G. G. Vandagriff

Well that was just adorable.
[SPOILER WARNING - the plot is not complex, but review possibly a bit spoiler-ish]

If like me you require the occasional, "Despite his reputation as an incurable rake, handsome Duke falls madly in love with spunky, unconventional heroine" kind of book, you could do much worse than [b:Her Fateful Debut|31551313|Her Fateful Debut|G.G. Vandagriff|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1471508927s/31551313.jpg|52231510]. I enjoyed it very much even though it commits sin show more of being the first in a trilogy - but since this book stands on its own, not unpardonable.

The hero and heroine in this case are country girl Penelope Swinton, and dashing Londoner Viscount Beau Wellingham. Their first meeting is interesting and unique, involving British government agents and a French spy. I didn't pay too much attention to that part because honestly I just want to read about the gowns and stately homes and dancing and whatnot.

Through a complicated, spy-related series of events there is an attack on Penny's life during which she proves herself NOT to be one of those ninnies who cowers and screams while Beau does the hard work of saving her. No, she participates in taking down the villain. Loved it! Somehow this misadventure is seen as a compromising situation which, as we readers of this kind of thing have come to expect, results in their forced engagement to 'save Penelope's reputation.'

AS Penny and Beau progress with their wedding plans, there are charming scenes of them getting to know and like each other better. There are no ridiculous misunderstandings to tear them apart; and thankfully no laughable, overwrought sex scenes. The supporting characters are likeable and fun. And there is a nod to Jane Austen, as this is set at the time of the Napoleonic Wars when Jane was writing, and one of the characters is a competing authoress. All good stuff. I read this in one day, which is unusual for me, so I assume it was really short but it's hard to tell with Kindle books. show less

As modern readers, we tend to focus on the glitter of the Regency, glamming it up with amorous adventures in period costumes. G.G. Vandariff explores the emotions involved in a love triangle with a steady hand, using the tension of the subject to provide an interesting character study as well as a romance consistent with period values.

I'll admit it, Grenville was just ticking me off! However, the writing was excellent, the whiny heroine stuff blessedly not present, and there was enough show more historical accuracy to believe this story, to actually see these people struggling along. There were moments when Grenville's character, sense of humor and desire to be more than an imbecile peeped through. It was enough to keep Felicity [and me] hoping. I wasn't sorry that I carried on.

Normally misunderstanding tropes make me nuts, but this one didn't. Because the misunderstandings weren't between the couple, they were within the characters themselves. This couple talked, sometimes it helped and sometimes it made things worse. Often, the thoughts put in to words take longer to reach the mind than the ear, or the heart. Lord Grenville was genuinely confused, aristocratically selfish, and very immature but, even when he was being what I would consider a mar-oon, he was not outside of the ordinary as far as men of his time. Felicity was reasoned in her limited expectations, determined in her hope, and foolish in her exhausted grief. Family interference, friends trying to help that made things worse, and the old flame fanning the entire mess was entirely believable. [except for the Dr. but even he was credible in a contrived sort of way].

The pacing of the story was well done, the conflicts focused and the development of the characters convincing. I understood Grenville's baby steps and backsliding. I sympathized with Felicity's roller coaster of hope, hormones and one-straw-too-many. Dialog and secondary characters were engaging, descriptions and situations visually and emotionally convincing. There was a Traditional Flavor that some might find slow but I prefer romance that takes the time to be romantic, even when the hero has to bash his knees, stub his toes and have a two by four smack him upside the head before he figures it out. And yes, I confess, I like a heroine that is reflective of the way women were prepared for life in the period written. Felicity was admirable, even when she ran instead of stopping to think things through, and completely aware that there were realities of the time she simply could not ignore. Yes, the book has a sickly sweet epilogue but that is the Standard now, not the exception, so I live with it and move on, or I try to.

I recommend this book for a thoughtful read, when there's time to ponder the nuances of character and love as it develops over time and with effort instead of springing forth in a glittering rush of lust that no one can control.

read my complete review at pagetraveler dot blogspot dot com show less

So, this book was short, sweet and cute. It was a perfect distraction for my long flight after working 16 hours on vacation and got me just in the mood to see my sweetie at the gate! The book chronicles a rather rushed romance between a notorious rake of society and a young ingénue that had potential in society but scandal forced her marriage. I know, it sounds predictable, but the little added plot points of their relationship blooming and the pitfalls of their brief engagement were a show more small change up. I was rather surprised to see that the scorned lover of the rake was not involved in the plot, but it would have made it that much more predictable.

Like I said, a nice cute read to get you into a sappy place with little or no frills that force commitment. show less

I loved this book, but it took me quite a while to retain the names of the women and keep them all straight. I don't think it was anything the author did, though. I was reading this on my Kindle, and I've noticed before that it's harder to keep up with the details of the story when I'm reading an ebook.

There is a lot going on in this book. Four separate stories and four almost-strangers learning about themselves and each other during a month in Italy. Each women embraces the artist inside show more while discovering the love around them. They bask in the agape love of the Italians and their fellow "Crazy Ladies", and eventually discover a little romantic love, as well. This novel is set to be the first of four and I can't wait to read more to see what happens next. There were several loose ends that I want to see wrapped up.

I loved the language of this book. One thing I love about the Kindle is that I can mark passages. In some books, I don't mark any, even if I enjoy the book. This is one of those books, though, that's full of wisdom and beautiful words that you want to store in your heart to carry around and pull out when you're having a less-than-wonderful day.

"That's life, MacKenzie. We can't go back, only forward. And we can't afford to waste the past. The best we can do is reframe it. We only have so many years on this earth. They all count."

"True artists must be determined not to shy away from what they might find. She remembered a quote from Nietzche, Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it: Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it."

"Remember the Duomo," he said. "Bruneschelli just proceeded brick by brick. he never knew what he would do from on day to the next. He worked in faith, and according to the legend he never doubted that the next step to creating the world's first dome would be given to him in the moment that he needed it. He never saw the end from the beginning. None of us do."

I received this ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Read more reviews at http://www.livinglearninglovinglife.com show less