Sunday, June 7, 2009

The House In Grosvenor Square

Burkard, Linore Rose. 2009. The House in Grosvenor Square. Harvest House. 346 pages.

Christian regency romance. The sequel to Before the Season Ends. Ariana Forsythe, our heroine, is engaged to wed Phillip Mornay, a wealthy man, a ton favorite. Only a few weeks remain until the big "I do" and Mornay is a worried man. No, he's not worried he's making a mistake in marrying her. No, he's not worried his bride is going to redecorate his home from fabulous to frightful (though I might be!). No, he's worried that if he spends time with her, he'll want to be with her. Afraid that his newfound faith can't withstand temptations of the flesh, he's convinced to keep her at a safe distance. But when somewhat-unbelievable threats appear conveniently as a plot device, he decides her safety must come first. He is the one, the only one who can protect her. So he insists that she moves into his home. And before a suitable chaperone can be arranged! Cardboard villains abound in The House in Grosvenor Square. Providing ample opportunity for our hero and heroine to shine. The good news? I still loved Ariana and Phillip. The bad news? The villains weren't all that believable. And one of the plot devices felt like it got stuck on repeat. (Once is exciting drama, provides nice action and change of pace. Twice is pushing it. Three times is a bit too much.)

It may sound like I didn't like this one. That's not the case. It felt a bit predictable. But in its predictablity it felt comfortable. That's not an insult, I promise. You'll just have to trust me on that. I'm a soap opera addict. There's something satisfying about predictable. As long as you like the characters, there's not much to complain about. And I do like these characters. I enjoyed Before The Season Ends more. But I still am glad to have read this one.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

1 comment:

Liz said...

I've recently finished a book that's post-WWII: not exactly "historical fiction" but certainly not modern days! It's got a spiritual bent that, coupled with setting in the past, I think you might like. "His Edge," tells the story (semi-autobiographical) of a former war pilot who then is a test pilot. Three women love him and three Believers guide him spiritually. (There are passages where the Presence is with him, guiding him. There's integrity, faith, love and commitment that are integral to the book, and goodness knows those are essential qualities. Give it a look -- the author even has a blog about his experiences.