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Bachelor Chronicles #5
Memoirs of a Scandalous Red Dress
At the end of the last book, "Confessions Of a Little Black Gown", Pippin made a heart-wrenching decision: In order to save Captain Dashwell's life, she agreed to marry Viscount Gossett. Twenty years later, a young American sailor passes her and stops her entire world. The man is the spitting image of Dash, and is in fact, Dash's son, Nate. Pippin, now a widow, decides to right the mistake she made all those years ago - she wants to see Dash and discover if the love she's carried in heart for all these years is nothing more than a fiction or if it is possible to find it a second time around.In disguise, she books passage on Dash's ship, and after three days at sea, reveals herself. When Dash sees Pippin on the deck of his ship wearing a red gown, he swears she's still as breathtakingly beautiful as she was the first time he saw her, but at the same time, he's furious over the years they've lost. But he can't simply return her to England, for she left a note that claims Dash has kidnapped her for a huge ransom. Can he make it across the Atlantic before the British Navy catches up with him, or worse yet, before Pippin claims his heart again?
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
93 people are currently reading
855 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Boyle
90 books2,083 followersElizabeth Boyle is the New York Times bestselling author of 27 historical romance novels and several novellas. Her upcoming novel, O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM, is a mix of women's fiction and historical fiction, with a bit of magic thrown in. This story of friendship and empowerment is already getting rave reviews.
Her first novel, Brazen Angel, won Dell's Diamond Debut Award and the Romance Writers of America's RITA Award for Best First Book. Her books are called "fast-paced," "adventurous," and "funny."
Not sure where to begin? If you love adventure, try THIS RAKE OF MINE or ONE NIGHT OF PASSION.
If you need to laugh, SOMETHING ABOUT EMMALINE, LOVE LETTERS FROM A DUKE, or THE VISCOUNT WHO LIVED DOWN THE LANE.
Want a little magic in your romance? Try HIS MISTRESS BY MORNING.
When not writing, Elizabeth enjoys knitting, gardening, travel and reading a wide variety of stories. She lives with her family in Seattle.
Sign up for her weekly newsletter, Five Things for Friday on her website. A weekly roundup of books, shows, and things to cook or laugh over, her readers love this weekly laugh.
Her first novel, Brazen Angel, won Dell's Diamond Debut Award and the Romance Writers of America's RITA Award for Best First Book. Her books are called "fast-paced," "adventurous," and "funny."
Not sure where to begin? If you love adventure, try THIS RAKE OF MINE or ONE NIGHT OF PASSION.
If you need to laugh, SOMETHING ABOUT EMMALINE, LOVE LETTERS FROM A DUKE, or THE VISCOUNT WHO LIVED DOWN THE LANE.
Want a little magic in your romance? Try HIS MISTRESS BY MORNING.
When not writing, Elizabeth enjoys knitting, gardening, travel and reading a wide variety of stories. She lives with her family in Seattle.
Sign up for her weekly newsletter, Five Things for Friday on her website. A weekly roundup of books, shows, and things to cook or laugh over, her readers love this weekly laugh.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
April 30, 2009
When Elizabeth Boyle first introduced Lady Philippa and the American pirate captain, Thomas Dashwell in This Rake of Mine four years ago, I was instantly smitten by this couple. In the next three consecutive novels featuring Philippa (who went by the nickname Pippin) and her two cousins, the sisters Langleys, Elizabeth teased her readers with small scenes of Pippin and Thomas Dashwell interacting with one another. Pippin fell instantly in love with his older and dashing bad boy and it looked like Dashwell felt the same. Pippin became his Circe, which was the name of his beloved ship and Pippin called Dashwell her Dash. This secondary story was the main reason I would read these books and when I heard Elizabeth would soon write Pippin and Dash’s own romance, I was over the moon.
Memoirs of a Scandalous Red Dress has a beautiful cover and is very fitting because the red dress part is due to the time Pippin broke Dash out of prison while she was wearing that color dress. Things between these two were left as a cliffhanger in Confessions of a Little Black Gown when Dash was to be executed and Pippin, who found herself pregnant by Dash, ended up marrying another man to save her reputation. Because Pippin sacrifices herself for the man she loved, her new husband was able to free Dash with the promise that Dash would never step on English soil or contact Pippin again. Dash kept his promise and left without ever knowing about Pippin’s pregnancy.
I think my expectations were a bit too high because Memoirs of a Scandalous Red Dress was so lacking in so many ways. This is a story of reunited lovers, but not five, ten or even fifteen years later. It takes place twenty-three years later where Pippin is now a widow in her late forties with two grown children. Dash is a broken down drunk with a son from a woman he married in America as he was romancing the fair and innocent Pippin. I wish I could say it is so romantic for a man to turn to a bottle of booze because he lost his heart’s desire, but the Dash I have grown to like is certainly not this man in this book.
Even though Pippin married another man, even as her heart belonged to another, her life has been a pretty good one. She became a Viscountess who had a lovely marriage. She did come to love her husband who was smitten with Pippin the moment he saw her. Her son John is a captain and will be the youngest commander in the Royal Navy in almost twenty years. Her daughter Ginger is settled and married. Pippin is a bit depressed because she is finished with her mourning and longs to be the young woman she once was when she was being romanced by that pirate captain she has never forgotten. Dash was larger than life when she first met him as a girl of barely sixteen and for the next few years until she was twenty-one, he was her whole life. She has no idea what happened to him and feels adrift in her life. She longs to be that woman she once was and wear that red dress she has packed away when she saved Dash from so many dangerous situations.
A young man comes to Pippin asking for help. He is Dash’s son Nathaniel who says that she is his father’s last hope. Nathaniel tells Pippin a little fib about his father dying and Pippin can’t help it but rush to her former lover’s aid. What Pippin doesn’t know is that Nathaniel leaves a ransom note to make it look like Pippin has been kidnapped by Dash. What Dash doesn’t know is that Pippin has come aboard his ship. When Dash and Pippin reunite after all this time, it is not a loving reunion. Dash is a bitter drunken old man and Pippin can’t believe she has been lied to. Dash is not dying and he can’t stand to see Pippin. He feels betrayed because she married another man even though he was married to another woman at the time he seduced Pippin and left her with child. But keep in mind he never loved Nathaniel’s mother. It was to save him and because his now dead wife’s father had money. What he didn’t count on was Pippin coming into his life.
