are not enough animals for my liking, but the fearsome Apollo is introduced, and famously ruined by the indomitable Gwendolyn, who fears the dog as little as she fears his master.

[Laurie DelaCruz · Rating 5 out of 5]

So this is a reread for me. If you love Georgian/Regency novels, Patricia Veryan is the author to read. Her character development, witty repartee, tangled plotlines, lush historical background, and dry humor make every book a treat.

Some language, no scenes.

[Diane Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Rpaterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first of six books dealing with a few noble aristocrats and their ladies as they defy all odds to unravel and stop a plot to overthrow the English monarchy in the 1700's.

True heroics, wonderful bad guys, wonderful romances that uphold morality. If you are into period pieces, you will truly enjoy to plots and characters. This was one of the best of the series.

[Saadia Y · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting start to, what I hope will be, a great series. I'll admit, I only read this because I wanted to read the 6th book but decided to give the whole series a try.

The romance in this first book is between a couple who were in love and betrothed when they were younger but after 6 years of no contact because of the war, the hero and heroine are at odds because of rumours and a scheme to take down the hero's father. As a result the betrothal is broken.

As this was the first in the series, I feel a lot of time was spent introducing the plot and characters so we didn't get too much on the romance side. I really enjoyed the Falcon and Gwendolyn's first meeting and their interactions so I'm looking forward to read their story the most.

The mystery element of this book was left unfinished (obviously it will unwind during the next 5 books) but I have my suspicions as to who "The Squire" is... I'm looking forward to seeing how the story unravels and a if I'm right.

[Jeannette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book with my best friend back as a teenager, and I loved it then. I like it just as much now, and it was interesting to see how my perspective changed. I still love the characters, though as an adult, I find myself more impressed with Gideon than I was as a kid, though I still adore the dynamic between Morris and Falcon. The romance is cute, but pretty much as expected. The extra fun in this story comes by way of the plot about hunting down a treasonous conspiracy, which is both exciting and interesting. I really want to revisit all the books now, so these will probably be my treats throughout the year.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another fun plot driven romance from Veryan. Not much character depth or development, but a fun plot. This one is more of a mystery than a romance - which is actually rather boring to me at the moment, but I will most likely finish this because I want to continue with the rest of the series and I think they are all connected. 3 stars for the good writing and interesting plot. I wish she hadn't resolved the romance less than 3/4 of the way through the book, though.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

* 3.5 stars

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great!

[Olya · Rating 1 out of 5]

1/2 way in, I still had no idea what the mystery actually was. None of the characters appealed either. One star for language, I suppose.

[Lady Tea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rating: 2.4 / 5

Bo-ring. Well-written, but otherwise the story did not make me care at all what was happening.

[Luminita Szen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny , entertaining, great characters, I recommend it! Will continue with the series.

[Z. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I often find romance heroines more likeable than many readers, but this one is just so obnoxious. A lot of romance novels (including some I quite like) fall into a pattern where an asshole hero treats the martyr heroine like trash for most of the book, she loves him no matter how much he makes her suffer, and then he finally relents. The genders are reversed in this one but Naomi was so irritating that I couldn't enjoy their happy ending. I was more interested in the adventure/mystery plot than the romance, but of course this is the first book of a series so there's plenty left unknown. 3 stars because Veryan is a talented writer, but the story just wasn't to my taste.

[Windy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having fun with the English slang. Kind of all over the place, but fun to read. I couldn't pass it up - 10 cents at the library book sale. :) Much cleaner than I had expected. Will be loaning to one of my young women who love English love lit..... Going to have to hit the library for the next book, kinda hooked on the mystery now.

[Lhenry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite but Veryan's not as good is still excellent! Gideon is a greta hero and Naomi comes of as kind of bratty sometimes, but is as true as any heroine. I love the rescue scene toward the end. As always, lots of humor balances some really exciting and really romantic moments

[Marian.brady · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It does set up the following books in the series, but the story doesn't exactly leave you hanging. It was a fun romance/mystery/adventure.

[Eliza · Rating 5 out of 5]

First I've read of this author and series. Characters remain consistent, acting in character. They also act as people would have acted in the 1700's (for the most part).

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally read this series as a teenager, 20+ years ago. I have a tendency to prefer the colorful side characters to the main couple... and that hasn't changed with time.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I decided to try another Patricia Veryan series. Boy I sure wish they would put different covers on the front! This book was okay, but I hope the series picks up a little more.

[Han · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing mixture of suspence, adventure, hilarious humour, and romance! Patricia Veryan has outdone herself!

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

good read.

[Frances · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty far fetched, but on second reading, I updated to four stars. I love her writing, her fact checks, and her humor, even in such a dark story.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent start to an intriguing series. I love Patricia Veryan books.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 stars.

I was excited to start a new historical series, but this one fell flat for me. For a story that was supposed to be a mystery about a sinister, secret plot, it was really quite boring. I enjoyed the dual povs, but I just couldn't connect to either of the MCs. The revealing of the romance aspect of this book relied too heavily on coincidences and too little on backstory. I think it might have helped if there had been a prologue showing how the MCs knew each other and were eventually betrothed. And the way the H let the h believe that he'd had a mistress and a family while he was gone for the six years was pretty cruel.

The mystery of this story was too ambiguous. It takes a masterful storyteller, such as Agatha Christie, to weave a compelling and suspenseful mystery if the reader isn't even quite sure there is one. Instead this book just plodded along in its predictability. The scene in the epilogue needed to happen more often throughout this book to compel the reader to keep on.

Overall, I didn't enjoy this book much. The writing was good, but the story lacked something. If it had been a romance without the mystery, I would have enjoyed it more. The first third of the book after the MCs were reunited was better than the rest. I'm not sure I will continue with this series. We shall see.