Yvonne, Lady of Cassio
Great saga of 14th century England
Review by Eileen Charbonneau
5 out of 5*
This novel reminded me of when I fell in love with historical fiction, after reading The Three Edwards by Thomas B. Costain. Rosemary Morris’ tale has a similar vigorous style as she weaves her female protagonist through the troubled times of King Edward II’s England. Yvonne, the switched-at-birth heroine must find her way in a dangerous world, even for ladies of privilege. Advantageous marriages take president over affairs of the heart and children are wet-nursed and fostered out.
Yvonne has a brother who loves her and marks her as his heir and is being raised by a wise woman who is, by blood, her aunt. This makes her an intriguing character who defies the conventions of her age and lives by her wits as well as her heart. Married to Guy de Valcoln, Yvonne is more attracted to his friend, Nicholas. The lovers are continually star-crossed and tempted to betray marriage vows and the bonds of widowhood as they endure hardships and war.
This is history told with all the interest found only in a great novel. Compelling reading!
Yvonne, Lady of Cassio
Beautifully Plotted – Sudden Death & Passionate Love
Review by Jennifer’s Vine Voice
5 out of 5*
I so much enjoyed this new novel by Rosemary Morris.
I am a convinced fan and enjoyed her previous books, set in the time around the Napoleonic Wars.
This is something quite different, a story that takes place in 14th century England. Five generations after the Norman conquest, bitterness and hatred still reigns between the Norman lord and the Saxon families who previously owned the Cassio estates.
The complex story line follows men and women of both noble and peasant birth with equal empathy and includes relevant historical topics such as a belief in witchcraft, the rights of the manorial seigneur, sudden death, violence, and passionate love.
I particularly enjoyed Morris’ compassionate observation of the relationships between those characters who shouldn’t necessarily be having one. There is love, duty, colour, and historical accuracy in this novel.
None of Morris’ novels are heavy on eroticism or violence. This one is a little more plainly spoken than her others – I think it suits the period.
I loved it and couldn’t put it down all weekend.
Far Beyond Rubies
Far Beyond Rubies is a Gem.
N.N. Light rated it is amazing.
“Swounds, he thought, I am expected to marry and produce a male heir. An image of Juliana filled his mind. She would grace these ancient walls better than any other lady he knew. But what would she say when he revealed his past?”
This is but a snippet of the delightful prose found in Far Beyond Rubies by Rosemary Morris. The author perfectly achieves the delicate balance of elegance and spice, humour, and pathos, in this tale that takes place in England during the reign of Queen Anne.
The settings and characters are exquisitely detailed and described, from cruel and scheming relatives to determined orphans, and an unusual hero with mysteries of the orient in his silky, spicy past. Throw in some extremely amusing servants and landladies, and one is set for a thoroughly charming reading experience.
Rosemary goes beyond the mere surface of the era, rewarding the reader with an enchanting story set against a vivid backdrop of the of the culture, politics, and belief systems of the times, and the issues that developed when East met West: Fascinating. Lovingly and beautifully rendered throughout.
Far Above Rubies
Immerse Yourself in English History
Review by Janet Glaser
5 out of 5*
When reading Far Beyond Rubies, I felt I had stepped into the 18th century. Ms Morris has done her homework to bring us such a rich story with all the historic background and social graces of the era. I especially loved her description of the gentlemen’s fancy outfits. They dressed as brightly as male peacocks and wore make-up and wigs that even outshone the ladies of the day.
The dialogue filled with authentic words used in that time period and the way her characters expressed themselves added to the enjoyment of the storytelling. I read the book on my Kindle and truly appreciated the dictionary just a click away to find the definition of the words used in that time period.
I wasn’t familiar with the history of England, so I enjoyed learning about kings, queens, and politics etc. The author made it easy to understand, The sweet romance was filled with interesting characters and so many secrets.
I would recommend this book for lovely escape reading and for the historical value.
Tangled Love
1700 England.
Review from Discovering Diamonds.
