This got off to a an interesting start. I liked Burke and Kate for most of the story, but Kate lost me towards the end when she got hypocritical. I did like how Burke turned things around on her to show her how hypocritical she was being and I kinda wish he actually had walked out on her ass. Overall, not a bad read. I skimmed a few of the scenes where Kate or Burke continually ruminate over things because they did that entirely too often and I got the point the first few times.

But here's my problem... and it's the mother of all spoilers. I mean, I'm literally going to mention all the twists, motives, secrets, and the like. So don't even think about viewing the spoiler if you're hoping to read this book without knowing how things end.

Here's the problem. Daniel killed Kate's parents. Now he wants to kill her. And by the way, she's pregnant with Burke's baby. So Daniel is about to kill Kate, but first he has to monologue about how and why he killed her parents and why she has to die now, too. Burke overhears the confession and comes to the rescue. He says he heard the entire confession, but for some reason didn't do anything until Daniel had almost choked Kate to death. Nice timing, Burke. So then Burke and Daniel fight and Daniel dies. Unfortunately, Kate has no proof that Daniel murdered her parents, so she's still going to be shunned by polite society. But wait, Burke heard the whole thing and will file a report with the magistrate the next day. And so, Kate's parent's names are cleared, she marries Burke, has the baby, and... And nobody questions the veracity of Burke's statement? Like a man wouldn't lie to protect the woman he loves and his child from the derision of polite society? Everyone was so willing to doubt Kate's parents and Kate's story about Daniel being the murderer. But Burke claims that Kate's parents were innocent, that Daniel is guilty, and the ton doesn't sit there going "Well of course he'd say that. She was already pregnant with his bastard, so he obviously made it all up so she and her child would be accepted by polite society." ?!?!?!??! What? Everyone just rolls over and accepts this? It's the truth, but still... that doesn't fit at all with the rest of the book. 98% of the book has the ton being gossips and rumor mongers. But at the end, because we need a HEA, they'll believe this story? Bullshit.

I can imagine that in a world much more gender segregated than we are today in the West that female friendships must have been central to women's lives as well as those of family.

 

There are many wonderful Historical Romance Novels that reflect this truth.

 

Here are some of the very best Strong Female Friendships in Historical Romance for your reading pleasure!

 

My list are never in any particular order. I can't pick favorites. :) 

 

1.  Secrets of a Summer Night (The Wallflowers, Book 1) by Lisa Kleypas 

2. A Study in Scandal  (Ladies' Amateur Sleuth Society, #1) by Robyn DeHart 

3. In the Thrill of the Night (The Merry Widows Book 1) by Candice Hern 

4. Your Scandalous Ways  (Fallen Women, #1) by Loretta Chase 

5. The Secret (Highlands' Lairds #1) by Julie Garwood 

6. The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever by Julia Quinn 

7. Romancing Olive by Holly Bush 

8. Miss Ware's Refusal by Marjorie Farrell

9. Sixteen Brides by Stephanie Grace Whitson 

10. Educating Caroline by Patricia Cabot

 

I would love to read more Historical Romances with best friends at the center. Let me know your recommendations!

 

To vote for the best of the best, go to my Goodreads list: Historical Romance with Strong Female Friendships. 

The historical romance genre is not universally known for being progressive or socially conscious. Which is odd, because from the first novels looking at marriage prospects from a female point of view, they've all of them pushed the boundaries in little ways and big. Pride and Prejudice waged war with inheritence laws that women still suffer under in the UK today. Those many novels of governesses demonstrated the dangers of depriving girls of education, money, and the ability to seek employment. It may not be beside the point of the books, but it's there, authors observing and commenting upon the lives of women, and suggesting better ways (albeit, on a personal, rather than a political or social justice level).

So I shouldn't be surprised to read a novel set in 1833 that addresses poverty, free education, infectious outbreaks, and lack of medical care, one that in addition questions church positions of the time. But I was surprised. And delighted. It's refreshing to see a character performing missionary work among people she values.

And also, it's great fun to see the hero of the piece trying to find ways to show he's worthy of her love other than just bashing bad guys about the place (although that aspect is there, too, for glorious comic effect). No man has wooed so hard since Darcy.

What I don't understand is why the cover doesn't in some way refer to the primary setting of the Shetland Isles, or to the time frame. The font, the bouquet, it all suggests something contemporary and frothy which is at odds with the text itself.

Personal copy

I like this one a lot, but it's fairly typical when it comes to Cabot's historical.  It's not bad, just nothing really unexpected.

Meg Cabot books are always good to read after a sucky day.