A MATTER OF CLASS: Review for YOTH 2010

I finished one of the loveliest books I've read in a long time, or rather, the most refreshing historical romance in a while. Mary Balogh's historicals are pretty much a sure bet for me, A MATTER OF CLASS is another example why. It just so happens that I'll be able to count this one in with the Year of the Historical Challenge being hosted by KMont.

Reginald Mason lives a spendthrift life, his biggest worry being from where he'll order the latest fashion and where the next card game is.  As the son of  wealthy Bernard Mason, Reginald has never worried about lack of funds, the love of his parents, or that they'll forgive him just about anything.  Reginald's rakish ways come to an earth-shattering halt when his father announces he's to marry Lady Annabelle Ashton, the daughter of the Earl of Havercroft, who also happens to be Bernard's enemy and one of their neighbors.

The Ashton family have always snubbed the Masons for their lack of noble blood, despite the fact that Bernard Mason is richer than Croesus and not in debt up to his ears like Havercroft is.  Having made his money in the coal business, it is enough to earn him the disdain of his "betters", the Ashtons.  Annabelle's father had always shunned the family, even in church, and he taught his family that any gesture of friendship or kindness would not be acceptable.  It's a shame really, since she'd known Reginald since she was a young girl and had always thought Mrs. Mason looked to be a nice enough woman.  Recently, Annabelle brought the censure of society down on her family when she'd run off with the coachman.  The scandal could very well ruin her if she does not accept her father's ultimatum - marry Reginald Mason.  A wedding between them will solve two of her papa's problems -- paying off his debts when Mason agrees to pay Annabelle's dowry, and it will eliminate the stain of her tarnished reputation.

A MATTER OF CLASS is both a romance that features Annabelle and Reginald's short courtship and anecdotes of their childhood days, divided by class, but forming a friendship regardless of their stations (or his lack of one).  I loved those stories featuring the day they met and progressing on to the afternoon when Reginald taught Annabelle what a proper kiss was.  We're never given a real timeline until much later when we realize that the wedding takes place about three years after Annabelle realized that she's head over heels in love with Reginald.

I haven't had the fortune of reading Ms. Balogh's traditional Regencies, but I imagine that A MATTER OF CLASS harkens to those books, resulting in her legion of fans today.  I'm not sure how newer fans will feel about this one since it is so slim and doesn't allow enough time to get into further character development or secondary plots.  What I read, though, is a refreshing book that left me with a smile and further proof for Balogh's status on my favorites list.            

  

LONGING: Review - February YOTH Challenge

In a bid to thin out some of my TBR (*laughs hysterically* yeahright, like that will happen), I've resorted to reading some of the older titles that I've had for years. Yeah, we're talking books written back in the early 90s, and some even in the late 80s. I've reviewed two of them here on Ye Olde Blog. Now, since I am a child of the 80s and graduated high school back in '90, I never thought that I'd classify some of these books as old, or even older. But, hey...whatever, they're showing some age, and I've missed out on some winners with my hoarding tendencies. Some of Mary Balogh's older romances top that list.

For my February Year of the Historical challenge, hosted by Kmont, I chose LONGING by Mary Balogh. (and yeah, I'm still playing with how I want to type out book titles in the blog)

Sian Jones had been to Briain's finest schools, but manners and French lessons did not erase the stigma of being a lord's illegitimate daughter. Perhaps she would have been content among Welsh ironworkers, her mother's people, had not Alexander, Marquess of Craille, arrived to run the mine he inherited.

When the widowed Alexander came to live with his small daughter in turreted Glanrhyd Castle, the welsh poverty shocked him. But a greater jolt came from meeting Sian and the kiss he took before she could draw away. He asked her to be his daughter's governess. But neither pretended that was all he wanted. Even if Sian fought the desire between them, she could not stops the love that was drawing them together...or the passions that ignited beyond denial...

My first thoughts when I got through the beginning chapters of LONGING was that it was going to be a slow, dismal read, that maybe I should choose another historical romance for this month's read. I'm just being honest. But even back then, Mary Balogh had a knack for just making things work; it wasn't long before I was over half way through the book, eager to finish the book. The poor Welsh people under Alex's care may not have had wealth or possessions, but they truly had what was important -- family, strength, verve, and an innate talent for music. He comes to Wales as an obvious outsider, and it's not until he spends time with them that he realizes what he has been missing for years in England -- a sense of belonging. When he meets Sian - or actually, catches her spying on a Chartist meeting in the mountains -- he's at odds as to how to deal with her and is sure he'll never see her again. Erego the kiss...

And just like it usually happens in romance books, she turns up when he least expects it.

The title LONGING not only describes the Alex's physical pull for Sian, or the attraction she quickly denies for him. It's an apt description of what they have both done all of their lives -- longed to be part of something, community, family, love, whatever -- and never realized it until they spend time together. Sian has tried to carve a niche in the Welsh town of Cwmbran, always thinking she was an outsider due to her illegitimacy. It's not until it's almost too late when she realizes that most of her neighbors have always considered her as one of them.

LONGING is both raw and beautifully written, and once I was done with it I realized that I've done myself a serious disservice by not reading it sooner. Is it a keeper? Not sure since I'm not much into holding onto books when I'm finished these days. It's definitely a book that hallmarks the qualities in Balogh's writing that stand out today.

There is a smidge of violence in the book, although I'm sure it is nothing that will shock anyone's sensibilities these days. According to this version of Chartism (link provided above for just what that is), people would do a lot to force workers to join the Chartism movement -- even beatings and whippings. Scotch Cattle was one such group, and no, they're not the cute, furry bovines that I decorate my house with. I really truly wanted to believe that at first. And when I continued reading of the lengths they'd go to, my PC feminist hackles were all up. But it's a story, and one that depicts the desperation of coal workers in Europe back then for fair treatment, higher wages, and better provisions. Think 19th century Welsh Teamsters...yeah, Jimmy Hoffa would've been proud.

(I'm totally digging the links today...)

YOTH January Review: Something Wonderful

Earlier this month, I treated myself to a book from the Wayback Machine -- SOMETHING WONDERFUL by Judith McNaught.  My plans to use this book as my inaugural post for the Year of the Historical Challenge over at Kmont's still stands, but where do I start?  I guess we could begin with a synopsis of sorts:

Alexandra Lawrence, a penniless country girl, fell almost immediately in love with Jordan Townsende, the Duke of Hawthorne, the day she saved his life.  It wasn't apparent to them that this attempt on his life, which Alex bungled by shooting a would-be assassin, would be the first in multiple attempts on Jordan's life.  Nor did they figure that this chain of events would force Jordan into marrying the young girl  -- but her mama ensured that he would.  Needless to say, the Townsende marriage did not start off on the brightest of notes.  Given Jordan's less-than-positive opinion of women and their beguiling, manipulating ways (his own mother's bed hopping ways did not help), it wasn't long before his initial enchantment with Alex would tarnish.

What follows in a book that I would consider almost like a saga is a beautifully written love story that depicts Alex's undying love for her husband, even after it's proven that he is not the hero or good man she once believed him to be.  Oh, he doesn't kick puppies or pinch children, but his reputation in London is that of a man who gets what he wants and doesn't lose sleep over wasted things like emotions.  The ton gets off on keeping up with his latest mistress and betting on whose bed he'll jump into next.  So, yeah -- he's the antithesis of what we may call a hero.

But what makes him one?  Is he dashing and resourceful, heroic and unafraid of death?  Well, no...ok, yeah, he's resourceful.  And of course he's handsome, so that would probable make him dashing... 

Moving on -- is he unafraid to give his life for the ones he loves?  Does he stare danger in the eye and win each battle?  Hmm, well...

He learns to admit when he's wrong.  And yes -- that made me stand up and pay attention.  Granted, it almost came too late, but it will have to do. There's a distinct difference between heroes written back in the romances of the 1980s (SOMETHING WONDERFUL's copyright is1988) and those being published now.  Let's face it -- Jordan Townsende is an ass.  He's an endearing ass, true, but let's call a spade a spade.  Given his upbringing in which both of his parents were involved in open affairs and his father wasn't exactly going to take him to any father-son banquet, I can hardly fault Jordan for being a snob.  The heroes in today's romances, while many of them are highly memorable and make many of our hearts go pitter-patter, they just don't seem to carry the same baggage as earlier counterparts.  Maybe it's just me...*shrug*

Anyway, I didn't intend for this review to be a character study on Jordan or an investigation into heroes then and now.  SOMETHING WONDERFUL did something for me that I haven't been able to do in a while -- it parked my ass in a chair and forced me to read just for the sake of finding out what happens next.  And Jordan, damn his sexy butt, made my lower lip tremble at the end when he pleads with Alex, saying, "I love you, and if you die I'll never be able to tell you that."

Yeah, I'm sappy like that...

*sniff*