Reviewed by Francine.
Melting Matilda by Jude Knight.
As always Jude Knight portrays
Regency England with stylish representation of characters as true to the era as
any modern day author can contribute. One can rightly imagine Matilda and
Charles, Earl of Hamner, as part and parcel of a series of books involving the
House of Haverford, but this is entirely their story. Not least, past heartache
for Matilda is apparent, and the crass behaviour for Charles’ part is indicative
of class conscience over good sense, but he does redeem himself. Thus a rather
touching tale unfolds and keeps one turning the pages!
My One True Love by Rue Allyn.
In this poignant tale which amounts
to a love dilemma for Lord Trevor now returned from war, once again the reader
is revolving around the London residence of the House of Haverford. A similar love
lost, and love regained theme –as
in Ms Knight's tale– is
evident, and the heroine (Percy) fear’s a past incident will deter Lord Trevor’s
affections when the truth is revealed. Percy being right or wrong in her belief,
Lord Trevor is nothing but a dogged if patient individual and reaps his due
reward with a just and Happy ever after, and Rue Allyn provides an engaging
read set against a charitable fund.
Lord Ethan’s Courage by Caroline
Warfield.
Here is another poignant tale, in
which a soldier returned from war is struggling with his conscience on the
rights and wrongs of war and battles won. Victory often has unpalatable elements
even for the hardest of soldiers, and Lord Ethan ends up treading the dark side
of forgotten war heroes. Thus the do-gooding ladies of a charitable fund
are determined to save these men and the families of
those who never returned from dire hardship. The charitable theme is the backbone of this anthology,
and the romance that blossoms between Ethan, and Flora, seems inevitable though
hard won due to his initial desire to remain anonymous among many. The rather sad
touch to this tale leaves one in no doubt, times past were far from rosy, and
less rosy Jane Austen than that good lady would have everyone believe of her
lifetime during the Napoleonic wars.
A Second Chance at Love by Sherry
Ewing.
The title says it all, and Constance
and Digby’s romance is a gentle affair despite the machinations of another more
ruthless suitor. Once again this novella is linked to the former within the
anthology which has a charitable theme running throughout. Thus set during the time
of a Regency era Frost Fair held on the frozen River Thames, a chance encounter
between Digby and Constance, gives rise to hope that after a long absence from
English shores he was not altogether forgotten, but things are not quite as
simple as that. Nonetheless, the ladies continue with preparing picnic baskets
for auctioning to the highest bidder to raise funds, and would-be suitors see
their chance to place bids and gain time with the owners of said baskets. Can
Digby outbid his rival and win Constance, or is that a foregone conclusion as far
as Constance is concerned? A lovely story and a cosy ending for the reader.
The Umbrella Chronicles by Amy
Quinton.
In this delightful themed charitable
rendition of budding romance, again involving the Frost Fair and all it entails,
brings Chester Mansfield, Duke of Eastly, and Miss Artemis Synclaire to the
realms of a Beauty and the Beast fairytale. Amusing and light-hearted throughout,
the two principal characters are straight-talking, principled, and at times appear
as brittle as the frozen Thames due to individual vulnerabilities. But can
there be worse than two matchmakers knowingly at play and deliberate in attempt
to strike sparks of interest between Chester and Artemis, and the daring audacity
to fan flames of desire that may or may not have already singed the flesh of
one, and seared the pride of the other? Thus, there is much at stake in this
lovely tale of romance in the name of charity.
Altogether this is a lovely
collection of romantic tales in the fictional name of The
Ladies’ Society for the Care of Widows and Orphans of Fallen Heroes and the
Children of Wounded Veterans, and all written by a group of authors who
collectively refer to selves as The Blue
Stocking Belles. Well done, the Belles.
