Review: An Enthralling Regency
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 02 21, 2013
Review of the Shamrock and the Rose“The Shamrock and the Rose” is a charming regency by an author who is obviously well versed in the history and social conventions of the times.  Set against the backdrop of the political troubles between Ireland and England during the period, the love story centers on Morgan O’Connell, a young Irish lawyer whose family has passionate convictions regarding Irish rights, and Rose Collingwood, a beautiful English aristocrat who has come to London seeking adventure by acting on the stage under an assumed name.  As Shakespeare’s Portia, she enthralls Morgan and leads him on a merry chase to discover who the mysterious, much adored actress really is. Although he doesn’t have a glass slipper, he pursues the object of his desire with the same dogged determination as Cinderella’s prince.  But can even a passion such as Morgan’s overcome the heated political turmoil between a shamrock and a rose?  Will the woman who plays Portia on stage be sufficiently fair minded to reasonably assess the possibility of love with the young Irishman?  The answer: read “The Shamrock and the Rose.”Although Morgan and Rose make a charming couple who play well off each other, my favorite character is the Dowager Countess of Claremont.  Sitting primly in her drawing room, listening to first Rose and then Morgan, her quizzing glass around her neck, she’s the embodiment of the period, yet with a mind sufficiently open to allow new ideas to seep in.I enjoyed “The Shamrock and the Rose” and recommend it.  A nice, short read, it’s the perfect fare for a winter’s evening or for relaxing after a summer’s picnic.