I like the idea of interconnected stories – there have only been a few Regency anthologies that had this idea, and I’m sure it’s a lot of work for the authors, but it gives the stories a common background, and that helps when trying to create a romance that works despite the short page count.
The Diamonds of Welbourne Manor (Anthology)
Stories by Diane Gaston, Deb Marlowe and Amanda McCabe
(2009, Regency) 6/14/09
Grade: 3.5
Three interconnected stories by Diane Gaston, Deb Marlowe and Amanda McCabe. The illegitimate children of the Duke and Duchess of Manning live a charmed life despite their scandalous reputation, but after their parents’ deaths, they have to find love while still being true to the lively spirit of their family and the happy times they’ve shared at Welbourne.
I enjoyed the Regency feel of the three stories more than I enjoyed any particular love story. None of them was all that emotionally involving as a romance. However, I liked the overall atmosphere of the book, and the interesting background the authors gave to this family. (I wondered how historically accurate it was – none of the characters suffer any serious problems due to their illegitimacy, which seems surprising despite Prinny’s approval.) The first story, Justine and Brenner, did the most to lay out the family background, and perhaps because of that, the romance seemed like an afterthought. However, I felt it had the most emotional involvement of the three, with Justine’s questioning her place in the family, and Brenner’s struggle to deal with his mother’s desertion. The second story, Ned and Annalise, was the most fully realized as a romance, but it felt a bit superficial. And the last story, Drew and Charlotte, felt the most perfunctory – it was the shortest, and the most questionable in terms of the historical background. But overall, I enjoyed entering the world the authors created, even if the stories were too short to really delve into the characters.
Another book that explores the world of illegitimate children in the Regency. Unfortunately, this one mostly ignored the problem – I’m sure money and royal connections went a long way toward smoothing their path, but still, I couldn’t help wondering when Annalise and Charlotte discuss “having a season” in London. Would that have been a realistic option?
Karen Wheless
Latest posts by Karen Wheless (see all)
- Love Irresistibly by Julie James - June 18, 2013
- Vacation Reading - June 17, 2013
- The Way Home by Megan Chance - June 1, 2013