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宿敵との一夜
Sleeping with the enemy. Life at her vicious stepfather’s house is more than Eleanor Collingwood can bear. With celebrations underway for her stepsister’s wedding, no one will see her flee. That is until William, Lord Marston throws the door open and stops the party in an instant... He’s the man who betrayed her father to Mary Queen of Scots. He’s the man thought banished to the Americas...he’s the most dashingly gorgeous man she’s ever set eyes on! Lord Marston is forbidden! But he can offer her freedom...at a cost. Is marriage and a baby too high a price to pay?
Paperback Shinsho
First published February 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 19, 2011
This was a slow-starter that threw me a curve ball, as I ended up getting fairly engrossed in the story. I started this as a quick in-between book as I knocked out my review books, and the next thing I knew, I was fully engaged.
Characters:
I really liked Eleanor’s spunk and her unbeatable, strong nature. She’d faced so much in her young life, despite its idyllic start. Her mother married a depraved, abusive man who drove her into an early grave, after her father lost his head when he was implicated in a plot to usurp Queen Mary’s (Mary I, known as Bloody Mary, Elizabeth I’s older sister, a devout Catholic who persecuted and had many Protestant English subjects killed) reign. Now she was facing molestation at the hands of her stepfather if she didn’t flee from his house. She was strong enough to take care of herself and make decisions on her own future, even if it caused her to dress as a man and seek safe passage with her enemy. Even though Eleanor could have come off as bratty, she never did. I could understand her dislike for William, considering that she believed he turned in her father in the plot against Queen Mary to save his skin. I could also understand her reasons for resisting her feelings for William and later marrying another man. She wasn’t one to go off on a tangent with little information. She processed the situation to the best of her understanding, and made rational decisions. I ended up liking Eleanor a lot, and admired her early on in this story.
William started out as a hero who seemed a bit on the harsh, arrogant, bracing side. As the book progresses, I saw that he had a caring, loving heart. He didn’t want to fall for Eleanor, but she found a way into his heart, and he remained steadfast to her. I admit I liked his determined, possessive feelings for her. He took her sudden marriage in stride, and didn’t let that stand in his way for long.
For the brevity of the focus spent on the secondary characters, I did find them interesting, and their motives captured the period well, illustrating the intrigues and the dangers of the English Monarchs' courtlife. I especially liked Godfrey, William's close friend. He was captivating enough to be the hero in his own book!
Plot:
I saw Eleanor’s marriage to another man coming and I was really worried. I really dislike adultery in romance novels. I have to admit that the handling of it wasn’t as obnoxious as I feared. Eleanor’s marriage to Martin was a beard relationship (It turns out Martin is 100% gay and most people know it, and she actually got tricked and pressured into it). I liked that she took it seriously though, and didn’t lightly enter into an adulterous relationship with William. And I was glad that it didn’t stay adulterous for long.
I feel that the adventure/intrigue plot could have been more strongly developed . The culprit behind William’s being transported/shanghaied, who had betrayed Eleanor’s father was revealed in a way that was a bit anticlimactic, and so was the final confrontation scene. And sadly, he was an interesting character. I think it would have made for a very intense climax if executed differently. But the romance aspect of the relationship made up for that short-coming. I found Eleanor and William’s romance captivating, and you could see that their love was strong, not just based on outward attractiveness and lust, but a true respect and kinship. They were both survivors with strong instincts of family and honor, and saw that in each other.
Setting:
This book was a bit odd for an Elizabethan. I thought some of the descriptions was a bit on the generic side, and the dialogue didn’t always ring true for me. Overall, the author captured the period well, but I felt that she could have made the novel more authentic in that regard. Queen Elizabeth shows up in the background, but the book doesn’t show Eleanor interacting with her at all. In one scene, William greets and pays court to the Queen, but that’s as much as we actually see Elizabeth in the story. The focus is more of the other aspects of court life. I find Elizabeth an interesting historical figure. Although I’m not much of an historical fiction reader, I do enjoy reading romance books where she plays a role. I was disappointed that she wasn’t in this book more. It seemed like a wasted opportunity for me.
Overall Thoughts:
I didn’t have high expectations for this one initially, but it turned out to be an entertaining read. I liked the characters, and I enjoyed the Elizabethan setting, although I think it could have been more fleshed out. I think some readers would enjoy this one, especially for the romance aspects. It was pretty good, but not a book that would give four stars to. Thus, the 3.75/5.0 star rating.
Characters:
I really liked Eleanor’s spunk and her unbeatable, strong nature. She’d faced so much in her young life, despite its idyllic start. Her mother married a depraved, abusive man who drove her into an early grave, after her father lost his head when he was implicated in a plot to usurp Queen Mary’s (Mary I, known as Bloody Mary, Elizabeth I’s older sister, a devout Catholic who persecuted and had many Protestant English subjects killed) reign. Now she was facing molestation at the hands of her stepfather if she didn’t flee from his house. She was strong enough to take care of herself and make decisions on her own future, even if it caused her to dress as a man and seek safe passage with her enemy. Even though Eleanor could have come off as bratty, she never did. I could understand her dislike for William, considering that she believed he turned in her father in the plot against Queen Mary to save his skin. I could also understand her reasons for resisting her feelings for William and later marrying another man. She wasn’t one to go off on a tangent with little information. She processed the situation to the best of her understanding, and made rational decisions. I ended up liking Eleanor a lot, and admired her early on in this story.
William started out as a hero who seemed a bit on the harsh, arrogant, bracing side. As the book progresses, I saw that he had a caring, loving heart. He didn’t want to fall for Eleanor, but she found a way into his heart, and he remained steadfast to her. I admit I liked his determined, possessive feelings for her. He took her sudden marriage in stride, and didn’t let that stand in his way for long.
