The Ghost and Mrs. Wenthaven (Five Star Standard Print Romance)

Rating:
Summary: an entertaining read
Review: I think that there should be new subcategory for novels that are simply brimming with several plot devices -- the 'chock-full' category. "The Ghost and Mrs. Wenthaven" would fit right in into this category, as it can boast of possessing a subplot that deals with an abandoned baby that may have been fathered by a Wenthaven male (but which one?); a subplot dealing with a ghost of a dead pirate; a family feud between the Brooks-Wenthavens and the Duggans; a budding romance between a pair of star-crossed lovers; and the main plot that deals with the relationship between the widowed Cassie Wenthaven and her brother-in-law, the care-for-nothing gambler, Dylan Wenthaven. This is a well written and rather enjoyable novel, which I enjoyed very much. However there was one glaring omission that was never raised or dealt with. And that was the fact that marriage between Dylan and Cassie would not have been permissible (it was actually illegal, as a man could not marry his sister-in-law). Of course there probably were ways around such a law, but I really wondered that Maria Greene never raised the issue. It was a little disconcerting reading about (and liking) the blossoming romance between Cassie and Dylan, and never have them discuss the fact that it would take some ecclesiastical maneuvering for them to marry. This little 'flaw' kept distracting me form enjoying the novel completely, which was a shame, because this really was a first rate read.

When Cassie Wenthaven's gambling mad husband died, leaving nothing but debts behind him, she was rescued by her husband's grandfather, who allowed her to live at a depilated estate of Fairweather, rent free. Now however, the old man is dead, and he has bequeathed the estate to his other grandson, Dylan. It is expected that Cassie will, of course, leave the estate as soon as possible. But Cassie has nowhere to go (She had also invited two almost destitute spinster sisters to live with her. Where could the old women go, if they are all evicted from Fairweather?) Cassie has come up with a plan: to get Dylan (whom she remembers as being a younger copy of her feckless husband) to hire her as his steward, and to allow her to care for the estate, as he carries on with his dissolute way of life in London. Will Dylan be agreeable to such a plan?

When Dylan first sees his inheritance, he is dismayed. The house is falling apart, and the grounds could do with a lot of cutting and pruning. But he hasn't got the money to repair the estate. Surely the best course would be to sell Fairweather. But then he meets Cassie, and something about her makes him want to prove himself worthy of her esteem. But how is he to prove himself worthy of his new responsibilities (and of Cassie)? Add to that the complication of a baby left mysteriously at their doorstep (a baby with Wenthaven features and the family rattle), the sudden flare up of a centuries old family feud between the Wenthavens and the Duggans, sudden ghostly hauntings, and Dylan's friend's doomed romance with Duggan's daughter, and Dylan's life seems to have suddenly grown a lot more complicated then he can deal with! Will he be able to untangle all these knots and still manage to persuade Cassie to put her trust in him?

What I liked most about this novel, was that in spite of the myriad of subplots, Maria Greene never lost sight of the main storyline -- the romance between Cassie and Dylan. And I liked that she managed to project both characters points of view equally. We see not only the effort that Dylan makes to prove that he is capable of change, as well as his disappointment that Cassie will not trust in him more; and we also see things from Cassie's perspective -- her reluctance to trust another glib and charming man who is addicted to gambling. Though, I do wish that a little more of Cassie's life with Dylan's brother had been described, and how she came to marry him. This novel could have been a rather somber read full of angst, esp since both Cassie and Dylan have quite a few issues and a lot of pain to work through. But Ms Greene handled all of this in a light and deft manner, without trivialsing anything. And I thought that that was a rather masterful touch.

I like this book quite a bit. It was a lighthearted and fun read, and I rather enjoyed the romance that developed between Cassie and Dylan. But that entire probability as to whether or not Cassie and Dylan would have been allowed to marry (so easily anyway) really nagged at me. And I really wished that Maria Dylan had addressed that issue.

Rating:
Summary: an entertaining read
Review: I think that there should be new subcategory for novels that are simply brimming with several plot devices -- the 'chock-full' category. "The Ghost and Mrs. Wenthaven" would fit right in into this category, as it can boast of possessing a subplot that deals with an abandoned baby that may have been fathered by a Wenthaven male (but which one?); a subplot dealing with a ghost of a dead pirate; a family feud between the Brooks-Wenthavens and the Duggans; a budding romance between a pair of star-crossed lovers; and the main plot that deals with the relationship between the widowed Cassie Wenthaven and her brother-in-law, the care-for-nothing gambler, Dylan Wenthaven. This is a well written and rather enjoyable novel, which I enjoyed very much. However there was one glaring omission that was never raised or dealt with. And that was the fact that marriage between Dylan and Cassie would not have been permissible (it was actually illegal, as a man could not marry his sister-in-law). Of course there probably were ways around such a law, but I really wondered that Maria Greene never raised the issue. It was a little disconcerting reading about (and liking) the blossoming romance between Cassie and Dylan, and never have them discuss the fact that it would take some ecclesiastical maneuvering for them to marry. This little 'flaw' kept distracting me form enjoying the novel completely, which was a shame, because this really was a first rate read.

When Cassie Wenthaven's gambling mad husband died, leaving nothing but debts behind him, she was rescued by her husband's grandfather, who allowed her to live at a depilated estate of Fairweather, rent free. Now however, the old man is dead, and he has bequeathed the estate to his other grandson, Dylan. It is expected that Cassie will, of course, leave the estate as soon as possible. But Cassie has nowhere to go (She had also invited two almost destitute spinster sisters to live with her. Where could the old women go, if they are all evicted from Fairweather?) Cassie has come up with a plan: to get Dylan (whom she remembers as being a younger copy of her feckless husband) to hire her as his steward, and to allow her to care for the estate, as he carries on with his dissolute way of life in London. Will Dylan be agreeable to such a plan?

When Dylan first sees his inheritance, he is dismayed. The house is falling apart, and the grounds could do with a lot of cutting and pruning. But he hasn't got the money to repair the estate. Surely the best course would be to sell Fairweather. But then he meets Cassie, and something about her makes him want to prove himself worthy of her esteem. But how is he to prove himself worthy of his new responsibilities (and of Cassie)? Add to that the complication of a baby left mysteriously at their doorstep (a baby with Wenthaven features and the family rattle), the sudden flare up of a centuries old family feud between the Wenthavens and the Duggans, sudden ghostly hauntings, and Dylan's friend's doomed romance with Duggan's daughter, and Dylan's life seems to have suddenly grown a lot more complicated then he can deal with! Will he be able to untangle all these knots and still manage to persuade Cassie to put her trust in him?

What I liked most about this novel, was that in spite of the myriad of subplots, Maria Greene never lost sight of the main storyline -- the romance between Cassie and Dylan. And I liked that she managed to project both characters points of view equally. We see not only the effort that Dylan makes to prove that he is capable of change, as well as his disappointment that Cassie will not trust in him more; and we also see things from Cassie's perspective -- her reluctance to trust another glib and charming man who is addicted to gambling. Though, I do wish that a little more of Cassie's life with Dylan's brother had been described, and how she came to marry him. This novel could have been a rather somber read full of angst, esp since both Cassie and Dylan have quite a few issues and a lot of pain to work through. But Ms Greene handled all of this in a light and deft manner, without trivialsing anything. And I thought that that was a rather masterful touch.

I like this book quite a bit. It was a lighthearted and fun read, and I rather enjoyed the romance that developed between Cassie and Dylan. But that entire probability as to whether or not Cassie and Dylan would have been allowed to marry (so easily anyway) really nagged at me. And I really wished that Maria Dylan had addressed that issue.