A Proper Scandal: a clean Victorian historical romance

A Proper Scandal is the first book in the Proper Scandal series by Esther Hatch. After her parents’ death, she was taken in by the vicar and his wife. Despite making herself useful, Grace Sinclair has been cast out of her home. As the vicar’s daughters are about to enter Society, Grace’s beauty is seen as competition. She is sent to her aunt’s home in London with hopes of a better situation. However, she learns it has only gotten worse. Grace learns that her aunt’s new husband is a despicable scoundrel who is after her sizable dowry. In order to protect her from danger and her husband’s schemes, her aunt orders Grace to find a husband. She has two weeks to marry or she will be turned out. With no clue how to attract a husband, Grace realizes that finding a worthy suitor isn’t so easy. 

A Proper Scandal is a clean Victorian historical romance. The story started off great as Grace lives simply and longs to stay in her hometown near her parents’ graves. Grace is unwilling to marry the cousin who inherited the family estate and she certainly doesn’t want anyone to know about her dowry. She is forced to find a husband. A typical historical romance; however, I did not care for Grace at all. Overall, I did not care for this story. I found it dull. The historical anomalies bothered me. In Victorian society, a woman with a dowry would be very well known. The exact amount probably not but that she had one would be. The dialogue used modern vernacular and didn’t feel like I was reading a story set in Victorian England. I will not be continuing the series. If you enjoy clean historical romances, you may enjoy A Proper Scandal. 

A Proper Scandal is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Bronte Sisters: an in depth and fresh perspective on the famous literary sisters

The Bronte Sisters: Life, Loss and Literature by Catherine Rayner is an in depth and fresh perspective on the famous sisters and their family. With timeless classics like Jane Eyre (1847), Wuthering Heights (1847), and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (1848), Charlotte, Emily and Anne were a talented, trailblazing trio whose stories have continued to haunt readers and academics for over 175 years. These fictional masterpieces are recognized as landmarks of English Literature today but they caused a sensation and even some controversy due to their subject matters and unconventional styles. What is the story of these women? What were the influences and forces that drove their storytelling? From early childhood in the quiet Yorkshire village of Haworth, literature and world events were held in high esteem in the Bronte household, they began to create stories from an early age. But their lives would be filled with tragedy and devastating loss and they would pour their doubts, fears and grief into their stories. They would tackle taboo subjects of Victorian society: divorce, child abuse, bigamy, domestic violence, class, female depression and mental illness.

I have been a fan of the Bronte sisters since reading Wuthering Heights in high school. I have always been curious about their lives and inspirations and like to read as much as I can about these women. In The Bronte Sisters, Catherine Rayner analyzes every aspect of the Bronte family and era to find the clues to these remarkable women. From their father’s humble beginnings in northeastern Ireland to Cambridge University and becoming a well-respected clergy. Even from their isolation on the English moors, the sisters were well aware of and well versed in current events and from their travels, they saw first hand some of the darker areas of the celebrated Victorian Age. Fueled by their strong Christian morals, they set out to expose these dark injustices. While reading the chapters in which Ms. Rayner discusses each books’ history, inspiration, symbols and themes, I was inspired to reread these books with a new perspective and insight. If you love the Bronte sisters and their works or just want to know more about these amazing sisters, I highly recommend The Bronte Sisters. 

The Bronte Sisters: Life, Loss and Literature is available in paperback and eBook