The House in Grosvenor Square

Title: THE HOUSE IN GROSVENOR SQUARE
Author: Linore Rose Burkard
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers
April 2009
ISBN: 978-0-7369-2565-5
Genre: Inspirational/regency

Ariana Forsythe is planning on marrying Phillip Mornay in just a little less than two weeks time. She hopes to use Mr. Mornay’s impressive wealth to help the numerous orphans and other poor people around them. During a tour of her future home, she discovers that while impressive the home is furnished in a pagan style. Ariana immediately makes plans to replace some of the artwork with Angels and other busts of other biblical people.

The housekeeper takes an immediate dislike to Ariana, believing that Ariana is out to get her fired, and determined to keep her job, she tells little fibs through the showing of the house. Also when Mr. Mornay arrives home, he is told that someone has stolen an expensive silver candlestick and a miniature portrait of George III. And each subsequent visit Ariana visits the house, something else goes missing.

When two villains attempt to abduct Ariana amidst other mysterious events, Mr. Mornay must discover who is after Ariana and why.

I read Before the Season Ends by Ms. Burkard, and as good as that first book was, I believe that THE HOUSE IN GROSVENOR SQUARE is even better. I enjoyed getting to know Ariana and the other characters in the book somewhat. The book is written in many points of view, including the servants, the bad guys, the chaperone, and the man who would have loved to have won Ariana’s heart, so the reader pretty well knows what every character is thinking.

The setting is richly described, and the story is worded so that readers can see what they are reading. I used to read regencies when I was a teenager, and I found Ms. Burkard’s books much better than what I remember reading back then. If you like regencies, you won’t want to miss THE HOUSE IN GROSVENOR SQUARE, or Ms. Burkard’s previous book, Before the Season Ends. A glossary and discussion questions are included at the end of the book. $13.99. 338 pages.