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Laura Kinsale

Author discusses her novels, life, and writing. Very fun, with a discussion board for fans.


Book Review

Hidden Heart
As her first novel, this book is somewhat different from Kinsale's others. Not quite as intense, but still far different from the typical historical romance light reading.

The heroine finds herself suddenly needing to deal with the ton, after basically being raised in the jungles by her father. She's afraid she won't fit in, and she's struggling to make her way in society alone.

The hero is an outcast, too, and very quickly we see that these two people are going to need to find each other while trying to navigate their way through high society of Regency England.

There is more action in this book than other stories Kinsale has written, and the hero is somewhat less the tortured hero needing saving from himself. His problems are very real, but they are more external than internal. The hero himself is pretty well-adjusted. Which works, since the world around him seems to really be trying to do him in, and he's got enough troubles as it is.

I found the heroine to be very sweet, and I really enjoyed reading about the troubles she had dealing with high society in Regency England. As an American, I am sure I would have the same problems, thrown into a similar situation. It was interesting to see that period described from this viewpoint.

This is a phenomenal book for a first novel!

If you haven't read "The Shadow and the Star", I would recommend reading this one first, then following up with "The Shadow and the Star", since it's sort of a sequel (although I think "The Shadow and the Star" is my very favorite historical romance.)