Pippin has no choice to stay on the ship because Nathaniel wants her to talk some sense into his father. And he has already set sail to America. Until they reach Baltimore, Maryland, Pippin and Dash are stuck with one another. Dash is insulting and Pippin realizes she never knew that man she fell in love with. She is heartbroken and Dash only cares about drinking himself to death. But Dash does care and becomes lost in those memories he has kept with him of Pippin and the short time they had together. If only these two can get passed the hurt and lies, then Pippin and Dash can finally be together as they have always longed to be.
I am a big fan of reunion stories but I felt Memoirs of a Scandalous Red Dress failed to live up to the hype. Again, it could have been because I was anxiously awaiting Pippin and Dash’s own story, but these two characters seem to have lost the desire and drive that made them such great characters. The chemistry and witty interactions between these two are missing. The flashbacks were the best part of the book, but the present day Pippin and Dash were just too dull for me to care. If I had read this without reading the past books leading up to this one, I would have not finished because I found myself bored. I also think part of the problem was the tone of the book. The past books in their series were lighthearted and cute reads. Having Memoirs of a Scandalous Red Dress fast forward to almost a quarter century later seems so out of place.
I also had some questions about Pippin and her marriage to her Viscount. I find it odd that after being married to her husband for some twenty odd years, she didn’t have any children with him and only had the ones because of her union with Dash. She says she loved her husband, so wouldn’t you think there would be more offspring other than John and Ginger?
This latest by Elizabeth had too many questions about certain situations and a lackluster love story. At least I will always have memories of Pippin and Dash before Memoirs of a Scandalous Red Dress. This is one read I will put to the side and will soon forget.
Memoirs of a Scandalous Red Dress has a beautiful cover and is very fitting because the red dress part is due to the time Pippin broke Dash out of prison while she was wearing that color dress. Things between these two were left as a cliffhanger in Confessions of a Little Black Gown when Dash was to be executed and Pippin, who found herself pregnant by Dash, ended up marrying another man to save her reputation. Because Pippin sacrifices herself for the man she loved, her new husband was able to free Dash with the promise that Dash would never step on English soil or contact Pippin again. Dash kept his promise and left without ever knowing about Pippin’s pregnancy.
I think my expectations were a bit too high because Memoirs of a Scandalous Red Dress was so lacking in so many ways. This is a story of reunited lovers, but not five, ten or even fifteen years later. It takes place twenty-three years later where Pippin is now a widow in her late forties with two grown children. Dash is a broken down drunk with a son from a woman he married in America as he was romancing the fair and innocent Pippin. I wish I could say it is so romantic for a man to turn to a bottle of booze because he lost his heart’s desire, but the Dash I have grown to like is certainly not this man in this book.
Even though Pippin married another man, even as her heart belonged to another, her life has been a pretty good one. She became a Viscountess who had a lovely marriage. She did come to love her husband who was smitten with Pippin the moment he saw her. Her son John is a captain and will be the youngest commander in the Royal Navy in almost twenty years. Her daughter Ginger is settled and married. Pippin is a bit depressed because she is finished with her mourning and longs to be the young woman she once was when she was being romanced by that pirate captain she has never forgotten. Dash was larger than life when she first met him as a girl of barely sixteen and for the next few years until she was twenty-one, he was her whole life. She has no idea what happened to him and feels adrift in her life. She longs to be that woman she once was and wear that red dress she has packed away when she saved Dash from so many dangerous situations.
A young man comes to Pippin asking for help. He is Dash’s son Nathaniel who says that she is his father’s last hope. Nathaniel tells Pippin a little fib about his father dying and Pippin can’t help it but rush to her former lover’s aid. What Pippin doesn’t know is that Nathaniel leaves a ransom note to make it look like Pippin has been kidnapped by Dash. What Dash doesn’t know is that Pippin has come aboard his ship. When Dash and Pippin reunite after all this time, it is not a loving reunion. Dash is a bitter drunken old man and Pippin can’t believe she has been lied to. Dash is not dying and he can’t stand to see Pippin. He feels betrayed because she married another man even though he was married to another woman at the time he seduced Pippin and left her with child. But keep in mind he never loved Nathaniel’s mother. It was to save him and because his now dead wife’s father had money. What he didn’t count on was Pippin coming into his life.
Pippin has no choice to stay on the ship because Nathaniel wants her to talk some sense into his father. And he has already set sail to America. Until they reach Baltimore, Maryland, Pippin and Dash are stuck with one another. Dash is insulting and Pippin realizes she never knew that man she fell in love with. She is heartbroken and Dash only cares about drinking himself to death. But Dash does care and becomes lost in those memories he has kept with him of Pippin and the short time they had together. If only these two can get passed the hurt and lies, then Pippin and Dash can finally be together as they have always longed to be.
I am a big fan of reunion stories but I felt Memoirs of a Scandalous Red Dress failed to live up to the hype. Again, it could have been because I was anxiously awaiting Pippin and Dash’s own story, but these two characters seem to have lost the desire and drive that made them such great characters. The chemistry and witty interactions between these two are missing. The flashbacks were the best part of the book, but the present day Pippin and Dash were just too dull for me to care. If I had read this without reading the past books leading up to this one, I would have not finished because I found myself bored. I also think part of the problem was the tone of the book. The past books in their series were lighthearted and cute reads. Having Memoirs of a Scandalous Red Dress fast forward to almost a quarter century later seems so out of place.
I also had some questions about Pippin and her marriage to her Viscount. I find it odd that after being married to her husband for some twenty odd years, she didn’t have any children with him and only had the ones because of her union with Dash. She says she loved her husband, so wouldn’t you think there would be more offspring other than John and Ginger?
This latest by Elizabeth had too many questions about certain situations and a lackluster love story. At least I will always have memories of Pippin and Dash before Memoirs of a Scandalous Red Dress. This is one read I will put to the side and will soon forget.
