TEST
“Never love an Englishman” is the credo by which Evleen O’Fallon has been raised. Her mother’s second husband was an Englishman who ran through her mother’s fortune and then died, leaving the family destitute. Forced to sell everything and move to a barren cottage in County Clare, the family has learned to make due, but Evleen has no hopes besides a simple marriage, children, and a hard life. All of that is changed when Lord Thomas Linberry arrives.
Thomas is the younger son of a marquess. Without the pressure of being the heir apparent he’s always gone his own way, but being a man of honor he does a favor for his father, checking on his Irish holdings as well as those of their neighbor, Lord Alberdsley. He learns that Evleen’s youngest brother Patrick, the product of her mother’s marriage to the Englishman, is Lord Alberdsley’s grandson, Viscount Monfret. Monfret wants ten-year-old Patrick to be educated in England, and Evleen goes with him as an escort.
Thomas is quickly drawn to Evleen and she to him, but she must never love an Englishman and his father is passionately prejudiced against the Irish. Evleen’s life in England is not rosy. Lord Alberdsley’s sister-in-law Lydia and her daughters are threatened by Evleen’s beauty, and belittle her and lead her into making a fool of herself in society. Only with the help of Thomas and his sister Penelope is Evleen able to hold her head high and try to make an acceptable match that will help her family at home in Ireland.
Thomas and Evleen spend so much time trying to make sure everyone else is happy that they make themselves miserable. Yet, they don’t let people walk all over them. Evleen only allows Lydia and her daughters to make a fool of her once. As soon as she realizes their tricks she turns to others for guidance. As for Thomas, he will be obey his father, but not at the price of losing Evleen’s love.
Lydia is the typical marriage-minded mamma. She unfortunately sets her sights solely on Thomas and his brother Montague for her daughters; she is destined for disappointment. If she were the only villain, then Evleen and Thomas might have found happiness sooner, but Montague has plans for Evleen as well, and Thomas’s father’s prejudice against the Irish blinds him to Evleen’s finer qualities.
A noticeable problem with the book is Patrick O’Fallon, Evleen’s brother, who, once he reaches England is conveniently sent to his room only to be seen when Evleen needs a reminder about why Ireland is better than England. Also the boy’s complete change of character to an overbearing and rude child makes the reader wonder what he’s learning locked away in his room.
The Irish Upstart is a nicely paced, romantic, and enjoyable tale about two people who belong together. It’s uncomplicated yet not facile and shows that rules are sometimes meant to be broken. While it doesn’t gloss over the discord between the Irish and the English, it shows on a personal level that love can be achieved between long time enemies – what can be nicer than that?
Grade: B
Book Type: Regency Romance
Sensuality: Kisses
Review Date: 25/04/01
Publication Date: 2001
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Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.