The Mistress of Trevelyan

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Summary: Terrific Historical/Gothic/Suspense Romance!
Review: In Jennifer St. Giles' historical romance (it's actually more of a gothic/suspense romance), The Mistress of Trevelyan, the main character, Titania Lovell (named after the fairy queen in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream but has nicknamed herself, Ann, in keeping with her pragmatism) wants to escape her life as a laundress so much, she steals an advertisement for a male tutor and attempts to convince Mr. Benedict Trevelyan, the male protagonist, to hire her as a governess for his two sons, Justin, age 7, and Robert, age 5.

Titania is tall and has had to look down to meet the eyes of most men, but Benedict Trevelyn is the only man that she has met who is taller than she. That fact immediately piques her interest in him and begins her immediate attraction for him, but she must ignore it, because they are of different social spheres. She is the illegitimate daughter of a gentle woman turned laundress and gentleman (who forged the marriage license in order to seduce her mother). She has had no formal training in education, but has gained her love of learning and her education from books and a string of hired tutors her mother paid for with proceeds from laundering. Benedict Trevelyan agrees to hire her on a trial basis and thus begins their tense, passionate, stifled employer-employee relationship.

The gothic elements in this novel are the eerie mansion surrounded by mist from the San Francisco Bay, the alleged ghost of Benedict's deceased wife, her alleged curse of the Trevelyan family, and of course, her suspected murderer, Benedict Trevelyan, himself. Titania knows of the rumors regarding Mr. Trevelyan's suspected role in the murder of his wife, but she longs for another life so badly, she decides to ignore the rumors, especially since she, being illegitimate, has had a great deal of practice doing just that.

Her and her mother's long-time friend, Mr. McGuire, a local Irish book store owner, is worried sick when Titania tells him that she has accepted a post as a governess at Trevelyan Hill. He warns her of the rumors and of his friend, a doctor who treated the deceased Mrs. Trevelyan, who swears that his patient would not have committed suicide in such a painful way as jumping to her death from the roof of the mansion. It is then obvious to the reader that the deceased Mrs. Trevelyan was murdered, but who did it? It is then that we encounter the novel's element of suspense. Who is the murderer? Benedict Trevelyan? His brother, Stephan Trevelyan? His sister, Katherine Trevelyan? His mother, Mrs. Rosalind Trevelyan? His former ship's cook, Cook Thomas? Dobbs, the butler? This novel kept me guessing! I honestly couldn't figure out who did it until the author revealed it in the last few pages!

Though there is a gothic element and a suspense element, the love story doesn't get lost in the midst of them. It is masterfully portrayed, expertly knitted into the fabric of the story, leaving the reader no doubt that this is, essentially, a love story. The characters must overcome many obstacles to reach their ultimate goal of having their love legitimized by the bonds of matrimony (the murder, Benedict's hateful mother, his strained relationship with his brother, the disparity in Benedict's and Titania's stations in life, the so-called curse by Benedict's deceased wife, etc.), but they finally get their happy ending!

I laughed my head off at some places in this book! Get ready for a good laugh when you get to her first journey through the hidden passage way! I highly recommend this book! What a great read!

Oh, just something that comes to mind .... This is the first historical romance I have ever read that mentions contraceptive methods for men and women in the nineteenth century. It is quite fascinating! I have done a little research on the subject before, but was still intrigued by the tidbit of information in the book!

Get this book! You will not regret it!

Rating:
Summary: FABULOUS!! A must read!
Review: Intoxicating and haunting, The Mistress of Trevelyan instantly draws you into a cast of fascinating characters and perhaps one of the sexiest, tormented and misunderstood heroes to come around in a long time. I won't rehash this plot, as the other Amazon reviewers have already done a spectacular job in doing do. What I will say is that this book was the winner of the Daphne DuMaurier award and Jennifer St. Giles is deserving of this honour! The MIstress of Trevelyan. is one of the best books I have read all year.

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Summary: I pulled an all nighter!
Review: It has been FOREVER since I stumbled across a book that kept me up all night even when I knew I had to work the next day.

This one did just that, much to my husband's dismay. Something about this story reminded me of the old gothics I used to love so much when I was growing up.

I give this book my highest recommendation and you can be sure I will buy this lady's next book (but I will read it on a Friday night this time!)

Rating:
Summary: Great Gothic, I can't wait for her next book!!
Review: Like all of the other readers posting here, I had to stay up all night to read The Mistress of Trevelyan. The characters were thoroughly likable, especially the hero and heroine. I am eagerly awaiting Ms St. Giles next novel about Stephen. I am happy that so many other readers loved her as well. I can't praise Ms St. Giles highly enough. I started reading gothics when I was 7 and this book took me back to that very pleasurable place.

Rating:
Summary: I loved.... loved ....loved .....this book..
Review: Seems I'm not alone...this book, looks well liked, by all the reviewers here..so what are you reading about now..you know its good...GO GET IT..and hurry..its wonderful.

I not only loved it...when it ended...I started over and read it again. Its so different in how she writes...I cant say how great this book is...this is romance and mystery at its best. I loved the children, everyone was so alive and vibrant. I could see everything like it was a movie..just a wonderful writer..

Jennifer St. Giles....I will always be on the look out for your books in the future...Good job...

Readers, why are you still reading this...Go get it!!!!

Rating:
Summary: This is Why I Began Reading Romance...
Review: This wonderful story reminded me of the great stories by Victoria Holt and Phyllis Whitney that I fell in love with when I was a teenager, except THE MISTRESS OF TREVELYAN has lush, sensual love scenes that I so WISHED for in those early gothics! Bravo, Miss St. Giles. Looking forward to reading more!

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely fabulous
Review: When I picked up the Mistress of Trevelyan, I expected a typical historical novel--a book set in a past where a woman's only purpose was to please her man, while striking a balance between what she wants and what the times dictate she can have. Needless to say,I was thrilled to see not only the dark and brooding hero with secrets, but a heroine women of the 20th century can take a lesson from. Miss Lovell was brave, and courageous, smart--AND a washerwoman. Not only did she challenge the demons of Trevelyan manor, she fought for her life and the life of everyone in the manor and won. This book made me laugh and mourn and rejoice at the end. I'm thrilled this new author is on the scene, and I look forward to all her future works.

Rating:
Summary: a chilling Gothic
Review: When I saw the title of this book, Mistress of Trevelyan, I immediately thought of Mistress of Mellyn by Victoria Holt, likely the first Romance I read as a child - though they were not called Romances back then. As I read it, the familiarity continued because St. Giles evokes that sinister Gothic air. It's glad to see Gothics making a slow comeback. St. Giles pens a tale that keeps the reader spellbound, and to an older reader who cut her teeth on Gothics, it's so enjoyable.

In a typical Gothic beginning, evocative of Daphne du Maurier, "Last night I dream of Manderlay...", when Ann Lovell walks through the gates of the old San Francisco mansion on Trevelyan Hill, she reflects how she was always mysteriously drawn to the house, almost a portent that her fate and the house was somehow intertwined. Set in the 19th century, foggy San Francisco, it's pure Gothic spooky, the big house full of sinister secrets, dark corners where evil resides. Ann, whose real name is Tatiana, is a lowly laundry worker. Her mother was a sweet lass lied to by a man of higher birth. A tall woman, who has to look down on most men, she has come to apply for a position of governess (as I said, pure blissful Gothic!) for Justin age 7, and Robert, age 5. No one seems to be able to keep the job, and now no one is applying, so Ann believes she stands a good chance of landing the position.

Benedict Trevelyan was rumored to have killed his wife, but naturally, that does not daunt Ann. Immediately, upon settling into her new role in the house, duckbumps

prickle up her spine as she becomes certain someone is watching her. With no surprise, Ann and Benedict's relationship spiral from first kiss into full blown affair - those cads never can resist the governess! Being loyal to her new lover, Ann knows Benedict did not kill his wife, thus someone else in the sinister house is the evil-doer. Occasionally, Giles lapses into deep purple prose, especially in love scenes, but she is able to maintain a sinister, passionate tension through out the story.

There is a bitter rivalry between Benedict and his brother Stephan. Toss in a secretive sister Katherine, and mother Roselind, secret passage ways you have a true Gothic in the best fashion.