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Scarlet Angel
A CAPTIVE OF HIS DESIRES
As the granddaughter of a highly placed French diplomat Gabrielle de Brienne was a valuable political pawn. She was also the same Gabrielle who as a child had inadvertently taken from Cam Colburne, Duke of Dyson, the two people he loved best in the world. The handsome nobleman had vowed to make her pay for his suffering, and now the perfect opportunity presented itself. He would abduct this eighteen-year-old hoyden with the looks of an angel and the manners of a ragamuffin--and hold her prisoner in his Cornwall castle in order to manipulate her traitorous grandfather. For years he had dreamed of having her at his mercy, and now nothing less than her complete surrender would satisfy him...
A HOSTAGE TO HER HEART
Gabrielle could fence like a seasoned duellist, ride like the wind, and shoot like a musketeer. But nothing in her unconventional education had prepared her for dealing with the enigmatic Dyson--a man who infuriated her with his arrogant commands yet aroused her to hitherto unknown heights of passion with his demanding kisses and intimate caresses. As his captive, Gabrielle was not in a position to deny him. But she loathed herself for wanting his possession, and knew she must escape before her heart was forever lost...
As the granddaughter of a highly placed French diplomat Gabrielle de Brienne was a valuable political pawn. She was also the same Gabrielle who as a child had inadvertently taken from Cam Colburne, Duke of Dyson, the two people he loved best in the world. The handsome nobleman had vowed to make her pay for his suffering, and now the perfect opportunity presented itself. He would abduct this eighteen-year-old hoyden with the looks of an angel and the manners of a ragamuffin--and hold her prisoner in his Cornwall castle in order to manipulate her traitorous grandfather. For years he had dreamed of having her at his mercy, and now nothing less than her complete surrender would satisfy him...
A HOSTAGE TO HER HEART
Gabrielle could fence like a seasoned duellist, ride like the wind, and shoot like a musketeer. But nothing in her unconventional education had prepared her for dealing with the enigmatic Dyson--a man who infuriated her with his arrogant commands yet aroused her to hitherto unknown heights of passion with his demanding kisses and intimate caresses. As his captive, Gabrielle was not in a position to deny him. But she loathed herself for wanting his possession, and knew she must escape before her heart was forever lost...
443 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1990
22 people are currently reading
269 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Thornton
61 books154 followersMary Forrest George, née Baxter was born and educated in Aberdeen, Scotland, where she taught school for a number of years before establishing her own nursery school, St. Swithin Street Nursery School, an institution that is still going strong today.
She and her husband then emigrated to Canada with their three young sons. She taught kindergarten and Grade One for a number of years in Winnipeg, Manitoba, before becoming lay minister at a Presbyterian Church in Winnipeg.
As part of her continuing education, she enrolled in evening classes at the University of Winnipeg to study Classical Greek. Five years later, having completed an Honor's thesis on Women in Euripides, she received her B.A. (Classics Gold Medalist).
After reading her first romance, a Regency by Georgette Heyer, she was captivated by the genre. Hereafter, writing became her hobby. In 1987, her first book, a small Regency entitled, Bluestocking Bride, was published by Zebra books.
She is the author of twenty-four historical romances, and two novellas. She has been nominated for and received many awards including the Romantic Times Trophy Award for the best New Historical Regency Author and Best Historical Regency. Seven of her novels have been finalists in the Romance Writers of America Rita awards, Scarlet Angel, Strangers at Dawn, Princess Charming and The Perfect Princess, Shady Lady, The Marriage Trap, and The Bachelor Trap. Her books appear regularly on national best-selling lists and have been translated into many languages.
Elizabeth's hobbies include reading (particularly mystery and suspense novels, biography, and history), and traveling to do research for her novels. She is also an avid Harry Potter enthusiast.
She and her husband then emigrated to Canada with their three young sons. She taught kindergarten and Grade One for a number of years in Winnipeg, Manitoba, before becoming lay minister at a Presbyterian Church in Winnipeg.
As part of her continuing education, she enrolled in evening classes at the University of Winnipeg to study Classical Greek. Five years later, having completed an Honor's thesis on Women in Euripides, she received her B.A. (Classics Gold Medalist).
After reading her first romance, a Regency by Georgette Heyer, she was captivated by the genre. Hereafter, writing became her hobby. In 1987, her first book, a small Regency entitled, Bluestocking Bride, was published by Zebra books.
She is the author of twenty-four historical romances, and two novellas. She has been nominated for and received many awards including the Romantic Times Trophy Award for the best New Historical Regency Author and Best Historical Regency. Seven of her novels have been finalists in the Romance Writers of America Rita awards, Scarlet Angel, Strangers at Dawn, Princess Charming and The Perfect Princess, Shady Lady, The Marriage Trap, and The Bachelor Trap. Her books appear regularly on national best-selling lists and have been translated into many languages.
