G. G. Vandagriff

Solid angst!! This kind of tale is right up my alley, though I’m pretty sure absconding with an Earl’s heir leads to a massive, country-wide search - the aristocracy does not mess around when it comes to primogeniture. Regency Regina George(s) and all kinds of delightful misunderstandings. Good stuff!! (3.5 stars)

Cankered Roots by GG Vandagriff is an emotional tale of love, loss and finding out who you are. Alex, a genealogist, takes a break from helping others learn about their family trees and concentrates on her own. Desperately wanting to have a family after her husband's death, she sets out to uncover the grandfather she barely knew and whom her parents are determined to forget ever existed. What she begins to uncover reminds Alex that sometimes it is better to leave things buried in the show more past.

Originally written in 1993, this new edition of Cankered Roots was a pleasure to read. Taking a step back from modern technology, Alex and her friends have to uncover her family history by traditional means - searching libraries, microfilms, court documents, etc. It was so nice to read a story that isn't built around technology and how easy it is to find information online. Throw in nice doses of mystery, blackmail, unknown identities...even a dash of romance...and Cankered Roots is a great book to get lost in. I am eagerly looking forward to reading more adventures from Alex and her friends. show less

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