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Beloved Enemy
England's disastrous Civil War has robbed Lady Virginia Courtney of everything she holds dear --- everything but her home, a beautiful estate perched on the cliffs of the Isle of Wight. Left alone to defend it, she is powerless when the enemy forces arrive --- but even more defenseless when she meets their leader, a fiercely commanding man whose eyes seem to see through to her very soul.
Colonel Alexander Marshall is no less affected by his prisoner of war, the bewitching, capable woman who has seen so much loss in her young life. Though he would be justified to send her to the mainland --- and to her certain death as a traitor --- his hand is stayed by compassion ... and undeniable desire. But even the most passionate love affair may not be enough to hold two sworn enemies together in the midst of war ...
Colonel Alexander Marshall is no less affected by his prisoner of war, the bewitching, capable woman who has seen so much loss in her young life. Though he would be justified to send her to the mainland --- and to her certain death as a traitor --- his hand is stayed by compassion ... and undeniable desire. But even the most passionate love affair may not be enough to hold two sworn enemies together in the midst of war ...
503 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1987
77 people are currently reading
403 people want to read
About the author
Jane Feather
170 books629 followersJane Feather (born Jane Robotham) is a popular British–American writer of historical romance novels. In 1984 she wrote five contemporary romances under the pseudonym Claudia Bishop. She is a New York Times-bestselling, award–winning writer, and has more than ten million romance novels in print.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
September 19, 2018
To be frank, Beloved Enemy started out quite promising, but about 20 pages in we get the depressing insta-luv trope, and it just went downhill from there. This book blew like a Category 4 Hurricane. I’ve read Jane Feather books before; they’re the kind you love or hate and usually, I’ve enjoyed them. This was a well-written, but very uninteresting novel that went on for an excruciating 500 pages, when it easily could have been cut down to 350. The one positive about this one is that it was originally published as a Zebra Heartfire in 1987 and compared to other Zebras, the writing is like Tolstoy.
Such a shame as I love English Civil War and Restoration Era romances filled with priggish Roundheads & debauched Cavaliers. Ginny Courtney is a war widow, her brother presumed dead, and her family fiercely loyal to the crown, while Alex Marshall is a Colonel in Cromwell’s Army taking command of her family home as his army looks for fugitives.
The hero is…not charismatic. All he does is shout and yell at the heroine. He also has one of the worst pet names I’ve heard a hero give his heroine. Not something cute like “chickadee” or even “pigeon,” but he calls her his beloved “chicken.” If Ginny ever reciprocated in kind by called him her “cock” Feather never let us readers know, more’s the pity.
They fall for each other very quickly and Ginny decides even though he’s her enemy and she’s his “prisoner” she chooses to be his personal camp follower. I don’t know how authentic it was for a supposed Puritan Colonel to have his high-connected Loyalist lover follow him from camp to camp, but is historical accuracy ever important in these books? She even gets to talk to the king and acts as a spy, passing on information. The book takes about three hundred pages for any action to start (FINALLY), from accusations of witchcraft, deaths, return from the dead, more death…but as usual, when it takes that long for a story to get going, it’s too late for me to care.
All through the dull parts, I kept thinking to myself, why am I reading this boring book? Sure it ticked boxes of categories I love, like an illicit romance among enemies, a redhead stuffed-shirt military hero, and pretty Zebra cover by Ray Kursar, but it was so tedious. Nevertheless, I did my duty and finished the book. Was not impressed.
1 ½ stars rounded up very charitably to 2 stars because like I said, boring it may have been, for what it was, it was written by someone with actual talent. I doubt I would have been so generous if I had read the reissue or Kindle version, though, so take my review with a grain of salt.
Such a shame as I love English Civil War and Restoration Era romances filled with priggish Roundheads & debauched Cavaliers. Ginny Courtney is a war widow, her brother presumed dead, and her family fiercely loyal to the crown, while Alex Marshall is a Colonel in Cromwell’s Army taking command of her family home as his army looks for fugitives.
The hero is…not charismatic. All he does is shout and yell at the heroine. He also has one of the worst pet names I’ve heard a hero give his heroine. Not something cute like “chickadee” or even “pigeon,” but he calls her his beloved “chicken.” If Ginny ever reciprocated in kind by called him her “cock” Feather never let us readers know, more’s the pity.
They fall for each other very quickly and Ginny decides even though he’s her enemy and she’s his “prisoner” she chooses to be his personal camp follower. I don’t know how authentic it was for a supposed Puritan Colonel to have his high-connected Loyalist lover follow him from camp to camp, but is historical accuracy ever important in these books? She even gets to talk to the king and acts as a spy, passing on information. The book takes about three hundred pages for any action to start (FINALLY), from accusations of witchcraft, deaths, return from the dead, more death…but as usual, when it takes that long for a story to get going, it’s too late for me to care.
