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Elizabeth Thornton

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The Passionate Prude Kindle Edition

by Elizabeth Thornton (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.0 114 ratings

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A scandalous entanglement traps a woman of virtue in an unforgettable Regency romance from the bestselling author praised as “a major find” (Mary Balogh).

When word reaches Deirdre Fenton that her brother is pursuing the notorious actress Mrs. Dewinters, she immediately sets about extricating her incorrigible sibling from his latest folly. But her brother has gone too far this time for his—or Deirdre’s—own good. For Mrs. Dewinters is under the powerful protection of a war hero, the Earl of Rathbourne . . . the very man Deirdre had summarily rejected years before. And the Earl is not a man to forgive an insult—or forget a lady as passionate as Deirdre Fenton . . .

If Rathbourne has learned one thing during his years fighting on the Peninsula, it is to get what he wants by means fair or foul. Now he has Deirdre right where he wants her: at his mercy.

“A major, major talent, Ms. Thornton takes her rightful place as a genre superstar.” —RT Book Reviews

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07NDS7XXD
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Diversion Books (January 25, 2015)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 25, 2015
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 2722 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 490 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #428,006 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #1,461 in Historical British Fiction
- #2,300 in Historical Regency Fiction
- #9,000 in Regency Historical Romance

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4.0 114 ratings

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4 out of 5

114 global ratings

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Cphe

The Passionate Prude.

Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2015

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I read this years ago when it was published as To Love An Earl and enjoyed it immensely and was overjoyed to see many of this authors backlist being made available for kindle.

This is a " bodice ripper", it isn't PC not by any means. The relationship between Deidre Fenton and Gareth Cavenaugh is passionate and fiery, no holds barred. Each is strong willed and determined.

Gareth was staunch in his feelings for Deidre, he knew that Deidre was the only woman for him and he would go to great lengths to have Deidre by fair means or foul. His love for her never wavered. Deidre managed to lead Gareth a merry chase before acknowledging her feelings for him.

I loved this old "bodice ripper", I loved the chemistry, spark between Gareth and Deidre. the repartee between them. They were a well matched couple. Loved the time period.

My only gripe with the novel over all was that it got a bit bogged down about two thirds of the way through but the ending more than made up for it.

4 people found this helpful

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Callie

More a 3.5 star book

Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2015

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I have read six of the author's books but I did not like this one as much. .Deirdre Fenton was going to marry the Earl of Rathbourne five years ago .she thought he was with his mistress still and left him. Five years later she has come to save her brother from Mrs.DeWinters the same woman and an actress. Armand her brother were in competition with the Earl for her. Deirdre had tried to take care of Armand as if he was her son she could not tame his gaming or womanizing he would do that on his own later in the book.She runs into the Earl five years later . He had been fighting the war on the peninsula for years. I did not feel the romance they stayed mad and angry most of the book. Deirdre was to blame she acted as she didn't care but she was jealous of the actress.Mrs..De Winters was around a lot the Earl even asked Deirdre to make friends with her. The book had a lot about the war and the battles and the Earl was involved in spying. Her brother fell for the Earl's sister and this caused more problems.the twist to the story was straightened out in the end the villain was exposed. I just did not think the book was up to the author's standards. I Thought it was just ok no more than a 3.5 book. I have two more of hers to read hope they will be like the ones I read before.

One person found this helpful

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Sunny Apfelbaum

so very good..

Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2015

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so very good...she is a great writer and a page turner - always has very good stories with an adventure.

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Robin

Couldn't finish reading this one

Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2014

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What good is a romance novel if you dislike the main character? I thought the heroine was a shrew with no redeeming features. What did the hero even see in her? There's a wonderful book by Rose Tremaine called "The Way I Found Her". The main female character is a romance writer named Valentina. At one point, Valentina tells the young protagonist that a novel is meaningless if you don't care about the characters... and "The Passionate Prude" ("To Love an Earl") is an excellent example of just that.

5 people found this helpful

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Sumi

Old style regency romance

Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2015

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Vintage regency romance with minor suspense. Fans of Johanna Lindsey, Judith Mcnaught will like it.

Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2006

This is one of her very early novels and put Elizabeth Thornton in my "Must Read" authors. If you like poignant love stories you'll like this one.

One person found this helpful

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Nell

Skip this one.

Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2015

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I did not really like this book. I thought the heroine was a termagant and found nothing likeable about her. As far as I am concerned, the hero was a stalker with a vicious temper. What kind of a romance has two mad/angry people. This was not a healthy relationship.

2 people found this helpful

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Mock Turtle

Blueprint for abusive relationship

Reviewed in the United States on August 27, 2015

In the vein of "Whitney, My Love" and other bodice-rippers.
If you don't mind the fact that the "Hero" rapes, hits, mocks and stalks the woman he loves, this might be the book for you!
Some of the repartee, historical background and secondary characters are interesting (hence 2 stars). However, the heroine is stubborn and at times downright stupid and the hero's supposed devotion is almost psychopathic. He demands too much respect and trust too early on in the relationship.
When a man becomes violent and then comforts his victim afterwards with "you shouldn't make me so angry", I have warning bells going off left, right and centre...It's a real shame, because I really wanted to like Gareth.

7 people found this helpful

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Alison10

This is a long, emotional story, which deserves to be savoured.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 23, 2015

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This is the third Elizabeth Thornton book that I have read, and it is up to the very high standard of the other two. The writing is good and the historical details are wonderful. I have read a bit about the Battle of Waterloo, and nothing jarred in her presentation of the days before, during and after the conflict.

Ms Thornton's heroes are a little different from many other Regency ones. They are passionate, but also arrogant veering into cruel. I find myself having a bit of a love/hate relationship with them, although the love side has won the fight by the end of the story! In this case, Gareth is a clever, competent Intelligence Officer in the British Army. He has fought during the Peninsular Campaign, returned home during the Peace of Amiens, and then is hauled back again after Napoleon escapes from Elba. His job is dangerous and he requires to be forceful and hardheaded - which he is in spades. The problem is that he brings these characteristics into his personal life. He is also an Earl, wealthy and profligate, with a history of liaisons with actresses and demi-mondaines.

Five years before the beginning of the main story, he falls completely for a young, beautiful and temperamental woman, Deirdre. Due to events in her childhood, she abhors men who dally with women, and particularly those who are not faithful to their wives. Although as a young nineteen-year-old she is very attracted to him, she sends him packing, with very hard words, when she finds him with a lightskirt at Vauxhall Gardens. He heads off to war in the Peninsula totally broken-hearted. Five years later, he meets up with her again - just as smitten, but now determined to win her by fair means or foul. Deirdre's younger half-brother is also a bone of contention between them: although he is only four years younger than her, she protects him like the mother she has felt herself to be. Gareth believes Armand needs to be taken in hand to make him grow up and take responsibility for his wild friends and gambling. Add to the mix a small but voluptuous actress who seems to have been part of Gareth's past, and now appears to also be part of his present.

The good length novel centres around this sparking relationship between Gareth and Deirdre. It moves from London to Brussels, and the period is brought very much to life. I spent two days glued to my Kindle, deep in the tale, to the detriment of many things I should have been doing! I now see that there are many other of Ms Thornton's novels in e-format, and will be looking to read more of them. I would very definitely recommend this book. Do not expect a light-hearted novella-type tale. This is a long, emotional book, and deserves time to be savoured - and probably re-read fairly soon!

Gwen

Four Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 19, 2015

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Very exciting book

One person found this helpful

Regency Belle

Kindle Version - AT LAST!!!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 2, 2015

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Thank you so much. After a great deal of time, this wonderful author's early books are available on Kindle. What a treat for new and old readers alike. You may have guessed by now that I am a Elizabeth Thornton fan and this book in particular is my absolute favourite Regency romance ever, well alongside books by Mary Balogh, Gaelen Foley, Lucinda Brant, Teresa Grant, CS Harris and Jane Lark (please read, as if you love the Regency period then you will love their work ). Great characters, entertaining dialogue, historical accuracy with wonderful descriptions of the romance between the two key characters. The plot is simple, two strong willed people meet up again after a break of several years. She refused his original offer of marriage and he went off to fight Napoleon. Now the war is over and they meet again but he is still the dominant, alpha male she refused to marry and he is determined to make her his countess. Sparks fly - thrilling romance to the very end.

One person found this helpful

Dr Helen M Rainford

I love Regency romance - and am quite the voracious reader ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 4, 2016

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Firstly, I love Regency romance - and am quite the voracious reader but have never written a review before.
So the fact that I am compelled to write about this book shows really how much I disliked it.
There was NOTHING to recommend the H. I found his behaviour so distasteful. I have no problem with the H being a forceful personality and being tall dark and moody. But this H, and I loathe to call him a H, was aggressive, angry, abusive and manipulative. I really struggled to read the book after the 'seduction' scene as it was not seduction it was more along the lines of a 'force' as she had no option. The book then just really dragged for me. I struggled to read it and I also found the h to be totally unbelievable and her blind devotion to a pathetic brother.
Please don't waste your money.
I would not buy another by this author- unfortunately bought 2 of hers at the same time but no more

joan fowke

i am not amused, previously issued as "To Love an Earl", I hate buying the same thing twice under a different name, even the pag

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 14, 2013

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I was not amused, I hate to buy the same thing twice, it was previpusly issued as "To love an earl", even the page numbers are the same!

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