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Cora Villa
It's all arranged: Marriage to a man she's never met.
Garrison Stewart is looking forward to the day when his daughter, Cora, will be wed to his former neighbour's son, just as had been arranged fifteen years ago. But that arrangement had been made before Cora had grown up, before the Stewarts had immigrated to Australia, and before Cora had fallen in love with someone else.
Now, Cora is forced to choose between the love of her father and the love of a mysterious stranger...one who is all too secretive about his past...
A historical romance that examines duty, deceit and desire in 19th century Victoria, from Australian author Meredith Resce.
Garrison Stewart is looking forward to the day when his daughter, Cora, will be wed to his former neighbour's son, just as had been arranged fifteen years ago. But that arrangement had been made before Cora had grown up, before the Stewarts had immigrated to Australia, and before Cora had fallen in love with someone else.
Now, Cora is forced to choose between the love of her father and the love of a mysterious stranger...one who is all too secretive about his past...
A historical romance that examines duty, deceit and desire in 19th century Victoria, from Australian author Meredith Resce.
284 pages
First published January 1, 2010
1 person is currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
Meredith Resce
39 books71 followersSouth Australian Author, Meredith Resce, has been writing since 1991, and has had books in the Australian market since 1997. She is an Australian best selling Christian fiction writer.
Following the Australian success of her “Heart of Green Valley” series, an English Publisher has taken the first three books in this series, and has released them to the British and American markets.
Apart from writing, Meredith also takes the opportunity to speak to groups on issues relevant to relationships and emotional and spiritual growth.
Meredith has also been co-writer and co-producer in the 2007 feature film production, “Twin Rivers”.
With her husband, Nick, Meredith has worked in Christian ministry since 1983.
Meredith and Nick have one daughter and two sons.
Following the Australian success of her “Heart of Green Valley” series, an English Publisher has taken the first three books in this series, and has released them to the British and American markets.
Apart from writing, Meredith also takes the opportunity to speak to groups on issues relevant to relationships and emotional and spiritual growth.
Meredith has also been co-writer and co-producer in the 2007 feature film production, “Twin Rivers”.
With her husband, Nick, Meredith has worked in Christian ministry since 1983.
Meredith and Nick have one daughter and two sons.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 7, 2014
A very entertaining read!
The heroine is a little stubborn which makes for an interesting clash of personalities when she meets the guy in very suspicious circumstances. And the fact that her stern father approves of him only makes matters worse.
The secondary character really messes things up for them even though she has settled the mystery surrounding the hero.
I am being purposefully oblique because I hate to read reviews that spell out so much you may as well not read the book!
The heroine is a little stubborn which makes for an interesting clash of personalities when she meets the guy in very suspicious circumstances. And the fact that her stern father approves of him only makes matters worse.
The secondary character really messes things up for them even though she has settled the mystery surrounding the hero.
I am being purposefully oblique because I hate to read reviews that spell out so much you may as well not read the book!
May 18, 2012
I loved this book. It was predictable, the main character Cora was someone I had love/hate feelings towards and at times I wanted to shake many of the characters. But it made me feel, it made me think and it consumed me from the minute I began reading until days after I’d finished.
Seriously, imagine if you knew from a young age your parents had already decided who you would marry. Arranged marriages still happen in our world today. Some say it works fine and for others it turns into disaster.
Seriously, imagine if you knew from a young age your parents had already decided who you would marry. Arranged marriages still happen in our world today. Some say it works fine and for others it turns into disaster.
December 6, 2012
Cora Stewart has known since she was six years old that it was arranged that she would marry Andrew Bennett, unite their families and leave Geelong, Australia, to live in England. But she has never been in favour of the plan, and it has long been a bone of contention between her and her father. Now her mother is dead, her father is ill, and she feels obligated to obey her father and end her relationship with Nicholas Waldron. Despite her reservations about the arranged marriage, she agrees that her father can contact the Bennetts, and that she will do her best to comply with his wishes.
In the beginning, Cora is quite unlikeable (although she still seems to attract plenty of male attention, to her father's chagrin). She is headstrong and independent (much like her father), but while he thinks he knows his daughter, his image of her is idealistic, not realistic. But as she is challenged over her attitude towards Ben Charles, and discovers another, less pleasant, side to Nicholas, she begins to change.
I enjoy a good marriage of convenience or arranged marriage story, but that isn't exactly what Cora Villa is. Although Cora has been promised to the absent Andrew Bennett, he is an offstage character for much of the book, and the story is more focussed on Cora's other would-be admirers, Joseph Carson, Ben Charles and Nicholas Walden.
The story is told in omniscient point of view, which gives it rather a distant feel at times, but also enables us to see the characters as they are, without their personalities being filtered through their own perceptions or the perceptions of others. While omniscient viewpoint is currently out of favour as a fictional device, Cora Villa shows that it can be effective when done well, without the moralising interjections that some authors favour, yet using the technique to show different sides to an argument and to foreshadow future events. There are a few too many adverbs, exclamation marks and a few typos, but overall, this is a very enjoyable story with a healthy mix of romance and suspense.
Thanks to Meredith Resce for providing a free ebook for review.
In the beginning, Cora is quite unlikeable (although she still seems to attract plenty of male attention, to her father's chagrin). She is headstrong and independent (much like her father), but while he thinks he knows his daughter, his image of her is idealistic, not realistic. But as she is challenged over her attitude towards Ben Charles, and discovers another, less pleasant, side to Nicholas, she begins to change.
I enjoy a good marriage of convenience or arranged marriage story, but that isn't exactly what Cora Villa is. Although Cora has been promised to the absent Andrew Bennett, he is an offstage character for much of the book, and the story is more focussed on Cora's other would-be admirers, Joseph Carson, Ben Charles and Nicholas Walden.
The story is told in omniscient point of view, which gives it rather a distant feel at times, but also enables us to see the characters as they are, without their personalities being filtered through their own perceptions or the perceptions of others. While omniscient viewpoint is currently out of favour as a fictional device, Cora Villa shows that it can be effective when done well, without the moralising interjections that some authors favour, yet using the technique to show different sides to an argument and to foreshadow future events. There are a few too many adverbs, exclamation marks and a few typos, but overall, this is a very enjoyable story with a healthy mix of romance and suspense.
Thanks to Meredith Resce for providing a free ebook for review.
April 12, 2013
Three reviews from our CALEB reviewers:
(1)
This is a fine historical romance set in the late 1800s, on the Victorian coast near the port of Geelong. The heroine, Cora, is torn between her wish to please her recently bereaved father, and her deepening affection for a mysterious stranger. Resce finds a nice balance between staying true to the social conventions of the time, yet giving the heroine the sort of qualities that will appeal to the modern reader. WN
(2)
Because I loved reading this book, I now want to visit Cora Villa. I loved how Cora was a strong character, albeit a little naïve about the world. One part I appreciated was Cora helping the orphans and then writing to missionaries. This took me back to my own childhood when we did similar activities at Christian Endeavour. This is a wonderful book.
Bookseller’s Choice – reviewer CALEB Prize
(3)
Meredith Resce would have to be one of Australia’s foremost and outstanding writers of historical fiction and Cora Villa once again meets her high standards of excellence in both research and writing.
Set more than a hundred years ago in the beautiful Corio area of Victoria the story is one of love and passion, of deception and of parental control and manipulation, The story centres around Cora the headstrong and beautiful daughter of Garrison Stewart. So often it was a battle of wills that Garrison often appeared to win by domination but Cora was no pushover and resorted to deceitful behaviour to get her own way.
Cora Villa is a very enjoyable book with many twists and unexpected turns - never dull or boring but be prepared to expect the unexpected. DS
(1)
This is a fine historical romance set in the late 1800s, on the Victorian coast near the port of Geelong. The heroine, Cora, is torn between her wish to please her recently bereaved father, and her deepening affection for a mysterious stranger. Resce finds a nice balance between staying true to the social conventions of the time, yet giving the heroine the sort of qualities that will appeal to the modern reader. WN
(2)
Because I loved reading this book, I now want to visit Cora Villa. I loved how Cora was a strong character, albeit a little naïve about the world. One part I appreciated was Cora helping the orphans and then writing to missionaries. This took me back to my own childhood when we did similar activities at Christian Endeavour. This is a wonderful book.
Bookseller’s Choice – reviewer CALEB Prize
(3)
Meredith Resce would have to be one of Australia’s foremost and outstanding writers of historical fiction and Cora Villa once again meets her high standards of excellence in both research and writing.
Set more than a hundred years ago in the beautiful Corio area of Victoria the story is one of love and passion, of deception and of parental control and manipulation, The story centres around Cora the headstrong and beautiful daughter of Garrison Stewart. So often it was a battle of wills that Garrison often appeared to win by domination but Cora was no pushover and resorted to deceitful behaviour to get her own way.
Cora Villa is a very enjoyable book with many twists and unexpected turns - never dull or boring but be prepared to expect the unexpected. DS
December 20, 2013
As I am the author you might find this review unhelpful. Of course I like the story. It was written a number of years ago, and in recent times, having changed publishers and editors, I find that writing style has changed and so am aware that 'Cora Villa' has a writing style that some post modern readers might find distracting. That is a shame. Still, it is as it is and I hope you can enjoy the story and the characters. Perhaps I may do a re-write in twenty years time and address the writing style issues - but then the writing style might have changed again by that time. Who can tell.
May 26, 2024
A long-pledged betrothal, a stubborn heiress who doesn't want an arranged marriage but who also doesn't want to disappoint her seriously ill widower-father, a jealous suitor with his eye more to the money than to marriage, and a mysterious wounded stranger.
It's obvious where this tale is heading from the get-go, yet it remains an enjoyable, engaging read.
It's obvious where this tale is heading from the get-go, yet it remains an enjoyable, engaging read.
August 7, 2024
Worst book I have ever read. I am sorry I read it.
August 29, 2013
This book was so frustrating! The heroin was immature and I just didn't like her. Everyone was always yelling at each other. There were so many misunderstandings and miscommunications because everyone would jump to conclusions and yell instead of LISTENING! Reading it just made me stressed.
October 12, 2012
The story line was a bit too predictable. And the main character was a bit too nieve and emotional.
September 7, 2013
This was my first time with this author. While this story did have it's moments, it was not written very well. Disclaimer: I received this book free on amazon kindle
September 14, 2013
Very annoying book! Very preachy about religion and I saw the twist a mile away! predicatable! A the moment its free on Amazon, thank God i didnt have to pay for it.
August 16, 2022
Always a fan of a good mystery!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews