Out of the Bower (A Durbin Family Novel) by A.E. Walnofer
Genre: Historical fiction, Regency romance
Read: 14th July 2021
Amazon
Published: 25th December 2020
★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)
DESCRIPTION:
London, 1817: When Barclay Durbin, a young street preacher, encounters Honora Goodwin, injured on a London street, he doesn’t know she has just escaped from Titania’s Bower, a brothel. Taking her to his ancestral home to recover amongst his family, he falls in love with the vivacious girl and comes to believe that she is divinely appointed to become his wife.
Honora begins to feel similarly and knows that the good-hearted gentleman’s attentions would likely ensure her future happiness, but she is intent on liberating Celia Woodlow – the friend she was forced to leave behind at the Bower. Telling Barclay only parts of her own story, Honora enlists the besotted young man to help her.
When their plan goes awry, Honora realizes that only the truth can deliver them from the emotional and societal maelstrom in which they find themselves. But if she divulges all, what will become of Honora and Barclay’s budding attachment? And will Celia ever gain her freedom?
Out of the Bower tells the tale of a forbidden romance, an ardent friendship, and the ever-essential redemption of self.
MY REVIEW:
OUT OF THE BOWER is my first exposure to author Aimee Walnofer so I wasn't sure what to expect upon reading it. I thought maybe some delightful regency romance that was an easy read...I certainly didn't expect to discover exactly what the bower is in this book! But I wasn't put off by any means as the heartbreaking story that was at play drew me in and I found I could not put the novel down.
As is the case with most books set during this time period is the importance of class distinction. Someone of a lowly station in life from that of a maid or a governess cannot form an attachment or marry anyone of a higher status should they be ostracised and judged accordingly. The lower classes have this fact drummed into them all their lives just as the middle to higher classes look down their noses at anyone below their own status. And whilst Honora in this story was brought up with distinction and knew how to speak properly, she would always remain a servant in the eyes of the upper classes. Until she met Barclay...
The story begins with Barclay Durbin, a man of God called to minister to the disadvantaged, calling out to the crowds outside Covent Garden about God's goodness and love. He is shocked to see the garish faces of two doxies (aka harlots) plying their trade in broad daylight and yet aren't these the very people God has called him to minister to? But poor Barclay is unprepared for their forthright manner as they lean suggestively towards him, baring the pale bulk of their bosom spilling atop their bodices. He had meant to lead them to the truth but they were intent on leading him into temptation. Muttering a stuttered goodbye, Barclay bid them farewell and returned the way he'd come. While his heart is for the calling-out to the people, his family have been urging him to take up the position of curate in his uncle's nearby parish...but Barclay couldn't think of anything more dreary. Is there a reason he has been lead to London town and not yet taken up the curacy?
When Honora knocked on the door of Tatiana's Bower, she had come with the express desire to work in the kitchen of this reputed coffee house. In her last position where she was being trained up as a governess, Honora had gained many a skill working alongside Polly in the depths of the kitchens at Stagsway House. With such skills, Honora felt she would find herself a job in no time. Little did she know that Tatiana's Bower was not what it at first appeared. Her new employer Mrs Dovey took her under her wing and presented her to the sullen Sally in the kitchen where Honora proceeded to put her skills to good use by baking the most delicious cakes.
Shown upstairs to a bedroom she was to share with two other girls - Celia and Molly - Honora was still none the wiser to the goings on of the house. Celia, who uttered barely a word since her own tainting, knew exactly what Dovey had in store for her and pondered whether she should warn her or not. Believing she had time to prepare what to tell her, Celia said nothing. But when she entered the room they shared on Honora's second day to find her dressing in an exquisite blue dress, Celia knew what was in store for the poor girl that evening. She did her best to make her appear unsightly to the gentlemen that would be gathered downstairs in the Mingling Room in the hope that she might escape their attentions. Dovey was angered by her attempts and decided to take over Honora's dressing the following evening, of which Celia had no knowledge what with Dovey having given her the evening off. Leading Honora to a smaller room with food and drink already laid, Dovey gave her a goblet of wine in which she had instilled a drug to ensure her acquiescence. When Celia found her sprawled face down in their room later that evening, she feared that the lovely Honora had endured her tainting.
Honora cried on Celia's shoulder and when she came face to face with Dovey two days later, her anger became too much and she slapped the bawdy madam with such a force that she nearly knocked her teeth out. Shocked at her own outburst, Honora fled the bower before Dovey could punish her but before she got too far her foot fell into a pothole and she twisted her ankle with such an agony. Fearing that Dovey may be hot on her heels, Honora drew herself up with as much force as possible and limped her way to a crowd who did nothing to help but rather just gawped at her.
Until the arms of the preacher man she'd seen in the streets took ahold of her and carried her to his gig, where he sat her to inspect her ankle. He thought to take her to a doctor right away and as she wasn't forthcoming with where to take her, he suggested his own family doctor. He warned her that it was about an hour's journey from London to which Honora shrank with relief and nodded. Where did this woman come from and from what was she running?
After the doctor's diagnosis of a sprain, Barclay took her to his family home to Singer Hall where she was to recuperate for the rest of the week. Honora was too tired to argue but she didn't want to take further advantage of this kind man's good nature and intended on leaving as soon as she could. However, fate had something else in store and as friends of the family descended, Honora found herself the object of fascination with them and decided to play a little game with one of the snobbish girls in attendance. After all, she'd had plenty of practice growing up with Lady Eliza.
Over the course of the week, Honora noticed Barclay appeared to be growing fond of her and she knew that an attachment with her could not be possible. Not least because of her different class but also where she had run from. Which brought her thoughts back to Celia. Sweet Celia who was so entrapped at the bower with nowhere to go. She had promised they would flee together and here she was miles away in safety while Celia was still enmeshed in Dovey's snare. She had to go back for her. But how? And what would she tell Barclay?
OUT OF THE BOWER is an extremely engaging novel that highlights the dilemmas of the time - social class, entrapment, poverty, despair, hope. The circumstances these women find themselves in, duped into a life of ill repute and prostitution while there is no salaciousness in the storytelling, it does make for uncomfortable reading when you think of the plight these young women face. And yet, there is hope.
A touch of Austen-esque and for lovers of regency romance, OUT OF THE BOWER is a tale of a different kind that is not an entirely easy read to begin with. But where there is despair there is also hope...and it comes from an unlikely source. While this is a tale set some 200 years past, the practice is still very real today in human trafficking with young people sold into a life of prostitution as payment for their escape from one prison for another.
Although much of the novel takes place in a brothel, it is not graphic in nature with just enough description to give the reader something of a picture without the salaciousness and graphic detail. It is not that kind of novel. It is, however, headlined as "A Durbin Family Novel" hinting at the promise that there may be more to come. I certainly hope so as I would love to continue the story of Honora, Barclay and Celia.
Recommended for fans of regency romance historical fiction.
I would like to thank #AEWalnofer, #Netgalley, #RachelsRandomResources and #SelfPublished for an ARC of #OutOfTheBower in exchange for an honest review.
MEET THE AUTHOR:
Aimee spends weekdays mobilizing the soft tissue and synovial joints of patients, and weekends typing out stories that are incessantly brewing inside her head. There are lots of these tales and she hopes to share many more of them with you in the future.
Aimee is married to hubby Jeff with two grown children. She loves nature and hiking and to immerse herself in well-written stories. She also states that a day is not truly complete unless she eats at least a square of dark chocolate to help remind her just how good life is.
Social Media links:
A little about the Regency period
The Regency Period was when King George III was regarded as incapable of ruling the kingdom due to illness so his son acted as Prince Regent to rule in his place. The literal Regency Era lasted less than a decade, so it is virtually a blip on the screen in English history. However, Jane Austen put it on the map because that’s when her novels were published.
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Stina -- Thank you so much for your thoughtful review! I'm glad you enjoyed reading my book and hope you'll be up for reading more of them in the future. :)
ReplyDeleteAimee