(A Lady Forsaken, #1)
Genre: Historical Romance (Regency)
Cover Blurb:
A Lady Shunned by All…
Lady Viola Oberbrook only wanted to forget the ill-fated early morning duel that took the lives of two young, wealthy, promising men of the ton and sent her fleeing for her father’s country estate. Eight years later, she has her life in order: a fulfilling business, a few trusted friends, and no plans to return to London society. What she doesn’t expect is to come face to face with her past.
A Lord Betrayed by One…
Brock Spencer, Earl of Haversham, only wants vengeance. Recently returned from his military service to the King, his plans include repairing his family estate, finding a bride, and destroying the girl responsible for the untimely death of his twin brothers. What he doesn’t anticipate is falling in love with the only woman who should never be part of his future.
An Impossible Match, Destined to Be…
♥♥♥♥♥♥
This was my first book by Christina McKnight and, although I found certain aspects disappointing, overall I enjoyed this emotive story of tragedy, revenge, betrayal, love and redemption.
I liked Ms McKnight’s use of the Prologue to show the 17 year old Viola as a foolish, shallow, selfish young girl. Moving forward eight years, this forms a sharp contrast to the hard-working and caring woman she has become. Everything she does reveals just how much she has changed. She values simplicity over extravagance; she fears that should her true identity become known, it could disrupt her life and affect those who depend on her; she supports a children’s orphanage and the scene in the orphanage shows so clearly her care and compassion.
I really felt for Viola especially when she is writing the letter to Brock… pouring her heart out.
She wrote of regrets – not only of her girlhood mistakes, the tragedy of her first season, but also all she knew that would never be hers. The words flowed across the page, filled with sorrow, sadness, and sacrifice.
Brock feels overwhelming guilt and grief because he failed in his obligations to his family. He chose to join the military instead of staying to support his father in his time of grief and take care of his half-brothers who were foolhardy and reckless. He had also let his best friend, Harold, down.
…his friend had been left with a man who’d continually and without mercy crushed Harold’s will. His friend had needed him, but Brock had been too concerned with his own troubles to be bothered. He’d not only run from troubles at home, he’d abandoned his best friend when he’d needed him the most.
When Brock first meets Viola at Foldger’s Foals, he is not aware of her true identity and is attracted to Lady Posey Hale, the woman he believes her to be. So when he discovers her true identity, I liked the conflict within him.
The sweet girl his foal seemed to adore was indeed the cold-hearted wretch responsible for his family’s demise. How could they be one and the same?
I enjoyed the gradual pace of the romance between Viola and Brock to the point where they are able to put their pasts behind them but then I felt cheated because, the next minute, I was reading the Epilogue! I wanted to spend time with them, watching their love grow and blossom but this was a case of “telling” me rather than “showing” me.
The last month had passed in a haze of euphoria and disbelief. The euphoria was the love she saw in Brock’s eyes every time he looked at her.
I wanted to see what happened during that month. I wanted some of those lovely tender, romantic moments that make you sigh and believe that the hero and heroine are truly in love. There was some consolation in the delightful Epilogue.
I liked Viola’s best friend, Ruby and Brock’s best friend, Harold. They are both loyal but not afraid to voice their opinions when needed. I also enjoyed the banter between Brock and Harold. I have to mention Abby, the little orphan girl, who steals every scene she’s in.
Despite my disappointment with the romance side, this book still has a lot to commend it and I definitely want to read Ruby and Harold’s story in FORGOTTEN NO MORE.
REVIEW RATING: 4/5 STARS
SENSUALITY RATING: KISSES
Read December 2014
A Lady Forsaken series (click on book cover for more details):
– 15 March 2015
*I received a complimentary copy from the author in return for an honest review.
Rakes And Rascals 