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english_lady03's review against another edition
4.0
I’d heard many good things about Mist of Midnight, the last novel in the Daughters of Hampshire series when I requested this one. I decided to read the prequel first, although it was not really necessary as they are both standalone books and there is no connection in terms of the characters.
I’m more used to Regencies then Victorian gothic thrillers cum Romance, but Mrs Byrd’s series would appeal to all fans of historical fiction set at this time I believe. The setting was immersive, and the story kept my attention pretty much from the outset.
There have been other stories exploring madness and the treatment of those considered mad in the eighteenth and nineteenth century, but I think this one was one of the best. The subject matter was treated sensitively, and was realistic in the context of the tension between the family members. In a way, even the audience and the protagonist aren’t sure if everything was as should have been.
There were similarities between this and the last book, as it has an English heroine with a rather exotic background. In this case she is half Maltese, believing herself to have been the illegitimate product of an affair between and English gentlewoman and a Maltese soldier. Annabel is strong and intelligent, although a little vulnerable, and the details about Maltese culture and customs are well researched and well incorporated into the story. There was also an interesting twist with her being Catholic- and unusual and perhaps daring step in Christian Fiction. It was necessary to make a lot of the detail work, and was never really an issue with me.
There’s and handsome dashing hero who may or may not have honourable intentions (like last time), and a suitably awful antagonist, plenty of mystery and intrigue with original twists and turns and a satisfying conclusion. In a way, it gives seasoned historical romance readers all they would want, without so much of the mushiness and cheesiness one gets in some novels. As last time, I did notice a few Americanisms which stood out, but apart from that, no major complaints. I only wish international reviewers like me could get print copies of books like this more easily.
I received an electronic version of this title from Howard Books for the purposes of review. I was not required to write a positive one and all opinions expressed are my own.
I’m more used to Regencies then Victorian gothic thrillers cum Romance, but Mrs Byrd’s series would appeal to all fans of historical fiction set at this time I believe. The setting was immersive, and the story kept my attention pretty much from the outset.
There have been other stories exploring madness and the treatment of those considered mad in the eighteenth and nineteenth century, but I think this one was one of the best. The subject matter was treated sensitively, and was realistic in the context of the tension between the family members. In a way, even the audience and the protagonist aren’t sure if everything was as should have been.
There were similarities between this and the last book, as it has an English heroine with a rather exotic background. In this case she is half Maltese, believing herself to have been the illegitimate product of an affair between and English gentlewoman and a Maltese soldier. Annabel is strong and intelligent, although a little vulnerable, and the details about Maltese culture and customs are well researched and well incorporated into the story. There was also an interesting twist with her being Catholic- and unusual and perhaps daring step in Christian Fiction. It was necessary to make a lot of the detail work, and was never really an issue with me.
There’s and handsome dashing hero who may or may not have honourable intentions (like last time), and a suitably awful antagonist, plenty of mystery and intrigue with original twists and turns and a satisfying conclusion. In a way, it gives seasoned historical romance readers all they would want, without so much of the mushiness and cheesiness one gets in some novels. As last time, I did notice a few Americanisms which stood out, but apart from that, no major complaints. I only wish international reviewers like me could get print copies of books like this more easily.
I received an electronic version of this title from Howard Books for the purposes of review. I was not required to write a positive one and all opinions expressed are my own.
misspippireads's review against another edition
4.0
Miss Annabel Ashton shares her story. It's Gothic and captivating. It brought to mind Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey, but instead of poking fun at a Gothic tale, it's a true haunting mystery. Yes, there is a touch of romance and faith in the tale, but I think it's mostly a mystery told in the first person.
Annabel needs to uncover the mystery of her mother (if she was truly married or not) and if she is going insane (just like her mother). Beyond Annabel's personal mysteries, her cousin Edward is working on business dealings and asking Annabel help the conversation go well between him and new (possible) business partners. Edward and Annabel grew up together, but their views of each other are vastly different. Annabel desires the sibling friendship they had when they were younger while Edward wants to use Annabel for his own gain, a pawn for his debts and business dealings. Her faith in the Lord gives her strength when she is hurt by Edward and his wife's dealings.
Byrd weaves an interesting historical faith facts in this book. Annabel is Catholic which is a minority in England. She meets other devote Catholics around her family's estate, Highcliffe, but again they are in the minority. After Annabel's tale, Byrd shares an Author's Note about Christianity in England. It's a a very brief overview, but very interesting.
Bride of a Distant Isle is book two in the Daughters of Hampshire series. I previously read Mist of Midnight, book one. I think each story is a standalone piece with the location of Hampshire and the Gothic genre tying them together. GoodReads says that there will be a book three in the series called A Lady in Disguise coming in 2017. I am looking forward to reading it!
Time Period: 1851-1854
Location: Near Milford on Sea, Hampshire, England (and Malta)
Reviewed from an Edelweiss copy. Thank you, Howard Books!
Annabel needs to uncover the mystery of her mother (if she was truly married or not) and if she is going insane (just like her mother). Beyond Annabel's personal mysteries, her cousin Edward is working on business dealings and asking Annabel help the conversation go well between him and new (possible) business partners. Edward and Annabel grew up together, but their views of each other are vastly different. Annabel desires the sibling friendship they had when they were younger while Edward wants to use Annabel for his own gain, a pawn for his debts and business dealings. Her faith in the Lord gives her strength when she is hurt by Edward and his wife's dealings.
Byrd weaves an interesting historical faith facts in this book. Annabel is Catholic which is a minority in England. She meets other devote Catholics around her family's estate, Highcliffe, but again they are in the minority. After Annabel's tale, Byrd shares an Author's Note about Christianity in England. It's a a very brief overview, but very interesting.
Bride of a Distant Isle is book two in the Daughters of Hampshire series. I previously read Mist of Midnight, book one. I think each story is a standalone piece with the location of Hampshire and the Gothic genre tying them together. GoodReads says that there will be a book three in the series called A Lady in Disguise coming in 2017. I am looking forward to reading it!
Time Period: 1851-1854
Location: Near Milford on Sea, Hampshire, England (and Malta)
Reviewed from an Edelweiss copy. Thank you, Howard Books!
michellehenriereads's review against another edition
4.0
Bride of a Distant Isle reads more like a modern Jane Eyre than a contemporary romance. There were no lines such as, "when I kissed him I felt a tingle of electricity run through my whole body..." which is the common line used repeatedly in clean romance novels. Hooray! I love it when a novel is original rather than a repeat of other books. It also has a Jane Eyre feel because it has other...
To read the full review go to www.talesuntangled.wordpress.com
To read the full review go to www.talesuntangled.wordpress.com
melissasbookshelf's review against another edition
4.0
This is the second gothic novel in the Daughters of Hampshire series. From mad houses to murder, this book takes the reader on a wild ride as Annabel tries to discover what really happened to her mother. While the hero Marco somewhat disappointed me, the story compelled me to keep reading way past bedtime. This Christian gothic is geared more towards Catholicism, but I liked how the religious aspects are handled subtlety through the characters. I'm looking forward to the third book in the series.
rosannelortz's review against another edition
5.0
The second book in the Daughters of Hampshire series, Bride of a Distant Isle follows the adventures of Annabel Ashton. Born the illegitimate daughter of a gentlewoman whose Maltese lover abandoned her, Annabel has always known that her cousin Edward is the rightful heir of Highcliffe Hall. She intends to become a teacher or governess, hoping she will not succumb to the same insanity that led to her mother being incarcerated in an asylum. But when Edward, short of money, tries to use Annabel as a pawn for his own purposes, she finds herself thrust into a disconcerting world of suitors and secrets which will turn her life upside down and perhaps uncover the truth about her origins.
Bride of a Distant Isle began a little too melodramatically for my tastes (“The gaps between Morgan’s teeth had been charming as a child but now reminded me of the widening cracks in his soul….”), but the prose soon evened out into the subtle, spare, and evocative storytelling which I enjoy so much in Sandra Byrd’s books. While the first book, Mist of Midnight, intertwined a Victorian mystery with the history of British India, Bride of a Distant Isle ties in the culture of the island of Malta. Annabel’s unknown father came from Malta–as does the handsome captain Marco Dell’Acqua whom Edward requests his cousin to entertain. Maltese customs (such as the lace cap a bride wears) provide pivotal clues in this well-researched and well-paced story.
