Blackmoore...Review

About the book:
Kate Worthington knows her heart and she knows she will never marry. Her plan is to travel to India instead—if only to find peace for her restless spirit and to escape the family she abhors. But Kate’s meddlesome mother has other plans. She makes a bargain with Kate: India, yes, but only after Kate has secured—and rejected—three marriage proposals.

Kate journeys to the stately manor of Blackmoore determined to fulfill her end of the bargain and enlists the help of her dearest childhood friend, Henry Delafield. But when it comes to matters of love, bargains are meaningless and plans are changeable. There on the wild lands of Blackmoore, Kate must face the truth that has kept her heart captive. Will the proposal she is determined to reject actually be the one thing that will set her heart free?

Set in Northern England in 1820, Blackmoore is a Regency romance that tells the story of a young woman struggling to learn how to follow her heart. It is Wuthering Heights meets Little Women with a delicious must-read twist.

I read Julianne's first novel, Edenbrooke, and thought it a nice debut and so I was curious to read this new story.  The setting is Regency and a dark castle on the moors.  Kate has always longed to visit Blackmoore, the manor home of Henry, her closest friend.  When her opportunity finally arrives, there are selfish meddlesome mothers and unwelcome new friends who stand in the way of her enjoyment of visiting Blackmoore and who may inhibit Kate's future chance for happiness.

I didn't like Kate at first, but she grew on me.  I adored Henry.  But, the rest of the characters?  Wow, not a likeable one in the bunch.  Both mothers were extreme caricatures and odious.  I believe her mother's inappropriate behavior would have had her shunned from polite society and Kate really needed to find her backbone sooner than she did.

The novel alternates between Kate's current story and flashbacks which are necessary to explain the history and experiences that have brought her to this point in time.  I thought the ending was abrupt and there were some unanswered questions.  I wanted closure and to know what happened with some of these horrible people as well as the fall out from Kate and Henry's decisions.

Like Edenbrooke, howeverthis is a sweet, clean romance; entertaining and a nice diversion.  Fans of Regency romance will enjoy it.

Thanks to Shadow Mountain for the opportunity to review this book.  You can learn more about Julianne Donaldson here.  You can see other review and tour stops here. You can purchase your own copy here.

Read 9/13

* * *
3/5 Stars

Comments

  1. My review of this book will be posted on Monday. I really enjoyed it.

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  2. I read another review of this book. It sounds good and I like the cover as well.

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  3. Thanks for your thoughtful review. I've read some mixed reviews about this book.

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  4. Good honest review. I need to read this. I sampled it and liked it.

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