The Indiscretion

The Indiscretion was a vastly entertaining book. While reading the first half, I was so enthralled with every page that I wanted to laugh out loud for the shear joy of such great writing and sometimes I did! Judith Ivory vividly portrays two seemingly different people who end up finding they have a whole lot in common.Sam Cody is an American visiting Europe and is first presented to the reader in a very drunken state. The previews of this book always seems to portray this drunken cowboy as a real highlight of the book - but frankly, it made me hesitate to read it. And I will tell you now - Sam Cody is only a drunken cowboy for a very small portion of this story. There is so much to him - so many hidden facets that we can't even guess them all. Of course, he is handsome and big and strong with a terrific personality and brilliant wit. Sam is a man with a heart and a conscious and is quite mature for a romance hero. When he finds himself stranded on an English moor with an English woman, he proves to be an excellent provider in the wilds - miles from any civilization. He knows that his companion is obviously a lady but is lying to protect her identity. Soon he discovers many layers to this alarmingly direct and gregarious woman and decides he really has missed life in the wilderness.Lydia Bedford-Browne is the daughter of a viscount and happily unmarried at the age of twenty-four. Her family believes her to be sickly and constantly watches her every move, pouring tonic down her, and protecting her from all potentially harmful situations. Taking a public coach across an English moor without a companion would bring apoplexy upon her family so she doesn't tell them. She is so tired of her confinement and their protectiveness. Stating she is visiting a cousin, Lydia takes off on what she envisions as the greatest adventure of her life. Yes - she is going to ride on that public coach and be totally independent for three whole days. Since her parents are determined to marry her off soon, she believes this may be her last chance to experience some freedom.Lydia's only companion on the coach is a very handsome man who has obviously been in a fight and is suffering from too much liquor. He must be one of those Wild West cowboys she has read so much about. After all, he is wearing cowboy boots and a cowboy hat. She is more than a little bit interested in her fellow traveler although she doesn't know what to make of him. When the coach crashes and he literally saves her life, she starts to see bits and pieces of a most outstanding man. Lydia is very curious about Sam and his American background and asks very direct questions that alternately surprise and charm him. Sam is hesitant to share much personal information with Lydia. He knows she is lying about her occupation and background. While Lydia lies about her background, Sam just withholds information. Thus is the beginning of a very good friendship. Sam and Lydia thoroughly enjoy

THE INDISCRETION by Judith Ivory is definitely a book that'll make you feel deep down good, and quite insatiable when you reach the end! Full of humorous dialogues and uncompromising events, THE INDISCRETION is a top-fun-filled romance not to be missed!Setting: 1899, Devonshire, EnglandLady Lydia Bedford-Browne, a beautiful, but very skinny lady (the author emphasizes this point quite a lot) of twenty-four, has finally found the freedom she's always sought. Three wonderful days on her own, which she intends to spend in London visiting a friend. On the way there, she takes a coach, and it is there we meet the hero of this fascinating story. Her only companion is an American rancher-looking type of guy, Sam Cody, but in actuality is a millionaire. He's beaten and bruised, and quite drunk, the reason for the previous situation is that he just saved a woman from being robbed, and as a result brings the explanation for the latter problem. Because of his heroic gesture, he has missed his wedding with the same bride, for the second time in a row! As they are riding along, the coach takes a wild turn, ends up crashing and leaving the two passengers really in the middle of nowhere. The place where they end up is known as the English Moor, and it is there, the two strangers really get to know each other, and really put their wilderness survival techniques to work. They end up spending four grand nights of passion and companionship, and are rescued by Lydia's maid the next day, whom Lydia was supposed to meet up with upon her arrival in London. Quickly Lydia and Sam make up a false story, to cover up Lydia's reputation, and from then, Sam and Lydia separate. Although Sam understands that Lydia is English, and that he is not noble enough to court a lady of her status (the Queen is her second cousin, and her dad is a Viscount), he still tries. But Lydia plainly states that it is not possible, and her parents will never allow her to marry an American. Well, all sorts of events occur, Sam obviously comes back into Lydia's life, and how, it's actually very funny and quite imaginative of Ms. Ivory! And how he begins to woo her again, is the best part of all. There's also a nice little glimpse of the romance between Lydia's parents, a little "different" or shall I say "unique" romance between her brother Clive and Barnaby, and of course Lydia's talent in archery that brings her a new Women's Archery Record.The neatest part of this novel is the way Judith Ivory develops her characters. Lydia and Sam are just so much fun to read about! Lydia has two personalities, the real her is the one that Sam knows personally, and that is when she is her natural self, all passionate and open, then there is the snobby, yet still sweet Lydia when she is back at home, governed by the English society. As for Sam, well he's Sam! Always angry yet still silly, and messes up every "sentimental" situation he's in, even at one point, he humiliates Lydia terribly in front of all her friend

I've read all Ivory's books, so I'm a fan. This one, like others, explores the rigidity of Victorian England, and its effect on two people. I love that Ivory goes here so often. The true self vs the "normalizing" insistence of what society wants. The long first section on the English moor is lush and lovely, and also where Lydia and Sam can more easily be true to their natural inclinations, and, oh, yum, some of those inclinations. After the moor, they are never able to embrace what Victorian society demands quite so well again, because they see the hypocrisy more clearly. They know themselves better. Lydia in particular tries to go back to her conventional thinking. But, happily, it proves impossible, even opening her up to privately held unconventional views, for instance a tolerance of homosexuality as old as Greece yet believable in a Victorian heroine, if surprising, because the character is more human than a cardboard cut-out of the time period. Lydia finds a kind of humanity that is wonderful to watch happen. She and Sam find love, Sam not just for her but at long last for his smart aleck, down home Texas self. A very satisfying read with a lot of funny dialog as these two stumble into a better sense of themselves.There is a lot of sensuality and sexuality in this one, for those interested or as a warning for those especially not interested. Ivory takes you into your senses, and this is especially true when she writes about the sexual aspect of love. She covers it without a hint of shame, describing the sex act openly, poetically, even humorously. I highly recommend her work for anyone trying to find a healthy way of looking at sex. For myself, her frank love of the physical attraction between men and women is one of my favorite aspects of her books. In this regard, The Indiscretion is probably the most explicit of hers to date, though very romantic, gently done, and particular to the characters' relationship, nothing bizarre or gratuitous, just right there, as detailed as any other description in the book. Be warned or enticed, as the case may be.

Judith Ivory is one of the best romance writers around--her books have lively, multi-dimensional characters, effortless descriptive passages that pull you into the setting, and quirky, inventive happenings that keep you rooted to the story. A championship archer on the lam from her family? A drunken tycoon escaping from an enraged bride? Leave it to Ivory to whip them together, strand them on the moor, make the plot turn around a flapping pair of red longjohns--and make it all believable, and touching. A fabulous book, one to keep you up way past your bedtime and make you smile and remember a certain scene or two, days later.I have one major issue with the book, and that is the modern morality inserted, sometimes jarringly, in a story set at the height of the Victorian age. The heroine accepts pre- and extramarital sex, homosexuality, and illegitimate birth with a cheerful carelessness that feels like Ally McBeal, not Victorian virgin. Especially considering how snobbish and tradition-bound the lady is in other areas, this does not ring true. If you can overlook this slight pull out of the time and place of the story, you will have an unmitigated great time with this book; even with the above flaw, I still give it five stars, because the style, the inventiveness, and the sheer heart in the story deserve it.

I rarely write reviews because others seem to be able to express my opinions better than I can. But this book inspired me...:) The Indiscretion, while not the best title for the book, had me hooked from the beginning. Lydia Bedford-Browne is a wonderful character. She is fun, unpredictable, and when she stands up for herself, you feel like cheering. Sam, the American cowboy, is just yummy and only a bit complex. Sam and Lydia's relationship, especially on the moor, had me sighing and laughing and smiling, and well, not wanting the book to end!This book is full of unpredictable and very humerous moments, but it is the time while Sam and Lydia are lost on the moor that I truly appreciated. So often, authors forget that their characters need to spend time together (outside of ballrooms and other crowded events), before the know they are truly in love. The quiet moments on the moor, reading to one another, discovering one another, made this book for me. Their relationship is steamy, fun and a welcome respite from the tortured relationships in so many other books. If you are a Julia Quinn fan, you will adore Judith Ivory. You will fall in love with Sam and Lydia. You will love this book!