Sometimes I wish a historical and/or regency romance would be just that -- a historical and/or regency romance. I don't understand why authors insist on imposing modern day sensibilities on a historical era. Suffice to say -- the anachronisms are strong with this one! In fact...anachronisms might just be "a thing" with Maya Rodale. Sure, her books are entertaining and that's a good thing. But if it bothers you to read about modern women in historical eras then this book (and the other two of Rodale's books that I've read) may throw you out of the story. And...I shudder to think of how many of her readers consume this book and others and think this is historical fact embedded within the historical fiction. I think this is one of the ways "alternate history" gets spread...be it intentional or unintentional. Here's a VERY spoilery example (seriously -- super spoilery so don't read this next paragraph if you don't want to read about the big plot point): [*steps up to soapbox* Our heroine, Lady Amelia, reveals that she is pregnant out of wedlock...to which EVERYONE in her family reacts calmly, without making a scene, and urging her to do what's best for her. Even the imposing dowager duchess who Rodale has set up as the "Etiquette Police" for this series...the dowager duchess who is so concerned about her charges making good matches with good ton...the dowager duchess who has spent the entire book trying to reform Lady Amelia...the dowager duchess who responds this way to the news of Amelia's pregnancy: "Sometimes, a family comes to you when it's time, not when you planned it. And it may seem like a disaster but it isn't. It's just...right." No scene...no disappointment...no panic...just calming reassurance that it's ok to have a child out of wedlock. Um...that SO would not have happened during this time period. Lady Amelia most likely wouldn't have been given a choice in the matter and would have been shuffled off to a country estate to "take the air" for an unnamed illness for 9 months and then return to society miraculously healed and to probably live her life as a spinster relation. The idea that the family calmly accepts her pregnancy is a mark of modern culture...not the mark of historical English aristocratic culture. *steps off soapbox*] Did I enjoy the book? Yeah, I guess. I do like that Rodale puts an actual plot into her books as that element is sometimes hard to find It's always hard to find good regency romances that aren't full of "Insta-Lust" and this author is definitely is strong on the "Insta-Lust" (at least from what I've read so far). I am always on the search for authors that focus on the "love" rather than the "lust"...but that's getting fewer and farther between apparently. Rating:
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