August 13, 2022
Life is pain. So not only was this book a giant disappointment as it destroyed a budding relationship in the first few books, but it also introduced multiple characters PRIME for a new series but Avon said “no bitch” so she never wrote it and I want to ☠️
Also I swear she was tied up and that could’ve been such a good sex scene ugh
Also I swear she was tied up and that could’ve been such a good sex scene ugh
May 4, 2009
As a big Pippin and Dash fan, I am extremely disappointed with the development of their storyline. To have the Pippin married to Gossett and not meet up with Dash until 23 years later just killed their story for me.
I can't see the Dash and Pippin from the past 3 books letting go of their love just like that. The only explanation that this can happen is that Pippin had changed her mind about Dash (which there were some indications of in the Black Gown). I do not see the purpose of why Dash was written as a widower (he got married after meeting Pippin when she was 16 and was a widower for 2 months when he met up with Pippin again in Love Letters). Was it written in to even out the fact that Pippin was married? I don't see how Dash being married before can be considered as a betrayal to Pippin. To have Dash give up and turn to drinking to drown his sorrow do not fit with the Dash of the previous 3 books.
I had hoped Elizabeth Boyle will pull some trick out of the hat that will satisfactorily dissolve Pippin and Gossett's marriage and Dash and Pippin will sail off to the sunset. Alas, that is not the case. Pippin lived happily married for 23+ years without a thought for Dash and Dash lived 23+ years of misery trapped by his Circe's magic. Absolutely disappointing for a great couple.
Rating this book is tough. Had this been a book about a different couple and not the couple I had followed for the past 3 books, I would have enjoyed it. However, for this to be Pippin and Dash's story, I felt overwhelmly sad and disappointed.
I can't see the Dash and Pippin from the past 3 books letting go of their love just like that. The only explanation that this can happen is that Pippin had changed her mind about Dash (which there were some indications of in the Black Gown). I do not see the purpose of why Dash was written as a widower (he got married after meeting Pippin when she was 16 and was a widower for 2 months when he met up with Pippin again in Love Letters). Was it written in to even out the fact that Pippin was married? I don't see how Dash being married before can be considered as a betrayal to Pippin. To have Dash give up and turn to drinking to drown his sorrow do not fit with the Dash of the previous 3 books.
I had hoped Elizabeth Boyle will pull some trick out of the hat that will satisfactorily dissolve Pippin and Gossett's marriage and Dash and Pippin will sail off to the sunset. Alas, that is not the case. Pippin lived happily married for 23+ years without a thought for Dash and Dash lived 23+ years of misery trapped by his Circe's magic. Absolutely disappointing for a great couple.
Rating this book is tough. Had this been a book about a different couple and not the couple I had followed for the past 3 books, I would have enjoyed it. However, for this to be Pippin and Dash's story, I felt overwhelmly sad and disappointed.
August 11, 2015
There are flashbacks and then there are flashbacks.
When I first read The Memoirs of a Scandalous Red Dress in 2009 I had a big problem with the hero, and I was hoping that rereading the story in close proximity to the others in the series might change my belief that Dashwell was a irredeemable hero. Sorry to say I couldn't find it in myself to like this guy and the story is also the first book in the series which I didn't care for. The reread didn't change my mind, only cemented my feelings.
Flashbacks. I'm normally a big fan of the flashback in books - if they are there to support the main story. However, in the case of this tale, they didn't support. They were just a continual interruption to the flow of the storytelling. The flashbacks were written with just tooooo much jumping back and forth between the time periods, which by the way was a period of over 20 years. Every time something good would happen in one period, there would be a startling jump to the other time. This created a feel that there were two different couples in this book, the young Dash and Pippen and the older Dash and Pippen. In both cases Dash was a bonehead hero. I had a hard time liking him and keep wondering just what Pippen saw in him, other than his big...thighs.
Dash. A big time loser bonehead hero. As a young hero, Dash doesn't seem to have too many scruples. When he first steals a kiss from Pippen, she is just a girl of 15 and easily manipulated. Over the years, Dash continues an unscrupulous seduction game with starry-eyed Pippen and this game set my creep-o-meter off. When Pippen "sacrifices" herself for his freedom, the anger he exhibited was waaay over the top. On the other hand, the older Dash is just an unlikeable drunk, wallowing in self-pity. Why he turned to the dark side I never quite figured out. I guess it was because Pippen left him - but really, for twenty years you are going to live in the dark bottom of a bottle, moaning and groaning. While his efforts to reform his drunken state were realistic, Dash comes off as being a weak man with no redeeming features.
The nice guy husband. Every time I read a book, I have a tendency to think "if I had written this book I would have done such and such." Well this story just screamed out to me to do a rewrite my way. Spoilers: The young Pippen is pregnant with Dash's child - which he doesn't know about. That child is one of the reason's she sacrifices herself. Well, there is this really nice guy, Lord Gossett, who is in love with Pippen. He also suspects she is pregnant. He helps Dash escape, he marries Pippen; gives her children his name (twins), gives her son a title, helps raise her children, is a wonderful, loving man - and pretty good in the sack. But when this story begins he is dead, leaving the path for Pippen to once again take up with Dash. I liked Lord Gossett a lot but like so many nice guys in romance novels he gets the short end of the stick in favor of the rakish so-called hero. Well, here's what I would have done. I wouldn't have killed Lord Gossett off. I would have had Dash come back and reenter Pippen and Lord Gossett's life. Sure there would be tension, lots of tension. I would have had Lord Gossett fighting for Pippen's love and Pippen realizing that her true love was Lord Gossett. I would have had Pippen realize that Dash was a bonehead; at which time he would have sailed off into the sunset, sans bottle, to find another girl - maybe in a novella. But that's my rewrite, and it wasn't to be. Why do nice guys mostly lose in romance novels?
Bottom line - rereading The Memoirs of a Scandalous Red Dress didn't change my mind from the last time. The jumpy flashbacks were irritating and the hero was despicable. For me, despicable Dash was never able to redeem himself. So far, this is my least favorite book in the Bachelor Chronicles. It doesn't really seem to fit.
When I first read The Memoirs of a Scandalous Red Dress in 2009 I had a big problem with the hero, and I was hoping that rereading the story in close proximity to the others in the series might change my belief that Dashwell was a irredeemable hero. Sorry to say I couldn't find it in myself to like this guy and the story is also the first book in the series which I didn't care for. The reread didn't change my mind, only cemented my feelings.
