The Soul of a Lady in Clean Romances

Mar 17, 2012 Kathy * Bookworm Nation rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: regency-1811-1820, 2012

I was really looking forward to reading Lydia. I’d seen it pop up here and there and I always love a good Regency story. Overall, Lydia was a pleasant read, although a little slow at times. I appreciated that it was clean and would probably read more by this author.

However, I didn’t quite like it as much as I wanted to. Very early on I got bored with Lydia’s obsession with Lord Denton. It really felt like an obsession, he was literally all she would think about. It got a bit repeditive and I wo I was really looking forward to reading Lydia. I’d seen it pop up here and there and I always love a good Regency story. Overall, Lydia was a pleasant read, although a little slow at times. I appreciated that it was clean and would probably read more by this author.

However, I didn’t quite like it as much as I wanted to. Very early on I got bored with Lydia’s obsession with Lord Denton. It really felt like an obsession, he was literally all she would think about. It got a bit repeditive and I would have liked a little more substance to their relationship. About halfway in we start to hear from Lord Denton’s POV, and of course he is equally in love with Lydia. There is a lot of inner dialog about their feelings, but I would have loved to have more conversations between the two. I was left without feeling much chemistry. Lord Denton is a reformed rake, I wouldn’t have minded seeing a little more of his rakish personality and had some flirting between the two. Any time he attempted to flirt Lydia would quickly hide within her very proper shell. I was also a little turned off by how everyone just loved Lydia. In their eyes she was perfection. I thought she was a little boring and a tad long-winded. I was also confused with what exactly her “job” was. She is supposed to be Susan’s governess, but she was treated more like a member of the family than as a servant (maybe because she was too perfect to be treated otherwise). Not only do her employers treat her as an equal, but so does everyone she meets. During this time period status and rank had a big sway on how you were treated and I guess I would have liked to see a little more of that.

Another element that rubbed me the wrong way was with the brief side story with Susan. In the story she makes a mistake and the whole thing was not only brushed under the rug, but was presented that as long as no one knew about it, it was not a big deal. Personally, I have to disagree. Even if Susan was the only one to ever know, it would still be wrong. It bothered me that it was downplayed so easily. While, I don’t think she is a bad person, everyone makes mistakes, it was still a bad mistake and I would have like to see more growth or remorse on Susan’s part.

The story wrapped up a little too quickly. The entire book is filled with drama (Lydia pining away for Lord Denton), and all of the sudden they are declaring their undying love for one another. I guess the way it all came about seemed anticlimactic. Their relationship and courtship moved at such a slow pace, I was surprised things were resolved so quickly and openly. They’ve tippy toed around each other and now all of the sudden they are not shy or nervous about sharing their feelings?

Overall, it was a pleasant read. I would probably enjoy it more the second time around when I know what to expect.
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Jun 28, 2017 Lisa (Bookworm Lisa) rated it liked it

Shelves: clean-read, 2017, regency, romance, library-check-out, old-new-borrowed-blue

3.5 stars

This was a good book. I didn't connect with the stories or characters, so I am giving it 3.5 stars. It was well written and had a good story line.

The book is set during the Regency period. Lydia is a young women whose circumstances have been reduced. Without a fortune she has been employed as a companion to a spoiled young woman. She is a woman of grace and wisdom.

Lord Denton is a man who has a fortune, but is tired of treasure seeking young women vying for his attention. Lydia is a bre ...more

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Sep 30, 2011 Katie (hiding in the pages) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance, romance-clean

Wow! This regency romance was quite a flashback. The language/prose was so....regency. A very enjoyable story with a great cover.

Lydia's family is in ruins after her father passes away and she is forced to enter into service, since she has no dowry. She becomes a companion for a young girl, just ready to enter society. Fortunately, this position allows her to attend all the functions as well, which leads to her falling for he most sought after bachelor--Lord Denton. Known as a flirt who strings ...more

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Jul 25, 2011 Danyelle Ferguson rated it liked it · review of another edition

I really enjoy historical romances and was quite excited to review Lydia. But I came to a realization. I like historical novels written with a more modern story telling technique.

Lydia is written in a total Jane Austen style - with wordy sentences, ping pong emotions, and well, more wordy stuff. Just like J.A. Before any J.A. fans start sending me hate mail, I should clairify that I love her stories, but just can't handle her writing. Give me an Austen movie, and I'm a happy chick. I think Lydi ...more

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Jul 26, 2011 Joyce rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction

"Lydia", by Wanda Luce, is a delightful new entry to the Regency world of romance. Ms Luce’s prose is flowing and poetic, capturing the voice of the Regency age in a way I have seen others attempt but fail to achieve quite so fully. The romance between the two main characters, Lydia and Lord Denton, evolves in a charming way. Each encounter between them left me touched and smiling and rooting for their eventual union. The author’s research is meticulous, but never boring. Whether visiting the ru "Lydia", by Wanda Luce, is a delightful new entry to the Regency world of romance. Ms Luce’s prose is flowing and poetic, capturing the voice of the Regency age in a way I have seen others attempt but fail to achieve quite so fully. The romance between the two main characters, Lydia and Lord Denton, evolves in a charming way. Each encounter between them left me touched and smiling and rooting for their eventual union. The author’s research is meticulous, but never boring. Whether visiting the ruins of an old castle, showing us the inner-workings of Parliament, bantering in a bookshop over such Regency titles as “The Fascinating Lives of England’s Rodents”, or the older generation teasing the younger generation over the popularity of a contemporary love song (“William and Mary”), the historical details are never presented as lecture, but woven intricately into the story through the eyes of the characters. But Ms Luce does not neglect that essential element for a romance: strong emotion, both the internal turmoil of the characters and the physical touches of passion, though never crossing a line that would make a reader of sweet romances uncomfortable.

As much as I loved this story and the writing style, I did stumble a bit in two places. Although the story started off with a very strong scene of the hero and heroine’s first meeting, I felt it regressed a bit too much after that into “telling” over “showing” for the majority of the first three chapters. My love for the prose style kept me reading, however, and round about Chapter 4, things began to pick up considerably as Lydia and Denton’s encounters took on new life through more dialogue and action. I regret to say I also stumbled a bit with the ending. Things wound up just a bit too quickly and neatly for me, leaving me thinking that perhaps they might have resolved their issues just a little bit sooner. There were a few strong touches in the conclusion, especially in the epilogue, but I personally would like to have seen the characters have to fight just a little harder before they ultimately wound up together.

That being said, I was sufficiently entranced with Ms Luce’s writing style and ability to present appealing characters that I will definitely be reading more from this author, just as soon as she has more books to read!

Here’s a link where you can read the words to and listen to the melody of the song “William and Mary”, if you’d like: http://www.contemplator.com/england/w... (Yes, I Googled it, because I’m weird that way.)
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Sep 12, 2017 Angie rated it really liked it

Shelves: english, adult, library

Nice, clean read.

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Aug 06, 2011 Katie rated it it was ok · review of another edition

I don't know what to say about this book. I really wanted to love it. Maybe that was the problem.
The story was fine, it just wasn't as fast paced as I would have liked. I think I'll try it again at a later date just to see If I like it better.
I noticed it's on your shelves Teea and Nicole, let me know what you think. ...more

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