© Mary Chapple
“Tangled Love is the story of two great estates. The throne has been usurped by James II’s daughter and son-in-law, Mary and William of Orange. In 1693, loyal to his oath of allegiance, ten-year old Richelda’s father must follow James to France. Before her father leaves, he gives her a ruby ring she will treasure and wear on a chain round her neck. In return, Richelda swears an oath to try to regain their ancestral home, Field House. By the age of eighteen, Richelda’s beloved parents are dead. She believes her privileged life is over. At home in dilapidated Belmont House, her only companions are her mother’s old nurse and her devoted dog, Puck. Clad in old clothes, she dreams of elegant dresses, and trusts her childhood friend Dudley, a poor parson’s son, who promised to marry her, but he is not as he seems. Richelda’s wealthy aunt takes her to London and arranges her marriage to Viscount Chesney, the new owner of Field House. Richelda is torn between love for Dudley and her oath to regain Field House, where it is rumoured, there is treasure. If she finds it, Richelda hopes to ease their lives. However, while searching for it, will her life be in danger?”
Oh, I do like an enthralling romance, especially one that reminds me of a good Georgette Heyer novel!
Richelda is poverty-stricken and bound by an oath she made to her father. Then there is the wealthy aunt who promises to help her niece make a good marriage – on her terms, of course – the aunt must select the husband. Needless to say, Richelda has already fallen for someone, and the aunt’s choice isn’t exactly a man Richelda would choose for herself.
So, we have oaths and difficult circumstances, a young girl on her own, a determined aunt, a prospective couple of lovers; hopes and dreams, misunderstandings, and heartbreaks: in short, all the essential ingredients of a typical, enjoyable romance.
The historical background detail seems well done, the pace good, the writing skilled and competent. The characters are interesting, the plot tangled (in the nice sense! – see the title!) and the overall read, very satisfactory. I’m keen to read more of Ms Morris.
Tangled Love
A Superb Page Turner.
Review by Sil
5 out of 5*
Rosemary Morris has crafted a superb novel set in the Queen Anne time-period in London. The historical details are accurately researched and artfully presented, making excellent use of vivid sensory details. Further, the characters spring to life, each fully moulded into his or her unique personality.
Bound by a childhood promise made to her father, protagonist Richelda faces tough challenges nearly a decade later. Poor and now orphaned, she dreams of a better future with all the trappings of the good life. But, to keep her promise, she must regain the ancestral home, Field House, which is said to contain hidden treasure. Her vow to her father is sealed by a ruby ring that she wears on a chain around her neck–a constant reminder of her promise.
Dudley, her childhood sweetheart, plus the charismatic Viscount Lord Chesney, her suitor in an arranged marriage by her wealthy aunt, set the stage for Richelda’s doubts and uncertainties. Dudley won her heart years earlier, but is he all that he appears to be? Chesney, on the other hand, is the owner of Field House and could offer her the life she dreams about in her ancestral home. Further, Aunt Isobel has promised to make Richelda her heiress on the condition she does indeed marry Lord Chesney. Yet are her push-pull feelings for Chesney strong enough to merit a marriage vow. Throughout the story, Richelda never disappoints. She is spirited, fiercely independent, sweet, and loving–truly a three-dimensional character.
Author Rosemary Morris takes her readers gently by the hand and leads them down a highly entertaining pathway filled with love, intrigue, deceit, and mystery. Highly recommended. A 5 Star winner!
The Captain and The Countess
Hope in the Midst of Adversity
Historical Reviews.
Review by Maggi Anderson
5 out of 5*
Rosemary Morris has a wonderful understanding of this period of history, and she adroitly evokes the period her characters inhabit with all its pomp and ceremony. It is rich in its detail of customs, classes, servants, beliefs, London life, food, interiors, and the exquisite fashions.
The Right Honourable Captain Howard, a handsome officer in Queen Anne’s navy is on half pay – the result of a dispute with a senior officer – and stays with his godmother in St. James Park. At twenty-two years of age, he is not yet ready to wed, although his godmother thinks otherwise, and plans to marry him off to her protégée. Unimpressed by the young woman, Edward’s attention is caught instead by a widow, an acclaimed beauty with cool blue eyes and flaxen plaits. The countess’s sobriquet is `The Fatal Widow.’ An artist, Edward becomes determined to paint her.
