The Merchant's Daughter

by Rachelle Edwards

Smugglers, Ghosts, and Mysteries! Delicate and lovely Lilith Redshaw shivered as she looked up at Monk's House, her aunt's home on the desolate Kent shoreline. Lilith had been sent to visit with Lady Standish to escape the memories of an unhappy love affair. Instead, she found herself pursued by her handsome but callow cousin, Oliver, and unsettled by a growing sense of foreboding the seemed to center on the wealthy, sophisticated Fabian Delamaye. What connection did he have to the midnight smugglers Lilith had seen in the cove? And who was the ghost-like hooded monk whose nocturnal wanderings she had also followed? Lilith felt that Mr. Delamaye held the answers to the mysteries and to the strange longings in her heart.

223 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Brenda Castle
aka
Georgina Ferrand and Rachelle Edwards

Reviews

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Older regency romances can be a mixed bag. Some are good, some are bad, and some are really really bad. Thankfully, The Merchant's Daughter was one of the good ones. I liked Lilith; she is a kindhearted protagonist who is probably a bit too trusting and too curious for her own good. I try to remember the time period these books are set in and manage my expectations for the heroine's behavior. I appreciate the author's attention to historical detail and the fact that she mentioned where most of Lilith's father's money comes from. I think a lot of Regency authors kind of gloss over that. I thought the romance between Lilith and Fabian was well written, and although I would have preferred a bit more interaction before the end, I can still believe in their happily ever after. All in all, I would read more by this author.

[QNPoohBear · Rating 1 out of 5]

Despite the cover stating this is a Regency Love Story, the descriptions of fashions set the plot in the 18th century or Georgian era. This is a Gothic romance revolving around Lilith Redshaw, a wealthy merchant's daughter, who is sent away to visit relatives in the country to escape a inappropriate romantic entanglement. Lilith makes the acquaintance of the mysterious and possibly dangerous businessman/neighbor, Fabian Delamaye and her cousins: handsome and charming Oliver and headstrong Tamzin. Tamzin fills her cousin's head with stories about the ghost of a hooded monk seen on the coast near their home. Oliver tells Lilith about local smugglers and warns her not to have anything to do with them. Lilith feels the need to uncover the mystery surrounding the monk and finds herself in great danger. Add to this a twist involving Lilith's father and his business and Lilith's growing attraction for Fabian. This is a terrible book. The plot is predictable and cliched. I didn't care about any of the characters because the character development is so poor. I'm also not a fan of Gothic novels. I had hoped this would be more lively and entertaining but it wasn't and I don't recommend it.