Review: The Portrait by Hazel Statham

This is a wonderfully delightful sweet Regency.
The Portrait by Hazel Statham

• Publisher: Avalon Books (August 6, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803477872
• ISBN-13: 978-0803477872

Genre:  Historical Romance
My Rating:  4.75 of 5.0

Product Description
England 1812 Severely injured at the battle of Salamanca, Edward Thurston, the new Earl of Sinclair, returns home to his beloved Fly Hall. Determined not to present his prospective bride with the wreck he believes himself to have become, he decides to end his betrothal, unaware that Lady Jennifer, for vastly differing reasons, has reached the selfsame decision. Throughout the campaigns, Edward was often seen relying greatly on a miniature he carried, and it is to this token he clings upon his return. Will he eventually find happiness with the girl in the portrait, or will he remain firm in his resolve not to wed? Reason dictates one course, his heart another. .

Review:  This is the second lovely Regency Romance I have read from Hazel Statham.  The characters are wonderfully likeable and the sweet story is fitting to the setting.

Edward returns from war having suffered the trauma of battle and the devastating lose of an arm. Before he left to go into service he had been contracted to marry a young woman he admired but  barely knew.  He is certain that she deserves better and he doesn’t want to embarrass her or burden her with his broken and scarred body.

Lady Jennifer is a lovely and independent character.  She has determined that she will end her betrothal to a man who has taken no time to get to know her. Even his letters during his absence were cold and impersonal and told her nothing of his feelings.  When she goes to confront him she begins to soften towards him but is still offended by his making decisions without considering her feelings and input.

Edward tries to push Lady Jennifer away but he is reluctant to see her form a match with anyone else.  He is willing to be her friend though and help her stay away from her overbearing brother who is trying to marry her off to get her out of his house.  Although they committed to being only friends their relationship continues to grow warmer. Their two younger brothers manage to get into some trouble which draws them together even more often to work out the problems.

Lady Jennifer admires Edward and thinks perhaps she has a chance at engaging Edward’s affections. But she has become aware that he is enamored of a miniature portrait that he has carried all during the war. She thinks perhaps it is the picture of a mistress.  Or perhaps it is the beautiful widow who has come to town as Edward seems to always be right on hand helping her.

When Lady Jennifer’s reputation is endangered by another suitor Edward has to decide whether he and Lady Jennifer might be able to find happiness married to one another. And what will she think when he reveals the portrait?

The writing is smooth and the dialogue flows well making this a charming and delightful story.  If you like sweet Regency you will enjoy this book and this author.  If you didn't see it before, check out my review of another of Hazel's lovely books:  Dominic.

Winner of eBook Dominic by Hazel Statham

CONGRATULATIONS

to the Winner of eBook

Dominic by Hazel Statham

I will email Victoria and arrange to get the eBook to her.
Thank you to all who entered. If you didn't win I encourage you to get the book. Also check back in another month when I will review a new release by Hazel.

Review and Giveaway - Dominic by Hazel Statham

 Treat yourself to a sweet engaging story!
Dominic by Hazel Statham

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 510 KB
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Wings ePress (August 1, 2007)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English

Genre: Historical Romance
Rating: 4:75

Product Description
When Dominic returns from a night of revels to find a badly beaten youth on his doorstep, little does he know that she is to become in turn his pupil and his love.

Rusticated to his father’s estates, he again meets Sophie in her boyish guise and agrees to become her tutor – treating her as a boy. However, their idyll is short-lived when the duke arrives at Stovely and Sophie, transformed once more into a beautiful young woman, is forced to return to London.

Review:
This is a lovely pre/early Regency Romance set in 1776 that reminded me of the writings of Georgette Heyer. The tone and style are authentic to the time period with wonderful descriptions of the settings, clothes and activities.

Dominic is a 24 year old Earl who is living wild, and losing heavily at the gaming tables. One evening he stumbles to his bachelor home to find a beaten young urchin at his door. He first thinks the “boy” is a thief but, realizing it is a girl, he thinks perhaps she is a light skirt. After she defends herself, he is able to get her to explain that she has run away from her brother who promised her to a man as a gambling debt. Before Dominic can help her, “Jack” slips away and he puts her out of his mind.  The first third of the story develops the arrogant character of  Dominic and the troubles that send him to the country.

I really like Sophie’s naive, but feisty and brave character.  Dominic first meets her alone on the streets posing as a boy. Then Dominic meets her again in the country as a young lady at a country dance, although he doesn’t immediately recognize her. Again she masquerades as the boy “Jack” to enjoy the freedom of outdoors and riding.  She convinces Dominic to teach her to shoot and fence. This leads to a close and warm friendship between them.

