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Meriden Park

by Julie Daines

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842,148,081 (4.4)None
Fiction. Romance. Historical Fiction. HTML:

Following her childhood rescue from the gutters of Calcutta, Mary Grace's life has been an astonishing rags-to-riches tale. The Wellings raised the half-Indian orphan with all the love and care the childless couple possessed, allowing her to grow into a beautiful and refined woman. But upon Mr. Welling's death, it is time for Mrs. Welling to take Mary home to Englandâ??home to Meriden Park.

Despite her genial nature, Mary is received with suspicion by the villagers. For his part, however, Mr. Robert Markham is intrigued by the curious new beauty in town. Determined to make her acquaintance, he offers Mary a bargain she can't refuse: a hot cross bun for a kiss. That seemingly innocent exchange is the first of many encounters between Robert and Mary, whose friendship blossoms into love during long walks in the privacy of Sherwood Forest. But the shadows of the forest hide a sinister secret, one Mary fears Robert might be a part of. As the mystery of the recent string of murders creeps closer and closer, Robert and Mary are drawn into a dangerous game, and unless she can unearth the truth, the couple risks losing one another forever.… (more)

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Showing 4 of 4
Set in Regency England near Sherwood Forest, Meriden Park is loosely based around the legend of Robin Hood. Main characters, Mary Grace and Robert Markham, are colorful and multi-layered, and a creative cast of secondary characters add much interest and variety. Mary Grace is of mixed heritage, rescued from the gutters of Calcutta, India by the Welling family. When Mr. Welling dies, Mrs. Welling and Mary Grace travel to Meriden Park in England. Mary is reserved and out of her element, but bravely tries to make the best of her circumstances. When she meets Robert, a man who is bent on trying to right the wrongs in the area, they are both intrigued. I enjoyed seeing their relationship grow as they try to bring the person behind mysterious deaths in the community to justice.

With plenty of suspense, adventure, and a dash of romance, this book has much to recommend it. It’s clean and wholesome with themes of family and community, helping others, and not judging other people.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from Covenant Communications. All opinions are my own. ( )
  swissgranny | Dec 9, 2022 |
It started with “a bun for a kiss” and turned into quite the tale that had me charmed from beginning to end.

Mary is a very mistreated woman. Being a ward, and having no family of her own, is bad enough but she is also of mixed race, her heritage showing in her skin. Not a servant, but not a noblewoman either, Mary is in an identity crisis, and now that Mrs. Welling, her only ally in the home, is getting sicker Mary knows her time at her home is limited.

Robert is a modern-day Robin Hood with a heart of gold. He is tired of the injustice in his town, especially in Sherwood Forest, where corruption continues to worsen, and something needs to be done about it, so he is taking matters into his own hands.

A chance meeting over hot cross buns sparks a friendship between Robert and Mary that will lead them both on an adventure that neither of them could’ve imagined.

Meriden Park is such a beautifully written tale with such immersive world building that I truly was lost in the narrative. I loved reading Mary’s tales of India during that time, the accounts so vivid and descriptive that it took my mind’s eye to that untamed and utterly beautiful country.

I also loved the Robin Hood parallels, as well as details from the fabled Sherwood Forest. It’s been awhile since I’ve read or even heard about Robin Hood, so this was a refreshing treat.

Many of the characters in this novel are wonderful, but there are a few that had my blood boiling, especially Fanny. That woman had me growling at the pages in frustration. It will never cease to infuriate me how some people can be so narcissistic.

One thing that really made this novel stand out for me was the racial injustice that is tackled in this novel, something I do not see often in Regency reads. I know that injustices have been around since the dawn of time, but it’s not often a topic, especially in a clean Regency romance, yet it’s something I know was something that many dealt with back then. I myself am in a biracial relationship and appreciate how the situation was addressed, showing the prejudices that Mary faced, while also showing that not everyone shares those sentiments.

I truly enjoyed this novel so much!

*I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher through JustRead Tours. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest, and my own. ( )
  cflores0420 | Dec 8, 2022 |
A regency story with a nod to Robin Hood, Meriden Park by Julie Daines combines intrigue with a slow-burn romance.

