Romance Reviews Today
A delightful story, THE PORTRAIT is a wonderful tale of love lost and found. Edward is a strong, sensitive, and protective hero who feels he is less of a man now that he is scarred with only one arm, but Jennifer feels no repugnance toward her handsome friend. Their friendship grows as they go on their journey to rescue Jennifer’s brother, and if love follows, neither is willing to admit it. They are both likable characters, and readers will be cheering them on. Secondary characters, Freddie and Perry, are always in some kind of trouble, having to be rescued. They are both high spirited young boys.
Beautifully written, wonderful dialogue, and a charming tale, THE PORTRAIT is sure to delight the most discerning Regency reader.
Marilyn Heyman
Romance Reviews Today
Coffee Time Romance
The Portrait is a truly sweet love story. It follows the misadventures of two characters who are so much in love they cannot see it for themselves. This is such a wonderful tale of how love can conquer all and sneak up on you when you least expect it. This is the kind of story that has you pulled right in from the first page and keeps you guessing on how it will end. The Portrait is such a magical tale that will have you wanting to read it again and again.
LeeAnn
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More
Romance Junkies
Hazel Statham depicts a wonderful tale of friendship and love with this heartwarming tale. Edward’s obsession with THE PORTRAIT really captured my interest right away and I couldn’t help but wonder who the woman is and why she’s so vital to him. That mystery alone was enough to keep me glued to the pages. I eagerly anticipated each scene where their younger brothers, Perry and Freddie, would find themselves involved in some sort of trouble and require their help to extract themselves. I loved how Edward and Jennifer’s friendship is so obviously based on more than just simple affection and they’d both go out of their way to help each other. THE PORTRAIT is a lovely romance with unexpected occurrences and fun characters who will charm their way into your hearts. This is definitely a story I’d highly recommend reading.
By Romance Junkies Reviewer: Chrissy Dionne
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Life in Review
The Portrait by Hazel Stratham is the sweetest Regency romance! I absolutely loved this fun little book!
The story is set in England in 1812. I love the era and really like this author's writing style. The main characters are a lot of fun. They are both really stubborn and at times it's a bit frustrating because they're just so darn pig-headed. But, it's all fun and sweet and very entertaining and heart-warming!
My blog readers know that I review both Christian and non-Christian books. This one is not a Christian book, but it's completely family friendly! It's a very clean, very sweet historical romance.
It's tough for me to pick a favorite character in this one because I love both the main characters, Edward and Jennifer. Most of all, I love their dynamic together and their bantering. And I always love the Regency era!
I very highly recommend this book. It's an absolute delight! It's well written, the story line is light and fun and entertaining. It kept me turning the pages and I couldn't put it down. The characters stole my heart. It's positive, heart-warming, sweet and romantic! I would love to read more books like this one from this author!
Michelle - Life in Review
Rundepinne
The Portrait by Hazel Statham is an absolutely endearing historical romance novel set in the early 19th century. Earl Edward Sinclair has recently returned home to Fly Hall after losing an arm in the battle of Salamanca and is trying valiantly to adjust to his new status, title, and limitations as well as his decision to set Lady Jennifer Lynton free of their engagement. Jenny and Sinclair agree to be friends, much to the dismay of their respective family members and their growing friendship provides fodder for the social season. Statham cleverly creates a cast of strong, relatable and delightfully fun characters. Both major and minor characters are certain to delight the reader in Statham’s charming story as forces work to try and bring Edward and Jennifer together through their younger siblings, Perry and Freddie, and their continuous and at times hilarious misdeeds as well as scandals. Statham has a special manner about her writing which gently draws the reader into the story. I look forward to reading some of her other works. The Portrait is a sweet and enjoyable novel, which is certain to delight readers who enjoy a tender and family-centered historical romance.
Jennifer - Rundepinne
My Favourite Things Blog
My Review:
Hazel Statham has written a great romance book that is sure to please the reader as they begin to read about the lives of Edward Thurston, the new Earl of Sinclair and his betrothed Lady Jennifer .
Injured in the war, with one arm missing, Edward returns to Fly Hall, his home, intending to break off the engagement to Jennifer, not knowing that she had the same thoughts, but they vow to remain friends. The one thing that will remain through this friendship was the Portrait. The one thing that kept Edward going through the war and his injuries. The one thing that will remain close to his heart always .
