I love Jane Aiken Hodge books and read quite a few of them and have loved them all. This one I liked but found it a bit slow and not as riveting as some of the others I have read.

Having said that it is still a good book and I love the period and the setting, the characters were good and brought some personality to the story. It has a great historical aspect, a fair amount of war and upheaval and a bit of romance.

Overall a good book but not my favourite by this author.

A very enjoyable read that leaves you with the impression that you have gained historical insights into the period. The characters are well drawn and believable and the plot well thought out. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical novels.

The author is my favorite but this wasn't one I would read again. Her novels all have real problems that don't always give the warm happy feelings but this one just made me really sad for the character. As always, it's written wonderfully with such amazing character development.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The writing style, the characters, the plot, the way the author set the scene...all of it was an absolute treat. I review so many books, that sometimes I forget to read a book just for "fun," solely for me and my quiet time. This novel made me forget that I was doing a review at all, and immersed me instead into an entirely different world. An absolute recommend!

Excellent historical novel, with Lady Hamilton in a starring role, and many terrible trials and tribulations for the main character, Helen.
Well worth reading, but with some very disturbing scenes.

Absorbing historical fiction, first published in 1973 and now available as an ebook. This has some of the trappings of historical romance, but it doesn't really have the shape of genre romance.

In the late 1700s, Helen Telfair grows up knowing that she has a secret inheritance from her namesake aunt, assuming that she can reach the age of 21 without falling afoul of the hidden conditions. To preserve her independence, she vows never to marry, because a husband would control of her money. But when her naval captain father takes her to the Mediterranean, circumstances force Helen to change her mind and marry the wealthy Lord Merritt.

They settle in Naples, attending the royal court and the British ambassador and his wife. Helen determines to make the best of her lot, but her husband doesn't make it easy. And neither does the ever-present threat of the French--especially their rising commander, Napoleon.

I first read books by this author a long time ago so it was amazing to find this title.It is beautifully written and well researched.You feel like you are on board a British ship in the time of Napoleon and Nelson..
The female lead is feisty and resilient.Despite the confines of Regency times she thrives in adversity.She is a Jane Austen figure who has fallen from grace through no fault of her own..Elements of Georgette Heyer's writing are here too in Hodges depiction of the aristocracy.. I just love the way Nelson and Lady Hamilton's relationship starts here. It is an exciting read with a quiet love story that finally gives our heroine happiness at the end,
Well worth a read..

Excellent book with a great storyline. Characters that are so well written. I would highly recommend this book to anyone!

This is the third book I’ve read by this author. Her books are slower paced, rich with historical detail, and have well crafted, unique characters. This was no exception. While I enjoyed the story quite a bit, I felt the ending was more abrupt and anticlimactic than other books of hers I’ve read and the story seemed to drag in places. Still a great choice for a relaxing read on a rainy day.

Thank you NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Helen Telfair has an inheritance coming to her, though none of her family or friends knows of it, and for this and other reasons she has determined not to marry. Travelling into the Mediterranean on her naval father's ship for the sake of her mother's health, though, a brutal attack forces her to change her mind and accept a rich and important, though not very bright, man who has been wanting to marry her for most of the voyage. But marriage seems to change him, and not for the better. Taken by him to Naples, Helen unwillingly becomes embroiled in the events surrounding the rise of both Napoleon and Nelson...

Well written and intricate, this book both interested and entertained me. I learnt quite a bit about the happenings of the time period, and was also drawn into the life and trials of Helen Telfair. It's not a quick or light read, but was good for those looking for something a bit more historical and less romantic, though there is definitely still some romance. My biggest problems were the abrupt finish (is there a sequel? it felt almost cliffhangerish) and her attitude towards her son - sometimes they seemed very close, but then she would apparently ignore him for ages. All in all, though, a good read.

Characters: Some I liked, some I hated, some I despised. They were all well drawn, though some were highly unpleasant people - but Helen and a few others made up for it.
Storyline: I'm not sure how to express this, but it felt a bit more like a personalised and expanded history book than a typical novel - a far less straightforward 'story arc' or anything. That being said, I'm not generally a fan of history books and prefer novels, but I found that this had enough personal interest and story that I found it both educational and enjoyable.
Content and language: I would class this book as clean, but readers should be aware that there is a rape scene. However, it is sufficiently vague and non-explicit that I did not find it a problem. As far as I recall, the language was also okay.
Rating: 4.5 stars

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.