All through the dull parts, I kept thinking to myself, why am I reading this boring book? Sure it ticked boxes of categories I love, like an illicit romance among enemies, a redhead stuffed-shirt military hero, and pretty Zebra cover by Ray Kursar, but it was so tedious. Nevertheless, I did my duty and finished the book. Was not impressed.
1 ½ stars rounded up very charitably to 2 stars because like I said, boring it may have been, for what it was, it was written by someone with actual talent. I doubt I would have been so generous if I had read the reissue or Kindle version, though, so take my review with a grain of salt.
November 18, 2011
I bumped this by a star because it's set in a period that fascinates me, and as I've come to expect from the few books I've read by Feather, this one is well-researched and rich with historical detail. She pairs up a young widow with strong royalist ties and loved ones fighting for the cause, against an officer from Cromwell's army, come to sequester her family home for Parliament. They fall in love, but they remain set against each other politically, and she does everything she can for the royalist cause along the way.
My only issue with this is there were loads of times when I just didn't get the heroine. The hero did a lot of things that would infuriate a normal woman, and she doesn't even blink. This complete stranger comes and commandeers her father's home for the enemy. He makes her his prisoner. Two seconds after this he kisses her (they JUST MET) and she freaks out and runs away. Later, when she returns home, he's had people out looking for her. When he finds her home and safe, he tells her she didn't really mind the kiss, and she melts like butter and they make love. The next morning, he's all cold business again and mentions that, oh, by the way, she's now going to be restricted to the house because she went down to the beach against his permission. Excuse me? He gets his jollies on her and then punishes her because when he took advantage of his power over her, she ran away? Again, she barely blinks. Oh, and when he wants to question her and get information out of her, what he does is make her sit in the window seat for a day without food or water. He does let her get up to pee, and he lets her sleep, though not comfortably. It only takes a few hours for her to give up information that she swore just a few hours earlier she'd never give. Where's her fight? Why doesn't she see to it that he's as miserable as she is? So many ways she could do it, but this otherwise apparently strong, committed woman just caves in. Then he carries her up and leaves her to bathe and sleep off her self-hatred, and the next morning she's all cheerful and best buddies with him? I just don't get the woman.
That said, I did like her. And him, even if he was an overbearing, domineering jerk. So I rooted for them and liked the story a lot.
My only issue with this is there were loads of times when I just didn't get the heroine. The hero did a lot of things that would infuriate a normal woman, and she doesn't even blink. This complete stranger comes and commandeers her father's home for the enemy. He makes her his prisoner. Two seconds after this he kisses her (they JUST MET) and she freaks out and runs away. Later, when she returns home, he's had people out looking for her. When he finds her home and safe, he tells her she didn't really mind the kiss, and she melts like butter and they make love. The next morning, he's all cold business again and mentions that, oh, by the way, she's now going to be restricted to the house because she went down to the beach against his permission. Excuse me? He gets his jollies on her and then punishes her because when he took advantage of his power over her, she ran away? Again, she barely blinks. Oh, and when he wants to question her and get information out of her, what he does is make her sit in the window seat for a day without food or water. He does let her get up to pee, and he lets her sleep, though not comfortably. It only takes a few hours for her to give up information that she swore just a few hours earlier she'd never give. Where's her fight? Why doesn't she see to it that he's as miserable as she is? So many ways she could do it, but this otherwise apparently strong, committed woman just caves in. Then he carries her up and leaves her to bathe and sleep off her self-hatred, and the next morning she's all cheerful and best buddies with him? I just don't get the woman.
That said, I did like her. And him, even if he was an overbearing, domineering jerk. So I rooted for them and liked the story a lot.
August 25, 2015
Most disapointing Jane Feather book I have read. Barely any plot line and it changes multiple times in the book. The male character professes love within the first 10 chapters and from there it goes round and round with nothing happening. Even the premise of the book was flawed. Felt like a waste of my time
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 10, 2010
Such a satisfying read! I stayed up until 4:30 in the morning to finish it. Great romance, but also a really wonderful look at England during their Civil War, the impact it had on both sides, the destruction wrought upon the country. Ginny is one of the most compelling characters I've read in a romance novel in a long time, and Alex is wonderful, too.
November 27, 2016
A tale of the cavaliers and roundheads.
This a a really good story, with interesting characters, set in a period not often used in historical romances. A lot of accurate historical detail. I enjoyed it very much.