An arbiter of fashion and style with a smart head for business, the widowed Lady Katherine Sinclair is no longer an ingénue. She intrigues Edward as none of the green girls thrust before him by ambitious mammas can do. Edward becomes smitten and plans to take Katherine as his lover. He sketches her from memory, but he wants far more. Katherine, however, is very aware she is nine years older than he and rebuffs him. For the first time in her life, she has some element of control, and, enjoying her widowhood, has no plans to marry again. But her devil-may-care attitude hides her terrible grief over her arranged marriage, which brought untold heartbreak. The story is set in an era when ancient superstitions could destroy a young woman’s life. What Katherine is forced to endure in this male dominated society is quite chilling. The book describes well the lack of power women had in those times, showing the distress and frustration Kate suffers when, as a woman, she is denied by a man’s ignorance and another’s greed, that which she most ardently desires and should have by right.
As she gets to know him, Kate discovers Edward to be mature beyond his years. He is sympathetic to her plight and determined to help her, but although he stirs passion in her, she continues to hold him at arm’s length. She is the older woman, a fact she cannot forget, and she fears further heartbreak.
Edward joins with Katherine to right her distressing situation, but even when it turns to love might such a union be possible?
Rosemary Morris ties up the subplots neatly and everything falls satisfactorily into place. I was rooting for Edward and Katherine to find happiness together in this older woman/younger man romance. There’s no childish squabbling between the hero and heroine here. The author’s mature understanding of human nature enriches the romance, as it does in her other novels, making The Captain and the Countess a very enjoyable read.
The Captain and The Countess
Stranger Than Fiction
Review by Anne Stenhouse
4 out of 5*
Rosemary Morris in the Captain and the Countess is tackling a host of social mores and superstitious beliefs that are strange and difficult for our information-soaked age to grasp. That’s why I say stranger than fiction, but you need to read the book to find out what they are. No spoilers here.
The Captain is Edward Howard, a talented artist, who is languishing on half pay while the Admiralty decides about his future. The Countess is Kate Sinclair, widow of a man for whom no one has a good word, but who is allowed to deprive Kate of her son simply because his ‘male’ view is worth so much more than her ‘female’ one. Kate has set her heart against the mastery of another man and Edward is 9 years younger than the beautiful widow.
Morris knows her period well and delights with carefully chosen historical detail. Isn’t it the detail that brings history alive? The book concentrates on the damage done by holding to apparently incontrovertible belief, but it also has a rich set of sub-plots to keep the reader guessing. Superstition is shown to be comical at times, always damaging and occasionally evil.
The inter-twining of the sub-plots is cleverly achieved, but the central romance never suffers.
The Viscount and The Orphan
Humour, Arranged Marriage, Great Characters .
Review by Jennie Pitman
5 out of 5 stars
I look forward to a new Rosemary Morris, and I have devoured this one.
I very much enjoyed Rosemary’s Regency series, but this is something different – set in the time of Queen Anne, when arranged marriages were, if anything, more rigidly adhered to, amongst the aristocracy at least, and the expectation of love a mere fantasy. Or is it?
You will find realistic research, charming friendships, redemption and development for hero and heroine in this novel. Rosemary Morris’s trademark humour is evident also. The bedroom door is opened a little, bearing in mind this novel explores a marriage, in a way that is tasteful and necessary to the plot.
Having raced through it, I’m going to go again and savour the best bits.
The Viscount and The Orphan
Review by Maggi Andersen Best Selling Novelist.
5 out of 5 stars
Rosemary Morris never disappoints. Her research is impeccable, and she brings the era to life with a clear eye for the flaws and human frailties in her characters which seem to jump off the page. Morris deftly invokes some sympathy for the rake, Gabriel, Viscount Cavanagh, whose comeuppance must surely follow. While Dorinda Davenport, who might be young and inexperienced and able to be hurt, is sensible and strong in her convictions. A rocky beginning for the pair, but one keeps hoping for that happy ending. I enjoyed reading this very much.
False Pretences
A Delightfully Twisty Read
Review by Rochelle Weber, Roses and Thorns Review
5 out of 5 stars.
I shy away from historical romance because I absolutely hate anomalies—things like the use of modern jargon in period pieces. But this book was a Christmas gift, and I’m familiar with Ms. Morris, so I thought I’d give it a try. I’m so glad I did. As you can see, I found no anomalies and no modern jargon.
