Once a Dreamer

December 2, 2002
Can a realist and a romantic fall in love? This is the central question in Hern's (The Bride Sale; etc.) atypical and often frustrating early 19th-century romance. Cynical widow Eleanor Tennant doesn't believe in love, so when her niece, Belinda, falls for a reformed rake, Eleanor urges her to choose someone with more wealth and status. Instead, Belinda follows the advice of the Busybody, a columnist for the Ladies' Fashionable Cabinet, and remains steadfast in her devotion. Enraged, Eleanor tracks down the Busybody, only to find that the "sentimental old biddy" is Simon Westover, a bookish romantic who will do anything to keep his identity concealed. In return for Eleanor's silence, Simon agrees to set things right by her niece, but their arrangement becomes far more complicated when they learn that Belinda has run away to elope. Determined to rescue Belinda, Eleanor blackmails Simon into helping her track down the couple. A strong physical attraction develops between Eleanor and Simon, despite her venomous attitude and appalling behavior (she smacks him twice and betrays his trust). By the end, readers will root for the adorable beta male to leave rather than love Eleanor. Though Hern has a firm understanding of the period, her narrow-minded heroine is unlikely to earn the reader's favor or empathy. (Jan.)Forecast:A generic cover image depicting a lusty female in the arms of a brawny, bare-chested Steve Sandalis isn't likely to attract browsers, but it may entice fans of the well-known cover model.

November 15, 2002
Furious when her impressionable young niece, Belinda, follows the outrageous advice of the Busybody, a columnist in a popular women's magazine, and runs off with a noted rake, Eleanor Tennant tracks down the columnist and finds not a woman but a man-and an extremely attractive one at that. Undaunted, Eleanor demands retribution, and together she and Simon Westover take to the road, determined to stop the fleeing pair before Belinda's reputation is damaged beyond repair. Although the novel employs a tried-and-true classic "hot pursuit" plot, the beautifully rendered characters, the depth of their conflicts, and the intriguing twist that the hero is a true romantic and the heroine is anything but make this Regency just short of brilliant. Lighter but no less enjoyable than Hern's The Bride Sale, this will appeal to historical and Regency readers alike. Hern lives in San Francisco.

Copyright 2002 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.