The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart

by Leanna Renee Hieber

[wyvernfriend]

Natalie Stewart is dealing with a lot of issues, not least of which is Jonathan, they have some clues about the secretive group that put Jonathan in the painting and they're trying to find out more, but this requires that Jonathan plays the part of the other who invaded his life, which makes Natalie suspicious. Add in a jealous friend and another friend who is troubled by what she is being asked to do and you get a melange of issues and stories and a bridging novel.

It just didn't seem to take long enough for things to develop and the father's reaction seemed a little off, they would have been married off much earlier than that after the (rail)road trip and she probably would have been ostracised from society if not. Marriage wasn't always because of love in the period and they could have kept the illusion of him being evil going and it would have helped them with their mission. Add to this the fact that it wouldn't have been strange for her to keep living at her father's house until Jonathan had them "settled" and you get something that jarred a little.

It's a somewhat minor thing but it is how the society of the time worked and while they might rail against it, it would have been how it would have been rescued, also there would have been pressure put to bear from not only her father but also some friends.

Not a bad read, just doesn't feel like early 20th century period.