Annabelle is eighteen when she runs away from school on the eve of her wedding to a much older man. A handsome stranger named Roland rescues her from highwaymen and identifies himself as her fiancé. When they spend the night in separate rooms at an inn, she’s so innocent, she doesn’t understand why he wants the innkeeper’s daughter to sleep in her room as a chaperone. Not having a mother to talk with her on the night before her wedding, she has no clue what sex is, and she remains innocent until her wedding night. The next morning, they encounter a truly odious man whom she dubs “The Toad.” She later learns he is really her fiancé.
Annabelle also worries that her status as an orphan may compromise Roland’s social standing. She’s heard the girls at school speculate that she may have been born “on the wrong side of the blanket.” And then she learns from the woman Roland hired as her ladies’ maid that there are kidnapping charges pending and a reward posted as a result of her disappearance from school. The maid tries to blackmail her, but Annabelle runs away hoping to find out who her birth parents are, who her guardian is, and why they wanted her to marry “The Toad.” She also hopes to persuade them to allow her to stay married to Roland, the man she loves.
Again, I found no glitches in this tale. The characters were well-drawn, and I rooted for them from beginning to end. Even when Roland lied to Annabelle, I always knew he did so to protect her, not to deceive. It was a page-burning mystery that I had difficulty putting down, and a truly delightful read.
False Pretences
Rosemary Morris pens another winning story.
Review by Robbi Perna. Ph.D – Author and Lecture
5 out of 5 star reviews
I have read and reviewed several of Ms. Morris’s historical romances and enjoyed every one of them. Her meticulous research coupled with likeable characters make her books a most pleasurable escape. False Pretences is no exception and has moved up to number one on my list of this author’s favourites. Morris has a knack of creating interesting, likeable 18 -year-old heroines with whom even mature readers can identify. The plot of this story is a time honoured one and the situation no doubt common for the time. However, Ms. Morris has given it an interesting twist with a feisty heroine who leaps to conclusions, usually the wrong ones, while searching for the answers to her mystery shrouded background of her parents, and the determination to prevail against all odds, such as the marriage her guardian arranges for her. Obviously, it is time to run away from her boarding school, and then the fun begins. I highly recommend False Pretences for an enjoyable weekend escape. You won’t regret taking time out for the pleasurable read.
Sunday’s Child
A well-crafted novel which will delight the followers of historical romances.
Review by Keith Jahan
5 out of 5* review
This is not a genre I would normally read but having met the author I was struck by her professionalism. This is certainly borne out by the way she has crafted this excellent novel. It is obvious upon reading it that a great deal of research has gone into substantiating the facts surrounding the life of the upper classes who inhabit the Regency period in which this story is set.
I found it an unexpected delight and I am sure that it will captivate the devotees of this form of literature. The tale of Georgiana, her family, and her quest to find happiness is set against the background of the looming battle of Waterloo. In the character of Pennington, the author has created the perfect villain against whom Georgiana needs all her wits about her to ensure the safety of herself and her sisters. It is an enthralling story which kept me turning the pages to the end.
Sunday’s Child
A Sprightly Regency Romance
Review by Lindsay Townsend
5 out of stars
When Georgianne, the appealing, enterprising heroine of ‘Sunday’s Child’ first encounters Rupert Tarrant, she is fourteen. Georgianne thinks even then the tall, blond handsome soldier is the kind of man she hopes to marry one day. At seventeen, when they meet again, Georgianne is in mourning for her brothers and father, lost in the Napoleonic wars. She is now wary of becoming romantically involved with a military man, despite the limited life that an unmarried woman is forced to lead in the 1800s. However, as the novel superbly shows, a young woman without a father or brother to protect her interests is vulnerable to predatory males. None is more predatory than Lord Pennington, a truly odious Earl, whose relentless pursuit of Georgianne is aided by the conventions and morals of the time.
Rupert Tarrant meanwhile is haunted by the violent death of his betrothed and is torn between remaining single to grieve and marrying to provide an heir to his recently acquired estate. That Georgianne and Tarrant should marry – she for protection, he for an heir – seems an ideal compromise. But what chance is there for love to grow between them?
This is a flowing romance, full of intrigue and incident, with rich details of Regency fashion, food, and furniture. There are frost fairs and Nabobs, Lord Byron’s poetry, kidnappers and ruffians, attempted blackmail and a heroine who can shoot.
