What do you think?
Rate this book
Perdita
Governess Moira Greenwood's beautiful young charge, Perdita Brodie, is a high-spirited girl. She rebels against her stepmama's choice of mate and manages to get Moira and herself positions in a not-quite-shabby traveling acting troupe. While Moira cooks, her lovely cousin sings, attracting the very insistent attentions of the cold, handsome rakehell Lord Stornaway—who takes the pair for women of easy virtue! Although Moria explains the truth, the self-satisfied lord believes not a word; he's positive the two are ladies of ill repute. Moria finds him the most rude, uncivil of men and tells him so. Still, there is something about him she can't quite define that is not completely loathsome.
Paperback
First published January 1, 1981
About the author
Joan Smith
342 books159 followersJoan Smith is a graduate of Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, and the Ontario College of Education. She has taught French and English in high school and English in college. When she began writing, her interest in Jane Austen and Lord Byron led to her first choice of genre, the Regency, which she especially liked for its wit and humor.
Her favorite travel destination is England, where she researches her books. Her hobbies are gardening, painting, sculpture and reading. She is married and has three children. A prolific writer, she is currently working on Regencies and various mysteries at her home in Georgetown, Ontario.
She is also known as Jennie Gallant
Her favorite travel destination is England, where she researches her books. Her hobbies are gardening, painting, sculpture and reading. She is married and has three children. A prolific writer, she is currently working on Regencies and various mysteries at her home in Georgetown, Ontario.
She is also known as Jennie Gallant
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
September 30, 2014
The stage was set. And action!
Perdita Brodie: April
A spoiled 17-year-old beauty that was a drama queen. She lived in the moment and thrived on attention.
Miss Moira Greenwood: Molly
The 25-year-old chaperone/governess and poor relative of Perdita. The unlikely heroine. Always sensible, she took her job seriously in regards to chaperoning her charge.
Lord Stornaway: John Brown
An anti-hero for most of the story. He was an obstinate, crude, obsessive, shallow, wicked, spoiled and venomous jerk.
Lastly, too-many-to-name secondary characters that were necessary to theplay, er, story.
Revealed in first-person tense by Moira, this story grows on you. Don't give up because 'John' and 'Molly' diss each other with clever insults. There were plenty of snaps and sparks. I cheered for Moira because Stornaway desperately deserved to be told of his wrong-doings. For the first two-thirds of the narrative I intensely disliked the guy but I knew the author could redeem the rotten devil, so I stuck with it. I loved, loved, loved seeing him humbled! I also enjoyed watching Perdie mature.
Joan Smith has often been referred to as 'The Canadian Georgette Heyer' and I agree. With her excellent characterization, dry wit and smart dialog conducive to early 1800s England, she opened, for lack of a better word, the era with all of its shortcomings, mannerisms and peculiarities. I would have given this unusual romance five stars except a large portion of the story Stornaway was a nasty piece of work and Perdie was so irresponsible. Still, I understood it was necessary to the plot.
*Four solid well-deserved stars.*
Perdita Brodie: April
A spoiled 17-year-old beauty that was a drama queen. She lived in the moment and thrived on attention.
Miss Moira Greenwood: Molly
The 25-year-old chaperone/governess and poor relative of Perdita. The unlikely heroine. Always sensible, she took her job seriously in regards to chaperoning her charge.
Lord Stornaway: John Brown
An anti-hero for most of the story. He was an obstinate, crude, obsessive, shallow, wicked, spoiled and venomous jerk.
Lastly, too-many-to-name secondary characters that were necessary to the
Revealed in first-person tense by Moira, this story grows on you. Don't give up because 'John' and 'Molly' diss each other with clever insults. There were plenty of snaps and sparks. I cheered for Moira because Stornaway desperately deserved to be told of his wrong-doings. For the first two-thirds of the narrative I intensely disliked the guy but I knew the author could redeem the rotten devil, so I stuck with it. I loved, loved, loved seeing him humbled! I also enjoyed watching Perdie mature.
