Review: Fun May-December Romance
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 04 21, 2014
This is my first Elizabeth Chater novel, and I enjoyed it very much.  The story is fun, lighthearted, quirky at times, and romantic.  The book is well written, with an interesting plot, and a wonderful cast of characters.  Pommy is a young woman, orphaned at an early age, who was raised by her maternal grandfather.  After her grandfather died, she was forced to rely on the largesse of her father's older brother and his family.  Alas, her paternal aunt and uncle, as well as their two daughters, are a group of vile creatures.  Her aunt and cousins treat Pommy worse than a servant, constantly belittling her, as well as inflicting physical punishments against her.Dear Pommy is a Romantic at heart.  Her grandfather provided her with an extensive education in literature and the classics.  To escape the reality of the cruel existence she is forced to endure, Pommy buries herself in reading, and when not reading, lives in the various romantic fantasies she creates...usually involving some beauty who is a Blighted Heroine.  LOLPommy and Derek meet at a local inn, when she literally runs into his arms.  Pommy has just overheard a plot to hold up her uncle's carriage during the family's journey to London.  When Pommy tells the Stranger--who is the hero, Derek Masterson, Earl of Austelle--what she overheard, she is delighted with his response.  He immediately throws himself wholehearted into the caper, and even seems to have an extensive knowledge of literature.  Pommy's heart is delighted to have found a kindred spirit.  Unfortunately, the timing is all wrong, because in this instance, the fantasy is a reality--there really is a plan to rob her uncle's carriage.  Once Derek realizes that Pommy is in earnest, he immediately comes to her assistance, after which the two part ways.Later that same day, when Derek comes to Pommy's assistance for a second time and witnesses the result of the abominable treatment she is subjected to at the hands of her relatives, he promptly whisks her off to London, to be a companion to his widowed sister-in-law, Lady Aurora.  During their journey to London, these two mad-cap individuals form a bond, created by their mutual enjoyment of creating fantasies.The story is short, only a little over 200 pages, so it moves at a nice, quick pace.  Although we are never told the actual ages of either Pommy and Derek, Lady Aurora does note that Derek had to be almost 20 years Pommy's senior.  Pommy does seem extremely young and nave, especially because she indulges so much in her fantasy world.  Nonetheless, the relationship between herself and Derek works, because she brings out a young, playful side to his personality, while he provides her with a steadying, mature influence.  I did have to wonder if Pommy's love for Derek wasn't more hero-worship than anything else.  Luckily, I was able to go with the story and not over-think it--which is very often my tendency.  For his part, Derek finds his usual self-confidence somewhat shaken when it comes to Pommy because he is so much older than she is, and he does suffer some intense moments of jealousy.I loved this story; it's full of witty repartee, quirky humor, and zany characters.  Two of my favorites--aside from the protagonists--are the oh-so-beautiful, oh-so-dumb, Gareth and Isabelle.  LOL  Even the scene where Derek proposes to Pommy had me laughing out loud!  If you're in the mood for a fun, light-hearted, clean, historical romance, then this book is definitely worth a read.  Happy reading!