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Goldsborough #2
The Resolute Runaway
Joanna Pettigrew was leading a miserable life, so she decided to run away, gambling on something better. Her goal was to reach Brussels and pretty Belinda Dillon could just possibly help her, if she didn’t get in Belinda’s way. But it was Captain Nicholas Goldsborough who took her in hand, though as a high born gentleman and strikingly handsome, he should rightly have belonged to Belinda—shouldn’t he? Sequel to The Substitute Bridegroom. Regency Romance by Charlotte Louise Dolan; originally published by Signet
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 1, 1992
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55 people want to read
About the author
Charlotte Louise Dolan
10 books53 followersCharlotte Louise Dolan earned a bachelors degree from Eastern Illinois University and a masters degree in German from Middlebury College. She has lived throughout the United States and in Germany, the Soviet Union, Canada, Taiwan, and Austria. A bookworm since the age of four, she fell in love with Regency England when she read her first Georgette Heyer book. Besides writing, she has worked as a high school Germany teacher, a toymaker, a tech editor, a genealogist, and a craft designer. She is the mother of three children.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 26, 2019
I find this book difficult to rate. It contained some truly brilliant moments, almost Heyer level in their ability to convey a scene. But then the next moment falls into the general cliches of the genre.
The main heroine is mousy, though thankfully not as terrible as the one from Fallen Angel. When she does show pluck, it comes from within and not in reliance on the hero.
The hero starts off strong. I really liked him...initially. But he falls in love with the heroine and doesn't DO anything about it for far too long. He kept whining that she viewed him as a brother but I never felt he did much to get out of the brother-zone.
In general though, I think the criticism can be leveled against the whole book. Initially, I really liked it. I like the pace of it and the description of Waterloo (for all her accurate research, Heyer can be quite boring with her battle scenes, a fault this book does not share.) But as soon as the heroine goes from ugly duckling to "pocket Venus," or in other words as soon as the hero discovers he loves her, the story drags on for far too long. In an attempt to pad it, the author introduces a second romance between the hero's willful cousin and a Highlander baron. I felt like I ought to like their romance more but it never felt quite right with the story. Every POV from those two came out of nowhere and I felt heartily sick of both of them by the conclusion. Far from rescuing an otherwise dull plot with a strong secondary heroine, the cousin's deliberate willfulness came across spoiled and irrational.
And I know this author can do better. She presents a strong heroine in Three Lords for Lady Anne. I do not understand why all the other heroines I have met are so...weak in comparison!
The main heroine is mousy, though thankfully not as terrible as the one from Fallen Angel. When she does show pluck, it comes from within and not in reliance on the hero.
The hero starts off strong. I really liked him...initially. But he falls in love with the heroine and doesn't DO anything about it for far too long. He kept whining that she viewed him as a brother but I never felt he did much to get out of the brother-zone.
In general though, I think the criticism can be leveled against the whole book. Initially, I really liked it. I like the pace of it and the description of Waterloo (for all her accurate research, Heyer can be quite boring with her battle scenes, a fault this book does not share.) But as soon as the heroine goes from ugly duckling to "pocket Venus," or in other words as soon as the hero discovers he loves her, the story drags on for far too long. In an attempt to pad it, the author introduces a second romance between the hero's willful cousin and a Highlander baron. I felt like I ought to like their romance more but it never felt quite right with the story. Every POV from those two came out of nowhere and I felt heartily sick of both of them by the conclusion. Far from rescuing an otherwise dull plot with a strong secondary heroine, the cousin's deliberate willfulness came across spoiled and irrational.
And I know this author can do better. She presents a strong heroine in Three Lords for Lady Anne. I do not understand why all the other heroines I have met are so...weak in comparison!
June 22, 2012
3.5
I liked this one. I thought it was a fun story. Joanna is a likable heroine. She has had a very hard life and lost all those that were close to her. Alone in the world she is rescued by the very dashing Nicholas, who unfortunately only see’s her as a “sister”. I liked how the book starts out and was excited to see their story unfold. Unfortunately, about halfway through their story is pushed to the background and Dori (Nicholas’ cousin) and Alexander (a Highland Lord) start to take center stage. While I like Dori (although her reckless nature drove me nuts), I really would have preferred for the story to have stayed focused on Joanna.
I was frustrated that there were two different stories going on. They both distracted from the other and should have just had their own books. Dori’s story in some ways made Joanna’s seem boring, while Joanna made Dori seem totally irresponsible. When Dori entered the picture the book kind of took on a life of its own and her story just sort of took over. Overall, I still enjoyed the book. I would have preferred less POV changes, but I still liked all the main characters and thought it was an enjoyable story.
Content: Clean.
Reading Order:
Book One: The Substitute Bridegroom
Book Two: The Resolute Runaway
I liked this one. I thought it was a fun story. Joanna is a likable heroine. She has had a very hard life and lost all those that were close to her. Alone in the world she is rescued by the very dashing Nicholas, who unfortunately only see’s her as a “sister”. I liked how the book starts out and was excited to see their story unfold. Unfortunately, about halfway through their story is pushed to the background and Dori (Nicholas’ cousin) and Alexander (a Highland Lord) start to take center stage. While I like Dori (although her reckless nature drove me nuts), I really would have preferred for the story to have stayed focused on Joanna.
I was frustrated that there were two different stories going on. They both distracted from the other and should have just had their own books. Dori’s story in some ways made Joanna’s seem boring, while Joanna made Dori seem totally irresponsible. When Dori entered the picture the book kind of took on a life of its own and her story just sort of took over. Overall, I still enjoyed the book. I would have preferred less POV changes, but I still liked all the main characters and thought it was an enjoyable story.
Content: Clean.
Reading Order:
Book One: The Substitute Bridegroom
Book Two: The Resolute Runaway
March 23, 2014
A charming story in which two young ladies find love and another receives a much-deserved comeuppance.
September 26, 2013
She reminds me of Georgette Heyer. Fun book.
May 26, 2022
The second half of this book was a mess. The romance between Nicholas and Joanna stalled out due to a complete lack of communication, and the secondary romance/Dorie's debacle overtook the narrative.
October 11, 2024
Another home run from Dolan! A double romance that starts a bit oddly, gathering the characters from all over England and Belgium, but quickly makes it obvious who is destined for whom. Then the delight of watching the inevitable unfold, through mistakes, stubbornness, and swoony close calls. Great characters, well-imagined and even better developed, excellent chemistry, and a satisfying double HEA. A few stretches of credulity required but overall so enjoyable that I quickly forgave them.
November 13, 2019
This started well, but I got annoyed at the constant bemoaning of Joanna being a coward, and meek. Nicholas started off as a great hero, but then spent too long pining for Joanna, once she blossoms into a ‘pocket Venus’
The secondary romance also dominated the last half of the book, and made Joanna seem a poor, weak spirited creature.
The secondary romance also dominated the last half of the book, and made Joanna seem a poor, weak spirited creature.
February 14, 2019
She's strong and runs away. She's meek and can't figure out what to do. She puts on a brave face and tries to be strong. It was good escapist reading.
November 21, 2020
Not just fluff. Waterloo. War is hell. #2 Goldsborough confuses Nick G. and infatuated Joanna. Typos:
8.8 crumped IS crumpled
2.12 panties IS parties
8.8 crumped IS crumpled
2.12 panties IS parties
September 7, 2016
2.5 stars rounds up to 3. Heroine was a little too wet blanket for me. It was fascinating seeing the author's voice in each of the four main characters, though - like different facets of the same stone.
April 29, 2015
Loved the history and the characters are all delightful.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews