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Sergeant Joe
Everyone liked Sergeant Joe, and quite a few people wondered why he wasn't yet married. When he bumped into Dolly Smith, he finally met a girl who made an impression on him. Dolly was quick and lively, but also a little frightened—running from a sinister foreigner who seemed to think she had stolen something valuable. When Joe took Dolly under his wing, he thought he was just helping her in a momentary predicament. He didn't realize his peaceful existence was going to be changed forever.
- GenresRomance
384 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
About the author
Mary Jane Staples
67 books42 followersMary Jane Staples is a pseudonym used by British author Reginald Thomas Staples (1911-2005). He is also published under the name Robert Tyler Stevens, R.T. Stevens, and James Sinclair.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 3, 2014
3.5 Stars
Sergeant Joe is another fun read with some surprising twists and turns by one of my favorite authors, Robert Tyler Stevens (a.k.a. Mary Jane Staples). In this story you'll find a lot of cheeky banter, a sprinkling of romance and a mystery involving Russian Reds and an attempt on the German Kaiser during the Queen's coronation in London.
So basically, an ex- Dragoon, self named Sergeant Joe, is out walking during a thick "pea souper" when he crashes into an orphan cockney woman (think Eliza Doolittle) on the run from pinching a man's wallet. She stumbles in the collision and sprains her ankle; Joe, being the gent, takes her under his wing while she heals.
Really, they're two peas in a pod, Dolly the pickpocket and Joe, who has his own dubious dealings concerning literary forgeries,(which serve him some amusement while feathering his nest). But while we are chuckling at the witty bantering between them, there are more serious events forming, and complications arise in the form of a Russian beauty, a question of identity and the safety of the Monarchy and the Tsar of Russia.
By the way, fans of Robert Tyler Stevens will be pleased to know that Alexandra Petrovna (from The Summer Day Is Done) appears in this story as well.
CONTENT:
SEX: None, although there's some flirting and innuendos
VIOLENCE: A murder is committed
PROFANITY: Liberal sprinkling of British slang/cusses
MY RATING: G-Mild PG
Sergeant Joe is another fun read with some surprising twists and turns by one of my favorite authors, Robert Tyler Stevens (a.k.a. Mary Jane Staples). In this story you'll find a lot of cheeky banter, a sprinkling of romance and a mystery involving Russian Reds and an attempt on the German Kaiser during the Queen's coronation in London.
So basically, an ex- Dragoon, self named Sergeant Joe, is out walking during a thick "pea souper" when he crashes into an orphan cockney woman (think Eliza Doolittle) on the run from pinching a man's wallet. She stumbles in the collision and sprains her ankle; Joe, being the gent, takes her under his wing while she heals.
Really, they're two peas in a pod, Dolly the pickpocket and Joe, who has his own dubious dealings concerning literary forgeries,(which serve him some amusement while feathering his nest). But while we are chuckling at the witty bantering between them, there are more serious events forming, and complications arise in the form of a Russian beauty, a question of identity and the safety of the Monarchy and the Tsar of Russia.
By the way, fans of Robert Tyler Stevens will be pleased to know that Alexandra Petrovna (from The Summer Day Is Done) appears in this story as well.
CONTENT:
SEX: None, although there's some flirting and innuendos
VIOLENCE: A murder is committed
PROFANITY: Liberal sprinkling of British slang/cusses
MY RATING: G-Mild PG
June 6, 2014
I don't know what it is, but I keep reading books with abrupt endings this week. :/
But I still loved this book. Dolly was hilariously witty, I love how she teased and poked fun at Joe, and how he responded, giving her a taste of her own medicine. The two of them were perfectly matched, Dolly the pickpocket with shady followers and Joe, an expert forger. Dolly, an Eliza Doolittle and Joe the gent, bent on protecting Dolly from her scrapes. Some of the things these two said and did had me nearly dying of laughter.
Though this book does have plot, you really read it for the characters because, it ends so suddenly that I was like, "Wait, what? This can't be the last page!"
Despite it not being hugely plot driven, there were plenty of twists I didn't see coming, even if I probably should have. Sergeant Joe was truly on of the best palate cleansers I've read in a while, if only we had had one more page!
Would I reread this? Yes, a thousand times, yes!
G to Mild PG were have some swearing, (very light) a murder and a few innuendos, which even I saw.
But I still loved this book. Dolly was hilariously witty, I love how she teased and poked fun at Joe, and how he responded, giving her a taste of her own medicine. The two of them were perfectly matched, Dolly the pickpocket with shady followers and Joe, an expert forger. Dolly, an Eliza Doolittle and Joe the gent, bent on protecting Dolly from her scrapes. Some of the things these two said and did had me nearly dying of laughter.
Though this book does have plot, you really read it for the characters because, it ends so suddenly that I was like, "Wait, what? This can't be the last page!"
Despite it not being hugely plot driven, there were plenty of twists I didn't see coming, even if I probably should have. Sergeant Joe was truly on of the best palate cleansers I've read in a while, if only we had had one more page!
Would I reread this? Yes, a thousand times, yes!
G to Mild PG were have some swearing, (very light) a murder and a few innuendos, which even I saw.
March 16, 2022
An okay evening time read, though international intrigue is not Staples' long suit. Of course only some of the characters are international; as usual it all takes place in Walworth, and the sketchy plot is padded out with plenty of banter between the MC and The Girl. There's a cute twist in the tale, but I got very, very tired of Joe threatening to paddle/tan the bottom/backside of every. single. female character in the book. Take out the battles of words and there's not much left. It's okay, but I wouldn't put it higher than that.
Two and a half stars.
Two and a half stars.
March 24, 2024
Listened to it as an audiobook.
Took me a while to get into the story. Simple Cockney story. The banter between Dolly and Sergeant Joe was funny to listen to and it had some nice twists
Easy story, great for a road trip.
Took me a while to get into the story. Simple Cockney story. The banter between Dolly and Sergeant Joe was funny to listen to and it had some nice twists
Easy story, great for a road trip.
August 28, 2020
simplified writing with repetitive metaphors
May 5, 2025
A good book.
A good read just like her other books. Looking forward to reading other books by her. I think a lot of people like the humour as well as a clean romance in the books.
A good read just like her other books. Looking forward to reading other books by her. I think a lot of people like the humour as well as a clean romance in the books.
December 15, 2016
An enjoyable read.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews