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literatureandleaves's review
5.0
I wish this came in a hardcover copy to add to my shelf. I’ve reread it multiple times and adore it each time. It’s a beautiful story filled with love and adventure and finding out who you are. How being truly loved lights your soul from within and gives you courage to be yourself. A clean regency novel that holds to the propriety of the time yet is filled with tension and deep emotions. Not stiff but sweet and loving. You will fall in love with it. You won’t be able to help yourself.
leslie_books_and_socks_rock's review
5.0
Loved it! Jennifer Moore does such a great job-I felt like I was in the book in India. It was exotic and magical. I loved getting to know General Jim Stackhouse more as he was a character in another book by Jennifer Moore.
ellingtonfeint's review
5.0
This is a really special book, despite its size. Lady Helen's sweetness is impressive, and I like the way that although she feels like her kindness and naive wonder is a weakness, she actually has great strength. She often thinks what she says is foolish, but often it's exactly right.
And Captain Michael Rhodes is the embodiment of kindness and intelligence. As Helen feels completely at ease with him, so will readers. His is the view of India the this book portrays.
I think this book is similar to the BBC version of Wives and Daughters. Imagine if sweet Molly and boyish Roger had met in India and he had served several years there already and I think you might almost have this book.
It is very interesting to read a book like this, it is wholly English in perspective, and one of the main Indian characters is a prince who is too big for his boots and is shown to be weak yet bad tempered. Yet the book is completely in sympathy and awe of India itself. It is a conundrum I face myself, born in a beautiful land which I have no true ancestral ties to, which has been torn away by Europeans from Indigenous people, it is hard to know what is appreciation of an unfairly treated culture, and what is condescension and a tinted view.
But while unsettling to read a book that paints a beautiful portrait of India and its wonders with no Indian perspectives, it is nevertheless a glimpse into both English culture in India, as they strive to keep their rolling green hills and tasteless foods wherever they are, and Indian culture and the beauty of the country itself.
And Captain Michael Rhodes is the embodiment of kindness and intelligence. As Helen feels completely at ease with him, so will readers. His is the view of India the this book portrays.
I think this book is similar to the BBC version of Wives and Daughters. Imagine if sweet Molly and boyish Roger had met in India and he had served several years there already and I think you might almost have this book.
It is very interesting to read a book like this, it is wholly English in perspective, and one of the main Indian characters is a prince who is too big for his boots and is shown to be weak yet bad tempered. Yet the book is completely in sympathy and awe of India itself. It is a conundrum I face myself, born in a beautiful land which I have no true ancestral ties to, which has been torn away by Europeans from Indigenous people, it is hard to know what is appreciation of an unfairly treated culture, and what is condescension and a tinted view.
But while unsettling to read a book that paints a beautiful portrait of India and its wonders with no Indian perspectives, it is nevertheless a glimpse into both English culture in India, as they strive to keep their rolling green hills and tasteless foods wherever they are, and Indian culture and the beauty of the country itself.
alissabar's review
4.0
Wow! The research Ms. Moore must have done about India to write this book. I felt like I was there. Great story.
melissasbookshelf's review
4.0
Really enjoyed this latest Jennifer Moore novel. Her books are easy to devour. This book is set in India in the early 1800's. Lady Helen is a somewhat bashful young woman who is trying to find her place and identity in this new world. She meets two handsome men. One loves India and is easy to talk to. The other is roguishly handsome and leaves her tongue tied, but only seems to be interested in hunting. As tensions escalate between the British and the Indians, who will Helen trust to keep her safe.
ghumpherys's review
5.0
Another fabulous story by Jennifer Moore! I loved the setting of India -- a lot of the books I've read make references in one way or another to British citizens and military in India during this time period, but this is the first time I've felt like I've gotten a taste for what that life and culture might have been like. It's so fun how all of her books are tied together too! Loved it!