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Rating: 
Summary: be careful what you wish for . . .
Review: A very popular plot-line in romance novels, especially Regency novels, is the marriage of convenience. Forced to adjust and make a life with each other, the characters frequently end up learning as much about themselves as they do about their new partner. The way in which such a marriage is brought into being varies widely, but the nobility of the English male--not just his rank--is usually at the forefront. He offers his name and protection to a young woman who is sorely in need of such a bulwark. Miss Laura Milbanke splurges her entire small inheritance for a dream trip to Venice; she's seen a picture of the famous Hotel Contarini, and has dreamt of little else since then. Knowing she faces a lifetime of boring service, the expense is, to her, well-justified. Her first night there, she makes the reluctant acquaintance of Sir Nicholas Grenville, who clearly would rather she didn't exist at all, whether in Venice or in England. But then, they spend a delightful day together, enjoying the scenery and differentness of Venice, and enraging the Austrian Baron Frederick von Marienfeld. The Baron promptly issues a challenge to Nicholas, one he cannot refuse, with the predictable result. Nicholas is brought back to the hotel, nearing death. Surprising everyone, Nicholas survives--barely, and in order to protect Laura, convinces her to marry him. Because of their one wonderful day, she grudgingly agrees to marry this man she's come to love, even though he is certain to die. Her persistence as a nurse returns him to a feeble degree of health, and eventually the pair return to England and his estate, King's Cliff. Nicholas had traveled to Venice to consider his position and that of the estate, impoverished by generations of unfeeling, uncaring heirs. In spite of local opposition, Laura implements the changes Nicholas had discussed with her, endangering herself as well as her husband, still not entirely well, in spite of the care of his old friend and local physician, Daniel Tregarron. Nicholas is discovered to be ill with malaria, but his former fianceé, Augustine Townsend, has no patience with illness; she alternates between Nicholas and his heir, who is also his cousin, James, the earl of Landford. One could say, 'just another routine romance novel', except that when the author is Sandra Heath, NOTHING is routine. There are twists and turns aplenty before the final, extremely satisfying conclusion.
Rating: 
Summary: The quality of the writing is great, but...
Review: Let me make one thing perfectly clear to readers: This book was written in 1983. Its plot & pace are pure Barbara Cartland/straight Regency, although let me qualify that by saying the author is 100% better than Barbara Cartland. It's just so old-fashioned (and there's NO tension between the hero & heroine). Their one day together in Venice COULD have been "magical", but I had to infer that...I didn't believe he fell in love with her that day, although he later SAYS he did. I also thought the author made a major mistake by keeping the hero, Nicholas, off the scene, by making him so dangerously wounded & ill, thereby allowing the character of Daniel Tregarron to become more center-stage & doing everything the hero should have been doing to the heroine! Over time, the attraction between Daniel & Laura became irritating instead of intriguing, because I just knew the author was going to do a back-track & reconcile the hero & heroine. Then, there is the extremely sudden & abrupt ending when Nicholas finally gets a clue, confesses his love to Laura and THAT's IT. Just like an old Barbara Carland -- one kiss AT THE END, & no sex! But the quality of the writing is so good (particularly in the first chapters which take place in Venice, before the gothic-flavored melodrama kicks in. Those first few chapters rate the 3 stars). Don't say you haven't been warned; it's a very old-fashioned book.
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