A-Z Romance! Ashford

On Votaries, I have several A-Z Lists where I work my way through fiction and non-fiction books, usually in some type of alphabetical order (though non-fiction was by Dewey Decimal number).

I decided to approach new paperback romance authors in the same manner.

I started with Jane Ashford and was impressed enough to look up a second novel.

The book was A Gentleman Ought to Know, the fourth book in a series. Generally, the writing is solid though in a few places the point of view shifts unexpectedly--disconcerting though not enough to disconnect the reader.

The characters have substance. I was especially impressed by the family-feeling amongst the Deepings. Some contemporary historical novels feel a little too modern; some feel a little too "mannered." The family in this novel struck me as natural. They are gentry, rather than aristocrats, so the kind of people Darcy would know and they behave like Darcy at home (as opposed to Darcy in London or Netherfield).

Darcy at home.

The main characters also have distinct personalities. Charlotte is a very independent, outspoken woman etc. etc. (This character type will come up many times on this list.) However, Ashford does a decent job making the independence and outspoken prickliness part of the character's personality rather than some kind of laid-on set of character traits. Charlotte comes across as a full person.

And there's a mystery! It is more suspenseful than clue-laden--though the Sherlock-like character, Merlin, appears in a later book--but I'm a fan of romance novels resting on something other than the courtship. An actual "case" helps.

Unexpectedly good start to this list!