As their friendship continues it seems these two were meant for each other as they seem to keep being paired together. It seems as though their love grows as they try to rescue Jennifer's brother. There is one thing however, as Phillip, an old friend is bound to make Jennifer his wife and will stop at nothing to get his way. To Jennifer he is like a brother. How can she make him see she has no interest in him? With his war injuries will Jennifer marry Edward out of pity or will she fall in love with someone else?
I have not read other books by Hazel Statham but in this one she knew how to draw me right into the story line and make me feel as if I was right in the story myself . If you like to read Regency Romance books then you won’t want to miss this newest book The Portrait
Edna
The Book Connection...
...where readers and writers connect.
A sweet Regency romance is what you'll find in The Portrait by Hazel Statham.
Edward Thurston and Lady Jennifer were engaged to be married. But that was before the war. Edward is severely injured at the battle of Salamanca. He spends time recuperating and then returns to his beloved Fly Hall, as the new Earl of Sinclair.
Unable to offer the wreck he has become to his prospective bride, he ends his betrothal, unaware that Lady Jennifer has also come to the same decision.
During the campaigns, Edward relied greatly on a miniature he carried. He continues to cling to it upon his return, though he doesn't realize others know if its existence.
Will Edward stand firm in his resolve not to marry or will he find happiness with the girl in the portrait?
I am familiar with some of Statham's other work--His Shadowed Heart and Lizzie's Rake--but I have to admit this time I think she has outdone herself.
Staying true to her "sweet romance" fans, in The Portrait, the author delivers an engaging story that builds on the attraction of two characters without taking those feelings into the bedroom. For very different reasons, Edward and Lady Jennifer have decided to call off their engagement, yet they cannot deny their feelings for each other, no matter how hard they try to hide them.
An incident involving Edward's and Lady Jennifer's young brothers finds them thrust together on a journey that might leave their reputations in tatters. The antics of their siblings, Edward's sense of humor, and Jenny's determination not to admit what she feels for the Earl of Sinclair all find the reader eagerly turning the pages. I don't believe it took me more than three nights to get from beginning to end, and then I was ready to start all over again.
What Statham has always done extremely well is create characters you care about; men and women who are for whatever reason spending a good deal of the time denying their feelings. Because the author takes the time to explore the many facets of these characters and why they deny themselves the glory of love, the reader can't help but be thrilled when they finally admit what they knew all along.
Regency romance novels don't get any better than The Portrait by Hazel Statham.
Cheryl
DIVA’S BOOKCASE
Genre: Historical Romance
Published: August 2010
Publisher: Avalon Books
Format I Read: Hardcover
Pages: 185
Source: reviewed for Pump Up Your Books
Book Summary
England 1812
Severely injured at the battle of Salamanca, Edward Thurston, the new Earl of Sinclair, returns home to his beloved Fly Hall. Determined not to present his prospective bride with the wreck he believes himself to have become, he decides to end his betrothal, unaware that Lady Jennifer, for vastly differing reasons, has reached the selfsame decision.
Throughout the campaigns, Edward was often seen relying greatly on a miniature he carried, and it is to this token he clings upon his return. Will he eventually find happiness with the girl in the portrait, or will he remain firm in his resolve not to wed? Reason dictates one course, his heart another.
My Thoughts
After being injured in war, Lord Edward is determined to spare Lady Jennifer the pain of being married to a less than whole man. Although he is secretly in love with her, he doesn’t want her to pity him.
Jennifer is upset that Edward has never given her a chance to get to know him, but she more than agrees when he proposes that they call off their engagement and just remain friends.
After I picked up this book, I couldn’t put it down. I loved Jennifer and Edward. Although I could tell that the two were already in love with each other, I enjoyed their friendship and all the shenanigans the two managed to get themselves in.
I loved that their relationship was not rushed. After they got to know each other, the romance blossomed. I think that’s what made me like story more because I had a forced romance. It kills the whole story.
The Portrait is historical romance at its best. The book was short but the story is unforgettable. Hazel Statham did an excellent job with the plot and the characters.
My Rating
I give The Portrait four flowers of love. This is definitely a great romantic read.
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