A review by corrie
Harkworth Hall by L.S. Johnson
4.0
Caroline Daniels is a young woman who lives with her father somewhere remote on the English coast. The family is impoverished gentry – her father wants her to marry well so she can have a comfortable live. The likely candidate seems to be new arrival Sir Edward Masterson, a wealthy tradesman who wants to re-inhabit Harkworth Hall.
Everyone seems charmed by the suave older gentleman, but Caroline can’t shake the feeling of dark forboding that seems to cling to him. And then there is his strange secretary Mr. Chase - a woman disguising herself as a man - who keeps hinting that Caroline’s dark suspicions about Masterson are correct.
The book had a Gothic romance feel and L.S. Johnson’s unadorned writing style captures the period beautifully (for a shorter book the quick pace gives it plenty of content). There is tention, something sinister lurking underneath and the little eerie details really set the mood.
I like Caroline. She is no wilting flower but a young woman with grit and courage. She wants to live, be adventurous like the stories of the female pirates Anne Bonny and Mary Read she play-acted as a child with her best friend Diana Fitzroy. Her internal struggle with being a dutiful daughter and play by society’s rules (she loves her father – a likeable man - and wants to make him happy) was nicely portayed and believable.
I also like the relationship between Caroline and Mr. Chase. There was no insta-love here, in fact Caroline spends over half the book heavily mistrusting him (her). But the chemistry is there and I can't wait to see what develops in the next story.
f/f
Themes: shades of Hitchcock’s The Birds, something wicked this way comes, “Ask him about his wives” gave me the willies, release the Kraken!, those smugglers make filthy houseguests, listen to your gut Caroline!, ooooh lovely twist there towards the end, I love to read the next book and see their romance continue, I want more!
4.3 stars
Everyone seems charmed by the suave older gentleman, but Caroline can’t shake the feeling of dark forboding that seems to cling to him. And then there is his strange secretary Mr. Chase - a woman disguising herself as a man - who keeps hinting that Caroline’s dark suspicions about Masterson are correct.
The book had a Gothic romance feel and L.S. Johnson’s unadorned writing style captures the period beautifully (for a shorter book the quick pace gives it plenty of content). There is tention, something sinister lurking underneath and the little eerie details really set the mood.
I like Caroline. She is no wilting flower but a young woman with grit and courage. She wants to live, be adventurous like the stories of the female pirates Anne Bonny and Mary Read she play-acted as a child with her best friend Diana Fitzroy. Her internal struggle with being a dutiful daughter and play by society’s rules (she loves her father – a likeable man - and wants to make him happy) was nicely portayed and believable.
I also like the relationship between Caroline and Mr. Chase. There was no insta-love here, in fact Caroline spends over half the book heavily mistrusting him (her). But the chemistry is there and I can't wait to see what develops in the next story.
f/f
Themes: shades of Hitchcock’s The Birds, something wicked this way comes, “Ask him about his wives” gave me the willies, release the Kraken!, those smugglers make filthy houseguests, listen to your gut Caroline!, ooooh lovely twist there towards the end, I love to read the next book and see their romance continue, I want more!
4.3 stars