The Bucaneers

The Bucaneers

by Edith Wharton

Being curious about Lady Grantham, an American heiress who married an English Earl on OBS' Downton Abbey, I picked up Edith's Whaton's last novel The Bucaneers. This novel and PBS mini-series (which I watched at the same time as reading the book) is about women like Cora, Lady Grantham. The story opens in Saratoga (or Newport in the mini-series) in the 1870s where new money people congregate in the summer months because they were not welcome in Newport. The heroine is dreamy sixteen-year-old Annabel "Nan" St. George. Nan is a bit jealous of her older sister Virginia and friends Lizzie and Mabel Elmsworth for being "out" and able to attend parties and balls, though the invitations are not forthcoming due to the lack of eligible men. Nan is befriended by the dashing Conchita Closson. Conchita was raised in Brazil and is now doing a season in Saratoga with her mother, step-father and brother. The Clossons are not generally accepted in polite society for their shocking behavior. Mrs. Closson is rumored to be a divorcee who smokes cigars and Conchita smokes cigarettes, dances with her skirts hiked up and behaves loudly and brashly. Mrs. St. George hires an English governess, Laura Testvalley, to come and refine Nan to keep the girl away from Conchita's influence. However, Mr. St. George has business dealings with Mr. Closson and needs the women to cultivate a friendship. At first Nan is resistant to the idea of having a governess, but the passionate Italian-Englishwoman shares her kind heart and love of romantic poetry and art with her young pupil. Miss Testvalley isn't the only English person in Saratoga. Richard Marable, a younger son of the Marquess of Brightleasea (you must pronounce it "Brittlesee") is also in Saratgoa. His head is quickly turned by the vivacious Conchita and soon a wedding is in the works. Dick Marable helps Conchita's friends orchestrate a scheme that will get them invited to rub elbows with the most select people. Unfortunately, the result is a practical joke that goes wrong and the St. George and Ellmsworth girls are snubbed. Miss Testvalley suggests the girls go to London for a season. The girls will acquire some much-needed social cachet and perhaps even find husbands.

The rest of the book takes place in England where the girls succeed beyond Miss Testvalley's wildest dreams. With the help of Miss Testvalley's American friend, Miss March, and Conchita, now Lady Richard Marable, the girls are introduced to the most eligible gentlemen including Dick's older brother Lord Seadown and Ushant, the Duke of Tintagel. They also meet an ineligible gentleman, Guy Thwarte, who needs a fortune and fast. Only Guy understands dreamy Annabel and her deep interest in life beyond material objects. Yet even Annabel gets caught up in the gaiety of life in England. The young women quickly discover that life is not a fairy tale. The old dowagers look down on the forward, free-speaking Americans, the gentlemen are not always what they seem and money is always always an issue. 

The novel remained uncompleted at Edith Wharton's death. I read a version completed by Marion Mainwaring based on Wharton's original synopsis. The book was adapted for television by BBC and aired on PBS's Masterpiece Theater in 1995-1996.

There are numerous differences between the mini-series and the book as there usually are. In this case I believe the mini-series is better because it explains a lot more of the social and political nuances and exactly what the term "bucaneers" means. It illuminates the differences between the loud "new money" Americans and the staidness of traditional upper class English life. Even the villains come across as sympathetic once the viewer understands exactly what their lives have been like and how dependent they are upon the rules that govern society. Also, the book is filled with lengthy internal monologues that slow the story down considerably. Plus the mini-series has fabulous costumes (though the ladies spent a lot of time in their undergarments) and beautiful scenery. I recommend doing what I did and reading Part I of the book, then watching episode 1, and then returning to the book and then the DVD. Both the book and the miniseries are much better when taken together. I got a much better understanding of the nuances of the story that way. I think that those who like Edith Wharton, Elizabeth Gaskell and other nineteenth and early twentieth century novelists will enjoy this story too.

What I've Read This Week

What I've Read This Week . . .

