Review: An intriguing read
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 2, 2010
Review for Budapest MoonBook one, The Hungarianby Stephanie BurkhartFive stars!The Hungarian is a thrilling tale of mystery, intrigue, and the unquestioning trust which comes from true love. Set in 1901 England the author takes her readers on a delightful journey through era appropriate travel from England all the way to Hungary.From the first page Katherine Archibald and Count Matthias Duma endear themselves into the readers' heart. Their attraction for one another is instant, yet Ms. Burkhart allows Katherine and Matthias to take their time learning about one another and grow in their affection.The challenges Matthias and Katherine face as a couple are complex and many.I admire how Ms. Burkhart allowed them to not only acknowledge and understand their unique problems, but to work together to find realistic and satisfying solutions, even as they took `one step forward, and two steps back' to do so.Matthias is a widower trying to raise a young daughter with only the help of his Hungarian staff. The challenges of this labor of love are magnified by the fact that he is also a werewolf.After his first wife is killed by a pack of wolves, one wolf of which is responsible for his own `condition', Matthias finds himself trapped in England being sued for custody of his daughter, Emily, by her grandmother, Lady Ashton.Lady Ashton, driven by her grief at having lost her only daughter, claims that Matthias is an unfit father, who staffs a household of gypsies and witches.Katherine, an orphan raised by a loving uncle and his not so loving wife, is a respectful, yet independent young woman with a great love for the stars, books and thirst for adventure.That thirst is quenched when she and Matthias meet. The attraction between the couple is strong, and after getting to know one another their love grows and blossoms.Katherine feels an instant kinship with Matthias daughter, and wants, more than anything, for the child to remain with her loving father and not forced by the courts to live with her bitter grandmother.Matthias asks Katherine to marry him, but along with the proposal he tells her that each month when the moon is full, he transforms into a werewolf.Katherine is shocked by the news, but open minded enough to believe the unbelievable. She does not answer him right away, taking instead some much needed time to consider what her life would be like married to a man whose moods and body are governed by the phases of the moon.Katherine accepts his proposal, and they marry in a quiet little ceremony in her uncle's home.As a werewolf, Matthias does not age at the same rate as normal persons. He will still look and feel young for hundreds of years. Due to that, Matthias fears getting Katherine pregnant, knowing he could not bear outliving any children they may have together.While Katherine understands his concerns, and loves his daughter as her own, she longs to have children with her new husband. Their most emotional conflict is a direct result of this very matter. The love scenes which touch on Matthias resolution to this problem are well written, catering to the adult reader.Matthias, still haunted by doubts about his first wife's faithfulness and his own mothers fidelity, is very insecure. His jealousy causes quite a bit of trouble between the two, and Katherine's soft heart and trusting nature often times unwittingly feed his insecurities.Ms. Burkhart takes the reader though the intricate emotional ups and downs her hero and heroine go through, and the reader feels a since of accomplishment and joy as Matthias and Katherine grow and mature throughout the story, learning to trust one another completely.Ms. Burkhart pulls the reader right into Matthias transformation with her details of not only his physical changing, but also his mind and emotions while this painful process takes place.Ms. Burkhart's writing is crisp, her imagery vivid. The story is compelling and the reader will find their selves not wanting it to end.Review by Tami Dee