Romantic Rebel

by Joan Smith

Left penniless and betrothed against her will, Emma Nesbitt vented her pique in a blast of purple prose that became the toast of emancipated women everywhere. And though she secretly yearned to pen Gothic romance, it seemed money and glory lay in spirited attacks on male arrogance!

Literary life in Bath was a strange affair indeed... save for Lost Paton, the evercharming critic for the prestigious Quarterly Review. His smile could lure birds from a tree, and Emma found herself quite smitten. That is, until she discovered the cad assumed her liberal ideas extended to sexual matters!

High time Lord Paton became acquainted with the truth about the celebrated lady author, who, unbeknownst to her audience, pined for a Prince Charming of her own...

Genres: Regency Romance, Romance, Regency, Historical Romance

204 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 25, 1990

About the author

Joan Smith is a graduate of Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, and the Ontario College of Education. She has taught French and English in high school and English in college. When she began writing, her interest in Jane Austen and Lord Byron led to her first choice of genre, the Regency, which she especially liked for its wit and humor.
Her favorite travel destination is England, where she researches her books. Her hobbies are gardening, painting, sculpture and reading. She is married and has three children. A prolific writer, she is currently working on Regencies and various mysteries at her home in Georgetown, Ontario.
She is also known as Jennie Gallant

Reviews

[Mela · Rating 4 out of 5]

We are all victims of habit and that tired old tyrant, Tradition.

Joan Smith had a way of picking a part of the Regency world and criticizing it in her novels. This criticism didn't make the book a satire or a serious study, per se. More like a background thread. And I like a such recipe for a novel.

The second strong part of her romances were witty banters. Even if they were only a few (like in this one) they still made me smile.

Like Ginny Jaques wrote, it was a fun, relaxing read. Although, I think the characters had greater potential. I wonder what it would have been like if it was longer and slower.

When reading (gulping) the story I had a wonderful time (3 stars). After finishing it and thinking about it, it goes higher in my rating. I appreciate how flawed the characters were, especially Emma and Paton. Both were spoilt products of their time and class. Both thought about themself as better persons (with higher morales) than they were in reality. Evie Dunmore would have made probably a much more nuanced (and longer) story of Emma and Paton. Still, I appreciated what Joan Smith had to tell in this one. So, I am giving it one star more than it deserved while reading.

[Mona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joan Smith is my go-to author. Her books never cease to entertain me, and Romantic Rebel is no exception.

I need to read less of her books though because I honestly dread the day when I run out of her regencies.

[Ginny Jaques · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun, relaxing read.

Predictably pleasant characters who are complicated enough to make the relationships believable, clever enough to engage in fun dialogue, embroiled in predictable, but interesting plot complications. This is a great afternoon read for people who like regency romances.

Geoffrey turned out to be my favorite character in the end. Go figure.

Well written. More and more I like novels narrated in first person. If I were going to write another one, I'd try that voice.

Three stars instead of higher because the genre is so light. This one wasn't a life-changer, but I don't want my life changed every day.

[Frances · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t like first person novels, it’s a personal preference. Second, I did not like either the hero or the heroine. The relationship was never developed and was very unbelievable. Finally, I was bored.

[Mandi Ellsworth]

This book is fluff of the nicest kind. A lovely way to spend a couple of hours, lost in a romance that moves swiftly without too much drama. Great for anyone in need of a regency fix.

[Arlene Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of my very favorite Regency authors. I miss those little Regency series too.

[suzi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Paton was still an ass in the end but at least he apologized. I kinda resent what Emma said at the end about Boadicea though.