Emily Hendrickson

I have always been fond of characters with red hair. This is important to note because HARRIET'S BEAU features both the title character, Harriet Mayne, and her confidante/friend Mr. Ferdinand Andrews with red hair. Harriet lives up to the characteristics associated with her hair color as well—she is outspoken, a trifle reckless and utterly original in how she views situations. Ferdinand, or Ferdy, is your typical late 20's man-about-town in Regency England—he enjoys going to his clubs, amusing opera dancers and has a variety of sports he indulges in, including archery.

In short, this novel seems deadest on extolling most of the more common Regency Romance tropes. Feisty young heroine, older bored gentleman, meddling sisters, boorish family, heroine becomes an Original, lecherous old suitor, dishonorable younger military suitor—the list goes on. This isn't a bad thing! Harriet is a likable character and you feel instantly for her because of her family's treatment of her (ranging from dutiful neglect from her father, to malicious cruelty from her older, perfect sisters) and she doesn't indulge in fits of resentment.

The true fun in this book is Ferdy's reactions to everything she says and does. The poor man is besotted with her before the third chapter is through, but neither he nor Harriet seem to understand that their friendship is not in the common way of things. Which is refreshing to read. The two of them share a comfortable relationship that allows them to speak their minds to each other, chide each other and be themselves at all times. Moments of discomfort are quickly forgotten until closer to the end when things start to come to a head, but neither seems terribly discontented by this fact. Indeed, even if his two sisters, Diana and Emma (they helped to make her over and introduce her into society), had not interfered, I suspect the outcome would have been the same in the end, just longer to happen.… (mais)

MISS CHENEY'S CHARADE is one of the funniest Regencies I've read in a while. A lot of the humor comes from Sir Peter Dancy convincing Emma, dressed as his friend (her brother) George, that he doesn't see through her disguise one bit. Adding to her confusion is his apparent fascination with herself, that is when she's dressed as Emma, and his almost baiting remarks.

It's truly a delight to read about Emma's confusion in regards to Peter's intentions. Almost like fencing, a sport he begins to teach her halfway through the book, he makes a move towards her, she takes steps back and guards against.

Throughout the book references are made to events of the day—the grand re-opening of the Vauxhall Gardens and Napoleon's defeat. More specific to the story, the British Consul and French Consul's fight over the Egyptian antiquities found at dig sites throughout Egypt. Sometimes these make sense, but often the events just seem plopped in there. A remark or thought is made regarding them and then nothing more.

There is a certain amount of intrigue involved, as well as a secondary love story, but neither is as interesting as Emma trying desperately to keep her ruse going and Peter trying to convince her (as both George and herself) of his sincere intentions.… (mais)

THE WICKED PROPOSAL by Emily Hendrickson was not at all what I was expecting from the short blurb inside the cover. I should say the characters were not really what I was expecting. Lady Penelope Winthrop was witty, charming and naively endearing in her mistaken beliefs. She is also a spinster and herbalist, as well as a fabulous chef. I wouldn't say Penny was unintelligent, or air headed; she's more misguided in how she thinks a person should go about their lives.

Her cousin (distant twice removed or something like that) Jonathan, Earl of Harford, however is simply interesting. You can tell from the get go that these two were made for each other, even forgetting that this is a romance, so of course they are. Few other romantic leads would trust their future lady love so quickly with what was a rather important evening for him, at least not on their first scandalous meeting. I have to wonder at the education of Penny's that she thought it quite proper to visit a distant male relative alone at his bachelor quarters without an introduction.

I think, though, I was far more interested in her female relative, the one she more or less barges in on to stay with while in London—Miss Lettice Winthrop, another spinster, though a poet-in-the-making spinster, who is quite absent minded and indulges in obsessions. She lives alone (save for her servants and companion), writing poetry, reading poetry and making infrequent social excursions. When foisted with the responsibility to help Penny in her marriage mate quest, she is quite taken aback and tries to warn Penny, but Penny is insistent.

Lettice has her own suitor, a fellow poet who has courted her many a year, with no success. Not because the lady is indifferent, more because he is not haut ton blood and Lettice is wary of her family's acceptance of him. Lettice is a far more entertaining character I think, though she is not the main character. In fact, romance seems to bloom for several people surrounding Penny suddenly, making her feel less easy about her own situation.

While the expected outcome is familiar, the secondary characters make this a very enjoyable read. Incidentally, the title is a little misleading as the proposal made isn't very wicked, just misguided and unusual.… (mais)