Karin A. (Jerseygirltoo) - reviewed on 4/6/2012 + 455 more book reviews

This was my favorite of the Three Soldiers trilogy, mainly because Ariana was the best heroine. The heroines of the other 2, which are 'Gallant Soldier, Beautiful Enemy' and 'Chivalrous Captain, Rebel Mistress' were definitely TSTL at certain points in those books.
I also loved the originality, that this book did not take place in an upper class milieu. Jack and Ariana both have to work for a living, she is an actress and he is an artist, and money is a concern. Even when they reach the HEA, we find out in the epilogue that they both continue to work hard to be successful in their careers. There is no sudden inheritance or distant relative that dies and makes him Lord something-or-other. Also, men and women mingled more freely in their world than among the nobility. Ariana is attracted to Jack from the first time she sees him, and she makes no bones about it; she is the one who moves the relationship forward. This made the story more like the way we live now. In a way, it reminded me of "La Boheme".
I thought that Jack's life as an artist was depicted realistically. There is also a nice subplot about Jack's sister Nancy and the man she loves. The cover of the book is a bit misleading, because he is out of the army during most of the story, and only returns to the military for a few pages at the end of the book, for the Battle of Waterloo. Many of the same characters recur in all 3 books, so I recommend reading all three, even though, as I said, those other 2 heroines annoyed the heck out of me.

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