A Twist of Fate (Signet Regency Romance)

Rating:
Summary: mixed feelings about this book...
Review: "Twist of Fate" sounded like my kind of book: a hero who is sensitive and who's not an over-sexed woman hater with an enormous ego, paired with a heroine who's not overwhelmingly beautiful and high spirited, in a grown-up romance novel all about true love and second chances at happiness (no spy or jealous ex-girlfriends lurking in the bushes, in other words); and yet it took me week to finish this book! And that was because, unfortunately, in spite of all these promising premises, "Twist of Fate" got stuck in one particular groove (Madeline's feelings of unworthiness) and just never really came unglued enough to become interesting.

Lord David Winterbrook is riding hard through the wintery Berkshire landscape when he comes across a lady stranded in a gig. Being the gentleman that he is, he at once offers to help, only to fall in love with this charming stranger as soon as he claps eyes on her -- apparently there is a legend about Winterbrook men being able to recognize their true loves at first sight. And Lord David is sure that he has met his destiny. But how to proceed?

A series of circumstances sees to it that Lord David spends some time at Madeline Graves's (the lady he assissted) cottage. And everything he learns about her convinces him of her nobility, compassion and sweetness of nature. But Madeline is a lady who has been treated badly both by her father and her dead husband, and she's also partially deaf and suffers from low self-esteem. Can a lord who was sure that he was doomed to spend the rest of his life alone, persuade a skittish lady to grasp for that second chance at love with him?

There were two reasons why I persevered with "A Twist of Fate" -- 1) because two reviewers I rather admire have touted Susannah Carleton's previous novels as worthwhile reads, and 2) because, at first glance, both the principal characters and the plot premise really appealed to me. However, without getting into the realm of plot spoilers, because there was very little plot-conflict to be overcome, there was practically nothing to anticipate. This is a romance novel and we all know how things will eventually end, but reading about the many (or few) obstacles in the paths of the hero and heroine is what makes reading romance novels so irresistible and compelling (take Austen's "Sense and Sensibility" for example). Whatever obstacles that lay in Lord David's and Madeline's paths were quickly and summarily dealt with, and this left me with mixed feelings -- I liked the adult approach to the novel but felt that things could have been slightly 'meatier'.

So, was the novel a worthwhile read? Character-wise, yes; story-wise, perhaps -- depending totally on what your expectations are. I felt that there could have been a little more plot conflict. But that's just my conclusion. Your reaction may be quite different.

Rating:
Summary: mixed feelings about this book...
Review: "Twist of Fate" sounded like my kind of book: a hero who is sensitive and who's not an over-sexed woman hater with an enormous ego, paired with a heroine who's not overwhelmingly beautiful and high spirited, in a grown-up romance novel all about true love and second chances at happiness (no spy or jealous ex-girlfriends lurking in the bushes, in other words); and yet it took me week to finish this book! And that was because, unfortunately, in spite of all these promising premises, "Twist of Fate" got stuck in one particular groove (Madeline's feelings of unworthiness) and just never really came unglued enough to become interesting.

Lord David Winterbrook is riding hard through the wintery Berkshire landscape when he comes across a lady stranded in a gig. Being the gentleman that he is, he at once offers to help, only to fall in love with this charming stranger as soon as he claps eyes on her -- apparently there is a legend about Winterbrook men being able to recognize their true loves at first sight. And Lord David is sure that he has met his destiny. But how to proceed?

A series of circumstances sees to it that Lord David spends some time at Madeline Graves's (the lady he assissted) cottage. And everything he learns about her convinces him of her nobility, compassion and sweetness of nature. But Madeline is a lady who has been treated badly both by her father and her dead husband, and she's also partially deaf and suffers from low self-esteem. Can a lord who was sure that he was doomed to spend the rest of his life alone, persuade a skittish lady to grasp for that second chance at love with him?

There were two reasons why I persevered with "A Twist of Fate" -- 1) because two reviewers I rather admire have touted Susannah Carleton's previous novels as worthwhile reads, and 2) because, at first glance, both the principal characters and the plot premise really appealed to me. However, without getting into the realm of plot spoilers, because there was very little plot-conflict to be overcome, there was practically nothing to anticipate. This is a romance novel and we all know how things will eventually end, but reading about the many (or few) obstacles in the paths of the hero and heroine is what makes reading romance novels so irresistible and compelling (take Austen's "Sense and Sensibility" for example). Whatever obstacles that lay in Lord David's and Madeline's paths were quickly and summarily dealt with, and this left me with mixed feelings -- I liked the adult approach to the novel but felt that things could have been slightly 'meatier'.

So, was the novel a worthwhile read? Character-wise, yes; story-wise, perhaps -- depending totally on what your expectations are. I felt that there could have been a little more plot conflict. But that's just my conclusion. Your reaction may be quite different.

Rating:
Summary: Great new voice in the Regency genre
Review: Susannah Carleton is a real treat for all fans of traditional Regencies! "A twist of fate" is the sequel to "A scandalous journey" and tells the story of Lord David Winterbrook, the brother of the hero from "A scandalous journey".
For three generations the Winterbrooks recognized their soulmates at first sight. But David gave up any hope for real love, after a disastrous first marriage, till he met Lynn (aka Madeline). It will not be easy to win her love, because she also has bad experiences concerning marriage. Will real love win at the end?
I also recommend Susannah Carleton series about "The Six", which started with "A scandalous journey". Her books have a special place on my Keeper shelves!

Rating:
Summary: Great new voice in the Regency genre
Review: Susannah Carleton is a real treat for all fans of traditional Regencies! "A twist of fate" is the sequel to "A scandalous journey" and tells the story of Lord David Winterbrook, the brother of the hero from "A scandalous journey".
For three generations the Winterbrooks recognized their soulmates at first sight. But David gave up any hope for real love, after a disastrous first marriage, till he met Lynn (aka Madeline). It will not be easy to win her love, because she also has bad experiences concerning marriage. Will real love win at the end?
I also recommend Susannah Carleton series about "The Six", which started with "A scandalous journey". Her books have a special place on my Keeper shelves!

Rating:
Summary: A touching story of love & recovery
Review: When Lord David Winterbrook first lays eyes on Madeline Graves, it's love at first sight. He knows he'll love and cherish her for the rest of his life. Poor Madeline in stranded on the road in snowy weather, and chivalrous David is there to offer his assitance.

When they arrive at her cottage, there's a blizzard. Because of this, David cannot travel. So he ends up staying with Mrs. Graves for several days, doing chores for her and learning more about her.

David Winterbrook is a widower, and Madeline is a widow--and both of them have very turbulent pasts. As the days go by, their secrets slowly unfold, and their feelings for each other grow. More than anything, it's a story about Madeline's trust and recovery (her husband was a tyrant). Susannah Carleton gives us a story that is mature, tender, touching and... almost enlightening. Both characters possess a lot of depth, and the author helps us understand their feelings. I adored David Winterbrook. He was so gentle, charming and understanding--he was almost saintly.

Strangely enough, the climax seemed to occur toward the middle of the story. The rest of the novel is spent resolving the unresolved. (But it's not necessarily a bad thing). I thoroughly enjoyed "A Twist of Fate", and would definitely recommend it. I look forward to reading more of Ms. Carleton's work in the future.

Rating:
Summary: A touching story of love & recovery
Review: When Lord David Winterbrook first lays eyes on Madeline Graves, it's love at first sight. He knows he'll love and cherish her for the rest of his life. Poor Madeline in stranded on the road in snowy weather, and chivalrous David is there to offer his assitance.

When they arrive at her cottage, there's a blizzard. Because of this, David cannot travel. So he ends up staying with Mrs. Graves for several days, doing chores for her and learning more about her.

David Winterbrook is a widower, and Madeline is a widow--and both of them have very turbulent pasts. As the days go by, their secrets slowly unfold, and their feelings for each other grow. More than anything, it's a story about Madeline's trust and recovery (her husband was a tyrant). Susannah Carleton gives us a story that is mature, tender, touching and... almost enlightening. Both characters possess a lot of depth, and the author helps us understand their feelings. I adored David Winterbrook. He was so gentle, charming and understanding--he was almost saintly.

Strangely enough, the climax seemed to occur toward the middle of the story. The rest of the novel is spent resolving the unresolved. (But it's not necessarily a bad thing). I thoroughly enjoyed "A Twist of Fate", and would definitely recommend it. I look forward to reading more of Ms. Carleton's work in the future.