Tangled Love is the story of two great estates. The throne has been usurped by James II’s daughter and son-in-law, Mary and William of Orange. In 1693, loyal to his oath of allegiance, ten-year old Richelda’s father must follow James to France. Before her father leaves, he gives her a ruby ring she will treasure and wear on a chain round her neck. In return, Richelda swears an oath to try to … to try to regain their ancestral home, Field House.
By the age of eighteen, Richelda’s beloved parents are dead. She believes her privileged life is over. At home in dilapidated Belmont House, her only companions are her mother’s old nurse and her devoted dog, Puck. Clad in old clothes, she dreams of elegant dresses, and trusts her childhood friend Dudley, a poor parson’s son, who promised to marry her, but he is not as he seems.
Richelda’s wealthy aunt takes her to London and arranges her marriage to Viscount Chesney, the new owner of Field House. Richelda is torn between love for Dudley and her oath to regain Field House, where it is rumoured there is treasure. If she finds it, Richelda hopes to ease their lives. However, while searching for it, will her life be in danger?
Reviews:
Kate Gardener
In this tale of duty, honour and betrayal, Rosemary Morris evokes the sights, the sounds, the smells of 17th century London. The gorgeous clothes, the food and drink, and the manners of the day are perfectly researched and help bring the story to vibrant life. Richelda is a spirited and likeable heroine who, bound by an oath she made as a child, must make her way through a tangle of dramatic events to find the happiness she deserves. A worthy successor to the legendary Georgette Heyer
* * *
5* review by Robbi Perna. Ph.D – Author and Lecturer
A delightful read, well-grounded in detailed research of the period that provides a rich background to the story. She has interwoven the historical details with a skill that gives the reader a visual backdrop that unfolds in concert with the plot line … The dialog moves the story along at a pace reminiscent of a well-written stage production. Unlike some other historical authors, Ms. Morris has struck a perfect balance between the stilted grammar and vocabulary conventions of the period and modern conversation that makes reading the interaction among the characters pleasant to read. I recommend “Tangled Love” for anyone who wants an enjoyable story that also provides an intriguing look at a very complicated period of history in the British Isles.
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We get to meet Richelda Shaw as a young child, confused by the politics of 1693 England where James II, the real King of England has been overthrown by his daughter Mary and her husband William. This affects her whole life as her father left to go to France to join the real king and left her and her Mother virtually penniless. The one thing that saves the family is the fact that Bellemont Manor is in her mother’s name. We get to learn about the main mission of her life, to regain the ancestral estate of Field House as she promised her father. Another reason she wants to regain Field House is because of the family legend. This legend is a common thread woven through the story of how one of their ancestors, a buccaneer named Sir Nicholas hid a fortune in Field House. The figurehead of Sir Nicholas’s ship whom he called Lady Luck was still placed on the fireplace mantel.
I adore Chesney; his good looks are only matched by his golden heart. He never lies to Richelda. He makes sure that she knows that he not only likes her for her beauty but also her spunk, and care for her friends, including the mongrel of a dog she had in the country. Her feelings for Chesney confuse her as her body responds to his touch and kisses but her brain rebels at each step. When she finds out that he had a mistress, and meets her in person when she calls upon her aunt a line is drawn between them.
I did think there was a little too many unnecessary details. There were some things I thought could have been cut without affecting the story. It could make for some long reading, mostly after Richelda had a fight with Chesney.
This was a wonderful, romantic, action packed novel that shows that you never really know someone until push comes to shove. It also shows that jealousy can make or break a relationship and opening one’s heart up and talking through feelings can keep from relationships breaking, and that being naïve about feelings can get you in a ton of trouble. Love can come to those that wait though and perseverance can break down any wall.
At first blush, fans of Jane Austen might be taken by this book. The first third of the book is a brilliantly written historical romance that sets the scene beautifully between Lady Richelda and Lord Chesney. In some ways, their finding a happily-ever-after at that point and then moving forward with the story might have made this book something I could recommend to everyone.
Alas, that was not to be. This is a book for lovers of conflict as conflict abounds. There was less conflict in the 100 years war then there is in the last 70% of this tome. The author can be credited for creating a multi layered conflict that is hard to fathom in how complicated it is. It is no small wonder any romance could survive or thrive in such an atmosphere.
The author did such a superb job of setting in stone the feelings of the main characters that I was dumbstruck with the ending and found it completely unbelievable. When something is so far down one road, it is highly unlikely to find it then on the opposite road, back at the beginning. Personally, I was extremely dissatisfied with the lack of detailed and lengthy vengeance being slowly done to the main protagonist whose antics and behavior the reader had to put up with for most of the book.
It had a great start but couldn’t carry it through in my view.
My Rating: 3.5 stars
Set in the early 1700s, Rosemary Morris has captured this period in English history well. Born into a time of political unrest as well as a period when manners and etiquette ruled, penniless eighteen-year-old Richelda Shaw is taken under the wing of her aunt, Lady Isobel Ware. Lady Isobel is set on Richelda marrying into wealth, and the husband of her choice for her niece is Alban, Viscount Chesney. Richelda and the Viscount have already met under circumstances Richelda would not wish her aunt to learn of. Chesney is enchanted by the young woman he at first thought of as a servant girl, while she is attracted to this man she learns has recently purchased her childhood home, Field House. Her heart belongs with Dudley, a childhood friend. Unfortunately, Dudley has other ideas as he must find an heiress to wed in order to pay off his gambling debts. Richelda’s dearest wish is to own Field House once again to satisfy a pledge she made to her father. There is treasure hidden in the house, but can she marry a man she does not trust to gain ownership of her ancestral home? This is certainly a tale of tangled love and mixed emotions. Excellent read.