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Isabella
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1990
4 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 31, 2016
For four years, Mr D'Estine had observed Isabella Larkham ignored by her father. Her sire was a cit. Izzy's mother had died years before leaving her with two younger brothers. The kindly gentleman had been hired to tutor the boys.
Over time, Isabella was influenced by her Aunt Caroline's haughtiest prejudices and her so-called friends' snobbish pretenses. Inwardly craving affection, she turned into a spoiled, embittered young woman. She admired wealth first with breeding a far second. When she thought he wasn't looking, she made fun of the young man.
When the story opened, she was almost twenty years of age. Isabella thought she was in love but her father put an immediate halt to the romance. He shipped her beloved overseas and betrothed Isabella to Lord Carlton Crue. He was a much older man (45 years old) and someone suited to his plans. I thought Ms. Grace used a play on words; Crue was shortened for cruel because he was extremely nasty.
In the meantime, Larkham left for an extended amount of time to take care of business on the continent. He allowed Anthony, Mr D'Estine, to visit his own parents with the three Larkham siblings in tow. When their father's affairs were concluded, he would return home for his daughter's marriage.
For the first part of the story, I thought Isabella was extremely snooty and rude. I could not imagine anyone wanting to be near her for more than a few moments. Outwardly beautiful, I thought her personality favored cracked glass. It was sharp, cold and a reflection of the nasty people she allowed to influence her.
On the other hand, Anthony, his family and their staff along with Isabella's brothers were all sweethearts. This was the first time I used the tag 'chaperone-companion' and it referred to a man: Anthony. I enjoyed observing Isabella slowly awaken to her father's poor values and becoming ashamed of herself. I loved Anthony's open confusion when Isabella was near him. Lastly, there was a section devoted to a balloon ride that made it worth overlooking Isabella's cranky attitude.
*This couple was the definition of 'opposites-attract'.*
Over time, Isabella was influenced by her Aunt Caroline's haughtiest prejudices and her so-called friends' snobbish pretenses. Inwardly craving affection, she turned into a spoiled, embittered young woman. She admired wealth first with breeding a far second. When she thought he wasn't looking, she made fun of the young man.
When the story opened, she was almost twenty years of age. Isabella thought she was in love but her father put an immediate halt to the romance. He shipped her beloved overseas and betrothed Isabella to Lord Carlton Crue. He was a much older man (45 years old) and someone suited to his plans. I thought Ms. Grace used a play on words; Crue was shortened for cruel because he was extremely nasty.
In the meantime, Larkham left for an extended amount of time to take care of business on the continent. He allowed Anthony, Mr D'Estine, to visit his own parents with the three Larkham siblings in tow. When their father's affairs were concluded, he would return home for his daughter's marriage.
For the first part of the story, I thought Isabella was extremely snooty and rude. I could not imagine anyone wanting to be near her for more than a few moments. Outwardly beautiful, I thought her personality favored cracked glass. It was sharp, cold and a reflection of the nasty people she allowed to influence her.
On the other hand, Anthony, his family and their staff along with Isabella's brothers were all sweethearts. This was the first time I used the tag 'chaperone-companion' and it referred to a man: Anthony. I enjoyed observing Isabella slowly awaken to her father's poor values and becoming ashamed of herself. I loved Anthony's open confusion when Isabella was near him. Lastly, there was a section devoted to a balloon ride that made it worth overlooking Isabella's cranky attitude.
*This couple was the definition of 'opposites-attract'.*
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July 29, 2011Not bad - just a good old love story really - predictable right from the beginning.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews