Review for Undone Author:
Virginia Henley
Date of Review: 02/13/04
Reviewed by:
Marilyn
Reviewer Comments: Setting – Great Britain 1751 ---- Virginia Henley has taken a piece of history about a common, lowborn but beautiful young woman, done her research, and given her readers this romantic and fictionalized remarkable story of her life. The young woman, Elizabeth Gunning (1733-1790), and her older sister Maria, whose beginnings from an impoverished family rose to impressive heights through the ambitious and clever manipulations of their mother. With nothing but their incredible good looks these two sisters, manipulated by their ambitious mother, posed as minor nobility where they were soon courted by the cream of the Georgian nobility. Elizabeth, became a Duchess, not once but twice and her story is told in Henley’s most impressive and sensual style.
The story is told from Elizabeth’s meager beginnings in Ireland, where she first met the handsome John Campbell, heir to the Duke of Argyll and her story is fictionalized and chronicled thru to her first marriage to Campbell’s enemy the Duke of Hamilton. The author will depict Campbell’s love for Elizabeth as all consuming, yet, he alone knowing the truth of her origins, couldn’t see his way clear to offer her marriage due to the difference in their status. When the Duke of Hamilton heard of Campbell’s regard for the glorious Elizabeth, he thought to kill two birds with one stone by tweaking his archenemies nose and gaining for himself a ‘trophy wife’ and duchess!
The fictionalized story of the Gunning sisters rise to fame was, for me, a most enjoyable read. The historical details were numerous as one comes to expect in a novel from Henley, yet I was unaware of the existence of this person until I read the author’s note at the end. Be that as it may, where it is fictionalized I found it to be deeply sensual with some very torrid love scenes. One can only imagine that for a woman in that early period of history to have won not one, but two Dukes of the realm in marriage, must have been a most remarkable woman. So, for those of you looking for a most enjoyable and entertaining look back into history – enjoy, and for those looking for a very sensual and steamy read – look no further!
This is an Official
Review by a contemporary Romance Writer Official
Reviewer
Review for Undone Author:
Virginia Henley
Date of Review: 08/25/04
Reviewed by:
Kristi
Reviewer Comments: The last few books that I've read by Ms. Henley just seemed lacking in either romance, interesting characters, or a combination there of. Her latest though, has it all a great storyline, a heroine that you want to see have a happy ending, the tall dark and handsome hero, and of course the tragic set of circumstances that keep our young lovers apart.
This is really like a Cinderella story. Elizabeth and John enjoy a chance meeting by a stream in Ireland. Elizabeth enjoys their brief time together not realizing that John is heir to a Dukedom, and John is totally capitivated by Elizabeth's innocence and charm not realizing that the blonde beauty will be his heart's desire instead of a passing fancy. Soon they must part but their lives will cross paths again and despite her wicked mother (mom's not the nicest women in the world) and her nasty sister Maria, Elizabeth manages to enter proper society and steals tender moments with John that she hopes will eventually lead to marriage. Problem is the entire Gunning family is lying about their heritage and background. Elizabeth is not comfortable with this but finds that she is unable to change her mothers mind on the course that she has set out for herself and that is to catch rich, titled husband for the "Beautiful Gunning Daughters."
Of course there are road block and situations that will keep John and Elizabeth from each other but since you like the characters you will be compelled to keep turning the pages. Ms. Henley really knows her history and so her story is very descriptive and vivid and really brings to life these people that truly lived at one time. If you love romance, sensual love scenes, and history in your historical romance you will find this to be a very entertaining read.
Reviewer Comments: In Virginia Henley’s much awaited new release, UNDONE, we meet two lovely sisters, Elizabeth and Maria. Both sisters are equally lovely but their mother Bridget favors Maria, the oldest, and sets her very ambitious sights on her. Since they are poor and Bridge comes from a theatrical background at first she trains both daughters to be actresses. As their prospects change, Bridget realizes she can set her sites higher and decides to enter society and present her daughters. To do this her husband must borrow huge sums of money, sell their family home, and present an air of wealth.
Elizabeth, who had met John Campbell quite by chance before moving to London, meets him again in society. They are drawn to each other and there is a very passionate connection between these two characters. Elizabeth, constantly overseen by her very dominate and controlling mother, finds herself maneuvered from party to party, and giving up lovely dresses to Maria, her sister, in her mother’s effort to marry her off. Elizabeth, whose natural and genuine appeal shines through, befriends Charlie a very wealthy heiress and her beau Will, a friend of John’s. As they plan many secret “couple rendezvous” events John and Elizabeth become closer. Meanwhile, Bridget continues to plan her daughters’ future and as John leaves for Scotland and official business plans for Elizabeth to marry the very wealthy Duke of Hamilton. Realizing that John will never marry her, and the prospects of her family lie in her hands…she marries the Duke.
This story is lovely. Virginia Henley has reigned in her fiery pen to tantalize us with a subtler sensual tale than her previous works. Still filled with the steamy scenes we all expect from Ms. Henley, this story is presented to us at a slower pace, allowing us to get to know and care about the characters. Elizabeth’s delightful innocence and growth into a strong woman who knows what she wants is an empowering tale for anyone to read who knows the progression from girl to womanhood well – and the trials and tribulations that shape a persons character.
