Leo Tyndale has returned to England after five years as a missionary in India to become a teacher in Sandercombe. It doesn't take him long to realise that he is not the only outsider in the town. His attraction to the other - a Miss Hestia Royce grows daily. The rumours surround Miss Royce for being jilted at the altar,
I really liked this story and the characters
A NetGalley Book ( )

There are several issues with this story. Dialogue, setting details, plot and main characters. Also, that it is trying to be a regency book. There are few details indicating that it should be considered regency times, but the details are very slight and ring false.

Starting with Hestia, the heroine, said to be very wealthy, living unmarried by herself, with no servants. Would not happen in regency times. Certainly not to a women who was considered distinguished enough to enter a marriage of convenience to a son of a Duke. She is 'typically' unusual, overly fierce at every encounter, flouncing off in an offended tiff every chance she gets.

Hestia is very concerned with not caring about what people think about her, and doing as she pleases. Very soon afterwards, and in completely the opposite direction, she accuses the hero of slandering her good name, because, and I am directly quoting, "what you do not understand is that my reputation is the only thing that I have to my name! I am a woman, you fool, I cannot even own property really." (except that she does own her house, and has great wealth). To further explain, and in her typically futuristic wording "a woman's reputation, her good name - that's the only thing that I have that's mine, but once it's lost, isn't not something that I can just get back!"

She seems very adamant that her reputation should be strongly guarded. That does sound appropriately regency era! However, it is said AFTER she invites him into her home alone and unchaperoned, and visits him at his school house while he is teaching (whereupon he immediately cancels class for the rest of the day and sends the boys away).

An unchaperoned walk is next, and then, to top everything, she goes alone to the public inn where he is staying, demands in front of the common room full of men to know where his room is, and that she intends to go see him, and then visits him in his room (still alone). THEN she accuses him of ruining her name?

The 'son of a Duke', mistakenly referred to as Mr. Quinn, not Lord Isaac, literally runs away from her at the alter, DURING the wedding. Gentlemen would simply not do that and be able to remain a part of society. Then, he writes her a letter, thanking her for not suing for breach of promise, and INVITING HER TO COME VISIT at his home, with his NEW WIFE. Not quite correct for regency times, or for any era, really.

The hero Leo has arrived from India at long last, back home to his beloved, cherished England, a lovely land that he will never leave again, so much did he miss it! Until about a month goes by, whereupon he closes school in the middle of his lesson, because he must return to India! (OR later to Africa, or, wherever really. He doesn't seem to have given much thought about it.)

His students, apparently all farmer's children dependent to survive on having good harvests, attending school in regency times, for free, in the country, taught by a gentleman, then have a candid and frank discussion with him regarding his feels for the town's ruined woman.

The reference to 'Letters sent out to the postman' messages might be sent by post, but there was no roaming postman afoot. The 'engraved' wedding invitations that the heroine held happily in her hand 'You are cordially invited to the wedding of ...' Modern-type wedding invitations were not sent during regency times. More involved letters were written.

The tiny town has a large assembly room in which to hold public dances. Apparently regularly.

The hot summer is referenced dozens of times, and when the - erm - heroine visits the hero alone in his rooms at the Inn, he opens the door to the hall to see her and is shocked and stands with the door open, she replies 'you're letting the heat in.' Letting the heat in where? Into his early 19th century inn magically air conditioned rooms?

The anachronisms abound, and I will stop listing them because now I see that I have spent way too much time on this book, time which is better spent reviewing much better books.

This is not really a regency romance, try as hard as it does to be one. It is short, which is why I was able to finish it, but there are no redeeming qualities. It was not even bad enough to be good. I would not recommend this book to anyone who enjoys regency era stories. Can not recommend.

**eARC Netgalley** ( )

At the outset I have to confess this is not the type of book or genre (Regency Romance) I would normally read. Silly really, as I do enjoy period drama and I am a big fan of TV's 'Downton Abbey.' Emily Murdoch is possibly the next 'Julian Fellowes.'
Emily has degrees in History and English plus a Masters in Medieval Studies and it is clear she draws upon her academic training to strive for accuracy in the settings of this period piece. She does that with ease and paints a picture with words evocative of a bye-gone era.
Her characters Leo and Hestia come to life in this book and like all good authors she develops those two main characters so that the reader truly feels he/she has met a 'new friend.' I liked the way the book deals with issues of the day particularly the way the author underlines the 'inferior' role of women in that era in England. Ms Murdoch also captures the very essence of 'small-town' 'small-minded' little England in the way she writes about the gossip-mongers. The fictional village setting of the book has more 'loose tongues' than you can shake a stick at. The settings of the school house, church, Hestia's home, guest-house and harvest-time fields are all exquisitely interwoven with the characters.
The love story, because essentially that's what it is, is beautifully told through the feelings, actions and thoughts of both Leo and Hestia. I felt myself holding my breath as this relationship unfolded before my eyes.
Bravo! Ms Murdoch, for entertaining me and opening my mind to a new genre of books.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. ( )