Joan Smith has often been referred to as 'The Canadian Georgette Heyer' and I agree. With her excellent characterization, dry wit and smart dialog conducive to early 1800s England, she opened, for lack of a better word, the era with all of its shortcomings, mannerisms and peculiarities. I would have given this unusual romance five stars except a large portion of the story Stornaway was a nasty piece of work and Perdie was so irresponsible. Still, I understood it was necessary to the plot.
*Four solid well-deserved stars.*
February 5, 2017
I have a really nice Sunday ;-) One of the best love story in Regency romances. I hadn't read who would be with who before I started the book, so I have had much more fun.
Say what you want but I like Stornaway. He was so big rake, rogue. And so true, not some to make a plot funny or scandalous, he was himself.
I am fan of Regency romances so I read it quite a lot. I have a good time every time I read this genre, sometimes I have a great time. But I confess, in most cases I can't later (let's say, a few weeks and a few books later) answer immediately what it was about. However, this piece is so original that I will remember it for a long time.
Nonetheless, I can't give it five stars because in comparison to Smith's other books (Imprudent Lady, Escapade and Aunt Sophie's Diamonds) it lacks something deeper. If I hadn't read earlier these three novels I would have given five stars for Predita.
Say what you want but I like Stornaway. He was so big rake, rogue. And so true, not some to make a plot funny or scandalous, he was himself.
I am fan of Regency romances so I read it quite a lot. I have a good time every time I read this genre, sometimes I have a great time. But I confess, in most cases I can't later (let's say, a few weeks and a few books later) answer immediately what it was about. However, this piece is so original that I will remember it for a long time.
Nonetheless, I can't give it five stars because in comparison to Smith's other books (Imprudent Lady, Escapade and Aunt Sophie's Diamonds) it lacks something deeper. If I hadn't read earlier these three novels I would have given five stars for Predita.
October 5, 2017
This is a hilarious comedy of manners and mistaken identities. I don't know how I missed the reading of this years ago but better late than never. It may very well be one of my favorite Regency romances now. Rake mistakes 2 ladies of quality (one a teen and the other her 25-year-old companion) for lightskirts and the result is one of the funniest, most entertaining Regencies I've read in years. It has one of the most perfectly written LOL scenes ever. And it manages to be romantic at the same time. Lovely.
February 22, 2013
I almost gave up on this one because I didn't like the hero and didn't think the author could redeem him. I was wrong. Boy am I glad I kept reading. This book has such a memorable cast of characters who truly change and grow. That's what puts this book on my keeper shelf.
July 8, 2019
Well, in most regency fictions we always hear of the hero being a horrid rake but never get to see his rakish ways. Here's a change. We not only get to see the worst sort of one but also feel practically aggravated at his sight. Lord Stornaway is the least likable of heroes you'll find there is. He is despicable, arrogant, boorish, careless, selfish, shallow and everything worse. You don't feel he'll ever grow on you. Till the climax you feel like scratching his eyeballs out. But then, you also see how he has fallen in love and how desperate he is. And somewhere you start feeling sorry for him. Also you really see him reformed and repentant. But the best part about him is that he knows who he is, owns it and there's no pretence whatsoever in him. He's just himself. That is one reason I really liked this book. His chemistry with Moira/Molly is endearing. In the end I did come to love him. Molly I found my heart going out for. No one truly cares for her or what happens to her. She is always taken for granted and assumed not deserving of anything good in life, like a worthy husband, as she's reached the ripe old age of 25. You see her self confidence growing though. And I loved how she gave Storn back better than he gave.
Perdita herself I always thought of wishing to perdition ;D She was so silly and foolish and careless. Heedless of how her actions affected the others. Always seeking to be the centre of attention which was so annoying. Though I must say she's not a bad girl. She just assumes herself to be the heroine of every story she's part of!
Secondary characters are interesting and I laughed out loud when John was flustering about (especially his first confrontation at Storn's hands :D) and also the theater company. The part with Moira and O'Reilly's grocery shopping expeditions was hilarious.
Overall, again a quick, interesting, considerably passionate and entertaining read by Joan Smith.
Perdita herself I always thought of wishing to perdition ;D She was so silly and foolish and careless. Heedless of how her actions affected the others. Always seeking to be the centre of attention which was so annoying. Though I must say she's not a bad girl. She just assumes herself to be the heroine of every story she's part of!
