Veena’s review of Trapped At The Altar by Jane Feather
Historical Romance published by Pocket Books 22 Jul 14
The time period when Charles Stuart is restored to the throne of England is very interesting, especially with the great religious divide between Catholics and Protestants. Ari and Ivor, one catholic and one protestant ,have been raised together by her grandfather with the objective that they will one day marry and take their places at court and help restore both families to prestige and power. Ari, however, is neither ready nor willing to fall in line, because in the meantime she’s fallen love with a gentle poet who is very different from the rough and tumble men of her clan. This time period and this synopsis definitely peaked my interest, but, unfortunately, the romance falls far short of its promise.
Ari really irks me throughout the book. I really get that as a woman of her times she’s somewhat powerless and subject to the will of the males in her family and is forced to marry Ivor, who she views as a friend rather than a lover. All of this should have garnered my sympathy, but she’s quite snarky with Ivor, even when he’s trying to befriend her, despite the fact that she’s abused her freedom and friendship to take a lover. I too don’t appreciate Ivor taking advantage of a brothel to take the edge off his frustration, but I find Ari’s double standard off putting, to say the least.
Ivor comes across as a very nice man – his patience with Ari, his consideration of the people who accompany them to London, and lack of class consciousness and willingness to lend a hand where necessary. Unfortunately for all that he’s such a nice man, he’s bland. I guess I must like a little bit of wicked in my heroes.
Gabriel, the weakest of the three characters, morphs into almost a bit of villain when he finds that Ari seems to have outgrown her romance with him and is actually happy with her husband.
For all the historical details about the King’s court and the times, there’s nothing in the story to hold my interest and I had a hard time finishing it. In retrospect I am just surprised that I didn’t abandon it midway.
Grade: C
Summary:
New York Times bestselling author Jane Feather introduces a sizzling new series that moves from the remote wilds of southwest England to the turbulent royal court, when a lovely young woman is forced into marriage in order to unite two families—and discovers a most unexpected passion. . . Ariadne Carfax has vowed to be with the man she loves, Gabriel Fawcett. There’s just one obstacle. On his deathbed, Ari’s grandfather decrees that she marry her childhood friend Ivor Chalfont, thus forging a powerful alliance between the two warring families. Giving Ari no time to protest, the elders plan her wedding the next day, forcing her to follow through on the nuptials. Though she is fond of Ivor, Ari has no intention of consummating their marriage—until he kindles an intoxicating desire that she can’t ignore. Ivor has loved Ari for years, but he doesn’t want an unwilling wife. He wants Ari to ache with the same irresistible longing he feels. And if that’s the way to woo her into his bed and into their new life, he won’t rest until his new bride surrenders to true love.
