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Without Honor
It was a time of revolution and chaos, of danger and deception...when Scotland teetered on the brink of civil war and lawlessness swept the borderlands. And in the midst of this magnificent struggle for power, two strangers born to be enemies discovered a passion as savage as the wild Scottish moors.
Jonet Maxwell...a fiery green-eyed girl and a much sought after bride with a dowry of rich lands., she would become a pawn in a deadly game of vengeance and desire...and her heart would be ignited by the dashing spy who was her captor.
Alexander Hepburn...the baron of Durham had a handsome face and a ruined name; his blood enemy was Robert Mure, Jonet's uncle. To exact an exquisite revenge, he would spirit away an innocent girl and hold her hostage, only to lose himself to the smoldering passion in her eyes.
He was sworn to clear his father's name. She was fighting to save her beloved uncle's life. They were enemies in a battle of blood ties and birthright, allies in a dangerous truce.
Jonet Maxwell...a fiery green-eyed girl and a much sought after bride with a dowry of rich lands., she would become a pawn in a deadly game of vengeance and desire...and her heart would be ignited by the dashing spy who was her captor.
Alexander Hepburn...the baron of Durham had a handsome face and a ruined name; his blood enemy was Robert Mure, Jonet's uncle. To exact an exquisite revenge, he would spirit away an innocent girl and hold her hostage, only to lose himself to the smoldering passion in her eyes.
He was sworn to clear his father's name. She was fighting to save her beloved uncle's life. They were enemies in a battle of blood ties and birthright, allies in a dangerous truce.
358 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
1 person is currently reading
236 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Stuart
5 books19 followersAka Elizabeth Awbrey
Elizabeth spent her childhood on an Arkansas farm surrounded by animals. Later, she spent ten years in Louisiana working in hospital management. She enjoys horseback riding (reflected in her novels) and has traveled in Europe. When last heard of she was residing in St. Louis.
Unfortunately for her readers (but fortunately, I’m sure, for her family), she stopped writing in 1995 to raise a family.
Source: Regan Walker
Librarian Note: There is more than one author writing under this name. This one is uniquely identified by using 2 spaces between the first and last name.
Elizabeth spent her childhood on an Arkansas farm surrounded by animals. Later, she spent ten years in Louisiana working in hospital management. She enjoys horseback riding (reflected in her novels) and has traveled in Europe. When last heard of she was residing in St. Louis.
Unfortunately for her readers (but fortunately, I’m sure, for her family), she stopped writing in 1995 to raise a family.
Source: Regan Walker
Librarian Note: There is more than one author writing under this name. This one is uniquely identified by using 2 spaces between the first and last name.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
December 4, 2014
3.5 stars.
I have a really hard time rating this because the history and the suspense were wonderful. I'm actually giving this a 4-5 for history/suspense/adventure and a 3-4 for romance. Since I read this as a romance, I'm skewing my final rating toward the romance.
Stuart really knows how to draw a reader in and make them feel like they're exhausted from riding through the cold Scottish forests while afraid of detection at any moment. And this was a very interesting time of Scottish history to read about.
The hero kept not only the heroine, but the reader guessing. The story wasn't strictly from the heroine's POV, yet the author was clever enough not to reveal too much. You never really knew exactly what he was up to or what he was capable of. He could seem a real bastard. And, actually, I think he was to some extent until he fell in love and lost some of his long-held bitterness.
I love a good betrayal story. It's a great setup for angst and for the hero having to prove his love. But I do not enjoy a heroine in pursuit. And IMHO she was definitely the pursuer and under circumstances that made her appear like someone with no pride. Understandable for a young innocent in love for the first time? Sure. But it's not what I seek in romance. Definitely a matter of taste.
Don't get me wrong, the hero did prove his love. He went above and beyond. But he was also very willing to let the heroine go for her own good. He was almost too honorable toward the end in a romantic sense. (Yes that comment is definitely a reference to the title. I believe Stuart wanted you to keep it mind and think about who it referred to.)
