Whisper Always

Rating:
Summary: Fabulous, tender, enthralling romance!
Review: All I can say is "Wow!" I read a lot of romance, but this plot and setting felt incredibly fresh to me. The book is witty and sophisticated, yet resonates with emotional depth. I was rooting for Blake and Cristina from the very first page. I loved the crisp writing, and found myself wanting to stay up all night and finish it. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book to anyone who savors a wonderful and incredibly well written romance!

Rating:
Summary: Well worth reading
Review: Blake and Cristina's story is an interesting tale that tries to expand the traditional Victorian age story. Ms. Lee portrays a very realistic political arena in Europe during the late nineteenth century. Diplomats scrounging between powers, forming alliances and always trying to maintain the utmost in proper etiquette. An unhealthy climate, where diplomats try to attain a "balance of power", which ultimately backfires with the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand. (But enough with the history lesson).

This is a love story that is very well written and a pleasure to read. Ambitions abound at every corner, yet our hero and heroine try desperately to overcome these. Blake has a tortured past, and almost isn't capable of overcoming it. Fortunately for Cristina, he does, and early enough in the story so as to not render this plot with a "typical" climatic ending (Blake finding his love for Cristina). Cristina on the other hand is young, but determined. No milksop miss here. After rising above an atrocious relationship with her mother, and apparent abandonment of her father, Cristina finds friendship and comfort in some interesting places.

It is great to watch as Cristina and Blake build their love together through all the obstacles they face. In Victorian England, Cristina probably would not have had the freedoms or done many of the things she ultimately did, but this is a minor criticism in the overall story. Pick up and enjoy Whisper Always.

Rating:
Summary: My love of romance began the day I discovered history.
Review: I remember the day I discovered the Habsburgs. I was searching the stacks of the public library for more of author Evelyn Anthony's wonderful romantic suspense when I came across a book that changed my life. That book, THE ARCHDUKE by Michael Arnold was a historical novel written in the form of a diary kept by Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria-Hungary during the last year of his life, documenting the events leading to the tragedy at Mayerling. I was ten years old and that wonderful discovery was the start of my lifelong romance with Rudolf and all things Habsburg. Rudolf's life and tragic death at Mayerling was irresistible for a girl who had been weaned on Gone With the Wind and Disney's fairy tales. I read everything I could find on the Habsburgs, especially Rudolf and his parents, Emperor Franz Josef and Empress Elisabeth. When I discovered romance novels, I knew I had found my calling. Three years after college graduation and marriage, I pulled out a notebook and began to write. My first romance novel, Whisper Always, was born. I've written five other romance novels since I wrote Whisper Always -- all set in the American west during the 1870's and I sold all five of them before I sold Whisper Always. I built a reputation as an Americana writer, but I never forgot my love for the Habsburgs or European royalty and history. My fascination with the Habsburgs and my writing of Whisper Always made my American books possible. And now it's enabling me to tell the stories I want to tell - stories that take place in other times and settings on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. Whisper Always is the story of a man and a woman who fall in love and who made mistakes in an unforgiving society. I chose to make Crown Prince Rudolf part of that story because history regards him as weak instead of a world-weary and disillusioned crown prince forced to wait until his father's death in order to do the job he'd been born to do. I wanted to show the human side of the crown prince. I used Rudolf to bring my hero and heroine together and he provided the opportunity for them to risk everything for love and to learn how to trust. I like to think that had they actually lived, Blake and Cristina would have done the same for him. Had he lived, Rudolf would have ascended the throne in 1916 at the age of fifty-eight, (like his good friend the Prince of Wales, who ascended the British throne as Edward VII upon the death of his mother, Queen Victoria, in 1901 at the age of fifty-nine). Rudolf's misfortune was to be heir to an absolute monarch who lived to be eighty-six and whose reign lasted sixty-eight years. Rudolf tired of the wait on 30 January 1889 at the age of thirty. A small portrait of Rudolf sits on my desk and looks down on me as I write this. I hope Whisper Always has treated him fairly. He wasn't much for displays of sentimentality, but I think he would have liked Blake and Cristina and enjoyed the role he played in bringing them together. I hope you do, too.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful read.
Review: Ms. Hagen Lee has crafted a captivating tale of love and ambition in "Whisper Always." Christina Fairfax makes her debut before the Queen in a gown nothing short of dreadful, yet the ballroom is buzzing with her name. Slipping off to another room to rid herself of the cumbersome embellishments on her gown, Christina finds herself before Lord Blake Ashford. He sparks her thoughts and she whirls from the room only to find herself in the arms of Crown Prince Rudolph of Hapsburg-Lorraine. The Crown Prince is arrogant and Christina, not realizing who she waltzes with, speaks her mind, offending him. Only to find herself being swept away by Lord Blake Ashford. He has been her savior twice in one evening and she finds it difficult to get thoughts of him out of her mind.