Elizabeth's hobbies include reading (particularly mystery and suspense novels, biography, and history), and traveling to do research for her novels. She is also an avid Harry Potter enthusiast.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
August 19, 2022
Read: 8/17/22
Great!
RTC
Great!
RTC
September 11, 2023
Завишавам звездите само заради факта, че авторката е подхванала епохата на френската революция. Какъв приятен контраст със сегашните страхливки, които ръсят единствено захарни цветенца.
3,5⭐️
3,5⭐️
November 30, 2017
What a delightful story ! After I got over the silliness of a hero whose first name was "Camille", the novel turned out to be very interesting. I got drawn into the political intrigues because the French Revolution is a favourite era of mine so I didn't mind it in the least.
The heroine was a tomboyish but beautiful little hoyden who was a shrew at times but she always fought back whenever she was a disadvantage. The hero was a man whore with an evil, repellent mistress who got her comeuppance in the end after all the men she had been fucking dumped her ass. That part was fun. But the hero's adultery was annoying. He slept with the mistress for a few times after he married the heroine, but that was before he slept with the heroine. When he decided he wanted a real marriage with the heroine, he dumped the mistress and was never unfaithful thereafter. I did like the author's fictional portrayal of real life historical figures like Charles James Fox, Mr. Pitt the younger and the playwright Richard Brinsley Sheridan. I know a little about these figures but have never actually read anything that was biographical so I cannot say if the author's fictional adaptation was close to being accurate or not. However, what I can say is that she made these figures seem really compelling and very funny at times. Not many authors are able to do that.
The heroine was a tomboyish but beautiful little hoyden who was a shrew at times but she always fought back whenever she was a disadvantage. The hero was a man whore with an evil, repellent mistress who got her comeuppance in the end after all the men she had been fucking dumped her ass. That part was fun. But the hero's adultery was annoying. He slept with the mistress for a few times after he married the heroine, but that was before he slept with the heroine. When he decided he wanted a real marriage with the heroine, he dumped the mistress and was never unfaithful thereafter. I did like the author's fictional portrayal of real life historical figures like Charles James Fox, Mr. Pitt the younger and the playwright Richard Brinsley Sheridan. I know a little about these figures but have never actually read anything that was biographical so I cannot say if the author's fictional adaptation was close to being accurate or not. However, what I can say is that she made these figures seem really compelling and very funny at times. Not many authors are able to do that.
September 9, 2013
From the book description:
As the granddaughter of a highly placed French diplomat Gabrielle de Brienne was a valuable political pawn. She was also the same Gabrielle who as a child had inadvertently taken from Cam Colburne, Duke of Dyson, the two people he loved best in the world. The handsome nobleman had vowed to make her pay for his suffering, and now the perfect opportunity presented itself. He would abduct this eighteen-year-old hoyden with the looks of an angel and the manners of a ragamuffin--and hold her prisoner in his Cornwall castle in order to manipulate her traitorous grandfather. For years he had dreamed of having her at his mercy, and now nothing less than her complete surrender would satisfy him...
Ummm, not exactly. Yes, Cam lost his stepmother and younger sister in The Terror, and yes he's spent years hunting down the leaders of the tribunal that sentenced them to death, but Gabrielle was only a means to an end - kidnap her, hold her hostage to get her grandfather to spill military secrets.
What you end up with here is a heroine raised as a boy (she can wield a sword like a man, and even sun-bathes in the nude), who is kidnapped and taken to the hero's fortress in Cornwall, announces to the world that she's his "ward", and put in the care of the duke's kept mistress (!!). K...
Sorry, but this was a bit of a drag. I don't mind a wall-paperish romance when I'm in the mood for brain-candy, but this one has way too much politics and too many real-life characters that it's impossible to keep track of them all, even with notes and Google. I suspect only those really up to snuff on the Napoleonic era will be able to follow it all, but then those up to snuff will probably be rolling their eyes at times - some minor French political flunky addresses a duchess by her first name?
Those nitpicks aside, there just isn't enough romance and/or sexual chemistry between Cam and Gabrielle to carry this story. Once they finally hit the sack halfway through the book, that's pretty much where they stay for the rest of it. Every argument ends up in bed. Every single one of them.
If you're on a desert island and have nothing better to read, then go for it. Otherwise give it a pass. Extra star just 'cause I finished it.
As the granddaughter of a highly placed French diplomat Gabrielle de Brienne was a valuable political pawn. She was also the same Gabrielle who as a child had inadvertently taken from Cam Colburne, Duke of Dyson, the two people he loved best in the world. The handsome nobleman had vowed to make her pay for his suffering, and now the perfect opportunity presented itself. He would abduct this eighteen-year-old hoyden with the looks of an angel and the manners of a ragamuffin--and hold her prisoner in his Cornwall castle in order to manipulate her traitorous grandfather. For years he had dreamed of having her at his mercy, and now nothing less than her complete surrender would satisfy him...
