Amy Lake

Classic Coze with Humor & a Dash of Gothic-ky Goodness
The secondary characters for this novel are groovy! I have a thing about secondary characters, knowing that is what I would have been in life back in the day. In this book, it is the brother Jody, fifteen, and the mistress, Lady Pamela that *makes* this book for me. Well, yes, I enjoyed Claire and Edward too.

This is a Classic Regency; the marital intimacy is tastefully implied not described. There is a pleasant omniscient narrator in places that I enjoyed, points of view from many characters handled with a deft hand that never leaves you confused or flipping back and forth. The situations are plausible; the historical details accurate, reactions consistent with the era and the characters believable. You will not find a twentieth century woman or a new-age sensitive guy in costume in The Earl's Wife. Huzzah!

Claire's resolute determination to find a way for her and her brother to escape their situation within the bounds of what was possible, as well as her resolution to Be Happy by choice rather than to pine and mope made her an admirable heroine in my eyes. This accounts for much of why I enjoy Amy Lake's writing. She remembers the difference in perspective from then and now and uses it, instead of ignoring or re-imaging history, to draw you in to the story and characters.

We observe the couple's growing attraction and fondness for each other, spiced by a gothic-ky lurking past haunting Lord Tremayne so he cannot, must not, will never love his wife.... His reasoning is trickled out in the narrative millimeter by millimeter. Part of me was desperate to know, another part wanted to [skim] while observing the river flowing by. Usually, I'm all for the brooding details, but in this case, I was wary and certain I would feel like weeping. Authors don't hold back on the gruesome gossip unless there is a reason to do so, well, good authors that is.

It all works out in the end, happily ever after and the Epilog is a teaser for the sequel and previous book. I've read both The Carriagemaker's Daughter and Lady Pamela and am still not sure which one is my favorite of the three. Re-reading them doesn't help, I just sigh like a dofus, resolving to decide which one the next time.

you can read a fuller review of this book and others at Back in the Day E-Book Reviews… (meer)

The story opens with Lord Edward Tremayne shopping with his friend and mistress Pamela. Tremayne meets the heroine, Claire de Lancie that evening at a ball and within five minutes offers marriage. At first Claire declines, despite desperate circumstances, but is finally forced to accept both due to benevolent manueverings by (now ex-mistress) Pamela, and high-handed measures taken by Tremayne. There follows a number of thin plot devices to cause the randy Tremayne to turn away from his bride.

The high profile given to Pamela, Tremayne's friend and former lover, is unusual. She both opens and closes the book. We are told that she and Tremayne do not love each other, but she is the one person everyone turns to when the going gets tough. She is beautiful, wise, discreet, and she wants the best for Tremayne--even though that means losing him. She is the only character who really engaged my sympathy.

This was an e-book from regencyreads.com.… (meer)