This a a really good story, with interesting characters, set in a period not often used in historical romances. A lot of accurate historical detail. I enjoyed it very much.
February 18, 2017
Beloved Enemy
Intriguing! I enjoyed reading this novel. The heroine had numerous facets. One was betrayal. One was compassion. Others included loyalty, commitment,love,and passion.
Intriguing! I enjoyed reading this novel. The heroine had numerous facets. One was betrayal. One was compassion. Others included loyalty, commitment,love,and passion.
March 26, 2023
incredible and satisfying
Very well written. There were lots of twists and turns. I loved Ginny and Alex! Ginny and Alex fought to be honorable but couldn’t not resist each other. I loved how Alex followed her and didn’t give up for anything. The history entwined into this story was very detailed !
Read this one!!! One of my all time favorites!! Reflecting the day after equals goosebumps!!
Very well written. There were lots of twists and turns. I loved Ginny and Alex! Ginny and Alex fought to be honorable but couldn’t not resist each other. I loved how Alex followed her and didn’t give up for anything. The history entwined into this story was very detailed !
Read this one!!! One of my all time favorites!! Reflecting the day after equals goosebumps!!
August 24, 2021
Truly Romantic!
Could not put this book down. Historical and romantic, it brought the turbulent times of 1600’s in both England and America. Reminded me a bit of Outlander series as both Ginny and Claire were strong and forceful women.
Could not put this book down. Historical and romantic, it brought the turbulent times of 1600’s in both England and America. Reminded me a bit of Outlander series as both Ginny and Claire were strong and forceful women.
December 5, 2023
I finished Beloved Enemy through sheer force of will. It's well-researched and tolerably well-written, but in the end, I don't think it lived up to the first chapters' promise. I borrowed the e-book because I enjoyed the back-and-forth between Alex Marshall and Virginia "Ginny" Courtney (née Redfern). I expected a slow(er) burn since they're on opposite sides of a civil war and Alex leads the army that lay waste to her life, but instead, Jane Feather opts for a passion so immediate that it can overcome any obstacle. I don't care for insta!love as a rule and I found it particularly off-putting in context. I know that people can overlook any number of sins for love or lust, but at a certain point, I came to see it as a lazy narrative device. Moreover, I cared less about their mutual desire for one another than I did the moral questions they tried (and failed) to avoid. Even if their love had a foundation in shared experience over time, I'd have liked to see Ginny wrestle with the ethics of their relationship because she lost far more than Alex in the war and she had no choice in the matter.
There is a deeply conservative strain in Beloved Enemy. It tackled (trigger warnings apply, in addition to spoilers) . When the novel came out in 1987, the public would have had different expectations based on the political landscape and genre norms and there's an obvious investment in historical accuracy. Nonetheless, it turned my stomach when Alex It didn't surprise me since I cut my teeth on 80s romance as a kid, and I used to hate the heroes, but I'd had high hopes. I came to realize that the author was more interested in Alex and Ginny's domestic felicity than in any of the conflicts they faced, and the plot served mostly as a chance for them to "earn" their happily ever after. I wouldn't necessarily have minded, except that their quarrel opened a can of worms that held more interest for--and more weight with--me than anything that happened between them.
His ruthlessness repulsed me as much as it did Ginny and while the novel lets her make a scene when Alex refuses to , or restrain his soldiers' excesses, it treated their disparate values as little more than a source of drama. I side-eyed when Ginny capitulated to Alex after a day without food or sleep, but for an untried nineteen-year-old, it made some sense. I simply felt that she had every incentive to resist, so she wouldn't have to rely on Alex Marshall's honour to spare her cousin. I excused it under the circumstances, but I couldn't respect her when she so easily put principle aside for sex. I see no virtue in commitment to the monarchy; quite the opposite, in fact! I still don't think torture is acceptable for its own sake (or to improve morale) and I don't find it romantic that she "agrees to disagree." If experience prompted one or both characters to rethink certain views, I might feel differently, but as it is, I watched the heroine compromise deeply held moral values again and again.
Alex is described as principled, if pragmatic and I initially liked his relationship with Ginny. I could've done with less yelling, but for the most part, Ginny holds her own. The rape apologism tarnished my opinion of him, and it was all downhill from there. They have a deeply unequal relationship because he is her captor (and a man ten years her senior, with an army at his disposal and a vast political network to boot). Both Alex and Ginny recognize the power dynamic, but he still abuses it. He's permitted to do so because in addition to patriarchy, he claims to act in her interests and out of love. The text itself repeatedly puts Ginny in her place. She's subject to mob violence, . Alex tends to frame these experiences as the natural consequence of her behaviour, to the point that Ginny . I recognize her decision as strategic, but it bothered me deeply that Alex made her feel responsible for their punishment. He even starts to scold her after Like...at a certain point, it starts to look like a(nother) cycle of abuse.
