Review: Blackmoore by Julianne Donaldson
“A woodlark sings of heartache. A swallow calls in the two-tone rhythm of a race. And a blackbird’s song is the whistle of homecoming. Today it was the woodlark that called me to my window.”
The Basics
Title: Blackmoore
Author: Julianne Donaldson
Published: 2013
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Pages: 275
Format: Paperback
Genres: Fiction — Historical fiction, Regency fiction, Romance, Historical romance, Regency romance, Clean romance
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Book Synopsis
Having decided not to marry, Kate Worthington wants nothing more than to accompany her Aunt Charlotte to India, but her mother will not permit it. That is, she will not allow it unless Kate can receive and refuse three marriage proposals while she is at Blackmoore, the country estate of her neighbors, the Delafields. Should Kate fail, she will have to do whatever her mother commands, even if it means marrying the boorish and far-too-elderly Mr. Cooper. Seeing this as her one opportunity to realize her dream of moving to India, Kate accepts her mother’s bargain and sets off for Blackmoore. It is not long, however, before she begins to wonder whether she agreed to a fool’s bargain, for it turns out that getting a man to propose to you is no easy feat.
My Review & Overall Thoughts
TLDR: A charming Regency romance perfect for fans of Jane Austen.
Blackmoore is one of those rare books in which I completely lost myself while reading it. It has a captivating story filled with romance, historical detail, and enough conflict and uncertainty to keep you turning the pages. It is the type of book that you can easily pass an entire afternoon reading (trust me, I speak from experience).
What makes this such an enthralling read? It has an escapist quality to it. It transports you back in time to Regency England to the rugged coastline and desolate moors of Lancashire. There, we are whisked away to a stately home straight out of a 19th-century gothic novel. It is a setting so far removed from the daily realities of my life that I could not help but be swept away by the story.
The plot, namely the romance between Henry and Kate, further enhances the story’s enjoyability. The pair has a sweet relationship replete with banter, teasing, and chemistry. Given the nature of the book, you know that the two of them will in all likelihood end up together, but this predictability is not a bad thing. It is actually freeing in a sense. You do not have to worry about the outcome of their relationship; you can simply sit back and enjoy the journey. And rest assured, the ending is perfect. It had me smiling and on the verge of tearing up.
With regard to Donaldson’s writing, it is easy to understand and well-paced. The story never drags, and as the book is not overly long, it is a fairly quick read (I read it in a little over a day). The book has a first-person narrative from Kate’s point of view, which makes the story more immersive, as we are able to experience everything firsthand through her eyes. Further, the story features a number of flashbacks, which help to flesh out the characters, as well as provide some context for the current state of Henry and Kate’s relationship.
Lastly, Blackmoore has several parallels to Pride and Prejudice, which as an Austen fan, I quite enjoyed. Like Elizabeth Bennet, Kate has several sisters, as well as an overbearing and thoroughly embarrassing mother. Kate, much like Elizabeth, is intelligent, outspoken, and in no hurry to marry, and she also has a sister who brings about a scandal.
The not so good
The love triangle with Kate, Henry, and Mr. Brandon is lacking. In fact, it is over before it ever truly begins. The symbolism with the caged bird is also laid on a tad too thickly.
Overall
I did not want Blackmoore to end. I could have happily continued reading about Kate and Henry. If you love historical romances, especially those set in the Regency period, you owe it to yourself to read this book.
