Before the Season Ends (A Regency Inspirational Romance) [Paperback]

Linore Rose Burkard (Author)

Book Description

Series: A Regency Inspirational Romance | Publication Date: December 1, 2008

In her debut novel of what she calls “spirited romance for the Jane Austen soul,” author Linore Rose Burkard tells the intriguing story of Miss Ariana Forsythe, a young woman caught between her love for a man who doesn’t share her faith and her resolution to marry only a fellow believer in Christ.

Trouble at home sends the young woman to her aunt’s townhome in the fashionable Mayfair district of London. There she finds worse troubles than those that prompted her flight from home. Ariana is soon neck–deep in high society and at odds with Mr. Phillip Mornay, London’s current darling rogue. Then a scandal changes Ariana forever. Her heart, her faith, and her future are all at stake in an unexpected adventure that gains even the Prince Regent’s attention.

Will Ariana’s faith survive this test? And what about her heart? For it’s Ariana’s heart that most threatens to betray the truths she has always believed in. When she finds herself backed against a wall, betrothed to the wrong young man, how can it ever turn out right?

Jane Austen readers and fans of Regency romances everywhere will love Before the Season Ends.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Country girl Ariana Forsythe is sent to a wealthy aunt in London to head off an unsuitable match in this faith-based Regency romance. After being modishly outfitted by said aunt, Ariana is thrust into the London season, with all its attendant social conventions: status distinctions, formal etiquette and gossip, gossip, gossip (the Regency antecedent of dishing). Ariana meets her match in the disdainful paragon of society, Phillip Mornay, who quickly becomes her ally after an unexpected turn of social events threatens her good name. This period romance lacks sufficient romantic tension between the principals. The plotting is also uneven, with some complications (the matter of Arianas correspondence with her family, for example) not driving the plot forward, instead frittering narrative energy. But the author's command of period detail is impressive, evident in material details but also in dialogue. The theology is also period authentic. The novel even contains a glossary to help non-Regencyphiles get up to speed about the difference between ladies pelisses and spencers. Despite some technical problems, on the whole its a tasty confection. (Dec.)
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About the Author

Linore Rose Burkard lives with her husband, five children, and ninety-year-old grandmother in southeastern Ohio. She homeschooled her children for ten years. Raised in New York, she graduated magna cum laude from the City University of New York (Queens College) with a Bachelor of Arts in English literature. Ms. Burkard wrote Before the Season Ends because she could not find a book like it anywhere. "There are Christian books that approach this genre," she says, "but they fall short of being a genuine Regency. I finally gave up looking and wrote the book myself." She has begun four other works of fiction in the category. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 348 pages
• Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (December 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0736925511
• ISBN-13: 978-0736925518
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (163 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #789,267 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Linore Rose Burkard grew up in New York City in a family of ten (eight children). She graduated from the City University of New York with a magna cum laude degree in English Literature, and loves English history and literature to this day. She now lives in Ohio with her husband and five children where she enjoys writing her books, creating her monthly ezine ("Regency Reflections"--free to anyone who subscribes at her website--LinoreBurkard(dot)com), and giving workshops on writing, Jane Austen, or marketing. When not writing or speaking, she enjoys reading (if she can squeeze it in) decorating, drawing, art collecting, swimming, and gardening. Linore's family loves to be together, whether having dinner, playing a game, watching a movie, or in the backyard. Linore also enjoys activities at church, singing in the choir, her friendships with women, and studying the Word of God.(She blogs about her devotional life at todayswomanoffaith(dot)blogspot(dot)com.

Faith, family, friends, fellowship--these are the things that make life worth living for Linore. Getting to research and write about periods like Regency England are just icing on the cake!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommend!, November 8, 2005

By 

Armchair Interviews (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Before the Season Ends (Paperback)

Before The Season Ends is a charming romance set in 1813 Regency England with a strong Christian theme which, while a constant thread in this book, is not overwhelming. The author draws the readers into the time period with feisty characters and an entertaining story.

Ariana Forsythe is a strong-minded, impish 19-year-old living in small village with her close-knit religious family. However, she is causing her family concern as she has decided that her "calling" is to marry a man of the cloth. Given that the only man meeting her criteria in their village is 60 years old, the family has a dilemma. Ariana is certain and unyielding in her decision, and so a solution must be reached quickly.

Each season their wealthy aunt, a London socialite, has begged the family to allow her to sponsor their daughters as they came of age. It was not at all unusual for a girl to be sent to London for the season. Although Ariana's family thinks they are the best judge of who is right for her, they feel that they must send her.

In London she is quickly entangled with London society's most formidable bachelor, Mr. Mornay, whose reputation is his delight in ruining any young girl's season should she dare approach him. Everyone looks to his approval--and simply by ignoring the girl who crosses his path, it can destroy her in society's eyes. Her aunt has warned her to avoid him at all costs. She tried, but she literally runs smack into him during her first society affair.

Ariana also meets a young man who is just what she is looking for. Why is it that despite this seemingly perfect match, her thoughts are constantly coming back to Mr. Mornay?

Well-written, interesting, captivating, romantic, inspirational, and addictive, I highly recommend this book. It shows how the Lord can influence every part of your life without being overly preachy. To be honest, this was my first "inspirational" Regency romance, and I was not expecting much. However, to my surprise, I could not put it down, and I am now recommending it to all my friends.

Armchair Interviews agrees.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolute Enjoyment, September 26, 2005

By 

Alice Tjiong (Holland, Michigan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Before the Season Ends (Paperback)

I just adored the characters in "Before the Season Ends" Ms. Burkard has a gift for bringing her characters to life with humor and faith. I laughed out loud and was also brought to tears while reading this beatifully written book. I love reading stories that show the impishness of a heroine, while never concealing the lady underneath, and Ms. Burkard captured that brilliantly. She also brought to life a period that we can only dream about, when men were gentlemen and women were ladies and young women were respected for their virtue. I can't wait to go back in time again with another Inspirational Regency by Linore Rose Burkard.
Alice Tjiong
Holland, Michigan

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Original, nice regency for those who like traditional, or sweet romances, October 8, 2005

By 

A. Woodley "Patroness, Janeites, the Austen list" (New Zealand) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Before the Season Ends (Paperback)

A really nice surprise! This is definitely an original regency romance and more in the style of Georgette Heyer rather than Amanda Quick.

I was impressed that Burkard made good efforts to get a Regency Tone rather than relying on (as is often done) bad use of slang to imply this tone. Her whole structure and manner was very well done.

This is a Christian Regency and the christian theme is predominant in this. This was my only niggle with it but I don't think it was a drawback to it - or shouldn't be for other readers. It is definitely a unique feature in her writing to use this as an underlying theme. It is also interesting to use this theme in a Regency where standards of conduct were judged by whether you did it in public or private. The times were certainly changing and a greater emphasis on good christian conduct was entering society - a precursor to the more devout Victorian era.

It is always nice to read new Regency authors, and I will be reading more of Burkard, as her tone and originality were refreshing.