Devil's Club by Georgette Heyer -- Historical Romance

Dominic, The Marquess of Vidal aka "Devil's Club" is the son of Justin and Leonie, the Duke and Duchess of Avon featured in These Old Shades. Dominic has all the devilish tendencies of his father along with his mother's temper which makes him one of the most wicked men in all of London. He shoots a man in an impromptu duel and is compelled to flee the country by his father. Vidal refuses to go alone. He decides to take along Miss Sophia Challoner, the spoiled, beautiful daughter of a Cit. Sophia's elder sister Mary gets wind of the plot and determined to save her sister's reputation, she interferes, finding herself the one abducted instead. At first she thinks she can escape easily and be home before anyone outside the family finds out but she doesn't reckon with Vidal's dangerous temper and his desire for revenge. She also discovers that though hot tempered, the Marquess is not quite the devil she at first feared. He places Mary in the care of his headstrong cousin Julianna Marling, in Paris to prevent a mesalliance, a matter which complicates the plot considerably when Julianna's strait-laced beau turns up. Back in London, Mrs. Challoner is determined to make trouble and the Duchess plans to stop her. Leonie, with her rakehell brother-in-law Rupert in tow, heads off to France in search of her son before the Duke discovers the trouble. The Duchess's good intentions may backfire and hurt her son more than help him if he can't put his vices to good use for a change. Though this book features characters from These Old Shades, it isn't necessary to have read These Old Shades. It's a very predictable story, yet it doesn't make much sense. There's no particular good reason for the characters to fall in love. Dominic is far more ruthless than ever his father was and deserves the sobriquet Devil even more than Justin. He's both the hero and the villain of the book though I could not see him in the hero role. He's a cold-blooded killer with a hot temper and very little empathy for anyone other than himself. I really liked and admired Mary for the way she handled the situation. Heyer excelled at writing the anti-heroine who refused to faint or fall into the vapors when the going gets tough. Mary is no exception. Instead of hysterics, there's a vastly funny scene which I will not spoil here. The characters don't sparkle and come to life as they did in These Old Shades, though Mary would become the model for future heroines .The book is full of period detail though slightly less so than These Old Shades. Heyer provides just enough to give a sense of the time period but not too much to overwhelm. 

Deadly by Julie Chibbaro -- Young Adult Historical Fiction

In 1906 New York girls like Prudence Galewski are brought up to either work for a living or marry well. Prudence's classmates at Miss Browning's School For Young Ladies are excited about their job placements in department stores or swooning over their latest beaux. Pru wants more than that. She wants to find out what causes death and stop it. She loves helping her mother, a midwife, but the job doesn't earn much money. Pru's father went missing during the Spanish-American War and while they wait for him to return, Pru and her Marm need money. Pru has the opportunity to work as an assistant to the head epidemiologist at the Bureau of Health and Sanitation. Mr. Soper, Pru's boss, is investigating an outbreak of Typhoid Fever in New York. As Pru helps him uncover the mystery of the disease's origin, Mr. Soper begins to think that the disease is being transmitted by a healthy carrier. The trail leads to one Mary Mallon, an Irish immigrant who cooks for wealthy families. If they can get Mary to understand the situation and submit to testing, Mr. Soper could solve one of the greatest medical mysteries of the time. When the press gets word of Mary's situation, the papers dramatically embellish the story and threaten to destroy everything Mr. Soper and Prudence have worked towards. Along the way, Prudence meets a lady doctor and discovers that others share her passion and that passion can lead to an actual medical degree. Prudence carefully notes everything in her diary, including her pain at missing her best friend, her longing for her father to return and her growing awareness of her feelings for Mr. Soper. This novel, told in first person diary format, deals with the history of medical knowledge and the shocking story of "Typhoid Mary." I'm not particularly interested in medicine so I found it hard to relate to Pru and her excitement at the knowledge she was learning. Some of her diagrams are a bit too much for the squeamish like myself. I did enjoy the mystery and the race to find the Typhoid carrier. The name Typhoid Mary is well-known but the true story is not. The true story of Mary Mallon is very upsetting by modern standards and I found myself sympathizing more with Mary than with Mr. Soper. Mr. Soper is entirely too cold and detached from human feeling. Pru begins to question his attitude but she questions it more because she is worried she isn't cut out to be a doctor rather than from empathy towards Mary. I thought there could have been a kinder solution but when dealing with historical facts I suppose an author must be true to history. Prudence's awakening romantic feelings were out of place in this story and felt tossed in for no good reason. I kept reading mostly because I was interested to learn what happened to Pru's father. The resolution to that story line is heartbreaking and the moral is a bit heavy-handed. I didn't love this novel but I didn't hate it either. I would recommend this book mostly to young adults interested in medical knowledge.

