The Courteous Cad (Miss Pickworth)

This read was a breath of fresh air. What a delightful story! William is a cad indeed, but isn't each of us really a sinner and deserving of hell forever? Without our Lord and Saviour dying for us and paying the ultimate price, we forever would suffer. However we have his promise, much like our lady, Ms Prudence Watson, ends up giving him after all the wrong they have done to each other and others as well. This book will make you laugh because Prudence is so delightful a character. I am so excited to read more "gossip" by Ms Pickworth. Makes delightful books, having the message so well weaved throughout! Bravo Ms. Palmer!!! Well done..

Catherine Palmer has just published her third book in her "Miss Pickworth" series. The Courteous Cad focuses on William Sherbourne - a cad, and Prudence Watson - a wannabe crusader who has vowed never to marry. William fully admits to being a cad. Was a cad, is a cad, but will he stay a cad? Prudence only wants to make changes for the good, but seems to fail at her attempts. When her feeble efforts involve Mr. Sherbourne's worsted mill, a clash of the two opposites ensue. Prudence (sister of Sarah from book 1, The Affectionate Adversary) was hard for me to figure out. Although, I think that was all part of her character. Prudence is trying to figure her own self out. Throw in a dashing, charming, supposed-to-be-but-maybe-not villain, and any female character in a novel is confused. ;-) If you've been waiting for Catherine to finish book 3, then you will likely enjoy revisiting the characters, as well as a few oldies from her "English Ivy" series. By the way, for those of you who have read the other two books in Palmer's series, society tattler "Miss Pickworth's" identity is revealed in The Courteous Cad...or I think it was! For the last several months, I have been in a Jane Austen kind of mood. Books, movies, doesn't really matter; anything set in that time period is holding my interest at the moment. Because I'm in that Jane Austen mood, I enjoyed the flow and feel of The Courteous Cad; however, although I am always glad to finish a series, The Courteous Cad was not a couldn't-put-down kind of read. Check out my other book reviews on my blog: thecreativesideofsteph [DOT] blogspot [DOT] com

In 1817 in Yorkshire, Prudence Watson tells her sister Mary that she will never marry but follow in the footsteps of her crusader friend Betsy. Mary points out that Elizabeth "Betsy" Fry is married with children. Pru insists she may never wed or have offspring, although she acknowledges Betsy does work hard to improve the plight of the poor women whose options are limited. Prudence aims at reforming mills with a desire to rescue children who work exorbitant hours in unsafe and unhealthy conditions. Her first target is the mill in Otley, owned by Royal Naval officer William Sherbourne, just home from a deployment at sea. As the reformer and the cad mee, argue and fall in love, each has secrets that society tattler Miss Pickworth seems to know. The latest Miss Pickworth Regency romance is an enjoyable tale due to the solid lead couple as the resolute reformer refuses to answer to anyone except God while the Courteous Cad answers to the crusader and both respond to that telltale tattler. Although several subplots never ties back to the gender war, fans will enjoy the latest Miss Pickworth alliteration as these affectionate adversaries fall in love. Harriet Klausner

What lover of inspirational romance would expect to admire a cad as a hero? Yet, I did. Catherine's hero was believable and likable, and flawed. I took to him immediately. :-) Catherine Palmer's characters, the warmth she infused into her stories, and the well-crafted romantic element all shine in her upcoming release--The Courteous Cad. This was my first exposure to her series including Miss Pickworth, yet I didn't feel like I was thrust into a world I couldn't understand or a cast of characters I couldn't follow. The Courteous Cad is a true stand-alone in that regard. I enjoy reading a novel without feeling I need to go back and read the previous books in the series. Catherine gave me that reading pleasure with this book. I appreciated her heroine's drive to help the down-trodden mill workers. And the way the author wove history into the story made me crave another viewing of a Jane Austen film. A delightful read. Highly recommended.