Secondary characters are interesting and I laughed out loud when John was flustering about (especially his first confrontation at Storn's hands :D) and also the theater company. The part with Moira and O'Reilly's grocery shopping expeditions was hilarious.
Overall, again a quick, interesting, considerably passionate and entertaining read by Joan Smith.
September 10, 2026
I hoped that this would be better than a number of the books of which I edited the reviews this morning. Unfortunately, it was not. Oh well, I shall have to think up another cutting review- that should not be too tricky!
It opens promisingly: we follow Moira, the governess of the titular character, and her charge, as they attempt to escape an unfortunate fate for Perdita- to marry an unpleasant elderly man. Moira, who narrates the story, has a dry wit which touches everything she recounts, and the beginning was very entertaining thanks to her. She has not only a quick tongue, but also a good deal of sense. Perdita, on the other hand, was almost just as dreadful as Tiffany in Georgette Heyer's The Nonesuch, being immature, naive, incredibly spoiled and very selfish to boot. It is she who involves her governess in a traveling theatre troupe, and it is from there that all their problems start.
The pair run afoul of Lord Stornway, who mistakes them for lightskirts (ie prostitutes). He longs to get his lustful hands on the stupid Perdita, despite being told numerous times that the two of them are ladies, and the result is a madcap chase to London and then on to Brighton as he tries to get them. Somewhere along the way, Moira's disgusted view of this disagreeable 'gentleman' changes, and the romance progresses from there.
It was a disappointing read to say the least. The hero had nothing redeeming to his character, unlike other rakes that appear in historical novels (take Sebastian from Stella Riley's The Wicked Cousin as an example) and he seems to be bird-brained too, as anything he does in the story is due to lust. Annoyingly, I did not feel that the author saved him enough in the end; to my mind he was unpardonable to the finish. Perdita did not endear herself to me either, and I thought I would have liked to give her a good shaking. Moira's retelling of events was the one thing that truly saved this novel, and I sincerely hope that she is happy with her rake in the end. Maybe she has truly tamed him.
I enjoyed parts of this book. Smith added in lots of interesting details of Regency theatre life and language, and there were humorous sections, but because this was supposed to be a romance, and what romance present was lacking, on finishing it I was left with a great sense of frustration.
The majority of Joan Smith's novels I have read so far I've enjoyed, but I'll give this one a miss.
Content: nothing explicit, but a good deal of talk of prostitution and a vulgar, immoral lifestyle
It opens promisingly: we follow Moira, the governess of the titular character, and her charge, as they attempt to escape an unfortunate fate for Perdita- to marry an unpleasant elderly man. Moira, who narrates the story, has a dry wit which touches everything she recounts, and the beginning was very entertaining thanks to her. She has not only a quick tongue, but also a good deal of sense. Perdita, on the other hand, was almost just as dreadful as Tiffany in Georgette Heyer's The Nonesuch, being immature, naive, incredibly spoiled and very selfish to boot. It is she who involves her governess in a traveling theatre troupe, and it is from there that all their problems start.
The pair run afoul of Lord Stornway, who mistakes them for lightskirts (ie prostitutes). He longs to get his lustful hands on the stupid Perdita, despite being told numerous times that the two of them are ladies, and the result is a madcap chase to London and then on to Brighton as he tries to get them. Somewhere along the way, Moira's disgusted view of this disagreeable 'gentleman' changes, and the romance progresses from there.
It was a disappointing read to say the least. The hero had nothing redeeming to his character, unlike other rakes that appear in historical novels (take Sebastian from Stella Riley's The Wicked Cousin as an example) and he seems to be bird-brained too, as anything he does in the story is due to lust. Annoyingly, I did not feel that the author saved him enough in the end; to my mind he was unpardonable to the finish. Perdita did not endear herself to me either, and I thought I would have liked to give her a good shaking. Moira's retelling of events was the one thing that truly saved this novel, and I sincerely hope that she is happy with her rake in the end. Maybe she has truly tamed him.
I enjoyed parts of this book. Smith added in lots of interesting details of Regency theatre life and language, and there were humorous sections, but because this was supposed to be a romance, and what romance present was lacking, on finishing it I was left with a great sense of frustration.
