REVIEW: Comet Wine by Lesley-Anne McLeod
Dear Ms McLeod,
What a delightful regency novella. It’s sweet but not saccarine, has a nice period feel, and characters who felt true to times. When they meet, Peter Trevayne and India Pottersby feel an attraction yet neither acts on it since India is busy as the sister of the young vicar of the village and Peter is the newly arrived nabob still cautiously feeling his way through the pitfalls moving into said village presents him. One must move slowly, not push and wait to be accepted into rural English society. Peter, determined that this will be his home after so many years in India, is content that it be so. I like that he is pleasantly surprised by his discovery that India isn’t the older, slightly dried up spinster he expects yet that he slowly gets to know her before delicately showing his hand.
India has her own reasons for not moving too quickly after meeting the handsome newcomer. Her orphan childhood of being passed from one relative to another slightly echoes Jane Austen’s “Mansfield Park.” Now that her brother has his own living, they finally have a home of their own and India can feel secure for the first time in years. The rich Mr. Trevayne might be someone to discuss her love of comet watching with but even if her heart beats a little faster around him, she’s not about to lose what she’s wanted for so long.
You tell their love story with a spare economy of words though there’s enough time built into the telling that it doesn’t feel rushed. One question. What does India’s comet wine taste like? B
~Jayne
available in ebook form at Uncial Press
This novella has a cute cover. Def. eye catching. Not available at fictionwise?
Wow that sounds like a nice one. Thanks for the review!
Yes, it is available at Fictionwise as well.
Thank you so much for the review! I’m glad you enjoyed ‘Comet Wine’. I have another piece of short fiction coming from Uncial Press in March 2008. It is titled ‘Carolina’s Walking Tour’.
PS I think comet wine is a little fruity, not too dry, with a definite comet zing.
I’m reading it now and enjoying it quite a bit. I’ve really missed the trad Regency lines from Signet and others, and this hits the spot.
Jan I’ve missed them too and this book has such a nice restrained, tasteful feel to it. Very much what I look for in a trad regency.
Excellent news about the upcoming book. I’ll definitely be looking forward to it. And the comet wine sounds lovely!