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The Saint of Seven Dials #5
Gallant Scoundrel
The Saint of Seven Dials returns!
Harry Thatcher, once a celebrated war hero, returned to England a dissipated wastrel and avowed lifelong bachelor. In hopes of preventing Harry from degenerating into the most disreputable rake in Regency London, his best friend persuades him to take up the mantle as the Saint of Seven Dials, a role Harry adopts wholeheartedly. But even his friends don’t know the secret in Harry’s past that first set him on the path to ruin. Most assume it was his battlefield injury that transformed him from a valiant soldier into the embittered, reckless man he is now, but long before that injury, there was a woman…
Xena Maxwell was a most unusual woman, even at nineteen, when Harry first met her, clad in breeches, in a rough-and-tumble Army camp on the Peninsula. Heedless of convention after traveling the world with her scholarly father, Xena could fight and shoot as well as most men and was every bit as gifted at repairing wounds as she was at causing them. Harry’s fascination and Xena’s disregard for propriety landed them in a marriage neither intended, disgrace for Harry and exile for Xena. Her ship foundered before reaching England, however, and Harry was never the same again…
Now, just as he’s coming into his own as the newest Saint of Seven Dials, Harry finds himself face to face with the wife he’s believe dead for the past seven years. Will her miraculous survival prove an answer to prayer or a curse upon them both?
The long-anticipated 5th book in Brenda Hiatt’s bestselling Saint of Seven Dials series!
Harry Thatcher, once a celebrated war hero, returned to England a dissipated wastrel and avowed lifelong bachelor. In hopes of preventing Harry from degenerating into the most disreputable rake in Regency London, his best friend persuades him to take up the mantle as the Saint of Seven Dials, a role Harry adopts wholeheartedly. But even his friends don’t know the secret in Harry’s past that first set him on the path to ruin. Most assume it was his battlefield injury that transformed him from a valiant soldier into the embittered, reckless man he is now, but long before that injury, there was a woman…
Xena Maxwell was a most unusual woman, even at nineteen, when Harry first met her, clad in breeches, in a rough-and-tumble Army camp on the Peninsula. Heedless of convention after traveling the world with her scholarly father, Xena could fight and shoot as well as most men and was every bit as gifted at repairing wounds as she was at causing them. Harry’s fascination and Xena’s disregard for propriety landed them in a marriage neither intended, disgrace for Harry and exile for Xena. Her ship foundered before reaching England, however, and Harry was never the same again…
Now, just as he’s coming into his own as the newest Saint of Seven Dials, Harry finds himself face to face with the wife he’s believe dead for the past seven years. Will her miraculous survival prove an answer to prayer or a curse upon them both?
The long-anticipated 5th book in Brenda Hiatt’s bestselling Saint of Seven Dials series!
298 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 29, 2016
45 people are currently reading
96 people want to read
About the author
Brenda Hiatt
99 books517 followersBrenda Hiatt is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of sparkling romantic adventure. She's written twenty-five novels (so far), including sweet and spicy historical romance, time travel romance, humorous mystery, and her young adult science fiction STARSTRUCK series. Brenda began in traditional publishing with Harlequin, HarperCollins and Avon Books and later made a transition to indie publishing as she began getting rights back to her older books. So far, she hasn't been sorry! She is an active member of Romance Writers of America and Novelists, Inc, where she has served as president. In addition to writing, Brenda is passionate about embracing life to the fullest, to include scuba diving (she has over 60 dives to her credit), Taekwondo (where she is working toward her 4th degree black belt), hiking, traveling…and reading, of course!
Learn more at http://brendahiatt.com
Learn more at http://brendahiatt.com
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 10, 2016
Gallant Scoundrel by Brenda Hiatt
The Saint of Seven Dials – a man or woman, stealing from the less deserving of the ton and giving to the poor of Seven Dials, a role in need of a new person.
