Thursday, January 24, 2019

Regency Awards





Editorial Review:

Diana Forester’s time away in Regency London is much enjoyed, and the attention of a Mr Richley is greatly flattering. She’s more than a little convinced another young lady has set her bonnet at Richley, and assumes the rather unpleasant Miss Reynolds will win his heart. Soon Diana’s visit is at end and her return to her family’s country home is where her siblings step centre stage, and where love and romance begins to unfold with the unexpected arrival of Mr Richley. However, Miss Reynolds arrival creates confusions for Diana. In the meanwhile the arrival of a mysterious highwayman causes great unease for all in the tranquil rural setting, and a foolhardy plot to uncloak him is a disaster for Diana. The eventual shock-of all that comes to pass fades to the background and the sweet traditional HEA steals the show. There are little nuances of historical asides, the narrative and dialogue has a slightly modern feel, but the characters are three-dimensional, and the plot is seamless and well constructed. Without question A Chaotic Courtship by Bethany Swafford, is granted the Jane Austen Readers’ Regency Award.









Editorial Review:

Bettering young ladies marital opportunities with amusing cameos was the promise of Jane Austen’s novels. No research whatsoever was required for Ms Austen within her contemporary works, whereas Ms Aminadra reveals Richard Emberton’s life as mired in the trading of exotic spices since he was very young. He has no experience of courting a young lady, and trading for a wife seems natural to him. In the meanwhile Grace Hayward sees herself as a commodity in a business transaction much as a slave on her father’s spice plantation. Throughout this story slavery during Austen’s lifetime illustrates the dark side of Georgian England and its colonial outposts. Therefore The Spice Bride is a novel of social injustice lightly woven through with a tentative sweet romance between two strangers, who inevitably discover love within companionship. The Regency Award is hereby awarded to Karen Aminadra for historical merit.


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