Chivalrous Captain, Rebel Mistress

Love Diane Gaston's books and this does not disappoint. I love a man in a uniform, especially the red coats! The hero is intelligent, caring and the heroine adds the balance to his character and story line that keeps it moving at such a steady pace you do not want to put it down. The story line set in the war with Napoleon is one of my favorite periods. The story line is unique and well developed.

Diane Gaston is one of my very favorite writers, and she did not disappoint. Captain Allan Landon rescues a young boy, who is actually a young woman, Miss Marian Pallant, at Waterloo. An amazing up close look at that world defining moment. They rescue each other, then are separated in Brussels, only to find each other again, later, in London. This is not about Dukes and the rich ton, but a second son and a daughter of a tradesman. A fascinating exploration of human relationships, with that wonderful HEA. Yes, this trilogy is different from her earlier books, but I love that Diane is always exploring new avenues in her writing. She delivers the satisfying HEA with enough time to savor it. It's been fascinating to observe the same event and how it changed those involved from three different points of view. Two down, and one to go. I hope I don't have to wait a whole year for the last one.

Captain Allan Landon, the hero, is my favorite kind of hero (romantic or otherwise): brave, true, faithful, strong, protective, appreciative, considerate, kind, a great lover -- definitely chivalrous! -- in a word, delicious. The heroine, Marian Pallant, has reasons for her rebelliousness and for her mistrust of men, but I loved the story, and can't wait for the next book in this series (based on three friends who all fought in the British Army in the Napoleonic Wars). Gaston's detail about the historical events surrounding the (mis-)treatment of returning/wounded soldiers during that time mirrors some of the less-than-stellar medical treatment (including that for PTSD)which is happening in the US in 2010. Marian feels connected to the wounded soldiers, having helped to treat (as best she could) some of them in Belgium before and after Waterloo -- she even helped move (drag -- it was realistic!) some seriously wounded soldiers from a burning outpost, saving their lives. Allan wants to help her, of course, as he's been a career soldier and has been wounded as well, but he doesn't think demonstrations (Marian's idea) are the best way. Demonstrations lead to riots: a riot got his own father killed. Gaston weaves the story of the growing love between the two main characters skillfully, with her characteristic beautiful prose and imagery, and with her historically faithful idioms of speech, which transport me to that time period. Her attention to detail is one of the main reasons I love her books, and I always wonder how she is going to get the two lovers together in the end-- she does it, and it's so satisfying. Brava!