Review: Good Reading
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 29, 2014
Diane Scott Lewis’s The Defiant Lady Pencavel is unexpectedly humorous and lively. Our heroine Lady Melwyn Pencavel steps forward as a typical eighteenth century about-to-be-married young woman, in a way that is immediately recognizable to fans of the Historic English Romance Genre. She grouses about her lot but – unlike the typical marched-to-marriage young woman, has her own aspirations and more than enough spirit to take of family and society expectations.Her aspirations do not include a decent marriage, life, or society,  and how she wishes she could conjure magic to get her out of it all!Griffin Lambrick, the Viscount of Merther is not her dream.  As a matter of fact, betrothed or not, it appears she is not his either. Oddly, they do share this interest in archeology. There are stern moments, light-hearted, and downright silly (Oh, and Lady Melwyn’s maid! So fun!).In spite of a person and plot that kicks off in an entirely recognizable manner, Scott Lewis bring us an imaginative and unpredictable storyline. Surprises delighted me, and that is enough reason alone to recommend reading The Defiant Lady Pencavel. My recommendation is not without some reservations: some conversations are too wordy and so cluttered with explanation or backstory that they become unbelievable. At the opening, the tale bogs down with too much discussion of society – as if the norms of the day were to be remarked upon. However, once things get going, they really do take off. Better yet, they charge forward in entirely unpredictable ways.Fans of the English-style romance will have to put aside expectations and let themselves enjoy some silliness here – a worthwhile read (and nice change of pace).originally posted at long and short reviews