The Golden Thistle

by Janet Louise Roberts

When lovely young Lady Pamela left Regency England for Rome, she was filled with misgivings. For she was to marry a man she had adored as a child, but now barely recognized, Lord Douglas Kinnair, as arrogant and unyielding as he was handsome.

From the moment they met, the sparks flew. Not only were they clearly born enemies, but Lord Douglas was captivated by a sultry Roman beauty, while Pamela's head was turned by a dashing Italian revolutionary. Even when the dictates of society forced the wedding to take place, Pamela swore to be a wife in name only. It took a plunge into danger and dark intrigue to teach this independent young woman that passion was more precious than pride, and that she had to do battle or else lose the man she loved.

Genres: Regency, Historical, Romance

220 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 1, 1986

About the author

See pseudonyms Louisa Bronte, Rebecca Danton & Janette Radcliffe. Some of the listed titles are more straight romance than romantic suspense.

Janet Louise Roberts was born on January 20, 1925, in New Britain Connecticut, the daughter of a missionary in a conservative church. She wrote contemporary, historical, and gothic romances, as well as occult horror romances such as The Devil’s Own, Isle of the Dolphins, Lord Satan, and Her Demon Lover. She used pseudonyms for several of her works.

Roberts died on June 11, 1982 in Dayton, Ohio.

Reviews

[Cat The Curious · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's probably a three star but I liked it. It is unpc and old school. The H is an ass and never clears up things about the suspected OW until near the end of the story. No he didn't cheat but he sure made it look that way. She refused to marry him but was eventually forced into it with no recourse. I like that she fought back and was essentially a bitch to him. It was fun to read how she would stand up for herself most of the time. I liked that she didn't give in to him because he didn't really deserve it and was a bit of a bully. However he did start treating her better and there was an HEA. Too me it was a fun read and not to be taken too seriously.

[ANGELIA · Rating 2 out of 5]

It wasn't bad, and I liked the historic background and the espionage/intrigue touch to it, but at the same time, it did get to be annoying. The h, Pamela wants the H, Douglas to treat her as a woman, not a child, so wouldn't it make sense for her to cut out the "I HATE you!!!" temper tantrums, the kicking and screaming and acting like a brat? As for Douglas, has anyone bothered to inform him that the way to a woman's heart is not by being a bullying brute, hurting her arm and coming close to raping her????

If these two were dogs, they'd be sent to a good obedience school!

I also gOt tired of the double standard they both have when it comes to the OM and OW. Neither one was unfaithful, yet they're in no hurry to admit that, too busy accusing the other. Pamela expects Douglas to trust her when it comes to Carlo, yet she doesn't trust him where Beata's concerned. And Douglas is furious when he suspects Pamela of cheating yet doesn't seem to feel she has the right to the same suspicions about him and Beata.

Both Carlo and Beata are involved in spying, and one of them is a traitor.

I could have enjoyed this story more if the personalities of the H and h were more appealing.