Review: Lady in Pearls
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 08 4, 2013
Lady in Pearls is a lovely and short tale with romance, intrigue, and most importantly, love. It is fast-paced and thoroughly amusing, with interesting multi-dimensional characters and a plot that never ceases to engage the readers. For a novella to break out of the many molds of Regency romance is surprising, and even more so when it's well done to a high degree.Sir Nathan Bancroft likes to solve mysteries, and when he is hired by Beatrice Phillips to discover why her granddaughter, Vanessa, has been withdrawing a good amount of money every month, his interest turns to Vanessa. Upon their first meeting, both parties find the other arrogant and assuming, but their subsequent encounters have become not only heated, but also more truthful. The reason for Vanessa's being known as the "lady in pearls" is both poignant and bittersweet, a wonderful addition to her complexity. and naturally, Nathan's being a supportive hero is just double the sweetness. It was a great delight to find, in so many pages, two people who develop a camaraderie and genuine appreciation for each other's inner characters.The romance aspect of this novella is very charming, and I applaud the author's myriad plot twists to keep the intrigue interesting as well. I should warn, however, that a suspension of disbelief is applicable to the tale's resolution, with deus ex machina that, while fun and rather hilarious, seems nonetheless fantastical. All in all, Elizabeth Cole is a fresh voice in Regency romance and she has superb talent in crafting riveting characters with a compelling plot and romance.*My thanks to the publisher for a copy