Harry Thatcher returned from war scarred both in body and mind. The physical was easy for anyone to see as he lost an arm. The mental only his closest friends could tell but they didn’t know the true cause; a cause that Harry is determined to never reveal. But those memories weigh heavily on his mind and in efforts to escape those memories Harry lives a life of drinking, gambling, and women to excess. An attack lands Harry in the home of his closest friend to recuperate; a friend who is determined to help Harry turn his life around by convincing him to take on the role of The Saint of Seven Dials. A role that Harry soon comes to embrace. A role that may soon be in jeopardy.
Xena Maxwell spent her entire life following her father from one war camp to another. A life that formed her into an unusual woman – one who knows how to shoot, uses swords, and overall takes care of herself. A life that comes to an abrupt end when she is forced to wed a solider then sent immediately back to England following the wedding; however, determined to defy her father she plans on joining the army in disguise. This plan puts her on a ship other than the one planned; a ship that sinks at sea and all aboard drowned. She soon learns that circumstances will prevent her from joining the army. Feeling betrayed by her father and her “husband” Xena keeps these circumstances to herself.
After the death of her father, Xena makes a trip to London to try and sell some artifacts where she encounters the commander of the last war camp she was in. This encounter leads to an invitation to a gathering that will unite her with former soldiers she knew, all of who thought her dead, a gathering that Harry plans to attend to catch up with some of his former comrades. What neither one of them know is this gathering will bring them together with the last person they expected to ever see again…each other.
When a well-meaning friend discovers their secret he sets about to prove they belong together, a feat that may prove impossible. Years apart, feelings of abandonment, distrust, and current secrets they both hold may prove too much for them to overcome.
Book five in The Saints of Seven Dials series was a long time coming but is well worth the wait. This is a tale of how things that appear impossible may be possible. Brenda Hiatt writes in a style that has the reader feeling the characters highs and lows’ their frustrations, despair, and longings. Gallant Scoundrel will keep the reader on their toes; just when you think you have the next action figured out you’ll be given hints that will add a new layer to the action. One can hope that another Saint of Seven Dials is on the horizon!
As part of a series, Gallant Scoundrel can be read as a stand-alone story.
The Saint of Seven Dials – a man or woman, stealing from the less deserving of the ton and giving to the poor of Seven Dials, a role in need of a new person.
Harry Thatcher returned from war scarred both in body and mind. The physical was easy for anyone to see as he lost an arm. The mental only his closest friends could tell but they didn’t know the true cause; a cause that Harry is determined to never reveal. But those memories weigh heavily on his mind and in efforts to escape those memories Harry lives a life of drinking, gambling, and women to excess. An attack lands Harry in the home of his closest friend to recuperate; a friend who is determined to help Harry turn his life around by convincing him to take on the role of The Saint of Seven Dials. A role that Harry soon comes to embrace. A role that may soon be in jeopardy.
Xena Maxwell spent her entire life following her father from one war camp to another. A life that formed her into an unusual woman – one who knows how to shoot, uses swords, and overall takes care of herself. A life that comes to an abrupt end when she is forced to wed a solider then sent immediately back to England following the wedding; however, determined to defy her father she plans on joining the army in disguise. This plan puts her on a ship other than the one planned; a ship that sinks at sea and all aboard drowned. She soon learns that circumstances will prevent her from joining the army. Feeling betrayed by her father and her “husband” Xena keeps these circumstances to herself.
After the death of her father, Xena makes a trip to London to try and sell some artifacts where she encounters the commander of the last war camp she was in. This encounter leads to an invitation to a gathering that will unite her with former soldiers she knew, all of who thought her dead, a gathering that Harry plans to attend to catch up with some of his former comrades. What neither one of them know is this gathering will bring them together with the last person they expected to ever see again…each other.
When a well-meaning friend discovers their secret he sets about to prove they belong together, a feat that may prove impossible. Years apart, feelings of abandonment, distrust, and current secrets they both hold may prove too much for them to overcome.
Book five in The Saints of Seven Dials series was a long time coming but is well worth the wait. This is a tale of how things that appear impossible may be possible. Brenda Hiatt writes in a style that has the reader feeling the characters highs and lows’ their frustrations, despair, and longings. Gallant Scoundrel will keep the reader on their toes; just when you think you have the next action figured out you’ll be given hints that will add a new layer to the action. One can hope that another Saint of Seven Dials is on the horizon!
As part of a series, Gallant Scoundrel can be read as a stand-alone story.
March 2, 2016
Gallant Scoundrel by Brenda Hiatt is the 5th book in her Saint of Seven Dials series. Although it's part of a series, it can easily be read as a stand alone book. But why would you want to do that when each and every book preceding it is as exciting a book as this one!
This story focuses on Harry Thatcher. He lost his arm in the war, and also found out that his wife, albeit one that he married under duress, despite loving her, has died. It leaves him a broken man and he turns to drink, gambling, and women to try to fill the emptiness in his life. He seems to have given up, and his friends are worried about him. His best friend decides that it will do Harry the world of good if he takes up the mantle of being the newest Saint of Seven Dials.
Xena Maxwell, Harry's wife believes that her husband was killed in the war, and she has been bringing up their son by herself. The son that Harry doesn't know about because he didn't know she was pregnant when her father sent her away after they married. Money is growing scarce and Xena decides she has to go to London in order to sell some of her father's antiques. Also she wants to call upon a family friend, a Duke, in order to ask him to provide a character reference for her son so that he will be able to enter a good school when the time comes.
The Duke is holding a ball, and thanks to his machinations when he finds out that both Harry and Xena consider the other dead, he makes sure they discover each other at the dance.
From there the story tells how they deal with finding each other again, they both have doubts that the other really ever loved them, and both are put out that they were forced to marry each other. There has been so much misunderstanding between them, they just don't know where they stand with each other. Will Xena tell Harry that he is a father. She isn't sure if she should because he isn't the man he used to be, he is a drunk and a womaniser, not to mention a gambler. How can he be part of their son's life when he is so disreputable. Of course she doesn't know that he is the current Saint of Seven Dials, surely her opinion of him will change if she discovers that? Will they be able to make a go of their marriage, or are they destined to stay apart?
This is an absolutely wonderful story, the romance flows throughout it, but you also have the excitement of Harry's outings as the Saint. The misunderstandings between the couple at times you think must be insurmountable, and every time poor Xena gets the wrong end of the stick about Harry you just want to cry for him, and shake sense into her. It's a very emotional, fast paced book that I absolutely recommend. Once you have read it you might just find yourself buying the rest in the series if you haven't read them already.
This story focuses on Harry Thatcher. He lost his arm in the war, and also found out that his wife, albeit one that he married under duress, despite loving her, has died. It leaves him a broken man and he turns to drink, gambling, and women to try to fill the emptiness in his life. He seems to have given up, and his friends are worried about him. His best friend decides that it will do Harry the world of good if he takes up the mantle of being the newest Saint of Seven Dials.
Xena Maxwell, Harry's wife believes that her husband was killed in the war, and she has been bringing up their son by herself. The son that Harry doesn't know about because he didn't know she was pregnant when her father sent her away after they married. Money is growing scarce and Xena decides she has to go to London in order to sell some of her father's antiques. Also she wants to call upon a family friend, a Duke, in order to ask him to provide a character reference for her son so that he will be able to enter a good school when the time comes.
The Duke is holding a ball, and thanks to his machinations when he finds out that both Harry and Xena consider the other dead, he makes sure they discover each other at the dance.
From there the story tells how they deal with finding each other again, they both have doubts that the other really ever loved them, and both are put out that they were forced to marry each other. There has been so much misunderstanding between them, they just don't know where they stand with each other. Will Xena tell Harry that he is a father. She isn't sure if she should because he isn't the man he used to be, he is a drunk and a womaniser, not to mention a gambler. How can he be part of their son's life when he is so disreputable. Of course she doesn't know that he is the current Saint of Seven Dials, surely her opinion of him will change if she discovers that? Will they be able to make a go of their marriage, or are they destined to stay apart?
