TEST
Of the many romances featuring the Napoleonic war, I can’t recall reading a single one set on the French side of the conflict. This skewed perspective in The Captain’s Forbidden Miss serves as an interesting backdrop for a tale of treachery, distrust, and the forbidden love between a celebrated Captain in the French army and his English captive.
When Lieutenant Colonel Mallington’s riflemen spy unexpected troop movement by the French, they know that word has to be sent to Wellington at all cost. Two men are sent as messengers while the rest hole up in a war-torn monastery to make one last stand in order to give the messengers time to escape. In the process, all Mallington’s men are killed, leaving a mortally wounded Mallington and his daughter, Josie, as the last to face the attacking French. Entering the room where Josie is standing over her father with a rifle, Captain Pierre Dammartine is disappointed to find that his dreaded enemy is already dying, thus rendering him unable to deliver the killing blow himself. Mallington actually seems glad to see Pierre, smiling and remarking that he knew Pierre would treat Josie honorably, since Mallington knew Pierre’s father. With his dying breath Mallingston tells Josie to stand down and surrender to Pierre, and receives Pierre’s deathbed promise to care for Josie.
Thwarted of his revenge and now burdened with the daughter of the man who killed his father in cold blood, Pierre tries to interrogate Josie to find out what Mallington had been doing and why Mallington had murdered Pierre’s father. Having grown up “following the drum” with her father, Josie is fully aware of what even the smallest tidbit of information could reveal, so she prevaricates or refuses completely to answer his questions – except to insist that her father would not have done something so dishonorable. Since he can’t exactly torture a woman who is a lady and the daughter of an officer, Pierre resigns himself to having to travel with Josie until she can be turned over to a higher authority and traded for a French prisoner of war.
As they travel together, tortured by mistrust and unwilling attraction, details slowly come to light that reveal more about what happened that fateful day between Mallington and Dammartine Sr. It soon becomes evident to Josie that there are forces at work against her, and her efforts to enlist the aid of Pierre are met with resistance because of who and what she is. Complicating everything is their growing attraction for each other, which leaves them both feeling traitorous.
Since Harlequin Historicals have been more miss than hit for me the last 10 years or so, I was kind of surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. The protagonists don’t leap immediately into bed; the distrust is no misunderstanding, but a huge and very real obstacle, and while they become victims of treachery, Pierre and Josie are not fools. Historical details are made known, but not in such a way as to overwhelm the story. One thing I particularly enjoyed was the reality. These people are on the road with the army, so sometimes they’re dirty, sometimes they stink, sometimes they’re soaking wet, and they occasionally have to pee.
While I appreciated the fact that the heroine didn’t always smell of roses, or lilys, or whatever your preferred cliche, I did find a bit of the language old-fashioned. For instance, several mentions were made of Josie’s “pale, perfect breasts” and Pierre’s “flat male nipples” (if I’m remembering that part correctly) and the laving thereof. In how many books have we read those exact words? And I object to the title. The word Miss in a regency historical brings to mind white gloves and tea in the afternoon, none of which apply to Josie.
One thing that caught me off guard was the resolution of one of Josie and Pierre’s largest problems. I can’t go into detail without spoiling the book, but I didn’t like the rationalization that allowed the problem to become a non-issue. After a gripping story it made the denouement feel a little weak.
I’m still recommending this book though, on the strength of the main characters and their conflict. Josie is a warrior in her own right, but she can still be scared and vulnerable. Pierre is proud, honorable and stubborn, without being tiresome about it. Their obstacles are big and difficult to overcome. And some of the things that Pierre said to Josie made my heart throb. That warrants a thumbs up from me.
Grade: B
Book Type: Regency Romance
Sensuality: Warm
Review Date: 02/11/11
Publication Date: 2011/09
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Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.