Reviewer: Janet Davies
Title: The Telling
Author: Jane Shoup
Publisher: Whiskey Creek Press
E-book ISBN: 978-1-59374-609-4
Release Date: October 2006
Genre/Sub-genre: Historical Romance/Suspense
Year/Setting: England 1799
Overall Rating: 5.0
Sexual Content Rating: Sensual
Language (Profanity) Rating: None
Violent Content Rating: Minimal
Jane's Website: janeshoup.wcauthor.com
When Annamae Sario is abandoned by her weak, greedy husband and thrown out into the cold, no one expects her to survive – Anna included. But her own will to live, and the need to reclaim the daughters her husband and his spiteful new wife have forcibly taken from her, give Anna the strength to endure the worst moment of her life. As she stumbles mindlessly and alone through a cold winter’s night, she encounters the eerie vision of a young man pointing out the direction she needs to take.
The Castle of Danesmoor soon becomes home to the lost and lonely Anna. However, none but one of the inhabitants knows of her existence. And that man goes out of his way to help his new friend. Although he is blind he can sense the goodness within Anna. He plans to help her get her daughters back and see justice done.
John Holbrecht is the owner Danesmoor Castle. He is a lonely man, haunted by the past and entrapped in a loveless engagement to a London socialite who has an evil agenda. His friends Fannie and Jackson and his long time mentor Jacob urge him to break off the engagement with the nasty Josephine. However the consequences of doing so will destroy someone he loves and bring him to the brink of his existence.
I loved the The Telling. It had me in the prologue. I wanted to know what, when, why and how. What happens to the character of Anna in the ghastly village she was expelled from is truly awful and you do wonder who on earth she will survive. I absolutely hated, as you are supposed to, her weak kneed simp of a husband and his appalling new wife. Whilst John is kind and sweet and the sort of man you just feel compelled to like.
And there is revenge all over the place in this book, and I have to admit I love a good dose of healthy revenge. I absolutely loved the way the character of Devon subtly settled an old score. In fact the plot is so skillfully woven that it is one twist after another and I found that I was never bored reading it. If you love seeing the bad guys get their comeuppance then read this book.
But as much as there is vengeance, there is also sweet, old fashioned romance as true love is found and old acquaintances look at each other in a different light.
The Telling is full of spooky occurrences, murderous villains, greedy people and lovers finding each other despite all odds. It is an old fashioned pot boiler and a fabulous read.
Janet
Question or comment regarding the review or the book? Click here and let Janet know.
Top
Reviews
Featured Reviews
Archived Reviews