An Affair of Honour

The Schuylers #5

by Paula Marshall

London in the 1920s. Clare Windham had jilted her fiance without explanation and been ostracised for it. What malign stroke of fate had brought the past back to haunt her in the shape of Ralph Schuyler? It seemed her life was in danger, and Ralph was trying to save her - but who could tell with this secretive man.

352 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Paula was born in Leicester and grew up in Nottingham. After finishing school, she was employed as a research librarian, and studied for her library examinations after work.

Paula has three children, and when the third started school, she returned to work, beginning a new career as a part-time lecturer in English and general studies. After four years of teaching, it became necessary for her to gain a degree, and Paula did just that. She enrolled in the open university and spent the next four years earning a first class honors BA in history.

Reviews

[Preeti ♥︎ Her Bookshelves · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book gives a peek into the newly permissive lifestyle of the 1920s and also the intrigue of the pervasive underground spy networks post the Great War. It also has a P G Wodehouse feel to it and the author does allude to it directly as she has the H playfully portray Bertie Wooster complete with his man Jeeves a few times. – And I completely digged it!

The h/H are quite lovable and complement each other. I liked the way their relationship and feelings develop slowly but surely and believably.

The h is not truly a ‘flapper’ neither a ‘bright young thing’ but certainly is all cool grit and spine without being cold or unbending. She’s had a tough life in recent years after being ostracized by her family and society when she canceled her wedding to a wealthy and suitable ‘Boy,’ just two days before the ceremony. He commits suicide and she never gives her version.

The h/H meet 5 years after this at a party (where she’s been invited by an old friend more out of morbid curiosity than actual friendliness) and immediately spark off.
He’s an odd sort himself – a dirty secret son of an influential family, a war hero and now a counterspy, ostensibly living the life of a lazy ‘poodle faker’.

Their lives collide and merge, after mysterious deaths and shadowy enemies plague them. She thinks he’s a gentleman to care so selflessly for her safety, when he’s only using her for information and a probable future bait. They marry as he convinces her that’s the only way out till the inevitable misunderstanding crops up followed by the faithful abduction-chase and hea.

The family, especially her father could have done with more grovel and less redeeming. But as I said I adored the writing, the setting and the h/H as a couple!
A roaring 4.25!

[Usagi Tsukino · Rating 1 out of 5]

...Whatever. =___=

1st read: January 2010
2nd read: May 2017

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un libro leggero con una storia che ti tiene fino alle ultime pagine

[Z. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well-written book, interesting romance with an interesting thriller plot alongside -- I would rate it higher, but I didn't love the treatment of gay and bisexual characters. Some of them are sympathetic to some extent but only the ones who die violently, and they're all involved in a blackmail/espionage ring. It's a symptom of the time when it was written (and considering how common the perverse gay/bisexual male villain was in older books, it's certainly not as bad as it could have been) but it did detract from my enjoyment of the story. Still, I'm definitely interested in reading more by Paula Marshall.