Mary Grace was a unique character in this book because of her background. With both British and Asian Indian blood, she isn’t fully accepted into either society and lives on the fringes of society, attempting to remain unseen. Then there’s Robert, an admirable gentleman who cannot stand injustice.

The characters are what made this book for me. From the moment Mary Grace and Robert meet (their meet cute is memorable), they become friends. And not just surface friends, but the kind who let each other in to the secret places of their lives. They learn to trust each other and through that friendship, love grows.

Detailed settings, well-developed side characters (including a quirky one who recites Shakespeare), and the mystery of the murders in Sherwood Forest kept me invested in this story. And the ending was exactly what I hoped for.

Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive or negative review. All opinions are my own. ( )
  Suzie27 | Dec 6, 2022 |
Julie Daines has long been a favorite author. The unique, memorable characters and storylines she creates really pull you in and Meriden Park is no different. It’s a fresh new twist on the familiar Robin Hood story, set in Regency times. From the first, I was drawn into the action and romance and found it hard to put down.

When Mary Grace journeys to Nottingham, England with Mrs. Welling, she encounters the same prejudices she left in India. The exception is the handsome man in the marketplace who offers her a bun in exchange for a kiss. Later in the evening, walking through Sherwood Forest, she witnesses a horrible crime and finds the same handsome young man near the scene. Is he involved somehow?

Robert Markham loves all things Robin Hood. He spends his evenings traipsing through Sherwood Forest complete with bow and arrows, trying to right wrongs. When he finds the young woman he offered a bun and kiss on the cheek to running through the forest, he tries to help her escape, but his defective heart prevents him from running very far. Mary helps him during his time of distress and the experience creates a bond between them. Each subsequent interaction brings them ever closer together. But when Robert’s quest for justice gets him in trouble, will she trust in his character and help him find the truth or will they be parted forever?

I loved Mary & Robert! Both had obstacles in their life to overcome. While Robert’s physical heart may have been defective, his kindness and capacity to love others was almost perfect. He sees beyond what others see and selflessly helps where he can. Mary loves the moonlight because in it, she can hide. No one can tell her skin color and she doesn’t feel like she has to keep her head down. I loved the moment she truly learns to accept herself. I loved the way she literally counts her blessings each night and the stories she tells of India. I also enjoyed her witty banter with Robert and quick mind. Her dreams added a fun element to the story as well.

There are several interesting side characters and I enjoyed the way the author took the seemingly unsavory characters and made them redeemable. The diversity of the characters added to the richness of the story, especially having a hero with a heart defect. My daughter has a congenital heart defect and it’s empowering to have such a great character with a similar struggle.

The nods to Robin Hood, multiple intriguing plots, engaging characters, suspenseful action, and heartfelt romance will definitely keep you turning those pages. Highly recommend to Regency romance, historical romance, and Robin Hood fans everywhere! I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and I was not required to provide a positive review. ( )
  Melissas-Bookshelf | Dec 4, 2022 |
Showing 4 of 4
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Fiction. Romance. Historical Fiction. HTML:

Following her childhood rescue from the gutters of Calcutta, Mary Grace's life has been an astonishing rags-to-riches tale. The Wellings raised the half-Indian orphan with all the love and care the childless couple possessed, allowing her to grow into a beautiful and refined woman. But upon Mr. Welling's death, it is time for Mrs. Welling to take Mary home to Englandâ??home to Meriden Park.

Despite her genial nature, Mary is received with suspicion by the villagers. For his part, however, Mr. Robert Markham is intrigued by the curious new beauty in town. Determined to make her acquaintance, he offers Mary a bargain she can't refuse: a hot cross bun for a kiss. That seemingly innocent exchange is the first of many encounters between Robert and Mary, whose friendship blossoms into love during long walks in the privacy of Sherwood Forest. But the shadows of the forest hide a sinister secret, one Mary fears Robert might be a part of. As the mystery of the recent string of murders creeps closer and closer, Robert and Mary are drawn into a dangerous game, and unless she can unearth the truth, the couple risks losing one another forever.

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