Flashbacks. I'm normally a big fan of the flashback in books - if they are there to support the main story. However, in the case of this tale, they didn't support. They were just a continual interruption to the flow of the storytelling. The flashbacks were written with just tooooo much jumping back and forth between the time periods, which by the way was a period of over 20 years. Every time something good would happen in one period, there would be a startling jump to the other time. This created a feel that there were two different couples in this book, the young Dash and Pippen and the older Dash and Pippen. In both cases Dash was a bonehead hero. I had a hard time liking him and keep wondering just what Pippen saw in him, other than his big...thighs.
Dash. A big time loser bonehead hero. As a young hero, Dash doesn't seem to have too many scruples. When he first steals a kiss from Pippen, she is just a girl of 15 and easily manipulated. Over the years, Dash continues an unscrupulous seduction game with starry-eyed Pippen and this game set my creep-o-meter off. When Pippen "sacrifices" herself for his freedom, the anger he exhibited was waaay over the top. On the other hand, the older Dash is just an unlikeable drunk, wallowing in self-pity. Why he turned to the dark side I never quite figured out. I guess it was because Pippen left him - but really, for twenty years you are going to live in the dark bottom of a bottle, moaning and groaning. While his efforts to reform his drunken state were realistic, Dash comes off as being a weak man with no redeeming features.
The nice guy husband. Every time I read a book, I have a tendency to think "if I had written this book I would have done such and such." Well this story just screamed out to me to do a rewrite my way. Spoilers: The young Pippen is pregnant with Dash's child - which he doesn't know about. That child is one of the reason's she sacrifices herself. Well, there is this really nice guy, Lord Gossett, who is in love with Pippen. He also suspects she is pregnant. He helps Dash escape, he marries Pippen; gives her children his name (twins), gives her son a title, helps raise her children, is a wonderful, loving man - and pretty good in the sack. But when this story begins he is dead, leaving the path for Pippen to once again take up with Dash. I liked Lord Gossett a lot but like so many nice guys in romance novels he gets the short end of the stick in favor of the rakish so-called hero. Well, here's what I would have done. I wouldn't have killed Lord Gossett off. I would have had Dash come back and reenter Pippen and Lord Gossett's life. Sure there would be tension, lots of tension. I would have had Lord Gossett fighting for Pippen's love and Pippen realizing that her true love was Lord Gossett. I would have had Pippen realize that Dash was a bonehead; at which time he would have sailed off into the sunset, sans bottle, to find another girl - maybe in a novella. But that's my rewrite, and it wasn't to be. Why do nice guys mostly lose in romance novels?
Bottom line - rereading The Memoirs of a Scandalous Red Dress didn't change my mind from the last time. The jumpy flashbacks were irritating and the hero was despicable. For me, despicable Dash was never able to redeem himself. So far, this is my least favorite book in the Bachelor Chronicles. It doesn't really seem to fit.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 13, 2018
Bayıldım. Mükemmel bir ikinci şans örneğiydi bence, korsan ve uzun süredir kavuşamadığı sevgilisi gayet güzel anlatılmıştı. 20 küsür senelik bir aranın üstüne birleşen bir çift okuyoruz ama diğer versiyonlardan daha da güzel geldi. Pippin'in kuzenlerini de kitabın sonuna doğru hatırlar gibi oldum. Bir önceki kitabı 2014'te bastıklarını düşünürsek iyi bile hatırladım.
September 13, 2022
For a pirate story and all the previous books build up, it failed to deliver.
March 2, 2013
This book was a perfect book for me. It had all my favorite elements: a second-chance love-story (and it was executed quite excellently and devotedly!), pirates, ships, a changed-hero, and wonderful and very memorable characters!
This is the tale of Lady Phillipa (Pippin) and Captain Thomas Dashwell. I only read the previous book in this series, and Dash and Pippin's story ended so tragically and hopelessly that I just had to hurry and read their happy ending before I went crazy in misery for them. Pippin and Dash were separated 27 years ago, when Pippin let Dash, who was set to hang, free in exchange for marrying a man. Dash saw this as the ultimate betrayal, but Pippin saw it as an ultimate sacrifice.
She ended up marrying a good man, and eventually came to love him., Now, after 27 years, she has two children and has become a widow. Dash is now an ill-mannered drunk who's lost meaning in life. Dash's son comes to Pippin, believing she's the only one who can save him now. So, thus Pippin comes aboard his ship, and they are set for Baltimore. Dash and Pippin's reunion was sad and left them both seeing how much the other had changed since their rash affair all that long ago.
This was just so heartbreaking to read. I mean, it's been 27 years. They aren't the young and impulsive people they were back then. They're grown and more resigned to life. What I found really tragic though, was that they couldn't have done anything about it back then to really be together. Even if they could, they would have been left unhappy and resigned for they were both dishonest and immature to be smart about their future back then. This was a new kind of story for me. I hadn't read a second-chance story with lovers reunited after such a long time. I was rooting for them badly and I ached for them to finally be together, because no matter what had happened, they really truly do love each other.
Pippin's and Dash's children were also lovable. I am in love with Nate and John. While stuffy and overbearing they might be, they added to the story's humor and love with their roles. Fynn, a young boy aboard this ship, was also a lovable character. He was innocent and adorable, and definitely helped Pippin and Dash's romance ignite quicker.
The surprise at the end had me laughing because it was just so fun and awesome, and I cried for the years the hero and heroine lost with each other. The flashbacks to Pippin and Dash when they were young really showed how tumultuous and irrational their affair was. They were like two crazy, impetuous people bound to explode somehow. But, I'm glad they finally found each other; they deserved it.
The ending was great. I just wish there had been some kind of epilogue to tie it nicely because I felt like some loose ends were left. Other than that, while this isn't the typical historical romance with the dashing hero (because this hero was utterly damaged throughout half the book), it was excellent and I loved it. Hope to see these two reappear in the other books.
