Review: A REGENCY ROMANCE
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 31, 2012
Cassie Marston at twenty five had been a widow for three years. When her husband had died she returned to her Father's house. Baron Roland Conningsby was a drunk and a gambler. Ever since his wife had died he had been out of control. Now they had lost everything due to his gambling. Cassie and her younger sister Eliza who was only seventeen, were planning to leave their home, which was no longer theirs now. They were going to visit Cassie's aunt by marriage Lady Philana Forster. While they were preparing to leave Lord Bucksden a notorious rake and despoiler of women arrived and entered the house without invitation. Demanding that Eliza come with him. It appeared that Baron Conningsby had used his younger daughter as part of a bet and had lost. Cassie cannot let this man take her young sister so picks up an urn and hits him over the head with it, Lord Bucksden hits his head on the corner of a table as he falls. Thinking that she has murdered him. Cassie her father and sister Eliza flee the scene.Lady Philana Forster is pleased to see Cassie and her sister, not so much their father as she is aware of his gambling and drinking. She informs them they are all going to stay at Ryecroft castle as guests of Lord Ryecroft, as he he hosting a house party. During the first evening Cassie is shocked but also happy to see that Lucien Hollier Lord Graceton is also a guest, six years ago at her come out Lord Graceton had paid Cassie a lot of attention, leading her to think he might offer for her. But when her father saw Lucien's preference for his daughter he ruined things by asking Lord Graceton for a loan. Nevertheless Lucien still makes Cassies heart beat faster every time she looks at him. He is even more handsome now than he ever was. But she knows that her sister nor she will ever receive offers from men of Lucien's rank and respectability, their father's behaviour has put paid to that.The author states in her notes that this is not the best book she has ever written, as the regency era is out of her comfort zone and too modern, for her. I respectfully disagree this is an excellent story, full of detail of the period, with colourful characters. I loved it.Fast paced it moves along, a real page turner. Loved the romance between Cassie and Lucien. the other characters were very well portrayed and played their part in this beautifully. I would love Ms.Domning to consider writing Cassie's sister her own story.