Saturday, September 3, 2011

Guest Review - - Valiant Officer, Beautiful Enemy

Valiant Officer, Beautiful Enemy
By Diane Gaston
Publisher: Harlequin
Release Date: August 23, 2011



Valiant Soldier, Beautiful Enemy is the conclusion to Diane Gaston’s Three Soldiers Series, following Gallant Officer, Forbidden Lady and Chivalrous Captain, Rebel Mistress. Those who read the first two books will be familiar with Captain Gabriel Deane who came to the aid of Emmaline Mableau, a French woman who was nearly raped after her husband had been killed and her young son threatened during the barbarity that followed the Battle of Badajoz in 1812.

The beautiful widow made a lasting impression on Gabriel, and when the two meet again in Brussels three years later, they become lovers. Gabe, who has spent the greater part of his life as a soldier, begins to dream of leaving the military and building a life with Emmaline. But Emmaline’s son, whose bitter hatred of the British has grown in intensity in the years since he saw his father killed, stands between them. Even Gabe’s rescue of young Claude after Waterloo is not enough to give Gabe and Emmaline a happy ending.

Two years later Emmaline appears in London to plead for Gabe’s help in preventing her son from killing the officer he holds responsible for his father’s murder. Gabe once again commits to saving the son who is the person Emmaline loves most, the one she chose over a life with Gabe.

Gabe is a wonderful hero. It’s refreshing to read about a hero whose blood is not blue. He is a merchant’s son with no claim to the title of gentleman, but he is gentil in the Chaucerian sense—generous, chivalrous and brave, a man with a sense of honor that runs deep. Inarticulate when it comes to expressing his feelings, his actions prove his love over and over again.

I am less enthusiastic about Emmaline. I can appreciate her devotion to her son, and when she rejects Gabe because of her son, I was sympathetic. Claude was still quite young. He had been traumatized by seeing his father die and by war. Her guilt that she allowed her husband to pressure her into accompanying him to Spain and bringing their son adds to her love and sense of responsibility. But her willingness to view Gabe, after all he has done for her and for her son, through the distorted lens of her memories of her domineering husband was for me inexcusable.

There was so much in this book that merits praise. In addition to creating an unforgettable hero, Gaston does an excellent job of showing the reader Claude’s anger and confusion and need to hold someone responsible for the horrors that propelled him too soon into manhood. Some of my favorite scenes were those that showed him as the young man he would have been in different circumstances, one with a passion for horses, falling in love with a beautiful young woman. I believe Gaston has further plans for Claude. I hope so.

I was also pleased with Gaston’s handling of the villain. Since I’m avoiding spoilers, I’ll just say I prefer the reaping of harvests sewn to the execution of revenge. The integration of characters from the earlier books into the story was another plus for me. Blame the missing star on Emmaline.

~Janga

11 comments:

  1. I have CHIVALROUS CAPTAIN, REBEL MISTRESS and am waiting to get the other two before reading the series. I have liked the blurbs on all of the books. The excerpt for this one I have read shows what a sensitive, nice guy Gabe is. You can tell Emmaline cares for him and that Gabe asks about her son. I will be curious to see how this story plays out.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I have not ready any books from this series yet. I must.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks, Janga! I'm a long-time fan of Gaston's writing but haven't started this series yet. Looking forward to it!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I have not read any of this series as yet, but am intrigued as to how Ms. Gaston handles the loyalty to her son and to Gabe. Her son's hate is not healthy and hopefully something will happen to prove to him that not everyone from a particular country is bad. I'm looking forward to catching up on this series. Thank you for the great review.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks, another wonderful review!

    I first started reading Diane Gaston as Diane Perkins, her book was THE MARRIAGE BARGAIN. Then I just had to track down THE IMPROPER WIFE, her only two books as DP.

    I have followed her since, I truly enjoy reading her books.

    I have the first two books of The Three Soliders series, which I also enjoyed, now to start Gabe's story.

    His book is the one I have been waiting for.

    Have a great Sunday!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I missed this series somehow so thanks for the review...I'll add it to my list

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'm a long-time Gaston fan too. My friend Manda raved about her Diane Perkins books, and I started reading her then.

    Those of you who are enjoying the current series should note that The Liberation of Miss Finch
    a Harlequin Historical Undone eStory will be available in October. It's the story of Claude (the son in VOBE) and Louisa Finch (the young woman who befriends him)and his reconciliation with his mother and Gabe. I can't wait to read that one.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Great review, Janga. I read and enjoyed the first book in this series and have the second in my TBR pile. I'll be adding this one to it on my next trip to B&N. :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Great reveiw, I think i have read one book for this series and really enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thanks for the great review, Janga! I read the book that comes before this one in the series and enjoyed it. Adding this one to my list. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi, Janga, thanks for another terrific review. I have to admit that I am not familiar with this author and her work. Even though I read a great deal there is no way to read everything I would like. Reviews like yours and the rest of The Dishes help in pinpointing the best from the rest!

    ReplyDelete