Selling Hope by Kristin O'Donnell Tubb -- Middle Grades Historical Fiction

It's May 1906 and 13-year-old Hope McDaniels is on the road again traveling with her father and their second-rate vaudeville show. Hope's father Nick is a magician with a love for Walt Whitman and Henry David Thoreau and a dislike of modern invention. Hope is is willing assistant and she also tells fortunes on the side with the help of Crooked-Eye Jane. Hope is tired of the vaudeville circuit. She longs for a real home and financial security. As the troupe heads into Chicago, Hope overhears the company manager discussing who should be let go. Nick is on the list of possibilities for his incessant gabbing to the audience. Hope is thrilled and terrified at the same time. At long last she'll have a proper home, which she hasn't had since the death of her mother years ago. She worries about how they will live until her father finds a new job. Clever and resourceful Hope discovers the solution in Chicago as mass hysteria over the approaching Halley's Comet rages through the city. With the help of a fellow troupe member Buster Keaton, Hope hits upon the idea of selling anti-comet pills. Hope worries about what Buster wants out of their partnership, not wanting to share her earnings. It seems that Buster wants a friend. Having a friend is new to Hope but she discovers that good friends are worth having, especially when they're as charming as Buster. As earth speeds closer to the Comet and people fear the end of the world is near, Hope begins to realize that she can bring hope to people despite misgivings about her con. Her father too discovers how to capitalize on the coming comet and Hope learns an important lesson on the concept of home. This is a cute little story about an event that few people know about. I think everyone in modern times can relate to mass hysteria and everyone needs a little hope in their lives. The way the author handles the idea of hope, linking it to her character, Hope, is very clever. The message is a little heavy handed but I like the way the final few scenes were played out. The setting of the story is absolutely marvelous. I loved getting to know the vaudeville performers and they really come to life. Many of them were real people. The author puts words in their mouths and describes their actions and feelings so vividly, it's hard to believe she wasn't a vaudeville performer in 1910. I especially love the way the story is written in first person. Hope is the type of kid usually found in novels of the Great Depression but she's more interesting being from an earlier time that is less familiar. Hope's voice is authentic to the period - including liberal use of the word Huck as an expletive! Hope also adds to the narrative by inserting her own wisecracks and observations on vaudeville life in 1910. This is a charming story that will appeal to readers young and old!

What I've Read This Week

What I've Read This Week . . .

Lady Whilton's Wedding by Barbara Metzger -- Regency Romantic Comedy

Daphne Whilton and Lord Graydon Howell grew up the best of friends. She hero-worshiped him and he thought her a great gun. They arranged their own marriage as children but their parents put off making any formal announcement until Daphne comes of age. In the meantime, Gray went off to school and off to London to sow his wild oats while Daphne remained in the country caring for her two nearly orphaned cousins. After the death of Lord Whilton, his disreputable brother Albert inherited the Barony and the estate. Only Lord Hollister, Gray's father, can keep Albert from causing too much trouble. Lord Hollister, recently widowed, welcomes Lady Whilton and her family into his home for Daphne's debut. Daphne makes a big splash with both the gentlemen and the ladies, secure in the knowledge that Gray is hers. One evening Daphne spies Graydon in public with a fashionable impure and all her dreams come crashing down. She retreats to the country to nurse her wounded heart while Graydon joins the army on the Peninsula. Lady Whilton prefers London to the country and after a time convinces Daphne to return to London. Lady Whilton acts as a political hostess for Lord Hollister, who is a rising political star. Two years later, the old friends have fallen in love and are planning a wedding. Daphne is thrilled to help her mother but dreads meeting Gray again. She's certain he's on the path to becoming just like her uncle: caring only for wine, women and wagering. Dealing with her tumultuous feelings towards Gray takes a back seat when Uncle Albert arrives for the wedding and puts the whole household in an uproar. He soon expires with none to witness his death except for Daphne. She knows that his death will upset her mother and delay the wedding so she's determined to hide the body. Gray wants nothing more than to prove to his Daffy that he's the hero she thinks he is. When he discovers Uncle Albert's body, he's determined to save the situation. When Uncle Albert disappears, it's up to Daphne and Gray to join forces to save the wedding and find Uncle Albert. A gang of bumbling thieves and their dog are on the loose in the neighborhood and Daphne's persistent stuffy suitor Miles, as Justice of the Peace, is determined to thwart them and track down exactly what happened to Uncle Albert. This comedy of errors resembles a screwball comedy movie of the 1930s. While it's not exactly laugh out loud, I enjoyed the mystery and wondering what crazy thing would happen next. Daphne is an admirable character. She's strong-willed, opinionated and not afraid of anything. Her relationship with Gray develops over the course of the novel but it's mostly on her part. He says he's grown up and changed but he's not a very well-developed character to really understand how he's changed. He's charming and eager to please and I can see readers falling in love with him. The secondary characters are mostly one dimensional but provide the comedic moments to balance the romantic plot. My only real complaint about this novel is that the story takes too long to set up. I would recommend this book to fans of Barbara Metzger's other novels and those who like mysteries and screwball comedies. 

These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer -- Historical Romance

This second novel by Georgette Heyer is a companion of sorts to The Black Moth. She changed the names of the characters and most of their backgrounds while retaining the sobriquet of her villain, now turned hero. The hero, Justin Alastair, the Duke of Avon, is in exile in Paris where even the French are so scandalized by his reputation that they call him "Satanas." Walking home after a night of gaming, Justin is nearly bowled over by an urchin. The boy swears he wasn't picking Justin's pocket, merely running from a horrible punishment dealt forth by his brother. When the brother confirms the story, Justin intervenes and buys the boy body and soul. Léon worships Justin, calling him monseigneur and following the man wherever he goes. The Duke's pretty redhaired page attracts attention and some doubt the Duke's motives. However, the Duke's motives are not at all sinister this time, or at least they aren't for Léon. Justin sees Leon as a means to enact revenge on an old enemy. First he needs some help from his silly sister Fanny. His younger brother Rupert enters the picture to complicate matters a bit but serves the family well when the villain sees to thwart the Duke's plans. The question on everyone's lips becomes: "Has Satanas reformed at last?" I don't wish to spoil the plot by adding more description but this is a rollicking adventure that doesn't stop almost from the beginning. Though the plot is predictable, I couldn't put it down until I found out exactly what happened. The resolution with the villain actually came as a bit of a surprise and a shock. The writing is infinitely better than The Black Moth. The characters are larger than life but sparkle with their own unique personalities and the descriptions of the lifestyle and clothing help make the characters come to life. The only character I did not really care for was the heroine. At first she's so subservient she's obnoxious and then she turns around and teases until she gets her own way. I did admire her spirit and her sense of adventure though. My favorite character is Rupert. He deserved his own book where he could have been the dashing hero. The biggest problem with this book is that Miss Heyer shows her upbringing as an upper Middle Class Edwardian. A son of an aristocrat who wants to be a farmer is described as dark, coarse, and clumsy. The desire to farm is inherited from one generation to the next and can't be erased. In contrast, aristocratic features and bearing are also inherited and described in praiseworthy terms. It's still a good story but the stereotypes bothered me a bit. There's also a brief appearance by a black page that is a bit distasteful but it's only two lines and unimportant to the story. This book is not for everyone. Some people, including myself, may be bothered by the "romance" between the hero and heroine. It's awkward and I can't stand that sort of thing but in this book it didn't bother me so much. I just wanted the characters to be happy in the end. There's quite a lot of old French which I had trouble understanding though I took French for 5 years and read French literature during that time. There's also very lengthy descriptions of court life and upper class customs and manners which may seem strange to modern readers or readers more familiar with the Regency period.  I do not care much for the styles of this time period but I liked the story a lot. It's a grand adventure and a wonderful early novel by someone who was quickly proving herself as one of the world's best writers.

What I Read This Weekend

What I Read This Weekend . . .

The Black Moth by Georgette Heyer -- Historical Fiction/Romance

Set in the Georgian era, this first book by the legendary Georgette Heyer is full of melodrama and sweeping action. Tracy Belmanoir, the Duke of Andover is known as "The Black Moth" for his somber way of dressing. He is also known as "The Devil" for he is as wicked as they come. His friend, The Honorable Frank Fortescue wishes that Tracy will fall in love and have love be the making of him. Tracy is perfectly happy with his wicked ways. Six years earlier, Jack and Richard Carstares, sons of the Earl of Wyncham, were in love with Tracy's sister Lavinia. Only one could have her hand in marriage though and one fateful night, a card game changed all their lives forever. Tracy accused one of the Carstares brothers of cheating at cards. Jack claimed it was he and after being shunned by his friends and family, he fled to the Continent where he learned swordfighting from masters, and then back to England where he has taken up the life of a highwayman. When he learns of his father's death and his own ascendancy to the Earldom, he refuses to return home. He enjoys being a Robin Hood type figure and is always honorable in his dealings. Meanwhile, Richard's wife Lavinia, is never happy with what she has. She wants more gaiety, more frivolity and above all, more money. Her brothers, too, want more money and are determined to squeeze Richard dry. Richard refuses to touch Jack's money, though, for Richard has a guilty secret and it's eating him up inside. A chance encounter during an attempted robbery shows Jack that he has not been forgotten by those who knew him well. When Jack encounters a young lady being abducted from her carriage, he fights off the villain in a daring swordfight. The villain turns out to be The Black Moth himself. Tracy has at last fallen in love with the beautiful Diana Beauleigh, but the lady will have none of him which only increases his desire. Tracy attempts revenge on his unknown assailant by shooting the man. Jack, severely wounded, is taken home by Diana and her aunt to nurse back to health. Jack and Diana fall in love but he is too noble to be so selfish as to ask her to marry him and he's too proud to take up his own life. His friends and family, meaning well, attempt to set things right but there's always the Black Moth flitting around where he is least wanted. 

This book reads very much like a first novel and one that would appeal to teens with lots of melodrama, dashing heroes, swordfights and a beautiful heroine. There are many spots were the writing doesn't flow very well and the characters are all pretty much cardboard. There's noble Jack, wicked Tracy, spoiled and selfish Lavinia, intelligent and kind Diana, etc. These character archetypes would be developed into flesh and blood people in later novels but in this first work, Miss Heyer had not yet developed her ability to create real people the reader can care about. My favorite characters are Sir and Lady Miles. They're the most well-drawn characters in the novel and seem like people I would actually like to know. The plot is a bit ridiculous and unbelievable and a bit complicated. There are many characters to keep track of and I had to keep turning the page back to find out who was speaking or what was happening. There's lots of sweeping melodrama and adventure but not much romance. We're told that Jack and Diana fall in love but the actual falling in love is glossed over, perhaps because Miss Heyer had not yet been in love or perhaps because she was writing for her kid brother. The historical details are incredibly impressive and fans of historic costuming will die at the descriptions of powder, patch, hoops, wigs and other styles of the mid-18th century.  I would recommend this book to those who love an old-fashioned high drama adventure story or to those fans of Miss Heyer who wish to see how her style evolved. It's not a bad effort for a seventeen year old's first novel.

What I've Read This Week

What I've Read This Week . . .

Behind the Masks: The Diary of Angelina Reddy (Dear America) by Susan Patron -- Middle Grades Historical Fiction

Angeline lives with her parents in the wild western town of Bodie, California in 1880. Her father is a criminal lawyer noted for his ability to keep people out of jail. He's also dead or supposedly murdered in the saloon where he keeps his office. Angeline and her mother are convinced that Patrick/Papa is hiding out, waiting to see what happens without law and order. What happens is that the vigilante posse 601 is out riding around in masks shooting and burning and running "undesirable" people out of town. Angeline sets out to search for clues to her father's disappearance, beginning with a a message brought by a strange Chinese girl named Ling Loi. Angeline's budding friendship with the wealthy Eleanor Tucker reveals more secrets and mysteries in the form of a ghost child. As Angeline searches for clues about her missing father, she discovers the residents of Bodie are all hiding behind masks and when those masks are taken off, then her father will come home and all will be well. Despite the dangerous times, Angeline feels safe because a handsome young clerk at Wells Fargo, Antoine Duval, is looking out for her along with a group of rag-tag actors known as The Horribles. Angeline is drawn to their wit and satirical stories and longs to be a part of their world. This book is not for the faint of heart. It features murder, vigilante justice, warnings about opium addiction, racism, and prostitution. The description of the wild western town of Bodie is very vivid and the author holds nothing back. I really appreciated that as an adult reader but I'm not sure how much the realistic, gritty details will appeal to the target reader group. The mystery of Angeline's missing father isn't much of a mystery. The truth is revealed to Angeline early on and I feel it was too early and should have been dragged out longer. The other mystery, about the ghost child is more compelling and also very true to the harsh realities of life in the 19th century. I do not feel that Angeline is a very memorable character. She doesn't leap off the page as some of the other Dear America characters do and her writing style is boring. Some of the dialogue, especially Ellie's, sounds fake. I think Ling Loi should have been the main character for her story is much more interesting. Taking into consideration all of the Dear America series, this one stands slightly above average but is not the best of the best. I would recommend it for young adults 14 and up and adults interested in a realistic portrayal of life in the Wild West. 

Midnight Masquerade by Joan Smith -- Regency Romance/Mystery

Deidre Gower's aunt, the Duchess of Charney, is robbed of her prized diamond necklace by a man masquerading as a ghost at a New Year's house party given by Deidre's fiance's mother, Lady Bertie Belami. Deidre immediately suspects her fiance, Lord Richard Belami, for he arrives rather late to the party full of lame excuses. Deidre knows Lord Belami has no intention of marrying her and she has no desire for the match either. Dick is determined to prove his innocence in the affair of the necklace and find the true culprit by deduction and reasoning. He enlists the aid of his foolish, bumbling friend Pronto Pilgrim and Deidre insists on sleuthing too. Chief among the suspects are the scandalous Lady Lenore, her lover (her husband is elsewhere), and Lord Bidwell, who helped Lady Lenore plan a tryst with her lover just before the diamond was stolen. Another suspect soon appears but Dick is reluctant to accuse without proof. For that he needs some help from Lady Lenore which lands him in hot water with Deidre, who has come to consider him in the light of more than a friend. While partnering with Deidre in searching for clues, Dick discovers a warm heart enclosed within Deidre's cold external appearance. He finds himself desiring to fan the flames of her heart and win her hand, but first he needs to find that diamond. This novel is simply dreadful and not worth the time or effort to read it. There are too many characters to keep track of in the mystery. The mystery is engaging enough to have kept me guessing all the way through. However, the quality of writing lacks considerably especially compared to Georgette Heyer and the more recent Jane Austen mystery series by Stephanie Barron. The romance is more of a grand sweeping passion than marriage of the minds. The characters come to appreciate each other and feel desire for one another but they never really quite make it as a couple, in my opinion. The hero is an entirely selfish rake who desires what he can't have and Deidre succumbs to his charms. I would not recommend this book to anyone who like quality literature and well-written, well-developed characters and plots. If you just like to read about Regency house parties and enjoy a good mystery, you might like this one.

Jane Austen Mystery Series

Jane Austen Mystery series by Stephanie Barron

Jane and the Madness of Lord Byron 

Jane beloved sister Eliza dies and brother Henry is bereft, so Jane suggests a holiday at the seaside for the two of them. Henry chooses Brighton, the fashionable watering hole of the Great. Along the way, they stop to change horses when they discover a young lady bound and gagged inside a crested carriage. Miss Catherine Twining, a young miss of 15 years, claims to have been abducted by none other than the infamous poet Lord Byron! Byron intended to take Catherine to Gretna and when she tried to escape, he bound and gagged her. Jane is outraged and even more so upon returning to the young lady safely to her home only to be insulted by General Twining. General Twining spared no insults for his only surviving child as well, blaming her for dishonoring the family name. Poor Henry is nearly obliged to fight a duel with the General! Jane and Henry make a hasty exit and take up their lives among with fashionable residents of Brighton. Jane is surprised and delighted to discover that Pride and Prejudice is popular amongst the ton and even more surprised when Lord Harold Trowbridge's niece, Lady Desdemona Swithin, claims Jane as a friend. Jane likes the frank, intelligent countess and soon they are partnering to solve a mystery. A certain young lady known to Jane is found lifeless, stitched in a hammock in a bed recently vacated by Lord Byron! Byron is taken up for murder and though he is allowed to go free, some suspicion remains. The Countess wishes to know whether he is truly guilty or not for her dear friend Lady Oxford is Byron's latest paramour. Lady S wishes for Jane to solve the mystery. Jane finds doors opened that were never open to her before as she rubs elbows with the likes of the Prince Regent and his set. Complicating matters a bit is Lord Byron's cast off mistress, the notorious Lady Caroline Lamb, come to Brighton to stalk her love. Caro was the person last seen in company with the young lady before her death: could she have rid herself of a rival? Could it have been the young lady's closest relative or the pompous elderly clergyman who wished to marry her? Or perhaps her chaperone or the odious lecher General Hangar, a crony of the Regent's once seen attempting to ravish the now deceased young lady? Jane has a tough job on her hands but with help from the Countess and Henry, she will hopefully be able to put together the clues and solve the mystery. 

This is the most ridiculous of all the mysteries. Lord Byron, outrageous though he may have been, was never taken up for murder in 1813 and Miss Austen never hobnobbed with the Prince Regent and his set. Aside from the historical facts, the plot was slow- the murder doesn't happen until halfway through the book. Also, I guessed the murderer's identity right away. Even though I changed my mind a few times, I was right in the end. The author really excels at period detail and this book is even better than all the rest in regards to setting the scene. I like that Barron's Jane knows her limitations as a woman and a shabby genteel spinster. She requires help from others to take her where she can not go. Lesser writers would send their heroines into improbable situations. The descriptions go on a bit too long though without adding to the story and one scene is lifted from Georgette Heyer. This one gets an A+ for period details and a C for the plot. The cover is also dreadful. Is that supposed to be Jane or the murdered young lady or someone else entirely?

Jane and the Canterbury Tale 


It's the fall of 1813 and Jane is visiting her brother Edward and his family, now known as the Knights, at Godmersham in Kent. Jane delights in watching her too-serious niece Fanny dance and flirt all night at the wedding of one of their neighbors, Adelaide Thane Fiske. It's a second marriage for young Adelaide, her first husband was a wastrel who ran off to India and left his wife in debt. With his death, Adelaide was able to find true love with a dashing captain on Wellington's staff. The wedding is fun until the bride receives a mysterious gift from someone that seems to have some meaning for her When Jane's nephews and their friends discover the body of a pilgrim on the path cutting through Godmersham, they fear they mistakingly shot the man while shooting pheasants. Jane's keen eye and experience see more: the man was shot at close range. It was no accident! As Magistrate, Edward must begin an investigation. The body is revealed to be Cuzon Fiske, the first husband of Adelaide and when the smoking gun is found, young James Wildman, Adelaide's cousin, is charged. When evidence points to Adelaide as the killer, Jane begins to worry that the wrong person will be hanged for murder. The introduction of an old sailor complicates matters and the death of another person from the Castle leads to more questions than answers. Jane is running out of time and knows she has to get to the true culprit quickly. A little subterfuge on her part is required along with help from Fanny before the truth is revealed. This mystery is closest to the first book in story and in tone. Jane has mostly stopped wallowing in pity and she is well-placed to investigate. As a history of the time period, this book is quite good. However, as a mystery, I give it low marks. I figured out the murderer right away and even figured out the motive before Edward and Jane. I think that Jane would have figured it out much more quickly. Even so, I enjoyed this one much more than the last few and couldn't put it down until it was finished. 

What I Read This Weekend

What I Read This Weekend

The Rogue's Reform : The Everard Legacy Book 1 by Regina Scott -- Inspirational Regency Romance

I was send an advance copy of this book in exchange for my review. This review will be unbiased.

Jerome Everard has worked his whole life to ensure that his legacy, his Uncle Arthur's estate, should prosper while Uncle Arthur was content to float through life enjoying himself with London pleasures. Now Uncle Arthur is dead and his solicitor reveals shocking news: Jerome is not the heir after all! Uncle Arthur has a secret daughter and the title and the estate pass to her from her father. Jerome will only inherit a minor estate and only after his cousin has a successful season with three offers of marriage and her governess's approval. Jerome heads off to Cumberland accompanied by his dashing brother Richard and his roguish cousin Vaughn to charm the governess into revealing the truth and expose their so-called cousin as a  fraud. Jerome expects to find a scheming jade and her greedy governess, but instead he finds a young lady badly in need of comfort and a remarkable woman who stands as her friend. Adele Walcott, Samantha Everard's governess, is 27 and had her share of difficulties. She has been managing the Everard estate for the last ten years and she is determined to protect her cousin from the rogues who appear unannounced on her doorstep. Yet, as she watches Jerome go about estate business she starts to admire the serious, dedicated young man. The more Jerome gets to know his lively young cousin and her remarkable friend, he begins to feel protective towards the ladies and perhaps even something more for the lovely Adele. Adele once loved and lost and felt the light go out of her life. She has found a new Light to guide her yet she still remains cynical. As Jerome and Adele become close, someone seeks to separate them and will stop at nothing to achieve their aims. Adele must decide who to believe in and trust in her Lord to guide her and show her the way to truth and happiness. Before I share my opinion, I must begin by saying this book is the most Christian of all three of Regina Scott's Love Inspired books so far. It is not as easy to gloss over the Bible passages and prayers in this novel as it is in the other two. If you don't believe in Adele's God, then you probably won't want to read this book. If you do want to read this book, read on. 

As usual Regina Scott excels at creating a wholly original story in a genre in which many authors borrow plots from Jane Austen, Georgette Heyer and each other and toss in cliche after cliche. The characters are well-developed and are kept from becoming stock characters by Regina's excellent characterizations. Jerome is a nice hero but a bit too serious. He's on a mission which could be interpreted as caddish but he has good reasons for it and he grows and changes throughout the story. Adele is the weak link. She's a typical redoubtable spinster, capable of handling everything that comes her way calmly. Yet she's also more well-drawn than many Regency novel heroines. She has doubts and fears yet she isn't afraid to trust her heart. She could use a bit more of a temper to make her a bit more human but I quite like her, aside from her reliance on God to guide her way. I quite like Vaughn and I expect I shall entirely lose my heart to him once he has his own story. I also really liked Samantha who at times seems spoiled and childish but also has backbone and a good sense of humor. I look forward to seeing her grow up. The plot was interesting enough to keep me reading but dragged on a bit in the last third of the novel. My only major criticisms are that the mystery of Samantha's mother is easy to figure out and the romance happens a bit too quickly for me to believe. Finally, my biggest complaint is that since this book is the first in a series, the big mystery is yet to be resolved and I hate waiting!!! Overall, it's a good book but not as good as Regina Scott's older non-Inspirational books, but that's my personal opinion and I would recommend that those who like the Regency genre and don't mind Inspirational Regencies give this one a try.

The FitzOsbornes in Exile by Michelle Cooper -- Young Adult Historical Fiction

This sequel to A Brief History of Montmaray picks up just after the first book began with Sophie's first journal entry in a brand new book detailing the FitzOsbornes new life in England. While Sophia is looking forward to her presentation at Court and all the lovely new frocks and Henry is running wild, Veronica is depressed. She feels responsible for the destruction of their home and feels helpless. She wants nothing to do with Aunt Charlotte's plan to marry the FitzOsbornes off to wealthy and influential suitors. Toby too resists Aunt Charlotte's grand plans for him. Fate has grand plans for the FitzOsbornes that differ from Aunt Charlotte's: the Spanish Civil War affects someone they know and Veronica finds relief in working towards saving starving Basque children and becoming more interested in international politics. In between all the parties and balls the young relatives (including Simon) plot and plan to save their home. When everything seems to go wrong, it's up to Sophie to keep her head and save the day. Not much happens until around page 400 and then the story picks up for the last few chapters. Most of the book is a typical coming-of-age novel. The plot is peppered with real-life historical events and people (The Kennedys make a cameo) as well as fictional situations. Henry provides the comic relief with her wild antics and Veronica's obtuseness about the workings of the human heart also provide some lighthearted moments. Again Sophie's journal is full of fabulous literary references : Jane Austen, Georgette Heyer, Shakespeare, Thomas Hardy, W.H. Auden, Virginia Woolf and more, which I absolutely loved. The biggest problem I had with this book is that I had a hard time following the political situation in Europe and the difference between Fascists and Communists. There were a little bit too many real-life facts and people thrown in (Including the Kennedys!)  to keep track of, at least while reading late at night. Luckily the author has some great summaries on her website. This book also lacks the charming feel of the first, not being set in Montmaray. I especially loved the history and descriptions of Montmaray and I missed that in this book. It's still a great novel and I am eagerly awaiting the final volume in the trilogy.