Book Review
Mar. 25th, 2022 03:41 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kenjariSomeone to Love
by Mary Balogh
Anna Snow grew up in an orphanage, becoming a teacher there when she reached adulthood. When she is 25, she receives a letter from a solicitor that ultimately reveals that she is the only legitimate heir of Humphrey Westcott, Earl of Riverdale, displacing her half siblings, who are simultaneously revealed to be illegitimate. While they reject Anna, the rest of the family embraces her and begins to train her for her new place in society. Avery Archer, Duke of Netherby, is the stepson of Louise Westcott, Anna's aunt. to his surprise, the normally detached and guarded Avery finds himself taking an interest in Anna, often providing her an escape when she gets overwhelmed with her new role and the preparation for it.
Anna and Avery are both somewhat unconventional people in the context of Regency society, and are very self-contained and play things close to the chest. Someone to Love is also more historically accurate than the other historical romances I've read - the characters act and think much more like 19th century people, and the strictures of that society are taken more seriously. Thus, Anna and Avery's romance is subtle and understated, although laced with a sly humor that delighted me. It does make the first half of the book a bit slow, but the buildup is worth it. Once the relationship gets going, the story and the romance become extremely emotionally satisfying.
by Mary Balogh
Anna Snow grew up in an orphanage, becoming a teacher there when she reached adulthood. When she is 25, she receives a letter from a solicitor that ultimately reveals that she is the only legitimate heir of Humphrey Westcott, Earl of Riverdale, displacing her half siblings, who are simultaneously revealed to be illegitimate. While they reject Anna, the rest of the family embraces her and begins to train her for her new place in society. Avery Archer, Duke of Netherby, is the stepson of Louise Westcott, Anna's aunt. to his surprise, the normally detached and guarded Avery finds himself taking an interest in Anna, often providing her an escape when she gets overwhelmed with her new role and the preparation for it.
Anna and Avery are both somewhat unconventional people in the context of Regency society, and are very self-contained and play things close to the chest. Someone to Love is also more historically accurate than the other historical romances I've read - the characters act and think much more like 19th century people, and the strictures of that society are taken more seriously. Thus, Anna and Avery's romance is subtle and understated, although laced with a sly humor that delighted me. It does make the first half of the book a bit slow, but the buildup is worth it. Once the relationship gets going, the story and the romance become extremely emotionally satisfying.