This is the tale of Lady Phillipa (Pippin) and Captain Thomas Dashwell. I only read the previous book in this series, and Dash and Pippin's story ended so tragically and hopelessly that I just had to hurry and read their happy ending before I went crazy in misery for them. Pippin and Dash were separated 27 years ago, when Pippin let Dash, who was set to hang, free in exchange for marrying a man. Dash saw this as the ultimate betrayal, but Pippin saw it as an ultimate sacrifice.
She ended up marrying a good man, and eventually came to love him., Now, after 27 years, she has two children and has become a widow. Dash is now an ill-mannered drunk who's lost meaning in life. Dash's son comes to Pippin, believing she's the only one who can save him now. So, thus Pippin comes aboard his ship, and they are set for Baltimore. Dash and Pippin's reunion was sad and left them both seeing how much the other had changed since their rash affair all that long ago.
This was just so heartbreaking to read. I mean, it's been 27 years. They aren't the young and impulsive people they were back then. They're grown and more resigned to life. What I found really tragic though, was that they couldn't have done anything about it back then to really be together. Even if they could, they would have been left unhappy and resigned for they were both dishonest and immature to be smart about their future back then. This was a new kind of story for me. I hadn't read a second-chance story with lovers reunited after such a long time. I was rooting for them badly and I ached for them to finally be together, because no matter what had happened, they really truly do love each other.
Pippin's and Dash's children were also lovable. I am in love with Nate and John. While stuffy and overbearing they might be, they added to the story's humor and love with their roles. Fynn, a young boy aboard this ship, was also a lovable character. He was innocent and adorable, and definitely helped Pippin and Dash's romance ignite quicker.
The surprise at the end had me laughing because it was just so fun and awesome, and I cried for the years the hero and heroine lost with each other. The flashbacks to Pippin and Dash when they were young really showed how tumultuous and irrational their affair was. They were like two crazy, impetuous people bound to explode somehow. But, I'm glad they finally found each other; they deserved it.
The ending was great. I just wish there had been some kind of epilogue to tie it nicely because I felt like some loose ends were left. Other than that, while this isn't the typical historical romance with the dashing hero (because this hero was utterly damaged throughout half the book), it was excellent and I loved it. Hope to see these two reappear in the other books.
February 6, 2013
This story is about Pippin (daughter of an Earl) and Dash, her American pirate love. Bits and pieces of their story were introduced in previous books. Finally, we get to experience their happily ever after.
In the last book, the secretly pregnant Pippin married Lord Gosset in a deal to save Dash's life.
Twenty years later, the story begins. I thought the heroine was dying of a stroke and it was the end of her life.
And then we jump back in the past to where Pipping met her pirate. And then we jump forward again. And then we jump back again. And this pattern repeated for most of the book.
I found the changes jolting to the story. If I had to stop reading and then com back later, It took a while to remember what decade the couple was in. It got easier to keep track with familiar events from other books in the series as an anchor. And Of course, the story was about Pippin and Dash, so I had to find out what happened.
I suggest reading the other four books in this series before reading this one. The constant time travel can leave a reader dizzy without those story anchors from previous books.
In the last book, the secretly pregnant Pippin married Lord Gosset in a deal to save Dash's life.
Twenty years later, the story begins. I thought the heroine was dying of a stroke and it was the end of her life.
And then we jump back in the past to where Pipping met her pirate. And then we jump forward again. And then we jump back again. And this pattern repeated for most of the book.
I found the changes jolting to the story. If I had to stop reading and then com back later, It took a while to remember what decade the couple was in. It got easier to keep track with familiar events from other books in the series as an anchor. And Of course, the story was about Pippin and Dash, so I had to find out what happened.
I suggest reading the other four books in this series before reading this one. The constant time travel can leave a reader dizzy without those story anchors from previous books.
December 12, 2018
Dash’in değişimini biraz hızlı bulmasam 5 verebilirdim... Yayınevi bir önceki kitabı basalı 3 yıldan fazla olduğu için birçok şeyi unutmuşum, ancak yine de önceki kitapların -bu kitabın aksine- sürekli bir koşuşturmaca ve aksiyon içerdiğini anımsıyorum. Bu kitapta sürekli geçmişe dönüşler ve karakterlerin kendileriyle hesaplaşmalarına daha çok yer vermişti. Bir miktar kalbimi kırdı diyebilirim. Seri, Siyah Zambak Birliği, çifte ajanlar, kaçakçılık gibi ilgi çeken detayları içeriyor. Balo salonlarının dışına çıkan, sınırlarını aşan bir tarihi romans serisi. Bu yüzden de tekrar başlamak istiyorum.
August 31, 2024
This was good. I liked the surprise at the end.
December 25, 2010
CAUTION: DO NOT READ UNLESS YOU WISH TO BE REDUCED TO A TEARY PILE OF MUSH. THIS HEAR-WRENCHING TALE IS ONLY FOR THE VERY BRAVEST READERS... OR THE ONES WHO WISH TO SPEND THE DURATION OF THE READ SOBBING THEIR HEARTS OUT.
I'm utterly speechless. It was more a tragic romance than anything else... like Pirates of the Caribbean meets Titanic.
I absolutely love the hero, Thomas Dashwell, because he was flawed in every sense of the word. He was not the perfect man and the kind of decisions he made showed him to be almost too real of a person.
Pippin was charming as well. Very much the "Lady in red". A woman who would risk her life and reputation to save the one true man she loves is always a heroine in my books. I did not find her to be bothersome character at all - as most romance heroines tend to be. She was in fact quite inspiring and made me proud to call myself a woman as well.
Elizabeth Boyle truly outdid herself with this book. I had initially debated on whether or not to buy this novel from the store because I had to choose between this and another. Having read Confessions of a Little Black Dress I had not been very impressed. But I ended up buying both the novels I wanted and I'm very glad that I did. What a splendid and tear jerking read this was! I'd love to see it made into a movie.
I'm utterly speechless. It was more a tragic romance than anything else... like Pirates of the Caribbean meets Titanic.
I absolutely love the hero, Thomas Dashwell, because he was flawed in every sense of the word. He was not the perfect man and the kind of decisions he made showed him to be almost too real of a person.
