Read Blackmoore.
Even if it is not November and the skies are sunny, and the air conditioning is causing your hair to stand on end, and you have never owned and never will own a pet...
Read Blackmoore.
And then cry because you have to wait a wretchedly long time to read Julianne Donaldson's next novel.
Kate Worthington will never marry, but has her sights set on India and the escape from her life it offers her instead. Her mother, however, has other plans. Before Kate will be allowed to travel to India, she must receive and reject three marriage proposals. Off to Blackmoore, if Kate can only acquire the help of her friend Henry Delafield, she should be well on her way to freedom.
This book reminded me a bit of Jane Eyre. The symbolism of birds and cages are prevalent, the scenery is that of the moors, and the house is spooky, but that doesn't mean it wasn't original to our heroine Kate. I also loved the depth of the characters in this novel. Their relationships were realistic and had substance to them, and there were chillingly beautiful moments in the story where I simply had to pause to breathe.
Be warned, though: Kate's a stubborn character. And since she's stubborn, everything might not wrap up quite so tidily as you would expect. But I adored this novel, and only lamented that I had to wait sometimes days at a time before I had the chance to pick it up again.
Appropriate for ages 18+