The whole convenient marriage trope is treated with tender realism. With their careful treatment of each other and their striving to understand their differing experiences, Georgianne and Tarrant thoroughly deserve their eventual happy ever after.
Monday’s Child
Excellent. Impeccably researched Regency.
Review by Patsy
5 out of 5*
Helen is a charming, talented young woman, madly in love with the handsome Viscount Langley. Living in Brussels with her sister and husband the 18-year-old Helen awaits a proposal from the man who has captured her heart. Unfortunately, when Langley arrives after visiting his family home, he has not come to offer marriage to Helen, but to break her young heart, for he learned that the estate in England has been nigh on ruined by his gambling father and now most of the family treasures must be auctioned off to pay his debts, which means Langley is expected to marry an heiress, which sadly Helen is not.
Set against a troubled background when the Battle of Waterloo is looming, this is a charming Regency showing Society life with all its stifling unwritten rules of etiquette when a lady is expected to marry a man who is spotted merely kissing her hand in public—how times have changed! The dashing Captain Dalrymple is set on marrying her, and Helen is not short of other suitors, but pines for her one true love that she cannot have. A lady must marry in those times or face a future as a governess or companion to some crotchety old lady. There are other sub-plots entwined in this tale that are enough to hold your interest. Definitely one for Regency fans.
Everything for the Regency addict here, with a heroine of great beauty but small fortune, all the strategies required for keeping one’s place in the “ton,” and plenty of interfering relatives. Taking it a little further afield than Jane Austen did, this story is set in 1815 Brussels where all the eligible young men are soldiers in Wellington’s army, awaiting an attack by Napoleon. Despite the wartime tension, there’s still plenty of time for balls, visiting, and morning gallops.
The author knows her stuff–from clothes, to the many strictures of proper behaviour, which seem to us today as limiting as the ladies’ underwear. Not only the detail but dialogue too shows a lively understanding of the period; I didn’t see a single teacup laid out of place. While this book is a Regency delight, it’s no fantasy confection. Class differences and gender relationships are portrayed realistically, sometimes jarringly so, with no candy-coating. I was particularly pleased by the marital choice made by Monday’s Child–aptly named “Helen.” It left me with no doubt about her HEA.
Monday’s Child
Reviewed for Discovering Diamonds © Ellen Hill
“In March 1815, Napoleon Bonaparte escaped from exile in Elba. In Brussels, 18-year-old Helen Whitley, knows war with France between Britain and her allies, is inevitable. A talented artist, Helen is aware of the anxiety and fear underlying the balls, breakfasts, parties, picnics, and soirees, held by the British. In an attic, she paints scenes and portraits in which she captures the realities and emotions of daily life during the hundred days before the Battle of Waterloo. While Helen lives with her sister and wealthy brother-in-law, Major Tarrant, she waits for Major, Viscount Langley, to arrive in Brussels and propose marriage. Langley, who serves in the same regiment as Tarrant, is her brother-in-law’s closest friend, so Tarrant and her sister have no objection to the match. Helen is grateful to her brother-in-law for including her in his household. Nevertheless, she regrets being dependent on his generosity, so she looks forward to being mistress of Langley’s heart and home.
Before Langley leaves England to join his regiment, he visits his ancestral home, to inform his parents he intends to marry Helen. Yet, when he arrives in Brussels to join his regiment, he does not propose marriage to Helen, and her pride does not allow her to reveal the misery caused by Langley’s rejection.”
I have not read this author before – ‘my bad’ (as that awful saying goes). I found the narrative and the writing elegant and entertaining, with enough of everything to please most readers who enjoy the Regency Romance genre – intrigue, romance, adventure, survival of public war and private emotion. We have a heroine we like, a suitable hero, annoying relatives, class differences and expected etiquette all brushing shoulders with unexpected twists, and good guys and bad guys (and gals, of course).
The characters, especially Helen herself, were well portrayed, along with the opposite life between the glitter of the ballroom and the gore of the prospect of battle engagement. The author seems to know her stuff where the detail of life in the Regency period is concerned, and I also found it refreshing to read a novel that was set around the Battle of Waterloo but did not actually concentrate on it from the military point of view; I enjoyed seeing the people and their reactions, more than the detail of the battlefield events.
I’d say that the fans of Regency Romance will enjoy this tale.
Tuesday’s Child
Humour, Pathos, Bit of a Gothic Shiver
Review by Jennifer Pitman
5 out of 5*
I’ve been laid up with a bad knee, so I thought I’d treat myself to a new Rosemary Morris.
This ‘Days of the Week’ series is a gem.
I like novels set in the Regency period – Georgette Heyer and Baroness Orzcy were among my first adult reads. For me, it’s not enough that they contain a romance; I want a real novel set in the period, with period details, believable gender roles and something more to the story. This book delivers all those. Set just after the Napoleonic wars, it explores the fate of the widows and children left behind. Also, we have a little revisit to the heroine of the previous two books – I love it when authors do that.
There is humour, pathos, a bit of a gothic shiver and a delightful hero in this book (we don’t all fall for grumpy Mr Darcy, after all).
Sensual romance, no explicit sex.
Tuesday’s Child
Desperate struggle.
Review by Mrs Jennifer Black
5 out of 5 stars
Harriet loses both her father and husband in the Iberian war, and when her mother dies, she has no option but to return, with her child, to England where she throws herself on the mercy of her father-in-law. She has never met Lord Pennington and as she regains her health, she soon realises that Pennington intends to take her young son from her and make him his heir.
Friendless in a strange country, Harriet resolves to fight her corner. Her sweet nature makes friends of those she meets and is shocked to discover that her memories of her beloved Edward begin to fade once she has met the local rector.
This is a book of manners, of the constricting world of the Regency years when a female was considered very much in need of male protection, and to step beyond the proprieties was to risk being ostracised. The detail of clothes, manners, and social customs are exact for the author’s research is formidable.
The story of Harriet’s increasingly desperate struggle against Pennington’s madness and the “disasters” that befall her son once Pennington’s relatives meet the boy heir keep the reader turning pages. I enjoyed this story and feel sure you will too.
Wednesday’s Child
Poor Little Rich Girl
Review by Tricia McGill
5 out of 5*
The saying ‘Poor little rich girl’ could never be truer than in the case of Amelia Carstairs, who is indeed full of woe when the grandmother who has raised her from a baby is dying. Amelia knows no existence other than that she has shared with the woman who held strictly to her own set of rules and made Amelia do the same. On the old lady’s death 20-year-old Amelia is cast into a state of gloom. Wealthy she may be, but Amelia knows little of the ways of a normal life, until she is thrust into the boisterous household of the Earl, Saunton. Entrusted with her guardianship, Saunton must not only assist her with managing her vast wealth but must also endeavour to keep fortune-hunting suitors away from her door. Amelia’s grandmother died with a secret on her lips that she was about to disclose to her granddaughter and when the truth comes out, it devastates the girl.
I found this the most endearing of the books in this series that I have read so far, and applaud Rosemary Morris’s knowledge of the era they are set in. Her gentle style and meticulous attention to detail sweeps the reader back into this period of history when manners, rules of etiquette and behaviour governed society.
Wednesday’s Child
A Delightful Addition to the Series.
Review by Anita Davison
4 of 5*
Ms Morris cleverly ties in her characters from each of her Heroines Born on Different Days of the Week Regency Series, each of which transports the reader right into the period with authentic manners, customs and the restrictive way of life females were expected to lead in early 19th century England. Polite society was a minefield for girls, where a misstep could throw not only them, but their entire family, to the wolves, putting siblings constantly at risk of social ruin.
This latest in the series is the story of Amelia, left wealthy but bereft who finds herself thrown into her new guardian’s rumbustious family of girls who show their new companion a different way of living. The spirit of Amelia’s grandmother is always there to remind her of what she shouldn’t do, but Amelia slowly learns that maybe the irrepressible Mrs. Bettismore not only didn’t have all the answers,
Thursday’s Child
Reviewed by Maggi Andersen
5 out of 5*
I always enjoy Rosemary Morris’ novels. From the first sentence, you are drawn into the era in which the book is set. In this case, it’s the Regency, the mores, the fashions, the servants, the Beau Monde are wonderfully evoked and the characters which inhabited this world leap off the page.
The younger sister of the Earl of Saunton, Lady Margaret has strong ideas about life. When her impulsive nature places her in great danger, she is rescued by Baron Rochedale, a notorious rake. But Rochedale’s initial plan to choose her as his mistress becomes increasingly difficult. He discovers he has scruples, and as he becomes fonder of the Lady Margaret, he wishes to save her reputation if such a thing can be done. Both Margaret and Rochedale learn much from their association. I was caught, hoping for a happy resolution to what seemed unsolvable problems. But Morris neatly ties up the ending in a very satisfactory manner.
I recommend this if you prefer books that have the bedroom door closed.
Humour, Adventure, Heart-Breaking Sadness
Review by J. Pitman
5 out of 5*
I really enjoyed having a new Rosemary Morris to read I’ve been a fan since I first discovered Rosemary’s Queen Anne books – however, I think this Regency series is particularly good.
Thursday’s Child is the 5th book in a series – you don’t have to read them in order, as each is stand alone. However, in each book you meet at least a few of the characters from the others.
This one features Margaret – outspoken, unruly but very much loved by her guardian and elder brother, the Earl of Saunton. Margaret’s impetuous outbursts land her in trouble early in the book, and she spends the rest of it extricating herself from a growing selection of pickles, so to speak.
There is humour, adventure, excellent research, and description of the Regency period in this novel. You will find scenes of heart-breaking sadness and some very funny ones too. The story examines the abandoned/misused wife’s plight before the Married Woman’s Property Act, but in such a way that you don’t need to have ever heard of it in order to enjoy the story.
As for the end – lordy, what a surprise!
Rosemary Morris does write in a sensual way about love and loss, but there is no explicit sex in this book.
Friday’s Child
Classic Regency Romance
Review by Vijaya Schartz
5 out of 5* Review
I truly enjoyed this classic Regency romance by Rosemary Morris. It’s refreshing when authors get their facts right and respect the rules of the genre. I was transported to the lavishly described opulence of the noble class in 1822 London. It was such a pleasure to read this very well researched story with many historically accurate details. I also relished the vocabulary of the period the author wields with great skill. And I liked the teasing element of exotic India. Elizabeth is a strong heroine, despite the restrictions imposed upon the women of her time. It is imperative that she makes a good impression in high society to find the most suitable husband, but things rarely go as planned, and the choice is not so easy. Elizabeth faces the bitter rivalry of two men vying for the perfect wife. In the midst of intrigue, betrayal, hidden conflicts, and dangerous scandals, who will ultimately win her heart and her hand? Geoffrey, the epitome of the perfect gentleman, rich, with an impeccable pedigree? Or the wild and fascinating tiger of a man, Victor?
Friday’s Child
Regency Lover’s Cream Tea
Review by Juliet Waldron.
5 out of 5*
Friday’s Child is the sixth of Rosemary Morris’s “Days of the Week” series. Lady Elizabeth is sheltered, an heiress, and all of seventeen. She won’t be able to “come out” in London, though, as her suitable female relatives are unavailable to introduce her to the fashionable “ton.” A veritable dragon, however, in the form of her wealthy Great-Aunt Augusta, is ready and willing to introduce her to society at Cheltenham, another posh venue where the upper class gather to take the water and mingle. Suitors gather round the impressionable heiress. An unexpected one is her second cousin, Aunt Augusta’s son, an honest, outspoken gentleman farmer. Next is her brother’s friend Sir Victor, a seasoned older man who disturbs her. He’s handsome and dark, an ex-soldier and rich from the East India trade. When Sir Victor is forced by convention to ask for Elizabeth’s hand, she is in despair, for she’s already set eyes on the handsome Mr. Yates, also fresh home from East India trading. Mr. Yates, temptation personified, writes her secret letters full of love poetry. Which handsome gentleman will be her fate? I enjoyed this Regency confection, where the historical detail and tender love story will carry you straight into Elizabeth’s world.
Saturday’s Child
Favourite Kind of Heroine
Review by Tricia McGill.
5 out of 5 stars
Annie Johnson is my favourite kind of heroine, and this book is my favourite in this series about heroines born on different days of the week. Even when we first meet her as a hungry nine-year-old, tagging along with her destitute father, as he seeks employment in London in 1813, we know outspoken Annie has plenty of spirit and a mind of her own. She needs these attributes plus the backbone required to make a go of it in a world where soldiers who served their country in France were left without pensions and penniless, begging their betters for employment. Annie and her mother followed Private Johnson into battle, so she is no delicate missy who balks at the sight of blood. Sadly, her mother did not survive.
As an adult and settled in the Brighton house her father has managed to buy, through honest hard work, Annie is content, until disaster strikes once again, and she is left to make a living for herself. Something she does admirably well, despite setbacks, a nasty oaf intent on taking her for his own, and a conniving girl she believes to be a friend. When handsome gentleman Marcus Courtney enters her life while she is saving a starving girl from being arrested for stealing one of her pies, Annie is smitten. But Annie knows as well as he, that marrying a woman considered beneath his station in life is out of the question.
Saturday’s Child
Gentle Romance with strong theme.
Review by Susan Dobson
5 out of 5 stars
Saturday’s Child completes Rosemary Morris’ seven-book series of loosely connected Regency romances. You don’t need to read them in order. They are all “sweet” or “closed door” romances. But although they may be gentle in tone, Ms. Morris uses these novels to explore issues of love across various barriers, be they disability, race, or class. This story takes the latter angle, focusing not on a member of the upper class but working-class Annie, who builds up her own business after the loss of her father. Her determination and compassion earn her the attention of Marcus, a member of the ton, but can true love cross class barriers? With Saturday’s Child, you can escape into the Regency era, root for a resourceful heroine, and admire a hero who is willing to challenge his beliefs for the sake of the woman he loves. Best of all, if this is your cup of tea, you have six more to enjoy!
Saturday’s Child
Saturday’s Child a Regency Novel by Rosemary Morris.
Review by Vine Voice. N. N. Ligh
5 out of 5 stars
A father willing to do whatever it takes to make sure his daughter survives, a daughter vows to work hard and never again be poor… life’s tragedies shape Annie to overcome any hardship. Annie’s father is a recovering soldier while her mother dies before she reaches the age of ten. He tries to provide for her and fails miserably. In a last-ditch effort, he pleads for help from Georgiana Tarrant, a woman whose charity provides for soldiers’ widows and orphans. She agrees to take in Annie but there’s a steep price to pay for both Annie and her father. Will Annie meet every obstacle head-on, or will she crush under the weight of defeat?
Saturday’s Child is an emotional tale of one woman’s exceptional strength under the harshness of the world. In this harrowing tale, Rosemary Morris gives readers an inside glimpse into what life was really like for people in similar circumstances as Annie and her father. The descriptive narration is historically accurate and well-researched, allowing the reader to be immersed in all aspects of the story. I found myself rooting for Annie while crying over what she went through. The plot moves at a nice easy pace to connect with the characters. I appreciate Rosemary Morris’ attention to detail throughout her writing. If you love historical fiction honestly drawn with depth, you’ll enjoy Saturday’s Child. A sophisticated piece of fiction that will shed new light on this time-period. Highly recommend!
Saturday’s Child is sensual but does not contain explicit sex to the reader can enjoy the emerging love.
Indira and Daisy
Review by Diane Scott Lewis
5.0 out of 5 stars.. Young Adult Culture Clash
Indira and Daisy have been friends since little children. Now, young teens, they start to question the different cultures they come from, and what each likes or dislikes about each. Indira is restless, tired of the constant restrictions she faces in her Indian family, and what is expected of her. Daisy, at first jealous of Indira’s close family, realizes she relishes her freedom even though her single mother can’t give her the luxuries Indira has. When tragedy strikes, both girls must grow up and deal with deep emotions in their changing worlds.
Ms. Morris writes beautifully of the traditions and culture of a prosperous Indian family. The descriptions of the food made my mouth water. Along with this are the different personalities and clashes of culture in a country (England) that allows women more freedom, but the old-fashioned believers stick to their protocols. Daisy and Indira must learn to understand each other’s differences and respect them. A fascinating read.
Review by Maggi Andersen
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful entertaining story.
This well-written, entertaining story reminded me of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s song in South Pacific. You’ve got to be taught. The young do not know to distrust those of a different skin colour, until they are taught. The friendship of two young girl’s is a bridge between two very different cultures bringing two families together through tragedy and a new beginning. Wonderfully well drawn characters.