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Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite
Marian is into her third season and, once again, she’s turning down a potential suitor. She’s given up on the notion of marriage, almost content with living her life as a spinster. In April Holthaus’s The Thorn of Winterberry, Marian watches with admiration as her younger sister enjoys the revelry and dancing at Winterberry Manor. Little does she know that a chance kiss under the mistletoe will change everything for her and yet, at the same time, allow her to be herself and follow her dream of being a writer. When Captain Radley appears on the scene, he, too, is hesitant to seek a life partner. He is rattled by unexpected sensations by the same chance kiss under the mistletoe.
April Holthaus’s novel, The Thorn of Winterberry: The Regency Scandals, is an engaging historical romance. This gentle read will entice its audience to enjoy an era when everything had a time and a reason, even marriage. The plot follows Marian’s introduction to Captain Radley and the development of their romance despite certain scandals that stand in the way. The author uses descriptive narrative aptly to set the stage for each scene. The characters are well-developed, and dialogue is used effectively to move the story along. The author has a good knowledge of the Regency era in which this story is set. Her use of historically accurate details makes the story come believably alive. Readers of authors like Jane Austen, Georgette Heyer, and many others, will certainly enjoy this little treasure.
