Review: Passionate and Compelling Regency
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 26, 2014
This Regency romance by Em Taylor examines some heavy issues – kidnap, mental health and social mores – in particular the expectations imposed on women by the Ton. However, at the centre of the tale is the romance between Anna and James. Fate has now reunited them but their current circumstances could not be more different and there are moral as well as social dilemmas to overcome if they are to secure their HEA.Both the hero and the heroine of this novel are well developed characters – Anna is no vacuous Regency miss and neither is James a fop or wastrel and they both exhibit a high level of maturity and compassion for others in addressing the predicament they find themselves in. That the couple are still deeply enamoured with each other is beyond doubt and there are many sizzling love-making scenes. Anna is certainly a woman who knows what she wants and is not afraid to give James what he needs and James finds it difficult to restrain himself.The central conflict however remains -  how can Anna be persuaded to resume her place in society, when she has not only been disgraced, living with a man out of wedlock, but also having birthed an illegitimate child? Her fears are not just for herself but also for the potential impact on her daughter and James. The issue of Peter’s future and his mother Agnes, with whom she and her daughter have forged a strong bond, is also problematic.I understood Anna’s dilemma and applauded James’ patience in addressing her concerns. The scenes where the author depicts James’ conflicting emotions: surprise; relief; joy; anger; frustration and passion, are very well done. Will Anna consent to be his wife and return to society or will she find it impossible to contemplate despite her love for James? Also if she does resume her rightful place as an Earl’s daughter will James be able to deal with any fallout?I enjoyed how the author contrasts the life Anna was thrust into as an ordinary member of Regency society and the life of the aristocracy. I particularly liked how it gave the hero a deeper insight into those less fortunate than himself. The depiction of Peter’s mental illness and how the hero and heroine react to it is also enlightening and heartrendingAll in all Restoring Lady Anna is a sexy, passionate and thought -provoking novel, which provides a fascinating perspective on Regency society. I recommend it to romance readers in general, particularly those who enjoy Regency romances or reads where issues affecting women’s role in society are under the spotlight. A copy of this novel was provided by the author for the purpose of a fair and honest review.