Heroines find themselves contending with medieval knights, pirates, spies and ship voyages against backdrops such as the English countryside, a Jamaican plantation, the Canadian wilderness and the Atlantic Ocean in these recent clean historical romance novels by authors with local ties.
"LORD FENTON'S FOLLY: A Proper Romance," by Josi S. Kilpack, Shadow Mountain, $15.99, 336 pages (f)
“Lord Fenton’s Folly” shares a Regency-era, clean romance between two people slowly falling in love but trying to protect their hearts.
Charles Theler, Lord Fenton, does not want to be like his cold and controlling father, Lord Chariton, so Fenton plays the part of a dandy, known for fashion and wit. Fenton’s exploits, including not showing interest in learning how to manage the earldom, gambling and pulling stunts with his friends — many of whom society looks down upon — prompt Lord Chariton to decide to cut off his son.
Fenton’s mother, Lady Chariton, intervenes, but Fenton must change his behavior, learn his role in managing the estate and marry within six months.
Alice Stanbridge, who is in London for her coming-out season, met Fenton 10 years earlier when his family came for a house party, and she has harbored a crush on him since. They attend the same dinner party in London, and after a discussion with and recommendation from his mother, Fenton proposes to Alice in a letter.
Thinking it’s for love, Alice readily accepts. When she finds out that’s not the case — though he does have a high regard for her — she walls off her heart. And while they match each other in intellect and wit, both rely on that wall to protect their own vulnerabilities.
When ailing Lady Chariton decides to go to her Foxcroft estate in Devon and Alice goes with her, many hidden puzzle pieces from the family’s past are revealed, causing Fenton to rethink his family’s situation.
Utah author Josi Kilpack has written amusing banter between Alice and Fenton, and the story has plenty of unexpected and emotional twists that make it difficult to put down as each endearing character learns about respect and forgiveness.
“Lord Fenton’s Folly” is the latest entry in Shadow Mountain’s A Proper Romance series. Any described romance is limited to kissing, and there is no swearing or described violence.
Kilpack is also the author of another book in the A Proper Romance series, “A Heart Revealed,” and of a 12-book culinary mystery series.
— Christine Rappleye
"MARRYING CHRISTOPHER: A Hearthfire Romance, Book 3," by Michele Paige Holmes, Mirror Press, $14.99, 250 pages (f)
Those who enjoy a suspenseful, heart-wrenching Regency romance will take pleasure in “Marrying Christopher” by Michele Paige Holmes. A Brigham Young University graduate and Utah resident, Holmes strikes just the right balance in this clean but compelling love story.
“Marrying Christopher” is the third installment in the Hearthfire Romance trilogy based on the lives of the three Thatcher siblings. Refreshingly, most of the novel does not take place in an English ballroom but rather is set at sea or in America.
Christopher Thatcher has successfully settled his two sisters into happy, stable marriages and is eager to leave behind the bad reputation his father left for him in England by starting all over in America. He books passage on one of the first steamboats to cross the Atlantic, ready to begin an independent life free from obligations — until he meets Marsali Abbott.
Marsali is leaving behind her abusive aunt and uncle to indenture herself to a rich plantation owner in Virginia. She is also hoping for freedom and escape, but she may find herself in even greater danger in her new home.
The relationship between Marsali and Christopher develops quickly but believably before the story takes a sharp twist for the worse. In many ways, the plot is less predictable than most romances. There are several surprises and frustrating upsets along the way. But the romance between the two major characters is written well enough to keep the reader turning pages, eager for them to finally find their happily ever after.
The novel contains no swearing but has vague references to sex and a few instances of brief, nondescriptive violence.
— Michelle Garrett
“SIMPLY ANNA,” by Jennifer L. Moore, Covenant Communications, $14.99, 210 pages (f)
Lord Philip Hamilton moved to Jamaica from London to run his family’s sugar cane plantation and to leave his humiliation and heartbreak behind after the woman he loved jilted him for his older brother in Utah author Jennifer Moore’s Regency-era romance “Simply Anna.”
Philip learns about running the plantation and dismisses the abusive overseer. As he is checking a coastal area of the estate with the new overseer, they find a bundle of tattered cloth that turns out to be a woman. As she recovers, she can’t remember her past, and the only clue they have to her identity is her necklace that’s engraved with “Anna.”
She proves to be nothing like the women Philip knew in London or the one from a nearby plantation who hopes to catch his eye, and he finds himself falling for her. But he keeps his distance from her as her past is unknown.
However, the former overseer threatens Philip and others on the plantation, and as Philip works to figure out the renegade’s plan, there are pirates and wild animals to contend with as well as attitudes about slaves.
Moore combines a clean romance with a variety of adventures and characters to make “Simply Anna” an entertaining book that also tackles some serious topics. It’s refreshing to have a Regency novel set outside of London society.
Fans of Moore’s previous books, including “Becoming Lady Lockwood,” will recognize some of the minor characters, though “Simply Anna” can be read on its own.
The romances don’t go beyond kissing, and there is no swearing. There is some generally described violence.
— Christine Rappleye
"IN THE WILDS OF DEVON," by Wanda Luce, Walnut Springs Press, $17.99, 340 pages (f)
At the opening of "In the Wilds of Devon," Lord Rupert Carrington is dismayed to realize he has been prohibited from continuing to track a ring of smugglers in London. For his own safety, Rupert must pose as a middle-class sea captain and hide in the countryside. His visit is less dull than he feared, however, thanks to his beautiful and mysterious new neighbor, Alexandra Dancy.
