Saturday, June 11, 2016

Well worth the wait









Product DetailsYears ago, I fell in love with an author totally unknown to me in her Tales of London series.  Several years later, The Gresham Chronicles was released and Lawana Blackwell became a favorite of mine with the Great Britain historical setting, characters who you immediately get attached to, and a storyline that isn't the same predictable story you have heard before.  I was delighted to see her new story, A Haven on Orchard Lane released this month. 

Charlotte Ward was once a famous actress but left that life when she married Lord Roger Fosberry.  At first, life seemed to be the typical star gazed couple enjoying life together....until hard financial times hit Lord Fosberry.  Wanting to save her husband from financial ruin, Charlotte turns over all she has remaining and Lord Fosberry turns on her.  No longer is she the cherished wife but more a prisoner in her own home.  When opportunity arises for Charlotte to escape back to the London stage, she grabs the opportunity only to fail miserably, disappointing not only herself but her fans and friends.  Lord Fosberry only uses that failure to his advantage.

Finding her estranged mother on hard times, Rosalind Kent temporarily leaves her teaching position to see to her mother.  Together they move to a remote small town for Charlotte to heal.  But the relationship between the two needs a good dose of healing itself.  Charlotte had "abandoned" Rosalind as a small child, thinking it is the best she can give her daughter.  What Rosalind needs is to know her mother loved her.  Both will begin the journey of healing and forgiveness.

I loved the story, the setting, and the characters.  I can't remember any other author who does as good a job with this time period and Victorian England than does Blackwell.  Another plus for me is that this appears to be a stand alone book so I don't have to wait months or even years for its sequel.  If you love historical fiction and romantic England, I encourage you to give any of Blackwell's writings a try.  I don't think you will be disappointed.

I did receive this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  I am in no way obligated to write a positive one.