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thenovelbook's review
3.0
This was a pretty good Gothic suspense novel, very Jane Eyre-ish. But the ending was too abrupt for me.
corvinaq's review
5.0
One of the great classic gothics. Crackling with fabulous chilling atmospherics.
petrichor_pages's review
Yeah, I can't really rate this one. I picked the book up because I found it on a list of books with Beauty and the Beast themes. I think? Anyways, it has sat on my TBR for months, if not years. I finally decided to tackle it because it fit the parameters I needed for a challenge.
This book was originally published in the 1960s and it shows. There is definitely some content that I was not expecting, and that I think that would be out of place in more modern romances. I wasn't really a fan. I definitely prefer the newer novels in terms of style.
I did appreciate parts of the book. I liked the spooky gothic setting. If this was trying to be a mystery, rather than a romance, it didn't really do much of a job. It was pretty obvious what was happening most of the time. Damaris was also really over the top and her personality seemed to waver a lot. It was a bit messy for me, but I respect that this is likely a classic in the genre. It's just not for me.
This book was originally published in the 1960s and it shows. There is definitely some content that I was not expecting, and that I think that would be out of place in more modern romances. I wasn't really a fan. I definitely prefer the newer novels in terms of style.
I did appreciate parts of the book. I liked the spooky gothic setting. If this was trying to be a mystery, rather than a romance, it didn't really do much of a job. It was pretty obvious what was happening most of the time. Damaris was also really over the top and her personality seemed to waver a lot. It was a bit messy for me, but I respect that this is likely a classic in the genre. It's just not for me.
eserafina42's review
3.0
Upon the death of her scholar father, Damaris Gordon is left with two choices, marriage to her dull but respectable cousin Randall, and seeking paid employment. Hired as his secretary by Gavin Hamilton, the mysterious, hideously scarred Master of Blacktower, she travels to Scotland to reorganize his library. Of course, danger and romance await. Pretty standard Gothic fare, but enjoyable as Barbara Michaels' books always are. I believe this was one of her first novels, and she does a creditable job, despite obvious echoes of classics such as Jane Eyre and The Secret Garden.
kathrynamonett's review
3.0
Love Elizabeth Peters and her Egyptology mysteries, but wanted something light and gothic for today. I got precisely that. Ending was a bit abrupt but overall a simple way to waste a rainy day. Part Bronte's Eyre, part DuMaurier's Rebecca.
lberestecki's review
4.0
3.5 Stars. Clearly takes a lot of inspiration from Jane Eyre, which was fun since I love that novel, and even took a class in college on books inspired by it. The thing that took this book from 4 stars down to 3.5 was the ending - it was very rushed and abrupt, and I felt like there should have been an epilogue at the very least. From reading this book, I think I like her books as Elizabeth Peters more, but I will continue with the books written as Barbara Michaels.
andyn5's review
3.0
It remained me very much of Rebecca and Beauty of the Beast.
I really appreciate the works of Barbara Michaels and her way of telling the story is always very mesmerizing, thus the 3 stars. This time though, I didn't connect at all with the story or any of the characters. The female character is bond by the limits that were imposed on women at the time but I still think that she could have had a little more spark.
The plot was simple and I was able to predict the ending after the first 3 chapters.
I really appreciate the works of Barbara Michaels and her way of telling the story is always very mesmerizing, thus the 3 stars. This time though, I didn't connect at all with the story or any of the characters. The female character is bond by the limits that were imposed on women at the time but I still think that she could have had a little more spark.
The plot was simple and I was able to predict the ending after the first 3 chapters.
kitsana_d's review
2.0
Did not hold up to memory. Ending is unsatisfying, and sudden. No resolution, just the end of the villain and that’s it.
donnaj71's review
3.0
This story was like beauty and the beast set in Scotland. It stalled out in the middle and almost lost me. I was very glad when it picked up at the end but I would have liked more details in the ending.
Damaris is a young woman who's father just passed away leaving her with only a small amount of money to live on. The solicitor tells her that she must marry soon or go to live with a cranky aunt. Her options are limited for suitors and she definitely does not want to live with her aunt. She feels it is unfair that she can't support herself working as a secretary since she learned the profession helping her father. Against the wishes of the solicitor she advertises and finds that the solicitor was right when he said they would mistake her intentions. Then she got one more reply to her advertisement. This man was a distant cousin and she was surprised that he knew so much about her family. He had a scar across his face and always wore black gloves over his hands. He was very gruff but she held her own and in the end she decided to go to far off Scotland with him to put his library in order. She also meets his snarky little daughter that cannot walk. She takes pity on the girl when she realizes she has been cooped up in that room all by herself for so long. She can't help but wonder though, why there is no sign of the wife anywhere, not even tucked away in the unused wing. The people in the village told gossip about him killing his wife but she couldn't bring herself to believe that.
Damaris is a young woman who's father just passed away leaving her with only a small amount of money to live on. The solicitor tells her that she must marry soon or go to live with a cranky aunt. Her options are limited for suitors and she definitely does not want to live with her aunt. She feels it is unfair that she can't support herself working as a secretary since she learned the profession helping her father. Against the wishes of the solicitor she advertises and finds that the solicitor was right when he said they would mistake her intentions. Then she got one more reply to her advertisement. This man was a distant cousin and she was surprised that he knew so much about her family. He had a scar across his face and always wore black gloves over his hands. He was very gruff but she held her own and in the end she decided to go to far off Scotland with him to put his library in order. She also meets his snarky little daughter that cannot walk. She takes pity on the girl when she realizes she has been cooped up in that room all by herself for so long. She can't help but wonder though, why there is no sign of the wife anywhere, not even tucked away in the unused wing. The people in the village told gossip about him killing his wife but she couldn't bring herself to believe that.
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