Rupert notices a devious nobleman relentlessly pursuing Alexandra and her putting up with his advances. He also notices that although she has the manners of the upper class, many in her family work as servants and she is reluctant to speak of her family's past.
Rupert, who is struggling without a valet, is determined to find out about their past and puts his investigative skills to work. Class differences and their secrets threaten Rupert and Alexandra's growing mutual affection, which Rupert hopes will turn into something more.
Alexandra and Rupert are likable characters, and the villain is pleasingly despicable. The witty banter and the chaste love story are enjoyable. However, some of the anachronistic attitudes of Alexandra and Rupert distract from the Regency setting and may leave readers wishing for the restrained prose and social commentary of other works.
"In the Wilds of Devon" contains no sexual content or profanity. There are threats of physical violence, but no violence actually occurs.
This is Utah resident and Brigham Young University alumna Wanda Luce's second Regency period novel, and fans of the genre will likely welcome this new addition.
— Rachel Chipman
“HEART’S JOURNEY,” by Kristen McKendry, Covenant Communications, $16.99, 302 pages (f)
Eighteen-year-old Rachel Hamilton is determined to find her father, who left his prosperous business in Toronto five years earlier to be a prospector in British Columbia, in Utah native Kristen McKendry’s novel “Heart’s Journey.”
It’s 1862, and little from Rachel’s upper-class upbringing helps the naive teen as she makes her way west across Canada, including when she gets lost from the group she’s with in the prairie.
When a frontiersman named Peter finds her hungry and lost, he agrees to help her, which tests his patience more than once during their trek west. Rachel becomes stronger physically and matures emotionally during their journey, which includes a series of forts, encounters with Native Americans and deserters from the U.S. Civil War, and working with a Mormon family.
Peter, who is knowledgeable in several Indian languages, has some secrets he keeps close as they spend day after day together.
While stories of cross-country journeys west aren’t uncommon, this one stands apart for its being set in Canada. While there are prairies, forts and other elements to contend with, as with the route across the central United States, they also travel by raft, and McKendry shares about the prospectors and treasure hunters from that era.
It’s an interesting adventure with headstrong Rachel learning about herself and her family along the way.
The romance doesn’t go beyond kissing, but there are threats of sexual assault. There is no swearing, and any violence is generally described.
— Christine Rappleye
"DEFIANCE," by G.G. Vandagriff, Orson Whitney Press, $9.99, 232 pages (f)
Shortly after the death of her father, Hannah finds herself grief-stricken and angry in "Defiance" by Utah author G.G. Vandagriff. The murder of her brother, friends and rabbi because of their Jewish heritage has become too much as World War II rages on.
Determined to do something about it, Hannah postpones her engagement to Samuel, the good Jewish boy her father wanted her to marry, to join the Women's Auxiliary Air Force.
Rudolf "Rudi" von Schoenenburg has his grief fueling his entry into the Royal Air Force. After watching his father be gunned down by Nazis and barely making an escape to England with the rest of his family, Rudi is ready to make his mark on the war.
But for Rudi, it's more than the country that’s at war — it's also his heart. After Hannah's engagement to Samuel, it is all Rudi can do to be just a friend to the girl he loves.
But while Rudi loves Hannah, he puts his feelings for her aside as the two fight together to save countless lives and England from the terror of Hitler. But the dangerous missions and times in the Air Force have them both realizing just how precious each day is as they struggle to survive the battles each night. Each day puts a clearer perspective on what is truly important.
Vandagriff follows the story of "Exile," the second book in the Saga of Love and War series, with another gripping and beautiful story in "Defiance." Vandagriff includes complex characters, interesting storylines and fascinating history.
Vandagriff puts depth into the history, making "Defiance" more than just another romance. Readers will find different perspectives and details about the war that keep the story interesting.
"Defiance" contains violence associated with war but no sexual content or swearing.
— Hikari Loftus
"ELEANOR AND THE IRON KING," by Julie Daines, Covenant Communications, $14.99, 202 pages (f)
"Eleanor and the Iron King" is a beautifully crafted story of romance, duty and mystery.
Raised in Utah, author Julie Daines does a good job of creating a heroine who is torn when the Welshman she has to marry isn't the villain her father has told her he was.
Eleanor is conflicted from the beginning as she arrives at Bryn Du to become betrothed to Brac Goch. She believes he has consistently attacked her homeland and killed her brother, but he doesn't behave like a monster. Lord Brac listens to her. He's patient and genuinely hurt by her angry demeanor.
Still, she doesn't dare set aside all she has been taught to expect. Eleanor is then beset by a waif-woman who shrieks at her, opens her bedroom windows at night and leaves messages for her written in blood.
As Eleanor tries to use her healing skills to help those around her, the king becomes alarmed and tries to limit her activity.
Thus, there are a series of misunderstandings and several instances where stubborn Eleanor puts herself in danger because she doesn't obey orders.
Several life-threatening circumstances eventually bring Eleanor and her king closer, but they come all in a row within two month's time.
The plot is immediately engaging and suspenseful but regrettably ends too soon; it could be expanded in both timeline and length to become a richer, more in-depth story. Even so, it's refreshing to read a good book such as this.
There is no sexual content, and there isn't any swearing. The violence is limited to some fighting on the battlefield and injuries from supernatural beings.
— Sharon Haddock