Chiara’s Choice
Chiara Madero is the beautiful daughter of a harsh Italian baron who has sent her to England to find a suitable husband, preferably one with both a title and a fortune. Abraham Jamison is the handsome son of a British family who has little to recommend him. He is one of several sons, and his family, while reasonably affluent, is not titled. He is Cambridge-educated, but he can’t seem to make up his mind about a career to pursue. The pair’s first meeting is disastrous, and their road to true love is fraught with arguments, deception, and superficial judgments of each other. This is the plot of Chiara’s Choice, an early 19th-century romance.
Linton weaves the process of their relationship with subtle grace; she demonstrates a keen understanding of human psychology, especially the familial and cultural differences between the two. The author’s delicate exploration of the changing mindsets of the young lovers is what makes this romance particularly enjoyable. The story is well-paced and incorporates realistic ambiguity about the final resolution.
Sharply drawn background characters provide depth to the plot and color the misadventures of the lovers. Chiara’s little brother Mattias and Abraham’s parents and siblings are particularly engaging. A charming background of crumbling ruins, a suspected ghost, opulent balls in distinguished manors, and magnificent steeds complete the bill.