Ummm, not exactly. Yes, Cam lost his stepmother and younger sister in The Terror, and yes he's spent years hunting down the leaders of the tribunal that sentenced them to death, but Gabrielle was only a means to an end - kidnap her, hold her hostage to get her grandfather to spill military secrets.
What you end up with here is a heroine raised as a boy (she can wield a sword like a man, and even sun-bathes in the nude), who is kidnapped and taken to the hero's fortress in Cornwall, announces to the world that she's his "ward", and put in the care of the duke's kept mistress (!!). K...
Sorry, but this was a bit of a drag. I don't mind a wall-paperish romance when I'm in the mood for brain-candy, but this one has way too much politics and too many real-life characters that it's impossible to keep track of them all, even with notes and Google. I suspect only those really up to snuff on the Napoleonic era will be able to follow it all, but then those up to snuff will probably be rolling their eyes at times - some minor French political flunky addresses a duchess by her first name?
Those nitpicks aside, there just isn't enough romance and/or sexual chemistry between Cam and Gabrielle to carry this story. Once they finally hit the sack halfway through the book, that's pretty much where they stay for the rest of it. Every argument ends up in bed. Every single one of them.
If you're on a desert island and have nothing better to read, then go for it. Otherwise give it a pass. Extra star just 'cause I finished it.
January 23, 2020
I'm giving this book 3.5 stars. I wanted to love this novel, and I enjoyed reading it for the most part, but I think it could have been better. It was almost a 4 star book for me, but there were some parts that really dragged. The Prologue, which takes place at a massacre during the French Revolution, made for a gripping opening, and so I was disappointed when the next several chapters (which take place years later) involve a scheme to kidnap the (now-grown) heroine in order to influence her grandfather. So this means a lot of talking, planning, etc. Then there follow chapters where the imprisoned heroine attempts to escape from the castle in which she is being kept by the hero. It's somewhat interesting up to this point, but not a truly thrilling read. Things become more engaging around page 300 when the now-married heroine is introduced to society as the Duke of Dyson's wife. There is a bit of intrigue as she is told lies about her husband by a foreign agent who plans to take her back to France. The penultimate chapter sees the rescue of the heroine and brings the tale closer to 4-star territory, but then the final chapter brings us back to the castle and feels like a bit of a backward step as the hero and heroine resume their former combative roles until, at last, the happy ending when all secrets are finally revealed.
The novel had a lot of the ingredients of a 5-star book, the kind of lusty historical novel from this era (it was published in 1990) that I love, but I think it would have benefited from being around 100 pages shorter, a tighter story, so that there was less dragging and boredom in various spots. The story is heavily populated by actual historical characters which may contribute to a bit of that dragging. On the other hand, this is the kind of novel that I wouldn't mind giving a reread in the future, and it's possible that I may get more out of it a second time around, since characters mentioned at the beginning reappear near the end. I did wonder if the hero's sister and mother, murdered at the massacre in the Prologue, would turn up alive before the novel's end, since their deaths are not literally shown -- but that did not happen, and a good thing, too, as it would have seemed contrived and too much of a happy ending. Over all, I enjoyed the novel and appreciated all the work that the author obviously put into writing it. I just think it could have been an even better book if there had been either more action & intrigue, or else more trimming of the less-interesting parts of the story.
The novel had a lot of the ingredients of a 5-star book, the kind of lusty historical novel from this era (it was published in 1990) that I love, but I think it would have benefited from being around 100 pages shorter, a tighter story, so that there was less dragging and boredom in various spots. The story is heavily populated by actual historical characters which may contribute to a bit of that dragging. On the other hand, this is the kind of novel that I wouldn't mind giving a reread in the future, and it's possible that I may get more out of it a second time around, since characters mentioned at the beginning reappear near the end. I did wonder if the hero's sister and mother, murdered at the massacre in the Prologue, would turn up alive before the novel's end, since their deaths are not literally shown -- but that did not happen, and a good thing, too, as it would have seemed contrived and too much of a happy ending. Over all, I enjoyed the novel and appreciated all the work that the author obviously put into writing it. I just think it could have been an even better book if there had been either more action & intrigue, or else more trimming of the less-interesting parts of the story.
October 9, 2022
LOVED IT! #givesgoodgrovel
There were certain parts that had me eye-rolling because this wasn't the first book I read in a day with the exact same scenario going on. Why do authors like to make heroines take stupid decisions? Anyway, this was a wonderful marriage before love, enemies to lovers historical romance with a headstrong and unconventional heroine, and a hero hellbent on revenge who only turns into a possessive husband later on in the story. Both had their faults, but I think what made me rate this 5 stars was their character development and willingness to admit to their mistakes and repent for it.