Dominic’s best friend becomes enamored of the vibrant Sophie, creating a love triangle that embroils them in trouble. Sophie is infatuated with Dominic but she knows he is not interested in marriage which is being pushed upon him by his father. Nor will Sophie let her Aunt finagle or trap Dominic into marrying her.

The story includes horses, action, misunderstandings and witty dialogue that makes it fun and engaging. If you like Regency and especially the Georgette Heyer feel, you will love this book. I am very pleased that I stumbled upon Hazel at CoffeeTime Romance in June and won this book to read. I look forward to reading more books from this author.

TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY FOR THE EBOOK:
1. Leave a meaningful comment on the interview or review; OR
Answer the Question the Author posed at item 11; OR
Alternative comment: visit the author's website and tell me something you learned there. Please leave your e-mail!

2. For an extra entry, become a follower or tell me if you are already a follower.

3. For another entry, blog, facebook, tweet (any of those networks!) about this giveaway and tell me where you did.

(Three total entries possible.)
It isn't necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.

* This contest is open Worldwide.
* This contest will close 10:00 PM (Central) on September 10, 2010. The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.

Interview - Hazel Statham, Author of Dominic

Today we welcome Hazel Statham all the way from Staffordshire, England to share a bit of her writing with us.
Q1.    For you - what makes a romance novel a great love story, and who are some of your favorite authors to read?

        Hazel:  I need to empathize and connect with the hero and heroine.  To feel their joys and woes.  Like the heroine, I need to fall in love with the hero.  Once this is achieved, I am well and truly hooked.  I adored Rochester and even now, some forty-eight years later, he remains my ultimate hero.  Of course, over the years he has been joined by many others as I have read books by Heyer, Austin, Kinsale, Putney and various others too numerous to mention – but I always return to Rochester.

Martha:  Yes, we do like to fall in love with the hero. Those are wonderful authors and I must say that your writing brings Heyer to my mind.
Q2.    Can you tell us what inspired you to write this time period?

           Hazel:  I have always adored history and at the age of fifteen, when I started to write, I chose Victorian times but when I read ‘Regency Buck’,  my first Heyer, I knew I had found MY era and I now write, with the exception of two Georgians, in the Regency period.

Martha:  Those are lovely romance eras I think with lots of room for feminine conflict.
Q3.    What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your book?

            Hazel:  I write mainly for my own amusement.  I do not write to a formula but how I want the story to unfold.  The greatest revelation was that people enjoyed reading my work and it was of value to others
Martha: I certainly enjoyed reading Dominic and hope to read more of your stories!
Q4.    What comes first for your stories? The plot or the characters?

           Hazel:  I think I have to say the plot.  Once the idea of a story enters my head, I then develop the characters.  However, I’m not a great planner.  I have an idea in which direction I want the story to go but am not averse to the occasional diversion.  I just go where my characters take me.  I sometimes hear a statement coming out of their mouths that I never even thought of but just go with the flow.

Martha: I love how authors can be led by their characters!
Q5.    In Dominic what is something your heroine would never be caught dead doing or saying?

           Hazel:  She would not admit how difficult her life had been on the streets of London and her dread of having to return there. However, despite her fears, she feels it is the only course open to her when her aunt is intent on forcing Dominic to marry her.

 Martha: Sophie does have quite a bit of honor and spunk.
Q6.    What scene do you like most and would never cut from Dominic?

            Hazel:  I think it has to be the scene in the library after the ball.  It’s a very telling scene and a time of great revelation to Dominic
.

Martha: Yes- that is a lovely scene.
Q7.    If your publisher agreed to send you anywhere in the world to research your new book, where would that be?

                Hazel:  I would love to visit London again.  There are so many places that inspire me.

Martha: I visited London in 2005 and would love to visit again too.
Some quick finish the sentence statements:
Q8. Why I write ...
Writing is a compulsion I just can’t ignore.  I write to fulfill a need in me to recreate my own historical world.

Q9. I am reading/watching/listening to ...
I have just finished watching the film ‘Waterloo’ and the charge of the Scots Grays (so very well depicted), never fails to bring tears to my eyes.

Q10. My inspiration is ...
The romance and elegance of the Regency and Georgian eras inspires me to recreate it in my work.
Q11. If you could have readers finish a sentence what would it be?
Hazel:  I have read and enjoyed (not enjoyed) Hazel’s work because ……

Martha: Okay - I will answer: ... because Dominic is a fine historical romance with lively characters, dialogue and entertaining plot.

Thanks so much for visiting with me Hazel and thank you for offering an ebook copy of Dominic to a lucky commentor. See the Giveaway with the Review.