The Lord and the Gypsy

Sanguinet Saga #3

by Patricia Veryan

Deirdre had loved him since she was six years old. Now young Lord St. Clair was a soldier home from the wars with a scandalous tragedy trailing at his heels.

She had to know if he was truly the man she once had loved, or the callous rake and murderer society now claim him to be.

And so she deceived him--hid behind a gypsy's face and tried to snare him with a stranger's kiss...

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical Fiction, Regency, Historical, Regency Romance, Traditional Regency

303 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

Patricia Valeria Bannister was born in London. After World War II, she married Allan Louis Berg and moved to the United States; she lived on the West Coast and was the author of many historical novels from 1978 until 2002, using the pen names Patricia Veryan and Gwyneth Moore.

At the time of her death, she was living in Bellevue, Washington, USA.

Reviews

[Christa Schönmann Abbühl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has the feeling of an „early book“. Neither plot nor story do come together as easily and as refined as in her best work. Also I cannot wholly like the extremely volatile relationship and the deception between the main couple.

But I still give it five stars because of the strengths that are all there: the male friendships (I am hopelessly romantic about male friendship in books and movies, and clearly Veryan is exactly the same), the devastating moments of emotional impact and the fights.

I could not remember the entire plot and had parts of it mixed up in my head (there being no lack of gypsies, races or abductions in Veryan‘s books). But some scenes are forever engraved on my heart like an invisible tattoo. For example the one where Vaughan finally believes in St. Clair‘s treachery, or when Saxon and St. Clair face each other in that empty ballroom and say „to the death“ (the STUPID gits that they are!!!).

Yes, both are scenes that do not have any women in them ;-)

So ok, I am a sucker for betrayal, especially between male friends. I don’t know where that comes from, it just totally does „it“ for me. I suffer gladly and deeply along with the tortured heroes - and can finally breathe again when true friendship overcomes all obstacles and they have to avert their eyes or take refuge in their drinks to not actually be overcome and show some feelings.

Hm, I hope Mrs Veryan does not come back from her grave to haunt me for saying so, but I guess she could have written some very addictive m/m romances if born in another time. Even „without the smut“ ;-) (I say that because she so abhorred the idea of writing „smut“. Not because I am personally opposed to it. Although I need less of „it“ in my books than some.) Are there any „non smutty“ m/m romances except in YA? I’ll have to check.

The complicated love story had its moments, too. I recently read some very old fashioned romance from the early twentieth century for a private project of mine and realized that the reason I could not wholly appreciate the story was because of its utter seriousness. Even in her most pathetic (pathetic as in pathos) books Veryan never forgets about the necessary humor. I mean, seriously, as abhorrent as the violent aspect of it might be, seen as an act of comedy that scene with the bread was glorious. One of those moments that call for the book being made into a (very theatrical) movie.

The book is about redemption, and about finding love for a second time, about forgiveness, about second chances, about it never being too late to say those words... All very much to my liking.

I also love how Harland changes from the despotic father into a devoted one, and the relationship between the brothers - hach.

Yes, this rambling might not look like a review to you, and you are perfectly right. But those are the thoughts running through my head after having not slept very well (in part because of this book) and finally finishing it.

Have I already said how stupid the code of honor and dueling is? And how I do not understand why I enjoy reading about it so much? Maybe there is some psychological explanation for this.

Ah, and the animals. Veryan does write them so well. Caliph is no Rump, but still. The way she describes his and some other horses antics - it is always so vivid! And Homer is, of course, simply the best.

Ah, and we meet Bolster and Amanda. I am so glad that they will be part of some of the following books.

I am not sure but is it possible that this book was entirely told from the male perspective? Maybe that made it a little harder to connect with Deirdre for me? But it still worked.

So yes, there are some weaknesses, but the strengths are so strong that they level it out.

PS. This does not exist as an ebook, and I count myself lucky to own a copy. But that cover is horrendous!

[Mela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my! What action and twists! What fights! Also, who loved whom? I was losing track sometimes, but I hadn't the patience to slow down and think of it. I was compelled to listen to the story further, without breaks. And I so loved all those characters (mostly men). St. Clair, Jeremy Bolster, Vaughan, Saxton - to name at least a few. I again agree with Christa Schönmann Abbühl, Patricia Veryan was a master when it came to a male friendship and the relation between a father and an adult son.

Were weak points in this story? Perhaps, but I didn't see them, I had too delicious fun.

[Adrianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

#3 of the series could have used a heavier editing hand- having some of the content removed would have made a neater story with better flow, whilst retaining the essentials. And, this is just a personal opinion, but I think Veryan's villains are so...er...villainous that it loses some of the comfortable feel of the romance. Definitely less light-hearted than Heyer's similar works, whose villains have either comical absurdities or some redemptive quality that leaves them somewhat more palatable.

[Tweety · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wish I had the next in the series!

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a pleasant surprise for me. I think I agree with my friend Deb when she says her reviews for books depends a lot on her mood. I think I was in the mood for a book just like this right now. This book has some great adventure and romance. It isn't as funny as Georgette Heyer books are (just one reason why I really love her books), but it wasn't a bad substitute otherwise. While I wouldn't call this a fluffy book (it's more serious then that), I would recommend this book to someone in the mood for a fun romance.

[Frances · Rating 3 out of 5]

Veryan is not for those readers looking for another Austen or Heyer. This is a complicated story with a very complicated cast. There are many primary plots and a few secondary plots that sometimes intertwine and become very confusing. At the same time, I could not put this book down which I can’t say that about very many books. The male characters come off much more complex and interesting than the female. It was very difficult to be a complex and interesting female during the regency period. Some would say, impossible.

[Susan_MG · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read the first three books n this interesting series. The author has developed exceptional plots, high tension adventure, interesting characters all while I inserting some laugh out loud humor.
Felt this book became overwhelmed with too many possible villains, complicated relationships and a few too many mishaps to be credible. The writing is very readable but I just couldn’t rate it my usual 4 stars for an excellent historical romance.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are about 60 million subplots in this novel, every single one of which is used far better as a principle plot in one of Veryan's later books. But my GOD, what an incoherent mess when you try to use them all up at one shot.

[Anne · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was excruciating. The only reason I forced myself to read it (well, most of it ... the majority of it) is that I loved the first book I read in the Sanguinet Saga (the second one chronologically) so much and I’m hoping that the rest of the series will resemble it more closely than this stinker. I don’t think a single reader will fail to realize the “gypsy”’s true identity in her very first scene. But more than that, the book is an interminable bore. I lost track of who was who among the large cast of characters, and events just kept happening and happening and nothing seemed to progress. Ugh.

[Reforming · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of action. An old regency with plot, interesting characters, and no sex. So nice not to have to wade through dozens of pages of uninspired sex.

[D.w. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do not own many Veryan, and after my indulgence in this recommendation from others who explore the Regency Period, I do not think I will be looking to many others. It may be the way I was influenced by this book, for i found it weak, in terms of a plot that had holes in it. A plot that once my disbelief was no longer suspended, I could only see more holes and find fault with the patina of the Regency Era that encompassed the story. The devices used I began to think would be more aligned with a Medieval Romance, rather than a Regency Romance, though the inevitable conclusion, the reveal, was nearly obvious from the beginning. Another bit of disconcerting device, for our intelligent and admired hero was not brilliant enough to see through these twists, but our heroine was so able to supply them. Perhaps as a man, it was just something I could not appreciate. The fatal flaw of heroes in such a piece is to be unable to see through the artifice of the heroine until the very end.

[Terri · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a re-read from quite a few years ago...I still enjoy it very much. The characters--well, you like them. There's enough humor to balance, but not overwhelm, enough romance, enough intrigue, makes for a good read. While the book is part of a series, you don't have to read the other to enjoy it as it is. Good characters. Nicely written, historical romance. Maybe a bit far-fetched, but within reach for those of us wanting to dream a little.

[Tammi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the first of Veryan's books that I read. I really love these books because even though they are at heart a romance, they are much more than that. Great attention is paid to historical detail and the plots are intricate.

[Cws]

JF-YAVer

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An old favorite