FULL REVIEW TO COME!
There were certain parts that had me eye-rolling because this wasn't the first book I read in a day with the exact same scenario going on. Why do authors like to make heroines take stupid decisions? Anyway, this was a wonderful marriage before love, enemies to lovers historical romance with a headstrong and unconventional heroine, and a hero hellbent on revenge who only turns into a possessive husband later on in the story. Both had their faults, but I think what made me rate this 5 stars was their character development and willingness to admit to their mistakes and repent for it.
FULL REVIEW TO COME!
January 13, 2018
very heavy with history
April 30, 2012
Got about 2/3 of the way through this, but finally set it aside. The main characters didn't really engage me, especially the hero, who was actually rather despicable in what he did to the heroine. Yes, his stepmother and sister had been killed partly as a result of the heroine's actions as a seven-year-old child, but two wrongs have never made a right. The description of the early 19'th century political manoeuvering by Charles Fox, William Pitt, the Prince Regent, Fouche, Talleyrand and the others didn't really have much of a connection to the story and wasn't very interesting anyway.
March 15, 2011
The book was good for what it is, a bodice ripper, the plot was engaging and there was enough romance, drama, intrigue to keep me moving along through the book. There were quite a historic details which kept the story grounded. A fast, Rather Enjoyable Read :)
August 16, 2013
This is the second time I've read it and I've enjoyed it just as much as the first. It is well-written. A well-woven plot. Some advice still: don't start this novel if you have things to do. It is too hard to put it down.
May 26, 2022
Gabrielle, the heroine, was okay. She was rather reckless, but I appreciate her fighting spirit. And I have a soft spot for tomboys.
I didn't particularly like Cam, the hero. He was a bit too rough and cold for my taste. Well, I cut him some slack because of his tragic past.
However, I can't overlook that It was a sexual assault. I took half a star out because of it.
Moreover, I didn't like that
Gabrielle and Cam's romance didn't really interest me. It was mediocre. Not to mention their relationship felt rather unhealthy.
Also, Cam saving Gabrielle from Fouché was underwhelming. I expected something more exciting.
I didn't particularly like Cam, the hero. He was a bit too rough and cold for my taste. Well, I cut him some slack because of his tragic past.
However, I can't overlook that It was a sexual assault. I took half a star out because of it.
Moreover, I didn't like that
Gabrielle and Cam's romance didn't really interest me. It was mediocre. Not to mention their relationship felt rather unhealthy.
Also, Cam saving Gabrielle from Fouché was underwhelming. I expected something more exciting.
February 5, 2019
Scarlet Angel
I loved the book. I read it straight through in one night. I loved the story. Cam and Gabrielle were great together and I really enjoyed the history woven throughout the plot.
I loved the book. I read it straight through in one night. I loved the story. Cam and Gabrielle were great together and I really enjoyed the history woven throughout the plot.
January 20, 2019
Language engaged is good.
Too much history.
Too much history.
June 2, 2022
Heroine: ✨✨✨✨
Hero: ✨✨✨
Character Development: ✨✨ 1/2
Chemistry: ✨✨✨ 1/2
Plot: ✨✨✨
Language and Style: ✨✨✨✨✨✨ (beautiful writing)
Themes: ✨✨✨
Overall: ✨✨✨ 1/2
Hero: ✨✨✨
Character Development: ✨✨ 1/2
Chemistry: ✨✨✨ 1/2
Plot: ✨✨✨
Language and Style: ✨✨✨✨✨✨ (beautiful writing)
Themes: ✨✨✨
Overall: ✨✨✨ 1/2
January 18, 2025
I have read this book now a second time and it was just as enthralling. This is also the first historical in which I found myself being super interested in the sub-plot.
October 7, 2014
I have to say, that whole this book was well written, and good aspects of history during the French Revolution were employed, it was not a page turner for me. It took me until then end of the book to like Cam, the Duke of Dyson, our 'hero', and...no thanks. Gabrielle, our heroine, who was first a hostage, then a reluctant wife, was equally bland and almost laughably naive in the common sense area.
June 4, 2011
* "Scarlet Angel" by Elizabeth Thornton starts with an angelic blonde girl and English teen lord both saved by her secret grandfather from the French Revolution. Why the Lord persecutes them, kidnaps her, and they both fall in love, she runs, really just seems an excuse for bedplay. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood.
May 22, 2015
Good story with a tedious but solid historical background.If you like dark,tormented heroes you may pick it up.
July 13, 2011
The book was good but too much historical details of french revolution made my head ache!!!
Read
November 21, 2018Its really good. Heroine is quite adorable.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews