An Elegant Facade by Kristi Ann Hunter

Kristi Ann Hunter is a gem when it comes to Regency era novels. 

A few months ago I had the pleasure of reading her debut A Noble Masquerade  and I mentioned my desire to read her future works. I was so pleased to find that Hunter has lost none of her charm, humour, and storytelling abilities in her follow up effort.

For those familiar with A Noble Masquerade, An Elegant Facade has the unique position of beginning midway through its predecessor only, this time, the younger Georgina Hawthorne is the reader's gateway into London of the past.

This style was ingenious and I admire the mental power it must have taken Hunter to pull off the feat of writing this book. While the two overlap there is no laziness inherent in these pages as Hunter manages to deepen her story by providing new perspectives on memorable scenes from A Noble Masquerade. I've never read a series where this was pulled off so well. Characters who were so well drawn in Hunter's first offering find themselves taking on new dimensions and interest thanks to the parallel telling.

I also admire Hunter's ability to make a reader care. While some may remember my preference for the elder sister Miranda, Hunter manages to provide a heroine in Georgina who is complex, memorable, and utterly human. Her relationship with Mr. McCrae not only provided a central focus driving along the plot, but pages of humor, thought provoking conversation, and character growth. 

Another wonderful outcome of Hunter's storytelling abilities is her ability to naturally weave scriptural content, growth, and honest wrestling into her characters paths. Georgina's own wrestling due to her perceived uselessness was painfully real in it's portrayal and I appreciate the way her characters never feel tacked on in this wrestling. 

Overall, if you're the sort of reader who loves or is getting into historical fiction Kristi Ann Hunter is definitely an author to keep your eyes on.

5 out of 5 stars. 

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."