Member Review

The Last Season by authors Jenny Judson and Danielle Mahfood is a sweeping and robust historical romance novel. The book is organized in three distinct sections, spanning from 1863 to 1875. The two main characters are Cassandra Drayton, the thirteen year old daughter of a wealthy nobleman, and Crispin St. John, the son of a gentleman who has fallen on hard times. Crispin is working at Drayton Manor as a stable boy in an effort to help get his father out of debtor’s prison; his aunt is Cassandra’s governess. While the story centers around the two young people, the reader is also privy to the intricate relationships of the governess, Emma, Lord Drayton and his snobbish sister. Emma and Lord Drayton are involved in a clandestine love affair which, over the years, becomes hard to maintain. These details give a richness and complexity to the storyline. Cassandra and Crispin, despite the disparity of their stations in life, become loving friends. Against her father’s wishes Crispin teaches Cassandra how to ride a horse. When she is injured, Crispin is banished from the estate and they are separated for several years. Crispin journeys to India and is fortunate enough to be mentored and becomes prosperous. Of course, Cassandra and Crispin reconnect and become correspondents…..keeping in touch through delightful letters. Cassandra enters into an engagement but it is broken off when her father faces financial ruin. In order to recoup his losses, Lord Drayton accepts another marriage offer for Cassandra from an debased, but wealthy, peer. This book is amazingly detailed and I totally enjoyed taking the journey with Crispin and Cassandra. They were both generous with their hearts and were ready to sacrifice for their families. Will this worthy pair be able to escape the plans of others AND their obligations in order to find their own season of love?

I received an ARC of this book for my honest opinion.
#TheLastSeason #NetGalley