A Whisper of Violets

Rating:
Summary: A Soft Sigh.
Review: As its title suggests, "A Whisper of Violets" is a whisper of delicate romance. Linda Madl pulls her reader into her gentle dream with soft words and tranquil love scenes.

Nicholas Derrington, the Earl of Seacombe, and Dorian St. John draw swords on an auction floor. For different reasons, both crave a musical score entitled "A Whisper of Violets." Seacombe wants to clear his treasonous name and Dorian wants to give her dying aunt her final wish. In the end, he is the victor of the bidding war. Three pieces of a musical score and now they each own one, but the third and final piece of the puzzle is still missing. Unlucky in their lone attempts, they create a counterfeit betrothal thus enabling a united search, a search which delivers mystery and suspense.

The blossoming romance is delightful and charming. Unfortunately, the author succumbs to the standard romantic standoff -- both love one another, but wistfully deny the attraction. However, even with this common ploy, Madl continues to handle the relationship with gentle and understanding words -- avoiding the use of confrontation. This reader always appreciates the civilized approach, and with this maneuver the author creates a page turner.

Another brilliant writing touch is a second romance. Susanna Sunridge, a titan-haired package, fully bewitches Davis, Dorian's twin. Oh how Davis fights the BIG one. Their special attraction is playful and alluring. It took Davis time to realize what a treasure the widow Susanna truly is, but as always he rises to the occasion.

A joyful book, but it is not perfect. Several times it bogged down, but not enough to create serious problems. I'm rating it a solid 4 stars. I would recommend this romantic whisper -- for a first time read.

Grace Atkinson, Ontario - Canada.

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable Regency - Original
Review: Setting - London 1807 --- In this very lovely regency novel you are introduced to Nicholas Derrington, earl of Seacombe. He is attending an auction in an attempt to procure a portion of a musical composition by a foreign composer that is reputed to have the name of a traitor written in code on the back of it. For a very different and more sentimental reason, Dorian St. John, twenty-five year old trend setting heiress, is also bidding against him for the same piece of music. She and her twin brother Davis were orphaned and brought up by their beloved aunt Charlotte, who is in failing health. Charlotte was once a lover to the composer and the missing musical composition was a love song written for Charlotte and smuggled out of prison in pieces.

For Nicholas, it is a matter of honor to locate the composition to prove that the charges of treason leveled against him, but not proved, were an attempt to frame him and totally false. Dorian, has one piece of the missing musical score, he wins the second, and to obtain the third they agree to join forces. While neither seem to trust each others motives, they cannot deny, admit, or control their attraction to one another and when caught by her brother in a compromising situation, rather than see a duel between the two men she cares about Dorian engineers a compromise by betrothing herself to Nicholas leaving him totally stunned.

This was an enjoyable, original and sexy regency that actually had two romances going on. Not only were Dorian and Nicholas' romantic and sensual interludes enjoyable but Davis, Dorian's brother, who started out as a pompous uptight young man doing his best to romance and impress the daughter of a duke, literally was brought to his knees by the very earthy, delightful, and down to earth widow Susannah. I found myself chuckling quite often by the all-too-human feelings of sexual attraction run rampant. While the true traitor was doing his best to prevent exposure, it was somewhat of a surprise to discover who it was even though I developed my own suspicions earlier in the novel. If you can locate a copy of this OOP book I would certainly recommend it. Original...

Rating:
Summary: Spies or music, which will win?
Review: There are at least two types of readers of historical romance novels: those who read primarily for the romance, and those who really want the history. Seldom are each of them satisfied by a single novel. This well-written, poorly-proofed novel succeeds better at the romance than the history.

Why is it, I wonder, that an author will choose to set a novel during a particular time in history because of one or more historical events that lend verisimilitude to the story, and then neglect the research on the under-pinnings of that same era? Especially if those under-pinnings constitute the secondary plot?

The British Regency era is noted for drawing authors like bees to flowers; it was a vibrant period awash with bigger-than-life characters, set against the Napoleonic wars. Facts connected to the military are usually correct--it's hard, after all, to argue with all those history books. But then, something as simple as the presence of the conductor of an orchestra rapping his baton on his desk appears. For the music-lover or student, this (and the other musical anachronisms) is enough of a jolt to pull the reader right out of the story, and the rest of the novel may well fade into oblivion.

This is only one of many novels to suffer from a similar fault, and almost all of them are set in this same period. However, if you read for the romance, you'll probably enjoy the St. John twins, Dorian and Davis, as they wend their way through the social and musical worlds of Regency England while trying to solve a musical mystery. Nicholas Derrington, Earl of Seacombe, had been a Naval captain before a charge of treason relieved him of his duty, and tainted his family heritage. He needs a scrap of music that supposedly carries an encrypted inscription on the reverse side, to help clear his name. Trouble is, Dorian wants that same fragment, part of a love song written to her elderly aunt by a former lover who was a composer.

Davis St. John has his own romantic troubles; having to decide between the beautiful Elizabeth, daughter of a Duke, or the lovely, earthy, and widowed Susanna. London's glittering society, musicales, Almack's, country house parties, all are present and accounted for in this sweeping novel.

Romance = 4 stars. History = 3 stars. Music = 2 stars. The average is why I could honestly only give this book 3 stars. A person who reads more for the romance aspect might well think it should have more. Seems fair to me.