Regency Romance

Review: Amalie Howard – The Beast of Beswick

Beauty and the Beast is my favorite fairytale, primarily because it is the one where the couple’s love doesn’t happen at first sight. I am always interested in reading an author’s take on the classic tale and how they see the couple coming together. I read several glowing recommendations for this book and was excited to give it a try. Unfortunately, my only thought as I closed the book was, “What a waste of potential.”

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Review: Mary Jo Putney – Once a Soldier

Most Regency-era novels take place in England, so it is a refreshing change of pace for this book to be set on the continent. The tiny country of San Gabriel gives an up-close view of the devastation of the Peninsular Wars. A French general, Baudin, retreating through the country left a large swath of destruction in his wake and took the king and crown prince as prisoners. This devastation makes a magnificent backdrop for Will Masterson and Athena Markham’s growing relationship.

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Review: Jane Austen’s Persuasion

Persuasion has been my favorite Jane Austen novel for years. Unlike the bubbly youthfulness of her other works, Persuasion follows the life of Anne Elliot, a spinster at 27, who has lost the bloom of youth and has no expectations for marriage. Eight years earlier, she had been persuaded to break her engagement to Frederick Wentworth because of his lack of money and stability. This situation gives a more melancholic air to
the novel.

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