Can love survive when generations of hatred threaten to tear it apart…? Lady Eleanor Hawthorne never planned on falling in love with a Firthley. The Hawthornes and the Firthleys have been enemies since before Lady Eleanor was born, but when Eleanor’s sleigh is stranded in the snow she cannot bring herself to forget her handsome rescuer, even when she realizes he is David Firthley. Likewise David …
Likewise David Firthley finds himself entranced by the sweet violet-eyed girl who trudged through the storm to his doorstep. No matter her family name, he must see her again.
David and Eleanor pledge their hearts at the St. Valentine’s Day Ball, knowing they shall never be allowed marry.
Firthley and Lady Eleanor now find themselves trapped in a web of lies, secret meetings and long lost love letters. They must find a way to end the feud.
But with the truth of its origins lost to time how will their families ever find forgiveness?
Can the hatred of the past truly be forgotten…or are Eleanor and David fated to repeat the mistakes of the past and end in ruin?
A Sweet and Wholesome Clean Regency Romance
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A historical recreation of Romeo and Juliet without the tragic ending but with plenty of tragedy in the story line. A long-standing feud between families, clandestine meetings, hidden agendas, plots and twists. This book has it all!
Clandestine meetings with the enemy, secret missives, careful subterfuge. what’s a Lady to do? What’s a Lord to do? Just what Romeo and Juliet did? Oh, but this is a delightful romance (insert deep sigh here) not a tragedy, although it came pretty close to tragedy, not of the couple’s making but the father’s. I loved the prose that Ms Thorne composed and shared in these pages. Extraordinary. Of course that’s all this couple, Lady Eleanor and Lord Firthley, had was notes and letters to one another since both families had hated one another for over a century. And fortunately we the readers get to bask in the prose. Insert another deep sigh here.
Great book. The main characters are very likable and quirky. David and Eleanor have a forbidden romance because of a misunderstanding that happened between their two families 100 years prior, much like Romeo and Juliet. Their love story is different enough to make it entertaining and not like a rip off from William Shakespeare. This book is very well written!
There are very few love stories that make me cry, and this is one of them. Even though I’m at an advanced age it brought back feelings of a young woman in love. It’s both sad and happy at the same time. I’m so happy for Lady Eleanor and Lord David Firthley. Thank you so much for this memorable story.
The first book in the Hawthorne Sisters series a well written story of forbidden love. Lady Eleanor Hawthorne and David Firthley’s story of a feud between their families and what it will take for them to get their happy ending. There is suspense, drama, danger, and a love that will not be denied. I want to read the next book.
The Forbidden Valentine (Hawthorne Sisters, #1) by Isabella Thorne
Reviewed for Candid Book Reviews
Escape into a fantasy where love is not always beautiful, hate tries to rain supreme and hope is just a heartbeat away. Thorne takes the reality of the present and spit shines it into a captivating waltz of emotions. Eleanor and David are a testament to the power that the heart yields. The Forbidden Valentine shrouds itself with darkness, but little by little finds it’s light. From dangerous drama to heartbreaking romance, both author and her cast of eclectic characters paint an uplifting picture about the healing power of love.
I had a free copy of this book, but this is my voluntary and honest opinion. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The plot was interesting and really kept me turning the pages to see what would happen next. The characters were great. I really liked the plot development. It’s a great regency novel.
Good writing
A very enjoyable read.
I would have enjoyed it more had the spelling and punctuation been better.
Good story and no steamy sex!
One of my favorite phrases from young Betty. Eleanor’s father considerations for what is best for her is missing this most important element. Excellent forbidden regency romance and one of the best ever! So romantic, intense and poignant. David & Eleanor are very well matched, strong, determined and compassionate in spite of their society status. Love these siblings, her sisters and even Matthew and I can’t wait to read their stories especially Betty, she is already so such a romantic at heart and a bit feisty. I also hope David’s cousin gets his story, he’s so supportive and really needs to see the error of his playboy ways, lol.
It was a good book to read, but, before long, you could guess the plot and the ending. Wasn’t the best or worst I have read, just ok.
What a great read! I absolutely love this author, I can’t recommend enough.
Caught in an absurd feud that nobody knows for sure how it started, Lady Eleonor Hawthorne and Lord David Firthley were fighting against all the impossible to make their love bloom and unite their luck. Romeo and Juliet could had used some tips from this couple. A lovely, romantic and amusing story that had me chuckle with the antics of the protagonists. Entertaining descriptions and narrations, drama and a family mystery that kept me intrigued. Love was in the air and Eleonor and David were decided to have their happily ever after. An interesting and entertaining story that I enjoyed.
What starts as an ill fated romance due to a feud be two families (with hate and misunderstandings) ends up happily ever after
A delightfully sweet love story of an 1800’s Romeo and Juliet couple, named Eleanor and David. Nearly a century ago a young lady from Eleanor’s family married a young man from David’s family against strong family wishes. Despite the wedding, it was never accepted by either side. The early death of the young man left the young woman with a child that neither family wanted to claim. Stories mutated over the years, but the hatred between the families remained or grew even stronger, to the point that both families stayed within their own circle of friends. This avoided unpleasant situations that might occur upon the meeting of the 2 families.
It is into this situation the reader is placed to begin the story. A snow storm, a broken sleigh, and old, rheumatic driver set the stage for Eleanor to be the one going for help to the nearest house. She meets a young man coming from the barn in work clothes that she takes for one of the servants. She asks his help in fixing the sleigh, which he kindly does. The driver, the man and Eleanor go back to the house to warm up a bit and give the horse some warmth and rest before they start for home. During the conversation, they discover they are each from the feuding families, leaving them confused as to what they SHOULD think of each other versus what they think and feel about the person they have met, and seem naturally drawn towards.
The young couple each feel out their family for any change in attitude towards the other family. Each family remains deeply antagonist to the other and forbids the young people from even contemplating coming to know each other. Eleanor’s father sets watch over her as he suspects she already has feelings for David. Her brother Robert especially takes it upon himself to keep the 2 apart. Thus, the young couple contrive ways to exchange letters, briefly meet from time to time and determine they do care for each other. It is this journey to come to know each other, learning about themselves and each other that fills out this story.
Eleanor finds letters from the couple from a century ago that explains what actually happened. Despite sending some of the letters to David’s Home for him to present to his family, no opinions are changed. It takes a near tragic shooting, rest of the letters being read by her family before the young couple is finally allowed to marry.
The book is well written and engages the reader from the start and carries us through to the end. There is no cursing nor intimate scenes, making it appropriate for readers of all ages. I do not mean to say that it is directed to young teens, only that it is clean enough for young romance readers.
For lovers of poetry, you will be blessed with poetic passages throughout the book as well as reference to different Shakespearean works. These extra touches make the book stand out as far above the average “Regency Romance” novel, I will certainly search for other books from this author.
The Hawthorne family and the Firthley family have a extremely
old family feud that has been ongoing for ages.
Our main story features Eleanor Hawthorne and David Firthley.
Both are offsprings of the feuding families.
Eleanor’s carriage breaks down during a snowstorm. Eleanor
walks to David’s door for help. Their is immediate undeniable
chemistry between the two at their first encounter although
she hides her identity at first.
Thus begins a well plotted adventure with talented writing.
The characters are complex, interesting, well fleshed out
and colorful.
A tremendous job in description makes the reader a part of
this well-crafted Regency mystery filled with many secrets
and surprises.
This is book # 5 in the Heart of a Gentleman Regency
Romance series. It can be read as a stand alone.
A Highly Recommended Read!!
Can love overcome years of a family feud? Lady Eleanor Hawthorne meets Lord David Firthley when her carriage breaks down in the snow and she goes to his door for help. Of course she realizes he is a Firthley who has been an enemy of the Hawthornes forever. But as fate would have it, there is an instant attraction between the two and as they meet again, it cannot be denied. This was an enchanting story about two souls who would be kept apart in all circumstances. But you need to read to see what happens and I guarantee you will not be disappointed. Another sweet romance by Isabella Thorne that will hold you spellbound until the end..