Vision in Blue: 6

Gemma Smith has spent her entire life wondering where she came from and where she belongs, having known only a foundling home and later an academy for young women as her home. Gemma cannot stop wondering who has been paying her way over the years. After she receives a letter from her solicitor that she has a brother, Lord Gabriel Sinclair, in London. Gemma sets out to find and meet him, unsure of how she will be received. In her travels to London, she befriends Louise Crookshanks who quickly takes Gemma under her wing. Once in London, Gemma's meeting with Lord Sinclair is delayed as he is away from home. Gemma sneaks into the foundling home in search of information about her benefactor. This illicit search runs her quite literally into retired naval officer Matthew Fallon. Captain Fallon has sneaked into the foundling home in his search for a younger sister who had been sent there years before after the death of their mother while he was at sea. Gemma and Matthew share an immediate attraction and they begin a quest for the information that could change both of their lives forever. Nicole Byrd has penned an appealing book that tells that tale of two young women; the two stories mesh wonderfully. Readers witness Gemma's emergence from a solitary existence into that of a true social butterfly, surrounded by many who love and care about her. That love is well deserved and is very satisfying. The secondary story of Louisa Crookshanks is a wonderful bonus that hugely compliments Gemma's story without distracting from it. This is an extremely well written historical with appealing characters whose personalities and stories are described in rich detail. I recommend this book to all lovers of historical romance. Courtesy of Laurie/Romance Junkies

Oh, this story caught me! Nicole Byrd and I had such a good time with VISION IN BLUE. I relished Byrd's double storyline. I loved the two heroines and their military men! The connection between the two storylines - the shared friendship, the mutual respect, the wonderful spirit - made this reader feel good! Gemma Smith is an orphan, or so she thought. On her twenty-first birthday she received a letter from her mother informing her she was not alone in the world. Gemma has a brother - an influential highborn brother - Lord Gabriel Sinclair. Gemma Smith headed to London and hoped Lord Sinclair would receive her. Louise Crookshanks is a cit's daughter - a cit - a man who makes his money in trade. Desperately, Louise Crookshanks wanted the TON's acceptance, so she headed to London to experience a 'season'. Along the way, Louise and Gemma cross paths and become fast friends. Nicole Byrd develops a wonderful story regarding trust and budding friendship. The reader senses these two friends will survive the years, grow old together, and share life's many ups and downs. Lieutenant Colin McGregor is a dream come true. A caring, forthright gentleman, a gentleman who quickly steals Louise's heart. Captain Matthew Fallon is the perfect man to enter Gemma's fragile life. A man who loves the woman Gemma is, not the regal lady Gemma may become. Two ex-military men who glide into Byrd's story with chivalrous precision and composure. This bright story has two heroines and two marvelous heroes. Oh, how I felt VISION IN BLUE WAS 'A' material, then chapter seventeen opened! Now, this was an interesting downfall - a virtual sore thumb! It came across as a chapter intended for the end, but someone decided to move it and insert it at a midpoint! However, for a middle chapter, it was too climactic! And this fumble - Miss Gemma Smith spent her life avoiding disgrace, always acting the part of a lady, now she has achieved her dream - an accepted family - a genteel brother. So how was it on her first outing as Lady Gemma Sinclair she danced her first waltz without the permission of an Almack's patroness! And to boot - attending was Almack's crème de la crème, Lady Jersey! This was a grave faux pas. And no, the author never alluded to it as: thumbing one's nose at social restriction! Tragically, this mistake shredded the Regency storyline! Therefore, chapter seventeen's misplacement and social error reduces VISION IN BLUE's grade to B+. Still, Nicole Byrd does write an entertaining book! This is a 'make you feel good' kind of story and I recommend this book for that reason. MaryGrace Meloche Reviewer for: Romance Designs.com

An orphan, Gemma Smith has wondered who she really is for a long time and who is paying the bills for her to stay at Miss Maysham's Academy for Select Young Ladies. On her twenty-first birthday, her solicitor sends her a letter that informs her that her brother is Lord Gabriel Sinclair. She goes to meet him, but he is not in London when she arrives, but Gemma becomes good friends with Louisa Crookshank who knows Gabriel. Gemma continues to seek information. She meets navy officer (retired) Matthew Fallon who seeks his missing sister sent to a foundling home when their mother died and he was at sea. As they agree to team up on their respective searches they fall in love, but neither knows what to expect once they learn the truth. Though the above paragraphs concentrate on Gemma's tale, to a lesser degree Louise's story is also told; both are well done and complement one another. The cast is solid and the duel story lines are fun to follow especially the amateur sleuthing of Gemma, who went from feeling alone to being loved. Regency romance fans will also want to read BEAUTY IN BLACK, the first appearances of Gemma and Louisa. Harriet Klausner