A Sapphire Season
Lady Mirabella Tirel, the well-meaning but rather thoughtless daughter of a marquess, has been close friends with Sir Giles Knyvet since childhood. Since she is also wealthy and beautiful as well as titled, she is much sought after, but when she finally decides it is time to marry, she does not think to include him on her list. Eventually, however, she realizes that she is actually in love with her best friend, to whom other prospective partners compare unfavorably; but is it too late?
This is an inspirational Regency romance, peopled with generally likeable characters: her religious faith helps Mirabella through a difficult growing experience, during which she learns to appreciate her privileges and to accept God’s plan for her. The author devotes considerable space to the physical setting, and while this can be informative, it does slow down the plot, which is reminiscent of Jane Austen’s Emma. She reports that her readers enjoy the details on ladies’ clothes, but I’m with Austen’s Mr. Bennet and his impatience with unnecessarily extensive descriptions of finery. A male reaction, perhaps? Otherwise, a pleasant read.
