A Perfect Likeness

Thank goodness for the existence of older books! Not so long ago, before the idea that every book published had to fit into a narrow category or not be published, authors could tell a really good story, with step-off-the-page characters, and not worry overmuch if it overstepped from one category to another. Therefore we have this lovely older book from an author I greatly admire for her story-telling, her sense of place and time, and life-like characters. Even when they tend to go over-the-top, and they sometimes do, they're still delicious! I swear, no one creates a better villainess than Sandra Heath! Besides which, this book has marvelous descriptions of everything! It's simply awash with romance, and periodic splashes of gothic suspense, with just a dash of sleight-of-hand. It's wonderful! Bryony St. Charles, a young Irish miss, was more than startled when her elderly father casually informed her that he'd offered her in marriage to the English Sir Sebastian Sheringham. She'd never even heard of the man, let alone seen or met him. Being a dutiful daughter, however, and wanting desperately to save her family's estate, Bryony agreed, and set off for Cornwall to become acquainted with her husband-to-be. Sir Sebastian has cousins: Felix, the Duke of Calborough and his sister Delphine. Sir Sebastian may also have a mistress, the Countess of Lowndes. There is also a Dowager Duchess who likes to dabble in things beyond her scope, and truly, none of these characters are exactly what they seem, whether masked or not. It takes a good bit of patience and a lot of fortitude before the villains are all finally exposed, allowing the course of true love to run as smoothly as one would wish. It's not the destination, it's the getting there that proves to be so troublesome for the characters in the story. For the reader, it's pure pleasure!