Official Review: The Bloom a Regency Novella

David Dawson · Post by **David Dawson** » 30 May 2014, 17:39

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Bloom a Regency Novella" by Elizabeth A. Lance.]

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The Bloom: A Regency Novella by Elizabeth A. Lance is a short work of historical romance that takes place over a couple of months in the Spring of 1818, with the exception of the final chapter - in reality more of an epilogue - which updates us with the lives of the characters one year on. It tells the story of Erin Lambart and Jackson Bell, Marquis (sic) of Guildford. At the very beginning of the novella the two, who have not yet met, are being urged by their respective mothers to find themselves suitable marriage partners as soon as is humanly possible. Neither of them entirely demure, although they want decidedly different things. Erin is insistent, in the fine tradition of regency heroines, that she will marry for love and love alone. Jackson simply wants to get his mother off his back by finding a dutiful wife to furnish him with an heir. In spite of their differing conceptions of marriage they, both intellectuals and zealous gardeners, strike up a firm friendship and, although there is an obvious attraction on both sides, agree to set each other up with their friends; Simeon DePaul and Rebecca Stratham.

No reader will be surprised by the outcome of the novel. I will be astonished if any potential readers cannot predict what will happen merely from my descriptive paragraph, let alone from reading the first few chapters of the book. There is nothing wrong with that; this is historical romance and that is the nature of the beast. The plot is telegraphed but it is telegraphed with aplomb, the segue between the conversations Erin and Jack have with their respective mothers at the end of the Prologue and the beginning of Chapter 1 is excellent. And if neat, predictable couplings are good enough for Shakespeare then they are good enough for Elizabeth A. Lance.

That predictability did, however, reinforce to me that it was a good thing that the book is the length it is. Had the novel been longer it may have become slightly tiresome; if the reader knows what is going to happen there is perhaps not that much point in dragging the plot out. To her credit, Lance does not do so. The word “novella” does not appear in the title by accident. I read this in one sitting and, while I am a relatively speedy reader, I suspect that is how most people will consume it. Quite possibly while sitting on a beach or beside a swimming pool

It is not merely a novella, however, but a “regency” novella, and that word evokes Jane Austen. Indeed, I was drawn to review this book because I am currently working my way through Austen’s complete works and, while not expecting canon defining literature, I was curious to read a modern working. And make no mistake, there is a definite and deliberate debt here. Erin Lambart is, to all intents and purposes, an Austen heroine. Although that does touch on one of my qualms about this book. Austen had a political point to her that, while subverted by her happy endings and marriages for her female protagonists, makes the books much more palatable to a modern reader. It is difficult in the 21st century to wholly sympathise with a portrayal of a woman - albeit a 19th century woman - who wants nothing more in life than to fall in love with a handsome man and have a child. As intelligent as Erin is, as much as she tells us that she is a “bluestocking”, a good marriage is the entirety of her ambition and, while that may be realistic for the time, I was left with the uncomfortable sensation that the novel did not want us to view this as a bad thing.

There are very nice historical details at times, the references to real life figures such as Sir Joseph Banks and John Keats, are well-judged and deftly handled. There are a few dressing room scenes that are magnificent examples of both writing and research. The quality of research is variable, nevertheless, this novel is very much a romance before it is a history and as such some of the historical errors that do occur are forgiveable. The characters do not speak as 19th century characters would have (“bluestockingish”; “do not go planning our wedding”; beginning a sentence with “Look,”) but it is not necessary for them to do so. The feel of the dialogue, the way the characters interact, is very believable. Having said that, some historical anachronisms do matter. The constant mis-spelling of marquess was slightly annoying. The references to gene splicing a clanger of an altogether greater magnitude; it took me 20 seconds to discover that gene splicing is around forty years old. We are expected to believe that Jackson Bell knew about it some forty years before Mendel had published his first works on genetics.

I had other slight issues with the book. At times it read a little like an American’s theme park idea of England (“the Earl of Bradfordshire”, “writing..papers for Eton” - I am not even entirely sure what that means). There are occasional editing issues, Erin’s maidservant Kerry becomes Kerrie at one point before changing her name back, and the author never quite resolves whether Rebecca Stratham is Miss or Lady. There was a surprising preponderance of unusual names for the 19th Century - Jackson, Genevieve, Erin, Kerry etc. At times subtlety is somewhat lacking, not least in the slightly laboured extension of gardening metaphor first flagged up in the title. I could have done without the comedy Irish accents of Erin’s father and cousin. But these are all minor quibbles with what was an otherwise very well-realised book.

The writing is a joy at times. I have already alluded to the dressing room scenes and there is some lovely repetition early on: “She would miss seeing the trees turn to the green of spring. Miss the flowers pop up from the ground. Miss her favourite reading places in the garden…” At times the book is laugh at loud funny, I was sad that we did not get to spend more time with the ridiculous Lord Somersby, who at one point compliments how lovely Erin looks by telling her “you complement my waistcoat just perfectly.” The main characters too are excellently written, if a little too good to be true. They remain very likeable, however, which helps to justify the conclusion the author grants them.

It is that characterisation, together with the wit and intelligence displayed in the writing, that convinces me to award this book 3 out of 4 stars. The very best historical romances are not regarded as historical romances because of the, arguably unfortunate, tendency of reviewers to the very best work in any given genre as literature (Margaret Atwood’s science fiction being a prime example). This book does not come close to transcending genre and being elevated to those lofty heights, but it succeeds entirely upon its own terms and is well-worth a read for any fan of historical romance.

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ElizabethALance · Post by **ElizabethALance** » 04 Jun 2014, 14:32

Thank you so much for your lovely review of The Bloom. I appreciate your candor and graciousness. ~ Elizabeth A. Lance

David Dawson · Post by **David Dawson** » 04 Jun 2014, 19:41

My pleasure. Until I joined this site I had always been a bit sceptical of (professional) critics who claimed they enjoyed writing positive reviews much more than hatchet jobs, but I had completely underestimated the pleasure of writing nice things about good books.