Review: A journey of stars
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 03 17, 2014
Two strangers, because of a deathbed promise, are married.  Husband, Jack, professional military and a colonel in the army, leaves very soon after the wedding for Canada where he's posted for the next 5 years.  Wife, Elizabeth, recent widow of Jack's best friend, is naturally distraught.  She remained at Jack's home recovering from her grief, caring for Jack's mentally confused mother and learning to manage Jack's modest estate.Then comes the gossip and all hell breaks loose.This book was just all over the place for me.5 stars for showing, very well, the extremely tenuous circumstances of unprotected and "poor relation" females of the era.5 stars for the subtle portrayal of the insularity of village life.2.5 stars for excessive development of Elizabeth's character.  (The problem is usually the opposite.)  I would have liked equal  billing for Jack.-1 star for Elizabeth being a sanctimonious twit5 stars for the author's research and adherence to history and to the mores of the period.  I'm willing to give license regarding Elizabeth's having a horse in Brussels, etc.2.5 stars for a rather wooden, unconvincing love story.So, mathematically,this story ends up a 3.2 stars for me.I realize this is a strange review.  Sorry.  Did my best.