A Shadow's Bliss

This is another great entry into the golden chronicles, with new characters introduced who are entirely lovable in themselves. Old favorites make an appearance, as they continue to do throughout this series. Wonderful Jamie and Haughty August come through the town and we have some brillant scenes between the two of them along with the duel threats that come whenever August is involved. (are you sensing the infatuation? My favorite character! Mandarin of Mayfair is his book)... So we have a great pair of new lovers, and continuing relationships with our favorite people who haven't made the perfect match yet. Down to the nitty gritty: Jennifer Britewell is a lovely heroine & her kindness to the man who has lost his memory is entirely believeable and in keeping with her proven nature. As he struggles to regain his memory and they are threatened by savage strangers who desire her home (which is slightly decrepit but very scenic)they are thrown together and romance developes. One of the marvellous things about Patricia Veryan as an author is the very believability of her settings. Without boring one with the visitors guidebook, or banging us over the head with the history of a place, she manages to imbue her books with the very feel of the environs. Windswept Cornwall descends into your living room as you read this book, and Jonathon & Jennifer are wonderful. Romances are always incredibly touching & leavened with gentle humor: "Jennifer, please stop! My beautiful... dearest girl... I cannot bear to see you cry." At this, her eyes opened very wide. "You-you're weeping, too..." she gulped. "I know," he said. And lost to everything but her grief, added with a tender smile, "You hit me in the eye." heh heh ABSOLUTELY BRILLANT. Read all her books. Veryan is the best regency/georgian author.

I really liked this one. I thought the plot was better developed than the others I have read in this serise (Books 2 & 3). It was amazing really, the plot kept thickening and thickening until I thought she would never be able to pull it out but she did manage remarkably. Only the fate of Jennifer's family was left out. I enjoyed the main love interests in this one as well. I do tend to go in for tortured lovers but they were really a solid pair. I thought that the superstions of Cornwall made a nice background to the story and were a pleasent change from her usual settings. This book also answerd some questions I had after a previous book. All-in-all a good read but I would definitely recomend reading it in order in the Serise.