The Carousel by Eva Vicci

19357269Title: The Carousel

Author: Eva Vicci

Genre: Historical Romance

ISBN: 978-1-62798-639-7

Length: Novella (74 pages)

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (January 8th, 2014)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3 Hearts

Reviewer: Thommie

Blurb: Eighteen–year-old Jonathan Moore works as a garden hand on a lord’s estate in Victorian England. On a festive servants’ day off, he visits the Christmas fair, hoping to fulfill his childhood dream of riding the carousel. The trip turns out unexpectedly when he catches the eye of impudent footman Francis Johnson. Despite Jonathan’s reservations, the flirtatious Francis doesn’t give up, and after some hesitation, they share a ride on the glittering carousel. Before they say good-bye, Francis asks to meet again, and with a quickening heartbeat, Jonathan agrees.

Rarely having a day off from their duties, their yearning for one another cannot be quenched, while Jonathan’s fear of heartbreak makes him uncertain whether Francis is the right man for him. Meanwhile, Francis does everything in his power to make a next date happen. Will Jonathan’s naïve heart give in to the temptation of the seductive footman?

Product Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4550

Review: Being poor do not allow for much and being the sixth kid of a poor family makes it even harder to get things as a kid. That is why Jonathan is hell-bent, now that he is eighteen and working, making his own money, to get on that carousel at the fair. It’s been his dream ever since he was a child. It doesn’t matter that he’s a man now, the magic of going round and round on those beautiful wooden horses has not dissipated. When he gets in the way of Francis however, a young cocky, arrogant, and highly flirtatious man, Jonathan feels like running away while simultaneously rooting in place. Francis is magic in his own way and together they share his childhood dream and joy on that carousel. When Francis asks him to meet him again though, Jonathan’s heart goes on a merry trip all by itself.

So I felt this satisfied feeling when I read this book that came from the characters’ station in life. It is so rare seeing both protagonist and antagonist being poor. Usually, in such historical reads we have one poor servant falling for the master’s son, or a gentleman or a Lord, you know the drill. Here we had two poor souls, alone and lonely, finding each other, feeling that pull and trying to overcome the obstacles that want them apart. And those obstacles are actually quite realistic, such as distance from one-another’s work, the fact that servants back then did not have days off, rather one per month, and people around them watching their every move, ready to jump at the slightest misgiving. This was such a pleasant surprise that I couldn’t believe it at first. Very invigorating!

Another feeling that overwhelmed me was the romantic notion of that era. This novella was like it was written from an author that lived back then, almost. And I was delighted to say that yes, it was awfully romantic to the point of making me roll my eyes, yet it would not be as good as it was if there was a lack of that romance in first place. It made me even laugh out loud at some point when unwillingly my mind compared this short read with those of Jane Austen, yet it was so similar.

What made me a bit weary though was the fact that I suffered such a long wait (along with the characters) for something to happen, and for 90% of the book the pair did not even see each other as they lived in two different estates. The communication was sparse, with a slight camouflaged note here and there, and the emotions bloomed mostly by themselves and from wistful thinking. What I’m trying to say is that this entire read was based in a relationship that had no roots, no solid ground beside the early flutters of the heart. That being said it was so much that love in first sight with the addition of the don’t touch mannerism of an era long gone. The end inevitably is a HFN, and as such, it gave me pause. I’m not sure I liked that so much, I’d loved it if this had a longer length that would at least allow for some physical intimacy and space for emotions to get stronger.

Overall though I found this book to be quite different from most I’ve read in the genre, and I liked the general outcome. Recommended for fans of the genre.