Midnight Clear

Rating:
Summary: Fluff reading but fun
Review: I bought this book seduced by the first chapter (there is actually a prologue before it). What a concept - an old lady writing a scandalous history of the British aristocracy, and actually propositioning a much younger aristocrat! After that, and reading about the companion, Jane Ryder, I wanted this book immediately. And so, I ordered it and read it within 2 days of its arrival.

The first part lived up to my expectations and more. Every word, every dialogue, counted to build up an atmosphere worthy of Carla Kelly herself. [Hooray, I was thinking here; I've found another author to glom]. Unfortunately, for me, the second half fell down badly. Plot lines that seemed to be developing in the first half (and questions left unanswered) were dropped in favor of a more stereotyped secondary plot. All I can say about that was the most interesting part was finding out exactly how the mystery ingredient (no spoilers here) arrived in the hands and welcoming arms of the heroine. I would have liked to have read more of this Richard Barron (if I recall the name correctly).

The first half of this book rates 5 stars for strong memorable and at least one highly unusual character. Great dialogue, great atmosphere, sensitive to Regency morals and conventions, and all of that.

The second half is downgraded significantly (not just for the use of Americanisms such as diapers) but for the fact that the tone of the book changes sharply. [I could hardly believe that I was reading the same book I had started out with]. The tone of the first half was wry, ever so slightly witty, with a competent and sensible heroine and a hero who is determined to preserve the family honor. The second half was more melodramatic, with the abrupt introduction of four new characters, and the virtual disappearance from the scene of those whom we encountered in the first half. The story told was also rather more conventional, and it could almost have been pulled from any contemporary series romance.

Several questions in my mind about the hero and heroine were left unanswered - How did the hero make his fortune? Why did he arrive home now, and not earlier? How did the heroine travel (or move) from Northumberland to London (what happened to her in her first position)? What unusual talents or skills has she learned (as mentioned in the Prologue) and where/how?

I should add here that the heroine's passionate involvement with a very small child, did not make a lot of sense to me. Did she want the child because it was an orphan, because it was illegitimate, or because she felt that she was unlikely to marry? There were just too many unanswered questions, and the identity of the child's mother was not a surprise to me. The second half therefore drags down the overall rating of the book. I should have stopped reading after the first half.

Rating = 3.5 [5.0 for the first half; 2.0 for the second half = 3.5 overall]

Rating:
Summary: First part brilliant, second part falls off ...
Review: I bought this book seduced by the first chapter (there is actually a prologue before it). What a concept - an old lady writing a scandalous history of the British aristocracy, and actually propositioning a much younger aristocrat! After that, and reading about the companion, Jane Ryder, I wanted this book immediately. And so, I ordered it and read it within 2 days of its arrival.

The first part lived up to my expectations and more. Every word, every dialogue, counted to build up an atmosphere worthy of Carla Kelly herself. [Hooray, I was thinking here; I've found another author to glom]. Unfortunately, for me, the second half fell down badly. Plot lines that seemed to be developing in the first half (and questions left unanswered) were dropped in favor of a more stereotyped secondary plot. All I can say about that was the most interesting part was finding out exactly how the mystery ingredient (no spoilers here) arrived in the hands and welcoming arms of the heroine. I would have liked to have read more of this Richard Barron (if I recall the name correctly).

The first half of this book rates 5 stars for strong memorable and at least one highly unusual character. Great dialogue, great atmosphere, sensitive to Regency morals and conventions, and all of that.

The second half is downgraded significantly (not just for the use of Americanisms such as diapers) but for the fact that the tone of the book changes sharply. [I could hardly believe that I was reading the same book I had started out with]. The tone of the first half was wry, ever so slightly witty, with a competent and sensible heroine and a hero who is determined to preserve the family honor. The second half was more melodramatic, with the abrupt introduction of four new characters, and the virtual disappearance from the scene of those whom we encountered in the first half. The story told was also rather more conventional, and it could almost have been pulled from any contemporary series romance.

Several questions in my mind about the hero and heroine were left unanswered - How did the hero make his fortune? Why did he arrive home now, and not earlier? How did the heroine arrive from Northumberland to London? What happened to her, and what unusual talents or skills has she learned (as mentioned in the Prologue) and where/how?

I should add here that the heroine's passionate involvement with a very small child, did not make a lot of sense to me. Did she want the child because it was an orphan, because it was illegitimate, or because she felt that she was unlikely to marry? There were just too many unanswered questions, and the identity of the child's mother was not a surprise to me. The second half therefore drags down the overall rating of the book. I should have stopped reading after the first half.

Rating = 3.5 [5.0 for the first half; 2.0 for the second half = 3.5 overall]

Rating:
Summary: Fluff reading but fun
Review: Lady Eudora Swann (85 years young!) needs a secretary to write and edit her scandalous memoirs. Will plain Jane Ryder get the position? Jane has just gotten evicted from her residence and came dragging all her worldly possessions with her. (Why she ended up in London remains forever a mystery!) The witty dialogue between Eudora and Jane during the interview is wonderful. It is worth many of the less sterling chapters to follow.

Speed up almost a year later and the book (Scandalbroth) is almost completed. Besides other common gossip, it relates the exploits of the infamous Fallon men. The newly titled (and young) Lord Fallon (Charles) visits Eudora in an attempt to thwart the publishing since he wishes to improve the image of the Fallon's. He is turned away after being propositioned by Lady Swann.

Now Christmas is nearing and Jane is happy. She adores her employer and plans to enjoy the holidays with evergreens and specially chosen gifts. But Eudora has her own Christmas "scheming" to do and sends Jane off with a letter to Lord Fallon with a different proposition while she whisks herself out of town. This is after gifting Jane with lovely and touching items which I found very nice -

In the letter to Lord Fallon, Eudora promises to consider delaying publishing of the book if he will allow Jane to research other Fallon family history. So Charles takes Jane to his family seat. He knows no written history exists but craves companionship when he returns to the place where he spent a lonely childhood.

I don't want to spoil the rest of the story, but predictably they are trapped for a time in a snowstorm and share stories of their lives. I never knew whether to believe the stories and much is left unsaid. Since it is Christmastime there is special occurrence involving a baby.

The romance is sweet and I loved the Lady Swann character but I never felt emotionally involved with either the hero or heroine. If you crave a tame romance you will enjoy a few hours of reading and I will recommend it for those reasons.

Rating:
Summary: Not really 5 Stars, I'd give it 6 !
Review: Lynn Kerstan's book is witty, intelligent and keeps you hanging on til the last word. Its almost impossible to find books by current regency authors that provide not just the hum drum romance, but the humor and imagination that makes it stick in your head - I read this at least a year ago. It isn't just well written, it has that perfect balance of everything you need (strong characters, great plot, and of course the wonderful humor) in a good regency book.

Rating:
Summary: A charming romance that touches the heart
Review: When I read this book I instantly fell in love with Lynn Kerstan's writing. This book is poetic and wonderful. I felt that I was giving a chance to really get to know the charcters, who are without a doubt marvelous. This is a book you can pick up anytime to read and be instantly charmed over and over again by its style and story. This is a book that deserves attention for its story and its author. Lynn Kerstan is a author to keep your eyes on!!!