Critique of Rebecca Brandewyne's book

Critique for Upon a Moon-Dark Moor
Written by: Rebecca Brandewyne

Critique by: SG Cardin
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars


SYNPOSIS:

They story is narrated by Maggie Chandler. She lives in the early 1800’s on the Cornish moors. She is the only daughter of the local baron, Sir Nigel Chandler. As a young girl, Maggie is not shown much affection by her father. Esmond Sheffield, a nephew of her father is Sir Nigel’s heir and engaged to Maggie.

As a young teenager, Maggie meets Draco, her gypsy cousin who has come to live with her family. By now her father has remarried. Her stepsister, Julianne is intolerable, while her stepbrother, Welles, is a pleasant chap.

Draco and Maggie bond over freeing her father’s proud stallion, Black Magic. However, an incident with Black Magic makes Sir Nigel a cripple. After the accident, Draco runs away and returns three years later, a young man and buys a mansion near Maggie’s home. His mansion is called Stormswept Heights.

Shortly after Draco returns, Esmond breaks off his engagement to Maggie and marries her stepsister, Julianne. Heartbroken, Maggie goes to the moors in the middle of the night and Draco finds her, upset and distraught. The passionate pair give into their primal feelings for each other and make love.

Maggie ignores Draco, ashamed of her encounter, until she discovers it has left her pregnant. She goes to Draco and they agree to marry, traveling to Scotland. When they return, her father disowns Maggie.

Over the course of the pregnancy, Maggie grows closer to Draco. He is a passionate lover who knows how to take care of her. When Maggie gives birth to her child, she realizes she is in love with him. Her newfound love is quickly tested when she overhears Draco talking about “killing.” Maggie tests his patience, but doesn’t confront him, letting her doubt about him fester.

After her father dies, Draco and Maggie inherit her father’s clay mines. Draco is made out to be a killer, but when Esmond comes to arrest him, Maggie’s love is overpowering. She goes to warn Draco of his arrest. Draco is proved innocent and is thrilled by Maggie’s confession of love.

CHARACTERS:

Maggie: She is an exotic beauty and a bit headstrong. She’s very well rounded and it is easy to get lost in her story.

Draco: He’s also a very exotic character, handsome and rugged with a touch of sentimentality. His is a man every woman would want for a husband.

Supporting Characters:

Esmond Sheffield is perfect as Sir Nigel’s weak, wishy-washy heir who leaves Maggie for Julianne. Only too late does he realize his wife is a shrew and his heart wants Maggie.

Julianne is annoying, clawing, and a gold digger. She’s a good foil for Maggie in the story.

Sarah and Welles are sweet on each other and very likable, but not overly important to the story.

DIALOGUE:

There is not much dialogue and when it is used, it really does not move the story forward.

PLOT & PACING:

The book starts out slow as Maggie talks about her childhood and Draco doesn’t enter the story until well into it. However, once Draco and Maggie make love, the pace increases and I did not want to put the novel down. The plot is well thought out but the story drags in the beginning.

DESCRIPTIONS:

Brandewyne is too descriptive in some parts. While she’s really “nailed” the love scenes, a good part of the opening contains too many descriptions, which weigh the start down. When she describes Stormswept Heights, her pages of description seem endless.

THOUGHTS & IMPRESSIONS:

I thought there wasn’t enough dialogue, not enough scenes, and too much descriptions. The book, while written in a very poetic style, is a heavy read, and I could not read it straight through.

I did enjoy the story and I think Brandewyne has a wonderful ability to capture emotions. That ability is what kept me reading. Also, once Draco and Maggie make love, the book really takes off. At that point, I was anxious to turn the page to find out what happens next.