Review: Good historical regency romance
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 04 18, 2014
I enjoyed this well written story with Cinderella elements mixed with some heavy Pride and Prejudice influences. Although the villains are original, the favored younger stepsister strongly resembles Lydia Bennett and the stepmother, Mrs Bennett. The reserved hero gives a slight nod to Mr Darcy and his younger companion, Mr Bingley. The disapproving close relation (Lady Catherine) role is the hero's sister, and the earnest, pompous, silly suitor-a faux Mr Collins is there as well. The heroine herself bears a good deal of character resemblance to Elizabeth Bennett. In the Cinderella theme, the hero's godmother becomes the heroine's fairy godmother as she and the heroine's grandmother are the best of friends. The three ladies have been corresponding since the death of the heroine's father and her aborted come-out season five years earlier and the older ladies are well aware that the stepmother dotes on her own daughter and doesn't particularly invest any thought in her stepdaughter.Although there are all these "borrowed" elements, the author still manages to make some interesting characters and an entertaining plot which was original enough to keep my interest. There are no sexual scenes, although some is alluded to, and there is mild violence.I rated this 3 1/2 stars, but rounded it up.Heat factor mild.