Review: Well researched historical romances
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 12 3, 2012
All three books follow the same general plot : a heroine is put in dangerous, unfavorable situations and has to survive in difficult circumstances.I liked the stories. They are well written and really well researched. No rosy view of the past here. War is war and people die, some are jailed. The mining small town is dirty, violent and unsafe. Sickness, starvation and rape are an everyday possibility. It's a welcome change from all those authors who try to make us believe that living in en 1870's or 80's was oh so fun and pure. It was not. Babies died young. Baths were a once a week or month occasion.  The streets smelled etc.The three heroines are strong and tenacious. The three heros are, for my taste, a bit cold. I did not feel their passion until the very last pages.I did not like at all the rape scenes in books two and three which is the reason why I took out two stars. I agree that it happened frequently in those days (and in ours too) and that the men's definition of honor did not stretch to protect women believed to be fallen. Still, the book is meant to be read today by modern readers. I found these scenes disturbing and offensive. Rape is never right, in any time period. The fact that the two heroines will eventually fall in love with the very same men who did not listen and took advantage makes it worse.If you can somehow forget the conditions under which the two heros connect, these are fine romances.