Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite

Set in Regency England, The Blythe Girl by Alex Webster is a fun, quirky look at the life of the aristocracy, with an underlying, dark, supernatural undertone. William McIntyre Stuart is the lord of the manor at Thornfield Park. Happily married to Charlotte and with two children, including an heir and another son, life couldn’t be better for the quiet, shy, and reserved William. With his more ebullient and outgoing younger brother Alister away fighting for king and country, William is finally settling into the role to which he was born and bred. That is until the arrival of the beautiful, young, and enigmatic Josceline Blythe whose lust for life, love, and William would prove to be devastating not only for his family but for the estate, village, and surrounding area. With William drawn to the seductive Josceline, the air is filled with unspoken desires, lust, and forbidden love. In a bitter and unrelenting winter, Josceline’s death should have put an end to wanton desires but rather it simply seems to inflame William’s need to possess the young woman even more.

The Blythe Girl is a delightful mix of Regency propriety, scandal, and supernatural mystery. Author Alex Webster has struck a fascinating balance between the usual passionate but polite Regency romance stories and the superstitious beliefs and practices of the ordinary folk of Regency England. I particularly appreciated the counterpoint between the two brothers, William and Alister, who could not have been more different in character and personality. It was merely the accident of birth that left William as the sole heir to the title and estate whereas it was clear that Alister was the brother who was best equipped in all facets to fulfill the role. This law of primogeniture did, however, ensure that England always had a ready supply of young men to lead its armed forces and its colonization of the world. I grasped the underlying theme of the novel as being about choices; the choices we make not only define who we are but also who we want to become. For William, it was a series of bad choices but these choices need not have been irrevocable. I loved the character of Charlotte who, despite the despicable manner in which she was treated by her husband, maintained her dignity, her courage, and her willingness to ultimately fight for her husband and marriage. The supernatural aspect lifts the novel out of its Regency romance background into a more complex, clever scenario, the plotting of which the author handles superbly. The story is fast-paced and easy to read, and the romantic scenes are believable without the need to become too explicit. I did enjoy the climactic scenes, which will leave readers breathless with excitement. This is a different style of story that I can highly recommend.