Review: Surprisingly Excellent
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 24, 2014
I have seen mixed reviews for this author so I went into this book expecting nothing. To my pleasure, it turned out to be wonderful. It is not the best written book I have ever read, there were some awkward dialogue moments that read more like a primer than a professional novel, but for the most part, the craft was solid. I loved Atwood - the man that is, as we don't really hear much about the estate. He was delicious. The heroine was ok. There really wasn't all that much special about her, pretty much a stock model. The secondary characters were interesting, especially the other teachers, but I could have done without Eliza and Rosemary. What really, honestly sold me on this novel, was the plot. It was so unique and interesting. Combine that with the compelling reluctant hero and you get a win in my opinion. For me, the book conjured images of old black and white dramas, like the original Dark Shadows. The atmosphere seemed similar as did the pacing. It was a unique experience for me within the bounds of this genre. Brava Ms Charles. A job well done. Very highly recommended for all Regency Romance lovers.