A Long Fatal Love Chase

Well, I finished all the "children's" books, so I've moved on. A word about the other books I've read first, though. I liked Under the Lilacs and An Old-Fashioned Girl, but they didn't instantly appeal to me as Little Women and Eight Cousins did. Jack and Jill, however, I loved from the very beginning. Perhaps it's because I have a lot of male friends that the beautiful friendship between Jack and Jill made such an impression on me.

Anyway, I'm at my parents' house for my sister's wedding and I still have quite a few books here, and I found A Long Fatal Love Chase in my bookcase. I remember getting it a long time ago, but I'm not sure I ever read it. It was published (in an edited form to avoid "sensational" material) prior to Little Women so LMA could earn money to support her family. (Or so it says on the flyleaf.)


Synopsis: Rosamond Vivian has been brought up on a lonely island by her unaffectionate grandfather. She has nothing to teach her about life except books. One day the charming Phillip Tempest comes to visit her grandfather and stays for a month, easily obtaining young Rosamond's affection. He takes her away and marries her and they are happy, until she finds out a secret about his past and flees. Not one to be denied anything he wants, Phillip can never let her escape and doggedly chases her across Europe.

Review: I have to say that I really enjoyed this book! Tempest has done some awful things, but I almost couldn't help rooting for him (even though I knew I shouldn't) for a while. Poor Rosamond was quite a victim, but she showed such strength of character and firmness of convictions that I really admired her. I suspect most women would have readily succumbed to Tempest's commanding nature.

I recommend this as a quick read and, though it's not hard to figure out how it will end, the journey is the intriguing part!

Cross-posted in recommend_books and bookreview_lj