Customer Reviews

Castlereagh

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Story could have been exciting but somehow wasn't. I'm sure some authentic gypsies somewhere would be horrified with the stereotype presented here. The "curse" revealed was bad but not that bad and led to a frustrating romance - of sorts - between Adriana and Edward. Description from back cover:

Adriana was overjoyed to be living at last at magnificent Castlereagh Manor. But her happiness swiftly turned to despair. The castle was isolated and lonely. She was allowed no visitors. Her beloved aunt had become morose and silent. Riding was her only pastime, but Sir Edward Devereux, her handsome, brooding guardian had forbidden it. A terrible curse lay on the castle and its family - this she knew. Then one day, against her guardian's orders, she rode out to the Black Heath and there she met the cruel and evil Gypsies. Suddenly she knew the true meaning of terror . . .

I gave this book 4 stars because of the hero. He was such a protective, loving, giving, and tender man to the heroine. Despite this being written in 1975, you do get some insights into the hero's thoughts which rarely happened in romantic, gothic novels back then. I do consider this somewhat a gothic. Don't get me wrong there were a few inaccuracies and stilted dialogue problems with the story and the book is a bit dated. The overall sentiment behind the story IMO was romantic.

The story, set in regency era Cornwall and London, is about 17 year old, happy Adriana who never was allowed to socialize much nor go out, and didn't know why. When her guardian, who is the hero, summons her aunt and her to Castlereagh, he isolates her also. Adriana's aunt becomes cold and uncommunicative. Adriana is still not allowed to socialize or go anywhere. Adriana knows something is wrong, though she tries not to allow it affect her sunny personality. She is wayward because she's lonely and defies her guardians to ride out on the moors alone, where she meets the gypsies. The gypsies, in this story, comprises of the gypsy queen, her deformed son, gypsy king and his crazy brother(?). These gypsies are very evil without any redeeming qualities. The rest of the gypies in this band are afraid of their gypsy queen and does everything she wants. They terrorize the countryside into smuggling and later Adriana and Castlereagh. Adriana learns about the curse on her family and after an interval takes action with her guardian, who's now her husband against this evil.

The rest I won't get into because then it would spoil the story. The story did move along quite nicely and has a nice gothic flavor, despite as I mentioned historical errors that took me out of the story. I did like the romance between the hero and heroine. After a rocky start, it was enjoyable to read about their growing relationship, trust and care, they had for each other. Heroine's growth from immature teen to woman was nicely done.

I have now been reading a lot of Janet Louise Roberts books, under her name and pseudonyms, and find them interesting reads despite the historical inaccuracies and sometimes stilted dialogues. This one is my favorite of the bunch besides "Lord Satan". Her gothics are my favorites because they remind me of the gothic horrors of the 70s.