Title: Sunday’s Child: 2nd Edition (Heroines Born on Different Days of the Week Book 1)
Author: Rosemary Morris
Genre: Historical Fiction, Historical Romance
Book Blurb:
Georgianne Whitley’s beloved father and brothers died in the war against Napoleon Bonaparte. While she is grieving for them, she must deal with her unpredictable mother’s sorrow, and her younger sisters’ situation caused by it.
Georgianne’s problems increase when the arrogant, wealthy but elderly Earl of Pennington, proposes marriage to her for the sole purpose of being provided with an heir. At first she is tempted by his proposal, but something is not quite right about him. She rejects him not suspecting it will lead to unwelcome repercussions.
Once, Georgianne had wanted to marry an army officer. Now, she decides never to marry ‘a military man’ for fear he will be killed on the battlefield. However, Georgianne still dreams of a happy marriage before unexpected violence forces her to relinquish the chance to participate in a London Season sponsored by her aunt.
Shocked and in pain, Georgianne goes to the inn where her cousin Sarah’s step-brother, Major Tarrant, is staying, while waiting for the blacksmith to return to the village and shoe his horse. Recently, she has been reacquainted with Tarrant—whom she knew when in the nursery—at the vicarage where Sarah lives with her husband Reverend Stanton.
The war in the Iberian Peninsula is nearly at an end so, after his older brother’s death, Tarrant, who was wounded, returned to England where his father asked him to marry and produce an heir.
To please his father, Tarrant agreed to marry, but due to a personal tragedy he has decided never to father a child.
When Georgianne, arrives at the inn, quixotic Tarrant sympathises with her unhappy situation. Moreover, he is shocked by the unforgivable, brutal treatment she has suffered.
Full of admiration for her beauty and courage Tarrant decides to help Georgianne.
My Review:
Weary from life and war, Georgianne turns to Major Tarrant for sympathy and finds something she didn’t expect. Losing her father and brother devastates Georgianne’s family. Her mother drowns her sorrows in the bottle which leaves the caring of her younger sisters to Georgianne. An offer of marriage appears but she’s not sure about the elderly man. He tries to force himself and she flees. With her future looking bleak and the family fortune dwindling, she loses hope. She meets Major Tarrant and she pours out her heart to him. He vows to protect her and even offers a marriage proposal. She accepts and their partnership is one of convenience, not love. Can Georgianne find love with Tarrant without fear, or will she be a prisoner in a loveless marriage?
Sunday’s Child is a Regency romance, unlike anything I’ve read before. This is historical romantic fiction for the reader who wants an accurate portrayal of what life was like for women in this era. I appreciate how intricate the narration was, from the clothing to the social rules of the Ton to the emotional turmoil of war and its impact on women. Georgianne is a courageous heroine who refused to let evil men dictate her life. Sure, she deals with more than most women go through, but it strengthens her resolve. I connected with her throughout the book. Tarrant is also a complex character with his fair share of grief. Somehow these two tortured souls help each other heal. It’s not flowers and candy, the hills are alive, kind of love but it is endearing to read. Rosemary Morris writes historical stories with emotion, depth, and substance. I thoroughly enjoyed Sunday's Child and I know you will too. Highly recommend!
My Rating: 5 stars
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Author Biography:
There is a gigantic canvas for a historical novelist to choose from.
I am a multi-published historical novelist whose novels are set in the reign of Charles II’s niece, Queen Anne Stuart, who reigned from 1702 to 1714, and the ever popular Regency era. I have also written a mediaeval novel set in in the reign of Edward II.
I chose those periods because each of them affected the course of history. If the Duke of Marlborough had not won The War of Spanish Succession, and The Duke of Wellington had been defeated by Napoleon at The Battle of Waterloo, the history of Britain and that of Europe would be different. Defeat would also have had far-reaching consequences for the rest of the world. If Edward II had won the Battle of Bannockburn, it is feasible that he would have conquered Scotland and, perhaps, as it is claimed, he would not have been murdered.
The more I read about my chosen eras the more fascinated I become, and the more aware of the gulf between the past and present. Those who lived in the past shared the same emotions as we do, but their attitudes and way of life were in many ways very different to ours. One of the most striking examples was the social position of women and children in in bygone ages.
My characters, are of their time, not men, women and children dressed in costume who behave like 21st century people.
Research of my chosen eras sparks my imagination. The seeds of my novels are sown, and from them sprout the characters and events which will shape their lives.
I was born in Kent. As a child, when I was not making up stories, my head was ‘always in a book.’
While working in a travel agency, I met my Hindu husband. He encouraged me to continue my education at Westminster College. In 1961 I and my husband, by then a barrister, moved to his birthplace, Kenya, where I lived from 1961 until 1982. After an attempted coup d’état, four of my children lived with me in an ashram in France.
Back in England, I wrote historical fiction, joined the Romantic Novelists’ Association, The Historical Novel Society, Watford Writers and online groups.
Apart from writing, I enjoy classical Indian literature, reading, visiting places of historical interest, vegetarian cooking, growing organic fruit, herbs and vegetables and creative crafts.
My bookshelves are so crammed with historical non-fiction, which I use to research my novels, that if I buy a new book I have to consider getting rid of one.
Time spent with my five children and their families, most of whom live near me, is precious.
The second editions of my historical novels and my new ones will be published by Books We Love. http://bookswelove.net
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Reviewed by: Mrs. N
A terrific thoughtful, insightful review. I'm so happy you shared your book here today, Rosemary. You are a new author to me, and one I whose novels I want to read. all the best.