St. Martin's Summer

by Diana Brown

THE ARROGANT INVADER

Miss Josephina Trafford was quite happy to live a safe distance from the fashionable frenzy of Regency London. Not only was she a young lady of good breeding and even better sense, she was busy enough trying to save her family estate, curb the extravagance of her flighty mother, and provide for the marriages of her two charming but helpless sisters.

But if Josephina would not go near the temptations of the city, they came to her--in the devilishly handsome form of Lord Conniston Venables. Venables was on an unwilling visit to the countryside, but the sight of Josephina made him eager to stay until he conquered her. He could not imagine she could resist a man who knew so well the ways of the world--until Josephina began to teach him how much he had to learn about the ways of a woman's untamed heart....

Genres: Regency, Traditional Regency, Historical Romance, Romance, 19th Century

215 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 1, 1982

About the author

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Diana Brown - Memoir, Fiction

____________________

British-born Diana Brown has lived and worked throughout Europe and the Far East. Ms. Brown, a librarian, eventually settled in San Jose, California, with her husband and two daughters, Pamela and Clarissa, named after Samuel Richardson's heroines.

Reviews

[Linda (NOT RECEIVING NOTIFICATIONS) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

St. Martin's Summer referred to a special time of the year -late autumn- because of the unusual warmth. Normally, England in November is cool or cold.

Josephina Trafford, the oldest of three sisters, had a monstrous responsibility thrust upon her. Her father had passed away without a living son and rather than leave the estate entailed, he gave it to his eldest daughter.

With stipulations.

Josephina's mother was shallow and gossipy and her youngest sister, Amelia, thought only of herself. Mrs. Trafford reminded me of a toothache and Amelia made me think of a tick.

Prudence, dearest Pru, was the loving middle-sibling and Josephina's closest friend. Her sister's wise advice and Josephina's thirst for knowledge made it almost worth reading Mrs. Trafford's and Amelia's constant barrage of complaints.

Then there was the dull, somewhat oafish son of the town's squire, George. When possible, he attached himself to Josephina like an oxpecker to a zebra. She tolerated him; he loved her and wanted to make their relationship permanent. Poor George; he was tenacious if not clueless.

Josephina met Lord Conniston Venables when she visited his neighboring estate to speak with his dishonest bailiff (Venables was not aware of his deviousness) about a matter. She was not aware his lordship was at home; he had not set foot on the land in years. By the end of their visit, he was taken aback by Josephina's refreshing honesty and pleasant manners.

To those readers that mentioned the story was predictable, I agree. What sets this romance apart from other traditional Regencies, is the repartee between Conniston and Josephina. The comeback. I loved their back-and-forth scrappy conversations. Neither was aware it was the early stages of love-talk.

I would have appreciated if Ms. Brown hadn't extended Josephina's blunder when Conniston proposed to her. Up until then, I was going to give the romance a solid 4 stars. Then I decided to knock off one star.

But pages 208 - 213 made the love story worth all of my nitpicking. Their conversation was priceless.

I heart Conniston. What a guy!

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very well written traditional regency romance! The heroine, Josephina Trafford is unembarrassed of her intelligence, competence, and love for country life, despite a vapid mother and sister, a la Mrs. Bennett and Lydia of P&P. Josephina is a woman of depths who finds herself unexpectedly in love with Lord Conniston Venables, a sophisticated urban gentleman. Both Josephina and Conniston are required to grow and change in order to find happiness together. As other reviewers have remarked, the plot is a bit predictable, but enjoyable nevertheless because the characters are thoughtful, mature, and engaging.

[Aneca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had already read two of Diana Brown’s books before starting this one. I enjoyed both of them very much and so I was saving this one for a special occasion hoping it was as good as the others. I am glad to say that it was and I’m now anxiously looking for the 2 books I’m missing from her back list.

Josephina is a smart, intelligent woman. On her father’s death she becomes responsible not only for her family, Mother and two sisters ,but also with the running of the farm they live in that is heavily in debt. Unlike most heroines Josephina has real knowledge of the agricultural methods and especially what concerns raising sheep.

Lord Venables is newly returned to his ancestral home, which he left as a young man after a fight with his father and the neighbouring squire. On arrival he meets Josephina, through her becomes aware of how much the local people have suffered under his bailiff, and decides to change thing.

For the following month and he and his friends become very much a part of the local society and he and Josephina frequently meet and talk on a variety of subjects. However the his sophistication and rakish reputation intimidate Josephina and if she can’t quite believe he may have feelings for her she feels very much attracted to him and is quite angry at herself for it. Fans of Austen and Gaskell will be happy to know that this book follows the exact same type of story. A disastrous first proposal and then, slowly, the road towards new feelings, some regret and finally happiness.

Josephina and Venables have a rocky road to travel; the misunderstandings are more than a few and when they again seem on the brink of something Josephina has to go away due to a financial crisis. The second half of the book is a roller coaster of emotions, I just couldn’t stop reading and I was constantly wondering what would bring them together again, for a while it does seem that they missed the final opportunity and it really is very poignant story. If I have any complaints about the story is that Josephina’s final rash decision was a bit too much, we didn’t need one more failed opportunity, and I would rather have an emotional ending to fit with the rest of the story rather than a funny one but still this was one of my most memorable reads this year.
Grade: 5/5

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great fun albeit a tad predictable. But I enjoyed it for all that. The heroine remained true to herself and it was the hero who changed for her, realising her worth and moving heaven and earth to find her. Great ending -- he says to her horrified mother (since she has found Josephina in the arms of a man who is not her fiance), "I trust your silence does not mean you disapprove, for we are shortly leaving for Gloucestershire, where your son-in-law is to marry us, and then I plan to carry off my wife to a fine estate I have recently purchased in Yorkshire which is quiet and secluded and much in need of her talents as an organizer."

So often in Regencies the woman, no matter how she's introduced to us, develops a love for London and fripperies and such -- and it's not that Josephina doesn't appreciate looking lovely -- but her interest in farming, especially new methods, and poetry and helping people in general and being part of a community in particular, is bred in the bone. It's Lord Conniston Venables who changes -- who meets her at least 2/3rds of the way.

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is perfect for someone looking for a regency in the Austen vein. Perhaps a but anachronistic in a couple broad strokes (would a woman be permitted to run an estate) but otherwise delightful.

[Catsalive · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a very good Regency - far too many modern ideas & conversations -, but an entertaining tale. Josephina is likeable enough that I could almost overlook her glaring acts of stupidity. I wonder why it was necessary write a strong, sensible character & then turn her into an emotional, over-reactive idiot - so frustrating. Just thinking about it makes me inclined to drop a star, but I won't. Our hero, Venables, is a sweetheart throughout, & the supporting actors are enjoyable too.

[CLM · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-crafted regency by a talented author involving a serious heroine trying to manage the family estate after her father dies, while coping with a flighty mother and sister, not to mention the attractive earl who turns up to claim his nearby inheritance.

The cover, with several sheep representing the heroine's unbecoming (in a female) interest in animal husbandry, reminds me of Elizabeth Jackson's , which sold exceptionally well due to the prominent placement of a pig.

[Laura Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book,not the usual settings. Really enjoyed the development over time instead of everything happening in a matter of weeks.Liked the author giving some story lines to a lot of the secondary characters,loved the hero and heroine.

[Miya Espiritu · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. It seems to have Pride and Prejudice as its inspiration due to a lot of similarities in its plot. I especially enjoyed the character of Josephina Trafford, who manages to strike a balance between being proper and independent.

[Frances · Rating 2 out of 5]

There was no chemistry. None.