The locked rooms, sinister poisons, forced incarcerations, and faked deaths make this book an admirable addition to the genre of Gothic romance–the sort of book about which Catherine Morland might say: “Oh! I am delighted with the book! I should like to spend my whole life in reading it.”
Disclosure: I received a free review copy of this book, but the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Bride of a Distant Isle began a little too melodramatically for my tastes (“The gaps between Morgan’s teeth had been charming as a child but now reminded me of the widening cracks in his soul….”), but the prose soon evened out into the subtle, spare, and evocative storytelling which I enjoy so much in Sandra Byrd’s books. While the first book, Mist of Midnight, intertwined a Victorian mystery with the history of British India, Bride of a Distant Isle ties in the culture of the island of Malta. Annabel’s unknown father came from Malta–as does the handsome captain Marco Dell’Acqua whom Edward requests his cousin to entertain. Maltese customs (such as the lace cap a bride wears) provide pivotal clues in this well-researched and well-paced story.
The locked rooms, sinister poisons, forced incarcerations, and faked deaths make this book an admirable addition to the genre of Gothic romance–the sort of book about which Catherine Morland might say: “Oh! I am delighted with the book! I should like to spend my whole life in reading it.”
Disclosure: I received a free review copy of this book, but the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
marmeelovesbook's review against another edition
5.0
Well, I have to say that if one feels like being transported to 19th century England, complete with all the mystery, intrigue and romance of a wonderful Gothic novel, do pick up Sandra Byrd’s “Bride of a Distant Isle", the second installment in her Daughters of Hampshire series. The author executes a brilliant gothic novel, complete with the setting being one conducive to things that go “bump in the night” with an English Manor called Highcliffe positioned right next to a sea whose water pounds mercilessly against the land creating all kinds of atmosphere and “thickly salted mist that clouds vision like a cataract”. Oh yes, Sandra Byrd sets the scene perfectly.
Our heroine Annabel Ashton is a teacher at the Rogers day School for Young Ladies In Winchester but is at the mercy of her not so merciful cousin Edward, who has been helping with her financial provision. Edward has decided that to further his business connections that cutting Annabel’s financial assistance which will prevent her from teaching, while also trying to arrange an advantageous marriage to help him with his failing finances. The problem is while the man may be of good financial means, his character is truly that of a fiend, which of course plays well into the Gothic themes of the novel. While the villain is admittedly awful, our hero, a Maltese captain named Captain Marco Dell’Acqua is about as swoon-withy a hero as they come. He is at Highcliffe, also on business, looking to help his people the Maltese by forming a business alliance with her cousin Edward. As mentioned, Marco is truly a dreamy hero, but author does a wonderful job of keeping you just a little off –balance at times in wondering, is he really a good guy or… not? Both Annabel and Captain Dell'Acqua have much in common as they both have a link to Malta- for the Captain, it is his home and for Annabel, all she knows of it is that her father was from there, but she knows nothing else as she always lived under the shame of being “illegitimate”. Dell'Acqua has secrets of his own, and its fascinating to read how those unfold. Some of my favorite parts in the novel were the chemistry between these two. I loved their “hidden meaning” gifts that they would give to each other throughout the story, very romantic and always a message meant only for each other. I loved that special touch to the story.
As the novel unfolds, and mysterious items start showing up in Annabel’s chamber, beautiful combs that were clearly her mother’s as she saw a painting with her mother wearing them, a special necklace, a wedding cap, all of these items link her to the mysteries of her mother’s past and help to unravel the secrets that have been kept silent for far too long.
There is so much more that I can’t even really touch on all of it- poison, madness, deception and the list goes on and on. This novel kept me turning the pages and wanting to escape from 2016 back to 1851 so that I could find out exactly how it would all turn out in the end. The story truly comes to a fever pitch and there is a lot of twists and turns that make it so much fun to read and so many secrets and sub-plots to emerge as the novel goes on. If you loved her first novel in this series Mist of Midnight, I am absolutely certain that you will love this one even more! Don't miss this special story, it is worth the ride!!
5 Stars
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
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Our heroine Annabel Ashton is a teacher at the Rogers day School for Young Ladies In Winchester but is at the mercy of her not so merciful cousin Edward, who has been helping with her financial provision. Edward has decided that to further his business connections that cutting Annabel’s financial assistance which will prevent her from teaching, while also trying to arrange an advantageous marriage to help him with his failing finances. The problem is while the man may be of good financial means, his character is truly that of a fiend, which of course plays well into the Gothic themes of the novel. While the villain is admittedly awful, our hero, a Maltese captain named Captain Marco Dell’Acqua is about as swoon-withy a hero as they come. He is at Highcliffe, also on business, looking to help his people the Maltese by forming a business alliance with her cousin Edward. As mentioned, Marco is truly a dreamy hero, but author does a wonderful job of keeping you just a little off –balance at times in wondering, is he really a good guy or… not? Both Annabel and Captain Dell'Acqua have much in common as they both have a link to Malta- for the Captain, it is his home and for Annabel, all she knows of it is that her father was from there, but she knows nothing else as she always lived under the shame of being “illegitimate”. Dell'Acqua has secrets of his own, and its fascinating to read how those unfold. Some of my favorite parts in the novel were the chemistry between these two. I loved their “hidden meaning” gifts that they would give to each other throughout the story, very romantic and always a message meant only for each other. I loved that special touch to the story.
As the novel unfolds, and mysterious items start showing up in Annabel’s chamber, beautiful combs that were clearly her mother’s as she saw a painting with her mother wearing them, a special necklace, a wedding cap, all of these items link her to the mysteries of her mother’s past and help to unravel the secrets that have been kept silent for far too long.
There is so much more that I can’t even really touch on all of it- poison, madness, deception and the list goes on and on. This novel kept me turning the pages and wanting to escape from 2016 back to 1851 so that I could find out exactly how it would all turn out in the end. The story truly comes to a fever pitch and there is a lot of twists and turns that make it so much fun to read and so many secrets and sub-plots to emerge as the novel goes on. If you loved her first novel in this series Mist of Midnight, I am absolutely certain that you will love this one even more! Don't miss this special story, it is worth the ride!!
5 Stars
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
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joao_dcosta's review against another edition
4.0
Agradavelmente surpreso com este livro! Um romance de época em primeira pessoa - coisa que nunca tinha lido.
A personagem principal é bastante bem construída e com grande potencial, que me deu bastante gosto em conhecer melhor durante a leitura e entender o que se iria passar. A luta dela com a família para provar a sua legitimidade e que não é louca (e a fuga do hospício!) - Genial!
A personagem principal é bastante bem construída e com grande potencial, que me deu bastante gosto em conhecer melhor durante a leitura e entender o que se iria passar. A luta dela com a família para provar a sua legitimidade e que não é louca (e a fuga do hospício!) - Genial!
melissasbookshelf's review
4.0
This is the second gothic novel in the Daughters of Hampshire series. From mad houses to murder, this book takes the reader on a wild ride as Annabel tries to discover what really happened to her mother. While the hero Marco somewhat disappointed me, the story compelled me to keep reading way past bedtime. This Christian gothic is geared more towards Catholicism, but I liked how the religious aspects are handled subtlety through the characters. I'm looking forward to the third book in the series.
petitehelene's review against another edition
3.0
Estava tão entusiasmada com o livro mas depois parecia que a leitura do mesmo se arrastava... A história está muito bem construída e o enredo cativa. Mas eu não apreciei por aí além. Annabel conhece Marco um capitão de Malta que vem despertar recordações da sua mãe há muito desaparecida e dada como louca. Enquanto Annabel conhece um sentimento crescente por Marco vê-se a braços com coisas misteriosas que eram da sua mãe, começa a sentir algumas dificuldades em manter-se lúcida e pensa que alguém poderá atentar contra a sua vida...