The Periwinkle Brooch

by Kate Frederick

Deborah Conway accepted a post as companion to Lord Charles Denton's sister, but when she received the veiled warnings to leave the baron's home, heard the tormented cries in the night, saw the ghostly vision, she wanted to flee... But the handsome Charles had sparked her desires and promised her a passion that would last forever. So when he became enraged at her for wearing his dead wife's brooch, Deborah thought his anger was momentary. But when the sparkling pin seemed to have a strange power over her, she grew determined to uncover its secret.

Genres: Gothic

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

Reviews

[Abby Pechin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel kept me wanting to read it to figure out the ending! I was pleasantly surprised throughout the novel with a few twists and turns, and I failed to predict the ending! However, I was happy that Deborah ended up with the Baron compared to the brother, Jonathan. This story was unique because it didn't follow the typical "rules" of a gothic romance. I would highly recommend fans of the genre to peruse this book.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love gothic romances with all of the mystery and the strong female characters. Kate Frederick is an amazing author incorporating an unforgettable story with amazing characters.

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alot goes on in this book, in terms of events and romance, and KF delivers the gothic romance very effectively in my opinion. However I just had a problem accepting the attitude of the h who didn't quite act or behave with the subservience and decorum associated with the timeline or social customs explored in this story. For example, hired as a companion/helper of the Hero's sister, she doesn't like being talked down to, ordered about or treated as a servant and she talks back in a manner that, I feel, would never have been accepted in reality from someone in her situation. I felt like the heroine had a very anachronistic shade and she was endorsed as a confident bold almost the modern "american" version instead of the poor prim English Miss She should have been. Moreover, the heroine was romantically abit too active, causing alot of problems in families. Nonetheless, the gothic effects were good and periwinkle brooch was mysterious indeed.