Eighteen-year-old Katherine Ramsey travels to London with her family to make her debut into society and hopefully find her future husband. Her overbearing aunt insists she must secure a proposal from a wealthy young man who is in line to inherit his father’s title and estate. But Katherine questions her aunt’s plans when she gets to know Jonathan Foster, a handsome medical student and strong Christian who is determined to protect the poor and vulnerable in London’s East End. When a family scandal puts a damper on Katherine’s hopes for the season, she has time to volunteer with Jonathan, caring for children in one of London’s poorest areas, and romance blossoms. Katherine’s faith grows and she begins to envision a different future with Jonathan. But when Katherine’s work in the East End puts her in danger, Jonathan distances himself from Katherine to protect her. A wealthy suitor reappears, and Katherine must choose which path to follow.
The Daughter of Highland Hall is a religiously based romance set in London at the time of debutantes and balls in a similar fashion to Downton Abby.
Katherine Ramsey is coming out this season and hopes to win a proposal from a wealthy and prestigious gentleman before the end of the season. She begins the novel consumed with balls and finery and grows as a character as the novel progresses.
Jonathan Foster is a medical student who is strongly religious and volunteered as a missionary in India before returning to England where he visits and stays with his sister in the same home that Katherine is staying in. Jonathan is eager to help the poor in England and begins work to set up a children's shelter. He is fond of Katherine, but isn't sure they'd be a good match. He knows she's looking for someone with more status and he's hoping for someone with stronger religious values. However, as they spend time together, Katherine develops a love of helping at the clinic, increases in her religious devotion, and their attraction blooms.
The novel is well written and sweet, but very predictable and a bit slow moving. The characters are likable but I didn't feel a gripping connection to them as I read the book. If you're looking for a steamy romance, this definitely isn't it. If you are looking for a very clean romance and don't mind a lot of religious references then you might enjoy this novel. I personally felt there was too much religion in this novel for my preference.
I listened to the audio version of this book, and Veida Dehmlow did an excellent job narrating. The flow was even and smooth and she excelled at both the dialogue and the descriptions.
NARRATED BY: VEIDA DEHMLOW
LENGTH: 12 HRS AND 20 MINS
SERIES: EDWARDIAN BRIDES, BOOK 2
RELEASE DATE: 10/07/2014
PUBLISHER: TANTOR AUDIO