Suitors and Sabotage

Reviewed by: Sheila Dube - Springvale Public Library, Springvale, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: June 11, 2018

Review

It is the early 1800's and Imogene Chively, having had a season in London, is receiving two handsome brothers at her country place to decide if Ernest, the elder, would be a suitable suitor for her hand. As with all properly contrived meetings, Imogene naturally hits it off with Benjamin, his younger brother. While Imogene and her friend Emily help each other regulate their flirting in a respectable manner during their planned outings with the brothers, it becomes apparent that something or someone has a sinister plan toward Benjamin. As the matchmaking group moves from place to place, falling ruins, bucking horses, wasps and a sinking skiff provide low-key melodrama in this regency romance. The focus of the novel stayed on the movements of the group from place to place and the lack of character development made it easy to not get emotionally invested in the story.

Overall Book Score: fair