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Lescaut/Vaughan Quartet #1
Dark Angel
Adam Durward is an outsider in both his mother's India and his father's England. Too much of an outsider for his childhood sweetheart, Caroline, who turned her back on their forbidden love to marry the wealthier, safer Jared Rawley. Taught a bitter lesson about not belonging, Adam left England as a diplomat and spy in the Peninsular War. But even then he could not escape Caroline. When he learned her husband, Jared, had betrayed crown and country, he exposed Jared as a traitor despite Caroline's pleas.
Sheltered, pampered Caroline grew up and found unexpected courage in the wake of her husband's disgrace. She left her decorous life in England and followed Jared into war-torn Spain. Now a widow with a young daughter, she is trapped behind enemy lines. Adam sets out to rescue the woman who still haunts his dreams. In a landscape set with treachery and intrigue, Adam and Caroline's only hope of survival is to rely on each other. They brave bandits, enemy soldiers, and harsh terrain, but the greatest danger they face may be navigating the web of love and betrayal that still binds them together.
Sheltered, pampered Caroline grew up and found unexpected courage in the wake of her husband's disgrace. She left her decorous life in England and followed Jared into war-torn Spain. Now a widow with a young daughter, she is trapped behind enemy lines. Adam sets out to rescue the woman who still haunts his dreams. In a landscape set with treachery and intrigue, Adam and Caroline's only hope of survival is to rely on each other. They brave bandits, enemy soldiers, and harsh terrain, but the greatest danger they face may be navigating the web of love and betrayal that still binds them together.
445 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 1, 1994
10 people are currently reading
212 people want to read
About the author
Tracy Grant
55 books178 followersTracy Grant studied British history at Stanford University and received the Firestone Award for Excellence in Research for her honors thesis on shifting conceptions of honor in late fifteenth century England. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her young daughter and three cats. In addition to writing, Tracy works for the Merola Opera Program, a professional training program for opera singers, pianists, and stage directors. Her real life heroine is her daughter Mélanie, who is very cooperative about Mummy’s writing. Tracy is currently at work on her next book chronicling the adventures of Malcolm and Mélanie Suzanne Rannoch.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 3, 2024
Story is based on factual events, with a somewhat tragic couple. He supported her not knowing that he was the father of her child. Complex plot with spies, lies and intrigue. Interesting setting.
June 9, 2013
Let me start off by telling you I've never read this author before, and I came by this book via someone's post on Facebook. It sounded like something I might like and I bought it. I honestly never expected to like it as much as I did. The writing was so good, that finding out of it being a part of Lescaut Quartet, I bought the other four not even knowing whose stories they were about. I've never done that with `new to me' authors before!
I was impressed the most with its well-developed and solid plot. It was something to behold.
`Dark Angel' is without a doubt a historical romance yet its heavy emphasis on espionage in Peninsular Wars it reads well as a mystery too.
Its historical background is well researched and because of it, as a reader, I was deeply touched by the reality of the period. As most of this story develops in Spain and Portugal, behind enemy lines and it's filled with action, adventure and intrigue.
Despite its typical, predictable secrets and misunderstandings between the hero and heroine [at one point I wanted to slap Caroline around for her selfishness, but in the end I realized that the more these characters had their flaws, the more I liked them as human beings; no one's perfect and they certainly were not], I found the book well written, well researched, fast paced and vastly engaging and entertaining.
If the rest of the series is as this first book, I'm in for some great reads this summer! Highly recommending you give it a try!
Melanie for b2b
Book purchased from Amazon.
I was impressed the most with its well-developed and solid plot. It was something to behold.
`Dark Angel' is without a doubt a historical romance yet its heavy emphasis on espionage in Peninsular Wars it reads well as a mystery too.
Its historical background is well researched and because of it, as a reader, I was deeply touched by the reality of the period. As most of this story develops in Spain and Portugal, behind enemy lines and it's filled with action, adventure and intrigue.
Despite its typical, predictable secrets and misunderstandings between the hero and heroine [at one point I wanted to slap Caroline around for her selfishness, but in the end I realized that the more these characters had their flaws, the more I liked them as human beings; no one's perfect and they certainly were not], I found the book well written, well researched, fast paced and vastly engaging and entertaining.
If the rest of the series is as this first book, I'm in for some great reads this summer! Highly recommending you give it a try!
Melanie for b2b
Book purchased from Amazon.
November 18, 2018
An excellent introduction
to this series, displaying a detailed knowledge of the Peninsular Wars, into which she skillfully wove this thrilling and romantic adventure. Looking forward to reading the other books in the series.
to this series, displaying a detailed knowledge of the Peninsular Wars, into which she skillfully wove this thrilling and romantic adventure. Looking forward to reading the other books in the series.
November 30, 2015
Romance, not history, is the theme. Though we have come to expect Ms. Grant’s extremely well-crafted stories to be thoroughly integrated with the historical events surrounding the intrigues and deceptions the characters fall into, this novel falls out of the historical novel category and into historical romance. Not that Caroline and Adam are not interesting, and not that there isn’t a villainous plot to unravel. It’s just that the heroine is not as formidable a woman as Grant’s other heroine, Melanie Fraser/Suzanne Rannoch. Courageous, yes. Intrepid, yes. Just not as complex or engaging. The plot is complicated, but not as complex, either. If you're looking for historical fiction, find the ones about Malcolm and Suzanne Rannoch (also named Charles and Melanie Fraser). If you're interested in romance, this book is for you.
September 1, 2014
Oh my. Again the minority. This book made me lose it and not in a good way. I didn't like it at all. I thought the characters were drab.. Silly Me huh? I thought the storyline was somewhat boring and I really really could not get into the story. I actually found myself wishing that I had chosen another book to read for my summer challenge. I will give this two stars because I think the author deserves that and I reserve 1 stars for bad editing, or no story line at all. It may be something that you will like so don't take my word for it. It has pretty high ratings on GoodReads.
April 6, 2014
Tracy/Teresa Grant has been one of my favorite authors from my first reading of the first few chapters of "Daughter of the Game". I read it in two sittings. This is one of her earlier books, but has the flavor and writing style that swept me through the first one. (which is now called Secrets of a Lady btw). I am starting at the beginning of her work here, because I read them all out of order to start with. It looks like a perfect snowy weekend project.
February 7, 2015
I love the remainder of this excellent old-school quartet, which I have in print. This first installment is without doubt the weakest, with annoying protagonists, one of which is the worst spy ever. Maybe I've been spoiled by Joanna Bourne, but Adam's inability to focus on his surroundings was not a good look for a master spy. Caroline was a hot mess, and even after she made much of her maturation and new outlook on life, she continued to act like a spoiled child of 17.
May 7, 2012
I bought the ebook version for $2.99 and it was well worth it. This is the story of Adam and Caroline, and it was an excellent historical romance. I could barely put it down! Seemed like a pared down version of Grant's Vienna Waltz--maybe she used this tale as inspiration for her later novel?
February 18, 2014
Fantastic lead characters. I completely fell in love with them and the chemistry between them was electric. A little underdone on the mystery and intrigue but the love story between Adam and Caro made up for it. A lot of heart in this book. A great read!
Want to read
February 13, 2013Anna Grant aka Tracy/Theresa Grant
August 6, 2013
Just ok. Glad it was a free download.
May 29, 2014
Outstanding!
Great storyline. Great characters. I am definitely looking forward to Tracy Grant's next book. Dark Angel is the first of a four book series.
Great storyline. Great characters. I am definitely looking forward to Tracy Grant's next book. Dark Angel is the first of a four book series.
August 8, 2015
I'm so obsessed with the Peninsular campaign right now. Talk Wellesley to me.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews