The Country House Courtship by Linore Rose Burkard ~ 5 stars

The Country House Courtship

Linore Rose Burkard

Regency Inspirational Romance series #3

Harvest House Publishing

About the book:

Middlesex, England, 1818

It has been five years since Ariana Forsythe married The Paragon, Mr. Phillip Mornay. Now, Ariana's sister, Miss Beatrice Forsythe, is seventeen and determined to marry advantageously as well. (Surely Ariana's society connexions all but guarantee Beatrice's success-especially if Mr. Mornay is created a baronet by the Prince Regent! Ariana would be Viscountess Mornay.)

But the Mornay's have disappeared from high society as they raise a family at their country estate. Can Beatrice persuade them to chaperone her in London? And what about her business with the curate, Mr. O'Brien, whom Beatrice rashly promised to marry years earlier? She is too sophisticated now to settle for a mere clergyman-despite his agreeable countenance and gentle, understanding ways.

When Mr. Tristan Barton becomes tenant of the Manor House, Beatrice's hopes seem to have found their object. But when Ariana falls gravely ill, secrets come to light, motives are revealed, and pretenses that are easy to keep up in the darkness begin to crumble. As hearts are bared and truths uncovered, a country house courtship like no other cannot be far behind!

My review:
A good word that can be used to describe Beatrice for most of this book is foolish. She is quite sure that she knows what she wants, how she is going to get it, and she doesn’t really want other people’s opinions on the subject. But as the book progresses Beatrice grows in wisdom and she begins to see what is really important. Mr. O’Brian is a lot older now and a lot wiser. I really liked him as the male lead. (Although, Mr. Mornay is still my favorite guy!)

Linore’s writing does not disappoint. She has in this book the same historical detail and accuracy that made her first books great in my opinion. She has a style all her own, but very like that of Jane Austen. I think this is a great last book in this series and I look forward to more from Linore!