When the Marquis of Amberley’s coach is waylaid by highwaymen and his coachman shot, he is forced to take shelter at the first house he finds and is subsequently trapped there for a week by a severe snow storm.Oakleigh Manor is the home of Rosalind Vernon who lives alone but for her devoted servants and an ill-natured parrot, cut off from the outside world by the tragic result of a childhood … childhood accident. But Rosalind is brave and bright and totally devoid of self-pity – and it is these qualities which, as the days pass and the snow continues to fall, touch Amberley’s heart.
On his return to London, the Marquis persuades Rosalind’s brother, Philip, to bring her to town for a taste of society, despite her handicap. But the course of Amberley’s courtship is far from smooth. Philip Vernon actively dislikes him; Rosalind appears to be falling under the spell of the suavely elegant Duke of Rockliffe; and worse still, Amberley is haunted by a dark and terrible secret that, if revealed, may cause him to lose Rosalind forever.
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A perfect blend of sparkling, witty dialogue, engaging and well-written characters and wonderful romantic chemistry make this such a lovely story.
Amberley is honourable, charming, intelligent and kind-hearted with a great sense of humour – all the qualities I love in my heroes – although he is foolishly inclined to let society believe the worst of him, a folly which is to have unforeseen consequences for him later in the story.
Since being blinded in an accident, Rosalind has lived in Oakleigh Manor for the past 12 years, with only the servants and a temperamental parrot for company. She is loved, protected and shielded from the world at large, rarely going out beyond the grounds of the house. Rosalind is such a lovely heroine, charming, funny and never wallowing in self-pity.
The romance between Rosalind and Amberley is so beautifully written and I could see how perfect they were for each other and watching Rosalind blossom under Amberley’s influence was one of the highlights of the book for me. I defy you not to fall in love with Amberley just as Rosalind does. One of my favourite scenes is where Amberley teaches Rosalind to dance and realises he has fallen in love with her.
Inevitably, the course of true love does not run smoothly as past secrets, misconceptions, a malicious schemer and Rosalind’s implacable brother threaten their happiness. I feel that Ms Riley resolved the conflict in a most satisfactory way and it was so refreshing to see a heroine willing to love the hero regardless of past tragic events.
I like how the secondary characters are not just there to pad out the story but have an important role to play.
It is clear that Rosalind’s brother, Philip, loves his sister and only wants the best for her. What he fails to understand is that by wrapping her up in cotton wool, he is depriving her of the opportunity to live life to the full.
I wasn’t sure about Philip’s fiancé, Isabel, but she turned out to be quite a dark horse. Beneath her unassuming manner, she has real strength of character but is vulnerable when it comes to matters of the heart. I like how she sees Amberley’s true character and is able to influence Philip’s opinion in a quiet, subtle way. I also enjoyed seeing Philip suffering pangs of jealousy and coming to realise the depth of his feelings for Isabel. I also enjoyed seeing the friendship developing between Isabel and Rosalind.
I adore Amberley’s French mother and it is easy to see who he inherited all that charm from. She is charm personified and I love how Ms Riley captures that delightful French lilt in her voice too.
Isabel’s brother is a selfish, spineless, manipulative coward and I was pleased to see him get his just desserts although maybe not as harsh as he deserved.
I enjoyed the camaraderie and witty banter between Amberley and his friends, the Duke of Rockliffe and the Honourable Jack Ingram. It is clear to see that a close bond exists between the three of them.
Last, but not least, I LOVE Broody, the parrot. He steals every scene he appears in with his disdain for everyone except Rosalind, and his ribald language. He is just hilarious and I love the seed battle between him and Amberley.
I am really impressed with Ms Riley’s writing whether it be her wonderful descriptive flair, her ability to convey real emotions or the wonderful moments of humour.
MY VERDICT: ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTFUL AND A BOOK I CAN DEFINITELY RECOMMEND
This if the first in the Rockliffe Series by Stella Riley. These are brilliantly-written Georgian-era romances reminiscent of Georgette Heyer. Fabulous characters, great plots! If you want a gripping historical romance to whisk you away from the present, this series is for you.
This is a series of very delicious books following a close knit group of friends and their various lives and romances. Her characters are original, funny and intriguing, she writes beautifully and it is a pleasure to read her books. Complex characters in real situations, with a very wide range of emotions and opinions. Her books have substance and Wit and I highly recommend them
I loved, absolutely loved, The Parfit Knight by Stella Riley. I’m a picky reader. I almost always find something to quibble with even in books I like a lot: an odd word choice, a bit of clunky writing, a grammatical problem, typos, plot silliness, repetitive sex scenes that don’t advance the story. I couldn’t find a thing to annoy me in The Parfit Knight.
How many ways did I love it? Let me count them:
It reminded me of Georgette Heyer’s 18th century romances: The Black Moth, These Old Shades, and Devil’s Cub, three of my favorite Heyer novels.
Ms. Riley captured the flavor of the time, something not all writers of historical romance manage to do.
The characters were compelling. I ordered the next two books in the Rockliffe series before I finished the first (in fact, after the first couple of chapters).
The writing carried me along with no awkward moments when I had to pause and ask myself what the writer meant by a badly constructed sentence, or cringe at a bit of modern slang.
The Parfit Knight also kept me up well past my usual bedtime.
If you like Georgette Heyer’s novels or well-written historical romances without explicit bedroom scenes, this one is for you.
I loved this entire series ! in fact, I love everything S. Riley has written!! If you want a story & a true historical account of England’s civil war, this is for you! The relationships of the characters is true to life & gripping! Reminds me of our own war with the ‘ friend against friend ‘ theme. I have read these several times -Excellent!!