Lavender Blue (Signet Regency Romance) [Paperback]

Sandra Heath (Author)

Book Description

Series: Signet Regency Romance | Publication Date: April 1, 2003

Captive to the memory of a love that might have been, Lady Anthea has given up on the idea of marriage. But now a strange twist of fate has brought her to the castle of the Duke of Chavanage-the very man who holds the key to her heart.

Editorial Reviews

Review

...fascinating romantic yarn steeped in ancient lore... Ms. Heath's use of archetypal figures from mythology is delightful and innovative -- Romantic times - April 2003

Fans of romances with paranormal elements will delight in this tale by veteran Regency author Sandra Heath. -- Romance Reviews Today, Susan Lantz, April 2003

Heath mesmerizes readers so much they won’t be able to put it down...an enchanting gem of a regency romance. -- Writers Unlimited - Diana Tidlund - April 2003 Writers Unlimited

Vivid descriptions bring the setting and characters to life in a romance based around the myth of Demeter and Persephone. -- Romance Fiction Forum Team Captain, April 2003

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Signet (April 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451208587
• ISBN-13: 978-0451208583
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,882,973 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome book, April 1, 2003

By 

Detra Fitch (USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Lavender Blue (Signet Regency Romance) (Paperback)

Set mainly in the year 1814. Lady Anthea Wintour had been in love with Jovian Cathness, twelfth Duke of Chavanage, until he hurt her deeply one Christmas. Everyone watched as Jovian appeared to become an alcoholic. Anthea was unable to stop loving him, but stayed away as much as possible.

Lady Anthea received a letter from her father, who was in Ireland, and was amazed to learn he had remarried! Only a short time later, his bride died. In his grief, he went on an expedition to Brazil. He sent his new stepdaughter, and eighteen year old named Corinna, to live with Anthea and his sister. Anthea and Aunt Letty quickly came to care for Corinna.

Jovian Cathness was seen often with Sir Erebus Lethe. Lethe had eyes for Corinna. However, nothing and no one were as they seemed. Danger would come to a head on Lammas Eve, July 31st, when Corinna became nineteen!

* Author Sandra Heath has written a wonderful tale based on Greek gods, goddesses, and myths. Quite a few magical happenings add luster to the story and I could not stop reading! This is a story that can be read over and over. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magical and delightful, June 27, 2004

By 

M. Rondeau (West Springfield, MA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Lavender Blue (Signet Regency Romance) (Paperback)

Setting - Regency England 1813 --- Lady Anthea Wintour was once deeply in love with the Duke of Chavanage, Jovian Cathness and they both happily planned to be married. Then out of the blue, Jovian turned to drink for no apparent reason and it was a rarity to ever find him sober. Rumors abounded of his drunken displays and even stranger behavior with even sightings of him flying up to second story windows.

At about the same time, Anthea's father remarried, then his bride died, and in his grief he left the country sending his newly acquired step-daughter Corrine to live with Anthea. After Corrine's arrival, Jovian and his new neighbor, Erebus Lethe, seem to continually cross their paths. Strange occurrences start to happen beginning with a posy of fresh lavender given to Anthea in the middle of winter by an unusually sober Jovian along with a strange warning. Jovian, the man whose very kiss sends her sailing over the rooftops, makes Anthea realize that he is the only man she will ever love even if he has broken her heart with his terrible behaviour. As the strange happenings begin to take on sinister overtones danger takes on new meaning. Anthea realizes Jovian is the only person who will be able to stop the insanity and save her step-sister's life.

There are more and more twists and turns in this short and delightful little regency than one can shake a stick at! It is my first Sandra Heath novel but definitely not the last, as she mixes in romance, magic, and ancient myths into this one brilliant little book. Talk about original! Jovian is total mystery and divine hero and in addition, you are treated to a non-stop action page-turner that will have you panting for more and rushing to the bookstore to discover more gems penned by this outstanding talent. Do yourself a favor and put a little bit of magic in your life and this novel in your beach bag! --- Marilyn, Official Reviewer for www.historicalromancewriters.com ---

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a master stroke of writing, April 16, 2004

By 

Deborah MacGillivray "Author," (US & UK) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Lavender Blue (Signet Regency Romance) (Paperback)

Lavender Blue by Sandra Heath is not so much a Regency Romance as a true Gothic. And wow what a read! It's totally amazing how the writer wove such an intricate tale in so few pages. I simply could NOT put this one down. I love history and lore, and this one is so steeped with ancient myths of paganism, so perfectly portrayed. I am utterly delighted to discover a writer with such love for the ways of Auld, who depicts them without the cheap sensationalism.

Althea has always loved Jovian, the Duke of Chavanage, and all believed they would marry and Althea would be his next Duchess. They considered them the perfect couple. But then, suddenly, the year before the book takes up, something
distressing began to occur, shattering Althea's hopes. The Duke was on one drunken binge after another and never seems to stop drinking. Althea's heart is bruised by his often-callous treatment of her, still she is pained and worried to
hear tales about Jovian - not just about his public drunkenness, but how he can fly over rooftops, and summon objects to his hand by will. She would like to dismiss
these tales, but one cold January morn, she is woke from a strange dream. She could swear Jovian was looking into her bedroom window! From the second floor! She rushes out into the cold winter morn and finds him. He presents Althea with a posy of fresh Lavender, a summer blooming flower, and warns her not to trust anyone or believe everything see sees. Althea is puzzle; he is so like the old Jovian she loved and loved her, does not seem drunk at all. It warms her heart when he says he still loves her, but when she presses for answers that make sense, she
gets riddles.

Her life soon undergoes changes. At first, she receives a missive from her father, saying he has married again. Then later, another letter arrives and says she has a new stepsister coming to stay with her, that her stepmother has mysteriously died. Althea and her aunt welcome the girl. After her arrival, they are suddenly seeing a lot of Jovian and his new neighbor, Erebus Lethe. As events grown more sinister, Jovian's warning back in the winter comes to Althea's mind. Something very bizarre is circling Althea and her stepsister, something old and ancient, something very deadly and only Jovian can stop it. There are layers upon layers, riddles and more riddles. Ones steeped in knowledge of ancient lore will see some of the mystery coming, but it still is a master crafting of fiction and myth. For those unfamiliar with the Maid-Crone Cycle, they will be in for a super introduction to such lore.

The pace keeps the reader hooked. This is my first book by Heath, but NOT my last!