The House in Grosvenor Square (A Regency Inspirational Romance) [Paperback]

Linore Rose Burkard (Author)

Book Description

Series: A Regency Inspirational Romance | Publication Date: April 1, 2009

Readers who loved the author’s first book, Before the Season Ends, will delight in this charming sequel set in Regency London.

As Ariana Forsythe plans her wedding to Philip Mornay, she must adjust to the realization that she is soon to become the wife of an extremely wealthy man. She wonders if it’s wrong to rejoice that her future husband is rich. But she promises herself to use her new position to do what she can to aid the numerous street waifs she sees all too often in London.

During a tour of her future home—the house in Grosvenor Square—Ariana makes plans to redecorate according to her tastes. But when Philip arrives home later, he is informed that an expensive silver candlestick and a miniature portrait of George III have gone missing. Moreover, each time Ariana visits the house, accompanied by a friend or relation, another item disappears.

Shortly thereafter Ariana is abducted as she leaves a performance at Covent Garden Theatre, leaving Philip to unravel the pieces of the mystery. Where has his future bride been taken, and by whom? For what reason? How does Ariana’s faith play a role?

Finally, after the safe return of his intended, how does Philip—a man of intense discrimination in his tastes—find the many alterations in his house? And what on earth is behind the sudden influx of bills from every charity in London, all thanking him profusely for his uncommon generosity? Will he have second thoughts about his future bride?

Readers will find romance, intrigue, humor, and inspiration in this new book of spirited romance for the Jane Austen soul.

Product Details

• Paperback: 348 pages
• Publisher: Harvest House Publishers; 1ST edition (April 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0736925651
• ISBN-13: 978-0736925655
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #823,827 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

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Strays slightly from the traditional Regency model, August 24, 2009

By 

Jennifer Bogart "@ Quiverfullfamily.com" (Alberta, Canada) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The House in Grosvenor Square (A Regency Inspirational Romance) (Paperback)

here are some novels I have enjoyed reading almost entirely too much. Before the Season Ends, Linore Rose Burkard's first Regency Inspirational Romance was one such title. Captivatingly addictive, true to period language and form, the story of beautiful, young outspoken Ariana Forsythe and the wealthy, stand-offish Phillip Mornay quickly became a fast favourite, and prompted an all-night reading spree. When the sequel The House in Grosvenor Square arrived I was almost afraid to open it for fear that it wouldn't live up to the first book.

As the book opens we find Ariana Forsythe amidst the plans for her wedding to Phillip Mornay. Deeply in love and delighted by her betrothed's blossoming newfound faith all should be pure bliss. However, trouble stirs - her beloved is distant, his servants are plotting against her, and there are dastardly knaves plotting her abduction for unknown reasons.

Ariana and Phillip's relationship matures as it goes through trials and temptations. Reading of their deepening attachment and affection for one provided both a warm glow of love throughout the tale, and periods of angst during miscommunications and conflict.

Where Before the Season Ends was spot-on Regency with a distinctive Christian influence, The House in Grosvenor Square strays towards an amalgam of historical romantic suspense. While still set in the Regency period and bearing all of the earmarks of the fashion, slang, and social mores, the novel jauntily heads down a much more modern path of plot development than the ancestors of the genre ever took.

By including multiple kidnappings and one mysterious development after another, Burkard draws her young couple out of the insular dance of courtship, card parties, and gossip and into the realm of mild-mannered adventure. The continued emphasis on propriety, appearances, and purity still provide a small dose of the typical Regency escapism though not as much as the first novel contained. Oddly, the suspense-based plot also resulted in slower pacing than the romantic tension found in the original.

I have just recently noticed a developing trend in Christian publisher Harvest House's inspirational regencies. Both Linore Burkard's and Kaye Dascus' Ransome Trilogy series approach the genre with fairly traditional opening novels before diving into plots that are quite adventurous by Regency standards in the subsequent volumes. I'm afraid that I can't say I'm thrilled by the change in emphasis in these modern examples.

I'm not about to give up on the new approach however. Perhaps I'll develop as much of a taste for derring-do in jolly England as I do for stories of adventurous speculative fiction. To be fair, Burkard still includes plenty of loyal butlers, wardrobe changes, and blundering suitors to take us away to another time. Let's wait and see what she brings us next, shall we?

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Linore Rose Burkard has done it again!, May 15, 2009

By 

Joseh N. Costello "Debbie Lynne Costello" (SC) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The House in Grosvenor Square (A Regency Inspirational Romance) (Paperback)

Linore has a real understanding of the Regency period. The sequel to 'Before the Season Ends' brings back Ariana and Mr. Mornay along with many of the other characters and several new. You will get to see all the mayhem that leads up to Phillip and Ariana's marriage and it will keep you turning the pages, I promise. If you like Regency you will love this book because Linore Burkard knows her stuff. Check out her website if you want to find out more about the Regency Period. It is great!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The House in Grosvenor Square, May 24, 2010

By 

Rita Pomtree "Hettie" (MEMPHIS, TN, US) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The House in Grosvenor Square (A Regency Inspirational Romance) (Paperback)

Be sure to read Book 1 first (this is Book 2). Very entertaining and well-written,i.e., it held my attention and left me wanting to read more of this author.