Book Review: My Dearest Friend by Hazel Statham

A superb Regency romance awaits you in My Dearest Friend by Hazel Statham.

Robert Blake, Duke of Lear, is filled with guilt and grief over the death of his younger brother, Stefan, in the Peninsular War. When Jane Chandler appeals to the Duke for help in bringing her gravely wounded brother home from Portugal, Robert insists upon joining Jane on the trip.

Little does he know how quickly their friendship will develop into love.

Their young love is soon put to the test by a treacherous tenant of Jane's former home, who fans the flames of jealousy that ignite Robert's intense emotions.

Can their love conquer the emotions that threaten to tear them apart?

What a fascinating conclusion to the Dukes of Lear trilogy! In My Dearest Friend, Statham has done what she knows how to do best: create characters you care about and wish to see conquer all in the name of love.

Robert is not only coping with the loss of his younger brother. This man of intense emotions was also once done wrong by a member of the fairer sex, making him certain not to be played the fool again. He does not expect to be drawn to Jane so deeply, but he won't let his love blind him. Jane is an independent, strong heroine, who is determined to succeed in her mission, despite the many obstacles that stand in her way. She is surprised by the level of assistance the Duke provides, but is thankful to have him along. When a former tenant creates problems between her and Robert, she's determined to be loyal to the man she loves.

My Dearest Friend is such a sweet romance. There are passionate moments, but the door is closed before things get too far, leaving the reader to explore the possibilities within her imagination. Statham has been steadfast in keeping her romances clean so that they my be enjoyed by a wide audience. I appreciate that about her work, knowing I don't have to be afraid to share her books with others.

Each book of this trilogy--Consequence, Dominic, and My Dearest Friend--is a perfect stand alone. They don't have to be read in order. I have only read two of the three. The remaining one (Dominic) is on my Kindle crying for my attention. I can't wait to read it. Regency romance lovers will definitely enjoy My Dearest Friend.

Title: My Dearest Friend
Author:  Hazel Statham
Publisher Write Words, Inc.
ASIN: B0053QW8TM

SRP:  $6.50

Will be available in paperback in November 2011.

The author paid me to promote this book through a virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book. That fee did not include a review. This review contains my honest opinions, for which I received no monetary compensation.

Regency Romance by Hazel Statham

In honor of Regency Romance author Hazel Statham's third virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion, The Book Connection is featuring a spotlight on Hazel's work. Hazel's latest novel is His Shadowed Heart, which is available at Wings ePress, Amazon.com, and Fictionwise.com.






My Dearest Friend

Devastated by the death of his younger brother, Stefan, in the Peninsular War, Robert Blake, Duke of Lear, is wracked with guilt and grief, believing himself responsible for his death as he had purchased his commission.

He is approached by Jane Chandler, the sister of a fellow officer of Stefan’s, to help hire a craft to bring her seriously wounded brother back from Portugal. Without Jane’s knowledge, he decides to take a hand in the young soldier’s deliverance and together they embark on the hazardous journey.

However, the journey holds more revelations than they anticipate, not least of all, the growing love between the two travelers. When they return to England however, the perfect life they had envisioned is rudely interrupted when events take an unexpected turn and their love is put severely to the test when the tenant of Jane’s former home invades their life.

It is a story of deliverance, retribution, misunderstandings and love.

Author's reflections:

The idea for My Dearest Friend came from a dream. I had written the beginning several years ago and put it aside, but when I had to finish working through ill health, I thought it was time to take another look at it. All the old enthusiasm for Robert and Jane’s story came back to me and I couldn’t wait to begin working on it again.

Even though I had mapped the story out, and knew exactly where I wanted it to go, on several occasions, my characters decided to add yet another aspect. For me, writing a novel is like watching a play unfold or eavesdropping on my characters’ conversations, and frequently, I find words coming out of their mouths that I never expected. Stefan’s illegitimate daughter came as quite a surprise to me. The sergeant took me quite by surprise when he marched in and announced it. I loved writing this book and was quite sorry when it reached its natural conclusion.


Read an excerpt from My Dearest Friend here.

Available at Wings ePress, Amazon.com, and Fictionwise.





Dominic

London, 1775

Dominic Blake, Earl of Vale, is a young man of privilege and breeding whose world is turned upside down by Jack, a beautiful young girl in boy’s clothing whom he finds sheltering on his doorstep after fleeing an attack by her brother.

Despite leaving his protection, Jack is once more destined to enter Dominic’s life when, injured in a horse race, Dominic is forced to rusticate to his father’s estate and again meets Jack in her boyish guise. In turn, she becomes his pupil and his love.

Despite danger and misunderstandings, this is the story of their unconventional and delightful courtship.

Author's reflections:

Although Dominic is the story of Robert’s father, I wrote it after completing My Dearest Friend. So loath was I to leave the family that I decided to write about the previous Duke of Lear. Dominic, then the Earl of Vale just strode onto the scene and told his own story – I just went along for the ride. He was a fun character to write and frequently made me smile.

Despite being a man of his time, Dominic is charming and very hard to resist, as Sophie found out quite early in their acquaintance and this is the story of their unconventional and delightful courtship.

Although the story is set in England, I wrote a fair piece of it whilst on holiday in Orlando. The wind and rain raged and the trees outside our hotel window were horizontal, I wrote and my husband slept and it was one of the best holidays we have ever had.

Read and excerpt of Dominic here.

Available at Wings ePress, Amazon.com, and Fictionwise.com.




And Hazel's latest novel...



His Shadowed Heart

Can a shadowed heart revive? After the death of his first wife, the Earl of Waverly, believing his heart irreparably damaged, enters into a marriage of convenience.

Amidst conspiracy, can Caroline, his young wife, prove his salvation and bring joy into his life or will nefarious deeds and ghostly happenings destroy their chance of happiness? Only time will tell if their love is strong enough to stand the test.

Author's reflections:

I began thinking of the plot line for His Shadowed Heart as I neared the conclusion of Dominic. I don’t know what sparked the thought but I began thinking of this nobleman who was devastated after his wife’s death. The thought started with a central but pivotal scene and grew outward. I had to make sure that I understood the earl’s reasons for remaining unwed before attempting to tell his story.

Not only does the Earl of Waverley have to deal with his shattered emotions but there is a dual aspect to the story where nefarious and strange happenings invade his life and he wonders if his torment will ever ease. Despite his determination to remain unwed, in Caroline, he finds his perfect mate and together they face the haunting memories of his past.

Read an excerpt of His Shadowed Heart here.

Now available at Wings ePress, Amazon.com, and Fictionwise.com.


The HIS SHADOWED HEART VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR '08 will officially begin on July 7, 2008 and continue all month long. You can visit Hazel's tour stops at www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com in July!

As a special promotion for all our authors, Pump Up Your Book Promotion is giving away a FREE virtual book tour to a published author with a recent release or a $25 Amazon gift certificate to someone not published who comments on our authors' blog stops. More prizes will be announced as they become available. One winner for each author will be announced on the virtual book tour blog on July 31!

This virtual book tour has been brought to you by:

Historical Romance author Hazel Statham and My Dearest Friend

January has been a month of great authors here at The Book Connection. And today is no exception. Joining us is historical romance author Hazel Statham. She is touring with Pump Up Your Book Promotion for the second time and we'll be talking about her latest release, My Dearest Friend.

Welcome to The Book Connection, Hazel. It's great to have you with us.

Thank you so much for inviting me.

Before we begin talking about My Dearest Friend, can you tell us a bit about yourself? How long have you been writing? What is the first story you can remember putting down on paper? Are you a full-time novelist? What do you like to do in your spare time?

I have written on and off since I was fifteen and wrote my first novel, 'Goldacre' at sixteen. I wrote three books in two years but, sadly, they disappeared when we moved house. I wish I had them now so that I could compare them to what I currently write. Now that I am 'officially' retired, I can write as and when the mood takes me, go I guess you can call me a full-time novelist.

