Compromised

The book started out giving me a bit of a strange and icky feeling with Max liking Gail's sister Evie first and kissing her, I just like my romances to keep it out of the menage a trois family arena I guess.
I love, love, loved the small bit of Gail's intelligent passion about British taking artifacts from other countries and in her eyes stealing from their cultures, so refreshing and endured the character of Gail to me heartily. By adding this part of Gail's personality is how characters become real and I start to visualize them in my mind, it's about going this small extra mile (take note authors).
Awesome scene: Gail and Max are in the British museum and she complains about the Greek statues being stolen and Max points to a lower class show more little girl and says people who aren't advantaged would otherwise never be able to see them, then they are quiet for a while and then Gail starts to assert her point again I love how Max interrupts her sighs, and then says "Let it go". (By the way I stared into space for about 5mins here thinking about their argument and who I thought was right. I originally agreed with Gail but then Max pointing out the little girl turned me a bit. I still don't know how I feel about it…but I must move on, nerdiness over) This brief subtle scene hit such a cord with me. After I read this I swear there was an audible ding sound as if this was the moment Gail and Max's relationship became real for me. This was definitely the moment I started to become quite intrigued about their relationship and hoped this was a turning point in the book and looked for more interaction between the two.
Although the story was absolutely predictable from Max and Gail to Will (Max's friend, who actually could have played a bigger part, even interrupting Gail/Max and I wouldn't have minded. I never say that!) and Evie (Gail's sister) the way Gail was written was fresh and titillated me. Gail was an intelligent, strong willed, and insecure girl. She wasn't completely captivating in her looks, a swashbuckler who wore pants, or a diamond of the first water who flaunts society but refreshingly average in her unconventionalism; awesome character.
Powerful writing when Max's father dies and Gail goes to his apartments to comfort him. I don't know if I have ever read a scene such as that one where the male lead character breaks down in such a heartbreakingly beautiful way and it is the female lead character's strength which shines through.
The tone of the book was uneven at times, seem to be warring between being a serious book and a hokey kind of humor, the writing didn’t blend and flow as easily as it could have I think.
The character of Gail is one of the best (if not #1)female leads I have read in '09. Gail had an inner strength paired with a sweetly sympathetic vulnerability I loved. When Max's father dies a weakness rarely shown in a male lead's character utterly captivated me (again, take note authors) and created a beautifully compelling scene. There were other smaller flashes of brilliance for Max but on the whole he was kind of just another London Lord. In the end it was a good book but not a keeper because of the unbalance, tried and true story line, and lack of a certain je ne sais quoi.


Oh and I almost forgot what in the world was with Gail's ratty old brown riding hat?!? There was a big deal made out of it and then nothing, why was it so important to her? Grrr, another unsolved mystery, if someone knows tell me maybe I missed it!!!

B show less

This was harmless enough but the dialogue (even down to the swearing) was totally wrong for the period and much of the behaviour of the characters was also completely inappropriate. I had hoped for something like Georgette Heyer, but was disappointed. There was little humour and I don't like heroes who lash out like small children.

Compromised by Kate Noble is a really fun historical romance novel. It is the type of book that, as you read, gets more and more frustrating and you want to yell at the characters to "FIGURE IT OUT ALREADY!" I love the type of plot line in which the characters are determined to do (or be) one thing, as the reader is quickly made aware that they should be doing the opposite. I think it's a really great way to get readers invested in the character's lives incredibly quickly - you can't help but want to see how long things take to get right!

Max Fontaine falls into insta-lust with one of two sisters, Evangeline. He falls into insta-annoyance with the other, Gail. He and Evangeline quickly find themselves in a compromising position that show more forces him (although he is, in fact, willing) to propose. As they try to get to know each other, Gail is always along for the ride acting as her sister's chaperon. Max eventually discovers that Gail's personality might be even more alluring than Evangeline's beauty - but it's too late to do anything about it. Right?

Like I already said - this was so much fun to read. Gail's personality really is very addictive: she is extremely witty and hilariously abrasive. Evangeline was a little harder to like, just because her character was much more subdued....but she is by no means a villain. Max's character had to grow on me a little bit, since he was initially so shallow (immediately thinking he loves Evangeline just because she is beautiful). However - it's really hard not to fall for him after seeing his reactions to being in Gail's company. It isn't just their chemistry that's electric - the way their personalities switch between clashing and melding is very charming to read.

Overall, this novel is very appealing: lighthearted and fun. The characters will quickly grow on you and you'll have to keep reading to find out how their stories turn out! If you're a fan of historical romance, Kate Noble is definitely a must-read author. show less

Too many plot-holes, historical goofs and anachronisms in this patchwork of story elements taken from dozens of other historical novels. The narrative works because of the strong characterisation and (for the most part) skillful pacing.

I’m a sucker for strong-willed, opinionated blue-stocking heroines, but when the protagonist of this book suddenly bursts out with ‘Bullshit!’ (which the OED records as appearing nearly a century later) the bubble of suspended disbelief pops loudly.

Right at the end, the author suddenly adopts a twee ‘Dear Reader’ voice that it totally unnatural and unnecessary—apart from providing an excuse to add another dozen or so pages.

An enjoyable read, but so many other authors have done the same thing show more so much better, so many times. show less

Quite refreshing - a romance in which the two main characters fall in love over the course of a month, rather than in an instant! Their falling in love is believable, the chemistry delightful, and the banter charming.

I also love the fact that they don't fall into bed right away - historical romances often have the characters do so, and I always wonder how much opportunity debutante Victorians actually had to get 'compromised'...

"Compromised" was a light romance from new (to me) author Kate Noble. It's very much a regency romp with the added fillip of a touch of extra heat not normally found in your average regency. At 375 reading pages in trade paperback size, it's not exactly a quick read but I didn't find it hard to finish.

Gail is the smart daughter, the tall daughter, the daughter in the shadow of her classically beautiful sister Evangeline. Her father's job kept them moving from country to country in service to England and now they're finally returning home with their new-ish stepmother to be launched into society and find a match. Gail's brains don't, however, protect her from wild horses or spiteful scoundrels and when one scoundrel spikes her glasses of show more punch at her coming out ball, it sets into action a train of events that leads to her sister becoming secretly betrothed...to a man Gail dislikes...intensely. Of course, in regencies, dislike leads to love and so it goes in "Compromised".

Maximillian has received an ultimatum from his controlling, yet sickly, father. Marry within three months or he will only inherit what his father can't get rid of--leaving Max land rich and cash poor and possibly beggaring the estates. Max doesn't much care about one new debutante over another until he succumbs to the moonlight and ends up secretly engaged to the sister of the aggravating woman who inflames him like no other...in every way.

Even though I knew where the plot was headed, I enjoyed the journey. For a debut romance novel, Noble's sense of timing and dialogue kept me entertained. It did have a few roughish spots, but nothing that pulled me out of the story or the plot. A light romance with comedic elements that worked great for an afternoon read. show less

Well, I did finish this... But I'm getting tired of these books that describe a modern woman in sort of historical setting. I do like Kate Noble's writing, but I just need my historical fiction to be historical. Or at least historically believable. I think I will stick to contemporary romance for a bit...