LUCASTA

Author: Melinda Hammond ISBN: 9780709086857 10/2008 HISTORICAL Publisher: ROBERT HALE LTD.
Time Period: Regency

England at the end of the eighteenth century... Lucasta Symonds did not enjoy her one, short London season and she is happy to remain at home while her beautiful younger sister Camilla sets out to make an advantageous marriage. Viscount Kennington takes one look at the beautiful Camilla and is immediately smitten. He follows her to London, determined to make her his wife. However, when events take a turn for the worse and he is accused of a cold-blooded murder, it is not Camilla who comes to his rescue but the less beautiful, much more practical Lucasta...

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

LUCASTA is, for all intents and purposes, a story about getting what you need versus getting what you think you need. The story set up is familiar—gorgeous younger sister (Camilla) and less attractive, but more interesting older sister (Lucasta) vying for the affections of the same man (Viscount Kennington). Unfortunately, through no fault of his own, the Viscount becomes less desirable as a potential mate for the popular Camilla, who if not happily spurns him at her mother's behest.

With the exception of the father and his lecherous friend, the characters weren't unsympathetic. Believing what society believed is only to be expected of Lucasta's mother and sister, just as Lucasta not believing is to be expected since she is socially awkward.

I was surprised by the characterization of the father. His borderline cruel disregard for his eldest daughter's marital safety (if not happiness) was shocking. His reasons were basic and understandable, but his intentions and plans were criminal.

The romance follows predictable patterns, but Viscount Kennington is a happy-go-lucky sort of guy and not above poking fun at himself and society, and Lucasta is thankfully not given to melodramatic speeches about how envious she is over her younger sister's beauty. She is content to being less attractive since she was given brains and much prefers them to the obligations her sister must deal with.

The only complaint I have is towards the beginning. Events unfold that force Lucasta to run away from home, but she is woefully unprepared and the resulting encounter with Viscount Kennington is very contrived and unbelievable.

Overall LUCASTA is a quick enjoyable Regency romance sure to make most readers of the genre quite happy.

Alexandra Cenni