Lord Harry, one of my first novels, was originally titled Lord Harry's Folly. I've rewritten the story extensively, adding to and changing dialogue, actions and descriptions, yet the original plot is still here. I'm convinced --- and I'm sure your will be to --- that the characters are much happier now that they've lived with me for 15 years and taught me more about themselves.
Lord Harry is really Henrietta Rolland, a young lady who has assumed the guise of a gentleman to track down and kill Jason Cavander, the Marquess of Oberlon, the man she believes responsible for her brother Damien's death at the Battle of Waterloo. She wants to challenge him a duel. When he's lying at her feet, then and only then will she tell him why she's killed him, and who she really is. Unfortunately, there's a really big snag.
You will laugh at Lord Harry's outrageous adventures. Together, Jason and Henrietta Rolland will touch you --- they did me and still continue to do so. Do let me know what you think of my rewrite. Enjoy!
The premise (and whole plot, really) is rather foolish, but I was enchanted by the brave heroine who set out to avenge her brother, through a series of insults to her supposed arch-nemesis, the Marquess. Unfortunately, after their long awaited duel - and the subsequent unmasking of the heroine, everything went to oblivion and turned into a mess. I mean, everything. No plot detail made sense as secondary characters had their endings axed, and the romance was completely unbelievable that turned from "I have comprised you. Therefore we must marry" to "I love you" in a matter of lines.
I am very disappointed with this, after seeing the generally positive reviews for this book. Moreover, there is a glaring error in this book, as a marquess is never referred to as "your grace," a title which is reserved for dukes.
Coulter has done well to leave this subgenre, and I cannot recommend this book at all.
If you can ignore the triteness "woman disguised as a man" setup, this is GOLD!!
I've been reading this "Rebel" series in order, and I loath skipping a book, so it was with a heavy heart that I started reading a book with the old, tired setup of a woman fooling everyone into thinking she's a man. Well, despite this silliness, the rest of the story is amazing! This one has good, tense drama that keeps you hooked from start to finish. There were no points where I was bored or thinking "come on, come on. Skip this crap!" Every scene served a purpose.
I think the drama at the climax of the story (the reveal) could have been better, but it is a Regency romance. Stiff upper lip, English reservation, all that jazz...lol.
Before this came out, I owned and loved Lord Harry's Folly, of which this is a rewrite. The plot twists surprised me, you'll never expect who the villian turns out to be.
This version has even better dialogue, and the workings of the protagonists minds are exposed better than in the original. A great beach read.
...Henrietta Rolland has assumed the guise of a gentleman to track down and kill the man she believes is responsible for her brother's death at the Battle of Waterloo. Unfortunately, things don't quite go as planned...
The story starts as a young mysterious man have fun with his friends and speak about some things. He also wants to know some important information about Jason Cavander, the Marquess of Oberlon. But who can imagine that this man who wants to know about the Marquess is a girl, Henrietta Rolland, who thinks that Jason is guilty in her brother's death (he was killed at the war's battle) and must pay for that sin. But the reason of this guilt is quite ridiculous for me (because Jason cannot take responsibility for the actions since he is not a king to send her brother to the war), it is not closer to the reality. However, her revenge is going to the end when she (dressed like a man throws down the gauntlet and Jason must to accept her call (while he still thinks this is kind of weird that she blames him for nothing and not explaining for what).
The interesting thing that discovers in this story is not so easy to be a man when you are a woman, you have to go to some places like a brothel to prove your status of Casanova (giggle) and be strong, wild, arrogant, and not to be afraid of anyone. And Henrietta made it great, she even made fun of one disgusting man who treated women badly at the meeting of rich men, she also saved a teenager from a brothel and gave her a job. We see so many positive things when she dressed as a man.
I am glad this story has its HEA and Jason is an amazing man! I fell in love with him.
It's a 3am review I'm writing as i have spent the whole day devouring this book.