I have a really hard time rating this because the history and the suspense were wonderful. I'm actually giving this a 4-5 for history/suspense/adventure and a 3-4 for romance. Since I read this as a romance, I'm skewing my final rating toward the romance.
Stuart really knows how to draw a reader in and make them feel like they're exhausted from riding through the cold Scottish forests while afraid of detection at any moment. And this was a very interesting time of Scottish history to read about.
The hero kept not only the heroine, but the reader guessing. The story wasn't strictly from the heroine's POV, yet the author was clever enough not to reveal too much. You never really knew exactly what he was up to or what he was capable of. He could seem a real bastard. And, actually, I think he was to some extent until he fell in love and lost some of his long-held bitterness.
I love a good betrayal story. It's a great setup for angst and for the hero having to prove his love. But I do not enjoy a heroine in pursuit. And IMHO she was definitely the pursuer and under circumstances that made her appear like someone with no pride. Understandable for a young innocent in love for the first time? Sure. But it's not what I seek in romance. Definitely a matter of taste.
Don't get me wrong, the hero did prove his love. He went above and beyond. But he was also very willing to let the heroine go for her own good. He was almost too honorable toward the end in a romantic sense. (Yes that comment is definitely a reference to the title. I believe Stuart wanted you to keep it mind and think about who it referred to.)
November 8, 2022
Read: 10/27/22
Rtc
A pretty good story! It was complex, vengeful, political, with a taste of vengence. The h is naive but not annoyingly so and the H was a badass and I rooted for him. He thought he was far too gone but I couldn't wait for the story to redeem him. The MC were the perfect balance for each other.
So why not more stars? I honestly can't say! It was a great, adventurous story but for some reason, I just didn't bond with the characters at least not til the end. It might of just been my mood. I highly
recommend trying this intriguing story.! I have a feeling on a reread I'll feel different.
Rtc
A pretty good story! It was complex, vengeful, political, with a taste of vengence. The h is naive but not annoyingly so and the H was a badass and I rooted for him. He thought he was far too gone but I couldn't wait for the story to redeem him. The MC were the perfect balance for each other.
So why not more stars? I honestly can't say! It was a great, adventurous story but for some reason, I just didn't bond with the characters at least not til the end. It might of just been my mood. I highly
recommend trying this intriguing story.! I have a feeling on a reread I'll feel different.
September 16, 2013
4.5 stars
I'm going to cheat a wee bit and add this bit from the book description:
"It was a time of revolution and chaos, of danger and deception...when Scotland teetered on the brink of civil war and lawlessness swept the borderlands. And in the midst of this magnificent struggle for power, two strangers born to be enemies discovered a passion as savage as the wild Scottish moors."
Set during the reign of Henry VIII, this novel was mostly set in Scotland during a very turbulent period; a young James V is a *cough* guest *cough* of Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus. Political tricks, spies, counter-spies, treason, treachery, dirty dealing and double dealing abound. Into this feisty stew comes Alexander Hepburn, baron of Durham and wealthy heiress Jonet Maxwell. Alex hates the Maxwells, particularly Jonet's beloved uncle and he'll go to any lengths to get his revenge - and that includes kidnapping and seducing her to get it.
That's about all anyone needs to know going in, this is way too complex to try to spell out without doing a book report. This was quite the roller coaster ride with ups and downs and twists and turns and you never can tell until the end whose side Alex is on (and poor Jonet can never figure it out either). Is he on the good side or the bad side? Does he love Jonet, or just out to use her to get his revenge on her uncle? Is he working for Wolsey, Douglas or Jamie? We know it's not the French, since they have a price on his head. No matter, Alex has some of the best quips since Francis Lymond in Dunnett's Lymond Chronicles. Toss that in with a bit of a Romeo and Juliet twist and you've got a near-perfect read, with just the right mixture of history and romance.
What. A. Ride.
I'm going to cheat a wee bit and add this bit from the book description:
"It was a time of revolution and chaos, of danger and deception...when Scotland teetered on the brink of civil war and lawlessness swept the borderlands. And in the midst of this magnificent struggle for power, two strangers born to be enemies discovered a passion as savage as the wild Scottish moors."
Set during the reign of Henry VIII, this novel was mostly set in Scotland during a very turbulent period; a young James V is a *cough* guest *cough* of Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus. Political tricks, spies, counter-spies, treason, treachery, dirty dealing and double dealing abound. Into this feisty stew comes Alexander Hepburn, baron of Durham and wealthy heiress Jonet Maxwell. Alex hates the Maxwells, particularly Jonet's beloved uncle and he'll go to any lengths to get his revenge - and that includes kidnapping and seducing her to get it.
That's about all anyone needs to know going in, this is way too complex to try to spell out without doing a book report. This was quite the roller coaster ride with ups and downs and twists and turns and you never can tell until the end whose side Alex is on (and poor Jonet can never figure it out either). Is he on the good side or the bad side? Does he love Jonet, or just out to use her to get his revenge on her uncle? Is he working for Wolsey, Douglas or Jamie? We know it's not the French, since they have a price on his head. No matter, Alex has some of the best quips since Francis Lymond in Dunnett's Lymond Chronicles. Toss that in with a bit of a Romeo and Juliet twist and you've got a near-perfect read, with just the right mixture of history and romance.
What. A. Ride.
February 24, 2012
A REAL Scottish Historical!
Elizabeth Stuart won the RITA award for Best Historical Romance in 1991 for WHERE LOVE DWELLS, but in my opinion all of her novels would qualify as 5 star keepers.
So many “historical” romances have very little history. Not this one. I love how Stuart seamlessly weaves in rich historical events throughout the novel. She brings Scotland of the early 16th century alive as she uses both real people and fictional characters to tell a complex, intriguing story.
This is set in Scotland at the time when Archibald Douglas, the Earl of Angus, was just divorced from the dowager queen Margaret Tudor, elder sister of Henry VIII of England. Angus effectively ruled Scotland, being the regent for young King James. Angus was arrogant and claimed too much power for himself drawing the ire of many, including the young king. Against this tumultuous time, Jonet Maxwell, heiress to the clan Maxwell (the enemy of clan Douglas) fled her home (Castle Beryl), seeking to join with her beloved uncle, Robert, Lord Mure. Alexander Hepburn, Baron of Durnam, enemy of Jonet’s uncle, unwittingly intercepts her flight and, once he realizes who she is, uses her to get to her uncle. She is young and naïve and Alexander is a jaded rake who has sold his talents to France, England and Scotland. He lives for revenge of his father’s death, a death he blames on Mure, Jonet’s uncle.
The hero was a cad for most of the book so at times it was hard to like him. He was constantly hurting Jonet. Oh, he warned her he would (don’t they always?) but still he hurt her. And because Jonet was naïve and weak (when it came to him), it sometimes made her come across as spineless. When she went willingly into his arms after he betrayed her, it made me want to slap her. And that was BEFORE he spent the night in the arms of his long time paramour. He would have happily taken Jonet’s innocence then if she hadn’t stopped him—all in the same day! What a cad! Guess the book was named for him. But don’t get me wrong, he comes out smelling like a rose in the end and those with truly no honor are identified. Oh yeah, Jonet gets a spine.
It’s a compelling tale and a most worthy romance. I highly recommend it.
Elizabeth Stuart won the RITA award for Best Historical Romance in 1991 for WHERE LOVE DWELLS, but in my opinion all of her novels would qualify as 5 star keepers.
So many “historical” romances have very little history. Not this one. I love how Stuart seamlessly weaves in rich historical events throughout the novel. She brings Scotland of the early 16th century alive as she uses both real people and fictional characters to tell a complex, intriguing story.
This is set in Scotland at the time when Archibald Douglas, the Earl of Angus, was just divorced from the dowager queen Margaret Tudor, elder sister of Henry VIII of England. Angus effectively ruled Scotland, being the regent for young King James. Angus was arrogant and claimed too much power for himself drawing the ire of many, including the young king. Against this tumultuous time, Jonet Maxwell, heiress to the clan Maxwell (the enemy of clan Douglas) fled her home (Castle Beryl), seeking to join with her beloved uncle, Robert, Lord Mure. Alexander Hepburn, Baron of Durnam, enemy of Jonet’s uncle, unwittingly intercepts her flight and, once he realizes who she is, uses her to get to her uncle. She is young and naïve and Alexander is a jaded rake who has sold his talents to France, England and Scotland. He lives for revenge of his father’s death, a death he blames on Mure, Jonet’s uncle.
The hero was a cad for most of the book so at times it was hard to like him. He was constantly hurting Jonet. Oh, he warned her he would (don’t they always?) but still he hurt her. And because Jonet was naïve and weak (when it came to him), it sometimes made her come across as spineless. When she went willingly into his arms after he betrayed her, it made me want to slap her. And that was BEFORE he spent the night in the arms of his long time paramour. He would have happily taken Jonet’s innocence then if she hadn’t stopped him—all in the same day! What a cad! Guess the book was named for him. But don’t get me wrong, he comes out smelling like a rose in the end and those with truly no honor are identified. Oh yeah, Jonet gets a spine.
It’s a compelling tale and a most worthy romance. I highly recommend it.
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December 23, 2022I don't even know
I'm 99% sure this author is not for me ...
I'm 99% sure this author is not for me ...
September 10, 2018
I HAD MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT THIS...ONE MOMENT I DIDNT REALLY LIKE WHAT THE HERO DID AND SOME PARTS I WISHED THE HEROINE WASNT SUCH A GREEN GIRL AND WOULD HAVE TAKEN A STAND OF SORTS.
OUR HERO is harbouring a 14 year revenge to kill the man who murdered his father, and when his niece falls into his hands, it's either hand her over to the enemy who wants her or use her for his own gain. Of course, he chose to use her for his own gain but he never pegged on liking the young, beautiful Jonet. Of course that doesn't stop him from putting her in a difficult situation. What I couldn't compromise about his character (even if the angst was great) was him sleeping with another woman who has been his long term on and off lover, and they worked for the same government. Clearly he knew that his heart has changed and the woman who occupies his thoughts was Jonet but he still slept with Diana anyway. Jerk. I know that he may have sacrificed his love BECAUSE of his love for Jonet, but I still didn't like it because it didn't feel like ENOUGH. He should have FOUGHT for his relationship with Jonet but he made it seem like he took the easy way out and barely tried....I can't say I truly liked him as a hero. He was a bit lost...like for a moment he claims to be honourable and the next he just isn't.
OUR HEROINE is an innocent lass, she's not hard to like nor would you LOVE LOVE her. She's more neutral to me but definitely the wounded party here. She believes the good in everyone and believes her uncle to be innocent of his crimes. She is thrown into a situation whereby her uncle's enemies want her dead or as a pawn. When her life is in the hands of the handsome, glib tongued Alex, it's not hard for a naiive girl like her to fall for his honeyed words and sensual kisses. Finding out the truth about her existence was a blow, although I wished she stood her ground more and wasn't so much of a doormat. I liked her purity and while she did gain ABIT of worldly knowledge, can't say I liked the way she learnt them because it was through hurt that she did.
OVERALL it could have been so much better if the love wasn't so heavily one sided at first...I just felt like the heroine loved the hero more in the story EVEN IF he did sacrifice some for her sake. I don't know maybe it's just Alex I didn't really care for.
OUR HERO is harbouring a 14 year revenge to kill the man who murdered his father, and when his niece falls into his hands, it's either hand her over to the enemy who wants her or use her for his own gain. Of course, he chose to use her for his own gain but he never pegged on liking the young, beautiful Jonet. Of course that doesn't stop him from putting her in a difficult situation. What I couldn't compromise about his character (even if the angst was great) was him sleeping with another woman who has been his long term on and off lover, and they worked for the same government. Clearly he knew that his heart has changed and the woman who occupies his thoughts was Jonet but he still slept with Diana anyway. Jerk. I know that he may have sacrificed his love BECAUSE of his love for Jonet, but I still didn't like it because it didn't feel like ENOUGH. He should have FOUGHT for his relationship with Jonet but he made it seem like he took the easy way out and barely tried....I can't say I truly liked him as a hero. He was a bit lost...like for a moment he claims to be honourable and the next he just isn't.
OUR HEROINE is an innocent lass, she's not hard to like nor would you LOVE LOVE her. She's more neutral to me but definitely the wounded party here. She believes the good in everyone and believes her uncle to be innocent of his crimes. She is thrown into a situation whereby her uncle's enemies want her dead or as a pawn. When her life is in the hands of the handsome, glib tongued Alex, it's not hard for a naiive girl like her to fall for his honeyed words and sensual kisses. Finding out the truth about her existence was a blow, although I wished she stood her ground more and wasn't so much of a doormat. I liked her purity and while she did gain ABIT of worldly knowledge, can't say I liked the way she learnt them because it was through hurt that she did.
OVERALL it could have been so much better if the love wasn't so heavily one sided at first...I just felt like the heroine loved the hero more in the story EVEN IF he did sacrifice some for her sake. I don't know maybe it's just Alex I didn't really care for.
December 9, 2013
I have enjoyed several historical romances by Elizabeth Stuart, and the writing in Without Honor was rich with historical detail and political intrigue following the Battle of Flodden in the 16th century. The plotting and counter-plotting of spies in England, Scotland and France made my head spin, but what really made me mark this book down a notch was the result of Jonet's actions following such ill treatment throughout the story from Alexander. It was the old "Yes, I know he's a cad and I never know where I stand with him but I can't help but love him even though I just found him in bed with another woman." Hmmmmm....of course, there's much more to this complex plot and relationship where danger and deception is always just a heartbeat away.
This is where I really wish for half stars: 4 for solid historical background and 3 for the love story. Let's split the difference and call it 3.5 stars
This is where I really wish for half stars: 4 for solid historical background and 3 for the love story. Let's split the difference and call it 3.5 stars
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 29, 2015
Without Honor is so well written, I just had to give it five stars, despite
June 2, 2015
Everyone is TSTL.
September 29, 2022
I enjoyed reading the political intrigue and scheming. The hero was complex and unpredictable at times it made me want to turn the pages of what he'd do next. Though I'd say that the love between the H/h was not that powerful and great, the hero and his mistress were better suited for each other. I mean they got along so well -- he and his mistress. Whereas, when it comes to him and the heroine it seems that it's only the latter who has such deep love for him. I thought that he'd even just do fine without her. Again, the hero and his mistress are better suited for they are very much alike in what they want.
July 12, 2019
5 stars!!!!!
September 29, 2022
Great storytelling and characters that keep you on the edge.
August 20, 2024
DNF 20% … bored and just didn’t care.
December 5, 2024
alex lowkey a whore 😭 but ugh i enjoyed this book so much. it was soooo good omg. i adored jonet like that's my babyyyy🥹 and the writing was impeccable 👌
dnf
July 4, 2025Nah, unsafe for me.
September 11, 2013
I read this book a long time ago. I have not found any more books by this writer. But this book surpasses most of the books I have read in this time frame.
July 1, 2015
Possibly my favorite historical. Terrific book. Wish she was still writing.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews