Review: Just so-so
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 12 4, 2013
The story centers around Miranda, Andrew and Julian.  Miranda has been expected to marry Julian for years, but he has never gotten around to formally asking for her hand.  And his cousin, Andrew, has begun to fall in love with her over the years.  Both he and Miranda are accomplished pianists.Miranda ignores Julian`s tendency to drink heavily and is ignorant of his wenching ways.  She has been infatuated for years and has never been kissed.  She is presented as being sheltered and an innocent.And yet -- she plans on sneaking out late at night to meet Julian.  She wants him to escort her to a celebration at which there is drinking and apparently quite a bit of sexual activity amongst the village folks.  Not to say naive, young women don't do stupid things but this struck me as not ringing true to her character.Andrew shows up to escort her instead as Julian is drunk and  trying to get under the skirt of a barmaid.  The couple shares a couple of cups of mead and a dance -- eventually a kiss.  She thinks maybe Andrew is the man for her.There is an incident and her father is going to insist she marry Julian, going so far as to lock her in her room to insure she comply.  Andrew wishes to marry her but isn't even allowed to speak with her.She manages once again to slip away, and she and Andrew head to Gretna Green.A fairly short story, but some of the dialogue struck me as not keeping with the time period.  I didn't find our heroine to be particularly endearing, and frankly, Andrew came off as kind of priggish.  He seemed a good guy but not a sexy hero.  There was definitely passion regarding their piano playing, but it seemed to lack when it came to the physical attraction between the couple.I would say read it if it is free.  Just don't expect to get your reading glasses steamed up.