Fun to read. Beautiful romantic tension while the annoying vendetta was being resolved, because it felt like the insults got in the way of the romantic tension that was trying to build during the book - pre-climax RT of which we only got a glimpse - a marvellous glimpse - of during the masquerade scene. Romance turned weirdly sexual near the end with some odd word choices that jumped out and distracted from the romance, as well as..... *that* scene. The timing just before the big reveal was a tad too awkward for my liking, and then the reveal of the "killer" didnt really feel like it paid off. So even after her father's involvement, it was a faceless general that sent her brother to his death???
I found Sir Archibald perhaps one of the most lifeless characters I've ever known, though i have no doubt he was written that way. Yet it made me frustrated, because i kept thinking I'd see a new side of him, yet he always seemed to be in the same mood, still weirdly calm, and monumentally dispassionate about the deaths in his family. You grieved your son? Well, show an inkling of EMOTION, dammit!
Another thing i understand is that with romance books, yes there has to be the big romantic payoff. And that usually includes long flowery speeches, or sex, or both. Thank goodness we were spared a sex scene, however it seemed to be made up for in words and gushes of emotion from this previously stoic guy. Words that got very intense, very quickly. Now, I'm pretty sure that the drastic turn of events he had to put up with would've shaken anyone's mindset a bit, so I'll grant that.
I still don't understand the often needless use within romance writing to emphasise sexuality with bold words. But you see, it's one of the things that speaks for itself. Putting in 1/4 of a teaspoon of chilli to a dish doesnt seem like much but for sure, it has a twang. Add another 1/4 and it leaves you sucking your breath in, but not quite uncomfortable enough to do anything about it. Another quarter and you'll be running for the water. I guess it's also the context. The whole book itself wasnt *overtly* romantic because of the mystery and misadventures, or how she spent 95% of her time not with the love interest (I'd thought - and hoped - he'd be more directly involved (like, physically present) though.) Her being a child posing as a grownup, and of everyone around her telling her how young she is, that she's a "girl/boy" more than a "woman/man". So i guess that's why i found the sexual stuff affecting me differently than say, reading about a twenty something woman knowing what she wants. Ah, there's the other thing. I WISH we got to see more inside Hetty's head when the whole lovey doveyness started. What was her reaction to that very first kiss? What are her thought processes? How did she suddenly realise she loved him when she'd spent too long hating him in vain? Many questions to ponder over the next day or two.
Oh, might I add, the descriptions of debauchery and saddeningly loose-moraled men left me sharing Hetty's disgust, wondering if there mightve been another way to write it, or replace it with something else, for it feels like that's the overtone i found invading my thoughts even in other scenes. I wonder if there mightve been a way to resolve some of those subplots and the ones connected to them, given how they seemed central to some characters (aka Lord Harry's friends). I heard there may be a sequel, maybe it's in there. (Edit: apparently, no sequel.... damn)
Oh, and i liked the third person omniscient narration. Which is something that should be used more in fiction, i think. Flitting from one head to another gained funny/helpful insights in situations even from random passersby. Made me laugh a little.
TL;DR: i enjoyed it even with the weird bits, but some freaked me out more than others. A good laugh, mainly from second hand embarrassment.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
To avenge her brother Damien, miss Henrietta Rolland must change physical appearance and Lord Henry is born. A book of misled information a urgent need of justice for a brother that his only sin was to love a woman who had to married to his lover rival, or that was what miss Hetty believes. A circle of switching identities and mischief with avenging his brother's death that's what keeps this young lady in sinking into the grieving of the brother that took his time with her when their own father just keep on his political career. A few paragraphs from this book: "It was often said that the clothes made the man. He was now inclined to believe, rather, that one saw what one expected to see."
"Many times the cause for revenge is lost over the years. Yet the desire for revenge upon one’s enemies remains, as if it were born into the soul itself.”
“By God, I feel pity for the poor mortal man who has the taming of you.” Hetty unwisely said, “You wretched men. Why must you always think that if a woman shows any spirit at all she has to be tamed? Tamed?"
“They say, Signore, if a man goes into battle with but one weapon and a prayer on his lips, he is a fool."
“God, I’ve been like Don Quixote, fencing with windmills, searching for vengeance, when I had naught to do but speak to you, to show you Elizabeth’s letter, to ask for the truth. You were my vendetta. I used you to help pull me from my grief. I made you my nemesis. I made you evil, all on the basis of a single letter. May God forgive me, what if I had killed you?”
as stated, this was a re-read for me from back in the 90's. It was hard getting back into this book. It wasn't a fast read for me like the other times I have read it. I must be spoiled by my other authors that I have come to enjoy. This book is set in London in the late 1800's early 1900's. I think that when you read a book as a teen and then again as an adult, your view of the storyline changes. This time for me, I didn't see where the love build up came into play. What I do like is reading an earlier novel by one of my favorite authors and reading one of her books today and seeing the difference in her writing styles. Today she is much more fast pace, with sharper characters and interesting plots and twists.
This book was a nice adventure, but there were just a few things that I didn’t love. Overall it was an okay read.
What I enjoyed:
1. Hetty’s shenanigans were a fun ride, from fierce lessons in foil, tagging along with her friends Sir Harry and Scuddy to questionable places, and figuring out ways to anger the Marquess. It was all full of humor and lighthearted.
2. Lord Harry’s scheming which involved cozying up to multiple other ladies. I’m pretty sure I laughed out loud at some of the things Hetty did to keep her disguise and push her plans along. (lol poor Sir Harry Brandon, it was for his own good tho)
3. The interactions Hetty had with Pottson and Millie. I ate up how they were constantly appalled by her crazy behavior. At the same time it was also sweet how much they cared for her, bc lord knows her father didn’t spare her a second glance most of the time.
4. I liked that the whole “girl-disguised-as-a-boy” trope was in play for a long while throughout the book. I love the tension that a secret identity adds.
My Complaints:
1. I feel like the romance was entirely too rushed. She learns the truth about her brother’s death, realizes the Marquess’s innocence and suddenly she’s head over heels in love with him. Ahh, but not be outdone Jason was in the same boat immediately as well. I was flabbergasted by how quickly this all happened. It’s was like I had been transported to another book, from one page to the next. I would have liked it so much more if the romance was a slow burn where Hetty and Jason learn to understand each other as they fall in love. It would have been more satisfying.
2. Hetty’s plan. I could tell that she was mistaken from the moment it was first introduced. I hated that she didn’t try to investigate further and she immediately decided she’d plan how to kill the Marquess. She was right to feel foolish in the end. It would have been better if she teamed up with him, fell in love along the way, and discovered the truth of her brother’s death at the end. Then they could have built a substantial relationship and friendship.
3. OMG, the plot twist? 😱 Talk about, coming out of left field, jeez. And the whole time I thought Sir Archibald was just a harmless old man that ignored his daughter because he was so passionate about politics. It was certainly an interesting development, tho it made me feel bad for Hetty all over again.
4. For all the craziness that took place, I would have liked an epilogue of Jason and Hetty’s married life with all their friends and trusted servants. I’m sure it would have tied the whole story together, also I kind of just wanted a little more romance to happens between them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
My goodness. The first 2/3 or so are fantastic- Hetty is charming and daring and clever as both herself trying to avoid Lord Oberlon and in disguise as a man trying to fit in. You can tell of course immediately that Oberlon will turn out to be innocent and the love interest but that's no big deal.
The problem is the remaining 1/3 is terrible. Both Hetty and Oberlon - incorrectly referred to as "your grace", which you don't use for marquesses - are just immediately deeply in love with each other after each explains what happened. They've met like 4 times at that point and two of those times she was pretending to be a man. There's no hint Oberlon has feelings for Lord Harry other than feelings of annoyance and a bit of feeling impressed at his bravado.
Most of the remaining 1/3 of the book is them saying I love you over and over again while he gets hard. The ultimate explanation of what happened to Damien comes out of NOWHERE and doesn't make sense. Absolutely none of the other characters - Scuddy, Sir Harry (BTW there's no justification in story for there being two Harrys), Hetty's other brother and his wife, Melissande, Isabel, the prostitute, Julien and his wife - get any resolution. They're all just offscreen somewhere. It's especially odd in Isabel's case since she had firmly rejected her one suitor because he keeps calling her stupid.
It's like this book was meant to be one of an overlapping duology or trilogy but it isn't.
Since the version I read is a rewritten version that adds details, I shudder to think of how poorly the latter part od the book came off originally.
I always fall for a book with spunky female characters. The heroine -"Harry"- disguises herself as a man and tries to avenge the death of her brother. The plot is captivating and the characters are depicted with all their flaws. The heroine is far from perfect and I liked the fact that her doubts, fears, and anger over her brother's death are all part of who she is. It also made her do what she does in the book. When she couldn't kill her brothers supposed killer she falls apart. The book then takes a different direction at that point. This is a very good enemies to lovers story with good storyline.
Why is the marquess called his grace????? And the interaction of the two main characters is almost nil. I'm halfway through the book and you can count with your fingers the times they were together/had a conversation! Betty spends more pages with her friends than with the marquess :/
This was the less interesting book of the 5 Regency Books, I thought at first that the story was rather confusing and it was only by chapter four that I began to enter the plot, and then I think it was quite boring the extensive time reading about Lord Harry and his friends nightly adventures.
Fun, but not realistic. Still, Hetty stays in character and wins my approval for that. The writing moves right along with no gaps in logic or sequence, which is always a plus. It is a light, entertaining read.
Finalmente un 'regency' di Catherine Coulter a livello di Mad Jack. Un'altra (assurda) storia di travestimenti: ma condotta con tratto leggero, e spesso decisamente divertente.
The whole gender-bender plotlines are one of my favorites but also one of the most difficult for an author to pull off.
In this story, Henrietta Rolland aka Lord Harry Monlieth, is on a mission to avenge her brother's death from the man she believes is responsible for engineering the plot that put him in harm's way. In general, I enjoyed the story. However, there were some many weak points.
**currently re-reading, read this awhile back and trying to refresh my memory
I remembered why I enjoyed this book... without giving spoilers, in my opinion it's a good story. It's not perfect in the sense that I have read other books where the story was more compelling or there were more character development, etc. I remember reading this book when I was younger and adored it. I think it's because I enjoyed the FMC and her spirit. I had felt the start was a little slow, but I stayed with it. It's not as spicy as most romance books, but I think it has a little something to it. It got better towards the middle and a satisfying ending. I had fun rereading it. I don't think it might land with others because the author is hit or miss and may depend on your taste or what you're looking for in a romance regency book.
Before Catherine Coulter wrote contemporary crime novels, she wrote period romances. Mainly Medievals & Regencies. This book was written in 1980, so it had to be one of her first. In 1995, she rewrote this story & republished it. There's no sex in this one, which is surprising in a CC romance.
The cross dressing trope is not a favorite. For one thing, it's tricky to get right. This story is my first Catherine Coulter & I enjoyed it. As long as you don't think too much about it, a girl dressed like a man is plausible. Hetty is a good heroine. Jason a good hero. There's a sense of humor that runs through this story that I liked. I enjoyed it so much, I bought more CC romances & discovered that she doesn't always respect her heroines.
Lord Harry, Regency Bk 5, Catherine Coulter, PB- B @2003, 9/03 Henrietta Rolland assumes the guise of Gentleman Lord Harry to track down and kill Jason Cavander, the man she believes is responsible for her brother Damien's death at Waterloo. She wants to challenge him to a duel. When he's lying at her feet, she will tell him who she really is and why she's killed him, but it doesn't work that way! Funny.
I enjoyed this book. I like the surprises in the story. I wish she would have said what happened with Sir Harry and the girl he wanted to mary. I know the marquiss talked to Sir Filey and told him to leave Sir Harry alone and he probably will, but I would have liked to seen how or if Sir Harry fixed his bothched proposal.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
The hero and heroine formally met after at least 200+ pages, resolved wrong interpretations and fall in love too quickly. Not to mention that the most part of the book was set on Lord Harry's senseless vendetta with only a debatable letter as proof. The ending kind of suck too but the characters are actually light and fun and the book is easy to read.