The Captain and the Countess
The Right Honourable Captain Edward Howard and Kate, the Countess of Sinclair, feel a powerful attraction to each other; however, she is a wealthy widow, determined not to marry again after her experience with an older, abusive husband, and he is only a naval officer, and some years younger. The barriers seem insurmountable, but she is seeking her twin children from whom she was separated at their birth, and he is eager to assist in the search.
This is an odd book in many ways. Though reminiscent of a Regency romance, it is set firmly in the early 18th century with careful, at times distracting, attention to period detail. The exaggerated mannerisms and conventional language of the characters are familiar from 18th-century comedy, but they do not translate well from the stage to the form of the modern novel, particularly one with little discernable satiric intent. The plot is melodramatic. This will appeal to readers who enjoy a sentimental romance and to those curious about the lifestyle of the privileged aristocracy during the reign of Queen Anne.
