I have been excited for Grace Hitchcock’s new release from Bethany House, “Her Darling Mr. Day”, ever since last year when the oh-so-memorable first story in the “American Royalty” series became available.  This new tale continues with two of my favourite secondary characters, and takes place in the fascinating southern city of New Orleans in the year 1883.  

This story is truly one filled with surprises, from the fun task of interior designing riverboats, to dangerous schemers plotting to take over the Wingfield fortune, to legendary river pirates who thwart the best-laid plans of our protagonist – you never know what to expect next!  

The characters who walk off the pages are lively and colourful, but I did find Flora to be somewhat ridiculous and annoying at times, in her plotting to secure Teddy as her husband once and for all.  Eventually she calmed down and came to her senses, but at times I was embarrassed for her and the scrapes she got herself into by trying to gain his attention!

In the end I enjoyed this story for its originality and quirkiness, but did not find it to sparkle quite as brightly as the first book in the series.  However it was still a fun continuation to the “American Royalty”, and the characters will certainly live on in my imagination.  If you enjoy clean, southern-based, historical romances with Christian themes, I definitely recommend “Her Darling Mr. Day”, as well as the preceding story of “My Dear Miss Dupre”.  I am looking forward to more memorable tales from the talented Grace Hitchcock, and can’t wait to see which characters she includes in her next instalment in the series!  

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