I live in the UK and when I am not writing, I love spending time with my family, especially my six-year-old grandson who is a pure delight. In quieter moments I like to read and it is a family joke that you can leave me anywhere as long as I have a book.

Have you always written historical romance? What draws you to this genre?

I have always been fascinated by history, especially the romance and elegance of the Regency and Georgian eras, and it is this that encourages me to attempt to recreate them in my work.

What is the greatest challenge of writing an historical novel?

If I am stating fact, I try to ensure that I get it right. I believe that you should make the story fit the fact, not the fact fit the story.




Let's move on to My Dearest Friend. Tell us about this story.

Here is a brief blurb:

Robert Blake, Duke of Lear, is a man of intense emotions who loves deeply and protects fiercely. Devastated and wracked with guilt by the death of his younger brother, Stefan, in the Peninsular War, he readily agrees to aid Jane Chandler to bring her seriously wounded brother back from Portugal.

Much against Jane’s wishes, he decides to accompany her and together they embark on the hazardous mission to retrieve the young soldier. However, the journey holds many revelations, not least of all the abiding friendship and growing love between the two travellers.

That special love is put severely to the test by the treachery that awaits them upon their return to England, when a tenant of Jane’s former home invades their lives, maliciously creating jealousy and misunderstandings for his own nefarious reasons.

Can their friendship and love conquer the emotions that threaten to tear them under?

My Dearest Friend is set in London in the early 1800's. What about this setting appeals to you?

It is the time of the Peninsular War which has always been of great interest to me and the war is integral to the plot. It is the war that is responsible for Stefan's death and Harry's injuries and the reason why Jane and Robert undertake their journey into Portugal.

In the first chapter, we meet Robert Blake, Duke of Lear. He is playing cards with a young man and is beating the pants off of him. Why did you choose to start the story off this way?

Ah, although the reader doesn't yet know it, this is a very important part of the story. To say more would give the plot away.

In the first chapter we also meet Jane Chandler. What can you tell us about her?

Jane is desperate to retrieve her wounded brother from Portugal. She is so determined to set out on the journey that, in an effort to reach him before it’s too late, she is prepared to embark on the mission alone. This selfless decision makes Robert aware of her caring and devoted nature and leaves a lasting impression on him.

When the two meet, Robert has been in mourning the loss of his brother who died in the war. How does this impact his relationship with Jane?

At first, he believes his decision to accompany Jane on her hazardous mission is merely his desire to prevent another youth from suffering the same fate as his brother and doesn't recognise his attraction to her. It's only later that he realises his twofold desire.

Robert and Jane embark upon a journey together and their feelings for each other deepen. Why will readers care what happens to them? Why will they want Robert and Jane to be together?

In Jane, Robert finds his soul mate, a woman who succeeds where so many have failed in capturing his heart. She encourages him to unburden his grief and offers understanding and, for the fist time since his brother's death, he is able to respond. In her, he sees his redemption and his love.

For Jane, he is her protector and rock, a man of strength and courage who shows unparalleled kindness. They are a perfect foil for each other and deserve a blissful future but when treachery comes into their lives and secrets cannot be told, that future is far less than certain.

Please tell us where readers can purchase a copy of My Dearest Friend.

Currently it is available as both an e-book and in print from http://www.wings-press.com/Bookstore/My Dearest Friend.htm but will also be available from Amazon.com and Fictionwise.com later in the month.

What is up next for you? Are there future projects you would like to share with our readers?

I have another Regency, ‘His Shadowed Heart’, due for release with Wings ePress on June 1st, 2008 and a further two, ‘Consequence’ and ‘Lizzie’s Rake’ with Highland Press in 2008 (I do not have the exact dates as yet).

Is there anything you would like to add?

I love to hear from my readers and promise to answer all my mail. You can email me at hazel.statham1@ntlworld.com

Thank you for spending some time with us today Hazel. I wish you continued success.

Thank you so much, it has been a pleasure talking to you.


This virtual book tour has been brought to you by: