The Star Of India (Signet Regency Romance)

Rating:
Summary: nice uncomplicated love story...
Review: If you're in the mood for sweet, uncomplicated love story about two friends who rediscover each other after many years of separation and who realize that they are soul mates, then "The Star of India" is the book for you. A sequel of sorts to "Lady Rogue" I liked "The Star of India" a lot better than "Lady Rogue" -- the storyline was a more interesting one, and Amanda McCabe did a thoroughly good job of showing us why Emily and David made a good couple.

You would have thought since the Kentons' money problems were over (Alex, the current Duke of Wayland had married a very rich lady in "Lady Rogue"), Lady Emily Kenton would have nothing to worry about anymore. Except all she can do is worry these days because of a very dishonourable deed that her dead brother, Damien (the previous Duke of Wayland), had committed before his death. Many years ago, the Earl of Darlinghurst had given Emily's father the fabled Star of India (a valueable sapphire) for safekeeping just before he and his only son, David, returned to India. But when Emily's father died, and hard-living and spendthrift Damien inherited the title, he had taken the Star of India and sold it to a merchant, Sir Charles Innis, for a great deal of money. Now, the merchant has decided to donate the Star of India to the British Museum, and Emily is fearful of what the repercussions will be when the assessors discover that the Star of India is a fake! For in an act of total dishonour, Damien had made a copy of the jewel and sold the fake to Innis. Where the real Star of India is Emily hasn't a clue, but she knows that she must find a way to avert the scandal that is bound to hit her family when the truth comes out. And that's when an unexpected complication to the entire affair walks into her life. For who should she spy at a ball one night, but David, her childhood playmate, best friend, and the new Earl of Darlinghurst. Too see David again after all these years and to reestablish their close relationship is sheer bliss. But Emily cannot help but dread the moment when David will ask about the Star of India. How is she to confess that her family has broken his father's trust? And how is she to bear the anger and disillusionment that will be in David's eyes when he learns the truth?


As I noted at the beginning, "The Star of India" is a very simple story, very simply told -- if you're looking for something with a more complex storyline, this is definitely not the book for you. Amanda McCabe seems to excel in telling stories where the blossoming relationship between the hero and heroine hold center stage. In this particular instance the novel is all about how David and Emily reconnect after having spent half their lives apart and about the special bond between them. Even the entire Star of India subplot plays second fiddle to this love story (thank goodness). I did have one quibble though: why on earth Alex, the Duke of Wayland, never talks to David about the jewel. That, made little to no sense to me. On the whole though, "The Star of India" turned out to be the kind of romance novel that is nice and sweet and that makes you smile when the happily ever-after ending is achieved.