Dorothy Mack

I needed a break from serious reading, so I picked up a Regency romance. It was a pleasant enough read, with a play production included in the plot. The only thing that makes the premise work that our heroine could disguise herself with an ill-fitting dress, an ugly mob cap, and gray powder for her face and hair is because people didn't really look at servants, even companions to a young girl.

The play production amused me, because herding ... directing ... amateurs can be quite the challeng. show more I think this book caught that well.

Because this is a traditional Regency, all ends well. I liked it enough that I picked up another title by the author.

Recommended. show less

The language is a bit overly flowery for my tastes, but I was willing to overlook it for what I was convinced was the perfect set-up for some quality angst. Despite the overwhelming need for groveling on the part of the hero, all we get is one brief verbal apology from him, and then nothing else. Even the "repair the relationship" period happens off the page, with the book skipping from their stilted reunification in October to their renewed friendship and love in December. No groveling, no show more earning of trust, no confessing feelings, the whole integral conflict of the story just seemed to evaporate, which is very dissatisfying considering what a pathetic and shallow ass the hero is for more than half the book! And whatever happened to her insistence that they get an annulment?! I guess she just capitulated because... he would lose his inheritance? That's not romantic at all! Overall, it's not that it is badly written, I was just disappointed, as I was hoping for a plain, insecure heroine, or at least some angst, and a good grovel from the hero, and that is just not this story. show less

I can understand why people love regency romances. ”A Companion in Joy” is my second Regency romance I read, but this time is a clean one.
For me ”A Companion in Joy” is a 3.5-stars due to the fact that there were passages that didn’t flow easily and I had to read those passages a couple of times.
The emotional development of the heroine & hero is written in a very interesting manner. Kate’s character is strong, she is decisive and at the same time, she is determined and very show more generous. Nicholas is also stubborn, in the beginning, the main characters are not so fond of this situation but decide to work it out. Time and patience are two things that evolve during the blooming love they feel for each other.
Even though ”A Companion in Joy” was written in 1980 it is a very compelling book. I will try to find more of Dorothy Mark’s works. show less

So glad Dorothy Mack books are being reissued in e-book form. I personally didn't appreciate this author in my younger days, wanting more action and passion in my romance novels. Her novels have an understated quality , diverse characters and stories with depth without the reader being slammed in the face with instant lust and descriptive sex scenes.