Beloved Enemy uses a contrived plot twist to put distance between them and perhaps more importantly, the war. It gave both characters greater licence to ignore politics in favour of love and the story ends with an abrupt epilogue that does little to tie up loose ends, or even acknowledge the supporting cast. With the status quo restored and conflicts set aside, the characters simply set up house. Despite the quality of Jane Feather's writing and historical research, it just did not work for me. If you're in the mood for an epic romance, and you can overlook the BS, then it might be worth a shot, but I personally can't recommend Beloved Enemy.
There is a deeply conservative strain in Beloved Enemy. It tackled (trigger warnings apply, in addition to spoilers) . When the novel came out in 1987, the public would have had different expectations based on the political landscape and genre norms and there's an obvious investment in historical accuracy. Nonetheless, it turned my stomach when Alex It didn't surprise me since I cut my teeth on 80s romance as a kid, and I used to hate the heroes, but I'd had high hopes. I came to realize that the author was more interested in Alex and Ginny's domestic felicity than in any of the conflicts they faced, and the plot served mostly as a chance for them to "earn" their happily ever after. I wouldn't necessarily have minded, except that their quarrel opened a can of worms that held more interest for--and more weight with--me than anything that happened between them.
His ruthlessness repulsed me as much as it did Ginny and while the novel lets her make a scene when Alex refuses to , or restrain his soldiers' excesses, it treated their disparate values as little more than a source of drama. I side-eyed when Ginny capitulated to Alex after a day without food or sleep, but for an untried nineteen-year-old, it made some sense. I simply felt that she had every incentive to resist, so she wouldn't have to rely on Alex Marshall's honour to spare her cousin. I excused it under the circumstances, but I couldn't respect her when she so easily put principle aside for sex. I see no virtue in commitment to the monarchy; quite the opposite, in fact! I still don't think torture is acceptable for its own sake (or to improve morale) and I don't find it romantic that she "agrees to disagree." If experience prompted one or both characters to rethink certain views, I might feel differently, but as it is, I watched the heroine compromise deeply held moral values again and again.
Alex is described as principled, if pragmatic and I initially liked his relationship with Ginny. I could've done with less yelling, but for the most part, Ginny holds her own. The rape apologism tarnished my opinion of him, and it was all downhill from there. They have a deeply unequal relationship because he is her captor (and a man ten years her senior, with an army at his disposal and a vast political network to boot). Both Alex and Ginny recognize the power dynamic, but he still abuses it. He's permitted to do so because in addition to patriarchy, he claims to act in her interests and out of love. The text itself repeatedly puts Ginny in her place. She's subject to mob violence, . Alex tends to frame these experiences as the natural consequence of her behaviour, to the point that Ginny . I recognize her decision as strategic, but it bothered me deeply that Alex made her feel responsible for their punishment. He even starts to scold her after Like...at a certain point, it starts to look like a(nother) cycle of abuse.
Beloved Enemy uses a contrived plot twist to put distance between them and perhaps more importantly, the war. It gave both characters greater licence to ignore politics in favour of love and the story ends with an abrupt epilogue that does little to tie up loose ends, or even acknowledge the supporting cast. With the status quo restored and conflicts set aside, the characters simply set up house. Despite the quality of Jane Feather's writing and historical research, it just did not work for me. If you're in the mood for an epic romance, and you can overlook the BS, then it might be worth a shot, but I personally can't recommend Beloved Enemy.
March 29, 2025
Well, I could not read the entire book so I flipped through pages and read paragraphs here and there.
I didn't really care about the war and I found the writing stilted. I generally enjoy Jane Feather but this one just fizzled for me.
I didn't really care about the war and I found the writing stilted. I generally enjoy Jane Feather but this one just fizzled for me.
January 30, 2020
Roundheads and Cavaliers
Interesting story. Well written. This time period not often used. But the cover is completely wrong dress style. Stuff like that bugs me.
Interesting story. Well written. This time period not often used. But the cover is completely wrong dress style. Stuff like that bugs me.
