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The Cygnet
Brigand Blood?
Vera, she had called herself, claiming to own no other name. But the sylvan-bred girl before him had an ethereal beauty that whispered of something noble in her past. Something that could save Giles Rathborne from ruin... or send him to the Tower.
Dark-visaged and demanding, Giles, Lord of Rathborne, had need of her help. Mayhap that was so. Vera knew only that he already had her heart. For the lord of the manor had awakened in her a scintillating passion rivaling any intrigue to be found at Elizabeth's glittering court!
Vera, she had called herself, claiming to own no other name. But the sylvan-bred girl before him had an ethereal beauty that whispered of something noble in her past. Something that could save Giles Rathborne from ruin... or send him to the Tower.
Dark-visaged and demanding, Giles, Lord of Rathborne, had need of her help. Mayhap that was so. Vera knew only that he already had her heart. For the lord of the manor had awakened in her a scintillating passion rivaling any intrigue to be found at Elizabeth's glittering court!
300 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1993
33 people want to read
About the author
Marianne Willman
39 books11 followersAka Sabina Clark and Marianne Clark.
Marianne Willman, a former Critical Care Head Nurse, lives in the Great Lakes area with her husband Ky.
She is the founder and First President of the Greater Detroit Chapter of RWA, has served on the Board of Directors of Romance Writers of America, and is a member of Novelists, Inc. and Western Writers of America.
She is the author of sixteen romances, including Pieces of Sky, which has been named one of the ten all-time best western romances by Romantic Times. Pieces of Sky and Yesterday's Shadows both won the prestigious Reviewer's Choice Award from Romantic Times. Marianne is a three-time nominee for the RWA Golden Medallion Award.
Marianne Willman, a former Critical Care Head Nurse, lives in the Great Lakes area with her husband Ky.
She is the founder and First President of the Greater Detroit Chapter of RWA, has served on the Board of Directors of Romance Writers of America, and is a member of Novelists, Inc. and Western Writers of America.
She is the author of sixteen romances, including Pieces of Sky, which has been named one of the ten all-time best western romances by Romantic Times. Pieces of Sky and Yesterday's Shadows both won the prestigious Reviewer's Choice Award from Romantic Times. Marianne is a three-time nominee for the RWA Golden Medallion Award.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 5, 2026
Read: 5/3/26
Setting: Elizabethan
Trope: class difference, fairytale/fairytale lady, cross dressing female
3.5 stars
A pretty good book!
Plot: Adventurer Giles is forced to return to his estates by the Queen. He's broke and needs money for his next venture. Unfortunately, his late brother's steward has ruined the land and driven off his tenants. The last thing he needs is to be tied to his land. Giles needs money now! Luckily, fate intervenes when a girl tries to rob him. Once cleaned up, she bares a striking resemblance to Lady Vera, an heiress who's been missing for years. If Giles can convince the Queen to make him Vera's guardian, he will have access to her fortune. This would save Rathbourne and enable him to return to his adventures with Francis Drake.
Vera has grown up in the woods with her foster father and his band of outlaws. She makes the mistake of attacking the Lord of Rathbourne and pays the price. Vera has to agree to Giles's charade or he'll prosecute her friends. Becoming a lady is harder than she realized. Giles angers and intrigues her at the same time. Soon a friendship develops between the pair. Unfortunately, their time is cut short with a summons from Queen Elizabeth. Innocent Vera is not cut out for the intrigues at Court and soon learns how treacherous it can be.
Can Vera pull off this farce or will the Queen discover the truth? Will Giles recognize the treasure he has in Vera before it's too late or will another steal her away?
Liked:
1. Vera was a wonderful h! She had a strange mix of innocence and wildness. She's not a girly girl and that led to some humorous moments.
2. Giles was the perfect H! Charming, funny, and powerful without being dominating .
3. I like how the romance develops. They deserved their HEA.
4. This was well written. The story was engaging from start to finish.
5. Cygnet means a young swan. (I had to look it up 😳). A very appropriate title!
Dislike:
1. Giles has an interesting background story with his family, but the author never elaborates on it. What a waste! It would've added depth to his character.
2. Nobody cares about Vera's past! She's identical to a painting of the real Vera's mother. Oh and her name is VERA! Concidence? Giles never bothers to learn her real identity. Vera, herself, doesn't question anything about her past. It's weird and irrational!
3. There's too much happening near the end of the story. It got a little ridiculous and dramatic for no reason.
4. This was a light read, which is fine, but I wish the author went a little farther with the plot and characters
Conclusion: I really liked this story! It was a fun, light hr
Sidenote: i can't decide if I like this book cover or not 🤔
Setting: Elizabethan
Trope: class difference, fairytale/fairytale lady, cross dressing female
3.5 stars
A pretty good book!
Plot: Adventurer Giles is forced to return to his estates by the Queen. He's broke and needs money for his next venture. Unfortunately, his late brother's steward has ruined the land and driven off his tenants. The last thing he needs is to be tied to his land. Giles needs money now! Luckily, fate intervenes when a girl tries to rob him. Once cleaned up, she bares a striking resemblance to Lady Vera, an heiress who's been missing for years. If Giles can convince the Queen to make him Vera's guardian, he will have access to her fortune. This would save Rathbourne and enable him to return to his adventures with Francis Drake.
Vera has grown up in the woods with her foster father and his band of outlaws. She makes the mistake of attacking the Lord of Rathbourne and pays the price. Vera has to agree to Giles's charade or he'll prosecute her friends. Becoming a lady is harder than she realized. Giles angers and intrigues her at the same time. Soon a friendship develops between the pair. Unfortunately, their time is cut short with a summons from Queen Elizabeth. Innocent Vera is not cut out for the intrigues at Court and soon learns how treacherous it can be.
Can Vera pull off this farce or will the Queen discover the truth? Will Giles recognize the treasure he has in Vera before it's too late or will another steal her away?
Liked:
1. Vera was a wonderful h! She had a strange mix of innocence and wildness. She's not a girly girl and that led to some humorous moments.
2. Giles was the perfect H! Charming, funny, and powerful without being dominating .
3. I like how the romance develops. They deserved their HEA.
4. This was well written. The story was engaging from start to finish.
5. Cygnet means a young swan. (I had to look it up 😳). A very appropriate title!
Dislike:
1. Giles has an interesting background story with his family, but the author never elaborates on it. What a waste! It would've added depth to his character.
2. Nobody cares about Vera's past! She's identical to a painting of the real Vera's mother. Oh and her name is VERA! Concidence? Giles never bothers to learn her real identity. Vera, herself, doesn't question anything about her past. It's weird and irrational!
3. There's too much happening near the end of the story. It got a little ridiculous and dramatic for no reason.
4. This was a light read, which is fine, but I wish the author went a little farther with the plot and characters
Conclusion: I really liked this story! It was a fun, light hr
Sidenote: i can't decide if I like this book cover or not 🤔
January 7, 2015
3.5 stars
Vera, an orphan, was raised in the woods with a ragtag group of men during the 1500's. She was taught how to survive like the others. Then Tal, her adopted father and someone concerned about her well-being, sent her to a convent to be taught how to behave like a woman. She was seventeen but it was too little, too late. She escaped and returned 'home'.
Before long, she devised a plan to bring herself back into the good graces with Tal. Instead, she was caught by Sir Giles, Lord of Rathborne. Her life would never be the same.
At heart, Giles belonged to the sea and he wanted to return there. Instead, the title and lands he had inherited had become a weight around his neck. Vera informed him that his steward had ruined his tenants' lives through greed. Giles had a long road to bring everything back into repair.
THE CYGNET referred to a young swan or swanling. Giles needed money and came up with a plan. It involved Vera. He believed she could be a lookalike for one of his rich but lost relations; she just needed to be taught some manners and acquire some polish. If he could pull this off, he could earn some much-needed funds. Vera was forced to help him or he said he would imprison her family.
This story was not simply a romance. The author injected actual history within the plot. Queen Elizabeth, Sir Francis Drake and the Earl of Leicester were some of the characters that were mentioned. Times were tough for everyone. You were never guaranteed to be in favor with the queen.
In some ways the story reminded me of the movie My Fair Lady. Giles was crotchety most of the time and it bothered him. Before, he had never had a problem enticing a woman to become biddable. Vera thought he was poking fun of her and did her best to make his life miserable. There were some funny moments including Giles attempting to teach Vera to walk properly or glide "like a swan". But the part I most enjoyed was when the two were verbally sparring with each other.
I would have given this story five stars except the last quarter of the book felt muddled and somewhat rushed. I liked THE CYGNET; I just wish the author kept up the brisk pace until the end. Oh, and it would have been nice to have an epilogue.
Vera, an orphan, was raised in the woods with a ragtag group of men during the 1500's. She was taught how to survive like the others. Then Tal, her adopted father and someone concerned about her well-being, sent her to a convent to be taught how to behave like a woman. She was seventeen but it was too little, too late. She escaped and returned 'home'.
Before long, she devised a plan to bring herself back into the good graces with Tal. Instead, she was caught by Sir Giles, Lord of Rathborne. Her life would never be the same.
At heart, Giles belonged to the sea and he wanted to return there. Instead, the title and lands he had inherited had become a weight around his neck. Vera informed him that his steward had ruined his tenants' lives through greed. Giles had a long road to bring everything back into repair.
THE CYGNET referred to a young swan or swanling. Giles needed money and came up with a plan. It involved Vera. He believed she could be a lookalike for one of his rich but lost relations; she just needed to be taught some manners and acquire some polish. If he could pull this off, he could earn some much-needed funds. Vera was forced to help him or he said he would imprison her family.
This story was not simply a romance. The author injected actual history within the plot. Queen Elizabeth, Sir Francis Drake and the Earl of Leicester were some of the characters that were mentioned. Times were tough for everyone. You were never guaranteed to be in favor with the queen.
In some ways the story reminded me of the movie My Fair Lady. Giles was crotchety most of the time and it bothered him. Before, he had never had a problem enticing a woman to become biddable. Vera thought he was poking fun of her and did her best to make his life miserable. There were some funny moments including Giles attempting to teach Vera to walk properly or glide "like a swan". But the part I most enjoyed was when the two were verbally sparring with each other.
I would have given this story five stars except the last quarter of the book felt muddled and somewhat rushed. I liked THE CYGNET; I just wish the author kept up the brisk pace until the end. Oh, and it would have been nice to have an epilogue.
July 9, 2018
This was a fantastic book and it was very well written.
March 16, 2010
i never read harlequin novels.. but this was really good( never judge a book by it's cover. seriously) worth the read!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews