Review: Last Duke Standing by Cheryl Bolen

 Alex Haversham, the new Duke of Fordham, has a problem.  He has the unenviable task of informing Lady Georgiana Fenton that her fiance, Alex’s brother, is now deceased.  When Georgiana finds out, she insists on viewing Freddie’s body with her own eyes.  As soon as she views his corpse, she deduces that he had been smothered to death, and the duchy’s surgeon concurs with her assessment.  

Alex never wanted to become the duke.  Now that he is responsible for his family and duchy,  he is determined to find out who murdered his brother.  However, Georgiana insists on being part of the investigation, partly because of her own suspicions about Alex. In her eyes, he stands to gain the most from Freddie’s death.

As Alex and Georgiana work together to solve the mystery of who killed Freddie, an attraction develops between them.  Can Alex overcome Georgiana’s suspicions, and will the two of them be able to find the real culprit?

I did not realize that there would be a mystery in addition to the historical romance that I had expected to read.  As a mystery, I didn’t really figure out who was the guilty party until the narrative started dropping a lot of obvious hints about the identity of the villain.  Last Duke Standing is mainly a romance that explores the relationship between Alex and Georgiana.   

I’ve previously read a title by Cheryl Bolen under the faith-based Love Inspired line (i.e. Marriage of Inconvenience), but I would classify Last Duke Standing as a secular romance.  There are no x-rated interactions between the main characters, but there are allusions to the hero’s history as a rake.  There are a couple of explicit statements that appear in a letter written by the mistress of the previous duke that might be uncomfortable for a certain audience to read. The couple share a bed, but nothing happens between them beyond heart-felt conversation because the hero is conveniently injured.  This is not a steamy romance.  Generally, Alex is fairly respectful towards Georgiana.  

I’ll admit that the cover of the book appealed to me...Alex’s appearance reminded me of Rupert Penry-Jones' portrayal of Frederick Wentworth in Persuasion (2007).  

I miss the Love Inspired Historical line.  I tried my best to snap up any Regency or Georgian story that Harlequin put out through that imprint.  As I alluded to before, this was how I recognized Cheryl’s name when I was looking through the selections on Net Galley.  

Last Duke Standing is the third installment of a series titled The Lords of Eton, which include The Portrait of Lady Wycliff, The Earl, the Vow, and the Plain Jane, and One Room at the Inn.

Disclaimer:  I was given an e-copy of Last Duke Standing by Net Galley in exchange for a review.  Any opinions stated in this review are mine.  

Manga Classics: The Count of Monte Cristo, By Alexandre Dumas, Adapted by Crystal S. Chan, and Illustrated by Nokman Poon

Alexandre Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo, a story about a man who seeks revenge against those who ruined his life, has been adapted again, this time by Crystal S. Chan with illustrations by Nokman Poon.  I was pretty impressed with what I read, and I've been fortunate to have previously read two other illustrated adaptations of this novel (an ancient Illustrated Classics version that belonged to my father, and a version published by Moby Books/Playmore in 1979, which was illustrated by Mitsu Yamamoto). 

Edmond Dantes has everything going for him.  He is about to become captain of the merchant ship, The Pharaon, and is about to be married to Mercedes, when he is arrested, thrown into prison, and forgotten.  During that time, he meets a fellow prisoner, Abbe Faria, who helps him figure out why he has been imprisoned, and who his enemies are.  The religious man passes on, but not before he bequeaths a secret treasure to Edmond, one which Edmond can use to bring vengeance upon those who had ruined his life for their own gain...if only he can escape from the prison, Chateau D'If. 

Here's where I confess that I haven't read the original novel...however, Manga Classics' version of the Count of Monte Cristo appears to be a more complete adaptation than the other two versions that I mentioned earlier.  Upon reading the end of Manga Classics version, the Count's words, "Wait and hope," made more sense to me than when I had read them at the end of the other versions.  In fact, this version has probably made me more inclined to actually read the original.  There are appendices at the end of the book where Crystal Chan explains the process that was used to adapt the novel into the manga version, which was quite fascinating to read.

The drawing style appears to be a mix of shoujo and shonen.  The content and plot of the Count of Monte Cristo does not lend itself to a lot of humour, and I did not notice any chibi, so if any did appear, I completely missed it.  There are a couple of pages in the appendices that show character design sketches.  I also appreciated see the character map, which showed the relationships between many of the characters that appeared in this story.

There's something about this type of media that makes it a great avenue for presenting classical literature.  I was caught up with Edmond's quest for revenge, and the path of self-destruction that he embarked upon. In my opinion, Manga Classics' version of The Count of Monte Cristo is a great gateway book to capture young (and maybe not so young) readers' interest in reading a classic story.

Disclaimer:  I received an e-copy of Manga Classics' The Count of Monte Cristo, adapted by Crystal S. Chan and illustrated by Nokman Poon from NetGalley in exchange for a review.  All opinions stated in this review are mine.

Review: Glittering Promises by Lisa Tawn Bergren

"All that glitters is not gold."

Glittering Promises is the last installment in Lisa Tawn Bergren's Grand Tour series.  It is preceded by Glamorous Illusions and Grave Consequences.  Glittering Promises picks up where Grave Consequences left off.  Cora Diehl Kensington and her travelling companions are in the middle of a Grand European tour but must face several challenges that threaten their physical safety and relationships within their group.  The group is hounded by the press, who want to find scandalous information about Cora and her family.  They must also find a way to avoid people who are intent in doing physical harm to Cora. 

In addition to this, Cora must sort out her feelings for Will and Pierre, the two men who are vying for her heart.  She must also determine what her future will be as part of the Kensington Family.  When Wallace Kensington, her biological father, hands over controlling interest of the mines that exist on the land of her adoptive family, the Diehls, the consequences have far reaching effects that bring dramatic changes, division, and for some members of their group, even ruin. 

When I first went through this book about three years ago, the narrative's ending made me quite upset.  There is a happy ending for some characters, but not for all of them.  I was also sort of blindsided by the identities of those who wanted to do harm to Cora.  So, I left the book for a while.  I didn't know that I would leave it for three years!  Upon my more recent reading, I could see that the foreshadowing in the novel should have prepared me a bit for what was to come the first time that I read it.   Perhaps I was looking for a light and romantic story, so to realize that it would not end well for all the characters was a bit disappointing. 

Nevertheless, I thought that the novel was quite good.  I especially liked it when Cora realized, that despite the tumultuous things that were going on all around her, the forces that operating against her, and the confusing changes in her social status, she remembered who she was:  she was a daughter of God.  The light that was in her life either made her attractive to others, or be viewed as a person to be scorned.  For some, she inspired them to become a stronger and better person, while for others, she was an object to be manipulated in their attempts to get their own way.

As in Grave Consequences (I have not read Glamorous Illusions yet), Cora's point of view was in first person, but all other characters' points of view were written in third person.  It took a while to get used to again, but I didn't find the changes between first and third person points of view as jarring as I did when I read Grave Consequences.  I would not consider Glittering Promises a stand alone book; it resolves the mystery of who is pursuing Cora and her companions, a mystery which began in the earlier volumes of the Grand Tour trilogy. 



Disclaimer:  I received an e-copy of, "Glittering Promises," by Lisa Tawn Bergren from NetGalley in exchange for a review.  All opinions stated in the this review are mine.

Review: Manga Classics: Sense and Sensibility - Adapted by Stacy King, Art by Po Tse

Manga Classics: Sense and Sensibility, adapted by Stacy King and illustrated by Po Tse, covers the general story arc of Jane Austen's story of two sisters, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood.  The sisters must navigate through the waters of change when the death of their father forces them to relocate in a smaller home away from the estate that they grew up in.  Elinor exhibits a temperament that reflects more "sense" than emotion, while Marianne is more romantically inclined and prone to flights of feeling rather than exclusively being governed by sense.  Perhaps it would be better to say that Marianne would rather follow her heart than necessarily do the sensible thing.  When I was first acquainted with Austen's original novel, it took me a while to figure out that her use of the word, "sensibility," had more to do with emotions, rather than rational thought.  Anyways, the sisters' temperaments guide their thoughts and behavior when prospective suitors appear, and both are not immune to the pain and turmoil that results when their lives do not unfold as they hope. 

It took a couple of hours for me to read the book in one sitting, and I enjoyed reading this version.  I didn't want to leave the book until it was finished.

Besides the story itself, I enjoyed reading the commentary that was provided on the novel's themes about sensible thought versus emotional reaction.  Stacy King mentions that every character had to balance sense with sensibility in their choices.  This wasn't something that I had considered before when I read the original novel in the past; I had only considered the choices for Elinor and Marianne, but it makes sense that the other characters also had to wrestle with their own choices.  It was also interesting to read about the social habits of the 19th century, especially about how men and women met, and about what acceptable behaviour was.  Explanations are given to explain how Marianne's behaviour was so scandalous, for she had violated a number of social rules of propriety. 

It was also interesting to look at the Character Design Sketchbook that appeared in a couple of pages at the back (the left side of the book, because, after all, this is truly a manga book which reads from right to left).  Po Tse's commentary about how he drew the various characters to reflect certain character traits increased my appreciation of this adaptation while reading it. 

Sense and Sensibility is the third adaptation that I've read from Manga Classics, (Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre being the other two,) and I've come to the opinion that this series is a good gateway to get younger readers interested in reading classical literature.  For Janeites, apparently, there is also a Manga Classics version of Emma which I haven't read yet, but will be glad to put on my "to read" list.  I would dearly love to see other adaptations of Jane Austen's work in the future, particularly for Persuasion, and Mansfield Park. 

According to Manga Classics' Facebook page, an adaptation of The Count of Monte Cristo will be coming soon, so I'll be keeping my eyes open for that in 2017. 



Disclaimer:  I received an e-copy of "Manga Classics: Sense and Sensibility" by Stacy King and Po Tse from NetGalley in exchange for a review.  All opinions stated in this review are mine. 

Review: Manga Classics: Jane Eyre - Adapted by Crystal S. Chan, Art by SunNeko Lee

I first read Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre many years ago when I was in grade 12.  There was a lot of excitement in the female portion of the class; we were getting a chance to read Romantic literature in English and Mr. Rochester was supposed to be a sigh worthy figure.  For some reason, our class didn't get very far with the novel.  I think that we were assigned to read it over spring break, and we may have been required to write an essay.  However, I don't recall that our class went very deep into studying this novel, probably because of time constraints to make sure that we covered the prescribed curriculum before June arrived. 

This is my memory of reading Jane Eyre:  it was a dry reading experience for me.  The diction might have bogged me down.  I seem to recall that there were about two to three pages devoted to a description of a painting.  My teenage mind probably stalled upon reading that, wondering why so much space was devoted to that and not to the romance.  However, I can't confirm that this is true or if I mixed that fact up with some other novel that I may have read at around that time, because I have not read Jane Eyre since.  I also have to confess that I'm not a big fan of any of the Bronte sisters, because one of them dissed Jane Austen's writing.  Yes, I'm more for Team Austen than for Team Bronte. 

Anyways, Manga Classics will be releasing their own version of Jane Eyre, adapted by Crystal S. Chan, with the art drawn by SunNeko Lee.  This graphic novel captured my interest as it described the story of Jane Eyre, a plucky and strong minded orphan who grows up to become a governess for the ward of her employer, Mr. Rochester, who eventually becomes her love interest.  However, there are strange and bizarre happenings at Thornfield Hall, the home of Mr. Rochester, which may interfere with their romance.

Most of what I know of Jane Eyre is from two visual adaptations, a BBC series starring Timothy Dalton and Zelah Clarke, and a movie starring Samantha Morton and Ciaran Hinds.  It's almost embarrassing to admit that I'm comparing the content of the Manga Classics version against the movies that I watched years ago.  The graphic novel contains a few pages of commentary about adapting the novel to manga format; some changes were made in the order of the narrative to build suspense at the end of each chapter, and also to strengthen the cohesiveness of the story through foreshadowing.  There was a small section about how the manga adaptation was better able to convincingly execute a particular plot point than the television or movie versions (where Mr. Rochester disguises himself as a female gypsy).  I had read those notes before reading the manga, and had almost forgotten to check if it was very obvious that a man was trying to masquerade as a woman, so I'll agree that manga is probably more able to carry that deception off.   

I'm not a manga expert, but most of the art work appeared to be in the shoujo style.  There were probably only a couple of frames in the narrative that contained the chibi style.  The dark and brooding mood of the novel might not lend itself to levity and light heartedness that suits chibi drawings.  For a plain female, Jane appears to be pretty and cute, but my understanding is that the appearance of plain heroines in any manga story is non-existent.  Mr. Rochester looks sufficiently mature, and he's got great hair! 

Would I recommend reading this version?  I would say, "Yes," for the following reasons:  my daughter expressed an interest in reading this version when she saw what I was reading.  Who wouldn't want their kids to have a interest in reading classic literature, even though it is adapted?  Also, after reading this, I'm thinking about giving Bronte's original version another look.  Not even watching the movies was able to move me enough to want to take the novel up again, but this version has stirred up my interest. 


Disclaimer:  In exchange for a review,  I received from NetGalley an e-copy of "Manga Classics: Jane Eyre," by Crystal S. Chan and SunNeko Lee.  All opinions stated in this review are mine. 

Review: From Across the Divide by K. Victoria Chase

K. Victoria Chase is the author of From Across the Divide, an interracial romance that is set in Alabama during the 1960's.  Besides differences in race, the couple in question must also traverse a divide in matters of faith. 

Eric Montgomery has returned home after being away for five years.  He's a bit of a prodigal, having lost faith in the Lord.  He blames God for failing to save his mother from a fatal illness, and walked away from Him.  In doing so, he stayed away from Alabama, not returning after he finished college, and went away to France for a few years.  Unfortunately, he hasn't been able to fill that God-shaped void with work, travel, or women.  He decides to go home to assume responsibilities in his father's bank, a business that he will one day inherit. 

Elnora (Elie) Brown is the best friend that Eric has left behind.  She is delighted to have her childhood friend return, but is disturbed when she discovers that he has lost his faith.  She wants to get her old Eric back, but besides seeing the differences in faith, it is becoming apparent that other things have changed between them: they are no longer children, and both are noticing a romantic attraction between a grown man and woman.   Eric makes her heart race, but because he no longer believes, she must resist the temptation that he presents.  Also, even if Eric believed, would he and Elie be able to have a romantic relationship in a society that won't accept one between a white man and a black woman? 

I liked Elie.  She is, in Eric's words, "feisty, passionate, (and) unyielding." She is earning a college degree so that she can become a teacher.  She teaches at an unofficial school on the weekends to children who must work during the week in order to help support their families.  She is involved in her church and in the equal rights movement.  She's a law abiding citizen who loves the Lord. 

Eric is, for lack of a better word, a rogue.  He knows that Elie is attracted to him, and can't quite seem to stay away from her, even though she keeps turning him down.  He's used to women falling down at his feet, so he's a bit out to sea as to how to court Elie.  I didn't quite like it that he seemed to think that simply kissing her repeatedly to wear down her resistance was an acceptable mode of courting, but like I said, he's a rogue who needed to ask for advice from his father, Morgan, on what to do with his feelings for Elie.  That was an interesting conversation.  We discover that Morgan is all for Eric and Elie having a relationship, and that the Montgomery men have...egos when it comes to wooing women.  Anyways, Eric gets it right; the biggest impediment between him and Elie is really his lack of faith.

I also found it interesting that while Morgan didn't have any problem with the idea of Eric and Elie being together, Elie's parents, Miss Hattie, the Montgomery's housekeeper, and Michael, one of Elie's "acceptable" suitors, did have issues with marrying out of one's race.   They have their reasons, which seems to run the gamut of wanting to spare the younger people from prejudice and non-acceptance from both cultures, knowing what they perceive to "be their place," and from their own prejudices against the other culture.  None of these reasons seemed to include one very significant thing which I suspect Morgan knows:  that if something is of God, and if He wills it, He can make a way for it, even for something that people consider to be impossible, inconvenient, and offensive.  This suspicion is because of something Morgan says to Eric when the son tells his father that the Browns don't approve of Eric as a suitor for Elie because he is white. 

     "I wasn't aware they felt this way about us."
     "That I'm not good enough for their daughter?"
     "No."  The sadness in Morgan's eyes tore at Eric's heart. "That she isn't good enough for you."

When I read those lines, I was as surprised as Eric, who blinked in shock in the text.  But then I realized that Morgan is right.  Elie is good enough for Eric, but her parents want to protect her from the difficulties and prejudice that their union will bring, because we are talking about what society was like.  At this point of the novel, they don't believe enough that if God has called Eric and Elie to be together, and that if Eric and Elie are firmly grounded in their identities as children of God, that they will be able to have a successful marriage in spite of any worldly opposition that may come their way.

I enjoyed reading this novel; I found it to be educational because of the history.  I also found it to be romantic and fairly clean.  I'm not sure if this novel is intended to be the start of a series, but if it is, I would love to find out what happens to Michael and Amanda, a woman who Eric turns away when he realizes that he wants Elie. 

Review: The Matchmaker's Match by Jessica Nelson

After months of waiting for a regency to pop up in the Love Inspired Historical line, I found The Matchmaker's Match, by Jessica Nelson, which was released this month.  It's about Lord Ashwhite, a marquis who must marry within three months time in order to keep his estate, according to his father's will.  Helping him is Lady Amelia Baxley, who is secretly running a matchmaking business on the side so that she can maintain her own household and live independently from her brother and his wife, the latter whom Amelia finds difficult to get along with. 

Ashwhite, a former rake, and a new believer, wants Amelia to find him a believing spouse, but as he spends time with her, he discovers that his interest lingers on Lady Amelia.  However, her independent streak reminds him too much of his mother, with whom he has an estranged relationship.  Amelia finds herself attracted to the Marquis, but has been disappointed in love before. She keeps telling herself that she will do better on her own without love, trying to secure enough income so that she can buy a small home of her own.  On top of that, her own practicality doesn't leave much room for God.  That eliminates her from the Marquis' list of prospects...or will God do something to bring these two together?

I really liked Ashwhite; he's a charmer.  He and Amelia first meet when she steps into an argument that Ashwhite is having with a former paramour, but somehow he finagles Amelia into a dance, leaving both being intrigued with the other.  Amelia's life seems to have been quite defined by her Great Disappointment in love, so she has thrown herself into painting and writing letters to the House of Lords over political issues   As I read the story, two questions were raised over Amelia's character.  How would she come to faith in this story?  Would she get over her broken heart and open herself to another love?

As for Ashwhite, would he find someone to marry in time in order to save his estate?  Will he be able to reconcile with his mother for all the past hurts that she has caused him? 

I felt a bit of tension when I read that he was struggling to forgive his mother while Amelia was still searching for the Lord.  I wanted to call him a poor witness, but the truth is that, in reality, forgiveness is often a very difficult thing to do, whether one is a new or seasoned believer.  Besides dealing with forgiving his mother, Ashwhite also has to deal with the fallout of his previous behaviour as a rake.  Will people be able to forgive him of his past?  Or has he irreparably damaged his reputation so that no respectable woman will give him a chance?

There was a couple of confusing things that appeared in my copy of The Matchmaker's Match.  Chapter Four gives details about the will that has created problems for Ashwhite.  His lawyer tells him that he will lose his lands, except for property that will come to him through his mother, and that he will be able to keep the title "as Earl of Hartsacre" (p. 42.)  I suspect that this is a misprint and that it actually should have read, "Marquis of Ashwhite."  Anyways, it makes me wonder if the Marquis was actually an earl in earlier drafts, but that is just speculation. 

As with many regencies, it is a puzzle to figure out what the actual given names are of the nobility, because they are often referred to by their titles, or by the name associated with the title's seat.  It was tough digging for the Marquis' name, but I think that it is Spencer Broyhill.  The name, Spencer, was often used in this book, but it seemed it could have done as either a first or last name.  Anyhow, I found, "Broyhill," which is mentioned only once, in Chapter 2.  This actually led me to speculate about another puzzle in this book.  How long was the Marquis' father the holder of his title?  We are told that the Marquis and Lady's Amelia's brother are old friends, and that she had previously known the Marquis as Mr. Broyhill before he ascended to the title.  That would make sense if his father had assumed the title relatively recently, and with his death, passed it along to Spencer.  However, it seems as if Lord Ashwhite had been raised and trained to know what to do with the marquisate, and there is reference to Ashwhite (property) being the site of the family home, so I suspect that his father had held the title for quite a long time, and that Spencer would more likely have been referred to as Lord Broyhill, or Lord "X" (whatever title he would have been referred to before assuming the title of marquis).  

Now that I've spent two long paragraphs on my musings over those minor points in the book, I would like to say that I did like this book.  I think that Ms. Nelson did a good job in showing how the characters are attracted to each other, and also tied the minor plot lines (some of which I did not mention) quite well into the main plot.  I hope that she writes more regencies.  I certainly plan on reading them if she does.

Review: Love Me Tender by Janice Thompson

Love Me Tender, by Janice Thompson, is a historical set in Laguna Beach during the 1950's.  It's strange to think of the novel as a historical, because I recognized most of the names that the author used to reference the era, and the 50's really doesn't seem too far off in the past to me.  This novel is set during my parents' generation, and I recognized names such as Pat Boone, Milton Berle, Kim Novak, Doris Day, Little Richard, Frankie Avalon, Roy Rogers, Patti Page, Perry Como, etc. partly from what my parents talked about.  Also, I remember some of the names from K-Tel's info-mericals that were making sales pitches on television for various music artists' greatest hits, or from the guest stars list on the television show, the Love Boat, which I faithfully watched on Saturday nights on ABC with my mom and sister during the late 70's and early 80's.  There are also the references to Elvis, both in the singer's name, and also in the name of the novel, which is same as the name of one of his most famous ballads.

The novel opens with Debbie Carmichael conversing with her younger sister and friends about Bobby Conrad, a Pat Boone type who has recently become famous as a singer and actor.  Debbie, who is twenty, regards herself as more mature than the younger females, but is not above dreaming about meeting Bobby Conrad and capturing his attention.  She has a plan which she hopes will make her dream a reality.  Her family owns and operates the diner, Sweet Sal's, which was named after her mother.  Many famous faces have dined there, as evidenced by the photographic wall of fame at the restaurant, but in spite of the fame, the family business is hurting financially.  Debbie's father, Frankie, is running behind on the mortgage due to his health problems, and the family is in danger of losing their business.  Debbie's plan is to ask her father to ask one of his friends who works as an agent to arrange for Bobby Conrad to headline a benefit fundraising concert for the diner.        

Johnny Hartmann is a preacher's kid who has come to Hollywood to see if he can make it in show business.  He believes that he has followed the Lord's direction to come out west from Topeka, Kansas, and is wanting to see where his singing ability will take him.  He's a good, clean cut young man, who, at his first audition, refuses to read out lines from a script that has his character swearing.  He gets turned out of the studio, and is told to return to Kansas by the casting director.  However, all is not lost for Johnny; standing up for his principles brings him the notice of Jim Jangles, the agent for Bobby Conrad.  Jim sees the same potential in Johnny as he had with Bobby Conrad, and offers to represent Johnny.

As it turns out, Jim Jangles is the agent who is Frankie Carmichael's friend.  Johnny and Debbie meet when Jim takes Johnny along to Sweet Sal's to discuss the fundraiser with the Carmichael Family.   Johnny is taken with Debbie, but doesn't know if he can compete in her heart with her crush on Bobby Conrad. 

As Debbie spends time with Johnny, she is drawn towards him, but trouble is brewing for the Carmichael Family.  Due to scheduling conflicts and obligations, Bobby Conrad might not be able to sing at the fundraiser.  Will the Carmichael Family be able to keep Sweet Sal's?  Will Johnny win Debbie's heart?  Will Johnny make a career in Hollywood, or will he need to return to Topeka, Kansas?  Revelation 3:8 is the verse that was inscribed on one of the inner title pages.  It says, "I know your deeds.  See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.  I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept My word and have not denied My name."  How will the truth in this verse unfold in Johnny's life due to the choices that he makes in his personal life, and in the pursuit of his acting and singing career?

I liked this novel.  I found some tidbits rather ironic.  For instance, where I live, a mortgage of $18000 (the amount owed by Frankie Carmichael) is not considered astronomically huge, and in fact, it would be rather on the small side.  Also, Frankie thought that 50 cents for a gallon of gas was an outrage.  I just paid about $1.26/litre of gas when I bought some this morning (over $3.75/gallon).  In the novel, McDonald's is referred to as the "new kid on the block," and I suppose, in the 1950's, it was.  Now it is the old timer that is trying to survive competitively amongst the numerous eateries in the neighbourhood. 

With the setting in the 1950's, the novel seems believable.  Characters like Johnny and Bobby seem as if they could exist, because they seem to be modeled after Pat Boone and other entertainers who were open about their faith in the Lord.  I'm not sure if Johnny or Bobby could make it as easily in the secular market in today's entertainment business.   They could probably make it in the Christian Contemporary music industry, but beyond acting for the tween/youth market (e.g. Disney XD, Nickelodeon, etc.), I can't imagine them going far in today's secular entertainment industry.  This novel makes me wonder if it is possible for many Christians to find success as entertainers in Hollywood today. 

Review: A Lady of Esteem, a novella by Kristi Ann Hunter

I've been away for over a month from the blog, and although I've been still reading, I've run into a bit of a writer's block, and also because my attention has been zapped by a knitting project which involves a lot of lace.  I'm also operating under a deadline, and this project must be completed by the end of September.  I've been freaking out a bit, because for the first two and a half weeks of this project, I had been ripping out the same series of rows, over and over again.  However, because of this, I've learned to distinguish between different stitches that are required for this knitting pattern, and I've finally passed the halfway mark to the completion of this object.  Lace no longer seems as scary, but I still consider myself a newbie when it comes to knitting this stuff.  We won't even talk about crocheting lace yet. 

In the meantime, I finally feel up to resuming the blog now that I know that I'll likely be able to finish this particular item by the end of September. 

So...(ahem), here is my review of A Lady of Esteem. 

This novella, by Kristi Ann Hunter, was released, free, on Amazon on July 7th, earlier this summer.  It is the story about Miss Amelia Stalwood, who had been raised by the servants of her neglectful guardian, and Anthony Pendleton, the Marquis of Raebourne, a former rogue who is trying to live out what it means to be a new creation in Christ.  They meet when Amelia accidentally falls into his arms after she tumbles off a ladder while dusting in the library of Lord Raebourne's home. 

Lord Raebourne knows that Amelia is not one of his servants because of the craftsmanship of her clothing, but she won't reveal her name.  He only finds out her first name when a maid comes to warn Amelia to make her escape before the cook (a person to be feared in Lord Raebourne's household) finds out that she has been doing the dusting on behalf of her friend, Emma, who is a real servant in this house, but who is too ill to attend to her duties.  Amelia makes her escape in a timely manner, but not without tossing her dusty rag onto the marquis' head. 

Needless to say, the marquis is intrigued with Amelia and wishes to find out who she is.  However, they do not travel in the same circles; Anthony's position in society sets him in highly exalted company, and Amelia's guardian has conveniently forgotten about her existence since sending her to London away from his estate.  She has only the company of her governess and of servants in her guardian's household, and the friends of those servants who work in other houses. 

However, through the intervention of those servants (or by the intervention of the Lord...I haven't quite figured this out yet), Anthony is finally introduced to Amelia at the home of the Hawthornes.  The Hawthornes are a family comprised of the Duke of Riverton and his siblings.  They are Anthony's friends, who introduced him to a believing faith.  Their servants, Raebourne's servants, and Amelia's guardian's servants are friends of Amelia.   These cheeky workers and the duke's sister, Lady Miranda, conspire to throw Raebourne and Amelia together.  Raebourne goes along for the ride until the death of Amelia's guardian leaves her as the ward of the Duke of Riverton.  He has difficulty in believing that he would be the best choice as a prospective suitor for Amelia because of his roguish past.  Anthony decides to step aside so that she can benefit from the elevated company that she will now be exposed to.  Will Anthony ever accept the truth that he really is a new creation in Christ; that the old is gone, and that the new has come?  Will he and Amelia get together?

I really liked this novella.  It was interesting to see whether Anthony works through his doubts about his worthiness, and whether he comes to accept that there is no condemnation for himself and for those who are in Christ Jesus, regardless of their pasts. 

The story also introduces the Hawthorne family, which is composed of Griffith, the Duke of Riverton, Lady Miranda, Lord Trent, and Lady Georgina.  A Noble Masquerade, which is Miranda's story, will be released in September later this year.   There is a three chapter excerpt for the upcoming novel included at the end of A Lady of Esteem.   I will admit that what I read from it has captured my interest, and I'll be looking out for this book when it comes out next month. 

Review: Oksana by Susan May Warren with Susan K. Downs

Oksana, by Susan May Warren with Susan K. Downs is the fourth novel belonging to the Heirs of Anton series.  The series follows the faith journey of four generations of a Russian family.  Since the series goes backward in time starting with the latest generation, and since this is the fourth book, we have come to the start of the family saga.  I began this novel wondering who Anton was, but it soon became apparent after delving into a couple of chapters that I should have been asking who Oksana was.

It is March 3rd, 1917.  Anton Klassen accidently meets Tsar Nicholas II in the forest when the train that he is on makes a temporary stop and he steps off the train momentarily in search of some food.  The Tsar asks Anton to take on the care of a family servant, Oksana, until the political situation becomes safer, which would permit Oksana's return in service to the Imperial Family.  The Tsar also entrusts to Anton the care of the Crest of St. Basil until his mission is finished.  Accompanying Oksana is another servant of the Tsar's household, Yulia Petrovna, and her brother, Monk Timofea, who has come from the monastery at Pskov to help Anton escort the two women to safety. 

Anton doesn't know quite what to make of Oksana when he meets the servant.  He is impressed by her beauty and is puzzled by her regal manner, her fine clothes and her ability to converse in several languages.  When the party reaches Petrograd, Anton expects to receive orders soon from the Tsar, directing him to return Oksana to the Imperial Family, but instead finds that political upheaval has spread to this city.  Yulia is attacked.  The two women fear that the intended target may have actually been Oksana.  They realize that it would be best for Yulia and Oksana to separate to make it more difficult to track Oksana. In fear for her safety, Oksana asks Anton if he would be willing to enter into a marriage in name only, so that her identity can be disguised and so that it would allow them to travel together without raising the suspicions of others. Because servants of the Royal Family are not allowed to be married, they would need to have the marriage annulled when the Tsar sends for Oksana.  Oksana is confident that the Tsar, who is the head of the Orthodox Church, will allow this to happen. 

Just before the marriage, Anton is given a verse by the Lord:  Psalm 100:5, which says, "For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations."  It gives him the confidence to take a step of faith and to enter into a marriage with Oksana, even though he knows that she is looking to leave it in the future.  It is a verse that both Anton and Oksana need to cling to, because Oksana is not who she says she is, and the political turmoil caused by the Russian Revolution brings a huge wave of destruction and heartache into their lives.

I had been prepared to read another romantic tragedy, such as the one that I found in Marina, which is the third volume of the Heirs of Anton.  However, I was satisfied with how Oksana concluded for Anton and Oksana, except for what happened to their child, Marina. 

The author also points out in one of her notes that Oksana is a "What If?" story, and is "not a chronicle of history but a fictional parallel to historical events."  Oksana was published in 2005, and since then, history has revealed what really happened to the person who was represented by the character of Oksana in the novel. 

Once I realized who Oksana really was supposed to be, I experienced quite a bit of a reshuffling in my mind about who Marina, Nadia, and Ekaterina were.  I wonder, though, if readers will be the only ones who know what special lineage they have, because after reading Oksana, it becomes apparent that although these women may know of their connection to their forefather, Anton, they may not really know who Oksana was unless Timofea told someone or if Anton made note of it in his journal, which has been referred to throughout the series.  This journal, as Anton explains, is a record of his spiritual journey, to be left for his heirs and descendants, so that they might learn from his experiences. 

I enjoyed reading the series as a reverse chronology.   I think that the revelation of who Oksana really is has a greater impact when read in this order, but it would be interesting to read the series in a forward chronological order and see how different that experience is. 

Review: Marina by Susan May Warren with Susan K. Downs

Marina, by Susan May Warren with Susan K. Downs, is the third novel belonging to the Heirs of Anton series.  The series covers several generations of a Russian family and their faith in the Lord.  Marina covers the love story of Marina (Mara) Antonovna Klassen Vasileva, a Russian partisan fighter, and Edward Neumann, an American OSS agent who has been assigned to help rout the Nazi invaders from the USSR during the Second World War. 

Both Marina and Edward have had significant losses that have left them wounded in their hearts.  Marina is an orphan who lost both her natural parents as a child, and now as an adult,  she has also lost her husband and home to the Nazis.  She fears that she has also lost her unborn baby.  Her faith in the Lord is in shreds, and she renames herself, Mara (meaning, "bitterness"), as Naomi did in the Old Testament Book of Ruth.  She joins a partisan group and becomes an excellent sniper.  

Edward wrestles with guilt; it appears that every partisan group that he has assisted in the war against the Nazis has found death and destruction, rather than freedom.  He is especially guilt ridden over the death of Katrina, his fiancée, who Nazis executed after following him to her location.  Edward escaped capture, and Katrina's death has left him reluctant to accept help from partisan groups in the countries that he works in.  He is afraid that he will lead them to their deaths.  Unlike Marina, Edward still has a faith that clings to the Lord. 

Marina and Edward meet when he comes into contact with her partisan group.  He plans to blow up a bridge on a Nazi supply route, but quickly comes to realize that he cannot carry out his mission without the help of the partisans.  The time spent in each other's company leads Marina and Edward to fall in love with each other as they learn to trust and rely on each other for support.  Will Marina regain her faith in the Lord with Edward's help?  Will Edward be able to let go of his guilt so that he can open his heart to love again? 

Psalm 100:5 is a significant verse in the Heirs of Anton.  It says, "For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations."  We can partially see how the truth of this is carried out in this installment of this series, although we do not see the completion of what the Lord will do for this family in Marina.  Our protagonists must trust and wait on the Lord for the future.  They are also required to make very difficult and costly sacrifices.  I want to say this:  I think that the character of Edward Neumann is truly a saint.  In my opinion, Marina gets pretty close to being a romantic tragedy.

I also have a minor quibble about the cover.  Marina is supposed to be a blonde, but the woman on the cover looks like a brunette to me.

I would not consider Marina to be a stand alone novel.  I think that Ekaterina, the first book of the series, has a stronger link in the continuity with Marina than Nadia, which is the  second book.  Several questions raised in Ekaterina are answered in Marina, but if you read only Marina, you will be left with questions that can only be answered in Ekaterina.  Having said that, there are still other questions that haven't been answered in any of the books offered so far in the continuity.  Hopefully, these will be addressed in the final book, Oksana.

Review: Nadia by Susan May Warren with Susan K. Downs

Nadia, by Susan May Warren with Susan K. Downs, is the second installment of the Heirs of Anton series.  The series covers four generations of a family of Russian background and their faith.  Nadia is the immediate prequel to Ekaterina, and is the story of Kat's parents, Hope Nadezhda (Nadia) Moore and Michael (Mickey/Misha) Moore, who are both spies for the CIA. 

The story is set in the USSR, in 1970.  Hope has covertly entered Russia with the purpose of freeing her husband, Mickey, who had been imprisoned by the KGB and is scheduled to be executed in a matter of days.  She is on her own without support from her father, spymaster Edward Neumann, who, along with the rest of the CIA in the United States, believe Mickey to be a traitor who betrayed two of their sleeper spies who were stationed in Russia.  There are also the rumors that Mickey had betrayed their marriage by having an affair with another spy.  Hope can't bring herself to believe that Mickey would betray their people, but she has another reason for wanting to get Mickey out of Russia; she needs him to be a father to their infant daughter, Ekaterina, even though she has doubts about his marital faithfulness.  Mickey is unaware of the existence of Ekaterina; he has no knowledge of what had happened to Hope after his arrest. 

With the help of friend who is a KGB mole, Aranoff Chornov, Hope springs Mickey from prison, but they narrowly escape capture when their escape route out of the country is blocked by KGB agents.  Will Hope and Mickey be able to evade capture and make it out of the Soviet Union? Is Mickey a double agent who betrayed his own people?  Or was he betrayed and framed by another?

One of the spiritual themes that is prevalent in Nadia is the need for both our protagonists to "let go and let God (do as He wills)."  They need to surrender their own plans and agendas and trust God for whatever outcomes will result, even though what God has in plan for them may not be entirely clear. Hope is determined to get Mickey safely out of the USSR so that she and Ekaterina can have Mickey play the role of a father at home in the States.  However, she runs into the brick wall that is Mickey's desire to make an impact as spy who has served his country well.  Can she leave Mickey behind so that he can make his own way with his life and fulfill his career objectives?  As for Mickey, can he give up his desire to find significance in making a difference for his country by serving as a spy, or can he settle for a quiet and less exciting life as a father to Ekaterina in the States?  In addition to that dilemma, his struggle also involves his desires to exonerate himself and get revenge on whoever betrayed him.

While our heroine and hero work these things out, they continue to encounter danger and intrigue, including the mysterious appearance of Hope's father, Edward Neumann, in the USSR.  One of the reasons for Edward's appearance is to support the continuity between the books in the series. There are other hints of information that are mentioned in Nadia that are revealed more fully in Ekaterina, but there are still puzzles and mysteries regarding the Heirs of Anton series that are still unanswered even in this second installment.   

I enjoyed the novel for the espionage story that it was.  There are enough tidbits provided so that I'm interested enough to find out what happens in the remainder of the series, which includes Marina and Oksana, parts three and four of the Heirs of Anton.  

Review: The Honorable Imposter by Gilbert Morris

The Honorable Imposter, by Gilbert Morris, has been around for quite some time.  It was originally published in 1986, and is the first book in the House of Winslow series, but I had not read it until this year.  Even though I have read many other books in the House of Winslow, which covers the saga of the Winslow Family from the time of the voyage of the Mayflower by the American Pilgrims to the 20th Century, for some reason, I've overlooked the very first novel in the series.  It probably didn't help that the time era in which it is set it not exactly my preferred era for reading about; I prefer books that are set in the Regency era, but also will read about books set in the Georgian, Victorian, and Edwardian eras.  I'll even read historical western and prairie romances, but the ones I've read are usually set in the 1800's.  Visiting the 1600's in novels hasn't been as appealing to me, so I was pleasantly surprised to find that I really enjoyed reading The Honorable Imposter.

The story begins in England.  Gilbert Winslow is a younger son and a bit of a rogue.  His prospects are limited, and in spite of his roguish tendencies, he has been educated to be a parson.  Gilbert is presented with the opportunity to join the ranks of the nobility by entering into the service of Lord North, who wants him to become the husband of his daughter, Lady Cecily.  However, he needs to prove himself worthy to Lord North, who recruits Gilbert to find William Brewster, a fugitive from the King, because of his involvement with the Separatists and Puritans.  Lord North wants Gilbert to infiltrate and spy on the members of Brewster's movement so that Brewster can be found and then arrested as a traitor to England. 

Even though Gilbert is repulsed by the idea of infiltrating a group and then betraying his victim, he agrees to take on the mission.  He gains entrance into the Separatist movement through his brother, Edward, who is sympathetic to Brewster's cause.  Gilbert wrestles with his conscience because he fully realizes that he is spouting hypocrisy when he speaks the words that will gain him acceptance into the Separatist group.  He also meets Brewster himself, and realizes that the man is not exactly the villainous character that he had believed him to be.  Instead, Gilbert finds an honourable man of genuine faith.  Significantly, through the Separatists, Gilbert meets Humility Cooper and is drawn to her, even though they stand on opposing sides with regards to their beliefs toward the established church.  What will Gilbert do when the moment comes for him to betray the Separatists?  Will he follow through with his mission and gain Lord North's favour and support in climbing the ranks of English society, or will he join the Separatists as they try to find religious freedom in the New World across the Atlantic Ocean? 

My personal knowledge of American History with regard to the Pilgrims and their voyage on the Mayflower is pretty weak, so I wonder which connections to recorded history I am missing because I do not recognize names of real people and places that are mentioned in the story.  However, I can appreciate the struggle that Gilbert Winslow faces throughout the novel.  If I had to choose a verse from the Bible to summarize his dilemma, it would be Mark 8:36, which reads, "What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?"

I also found it amusing and surprising to find out that the first Winslow in the House of Winslow saga was actually quite a rogue.  Gilbert isn't interested in taking orders in the church; the man is quite a skilled fencer and is quite smooth in his interactions with Lady Cecily.  It's funny to think that the Winslow Family, whose members' spiritual journeys are covered in the series, had a patriarch who was not a great spiritual paragon for much of the book.  I can also appreciate the mention of Gilbert's cornflower blue eyes now a bit more, as mention of this physical trait appears in some of his descendants in later stories connected to the House of Winslow.  Supposedly, the Winslow men are characterized by a tendency to fall deep and hard for one woman for life.  I can't recall if this trait was mentioned in The Honorable Imposter, but it does appear in later books. 

If you haven't read any books from the House of Winslow series, The Honorable Imposter is a good book to start off with as it is the book that kicks off the series.  There is also a connection between the House of Winslow with the Cheney Duvall, M.D. series which is by Gilbert Morris and Lynn Morris.  

Review: Snowbound with the Baronet by Deborah Hale

In the regency, Snowbound with the Baronet, by Deborah Hale, Lady Cassandra Whitney and her friend, Mrs. Davis, are travelling by public stagecoach during a snowstorm to Noughtly Hall, home of the Viscountess of Moresly, who is Cassandra's aunt.  Even though Cassandra is the daughter of a duke, her father's death has left his widow, Cassandra's step-mother, and his four daughters dependent upon the graces of his heir, Lord Highworth.  Cassandra has taken matters into her own hands and makes an agreement with Aunt Augusta, the viscountess, that she will become the viscountess' companion, in exchange for a Season for her youngest sister, Evelina, and for a housekeeper's position for Mrs. Davis. 

On their travels, they come across a carriage which has thrown a wheel, and are forced to take on the passengers from the carriage.  These passengers include Sir Brandon Calvert, his cousin, Imogene, and their accompanying staff.  The ride becomes quite awkward for Lady Cassandra and Sir Brandon, because they share a past.  Four years ago, he had proposed marriage to her, but she refused him in the belief that her refusal would protect him.  He believes that she played him for a fool, because she had given him the false hope of being accepted.  He can forgive her for refusing him because he could understand their differences in station (he is the aforementioned baronet in the title of the book), but not for the way that she toyed with his feelings into making him believe that he had a chance to win her.

Because of the increasing severity of the snowstorm, the roads are no longer passable.  The travelers are forced to take refuge at the farm belonging to Mr. and Mrs. Martin, who extend their hospitality to virtual strangers.  Being forced to spend time with each other in such close quarters causes Cassandra and Brandon to realize that they still have unresolved feelings for each other; however, Brandon is reluctant to put his heart out there again after getting burned by Cassandra once before, and Cassandra is too proud to reveal to Brandon the real reasons for her refusal in the past.   Brandon also has secrets of his own which he is too proud to reveal, and even though he becomes increasingly aware that he wishes to rekindle his relationship with Cassandra, his own past warps his ability to trust Cassandra and take a chance on a future with her.  Cassandra, for her part, still must wrestle with her pride and concern for her reputation instead of risking humiliation which could possibly help her regain a future with Brandon. 

As mentioned above, the issue of pride appears many times in this story.  It is because of pride and a drive for independence from the new duke that propels Cassandra to become her aunt's companion.  It is hinted by Viola, Cassandra's oldest sister, that pride led Cassandra to refuse marriage to Brandon the first time.  Cassandra finally acknowledges the truth of this later on in the story, and although she humbles herself enough to admit the reasons for her refusal to Brandon, her pride rears up its ugly head again when she refuses to reveal the reason why she is travelling to her aunt's residence.  She does not wish to be thought of as a gold digger, especially after she discovers the nature of Brandon's secrets.  This leaves Brandon to imagine the worst of circumstances that might require her to travel away from the safety of her own immediate family; he thinks that she might be in an Interesting Condition (i.e. with child).

I thought that the plot and central conflict for this novel were well planned out.  I could appreciate the complex reasons why the characters were too proud and afraid to reveal embarrassing and shameful secrets about their own families.  However, as a reader, because I was privy to what the hero and heroine were thinking, I felt like giving them a couple of good shakes to get over their pride if they wanted the other person's love. 

Also, I appreciated that this novel was clean;  only kisses were present.  I thought that the description of the first kiss that Brandon gave Cassandra in this book was satisfying to read.  I would classify this novel as secular, although there is a short prayer made to the Lord at the Twelfth Night meal. 

Deborah Hale has previously written other regencies for the Love Inspired Historical line, which includes the Glass Slipper Brides, a series about a group of childhood school friends who all eventually became governesses.  Snowbound with the Baronet is the first in a series about the Whitney Family.  There will be future stories about the rest of the females in the Whitney family, including Cassandra's three sisters and step-mother.   

Review: The Healer's Touch by Lori Copeland

The Healer's Touch, by Lori Copeland, is a western historical romance involving Lyric Bolton, the aforementioned healer in the title of the book, and Ian Cawley, a U.S. Marshal who becomes a wounded amnesiac after his horse crashes into a barn on the Bolton farm while he is trying to apprehend a criminal.  Ian has no identification on his person since he lost his wallet during an earlier scuffle in pursuing his quarry.  Unfortunately for him, Lyric and her sister, Lark, suspect that he is a criminal himself, belonging to the Younger Gang and are determined to turn him over to their local sheriff in order to claim the reward for capturing a Younger. Because of the abysmal weather conditions, the sisters must ironically shelter and care for Ian, whom Lyric has renamed as Joseph, until the sheriff can make it to their farm in order arrest Ian and hang him for his supposed crimes.  As Lyric and Ian spend more time together while she tends to his wounds, they fall in love.  Will Ian regain his memory before he faces the hangman's noose?

Ian is a likeable character. I had to smirk at his thoughts as his body meets up with the barn:   "I'm going to sell that miserable horse if it's the last thing I do." I don't mean to be laughing at the injuries that he is about to suffer, but I thought that it was a humourous thing that he was thinking of instead.  If I were him, I would have probably been fearful that I was going to be taking my last breath instead and my thoughts would have reflected that.  Anyways, throughout the story, his thoughts, words, and actions reveal that he is a believing man who is more likely to be a good citizen rather than a hardened criminal.

Lyric is a young woman who had to assume adult responsibilities too early in her youth.  She doesn't recall any knowledge of her father, and had to care for  both her mother and sister since she was about seven years old.  On top of that, because her mother's illness is of the mental kind, the family has been treated as social pariahs.  Now that Mrs. Bolton's health is starting to fail, Lyric is waiting for their mother to pass on, and then the two sisters will leave the area and move away to a new place.  Lyric hopes to  make a new start where they will be accepted instead of shunned.

There is also another significant character in the novel, and that is the Spooklight, which, according to Lori Copeland, is based upon a real phenomenon in Missouri.  I haven't done a lot of research into the Spooklight, so I don't want to comment much about the real phenomenon beyond the idea that this seems to touch on a sort of supernatural spiritism that gives me the creeps and heebee jeebies.  In the book, many of the characters feel in a similar way, and this Spooklight, which seems to act as an impish and mischievious will o'wisp, appears quite frequently near the Bolton Farm.  This has added more social stigma to the sisters who are already shouldering public ostracization in response to their mother's mental health.  The Spooklight plays an important part in bringing Lyric and Ian together, because it is the thing that frightens Ian's horse into its mad dash into the barn door.  Ms. Copeland doesn't directly confirm what the Spooklight is in this story, but she strongly hints that it could be an angel for this book.  Regardless of what it actually is, it seems to be a sentient being in the novel, frightening some, acting as a nuisance to others, and giving comfort to one of the major characters.  Because it hasn't been overtly identified as an angel of God, I must confess that the character of the Spooklight is not a comfortable idea for me.

If you are interested in a western historical romance with a touch of the supernatural in it, this might be a book to look into.

Disclaimer:  I was provided with an e-copy of The Healer's Touch from Netgalley in exchange for a review.    All opinions stated in this review are mine.

Review: The Forfeit by Py Russell-Heath

The Forfeit, by Py Russell-Heath, is a regency that I found off the freebie list at Amazon.  Yes, I'm still in my freebie hunt mode. Plus, on top of that, it was a regency.  I just couldn't resist.  I also loved the fact that on her author page, Ms. Russell-Heath posted a photo of herself decked out in regency garb.  I want my own gown now.  Actually, now that I think of it, if I could get the special man in my life into a frock coat, I think that I'd be pretty estatic, but I'm digressing from the purpose of this blog entry, which is to discuss The Forfeit.

The hero in this story is a stuffy earl, Lord Edmund Spanton, the Earl of Merton, who forgets himself when he crashes into the heroine, the Honorable Miss Regina Carbury, on a staircase at The Withered Rose Inn.  Both are not in their finest frames of mind; Regina is furious with getting knocked over and proceeds to verbally flay Edmund with her words, while Edmund, who is en route to London after an aggravating visit with his sister, responds with boorish behaviour in the face of what he perceives as an attack by still yet another criticizing female.  When Regina tries to pass by him, he refuses to budge unless she pays him a forfeit, which is, of course, a kiss.  Regina leans over to kiss him on the cheek, but sneaky man that he is, Edmund places his lips in the way, and "...her face reflected the surprise that he felt."  I thought that this line was rather Austen-like...it reminded me of the verbal spat between Darcy and Elizabeth when discussing Wickham, or of the meeting between Elizabeth and Darcy at Pemberley, or even when E and D reconciled their differences on their walk to Oakham Mount.   

At this point in the story, neither person knows the identity of the other, and leaves the inn with a bit of shame over their own behaviour, relieved that they will likely not ever see each other again.  That is the case, until they meet at a ball in London when they find out that Edmund is a dear friend of Regina's aunt and uncle with whom she is staying.  Awkwardness abounds.  Edmund is taken so much by surprise that he ends up giving Regina the cut direct unintentionally, which creates a problem for him in his relationship with Regina's aunt and uncle.  He tries to rectify this error by taking Regina out riding the next day, and Regina and he apologize to each other for their abominable behaviour.  However, Edmund becomes stiff and remote by the end of this outing when he realizes that too much attention has been drawn towards Regina and himself that he fears that talk would circulate about a relationship between them.  Regina, realizing that Edmund is not interested in having society gossip about them being together, regrets her behaviour, but stands firm in her resolve to not presume on the earl's acquaintance.  However, she does admit that he is an attractive man.

Regina is in London to find a husband so that she will not inconvenience her brother or his future wife.  Edmund is also on the marriage hunt, trying to look for a wife who will meet the Three B's:  breeding, bearing, and behaviour.  However, neither is on each other's list initially, until it becomes apparent that no other candidate will do except for the person who each had met at The Withered Rose Inn.

I found this novel to be populated with nice people.  It was rather refreshing.  There wasn't much by the way of catty or mean behaviour by many of the characters in this novel, with a few exceptions: Mrs. Tifton, a social climber, Lady Bremond, the diamond of first water who is the frontrunner for the position of being Edmund's countess, and Lord Linley, a marquis who makes some rather unwelcome advances towards Regina.  Other than that, many of the characters appeared to be self sacrificing, willing to do the right and honorable thing, and in some cases, even at the expense of their own personal happiness.  However, Regina was the one who was the one who exemplified this type of behaviour the most in this story.

The Forfeit had its funny moments too. For starters, there were Regina's responses to all the marriage offers that started coming her way once the three top contenders for her hand were refused.  I also found it a bit funny when Edmund's good friend, Lord Matthew Warton, Viscount Neal, decided to throw in his hat and propose to Regina to stir up Edmund's jealousy. Ah, dear Matthew...such a cheeky fellow.

Another funny moment was when Regina realized that the house party that she was attending would have seven unmarried men, most of whom were earls, one of whom might try to offer for her if only to see if he might succeed where a viscount could not.  Why is the girl panicking?  Really, I don't think that I would have if I were in her shoes. 

Finally, there was the time when Edmund persuaded Regina to read through his updated list of requirements for the Countess of Merton.  Edmund was trying to argue that she had the appropriate breeding and bearing, but I had to laugh at the history of how Regina's forefather gained his title. I also found it humourous that he said to overlook the behaviour section.       

I did fear that the novel was going to drag on a bit after Regina's refusal of her second suitor.  The first two refusals took a bit of time in the plot, but the third and subsequent refusals were dealt with quite quickly and the pace picked up.  I did want to rattle Edmund's shoulders for not realizing his feelings for Regina.

The novel was clean, witty at points, and enjoyable to read.  I wanted to find out how it ended. From Ms. Russell-Heath's author page, it appears that she may have another couple of novels in the works.  I hope that Matthew Warton's story will be one of those.

Review: The Mad Herringtons by Jane Myers Perrine

The Mad Herringtons, by Jane Myers Perrine, is a regency romance.  It is published electronically by Beyond the Page Publishing.  I think that it had been previously published in 2002 by Avalon, which had been bought out by Amazon.  Anyways, at the present time, Beyond the Page is selling the Kindle version for about $2.99 US on Amazon.  For the most part, I found the novel to be breezy, funny, and enjoyable to read.  One might describe this as a fun regency romp.  Certainly, it has the feel of chick lit done in regency style. 

Aphrodite Herrington is the sensible and responsible daughter, born into a family whose members all exhibit passionate natures.  They are collectively known to the ton as the Mad Herringtons and include Aphrodite's parents and 12 other siblings.  Her parents have no problem making rather public displays of affection and procreating at such a fast rate and continually increasing their brood (indeed, in this story, there is another on the way). Her sister, Terpsichore, who dresses quite provocatively for regency standards, has established her own townhouse without a chaperone, with their parents' approval.  Her oldest brother, Aeolus, is in Congo, Africa, searching for the source of the Nile based upon his own opinion.  Her younger sister, Athena, is an accomplished flirt, enjoying the company of eligible and ineligible males, particularly in kissing them without thought or concern for her reputation.

Aphrodite is different; she wishes to conduct her life with propriety, without any hint of scandal.  She also desires to be married, but to a husband who is sober, sensible and not prone to frivolity and passion.  She finds herself betrothed to Frederick Horne, who exhibits a similar personality and compatible interests to her own.  However, Frederick's mother is not convinced of Aphrodite's suitability, and so arrangements are made for a house party at Frederick's estate so that Aphrodite has the opportunity to get acquainted with her future mother-in-law.

Included in the house party are Aphrodite's sisters, Terpsichore and Athena, and another brother, Asklepios, who appears at the party under an alias in a scheme to temporarily escape being caught by a magistrate who is looking for the culprit who dug up his daughter's dead dog.  Frederick's cousin, Viscount Thomas Warwick, heir to the Earl of Wharton, is also present to represent his branch of his family.  At least, that's what he is telling himself and others.

Warwick decides that Aphrodite really needs to know what she is getting into if she marries Frederick; she will gain the atrocious Mrs. Horne as her mother-in-law, which would be a fate worse than death.  Really, he's not helping Aphrodite because he can't forget the kiss that he stole from her two years previously, a kiss that he can't get out of his memory. 

We also find out that even though Aphrodite says that she wants the predictable and dependable Frederick, it is the rogish Warwick who catches her eye, but she will not let her heart open to him because she doesn't trust that he would offer marriage to her because of his past dealings with her.

Thrown into the mix is the re-entrance of former suitor of Terpsichore's, Athena's indiscriminate flirting towards the male species, and preparations for a performance of a Midsummer's Night Dream.  Will Aphrodite be able to keep all her siblings from social ruin?  Will she be able to resist Warwick and keep her intentions to marry Frederick?

The novel has a touch of naughtiness in it, but this is expressed by characters other than Aphrodite, who is in all things proper and controlled. For instance, Athena makes reference to to Warwick looking at Aphrodite by saying, "When you weren't aware, he looked at your bosom.  You have a lovely bosom.  I've seen many men notice that," (typical talk from a flighty man-crazy teenager). Terpsichore also makes a couple of outrageous comments about how it would be worth it to be compromised by Warwick should the occasion arise.  Her character appears to live to shock others with her outrageous talk and dress.  However, there isn't really any actual descriptions of sex in this book, other than the implication of something that is to happen between a couple of minor married characters.  By some standards, this novel would probably be considered sweet and clean, but it certainly doesn't match what you would find in a Harlequin Love Inspired novel. 

There was one point in the story where I was a bit confused.  In chapter 1, Aphrodite turns away from the Viscount Warwick, but he is referred to as a Marquis.  At least, I think that the use of the word referred to Warwick, because otherwise, she is turning away from her father, who is known to be a Marquis.  However, she is not dancing with her father; instead, she is dancing with Warwick.The other thing that I found confusing what that Terpsichore had her own townhouse, which I think would be unheard of for a single unmarried woman who would be considered under the protection of her living parents.  However, it is explained in the story that the Marquis and Marchioness had encouraged the whims of their children and permitted Terpsichore to have her own establishment.

I'm not an expert on regencies, but I had a lot of fun reading this, so if there were major historical inaccuracies, I didn't notice them and I don't think that I would have really minded.  This was an enjoyable book.  I wish that there was more to read about the Mad Herringtons.  Maybe Ms. Myers Perrine will write more about this delightful family; after all, there are ten (eleven!) other members that we haven't met yet!

Disclaimer:  A free e-copy of The Mad Herringtons was provided by Net Galley in exchange for a review.  All opinions stated in this review are mine. 

Review: The Husband Campaign by Regina Scott

The Husband Campaign, by Regina Scott, was released by Harlequin's Love Inspired Historical line.  It is the third and final book of the Master Matchmakers series which is set in Regency England.  The idea linking together the books in this trilogy is that the servants of several neighbouring noble houses are conspiring to find romantic matches for their aristocratic masters. In spite of this book being the final part of a trilogy, it can be read as a stand alone novel.  

In The Husband Campaign, the aristocrats in question are John, Lord Hascot, and Lady Amelia, daughter of the Marquess of Wesworth.  They find themselves coerced into a marriage of convenience to prevent scandal after John finds Lady Amelia taking shelter in an abandoned stable on his property. Neither wishes to marry each other as they are virtually strangers; Amelia wishes to marry for love, while John had previously been burned in love when the woman whom he loved married his brother instead.  John is finished with society now, preferring the company of his horses, even refusing to sell them if he perceives that the prospective client would make a poor master to his animals.

Two of the servants who have supporting roles in this story are Marcus Fletcher, John's veterinarian, who assists him in running his horse breeding farm, and Dorcas Turner, the lady's maid that John hires to wait on Amelia.  Turner ends up being an advocate for Amelia, helping Amelia's efforts to establish herself as the lady of the house, and in Amelia's campaign to win her husband's love when Amelia realizes that she wants more than what she and John initially agreed to when they first entered into marriage.  Fletcher tries to help John realize that Amelia should be more precious to him than the horses that he owns.

Things are moving swimmingly along, until John's ex-love, now a widow, enters their lives. Also complicating the situation is the arrival of Amelia's father, a man who has never shown affection or approval towards Amelia.  He is especially concerned about John's refusal to sell his horses to certain members of society, and threatens to take Amelia away if John does not meet the Marquess' expectations of providing for Amelia's social standing and protecting her reputation from scandal.  Will Amelia and John be able to make their marriage succeed in the face of these obstacles?

I enjoyed reading this story.  For a man who is uncomfortable with  talking to women, John can be quite effective in getting his point across, especially by the end of book.  He reminded me a little of Fitzwilliam Darcy, with his standoffish behaviour towards others, preference for the country, and also from the wording in a letter to Amelia.  You'll know what I mean when you run across it in the book.


I also enjoyed how the lead characters acknowledged the Lord in this book, through their foxhole prayers. There were also a few concluding paragraphs giving us news about the two other couples from the other two books of the trilogy.  I only wish that we could have heard about the story of how the Duke of Bellington (an extremely minor character who we never actually meet throughout the series) meets his bride, but perhaps that story might turn up in one of Ms. Scott's future stories. This was a nice end to the Master Matchmakers.      





 

Review: Grave Consequences by Lisa T. Bergren

"Grave Consequences," written by Lisa T. Bergren, and published by David C. Cook, is the second part of a trilogy which started with "Glamorous Illusions" and ends with "Glittering Promises."  Our heroine, Cora Diehl Kensington, is the illegitimate daughter of a wealthy man who plucks her from a life of obscurity in rural Montana and whisks away on a European Grand Tour with his legitimate children.  Cora's half siblings, Felix, Vivian, and Lillian, are also traveling with Vivian's beau, Andrew Morgan, and his brother, Hugh.  Their tour is being overseen by Stuart McCabe, and his nephew, Will. 

"Grave Consequences" picks up where "Glamorous Illusions" left off; the group is rallying from an escape from kidnappers while they were in Paris and resuming their tour.  Cora's half siblings are now beginning to warm up to her and accept her as one of their own.  The group is planning to rendezvous with Mr. Kensington and Mr. Morgan in Vienna where they will decide whether to continue the tour in its entirety or cancel the rest of it.  The McCabes, really need the money that they will make from this trip; however, the kidnappers have not been apprehended yet, and the safety of their charges is a concern that cannot be ignored. 

Besides being worried about future attempts at being kidnapped, Cora has a choice between two love interests: Will, a young man who has dreams of finishing his architectural studies but who is helping his Uncle Stuart keep the financially burdened family business afloat, and Pierre, Lord de Richelieu, a wealthy suitor who the travelers met in the first novel, whose home was the site where they were attacked by the kidnappers.  Throughout much of this novel, Cora believes that her heart's choice is Will, but they cannot be open about their romantic feelings with the others.  It would anger Cora's father, who may decide to cancel the tour, refuse to pay the McCabes, and spread bad publicity for their tour company if they cannot protect young ladies under their care from unsuitable attachments.  Pierre is aware that Cora cares for Will, but he still pursues her and is able to get approval for his suit from Cora's father.

Cora also must come to terms with her new position in society.  She believes that after the tour is finished, she will return to her mother and adoptive father and resume her plans to become a teacher.  Her traveling companions, including Will, know that Mr. Kensington has bigger plans for Cora.  The tour has been serving a purpose in immersing Cora into the lifestyle of the wealthy and in helping Cora and her half siblings bond with each other.  She is aware that if she accepts her place as a Kensington, she will struggle under the control of her birth father, and his expectations for her life, just as her siblings are wrestling under his control and scrutiny. 

The novel is written in two points of view:  Cora's and Will's.  Cora's point of view is presented in first person, while Will's is written in third person.  I found this to be a little strange, but got used to it.  Also, giving Will a point of view was a big hint as to who the main love interest truly was.

I have not read "Glamorous Illusions," yet, but there was enough background information provided in the story that I was able to follow the plot without too much confusion.  However, there were many characters mentioned in the story, and I ended up writing down most of their names just to keep track of who each person was.

It was interesting to tag along on the Grand Tour, reading the descriptions and little history lessons that Will gave to the tour group.  I think that I would like to visit the Chateau of Queribus and see the ruins for myself.  I thought that the question posed by one of the characters while they were touring this location reflected one of the book's themes quite well:  "How many men and women found themselves here because it truly was their holy calling, and how many came because everyone around them told them it was their holy calling?"  Cora faces this dilemma as she tries to figure out what God's will is for her where Will and Pierre are concerned, and where her future lies as a "Diehl" or as a Kensington.  She needs to discern God's voice amongst all the other voices in her life, including those of her siblings, her traveling companions, Pierre, Will, and her birth father. 

Since this was the second installment of a trilogy, there are parts of the story that are incomplete.  The romantic storyline has not been resolved yet; Will and Pierre are both still contenders for Cora's heart.  The tour appears to continue beyond this novel.   The origins of the kidnapping plot are revealed, and the main culprits have been apprehended by the end, but not all of them have been caught, so perhaps the travelers are not out of danger from this threat yet.  I'm looking forward to reading the next part, "Glittering Promises."

Disclaimer:  A copy of "Grave Consequences" was given by NetGalley in exchange for a review.  All opinions stated in this review are mine.