A Perilous Journey

Kentwell #1

by Gail Eastwood

Fleeing her grim guardian and the monstrous marriage that he has arranged for her, Gillian Kentwell embarks on a desperate flight for freedom in northern Scotland, only to find herself accepting the assistance of a charming but suspicious stranger.

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance

224 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 1, 1994

About the author

As a child, Gail Eastwood wrote stories and dreamed of becoming an author. After almost twenty years of writing as a journalist, theatre critic and PR consultant, she finally wrote and sold her first novel, achieving that childhood dream. Published by Signet, that first book earned several honors including The Golden Leaf Award for Best Regency, 1994, and Gail hasn't looked back since. Her books have been nominated for multiple awards, and for two years running Gail was a nominee for Romantic Times Magazine’s Career Achievement in the Regency category.

Hailed as "brilliantly versatile" and "a master at painting pictures of Regency life", Gail enjoyed a growing reputation as a writer who pushed her genre to new levels with her emphasis on emotional depth and unusual plots. After over a decade away from writing, she is back!! She lives in RI with her actor/attorney husband and two adult sons. She holds a B.A. in Comparative Literature and Sociology from Case Western Reserve University. Writing and researching are her greatest loves (after her family), but she stubbornly refuses to give up her interests in theatre, dance, costuming, the middle ages, and going to the beach, even though she has little time for them!

Reviews

[Sybil Mcguire · Rating 2 out of 5]

an endless slog.

Tension too early partly. it gets old

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

An engaging story well-worth reading! Will read again!

[QNPoohBear · Rating 3 out of 5]

Julian Rafferty deRaymond, Earl of Brinton is captivated by the striking pair of blue-green eyes of a youth at a country inn. He's certain that though the youth is dressed as a boy, he is a really a she. Brinton is curious about the youth and "his"/her traveling companion and bets his friend the pair are headed to Scotland to elope, though why the thought of that makes him upset, he can't say. Soon Brinton finds himself entangled in the affairs of a pair of adventurous 19-year-old orphaned twins Gillian and Gilbey Kentwell. Gillian is fleeing her wicked uncle who insists on marrying her off to an elderly neighbor and Gilbey is along to make sure his sister makes it safely to their aunt's in Scotland. Brinton gets more than he bargained for when his curiosity pushes him to help the twins. Soon they are being chased by Bow Street Runners, sleeping in the woods, fighting off danger and falling in love. There's a little twist at the end that makes the plot not a total cliche. The characters are likable, and though Gilly is young, I admire her spirit and determination. Brinton is an admirable hero with no obvious flaws. He's even selfless, demanding nothing from the Kentwells, not even from Gillian, though he loves her very much. I don't believe in love at first sight, he seemed to really get to know Gilly over the week they spend together. I'm a little more dubious about her feelings for him. I'm not fond of the teenage girl with absent father falls in love with authoritarian man plot but this one seemed believable. There is a little bit of sensuality, enough to please romance lovers but not too much to turn off those of us who want to enjoy the story and the history.

[Lisa Norato · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've owned this delightful book since it was first released. A Perilous Journey is wonderful story for true Regency fans that will take you back to a romantic era and make you feel that you are really there.

[Susannah Carleton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Delightful! Sometimes love is found in unusual ways and unexpected places.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.20 stars - pg13?

Whole book quite good, but last chapters wrapped up too quickly and somewhat silly (didn't seem to fit).