From Waif to Gentleman's Wifeby Julia Justissreviewed by Cybil SolynOctober 2009, 288 pages, Publisher: Harlequin, ISBN: 0373295642 Back Cover Blurb: When a destitute governess faints on Sir Edward Greaves's threshold, chivalry demands that he offer her temporary shelter. However, the desire Ned feels when he catches her in his arms isn't at all gentlemanly….
With her large, troubled eyes and slender frame, Joanna Merrill calls to something deep inside this guarded man. For one who has purposely shunned the conniving beauties of London society, just how much is Ned risking by having this intriguing woman under his roof…?
I really like Justiss' historical romances, but it's her trads that I covet. In a day and age when trads are hard to come by, excellent trads are like unearthing buried treasure, which is why I'm always a bit giddy when starting a Justiss trad. Thank God I struck gold again.
Joanna Merrill is too beautiful to be as poor and penniless as she is. Once again her looks have gotten her tossed out on her ear. Having no where else to go she decides to find her distant brother, but when she finally arrives at her destination it's only to discover that her brother has been fired and that the estate has a new owner, Sir Edward Greaves.
Ned thought he had problems enough, what with buying an estate that has been badly mismanaged and seems to be on the verge of an industrial uprising, but when a beautiful, if bedraggled, woman shows up on his doorstep at midnight he knows he's got bigger problems - ones that have to do with the way his heart beats faster and his brain goes to mush.
Justiss sets her story against the historical background of the industrial revolution and the rise of automation and modern machinery. This is my favorite part of the book. So many authors forget that a wonderful historical setting can enrich a novel as well as progress the plot. Our hero and heroine are brought together by their work bringing an estate back to working order, as well as dealing with Luddites. Justiss shows us how the working class was affected by the loss of jobs to machines, and the poor working conditions that existed before labor laws.
Joanna and Ned both have intriguing back stories and I enjoyed watching them fall in love with one another. I was miffed with the use of The Big Misunderstanding at the end of the book, but it was only a slight annoyance when compared to the rich history and wonderful writing Justiss always employs.
Bottom Line: History and romance weave together to make for one heck of a good story.
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Cybil Solyn, csolyn@rakehell.com
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