The majority of Joan Smith's novels I have read so far I've enjoyed, but I'll give this one a miss.
Content: nothing explicit, but a good deal of talk of prostitution and a vulgar, immoral lifestyle
January 16, 2022
This book warrants a trigger warning.
Joan Smithis not a bad writer, but most of her works aim for Georgette Heyer's style regency romance, but it is her characters and their vulgar way of speaking and conducting themselves which make Joan Smith's works fall short of the mark.
Joan Smithis not a bad writer, but most of her works aim for Georgette Heyer's style regency romance, but it is her characters and their vulgar way of speaking and conducting themselves which make Joan Smith's works fall short of the mark.
August 10, 2016
UGH
Okay I've been on a bit of a Joan Smith binge the last couple of days (because the books are cheap and I'm in the mood to procrastinate with a little light romance).
I appreciate that her stuff is clean and fairly witty, I enjoyed "Talk of the Town" and "Endure my Heart" (horrid title though).
But this was terrible.
It felt like the author read Georgette Heyer's "Devil's Cub" and said "yes I'll take this but add in some more rapey scenes, make the main hero a total asshole and take out the great swordfight at the end!"
I only stuck through because I read reviews that said the character was redeemable at the end. He's only redeemable if you're okay with him saying "haha, okay sure I was trying to rape/kill you a second ago, (but really it's only because I thought you were a prostitute who wouldn't sleep with me), but now that you've shot me, I realize the errors of my ways and I'm a changed man, Marry Me!"
This isn't romantic. It's sick.
Okay I've been on a bit of a Joan Smith binge the last couple of days (because the books are cheap and I'm in the mood to procrastinate with a little light romance).
I appreciate that her stuff is clean and fairly witty, I enjoyed "Talk of the Town" and "Endure my Heart" (horrid title though).
But this was terrible.
It felt like the author read Georgette Heyer's "Devil's Cub" and said "yes I'll take this but add in some more rapey scenes, make the main hero a total asshole and take out the great swordfight at the end!"
I only stuck through because I read reviews that said the character was redeemable at the end. He's only redeemable if you're okay with him saying "haha, okay sure I was trying to rape/kill you a second ago, (but really it's only because I thought you were a prostitute who wouldn't sleep with me), but now that you've shot me, I realize the errors of my ways and I'm a changed man, Marry Me!"
This isn't romantic. It's sick.
January 28, 2015
3.70 stars - pg13??
June 5, 2026
TL;DR: Witty writing; improbable plot; great chemistry between the leads; male lead is a groomer.
Perdita is almost a perfect Joan Smith Regency romp. Like most of Smith's work, this is a light farce rather than a serious romance with deep character development. It centers on two young ladies who travel from town to town, getting into scrapes and being pursued by a rake who mistakes them for ladies of ill repute.
Despite being the title character, Perdita is not actually the protagonist. She is a spoiled teenage heiress determined to flirt with every attractive man she meets (eligible or not). The real heroine is Moira, her cousin and long-suffering governess. Moira spends most of the book protecting Perdita while trying to minimize the damage she does.
Moira and Lord Stornaway begin as antagonists, and their witty bickering is one of the delights of the book.
Why is the book not perfect? Mostly because Stornaway is a real rake who attempts to do wicked things, not just a fun-seeking lady's man. Today, we'd call him a predator. He knows that Perdita is a minor and doesn't care; he's still determined to have her as a mistress.
Stornaway's gradually shifting of romantic interest seems like a sign of maturity, except that his predatory behavior peaks in a tense confrontation in which he . This kind of behavior on the part of the lead is fairly common in vintage bodice rippers, but in such a lighthearted farce, it feels jarring. I'm also not convinced that Stornaway groveled enough—though he certainly does suffer for his sins.
If Stornaway were just a little less evil, this would be my favorite Joan Smith novel, because it really is that witty. As it is, I can only recommend it with reservations. If you like witty banter but don't want an immoral male lead, you may prefer Escapade or The Reluctant Bride.
Content warnings: attempted sex trafficking of a minor; attempted sexual assault; fistfights and gunfire.
Perdita is almost a perfect Joan Smith Regency romp. Like most of Smith's work, this is a light farce rather than a serious romance with deep character development. It centers on two young ladies who travel from town to town, getting into scrapes and being pursued by a rake who mistakes them for ladies of ill repute.
Despite being the title character, Perdita is not actually the protagonist. She is a spoiled teenage heiress determined to flirt with every attractive man she meets (eligible or not). The real heroine is Moira, her cousin and long-suffering governess. Moira spends most of the book protecting Perdita while trying to minimize the damage she does.
Moira and Lord Stornaway begin as antagonists, and their witty bickering is one of the delights of the book.
Why is the book not perfect? Mostly because Stornaway is a real rake who attempts to do wicked things, not just a fun-seeking lady's man. Today, we'd call him a predator. He knows that Perdita is a minor and doesn't care; he's still determined to have her as a mistress.
Stornaway's gradually shifting of romantic interest seems like a sign of maturity, except that his predatory behavior peaks in a tense confrontation in which he . This kind of behavior on the part of the lead is fairly common in vintage bodice rippers, but in such a lighthearted farce, it feels jarring. I'm also not convinced that Stornaway groveled enough—though he certainly does suffer for his sins.
If Stornaway were just a little less evil, this would be my favorite Joan Smith novel, because it really is that witty. As it is, I can only recommend it with reservations. If you like witty banter but don't want an immoral male lead, you may prefer Escapade or The Reluctant Bride.
Content warnings: attempted sex trafficking of a minor; attempted sexual assault; fistfights and gunfire.
December 26, 2020
I loved the beginning of this book, with all the actors. I didn't want it to end! It's because I'm an actress, and there was something so lovely in reading about this merry troupe of actors in the early 1800s. Sure, they are totally debauched, but well, I've seen my share of debauchery in the theater world. Also, I really liked the first person narration from Moira. I liked her common sense, and her always wanting to do the right thing while still giving others what they want and having a good time too (and trying to figure out how to balance those). The first third or so of the book is a very unusual start to a regency story, and I really liked it. It was 5 stars.
But after about the halfway mark, or a little earlier, the book started going progressively downhill, though I was still hopeful. I couldn't believe
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this, but I was very disappointed in the end, compared to the beginning and the potential I saw.
But after about the halfway mark, or a little earlier, the book started going progressively downhill, though I was still hopeful. I couldn't believe
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this, but I was very disappointed in the end, compared to the beginning and the potential I saw.
Did Not Finish
May 7, 2021It is extremely silly. A flighty girl and her chaperone are robbed in an inn, and take up with a travelling actor group rather than contact family or friends for help. Perdita is the titular, but not the main character. She is very pretty and thinks she can sing. Moira becomes cook for the troupe, and everyone assumes she is going to London to 'sell' her protege's charms and collect her cut. She gets outraged by this whilst also trying to argue that she's a woman of the world; really not, Moira.
Oddly one word threw me right out of the story - kittycorner - that is such an American word.
I will have to check it's etymology. 1838 first use - hmmm that's 20 years post regency - and it's not the only thing, so many words or items strike me as out of place. Moira is the cook and is making stews whilst travelling, you know? No - those take TIME to make.
The rake pays the troupe leader a hundred POUNDS to contact him when they reach London. That's an insane amount of money. [it's a lot NOW]
I can't keep going; I'm going to DNF it. If the story was better, I'd be less distracted by all the other stuff.
Did not finish at 37%
Oddly one word threw me right out of the story - kittycorner - that is such an American word.
I will have to check it's etymology. 1838 first use - hmmm that's 20 years post regency - and it's not the only thing, so many words or items strike me as out of place. Moira is the cook and is making stews whilst travelling, you know? No - those take TIME to make.
The rake pays the troupe leader a hundred POUNDS to contact him when they reach London. That's an insane amount of money. [it's a lot NOW]
I can't keep going; I'm going to DNF it. If the story was better, I'd be less distracted by all the other stuff.
Did not finish at 37%
July 1, 2024
I’m really not sure what to do with this book. It was horridly inappropriate the whole time, and the hero was an antihero at best for ninety percent of the book. The heroine had ample opportunity to set him straight and yet she never quite managed to do it, which annoyed me no end. Yet this led to fantastically entertaining situations and great banter which added significantly to the chemistry. I hated the horridly improper young lady who was the heroine’s charge and whose utter disregard for propriety caused incredible distress that was simply brushed under the rug at the end, when she suddenly became lovable and proper. But the heroine did get the hero despite everything and he was sufficiently repentant and sweet by the end. Overall it was a fun romp, if a bit raucous.
April 8, 2025
Look guys, there's books where you want to slap the title character and there's this book. This book has a leading heroine whose name we don't learn until after we witness the absolute trial of a charge that she has. Moira is so no-nonsense and the way the book is narrated makes you feel like you're right there next to her facepalming because of Perdita. As for our leading man, I will simply say that though he's got some very (very) questionable morals and his treatment of the heroine is quite shameful... He's definitely got some objectionable words and actions... buuuut it's also kinda charming? Def on the guilty pleasure camp for me. Would I want to have this man in my life? No. But is it fun to read about him? Yes.
October 12, 2021
A Regency Romp But Far Too Outspoken
What do you do when your charge is naughty and willing to act wicked. Moira Greenwood is the chaperone of her cousin, Perdita, a flighty, young lady who refuses to marry the old man her father has chosen. Somehow the two ladies end up joining a traveling theatre. Lord Stornaway slightly drunk becomes interested in buying Perdita whom he thinks is a lightskirt, but his interest soon moves to Moira whom he decides to purchase instead. Quite frankly he's revolting and I cannot understand any lady falling for him.
What do you do when your charge is naughty and willing to act wicked. Moira Greenwood is the chaperone of her cousin, Perdita, a flighty, young lady who refuses to marry the old man her father has chosen. Somehow the two ladies end up joining a traveling theatre. Lord Stornaway slightly drunk becomes interested in buying Perdita whom he thinks is a lightskirt, but his interest soon moves to Moira whom he decides to purchase instead. Quite frankly he's revolting and I cannot understand any lady falling for him.
February 10, 2018
I didn’t think much about this book in the beginning. But it got better when the H started showing interest in the h instead of Perdita.
I was glad that the cousin matured at the end. In so many books the spoil, bratty charge never learns anything! Perdita really cares about the h in her own way.
I would have liked to know more about how the H’s thoughts went when he began to show interest in the h. We only know that he starts losing interest in Perdita as a result of her childishness.
I was glad that the cousin matured at the end. In so many books the spoil, bratty charge never learns anything! Perdita really cares about the h in her own way.
I would have liked to know more about how the H’s thoughts went when he began to show interest in the h. We only know that he starts losing interest in Perdita as a result of her childishness.
November 12, 2020
I liked this book. It was witty and I loved the h. However I feel like the H just wasn't the right dude for the h. I mean, yeah he got redeemed at the end, but I still feel like we're given our amazing h a weak ass puppy for a husband. I also feel like the H is like a decade younger than the h, and I don't really get what she sees in him. But I really liked the book. Nice read.
December 22, 2019
Witty funny old fashioned regency with the rakish Lord Stornaway pursuing a flighty yet beautiful lady masquerading as a light heeled actress, and her governess, who he mistakes for her procures, despite her many denials.
March 27, 2020
Only Joan Smith could redeem such an initially unlikable hero. I wasn't sure she could do it, but she actually did it quite remarkably. I believed in the couple's HEA. Highly recommended for those who enjoy clever writing and laugh out loud unique scenarios.
October 21, 2022
Annoying! Not a keeper.
Normally I love Joan's books, but Perdita never did get the discipline she deserved. I thought Moira was not a very good chaperone. 😕 The whole thing just went too far. Way too far. That last scene before the gun shot made me ill. No. No. No.
Normally I love Joan's books, but Perdita never did get the discipline she deserved. I thought Moira was not a very good chaperone. 😕 The whole thing just went too far. Way too far. That last scene before the gun shot made me ill. No. No. No.
August 27, 2023
I understand that when you pick up a historical romance from before the 1990, it's a gamble...
Part of me was disturbed by this romance (completely unrelated to the description) but another part of me couldn't even sleep last night bc I couldn't put it down.
Part of me was disturbed by this romance (completely unrelated to the description) but another part of me couldn't even sleep last night bc I couldn't put it down.
October 23, 2023
As bad as the H of this book was, he doesn't come close to the cruelty of the Duke of Torquay ( The Duke's Wager).
March 21, 2024
Frustrating plot
I didn't care for the plot of this one. It was frustrating and seemed out of character for the time period. But Joan smith is still a great writer, and a happy ending is always nice.
I didn't care for the plot of this one. It was frustrating and seemed out of character for the time period. But Joan smith is still a great writer, and a happy ending is always nice.
January 29, 2021
2.5 stars
August 20, 2022
Delightful, unpredictable fun.
February 3, 2023
What a pleasant surprise this book was! It was packed with adventure and events. The romance was swoon worthy. It really reminded of my favorite Heyer’s book “Devil’s Cub”. I loved it.
February 19, 2023
I love this author's books but the Reformed Rake trope was a little much for me. The hero's behavior was just too horrible to be excused.
September 18, 2014
This is not one of Joan Smith’s best despite its surprisingly high ratings, but it’s not the worst thing I’ve ever read. It was all right but problematic enough that I wouldn’t start with this one if you are new to Joan Smith.
The first time I read it (10 or more years ago) I enjoyed it as a fun, frolicking romp and gave it 4 stars. Then I read it again and… I have to drop a star.
The plot is beyond ridiculous, which is NOT a showstopper in this type of book for me; I expect these to be somewhat ridiculous by their very nature, and I read them anyways. There are a few scenes I still really enjoy, and I like the main character (Moira) a lot. She is intelligent, strong, etc. The titular character “Perdita” is not the heroine of the story; she is Moira’s charge and sets them on the adventures that take place in the book, but Moira is really the heroine.
The problem is… Lord Stornaway, the hero, and I use that term loosely. Maybe it’s my updated, more modern sensibilities, but I find him to be kind of creepy. He’s a “young buck” out sewing wild oats with his friends, sees Perdita on the stage pretending to be an actress named “April Spring” and under the influence of alcohol, becomes determined to make her his mistress. When he’s rejected, his entire mission becomes to have her because apparently he doesn’t like being told no.
So what’s the issue? He REALLY doesn’t understand the word “No” and does not respect these women at all, until they have to take drastic actions to convince him. He is told no over and over and over again, and yet doesn’t believe it (thinks they are playing hard to get, to get more money from him), so most of the book is Moira running away from him to save Perdita’s virtue, and him chasing them down thinking Perdita/April is a prostitute and Moira (who goes by the alias Molly) is her matron.
If you can overlook that (because the book was written back in the 70s, I always give older books a little bit of wiggle room because of their age) there are some good scenes. If heroes trying to force their attentions on women who say no really bothers you, then do not read this book. You will not be pleased.
That said, he DOES get redeemed somewhat in the later part of the book, and he probably is an accurate representation of the young men like him of the time, but for some readers, it might be too hard to overcome the dislike, while others will be able to forgive him.
Let me put it this way… if you can read “Devil’s Cub” by Georgette Heyer and like/forgive the hero in that one (Vidal), then you can probably forgive Lord Stornaway, although Vidal has more time to make amends in the longer book Devil’s Cub than Stornaway gets to here. In fact… this book definitely has shades of Devil’s Cub in it, but is a much shorter and fluffier book.
Also, I don’t really love first person books, but this one grows on you after awhile.
The first time I read it (10 or more years ago) I enjoyed it as a fun, frolicking romp and gave it 4 stars. Then I read it again and… I have to drop a star.
The plot is beyond ridiculous, which is NOT a showstopper in this type of book for me; I expect these to be somewhat ridiculous by their very nature, and I read them anyways. There are a few scenes I still really enjoy, and I like the main character (Moira) a lot. She is intelligent, strong, etc. The titular character “Perdita” is not the heroine of the story; she is Moira’s charge and sets them on the adventures that take place in the book, but Moira is really the heroine.
