Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Unwrapping a Guest Review by Connie Fischer of DISCOVERING GRACE: an Inglewood novel by Sally Britton

Greetings my darling readers, I know I’ve been remiss in providing you reviews of good reads this past year and I apologize. Life has a hold on me which does not allow me much reading time. I have tried to make up for that in publishing my own good reads for you and I hope you’ve given them a try. So to make up for my neglect, I will be offering up guest reviews for you enjoy. I hope to be back reviewing for you soon but in the meantime, I hope you’ll enjoy my dear friend, Connie Fischer’s reviews to guide you to good reads. Enjoy and Happy Reading!

I present to you a guest review of DISCOVERING GRACE: A Regency Romance, an Inglewood novel by Sally Britton, published August 13, 2019.


Blurb for DISCOVERING GRACE: A Regency Romance:

A Sweet Regency Romance

To avoid being sent across an ocean, Grace switches places with her sister. The only man aware of their deception? A dear friend, and her secret love.

Grace Everly has no desire to set sail for the Caribbean, unlike her adventurous twin sister, Hope. Thanks to her sister’s irresponsible behavior and subsequent banning from the journey, Grace’s father decides to send her in Hope’s place. Desperate to remain where things are familiar, Grace proposes an unthinkable plan: that she and sister switch places. They only have to keep up the act long enough for Hope to board a ship in London. When the man who has stolen Grace’s heart learns of their secret, things get more complicated.

Jacob Barnes, soon to be ordained a vicar, has known Grace and Hope his whole life. Though close to both sisters, he’s dreamed of courting Hope for months. When he realizes his friends have switched places, putting the woman he admires out of his reach, he agrees to help with the subterfuge despite his bruised heart. As he watches Grace stumble in her acting abilities, attempting to change who she is, he realizes how much she means to him. But how does he tell her, without risking their friendship?

The deception puts their relationship to the test. As Grace hides her heart and her identity, Jacob examines his feelings, and no one in their community will be happy when the truth is discovered.

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Connie’s Review:

1814

Grace and Hope Everly, age 24, are twins. Although identical in appearance, they are opposites in temperament. While Grace is calm and a homebody. Hope is prone to mischief and has a bit of a bad temper. Hope wants to travel to London to take in some of the season or go to Bath to take the waters. Unfortunately, the girls’ mother doesn’t like to travel, so there they stay.

Today, their friend, Miss Irene Carlbury has come to call. She grew up on the Caribbean island of St, Kitt’s, and has now come to England to polish her manners and such. Irene’s family will be returning to the Caribbean for the better part of a year. They want to take one of the twins as a companion for Irene and wants the girls’ parents to decide which sister should go. The parents choose Hope and she is delighted. Although Grace does not wish to go, she is saddened at being separated from her sister. Relieved at not being chosen, Grace still worries that Hope doesn’t fully realize what she’s getting into.

Jacob Barnes is a neighbor to the Everly family and secretly is in love with Hope. He is sad to learn that she is leaving. Jacob will soon become the new vicar.

When Hope’s temper causes a carriage accident that injures a young man, her father denies her the trip to the Caribbean, and will send Grace in her place. Both girls are devastated. So, at the last minute, they pull a switch allowing Hope to go as Grace and Grace acting and dressing like Hope until at least Hope’s ship has departed. The deception is difficult for Grace and she feels bad lying to her father.

Soon, Grace and Jacob spend more time together and Grace confesses to him. He is shocked at her deception. When her father finds out, he is furious and makes her stay in her room and tells her that she must confess her sin in front of the church members.

This is where I said - wait a minute! That is way too harsh a punishment to inflict on a woman who is 24-years-old for Pete’s sake. There comes a time in life when a parent doesn’t get to treat their offspring like a child. I almost stopped reading the book, however, I like the author so I finished it. The author brings it together for the reader in the end and promises that we will read Hope’s story in her next book. I do hope that it is not as harshly religious as this one, because that was a huge turnoff!

Copy provided by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

DISCOVERING GRACE: A Regency Romance, an Inglewood novel by Sally Britton, Blue Water Books, available now in ebook and print at Amazon and Kindle Unlimited. 
 

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