What do You think about 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