Christina's upwardly mobile, thoughtlessly manipulative mother sells her daughter to the highest bidder - Crown Prince Rudolph - at auction, leaving her in need of rescuing once again. With the knowledge that Christina has been purchased by Prince Rudolph for a necklace, Lord Ashford devises a plan to rescue her once again. He rescues Christina and takes her to his house where she will be safe from her mother and the Crown Prince - but Christina and Lord Ashford are not safe from the feelings they begin to feel for one another.

Lord Ashford wars between conflicting emotions as Christina fights the attraction they both feel. But, as the passion grows between Christina and Lord Ashton, a secret from his past could destroy their hopes of future happiness. As Christina flees to Austria with Crown Prince Rudolph, Lord Blake Ashton must find a way to get through to Christina and prove his love for her is true before it is too late.

This marvelously written tale is full of well crafted characters and plot twists. A wonderful read.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful read.
Review: Ms. Hagen Lee has crafted a captivating tale of love and ambition in "Whisper Always." Christina Fairfax makes her debut before the Queen in a gown nothing short of dreadful, yet the ballroom is buzzing with her name. Slipping off to another room to rid herself of the cumbersome embellishments on her gown, Christina finds herself before Lord Blake Ashford. He sparks her thoughts and she whirls from the room only to find herself in the arms of Crown Prince Rudolph of Hapsburg-Lorraine. The Crown Prince is arrogant and Christina, not realizing who she waltzes with, speaks her mind, offending him. Only to find herself being swept away by Lord Blake Ashford. He has been her savior twice in one evening and she finds it difficult to get thoughts of him out of her mind.

Christina's upwardly mobile, thoughtlessly manipulative mother sells her daughter to the highest bidder - Crown Prince Rudolph - at auction, leaving her in need of rescuing once again. With the knowledge that Christina has been purchased by Prince Rudolph for a necklace, Lord Ashford devises a plan to rescue her once again. He rescues Christina and takes her to his house where she will be safe from her mother and the Crown Prince - but Christina and Lord Ashford are not safe from the feelings they begin to feel for one another.

Lord Ashford wars between conflicting emotions as Christina fights the attraction they both feel. But, as the passion grows between Christina and Lord Ashton, a secret from his past could destroy their hopes of future happiness. As Christina flees to Austria with Crown Prince Rudolph, Lord Blake Ashton must find a way to get through to Christina and prove his love for her is true before it is too late.

This marvelously written tale is full of well crafted characters and plot twists. A wonderful read.

Rating:
Summary: Splendid Historical Background - Outstanding Love Story
Review: Setting - London and Vienna 1878-1880 --- Set in a period using actual historical events the author again weaves for the reader a glorious love story of great emotional depth. Our heroine, the season's incomparable, Christina Fairfax is about to make her debut before the Queen in gown that she finds totally detestable. Trying to adjust said gown, in what she assumed was an empty chamber she is discovered by Lord Blake Ashford who amusingly helps the young chit make the adjustments. His arrogance, black looks, and amusement at her predicament did nothing to endure him to her yet sparks did fly between them. Returning to the ball, she is captured in the arms of Rupert, the Crown Prince of Hapsburg-Lorraine. Unaware of who he was, and still smarting from the set-down Lord Blake had given her she was anything but charming to her waltz partner and returned his over friendly overtures with sarcasm. Days later her avaricious and immoral mother would attend a private party and sell her Christina's innocence to the highest bidder - that bidder being none other than the Crown Prince. Lord Blake, a witness to the event was fuming.

Her mother, after having Christina daughter beaten and drugged, had her delivered to the residence to be complete the deal, only Christina was not about to succumb so easily. Left in the bedroom of the prince, she tore his sheets into strips and attempted to escape through the window when rescue came in the guise of Lord Blake. After hearing of the transaction, Lord Blake was planning to rescue Christina once again and had been making plans to switch Cristina for a similar looking [prostitute]. What follows is a series of adventures, misconceptions, and miscommunications as the two keep crossing paths until the they both give in to the undeniable attraction that had sparks flying the moment they met.

For those who think that this was a simple love story, let me put your mind at rest...the road to pure happy bliss for these two was paved with, danger, madness, lust, and unbelievable betrayals! This is a story that will have you laughing, crying, and sitting on the edge of your seat in this FULL BODIED romantic adventure. Twists and turns were adeptly played in a wonderfully crafted novel. The secondary characters were portrayed wonderfully for both humor and malicious aspects. I have been reading a series of Ms. Hagan Lees earlier novels and so far have been more than pleased with her accurate and painstaking attention to the historical detail of her settings and can only say that I've yet to be disappointed. This author has become an automatic buy for me for delivering what I love best, beautifully romantic love stories that touch my heart. --- Marilyn Rondeau, Official Reviewer for www.historicromancewriters.com ---

Rating:
Summary: Splendid Historical Background - Outstanding Love Story
Review: Setting - London and Vienna 1878-1880 --- Set in a period using actual historical events the author again weaves for the reader a glorious love story of great emotional depth. Our heroine, the season's incomparable, Christina Fairfax is about to make her debut before the Queen in gown that she finds totally detestable. Trying to adjust said gown, in what she assumed was an empty chamber she is discovered by Lord Blake Ashford who amusingly helps the young chit make the adjustments. His arrogance, black looks, and amusement at her predicament did nothing to endure him to her yet sparks did fly between them. Returning to the ball, she is captured in the arms of Rupert, the Crown Prince of Hapsburg-Lorraine. Unaware of who he was, and still smarting from the set-down Lord Blake had given her she was anything but charming to her waltz partner and returned his over friendly overtures with sarcasm. Days later her avaricious and immoral mother would attend a private party and sell her Christina's innocence to the highest bidder - that bidder being none other than the Crown Prince. Lord Blake, a witness to the event was fuming.

Her mother, after having Christina daughter beaten and drugged, had her delivered to the residence to be complete the deal, only Christina was not about to succumb so easily. Left in the bedroom of the prince, she tore his sheets into strips and attempted to escape through the window when rescue came in the guise of Lord Blake. After hearing of the transaction, Lord Blake was planning to rescue Christina once again and had been making plans to switch Cristina for a similar looking [prostitute]. What follows is a series of adventures, misconceptions, and miscommunications as the two keep crossing paths until the they both give in to the undeniable attraction that had sparks flying the moment they met.

For those who think that this was a simple love story, let me put your mind at rest...the road to pure happy bliss for these two was paved with, danger, madness, lust, and unbelievable betrayals! This is a story that will have you laughing, crying, and sitting on the edge of your seat in this FULL BODIED romantic adventure. Twists and turns were adeptly played in a wonderfully crafted novel. The secondary characters were portrayed wonderfully for both humor and malicious aspects. I have been reading a series of Ms. Hagan Lees earlier novels and so far have been more than pleased with her accurate and painstaking attention to the historical detail of her settings and can only say that I've yet to be disappointed. This author has become an automatic buy for me for delivering what I love best, beautifully romantic love stories that touch my heart. --- Marilyn Rondeau, Official Reviewer for www.historicromancewriters.com ---

Rating:
Summary: An incredible love story.
Review: This book is one of the best romances I've ever read! The story is exciting and the writing is fast-paced. Blake and Cristina's story captured my heart and my imagination from the very first page. They deserve to be happy. I recommend this book to everyone who loves romance!

Rating:
Summary: This book captured me from the very first page.
Review: This book is wonderfully written!The emotions you feel for Blake and Cristina are incredible.You laugh with them,cry with them, pull for them and rejoice with them.I think the author did a great job of making you fall in love with these two characters.It's my absolute favorite of Mrs. Lee's books.I stayed up late every night to finish it.