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Venus
From the New York Times bestselling Jane Feather, author of To Kiss a Spy and Kissed by Shadows, comes a deliciously sensual tale of intrigue and temptation…The last thing Lord Nicholas Kincaid expected to see in the gloom of a London tavern was a vision of loveliness. And when she led him to a bedchamber with a come-hither smile, there was no question of resisting—until he realized the lying wench meant to render him senseless so the landlord could rob him blind! That’s how the handsome lord made the acquaintance of Miss Polly Wyat, a ravishing beauty he soon decided would make the perfect spy. Unwittingly, she would infiltrate the inner circle at the king’s court. But when Nicholas sets out to bind Polly with chains of passion, he’ll find himself hard-pressed not to be bewitched…or to fall in love.
398 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1988
36 people are currently reading
479 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 - 29 of 29 reviews
January 27, 2019
This showed many walks of life during Restoration period and how they interacted. The heroine, Polly, was low born working at a tavern owned by her aunt and shady uncle. She was forced to lure targets with the promise of a tryst but actually drugging them so they could be robbed and disposed of, however that came to be. I didn't really read a synopsis of this before starting. I picked it up for an alphabet challenge, and the story did a great job of showing the time and place of the setting. The hero, Nick, is the last of these unsuspecting targets, and he manages to escape being completely drugged and catches onto the trick. Polly sees her chance to escape with Nick, and they are able to get away as her uncle and his goons give chase.
Polly has dreams of joining the King's company as an actor and no little amount of talent. Nick is a Baron active in the King's court and involved in a secret political society with a goal in steering the country in the right direction. In Polly's acting ability, beauty and charm, Nick sees a mutually beneficial arrangement where he helps place her in upper echelon of the acting community and she act as spy for the secret society.
It was an era of much indulgence, suspicion, and subterfuge. These factors play heavily in the plot, and character's inclinations are set aside for overall goals for the greater good or future plans. In this game of intrigue, Polly catches the eye of the Duke of Buckingham, who is steeped in intrigue and accustomed to getting what he wants. He's much more experienced in the game and the protagonists do not realize they've been caught in his web.
I listed this as a bodice ripper, but note that it is not graphic on that aspect, nor is it the hero causing harm to the heroine. He is a considerate and caring hero, if at times calculating. I think the calculating portion is just a product of the time. He didn't contribute to the heroine's unwanted experience, accept in a failure to recognize a threat sooner and take steps to protect his lover. Overall I liked him and thought him patient and kind, though he had his faults. Polly was a fun character, resilient, plucky and with a career as an actor in mind, a bit different from your typical heroine. I would say there was a pretty good age gap here, and since Nick tutored her in the ways of the court and taught her to read, etc, it was very much a Pygmalion type story.
Overall, I liked this story, though it had its unsettling moments, and I thought the narration well done. I will likely continue on with this series, and I would recommend to readers that enjoy the Restoration era.
Polly has dreams of joining the King's company as an actor and no little amount of talent. Nick is a Baron active in the King's court and involved in a secret political society with a goal in steering the country in the right direction. In Polly's acting ability, beauty and charm, Nick sees a mutually beneficial arrangement where he helps place her in upper echelon of the acting community and she act as spy for the secret society.
It was an era of much indulgence, suspicion, and subterfuge. These factors play heavily in the plot, and character's inclinations are set aside for overall goals for the greater good or future plans. In this game of intrigue, Polly catches the eye of the Duke of Buckingham, who is steeped in intrigue and accustomed to getting what he wants. He's much more experienced in the game and the protagonists do not realize they've been caught in his web.
I listed this as a bodice ripper, but note that it is not graphic on that aspect, nor is it the hero causing harm to the heroine. He is a considerate and caring hero, if at times calculating. I think the calculating portion is just a product of the time. He didn't contribute to the heroine's unwanted experience, accept in a failure to recognize a threat sooner and take steps to protect his lover. Overall I liked him and thought him patient and kind, though he had his faults. Polly was a fun character, resilient, plucky and with a career as an actor in mind, a bit different from your typical heroine. I would say there was a pretty good age gap here, and since Nick tutored her in the ways of the court and taught her to read, etc, it was very much a Pygmalion type story.
Overall, I liked this story, though it had its unsettling moments, and I thought the narration well done. I will likely continue on with this series, and I would recommend to readers that enjoy the Restoration era.
June 15, 2023
Read:6/15/23
3 stars
A weak start to a great series. I've been skipping books around on the series. So far, the best one is Vice.
This story started out good. Very likeable H and an adorable h. I loved their interactions. Nick sets up Polly up as mistress then actress to attract the Duke of Buckingham. He and his friends need a spy to stop the Duke's influence on the King. Of course, he doesn't count on falling in love with Polly himself. On top of that, all that work and any useful spying Polly does is not really worth it.
So the preparing her is entertaining but the climax is boring. I also think JF missed a great opportunity. Charles II'S famous mistress Nell Gyn was at the same theater as Polly. Why not make them friends? "Pretty,Witty Nell is a favorite of mine. Polly and Nell could have had some funny incounters. What a wasted opportunity!
So this book wasn't bad, it just that she's written so many better books! Still, til the end, I was entertained
3 stars
A weak start to a great series. I've been skipping books around on the series. So far, the best one is Vice.
This story started out good. Very likeable H and an adorable h. I loved their interactions. Nick sets up Polly up as mistress then actress to attract the Duke of Buckingham. He and his friends need a spy to stop the Duke's influence on the King. Of course, he doesn't count on falling in love with Polly himself. On top of that, all that work and any useful spying Polly does is not really worth it.
So the preparing her is entertaining but the climax is boring. I also think JF missed a great opportunity. Charles II'S famous mistress Nell Gyn was at the same theater as Polly. Why not make them friends? "Pretty,Witty Nell is a favorite of mine. Polly and Nell could have had some funny incounters. What a wasted opportunity!
So this book wasn't bad, it just that she's written so many better books! Still, til the end, I was entertained
November 26, 2022
Jane Feather is very much hit and miss for me. I love her word building and her writing is always historically accurate and very atmospheric but where the plot and romance are concerned it’s a different story altogether. I didn’t care much for the hero as he was a bit on a weak/Beta side and I hated how he had set up to entrap Polly with his ‘passion’ to use her in his plot against Buckingham. He and his co-conspirators we’re pretty inept as well, they didn’t achieve anything as we all know Charles II eventually did dissolved the Parliament and became an absolute ruler. Heroine, Polly, is sweet and feisty but aimed to high to play games with Buckingham; she failed miserably and paid for it with her body. There are few hot lovemaking scenes but it was wasted on me as I didn’t feel any chemistry between H/h.
It wasn’t a bad read but not great either, let’s put it this way, I am not in a hurry to read the next book …
It wasn’t a bad read but not great either, let’s put it this way, I am not in a hurry to read the next book …
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 1, 2021
Between 3.5 and 4 stars. Well written and the hero was a lot less of a jerk than most, but it got a bit boring at times. I did like that the heroine made decisions for herself and did not let them affect her self worth.
June 11, 2012
The setting is King Charles II's court. Feather has picked one of my favorite kings, so this one is a winner from the get-go. And she homes right in on Charles' worst traits. This is a guy who saw his father deposed and then executed by Cromwell's courts. He lived in exile for decades. When he finally comes back as king, does he recognize the people's concerns? Does he consider Parliament's counsel? Nope. This guy wants what he wants, and after all, he's the king, right? It's really kind of a miracle that England didn't enter another civil war. And of course Charles' court followed his ethics and morals. It's in this context that the story develops.
Heroine: Polly Wyatt is a Newgate bastard, raised grudgingly by her aunt and her aunt's husband, who run an inn and use her beauty to lure witless travelers to their doom.
Hero: Nicholas Kincaid is a member of Charles' court, and part of a small group of men who are trying to reduce the influence of the CABAL* of Charles' closest advisors, who are, unfortunately, more concerned with increasing their own wealth and power than with the good of England. Nicholas happens into the inn owned by Polly's family.
Nicholas escapes with Polly's help, and when he learns that she hopes to become an actress, he sees a possible use for her skills. He intends to groom her to become an actress for the king's theater, a courtier, and his mistress. In a court where men think little of sharing the affections of their mistresses, he hopes to place her among the CABAL where she might hear things that could be of use to him and his friends. He intends to fix her loyalties with him by making her love him. He doesn't count on being caught in his own snare.
The target of their plot, Lord Buckingham, makes for one of the more hateful villains I've come across in awhile. I love that he's a historical personage, and Feather keeps this story well within the bounds of what I know of him**.
The ending is satisfactory, though I honestly disliked the hero's treatment of the heroine throughout the story. He was an SOB at the start, then a coward, then an autocrat. It didn't matter which, he was never particularly concerned with her needs or feelings, but at a certain point I was convinced he did love her. The finale was a little bit too neat, but it ties in nicely, once again, with what history tells us about Buckingham.
Now to the notes:
* CABAL: This is one of the lovely historical facts that Feather slips into the story--did you know the word CABAL has its origins in Charles II's court? The word already existed and linked to the term Kaballah, which has to do with Jewish mysticism. It took on the current context, speaking of a group of conspirators, when Sir Thomas Clifford, Lord Arlington, the Duke of Buckingham, Lord Ashley, and Lord Lauderdale composed Charles II's nearest advisors. The term was an acronym composed of these men's names.
** OK, yes, Buckingham was also probably gay. But he was known as a rake in the court, and did have a lot of mistresses. It would have been expected in that court.
And as a bonus ***, there's a neat little reference tucked away in the book that is much too strange for fiction. It almost has to be the truth. There's a reference to a ball at Lord Lindsey's home, in which a child was born in the middle of a dance. The infant was "caught in a handkerchief," but no woman present admitted to being the mother. Of course, if someone managed to "catch" the baby, he almost had to have his handkerchief beneath a particular woman's skirts, so it's odd that the mother remained anonymous. In any event, as I say, this is too strange to be fiction, and I'm guessing Feather found the anecdote somewhere in her research materials. I wish she'd do notes at the back of her books, as Monica McCarty does, to tell us where she gets her info.
Heroine: Polly Wyatt is a Newgate bastard, raised grudgingly by her aunt and her aunt's husband, who run an inn and use her beauty to lure witless travelers to their doom.
Hero: Nicholas Kincaid is a member of Charles' court, and part of a small group of men who are trying to reduce the influence of the CABAL* of Charles' closest advisors, who are, unfortunately, more concerned with increasing their own wealth and power than with the good of England. Nicholas happens into the inn owned by Polly's family.
Nicholas escapes with Polly's help, and when he learns that she hopes to become an actress, he sees a possible use for her skills. He intends to groom her to become an actress for the king's theater, a courtier, and his mistress. In a court where men think little of sharing the affections of their mistresses, he hopes to place her among the CABAL where she might hear things that could be of use to him and his friends. He intends to fix her loyalties with him by making her love him. He doesn't count on being caught in his own snare.
The target of their plot, Lord Buckingham, makes for one of the more hateful villains I've come across in awhile. I love that he's a historical personage, and Feather keeps this story well within the bounds of what I know of him**.
The ending is satisfactory, though I honestly disliked the hero's treatment of the heroine throughout the story. He was an SOB at the start, then a coward, then an autocrat. It didn't matter which, he was never particularly concerned with her needs or feelings, but at a certain point I was convinced he did love her. The finale was a little bit too neat, but it ties in nicely, once again, with what history tells us about Buckingham.
Now to the notes:
* CABAL: This is one of the lovely historical facts that Feather slips into the story--did you know the word CABAL has its origins in Charles II's court? The word already existed and linked to the term Kaballah, which has to do with Jewish mysticism. It took on the current context, speaking of a group of conspirators, when Sir Thomas Clifford, Lord Arlington, the Duke of Buckingham, Lord Ashley, and Lord Lauderdale composed Charles II's nearest advisors. The term was an acronym composed of these men's names.
** OK, yes, Buckingham was also probably gay. But he was known as a rake in the court, and did have a lot of mistresses. It would have been expected in that court.
And as a bonus ***, there's a neat little reference tucked away in the book that is much too strange for fiction. It almost has to be the truth. There's a reference to a ball at Lord Lindsey's home, in which a child was born in the middle of a dance. The infant was "caught in a handkerchief," but no woman present admitted to being the mother. Of course, if someone managed to "catch" the baby, he almost had to have his handkerchief beneath a particular woman's skirts, so it's odd that the mother remained anonymous. In any event, as I say, this is too strange to be fiction, and I'm guessing Feather found the anecdote somewhere in her research materials. I wish she'd do notes at the back of her books, as Monica McCarty does, to tell us where she gets her info.
December 1, 2018
How many stars are there for perfection ...
Is there a school for historical romance writers ? than this book should be on top of the to read list for the pupils . A perfect blend of an historical setting with a slow growing love and some tense moments when the heroine and hero are in danger .
Is there a school for historical romance writers ? than this book should be on top of the to read list for the pupils . A perfect blend of an historical setting with a slow growing love and some tense moments when the heroine and hero are in danger .
January 10, 2014
OMG! Jane Feather--where have you been all of my life??? LOL
Wow, this book was a nonstop, exciting listen for me. Upon reading the publisher's summary and noticing that Gemma Dawson was the narrator, it was an automatic buy for me. There is something about the quality & texture of Gemma's voice that I really like, and I was pleased to know that she has narrated the complete series (which I'm dying to devour)!
Feather gives us two leads, who are remarkably interesting and who feel real. And, of course they are both drop-dead gorgeous…LOL. Yet, there is something about Feather's writing that invoked visual images for me throughout the plot. For the action filled moments, I kept conjuring up the fast-movement from scenes in Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean. And, when Miss Polly Wyat's enigmatic beauty was described I couldn't help but envision Angelina Jolie & her cunning ability to switch roles & hold the commanding presence of siren upon a crowd, and who is well aware of the power she wields. I really think the easy visualization is a tribute of the fantastic writing in this book, which is so lucid and almost tangible.
The romance begins when Lord Nicholas Kincaid & Miss Polly Wyat escape from a dreary tavern in a gloomy part of London with their lives in tact. Lord Nicholas had fallen prey to Miss Polly's alluring trap, as she served as bait for her abusive uncle to rob and possibly kill him. Both Nicholas & Polly then realize that they are at a marvelous crossroad in which they could be of service to one another to further each their personal agendas (she wants to be a grand actor, while Nicholas saw the advantage of using Polly for espionage in the king's court).
Yet, I thought the real trap lied in how leads formed a bargain with one another as if they were not made of flesh and blood. In doing so, they underestimated the devastating risks, especially when the dangerous Duke they set to deceive had the capacity to beat and crush them at their own game.
The power of this romance is found in the intimacy that bond Nicholas and Polly, at each stage of their relationship. Their love is a passionate, deep, and comfortable one. I loved how Polly drove Nicholas nuts with her daring comments & unfiltered thoughts. She was adorable! And, Nicholas was so patient and just sweet to her. Also, I thought it was funny how he didn't let her get away with her crocodile tears, or shenanigans, which worked on so many (he was on to her…haha!).
This book is a treasure, and the only thing predictable is that there is an HEA…otherwise be prepared to be captivated, at every riveting moment in this book! Loved it! On to the next book in the series!!!!
Wow, this book was a nonstop, exciting listen for me. Upon reading the publisher's summary and noticing that Gemma Dawson was the narrator, it was an automatic buy for me. There is something about the quality & texture of Gemma's voice that I really like, and I was pleased to know that she has narrated the complete series (which I'm dying to devour)!
