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The Spitfire (1992)

The Spitfire (1992)

Book Info

Genre
Rating
3.94 of 5 Votes: 2
Your rating
ISBN
0345375653 (ISBN13: 9780345375650)
Language
English
Publisher
ballantine books

About book The Spitfire (1992)

This is not your typical historical romance. Though it follows some conventions (hero and heroine despise each other at first, they are forced together, then naturally fall in lust if not love) it is mercifully free of my biggest pet peeve, The Great Big Misunderstanding that seems to so stupidly drive apart the lovebirds of so many books of this genre. Though there is something that comes between Arabella and Tavis, the heroes of Bertrice Small' s The Spitfire, it is an issue that has been a source of dissension for them for quite a long time and they are both aware of it perfectly. I welcomed that immensely. Though the characters acted foolishly at times, I was relieved that the author made an effort to give them a halfway legitimate reason to butt heads, not some petty rumor or malicious interference from a third-party that could have otherwise been easily solved with two lines of dialogue.This is purportedly a romance, however the book is at its best when the author immerses the reader in the political and personal intrigues of the 15th century courts of Scotland, England, and France. I appreciated the research and passion that went into it, and how she very entertainingly brought to life real historical figures like Henry VII and Richard III, even if I did not agree with her interpretation of history at times.The author also does a great job of developing the character of the female heroine, Arabella Grey, a relative of both monarchs of England and Scotland by marriage, and the spitfire of the title. The historical romance genre is filled with pigheaded, prideful, foolish women who we are supposed to adore for their feistiness but who often leave me repulsed. Here, while the heroine has pride and stubbornness, they are at least focused on the pursuit of a tangible goal, that of regaining the inheritance that was unjustly stolen from her. While we may not, as 21st century readers, sympathize with her obsession over an arid, little piece of land and the bunch of rocks that pass as its keep, the author does as very good job of communicating why this would be so important to her, not only for herself but for the legacy of her daughter. 15th century Europe had a fair share of strong-willed, ambitious women determined to fight for their rights in the face of impossible odds, from Margaret Beaufort to Anne of Beaujeu and Catherine Sforza. Arabella Grey, for all her shortcomings, is part of that group. She is one of the bravest, most intelligent and interesting heroines in a genre filled with meek beauties surrendering to their captors and being satisfied with marriage and children. Arabella, at least, had more ambition.What I did not like about the book was the purple prose (the men all have imposing man-roots, the women, love grottos). The action is interrupted by random sex scenes so absurd as to be unintentionally comical. Or maybe it was intentional. It's not that I don't enjoy my silly bodice-rippers, I do, but here, they felt out of place, like they were inserted inside the book randomly. The tone did not match the rest of the book, which is more like straight fiction. In any case, those were the weakest parts of the book particularly when they occurred as part of an outlandish sub plot in the third part of the book that seemed to have been pulled straight out of the Angelique series.Readers beware, the ending is not conventional of the genre and while I do not want to give spoilers, just know that it may feel unnecessarily cruel to you. I however appreciated once again that the author remained true to the real life problems that plagued the era and I did not blame her for not giving me a super rosy ending all tied with a bow. Additionally, please be aware that in keeping with the time, the heroine is a young teen-ager dealing with much older male love interests but there is nothing lewd in the way the author handled it. But it may bother some readers who prefer purely escapist fantasies.

This is a very different romance. It's very historical which I am a fan of usually, however this is a very unromantic portrayal of history. I was shocked with the level of violence and brutality displayed within the first chapter. I don't think ill be finishing this book...the biggest thing I have issue with is the extremely young age of the heroine. We meet her at age 12 and after skimming the book I believe this is when her romance begins...something I honestly find weird and disturbing on top of unbelievable. yes, it's a different time but I also as a reader cannot relate to the feelings of a 13 year old girl. I cannot get past how creepy I find the men and hero for pining for her at such a young CHILDLIKE age. Couldn't finish.

Do You like book The Spitfire (1992)?