Want to read
March 18, 2025Summer pile
October 19, 2014
I gather this was an older book by Feather. At first I struggled with this, as the instant "love and lust" between the two protagonists is far from credible and slightly disturbing. The enemy officer arrives, and within hours, has seduced the staunch Royalist. This irritated me quite a bit. Gradually, as their relationship continued, this was less unsettling, but the initial premise did not sit well. Eventually I enjoyed this book and found it an interesting setting for which I have not yet read very many stories. At some point I began wondering how this would go over if the officer were, say, a German officer in WWII and the heroine a French resistant... I think I would not appreciate it very much. Fortunately Cromwell is quite remote.
June 13, 2013
Although I thought I'd never finish this book, I did. There were a few parts I was going to give up, but I wanted to hang on to the end. Overall I liked the book. I thought the historical aspects were well written, especially the Jamestown bits. I enjoyed the relationship between the main characters. They were believable and likable. Their relationship was worth rooting for throughout. Love scenes: mild. There were some unexpected twists and turns that kept the book moving, although a bit slowly. I don't know who I would recommend this book to because the time period is a bit obscure for some people.
May 17, 2017
English civil war1645
Unusual to find Cromwell vs. Charles Ist. However this develops in the rural islands and you witness the cavalier under the control of a known parliamentarian General come to seize the estate of a long established family... very real. I know it happened to mine. Widows are fair game but the romance was understandable. What I object to is the American Civil war costume on the cover... poor choice... two hundred years off track. Publishing
Should be scolded roundly. Henrietta Maria's court dresses are gorgeous including her riding habits. Miss Feather writing deserves accurate eye candy covers.
Unusual to find Cromwell vs. Charles Ist. However this develops in the rural islands and you witness the cavalier under the control of a known parliamentarian General come to seize the estate of a long established family... very real. I know it happened to mine. Widows are fair game but the romance was understandable. What I object to is the American Civil war costume on the cover... poor choice... two hundred years off track. Publishing
Should be scolded roundly. Henrietta Maria's court dresses are gorgeous including her riding habits. Miss Feather writing deserves accurate eye candy covers.
Read
March 7, 2011It is not often that I give up on a book. Actually, it is quite rare, don't think I've ever done it but I've read some really terrible stuff lately. Next!
I will review what I've read so far and then add some more when or if I complete it: First off, this Colonel Alex goes with his soldiers to Ginny's house, she's 19 and he kisses her right away and they're not even at a party. He has sex with her the next day...no courting or anything, very strange and he even says he loves her and it's not even 1/5th of the way through the book. Ginny is dirty and childish. Blah!
I will review what I've read so far and then add some more when or if I complete it: First off, this Colonel Alex goes with his soldiers to Ginny's house, she's 19 and he kisses her right away and they're not even at a party. He has sex with her the next day...no courting or anything, very strange and he even says he loves her and it's not even 1/5th of the way through the book. Ginny is dirty and childish. Blah!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 29, 2010
I like all the plot twists Jane Feather incorporates into her romance novels. They aren't your typical romance novels that way, which is why I keep reading them. this one was good except that it went on a bit too long. It was kind of like two books merged into one where the story ends and then begins again for the last third of the book. And even though the final ending was satisfying, I felt kind of exhausted with reading the story by the time I got there.
November 26, 2011
I'm not one for romance stories but this story was both romantic and sensual. It illuminated the differences between men & women. The story played on the heart strings of a woman's desire to be loved & protected by her loved one.
December 19, 2016
A great story
I loved this book, the characters were so rich and true. I will wish there was more between the last chapter and the epilogue. All of the detail throughout, then the end was so lacking in a real ending. I felt let down in not knowing how the end came to be.
I loved this book, the characters were so rich and true. I will wish there was more between the last chapter and the epilogue. All of the detail throughout, then the end was so lacking in a real ending. I felt let down in not knowing how the end came to be.
August 13, 2012
Good book but dragged on and on. Could never figure out when the author was going to end the story.
June 15, 2013
The book is the story of Lady Virginia Courtney and Colonel Alexander Marshall during the English Civil War. It reads long with a fair amount about the war.
Read
July 27, 2013i was interested in the setting and time, but the beginning of this one just didn't hold me. Couldn't finish it, sorry Mz. Feather.
Read
February 6, 2014tedious drivel
January 7, 2016
Loved this book!!
I couldn't put it down!! I laughed, cried and loved the romance and suspense!! Jane Feather is my new favorite author! I can't wait to read more of her books!
I couldn't put it down!! I laughed, cried and loved the romance and suspense!! Jane Feather is my new favorite author! I can't wait to read more of her books!
July 18, 2016
read while in jail. Act.7ual rating :
October 16, 2023
THIS IS SUCH A STRANGE AN UNINTRESTING PIECE OF WORK
Want to read
May 14, 2017I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14545510
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14545510
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews