Love this book, set in the era when seonces were huge this is the story of a woman who has moved mountians to get her and her loved ones to a safe happy place in their lives and the man who threatens to take it all away, because of money because as we all know money no matter what era we live in has the possiblilty to bring great happiness or great saddness. definately worth reading over and over again this book would be a great first read if you have never tried this author. or a must read for anyone who is already a fan of her work
This is an unusual story about spiritualists (people who have seances so family members can reconnect with deceased loved ones). I gave the story three stars just for the originality of the plot. However, there were lots of things that troubled me about the story.
Lavinia was an attractive, intelligent heroine. However, Edward Stuyvesant-French was much too negative. In the opening, Edward wanted to ruin Lavinia so that he could prove that his peer-father was insane. He wanted all of the old man's money to go to his handicapped sister, instead of to Lavinia.
By the time the couple had made it to Bermuda on a cruise ship, one could feel that Edward's feelings were starting to change towards Lavinia. However, he still called her a 'whore.' As a reader, I expected the hero to change his words toward someone he was developing strong feelings towards. But, Edward did not. In my opinion, he is one of the most unlikeable heroes in romance fiction.
There were too many happy endings that did not seem realistic. I wondered why Lavinia would settle for someone who was so cruel towards her. Edward's sister, who was in a wheelchair, fell in love with the first man who took note of her. He was an admitted bounder. The Duke of Kylemore selected a woman to be his duchess who had had a child out of wedlock. Really?
I've really been impressed with the quality of the plots from this author. This is the second novel I've read by Meagan McKinney. However, the execution of this story left me feeling somewhat empty. 3.5 stars
Lavinia was an attractive, intelligent heroine. However, Edward Stuyvesant-French was much too negative. In the opening, Edward wanted to ruin Lavinia so that he could prove that his peer-father was insane. He wanted all of the old man's money to go to his handicapped sister, instead of to Lavinia.
By the time the couple had made it to Bermuda on a cruise ship, one could feel that Edward's feelings were starting to change towards Lavinia. However, he still called her a 'whore.' As a reader, I expected the hero to change his words toward someone he was developing strong feelings towards. But, Edward did not. In my opinion, he is one of the most unlikeable heroes in romance fiction.
There were too many happy endings that did not seem realistic. I wondered why Lavinia would settle for someone who was so cruel towards her. Edward's sister, who was in a wheelchair, fell in love with the first man who took note of her. He was an admitted bounder. The Duke of Kylemore selected a woman to be his duchess who had had a child out of wedlock. Really?
I've really been impressed with the quality of the plots from this author. This is the second novel I've read by Meagan McKinney. However, the execution of this story left me feeling somewhat empty. 3.5 stars
Amazon.com
In 1881, attending séances to speak with dear, departed friends and loved ones is considered a fashionable outing in New York City, and no medium is more popular than the mysterious Countess Lovaenya and her sister, Czarina Renski. But the countess is hiding more than her secrets for calling forth the spirits: she feels compelled to conceal her real identity (Lavinia Murphy) as well as her origins and those of her siblings in order to build a life in New York. But just when Lavinia thinks she has found financial security for her makeshift family, the bitter, illegitimate son of a wealthy client targets "the countess" as a means of taking revenge against his hated, mad father.
To protect her family, Lavinia enters into an uneasy bargain with the powerful, dark Edward. Wary of the undeniable attraction between them, she struggles to cope with the bargain she has struck, but her experience with contacting the spirits hasn't prepared her for the dark specters that haunt Edward. Fraught with pitfalls and roadblocks, the path to Edward's heart is a rocky one, and Lavinia has reason to wonder if a heart even exists beyond the darkness of his bitter soul. But Edward needs Lavinia in ways his past experience has left him unable to verbalize, until a crisis forces him to confront his demons and make a choice that will affect them both forever.
In 1881, attending séances to speak with dear, departed friends and loved ones is considered a fashionable outing in New York City, and no medium is more popular than the mysterious Countess Lovaenya and her sister, Czarina Renski. But the countess is hiding more than her secrets for calling forth the spirits: she feels compelled to conceal her real identity (Lavinia Murphy) as well as her origins and those of her siblings in order to build a life in New York. But just when Lavinia thinks she has found financial security for her makeshift family, the bitter, illegitimate son of a wealthy client targets "the countess" as a means of taking revenge against his hated, mad father.
To protect her family, Lavinia enters into an uneasy bargain with the powerful, dark Edward. Wary of the undeniable attraction between them, she struggles to cope with the bargain she has struck, but her experience with contacting the spirits hasn't prepared her for the dark specters that haunt Edward. Fraught with pitfalls and roadblocks, the path to Edward's heart is a rocky one, and Lavinia has reason to wonder if a heart even exists beyond the darkness of his bitter soul. But Edward needs Lavinia in ways his past experience has left him unable to verbalize, until a crisis forces him to confront his demons and make a choice that will affect them both forever.