For the brevity of the focus spent on the secondary characters, I did find them interesting, and their motives captured the period well, illustrating the intrigues and the dangers of the English Monarchs' courtlife. I especially liked Godfrey, William's close friend. He was captivating enough to be the hero in his own book!
Plot:
I saw Eleanor’s marriage to another man coming and I was really worried. I really dislike adultery in romance novels. I have to admit that the handling of it wasn’t as obnoxious as I feared. Eleanor’s marriage to Martin was a beard relationship (It turns out Martin is 100% gay and most people know it, and she actually got tricked and pressured into it). I liked that she took it seriously though, and didn’t lightly enter into an adulterous relationship with William. And I was glad that it didn’t stay adulterous for long.
I feel that the adventure/intrigue plot could have been more strongly developed . The culprit behind William’s being transported/shanghaied, who had betrayed Eleanor’s father was revealed in a way that was a bit anticlimactic, and so was the final confrontation scene. And sadly, he was an interesting character. I think it would have made for a very intense climax if executed differently. But the romance aspect of the relationship made up for that short-coming. I found Eleanor and William’s romance captivating, and you could see that their love was strong, not just based on outward attractiveness and lust, but a true respect and kinship. They were both survivors with strong instincts of family and honor, and saw that in each other.
Setting:
This book was a bit odd for an Elizabethan. I thought some of the descriptions was a bit on the generic side, and the dialogue didn’t always ring true for me. Overall, the author captured the period well, but I felt that she could have made the novel more authentic in that regard. Queen Elizabeth shows up in the background, but the book doesn’t show Eleanor interacting with her at all. In one scene, William greets and pays court to the Queen, but that’s as much as we actually see Elizabeth in the story. The focus is more of the other aspects of court life. I find Elizabeth an interesting historical figure. Although I’m not much of an historical fiction reader, I do enjoy reading romance books where she plays a role. I was disappointed that she wasn’t in this book more. It seemed like a wasted opportunity for me.
Overall Thoughts:
I didn’t have high expectations for this one initially, but it turned out to be an entertaining read. I liked the characters, and I enjoyed the Elizabethan setting, although I think it could have been more fleshed out. I think some readers would enjoy this one, especially for the romance aspects. It was pretty good, but not a book that would give four stars to. Thus, the 3.75/5.0 star rating.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2013
This book was pretty ok. Isn't wasn't that bad and the plot had some really good parts. I couldn't really get into it and get a real feel of the characters though. I think this book was good, but more something I would read for completely nothing else to do and no other books around. There were some good parts, but most of the time I was confused by the feelings and actions of the characters. I didn't really connect with any of the characters and wasn't feeling in tune with anything in it. I'm guessing if a few things were tweaked a little I would've enjoyed it more, but then it wouldn't be the book it was. Overall, an ok book but not something I would re-read. Good Luck
January 19, 2011
This is set in an unusual time period for a historical romance--the Tudor, I believe. Perhaps Elizabeth I. (I'm a little vague right now) Anyway it's interesting. I liked it. The road trip early on was a little slow, but things picked up once the heroine arrived at their destination. It was a good read.
August 29, 2013
This book was better at setting up the plot than it was at resolving it. It seemed quite interesting at first, but lost my interest about halfway through and never got it back. The first sex scene (both sex scenes, actually) were rather cold and unemotional, and the climax of the book itself was a bit of a let down. Not badly written, I've certainly read worse, but just not that good, either.
July 28, 2017
Eleanor wants to escape her lecherous stepfather and she needs to escape on her her step sister's wedding. William the man she believes who betrayed her father is the one she escapes with. This was a complex story. It also involves the heroine marrying someone else. But it all ends spectacularly. I think the book is rather brave in revealing Dudley's relationship with the Queen, the openness of queer behavior at the time in the Queen's very own court and the height of political paranoia. The emotions are really raw here, from William's mother to her sister's revenge, the range of emotions her is wide.
December 26, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It would make a geat movie based on all the pilot's twists and turns and intensity of the relationship.between hero and heroine. The only thing I folund a bit annoying was the long dialogue in action scenes.
I stumbled upon another more current Helen Dickson book and liked it so I began reading some of her earlier books. I recommend this book the highest of any of her works.
I stumbled upon another more current Helen Dickson book and liked it so I began reading some of her earlier books. I recommend this book the highest of any of her works.
April 24, 2022
This book was better at setting up the plot than it was at resolving it. It seemed quite interesting at first, but lost my interest about halfway through and never got it back. The first sex scene (both sex scenes, actually) were rather cold and unemotional, and the climax of the book itself was a bit of a let down. Not badly written, I've certainly read worse, but just not that good, either.
June 16, 2025
I don’t do reviews for historical romance books but funny enough the women in XVI century are more sexually liberated than later especially XIX century (but then the society goes in circles). Plot is small, characters aren’t as complex, and as always they don’t have conversations. Still I finished the book so goes two stars.
March 12, 2016
Finished, finally! There were a couple unexpected twists and turns from the usual historical romance plot and some unconventional relationships. I would have given it three stars for those aspects, but I found this story lacking in other ways. I found the strength of passion and emotion tepid between the main characters, and I found the pacing slow. It was also rather depressing. We start the novel by learning that Eleanor's father had been murdered, and then her mother had remarried a cruel man, and then she died soon after the death of Eleanor's father. Then during the course of the rest of the book, there are three more deaths. Death and grief permeate the story, and so the mood of the book remains unsettling. William, the main male protagonist, is also not very forthcoming with some important information that Eleanor should have learned earlier on.
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September 1, 2010Elizabethan
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews