Review: Trying.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 05 12, 2014
(2.5 stars)  Author Quigley is trying too hard to be authentic and period-detailed in manners and speech and the book's heroine Isobel is just plain trying (to my patience).The author succeeds fairly well in imitating the writing style of the 1800s but she's forgotten to put the zip and wit into the book that would make it a "compleat" read.  Quigley's writing here reminds me of Lizzie Church's (e.g.,Curricle & Chaise, etc. ), aiming so hard for authenticity that it becomes a bit tedious, somewhat pedantic, and annoying to read.The plot can be summed up in a very few sentences but the story goes on and on and on and I really found myself disliking the "bluestocking" heroine.  She's secretly into archeology and doesn't want to marry or to reveal her academic tendencies.  Handsome hunk hero Lord Francis is into Isobel but she discourages him and treats him coldly, way beyond reasonable behavior, hiding her interests and pretending to be what she isn't, even when it's obvious that Lord Francis is a lovely, understanding man.  So much for our bluestocking's I.Q.There's a secondary plot involving Isobel's good friend, who's in an abusive relationship with a dissolute, wastrel husband, and this ties in as another reason for Isobel to shun marriage. Fortunately, Lord Francis has much more patience and tolerance than I did and he finally gets his HEA.  IMO, Isobel doesn't deserve him but then he didn't ask my opinion.I rounded up to 3 stars because of the reasonable authenticity and research but I see no reason to award it more just because it's a "clean" romance.  There's too much tedium and repetition and annoying behavior on the heroine's part for me.  At least this story is better than Quigley'sA Most Unusual Situation: A Traditional Version Georgian Romance.  In that one both hero and heroine were extremely annoying.