Wow, that is one exhaustive review that member Juliana has posted.
All I can add is that I don't think the premise of an unofficial Ministry of Marriage is beyond the pale; we know the important families of the era were very concerned with family backgrounds and fortunes; marriages were as much between the families as between the two partners. Heads of families often played an active role in promoting or discouraging matches. It wasn't that explicit as this unofficial group calling itself the Ministry of Marriage, but it did go on.
As moderns we hate the very idea that we might be coerced or manipulated into marrying a given person, but that's us; the folk of the regency had no such view. Family approval was desirable emotionally and economically, and people flouted it at their peril (and their children's). It's awful by our standards but it is the way it was. Even today families cannot legally prevent a legal marriage, but they sure as heck can make the partners miserable if they disapprove of it.
I don't read many current regency historicals anymore, but this one came recommended from a source I trust, and I did enjoy it. I skipped very few pages, which is more than I can say of most recent books of this subgenre. I think this author is a good storyteller with great promise and I look forward to her next book in the series.
All I can add is that I don't think the premise of an unofficial Ministry of Marriage is beyond the pale; we know the important families of the era were very concerned with family backgrounds and fortunes; marriages were as much between the families as between the two partners. Heads of families often played an active role in promoting or discouraging matches. It wasn't that explicit as this unofficial group calling itself the Ministry of Marriage, but it did go on.
As moderns we hate the very idea that we might be coerced or manipulated into marrying a given person, but that's us; the folk of the regency had no such view. Family approval was desirable emotionally and economically, and people flouted it at their peril (and their children's). It's awful by our standards but it is the way it was. Even today families cannot legally prevent a legal marriage, but they sure as heck can make the partners miserable if they disapprove of it.
I don't read many current regency historicals anymore, but this one came recommended from a source I trust, and I did enjoy it. I skipped very few pages, which is more than I can say of most recent books of this subgenre. I think this author is a good storyteller with great promise and I look forward to her next book in the series.
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