Most helpful customer reviews
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4.0 out of 5 stars
An abused daughter learns to trust her honorable husband., Nov 9 2000
After the cruelty of her father and brothers, Serena's distrust of men can certainly be understood, even by her new husband, who married her to comply with the deathbed wish of his older brother. He agrees not to consummate the marriage so that Serena, on gaining her majority, will be able to get an annulment and manage her own inheritance. Of course, he knows that the annulment is unlikely ever to take place because of legal complications, but he hopes that in the few months remaining she will change her mind and agree to remain his wife.But Serena is a tough cookie. The misery she has endured from her own family members makes her unlikely to easily trust a stranger. However, Ian is a patient and gentle man, as interested in helping the less fortunate (on his part, a school for lower-class boys) as Serena is (on her part, a desire to found an institution for mistreated women). He realizes much sooner than she does that they are made for each other. But he does not know if the bitterness in her heart from the past will ever melt into love for him. I found this a very enjoyable, if not unflawed, Regency love story. The mistakes with characters' names, the lack of closure on the matter of Serena's father's previous marriage, the constant "are you not" at the end of statements, the lack of clarity about what Ian's brother actually wanted when he made his deathbed statement--all of these managed to leave me with a sense of frustration at the end, which is why it doesn't get five stars from me. But you can be sure I will read the tales remaining in Savery's "Six" series (in fact, I have already read the ones taking place before and after this one), primarily because I find them overall delightful romances and secondarily because of my decidedly curious nature....
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1.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointing, Oct 31 2000
By A Customer
In short, Serena, who was previously engaged to Ian, who dies, marries Ian's brother, James. Ian, on his deathbed, was making a request to Ian regarding Serena, but before he finishes, he dies. Serena is one of the most insecure women I have read in a regency. She spends practically the entire book trying not to fall in love with her husband. Why, is the logical answer. I think it be really be the thing to love one's husband. And there was no reason for her not to. Just her insecurities and weird characteristics that got in the way of the story. Pass this one by
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3.0 out of 5 stars
Closer to three-and-a-half stars, really =, Oct 24 2000
Exaggeration can be a valuable tool in a writer's toolbox, unless it falls over the brink into caricature. This may produce almost the exact opposite effect from that intended by the author. Such is the case with this book. Had only half the references to Serena's fears and insecurities been included, they would have conveyed her ideas satisfactorily and not left the reader with that 'beat-over-the-head' feeling. Granted, growing up as she did, her sense of inadequacy and mis-treatment are not to be wondered at, and the author is to be complimented for tackling the problem of women's rights. But, enough already! Enough.And that hero! Yes, we all say we want warm and fuzzy, but not somewhat stupid with it. How else to account for his actions? On the other hand, it was nice to find characters from previous books mentioned or taking a larger supporting role in this story, and to find the promise that they'll appear again. Another clever note was to have the book contain three weddings: one near the beginning and one near the end, featuring the same couple both times; the latter occasion being the one in which they really meant the words. The wedding in the middle was that of an unusual pair of secondary characters, righting a slew of wrongs, and bringing joy to nearly everyone, including the reader. A bit more attention to the editing would have enhanced the book greatly: missing words and characters referred to by the wrong name add nothing but aggravation. I suspect that most readers will follow the series, however, wanting to see the loose ends tied up -- even if on the installment plan.
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