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Review Date: 12/7/2010
Helpful Score: 2
This is the second book in the trilogy and apparently I am late in coming to discover this wonderful series. The story involves a lurid romance between the rare landowning woman from this era - not even sure which era it as meant to be - falling in love with her land steward. Like many good romances, this one began with a trauma bringing the two together - a carriage accident leaving them stranded and forcing them to spend the night huddled in an old run down cottage. At the time of the accident, the two of them were on their way from London to Georgina's country estate, bequeathed to her by an aunt. George, as she is known, had been called home by her sister, due to a bunch of sheep killings that had been effecting the farmers living off the land. The hero, George's recently hired steward, Harry Pye, is the prime suspect.
There are many aspects of this story that were exciting and engaging. First, there was a well-developed and believable villain, a landowning man with no real influence beyond his corner of the world, who wielded what little power he had to terrorize the local people. There was also a subplot involving George's sister and her reasons for having fled to the countryside, which she finally confesses to George. The mystery of who was killing the sheep kept the story moving at a good pace, and introduced us to several more interesting characters, including two half brothers of the hero, a local barkeep and his mentally disabled sister, and the heir of the villain, a young man who worshipped his father despite the continuous rejection he had always received from him.
All of that was great, but what really made me love this story was the way that the characters had to deal, in a very real way, with the differences in their social class. It is much easier, it seems, for a man to marry "down" than for a woman. For George to fall in love with her land steward was scandalous and nearly unheard of, as unusual as a woman owning her own estates independently. The issues that this caused were not simply brushed under the rug, and with the happy ending, it was clear that they would continue to struggle with the challenges wrought from being not being social equals or equals in wealth.
My biggest criticsm was probably use of the fairy tale about the leopard prince. Listening to George tell it was boring - despite her professed love of collecting stories, the retelling was boring. I nearly skipped those parts. As to the symbolism intended, about Harry's fears of being caged and used by a more powerful person for their own ends, it was unnecessary and a rather cheap device, perhaps intended for a less sophisticated reader.
There are many aspects of this story that were exciting and engaging. First, there was a well-developed and believable villain, a landowning man with no real influence beyond his corner of the world, who wielded what little power he had to terrorize the local people. There was also a subplot involving George's sister and her reasons for having fled to the countryside, which she finally confesses to George. The mystery of who was killing the sheep kept the story moving at a good pace, and introduced us to several more interesting characters, including two half brothers of the hero, a local barkeep and his mentally disabled sister, and the heir of the villain, a young man who worshipped his father despite the continuous rejection he had always received from him.
All of that was great, but what really made me love this story was the way that the characters had to deal, in a very real way, with the differences in their social class. It is much easier, it seems, for a man to marry "down" than for a woman. For George to fall in love with her land steward was scandalous and nearly unheard of, as unusual as a woman owning her own estates independently. The issues that this caused were not simply brushed under the rug, and with the happy ending, it was clear that they would continue to struggle with the challenges wrought from being not being social equals or equals in wealth.
My biggest criticsm was probably use of the fairy tale about the leopard prince. Listening to George tell it was boring - despite her professed love of collecting stories, the retelling was boring. I nearly skipped those parts. As to the symbolism intended, about Harry's fears of being caged and used by a more powerful person for their own ends, it was unnecessary and a rather cheap device, perhaps intended for a less sophisticated reader.
Review Date: 12/6/2010
Helpful Score: 4
This novel begins with the heroine, who the reader quickly comes to love, nearly getting run over by a rider, who falls off his horse. What we learn is that the herione is a woman nearing thirty, widowed several years before, living in poverty with her mother-in-law and a young girl they took in to save from the poorhouse. Forced to desperate measures, the heroine goes looking for work, only to be turned down everywhere before she (I think, literally) bumps into the steward of the Earl of Swartingham, whose manor is nearby and who has recently returned to live there after many years. She convinces him that they can help each other because he must find a secretary by the next day and she must find work. She goes to work at the manor and there the relationship between she and the earl begins to grow.
He is a fascinating character who lost his entire family to smallpox when he was a teenager, and who barely survived himself and has the scars to show for his suffering. He is also a widower, the first wife having died in childbirth, but the marriage had been loveless. He had also realized belatedly that she found his scars repulsive, and he has continued to have some insecurities about his looks that persist throughout the story.
A few aspects of the plotline were incredibly unbelievable and a little annoying - this completely countrified widow ventures to London to pose as a prostitute for the earl, who she happens to know will be visiting a certain brothel. The way that she sets up this arrangement, through the sister of another prostitute whom she took in when she discovered her dying by the roadside, seems too cute by half, but once she is all settled in the brothel and the earl visits her there, all is (mostly) forgiven. The love scenes are intense and definitely erotic - though again, I had to suspend disbelief that the someone with as little experience as the heroine would have the confidence to pull it off.
Some of what I really enjoyed: the characters were very developed, and I had a lot empathy for them. It was great to see their relationship grow as they got to know each other and to see the trust develop between them.
Yet, again, it was a little hard to believe that the heroine, who not only desperately needed money and security for herself and her dependents, but also felt that she loved the earl, refused to marry him for so long. I understood her inner debate, but it just seemed like a cheap plot device to work some tension into the story after the point at which the two characters had already realized they loved each other. The one part of her hesitancy that I appreciated, however, was that her love was so strong that she did not want to force him into a marriage that might be childless. And I loved how he accepted her despite that possibility.
He is a fascinating character who lost his entire family to smallpox when he was a teenager, and who barely survived himself and has the scars to show for his suffering. He is also a widower, the first wife having died in childbirth, but the marriage had been loveless. He had also realized belatedly that she found his scars repulsive, and he has continued to have some insecurities about his looks that persist throughout the story.
A few aspects of the plotline were incredibly unbelievable and a little annoying - this completely countrified widow ventures to London to pose as a prostitute for the earl, who she happens to know will be visiting a certain brothel. The way that she sets up this arrangement, through the sister of another prostitute whom she took in when she discovered her dying by the roadside, seems too cute by half, but once she is all settled in the brothel and the earl visits her there, all is (mostly) forgiven. The love scenes are intense and definitely erotic - though again, I had to suspend disbelief that the someone with as little experience as the heroine would have the confidence to pull it off.
Some of what I really enjoyed: the characters were very developed, and I had a lot empathy for them. It was great to see their relationship grow as they got to know each other and to see the trust develop between them.
Yet, again, it was a little hard to believe that the heroine, who not only desperately needed money and security for herself and her dependents, but also felt that she loved the earl, refused to marry him for so long. I understood her inner debate, but it just seemed like a cheap plot device to work some tension into the story after the point at which the two characters had already realized they loved each other. The one part of her hesitancy that I appreciated, however, was that her love was so strong that she did not want to force him into a marriage that might be childless. And I loved how he accepted her despite that possibility.
Review Date: 12/15/2010
Helpful Score: 2
I loved this book!! It is the last - and in my opinion, best - book in a trilogy. It is not necessary to read them in order, but all three are excellent. The premise of this book is that a young woman, living in the country, comes upon a nearly dead, naken man in the road. She brings him home and nurses him back to health, over the objection of her father, a brusque sea captain who grudgingly allows her to keep him in the house. He finally regains consciousness and we learn that he is Viscount Iddesleigh, a man who is more accustomed to debauchery in London than to simple country living. Iddesleigh and his rescuer, Lucy, start to get to now one another and begin a flirtation. The dialogue is hilarious, as Iddesleigh is something of a sarcastic bastard who has witty repartee for every occasion.
But Iddesleigh struggles with many of his own demons, and the men who originally wanted him killed, but failed, pursue him to this tiny hamlet, where he is shot at. Though it is obvious they both having feelings for each other, he leaves Lucy in order to protect her, and also to save her from himself, who he sees as unworthy of her. In the meantime, Lucy realizes that life as a country wife might not be what she wants, and she turns down the proposal of her longtime suitor.
What I loved about this book was that the struggle between Iddesleigh and Lucy seemed realistic - His issues were portrayed convincingly, and it was understandable why Lucy would have a hard time, at first, with accepting his demons. I loved that once Iddesleigh got past his initial hesitancy with Lucy, his love was so intense and his fear of losing her was so desperate. I really liked that the book did not focus a lot on the character's inner debate over whether they really loved the other person. Thus, I was a little disappointed when Lucy "realized" that she loved him. I thought that it was clear to both of them that they loved each other pretty early on. Unlike books that start with a marriage of convenience or for honor, these characters fell in love first - so why it even had to be an issue at all confuses me. But nonetheless, I strongly recommend it!
But Iddesleigh struggles with many of his own demons, and the men who originally wanted him killed, but failed, pursue him to this tiny hamlet, where he is shot at. Though it is obvious they both having feelings for each other, he leaves Lucy in order to protect her, and also to save her from himself, who he sees as unworthy of her. In the meantime, Lucy realizes that life as a country wife might not be what she wants, and she turns down the proposal of her longtime suitor.
What I loved about this book was that the struggle between Iddesleigh and Lucy seemed realistic - His issues were portrayed convincingly, and it was understandable why Lucy would have a hard time, at first, with accepting his demons. I loved that once Iddesleigh got past his initial hesitancy with Lucy, his love was so intense and his fear of losing her was so desperate. I really liked that the book did not focus a lot on the character's inner debate over whether they really loved the other person. Thus, I was a little disappointed when Lucy "realized" that she loved him. I thought that it was clear to both of them that they loved each other pretty early on. Unlike books that start with a marriage of convenience or for honor, these characters fell in love first - so why it even had to be an issue at all confuses me. But nonetheless, I strongly recommend it!
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