6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Alas! A Bore, May 3, 2005
I am a devoted, loyal fan of Edith Layton. I have enjoyed many of her novels, but I have to agree with the previous readers, this novel was not worth my money. The hero was "not to die for" but instead stilted and hypocritical. The majority of the book was wasted on describing his courtship with the wrong woman! He continually fought his attraction to the heroine, causing us readers to lose all patience with him. The lovers did not come together until the book was almost at its conclusion. There was no sexual tension, no romance no true character development or evolvement. All in all, I would like my money back! Edith Layton is a wonderful writer, please do not judge her by this novel, rather, read her earlier books. The "C" novels are excellent!
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
A competent but emotionally unenthralling work by Layton, September 26, 2005
Amyas St. Ives is a man desperate for a legitimate identity in 19th century England. He grew up in an orphanage and escaped to the slums of London as soon as he was able to, fearing the infamous workhouses of England. Soon after returning to England a self-made man after having been sent to the Antipodes for lifting a pound note as a child, he departs for Cornwall, hoping that his unique first name will lead him to his family.
In his search for his true identity, he happens upon the Tremellyn family of Cornwall. There, Amyas begins to believe in the success of his quest for respectability and belonging. Although himself a fishmonger and a member of the lower rungs of society, the widowed Hugo Tremellyn has built his fortune with his fishing ventures and is the most respected personage in his little seaside town. Thus, Amyas begins to court Hugo's biological daughter, Grace, although he is immediately attracted to Amber "No Name," who is the Tremellyns' "gift" from the sea--a foundling.
Amber is a warm, competent, loving woman, but like Amyas, suffers from the uncertainty and stigma of not knowing her biological family and true identity. She knows that Amyas is drawn to her, but questions why he courts her adopted sister instead of her. Amyas's attraction to Amber deepens into something more, but his desire to marry Grace and build a new identity outside of his street urchin and "criminal" past sidetracks him. But the two are forced to reconcile their lifelong dreams and present desires after Amyas is expelled from the Tremellyn home for revealing his past and Amber finally discovers her true identity. A rescue in France ensues, followed by the two protagonists' somewhat satisfying realization that they can build their future together.
I understood why Amyas felt that he should marry Grace, but was annoyed by his persistent courting of her even though he had to continually force himself to avoid Amber. The very difficulty with which he tried to do so should have clued him in to his true feelings earlier, before he was forced to leave Cornwall and then rescue Amber in France.
In all, I think that Amyas and Amber's passivity in their feelings for each other made for an unbelievable, and unemotional, ending--I never fully understood why they loved each other. Layton's presentation of Amyas's feelings for Amber weren't enough motivation to fully explain why he would venture all the way to France, by ship (which is very difficult for him), just to see her.
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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Simply a great read, April 25, 2005
The plot of Alas My Love is gripping and the hero is to die for. The only thing I didn't like about it, is that I couldn't read it while at work! But it was such a suspense filled read, I was totally involved whenever I could steal glimpses of it (usually while on the subway).
Ms. Layton: I don't know if you ever come by to look at your book reviews on Amazon, but in case you do, I just want you to know you have not let down your loyal fans with this one! I can't wait for your next, so please write faster.
Note, disclosure, etc.: Edith Layton is my mom. Yup! She's the tops.
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