Pippin was charming as well. Very much the "Lady in red". A woman who would risk her life and reputation to save the one true man she loves is always a heroine in my books. I did not find her to be bothersome character at all - as most romance heroines tend to be. She was in fact quite inspiring and made me proud to call myself a woman as well.
Elizabeth Boyle truly outdid herself with this book. I had initially debated on whether or not to buy this novel from the store because I had to choose between this and another. Having read Confessions of a Little Black Dress I had not been very impressed. But I ended up buying both the novels I wanted and I'm very glad that I did. What a splendid and tear jerking read this was! I'd love to see it made into a movie.
May 11, 2009
Dash and Pippin's story finally! I was appalled initially at discovering they had been torn apart for 20 something years and wondered if people could rediscover that young love again. I was heartbroken by the ending of the previous book and had not expected the characters to be separated for so long.
The first half of the book was hard to read. Dash, who I idealized in the other books, is a wastrel hate-filled man. It was hard to read these scenes and I was very disappointed in the characters. The more I thought on it, I realized the author had to show the re-sparking of the characters passion for one another and their need to get past their own self-loathing for past decisions.
Once Dash throws the alcohol overboard, I breezed through the book. Our old hero was back with his sparkling charm and wooed are heroine. There were several humorous moments involving the adult children's reaction to the parents lust. Also the sex scene in the cabin was hot!
Overall I liked the book though I found it hard to read the beginning. I can't wait to read John's story next.
The first half of the book was hard to read. Dash, who I idealized in the other books, is a wastrel hate-filled man. It was hard to read these scenes and I was very disappointed in the characters. The more I thought on it, I realized the author had to show the re-sparking of the characters passion for one another and their need to get past their own self-loathing for past decisions.
Once Dash throws the alcohol overboard, I breezed through the book. Our old hero was back with his sparkling charm and wooed are heroine. There were several humorous moments involving the adult children's reaction to the parents lust. Also the sex scene in the cabin was hot!
Overall I liked the book though I found it hard to read the beginning. I can't wait to read John's story next.
May 10, 2009
I really hate the idea that Pippin and Dash were separated for upwards of twenty years. I loved their relationship in Felicity and Thalia's stories and the idea of them just giving up on their relationship and moving on is just annoying to me. I felt that they would have fought for it and so them being cowards didn't sit well with me. The story in itself was fine, but the fact that it was involving these two particular characters... I just didn't like it. I was looking forward to Pippin and Dash's story and this book was not how I envisioned it.
January 13, 2021
Emotional and romantic read
4 stars
Prim and proper Philippa, Lady Gossett has vivid memories of a dashing pirate, the kisses he stole and the love the pair shared together. Now, twenty years after she made the decision to marry another to save his life, she finds herself back in the company of Captain Thomas Dashwell.
The twenty years have not been kind to Captain Dashwell and he is embittered by the woman that broke his heart and betrayed him. Yet she has haunted his dreams since they were together and since he can't forget her, he'll just have to try and win her back!
This is, I believe, the final book in the Bachelor Chronicles series (after Something About Emmaline, This Rake of Mine, Love Letters From a Duke and Confessions of a Little Black Gown). [Edit: It's not the last in the series!] This book does mention things that happened in the previous books in the series but probably does stand alone well enough.
The book is told with the use of flashbacks but this doesn't stop the story from flowing nicely. The flashbacks were beautifully written and you really felt the emotions from Dash and Pippin as they desperately tried to stay together. Despite changing over the twenty years, I also liked the 'present day' scenes and both Dash and Pippin didn't lose their sparkle with age!
I have to admit I was torn between giving this book 4 or 5 stars. It really was an excellent book but the ending just didn't have the same emotional impact as the rest of the book for me and so I decided to go with 4 stars. Despite that, it's still an excellent book and one that I really couldn't put down. It's emotional, romantic and a really good read. Definitely recommended.
October 1, 2018
Kırmızı Elbisenin Hatıraları
Elizabeth Boyle
BAYILDIM
bu kadının yazımini çok seviyorum bu kitabı da harika olmuş. Öyle güzel yazmış ki o denli baş ağrısina rağmen okudum resmen ağzım açık kaldı.
Kaptan hikayelerine bayılıyorum ve bu hikaye beni benden aldı 😍😍😍
Hikaye özeti Leydi Phillippa Knolles, Kaptan Thomas Dashwell’i –yani Dash’i– ilk öpüşmelerinden sonra hiç unutamaz. Bir ömür gibi gelen bekleyişten sonra, Pippin’in eline Dash’le olan bu skandal ilişkisini tazeleme fırsatı geçer. Ama Dash artık o ilk ateşli öpücükteki adamdan çok uzaktır. Sanıyorsunuz ama değil adam nefes kesici fakat kadın mükemmel. Uzun süre ayrı kalan aşkın bir araya gelme macerası. Geçmiş ve gelecek karması ben çok sevdim çok 😗 ah seriyi hatırladım da bir kere daha okumalıyım canım çekti😁😁😁😁10/10
Elizabeth Boyle
BAYILDIM
bu kadının yazımini çok seviyorum bu kitabı da harika olmuş. Öyle güzel yazmış ki o denli baş ağrısina rağmen okudum resmen ağzım açık kaldı.
Kaptan hikayelerine bayılıyorum ve bu hikaye beni benden aldı 😍😍😍
Hikaye özeti Leydi Phillippa Knolles, Kaptan Thomas Dashwell’i –yani Dash’i– ilk öpüşmelerinden sonra hiç unutamaz. Bir ömür gibi gelen bekleyişten sonra, Pippin’in eline Dash’le olan bu skandal ilişkisini tazeleme fırsatı geçer. Ama Dash artık o ilk ateşli öpücükteki adamdan çok uzaktır. Sanıyorsunuz ama değil adam nefes kesici fakat kadın mükemmel. Uzun süre ayrı kalan aşkın bir araya gelme macerası. Geçmiş ve gelecek karması ben çok sevdim çok 😗 ah seriyi hatırladım da bir kere daha okumalıyım canım çekti😁😁😁😁10/10
June 23, 2020
Loved this! So refreshing to have a love story that spans years and they are not young anymore. Pippin and Thomas are now reunited and they each have grown children. Great tale on the seas with flashbacks to when they both meet and to what has brought them full circle. I just have to get the other books in this series!
