By Julie Sara Porter
Bookworm Reviews
Spoilers: "Meanwhile, back in stately Pemberley Manor…."
That's probably how most Regency Romances started, by the works of Jane Austen and her comedies of manners in which couples who swear that they are not suited for each other end up together. There usually is nothing more tense than a lover's quarrel and a frosty encounter during tea time with one's elderly, disapproving, or meddlesome relatives. All of this is resolved by the end.
Catherine Dove is no exception. Her Regency Romance, The Wynters Series: Harriet Disguised is full of typical Regency Romance tropes: brooding titled noble hero, spunky heroine who bucks traditions, conservative older relatives, usually aunts, that lecture the young ones about how things should be done, an upcoming Season, trips to inns, and misunderstandings and complications that result in the lovers quarreling. Of course, it ends with a romantic proposal and the promise of a happy marriage ever after.
However, Harriet Disguised also takes its cue from another popular genre: the adventure novel. Amidst the lighthearted romance between witty bickering lovers, Dove weaves a tale of missing inheritance, conniving ne'er do wells, treasure, disguises, and narrow escapes. Both the adventurous and romantic aspects give this book a pure escapist feel into that time period that inspired so many authors to explore it.
Sebastian and Harriet Wynters were raised by their archaeologist explorer parents. They had a unique upbringing in which they traveled the world, experienced different cultures and met many people, and were permitted to question everything and challenge standards. Unfortunately, their free spirited childhood and youth came to an end after their parents died and they ended up living in London with their staid aunt, while trying to fit into proper society.
Sebastian learns that a stranger has a trunk of their late parents' things. Despite Harriet's objections and insistence that she go along, Sebastian goes alone. When he doesn't return, Harriet gets worried. She dons boy's clothes, takes on a male persona, and goes off to the country to look for him.
Meanwhile, a morose Lord Ashurst is out for a night on the town with his friends. He spends that night drinking, carousing, and bemoaning his arranged upcoming marriage to Miss Daphne Maitland. Wanting to get him to lighten up (and maybe sober up), Ashton's friends prank him by putting him in a stagecoach heading for the country. What an unbelievable coincidence, that coach is also carrying a boy with very feminine features and a soft voice who is looking for his missing brother! Yes siree, the other passenger is Harriet Wynters and our two potential lovers are off on a grand adventure.
Actually the high adventures are some of the best parts in the book. There are great moments of suspense such as when Sebastian executes a dangerous escape from his captors.
Ashton and Harriet assuming disguises and identities while facing potential threats to the Wynters family seems to come out of something like the Scarlet Pimpernel. The plot of these works usually involves a disguised well connected clever hero who takes down some nasty usually titled do badders with sinister designs on some yet to be discovered wealth, maybe an inheritance or treasure. The only major difference is that the disguised hero in this book is a woman!
There are also some interesting moments of plot contrivances where characters converge into the same location such as an out of the way inn which somehow becomes a magnet for all parties involved. The protagonist and antagonist pile up is humorous but has its moments of tension as some characters just barely avoid being found by others and miss the people that they are supposed to catch up with.
The adventure is a bright spot but the Romance, while predictable, has its good points too. Yes we know Ashurst will see right through Harriet's disguise. We know that they will fight constantly and then share a kiss. We know that Ashurst will be drawn to Harriet's spiritedness because she's unlike any woman that he's ever met. We know that Harriet will find the hidden heart inside the brooding nobleman. We've seen it all before and somehow that's comforting.
This isn't the type of book that veers on surprises and it's not supposed to. There are some disappointments towards the end such as when the heroes and villains confront each other and it's hard to keep track of the various schemes and betrayals. Also a final unnecessary complication drags out a final chapter between Ashurst's proposal and Harriet's answer. But for the most part, those flaws can be forgiven in favor of the adventure and romance.
Harriet Disguised is what it is, a sweet suspenseful romantic adventure in its purest escapist form, a reminder of days gone by of fancy dress, etiquette, swordfight, balls, witty banter, a kiss or two, and the feeling that everything will be alright in the end.
