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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not a compelling romance...., August 15, 2000
Six of the seven sisters need husbands, although Lady Margaret, the youngest, is interested only in the pursuit of insects, not gentlemen, and certainly not the boring Captain Hawksby who has been assigned to keep her out of trouble in her brother's absence. Hawksby himself is more interested in the pursuit of a lovely actress, but is obligated to agree to the difficult task of keeping an eye on the rambunctious Maggie. Frankly, the romance seems to be missing from this tale. Hawksby (would anyone call him Bixworth?) is obsessed far too long with his divine mistress...I wonder if he would have given her up at all if she hadn't pre-empted him...and there doesn't seem to be a lot of romantic feeling coming from Maggie, either. I really can't blame her...Hawksby just doesn't make it as a romantic hero, and not just because of the mistress.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Boring, August 7, 2000
THE SEVENTH SISTER is the sequel to THE SISTER SEASON, and follows the courtship of the youngest of the Durham ladies, Lady Margaret. Maggie hates the Season and wants to spend all her time going to London's museums, libraries, lectures, and looking for bugs (Maggie has a passion for entomology); but unfortunately, her big brother, the Earl, only wants to see her successfully married off to a young man of large fortune. However, since he must go away to see to one of his estates in the country (and since he doesn't trust Maggie as far as the front step), he prevails upon one of his war comrades, Cpt. Bixworth Hawksby, to escourt Maggie to her little "amusements" and make sure she doesn't get into any trouble while he is gone. Hawksby understandably thinks this is going to be tedious time spent away from his new l'amour, Miss Divine, but as he gets to know Maggie better (this is the premise, in any case), he finds that Miss Divine's company, when she gives it to him, is what is becoming tiresome, while Maggie has found a place in his heart. THE SEVENTH SISTER may sound interesting, and it does have its moments, but overall it was just boring -- so much so that I really had trouble finishing the book. Mainly, it was Tanner's way of writing, which was like a Fidel Castro lecture delivered in monotone, that made it so dreadfully dull. Even though things do happen, they don't change anything in the plot or in the story, so they're essentially pointless. Also, one can't seem to be inspired to care about any of the characters, who could just as well be cardboard cut-outs, and still have all the personality and warmth they exhibit in this book. Another problem results from the fact that this is a sequel, and that both the reader and the writer have trouble filling in the gaps in the plot, for those who hadn't read the earlier book. If you read THE SISTER SEASON and enjoyed it, you'll most likely enjoy this book; if you haven't read THE SISTER SEASON, read it and see if you like it before moving on to SEVENTH SISTER.
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Seventh Sister, August 20, 2000
Captain Bixworth Hawksby was heartily enjoying the Season in London; he has won the charms of Lucianne Divine. Miss Lucianne Divine was a rising star on the London stage, and she has long taken her time in choosing a replacement for her previous protector. Captain Hawksby needed a present to secure his place in her heart. He had just spotted the very thing when his former commanding officer literally bumped into him. Lady Margaret Durham has spent the last year in London at her brother's townhouse. She is the youngest of the Durhams but by only a few minutes. Three of her sisters found husbands in the previous Season. Half-sister Winifred had the good fortune in marrying Daniel Douglas Durham, the seventh Earl of Chantry. All the sisters are enjoying the new Season tremendously except for Maggie. Her dearest wish is to return to her home. If she has to stay in London, she'd rather attend the lectures about the flora and fauna, or better yet lectures about insects. She has collected several specimens and all are neatly pinned and labeled. Daniel Durham has just received a summons from his estate, he and Freddie need to return to set accounts right. But his wife's concern for Maggie has led to his promise to secure an escort for her to the intellectual pursuits she'd rather enjoy. When he collides with Captain Hawksby, he convinces the captain to serve as Maggie's escort. His prayers have been answered. I enjoyed reading this second installment of the Durham sisters. There are three love story's unfolding concurrently in this book. Paula Tanner Girard keeps your attention focused on Maggie and Hawksby, but Ruth's and Rebecca's romances unfold as well. I hadn't read the first of the books, so I was confused by some of the references to the original. However this story stands well on its own.
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