Seventeen year old Lady Alexandra is strong-willed and sharp-tongued -- in a house full of older brothers and their friends, she had to learn to hold her own. Not the best makings for an aristocratic lady in Regency London. Yet her mother still dreams of marrying Alex off to someone safe, respectable, and wealthy. But between ball gown fittings, dances, and dinner parties, Alex, along with her two best friends, Ella and Vivi, manages to get herself into what may be her biggest scrape yet. When the Earl of Blackmoor is mysteriously killed, Alex decides to help his son, the brooding and devilishly handsome Gavin, uncover the truth. But will Alex's heart be stolen in the process? In an adventure brimming with espionage, murder, and other clandestine affairs, who could possibly have time to worry about finding a husband? Romance abounds as this year's season begins!
Title: The Season
Author: Sarah MacLean
Format: hardcover, 336 pages
Genre: young adult, regency romance, historical
Source: library
Published: March 2009
Buy the book: book depo
My Thoughts
The Season is set in London in 1815. Alexandra Stafford is 17-years old and according to society, it is time for her to start her search for a suitable husband. (I can’t imagine myself getting married at 17 or 18.) However, Alex being as stubborn as she is, has no interest in finding a husband. She loathes everything Season-related, from dress fittings to balls and dinners. She’d rather hang out with her two best friends, Vivi and Ella. The three have been friends since birth. Alex is the only daughter, she has three brothers, and her mother is determined to find her a suitor.
Gavin Blackmoor grew up in the next house over to the Staffords and is practically part of their family. His relationship with Alex has always been a brotherly one, until now. Because of his father’s untimely and unexpected death, Gavin has just been appointed an Earl. The constable, along with several members of the War Office, ruled his father’s death as a “tragic mistake borne sadly of inopportune time and location”. They had come to the conclusion that his father’s horse lost its footing in the rain and he was thrown off. There was no indication of any foul play. So it seems.
I had a hunch of who was responsible for the mystery death pretty early on. The mystery surrounding the death of Gavin’s father is sidelined for a bit while the focus spotlights the romance and tension between Gavin and Alex. Alex starts having non-sisterly feelings for Gavin and wonders if he feels the same way. She helps Gavin solve the mystery surrounding his father’s death and their romance blossoms. I enjoyed watching their romance mature throughout the book.
The cover didn’t grab me, nothing stood out. The girls on the cover are not how I envisioned Alex, Ella and Vivi; they look more like modern day debutantes. Looking at the cover, without reading the blurb, I wouldn’t have known that this book takes place in a historical setting. The cover does encompass a friendship between the girls. The title is a perfect fit for the storyline. The main focal point surrounds the Season.
The Season was a pleasant surprise. If it weren’t for the Book Battle, I wouldn’t have picked this book off the shelf. In all honesty, I was dreading having to read this book. I found very little interest in the subject of history throughout junior high and senior high which is why, until now, I have shied away from the genre.
I didn’t think I would be able to keep up with the language of a historical genre but the dialogue in The Season was easy to follow. I was a bit intimidated at first but found myself able to keep up with the dialogue. The only thing that raised an eyebrow was when Alex said “I am not in a funk.” Did they say the word funk in the early 1800s? I could be wrong but the use of the word raised an eyebrow.
The Book Vixen Rating
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Oh wow, I confess to being a little jealous because I really want to read this. It is right up my street. I'm a little disappointed that you had sussed the murderer early on but otherwise I am now super excited. I imagine its The OC meets Hercule Poirot meets Jane Austen. Love it!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it fun when we end up liking a book we didn't think we would? It's like a fun discovery.
ReplyDeleteI think I will add this one to my wishlist. Thanks for the good review.
This one sounds right up my alley. You know what it reminds me of? Anna Godbersen's The Luxe series---which is OUTSTANDING!
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