The Book of Lost Stories by Trisha Ashley is really an historical romance packaged as a contemporary novel, but don’t let that put you off because it’s written with the author’s usual wit and this makes for a satisfying read.
Cleo is a fan of Gothic literature and an expert in the novels of Orlando Browne. She is, however, convinced that Browne is just a penname for a female author, Alys Weston. She has no evidence for this theory until she is given, very conveniently, a diary written by Alys, which reveals her life. The main part of the story is the revelation of Alys’ life and her relationship with Lord Rayven.
I have read quite a few Regency romances and this is as good as most of them. The author makes it clear what the restrictions are on Alys’ life because she is a woman but shows how these can be circumvented and how, eventually, true love can win through. It’s funny in places, with plenty of good minor characters to make the book feel more realistic. The author, thankfully, avoids the sickly sentimentality which is a curse of the genre. The modern story feels like an afterthought but it makes a good frame for the past events, and the author manages to create an interesting twist there too.
This isn’t too demanding but it is enjoyable, and a little different from the author’s usual novels – here’s a review of another that I enjoyed.
Anne Is Reading 