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Stella Riley
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A Splendid Defiance Kindle Edition

by Stella Riley (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 415 ratings
B.R.A.G. MEDALLION HONOREE
For two years, England has been in the grip of Civil War. In Banbury, Oxfordshire, the Cavaliers hold the Castle, the Roundheads want it back and the town is full of zealous Puritans. Consequently, the gulf between Captain Justin Ambrose and Abigail Radford, the sister of a fanatically religious shopkeeper, ought to be unbridgeable. The key to both the fate of the Castle and that of Justin and Abigail lies in defiance ... but will it be enough? A Splendid Defiance is a dramatic and enchanting story of forbidden love, set against the turmoil and anguish of the first English Civil War.
Though not a sequel to The Black Madonna, this novel is linked to it through character and taking place at the same time.

Stella Riley is the 2019 Readers’ Favorite Gold Medallist for Historical Romance and proud to have been awarded 14 B.R.A.G. medallions.
“Stella Riley gave me a rare gift. She wholly enveloped me in the world she created. A Splendid Defiance offers so much. A realistic and expertly drawn setting; laughter, sorrow and exquisite joy. Most of all, a slow-building, believable romance which may have been the most touching I've ever read.”
“A moving love story in an authentic historical background.” “A fantastic read you’ll return to over and over again.” “Definitely a page turner!”
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  1. Print length
    371 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    December 6, 2012
  4. File size
    2.0 MB
  5. Page Flip
    Enabled
  6. Word Wise
    Enabled
  7. Enhanced typesetting
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00AKDJX6Y
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ ; 2nd edition (December 6, 2012)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 6, 2012
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.0 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 371 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 415 ratings

About the author

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Stella Riley

Stella Riley

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Winner of 4 gold medals (Readers' Favourite 2019, Book Excellence Awards 2020, Global Book Awards 2022, Book Excellence Awards 2023) and 14 B.R.A.G. Medallions, Stella Riley lives in the beautiful medieval town of Sandwich in Kent.

She is fascinated by the English Civil Wars and has written six books set in that period. These, like the 7 book Rockliffe series (recommended in The Times newspaper!) and the Brandon Brothers trilogy, are all available in audio, narrated by Alex Wyndham.

Stella enjoys travel, reading, theatre, Baroque music and playing the harpsichord. She also has a fondness for men with long hair - hence her 17th and 18th century heroes.

Visit Stella at https://stellarileybooks.co.uk for all the latest information on her books and her 'Who's Who' and Extras pages.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
415 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the storyline interesting and well-written. They appreciate the historical accuracy and detailed love scenes. The writing style is described as clever, heartwarming, and lovely. Readers praise the realistic and expertly drawn setting. They also enjoy the character development and the author's research quality.

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StorylineHistorical accuracyWriting styleStyleCharacter developmentResearch quality
13 customers mention "Storyline"13 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the storyline. They find it engaging and well-written. The book is described as a page-turner that brings them joy.

"...Laughter, sorrow and exquisite joy. Most of all, a slow-building, believable romance that never felt contrived...." Read more

"...Their path isn't easy or quick, but it is a wonderful story to read...." Read more

"Well written and very interesting story about the English Civil War during the reign of Charles I. The history of this war and the time period is..." Read more

"...A superb novelization of a period in history about which I was unaware. Fascinating. I am learning with each page...." Read more

12 customers mention "Historical accuracy"12 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the historical accuracy of the book. They find the love scenes detailed and the history well-researched. The book is described as a beautiful, well-written love story set in a real place and time.

"...Laughter, sorrow and exquisite joy. Most of all, a slow-building, believable romance that never felt contrived...." Read more

"...It was really well-researched in that the history was rife with details about the first English Civil War. The author clearly did her homework...." Read more

"...with beautifully drawn characters, lots of action, and a terrific romantic love story. Enemies aren't supposed to fall in love...." Read more

"...character development of the main characters and the slow but sweet progression of their love...." Read more

8 customers mention "Writing style"8 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style and narration. They find the book clever with well-formed characters and clever dialogue.

"...All in all, this was a smart read with clever dialogue and two well-formed protagonists...." Read more

"...Well written with beautifully drawn characters, lots of action, and a terrific romantic love story...." Read more

"...Hats off also to Alex Wyndham for the brilliant narration even though he made me laugh hysterically, without giving any prescience to the tone of..." Read more

"...It's well written and I enjoyed it very much." Read more

6 customers mention "Style"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's style. They find it lovely, splendid, and heartwarming. The setting is realistic and expertly drawn, based on a real place and time.

"...A Splendid Defiance offers so much. A realistic and expertly drawn setting based in a real place and time. Laughter, sorrow and exquisite joy...." Read more

"...the desperation and heartaches caused by war, but do it in a heartwarming style that is hopeful, not depressing...." Read more

"Another brilliant and well researched historical from Riley. It was a delight to meet Abby and Sam Radford...." Read more

"Unique well written and lovely." Read more

5 customers mention "Character development"5 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the character development and the slow but sweet progression of their love. They find the characters well-drawn and the book has plenty of action.

"...All in all, this was a smart read with clever dialogue and two well-formed protagonists...." Read more

"...Well written with beautifully drawn characters, lots of action, and a terrific romantic love story...." Read more

"...She gives enough vivid description of the characters that one would easily imagine how they look like while reading or listening to the story...." Read more

"...Ms. Riley's characters true to the period, well defined and interesting, the storyline credible, and the historical detail of the time fascinating..." Read more

3 customers mention "Research quality"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's research quality. They say the author did her homework.

"I wish I could give this book 4.5 stars. It was really well-researched in that the history was rife with details about the first English Civil War...." Read more

"...credible, and the historical detail of the time fascinating and well researched. This is just the kind of book I like to get lost in." Read more

"...I love the writing. Elegant and fluid. The research is top-notch." Read more

Enthralling English Civil War fiction
5 out of 5 stars
Enthralling English Civil War fiction
Justin Ambrose, dashing cavalier and close companion to Prince Rupert, was bored with life in the Royalist garrison in Banbury, until he met the sister of a local merchant. Famous for his romantic conquests, Justin had never before let a woman touch his heart.But Abby was no ordinary woman. She was beautiful and she was brave. She was also young and terrfied of her brother, a religious fanatic and self-sworn enemy of all Royalists.When the rebel army unleashed its might on the castle, Justin fought tirelessly to break the siege. But even his closest friends did not know what tormented him. And Abby, as she sat with the rebel commanders at her brother's table, dreamed of a man she could not, must not love...(this is from the book's back cover)
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Felicia J
    5.0 out of 5 stars A rare reader's gift
    Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Stella Riley gave me a rare gift. She wholly enveloped me in the world she created, so much so I returned to my own with a jolt, finding it hard to believe Justin and Abigail were not real, and their comrades in the Banbury garrison my friends.

    A Splendid Defiance offers so much. A realistic and expertly drawn setting based in a real place and time. Laughter, sorrow and exquisite joy. Most of all, a slow-building, believable romance that never felt contrived. It may have been the most touching romance I've ever read.

    Like Justin, I wanted to put my arms around Abby to protect her from the familial bullies who made her life a living hell. I rejoiced to see her blossom under his friendship and caring. As for Justin, I wanted to shake him to make him realize what was happening right in front of him. But I could forgive his obstinacy, because I saw, like Abby, the honor and decency in him. I mourned for the security and warmth he lost in childhood, and cheered him as he learned to let down his guard and welcome love.

    I am so glad to have experienced this story on audio. Alex Windham did what the best narrators do: Used a sympathetic understanding of the characters and text to bring them vividly alive.

    Justin and Abigail will forever live in my heart, and I know I will return to this book time and time again. The chance to become lost in a fictional world is one of the most important reasons I read, but it is the rare author who can sweep me away so completely. Stella Riley is a writer to cherish.
    9 people found this helpful
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  • booksreverything
    4.0 out of 5 stars Well-researched
    Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I wish I could give this book 4.5 stars. It was really well-researched in that the history was rife with details about the first English Civil War. The author clearly did her homework. I also loved Justin Ambrose (although I found him a bit wishy-washy towards the end). My issue was that the story didn't really begin until about 100 pages in. I think that part of the book could've done with a good editor who would've sliced those first 100 pages down at least by half or so. Although I appreciate all of the historical details, they didn't move the plot along except to say that both sides were victorious at different times. In the end, this is a love story, and there was too much time between when the lovers first meet and until anything of import happens in that relationship. All in all, this was a smart read with clever dialogue and two well-formed protagonists. If you want to read something slightly similar with a little less historical density, I suggest Shame the Devil by Donna Scott.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Linda Jean
    5.0 out of 5 stars Splendid Story
    Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    This was a lovely book - the kind that draws you in and you find it impossible to put down. Well written with beautifully drawn characters, lots of action, and a terrific romantic love story.

    Enemies aren't supposed to fall in love. The chasm between a Royalist and a Puritan during England's civil war is nearly impossible to overcome - yet Justin and Abby do just that. Their path isn't easy or quick, but it is a wonderful story to read. I simply love Stella Riley's writings, and I'm just delighted to have stumbled upon them.

    The military setting of this book - a troop of Royalists holding a castle under siege in hostile territory - was reminiscent of Carla Kelly's books in that both authors convey the desperation and heartaches caused by war, but do it in a heartwarming style that is hopeful, not depressing. They both excel in creating believable romances that occur despite the hardships of war and if you like Kelly, you'll like Riley.

    I highly recommend this book - and anything Stella Riley has written.
    13 people found this helpful
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  • Scheri
    5.0 out of 5 stars Historical Romance writers MUST read this
    Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I'm not sure how to describe how I feel as I have just finished reading this (and listening, I switch to audible when I take long walks), still reeling from all the feelings left from the last pages, from happiness, and sadness that the story has ended
    I dare say historical romance writers should read this because where many of them seem to fail, Stella Riley seems to be naturally adept in those areas that they lack.
    I love the character development of the main characters and the slow but sweet progression of their love. After reading so many "historical" romances (and I mock the term because making your heroine wear corsets shouldn't be enough to call a book historical), I have almost given up hope that there are still good historical reads left. I tried to move on to modern day romances but was shocked at the common formula they all have. They actually write something they call series but upon closer look, they just changed the name of the characters (yes, I'm looking at you JA Huss and Lauren Blakely) but they are all basically the same. Hot males with hot females doing hot things and several pages of drivel mostly about hot things and how hot they look in every single page, and it goes on and on)
    Finding Stella Riley under suggested reads was a pure delight and restored my faith in a genre I have loved as a teenage girl. I'm glad though that I don't have to suffer through what I used to call a delightful read at that age and that my taste in reading has improved *smirks*.
    I'm happy that Ms. Riley writes about characters a reader would grow to love. Reading her work makes me think that she is probably a time traveller, who is friends with Bronte, Gaskell, and Austen. When I read these classics, I'm taken back to the past, like I'm living the very page which the characters are living. That's the same feeling I get while reading A Splendid Defiance. In Ms Riley's book, heroes are flawed, and you can sympathize with them, and root for them. She wouldn't just talk about the heroes ripped abs every time he comes to the scene. Nor would she bore you about the heroine's eyes and lashes and lips. She gives enough vivid description of the characters that one would easily imagine how they look like while reading or listening to the story.
    I'm not really good at giving reviews. I write like I think so I guess I just seem to be rambling haha!
    But I'm writing a review anyway because I have fallen in love with this book from the moment Abigail met Justin up to the very last page where I read Ms. Riley's notes about some historical facts.
    Buy this book and the audiobook. Romance, action, history, and bits of comedy here and there

    Hats off also to Alex Wyndham for the brilliant narration even though he made me laugh hysterically, without giving any prescience to the tone of his voice that a very unexpected burst of humor (hint: Hallelujah) would unhinge me. I was taking a long walk at a park teeming with people who probably thought me a lunatic because I couldn't stop laughing for five minutes and I had to disguise my fits of laughter with a cough because I still couldn't stop laughing.

    Thank you, Stella Riley, for writing this book
    and Alex Wyndham for the "dramatized" narration (he sounded better than those dramatized audios with a full cast of narrators)
    10 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Beatrix Fitze
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
    Reviewed in Germany on June 17, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    This can be read alone and be thoroughly enjoyable, but it’s particularly satisfying when read alongside the Roundheads and Cavaliers series. I was delighted to come across some familiar characters and found the densely woven story fascinating. I happen to be familiar with Banbury, where the book is set, so this was doubly enthralling. I’ll be looking at the town with new eyes on my next visit!
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  • Ros H.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Another great book
    Reviewed in Australia on October 4, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Loving all of Stella Riley’s books.
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  • Valy
    5.0 out of 5 stars Merci Stella Riley
    Reviewed in France on October 5, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Après avoir lu tous les livres actuellement disponibles de Stella Riley, je l'avoue : j'adore !
    Des personnages forts et hauts en couleurs, des histoires passionnantes parfaitement intégrées à la grande Histoire (particulièrement dans la magnifique série "Roundheads & Cavaliers"), un style unique. On ne s'ennuie jamais, bien au contraire quand on commence, il est difficile de s'arrêter. En fait, tout me plait dans ces livres, même les illustrations surannées des couvertures. J'espère juste que d'autres livres de cet auteur sont "bientôt" à venir...
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  • Caz
    5.0 out of 5 stars Historical fiction and romance at its best
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 7, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    Originally published in 1985, this is a new e-book edition which has been revised and extended by the author.

    A Splendid Defiance is one of those books that's stayed with me in the almost thirty years since I first read it. It's a wonderful blend of history and romance, set in the latter part of the English Civil War, and takes place mostly in the town of Banbury in Oxfordshire. Although the town itself was staunchly Parliamentarian, the castle was captured by the Royalists in 1642 and remained a Royalist stronghold until 1646.

    The stage is therefore set for a good, meaty tale of how a small but determined garrison managed to defend a strategically important position in an overwhelmingly hostile environment; and later, for a Romeo and Juliet style romance - although in this case, instead of Montagus and Capulets we have Cavaliers and Roundheads as Justin Ambrose, a Captain in the Royalist army meets and eventually falls for Abigail Radford, whose brother, Jonas is a local well-to-do merchant and tyrannical, die-hard Puritan.

    The first chapters of the book deal with the first siege of Banbury castle by the Parliamentarian forces under the command of John Fiennes. The historical detail is impeccably researched and the life of the castle and the people inside it is described so vividly that the reader feels part of it.

    Sir Will Compton, the young commander of the castle actually existed as did Hugh Vaughan, John Lilburne and a number of the other characters we meet in the book (there is a short author's note at the end telling us who's who) and they are all seamlessly integrated with Stella Riley's own fictional creations.

    The picture she paints of Abby's life under her brother's joyless roof is similarly authentic. As a woman, Abby knows she has no control over her own future or any real choices in life; even the decision whether or not she will marry will be Jonas'. He is a bigot and a bully, and her fear and dislike of him are palpable.

    I feel I should point out that Justin and Abby spend much of the first part of the book meeting only occasionally, which perhaps some readers may find frustrating. But to my mind, this is no bad thing; not only does it make those scenes when they are together that much more satisfying, it also adds to the realism of the story. Justin is, after all, a serving officer in His Majesty's army with duties to perform, not a gentleman of leisure who is able to devote what time he wishes to his own pursuits. And Abby, who is just eighteen at the beginning of the story, lives in a strict Puritan household under the watchful eye of her fanatical brother and has to work for her living.

    The slow pacing of the romance within the novel also allows the reader time to become well acquainted with the characters, and gives a more realistic time-frame for Abby to grow from the rather downtrodden and self-effacing girl she is at the beginning into the woman who is confident enough to defy her brother and to pursue the life (and love) she wants later in the book. This is no overnight transformation - it's gradual, as with Justin's encouragement, Abby begins to realise her inner courage and strength.

    We also need plenty of time to get to know Justin Ambrose. He's a very complex character, and there are times when he is not especially likeable - indeed, in the hands of a less skillful author, he could have turned out to be a rather unappealing hero. At the beginning of the story we learn he's been posted to Banbury for making an unguarded remark about one of the King's favourites; and as an ambitious, trained field officer, the last thing he wants is to be kicking his heels somewhere with no prospect of action. He hates it, but his sense of self-respect won't permit him to petition for a more attractive posting elsewhere, and his frustration often leads to a rather caustic manner. But he's an excellent officer, and, to paraphrase his own words, if there's a job to be done, he does it; which means that he can be ruthless, authoritarian and manipulative. He's got an unpredictable temper, an acerbic tongue and frequently displays a tendency towards self-destruction. But as we move through the story, it becomes clear that there is much more to him than meets the eye, and that there is something buried in his past which has hurt him deeply. He's sexy-as-sin, clever, witty and capable of great kindness; honourable and loyal to a fault, his men would do anything for him and they know he would do the same for them. Yet ironically, it's that very strong sense of honour that threatens to deprive him of the thing he wants most in the world.

    In short, Justin is utterly compelling, and the extra time devoted to getting to know him is time very well spent.

    The romance is beautiful, unfolding gradually and thus feeling all the more plausible for it. Justin is not at all interested in Abby at the outset, although his innate courtesy leads him to help her on more than one occasion. She is dazzled by him, not having had a great deal of contact with men of any sort, let alone someone as worldly as the Captain, but expects to have very little to do with him.

    Once the siege is over however, the growing friendship between the pair begins to take centre stage. Although his initial intention is to incite some feelings of rebellion in Abby as a means of getting one over on her brother, Justin comes to realise that in her, he has found someone who offers understanding and comfort while asking nothing in return; and at the same time, he is both broadening her horizons and fostering her growing self-confidence.

    As their relationship progresses, the undercurrent of sexual tension and attraction between them that has been simmering throughout most of the story begins to escalate until, when they are faced with an almost intolerable situation, it reaches boiling point. I always enjoy reading novels in which the author creates and sustains a high level of romantic and sexual tension; and here, Stella Riley proves once again that a romance doesn't need lots of sex in order to be steamy. There are a couple of love scenes which are both romantic and sexy - but not overly explicit, and none the worse for it.

    As with all of the novels I've read by this author, there is also a well-rounded out cast of supporting characters, including Samuel, Abby's younger and idealistic brother; Rachel, her repressive, puritanical sister-in-law; Ned Frost, one of Justin's lieutenants and Nancy Lucas, the tart with a heart of gold(!) There are sub-plots concerning spies, familial rivalries and a massive crisis of conscience for Justin, which almost costs him and Abby everything they've come to hold so dear.

    But ultimately, this is the true story of an act of defiance on the part of a garrison of around three-hundred-and-fifty which held out against an opponent ten times its size; and of a fictional one which enables a young woman to break free from the bonds of duty and fear in order to find love.

    A Splendid Defiance is every bit as enthralling and emotionally powerful as it was when I first read it; a truly wonderful, beautifully written and characterised novel in which all the different plot strands are masterfully woven together to produce a story full of adventure, courage, honour and love. If you're looking for a gripping story, richly described historical detail and an against-all-odds romance that features a flawed, brooding, devastatingly attractive and unforgettable hero, then this is definitely the book for you.
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  • Rebecca Milne
    3.0 out of 5 stars Plenty of historical detail
    Reviewed in Australia on August 16, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    This was an historically well researched book which vividly depicted the setting. The romance was drawn out for too long and became unbelievable.
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