Overview

A second chance at her stolen future. A first chance at love. A long-held secret that could destroy it all... England, 1800. Lady Catherine Claverton shed no tears over the death of her cruel father. Banished from his household for her crippled leg, it shocks the young woman to discover he'd deprived her of her late mother's title of Countess. Determined to take back her rightful place, she need only find a husband and bear a son. Convinced none could ignore her disfigurement and truly cherish her, she proposes a marriage of convenience to the charming and cryptic Captain Avebury. Despite her budding feelings for the naval officer, she's petrified her own tawdry past could rip everything apart. And when she conceives, Lady Catherine fears her skeletons will spell exile for her and the unborn child... Can Lady Catherine restore her name and secure her rightful destiny? The Portrait is an authentically written historical novel with a dash of romance. If you like social intrigue, rich period settings, and lively heroines, then you'll adore this suspenseful tale.

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9781732515802

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Reviews

"""A thrilling hybrid of mystery, romance, and 19th century scene-setting -- sure to enthrall fans of historical fiction."" - Publisher's Weekly BookLife Prize ""The Portrait is beautifully written with interesting, intelligent characters and a captivating storyline. Catherine is a fascinating leading lady, quite unlike most romantic heroines. She is all contradictions: crippled but independent, strong but insecure, bitter but vulnerable. Avebury too is a well-rounded character. Cassandra Austen captures the atmosphere of eighteenth-century England quite brilliantly. Her descriptions of the people and the places are evocative, bringing to life her characters and settings. This book is a must-read for lovers of historical romance."" - Heather Stockard, Readers' Favorite ""An enthralling Regency Romance, The Portrait proves a notable debut for Cassandra Austen in a genre which often suffers from a lack of originality and a heavy reliance on well-worn tropes. Beautifully written in prose that vibrantly capture the essence of her characters, the dashing Captain Avebury and the manipulative Sir Lyle, prove the perfect foils to the Countess St. Clair's spirited questing nature as secrets from their pasts threaten the future they hope to build."" - Bookviral ""The Portrait is a fun Regency romance that's steeped in historical details."" - Claire Foster, Foreword/Clarion Reviews ""Austen's ambitious story is a vivid commentary on the rigid manners of the time."" - Kirkus Reviews"

A thrilling hybrid of mystery, romance, and 19th century scene-setting -- sure to enthrall fans of historical fiction. - Publisher's Weekly BookLife Prize The Portrait is beautifully written with interesting, intelligent characters and a captivating storyline. Catherine is a fascinating leading lady, quite unlike most romantic heroines. She is all contradictions: crippled but independent, strong but insecure, bitter but vulnerable. Avebury too is a well-rounded character. Cassandra Austen captures the atmosphere of eighteenth-century England quite brilliantly. Her descriptions of the people and the places are evocative, bringing to life her characters and settings. This book is a must-read for lovers of historical romance. - Heather Stockard, Readers' Favorite An enthralling Regency Romance, The Portrait proves a notable debut for Cassandra Austen in a genre which often suffers from a lack of originality and a heavy reliance on well-worn tropes. Beautifully written in prose that vibrantly capture the essence of her characters, the dashing Captain Avebury and the manipulative Sir Lyle, prove the perfect foils to the Countess St. Clair's spirited questing nature as secrets from their pasts threaten the future they hope to build. - Bookviral The Portrait is a fun Regency romance that's steeped in historical details. - Claire Foster, Foreword/Clarion Reviews Austen's ambitious story is a vivid commentary on the rigid manners of the time. - Kirkus Reviews

Author Information

Cassandra Austen writes romances set in Old and New England from her 1780s farmhouse in Northern New England. Austen is the romance nom de plume of writer Maya Rushing Walker. Maya is a former U.S. diplomat posted to Cairo, Egypt, and holds a master's degree in East Asian Studies from Harvard.

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