Review: Lost and Found by Jenny Worstall

                                                            

Print Length: 245 pages

Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing (June 21, 2024) 

From Goodreads.com: A sweet romance set in Regency Bath...

Captain Henry Templeton is missing after the battle of Waterloo, presumed dead. Six months later, a few weeks before Christmas, he returns secretly to his home city of Bath. He is desperate to declare himself to his childhood friend, Miss Kitty Honeyfield, but fears she will not be able to accept the man he has become after his shocking adventures. And until Henry has discovered the identity of the mysterious enemy who wishes him dead, he cannot risk exposing Kitty to danger.

Kitty is ecstatic to learn that the man she loves has survived. She longs for the romance with Henry she has always dreamt of – but will he still be interested in her after his experiences abroad? Besides, her father has made it clear he expects her to restore the family fortunes by marrying the odious Lord Steyne.

As friendship blossoms into love, Henry’s enemy emerges from the shadows with a wicked plan to separate the pair for ever...

                                                         *******************

My Rating: 2 stars out of 5

Right off the bat, I can honestly say that I was just not the intended audience for this book. If you are looking for something to introduce your young teen into the world of historical romance? This would be the perfect introduction.  It was a cute read, and I would also go so far as to say that for those of you who like books with very little angst, and/or clean reads with no intercourse shown on page, this would be right up your alley as well. 

Kitty and Henry have an adorable friendship, although I would have liked to have seen more of them reconnecting as the people they are now (especially with everything Henry has endured during his time on the battlefield), while still showing how their childhood friendship had led to a deeper love and connection as adults. Instead, I feel like we are told this more than shown it, which is disappointing. 

My next issue has to do with the way Kitty and Henry speak and think about each other. In my opinion, the writing felt a bit juvenile and very repetitive. Some examples of this include when Henry wishes everyone but himself and Kitty would just "vaporize" so they could be alone together, and in the very next chapter Kitty herself thinks, how "marvelous" it would be if "everyone melted away" so that she could be alone with her "darling Henry".  Also, if I had a dollar for every time Kitty referred to him as "H" or her "darling H" I would have a tidy little sum indeed. 

Finally, let me talk about the whole "hidden enemy" plot. Everyone (and I do mean everyone) keeps telling Henry that he needs to be careful since they do not know who was behind his almost death. And yet, Henry not only sneaks around Bath (supposedly in costume, but really, other than the time he wore a full face mask, how well does a big floppy hat and odd clothing hide who a person is? If anything I would think a person dressed thusly would attract MORE attention around other people of polite society. Then Kitty overhears two people conversing that are trying not to be seen together (and for all purposes do not have a reason to be conversing in the first place), yet she and Henry don't clue in to the fact that these people are likely planning something nefarious? 

And don't get me started on what happens when the person is finally uncovered and how they basically get away with everything they have done (except one thing involving the repayment of funds) with no repercussions. Sure, they will have to leave Bath, but a few years away and chances are good they come return to London at least. And even if they can't, what is to stop them from carrying on just as they were on the continent? Also, their entire reason for doing what they did was so laughably childish that I found myself rolling my eyes. Sure, hold a grudge against an entire family and try to ruin them because you had an infatuation with a woman you saw one time in your youth and were too shy (your own words) to approach. Get out of here. 

That being said, as previously stated, I know I was not the intended audience here, as I like a bit more with my historical romances, but I do still think this would appeal to a variety of other readers. 

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.