July 18, 2018
I liked that this was about an older couple/a re-connection. But Dash's self-loathing and self-pity were not attractive or endearing qualities, and I have little interest in pirates. Would've been interested in how these revelations affect Pippin's children in the future!
November 6, 2018
Ya bu kadına da bayılıyorum. Yakışıklı kaptan-korsan Dash belli bir yere kadar sinirlerimi bozmuş olsada sevdim kitabı. Bazı yerlerde Pippin’e çok acıdım. Hep bel altı vuruşlar yaptı sayın Dash bey😒 Ama tatlı sonu görmek yetti🤗
November 13, 2011
Originally posted on Joyfully Reviewed: http://www.joyfullyreviewed.com/revie...
It was instant attraction for Lady Philippa Knolles when she met daring American Captain Thomas Dashwell. But even as Pippin and Dash fall in love, an uneasy political climate eventually leads to their separation, leaving Pippin with only a scandalous red dress and two lives growing inside her as mementoes of the pirate she loved.
Twenty-three years later, Pippin is widowed and the image of propriety. Then a stranger appears on her doorstep, claiming Dash needs her. Time hasn’t dulled Pippin’s love for her pirate, but when she sees Dash once again he is nothing like the man she loved. Faced with a bitter, drunken lover from her past, it’s up to Pippin to remind Dash what was and what could still be; with the help of a certain scandalous red dress, of course.
Of all the books in Elizabeth Boyle’s Bachelor Chronicles, Memoirs of a Scandalous Red Dress is the story I have waiting to read the most. I finished reading the story with mixed feelings that time and re-reads have not been able to sort out. Memoirs of a Scandalous Red Dress weaves in and out of Dash and Pippin’s past and present. On its own, this would have worked beautifully. Yet as part of a series, after seeing parts of their love story in earlier books, the cruelty of their twenty-three year separation broke my heart. I can understand why Ms. Boyle did it and even am glad at the resulting introduction of Dash and Pippin’s children, whom I adored and would love to read stories for. Still, I mourned the years lost between the two and never felt the joy of happily ever after was fully captured. With the older Pippin and Dash certainly fit their situations, the parts of the book I enjoyed were those set in the past, where the more daring and hopeful hero and heroine appeared.
I do not wish to imply that Memoirs of a Scandalous Red Dress was an unpleasant read, for it certainly was not. It just did not live up to my expectations for these characters. However, I am pleased Pippin and Dash did end up finding their happily ever after together, even if it was delayed. I am also hopeful Ms. Boyle decides to gift readers with stories for Pippin and Dash’s sons, John and Nate.
It was instant attraction for Lady Philippa Knolles when she met daring American Captain Thomas Dashwell. But even as Pippin and Dash fall in love, an uneasy political climate eventually leads to their separation, leaving Pippin with only a scandalous red dress and two lives growing inside her as mementoes of the pirate she loved.
Twenty-three years later, Pippin is widowed and the image of propriety. Then a stranger appears on her doorstep, claiming Dash needs her. Time hasn’t dulled Pippin’s love for her pirate, but when she sees Dash once again he is nothing like the man she loved. Faced with a bitter, drunken lover from her past, it’s up to Pippin to remind Dash what was and what could still be; with the help of a certain scandalous red dress, of course.
Of all the books in Elizabeth Boyle’s Bachelor Chronicles, Memoirs of a Scandalous Red Dress is the story I have waiting to read the most. I finished reading the story with mixed feelings that time and re-reads have not been able to sort out. Memoirs of a Scandalous Red Dress weaves in and out of Dash and Pippin’s past and present. On its own, this would have worked beautifully. Yet as part of a series, after seeing parts of their love story in earlier books, the cruelty of their twenty-three year separation broke my heart. I can understand why Ms. Boyle did it and even am glad at the resulting introduction of Dash and Pippin’s children, whom I adored and would love to read stories for. Still, I mourned the years lost between the two and never felt the joy of happily ever after was fully captured. With the older Pippin and Dash certainly fit their situations, the parts of the book I enjoyed were those set in the past, where the more daring and hopeful hero and heroine appeared.
I do not wish to imply that Memoirs of a Scandalous Red Dress was an unpleasant read, for it certainly was not. It just did not live up to my expectations for these characters. However, I am pleased Pippin and Dash did end up finding their happily ever after together, even if it was delayed. I am also hopeful Ms. Boyle decides to gift readers with stories for Pippin and Dash’s sons, John and Nate.
May 6, 2013
If you've never read a romance novel, you should read at least one. They are fascinating studies. Here are my research notes for a future script project. This story takes place in 1837 with flashbacks to 1814 - on pirate ships, in England, and in Baltimore, briefly. It's so cliched that it almost is brilliant in its subtlety, then you realize she probably isn't being cliche ironically and then it's just a bit sad. Knowing a bit about the time period only makes the moments of historic grounding more ridiculous. Maybe look for a different romance novel as your first read, but then again, this is only my first.
"Virgin woman, non-virgin man. She saves his life by leaving him and marrying another, though with a lot of hinting at the details of an unfulfilled explanation. Lots of longing and wishing as the two reunite despite their frustration of each other. Some action, repetitive word uasge usually with pirate vocabulary - plundering lips, "demmed", keelhauling, etc. Decent plot and conception of story, but terrible followthrough, pacing, dialogue, and intricacy, resulting in a solid story feeling predictable and capable of being written by anyone."
"Virgin woman, non-virgin man. She saves his life by leaving him and marrying another, though with a lot of hinting at the details of an unfulfilled explanation. Lots of longing and wishing as the two reunite despite their frustration of each other. Some action, repetitive word uasge usually with pirate vocabulary - plundering lips, "demmed", keelhauling, etc. Decent plot and conception of story, but terrible followthrough, pacing, dialogue, and intricacy, resulting in a solid story feeling predictable and capable of being written by anyone."
November 17, 2023
DNF and I’m just going to pretend this couple never met again and that Pippen remained happy and in love with Gossett. Because after building Dash as so powerful and scary all I saw was him in need of being rescued over and over again. This books is just another instance that he needs to be rescued (from himself and booze).
