Review: Lovely Short Story of An Irishman and His English Rose
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 02 6, 2013
This was a delightful Regency era story that combined romance and danger all in a few pages that cover a short amount of time connecting the two holidays of St. Valentine's Day and St. Patrick's Day.Morgan O'Connell, an Irishman studying to be a barrister in London's Inns of Court, is a handsome rogue of a man that has a secret wish to find a woman much like Shakespeare's Portia.  Portia is a woman who is fierce in her beliefs, courageous and smart so Morgan feels that finding just such a real life woman is almost hopeless.  That is until he sets eyes on the woman playing the part of Portia at the theater one night.  Even then, he only has the short term in mind because he's Irish and when it comes to marriage he needs an Irish bride.Rose is newly arrived in London and staying with her mother's friend, the dowager countess, so that she might fulfill a dream.  She must conduct herself circumspectly as she chooses to take up the role of Portia because a lady doesn't engage in a career especially not something as reputation ruining as acting.  Its not a career that Rose wants or needs, but she does love playing the part of Portia, the fictitious woman that she wishes she could be like.Rose has been getting anonymous 'fan' mail that grows increasingly more disturbing and it is when Morgan discovers a piece of her mail- a Valentine poem- on the ground and tries to deliver it to her that he discovers her secret.  The Countess who Morgan visits to deliver the note, decides to play a bit of matchmaking for Rose and invites Morgan to join a few other eligible bachelors to a St. Valentine's Day dinner party.Morgan is as smitten by Rose as she is by him, but their differences keep them both leery of deeper entanglements.  However, with a few unexpected circumstances thrown in their way, cupid may just have a chance with these two.I found the story quick and heartwarming.  I really liked Rose and Morgan and I really wanted them to find a way past the issues that were dividing them.  Sadly, the Irish- English Catholic-Protestant stuff was a big deal back then so I did understand their reservations  I found the secondary plot of the stalker almost superfluous to the romance since they already had the above mentioned barriers to be the conflict, but it did add a bit of excitement I'll grant you.  And how could I not love seeing a big brawny Irishman rescue his lady.Enjoyable short story historical romance that I can recommend.  I look forward to reading more from this author.