What I Read Last Week

What I Read Last Week . . .

Caroline and Julia by Clare Darcy -- Traditional Regency Romance

Since Caroline's Devereaux's wastrel father died leaving them destitute, Caroline and her mother contrived to live on whatever they can grow or make. Now Caroline's mother had died too and Caroline is at a loss for what to do. She contacts her father's wealthy uncle Chandos, but when no word arrives, she decides to make her way to London to stay with her mother's old school friend, Julia Daventry, until she can figure out how to make her own way into the world. Julia is a famous actress in London with many admirers, though she still mourns the loss of her beloved soldier husband who was killed several years ago. When Caroline arrives on Julia's doorstep, Julia immediately takes the younger woman into her home. Julia's admirers take notice of young Caroline and one young Byron wannabe is instantly smitten by Caroline's innocent charm. When Caroline's cousin Neville receives word that Uncle Chandos is dying, he rushes to his uncle's manor only to learn that his uncle has died. He finds the housekeeper Mrs. Knox-Gore worried about her future and that of her grown son Sidney, whom she claims was like a son to her employer. Mrs. Knox-Gore is certain that Chandos left everything to Sidney, however, the will can not be found to prove it. A meeting with his uncle's solicitor reveals that Caroline may actually be the sole beneficiary of their uncle's estate. Neville has no idea where to find his young cousin and is terribly worried about her. His friends decide to cheer him up by introducing him to Julia. Neville immediately finds himself behaving like a bashful schoolboy, all tongue-tied in the presence of a beautiful lady. Their next meeting has Neville behaving peevishly, when at last he discovers Caroline and makes plans for her return to the country to observe her mourning period. Caroline is made of sterner stuff that she appears and refuses to leave London. Meanwhile, Uncle Chados's shady butler and the Knox-Gores are plotting to keep Chados Deveraux's money for themselves. However, the butler does not care much for the Knox-Gores and has his own plan that may put them and Caroline into danger. This story resembles one of Georgette Heyer's traditional Regencies but not as well written. There isn't much reason for the couples to fall in love and even less chemistry. The danger is patently obvious but the key characters chose to ignore it even though some of them are not so naive as Caroline. I would have liked to have seen more character growth from the key characters. The story dragged a lot in the beginning and wrapped up too neatly at the end. The story would have been better told as a comedy of manners without the danger plot. This is a good light read for those who like traditional Regencies.

Wrapped by Jennifer Bradbury -- Young Adult Historical Fiction

Miss Agnes Wilkins is not your typical teenage girl planning her debut in London Society in 1815. She's well-educated and can quote lines from her favorite novels (by A Lady) in multiple languages. She is both excited and apprehensive about her debut. She doesn't feel ready to marry. She longs for adventure and excitement. Agnes has caught the eye of London's most eligible bachelor, Lord Showalter. Lord Showalter shares Agnes's interest in antiquities and invites the neighborhood to a mummy unwrapping party. Agnes finds the idea of unwrapping a mummy quite appalling, but her mother, eager to please Lord Showalter, forces Agnes to attend the party. Even worse, Lord Showalter urges Agnes to take the first cut! The party goers are encouraged to keep whatever trinkets they find wrapped inside the mummy. As the excitement around the unwrapping builds, Agnes uncomfortably cuts through the wrappings and discovers a small figurine of iron. As no one is watching her and not wanting to show off she tucks the figure in her bodice to save as a memento. Then the museum sends word they sent the wrong mummy and everyone must return their "trinkets." Agnes keeps hers, however, and the decision sets her on a path of greater adventure than she could ever have hoped for. Working with a young museum clerk/self-taught Egyptologist she must discover the secret of her trinket and save England before it's too late. This book is a fun adventure set in Regency England that takes the traditional plot and adds the unique element of Egyptian culture to provide more mystery than is usually found in traditional Regencies. Agnes is a great character. She's smart but unsure of herself and her place in the world as most teens are. She's flattered by Lord Showalter's attentions yet doesn't want to be tied down just yet. She's torn between duty and desire, much like her favorite literary hero Mr. Darcy (though in a different way). The mystery kept me very interested because it was so different from anything else I've read. I enjoyed learning about Ancient Egypt along with Agnes and Caedmon. It made the mystery more enjoyable because I couldn't figure it out right away. Though I guessed the villain, the big reveal came as a bit of a surprise. I liked the little bit of sweet romance too. My main complaints with the book were the inaccuracies in styles of address (for example, the same character is referred to as both Mr. and Lord when they're not the same at all.). Also, Agnes considers going to Scotland Yard to tell the police and I don't see how she can because Scotland Yard wasn't formed yet in 1815! I especially disliked the constant telling of how difficult it was to be a woman at that time. The author could have left out the telling and just shown the reader. If you're a high stickler for accuracy, don't read this book. Agnes is a teenager, this is a young adult book. Agnes does not behave according to the strict rules of propriety that dictate the behavior of young women in this era. I missed the period language as well. Teenagers are not stupid and they can and will read books that are more precisely detailed. For the simplicity of the language I would say this book is aimed at 12-14 year olds. It can be enjoyed by all ages 9+ though. I recommend this book if you enjoyed The Agency trilogy by Y.S. Lee, Bewitching Season by Marissa Doyle, La Petite Four by Regina Scott and The Season by Sarah MacLean. I can't wait for the sequel! I hope Agnes will have many more adventures to come.