The Downton Effect

I'm sure many of you, like me, never miss an episode of Downton Abbey when it's on, and I'm certainly looking forward to the Christmas special. For me, it's all about the fashion and the characters, though I do hope Julian Fellows means what he says about ending it on a high. Perhaps the next season will be the last? In some ways, I hope it is as I wouldn't like it to get too modern and the 'Lady Mary and her suitors' story is beginning to bore me! I would love to see Edith's man (who is supposed to have died in Germany) return alive in the end.


There's no doubt that life in a big house amongst the aristocracy is a popular genre, especially with our friends across the Pond, whether that be in films or books. One well-known Regency author, Jo Beverley, came up with the lovely idea of posting on her blog a selection of Regency novels that are set around a large country house at Christmas, by different writers.

I'm very honoured that Midwinter Masquerade is included in the list and I'll be checking out the other books mentioned. If you're interested, you can find the titles, covers and blurbs on Jo Beverley's Blog - where you can also recommend in the comments any others you might have read with this kind of setting at the festive season.

Rosemary