I feel like Gossett was the one that ended up delivering on being the true man. Gosset fought for the woman he loved, masterfully removed Dash from their lives and protected her and her children. I wish this book was about Pippen falling in love and having a HEA with Gossett.
I feel like Gossett was the one that ended up delivering on being the true man. Gosset fought for the woman he loved, masterfully removed Dash from their lives and protected her and her children. I wish this book was about Pippen falling in love and having a HEA with Gossett.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 6, 2012
I just read the previous 3 books in the Bachelor Chronicles, so it was so frustrating to see the subject of Phillipa's child kept secret, since I already knew who it was.
I fell in love with Lord Gossett in this book (yes, the saintly husband who died two years ago) What a perfect man! Phillipa and Dash were much more interesting in their youth, and in previous books. Lord Gossett definitely deserved better.
I fell in love with Lord Gossett in this book (yes, the saintly husband who died two years ago) What a perfect man! Phillipa and Dash were much more interesting in their youth, and in previous books. Lord Gossett definitely deserved better.
September 7, 2016
I don't like long separation books and this one had a 20 year separation, so it was wasn't my cuppa. I also don't feel that Dash ever apologized to his son or Pippa for his actions. I also thought the ending a little strange. I didn't understand Pippa's reasons for not wanting to marry Dash, just live with him in sin...huh??? I would have loved to have seen books about John and Nash, both naval men, but one in the colonies and one in the English Navy...could have been fun.
October 17, 2010
I just couldn't get past that they were separated for so long. I love these books but it made me crazy to see this happen.
January 9, 2014
does anyone know if theres a book about Pippins and Dashs son and Molly? :D coz im sure there was a romance brewing XD and cant believe that the stories left untouched...
March 26, 2022
this series was grand but avoided this title because of format, too many flashbacks. Familiar with all the stories, plunged into Pippin's unfinished life. it was only fair to see all their lives. Pippin and Dash, the separated lovers, finally, was eminently satisfying. flashbacks of interest : they did enlarge on the early love affair; others I skimmed. That Pippin still had here spirit and didn't hesitate was matched by the wreck that Dashwell had become. there were some cruel parts and some lovely parts and of course it finished with promise of decades of continuing passion. Their twins, unknown to Dash while making him furious showed what a dick he was with a dead wife and son back in Baltimore. But, he didn't love that wife and Pippin never left his heart. He never left hers through a typical ton marriage. Now Pippin's children were a pain--trying to run her life at 43. Johns confrontation with new clipper and canons was somewhat overkill. the kidnap was a surprise but not the escape. and the pirate lessons continued to everyone's happy ending. not a reread but glad got the full skinny of a decades long separation and a second chance. Love is certainly blind most of the time.
June 29, 2019
3.8 stars.
It is not all glittery ballrooms, graceful dances and sunshine.
Fairytail-esque yet heavy. Back and forth between the past and the present.
Lovers with a long history separated by years and misunderstandings. Neither Dash nor Pippin were perfect which made it an even better read. Although I must say, the bombshell scene about the birth back in Baltimore after Dash and Pippin tupped each other was a shocker! Dash lost points there but then again, he was a sailor of sorts so I was expecting some hidden thing like other lady-loves or something to that affect.
Haha Pippin in her red dress wowwed the heck out of all those people....enough to set him free. Silly but I could help but laugh at that bit. Another funny scene is when John, Nate, Pippin and Dash are having their first family discussion after John tried to shoot Dash for well, “kidnapping”. Damn funny!
It is not all glittery ballrooms, graceful dances and sunshine.
Fairytail-esque yet heavy. Back and forth between the past and the present.
Lovers with a long history separated by years and misunderstandings. Neither Dash nor Pippin were perfect which made it an even better read. Although I must say, the bombshell scene about the birth back in Baltimore after Dash and Pippin tupped each other was a shocker! Dash lost points there but then again, he was a sailor of sorts so I was expecting some hidden thing like other lady-loves or something to that affect.
Haha Pippin in her red dress wowwed the heck out of all those people....enough to set him free. Silly but I could help but laugh at that bit. Another funny scene is when John, Nate, Pippin and Dash are having their first family discussion after John tried to shoot Dash for well, “kidnapping”. Damn funny!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
February 25, 2018This book, I did not like. It was confusing at the beginning and still confusing as I read more. I concluded that it was telling a love story of the two main characters when they were young. Now years later, they meet again but the man feels betrayed as she left him and married someone else. He is much older and is sick. So he does not see how they can come together. They both had children with another partner. In fact the girl married her partner(who now died and she is from a noble family). He was a pirate and has had a hard life. At this point, I had to stop reading. I had no interest to keep going.
January 20, 2019
For the older heroines.
Their story started 20 plus years ago. I was led to Pippin's story by Talli's. I love both these books. Would highly recommend both. And since I started this series in the middle I am going to go back to the first one but it's not necessary to enjoy these characters.
Dash is no longer the swashbuckling privateer and Pippin is a proper staid Lady Gossett. But they had started with a kiss and she continued to save him. But this 40 something mother still needs her pirate lessons and Captain Dash is in need of saving.
Their story started 20 plus years ago. I was led to Pippin's story by Talli's. I love both these books. Would highly recommend both. And since I started this series in the middle I am going to go back to the first one but it's not necessary to enjoy these characters.
Dash is no longer the swashbuckling privateer and Pippin is a proper staid Lady Gossett. But they had started with a kiss and she continued to save him. But this 40 something mother still needs her pirate lessons and Captain Dash is in need of saving.
March 19, 2018
Romantic, emotional love story
Pippin and Dash prove that love can survive separation , betrayal, war and just bad timimg. I enjoyed reading about a couple that get another chance at love and togetherness later in life, and that romance is not just for people in their twenties. This novel, so wonderfully well written and satisfying, has me sighing happily thinking about the wonderful characters Ms. Boyle lovingly brought to life.
Pippin and Dash prove that love can survive separation , betrayal, war and just bad timimg. I enjoyed reading about a couple that get another chance at love and togetherness later in life, and that romance is not just for people in their twenties. This novel, so wonderfully well written and satisfying, has me sighing happily thinking about the wonderful characters Ms. Boyle lovingly brought to life.
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