The problem is… Lord Stornaway, the hero, and I use that term loosely. Maybe it’s my updated, more modern sensibilities, but I find him to be kind of creepy. He’s a “young buck” out sewing wild oats with his friends, sees Perdita on the stage pretending to be an actress named “April Spring” and under the influence of alcohol, becomes determined to make her his mistress. When he’s rejected, his entire mission becomes to have her because apparently he doesn’t like being told no.
So what’s the issue? He REALLY doesn’t understand the word “No” and does not respect these women at all, until they have to take drastic actions to convince him. He is told no over and over and over again, and yet doesn’t believe it (thinks they are playing hard to get, to get more money from him), so most of the book is Moira running away from him to save Perdita’s virtue, and him chasing them down thinking Perdita/April is a prostitute and Moira (who goes by the alias Molly) is her matron.
If you can overlook that (because the book was written back in the 70s, I always give older books a little bit of wiggle room because of their age) there are some good scenes. If heroes trying to force their attentions on women who say no really bothers you, then do not read this book. You will not be pleased.
That said, he DOES get redeemed somewhat in the later part of the book, and he probably is an accurate representation of the young men like him of the time, but for some readers, it might be too hard to overcome the dislike, while others will be able to forgive him.
Let me put it this way… if you can read “Devil’s Cub” by Georgette Heyer and like/forgive the hero in that one (Vidal), then you can probably forgive Lord Stornaway, although Vidal has more time to make amends in the longer book Devil’s Cub than Stornaway gets to here. In fact… this book definitely has shades of Devil’s Cub in it, but is a much shorter and fluffier book.
Also, I don’t really love first person books, but this one grows on you after awhile.
April 21, 2014
PERDITA is written in an unusual way than most Regency romances. Written almost like a diary being read out loud, PERDITA is told by the title character's governess/companion/cousin Moira, as she details her younger cousin's reckless scheme to get out of her arranged marriage.
Moira describes her cousin as having the typical fairy tale life—a wicked stepmother, pushover father, loads of money and incredible beauty. Her wicked stepmother had plans to wed Perdita off to an older gentleman, to get her out of the house, but Perdita will have none of it. Dissatisfied with her countrified life she is desperate to find adventure by being an actress.
Impulsive is an understatement of Perdita's personality—she runs off with an acting troop in the middle of the night without any thought as to her reputation. Moira, determined to look after her cousin and keep her respectable, follows after her. Her first thought is to drag her back, but seeing that they are now indebted to the actors, she agrees to let Perdita be the troop's newest leading lady until other circumstances can be made.
In a genre where romance is a key to the story, PERDITA seems to dwell less on the romances of either Perdita or Moira, and more on their adventures and predicaments. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. Moira isn't prone to daydreams of romance and Perdita is too easily swayed by a handsome and cheerful compliment, so it came as a surprise that Moira fell in love at all! Especially considering her love interest's first meeting with herself and Perdita.
The only real complaint I have is with the cover artwork—I'm not certain if that is supposed to depict Perdita, who is eighteen, or Moira, who is well over eighteen but not a fair-haired female. Whomever it does depict makes her very old looking and entirely too hard.
Moira describes her cousin as having the typical fairy tale life—a wicked stepmother, pushover father, loads of money and incredible beauty. Her wicked stepmother had plans to wed Perdita off to an older gentleman, to get her out of the house, but Perdita will have none of it. Dissatisfied with her countrified life she is desperate to find adventure by being an actress.
Impulsive is an understatement of Perdita's personality—she runs off with an acting troop in the middle of the night without any thought as to her reputation. Moira, determined to look after her cousin and keep her respectable, follows after her. Her first thought is to drag her back, but seeing that they are now indebted to the actors, she agrees to let Perdita be the troop's newest leading lady until other circumstances can be made.
In a genre where romance is a key to the story, PERDITA seems to dwell less on the romances of either Perdita or Moira, and more on their adventures and predicaments. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. Moira isn't prone to daydreams of romance and Perdita is too easily swayed by a handsome and cheerful compliment, so it came as a surprise that Moira fell in love at all! Especially considering her love interest's first meeting with herself and Perdita.
The only real complaint I have is with the cover artwork—I'm not certain if that is supposed to depict Perdita, who is eighteen, or Moira, who is well over eighteen but not a fair-haired female. Whomever it does depict makes her very old looking and entirely too hard.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews