Wayward Angel

Rogues and Desperadoes #4

by Patricia Rice

Originally published by Penguin/Topaz from bestselling author of the Magic series:

Abused and thrown from her wealthy home as a child, taken in and sheltered by peace-loving Quakers, Lady Alexandra Theodora Beaumont tries to lead the religious, obedient life of her adopted parents. But despite all her efforts, Pace Nicholls brings out the willful child she’d once been.
Raised by a ruthless family, Pace must conceal his weakness for defending the less fortunate. But little Dora acts as his conscience, bringing out his worst flaws. To survive and achieve his ambitions, he must avoid her at all cost.
He didn’t realize that the noble Dora could once again become the beautiful Lady Alexandra and be swept forever out of his reach…unless he offers her his hardened heart.

Genres: Historical Romance, Civil War, Romance, Historical

439 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 1997

About the author

With several million books in print and New York Times and USA Today's bestseller lists under her belt, former CPA Patricia Rice writes emotionally-charged contemporary and historical romances which have won numerous awards, including the RT Book Reviews Reviewers Choice and Career Achievement Awards.

Her books have also been honored as Romance Writers of America RITA® finalists in the historical, regency and contemporary categories.

A firm believer in happily-ever-after for good reason, Patricia Rice is married to her high school sweetheart and has two children. A native of Kentucky and New York, a past resident of North Carolina and Missouri, she currently resides in Southern California, and now does accounting only for herself.

She also writes under the pen name Jamie Quaid

Reviews

[Shwanda Cross · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book started with the attack of a teenage girl. Does it make it okay that the act happened pre civil war to a black slave girl by several white men. I think not. While I understand wanting to find a romance during this time period to use this account as a matter of character building was too much for me. I didn't make it beyond the first couple of chapters. In my opinion using the account of the abuse of a young girl, only desensitizes the masses to the fact that these very acts have implications for girls of color to this day and I want no part of that. Unfortunately, it also means I will not be reading anything else by this author.

[Jeanne (love2cook) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This historical romance story starts in 1851 and continues through the end of the Civil War. It starts in England with an abusive family from which the mother and young daughter Alexandra Theodora Beaumont make their way on board a ship that's sailing to America. The husband of the woman races to the ship and grabs the woman, she is thrown overboard and so is the daughter. The body of the woman is recovered but the daughter is rescued by others and brought back on board the ship as it sails away. The Quaker family Dora is with adopts her and she takes their name and their ways. By chance, she meets Pace Nicholls, and she will grow into womanhood and secretly want his love. They will go through hell and back again in these trying times in Kentucky. Hopefully, they can make it out to the other side and find true happiness, after the war is done and people become civilized once more.

[Sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set before and just after the American Civil War in Kentucky, this book tells the story of the daughter of an abusive Earl's life after she & her mother fled her father. Her mother was killed and she was adopted by a Quaker couple that saved her life. Afterwards, the English attachments factor very little into the story. The story between Dora and Pace is at first an arms-length relationship and then a struggling one where both are coping with aftermath of the war and a local villain. This story touches on the reality of slavery and some of the attitudes of the day. It wasn't the "feel good" story that I was looking for, but a good story nonetheless.

[S. Nomakeo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this period piece. Dora finds herself traveling to America after being abandoned by her murderous father and adopted by a Quaker family. At a young age she falls in love with a boy in the manor in which she serves. Separated by the Civil War Pace Nichols joins the Union while his brother Charles fights for the south. Dora faces the hard world of the south and is sympathetic to the cause of the slaves of the manor. When Pace returns he is changed and their story begins. The narration was good.

[Windy Blevins-tolliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not a fan of this book… but I don’t like to give bad reviews … some one will find this to be their cup o’ tea, just not me

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a hard book for me to read because its setting and circumstances were so relentlessly grim. It's a good read though. The hero and heroine were both abused children living in pre Civil War Kentucky. The heroine was brought from England after watching her mother's death. There's abolitionist action-- it's just grim. I liked it overall, but dang, it was harsh. The hero winds up fighting for the Union, his brother for the Confederates, the heroine moves in with his family because her adopted family all die... It's historically accurate, but the history itself was so darn grim. I complain sometimes about stories where everyone is so nice, nothing happens... I think the difference is that the hero's issues make him so unpleasant. I understand him, but he's hard to warm up to.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, however i found it hard to like Pace the hero of this story a first for me reading a rice book.

[Victoria]

Can't read it. Rape, slave, raping slaves, abuse. Nope.