I’ve been trying to expand my reading horizons lately, and have (for the most part) enjoyed the change. Still it was a great treat to pick up Before the Season Ends by Linore Rose Burkard and come back to one of my favorite eras, 19th Century England.
I was intrigued from the opening lines,
Something would have to be done about Ariana. All winter, Miss Ariana Forsythe, aged nineteen, had been going about the house sighing. “Mr. Hathaway is my lot in life!”
As it turns out, Ariana’s family isn’t quite convinced that Mr. Hathaway, a rector in his late fifties, is God’s plan for her. She soon finds herself in London for a season with her wealthy and widowed aunt. A literal run in with the scheming Lady Covington leads to an unexpected tie with the roguish (handsome, and rich) Phillip Mornay. Can Ariana’s faith withstand her being thrown into the fire of London society?
Pride and Prejudice fans might argue that the Ariana/Phillip romance is a replica of the relationship between Lizzy and Darcy. Certainly, Phillip reminded me of Darcy. However, since I genuinely adore Darcy, I didn’t mind the similarities one bit. And I must admit that the storyline took a turn I didn’t quite expect.
All in all, I thought Before the Season Ends was a delightful read. I’m eager for the sequel, The House in Grosvenor Square to see how the story ends.
Melissa has been captivated by books for as long as she can remember. She resides in Virginia and at her blog, Breath of Life.
Thanks to the wonderful staff at Harvest House Publishers, you have the opportunity to win both books as part of our Summer Giveaway (U.S. addresses only). Leave a comment on this post if you’d like to be eligible to win this book.
Click on the banner above to enter our other Summer Fun Giveaways. All winners will be announced on June 11.
i would love to read these books.
I love Jane Austen and would love to read this book!
Sounds good.
I would love to read these!
I’m always looking for a great read!
These sound fun and romantic-perfect for the beach!
I would so love to read Before the Season. Thanks.
gahome2mom at gmail dot com
Sounds like a book I’d enjoy!
They sound like great reads!
I need some good reading for this summer!
Thanx for the contest
That’s a great era for a book…this looks like it would be fun to read.
Good for my granddaughter! Thank you!
I really really want to read this!
This sounds nice
enter me!
just to cool
I’d love to win!
I love to read! This would be a wonderful summer read for me! Thank you so much for letting me enter!
I have never heard of these books! It sounds like it would be great to have something new to read!
sounds like a great book~
This sounds like a great read!
Awesome! Please count me in. Thank you!
I like period romances so this sounds great to me. thanks for the giveaway.
Sounds like a great book
These would both be great for me to read for the summer and then pass them along to the assited living center-they love books, especially like these.
Please add my name to the list…sounds like a great read. thanks.
kmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)com
Please include me in your giveaway.
Thanks
Carlene
iluvreading(at)verizon.net
I would love to read this.
Thanks,
darkfyre1(at)gmail(dot)com
I love historical fiction!
Sounds like my kind of read!
Thanks for the chance to win!
these sound wonderful – please count me in
always looking for something new/interesting to read
Always love a new book. Thanks
I’d like to read this one for sure!
How great that would be to win BOTH books! Thanks.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net
I would love a chance to win. Thank you.
sounds like a great summer read!
Sounds like a good book
What a fun read…..
I would love to read this!
I would love the chance to win this, thanks.
Sounds like an interesting read.
These books sound like something I’d really like , but then I’d read anything!
Thanks for the chance to win!
I love period time books like this one
These look great, I would love to read them!
Great read!