Catherine Palmer has written "The Affecionate Adversary", Charles has grown up with his father whom lived his life as a servent, wanting more for his son. Charles was educated well and groomed to be more....A young man was sent on a journey by ship with a trunk of gold to invest in tea, making he and his father the fashionable Locke and son LTD.Sarah Carlyle was never allowed to live at home, she was raised by a wet-nurse then sent off to school, she never knew the love of family until late in life when she became acquainted with two sisters whom she grew to care for completely. Her father saw that she was married to an older man with a title and again there was not love or children to be had making a lonely life for a young girl. When her husband died she became a wealthy young woman and many desired her hand, she was never certain did they want her or the wealth she brought to the marriage.Somehow midst growing up she became a true child of God and after studying scriptures she felt she should give her wealth away. Thus she found herself on a ship that had to help another ship when they spied it in trouble upon the seas, Charles was saved from the murky waters and thought to be dead..when they went to sew him into a shroud for burial they detected life and Sarah was the one who helped him as he healed. They became quite good friends seeing one another everyday and as he listened to her singing on the ship he fell hopelessly in Love.Now these two had no hopes of a future together - he a poor young man having lost everything when he was thrown from the ship he had been on. She a titled young woman that was supposed to only marry a man of her station in life.God has set these two together at a time in their lives when both were making choices - you will want to read this and see how Charles and Sarah overcome so much as their story unfolds...A treasure lost....A treasure found
This is a historical novel which opens with high drama: a young Englishman called Charles is on his way to China with a chest of gold when the ship is attacked by pirates. Meanwhile, Sarah is on her way back to the UK on a different ship; they come across the wreck of the first boat, and rescue the few survivors.Charles is gradually nursed back to life by Sarah. He has no idea that she is a very wealthy woman, whose former husband was a member of the aristocracy. The rest of the book features their rather stormy growing relationship, fuelled by misunderstandings and Sarah’s various hangups due to an unhappy childhood. The characters aren’t really three-dimensional although Charles is quite likeable, and Sarah’s sisters are so caricatured that they provide a bit of light relief. The author had evidently done a great deal of research into Regency England, and drops in various historical references; unfortunately there are a few errors that stand out in an annoying way. For instance, the sisters are very snobbish, but their father was a merchant, as is Charles’ father. Sarah marrying into the aristocracy would not have turned her into an aristocrat according to society rules. There’s an unlikely (albeit happy) coincidence towards the end of the book, and too much introspecting on the behalf of both the main characters, who began to get irritating after a while. The Christian aspect isn't too overdone, if it's assumed that Sarah's obsession with getting rid of all her wealth is due to her terrible upbringing. I downloaded it free for my Kindle so perhaps three and a half stars would be fairer, but I have no intention of reading the other books in this series.
2.5 stars. Okay... As a fan of both regency and Christian romances, this one was not my favorite by a long shot. I liked the hero quite a lot--he was kind, understanding, loving, and ambitious in a good way. The heroine, however... She drove me crazy with her narrow-minded interpretation of scripture and over-zealousness... First she was too pious, then she swung too far the other way... Charles was steady, but Sarah was a freaking pendulum! Plus Sarah's sisters and nephew! Mary was mean, narrow-minded, and all-around awful, Prudence was a flirtatious ditz (though I secretly think she's faking and is Miss Pickworth), and Henry was a selfish prick... So I liked ONE of the main 5 characters... Not a good ratio... No one really cared about Sarah's happiness except Charles... And he wasn't "good enough" for Sarah? B-freaking-S. Did I mention that the whole plot was nonsensical and frustrating? Because it was...That being said, the next book sounds a lot better, so I'm going to keep reading the series...
—Sara ♥
I'm undecided about this book. I really didn't get Sarah's devotion to the idea of being poor as the only way to achieve happiness even though I understood how she was pushed in that direction. A lot of the characters were somewhat annoying, like her sisters and Delacroix. It was a tad bit convoluted towards the end with Sarah changing her mind back and forth. Also, Ms. Pickworth or Pickwick or whoever doesn't really play a huge role in this so I'm not sure why the series is named after her. I was certain I wasn't going to read the next book but it involves a character I did like, Sarah's maid Anne, so I might.
—Candace
Am I ever glad to be done. I actually thought about DNFING it. At one point I was going to post this:and say so long, then I noticed I had less the hundred pages left and said, fine I'll finish it I've already spent my night reading it and it's getting too late to start something new, might as well not have my book reading night be a total loss. I could not stand these characters. Sarah is too stubborn and set, I wanted to say enough already. Charles, I just wanted to shake and say just walk way, please you fool. The sisters *cringe* I know they are members of society and well they are "above" people, but these people were very snob like. There were to many things that I found annoying, I enjoy Christian romance/fiction but this book was just coming on too strong for me, too in your face. I won't be recommending this book. I didn't enjoy this book someone might and I see people have. It wasn't for me. What drew me in was the cover, I thought it was very pretty. The blurb was also interesting. I think it could have been much more enjoyable with some tweaking.
—Carrie