This is an absolutely wonderful story, the romance flows throughout it, but you also have the excitement of Harry's outings as the Saint. The misunderstandings between the couple at times you think must be insurmountable, and every time poor Xena gets the wrong end of the stick about Harry you just want to cry for him, and shake sense into her. It's a very emotional, fast paced book that I absolutely recommend. Once you have read it you might just find yourself buying the rest in the series if you haven't read them already.
February 19, 2023
Not your usual Regency Romance
This was an adventure. As each of the characters believe the other dead they are not prepared when they meet again. There are secrets to uncover and adventures to be had. Love conquers all. The
This was an adventure. As each of the characters believe the other dead they are not prepared when they meet again. There are secrets to uncover and adventures to be had. Love conquers all. The
Read
December 2, 2022This was a case of 2 stubborn people, misinformation, and a meddling friend. I loved it.
July 28, 2019
They had a shotgun marriage for fornicating in the middle of a campaign against the French and got separated just after the ceremony. He thought she was lost at sea when her ship bound for Yorkshire was reported sunk and she read that he was killed in battle. After 7 years they met at a ball hosted by the Duke of Wellington and both realized that they have greatly changed and have decided to live apart and not acknowledge their legal bond. I think the unnecessary drama and painful conflicts would have been avoided if Xena have told Harry about Theo's existence... the problem here was she did not even give him a chance... it could have been the knowledge of his son that would have stopped his drinking since such started as a form of mourning and a challenge at fate for the loss of his arm and maybe even given a reason for him to keep on living. At least Peter had proposed that Harry take on the halo of the next Saint aside from his other idea (by bribery and blackmail as forceful incentives) soon after the first that the estranged couple would give their marriage a chance by living together at Marcus' vacant Mayfair residence 'til the New Year.
historical
January 25, 2019Harry Thatcher, once a celebrated war hero, returned to England a dissipated wastrel and avowed lifelong bachelor. In hopes of preventing Harry from degenerating into the most disreputable rake in Regency London, his best friend persuades him to take up the mantle as the Saint of Seven Dials, a role Harry adopts wholeheartedly. But even his friends don’t know the secret in Harry’s past that first set him on the path to ruin. Most assume it was his battlefield injury that transformed him from a valiant soldier into the embittered, reckless man he is now, but long before that injury, there was a woman…
Xena Maxwell was a most unusual woman, even at nineteen, when Harry first met her, clad in breeches, in a rough-and-tumble Army camp on the Peninsula. Heedless of convention after traveling the world with her scholarly father, Xena could fight and shoot as well as most men and was every bit as gifted at repairing wounds as she was at causing them. Harry’s fascination and Xena’s disregard for propriety landed them in a marriage neither intended, disgrace for Harry and exile for Xena. Her ship foundered before reaching England, however, and Harry was never the same again…
Now, just as he’s coming into his own as the newest Saint of Seven Dials, Harry finds himself face to face with the wife he’s believe dead for the past seven years. Will her miraculous survival prove an answer to prayer or a curse upon them both?
Xena Maxwell was a most unusual woman, even at nineteen, when Harry first met her, clad in breeches, in a rough-and-tumble Army camp on the Peninsula. Heedless of convention after traveling the world with her scholarly father, Xena could fight and shoot as well as most men and was every bit as gifted at repairing wounds as she was at causing them. Harry’s fascination and Xena’s disregard for propriety landed them in a marriage neither intended, disgrace for Harry and exile for Xena. Her ship foundered before reaching England, however, and Harry was never the same again…
Now, just as he’s coming into his own as the newest Saint of Seven Dials, Harry finds himself face to face with the wife he’s believe dead for the past seven years. Will her miraculous survival prove an answer to prayer or a curse upon them both?
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews