What I Read This Weekend

What I Read This Weekend . . .

Miss Haycroft's Suitors by Emily Hendrickson -- Regency Romance

Miss Anne Haycroft's uncle wishes to marry her off to a man she can't stand and Anne can't think of any way out of it. Justin, Lord Rochford happens to discover Anne's dilemma and offers his help. He brings Anne to his very respectable Aunt Mary's home, where they try to figure out how to thwart Anne's uncle and keep her safe until her 21st birthday in a few weeks. They invent tales of prior bethrothals and Justin enlists the aid of his younger cousin and friends to act as Anne's suitors. Anne's uncle and her would-be fiance do not give up easily and as Anne relies more and more on Justin for her safety, she discovers that she relies on him for happiness as well. If only Justin felt the same. Aunt Mary is not immune to the attentions of eligible gentleman either. This is a fairy typical traditional Regency plot. The characters are, however, unconventional. Anne handles her situation in an appropriate manner for her class and time period and Justin is all that is respectable and proper. I admire the way Anne deals with her wicked uncle and horrible suitor. I also like the way the characters gradually realize their feelings for one another and act on their feelings in a sweet and subtle manner without lengthy passages about desire. I do not feel that the romance rings true towards the end though. Both characters doubt where they have no reason to and it makes the ending of the story drag on to long unnecessarily. The characters don't have any opportunity to really grow and develop because they're both so respectable. This is an average sweet Regency and I like it but it's not a keeper.

Miss Timothy Perseveres by Emily Hendrickson -- Regency Romance

Miss Persys Timothy was orphaned at a young age and went to live with her aunt and uncle as a companion for her cousin Katherine. Now Katherine is happily married and Persys is left without a home. She's lost with no idea of what to do next, as well as being infatuated with her cousin's husband, and utterly miserable. The Duke of Eddington sees Persys at his cousin's wedding and is drawn to her exotic name and beautiful face. He offers her a position as companion to his mother who is recuperating from an injury. Glad to have an opportunity to be useful, Persys happily takes the job. She ans the Duchess get along very well, despite the Duchess's demanding nature. The Duke seems aloof and distant at first, but as Persys gets to know him, she sees that he's a devoted son and a good friend even to those who don't deserve his friendship. Harry, the Duke of Eddington wants Persys for his wife and what he wants, he always gets. He just has to figure out how to woo the lady and for that, he has to keep her on his estate long enough to convince her that she's the wife for him. Harry and his mother manipulate Persys into doing what they think is best for her, but the naive Persys may ruin their plans. This book is well-written. At first Harry seems like a spoiled, demanding Lord and he and his mother are both managing types, but in spite of that, I really liked the romance and the characters. The manipulation techniques employed in this book are subtle and more suggestive than demanding/commanding and Harry improves upon acquaintance. There isn't a whole lot of profound character development and Persys is a mash-up of the Austen heroines she likes to read about. Persys is two party Fanny Price, one part Marianne Dashwood, with a sprinkle of Elizabeth Bennet. This is a sweet regency for fans of that sort of story. There are a few kissing scenes but nothing steamy and the romance is well-developed and plays out sweetly.

What I've Read This Week

What I've Read This Week . . .

Cat Royal Adventures
by Julia Golding -- Middle Grades/Young Adult Historical Fiction 

The Diamond of Drury Lane (Cat Royal Adventure Book 1)

In 1790 London young Cat Royal is the ward of Theatre Royal Drury Lane; the best theatre in all of London. Cat loves the excitement of the theatre and the people she meets there, especially the former slave boy Pedro, who is now apprenticed to the maestro and the new prompt, Johnny Smith. Cat accidentally overhears the theatre owner Mr. Sheridan and another man discussing hiding a diamond in the theatre. When she is discovered, Cat promises to keep the diamond safe. She begins to suspect that Johnny has a secret and she also takes on the responsibility of keeping that secret safe. Together, with Pedro and Lord Francis, the exuberant young son of the Duke of Avon, Cat heads out into the mean streets of London for adventure. When her secrets are discovered and her life threatened, she learns the meaning of loyalty and discovers her true friends will help her protect the diamond of Drury Lane. Cat is a great heroine: funny, feisty, loyal and curious, she will appeal to modern preteen girls and boys. The secondary characters are also a bit unrealistic at times but they help populate Cat's world of 18th century London. The plot is less a mystery than I thought it would be and more adventure, which I liked. The story is chock full of nitty, gritty historical details that set the scene and teach the reader while being entertaining. A glossary at the back of the book defines 18th century slang terms. I love the way the book is presented from the "reviews" by real life notable figures of the time to the chapters being labeled acts and scenes and especially the period maps. This is a great read for preteens 11-13 and those who love Jacky Faber and other stories of lower class life in the 18th/early 19th centuries. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

Cat Among the Pigeons (A Cat Royal Adventure)

Cat Royal's second adventure begins with her friend Pedro about to become the darling of London with his performance as Ariel in Shakespeare's The Tempest. Pedro's owner arrives to claim Pedro as his slave and return the boy to the plantation in Jamaica. Cat must call upon her friends, Lord Francis and Lizzie and their mother's abolitionist friends for help. Cat manages to run afoul of Master Hawkins and has to flee the only home she's ever known. Cat needs the assistance of her friends more than ever, especially her street friends to help keep her safe. Her adventure takes her to unexpected places, including a boys' school. This is another fun adventure featuring Cat Royal. The suspense and tension begins early and doesn't let up until the end. There's nothing predictable about this plot. As in the first book, Cat is spunky and brave and her eccentric friends showcase the different types of people who inhabited 18th century London. This adventure is more frightening than the first and contains more detailed and accurate descriptions of London. I enjoyed this book even more than the first!

Den of Thieves (A Cat Royal Adventure) by Julia Golding

Cat Royal has grown up as ward of the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Now she's growing up and a parting of the ways is necessary, at least temporarily, for Mr. Sheridan has plans to build a bigger and better Theatre Royal. Cat doesn't seem to figure into the plans for the new theater. Too proud to admit she needs help, Cat strikes out on her own. Not quite ready yet to be totally independent, she finds it difficult and nearly falls into the clutches of Billy Shepherd. Then she's sent on a secret spying mission to France, to discover what the French people think of the Revolution and their king. Upon arrival, Cat and her escort get lost, discover the king has fled Paris and nearly lose their heads! Cat discovers that Paris is truly run by a network of thieves and she has to determine whom she can trust to help her and help her friends return to England. This adventure is nearly as breathlessly exciting as the last but for some reason I didn't find it as enchanting as the previous two. There's lots of vulgar language which is amusing but some of the charm of Cat's earlier adventures is missing now that she's on her own and growing up. There's also heavy handed morals and lessons learned spelled out too plainly and I don't care for books that do that. I still liked the book a lot, just not as much as the first two. I look forward to seeing what she gets up to next.

Cat O'Nine Tails (A Cat Royal Adventure) by Julia Golding

Cat Royal is visiting Boxton, the Duke of Avon's estate and she's dreadfully bored! With Lizzie in America and Frank and Pedro off with the men, Cat's left alone and expected to be happy doing womanly things. Only Frank's gallant cousin, Mr. Dixon pays notice to Cat. Since Cat is Cat and trouble always finds her, she is soon involved in more adventures. First she runs up against and old adversary who won't leave her alone, then she discovers that Syd Fletcher is missing. Cat and friends set out to find Syd and instead find themselves kidnapped and pressed into His Majesty's Navy where a cruel and sadistic master uses Cat to keep her friends in line. Cat has to summon the courage to leave behind her friends and everything she's ever known in order to save her friends. On shore, she encounters a band of Creek Indians who may or may not be allies. Cat just wants to go back to the life she's always known but this adventure may be her last. This story takes Cat from the English countryside to the high seas to the wilds of America. It's a lot like a Bloody Jack (Jacky Faber) adventure, but the writing isn't as sharp or descriptive. The story is slow in parts and too fast in others. The ending is too neat and quick but perhaps there will be more from the villains later. The characters on board the ship are all very stereotypical but the Indians are portrayed well. I like this book least of all Cat's adventures so far. I like Cat best when she's in London and think she should have stayed there.

Sanditon

Sandition

by Jane Austen and Another Lady

An Austen enthusiast who goes by "Another Lady" completed Jane Austen's unfinished fragment of a 7th novel. During one summer at the seaside town of Sandition, Charlotte Heywood meets the colorful local characters and tries to avoid losing her heart to the jokester Sidney Parker while trying to entertain his two friends. She also befriends the shy Miss Lambe and tries to avoid the confidences of Clara Brereton and steer clear of the repulsive Sir Edward. It's a busy summer in Sandition and if Jane Austen had lived to polish and complete this novel, it would have been full of the subtle humor she was known for. Unfortunately, she left us with a draft of 11 chapters which Another Lady completes by combining a traditional Regency romance plot with phrases and situations from Austen's previous novels. I disliked the borrowing and felt it made the story seem like amateur fan fiction and less like Austen's sharp writing. The story gets off to a slow start but picks up and becomes more engaging once all the characters are in place. I enjoyed this version more that the one completed by Juliette Shapiro and would recommend it to Austen enthusiasts but perhaps not true Janeites.

Georgette Heyer

Cousin Kate

© Bodley Head 1968

Turned off from her job as a governess, Kate Malvern has no where to go except to the home of her old nurse, Sarah Nidd, a carrier's wife. When Kate declares her intentions of becoming a fashionable lady's maid or a dressmaker, Sarah is appalled. A young lady like Kate shouldn't have to go into trade, even if her father was a gamester soldier who left Kate with nothing. Urged on by her cantankerous, but kindly, father-in-law, Sarah writes to Kate's estranged aunt, Lady Broome. Kate's Aunt Minerva sweeps in and whisks Kate off to Staplewood for the summer. Aunt Minerva showers Kate with as many clothes and jewels as Kate could wish, yet her life at Staplewood is not what she expected. For starters, her aunt rules the household with an iron fist and won't let Kate help. Then there's her aunt's invalid husband, Sir Timothy, who rarely ventures out of his rooms in an entirely separate wing in the house. Then there's her volatile cousin Torquin, nineteen and behaving like a sulky schoolboy. He also resides an a separate wing of the house and is prone to migraines. Finally, there's Torquin's cousin and perceived enemy, Philip Broome who at first dislikes Kate and then becomes a trusted ally and friend as Kate realizes that all is not well at Staplewood.

This is a Greek Tragedy (or Gothic novel) Regency Romance style. Heyer departs from her usual witty comedies to weave together a tale of ambition, wills, power and mental instability. Kate is a lively, intelligent heroine, typical of Heyer's older heroines. I really like her and admire her for sticking to her plans to stay, yet I find her terribly naive not to realize what was amiss a lot sooner. Her relationship with the hero progresses gradually and barely into the romance category - more than in The Unknown Ajax, less than Heyer's comedies. The plot is very dark and tragic and full of entirely hateful characters, including Sir Timothy, who loses my respect on the last page. I couldn't really get into this one but yet I had to know how it would all come about happily for Kate. If you're looking for sunshine, flirtations, or witty banter, look elsewhere. This is my least favorite of Heyer's novels. This is also not a good book for Heyer neophytes to begin with because it contains excessive slang that even I find difficult to understand.

Georgette Heyer

The Unknown Ajax

image by Arthur Barbosa © Heinemann, Australia 1959

Lord Daracott has recently lost his heir and grandson in a boating accident. He long ago disowned his second son for joining the army and marrying a weaver's daughter, but now he must accept Hugh's son, a weaver's "brat" as his heir! The irascible Lord Daracott has little hopes for his country bumpkin heir, but sends for Hugo whom he plans to place under the tutelage of his more proper grandsons. Finally, Lord Daracott's plans include marrying his granddaughter, Anthea, off to her cousin Hugo to "keep him in the family." The outspoken Anthea is furious with her grandfather's plot and plans to keep this new cousin of hers at a distance. Fresh from the army, Hugo seems to fulfill his family's low expectations. Hugo patiently accepts his cousin Vincent's jealousy, cousin Claud's lessons in dandyism and young cousin Richmond's adoration. Hugo, however, is no match for Anthea. As Anthea spends more time with Hugo, she begins to suspect that this unknown Ajax isn't exactly all he appears to be and quite loses her heart to her quirky cousin. A near brush with a family scandal brings to light Hugo's redeeming qualities .
This is an odd book for Heyer. It doesn't follow any of her usual conventions. It isn't truly a mystery, though there is a bit of a mystery and it isn't a screwball comedy, though there are comedic moments. The plot moves slowly. It's difficult to understand Hugh until he wants people to know his story and then his personality becomes clear. The romance is also very subtle and not really the focal point of the novel. I did not understand the references to Ajax, however, a quick search of one of the quotations in the novel brings up Shakespeare's Troilus and Cressida, a play which I have not read. I enjoyed the last quarter of the book the most but wished for more scenes with Hugo and Anthea to finish up that plot thread. This isn't my favorite Heyer novel but it's worth a read for her fans. I wouldn't recommend novice Heyer readers starting with this one because there is an enormous amount of slang, almost too much and the story is character based rather than plot based.

What I've Read This Week

What I've Read This Week . . .

Marry in Haste by Lynn Kerstan -- Regency Romance

sequel to Celia's Grand Passion and Lucy in Disguise.

This story is about Diana Whitney, the shy friend of Lucy from Lucy in Disguise. When visitors come to Candale, Diana retreats to Lakeview, the residence of Colonel Alexander Valliant, James and Kit's brother. Alex has been away in the army for six years so Diana assumes that she's safe from strangers at Lakeview. One night she hears a housebreaker and hits him over the head with a frying pan. When she discovers that the housebreaker is none other than the homeowner, she wants to retreat. Unfortunately for Diana, the local gossips have already started to talk so Alex offers marriage to Diana. Diana refuses to marry anyone because she feels that no one will ever look at her and not see her scar. Diana's uncle and Sir Basil have other plans though and Diana is forced into a marriage of convenience with Alex. Alex is gruff and scary and has ghosts from his past that he refuses to acknowledge. Diana is shy of her appearance and refuses to be seen by strangers. Aided by Alex, Diana seeks to improve the plight of the locals and grows into a confident young woman. Then it's time to work on her marriage, but Alex is withdrawn and Sir Basil refuses to give up. The character development in this book is very good. Diana is an interesting and sympathetic character and I really like how she grows. However, I dislike Alex and don't really understand him. Readers have the opportunity to find out what happens to James and Celia, and Lucy and Kit, which is fun but their inclusion felt forced. The story has potential but the word limit makes the story awkward towards the end. The understanding comes too late and is mostly summarized and isn't anywhere near as shocking as I believed the secret to be. I assumed it had something to do with Lord Kendal's first wife and the reason why Alex joined the army. Another major weak point is how the story takes too long to wrap up the loose ends from Lucy in Disguise. The final chapter feels tacked on but contributes to the character development. This book has more depth than the typical marriage of convenience plot but in my opinion, this it the weakest of the three books in the trilogy. It would have been better as a stand-alone plot.

What I've Read This Week

What I've Read This Week . . .

The Diamond of Drury Lane (Cat Royal Adventure Book 1) by Julia Golding -- Middle Grades Historical Fiction

In 1790 London young Cat Royal is the ward of Theatre Royal Drury Lane; the best theatre in all of London. Cat loves the excitement of the theatre and the people she meets there, especially the former slave boy Pedro, who is now apprenticed to the maestro and the new prompt, Johnny Smith. Cat accidentally overhears the theatre owner Mr. Sheridan and another man discussing hiding a diamond in the theatre. When she is discovered, Cat promises to keep the diamond safe. She begins to suspect that Johnny has a secret and she also takes on the responsibility of keeping that secret safe. Together, with Pedro and Lord Francis, the exuberant young son of the Duke of Avon, Cat heads out into the mean streets of London for adventure. When her secrets are discovered and her life threatened, she learns the meaning of loyalty and discovers her true friends will help her protect the diamond of Drury Lane. Cat is a great heroine: funny, feisty, loyal and curious, she will appeal to modern preteen girls and boys. The secondary characters are also a bit unrealistic at times but they help populate Cat's world of 18th century London. The plot is less a mystery than I thought it would be and more adventure, which I liked. The story is chock full of nitty, gritty historical details that set the scene and teach the reader while being entertaining. A glossary at the back of the book defines 18th century slang terms. I love the way the book is presented from the "reviews" by real life notable figures of the time to the chapters being labeled acts and scenes and especially the period maps. This is a great read for preteens 11-13 and those who love Jacky Faber and other stories of lower class life in the 18th/early 19th centuries. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

The Body at the Tower (The Agency Book 2) by Y.S. Lee -- Young Adult Historical Fiction
Mary Quinn is now a full-fledged member of The Agency, an all-female spy agency, after only fourteen months. Her latest assignment has her disguised as a boy to infiltrate the construction site of the clock tower of the Houses of Parliament in order to investigate the mysterious death of one of the brickworkers. A tabloid paper writes about ghosts but The Agency believes that safety is a more valid concern and hope to expose any wrong-doings at the work site. Mary underestimates how hard the job will be. First she has to return to her old life and face down her memories and fears of life on the streets. She also runs the risk of being recognized as half-Chinese, something she is trying hard to deny. Then, her investigation becomes more complicated when someone from her past returns on an investigation of his own and heats up the adventure. Mary has to learn to trust and share information if she wants to solve the mystery. It's not easy to do with an infuriating (and handsome) gentleman stirring her heart and complicating matters. The adventure continues in this second book about Mary Quinn. As in the first book, this one contains excellent descriptions of the sights and smells of working class Victorian London. The feisty Mary continues her journey of self-discovery and growing up the best she can given her time period. She does not find any more answers about her father's death, though, which is something I was hoping for. She does find more romance than she had in Spy in the House and the romance starts to heat up but not too fast or too far, after all Mary is a young lady! I enjoyed this book a lot but I felt the mystery wasn't as interesting as the first one. It did keep me up way too late reading until the last page. I would recommend this one just as much as the first and I hoping the third will be published soon!

Faithful by Janet S. Fox -- Young Adult Historical Fiction
Margaret Bennet looks forward to the summer of 1904 with anticipation and excitement for her upcoming debut into Newport society until her mother's shocking disappearance changes Maggie's world forever. Her mother was always prone to "madness" and was never like other Newport ladies of their class and Maggie has always resented her mother's odd behavior. When Maggie's father drags her off out west to Yellowstone National Park to look for her mother, Yellowstone is both beautiful and frightening for Maggie and she is anxious to find her mother and return to the life she's always known. New friends, including the geologist's handsome son Tom, and long withheld family secrets cause Maggie to question her beliefs and help her grow from a girl into a young woman. Maggie has many of the same feelings that teenage girls do today: she wants to be normal and fit in. She wants to have a good time with her friends and find a young man who loves her. Maggie whines, complains and acts spoiled and selfish for much of the book, but what makes her a sympathetic character is that she grows as a result of her experiences. The secondary characters are mostly stereotypical but I especially liked the lady photographer. This book is well-researched and the descriptions of Yellowstone are incredible and make the reader feel like they are right there in the park. The plot kept me breathless, wondering what would happen next and Maggie's journey of self-discovery is mostly good. The plot is a bit forced in places, especially when Maggie is prodded into having moments of self-discovery and the big mystery is a little hard to believe. The book is good for young teen girls but older readers may find Maggie annoying and the message a little too obvious. I liked the book though and hope Fox writes more historical fiction.