MAY 2018 - AudioFile
After a successful London season, Imogene Chively acquires a suitor her father approves of. This audio Regency romance for young people offers a tightly wound plot. When Ernest Steeple and his brother, Ben, visit the Chively estate, Imogene discovers her feelings are for Ben, not Ernest. Narrator Fiona Hardingham has great fun with Imogene and the young men, keeping her tone fresh and her voice enthusiastic for each character. Every scene is chock-full of mishap and mayhem that is smoothly delivered by Hardingham. Underlying the fun is a saboteur who is creating increasingly dangerous obstacles to the budding romance. Hardingham creates the perfect mood of menace and angst, making for a delightful teen romance with a dash of mystery. E.E.S. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine
From the Publisher
Praise for Suitors and Sabotage:
A Junior Library Guild Selection
"Anstey’s tale embraces a self-reliant main character, a loyal friend, innocent romance, witty conversation, and English country settings, each more splendid than the last. This is a delightful salute to Jane Austen and will be a treat for her fans." —VOYA
"Mystery and romance are delightfully intertwined . . . Taking inspiration from Jane Austen novels, Anstey’s latest is a lighthearted and romantic read." —Booklist
Praise for Duels & Deception:
"Jane Austen fans in need of a good new book, look no further. Cindy Anstey’s new YA novel, Duels & Deception, is your next regency romance treat." —Entertainment Weekly
"A great introduction to historical romance novels for younger YA readers. . . . Anstey’s novel is a wonderful coming-of-age journey filled with entertaining characters and wild adventures." —School Library Journal
Praise for Love, Lies and Spies:
"It’s Jane Austen meets Jane Foster in Anstey’s debut novel, which serves up a delightful combination of Regency romance, scientific curiosity, and spy intrigue for a tale that will have readers rooting for love and science." —Entertainment Weekly
"A great recommendation for teens who are not quite ready to tackle the complex language of Austen’s classics. . . . A cute premise and cover make this a solid purchase for budding historical romance readers." —School Library Journal
"Love, Lies and Spies is an adorable little romp in Regency-era London, perfectly-paced and delightfully entertaining. It had me grinning from ear to ear, cover to cover. And the best part of all is that it seems to be a stand-alone with none of those ridiculous miscommunications. It really was just a pleasure to read!" —The Starry-Eyed Revue
"Fantastic romance that I fell completely in love with. The amazing characters and intriguing mystery will make this a big hit with all YA regency fans!" —Dark Faerie Tales
"I never want it to end. I cannot tell you how much I love this book. Juliana, Spencer, Bobbington, ALL of them are just so utterly wonderful. This is BETTER than Georgette Heyer. YEP, I SAID IT. It even reminds me of my absolute favorite—the regency romances by Jude Morgan. . . . Just wonderful!" —Kelly Zekas, co-author of These Vicious Masks
School Library Journal
03/01/2018
Gr 8 Up—Imogene Chively is being courted by Ernest Steeple, the eldest son of a wealthy family—but when Ernest and his younger brother Benjamin come to stay at the Chively estate, it is Ben who captures Imogene's interest. Ben and Imogene have artistic endeavors in common; Ben wants to be an architect, but lacks artistic skill. Imogene is a talented artist but as a woman in the 1800s, has no clear career path available to her. She agrees to help teach Ben, and it is during those lessons that the two begin to fall for each other. In addition, a series of accidents plague Ben until it becomes obvious that someone is trying to purposefully harm him. This attempt at a Regency romance with a dash of mystery fails to be either romantic or very mysterious. The relationship between Imogene and Ben lacks heat, and the mystery doesn't start until well into the middle of the book. This cliché-filled narrative about the privileged world of landed gentry doesn't offer anything new to the genre. VERDICT Not recommended.—Laura Gardner, Dartmouth Middle School, MA
MAY 2018 - AudioFile
After a successful London season, Imogene Chively acquires a suitor her father approves of. This audio Regency romance for young people offers a tightly wound plot. When Ernest Steeple and his brother, Ben, visit the Chively estate, Imogene discovers her feelings are for Ben, not Ernest. Narrator Fiona Hardingham has great fun with Imogene and the young men, keeping her tone fresh and her voice enthusiastic for each character. Every scene is chock-full of mishap and mayhem that is smoothly delivered by Hardingham. Underlying the fun is a saboteur who is creating increasingly dangerous obstacles to the budding romance. Hardingham creates the perfect mood of menace and angst, making for a delightful teen romance with a dash of mystery. E.E.S. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine
