Review: MEET THE EARL AT MIDNIGHT by Gina Conkle

Things are not necessarily as they seem in Gina Conkle’s Meet the Earl at Midnight, an atmospheric Georgian retelling of Beauty and the Beast.

Who is this man who hides from the world? The gossip whispers that the Earl of Greenwich is horribly deformed, mad, or hiding something terrible. Lydia, forced into an engagement with him in order to settle her stepfather’s debts, has no choice but to find out if any, or all of these claims, is true.

From their eerie midnight meeting on, we travel along with Lydia on her sometimes frightening, sometimes humorous, voyage of discovery into the mysteries surrounding the man who will be her husband. And in the process, she discovers some uncomfortable truths about herself.

The author has done a good job of revealing bit by bit the reality behind the myths, leaving us to wonder and wonder until we can’t stand it any longer, exactly what is true and what isn’t. Lydia is no die-away heroine, but one who gives as well as she gets. The earl, although scarred, is not a monster (how could a romance hero be a monster?), although he does go out of his way to foster the illusion that he is.

Meet the Earl at Midnight is not only an engaging romance, but also a cautionary tale of how what everyone knows to be true may not be. Be careful what you believe. :)

Thank you all,

Linda

ARC supplied by Sourcebooks

Review: FORTUNE'S SON by Emery Lee

Emery Lee's Georgian romance, Fortune's Son, is a fascinating, fast-paced tale of power used and abused, opulence, and desperation set in the London world of high-stakes gaming.

Life among the rich, powerful and famous in Georgian London is not as wonderful as you might think. Ask young Philip, estranged second son of an earl, who lives hand-to-mouth by gaming. And ask Susannah, knight's widow, left a small jointure and quickly running out of money. When these two impulsive people, both determined never again to bow to another's command, meet, their chemistry is immediate and explosive. Philip, smitten by the older woman, agrees to teach her how to win at cards. Thus begins the tale of two flawed, wildly impetuous lovers and the disasters they suffer, both of their own making and those brought about by others who wish their downfall.

Highly researched, Fortune's Son gives us a fascinating glimpse of both the grit and the glamor of Georgian society. I love lots of descriptions and Ms. Lee's descriptions of people, places, manners and customs are detailed, accurate and vivid. I also love the Georgian language. I'm not a fan of the current trend to expunge all trace of period speech. Language is part of the story and enhances the feel of the era.

Gaming plays a major role in this novel, and although I love detail, I don't much care for descriptions of card games. Most are too long and boring, and the author's explanation is usually insufficient to explain the action. Ms. Lee has succeeded where others failed. She weaves in enough of the mechanics of the era's card games to propel the story along without confusing us with the esoteric points.

While Ms. Lee's attention to accurate detail makes the era come alive, her main emphasis always remains, as it should, upon Philip's and Susannah's passion, zest for life, frequent mistakes, and their long and tortuous path to love.

Ms. Lee introduced Philip and Susannah in her previous novel, The Highest Stakes. If you haven't read that book, I suggest you read it first. While Fortune's Son stands alone, reading the previous book first will enhance the power of its sequel.

Thank you all,
Linda
ARC provided by Sourcebooks

Review: THE LADY OF THE STORM by Kathryne Kennedy

Kathryne Kennedy's The Lady of the Storm, the second installment of her Georgian fantasy, The Elven Lords, is a rousing story of adventure and the coming of age interspersed with magical marvels galore.

Half-human Cecily, bastard daughter of the elven lord of Dewhame, never wanted the powers over storm and stream she inherited from her father. And for years, thanks to her stepfather's magical safeguards and the watchful eye of Giles, whom her stepfather appointed as her protector, she lived as an ordinary girl. But Giles longs for action and adventure, and chafes in his role as blacksmith in a provincial village, especially since he desires Cecily. Cecily also desires Giles, but her stepfather has forbidden their yearning.

Then Cecily's stepfather disappears, and so do his shields. The water lord discovers his powerful daughter is still alive and moves to eliminate her. Cecily and Giles flee to the humans who fight to regain England from the elven overlords, and undertake a dangerous quest that leads them straight into the water lord's palace.

Ms. Kennedy has created another fascinating blend of history and magic in the elven kingdom of Dewhame. Merging magic and mores, she again captures Georgian sensibilities against the background of a world of magical wonders. And the magical water wonders are indeed wonderful and fit seamlessly into the story.

But The Lady of the Storm is also a study of heroism. Giles and Cecily, so human in their determination to seek their desires, achieve heroism and their yearned-for love when they finally accept the roles fate has thrust upon them.

Another fine effort from the master of historical magical romance.

Thank you all,
Linda
ARC provided by Sourcebooks

Review: WICKHAM'S DIARY by Amanda Grange

In Wickham's Diary, Amanda Grange has written a cautionary tale of how circumstances and personality can conspire to make a man go wrong.

In Georgian and Regency England, birth was all. No matter how brilliant, hardworking or even wealthy, a person's place in the natural hierarchy trumped all. But if a man was not born to wealth and power, he could obtain some if he used his opportunities.

Wickham, son of the elder Darcy's steward, was the younger Darcy's childhood playmate and friend. As such, Wickham had access to the highest circles of society. In addition, the elder Darcy paid for the boy's education at Cambridge, which the Wickhams could never have afforded. Wickham was always a bit wild, but his mother's guidance kept his more undisciplined tendencies in check. She urged him to better himself by using his acquaintances among the upper classes, but she died while he was still in Cambridge. Unchecked, Wickham's always-present resentment toward Fitzwilliam Darcy's privileges took root and festered, with the culmination of his attempt to elope with Georgiana.

I found this story sad in that a basically good young boy went wrong because of a lack of guidance. I am also angry at the adult Wickham, who had advantages others of his class could only dream of, and yet squandered them all. But I am angry as well at a world that produced sycophants like Mr. Collins, malcontents like Wickham, and the sanctimonious Fitzwilliam Darcy who took his exalted place for granted.

Kudos to Ms. Grange for portraying Georgian England in such a true light as to bring out both reactions.

Thank you all,
Linda
ARC Supplied by Sourcebooks

Review: UNCERTAIN MAGIC by Laura Kinsale

If you've never read a Laura Kinsale novel, read one. Now. I'd heard how wonderful her historical romances were, but, somehow, I never got around to reading one.

What a mistake.

Uncertain Magic is a vivid, atmospheric tale of deceptive appearances, high stakes, and wrenching emotion. Set in late Georgian England and Ireland, the novel adds Irish magic and mystery to a can't-put-down, sweeping drama of two misfits who find their fit with each other.

Roderica can read minds. The constant intrusion of others' thoughts is so painful, she fears she will never wed--until she encounters Faelan, "The Devil Earl", the only man whose mind is opaque to her power. Faelan needs money to resurrect his impoverished estate. Roderica has a large dowry. Without telling him of her unusual ability, she encourages him to seek her hand in marriage. Faelan harbors his own secrets. Is he really the devil, as his nickname implies?

Against the terror and tumult of the doomed 1798 Irish rebellion, Roderica and Faelan, afraid to trust each other, risk their love, their sanity, and their very lives.

Uncertain Magic was first published in 1987 and time hasn't diminished the power and appeal of this early paranormal. I especially like that Ms. Kinsale has written two of my favorite characters, the strong heroine and the wronged, decent hero.

Uncertain Magic is a keeper. I look forward to my next Laura Kinsale novel.

Thank you all,
Linda

ARC provided by Sourcebooks