The Reluctant Heroine

by Dawn Lindsey

Orphaned in a Spanish city in Napoleon's grip, English-born Regina Alderstock must fend off the advances of an ardent French admirer, the powerful and persuasive Monsieur de Thierry. Original.

Genres: Traditional Regency, Regency, War, Historical Romance, Clean Romance

224 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 1, 1993

About the author

A Regency/Historical author. In 1978, Doubleday published The Duchess of Vidal; in 1979, Playboy Press reissued it, in paperback.
Dawn Lindsey continued to write Regency romance throughout the 1980's and 1990's.

Reviews

[Mary23nm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked it but definitely could have used an epilogue. I would try another by this author.

[Gabz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written and with excellent pacing. Enjoyed it thoroughly.

[ReneeW · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just reread an old copy and I see why I kept it. Loved it. Not your typical regency romance. Set in Spain during the Peninsular War. The conflict between the French, British, and Spanish is the backdrop but also an integral part of the story and very realistic. But it is an excellent romance as well. My only complaint is it ends well but rather abruptly. Needs an epilogue. But I highly recommend it. Wish it had been issued in hardcover, but most of these Signet Regency Romances were not. I'll be keeping this copy.

[Laura Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written book that takes place in Spain covering the driving out of the French circa 1814. Adam and Regina are a great couple , determined single minded individuals who meet , are attracted to each other but bound and determined not to acknowledge it , therein lies the story. Courageous people stepping up and doing what they can in the middle of wartime putting personal wants on hold. They get their HEA deservedly so, well worth the wait.

[Carol Storm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of Dawn Lindsey's best Regencies aside from AN INDEPENDENT WOMAN and REBEL LADY. The setting is not Scotland, but Spain during the Napoleonic Wars. It's much like the Sharpe series. The romance is mild, but very well done, and the hero (an Englishman disguised as a Spanish guerilla) is intriguing.

[LemontreeLime · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love how Lindsey can evoke a sense of realism inside her stories, with incredibly likable characters. This one takes place in Spain, during the tumultuous years of the Napoleonic war in 1812-3, with armies and spies all over the place underfoot. Regina is like her name, brave as a queen under siege. Her strength is what makes this story a good one.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written. But the heroine was so hard-headed, I was annoyed with her a large percentage of the time and that detracted from the book.

[Mia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Informative about the war in spain but boring as hell.

[Vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This doesn't have quite enough depth, but entertaining enough. I liked the premise but at times things just seemed "off" to me in terms of how information traveled. Not a re-read.