Review readers take note: don't allow yourself to be dissuaded from reading this lovely book by one negative critique. Consider carefully the criticism: could anything be more irrelevant as a criticism of a character's hair color???? Well, possibly the criticism of the cover to a Kindle reader. What makes a hero more heroic than cleverly humiliating a villain? And what would a story be without a conflict of some sort? It amazes me what some people criticize.
I would so much rather think about this book, which was simply a delight to read. The heroine, with the rather unlovely name of Hester, has a riches to rags to riches story - and it is oh, so satisfying to see her tale unfold. Buffeted by a drunkard father, unloved by a selfish mother and abandoned to a harsh, lonely hardscrabble existence, she is presented as a straggling, starving ugly duckling spinster. Yet, there's hope...
Tom is as rich as she is poor, but he has risen to his present position through his own industry, having been transported to Australia through England's harsh penal system. Money and success have not been enough to allow a former convict to be accepted by society, and he remains very much an outsider. Tom, however, simply doesn't care and virtually ignores society. He makes a delectable hero.
He somehow can't ignore Hester's plight and sets to help her a bit. He helps her get a job, which brings her more to his attention. Progressively his interest is piqued and therein lies our story. The VERY special, VERY romantic story of how the ugly duckling and the former convict fall in love - and are each transformed in the process.
Is there anything better than a thoroughly competent hero, one you can always depend upon to do the right thing and settle scores appropriately? One who falls in love so gradually that he hardly knows what hit him? One who never expected love? And, is there anything more satisfying to read about than the transformation of an ugly duckling into a swan? Well, I, for one loved reading about Mr. and Mrs. Dilhorne.
Enchanting. Easy to visualize. Vivid characterizations. Beautifully flowing storyline. Charming. Witty banter. Evocative romance. I don't have enough descriptive powers to express how much I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's one of those books that you read slowly, not wanting their story to end. I thoroughly enjoyed this author's imagination - she has the rare gift of creating delicate magic. As you may have guessed, I loved it.
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