ABOUT THE BOOK:
Be calm, she thought.
Be gracious. Be twenty-two.
Lady Olivia Fanton is eager to prove she’s no longer a child. However, just as she thinks she’s found a suitable match in the suave Mr Manning, charismatic Captain Jem Ford walks back into her life, bringing with him all the embarrassment of her infatuation four years before! She’s determined to appear mature, distant, friendly. But does she dare hope he’ll notice her as the lady she’s become?
MY REVIEW:
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Makings of a Lady by Catherine Tinley is a 2018 Harlequin Historical publication.
Four years ago, Lady Olivia was sure Jem Ford was about to propose, but instead he announces he is leaving to make something of himself. Now, the smooth talking, Mr. Manning has taken an interest in her, just when Jem returns home. But, it would seem Jem still only thinks of Olivia as his sister’s best friend, and nothing more. So, Olivia decides to keep her mind open and consider Mr. Manning as a possible love interest. However, no matter how protective she is of her heart, her feelings for Jem continue to linger.
Jem has thought of Olivia constantly over the past four years. She has now blossomed into a beautiful young lady, but despite his rank as ‘Captain’, he still feels unworthy of her. Surely the only reason she is still unmarried is because no one is good enough for her. But, he really does not enjoy Mr. Manning's attentiveness towards Catherine.
Will Catherine and Jem’s love for one another remain unrequited?
This is an enjoyable historical romance, but also has a mild romantic suspense element added it that really spices things up. The romantic elements are fine, but it’s a case where neither party was willing to speak plainly to the other, making too many presumptions about what the other was probably thinking or feeling. The chemistry suffers a bit as there are too few romantic scenes between the couple. It’s not hard to figure out in which direction the story is headed, but I had to keep reading to see how it would all play out. As a result, the plot was more detailed than I had imagined it would be. The last quarter of the book was especially absorbing, and the ending was very satisfactory. Another plus, for me, is the authenticity. I love it when an author adheres, mostly, to the language, dress, and social interactions required from the depicted time frame.
The story has a low steam level, which makes it a book all historical romance readers can enjoy.
Overall, the romance meets the standards for a Harlequin historical, however, the mystery / suspense elements are what give this story a little edge and thus a nudge up on the rating scale.
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