Linda Banche

I purchased this as it was on offer at the time and it was a novella – so that even though Regency is not my usual choice of historical (I dislike Austen) it was worth a taste. I'm pleased I did. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It left me with a wide smile and a bright outlook.

The humour is gentle, the courtship between Clara and Justin even more so. The social mores of the time being highly critical of reading “novels” is beautifully handled, and Justin’s hiding his reading of ‘Pride & Prejudice’ from his shallow friends is worthy of a sit-com routine. By the end I was rooting for the two to cast aside their objectionable contemporaries and reach out to each other. Which they do, giving a well-rounded completion to this novella, and an idiotic sense of “ah...” to me.

I shall be looking up other titles by this author as an antidote to the more intense reads in my TBR pile.
… (meer)

In early 19th century London, Justin Fellowes has a secret that he does not want his small group of buddies to know, he loves reading novels and his favorite is Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice." Miss Clara Haley also favors "Pride and Prejudice," as it shows a strong and intelligent woman finding love with a handsome man willing to accept such an intelligent woman. When both just happen to meet at Hookham's bookstore and library returning the same Austen masterpiece, the attraction is immediate but reserved due to the conventions of the day and their own insecurities. Will they be able to reconnect? This is a very quick novella in the Regency romance subgenre, which I just learned refers to the time of the British Regency (1811-1820)and reflects a clean romance style of dialogue over physicality. It was interesting to sense the tone of the cultural period; however, it only took me an hour to read the basic Hallmark-style plot. For those who enjoy a light little romance, there will be no disappointment.… (meer)

This short novella caught my interest as Ms. Banche is making a series based on her lending library. Adding that she puts s humorous slant on the Regency I gave it a try and was pleasantly surprised. The end coming far too quickly and my wanting to know more of not only our hero but our heroine. As well as their friends.

We learn enough to know our heroine has more depth to her than most Regency misses, but we need more. Without spoiling the novel it unravels that the two have matters in common that they need to learn more of each other, as well as being able to quote from memory passages of popular novels.

(Something that might be easier in an age without the distractions we have now, for the quotations I think we remember are more along the lines of "Luke, I am your Father.")

Please Ms. Banche, turn your novella into a full length tale and give us more.… (meer)