Splendor Kindle Edition

This was the first real romance novel I ever read. I loved it so much I wore the book to pieces, literally. I lost it several years ago but couldn't remember the title to find it again. I was thrilled when about a week ago I managed to locate it using the character names. I still love it and am looking forward to re-reading it.

Set in Regency London and war-torn Russia in 1812, this is the story of a British commoner and a Russian prince. Carolyn Browne is the daughter of a common bookseller and a woman who left her noble heritage for love. Years later, her mother dead, Carolyn lives above the bookshop with her father. To make money and have her laughs on London society, she writes a gossip column under a man's pen name, exposing the hypocrisy of the upper crust. But then she meets Prince Nicholas Sverayov, a colonel in the Russian army and friend of the tzar. He has come to London forge an alliance between his country and England. He is married to a beautiful princess, who he has not slept with for 5 years because she cheated on him. He never loved her and each has gone their separate ways in the bedroom. They have a young 6-year old daughter who Nickolas is not sure is even his.This story, while well told, raised several problems for me and those are reflected in the low reviews. The hero started to look rather unheroic when, as an older, experienced married man, he seduces the 18 year old virgin--a woman he has no intention of marrying (not that he could). The heroine was also a problem for me. She came across as stupid, though she is supposedly an intellectual. She also comes across as self-righteous. I don't like heroines that are stupid and self-righteous. Disguised as a young man (to sneak into society's galas and gather her gossip, she doesn't even wonder why a much older, worldly Russian prince, known for his conquests with women, would spend an evening with an 18 year old boy? Please. Then, when as a female, that same Russian prince turns his attention on her, she thinks she can outsmart the rake. Please. For all her speeches about morality, she is the one who asks the married prince to kiss her. Eeuwe! She desires true love but has no desire for passion (at least initially), and has no clue as to what attracts men and women. Please...at 18? Then, with all her talk of morality, she sleeps with the married man. Adultery, she acknowledges, is wrong, but she still does it. I didn't like the adultery in the story.Several things were unrealistic. First, a young maiden of 18 would not be allowed to go alone anywhere with a man not a relative, not in 1812. Second, to take a ride in the park with a known, married rake would have condemned her in society's eyes. (And he writes a gossip column about it!) Unless he wanted to ruin her (which he eventually did anyway), he would have met her more discreetly. So there were some unbelievable parts.However, having said all of that, this is an exciting story, especially as the action moves from London to Russia. One of the most skillful things Joyce did was her creation of the 6-year old daughter. She captured well the voice of a child, and the child is endearing. The heroine also seemed to grow a bit as the story moved on though her head was still in the clouds half the time. As one reviewer pointed out...she is chasing a married man across Europe, for Pete's sake. And that is true. She really gets lucky in the end. If you can handle that, this is a worthy read and you won't want to put it down. I'm giving it 4 stars for the truly exciting read (especially at the end) but taking off a star for the annoying heroine (for most of the book).

Great read!

Best book ever written!

Yes, I first read this book when I was 18, and found myself literal crying for the heroine. I mean at 18, I could easily relate to being that age and emotions run rampant. Where you want a love that seems impossible, and that you want a fairy tale romance, and you realize there is fairy tales and then there is reality. This one gives you a nice little mix of both.I love that this book dangles on the reality edge with things not always appearing as they seem. With Nicholas being married and having a child, you know you wouuld think that would send a young girl, especially an enlightened thinker such as Ms. Brown running towards the hills. You would also think that being such an opinionated female, that she would be just fine with a husband like the man who was courting her, Anthony, one that she could talk to about her opinions and have him not say much of anything. BUT! in the end, you realize that her being safe and accepting Anthony would not have been good at all.Carolyn masquerading as a man is not only hilarious but also a break in the same old love story... and plus it puts more of the time era into perspective. Plus it gives reader a chance to take a break into the mind of a woman who realizes that she is a woman but just wants to be equals.Her verbal sparring with Prince Nicolas is wonderful. It shows that she is yes, in fact 19 and young, while he being a man of the world, shows it, but yet does not overpower her. Ms. Brown can fully hold her own.I really enjoy the way Brenda Joyce takes you inside of the mind of both characters. Sometimes, with a lot of novels, and especially romance novels, most of the writing seems so one sided, just from one point of view. And that does not serve for a love story at all. She gives insight from all of the characters, included the estranged ex-wife and Nicolas' brother Alexi. (I love the use of nicknames in this book, it made it so much more personal, like you could get to know the characters one on one).I also appreciate that the Prince Nicholas character is not so dramatically brooding, he does smile and likes nicknames. The fact that he does smile and has a funny bone is a good thing and a good break in humor in such an emotional read.I will recommend this book (and have) to anyone looking at historical romances. This is one of the best!

This is my first book by Brenda Joyce but it will not be my last. and I am very glad that I do not read reviews before I decide what to read becuz some of the reviews here were surprisingly not as favorable as I felt the book was. I thought Nicholas and Caroline were a true tortured couple that kept fighting to survive their love. When I realized what short time had passed from when they first met to the end of the book it is hard to encompass all the difficulties they lived and loved through. I thought both Nicholas and Caroline were beautifully written and their love story a heartfelt one indeed. I will now buy more of Brenda Joyes's novels!!

I read this book many years ago and liked it a lot, so maybe it is different because I grew up, but I was kind of let down. I loved the story and the historical time, but I was so disappointed by the characters and this concept that the guy always has to be this powerful and gorgeous guy etc. and the female somewhat independent, but falling fast in love with him. I like Brenda Joyce, but ..., or maybe it is just me and I am simply too demanding.

I love this book very much and it's one of Brenda's best for me. i love Nickolas and their relationship was just fun to read. great book

Super

It was in brand new condition.Thanks