The Season

by Sarah MacLean

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If there were half stars, it's likely I'd give [b:The Season|39662|Different Seasons|Stephen King|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1329662611s/39662.jpg|2248680] 3 1/2 stars. The world isn't exceptionally realized, but [a:Sarah MacLean|1598076|Sarah MacLean|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1499444204p2/1598076.jpg] has set the story in a world that is already familiar so there's less need to establish it. She does seem quite at home in Regency England allowing the propriety and formaltiy to easily infuse dialog and perceptions of the characters.

MacLean's strength is in her dialog which she seems to recognize as description is kept to a minimum. It could have been minimized even more in the beginning where she has a tendancy to over-tell. The dialog, in contrast, is brisk and engaging and fun.

The characters are also what makes this story so delightful. Alexandra Stafford, as the central character, is easily the least interesting. Which is not to say I didn't like her, just that I liked everyone else so much. Possibly the others were more fascinating from largely being seen from Alexandra's point of view. But I adored her friends and her brothers and the esteemable Gavin Blackmoore. I liked that Alexandra and her friends were intelligent and capable; knew when to speak out with boldness and when to ask for help; and that they could remain feminine without being stubborn or clumsy or tom-boyish or any number of cliches authors like to use for strong women. I even liked her mother who could be intelligent and interesting and still insist on hosting the best parties and that her children marry appropriately.

The underlying mystery is completely obvious from the beginning. But the rest of the story is sweetly romantic and thoroughly enjoyable.