Joan Smith: Winter Wedding

Clara Christopher had met Lord Allingcote several years previously at a houseparty, when he had chosen her as his flirt. But he’d disappeared from her life, and now reappeared escorting the outrageously beautiful Nel Muldoon to a wedding for his cousin. Though his lordship still had eyes for Clara, she had no intention of ignoring the troublesome Nel.

Set over Christmas and nearly New Year, A Winter Wedding is Joan Smith at her best. A sometimes obtuse, but otherwise witty and sweet older heroine, a handsome, wealthy and captivating hero, and plenty of foils and characters (including the nipcheese house party hostess) create a quickly flowing romance set at a country house party/December wedding.

Just because it flows quickly doesn’t mean its of the mass market action packed variety. It is much more about those little moments of conversation and duty that we find ourselves in over the course of the day…and how that can lead to love. The bulk of the pages surround the planning and execution of a wedding to be held in the country, but without the pastoral scenes and Assembly balls some may expect. Instead, the bulk of scenes are in the moments before dinners, and in between events, and going about the business of life. I think that is what makes me feel immersed, and that Smith is showing rather than telling, and what really gives that palatable Regency flavor I so love about a good traditional Reg Rom.

While I am never truly a fan of the love at first sight romance, there is a level of believability when steeped in the manners of the Regency–because how well did people really get to know each other before marriage when men and women were kept always at arms length. Smith bolsters that by getting much of the tone, if not details, about the Regency right. The class consciousness, for one, is a strong theme that approaches the underpinnings of Austen.

I liked the heroine’s tumbleweed embrace of her genteel poverty lifestyle of battening herself on relative after relative. Clara presents as cautious and observant, but also with a soft, kind sense of levity about her situation and others flaws/faults. She is contrasted not only by the bride, but also by the stunningly obnoxious Nel Muldoon, whose beauty and money means she thinks she can do no wrong. Considering geo-political landscapes at the moment, there was something terrifyingly real about this character who honestly cares not a fig who she hurts.

In writing my reviews, you may have noticed, I take a moment to review what the readers are saying at GoodReads, Amazon, and other sites. It always confirms the adage that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. While most adore Smith (myself included) for being funny, smart, and prolific…and about as close to Heyer as a traditional Reg Rom writer gets (although I am open for debate!), there are others who find her books “silly” or boring. One review thought the hero was a creeper. I thought that was hilarious, and a very modern reading of some behaviors that actually mirror Darcy, one of the favorite heroes of all time (think Rosings).

I liked the hero, who is not alpha or really beta, but something in between. He wasn’t my favorite, and he was definitely flawed, but for this heroine I got it…and was happy for the HEA.

Although its not my favorite Smith, it is definitely one of her solid, sweet romances that is worthy of the reread stack. Its also a great winter read, but not too over the top on the Christmas theme, so will do for any time of year.

5 Stars 5 out of 6 A provincial setting, lots of characters, and a sweet romance