The Loving Seasons

I agree with two other reviewers' comments, but I like to add just one more: I thought Ms. Walker has done a tremendous job on the characterization developments. She has divided story fair equally among the three heroines: their feelings, realizations, and growth developments. There were no real villains, but imperfections and misunderstanding of one another's intentions. The book was kind of long for Regency Romance paperbacks, but it was such a well-written story that I felt any less pages might jeopardize the success of the book. The only complaint is: who was the lady that was portrayed on the book cover? None of the three heroines was brunette, not for the sub-characters either. In fact, the main character among the three heroines was a striking blond, apparently neither artist nor editor has noticed. So far-off.

Strong characters, good story, plenty of romance & a believable Regency setting make for an enjoyable book. I picked it up at my local used book store based on the plot summary & strong recommendation left by bookjunkiereviews. I won't repeat the details since she has done a better job than I could.

Lately, I have been reading or re-reading books where there are more than one romances. Among those read were many of Georgette Heyer's classics (some of which feature at least two romances) and Fiona Hill's The Stanbroke Girls. I must have read The Loving Seasons a long time ago, because the plot (or elements of it) seemed very slightly familiar. That did not stop me from enjoying a brilliantly constructed book.The Loving Seasons is the story of three young schoolgirls in a Kensington seminary for young women, who are expecting to make their debuts. One of them - Maggie - has been betrothed from the seminary itself by her father - as the winner of a wager into which he tricked a somewhat callow and insecure young baron. The other two - Anne (daughter of a marquess) and Emma (niece of a lady of society but somewhat sticky reputation) - try and support Maggie as she marries almost literally from the seminary. Emma is the boldest, and Maggie the shyest and most insecure. Anne, with her large portion and her rank and connections, is expected to make a brilliant match, of course.In the first season, we watch Maggie try to make the best of her marriage to young Lord Greenwood, even as her friend Emma nearly stumbles into social disaster by emulating her (married) aunt's manner of behavior. Anne, the third friend, is slightly confused by the fact that she finds a man of no particular fortune or position and very moderate wealth rather attractive. In the second season, Maggie begins to achieve some happiness in her marriage, even as her husband starts to mature and realize life is different for a married man (compare his behavior, by the way, with that of the newly-married Sherry in Heyer's Friday's Child). In the meantime, Emma questions not only her thinking and previous mode of behavior, but also the motives of two of her apparent suitors. During the second season, the focus is however on Anne and her friendships, as Maggie and Emma remain outside London.In the third season, we see Maggie having achieved some happiness as a matron. Anne makes a marriage for love and character, rather than for position and wealth. And Emma? Well, Emma makes some interesting decisions. We also see relationships developing between a young artist and a man she has been observing across the street, and between Emma's aunt and her long-estranged husband.I would have liked to have seen a bit more of Emma's aunt and her husband, and a bit more explained about Emma's position (compared to her aunt who apparently had a large dowry or portion). But otherwise, this book was very nearly perfect. It was not really a book filled with humor, and not light reading (coming in at nearly 400 closely-filled pages). But if you like serious Regency romances, and you value the development of character and the changes that come about as a young woman matures and reassesses her thinking, you might like this book. For lovers of multiple romances, this is potentially a great r