An Uncommon Courtship

Since she was just out of the cradle, almost, Gregory Ward has had a disastrous effect on Eloise Kendall. Anything that could go wrong, would go wrong whenever the two would meet. So of course, when Eloise and her younger brother Jeremy are orphaned by the deaths of their parents, the siblings end up living with her youngish widowed cousin, the Dowager Lady Theadosia Deighton.The only difficulty with this situation is that Gregory's uncle, Lord Threwsbury has the adjoining property. And Jeremy's best friend and constant companion is the earl's nephew and heir, Basil. Gregory has been busily carving out a career for himself as a politician, and returns to his uncle's home with the Whig party whip, Colin Jamison. The two hope to raise funds for Gregory's next campaign. Unexpectedly, however, love at first sight strikes both Colin and Thea, casting each into alternate bouts of exhilaration and despair. While trying to sort out these strange feelings, which neither have ever experienced prior to this experience, Gregory and Eloise are having their own battle of the sexes. They don't want to care for each other, but yet those amazing emotions keep erupting! In other parts of the realm, the Luddites are beginning to make their feelings known, as well, but Gregory thinks the returning soldiers--now no longer needed--have a real complaint. And then a villain steps in, and kidnaps the wrong heir. This is a delightful book--in particular the romance of the older couple, which unfortunately gets short shrift in the hurried-up ending. Too bad the publisher couldn't have granted another page or two for a slightly more detailed resolution! Still, all the loose ends are tied up in a most satisfactory manner, if a bit rushed. The cover is charming,too, with its Hugh Grant lookalike!

A very enjoyable read.Whenever Eloise Kendall and Gregory Ward meet, an accident of some sort is sure to ensue. Eloise is sure that Gregory enjoys embarrasing her, and Gregory is unsure of how to placate the prickly Miss Kendall. The book follows their rather complicated romance as both young people begin to realise they are actually attracted to each other. However further misunderstandings prevent the love from blossoming and before the romantic miscontrusions can be untangled, Eloise's young brother is kidnapped. Will Gregory be able to save Jeremy before it's too late and salvage his romance with Eloise?I think what I enjoyed most about this novel was the developing romance between Gregory and Eloise. This is a romance novel after all, so that the romance plot is predictable. But Martha Kirkland has provided the readers with a slightly older couple (not teenagers) who have hangups and preconceptions of their own that they manage to overcome in an entertaining and adult manner. Definitely a winner!

Another winning romance from Kirkland, who knows how to deliver a love story.