After reading an excerpt in a vintage "Victoria" magazine, I knew I simply must read this book. I acquired it on my kindle via Project Gutenberg*, opened and began...
It begins with three men mining for gold in Colorado, complaining of hunger. Not a hint of the romance I was expecting. Then, as suddenly as a golden shaft of a sunrise over the mountains, our heroine, the title character appears! Our hero is dumbstruck, and the scene that unfolds both delighted and amused me with its extreme and sudden sentimentality. It was only just shy of ridiculous. But then, as I enjoy Edwardian ridiculousness far more then modern (I gag to death on Hallmark movies of nearly every description), I decided to press on. Within the next couple of chapters, it becomes clear that the story doesn't take itself too seriously and that we are suppose to fondly chuckle over the theatrical romance of the first chapter. What follows are 16 chapters of lovely, old fashion story telling, that while never brilliant, is certainly charming and enjoyable. A very pleasant and light read, and a lovely way to escape into the Edwardian era for an hour or two.
- Who would enjoy this? ~ Fans of L. M. Montgomery, the Edwardian era, and simple, sweet romances!
- What I liked best about this story: I enjoyed how feisty the heroine was. She was no weeping willow just waiting for the chance to faint into the hero's arms, she had a mind of her own!
"The girl on the platform stood motionless a moment. Then one of her hands dropped from her breast, and with it came a faded spray of purple lilac. She stepped quickly to the rail and tossed it back into the twilight. Wade sprang forward, snatched it from the track and pressed it to his lips. When the last car dipped into the mouth of the snow-shed he was still standing there, gazing after, his hat in hand, a straight, lithe figure against the starlit sky."
You can read "The Lilac Girl" for free too! Visit Project Gutenberg to find a compatible ebook or text file: click here.
ooooh!! i will most certainly put this on my to read list!! especially as hallmark movies too make me cringe and hide under a quilt.
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