Review: Refreshing. . . a sweet regency novella!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 2, 2012
Chastity Drummond comes from a wealthy family in the shipping business. Yes, because her family is "in trade," she does not have entrée to the most exclusive society gatherings, but that does not really concern her. A businesswoman through and through, she sees her father failing and decides that she needs to influence a certain government official to favor their company when drawing up trade routes. Mr. Highster is a widower with grown children who does not seem the least bit interested in her, but Chastity is determined to get him to marry her and help her run her father's company.Lord Willoughby, a handsome young baron who lives next door, is trying to live down the nickname "The Matchmaking Baron" after all six of his engagements ended with his fiancées jilting him for other men, the last one being his own older brother. Chastity has no intention of being Fiancée #7, but she figures that if she and Willoughby spend enough time together, it might get Mr. Highster's attention. Lord Willoughby nixes the whole idea, even after Chastity promises him lucrative stock in the company. However, what it does do is get him to look at Chastity himself, and what he sees is that she is far too good for a man like Highster.A connoisseur of Regency-era romances from way back, I have been disappointed with most of the books published these days. It seems that so many authors with little or no knowledge of the period are whipping up inauthentic tales and selling them as "Regencies" or "historicals." I want to make it clear that Ms. Gray is ONE of very few authors who DOES have a good grasp of the period and whose characters do not speak or behave like 21st century Americans. I also find it refreshing that the characters do not fall into bed with each other at the drop of a hat--in fact, not at all. The progression of their courtship is not at all the normal thing, but all the same very sweet. The only complaint I have is that it does end a bit abruptly, which is not an uncommon problem in stories of this length.Anyone looking for a charming, very sweet romance of the type commonly published decades ago by Zebra and Signet and Candlelight should find this novella a nostalgic and satisfying read.NOTE: Reviewer received a free copy of this work from the author.