Feather gives us two leads, who are remarkably interesting and who feel real. And, of course they are both drop-dead gorgeous…LOL. Yet, there is something about Feather's writing that invoked visual images for me throughout the plot. For the action filled moments, I kept conjuring up the fast-movement from scenes in Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean. And, when Miss Polly Wyat's enigmatic beauty was described I couldn't help but envision Angelina Jolie & her cunning ability to switch roles & hold the commanding presence of siren upon a crowd, and who is well aware of the power she wields. I really think the easy visualization is a tribute of the fantastic writing in this book, which is so lucid and almost tangible.
The romance begins when Lord Nicholas Kincaid & Miss Polly Wyat escape from a dreary tavern in a gloomy part of London with their lives in tact. Lord Nicholas had fallen prey to Miss Polly's alluring trap, as she served as bait for her abusive uncle to rob and possibly kill him. Both Nicholas & Polly then realize that they are at a marvelous crossroad in which they could be of service to one another to further each their personal agendas (she wants to be a grand actor, while Nicholas saw the advantage of using Polly for espionage in the king's court).
Yet, I thought the real trap lied in how leads formed a bargain with one another as if they were not made of flesh and blood. In doing so, they underestimated the devastating risks, especially when the dangerous Duke they set to deceive had the capacity to beat and crush them at their own game.
The power of this romance is found in the intimacy that bond Nicholas and Polly, at each stage of their relationship. Their love is a passionate, deep, and comfortable one. I loved how Polly drove Nicholas nuts with her daring comments & unfiltered thoughts. She was adorable! And, Nicholas was so patient and just sweet to her. Also, I thought it was funny how he didn't let her get away with her crocodile tears, or shenanigans, which worked on so many (he was on to her…haha!).
This book is a treasure, and the only thing predictable is that there is an HEA…otherwise be prepared to be captivated, at every riveting moment in this book! Loved it! On to the next book in the series!!!!
February 11, 2024
3,5🌟
En verdad, al principio no me estaba tomando muy en serio este libro y lo que iba a poner en la reseña era un top de mis eufemismos sexuales favoritos, pero a medida que iban pasando cosas ha ido capturando mi atención. Los personajes no me han terminado de caer bien del todo, pero es innegable que están bien construidos y tienen un desarrollo notable dentro de la historia, sobre todo Polly. Lo que no me ha gustado demasiado es lo joven que es: 17 años durante la mayor parte del libro y con un carácter de niña pequeña que es bastante turbio teniendo en cuenta que la facción esta de hombres opuestos a Buckingham (encabezada por el interés amoroso) quieren prostituirla 💀. Ah, no, pero es que se enamoran... Bro, sigue siendo una cría de 17 con un señoro de 30. Stop.
Luego, lo de Buckingham. 💀💀💀. La premisa de las intrigas y el espionaje en la corte de Carlos II es interesante, pero nunca llega a nada. Pierden más el tiempo con las peleitas tontas de Polly y Nick que en construirme una trama interesante y consistente. Lo del final me dejó con el culo torcido. Osea, había mil maneras de tratar ese tema mucho mejor.
El caso es que Jane Feather fue de las primeras escritoras de romántica que leí y a pesar de haber ido refinando el gusto con el tiempo, me puede la nostalgia. Quiero seguir con la serie.
En verdad, al principio no me estaba tomando muy en serio este libro y lo que iba a poner en la reseña era un top de mis eufemismos sexuales favoritos, pero a medida que iban pasando cosas ha ido capturando mi atención. Los personajes no me han terminado de caer bien del todo, pero es innegable que están bien construidos y tienen un desarrollo notable dentro de la historia, sobre todo Polly. Lo que no me ha gustado demasiado es lo joven que es: 17 años durante la mayor parte del libro y con un carácter de niña pequeña que es bastante turbio teniendo en cuenta que la facción esta de hombres opuestos a Buckingham (encabezada por el interés amoroso) quieren prostituirla 💀. Ah, no, pero es que se enamoran... Bro, sigue siendo una cría de 17 con un señoro de 30. Stop.
Luego, lo de Buckingham. 💀💀💀. La premisa de las intrigas y el espionaje en la corte de Carlos II es interesante, pero nunca llega a nada. Pierden más el tiempo con las peleitas tontas de Polly y Nick que en construirme una trama interesante y consistente. Lo del final me dejó con el culo torcido. Osea, había mil maneras de tratar ese tema mucho mejor.
El caso es que Jane Feather fue de las primeras escritoras de romántica que leí y a pesar de haber ido refinando el gusto con el tiempo, me puede la nostalgia. Quiero seguir con la serie.
April 17, 2016
From the *New York Times* bestselling Jane Feather, author of **To Kiss a Spy** and **Kissed by Shadows**, comes a deliciously sensual tale of intrigue and temptation���
The last thing Lord Nicholas Kincaid expected to see in the gloom of a London tavern was a vision of loveliness. And when she led him to a bedchamber with a come-hither smile, there was no question of resisting—until he realized the lying wench meant to render him senseless so the landlord could rob him blind! That’s how the handsome lord made the acquaintance of Miss Polly Wyat, a ravishing beauty he soon decided would make the perfect spy. Unwittingly, she would infiltrate the inner circle at the king’s court. But when Nicholas sets out to bind Polly with chains of passion, he’ll find himself hard-pressed not to be bewitched…or to fall in love.
*From the Paperback edition.*
### Review
"An accomplished storyteller...rare and wonderful."
--*Daily News of Los Angeles
*
*From the Paperback edition.*
### From the Inside Flap
From the *New York Times* bestselling Jane Feather, author of **To Kiss a Spy** and **Kissed by Shadows**, comes a deliciously sensual tale of intrigue and temptation?
The last thing Lord Nicholas Kincaid expected to see in the gloom of a London tavern was a vision of loveliness. And when she led him to a bedchamber with a come-hither smile, there was no question of resisting?until he realized the lying wench meant to render him senseless so the landlord could rob him blind! That?s how the handsome lord made the acquaintance of Miss Polly Wyat, a ravishing beauty he soon decided would make the perfect spy. Unwittingly, she would infiltrate the inner circle at the king?s court. But when Nicholas sets out to bind Polly with chains of passion, he?ll find himself hard-pressed not to be bewitched?or to fall in love.
November 17, 2012
This was one of Jane Feather's older regency romances - published in 1988 - but I loved it. I liked how Lord Kincaid first met Polly Wyatt - down on her luck and needing to get by on her wits and looks - stuck with a despicable aunt and uncle in a low-life London tavern. But the tables turn ... and Polly makes an escape with Nicholas Kincaid ... and gets catapulted into a new and different lifestyle. Nicholas, involved in a little espionage on the side, decides that Polly's obviously fine acting skills might make her a perfect spy for an ongoing situation he's been involved in at the King'd court. ... The rest of the book is a charming adventure of espionage, romance, and mixed up identities ... until it concludes with resolution and a happy ending. A fun read with memorable characters.
April 9, 2017
Námet pre knihu bol dobrý, ale autorka niektoré scény zbytočne rozvláčňovala, čím sa stávali jednotlivé pasáže nudné a podľa mňa zdržiavali dej, iné zasa príliš skracovala. Začiatok bol veľmi dobrý, ako som postupovala v čítaní ďalej musela som iba sucho konštatovať, že z veľmi dobrého sa stáva celkom dobré, z celkom dobrého dobré a z dobrého obstojné a po obstojnom už bol našťastie koniec.
Čo musím ale autorke uznať je, že zakomponovala do deja históriu, vďaka čomu som sa dozvedela pár zaujímavých detailov z kráľovského dvora.
Čo musím ale autorke uznať je, že zakomponovala do deja históriu, vďaka čomu som sa dozvedela pár zaujímavých detailov z kráľovského dvora.
April 25, 2012
This book was originally published as Heart's Folly in 1988 and is actually book 1 in the V series.
A little slow starting but a good book.
A little slow starting but a good book.
August 11, 2021
Mi dispiace dirlo ma questo è il secondo libro di quest'autrice che ho fatto fatica a terminare. Il romanzo fa parte di una saga composta da 8 libri che hanno in comune alcuni personaggi e i titoli che in inglese cominciano tutti con la lettera V.
Questo romanzo ha un titolo azzeccato appunto Venus (o Venere) questo perché secondo la mitologia Venere era anche la dea della bellezza. Ed è grazie alla grande bellezza di Polly (la protagonista di questo libro) che prende il via tutta la vicenda.
Polly ha 17 anni, non ha nobili natali, vive in una taverna come cameriera, è ignorante ma sa recitare e il suo sogno è diventare una grande attrice. Un giorno mentre lavora incontra Nicholas un barone coraggioso, amante della propria patria tanto da voler usare quell'ignara ragazza per eliminare la cattiva influenza di un certo duca sul Re.
La trama è palese sin dall'inizio per cui niente grandi colpi di scena forse quello che più mi ha colpito è che la protagonista per salvare il suo amato decide di sottostare al ricatto che il duca ha in serbo per lei. Di solito la donzella viene sempre tratta in salvo prima che ciò accada.
I personaggi secondari erano numerosi ma niente di eccezionale. Perfino il cattivo, che di solito viene punito, in questo caso riceve solo una piccola lezione al suo orgoglio maschile e poi continuerà a comportarsi come ha sempre fatto. Anzi ho avuto la sensazione che quasi fosse diventato amico del protagonista.
Per quanto riguarda il livello di sensualità seppur alto i protagonisti non copulano spesso.
Ho gradito molto che la scrittrice abbia sorvolato sul periodo in cui la protagonista ha subito violenze da parte del duca. Anche dopo non ha risentito molto della cosa infatti dopo un bagno e il ritorno a casa del suo amato è come se non fosse successo nulla.
La storia per certi versi ricorda My Fair Lady una popolana ignorante che trova un pigmalione che poi la renderà una donna di classe.
Per quanto riguarda la storia d'amore dei protagonisti è trattata in modo superficiale anche perché tutta la vicenda ruota attorno agli affari di Stato (complotti, alleanze, piani e politica) e al mondo del teatro dell'epoca (rappresentazioni, prove e protettori).
Anche caratterialmente i due protagonisti non mi hanno entusiasmato parecchio: Polly è una bambina capricciosa, un burattino nelle mani del protagonista maschile ma che per fortuna cresce (solo alla fine del romanzo) mentre Nicholas è il burattinaio ed infatti anche il racconto della storia è soprattutto visto dal suo punto di vista più che dalla protagonista.
Anche se d'avventura io ho rischiato di morire di noia.
Questo romanzo ha un titolo azzeccato appunto Venus (o Venere) questo perché secondo la mitologia Venere era anche la dea della bellezza. Ed è grazie alla grande bellezza di Polly (la protagonista di questo libro) che prende il via tutta la vicenda.
Polly ha 17 anni, non ha nobili natali, vive in una taverna come cameriera, è ignorante ma sa recitare e il suo sogno è diventare una grande attrice. Un giorno mentre lavora incontra Nicholas un barone coraggioso, amante della propria patria tanto da voler usare quell'ignara ragazza per eliminare la cattiva influenza di un certo duca sul Re.
La trama è palese sin dall'inizio per cui niente grandi colpi di scena forse quello che più mi ha colpito è che la protagonista per salvare il suo amato decide di sottostare al ricatto che il duca ha in serbo per lei. Di solito la donzella viene sempre tratta in salvo prima che ciò accada.
I personaggi secondari erano numerosi ma niente di eccezionale. Perfino il cattivo, che di solito viene punito, in questo caso riceve solo una piccola lezione al suo orgoglio maschile e poi continuerà a comportarsi come ha sempre fatto. Anzi ho avuto la sensazione che quasi fosse diventato amico del protagonista.
Per quanto riguarda il livello di sensualità seppur alto i protagonisti non copulano spesso.
Ho gradito molto che la scrittrice abbia sorvolato sul periodo in cui la protagonista ha subito violenze da parte del duca. Anche dopo non ha risentito molto della cosa infatti dopo un bagno e il ritorno a casa del suo amato è come se non fosse successo nulla.
La storia per certi versi ricorda My Fair Lady una popolana ignorante che trova un pigmalione che poi la renderà una donna di classe.
Per quanto riguarda la storia d'amore dei protagonisti è trattata in modo superficiale anche perché tutta la vicenda ruota attorno agli affari di Stato (complotti, alleanze, piani e politica) e al mondo del teatro dell'epoca (rappresentazioni, prove e protettori).
Anche caratterialmente i due protagonisti non mi hanno entusiasmato parecchio: Polly è una bambina capricciosa, un burattino nelle mani del protagonista maschile ma che per fortuna cresce (solo alla fine del romanzo) mentre Nicholas è il burattinaio ed infatti anche il racconto della storia è soprattutto visto dal suo punto di vista più che dalla protagonista.
Anche se d'avventura io ho rischiato di morire di noia.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 24, 2020
Venus
I’m enthralled by the writing of the master of words-Jane Feather! Her stories transport you to a different time and place and her mastery of the English language is beyond all other authors of historical romance novels!
I loved Polly and Nick’s story set in the Middle Ages. Passions run deep and loyal as the H/h fight to save their love!
I’m enthralled by the writing of the master of words-Jane Feather! Her stories transport you to a different time and place and her mastery of the English language is beyond all other authors of historical romance novels!
I loved Polly and Nick’s story set in the Middle Ages. Passions run deep and loyal as the H/h fight to save their love!
February 1, 2021
Fun simple read!! Great distraction from our lock down situation.
August 28, 2022
Nice novel
April 5, 2023
Read at your peril.
It gives Regency a bad name.
Feather: Do better.
It gives Regency a bad name.
Feather: Do better.
December 10, 2023
Maybe deserves a better rating. But don't remember it at all. OTOH I kept it.
December 18, 2023
Not great. Would not recommend
February 26, 2012
Jane Feather is my all-time favorite historical novel author. I've liked all the books I've read of her so far and "Heart's folly" was not the exception. Polly's character is so charming that you can't but forgive all her mischievousness and simple ways. The book's plot is revelaed in the early beginning, so there's a sort of tension in the following chapters as you wait for the impending unfolding of significant and twisting events. However, the relationship built between the main characters is so loving that the reader can't help but admire Polly's determination that love stands above all.
July 17, 2016
I think...
I can not wait for the next book in this series. I just enjoyed the characters. The beginning seemed slow to me but it did set up the story. Thank you Jane for another good read.
I can not wait for the next book in this series. I just enjoyed the characters. The beginning seemed slow to me but it did set up the story. Thank you Jane for another good read.
February 28, 2009
HEART'S FOLLY
February 24, 2011
Wouldn't rate this as one of JF's best books. Took me a while to become engrossed and the story was a little flat line with no real dramatic feel to it. But I felt it did get better towards the end.
May 25, 2013
Enormously complex but compelling and fully realized. The history and drama are just as fascinating as the romance - perhaps even more so.
September 10, 2013
Plot makes little sense, slightly offensive, characters unendearing
February 20, 2016
This was a very good book, how ever I do wish the author would have done more to make it more interesting. I look forward to reading more of this author's work.
October 24, 2015
Written with a very thespian, old english wording.
A great read, slow going in parts but a fantastic story.
A great read, slow going in parts but a fantastic story.
Read
March 29, 2018Such an amazing book, with great character and elegance.
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