Reviewed by ReganBook provided by the publisher for reviewReview originally posted at Romancing the BookFor those not familiar with her work, Small has a very different style than other romance authors and tells complex, intricate and sometimes disturbing stories. This one is no exception. It begins with deception and treachery and a Scottish earl seeking vengeance. But it makes some strange twists and turns. To enjoy it, you must adjust your expectations from the typical historical romance to embrace Small’s unique style. If you do, you will plunge deep into the history of the time with well-developed characters whose life experiences are realistic for the era (late 15th century), and the place (the border between Scotland and England and France). She uses long narratives, repeated scenes told through different characters’ eyes, and “head hopping” from one character’s perspective to another when it suits her purposes. Her descriptions of clothing and food are intricate.One has to love the “historical” part of historical romances (which I do), as Small goes into great detail as to what was going on at the time, including the politics. I give her full marks for her deep research. Some of her characters are real historic figures, like King Richard III and Henry Tudor of England, James III of Scotland and his son, Jamie Stewart (James IV), and King Charles of France. They make the story seem more historically accurate and bring these men to life.Finally, you must adjust your expectations for the hero and heroine. In Small’s romances, not all have one love and live happily ever after. Oh, there is a happy ending, don’t get me wrong; this is romance. But it won’t be what you might expect and the heroine won’t always be with the hero. In fact, for long passages they aren’t together. Not all romance readers will like that. In this case, Arabella turns from a moral, headstrong young woman in love with her Scottish husband, and determined to take the right course, to a pragmatic woman four years later who makes some very odd, and seemingly incongruous choices, all for the sake of securing her family’s rundown English estate. Small attempts to explain Arabella’s whoring as understandable. In my view she was only mildly successful in that effort. For those turned off by a heroine’s considerable infidelity, I don’t think you’ll like this one. Then, too, the hero, Tavis Stewart may be a powerful Scottish earl and uncle to a king (I rather liked him at first), but he is too passive when it comes to his spitfire wife, even blaming himself for her bad behavior. It all comes right in the end but only in the usual Small way.Small writes well and weaves an intriguing story. I just don’t think this one is for all, not even all of her fans, which I count myself as one.Warning: The heroine is a part of a menage a trois in one of the later scenes. This is not erotica but that is very strange for a historical romance, though perhaps not for Small.Favorite Quote: “No man, or woman for that matter,” the queen said softly, “should love another person so deeply. When ye love that much, ye are more often than not doomed to disappointment because ye make yer lover someone or something he isn’t. Eventually ye realize it, and then ye must come to terms with that disappointment, Jamie.”
—Romancing the Book

personally i don't like it because i think lady arabella is spoiled and thinks only about herself. she became a whore because she is damn idiot. acting like a a spoiled little girl shows she is immature and idiot but not a brave and a bold women. if she threatened her husband that she is suicide or runaway surely he would have done somethin. but no she went and slept with his nephew and went to France and became a whore. she clearly didn't love her husband or anyone around her but herself. she is damn selfish. IF A MAN TAKE A FOOLISH DECISION IT ONLY AFFECTS HIM BUT WHEN A WOMEN TAKE A FOOLISH DECISION IT AFFECTS HER WHOLE FAMILY. i think god took her child to teach a lesson to her. oh god i m getting all worked up when i think about her.
—Rudhradev

I really liked this book. The year is 1483. Lady Arabella is set marry the kings choice of husband (he's a bad guy) and he comes to live with them before the wedding. Note: she is to young to wed yet. During the time he is there seduces her mother. He had already killed one woman that he seduced that was betrothed to the neighboring Scot Lord.Well on the wedding day, the Scot Lord Tavis Steward steals her away and makes her wed him. She falls in love with him and lives with him for a time, but wants to got back home to reclaim her estate that is her birthright......Lots of things happen to her and him, but in the end they get together but it is a rough road to get there. Typical Bertice book, but I really liked her spirit and his too.
—Mitzi

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